There is a
first time for everything and my first experience with Dulles
Airport in D.C. came today. I booked a flight out of Tampa into the wrong airport (I was supposed to fly into Regan)
which later resulted in a $55 cab fare to Arlington, but my brief encounter with the tank like shuttles to the main
terminal was worth it. Those things are hideous. What’s with the smoke stack extensions on top and the huge wheels? My
list of airports visited my not be 100 plus, but I’ve got the strange feeling no other shuttle in any other airport in
the world can be as unattractive as those massive, ugly, white and gray tanks. I’m sure many of you have been through
Dulles, so I won’t carry-on about them much longer. Just a first time moment in travel. Those who haven’t flown through
Dulles can check out the online gallery from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
Go Do Wales
After discovering Welsh
blood in my family line I’ve been wanting to make a trip the country badly. Before going anywhere else in Europe the
next trip must be Wales! My mind is made up for the most part and with my mother looking for a vacation destination
what better place to start than retracing the family history? Those are just my own selfish reasons for planning the
trip. Judging from their tourism site, Go
Do Wales there is a wealth of activity for any interested visitor. Though this first activity might not attract the
attention of more-outgoing travelers, a trip to Inwood to discover the history behind Lovespoons might make for a easy-going adventure. The tradition dates as far
back to the 17th century and the goods are usually given as a token of one’s engagement or simply a gift of love. (Trip
to Wales Lovespoons = Potential Valentine’s travel idea?)
For those looking to embrace the great Welsh
outdoors, there is a tough cycle route called the Lôn Las
Cymru National Cycle Trail Tour. Pedal your way through a number of landscapes and castle scenery that creates the
stunning countryside and natural beauty known to Wales. The route can be cycled successfully in 8 days averaging 30
miles a day for the reasonably fit. Further details on this tour can be found here and additional details on music
festivals, food, knitting, and sheepdog demonstrations can be found at the tourism site here.
Rheinhold Messner's Demons
If you’re at all into mountaineering or climbing, then you know the name Rheinhold Messner. He is one of the
biggest names in the history of the sport. And you also likely know that one a fatal expedition many years ago, Messner
lost his brother Günther who died on Pakistan’s Nanga Parbat in 1970. For years Messner has been criticized for
abandoning his brother, an accusation he denies…and has long denied. Well the story goes on, and as you can see in this fine piece in Outside,
Messner is as vigorous and defiant as ever about his own role in the tragedy and about the details of his brother’s
fate.
It is a long, detailed story, but one worth reading if just for the drama and the character study of
Messner that the story lays out.
Tampa's International Bazaar
I’m
pretty hard on Tampa, Florida sometimes and I probably shouldn’t be since the city does offer an abundance of
activities for the visitor. 7th Ave in Ybor City with its strip
of nightclubs and bars is a given destination for the young, wild college student while Ybor by day is an enchanting
cultural centerpiece for the city. Take the International Bazaar for example. They offer a number
of activities during the week and weekends for people interested in belly, swing and salsa dancing. Martial arts is
covered by Sensi Sisco and Dave Kanter hosts a weekly drum circle on Sundays from 6 PM to 8PM. The setup looks a lot
different than the drum circle I used to frequent in Venice Beach, CA, but I’m dying to be involved in a drumming
community again. The movement of the hand talking to the drum and the sound of the drum talking to the people are both
infectious. I’ll have to mark this on my calendar for a future Sunday.
Also, another cool thing being
offered are the Cigar Rolling courses on Wednesday and Saturday. The 12 week course covers the history of cigar rolling
locally and globally, definitions of the different blends, preparing binders, formatting the cigar all the way down to
quality control. I don’t even smoke cigars, but I’d be curious to take part in these courses for the historical
information at the very least. And for those wanting to go to Cuba, but haven’t quite made the trip this could be good
starting pointing in learning about one of the countries biggest exports.
Hiking to the North Pole…in the Dark
Here’s a great story for extreme fans everywhere. Two adventurers, Børge Ousland and Mike Horn,
will very soon embark on an epic trip the likes of which has never been attempted, or at least completed, before (and
there are very few of these types of accomplishments left). On or around January 16, these two guys will head out to
walk to the North Pole…in the dark. Yes, they will do it in the heart of winter, when the sun is as scarce as
elephants and giraffes in that part of the world.
National Geographic
Adventure has got a long piece on the trip and the dudes themselves. These are not warm cuddly characters.
these guys are, to use the parlance du jour, extreme. Each is broadly experienced in cold travel and a bit sick in the
head. Take Horn, "one of the most revered explorers in Europe".
Over the last ten years, he has crossed the length of the Amazon River with a boogie board, he followed the Equator
around the globe sans motorized transport, and perhaps most amazing of all, completed a 12,400-mile continuous
circumnavigation of the Arctic Ocean by foot, ski, mountain bike, kayak, monohull sailboat, and catamaran. Dude, you
are hard core.
Anyway, this is a fine piece of writing and a nice way to make yourself feel really unaccomplished in life.