I moved!

Come visit me on my new website (no more Blogger for me!)  www.mybatteredsuitcase.com.

I just updated with a new blog post on my recent trip to Italy and what I learned during a day in a true Italian kitchen.

http://www.mybatteredsuitcase.com/Site/Blog/Entries/2011/5/21_What_I_Learned_In_An_Italian_Kitchen.html

Why I Love Being Home

This time last year I had already logged in a couple dozen flight segments and was well on my way to Premier Executive Gold status.  This year, now that I'm in a different job, my travel schedule slowed down quite a bit.  And I have to say I'm kind of liking it.

I often day dream about becoming a global nomad, spending my days wandering from place to place.  But it's an idea that for me is better in theory than reality.  And it boils down to a few things:

• I love my bed.  
• It's virtually impossible to have any sort of social or dating life when you're constantly on the road.
• I like having a routine.
• Home is uniquely mine.

Growing up, whenever we went on vacations, the last thing my mother would always do was clean the bathroom.  My brothers and I would literally be sitting in the car waiting to leave while my mother scrubbed the toilet.  It became a running joke.  But now as an adult I understand it.  Home is a solid foundation.  It's comfort and constance.  It's a refuge that is all mine.  And while often mundane, it is a special place to be valued.

Home allows you to understand a change in perspective.  When experiences are outside of your 'norm' you view them in a different way.  Home allows us to experience the world more deeply because it paints a frame for us to view the world within.  Experiences can often become disconnected without having a basis to compare.  The Andes Mountains were so magnificent in part because they are so vastly different from the flatness of home sweet home Ohio.

My mother appreciates what home is.  That's why she made sure it was a welcoming place (with a clean bathroom and all!) to return to.  And while the travel bug kicks in more often than not, and my list of must see places grows and grows, I can't imagine not having the foundation of home to come back to.

Yummy Eats: Panna Cotta

To me, traveling and eating go hand in hand.  I can't think of a better way to get to know a place then by experiencing its food.  My brain has recently been on Italy and my upcoming trip with my mom.  But with that months away, I thought why not bring Italy to me?  And more specifically, bring Italy to my kitchen.  


Thus you have Yummy Eats - posts about how you can bring a place to you through food.  Pick a place, pick a recipe, turn on some music to get you inspired and cook away.


First chapter: Italy.  What I love about Italian cooking is that you can take a few simple ingredients and turn them in to amazingly yummy deliciousness.  Case in point: Panna Cotta.  Cream plus sugar, vanilla and gelatin.... yummers!  It's so simple to make (and pretty hard to mess up).  Mangia!

Panna Cotta made to the soundtrack of Turnadot

Makes eight servings

4 cups (1l) heavy cream (or half-and-half)
1/2 cup (100g) sugar
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, or 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
2 packets powdered gelatin (about 4 1/2 teaspoons)
6 tablespoons (90ml) cold water

1. Heat the heavy cream and sugar in a saucepan or microwave. Once the sugar is dissolved, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.  (If using a vanilla bean, scrape the seeds from the bean into the cream and add the bean pod. Cover, and let infuse for 30 minutes. Remove the bean then rewarm the mixture before continuing.)
2. Lightly oil eight custard cups with a neutral-tasting oil.
3. Sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water in a medium-sized bowl and let stand 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Pour the very warm Panna Cotta mixture over the gelatin and stir until the gelatin is completely dissolved.
5. Divide the Panna Cotta mixture into the prepared cups, then chill them until firm, which will take at least two hours but I let them stand at least four hours. 

You can make this recipe up to 2 days ahead. Keep well-covered and chilled.  


Thank you David Lebovitz for this amazingly simple and delicious recipe.  

Advice For Travel Disappointments

This weekend was like a comedy of travel errors.  It took three attempts at the local market to get the Belgian waffle my nephew was craving.  Parking issues, crowds and shop closings all stood in the way - yet we tried and tried again (and again).  The Jurassic Journey exhibit at the fair grounds was a complete bust.  The exhibit was amateur and the playground was riddled with sick kids so my nephews couldn't play.  Forty minutes in and 50 bucks in the hole we cut our losses and bolted.  And then the airplane movie at the science museum was a total disappointment.  Yet with all of the errors, I had a great weekend spending time with my family.

That got me thinking about the times where my travels didn't go exactly as planned or even worse, did go as planned but were utter disappointments.  For starters:

1. The Mona Lisa.  You go to Paris, you need to go to The Louvre.  You go to the Louvre, you need to see the Mona Lisa.  And the Mona Lisa, well.... it was... OK.  Yeah, just OK.
2. The Washington Monument.  Truth be told, I've never been to the top so can't judge it. But that's just it.  I lived in Washington, DC for 4 years and never went to the top.  And then this past Fall I made a trip to DC - mostly to take a peek from the top of that mysterious obelisk.  But when I arrived tickets were sold out all weekend.  (Who knew there were tickets?)
3. Las Vegas.  Yeah, pretty much all of it.  I'm not a gambler.  I'm not big on 'cheese'.  And as far as Vegas goes, the bang for the buck is small.  So other than some great restaurants (and my friend Tara), I'm not a fan.

Despite these disappointments, I still managed to enjoy myself on each of these trips.  That's because disappointments don't have to mean travel disaster.  And I don't know about you, but I'd rather be disappointed from seeing something than regret never seeing it at all.  (That's talking to you Mona Lisa.)

So here's my best advice when travels go awry:

Bring your guidebook for backup.  Turn lemons in to lemonade and find another nearby site to visit.  There are lots of small museums and attractions that often get overlooked by the big ones.  Or use the maps to wander the streets and take in the architecture of the city.


When all else fails, eat.  Find the nearest cafe, bar or restaurant.   Grab a drink or bite to eat and regroup.  Devour a local temptation and people watch.


Justify, justify, justify.  I must say I'm pretty brilliant at this one.  I have a closet full of shoes and handbags all of which I can justify ten times over.  So if something goes bust, find one good, simple thing to focus on and make you feel better.


Keep positive.  A sense of humor goes a long way.  And being angry and annoyed takes more energy than putting on a smile, having a laugh and moving on to the next thing.

Remember nothing beats planning.  If something is so special and important that it will ruin your trip if you don't see it, make sure you do your homework.  Research hours of operation, how to get tickets and dress code to avoid being turned away or finding yourself face-to-face with a closed sign.

How do you turn disappointing travel experiences around?

5 WAYS: To Experience Your Own City

When most people refer to traveling they usually mean going to a place that isn't home.  With no big trip planned in the very near future, I started to think about the city I live in and how much of it I haven't experienced in my 3 years here.  I haven't been to the art museum.  I haven't spent an afternoon people watching on the Ohio State Oval.  I haven't hiked Hocking Hills.  So why haven't I 'traveled' my city?

When I travel I love to eat, wander and watch.  Sounds kind of boring.  But with all of that eating, wandering and watching I'm actually taking a place in, pretending like I'm a local.  So here's the hitch. I don't experience my own city because I'm too busy.  I'm running errands, I'm thinking about work.  I've got places to go, people to see.  Blah, blah, blah.  Plus it's all too familiar.

What I came to realize is that in order to experience my home city, I need to break from my normal routine.  Thinking about what makes a culture interesting (its people, history, food, music and events), I came up with this short list.  Now I realize my ideas  for getting to know your own city better are pretty much no-brainers.  But for some reason, when Saturday morning rolls around and I think about what I'm going to do, I always seem to overlook them.  Maybe you do too.

5 WAYS: To experience your own city

1. People watch.  One of my favorite things to do when I travel is to sit in a cafe and people watch.  But when I'm home I never seem to make time to do it.  Pick a part of town you don't normally visit (if you live in small town visit one nearby), find a bar or cafe and take an afternoon to watch life pass by.
2. Local landmarks.  Take a drive or go for a walk and pick a landmark, building, park or monument that you're drawn to and get to know its history.  Taking a tour is a start (make sure to ask lots of questions), but also read books on local history, research it online or talk with local historians.  
3. Local eating.  Skip the grocery store and go shopping at a farmers market.  Instead of eating at a chain restaurant pick a locally-owned one (look for ones that use local foods in their menus).  Eating local foods keeps you connected to your community and will open your eyes to how rich it is.
4. Local music.  Big music acts don't become big overnight.  They start in local music scenes.  Check out local radio station websites for upcoming events.  Pop in to a music shop (yes they still exist) and ask the staff about up and coming local bands.  Try something different.  If alternative music is your thing, look for concerts for local choirs or acapella groups.
5. Community events.  Pumpkin festivals, chili cook-offs, pancake breakfasts, bingo.  These are all great ways to experience and support your community.  Search for local events online and add them to your personal calendar as a reminder.  Your newspaper, city magazine or community website will have event ads and listings.  Libraries and coffee shops often have community boards with event postings too.   

BONUS WAY (5 +1):  More local eating.  If you're new to a city, I can't think of a better way to get to know it than trying the local favorite dish.  Philly Cheese steaks, cheese curds, hot dish.... gooey duck.  Try it.  You might like it.

If you're looking to challenge yourself to get to know your home city better, Vagabond3.com is hosting a weekly Travel Your Own City contest.  Every Thursday they will post a new idea to explore your city and encourage you to add photos and comments.  And of course feel free to share your ideas here.  The more the merrier.

Inspiring Travel Quotes

• "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."  - Saint Augustine
• “Experience, travel - these are as education in themselves." - Euripides
• “People travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at home.” – Dagobert D. Runes
• “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” - Henry Miller  
• “Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard
• "Don't tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you have traveled."  - Mohammed
• “The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.” - G. K. Chesterton
• “Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

5 WAYS: To Experience a Resort

Not every trip we take needs to be filled with one of a kind, local experiences.  Sometimes when we travel we just need to unwind, relax and stay put in a place that isn't home.  I recently took a much needed long weekend at an all-inclusive resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico.  This was my first vacation at an all-inclusive, and quite frankly I avoid them for their over-the-top cheesiness and mediocre food.  But this trip was a little different.

Maybe it was timing.  Maybe it was stress.  Maybe it was just because I needed to get away.  But on this trip I embraced everything I dislike about resorts and came to see it as a sub-culture filled with unique qualities (albeit at times toned down for the masses), not as a superficial Disneyfied place.

That's right.  Even at an all-inclusive I got a flavor for the local culture and broke out of my comfort zone.  So don't discount them when dreaming up your next vacation.  And arrive with an open mind ready to relax, have fun and even learn a thing or two.

So here's the first edition of what I hope to be a recurring post called 5 WAYS.


5 WAYS for you to get local at a resort:

1. Make friends with the staff.  I recommend starting with the bartender.  Ask for restaurant, sightseeing and nightlife recommendations. Let him/her know you're interested in a less touristy locale (or the best tourist spots if that's what you're looking for).  Nine times out of 10 you'll get great advice.
2. Eat the regional menu options.  Even in an all-inclusive you'll find local foods in the buffet and specialty cocktails at the bar.  There will surely be hamburgers and fries aplenty, but make an effort to taste test local fruits, veggies, entrees and drinks.
3. Turn on local TV or radio.  Rainy day and stuck inside?  Or maybe you just need some background noise while getting ready for a night out?  Turn on the radio or TV and tune in to a channel you normally wouldn't.  And if you are traveling internationally, TV novellas are incredibly entertaining in any language.  
4. Embrace resort entertainment.  Sure it can be cheesy, but you'll often learn something - whether it be about people from another country or the local culture.  In my case, the local entertainment included weddings.  I spent a half hour being an uninvited guest to a beach wedding and it was a beautiful and memorable experience.  The resort disco was also an interesting time filled with local music and a diverse crowd.
5. Learn the language.  Again, the hotel staff is great for this.  Learn a few phrases or words that you think will be helpful during your stay (please, thank you and beer come top of mind).  While most staff at resorts usually speak English, you can definitely earn a few brownie points by speaking the native language - even if it's a word or two.

BONUS WAY (5+1): Meet people.  Resorts (especially those in warm locales) tend to attract an international guest list.  Brits, Germans, Italians, Aussies and even local Mexicans were all staying at my resort.  I think meeting new people is one of the best things about traveling and resorts often become little melting pots of people from all over the world.  So make a new friend and learn a bit about where he/she is from.

Oh The Places I've Been

It's cold and gray today.  And despite having just come back from Mexico I can't help but day dream about my next trip.  That got me thinking about all of the traveling I've done in the past 5 years.  I've been to so many beautiful places, met new friends and learned more than I ever expected.  So I decided to put together this photo collage of all the amazing places I've been.  

Croatia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Peru, China, Belize, France.... when I need an escape I think about these places.  And I remember how happy, calm, inspired, humbled, excited and energized I was.  I like to think that at these moments I'm at my best.  And I get excited about the trips to come.  The ones I haven't planned.  The dream trips I hope to take.  The experiences and people that will change me in big and small ways.  

Where to next?

 

Tell me: What's your most questionable experience with TSA?

I've done a lot of traveling the past few years and I've had quite a few interesting experiences in airports, cars, trains - basically anything that takes you to and fro.  But yesterday took the cake.  

My friend and I took a much needed long weekend in Mexico.  On our way back home I went through the normal rigamarole of airport security following the 3-1-1 procedures, taking out my iPad.  Passport checked, pockets empty, jewelry off.  All clear.  

As they called my flight to board they asked passengers to form 2 separate lines for men and women.  This was the first sign something was off.  The TSA (or whatever they are called in Mexico) then proceeded to check every bag and pat down every person.  I watched what was going on and while the process was annoying, time consuming and duplicative of what I thought happened at security an hour earlier, we all went along with no objections.  But then came my pat down.  Standing with my arms out like a T, the officer did a quick pat down on  my legs, arms, then WHOA.... my chest!  Straight down the middle.  OK, so not only did I not see her do that do any of the other female passengers that boarded before me, she gave me absolutely no warning.  I was shocked and frantically looked for my friend who I could only assume was being equally violated.  And yes, it happened to her too.

Now without getting too personal, I'm not so well endowed that I could hide narcotics, prescriptions drugs or even a tic tac in my bra without someone noticing.  So why cop a feel?  Wouldn't a couple of dogs sniffing my luggage work just as well?

So commiserate with me.   What's your most questionable experience with TSA?

(For the record, I'll add letting me through security with an expired license but confiscating my hummus because it is a 'liquid' to the list too.)

 

How much is too much to spend on travel?

I spent this morning reviewing my finances on my favorite (and free!) financial tool Mint.  Unfortunately I was made painfully aware of something I had always known but never quantified -- I spend a lot of money on traveling. 


Last year I spent 12% of my income on travel.  As a comparison, I spent 30% on my mortgage and 5% on food and utilities each.  I also sock away the financially advised 10% of my income in my 401K and savings.  So is 12% of income on my 'hobby' too much?

Slow Travel: The next trend?

A few years ago I spent a week in Paris with 2 girlfriends in very tiny studio apartment on a quaint street near The Louvre.  We shopped for breakfast foods at a local grocery store.  We made daily visits for fresh croissants and macaroons to the lovely bakery outside of doorstep.  We greeted the neighbors each day with a polite bonjour and bonsoir.  In a nutshell, we got to experience Paris like a Parisian (or close to it).   


Honestly, we were trying to save some cash.  And since we didn't plan on spending much time in a hotel room, we decided to take a more economical route and opted for a rental.  Apparently this type of travel now has a name.


I've heard of slow food, but slow travel?  I came across the movement in a tweet and did a little research.  


Slow travel is about connecting with a place, its people, its culture and (this makes me so happy!) its food.  No tour buses, no check list of must-see tourist spots, no hopping from place to place.  Most often, slow travelers stay in weekly rentals, shop at local markets and grocery stores and prepare meals at home.  They may chat up and make personal connections with the locals.  And they sometimes limit themselves to exploring an area within a given radius in which they are staying, moving outward with each day.  It's about immersing yourself in a place and getting to live in it,  rather than stay in it.  


I personally enjoy this type of travel and have repeated the experience on several other trips since.  But, it's not for everyone.  Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Of course there are high-end rentals, but for the most part rentals are no frills.  If you like 800 thread count sheets and a 24-hour concierge, renting is not for you.  And in my experience, you kind of need to be OK with local decor and scratchy towels.  When in doubt, ask for specifics on the accommodations.
• Read the listing thoroughly so you know the amenities each rental has.  Kitchenette, TV, A/C?  Is the bed a mattress or a futon and what size?  Towels, iron and hair dryer included?  While the Paris rental was fine, I probably would have made a different choice if I had known the bathroom was the size of a thimble and my 5' 11" friend would have to hunch over to wash her hair in the shower every day.  (Amusing, but not so fun for her.)
• Understand payment terms before you arrive at your destination.  I didn't read the fine print on the Paris rental and was incredibly embarrassed when the agent expected the remaining $800 rental fee in cash upon arrival.  (I then couldn't pay him for 2 days because of ATM issues and maximum withdrawal amounts.)
• Shopping local markets is a great way to immerse yourself in a culture.   Plus you'll probably eat better and save money.  When shopping at grocery stores outside of the U.S. don't expect the big, fancy American kind or American brands.  And yes, eggs don't have to be refrigerated so don't freak out when you see them next to the cash register.  
• Locals are your best resource for recommendations on food, music and sights.  You won't have a concierge so you might as well make friends and ask someone in your neighborhood about their favorite places.  And if there is a language barrier, cab drivers usually have a decent enough understanding of English.  I have gotten some great recommendations from many local cabbies.

Looking for a rental?  The best place to start is by Googling 'vacation rental + city'.  You can also narrow your search to apartments at Hostel World.

For more information on slow travel visit Slow Travel and Slow Movement.

Wanted: Marketing exec with a persistent case of the Mondays to write about travel

I’ve been told more than once that you should do what you love.  I’m a marketer, not a writer.  I enjoy my job and like the people I work with.  But I’d be lying if I said marketing lawn and garden products is what I love to do (and that I’m not a little bored doing it).  Traveling is what I love.  Traveling is what gives me energy.  It’s through travel that I learn and grow.  

Now don’t get me wrong.  This boring marketing job has given me the money to actually do what I love.  I get that.  But how can I bring my passion in to my work?

The answer for me is this blog.  

I’m not ready just yet to leave my well-paid, 9-5 job to start a career as a travel writer.  So I’m starting slow.  And maybe - just maybe - my career can serve a greater purpose and take on greater meaning if I channel my energy for travel in to this blog instead of what I do Monday through Friday.  My boring job will enable me to see all of the beautiful places I want to see and I’ll get to share them with whomever stumbles across this silly page.

And what’s this blog all about?  I took some time to think about how I like to travel and what others might gain from it and the buzzword that came to mind was ‘experiential travel’.  AFAR Magazine defines experiential travel as

“Experiences that connect you with the essence of a place and its people…simply seeing the sights is no longer enough. Experiential travelers want to venture beyond the beaten tourist paths and dive deeper into authentic, local culture, connecting with people from other cultures in ways that enrich their lives and create lasting memories.”

This is what I want to blog about.  I hope to do it often.  And I hope you will come back to read my thoughts now and again and maybe share them with others.