Adventures for Anyone

Thursday, March 31, 2022

Let's Take a Realistic Look at Arizona

I'm sitting here today to talk about Arizona. I've been traveling there for decades, even before my parents took up residence in Sun City. I think it's fair to say that I've been to every corner of the state now and most places in between. I've visited during every season, every month, and every eventful time. I've flown, driven, hiked, rode shuttles and buses, gone on tours, danced with native Americans, and learned a lot. I realize that I don't live there, but I have a lot of first hand knowledge about the state. And I have some things to say.

The idea of a dry heat is absurd, unless you believe that baking won't cook meat, but boiling will. I went to Arizona in summer. It's not funny, it's not pleasant and it's not livable because of the dry heat. Don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining. Don't tell me that 120 degrees isn't hot.

September is confusing. It gets chilly at night, but during the day your sneakers will still stick to the sidewalks a bit in a lot of the state. Just saying. Spring and fall are nice. I really like it there in April, May, October, and sometimes November. There's a true beauty to the desert in the spring when everything is in bloom.

December through March is something that makes me wonder about the people who move to Arizona for the weather. I'll elaborate on that later.

I've been in Arizona in the winter when everything is beautiful in Maricopa County, home of Phoenix and Sun City. I've worn shorts and t shirts and gone out for walks and hiking and had a great time. I spent decades believing that the weather was always nice in southern Arizona. I knew that it snowed in northern Arizona. I knew that there were some extremely high elevations that occasionally got some snow. I had a snowball fight with my family on the north rim of the Grand Canyon once in May with snow leftover from the season in that area. I'm not naive. Once again, I'll elaborate later on.

A lot happens in Arizona. Where my parents live, they have to sign papers when buying a house that they understand that fighter jets will fly over their home. It will happen four days and nights every single week as Luke Air Force Base is not far and they do training flights all the time. You cannot escape the activity in the state even if you try. It will fly over your home.

Arizona is busy. Every time I visit, the houses reach farther up the hills. New businesses pop up. The population increases. The roads are busier, broader, taller, and more dangerous. They have sports, business, tourism, and so many jobs they can't ever get enough help. The labor shortage is particularly noticeable in a place that already could never get enough help.

Arizona is what we call a red state. They have speed limits up to 80 miles per hour. They like their independence, they don't like to be told what to do, they work hard, and they play hard. They will bend over backwards to help you through a tough time; I know what I'm talking about. They have a different way of life and they have an amazing system to navigate what needs to be navigated. I met more helpful people on one trip to Arizona than I have probably ever met in my life in a confined period of time. It was amazing. Even the Department of Motor Vehicles or Department of Transportation as they call it was pleasant and the people there were helpful. I've never seen that in my life. Whatever they're doing, it works.

They have many Native American lands in Arizona. I've been to casinos, visited slot canyons, stayed in the bottom of the Grand Canyon, shopped, learned to dance, and learned all about Kachina Dolls on Native American lands. I have visited several groups and learned so much from some of the most gracious people I've ever met. I marvel at the spirit of the native Americans in Arizona. That is the main thing that I would suggest you visit the state for. Learn about all the peoples who've inhabited the lands for eons. They are amazing.

My mom lives in Sun City, aptly named as it almost always is sunny there. There is a lot of beauty in the desert. Roses come from the desert, which most people don't know. Some of the largest rose farms in the country are in Arizona. They are heavily irrigated as are most crops, but they do farm them there. There's wildlife all over the place from rabbits to jack rabbits, to turtles in wet areas, to all kinds of birds. Spring is the best time in the desert. Everything comes to life. Even cactus bloom.

Other things that most people would love about Arizona. Anything you ever even thought about buying is available in the greater Phoenix area. You can find any shopping chain, any restaurant chain, and tons of local businesses of both. It is one of the craziest shopping Meccas I've ever seen. And, in certain areas, lots of areas actually, they have things set up so you can go from shopping center to shopping center without even going back on the road you came in on. They've made it so easy that it's irresistible. The greater Phoenix area even has an entertainment district. Not joking. You don't have to think too hard to go out around there.

Arizona also has something that most other states just don't. They have Sun City, the town that my parents retired to. The place is amazing, and there are others, but this one is the original. There are no schools, because you have to be 55 years old to buy property. There are 11 golf courses, 6 main recreations centers, I don't know how many hospitals and doctors, and it's called the volunteer city. That's no joke either. The law is called the posse and it's a largely volunteer part of the sheriff's department. The library, newspaper and many other organizations are run almost entirely by volunteers. If you need a walker, there's a place that will loan you one. If you need to figure out how to use a computer, they have a club for that which is run by volunteers. They have clubs for almost everything you could possibly want to do. They have bocci tournaments, bowling leagues, gyms, pools, woodworking classes and so on. Whatever you're into, they've got you covered. What the residents of this city pay is recreation fees, not property taxes. It's amazing. Like live entertainment? They have Sunday shows outdoors for residents at a rec center. Have you ever wanted to live somewhere that you could drive a golf car? Welcome to Sun City. There's special parking at many places for that. It's a unique place and it's only for seniors.

I know a lot about Arizona. I know the climate, the politics, the people, the history, the Native Americans, the sights, the sounds, the sports, the shopping, the food, and the main airport, Sky Harbor in Phoenix.

Unfortunately, I told my parents a million times that I would never live in the desert and would never live in Arizona. It's exotic, it's beautiful in many ways. I love to visit Arizona, but it doesn't suit me. Now I would like to discuss some of the downside to living in Arizona. The native trees are called Palo Verde. They are green. They have green trunks, green bark and little pointy green leaves. Palm trees are there now, but were not native. Orange trees, grapefruit trees, anything that sheds its leaves are not native. You have to have a watering system to keep a fruit tree alive. Evergreen trees are in the northern parts and higher elevations. Problem number one with me ever living in the desert is that I like trees. I like shade. I like fall. I like grey trunks. I'm not cut out for the kinds of trees in the desert. I enjoy them in small doses, but no thank you for all the time.

The state of Arizona used to be an ocean. There are vast areas with nothing but brush and cactus. Rocky mountains will just jut up out of the flat desert, which is because of ancient volcanic activity, but it sneaks up on you when you're driving. Once again, it's amazing for an exotic climate to visit. To live with it, no thank you.

Do you have any idea how many liquids you have to drink in the desert? Just keep a bottle of water or glass of something with you at all times. Drink constantly and you'll be fine. It doesn't take much for you to notice that your voice is getting raspy and your lips are getting chapped. It's almost impossible to be a busy person and drink enough liquids there.

Most things in the desert will kill you. Just a fact. Mirages will confuse you. You can lose your sense of direction very easily. Cactus poke at you. Brush is scratchy at best. There's that lack of water. There's snakes, coyotes, scorpions and more. Don't get lost. That is the number one most dangerous thing about the desert. Even if your car breaks down on a non interstate road, you could be screwed, because who knows when the next person might come along? Cell service? Good luck with that. It's good a lot, but there are spots, and you don't want to be stuck in one.

I don't mean to bash Arizona. These are just facts, as are the facts I'm about to tell you about flying out of Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix. Flying into Phoenix is a great experience. I take a shuttle to Sun City most of the time that is a great service and a great ride. That being said, flying out of Phoenix is an entirely different experience.

The service at the airport for people flying out is non existent. You can only use self service kiosks. That doesn't help a lot of residents of Sun City who have no clue how to use most of the programs if they can use the internet or a computer at all. No one will help you. You can ask, but it won't happen. The cell service and WiFi is sketchy at best, and if you don't sit within a restaurant or something, you probably won't get either. TSA at Sky Harbor is a nightmare. I've waited longer to get through security in that airport on one visit than all of my trips through Bradley, McCarron, and JFK combined. I once had to come home the day after the Fiesta Bowl and all I can say is that I almost missed my flight although I was over three hours early, didn't have to park and checked my bag. It was a sea of orange, and no one in that security line seemed interested in moving it along. If you can, avoid that place.

Coyotes were a problem. The day I arrived to help my mom there were four of them sunning themselves in the back yard. Mom's back yard wasn't large. There was one that stood by the garage almost every day when I returned to the house after a long day of handling my mother's affairs. There were days that I had to dodge them on the streets like I would potholes in Connecticut. They were everywhere. Not for me.

There were a lot of things that just aren't for me about Arizona. Hot is not for me, and in the summer time, many outdoor businesses close. They're open more in the winter. It doesn't really even cool down at night in the summer. For me, everything is backwards. I'm used to waiting for summer to go out and enjoy the weather.

As I said, I would elaborate on the weather later, and here we are. Something happened in the south this winter that suddenly made moving there for the weather a bad idea. I was not in Arizona for vacation. My mother needed help and she lives there. I worked very hard on that trip, and one day I just had to get out. I do that sometimes. I needed to take a drive. The weather had been poor at best most of the day, but it seemed to be getting better. The north part of the state reported closed roads and blizzard conditions, so I didn't go there. I did, however, think that snow in Arizona would be a bit of a kick for me. I live in New England. We always have snow there. I decided to go to the middle of the state so I could take pictures of cactus with some snow. What I was thinking, who knows?

I took a drive. I got caught in a surprise snow storm in Surprise. I dealt with this storm for hours, trying to outrun it all over the place. I got stuck in a full blown storm with blizzard conditions. In any given direction from Phoenix there were white caps on the mountains. It was windy, cold, snowy, white out conditions and slick roads. I couldn't believe it. I drive in snow all the time, but that was different. I never want to drive in weather like that again.

But, it's always sunny in Sun City, right? It was snowing when I got back to town. Then it sleeted. That night everything froze. There was a night that I saw snow on the ground in my mother's back yard. I wore a parka in Arizona, and the only reason I had it was because I forgot my plan to take it off when I arrived at Bradley in CT to fly out. Even the coyotes were shivering.

So, visiting Arizona is fascinating. Living there seems a bit nuts to me. If you move there for work, I get it. There's more jobs than people. If you move there because it's always warm, think again. I truly believe that isn't always the case. Remember, the desert is trying to kill you. Best advice; get in, enjoy all the beauty and culture and get out. This is just the first of my series from this trip, so stay tuned and enjoy!

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Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Back to Marissa's List With Venice!

This week as I perused my friend's bucket lists, I ran across that wonderful country of Italy on Marissa's list. This time of year, my attention turns to Venice and all of the unique things it has to offer the world of travel. So, here we go...Venice!

Venice is in the far northeast corner of Italy and if you don't like water, not for you. Sitting in between the Po and Piave Rivers, this metropolitan area of 118 islands connected by I don't know how many canals and crossed by 400 bridges is entirely about water. There's also the lagoons and the Adriatic Sea. If you want to go to the beach, visit in the summer. They are numerous and beautiful.

As far as the islands go, there are private islands, garden islands, village islands, fishing islands, and of course Murano.

Murano is known for its art glass around the world. This colorful island community is a water taxi or Vaporetto away and a great place to spend some time. There are five glass companies on the island, three glass factories to tour and a ton of shops to buy the beautiful creations made in the factories. There are shops, restaurants and all kinds of colorful things to see.

Probably the second most visited island is Burano, which is famous for their cookies. Not joking, but a great place to spend some time.

I always advise that when visiting a city, to get out of the city center and find some of the less touristy parts of town. I would definitely say to visit a garden island or a fishing island or whatever. Broaden the horizons.

Venice is one of a handful of cities around the world that really shouldn't exist due to its geographic location. It was built as a port prior to the 1,000's and has flourished through several different regimes and rulers, to become part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1866. The city center in the modern era boasts about 260,000 residents while the entire metropolitan area boasts roughly 2.6 million. It has been home to such celebrities as the explorer Marco Polo and the infamous Giacomo Casanova. It was the location for Shakespeare's Othello and the obvious Merchant of Venice.

Venice is more than a place, it's a culture. The local sport is Volga Alla Veneta, a rowing sport that holds several regattas a year. It's done in gondolas and the athletes stand throughout the races.

Gondolas are a great way to get around, but they are highly for cruises and set up for tourists. If you want to take what I would call a regular gondola, there are Traghettos. These multi passenger gondolas are comparable to water taxis in New York. There are also Vaporetto which are water buses and the cheapest way to get around by mass transit. The one thing you probably won't do in Venice is drive. There are a few areas where you can and a couple of islands, but for the most part, you will either walk or travel by some sort of floating craft.

We've all heard a lot about Venice over the years, and architecture is one of the big reasons to visit this amazing city. The cathedrals, palaces, basilicas and bridges are creations of legend. The styles range from Gothic to Baroque to Renaissance to Rococo. There's so much to look at that it can be overwhelming. For this reason, I would recommend a local tour if you don't want to miss anything. Maybe a couple of them. Walking tours are great. Gondola tours are also fabulous. You have to ride a gondola while in Venice. If you don't at least take one up the Grand Canal, you'll be missing a right of passage of every tourist. St. Mark's Square and Basilica are something that you have to see, along with the Basilicas of di Santa Maria and St. Anthony. You should visit Doge's Palace where Casanova was incarcerated and his home across the canal. There are hundreds of other great places to see, but those are the musts for the first time visitor.

There are over 400 licensed gondoliers in Venice. There are dozens of different kinds of services and tours they provide. But, what's the best? That varies. If you want to see the most popular parts of Venice, take a standard tour that will cover the Grand Canal, the bridge at Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Square. If you're being romantic, take one with a serenade. Be aware, most gondoliers don't sing. If you want to get a bit off the beaten path, take one that goes to the Jewish Ghetto of Venice. There, you can see unique architecture and even visit a museum. Like most major cities in Europe, the Jewish Quarter was necessary for the Jewish folks to preserve their way of life at the time that it was constructed.

When traveling anywhere, you will have to eat and want to shop. Venice has you covered. The city hosts shopping streets, stands, massive malls, and luxury shopping areas. Restaurants are everywhere and have all kinds of food. The food is primarily seafood, but other than that, varied. There are several different Italian cuisines represented with very little local specialties. Venice was such a melting pot during their height of being a trade hub that they absorbed a lot of different cuisines and several are still represented. Needless to say, you won't get hungry, and you will be able to find a great place to eat outside with a view.

Venice is known as a city of romance, leisure, and luxury; also history and beauty. You will enjoy the sea, the water, the canals, the gondolas, hotels in old palaces, ancient basilicas and great food. It's a place of mystery, as most people don't know that Casanova wrote his own story. You can take a night tour that will cover any ghosts or mysterious tales of the city. They can normally be arranged by the concierge at your hotel.

But, what should you know about visiting Venice? First, know that the best time I believe to visit is either in late May or in September. The winters are wet, the summers are crowded. Unless you feel the need to hang out at the beach and go swimming, I wouldn't visit in the summer.

As has been reported for decades, Venice encounters more and more water issues. The city is built on water, with most buildings standing on ancient wood pilings. St. Mark's Square was indeed flooded not long ago. Keep all of that in mind when planning a trip to the city.

How do you get there? I would say, fly. It's easy to arrange transportation from the airport into the city. Don't drive. It's just not worth it. You can take a train. Transportation is once again easy to arrange into the center of the city.

Where to stay? I'd say on this one to stay in the center of the city. This does get to be expensive, but Venice is expensive. It's a luxury trip and not something you will do on a dime. Spend the extra and stay in the center of the city. There are apartments to rent that may be far less than a hotel.

Should you take a tour? You could. Dozens of cruise lines go to Venice. It's easy to take an Adriatic cruise and book day tours through the ship. It's also easy to find a tour company to take you around Venice. I recommend talking with your concierge about local tours. You could also book a local tour online. Sometimes, if you intend to stay several days in the city, you could schedule several different local tours and see exactly what you want to. Tours By Locals, is a favorite of mine.

The other way to look at this is that you may not want a tour. Most of the sites that you will see on a first trip are so famous that they aren't hard to find. Transportation is plentiful and lots of people speak English who work in tourism. It's entirely up to you whether or not you want to book tours. I would for some things and not for others. Personal preference.

Ah, Venice. The amazing city of canals is home to one of the most famous Carnivals in the world. The event had fallen to the wayside, but the amazing Venetians revived the tradition in the 1980's and it blossomed into the massive event that exists today. This year, Carnival runs from February 12th to March 1st, 2022. There are parties, contests, and dinner shows, and balls throughout Carnival. It's one of the world's largest parties. It's the single most crowded time of year, and the most expensive time to visit. Costumes are elaborate and commonly seen on guests all around town.

My advice is if you visit during Carnival, don't be scared of Covid-19, be prepared to spend a lot of money on at least one costume for the event, book events ahead of time, and brace yourself for a loud giant party everywhere you go. Sounds like a lot of fun to me, but if that's not for you, wait until May.

So, there you have it. Venice. It's one of the most unique cities in the world. There are numerous festivals, including a world renowned film festival to attend. There are islands to visit, gondolas to ride, shopping, eating and architecture. There's so much to look at that a good week should be spent in that single city. It's a once in a lifetime trip to take, and it's something that may be falling into the sea. So, now is the time to visit Venice and enjoy!

https://www.visit-venice-italy.com/carnival-venice-italy-balls.html

https://www.silversea.com/landing-why-silversea-4-1.html?CID=PS_M_BS_FT_US_PRO_GNL__BS_FT_USA_PRO_GEN_ALL_EXPAD_NWS4V1&?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=NAM_genericsretargeting__non-location&utm_content=textad&&msclkid=92bb3c17d7c810e70f975e13d60b14ca&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=B_US_Generic_Core_Retargeting_ALL_est5114&utm_term=cruise&utm_content=NB_Core_PHM&gclid=CPu3sbCa8_UCFV0NiAkddFQBxw&gclsrc=ds

https://www.ncl.com/port-of-call/venice-trieste-cruises?cid=PS_TSI_DESTMED_NBDDST_BIN-o_LEN_SRH_NA_cruise%20to%20venice%20italy_76690952539900_NA?cid=PS_TSI_DESTMED_NBDDST_BIN-o_LEN_SRH_NA_cruise%20to%20venice%20italy_76690952539900_NA

https://www.venicecruise.com/?source=bing&cn=cruiseregionsports&ag=venice&msclkid=a788f4e0b1e916fb03a096e4b02aafa6

https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/destinations/italy/index.html?cid=SEM|BNG|999|c_73554934_kwd-27347905378:loc-4086_77446995886883&utm_id=sem:NB-Search-Oceans-Italy&utm_content=VOC-US-BNG-NB-Core-Italy&msclkid=c9483b8bb6bd16837054598fb77e5bac&gclid=c9483b8bb6bd16837054598fb77e5bac&gclsrc=3p.ds

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-to/venice-italy

https://www.cruisecritic.com/cruiseto/cruiseitineraries.cfm?portofcall=71

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/cruise/destinations/mediterranean/italy-cruises/venice

https://www.pocruises.com/ports/venice-italy?otprrf=https_search.yahoo.com%2F

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-from/venice-italy?&country=USA

https://www.expedia.com/Hotel-Search?HotelID=917744&destination=Venice%2C%20Veneto%2C%20Italy&endDate=2022-02-10&langid=1033&msclkid=b90eddf98779169609c2bffd859d40f1&regionId=3687&selected=917744&semcid=US.UB.BING.PT-c-EN.HOTEL&semdtl=&sort=RECOMMENDED&startDate=2022-02-09&theme=&useRewards=false&userIntent=&utm_campaign=USA%3AENG%3A%24%3APT%3AEMEA%3AITA%3AM%3ANC%3A%3A&utm_content=USA%3AENG%3A%24%3APT%3AEMEA%3AITA%3AXX%3AVenice%3A179981%3AHotel_Al_Ponte_Antico%3APE917744%3AM%3ANC%3A&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=bing&utm_term=al%20ponte%20antico%20hotel

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g187870-Venice_Veneto-Vacations.html

https://travel.usnews.com/Venice_Italy/

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/venice

https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-guide/venice

https://www.onetravel.com/booknow/cheap-flight-fares?fpaffiliate=ot-bing-generic&fpSub=Generic_Phrase_ATLAS_Global&utm_term=cheap%20travel&msclkid=9ab9a1173a181c403c94c31338fc4f6b&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Generic_Phrase_ATLAS_Global&utm_content=product%3Dcheaptravel

https://travel.gocollette.com/en/landing-pages/media_ppc?cm_mmc=Bing%20PPC-_-Non%20Brand-_-%5bSearch%5d%5bClassics%5d%5bUSA%5d%20NB%3a%20Country%20-%20Italy-_-EMBD_Broad&campaign=329731227&campaign_type=NB&msclkid=5765963c9d781c42e286f4389ef3b675&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=[Search][Classics][USA]%20NB:%20Country%20-%20Italy&utm_term=EMBD_Tours_Dest:All_Category:All&utm_content=EMBD_Broad

https://www.travelocity.com/Vacation-Packages?SEMCID=TRAVELOCITY-US.UB.BING.GT-c-EN.EPACKAGE&SEMDTL=a1412282776.b11198468322568920.r1.g1kwd-74904466342707:loc-190.i1.d1.e1c.j144736.k11910.f1.n1.l1o.h1p.m1&msclkid=927ca3dfd12b177a1bd1c1dbd2a0d371&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=TVLY%3AUSA%3AENG%3A%25%3AGT%3AGLOB%3AALL%3AX%3AX%3Acatchall%3A&utm_term=%2Btraval&utm_content=TVLY%3AUSA%3AENG%3A%25%3AGT%3AGLOB%3AALL%3AXX%3AX%3AX%3AX%3AX%3AX%3AX%3ATravel%3A

https://www.venice-travel-guide.com/

https://www.tripsavvy.com/venice-travel-guide-and-attractions-1548175

https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/venice

https://www.veniceitaly-travel.com/en/index.htm

https://veneziaautentica.com/tips-first-trip-in-venice-italy/

https://intentionaltravelers.com/italy-travel-restrictions/

https://www.booking.com/searchresults.en-gb.html?aid=1181029;label=msn-8caYRsh%2AztOCjlvPOfOH8Q-14135298609%3Atidat-138074246648%3Aaud-808219487%3Aloc-190%3Aneo%3Amtb%3Alp44736%3Adec%3Aqspalace%20venice%20italy;sid=6fa42b541f79590d3113661500e9b2fe;city=-132007;expand_sb=1;highlighted_hotels=2278009;hlrd=no_dates;keep_landing=1;redirected=1;source=hotel&msclkid=19005583a13413ee94453787a578672d&utm_campaign=English_United_States%20EN%20US&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=bing&utm_term=8caYRsh%2AztOCjlvPOfOH8Q&room1=A,A,;

https://palazzoducale.visitmuve.it/en/home/

https://www.venice-museum.com/doge-palace.php

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Products-g187870-zfg11865-a_contentId.1176477727652532+268395677-Venice_Veneto.html

https://veneziaautentica.com/venice-gondola/

https://www.gondola-rides-venice.com/

https://theromanguy.com/tours/italy/venice-gondola-tours

https://www.glassofvenice.com/

https://www.visitmuranoglassfactory.com/

https://www.visitacity.com/en/venice/activities/all-activities?activitiesSearchByName=ycftno&sbi=Murano%20Island%20with%20Venetian&sbn_sec=tour&actid=9555P2&campaginid=418430539&adgroupid=1277632895761488&targetid=kwd-79852275356253:loc-190&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Venice%20ActivitiesAC%20G-US-In-EUR&utm_term=murano%20island%20with%20venetian%20venice%20tour&utm_content=Venice%20Tours%20-%20AI:9555P2

https://www.vivovenetia.com/glass-factory-venice/

http://www.vecchiamurano.it/

https://www.muranoglassitaly.com/murano-island/

https://italyexplained.com/getting-around-in-venice/

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/venice

http://www.ogvenice.com/getting-around.html

https://www.visitvenezia.eu/en/shopping

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/italy/articles/the-best-and-most-exclusive-shopping-malls-in-venice/

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-places-for-shopping-in-venice

https://italy.com/venice-shopping/

https://www.muranoglassitaly.com/shopping-in-venice-where-to-shop-in-venice/

https://www.globalblue.com/destinations/italy/top-shopping-streets-in-venice

https://www.venice-museum.com/st-marks-basilica.php

https://www.italyscapes.com/places/veneto/venice/churches/st-marks-basilica/

https://www.st-marks-basilica.com/

http://www.basilicasanmarco.it/?lang=en

https://www.thetravel.com/st-marks-square-venice-italy-guide/

https://www.planetware.com/venice/st-marks-square-i-vn-vpsm.htm

https://www.opentable.com/s?lang=en-us&covers=2&metroId=84&regionIds=245&neighborhoodIds=10298&cuisineIds=48e9d049-40cf-4cb9-98d9-8c47d0d58986&ref=15187&SP=ppc_b_us_nontm&mt=e&bmt=be&oiid=76141540278105&aid=1218259334601114&adid=76141321571542&tid=kwd-76141540278105:loc-190&d=c&nw=o&cmpid=382525253&msclkid=021adbf54ed81ab2b4ebb9f146ee4d32

https://www.visitacity.com/en/venice/activities/all-activities?activitiesSearchByName=food%20tour&sbi=Cicchetti,%20Ghost%20Stories,%20Rialto%20Market,%20Bacaro&sbn_sec=food%20tour&actid=&campaginid=418430539&adgroupid=1282030942441556&targetid=kwd-80127153105400:loc-190&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Venice%20ActivitiesAC%20G-US-In-EUR&utm_term=venice%20food%20tour&utm_content=Venice%20Food%20Tours%20-%20AI:

https://www.thefork.com/restaurants/venice-c577979

https://italybest.com/10-best-restaurants-in-venice-italy/

https://www.audleytravel.com/us/italy/places-to-go/venice?audcmp=286018280&audadg=1253443260777274&audkey=%2Bvenice%20%2Bvacation&auddev=c&audadid=78340341519010&audtrgt=kwd-78340204665445:loc-190&audtel=ppcnb&audnet=o&infinity=ict2~net~mac~ar~78340341519010~kr~78340204665445~kw~%2Bvenice%20%2Bvacation~mt~p~cmp~31-505%20Italy~ag~Italy%20-%20Place%20-%20Venice%20-%20Broad&msclkid=8185b1d2380713951ee4d3d630bc4a67&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=31-505%20Italy&utm_term=%2Bvenice%20%2Bvacation&utm_content=Italy%20-%20Place%20-%20Venice%20-%20Broad

https://www.timeout.com/venice/things-to-do/best-beaches-in-venice

https://www.venetoinside.com/discover-veneto/venice-art-cities/venice/areas/other-islands/

https://www.venetoinside.com/hidden-treasures/post/cell-giacomo-casanova-doges-palace-venice/

http://www.casanovasvenice.com/callecomedia

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187870-d194257-Reviews-Casa_di_Marco_Polo-Venice_Veneto.html

https://veneziaautentica.com/grand-canal-venice/

https://www.toursbylocals.com/Venice-Tours

https://www.firebirdtours.com/welcome/italy-tours?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=FT_Italy_EN_US&utm_term=italy%20tours&msclkid=eeaf32be07bf103f59d150ba0da7b43c&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=FT%20%7C%20Italy%20%7C%20EN%20%7C%20US&utm_term=italy%20tours&utm_content=Italy%20Tours%20%7C%20MT%3ABMM

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g187870-Activities-c42-t226-Venice_Veneto.html

https://www.livitaly.com/tour/venice-private-ghost-tour-with-gondola/

https://www.carnevale.venezia.it/en/

https://www.venice-carnival-italy.com/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187870-d8820179-Reviews-Carnival_of_Venice-Venice_Veneto.html

https://www.state.gov/countries-areas/italy/

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

A Little Sidestep Into Embracing Winter! Northern, Arctic and Antarctic Travel in Winter!

Ah, winter. That season that makes you want to run away to a tropical paradise, curl up with a good book, do in home projects, or just be cozy. It can also make you stir crazy and want to do something a little nuts.

I'm a person who hates February. By that point, I've had enough of waiting for Spring. I also am not made for a tropical paradise. This leaves me in a bind. Going stir crazy is one of the hardest things to overcome when living in northern latitudes.

On top of being stir crazy in February, Covid-19 has rendered us all but travel free. Planes are dealing with nutjobs. Crossing borders can be tricky. Crowds are to be avoided. Therefore, I give you northern winter travel. I also give you extreme southern winter travel. One thing you don't see much of is Covid amongst people who spend their time in frozen areas outside.

I know what you're thinking. She's nuts. Maybe, but I've done this. I've been to car racing on a lake. I've been to St. Petersburg in January. I've been on vacation inside a mall for days in Edmonton in February. Let me tell you. You don't have to ski, snow machine, snowboard, or ice fish to enjoy the winter. You can be a plain old boring tourist and have a great time.

Let's start with the basics; accommodation. Have you ever wondered what an ice hotel was really like? They have them in several locations now, including Alaska. If you don't want to get a passport for an exotic frozen adventure, there you go. You can stay in Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Finland, Canada, and Russia in an ice hotel, but Alaska has one too. You don't have to be active, young, talented on skis or anything to stay at an ice hotel. Most of the ice hotels have local activities to go along with your experience. You can meet the local Sami and their reindeer. You can go dog sledding. You can see the northern lights. You can experience Banya, Sauna, and even drinking vodka right out of holes in a lake. It's your choice.

Dog sledding is one of the most universal winter activities/sports in the world. If it's something that you've always wanted to do, you can do it almost anywhere that there's snow. Nunavut even has winter tours that include dog sledding. So, if you ever wanted to go to the North Pole, there you go. There's a winter tour to Svalbard. This is the island at the top of the world. It will be dark, but you WILL see the northern lights, you WILL travel by dog sled and you WILL see some of the most amazing terrain in the world.

Winter is dark in the northern parts of the world. However, the people are hearty and warm. In Iceland, you can go out and do any number of things in the winter and enjoy the blue light. In a lot of northern areas, it never gets to be bright sunlight during the day in the winter. It's called the blue light and it's the direct opposite of the summer's white nights.

There are northern lights tours all over the world. Most recently Atlas Obscura joined the ranks with an offering of a tour from St. Petersburg to Murmansk in Russia. They are all guided tours with special accommodations to bring out the best of the northern lights. They also include many other activities and the chance to experience life in a completely different culture.

In many places, festivals are held in the middle of winter. In Quebec City, they have one of the world's most famous winter festivals. It lasts for weeks and visitors get a chance to see competition, participate in activities and try local food. In Quebec City you can take a ride on the icy toboggan run and learn to sculpt ice, in addition to many other things.

In Fairbanks, Alaska, they hold the world championship of ice sculpting. Artists come from all over the world to compete and they have a great festival to go with it. There's an ice hotel in the area, and Alaska is famous for their dog sledding. It's an all around win in a climate that you probably aren't used to.

On Moosehead Lake in Northern Maine on most Saturdays in February you can watch car racing. Right on the ice. On some weekends they have snow machine drag racing too. In February they also have a local chocolate festival. It's a great time. I can personally vouch for that.

There are so many ways to take a chance and enjoy the great north in winter. But, if you have to be extravagant, there's always Antarctica. It's their version of summer down there in winter, but visitors are limited. Once again, you won't get into much of a crowd. You can take a cruise, which is highly recommended. You can go on ship, icebreaker, or even sail to Antarctica on a schooner. It's a once in a lifetime experience and shouldn't be missed if you have the time.

Churchill, Manitoba is another great arctic destination. They are famous for their tundra buggies that take visitors out to have a real life encounter with polar bears. It's the only place in the world you can do that, and what an adventure.

Iceland. There you can do just about anything year round. You can take four wheel drive tours year round to see the sights of Iceland. Winter doesn't phase these locals one bit. The great thing about Iceland is the swimming. From the spa at the Blue Lagoon to over 300 swimming venues around the country, you can just ignore the cold and enjoy a swim. They have both outdoor and indoor facilities. There are hot springs, pools, and water parks available. It's a must experience in summer or winter, but in winter you get to see the Norther Lights.

So, let's say you aren't hearty enough to spend your time outside in the cold to beat the winter blues. That's okay. A few years back I found the best alternative in the world. I went to stay at a mall. The West Edmonton Mall is the largest mall in North America. I spent four days there and had a great time. The entire time it was below zero outside. I spent the day in an indoor water park and even went zip lining. I went to an amusement park and rode rides. I went to the movies. I celebrated Chinese New Year in a Chinatown. I watched the winter Olympics on Bourbon Street. I played mini golf, went to the movies, went to an aquarium and tried all kinds of food and drink. I also went shopping. My hotel was right in the mall, and it was an amazing time.

Don't think that you should try to go to Canada during a pandemic? That's okay. Minneapolis is home to the Mall of America, and you can visit that one. Also an amazing super mall with tons of things to do.

I took a few years and experimented with ways to survive the winter blues, and I've come to know that doing something a little crazy is the best way. You can throw caution to the wind and do something amazing. It will bust up those winter blahs. There are a lot of ways to have fun in the frozen depths of winter, and I wholeheartedly recommend giving some of them a try. Stay in an ice hotel, race on a lake, see the Northern Lights, or take an indoor vacation in a super mall. Whatever it is, embrace the winter and enjoy!

https://www.atlasobscura.com/unusual-trips/arctic-russia

https://iceland.nordicvisitor.com/travel-deals/winter-travel/?rf=m055-23&utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=winter%20arctic%20tours&utm_content=iceland+winter+tour+s+23&utm_campaign=IS+m055+iceland+winter&msclkid=c5df2677132c14086f35478df407f38c

https://www.aurora-expeditions.com/destination/antarctica-cruises/

https://www.goarctica.com/winter-tours

https://www.fiftydegreesnorth.com/us/tour/spitsbergen-arctic-darkness

https://hughrosephotography.com/tour/winter-arctic-alaska-and-northern-lights/

https://travelnunavut.ca/nunavut-svoffers/arctic-discovery-winter-2/

https://northernalaska.com/tours/arctic-circle-winter-drive-adventure/

https://www.kensingtontours.com/travels/tours/iceland?c3api=bing,1298523449565795,81157848586536&iv_=__iv_m_e_c_81157765884065_k_81157848586536_w_kwd-81157848586536:aud-805956192:loc-4086_g_1298523449565795_n_o_e__h_44736_ii__p_2_b_be_d_c_vi__&mkwid=-dc%7Cpcrid%7C81157765884065%7Cpkw%7Ciceland%20northern%20lights%20tour%7Cpmt%7Cbe%7Cslid%7C%7Cpgrid%7C1298523449565795%7Cptaid%7Ckwd-81157848586536:aud-805956192:loc-4086%7C&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BING-Iceland-November%202019&utm_term=iceland%20northern%20lights%20tour&utm_content=-dc%7Cpcrid%7C81157765884065%7Cpkw%7Ciceland%20northern%20lights%20tour%7Cpmt%7Cbe%7Cslid%7C%7Cpgrid%7C1298523449565795%7Cptaid%7Ckwd-81157848586536:aud-805956192:loc-4086%7C&pgrid=1298523449565795&ptaid=kwd-81157848586536:aud-805956192:loc-4086&msclkid=5f8ef8b1941a1186f474994b7cb77552

https://www.nathab.com/alaska-northern-adventures/northern-lights-tour/?utm_content=northern%20light%20tour&utm_source=Bing_Yahoo&utm_medium=cpc&msclkid=8453793d28971abb34e918c7c03a715d&utm_campaign=Search%20-%20Northern%20Lights&utm_term=northern%20lights%20trips

https://www.tourradar.com/v/region-northern-lights

https://www.nordicvisitor.com/europe-tours/scandinavia-northern-lights/