BIG TIP!!!!

Hey everyone! Just found one of those once in a lifetime bookings. Royal Caribbean 10night Cruise from Venice to Greece for only $624. You better believe that if I had the money I would be on that ship!
It sails in October, so if you have a passport and you're looking for a fun getaway this is it.

Invisible Issues

Greeting blog followers! Sorry I've been MIA for about a month now, but work and life have been crazy. It's almost like they're trying to say "Well you went to Italy so now you have to work 6 days a week at 50+ hours. You're welcome!" It's getting to be a bit much. Add that to the fact I keep getting passed over for this training I deserve... Well it's all very frustrating! But that's not what I want to write about today. Today is all about the hidden problems that a traveler might face!

I'm sure you've all heard about the Summer Bay Resort horror. If not, here have a quick read! This actually just across the road from me. We were in our apartment when it happened and it felt like somebody drove a truck into our building!

What I think is really interesting is that I had family stay at this resort less than 3 weeks ago! They loved it. Raved about it, in fact! I was planning to go check it out on my weekend, but now it's a media nightmare. News trucks EVERYWHERE. This is just one of those that you can never expect to happen to the property you're staying at! Mold, pests, aging damages- these all can be prevented, but if the ground just opens up below you, what can you possibly do?!

Short answer? Nothing. As a traveler you need to be aware that there are going to be issues beyond your control and the control of the properties you visit. There's a time and place to threaten lawsuits, this is not it!

Here are a couple other invisible issues that you should be aware of!

1. Food Recall. Is it really the end of life as we know it if they pull all the cucumber from the buffet line of your cruise?! Would you rather they let you get sick?! It is out of everyone's control if the government decides something is unsafe and issues a national recall. I guess you'll have to substitute carrots!

2. Weather. Now this is one that goes both ways! If they are predicting a hurricane and you still choose to fly into Miami, well I think we know who is at fault in this situation... However if the forecast says mostly sunny and it rains for about an hour every day of your Disney trip there's nothing you or I or the hotel can do to make it stop. Just load up your poncho and tough it out!?

Political Unrest and breaking down the barriers of sterotypes.

Political turmoil is part of life these days, and security in Europe has never been tighter. Countries from Britain to Italy continue to deal with internal discord, from separatists to religious extremists. An awareness of current social and political problems is as important to smart travel as a listing of top sights. As some popular destinations are entertaining tourists with "sound and light" shows in the old town, they're quelling angry demonstrations in the new.
Travel broadens our perspective, enabling us to rise above the 24-hour advertiser-driven entertainment we call news — and see things as citizens of our world. By plugging directly into the present and getting the European take on things, a traveler gets beyond traditional sightseeing and learns "today's history."
There are many peoples fighting the same thrilling battles for political rights we Americans won more than 200 years ago. Racial, religious, and linguistic groups rarely color within the lines, so don't just assume that an area is safe.
Understand a country's linguistic divisions. It's next to impossible to keep everyone happy in a multilingual country. Switzerland has four languages, but everyone speaks some German. In Belgium, there's tension between the Dutch- and French-speaking halves. And Hungarians living in Slovakia had to rely on European Court intervention to get road signs in their native language. Europe's linguistic underdogs will tell you their language receives equal treatment only on cornflakes boxes, and many are working toward change.
Look beyond the pretty pictures in your tourist brochures for background on how your destination's demographic makeup may be ­causing problems today or tomorrow. Start following newspaper articles and surfing the Web a few months in advance to gather political news on what's happening.
With this foundation and awareness, you can get the most out of the nearly unavoidable opportunities to talk with involved locals about complex current situations. At any pub on the Emerald Isle, you'll get an earful of someone's passionate feelings about "the Troubles." In Russia and Eastern Europe, whenever you want some political or economic gossip, sit alone in a cafe. After a few minutes and some eye contact, you'll have company and a fascinating chat. Young, well-dressed people are most likely to speak (and want to practice) English.
In the wake of the global economic crisis, European governments and businesses are struggling to continue providing the generous cradle-to-grave benefits that their citizens expect. As these items are trimmed from the budget, new waves of protests sweep across the already strike-happy Continent. While American tourists are at virtually zero risk from these demonstrations, it's smart to be aware of them so that you can avoid being in the wrong place at the wrong time...and to better understand one more facet of the European experience.
Wherever you travel, be prepared for a challenge when the topic shifts to American foreign policy. Among deaf people, the international sign-language symbol for "American" is the "fat cat" — holding your arms around an imaginary big belly. Like it or not, people around the world look at America as the kingpin of a global and ruthless game of Monopoly. As a person who loves his country, I see travel as a patriotic exercise in promoting people-to-people diplomacy and global understanding. 

The 24 hour Rule

Most travelers don't know but when you purchase a plane ticket, you usually have 24hrs to change your mind and receive a full refund. That grace period was originally established by the Airlines Reporting Corporation, which handles ticketing services  behind the scene for more than 130 airlines. It was adopted long ago to give customers a chance to address any second thoughts or for a travel agency to review and correct any issues.
Most  airlines and travel agencies still offer customers 24 hours to cancel and get a full refund. Companies don't go out of their way to inform you of this, which is why I'm here! If you get your ticket receipt via email, read the fine print- you'll most likely have to call for any chances.
Just keep in mind, that if making changes you can only book currently available fares!

Book Review

One of the best reads ever about travel is "Adventures of a Continental Drifter" by Elliott Hester. It's a re-account of his travels around the world and in his words "An around-the-world excursion into weirdness, danger, lust, and the perils of street food." This is one of the funniest books on travel out there.

This book is more about the crazy tales that traveling gives you. It will inspire you to explore areas of the world you never had considered before, like Addis Ababa in Africa or Mysore, India. This book was one of the reasons I was so excited when I visited Tallinn. I highly recommend this read, full of laughs and thought.

Rental Cars

I've rented cars in both Europe and Central America. Neither has been an enjoyable process, but to get the most experiences out of certain locations you sometimes can't void the pains. OR if you're traveling in a larger party, it is sometimes more economical to rent a car. Just beware, there are so many hidden fees with car rental. Budget Travel posted a great article about it, but those are just a few. Here are the ones that I had to learn the hard way!
Filling the Tank: In the U.S. we sure complain about the price of fuel, but let me assure you that we are better off than our European counterparts! On my Euro-Road Trip this past summer we spent more that 800EUROS in gas. It was unexpected and in the end, we wished we would have saved the money and each bought a rail-pass instead.
G.S.P Fee: This is the same everywhere, but in the U.S. I would never have thought of NEEDING a GSP. I'm pretty handy with a map, so I'm usually replying on those skills. However, in countries where I can't read the road signage as well, I have splurged on a G.P.S.- splurged being the operative word!
Like I previously stated, sometimes the need for a car is unavoidable, but here are some interesting alternatives. No matter where you travel, local or abroad beware of the hidden fees of the rental car!

Traveling Alone

Solo journeys are something I true love. I embrace the excitement in knowing that this trip might change me and only me in some profound way. As a solo traveler I am more likely to stray from a path and just follow where my wondering heart leads... often I get lost, but the places I find are well worth the taxi ride back.
However, as a solo traveler I am reckless. I rarely think about my safety, which would make my family shiver. A 26yr old woman in a foreign place alone is a very easy target. Budget Travel post this article recently and I couldn't agree more. So what can we do to stay safe when traveling alone?
Dress: Be appropriate. What you are wearing says a lot to the public and in certain countries can seem as an invitation. Modesty is always the best policy.
Communication: I try to let my friends and family know points of contact on any trip I am taking. It usually includes my itinerary, housing information, and a schedule of times they should expect an email from me. I also have photocopies of all of my travel documents (passports, visas, birth certificate) with my next of kin.
Day Travel: Do most of your sightseeing during the day. If you want to visit something at night, be cautious. Stay in well-lit areas with lots of people.

Most importantly, use common sense. This is your safety! After all, we don't want this trip to be your last.

Not the work of an artist

I've never taken a photography course or followed a blog about it, but throughout my travels I have been fairly lucky with my pictures. I'm not sure what makes a great photo. I think it's something to do with lighting and composition, but for me, it's usually luck. Here are my favorite pieces of art down by my own hand. Share some of yours as well!

Lake Arenal, Costa Rica- I like the contrast of Shadow and Sunset.

Prague, Czech Republic- These are just parking barricades, but they lined up nicely.

Kassel, Germany- Looks like something from Lord of the Rings to me.

Rhine River, Germany- Perfect visual summery of late autumn in Germany.

Washington D.C., Human Art

Amsterdam, Holland- This was the set up of some little tourist shop and it turned out so great! Definitely my favorite!

Gothenburg, Sweden- The Grass on either side makes this photo really pop!

So are there any photos you've taken that have made you stop and think "Wow! Did this come from my camera?!" Share them with us!