Finding a Connection While on the Road

by Erik Olsen on

I can’t tell you how often I’ve been on the road and have been frustrated with finding a viable Internet connection. Yes, I should be grateful and amazed that there are so many places you CAN do this, but let’s face it, most of us are impatient with the spread of technology like Wi-fi, and more ,we want it to be free. We are the techno-greed heads. We can’t help it.

Well, over at the Contra Costa Times is a somewhat (but not terribly so) helpful piece on finding those elusive hot posts. The usual suspects are named (Starbucks, whose T-Mobile service is, IMHO way too expensive) as well as places in New York City like City Hall Park and Battery Park, who offer free access. But let’s face it, Wi-fi should be like water: it should be a free service that the local municipalities provide, if not for free, then cheaply. I’m sure the hard-core capitalists out there will disagree, but it seems that overall the increase in our national productivity will be greater if we can all just get on when we want to. Do you agree or no?

And by the way, we’ve blabbed here about free wi-fi and the exorbitant cost of wi-fi in places like airports many times before. You can see some of those posts here.

Music and Travel

by Erik Olsen on

Man, it was some time ago that I featured here a list of songs I most enjoy listening to while traveling. The list was partly based on some personal experiences with music while I was on the road in various places. That is, years ago I did the five day trek up the Inca Trail. I was drained and tired and beat. Even for a guy who’s pretty fit, the Inca Trail has got some tough spots. Anyway, I put the headphones on and heard Willy Nelson sing Peter Gabriel’s Don’t Give Up, and immediately quickened my step and pushed on. It wasn’t the title of the song, or the words…it was just the sound of Willy’s doleful tenor, some mix of his voice and the incredible surroundings that just clicked and created a moment of immense and meaningful beauty. Music and travel mix like that.

And then later that year, I was standing alone on a cliff over-looking the crashing waves on the Valdez Peninsula in Argentina, miles away from anywhere or anyone, and I head Pearl Jam’s Off He Goes, and well, my spirits soared, my chest puffed out, and my head whirled with the most wonderful feeling of freedom.

I guess the point of all this is that music and travel can create an intoxicating mix. Music adds a dimension to your experience in the moment that can lift your spirits and fill you with a sense of joy that is really incomparable. I was reminded of all this when reading this piece in the SF Chronicle about exactly that: music and travel. The writers sense of music and travel differs slightly from my own, but it is a toic worth thinking about as you load up your ipod for your next adventure.


Speaking at Budget Travel Blogger Gig

by Erik Olsen on

Don’t know how many gadling readers will be around in the next two weeks or so, but the good folks over at Budget Travel have invited me to be a panelist for an upcoming round table they are hosting about blogging and travel. Called How Have Bloggers Changed the Travel Landscape? the event will coincide (not coincidentally, I might add) with the first anniversary of Budget Travel online, the sleek and informative companion to the travel-focused glossy.

Featured bloggers are yours truly, Mark G. Johnson of HotelChatter, Randy Petersen of InsideFlyer, and Joshua David Stein of Gridskipper.

What are we going to talk about? Why, blogging of course, and how bloggers have pretty much altered the course of history, how we have saved millions of lives, cured cancer and established an intergalactic system of peace and justice. And don’t get me started about the work I’ve done with Poincaré’s conjecture. I mean, I knocked that thing out of the park one day hungover at breakfast. Wrote it down on the back of a bagel…which I then ate. Yum.

Anyway, are you interested? Then come check it out. The event takes place on on Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at Tribeca Cinemas in New York City.

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of August 27

by Adrienne Wilson on

It’s the beginning of a new month, but still the end of the week for us here and with that we bring you some of the week’s best:

5. Pilot Locks Self Out:
This is the kind of story one reads and rubs their eyes in disbelief. Sure it’s humorous, but somewhat scary too. A pilot locked out of the cockpit? How can that be? You’ll need to head over for more details.

4. Sex and Violence, Elk-style:
Iva Skoch wastes no time in making her presence known with this alarming headline. I won’t spill all the details here, but let’s just say its got a something to do with hiking and animal acts. Read further – I dare you.

3. Cape Verde:
I’m giving this plug on Cape Verde the number three spot because we don’t get around to Africa much and it seems like such an amazing place. (Understatement, yes – of course.) Cape Verde is beginning to attract interest according to this piece and you wouldn’t want to be the last to find out why would you? Go check it out!

2. Backpacking in California’s Sierras:
We love first-hand experiences here and Neil does a fantastic job on recounting his trip through California’s Sierras. Complete with photos and enough tips to help you plan your own visit out yonder.

1. Never Heard of:
Great post if you’re the traveling type that likes to wander into places no one has ever been or few people know little about. I know I’m one of them and this list from Budget Travel is worth clipping out and saving for later when an exciting destination where no-one will find you is much needed.

To Upgrade or to Break-up

by Iva Skoch on

I recently witnessed such an interesting airport dilemma that I could add a travel-related chapter to the bestselling self-help book “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus.”

Two of my friends-a couple-were flying from a vacation in the U.S. back to Europe together. He was a frequent flyer gold card holder and got upgraded to business class for free. They don’t always upgrade, especially on trans-Atlantic flights, so he jumped at the opportunity. She is not a frequent flyer and did not get upgraded. She was mad at him for taking the upgrade and leaving her behind in economy class. He felt slightly guilty, but not guilty enough to sit in coach and completely give up the seat, or to shell out an additional $650 to get her upgraded as well. He offered that she sit in business class instead of him, but she refused.

Her argument was that he didn’t even consult with her and just announced it to her. She never said it bothered her, and just stopped talking to him.

He viewed her reaction as ungrateful. After all, he paid for the whole vacation, including her ticket. Now she wanted a paid upgrade too? Didn’t she want him to be comfortable and use those quickly-disappearing frequent-traveler perks? Plus, when he offered he would switch seats with her, she was not interested.

Any Dr. Phils out there who have an answer to this? Should you give up an upgrade for your girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse so you can suffer with them in economy class?