A Travel Blog Loaded With Destination Reviews, Photos,Travel Tips, Ideas, and Warnings
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Update on International Senior Travel Discounts
Parity for foreign senior citizens eyed
By the way, if you want to read more about living in the Philippines, Rick has a great blog ...
Your Guide to Living In The Philippines
Saturday, July 30, 2011
International Senior Travel Discounts
Things, though, are quite different in the Philippines. According to Rick, "a 20% discount are mandated by law for card-carrying senior citizens for such services as restaurants, hotels, theaters, medical prescriptions, hospitals, and public. Alas the keyword here is "citizens". Foreigners can't legally avail of this benefit".
He did continue to say that some establishments will extend a discount to any senior citizen so he is able to take advantage of some discounts because of his age.
(See Update on this information.)
Our 'conversation' got me to thinking, wondering if there are other countries that mandate a discount for senior citizens and, also, what countries might offer senior discounts to anyone, even tourists.
If you have information on this, please leave a comment. Thanks!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
How to Pack Light
For those travelers that would like to try and travel lighter, I am passing along a recommendation for two web sites that should be a great place to start: OneBag and One Bag One World. Both sites have great recommendations on how to lighten your travel load.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Best Web Site For South West Information
I spent many months preparing for our trip to Arizona and New Mexico. I used the National Park Service web site extensively for information on the national parks and national monuments we planned to visit.
But the best web site I found for our trip was The American Southwest. Loaded with extensive and detailed information, I printed off many pages to bring along with us.
If you are planning a trip to any of the states covered by The American Southwest (Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Wyoming) I highly recommend starting your research at this site.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Dealing With Liquids When Flying With Carry-on Only
Dann Halverson of Houston, TX gets a big Thank You for providing the following information.
Shampoo: J.R. Ligett's solid shampoo
Shaving Cream: uses the solid shampoo
Toothpaste: Daily Care Toothpowder
Face Cream or Lotion: Use Dove body soap instead
Laundry Detergent: Scent Killer laundry powder available at outdoor stores like Bass Pro Shop
Body Powder: Scent-A-Way also available at stores like Bass Pro Shop
The above two items, as Mr. Halverson notes, are meant for hunters ... he figures if the deer can't smell the hunter, then the person traveling next to you won't smell you either.
Traveling For Premium Dark Run
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Diageo for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
As readers of my blog know, I’m always looking for unique and unusual places to write about. This post is about the village of Zacapa in eastern Guatemala which celebrated its centennial in 1976 and, at the same time, began to produce Zacapa premium rum .
The land to the west of Zacapa is composed of acidic volcanic soil and receives long periods of sunlight every day. It is a premier region for growing sugar cane and this sugar cane is used to produce Zacapa premium dark rum using a unique rum making process. Typically rum is made using molasses, a byproduct from the sugar making process. Zacapa uses only the virgin sugar cane honey, the result of the concentrated first press of the sugar cane.
What really gives this rum its remarkable taste is the aging process it goes through. The rum is aged in the Quetzaltenango highlands, located 2,300 metres above sea level. The cool mountain air helps to slow the aging processes, giving the rum a unique complex flavor. Based upon a process that the Spaniards used over 500 years ago when they aged sherry, all of the rum is passed through casks that were used for other alcoholic products: American whisky, Oloroso sherry and Perdo Ximenez wines. Each of these casks gives the aged rum its special characteristics, resulting in Zacapa rum’s unique taste.
For rum drinkers looking for something unusual, join the Zacapa Society at www.zacaparum.com. Society members not only will learn more about this premium rum brand but may also have the change to influence the society’s direction. There is even the possibility of society members picking up a reward for their help.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Road Food: St Clairsville, Ohio - Mehlman's Cafeteria
So here we are, zipping eastward on I70 and looking for some place to eat. Just west of the Ohio/West Virginia border I saw a sign for Mehlman's Cafeteria. Didn't have a clue but decided to give it a try. I swung off at the exit and weaved my way through small St. Clairsville, trying to locate the cafeteria.
I found it but ended up passing it the first try. The driveway entrance was really narrow and I missed it. Turned around and made my way into the parking lot, which at 11:30 a.m., was already packed. We didn't know what to expect but with all of these customers, how bad could it be?
We certainly weren't prepared for what we found inside. Food is served true cafeteria style. We grabbed trays and silverware and, of course, first there were the desserts. We took a piece of pecan pie to split. Everything is served and priced a la carte and I chose the stuffed chicken breast with a side of green beans and cabbage and noodles. My husband had the penne pasta. We each had a large soda and the TOTAL bill was $13.59! No wonder it was so popular.
Now to the food. My stuffed chicken breast was excellent. The green beans were overcooked but the cabbage and noodles was good. My husband said the pasta was good. And the only reason we had trouble with the piece of pie was because we were both stuffed from our meal.
If we are ever on I70 again at the OH/WV border, I plan on stopping at Mehlman's Cafeteria. Maybe they will still be serving the stuffed chicken breast.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
LIberal, KS to Kansas City, MO


Friday, July 15, 2011
Red River, NM to Liberal, KS
From Red River we drove to "3:00" on the Enchanted Circle Byway and then turned northeast towards Raton. We had learned that Raton Pass was part of the Santa Fe Trail and the break in the mountains was obvious as we drove through the area.
Our next stop was Capulin Volcano National Monument. The road to the top of the volcano was another curvy and narrow mountain road. Some of the S-turns were quite sharp and we were surprised to see a full-sized motor home in the parking lot at the top of the rim. I spoke with a park ranger who told me that they stop opposing traffic when a motor home is on the road. I wasn't surprised. There is no way a car and motor home could pass each other on some of those curves.
Once we left the park we had a decision to make. We could return to Raton and pick up I25 to Colorado Springs and then I70 east. Or we could continue on route 64 southeast to Dalhart, TX and pick up route 54 to Liberal, KS, passing through the Oklahoma panhandle to through Wichita and picking up I70 at Topeka, KS. We made the decision to go through Liberal, KS and it was the right decision. Along the way we met up with a couple, at a rest area, who had tried to go north on I25 out of Raton. They were stuck for 1.5 hrs on I25 because a wildfire had jumped the highway and the road was closed. In the end, they had to re-route and were following the same road we were.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Santa Fe to Taos to Red River, New Mexico
Originally, we had planned on spending about 4 or 5 nights in the Taos/Red River area. This is supposed to be a great area for trout fishing but with the lack of rain, fishing was off the agenda. We spent one night in each of Taos and Red River. We made a decision not to visit the Taos Pueblo. I know. Several people said it was not to be missed but after reading about it we chose to skip it.
Instead we did a leisurely drive from Taos to Red River on part of the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway. Red River is a small town located in the Red River canyon. Geared towards fishing, it was a disappointment not to be able to take advantage of the area. However the scenery was beautiful and it was an enjoyable ride.
Mother and Daughter Weekend
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
My daughter and I are planning on spending a weekend together, somewhere away from home. The problem is that, so far, we have not come up with the somewhere. Then I saw an advertisement for Branson, MO and thought this might be perfect. Between the country music my daughter loves and all the fantastic shopping, which we both love, Branson might just be the place for us.
If we did decide on going to Branson, I would definitely book at one of the Hiltons of Branson. In general, I love the Hilton chain and in Branson the locations are great. So are the Hilton summer deals such as the Branson Best Value Vacation Package, a third night free along with free tickets to the Legend of Kung Fu Show, a shopping gift card, two-day passes to Silver Dollar City and a $25 credit for Level 2 Steakhouse.
I love the idea of going to the Silver Dollar City adventure park. I’m not particularly adventurous although I do like water rides and Silver Dollar City has two of them. That’s probably enough to keep me busy all day. At night, there is a wide selection of shows to keep us busy, either before or after we enjoy our dinner at the Level 2 Steakhouse.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Road Food: Restaurants in Santa Fe New Mexico
When we were in Santa Fe we stayed at a hotel along Cerrillos Road. Cerrillos Road is a long commercial road, running southwest out of downtown Santa Fe. It is loaded with hotels, restaurants, and all kinds of commercial businesses including Wal-mart, Borders, banks, etc.
When we were there the road was also broken up with construction. On our way to our hotel in the early evening, we decided to eat dinner before going to the hotel and then having to make our way back through the construction.
I spotted a restaurant called Wok and we decided to pull in. We were a bit on the early side for dinner so the restaurant was pretty empty. But as the evening wore on, more diners arrived and we could see they were doing a good take-out business.
We enjoyed our dinner at Wok Chinese Cuisine. The restaurant was clean and nicely decorated with cloth tablecloths. Our food was excellent, with large portions, and reasonable priced. The service was friendly and courteous. If you are in Santa Fe and looking for Chinese food, I highly recommend Wok at 2860 Cerrillos Road, in the plaza next to Jackalope. The hours are Monday through Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday they are open until 9:30 and they are closed on Sunday.
The other restaurant worth writing about is Maria's New Mexican Kitchen, located at 555 W. Cordova Road. This restaurant is a must for Margarita lovers ... I have never seen such an extensive list of Margaritas (165!) or tequilas. My husband ordered the combination plate which included the best chili rellenos we have ever tasted. Upon inquiring we learned the cheese they use is Monteray Jack. It was also our first experience with sopaipillas, a puffed (hollow) dough that is served with local honey, to cut the spiciness of the food. If you want to experience northern New Mexican food when in Santa Fe, Maria's is the restaurant to visit.
On Our Way to Santa Fe
After leaving Navajo Dam, we worked our way back west to pick up 550 south. We drove south through Cuba and then San Ysidro, turning northeast towards Los Alamos, spending the night in White Rock.
Route 550 is a typical four-lane highway but it was a pleasure driving along New Mexico route 4. We saw some beautiful scenery, enjoying pull offs right by a small stream.
I'm Trying To Win a Trip to Cancun
One of the free sample I turned up is for Bolt, an energy drink. And they are giving away a free trip for two, including airfare, to Cancun. And I would LOVE to win it.
All I need are tons of people (LOL) to sign up for the free sample. Can you do me a favor and be one of those signups? I don't get your information or anything like that. The only way I know people are signing up is by my counter going up.
Simply click on the link below and enter your name and address for your free sample.
THANKS.
Free Sample of Bolt Energy Tablets
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Fishing The San Juan River Below Navajo Lake State Park

Located in northwestern New Mexico, Navajo Dam is located on the San Juan River below Navajo Lake State Park and the dam which creates the lake. The 'community' consists of a gas station, grocery store, one restaurant and two motels, both associated with a tackle shop and fishing guides.
We decided to stay with Fisheads, making the choice because they are an authorized Orvis fly fishing shop. Next to the shop is a small motel and connected to the shop is a restaurant open from early morning to late in the evening ... which is very good since it looked like the only place to get a meal. We had a room with two queen sized beds and the accommodations were comfortable.
Along the drive from Navajo Dam towards the state park there are several turnoffs giving access to the river. There was fair availability for fishing from the shore but excellent availability for waders. Based upon the number of people we saw in the river, the area is obviously very popular.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Review: Fairfield Inn - Disappointing
Our preferred hotel chain is Hampton Inn. Second in line has been Fairfield Inn. Until this trip.
I guess I've been used to the newer Fairfield Inns, with all rooms off inside corridors. This trip we stayed at two that had outside corridors. Whether the building has always been a Fairfield Inn or it had been another motel/hotel at some time and Marriott bought the building and re-branded it, I don't have a clue.
Either way, the two facilities with outside entrances were old and tired, with small rooms and old, noisy air conditioners. In the future, I plan on only staying at a Fairfield Inn if all of the rooms are off inside corridors.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Looking For a Massage in Ouray, Colorado
One of the main attractions in Ouray, Colorado are the hot springs. I managed to squeeze in some time one afternoon and headed over there for some soaking.
I have to admit I was disappointed in the hot springs as I like my water HOT and I didn't feel that the pool with the hottest water was hot enough for me. I considered getting some exercise in the lap pool but that water was ice cold, unlike the lap pool I swam in at Akureyri, Iceland where the water was lukewarm. In spite of that, I had a nice visit because I had a pleasant surprise: the availability of a massage.
Healing Touch Therapies is located at the Ouray hot springs pool. I arranged for a one hour massage, feeling that the rate of $65 for the hour was very reasonable. My masseuse was Mary June and I thought the massage was great. Her direct phone number is 970 519 0001.
(Keep in mind that Healing Touch Therapies is located within the hot springs pool area and there is an admission fee to the pool. )
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Ouray, Colorado and The Hot Springs Inn
Too bad I had to leave this place. Loved it. We were in a valley surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the San Juan Mountains, including one that was over 14,000 feet. During the day the temperatures were high 70's. At night the temps dropped and we slept with the window open, listening to the sound of the Uncompaghre River outside our window. We had come to this little town for some R & R and for Jerry to fish the river.
We got plenty of R & R although not enough as far as I was concerned. We stayed at The Hot Springs Inn. The accommodations were huge with two king beds, two comfortable chairs, a 'fireplace', a refrigerator, a microwave and a small porch that overlooked the river. There was just one thing missing from the room: a desk or table. Which was quite interesting since there was the fridge and microwave so it was possible to have a meal in the room. But no place to eat it. Or (gasp!) a place for us to work at my laptop.
So I went to the front desk to see if they had something we could use as a makeshift desk. The very friendly and helpful staff set out on a search with me and we ended up in the supply room where I requisitioned a toilet seat box (firm, right size) to be used for the laptop. Placed across one of the chairs it worked perfectly as a makeshift desk.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Review: Mesa Verde National Park
Since fires had kept us from seeing cliff dwellings at Gila National Monument, we decided to take another detour off of the planned itinerary and headed to Mesa Verde National Park. We had to think hard about this decision because the visitor's center is 15 miles from the entrance, fifteen miles on a road that curves up, around and over just a few hills. What the heck! What's another mountain road?
We decided to stick with just the Spruce Tree House, not because of any fee but because of the walking and climbing required for the other tours. (One tour required climbing five 8-10 foot ladders and another tour has the visitor crawling through a 12 foot tunnel and "climbing up a 60ft (20m) open rock face with two 10ft (3m) ladders to exit the site.")
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Tuba City, Arizona to Monument Valley to Cortez, Colorado
Our destination after the Grand Canyon was Monument Valley. I did not have a hotel reservation which did turn out to be an issue. It was Memorial Day weekend and I could not find availability in Monument Valley at either The View Hotel, which is actually on the Navajo reservation or at Gouldings, located across from the entrance to Monument Valley. Another alternative was Kayenta, AZ, about 20 miles southwest of the valley. No availability there either.
We ended up spending the night at Tuba City, AZ, a very non-memorable place and further from Monument Valley than I wanted to be. With no place appetizing to eat, except for a McDonald's and a place like 7-11, we ate dinner out of the cooler.
Well, we were but it was an incredibly nerve wracking drive. We had been forewarned by a friend whose son had visited recently and the road was just as horrible as he had described. Huge ruts. Big holes. We are convinced the road is kept in this horrid condition so the tourists will sign up with the guides if they really want to see the park.
The self-drive starts out as a two way road, and then becomes a one way loop. The beginning of the two way road is steep and the ruts were so bad I was afraid I'd bottom out and/or get hung up. While we considered what to do, we watched a truck head down the steep road and the driver safely navigated this section by zig-zaging back and forth across the road. Knowing the secret I decided to give it a try and we successfully made it to the end of the two way section.
At that point my husband nixed our going on the one way loop ... suppose we came to a section that was even worse and I wasn't comfortable taking my car through? So we returned the way we had come, having 'seen' Monument Valley.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Help With Visiting Grand Canyon National Park
We saved Desert View drive for our last morning as that was the road we were planning to use to leave the area and continue on our trip. There is another visitor's center at the East entrance so I got another stamp for my park's passport. At the East entrance is the Watchtower, another Mary Coulter building. Be sure to go inside and, if you can, climb to the top. The drawings inside are beautiful and the view from the top is stunning.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Desert Flora















