Leaving Paris

A few weeks ago, a diverse group of community folks from the Champaign-Urbana area of Illinois, took off from Chicago on a Parkland College-sponsored tour of Paris and Loire Valley in France. The tour was a success (it's Paris, for God's sake). In the coming days, this blog will feature photos from the tour and travelers' observations and recollections of their journey. In the meantime, take a look at this blurb about a soon-to-be-published book about another American's musings about living in Paris. Actually, it looks like a good read.

What does Rick Steves do in Paris?

This.

The excitement of the journey

This afternoon I bade "safe travels" to the 20 folks who are going on Parkland's tour to Paris and the Loire Valley. Some of the folks have never traveled overseas; others are seasoned travelers.

Having been fortunate to have gone on a few of Parkland's previous tours (London, Scotland, Italy, and Spain), it's fun to recall that thrilling anticipation of experiencing a different culture.

On my first trip to Europe, our tour went exclusively to London. Since childhood, London has fascinated me (previous life?). I love the history, the literature, the pubs, the people. To say I was a tad excited about seeing London for the first time in my life is, yes, an understatement.


One of my fellow travelers during that first London trip was a friend from Parkland. England was familiar to her; she had even taught a semester at Canterbury. She understood my excitement and shared my love for all things British.

As I think back, I am grateful to her for not thinking me silly for my awe at actually getting to see my beloved London. When our plane arrived at Heathrow and we disembarked go through Customs, baggage, the whole international bit (this was not that long after 9/11), I really couldn't take it all in.

We were met by our tour guide and we loaded everything onto a motorcoach to head to our hotel. On the way, the driver gave us a mini-tour of the great City.

When we stopped near the Thames, we could get off the coach to take photos and scan the view. All I remember to this day is that I looked up and there was Big Ben.


And I cried.

The rest of the trip was wonderful. Nothing will ever come close, though, to those first moments of pure joy.

That, my friends, is what travel is all about. Go. Anywhere.

Autumn in New York

So happy to announce this new Parkland Tour: New York City Arts & Culture weekend, Thursday, October 4 through Sunday, October 7, 2012.

My gosh, where to even begin with a visit to New York City (especially if you've never been there before). Here's a fun "starter site" from Lonely Planet on visiting NYC.

Early October should be a beautiful time in the City. How about a stroll through Central Park ...



This tour includes a guided tour and tickets to the Museum of Modern Art ...










You'll see a Broadway play ...



(check back for news on which one)



Of course, you'll have to eat ...

Even Mayor Bloomberg and British Prime Minister Cameron have time for a hot dog.





Actually, a slice of NY pizza sounds good, too.




Let's see. You'll also have tickets to visit the remarkable Metropolitan Museum of Art...







You, of course, won't want to miss the the incredible Guggenheim (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright) ...










A little shopping would be fun. Bergdorf, anyone?









Your hotel is right in the heart of Times Square. You'll enjoy the comfort, convenience, and "no worries" by being part of a small, community-based tour, led by an experienced tour host who really knows New York City (especially the art and the culture).


We'll be posting more about the tour soon. It's a wonderful way to enjoy one of the world's truly great cities.

How to Pack for Travel

Final installment of Martha Bowser-Kiener's terrific tips on "traveling light." Here goes:

* Make a list of what you'd like to take on your journey. Think about what your daily activities will be and what you'd like to wear for them.
* Lay everything out on your bed (preferably NOT the night before you travel) and start paring down what you'll actually pack.
* Make sure each item of clothing can be worn w/at least 3 others.
* Should you "roll & stuff" or "fold & stack?" A combo of these packing techniques will be your best bet.
* Pack by feel, not sight. Find and use those "nooks & crannies" in your suitcase.
* Ziplox bags come in handy. Use them!

And here are some of Martha's tips for what to pack in your carry-on bag:


* All of your "irreplaceables," i.e., travel documents.
* Something to read/do on the flight.
* Necessary meds.
* Basic toiletries, such as hand cream, toothpaste, eyedrops, etc.
* Underwear, clean shirt, socks, something to sleep in--just in case your luggage is delayed/lost.
* Healthy snacks and water.
* Extra ziploc bags.

OK, now it's time to take these tips to heart. Find a place you've been dying to see and go. Now.

Safe travels.

Packing for International Travel

Promised to continue sharing these excellent "Travel Light" tips from our Parkland colleague, Martha Bowser-Kiener. She has led numerous international tours for us in Community Education, as well as Study Abroad tours. She knows what she's talking about.

Here are Martha's suggestions for What to Pack:

* Consider the size and weight of every item you pack. It makes a difference. For example, jeans are great, but they're heavy and hard to wash/dry while traveling.
* Take things you wouldn't mind leaving behind. Hint: I often shop for travel clothes at Goodwill or tak old socks, etc.
* Take clothes you feel comfortable wearing--and that you can layer & mix/match.
* DON'T take anything you would hate to lose or have ruined on the trip.
* Take multi-purpose items, for example: mild shampoo can also be used to wash clothes and/or body wash; scarves can do double-duty as belts, and so on.
* Pack clothes that follow the "3-color rule: neutral + 2 coordinating colors."
* Take 2 pairs of shoes (plus sandals, if you wish).



* For toiletries, keep everything in multiple small, throwaway containers and pitch them as you empty them (hotel freebies are great!).
* Keep in mind: most hotels have hairdryers and irons. Some travelers even buy low-cost Euro hairdyers while abroad.
* Never leave on a trip without travel-size bottles of Febreze and a stain remover.

Next time: How to Pack.

How to travel light

Our friend and colleague, Martha Bowser-Kiener, has led many of our college's travel tours for the community (she also leads Study Abroad tours). So, it's a sure bet that Martha has learned a trick or two about packing for overseas travel.

Martha has graciously shared her "Travel Light" tips with us. Here are a few (there will be many more in future blog posts):

Luggage:
* A good suitcase is your best ally. If you're purchasing, closely look it over for packing potential.
* I prefer a medium-sized rolling suitcase, with multiple sections separated by plastic; I also like large duffel-style bags that can be rolled or worn as a backpack (hands-free is good).


*Also take one small bag to use as a flight carry-on/day pack.
* Consider taking an additional fold-up bag in your luggage, just in case you end up with extra "goodies" to bring home!

Next time: What to pack