John Heald’s Carnival Cruise Blog

by Jamie Rhein on

I’ve never considered going on a Carnival Cruise until I read John Heald’s blog. He’s a cruise director of Carnival Freedom who seems to love his job, love people and love to travel. Plus, he has a creative and fun sense of humor. He writes part anecdote, part travel advice, and part travel guide info into a blend of passenger stories, anagrams and photographs of tourist sites. He also includes passenger notes and e-mails to him. He’s had more than 400,000 hits since the blog started three months ago.

One set of notes is from passengers offering to lend clothes to people who don’t have a change of clothes because the airline misplaced their luggage. One man packed 24 pair of socks so his wife wrote to Heald that the husband has some socks to spare.

I particularly enjoyed reading Heald’s recounting of what he does in a day and the decisions he makes based on the unpredictable events that happen on a cruise–like when the transformer he needed in order to show the movie Casino Royale blew up–or something. This is a blog that would be fun to check back on because each post if from a different place and there is always something new going on. It’s kind of like being on people’s vacation with them. Right now the ship is heading towards Rhodes, Greece.

Famous Tourist Site Frauds: Where “Original” and “Authentic” are Blatant Lies

by Neil Woodburn on

There is nothing more powerful than standing in a spot where some famous historical event occurred, surrounded by exactly the same objects as were there hundreds of years ago.

Tourism’s greatest fraud, however, is that so many historical places have been so thoroughly renovated or rebuilt that one really wonders what is real anymore.

I first ran across this in Warsaw. Wandering through the UNESCO Old Town, I was hit with an odd feeling of disconnect. The buildings all appeared very old and beautiful, but wasn’t Warsaw flatten during the war? The reality is that Warsaw’s entire Old Town was completely rebuilt like some type of Disneyland. Sure, they did an outstanding job, and replicated it almost perfectly based on photos taken prior to World War II, but that sense of history just isn’t there. In fact, one could argue that the entire Old Town is a bit of a fraud.

With the recent fire on board the historic Cutty Sark, journalist Nick Trend began to wonder what exactly it was going to be like when it was rebuilt and that sense of standing in the middle of history becomes lost amongst 21st renovations (much like the HMS Victory, he points out–a historical boat in which only 17 percent of the original wood remains).

As with the Warsaw example, the Cutty Sark is not the only famous tourist site claiming to be the real thing. Trend has put together a rather eye-opening list which sadly undermines a handful of sites I’ve visited in the past under the assumption that I was gazing upon the real deal–not some recently painted or renovated replica.

The most striking example was the Parthenon in Athens which actually blew up in 1687 and has been completely rebuilt. Had I known this at the time when I visited, it would have gnawed away at the back of my mind and detracted from my experience.

So, under the premise that ignorance is bliss, I would recommend that you do not click on over to Trend’s article detailing Ten famous buildings and artworks that are not quite what they seem. If, on the other hand, you are a seeker of truth, check it out and be prepared to be slightly saddened.

Photo of the Day (5/5/07)

by Adrienne Wilson on


Is there ever a rainy, yucky, ick day of weather in Greece? Almost every single photo I find coming from the country or specifically from Santorini from several cameras always looks to have the dreamiest of blue skies and water to match. The white walls are NEVER dirty or the photographers aren’t getting snap shots of them. This one from StrudelMonkey was taken somewhere along the trail from Oia to Thira. He notes that there are amazing views all the way. Makes you want to find out for yourself this summer, huh?

One for the Road (04/21/07)

by Kelly Amabile on

Today’s book suggestion is a special one for the ladies. Greece, A Love Story is the latest in a series edited by Camille Cusumano and published by Seal Press. (Previous love story books include Mexico, France and Italy.) This brand new collection features travel essays by nineteen women united in their deep passion for Greece. The unique and personal stories will resonate with anyone who has been there, or will surely capture the hearts of those yearning to make a visit. These female perspectives on the Greek experience may teach you a thing or two about mythology and ancient history, and will surely captivate you with the charm and beauty of this magical land.

An impressive group of globe-trotting goddesses have contributed to this creative anthology — and just think how many others may exist who’ve had a love affair with (or in!) this enchanting place. There are a few events happening this spring where you’ll have a chance to meet some of the contributors. The first one is coming up this week, and is the only event scheduled (thus far) on the East Coast. Several authors will be at the Community Bookstore in Brooklyn this Thursday, April 26 at 7:30 pm. Other readings are scheduled for California and Washington in May and June. What about a reading somewhere in Athens or Santorini? Sign me up for one of those, okay?

Detour Worth Making: Get High in Meteora, Greece

by Willy Volk on

The Greek word meteora means “suspended in the air,” and one look at the images of the monasteries here, and you’ll know why the Greeks named it that. Pretty much in the middle of — but high above! — the country, the rock here has eroded into fantastic, weathered peaks struggling for the heavens.

The monasteries of Meteora were originally settled by monks who lived in caves lower down the rocks during the 11th Century. Over time, however, to avoid conflicts in the rest of the region, the monks retreated up the rock face until they were living on virtually inaccessable peaks that they built on by bringing material and people up via ladders and baskets.

Today, six monasteries remain, and all of them are open to visitors. Many people who visit Meteora stay overnight either in nearby towns, though there is limited accommodation in Meteora. Buses to Kalampaka are available from Ioannina, Trikala, Thessaloniki and Athens, and trains run there, too.

For a little information about each monastery, check out Greece Travel. For some stunning images, check out Tom Dempsey’s photo gallery or, of course, Flickr.