Gallagher's Travels: Letter From the Editor: April 2007

Letter from the Editor

April 2007

Dear Friends,

Early in April and here in eastern North Carolina spring has truly blossomed with warm breezes, fragrant blooms and every shade of green known. Now a week later they are predicting snow and we’re having night temperatures below freezing.

My sister and her husband are on “vacation” driving first from Minnesota to the NE for a funeral and then down to Kentucky and back to Minnesota. They haven’t missed any of the cold, rain or snow and probably should have just stayed at the Foxwoods Resort and Casino for the entire trip instead of a few hours! Then traveling over the Easter Holidays meant many attractions, restaurants and retailers are closed or operating on shorter hours.

Keep religious holidays in mind when planning your travels.

Since about mid-February the mail has increased rapidly touting all the benefits of traveling to various parts of the world and we’re hearing from old and new friends everywhere about their offerings.

Geneva

Geneva, Switzerland

One of many good deals in Switzerland is the UNIRESO: Geneva Transport Card.

From January 1st, 2007, a public transport pass will be given to all clients staying in a Geneva hotel and it will be for the length of their stay.

This pass will include all means of transportation within the Canton of Geneva: CFF (Swiss trains), TPG (buses & trams), and the taxi boats. Additionally, a UNIRESO transportation pass will soon be offered to each passenger arriving at Geneva Airport, enabling them to travel without cost to their hotel by public transportation. This will be actualized during 2007. Switzerland is wonderful but costly and this UNIRESO pass will be very useful. www.myswitzerland.com.

Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County

Mud Sales

Mud Sale is the Lancaster County term for an annual auction/sale at one of a number of local fire companies. The sales, appropriately named for the condition of the thawing ground, attract thousands of people looking for bargains on anything from Amish quilts and antiques to lumber buggies and lawn equipment.

Most sales begin at 8:30 a.m. sharp, but activities continue throughout the day for those who wish to catch a glimpse of some local color and enjoy sampling traditional Lancaster County farm fare. www.padutchcountry.com

Ontario

Ontario Spring Colors

Spring Colors routes and Wildlife Viewing

Consider a road trip north this spring to enjoy Ontario's outdoors--- enjoy Maple Syrup Festivals, touring, shopping at a farmers market, a budding artist show, a fishing getaway or just plain old fashioned fresh air and exercise. The colors of spring north of Toronto will be showing the hues of various yellows, greens, whites and purples with the buds getting fatter ready to burst into full summer foliage. As the spring flowers start to bloom and the snow disappears, a number of the early blooming crocuses are appearing with a blanket of white, yellow and blue colors (colors). April and May are good months for viewing wildlife before the full bloom and leaf foliage appear. Moose and deer can be seen in and around the Algonquin Park area, and regions further north.

For a year round schedule of amazing things to do in Ontario check out http://www.400eleven.com.

Chinatown New York City, NY

Chinatown, New York City, NY

There are a gazillion more things to do and experience in Chinatown then spending all your money on Canal Street and their website www.explorechinatown.com is like having a personal guide. You’ll find instructions on every which way to get there, restaurants, festivals, exhibits, nearby hotels and more. I always try to spend some time in Chinatown every time I visit New York City and with all this assistance and suggestions you will too.

A Sampling of Spring Events for May 2007

Dance

H.T. Chen & Dancers' "Teahouse Performances"

May 3-6. A festive event in an intimate setting, featuring H.T. Chen & Dancers’ repertoire, live pipa music, tasty Chinatown refreshments, and fun pre-show activities, including basic calligraphy lessons! Fun for all ages.

Mulberry St Theater presents "newsteps: a choreographer's series"

May 17-19. Discover the cutting-edge of NYC modern dance at this season's "newsteps" series.

Walking Tour

Joyce Gold History Tours

May 20. "Gangs of New York and the Bloody Five Points." A great and notorious 19th century immigrant neighborhood, with its areas Paradise Square, Cow Bay and Bottle Alley, and gangs the Roach Guards, Plug Uglies and Dead Rabbits.

Ongoing

Art Exhibits

Many True Stories: Life in Chinatown On and After September 11th

Conveys the tragic event from local perspectives, retracing the experiences of many of those who suffered through that infamous day. The exhibit features photographs and artifacts, as well as a memory book where visitors can share their own thoughts and experiences surrounding the attacks. For more information, visit www.moca-nyc.org.

Mapping Our Heritage Project

Pioneering interactive kiosk applying cutting-edge technology for neighborhood cultural and historical preservation.

The Virtual Salon: Chinese Transnational Photographers in the Digital Age

Health & Fitness

Free Ear Acupuncture

Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center, Scotland Neck, NC

Live Music & Comedy

The Five Points Variety Hour

An "eclectic mix of music, hip hop, poetry, comedy, trash talk, and spontaneous insanity" that plays to a diverse crowd every Friday night at 8:00 at the Silk Road Cafe. Not a family show, it's "Unfiltered. Uncensored. Unpredictable." $1 with one-drink ($5) minimum.

Have we stirred your interest in making travel plans? No need to go far, I believe in learning about my close to home features too and we try to take a day trip once each week to explore something new.