tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24931877551816765752024-03-21T03:46:21.611-04:00Economical ExplorerUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-28556699054868313872013-05-11T09:39:00.000-04:002013-05-11T09:42:18.008-04:00Camping in the Keys – Three Sites to Save Money<br />
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How can you not love the Florida
Keys? Unlimited sunshine, strong drinks,
and beautiful sunsets.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGzH-LAf0kePLRDMbWSJ2wAi51OIvAY72B8YcL91Y4H7sKBzqjJMUd9yXfyozr90yMkvGn2R3Pz_xbCA1ul7EUyw1i_-PoWftzzYYjhow3tnRxWk_YnpKA3wFkkRadGLWHND7evA-xj8/s1600/P1040774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGzH-LAf0kePLRDMbWSJ2wAi51OIvAY72B8YcL91Y4H7sKBzqjJMUd9yXfyozr90yMkvGn2R3Pz_xbCA1ul7EUyw1i_-PoWftzzYYjhow3tnRxWk_YnpKA3wFkkRadGLWHND7evA-xj8/s320/P1040774.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Oh, I know… the prices. Especially the cost to stay the night in a
hotel. A few months ago, I reviewed the
<a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2012/10/key-west-accommodations-three-places.html" target="_blank">cheapest places to stay in Key West</a>. But you know what’s even cheaper than $105 a
night for a hotel room? As low as $36
for a campsite. So, without further
adieu, three campgrounds with unlimited sunshine and beautiful sunsets (you’ll
have to bring your own drinks!).</div>
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<b><i>Bahia Honda State Park, Mile Marker 37 (between Marathon and Key West)</i><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Many of the campsites here are on
the water, providing either a view of the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, or
the bay.</div>
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For $36 a night, we snagged a site
on the bay.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQDO4WZjY928r0LhlQ4kEs4JzUh145fvcH1lL-bAPf9AWLqo78LL-U-3UFGoUr0uitdVfnqfaUfuymdCfqXUN73DCvufEvr9TlSXx2AKBduyu8R-tAo6becQ9cdLEoP3unKghvDUWync/s1600/P1030093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQDO4WZjY928r0LhlQ4kEs4JzUh145fvcH1lL-bAPf9AWLqo78LL-U-3UFGoUr0uitdVfnqfaUfuymdCfqXUN73DCvufEvr9TlSXx2AKBduyu8R-tAo6becQ9cdLEoP3unKghvDUWync/s320/P1030093.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Across the way, cabins that will set you back about $122 a night</td></tr>
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<a href="http://bahiahondapark.com/" target="_blank">Bahia Honda State Park</a> is beautiful
and provides activities like snorkeling, swimming, and wildlife viewing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggq2Etyqmn6a28w5qUQMa0yp2dQZj1rJAtpUw59ysIAkkxhpf7lcYqgBHhEhY4FEcvOoI1pzO5ZPnhj_Z1jMQ1275cclqCMCUtpgVtk_C9U3sIAGIvb4MSFEO3xOIFmTBJV7VulTS2tw/s1600/P1030089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggq2Etyqmn6a28w5qUQMa0yp2dQZj1rJAtpUw59ysIAkkxhpf7lcYqgBHhEhY4FEcvOoI1pzO5ZPnhj_Z1jMQ1275cclqCMCUtpgVtk_C9U3sIAGIvb4MSFEO3xOIFmTBJV7VulTS2tw/s320/P1030089.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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My first warning? A lot of the sites are gravel so beware. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimELaefQc3bIk4sgmJeSJiGT5bHgIETPynrz0hIOmUzs4Z9iGMTW5q6TTy0W-oif1ICBPu6Ub25NU0soJFdII18DSO6xvYG7Eo8dZ9YuZ4cwO7WSt8wFBdkCIVPGvn2G-wReGRbY8CHg/s1600/P1030095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimELaefQc3bIk4sgmJeSJiGT5bHgIETPynrz0hIOmUzs4Z9iGMTW5q6TTy0W-oif1ICBPu6Ub25NU0soJFdII18DSO6xvYG7Eo8dZ9YuZ4cwO7WSt8wFBdkCIVPGvn2G-wReGRbY8CHg/s320/P1030095.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you have an air mattress, now is the time to bust it out. <br />
This gravel is <i>no bueno</i> for a good night's sleep.</td></tr>
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My second warning? Even with 80 campsites, this park still sells
out quickly. A quick check of</div>
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<a href="http://floridastateparks.reserveamerica.com/welcome.do?topTabIndex=ReservationHome" target="_blank">Reserve America</a> (how you book a night of camping in all of the state parks) shows nothing is
available, not even in the month of May, which is traditionally “off season” in
the Florida Keys. Book as far out as
possible.</div>
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Total Cost: $36/night + $8 vehicle
entrance to the park = $44</h4>
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<b><i>John Pennekamp State Park, Mile Marker 102.5 (Key Largo)</i><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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This park is considered “America’s
First Undersea Park.” <a href="http://www.pennekamppark.com/" target="_blank">John Pennekamp</a> has
only 47 campsites and they sell out very fast.
Since it, too, is a state park like Bahia Honda, a night of tent camping
will run you $36. </div>
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The main allure of John Pennecamp
is the snorkeling and diving – the boat trips from Pennecamp almost always take
you to Christ of the Abyss.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/9wF7ysN-iiY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: -0.6pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Courtesy of You
Tube: CyclingWorks)</span></span></div>
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This underwater statue was the
third sculpture cast from the same mold that created the original Christ of the
Abyss in the Italian Riviera. The second sculpture is located in Grenada (thank you <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_of_the_Abyss" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>).</div>
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Total Cost: $36/night + $8 vehicle
entrance to the park = $44</h4>
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<b><i>Kings Kamp, Mile Marker 103.5 (Key Largo)</i><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Frank and I stumbled upon this
campground a few weekends ago when we went <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2013/05/a-magic-carpet-ride-hang-gliding-at.html" target="_blank">hang gliding</a> and couldn’t find a single place to stay all the way from Islamorada to Key
Largo. Even the nearby campgrounds were
booked. So, we had no choice but to stay
at <a href="http://www.kingskamp.com/framesindex.html" target="_blank">Kings Kamp</a>,
and boy, were we glad!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSdFz_t_rxWC9ihMpvBtJzm6yGYsRtxkk6WhEUNJII2G_zOGbaIE6hPhYH-b5qKVKJtXIhNE8DOlTYL5H93-o297qBP1c4YKbBGw_WlfnfdoRoICGVjbCnPlTexouG1U1efUQOxxDEEo/s1600/P1040765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSdFz_t_rxWC9ihMpvBtJzm6yGYsRtxkk6WhEUNJII2G_zOGbaIE6hPhYH-b5qKVKJtXIhNE8DOlTYL5H93-o297qBP1c4YKbBGw_WlfnfdoRoICGVjbCnPlTexouG1U1efUQOxxDEEo/s320/P1040765.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank's setting up shop at our campground -<br />
with the Florida Bay in the background</td></tr>
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Not only was this private
campground cleaner than most state parks, it offered spectacular views of the
sunset.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoSHBI70P9p2A0bpXBhmBFcFHX2IB7d31YRvQPEaGdF7BGm2i1vwB3uqcgqL_UIJy-WvfhgT1uBCh9Kl1bF1C0GHlvHKUWPxn8qrM2e6ojShJGNx5_jEczyNgHnaiDmLQSodvXSSpui4/s1600/P1040777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoSHBI70P9p2A0bpXBhmBFcFHX2IB7d31YRvQPEaGdF7BGm2i1vwB3uqcgqL_UIJy-WvfhgT1uBCh9Kl1bF1C0GHlvHKUWPxn8qrM2e6ojShJGNx5_jEczyNgHnaiDmLQSodvXSSpui4/s320/P1040777.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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To make matters even better, it
was just a short walk to Key Largo “nightlife” like <a href="http://www.senorfrijolesrestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Senor Frijoles</a>,
<a href="http://www.sundownerskeylargo.com/" target="_blank">Sundowners</a> and <a href="http://www.jjsbigchill.com/" target="_blank">Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill</a>. Though the price is more expensive than
camping at state parks, the convenience factor of being able to walk places.</div>
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Total Cost: $50/night</h4>
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Other campgrounds where I haven’t
stayed (but want to) include:</div>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://floridastateparks.org/longkey/" target="_blank">Long Key State Park</a> in Long Key</li>
<li><a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/curryhammock/default.cfm" target="_blank">Curry Hammock State Park</a> in Marathon</li>
<li><a href="http://koa.com/campgrounds/sugarloaf-key/albums/" target="_blank">Sugarloaf Key/Key West KOA</a> near Key West</li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">As long as you are a prepared camper (like a wrote
about a few weeks ago <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2013/04/camping-how-to-cope-when-you-dont-like.html" target="_blank">here</a>),
you’ll have a blast in the Keys <i>and</i>
save a bundle.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-91924988701693768552013-05-05T19:24:00.003-04:002013-05-05T20:30:26.599-04:00A Magic Carpet Ride – Hang Gliding at 2,500 Feet<br />
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<span style="background: white;">I'm
not really one for adventures where I have the possibility of dying. Heck, I
<a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2012/09/fear-at-30000-feet.html" target="_blank">don't even like flying</a></span><span style="background: white;">. But my excursion last weekend blew my mind.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">I went hang gliding.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GQFE9m_rl8Lxsx7vwX1dBnJ1l9HeWjySdHyKx8SCpNRM_ElL-tQKukZgzD7Jyo5P-CHwZo3OUCyFDhDRe34V5gE2zWaTQinWafOTK-Ja6QcdtuWXSGXECUtSHF48kGC8TZCXwcfRHXA/s1600/Me+Hang+Gliding.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GQFE9m_rl8Lxsx7vwX1dBnJ1l9HeWjySdHyKx8SCpNRM_ElL-tQKukZgzD7Jyo5P-CHwZo3OUCyFDhDRe34V5gE2zWaTQinWafOTK-Ja6QcdtuWXSGXECUtSHF48kGC8TZCXwcfRHXA/s320/Me+Hang+Gliding.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">I have to say: this was one of the best
experiences of my life.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">After
I stopped shaking, I was soaring at 2,500 feet in the Cotton Key Basin near
Islamorada. Above me, clear skies. Below, nothing but miles of blue waters.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Alex, from <a href="http://www.paradisehanggliding.com/" target="_blank">Paradise Hang Gliding</a></span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">, took me on this radical ride. I was a little
frightened at first, especially because the takeoff happens so quickly.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I actually felt very stable as we rocketed into
the sky. Once in the air, it was just Alex and I, looking out over the glassy
water, on patrol for turtles, sharks, and maybe even a pod of dolphins.</span></div>
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<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Unfortunately, I saw none of the above mentioned
wildlife, but it didn't matter because I was so consumed with the view.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I even got to steer the glider a bit, which
probably made Alex nervous because I wasn't very focused on driving, just
soaring.</span></div>
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<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">After about 15 minutes airborne, it was time to
come down.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">And with that landing, I left my heart in the
sky, even though my feet were back on the ground.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-226il9wCFeeiRfMfje0FUJAG8wqyALfraZP4wypTSFTSIgLRm10jlT5ObTh_bFY0Q8llzU0OZp8bYcOc2waAGy_QpyDwSaGMi9A8CGpLlEmexKeCd_PFenkDvt3txgwUHA4xuNTGiY/s1600/P1040719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-226il9wCFeeiRfMfje0FUJAG8wqyALfraZP4wypTSFTSIgLRm10jlT5ObTh_bFY0Q8llzU0OZp8bYcOc2waAGy_QpyDwSaGMi9A8CGpLlEmexKeCd_PFenkDvt3txgwUHA4xuNTGiY/s320/P1040719.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">How did this fantastic flight take place? Frank
found a deal on Living Social! The economical explorer is wearing off on him
apparently!</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhph8LSZdxGDKqRzrCDOUSc7ZFP69S5n4tvWnPRSW1JAEKxsLgY56D3HiDLsPCR8f0H0DH7SzlDYKVNooR0T1d4PBWbOzrwSz_JB1MKhFlNZ56b3paHbedEGenEgroA0iOT8mT_pKOGJ1I/s1600/Frank+Gliding.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhph8LSZdxGDKqRzrCDOUSc7ZFP69S5n4tvWnPRSW1JAEKxsLgY56D3HiDLsPCR8f0H0DH7SzlDYKVNooR0T1d4PBWbOzrwSz_JB1MKhFlNZ56b3paHbedEGenEgroA0iOT8mT_pKOGJ1I/s320/Frank+Gliding.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">We
paid $100 for a 15+ minute flight at 2,500 feet. The regular price was $200. We
also had to pay $20 in fees per person, and $45 for a video, making the grand
total $165 each (still a $100 savings).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="background: white;">It may not be the most economical thing on
earth, but it was worth it to pay so much green and see so much blue.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDa3bAhTtDZBD5wiHiBGuiVEMAqsUt5i7b45pN6VOl9xZLiTnuEtFxaOdaYZKsJh-3FuQcA-lvAl7ib0O0ARl_hddJjiSGue3Hb7k_0Lj5JUQKXFozyyIwbrqagXkUFm10P4mxrY1OK5s/s1600/P1040740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDa3bAhTtDZBD5wiHiBGuiVEMAqsUt5i7b45pN6VOl9xZLiTnuEtFxaOdaYZKsJh-3FuQcA-lvAl7ib0O0ARl_hddJjiSGue3Hb7k_0Lj5JUQKXFozyyIwbrqagXkUFm10P4mxrY1OK5s/s320/P1040740.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Plus,
that $45 for the video helped create this awesome footage.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Oi6HZ9AlLtM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Frank got his hang gliding experience on camera
as well.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/vv2aVo6DPms?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span><br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="background: white;">Total cost: $165 each (with Living Social), $265
without (plus a $5 credit card fee)</span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="background: white;">Best Deal: Saving $100 with the Living Social
deal - it's an experience definitely worth full-price!</span></span></h4>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-77637913416406025112013-04-26T08:01:00.000-04:002013-04-26T08:02:36.193-04:00Getting a Grip – Rock Climbing<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s nothing like scaling El
Capitan, one of the most famous rock climbs in the world, but at a local place,
you can get a taste for what it’s like to dangle without spending too much
dinero.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAdlGrlZb1_8VWQyDlGPqf6JOem9vUkGT5Y_-uTxP9DfnOcZ_0EvAgv5A6Ruvko9KDbVQpfPK0n1Tc0cMPmXhzmjoRVcXiwINSkUXm4s6GTX9OgE1l702lF2SKYtXQgESje7QH1zdJGc/s1600/P1000847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAdlGrlZb1_8VWQyDlGPqf6JOem9vUkGT5Y_-uTxP9DfnOcZ_0EvAgv5A6Ruvko9KDbVQpfPK0n1Tc0cMPmXhzmjoRVcXiwINSkUXm4s6GTX9OgE1l702lF2SKYtXQgESje7QH1zdJGc/s320/P1000847.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am admiring a giant rock near El Capitan in Yosemite<br />
National Park, not knowing I would attempt it myself one day.<br />
In a safe environment. In a gym.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.coralcliffs.com/" target="_blank">Coral Cliffs</a> in Fort Lauderdale offers
several different options for those wanting to scale – from climbing to
belaying to bouldering. We started with
the “Intro to Climbing/Belay” class for $40.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_jG9pANfMIuo8xrJh9hqorGokYqduFIUhYPHgiK5wWxHFgm6CLLXSSPUq-nn4FguNBPqG9pA45ZYWiEXfH2rjfmKR3pOCrxZnKEBm9kNZjfbm1vaMznzundkEQCz6Iyw4runcSuc8_w/s1600/P1040485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_jG9pANfMIuo8xrJh9hqorGokYqduFIUhYPHgiK5wWxHFgm6CLLXSSPUq-nn4FguNBPqG9pA45ZYWiEXfH2rjfmKR3pOCrxZnKEBm9kNZjfbm1vaMznzundkEQCz6Iyw4runcSuc8_w/s320/P1040485.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am attempting one of my first climbs!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A hands-on introductory class from
one of the instructors showed us the basics of rock climbing and belaying –
that is, securing the rope for the climber.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvY75p1OGwQU4lPrZQPaVXBaysm-lLiQ1wIMvXYCGu8J26o0_MzS9WTOfakZmpzalbz7srCCh2OAApkVYeXX7Ip9cTUGZb1Abrbf1SGAeovWrmkDt6Q3EIjh4DKgYnE0HW3nMZ1O4g-cg/s1600/13+Rock+Climbing+and+Twilight+Fest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvY75p1OGwQU4lPrZQPaVXBaysm-lLiQ1wIMvXYCGu8J26o0_MzS9WTOfakZmpzalbz7srCCh2OAApkVYeXX7Ip9cTUGZb1Abrbf1SGAeovWrmkDt6Q3EIjh4DKgYnE0HW3nMZ1O4g-cg/s640/13+Rock+Climbing+and+Twilight+Fest.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here, Frank belays, while I climb to the top</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once you have the essentials, you
have your choice of almost 100 courses.
All of the courses are marked with colored tape and a grade that shows
the difficulty of the course. The
easiest grade is 5.5 (easy). The grades
at Coral Cliffs go all the way up to 5.13 (fucking hard).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj089zKMdaSOMBL6oG4Dp1mceLXBH8tZ_LH7Rf5rvhjfF76HvwafWG-BL59pX1xwDgNbddxcpiVENVr4m4WZ30cZiS8i4dP93_f4MYoTlSa8OWNdcVg2Pt2DdroynDBk6UeEmvW869lBa4/s1600/P1040482+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj089zKMdaSOMBL6oG4Dp1mceLXBH8tZ_LH7Rf5rvhjfF76HvwafWG-BL59pX1xwDgNbddxcpiVENVr4m4WZ30cZiS8i4dP93_f4MYoTlSa8OWNdcVg2Pt2DdroynDBk6UeEmvW869lBa4/s320/P1040482+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I chose to stick around the 5.6
range, which was slightly challenging for a girl with no arm muscles. But I still rocked it! Check it out while I scaled this wall:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/UknaBNafN04?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not too bad at belaying
either! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZT0ohS7b-rk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Too bad we didn’t have the videos
caught on tape where Frank fell and it lifted me up about three feet in the
air! Luckily some other gym patrons were
there to help me get down and then belay Frank to safety.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I did get a little crazy… Frank
wanted to attempt a 5.7+ though, and who was I to have him show me up? So I did
it too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkRU_M855QsMUsTyoXtotx6BWO-cr-qbK6R97NKcO8czXWolNY28P17AEepKi7wTBNX6FwV_KQlPnQB037KxMFg3qFcySZisKwsy3U-SyLbnBic4nEETgyTQ4Z2QmDm3vluQAsWtZps0/s1600/P1040499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkRU_M855QsMUsTyoXtotx6BWO-cr-qbK6R97NKcO8czXWolNY28P17AEepKi7wTBNX6FwV_KQlPnQB037KxMFg3qFcySZisKwsy3U-SyLbnBic4nEETgyTQ4Z2QmDm3vluQAsWtZps0/s320/P1040499.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's the climb marked by orange tape</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was partially upside down for a
moment, and even though someone is holding you with rope, it’s still a little
scary.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’re not one for heights, bouldering
may suit you – and it’s just $15. You don’t
need any ropes for that, as you are just moving from side to side.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOtN43e1cjSyFQWBXX1GCoFwN_D6lZ8VDcNMhpdpKj-PXvueeBiHeO-TjQZedxVEx9atJv69O9Yrdk1bvhKM820KhKlzLp2rR5zl161Mp1S7pscZ43SExbX031hMVhKv80lfYw-9JEJA/s1600/13+Rock+Climbing+and+Twilight+Fest1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOtN43e1cjSyFQWBXX1GCoFwN_D6lZ8VDcNMhpdpKj-PXvueeBiHeO-TjQZedxVEx9atJv69O9Yrdk1bvhKM820KhKlzLp2rR5zl161Mp1S7pscZ43SExbX031hMVhKv80lfYw-9JEJA/s400/13+Rock+Climbing+and+Twilight+Fest1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also, you don’t need as much gear
when you boulder. When you climb, you
need the following gear, which you can rent at Coral Cliffs:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhpNdvkKIwL_LTBCzyvqivEz4t9zWPUjXpBO_emIFt1yjcP8Ek5LsP8ntZVCALVpjmLa45niSIBJu6kZFL2WQRSvFQ_qoF3Jf-jBmNqqMHVyjv5dckOg4dk3Yb0xSKQ5N90h-1q8UjdI/s1600/13+Rock+Climbing+and+Twilight+Fest2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhpNdvkKIwL_LTBCzyvqivEz4t9zWPUjXpBO_emIFt1yjcP8Ek5LsP8ntZVCALVpjmLa45niSIBJu6kZFL2WQRSvFQ_qoF3Jf-jBmNqqMHVyjv5dckOg4dk3Yb0xSKQ5N90h-1q8UjdI/s640/13+Rock+Climbing+and+Twilight+Fest2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can get all the gear for a
special rate of $10.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When you boulder, you only need
the shoes ($6) and the chalk bag ($1), which would bring a day of bouldering to
just $22. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because a day of climbing (assuming
you brought a climbing partner and have already taken the class) is $19, that
will cost $29 per visit with the gear.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coral Cliffs also offers team
building classes, which would be really fun to do! I wonder if my school will spring for it… </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4>
Total Cost: $40 for a class and unlimited
climbing that day<br />Best Deal: $135 for 7 visits,
including gear (must be used within 3 months) – I’m totally doing this over the
summer!</h4>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-33812200466269566232013-04-22T19:32:00.002-04:002013-04-26T08:01:54.172-04:00Camping – How to Cope When You Don’t Like Getting Dirty (and Other Camping Advice)<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t let the title of this post
trick you. I actually like camping. In fact, I spent this past weekend camping in
Key Largo. And camping normally has the right price: cheap. But, I don’t like getting
dirty. So, I’ve developed some foolproof
tactics to make sure the great outdoors doesn’t stand in my way of sleeping
under the stars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, you’ve got to come
well-prepared. I remember my first
camping trip with Frank. We brought a
tent, a sleeping bag, and a 24-pack of beer.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vQ76WGly81Bg4FG43IGO1jSN9qpvWUfMtOLcdhspH7MO78GS7A_vukbQHq5cm5Dmj4-vrS3Wy82Vn1RqsbAFwvffhajK1Rt80w271nT05SGF0a0GPLxZkbjIMLJpeiqaubBES0txeJc/s1600/P1030081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vQ76WGly81Bg4FG43IGO1jSN9qpvWUfMtOLcdhspH7MO78GS7A_vukbQHq5cm5Dmj4-vrS3Wy82Vn1RqsbAFwvffhajK1Rt80w271nT05SGF0a0GPLxZkbjIMLJpeiqaubBES0txeJc/s320/P1030081.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently we also brought a bottle of<br />
champagne. A true camping necessity.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was actually a really good
plan until the raccoons started rummaging through our trash at 3am and woke us
up from our passed out slumber. We were
hot, uncomfortable, and annoyed. This is
where I learned Rule Number One of “camping when you don’t like to get dirty.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Rule One: Consider the Weather<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My best advice: don’t camp when it’s
hot outside.<b> </b>I know, this seems like common sense, but
this is Florida and it’s rarely ever <i>not</i>
hot outside. So, don’t pick September
like we initially did, when it was sweltering hot. I recently went <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2013/04/flamingo-southernmost-city-in-mainland_17.html" target="_blank">camping at Flamingo</a> when it was 40 degrees out, and believe it or not, it was much more
pleasant. Not sweating = less dirt.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Rule Two: Have a List<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The more prepared you are, the
more comfortable you feel. Again, on
that first camping trip, I learned a lot.
Like, bring a wine bottle opener.
In addition to normal camping gear, like a tent and sleeping bags,
here’s my Official Camping Checklist:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 348.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Pillows</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 348.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Lighter</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 348.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Bottle/wine opener</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Cards</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Sheet</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 348.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Lantern/headlight</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Bug spray</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 348.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Sunscreen</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 348.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Charcoal/firewood</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Marshmallows/chocolate/graham crackers</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Radio</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 348.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Roll of paper towels</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 348.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Anti-bacterial gel</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 348.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Batteries</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Beach towels</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 348.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span>Chairs</div>
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<br /></div>
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Nothing from this list should be
omitted. You think you don’t need the
beach towels? Don’t forget, you have to
wash your face in the bathrooms and most times, park bathrooms only have an air
dryer. Don’t want to bring a full roll
of paper towels? Worst case, you can use
them to start a fire. And while a fire
may actually <i>bring</i> dirt, it will also
bring fun (see Rule Number Four).</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Rule Three: Make “Camping” Food<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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On that first trip, we didn’t
bother bringing any food (clearly no room with all the booze). We ate dinner at a restaurant (how rustic of
us!), but when we got hungry later, didn’t have much around. It wasn’t until I went camping with some
other friends that I realized the importance of an all-out feast.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUK95HHarVSvRpDwLNBOk8EvWWR_x_rE3n0UInCVldkr7AbwDumewYQ8GbP1Tus1Vw09BP3h3R9YdSTxK-8825qVikAGJe4z4ClWrh2Kb__RroSjbcM_9GZen0b2CFcZWiNDhW9Rfv0wA/s1600/P1030503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUK95HHarVSvRpDwLNBOk8EvWWR_x_rE3n0UInCVldkr7AbwDumewYQ8GbP1Tus1Vw09BP3h3R9YdSTxK-8825qVikAGJe4z4ClWrh2Kb__RroSjbcM_9GZen0b2CFcZWiNDhW9Rfv0wA/s320/P1030503.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am shucking corn for our dinner back in 2009</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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When Frank and I went to Flamingo
last month, I came prepared with a great dinner idea. <a href="http://unsophisticook.com/walking-taco-recipe/" target="_blank">Camping tacos</a>! I actually stole it from Pinterest,
but it’s so basic and was quite delicious.
First, crunch up some Fritos in their bag (aka, your bowl). Then add some beans and “meat” (I’m a
vegetarian, so we used soy), cheese, lettuce, salsa, and voila! You are reading for your camping taco.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jgTFR2VWQWJBN_RngLF5XfNNbPtyyApdTFXTgSOkVMrX0T2VG57VRShVSPfTXxQDt_Nz8UtNKPgjKQES_1MLxV-BOF8IZx-Gy6SAJuV2rKguKBNLL8C1EXr37qaf3z5C0KppH_oFrv0/s1600/9+Flamingo+and+Alabama+Jack's1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jgTFR2VWQWJBN_RngLF5XfNNbPtyyApdTFXTgSOkVMrX0T2VG57VRShVSPfTXxQDt_Nz8UtNKPgjKQES_1MLxV-BOF8IZx-Gy6SAJuV2rKguKBNLL8C1EXr37qaf3z5C0KppH_oFrv0/s640/9+Flamingo+and+Alabama+Jack's1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I thought it was pretty good, and while Frank agree, he also said he had never felt more homeless in his life.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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Whatever you decide to cook, bring
the equipment necessary. For my camping
tacos, we needed only a pot (to cook), a serving spoon (to serve), and forks. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I also had a really good idea for
<a href="http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com/camping-breakfasts-to-cook-in-the-fire/" target="_blank">eggs in a orange for breakfast</a>,
but unfortunately, we ran out of
firewood and had already ripped down several nearby trees.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Rule Four: Build a Great Fire<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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More than once, our fire has
faltered. Frank was never a Boy Scout,
but he does a pretty good job manning the flames.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOaj_xGndJTwPPtWkaUWn27TtT2sNwM2e6Y3GKwaU1AKiaQfwx-Q5Eq9GV2M7IwHBt-8-MtDGmSroxgrplvjqCXrvkFmMDr1G_b4FDqMhcpz8v_CjxZz82nAV2kvgnbrnv36ULQxGVGY/s1600/P1040334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOaj_xGndJTwPPtWkaUWn27TtT2sNwM2e6Y3GKwaU1AKiaQfwx-Q5Eq9GV2M7IwHBt-8-MtDGmSroxgrplvjqCXrvkFmMDr1G_b4FDqMhcpz8v_CjxZz82nAV2kvgnbrnv36ULQxGVGY/s320/P1040334.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Even if it’s 100 degrees outside,
you’ll need a fire to roast marshmallows, cook dinner, and stare into while you
drink a beer. I found great tips to starting
a fire <a href="http://www.active.com/outdoors/articles/Campfire-Starters-that-Never-Fail" target="_blank">here</a> that I will definitely be using on our next trip.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Rule Five: Baby Wipes are Your Best Friend<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This precious item isn’t on my
Official Camping Checklist, mainly because we keep them around all the
time. But you need them like a fat kid
needs cake. Baby wipes will give you a
quick shower, help you wash off that sticky marshmallow substance, and clean up
any dishes you have. They will also,
obviously, be your best friend in the bathroom.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Rule Six: Book in Advance<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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You think, in your head, “I’m
going camping, certainly there will be room for me to set up a tent in the wilderness.” Wrong.
Campsites, especially in South Florida, book up. If you try to camp during “season,” (namely
November through April) you’ll have a tough time getting a site. Book ahead of time, especially during holiday
weekends. Most campgrounds let you
reserve through <a href="http://www.reserveamerica.com/" target="_blank">Reserve America</a>.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<br />
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<b>Rule Seven: Buy Good Gear<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Even though this blog is a strong
advocate for being economical, don’t confuse economical with cheap. We bought a huge tent on eBay a few years
ago, which has become known as the “orgy tent,” and it was a super purchase.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJk53_LDheFBFkO3lkwa13PRM0opwsyBVD59m3VBrjNZl3ApNRR54usHQOnCWb0X5wRO30_lHODsDMwOVcYRtEKX6SabiTY1XgAw2_TJjMhfDZ59wCYDH4mOaTZfxSLP-kV8YMxthcRlA/s1600/P1030465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJk53_LDheFBFkO3lkwa13PRM0opwsyBVD59m3VBrjNZl3ApNRR54usHQOnCWb0X5wRO30_lHODsDMwOVcYRtEKX6SabiTY1XgAw2_TJjMhfDZ59wCYDH4mOaTZfxSLP-kV8YMxthcRlA/s320/P1030465.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s large enough for eight
people, has a tarp bottom (which prevents any moisture) and could probably
accompany a dance party of about 15 ravers. It
cost approximately $70. We also
bought sleeping bags made for temperatures as low as 30 degrees, which we
snagged on clearance for $9.99 and we’ve been extremely pleased.</div>
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<br /></div>
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In order to have fun camping, you
don’t need to break the bank, but you do need to be comfortable. Following these seven tips will get you started
on loving camping instead of loathing nature.</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-17391505744639511082013-04-17T19:11:00.001-04:002013-04-26T08:02:14.531-04:00Flamingo – The Southernmost City in Mainland Florida Part II<br />
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Earlier this week, I told you of the many
cool adventures at <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2013/04/flamingo-southernmost-city-in-mainland.html">Flamingo</a>.
Though you could definitely take a day trip there, I recommend staying
the night. There are six options when it
comes to sleeping in this southernmost city.</div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
<b>First…</b></h3>
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<br /></div>
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You can park your car right next
to your campsite and set up your tent.
This is the option we chose.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlvRB1urXUDHbdgDBxHN7br9AaBfuVetdYSFfDFUwq4LIMKXmvLit4N31jUbS37oNOxlvV3t67OmNe2pOe0Xt6_R5p9VUMxMkz12HwXhqFg11dxCPeOf9mMxIvIYoE94Tk3ZbQQAlGQY/s1600/DSC_1070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlvRB1urXUDHbdgDBxHN7br9AaBfuVetdYSFfDFUwq4LIMKXmvLit4N31jUbS37oNOxlvV3t67OmNe2pOe0Xt6_R5p9VUMxMkz12HwXhqFg11dxCPeOf9mMxIvIYoE94Tk3ZbQQAlGQY/s320/DSC_1070.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I let Frank set up shop while I took pictures and had a beer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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Cost: $16 per night</div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
<b>Second…</b></h3>
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<br /></div>
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You can park your car and walk up
to your campsite in a tent only field.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEsbYqlWUF9ZsbCYbkYuWz9-GRX7HGDRetntGwjVt-wIg06tRyZk2Wzgp4YjB3Ac-MUv7_B27I3z8GLO6Y4UC5ppm1wRpPY09DUGnBdgf1UZD3YD2r_c-KKPtVHuADzzB2fyf-v5YXXU/s1600/DSC_1082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEsbYqlWUF9ZsbCYbkYuWz9-GRX7HGDRetntGwjVt-wIg06tRyZk2Wzgp4YjB3Ac-MUv7_B27I3z8GLO6Y4UC5ppm1wRpPY09DUGnBdgf1UZD3YD2r_c-KKPtVHuADzzB2fyf-v5YXXU/s320/DSC_1082.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This way you can camp with all your closest, and not-so-closest<br />
friends - a great option if you have a huge group of people.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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Cost: $16 per night</div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
<b>Third…</b></h3>
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<br /></div>
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You can rent an eco-tent.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqLCXMARmE1Lr3AHx-7YcdQKrRnV7OZPQS3HOM296J-xsw-VBa4oCurGa3sVb0JFJ_2Vpu4frvcg0eMd-l8V03m-UVKB9ZdCD8BzV0dt9KCkWVyZUg5d9rNnsZ7O6BbGyd-ES1pYdeYQ/s1600/DSC_1076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqLCXMARmE1Lr3AHx-7YcdQKrRnV7OZPQS3HOM296J-xsw-VBa4oCurGa3sVb0JFJ_2Vpu4frvcg0eMd-l8V03m-UVKB9ZdCD8BzV0dt9KCkWVyZUg5d9rNnsZ7O6BbGyd-ES1pYdeYQ/s320/DSC_1076.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right now, only one eco-tent exists, so you have to book early</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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An eco-tent is a cabin-like
structure that can easily be broken down in the event of a storm. This sole eco-tent is part of a pilot project
to bring similar tents to the area. You
can learn more <a href="http://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/flamingo-eco-tent.htm">here</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Cost: $16 per night, until a
special lighting system is installed when the price will go up to $30 per night</div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
<b>Fourth…</b></h3>
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<br /></div>
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You can stay in a houseboat. There are a few houseboats in the marina at
Flamingo and even though they cost a pretty penny, you are staying in a
houseboat (see my <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2013/01/authentic-amsterdam-what-its-like-to.html">Amsterdam experience</a> on a houseboat for more information), which is just plain awesome. The houseboats sleep six people, have air,
showers, stoves, bedding, and kitchen goods like pots and utensils. You can book a houseboat through <a href="http://evergladesnationalparkboattoursflamingo.com/houseboat.php">this website</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Cost: $350 per night plus fuel</div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
<b>Fifth…</b></h3>
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<br /></div>
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For the truly adventurous, you can
stay in a chickee. You can either bring
your own kayak, or rent one, and set off on one of the many nearby bodies of
water until you reach this raised platform.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YYlWnpSpBZbHjCUW1r1aBg_C3esJevgTUPSl7qgUymIe8DhAjWh6l7gFoJlnnkIqCxev_-N5PsPq8RuH8-k5IvYf9HxGGM21vPsfpeWUlFZw08fLpzXZIZXz1GTOKtgbVqSCZBtN-DM/s1600/Flamingo+chickee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YYlWnpSpBZbHjCUW1r1aBg_C3esJevgTUPSl7qgUymIe8DhAjWh6l7gFoJlnnkIqCxev_-N5PsPq8RuH8-k5IvYf9HxGGM21vPsfpeWUlFZw08fLpzXZIZXz1GTOKtgbVqSCZBtN-DM/s320/Flamingo+chickee.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Tristan Loper, via Wikipedia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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You’ll have to get <a href="http://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/backcamp.htm">backcountry permit</a> in order to camp in a chickee, but it’s a little cheaper than camping on a
regular campground.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Cost: $10 for a backcountry
permit, plus $2 per person per night</div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
<b>Sixth…</b></h3>
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<br /></div>
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If you’re not into boating to your
campsite, you can also hike to a backcountry spot. Again, you’ll need to get a <a href="http://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/backcamp.htm">backcountry permit</a> to do this, and you’ll have to really like hiking, as the most popular spot, at
Clubhouse Beach, it 15 miles roundtrip.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cost: $10 for a backcountry
permit, plus $2 per person per night</div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">No matter which form of camping you pick, dozing off
in Flamingo is like being 1,000 miles from reality, with the stars above you and no sounds of traffic - and that alone is priceless.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-49291063506464809442013-04-13T16:56:00.002-04:002013-04-26T08:02:26.223-04:00Flamingo – The Southernmost City in Mainland Florida, Part I<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The number of things to do in
Florida just astonishes me. You can
drive two hours and feel like you’re in a completely different country. That was exactly the case when we set off for
Flamingo, FL.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0krSx6IJs2RjYaMhdFUjFKHvhz-lEw-PFSGohxI44CIrH0czUC0atyQp2GdHGBfgaH-tt861QhxgNSh0JfG77lHSsPdtmhEbqPehr7j_l2G9llBunfvDkEpl4t7U8yBZARaWvOw-mWk/s1600/DSC_1081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0krSx6IJs2RjYaMhdFUjFKHvhz-lEw-PFSGohxI44CIrH0czUC0atyQp2GdHGBfgaH-tt861QhxgNSh0JfG77lHSsPdtmhEbqPehr7j_l2G9llBunfvDkEpl4t7U8yBZARaWvOw-mWk/s320/DSC_1081.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is looking south from Flamingo into the Florida Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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There’s only one road into
Flamingo and one road out – it’s the road the leads you into Everglades
National Park. While there are plenty of
things to do inside the park (like visit <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2012/10/everglades-national-park-almost-free.html" target="_blank">Anhinga Trail</a>),
if you drive about 35 miles down the main park road, past the “panther
crossing” signs, and winding amongst the swamplands, you’ll find the little
town of Flamingo.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTqZMWZ2_nTmCHIMWz1M_66z30NmUnvWdwUPMXq2qRgee2GejhcHS5WKFJ_RNvElaRPO39NukVjWhXbeOk83BFbqXfmw-h_Pa68WcTfZSa7rg_ChmSl5exqruiP0RjAbkGGPAHetRX0I/s1600/P1040331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTqZMWZ2_nTmCHIMWz1M_66z30NmUnvWdwUPMXq2qRgee2GejhcHS5WKFJ_RNvElaRPO39NukVjWhXbeOk83BFbqXfmw-h_Pa68WcTfZSa7rg_ChmSl5exqruiP0RjAbkGGPAHetRX0I/s320/P1040331.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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There’s not much in Flamingo. People used to live here in the early 1900s,
before it became part of Everglades National Park. Park rangers used to live here too, until
2005 when <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flamingo,_Florida" target="_blank">storm surge from Hurricane Wilma</a> destroyed much of the area. Today, it’s a
great place to take a <a href="http://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/upload/Ever_Flamingo_Hiking_Canoeing-Trails-FY10.pdf)" target="_blank">hike or three</a>. Here are some of the ones I traversed on my
time there, without paying a dime.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Eco Pond Loop <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Distance: ½ mile<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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This trail was one of my favorites,
namely because it was only half a mile and we got to investigate lots of nooks
and crannies off the main trail.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHS9IR8Xt3tk6oVcsnNUbstYMR6ct42emRk9-jhQZUCeEVAU0puSGrIqaVqJUOtxHkLnDoTJaip1Y4Kbcl-xjoI95NyfO07sfS9S9rcdmmz-vCHFGaJxbKE-rAL7CuoDugACsc5ShldsY/s1600/9+Flamingo+and+Alabama+Jack's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHS9IR8Xt3tk6oVcsnNUbstYMR6ct42emRk9-jhQZUCeEVAU0puSGrIqaVqJUOtxHkLnDoTJaip1Y4Kbcl-xjoI95NyfO07sfS9S9rcdmmz-vCHFGaJxbKE-rAL7CuoDugACsc5ShldsY/s640/9+Flamingo+and+Alabama+Jack's.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Although this isn’t really the
spot to see alligators, we did see two vultures getting into a fight.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aGUK2ETNjn611wlE_FEe9q4uCkZy8OODfbZwv4osFfqSz6tqD_EOnryQeFEI1eN7xxPY9xRbQE-BKpumAewPDWoWi6Q3G6TD4AYk7RIiFakVYN35n6JaOMYnaGs7Wzd0V82ToqTMSTw/s1600/DSC_1126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aGUK2ETNjn611wlE_FEe9q4uCkZy8OODfbZwv4osFfqSz6tqD_EOnryQeFEI1eN7xxPY9xRbQE-BKpumAewPDWoWi6Q3G6TD4AYk7RIiFakVYN35n6JaOMYnaGs7Wzd0V82ToqTMSTw/s320/DSC_1126.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Guy Bradley Trail<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Distance: 1 mile one way</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCG5tYCMM0EzciIGt8v3dLZnWuBQ1wydxf_ZyGXOEhic1k3qMIW_Rb6RHGVZPpxTCodsK3myHsZNNtraYuj3kgZV43zsGNF90ZdUWBgy7kd58UYfWXWU6IlmrjPbqS749EgFPILoff0Sw/s1600/P1040367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCG5tYCMM0EzciIGt8v3dLZnWuBQ1wydxf_ZyGXOEhic1k3qMIW_Rb6RHGVZPpxTCodsK3myHsZNNtraYuj3kgZV43zsGNF90ZdUWBgy7kd58UYfWXWU6IlmrjPbqS749EgFPILoff0Sw/s320/P1040367.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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We took this trail to the Flamingo
Visitor Center and back to the campground amphitheater, making for a two-mile
hike. The trail is named after the
Audubon warden, Guy Bradley, who died while trying to protect birds from plume
hunters back in 1905. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEpD3ChwK3VA2c-2Jhx-WwO5aT0MW1UyHgD2h2CSH2xGofLRS-K-jRok6lNsCTukugnzR9_GudRMxvwaS0NNul9VXvWKPyhGPwJMmXFaDKqsf4Pc0zdat5v6Vlb04qaqsBQQLP0G-xuE/s1600/Flamingo+plume.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEpD3ChwK3VA2c-2Jhx-WwO5aT0MW1UyHgD2h2CSH2xGofLRS-K-jRok6lNsCTukugnzR9_GudRMxvwaS0NNul9VXvWKPyhGPwJMmXFaDKqsf4Pc0zdat5v6Vlb04qaqsBQQLP0G-xuE/s320/Flamingo+plume.png" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used to secretly wish I had a hat with <br />
bird feathers. I don't know what I was<br />
thinking, I don't even eat meat!<br />
Courtesy of United States Library<br />
of Congress under the digitial ID<br />
<a href="http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3b02111/">cph.3b0211</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Much of the trail is along the
Florida Bay.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yrj19h-vbuahQSywlT-IZ6rHx1aTtglQJy9unWLE-3iqGU3MPNwFQUnGRGVjQD5JkkxdYatYZrfQQfEUwaHsFVc1y8KpWwXmH4g5vCXiq5O-55akYo3g0Y20DpL-1m_mBfT2jiS5NPc/s1600/DSC_1135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yrj19h-vbuahQSywlT-IZ6rHx1aTtglQJy9unWLE-3iqGU3MPNwFQUnGRGVjQD5JkkxdYatYZrfQQfEUwaHsFVc1y8KpWwXmH4g5vCXiq5O-55akYo3g0Y20DpL-1m_mBfT2jiS5NPc/s320/DSC_1135.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The scenery is not too shabby!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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This trail was heavily biked and
walked, and here, we saw a bird munching on a fish about 50 feet in the air.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxbw4j2uFqCNEJ_pfwSEFffGCmnCLlkxl2HVtzNe0ui-rPyFKLQsXQ6yzYk-NovtZ3tKRnbxqtvBZmWj4GSycKGCUyWIrjDXHAG51rorBNutc8o8q14IZJzFDPZp3hl9PsMUAYdVklWQ/s1600/P1040365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxbw4j2uFqCNEJ_pfwSEFffGCmnCLlkxl2HVtzNe0ui-rPyFKLQsXQ6yzYk-NovtZ3tKRnbxqtvBZmWj4GSycKGCUyWIrjDXHAG51rorBNutc8o8q14IZJzFDPZp3hl9PsMUAYdVklWQ/s320/P1040365.JPG" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like my dinner table a little closer to the ground</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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The campground amphitheater is
pretty cool itself, right on the water, and at night, a ranger gives talks
about the National Park system.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDJeVdSUwBPVYvBIYNJDihEVTUwlrGWNkRI_Fp1n85Ptp4qR3KU3A8opRGeU4nEMaVC_5elPcfGrxDEjO_YSm5kVm7b1sg54_8dKC7RILbZBn4511ZUwE86CQd2Rk_pm3KCgMgWjJJxM/s1600/P1040374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDJeVdSUwBPVYvBIYNJDihEVTUwlrGWNkRI_Fp1n85Ptp4qR3KU3A8opRGeU4nEMaVC_5elPcfGrxDEjO_YSm5kVm7b1sg54_8dKC7RILbZBn4511ZUwE86CQd2Rk_pm3KCgMgWjJJxM/s320/P1040374.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Coastal Prairie Trail</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>7.5 miles one way<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We also started this trail, but
stopped when we realized it was 7.5 miles one way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhef885fTnaM28hv_B6QMPeZ4OYf_V9BBo6I3E73EljSM12vClJKRP2jY7XefT5bWhBFOQ17imlUoiGKrXSl7oF2Bq7_znXEFOyjG7b9ibIkGJI3GM-BtE09E7cPlPSy01Ixf5w6cEuoaw/s1600/P1040378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhef885fTnaM28hv_B6QMPeZ4OYf_V9BBo6I3E73EljSM12vClJKRP2jY7XefT5bWhBFOQ17imlUoiGKrXSl7oF2Bq7_znXEFOyjG7b9ibIkGJI3GM-BtE09E7cPlPSy01Ixf5w6cEuoaw/s320/P1040378.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank would totally have dragged me along for <br />
7.5 miles, but it was getting ready to storm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’re hiking, you might as
well walk your way to Flamingo’s one and only restaurant/bar – The Buttonwood Café.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUuIcBSYAcjWK5tKXuiPFy5P9S89C35RrtE2dqjMbxXz4jaGL1kAEY2x-D4SmFQJjOVEoaaU-BoNTRGjy5pGo94751tG2FME-Nw1s4T7X0p2lLTCPmHGAIYHiZ16IjqkCe8s-hBBPuQ_E/s1600/DSC_1059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUuIcBSYAcjWK5tKXuiPFy5P9S89C35RrtE2dqjMbxXz4jaGL1kAEY2x-D4SmFQJjOVEoaaU-BoNTRGjy5pGo94751tG2FME-Nw1s4T7X0p2lLTCPmHGAIYHiZ16IjqkCe8s-hBBPuQ_E/s320/DSC_1059.JPG" width="238" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s not much on the menu at
the Buttonwood, but beers are only $3, which is about as economical as it gets!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h4>
Cost: $10.68 for three beers<br /> Best Deal: Seeing so many cool things
in nature for <i>free</i>! Plus, even though there is normally a $10 charge to get into Everglades National Park, for some reason, the ranger waved us through without paying a penny!</h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">For a list of all trails in Flamingo, click <a href="http://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/flamingo-trails.htm">here</a>.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-89595902831388369582013-04-11T19:57:00.000-04:002013-04-11T20:16:11.810-04:00Food Truck Connection<span style="background-color: white;">Do
you have a hankering for a hot dog? A craving for conch salad? Or do you go
gaga over gelato?</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="background: white;">I'm not sure there's a restaurant in town that
would meet all three of these desires, but the <a href="http://foodtruckconnect.com/" target="_blank">Food Truck Connection</a> </span><span style="background: white;">can.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenzZ2uYXWBrbvM2Lp8EY3hPIWJTKQ6sGMV2Lx-nEMFSPXxDoc6xgL3HFjbyTQN1izHA9od7uaXymOOHkNs9xyZfVec3wcqznJKbomFtwaU5MtPSFgOPqpTEo0hvfaW8jCqNQyQtfcxkc/s1600/P1040579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenzZ2uYXWBrbvM2Lp8EY3hPIWJTKQ6sGMV2Lx-nEMFSPXxDoc6xgL3HFjbyTQN1izHA9od7uaXymOOHkNs9xyZfVec3wcqznJKbomFtwaU5MtPSFgOPqpTEo0hvfaW8jCqNQyQtfcxkc/s320/P1040579.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">That's right, the food truck craze has come to Boynton
Beach, and it stopped right in my backyard.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLzMbFyKgfbmshoKYZ5JFhfdAxZyazk6Vn8sA1AjBzgpnAMEPdXnIlepKi4vrlFfvyAPOv358C4gZffl7HkgMel60KuZyDVkxPzSuBUnEepHe7Zsda9fEtIvAgLys7ZSN_nKTlRxK87s/s1600/15+Food+Truck+Connection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLzMbFyKgfbmshoKYZ5JFhfdAxZyazk6Vn8sA1AjBzgpnAMEPdXnIlepKi4vrlFfvyAPOv358C4gZffl7HkgMel60KuZyDVkxPzSuBUnEepHe7Zsda9fEtIvAgLys7ZSN_nKTlRxK87s/s400/15+Food+Truck+Connection.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the left, the food trucks, on the right, my neighborhood. I took both<br />
photos from the same spot in the parking lot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span class="yshortcuts"><span style="background: white;">This Wednesday</span></span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">, for only the fourth week ever, you can catch more than a
dozen food trucks, lined up for your dining pleasure, at Harvey E. Oyer Jr.
Park (most Boynton residents know this as Boat Club Park), just south of
Federal Highway and Gateway Boulevard, on the Intracoastal. As you walk around, you can sample everything
from ordinary the extraordinary.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslgJ863C6NIXpNpoi6oug1kHC1iKRw6RHGWKYeo4W64f52xNE8LXLtKhXtWBhpepjybwFEaipWtG5ijaKlSPIUEBE7u2jrG0qaASX_bXG5gyAAGYWud0ITIIMaqmiyTXqk99dLoLHtP4/s1600/P1040609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslgJ863C6NIXpNpoi6oug1kHC1iKRw6RHGWKYeo4W64f52xNE8LXLtKhXtWBhpepjybwFEaipWtG5ijaKlSPIUEBE7u2jrG0qaASX_bXG5gyAAGYWud0ITIIMaqmiyTXqk99dLoLHtP4/s320/P1040609.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That, my friends, is a veggie dog loaded with<br />
spicy mayo, barbecue sauce, relish, and crushed<br />
potato chips. They call it the "Substitute<br />
Teacher." I call it "insanely delicious!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">That
little piece of scrumptiousness came from <a href="http://ps561.com/" target="_blank">P.S. 561</a></span>. We paid just $9.50 for two dogs. <span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">And it doesn’t
stop there! Over the course of two
weeks, we also had conch ceviche from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thedailyspecialtruckWPB?group_%E2%80%8Bid=0)" target="_blank">The Daily Special</a></span>...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdN63Jng2mlGNO_Cz0wReNNWp55uXTeBsmR-_NpicXrkWDgGAqCFhKm_et_q9QbfsC1r_jJ6fTiXNvth8qFaZuEX9T-w7Ax9Z6c4S-g5wPduAB46kw_9JM3egFi76Y0QR8FBRM_ZpJIak/s1600/15+Food+Truck+Connection1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdN63Jng2mlGNO_Cz0wReNNWp55uXTeBsmR-_NpicXrkWDgGAqCFhKm_et_q9QbfsC1r_jJ6fTiXNvth8qFaZuEX9T-w7Ax9Z6c4S-g5wPduAB46kw_9JM3egFi76Y0QR8FBRM_ZpJIak/s400/15+Food+Truck+Connection1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just $10 for this huge serving!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Shrimp
summer rolls from </span><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Springinrollout" target="_blank">Spring In, Roll Out</a></span>...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4XSjzjTQFo5NuCd30qTkArAoXA-dakrEte0ZrjIqRYdE2L6eswbiLflPn9-7vZFvJYBCYL0bcOU0PIND9Fv4gjNo3u01zncr_DfB8KbUlfrrdnD9GcHnOnxsEF7cUeVdPPwWwDHPay4/s1600/P1040593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4XSjzjTQFo5NuCd30qTkArAoXA-dakrEte0ZrjIqRYdE2L6eswbiLflPn9-7vZFvJYBCYL0bcOU0PIND9Fv4gjNo3u01zncr_DfB8KbUlfrrdnD9GcHnOnxsEF7cUeVdPPwWwDHPay4/s320/P1040593.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again, I was astonished at the large portions<br />
and the small price tag of just $9!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And sweet potato fries drizzled
with marshmallow fluff from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LucillesOnWheels" target="_blank">Lucille’s on Wheels</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gfrA25JlJUaqfZk6HySL2V1WibEZQV65v8QChrytF2-Y-m8J8VD0rg9WPt_vECEESlrwHI2QoykjkvWqOnrelBeyXBv6zYN5SDI-_kmWm9uH511JP0uM5T0akflrCpjgfFukOx4veOc/s1600/P1040611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gfrA25JlJUaqfZk6HySL2V1WibEZQV65v8QChrytF2-Y-m8J8VD0rg9WPt_vECEESlrwHI2QoykjkvWqOnrelBeyXBv6zYN5SDI-_kmWm9uH511JP0uM5T0akflrCpjgfFukOx4veOc/s320/P1040611.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get. In. My. Belly. For real.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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My husband also decided to partake
in bacon doughnuts, with maple bourbon jam, from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dough-Food-Truck/345602972191821?fref=ts" target="_blank">Dough</a>,
which he was not very good about sharing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZIMHpgrgOoMPgD1JWZUtaoDUU5wkRgcAKzr6SzFcO-lbGe6VrPazV6fyrE8nOYGhSAbcvc46TQxwasNgimF3zyaTnlugmLpWZnUPA3QzSs_ZIQ_MV1_agjERa5f35AdGpQmXW7wvfqU/s1600/P1040619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZIMHpgrgOoMPgD1JWZUtaoDUU5wkRgcAKzr6SzFcO-lbGe6VrPazV6fyrE8nOYGhSAbcvc46TQxwasNgimF3zyaTnlugmLpWZnUPA3QzSs_ZIQ_MV1_agjERa5f35AdGpQmXW7wvfqU/s320/P1040619.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucky for him, I'm a vegetarian!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
But by far, the best truck was <a href="http://www.hippops.com/" target="_blank">Hip Pops</a>, where you
<i>pick</i> your gelato bar, <i>dip</i> it in chocolate, and <i>pop</i> it with toppings. Holy moly.
My inner fat girl wanted, like, thirty of these.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapewtmmbMtiZ2XegdbmoS6-aPPeYHa5Y-xyNY6Gma7-zlp4QTqxMgtqoMp7z9U3mY88tNxe-XgwkwZ-1BXhyhcdypSNBe0kmifJa0SLojItzxfGMWdYKvM57TmoA4dVgXZ_QsoV98h2E/s1600/15+Food+Truck+Connection2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapewtmmbMtiZ2XegdbmoS6-aPPeYHa5Y-xyNY6Gma7-zlp4QTqxMgtqoMp7z9U3mY88tNxe-XgwkwZ-1BXhyhcdypSNBe0kmifJa0SLojItzxfGMWdYKvM57TmoA4dVgXZ_QsoV98h2E/s640/15+Food+Truck+Connection2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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This little piece of heaven was
priced at <span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">$5.
I would have spent $500.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">The Food Truck Connection takes place every Wednesday from 5pm-9pm. Next
week, I'll be there, again. For the third week in a row. And I’ve got my eye on you, Hip Pops.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMCC5-e5lOlu8-8M6dcqm7YlwlSUHjrfx8CPQaLWuZWK7kDx_WO1IafldnEPLhAWi13cFVSE1t85jmEX_vutdT68UOX2K584JLEUZsUOq-Y13PzP1Mq081ke4dlbTWtaltbl4ZNUYcQA/s1600/P1040602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMCC5-e5lOlu8-8M6dcqm7YlwlSUHjrfx8CPQaLWuZWK7kDx_WO1IafldnEPLhAWi13cFVSE1t85jmEX_vutdT68UOX2K584JLEUZsUOq-Y13PzP1Mq081ke4dlbTWtaltbl4ZNUYcQA/s320/P1040602.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Total
Cost: About $25 for two “main courses” and one dessert</span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Best
Deal: Even the fish dishes are under $10 – we paid just $9 for salmon sausage
from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pescadosunidosfoodtruck" target="_blank">Pescados Unidos</a> (</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pescadosunidosfoodtruck">https://www.facebook.com/pescadosunidosfoodtruck</a>)<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKD61aQ0NMmy2gOi3QNDHiXVqHT3-asn8wVdL5DgqxYkfR1-crHGd98RkBH-RFeXlgIyZAH0mMnZVkWk2DKAHYYaG4u3VD7K-p-Y4jBOdI8ywNg_hUk7tSDGaKKeOMafe1SIKw_ZSbZ4/s1600/P1040612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKD61aQ0NMmy2gOi3QNDHiXVqHT3-asn8wVdL5DgqxYkfR1-crHGd98RkBH-RFeXlgIyZAH0mMnZVkWk2DKAHYYaG4u3VD7K-p-Y4jBOdI8ywNg_hUk7tSDGaKKeOMafe1SIKw_ZSbZ4/s320/P1040612.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-84060344664502678372013-04-10T19:22:00.001-04:002013-04-11T20:01:36.302-04:00A Bar at a Salon = Dream Come True<br />
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Some things just go together:
peanut butter and jelly, cheese and crackers, alcohol and pedicures…</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7imO1uOoSfuMTnkKngolHsEfRi715l0qT4iKqeK1O9Z_tzuL6PIXg-fiAjIF-KzLWZ21ZeJoqLaD9CuP2Zfc7p_CPh3RLE20Qtii5UjRpAEJsk-lPSj_I8OFmNby2TDpVJ2TO6dbAF4/s1600/P1040404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7imO1uOoSfuMTnkKngolHsEfRi715l0qT4iKqeK1O9Z_tzuL6PIXg-fiAjIF-KzLWZ21ZeJoqLaD9CuP2Zfc7p_CPh3RLE20Qtii5UjRpAEJsk-lPSj_I8OFmNby2TDpVJ2TO6dbAF4/s320/P1040404.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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There’s a new salon in Boynton
Beach called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tipsy-of-Boynton-Beach/127230814122556?fref=ts" target="_blank">Tipsy Salon, Spa, and Lounge</a>. Now, instead of getting a mani/pedi sans
drink, you can have a glass of wine as you color your nails and toes.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Now, if you’ve read this blog, oh,
ever, you’ll know that I like a good drink.
You’ll also know that I really don’t indulge in spa services <i>too </i>often (though it definitely happens
from time to time, like when I went to the <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2012/12/experience-gifts-for-holidays-spa.html" target="_blank">Eau Spa at the Ritz Carlton</a>. I will definitely be going back to Tipsy
though.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhzgO9y1uyHe3u5gbAESmmTaPOKjpXrcY27pP2-Zx14owxijT7FBGtg7fka1kkewdZj-ZWn5spgYEsQg-JvoGmgUQxx54s25eMZ3EH5DRuA9ekoFDdGc9uAEZCSr_1jDvV5vSWpJ2020/s1600/P1040413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhzgO9y1uyHe3u5gbAESmmTaPOKjpXrcY27pP2-Zx14owxijT7FBGtg7fka1kkewdZj-ZWn5spgYEsQg-JvoGmgUQxx54s25eMZ3EH5DRuA9ekoFDdGc9uAEZCSr_1jDvV5vSWpJ2020/s320/P1040413.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because when I went, Tipsy was
offering a special deal (half-off the first weeks they were open!), I did
something a little more special than normal: an aromatherapy pedicure. The service was pretty reasonable, $45 at full
price. It included a paraffin wax which
felt amazing on my legs.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUZcDX7XUqitKRehQtHYLFluFwRZ6eXx7qODqJIEPdSJypSAoYsQabnn65YwSO7UqXDlAzoiQEbaMe0evnSrHmRUaVrYGIRs7zE370KpFqCFGfNvJnff2sPEIatcUixgvdZ7FKDJiJbM/s1600/P1040410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUZcDX7XUqitKRehQtHYLFluFwRZ6eXx7qODqJIEPdSJypSAoYsQabnn65YwSO7UqXDlAzoiQEbaMe0evnSrHmRUaVrYGIRs7zE370KpFqCFGfNvJnff2sPEIatcUixgvdZ7FKDJiJbM/s320/P1040410.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I detoxified my legs, I
intoxicated with the wine. The drinks
were cheaper than most bars I frequent, at $6 for a glass of wine.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDNmJro-H6Y_0KS2ahkEzcRqqi_qKtPKk7TAbbnM59lRtbrTAq38RywZN9c3plWKM-BqEtXrMqkRS_I48KAeqw7ngm6rpRG8P1Rm4ItjW17sZUWUMVtDchIBJ2fpQCsfTI_E8F4g_gpM/s1600/P1040408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDNmJro-H6Y_0KS2ahkEzcRqqi_qKtPKk7TAbbnM59lRtbrTAq38RywZN9c3plWKM-BqEtXrMqkRS_I48KAeqw7ngm6rpRG8P1Rm4ItjW17sZUWUMVtDchIBJ2fpQCsfTI_E8F4g_gpM/s320/P1040408.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At $6 a glass, I can have two! Which I did.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Definitely check their Facebook
page because Tipsy has been offering free drink specials if you mention you saw
their status update.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tipsy Salon offers other services
as well, like haircuts, waxing, facials, and massages. Tipsy also allows parties as well. I think it would be so cool to bring your
bachelorette party here, but I unfortunately, I’m already married. So, I’ll just stick to imbibing by myself for
now as I get my toes ready for spring!</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsKYACuKhxtNxsOqXAhaNVKHBEVcz22rmzm7Y_DXwdm_xHNS6xNAGIpQk_PSACJPUsQO-xzqG2Cbei1Da8M5a5cf8HXxZmt8lAgo9fd4M0L1rMa2k1TLAfsk2uGj_JPw31NdFnm6_uiU/s1600/P1040414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsKYACuKhxtNxsOqXAhaNVKHBEVcz22rmzm7Y_DXwdm_xHNS6xNAGIpQk_PSACJPUsQO-xzqG2Cbei1Da8M5a5cf8HXxZmt8lAgo9fd4M0L1rMa2k1TLAfsk2uGj_JPw31NdFnm6_uiU/s320/P1040414.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<h4>
Total Cost: $35 for a pedicure
(half-off of $45) and two glasses of wine<br />Best Deal: A basic manicure is
only $15 and a basic pedi is $25</h4>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-23280353192132876932013-04-01T19:24:00.005-04:002013-04-01T19:45:59.183-04:00Five Ways to Practice Yoga for Free (or Almost Free) in South FloridaI’ve been practicing yoga for
about 12 years now. I dearly love feeling
center, challenging myself with side plank, and performing upward dogs.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKFOHXLZo3MRq0grwa-k1DBA2wb3mxHl1i_AeZ-NOtEXLToHWujeaHg7HnQ7W72fnndn6gNNvTVgeIU0fsV7toKEaduKK-ekzZPAkqWzoHIVwQRbTbvs3m-jHi0DsE7uLX9yltiZHBYA/s1600/P1040282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKFOHXLZo3MRq0grwa-k1DBA2wb3mxHl1i_AeZ-NOtEXLToHWujeaHg7HnQ7W72fnndn6gNNvTVgeIU0fsV7toKEaduKK-ekzZPAkqWzoHIVwQRbTbvs3m-jHi0DsE7uLX9yltiZHBYA/s320/P1040282.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the price of yoga is
ridiculous. I remember when I took my
first class out of college (where I had been practicing for free), it was $6 a class. At a studio I went to a few months ago, I paid
$17! I joined the gym for a few
years, but found the people there weren’t serious. So, I started searching for
ways to practice and not break the bank. Here are five ways to get grounded without going broke.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>1. Yoga at the West Palm Beach Library<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Free<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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When I first went to the library
to practice yoga, I expected the same crowd as the gym – a bunch of people who
didn’t have their whole heart in their yoga practice. I. Was. So. Wrong. The instructor was amazing and the people in
the class were serious business. The
<a href="http://www.wpbpl.com/" target="_blank">West Palm Beach Library</a> now offers four classes a week: on Tuesday at 5:45pm and 7:00pm and on Saturday
at 9:45am and 11:00am. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Click <a href="https://millie.wpbpl.com/search/?searchtype=X&SORT=D&searcharg=yoga&searchscope=12" target="_blank">here</a> for more information about
yoga at the West Palm Beach Library.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>2. Yoga Day in West Palm Beach<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Free<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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This is by far the most awesome
yoga event I’ve ever been to. Thousands
of yogis, dozens of vendors, and several amazing instructors get together to
put this event on every year at the Meyer Amphitheater in downtown West
Palm Beach. You’ll find several different yoga sessions going on at once, from classes for kids
to partner yoga. On the main lawn, there’s
always a huge class, led by very talented professionals.</div>
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Did I mention this is free?! I usually attend two classes (which would
normally run about $34 at a studio), but you could stay all day and attend five
classes if you want and save $85 in yoga fees!
Yoga Day has much more than yoga too, they also featured aerial yoga
(which I hope to do soon), hula hooping and balancing.</div>
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You’ll also find food trucks
specializing in healthy food!</div>
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Yoga Day this year has passed (it
was February 24), but it will be back. Maybe
even Frank will join again.</div>
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Click <a href="http://yogaday.yogamedia.org/" target="_blank">here</a> for more information
about Yoga Day.</div>
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<b>3. Yoga at Community School<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Less than $4 per class<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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If you live in Palm Beach County
and haven’t taken a class at a community school, you are missing the deal of a
lifetime. Not only have I taken several
(cake decorating, salsa dancing, French, and Italian), it is <i>dirt cheap</i>.</div>
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You probably get the flyer in the
mail every semester, but if you don’t, you can check it out <a href="http://www.pbeducator.org/pbeducator" target="_blank">online</a>. More than 18 yoga classes are being offered
for the spring semester (which officially begins April 15), one as low as $26
for 8 weeks – that comes out to $3.25 a class!
While that particular class is at Seminole Ridge Community High School, which isn't close to most people, there is almost guaranteed to be a class at a
school year you!</div>
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Click <a href="http://www.pbeducator.org/pbeducator" target="_blank">here</a> for more information
about yoga at community school.<br />
</div>
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<b>4. Yoga Fest 2013<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>As little as $5 for a class<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Yoga Fest takes place in Fort Lauderdale and is in its third year. I’ve never been before (and won’t be able to
go this year because of prior obligations), but my studio puts it on, so I know
it will be great!</div>
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I’ve already seen discount tickets
available on <a href="https://www.livingsocial.com/events/573514-yogafest-ticket-to-all-day-yoga-conference" target="_blank">Living Social</a> - only one day left!), but if you pay full price, you’ll shell out
only $20 for a <i>whole day of yoga</i>. If you arrive after
3:30pm, you’ll pay only $5! That late in
the day, there is one class left, yoga with Keith Fox, who runs <a href="http://www.yogafox.com/" target="_blank">Yoga Fox</a>, where I practice!<br />
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Click <a href="http://www.1111yoga.com/yogafest-2013.html" target="_blank">here</a> for more information about Yoga Fest.</div>
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<b>5. Connected Warriors<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Free yoga for veterans and their families<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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This is something I learned about
at Yoga Day this year. The group,
Connected Warriors, works to secure free yoga classes for veterans at studios
all across the nation.<br />
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Though I’ve seen better organized
websites, you can search by state to see which studios offer free yoga
in your area. I found a class on Fridays
at 2pm at <a href="http://www.yogasouth.net/" target="_blank">Yoga South</a> in Boca Raton, which is a truly wonderful studio (it’s
also where I found the classes for $17!).</div>
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Click <a href="http://connectedwarriors.org/cw-classes/" target="_blank">here</a> for more information
about yoga through Connected Warriors.</div>
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Hopefully this list helps you
explore this wonderful, and sometimes pricey, practice a little more
economically… Namaste! </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-23439472230409675352013-03-29T16:41:00.000-04:002013-03-29T16:51:44.666-04:00Polo – The Only Sport Where You’re Encouraged to Drink on the Field<br />
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So, I’ve been gone for
awhile. Unfortunately, I’ve been working
to finish my teacher certification because it’s crucial that I have an actual income. Fortunately, even though I haven’t been
writing, I have been having many awesome adventures. Starting with the only sport where you tailgate
through the whole game and drink on the field.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQO9lYMHXGHJ6wqGr5KHP9Wxnr1qaGgPplhhFydVTV3YbGQiW5Q4hfBmv8E17kTVFV5aYQV5VJRy88EwYI2VyHeq4s6ak0ggfnGqGKDxdHJpPMCaM6buq3jLeXXUZo8yGh8ya8eTqdLs/s1600/P1040312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQO9lYMHXGHJ6wqGr5KHP9Wxnr1qaGgPplhhFydVTV3YbGQiW5Q4hfBmv8E17kTVFV5aYQV5VJRy88EwYI2VyHeq4s6ak0ggfnGqGKDxdHJpPMCaM6buq3jLeXXUZo8yGh8ya8eTqdLs/s320/P1040312.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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To think, all these years I’ve
been forced to watch football, coerced into viewing basketball, and sucked into
attending soccer games. When all along, <i>this</i> was happening ON THE FIELD at polo
matches. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifB6ifMUFfl0QKBAZGwCG9wCPBYdNbsax2Hk3AEvi2AmqEHu_sJrTNg0jEFs3VIUjCj-5IHORafL7kXMN1k1buGhwHykHK-OWOurLN9UdQWM4I2S7RZL9ExKskIuLUMJOmriOkrIk2RFU/s1600/Frank+and+I+drinking+champagne.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifB6ifMUFfl0QKBAZGwCG9wCPBYdNbsax2Hk3AEvi2AmqEHu_sJrTNg0jEFs3VIUjCj-5IHORafL7kXMN1k1buGhwHykHK-OWOurLN9UdQWM4I2S7RZL9ExKskIuLUMJOmriOkrIk2RFU/s320/Frank+and+I+drinking+champagne.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, my friends, you are served bubbly during halftime!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We attended this polo match at <a href="http://www.internationalpoloclub.com/" target="_blank">International Polo Club</a> in Wellington, courtesy of one of my awesome co-workers. Wellington is the “winter equestrian capital
of the world.” </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaUj-B2YhNCcW7KzpLUXRfOQ_ZibxjpEayTEazSEHAYsVYQyAChsd5SHJXCV7aoaNjdy9mMXw0PCthNw2hmUAS7E0diD6XLwS08c6yvFYrGJyY-FIn4_lvZmTRZNHzJS59bahHWTqo_c/s1600/P1040323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaUj-B2YhNCcW7KzpLUXRfOQ_ZibxjpEayTEazSEHAYsVYQyAChsd5SHJXCV7aoaNjdy9mMXw0PCthNw2hmUAS7E0diD6XLwS08c6yvFYrGJyY-FIn4_lvZmTRZNHzJS59bahHWTqo_c/s320/P1040323.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perhaps Wellington's only claim to fame. That, and the Mall<br />
at Wellington Green.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Awesome Thing #1 About Polo:</b> Almost everybody is tailgating. The tailgating starts before the match and
continues long after.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KpEDwCLcQEm2TtN47EczToeFuQqO2oBp9EkH2eL-EuyySPPNwvsn3jo3AAdoOz9kcO4IbpEMZl_rqa7-RCN50ltdS6F3h_ENzfb3Mp2exP5Yg817aR70FKHiiCmrFXMbYfus7zJvBi0/s1600/P1390735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KpEDwCLcQEm2TtN47EczToeFuQqO2oBp9EkH2eL-EuyySPPNwvsn3jo3AAdoOz9kcO4IbpEMZl_rqa7-RCN50ltdS6F3h_ENzfb3Mp2exP5Yg817aR70FKHiiCmrFXMbYfus7zJvBi0/s320/P1390735.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Sari</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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You have to be a member to tailgate,
or at least know a member. I am lucky enough
to know someone who belongs to the club.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLw7WOuwyLOJLnyP7QNuEMKojrxEdFUIFo3zVbYzMbtTeqIrmx-JrHmRtbrKeNb5sQNzmJtpm5AvBBaZarjC6gKNxQxtqldTK9hkJ_yC_FzWgId2Ub9UGHdkSm-yBr_651BeeAglxdGtU/s1600/P1040304+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLw7WOuwyLOJLnyP7QNuEMKojrxEdFUIFo3zVbYzMbtTeqIrmx-JrHmRtbrKeNb5sQNzmJtpm5AvBBaZarjC6gKNxQxtqldTK9hkJ_yC_FzWgId2Ub9UGHdkSm-yBr_651BeeAglxdGtU/s320/P1040304+-+Copy.JPG" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sari, on the right, was our "in" to this crazy event!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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But even if you aren’t a member,
the general public is allowed to watch the match and take pictures, just like we did.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaZaU_Gna5PmXze9_XDKDzMk-DvrSURBhSCudCrSyuKWuzt4sJH1vcMv1KfKouxJUn_4jMbaYtMG1rWEWj_OoQMc8lCX-Zwra0CTuQjxTV4n8bdYbsAWTQJWxLHv8L-HB7BrwB0gLPb4/s1600/P1040307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaZaU_Gna5PmXze9_XDKDzMk-DvrSURBhSCudCrSyuKWuzt4sJH1vcMv1KfKouxJUn_4jMbaYtMG1rWEWj_OoQMc8lCX-Zwra0CTuQjxTV4n8bdYbsAWTQJWxLHv8L-HB7BrwB0gLPb4/s320/P1040307.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying our best to pretend that we understand <br />
the rules of the game!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Oh yeah, the polo game. Here’s how polo goes: four players ride
around on four horses during seven-minute intervals. Those periods of time are called chukkers. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/X1pCS8KlSJg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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During the chukkers, the players
are speeding across the field on the polo ponies (not ponies at all, but that’s
what they are called), with the horses kicking up dirt everywhere. After a few of these chukkers, a 10-minute halftime
starts. This is also when the fun
begins.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaA2uS3xbm2ST4w64hZhoDMxy9ZB4yORQI6Ehyphenhyphensa-eNUXqQkuz_s5mZVu6ZyjE-BS9WHjMZ__3dchhWwV0BbmnL3ryc-9fOuqZmCNBBlyIkAbtNACBw7cycO4kdWp21-dsFxwnvmvwx9E/s1600/P1040314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaA2uS3xbm2ST4w64hZhoDMxy9ZB4yORQI6Ehyphenhyphensa-eNUXqQkuz_s5mZVu6ZyjE-BS9WHjMZ__3dchhWwV0BbmnL3ryc-9fOuqZmCNBBlyIkAbtNACBw7cycO4kdWp21-dsFxwnvmvwx9E/s320/P1040314.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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It is now that everyone rushes the
field. They are <i>supposed</i> to be stomping the divots, or pieces of grass the horses
kicked up. Really, everyone is just
bee-lining for this:</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBBFKWFgtTiIduTEqZZPGf8dEbR-8kSKAu-Vs1nMZHu8P2mlK7475-IP_1jBAG4VQbHC4Etc-53EWnk1WY-6AwW23ZR7T5grmIPQGmYC89FihTDErB8MNfVZQgnxoUXThMlixwgetCt4/s1600/P1040315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBBFKWFgtTiIduTEqZZPGf8dEbR-8kSKAu-Vs1nMZHu8P2mlK7475-IP_1jBAG4VQbHC4Etc-53EWnk1WY-6AwW23ZR7T5grmIPQGmYC89FihTDErB8MNfVZQgnxoUXThMlixwgetCt4/s320/P1040315.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just bags of champagne glasses everywhere on the field, a<br />
sport after my own heart! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then this:</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6d_rJHI99YbP0fEP0UA_oHG1FXCqm_NydlT2LM1HQn9lErnKIpZZS9UEWMvMntrN3IE7A8_LflV9LTmCEE0wynuwpIIe-TveuhK6WLODPJIxcz-DkG0bHEWr0-wPxpmc3vHgTcNPy8i8/s1600/P1040317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6d_rJHI99YbP0fEP0UA_oHG1FXCqm_NydlT2LM1HQn9lErnKIpZZS9UEWMvMntrN3IE7A8_LflV9LTmCEE0wynuwpIIe-TveuhK6WLODPJIxcz-DkG0bHEWr0-wPxpmc3vHgTcNPy8i8/s320/P1040317.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men driving pick-up trucks with bottles <br />
upon bottles of sparkling wine unload <br />
their bubbly into our glasses! Forgive<br />
the fuzzy picture, but I didn't want any<br />
socialites stealing my pour!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Which brings me to…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Awesome Thing #2 About Polo: </b>You are invited to drink on the
field. Once the wells ran dry of sparkling
wine on the field, people were <i>much</i> more
interested in stomping the divots.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcA3NRzaNeyCu3xIE9nQttvPmaQG2kAbNRivHfWt26n2sJJWTQcRwe1ndvu82Gbkj28EMUngxaDzrV31lAdMb1qpJ-ktfG3QVEhKXcKCUdH4dNzzoJuBq6cXZEh7YxxbdYov2vprIajgY/s1600/8+Polo!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcA3NRzaNeyCu3xIE9nQttvPmaQG2kAbNRivHfWt26n2sJJWTQcRwe1ndvu82Gbkj28EMUngxaDzrV31lAdMb1qpJ-ktfG3QVEhKXcKCUdH4dNzzoJuBq6cXZEh7YxxbdYov2vprIajgY/s400/8+Polo!.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s just say, hypothetically,
that you ran out of drinks while you were tailgating during this sport. Not to fear.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Awesome Thing #3 About Polo: </b>People ride around the perimeter of
the field on bicycles taking your orders for Veuve Clicquot.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4TRfMIYp6wr6ua-dyJ0c_n0yhmu2rxf_fMSZKKG_rF3m6VN1sDC0YS_D5nHUmWVp3RTQR8oLCv5qzj2ua8i8wzXtxr-G4FeWGBCx-nrsodyJki6CGKTX0p5N34_yZ2O3RG8DeMoghIU/s1600/P1040309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4TRfMIYp6wr6ua-dyJ0c_n0yhmu2rxf_fMSZKKG_rF3m6VN1sDC0YS_D5nHUmWVp3RTQR8oLCv5qzj2ua8i8wzXtxr-G4FeWGBCx-nrsodyJki6CGKTX0p5N34_yZ2O3RG8DeMoghIU/s320/P1040309.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't be silly, <i>I</i> didn't run out of drinks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m very grateful to my co-worker,
Sari, who invited me to this wonderful event! Anyone at all can attend on Sundays through April 21<sup>st</sup>... trust me, it's better than baseball!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4>
Total Cost: $10 admission fee, $10
for parking = $20<br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Best Deal: Well, it’s not exactly a deal, but you can
pay $120 for a Champagne brunch!</span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-39444947847196825072013-02-25T21:30:00.003-05:002013-02-25T21:31:49.618-05:00Why I’m Now in a Fight with Rick Steves (aka Where to Sleep in Brussels)<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Belgian city of <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2013/02/24-hours-in-brussels-holidays-in-town.html" target="_blank">Brussels</a> was a
lovely trip for 24 hours. My only
complaint with this town was where we stayed.
In fact, I’m now in a fight with Rick Steves, the author of dozens of
popular guidebooks, over the situation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaq7QdFBblTGrAvZPZ7iirWcOhIS83u5L7kTmtMR8Y5tGYFf0YmaCKvZlE9Dm-kg0ljwq5lns3CLBPjnBhWaNKtrvJNpxFnbuMHUQKqlKrelJZ-40VYZ5XxM2-2Gp4d0CZXKpp3L_6a88/s1600/w1230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaq7QdFBblTGrAvZPZ7iirWcOhIS83u5L7kTmtMR8Y5tGYFf0YmaCKvZlE9Dm-kg0ljwq5lns3CLBPjnBhWaNKtrvJNpxFnbuMHUQKqlKrelJZ-40VYZ5XxM2-2Gp4d0CZXKpp3L_6a88/s320/w1230.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Here, the <i>Rick Steves’ Amsterdam, Bruges & Brussels </i>book let me down
tremendously (this also happened in <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2012/08/milan-hotel-review-hotel-vecchia-milano.html" target="_blank">Milan</a>,
which is pretty much my least favorite city ever). The book said because Brussels, being the
capital of the European Union, is so busy during the week with business people,
rates drop tremendously on the weekends.
Rick Steves recommended going through a travel website (like Booking.com or <a href="http://www.orbitz.com/" target="_blank">Orbitz</a>) <i>or</i> booking in person at a tourist
information desk (called a TI). Before
we went to a TI, we went to Hotel ‘la Madeleine and they quoted us at €90 per
night. At the TI, we were quoted €100
per night, not any better than what we found on our own! So, strike one against Rick Steves on this
trip.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Strike two came when we got into
the elevator of Hotel ‘la Madeleine. The
elevator was like an inch big and had no walls!
I will ask in advance for your forgiveness of my awful recording skills.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxV1vAImdUOpuOidhPkXf2BfdrKSwwJyzAsjaHfm7IGb67LBWSXINh7EgnTt0h6P7DuHlt0r0J0Jzz1YXUY3g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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I’m usually up for an adventure,
but all I could see was us free-falling the five stories from our floor. And then came strike three.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Mo4OZp3h4zBifazmpEwtCCocSfwrOR1BJCxMF-xbnddEbii2lBfOLeeK4J_nY97OtJuGHhSr3GGGEpHhyphenhyphenM_bVOZNrDCtTjfCpV2cf0HHO85Ur5M4qxHeApHRe-1tmiqup8L0VzjM5Qc/s1600/w1109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Mo4OZp3h4zBifazmpEwtCCocSfwrOR1BJCxMF-xbnddEbii2lBfOLeeK4J_nY97OtJuGHhSr3GGGEpHhyphenhyphenM_bVOZNrDCtTjfCpV2cf0HHO85Ur5M4qxHeApHRe-1tmiqup8L0VzjM5Qc/s320/w1109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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The hotel room actually
sucked. Frank proclaimed it was one of
the worst rooms he ever stay in, and he has stayed in a $3 a night hotel in
Nicaragua. I don’t know if the room was
just plain awful, or if paying $120 for it was the bad part. Or maybe the bad part was the small-ass
window that made me claustrophobic.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAaUj6Qwh9TRtasrkMfgeTAlLtnuj-PxZicteyHeIxwvmJcObYSETStl6-d2QZpoaEstIymqnk1GzDAEqCchuED6821Nd-nhdQKRecRoi0HmsiP00wjCmqLB0yyWY8kTDOx6gOQNffdY/s1600/w1110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAaUj6Qwh9TRtasrkMfgeTAlLtnuj-PxZicteyHeIxwvmJcObYSETStl6-d2QZpoaEstIymqnk1GzDAEqCchuED6821Nd-nhdQKRecRoi0HmsiP00wjCmqLB0yyWY8kTDOx6gOQNffdY/s320/w1110.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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The room wasn’t dirty though, so
that was a plus. Also, the bathroom,
though as small as a shoebox, was updated.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsifkwnXuruGIGo-HgaoQKlNjnqaDybsrPb7FJfnXn_YQ5pclW_DgLfwfrh3ejoltm7OZcLTSOAyKyiZ94U8A5zbg8TOa2qSrvfM5G712arn6Jrf_i7Nt5_DvICNLhCwbyiShuvDA9nI/s1600/w1242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsifkwnXuruGIGo-HgaoQKlNjnqaDybsrPb7FJfnXn_YQ5pclW_DgLfwfrh3ejoltm7OZcLTSOAyKyiZ94U8A5zbg8TOa2qSrvfM5G712arn6Jrf_i7Nt5_DvICNLhCwbyiShuvDA9nI/s320/w1242.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the up side, there was a free
breakfast in the morning that was decent. And the staff was nice enough, but I’ve had
better service at a Holiday Inn.
Luckily, the location <i>was</i>
great, right on Agora square, which is just a few hundred feet from the Central
Station, where most trains stop.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-CwT8yf6hX_ro9JFvys1pvPtBH_tgz7oKR12AdrHq3yUp5wkdQjk1_-_4g11geBID8p3DA7bn__s5QRqJmOuu6MYtYMH7kh7G-W_O48v01W_DlASnkr1VXRPvR0pRUKQOZMeD-AmkCo/s1600/w1236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-CwT8yf6hX_ro9JFvys1pvPtBH_tgz7oKR12AdrHq3yUp5wkdQjk1_-_4g11geBID8p3DA7bn__s5QRqJmOuu6MYtYMH7kh7G-W_O48v01W_DlASnkr1VXRPvR0pRUKQOZMeD-AmkCo/s320/w1236.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our hotel is around the right corner, the train<br />
station is around the left corner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This hotel touts itself for
business people, but if I were a business person in this room, I would blow my
lid. Luckily, I am a pretty laid-back
tourist, so I’m just going to get into a silent argument with a guy who writes
guidebooks.</div>
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<br /></div>
<h4>
Total Cost: €90 ($120)<br />Best Deal: Here’s a not good deal:
you had to pay for Internet access! I
don’t know how the alleged business people who stay here do it!</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-26253988471836505312013-02-23T13:58:00.003-05:002013-02-23T16:48:59.963-05:0024 Hours in… Brussels – The Holidays in a Town Famous for a Peeing Boy<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The holiday season in Europe is unlike the holidays in the
States. People in Europe <i>love</i> Christmas. Each town has a different festival to
celebrate the season and it puts the people in a town in a great mood. I think my favorite city for Christmas in
Europe was Brussels, Belgium.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cDw5I6DcDdDAq-V3yDgIvlgXIIKGrVW8doIm74tgG4vPih-QTy56UD0u0nAYSumeYNzo3MhI8XMBZI_lQ1inTBNyoUBJTskKXWNPmM_C56gGNouBaw1jSmnMOugfwCiAbBB2wmBl0uw/s1600/w1200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cDw5I6DcDdDAq-V3yDgIvlgXIIKGrVW8doIm74tgG4vPih-QTy56UD0u0nAYSumeYNzo3MhI8XMBZI_lQ1inTBNyoUBJTskKXWNPmM_C56gGNouBaw1jSmnMOugfwCiAbBB2wmBl0uw/s320/w1200.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I mean it when I say 24 hours in Brussels is all you
need. Even during the holidays, though your
time will be gloriously jam-packed, when you leave, you won’t have missed a
thing. What you will have done is
enjoyed Winter Pret, the winter festival here.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheArk5ixGpYwhiDxueIZQzste3Dp8MHEWDXPd_36_p6FSegseEhZ5SD16lGeqnypNGBlXY2JSf5HhDwwZs9gbUeVHds0kO7QS1xOXIsWBaHEo4r63T8pZxnDACGA45fR1j8104l3YHSfE/s1600/w1207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheArk5ixGpYwhiDxueIZQzste3Dp8MHEWDXPd_36_p6FSegseEhZ5SD16lGeqnypNGBlXY2JSf5HhDwwZs9gbUeVHds0kO7QS1xOXIsWBaHEo4r63T8pZxnDACGA45fR1j8104l3YHSfE/s320/w1207.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We certainly enjoyed Winter Pret!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Brussels, everything starts and ends at the Grand
Place. This is the most popular square
in all the city. It’s where you’ll find
Town Hall, and most importantly, during the holidays, this is where you’ll find
the city’s light show: Les Nuits Electrabel<span style="color: #669999;"> (</span>Electrabel
Nights).<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/jlX7xjPKkto?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Grand Place is packed with people during any time of the
year, but especially during the winter holidays. Even from blocks away, you can see the action
going on at this square.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY0-6XLp2BjfPkIxEdbEzfLjop86OGN48QRCjN21DNPR_LpXSrpjaF_Q15gTWjeVf68IQW0F3yGvQbQdfs7o6kLqG5ZmF17dW3whPxsErXMLVKiG3IhJRu3beIHatkmzdAchh1nNT1po/s1600/w1237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY0-6XLp2BjfPkIxEdbEzfLjop86OGN48QRCjN21DNPR_LpXSrpjaF_Q15gTWjeVf68IQW0F3yGvQbQdfs7o6kLqG5ZmF17dW3whPxsErXMLVKiG3IhJRu3beIHatkmzdAchh1nNT1po/s320/w1237.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A look at Grand Place from our hotel a few<br />
blocks away</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To see the most notable landmark in all of Brussels, take
Rue de l’Etuve to Manneken Pis. What is
Manneken Pis you ask?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPuiwixVf1ncptuT_r3NnNPN13Q38zIzntIL9W6mTm9OzyzCDSqUlpYqTws9DSwlr6taZee-qfuskV4ZAtAZ5ya9vgvPl63y3fq9UQfKegIXSHqWf9Cr4bwbjpYEl1gCwxrq8LoFWbeI/s1600/w1222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPuiwixVf1ncptuT_r3NnNPN13Q38zIzntIL9W6mTm9OzyzCDSqUlpYqTws9DSwlr6taZee-qfuskV4ZAtAZ5ya9vgvPl63y3fq9UQfKegIXSHqWf9Cr4bwbjpYEl1gCwxrq8LoFWbeI/s320/w1222.JPG" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is an approximately two-foot tall statue of a peeing boy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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This statue has been around since the 1600s and there are
several legends surrounding this very unusual landmark. Did it come about <a href="http://www.brussels.irisnet.be/culture-tourism-leisure/brussels-folklore/mannekenpis" target="_blank">after a little boy relieved himself</a> on an invading army’s gunpowder, thereby making the explosives useless? Maybe it was from a man who could not find his son and when he did, he <a href="http://www.brussels.info/peeing-boy" target="_blank">gifted this statue to the city</a>. Whatever the story, Manneken Pis loves the
holidays.</div>
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<br />
In fact, Manneken Pis loves lots of days, and has different
outfits to prove it that you can see by clicking <a href="http://www.brussels.be/artdet.cfm?id=4960&function=PICTUREBOOK" target="_blank">here</a> (Personally, I’m a little sad that I didn’t
see him dressed up as Santa Claus). In
fact, he has about 800 outfits, sent from embassies, tourist offices, and
people around the world. You can see
them all at the Musèe de la Ville de Bruxelles, also known as the <a href="http://www.museedelavilledebruxelles.be/fr/accueil/" target="_blank">Museum of theCity of Brussels</a>. It costs <b>€4
to enter the museum</b> (which I did not go to). But I digress, I was talking
about the holidays in Belgium, not little peeing boys.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laughing at how little it is. The statue,<br />
people! Get your minds out of the<br />
gutters!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The Winter Pret continues
throughout the city, but you’ll find the most to do in the area known as the
Fish Market.</div>
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There you’ll find merry-go-rounds…</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51Pmn-EnA00X_AfWSJhm59LcEspWq8O-EM21Pw41N3nX77Q5k-kul8nL-ta0UF-q7AgbutCy4NAkbRKYz2ePWDD70jLaJlzpjOvETzO5_AdTwlut5U-wzAy1xmXb9zBN6A_hLVHnh0Qk/s1600/w1157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51Pmn-EnA00X_AfWSJhm59LcEspWq8O-EM21Pw41N3nX77Q5k-kul8nL-ta0UF-q7AgbutCy4NAkbRKYz2ePWDD70jLaJlzpjOvETzO5_AdTwlut5U-wzAy1xmXb9zBN6A_hLVHnh0Qk/s320/w1157.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't see one horse on this merry-go-round.<br />
I did see rockets, boats, and tigers though,<br />
which is so much cooler!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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A ferris wheel…</div>
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And an ice skating rink. Which Frank was dead-set on going to. Luckily, it was pretty economical at only <b>€5 to skate</b>.</div>
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It was really fun for a few laps!</div>
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Then we remembered we weren’t much
of ice skaters and our ankles hurt. So
we did what any normal person would do and found a bar.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And we didn't even have to take off our skates!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We had to convince a lady at a
nearby stand to bring us the beer to the actual ice, but she was down.</div>
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There, much better!</div>
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This part of the Winter Pret also
has about a mile worth of booths in what is called the Christmas Market. You could find shirts and candles for sale,
as well as food.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is why I love Europe! I ordered fried calamari and sparkling<br />
wine from a fair stand! It cost less than<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">€20!</span></span></td></tr>
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As you walk the streets through
the Winter Pret, you’ll see some cool features unrelated to the holidays. For example, a comic strip on a wall:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHo3WXrogpK8DmoVlJpUXLOUG8TWW0ZDpjazL_-SPPPMnvhg-mWBdAkeb_WSev2UxbWoHBkyOCpYu3-lqZqXhy7TuUSXBxd_fXtfPGC1pU_htQYcIeWg96oJVV6JkMgqZR3WANsMfsC_w/s1600/w1210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHo3WXrogpK8DmoVlJpUXLOUG8TWW0ZDpjazL_-SPPPMnvhg-mWBdAkeb_WSev2UxbWoHBkyOCpYu3-lqZqXhy7TuUSXBxd_fXtfPGC1pU_htQYcIeWg96oJVV6JkMgqZR3WANsMfsC_w/s320/w1210.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is just one of the 50 <a href="http://visitbrussels.be/bitc/BE_en/walk/344/brussels-and-comic-strip.do" target="_blank">comic strip scenes</a> <br />
painted on the walls of buildings in Brussels</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In the “things I didn’t know until
I got here” file: Brussels is home to many famous comic strips. The one Americans are most familiar with is <i>The</i> <i>Smurfs</i>!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfj5ZsKRo2vPrmDZhOVwwVVjeMxyok8W0n90yy4gnT9Sfe7lR2sFVdXtxF3IR0FxqkwWVgjYS1jYTXYes9VaSTTNJi3V_jAGGM3YNEVu1p7dBwShNIiA1BoFrRziTyonKbFToQy7cJrhM/s1600/w1229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfj5ZsKRo2vPrmDZhOVwwVVjeMxyok8W0n90yy4gnT9Sfe7lR2sFVdXtxF3IR0FxqkwWVgjYS1jYTXYes9VaSTTNJi3V_jAGGM3YNEVu1p7dBwShNIiA1BoFrRziTyonKbFToQy7cJrhM/s320/w1229.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Smurfs" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>, there are more than 100<br />
Smurfs based on different adjectives. Here,<br />
I am "Freezing Cold Smurf."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Brussels also has awesome bars
like Le Cirio, complete with a gilded age-esque interior.</div>
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For two beers, our tab was <b>€7.90</b> <i>and</i> we got a little dish of snacks.</div>
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<br />
Winter festival or not, Brussels
is a great place to spend a day. If you
have more time, do yourself a favor and go to <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2013/02/a-weekend-in-bruges-belgium-four-things.html" target="_blank">Bruges </a>as well (about an hour away) for a complete taste of the Belgian experience.</div>
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Ice skating: €10 for two people</div>
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Drinks at ice skating rink: €8 for
two</div>
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Food from the booths: €18 for
calamari and champagne, €10 for sausage sandwich and beer</div>
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Drinks at Le Cirio: €7.90</div>
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<h4>
Total Cost: €53.90 (that’s about
$72 for drinks <i>and</i> entertainment)<br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Best Deal: Getting a drink on the ice!</span></h4>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-55384345362201882972013-02-19T21:17:00.000-05:002013-02-19T21:18:22.088-05:00A Weekend in Bruges, Belgium – Four Things You MUST Do and Two You Can SkipLast summer, I went to a glorious medieval town in Italy.
Barely six months later I found myself in another town dating back to the first
century BC – Bruges, Belgium.<br />
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<br />
Economical is not the first word I think of here, but you can save by cutting out the attractions that aren't worth your money... or time.
Here are four things you <i>must</i> do in this picturesque city and what to skip.</div>
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<b><u>Getting There</u></b><br />
<br />
Since Bruges doesn’t have an airport, you'll no doubt arrive to this town
midday via a train from Brussels. Your first stop: The central part of Bruges,
where you'll find…</div>
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<b><u>Four Things to Do<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCEEUWz5vBZHy5EwTVCYlHnCl9mLOhw_HTlADaon9hSi-Tes8qwh6OBm5Qed95wIDFsASqA9DFSRDl98Kymfo6EQ2rjrBB3B6pbixEXSiyOBtQSKcceZJNfTp0L9_gOYxYaC0m-Vil-8/s1600/w1059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCEEUWz5vBZHy5EwTVCYlHnCl9mLOhw_HTlADaon9hSi-Tes8qwh6OBm5Qed95wIDFsASqA9DFSRDl98Kymfo6EQ2rjrBB3B6pbixEXSiyOBtQSKcceZJNfTp0L9_gOYxYaC0m-Vil-8/s320/w1059.JPG" width="252" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3>
<b>1. Walk the Markt (no
"e")</b></h3>
</div>
<br />
Stores and restaurants <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">reminiscent o</span>f gingerbread houses line the Markt, which,
during the holidays, is bustling with booths selling everything from Irish coffee...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AN_yknsEOEr-J51-hncic6Mmu69MLiisNKyE8THwLPfvR7nIG1aV1b4zE3TXLrkhtTxzOg-5pf7-GWcFIeXa5q_sD2mKnPbB-S7GAVETS2YRfJ9Ktycw8UTySDVKzL7ocxpw5Pf4mh0/s1600/w1039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AN_yknsEOEr-J51-hncic6Mmu69MLiisNKyE8THwLPfvR7nIG1aV1b4zE3TXLrkhtTxzOg-5pf7-GWcFIeXa5q_sD2mKnPbB-S7GAVETS2YRfJ9Ktycw8UTySDVKzL7ocxpw5Pf4mh0/s320/w1039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
To stuffed animal gator hats.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA57tF59v-iMoib0SGFzbj0VtAoBiVUQi5mNNBAJpvEw1BhGRbtI8WdJ_WodW0yZqE4B35H3CZ2txo1tOZMcWQLgSN8MO9qC6b76g2k4JYXWbwXaDLE6DhX0h86cSFy5pDFiuhVQW98kI/s1600/w1044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA57tF59v-iMoib0SGFzbj0VtAoBiVUQi5mNNBAJpvEw1BhGRbtI8WdJ_WodW0yZqE4B35H3CZ2txo1tOZMcWQLgSN8MO9qC6b76g2k4JYXWbwXaDLE6DhX0h86cSFy5pDFiuhVQW98kI/s320/w1044.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You wouldn't think he would actually buy this... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CvdleljR5fcT3Dyx2e2KYMKlSFeJMO4oe6UtOPejhLfDW8St4uZ0u5Z9WdhJweFyJpu1Fh3zS8X6L51BJtut8yn1pPr0Sm0lO1c721xcM4_ZmTbYLykU8HfxSlkwS03zeDOc4Uh5alc/s1600/w1073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CvdleljR5fcT3Dyx2e2KYMKlSFeJMO4oe6UtOPejhLfDW8St4uZ0u5Z9WdhJweFyJpu1Fh3zS8X6L51BJtut8yn1pPr0Sm0lO1c721xcM4_ZmTbYLykU8HfxSlkwS03zeDOc4Uh5alc/s320/w1073.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...but he did. And he proceeded to walk<br />
around the city with it on his head.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Belfort is the biggest architectural attraction on the Markt, built in the
13th century.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1OWcKCvE0lAon7LbbuZB76O6UnY5scvI7Gj_G0I8_wnN_rvffPBIobiSflRYxyDgHpDiNAPELTxbhiBFKvwsv6iRnLvsqw0vcbvKrYAu_t1j2fhTJazztOGNtrACz82Hj3ZbA5rmjxk/s1600/w1060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1OWcKCvE0lAon7LbbuZB76O6UnY5scvI7Gj_G0I8_wnN_rvffPBIobiSflRYxyDgHpDiNAPELTxbhiBFKvwsv6iRnLvsqw0vcbvKrYAu_t1j2fhTJazztOGNtrACz82Hj3ZbA5rmjxk/s320/w1060.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
As you walk around Markt, take in the sights and sounds of a little town with
lots of tourists. But most importantly, take in the smells, as there are
delicious scents on every corner. And the best thing is, <b>walking around is</b> <b>free</b>.<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h3>
<b>2. Visit the
Chocolate Shops</b></h3>
</div>
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<br />
Bruges is most well-known for its chocolates. From the usual...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAiWrywekbT5-dtRNX0E5Hy6tWEtwWXpcsgXYI1UsHoj6a9BDEYygZ2VV4QQGHpSc_Qgz5ZJAd-g_dWlWAzGfbTmoo-16EXIE8wAi1kZ7nxsgkDFJjMAFMCcpVTnzPTwfjblpJU1kNJdc/s1600/w1040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAiWrywekbT5-dtRNX0E5Hy6tWEtwWXpcsgXYI1UsHoj6a9BDEYygZ2VV4QQGHpSc_Qgz5ZJAd-g_dWlWAzGfbTmoo-16EXIE8wAi1kZ7nxsgkDFJjMAFMCcpVTnzPTwfjblpJU1kNJdc/s320/w1040.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
To the unique...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdkHIIznbdzYkzBwUlLV14yz5-UgFV7vragwhMkxfp4KDcXPYgq96tEtu9q299SwjSodWgfZHOvBiweNwHX6kOdykPW3orDZKXh4VVQaAcUXY9SoiWIHDvm0WVk58-HHg5d5pa2S4v5I/s1600/w1056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdkHIIznbdzYkzBwUlLV14yz5-UgFV7vragwhMkxfp4KDcXPYgq96tEtu9q299SwjSodWgfZHOvBiweNwHX6kOdykPW3orDZKXh4VVQaAcUXY9SoiWIHDvm0WVk58-HHg5d5pa2S4v5I/s320/w1056.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This store, The Chocolate Line, sold Cannabis chocolate, along<br />
with other unusual flavors like Havana cigar, wasabi, and saffron.<br />
Just so you know, I'd stick to the more normal flavors like hazelnut<br />
chocolate - called Brugges Biscuit - as it's a little strange to have<br />
your chocolate tasting like yellow rice.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
To the flat out weird.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPqEfwc47jJdrMib0cnoYh89eMTwfH-vIIXSR1-suXbKWoww6ShnGVHrcF3yqb_Ay6_jtWzk6-w4amtywU9v9FMYpze808PEfv1fSWoqy_3VCvkxwLMhwWXQJTyRpe86OzSrXvYlmv5c/s1600/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPqEfwc47jJdrMib0cnoYh89eMTwfH-vIIXSR1-suXbKWoww6ShnGVHrcF3yqb_Ay6_jtWzk6-w4amtywU9v9FMYpze808PEfv1fSWoqy_3VCvkxwLMhwWXQJTyRpe86OzSrXvYlmv5c/s400/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Sample away until your stomach hurts. The wasabi chocolates can be found at <a href="http://www.thechocolateline.be/index.asp?taal=en" target="_blank">The Chocolate Line</a>, just a few
blocks from the Markt, but I thought the best sweet stuff was sold at <a href="http://www.chocolatierdumon.be/" target="_blank">Dumon</a>, right
behind the Markt. That's where we got chocolate dipped orange slices.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxlkljt-hQiNyHhG5aQUc4_CXa2aCnebkGxbESniTPXgxwsss9grhpJuG-CIg_WiHR3qvJL7KlohBfBenvN_PzP4W2gKcFt6Aj15Ac_G0ZgFmhTJaf-viMY8-vfl0S5iAk-3sxLooq7Q/s1600/w1069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxlkljt-hQiNyHhG5aQUc4_CXa2aCnebkGxbESniTPXgxwsss9grhpJuG-CIg_WiHR3qvJL7KlohBfBenvN_PzP4W2gKcFt6Aj15Ac_G0ZgFmhTJaf-viMY8-vfl0S5iAk-3sxLooq7Q/s320/w1069.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eating gourmet chocolate in his gator hat!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As you walk the streets, you’ll find lots of clothing stores
as well, and many a lace shop, as Bruges is known for the intricate lacing
work.</div>
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You’ll also find weird warnings about pickpockets.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vGt9rhEOgNeq6Im-H3q8i8YGvXHnqYmDMcoIULPA3VPj2Xa7sHSZV14pqSvh5uln6PfkT3h6Ss6vGXQN1xDfAi-Lru7Cvqia4lkpBbUsmPFCl8NTju37yP3cPouJFitIiuEtdCPBdEc/s1600/w1100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vGt9rhEOgNeq6Im-H3q8i8YGvXHnqYmDMcoIULPA3VPj2Xa7sHSZV14pqSvh5uln6PfkT3h6Ss6vGXQN1xDfAi-Lru7Cvqia4lkpBbUsmPFCl8NTju37yP3cPouJFitIiuEtdCPBdEc/s320/w1100.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone was actually manning this booth.<br />
That's a very unusual, and perhaps boring, job.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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As long as you watch your wallet <i>literally</i>, you’ll only spend about <b>€8</b>
<b>on a bag of chocolate</b>, even at the more expensive places like The Chocolate Line.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<h3>
<b>3. Bike Around Bruges</b></h3>
</div>
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This is by far the best way to see this medieval city. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNw3rwh42WVH6McAK-zh-cs2QaoNoJ2upfXw0pzj5rtQG61dPiCBUAUPAsLnhkePaZwx42d7UYsWqWOB6ju65C7yD_2GC8XlHTpQeDaLD4vFl8dp1BUmJrvY1ckfcn9HzgTt_G1wICYwg/s1600/w956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNw3rwh42WVH6McAK-zh-cs2QaoNoJ2upfXw0pzj5rtQG61dPiCBUAUPAsLnhkePaZwx42d7UYsWqWOB6ju65C7yD_2GC8XlHTpQeDaLD4vFl8dp1BUmJrvY1ckfcn9HzgTt_G1wICYwg/s320/w956.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
You can bike along bike paths, canopied trails, and bridges
around this medieval city. The paths
will take you past windmills…</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37tbrBV6LGTuzHz_xboODqMdygILasurSiVbbyk2wVVU18KMZ1ZYtJqaJb9FcevNhaU8XqngIQkwRy0yxN6CVPUdybkyXY5byz1wWSuudgPT3Umoc_fWFHIRD3VAjhI9Z64eoR_htgDk/s1600/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37tbrBV6LGTuzHz_xboODqMdygILasurSiVbbyk2wVVU18KMZ1ZYtJqaJb9FcevNhaU8XqngIQkwRy0yxN6CVPUdybkyXY5byz1wWSuudgPT3Umoc_fWFHIRD3VAjhI9Z64eoR_htgDk/s640/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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By medieval watch towers…</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5jZ637W6eGOzOnzlgwIDJvzoOQ6RLzLDnD40zNFCuNS5KN8u_n7Ys0Jcm4EkMKEDQk-sxfFyN_Omxm1fO5J5xyr3FASsX2bG9LgBTo5Zik8HXWA1dHGG1LH3dKeAp_5lbdkdMtUKLpU/s1600/w1029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5jZ637W6eGOzOnzlgwIDJvzoOQ6RLzLDnD40zNFCuNS5KN8u_n7Ys0Jcm4EkMKEDQk-sxfFyN_Omxm1fO5J5xyr3FASsX2bG9LgBTo5Zik8HXWA1dHGG1LH3dKeAp_5lbdkdMtUKLpU/s320/w1029.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
And through the Koning Albert I Park (that’s King Albert if
you don’t speak Dutch).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittDTF9lB_hrakZUlBTiBZgrmQb7O9NKWQGzFFYqFXRDVXE_IEhjmcBTIG84kNbo0lzR6EIvp75OTdbCubGtVugfFx9zc-jBczhM-VpUbMzLSGZqlNiTTIvG4VDDyhPfyaPUDXQjJUGtg/s1600/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittDTF9lB_hrakZUlBTiBZgrmQb7O9NKWQGzFFYqFXRDVXE_IEhjmcBTIG84kNbo0lzR6EIvp75OTdbCubGtVugfFx9zc-jBczhM-VpUbMzLSGZqlNiTTIvG4VDDyhPfyaPUDXQjJUGtg/s640/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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If you’re up for a longer journey, you can cycle the approximately
seven kilometers (that’s four and half miles) to the city of Damme.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumo5rnebVJpfxQOpTEAl09-dzW3fe1AbZQVOm142B0Eyj51y2M1WT6tfwO40mtZzHh906SRUmyIJ3d9DFFtUOyw2fTH7RoLV6k5lKEtiLM_sk345YeBxm8kYcz1VFnmssEW4hpu165N4/s1600/w986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumo5rnebVJpfxQOpTEAl09-dzW3fe1AbZQVOm142B0Eyj51y2M1WT6tfwO40mtZzHh906SRUmyIJ3d9DFFtUOyw2fTH7RoLV6k5lKEtiLM_sk345YeBxm8kYcz1VFnmssEW4hpu165N4/s320/w986.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The road to Damme is a bit empty, but it provides lots of<br />
opportunities for plays on the town name - God Damme!<br />
Damme Bike Ride!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In Damme, you’ll find a cool church with very interesting
architecture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtPU95ZxYmO78nlC4nJqI5_ZP6KTOg7VVHpn4pb6dwa9JQ3eC2dUdqHkHvlh6G9CSPLwTnrz32pC_bEcQ5X_xAFltSAum3WFqn0yvQiUZT9HSV8dIUe_g56PY_e0XjKh38TfE17qTFgU/s1600/w991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtPU95ZxYmO78nlC4nJqI5_ZP6KTOg7VVHpn4pb6dwa9JQ3eC2dUdqHkHvlh6G9CSPLwTnrz32pC_bEcQ5X_xAFltSAum3WFqn0yvQiUZT9HSV8dIUe_g56PY_e0XjKh38TfE17qTFgU/s320/w991.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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The trees surrounded the church look like something out of <i>The Wizard of Oz</i>.</div>
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<br />
Word of warning: in the winter time, Damme is just a little
dead (Damme city!). </div>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkM8c0B5OtrVIIDieuyUiqzhwoU9V00qCoqNNwPmqK6skZbb-OQOszgCl8bMeTKNiCxgmFpY5DPZDoaid_TrjOyMJIbgiEu5jiRwEIh2_sA94OS_oCLsPCTT_10wkMfQFAOuxK6KNp9NY/s1600/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkM8c0B5OtrVIIDieuyUiqzhwoU9V00qCoqNNwPmqK6skZbb-OQOszgCl8bMeTKNiCxgmFpY5DPZDoaid_TrjOyMJIbgiEu5jiRwEIh2_sA94OS_oCLsPCTT_10wkMfQFAOuxK6KNp9NY/s640/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a soul in sight!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Even the windmill was closed for business.</div>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFRFkVbaaKUP8mWU7VUr11uPcAZF4OLaLMeI8YlEu0JeUlvEnZQKbwVBMltZjH_H1U0UEM6Lc02FKe-m0CX-tlgdm7MPej5rQyLAybwRLiLQs6LMWUFnu2oHeMgNnBg_DyGKnPerONRQ/s1600/w1002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFRFkVbaaKUP8mWU7VUr11uPcAZF4OLaLMeI8YlEu0JeUlvEnZQKbwVBMltZjH_H1U0UEM6Lc02FKe-m0CX-tlgdm7MPej5rQyLAybwRLiLQs6LMWUFnu2oHeMgNnBg_DyGKnPerONRQ/s320/w1002.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Take that windmill! We will drink wine<br />
out of our bota bag instead!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
If you do decide to embark on a bike ride during the winter
months (we were there in January), BUNDLE UP!</div>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KXp_R59eup63TP1PCv9ac4TE646OJILRCYwhiPUxDhe42cNxIBP1XmSG34Imu_ZqyHFlYZqz3w1dlMF48dxrO3E7OMQ0xmiZNyiIUWrNv6NqCsR0GevqpER19t-gxDdmDhFgpGv6dgI/s1600/w1032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KXp_R59eup63TP1PCv9ac4TE646OJILRCYwhiPUxDhe42cNxIBP1XmSG34Imu_ZqyHFlYZqz3w1dlMF48dxrO3E7OMQ0xmiZNyiIUWrNv6NqCsR0GevqpER19t-gxDdmDhFgpGv6dgI/s320/w1032.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is freakin' freezin' out here!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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But besides frostbite, the bikes were only <b>€12</b> <b>per</b> <b>day</b>.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h3>
<b>4. Eat!</b></h3>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The food in Bruges will not disappoint you. We went to several awesome restaurants, but
no place had better food than De Windmolen.
Mainly because it felt colder than 30°F outside, but also because of
this:</div>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE33zJgO8RlbjzNW0HoNhZZx0niYDTmTrskt4725diNuSv8T5aTeBcEVA0vQfFfChTAJJnyTGEXDFSYeGSRC9xxBX8qxKtzMyX24B6OErkvecCDqpfe6JyvMd-qLV_-ZHm9zm2317hjEQ/s1600/w1025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE33zJgO8RlbjzNW0HoNhZZx0niYDTmTrskt4725diNuSv8T5aTeBcEVA0vQfFfChTAJJnyTGEXDFSYeGSRC9xxBX8qxKtzMyX24B6OErkvecCDqpfe6JyvMd-qLV_-ZHm9zm2317hjEQ/s320/w1025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The Belgians do <i>not</i>
play when it comes to Belgian waffles.
You can by them from stands all around the city for about €1.50, but we
shelled out <b>€4</b> <b>each for this delicious treat </b>in a restaurant, complete with whipped cream and
powdered sugar. The view from this
restaurant couldn’t be beat either.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFefQIAFCuq6hF3vsElr5FFTAvdwPyTOsx_DYMLeVb-hICA31vPyYjeJMbQx-bTVrWcieUbdleMcsp0Hl3Ruxt_SeUG4eY2eJ6I9kKRksRxKb6jVcmgpDLjvJ8DQ8Uyge8jbieIcab6J4/s1600/w1026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFefQIAFCuq6hF3vsElr5FFTAvdwPyTOsx_DYMLeVb-hICA31vPyYjeJMbQx-bTVrWcieUbdleMcsp0Hl3Ruxt_SeUG4eY2eJ6I9kKRksRxKb6jVcmgpDLjvJ8DQ8Uyge8jbieIcab6J4/s320/w1026.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just staring out at a windmill. Not something<br />
you'd traditionally see where I'm from!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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The Belgians also love them some seafood. Mussels are the specialty.</div>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipu3ttu8t2H22piNnMgN-HMSczlGiD5l7wzH2v-oowjDfgfGPZ16TzE75aGSHR7WPE2N0yr91iT80tFk-rNVYd1HCE8rnMGBshyphenhyphentpCatbkICzR16VVMgxR9VEucltD4YeXG6v4i_geAAY/s1600/w930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipu3ttu8t2H22piNnMgN-HMSczlGiD5l7wzH2v-oowjDfgfGPZ16TzE75aGSHR7WPE2N0yr91iT80tFk-rNVYd1HCE8rnMGBshyphenhyphentpCatbkICzR16VVMgxR9VEucltD4YeXG6v4i_geAAY/s320/w930.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These were more mussels than any normal human being<br />
could eat, but I certainly tried!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
They also like escargot…</div>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTu4wMWyQ2TgKnXOcwtATN5XleR2PENqwxwQ7yhSVKpr_4CSzvlLQVy46FU6sLYgYb0Y8aZfABunDzoCrvZZ80gVDV-K7mMBtsLJnbGtl8FenKmK35iqfQMj4Yw-P1kAG6JGrpgCwcwW4/s1600/w929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTu4wMWyQ2TgKnXOcwtATN5XleR2PENqwxwQ7yhSVKpr_4CSzvlLQVy46FU6sLYgYb0Y8aZfABunDzoCrvZZ80gVDV-K7mMBtsLJnbGtl8FenKmK35iqfQMj4Yw-P1kAG6JGrpgCwcwW4/s320/w929.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And even rabbit.</div>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zgWe9yzM3tpQLuQ8BPV6Tuh7pO8Cxh3TiMW7H6URQaa_dPSiBCMfpRccT6Bfjl2S7yrK1jeJo64ttAOM5x1qrHvDnCmoTSp36DVMtuwOMPqIZG-FKmvH6gaXQkBa5H-DbTvVnSR_77Y/s1600/w932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zgWe9yzM3tpQLuQ8BPV6Tuh7pO8Cxh3TiMW7H6URQaa_dPSiBCMfpRccT6Bfjl2S7yrK1jeJo64ttAOM5x1qrHvDnCmoTSp36DVMtuwOMPqIZG-FKmvH6gaXQkBa5H-DbTvVnSR_77Y/s320/w932.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And you can’t forget frittes, better known as French fries
(actually invented in Belgium, so they should be called Belgian fries, but I don’t
think that has the same ring).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ29vIuAdvQxbt5CaxU4-tpUXJ1qUEPBa9YK2ssn_Hn5m-hqWx9dS_udDR93_vFBlY7mNIMa8zlh8EVl0y9ximksYylfWdKKkG8N_sr9owlF73iGVakwbV0ib5fnuw8wdK9YJDgWk95lo/s1600/w933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ29vIuAdvQxbt5CaxU4-tpUXJ1qUEPBa9YK2ssn_Hn5m-hqWx9dS_udDR93_vFBlY7mNIMa8zlh8EVl0y9ximksYylfWdKKkG8N_sr9owlF73iGVakwbV0ib5fnuw8wdK9YJDgWk95lo/s320/w933.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
The mussels, escargot and rabbit came from the restaurant on
the Markt called The Belfort. The food
was delicious, the service was less than desirable. Plus, we pretty much had to take out a loan
to eat here… the grand total of <b>the bill
at the Belfort was</b> <b>€112.50</b> (that’s
$150!).</div>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvprmJ1Jv4PdCWb3I8U0MKD2lKUCmzBSNXJHc-rkOG-HqIFUeLubzSIi6Z4bvK9alNH_CQfOOBJ3GVPd6Mrc7GD1V8L0tsyz-71rCRVKOIhbVb_XUy2DL8xWk29AWPMpWIzLjxqMN-Do/s1600/w928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvprmJ1Jv4PdCWb3I8U0MKD2lKUCmzBSNXJHc-rkOG-HqIFUeLubzSIi6Z4bvK9alNH_CQfOOBJ3GVPd6Mrc7GD1V8L0tsyz-71rCRVKOIhbVb_XUy2DL8xWk29AWPMpWIzLjxqMN-Do/s320/w928.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Food = Delicious<br />
Service = Poor<br />
Value = Very Poor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Just a few blocks away, we found superior service along with
delicious food at t’ Fonteintje.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauAE3zwHAsOtmUktqRZPuBF4Qm8iydydcsRnvwARbh_Q-UQbonpcdi74b1N6ljys5t3cijNuLrrsJFTm-BZkpgcd_AIrKaRiyAv690agLcN7jytSCqgyaXy57dpIpU-JJsY6InwaRbgg/s1600/w1095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauAE3zwHAsOtmUktqRZPuBF4Qm8iydydcsRnvwARbh_Q-UQbonpcdi74b1N6ljys5t3cijNuLrrsJFTm-BZkpgcd_AIrKaRiyAv690agLcN7jytSCqgyaXy57dpIpU-JJsY6InwaRbgg/s320/w1095.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, that's my husband in the gator hat!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There, we got seafood gratin (me) and sausage rolls (Frank)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILA93QOKZQMUTHLReGfKrsTBVYKBxuvGeqEJQouuQrZVuSnOmjTdXTY5ZO-Yb1ziajKcAL2P7JJ64JjTeXUgc7iWeQ-t9cnX9t0OfZrGYOLPU31Rz2yFg5jcr_OcQxkI-jYo1tct8tE4/s1600/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILA93QOKZQMUTHLReGfKrsTBVYKBxuvGeqEJQouuQrZVuSnOmjTdXTY5ZO-Yb1ziajKcAL2P7JJ64JjTeXUgc7iWeQ-t9cnX9t0OfZrGYOLPU31Rz2yFg5jcr_OcQxkI-jYo1tct8tE4/s640/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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<b>This meal at t’
Fonteintje only cost</b> <b>€59</b>, almost
half of our first dinner at The Belfort!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And you can’t forget the drinks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9EhJLs2uJ6OcJY2u5cEcjNMJ0Mk54j_msRdQXkoEteY_N_wALFqJhNL259mCHUDlxob5rLplc5DYubgTPUQfMla9kQYXxKBsiEVPGNaukaMiBkob1LlIWmjhb78Ya8GHNZyDEc_eBPo/s1600/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9EhJLs2uJ6OcJY2u5cEcjNMJ0Mk54j_msRdQXkoEteY_N_wALFqJhNL259mCHUDlxob5rLplc5DYubgTPUQfMla9kQYXxKBsiEVPGNaukaMiBkob1LlIWmjhb78Ya8GHNZyDEc_eBPo/s400/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium10.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoegaarden, Stella Artois, Chimay, Duvel and Palm are just a few of the<br />
many, many beers we sampled</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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Each <b>beer runs about</b>
<b>€4</b>, but some are more expensive because
the alcohol content is higher.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Two Things to Skip</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Salvador Dali<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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If you’re short on time or money, take the <a href="http://www.dali-interart.be/engl_events.htm" target="_blank">Salvador Dali exhibit</a> off your list. It is in the Belfort in the Markt area of
Bruges. As far as Salvador Dali exhibits go, the one in St. Petersburg, Florida is much, much better. But, this one does
have a lot of Dali’s illustrations based on various books, so it provided a
unique perspective that I have not seen before.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTUPQkn4L-EML04uNbm9JIqpol6uCOmCZKqee9qTAYB-sCEzutfaerYgJks-uZ4GFvjJ4LbzpEXRhuFVrkIY0N-3QVtrXdEjV_wDM7gmgFh4Psfv821AhKEnabnUSFdhSwhO47f315Qo/s1600/w1075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTUPQkn4L-EML04uNbm9JIqpol6uCOmCZKqee9qTAYB-sCEzutfaerYgJks-uZ4GFvjJ4LbzpEXRhuFVrkIY0N-3QVtrXdEjV_wDM7gmgFh4Psfv821AhKEnabnUSFdhSwhO47f315Qo/s320/w1075.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These etchings were covered with a 24-<br />
karat gold substance. Dali designed<br />
them based on poems by Tristan <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">Carbière</span> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71uoeEnKSJwvKnoDe2_YH_RiWfMRDP3niwAqKK340ciySvZFwTCcrRQ4Wf1BC_kEeUOw8dqapZkzgHsBfmYRBq3BRNBuhppLPcNk_rJ83JeIXU-3n5x9nuvhpxxS1sNcht4puiyOy3Z8/s1600/w1077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71uoeEnKSJwvKnoDe2_YH_RiWfMRDP3niwAqKK340ciySvZFwTCcrRQ4Wf1BC_kEeUOw8dqapZkzgHsBfmYRBq3BRNBuhppLPcNk_rJ83JeIXU-3n5x9nuvhpxxS1sNcht4puiyOy3Z8/s320/w1077.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like this crazy, broken giraffe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The price is a little steep in my opinion, you’ll have to
pay <b>€10</b> to get in. The museum is open from 10am – 6pm.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Church of Our Lady </b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBhA48v7DFL-D9tHqee99i_u4lUpWE28oNBFIqgmEf5s9CsbQu4xGRgDIk80XEu0YmusKnqxzE3-V8vPvWMwLKrgweR0xNMOv_bJXPtoKocbjsrSRSsQUPfu1fqnbI3BOHaHNEpzD0sA/s1600/w1084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBhA48v7DFL-D9tHqee99i_u4lUpWE28oNBFIqgmEf5s9CsbQu4xGRgDIk80XEu0YmusKnqxzE3-V8vPvWMwLKrgweR0xNMOv_bJXPtoKocbjsrSRSsQUPfu1fqnbI3BOHaHNEpzD0sA/s320/w1084.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A maze of trees right outside the church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This church claims to have the only Michelangelo statue to
leave Italy in his lifetime. Apparently
it was a <i>Madonna and Child</i> work and I
would have loved to see it, but I could not find it. I did see some of the other very intricate
work of the church inside.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_ezQaXOd3A1HqCssSImPWUxpbr0MXvIRjnwXrBDWbR7c0BoVs6uJrEGOyFhHOVoougDDIdvpnfs2Js3DxmYqtx5S0ozFDIUBmd5X9I1FLep1mqEmOJ9Pis_NcE91NxD5MlQJgLy5LKw/s1600/w1083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_ezQaXOd3A1HqCssSImPWUxpbr0MXvIRjnwXrBDWbR7c0BoVs6uJrEGOyFhHOVoougDDIdvpnfs2Js3DxmYqtx5S0ozFDIUBmd5X9I1FLep1mqEmOJ9Pis_NcE91NxD5MlQJgLy5LKw/s320/w1083.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
You’d think a person could find a giant Michelangelo statue,
but Frank was rushing me to get outside.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETr70S3k0RVVmy5m0cH_M51JBMJgIFX3xkOzdygVb-S9gvkedulwY08XJo-6gxYbYELxiAoDiOgtUwoejCIsQIaYyrK-P4CPdVaMwFyNL8Ykh4iibPBD9TEyr6jT630_nqdkGbPkuG2g/s1600/w1081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETr70S3k0RVVmy5m0cH_M51JBMJgIFX3xkOzdygVb-S9gvkedulwY08XJo-6gxYbYELxiAoDiOgtUwoejCIsQIaYyrK-P4CPdVaMwFyNL8Ykh4iibPBD9TEyr6jT630_nqdkGbPkuG2g/s320/w1081.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That explains the rush!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Still, it's <b>free</b> to get inside this church, so you only have to spend your time if you're interested in going.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Where to Sleep<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We arrived in Bruges with no place to stay (I should write a post on procrastination during travel in the near future!). It was getting dark and we were getting anxious. Also, every single street in the city looks exactly
alike. After checking with a few small
hotels, with only five or six rooms, and seeing that there were no vacancies,
we decided to pay the price to sleep at a larger hotel. Unfortunately, there were really no vacancies
there either, so we ended up at Hotel ‘t Zand.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-OqnCJz0osDrEnegir6WuFCjUC3HpGpPdhX6fw6CrzCxvNhW0acdpf0xQwvFVqZHCjOHx1zwR_nCSBtr0xjYvsZbECFsYudSunWU-6sV_iAOppnuAKjqoXgfxKtBakkY1zbcvIt-0bA/s1600/w1085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-OqnCJz0osDrEnegir6WuFCjUC3HpGpPdhX6fw6CrzCxvNhW0acdpf0xQwvFVqZHCjOHx1zwR_nCSBtr0xjYvsZbECFsYudSunWU-6sV_iAOppnuAKjqoXgfxKtBakkY1zbcvIt-0bA/s320/w1085.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
This hotel was nice and clean, but very simple.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ddXb9si9X3S-v8npYvrKzsMpBGlYNnWfoS18jWfN7JSbH9dmnRKR5IdDyN6-vFpyLvRktUhgWZAlqjRls7Nds8K6FW5t5Q7FVh3hhhrQLJ49mx8SH2-hBcrZQNBmCj2kzN2E7J1_gSM/s1600/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ddXb9si9X3S-v8npYvrKzsMpBGlYNnWfoS18jWfN7JSbH9dmnRKR5IdDyN6-vFpyLvRktUhgWZAlqjRls7Nds8K6FW5t5Q7FVh3hhhrQLJ49mx8SH2-hBcrZQNBmCj2kzN2E7J1_gSM/s640/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bathroom was the nicest part, and I can’t be certain,
but I think it had a heated floor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmFqafRCEvIRRcmfSiTEEPWYPI-5-tCz_cbPXdWpEXL4QuuaDo5sjjqjIy3Wv_GhcZT__W4iaRL6sk64zbk-1A9P7WfmPecDKbmN7HfHAmesPpAAUn8sus7Ox33ipaFxjfi-gGz5nog0/s1600/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmFqafRCEvIRRcmfSiTEEPWYPI-5-tCz_cbPXdWpEXL4QuuaDo5sjjqjIy3Wv_GhcZT__W4iaRL6sk64zbk-1A9P7WfmPecDKbmN7HfHAmesPpAAUn8sus7Ox33ipaFxjfi-gGz5nog0/s400/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
There was a small breakfast each morning, with eggs and
toast. Unfortunately, while those
smaller hotels were charging about €70 per night, we ended up spending about €110
per night, for a grand total of <b>€221</b>.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Leaving Bruges</u></b><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
When we were departing Bruges, we tried to buy two tickets
to Brussels at a kiosk at the train station for €27. For some reason our card would not work though,
so we went to the counter where we purchased two tickets for only <b>€19.80</b>.
To that I say, check with both the counter and the kiosk before making
any purchases.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chocolate: €8 per bag</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bikes for two: €24 per day<br />
Salvador Dali Museum for two: €20</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lunch of Belgian waffles for two: €8</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dinner 1: €112.50</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dinner 2: €59</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beers: €4 each times approximately 12 for our time there = €48</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hotel: €221</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Train tickets for two: €19.80</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h4>
Total Cost: €520.30 (that’s $696.52 – not our most
economical journey)<br />Best Deal: Renting a bike for the day and seeing the entire
city</h4>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-26142891359223477852013-02-18T21:15:00.001-05:002013-02-18T21:15:43.233-05:00Branching Out<span style="background: white;">Alright loyal Economical
Explorer Fans – anywhere from all 3 to 20 of you </span><span style="background: white; font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="background: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m branching
out to include my travel writing on the awesome website <a href="http://herviewfromhome.com/" target="_blank">Her View From Home</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The website is operated by someone who taught
me a lot about writing… and life – my first roommate after college, my friend
in lots of late-night shenanigans, and my mentor in the world of television
producing.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="background: white;">My first article focuses on
an amazing “mystery trip” I take every year with my six friends from
college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only the planners know where we’re
going, and the rest of us just sit back and relax, with not a care in the world
except how to actually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">get</i> to the
destination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We've been to Fort Lauderdale, <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2012/09/24-hours-in-sanibel-island.html" target="_blank">Sanibel Island</a>, and Helen, Georgia so far... </span>Click <a href="http://herviewfromhome.com/magical-mystery-trip/" target="_blank">here</a> to read the story of what it takes to get seven girls together after college
for an annual trip that will reunite their spirits.</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVTCDliYm9xhNxMRBAWjGBTOqe1_RgXdb_D3Mpq7I-tSM7TfvccTZ0QthESWXFQUI-hLgMPAfTmlFZZeAnsmaya10TNUQ_59Hmpw_dYgI7WUip99gkCtygoNP1u0CfRj6DNg3wbR4COg/s1600/Sanibel+Her+View+From+Home.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVTCDliYm9xhNxMRBAWjGBTOqe1_RgXdb_D3Mpq7I-tSM7TfvccTZ0QthESWXFQUI-hLgMPAfTmlFZZeAnsmaya10TNUQ_59Hmpw_dYgI7WUip99gkCtygoNP1u0CfRj6DNg3wbR4COg/s320/Sanibel+Her+View+From+Home.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture is sans one friend. But she was there in memory,<br />
as is anyone who can't make the annual trip!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="background: white;">And our budget?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You guessed it… always economical! Hint: try less than $500!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-41563561702727887672013-02-09T17:41:00.001-05:002013-02-18T18:43:33.462-05:00Trains in Ireland<span style="background: white;">In the last few posts, I’ve
talked about Belfast (in Northern Ireland) and I’ve talked about Ireland. So, how do you get between the two places?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">The Irish are very serious
about their train travel. The trains are clean, easy to understand, and, if you
buy online, pretty cheap.</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">I took a lot of <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2012/08/how-to-take-wrong-train-in-italy-and.html" target="_blank">trains in Italy</a>.
Except for the high speeds, the bathrooms smelled completely undesirable. In
Ireland, however, I didn't hesitate to use the facilities.</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;">Also in Italy, we went so far
as to get on the wrong train, that's how poorly things are marked. In
Ireland, your ticket shows a train car and a seat</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQQ-AhpUEAHEwnVlgc5LQQfXAnHTr9OqW8aOwlDolutw-H7hl7ywW1u6cKrnW8rbTEYRDn7_xNM-2-l46y6Q-rGItE6e6uHwE0PseNFMH_pLJ69UUZiEnZK5SkEFT99tfUjpD6IsJFAg/s1600/Ireland+train+tickets+USE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQQ-AhpUEAHEwnVlgc5LQQfXAnHTr9OqW8aOwlDolutw-H7hl7ywW1u6cKrnW8rbTEYRDn7_xNM-2-l46y6Q-rGItE6e6uHwE0PseNFMH_pLJ69UUZiEnZK5SkEFT99tfUjpD6IsJFAg/s320/Ireland+train+tickets+USE.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's very easy to see we were seated in D28.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">When you look at the train,
you can determine exactly where to sit because the train doors are so clearly
marked.</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWu3Zj_VfAzj9cF5t0hrVv1wJKsThl0oDyOvzDnByQIaAsIEMwIVZsJ4ZGDKJpDAGZ8RpRtqeH3FawIvlRf1I1_dg8j8macUeT84NvPonfBOn_AcXYLtZ3IzeItzxGfZYWx0Ez59jLus/s1600/w518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWu3Zj_VfAzj9cF5t0hrVv1wJKsThl0oDyOvzDnByQIaAsIEMwIVZsJ4ZGDKJpDAGZ8RpRtqeH3FawIvlRf1I1_dg8j8macUeT84NvPonfBOn_AcXYLtZ3IzeItzxGfZYWx0Ez59jLus/s320/w518.JPG" width="206" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">And if for some reason you
get confused, your name is actually on the seat.</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqK8XHoIgR1dpi8YO5sTY-KuHTYqkuSCEOYP5K7y9xoUX3NchHr9Wru956iFCqT5LIgYSMvc6ByEG7o1Wf7tJqhO763plhCAlGmxk5X5RNJxHrVxDh423DENn-XQ7YoEa5dm-AbA9CAG0/s1600/w511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqK8XHoIgR1dpi8YO5sTY-KuHTYqkuSCEOYP5K7y9xoUX3NchHr9Wru956iFCqT5LIgYSMvc6ByEG7o1Wf7tJqhO763plhCAlGmxk5X5RNJxHrVxDh423DENn-XQ7YoEa5dm-AbA9CAG0/s320/w511.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">If you purchase your train
tickets online, you'll also find travel buy rails to be inexpensive. On a 3.5
hour ride from Westport to Dublin, we paid only €21.99 online. However, we paid
€38 for the same train ride when we arrived in the Emerald Isle (disclaimer: I
was on a lot of Ativan at this point and was not really in the business of
being economical).</span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"></span> </div>
<span style="background: white;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br />The trains are also on time,
which the Irish appear to pride themselves on.</div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxokIULLXygCcD_4qp_J-XxSoH8EBDkW2lLuLQYR1JLoirH4UsrP-jwtai6QTBm3aC5luO_6Ru3frzxqPbSj4hlQ4BuNjgQ5naLlcPlg1c8UhT9cE8b7rJ-vFTUeUNAS2Ma1vm448dzU/s1600/w517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxokIULLXygCcD_4qp_J-XxSoH8EBDkW2lLuLQYR1JLoirH4UsrP-jwtai6QTBm3aC5luO_6Ru3frzxqPbSj4hlQ4BuNjgQ5naLlcPlg1c8UhT9cE8b7rJ-vFTUeUNAS2Ma1vm448dzU/s320/w517.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">You'll also find wifi on all
the trains.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVua1WGGRzeduDxTfvxISlPPLRImHq9YFxjcK3-yU-oltEa9ijH-LDJVKbRiGENtRsTnsZw_BhfKdMvT63DTxTRy-Z2fK1WHBAqO3G6RgwSKSasKnLCcQtw287oAHSzU2zfYiluXHtx8/s1600/w510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVua1WGGRzeduDxTfvxISlPPLRImHq9YFxjcK3-yU-oltEa9ijH-LDJVKbRiGENtRsTnsZw_BhfKdMvT63DTxTRy-Z2fK1WHBAqO3G6RgwSKSasKnLCcQtw287oAHSzU2zfYiluXHtx8/s320/w510.JPG" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here, Frank rocks out to some Pandora</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">The trams throughout Ireland
are just as amazing. Dublin has two main train stations: Heuston and Connelly.
For whatever reason, they don't connect, even though, if you want to go from
the west coast to Belfast, you'll need to go through both.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">If you take a tram, you’ll pay only
€1.60.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Taking a taxi will set you back
€25.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Westport to Dublin: <span style="background-color: white;">€21.99</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">Dublin to Belfast: €15.99</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;">Tram Between Dublin train
stations: €1.60</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<h4>
Total Cost: <span style="background: white;">€39.58 ($53.41)</span><span style="background: white;">Best Deal: Taking a tram between the two Dublin train stations instead of a taxi</span></h4>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-66803896315731952532013-02-04T21:07:00.003-05:002013-02-04T21:07:19.277-05:00Weather in Ireland - From Rain to Shine and Back AgainThe most glorious thing about Ireland is it takes economical
exploring to a whole new level. The beautiful landscapes will wow you, the
rolling green mountains will thrill you, and the hills dotted with furry little
sheep will make you giggle - all for free. But the weather will confuse you.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
There's a saying in Ireland: "If you don't like the weather now, just wait
five minutes and it will change."<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OPVTx2eXXusELzekL9d3vEj0jLIylZ-aMZAvT3ek5w7MmWMhkG6sxK__gKw0s2GuEOcolBbZp63aPAFibY4VQuGPsiomfwEXFg_V0yNqrOjlfdxlABjLQo1fEVKLwr7_oJukjAY4Ytk/s1600/w392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OPVTx2eXXusELzekL9d3vEj0jLIylZ-aMZAvT3ek5w7MmWMhkG6sxK__gKw0s2GuEOcolBbZp63aPAFibY4VQuGPsiomfwEXFg_V0yNqrOjlfdxlABjLQo1fEVKLwr7_oJukjAY4Ytk/s320/w392.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guess what happens in five minutes?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In just a matter of moments, you can go from the sun shining to rain creeping
out.</div>
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In fact, if you wait 20 minutes, you may go through all four seasons.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxk5qhgRwbd7WUy6S3_Hj-0D749iyoX0miAkqvWIPAlPy8C_o9M-XHIaafyxqX9ttqS_1aAV2wK9VVFUcrCNOnHl8jJKDyNF09gORMhGwh8_Q3Jc_rbY32mEjSDq1C5H3Iu13l9_5QMs/s1600/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxk5qhgRwbd7WUy6S3_Hj-0D749iyoX0miAkqvWIPAlPy8C_o9M-XHIaafyxqX9ttqS_1aAV2wK9VVFUcrCNOnHl8jJKDyNF09gORMhGwh8_Q3Jc_rbY32mEjSDq1C5H3Iu13l9_5QMs/s400/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All that's missing is the picture of the hail, yes, the hail. But I wasn't quick<br />enough with the camera and then the sun came out again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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And if you wait a day, goodness knows what will happen. Maybe a hurricane.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy_3vsAnkOnx_IpD8XvuXH8XUc6xl2VQTfguduY1cb2XNn43KoiITi1sJo3UJBIkbt_S5c8hFOIzgSyTevH7g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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The weather report said it would be "a little windy" where we were
staying on the west coast of Ireland, near the town of Wesport and not far from
<a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2012/12/leenane-irish-are-probably-too-trusting.html" target="_blank">Leenane</a>. I don't know about the Irish, but in Florida when there's this
much wind, we call it something else - a hurricane.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7B3r_vAIjN2_s1ozVE-eCNB5TVy8go54FfkOrkTXDbzEnA3Xfa0KFwdX9lhTmm2aCkG4sPNDxH4uPY6_2mLB3oHWw5df-lmevbBTUUTRVQ0ynO6kk-ni_-IiikmUQA28NhwgfnOT235g/s1600/w470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7B3r_vAIjN2_s1ozVE-eCNB5TVy8go54FfkOrkTXDbzEnA3Xfa0KFwdX9lhTmm2aCkG4sPNDxH4uPY6_2mLB3oHWw5df-lmevbBTUUTRVQ0ynO6kk-ni_-IiikmUQA28NhwgfnOT235g/s320/w470.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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The winds were reportedly <a href="http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/1228/360551-weather-warning-issued-as-strong-winds-expected/" target="_blank">forecast </a> to be up to 130 kilometers per hour. That's more than 80 miles per hour. That's
a category one hurricane where I come from.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAk380UANE93uokCM0y6NlhmF4rNWWd1DIspBcl_jtImwiVk1c9y-o6f6BZSeyPY_ZqZBupFW0wBMk2SywlvztWlyRo312gpKi9XVMYXHh-8JRztaTe0-yWrkvzMNVIruXPbNRSGr-po/s1600/w473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAk380UANE93uokCM0y6NlhmF4rNWWd1DIspBcl_jtImwiVk1c9y-o6f6BZSeyPY_ZqZBupFW0wBMk2SywlvztWlyRo312gpKi9XVMYXHh-8JRztaTe0-yWrkvzMNVIruXPbNRSGr-po/s320/w473.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rain coming in sideways, grass blowing over - I didn't travel<br />across an ocean for this. It's not even hurricane season in<br />December in the States!</td></tr>
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As expected with strong winds, the power went out. We were left to cook our
meal over the fireplace.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRIMso0lEuDChLw9WLB9KD4sFwMbSrrb4Zja5z5zmhEFrNLvIrGG-7xhmXqYaQ2WzPDti-AYtSeJZH-jPnbw2uRTWE_tYc_SgLscXEfXWr4eD0GwhObqyB7SYyXXZWimLkZiS7x7Gp-I/s1600/w494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRIMso0lEuDChLw9WLB9KD4sFwMbSrrb4Zja5z5zmhEFrNLvIrGG-7xhmXqYaQ2WzPDti-AYtSeJZH-jPnbw2uRTWE_tYc_SgLscXEfXWr4eD0GwhObqyB7SYyXXZWimLkZiS7x7Gp-I/s320/w494.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was like camping... inside</td></tr>
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It wasn't until almost seven hours later that the power even came back. On the bright side, even strong winds couldn't harm our
beer. In Ireland, you can keep your
alcohol outside because it’s so cold.</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">But, even windy weather gives you a story to tell. Still, I'll take clear skies
in the Emerald Isle any time.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is definitely more my speed!</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-88435703063705886122013-01-28T21:24:00.003-05:002013-01-28T21:27:32.043-05:00Titanic Belfast - A Museum Short on Artifacts, Large on Innovation<br />
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The Louvre has the <i>Mona
Lisa</i>, the <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/search/label/Vatican%20City" target="_blank">Vatican Museum</a> has the Sistine Chapel, Titanic Belfast in
Northern Ireland has… well, actually pretty much nothing in the way of art or
even artifacts. But this museum will
knock your socks off.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNeoInDIcfVVs3gOOB_c8oSJiC5-ShBeUplIaedIhk4n8CwqNOK27rqrruwHwXIQpAwUer-dG22owdAtmFXpihCghfDWG0-M6wc3bgh_0wZnj_fP5G0eappzveIJAZLkfeX8KZm7TV2Mg/s1600/w557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNeoInDIcfVVs3gOOB_c8oSJiC5-ShBeUplIaedIhk4n8CwqNOK27rqrruwHwXIQpAwUer-dG22owdAtmFXpihCghfDWG0-M6wc3bgh_0wZnj_fP5G0eappzveIJAZLkfeX8KZm7TV2Mg/s320/w557.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little disappointed Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio<br />
aren't greeting me at the door, but whatever</td></tr>
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Before the 1997 blockbuster, before the ship sank in the
middle of the Atlantic Ocean that cold night in April in 1912, <i>Titanic</i> was built in Belfast. This museum, located it what is now known as
the <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2013/01/24-hours-in-belfast.html" target="_blank">Titanic Quarter</a> of Belfast, pays homage to not only the ship, but the
city that constructed what was then known as the “ship of dreams” (or was that
just something that Rose said?). </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnHw9KHfKOy9gbOWchPTJqRgdXR63BP0n4C7rVPN1Iq3tErDb2_IyMtMdVMghXpyASIGqGEbxUHLqVYc2p2hIJFQrpxFyj153fm614W3U-3Tac-fxADJ1wP5MMIYw2KBrUbmU3oPwtyY/s1600/w600+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnHw9KHfKOy9gbOWchPTJqRgdXR63BP0n4C7rVPN1Iq3tErDb2_IyMtMdVMghXpyASIGqGEbxUHLqVYc2p2hIJFQrpxFyj153fm614W3U-3Tac-fxADJ1wP5MMIYw2KBrUbmU3oPwtyY/s320/w600+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the last known picture of <i>Titanic</i></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.titanicbelfast.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Titanic Belfast</a> takes you through nine galleries that explore this historic ship. We start with…</div>
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<b>Gallery 1: Boomtown
Belfast<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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What was Belfast like before <i>Titanic</i>? It was a city known
for making linen from the flax seed.
Don’t know what flax seed is?
Most people don’t, so I took a picture of it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBoiVIBtnLyNYF2_gmwHTxHFB9jMpYce1AFqfrwZm1RnnXnlcyRInjqLK9eKaQD4clMj2wwOyW5zmHC2R0T8k4BtZ1_kIo_n72KVt8OKwhIRY8bZwF63pRiDtqmGOEgNLVF_yCy38I6k/s1600/w561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBoiVIBtnLyNYF2_gmwHTxHFB9jMpYce1AFqfrwZm1RnnXnlcyRInjqLK9eKaQD4clMj2wwOyW5zmHC2R0T8k4BtZ1_kIo_n72KVt8OKwhIRY8bZwF63pRiDtqmGOEgNLVF_yCy38I6k/s320/w561.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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Most people also don’t find flax seed, or linen, to be very
interesting, but the creators of Titanic Belfast realized that. They made it a point to include pictures from
the era…</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0pW8kQRqxT2D7UHJgLRLz11dgET0wRGHcHB6_t5UxZvimmqPFWAsm0B97jsYvNpJ37z1hqCBSuWpL1JX4neeuWWmMtLwbzzafxNDAlbwOuhzJvErZNn_bjeQLfLw4qd1S5rvhzJ2uF8/s1600/w570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0pW8kQRqxT2D7UHJgLRLz11dgET0wRGHcHB6_t5UxZvimmqPFWAsm0B97jsYvNpJ37z1hqCBSuWpL1JX4neeuWWmMtLwbzzafxNDAlbwOuhzJvErZNn_bjeQLfLw4qd1S5rvhzJ2uF8/s320/w570.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Recreations of
important features…</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7tuQHBk5XEx2oy2Q3xX_OAIH-Db-epS3CE7sKcFIhoVEFaugCAjbd88XX9c7DIEvbJh1sw7yB70MAQahyEufkoZOgg4Be4_xK31tNAy9FxqSJGQpsx-1poifDS5UQ31urC0yTvXWeJE/s1600/w573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7tuQHBk5XEx2oy2Q3xX_OAIH-Db-epS3CE7sKcFIhoVEFaugCAjbd88XX9c7DIEvbJh1sw7yB70MAQahyEufkoZOgg4Be4_xK31tNAy9FxqSJGQpsx-1poifDS5UQ31urC0yTvXWeJE/s320/w573.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This represents the gates to Harland and Wolff, the company<br />
that built <i>Titanic</i></td></tr>
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And most notably, interactive components to keep even the
littlest tyke entertained.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93FqGg9z5qLk_8aHHEgM2FU5kRswU3LFR8GAP8jXrA9MS9xqvfxUIxl0ThmtzoD1j-UFn0P8tGhyphenhyphen9Sn__dbGGrVBJc8guwk3h13acvZD3A5L0nsARfFBUNmnB1VJ8yvx1RNSVcRmyfpY/s1600/w574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93FqGg9z5qLk_8aHHEgM2FU5kRswU3LFR8GAP8jXrA9MS9xqvfxUIxl0ThmtzoD1j-UFn0P8tGhyphenhyphen9Sn__dbGGrVBJc8guwk3h13acvZD3A5L0nsARfFBUNmnB1VJ8yvx1RNSVcRmyfpY/s320/w574.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was pretty amused by this: an interactive<br />
floor. Just stand where it reads, "Stand here,"<br />
and information pops up on the screen. It helped<br />
me learn all about the tools that helped make a<br />
ship as large as <i>Titanic</i>.</td></tr>
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<b>Gallery 2: The Arrol
Gantry and Shipyard Ride<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The Arrol Gantry was the gigantic framework constructed to
help build <i>Titanic</i>. You took an elevator to get to the top.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACaSMRH2TTqixnt0zwYzjy5Hirw5JFDSz5nsOk2yrDZ0GkXXgPwU-HkW4ViPcVwNB-qtRl6wkc1Q7MKhj03Qc4OPsWaB2eJ1P49GPWzK5F4HIIeFStQytoUWUEmlt7a66-XmkadMTyx8/s1600/w580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACaSMRH2TTqixnt0zwYzjy5Hirw5JFDSz5nsOk2yrDZ0GkXXgPwU-HkW4ViPcVwNB-qtRl6wkc1Q7MKhj03Qc4OPsWaB2eJ1P49GPWzK5F4HIIeFStQytoUWUEmlt7a66-XmkadMTyx8/s320/w580.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A recreation of what the Arrol Gantry<br />
would have looked like</td></tr>
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Once there, a museum worker informed you that you were about
to go on world’s slowest roller coaster.
He used “roller coaster” very loosely, as this ride topped out at MAYBE
one mile per hour, but I guess some people aren’t interested in riding. Too bad, because it takes you through the
Arrol Gantry, complete with the sounds and information of what went on in the
shipyard.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxWK_Qgo_CJh6pj4Hyfsw1PfuagIq1WP4dwk9Qb6faaH6ZWBfqj4NshEnvAPvJBKW-0mdhU1W2kiyCpUsy5Zw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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After the ride, you saw some of the pictures of people
building <i>Titanic</i>.</div>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlDgGp80go51JpDbRWsFCWb4ZuUh8sCViGxOD-Dlv5_dMAasThKpuaHTLBzO2jmKbXqNtGuaOOw-Z3mMXIDvT4nbzqxGPHpDfFv-tJQ-RgSRq5pZaIfoNnFXrwPkCJQ3XNIXkNvS2kqE/s1600/w589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlDgGp80go51JpDbRWsFCWb4ZuUh8sCViGxOD-Dlv5_dMAasThKpuaHTLBzO2jmKbXqNtGuaOOw-Z3mMXIDvT4nbzqxGPHpDfFv-tJQ-RgSRq5pZaIfoNnFXrwPkCJQ3XNIXkNvS2kqE/s320/w589.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The caption said, "Workers fitting Titanic's<br />
starboard tail shaft. The rudder behind them<br />
has just been fitted, 1911." I was super<br />
impressed with the scale of the rudder<br />
to the worker!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The guy overseeing this whole process? Thomas Andrews. You know, this guy:</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/yM9Xv1hR8mQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<br /></div>
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Not his exact words, but you get the point.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Gallery 3: The Launch<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgr_COhqvBPu9QoqCYI-vl6II-6SqyHs5WaLNujccsWr1uLjf7gM4eO0P-EXvr_6UcGMCRSkyXmRae49407wpGo3CxcWTLtjZVse7dQZlpNpnA-J3nWTx0tjm40MryLzzUOTvXS07hQ4/s1600/w591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgr_COhqvBPu9QoqCYI-vl6II-6SqyHs5WaLNujccsWr1uLjf7gM4eO0P-EXvr_6UcGMCRSkyXmRae49407wpGo3CxcWTLtjZVse7dQZlpNpnA-J3nWTx0tjm40MryLzzUOTvXS07hQ4/s320/w591.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each gallery is clearly marked</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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This gallery was <i>not</i>
the launch where Jack quickly boarded after narrowly winning his tickets to
sail on <i>Titanic</i> in a card game. That was in Southampton, England. This is just the launch to make sure <i>Titanic</i> could float in Belfast. It could.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Gallery 4: The
Fit-Out<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Okay, now that the ship can float, it’s time to put some
stuff on it. Titanic Belfast recreated
what a first-class, second-class, and third-class room would have looked like.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-4G77CUqURZWDUYOhawg1umN1eZ9aFiYLMvvh8MBB2jcclmhVMUg2OQXQg2aO0QO_j3Hxo_icetHm1yFoYtLi0CgZgKXvtD6Ff-xoliO5Keoev78jNbT9Dwa-WUOMjIGDOT3GopatEc/s1600/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-4G77CUqURZWDUYOhawg1umN1eZ9aFiYLMvvh8MBB2jcclmhVMUg2OQXQg2aO0QO_j3Hxo_icetHm1yFoYtLi0CgZgKXvtD6Ff-xoliO5Keoev78jNbT9Dwa-WUOMjIGDOT3GopatEc/s640/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A typical guest who would have stayed in the room was super-imposed - how cool!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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Then, it’s time to Bon Voyage!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Gallery 5: The Maiden
Voyage<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>This</i> is where Jack
quickly boards after narrowly winning his tickets to sail on <i>Titanic</i> in a card game. What the movie doesn’t show you is how the
ship really set <i>out</i> for its maiden
voyage. It left Belfast with just crew
members on board. Then it sailed to
Southampton, England (where Jack and Rose would have gotten on board), then to
Cherbourg, France, then to Queenstown, Ireland, before it finally set sail into
the Atlantic.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Gallery 6: The
Sinking<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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So much for being the unsinkable ship. This gallery recounts the telegraphs sent
between <i>Titanic</i> and other ships in
the area.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdQAhRHyROXBND-qRAcD5_7F2KKApv35K3Dv0gvrZF0o4PAO_RCqmVOf-lm-LcMUlqHYUYwhXhWxF-cgoKnL1aJE0E07FHqtCUYANbvMtLhvja2IHzj_FXgsnpYOVuL4BOP_ZNYNoxJg/s1600/w602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdQAhRHyROXBND-qRAcD5_7F2KKApv35K3Dv0gvrZF0o4PAO_RCqmVOf-lm-LcMUlqHYUYwhXhWxF-cgoKnL1aJE0E07FHqtCUYANbvMtLhvja2IHzj_FXgsnpYOVuL4BOP_ZNYNoxJg/s320/w602.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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The most interesting: one sent from the Californian to <i>Titanic</i> at about 9:05, about an hour
before the ship struck the iceberg, according to “<a href="http://www.titanicinquiry.org/USInq/USReport/AmInqRep04.php" target="_blank">Titanic Inquiry Project</a>.” </div>
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<h4>
<i>Californian</i>: We
are stopped and surrounded by ice.<br /><i>Titanic</i>: Shut
up. I am busy.</h4>
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<br /></div>
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By 1:39am, some of the last transmissions from <i>Titanic</i>.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRor7Y0SUaM142dX7WqDfQXBiKJ1kS2mwzVQLmshaAI9cZJGbhnV344DlKXiNxTdEfcfz5EBDXdmeenkgSZYUYT_NL-hLCh6LeI98DfZ2tXgOD7DR8ibSEsyquWN3kzaMXE5TGFsR1Z1w/s1600/w601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRor7Y0SUaM142dX7WqDfQXBiKJ1kS2mwzVQLmshaAI9cZJGbhnV344DlKXiNxTdEfcfz5EBDXdmeenkgSZYUYT_NL-hLCh6LeI98DfZ2tXgOD7DR8ibSEsyquWN3kzaMXE5TGFsR1Z1w/s640/w601.JPG" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Cannot last much longer" was one of the<br />
final messages <i>Titanic</i> sent out before<br />
sinking into the ocean</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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You can read more about the final telegraphs from <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17631595" target="_blank">this article</a>.</div>
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<b>Gallery 7: The
Aftermath<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Before cell phones, heck, before telephones really, it was
hard to spread the word through any other medium besides the newspaper. Sometimes two editions a day would come
out. The day after <i>Titanic </i>sank, many of the first editions reported that everyone on
board the ship had survived. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebVeC4RBzfj86HK6ZwHlmaN9KuTpinaKhCRCrwlPi2nRajyiPIqAByR73Qxlp9MFVv8Udk0keG_JBzbz_4dFNHRvW10eT6CPzsqkjXgugp2TDreZPZpjlTBi7YT50eHc_LklSXPYNq9o/s1600/Titanic+no+lives+lost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebVeC4RBzfj86HK6ZwHlmaN9KuTpinaKhCRCrwlPi2nRajyiPIqAByR73Qxlp9MFVv8Udk0keG_JBzbz_4dFNHRvW10eT6CPzsqkjXgugp2TDreZPZpjlTBi7YT50eHc_LklSXPYNq9o/s320/Titanic+no+lives+lost.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://www.lva.virginia.gov/exhibits/titanic/britlie1.htm" target="_blank">The Library of Virginia</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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By the second edition, many people knew the tragic truth.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Gallery 8: Myths and
Legends<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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This gallery was very small and no one would let me take
pictures because I had already moved at a snail’s pace through all the other
rooms. It did show fact and fiction for the
movie <i>Titanic </i>though, as well as what
is considered the most historically accurate movie based on the ship, <i>A Night to Remember</i>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Gallery 9: Titanic
Beneath<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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This gallery was, perhaps, the most impressive. Again, no art, or artifacts, but the interactive
let you explore the ocean floor, to see what this maritime disaster left behind.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dydiGArETIBJERDnEL0OBS75Vhzf9t-Bkx2pfGWOZ0QoUD6mvpGRhFZU8rAz-POnr9eUbLgu18AhR0yRks25Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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You could even stand on a recreation of the ocean floor showing
the remnants of this wreck beneath.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLpg3hMmTiHAvCa0FIObpsm8x3VshEyuJ9i8EcvYYPNavdLj3LjoLLXX0I6P-88hxYKvXcORbvyJGf1ohyG6DO-eykVens6t9u8TmvrRQnICvlgNcKSWqoPmiawo_d8JLF9BhBQF_BuI/s1600/w606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLpg3hMmTiHAvCa0FIObpsm8x3VshEyuJ9i8EcvYYPNavdLj3LjoLLXX0I6P-88hxYKvXcORbvyJGf1ohyG6DO-eykVens6t9u8TmvrRQnICvlgNcKSWqoPmiawo_d8JLF9BhBQF_BuI/s320/w606.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Even though I have been to museums paying tribute to the <i>Titanic </i>that showed actual pieces from the
ship, these cool interactive activities made this room well worth it.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HRLgsGytwWckxEfuG_8A78UZ8ZW_90QyTVFSVTe8XJUEkSG2wCMMTIzTzqvthD4ShWN7iK5RNtNkbSfsT7HRck8pdeTiwAH5Q_Ad2NUx4AhA_tCg8r03qRBqn9tpCpOJGAN8e2auZDg/s1600/w603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9HRLgsGytwWckxEfuG_8A78UZ8ZW_90QyTVFSVTe8XJUEkSG2wCMMTIzTzqvthD4ShWN7iK5RNtNkbSfsT7HRck8pdeTiwAH5Q_Ad2NUx4AhA_tCg8r03qRBqn9tpCpOJGAN8e2auZDg/s320/w603.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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As we departed Titanic Belfast, we could see clothing worn
in the actual movie – the only REAL “artifacts” on display.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSpYaN9Yxd5qwceAo2AEFLhv_MsmglPl8LP49XFWI9xF6SonRsqTZaPMJocF48bgen2E3EI23bgI9hNj5nkFJVGsP1EMSf_aEzoTmgbgig0JY4xWRDKlSihMRCRU0DtbfLHjD-A-CCD4/s1600/w611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSpYaN9Yxd5qwceAo2AEFLhv_MsmglPl8LP49XFWI9xF6SonRsqTZaPMJocF48bgen2E3EI23bgI9hNj5nkFJVGsP1EMSf_aEzoTmgbgig0JY4xWRDKlSihMRCRU0DtbfLHjD-A-CCD4/s320/w611.JPG" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'll never let go, Jack. <br />
I'll never let go.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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But real artifacts or not, this museum was one of the best I’ve
been too.</div>
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<br /></div>
<h4>
Total Cost: £13.50 each ($21.96)<br />Best Deal: Here’s the not best deal: buying tickets
online. I bought three tickets too many
and the tickets were non-refundable. The
museum did extend them for 30 days, but the rest of my group wasn’t going to
make it, even then.</h4>
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<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-38404395994506276292013-01-25T19:21:00.002-05:002013-02-04T21:48:49.592-05:0024 Hours in... BelfastThe Belfast of today is a far cry from the Belfast of 20
years ago, when this city was known forp political and religious strife as British
Protestants and Irish Catholics went head to head in the streets. Now, Belfast,
being part of <span class="yshortcuts">Northern Ireland</span>,
is rated as one of the top budget destinations of 2013, according to <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/best-budget-destinations-for-2013-174405450.html" target="_blank">this article</a>.
We spent two of the last three days of 2012 in this so-called budget country,
and I can verify – it <i>was</i> economical.<br />
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<br />
First of all, Northern Ireland is an entirely separate country from Ireland,
though they are both on the same island. Though Belfast has oodles of things to
see and do, this city is most known for the almost 30 year time-span known as
the "The Troubles," when rioting over religious differences ran
rampant. Now, those living in Belfast seem to love a good <a href="http://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-01-25/petrol-bomb-thrown-at-police-in-belfast/" target="_blank">bomb-throwing and protest still</a>,
but, much to our dismay, all was quiet on this front. Our 24 hours in Belfast
were jam-packed and pretty easy on the wallet.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<b>Arriving in Belfast:</b> There is an international airport in Belfast, about 30
minutes away. We, however, arrived by train from Dublin. It cost <span style="background-color: white;">€</span>15.99 (that’s about $21), but you can get
fares <a href="http://www.irishrail.ie/cat_offers.jsp?i=4623&p=118&n=144&ci=4" target="_blank">even cheaper</a> if you have enough foresight to book a few days in advance.<br />
<br />
Once in the city, we were ready to begin.<br />
<br />
<b>10:00am – Titanic Museum</b><br />
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Belfast is divided into several different quarters and this
museum is in, you guessed it, Titanic Quarter.
A full report on this museum can be found <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2013/01/titanic-belfast-museum-short-on.html" target="_blank">here</a>, but everywhere I read
said it's best to book tickets in advance and arrive when the museum opens. I
did book tickets online and ended up getting screwed, since almost half of my
group couldn't make it. Tickets for the Titanic Museum are non-refundable.
Anyway, I would allocate at least three hours for this museum, maybe more if
you’re a dork like me.</div>
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<br />
<b>12:00pm - Lunch<br />
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Back in the center of Belfast, we found a great, quick, and
cheap restaurant called The Bridge House.
This place was very vegetarian friendly, with even far-out dishes like “lentil,
mushroom, mozzarella and pumpkin seed roast.” I got a veggie burger.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dLbhK-slV21AMRuo_k-XVTnhPmBGSgLnyNv3KqlrdwIuPqWdZA93aJhdWPRCVLxqmYT4i2o4rhHs2-hohoO89wBWHRkU3f7GXklLgGyoiSGr8SmoXcxgruxy3P_MkDIaVS9kuS0IvfE/s1600/w620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dLbhK-slV21AMRuo_k-XVTnhPmBGSgLnyNv3KqlrdwIuPqWdZA93aJhdWPRCVLxqmYT4i2o4rhHs2-hohoO89wBWHRkU3f7GXklLgGyoiSGr8SmoXcxgruxy3P_MkDIaVS9kuS0IvfE/s320/w620.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's nothing luxurious, but it tasted good and the price was right!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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Prices were as low as £3.99 ($6.30) for a meal <i>with</i> a drink. Unfortunately, we couldn’t order our beer
until 12:30pm because it was Sunday. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKuEhS-ilyQI5xGaPO-aJ-HgpdesOx4rOtBb4XpJBqb7rCqNqnIztG1LvqiuYw3IE6Qim07mo_TdZy5OfMJdG8d3lwSX1KORsqYIKcYDCGD5zPvhIRkPNunz7v4_cSj30T9Li7Okb8vU/s1600/w616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKuEhS-ilyQI5xGaPO-aJ-HgpdesOx4rOtBb4XpJBqb7rCqNqnIztG1LvqiuYw3IE6Qim07mo_TdZy5OfMJdG8d3lwSX1KORsqYIKcYDCGD5zPvhIRkPNunz7v4_cSj30T9Li7Okb8vU/s320/w616.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new cider, well worth the wait!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<b>1:00pm – City Hall<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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After lunch, take a walk around the central part of the city,
also called Cathedral Quarter. Everything
is quite close together in Belfast and it’s easy to get around on foot. Start at the City Hall on Donegall Square,
which shows some pretty architecture, which is actually even more awesome when
it’s lit up at night for Christmas.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhi2jUtbvLf6Rh6ffJ_SS4ryN9J92lLU5q5YGPB98AftM3I8Haw5Vr2UNX95QpYG9rfeaY7fJ2fwZmJu79YiBpOpbh62Em6rY9adUIJ_LS6khMcNfV6xhQnF7OPon5GlNgTaPts5vyaA/s1600/w524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhi2jUtbvLf6Rh6ffJ_SS4ryN9J92lLU5q5YGPB98AftM3I8Haw5Vr2UNX95QpYG9rfeaY7fJ2fwZmJu79YiBpOpbh62Em6rY9adUIJ_LS6khMcNfV6xhQnF7OPon5GlNgTaPts5vyaA/s320/w524.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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<b>1:30pm – Shopping</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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From City Hall, you can make your way to Victoria Square,
stopping at shops along the way on pedestrian only streets.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsRTUt7bIUdOGMsZNPxiSWKH4xkuHYzS1y06s0qwYd4baf3769UdRa19vDfll7dYQzt6ItCxBO5myDp5qJ09eoHFOrzSE42n6umuCMG0zeCBugZIHS2iA0f3A4uboufG0MPnOuOip3GU/s1600/w532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsRTUt7bIUdOGMsZNPxiSWKH4xkuHYzS1y06s0qwYd4baf3769UdRa19vDfll7dYQzt6ItCxBO5myDp5qJ09eoHFOrzSE42n6umuCMG0zeCBugZIHS2iA0f3A4uboufG0MPnOuOip3GU/s320/w532.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You'll also see some pretty cool architecture</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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Victoria Square is a huge outdoor shopping mall with more
than <a href="http://www.victoriasquare.com/" target="_blank">50 stores</a>, including TGIFridays (I was
unaware this chain was in Belfast, but I wouldn’t go there in the U.S., let
along across the pond).</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaeCFWYQ3WFVn5floNSPyss1akDdFA9hPlP68g_WZXXcR0ibnRmyPC4WYpyjW5Q464PVPAgq07Wo4hCiuedqEnyp8-JwumBrusB471jKyBINT3h7dagxeKtu5FwVs9JiySylvY8Sm8b4/s1600/w539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaeCFWYQ3WFVn5floNSPyss1akDdFA9hPlP68g_WZXXcR0ibnRmyPC4WYpyjW5Q464PVPAgq07Wo4hCiuedqEnyp8-JwumBrusB471jKyBINT3h7dagxeKtu5FwVs9JiySylvY8Sm8b4/s320/w539.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
You can even go up into the dome atop Victoria Square to see
an aerial view of the city of Belfast.
We did not do this though because Frank was more interested in the next
stop which was the…</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>4:00pm – Historic Bars<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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The area around Victoria Square has some pretty unique bars
that date back more than a century. Though
the Kitchen Bar is fairly new (the <i>old</i>
Kitchen Bar dated back to 1859, but was <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/belfast/kitchenbar.shtml" target="_blank">torn down</a> to make way for Victoria Square), it still retains an ol’ timey feel.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hwe2C-TKt_PHBsXcj_rlrtP7ssLtQwLn2_Uni240iEk16_OfhtJDqlKArdLDwhwGfknq4WG_YnaZlPhOAbCDdfRZiZSgJfP0WGOtgvnGawQN_jK-E4Agq1w2felVgZAO4Z8YX8sX3fU/s1600/w541b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hwe2C-TKt_PHBsXcj_rlrtP7ssLtQwLn2_Uni240iEk16_OfhtJDqlKArdLDwhwGfknq4WG_YnaZlPhOAbCDdfRZiZSgJfP0WGOtgvnGawQN_jK-E4Agq1w2felVgZAO4Z8YX8sX3fU/s320/w541b.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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The coolest bar in all of Belfast, though, was Bittles Bar,
just around the corner from Kitchen Bar.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTg7v-_eUDPU8bo71SDo-Fnqp_kSy7YnTdh9q5VyiKdqzsitzPaUxvFoAAkRezCfI9gqzTRIRxORAVSe14jUJL5sWJP6phBpLrQuDteYnDUuQqDJOIyKJxgjpZqJE73YRGoIvIa7xXnU/s1600/w540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTg7v-_eUDPU8bo71SDo-Fnqp_kSy7YnTdh9q5VyiKdqzsitzPaUxvFoAAkRezCfI9gqzTRIRxORAVSe14jUJL5sWJP6phBpLrQuDteYnDUuQqDJOIyKJxgjpZqJE73YRGoIvIa7xXnU/s320/w540.JPG" width="206" /></a></div>
<br />
Outside, the bar looks just like it’s from 1861, which it
is, complete with an antique car out front (the car was just coincidentally
parked there). Inside, the bar features
random artwork featuring everything from the Muppets to notable figures in the United
Kingdom. The bar also had a great
selection of ciders.</div>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmoqb9Sk1ufnW-rz9EN60ghzvVxmmeR-sEX50BRYeKJXIGxw1IqhYL3SNiYbjuNHQm9GaPsV7UwHSTiWEiL9jCyTC60HFEPWTQH7xiUr_4iW5bnadr3suFv6yjI8QFh_fV6b4auLn837Y/s1600/w554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmoqb9Sk1ufnW-rz9EN60ghzvVxmmeR-sEX50BRYeKJXIGxw1IqhYL3SNiYbjuNHQm9GaPsV7UwHSTiWEiL9jCyTC60HFEPWTQH7xiUr_4iW5bnadr3suFv6yjI8QFh_fV6b4auLn837Y/s320/w554.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had never heard of this cider before, it was delicious!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<b>7:00pm - Dinner<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Along with historic bars, you’ll also find historic restaurants
in this area.</div>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxj_U74KIe4VzOfHV_ifugZ5_8WMdEpUYGOLrRzkP_ygNzdkbF_hXA7ppkVk-BLIoPA_7JXIaPyVsNAGNhc5cX16wXhylB3zoCvIFyMFyl-j3g_5gUMvnJ02IhdLXQB_Xe-0cPYL7Nxg/s1600/w541k.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxj_U74KIe4VzOfHV_ifugZ5_8WMdEpUYGOLrRzkP_ygNzdkbF_hXA7ppkVk-BLIoPA_7JXIaPyVsNAGNhc5cX16wXhylB3zoCvIFyMFyl-j3g_5gUMvnJ02IhdLXQB_Xe-0cPYL7Nxg/s320/w541k.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Morning Star Bar dates back to 1810.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="http://www.themorningstarbar.com/" target="_blank">The Morning Star Bar</a> has a great ambience, complete with a big mahogany bar.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7oiFTV9nVOb_7MpbJa6Bg0NfaVEDKZRxpbGjG4L_3jqtDUcnUlhovJ_2eUYDIvQuy7OuJwQgI3DV5zz39lYhwAOSuRacqYKutryffQKv7yvG9e0-7jFXVHtSFMCGykZbsoYztBFSf_o/s1600/w541c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7oiFTV9nVOb_7MpbJa6Bg0NfaVEDKZRxpbGjG4L_3jqtDUcnUlhovJ_2eUYDIvQuy7OuJwQgI3DV5zz39lYhwAOSuRacqYKutryffQKv7yvG9e0-7jFXVHtSFMCGykZbsoYztBFSf_o/s320/w541c.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This restaurant also had scrumptious food. Though I’m not a meat-eater myself, the
restaurant touted awards for the best cuts of steak. I stuck with a seafood selection.</div>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MeTK-o4DphXvJMPFscJSIvjQqscVwrWho1JxGzxCzsKaQl7uTMxcx6YvNFQt5dGUTQpDyw34Y3HLDpdCwD5fHUtQJs-BX80m_Bsuw_hZbgx5-M3RvuD4hwSJuc6NqpS6GYXEFSNKrIs/s1600/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MeTK-o4DphXvJMPFscJSIvjQqscVwrWho1JxGzxCzsKaQl7uTMxcx6YvNFQt5dGUTQpDyw34Y3HLDpdCwD5fHUtQJs-BX80m_Bsuw_hZbgx5-M3RvuD4hwSJuc6NqpS6GYXEFSNKrIs/s640/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank got Pork and Leek Sausage, I had Battered Haddock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We paid about £25 for our meal and two drinks (equivalent to
$40).</div>
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<b>8:00pm – Enjoy the
night<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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We found one of the best things to do in Belfast was just <i>observe</i>.
We did this plenty on the streets, as we hopped from bar to bar.</div>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5nHENU-F0f5XeZ0b-x62HuEmM9Q-J2-ROUG8REFxyNi_GO0rY8trr4FRvJ8kFmzsYbtqe58PtnPuDjBQIJme6TEKplQRI-F4KqvwvROX2gkPtNAPeVooR5SClAbiluGyK-w9Xp4dltw/s1600/w541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5nHENU-F0f5XeZ0b-x62HuEmM9Q-J2-ROUG8REFxyNi_GO0rY8trr4FRvJ8kFmzsYbtqe58PtnPuDjBQIJme6TEKplQRI-F4KqvwvROX2gkPtNAPeVooR5SClAbiluGyK-w9Xp4dltw/s320/w541.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Jaffe Fountain was created in 1874.<br />
After a hiatus in another part of Belfast,<br />
it's back outside of Victoria Square, hoping<br />
to be what the <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2012/09/completely-free-and-very-entertaining.html" target="_blank">Trevi Fountain</a> is to Rome,<br />
according to <a href="http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/fountain-returns-within-a-coins-throw-13389557.html" target="_blank">this article</a>. It's not, but it's<br />
still pretty.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since we were there during the holiday season, it was entertaining
to see how this city celebrated Christmas. </div>
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<br />
We took advantage of the decorations to have more than one photo shoot.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11Cqr5vqu3eyvg_ipsC-J3LWTdNjAcDF8tZi3mCt7IPklcrBvBhIFuDO9kJ5MVa9DwHQoSwkPoHyFQWCafQOLm-iwDzpJOhYgUAPSDC-bcbuFS-cTS0DoWtlaAA4MCF4VgrDvdpjT6yw/s1600/w541n.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg11Cqr5vqu3eyvg_ipsC-J3LWTdNjAcDF8tZi3mCt7IPklcrBvBhIFuDO9kJ5MVa9DwHQoSwkPoHyFQWCafQOLm-iwDzpJOhYgUAPSDC-bcbuFS-cTS0DoWtlaAA4MCF4VgrDvdpjT6yw/s320/w541n.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>10:00pm – Holiday Inn</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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The Holiday Inn on Ormeau Avenue in Belfast had a lot more
going on than you would think. I’m not
sure if it was a gypsy wedding or prom or funeral, but it was <i>definitely </i>gypsies that we saw partying
their barely-clad booties off. Besides
that though, I thought the Holiday Inn was a pretty decent accommodation.</div>
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<br />
It was clean, from the bedroom, right down to the bathroom.</div>
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<br />
A fire alarm did go off about five times during our stay. I’m attributing that to the gypsy
wedding/prom/funeral. But, at £85 a
night ($134), the price was right. We
could rest easy knowing we didn’t spend an arm and a leg as we explored a new
country.<br />
<br /></div>
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Titanic Museum: £13.50 each (£27 for both of us)<br />
Lunch: £3.99 each (almost £8 for two)<br />
Drinking: Approximately £4 each beer (let’s say we had two
per person, so that’s £16 total)<br />
Dinner: £25<br />
Hotel: £85<br />
<h4>
<br />Total Cost: £161 (that’s $254)<br />Best Deal: Everything seems so much cheaper in Belfast
because they use the pound! Right now, £1
is equivalent to $1.58. So, you think
you’re only paying $3.99 for a meal and a drink (at lunch), but it’s really
$6.30. So, EVERYTHING <i>seems</i> like a really good deal!</h4>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-69636353922758558982013-01-21T16:55:00.004-05:002013-01-25T19:22:18.318-05:00Authentic Amsterdam - What It's Like to Stay on a Houseboat<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">When in Rome, do as the Romans do. So when in Amsterdam, stay on a houseboat.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just floating around on a canal in the Jordaan...</td></tr>
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<span style="background: white;">I've told you before about the advantages to skipping the hotel and <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2012/08/why-you-shouldnt-ever-stay-at-hotel.html" target="_blank">renting a vacation home</a>. I did it in Italy, France, and Sanibel Island. As impressed as I was with those experiences, nothing can beat renting a home in Amsterdam. especially when that home was on the water.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even though this "hotel" is on the water, you<br />
don't feel any rocking, even on windy days!</td></tr>
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Not even <i>just</i> water view - on the water, on a houseboat, where you can see swans and ducks swimming by the window.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">We found the houseboat on </span><a href="http://www.vrbo.com/261808" target="_blank">VRBO</a><span style="background-color: white;">. My travel group had some reservations
about the houseboat. When I asked the owner if the boat would accompany four
people, she said, "yes, if you don't have much luggage."</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAKeDA_ML18gchAuWgIrn92LSEMRoVBB4y0i4jmetuPKT-R329xmJ0i_rD3a9kVsLuu8gQcDLy3nLgnC_iqod96OS8h60ZdxLso5q93_77XX15jtWZlxeWvouaoxQpgZwFPZ-URfPzfA/s1600/w516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAKeDA_ML18gchAuWgIrn92LSEMRoVBB4y0i4jmetuPKT-R329xmJ0i_rD3a9kVsLuu8gQcDLy3nLgnC_iqod96OS8h60ZdxLso5q93_77XX15jtWZlxeWvouaoxQpgZwFPZ-URfPzfA/s320/w516.JPG" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We actually had tons of luggage, because, you know, we<br />
were traveling in Europe for almost two weeks!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Well, we didn't have much of a choice because we
decided to book a place so close to our travel dates and we were still trying
to be economical. So, houseboat it was. And boy were we surprised! </span>When you walk
in, you can see the living room, with a pullout couch, as well as a small
bedroom.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VzjF3Vb7pI6IFUS-5fzyzwVhLZePr1hiPjHeNsmnoUzFrOONbw_YXNRVc7i39NuZGjiCX5zohFO4P6rrFy2Qkepo0rHVGk7nQOPmlGKstB2W0pTlXpHwtLf1FKh_Mpt8m8A2pAeAJY4/s1600/w626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VzjF3Vb7pI6IFUS-5fzyzwVhLZePr1hiPjHeNsmnoUzFrOONbw_YXNRVc7i39NuZGjiCX5zohFO4P6rrFy2Qkepo0rHVGk7nQOPmlGKstB2W0pTlXpHwtLf1FKh_Mpt8m8A2pAeAJY4/s320/w626.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Right next to that, a pullout couch, as well as a
small bedroom, complete with a map of Amsterdam.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0xzphmGiTV-_wgd4h7lMsAW81GcGYyBWnKJgqrJpiFpVQCB5c90XkGoUa9ANu-QAQeQ-KWkbbIDBDhFmlxujWfYCkCIFbcFZ6pNnfsvuSv8R0pI17lKo51IhpWOMRKYrBy7H9Aot0mw/s1600/w629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0xzphmGiTV-_wgd4h7lMsAW81GcGYyBWnKJgqrJpiFpVQCB5c90XkGoUa9ANu-QAQeQ-KWkbbIDBDhFmlxujWfYCkCIFbcFZ6pNnfsvuSv8R0pI17lKo51IhpWOMRKYrBy7H9Aot0mw/s320/w629.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This map actually saved us quite a few times in our wanderings<br />
because I had taken a picture of it! Of course, we're the people<br />
who go to a city that's hard to navigate without a map.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The best part of this houseboat was the
authentically decorated Danish kitchen...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7kaREiJWyxfM3E-M-PclRz_3Y7m8w84xOpiOGuIp5678o-MmfV4_Ej-vOqdnxR_5kcnRkIIfmgXxZ8r4d145YzktyJ4UWwQd23VRfheJBUAJkxeAbAnNJdTOj64_SDkEuWQtPytLvns/s1600/w635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7kaREiJWyxfM3E-M-PclRz_3Y7m8w84xOpiOGuIp5678o-MmfV4_Ej-vOqdnxR_5kcnRkIIfmgXxZ8r4d145YzktyJ4UWwQd23VRfheJBUAJkxeAbAnNJdTOj64_SDkEuWQtPytLvns/s320/w635.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">With a fully stocked refrigerator!</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">The owner, Annette, thought of everything! We had
eggs, bread, sandwich meat, cheese, and milk.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">And it wasn't just the kitchen where Annette paid
attention to detail, the bathroom was also perfect for houseguests.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Annette even filled the medicine cabinet with hair
products, lotions and soaps!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Perhaps the detail we appreciated most was the bottle
of sparkling wine.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">How much would a hotel run with all these extra
amenities AND that slept four people?
Well, we wouldn’t know since we couldn’t even find one. Hotels in Europe traditionally
fit only two, maybe three people.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">That makes the €200
per night we spent a deal! Rates are cheaper if you aren't staying during a holiday (we were there for New Year's Eve) or if you stay for a longer period of time. </span><span style="background-color: white;">If you’re interested in
booking this houseboat, or just talking with Annette, click </span><a href="http://www.ark16.com/Ark16/Welkom.html" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">for more information.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">Total Cost: €400 for two
nights</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="background: white;">Best Deal: Having an
authentic Amsterdam breakfast that you can only get when a woman who <i>lives </i>in Amsterdam does your grocery
shopping.</span></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5SyfEaxUT7rwyjxV6yDzBDM4qti4XpxgbOmPJ29aaNPr28QxBZXOwtFBTFW8JejhESY_8t1AMDrmYh62UWMAXcpTKeqHt3UQM7XqGTvBcp94VR2osmwJMsPNC-OEoLNvULZdeTIuQks/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5SyfEaxUT7rwyjxV6yDzBDM4qti4XpxgbOmPJ29aaNPr28QxBZXOwtFBTFW8JejhESY_8t1AMDrmYh62UWMAXcpTKeqHt3UQM7XqGTvBcp94VR2osmwJMsPNC-OEoLNvULZdeTIuQks/s320/photo+(2).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even Annette couldn't explain why people in<br />
Amsterdam eat sprinkles on their toast, but<br />
it tasted <i>so</i> good!</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-64489910842544007612013-01-14T22:13:00.000-05:002013-01-14T22:13:15.992-05:00Anne Frank House – Six Things to Know Before Your VisitIt was the place where eight Jewish people, fearing for their
lives, hid out for two years, in a secret annex, a whole other world, just
behind a bookcase.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A postcard from the museum. Photo by: Allard Bovenberg</td></tr>
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Being a lover and devourer of all things history, I put the
Anne Frank House at the top of my list of things to do in Amsterdam. At just <b>€9
</b>(about $12) to enter, I consider that very economical to experience such a
monumental part of history. However,
there are just a few things I wish <i>I</i>
knew before my visit that would have changed my experience for the better.<br />
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The tour books I had read beforehand suggested buying
tickets in advance to avoid long lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How long can the lines be on New Year’s Eve, I thought to myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently very…</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Long. Like, an hour and
a half long, as I described in this <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2013/01/a-walk-through-amsterdam-jordaan.html" target="_blank">post</a>. Waiting sucks, but waiting in 30°F weather is
nothing short of terrible.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZm9aOpiRmXFJoBZ0ehGBeF75PzTkHF22vTFvCbvDwPo8Uq4jp_M5GuOUhjxSY2A1vBqHiUAcoYOcpYKS6gnj_UZD3nAavBwejDe62F95ivYyY5rx1kTQBza-vYt_ySWMRdCpreWDmoeg/s1600/w720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZm9aOpiRmXFJoBZ0ehGBeF75PzTkHF22vTFvCbvDwPo8Uq4jp_M5GuOUhjxSY2A1vBqHiUAcoYOcpYKS6gnj_UZD3nAavBwejDe62F95ivYyY5rx1kTQBza-vYt_ySWMRdCpreWDmoeg/s320/w720.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm smiling through the pain, but Frank is not</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So, first thing you need to know about the Anne Frank House…<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<h4>
<b>Book tickets in
advance</b></h4>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
Or else you’ll suffer like we did. You can book them online right through the
Anne Frank website.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
Once we were about 50 people away from getting into the
museum, a worker came around and gave us all brochures about the Anne Frank
House. They were very informative,
detailing where Anne Frank and the seven others hid, what you would find in each
room, and even provided quotes from the diary that fit perfectly with each
room.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-awmZNuDGEkA-wL0u8gbnT4UGEQaYw5K4UhXj9vqaRPi34JCQjM3Vod_iwnGCxU-f3efAzIxNZlireM219pa2yBrt7BKZDSr6EbmCCbFEjM6kPCyaZs8-4IwwXjibZYkr8qxd_FhD2Xk/s1600/w717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-awmZNuDGEkA-wL0u8gbnT4UGEQaYw5K4UhXj9vqaRPi34JCQjM3Vod_iwnGCxU-f3efAzIxNZlireM219pa2yBrt7BKZDSr6EbmCCbFEjM6kPCyaZs8-4IwwXjibZYkr8qxd_FhD2Xk/s320/w717.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank is glad to have something to focus<br />
on besides the freezing cold</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Which brings me to the second thing you need to know…</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<h4>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The brochure is
exactly like the actual museum</b></h4>
</div>
<br />
Same quotes, same pictures. Sure, the museum has a few more things, but
not many. For example, the brochure
details <i>some</i> of the pictures of
celebrities you’ll find on the wall in Anne’s room. When you see Anne’s room, you see the
pictures from the brochure, and a few others.
And you see the exact same quotes from the brochure.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Still, even though the brochure explains much of the house, you
should still be prepared for the third point about the Anne Frank House…</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<h4>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It is very, very
crowded</b></h4>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The house is not big, although it is bigger than you expect,
with five rooms: </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>A bedroom for Anne and Mr. Dussel</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>A bedroom for Anne’s mother, father, and sister</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>A bedroom for Mr. and Mrs. van Pels (also the
living room and kitchen)</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The attic, where Peter van Pels slept and food
was kept</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>The bathroom</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
So it takes awhile to move hundreds and thousands of
visitors through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, even with crowds,
you’ll be surprised how long it takes to move through the house because…</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<h4>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">There’s not actually
anything in the Anne Frank House</b></h4>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The rooms are mostly empty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a poignant statement that Anne Frank’s father insisted on leaving
because when the Gestapo discovered the Frank family and the others in hiding,
they cleared the secret location out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, when Otto Frank came home, the only one alive from the secret annex,
he basically said, “Keep the house the way the Gestapo left it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes sense, and it hits home about the
way the Jewish people were treated during this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are pictures in the rooms depicting a
recreation of how the rooms did look at the time.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAjzyhDLuNB4N6O_9q8J53ZYBTCpINvjfykoyDF6-5d_LMjCSboC4jwPNTbcHQarovBm-yH2qfGPd0UIpt1u34tIwCfH7M-GA_fNPKM77FruWR5p6pDz6bOnZ7II-MhaksTvJuIPXGG4/s1600/Anne+Frank+Anne's+room+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFAjzyhDLuNB4N6O_9q8J53ZYBTCpINvjfykoyDF6-5d_LMjCSboC4jwPNTbcHQarovBm-yH2qfGPd0UIpt1u34tIwCfH7M-GA_fNPKM77FruWR5p6pDz6bOnZ7II-MhaksTvJuIPXGG4/s320/Anne+Frank+Anne's+room+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Postcard from the museum. Photo by: Allard Bovenberg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
That’s point number five…<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<h4>
<b>You cannot take
pictures in the Anne Frank House</b></h4>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Which, I get, I totally do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Except, you can take pictures of 3,000-year-old things in Rome, but you
can’t take pictures of 80-year-old things here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most of the objects in the Anne Frank House are paper-based, so I’m sure
a flash would ruin that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe they
could have said “no flash photography?”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
I’m not one to ruin history, but I did take one picture.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HY7X1cjMgfUdzUurvuiqaxiHMvdm-q7tuXalMDAUt6NW4zQTT6FrRKW4ahQ0TVKANz0_B2AOD4OJmrWBfzi7XUaV14fbYC2pTu3OFb18NbZ3pC9hdIoYSszapmH37LLxxtxp5lrQgcE/s1600/w721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HY7X1cjMgfUdzUurvuiqaxiHMvdm-q7tuXalMDAUt6NW4zQTT6FrRKW4ahQ0TVKANz0_B2AOD4OJmrWBfzi7XUaV14fbYC2pTu3OFb18NbZ3pC9hdIoYSszapmH37LLxxtxp5lrQgcE/s320/w721.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This illustrates the last thing you need to know about the
secret annex…</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<h4>
<b>Many of the objects
are not explained</b></h4>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I took that picture in one of the last rooms of the house,
not a room where Anne Frank and the others hid, but still a room you walk
through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It showcased all eight people
who lived in the house, explained what happened to them in the end, and showed
a memento from their life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except, I wasn’t
sure what exactly the memento meant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
certainly looked old and interesting, it would have been nice to know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So you may have to do some pre- or
post-research on what you will find inside the house.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The history of Anne Frank, and the rest of the Jewish people
who faced persecution, is extremely important to remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I admire her, the seven people she lived
with, and the other six million Jews who faced this travesty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But be prepared to be a bit surprised at your
experience and the time it takes to get into the house (about an hour) and go
through it (about an hour).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t
have two hours, check out the <a href="http://www.annefrank.org/en/Subsites/Home/Enter-the-3D-house/#/house/23/hotspot/4104/audio/" target="_blank">3-D tour online</a>.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7JR0Yu3mronTFaiz7KmlkXpL1mN-HcwOTMA8C4tZj-NovgRENdfuuuFurvbm0aNeJ-4BWAAu_vZHK5G4A9zwVaXIfxy3LNlP8KRzQsvZy_3ftLGNX01EsIEGwXNJZG5JxHqS4FqSZGA/s1600/w725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7JR0Yu3mronTFaiz7KmlkXpL1mN-HcwOTMA8C4tZj-NovgRENdfuuuFurvbm0aNeJ-4BWAAu_vZHK5G4A9zwVaXIfxy3LNlP8KRzQsvZy_3ftLGNX01EsIEGwXNJZG5JxHqS4FqSZGA/s320/w725.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Though a touching depiction of history, this museum was<br />
not what we expected</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<h4>
Total Cost: €9 each (about $12)<br />Best Deal: Pictures are worth a thousand words, but since
you can’t take them, buy a postcard for €.50</h4>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-78159764372632305042013-01-08T21:45:00.002-05:002013-01-28T21:26:41.237-05:00A Walk Through Amsterdam – The JordaanOne of the most famous walks in <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2013/01/a-walk-through-amsterdam-old-centre.html" target="_blank">Amsterdam</a> takes you
through streets of hookers and rows of cannabis shops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But another beautiful walk will show you the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">real</i> Amsterdam, the one where people <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">live</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is what you’ll see on a walk around the area known as the Jordaan,
which easily becomes a whole day of exploring economically.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcwYh4ziRup540Atpi3aYlb4URvG3KC22qqY8ISZsTmnb09-qDzb6KxL8oSkKNEHZp8H3Q2owEMtd8Xr9f2NoSdlXwNjgxwsq_JxuchNrNGB1R1P3A6bGBCm3CQ3eXfsGOpHZKDwa7oI/s1600/w895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcwYh4ziRup540Atpi3aYlb4URvG3KC22qqY8ISZsTmnb09-qDzb6KxL8oSkKNEHZp8H3Q2owEMtd8Xr9f2NoSdlXwNjgxwsq_JxuchNrNGB1R1P3A6bGBCm3CQ3eXfsGOpHZKDwa7oI/s320/w895.JPG" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During said walk, I stopped and posed for a lot of<br />
pictures, which, as you can imagine, Frank found<br />
amusing for about three shots</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Jordaan is said with a soft “j,” like in jogging or
yogging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did anyone else get that
obscure reference to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Anchorman</i>
besides my husband?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, for real,
soft “j” on Jordaan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Jordaan
district is mostly residential, filled with shops, cute restaurants, and lots
of houseboats.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VC7h7tqTsd0DAyAhOx4nBj_EjK9eO2LIU17OqTUHyKewVmmm6nye9ZLgrCdPEvMY23OR1d8pTqtRwH1N-fDvZvj7CkmVhd-j5R-p8lV8XtF3QsmBOeACZ1LFqmzwY9csszTBJaCWTgk/s1600/w912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VC7h7tqTsd0DAyAhOx4nBj_EjK9eO2LIU17OqTUHyKewVmmm6nye9ZLgrCdPEvMY23OR1d8pTqtRwH1N-fDvZvj7CkmVhd-j5R-p8lV8XtF3QsmBOeACZ1LFqmzwY9csszTBJaCWTgk/s320/w912.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We actually stayed in one of these houseboats, but more on that later</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
As you walk, make your way to the Anne Frank House, but best
to get there early.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Anne Frank House<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Even if you arrive to this historical site at 9am, when it
opens, you will most likely be greeted by a line something like this.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpP8UZSvoa2-qDd13ETxxIAYYLndkAPEehfaCnzezpqvoXOjwtbFk6ygIgqvfguldYANU7thU5m8pwiKofDdlkog47AFFD2FyZw0QmgtcXazYzplRKvzBoi9rXWz9Dm1QUkz3LjtPnSY/s1600/w899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpP8UZSvoa2-qDd13ETxxIAYYLndkAPEehfaCnzezpqvoXOjwtbFk6ygIgqvfguldYANU7thU5m8pwiKofDdlkog47AFFD2FyZw0QmgtcXazYzplRKvzBoi9rXWz9Dm1QUkz3LjtPnSY/s320/w899.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I waited in a similar line, and let me tell you, it sucked!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
If you get to the <a href="http://www.annefrank.org/en/Museum/" target="_blank">Anne Frank House</a> before it opens, you have a good chance of not waiting an hour and a half like
I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pay your <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">€9 </b>to get in, and experience first-hand the book we all read in
middle school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’d like my review
of the Anne Frank House, click <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2013/01/anne-frank-house-six-things-to-know.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
It will take you about an hour to get through the
museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, you can explore
Westermarkt Square, just outside of the Anne Frank House.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Westermarkt Square<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3YFboPAFxExunX2nbFCZbFl-MlRE_2MWm8PnlYhM7JM1M37izC2Q2iGbBMKkTjCYCduLIA5h7T4btZ_q3jQcDlfuU8h8HHqdwzzlaAAiWYgYajBI34J2rZABHeEJffyCQPuHbRiv4XM/s1600/w712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3YFboPAFxExunX2nbFCZbFl-MlRE_2MWm8PnlYhM7JM1M37izC2Q2iGbBMKkTjCYCduLIA5h7T4btZ_q3jQcDlfuU8h8HHqdwzzlaAAiWYgYajBI34J2rZABHeEJffyCQPuHbRiv4XM/s320/w712.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
This is where you’ll find Westerkerk (“Western Church”),
under which Rembrandt is supposedly buried.<br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPpe2NptzRhIuprfGyeqmzn8WchbiRDn0Z4aK27_JJRYWLhaYJoxtyiqPoio6KXbD28ZygPNJUcQfrlES1iYhlyNsBwTkA5c_Qq1ZxHxum8vK_HPsam47ADEuTavxcst0BuVKT-ePhzU/s1600/w711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPpe2NptzRhIuprfGyeqmzn8WchbiRDn0Z4aK27_JJRYWLhaYJoxtyiqPoio6KXbD28ZygPNJUcQfrlES1iYhlyNsBwTkA5c_Qq1ZxHxum8vK_HPsam47ADEuTavxcst0BuVKT-ePhzU/s320/w711.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
</div>
The church tower is the tallest in Amsterdam (that,
according to <a href="http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westertoren_(Amsterdam)" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>). I can vouch that you see the tower from many,
many places in the city, day or night.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGIZ3yO83JXMMydFQKntA8nMkYxn7h4a9D_v44KetYtWCswfVV8B2uTsbIra68_7qhz3bEnrNK4hBt0IV6ona6wT3bvJKQc576lw17TlYQN41KOZ_BrlHtK9mCdhMfKq2FTQQXwA5Nys/s1600/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGIZ3yO83JXMMydFQKntA8nMkYxn7h4a9D_v44KetYtWCswfVV8B2uTsbIra68_7qhz3bEnrNK4hBt0IV6ona6wT3bvJKQc576lw17TlYQN41KOZ_BrlHtK9mCdhMfKq2FTQQXwA5Nys/s640/1+Ireland,+NI,+Netherlands,+Belgium.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Also, within the square is also a triangle, in which you’ll
find three smaller, pink triangles – they call the triangles the Homomonument
(Gay Monument, for those who didn’t take a wild guess on that).<br />
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvG8DC-_0Yhug1HFPCJvguyQ5_hxtRBNpynkdQt5b1nN8gXOuZHXYxcSEB0zm0iVNLy5WLqWAKAVfnXh_P463o1d9FMO41UP8FyJvgV4hJ1b_dwBnleCSkMrF8ItZcBwKloO8V5DibYk/s1600/w708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvG8DC-_0Yhug1HFPCJvguyQ5_hxtRBNpynkdQt5b1nN8gXOuZHXYxcSEB0zm0iVNLy5WLqWAKAVfnXh_P463o1d9FMO41UP8FyJvgV4hJ1b_dwBnleCSkMrF8ItZcBwKloO8V5DibYk/s320/w708.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is one of the smaller triangles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The monument is to remember those who have been persecuted
because of their sexuality, especially the homosexuals who had to wear pink
triangles while imprisoned in concentration camps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Homomonument-overview2.jpg" target="_blank">Here</a> is a photo of what all the triangles look like together.</div>
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With all the talk of pink triangles, I couldn’t get this
Weezer song out of my head.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/qj_nVOag69M/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qj_nVOag69M&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qj_nVOag69M&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
</div>
<br />
Next, walk north on Prinsengracht (no clue how you say
that), which is the same street where you’ll find the Anne Frank House. On the <i>other</i>
side of the canal (where the street has the same name, don’t ask me how these
people get around), you’ll find a Tulip Museum and a Cheese Museum.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Shopping<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYNngWQ6bwdjVGCBeNpxgIO4LkVxkck4i_Gvn7xk5vg-elkIklEw37L7xCHvwUN_Bfx_KPgOsSYSiUhljUZcVOUPyGSg85XGg4a6mowCOsWRf6skl43xFvlDSvt0lY5MFzw7miRyLa0w/s1600/w736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYNngWQ6bwdjVGCBeNpxgIO4LkVxkck4i_Gvn7xk5vg-elkIklEw37L7xCHvwUN_Bfx_KPgOsSYSiUhljUZcVOUPyGSg85XGg4a6mowCOsWRf6skl43xFvlDSvt0lY5MFzw7miRyLa0w/s320/w736.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<br />
Inside the Cheese Museum, you’ll find lots of cheese to
sample – for <b><i>free</i></b>!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GmUu9PFZ7x-j1DugQIEUukugA8shUJhqu6gQF-5TKW8WmH_O4FXHtCu72jUQRqtsVsvurrO3Kj2D9zfempmdD43atNP-VoUCWO2dR7G4zcuaqFGFGw5JKffWwD7itXedhweTgNTg1Lk/s1600/w735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GmUu9PFZ7x-j1DugQIEUukugA8shUJhqu6gQF-5TKW8WmH_O4FXHtCu72jUQRqtsVsvurrO3Kj2D9zfempmdD43atNP-VoUCWO2dR7G4zcuaqFGFGw5JKffWwD7itXedhweTgNTg1Lk/s320/w735.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heavy cheese, too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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The Wasabi Cheese was my favorite!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Tulip Museum has just a few doors down
and has lots of tulip-centered souvenirs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Take your time in this street and in this area… it’s better relished
than zoomed through.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Lunch<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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After an appetizer of cheese, it’s about time for lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ate at <a href="http://www.spanjerenvantwist.nl/#!__english" target="_blank">Spanjer + Van Twist</a>,
where I had the most delicious open-faced sandwich ever!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jP813O1Vb5gSQAEMocsMOomldlgJ1fFs4xBzlnwjU8h2CJWG-tLXOBI0MQ9J51UaRD_4XtmrgwEnB3zPUMhTKBqXBdrOVuGeauZy60WeThyphenhyphenh_h0w1NzPUAGNbxjbIjzF1Pr3uXiU70U/s1600/w731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jP813O1Vb5gSQAEMocsMOomldlgJ1fFs4xBzlnwjU8h2CJWG-tLXOBI0MQ9J51UaRD_4XtmrgwEnB3zPUMhTKBqXBdrOVuGeauZy60WeThyphenhyphenh_h0w1NzPUAGNbxjbIjzF1Pr3uXiU70U/s320/w731.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pumpkin bread with pear, marscarpone, and cinnamon syrup!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Frank also had the pumpkin bread, only his was
non-vegetarian.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8xorYvKSMtfDYTawSV0I5fw2kfxFgJdjJ0t5FBQz4EwFj8U8wEy4hhKL7ZA1itM_Yd6RIfLNVicQ1yPyDO_r8lvov3xaiuk-toAYfBEpChnhIT61Nt4zTrmMAMP-fiGmo8c_MbIKyBs/s1600/w730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8xorYvKSMtfDYTawSV0I5fw2kfxFgJdjJ0t5FBQz4EwFj8U8wEy4hhKL7ZA1itM_Yd6RIfLNVicQ1yPyDO_r8lvov3xaiuk-toAYfBEpChnhIT61Nt4zTrmMAMP-fiGmo8c_MbIKyBs/s320/w730.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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And we had giant beers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWHedck7vvdl4l7ZBikcEjGgbuV7DVgNAlz0AKZv-_jVK_9EURGB4L6dUWvlrkIt4gBVJIcIbrUkHXFhRnlowCeWChyFYkRQx7D61cHAIPyLmLJ7qdSa3tvU9JRwH2fsxSPC6EHioWKA/s1600/w728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWHedck7vvdl4l7ZBikcEjGgbuV7DVgNAlz0AKZv-_jVK_9EURGB4L6dUWvlrkIt4gBVJIcIbrUkHXFhRnlowCeWChyFYkRQx7D61cHAIPyLmLJ7qdSa3tvU9JRwH2fsxSPC6EHioWKA/s320/w728.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Lunch set us back about <b>€20</b>.</div>
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<b><u>Canal Rings</u></b><br />
<br />
As you walk through the Jordaan, you’ll start to cross into
another area of Amsterdam – the Canal Rings. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAFD2urmhK0x7MwMEz38PUR0-ZfJNuDQeV0_V3jroTFm1_kilcRDpZEkslKpIXvaWM031PveweR-bm3ehfdOWzrlupDOUYev5zmyfBi9Cg9mygXBLsNhhcZbAUmHBffT8yQmI5edCmPA/s1600/w902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAFD2urmhK0x7MwMEz38PUR0-ZfJNuDQeV0_V3jroTFm1_kilcRDpZEkslKpIXvaWM031PveweR-bm3ehfdOWzrlupDOUYev5zmyfBi9Cg9mygXBLsNhhcZbAUmHBffT8yQmI5edCmPA/s320/w902.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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This is where you’ll find canal after filled with
houseboats as well as small boats.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLR9C3fxrI5XF-wmPqw6pdvuEzMs8fzKypgPzQCETBbKSheP4PEFstRG9cZvQZqQ5ktB6tOBvcp6KWK-Ib34KIBLkx2ck_5TpGvszNK9ujK25d3khYK5_ZSAxts4ZfqQcwBELFGe21wo/s1600/w887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgLR9C3fxrI5XF-wmPqw6pdvuEzMs8fzKypgPzQCETBbKSheP4PEFstRG9cZvQZqQ5ktB6tOBvcp6KWK-Ib34KIBLkx2ck_5TpGvszNK9ujK25d3khYK5_ZSAxts4ZfqQcwBELFGe21wo/s320/w887.JPG" width="229" /></a></div>
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A good place to stop for a cup of <i>actual </i>coffee is Café Van Zuylen, in the Canal Ring area.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELiU331gqkvHbgBY6jE7GXpBoj-5KYS3obwE-_0EotdkG0pBJuFslK-R5ObVrDvrD83LQvGfIgNedjr5TNTUbzwc93bP0eel4GpVLlH65vWuTr2Lcwy0FM73SQxoWD6gupfZp0GkbFhA/s1600/w905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELiU331gqkvHbgBY6jE7GXpBoj-5KYS3obwE-_0EotdkG0pBJuFslK-R5ObVrDvrD83LQvGfIgNedjr5TNTUbzwc93bP0eel4GpVLlH65vWuTr2Lcwy0FM73SQxoWD6gupfZp0GkbFhA/s320/w905.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<br />
A cup of Joe (or in my case, cappuccino) cost about <b>€2.</b><br />
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<b><u>Dinner</u></b></div>
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When it’s time for dinner, look no farther than Paso Dobles,
not only a wonderful Spanish dance, but also a great tapas restaurant, with pretty economical food and drinks.</div>
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEs7x0gUzFmjW4B6PM1lGBSWCYiX-Xl0Y9g0CVth5T91lnfE8YTs8uSTHLeh7YuqYlybImC7bFeAQWY_4C0v3G4XTaKJk72HxHdPLbiBeuQf8p_OdgPbPjCkMnLuL-YeqCaY56fO6g7Lg/s1600/w782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEs7x0gUzFmjW4B6PM1lGBSWCYiX-Xl0Y9g0CVth5T91lnfE8YTs8uSTHLeh7YuqYlybImC7bFeAQWY_4C0v3G4XTaKJk72HxHdPLbiBeuQf8p_OdgPbPjCkMnLuL-YeqCaY56fO6g7Lg/s320/w782.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boquerones will change how you feel about sardines!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We ordered about six tapas plates between the four of us and
filled our bellies.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbFF4IGjkmlj-9UJETuwi_1ocExinJ6WylU_-pg7pyCDgFdHCq2cHDbL9dvQAnWyTHTkatPXSaCA0AcFVXtZ57Q-cC4se_945clam9laNhOKFTJua979cMDj0dYtdcziCa05vxu4PDzk/s1600/w785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbFF4IGjkmlj-9UJETuwi_1ocExinJ6WylU_-pg7pyCDgFdHCq2cHDbL9dvQAnWyTHTkatPXSaCA0AcFVXtZ57Q-cC4se_945clam9laNhOKFTJua979cMDj0dYtdcziCa05vxu4PDzk/s320/w785.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I couldn't even get a decent picture because we were<br />
devouring the delicious food that quickly!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We paid <b>€60 </b>for
the six tapas, plus a bottle of wine.</div>
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<b><u>Late-Night Eating</u></b></div>
<br />
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If your belly's not quite full, chow down on some typical Amsterdam fare. At Snack Bar Aggie, the chef claimed to have the best
friends in the Netherlands. He also
served <span lang="TR">döner kebabs, which, even though it’s a Turkish
food, you can find it everywhere in Amsterdam.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dnLjccrf1M_aqol0H_Z0NPFid7adnSmm3eJkeGtaQnxb3wyzn-strmgW7RJkjv4dKXcDCJEP1LZVwhnsQwEmzAqjYaI9DWJAIPyknHPoTr89wiDYPCGosfkkEth-YccH9ScXfAIV758/s1600/w872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dnLjccrf1M_aqol0H_Z0NPFid7adnSmm3eJkeGtaQnxb3wyzn-strmgW7RJkjv4dKXcDCJEP1LZVwhnsQwEmzAqjYaI9DWJAIPyknHPoTr89wiDYPCGosfkkEth-YccH9ScXfAIV758/s320/w872.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this is the <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">third </span><span lang="TR" style="text-align: start;">döner kebab of the visit for my<br />travel companions</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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That’s one of the funniest things about Amsterdam, and Europe, in
general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t have late-night
Chalupas and Gorditas, but it does have its uniquely ethnic <span lang="TR" style="mso-ansi-language: TR; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">döner
kebabs...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="TR" style="mso-ansi-language: TR; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Anne Frank House: </span>€18 (€9/each)<span lang="TR" style="mso-ansi-language: TR; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="TR">Lunch: </span>€20<br />
Coffee: €2<br />
<span lang="TR">Dinner: </span>€60 (for four)<br />
<span lang="TR">Late-Night Snack: </span>€7 for fries and a <span lang="TR">döner kebab</span><br />
<span lang="TR"><br /></span>
<br />
<h4>
<span lang="TR">Total Cost: </span>€107 = $139</h4>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-44516594141871230202013-01-08T00:32:00.001-05:002013-01-14T22:19:06.096-05:00A Walk Through Amsterdam – Old CentreAmsterdam is the kind of city where I could just stay... forever. How can you not find a place intriguing where nothing is really taboo, including marijuana and prostitutes? But it's not those things that makes Amsterdam great... Amsterdam is actually oozing with culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHJ39lTZfi7qnBAKovsTSBeWbfrXhV4f2xvsI1T66ZWtnCicWNs7LgnpU_Rl9wnicZ4TEF9Iw3EdRYha68uJrcArDIRmmWCaeFtXwiCA2Rs_-o6P2tRRVHtJU7iQI_G1sAePMOoAt-CE/s1600/w758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHJ39lTZfi7qnBAKovsTSBeWbfrXhV4f2xvsI1T66ZWtnCicWNs7LgnpU_Rl9wnicZ4TEF9Iw3EdRYha68uJrcArDIRmmWCaeFtXwiCA2Rs_-o6P2tRRVHtJU7iQI_G1sAePMOoAt-CE/s320/w758.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
We were in this mecca of toleration for about 48 hours, and in that time, I found it surprisingly affordable. That could be due to the fact that I did not, in fact, actually buy any prostitutes (prices for that start at €50 according to <a href="http://www.amsterdamlogue.com/prostitute-prices-in-amsterdam-just-in-case-you-were-wondering.html" target="_blank">this article</a>). What I <i>did</i> do a lot of is walking.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7D6uugUEVLobhgONy-3jYiPJUhZpXXPalYJQYk73fJC7sr0CdZt4ToXlJxdp_fodDk2XfYYjLNrMvh1kSlvuDZR_W0W7xyug3ZLC7tO_tV4HJhwnzDgzRZCwPo5l2VpsIlLObHbEQas/s1600/w705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7D6uugUEVLobhgONy-3jYiPJUhZpXXPalYJQYk73fJC7sr0CdZt4ToXlJxdp_fodDk2XfYYjLNrMvh1kSlvuDZR_W0W7xyug3ZLC7tO_tV4HJhwnzDgzRZCwPo5l2VpsIlLObHbEQas/s320/w705.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My man in Amsterdam! (this is actually a <i>Pulp Fiction</i> reference)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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One of the walks I took was around the area known as Old Centre, which we actually did for about 1/5 the price of a prostitute!</div>
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The Old Centre is just that – the center of Amsterdam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the day, you’ll find lots of shops open for business along Damrak and Raadhuisstraat (those are streets in case you are wondering!).</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaqsXmqYy5h-UDeYhFd0t8Hdcflz-N-xacFOgQ2HInlcdYn_eHdcy308n-8FBITwqHVfB6wxBBciqJccEe_sy0Ygpl2RKAcQHpLgZGJQawV9iFnvV47UCaOBMBTej_s3WR18IikeLsXg/s1600/w763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaqsXmqYy5h-UDeYhFd0t8Hdcflz-N-xacFOgQ2HInlcdYn_eHdcy308n-8FBITwqHVfB6wxBBciqJccEe_sy0Ygpl2RKAcQHpLgZGJQawV9iFnvV47UCaOBMBTej_s3WR18IikeLsXg/s320/w763.JPG" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stores are very creative in their displays!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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You’ll even find a huge shopping plaza right by Dam Square.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HJEIUK3dwDuA9xoPF8OBl8QYk1Y1VMuf4BkNXlwMFpo4ptWL5mVCt8w6PoF7ORK5Pv2G2fq8BmGnH8DP14E1nQ9R7uiPwDygMQkbwmukTs-RIJlIJSgSPSdE_imB-4oV6jmxnGdu-FU/s1600/w762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HJEIUK3dwDuA9xoPF8OBl8QYk1Y1VMuf4BkNXlwMFpo4ptWL5mVCt8w6PoF7ORK5Pv2G2fq8BmGnH8DP14E1nQ9R7uiPwDygMQkbwmukTs-RIJlIJSgSPSdE_imB-4oV6jmxnGdu-FU/s320/w762.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<b><u>Dam Square</u></b><br />
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Smack dab in the middle of Dam Square is where you’ll find street performers by day and people bustling about by night. And no matter what time of day, you’ll also see this unusual-looking monument.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMegX39u-2hoVgoCTJreubnoSO42WjtnT9Dxrs_M6NZsKcGKj9njf3sLDgIZ5axZ82HoOX3BXe70LBrmFPXXRcd5x7G-VHQFstpofemH9dUtKE_ABthie9tkZruHu-wzyl-fRsPQlVxl8/s1600/w648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMegX39u-2hoVgoCTJreubnoSO42WjtnT9Dxrs_M6NZsKcGKj9njf3sLDgIZ5axZ82HoOX3BXe70LBrmFPXXRcd5x7G-VHQFstpofemH9dUtKE_ABthie9tkZruHu-wzyl-fRsPQlVxl8/s320/w648.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the National Monument to remember <br />
the pain and suffering during World War II. <br />
You can see Christ on a cross and people in<br />
chains that look like they are trying to pull<br />
themselves off of the monument.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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As you veer off the main square onto one of the several side streets, stop for the famous Amsterdam snack – French fries with mayonnaise. For about <b>€3</b>, you get not only the fries, but a tiny little fork to eat them with.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDHZMVW5rbCBaEe5urhSu8UHDEj4LPghLS9VY1LSCeJnWzcHWPymsUJpPuhS9hyWM6sP0Q58vh_NcRyeu3D3pIGCdu3YMfgUhAj1jQhsbwvyFf277Hg5np2RPJO1oTEGgd_RyP21QNQY/s1600/w655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDHZMVW5rbCBaEe5urhSu8UHDEj4LPghLS9VY1LSCeJnWzcHWPymsUJpPuhS9hyWM6sP0Q58vh_NcRyeu3D3pIGCdu3YMfgUhAj1jQhsbwvyFf277Hg5np2RPJO1oTEGgd_RyP21QNQY/s320/w655.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Red Light District<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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Those side streets will lead you to the Amsterdam district of De Wallen, the most well-known red light district in Amsterdam (that’s right, there are others). Both around, and in, the Red Light District, you’ll find plenty of coffeeshops. </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfH8kUVJyWQGMXpmiOE-PLnJ-hrTUT49yH4-UA8GaX-fn_fwxyb3zvPd244TRdayZXLAirPb0pLFAskJXof-MuOOBWHPL-c7BBC8jKKt0-9fJ0a43y2gWW1_cnbCzmWqWF-uPSo6qAwU/s1600/w656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfH8kUVJyWQGMXpmiOE-PLnJ-hrTUT49yH4-UA8GaX-fn_fwxyb3zvPd244TRdayZXLAirPb0pLFAskJXof-MuOOBWHPL-c7BBC8jKKt0-9fJ0a43y2gWW1_cnbCzmWqWF-uPSo6qAwU/s320/w656.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This coffeeshop actually had a line out the door. It's one of the <br />
most famous in Amsterdam and there are several branches<br />
of the Bulldog along Oudezijds Voorburgwal.<br />
That's a street, in case you couldn't tell<br />
from the spelling.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Smoking marijuana is legal in “certain designated places” (thank you, again, <em>Pulp Fiction, </em>for that reference), but cigarette smoking is not legal at most establishments. You’ll actually see “no smoking” signs outside of coffeeshops, even though people are smoking pot inside. According to signs, prices are about <b>€10</b> for a gram of cannabis and sometimes as little as <b>€3 </b>for a joint. A beer is about <b>€4</b>. That makes smoking in Amsterdam cheaper than drinking. However, you really can’t do both at the same time as the coffeeshops stick to just selling weed and most do not serve booze.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZPDgS-AYWy-xZPn4IicQ2QUcfyJRKU7dyGb59iSsr1gPawQ3zFNRWpcEzoXLe38Wqsm8UAV8HKmISM1x95HEr6p57HT66bIbRBDOznmDtvrQ9dzRawFQkktMBDqHvaNdav4oyKWd6dU/s1600/w797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZPDgS-AYWy-xZPn4IicQ2QUcfyJRKU7dyGb59iSsr1gPawQ3zFNRWpcEzoXLe38Wqsm8UAV8HKmISM1x95HEr6p57HT66bIbRBDOznmDtvrQ9dzRawFQkktMBDqHvaNdav4oyKWd6dU/s320/w797.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bar served food, drinks, and no drugs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Next stop, the heart of the Red Light District.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXzIhSlQMJsI5611Einqo6eN9fl9LHjqFg4X5lzHPNc5_J0EuB4b1LUfYJyvifoNpLMsFSC7FQ2IiJI77fLs134aE91VnD3DA6iO13IzQ09XNN-aAvdGkDXOrN_s8526SLZk1AAKN5OA/s1600/w657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXzIhSlQMJsI5611Einqo6eN9fl9LHjqFg4X5lzHPNc5_J0EuB4b1LUfYJyvifoNpLMsFSC7FQ2IiJI77fLs134aE91VnD3DA6iO13IzQ09XNN-aAvdGkDXOrN_s8526SLZk1AAKN5OA/s320/w657.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Underneath all the red lights, you’ll find prostitutes in the windows… women with varying looks in various degrees of undress. There are “no picture” signs in almost all of the windows and I’m told the “bouncers,” who watch after these women will chase after you if you snap a photo. This was <i>not</i> where I wanted to get in trouble for using my camera. So, take my word when I say the prostitutes were under red lights, and the transvestites were under blue lights.<br />
<br />
Although the concept of a red-light district, and coffeeshops for that matter, all sound like they would attract crime, I felt very safe in this part of Amsterdam. It is very crowded with tourists, many of them knocking on the windows of the prostitutes to inquire about rates and other… stuff. We stayed in this area until after midnight and I never felt the least bit frightened.<br />
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And look, we didn’t even break the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">€20 </b>mark!<br />
<br />
<h4>
Fries: €3<br />Beer: €4 each = €8<br />Total Cost: About €11</h4>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-36026747664739332982012-12-21T21:57:00.002-05:002013-01-08T21:48:48.441-05:00Last Minute Holiday Presents - Best Booze Deal in Town<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">With Christmas lurking
just around the corner, you might be looking for last-minute gifts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, maybe it’s just me looking for
last-minute gifts… anyways, here to save the day, the very first guest
columnist on Economical Explorer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s our
best man, who jumped off a bridge into the Intracoastal to show his love for
Frank and me on our wedding night… Joseph Schulz!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he’s speaking on a subject he knows all
too well – alcohol at Total Wine and More!<o:p></o:p></i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbbC5T85G0T2PYglo4YiQ74PH9rU1ctfvnYjCIRmNH18Ub5PmIpmlJJmLZkRpcGLSTXjCbfAitQHvCz8Pw7ZP9BcfTyBCvXb20-M_avzMYHCk-xA6_K3lN2PhJ4jE_8RNidL9yI0aD1I/s1600/T+F-594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbbC5T85G0T2PYglo4YiQ74PH9rU1ctfvnYjCIRmNH18Ub5PmIpmlJJmLZkRpcGLSTXjCbfAitQHvCz8Pw7ZP9BcfTyBCvXb20-M_avzMYHCk-xA6_K3lN2PhJ4jE_8RNidL9yI0aD1I/s320/T+F-594.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know he's the best man because he's wearing a shirt that<br />
says "Best Man!" This is also right about the time he said<br />
"masturbation" in front of all of our family and friends ;)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
To those of the lucky ones who live in a 10-mile vicinity of
these pillars of capitalism… this is one deal you cannot miss. This is
especially true for those of us who enjoy imbibing on a frequent, if not daily, basis. Even if you have to burn a $4 gallon of gas to get to Total Wine and
More, I would say it’s well worth it. I am convinced the CFO of this company
would be able to eliminate our national debt in three months time based on this
business model, probably the most important document since the Magna Carta. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
The
first thing that impresses you about Total Wine and More is, that once you walk
in the sliding automatic door, the sheer size of this architectural
masterpiece. Nothing fancy, just rows and rows of bottled happiness. The next
thing you will notice is that they mean business. And by that, I mean you
have available a shopping cart. And not one of those baskets or the
small ones you find at the drug store. I’m talking a full-on shopping cart so
you don’t feel like a lush when you fill it up. </div>
<br />
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I
am partial to vodka and red wine and the deals are just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">amazing</i>. And the more expensive stuff you buy, the better the
savings. A handle of Stoli is <b>$24</b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s $30
at most other liquor stores, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">when</i> it’s
on “sale.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also their selection of fine
rums is to die for. I paid <b>$27</b> for a 23-year-old rum that I have seen go for as
much as 50 bucks. You can find quality reds for less than <b>$10</b>. If you buy a
case, you basically get one free. The cheap stuff is comically inexpensive. I
saw a bottle of white wine for <b>$3.99</b>. I don’t think the hangover would be worth
it, however, so I stick to the fancy <b>$8.99</b> a bottle wines. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
The
beer aisle is like candy land. All the usuals, plus you can make your own six-packs from the single specialty beers. I like to make mine by country. Remember,
you are not a real country unless you have your own beer and airline. Kegs are
also available for up to <b>$10-15</b> cheaper than at most other stores. Bonus: You
can actually walk into the beer cooler if you want… always a good time.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
The
one downer is if you want the really good stuff, you have to ask for a person
to open up the safe… I mean refrigerator. Every time I have done this, hilarity
ensues. Despite the 30 or so people who work there, like, one person has this
key. I would venture a guess that buying plutonium is not this difficult, but
once the safe is open, it’s go time. If you are buying multiple items, go to
the safe last because they don’t let you carry it around once they give it to
you. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
There
is almost always free wine tasting in the store. If you buy one of the wines they
feature, you get a discount. Also, on the weekends there are usually various
companies hawking their products, so you can basically get drunk for free if
you want. DISCLAIMER: I don’t suggest this. </div>
<br />
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Also
on various nights, depending on the location, there is a full on <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2012/11/total-wine-and-more-classes-deals-on.html" target="_blank">wine tasting</a> that is paired with cheeses. I paid <b>$25</b> last time and got a great wine buzz, so,
well worth it. They have other classes as well but your columnist has not tried
those… yet. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
If
you don’t see something you like you can go to the customer service and request
it. I did this on a bottle of champagne and the guy called my cell phone each
and every time it was in stock. His name's Jim, laid off a year ago from UPS…
two kids, a wife and a golden retriever…nice guy. This made me feel either (1)
like a complete alcoholic, or (2) like a connoisseur. </div>
<br />
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I
get the Sunday paper delivered and there are always coupons for this store, so keep that in mind if you’ re trying to save while supporting your vice. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
My close proximity to this store has easily caused me to lose anywhere between five and 30
years from my life, but I will continue to frequent the place, regardless, as my
patriotic duty to support the economy. </div>
<br />
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Total
Wine and More, how do I love thee...<br />
<br /></div>
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<h4>
Total Cost: Good wines run about $10, champagnes as low as $30, and handles of quality vodka for less than $25<br />Best
Deal: Saving $23 on a bottle of rum<br />Worst
Deal: Ice</h4>
</div>
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<br />
Tell
Jim I said hi!<br />
<br />
<i>Editor's Note: You can also get coupons to Total Wine and More delivered to your email. Regularly the store sends out deals for $1 off a six-pack of beer (priced $6.99 or higher), $1 off a bottle of wine (priced $7.99 or more) and $15 off every $100 of wine you buy. You don't even have to print the coupons out, you just show them to the cashier on your smartphone and get the money off!</i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-76805735677747651792012-12-20T20:17:00.002-05:002012-12-20T20:17:17.410-05:00Experience Gifts for the Holidays – ________ of the Month Clubs
Bacon is meat candy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s the tagline for <a href="http://www.baconfreak.com/" target="_blank">Bacon Freak</a>, a
website from which I bought Frank a membership to the Bacon of the Month Club a
few Christmases ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the course of
a few months, he received Apple Cinnamon Bacon, Honey BBQ Bacon, and Hickory
Smoked Bacon, among others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was more
bacon than any vegetarian who loved her man could ask for.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2W5CCcileMslIeq7Xd0PaMu_c4qAC9nH0vDBPGnZp1OBEU2HpiSbWR9lDEBP7FJwx2QMAMiv61rdYDQa64-j6H-IhOCU-CXFjUARu5zNZSfBeY0jIHb7i232Ko0WaJTqlUf3hUHRzGg/s1600/Bacon+of+the+Month.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2W5CCcileMslIeq7Xd0PaMu_c4qAC9nH0vDBPGnZp1OBEU2HpiSbWR9lDEBP7FJwx2QMAMiv61rdYDQa64-j6H-IhOCU-CXFjUARu5zNZSfBeY0jIHb7i232Ko0WaJTqlUf3hUHRzGg/s320/Bacon+of+the+Month.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you can see from the website page there, the Bacon of the
Month Club did cost a pretty penny - $145.95, plus tax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, it was pretty well worth it when Frank
came home to a box of pork on the doorstep once a month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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A Bacon of the Month Club is just one of the unique
memberships you can buy for your friends or family this holiday. And with just a few days left before Christmas, I tend to think the clubs where you get
something delivered once a month are a pretty good idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Christmas 2008, I bought Frank a Wine of
the Month Club.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once a month, we’d get a
nice bottle of white and a decent bottle of red.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This wine was most likely consumed that
night, but it was better than driving to the store!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-lcp3FkbrUPlZD4yV0lU4xvtY816BdAB43TvhUJozokZclCs3HacvF1D6LXHxgr6afEky0uwQ6vZPUKYkmf5Fif38XrLdh6rkcnNa6Z_23seg1RFvUoLgsKBCvQxflR12T_LwQGNDO8/s1600/Wine+of+the+month+club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-lcp3FkbrUPlZD4yV0lU4xvtY816BdAB43TvhUJozokZclCs3HacvF1D6LXHxgr6afEky0uwQ6vZPUKYkmf5Fif38XrLdh6rkcnNa6Z_23seg1RFvUoLgsKBCvQxflR12T_LwQGNDO8/s320/Wine+of+the+month+club.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
Not a bacon fan or wine isn’t your thing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are several other “____ of the Month
Clubs” you can join.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fruit, beer, beauty
products… think about one thing the person you’re shopping for likes, and I’m
pretty sure there’s a club out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><a href="http://www.luckymag.com/blogs/luckyrightnow/2011/12/Best-Of-The-Month-Clubs" target="_blank">Lucky Magazine</a> broke down the best “of the month clubs” out there, and I think they did a
pretty good job.<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Fill-in-the-blank “of the months” club is the gift
that keeps on giving, months after the holidays end.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><strong>Have you ever tried out one of these "clubs?" What did you buy?</strong></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2493187755181676575.post-90583838280437550562012-12-13T22:06:00.001-05:002013-03-29T16:41:28.978-04:00Experience Gifts for the Holidays – Crafting ClassYou may have read about the fun I had at a <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2012/10/awesome-groupon-deal-1-painting-and.html" target="_blank">painting class</a>
this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bought a Groupon to <a href="http://www.uptownart.com/west_palm_beach/" target="_blank">Uptown Art</a> for my sister-in-law for her birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
But w</span>hat fun is drinking and painting without me? So I bought one for my
husband and myself as well! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I liked the
class so much, I bought a similar Groupon for my best friend’s birthday to
<a href="https://vinospicasso.com/" target="_blank">Vino’s Picasso</a> in Ft. Myers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt21KapsY1L9Nil-5K6P_PoQJAun1F9nmZvICX4xeYufzCDZsoHzh9mzlLeynmDnAGTHZiB6U90sciDT7rNuJLpBxP1IiWMre3Hy6LZgSdnXgd7tScPUOTKsH6UQhP0qPvGfKL5CsnLB8/s1600/P1030226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt21KapsY1L9Nil-5K6P_PoQJAun1F9nmZvICX4xeYufzCDZsoHzh9mzlLeynmDnAGTHZiB6U90sciDT7rNuJLpBxP1IiWMre3Hy6LZgSdnXgd7tScPUOTKsH6UQhP0qPvGfKL5CsnLB8/s320/P1030226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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These painting classes are popping up all over South
Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are also popping up all
over Groupon, which makes them an economical gift worth giving this holiday.<br />
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Right now, <a href="http://www.talintropic.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20&Itemid=29" target="_blank">Talin Tropic</a> in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Boca Raton</b> is offering painting
classes for just $19 per person – a $26 discount from the normal price of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">$45</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The deal is through <a href="http://www.gottahalfit.com/deal/fortlauderdale/Talin-Tropic-BYOB-Painting-Class-Boca-Raton" target="_blank">Gotta Half It</a> and ends tomorrow.</div>
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Don’t just limit yourself to painting canvas… <a href="http://www.art-sealiving.com/index.asp" target="_blank">Art-Sea Living</a>
in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Boynton Beach</b> offers wine glass
painting classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right now, <a href="http://www.groupon.com/deals/art-sea-living" target="_blank">Groupon</a> is offering the class for two people for just $25, but act fast, because this
one is for a “limited time” only.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still,
the deal isn’t so bad <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">without</i> a
Groupon either - <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">$25 each</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Art-Sea Living also offers a variety of other
crafting classes though, like pottery painting and even ornament-making (to
which you can bring your own booze!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Check out their calendar <a href="http://www.art-sealiving.com/calendar/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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Looking for something a little more intense?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At McMow Art Glass in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lake Worth</b>, you can fuse glass to create unique plates and other
artwork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.groupon.com/deals/mc-mow-art-glass" target="_blank">Groupon</a> is offering a deal at McMow Art Glass that also runs only for a “limited time.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For just <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">$35</b>,
you get a two-hour class, half off the normal price.<o:p> </o:p></div>
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There may not be a Groupon involved, but the arts and crafts
store Michaels (located in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Boynton Beach</b>,
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">West Palm Beach</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Palm Beach Gardens</b>, and other areas
around South Florida) offers <a href="http://www.michaels.com/Exciting-Classes/classes,default,pg.html" target="_blank">plenty of classes</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cake decorating is one of their most
popular.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9aZL4CXcAD07R39UYa-PdO4LUrf2YEgyCGz1BYXKkTjYG6ylLM9a2vlK1DP9_JFw6BUO396bekhTUMpBuvMOeAduiTCCTZWsbrUAW88TYzIzpJbar-erCPNvWc7XibI-qiDXj1G8FLY/s1600/Cake+Decorating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9aZL4CXcAD07R39UYa-PdO4LUrf2YEgyCGz1BYXKkTjYG6ylLM9a2vlK1DP9_JFw6BUO396bekhTUMpBuvMOeAduiTCCTZWsbrUAW88TYzIzpJbar-erCPNvWc7XibI-qiDXj1G8FLY/s640/Cake+Decorating.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't take <em>my</em> cake decorating class at Michaels, but my teacher had taught at Michaels before and used mostly <br />
Wilton products, which is what you'll use at Michaels.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The cost is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">$22.50</b>
per class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Michaels recommends four classes
for each of their four courses. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
means for less than $100, you could buy someone one complete course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Michaels also offers crochet classes, beading
classes, and a variety of classes for kids.</div>
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<a href="http://www.joann.com/classes/" target="_blank">JoAnn Fabrics</a>
also offers classes, for a slightly more economical price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In January and February, you can buy a cake
decorating class for just <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">$17.50</b>. </div>
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Personally, I'd much rather get an "experience," like a crafting class, <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2012/12/experience-gifts-for-holidays-mini-golf.html" target="_blank">mini golf</a>, <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2012/12/experience-gifts-for-holidays-woman-on.html" target="_blank">trapeze teachings</a>, or a <a href="http://www.economicalexplorer.com/2012/12/experience-gifts-for-holidays-spa.html" target="_blank">spa day</a> before another Christmas sweater (do people give those anymore?!?!). And one of the best things about buying someone an "experience," especially on Groupon? It normally includes two for one, which means you can participate in the gift as well!</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Did I miss
anything?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What other craft classes are
out there or would you want to take?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0