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The Show
Have you been watching Rudy's travel show lately? He has been to so many great places on this week's shows.
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Key West, FL
My spring road trip took me to Key West, another life-long dream journey. I motored via I-95 & I-75 to Sarasota, joined a buddy, and took the Alligator Alley crossing of the Everglades. Whew, what an experience. When we finally got to US 1 in Florida City, I felt a huge sigh of "arrival" in my soul. The drive down US #1 to Key West was memorable. I grew up in a town very near US # 1 in NC, so being on another stretch of it whether it's Maine or Florida, it's a fulfilling moment.
We stayed 2 full days at a small motel at the quiet end of Duvall, two blocks from the Southernmost Point.
I found it curious that most of the motel guests were European. We got to practice our German skills from years gone by.
Food, bars, sightseeing, all were fabulous. I got sandals and a purse from the Kino shop/factory for less than $50 total!! I also just HAD to get the t-shirt from the La Te Da bar. The most memorable aspects of such a trip are always the journey, and the sharing of it with a dear friend.
My first taste of conch fritters was an added bonus.
If you never did it, put it on the list with a higher priority. Well worth the effort to pack a bag, travel gear, and hit the road!
We stayed 2 full days at a small motel at the quiet end of Duvall, two blocks from the Southernmost Point.
I found it curious that most of the motel guests were European. We got to practice our German skills from years gone by.
Food, bars, sightseeing, all were fabulous. I got sandals and a purse from the Kino shop/factory for less than $50 total!! I also just HAD to get the t-shirt from the La Te Da bar. The most memorable aspects of such a trip are always the journey, and the sharing of it with a dear friend.
My first taste of conch fritters was an added bonus.
If you never did it, put it on the list with a higher priority. Well worth the effort to pack a bag, travel gear, and hit the road!
Take a year off
My wife and I are exploring the idea of taking a year off and travel around the world or as far as it might take us. We are both in our early 70's, in good health, but don't think we can afford endless plane trips or cruises. Has anyone out there experienced this kind of venture. And we need lots of tips and ideas. Thanks, Jack F
Cape Cod
Just spent two weeks with friends on Cape Cod. Wow, it was the fulfillment of a lifetime dream. We stayed in South Yarmouth as a base, traveled throughout the area with great beaches, rivers and towns. Do take the Bass River tour of the shores near the mouth. Watch for the opspry nests, babies are hatched! I did see a coyote as he slunk through the back yard, and two skunks as they waddled past the deck, too. One of the frequent pastimes was to go to a coffee stop, then head to Windmill beach or Smugglers' Beach to enjoy the view while we sipped our drink. Best fish and chips is at Swan River where there's a seafood market and eatery. Drinks on the lawn at the Bass River Golf Club are also a great way to view the river activity. The Canadian geese were hanging out and taking flight as we sipped our beverages, grerat lobster rolls, too. Do take the roads and byways all the way to Provincetown, it's a day's journey that will feed your soul. Along the way, see the point of first landfall of the Pilgrims, before they decided to continue on to Plymouth. Each place is special in this enchanting part of coastal USA.
Newbie here.
Hi fellow travelers. I'm looking forward to all the mesages and replies. Travel is my thing whether by rail, ship or plane. Autos and buses are okay too.
Australia
Rudy, you may just be the man to answer or direct me. . .
I've contacted several travel agencies without success for my trip.
I do not want to do the touristy thing. Sydney Opera House, Ayers Rock, Alice Springs. I would like to live and work in the outback on a station, meet the true aborignes, snorkel the Barrier Reef and tour Melbourne. That is my interest. Can you connect me with the appropriate travel person?
Thank you for any suggestions.
I've contacted several travel agencies without success for my trip.
I do not want to do the touristy thing. Sydney Opera House, Ayers Rock, Alice Springs. I would like to live and work in the outback on a station, meet the true aborignes, snorkel the Barrier Reef and tour Melbourne. That is my interest. Can you connect me with the appropriate travel person?
Thank you for any suggestions.
European car rentals
Three of us will be traveling together, so I think it will be less expensive to rent a car after looking at the train fares. Is there any way to find out what insurance and other hidden costs might be involved. My local insurance company said I would not have coverage through them. None of us are "big"-but my son is 6' tall- does a "compact" car sound reasonable?
To Africa and Back
I did it! I traveled to South Africa and Mozambique for just over 2 weeks and carried everything in one backpack (plus a sizeable - for me - shoulder bag)
South Africa was both familiar and foreign. Everyone spoke english which was a big help. And I kept seeing familiar American brands everywhere: KFC, Wimpys, Nestle, Coca Cola.
South Africa was also the pampered, easy part of our trip.
My sister and I arranged for transfers and tours with Thompsons Africa Safaris and Tours. And they took good care of us.
The highlights of that week were mostly in Kruger National Park where we went on twice-daily game drives with an experienced guide (Alfred) in an open safari vehicle. We saw and photgraphed elephants, zebra, giraffe, rhino, hippo, crocodile, leopard, wart hog, hyena, wildebeast, impala, kudu, baboons, vervet monkeys and other wildlife doing their natural thing in their natural habitat.
The park is huge - about 2 million hectares - so we only saw a small part of it but saw a great diversity of habitat and animal life in that part.
The second week we traveled through Swaziland to Mozambique where our niece met us in Maputo then brought us back to Quissico - the small town where she is a Peace Corps volunteer teacher.
Life in Mozambique, particularly in Quissico, was a taste of what everyday living is like for many in that part of the world.
We traveled on public transportation or by foot, stayed in our niece's tiny reed-walled home without running water and with an outdoor kitchen. We filtered our water, cooked over a charcoal stove and made daily trips to the market to bargain - with my "muito, muito impaco" Portuguese - for daily groceries.
Quissico is situated on Mozambiques idilic coast. What we lacked in modern services was made up in natural beauty.
Well, the coutryside was beautiful (palm trees, sand beaches) but the towns, while picturesque, were filled with trash. Mozambique lost most of its infrastructure during its civil war and things like trash disposal are sadly lacking. Trash is pretty much dropped in the street. There's really no place to put it.
We found the people warm, friendly and always ready to smile and laugh.
If anyone has the opportuninity to go, I recommend it. Travel light and take reasonable precautions and all should be well. We did not experience any problems at all.
Will upload some Africa photos to my profile page when I get a chance.
South Africa was both familiar and foreign. Everyone spoke english which was a big help. And I kept seeing familiar American brands everywhere: KFC, Wimpys, Nestle, Coca Cola.
South Africa was also the pampered, easy part of our trip.
My sister and I arranged for transfers and tours with Thompsons Africa Safaris and Tours. And they took good care of us.
The highlights of that week were mostly in Kruger National Park where we went on twice-daily game drives with an experienced guide (Alfred) in an open safari vehicle. We saw and photgraphed elephants, zebra, giraffe, rhino, hippo, crocodile, leopard, wart hog, hyena, wildebeast, impala, kudu, baboons, vervet monkeys and other wildlife doing their natural thing in their natural habitat.
The park is huge - about 2 million hectares - so we only saw a small part of it but saw a great diversity of habitat and animal life in that part.
The second week we traveled through Swaziland to Mozambique where our niece met us in Maputo then brought us back to Quissico - the small town where she is a Peace Corps volunteer teacher.
Life in Mozambique, particularly in Quissico, was a taste of what everyday living is like for many in that part of the world.
We traveled on public transportation or by foot, stayed in our niece's tiny reed-walled home without running water and with an outdoor kitchen. We filtered our water, cooked over a charcoal stove and made daily trips to the market to bargain - with my "muito, muito impaco" Portuguese - for daily groceries.
Quissico is situated on Mozambiques idilic coast. What we lacked in modern services was made up in natural beauty.
Well, the coutryside was beautiful (palm trees, sand beaches) but the towns, while picturesque, were filled with trash. Mozambique lost most of its infrastructure during its civil war and things like trash disposal are sadly lacking. Trash is pretty much dropped in the street. There's really no place to put it.
We found the people warm, friendly and always ready to smile and laugh.
If anyone has the opportuninity to go, I recommend it. Travel light and take reasonable precautions and all should be well. We did not experience any problems at all.
Will upload some Africa photos to my profile page when I get a chance.
Hungary/Germany
Planning to travel to Hungary and Germany this summer. I'll be spending time in Budapest and the Black Forrest of Germany. Has anyone who's traveled there have any suggestions of what I shouldnt miss or places to stay/eat?
Lillyk
Lillyk
Quest for a Boomer Friendly Place
I’m about to do quite a bit of business travel and, as a Boomer, I’d love to be able to go a Boomer friendly place where I will find a staff that is always neat, courteous, respectful, friendly, and knowledgeable. Ideally, I’d like great food – from old favorites and 'comfort food', to trendy and exotic – maybe even some "Diet" offerings – all made from scratch, chemical additive free, and moderately priced. And, it would be really cool if they also had some fun activities. Basically I’m looking for very friendly, inviting places to eat and drink AND have fun. What’s available like this in your area? Thanks for valuable, usable information!!!
CHEFLYON
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CHEFLYON
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