Discovering a New World in New Zealand (Part 2)

River water rushes over bone white rocks, so clear the bottom is completely visible, so clean you can drink straight from the rapids. The mountains rise up from the water below, emerging as if from no where, creating a scene that cannot be real, but is one of the most natural landscapes in the world. The beech trees cling to the rock faces, creating lush, green hanging forests that are home to an array of flora and fauna. This is Te Anau, New Zealand, nestled among the Murchison Mountains and next to Lake Te Anau. This is where I spent the most time on my recent trip to Australia and New Zealand, and where there is an endless array of sights and activities that could have kept me there even longer.

Te Anau and adjacent Milford Sound are spectacular...and one of my favorite places that we visited while in New Zealand.

After our night in Mount Cook, we grabbed a quick breakfast before hitting the road again. Today was a long day of driving down to Te Anau. We made our way out of the Mackenzie region, and into the Otago area. Along the way, we took a detour over to Arrowtown, a small gold mining town known for its rich history, gorgeous scenery and relaxing atmosphere. Since we did not have a lot of time, we stuck to main street, which boasted most of the town's stores and restaurants. It definitely reminded me of the small mountain towns of Colorado, and it made me miss home just a little. We shopped around for a little bit, picked up a couple souvenirs, and then grabbed some sandwiches for the road.

Within the next couple hours, we arrived in Te Anau, a township located on the banks of Lake Te Anau, the largest fresh water lake in the South Island. We checked into our motel, a quaint, clean facility, with kitchenettes and sitting areas in each room. Since we were staying here for three nights, it was nice to have a little bit more space. We decided to head over to the grocery store to buy some sandwich-making supplies, as well as some snacks to keep in the fridge, just to keep some of our eating-out bills down (a tactic I highly recommend, especially if your hotel room has a small kitchen and you're on a budget).

Later, my parents and I ventured over to the Real Journeys office, where we hopped a ship over to the famous glowworm caves. The boat took us over to the western shores of the lake, while the driver gave us some background information on the area and the caves. By geological standards, the vaces are 12,000 years old--pretty young, actually--and were carved out by the river flowing through them. We were divided into smaller groups of 12, as the caves are very narrow and difficult to navigate if too many people are in there at one time. We had to crouch down very low to get through the entrance, but once inside, the limestone passages were high enough that we could stand. The roaring water echoed off the rock, making it pretty loud, so the guide had to yell when pointing out certain highlights of the cave. My dad took a drink directly from a streaming of dripping water from the roof of the cave. Yes, the water is clean enough that you can do that. A rarity in this world.

We could see little specks of light around the caves, indicating the presence of the glowworms. At one point, we actually got a glimpse of one of them creating a stream of mucus that hangs down to capture prey. Kind of gross and cool at the same time. We walked passed a raging underground waterfall, through tight corridors, until we reached a pair of small boats. Once on board, the lights were shut off, casting us into pitch blackness. But up above, the glimmer of the glowworms became clearly visible, creating a mini universe. We floated aimlessly--or at least it felt that way--gazing at the lights, until we made a full circle back to the makeshift port. We made our way back out of the cave and over to the cabin for some complimentary coffee and tea before reboarding the ship to take us back to the city. We spent the evening relaxing, since we had to get up early in the morning for our next activity.


Bright and early the next day, we headed out to Milford Sound, a two hour drive from Te Anau. The clouds thickened in the sky, and I could not help but worry that rain was inevitable. Along our drive, we stopped at the Mirror Lakes. As the name suggests, the lakes are so still and clear that everything is reflected back, making it look like there are doubles of everything.

Just as we were preparing to go through the tunnel to enter Milford Sound, the rain really started to come down. After verifying our reservation for the 2.5-hour cruise of the sound, we waited on the soaking dock for our ship to open so we could grab the best viewing spot. The ship had ample seating, but we wanted to be right up front, and close to the door to make quick dashes out on the deck. Thick fog welcomed us as the boat pulled away, hiding those famous views we had been so eager to see. Needless to say, we were bummed. But all the locals will tell you that the rain was a good thing, as the area was going though a major drought. Still, I was struggling to find the silver lining...and then it appeared...out of the mist like some magical omen. A magnificent waterfall.

The water rushed down the rocks, through the thick forests of beech trees, their shallow roots holding on for dear life, because at any moment, a whole line of them could detach and slide right into the water, creating what one of our guides referred to as a "travalanche." Despite the cold and rain, I ran out onto the deck to get a better look--and snap a much-needed picture. Captivated by the cascading current, all of us gazed in wonder, disregarding that fact that we were getting drenched. That was what I needed, that was my silver lining.

At least 10 more waterfalls appeared during the cruise, a true gift considering most of the falls had not been seen for months due to the dryness. We even got to steal a look at some sea lions competing over who would be king of the rock, which I was thoroughly entertained by.

After the cruise, we headed back to Te Anau and spent the rest of the afternoon shopping and relaxing. We had a nice pizza dinner on the main shopping strip, and then crashed.

Our last full day in Te Anau, we took a one-day hike along the first portion of the Milford Track. It is a well known tramping route between Glade Wharf at the tip of Lake Te Anau and Sandfly Point next to Milford Sound, and runs 53.5 km. During summer peak season between late October and late April, access to the track is in high demand, and, as a result is highly regulated. It must be completed in four days, and walkers must keep going because of limited capacities at huts along the route.

Four days was not available to us, so we had to settle for a one-day nature walk. After a quick coach trip to Te Anau Downs, and a relaxing cruise across the lake, we began our walk along the Glade Burn toward Glade House. But first, we took a slight detour and climbed up a steep path to get a better view of the lake, and take a drink from the pristine river water.


We had a delicious lunch back down at Glade House, and then crossed the Clinton River along a swing bridge. Part of me wanted to sway the bridge back and forth, but there were some older folks on our walk, so I thought better of it. Our guide pointed out different plants along the way, and provided information on the native birds, if we happened to see any. You see, New Zealand used to be known as a land of birds, with so many different species the forests used to be deafeningly loud. There were no native mammals on the islands, so birds could florish without worrying about predators. Then humans arrived and brought with them rats, weasels and other such animals that began hunting birds or eating their eggs. Before long, many species became extinct, and New Zealand's forests are now called the silent forests. The area is working very hard to revitalize the bird population, and the efforts seem to be working, as we heard a decent amount of noise from the trees.

We learned about a wide variety of fauna on our walk, including a tree that produces berries so poisonous, that consuming them results in death almost instantly. We were also introduced to the Horopito, or the pepper tree, which features spicy leaves that are commonly being used in sauces and dressings for cooking in New Zealand. Our guide told us it was safe to eat right from the branch, and, since my mom and I love spicey food, we went for it. And it definitely had a bite to it. I think it even burned my tongue a little.

The rest of the walk went by quickly, and before I knew it, we were turning back. Even though it wasn't the most strenuous walk I've ever done, I still felt tired when we got on the boat. It was nice to sit in the back, watching the engine create a ripple of waves, gazing at the mountain ranges fade in the distance. I glanced at my parents next to me, clasping hands, subtly displaying their love and commitment after all these years with a simple gesture. Soon, we would be docking, heading back to the hotel to pack, and enjoying our last dinner out in Te Anau. The next morning, we would be loading up the car to drive to Queenstown for the last portion of our trip. But for that moment, all that was around us was the peacefulness of the mountains.

Discovering a New World in New Zealand (Part 1)

The streets were deserted, except for the scraps of paper that blew across the cracked cement sidewalks. Trash piled up next to vacant, vandalized buildings, and battered fences hinged down close to the ground, failing to keep out the trespassers they were designed to keep from entering. Structures were crumbling along every road, creating a dismal environment. Then, out of the dusty, grey haze, there appeared a patch of green next to a shimmering rush of water. An old, historic stone bridge transcended the river, reminding visitors of the glory that once was Christchurch, a wonderous city that is just starting to get its spirit back.


My parents and I arrived in Christchurch on a chilly, cloudy Tuesday afternoon. After picking up our rental car, we drove the short distance into the city center to a quaint bed and breakfast. Once checked in, we ventured out to explore the area. For those of you who do not know or may have forgotten, Christchurch was hit by a massive earthquake in February 2011, severely damaging the city and killing 185 people. Two years later, Christchurch is still recovering from the devastation, and the severity of the disaster can be seen throughout the streets. The cathedral sits in shambles, awaiting necessary funds to rebuild and restore it to its previous glory; while many of the buildings are crumbled and abandoned, creating an ethereal atmosphere that is truly saddening. It made me wonder what Christchurch used to be like; a once vibrant and lively city left in ruin.

Even though the city has a long way to go, there are definitely signs of improvement; even innovation and growth. Just a couple blocks away from the cathedral is what residents call the container mall. It is an outdoor shopping area made completely out of storage containers. Each shop is a separate container, and some are even stacked on top of one another to create rooftop patios outside coffee shops and cafes. There are a number of local artists and business owners with stores there, and locals and tourists alike flock to the modern strip, giving it an energy unseen in the rest of the city. And it is impeccably clean, a starck contrast to other areas of downtown. Just across the river from the container mall is another area that appears to have recently been remodeled, and includes museums and restaurants. Since it was nearing dinner time, we settled ourselves into one of these establishments, a nice little restaurant called Fiddlesticks. We enjoyed a nice dinner and then walked back to the hotel.

As we were packing up to leave in the morning, my dad realized he had left his iPad on the plane over from Sydney, sitting discreetly in the front pocket of his seat. So began a long night of calls to customer service offices, baggage claim desks, and airport and airline personel. Some people tried their best to help, while others shrugged it off, and some places were unreachable. It was certainly aggravating not having decent customer service, especially with a situation like this when a valuable, personal item is lost. Airline websites should have information about who to contact in these situations, and employees should know exactly what to tell passengers instead of redirecting them to ten different phone numbers--some that are not even active. (Rather than continue this rant, I will just tell you the good news: The next morning, someone from the airline did contact my dad to let him know his iPad was at the Christchurch airport--what a relief.)

We had a nice breakfast at the hotel, and I am officially obsessed with the coffee in New Zealand--so good. While my dad ran to the airport, my mom and I explored the botanic gardens, as Christchurch is known as the garden city. The flowers were a little out of season, but still gorgeous. I never knew there were so many species of dahlias. My dad joined us on our walk through the gardens, and then we decided to hit the road, since we had a long drive ahead of us to get to Mount Cook, the next stop on our adventure through New Zealand.

Driving is one of the best ways to see the incredible scenery of the country, although, I will admit, the first hour or so was relatively boring. Lots of flat, farmland and dull attractions, nothing worth taking a picture of, surprisingly. It was not until we turned off the main highway that the landscape began to transform, with rolling hills, green pastures and sweeping valleys. The road curved and dipped, making for some much more entertaining driving for my dad--if only he had a manual transmission.

About mid-day, we stopped for a bite to eat on the banks of Lake Tekapo, a pristine, bright blue lake situated in the Mackenzie Basin. We enjoyed a nice meal on a patio overlooking the water, as well as the Church of the Good Shepherd. We got back on the road and continued south without stopping until we reached Mount Cook. Also called Aoraki, Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand, and is located in the Southern Alps. Driving through the valley, I looked on in amazement at the sheer size and beauty of the mountains, while my parents displayed their geological expertise, pointing out unique features in the rocks, hills and glaciers. (Don't ask me to repeat the terms or explanations, please.)

We quickly checked into our room at The Hermitage Hotel, changed our clothes, and went for a speedy hike along one of the walking trails up to the nearest glacier. It was actually warm enough to wear shorts and a t-shirt, and I certainly welcomed the sun beating down on my pale skin as we trekked up to our destination. Once there, we took a few essential photos, and then headed back to the hotel, as we had dinner reservations to make.

We went down to the dining room, where we enjoyed a nice cocktail in front of floor to ceiling windows that gave us a wonderful view of the sun setting over the mountain range. There were a number of tour groups in the restuarant--most of them from Asia--so the buffet was extremely crowded. We had to wait it out for a little while before finally grabbing some food.  Fair warning though, this is the only restaurant at the hotel, and all they have is a buffet, and it is pretty pricey--way too much considering the amount of food we each had. So unless it is included in your room cost, I recommend walking down the road to the village and finding something a little cheaper.

After dinner, we took part in a star gazing excursion, one of the many activities the hotel offers guests. Our guide led us into the planetarium to give us a (not quite) brief overview of the formation of the universe, our galaxy and the solar system. He also gave us an idea of the constellations we would see outside. While this should have been a 20-minute talk, it turned into close to an hour, and I was struggling to keep my eyes open. I appreciated our guide's knowledge, but he certainly liked hearing himself talk. Once outside, though, my attitude changed somewhat. Even though it was chilly, and I was ready to pass out, the immense sky laid out before me made it difficult to focus on the negative. Living in the city, I see very few stars, if any. But out in the valley of Mount Cook, there were literally billions dotting the sky, it didn't look real. We looked through two different telescopes that gave us a closer look at the clusters of stars, with Saturn being the grand finale of the night. I could actually see the rings through the telescope!

I went to bed that night content with my first few days in New Zealand and my lovely night spent among the stars.

Adventures Down Under

My arms ached with each stroke, straining to propel myself forward, as my legs remained fully engaged to make sure I did not fall. The water below me was murky, cold and filled with huge jelly fish...intensifying my incentive to stay standing. The sandy beach front glimmered in the distance, slowly approaching as my body exterted all its effort to paddle through the steady current of waves. But as I inched closer to the shore, the burn in my muscles gave way to relief and elation, knowing that I had accomplished my goal: Navigating a paddle board nearly a mile across Pittwater Bay.

For a long time, I had wanted to try paddle boarding, and what better place than Sydney? My recent vacation--just under two weeks--was not nearly long enough to see everything I wanted and still have plenty of time to spend with my family. Even so, it was wonderful to get away for a little while, and visit a side of my family that I rarely get the chance to see. Not to mention getting the chance to venture around New Zealand and check another location off my vacation bucket list. But before I headed off to meet with the Kiwis, I enjoyed a couple blissfully warm days in Australia.

I left Chicago on March 8, prepared to face a long flight to Los Angeles and then onto Sydney. (Luckily, my seatmate on the first leg was a native Aussie, so it was nice to have a companion along the way.) The flight was relatively painless for the most part; although, even with a seat that converted all the way into a bed and a sleeping pill, I could not manage to get as much sleep as I wanted. But the food and movie selection made up for the length.

Doors out to the pool at my aunt and uncle's house

Upon arrival in Sydney, my parents and Aunt Kathy greeted me and sped me off to Manly, a neighborhood just north of the city where most of my family lives. The last time I was in Sydney was when I was fourteen, so some things looked familiar, but it was tough to remember it all. My aunt and uncle's house was absolutely beautiful, with floor to ceiling glass, roll away doors that opened right out to a patio in the front--with a pool--and one in the back with a small yard and grilling area. This would be the scene of the family get together my aunt arranged in honor of my arrival. But before the party began, I needed to shower and change, since it was 80 degrees and sunny, and I had not dressed for such weather. My cousin, April, played tour guide for a couple hours, taking my parents and me down to Manly Beach and showing us the stores and restaurants along the beach front, where we bought our first souvenir. There was no shortage of activity on the beach, as the Aussie's enjoyed their Sunday afternoon surfing, sunning, and swimming. Not too shabby.

Manly Beach

After another quick outfit change, we were ready for the barbecue. But knowing my dad's family, no one actually showed up on time...perpetually 30 minutes late. When all the cousins started showing up, the first thing out of most of their mouths was, "you probably don't remember me..." It had been over ten years since my last visit, but I knew most of them, though names and faces were a little fuzzy. As incredible as it is to have family all over the world, it is sad going years without seeing them. How is it that I let this much time pass between visits? Oh yeah, life, school, work, money...it all got in the way. Still, I was not about to dwell on that, I wanted to soak up every moment I had with them. I spent the afternoon catching up with all my dad's cousins and then all their kids, who are around the same age as I am. And, of course, we enjoyed some delicious food prepared by my Uncle Martin, who cooked up a chipotle and goat cheese sausage that I could not eat fast enough. After most of the family left, the younger cousins and I went out around Manly to continue the party at a couple bars. Despite my desire to stay out and show them that I could last, the jetlag was setting in hard core, and I had to turn in around 9:30...not too bad, if you ask me.

Palm Beach

The next morning, my aunt, cousin, parents and I headed up to Palm Beach, where we hiked up to the lighthouse and took in the incredible views of the ocean and Whale Beach. It was there that my dad spotted the paddle boards, and we decided today was the day we were going to try it, after grabbing a quick bite of course, since we were all starving. We ate lunch at this adorable restaurant nestled right on the water's edge, complete with wonderful views from the dock, eclectic decorations emulating local nature, and, of course, delicious, fresh food.


Once we had fully digested our meals, we headed over to the rental office and got our paddle boards. At first, we thought we would stay relatively close to the shore, but before I knew it, my aunt spotted a secluded beach across the bay and we headed straight for it. It did not look that far at first...but we were clearly deceived by our blind ambition to take on the challenge. It was difficult at first to get into a rythm, at least for me, and the task was made even more difficult when I spotted a massive jellyfish just ahead of me. I was sure I was going to hit it with my paddle--or lose my balance and fall right on top of it--but luckily I passed it without any problems. But before my heart could stop pounding, I spotted three more, and then a whole cluster of them seemed to rise to the surface of the water out of nowhere. It was all I could do not to scream and turn around right then and there. What if I fell in? What if I got stung? I'll be the first to admit, jellyfish are not the scariest thing I could have encountered, far from it, in fact. But for me, it was terrifying, at least momentarily.

The terror was short-lived, as the colony appeared to be concentrated to one location in the water, and the rest of the course was jellyfish clear. The next challenge became the increasing intensity of the waves. For the most part, they were pretty calm, but every once and a while, a large swell would tip the side or back of the board, and every muscle in my body would activate to keep me standing. I am sure I've never focused so hard on engaging my muscles, and, as someone who works out regularly, that seems odd. But this was completely different than what I was used to, and it felt great to test myself in a new way. My efforts--and pain--were finally rewarded, however, when we reached the practically untouched beach and enjoyed a nice swim to cool ourselves off.

I have to say I was on a personal high, and my confidence was soaring. Even though the winds were against us at first, I found a great rythm on the return trip, powering myself forward with unknown force. Going back was not nearly as intimidating, and seemed to go by much quicker, but perhaps that was because we were all seasoned paddle boarders now. Even though my arms and legs burned as we stepped off the boards and headed back to the car, I felt invigorated and achieved.

That evening, I went to watch my cousin Jessie play basketball; a nostalgic moment in that it reminded me of my middle school days and competing for my team. Part of me wanted to jump out of my seat and join the game, but obviously that would not have been allowed. Cheering for my thirteen-year-old cousin, whom I had last seen as a baby in a high chair, felt strangely normal, even though I barely knew her. It was nice being able to support her for just that moment, since it is probably something I will not get the chance to do again. I was even more pleased when she seemed genuinely happy that we had come to watch--though most teens love that kind of attention, knowing pretty much everyone in the crowd is cheering for them.

I had dinner that evening with my parents and my Aunt Lizzi and Uncle James. We had a nice spread of pork, cheesy potatoes, green beans and baked apples, and of course, lots of crisp, satisfying white wine. The conversation flowed steadily from topic to topic, reminding me that, when it comes to family, it's easy to pick up right where you left off, as if not a day has passed--even though it's been years.

My Australia trip had to take a slight hiatus as my parents and I ventured to New Zealand for a week--which is a whole other story. When we returned, we were welcomed back with a lovely dinner at my Aunt Kathy's and Uncle Martin's, where my second cousin Jono joined us, as he was in town from Melbourne. The evening was enjoyable, fun and comfortable, as usual.

My last day in Sydney, my cousin April and I woke up early and went for a lovely run on the beach, completed with five sets of stairs on the way back to the house--all totally barefoot. That was very foreign to me, as I am accustomed to the comfort of my running shoes, and solid cement surfaces. My legs burned as my feet sunk into the soft sand, but it was a welcome pain, as I had not really physically challenged myself since paddle boarding.

Shelly Beach

After the run, my dad and I went for a bike ride over to Shelly Beach, where we laid out on the sand and went snorkeling. It was relaxing and gave me a chance to get a little color, and check out some of the local marine wildlife. Afterwards, my parents and I caught the ferry over to downtown Sydney, a must-do experience for anyone who wants a good shot of the Harbor Bridge and Opera House. I took the typical postcard-like shots as the boat made its way into the docking station, and then we headed over to one of the waterfront restaurants for a bite to eat. We shopped around a quaint area called The Rocks, which has a number of galleries and boutique shops to browse. I bought myself some Aboriginal artwork, and a boomerang--or three.

After an afternoon in the city, we caught the ferry back to Manly, where we headed straight over to my cousin Joe's basketball game. Yes, another one. Joe is Jessie's younger brother, so this was my first time meeting him, as he was not born yet when I last visited. He is a natural athlete; very competitive and absolutely loves sports. He could talk about rugby and basketball all day if you let him. When the game ended, we headed back to the house to change for my last dinner in Sydney. We went out to a nice restaurant along Manly Beach, known for its steaks. Not being much a steak fan, I opted for a version of Chicken Tikka. My cousin Joe went for the seafood platter, and nearly finished the entire thing all by himself. I've never seen anyone who loves seafood as much as that kid.

After dinner, we met up with the other cousins at one of the local bars to finish the night with celebratory/farewell drinks. It was nice to be able to see them all one last time, and have a memorable time with my family. The whole night, though, I did my best to persuade them to make a trip to the U.S. so I could show them around Chicago, give them a taste of my life.Because I feel like the foreigner to them, and it would be nice to give them a glimpse of what it is like here. Most of them have been to America, but not for a long time, and not to Chicago. I think it is about time.

Sunrise over Manly

I woke up the next morning, and took one last run on the beach, my personal goodbye to Sydney. My parents and aunt and uncle headed off to Perth early to see my dad's cousin Marisa who lives in Western Australia. My flight was a little delayed, so I was able to spend some extra time with my Uncle James, who came by to keep me company and help kill some time before my cousins Jono and Andrew picked me up to go to the airport.

As I sat in the car, listening to them fume over the state of the Australian government, I felt a wave of sadness come over me. I was leaving just as I was getting closer to my family, really feeling like I was a part of things. It is a blessing to have family all over the world, I realize that, but also an affliction. Even though I am related to them, they are blood relatives, there are times where I feel like a complete stranger to them. Social media and technology has helped boost communication between all of us, keeping us connected across oceans, and I am grateful for that. But face time is incredibly important to maintain strong family ties, and my cousins understand that, which is why they travel so much and try to see family as often as possible. But, being an American, our culture does not exactly encourage that kind of lifestyle, so two weeks is the most I can dedicate to them.

Manly

I hope one day I can spend more time with them, either on a future trip to Australia or when they come to visit me. No matter what, I am so thankful that I have such a big family, and that they live in an incredible place like Sydney...and are always willing to let me crash for no cost!

Experiencing "Downton Abbey" in America

Donwton Abbey

Fans of the British period drama Downton Abbey are familiar with the beautiful manor where the Crawley family and its live-in help reside. Highclere Castle is located about 60 miles west of London and is owned by the Earl of Carnarvon and his countess, who live there part-time. The manor has a starring role in the show, and admirers of castle and the show have been flocking to the area to get a first-hand look. Ticket prices range from $8 for walk around the garden to $29 for the grand, but bookings can be hard to get, so I recommend reserving spots early. A number of tour operators also offer packages that include tours of the Castle; while hotels havae introducedd Downton Abbey-inspired pacakages with high tea, personalized butlers, and transportation in a Rolls-Royce.

Of course, it is a little more difficult for American fans of the show to get over to England to get the grand tour. Luckily, there are some alternatives closer to home. The mansions of Newport will certainly satisfy Americans' thirst for an inside look at aristocratic society in the early part of the 20th century. The wealthiest families in the country--at the time--built their cottages on the seaside, and would move their households there during the summer months, servants and all.

Many of the mansions have been open to the public for decades, but most of the tours focused on the wealthy families. And while the history of these families is certainly fascinating, Downton has shown us that what happens behind the scenes can be just as scandalous, mysterious, and fascinating. The Newport Preservation Society has been digging into the archives to learn more about the servants of Newport, and have discovered photos, documents and family histories. As a result, many new tours have been created about the help.

The Elms. Source: Newport Discovery Guide

Recently, The Breakers, one of the grandest mansions in the area, started adding some information about the servants who lived there. The new tour at The Elms is dedicated solely to the servants, giving visitors a unique look at unseen parts of the home, such as the kitchen, boiler room, and servants quarters. The rooms, furnished as they would have been at the time, include pictures, journals and other documents. One room has census records that show names, occupations and birth countries. The tour discusses the "kitchen ratchets," parties held in the mansion kitchens, with food, drink and gossip galore.

As someone who is interested in historical tours, and is riveted by the show, I would definitely take a trip to Newport to check out these mansions. And a servant-focused tour would certainly be in order, because, let's face it, that's where the real stories come from.

Introducing Hotel Week, the Next Restaurant Week

Most major cities have some kind of restaurant week where hundreds of restaurants offer a pre-fixed, set-price menu for lunch and dinner, creating a foodies paradise. I have participated in Chicago's restaurant week the last few years, and I am never disappointed, and I usually find a place I would try again. So when the concept of Hotel Week came up, my curiosity naturally took over. What a great way to not only draw in more tourists, but also let locals experience a nice evening at a hotel. Stay-cation anyone?

Baltimore held its inaugural Hotel Week in mid-February (Feb. 8-18), a slow month for tourism in the city. The promotion offered attractive discounts and perks to locals and tourists on less busy days of the week from about 14 hotels. One of the deals from The Holiday Inn Baltimore-Inner Harbor included a one-night package for $101 or a two-night package for $202. The bundle included breakfast for two, a welcome amenity and a split of local wine. Those who booked two nights also received a little bonus: Two adult tickets to top Baltimore attractions.

New York held its second annual Hotel Week in January, following a particularly successful inaugural year. In 2012, New York's promotion featured deals from eight hotels starting at around $100 a night--a sweet price in New York City. In its second year, the promotion expanded to 26 properties offering rates of $100, $200 and $250 a night at hotels that would have originally charged upwards of $500 a night. The most popular hotel was the Maritime Hotel, which booked 225 rooms for the week. Next year's Hotel Week is expected to be even bigger, since hotels get a jolt of extra business at a time when people generally are holding off on spending after the holidays.

Ocean City, Maryland, has been ahead of the game. It will host its third annual hotel week at the end of the summer, a time when people are traditionally packing up to leave and prepare for the upcoming school year. During the week, hotels will be offering free-nights, discounts on multiple-night bookings, among other offers.

Other cities are following suit as a means of gaining some more tourists during non-peak seasons. A hotel week is being planned for the Caribbean in August, usually a slower time for the islands.

I definitely think Chicago needs to get on board with this idea, especially during the miserable winter months when few people want to venture to the Windy City--or even go out around town, if you live here. Most people are hybernating in the winter, but with some incentive--like a super cheap hotel room--people may be persuaded to emerge from their dark caves and enjoy a nice evening away. And they may even check out some local attractions or restaurants, just for the hell of it! I enjoy staying at hotels, and I would not be opposed to spending a nice weekend in downtown chicago at an upscale, out-of-my-price-range establishment. An escape within my city.



Ocean City, Maryland

I also would consider checking out some of these other hotel week promotions in cities I've never been. Ocean City sounds cool, and it's a place I would have never considered visiting before. And the Caribbean would be absolutely beautiful. The only problem there is hotel week is during hurricane season, so I would have to weigh the risks on that one. It could be worth it...

Budget Cuts Could Delay Travel

Federal budget cuts are due to hit airlines and airports in the last week of February, bringing a wave of delays, reduced takeoffs and slower security lines that may only get worse as the year goes on and more government furloughs go into effect.

Basically, the Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, said most of the Federal Aviation Administration's 47,000 employees would face one day of furlough per two weeks, which means about 10% fewer workers on any given day on average. Fewer air traffic controllers means less people to handle all the planes in the system. To manage the shift, the FAA would accept fewer planes in the system, the same strategy used when there's bad weather. This means larger mile gaps between flights, so passengers will be forced to sit on tarmacs of face delays while they wait for planes to leave the gate.

There are also expected furloughs of TSA workers, meaning longer security lines, and deplaning from international flights could be slower because Customs and Border Protection agents are expected to work fewer hours. Waits at security  could increase by up to an hour, and waits of four to five hours might be common for overseas travelers.

All the details are a little fuzzy, but things do not look promising for travelers over the next few months, and into the busy summer months. Especially with gas prices rising again. It is very possible that staycation could become another common trend this year.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/22/us/government-says-cuts-could-cause-air-travel-delays.html?ref=business&_r=0&gwh=8498274940743D072FA86307E5FD2763

News Update

There has been a lot going on in the travel world as of late, it's been hard to keep up.

Once again, all eyes are on the cruise world, as a stranded Carnival Cruise ship, Triumph, is towed to a port in Mobile, Alabama. The ship has been without power, for the most part, since Sunday when a fire took out the propulsion system, leaving it unable to sail. The sewage system is out, meaning there are no working toilets or showers, and the heating and air-conditioner have malfunctioned, resulting in nearly unbearable heat . The ship was floating in the Gulf of Mexico about 150 miles off the coast of Yucatan, before tug boats began pulling it to shore. Passengers have been sleeping in hallways or on decks to get relief from the heat and stench, and have been forced to wait in lines for hours just to get a small portion of food. Carnival secured buses and over 1,000 hotel rooms in New Orleans for when passengers finally arrive back on shore. They can choose to get on a bus and head to Galveston or Houston, or spend a night in New Orleans and catch a charter plane the next day, Carnival said. The company is covering all travel-related expenses. Passengers will also get a refund, $5000 and a credit toward another cruise--though I'm sure most of the some 4,100 people on board will be avoiding cruises for a while after this horrible experience.

As expected after nearly a year of rumors, discussions, and speculations, US Airways and American Airlines agreed to merge for the hefty price of $11 billion. The deal will create the nation's largest airline. This will allow them to better compete against United and Delta Air Lines, which have both expanded through mergers. The merged airline will be called American Airlines and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of the year. This is most likely the last major consolidation we'll see in the airline industry, at least for a while. So what does this mean for us? Well, we'll have four major airlines from which to choose, as they control about three-quarters of the U.S. market. Customers of the merged airline will have more choices and increased service across a larger network, the airlines said. The new company will have more than 6,700 daily flights to 336 destinations and 56 countries. I know this will affect a lot of people who are frequent fliers of both airlines, and the airline said there will be no changes to those programs at first. I, on the other hand, will continue to book flights on my preferred airlines--Frontier, JetBlue , and UnitedContinental.

For anyone who experienced frustrating delays on a trip last year, you may be surprised by this next little tidbit. Airline on-time rates were at a nine-year high in 2012. Airlines also reported a record low in the number of mishandles bags. Carriers ended 2012 with an on-time performance rate of 81.9%, making the year one of the best three years out of the last 18. Long tarmac delays also dropped, as only 42 that exceeded three hours were reported, down from 50 in 2011. The overall flight cancellation rate remained stagnant, averaging 1.29%. Despite the positives seen in airline performance, consumers complaints still went up slightly--I guess it takes a lot to please us.

Next time you want to upgrade, why not opt for a luxury car rental? This segment of the car rental industry is on the rise, and many people can do it without spending that much more than they would for a full-size sedan. Enterprise expanded its "Exotic Car Collection" to 13 locations in six states; while Hertz said rentals of luxury vehicles grew 15% in 2012. As a result, the company added the Porsche Panamera to its fleet in certain locations. A new company, called Silvercar, entered the mix, renting only silver Audi A4s with customized technology. Rates to rent these cars run the gamut from under $100 to nearly $1,000 a day, and many companies will offer special discounts or promotions, since these rentals are less frequent. Personally, I'd go for the Bentley GTC for $800 a day.

And now another update from Boeing--because we haven't heard enough about this. Boeing conducted two test flights of its 787 Dreamliner as it looked for the cause of the battery problems that grounded the planes. The company said it examined microscopic crystals, called dendrites, can cause lithium-ion batteries to short-circuit and fail, but they are not the main focus of the investigation. Officials are also examining whether a manufacturing defect, the charging process or the battery design could have led to the initial fire.

This week, people around the world celebrated Mardi Gras, with bright costumes, colorful beads, spectacular parties and parades, and, of course, delicious food and plenty of libations. Obviously, the party cities of New Orleans and Rio De Janeiro were the place to be on Fat Tuesday. While thousands of people flocked to these cities over the weekend, there were plenty of other locations holding their own celebrations.

And finally guys, this is for you. If you are tired of having to buy gifts and flowers for your girlfriend on Valentine's Day and take her out for a nice dinner, then perhaps you should live in South Korea. Here, Valentine's Day is when women shower men with gifts. It is also just one of the many romantic days in a series of calendar-dictated holidays in the country. Next is March 14, called White Day, when men gift women with candy. And on April 14, Black Day, singles who did not receive any gifts head to local restaurants to enjoy some jjajyangmyeon, or "black noodles."

So there you go, a quick update of some of the big--and not so big--news stories.

On a more personal news-worthy note, my trip to Australia/New Zealand is 21 days away! I cannot wait! Please know that I will update with stories and pictures as much as possible while I am gone, but most of the recap will occur upon my return. Please send me gift requests prior to March 8. (No guarantees you'll get exactly what you want, but at least I offered.)