Quebec 

The Customer is Always Right

Read some great news in US Today the other day. Travel industry workers are getting more power to please the customer. That maid cleaning your hotel room wields some new power. She just might be the one to make things right or get you a no pay room. The new plan put into play is called, “service recovery”. It is designed to take a customer from hell to heaven in 60 seconds. They want to keep you happy and loyal even if they have to cover your cost. Hampton Inn & Suites is one of the first to implement the plan. They figure that they refund half of 1% a year. They also get back an average of 7$ in business from dissatisfied customers that returned because of a refund. Now if I could just get back my bucks from the Sheraton Hotel in Portsmouth. Your air conditioning system stinks!

Can Get There from Here

Hunkered down in Portsmouth NH tonight at the Sheraton, after a busy Friday night graduation ceremony for my son Chance. Lil is finally free for the summer with the teaching season over. It really is the first time in a long time that we have all been on the road together. It is so different to be traveling just for the sake of being with family. We are headed up to Cannan Maine to visit with relatives. It is so different than the past few months of catching flights and there solely to report and write. I get to watch their reactions. It also can be shaky; Lil left her satchel at a clam bar in Salisbury Beach. The kind of place that has been frying clams since 1948. As we fought the traffic through Hampton Beach she noticed the bag was missing as well as our passports. (We are heading to Quebec City after Cannan) Frantically fighting Sunday beach traffic we headed back to the clam shack. Sure enough a young guy gave the satchel to the order taker. Thanks who ever you are, you have saved our trip. Ah family vacations!

Southeast Asia Fun

Since my good buddy Max Hartshorne has turned me on to the blog world, I have spent hours reading them. I was always a fan of www.writtenroad.com, Jen Leo’s blog. Max’s readuponit always has interesting news and oddities. The kind of stuff that you would miss if not on a blog. I found a new one that I will daily check up on. Its is by Carl Parkes and is at http://www.blogger.com/profile/3499560

Carl is a fountain of knowledge of all things Southeast Asia. After writing six guidebooks for Avalon and National Geographic I would expect nothing less. This two-time winner of the Lowell Thomas Award has it down pat. Besides practical info you can get the lowdown on a transvestite pageant at the Opium Museum in Thailand and the lowdown on the relationship between dope dealers and the Bangkok Police. Pretty heady stuff.

Under my Nose

Sometimes you overlook the obvious. I live in the Hudson Valley, born here and back from Arizona for three years, now. While reading the New York Times travel section yesterday I came across an interesting question in the Q&A section. It pertained to the Hudson River School, the nation’s first school of painting. There were more than 70 artists of the early and mid 19th century known for their realistic landscapes of the river and Catskill Mountains. Two of the best known is Fredrick Church and Thomas Cole. Both their homes are open to visitors. The National Park Service has opened phase one of the Hudson Art School Trail, seven sites featured in paintings. Some by car others by trails. If you happen to visit Olana State Historic Site, Cole’s mansion, stop in Hudson NY. This village once had a whaling community that rivaled Nantucket. The once urban mess has become a top spot for visitors. Eat at the Mexican Radio it is fabulous. I think that just might be my plan of action tomorrow. It is right under my nose!

My Best Work

I have had a time travel thrill today that will never be equaled, we opened a box sealed eleven years ago. It was sealed when my son was only 7 years old and done under supervision of his first grade teacher at Laguna Elementary in Scottsdale. In that box were things placed that were to be opened on graduation from high school. We decided to open the capsule today. Besides the pictures of his class and string measuring his height were letters written to him from us, Mom and Dad. I had not a clue what I wrote years ago and neither did Lil. I was astounded to listen to Chance read our thoughts. The tears flowed as his Mom’s thoughts were read.

It was all about love and wishes, beaches and a skinny kid playing in Mexico with others. A tall blond boy that we wanted to grow up to be a man. My note was of a thankful nature, thankful that through the gods I ended up with a special gift. I also noted his gentle nature and inquisitive mind, much like his Moms. I also stated that I am sometimes silent and do not share my appreciation often. I haven’t changed much but to this young man I owe much. With out him I would have been empty. I love you Chance. The play we attended and you directed at Rondout High this Friday was great. The fact that you are attending a great college like Sarah Lawrence next fall is a testament to your hard work. You are the reason I have faith!

Optimist

I like optimism, especially when it pertains to travel. There is one guidebook publisher that has abundance. The UPS man recently dropped off some new books from Brandt Publishers. Among the titles were two that stood out, Kabul and Baghdad. The info on Baghdad was especially interesting. Included are the cultural dos and don’ts. According to the book Iraqis can be coy. It may take you three times to get a cab driver to accept a tip. You may get pestered about getting visa’s on the street. That I can certainly understand. Hospitality is taken very seriously so to refuse it is insulting. Sounds like common sense.

I hope someday to be sitting at the Babeesh Restaurant with its exceptional service despite the tinned music. Rest assured that my Brandts book will be on the table with earmarked pages.

Fears

Some times traveling can help you get over some fears. My past trip to Guatemala’s jungles was just such a trip. I confess that I spent far to many moments thinking about the deadly Fer de Lance snake that inhabits that part of the world. Luckily I didn’t run into one. Strangely enough on my return home I ran into a timber rattler in my garden. Needless to say I have moved my veggie garden closer to the house. However I still walk back behind the barn in the expectation that I may get a glimpse of the booger.

In the hopes to really delve into my snake phobia I read The Snakebite Survivors Club by Jeremy Seal. The book is simply fascinating. Seal matches up destinations such as Africa, Australia and India with tales of Mambas, Cobras and Corals.
In the words of Isak Dinesen, “The man who can caress a snake can do anything”.

Top Ten

After every trip my sister’s boyfriend John always asks if the trip made the top ten list. It is also asked frequently when people find out I am a travel writer. I really have never sat down and picked my ten favorites. I thought that after eight years it might now be time. Here are the results.

· South Africa - The combination of spa & safari was unbeatable.
· Galapagos – 84ft yacht and incredible animals.
· NT Australia - A trip on the Ghan Railway and first helicopter ride.
· Guatemala - Tough trip to adventure, learned a lot about self.
· Kyoto – Best cultural experience.
· Jordan – Great history and group.
· Israel – So glad I didn’t listen to others and went.
· Brazil – Four times to Rio and it’s different every time.
· Spain – Language immersion was total immersion.
· SW Louisiana – The people, food and chicken run says it all. Soon on GoNOMAD.

That’s the list, at least this week. It is sure to change!

Paprika 

Behind the Scenes

A press trip to South Africa was one of the best trips I’ve ever taken. Cape Town is one of my favorite cities in the world. Sometimes the still currents run deep. According to The Week magazine it is also where a woman happens to have the biggest chance of getting murdered by her husband. It happens at least once every six hours. Almost two thirds of the murderers are never prosecuted. The appalling murders are blamed on “unemployment, depression, jealousy, a patriarchal society and alcohol and drug abuse.”
That will never make the Sunday travel section.

What Again?

Page Six of the NYC Post is always filled with the latest gossip. It is always interesting even if you happen to like the NYC Daily News. The same people that own the Fox News Channel own the Post. Its top story today concerns Michael Cooke, the Editor in Chief of the Daily.

The story is about Cooke taking two freebie trips to a lavish English castle resort. It isn't such a big deal except that Cooke took two trips and really just used the first story written as editor for the Chicago Sun –Times on July 18 2004. The similar story ran in the News on June 5th 2005. The first class ticket seems to be the controversy. I’ve got news, most newspaper trips are sponsored. Even if you pay a very small fee to beat the sponsored connotation. Write what you see, the rest be damned!

Bombski

Read a most interesting piece in the Budapest Sun while waiting for the van to the airport. Imagine being a construction worker in Keleti and finding a 100kg WWII bomb while digging. In the process of working on a new metro station last week a Russian device was found. The station and buildings in the area were evacuated. In these days we often hear about the mines left around Southeast Asia. It seems that we all may have other things to consider. Might Bono and the boys consider doing a show in benefit for Keleti ? I’d love to be there!

Unsung Heros

Imagine having eleven petulant children under your supervision, daunting at best. The front lines of the PR battle for tourism are the guides. These people have tough jobs. Richard can I get this. Richard I am a vegaterian. Richard are we there yet. You get the idea. I to am one of the children. The Hungarian National Tourism Office has got their selves one hell of a good guide in Richard Bogdan. He was witty, entertaining and a good guy. I often think back on the good guides I have met in the past. Chances are that they are with a new group that very moment. I wish them luck and ask for forgivness.

The End

There comes a moment on every press trip when everyone seems to mesh. It usually is over a meal. Laughs come easy and problems fade. Smiles are on all faces and personal questions asked. It doesnt last long. Soon after everyone realizes that the trip is close to over. The real world starts to seep in. Thoughts of work, home and family invade ever so slowly. Coversations get shorter and the road trips seem longer. Be home soon Lil.

International Relations

Paranoid is a powerful emotion and I had a dose of it. Traveling with an international group is different as I explained in last post. The sound of Americano whispered fram the back of the bus sent shivers down my spine. What were they saying about Max and I? My trusty Brit agent was planted back there. Not even about us!

Though there are differences there are also some similarites of a mixed press trip. For example I really will miss some of those met. We did have some major giggles and laughs over silly jokes. Most importantly people are the same everwhere, even journalists.

In many ways the writers themselves are a part of the trip, equal to the Hungray countryside. Many facets and faces that are a part of the Travel Press World. Time for this Americano to hit the streets of Budapest.

The Mix

While traveling to the countryside of Hungary can be at times bewildering, the mix of our press group is also. This is my first mix of nationalites on a trip. We have press from Russia, Spain , Poland, Italy ect. It is strange with the world situation as it is. While friendly there is little warmth to us the Americans. There was a break through thou. In Eger the famous red wine took down the walls. We all wanted to go out after dinner. All was closed but glasnost was achieved. Max and I still refer to the Spaniards. Italians, Pole, Russkie . I am sure we are called the Americans. Tonight we will summit at the bar. Keep you informed and pray for peace or have a glass of red wine, what ever works.

Lucky Again

When Max and I checked into the Malev flight to Buda I hade a rude awakening. Sorry sir but this is the First Class check in. Your in seat 29A. It broke my heart, yes you do sometimes get spoiled on press trips. I took it in stride with a few quick oneliners with Max. Next thing I know I ran into a writer from years ago. After some small talk she mentioned something about the lounge. Two and two together pointed to a front of the plane ticket.

It hurts when your the guy that didn't rate. I resigned myself to a long flight surrounded by crying kids. Then I heard our names over the gate speakers, "please come to the check in". My streak remains intact. We moved up to row 3, the same row as the other writer. My faith in the flight gods remains. However I was reminded it could all end on the whim of an agent. Again will try to keep in touch if the luck continues! If not will fill in on return.

Ships in the Night

Over in Budapest for the week with Max from GoNOMAD and several other journalists are hooking up with us. This time they will be coming from other countries such as Ukraine, Spain, Poland, Holland and several others. It should be very interesting to get their take on the travel writing life. A mini UN situation. I will try to keep you updated but even here in Budapest I am having trouble getting posts posted!

We are covering the Hungary not many venture to. The country side for caving, horseback riding and several other adventures. If todays canopy treetop tour down a mountainside in Visgrad is any indication, it should be quite a week. The red wine that Eger is known for should come in very handy.

Had a very special send off from JFK Thursday. Ran into a writer I met on my first trip to Rio several years ago. It happened that she was also flying to Budapest to cover a weddding. That is Rita Cooks specialty. It must be strange to attend a wedding of people you have never met. Give the bride my best!