tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39995397088049026172024-02-07T04:49:41.740-08:00My love of TravelAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04611852514199107363noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3999539708804902617.post-20587621372007453052013-12-15T09:39:00.000-08:002013-12-15T09:39:15.977-08:00How I handled difficult situations while traveling<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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In my previous blog I described typical difficult situations
that could befall travelers and how they could best be handled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this blog I will share with you some of
the situations that I encountered on my travels and how I was able to overcome
them and still enjoy my vacations.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With each mishap I was either initially disappointed or
panicked but had to deal with them to the best of my ability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In certain cases I had to miss out on
activities but was able to do other things instead. I calmed myself although it
was difficult so that I could think clearly on how to proceed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then thought of different ways to resolve
each situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chose the best
solution and carried it through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once
resolved I stayed positive and made the best of each situation so that I would
still have a great time on my vacations.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The mishaps that I experienced included having my overnight
bag picked up by a tour group in Amsterdam upon my supposed departure, becoming
sick with a cold in California while visiting my brother, sister in law, and my
nephew who was a toddler at the time, missing my shuttle from Halifax to PEI
due to lack of information either on my part or theirs in addition to having a
cold and losing my luggage keys, and then tripping and spraining my ankle in
Newfoundland.</div>
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<br /></div>
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In Amsterdam when I saw that my bag was not there the first
thing I did was to ask the front desk if they saw anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then went to the bus which housed the tour
and tried asking in Spanish ‘hablo ingles’ (do you speak English) so that I
could explain the situation. No one answered and so I tried looking in the
overhead compartments but did not find it there or in the luggage compartment
below. In the meantime I had missed my train and boat and had to book another
spot with overnight passage which cost me more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After calling my friend in London and explaining to her what had
happened and that I would only arrive the next day I made the best of the
situation and went to the Van Gogh museum and spent the afternoon there until I
had to catch my train and boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon my
return to London I went to the airline office and had my airline ticket home
reprinted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good news is that I had
my passport and money on me in my money belt and I still enjoyed my last few
days in London with my friend although I did lose things like developed
pictures and undeveloped film and a couple of gold chains.</div>
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<br /></div>
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In California I had come down with a cold in San Diego right
before I was going to visit my brother in Los Angeles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was quite disappointed as one of my main
reasons for going to California was to spend time with my little nephew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because I was sick I had to stay away from
him and to continually wash my hands due to my brother’s concern which I
completely understood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To combat this he
took me for a drive through Bel Air and Beverly Hills enabling me to sit and
rest so that I could still enjoy my time with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also did the best I could to take care of
my cold and to rest so that my health would improve by the time I would leave.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Halifax after realizing that the shuttle was not coming
and then finding out from the company that I was supposed to be waiting 45
minutes before the departure time I did my best to explain to them that they
had not notified me of that information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course they denied it which is typical of a lot of companies so
basically it was a ‘he said/she said’ type of situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I realized there was little point to
any further argument all I could do was rebook the next day and make sure that
they gave me the proper information this time around which they did plus notify
the hostel in Charlottetown that I would not be there that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily for me the girl at the desk had clippers
and was able to cut the lock of my suitcase and then sell me another lock and
key plus she was kind and empathized with my situations which lifted my
spirits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately it was Sunday and
the stores were closed so there was not much I could do for my cold until the next
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end I was able to put the
events of the morning behind me and then spend the afternoon visiting the
Maritime Museum which I enjoyed very much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The next day I caught the shuttle without any problems which enabled me
to rest during the four hour trip to Charlottetown and once I got there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite all that I still had a wonderful
holiday and got to see what I had set out to.</div>
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<br /></div>
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On my fourth day in St John’s, Newfoundland while blindly crossing
the street my foot got caught in a pot hole resulting in me tripping and
spraining my ankle and scraping my knee really badly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless to say I was feeling down and
disappointed being away from home and having my vacation possibly ruined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was supposed to visit a museum that evening
and I had planned to do some hiking in Gros Morne National Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I could do was to keep my ankle elevated
and iced at the hostel and while I was on the bus ride to Deer Lake and hope
that each day it would improve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
thought that perhaps once I arrived at Deer Lake I would cut my vacation short
and head home from there but in the end I decided to go to Gros Morne and still
make the best of my holidays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On a
positive note the hostel managers made me a meal of moose meat stew and other
Newfoundland specialties, plus they gave me a park pass to avoid paying the
entrance fee, and two girls from Alberta decided that they would travel with me
and share car rentals for the next several days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to bed that night feeling much better
and more uplifted.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thankfully the next two days I was pretty much able to stay
off my ankle as a result of taking a 10 hour bus ride to Deer Lake and then having
one of the girls drive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also took a wonderful
boat tour among fjords which again enabled me to not use my ankle though I
still had to endure a 35 minute walk to and from the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I had heavily bandaged my ankle and
wore my hiking boots so as to keep it stable and I took it slow along the walk.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unfortunately my troubles were not over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few days later the scrape on my knee got
infected and I had to drive to the closest hospital. After waiting an hour I
did get the proper care and was given penicillin and had a medicated bandage
put on my knee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It played a lot on my
emotions because I was all alone in a hospital in unfamiliar territory but it
was important that I have it taken care of before anything serious could
happen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Normally I would have stayed off my ankle as much as
possible for about two weeks but because I was on vacation I knew that I could
not spend the whole time at the hostel so all I could do was to take proper
precautions by keeping my ankle wrapped up and taking things slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gradually each day both my ankle and knee
improved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All in all despite everything
I was able to do shorter and easier hikes and to enjoy the boat tour though I
had to opt out on hiking up Gros Morne Mountain as it is too steep and rocky
and treacherous for a sprained ankle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was also able to enjoy the Theater Festival in Stephenville and to take scenic
drives around the area.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Basically, what I learned from these experiences is that
unfortunately unpleasant things can happen while on vacation causing
disappointments and changes of plans, if necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I realized that I had to figure out ways of
dealing with and resolving these situations in order to make the best of things
and to salvage my vacation and still have a wonderful time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It would be interesting to hear about any predicaments that
may have befallen you and how you dealt with them and still managed to have a
wonderful holiday.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The ruins of Tulum in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico </div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
A beautiful sunset in the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica </div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
A wonderful family Alaskan cruise in the Yukon, Canada </div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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A nice day walking along the streets of Toledo, Spain </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04611852514199107363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3999539708804902617.post-76446752572248945552013-12-15T09:17:00.000-08:002013-12-15T09:17:00.558-08:00Handling difficult situations while traveling<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although travel can be an exciting and learning experience
there are sometimes difficult situations that can happen to anyone while away
from home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sure that everyone has
experienced at least one mishap while on vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mishaps can be anything from falling ill,
injuring oneself, theft, a missed connection, or even worse crime.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At first the situation may seem daunting and one may become
upset, uptight, or start to panic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
best thing is to calm down and think the situation through in order to resolve
it and still be able to enjoy the rest of your holiday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can also learn from each mishap to either
prevent it from happening again, if possible, or better deal with it if it is
out of one’s control.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will provide several examples of difficult situations that
can befall a traveler and how they can best be handled or resolved and the
lesson that one can learn.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What would happen if you arrived at the airport and suddenly
found out that you left your passport at home?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you do not live too far from the airport and there is still plenty of
time before your flight leaves an option would be to return home and retrieve
the passport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if you live a
distance away you can still attempt to return home and take a chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you end up missing the flight you can
always book yourself on another one though it may not be at your convenience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you wish you could speak with an official
there and see if an alternate solution could be presented with other possible
sources of identification or anything else which they may deem legitimate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lesson to be learned is to make sure the
night before that you have everything you need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Go through every room, cabinet, and drawer at home to make sure that
nothing is forgotten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also make a list
and start to pack everything a week prior in case you remember something later
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put essential items like your
passport, papers, medications, etc in your carry on bag and keep everything
together near the front door.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many travelers have been mugged or robbed of all their cash,
credit cards, or identification while abroad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The first thing to do is to cancel all your credit and ATM cards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Find the nearest police station or telephone
the police to report the offense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also
let them know at your accommodations so they can provide assistance as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Call someone from home and have them wire you
some money for the rest of your stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
your passport is amongst the stolen items go to the embassy of your home
country so they can help you out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
the future carry all essentials in a money belt or neck pouch or keep it in the
safe or front desk of your hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make
sure to photocopy your passport and keep a couple of copies with you in
different places, give one to someone you know, and keep one at home.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Plenty of people have had their checked luggage misplaced upon
arrival at their destination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go
immediately to the claims office to report it and describe in as much detail as
possible the contents of the baggage and the suitcase itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What often happens is that the luggage is
found a couple of days later and then sent to their hotel or home whatever the
case may be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not as unpleasant if
one’s luggage is lost on their way home because at least they have their other
clothes plus the comforts of being in their own territory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, if it happens at the beginning of
the trip it can be unpleasant and one is forced to either shop for new clothes
or to wash and wear the same clothes every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are a few solutions that exist to either better deal with it or
prevent it from happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can take two
smaller bags and carry them both on the plane in order to prevent lost
luggage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that is not possible then in
your carry on pack a couple of pairs of undergarments and a jersey or two and
anything else you may need so that you have a few things to live on should your
luggage get lost. Also take a couple of pictures of the bag you are checking so
that you can give them to the claims officers in order to help them locate your
bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the event that your luggage is
not found do your best to enjoy the holiday and activities that you partake in
and take it all in stride with good humor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There have been people who have had accidents and have
broken or sprained something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First
thing to do is to get to a clinic or hospital if it is serious or put some ice
on the injured spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do your best not to
use that part of your body and either rest at your hotel or partake in
activities where you can stay off your feet or not use your arms like driving
or doing a bus tour around the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Another option is to cut your vacation short if it is really serious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always pay attention when walking or doing
sports and also make sure that you have good walking shoes so that you do not
suffer similar mishaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another
important issue is to make sure that you get the proper travel insurance before
you leave on your trip or else you may end up paying huge sums of money for any
medical costs incurred abroad.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are many instances where connections have been missed
due to miscommunication, lack of a wake up call, or an alarm clock not going
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Missed connections could occur with
a flight, train, bus, or shuttle. It is best to call the flight carrier, bus or
train company to arrange for an alternate connection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could also go directly to the airport or
station to see if you can change your ticket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once you have rearranged everything if you have plenty of time before your
alternate departure see if you can visit a museum or site so that you can still
enjoy the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before you leave for
your trip, ensure that your alarm clock is in working order and have a second
set of batteries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the hotel you can
ask for a wake up call and set your alarm so that you are doubly
protected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you make the reservation
by phone make sure you double check the information and write it down clearly
so you have the evidence in case the miscommunication was their fault.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another unpleasant situation is falling severely ill with
influenza or severe diarrhea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go to a
clinic or doctor for treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
necessary, cancel your plans for the day, rest or sleep, watch your diet, and
follow the doctor’s recommendations in the hopes that you could go out the next
day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For diarrhea drink lots of water
and gaterade to avoid dehydration and eat dry crackers or toast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pick up some cold medication and diarrhea tablets
from your pharmacy beforehand to take along with you and take them upon onset
of symptoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before your trip it is a
good idea to get as much rest as possible and eat properly the week or two
before so you can be strong and immune to possible bugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have the budget get a private room and
bath so that you do not come in contact with others who may be carrying germs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a final note do your best to stay positive and find other
ways of enjoying your vacation whether it is going along with your original
itinerary or having to make alternate plans that are just as enjoyable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the unfortunate event that you do have to
cut your vacation short focus on the time that you did enjoy and tell yourself
that there will be plenty of other wonderful vacations that you can enjoy
without any ado.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also make sure you
learn from each situation so that it can be possibly avoided on future trips.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In my next blog I will be sharing with you how I handled
different situations that I encountered on my travels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have any of you experienced anything and how
did you deal with it?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdytIcDPpffIlraDNhNbWzCaxPTqAPYwAyREZZXyHIrdc-tCIXkhv3ctLee6u2AoRD6MPbAWsTQoPSQa7YUdDHgZ-fd5yde59jXbSP0Q_cZzkzTwzPNz09mUygVuUXlTVx5QE1qibjQz_/s1600/DSCF0148(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdytIcDPpffIlraDNhNbWzCaxPTqAPYwAyREZZXyHIrdc-tCIXkhv3ctLee6u2AoRD6MPbAWsTQoPSQa7YUdDHgZ-fd5yde59jXbSP0Q_cZzkzTwzPNz09mUygVuUXlTVx5QE1qibjQz_/s320/DSCF0148(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Atop the Sun Pyramid in the ruins of Teotihuacan just outside of Mexico City, Mexico</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25LdjyZSTz4q6tk9vuQZ6s-qtB8x_rlS2QALK3kczuM-MpOJ0y3aS18zQ3326ZXExqWsySWjf1F9aDDi3yWOpB71XDiNhXHpt3HikHcvq3k2LrwPl7jeNI3hn7M-_2ms7DVOWYLbCHTE7/s1600/DSCF0580(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25LdjyZSTz4q6tk9vuQZ6s-qtB8x_rlS2QALK3kczuM-MpOJ0y3aS18zQ3326ZXExqWsySWjf1F9aDDi3yWOpB71XDiNhXHpt3HikHcvq3k2LrwPl7jeNI3hn7M-_2ms7DVOWYLbCHTE7/s320/DSCF0580(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
In the jungles of The Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIVTftp7aB296SW34d609RpFfLvgSPYFRw8Cvi84MuPsaV1cdP670SBO-eWKiflXQw9GLUluJvTaKPwOzQTRDMxCsVaQHoQFGDwRWMeyD9x2ZWB1i4xPTQ8jcKuqtI4b9-sBqiA5Uf5Bs/s1600/DSCF0827(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIVTftp7aB296SW34d609RpFfLvgSPYFRw8Cvi84MuPsaV1cdP670SBO-eWKiflXQw9GLUluJvTaKPwOzQTRDMxCsVaQHoQFGDwRWMeyD9x2ZWB1i4xPTQ8jcKuqtI4b9-sBqiA5Uf5Bs/s320/DSCF0827(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The spectacular Tracy Arm Fjord in Alaska, US</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwiYfVkOwpnF9xfAy036q46kJycnXVOgVFHiUvfZ03jzLNlAs87UsWYJ1_yyzJbfgOhJcUqnDazIyFFMoUlGolsfnl9eLoMywDLN2D2GNjVAXrr4ybZuiNUjfS5V62Byq66V85GxSzoxn/s1600/DSCF0987(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwiYfVkOwpnF9xfAy036q46kJycnXVOgVFHiUvfZ03jzLNlAs87UsWYJ1_yyzJbfgOhJcUqnDazIyFFMoUlGolsfnl9eLoMywDLN2D2GNjVAXrr4ybZuiNUjfS5V62Byq66V85GxSzoxn/s320/DSCF0987(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
The expansive Plaza Mayor in Madrid, Spain</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04611852514199107363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3999539708804902617.post-26962867492739234302013-11-22T08:28:00.000-08:002013-11-22T08:28:43.400-08:00Madrid VS Montreal – My Observations & Experiences<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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This past September I went to Spain where after partaking in
a language program in La Alberca in the Salamanca area (see my previous blog) I
then spent a few days in Madrid and enjoyed myself tremendously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beside the fact that Madrid is beautiful and
has exquisite architecture with wrought iron balconies I found that there were
a lot of similarities to Montreal where I was born and raised and still live
today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is an observation on my part
so it may not be completely accurate but this is what I discovered in my own
way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To begin with they are both fairly large cities with about
the same population.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Madrid has roughly
4 million residents and Montreal has about 3 million residents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both have city centers with suburbs on
the outskirts where families reside.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another similarity is the transportation systems that both
cities have called the Metro.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In both
cases there are stops all over the city and it is clean and easy to navigate
with portable colorful maps which are also posted inside the metro cars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One small difference is the one in Madrid has
a lot more lines than the one In Montreal with only four lines but you can
purchase a single ticket, 10 tickets, or a monthly pass and charges vary
according to zones. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are also buses
and trains that run throughout the two cities and into the outskirts.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I have found that both Madrid and Montreal are relatively
safe to walk around in at all times but there are areas in each of them that
are better to stay away from late at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Also there are pickpockets which are a common theme in larger cities but
if you keep your wits about you and use common sense, especially as a tourist,
they generally don’t bother you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just do
not stick out in the crowd and keep your purse securely closed else you will
attract these types of people.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Both Madrid and Montreal offer lots to do due to their
larger sizes and more urban lifestyles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are plenty of restaurants to eat at in the various barrios or
districts to please all palates and there is plenty of night life including
theatre, movies, pubs, and dance clubs as well as museums.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can also take bus tours and walking tours
of both cities and of course there are the sites to see and behold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I liked is that the museums offer free
times in the early evenings so that one can enjoy the splendor of exquisite
artwork from either prehistoric or modern times.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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One of my highlights was walking around Retiro Park which I
thoroughly enjoyed because there was a lot to see and photograph there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were several fountains and monuments of
famous figures and also a waterway where those who wish can rent rowboats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is also Crystal Palace where people can
hold all types of events and it is right on a picturesque pond with ducks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoyed walking through the various
pathways leading around the park and even saw an art exhibition being displayed
in one of the buildings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
plenty of facilities if you wish to have a snack and also restrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was also an area where some huge event
was being held.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to the doorway
but the looks I got from the well dressed participants told me I’d better not
enter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did walk around the garden area
which was a sight to behold and saw a peacock which I photographed even though
its feathers were not spread out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few
minutes later somebody walking with a baby stroller showed me the exit out of
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess I was not supposed to be
there in the first place but how was I to know not being able to speak much
Spanish.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Retiro Park reminded me of Westmount Park in Montreal
because of many similarities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although
Westmount Park is about one tenth the size of Retiro Park it also has a pond
with ducks, various buildings, and different pathways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crystal Palace reminded me of the green house
in our park because both are transparent and bring in lots of light and
sunshine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Westmount Park you can sit
on a bench and relax along the water and even take in a Sunday afternoon
concert or Shakespeare in The Park theater performances in the summertime.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What I also loved about Madrid was that you could eat
inexpensively if you know where to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many options include San Miguel market where although it can be crowded
and a bit on the touristy side you have a wide variety of choices of delicious
tapas galore and you can purchase either one or a plate of several to share
with your buddies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can also buy
drinks including wine and sangria to wash down your tapas. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I enjoyed most of all is the bars where
you order any drink you want and you get a nice plate of tapas for free with
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the bar down the street from my
hostel I got some nice tapas including a potato pie and scrambled eggs with
mushrooms and each time it cost me no more than 2 Euros!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk about eating on the cheap!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is best to go to restaurants which are off the main
strips and which are recommended by other travelers watching their budgets and to
stay away from the restaurants on the Plaza Mayor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The prices rise the closer you sit at the
front of the restaurant and even more so if you eat out on the terraces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, on the informative walking tour I
took almost after I had just landed in Barajas Airport we stopped off at a
delicatessen like place to use the restrooms and have a sandwich and we were
told to go straight to the back and not sit at the tables but instead to stand
and eat at the counter or sit on the nearby stools so that the prices would be
much lower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While there are similarities there are some differences as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Madrid meal times tend to be
later than in Montreal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Madrid meal
times are breakfast at 9 am, lunch at 2 pm, and dinner at 10 pm before retiring
to bed for the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Montreal
breakfast is generally at 7 am, lunch is at noon time or one pm, and dinner is
generally at 6 pm leaving the rest of the evening for doing activities or
relaxing at home before bedtime.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another difference is that in Madrid pretty much everything
is geared towards Spanish culture for obvious reasons but Montreal encompasses
various cultures, particularly French, with its European flair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Madrid, Spaniards tend to eat paella and
tapas in restaurants but in Montreal, you can find every kind and any kind of
restaurant that one’s heart desires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Another amazing thing about Madrid is that they claim to be host to the
oldest restaurant in the world!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It even
made it into the Guinness Book of World Records!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite the feat!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(See my pictures below as proof). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Montreal you get frowned upon if you walk into a
restaurant just to use their facilities and then leave immediately without
purchasing anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I occasionally will
sneak into a MacDonald’s or Wendy’s or other quick place to use their washroom
and I have generally gotten away with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In Madrid I was able to go into pretty much any restaurant and use their
restrooms, particularly the pubs, and they did not mind at all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are also differences in the climates of each
city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is because Madrid is further
south than Montreal is so the temperatures tend to be milder there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also Montreal has severe winters with plenty
of snow whereas the winters are milder in Madrid with little or no snow.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I basically only stayed 6 days in Madrid with two day trips
to Toledo and Segovia included so I am sure that there is plenty that I did not
see but again I am talking from my observations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found Madrid to be beautiful and a great
city for walking around and enjoying each area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What saddened me though is that the unemployment rate in all of Spain is
about 27% and that there are many Spaniards who have still not found jobs after
2 years of searching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A tough situation
for Spaniards to be in, however, they appear to be enjoying life all the same.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I would like to hear from any of you who have been to both
Madrid and Montreal whether or not you agree with me or if you have had other
observations of these two wonderful cities.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNY-vt4odMbrtyo7MPlcUIKggi0G6rAUJgikMyfxHWE35P7GB5vQdbWIWD_UvBKC7fmP8JvaYqjZpFyLdvyB52oIY1DNDJmeEmahNU4rhpMo3EZeGerpjkEZ2Y2ljd9pyXcwbEsLTykY50/s1600/DSCF0958(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNY-vt4odMbrtyo7MPlcUIKggi0G6rAUJgikMyfxHWE35P7GB5vQdbWIWD_UvBKC7fmP8JvaYqjZpFyLdvyB52oIY1DNDJmeEmahNU4rhpMo3EZeGerpjkEZ2Y2ljd9pyXcwbEsLTykY50/s320/DSCF0958(1).JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Puerta Del Sol - the center of Madrid</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXricvH8CggfPHpVxxy50wk6FRUx_9gL8uuRVnt7gz15h2CidWdPBf-7LCvIKd5eK68-auInGDvN_CCkyHF_60NK70PQSskv_BmHkIorUAcXobN91AQqoFG2pXyiutT3IrecE5Ce0OdvS0/s1600/DSCF0973(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXricvH8CggfPHpVxxy50wk6FRUx_9gL8uuRVnt7gz15h2CidWdPBf-7LCvIKd5eK68-auInGDvN_CCkyHF_60NK70PQSskv_BmHkIorUAcXobN91AQqoFG2pXyiutT3IrecE5Ce0OdvS0/s320/DSCF0973(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Palazio Royale - The Royal Palace</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgGDEUF4buYD9GWAkJ4jwWEXspi8gVJ8heV32RT8OYUZaNdWLQSHjVLH4QFUtX7XKOSyfj7f6rvSYRLF6WLb3RZr0kaVR-p2W0uBxw9PWaEwG3uioUdUQWjKvWvDgDSsWmFoIpNaDu0lH/s1600/DSCF1085(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgGDEUF4buYD9GWAkJ4jwWEXspi8gVJ8heV32RT8OYUZaNdWLQSHjVLH4QFUtX7XKOSyfj7f6rvSYRLF6WLb3RZr0kaVR-p2W0uBxw9PWaEwG3uioUdUQWjKvWvDgDSsWmFoIpNaDu0lH/s320/DSCF1085(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Retiro Park - one of the exquisite monuments along the water</div>
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Retiro Park - Scenic view of Crystal Palace right on a pond</div>
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Plaza Mayor - The main square of Madrid</div>
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The oldest restaurant in Madrid and the certificate to prove it</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04611852514199107363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3999539708804902617.post-18721772869291813442013-10-25T07:10:00.001-07:002013-10-25T17:08:29.822-07:00My experience as a volunteer at Diverbo in Spain<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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This past September I spent a week at La Alberca, a small
village in the Salamanca region of Spain, as a volunteer helping Spanish
students to improve their English speaking skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an experience of a lifetime for me as
I met so many wonderful people and it felt so good to be able to help others.</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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I attended a program called Diverbo – Pueblo Ingles that specializes
in week long sessions in different locations in Spain, Germany, and
Ireland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is composed of a number of
English speaking volunteers from Canada, The United States, the UK, Australia
and New Zealand and also a number of Spanish speaking students mostly from
Spain but from other countries as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of the volunteers have already participated in this program
including one who has done it over 60 times!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Goes to show you how much people love to help others and how great a
program it is.</div>
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<br /></div>
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This program is run by the Program Director and by the
Master of Ceremonies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They work together
to ensure that each day is filled with a variety of activities that enable the
students to work with the volunteers on their English speaking skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a volunteer I would check the daily
schedule to see what I would be doing and which student I would be working with
for each particular activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
dependant on the schedules as if they were made of gold!</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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The days were pretty hectic as the activities started immediately
after breakfast at 10 am and ended by 9 pm with an hour and quarter siesta in
between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a variety of activities
which ran the gamut from one to one interactions to two by two discussions to
group exercises and conference calls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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During the one on one interchanges the students were given
phrasal verbs, which are two word phrases consisting of verbs with an adverb or
preposition, and idioms to learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
would always ask them first to tell me their interpretations then I would either
correct them or give them additional explanations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they were not familiar with any of them I
would then explain to them what they signified and how they could be used in
various contexts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some interesting meanings
and contexts came out of these learning modes as many of them dealt with dating
which amused the Spaniards to no end.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The two by two discussions included groups of two volunteers
and two students and we were given a list of topics that we could discuss
amongst ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This made for a lot
of fascinating discussions and everyone always had the option of expressing
their views if they felt so inclined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The group activities enabled Spaniards and Anglos to work together to
use their imaginations for presentations, skits, a scavenger hunt as well as
learning to Salsa dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also participated in conference calls where
I acted as a leader and communicated with the students through speaker phone
and also as an observer where I took notes and then offered praise and constructive
criticism to each student so that they would improve their telephone skills to
use in real life interactions.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Before dinner we would be treated to theatre presentations by
both volunteers and students who would have a couple of hours beforehand to prepare
a skit and then perform it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were
some pretty hilarious skits that were done by all including some really raunchy
ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was all in good fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my skit I was a fickle minded director of
a movie about a wedding taking place where I was continually changing the theme
of the wedding until it made sense to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was quite remarkable in that everyone played their characters with
exaggerated expressions and it made for some great laughs from the audience if
I may say so myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time it was
over the poor groom and minister had been killed by the pregnant bystander
several times during each take.</div>
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After dinner there would be evening activities which would
start at 10:30 pm for those who were able to stay awake long enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were two game nights one of which was
Taboo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was quite comical because you
had to describe the word in question to your teammates without saying certain
words but that proved difficult because we were timed which caused us even more
stress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our teammates had to guess the
word we were describing and believe me there were plenty of interesting
guesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You had to be there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another night we had a pub quiz where we had
to answer 50 questions in various categories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was on the team called Maida’s Maniacs and we won by a large margin
shared by everyone on our team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Woohoo!</div>
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Another night we had a little party where we drank Queimada
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desired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three women dressed as witches
where they read both English and Spanish poems and chants which were pretty
funny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These women were quite the scary
witches and I think a few of the volunteers and Spaniards may have been
spooked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then all got a taste of the
drink and boy oh boy was it strong!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
then all performed songs from the countries where we hailed from and each
country came up with great songs including the lively Spaniards who all moved
and danced to their tune.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An interesting
experience one will never forget.</div>
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The big highlight of the week was a party which was given to
us to celebrate our getting halfway through the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were plenty of musical tastes for
everyone and we all danced the night away and had a blast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of photos were taken and the party went
well into the night.</div>
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On one day we walked to the village of La Alberca and the
Master of Ceremonies gave us a mini tour and showed us the main sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then had some free time to walk around and
shop and I was able to pick up a few souvenirs for myself and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a beautiful group picture taken in
front of a fountain which was put together and distributed to everyone
afterwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were treated to a nice
surprise where we ended up at a Bodega where we had wine, cheese, and ham which
the area is known for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We saw the actual
pig that was used and we had the option of trying our hand at cutting the
meat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For lunch we had suckling pig
which is a delicacy of that area and was quite tasty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though normally I do not eat pig I decided to
try it since it was considered as their main fare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately that morning I had woken up
with diarrhea and an upset stomach but still engaged in tasting a bit of
everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess it’s all a part of
travelling and not eating what one is used to but is so worth it in the end.</div>
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On our last night we
had a wonderful dinner in the village and we were treated to a musical
performance by one of our most talented volunteers who sings and gives voice
lessons to aspiring students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the
last morning we were divided into groups and each group had to choose a song
and write words to it about our experiences of the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone did a great job and each song and
lyrics were humorous and very creative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We had a closing ceremony that was quite emotional where both volunteers
and students alike received certificates and had the option of saying a few
words to everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then had lunch and
said our tearful and sad goodbyes to each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all kissed and hugged with promises to
keep in touch and with hopes of seeing each other in the future.</div>
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I have to say that it was an experience which taught me a
lot about myself and about others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone had plenty of interesting and fascinating stories to tell and
we became a really close family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
looking forward to doing more of these programs since I enjoyed it so
much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would like to try the one in the
Black Forest in Germany since it will be different and I will also try ones in
other parts of Spain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During those times
I am looking forward to hooking up with my new friends in Barcelona, Madrid,
and Southern and Northern Spain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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If any of you readers are interested in finding out more
about this wonderful program you can go to <a href="http://www.diverbo.com/">www.Diverbo.com</a>
to get information on becoming a volunteer or learning English as a student</div>
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Here are some photos that I took during this amazing
experience:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLawLbZTut30KeaiQo2iKOkssAeZWEugtpCS8-c7MJdIx0-Wx5T4BIskL_dST-5EE_AqohGrVgvWQkVac8ZQarNQyVVFd42kq4gbip0Z9GMDvUFURVINhzTwSXlCXDObpfPQHL8Je556N/s1600/%23%23Program+828+-+Group+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLawLbZTut30KeaiQo2iKOkssAeZWEugtpCS8-c7MJdIx0-Wx5T4BIskL_dST-5EE_AqohGrVgvWQkVac8ZQarNQyVVFd42kq4gbip0Z9GMDvUFURVINhzTwSXlCXDObpfPQHL8Je556N/s400/%23%23Program+828+-+Group+Photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Our wonderful group of volunteers and Spaniards</div>
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My beautiful villa that I shared with Brigitte, my Barcelona friend</div>
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A couple of pictures of the village of La Alberca</div>
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Me standing at the fountain in the main plaza</div>
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Singing with my Canadian friends at the Queimada</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04611852514199107363noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3999539708804902617.post-4473439072227169482012-07-01T11:11:00.003-07:002013-10-25T06:48:23.539-07:00An Overview of Twelve Countries<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I mentioned in my first blog I have taken some wonderful vacations to a total of twelve countries including Canada and the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This blog will provide more of an overview of these countries with a bit more detail to whet your taste buds so that you will want to keep reading about my experiences.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first countries I visited were Canada where I was born and the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Canada I have visited 8 Provinces and 1 Territory including Montreal, Quebec where I was born and raised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been to other parts of Quebec, and also Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and all 4 Maritime Provinces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last year I visited the southern tip of the Yukon Territory when I was on a family cruise in Alaska as part of a fabulous excursion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the United States I have visited or driven through 16 States and Washington, DC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being in close proximity to the US border I have been through New York State and all of New England except for Rhode Island and Connecticut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To get to Washington, DC we had to drive through New Jersey, Delaware (it took a whole 8 minutes) and Maryland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also dipped into Arlington, Virginia on a fascinating city tour of DC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was 12 years of age we went on a wonderful family trip to Florida and Disneyworld.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have also been to Chicago, Illinois where my aunt and uncle now reside for family events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result of my brother living in California I have visited there on several occasions for family events and for vacation travel, even going into Nevada on an unconventional van tour through Yosemite National Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last year we took a family cruise to Alaska where I also got to see Seattle, Washington before embarking on our cruise which was the experience of a lifetime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For my first big trip overseas, as a college student, I took a 5 week summer tour in Israel with a friend which is the only country in Asia that I have visited thus far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was through a Jewish Organization and we were taken all over the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We visited Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Eilat and also various ruins and towns including the Galilee in the North and the Negev Desert in the South.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It opened up a whole new world for me and made me feel at home amongst my fellow Jews.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few summers later while still studying in university I spent two months living and working in London, England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although some difficulties presented themselves it was an excellent experience which enabled me to grow and to expand my horizons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took some side trips to various parts of England including Bath, Hampton Court, Windsor & Eton, Stratford, and Oxford.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the two months was over I visited other countries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took a 4 day tour to Scotland and saw Edinburgh, the Trossacks, Loch Lomond, and also the Lake District.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then bought a Eurail train pass which enabled me to visit the continent for a couple of weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I travelled to France where I spent time in Paris alone, with friends, and with my brother in law’s parents and took a day trip to Versailles to visit the castle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also visited Brussels, Belgium and Amsterdam, Holland where I had my carry on bag mistakenly taken by a tour group and never seen again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For my 40<sup>th</sup> birthday I went to Italy and travelled solo through Rome, Florence, Siena, and Cinque Terre for about 10 days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also got to see the tower of Pisa (for a whole 10 minutes) before meeting the tour group with whom I would embark on a 1 week tour in Tuscany.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were taken on many treks through mountain ranges and towns and also spent an afternoon in Lucca.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got around Italy by train although I had to schlep my suitcase up and down the stairs and made one of my connections with less than a minute to spare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The food was splendid and the gelato (Italian ice cream) was out of this world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On another summer vacation I went to the Island of St Lucia where I spent a week at a Club Med resort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I participated in various activities and also went on a day trip around the Island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the only time that I have been to Club Med and despite the fact that it was mostly families with very few singles I still had a lot of fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was my first time travelling on my own so it was a great way to start off my solo travel experiences.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few years ago I travelled solo through Mexico despite being warned about possible dangers faced by travelers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent a few days in Mexico City which is quite huge and expansive but has an excellent transit system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw different sites but could not fit everything I wanted into a few days due to its huge size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was also careful to stay in the well travelled areas and not to stay out alone after 8 pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then flew to the Yucatan Peninsula and visited colonial cities including Merida and Valladolid and the beach town of Tulum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to various ruins including the touristy Chichen Itza but the highlight was when I took a tour of the beautiful Sian Ka’an Reserve although I got a severe burn on my back from the sun after omitting to put sunscreen on that spot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, two years ago in March I went to Costa Rica and stayed at an Ecological friendly lodge in the Osa Peninsula.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was my first time staying in the jungle so it was a new experience for me apart from other trips I have taken through cities and mountainous areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have also mainly travelled in the summertime so it was unusual for me to go in the winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was supposed to be a tour but I was the only one of my friends that ended up going so I had the two guides to myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was taken on walks and hikes through the jungle and through a river where there are gold miners working and living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately returning home was not a fun experience as my connecting flight kept getting delayed and cancelled due to bad weather near Newark Airport but I made it home just the same.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hope you have enjoyed reading this overview of my travels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please stay tuned as I continue to blog and give you more details bit by bit of my various experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would you like to hear about and where have you been?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As always feel free to comment, ask questions, or talk about your own experiences.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04611852514199107363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3999539708804902617.post-17204223517875600622012-06-05T10:26:00.000-07:002012-07-02T16:39:01.519-07:00My love of travelI am a lover of travel. Up until now I have done a great deal of travelling but still have a yearning to do more. All my blogs will be about the various places I have visited during my lifetime. Today's blog will be an overview of all my travels and then from here on in each additional blog will be more detailed either by country or by city or town. You may comment however you wish or you may ask me questions or advice which I would be more than happy to answer. You can also make suggestions or talk about your experiences.<br />
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As this is my first blog here is an overview of where I have travelled. I have travelled to twelve countries including the United States and Canada where I am currently residing and where I have always lived. The other ten countries are Israel, England, Scotland, France, Belgium, Holland, St Lucia, Italy, Mexico, and Costa Rica. I have always enjoyed my travels and have learned and grown from each trip I have undertaken.<br />
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There have sometimes been unpleasant situations which occurred from catching colds to spraining my ankle or to missing a shuttle but I have always handled them as best I could once I calmed myself down. Travel can be exhausting at times but I always rest in a park and then continue on or I will go back to my lodgings for a break and then resume that same evening or the next day. The other difficulty I have with travelling is that flying is not my favourite thing. If the flight is easy and steady then I am okay but whenever there is turbulence I feel nauseous and uncomfortable. Though I am not crazy about flying I will do it just to get to my destination. It is so worth it in the end.<br />
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I have travelled in various ways. I went on family trips as a child and adolescent and then I went on a tour to Israel with a friend of mine and then I travelled alone either on tours or solo or a combination of both. Last year I travelled with my whole family on a cruise to Alaska to celebrate my father's 80th birthday.<br />
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There are still many places that I wish to go. I would love to visit Australia and New Zealand, more of Europe, and also South America and parts of Africa. I would also love to go to the South Pacific and to see more of the United States and Canada.<br />
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So let's hear from you. Hope you have enjoyed reading my blog and I look forward to telling you more.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04611852514199107363noreply@blogger.com2