tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816239659479849530Fri, 01 Nov 2024 09:10:21 +00002011traveleuropeiceland2012Mayaprilclothesgermanyjunepackingplanningspainvacationcharitygearmoneyusavolunteering5thingsJulyallhandsartbudgetbusinessconferenceculturedcdirectionfundraisinghaitikivamicrofinancerealliferedcrossrussiastreet arttipsvfpvideowashingtonweatherhttp://excusethedust.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Blogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816239659479849530.post-7914702608885261439Wed, 01 Aug 2012 05:25:00 +00002012-08-01T00:30:19.843-05:002012businessclothesconferenceJulypackingtravel Well, maybe not so minimalist. I've been experimenting with taking only a carry-on lately. Yes, bag fees are the bane of many the traveler's existence but carrying on does one more thing: it makes for a much less stressful packing experience all together. Thanks goes out to sites like onebag.com which makes the initial panic of, "Holy batman, what do I start with?" disappear. My latest http://excusethedust.blogspot.com/2012/08/business-packing-for-backpackers-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816239659479849530.post-7504572961496250261Sat, 28 Apr 2012 00:07:00 +00002012-04-27T19:07:00.103-05:002012artcultureeuropeicelandstreet artvacationvolunteering Hello Iceland. It's like give a krona, take a krona When I said, "Hey, I'm going to Iceland," the rest of that thought didn't include,". . . to see the amazing graffiti and to analyze it for political commentary." It probably should have. I think that the thing that surprised me the most was the absolute insane amount of street art plastered about Reykjavik (and even Akureyri). http://excusethedust.blogspot.com/2012/04/street-art-in-iceland.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816239659479849530.post-6064192982760483767Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:51:00 +00002012-04-20T18:52:30.256-05:0020125thingseuropegermanyspaintipsvacation  Let me preface this post by saying these are just generalities I observed in Berlin, Madrid, Granada and Barcelona. I have no knowledge of the accuracy of this post outside of those cities. Please feel free to correct me. Now then. Let's begin. 1. America is spoiled when it comes to free Wifi. Seriously. We wander into a McDonald's parking lot and voila! Free WiFi. Finding free http://excusethedust.blogspot.com/2012/04/five-things-i-wish-i-knew-before-i.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816239659479849530.post-6509846673858990393Fri, 10 Jun 2011 13:48:00 +00002011-12-14T14:24:07.255-06:002011clotheseuropegeargermanyicelandjunepackingplanningspain UPDATED: What worked and what didn't. Alright the two of you reading! It's time for a round up of the 21.3 pounds (9.9 Kilos) I'm hauling across Europe. My standard packing list for staying in one place has, not surprisingly, been altered a tad. I still think I somehow ended up with too much stuff even though I packed and chucked half of it back in the closet. Most of the pack was eaten by http://excusethedust.blogspot.com/2011/06/is-that-backpacker-i-smell.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816239659479849530.post-6371081422667440123Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:37:00 +00002012-02-27T11:00:20.921-06:002011budgetgermanyicelandjunemoneyspain In order to take any trip, day trip or year long world tour, you always need money. Understanding where you get it and how you spend it is important if you don't want to end up sleeping in the back of a chicken truck in Ecuador. If you do want to sleep in the back of a chicken truck then feel free to ignore this post. For this particular trip, I'm attempting to maintain a budget (gasp!). http://excusethedust.blogspot.com/2011/06/greenbacks-and-girl-who-loves-to-spend.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816239659479849530.post-8485695777908869739Wed, 01 Jun 2011 21:25:00 +00002011-06-04T16:53:03.989-05:002011allhandscharityfundraisingjuneredcrossusavideo It's been a wild weather ride in the Midwest US this past month or two. Unfortunately, there is more  on the way. I saw references to elephants aiding the cleanup in Joplin, MS and didn't believe it. I was wrong. These elephants are from a circus that was scheduled to perform in the arena in Joplin. Looking for ways to help? Donate at: http://bit.ly/redcrossUSA or http://bit.ly/http://excusethedust.blogspot.com/2011/06/elephant-assists-in-joplin-tornado.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816239659479849530.post-7034276300311990622Fri, 27 May 2011 03:19:00 +00002011-05-28T17:00:19.109-05:002011clothesgearMaypackingplanningweatherSo, this year's adventure will be a month abroad. I will be spending half of my time in the cold of Iceland and the other half in the unrelenting heat of southern and central Europe. Packing has become quite the challenge especially considering my native Florida heat loving roots. I know how to deal with humid and oppressive heat, it's the cold that's killing my attempts at packing light! So farhttp://excusethedust.blogspot.com/2011/05/how-much-can-i-fit-in-20kg-of-luggage.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816239659479849530.post-6243913173399053629Wed, 25 May 2011 19:36:00 +00002012-02-27T11:04:53.471-06:002011dcMaytravelusavacationwashington I spent the last week in Washington, DC. I'm pretty sure I caught the corruption cooties just being there. I've been meaning to get back there since I visited in fifth grade as a member of the safety patrols. It was totally worth the return. Sausage Factory! Too bad it's made of reclaimed pig hooves. I stayed in the Sheraton Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia. The location couldn't have http://excusethedust.blogspot.com/2011/05/dc-and-capitols.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816239659479849530.post-8784088884619248180Fri, 06 May 2011 01:11:00 +00002011-05-26T22:10:24.517-05:002011europehaitiicelandMayplanningtravelvfpvolunteeringSo the whole Haiti thing with All Hands is officially a no go. While I'm disappointed I can't regret the outcome. It was something that, while I truly desire to help, I was having second thoughts from the moment I sent off my application. In consolation, I'm headed to Iceland (and other places in Europe)! I'm going over via Volunteers for Peace. So far, the plan is Iceland from the 12 June untilhttp://excusethedust.blogspot.com/2011/05/change-of-plans-dont-worry-i-wont-end.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816239659479849530.post-8404477178702349029Tue, 12 Apr 2011 01:18:00 +00002011-05-27T15:02:09.502-05:002011aprilcharitykivamicrofinancemoneyA while back, friend of mine reminded me about Kiva.org. She had been re-loaning her initial $25USD for the last year to the micro-finance site's beneficiaries. I talked about it in the past with her but nothing ever came of it. When I started my new job this year, I suddenly found myself with a steady and liveable income coming in. I remembered our conversation and decided that twenty five http://excusethedust.blogspot.com/2011/05/kivaorg-and-imperialist-guilt.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816239659479849530.post-8147730068959180462Sat, 02 Apr 2011 18:40:00 +00002012-02-27T11:06:19.670-06:002011aprilrussiatravel Red Square. The week leading up to VE, Victory Day. Unknown to me, the summer of 2007 set up one of my long term recurring goals. After spending eight weeks in the Mother Russia, I made a deal with myself that I would try and take an international trip at least once a year. So far, the only year I haven't breached the borders of the US was 2009. My first "real" international excursion,http://excusethedust.blogspot.com/2011/04/russia-and-other-funny-places.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5816239659479849530.post-4365959330449579514Sat, 02 Apr 2011 18:07:00 +00002011-04-22T15:28:30.867-05:002011aprildirectionreallifetravelSo, I've been tinkering around with the idea of completely forgetting that I set this thing up to record my rather mundane travels. I never expect this thing to actually see the light of day outside of keeping myself connected with family and friends. I'm planning on throwing some old travel photos and logs on here just for my own little self. Also see: procrastination. http://excusethedust.blogspot.com/2011/04/this-is-not-travel-blog.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0