Thursday, July 25, 2013

Up the Albion!

I'm leaving today for London!  I won't be posting much while I'm there, I might share some photos but my full trip reports will be up when I get back on the 8th


Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Travel Style Part 2- What to Pack




Packing.  This is always an area of huge debate between travelers.  I know people who are adamant that they will only bring one carry on bag and nothing more, and I know people who prefer to check everything.  Personally, I'm a check everything girl.  I have a very small carry on for only immediately important plane stuff like skincare, coloring books, books, my phone, passport, etc, but other than that, I check everything. Why?  Because I bring a ton of stuff!  Deciding what to bring is one of the hardest aspects of travel, and is definitely an area that depends on personal preference.  Packing should always be based on what you want to do and the climate of the location you're going to. Here's a few of my tips for how to think about packing: 

1)  If you're going to be doing a lot of walking around, bring comfortable shoes.  For me, that usually means ballerina flats, or flat boots, I'm not a sneaker person. 

2)  Pack for the climate.  For London this year, I'm going to have some t-shirts and dresses, but also bring a few sweaters and pull overs because the UK can tend to get quite windy, especially at night.

3)  Bring enough so that if you cannot find a washing machine or laundromat, you will have enough clean clothing.  Also, try to bring pieces that can be used to make at least a few different outfits, not just one

4)  Do you plan to go out to anywhere fancy?  For some this can be a fancy dinner but for me this usually refers to bars, so I always bring a few cocktails dresses and one pair of black heels that can be used with any outfit.

So, as I mentioned above, I tend to overpack.  I just prefer to bring anything that I might need, I'm definitely not a travel with only the essentials girl.  To quote Lafayette from True Blood, "Packing light and being me don't mix".   First of all, make up is one of my hobbies and loves, so I always bring a rather large toiletry bag with my cosmetics in it.  It doesn't take up too much space thankfully, but can get a bit heavy.  I also always bring  3 pairs of shoes; a pair of flats, flat boots, and a pair of heels.  I wear my flat boots on the plane since I am always freezing on the plane and they're also usually the heaviest of all  shoes, so it makes sense to wear them instead of packing them.  Clothing I don't have a specific pattern for, but I always bring 2 large suitcases which I check.  I'm not worried about checking valuables or anything, I check everything except for my laptop, and always have my luggage locks on.  I really do not know how some people can only bring one carry on bag and that's it, that's like a magic trick to me!  I guess I'm just the type who needs a lot of stuff.  I'm also of the mindset that I would rather bring something with me than worry about possibly not being able to find it wherever I am going.  I always do vacation shopping and things, but it is rarely for something I really need.

However, as much as I tend to bring a lot, I do have my items organized in what I believe is a good way, and if anyone is struggling with organization, I can help.  I keep things in categories.  I always put electronics (wires, converter plugs, etc) in one section of my suitcase, often one of the pockets built into the bag itself so that I always know where they are.  Shoes are always together, socks are together, and anything remotely fragile I cocoon around a pile of clothes.  I never throw my make up bag on the top of my suitcase and close it because if it gets thrown, the make up will be absorbing all the impact, and can break.  Instead, I do a few clothing items, put my bag in, and put more clothing on top of it.  Do this for anything that is breakable, I've never had a problem with this method.  Also, wrap liquids.  I don't feel like dealing with the liquid restrictions, so for me it's easier to throw everything into a checked bag.  I am always worried about liquids opening in flight or something, so I always make sure to wrap them in Ziploc bags, and then in one big plastic bag so that if they do bust, your clothes and other items are safe.  Nail polish is another thing I have never had a problem with but I know many people are wary of packing.  What I do is take a small make up bag that can only hold about 4 bottles, and wrap 2 together with Ziplocs (2 in 1 bag) and then put those in another Ziploc containing paper towels, and wrap it up tightly.  Then I put that into the plastic make up bag which fits the polishes snugly, and zip it.  Then, just like with my make up, I sandwich the bag in between some clothing so that it is not taking any impacts.  The polishes are not clinking around, they are pretty secured in place, and have never exploded on me. 

I am far from a packing expert, so I cannot offer any tips for how to consolidate a fabulous travel wardrobe into only one small bag that can be carried on or checked.  I just bring everything, so I have to check my bags. I hope the few tips that I do have however will be helpful!  In the end, it all depends on your personal method of travel, and what you want to bring with you

Further proof that I bring everything...my cat, Spots, attempting to come with mommy!


Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Paris Shopping



One of the things I'm most looking forward to in Paris this summer is the shopping!  In 2013, there really isn't too much that you can't get in your home country anymore (either in stores or online), but what I like about shopping in Paris is the ease of it all.  I love French clothing brands, and many of them are only available online in the US if you want any kind of a good selection.  I love stores like Le Bon Marché where I can find Paul & Joe, Maje, and Isabel Marant all in the same place!  I'm really looking forward to making a stop there soon!  The other thing I love about Paris shopping is the randomness of it all.  Sure, you can find many big fashion houses along Avenue George V, or Montaigne, but you can also find them in really unlikely places.  For example, at the end of the Rue de Lappe in Bastille, a big party block, is an Isabel Marant boutique.  There's a Dries Van Noten along the Rue de Seine that I would never have noticed if it wasn't on my way home every day.  The Marais is filled with great little stores too, I love finding these little gem boutiques in random places, it's like a fashion treasure hunt scattered all throughout the city.  Last time I was in Paris, I needed a new pair of flats (the ones I had brought with me cut up my feet terribly) so I stopped in a shoe store on Bd Saint Germain and was surprised to find Marc Jacobs, Bloch, tons of really nice quality brands!  It didn't look like a designer shoe store so I was shocked!  Again, a great store in a random place.  I bought a beautiful pair of silver Bloch flats that I still wear and love till this day.

I'm not one to stock up on food things like macaroons or wine and bring them home, I'm more of a fashion and beauty girl, so some of the things I'm looking forward to browsing or purchasing are:

- Paul & Joe
- Isabel Marant
- Maje
- L'Oreal Elsève (best hair mask EVER. Sadly it's only available in Europe so I always stock up!)
- Make up from the new beauty section in Le Bon Marché 

...and maybe, if I'm feeling indulgent, some Chanel.  Pictured below is my vintage Mini flap, I'm an avid vintage collector! 



Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Traveling Solo- For the Ladies



One of the things I see most often on travel forums or from friends and family is worry about being a woman traveling alone.  I've never let the fact that I'm a girl cause me any type of anxiety in reference to my travels, and I feel that most places are perfectly safe.  Unfortunately, I feel that fear is drilled into us from the time we're toddlers that we're the vulnerable sex and need protecting in certain situations.  I really don't think that any woman should be afraid to travel alone, but I'll share my experiences if they help to reassure anyone :)

As girls, and specifically if you dress up, there will always be unwanted attention.  This can happen in your home town too, not just on vacation.  The intensity varies from place to place, but it always occurs. I feel that it is what it is, and luckily no one has ever actually made me feel in danger.  When I get comments or creeps hanging around, I either pretend I don't speak English, completely do not acknowledge them or respond, or I get really, really nasty.  Don't mess with me. I may be blonde and like to wear skirts and make up, but if you push me too far I will give it right back and 10x worse.  I also always carry a small pocket knife (at home too) just in case anything ever gets too hairy, which it never has. I think it's wise to have either a small pocket knife or a small pepper spray etc just in case.  The pepper spray is probably the better thing to have, I know carrying a knife makes me sound crazy but it's also my grandpa's from the 50's, so I keep it for other reasons.  Again though, I have never had to physically defend myself in any way, anywhere.

Another important tip is to just be aware.  Don't do silly things or make silly decisions.  You don't need to hide in your hotel room as soon as the sun goes down, in fact I say get out and have fun!  Yes, I drink alone on vacation (although usually more with the friends I make) and I don't see anything wrong with this.  I'm on vacation to have fun!  What I don't do however is ever tell anyone that I'm completely alone or walk home late at night by myself.  I will always take a cab home, it is worth the extra charge.  As for the never revealing I'm alone, if anyone ever asks me, I say that either my boyfriend or my parents or my friends are back at the hotel sleeping and didn't want to come out.  Whether or not they believe me doesn't matter, they can't disprove it, and that might just be enough to scare a shifty character away.  Another thing I do for nightlife situations is always pick a local jump off bar.  Start at the same bar every night so that the staff can get familiar with you.  I usually start a conversation with the bartenders so that if anyone is ever hanging around too much and I have made it clear that I would like to be left alone, I stand by the bar and have someone to talk to.  I'm not saying depend on anyone to save you, or that your new bartender acquaintance will care terribly about you, but it helps to look like people are aware of you and will notice if you're in distress or something.  Believe it or not this has gotten me away from a few creeps over the years, usually because the bartenders will give them funny looks. 

You should always be somewhat aware of what areas to avoid in a city too, and this can easily be found by browsing travel forums. 

The other side for the single female traveler is a more lighthearted concern, which is usually "but how will it look?!"  Many ladies feel embarrassed about getting a drink alone, or eating a meal alone, or even just seeing a museum alone.  We can't all always be taken or with a friend! It's just not realistic. And I say, why should I miss out on a fabulous time just because no one else can go?  Please don't think that you look silly dining or drinking alone, there is nothing wrong with it, and I highly doubt anyone would even notice or stare at you or anything.  You get over these things rather quickly when you travel alone, and again, if you are a little nervous, make some friends!  You're never really "drinking alone" at a bar, there are always other people, and most places everyone is pretty friendly and open. Especially other travelers!  Step out of your comfort zone a bit, you might be surprised how much fun you have! 

* My opinions on dining or drinking alone are for places that I have been.  I have never been to a country where a woman alone is culturally unacceptable, like Saudi Arabia or something, so please keep in mind that if you are going someplace where women are not viewed the way they are in the USA or Europe, things may be different, and some places may be entirely unsafe for a woman traveling by herself, or any tourist (male or female) traveling alone.

"You're Going Alone?!" My Guide to Solo Travel



Whenever I mention that I'll be taking a solo vacation, I get met with the question above.  I've mentioned before that I'm a big fan of traveling by myself.  This is a scary concept to a lot of people, and it's understandable since everyone has a different comfort level and personality.  I've been traveling by myself for years, and while it was hard at first, I've actually come to prefer it. I know many people who have told me that they would never or could never travel alone, and either admire that I do, or worry about me.  I also know quite a few people who would like to give a solo trip a shot, but are hesitant due to their own concerns or those of others around them.  If you're considering taking a solo vacation, I'd like to share some of my experiences and tips that I hope will be helpful.

I'd like to first share how I got into traveling alone.  When I was 16, I moved to Palermo, Sicily for the summer to be with my boyfriend at the time.  We had met on an earlier vacation in April (2006) and had ended up having a long distance relationship.  Though once I got to Sicily I would be staying with him and his housemates, I had to fly out alone.  This was my first flight without a parent or friend, so this was my first dose of solo travel. I had only myself to rely on at the airport for changing planes and getting a taxi, etc.  The following year, my friend Steve and I went Nice, France, by ourselves.  I was still with a friend, but we got our own apartment and it was just the two of us.  At 17, this was fantastic! In 2009 I went to Rome, and would initially be going alone if it wasn't for my friend who was actually able to come last minute.  However, he wouldn't be able to stay the full 2 weeks, so the trip would be half and half.  He stayed for 5 days, and then I was completely alone for the other 9.  I don't recommend this setup since it is incredibly hard to have someone with you and them have them leave.  Have them come for the second part of a trip so that you are alone for the first half instead. Anyway, after all these training wheel trips, I was finally left alone in Rome, and so began my conversion to solo traveler.  The following summer is when I went to Paris for a month completely by myself, and I haven't looked back since! Sicily, Nice, and Rome trained me, and Paris put on the finishing touches.  If you can do this gradual progression, I think it helps a lot with attempting to travel alone. 

To start, here are some of the pros and cons of traveling alone:

Pros

- Your own agenda. You don't have to answer to anyone or compromise on anything that you want to see or do. It's what you want, when you want it, all the time. 

- You're more open to meeting new people since you're not with anyone else.  Solo travel to me never means that I'm completely alone, but more that I'm not bringing anyone with me.  I always make new friends when I travel. 

- You can get more immersed into a place.  When you don't have anyone familiar with you, it's just you and your destination, no middle man

Cons

- Solo travel can be lonely.  This is unavoidable, there will definitely be times that you wish you had someone with you

- The cost is all on you, no one to split anything with, like hotel bills

Personally, I love the freedom of traveling by myself.  This is the biggest selling point for me, since I can do whatever I want.  I am not a morning person, I don't want to have to get up at 7am on vacation for anyone. I'm good with waking up whenever I wake up and then seeing sights or going out etc.  I also like to be able to see what I want to see in a place.  Sometimes that even means a day of no sights at all where instead I wander around and do some shopping.  I don't have to do everything in a place.  I was in Paris for a month and never got out to Versailles because I was too busy just enjoying the city.  To some people, that would be blasphemy!  Since I was alone however, my schedule was entirely up to my desires that day. 

Planning a solo trip is also much easier than planning a trip with another person.  When I say I want to go somewhere, I'm serious, and will probably be making bookings soon, I'm not asking rhetorically.  A lot of times, if I ask my friends if they would like to come, I get wishy washy answers like, "maybe" "I'll see" or the one I hate the most, "yeah I'd go", but then they never actually get their act together.  If I do find a friend to accompany me, there is always the issue of where to stay and budget differences.  I do a lot of research before I travel and pick an area to stay in that I feel is best suited for me.  I also am aware of what the area in question will cost.  I'm the type of person who would rather pay a little more for a central location than save some money and be farther away from everything.  My travel companions don't always agree with this, and occasionally, can be very disillusioned about the realistic costs of a city.  For example, to me, $300 for 3 days in a Marais apartment in Paris is a fantastic price.  If you're thinking you'll get a central location like that for less, you're going to be seriously disappointed.  You won't get the central address if you're adamant about not spending more than 100$ for the weekend.  Everyone has a different budget, but I personally get annoyed if I am with someone who is, in my opinion, too conservative with their funds to the point where it hinders the experience of a trip.  Vacation to me is a time to splurge a little if you can, and it's hard if your partner feels differently.  It's also difficult to find someone that you can agreeably travel with.  We all have those friends that we love dearly, but could never be alone together with for more than a day.  You really don't want to be stuck on a long vacation with someone who gets on your nerves too much.

As I mentioned, I always meet new people when I travel solo.  This is my favorite aspect of it. I go alone, but I never stay alone, I have always made friends, many of whom I am still in contact with today.   It's easy to be more introverted when you are traveling with a companion, because you can be.  When you're alone, if you want socialization, you'll have to go find it for yourself.  I'm a very shy person, so I like that this makes me get out of my comfort zone and grow as a person.  Traveling alone can be lonely, there is no denying that fact, but if you make friends I guarantee you will beat the loneliness!  You then have the option of doing activities with your new acquaintances or continuing to do things on your own.  I usually might go to a museum or two with my new friends, but mostly we meet up at night, after our days alone, to go check out some nightlife. 

Traveling solo is a fantastic experience, and I highly encourage everyone to give it a try if they feel like they would enjoy it!  It's daunting at first, but eventually it becomes second nature. 



Monday, July 8, 2013

My Random Travel Tips



Hi everyone!  This post is a bit random, I just wanted to share a bunch of my best travel tips that cover all different areas you may be curious about

1)  Electrical items when traveling abroad.  Most electronics are fine in other countries as long as you have an adapter plug (I get mine from Magellan's) so that you can actually plug it into an outlet, but some require extra attention.  For large items like laptops, I suggest ordering a surge protector adapter which also "grounds" the connection.  I am not an engineer, so I don't know exactly what that means in technical terms but it is basically a larger adapter (usually with 2 slots) that protects your laptop from any differences in electrical voltage or power surges, which can be common in some countries. 

Secondly, heat items.  For me, this is mainly hair tools like straighteners, curling irons, etc.  Do not try to bring your hair tools and plug them in, even with an adapter and a voltage converter.  I have broken 3 different hair straighteners over the years using adapters and converters, even ones "specially made for use with heat products" apparently it wasn't!  I suggest just buying new tools in whatever country you're visiting, and that way you can always bring them with you when you travel in the area again.  I have a UK straightener and an EU straightener, both purchased from local drugstores, that I always bring with me when I'm going to Europe or the UK.  Since the items are for a shorter time, you don't need to splurge on a hugely expensive top of the line one either, I think my UK one was about 20$

2)  Shopping.  I love to shop, and I love to explore stores in different countries, particularly ones that we don't have in the US.  However, you should be mindful of what you are buying when it comes to certain items, since the pricing is usually different country to country.  Try to focus on items that you can't get back home, and if you are running low on something from a brand based in your home country, try to repurchase before leaving (if you are bringing it with you) rather than purchasing a refill in your destination city.  I say this because I ran out of my Laura Mercier face powder in Dublin and bought a refill in Brown Thomas which ended up being at least 20$ more than it would have been in the US.  Look out for things like that!

On a more positive note, sometimes foreign branches of US stores have different items than you may be used to, so take a look!  I always find awesome things in Italian Zaras that I never see in the ones here.  I've gotten some of my favorite pieces in the store on Via del Corso in Rome. 

3)  Beating jet lag.  If you arrive in your vacation city in the morning or afternoon, push yourself to complete the day before going to sleep.  Jet lag is awful, and I'm always a zombie when I get off a plane, but you'll be in much better shape if you can try to get on a normal schedule and adjust to the new location's time.  Try to not go to bed before 7 or 8pm if you can possibly manage it.  This way, if you do get up early, it won't be 2 or 3 am, but a more normal time like 7 or 8.  I've given in to the sleepiness a few times and gone to bed at 3 or 4 pm local time and always wake up at 2/3am wide awake with nothing to do.  My mom was really angry with me when we went to Scotland and I made her go to see some sights without taking a nap the first day.  She was a big cranky pants, but the next day she admitted that she was glad I pushed her, because it put her on a normal schedule.  The same goes for returning home, try to stay up as long as you can if it is not already nighttime so that you can wake up on a regular schedule. 

4)  Google Earth.  I love Google Earth.  I think it's a fantastic travel tool, and I always use it when planning a trip.  Firstly, it can help you get ideas for hotels or apartments since you can actually see what an area really looks like, and virtually walk the streets.  Sometimes a place will look fine in photos, but when you look on Google Earth you may find that the surrounding neighborhood is a little shady or something.  Definitely give it a look and decide if you are comfortable in the area or not.  Secondly, if you have your laptop with you, check Google Earth before heading out to find a location.  I do this a lot before I head out in search of something because it allows you to look for landmarks like perhaps a store with a red awning is right across from that museum you're searching for, or the street is hidden at an oddly curved angle, etc.  It can be hard to only search by street names at times, and I really love to have the visual aids in my mind.  Google Earth reminds me of getting directions from a friend who tells you, "If you pass the pizza place, you've gone too far!"

5) Travel Forums.  If you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to post on a travel forum.  I personally love TripAdvisor, you can find so much information on their forums and if you can't find what you're looking for, you can post your own question, whatever it may be. I recommend browsing sites like that before a trip just to get an idea of what the local areas of concern and interest might be

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Vintage Voyage- Dublin (Part 3)

 Down the Rabbit Hole...

Dublin nightlife.  Where do I even start!  As I mentioned in Part 1, you really only need about 3-4 days to see Dublin, but when it comes to nightlife, my 2 weeks there were not enough!  I absolutely love the nightlife in Dublin.  Everyone has their own taste when it comes to evening activities, but for me, I'm 23 and I love rowdy bars where you can make friends with everyone as well as calm bars where you can have a nice convo with friends.  In Dublin I mostly went for the rowdy bars.  My first few nights, I stayed away from the Temple Bar area because I had read many places that it's all tourists and it's too crazy, and everyone is a drunk mess, etc and so I tried to find other bars in different areas.  I wasn't really a fan of any that I went to, I wasn't meeting anyone (one of the reasons I like nightlife so much when I travel is because I make so many friends this way) and they just weren't really my style.  So, I decided to try out Temple Bar and see what it was that so many people didn't like.  I honestly have no idea why people don't like it and I wish I hadn't wasted those first few nights going other places.  I love Temple Bar.  It's got the atmosphere I was looking for, which I guess is what some people don't like.  I love places that stay open till the wee hours of the morning with rowdy young people my age all crammed into an old bar ready to drink and just see where the night takes them.  That's a great night out to me. If someone is looking for a quiet dinner or something, that's fine, that's just not my style at all.  My first night out in Temple Bar I met a group of girls that I ended up spending the rest of my trip with, and am still in touch with.  We all had a great time with each other, and hit up just about every bar there was to see in Dublin, Temple Bar, Stag's Head, Quay's, O'Gogarty's, the Palace, all of them.  I love the bars of Temple Bar, but the actual Temple Bar is my favorite.  It's just my type of vibe.  Nearly every single night we met more people and had some kind of interesting evenings because of it, from the time that we met Italian tourists who had a lawn gnome with them for no reason at all to the time when a local guy mimed out what men's room etiquette was (I have pics of both of these!).  Temple Bar isn't even just the bars, the vibe and energy of the place spills out into the streets, making the whole area a type of patio where you never know what's going to happen next.  I really love those nights, and I cant wait to get back to Dublin someday so that I can experience it all again!


Me drinking with my friends (I'm the blonde)

 

The infamous gnome!



Mens Room Lesson

One of my fav pics I had no idea my friend took, into the Dublin night (I'm on the left)

 Aside from bars, I also did 2 night tours while in Dublin, one ghost tour, and one pub crawl.  The ghost tour was the Dublin Ghost Bus (http://www.dublinsightseeing.ie/ghostbus/index.aspx), which is the only ghost tour available there to my knowledge.  It was fun, we went to many different haunted sites around Dublin including cemeteries, hospitals, and a church where the devil himself apparently showed up one day.   The pub crawl I did was the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl, (http://www.dublinpubcrawl.com) which I had a great time on!  Obviously being a Literature buff, this was right up my alley, but they also offer a musical one.  The tour guides were great, often reciting passages from various Dublin authors' works at different bar stops and teaching the group tons of facts and history.  I loved it!

Here's a list of all the bars I've been to in Dublin, with some thoughts

- Palace Bar - 21 Fleet St, Dublin 2.  This is an old "gin palace" bar, very Victorian in its decor and style but kind of depends on the people there at the time.  One time I went and had a calm evening and another when I went with the girls we met up with some boys up from London and had a great night enjoying live music in the attic, with my friend even playing a few songs on the guitar herself.  Little moments like that really make a place remain special in your mind
- O'Neill's - I had breakfast here one morning and the I think I came back with the Pub Crawl.  They have a great rooftop garden area which you wouldn't guess from the inside or outside, it's a nice place, but the crowd here was a little older
- Gogarty's - 58 Fleet Street, Dublin 2.  Gogarty's has great live music if you're looking for that.  The night that I went it was kind of dead, so I moved on pretty quickly, but it's still a good time.  Mostly 30-something couples 
- Buskers -  13 Fleet St, Dublin 2.  This wasn't my favorite place it was more club-like but it was open late and we weren't done drinking yet that night, so we went here.  Odd selection of beers, they had one with a tiger on the label.  Mostly younger crowd and rock music
- The Temple Bar - 47-48 Temple Bar, Dublin 2.  My starting line every night.  Love this place.  Great energy, met so many people.  The crowd is all ages but as the night gets later it's mostly 20's and 30's.  I'd have no problem spending the whole night at Temple Bar, I just love it!
- Quays Bar - 12 Temple Bar, Dublin 2Live music, most people in early 20's/30's.  Good jump off point for heading out to other bars afterwards.  Random note- I had lunch here one day too, since there really aren't many restaurants in Dublin I noticed.  There's a lot of quick cafe type places, but not many restaurants.  I mostly ate at bars
- The Stag's Head- 1 Dame Court, Dublin 2.  I honestly don't remember much about the bar itself bc this was a last stop one night, but we had drinks outside which was a lot of fun.  The 3rd photo above was taken outside this bar.
- The Long Hall - 51 S Great George's St, Dublin. When we went, it was really calm and quiet in here, which was nice for a change.  This is another old Gin Palace type of bar which is always fun because they make you feel like you're in an antique or something.  We were literally the only three people in here when we went so I can't comment on the crowd!
- The Duke Pub - Nice pub with a slightly older crowd.  The Pub Crawl leaves from here, so I didn't get to spend much time in it

Vintage Voyage- Dublin (Part 2)


 Part 2 of my Dublin post will focus on my day trips into the countryside.  I love day trips, I did 2 when I was in Ireland because I wanted to see some country sights and also because they are a nice break from the typical tourist schedule.  The first day trip I did was to the Blessington Lakes, Wicklow Gap, and Glendalough.  Glendalough was the most interesting since aside from the huge lake it had a cemetery area that had been long buried and was finally unearthed by Oscar Wilde's father sometime in the 1800s.  

Blessington Lakes



Wicklow Gap



Glendalough







The second day trip I did went to Newgrange and Monasterboice.  Newgrange is an ancient druid burial mound that has a tunnel that aligns with the rays of the sun on the winter solstice and illuminates the entire inner chamber of the dome.  I loved visiting Newgrange, it had been on my list for a long time since I love old Celtic and Druid things, they're just so weird!  I also loved the feel of the inside of the mound.  It was cool, and quiet, like a very calming type of silence, I could have slept in there!  Monasterboice is now a cemetery, but at one time was the site of an old monastery and contains some of the oldest Celtic crosses in Ireland

Newgrange





 Monasterboice




Vintage Voyage- Dublin (Part 1)




Hi everyone!  I decided that since I haven't always written about my trips, but have been traveling for many years, I would occasionally do these "Vintage Voyage" posts, where I can share my experiences from some of my past adventures.  These will be formatted the same as current trip posts will, and since I haven't done any of those yet, this will give you an idea of how things will be set up.  I plan to divide future trips into day by day posts, but since this is an older one, many things are just grouped together.  Today will be Dublin! 

I have a long history with Dublin.  I had wanted to go for years but every time I was about to plan a trip, something else came up.  I had been trying to go since 2008, when I thought I would extend my Scottish vacation since the flight was easy.  That didn't end up happening, and each following year I kept saying that would be the Ireland year, but always ended up going somewhere else.  Finally, in 2011, I decided I had put it off enough, and that would be the Dublin year!  I went from the 12-26 July (this is my preferred time to travel if I can organize it that way) and when I finally landed in Dublin, I was thrilled.  All the years of being distracted from it had finally come to an end.

I love history and mythology, so I was eager to start getting lost in Ireland's museums and superstitions.  I was also anxious to check out the legendary nightlife!  I stayed in the O'Callaghan Mont Clare Hotel in Merrion Square, just behind Trinity College, and down the street from the Irish Parliament.  I liked the location of my hotel, it was central enough that I could be on Grafton Street in a 10 minute walk, but in a pretty quiet area.  On my first day, I went out exploring, as I always do, to get the lay of the land and see where everything is.  I did some shopping on Grafton Street, the had some lunch in St Stephen's Green, where I always loved to kill time if I was waiting for a museum to open or a tour to start etc.  I remember that afterwards I decided I would go and wander around Temple Bar.  I was trying to find something specific, but I can't remember what it was now, I think it may have been a movie theatre since I was planning to see the last Harry Potter film sometime while I was in Ireland.  Anyway, the Temple Bar district is the crazy party area at night, but during the day is pretty much dead and devoid of tourists with the exception of the main pedestrian area.  I stuck to the main part for most of my wandering but then I decided to take some smaller streets, all pedestrian alleys, and I got really really lost.  The streets don't necessarily go in a direction that actually leads to anything like a main avenue, they're more like an inner maze, so one turn lead to another as I kept guessing which one might lead me back out to a main street.  It was an eerie feeling, being alone in the small passageways of Temple Bar during the day when no one was out in the area.  It gave the place a magical kind of vibe, almost like a mystery that I would have to find my own way out of.  Eventually, after a good 15-20 minutes, I followed a winding street that dropped me off in the middle of Grafton street!  I couldn't believe it, since it did not feel like I was walking anywhere near the direction of Grafton, but I must have just been confused since the alleys went in so many different directions.  After being forced to get my bearings this way, I felt really comfortable with the city, since central Dublin is not large at all.

Leinster House, Irish Parliament


Merrion Square



Oscar Wilde statue, Merrion Square

 
 
Molly Malone statue


Trinity College

 

  I started off my trip with museums, since I love them and Dublin has quite a few.  I had always wanted to see the famous bog people, preserved for thousands of years, in the National Museum of Archaeology and History.  The museum was really close to my hotel, so this was naturally one of my first stops.  I love looking at old artifacts and art pieces, and the museum has quite a large selection of Celtic items, including a gold collection that they are very proud of.  I also stopped in the National Gallery of Ireland, about 2 minutes from my hotel, and spent only a short time in there since much of it was closed for renovations.  I also did the wax museum, which was ok, but definitely not a must see.  I went to the Book of Kells exhibit but again I wasn't thrilled with this either, I enjoyed wandering around the Trinity College grounds and library much more. I bought a 2 day pass for the Hop On Hop Off bus, which had 2 different routes that would take you to all the major sights in the city.  You could get on and off at any of the different stops as many times as you wanted to for 2 days.  I really liked this, since it came in handy for sightseeing and the times that I didn't feel like walking back to my hotel (there was a stop right across the street).  Using this bus I was able to go out to Kilmainham Gaol and the Guinness Brewery, which are slightly outside the central city.  The Guinness brewery is always considered a must see in Dublin, but to be honest, I was never a beer drinker, so I didn't really care.  However, Dublin reformed my spirit sacrilege and converted me into a Guinness lover.  I still do not like beer, but I now like Guinness.  The brewery tour itself was really not that interesting to me since it was mostly various levels of modern LCD screens streaming videos of hops being brewed and how things are bottled, etc.  As a history lover I was expecting to see the original factory preserved or something, so I was let down.  They did have a copy of Arthur Guinness' original lease on the building which is what I found the most interesting.  The tour includes a voucher for a free pint of Guinness in the rooftop bar that overlooks all of Dublin, and that was nice to see, even if the rest of it wasn't what I had expected.  The Guinness brewery is one of the last stops on the bus route, and after it comes Kilmainham Gaol, so I did that right after Guinness.  I LOVED Kilmainham Gaol, which is a jail built in the 1700's that also held the members of the Easter Rebellion, and is crazy haunted.  I love haunted places and ghost tours, as I have mentioned, and Kilmainham is full of those type of things.  The tour was a nice length, and very informative.  I got to see the whole prison, the different wings, you could go in some cells, in the courtyard, and all guided by a person, not a headset, which I always prefer.  I definitely suggest getting out to Kilmainham Gaol if you are ever in Dublin!

View from atop Guinness


Kilmainham Gaol




Practical note- When I go away in the summer, I always go for at least 2 weeks, which allows me the chance to really get to know a city and to fully explore most aspects of it.  With Dublin, I had also planned on a few day trips, which I love to do, it's always nice to see other cities and to get out of your main base for a while.  However, I had wanted to see some of the west coat, especially the Ring of Kerry, but I came to find out that you really need a car for going all over Ireland, a train just doesn't really do it since some places are really out there.  The western part of the country is also too far to do on a bus day trip, which I wasn't aware of, so that was a bit of a let down.  I'm mentioning all this because while I love Dublin, I do think that 2 weeks is a VERY long time to spend in a city of its size, not including the nightlife scene.  I would recommend about 3-4 days in Dublin.  3 days would give you all the time you needed to see the main sights and enjoy some dinners and other things.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Travel Style Part 1- Accommodation



One of the best things about travel is that you get to do things your way.  We all have different interests and different things we like to focus on when on vacation, so I'm going to share some of my travel methods with you :) This will be broken up into 3 different parts, starting with Part 1, Accommodation.


 Flats

When I travel, I always prefer to rent a holiday apartment rather than stay in a hotel. Apartments offer you the chance to really experience a city like a local.  Of course, at the end of the day you're still on vacation, but it's really nice to be able to go home to your apartment in whatever city is playing your home for the time.  Apartments are also usually cheaper than hotels, especially when it comes to longer stays, and I tend to go away for 2 weeks at a time in the summer.  If you plan on staying somewhere for 5/6 nights or more, I would go with an apartment.  In the end, you'll probably end up saving a substantial amount of money, as many landlords offer deals for certain amounts of time (for example, 4 weeks for the price of 3 etc).  You also get much more space in a holiday apartment for the same or less amount of money that you would spend on a hotel.  This of course all depends on the hotels and apartments in question, but I am speaking from my experience. I like having a kitchen and living room in addition to a bedroom. I also like being able to come and go when I like to, since I like to go out at night, and many hotels lock up after a certain time, and then you have to ring the doorbell to be let in, something that always makes me feel like an annoyance to the staff.  If you're looking to try out apartment rentals, just remember to send out many inquiries and then pick from the responses that you receive, since some landlords can take a while to get back to you, or may never respond at all. 

Here's some websites I often use for rentals -

-http://www.homeaway.com

-www.residences-paris.com (I personally know the owner and loved my apartment in Paris)

-https://www.airbnb.com (this year for Paris is my first year using this, but so far everything has been great.  This is a great site if you still want an apartment but are only staying a few nights)

Hotels

I have nothing against hotels, and I use them quite often when I am going somewhere for only a short time.  The other instance in which I use hotels is if a city I am visiting does not offer many rental properties.  Dublin was quite lacking in this area (very few rental options), so I stayed at the O'Callaghan Mont Clare Hotel, and I enjoyed it, but it's never the same as an apartment.  My mom actually prefers hotels because she likes having cleaning and room services available and she also likes having a  front desk to ask for directions to sights etc.  These things are nice to have but aren't as important to me personally.  A hotel also breaks up my feeling of being "in" a city, somewhat.

In the end, what you pick is up to you, and should be based on what you're looking for.  If you want more services, and are staying for a weekend or a few days, a hotel is the way to go.  If you want a more authentic city experience, and are staying for a week or more, go with a holiday rental.  Before long, you'll find what you prefer!


Heathrow- The Necessary Evil


Heathrow.  My arch nemesis.   Whenever I am planning a trip and see that I may have to change planes, I try to get a connection through any other airport if at all possible.  So, why do I dislike Heathrow so much when so many people consider it a favorite airport? Most people I talk to enjoy the extensive shopping options that Heathrow offers, since shopping can obviously help pass the time while waiting for a flight.  However, Heathrow has long missed it's chance at winning my affection with material goods. Also, I should add a little disclaimer here, my experiences with Heathrow have all been in regards to transfers, I'm sure it's fine if you just get out in London, but for transfers, NO.  Let me take you back to August 2007, when I first went through the airport on my way to Nice, France with my friend Steve.

 Part 1- Nice, August 2007

I remember that when we bought our tickets, we ended up with about 4 hours between our arrival in London and our next departure for Nice.  This was a good amount of time for a connection, since it would mean that we wouldn't have to rush, and would be able to take our time finding our next gate and just relax.  Oh to be those naive children again!  What actually ended up happening was we arrived in London in I believe Terminal 1 or 2, and we had to go to 4 I think (these details are blurry since it was a while ago) but the point is we were in one terminal and needed to transfer.  Neither one of us realized how large Heathrow is, and that you cannot walk between terminals since they are so far apart, you have to take the shuttle.  So, there we are, off the plane, ready to get to our next terminal and chill out, and we are met with a line of (no joke) at least 500 people, all waiting for the shuttle.  Ok, we thought, no problem, we have plenty of time.  At this point we had about 3 hours before the next flight, rather than the 4 we thought since planes are never precisely on time.  The line was moving very, very slowly, but we figured it was fine since at least it was moving.  We spent a good hour-hour and 15 minutes in line, and by the time we got on the bus we had a little less than 2 hours until our flight.  Keep in mind, we would also have to go through security again, and had no idea how that line would be.  During this time, Heathrow was undergoing some construction, so the shuttles were not able to maneuver quite as easily as usual, and there was a bit of a back up when we finally got to our terminal.  With the shuttle ride and the wait from the construction and line of shuttles in front of us, we had lost another 45 minutes.  So now we were down to about an hour before our next flight.  We rush off the shuttle, and up the escalators to the security checkpoint only to find that the line is just as bad as the shuttle line was, and was barely moving.  By the time we got far enough to give an employee our passports (not even at the actual security machines, I mean at the "entrance" since the line was so far past it) we had 20 minutes to catch our flight.  We hand the man our passports and he lets out a chuckle and goes "oooh, yeah, you've not got a lot of time for that one..." seeing our eyes bulge, the man allowed us to go through the express security lane, which still had quite a few people in it considering it's for those who are about to miss their flights!  So at this point we are down to 10 minutes before our flight leaves.  We're finally through security and in the terminal.  All we had to do was get to Gate 27.  So, where was it?  We looked, and finally spotted the sign for its hallway, and rushed down.  And down.  And down.  And down some more.  Of course the gate was at the end of a ridiculously long hallway, and the absolute LAST one in it.  Everyone has already boarded, they were about to close the doors, so we got on, the last 2 passengers, got in our seats, and basically just froze, beyond worn out.  This is when Steve noticed that somewhere along our journey he had also gotten mysteriously cut, and was bleeding from his arm for apparently no reason at all.  Personally, I think Heathrow just manifested itself somehow and cut him.

Part 2- Dublin, July 2011

After my first experience with Heathrow, neither me nor Steve ever wanted to see that airport ever again.  The mere mention made us want to run to the nearest bar and order some margaritas.  I was able to avoid changing planes there again for quite a few years.  Then in July 2011, I was on my way to Dublin, Ireland, and I had no choice but to transfer in Heathrow.  This time, I would have only an hour and a half to transfer, which made me nervous.  I told myself that the Nice transfer was just a one time thing, and that this transfer wouldn't be as bad.  I reassured myself the entire way there that it would be fine, that I knew what to expect now, and that it wouldn't be as crowded because my flight was getting in at 7:30 am, so the airport is usually emptier.  When I got off the plane, filled with trepidation though I was, I was relieved.  The miles long line for the shuttle was not there, I was able to board immediately.  Great start!  Maybe I was wrong about Heathrow.  I get off the shuttle and to security, and no lines there either! Fantastic!  My apologies, Heathrow, I must've just caught you on a bad day last time!  I get to the terminal and I look at the screen to find my gate for my plane to Dublin since on my ticket the gate was listed as "to be determined", and I did not see it.  So I stopped at the counter and I asked for help locating my flight gate.  The woman told me what I thought was "17E".  let me add, I do not have a problem understanding accents or anything, I''m actually really good with most accents, but I was tired, and I misinterpreted her.  I was not sure if she said 17E or 78.  Seeing as how I was currently right near Gate 12, I figured it must be 17E, because how could a terminal go from 12 to 78, right? WRONG.  I find gate 17 (no E) and it is going to Brussels, so obviously not my flight.  With about 40 minutes to catch my plane (here we go again, 2007 was starting to come back to life) I stop in a shop and I ask if there is a gate 78 in the terminal.  The woman tells me that yes, there is, and "You better hurry because it is all the way on the other side of the terminal".  Of course it was.  I could feel Heathrow's evil grin wash over me as I processed this info.  So, I dashed off, from gate 12, on my search for gate 78.  I passed through so many corridors and doors, I must've walked literally a mile through the terminal, over moving sidewalks, down twisting passageways, all over, I was surprised I wasn't in Delhi by the time I FINALLY got to my gate.  I got there just in time, as everyone was just starting to board the plane.

So, those are the reasons that I do not like Heathrow.  I never have enough time to catch my connecting flights, and I feel that it is just too big,  and too busy (which of course comes from being so large).  I really hope things will be different this summer when I can just get off the plane and into London, and not have to transfer!  Added to this, I will say that I can understand how some people enjoy it, since I like airports that most people do not, like Charles de Gaulle and Fiumicino