Keeping It Cheap and Simple: USA Couchsurfing Adventure

If you don’t know what couch-surfing is; I recommend that you look it up and check it out. It’s a great way to connect with others that enjoy a life of travel.

I’ve been registered on the couch surfing site for several years but have never been able to get the nerve up to actually get out and do it. I figured that I could give it a go in my home country so that at least I would know that we could communicate with each other in a common language. Did I ever mention that I am horrible with language? Yes, I suck!

I connected with a Minneapolis couple that I’m going to refer to as M & M via couchsurfing.org M & M are as new to couch-surfing as I am. M & M have hosted many exchange students over the years but have never had a couch surfer. It’s a first experience for all of us. It was a wonderful experience. I now have even more friends in Minneapolis

I couldn’t have asked for a better couch-surfing experience. M&M were great hosts. I arrived on the Mr’s Birthday and was invited to join them for a Birthday dinner. We enjoyed a great Italian style pizza and had a home-made birthday cake for dessert. After dinner, M&M took me to St. Anthony Falls and bridge. We couldn’t have timed it any better as we arrived right as the sun was setting along the city skyline.

I became an unofficial member of the “Gazebo Girls” club. What is the Gazebo Girls? It a small group of women in the neighborhood that gather at J’s house one night a week for wine and chatting. I was made to feel right at home by everyone.

I was also introduced to a few ‘neighborhood’ secrets like the gnome home of Gned and the local library which holds a secret that I’ve been sworn to secrecy on! If you would like to check out the adventures of Gned, he has a Facebook Group.

A huge thank you to my Minneapolis hosts M & M. I only had a day and a half in Minneapolis but thanks to M & M, I discovered a side of Minneapolis that I truly enjoyed. I’ll certainly be anticipating my return trip.

If you would like to discover couchsurfing or learn a little more about this great community you can visit the couchsurfing.org website.

Keeping it Cheap and Simple

US Roadtrip:  Keeping it cheap and simple

 

I’m heading out for a US Road-trip.  I’m determined to prove that you can travel in the US safely and cheaply.  Feel free to follow along as I explore From Louisville, KY through Chicago, Minneapolis, Las Vegas and and back.

 

 

Top 5 Best 4th of July Festivals

Reblogged from Gypsy Nurse:

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As a traveler, we get to experience some great festivals in a variety of locations.  I have scoured the internet and came up with the 10 BEST cities to enjoy this years 4th of July celebrations.  This list is in not particular order.  It's simply a list of cities and festivals that I found repeatedly during my search.  If you happen to be near one, check it out and give your feedback here.

Read more… 523 more words

What are you doing this 4th of July? Have you been to any of these Top 5 ? Do you have a different location that you feel should have made the Top 5? Give you thoughts in the comments.

I Love My Neighborhood (Actually, I’m trying): Northern Indiana, USA

If you have been following the blog, you will see that I wrote a post a while back about San Cristobal and how I fell in love with it. In keeping with my theme of re-discovering life; I am making an effort to enjoy everywhere that I go. I promised my readers a few weeks back that I was working on a blog about my current neighborhood: Northern Indiana. I am….I promise….really! It’s just so difficult.

With that in mind….

The photo above was taken at the Mid-America Windmill Museum.  I spent an hour or so the other night wandering around this outdoor windmill museum and reflecting on what I love about my hometown.  I think it has inspired me….I’m still working.  Stay Tuned ;o)

Laissez les Bon Temps Roulez: Part II

This is a two part series of posts.  When I  writing out my recommendations for NOLA, I quickly began to realize that I had too much information to put into one quick-to-read post.  I decided to break it down so not to overwhelm you.  In Part I, I covered Magazine Street and The Garden District.  As promised, here is Part II.

Jackson Square

To get here head toward the river from Bourbon Street to Jackson Avenue.  PLEASE NOTE: I do NOT recommend hanging around this area late at night. It’s ok to head over to Café Du Monde after a night of drinking on Bourbon St but be aware of your surroundings and travel in a group. It’s perfectly safe during daylight hours.

This is quintessential New Orleans. Here is where you’ll find the St Louis Cathedral. The horse carriages along Decatur Street will take you for a tour from here. There is nearly always a plethora of street performers, palm readers, tap dancers, etc.   Café Du Monde, located across the street from Jackson Square is not to be missed.  If you are here during Mardi Gras or one of the festivals; try slipping inside and grabbing a table (most of the time a lone patron will allow you to share a table if there aren’t any empty ones available). Sometimes you’ll get caught and asked to go back outside and wait but most generally, it’s a quick way to get served when they are extremely busy. (I’m not sure why I’m disclosing my secret here…now the next time I go it will be ruined).

Warehouse District and Frenchman Street

These are both areas of NOLA that I haven’t yet explored in any depth to give a proper recommendation.  The Warehouse/Arts District is an up and coming part of NOLA.   Here is a site to get you started.  I have always intended to check out Frenchman Street as well, but it’s just never happened. Please find out what all the fuss is about and let me know!!   There is some additional information about Frenchman Street  HERE to get you started.

Riverside Park/Market

Spend an hour or two and peruse the French Market.   The market is mostly ‘made in China’ trinkets but if you look closely you’ll find some wonderful local artists displaying and selling their creations. You must try ‘Gator on A Stick’ and the market is the place to find it. There are also all sorts of hot pepper jellies and other locally produced items. Just before the Market on Decatur Street you’ll find Southern Candy Makers. Stop in for some freshly made pecan pralines.  Pure sugary goodness is all I have to say…although I will admit that South Carolina really does it better. If you are looking for something sweet and spicy (NOLA style); you should try some of the hot pepper pralines. They don’t have them on the website but they were making them the last time I was in. Ask if you’re interested. I don’t think you can find them anywhere else in the world.

Central Grocery  on Decatur Ave has the city’s best Muffuletta. Depending on the time of day, there will be a line out the door and down the sidewalk. If you have any trouble finding it, ask around at Café Du Monde and someone will point you in the right direction. It’s just across the street walking away from the Jackson Square about a half a block.

Miscellaneous Tips

- Stop by Pat O’Brien’s for a hurricane.
- If you stop and enjoy a street performer; please remember to tip them! They are providing a service/entertainment and deserve a token of your appreciation.
- Try the “BBQ Shrimp”. It’s a local concoction and has nothing to do with BBQ or BBQ sauce. It is however buttery, totally messy and delicious. I’ve been told that the best place to try this is at Pascals Manale (close to garden district). I’ve had this dish in several different restaurants and felt it was equally as good in all
- Mothers Cafeteria is a NOLA institution with ‘just like mama made’ food at a very reasonable price. I suggest the Ferdi Special.
- Port o Call serves my favorite burger ever. Go with a huge appetite the burgers are massive and served with a perfectly baked potato topped with your choice. It’s always packed so plan on waiting. It would be a great stop after perusing the Market as it’s just down the road and around the corner.

Out of Town

A wonderful day trip takes you out of town to the plantations. My recommendations? Oak Alley and the Laura Plantation. I would recommend renting a car for a day and taking your time. There are many other plantations that you can visit if you have time.  I choose these two due to the extreme difference in them.  It’s an opportunity to experience the diversity that existed in the deep south. You can cover both in one day and they are remarkably different.  Oak Alley is the traditional Southern Style plantation that you immediately envision when you think ‘plantation’. The oak trees lining the original driveway are beautiful as well as the rest of the grounds and home. The Laura Plantation is a traditional Creole style plantation and couldn’t be more different from Oak Alley. The Laura if brightly painted, single story. I loved hearing about its history.

There are also gator farms you can visit and airboat tours all over. I’ve not participated in these so if you get an opportunity to go; please send me your feedback.

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• Best Coffee Cities in the U.S. (apartmentguide.com)
• New Orleans’ Artist Uses Mardi Gras Beads in Mosaic to Support and Honor the City’s Resilience (prweb.com)

Laissez les Bon Temps Roulez: Part I

New Orleans is one of my favorite places in the US.  Having traveled there multiple times and working there once, I’ve discovered a few favorites that I tend to go back to time and time again.  When anyone mentions that they are going to be visiting my favorite city; I’m quick to offer a few tidbits of info.  Having done this time and time again; I decided to go ahead and spend the time to put all the information together in one place for easy access.

There is more to New Orleans than Bourbon Street. To get the most out of NOLA, I recommend that you explore not only Bourbon Street but the surrounding area and even the outskirts of the city.

Magazine Street

Magazine Street is one of my favorite neighborhoods. Magazine Street runs parallel to the river and depending on where you’re staying I would recommend simply taking a cab. It’s a bit far to walk from Bourbon Street.  There are numerous shops, restaurants, cafés and coffee shops to keep you busy for an afternoon or two. In addition, the nightlife is laid back and mellow with multiple ‘locals’ bars to keep you entertained. Check out The Bulldog  if you’re traveling with Fido. Dogs are allowed and encouraged on the outdoor patio.   It’s a great place to go for a great variety of brews; there are generally about 50 different beers on tap.

Baru Bistro  is a great little restaurant with a cozy, upscale atmosphere. Baru has a tapas’ menu and I would encourage you to bring some friends so you can try multiple menu items. They have a constantly changing menu so you’re always guaranteed to find something new if you’re a frequent flyer. I recommend the fish taco’s if they happen to be on the menu during your visit.

If you haven’t tried it yet, Community Coffee is a sure choice for a good cup of coffee. The chicory coffee is a local specialty. I especially like the fact that they support our troops by frequently offering a Military Match program. You can buy one for you and send one free to a soldier. The location on Magazine Street has a quaint courtyard with free Wi-Fi.  During my time working with the wounded soldiers at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center I used this program and the soldiers on the floor were always thankful to have a great cup of coffee.  If you don’t know anyone in the Military and want to use the Military Match; message me and I will provide you with an address so you can send the match to Landstuhl.

The Garden District

To get there, hop on the St Charles Streetcar line getting off at Jackson. Start in the morning so you can stop by St Charles Tavern for the BEST Bloody Mary that I’ve ever tasted (I like mine spicy but be careful with this; taste first). They also serve a decent breakfast buffet (or at least it was good after a horrendous 12 hour shift paired with the world’s BEST Bloody Mary.

If you need laundry done, why not stop into Igor’s Lounge where you can do your laundry while enjoying a game of pool and some pub grub? It’s just down the road from St Charles Tavern.  There are multiple places to eat but I recommend you stop by Mike Serio’s Po Boys and Deli  before you go and pick up a poor boy to take along with you for lunch. My favorite is the shrimp. Hold off on the Muffaletta; I’ve got that one covered in Part II.  Mike, the owner is a huge Tulane University fan and the place is decorated with all sorts of memorabilia. Serio’s is also a great place to visit before or after a game (if you’re a Tulane fan).

Where to have lunch? There’s no hurry; we’ll get to that.

Take your time and walk down St Charles Ave (after your Bloody Mary). The homes along here are beautiful. There is a printable walking tour that I recommend printing for a great route and additional information on the homes.  The above walking tour will also lead you right to Lafayette Cemetery #2.  The walk is mostly shaded and pretty comfortable most of the time. Make sure that you watch your step as your gazing at the homes; the sidewalks could use a little tender loving care.
After your walking tour, hop back on the street-car and head down the road to Tulane University Campus. Right across from the campus is Audubon Park and Zoo where you can stop and enjoy that poor boy that you picked up earlier.

See, I told you we would get to lunch. After you have savored every last bite of your poor boy, relax and enjoy some time people watching, reading or bring a Frisbee along for some mid-afternoon exercise. If your feet haven’t given in on you yet, take a walk around Tulane University campus. It’s full of Southern charm.

When you have had enough walking and exploring; hop back on the St Charles Streetcar and head back toward Bourbon Street. There are multiple high-end restaurants you can choose from on St Charles Ave if you’re in the mood for something a bit more extravagant. One of Emeril’s restaurants is here, the Delmonico.  If you’re lucky; maybe you’ll catch him in house.

Miscellaneous Tips

- Check out Tipitina’s for some local music. I was once seated at the bar just a few stools down from Fat’s Domino
- Preservation Jazz on Bourbon is a NOLA classic.
- Oyster House will fill you up on some of the freshest oysters ever (if you’re into that…I’m not).
- Try the crawfish!! Pinch the tail and suck the head.
- Wander down Bourbon after dark. It really is safe as long as you’re not being cocky or an ass to people. If you’re feeling a little bravado (and your significant other is home watching the latest survivor or is with you but very open minded); work for some beads (women) or purchase some to give away (men). If you need a lesson on this; contact me personally and I will give you step by step instructions.

If you haven’t had enough of New Orleans yet, head over and read PART II (coming soon).

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The People in My Neighborhood: San Cristobal de las Casas

After having been in San Cristobal de las Casas for nearly 4 weeks there are some locals that I would like to introduce you too.

Meet Beto:  My favorite bartender at Ricci’s

Meet The Local Shoe-shine boys: Enjoying a little downtime.

Meet Jesus Freak: He wanders up and down the boulevard with thumb in the air calling out to everyone passing by “Cristo te amo! In English, Jesus Loves You” He is totally adorable…

Meet the Sanitation Department: She is out every day with her barrel and broom; making sure the trash is emptied and the streets clean.

Meet The Pigeon Lady: Every afternoon, she can be found feeding the pigeons. I’m not sure if she is talking to them here or scolding them.

Meet the Ice Cream Vendor: He parks right across the road from my favorite chicken place so you can have desert before dinner if you choose.

There were several other people of note that I wasn’t able to get photo’s of. The backpacker that I call ‘Screetch’ who plays guitar and sings (I think that’s what it’s called) for uninterested diners; the OJ Kids who are out on the corner every morning selling freshly squeezed orange juice; the Crazy Man who wanders up and down the street similar to Jesus Freak…only he isn’t quite so cute and don’t even think of provoking him because he carries a cane and I’ve seen him lash out when provoked.

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