Mar 7th, 2011 at 9:00AM:
It's good to be back in Ethiopia again.
I've noticed some changes since my last trip to Ethiopia. More high-rises are going up in the capital Addis Ababa and ATMs have finally appeared. The Internet is faster too, although it isn't the full broadband promised by the government.
Addis is fun, but my real destination is Harar, a medieval walled city in eastern Ethiopia. The whole city is a ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
roadtrips posts
Getting to Harar: riding the bus through eastern Ethiopia
Mar 7th, 2011 at 9:00AM:
It's good to be back in Ethiopia again.
I've noticed some changes since my last trip to Ethiopia. More high-rises are going up in the capital Addis Ababa and ATMs have finally appeared. The Internet is faster too, although it isn't the full broadband promised by the government.
Addis is fun, but my real destination is Harar, a medieval walled city in eastern Ethiopia. The whole city is a ...Gas stations: then and now
Mar 1st, 2011 at 3:00PM: Once upon a time, gas stations gave away all kinds of cool stuff, most of it targeted at kids. As a child of the 70's, I clearly recall of our Exxon "NFL Helmets" drinking glass collection, and my miniature Noah's Ark collectible series (What genius ad team decided that was the perfect gas station promo?). The point is, these giveaways worked. My parents would bribe me not to annoy my older ...Gadling's 2011 New Year's travel resolutions
Dec 29th, 2010 at 10:30AM: It's that time of year again. A time when we all make certain promises to ourselves, in an attempt to make our lives more organized, our bodies stronger or leaner. We vow to spend more time with loved ones, give back to others, or ditch that cubicle job. And some of us...well, we just want to keep on traveling, any way we can manage to finagle it.
In the spirit of New Year's, I asked my fellow ...My year in adventure travel: a look back and a look forward
Dec 26th, 2010 at 10:30AM:
Happy Boxing Day everybody! As I sit here stuffed with my mother-in-law's cooking after a traditional Spanish Christmas, I'm thinking back on all my travels in 2010 and looking forward to 2011. One of the best parts about my travel year has been sharing it all with you. I love the comments you've sent suggesting sites to see and trails to take, and was especially amazed by the outpouring of ...Seven reasons cell phones kill people on road trips
Dec 8th, 2010 at 12:00PM: Even though Thanksgiving is behind us, there are still plenty of reasons to road trip before the end of the year. Well, there's one reason, really, and that's Christmas. But, a lot of people are going to get behind the wheel or whine in the back seat. Of course, we can expect a lot of people to be on their cell phones while they're driving about, according to the Insurance Information Institute's ...The Jesse James farm
Nov 24th, 2010 at 12:30PM:
Jesse James grew up both lucky and unlucky. His father, Baptist preacher Robert Sallee James, owned a prosperous farm in Clay County. His slaves cultivated hemp and other cash crops, and Jesse and his older siblings Frank and Susan grew up in comfort. Robert kept a large library and both his sons became avid readers. Frank loved Shakespeare, while Jesse was more devoted to the Bible and ...Road trip truth: women are far more likely than men to ask for directions
Oct 28th, 2010 at 11:00AM: You're on a road trip. Somehow, your directions fall short, and you find yourself not being able to find yourself. Getting lost is no fun, and it's even worse when you know – you just know – you're close. So, the moment of truth arrives: do you stop and ask for directions or poke around a little longer?
Well, we all know how this movie ends: women stop to ask for directions, and men ...Driving from London to Cape Town for charity
Oct 23rd, 2010 at 8:00AM: When it comes to epic road trips, it's tough to beat the one that Mac Mackenney, Chris Rawlings and Steve Mackenney set out on last weekend. The adventurous trio of Brits hit the road in their trusty Range Rover Discovery in hopes of breaking the speed record for driving from London to Cape Town, South Africa. In order to accomplish that feat, they'll need to reach their destination in less than ...Ayn Rand fanatic travels to send GPS message
Aug 16th, 2010 at 2:30PM:
In today's politically polarized climate, die-hards will do anything to get a leg up in the battle for communication. Larger crowds are sought, along with bigger signs, louder voices and greater media play. The days of slapping bumper stickers on random cars are giving way to more sophisticated stunts, and Nick Newcomen just set the bar higher with an unusual road trip.
Newcomen put 12,328 ...Four tips for traveling with dogs - Road trip tips
Aug 12th, 2010 at 11:37PM: Traveling with your beloved pooch often takes the same careful planning as hitting the road with young children. Utilize these tips to ensure a smooth ride:
Give your pup a thorough brushing before loading him into the car, greatly reducing the amount of flying fur.
Pack travel necessities for your road trip like water and a bowl, treats, paper towels, and cleanup bags.
Unless your dog ...Use an expandable file to plan your trip - Road trip tip
Aug 10th, 2010 at 11:44PM: In preparation for a recent trip, we compiled 10 day's worth of information on accommodations and attractions, maps, directions, and other paperwork.
I purchased a plastic, expandable folder with 10 slots, then labeled each with one day/date of the trip. Into each day's section went everything we needed: maps, directions, confirmation numbers, hours and costs of museums and attractions, etc.
...Everyone gets a daily "stop" card - Road trip tip
Aug 10th, 2010 at 1:44AM: On a road trip, you just can't stop everywhere that looks interesting or fun. And of course, what would appeal to an 8-year-old girl might lead to the eye-rolling of a 14-year-old boy. An easy solution: every family member gets a "stop" card daily.
No questions asked, no arguments -- if a family member pulls out their "stop" card, the whole family stops. You can put a cap on cost ahead of time, ...Keep a small trash bag in the car - Road trip tip
Aug 10th, 2010 at 1:44AM: On road trips, dedicate a small bag to trash.
Even people who normally do not eat or drink in the car will likely do so when driving all day long, and the trash piles up quickly.
Bonus points for a separate recycling bag.
[Photo: Flickr | shioshvili] ...Calculate your fuel cost - Road trip tip
Aug 7th, 2010 at 1:44PM: An essential ingredient for any road trip is fuel. While you know the cost of your accommodations, you may not always know how much gas will cost for the length of your road trip.
There are websites to help you determine that cost, however. For example, AAA's Fuel Cost Calculator allows you to calculate the fuel cost of your trip. Using drop-down menus, you select your starting city, ...How to find WiFi hotspots - Road trip tip
Aug 7th, 2010 at 1:44PM: Being without internet access makes a road trip seem desolate. Here are two simple tips for getting online for free:
1.) Wifinder is a good site to find public wi-fi hotspots, and people can submit them as they find them during their road trips.
2.) Getting a wi-fi detector is an easy way to find a hotspot, because not everyone posts a sign that says that free wi-fi is available. There are a ...Visit small-town bars - Road trip tip
Aug 7th, 2010 at 1:44PM: One of our favorite aspects of road tripping is building in time to go "off route" to small town bars.
No matter how small, most towns have a townie bar. Walk in, count the number of heads that swivel around and stare until you pick a seat. Choose a seat at the bar and let the heads turn back to their normal position while conversation returns to local gossip.
Your benefit from a trip to a ...Jog at rest stops - Road trip tip
Aug 7th, 2010 at 1:44PM: When you pull into a rest stop to refresh, include a 3-5 minute jog or brisk walk.
It helps relieve the stiffness from sitting in the car and gets the blood pumping. It also provides children an opportunity to run and scream.
When you finish, do a quick stretch. Now you can be awake and alert for the road.
[Photo: Flickr | MikeBaird] ...Make time for yoga - Road trip tip
Aug 6th, 2010 at 3:02PM: When embarking on a road trip of a few days or more, plan ahead by finding local fitness classes you can take as you pass through a new city.
Rather than spend your time stretching at a boring rest stop, pop in for a 30 minute or 1 hour session at a yoga, pilates or fitness studio. You'll meet locals, get a feel for the town, and get that cooped-up car-feeling out of your system. Search for ...Invest in a portable shower - Road trip tip
Aug 6th, 2010 at 2:02PM: Invest in a portable shower.
Nothing's worse than having to crawl back into the car after an impromptu hike during a road trip.
Grab some water and a quick change of clothes and you can get back in the car with a fresh start.
[Photo: Flickr | Mariachily] ...Bring cookie sheets - Road trip tip
Aug 6th, 2010 at 1:02PM: Cookie sheets may seem like an odd suggestion for a road trip, but they have LOTS of uses! If you're traveling with kids, cookie sheets make great trays for snacks or on-the-go meals -- the edges help catch spills!
If you flip them over, they make a great desk for coloring, card games, and other activities that are better on a flat surface. If you have really little guys traveling with you, ...
