Travel Rules - Does foreign etiquette apply to visitors?

Several years ago, Diesel and I spent two weeks in Rome.  Even though it was October, it was surprisingly sultry.  Anyone that knows Diesel knows that the man runs hot.  Not just that, but he literally radiates heat when he gets too toasty.  As a result, he rarely wears more than a t-shirt and shorts unless he has to.  And for our visit to Vatican City and St. Pauls Basilica, I insisted that he wear pants. 

After all, the Vatican has a strict dress code that specifies no skirts above the knee, no bare shoulders, no shorts and no bare feet.  The last thing I wanted to do after waiting in the massively long line was to return to our rented apartment for him to change.  Grudgingly, and with no small amount of grumbling, he acquiesced and we headed off to Vatican City.

And that was where I got into trouble.



A Swiss Guard in Vatican City.

4 Things The Hunger Games Taught Me About Traveling

Unless you have been living under a rock, you have probably heard of the The Hunger Games trilogy in both book and movie form.  While most of us will never have to fight to the death with 23 others, there are still several themes in The Hunger Games that are applicable to those of us that love to travel (and live).  Besides the scathing indictment of reality TV (which I wholeheartedly agree with), these are some of the lessons that directly apply to those of us with wanderlust in our hearts and perennially itchy feet.

If it feels wrong, run

Ok, running may not always be the answer, but you should definitely trust your gut.  If something feels off about a place or a person, it probably is.  Chances are that the feeling of unease is your survival instinct, and not your paranoia, that is telling you it’s time to be moving on. Unlike the actual Hunger Games, travellers don’t need to put themselves into dangerous situations to “win”.  A traveller wins by enjoying the experience, trying something new and making it home safe and sound.

Team up for survival

Being self-sufficient and traveling independently doesn’t mean that you can’t interact with others.  Whether they are locals or fellow travellers, we can all gain something through our interactions.  It can be something as simple as a recommendation for a great restaurant or site that is off the beaten track or something deeper like a shared meal or experience.  These kinds of interactions serve to enhance the travel experience and (hopefully) lead to more meaningful interactions with the destinations you visit.

Expect the unexpected

In traveling, as in life, things never go exactly according to plan.  I think of it like planning a wedding – no matter how hard you try, something is destined to go wrong. 

If you prepare yourself for things to go wrong beforehand, it will be much easier to take issues in stride when they pop up.  And remember, if everything went perfectly it probably wouldn’t be much fun anyways.

When all else fails, adapt

When your allies are killed off, your flights are cancelled and things generally go to hell, it is easy to throw up your hands and give in to self-pity or anger.  Instead, try to concentrate on the unique opportunity you are presented with. 

Just like a knife only becomes sharp when it is rubbed against the side of a stone, we only grow as people and adventurers when we are challenged.

Lost in a city?  Enjoy seeing a side of the town that most travellers don’t have a chance to see. 

Encountering delays or difficulties?  Roll with the punches and enjoy the extra time you have in a location.  A lot of people will never have the opportunity to be where you are.

And besides, things are good because no one is trying to kill you (hopefully).

So next time you are travelling, remember The Hunger Games.

And may the odds be ever in your favor.

Travel Lust - Sucky posts, tourism boards and crazy people

Travel Lust is a weekly compilation of my favorite travel related articles from the previous week.

Are you afraid that your blog posts suck? - I think all bloggers are afraid of this, but the author gives you reasons why you don't have to be a perfectionist to write good blog posts.

How to Work with Tourism Boards - One day I hope to have the guts and the following to attempt making pitches to Tourism Boards.  In the meantime, it's good to learn from an insiders perspective.

Stuff Parisians Like to Say - Ah Paris, I may never understand you.

Tipper - I'm not even going to try to deny it.  I am going to be one of those crazy old people.

Have you seen something you think I might like? Tell me about it! I’m always looking to discover interesting new articles and other fun stuff.

Travel Lust - Backpacks, Bulgaria, Bloggers and Kony

Travel Lust is a weekly compilation of my favorite travel related articles from the previous week.

Places to See in 2012 - Extended Edition - I am seriously considering a trip to Bulgaria after reading this.

5 Reasons to Network Regularly with Your Fellow Travel Bloggers - Something for me to keep in mind.

On Backpacks and Babies - An Auto-Cartography - One of the most well written travel stories I have ever read.  Inspiration in both content and technique.

I am a Visible Child from Northern Uganda - Invisible Children's video about Kony has been all over the place lately.  This is a response from someone who grew up in the shadow of Kony's legacy and is worth reading to get a better sense of how Ugandans feel about this video.

Have you seen something you think I might like? Tell me about it! I’m always looking to discover interesting new articles and other fun stuff.

Its a banner year - Why you Should Head to London During the 2012 Olympics

Mention the upcoming Olympic Games and most Londoners won’t bother to conceal their groan.  Between the soaring costs, delays to daily commuters and general over-crowding there is no shortage of topics to complain about.  However few Londoners mention any of the myriad of benefits and opportunities that come with being in London year's Olympic Games.

Cultural Events

London is a bustling metropolis that hosts countless events every day.  To mark the occasion of London hosting its third set of Olympic Games (previous Games were hosted in both 1908 and 1948), 2012 will be a year of sponsored cultural events.

Billed to be the largest free celebration of the 2012 Olympic Games, London Live 2012 will be taking place at three of the most quintessentially London locations: Hyde Park, Victoria Park and Trafalgar Square. Large state-of-the-art screens will be erected in all three of the locations that will be broadcasting all of the medal events.  There will also be live music, outdoor arts and opportunities to try out a number of Olympic and Paralympic sports.

Special Celebration Concerts will be held in Hyde Park and timed to coincide with the Opening and Closing Olympic Ceremonies. Ticket prices and headline acts for these concerts are still TBA.

One of the more innovative happenings this summer in London is the River of Music.  Along both side of the Thames in central London, groups representing all of the Olympic countries will be performing music native to their homelands.  I can only imagine how they will represent the USA…country music perhaps?

Coinciding Events

Those more interested in the literary world than that of athletics should note that 2012 marks the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens.  This anniversary is being marked by museum exhibitions across the city.  Fans of the author may want to check out the Dickens and London exhibit at the Museum of London.

If Shakespeare is more you style you might check out the World Shakespeare festival which runs from April through September.  The festival will encompass almost 70 productions, along with supporting exhibitions and events, and will take place in seven different locations around England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Not to be outdone by any mere authors, 2012 marks the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.  This is the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 years as monarch.  To mark the occasion, the country’s second longest reigning monarch is touring the country to see her people.  While the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is being celebrated throughout the Commonwealth countries this year, the event will culminate in Great Britain with a four day holiday that coincides with the Queen’s birthday in early June.  Additionally, a number of museums and historical sites are hosting special exhibits in honour of the Queen’s reign – including a special display of the Queen’s diamonds and jewellery in Buckingham Palace.


The Games

Of course, one of the best reasons to be in London this summer is for the Olympic Games themselves.  Even without event tickets, opportunities abound to enjoy the games first-hand.  Various events from the torch run through the city men’s and women’s marathons, and the triathlon cycling and running will present opportunities to cheer on competitors for free as these courses traverse the city.

Not interested in dealing with the crowds in London?  That doesn’t preclude you from catching sight of an Olympic Event.  The Road Cycling races are taking place in the Surrey countryside and will present a picturesque setting in which to enjoy this year’s games.

London 2012 countdown clock in Trafalgar Square

For more information on the London 2012 Olympics and the various events that are happening, check out http://www.london2012.com/, http://www.worldshakespearefestival.org.uk and www.direct.gov.uk/diamondjubilee .

Travel Lust - Making friends in Nepal, throwing down in the Lego store and enough books to keep me reading for years

Travel Lust is a weekly compilation of my favorite travel related articles from the previous week.

Is the American Dream holding you back? - I really like this blog and this article in particular.  It really makes me think about what I am doing now and if working for one of the largest financial institutions in the world is really how I want to be spending my time.

How to Make Friends in Nepal - As someone who is naturally shy, I find that this is excellent advice on meeting people while traveling and while at home.

The 50 Greatest Travel Books of all Time - I love to read.  I love to travel.  'Nough said.

Tourists and Travelers - A- Different Outlook - This distinction is something that I have been thinking a lot about lately and it is nice to see that I'm not the only one.

Dick Move Lego Store Lady and Thank You New York - The continuing adventures of the Everwhereist!

Have you seen something you think I might like?  Tell me about it!  I’m always looking to discover interesting new articles and other fun stuff.

Travel Lust - Obscene Gestures, Awesome Words and Surprising Tokyo

Travel Lust is a weekly compilation of my favorite travel related articles from the previous week.

Pinterest - Not an article per se, but my newest adidiction.  I love the possibilities that exist within Pinterest to create pin boards with travel ideas, photography tips and hundreds of other things I haven't even thought of yet.

20 Awesomely Untranslatable Words from Around the World - A list of words that have no direct translation into English.  My personal favorite it cafuné, what a perfectly lovely word.  It makes me want to learn Portuguese.

Things Not to do Abroad - Good advice for the frequent traveller.

Seven Things That Surprised Me About Tokyo - I was in Japan once....kinda...well, my airplane landed there, but I didn't actually make it onto terra firma.  Once day I will though, and I will be armed with these fun facts.

Have you seen something you think I might like?  Tell me about it!  I’m always looking to discover interesting new articles and other fun stuff.

Mind the Gap! Navigating and Surviving the London Tube System

Navigating London public transportation can be a daunting task for the uninitiated.  One of the brilliant things about London is the extensive network of public transportation that can cheaply and easily deliver you to destinations all over the city.  The London Underground – which is playfully referred to as “the tube” – tends to be the most well known of the various transport systems.  Don’t be put off by the complexity of the system, the trains access all areas of London and in most cases are cheaper and faster than taking a cab.  With these tips, even newbies will soon be navigating their way through London like a pro.

Vigilance is Rewarded

Some of the trains are fantastic - they nicely announce every stop, they let you know what connecting lines come into each station and they inform you if some of the doors won't be opening (which usually effects the first two sets and last two sets of doors when long trains enter short underground stations).  Other trains are, well, silent.  A little bit of vigilance will go along way towards making sure you don't miss your station and have to waste time retracing your steps.

Additionally, don't make the assumption that just because you plan to stay out late that the trains will still be running.  Avoid an unpleasant late night surprise and know when the last train will be leaving on your line.  Armed with this knowledge, you can either cut your evening short or be sure to have enough cash on hand for a cab.


Maps are not to Scale

The secret that no one mentions is that the Underground maps are not to scale.  The first incarnation of the modern London Underground map was designed by Harry Beck in 1931.   Beck straightened the railroad lines and adjusted the position of stations to limit crowding on the map and maximize its ease of use.  This trend has continued to the present date, and while the map is now very user friendly, it can be misleading at times.  Traveling from Bank to Mansion House?  Don't take the Central Line to the Circle Line - just walk down the block and you are there.  Fancy a trip from Regents Park to Great Portland Street?  Forget riding the Bakerloo to the Metropolitan, you are practically right there already.  The lesson here - just because you can take the tube doesn't mean that you have to.

Personal Space is Scarce

Be prepared to get up close and personal with your fellow commuters on the Tube.  Trains can often be packed to the brim (take my advice, do whatever you can to avoid the Jubilee line at rush hour). People can, and will, look over your shoulder to see the games you are playing on your phone, or to share the novel you are reading. As such, Tube rides are inopportune times to read or write dirty text messages or death threats. It is best to leave these kinds of tasks until you have a little more elbow room.  Besides, it’s best to keep your plan to take over the world a secret until you are ready for your big reveal.

Also, make sure to keep an eye on your belongings.  Pickpockets can and will steal from those who are not paying attention.  This is especially true during the busy periods.  When you have strangers pressed up against you on all sides, it can be tricky to identify if someone’s hands begin to wander towards the expensive smart phone hanging out of your pocket.

Never Eat Soggy Waffles

Considering all of the years I spent in school, there are very few things that I learned and still put into use on a frequent basis.  One is a little song I learned in first grade that helps me remember how to spell “because”.  The other is Never Eat Soggy Waffles.  Besides being excellent gastronomic advice, this is a mnemonic school children are taught to remember to what each point on a compass refers (North, East, South and West).  I find that using this tool to determine the direction I'm traveling is a huge help for when I get to a crowded intersection that splits off to the East and Westbound trains.  I never want to be the inconsiderate doofus that is blocking traffic while they try to consult their map to determine which direction they need to go.

Still intimidated?  Try using an App to map out your journey.  My personal favorite is Tube Deluxe and my be the best 99 cents I've ever spent.

For more information on the London Underground, ticket prices and train schedules, see TLF.gov.uk.

Travel to save the world (and take a load off of your wallet too!)

On a lovely afternoon, a power line fell onto the freeway and nearly decapitated me and my friend.

I had only been out of college for six months and my mortality came as a rude awakening. The car was totaled and we were stranded in the summer heat, but sitting on the side of the highway, I could think of only two things: I needed to spend more time giving back and I hadn’t seen nearly enough of the world.

Before the accident I had played with the idea of taking a volunteer vacation with Habitat for Humanity, and less than 24 hours after the accident, I had signed up for a two week volunteer trip to Georgetown, Guyana. By the end of the week I had booked my ticket and was ready to go.

Booking the trip may have been an impulsive reaction to a near-death experience, but it turned into an amazingly heartwarming trip. Not only did I have an opportunity to help build affordable housing in a community that sorely needed it, but it ended up not making the huge impact to my financials that I had expected.

Interested in having a similarly fulfilling experience? Consider some of these topics.

Pick a cause
Regardless of your personal interests or professional skills, numerous volunteer opportunities abound. Animal lovers can work to protect the habitats of endangered species in the rainforest. Interested in helping children have a brighter future? Think about volunteering with an orphanage or educational group. Medical professionals are welcome to share their skills in various areas of the world. There are many reputable charitable organizations in the international community that are interested in utilizing the skills of volunteers to help achieve the goals of their organization.

Be open to unusual destinations
When I decided to volunteer in Guyana, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I didn’t know where the country was (South America), I didn’t know what language they spoke (English), and I was shocked that a 500 page guidebook to South America dedicated a mere 3 paragraphs to the entire country. And yet even though the country is not considered to be a tourist destination, I had an amazing trip. I saw unspoiled rainforest, endangered animals in their native environments and one day our group was alone in enjoying the view from the top of the tallest single drop waterfall in the world (Kaieteur Falls).

The destination for your volunteer service doesn’t need to be as impulsive as mine was, but try to keep an open mind and consider locales that may be a little off the beaten path.

Make friends
One of the rewards of volunteering is related to the relationships you gain. When volunteering abroad you have the chance to work side by side with people who share your passion. Utilize the chance to get to know the locals in a more intimate way than you often do when you are a typical tourist. Find out about their lives and their dreams. You may just learn that you have more in common with the rest of the world than you thought.

While it can be a wonderfully enriching to get to know the residents of another country, keep in mind one note of caution in this area. Don't make promises you can't or won't deliver on. Did you make a promise to send pictures or supplies once you returned home? Maybe you agreed to return the following year? While many offers are made with only the best of intentions behind them, keep in mind that people will expect you to honor your commitments. Remember that when you are volunteering with an organization, you become a representative of that group as well as of your home country and the impressions you leave people with will be associated with both of those.

Itemize
Expenses related to charity work can be deducted on your tax return if “you are on duty in a genuine and substantial sense throughout the trip”. In other words, all expenses must be directly related to the volunteer work and cannot be personal in nature. According to Article 526 of the Internal Revenue Service’s tax code, deductible expenses include air, rail and bus travel, lodging costs and the cost of meals.

In order to maximize the tax deductions from your volunteer vacation, make sure to save all of your receipts and related documents. Keep in mind that every case is different and the specifics of the tax law as it applies to your situation can be reviewed at http://www.irs.gov.