Spain Unearths lost Roman City — and Builds a Car Park In It

by Karen Walrond on

Archeologists found a lost Roman city
beneath the main plaza of Ecija, a small town in southern Spain.  According to an article in the Sunday Times, they discovered "a
well-preserved Roman forum, bath house, gymnasium and temple as well as dozens of private homes and hundreds of mosaics
and statues — one of them considered to be among the finest found."

This, however, didn’t stop the
city from completely destroying the archeological site — all in the name of building an underground municipal car
park. 

Dr Sonia Zakrzewski, a senior lecturer in archeology at Southampton University, said: “It
is a real shock when things like this happen. I am surprised it has gone ahead. There is no doubt this site is of
fundamental importance to archeology.”

Hmm.  Guess I’ll have to scratch that archeology-dig
vacation in southern Spain off my list.

Shhhhh! I’m Flying!

by Neil Woodburn on

It is an unfortunate fact in life that blabbermouths love captive audiences.  Unfortunately there is almost no place more captive than the inside of an airplane; once your seatmate in 36B opens his mouth, there is no where to go for the next four hours.  You’ve just got to sit there and take it. 

A recent article on ABCnews.com addresses this terribly annoying issue.  Columnist John J. Nash suggests a few polite methods to help indicate to your new chatty bud that conversation is not welcome and that an immediate shutting of their pie-hole is actually preferred.  The suggestions aren’t genius, such as putting in earplugs or reading a book, but they do broach the issue and provide some direction that should help your next flight proceed a little quieter.

Red Corner: Baikal Spared

by Neil Woodburn on

The likelihood of the Russian government making a pro-environmental decision is just as unlikely as the Bush administration making one. And yet, I was extraordinarily pleased to discover that Vladimir Putin himself has out-greened his American colleague with a very unexpected announcement yesterday.

Mr. Putin has finally listened to reason and rejected the decision to build an oil pipeline near Lake Baikal. We’ve posted many times about this majestic expanse of water in Siberia that is flush with endemic species and 20% of the world’s fresh water supply. As of last month, plans had been approved to move forward with a pipeline that if ruptured, could destroy the fragile ecosystem of one of this planet’s most unique bodies of water.

Fortunately, Putin had a little talk with Nikolai Laverov, the deputy head of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who helped convince him to move the pipeline further north and spare this amazing resource the possibility of ecological catastrophe.

Do you think it was just coincidence that yesterday was the 20th anniversary of Chernobyl? Hmmm… I don’t think so.

South America via Wheel Chair

by Neil Woodburn on

Travel
always presents a certain amount of challenge and that’s what makes it so rewarding at times.  Imagine for a
moment losing the use of both of your legs, however, and such challenges take on a whole new dimension.
 
Most of this planet fails to provide ramps, elevators, special bathroom stalls, and other conveniences for the
wheel-chair bound, making travel almost impossible in many countries.  About 80% of Europe, for example, is pure
stairs.  The near impossibility of navigating Europe with wheelchairs often occurs me due to a friend of mine who
can no longer walk. 

It was therefore with much interest that I came across an Oakland Tribune article written by a woman who
accompanied her paraplegic friend on a journey through
South America.  Journalist Julia Malone had never traveled with a wheelchair-bound person before and
didn’t quite know what to expect.  Many of the challenges were somewhat anticipated, but the pleasant
rewards she encountered were not. 

Take a moment to browse her account of the trip.  You’ll realize just how much of a luxury travel truly
is and how much of it you simply take for granted. 

Be on TV

by Erik Olsen on

Here’s your big chance to get that travel show you’ve always wanted. The folks at the Travel Channel
are looking for a couple to be part of a new show based on the book 1000 Things to Do Before You Die, the Lifelist
book that is all the rage these days. They are looking for folks who will get to do things like visit the pyramids in
Egypt or Raft the Grand Canyon or swim with dolphins. I know, you’re eyes are bugging out right now. You’ve got a pen
in your hand and are breathing heavily, wondering when I will get to the point.

OK, OK, here’s the rub.
There are a few small rules. First, you need to be able to travel for up to four months without returning home. So quit
that crappy job. Hey boss, I’m going on safari in Africa, for free…and I’m going to be on TV, so take that Xerox toner
and, well, you know what you can do with it. OK, next. You have to download and fill out a questionnaire and an
application/release that says you will not hold the Travel Channel responsible for getting eaten by a lion on
safari…even if they covered you with hamburger and left you on the savannah overnight.

Then, and here
comes the tough part, you have to make and send to the Travel Channel folks a short videotape of you and your partner
(lasting no more than three minutes) showing how well you get together, what you look like on camera, how you sound,
and why you are inspired to travel. Pls. no Paris Hilton films! Then, finally, send in some pics of yourself. Couldn’t
be easier ,right? So what are you waiting for, get going!