A Few More Gnomes....

You may think, from the recent dearth of posts, that I have been suffering from writer's block. In part, this is true. But in part, I have been so busy doing travel stories for my lovely outlets like The Washington Post, NewsChannel 8 and Groupon City Guides (coming soon to a computer near you), that I simply haven't had time to write the pithy prose that the treasured readers of this blog have come to expect.

However, after a lengthy session reading travel magazines cover to cover, I have once again been inspired to return to one of my favorite topics--my beefs with travel writing drivel. In the past, I have written several columns filled with gnomes...

gnome

2  [nohm, noh-mee]  Show IPA

noun

a short, pithy expression of a general truth; aphorism  

...about travel writing. Some of these beefs are worth repeating and I have cooked up a few new gnomes. Let me note that I am unlikely immune to some of these gno-gno's (except #1). No one's perfect, but I try to avoid them like the plague (click link for my commentary on cliches). 
                                                      ------------------

1. During the past week, I have come to learn that--
The Lake Lucerne region has something for everyone (e-mail from Lucerne Tourism)
Spain has something for everyone (a powerpoint presentation shown at Academic Travel Abroad)
There's something for everyone in Santa Barbara's wine country (Destination California supplement in Meetings and Conventions) 
Quintana Roo (Mexico) has something for everyone (Travel Weekly) 

Who knew? However, I beg to differ. Lake Lucerne does not have a nude beach; Spain does not have a desert; Santa Barbara's wine country does not have skiing; nor, for that matter, does Quintana Roo. No  matter how amazing a place is, I defy you, dear reader, to find  a location that actually has something for everyone. If you are an aspiring travel writer, my #1 piece of advice is to NEVER use this lazy phrase.

2. Awkward uses of words
While technically correct, writers often use words that are passé, grammatically questionable, or of questionable connotation. For example, I recently read that "Northern California is fraught with something for everyone, offering meeting planners all they could ever wish for." Let's ignore for a minute that my favorite phrase is used, and that the sentence ends in a preposition. As soon as I read the word fraught, my heart starts beating faster. True, it officially is defined as filled or laden, but in common parlance, it is usually used with a negative connotation (the mission was fraught with danger, it was a fraught situation). Therefore, using the word to connote a beneficial thing seems off.  Similarly, a 20-something travel writer, in discussing his visit to Estonia, talks about the Communistic era. Yes, communistic is a word, officially, but never, in 20 years of writing about Eastern Europe, had I ever seen the word used. Try to redline words that make readers stop in their tracks. 

3. Redundancy
Re·dun·dan·cy
  [ri-duhn-duhn-see]  Show IPA

noun, plural re·dun·dan·cies.

1. Superfluous repetition or overlapping, especially of two words.

How about truly unique, absolutely essential, or old adage?

4. Of quaint hidden gems nestled in breathtaking mountains populated by friendly locals...

...and all those other aggravating travel cliches.

5. And just because it bothers me...

Whether you love ice skating or swimming; whether you are into history or metallurgy; whether you are a man, woman or hermaphrodite, it is absolutely essential (!) to see Destination X. This whether/or construction is simply overused in travel writing. See whether or not you can avoid it.

More Tips for Packing Light

Curious how the woman behind Daily Suitcase packs? Check out this segment from Let's Talk Live in Washington, DC. 

http://www.wjla.com/blogs/lets-talk-live/2014/05/packing-light-for-your-next-trip-21762.html

If you don't feel like watching the whole thing (tsk, tsk), here's a pithy recap.

1. Pick a color scheme and stick to it. Many people choose black and white. I find that quite blah. Not to mention that once you spill something on those white pants, they are down for the count. Opt for basics in blue, chocolate brown, or green to stand out from the crowd. Having a color plan allows you to limit purses and shoes (see below).

2. Do the mix and match thing. If your skirts and pants sport patterns, bring solid tops. Make sure you can wear different tops with different bottoms to give the illusion of tripling the size of your wardrobe.

3. Thank goodness for accessories.  They can truly change the look of an outfit. Pop a belt over that flowing dress and you have a whole new silhouette. Those who are handy with scarves can find a million ways to change things up with one small piece of fabric.

4.  Jackets and sweaters can also alter a look. Just add a top layer to an outfit you have been wearing all day and voila, you have a new outfit.

5. Since all of your clothing mixes and matches, you only need one purse.

I do not recommend choosing

clogs as one of your

three pairs of shoes.

6.  Likewise, you will be able to stick to my famous Three Shoe Rule. Now, I am not saying you can only bring three shoes. But I am limiting you to three pairs of shoes--one for dress (heels); one for fashionable walking (comfy loafers or sandals or flat boots, depending on the season); and one (sneakers) for workouts and walks on the road.. 

7.  Pack lightweight, low-wrinkle, hand-washable clothing.

8.  Use compression bags. Packing carry-on doesn't have to suck when you use these, because by sucking air from the bag with a mini-vac, you can shrink-wrap your clothing--reducing bulk by half. Travelon Space Mates are airtight, leak-proof, and cheap (2/$15).

9. Wear your heaviest clothing (parkas, boots) on board.

9 Things to Know About Delaware

  

Yes, it's the nation's first state. But do you know why Delaware is so dubbed? The answer, and eight other surprising facts about the country's second smallest state, below.

1. Delaware was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. It happened on December 7, 1987 in Dover.

www.go-delaware.com

2. Up until last year, Delaware was the only state in the union not to have a National Park Service unit. It still doesn't have a national park, but it now has the NPS First State National Monument (thank you, Joe Biden?) It consists of several historic sites, including the Dover Green, the New Castle Courthouse and parts of the Brandywine Valley.

3. There's no sales tax in Delaware, which makes it a shopping mecca.
The best deals can be found at the Tanger Outlets in Rehoboth.



4. The foodie scene in Rehoboth is surprisingly robust. Maybe all of those Washington weekenders have unleashed a demand for fine food that can no longer be tamed. Savor a taste of the best the beach town has to offer by taking a sampling and strolling tour with www.eatingrehoboth.com.

5. Speaking of food, the Second Annual Mid-Atlantic Food and Wine Festival takes place between May 14 and 18 in venues throughout Delaware. The only statewide food and wine festival in the country will feature epicurean experiences presented by 90 chefs and 20 winemakers from six continents. 

 6. Punkin' Chunkin' in Bridgeville. Need we say more?

7. Birdwatchers go loony over Delaware. The small state (clocking in at less than 2,000 square miles) has several prime spots for checking out the flying flocks. The best is Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, a 16,000+ tidal salt marsh located along the Delaware Bay. Spring features migrating songbirds and shorebirds, while summer provides a peek at tall wading birds who hang in the marshland with deer, red fox and beaver. Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge is another top spot for migratory birds.

8. As the northernmost slave state (albeit in the Union), Delaware played an integral role in the Underground Railroad, which led southern African-Americans to freedom. The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway connects key historic landscapes, homes, and places of cultural significance throughout Delaware to tell the story of the struggle for freedom and the individuals who helped make that dream a reality. 

9. More history is showcased in northern Delaware at the famous DuPont mansions.  The Hagley Museum and Library is the site of the gunpowder works founded by E.I. du Pont in 1802. The example of early American industrial history includes restored mills, a workers community, and the ancestral home of the du Pont family. Winterthur, the home of Henry Francis DuPont, is now a premier museum of American decorative art. Meantime, a stroll through Nemours, the home of Alfred I. DuPont, will leave you feeling as if you are wandering through a French chateau. 

www.nemoursmansion.org

For more information on the First State, go to www.visitdelaware.com.

On Wisconsin, Art and Punditry

If you are looking to become a big cheese in the art world, why not head to Wisconsin? All around the southeastern part of the Dairy State, you can find places where you can imbibe while unleashing your inner Renoir. And guess what? It doesn't cost a lot of monet. Mind you, the medium is not klee, but rather paint. 

Art studios and bars alike are trying to make painting easel by combining spirits and paintbrushes. For example, Milwaukee's Splash Studio is a painting bar catering to artists of all levels. Try a small canvas for a quick 30-minute “mini painting” session or take a full-on class. If you don't feel like picking up a paintbrush, just pick up a pint and work on your pick-up lines aimed at the aspiring artists. Just make it better than, "Hello, Dali.

Courtesy Arte Wine and Painting Studio

At the Arte Wine and Painting Studio in Wauwatosa and Delafield, you don't have to be a stella artist to join the party.There are nightly classes, with painting by numbers instruction provided by pros.  There are also paint tables where studio servers can assist with both your artwork and the bar order. Try one of the art-inspired cocktails.

The Green Room Lounge in DePere is the site of Pass the Paint/Pass the Wine. The event takes place the second and fourth Sundays of every month. For $20, you’ll be supplied with a canvas, paint, brushes and a bottomless glass of wine (not sure what they give you to munch on).  However, this isn't your average art bar experience (if there is such a thing). Think musical chairs meets speed dating (if your date was a canvas). Participants paint for 15 minutes. Then, just when they are running out of de-gas in DePere, they switch canvases with someone else and so on and so on. 

The Paint Nite Events website canvases other options throughout southeastern Wisconsin. You can also make lautrec over to www.artsboard.wisconsin.gov. The moral of the story--when in the Dairy State, if you keep your ear to the ground, you might become the next Vincent Van Gouda.
 

Tips for Packing Light

Today I appeared on NewsChannel 8's Let's Talk Live to provide the skinny of putting your suitcase on a diet. The clip will soon be posted.  

In the meantime, people often wonder how I can pack so light. True, I was unable to fit my gear into a carry-on for the 25-day trek from Beijing to Moscow. But I still had less baggage than my fellow passengers. And I  headed back to the USA lighter than I started (suitcase--3 pounds lighter; body-10 pounds lighter) largely because 1/4 of my suitcase was reserved outbound for gluten-free snacks.

Here's the pre-trip packing list:

3 pairs of pants

2 pairs of shorts

3 casual dresses

What do you wear to meet a bear?
 

1 pair of sandals

2 pairs of loafers

1 pair of heels

6 T-shirts

2 long-sleeve tops

2 sweaters

1 windbreaker

1 leather jacket

1 silk robe (not worn during trip--robes supplied on train and at hotels)

1 bathing suit (not worn)

Socks, underwear

2 pairs of comfy yoga pants

I also brought a shoebox full of hotel-sized amenities like shampoo, body wash and conditioner, most of which I didn't need. I also packed reading material, an umbrella, sunglasses, glasses, drugs and potions, a neck pillow, a butt supporter, mini-headphones, and a few notebooks....plus iPad,cameras, batteries, chargers, adaptors, credit cards, an ATM card, and my passport. All were packed in a 26" Biaggi foldable suitcase, a small backpack, and a purse.

Yes, I did break my three-pairs-of-shoes rule, largely due to a two-hour meeting in Moscow which required heels. That bothered me. But the fact that I wore through everything else, and arrived back home with a big sack of dirty clothing, proved another packing job well done.














http://dailysuitcase.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-packing-list.html

9 Things to Love About Chicago

Only 9 things? Well, of course, it is simply impossible to narrow down a list to 9 things. Thus, I will focus on places I was able to revisit during my recent stay in Chicago.  For more ideas. go to www.choosechicago.com.

First, though, some hot-off-the-presses (do they still have those?) news from the Windy City.

1. Virgin's first hotel is opening in Chicago in the fall. The 250-room property will be located at 203 N. Wabash, near the top of the Loop.

2. The Art Institute of Chicago will celebrate painter Rene Magritte starting  June 24. The retrospective will canvas the Belgian Surrealist's formative years.

3. The Museum of Contemporary Art will open David Bowie Is in September. The blockbuster show pays homage to the 40-year career of the pioneering singer/performance artist. Costumes, concert set designs and album art will be some of the memorabilia on display.

Now, on to my favorite things about Chicago:


Picasso at Daley Plaza
 

1. The iconic architecture

2. The public art

3. Lake Michigan


A Sunday on La Grande Jatte
by Georges Seurat @
The Art Institute



 

4. The Magnificent Mile

5. The Museum Campus and the Museum of
                                            Science and Industry

6. The Art Institute of Chicago







7. The El





8. Millennium Park: Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year

Cloud Gate, better known as The Bean

 9. Wrigley Field: Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

 

 

 

 

 



Traveling To Turkey: Key Information

For those of you who heard my April 3 report on Turkey, here is
additional information. For those of you who didn't listen in, you have a second chance. Go to www.aroundtheworldradio.com/aarchives.jsp.
You'll find my segment 25 minutes into the April 3 program.
Or you can see the TV version and see pictures.

Here is the tip list.

First, you need to get there. I recommend Turkish Airlines, which
currently has five U.S. gateways. They are Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, DC, New York and Houston. The latter city was just added to the roster this month. All flights land non-stop in Istanbul. Expect more announcements of U.S. hubs to come.

In case you didn't know it, Turkish Airlines flies to more countries than any airline in the world. It's part of the Star Alliance. And, because it regularly offers special deals, the airline's prices to international destinations are often the best available. So, even if you aren't going to Turkey, but are going long-haul, check them out.

Americans need a visa to enter Turkey. Don't worry--it's hassle-free. When you get to the Istanbul airport, you will be directed to a visa payment booth. There rarely are lines, and you get through quickly, as it's a simple cash transaction. That noted, be sure to bring $20 U.S. Turkish lira and credit cards are not accepted.

If you plan to visit Istanbul, check out this official website. It's packed with sightseeing suggestions, and advice on where to stay and how to get around.

If you are interested in exploring Cappadocia and points beyond (Ephesus, Pamukkale, Izmir), visit www.goturkey.com.

 If you are interested in experiencing a hammam, or a Turkish bath, here is the skinny on that cultural experience.