|  TraveLetter
| June 2005
The
internet's premiere online travel e-zine — www.justsaygo.com
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“It
is not down in any map; true places
never are.”
Herman Melville 1819-189)
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 Welcome
Again to JustSayGo.com's TraveLetter
Sometimes
a real adventure isn't on any map. It's
right in our own backyard. Yup. I returned to
Lexington, Massachusetts, from Paris a few weeks
ago. Last week my Boston Globe editor asked if
I would write about an ancient Battle Green tree,
felled by a strong spring storm. The Lexington
Battle Green is where the colonials first
stood up to the Brits. It's where the first shot
was heard and is home to so much history
you can't pass a street or building without learning
a bit of America's past. Even taking a
ride through Bedford to a friend's house in Concord
nets a history lesson. Bedford is home
to the country's oldest flag, one that was carried
into the first revolutionary battle on
April 19, 1775. In Concord there's the Old North
Bridge, where the English realized they
were outsmarted and finally turned back toward
Boston. So, before booking that ticket, go to
your library and find out what treasures are
in your hometown. You might be surprised.
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June
Jaunts from
DESTINATIONS Mexico … Morocco … Mazatlan?
Pull up your feet, relax and JustSayGo.com
for a tour that's out — and around — the
world... |
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Guadalajara
Mexico's Colonial Heartland
Looking
for more than a visit to Mexico? How about a
bit of history and culture too. Michael Martinez-Schiferl
takes us back to 1542 when Spanish Settlers founded
Guadalajara. From there we learn about the art
and food that has made its way past that sixteenth
century and into the twenty-first... More |
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Puerto
Vallarta – Sun Meets Sand Meets Serenity!
Picturesque
beaches, easygoing locals, dozens of activities,
great restaurants with sumptuous food and comfortable
hotels. It all equals rest and relaxation. Let
Naeem Rhandawa show you the finest parts of Puerto
Vallarta. More |
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Par
for the Course in Ballybunion
Neither
rain nor sleet nor snow could keep Katie McVay
or John Binczak from getting a story from Ballybunion,
Ireland. It seems the rain, pelting and relentless,
doesn't stop the golfers either. McVay and Binczak
went looking for the views, one historic statue
and a few unforgettable experiences. They found
that and so much more. Take a look at some of
what they discover. More |
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| JSG
JUST KEEPS GOING AND GOING... Morocco,
Sierra Madre, Nob Hill and so many more exotic
places. Enjoy! Once you've finished with
the new articles take a look at the archives. More |
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 WORLDWIDE
FIESTAS
Vivienne
Mackie, Fiesta Editor lists holiday, carnivals and parties
all over the world. Visit http://justsaygo.com/fiesta/fiesta.html for
Vivienne's favorites.
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 TRAVEL
EASE — Onederwear™
Tired
of packing underwear and washing them out? Taking
a cue from the Europeans, a company called Onederwear™ just
introduced a line of disposable cotton socks and
underwear. Packed tightly in a compact package of
six, you just wear and toss. Editor-in-Chief Ron
Stern found them ideal on a recent trip and never
had to worry about doing laundry or taking up extra
space in his single carry-on. To learn more visit:
www.onederwear.com.
Is
there something you'd like reviewed? Let us know before
buying a new travel item. We'll let
you know if it meets JSG's standards. |
 TRAVEL
TIP
Unless
you're traveling first class, it's
not easy to relax on a long plane
ride. Ask for a blanket and pillow
and bring an inflatable neck rest.
Roll up your coat and use it to cushion
your back. Then try and put your
feet on the carryon under your seat.
Do anything you can to make the ride
more comfortable. Even getting up
to walk to the lavatory for no reason
will help stretch the legs and make
life just a little more comfortable.
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 PHANTASTIC
PHOTOS
Do
you have a photo that deserves a spot
on this page? Send it to newsletter@justsaygo.com.
We'll post it here and send you
a JustSayGo.Com
TraveLetter prize. |
 TRAVEL
BOOKS:
A SENSE OF PLACE, Great
Travel Writers Talk About Their Craft, Lives and
Inspiration by Michael
Shapiro (Travelers' Tales, $18.95) Reviewed by Carol
Sorgen, JSG.com Managing Editor.
This
collection of interviews from leading travel writers
is a fascinating look at what goes on behind the story-not just on a specific trip, but in a writer's life-past and present-what pushes him or her to explore the world, notebook or laptop in hand.
For four years, Michael Shapiro wrote a column for the San Francisco Chronicle travel section. He won the 1998 Lowell Thomas Award from the Society of American Travel Writers, and helped to develop Global Network Navigator, the first online directory of sites on the World Wide Web.
Shapiro traveled throughout the United States, Great Britain, and Europe to interview the writers he chose to include in this book-a selection he made based on the influence their work has had on his own. He chose wisely. Tim Cahill; Frances Mayes; Jonathan Raban; Redmond O'Hanlon; Isabel Allende; Bill Bryson; Paul Theroux; Arthur Frommer; Pico Iyer; Rick Steves; Simon Winchester; Jeff Greenwald; Eric Newby; Sara Wheeler; Brad Newsham; Tom Miller; Peter Matthiessen; and Jan Morris are all inside the almost-400-page book.
This
isn't a "how-to" for travel writers and doesn't share tricks of the trade. Readers will learn about the writers and their motivation. Bill Bryson is apparently as humorous and genial in an interview as he is in his books. Sara Wheeler unapologetically admits to just making stuff up - not with facts or history - but when trying to convey a "poetic truth"). Jonathan Raban hates long plane flights. Isabel Allende's ideal vacation consists of "sitting in a chair beneath an umbrella on my patio, reading books of adventures."
Reading this book was both enlightening and motivating. And yes, at times practical too, although perhaps without meaning to be. My favorite piece of "advice" in the book comes from Shapiro himself who tells British writer Sara Wheeler that his editor at the San Francisco Chronicle always takes one trip a year without his notebook just for the sheer joy of travel.
This might be just the book you should take along on your own travels.
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TRAVEL ADVICE
Did
you remember to leave your itinerary with a loved
one or friend? Did you give them telephone numbers?
Even if you just leave it with a neighbor, it's
always good if someone knows where you are. Remember
to check archived stories for more information.
You
can reach us at newsletter@justsaygo.com. |
 TRAVEL
Q&A
Have
any travel or security questions that need answering? Chances
are we've “been there, done that.” Email us
with questions and we'll get the answers. Remember to check
archived stories too for more information. Email us at newsletter@justsaygo.com. |
Photo
caption, top of page: Police
Officer Cecil Sena and Denise Dube in the center of
Sante Fe. Taken by a tourist from New Hampshire.
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