Celebrate Around the World - February Festivals!

2016 is off to a rollicking start and February brings us a whole host of event from the four corners of the globe. Here is an overview of the most colorful!

February 8th - Chinese New Year! The annual celebration of Chinese New Year has grown out of this tradition of superstition. For thousands of years since, the Chinese have hung crimson-colored lanterns to scare away the beast, giving the occasion its iconic color. Especially on the first day of the New Year, loud firecrackers, drums, and cymbals echo through the city, while fireworks and burning bamboo sticks keep the sky ablaze—all to keep the mythical Nian at bay. [Photo and text courtesy of Fest3000.com]



February 9th - Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Carnival is celebrated around the world and marks the days leading up to Lent, when Catholics (and some Episcopalians) begin a period of fasting, repentance and denial preceding the Easter season. Meaning French for Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras is the culmination of 2 weeks of celebration before the solemnity of Ash Wednesday. [Photo courtesy of mardigrasworld.com]



February 13th - Tapati Rapa Nui Festival on Easter Island. A celebration of with traditional displays of athleticism, music, and dance. According to the website www.easterislandspirit.com, the festival is organized by locals for locals but tourists are welcome. Dates change each year and it runs from January 28th to February 13th this year. 
 
 February 20 - Jaisalmer Desert Festival in Rajasthan, India. This is a three-day festival that highlights the culture of the area. It began as a marketing ploy to bring people to the area, it now draws thousands of people from around the world to enjoy the colorful events which include a well-stocked bazaar of jewelry, textiles, and more. Visitors can enjoy contests of turban tying, camel races and mustache robusticity. [Photo courtesy of www.rajastahnvisit.com]
 


February 28 - National Grape Harvest Festival in the Mendoza province, Argentina. In Spanish it is called the Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia and has roots in religious festivals. This modern day celebration began 1936 wand today features parades, parties, and dancing occurring over three months and across all 18 departments of the province. The Central Festivities are held in the city of Mendoza and include the Central Act as well as events like the Blessing of the Fruit. As if those aren't enough reasons to partake, there is the election of the National Grape Harvest Queen and a dazzling fireworks display. Wine, fireworks, and pageantry? Sounds like my kind of party! [Photo courtesy of MendozaWineToursandTravel.com]



If you are traveling to any of these regions, there is no better way to absorb the culture than to experience one of these festivals. Whether religious, secular, or commercial each has color, culture, and celebration and that is always a good thing!
peace, love, and travel!

#Backyard Tourist - Taking Advantage of Local Sightseeing Opportunities

To start the new year and enjoy the last of my time away from work, we've been doing a lot of hiking and walking the dogs. Today was no exception and we spent time at the San Tan Mountain regional park, which is just a short drive from the house. In fact, the only photo I took today was the shot below which is a view of the San Tan Mountain from just beyond our driveway. On the way home it occurred to me I took no photos and, being such a gorgeous day, I thought that was a travesty. So, we pulled over onto the shoulder of the road, I jumped out of the car, turned around, and took this shot. 

It was a lovely day with warmer temperatures and surprisingly few people. Here is what the Maricopa County website has to say: San Tan Mountain Regional Park consists of over 10,000 acres, the southeast Valley park and is a fine example of the lower Sonoran Desert. The park ranges in elevation from about 1,400 feet to over 2,500 feet. Goldmine Mountain is located in the northern area, with a spectacular San Tan Mountain escarpment in the southern portion of the park. The vegetation changes from creosote flats to dense saguaro forest. Various types of wildlife may be observed, including reptiles, birds, and mammals.

One of my goals for 2016 is to enjoy more local sightseeing opportunities. I love to travel and am quite neglectful about taking advantage of all Arizona has to offer. Today was a step in the right direction!  Two days down, 363 days to go!

Merry, Happy, Good Wishes To All!

Hot chocolate in my reindeer mug (with mini marshmallows aplenty), loved ones near, and my favorite Christmas movies on the dvd, I feel incredibly fortunate to be safe, warm, well-fed, and healthy. I hope the same for you and yours. May goodwill and peace reign in your world, this holiday, and beyond.

Peace, love, and travel!

The Map Pin Junkie

The Map Pin Junkie's 12 Days of Christmas - Gift Recommendations - Day 7

It's that time of year when we exchange gifts to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or just the joy we feel towards friends and family.

Day 7 of the 12 Days of Christmas is more of a stocking stuffer, but one of my favorites so it still makes the list - a travel candle! For those of us that travel a lot, it can be nice to tuck a bit of home in our bag. The easiest way to do that is with a travel candle, specifically those from Henri Bendel ($15).

Small enough to tuck into your bag but with enough power to scent your hotel room, these charming little finds come in a variety of unique aromas. For winter travel, I love Firewood, but the Peony is great, too. Check them out here: https://www.henribendel.com/candles/travel-candles/

Happy Gift Giving!

all recommendations are mine alone and I have not received any money, product, or perk from any of the companies listed.

The Map Pin Junkie's 12 Days of Christmas - Gift Recommendations - Day 4

It's that time of year when we exchange gifts to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or just the joy we feel towards friends and family.

For Day 4 of the 12 Days of Christmas my gift recommendation makes a great package decoration! A globe ornament is one of the best gifts I've given. When I presented it to 'he who shall not be named' several years ago, I had it tied to a box that contained plane tickets for our next trip. Every year, it gets hung on the tree and we can reminisce about all the trips we've taken solo and together. 

Lots of retailers offer globe ornaments, but I particularly love the antique feel of this Age of Exploration version from 1WorldGlobes.com. At $20, it is a faithful reproduction of a globe designed by Didier R Vaugondy, cartographer to Louis XIV in 1745. Swap out the hanging string with a festive ribbon for even more holiday flair. I used a length of wired green velvet ribbon to give it extra 'zhuzh'.

Give your sweetie the gift of the world with this charming little orb! If you don't hang it on a tree, try hanging it on a door knob or drawer pull to add charm to your surrounds. I can never have too many globes and believe that having globes and maps around keeps world travel vibes in the air so opportunities to travel will come your way. So far, my plan is working! 

Happy Gift Giving!

The Map Pin Junkie's 12 Days of Christmas - Gift Recommendations - Day 1

It's that time of year when we exchange gifts to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or just the joy we feel towards friends and family.

Each of the next 12 days, I will post a gift recommendation targeted to the traveler or travel dreamer on your list.

My list includes items at most price points and most are suited to men or women.  Finally, all recommendations are mine alone and  I have not received any money, product, or perk from any of the companies listed.

Okay, first up, a gift for the iFanatic on your list.

Geared towards travelers, the Zoom Lens for iPhone kit comes with a 12x optical lens , a mounting bracket, a tripod and a drawstring carrying bag.  $22 and available here:Zoom Lens for iPhone

 

Happy gift-giving!

Guatemala City - Business Travel And Time For A Little Fun!

I've been out of the loop the past couple weeks as I prepared for, and traveled to some client meetings in Guatemala City, Guatemala but am back from a successful week of meetings, albeit a little worn out from 9 crazy days of near-constant work.

I was lucky enough to visit Guatemala before but was limited to the northern part of the country, near Peten and Tikal. So, I was looking forward to seeing the capital city this time and it did not disappoint. I stayed at the Westin Camino Real in Zone 10 and the limited time I did have, I walked around enjoying the architecture and friendly people of the city. Of course, the highlight was getting amazing Guatemalan coffee everywhere I went. So good!

The trip was definitely focused on business, so I didn't get to see as much as I wanted to, but was treated to an evening in Antigua, about an hour from the city center. As always, I took my trusty little micro 4/3 camera and, wow, am I glad I did! Every turn was a photo opportunity in Antigua. I hope I can go back and take 'he who shall not be named' for a week in Antigua to climb La Horqueta (the collection of volcanoes there). Here are a few of my favorite shots from the evening.
Peace, love, and travel!

Beauty shot of Volcan Agua

 
Looking at Volcan Agua from ground level

 

Catedral de San Jose, in the center square of Antigua

Home At Last - 2015 Travel Concluded

2015 was a great year with a lot of travel opportunities for work and for pleasure. Coming back to the States from my last business trip late Friday night, I was once again thankful for all those that helped me get where I wanted to go. So, thank you United Airlines (international business travel), American Airlines (domestic business travel and HUGE mileage to get me to Oz), and Marriott Hotels (domestic stays in high style). Each of you made this year's travel special!

Backyard Tourist - A Picinic at the Preserve

Over the weekend, we finally found our way to the Gilbert Riparian Preserve. It's been on my list of local things to do for about 3 years, but 'he who shall not be named' finally made it happen. We grabbed some sandwiches on the way and set out for an afternoon of sun, relaxation, and picnicking. The Preserve features a variety of habitats and is home to countless varieties of birds (local and migrating) and other desert denizens. Even my fear of rodentia didn't spoil the day. The numerous desert rats looked content to munch on vegetation and left me along for the most part.  There was only one time that I wanted to climb on S's shoulders to escape a rabid rodent. =)

Multi Way Garments - Are They Worth It?

As a frequent traveler, I am obsessed with finding the latest and greatest in travel clothing. A quick turnaround the Internet and you will find a multitude of websites devoted to travel separates for women. However, over the past several years, there has been a surge of companies designing multi-way garments. You know, the tube of fabric that can be fashioned in a multitude of ways ostensibly replacing your entire wardrobe.

Well, my little minimalist heart decided to try two such garments and see if they would work for me. I ordered a little red number from www.HipKnoties.com and a gorgeous grey piece from www.Encircled.co. Each is made of a gorgeous fabric with saturated color and arrived with detailed instructions on how to fashion lots of looks. The verdict?

While I wanted to love these items, sadly they're not for me. Both of them require a convertible bra to really get the most versatility, as many of the looks are strapless or one-shouldered. As someone who has a hard enough time finding a 32D bra that fits, the last thing I want to do is have to agonize over finding a specialty bra to wear under these. However, I can report that I have used both items as wraps on airplanes and as sarongs over bathing suits. 

If you are someone who is comfortable going without foundation elements and looking for a multi-way garment, I can heartily recommend items from both companies. For me, I can't get behind adding two items to the suitcase (convertible bra and fabric tube) in order to use a multi way garment. 

The Chrysalis Cardi from Encircled

The HipKnoties

My Grandmother and the Queen

My grandmother was a profound influence on my life. She is largely responsible for instilling me with a love of books, quality shoes, and travel. She was my best friend, confidant, conscience, and barometer of proper behavior. She was beautiful, loved to laugh, and together we had many adventures throughout the years I was fortunate to share with her. In fact, every trip I take, I imagine how I'd describe sights and smells to her. In her age, she loved me to tell her of my travels and even though she couldn't see the photographs, she would make me describe each image in detail. I think that my obsession with seeing the world was born from those adventures with my grandmother. 

She was born in the U.S. In 1917 and was fiercely proud of her English heritage. I grew up hearing stories of 'her people', some who hailed from Cornwall and Northumberland and celebrating every holiday in the most English way possible. Each Christmas, we'd listen to the Queen's address while unwrapping gifts and that tradition continues to this day. Traveling to England every chance she got, my grandmother would spend the days strolling through Kew Gardens, having tea with relatives, or exploring the V&A. 

She would be delighted at the Queens monarchical milestone and we'd have probably celebrated it in some fashion. So, in honor of my beautiful, inspiring, supportive, and loving grandmother here are a few random shots of iconically English things from my most recent trip to London. 

I can often be overheard quoting a Granny-ism, some sage piece of advice or a life lesson. Let me leave you with one related to travel. She always said that a trip is taken three times: once when you plan, next on the actual adventure, and finally when you look at the photographs. She was right.

Granny, your absence is felt daily and you are ever in my heart. Happy birthday!

National Pet Appreciation Week!

As much as I love to travel, I love to spend time relaxing at home with the dogs. If you have a cherished pet, you may understand what I mean. To that end, I was tickled to find that this week is National Pet Appreciation Week.

Now, my dogs are appreciated on a daily basis but I think they are still smarting from my recent absence (gallivanting around the Antipodes). Despite the frequent trips made to McD's for plain hamburgers I don't know if they've forgiven me yet.

No matter. We had plenty of fun this weekend waiting for the pool to refill after a thorough draining and cleaning. So, in honor of National Pet Appreciation Week and my furry companions that add so much joy to our lives, here are some photos of their inherent Boxer-ness.

What plans do you have to celebrate your furry, scaly, feathery or leathery best friend?

Peace, love, and travel!


PS - as a disclaimer, when I travel and can't take the dogs they always have a live-in sitter who attends to their every need. They are never left unattended and I am thankful I have the means to spoil them as I do. Be sure to make appropriate arrangements for your pets when you travel.


Roman ready to play!


He won't be denied his evening swim, even if the pool isn't completely full.

The boys and their backsides.

Diego coming in for a kiss.