Word for the Travel Wise (08/02/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Sad as it sounds – summer is almost over and if you wait too long you’ll blink, miss it and will have gone without a holiday abroad. If you’re still thinking up an escape plan for the little ones and yourself before the season ends or an enchanting getaway for you and your special someone, I tell all to check out the Campo Maior Flower Festival. The event takes place the first week of September in Campo Maior, Portugal and the town decorates the area with vibrant papers and flowers. Absolutely beautiful and fun for all – especially your young explorers!

Today’s word is a Portuguese word used in Portugal:

crianças – (kree-ang-sash) children

Easy Portuguese online offers a small dictionary of useful words, useful phrases, and a couple of short lessons to get you started. Most have audio clips including our word for the day found here. Portuguese Language dot net has excellent historical info on the language and numerous tools to help you get motivated and be successful at learning the 6th most spoken language. For Portuguese heard in Portugal you can download mp3 audio from BBC, which I’m sure there are several similarities between the two countries. Those interested in classroom study abroad can click here for more info at Franco Americano.

Past Portuguese words: xixi, bronzeador, lanchonete, esquerda

Sounds to Sail to the Islands

by Adrienne Wilson on

Sit listening to my music collection on party shuffle  for an hour and you’ll find I’m all for jarring sound transitions. Follow me closely here. Music is about movement. It’s about the flowing, swaying, and gyrating movement of bodies rocking harmoniously on packed dancehall floors in places with little ventilation. Sometimes it’s sudden and spur of the moment while others it’s calculated. Most of us find music takes away in the comfort of our homes allowing our limbs the freedom to burst out in the most unlikely body gestures and some will set adrift to discover music exotic places. I’m for the later idea.

Here’s a few of my own top music picks to help you skip to the islands this summer including concert and festival happenings around the area:

5. Sail to: Portugal’s Azores islands, Europe
When: July & August – several music events happening throughout the islands.
Song: Island of Wonder – Nelly Furtado (album: Folklore)

4. Sail to: Barbados, West Indies
When: July & August – for the island’s popular five-week Crop Over festival with origins tracing back to the 1780’s.
Song: A Girl Like Me – Rihanna (album: A Girl Like Me)

3. Sail to: Oahu, Hawaii
When: August 4-5, 2006 – 13th Annual Hawaiian International Jazz Festival.
Song: Moana Chimes – Jon Brion (album: Punch Drunk Love sdtk)

2. Sail to: Ibiza, Spain
When: July & August – Clubs and clubs galore! Dance in the day or dance at night. If you’re a bit on the mellow side, lay out in the sun at Playa de Ses Salines where DJ is sure to be spinning a record or more.
Song: Wake Up With Me – Be Noir (album: Undiscovered Ibiza)

1. Sail to: Jamaica, West Indies
When: August 3-6, 2006 – The world’s greatest Reggae festival, Reggae Sunsplash, returns and the roster looks as promising as ever.  What better island to be jammin’ on than Jamaica?
Song: Sun is Shining – Bob Marley & the Wailers (album: Kaya)

Secretplaces.com

by Karen Walrond on

So, the other day, I mentioned I’d stumbled across Unusual Hotels of the World — a website featuring … well, unusual hotels of the world.  Well, I found a similar site, with more of a niche market:  Secretplaces.com.

This website features beautiful little hideaways in five countries:  Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, and Morocco.  According to the site, the founders, Michael Bendixen and Beatriz Parra Stucky, profile “a superb collection of hotels that stand for something very special, be it their excellent service, tasteful decoration, singular architecture or beautiful surroundings.”

Definitely worth a look if your next vacation will be taking you to one of these five countries.