Archive for the ‘Solo travel stories’ Category

Posted on September 1, 2010 - by solotraveler

Solo Travel in Paris – Great tips from a Francophile

Welcome to guest blogger Priscilla Pilon, author of the blog Weekend In Paris. Priscilla is a Francophile, Freelance writer and marketer who is passionate about all travel, with an emphasis on Paris.  All photos courtesy of Priscilla Pilon

Solo Travel in Paris poses no problems for me, nor should it for you.  Pre-planning mixed with a hint of spontaneity will combine to set the stage for a fantastic trip for one to Paris!

For Starters
A must, in my opinion, is to book a hotel with breakfast included.  This ensures that you will start off your day with a fabulous cup of coffee while getting mentally prepared to speak a foreign language.  Practice French with the morning desk clerk, plan your routes, and seek advice from fellow map wielding travelers in the lobby who will hopefully offer insider tips for your day ahead. (more…)

Posted on August 28, 2010 - by solotraveler

Savor the Summer with Tequila: recipes

It seems that everyone has a tequila story.

But, for a moment, let’s forget the salt and lime, forget the margaritas, and take tequila seriously. As seriously as you would a fine scotch. Yes? Yes.

We’ll get to the scotch comparison in a moment. I want to share with you all my Tequila discoveries from my recent trip to Mexico.

Tequila by Day
In the heat of day on Riviera Maya in Mexico, refreshment is the most important function of a beverage. And that’s what the Tequilajito offered.

I’m not a fan of the Mojito. I find it too sweet and undefined. But the Tequilajito, which is the creation of Chef Oscar at the Hacienda Tres Rios (who were my hosts for this trip), is fabulous. Mixing crushed basil leaves with brown sugar and grapefruit juice, it is full of interesting flavor. Here’s the recipe and how to make one. Take note, in the picture above, Oscar is making a dozen at once.

Tequillajito

Lime – 2 1/3 ounzes

Basel – 8 leaves

Brown sugar – 3 tablespoons

Tequila – 1 1/2 ounces

Fresca or grapefruit soda

I watched Chef Oscar make the drinks. Crush the basil leaves into the lime juice, mix in the brown sugar, add the Tequila and then the Fresca and you’re done.

I highly recommend them!

Tequila by Night
The next evening, we were encouraged to expand our understanding of Tequila at a proper tasting. There was no lime or salt involved but there was a lot of Tequila. A lot. We tasted at least 10 types starting with the young and harsh moving toward the mature and smooth.

Like Champagne, Tequilla cannot be made by just anyone. There are 355 Tequila producers in Mexico and they make over 1000 kinds of Tequila. Just as there are different production methods there are also taste and color differences.

We were first taught how to taste and appreciate Tequila. The Tequila does not burn when you follow these steps:

• Pour a small amount – 1 to 1 1/2 ounces – into wine glass or snifter.
• Swirl the Tequila in your glass to open the scent.
• Hold your glass to the light to look at the color. Clear? Amber?
• Rotate again, circling the Tequila high in the glass then hold it still to see how long it takes for the Tequila to fall back into the glass. As with wine tasting, you’re watching for how long it takes the legs to form which is an indicator of the sugar content.
• Sniff the Tequila with your nose about an inch from the glass so you’re aren’t overwhelmed by the alcohol.
• Take a deep breath.
• Swallow the Tequila.
• Breathe out.
• Notice how the flavor affects different areas of your mouth.

Without doubt, by the time we tasted the high end Tequilas, I was enjoying a fine spirit as good as single malt scotch.

Cleansing the Palate with the Sangrita
While we didn’t use this typical drink for cleansing the palate at Tequila tastings between each one we tried, we did get to experience the refreshing Sangrita. This recipe makes one litre:

• 400 ml Orange juice
• 400 ml tomato juice
• 50 ml Lemon juice
• 30 ml Grenadine syrup
• 20 ml Worcestershire sauce, Maggi and Tabasco hot sauce
• Sale & Pepper to taste

Mix together and serve cold. Lasts in fridge 3-4 days.

Posted on August 17, 2010 - by Janice

Zen Travel – Solo Travel

Zen can only be experienced solo. Zen is about being totally aware of now – who you are, what you feel in the present. The past and the future don’t matter. Neither do others outside yourself. Whether you are traveling with people or not, Zen travel is solo travel. (more…)

Posted on August 11, 2010 - by solotraveler

Solo travel to Budapest – 1985.

One of my first solo travel adventures was to Europe in 1985. As I look back now, I have no idea how I got it into my head that Budapest – behind the iron curtain at the time – would be one of my stops. I have many vivid memories of that trip but Budapest is amongst the most dramatic. (more…)

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Posted on August 7, 2010 - by Janice

Recommended: Travel Solo to Valencia

Look at the two buildings in the photo on the right.  Located in the old city at the center of Valencia, modern is juxtaposed to historic. They seem to live almost symbiotically. One holding up the other. Which is carrying more weight I could not tell. (more…)

Posted on July 31, 2010 - by Janice

The Solo Traveler Advantage

I have had many perks as a result of being a solo traveler. People have gone out of their way to show me their city. Others have bought me drinks. But in Rochester, New York, I enjoyed a first. (more…)

Posted on July 27, 2010 - by Tracey

Pig’s Blood Popsicles: Solo at The NYC Food Film Festival

Tracey is our food and wine editor. You can follow Tracey on Twitter where she is known as @gastrotraveler.

Every year, I seek out exciting food- and drink-related experiences at home and away.  Every year, I seek out interesting, sometimes obscure films from near and far.  This year, I discovered an event that combines both passions:  The New York City Food Film Festival.

Following my own advice for planning food adventures (How to Travel Alone: Planning for Food and Wine Fun) I happened upon the website for the NYC Food Film Festival while casting about online for culinary events that would be taking place during a planned trip to New York.

And what an event!  The idea is simple: watch films about food;  eat the food.  The execution is actually a little more complex and layered than it sounds.

Take, for instance, Brad Farmerie’s Southeast Asian Street Food Market.  Held at the Astor Center (I will definitely go back to check out their wine tastings and cooking classes) this event featured films about street food from Malaysia, Taipei and Hong Kong.  The venue was transformed into an atmospheric night market.  As music played and strings of lights twinkled in the dark room, attendees wandered around feasting on remarkable renditions of typical street food, created by local chefs.  In one room, I tasted squid chips which were being prepared and served hot out of the fryer in paper cones.  Strikingly black from the addition of the ink, these were highly addictive.  They also worked very nicely with the exotic cocktails being mixed by candlelight.  In another room, I tried Beerlao, the national beer of Laos, to wash down the delicious ginger beef balls.

Following some serious and varied tastings, it was time for the show.  A series of short films were screened, most showcasing foods that we had all either just eaten, or hoped we would still have room to try after the viewing.  Amazing films by and about people who are absolutely passionate about their food.  I was able to see exactly how my much-loved squid chips came to be.  Some of the filmmakers were in attendance, including a couple who had traveled 27 hours to be there.

Then came the film about the dish that I had so far avoided.  I had been thinking about it since the first day that I read about the festival:  the Pig’s Blood Popsicle.  I had been contemplating how strange and awful it sounded, what an unusual combination of form and content it seemed to be, and whether or not I would actually be able to consume it.   But this is the unique and compelling aspect of this festival:  the films place the food into context, and the food brings the films to life.  And so it was that I found myself in Manhattan (or was it Taipei?), on a steamy night in June, noshing on a pig’s blood popsicle…and enjoying every single bite!

For more information about the New York City Food Film Festival see www.nycfoodfilmfestival.com .  Now in its fourth year, the festival will be expanding to Chicago this September.  I feel another trip coming on…

Posted on July 24, 2010 - by Janice

Should I Stay or Should I Go

On September 14th, I’ll be hosting Meet Plan Go in Toronto. Joining me are Journeywoman, thePlanetD and other long term travel enthusiasts. Please read to the end for details.

This story is about why I am so keen to host the event.

——————————-

How does one balance the importance of living in the present with the need to prepare for the future?

Some people don’t contemplate this issue. They simply do what comes naturally – sometimes suffering the consequences of favoring one over the other.

But, if you are one who does consider how to balance the two, where does the answer lie. And, what is the question?  If you love travel, the question is: should I stay or should I go. (more…)

Posted on July 22, 2010 - by solotraveler

Pic of the Week: Across Canada by Train

The Story that goes along with this photo is
Recommended: Travel solo across Canada by train.

But don’t be fooled by the picture. This post is more about the characters I met along the way than the stunning scenery.

Click on the title to have a read.

Posted on July 21, 2010 - by solotraveler

No Time Zone. No Jet Lag. Living The FIB Time Warp.

Can we turn back time? Can we live as a thirty-something in our fifties? Can we travel across six time zones without jet lag? Five days ago my answer would have been no. But now? It’s a yes. (more…)

Posted on July 17, 2010 - by solotraveler

History and Daily Life in Morella, Spain

Morella is an extraordinary city on a mountain a couple of hours north of Valencia, Spain. While it is on the northern tip of the Land of Valencia, it is also the capital of the district of Els Ports. A trip there offers an historic aqueduct, fortress, castle, convent, cloister and basilica as well as the beauty of everyday life.

(more…)

Posted on July 15, 2010 - by solotraveler

Pic of the Week: Take a trip to Havana

There are two posts for this pic of the week.

How to Crash the Club Scene Solo

and

Havana: Limitations and luxury in 12 photos.

Click on the titles and have a read.

Posted on July 8, 2010 - by Janice

Pic of the Week: Solo Travel in New Orleans

This musician was one of a trio playing on Bourbon Street.

Read more about my time in New Orleans in the post
Seedy Bars and Luxury Hotels on the Blues Highway.

Posted on July 1, 2010 - by Janice

I travel solo for the company.

I travel solo because of people like Skip, Jeanette and Laurie. Because of Jim. And because of Brad. I travel solo for the company I find along the way.

(more…)

Posted on June 29, 2010 - by Janice

360 degrees of Washington Square Fountain
on a 90 degree day

Last weekend in New York City, I headed south on 5th Avenue to take a short stroll through the Village. It was a steaming hot day. Walking through Washington Square, I found children and adults playing in the fountain to beat the heat.
(more…)

Posted on June 22, 2010 - by Janice

Solo Travel: Island Holidays to Dream on

Sometimes I travel solo to connect with more people. It’s true, I tend to meet more people when I travel solo than when I travel with others. But, sometimes, what I really want is a holiday alone — to get away from it all. Here are a few island holidays that offer quiet and isolation. For now, they are islands to dream on. Eventually, I’ll get there.

Madeira

Madeira is a long way out into the Atlantic Ocean, which means that not that many people are prepared to slog their way out there – making it a superb island retreat. The island has lent its name to both the famous cake and fortified wine, and has some simply stunning rugged scenery for walkers and ramblers alike.

Easter Island

Easter Island is about as remote as you can get. Once you’ve taken a flight to the most westerly point of Chile, you’re still over 2,000 miles (3,500km) away from the island. The trip is totally worth it though, with some of the most sensational views in the world, including the world famous Moai statues.

Koh Phi Phi Leh

The island that was made famous in the Leonardo DiCaprio film The Beach, Koh Phi Phi Leh is part of the Krabi province in Thailand. Flights to Thailand are increasingly cheap to find these days, and Koh Phi Phi Leh is best accessed by river ferry from Phuket or Krabi. The island was severely tampered with during the filming of The Beach, but after the typhoon of 2004 much of the island’s natural beauty has returned.

Meerufenfushi

The Maldives archipelago contains some 1,200 beautiful islands, each with their own unique signature. The capital Malé is certainly worth visiting, but for an isolated relaxing holiday Meeru is one of the best resorts available to enjoy the pleasures of the beautiful Indian Ocean.

Necker Island

Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson has most things money can buy, including his own private island. Necker Island in the British Virgin Isles of the Caribbean is about as exclusive as islands come. Resplendent with luxury facilities, the island has capacity for around 30 people, so bumping into other tourists is a rare occasion indeed.

Posted on June 16, 2010 - by Janice

Treat Yourself to a Chef’s Table

When I dine at a fine restaurant, I like to do so with a companion – someone with whom I can ooo and aww over the food to our hearts’ content.

When I travel solo, I typically eat at simple places having things like sushi or soup – relatively healthy food. Unlike Tracey, our food and wine editor, I tend to save my money for a tour, concert, theatre, or anything else that is fun.

The one exception to this rule is when I come across a Chef’s Table.

A Chef’s Table is usually located in the kitchen of a fine restaurant. It can be booked by one group or by couples and individuals — all of whom dine together.

Amid the controlled chaos of a busy kitchen, the chef introduces and supervises the serving of a themed tasting menu designed by him or her for the occasion. Wine pairings for each course are common and, if the restaurant has a sommelier, he or she gives background information on the wine chosen for the course and explains why it goes well with the food.

A Chef’s Table is educational, delicious and social. One table. Lots of people, fine food and good wine.

On my tour around Lake Ontario, I attended a Chef’s Table at Peller Estates, a winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake. There were sixteen of us in an open square table formation. The man on my right was there from Vancouver with this daughter. There were three couples on a getaway, one celebrating their 20th anniversary evening… yes, everyone had a different reason for being there.  But there was consensus on one thing. The meal, the entire evening, was fabulous. Here is the menu:

**  Our menu at Peller Estates **

Smoked Pork Terinne

Spring Pickle

Rose ~ Private Reserve ~ 2008

“Niagara” Spring Onion Soup

Roasted Onion, Wilde Garlic and Lamb

Gewurtztraminer ~ Private Reserve ~ 2008

Pan seared White Bass

Spring Asparagus, Fiddlehead Fricasse

Sauvignon Blanc ~ Private Reserve ~ 2007

Beef Ribeye

Cider Glazed Rapini, Hot House Grape Tomatoes

Grape Mustart and Potato Gnocchi

Cabernet Sauvignon ~ Signature Series ~ 2004

“Portneuf” BleuBry Cheese

Icewine Grape and Rosemary Tart

Honey Roasted BlueBry Cheese and Riesling Icewine Reduction

Riesling Icewine ~Signature Series ~ 2008

Buttermilk Cake

Fiddlehead Ice Cream, White Chocolate Sauce

Cabernet Franc Icewine ~ Signature Series ~ 2007

Posted on June 9, 2010 - by Tracey

Canada to Spain and Back Again – In a Glass of Wine

Tracey, our food and wine editor is back, this time with a very special post on wine.
You can follow Tracey on Twitter where she is known as @gastrotraveler.

Last weekend I found myself at a garden party celebrating the 80^th birthday of the mother of one of my dearest friends.  The setting was gorgeous – lush and green – and the weather was picture-perfect.  The sky was impossibly blue, the sun brilliant and hot…and I was thirsty.  When our host placed a glass of wine in my hand, I was so grateful.  But when I tasted it, I was ecstatic.  I knew this wine!  Not only did I know this wine, but I had been to the vineyard where these grapes had been grown.  I had descended into the caves where it was being aged, I had toured the beautiful grounds, I had even lugged a few bottles home in my bulging suitcase. (more…)

Posted on June 8, 2010 - by Janice

Two Passions: Solo Travel and Cycling

I can’t remember where I first heard about cycling and hosteling but I do remember when. I was ten years old. It struck me as terribly romantic in the literary sense of the word. Maybe it was a character in a book that introduced me to the idea, I don’t know. But when I asked my Mom if it was still done she  fueled the romance by describing her days as a teenager cycling and hosteling the Eastern Townships outside of Montreal. (more…)

Posted on May 27, 2010 - by Janice

Travel Solo and Savor the Taste

This is perfect for solo travel because it is best done when you’re alone.

Take a small piece, place it on your tongue, savor it as it melts in your mouth. Then enjoy the flavor and sensation for a full 20 minutes. Notice how the flavor lingers and changes. It’s tangy at first and has a clean finish.

Repeat, because it’s irresistible. (more…)