I never saw myself as a cruise ship sort of traveler until MSC Musica made me a changed woman.

I'm the person who lived for two years in N'Jowara, The Gambia in a room at the back of an empty shop house without running water, window panes or electricity. Until my MSC Musica cruise, my extended boat travel was five days on the Niger River in Mali, first perched on feed sacks in a ramshackle wooden cargo boat before switching to a small boat that was poled by a man and a boy. By the time I set foot on dry land in Timbuktu, I thought of changing my name to Huck Finn.

Back in February, I wrote a post on cruise ship deals. By the end of the post, I thought "If this is such a deal, why aren't I going?" Since one of my mom's lifelong dreams has been to go to Greece, I put the two ideas together and searched out a cruise. The Musica, one of the ships in the MSC cruise lines fleet, seemed perfect. After one day into the cruise, I knew I picked right .

Unfortunately, my mom had had to pull out of the cruise 10 days before the ship was to depart. Fortunately, my teenage daughter was able to switch in for my mom for a $100 charge to change the ticket.

Continue reading Cruising the Greek Isles on the MSC Musica: Best trip 2009

Cruising the Greek Isles on the MSC Musica: Best trip 2009 originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

With the end of 2009 approaching, this photo by tammystaats seems perfect. Are we walking towards or away from something or someone? Isn't the traveler's answer that we are doing both?

I love the footprints of these four people. Even though they started out further away from each other, they look as if they are merging the more that this group walks into the distance. The blue sky, white clouds and the crests of these dunes offer the suggestion of infinite possibilty. Bravo!

If you have a shot that captures the infinite possibility of the traveler, send it our way at Gadling's Flickr photo pool. It might be chosen as a Photo of the Day.

*This photo was tagged Colorado, so I am assuming these are at the Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Photo of the Day (12-30-09) originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

New York City may be the most expensive place to live, but if you like to walk; it's a bargain to visit. Arrive by Friday late afternoon, and by Sunday evening you can knock off most of the must see places and eat without spending much money. By the end, you'll know a good bit of what makes this city so grand.

Continue reading New York City bargain destination perfect for a 3-day weekend

New York City bargain destination perfect for a 3-day weekend originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This time last year, Matt Harding was named traveler of the year by World Hum. His video, "Where the Hell is Matt?," the one funded by Stride gum had gone viral earlier that year. No wonder. If there's a secret to world peace, Harding had found it.

Start dancing a silly, but engaging dance and people will dance with you-most people. The guard at the DMZ in North Korea won't dance.

In his book Where the Hell is Matt? Dancing Badly Around the World, published earlier this year, Harding tells the stories behind the video. The book is as real and honest as the video version. What makes Harding's brand of world travel work is his lack of pretense.

This is a guy who likes people who people are drawn to by the droves.

What is made clear in the book is that Harding was as surprised by his success as anyone. He merely started out dancing at various spots around the world and filming his flailing. It was a spontaneous gesture. Once that video gained recognition, Stride gum approached him about round two and that's when Harding's life changed.

Continue reading Where the Hell is Matt---the book version, a perfect read for 2010

Where the Hell is Matt---the book version, a perfect read for 2010 originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rafting the Smith River in Montana requires planning ahead and a permit. Without the permit, you're not going. Obtaining one is simiilar to acquring a permit for a private rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. A lottery system says who goes and when a trip can happen. Not everyone wins.

The application process for 2010 begins in January permits closes the end of February for trips starting mid- April through the beginning of July. Some trips can go in September or later in July depending upon the river's water level.

The person who lands a permit can take a group of 14 people on the 59 mile route of that starts at Camp Baker and ends at Eden Bridge. That's how we ended up on the Smith two summers ago when the river was still high enough to make the four day journey. By the middle of July the water level is too low, particularly closer to the bridge.

Lucky for us, we were the last minute tag-a-longs who happened to be in Montana two days before our friends' trip and there was room for four more. Score!

The fact that I'm not a back country camping sort of person on most days was something I decided to set aside. The fact that my husband's hip was causing him major grief was something he decided to ignore. When would such perfect timing happen again? Never.

As a newbie to the back country rafting experience, I learned a few things.

Continue reading Rafting the Smith River in Montana: Now is the time to plan

Rafting the Smith River in Montana: Now is the time to plan originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

There have been discussions about breastfeeding and travel on Gadling before. Breastfeeding on an airplane, in particular, has come up as a subject with many opinions. Here's my take. I was reminded of my breast feeding days when I saw a woman with a two-month old at the movie Sherlock Holmes. When it comes to travel, breastfeeding is the way to go. And don't worry about what anyone thinks about it.

To help make breastfeeding easier, take a light weight shawl with you and wear shirts that provide room for your baby to nurse comfortably, but also will cover your breast.

For more tips on traveling with a nursing infant, whether breast or bottle fed, check out "Travel Recommendations for The Nursing Mother" at the Center of Disease Control and Prevention's website.

Breastfeeding is best when you travel originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In Denmark in December, darkness settles in around 3:30 p.m. Spend a few days where there is such an early sunset and late sunrise, and you'll know exactly why a festival of lights is a grand idea. Danes embrace the Christmas season with candles, evergreens and warm mulled wine.

The result of the cheer is a feeling that the world is drenched in pools of warm, soft glows. The candles and evergreens promise that the darkness will eventually lighten is enough to carry one towards spring.

The mulled wine called glugg, help seal the deal. The best glugg is served with the almonds, raisins and spices still in it.

Toss in a city of stunning architecture that artfully blends the old with the new, cobblestone walking streets, and centuries old canals and there you have it: winter magic. Copenhagen in December is a visual treat.

Continue reading Copenhagen at Christmas--or at any time of the year is splendid

Copenhagen at Christmas--or at any time of the year is splendid originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 26 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Think like TSA when you pack your Christmas presents for your flight home. If you don't think like TSA, your child may end up losing a gift. It almost happened to us.

In the past, I have said goodbye to a full bottle of suntan lotion and a corkscrew with a knife attached. Those were not fun to lose, but these were items that ended up in our carry on bag as we hurried. I've known about snow globes for awhile so I never would forget about one of those.

Still, to not be like me, don't pack in a hurry. Sift through that carry on bag one more time. Don't think logically; think like TSA. Items that may seem harmless to you can cause TSA's warning bells to ring. This summer, as Scott posted, one boy lost a Star Wars toy from Disneyland at a security checkpoint.

In general, when it comes to TSA's warning bells, I'm not one to argue, but when it came to one of my son's Christmas presents, I went head to head with Mr. TSA Man. I tried to stay polite even though I was mad enough I could have spit.

Here's how it went down and who won. Will a certain present be under the tree this year?

Continue reading TSA snags child's Christmas present: Think like TSA when packing your carry on

TSA snags child's Christmas present: Think like TSA when packing your carry on originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 25 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you're stuck with a last minute present to buy. Here are 10 gift ideas. Most are quick and easy. Some of them don't require that you leave your house.

Two suggestions can be found at your local grocery store. No, you don't have to cook.

For a couple of them, all you need is a phone, the internet to find telephone numbers and your credit card.

Continue reading Last minute shopping gifts? Here are 10 ideas

Last minute shopping gifts? Here are 10 ideas originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When I saw this photo last week while looking for Santas from around the world, I knew I'd found today's Photo of the Day. Although this fellow appears among the other Santas, here he is again-- center stage.

The cultural mix of this Santa shot is superb. Taken by Carpetblogger in Azerbaijan, this is an excellent look at how elements of culture travel. As Carpetblogger explains, although the country is predominately Muslim, some aspects of secular Christian culture are celebrated. Santa is one of those boundary crossers.

If you have an interesting shot of cultural boundary crossing, send it our way at Gadling's Flickr Photo Pool. It could be chosen as Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day (12/23/09) originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I'm fond of Greyhound bus travel. I like the idea of humanity rolling along on a highway. I like bus people. As one bus ticket seller once told me at the station in Columbus, Ohio as she surveyed the milling about passengers in the waiting area, "If you're hard up and you need money, anyone of these people will help you out."

Bus people have a certain air of resignation and quiet about them. Their expectations are low. They know getting where they are going will take time so why fuss? Bus people feel as comfortable as a favorite broken in, but not broken down shoe.

On a Greyhound bus, there are just the driver and the passengers. The driver lays down the rules: No smoking of anything; no drinking; no swearing; no loud talking; no cell phones ringing, and if you make a call, keep it down. If you break the cussing, smoking and drinking rules, you'll find yourself off the bus and in a load of trouble.

The passengers, for the most part, don't give grief and everyone is equal. No one is better than anyone else on the bus. The driver is accessible. You can see the driver drive. You can see where you are going. The bus doesn't have secrets.

In general, I love Greyhound because Greyhound has treated me right even when there have been problems. Greyhound does seem like a problem magnet, however.

Continue reading Greyhound travel: The imperfect lover. Reality, the Twilight Zone and being jilted

Greyhound travel: The imperfect lover. Reality, the Twilight Zone and being jilted originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Reading that Laura Dekker has been found safe and sound in St. Maartin made me think of Devon Hollahan, the American teacher living in Prague who disappeared after a Portugal and the Man concert in Frankfurt, Germany. When his friend's back was turned, Hollahan went missing.

I wrote about Hollahan in a post about the worst nightmares of parents whose children travel overseas. I've been busy these last few weeks, so I forgot about him until I read about Dekker.

Hollahan's story is not so splashy as Laura Dekker's. It might be because his family seems like most of us. They appear to be normal, regular people whose lives tend to flow through the days like anyone else's unless something bad happens on a slow news day. On a slow news day, normal people's stories can make the international news. Hollahan's bad news story was a fleeting blip on the media radar. A day or two after he was reported missing, he didn't show up again in a big news way.

Amanda Knox's story has had more press time than Hollahan's. She is the other person of note in my parent's worst nightmare post. But, when a person is found guilty of murdering her roommate which results in a 27 year jail sentence in Italy, it's no surprise that we'd hear more about Knox--at least until Tiger Woods's story eclipsed everyone's bad news.

What about Hollahan, though? That's who I want to know about--the guy who could be any one of us. After a search, I found this bit of news in The Huffington Post. Hollahan has not been found, but possibly the shoe found floating in The Main River in Frankfurt belongs to him.

It is thought that Hollahan was drunk and fell into the river. As a sad, devastating part of this tale, it's possible that he was seen alive at 4 a.m. lying on a sidewalk. Unfortunately, whoever was on the sidewalk, got up and ran away when someone said that an ambulance was coming.

Hollahan's body has not been found. His parents are still in their nightmare, and I wonder if Hollahan's body is found, will there be a news story about it? My thoughts go out to his family.

What ever happened to the missing 22-year-old American teacher in Germany? originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

You've made your travel resolutions, but how do you keep them? We all know the resolution drill. Sometime around the end of December, in the glow of holiday cheer when all things seem possible, we make a list of how we'll improve. As travelers, perhaps we leaf through a copy of 1000 Places to See Before You Die and make a list of our own must see places. Or we decide that we'll travel smarter. We'll travel greener. We'll be the best traveler there is.

Then roundabout January 5, the glow is gone and it's same old same old. Your travel habits are the same they've always been except for perhaps a tweak or two.

There are things you can do to break your travel pattern. It has to do with your thinking. Here are 10 thoughts to keep you traveling and happy with your resolutions intact.

Continue reading 10 ways to not break your travel resolutions

10 ways to not break your travel resolutions originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This scene in Honeymoon in Vegas is the most unusual way to head to Las Vegas if I've ever seen one. Here at Gadling, unusual travel is not unknown. Catherine is trying out various travel options in China at this moment, Jeremy is traveling around Southeast Asia as creatively as he can, and if you check out Mike's personal blog, you'll see A LOT of the unusual. I mean A LOT.

Although Honeymoon in Vegas is not the best movie Nicholas Cage has been in--Moonstruck and Raising Arizona are my two favorites, this scene is a hoot. This is something Mike would do when he slips out from behind his SkyMall Monday desk. Totally. The Flying Elvi, sky divers who are Elvis impersonators, do exist. I can see Mike now.

By the way, Honeymoon in Vegas is still wandering around cable channels. I saw part of it two weeks ago which reminded me of this scene. It also has one of the funniest altercations with another passenger at an airline check-in desk. You can see that here.

Most unsual way to go to Las Vegas: The Flying Elvi originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Even though it's almost Christmas, and Halloween is long gone, it's not the end of haunted travel. Fells Point, Maryland is one of those towns where ghosts and their stories don't go on vacation until the next season of fright delight. In Fells Point, the ghosts are woven into the town's lore all year long.

Located on the waterfront as a section of Baltimore, Fells Point, founded in 1763, is one of those U.S. locations that has gradually woven its historic lore into modern amenities.

The result is cobblestone streets edged with an eclectic mix of buildings that range from the pubs, to independently owned shops and eateries to museums that touch on area history.

Amid it all, ghosts wander. At the Admiral Fell Inn ghosts are embraced as an important feature.

Continue reading At Fells Point, Maryland ghosts reside year-round

At Fells Point, Maryland ghosts reside year-round originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In recent years, winning a Showcase Showdown on the Price is Right, and the once in awhile trip that appears on the Wheel of Fortune's roulette wheel have been the two main ways to snag a travel experience on someone else's dime. There is another option where trips are handed out almost like candy at a small town parade. The daily game show Let's Make a Deal has been resurrected on CBS.

The new Let's Make A Deal has not changed much since the show last aired in 1977. Filmed at the Tropicana Las Vegas, the new version began airing in October with host Wayne Brady fitting into Monty Hall's role as if it was made for him.

Brady moves through the audience of people dressed up in funky, oddball costumes picking out contestants based on who catches his eye. Whether its the box on the display floor, a box on a table or curtains 1, 2 or 3, the chances that a trip is one of the wins is quite high. Trips to Prague, Hawaii, and Japan have been some of the offerings I've seen each time I caught the show.

To be a contestant, head to the show's website. If you dress up in the most unusual clever way, your options of being picked are higher. One woman was dressed as a tree with a woodpecker attached. When you pulled on the string, the woodpecker pecked.

If you do go, put a wide assortment of things in a handbag to bring with you. You could win $100 if you have the item Brady calls for. Think of the obvious like a pen to the unusual like an egg timer.

To be in the audience, click here for the link to Let's Make a Deal, On Camera Audience, and then click on the date that you would like to attend.

Good luck. Hope you win that trip. I've had three friends who have been on game shows. It is possible. One of them won $10,000 on the Price is Right.

Let's Make a Deal: Another place to win a trip originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Virgin America and American Airlines are rescuing Chihuahuas from California by the dozens. As it turns out, California is not a place to be a Chihuahua. There are just too many of them. When Chihuahuas became the dog flavor of the day, thanks to the movies "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" and "Legally Blond," and the Chihuahua carrying habits of celebrities like Paris Hilton, dog breeders overshot the numbers of Chihuahuas. Supply, in essence, overshot the demand.

The numbers are astounding. 4,700 Chihuahuas have been taken in by animal shelters in California this year, some from owners who couldn't afford their dog any more due to the recession.

Thankfully, people on the east coast don't have enough small dogs so Virgin America and Project Flying Chihuahua, and American Airlines and Kinder4Rescue, a non-profit started by actress Katherine Heigl, are taking the Chihuahuas there. The Chihuahuas have a discounted fee and money is being raised to help with the Chihuahua rescue efforts. So far Chihuahuas are going by air to New Hampshire and New York City.

Dogs have also been sent to Arizona, Washington and Oregon, but by S.U.V.

There is a chance that Virgin America may offer a week of half price trips to people who are willing to take a Chihuahua to New York from California. This doesn't mean you'd be the one adopting the dog, just the one helping it make it to its new home.

Chihuahuas by the dozens on planes originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Perhaps you read about the tourist couple who recently were ushered into a White House breakfast buffet with President and Michelle Obama even though they did not have an invitation. All Harvey and Paula Darden planned on doing when they showed up at the White House was take a tour that their congressman helped arrange for them. Unfortunately, they arrived a day earlier than they were supposed to.

This turned out to be a good thing. When they arrived saying they were there for a tour, the White House staff person lead the Dardens into the East Room. There the couple found themselves chowing down food in the midst of people who were not dressed in tourist attire.

The buffet was for veterans--something neither of the Dardens are. But, according to the White House staff, because the Dardens had been cleared by security like all the other guests---and since there wasn't a tour, they were given breakfast instead.

The only reason we know about this incident is because the Dardens became worried after Tareq and Michaele Salahi crashed the state dinner two weeks after the Dardens' visit. The Dardens, I suppose, felt it necessary to come forward to tell about how their off the cuff visit happened. It wasn't something they planned. They don't want people to get the wrong idea about them. They are not event crashers who tried to pull one over on the White House.

Hopefully, the Dardens' splash into national news won't halt the unexpected buffet invites for the rest of us who might show up at the White House for a legitimate reason but on the wrong day.

The news story, unfortunately, was written as if this might have been another White House gaff.

No, no, no. Don't say that. Just say that the Dardens felt uncomfortable with their unexpected luck. To feel better, I suggest the Dardens write a thank-you note and add that it's nice to know that tourists have access to a White House brunch every once in awhile when they least expect it---with the proper security clearance, of course.

Tourists get unexpected breakfast buffet with Obama at the White House originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Last Saturday night, Times Square was literally a Santa free for all. I first noticed the Santa madness as I approached from the direction of the Empire State Building while walking along Broadway. Along the way, a group of five Santas passed me. Then another group of Santas strolled by. Then there was a lone Santa and a Santa with Mrs. Claus. There were also elves.

By the time I reached 42nd Street, I wondered if this was some Improv Everywhere stunt. Nope. This was the annual Santa pub crawl where people dress like Santa Claus--some better than others, and wander the streets stopping to pop into a bar now and then or indulge a tourist with a photo op.

These hundreds of jolly Santas provided a surprising night of entertainment and an unusual taste of holiday cheer. There's nothing quite like seeing Santa Claus taking pictures of tourists who are flanked by other Santas. The guy with the fake ear locks dressed up like a Jewish Santa was my favorite version.

Here are 15 more shots of Santa's around the world--some in surprising places. Each was taken by a traveler who happened by. From Gadling to you, here's another version of a Santa crawl. Ho! ho! ho! and enjoy.

Continue reading Santa crawl around the world: Ho! Ho! Ho! from Gadling to you

Santa crawl around the world: Ho! Ho! Ho! from Gadling to you originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A few days ago, Kraig wrote about the three hikers lost on Mt. Hood. At the time of his post, one of the hikers had been found dead. The other two were still missing. Almost a week after they set out on their climb, they are still missing and most probably are dead. Because of this tragic situation, the question of who foots the bill for rescue efforts has come up once more.

Back in 2005, then Gadling blogger Erik Olsen wrestled with the question about who should pay--the lost hiker who hopefully is found--or tax payers? Olsen's musings came about after a hiker hurt his ankle while hiking in Colorado. Several fire departments rescued the hiker after he spent a night on the mountain. The sticker price for the rescue was $5,000. In this case, the fire departments wanted the hiker to pay.

Usually, the people who are getting rescued don't pay anything. But is that fair? Rescue attempts can be pricey. Consider this: From 1992 to 2007, the U.S. National Park Service spent $58 million on search and rescue efforts.

This recent Newsweek article echoes some of Erik's points. As the article highlights, the hard economics question of who should pay for rescue attempts has as many facets to consider as it always has.

Continue reading Who pays for rescue efforts when people are lost? Who should?

Who pays for rescue efforts when people are lost? Who should? originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.