The Three Travel Apps I Will Use in Chile and the One I Won't!

The upcoming trip to Chile will be my first with a device that supports apps. I did do a weekend get-a-way last year with my iPod Touch but it was hard to connect to the Internet. So in the interest of travel, cough, I purchased an iPad. Since I have had trouble connecting to the Internet I chose the WiFi model plus 3G. The brilliance of the 3G is that you can turn it on one month at a time. I do not require 3G service on a daily basis (and how can people afford it!) so a pay as you go 30 day plan is perfect for me.

My hope with the iPad is to be able to ditch the guide books and multiple maps and not have to lug them around. Instead all that information will be in my cute little iPad. I have even purchased a mobile external battery to keep the life in my precious little iPad ( I do feel I should name the iPad - any thoughts?).


Now on to the travel apps. What will I use? Well I have four on the iPad right now that I am testing out and hoping they will be quite useful on the trip.

First is Trip Advisor. I have used the Trip Advisor website for as long as I can remember - since at least 2004. So when I got on the Apple bandwagon it was one of the first apps I downloaded. The app recently updated on August 6th to version 6.4 so I have been playing around with the new features, and I have to say it is a massive improvement.

The layout is quite different and more accessible and for me it is easier to work in the app. I also really appreciate the new save feature. Just hit the save star for any hotel, restaurant or attraction and it will be pinned to a map of the area you are visiting so it can be accessed it for later use.


What I am most curious about with the Trip Advisor app is – will my save functions work if I do not have Internet or 3G service. If so that would be a tremendous advantage.


Offline maps and/or information appeal to me because I am not quite clear on how the 3G network will/if work in a foreign country. So far for the Chile trip all of our hotels are offering free WiFi.

As far as the review aspect of Trip Advisor - I don’t live and die by a review. Every person has different needs, wants and tastes. I just use it as a general guide. If there are 50 great reviews I try to not get my hopes up. If there are 50 negative reviews I tend to shy away from that place. I find it a good general rule of thumb.


THE APP I WON'T USE - Tourist Eye-offers trip planning and offline maps. I really wanted this to be THE travel app for me, but it has been nothing but a problem. The maps never downloaded. What I entered on the website never integrated into the iPad. Every time I opened the app it said downloading and never ever finished. The most recent version updated on July 16. I originally downloaded the app in February and even with the update it has never retained my original information. After the update I went in to try again inputting some of the Chile trip information. After entering all of the data it asked me to pay (pay! I tell you!) to access the offline map - $1.99 per trip or $20.00 annually. No thanks!!!!!!
So far all of our dealings with hotels in Chile have been only is Spanish. Google Translate has become a very important tool in the hotel booking process. Knowing that the language will be our biggest barrier I have downloaded two apps for translating –Google Translate and Word Lens. Anything that helps me communicate in a foreign country is priceless!


Google translate has been working very well. I just cut and paste into the app and voila - Instant Spanish. Where was this when I was taking Spanish in High School?

Although it doesn't seem to not like large chunks of information all at once - it has worked well. I even used it to translate emails received from our hotels in Chile from Spanish to English.


Here is an example of Google Translate trying to decipher and email from a hotel in Chile:

I really was curious about Word Lens. By using the camera on your iPad/iPhone just point and what needs to be translated. You can pause the picture to see what the translation says. Sounds perfect! Although I haven’t really had good luck with the picture. I get the gist of what it is trying to say, but he Google Translate is much better – the only downside is that you have to type and/or cut and paste the info. Word lens would be much more efficient if the point and shoot concept worked better.

Here is an example of Word Lens trying to translate the same hotel email from Chile as above:

What about you? What are your favorite apps? Travel websites?

Final Medal Count of the Countries I Have Visited!

I am so sad to see the London Olympics go away. Waking up every day to see my favorite city ever(!) on the TV, Internet, radio, FaceBook Twitter, Tumbler what have you has been BRILLIANT!

I thought it would be fun to see how many medals were won by each individual country I have visited.

I know the games are not about the medal count or at least they shouldn't be about the quantity - it's about quality, eh?

Country                                        Gold             Silver         Bronze             Total  



US                                                        46                    29                 29                104

Great Britain –                                      29                    17                 19                  65
Well Done Team GB!


France -                                                11                    11                12                  34
tres magnifique!
                                                        
Hungary -                                               8                       4                 5                   17
where I had the best meal ever!


Netherlands –                                         6                       6                  8                  20
so cute in all their orange    


Czech Republic -                                    4                        3                 3                  10
I do love a Pilsner Urquell


Denmark -                                              2                        4                 3                  9
I would LOVE to be at Tivioli

 
Turkey -                                                 2                        2                 1                  5
First foreign country I ever visited!

 
Sweden -                                               1                        4                 3                  8
I guess they do better in the winter sports?


Mexico-                                                1                        3                  3                  7
went here as a kid-don’t remember!

Ireland -                                                1                        1                  3                  5
Too much or not enough Guinness?


Slovakia -                                              0                        1                 3                   4
Walked across the Danube to have a beer here


Belgium -                                               0                        1                2                    3
They have the REALLY good beer! 

Puerto Rico -                                         0                        1                1                    2
Could have been two more for the US?


Greece -                                               0                         0                2                   2
poor show birthplace of the Olympics!

Austria -                                               0                         0                 0                  0

Barbados -                                            0                         0                 0                  0

Chile -                                                  0                         0                 0                  0
going in 5 weeks!

Luxembourg -                                       0                        0                  0                 0
I love this cute little fairytale-ish country!


Saint Lucia -                                         0                        0                  0                 0

A Perfect Day in London

As an American that thinks of London on a daily basis (no longs for London on a daily basis) I am thrilled to be seeing the capital city of England and the UK during the Olympic coverage.

The Olympics are exciting, but if I were in London right now I would just be happy wondering around and taking in the sights of the city.


Walking is a very British thing to do so I have created a unique walk tailored to the city of London and my current favorite BBC show Sherlock.


Using the massive amount of resources at www.Sherlockology.com (a fabulous website to check out if you are a Sherlock fan!) I created a walk comprised of filming locations for the BBC hit TV show. Then I added in the famous Sherlock Holmes pub (I am ashamed I have never been!), and I am sure you could have a wonderful day’s walk in London.


I am in the process of planning a trip to London next year (third time), and I can’t wait to try this walk!


So this is how I would spend my day. You may think it geeky or dorky or what have you. I just know this would be my perfect day in London.

The Jet Lagged Vagabond Sherlock Walk

The walk starts at 187 North Gower Street, Camden, London NW1 2NJ.
Tube Stops: Euston or Euston Square


This is the filming location of 221B Baker Street – the home of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. John Watson and their loveable housekeeper landlady Mrs. Hudson. Next door is Speedy’s Café. Speedy’s is a real working café and is featured in the background of the show as characters come and go from 221B Baker Street.

http://www.speedyscafe.co.uk/

I start the walk at Speedy’s with a full English fry up followed by some photos of the 221 B front door located to the left of Speedy’s. I better fill up this is an all day walk!

Click here for a picture of Speedy's from Google maps!

From Speedy’s the walk heads to St Bart’s Hospital West Smithfield London EC1A 7BE via Russell Square Gardens.

The journey is 2.1 miles and will take 45 minutes not counting any time to stop and take photographs.

Click here for Google map.

 Russell Square Gardens was used in the Sherlock episode A Study in Pink (Series 1, Episode 1). This is where John Watson runs into an old friend who in turn introduces Watson to Sherlock Holmes at his place of work St. Bart’s Hospital.


Side note: From Russell Square to St Bart’s the path will pass the Renaissance Chancery Court London at 252 High Holborn. This is the hotel where I stayed in 2004, and I absolutely love it. For a chain hotel it has a fantastic location with a convenient tube stop and the building is absolutely beautiful. I highly recommend! Note: I just read that the Chancery Court has changed ownership –shame!


Now on to St. Bart’s a real working research hospital that is featured in many episodes as the workplace of Sherlock Holmes and Molly Hooper. However St. Bart’s roof top plays an important part in The Reichenbach Fall (Series 2 Episode3). Beware of messenger bikes and cell phones that have the Staying Alive ringtone!

Click here for Google map.

From St. Bart’s head south to my favorite church St. Paul’s Cathedral and keep going until you come to Sir Norman Foster’s Millennium Bridge. Cross the Thames to the South Bank and hope you get a text message from Sherlock as Irene Adler did.

Click here for Google map.



Photo from Wikipedia



Now we are South of the Thames. I absolutely love to walk along the South Bank and that walk has been in my mind for weeks as I think about London. For the purposes of the Sherlock walk the path will head west towards the Battersea Power Station.

Note: this part of the walk goes past: The Tate Modern, Blackfriars Bridge, views of St. Paul’s across the Thames, the Oxo Tower, the National Theatre, Jubilee Gardens, London Film Museum, the London Eye, Westminster Bridge, views of Parliament and Big Ben, and Lambeth Palace and Gardens all leading to Battersea Power station. Indulge as much as you like!


Don’t worry there are plenty of pubs, bars and restaurants along the way to refresh and soak up the views!

Click here for Google map.

Battersea Power Station is a disused, well power station that has become an icon of London. In Sherlock it appears in A Scandal in Belgravia (Series 2, Episode 1).

Speaking of THAT scandal in Belgravia we now cross back over the Thames via Chelsea Bridge for a quick 30 minute walk towards 44 Eaton Square in Belgravia also known as Irene Adler’s home.

Click here for Google map.

The walk left Speedy’s Café nearly three hours ago. I think a pint is in order.

Therefore the next destination is the Sherlock Holmes Pub located at 10 Northumberland Street St James London WC2N 5DB.

http://www.sherlockholmespub.com/

Click here for Google map.

After a pint or two it’s off to dinner at Tapas Brindisa Restaurant 46 Broadwick Street Westminster London W1F 9

Tapas Brindisa is featured in Sherlock A Study in Pink (Series 1, Episode 1). The restaurant has changed its look from the time of filming, but the distinctive lights in the front window are still there.

http://www.brindisa.com/restaurants/tapas-brindisa-soho/

Click here for Google map.

And there you have it. A nice long walk taking in the sites of London and hopefully some great food and drink as well.

Remember to not just look but to also observe. You never know if and when you will run into Holmes and Watson! 



The Atlanta Food Truck Scene

Turn on any food and/or travel related channel on the television, and I am sure you will see at least 30 minutes devoted to food trucks. No longer do these trucks pull into parking lots to serve the working masses boring hamburgers and sandwiches. Food trucks have gone 21 Century with gourmet fare and tweets to disclose their whereabouts.

Okay - so I've watched a minute or two of food related TV. It has made me wish for the day I could eat from a food truck.


Seriously. I want to.

Have you seen the one that used to be a school bus? It offers in door (or in seat) dining.

Or how about the one with Pierogies? Pizza? Lobster rolls? Chicken and waffles?

If you can think of it, cook it and get yourself a stylish set of wheels then chances are you will have a successful food truck!

Unless you live in Atlanta. Unfortunately the food truck scene has been slow to roll in the ATL.

There are food trucks to be had in Atlanta. Really neat ones that are ready to serve. The problem here is that the city is hindering the hipness with too many restrictive ordinances. The Atlanta Street Food Coalition was formed and progress has been made.

Finally after a long wait we get food trucks.

The Food Truck Park has opened. It is a daily spread of at least 15 trucks and a farmer's market on the weekends. Lovely. I saw a food truck trailer park in Austin last year. Never did I dream that Atlanta would follow.

http://atlantafoodtruckpark.com/ 

Piedmont Park  hosted a Food Truck Festival with the top ten food trucks of Atlanta.



There was the British cuisine truck with fish & chips and bangers & mash.

The Fry Guy - serving Belgian style fries. Nice hot fries with all kinds of dipping sauce.

The Pup Truck with all kinds of hot dogs:

There was even Puerto Rican fare - beans, rice and meat.

There were also cupcake vendors, local beer and The King of Pops was on hand.  I love the King of Pops. Not really a food truck more of a food cart they are a welcome relief in the hot and humid Atlanta summer. The Lime Watermelon is my favorite.

http://kingofpops.net/flavors

I would say the Food Truck Festival was a hit considering I had to stand in any line for up to 30 minutes. Not so great when you are in middle of summer in Hotlanta.

And there has been more good news for the food truck scene. According to the local paper many of Atlanta's food truck have been filmed for various food TV shows. Hurrah! 

One of the best things about Atlanta is the food scene. There are always new and interesting restaurants in every corner of this city. I am so glad to see that the food trucks can finally be a part of that!

What's Your Travel Perspective?

I overheard a travel conversation last night while out to dinner. Trust me the participants were talking loud enough that you could not consider this as eavesdropping- it’s as if the table across from us wanted the entire restaurant to hear their conversation about their upcoming travels.



“Hello! Good to see you!”


“How are you? Where is your next big trip?”


I love conversations like that, and I was curious! Where was the next big trip? I shoot my husband a look. Did he hear them (how could he not?).  He did and we both leaned a little towards the table across the aisle so we could hear more.


“Istanbul,” cried one of the people at the table.


My husband and I looked at each other again. Fantastic! Istanbul! The very first place we traveled together. I could see my husband wanting to join in the conversation. He loves to talk Istanbul.



The table continued their conversation, “The travel agent said Istanbul is in Europe! Europe? My ass!” one of the diners scoffed.


Whoa, really?


You just booked a tour to Istanbul and you don’t know where it is located? And you don’t believe what your travel advisor is telling you? I am afraid this person has set themselves up for a terrible trip.


Half the fun of travel is the research. The more you know the better your trip will be. Don’t expect your travel destination to be exactly like your home town – just with an Eiffel Tower around the corner.


I don’t expect anyone to know everything about anything, but I am sure this gentleman had a smart phone. Would it kill him to go to Google and type Istanbul, Turkey?


When I do that very thing the first item that pops up is this:


Istanbul (Turkish: İstanbul) is the largest city in Turkey, forming the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With a population of 13.5 million, the city is at the center of the second-largest metropolitan area in Europe and among the world's largest cities by population within city limits.


Straddling the Bosphorus—one of the world's busiest waterways—in northwestern Turkey, between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, Istanbul is a transcontinental city, with one third of its population living in Asia and its commercial and historical center in Europe.



Hmm, then there is this little blurb:


Seven million foreign visitors arrived in Istanbul in 2010, when it was named a European Capital of Culture, making it the world's tenth-most popular tourist destination.


Thank you Wikipedia!


Istanbul has special meaning to me because Turkey was the very first foreign country I ever visited. I promise you in 1999 when I started planning my trip to Turkey and Greece I didn’t know anything about Turkey. Not a damn thing. But guess what I did – I looked it up (even before Wikipedia existed), and I learned as much as I could about the place I was about to spend a fortnight touring.


If you are going to boast and/or complain about your travels then you might want to get your facts straight! Travel (for me at least) requires a lot of work and a lot passion. You just can’t show up and say here’s my money impress me.


I once heard a lady at Heathrow airport yell at British Customs agent about VAT taxes. She was in the process of trying to get some money back and she wasn’t getting enough refunded in her opinion. It was no fault of the agent as he was just doing his job so she yelled, “Does all this money you are stealing from me go to your monument fund? God knows you have plenty in this stupid country!” Nice. Keep it classy.


If this delightful woman had done her research she would have know how the VAT refund process worked and she would have saved everyone some time and some embarrassment. There is a section in every guide book I own about London that explains the VAT process. There is even a little information packet with general information that shop keepers give you along with your receipt after making a purchase.


Travel isn’t about how much you spend, how you spend it or how much you think you got ripped off in taxes. It’s not about the abundance of monuments it what those monuments are about.


Travel is about experiences, knowledge and general common sense.


We as travelers are armed more now than ever with information. I say read, research then relax.


Knowledge is power. Attitude is everything. Whether in Turkey or having dinner in your hometown.

July 4th - Independence or Dependence Day?

July 4th the designated day we as a nation celebrate our Independence from Mother England. The day is typically filled with backyard grilling, parades, lots of beer and some type of fireworks display.

As our lovely nation celebrates its hard won independence I will on a smaller level also be celebrating my DEPENDENCE on Mother England.

Now don't get me wrong. I love the US and am very grateful to live here, but I also like to think of myself as a citizen of the world. For me there is nothing better than exploring new countries learning new cultures and opening my mind to new ways and ideals practiced in other countries.

The first country to open my mind to a different way of life was England.

I was just a a little one when England really came across my radar. They had a Queen? Who has a Queen? I though that belonged in a storybook? You mean it's real?

Then there were the accents. Why did they have one and where could I get it?

Here's proof that I was obsessed with everything English at a young age.




If only I still had that Union Jack purse!!



I can’t help but notice how many things in our society that are distinctly British, and I clamor for them all.

Here are a few examples:

Jane Austen books and the Jane Austen Society - I am proud to say that I have read all her books and at one time I was a member of a Jane Austen Society.

Any of the following actors:

Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Daniel Craig, Ewan McGregor (technically Scottish but still part of the UK). Who did I miss? Who is your favorite British hottie?

Royalty:

Princess Diana, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, HM the Queen, and maybe Sarah, Duchess of York (although technically she isn't royalty anymore). Who is your favorite royal?

British Television:

I mean really there are far too many to list - Downton Abby, Sherlock, The Office, As Time Goes By - and all the numerous programs that are British and remade into American formats (The Weakest Link, Dancing with the Stars, American Idol etc.) Do you have a favorite British TV show?

British Food & Drink:

How often do we say we want some fish & chips, or a pint, or say the words high tea with our worst attempt at an English accent? Then there are the ones that are just fun to say: Toad in the Hole, Spotted Dick and Treacle Tart.

So while I am celebrating America's Independence from England by taking a day off from work I may well just have a pint or two. Then I will watch some Sherlock, Downton Abbey or take in some Wimbledon whilst hoping to catch a glimpse of Duchess Kate in the Royal Box before heading out to catch some fireworks!

Happy July 4th I hope to bump into you out in the world someday!



The National Steinbeck Center

John Steinbeck was my first.

My first serious read that is. My first author to take my mind some place new. My first transporter.

 I don't know why I thought to ask my mother what to read before we traveled west to Monterey, CA. It seemed like an offhand under my breath type of moment.

 She didn't even blink or need a moment to think before she handed me the worn but loved book from the bookshelf. Tortilla Flat. Hmm...I liked tortillas. Yet I was confused. Why would she give me a book about tortillas when we lived in Texas and had many in abundance?

I read the book.  I loved the book. I wanted more - stories not tortillas.

Next Cannery Row. Wow. Loved. Laughed. Felt really sorry for Doc.

Then the Red Pony. Never had a book made me cry so hard. Never had anything made me feel for something that wasn't real. Not until JK Rowling came along and killed some lovable characters did I ever feel that way again. In fact I think the Red Pony prepared me for some of those deaths in the various Harry Potter books - but that could be a whole other story!

It was amazing where Steinbeck was taking me. I had never been so enthralled with any author before. Reading at that point in my life was something I thought I did well and often. Then I realised I was ready to dump Sweet Valley High and get stuck in with the big boys.

After reading the three books I felt ready to travel west and experience John Steinbeck's Monterey. Well of course by the time I got there things had changed. It was more of a jet set crowd  than the migrant farmers he was so good at telling their tale. Yet the scenery. It was gorgeous. I knew this hadn't changed. I felt I was seeing it with John Steinbeck that it was something we were sharing.

On that first trip to Monterey there wasn't a museum or hardly any mention of John Steinbeck other than the words from his books that lingered in my mind.

That is why on my most recent trip to the Monterey area I made it a point to visit the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, CA. Finally a place to honor my favorite writer!

The center is arranged and decorated by each one of Steinbeck's books. It is very visual and charming how you walk from Jody's room from the Red Pony into Doc's lab from Cannery row.

Along the way there are movie posters and props to set the mood. Plenty of placards to read and audio clips that play overhead (which do kind of annoy me as I tend to hear more of the audio clips as I am try to read).

The Red Pony posters. Oh that poor pony!!!

The invite to Doc's party. Those boys really did mean well!

I picked up a copy of Travels with Charley in the bookstore. I can't wait to read it.

I don't think there is anything better than just travelling around with your dog.

Actually I am procrastinating on reading it a little bit because to me it signals the end.

One less new book to discover. One less new Steinbeck to discover.

I am torn.

I believe this quote sums up why I really like Steinbeck's writing.

This is a mural on the side of a building next to the Steinbeck Center.

It was with that first trip to Monterey when I was a kid that I started the tradition of reading books from authors from the region I was about to visit. None have ever taken me quite like John Steinbeck, but like I said he was my first serious read. And you never forget your first.