The Weekly Wanderer

Budget Travel To London

The Weekly Wanderer — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:25:38 +0000

Worthwhile attractions that will leave you satisfied-and with a few more dollars in your pocket.

BY RACHEL VELDHUIZEN

Westminster Abbey in London, England (xu.com)

Travel to England’s capital is a worthwhile experience, but it can also be an expensive one. If you live in Canada, multiply any price by two and you’ve got London’s price. But, don’t let that deter you from visiting one of the world’s must-see cities. Here are some tips that saved me a few dollars while I was there.

1.) When you arrive in London, buy an Oyster card (a ‘smart card’ which makes buying and using tickets easier) for the Tube (The London Underground rapid transit system) and get a map to use in the underground. This will be cheaper by half the price of ordering regular subway or bus tickets. The way it works is you put a set amount of money on the card and it’ll take some of it every time you swipe through to use the public transport. The Lonely Planet London guide has a wonderful map of the Tube, which will help your travels.

2.) When you are getting a train ticket from Gatwick to Victoria station downtown London, you will go to a machine to buy your tickets. Paying for two one-way tickets is the same price as paying for three. So, just see if you can find anyone going to Victoria who’d be willing to split on a ticket with you and make it cheaper.

3.) The double-decker buses are even cheaper to get around. Just be sure you have bus map so you know where you’re going.

4.) You can’t visit London without experiencing Shakespeare. Standing tickets for Shakespeare’s Globe Theater in Bankside, Southwark, and London are only six pounds and is definitely worth the price of admission and more.

Shakespeare's Globe theatre in London, England (Phill Feltham).

5.) Southwark Cathedral was a definitely great freebie. School groups usually get tours there, so be a “parent” so you can get the most out of it. This cathedral is really close to Shakespeare’s Globe theatre.

6.) Eat in pubs–that’s where the food is cheapest. If you’re a health-minded person, but some items at the grocery store and pack snacks that’ll last you throughout your day.

7.) Many sites in London that are definitely worth paying for, such as Westminster Abbey. Research the buried patrons here so you can appreciate who they are when you see their tombs.

8.) Buy a hostel card before you go to England. There are all sorts of savings when you buy a hostel card from where you live. iT!Similar Posts:

How do I transition abroad?

Harry Adamopoulos — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:33:04 +0000

Take a friend.

Moving away from home can have little stress as long as you keep up certain contact with your family and friends. Most of the time, you might even be in the same city with another friend who has also moved away. If you move away with someone, that’ll take some of the edge off of the alienation, isolation, and extreme culture shock that you might feel if you moved away by yourself. Of course, everyone’s experience is different.

I don’t regret my experience—I just wish that I had been smarter and waited for my ex-girlfriend to come with me. But sometimes you might learn better on your own. Just know that moving away to another country is not like a one-week holiday. Be ready for happiness and pain. Of course, in the end, you’ll gain a perspective and learn new skills that’ll benefit you for years to come. Just know yourself. iT!
- Harry Adamopolous

Check out more travel tips.
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Arriving in Costa Rica

Don Cochran — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:00:40 +0000

Adjusting to a whole new world.

BY DON COCHRAN, MD

Fort Lauderdale, Costa Rica by sea (www.sxc.hu).

I arrived in San José today after enduring the typical travel annoyances, like having to wait in Ft. Lauderdale for the airline to fix a fuel pump malfunction. The airport in Ft. Lauderdale is like any other American airport, except for the higher percentage of cell phones with a salsa ringtone.

I took a taxi to my host family’s home. Addresses in Costa Rica are pretty confusing to me because they use a point of reference: Urbanización Carmiol. De la entrada, 100 metros Sur, 350 metros Este, blanca, mano izquierda. Apparently, this address was also tricky for my taxi driver because he stopped another taxi on a busy street and asked him where this house is located. When we got closer he stopped and asked two women walking pit bulls. After a long discussion, they finally called my host family and got the real directions and I arrived. I wrote this experience down as a reminder that I am not in the United States anymore.

The family is nice and we had a tasty dinner of beans and rice and talked about the holes in the streets of San José–in Spanish, of course. He told me that each neighborhood is supposed to collect taxes to repair the streets and that they don’t do a very good job of that. They need to come to the United States to see how the pros collect taxes.

I may ask him tomorrow about the lack of mufflers here. iT!

Read Don’s column, “The Wandering Teacher,” every Monday in The Weekly Wanderer.
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Enjoy Niagara Falls In The U.S.

Phill Feltham — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 12:36:18 +0000

See what America has to offer.

BY PHILL FELTHAM

I’m spoiled. I’ll admit it. For those who know me, this kind of confession might cause shock and for those who are waiting for the punch line, I’ll get to it. My revelation comes from Niagara Falls, one of Canada’s hottest honeymoon spots.

And, this revelation doesn’t come from the observing the awesome falls or betting a few hundred bucks at the casino, it comes from crossing the state line and experiencing Niagara Falls in New York.

If you want a quick comparison, well, Canada’s side has more to offer travelers in terms of activities and memorable views. When you drive (or walk) off the Rainbow Bridge from Canada into the U.S., you’ll notice that the streets look more run down and your choice of viewing options are extremely limited.

My girlfriend and I wanted to see the U.S. side of the falls for a few hours, which meant we didn’t want to wander too far from the border. After we parked the car in one of the pay parking lots, we walked around the nearby streets. We were less than impressed. However, once we wandered closer to the border, we discovered Niagara Falls New York State Park.

We wandered into the park and got a really good view of Niagara Falls from the U.S. side (although, the view is much more majestic on the Canadian side). We didn’t get a chance to take full advantage of the activities in the park, but what’s available is:

- The Cave Of The Winds tour takes you to the bottom of Bridal Veil Falls to feel the mist and of course to soak in the view (not literally, I imagine).

- The Maid Of The Mist tour takes you to the very bottom of the falls.

- You can learn a lot about the region’s history at the Visitor’s Center and Niagara Gorge Discovery Center.

- You can feed a seal and see other sea life at the Aquarium of Niagara.

- There are also plenty of trails to explore on your own especially if you only want to venture across the border for a few hours.

- If you have a few dollars, you can dine at Top of the Falls Restaurant, the world-famous Niagara Falls restaurant. iT!Similar Posts:

Shaw Vs. Stratford

Phill Feltham — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 12:27:39 +0000

What is Ontario’s best theatre?

BY PHILL FELTHAM

Since, I’ve experienced plays both the Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario, and its Niagara counterpart, the Shaw Festival in Niagara-On-The-Lake, I felt that I was more than qualified to make a fair comparison between the two.

Over the years, the Stratford Festival has focused on William Shakespeare plays while Shaw offers plays from Irish playwright, Bernard Shaw. However, in recent years, both festivals have offered its patrons plays from other playwrights (both classic and modern). My girlfriend and I had the opportunity to experience Oscar Wilde’s The Ideal Husband.

Usually when you want to see a play, you have to book months in advance and members have first dibs on the best seats. For Stratford, I booked months in advance while at Bernard, I purchased the tickets the same day as the play. When I went to Stratford, I was down in the front and far-right, looking up at the stage and getting a very close and personal view of the actors. At Shaw, I sat in the balcony seats where the price was obviously cheaper.

I enjoyed the balcony seats. Again, you’re looking down and seeing everyone, but I could see what was going on without any impaired view or impaired sound.

So, what is the best theatre? The answer is completely subjective. You can’t really give a right or wrong answer because everyone has different tastes and depending
where you sit in the theatre or who you go with, your enjoyment will be affected. However, if I was to choose now, I would have to say Shaw. And again, my decision is based on cost, seating and experience. But, this writer’s recommendation is to go to both and experience them for yourself to formulate your own opinion. Follow the advice in this article and you won’t be disappointed. iT!Similar Posts:

Walk Niagara-On-The-Lake In 1 Day

Phill Feltham — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:41:26 +0000

The small town near Niagara Falls has history.

BY PHILL FELTHAM

Clocktower in downtown Niagara-On-The-Lake (Phill Feltham).

I had a nice week off, so my girlfriend and I took a trip for two to Niagara-On-The-Lake. If you’re city folk, the surrounding greenery might cause culture shock. The two-hundred-plus-year-old architecture is inspiration enough to take a snap shot or two. Although, you’ll be more compelled to take more pictures if you take a walk on the waterfront.

Because Niagara Falls is close by (only a 30-minute drive) and so close to the U.S. border, Niagara-On-The-Lake floods with people. And since the town’s streets aren’t designed for such large numbers, you might find yourself squeezing between people (especially if you’re walking shop to shop) on Queen Street (the main strip).

If you’re staying at a nearby bed and breakfast, your best bet might be to get a really early start and wander around for a little sight-seeing. An early start means that your chance to get a decent parking spot on Queen Street increase (There are many parking meters on the road and my girlfriend and I provided enough funds to get us through the afternoon).

We used this very helpful walking itinerary, which took up no more than an hour of wandering. The best part about this itinerary is that you can stray to wander the waterfront or stay at one spot longer than others. But, it’ll be done quickly. Read a bit of Niagara-On-The-Lake’s history before your day venture, you’ll definitely get more out of the tour.

If you want a tour, click here or you can try here. iT!Similar Posts:

Other Weekly Wanderers

Phill Feltham — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:55:32 +0000

Exploring the competition on the world-wide web.

BY PHILL FELTHAM

Have you ever done a Google search for your name? It’s referred to as an Ego Search. And, I must say that my name comes up with all sorts of interesting links: the magazine I work for, my portfolio website, and The Weekly Wanderer to name a few.

But, when you do a Google search for The Weekly Wanderer, you get all sorts of different ‘wanderers.’ We, of course, are on top of the search pile, but there are others.

Wikipedia lists ‘The Weekly Wanderer” or “The Wanderer” as a defunct Catholic newspaper published in St. Paul, Minnesota. The University of Minnesota Daluth’s student newspaper carried on that tradition as a column for outdoor enthusiasts. The Morning Journal in Southern Ohio also has a column by the same name. Also, Bed & Breakfast Inn has a Twitter-like update for its past and potential patrons.

As you can see, we’re in good company. What sets us apart from the others, though, is that we are not a column or a Twitter update or a newspaper that folded over 100 years ago. We’re a blog and website that has provided top-notch traveling news for expats, honeymooners, and fitness enthusiasts since 2005. At the center of all that is our commitment and dedication to God . We are, “The Weekly Wanderer” and if you read the others, I welcome you to read us as well. You won’t be disappointed. iT!

Phill Feltham is the Publisher of The Weekly Wanderer. He has headed up “The Weekly Wanderer” with co-owner Victor Penney since 2005.Similar Posts:

Trusted Voluntourism Operators

The Weekly Wanderer — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 01:32:31 +0000

Your volunteering opportunity starts here.

Earthwatch Institute is a trusted travel industry leader that can help you arrange your trip. This organization relies on volunteers to help supplement scientific environmental research and conservation projects around the world. Tauck, an upscale escorted tour company, is another ideal choice. They offer trips through Wyoming that includes a half-a-day volunteering opportunity at Yellowstone National Park.
Source: msn.ca. Similar Posts:

Eco-Travel Vs. A Self-Prepped Trip

Tim Carroll — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:47:28 +0000

A vacation that betters the environment.

The destinations involving eco-tourism are often remote areas under an environmental protection at a local, national or international level. Ecotourism endeavors to decrease the damage caused by conventional tourism. Eco-travel is planning a responsible vacation to places that conserve the environment. They also give to the well-being of their community while practicing ethical policies. But the real key of ecotourism is superior quality and personal attention to detail–no mass processing of anything here! Operations are deliberately kept small to lower any negative impacts on the environment and local communities, while standards in every aspect of the operation are kept to the highest levels. iT!
- Tim CarrollSimilar Posts:

5 Protein Snacks to Pack on a Full Day’s Walk

The Weekly Wanderer — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:05:01 +0000

Repair your body while you wander.

BY BRITTANY WALKER
Dietetic Intern, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas

Tuna and crackers (www.indyscan.com)

When you set out for an all-day adventure, you need to pack yourself some protein power. Extended periods of physical activity will drain your body of energy, so be sure to fuel your body with adequate protein and calories to keep trekking. Whether you are going on an all-day hike or touring a new city, here are five protein-rich snacks that you can easily pack in your bag to sustain you on your full day’s walk.

1
Beef Jerky
You can buy it at the store or make your own with a dehydrating machine. One large piece of beef jerky has 80 calories, six grams of protein, and five grams of fat and two grams of carbohydrate. The protein consumed in several pieces of beef jerky will add up nicely.

2
Canned tuna with crackers
This classic combination can serve as a snack or a meal. Tuna is loaded with protein. Check this out: one four-ounce serving of canned tuna boasts 130 calories, 29 grams of protein, one gram of fat and no carbohydrate. That’s a lot of protein.

3
Trail mix with nuts
Several different snacking options are available at the grocery store. However, you can make your own and increase the protein content of the mix. Loading up your mix with a variety of nuts such as almonds, peanuts, cashews, walnuts or pecans and sunflower or pumpkin seeds will give you more protein than the traditional peanut, raisin and chocolate mix.

4
Peanut butter and whole-wheat crackers
You can buy the prepackaged kind or make your own little sandwiches: these are very easy to eat and quite filling. The whole-wheat crackers will give you some extra protein and fiber to increase your satiety (fullness).

5
String cheese and yogurt
These options are also great protein snacks to take if you can keep them cool enough. Eat either of these items as your first snack within two hours after the time you take them out of the refrigerator. iT!

Brittany Walker is a dietetic intern at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. She graduated from Baylor University in 2008. Upon completion of the internship in June 2009, she will take the RD exam to become a Registered Dietitian.Similar Posts: