Saturday, February 27, 2010

ARIA has that new car feeling!

There is something special about the first few weeks after you buy a new vehicle.

Everytime you close the doors you inhale a newness, and drive with a sense of pride in your choice.

That's the feeling I had when I checked into the ARIA last night, or should I say this morning.

The flight departed quite late so we didn't get in until about 1 AM Vegas time which was like 4 AM CST.

It didn't lessen the thrill at all.

The rooms, with more technology than most cars, are really exceptionally impressive.

I have a strip side view and when the automatic currents slowly open, the sight that is revealed is a lightful sightful.

This is Las Vegas, and I may have one of the best views.

I wondered over to the Monte Carlo next door for lunch and had, what may be the best shrimp appetizer I ever ate.

Named Aucho Chile Shrimp it owns the spice without being overwhelming.

Likewise the spinach salad with dried cranberries, bacon, onion and boursin cheese was also excellent.

I think it was a rasberry type vinegrette but I can't be sure except to say it was delicious.

I ordered French Fries and they are pre salted a bit too much for my liking but the Pub as this food outlet is called had a lot of excellent items on the menu, and the first two I ate were worth the walk.

Labels: las Vegas

posted by That Travel Guy @ 9:29 PM  |  0 Comments

Friday, February 26, 2010

Viva Las Vegas...Viva Elvis

Finding a good show in Las Vegas will almost always find you in some Cirque de Soleil show or other.

However the lastest one is something totally new and different from this talented Canadian.

It does not feature the same acrobatics as some of the others but is apparently an absolutely stunning performance.

Using Elvis Presley's most famous songs as a backdrop the spectacular has been receiving rave reviews.

I will take in the show on Saturday night and report my impressions on Sunday on the blog, and live on the CJOB travel show at noon CST Sunday.

Listen live at that time by going to www.cjob.com

Labels: las Vegas

posted by That Travel Guy @ 2:09 PM  |  0 Comments

Thursday, February 25, 2010

It's Good in the Badlands

Most readers know there are few people who get more excited about travel than I.

While my interests really are varied, and I love exploring a region I visit, as bad as a golfer as I am, I love the game.

I started looking up Las Vegas course this past week and came upon a highly rated course I thought I might enjoy playing.

I think the Badlands 27 are going to be quite a challenge but it looks different than any course I have golfed on around the world.

However publications have said it is one of the Top 10 in Nevada, another called it the Best Course in las Vegas and another the best desert course.

I think it is going to be a tremendous experience no matter what I score.

Labels: las Vegas

posted by That Travel Guy @ 4:44 PM  |  0 Comments

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

In Las Vegas the Future is Now...and it's called ARIA

It may have taken a bit longer than planned, but in December the beginning of a new Las Vegas world emerged with the grand opening of the ARIA Resort and Casino in City Center.

Promoted as a city within a city this mega developement had everything...hotels, restaurants, shopping...and all on a big scale taking in over 67 acres just off the strip.

I have watch this developement from the beginning...from the early announcements, to the economic uncertainties over the past couple of years...to the new promise it now brings.

I will stay at the ARIA this weekend. Hopefully I will take in the new Viva Elvis show. And I will report on it all while there and when I return.

Listen to my travel show this Sunday at noon CST on www.cjob.com if you are not from Manitoba. I well do my first report and in a couple of weeks I will talk with some of the people involved on the air.

Hopefully, I will return with some unique pictures to post as well.

Labels: las Vegas

posted by That Travel Guy @ 12:18 PM  |  0 Comments

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Only in Italy...recognized by NATJA

Only In Italy
A marriage of history and beauty

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just hours before we are to leave on our Italian travel adventure, I explain to my four-year-old granddaughter that we are going to a country shaped like a boot. With her quizzical look, we pull out an Atlas to convince her that Italy indeed does have that shape to it. Her two-year-old sister joins her laughter and exclaims, "That's funny."



Hours later as our British Airways flight enters Italian airspace flying at 10,500 metres, steep and rugged tree-covered hillsides give way to unending stretches of sandy beaches, which gracefully share their beauty with the blue-green waters that wash on them all along the coastline.



Islands of different shapes and sizes dot the horizon.



The tranquility of the sea is punctuated by the streaks of white wake from hundreds of boats on the water.



It is along the waters which cover the inside of this knee-length shoe of a country that lays the soul of Italy. The Mediterranean Sea is the gateway to Rome, Florence, all of Tuscany, Sicily, Naples and the Amalfi Coast. From this shoreline you can capture the culture of a nation, relive the history of a people, and photograph memories of spectacular vistas which will impress even the most travelled cynics.



While most visitors to Rome will take in the most publicized attractions, like the Vatican, the Coliseum, Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, the city itself is a constant, ever-changing museum. There are few turns where you don't come across ancient Roman ruins of the city that held a population of over one million at the peak of its empire.



Along the Appian Way, a visit to the Catacombs -- where hundreds of thousands of Christians were buried during this era -- brings home a sober realization of how difficult life and death was for those who chose to follow the new faith.



As centuries passed, it was the Vatican that would become a most powerful empire and it was not until the mid 1800s when the Great Uniter Garibaldi, as he is often referred to, built the foundations for a new nation.



When the empire fell apart, and later after the Napoleonic wars, Italy became not a nation, but a series of duchies and dynasties. The differences in style and culture can still be seen as you move up and down the Mediterranean Coast.



After Garibaldi, it was an uneasy truce that existed between the city of Rome, the Vatican's rule over its own Christian empire, and the embryonic Italian nation. Genuine peace would not come until the Vatican was given control over its own territory in the heart of Rome.



Rome is a fascinating city, but to stay in Rome and say you saw Italy is akin to visitors going to Toronto and suggesting they experienced Canada.



Finding unique places to visit, with exceptional photo opportunities, is easy in Italy. So one wonders why nearly everyone who visits the Leaning Tower of Pisa insists on having a picture taken of them in such a way as to suggest they are holding up the famous structure. It has become the ultimate cliché photo opportunity in capturing one of the world's greatest architectural failures. And yes we did that as well.



As the soft earth beneath the base of the tower caved in over the centuries, its lean became noticeable. And the more noticeable it became, the greater the millions of annual tourist dollars became, until 1990 -- following modern engineering reports -- $30 million was spent to ensure this cash cow of a building would not collapse. The investment returned the slant to what it was approximately 200 years ago so tourists could continue to appreciate what engineers and architects would be fired and sued for if they repeated such a colossal error today.



While the tower itself may not be worthy of architectural praise, the cathedral or Duomo that stands in the Field of Miracles in front of the tower is one of the best examples of Pisan Romanesque architecture anywhere.



This style of cathedral design can be found in other places, but especially in the nearby walled city of Lucca, where it seems there is a church on every corner. The best known of these is the San Martino Cathedral, which serves as a focal point near the centre of an exceptional shopping and restaurant square in Lucca. Upon first glance one could conclude it is an identical copy of the one in Pisa.



Considerably fewer tourists travel the extra few miles to get to Lucca, but with no cars allowed inside the walls of this fortress city, it is a side trip definitely worth taking. Bicycles and pedestrians share the narrow streets, which all seem to lead to unique shops and Gelato bars, where locals brag that you can find the best Italian version of this ice cream-style treat than anywhere in the country.



Only a few miles inland, the topography shifts dramatically as the hills turn steeper and the rows of grape vines and olive trees begin to control the landscape. Castles and cathedrals from the past have been turned into today's hotels and wine producing headquarters, where tours with purchases of the most exquisite wines are readily available. While this may sound fairly commercial, the personality of Tuscany is in fact the opposite.



Even with all the movies produced featuring the Tuscan region in its cinematic glory, I never really appreciated what the attraction was. But even as we were driving through the narrow street in Petroio with, but a few inches on either side of the vehicle climbing to overcome the steepness of the hillside, I knew we were about to experience something different from anything in the past.



As we arrived at the Palazzo Brandano, which we picked because of the reviews we had read on Trip Advisor, we were met by the owners as though waiting especially for us. This small, 11-room hotel -- converted from an old mansion -- is fairly typical of the lodgings you can find in the Tuscany region.



Overlooking vineyards, you can choose to relax or spend your days travelling to the larger nearby tourist cities like Siena. Siena comes to you right out of the Middle Ages. It's famous cathedral was built in the 12th century, and twice a year in its central plaza, called the Piazza del Compo, perhaps the most dangerous horse race in the world takes place as riders from 10 adjoining neighboorhoods race for pride and preservation of history two times around this relatively small circle, as thousands cheer from the inside and outside of the makeshift track.



As scenic as Tuscany and nearby Umbria are, perhaps nothing can compare with the dramatic vistas offered by travelling south of Rome along the Amalfi Coast. This is a drive not suited to everyone. Hairpin turns and vertical drops that end at the sea, hundreds of metres below, are the norm. Large buses frequently cannot pass by each other, so traffic is controlled in various parts of the highway to allow for the interchange.



For those who can get past the vertigo, the reward is almost beyond imagination. Towns and villages, and even cities perched on mountainsides, appear like they could themselves tip and fall on to the beaches and rocks below at any second.


The colours of the ocean, with its dancing reflections, are hypnotic. And when you later arrive on that beach yourself, you discover the most unique places to wander. Capri, Sorrento, and Amalfi have now become playgrounds of the rich and famous. There is still reasonably-priced accommodation to be had, but it is becoming scarcer. Yet surprisingly, dining in Amalfi itself was not only affordable, but nowhere in Italy would we find better pizzas and pasta. The locals say it is because they produce the best olive oil in the world, and after a few meals, we are not about to argue with them.



As we prepared to return to Canada, I remember I promised to bring back some spaghetti for my grandchildren from the country shaped like a boot, "where the best spaghetti comes from," I told them. I don't know if I will tell them that much of the spaghetti is made with our own Canadian durum wheat. But I will talk about the special places we visited and the unique people we met. And I will promise to take them to Italy with me when they are older. And it's a promise I intend to keep.

Labels: foreign travel

posted by That Travel Guy @ 7:03 PM  |  0 Comments

I'm Feeling Quite Proud

Peggy's Cove and Cliff Diver of Mazatlan


As a writer it is the reader who judges us by whether they read the entire article or story or not.

But it is also nice to be recognized by our peers.

I belong to the North American Travel Journalists Association. Every year they have a awards competition and I enter a few pieces.

I just received word that I has been awarded a merit award for a story on Italy I wrote, a merit award for a photograph I took of Peggy's Cove that was published in a Nova Scotia story in the Winnipeg Free Press, as well as a first place award for a destination marketing video I did on behalf of the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

Interestingly, I won three awards last year as well. A merit award for a cruise story I wrote, a merit award for a photo I took in Mazatlan that appeared in the Winnipeg Free Press, and a first place award for a brochure I created for the same organization, the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

I will post both this years and last years photos herein, and put in the award winning Italy story tomorrow.

Labels: Journeys Talk

posted by That Travel Guy @ 6:19 PM  |  1 Comments

Reporting Live from las Vegas

No, I have not yet left for the Travel Goods Show, but this is one blogger for whom distance is not a barrier but an opportunity.

Regular followers will know I have been trying to bring the world of travel into the blog on a daily basis.

When I travel two pieces of equipment are always with me...the first is my computer. I don't miss a day where I don't keep in touch. And the other is my camera.

Capturing the destinations I go to is a part of the job and it is a genuinely joyful part at that.

So you will know what I discover in Las Vegas and either there or when I get back I will post pictures.

On Sunday I will likely call in to the show on CJOB at noon CST and bring listeners up to date.

You can listen live on www.cjob.com . Also don't forget we have started a no purchase necessary contest on the main site, so feel free to enter for the free luggage set on www.journeystravelgear.com Just click on to the link on this page

Labels: las Vegas

posted by That Travel Guy @ 6:11 PM  |  0 Comments

Monday, February 22, 2010

Crossing the Border with the New Carry-on Rules

I suddenly feel vulnerable.

I am so used to going on trips solely with my carry on luggage.

I stopped worrying about taking tooth past and other liquid toiletries a long time ago. I buy razor blades when I get to my destination.

But now I ask myself. How are you going to take on a computer, a full set of camera gear, my clothes, shoes etc under the new guidelines.

This either or thing I give other people advice about has me stymied.

My solution, and I don't like it is to pack my computer and all its pieces, my camera and attachments, and little else in a full size carry on which is now acceptable,

I will check in my clothes in a suitcase and take the extra time.

Now I know how real road warriors must feel.

But change is what it is...and like everyone else I will adapt.

But it is the S___ts isn't it?

Labels: Travel United States

posted by That Travel Guy @ 9:58 PM  |  0 Comments

Sunday, February 21, 2010

The Invention of a new Travel Accessory

At the end of the week I head off to Las Vegas again for the big Travel Goods Show.

This has always been a must attend for us. We get to see what our current suppliers will be bringing into Canada over the coming weeks, which gives us time to plan our orders and quantities, and define some expectations for what we are going to bring into the Journeys Travel & leisure SuperCentre store.

But it also gives us a chance to discover the most recent inventions in travel products.

Three years ago I found the Zip-it Socks. What a clever invention it was. As simple as can be but brilliant. A pocket in a regular pair of hiking socks that has a zipper on it to prevent cash or credit cards from falling out.

Who in the world would think of looking at your socks to pickpocket you...even if they could.

Then two years ago I discovered the new neck rest...not for falling back on but for preventing that terrible crick in the neck feeling from sleeping while your head is slumped forward.

With a sample provided me by the inventor I tried it on the flight home. I knew it would become popular, and we have sold dozens and dozens of them.

Last year we discovered the wallet which prevents theives from reading credit card information with the new distance technology they are able to use.

What will I find this year. I don't know but one of the items I will look at is a new luggage series with a scale built right into it.

I marvel at all these inventions.

Some work better than others. If they don't live up to our expectations we drop them quickly.

But we have also helped many people make their travels more comfortable, secure, and relaxing. And that makes me feel good.

if you want to see some of these products click the link on to www.journeystravelgear.com

Labels: Journeys Talk

posted by That Travel Guy @ 2:43 PM  |  0 Comments

Saturday, February 20, 2010

We're almost Ten Years Old

Not all readers are fully appreciative that Journeys, in ten years has become a fairly major bricks and mortor, as well as on line travel products story and travel agency.

We opened the store in 2000, only to be greeted by the events of 2001 not long after.

The fact that we not only survived but became a major travel centre is somewhat of a miracle.

SO WE ARE STARTING OUR CELEBRATION NOW AND YOU CAN WIN!

Every week going forward we are going to have a draw for readers of the blog and viewers of the web sight in general.

For the first week you can win a 4 piece set of Delsey Helium Lite 11 luggage. thie value of this set is around $600 so it is worth entering. There is no purchase required and anyone from Canada can win. (We do have a lot of U.S. viewers but shipping this set would be very expensive).

If you are in Canada just click on to our travel products website herein, or just go to www.journeystravelgear.com and enter to win. There is an icon at the top of the sight.

The draw will be make Friday at 4PM when we will start the next contest. It is one entry per computer.

I will announce each weeks winner on my radio show on Sunday at noon. You can lsiten to it live on www.cjob.com Sunday at noon CST. We post the show Monday's without commercials if you wish to follow up to hear parts you may have missed Sunday.

Feel free to enter every week.

Labels: Journeys Talk

posted by That Travel Guy @ 3:01 PM  |  0 Comments

Friday, February 19, 2010

Looking Ahead

I am actually down and out today with some version of the flu coming on.

Since I have had both H1N1 and the seasonal flu shots, my history of being first to catch any new virus seems to be holding true.

However, sitting here feeling sorry for myself, my mind starts to wonder forward to a early summer trip to my wife's home in New Brunswick.

It is in the heart of Acadian history. The people are friendly and the scenery is beautiful.

There is an exceptional golf course near her home so while she visits, I golf.

I will add pictures when I get back to the office tomorrow.

Also stand by. This year will be the 10th anniversary of Journeys Travel & Leisure SuperCentre.

Beginning this Sunday you can enter to win a prize every week by clicking on line at www.journeystravelgear.com

The first one is a good one...a four piece set of Delsey Lite luggage with a retail value of over $600.

Feel free to enter on Sunday afternoon.

Labels: Canada travel

posted by That Travel Guy @ 12:45 PM  |  0 Comments

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Disney World...Poignant Memories.

Once again my daughter heads on the road, this time with the children.

She had a very hard time while in Huatulco, missing them a geat deal.

One of the ways we kept the children from missing them too much was to remind them that very soon they would be going with their parents to Disney World in Florida.

One time when the oldest was feeling lonely, I reminded her of the upcoming trip and told her the story of our first trip to the Disney theme park, when her mother was not much older than she was now.

The story must have had an impact because she related it to her teacher who told mother about it on her first day back.

It has always been one of my most emotional memories.

She was about 8 years old when we made our first trip to Disney World.

It was on the "It's a small world ride".

We boarded the little boats that take you through a winding stream of thousands upon thousands of dolls. In the background the song 'It's a small world is blaring'.

As the boat moves along I think it is interesting but I am not all that impressed.

Then I look down at my girl and she is crying, overcome with emotion. In seconds her mother and I join her, with tears streaming for most of the ride.

It is right up there with memories of her growing up. I still cry when I recall it, but it is the best kind of tears a person can have.

There were a number of other special things that occured on that first visit.

I hope that they can share in some similar discoveries.

Disney may be a plastic place, with the ultimate commercialism everywhere, but it still is a place where families can bond and memories like those that are indelible in my mind, can be formed for all families.

Labels: Disney, Family Travel, Florida, Travel United States

posted by That Travel Guy @ 10:54 AM  |  0 Comments

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Remembering Nagano Olympics,especially the Hockey

With the Olympic Games on now in Vancouver, memories have come flooding back to me about the Nagano Olympics of 1998.

It was a special time as my son and I, who would turn 21 there, took in the Olympics and other regions of the country.

We stayed with an exceptional Japanese family...the Fukasawa's, who treated us royally and elped make my son's birthday an extra special one.

The games were great but Canada finished out of the medals in hockey.

On the way home I penned this poem...I hope you enjoy it.

Destiny on Ice

Prefecture, Nagano.
Our Gladiators arrive to cheers
Bursting with Confidence. Determination
For Gold.
Not Silver, Not Bronze.
Only… for Gold.
The puck is dropped, The Fight is On.
Victory won, Easily at first,
But the enemy grows…
Bigger. Tougher. Stronger.
A Red Sea of Maple Leaf flags, Raised high
Against the Swedes… And especially
Against the U.S. of A….
Worthy foes, But to the victors
Belong the spoils of knowledge,
That we can, we will,
Win Gold.
The playoff round. A stepping stone.
Even more bold now,
For certain… Gold.
An easy win at first,
Against some ancient rival of a bygone glory.
Another ahead… The Czechs,
Like the latter, a stepping stone
To Gold.
Red Flags unfurl. On sticks, on shirts, on hats.
A Samurai in a Red Maple Leaf.
A Native Indian… Wrapped in Red. Canada red.
They lead the cheers,
As back and forth, From end to end They speed.
But look at Hasek!
Arms, legs, mask. No stick?
Hasek needs no tree, chopped or carved
To a sluggish piece of Wood.
Limbs fly… Across, above, below…
He stops them all!
But ours is destiny still
Until a mournful silence grows,
As Slegr finds the hole.
No fear.
We will not be denied.
It is not possible. Maybe,
But not possible.
A minute left… We score!
And in our delirium we know
That Destiny rides again, towards us,
Its rightful owners.
To break the tie
The best line up to take their shots.
One on one they skate.
The heathens first.
A shot. They score!
A groan… A momentary doubt.
But cheers rise again. Then fall
As one, two, three, four.
All miss the mark.
But quiet your troubled hearts.
We will not be denied
With eighty-eight at number five.
Lines pass. Red. Blue.
A twist, a feint, a shot.
It’s in! No! It’s not!
No! No! Not possible.
Destiny is not ours.
Why? How? Who?
Flags slowly fall to half mast.
Mourners sit,
Paralyzed. Unable to move… To speak.
Death is close.
Near, but not yet here.
For there is another day, another Desiny.
A lessor life perhaps, But still a chance
To raise a medal to the sky.
A glint not quite as bright,
But a prize nevertheless.
The Corpse stirs, And in the morning
Hundred year old legs move
To take control.
To show Them… Who we are,
Why we are here,
Where We should have Been.
The Hungry masses try to find the strength
To feed these waning heroes last drops
Of fading Elixir.
Flags wave, less high perhaps,
But struggling to be proud,
To take what is ours,
Rightfully ours, again.
But passing time doth prove us wrong
Yet one more time,
As once again the flags
Are folded, hidden
Under cotton, under leather,
Slowly… Quietly… Out of sight.
Heads bowed. Silent. Praying
For a soul departed. Stolen
By some foreign Satan. Enemies…
Not foretold by Cherry. Not expected.
Not by Him. Not by us,
Not by anyone.
No Gold… No Silver… Not even Bronze
To brighten up the long winter’s nights.
Home. Slowly, slumbering… Stumbling
Home! Questions asked. Answered
By Silence. Emptiness. Nothing. But Pity.
Self Pity.
Yet in the distance a faint bugle can be heard
Softly penetrating the black night.
A warrior from some future time,
From another place… Calling
From another city.
A Lake of Salt.
As new stars make ready to explode
And shed their light…
To sparkle, As they stake their positions
In the clear, dark sky.
No accident of fate will this time
Mar our Destiny.
Sew the flags. And raise them high.
Above the Curtain,
Above the Eagle. Above those Pretenders
To our throne.
It will be ours again. Soon.
We will be there
To celebrate… Our time.
Our Dream… Our purpose…
Our Destiny.

Labels: foreign travel; Japan;

posted by That Travel Guy @ 7:07 PM  |  0 Comments

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

After Vancouver...Spend Time in Victoria

British Columbia is one of the most beautiful provinces in the country. Mountains do that to an area.

While Vancouver may be an exceptional city to visit, Olympics or no Olympics, a short ferry ride takes you to a much more tranquil city.

It once was, and to a much lesser extent still is, a retirement city.

But it is also a modern city with lots to see and so.

On our last visit I penned the following story. With all the attention focused on Vancouver and Whistler for these next two weeks, I hope you enjoy my tribute to the capital city, Victoria, British Columbia.

On the Far Side of the Sea
Victoria & the Islands

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ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE SEA...

VICTORIA AND THE ISLANDS!

After a few days in Victoria, three things become abundantly clear. There are more restaurants per capita here than anywhere else in Canada. There are more Tilley hats being worn on the streets per capita than anywhere else in the world. And as a walk along the inner harbour in the early morning will verify, there are likely more dogs on leashes in Victoria than any other place in North America. What that simple observation signifies is the fact that Victoria has become a favoured destination for people of all ages and lifestyles.

For the shopping crowd, the Victoria shopping core is large and varied. While the usual cast of characters representing the chain brands all seem present, it is in fact the many one-of-a-kin art and craft shops that attract most of the attention. From specialty soaps to native carvings, from woolen goods to crystals, and from tacky souvenirs to high fashion outfits, the serious shopper can spend days going up and down the many one-way streets, dropping into store after store capturing the diversity of what has increasingly become a quiet, but nevertheless, cosmopolitan city.

For decades Victoria was just a sleepy old town, peopled firstly by retirees whose demands were simple and whose lifestyles opposed change, and secondly, by government employees who served the mainland with some disdain for its lack of appreciation for the simple things Victoria had to offer. But as a disposable income shifted more to travel and tourism, the natural attractions of this lovely city could not be denied.

Even as it has grown, Victoria has retained its quiet demeanor. The impact of the sea and the inner harbour create a usually calm harmony within the seemingly endless development of condominiums taking place along the waterfront. A vast array of trails enable residents and tourists alike to enjoy a waterside walk while watching the harbour seals, which can frequently be seen surfacing to examine the joggers and foreigners who delight in photographing them.

The Gatsby Mansion.
With its British history so richly woven into the fabric of Victoria life, it is worth thinking differently about accommodation in this city. There certainly are fine hotels to choose from, but the bed and breakfast options are many and impressive. Stately homes, once the headquarters for high-ranking politicians, judges, and magistrates dot the entire region. The Gatsby mansion, now owned by the former Winnipegger Rita Roy, is an imposing example of traditional wealth, now available by room nights for lesser mortals like us.

The rooms are quaint, the staff is exceptional, and the breakfasts are not only well made and well presented, but a diverse menu allowed patrons to select from a wide range of breakfast options. In the evening, the Gatsby Mansion offers a full dinner menu and is one of the most patronized tourist dining establishments in the city. And no much wonder, considering its strategic location of Belleville Street, which runs along the inner harbour.

To visit Victoria and not partake in at least one genuine fish and seafood extravaganza is to have not lived the complete island experience. Oyster Bars are everywhere, while fresh B.C. salmon is available in most of the quality restaurants, and good old fish and chip shops will evoke memories of a bygone era.

As pleasant as a stay in Victoria is, a day trip to the interior or the islands is a must. The BC Ferries run frequently and are relatively inexpensive, making an island trip very economical. Two of the most popular destinations are Galliano Island and Salt Spring Island.

Rent a car, cross the channel on the ferry and enjoy a day or two of spectacular scenery and quaint shopping and dining, which is quite different from Victoria’s. Those who thought Victoria was laid back will be pleasantly surprised after disembarking onto the islands. Rich business tycoons who drive themselves at the office buy into the lazy day attitude of the island where they have created their million dollar escapes. Craftspeople who have escaped the world of hustle and bustle from the British Columbia mainland present their wares to an ever-expanding tourist market. The islands present a mixed blend of people and personalities.

Travellers would be well advised to time their trip on a day that the outdoor markets are in full swing, which is usually on Saturdays. Sightseers will notice a discernable difference in the merchants. From young hippie-like ladies, to the older leftover hippies from a past generation, to savvy business types, a walk past the usual boot offerings will keep visitors alert, interested and sometimes even amused. It’s all Canada, but those who haven’t gone beyond Vancouver are missing a unique and vital link in the Canadian identity. posted by That Travel Guy @ 2:54 PM  |  1 Comments

Monday, February 15, 2010

Can Tourism Help Haiti's Recovery?

The beaches of Haiti are as nice as those in the Dominican

Since the terrible earthquake that befell it a few weeks ago there have been all kinds of punduts projecting how the economy of Haiti can not only recover, but become a dynamic one as well.

Some have suggested that Tourism, visits by you and I, to this country can be one of the economic engines.

I asked that question of Dr. Pierre Plourde, the presiding physician at the Journeys Pre-Travel Health Clinic, and for this purpose, the man who has taken a team of medical professsionals each February for the past 10 years plus.

His response was yes, but it will likely take another 20 years.

The problem is that Haiti has suffered under political instability for many of the past decades, and only recently appeared to be operating like a normal country should.

Investment dollars will be hard to find in the short run considering the options in nearby countries, like the Dominican Republic right next door.

At the present time the really is no service experience in the country to speak of, and visitors who spend significant dollars, expect high levels of hospitality service.

Yet Haiti's beaches are as nice as those in the Dominican. It's people are genuinely friendly. And while its infrastructure will take years to develope, it is only a matter of currency that prevents it from happening faster.

One day we will all be choosing between Haiti, the Dominican, and others for our winter escape, but for the forseeable future it is only a dream.

Labels: Haiti

posted by That Travel Guy @ 3:32 PM  |  0 Comments

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Canada's Olympics

Millions from around the world will have seen Friday's opening ceremonies for the 2010 Olympic games.

What a great commercial for this country.

It featured every region, our best performers, and the best songs and music.

And for the next two weeks we will hosts thousands from around the world who will make a stop in Vancouver for the games, then venture out to see the rest of this great nation.

I wish protesters could understand that this amazing commercial called the Olympics will bring present, but more importantly future foreign currency to this country which otherwise would not come.

It will be a exceptional event. But the lasting impact will not be buildings and full hotel rooms for a two week period.

It will bring a legacy of dreams to visit this country which will be fulfilled for more than a generation forward.

A year ago the Travel Media Association of Canada held its annual conference in Richmond, home of the Olympic Oval, which is being highlighted now with massive television coverage.

I wrote a story then which I have reprinted below.

I hope you enjoy it.

Other destination stories can be found on www.journeystravelgear.com and you only need to click on the link on this page.

Labels: Canada travel

posted by That Travel Guy @ 1:52 PM  |  0 Comments

Thinking Back...Now the Olympics and the Oval.

Thinking of travel to Asia but the economy has you pinching dollars instead of pennies? Forget the costly airfare! Forgo the jetlag! Within a 20 minute drive from the heart of Vancouver, you can find yourself in a seemingly new land where the signs and languages speak to you in Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese to name three.

You have entered the city of Richmond where more than 60% of the population is of Asian descent and the restaurants and hospitality services invite you in with characters that are not a part of the English alphabet.

Up until the last decade, the heart of Canada’s Chinatown was in downtown Vancouver on the avenues that connected to Hastings Street. Over the years as the area became ridden with drug addicts and vagrants, people began to shy away from going there.

While it is still a popular area, with a goodly number of markets and restaurants doing reasonable business, many of the merchants made the decision to relocate. The area they selected, almost as though by referendum, was the nearby community of Richmond.

Not long ago, Richmond was largely sprawling farm land interspersed with the occasional high rise and strip mall. Slowly larger malls took hold and office buildings and hotels sprouted. Today it is a vibrant city with little farmland to be found, unless you go all the way to the outskirts of its boundaries.

The population may be largely Asian but they share the Canadian dream for themselves and their children for a prosperous and peaceful life. And with less than a year to go, with the completion of the Olympic Oval where all the speed skating events will be held in February 2010, Richmond and its residents have also become a part of B.C.’s Olympic dream. The Oval is a magnificent structure on the Richmond landscape. Its eco-friendly design uses wormwood, which are trees destroyed by devastating pests, then cut down and recycled into the ceiling of the dome, giving it a unique architectural look.

After the games, the Oval will be part of a lasting legacy as it is transformed into a multi-sport complex and wellness centre for Richmond and the rest of Greater Vancouver.

But it becomes clear who will use the facility most frequently when you observe the mix of people taking advantage of the open public skating opportunities available now on a regular basis until we get closer to February 2010. Hundreds of people lace on their skates to create their own vision of crossing the finish lines well ahead of the competitors left behind.

It is here where you fully realize the face of Canada has changed, with the presence of so many different visible minorities who have chosen to make this country their home in the last one to 100 years plus. On the evening I was there, those visible minorities filled more than 80 per cent of the skates that traced that oval.

They were novices and skilled. They were stumbling children and senior citizens. And with a sense of pride they were all enjoying the edifice that will be theirs for decades to come.

Not far from the Olympic Oval is the recently opened River Rock Casino Resort. It does not need to wait for the Olympics to prove its success. The hotel is already operating at a high capacity, with its suites often filled with overseas and out of town visitors.

Its theatre stage is filled with professional musicians backing the voices of entertainers like Joe Cocker, Julio Iglesias, Paul Anka and Liza Minnelli, all scheduled for coming weeks in April and May.

While shopping options abound in Richmond, the Aberdeen Centre again underscores the Asian personality that is now so much a part of the business mix. While many of the recognized retail brand names exist there, you are more likely to come across outlets like Lotus Seats, Tokyo Renaissance, Luk Fook Jewelry, Santayaya and Taiwan Yong Lai Xiang Dried Foods. The food court is, for the most part, an Asian culinary mix that enhances the perception of a country within a country. But don’t worry, everyone can speak English and they provide exemplary service to all.

But it is the culinary options also available outside the mall – which can be easily found in the strip malls or as freestanding locations situated around the heart of the city, often referred to as the Golden Village – that draws Vancouverites and makes a Richmond stay worthwhile unto itself. Pick your pleasures. If you want traditional Chinese menus they are common. Think of an Asian country whose food is your favourite and you will find it. Blend that with the ideas of the young Asian entrepreneurs who have created new restaurants for a modern society, built upon the principals of the old with the fusion of the new.