But boy did I learn!

Now, after more than 3 1/2 years, and 1,325 posts, Flyaway Cafe is being retired.  Today’s post, my 1,326th, will be my last.

As I write this, there is an incredible range of emotions rushing through me, the first of which is a huge amount of thanks.

I am very thankful for the early days of b5media, and the people who were willing to take a chance on Flight Attendant who loved to travel, and said she could learn all the rest of this blogging stuff.  The people who have helped me along my journey are too numerous to mention, and I know I’d forget someone anyway, so I hope you realize that this big THANK YOU is for you.

My next thank you goes to the many, many bloggers I’ve met over these years.  You have taught me and encouraged me.  We’ve shared hopes and frustrations, common goals and common problems, and more than a drink or two.  I am a better blogger and travel of the world for knowing you.  I hope to someday be in a position to “pay it forward” and help others the way that you have helped me.

And my final thank you, and probably the most important thank you, is to you – all of my readers.  As I’ve learned a little more about blogging, I hope that I have helped you learn a little more about travel.  I hope we were able to create a place to discover new information, share ideas, share a Flight Attendant’s perspective, and have a little fun.  I hope you have tools to be a better traveler, that you are inspired to see something new, and that along the way of discovery, you’ve had a few laughs.  If you have learned even a small portion of what you’ve taught me, then Flyaway Cafe has been a success.

Although there is a little bit of sadness today, there’s lot more excitement and enthusiasm.   As much as I have loved blogging at Flyaway Cafe, I am even more excited about the new projects that I’m involved with

Since January 2009, I have worked with PlanetEye as their Travel Editor,  Earlier this month we’ve launched our fabulous new online travel magazine, PlanetEye Traveler.  I get to work with an exciting management team and a group of wonderfully creative travel bloggers to help bring you great photographs, expert reviews, cool interactive maps, and fresh content every day.  We have over 50 destinations around the world, along with some fun travel specialties, so stop by to see what catches your eye.  You’ll find me there blogging about Seattle.

And. . . of course. . . you know that I have lots more Flight Attendant stories to share with you.  And lots more trips to plan and take, hotels and spas to review, restaurants to sample, wine to drink, products to test and review, and plenty to do that will keep me full of personal travel blogging stories.  You can find me blogging about all those topics at my new personal travel website, Traveling with MJ.  I’ve already got a few posts up, and scads of reviews (including some really great products) and more information on trips to Las Vegas, Croatia, and Italy, that I’ll be posting over the next few weeks as I get settled in.  Please stop by and see what I’m up to, and put up with a little clean up left to be done there.   Of course, you can always reach me by email.

While I may be leaving Flyaway Cafe, I’m certainly not leaving travel blogging.  It’s gotten into my head and my heart, and I look forward to another 1,325 posts.  I hope you’ll come along for the next leg of the journey.

Photo credit: Mary Jo Manzanares

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Visitors from specific countries are permitted to travel to the United States for a period of up to 90 days (for business or pleasure travel) without having to get a Visa.  There are specific requirements for countries to get on the waiver list, including security requirements, and the countries are generally considered developed economies.  Individuals from visa waiver countries must apply for travel through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, and meet a variety of additional requirements.

There are currently 35 Visa Waiver Countries:

Europe:  Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

Asia:  Brunei, Japan, Singapore, South Korea

Oceania:  Australia, New Zealand

US visitors to those countries also are not required to have a visa, as part of reciprocity agreements, although Australia does require visitors to file an Electronic Travel Authority.

Visitors to the US can learn more about the Visa Waiver Program, its applicability and requirements from the Department of State.  Likewise, US residents wishing to travel abroad should also check regarding visa requirements for countries not on the wavier list.

Photo credit:  SXC

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

You know you need them for your laptop and other geek stuffy, but a carry on frequently does double duty as a purse, backpack, diaper bag, beach tote, and shopping tote.  It’s no wonder then that occasionally we like to change up the look and style.

Tote Couture offers two pleated totes in two fashionable colors.  Lani (in shades of green, tan and brown – almost cammo-like) and Lola (black and white).  Both have funky geometric patters in their respective color scheme,  and are made of coated canvas with rushed metal hardware, making them stylish and long-lasting.

The bags are perfect for carrying your laptop, as they offer a secure way to tuck in away, while still sporting lots of interior pockets that let you stay organized and clutter-free.  That’s always a problem for me, as my carryon is always a mess with papers, pens, magazines, peripherals, along with anything else that I pick up along my journey.  The laptop area is padded and has a velcro closure, (it will fit laptops up to 11: x 15 1/4: x 1 3/4”), and there is a side pocket unzips to allow you to slide the bag over the handle of your roller bag.  Metal feet on the bottom of the bag help prevent staining and damage.

Lani and Lola tote bags are available from Cool Computer Bags, who are offering a discount for all Flyaway Cafe readers.  Enter the coupon code FLYAWAY (must be in all caps) to receive a 10% discount on your entire order. They have lots of other cool bags, too, so be sure to explore a bit.

This is a good time to do a little holiday shopping, spreading out your purchases a little bit and saving some money in the process.

Which one is your pick?

Photo credit:  Courtesy of Cool Computer Bags

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

SoSauce (travel geek blog) an Indian cooking lesson, including Naan.  Yummmmmmm!

LA Times Travel compares and contrasts Halloween activities at Knott’s Berry Farm and Universal Studios.

PlanetEye Traveler – Philippine Culture (formerly Filipina Soul) shares a delicious and easy  lumpia recipe.  I’m going to give it a try.

Intelligent Travel asks us if we’d take the Titanic cruise.

Consumer Traveler debates the issue of whether airport lounges are worth the price of admission.  For frequent travelers, I say yes.

A second post from Consumer Traveler outlining a new boarding process being tried out at Virgin America.  Travelers with NO carry on bags go first.  I think I like it!

PlanetEyeTraveler – Boston lists 5 great north end Italian restaurants.  A trip to little Italy is a must for any Boston visit.

My Bella Vita lists five essential Italian experiences.  How many have you done?

Itallyville provides a recipe and instruction for make homemade tomato sauce.  It’s a lot of work, but can’t you just taste that delicious freshness?!

Sharing Experiences lists five cities sure to part the shopper from some serious cash.  Not that there’s anything wrong with that!

PlanetEye Traveler – Las Vegas (formerly The Las Vegas Adventurer) lists the best places to hang out for Monday Night Football.

Italylogue lists options on how to get to Croatia from Italy, along with costs, pros and cons.  Having done this myself a few months back, I can tell you that it’s a close distance away, but takes a long time.

Up Up and a Gay portrays some classic traveler profiles.  Any Flight Attendant or frequent traveler will recognize these types.

Gadling gives us a look the shower on the Emirates Airbus A380.  First class only!

I hope you enjoy these travel posts as much as I did.  And if you stop by, please let them know that you read about them here at Flyaway Cafe.

Photo credit:

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

First, there was the Heene family, and what it becoming known as the Bubble Boy Flight.  Or hoax, depending on which side of the issue you come down on.  A recent CNN breaking news report said that charges were soon to be filed against the dad.  What charges?  Not yet known, but many who followed the story on Thursday will be curious to find out.

Next, comes the story of Nic (a mom), Jackson (a baby), Atlanta’s Jackson-Hartfield Airport, and the TSA.

On October 16th, Nic posts on her blog that while she was undergoing a secondary screening a TSA official took her baby out of her arms and left her sight.  You can read her story on her blog.  A cry went up from outraged parents and passengers.  And who could blame them.

I read her story and while it sounded outrageous, I had a niggling little voice inside of me that said. . . “there’s more to this story.”  Maybe it’s because I’m naturally suspicious and need corroborating evidence.  Maybe it’s because I deal with the TSA and security screening more than most people.  Maybe it’s because something just didn’t sound authentic.

The TSA chimed in on the TSA blog, citing their attempts to contact Nic and receiving no response.  They posted a video of the individual who they claim in Nic, showing in elapsed time a security process that took around 9 minutes starting from the time she put her items on the security conveyor until she walked away from the security screening area.  What happened in those 9-ish minutes didn’t bear much in common with Nic’s description, with the exception of there was a baby and there was a security screen.  In the video, baby and mom were never more than a couple of feet apart, always within eyesight of one another.

You will never hear me asserting the the TSA is a paragon of efficiency or etiquette.  I have seen everything from people trying their hardest to do a job that no one really wants done to power hungry officials.  Everything from gross incompetency to an I-don’t-give-a-damn attitude.

I’ve seen passengers who are polite, despite the intrusion on their civil liberties and the ridiculous procedures involved.  But I’ve also seen passengers with chips on their shoulder, taking out anger or frustration on people who are just trying to do their job.  I’ve seen passengers who refuse to calm down, becoming their own worst enemy, as well as those who are angry and spoiling for a fight and exaggerating their circumstances.

In this world, it takes all kinds.

Take a look at these videos and decide who you believe told the truth.   I’m not asking whether you agree with TSA procedures, because not many people do.  I’m not asking if you thinking a mom should be separated from her child, because clearly she should not.  What I’m asking here, is who is telling the truth.  If blogging in citizen journalism, we need to care about that.

Watch the video and then vote.  Feel free to leave a comment as well.

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

How can you put all those precious waiting minutes to good use?  You can keep a book nearby, but often you just get into the plot and it’s time to put it aside.  You can talk on your phone, annoying everyone around you and risking private information being overheard my many.  You can stare into space, day dream, or even try to come up a way to save the world.

But what if during all the waiting around you really could save the world?  Well, maybe not you alone and maybe not the entire world, but what if you could use the waiting time to support a cause that was important to you?

That’s part of the premise behind a new on-line game charity called GamesThatGive that launched earlier this week.  It’s a chance for you to play some of your favorite online games for FREE and while doing so generate funds for your favorite charity.   Funds are generated by the corporations who sponsor the site, who have agreed to donate 70% of its advertising revenue to charity.  All you have to do is pull out your smart phone or laptop, and choose your favorite game.  They say:  “70% of our ad revenue goes to your favorite charity. You play. We donate. No Catch.”

Who are the community minded businesses involved with the venture?  More are being added each day, but so far include Domino’s Pizza, Starbuck’s, Pepsi, Best Buy, Quaker Oats, Dial, and MasterCard.

There are about 9 games that you can choose from, including Solitaire, Blackjack, Gems, Bubble Burst, and Sudoku.  Pick your favorite, or try to learn a new one.  Although I’m not a big game person, when I could help raise money for Breast Cancer Network of Strength, Mercy Corps, or Ronald McDonald House Charities (just three of the charities you can choose), it seemed like gaming was a good idea.

There’s even a social media component, if you want to challenge your friends to beat your scores, raise more money, or get involved.

I just checked the site before writing this post, and it said that $3.147.87 had been raised so far.  If you’re hanging out with time on your hands, play a game or two and make that total go much higher!

Photo credit:  SXC

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

I live in Seattle, and there are 5 haunted locales list in the state of Washington:

• The Bush House (Index)
• The Oxford Saloon & Eatery (Snohomish – I knew about this one)
• Murphy Family Farm, a private residence (Longview)
• Rutherglen Mansion Bed & Breakfast (Longview)
• Port Gamble (Port Gamble, near the Hood Canal Bridge – I had also heard about this one)

Belief in ghosts and paranormal activity is a common belief around the world, and is found in nearly every culture.  I’m sure many of remember our childhood, and tales of haunted houses, stories about spooky happenings in the local cemetery, or maybe about strange things that go bump in the night.  We told stories around the campfire, when we were camping in the backyard, or maybe when we were trying to scare a younger sibling or neighbor.

But what if we found out that all those stories were true?

That’s basically the purpose of this encyclopedia – to set out, in an investigative fashion, what the world’s leading paranormal investigators have discovered, and to share it with all of us.  All of the entries give a little bit of history and background about why it is believed that the location is haunted.  This includes details of who investigated the haunting, what was observed, interviews, research field notes, and additional anecdotal information.  Some of the locales are public buildings, while others are private residences, and I’ve been assured that this 2nd edition of the book includes lots of new listings.

After the geographical listings, there is a profile of paranormal investigator Dr. Hans Holzer (PhD in Parapsychology from the London College of Applied Science) who has studied this field for over 60 years.  And, if you think your house might be haunted, there is also a geographical listing of paranormal investigators.  I noted that there are three serving the Seattle area.

This is a fun book for the discovery factor alone.  If you’ve a particular interest in the paranormal or visiting haunted houses, graveyards, monuments and hotels, you’re going to love the book!  The first thing you’ll do is probably the same thing that I did, check out what’s near you, and then you’ll start looking for all the other places that you’ve “heard” were haunted.

The Encyclopedia of Haunted Places is 360 pages and includes photographs.  You’ll find it at your local bookstore, online at Amazon.com ($13.59), and from the publisher, New Page Books.

Photo credit: New Page Books

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

—

In the soft grey light of early morning, we sit quietly on a bamboo mat, wicker baskets of sticky rice beside us, across from a shuttered colonial mansion heavy with bougainvillea.  Birds chatter in the flame trees until a gong sounds, momentarily startling them into silence.

Around a corner, dozens of barefoot monks and novices appear in a swish of saffron, golden bowls hanging from orange shoulder straps.  Beside us, locals show us how to earn merit.  Men adorned with scarves over one shoulder as a mark of respect and kneeling women in traditional shawls put fistfuls of rice into the monks’ bowls as they lift the lids, barely stopping their gracious procession.

As in a dream, just as the rising sun gilds the ceramic-tiled temple roofs, the stream of gold vanishes and the monks return inside. Luang Prabang gets on with the business of the day.

The alms giving ritual, while common in many Asian communities, is particularly vibrant in this ancient capital of Lao culture where the royal family were patrons of Theravada Buddhism. Because of its remoteness in the lush mountains of Northern Laos, Luang Prabang preserved a strong Buddhist culture and traditional fabric of life during the French occupation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today there are no less than 32 active temples or wats, their sweeping roofs sheltering ornate murals, mosaics and intricately carved golden doors, in this pretty town nestled on a narrow peninsula at the convergence of the Mekong and its tributary, the Khan.

In 1995, UNESCO granted Luang Prabang world heritage status because of the unique juxtaposition of the French colonial architecture with its temples and traditional Lao wooden buildings. It simply oozes the languid beauty of old Indochine.

We arrive at La Residence Phou Vao, hot and exhausted. Part of the Orient Express portfolio, La Residence is set on a hill above town and is a perfect place to savor the gentle ways of impeccable Laotian service. Its elegant open-sided reception area, graced with Lao silk weavings, artfully arranged pottery, and black and white photographs of Lao villagers, opens onto a lush garden shaded by bamboo and palm trees.  A small bougainvillea and frangipani bedecked stupa floats in a lotus pool.  Our spacious room…with four-poster bed draped in mosquito netting and comfortable sofa…is a study in rich tropical woods and white linens.

We restore our equilibrium by luxuriating Lao style: a cooling dip in the infinity pool before traditional Hmong deep-tissue massages with hot indigo herbal compresses in one of the serene spa pavilions that encircle a second pool. As dusk gently falls we join the head Lao chef for a cooking class on the terrace as other staff transform the pool area into a magical outdoor restaurant, draping dining tables in traditional silks, lighting lanterns in the trees and carefully floating an armada of candles on the water’s surface.

We also spend a couple of days right in the old town in the delightful contemporary-styled Apsara Hotel, with its jewel-bright silks and fuchsia lanterns overlooking the quiet Khan River. We discover the magnificent food market that weaves along roadsides under pagoda eves and airy colonial verandas. Vendors are busy arranging neat piles of basil, eggplants and bananas. Pyramids of red, brown and golden rice sit beside massive mounds of vermicelli and sparkling fresh Mekong river fish and eels. Mothers in traditional Lao sarongs select eggs, paw paws and tomatoes, fermented fish paste, chokos and chiles. There are marvelous swaths of exotic greens, wild boar trotters, kaffir limes, and clusters of ginger and mushrooms. A woman with a shoulder yoke carries baskets of watercress; a child grasps a live chicken; bouquets of gardenias perfume the bright morning sunshine.

After strong Lao coffee and pastries at the Jo Ma Bakery, set up when the Scandinavians helped restore the royal palace, we explore the former palace, which is now the national museum. Built by Vietnamese laborers and funded by the French colonialists it is a curious hodgepodge, with the crest of Erawan or three elephant heads of Laos, the French fleur de lys, Italian marble stairs and an eclectic collection of Art Deco furniture and Buddha statues. A replica of the pure gold, standing little Pra Bang Buddha, after which the town is named, is housed in a pavilion in the grounds. At 6pm, we return to watch elaborately costumed and masked dancers from the Royal Ballet Theatre tell the story of Ramayana.

The most elaborate wats are located between the palace and the fingertip of the peninsula. At the 18th century Wat Mai we see gold stucco bas reliefs of the last incarnation of the historic Buddha while at Wat Xieng Thong we marvel at a rare reclining Buddha and spectacular glass mosaics. Even more transporting, however, is to peek inside temple courtyards where orange robes flutter in the breeze and young novices play under the palm trees.

All over town there are a number of remarkable shops showcasing Lao textiles, woodwork, and silver. Many are identified by the sign ‘Stay Another Day,’ which is an initiative promoting sustainable tourism by connecting travelers with organizations that are helping to conserve local culture and support community projects.

One of the most impressive is Caruso Lao started by Canadian designer Sandra Yuck. Her gallery-quality shop displays exquisite contemporary handcrafted silk furnishings and scarves, silver, and hand-made furniture and wooden bowls that are made by some of the most talented artisans in Laos. At Ock Pop Tok, which means East meets West, Brit Joanna Smith linked up with local partners to help reinvigorate the Lao weaving industry. Today, you not only can buy stunning silk creations and learn about Lao textile traditions but also take dyeing and weaving workshops with local master crafts people under a traditional Lao wooden house beside the Mekong.

Other interesting ‘Stay Another Day’ projects include Big Brother Mouse, where you can help produce and distribute children’s books, and the Lao Red Cross steam baths and massages whose proceeds go to support humanitarian work.

We take a languid cruise in a longboat up the wide khaki swath of the Mekong River. Fisherman throw their nets from boats, children splash in the velvet shallows, women collect river weeds, water buffalo roll in the mud, farmers tend their vegetable plots.  At the sacred Pak Ou Caves, gouged from limestone karsts at the river’s edge, we discover thousands of old and damaged Buddhas retired in peace high above the water, which is tinted orange like the monks’ habits by the sun’s dying rays.

When it gets dark, vendors set up their displays at the mellow night market. We wander undisturbed along the stalls, lit by colored lanterns, choosing delicately patterned silk scarves, rice paper light fixtures pressed with flowers, Hmong embroidery and silver jeweler, and even antique opium scales. Beware, however, of cheap machine-made products from other countries. In a nearby street, food stalls offer inexpensive and delectable Lao specialties such as laap, spicy marinated meat or fish with vegetables.

Indeed, we can’t get enough of the remarkable local food. We enjoy a lunch of watercress soup and local buffalo mozzarella, tomato and basil salad at L’ Elephant, savoring also its sumptuous ode to colonial Asia on a rattan chair-decked terrace. At 3 Nagas we devour fiery kaipen, a rustic nori made from pressed and dried riverweeds that are fried with chili, sesame seeds, garlic and buffalo skin paste, and knap, delicate parcels of river fish with local vegetables and herbs wrapped in banana leaves. Afterwards, we stroll contentedly in the soft perfumed air along the lantern-lit riverfront to the Apsara Hotel.

At sunset on our final day, we climb the 328 steps to the temple on the top of Mount Phousi, right in the heart of town. Luang Prabang is spread before us in a tropical patchwork…its slow-motion traffic of bicycles and tuk tuks, its splotches of orange and black as monks with parasols stroll the footpaths, its red-trimmed blue longboats plying the latte-colored Mekong, its pastel-shuttered verandas, its golden temples soaring above mango and frangipani trees.

GETTING THERE: The easiest option is to fly from Bangkok to Luang Prabang on Bangkok Air or Lao Airlines.

VISA: $30 Lao visa can be bought on arrival.

Photo credit: jiazi @flickr (alms); Allie Caulfield @flickr (Buddha)

—

Susan Gough Henly has written about travel, food, wine, and culture for twenty years contributing to such publications as The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune, Travel and Leisure, The Wine Spectator, The Wine Enthusiast, The Guardian, The Toronto Star, Luxury Travel, The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Sun Herald, Royal Auto and Outback Magazine. Now based in Australia, she lived for many years in the United States, where she was editor of The Best Places guidebooks in Seattle as well as an editor at Workman Publishing in New York. She also worked for the Bordeaux Wine Trade Council in France.

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Lake Maggiore, with its low key atmosphere, has an extensive network of ferry service around and across the lake.  In fact, ferries have landing stages in nearly every town along the lake, making it quite easy to get most places by boat.  In addition to the traditional (and slower) ferry, there is also hydrofoil service.  Not only is it a faster boat, but it has more direct service, rather than stopping at all the smaller towns.  The boats generally operate between 7 am – 8 pm, with a reduced schedule in the winter.  Fares can be found on a chart, and have a scale based on where you want to go.  Hydrofoils have a small surcharge.

Our first full day at the Lake, we struck out fairly early for the Borromeo Islands.  The Borromeo’s are three islands located in the bay between Stresa and Pallanza.  Although collectively they are referred to as the Borromeo Islands, only to are actually Borromeo property.  Our first stop was Isola Madre, the largest of the islands.  Although Isola Madre is the largest island, it is much lest visited than the others.  It is reachable by the public ferries, which dock on the south side of the island, as well as by private tour boats, which dock at a private boat dock near the restaurant.

The description of the island refers to it as a “modest” villa with natural gardens, but that does a disservice to its beautiful grounds and setting.  After you get off the ferry, you head up some steps to a terrace level where you’ll find the ticket office.  After purchasing your ticket (Admission is 10 Euros, and you can purchase a joint ticket for admission to both Isola Madre and Isola Bella for 16.50 Euros), you can turn right to go directly into the grounds, or turn left for a short walk to the cafe and private boat dock.  When you get your tickets be sure to pick up the FREE map so that you can follow along and understand what you are seeing as you pass through the various gardens.

Walking through Isola Madre is like walking through the world by way of their gardens.  With nearly every type of growing climate represented on the island, the variety of plants range from the usual (olive trees, azaleas, wisteria, and camellia) to the exotic (African tropical flowers, hibiscus, Ginkgo biloba).  Walking along the gravel pathway propels you by fragrant citron and lemon trees, past rare plants and exotic flowers, and you gradually walk your way to the top of the island.

On the northern-ish side of the island is Piazzale dei Pappagalli, home to families of peacock, parrots, and pheasants.  Most roam free, so be careful where you walk.  While they aren’t tame, by any means, if you don’t move too quickly, you’ll find that they strut and preen about, ignoring your presence.  You can watch their mating dances, as they open their tail feathers.

Continuing on the walking path will eventually lead to the top of the island at the Borromeo family home.  In front of the home is the Loggia del Cashmir, a Cashmere Cypress that is over 200 years old, and the largest one in Europe.  The tree received some damage in a tornado (yes, a tornado hit this small island a number of years ago), and it is now bolstered with cables and lines.

At this point in our visit, it started to rain, so we made the logical choice to duck inside the villa and tour it during the downpour.

The villa was a 16th century palace, although it was never the primary residence of the Borromeo family.  It was more of a second home (or third, or fourth), and was finished with odds and ends taken from their other homes.  The home fell into disrepair and was closed up for some time, before restoration began.  It was eventually open to the public in 1978, with numerous of the Borromeo collections on display.  The Teatrini delle Marionette (puppet theater) was a hit with most of the visitors.  There were a fair number of evil puppets, along with scenes of hell and damnation.  I thought is seemed rather dark and ghoulish for a children’s theater.  But apparently, that’s just me.

Touring the villa can easily be done in half an hour or so, although we dawdled until the rain passed.  Walk out of the villa and down the steps to the Piazzale della Cappella, an outdoor water garden, that includes a pond with beautiful water lilies in vibrant colors of pink, white, red, and yellow.  Around the pond are hibiscus, coffee, mimosa and banana plants.  It’s busy with color, but tranquil in effect.

To the side of the pond is a small mortuary chapel, and to the other side is the requisite gift shop.  If it’s a nice day, take the time to enjoy the sun and sit for a bit.  It’s a nice spot to rest up before heading back to the ferry.

Isola Madre is definitely worth the visit.  It wasn’t crowded, even when it rained and people went inside, lines were short (even in summer), and you could walk and stop at your own speed.  I found that much of the time our group would just walk and look about, taking in the surroundings of both the gardens and the lake.  We stopped often to look at something closer, and to take LOTS of photos, and the pace seem natural and enjoyable.  We spent a couple of hours at Isola Madre, finding it a great way to ease into our first full day at Lake Maggiore.

Photo credit:  Mary Jo Manzanares

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

The Vacation Gals entreat the airlines and the FAA not to allow lap children.  The fares are cheap these days, but the costs add up.  Still, think about these issues before keeping your infant on your lap for your next flight.

Italy Mondo strike a chord near and dear to my heart, Italian food.

PlanetEye Traveler – Green Travel is talking about holiday travel.  Already!

Eyeflare has a nice primer on how to capture silhouettes in your travel photos.  Here’s one of the tips – turn off your flash!

Uncornered Market, making its first appearance in my list of favorites, lists the 7 habits of highly effective travelers.  How many can you count as yours?

Travel Savvy Mom, another first timer on my favorite list, tells why spending more money for an executive floor room can actually save you money.  I agree, and try to take that option whenever possible.

Intelligent Travel teases us once again with a very strange hotel, this one in a sewer pipe.

PlanetEye Traveler – London tell s the story of a neighborhood about to be demolished.  Residents of the building have put up portraits on the windows, a reminder of the real people who are impacted by this decision.

Cockpit Chronicles at Gadling attempts to help us understand why waiting in line on the runway is inevitable.

Travellious has some cool travel gear.  And besides that, Kelly is heading off to Italy.  (See Italy Mondo post above. . . again!)

LA Times lists some over-the-top promotions that hotels are trying.  Are you tempted by any of them?  The promotion that I want?  FREE internet access!

Seattle PI reminds me that there are hostels here in Seattle.

That’s it for this week.  Please stop by and say hi to this great group of travel bloggers – and tell them you read about them at Flyaway Cafe.

Post from: Fly Away Cafe