✈ Rachel Talks Travel ✈
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Not a bad way to spend the day :) Most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen in Florida. Maybe I should quit giving the Sunshine State such a hard time. (at Miramar Beach)
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Leave your spouse behind?
Isn’t this quite the predicament? I’m currently standing at DCA gate 35A all by myself. Gabe is attempting to navigate security so that we can board this plane to VPS together. The line is long…things are ugly. The U.S. Airways gate agent informed me that they routinely leave spouses behind—they will not be holding this plane.
What would you do?
UPDATE: He made it!! Too close for comfort, but he did make it. -
I confess that I have eaten at U.S.-based fast food chains while abroad twice: once at McDonald’s France and once at Burger King in Spain. That said, I’ve never munched on any of these odd concoctions. What about you guys? Have any of you ever strapped on the old Mickey D’s foreign feed back and dug into a Spam McGriddle or the McAloo Tikki Burger?
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20% off Tumi Gear — Excessive or Worth it?
I stumbled about this deal while wandering around at the mall last weekend. Turns out it’s valid online too-just use promo code 2013spring.
Tumi gear is too rich for my blood, but those I know who own it can’t praise it enough. Google searches reveal the same sentiments. But seeing that their best-selling rollaboards ring up between $595 and $1,395 inspired me to do a bit of digging. What’s the big fuss? After all, I can go on an entire vacation for $1,395.
The reviews I’ve found seem to say the same things: very light, ultra durable, easy to transport, and can fit tons of items. One Alpha reviewer claimed that the piece “can easily swallow five suites and all of the accompanying shoes, shirts and evening changes.”). If you’re a real road warrior, I can see value in all of that.
Tumi’s own words, however, seem to be describe a different, high-fashion thousand-dollar product (which is sold out, by the way):
Arrivé is meticulously appointed with the finest aesthetic and engineering features imaginable. It combines contemporary understatement with the ultimate functionality of Tumi’s advanced technology. Signature details include smooth calfskin trim, elegant and resilient HTLS™ Polyester fabric, striking chrome accents, custom-made handles, intelligent interior organization and numerous patented components. This extra-large packing case has the easy maneuverability of a four-wheel design and flexibility with a main compartment that expands 2.5”. Features include numerous interior pockets for smaller items and a suit compartment. Note that hanger shown is not included with the case; it may be purchased separately.
So, let me get this straight—you’re selling me a $1,400 piece of luggage covered in pretty polyester with a hint of leather, that has lots of pockets and is expandable? ‘When you break it down, it sounds terribly similar to my $100 Samsonite. Oh, and don’t think you’re going to get the suit hanger thrown in—a set of two will cost you an extra $35.
What do you guys think? Is any luggage worth a thousand bucks? If so, how many annual butt-in-seat miles would one have to fly to justify it?
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Photographer’s girlfriend leads him around the world.
This is pretty fantastic. What a wonderfully artsy idea!
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Touched by a Mountain Gorilla
They showed this video at the D.C. Travel & Adventure Show last weekend and it made me green with envy. While visiting Bwindi National Park in Uganda, this silverback gorilla family made its way into the camp and chose to give this lucky guy a once-in-a-million-peoples’-lifetime gorilla encounter. It’s a must-watch, but the really good stuff starts around 2:30.
What I wouldn’t give to have this experience…
Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, here I come (in a couple of years, anyway)!!
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Tackling Tough Flags of the World: Part 1
As you likely know, I am somewhat obsessed with Sporcle’s geography quizzes. I’ve taken Countries of the World dozens of times, and now consistently clock in at around 190/197. It’s probably about time I move on to something a bit more challenging.
This brings me to “Flags of the World.” I’ve posted it as a challenge a couple of times, and you all seem to agree that it’s pretty tough. After a dozen or so attempts, I was still only scoring in the ~90/197 range—not nearly high enough for a geography geek such as myself to be satisfied.
I’ve realized that I’m going to have to do some serious studying if I want to creep up near 100%. I started over the weekend, breaking them down into a dozen or so different categories based on likeness and focusing on what makes them different. Totally nerdy? Uh…yeah. Successful? Quite! I’m already up into the 130/197 range—190s, here I come!
Since I’m already doing the legwork, I figured I might as well share with you all the quirky (and often logically or historically unsound) tips I’ve come up with to commit these bad boys to memory. Hopefully some of them will work for you just in case you ever make it on to The Amazing Race or find yourself in a local bar playing trivia with a bunch of geography dunces. You never know when this seemingly useless knowledge will come in handy!
I’m not sure exactly how many parts this series is going to work out to be, but I’ll just keep them coming once per week until I hit 100%.
Unlike some other color schemes, red, white & blue flags span every continent. I don’t know whether to thank England or Jesus for that, but I’m sure one of them has something to do with it. Because there’s no easy way to tackle it, we’ll start with a small, relatively easy chunk of flags: the horizontal RW&Bs of central and eastern Europe (tips after the jump):
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WHAT. IF YOU PUSH “T” IN GOOGLE STREETVIEW, YOU GET A 3-D VIEW.
BUT WHY? AND SOMEONE LEND ME YOUR GLASSES!
Awesome map find! I guess I missed it when they launched it for April Fool’s Day a few years ago. Anybody else know about this?!
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I hope all you library-visiting New Yorkers enjoy my big dumb face leering at you from every bulletin board available.
They made me a A FLYER and I LOVE IT.
Vickyj (a.k.a. my college roommate) is one of the most interesting and hilarious people I’ve ever met. Nobody loves maps more than Vicky…I don’t even come close.
If you’ll be in NYC on Saturday, April 13th, I STRONGLY recommend that you swing by the New York Public Library and check out her illustrated lecture. I have no doubt that it’s going to be absolutely fantastic and entertaining in every way. (Ummm…how could it not be? Look at that bio!)
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Photographer’s girlfriend leads him around...
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Winter sunrise at Lake Bled, Slovenia (by Erik Meylemans).
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