MJ’s Travel Favorites 2-14-10

Before you get too engrossed with today’s 2010 Olympic Winter Games coverage, I invite you to spend some time with some great travel posts discovered this past week:  Whether you’re an active traveler, a vicarious traveler, or an armchair traveler, you’ll find something to capture your imagination.

A neighborhood in Paris

• Euro Cheapo suggests that sometimes the best choice in Paris is to splurge.  I couldn’t agree more.  My daily splurge was a cafe au lait, a croissant,, a book, and an hour or so to some people watching.

• Planet D offers solid advice for how to take care of your relationship when engaged in long term travel.  Heck,this advice is good even when you’re getting away for a weekend.
• My Bella Vita has tips for finding a job in Italy, essential information for anyone who may be planning to stay for awhile.
• PlanetEye Traveler – Amsterdam tells the history of a palace with no royals.  It’s an official building, to be sure, but perhaps calling it a palace is a bit of a misnomer.
• Consumer Travel takes us inside Inn Boonsboro, an inn owned by successful romance writer Nora Roberts.  Perfect for a Valentine’s Day getaway, or any romantic occasion at all.
• Gadling offers solid advice on how to pack for back-to-back trips.  Since I often do this myself, I’d offer my key tip – have separate supplies of things that stay in your bag and never have to be unpacked.  It’ll save on forgetting toothpaste or deodorant, and give you less to worry about at home.
• Sosauce wows us with some interesting facts from around the world.  Did you know that Australia consumes the most ice cream?
• Brilliant Tips invites us to get up close and personal with the giraffes at Giraffe Manor in Nairobi.  It looks like the tall guys get the right of way here.
• Intelligent Travel, still trying to burrow out of the snow, demonstrates the culture exists — even in the middle of a snowstorm.  I loved the snowman depicting the Terra Cotta Warriors (the real ones are on display there).
• LUXUO is excited about the return of the shipboard bon voyage party.  A staple of the cruising set in days gone by, this return is likely related to money making efforts.
• And finally, Ruth, at PlanetEye Traveler – Vancouver, talks about how her heart swells with pride as the Olympic torch runs through her neighborhood, and why she’s proud to be a Canadian.  After watching the opening ceremonies last night, I’d agree – she has plenty of reasons to be proud of what her country is doing.

That’s it for this week.  Enjoy the Olympic Games, enjoy your Valentine’s Day, and enjoy your travels!

Photo credit: personal collection

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