I’m choosing to start 2010 with an optimistic outlook. I’m ready to follow the path leading to some positive changes.
My friend, Suzanne Egan, posted The Optimist Creed on her January 1, 2010 Facebook entry. Christian D. Larson, an early New Thought (New Age) leader wrote the work in 1912, almost a hundred years ago. I love the promise which remains timely and decided to make the message my personal motto for the year ahead.
Here is a list of gift items for travelers that I have personally used or can honestly recommend. Remember, it’s not too late to do some last minute Internet shopping.
Heys 4-Wheeled Spinner
Heys Spinner Luggage–World’s lightest 4-wheeled spinner luggage made from a Polycarbonate composite, the same material used in the making of bullet-proof glass, both durable and flexible. When under stress, it flexes to absorb the impact and then afterwards flexes back to its original shape. Another great feature, is its expandability, one of the few hard-sided bags that can expand for up to 25% more space.” Target, Costco, JC Penny, E-bags and many other online stores carry the Heys line. I found mine in TJ Maxx. Love it, love it!!
Microfiber Travel Robe– Unisex robes from size XS-XXL tuck into a 7″ x 7″ pocket for easy packing. Feather-light polyester feels like silk. $59.50 at www.magellans.com
Trunki Ride-On Luggage for Little People- Trunki is the perfect size for children aged 3-6; fits within what most airlines call carry-on size. The case is very light-weight at only 3.8 pounds, making it easy to carry and store in overhead luggage compartments. Trunki is made out of the same plastic that adult suitcases are made with, so it is very durable. Parents–don’t check this bag in, rather let toddlers ride on it, keeping them amused during delays at the airport. The luggage is designed with stabilizers to prevent children from falling off. Trunki is a great way to carry your child’s toys, games and spare clothes. $50, www.trunki.net/
Olympus 8000 Underwater Camera
TripIt Pro– The TripIt Pro app for computers and smart phones brings organization to all of your travel plans, making it a must for frequent business travelers. Simply forward your confirmations from airlines, rental car companies and hotels, and TripIt organizes each trip, adds the items to your calendar, provides you with timely reminders (like gate changes) and keeps track of mileage rewards. $49/year; www.Tripit.com
OLYMPUS Stylus Tough 8000 Camera — a wide angle point and shoot digital camera that works underwater (up to 30′), in the snow and is shockproof. The 12 mega-pixel baby with LCD screen also takes video. Great for outdoor active adventurers. I own the earlier version of this camera and always carry it in my purse. www.olympusamerica.com Highly recommended
Kensington Portable Power Adapter –is a portable outlet for charging multiple devices all at once. The slim device plugs into a single outlet and connects five devices at once with its three AC and two USB sockets. Its grounded cord wraps into a thin, lightweight package that’s easy to take everywhere. $25, www.Kensington.com
Flip Video Mino– a pocket-sized camcorder that records 120 minutes of video. You can attach this to a bike, a helmet, where ever– just think of the fun. Billed as “the world’s simplest video camera.” Uploads easily to the computer for sharing or connect and watch on TV. Weighs only 6.4 ounces. Very cool. High-definition model also available. www.flipvideo.com
Globe ornaments
Worldly Globe Ornaments – These handmade ornaments feature the intricately rendered sixteenth century maps of Gerardus Mercator–the first person to convert two dimensional maps to three-dimensional globes. Heirloom quality with brass finials and rings. They hang from satin ribbons and come ready to give in a beautiful gift box with historical information on the maps and Mercator enclosed. Set of Two Globe Ornaments3 1/2″ diameter, $24. www.travelsmith.com
Kindle or Sony Reader– wireless reading devices. Instead of lugging heavy books on your trips, you simply download them onto your electronic reader. The process is quick and the screen is very readable. You’ll never run out of material and don’t have to lug around heavy books.
Retriever Luggage Tags–When (sadly, not if) your bags get lost, these bright yellow or green luggage tags invite agents (in eight languages) to remove the itinerary you’ve placed inside, and forward your bag to you while you’re still en route- instead of sending it to your home address. www.magellans.com Extremely useful on international flights.
Retriever Luggage Tags
World Monuments Fund — Help keep watch over the World’s endangered places, including some in the US. This advocacy group brings to light the risks of threatened cultural heritage sites and works to help conserve and protect them. Donations at www.wmf.org
Around the World by Private Jet–the ultimate 22-day journey to explore the most treasured and legendary places on earth given by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Only $59,950 per person. I want this one!
In one of the most jaw-drop, gorgeous scenic landscapes anywhere in the world, you will find one of the most bizarre mortuaries.
The tiny town of Hallstatt (population 1,000) lies precariously perched on the side of a mountain. Little A-frame houses cling to the hillside as if magically suspended or stuck on with Velcro. Main Street rests at the base, along the shores of a shimmering blueberry colored lake resembling a fjord. A stone church with a tall pointed steeple seems to teeter on the edge.
Skulls in the Bone Chapel
Walk along Main Street which runs up and down like a staircase throughout the village (cars are not permitted during the day). Climb up to the Roman Catholic Church with a 16th-century gold altarpiece and cemetery with an eerie bone chapel. Compared to the Capuchin Cemetery in Rome (see my previous blog), the Hallstatt bone chapel is more a one room schoolhouse. Called a Beinhaus or charnel house, it crams in 1,200 skulls painted with floral designs and in some cases the name, date and cause of death.
You see, shortage of space in the graveyard limited the number of burial plots, so bodies were removed after decomposing for ten years to make room for the new. The practice makes sense when you see the territorial constraints. The bone chapel becomes a sacred place holding the history of the close-knit residents.
Most tourists come to Hallstatt to see the beauty of the setting and visit the salt mines. A nearby funicular whisks guests up to observation point with a storybook view. Then, they hike up a path to the mine entrance and don pajama-like jumpsuits. Group tours enter a tunnel and then progress deeper underground via fast wooden slides. This makes a fun adventure and eventually, you exit by straddling a small train.
Down into the Salt Mines
Hallstatt rightfully calls itself Austria’s oldest town with evidence dating back to 400 BC. The name derives from the Celtic word “hall” meaning salt. Salt mines near the village have always provided the livelihood for the region, noted as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Another fascinating attraction in the area is the Dachstein ice cave. To get to the cave, ride the gondola, then hike about twenty minutes to reach the tour entrance. Wildflowers abound, often creeping out of rocky ledges on the walkway. The alpine scene rates as truly spectacular and certainly worth the effort. Be forewarned: even in summer the temperature in the caves is cool enough to require a jacket.
Absolutely don’t miss the Reinanke trout fresh from the lake. The local fish is served on a slab and tastes luscious and buttery. In fact I’ll make a bold statement– Reinanke is the best fish I have ever eaten. I devoured it both nights we stayed in the Salzkammergut region.
Hallstatt Town Square
After touring Vienna, the rustic outdoorsy charm of the area invigorated the soul and stimulated the senses. My family loved visiting Hallstatt in June. Can’t quite imagine stopping by the little hamlet in winter. Well, after all, I do live in Florida. But, if you know me, and given the chance, I’d go–wrapped in the warmest parka I could find.
