During the holiday season it seems like I watch lots of movies. Whether it’s catching up on television, renting videos, or indulging in pay-per-view, it’s an enjoyable way to spend some lazy winter days. Assuming you like the movie, of course. I like a variety of movies, but the ones at the top of my list are those that give me a sense of time and place. Movies that make me want to be where the movie is, and sometimes even when the movie takes place. Earlier this week I watched Julie & Julia, a great movie, and one that made me long for a return trip to Paris soon. Julie & Julia was written and directed by Nora Ephron, and stars Meryl Streep as the famous chef Julia Child and Amy Adams as Julie Powell, a young, and somewhat […]
Read MoreParis Museum Pass Helps Save on Admission Fees
Since I’m a big museum buff, I knew that I’d be spending a lot of time visiting museums while I was in Paris. As part of my pre-departure research, I prepared a pretty long list of museums that I’d like to visit, and while I knew that I would only be able to see a fraction of those on the list, I quickly realized that admission fees were going to add up right quick. Further research turned up the Paris Museum Pass, a multi-day, multi-admission pass, that would save both time and money. Since time was at a premium while I was there, the saving time part grabbed my attention. Museums in Paris are notorious for long lines, and the ability to bypass the line for immediate admission meant the potential for a big time saver. With only five days, […]
Read MoreMexico’s Alternative to Halloween – Dia de Muertos
I’m not a big fan of Halloween. It’s not for any particular religious or cultural reason, I just don’t like dressing up in costumes and begging for candy. OK, as adults that’s not exactly how we celebrate Halloween, but I don’t particularly care for the adult version of the holiday either. But, this is a great time to be in Mexico, as they prepare for the Dia de Muertos, or Day of the Dead celebration, an extended holiday time that covers Young Souls Day (October 31st), All Saints Day (November 1st) and All Souls Day (November 2nd). The celebration of the holiday varies within the country, but the observation of the Day of the Dead goes back to pre-Hispanic Mexico – back to the time of the Aztecs, Mayans, and other indigenous peoples of Mexico. The belief behind the celebration […]
Read MoreGoodbye, So Long, Ciao, Au Revoir. . . From Flyaway Cafe
On March 17,2006, I started writing about travel here at Flyaway Cafe. I knew a lot about travel, but nothing about blogging, technology, social media, photo editing or building readership. I knew airport codes, not HTML code. And I knew airline route structures, and how to find a good hotel deal. but not a thing about Digg or Twitter. But boy did I learn! Now, after more than 3 1/2 years, and 1,325 posts, Flyaway Cafe is being retired. Today’s post, my 1,326th, will be my last. As I write this, there is an incredible range of emotions rushing through me, the first of which is a huge amount of thanks. I am very thankful for the early days of b5media, and the people who were willing to take a chance on Flight Attendant who loved to travel, and said […]
Read More25 Things I Love About Italy
Italy has become an annual event for me. I fell in love the very first moment that I came up from the metro station and saw the Coliseum in front of me. Since then, no matter when in the country I am, or what I may be looking at, I still have that sense of wonderment. In no particular order, here are some of the things that I’ve come to love about Italy, and why I’m looking forward to a return trip next year. Sunflowers Gelato – at least twice a day Lake Maggiore Isola Madre Isola Bella (and yes, I know it’s gaudy and over-the-top) Latte de Luna (with wild mushroom soup that’s to-die-for) Brunello wine Giuseppe and La Montalla Florence (so much beautiful art) Trevi Fountain in Rome (I threw in 3 coins, just to ensure my return) […]
Read MoreWelcome to Traveling With MJ
Hello fellow travelers and friends, and welcome to my new travel blog – Traveling With MJ! I first started travel blogging back in March 2006 at a travel blog called Flyaway Cafe. It was my first attempt at blogging, and I thoroughly enjoyed sharing the adventure of travel with all of my readers. After over three years blogging at Flyaway Cafe, that blog is being retired at the end of October 2009. So what was I to do but strike out on my own, and so Traveling with MJ is born. I have been a Flight Attendant for over 20 years, and continually find myself being asked about where to go, what to do, and for all sorts of recommendations about destinations, where to stay, and products. That’s what I hope to continue sharing with you here. Let’s find the […]
Read MoreLuang Prabang, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Today I have a guest post from a recent friend, Sue Henly. Sue and I met at a travel event and charmed me with her Australian accent. I think she’ll charm you with her writing as well. — In the soft grey light of early morning, we sit quietly on a bamboo mat, wicker baskets of sticky rice beside us, across from a shuttered colonial mansion heavy with bougainvillea. Birds chatter in the flame trees until a gong sounds, momentarily startling them into silence. Around a corner, dozens of barefoot monks and novices appear in a swish of saffron, golden bowls hanging from orange shoulder straps. Next to us, locals show us how to earn merit. Men adorned with scarves over one shoulder as a mark of respect and kneeling women in traditional shawls put fistfuls of rice into the […]
Read MoreHow To Save Money on Your Vacation Food Budget
Food expenses are a major budget consideration when planning your vacation, and while you can’t eliminate the expense, there are lots of things you can do to keep it as low as possible. Here are some ideas to keep in mind: Book accommodations that have a kitchen. Whether it’s staying at a condo, an extended-stay property, or maybe just a room with a coffee maker and refrigerator, these will all presents ways to help you save on food expenses. With a full kitchen you can stock up on supplies so that you’re not dining out for every meal, while still keeping in mind that no one should have to cook every meal of every day – that’s not much of a vacation for the cook. Even if you don’t have a full kitchen, stocking up on some cereal, milk, juice, […]
Read MoreLAX to the Beach (and Back) for Only $3
Being stuck at an airport is never any fun, whether it’s long ground time between flights, or a flight cancellation and serious delay. Wandering an airport can be fun. . . for the first couple of hours, at least. But when you’ve checked out every last gift shop, book store, restaurant or bar, and what have you, it’s easy to become bored to tears. So what are you going to do? Well, at LAX, if you have enough time to get away, you can leave the hustle and bustle of the airport and head to the beach! The Ocean Express trolley service operates every half hour, roughly between 9 am and 9 pm, with extended hours in the summer. It serves the LAX area hotels and businesses along Century Boulevard with several stops, and provides transportation to the Manhattan Beach […]
Read MoreSeattle Visitors Enjoy the Pacific Science Center
When people visit Seattle and ask me for recommendations about what to see, the Pacific Science Center is always on my list. In addition to its location on the grounds of the Seattle Center, home of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the graceful arches and fountains, make it an architecturally pleasant and appealing place to visit. Everyone seems to enjoy the Science Center. During the World’s Fair, this was home to the US Science Pavilion. Today it is an independent, not for profit science museum, with eight buildings housing hundreds of science exhibits, two IMAX theaters, a large Laser Dome theater, tropical butterfly house, and a planetarium. In addition to the permanent exhibits, the Pacific Science Center hosts a number of traveling exhibits, most recently “Lucy’s Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia.” My favorite of the exhibits, and a welcome […]
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