Letter from the Editor 

January 2004

Dear Friends:

Winter day at Eastern Market

A little tense these days? Between natural disasters from California to Iran, the daily deaths and injuring of America’s "child" soldiers in a war that is supposedly over, real or government propaganda terrorist fears – then face your Christmas bills, time to start thinking about our income tax returns and who knows what else! Dramatic that I am, I used to threaten to jump out of my old Minnesota office window when it was hair pulling time – until remembering I was on the first floor.

You’d probably hang up if I said forget it all and go on a vacation – so what other treat have you denied yourself? The most expensive ice cream? Hold it to a one time splurge and it’s ok from the money point less than $5 and even the one time calories won’t do much damage. An expensive steak? Well they’re all on sale now and if you wait a day or two my grocery store marks them way down for real bargains. Are we really afraid of mad cow disease? The US is angry that all these other countries are banning our beef? Didn’t we just do that to them?

One time pay the extra and have the attendant pump your gas. Besides the diversity, that is one of the main reasons to live in New Jersey, they always pump your gas. In most areas of the country a massage or facial is $45-100. Go rent some movie you loved years ago or buy them! I bought two old Jack Nicholson films on VHS for $4.99 each and our movie theaters charge $8.50 for a few hours to be among the chewing, sneezing, coughing, talking masses.

Maybe the first line is to find someone seemingly worse off than you – volunteer to help any type of organization regularly or do a one time project. Work a casino night, chili cook-off or some other "fun" fund raiser. Most food kitchens get too much help during the holidays and then January 2 rolls around and they’re short handed again.

Lack of sunlight can cause depression, which is one factor in SAD or seasonal affective disorder, according to the National Mental Health Association. The disorder is caused by a lack of sunlight during the winter months, but it takes time and not just one rainy day. As many as one in four Americans suffer from a mild form of SAD during the winter months. I use full spectrum light bulbs in lamps where I read or sit a lot and try to walk more often outside without sunglasses. Once I read that sunlight shining into your eyes was a good source of Vitamin D. True or not it’s painless.

So now that we have you (and me) up and raring to go let’s order some seed catalogs and travel brochures. I bought a bird bath for the patio today. Now that’s "springing" forward!

Busabout

I’ve known about the following two organizations for a while and want to pass on their contact information. Of great interest to the "alternative" type traveler – in this case meaning those that prefer to strike out on their own for the adventure, flexible schedule or perhaps lower costs. The first is Busabout a hop-on/hop-off style travel network for backpackers and independent travelers. Busabout’s network covers 50 European cities and add-on connections to 35 additional destinations outside Europe. I went to their website which is fairly clear and easy to operate and found that an unlimited pass for two weeks for one person starting in London was ₤249.

Unfortunately unless the dollar gains against the British pound and euro, traveling in Europe is not going to be the bargain it can be. It also means that other alternatives are not any cheaper.

Although I am an advocate of travel packages (air + hotel) especially for single destinations and find many airlines like Virgin, British Air, Cathay Pacific and all the international US carriers offer outstanding deals. Unless you are extremely skilled at using the internet, have some knowledge of the area you’re going to be visiting and a lot of time to arrange it all - go with the package. If you have other issues, take a full tour that includes meals, a bus or van and guide to take you everywhere. Overseas Adventure Tours (OAT) has gotten rave reviews from my friends. They limit their groups to approximately 16 travelers, use local guides and every thing is included in very reasonably priced trips all over the world.

I don’t believe in the "this is Thursday it must be Rome" 16 day, 12 country tour, unless you like looking out of a bus window or the "hurry up and wait" for everyone else.

It is debatable how the most recent orange alerts and canceling of flights are and will be affecting travel and prices worldwide. I do know that I’ll keep on going as ever. Most of the world has not fully recovered from the economic impact of September 11th and now these continued threats, real or perceptions, are dealing a death blow to many dependent businesses – small or large everywhere. As I’ve mentioned previously if my metal body parts don’t set off airport security neither will a possible weapon and it happens all too frequently. It doesn’t take too many smarts to realize if you go into a hornets nest and stir around they’ll come out to protect themselves and sting you. We need to take care of issues inside our own borders first.

Travelroomers.com

There are or have been a few organizations similar to Travelroomers.com and they are popular with many travelers. Certainly their $20 annual fee is reasonable and the idea of providing a room, couch or space to a US or foreign traveler for a few days seems interesting to me. This is also a good way to promote understanding of world issues and different cultures. I used to take in friends of my daughter whose bands were performing in this area for a few nights. They were great and I enjoyed hearing about that gritty "on the road" lifestyle. Always needing sleep and usually vegetarians, I filled them with rice and beans plus lots of fresh veggies.

Travelroomers.com says why travel and stay where the population is 90% American tourists? You might as well have stayed home. Growing up, our family frequently had international guests and we still try to follow that credo. Reversing the situation, after traveling for a long while and during a month in France I decided someone might like to practice English on me. Stopping in a tourism office in Bandol, very quickly they came up with two teachers from a local school who taught English and would be thrilled to go out for pizza and practise. It was a wonderful evening for all three of us.

Many Travelroomer members also join just to have interesting new guests at their home. When you don't have time to travel yourself. you can chose your guests, just like friends and family some can be quite entertaining while others are quiet and on their own schedule. As you learn about different cultures it also offers an opportunity to impact a positive view of Americans. Plus you signup for guests on your schedule and for just a few days at a time.

Let’s see now I’ve got you volunteering, eating ice cream, getting a massage, taking in guests and hopping on and off a bus through Europe. That ought to keep you off the streets for a few weeks!

Through January and February we’ll be taking a few spa weekends for an upcoming report on WUSA TV in Washington and then it’s off to Jamaica for a wonderful cooking experience at the Roundhill Resort in Montego Bay. It may take a lot of trips to Jamaica before I learn how to cook! Like my advice to a newly wed wife "delay learning how to run the vacuum or wash clothes as long as you can". No one gave me those wise words.

Mary Gallagher

Wishing you the best New Year ever!

Mary Gallagher

mary@gallagherstravels.com

Overseas Adventure Travel

Call Toll Free: 1-800-493-6824 or
1-800 221 0814
online_oat@gct.com
www.oattravel.com

Busabout

258 Vauxhall Bridge Rd
London, SW1V 1BS
UNITED KINGDOM.
Phone: +44 (0) 207 950 1661
Fax: +44 (0) 207 950 1662
Email: info@busabout.co.uk
www.busabout.com

Travelroomers.com

info@travelroomers.com
www.Travelroomers.com

Roundhill Resort

Montego Bay, Jamaica
Call (800) 972-2159 
876-956-7050 
Fax 876-956-7505
reservations@roundhilljamaica.com
www.roundhilljamaica.com

 


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