Articles by Nomad Rick on ArticleSnatch.com

San Diego Beaches

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

San Diego is offered up as a great destination for people looking to take a vacation on the beach. Here are some recommendations on San Diego beaches from a local. San Diego Beaches When people think of San Diego, they inevitably imagine year around sun and beautiful beaches. Ironically, the worst time to visit San Diego is from the middle of May through the middle of June. During this time period, the coast is socked with low clouds and the sun breaks through for no more than a couple of hours a day. In fact, we call the annual process by the name of June Gloom. Assuming you come at a different time, the beaches of San Diego offer up plenty of variety and beauty. There are literally hundreds of beaches you can visit, but a select few are worth a mention. If you are looking for the beach with college kids and a party scene, Pacific Beach is the place to be. The beach is wide, wild and packed. A sidewalk runs the length of the beach to the south and is a great place to people watch. **End Summary** Topics: san diego]]> beach]]> beaches]]> california]]> pacific beach]]> del mar]]> encinitas]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of writing journals .

Some Practical Tips on Packing For Your Trip

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Every year, millions of people take a break from the rat race by taking a trip. Unfortunately, most people pack much of the rat race and take it along with them! Some Practical Tips on Packing For Your Trip You have finally made time to take that trip. Perhaps you are heading to a lake for a week or taking a trip to another country. Regardless of your destination, you have to figure out what to take and how to pack it. Here are some practical tips for you. The first thing to keep in mind is the fact you are not taking a trip to another planet. While this sounds obvious, most people pack like they are going to Saturn for ten years. It is not so much the amount of things you pack, but the items themselves. For instance, are you aware that every town, state and country in the world sells soap, shampoo, razors and even deodorant? If you answered yes, why are you packing such things for your trip? The first rule of packing for a trip is to ask yourself if you can buy a specific item at your destination. **End Summary** Topics: travel]]> traveling]]> traveler]]> tips]]> packing]]> pack]]> suitcase]]> trip]]> trips]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of travel accessories .

Visiting Alaska â The Domain of Mother Nature

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

These days, it seems like humans are everywhere. Finding an adventure is outright impossible. A visit to Alaska, however, will convince you there is still open space in the world. Visiting Alaska – The Domain of Mother Nature Make no mistake, the northern most state in the United States is the domain of Mother Nature. While there are pockets of civilization in Anchorage, Juneau and a few other spots, the vast majority of Alaska is untamed. With the exception of Siberia, this makes it one of the last great open spaces on our planets. For pure beauty, it is hard to beat Alaska. Once you hit the open spaces, your appreciation of nature cannot help but increase dramatically. From soaring mountain ranges to wide open spaces that seem to go on forever, the state is candy for the eye. A trip to the areas with glaciers can be dangerous as mosquitoes tend to fly into your mouth since it is open in wonder all of the time. Unfortunately, the glacier areas are receding in many places do to increased temperatures on our planet, which means you should go sooner than later. **End Summary** Topics: alaska]]> glaciers]]> mother nature]]> fly in]]> vacations]]> trip]]> vacation]]> kayaking]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of travel journals .

San Diego Beach Hikes - Cardiff to Carlsbad

Wed, 28 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

San Diego offers a bevy of interesting hikes. With the average home price being around $500,000, they better be interesting! To unwind, I typically stop on my way home from work to hike from Cardiff to Carlsbad on the beach. For picturesque sunsets and “tasty waves”, the beach between Cardiff to Carlsbad can’t be beat. Cardiff - Starting I typically start this hike by parking just south of restaurant row in Cardiff. Restaurant row is located to the north of the lagoon between Cardiff and Solana Beach on Highway 101. Parking is located on the side of the road, which is right up against the beach. Give me convenience or give me death! As you head north, you first pass Charlie’s and other restaurants. Past the restaurants, you will come to the beginning of the bluffs that will line the beach to the end of the hike. San Elijo campground is on top of the initial bluffs and extends for roughly a mile north. The campground is very popular and the temporary home of locals and tourist. You can tell the difference by contrasting tans with sunburns. **End Summary** Topics: san diego]]> beach]]> hikes]]> cardiff]]> carlsbad]]> swami's]]> encinitas]]> california]]> hiking]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of outdoors gifts .

The Secret To Keeping Kids Interested on Family Vacations

Wed, 28 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Vacations and trips are great family events, but how do you keep kids interested and busy during the down times? Have them keep journals of the trips and their impressions. Writing Journals Take a minute to give some consideration to your most recent family vacation. Where there periods of time when you wished you kids would pay more attention to what was going on? Its natural for kids attention to wonder. In these days of the Internet and video games, the average child seems to have an attention span of about 30 seconds. For many kids, the only way to truly get their attention on a family trip is to get them involved. The best method for doing this is to give them a journal and ask them to make daily entries. Keeping a journal will encourage kids to pay attention to the things around them. It also gives them something to during long rides in cars, on planes and so on as well as promotes good writing habits. There are famous instances of people keeping journals throughout time. Of course, Anne Frank’s Diary is the best example. **End Summary** Topics: family vacation]]> family travel]]> family trips]]> family vacations]]> kids]]> family]]> trip]]> vacation]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of travel journals for kids and adults.

Travel Journals - Preserve Your Travel Experiences

Fri, 23 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Traveling is a great way to escape the rat race and experience new cultures and places. Alas, your experiences can fade with time. The best way to prevent this is to keep a travel journal for your trips. Travel Journals Take a minute to give some consideration to your most recent trip. What sticks out in your mind? Now think about the first trip you ever took. Undoubtedly, you remember few things about the trip. The experiences you’ve forgotten are lost to time. If you had kept a journal, this wouldn’t be the case. There are famous instances of people keeping journals throughout time. Of course, Anne Frank’s Diary is the best example. In her diary, Anne kept a running commentary of the two years her family spent hiding from the Nazis. While your travels will hopefully be more lighthearted, keeping a journal will let you remember them as the years pass. A good travel journal combines a number of characteristics. First, it should be compact so you don’t have to take up unnecessary space for other things. Second, it should have a case to protect it from rain, spills and so on. **End Summary** Topics: traveling]]> diary]]> travel]]> log book]]> traveler]]> gifts]]> gift]]> student travel]]> backpacking]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of travel gifts .

Backpacking Journals - Preserve Your Backpacking Experiences

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Backpacking is a great way to escape the rat race and be one with nature. Alas, your backpacking experiences can fade with time. The best way to prevent this is to keep a backpacking journal for your adventures. Backpacking Journals Take a minute to give some consideration to your most recent backpacking experience. What sticks out in your mind? Now think about the first time you ever went backpacking. Undoubtedly, you remember few things about the geography, people you went with, particular backpacking routes and spectacular views. The experiences you’ve forgotten are lost to time. If you had kept a backpacking journal, this won’t be the case. There are famous instances of people keeping journals throughout time. Of course, Anne Frank’s Diary is the best example. In her diary, Anne kept a running commentary of the two years her family spent hiding from the Nazis. While your backpacking experiences better be more lighthearted, keeping a journal will let you remember them as the years pass. A good backpacking journal combines a number of characteristics. First, it should be compact so you don’t have to take up unnecessary space for other things. **End Summary** Topics: backpacking]]> backpacker]]> backpack]]> journal]]> backpacking trip]]> backpacking equipment]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of outdoors gifts . Visit us to read more about the great outdoors .

Camping Journals - Preserve Your Camping Experiences

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Camping is a great way to escape the rat race and be one with nature. Alas, your camping experiences can fade with time. The best way to prevent this is to keep a camping journal for your adventures. Camping Journals Take a minute to give some consideration to your most recent camping experience. What sticks out in your mind? Now think about the first time you ever went camping. Undoubtedly, you remember few things about the geography, people you went with, particular camping routes and spectacular views. The experiences you’ve forgotten are lost to time. If you keep a camping journal, this won’t be the case. There are famous instances of people keeping journals throughout time. Of course, Anne Frank’s Diary is the best example. In her diary, Anne kept a running commentary of the two years her family spent hiding from the Nazis. While your camping experiences better be more lighthearted, keeping a journal will let you remember them as the years pass. A good camping journal combines a number of characteristics. First, it should be compact so you don’t have to take up unnecessary space for other things. **End Summary** Topics: camping]]> family vacations]]> camper]]> camp]]> journals]]> diary]]> outdoors]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of outdoors gifts . Visit us to read more about the great outdoors .

Khmer Rouge Prison 21 - The Chilling High School In Phnom Pehn, Cambodia

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Most travel stories are of the happy-go-lucky variety. Every once in a while, however, one visits a place that evidences the vicious, dark side of mankind. Khmer Rouge Prison 21, known as Tuol Seng, is one such place. It is a stark reminder of the cruelties humanity can visit upon itself. Tuol Sleng In 1962, the high school of Ponhea Yat was opened in the center of Phnom Pehn. The school consists of three buildings in a horseshoe layout with each building having three stories. In the 1970s, the name was changed to Tuol Svay Prey High School. In May of 1976, the school became the headquarters of the Khmer Rouge genocide campaign in Cambodia. The infamous Khmer Rouge was the ruling party of Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, with fighting going on for many more years. Led by Pol Pot, also known as Brother Number One, the party is estimated to have killed as much as 1/3rd of the population of Cambodia through murder and starvation. The Khmer Rouge has justly been compared to Hitler for its brutal genocidal actions. Tuol Sleng represents the most brutal example. **End Summary** Topics: cambodia]]> khmer rouge]]> tuol sleng]]> killing fields]]> pol pot]]> prison 21]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of travel journals . Visit us to read more internet travel articles .

Cambodia Taxi - a Leaf, a Radiator and a MacGyver Moment

Sat, 17 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

The roads in Cambodia are vicious, angry slabs of asphalt filled with potholes that would qualify as valleys in some countries. Fortunately, I had it made traveling from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh. Or so I thought. Cambodian Taxis Having spent two weeks in the relaxing beach town of Sihanoukville, I was getting bored and so were the three chaps traveling with me. It was time to head to the supposed chaos of Phnom Penh and eventually Angkor Wat. Despite the legendary reputation of Cambodian roads, the owner of our accommodations told us the road to Phnom Penh was smooth as glass. For twenty U.S. dollars, a local taxi would get all four of us to the city without incident. Around noon, two Australians, an Englishman and myself crammed into a Toyota Camry with our backpacks and miscellaneous junk. Our driver was a good guy, smiling constantly. We did have a communication problem since he spoke about two words of English and we only spoke English. The road, however, was as smooth as promised and we congratulated ourselves on our stroke of luck. For about an hour, we cruised through the placid Cambodian countryside. **End Summary** Topics: cambodia]]> taxi]]> phnom penh]]> sihanoukville]]> asia]]> southeast asia]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of writing journals . Visit us to read more internet travel articles .

Cambodia - Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat, Sihanoukville

Sat, 17 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Cambodia is a land on the mend. From 1977 through 1980, the Khmer Rouge ruled the country, fanatics bent on genocide. Millions were killed and the period was put to film in the movie, “The Killing Fields.” Fortunately, those days are over and the country is becoming a tourist destination. Cambodia is a land of incredible contrast. Thick forest, mountains and pristine rivers compliment amazing white beaches. When you get down to it, however, travelers know Cambodia for two things, Angkor Wat and the nastiest roads around. But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Phnom Penh Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia. The city is a combination of old French beauty and modern condominiums. The city is full of amazing Wats [Buddist monasteries], including Wat Ounalom, Wat Phnom and Wat Moha Montrei. Modern buildings surround these monasteries and it’s difficult to avoid a feeling that the old ways are being lost. Still, the vibrancy of the city is impressive considering the fact that it was completely abandoned for three years in the last 70s. During this period, the Khmer Rouge tried to return the Cambodian people to their agricultural heritage and evacuated all cities. **End Summary** Topics: cambodia]]> travel]]> phnom pehn]]> angkor wat]]> sihanoukville]]> bayon]]> ta phrom]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of writing journals . Visit us to read more internet travel articles .

Switzerland - Interlaken, Zurich, St. Moritz and Geneva

Sat, 17 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Switzerland is the land of skiing, chocolate and very private banking. Ah, but there is so much more to experience in the land of neutrality. Interlaken Interlaken gets its highly creative name from sitting on the split of land between two lakes. If you’re looking for a little extreme sporting, this is place. You can backpack, horseback ride, parasail and so on. To really take in the majesty of the alps, I highly recommend you cough up the money for a go at skydiving. You may have gone ski diving before, but I guarantee you nothing compares to free falling down through the mountains of Switzerland. This is how God must feel looking down at the earth. While God gets the view for free, you will have to pay…a lot. Still, the view and experience is something you will never forget. Zurich Zurich is the cleanest city in Switzerland, Europe and maybe the world. There place simply sparkles. Various guide books challenge readers to find a cigarette butt or piece of trash on the sparkling streets. Personally, I find the cleanliness of the city a bit of a negative. Stop rolling your eyes. **End Summary** Topics: Switzerland]]> Interlaken]]> Zurich]]> St. Moritz]]> Geneva]]> europe]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of writing journals . Visit us to read more internet travel articles .

Denmark - Copenhagen, Helsingor and Beverages

Tue, 13 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Denmark is one of the hippest countries in Europe. Copenhagen is the center of activity with a lively evening scene, palaces and castles. If you’ve traveled to Denmark, you’ll understand when I immediately bring up the subject of bars. The Danish like to toss back a few when time permits. Time seems to permit a lot and a few beers often become many. To this end, going out for a night on the town with friendly Danes can be dangerous in the summer. Due to its location on old mother earth, it doesn’t get dark in Denmark until elevenish during the summer. This can be difficult to adjust to, particularly when you look down at your watch and realize it is four in the morning. And the sun is coming up! Ah, but Denmark is not all socializing. Copenhagen Copenhagen is one of those cities that is large, but feels small. I think this vibe arises from the fact there are a lot of walking only areas. Even in the center of the city, the streets are arranged like those in a neighborhood. This gives even the biggest restaurant or bar on the biggest street a local tavern feel. **End Summary** Topics: denmark]]> copenhagen]]> helsingor]]> danish]]> danes]]> denmark travel]]> europe]]> traveling]]> nordic countries]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of writing journals . Visit us to read more internet travel articles .

France at 200 kph - of Grandmothers, Lyon and Rain

Tue, 13 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

In my teens, I traveled to France with my mother, father and grandmother for a month of sightseeing with a rental car. Michael Schumacher and Formula 1 have nothing on my father and our Opel rental car. American fathers have an interesting if somewhat aggravating habit on trips. Yes, I am talking about the desire to see everything there is to see. This was particularly problematic in France, which has a gazillion things to see. For some reason, my memory is a blur! I’ll have to refer back to my Nomad Travel Journal, but here we go… Churches. Big churches. Small churches. Church ruins. New churches. For three days, my grandmother had insisted we stop at every church we passed. She is just about the greatest grandmother a kid could hope for, but she had been a grade school teacher for forty years and there was just no disobeying. Did I mention we looked at churches? We pulled into Lyon as the third day turned to evening. It was raining. We were tired and grumpy. After a minor argument, we pulled up in front of an older hotel with vacancies and checked in. **End Summary** Topics: france]]> lyon]]> churches]]> travel journal]]> france story]]> france travelogue]]> trips]]> family vacations]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of writing journals . Visit us to read more internet travel articles .

Copenhagen - Of Elephants and Ice Rinks

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

On my first visit to Denmark, I fell in love with the country and the city of Copenhagen. Contrary to my guidebook, you could see elephants and experience ice hockey in the dead of summer. The Hanson Brothers Upon arriving in Copenhagen, I was burned out from backpacking and looking forward to a good nap. I was traveling with three other Americans and we became distressed as each subsequent hostel told us all beds were sold. After asking around [okay, we were in a bar], we were given a lift by a local to a “hotel” guaranteed to have space. I could only sigh as we pulled up to the ice rink for the local professional team. Since we were “high and dry”, we entered and booked our beds. Left face off dot. Yes, our beds were arranged around the left face off dot. To make a little extra money during the summer, the rink melted the ice and set up beds everywhere. The scene can best be described as a giant collection of cubicles in an office with beds instead of desks. It was cheap, dry and had a communal feel since you could hear everything. **End Summary** Topics: copenhagen]]> denmark]]> ice rink]]> elephants]]> drinking]]> slap shot]]> hanson brothers]]> europe]]> travelouge]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of travel journals . Visit us to read more articles on adventure travel .

France - Paris and Nice

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

From beaches to the alps, France has a little of something for everyone. In this article, we take a look at Paris and the beach city of Nice. Paris It is hard to know where to start when discussing Paris. Take a boat down the Seine River and you will pass Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower and so many other notable spots it is easy to get overwhelmed. The city is simply that dramatic. Long considered the most glamorous city in Europe, Paris has a little of everything. For the romantic, one can visit the haunts of famous writers, historical sites of just about every nature and the Moulin Rouge. On the other hand, art lovers can spend weeks visiting the 100 plus museums in the city with, of course, the Louvre being the crown jewel. Personally, I found the Rodin Museum just as interesting, particularly since there was a much smaller crowd. Perhaps the best way to experience Paris is just to wander around. Yes, take a few days to visit the notable tourist traps…err, destinations. Once you get tired of standing in crowds, walk out of your hotel and just keep on going. **End Summary** Topics: france]]> paris]]> europe]]> louvre]]> ]]> rodin]]> rodin museum]]> museums]]> moulin rouge]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of travel journals . Visit us to read more articles on adventure travel .

Portugal - Lisbon, Algarve and Lagos

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

On the southwestern tip of continental Europe, Portugal is an old school country. In this article, we take a look at Lisbon, Lagos and the Algarve. Lisbon Lisbon is the biggest city in Portugal and is located on the Atlantic coast in middle of the country. I’ve been to Lisbon three times, but only for a few days each time. Every time I come away with the impression of elegance. Arriving by train, your first taste of Lisbon is when you walk out of the train station directly onto the shore of the harbor. As you look to the ocean, the name “San Francisco” immediately comes to mind. Mountains rise up on both sides of the mouth of the harbor and then there is the bridge. Running across the mouth of bay is a bridge that looks for all intensive purposes like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. I’ve never had a chance to research it, but there has to be a connection. As you walk into Lisbon, everything is clean and relaxed. There are walking only streets with cafes and garden areas. **End Summary** Topics: portugal]]> lisbon]]> algarve]]> lagos]]> san francisco]]> travel portugal]]> california]]> mediterranean]]> trips]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of travel journals . Visit us to read more articles on adventure travel .

Nearly Broke in Nice, France

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

I had been backpacking for three months around Europe and had reached my final destination of Nice. Too bad I had 10 days till my flight home and I was nearly broke! As I sat in the Gar de Nice, the train station, I started giving serious thought to how I was going to survive for 10 days on $150.00. I had just arrived from two weeks in Barcelona, a Spanish girlfriend and, well, it had seemed worth it at the time. Lodging seemed like a good place to start. Hmmm…the Ritz? Probably a bit pricey. Eventually, I found a bed in a communal room in a hotel with a lot of character. By communal, I mean eight beds for both boys and girls in one room. By character, I mean the place was old when Napoleon was in power. The snoring alone was enough to raise the ancient roof. Still, it only set me back $8 a night, so I had $70 to live off for ten days. $70 doesn’t go particularly far in Nice and some involuntary dieting was coming front and center in my mind. **End Summary** Topics: nice]]> france]]> nice travelogue]]> france travelouge]]> nice stories]]> france stories]]> travel journal]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of travel journals . Visit us to read more articles on adventure travel .

Lagos, Portugal - Casa Rosa and Joe's Garage

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0400

If you’re a budget traveler or backpacking Europe, Lagos is a cheap slice of paradise. Casa Rosa is the place for general sustenance, while Joe’s Garage is a place to let go. Casa Rosa Casa Rosa claims to be the haven for backpackers in Lagos. The more you travel, the more you know such claims are rarely true. With Casa Rosa, however, I can confirm the claim is true. This hole in the wall served heaping mounds of the food of the day for really cheap prices. It was packed with backpackers, which made it a good place to meet people and exchange war stories. I haven’t been to Portugal for four years, so I have to attach a caveat to recommending Casa Rosa. When I first visited Casa Rosa in the 1990’s, it was owned by a couple of Brits, who were apparently trying to sell it. I dropped in twice in subsequent years and they were still there and still trying to sell it. Whether this ever occurred, I can’t really say so keep in mind there may be a new owner or the place may not exist at all. **End Summary** Topics: lagos]]> portugal]]> holidays in portugal]]> cosa roca]]> joes garage]]> joe's garage]]> budget travel]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of travel journals . Visit us to read more articles on adventure travel .

Lost in Lagos, Portugal

Tue, 30 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Lagos is a small town in Portugal built on a large hill overlooking the Mediterranean Ocean. While its old world charm is evident during the day, it can be a real pain at night. Upon arriving by train in Lagos, I quickly booked a bed in a private home with a local family. I was loaded in a car and driven to the home that was just over the crest of the hill on which Lagos is built. From the home, it was about a mile down to the beaches and water. Ah, good old exercise. Being from San Diego, I immediately put on my trunks, flip flops and headed for a swim. As I came over the top of the hill, I looked around to get my bearing and admire the view of the sleepy town of Lagos. It reminded me of home and I stomped on down to the water with a smile on my face. While swimming and catching a tan [okay, sunburn], I met some fellow travelers from London. From the beach, they took me to see cultural sites such as museums and so on. Okay, we went to a couple of bars. **End Summary** Topics: lagos]]> portugal]]> holidays in portugal]]> travel portugal]]> portugal stories]]> portugal travelogue]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of travel accessories .

The Ultimate Traveler's Day Dream Come True

Tue, 30 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400

More than a few times, I’ve caught myself sitting at work day dreaming about dropping everything and just jumping on a plane. In October of 2003, I did just that. Life can grind you down when you get in a rut. In my case, I had a particularly bad case of the blues in October 2003. My girlfriend and I had apparently come to an agreement that there was no need for me to exist on the face of the earth. My glamorous and exciting Internet business had become a bore. All and all, I was in a rut and needed a change. The travel gods apparently agreed. On a Wednesday, I made the final decision to sell my business, get what I could for it and hit the road. The next day, I received a call from a man in Chicago what wanted to buy my web sites. This was particularly interesting since I hadn’t actually told anyone the sites were for sale. By the end of the day, we had agreed on a price, signed a contract and he was wiring the money. **End Summary** Topics: travel]]> traveling]]> traver]]> trip]]> dream trip]]> asia]]> korean airlines]]> american express]]> traveler check]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of travel accessories .

Flying Internationally on Chartered Planes

Tue, 30 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400

If you’re a budget traveler, chartered planes will cross your travel planning path at some point in time. The quality of charter flights can be both good and bad. During certain times of the year, flying to a particular location can be very expensive. One way to beat the expense is to book a seat on a charter flight. I did this very thing once, booking a round trip ticket to Europe during the high season. The seat set me back $400, a savings of about $350 at the time. The chartered flight had good and bad points. I don’t want to get sued, so I’ll leave out the name of the company in the following. Bad Points I was flying out of Los Angeles and into Paris on an unnamed charter flight. The fun started upon arriving at the airport. The flight left at 2:00 in the afternoon, but the ticket window wasn’t open at noon. An hour later, a very long line of passengers were starting to grumble about being ripped off since the ticket window still hadn’t opened. **End Summary** Topics: chartered plane]]> charter flight]]> cheap flight]]> cheap flights]]> cheap ticket]]> fly cheap]]> first class]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of travel accessories .

Travel to Italy - Rome and Venice

Sun, 28 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Where does one begin to start when discussing Italy. Well, if you intend to travel there, Rome and Venice are good places to start. Rome Perhaps you’ve heard of it? It goes without saying that Rome has a rather prominent past. Lets see, in Rome you will find…[deep breath]…the Vatican, Coliseum, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Church of Saint Agnese, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and a guy name Allassandro. Just making sure you’re paying attention. Indeed, Rome is filthy with historically significant attractions. It seems you can’t turn around without bumping into something an Emperor built, captured or destroyed. For those willing to risk potential wrath, there are also the new Divinci Code tours, which take you to the locations found in the book. In all serious, Rome is a city you should visit at least once in your life. No article could ever do it justice, so I’ll just stop here. Venice I fondly refer to Venice as the floating city even though it is apparently sinking. If you’ve seen Venice is movies or televisions shows, the depictions are accurate. Piazza San Marco looks exactly the same, birds and all. **End Summary** Topics: italy]]> rome]]> venice]]> travel italy]]> Vatican]]> Coliseum]]> Pantheon]]> Piazza Navona]]> Church of Saint Agnes]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of journals . Make sure to visit our fly fishing section.

Ya Mule! Backpacking in Siena, Italy

Sun, 28 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Ah, the glamour of backpacking through Europe. Of course, the glamour comes with a price as I found in Siena, Italy. Siena Siena is located an hour or so outside of Florence, Italy. My handy dandy guidebook suggested it was a side trip that just had to be made. A medieval structure located behind protective walls on the top of a hill. The central area was generally closed off to cars and it was a taste of true Italy. Who was I to argue? As I sat on the train, I check my backpack for any excess weight. I had already discarded or sent home unnecessary items and was feeling pretty light on my feet. Next thing I knew, the train had stopped and I was standing on flat road next to a rolling hill covered in trees and homes. Siena proper was at the top. The thing about rolling hills with lots of foliage is they are simply evil. You can never get a grasp on how far it is to the top. You keep thinking the top appears to be a few hundred feet in front of you until you reach it. **End Summary** Topics: siena]]> sienna]]> italy]]> florence]]> travelogue]]> travelogues]]> europe]]> backpacking]]> backpacking europe]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of journals . Make sure to visit our fly fishing section.

Sweden Travel - Stockholm and Karlskrona

Sun, 28 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400

Known as the land of Vikings, Sweden is actually an odd mix of cosmopolitan cities and vast stretches of wide-open spaces. For budget travelers, Sweden is a bit expensive. Stockholm An incredibly beautiful city in the summer, Stockholm is the Venice of Northern Europe. Like Venice, Stockholm is built on the water with canals and waterways criss crossing the city. Instead of marshland, Stockholm is actually a collection of dozens if not hundreds of little islands. Despite the beauty, Stockholm can seem a bet sterile for a big city. Large parts of the city seem to be devoted completely to either providing working spaces or residences. With a little digging, however, you’ll find the city has much to offer. To get a taste of the real Stockholm, throw away your travel guide and head to the Sodermalm area. Sodermalm predates the modern areas of the city and provides a glimpse into the past. In the neighborhood, you’ll find authentic old pubs, hole in the wall shops selling all manner of strange things and artist enclaves. During the summer, Sodermalm has plenty of outdoor cafes and a friendly feel. Karlskrona If naval history is your thing, Karlskrona gives even St. **End Summary** Topics: sweden]]> stockholm]]> sodermalm]]> karlskrona]]> baroque]]> vikings]]> venice]]> travel sweden]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of journals . Make sure to visit our fly fishing section.

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