5 Lists You Need While You Travel

I used to be the purist while I travelled. I would book spur of the moment, and just travel where my passport could take me. I would show up on location and absorb every last bit of culture my tiny body could handle. Then it was time to return home.
After returning home, I would hear stories about all the wonderful things that destination had to offer, that I may have overlooked. I was shocked to think that I didn’t absorb all that I could have. I had been unprepared, and it cost me what I dreaded the most: lack of experiences. I had been to Ireland and missed the Ring of Kerry. I had been to Germany, but never seen the Black Forest.
I had become determined to give up my spur of the moment, purist ways. I had to start travelling with my mind as well as my heart. Here are the 5 lists I use to prepare for my travels.

1. Destination Hotspots – Whether online, in magazines or travel books, there is a constant flow of information on travel destinations. It is important to understand what the hotspots are in your destination and the specific areas you will be in. There are the larger tourist traps for every city, but look into smaller towns or attractions that might be off the beaten path. Look at what will be important to you. Have you always wanted to go horseback riding in the Rocky Mountains? Look for what operators are suggested and their booking policies. For a two week vacation, I will list 7 things that I must see, organized by priority. This leaves room for transportation and relaxing.

2. The Important Information List – When travelling independently, this list is a must. I keep a list of all of the accommodations, transportation, and attractions that I have booked. The list usually consists of contact information, dates of booking, and the confirmation number. The list stays in my wallet so that I never lose it. If it should get separated from my vouchers or receipts, then I will not be totally lost. If you are travelling with a tour group, then it may not be as necessary but still a good idea.

3. The Souvenir List – As I have posted before, I love to keep a list of souvenir ideas. Not just for others but for myself. It helps me remember not only who to buy for, but how much I need. It’s also a good idea to keep in mind your baggage requirements for the airline you are travelling with. Don’t try to bring home twenty bottles of Jamaican rum. You still have to fly home with it. To read more about this list, read my post here.

4. The Packing List – This is the obvious choice, but also the most important. Review all of the information that you already gathered. Are there any specific items you will need to bring to any of the hotspots you selected? An underwater camera for the scuba diving excursion? Or maybe you forgot to print out all of the vouchers you bought online.

5. The Welcome Home List – For every trip I take, there is always one list that gets left behind. Intentionally, of course. I write at the top of it with big, bold letters, “Welcome home!” I follow that with instructions for myself to follow. When I am preparing to leave, I keep notes of everything I will need to do when I get back. Returning from my travels, I always seem to be bogged down by jetlag, or the reverse culture-shock. It’s easy to forget to turn the water heater back on or to go pick up my dog from the neighbours.

Keeping lists has helped me stay organized and optimize my travel itineraries. I have been able to see more, in less time. My lists aren’t always complete, and there will certainly always be holes, but I try not to sweat the small stuff. I like to be organized but I guess I am still a purist at heart.

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The Traveller’s New Years Resolution

We all want to aim a little higher in the New Year. We want to be smarter and skinnier. We want to be out of debt and free by this time next year. We want to move more and be moved. 2013, like so many before him, has a lot of weight to carry on his shoulders.

I’ve always loved the idea of organizing all of my hopes and dreams. I would spend my new year’s day writing out a list of all of my expectations for the year to come. I’m sure I’m not alone in that. It’s a great way to create a visual goal.

For the last five years there have been the same three goals: lose weight, pay off debt, and find my dream job. Five years older and five years wiser, but all the same flaws.

So let’s aim a little higher. Let’s look a little further and delve a little deeper.

What do I really want to accomplish?

• I want to take a road trip without knowing my destination.
• I want to get someone else as addicted to the journey as I am.
• I want to (finally) start my collection of pressed wildflowers from around the world.
• I want to push my car’s odometer to its limits.

There’s more to my life than money and weight. It’s time to change my perspective. It’s time to prove I’m five years wiser.

My Idea of a Merry Christmas

Scrooge said it best after all.

I am usually the first to throw up the mistletoe and hum Good King Wenceslas. I hate to be the one in the corner, muttering “bah humbug” and cursing at the cheerful Christmas music but this just isn’t my year.

I can’t listen to the radio, for fear of hearing those dreaded jingles. I can’t look out my window, without seeing those damn Christmas lights. And I certainly can’t spend my rare days off relaxing, because I have presents to wrap.

Yes I know. It’s the holidays. Everyone is suffering.

So, I have come to a most wonderful conclusion. This time next year, I will be in a land far, far away. I am determined to spend my next holidays abroad. My dreams for the next year will get me through the holidays. These are my favourite choices:

1. River Cruise: Avalon Waterways (part of the Globus family of brands) has a few river cruises specifically designed for the Christmas theme. Granted, this is a horrible way to escape the Holiday hurricane, but it might make it more bearable. The Christmas Time in Alsace and Germany cruise embarks in Zurich, cruises through the Alsace region in France and ends in Frankfurt.  There is also the Christmas Time on the Danube cruise from Nuremburg to Vienna. Oh yes, I think I could tolerate Christmas very well on that cruise.
2. Irish Cottage in the Country: Ever since I was a child, I could see myself in a quaint cottage, perched perfectly at the edge of the rolling hills of the Irish countryside. The cold wintery nights would seem peaceful next to the fireplace with a pint of Guiness (or Balmers). Not only could I stay in my dream cottage, but the castles and manors would be a wonderful way to spend my holidays.
3. Maui: I have to admit, this idea might be a bit influenced by the famous Bing Crosby song. I get excited just thinking of myself with flowers in my hair, sipping a tropical drink and dancing to the tune. Not exactly the white Christmas we’ve all dreamed about, but I would make the sacrifice for a white sandy beach. Who would be brave enough to even whisper “Bah humbug” then?

Maybe it wasn’t Scrooge who said it best, after all. I’m beginning to think it was Bing Crosby.

Mele Kalikimaka, my friends!

Meeting My Great-Grandfather

I spent my entire life passing through rooms with photos of him. He was a short man with sparkling eyes. My grandma keeps photos of her father all over the house. There is one picture of him in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a bombardier, standing a whopping five foot one. There are photos of him in family portraits. Even a rare picture from his childhood. Yet, not a single photo has a smile in it. Whenever I stopped to look at his picture I couldn’t help but wonder why he always looked like he was laughing. Like he had the punch line to a joke that wasn’t finished being told.

His parents were the first of our family to come to Canada from Italy, and he was only a baby. He grew up knowing Canada to be his home, and he never looked back. His parents spoke Italian, and barely knew English. Their neighbourhood in Toronto was more Italian than Italy itself. They didn’t need to speak English. When my great grandpa met his wife and they began a family of their own, they moved out of that neighbourhood and only spoke English, refusing to teach their children Italian.

It was from that point on, my family lost a large part of its heritage. They had built a wall, a language barrier that our ancestors could not surpass. My grandma and her sister grew up never understanding or truly appreciating their family.

It was always somewhat of a joke to us. The yelling and the loving and the hand gestures. We laughed at ourselves for being such stereotypes, but we never knew what it meant. It never felt like it was in our blood.

Some might say that was the punch line. And maybe it was, but that’s not the end of the joke. In May, I went with my family to Italy, tracing the footsteps of those that traveled before us. We found a piece of our heritage and ourselves that had long been forgotten.

Today, I am proud to say that although I never met the man, I know my great-grandfather well.

His name was Mario, and I am his descendant.

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Travel Bingo: Not Just for Kids

As the youngest of three children, my parents loved to distract me with activities while travelling. We often piled into the van and hit the road, not stopping until we arrive at Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia. My mom in her infinite wisdom had her lucky bag of tricks to keep us from turning on each other. There were always the classics like “I spy-“ or finding the license plate from all of Canada’s provinces. My favourite of her tricks was always the bingo card she made from construction paper and markers. They always included the standard: See a moose, see a lighthouse, and find a Volkswagen Beetle. Some of them were collections like collecting 20 maple leaves, or collect 15 sea shells. Not only were we able to fill our bingo cards, but we came home with great souvenirs and cherished memories.

Almost 15 years later, and I have decided to embrace the travel bingo card again. On a recent trip to Italy, our group had so many different things they wanted to experience, it was hard to keep track. Everyone wanted to see the Roman coliseum, eat a pizza in Naples, push the leaning tower of Pisa, have gelato in Amalfi, throw a coin in a fountain and so much more. It didn’t take me long to realize that we could add a little challenge to each experience. I asked everyone to name their top experiences that were a must-have. I made the list into bingo card for everyone, small enough to fit into a purse or a pocket.

Our bingo cards consisted of:

• Watch Italian Soccer
• Eat a Pizza Pie
• Eat gelato
• See a Ferrari
• Eat Pasta
• Get flipped off in Italian (this really didn’t take long)
• Throw Coins in a Fountain
• Push the Tower of Pisa
• Find Mario and Luigi
• Take a Winery Tour
• Mafia Sighting (this is another story)
• Take a Museum Tour
• Ride a Vespa
• Take a Gondola Ride
• Swim in the Mediterranean
• Pick Fresh Olives
• Drink an Espresso
• But Italian Leather
• See the Pope
• Receive the “Italian Cheek Kiss”

We were fairly flexible with some of these activities. No one saw the actual pope, but there were photos and statues of him, that we accepted as a sighting. It was the unexpected that kept the game fun. And the creativity of the participants!

My dad was the first to complete his bingo card, and it still bothers me. I can’t prove that he cheated yet. But I will.

Oh I will.

My Travel Toolbox – Packing for a day trip

This isn’t my packing list for the entire trip. This is my day trip packing list. This is everything I try to fit into my purse and camera bag. I have been lucky enough find a perfect bag for me. It fits everything that I need for my camera, plus the extra necessities. This may not sound very difficult to do. Most people can find a camera bag with very little effort, but not me. I need one that is spacious on the inside but not bulky on the outside. It must be so organized that everything is easily accessible. There must be pockets but not too many pockets that it becomes cluttered. It must be comfortable and stylish. In addition to everything, it must be safe enough that I can wear it while I travel, without feverishly worrying about my belongings.

I use a satchel-style bag that rests across my body instead of in my hand or over my shoulder. It also secures tightly with an inside zipper and an overlapping flap that snaps the sides together. Whenever I am in public, I wear the bag so that the flap rests against me, hopefully giving one more barrier to a pick pocket.

The bag has room for my day-trip toolbox:

• Important documents for the day (bus pass, entrance tickets, etc.)
• Journal – a smaller version of my travel journal. This is my little notepad with a palm sized pen. I use this to take notes in the moment. It’s a great way to pass time waiting in line, or on a bus. It also helps me write a more detailed travel journal.
• Snack – Depending on where you are travelling, there are snacks readily available from vendors or convenience stores. They can also be ridiculously overpriced. Bringing your own snack can be an effective way to keep your costs down. It can also keep you satisfied if you are in an area without vendors and stores. If you are hiking with the family or taking a scenic drive, a snack can be a life-saver. Please keep in mind; you must be careful of hiking in the wilderness. Always be conscious of attracting dangerous wildlife with the food you bring. And of course, if you bring it in, take it out! Take your snack wrappers and garbage with you. Bring a plastic bag to keep your garbage and dispose of it when you return.
• Camera Bag – My camera bag is essential to me. I could walk out of the hotel room naked, as long as I had my camera bag. Don’t worry, that doesn’t happen very often. I try to keep the contents of my camera bag fairly minimal, so that in the case of being lost or stolen, I won’t be totally desolate.
  • Camera
  • Extra disk
  • Table top tripod
• Language reference – This has saved me several times in both Italy and France. It’s surprisingly easy to find yourself in a situation, if you don’t speak the language. Many travellers assume that wherever they go, there will be someone who speaks English.  That doesn’t mean we will be understood. In my experience, most of the people who speak English are the ones in the tourism industry. This is good, until you go out for dinner or decide to go shopping. Or you are on the bus and a woman starts yelling at you in Italian and you can’t tell if she’s angry or emphatically speaking to you. Well, like I said, the language reference has saved me several times, and I will never leave the hotel without it.

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Intro to the Trent-Severn Waterway

This is a sad time of year for boaters in cottage country. It’s time to pull out the boats and winterize them. All we can do is look back on our summer days and embrace the memories until spring comes around again. That’s what I’ll be doing. I have the good fortune to live on Gloucester Pool, a small section of the Trent Severn waterway. I may be biased but few can dispute that this is a beautiful area. The Trent-Severn waterway connects Georgian Bay and the Muskokas to the Severn River, Lake Simcoe and ending in Trenton. Through Lake Ontario one could, and many do, venture through the St. Lawrence River and to the Atlantic Ocean. All from my humble front yard. I strongly suggest everyone should see the Trent-Severn waterway at least once. You don’t have to travel the length of it, but its one of the greatest getaways Ontario has to offer. I’ve learned a few things since taking up my residence on the Pool for you to consider before hopping on a boat. 

• It takes patience, knowledge and timing to travel through the waterway. It’s easy for people to take the water for granted. It can be a dangerous place for those unaware of the rules and why they are in place. Some boaters are too impatient to slow down in a no-wake zone. Some simply don’t understand the signs and buoys that line the shores and mark the waterway. Of all the things I have learned, the most important is that there are rules on the water, just like there are rules on the road.
• One of the best tips I have learned has been to keep boating in the fall. Not too late, as the weather begins to get unpredictable and unfavourable. Keep boating until the leaves change colour. Tourists flock to the Muskokas in the fall to watch as the rolling hills become tinted with oranges and golds. Imagine the reflecting  colours on the lakes. Try it once, you won’t be sorry.
• I’ve also learned that the best way for boaters to enjoy the waters, is to get off the boat! Step out of the marinas and venture just a little further into town. No one knows the waterways better than the locals. You could take the kids to a nearby beach. Stop for lunch at a local diner, or wander the shops on main street.  Its strangely fulfilling to wander back to your boat after a couple hours of casual shopping. You can unload your gifts or souvenirs, cast off and boat off into the distance.

Consider it a self-guided river cruise. Rhine-Danube, eat your heart out!