Doing a Fast Five This Week! May, 29th!

 

Responsibilities got in the way this week, so my mass transit travels will be along soon.  This week I have a fast five for you with some juicy ideas and knowledge!

1.  What on Earth is the Schengen Zone?  Well, we've been through a few of such incarnations in Europe.  What happens in this area, region or continent is that there are a lot of tiny countries and that's a lot of borders to keep track of.  The latest grouping of countries that have agreed on discontinuing border controls is called the Schengen Zone.  This group of 29 countries; and it may be growing, has agreed to allow travelers to wander throughout their countries while not having to go through border control between.  The European Union was that way the last time I actually went on the mainland, and it was nice.  Hopefully this version will last.

https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/schengen-area_en

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations/US_Travelers_in_Europes_Schengen_Area.html

https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/schengen-area

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/schengen-visa-countries-list/

https://www.udi.no/en/word-definitions/schengen--the-schengen-area/

2.    The friendly whales of San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California.  That's right; friendly.  During March and April, Grey Whales come to this lagoon and they interact with the travelers.  You can take any number of tours during that time, and you'll be amazed.  The whales come and check you out.  They come right up to the boats and you can even pet them.  It's a rare experience and is only possible for a couple of months a year.  

https://bajadiscovery.com/whale-watching/whale-watching/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpNuyBhCuARIsANJqL9N4F41RbfJaGJYoc3EBmDWrv0RpEgyl7u3vrXPqU3kw0wlFfM0EJCQaAhEjEALw_wcB

https://www.bajaecotours.com/friendly-gray-whales/

https://bajawildencounters.com/blog/touching-gray-whales-in-baja-callifornia-mexico

https://www.seakayakadventures.com/blog/top-10-things-you-need-know-about-baja-gray-whale-season

https://eatseerv.com/grey-whales-in-baja-ultimate-guide/

3.    Take a cruise to and a plunge at the North Pole!  Back in the 1980's there was a new thing; cruising to Antarctica.  Nowadays, you can even get a bargain on some of those cruises.  Now, the Arctic is trending with cruises to the geographic North Pole.  You get luxury accommodations and the trip takes roughly two weeks.  Once the captain locates the exact point of the geographic North Pole, you get to go out and enjoy standing on the ice.  If you want, most trips offer the polar plunge as well!

https://www.polaradventure.com/northpole?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Display&utm_campaign=Spring-Display&utm_content=video&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpNuyBhCuARIsANJqL9NMzXTiLhdNC7Qu_NnoQ87F5fZbqu2FXwHCo6o0OCA3axLOXkJz2UsaAubQEALw_wcB

https://us.ponant.com/destinations/north-pole

https://www.swoop-arctic.com/cruises/north-pole

https://www.quarkexpeditions.com/arctic/the-north-pole

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/north-pole-cruise-ponant/

4.    The Frank Lloyd Wright Trail.  If you haven't heard of him, you should have.  He's one of the 20th century's most iconic American architects.  He has famous properties all over the country.  I've even been to some in Arizona.  However, what's known as the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail is in Wisconsin.  There are several stops on the trail and the properties are amazing, from specifically designed low cost housing to convention centers and of course; Taliesin.  It's a great road trip, and Wisconsin is so on my bucketlist anyways.

https://franklloydwrighttrail.org/

https://www.travelwisconsin.com/article/architecture/wisconsins-frank-lloyd-wright-trail

https://wrightinwisconsin.org/frank-lloyd-wright-trail

https://www.taliesinpreservation.org/news-posts/introducing-the-new-frank-lloyd-wright-trail-website-trail-tracker-and-updated-app/

https://franklloydwright.org/

5.    The Lingotto Test Track, Turin, Italy.  Fiat, like every other car company in the world needed a place to test their cars in the 1920's, so they built a test track on top of their factory.  Was it ingenious or crazy?  Well, they weren't the only ones to do it over time, but the Lingotto track is the only rooftop track left anywhere.  It is functional.  There is also a garden up there, but it does still exist.  Do they still make Fiats at Lingotto?  No.  The building has been turned into a mall, but there is a museum area dedicated to the factory and the track.  I don't believe anyone drives on it anymore, but you can walk on it if you like.  Turin is a historic and fantastic city to visit.  This is just another great sight to see.

https://www.motion-mag.com/exhibit/the-lingotto-building-and-its-iconic-fiat-rooftop-test-track

https://www.dezeen.com/2021/10/22/benedetto-camerana-lingotto-building-fiat-turin/

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-15/fiat-factory-roof-gets-new-life-as-public-space-in-turin

http://www.turinitalyguide.com/fiat-lingotto-factory-turin/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/fiat-lingotto-factory

https://www.getyourguide.com/s?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=6656467877&cq_con=104844327494&cq_term=&cq_med=&cq_plac=&cq_net=g&cq_pos=&cq_plt=gp&campaign_id=6656467877&adgroup_id=104844327494&target_id=aud-1393039795340%3Adsa-888479013240&loc_physical_ms=9003419&match_type=&ad_id=454622368960&keyword=&ad_position=&feed_item_id=&placement=&device=c&partner_id=CD951&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpNuyBhCuARIsANJqL9OuY2F7eAWhjupZTt-YMJameedijV7CRTJgZ2xspnMzkCp3-7tZQScaAjyQEALw_wcB&visitor-id=540405DC75B74E85998515E0A75FBD8B&locale_autoredirect_optout=true&q=Turin&et=440580

So there you have it.  Some great side trips or trip trips or whatever you wish to call them.  Whether you happen to be visiting one of the 29 countries in the Schengen Zone, want to pet a whale, or just want to see a race track on a rooftop; there are always more things to see around the world, so keep checking back here for ideas!  Enjoy!