The Internet works in strange and wonderful ways. In 2006, Bill Schneier posted a travel hack on his security blog, musing that photographers who check expensive camera lenses can put empty guns or starter pistols in their luggage to secure their equipment. Since TSA classifies them as firearms they trigger a bevy of special screenings and tracking. The trick was picked up last January by productivity uber-blog Lifehacker, and from there spread across the blogosphere and even into legacy media. Over the weekend it landed in our Twitter inbox with a "verify this" request, and here we are.

Does this work? Absolutely. When you check luggage at the counter you're asked to declare if you have a firearm. If you indicate that you do, a TSA agent is called over to flag your baggage, hand-screen it, and confirm that the firearm is packed correctly. That means, minimally: unloaded, kept in a separate hard case, and secured by an unbreakable lock. The upshot is two-fold. Flagged luggage is extra-tracked to the point where Schneier says the risk of loss is "virtually zero." In the meantime, since your bags have already been screened, you're entitled to lock them and TSA has to contact you before breaking the locks.

So can you do this? Sure. Should you do it? Highly questionable...

SLAB from CIRCULATE on Vimeo.

St. Marks Square, Venice, Italy

Related posts:

1. Daily Travel Photo – Venice, Italy
2. Daily Travel Photo – Venice, Italy
3. Daily Travel Photo – Venice, Italy

Road sign in Death Valley National Park, California

Related posts:

1. Daily Travel Photo – Calico, California
2. Daily Travel Photo – San Diego, California
3. Daily Travel Photo – Monument Valley, Arizona

• 2001 – attacks three Italian policemen with a fire extinguisher
• 2004 – 150kph and through red lights while driving down the Champs Elysées in the wrong direction in his Porsche. Oh and he was drunk.
• 2005 – still in Paris beats up his girlfriend, fined and given 4 month suspended sentence
• 2009 – breaks same women’s nose in Claridges Hotel in London – she’s married to him now – or did  she just fall over?

I wrote about Libya for my book Bad Lands, which also features an assortment of other 'bad' countries I travelled to including Afghanistan, Burma, Iran, Iraq, North Korea and Saudi Arabia.

Let’s start with Paul Brady. He works for Oyster, coincidentally my Company Crush of 2009. This means his job is to stay in hotels, take pictures of them and review them. I know. He’s also amusing and loves crab cakes. As I recently proclaimed to him on his Tumblr, I want to have 10,000 of his travel babies. One day, when Oyster decides to start reviewing hotels in Europe, and they hire me because honestly how could they not, Paul and I will meet and we will become instant BFFs. But until then, I plan on kidnapping him the next time I’m in the States and taking him to my favorite dive bar in Manhattan. In case I need a partner in crime, I’m sure the sardonic, witty and totally crush-worthy  Mike Barish will be up to the task.

Next up is Marilyn Terrell, chief researcher for National Geographic Traveler magazine. Again: I know. Dream job. If I had to choose only one person to follow on Twitter – no small task – it would be her. I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t learn something from this woman.

There are many reasons why I very much want to meet Guido vanden Elshout, otherwise known as the Happy Hotelier. First, because I feel like I’ve known him forever – and with how fast the Internet moves, I probably have. Second, because he owns a hotel that looks to be a delightful little gem of a place. Third, because said hotel is located in The Hague, which is one of the places I’m obsessed with visiting. And finally, because he’s the most adorable person on the Internets.

Another person whom I feel like I already know – and whom I juuuust missed visiting this year – is Judy of Divina Cucina. Straight outta Tuscany, she is the reigning queen of Italian cooking and her brand-new cookbook is already a hot seller. I literally have had dreams of her guiding me through the markets of Florence.

Also almost-met this year was the whip-smart Sara Rosso. She is a 21st-century Renaissance woman with insane skills – and she lives in Italy and loves food. And she hosts Girl Geek Dinners in Milan. I mean, come on. How could I not have an Internet Crush on her?

I actually spoke to Laura of CiaoAmalfi this… summer, was it? Look at that, 2009 is already a blur. I’ll tell you the subject of our conversation in a future post (Hi, Peter!), but I have got to get down south this year and have her show me first-hand all of the amazing places she’s taken pictures of for her blog.

And I worked with the brilliant Angela Nickerson in 2009, photographing Rome landmarks for her eguide to Angels & Demons. Crush-worthy? Oh, yes – just take a look at her gorgeous book about Michelangelo’s Rome!

I’m constantly in awe of Lara Dunston. When I grow up, I want to be her. To find out why, just read her blog.

Last but certainly not least on this list is Pam Mandel of Nerd’s Eye View. Talk about someone I feel like I know! I even received a postcard from her this year. She tops my list of People Whose Brains I Want To Pick Over A Long Lunch. She’s got mad travel skills, she is an avid supporter of travel writing, and she’s freaking hilarious. What else could you want in an Internet Crush?

I spent the New Year holiday with Fabulous Cousin in Paris. The actual evening was a bust, as Paris inexplicably DID NOT HAVE FIREWORKS. Hello?! But Fab Cuz and I had a wonderful time eating, taking pictures and generally enjoying each other’s company. This is the first year in a while that we’re not spending the holidays together, and we’re both feeling the loss. Next year, darling!

February:

In February two girlfriends and I stayed at this charming hotel right here in Montpel on Valentine’s Day, which is also Cal’s birthday, which is a day I leave him alone to party with friends. Fi and Al got me hooked on Benidorm that night, and we drank Champagne and ate little yummies and fell asleep giggling.

March:

In March was the big party at Sheila’s house, celebrating her daughter’s 18th birthday and our friend’s 30th. The evening featured belly dancers, naughty cakes and dancing until the wee hours. What a great night!

April:

April was the start of a very long, very fun stint in Rome, and a month of long walks, spring nights, heavenly fragrances scenting the air, and of course, laughter. Always, always laughter.

May:

Mr. Pants came over to Rome in May, and we ran around Italy being fantastic for a couple of weeks. It was one of the most epic traveling experiences I’ve ever had. And Fabulous Cousin came at the end of the month for a relaxing, wonderful time without the need for winter coats for once! I can’t believe that was all one month, wow.

June:

Still in Rome, I was fortunate enough to go back to my favorite restaurant for a third time this trip. Everything else is a blur of wonderful.

July:

Back home with darling Cal, processing about a million pictures and getting ready for:

August:

Home! For the first time in three years. One of my dearest friends got married. I saw old friends and my amazing family. It was the beginning of another long and satisfying trip.

September:

After a visit from Most Talented Cousin, it was back to my old stomping grounds: New York City. Another dear friend let me commandeer his extra bedroom, and off I went eating amazing food with amazing friends and catching up on several years’ worth of gossip, laughter and hugs. I also made it to Philly to see Mr. and Ms. Pants and other usual suspects in their natural habitat. I was treated like a queen and had a ball!

October:

Look at those two characters! My father generously drove me to see my awesome pocket grandparents, Vi and Midge, in New England. My grandpop is shown above sharing his unique brand of after-dinner wisdom. On the way back, my father even more generously dropped me off at the home of none other than the famous MK and her brood. That’s MK and her youngest peeking out from behind the most bad-ass toddler I have ever met. Her older brother is a charmer and will be breaking hearts sooner than I’m sure his mother would like.

November:

It was time to say goodbye to the folks and my childhood beach and return home to my regularly scheduled life.

December:

Now I’m back in Montpel with Cal, and we’ve been enjoying our time together after having been apart for so much of the year! It’s also my birthday month, which means I’ve been lavished with attention, drinks, prezzies and fine dining. We spent a quiet, relaxing Christmas together, and I’m looking forward to ringing in 2010 with hostess extraordinaire Fi at her digs.

All I can say about 2009 is, WOW. What an epic travel year. Your Miss Expatria logged some miles! And 2010 is shaping up to be just as fun. Hopefully I’ll stick to my New Year’s resolution to post more on this blog, so get ready to travel along with me as I seek out even more adventures.

Expedition to Eddistone Rock from Andy Chiz on Vimeo.

Lisa has detailed the level of snow and where in her blog this morning.

These sleet and snow showers will be accompanied by a strong easterly wind causing some snow drift and travel disruption during tonight and tomorrow mornings rush hour in northern Ireland, northern England and southern Scotland, particularly on the higher routes.

This unsettled wintry mix will persist tomorrow across northern Britain and on Thursday until the band of rain and sleet will start to ease on Friday with the far north of the UK and the far south brightening up.

It will stay mild in the south all week  with temperatures even creeping into double figures for the southern most counties.

Stay up to date with your local forecast for the next few days.

Founded with a predominantly African-American heritage, the Clark Atlanta University has long been considered as a comprehensive, urban, coeducational and private institution of higher education. It continues to offer undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees as well as certificate programs to students of varied ethnic, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. As its history tells, Clark Atlanta University was established by the consolidation of Atlanta University, which then offers only graduate degrees, and Clark College, a four-year undergraduate institution oriented to the liberal arts.

The Early Days

Prior to the consolidation which resulted to Clark Atlanta University, the Atlanta University which was founded in 1865 by the American Missionary Association was considered as the country's oldest graduate institution serving a predominantly African-American student body. It had started granting bachelor's degrees and supplying black teachers and librarians to the public schools of the Sotuh by the late 1870s, and in 1929 to 1930, it began offering graduate education exclusively in a number of liberal arts areas, as well as in the social and natural sciences.

The Clark College, on the other hand, was founded in 1869 as Clark University by the Freedmen's Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which later became the United Methodist Church. The university was actually named after Bishop David W. Clark, who was the first president of the Freedmen's Aid Society and became bishop in 1864. In 1871, the school relocated to a new site and it was only in 1877 that the school was chartered as Clark University.

For purposes of economy and efficiency, the Clark University was decided to join the Atlanta University Complex in 1930s. But, it was only during the 1980s when the Clark College and Atlanta University was finally joined, forming today's Clark Atlanta University. The consolidation was considered to preserve the best of the past and present, and in July 1, 1988, the Clark Atlanta University was born.

The University Today

The Clark Atlanta University is now well-known throughout the nation as a new and historic University that inherits the rich traditions of two independent institutions, linked over the years by a common heritage and commitment, by personal, corporate and consortia relationships, as well as by location. It specifically serves the student body to provide a quality undergraduate, graduate and professional education that is predominantly African-American and also diversified by students from different racial, ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

The Clark Atlanta University, as an institution grounded in the liberal arts, is now highly committed to the development of productive and creative students who succeed or excel in their chosen fields and who become responsible citizens in their respective communities and even the whole world.

To attain such ambitious mission, the Clark Atlanta University continues to attract and maintain a highly devoted faculty that generally meets high professional standards in teaching, research, scholarship, and service. What is more nice about the Clark Atlanta University is the fact that it continue to provide an educational environment on which students are encouraged to learn, thrive and enhance their capabilities for leadership as well as responsible citizenship.

After the consolidation, Clark Atlanta University still maintains a historic relationship with the United Methodist Church and for that they continually promote personal integrity and understanding of others and emphasize sound ethical and moral principles.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve kinda run out of travel gas.

Not for me (I’ll jump onto a plane or into a car anytime by my own crotchety self) but the idea of a family trip these days makes me want to lay down and take a nap.

Squabbling siblings in the back seat.

One kid who tends to carsickness.

Flat wallet and no lottery wins in sight.

Living in a huge state (Texas) that takes 3-4 hours to get OUT of by car.

General post-holidays lassitude.

Bleh.

So, here’s my plan for getting some travel-ish action going with minimal mental effort on my part….I’m going to look at our Austin Big Weekend Calendar, pick one new place or event every month that’s close to home, and drag the family to it, arguing and barfing the whole way.

January’s almost finished, but for the next 30 days I’ve targeted the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (free admission in January) and either a Texas Roller Girls Roller Derby bout or a Texas Stars ice hockey game.

The wildflowers aren’t up yet (so at least one kid will say, “Why are we here looking at dead plants?”) and we’ve never gone to either a roller derby or ice hockey game (so at least one kid will say, “Why are we here watching a) women slam into each other or b) men slam into each other?”) but I don’t care.

That’s the plan to overcome travel ennui.

How about you?

(Update:  My teen said this morning that since she and a friend saw the derby-based movie Whip It (set in Austin) she actually WANTS to see live roller derby.  Who knew?!)

[+] Enlarge photo

The Winery Collective is San Francisco's first multi-winery tasting room (Courtesy Winery Collective)

My favorite, though, is the more social Press Club at the Yerba Buena Arts Center, in downtown. It has a hip lounge where you can enjoy sipping on wine from eight of Northern California's most acclaimed small wineries, plus seasonal small plates made with ingredients from Napa Valley and after-hour parties on Friday and Saturday nights.

Any wine tasting is a guaranteed good time, but knowing a little etiquette can make the somewhat formal environment less daunting. Here are a couple do's and don'ts to get you started:

DO
Taste in this order: whites, then reds, and finally dessert wines. Always go from dry to sweet (which the pourer will help you with). You can always skip a wine, or ask to try only one kind—say, reds only.

Use the provided crackers and water to cleanse your palate in between tastings so that you can really appreciate the different flavors. Water can also be used to rinse your glass if you don't get a new one.

Use the tasting sheets that most places offer—can you taste blackberry? Coffee? Flowers? This is a fun exercise for even the newest wine drinkers.

Ask the host questions. There's no need to be a wine connoisseur to have a good time.

Toss unwanted wine in the bucket on the counter. This is not seen as an insult—hey, there's a lot of wine to get through!

DON'T

Pour the wine yourself.

Spit directly into the bucket. Instead ask for a small Dixie cup.

Ask for a second taste unless you are sure you'll buy a bottle. It's considered rude to drink more than offered.

Treat the provided snacks as an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Chew gum or smoke a cigarette right before tasting, since it will destroy the wine's flavor.

Bring wine from elsewhere for a picnic (this goes for the Napa and Sonoma wineries, as well).

Feel like you have to tip or even buy a bottle. Some, but not all, tasting rooms charge a tasting fee, anyway, to cover the cost of service and free booze.

Filed under: North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations

Gallery: City Center's Aria -- Las Vegas

Continue reading Aria: Inside of City Center's new luxury hotel

Aria: Inside of City Center's new luxury hotel originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Filed under: Festivals and Events

Top Travel Trips: March 2010 originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/adam_hofstetter/02/15/scorecard.daily/index.html

Axe Detailer Cleans Your Balls – Watch the top videos of the week here

RV Vacations are the current rage. These vacations are the best way to relax yourself, spend some quality time with your family and generally chill out at a nominal cost. RV Vacations are becoming more popular day by day. The annual RV retail sales were roughly pegged at a figure of $14 billion in 2004.

Basic Reasons For Opting For RV Vacations

1. If you are a nature lover and long to enjoy the outdoors, then RV Vacations are the right choice for you. You can visit any state or a national park or even visit famous landmarks.

2. In RV Vacations, you can take advantage of both worlds. You can enjoy the nature and yet need not lead a harsh camp life. Most of the RVs are stocked with a kitchenette, refrigerator, TV, VCR, beds, bathroom and shower. And what more you can also have air conditioners. So it is a home outside home.

3. It is a great way to spend some really quality time with the family. All of you can travel together and have fun together. Here you would just need to choose the size of the RV wisely. It is especially fun if you are traveling with kids. Children of all age really enjoy RV Vacations.

4. Another advantage of RV Vacations is that if you do not like a particular place, you can easily move out from there and go to another place. You are in full control of vacation period. You do not have to wait at the airports or the stations. There is no fixed time schedule that you have to follow. You may face problems finding a suitable campground though without prior reservations.

5. RV Vacations are comparatively cheaper as you save a lot of money that would otherwise have gone into the cost of accommodation. You can stay in the vehicle itself. You save more money if you use the inbuilt kitchenette to prepare your meals and not eat out. Apart from the cost factor, you also maintain health. You must utilize the amenities at the campground rate. You can save on the fuel cost by staying more on the camping grounds and traveling less.

RV vacations need a little time to get used to. But once you get used to the dos and don'ts, you will be comfortable with the idea. There are also classes available through your RV dealer that can keep you well informed on RV vacations. You must attend them. Try and surf the net before venturing out on your RV vacations so that you have are well prepared and well geared for a wonderful time.

When traveling to London will be quite an adventure in itself. You may be traveling to Europe and would like to see the Grand Palace and other historical landmarks that are still being used today. In order to plan your trip carefully you will need to know a little more about all the places that you should visit while in London that is highly recommended. Here are some places to add to your itinerary while you are in London.

London has something called the London Eye. The London Eye is also known as The Millennium Wheel because it was opened in the year 2000. The London Eye is a Ferris wheel that allows you to see all of London while you are riding it. The views can be seen for up to 25 miles around when it is a clear sky. The ride takes thirty minutes so that you have time to see all around you while you are going around. Each capsule can hold up to twenty five people.

You should also go to the Tower Bridge. This is the famous bridge that has a lot of history behind it. Tower Bridge was designed to be raised for tall ships that would pass by. You can see the raising of the bridge several times during the week if you are interested. It also offers a closed in walkway that you can enjoy during every season.

You should also visit Tower of London. This is not the same thing as the bridge. The Tower of London has a lot of history behind it. During Medieval times this was the place of imprisonment, torture and execution for prisoners. You can view the Crown Jewels when you visit the Tower of London. Watch out for the ravens that have made the Tower of London their home.

Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens is a great way to end your long journey. Feel the peacefulness as you visit the royal parks. The Hyde Park is the largest park of the three parks in London. It offers a place to boat, swim, play and it also includes a pet cemetery for all the pets who have enjoyed the park continuously.

The famous Big Ben is something that you will want to see before leaving London. This is a clock that was built into a tour that has a distinct ring. You can hear the ring all around the world in phones, watches, clocks and more. When the House of Commons is in session you can see the light on above the clock.

Last, but not least, you will want to swing by Buckingham Palace to view the royal family's house. Since 1837 this has been the home to the British Royal Family. Get there in time to see the Changing of the Guard. See the horses and carriages used by the Queen. You can also see certain parts of the palace during certain times of the year so if you want to tour Buckingham Palace you may want to call first.

Last week I enjoyed spending 30 minutes on Blog Talk Radio with Australian entrepreneur and coach Des Walsh.  He has a regular program called Des Walsh and Friends, with a wide variety of guests all discussing some aspect of technology and business.

The noteworthy advantage of Blog Talk Radio (or any “Internet radio” service) is that not only can you listen live, but the shows are usually archived if you can’t be there at broadcast time, plus they’re also downloadable for later listening on your iPod or other digital audio player.

It gives radio/audio the worldwide reach that it never had before, as I discussed in this post about online radio and destination marketing for the Beaumont, Texas CVB (Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.)

Des and I talked about my background in travel, how Becky McCray and I launched Tourism Currents to teach tourism professionals about social media, and why businesses need to ensure a strong Web presence as customer search and interaction preferences shift online.

I loved having a fun chat with someone halfway around the world, and the time zones worked in my favor since it was afternoon my time, but very early morning for Des.  :)

Here is our episode:  talking social media, travel and tourism with Des Walsh.

(This is cross-posted on my Sheila’s Guide to the Good Stuff blog.)

Are your kids like mine - often with some sort of headphone or earbud plugged into their aural sockets?  Take advantage of that tendency by looking for available iPod/audio guides and tours when you travel.  Kids can keep looking plugged-in and “cool” but may actually learn something on your trip.

As a parent, of course, your job is to never seem too “Squeeee!” happy when they occasionally admit that something is informative or educational.

Where do you find these tours?

First, if you use iPods, do a search in the iTunes store; Apple recognizes the value of their audio tour podcasts although the iTunes Search function is not particularly good.

There are many well-established general travel podcasts (think of them as little radio shows) from Indie Travel Podcast (latest topics as of this writing include Christchurch, New Zealand and Tasmania) the Amateur Traveler (latest episodes are about the Republic of Georgia, London and Easter Island) Frommers.com and Rick Steves who covers Europe.  An iTunes search for Disney informational podcasts returns a bunch of options too; just make sure they’re fairly recent since things can change quickly at the parks.

You can also find location-specific offerings on iTunes like LAWithKids for Los Angeles and audio/video podcast offerings from VisitLondon.com.

Some companies focus specifically on audio offerings - AudioSnacks, for example, has a big section for audio tours, and the company SoundWalk has some very unique walking tours that place special emphasis on New York City, although they do have a few other cities as well. The media company ARTineraries has professionally-produced tours of mostly Italian historic sites.  LearnOutLoud has a kid’s audio section, too.

The UK’s Guardian, always a good source of worldwide travel information, has a small selection of free audio tours called Sounds of the City (Athens, Rome, Nice, Marseille, Valencia and Granada) plus an eclectic collection of very personalized audio travel guides, featuring people like musician Franz Ferdinand taking you on a tour of his hometown of Glasgow.

Some travel guide companies also produce audio - I like the DK (Dorling-Kindersley) Eyewitness guides for their clean layout and liberal use of photos and graphics, so I was pleased to find that they also have a few DK Travel podcasts.

Finding these things is a classic Google search problem, but I’ve had best results when I query search engines about tours for a specific location.  As I always advise, start with the tourism board/Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (CVB) for the place you’re going to visit.  For example, the Chicago Office of Tourism has free downloadable guides including Chicago for Kids and a blues tour narrated by Buddy Guy.  Even smaller towns may have them; Astoria and Warrenton, Oregon have audio tours guided by locals and sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce.

Don’t forget that most museums have had audio tours for a long time, including big places like Chicago’s Field Museum and New York’s Museum of Modern Art, plus smaller ones like the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, which has tours in English and Spanish.

Let us know in the comments if you have any favorites!

Gianni, his impeccably made-up mama (in yellow), and their guests sit down to lunch (Courtesy Zeitgeist Films)

Writer-director Gianni Di Gregorio still lives with his 93-year-old mama Valeria, who stars with him in "Mid-August Lunch" (Pranzo di Ferragosto), shot in the apartment they share in Rome's Trastevere neighborhood. The film will play New York City's Film Forum, March 17-30, and then select theaters nationwide.

The slow-paced story unfolds over the weekend of Ferragosto, the peak of the Italian summer, when almost everyone flees to the beach or countryside—except for Gianni. He can't ditch his mother, of course, and suddenly finds himself caring and cooking for three other mamas. It all starts when the building manager makes Gianni an offer he can't refuse: late rental payments will be forgiven if Gianni lets the manager's mama sleep over.

I caught an advance screening of the bittersweet film and enjoyed its subtle revelations about everyday life in Rome and generational dynamics. Out of groceries, Gianni speeds through Rome's deserted streets on his motorino and winds up buying fish just caught by an immigrant stationed alongside the Tiber River. Gianni tends to speak to the mamas with cajoling phrases typically used with kids (encouraging one to "fai la brava" (be good) and offering another "una carotina" (a little carrot)). The stubborn mamas—non-professional actors who go by their real names—each try to assert themselves against Gianni, with some funny results (the kind that make you smile, not laugh out loud).

In a Q&A after yesterday's screening at the Italian Cultural Institute, chef and TV host Lidia Bastianich shared her reactions. Lidia, too, lives with her mother, and she recalled her own Ferragosto holidays as a little girl in northern Italy, where her family would picnic with fresh meats and lots of wine. For her, there was water mixed with vinegar and sugar.

When asked about food's role in the film, which culminates with a big, fancy Ferragosto lunch, Lidia reflected that the universal need to eat is disarming: we lower our defenses when we sit down to share food at the table, an act that also feeds our need for companionship. This message comes through in "Mid-August Lunch," which adds nuance to the stereotypes that Italians love their food and their mamas.

I meet with PR folks all the time in my office, in town to share their news and happenings. Rarely do I get as unabashedly excited as I did yesterday, talking to the team behind LuxuryLink.com about their latest site: FamilyGetaway.com.

Despite the obvious disconnect between Budget Travel and the name of the parent company, LuxuryLink is very much in our world. We covered the discount vacation auction site in our October 2009 issue; at a time when discounting came into vogue, LuxuryLink saw a 91 percent jump in its number of listings in second quarter '09, compared to the same period the year before. Clearly, the 13-year-old company is on to something.

Which is why I'm so eager to explore FamilyGetaway.com. I'm currently planning a handful of trips for this spring and summer (New Orleans, Paris, etc.), and it's becoming increasingly clear just how needy we families can be. Suites with doors! Pools! A place to store and wash all the necessary crap (err, gear) we have to lug for our darling daughter! For each of FamilyGetaway's packages, which you can either bid on or buy immediately for a slightly higher premium, the site details all the relevant family-friendly amenities—and the prices always include everyone in your crew (no need for per/person multiplying). The search mechanism is set up to lead you to interests (cool pools, or villas, for example), though since the site just launched a couple weeks ago, often times, they don't have specific packages yet to suit your needs. That said, I'm sticking around, and this is one place I'll be revisiting regularly, next time the vacation bug strikes and I'm just looking for a good deal—wherever in the world that might be.

Today, we have an interview with Craig Martin, author of the new ebook Travelling Europe.  Craig gave me an advance copy his book–which is full of advice of how to research better, travel smarter and spend less.  I loved it.  It gives practical, real world advice on how to travel Europe on a budget, and who would know better than Craig and his wife Linda, who have been traveling full time for almost 3 years.  Craig and Linda also host the Indie Travel Podcast, covering everything you need to know on independent travel.  This week they featured a podcast on Vienna, Austria.

Did you want a free copy?  Well Craig has graciously offered a free copy to one of the readers of EuropeString.com.  Just post a comment below, give us a shout out and next week we’ll pick a winner to receive a free copy of Travelling Europe.

Craig, I’ve been following your podcast for a long time now, but for those readers who don’t know you, can you tell us about yourself?

Sure. My name’s Craig Martin and I’ve been travelling around the world since February 2006. My wife, Linda, and I are addicted to it now: travel’s become a way of life rather than something to do when you’re not working.

In November 2006 we realised we were learning all sorts of things we had never read about or heard about. Travelling independently isn’t well documented! We decided to start a website on it and, being a geek, I wanted to give podcasting a try. The Indie Travel Podcast started off rough and ready but we have learned a lot since then. We’ve also added articles by guest writers and video podcasts by ourselves and also people who are sending in video from around the world.

I was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand and, probably typically, I like to hike and muck around in boats or in the sea. New Zealand’s far away from everything though, so we knew we didn’t want to just go somewhere for a month. We had a stop-over in Hong Kong then hit Europe. We ended up spending two and a half years there and visited almost every country you don’t need a visa for. We spent two months or more in the UK, Spain, Austria, Italy, Turkey and Malta. We’re trying to warm up again now, so we’re spending this December in Perth, Western Australia. It’s time to save for our travels in the Pacific and then South and Central America in the coming years.

What gave you the idea to set off on this long term adventure?

There’s this Kiwi and Aussie thing called the OE – short for Overseas Experience. Basically it’s normal for us to travel and work overseas for six months to two years. Most people plant themselves in London and never make it out again.

We didn’t want to get stuck in the London trap. We really wanted to do something different and also to really travel, not just set up home in a new city. I guess it’s that culture of travel and the passion for unconventionality which has lead us to travel like this. Now that we’re hooked I’m eyeing up visiting every country in the world. Or perhaps attempting to circumnavigate the world on foot (I’ve even got a route pencilled in). We’re crazy enough, so who knows?!

When it comes to money, it’s a concern for everyone. I know there are lots of ways to finance a trip… how do you make it work?

Finding the funding for travel is no small task, even though travelling is often a cheaper lifestyle than living in most American or European cities. Taking off on this trip wasn’t an easy thing: we spent almost four years killing off our debt then saving to get us started and as an emergency fund.

We tried to do it smartly though. After finishing University we decided to do a TESOL qualification — allowing us to teach English to speakers of other languages in private schools around the world. We worked at home gaining experience and paying off our overdrafts and student loans. We lived simply, but lived well and indulged when we wanted. We travelled through New Zealand and visited Australia and some Pacific islands during that time. And all the time we were dreaming of heading off.

Now that we’re on the road, TESOL is still our major earner. At other times we have worked in call centres and retail shops and started to dip our toes into the travel writing market. It certainly doesn’t pay well though! Most people will make a lot more spending an hour in a classroom than an hour pounding the keyboard.

For someone who is just starting out, what are some of the things they can do to plan a low cost trip?

It’s a difficult topic and one I tried to condense and address in this article. If you’re looking to travel mid- or long-term then simplifying your life now is probably the best thing you can do. If your trip is less than a year away begin to sell off things you don’t use. You really won’t want it when you get home. Trust me. That money’s better off destroying your debt.

Begin getting involved in online traveller’s networks. There are lots around so find one that suits you — I like Matador and Couchsurfing, for example. Start subscribing to travel blogs and posting comments; that way you’ll be able to ask questions when you’re after some advice. Start reading as much as you can: use free resources like the internet and the library rather than spending money on new books. If you know someone who’s travelled invest in taking them out for a drink…and take notes!

If I can be cheeky, I’ll pimp my own sites: the Indie Travel Podcast is focused on independent travel and, since we’ve spent so long in Europe, it’s got lots of great advice. Eurail Stories is all about the Eurail train pass and travelling through Europe by train. I also wrote an ebook on travelling in Europe. I called it…Travelling Europe! It’s a great resource for beginner travellers and it covers things like budget airlines, train passes and accommodation options amongst other things. OK, pimping over.

Now that you’ve traveled through Europe, what are some unexpected things that you loved and what are some areas you’d avoid if you could do it again?

The things I loved are too numerous to count. Almost every day I woke up loving life and looking forward to the day. If I had to pick, two highlights would be visiting Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic and walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

We had just finished a short teaching contract and were looking for a small town to relax in for a week. Cesky Krumlov was recommended so off we went. I just remember sitting outside the Two Marys: sky stained red, a cup of hot mead warding off the night’s chill, the Vlatava River bubbling past us and thinking “life is very good”. Linda and I both started laughing with pure joy. OK, maybe the mead had something to do with it.

The Camino de Santiago de Compostela is a mediaeval pilgrimage concluding in Santiago de Compostela near Spain’s north-west coast. We took a month to walk from Pamplona to Santiago, then onwards to Finisterre and finally Muxia. Life was so simple and so good. Get up and put twenty kilometers behind you then eat, wash and relax in the afternoon heat. The trail community really makes it special though: people are walking for all sorts of reasons but there’s a wonderful cammeraderie and spirit on the trail.

What’s your advice for someone thinking about traveling?

I’d definitely recommend doing it. Go on!

Preparation will save you headaches on the road, so do that well. When it comes to planning an itinerary, however, make sure you have some rest days in there and also plan as loosely as possible. Don’t book 12 months of accommodation before you set foot out the door! At most book the first week or two weeks if you’re really nervous. You’ll need time to find your rythym and get on-the-ground recommendations from travelers. You don’t want to find yourself walled in by your itinerary.

Any final thoughts?

Plenty more, but I think people will soon start getting bored! Europe is a fantastic place to travel through: enjoy it.

Want to order a copy? Travelling Europe is available online.

Post from: Europe String

The question of whether or not to use hostels when traveling is a highly debated one.  I know before I used them regularly in Europe, I couldn’t imagine being comfortable sharing my personal space like that.  While hostels are definitely not for everyone (having a laid back personality is a good starting point), here are some things you might not know about the hosteling world.

Hostels are not just for kids. There are people of all ages at hostels and while the demographics definitely lean towards the younger set (18-24) this can vary from property to property. And if you were wondering if you were too old to go, you can put those fears aside.

You get what you research. The best hostels are often booked months in advance. Using a site like HostelWorld.com not only lets you search for hostels that have the amenities you want, you can also read reviews from other travelers. While I would caution against just picking the highest rated (might also have the least reviews) you’ll find that it’s easy to spot negative trends in the comments. If 5 of the last 10 reviewers mention a bug problem, then you might want to stay away.

It’s not all party all the time. In this case it depends, but for many hostels, there are “quiet hours”. If you’re looking for a quieter place to lay your head, then you might want to avoid hostels with built in bars.

Sleeping on a bunk bed isn’t your only option. Most hostels offer several versions of the same thing: bunk beds (6 to a room, 8 to a room, 10 to a room or female only rooms). But a good percentage (maybe half) also offers privates. If you’re traveling alone, these can be a little pricey (if the bunks are $10, then the private will be about $25-30). Well worth the cost, if you want privacy. If you’re traveling with others, the cost of a private might be only a few dollars more than individual bunks.

A good hostel experience can add to your trip. There are lots of clean hostels, located in great spots in Europe. And the people there can be interesting too. Some of the highlights from trips I’ve taken have been coming home to the hostel, only to discover that someone cooked pasta for everyone. We spent the early evening eating together, sharing stories (everyone was from a different country) and laughing.

The entire hostel experience is hinged together by the travelers who use it. If it was full of abusive drunks who kept you up all night and trashed the room, then no one would use it. And while there are people who don’t get it, what you’re more likely to find is an international group of folks—some straight out college, others at retirement age—who all try to be respectful and share in the joy that is travel.

Have you used a hostel? What was your experience?

Creative Commons Pics:

RussellJSmith, Supa Pedro,  & Chorcel

Post from: Europe String

This is already old news to my Romania pals, but I’d like to take this blogging downtime opportunity to generally announce the recent re-launch of my online Romania and Moldova Travel Guide.

The site originally debuted in late 2006, soon after my first thorough Lonely Planet research trip in Romania and Moldova, with a design and color scheme suggesting that it had been the morning project for the kindergarten class at St Catherine’s School for the Legally Blind. Though it was, by far, the most comprehensive and regularly updated online travel guide for these two countries, its appearance was difficult to disregard.

Flash forward to late 2009. After completing the write-up for the upcoming Lonely Planet Romania 5 (in stores May 2010), and after listening to years of static by trash-talking bystanders, my web expert pal Bertine and I spent weeks redesigning and updating the entire site. Notable changes include:

•    Not old and busted looking
•    Totally updated information, accurate as of summer 2009
•    Far more pictures, including the super cool, rotating title images
•    Requisite ‘Best of’ lists
•    New hotness

Old and busted

New hotness

Unfortunately, being the most complete, constantly updated, on-the-ground research-driven Romania and Moldova travel site in the history of the universe doesn’t result in an instantaneous top Google ranking like it should. So, if any of you Romania enthusiasts would be so kind as to link up (I’d be happy to link back), blog about or disseminate glowing word-of-mouth chatter amongst your Romania-bound travel friends, I’d deeply appreciate it.

And if you are at all curious, I can confidently inform you that Romania is among the greatest destinations in Eastern Europe and boasts, on a whole, more bang for your buck than just about any other country on the continent. Budget airlines have arrived, so why haven’t you?

See you there!

Share on Facebook

Related posts:

1. Romania 2009 I’m off to Romania tomorrow for four weeks and...
2. My totally arbitrary, random list of Romania raves for 2009 I got a teensy weensy bit of good press...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The Tuscany Month countdown to the release of the totally redesigned 2010 Lonely Planet Tuscany & Umbria is nearing its end. I’ve been saving the best for last, including my carefully considered list of the best hotels, pensions and agriturismi (farm stays) in the region.

As always, the caveats are: this list is merely the product of my personal opinions and is not endorsed by Lonely Planet. I have not slept in all of these places, usually for financial reasons, but I’ve thoroughly toured them all, usually more than once, and on the strength of having seen about a squillion properties in my travel writing career, I’m pretty confident I’ve got this list nailed. I have not accounted for Florence and northwest Tuscany in this list, as this is not my research area. All prices listed were accurate as of spring/summer 2009.

Speaking of ‘financial reasons’, you’ll notice that several of the places on the list are decidedly aimed for special occasions and lottery winners. I have nothing to say in my defense. Oh-wow moments and historic surroundings rarely come cheap, especially in Tuscany.

In no particular order:

Agriturismo La Cerreta (outside Sassetta)
Località Pian delle Vigne; per person per night with half board €55-65
You get a definite hippie vibe here, even before you see the owner’s impressive hair. Once he starts chatting about his 20 years in the business of engineering a “self-sufficient, biodynamic, harmonic project” (all in Italian, so bring your favorite translator), you start to understand that this farmhouse is more about providing a simple, gastronomically authentic Tuscan lifestyle tutorial rather than the run-of-the-mill tourist services – though they can do that too. They raise cinta senese (indigenous Tuscan pig), Maremma cows, and the rare Livornese chicken, among others. Cooking instruction, guided hiking/biking, farm activities and even photography are arranged onsite. Horse tours are nearby and a brand new, three-pool thermal spa was near completion when I last visited. Wwoofing stays are available.

Borgo Stomennano (outside Monteriggioni)
Room sleeping four people €900-1000 per week (including internet and swimming pool)
A sprawling unforgettable property 2km outside Monteriggioni. This historic collection of farmhouses dating from the 1600s has been converted into apartments, furnished and decorated with an amazing collection of heirlooms dating back hundreds of years – children under 14 are not permitted due to the delicate nature of these items. Though geared for large groups (six to 32 people) and events, couples are welcome during select periods. You can self-cater or request full board. Special touches include an infinity pool, welcome bottles of wine (with personalized labels!) and a private trail from the property, through undulating fields, leading to Monteriggioni.

Antica Residenza Cicogna (Siena)
Via dei Termini 67; singles €70-75, doubles €90, triples €130 (including breakfast, air-con and wi-fi)
Springless beds, soundproof windows (priceless with the way sound carries on the streets of Siena), ornate frescoes, wi-fi and antique furniture make this central option justifiably popular. With a mere five rooms and two suites, class exudes from prominent elements such as the four-poster bed, elaborate, thick-framed mirrors and the breakfast space (enormous buffet style). Reception has limited core hours (8am to 1pm), so arrange your arrival in advance. Parking is €18.

Palazzo Brandano (Pretoio)
Via di Valgelata 18; singles €150, doubles €225 (including breakfast, air-con, wi-fi and PC access)
Within the hilltop, 12th-century walls of peaceful, wedding cake-shaped Pretoio, the four-star Brandano is practically an attraction on its own. Rooms are sumptuous, wood-beamed affairs with frescos, classic furniture, plush beds, wi-fi, sensational views, and Jacuzzis. They have an impressive onsite restaurant, with a chef that’s available for cooking classes.

Hotel Leon Bianco (San Gimignano)
Piazza della Cisterna 13; singles €65-80, doubles €80-135, triples €110-135 (including breakfast, air-con, wifi- and PC internet access)
I love this place. When you take into account super expensive San Gim, it’s really a great value. The hotel, occupying a 14th-century mansion, faces the historic central square. It’s smoothly run and friendly, with a ground-floor abundance of plants, a pretty inner courtyard, a breakfast patio, billiard table and fitness room. Wi-fi (extra charge) is available in common spaces, though I was able to hop onto someone’s unsecured hub from my room.

Agriturismo San Lorenzo (outside Volterra)
Doubles €90; apartments (without breakfast) €95-110 (pool, internet available)
This is probably my favorite all-around agriturismo in all of Tuscany. Just 3km outside Volterra on the road to Siena, sits this giddying fusion of sustainable tourism, countryside vistas, modern conveniences and wonderful food (dinner per person is a very reasonable €28). The mountain spring-fed biological swimming pool, complete with frogs and salamanders, fronts the converted farmhouse, circa the 1400s. Rooms are ‘farmhouse chic’, individually decorated and colorful with modern kitchens and bathrooms. Walking, biking, horseback riding and hands-on, seasonal olive-oil production (October-November) are immediately available, as are cooking classes (€90 per person) with meals served in the 12th-century Franciscan chapel. Whether you consider it a curse or blessing, some mobile-phone services don’t work out here. They sell their own olive oil too!

Hotelito Lupaia (outside Pienza)
Doubles €240 (breakfast, swimming pool included)
Full disclosure: I was sent here for a magazine assignment and was comped for a three night stay. Just north of Pienza, this farm dates from 1237. Each room has been uniquely and meticulously designed by the family matriarch, a 30 year veteran of fashion and interior design. The main house, containing a sitting room, dining room and open kitchen, is similarly bedecked with restored and agreeably weathered furniture. The progressive use of medieval space, doing as little as possible and sigh-inducing countryside views punctuate stays here, which are only interrupted by alluring eating options in nearby Pienza, Montepulciano, Montichiello and Montefollonico.

La Frateria di Padre Eligio (outside Cetona)
Via di San Francesco; singles €140-160, doubles €220-240 (including breakfast)
This is probably the most historic, best-value sleeping option available to non-royalty. Up a signed lane (‘Mondox la Frateria Conv S Francesco’) 1km from Cetona on the road to Sarteano, this is a former convent dating from 1212. It’s been painstakingly restored and converted into an unforgettable, seven-room hotel and gourmet restaurant (meals without wine are a steep €110 per person), where you can expect a lavish eight-course dining experience, 90% of which is made from local products.

La Corte Del Re (Arezzo)
Via Borgunto 5; singles €60-75, doubles €70-90 (including air-con and internet)
A collection of six apartments, centimeters from Arezzo’s Piazza Grande, harmoniously blending contemporary design into elements of the historic building. The Pietro Aretino Suite has an ultra-modern bathroom that bleeds right into an Etruscan wall. Some apartments have kitchenettes and views of the square. There’s a three night minimum stay.

Hotel San Michele (Cortona)
Via Guelfa 15; doubles €79-220 (including breakfast, air-con and wi-fi)
This is Cortona’s finest hotel, which is surprising when you take into account their frequent discounted room rates. The property is primarily Renaissance, but with elements dating from the 12th century and modifications over subsequent centuries, it’s like a little history of Cortona in stone. Rooms are airy, spacious and exquisitely furnished. Unfortunately, for every week there are €79 rooms, there are two weeks with €200 rooms, so plan carefully. If you’re driving, parking will cost €20. Wi-fi costs €3 per hour.

L’Andana (outside Castiglione della Pescaia)
Doubles €500 (including breakfast, pool, internet, wi-fi and parking)
That’s right, rooms are €500 per night. When you coast down the gated, kilometer-long, tree-lined dirt track flanked by vineyards, olive trees and 50 sq km of rolling hills and rock up to this once summer abode of Duke Leopold, you’ll know why. Opened in 2004 and designed with the help of French three-star Michelin chef Alain Ducasse, this 16th-century property is the last hotel you’ll ever want to stay in. And you can bet your tongue that the onsite Trattoria Toscana (open for dinner only from Tuesday to Sunday) won’t disappoint. Avail yourself of the indoor and outdoor swimming pools, spa with signature treatments, tennis court, 18-hole golf course, lobby wi-fi and the largest showers in Tuscany – maybe Europe.

_____________________________________________________

Win a copy of Lonely Planet Tuscany & Umbria!

I am giving away two copies of the new Tuscany & Umbria guidebook. For a chance to win, simply leave a comment in any of this month’s Tuscany posts. You are invited to comment on each post as often as you like, but you will only earn one chance per post. So, for example, if you leave 12 comments across five posts, that’s still only five chances to win. Capisce?* Random digressions about my sex appeal are warmly welcome, but will not increase your chances.

You can earn additional chances by tweeting posts. Same rules apply. So theoretically you can earn two chances per post: one chance by leaving a comment, a second chance by tweeting the post.

Comment and tweet counting will end on Friday February 5th, 2010. The drawing will be held on Saturday, February 6th.

*Yes, I know it’s supposed to be ‘capisci‘. I used it wrong for comic effect and because I’m a rebel.

Share on Facebook

Related posts:

1. Best cheap sleeps in Tuscany Scroll to the bottom of this post to see how...
2. The best cheap eats in Tuscany Scroll to the bottom of this post to see how...
3. The Killing Batteries Best (and Worst) of Tuscany list for 2009 It’s finally done. I know this is incredibly delayed (I...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Paris Catacombs – Deep below the city of Paris visitors can wander the old cramped city quarries lined from floor to ceiling with human bones. The walls are packed with skulls and bones in various decorative shapes and patterns.
With the removal of the Saints-Innocents Cemetery in the late 1800s, the remains were transferred to a section of the Quarries of Paris creating Municipal Ossuary or, as it is referred to today, The Catacombs.
Entrance is 8€, with reduced ticket prices available to seniors and students.

Sedlec Ossuary – The Sedlec Ossuary is a small chapel in the suburbs of Kutna Hora in the Czech Republic. With the expansion of the surrounding cemetery in the 14th and 15th centuries, older graves were exhumed and the bones went on to create this grim chapel.
The Sedlec Ossuary is ornamented everywhere in human bones. A large chandelier of skulls and bones hangs from the ceiling, while a multitude of other skeletal embellishments line the stairs, ceiling, and walls.
Admission: 30CZK, and 20CZK for students.

Capela dos Ossos – This Chapel of Bones, built in the 16th century, is located in Evora, Portugal. Here skulls and bones are set into cement, while perfect human skeletons are recreated in several corners.
Admission: 2€.

Hallstatt Ossuary – The Austrian city of Hallstatt, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to the Hallstatt Beinhaus, also called the Charnel House. This ossuary was established in the 1700s in order to make room for more graves. This small Beinhaus is crammed with some 1200 exhumed human skulls that have been bleached in the sun and painted with the names of the deceased, colorful flowers, or personally symbolic images.
Admission: 1€.

Capuchini Bone Chapel – The Capuchini Crypt is located beneath the Our Lady of the Conception of the Capuchins in Rome, Italy. Five of the six rooms of this are decorated with the bones of Capuchin friars, with some rooms dedicated to specific bones of the body. Working chandeliers of bone throw light on the skeletal designs of this crypt.
Entrance is by donation

There may be no force in nature as powerful, as engaging, as frightening or as beautiful as the sight of a volcano in full eruption. When you see such a thing in video, you really do get a perspective on how explosive nature can be and that we are just creatures on this earth and small creatures at that. In America, there are only a few active volcanoes that could ever visit upon us the kind of destruction that we have seen in documentaries of the great eruptions of history. And in recent memory, the volcano that has stopped our nation in its tracks with its explosive power was the eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980.

That historic eruption is one of those history stopping events that you can remember exactly where you were when you became aware that a major volcanic eruption was going on right here on the mainland of the United States. We watched with wonder as the volcano created rivers of steaming gas, magma and boiling rivers for miles in its wake and leveled acre after acre of trees in a wave of destruction that reminded people more of an atomic bomb than of an act of nature.

Now as the devastation has somewhat become a civilized place and as the Mount St. Helens has returned to its brooding state, this can be one of the most inspiring sightseeing trips you can take your family on in any of the fifty states. Prepare to gasp and stand in awe as you drive up the prepared pathway to the devastation area. You will see that the Parks Service has worked hard to preserve the site exactly as nature left it when the mountain exploded so many years ago.

The way the site of this incredible volcanic eruption has been handled since the event will pass along to you a deep sense of reverence for nature and her powerful forces which were at work that day. The park rangers and custodians are very careful to explain that every effort is being made not to disturb the natural setting of the devastated landscape. The idea is that this is part of the natural molding process that our earth goes through and we need to not disturb it in any way to the lands around the volcano can recover and re-grow in a natural, evolutionary way. So you can still see the thousands of trees blown down facing away from the mountain showing the power of the blast and how it literally laid everything flat in the path of the destruction.

The beautiful visitors stations at different levels of the mountain side are carefully set up to give you maximum view of what can only be described as a breathtaking landscape that looks as much like the surface of an alien planet as it does part of planet earth. You can even take walks along paths that go a short distance into the now desert like conditions of the mountains. But you must be careful not to pick up a rock or disturb the landscape in any way in keeping with the philosophy of the naturalists who do not want to see this area distracted from the natural recovery that nature has in mind.

To complete your full appreciation of the shocking power and violence of the eruption of Mount St. Helens, the visitor's center has some outstanding videos you can watch that were taken before, during and after the powerful blast. You will find yourself wanting to whistle with amazement as you see entire lakes displaced, whole forests reduced to rubble and then see the entire top of a mountain blown entirely away from an underground force as powerful as our most impressive bombs. To go from those films out to see the crater of the mountain live from the perch of the visitors center and even see plumbs of smoke still seeping out from the volcano center gives you the shivers because you know and the scientists know that this is still a powerful volcano and that it will erupt again.

691

1. Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is the main attraction in Valencia. There are 4 different attractions here and the Arts and Craft center gets over 4 million visitors a year. You will find the Hemisferuc, which is a planetarium, IMAX cinema and a laser show. Then you will have the Museo de las Ciencias Principe Felipe which is an interactive science museum. The Oceanographic is one that the children will not want to miss. There is enough water here to fill 15 Olympic pools, with underwater tunnels and a place where people can see different forms of marine life. The Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia has seating for 4,400 people where people perform plays and operas.

2. Cathedrals are found in many Spanish cities. This cathedral was built using different architectural styles. It is claimed that the Holy Grail is kept here.

3. Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno (IVAM) is being expanded and it houses an impressive collection of 20th Century Spanish art. At the top of the tower you will be able to see the marks left by the cannonballs fired by Napoleon's troops during the invasion in the 19th century.

4. Museo de Bellas Artes has artwork by El Greco, Goya, Velazquez, Murillo and other artists.

5. Museo de Historia de Valencia shows more than 2,000 years of the history of Valencia.

6. Palacoio del Marques de Dos Aguas has a display of ceramic from around the world.

7. Plaza del Marcado used to be the Valencian commodity exchange and it is now a World Heritage Site. You also have the Mercado Central which is a covered market.

8. Torres de Serranos and Torres de Quart are part of the old city walls. Torres de Serranos was the main exit to Barcelona and the Torres de Quart faced towards Madrid.

9. Palau de la Generalitat is a 15th Century building built in the Gothic style and is the government building of the area.

10. Plaza de la Virgen is on a site that was once a forum for the Roman Valencia and it is where the north, south, east and west highways met. There is a statue of the Virgin Mary who is the patron of the city. You also have the Cripta de la Carcel de San Vicente Martir which was used as a prison for the 4th century martyr San Vicente.

A better option: If you want all purpose tool this flat, credit card shape tool is usually well under $10 bucks.

5. Ginourmous neck pillows. Ugh! Really? Then you have to lug the thing around the whole trip! These always seem like a good idea, but they’re pricy and bulky. I’d say skip it.

A better option: A super comfy fleece jacket, that you can use as your outer wear during cold nights and folds up into a make-shift pillow, when you travel.

6. Travel kits of any flavor. Travel nail files kits, travel shaving kits, travel toiletries kits. If it says kit, drop it. Most kits have tons of crap in them you’ll never use, and as soon as you pull it apart, you’ll start losing pieces left and right.

A better option: Figure out what you’ll really need, buy an empty kit bag and store it in there. Add a couple of unused large zip lock backs to keep your toiletries separate or to store small items that you pick up as you travel.

7. More than one guidebook. They are big and heavy and frequently outdated. Take a general guidebook or one for the country you’re spending the most time in. Most hotels and hostels have some spare copies if you need to look something up, so save yourself the trouble and leave em at home.

A better option: Use Lonely Planet’s pick and choose by chapter shopping, where you can compile the information you’ll really need, and leave the read at home.

8. Multi-purpose monstrocities: anything that claims to be a alarm clock/radio/Panini grill, is just looking for an excuse to charge more without a whole lot more value.

A better option: Need an alarm clock? Will your cell phone work? Or your watch? better to set an alarm on something you’ll have with you anyway.

9. Every single thing at Brookstone. Period.

A better option: Cash.

10. Complicated hydration kits or water purifiers. You’re going to Europe, not the Sahara. There will be clean water or bottled water. Relax.

A better option: Instead create a small first aid kit, with all the essentials: aspirin, band aids, tape and gauze, a small sewing kit, safety pins and sunblock.

And you? What’s on your Christmas (un)list?

Post from: Europe String

When the crowds head for Spain for their vacation, they tend to opt for all the well known places. But these well known beaches are also full of people; especially when children are out of school during vacation time. The way to avoid the crowds is to find out about the little known Spanish Beaches and Coves. These are places where you can feel like you are on a desert island and you don't want to share your discoveries with other people.

If you go to the South of the country you will find 90 km of coastline. Since it is on the Atlantic Ocean rather than the Mediterranean Sea, it will be slightly cooler. In summer, that means it will still be hot and it will be an ideal place to get away from it all. Here you will find Costa De La Luz where the coastline is unspoiled and it is not a destination that many people have discovered. Spaniards come here and, in July and August, you will find the people celebrating the fiestas. Apart from that, very few people seem to visit here.

There is a wonderful little village which is on a hidden beach called Bolonia. It is a fine white sand beach and the population of this little village is only 125 people. There are a few restaurants in this village, but it is perfect for your vacation hideaway. You are able to walk along the coastline and you will arrive at different beaches along this coastline which are less known to tourists.

You might decide you want to visit an area which is well-known, like Costa Brava. Northeast and southwest of Tossa are many rocky coves some of which have very quiet beaches. If you go north from Llafranc you will find Tamariu which has a small cove. It is said that the water here is some of the most translucent on the Mediterranean coastline. If you head to Begur, you will find a series of small beaches. If you go from there to Fornells, you will find a hamlet on a beautiful beach in the Costa Brava, which includes a marina, beach and clear blue water.

As you search your favorite destination in Spain you will find lots of hidden places to explore. You will find lots of little known Spanish beaches and coves for you to get away from the tourists and be alone with your friends and family. There are many beautiful beaches and coves waiting to be discovered. Take some time to get away from the crowds and see what is waiting for you in some of the different destinations.