It's That Time! 5 More Quick Ideas!

 

1.     When in Rio, take time for the street art.  There are tons of reasons to go to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  The beaches, the Jesus statue, the culture, and so many more.  What a lot of people overlook is that Rio is home to one of the most famous street art scenes in the world.  Many muralists who paint in Rio are world famous.  On Olympic Boulevard, you'll find the 190 meter long Eduardo Kobra Mural.  This is the biggest painting of its kind in the world.  It's in the Guinness book and everything.  So, if you want to see something truly spectacular in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; check out the street art.

https://theculturetrip.com/south-america/brazil/articles/a-tour-of-rio-de-janeiros-street-art/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/largest-street-art-mural-in-the-world

https://www.getyourguide.com/rio-de-janeiro-l9/graffiti-urban-art-tc30/

https://www.riodejaneiro.com/blog/2017/11/20/admire-worlds-largest-street-art-mural-rio/

2.    Go swimming in Iceland.  That's right; I said swimming.  I don't necessarily mean indoors.  I don't mean only in the summer.  Iceland is a puzzle to a lot of people that have never visited.  I assure you, the geothermal nature of the country makes it a great place to be.  The government heats a lot of the buildings from those volcanoes.  The swimming came about the same way.  Even as early as the 1300s people were swimming in those pools.  Now, the pools come in all shapes, sizes and styles.  It's not just the Blue Lagoon.  There are over 100 public thermal heated swimming pools around the country.  Take your pick.  They're open year round and can be a lot of fun.

https://www.visiticeland.com/article/swimming-pool-culture-in-iceland

https://www.vogue.com/article/iceland-swimming-culture-guide

https://nat.is/swimming-pools-iceland/

https://www.funiceland.is/blog/posts/2018/april/best-swimming-pools-around-iceland/

3.   The World's Biggest Wheel.  That's right,  250 meters high, sitting on a luxury island off the coast of Dubai with cars the size of a living room.  It's AIN Dubai.  Opened in 2021, it's only the latest record breaking piece of architecture in Dubai.  It's always bigger and better when it comes to this tiny country.  There are over 100 eye style wheels around the world and they all provide amazing views of their areas.  I've ridden some of them.  I love it.  But, if you're in Dubai, it's the biggest.  Check it out.

https://aindubai.com/en

https://www.visitdubai.com/en/places-to-visit/ain-dubai

https://www.dubai-tickets.co/ain-dubai/

https://www.discoveryuk.com/building-big/the-biggest-ferris-wheels-in-the-world/

4.    While in Dubai, don't miss the Burj Khalifa.  It is the tallest building in the world.  Period.  Opened in 2010, it shattered all the tallest building records around the world and hasn't been topped yet.  The observation deck sits 456 meters above the street, but the building itself is 828 meters, 2717 feet, or 160 stories high.  It shines in the sun and is a great showplace for New Year's fireworks.  So, while you're riding that giant eye wheel, skiing indoors and whatever else Dubai has to offer in amazing activities; don't miss the Burj.

https://www.thecollector.com/what-are-the-5-tallest-buildings-in-the-world/

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/hall-of-fame/burj-khalifa-tallest-building-in-the-world

https://www.burjkhalifa.ae/en/the-tower/facts-figures/

https://www.visitdubai.com/en/places-to-visit/burj-khalifa

5.    The location is Nuri.  The kingdom was the Kushites.  They are the Meroe Pyramids.  They are pyramids, and they are along the Nile.  They are some of the most mysterious of all pyramids around the world and we're still learning about the people who built them.  Egypt you say?  Nope.  These are in Sudan.  That's a thought.  They're excavating in the area right now.  So, if you love pyramids and the cultures that built them.  Check that out.  It's a little known place to tourists, so you'll see more archaeologists than travelers.  You may want to talk to a Sudanese based travel company to hire a guide as well.  You won't want to just show up.  

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/sudan-archaeology-pyramdis-kush-nubia

https://againstthecompass.com/en/nubian-pyramids-sudan/

https://www.geoex.com/trips/sudan-ancient-riches-nubian-desert/

https://www.tripsavvy.com/meroa-pyramids-in-sudan-1454488

So, there's some of the weirdest ideas I've had in a while.  It gives you some ideas for things to look forward to trying around the world.  Just remember, travel is that way of life that gives you memories that you'll never forget.  Part of that is finding truly unique adventures and trying new things.  We only have one life, so live it and enjoy!

Five More Little but Good Ideas!

 

1.  First on my list today is the Cherokee Reservation in Qualla Township, North Carolina.  Lots of people visit nearby Asheville and have a wonderful time at the Vanderbilt Estate and with the artist colony that the city has become.  They drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway and have a great time.  But, the Cherokee are the people you should take time to meet.  Their whispering theater has a show that teaches you about their history.  The Native Americans will be happy to share everything about their ancient culture.  It's a great way to spend the day, and if you have children; it's educational.  If you really want, which I didn't; there's a casino too.

https://visitcherokeenc.com/play/attractions/oconaluftee-indian-village/?gclid=CjwKCAjw-7OlBhB8EiwAnoOEk-6db7dPKrnopOyVgWXcrGJqYZ1dHT7oGNPJBuqfdx1lqwFuH1pIZRoCag4QAvD_BwE

https://www.romanticasheville.com/cherokee.htm

https://www.visitnc.com/listing/wxwm/cherokee-indian-reservation-cherokee-welcome-center

https://visitncsmokies.com/listings/cherokee-indian-reservation/

2.  This is a must see.  I've been to Switzerland multiple times, but Lauterbrunnen, it's valley, and it's excursions were my favorite.  One of the most amazing adventures you can take is the train to Jungfrau.  It's a cog and it ends in a tunnel at the top of Europe, as it's self proclaimed.  Not only can you walk and play on glaciers, see some incredible scenery and have lunch of course; you can walk through caves carved in the ice of the glacier way back in the 1930's.  It's a spectacular feeling to walk inside a glacier.  It's the only place I know you can do that.  Just make sure you bring something warm to wear.

https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/

https://jungfrauregion.swiss/en/

https://www.jungfraujochtickets.com/jungfraujoch-railway-and-train/

https://holidaystoeurope.com/things-to-do-in-lauterbrunnen-and-the-jungfrau-region/

3.   Berlin, Germany is a fascinating place.  It's one of the most openly historical cities on Earth.  The first time I visited it, they were still tearing down the Berlin Wall.  I got to see the original Checkpoint Charlie, in shambles in the street.  Since then, they've turned the checkpoint and a building nearby into one of the most educational museums in the city.  If you find Wall History interesting, you'll love all you can learn at The Checkpoint Charlie Museum.

https://www.mauermuseum.de/en/start/

https://www.visitberlin.de/en/mauermuseum-museum-haus-am-checkpoint-charlie-wall-museum

https://www.museumsportal-berlin.de/en/museums/mauermuseum-haus-am-checkpoint-charlie/

https://www.visitberlin.de/en

4.     One of the most formidable leaders in all of history was Genghis Khan.  He conquered more lands than probably anyone else in history.  He was also known for having thousands of children.  One of the great mysteries of the world is where is he buried?  That, no one knows.  But, outside of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia stands one of the largest stature monuments in the world to this amazing man.  The Mongolian people are proud to be his descendants, so they placed the monument outside one of the few cities in the entire country where the most people can visit.  So, if you ever thought about going to Mongolia, this is one spot you have to visit.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/genghis-khan-equestrian-statue

https://www.viewmongolia.com/mongolia-genghis-khan-statue.html

https://www.toursmongolia.com/mongolia_travel_news/9-must-see-places-in-ulaanbaatar-capital-city-of-mongolia

https://www.discovermongolia.mn/about-mongolia/destinations/ulaanbaatar-capital-city

 

5.    And finally, one of my favorite vacations ever.  I love to do unusual things like take a vacation to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in February.  Weird, yeah.  But, I stayed at the West Edmonton Mall.  This is the perfect place to spend some time during a frozen almost arctic winter.  With an indoor water park, indoor amusement park and hundreds of other activities to keep you busy; you'll never realize how cold it is outside.  There's a hotel in the mall, meaning you never have to go outside except to and from the airport.  Classic.

https://www.wem.ca/

https://exploreedmonton.com/attractions-and-experiences/west-edmonton-mall

https://funworldfacts.com/west-edmonton-mall/

https://www.travelalberta.com/places-to-go/cities-towns/edmonton

As I continue with my short lists of little parts of vacations that you should look into, I hope you enjoy my ideas.  I don't like to spend my time with a lot of the typical tourist attractions.  That's just not me.  So, if you like the things that are a bit strange, weirdly timed, or just off the beaten path; follow along with my blurbs on great little side trips and enjoy!

Bourbon is the latest novel!

 

She's here!  She's the second "Every Woman has a Story" story!  "Bourbon" is available on amazon in paperback form now and will be released on Kindle July 25th!

Every Woman Has a Story

 

Bourbon was the youngest of six children and the only one named after booze.  She spent her entire childhood waiting for her chance to get away and make a life for herself.  Her father wasn’t much of a dad, and had brought her entire family from Kentucky to Connecticut for better state benefits.  In her eyes, no matter how low she set the bar for herself, it was higher than the one set by her dad.

Bourbon enlists in the Army, becoming a linguist and translator; traveling the world.  Years later, when her tour is finished, she lands at the United Nations in New York City as a translator, working with the man who’s become her father figure, Herb.  Life is good, but she needed a personal life.

Luckily for Bourbon, a wonderful man nearly trips over her in a park near her apartment.  He’s everything she’s ever wanted, even though she never knew she wanted it before.  The day after she meets Colin, her father dies, forcing her to go to Connecticut and see her estranged family. 

Over the next several months, Bourbon learns her mother isn’t helpless or insecure.  She learns a lot about her family, her new boyfriend, and life in general.  Her mom and her boss fall in love.  She falls more in love with Colin every day, despite his tedious mother, Myra.  With so much good happening in her life, what could possibly go wrong?

Just when things seem to be coming together, tragedy strikes again when her mother is diagnosed with cancer and her father figure dies.  Will the families continue to come together or will it all fall apart?  Only Christmas dinner will tell.

Every woman has a story as does Bourbon.  She learns a lot about life, family, relationships, and the will to continue on the path of life no matter what happens.  She finds out you can be happy, no matter what.  You just have to continue to search for the good stuff.  Love, family and success await her and the reason why she was really named Bourbon.

"Bourbon" is my eighth novel, and one of my favorites.  I've come into writing women's stories, and it's a lot of fun for me.  "Alice" was the first of the "Every Woman has a Story" series and now "Bourbon."  Next will be "Calypso."  I just keep on going. 

Grab a copy of any of my books now and Enjoy!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C8WC82KG

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMWG8M7P

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9F1XPJV

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y17BJP8

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DLJRPPQ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09D6B3BYR

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FH93JJX

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V6SF62F

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Terri-Dixon/author/B06Y1C2MS7

A Few More Strange Ideas for a Visit!

 

1.     Supai Village is the location, and you won't find it on a lot of maps.  This tiny village of 300 to 600 people is on the Havasupai Reservation.  Where is it located?  Down in the Grand Canyon.  It's actually a side canyon that appears as a garden of Eden inside the canyon.  There's a school, museum, clinic, hotel, campground, restaurant and a ton of gorgeous waterfalls down there.  It's worth the 8 mile hike or horseback ride, but if you like, you can take a helicopter over the edge.

https://www.havasupaireservations.com/public/login

https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/havasupai.htm

https://wildlandtrekking.com/guide-to-visiting-havasu-falls/havasu-falls-reservations/

https://grcahistory.org/sites/beyond-park-boundaries/havasupai-reservation/

2.      The American Dream Mall.  This is the newest edition to the Meadowlands area of New Jersey.  Welcome to East Rutherford, NJ and the mall that claims to be the largest mall of its size in this hemisphere.  It claims to be bigger and have bigger attractions than both The Mall of America and The West Edmonton Mall.  In edition to indoor amusement parks and waterparks, it has a super sized wheel on the side of the mall that rivals any eye around.  It's said you have a great view of the New York City Skyline from the wheel.  There are hundreds of stores and tons of activities that you can enjoy on your trip to see the Giants play.  What a great perk for a trip to New Jersey!  Good news.  You can catch a train from the city for this one.

https://www.americandream.com/

https://www.northjersey.com/story/money/shopping/2023/06/20/american-dream-mall-nj-paradox-museum-open-july/70338856007/

https://www.americandream.com/transportation

https://www.skyviewsobservationwheels.com/rutherford-nj

3.   The Village au Pied-du-Courant.  What you say?  This is one of the most visited summer destinations in Montreal.  It's a giant beach party that runs for most of the summer underneath the Jacques Cartier Bridge.  There's food, drink, entertainment and a great view of the weekend fireworks across the way at the local amusement park.  It's a laid back place to hang out and it's open every night and weekends.  A hidden gem in the middle of Montreal which is a fabulous spot anyway.

https://www.aupiedducourant.ca/

https://www.mtl.org/en/what-to-do/activities/village-au-pied-du-courant-montreal

https://ra.co/clubs/119685

4.     James Bond World.  That's right, James Bond World.  In 1969 the world got its first look at the top of the Schilthorn Mountain in Switzerland.  "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" was an early James Bond film.  It was also the only one starring George Lazenby as Bond and the only time James Bond ever got married.  The basis for the Fembots in "Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery" Blowfeld's brainwashed dangerous damsels were kept in an Alpine Lodge in Switzerland.  That lodge is the Piz Gloria Restaurant, a revolving restaurant on top of the Schilthorn.  It's quite a gondola ride to get up there, but the views are amazing.  The food is standard, but not bad.  The latest addition about 10 years ago to this soaring Alpine attraction was the James Bond Museum underneath the restaurant.  Called James Bond World, it's a lot of fun while hanging out on a high peak in the Alps of Switzerland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOLq5Rg9N-c

https://schilthorn.ch/15/en/Bond_World

https://www.jamesbondlifestyle.com/product/piz-gloria-schilthorn-switzerland

https://www.civitatis.com/en/stechelberg/schilthorn-cable-car-bond-world-thrill/

https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/destinations/lauterbrunnen/

5.    The Walkway Over the Hudson.  What to do with an old railroad bridge that crosses the Hudson River hundreds of feet in the air?  Make it into one of the most popular State Parks in New York State.  That's a tall order, no pun intended.  The bridge is only different in that it's now cement and open during daylight hours year round for people to get out and get some amazing air with amazing views in Poughkeepsie, New York.  There are no fees for walking across the Hudson.  It's a great area to spend some time in with Hyde Park and all that goes with it just a few miles north.  By the way, if you like, you can walk across the Mid Hudson Bridge as well.

https://walkway.org/?doing_wp_cron=1687379569.0653939247131347656250

https://parks.ny.gov/parks/178/details.aspx

https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley/travel/article/5-things-to-know-Walkway-Over-Hudson-Poughkeepsie-17001978.php

https://dutchesstourism.com/town/poughkeepsie21?from=Home

https://www.hydeparkny.us/

There you have it.  Some more ideas for something a bit off the beaten path.  I love places like these which is why I visit so many of them.  They're all good ways to add to a trip or take a little day trip.  It depends on your needs.  Be aware, Supai Village is work.  This is more of an adventure unless you take the helicopter.  I'll be putting up some more different kinds of adventures soon.  For now, consider some of the less discussed ideas out there in the travel world.  They can be great fun.  Enjoy!

 

Alert! The Topic is Vantage

 

The topic today is Vantage.  Vantage is a luxury travel company that takes people on various types of guided tours around the world.  I've known of this company for decades, so I was disturbed when I heard of some happenings concerning the company.

I've read articles about a class action lawsuit against the company.  Reportedly, the company has been in dire straits for a while, with at least one of their river ships being held due to unpaid taxes in Germany.  Reportedly, cruises have been cancelled, tourists have been stranded in foreign countries because of last minute cancellations.  All of these things add up to a disaster for a travel company.  Apparently the company is for sale by its current head of operations. 

The thing I noticed is that the website is still working.  From what I can tell, they've cancelled operations until August 2023.  With boats being held for taxes, employees not being paid, trips being cancelled last minute, and lawsuits having been filed; I don't think I would put my trust in this situation. 

I feel terrible, because Vantage has been around most of my life.  They've been the company that many of my friends used several years ago.  I just don't know what I think about all of this, but I thought you should all be aware of the ongoing problems.  

Does this mean that you won't get your trip if you book a fall voyage on their website?  I have no idea.  The problems could be managed by that time.  Remember, this is a longstanding company.  Just keep an eye on the situation and learn all you can before booking.

https://www.vantagetravel.com/

https://www.travelagentcentral.com/your-business/report-vantage-deluxe-world-travel-ceases-operations

https://www.newsnationnow.com/travel/travelers-stranded-vacation-company-shuts-down/

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/06/12/business/why-would-anyone-want-buy-vantage-travel-there-are-some-good-reasons/

https://www.travelpulse.com/News/Tour-Operators/Travelers-Left-Stranded-Amid-Unexpected-Closure-of-Luxury-Travel-Company

https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/finance/vantage-travels-ocean-explorer-ocean-odyssey-go-layup