Bringing Christmas Home

On December 7, 2015 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Travel Tips2 Comments

Needless to say, we pick up souvenirs from all of the places that we visit so that when we see those objects, they remind us of the places we’ve visited. In particular, though, we try to find something Christmas related whenever we can. It is quite enjoyable to be decorating the house or trimming the tree and coming across something that we’ve picked up from one of our travels. It isn’t always possible to find something, but sometimes we will find a Christmas store or curio store that sells something Christmas related.

Little Drummer from Bethlehem Pennsylvania

We were in England about a month prior to Christmas and one of our fondest memories was going to Stratford-Upon-Avon and seeing the mayor announce the arrival of Santa Claus, who appeared on the roof. We drank mulled wine at a local pub and found a perfect little store full of Christmas decorations. While we were in London, we made our way to Harrods to view their Christmas displays and to do some Christmas shopping.

Christmas Ornament from Stratford-Upon-Avon

Christmas Ornament from Harrods in London

Another great memory was when we were in Paris and we found a little store that sold wonderful china where we found the perfect little statue of a boy and girl on a sleigh. It is the memory of the streets of Paris and the little shops that we went into that comes back to our minds as we put it out on our mantelpiece every year.

It isn’t as if the items are extravagant or expensive, but we treasure each and every one of them. Whether from Aspen, Chicago, Spain, England, France or any other place, each comes with a trove of memories. What better time of the year to pull out a piece of the past and set it out to remind us of the places that we’ve travelled to.

Plenty To Be Thankful For

On November 30, 2015 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Travel Tips7 Comments

If you’re asking yourself “where do I want to travel next” instead of “where is my next meal coming from”, then, like us, you have an awful lot to be thankful about. Neither of our families travelled much when we were younger, which is probably the main reason that sharing travel experiences with our children was so important to us when the kids were younger. Now that we’re older and are fortunate enough to be in a position to travel, we often think back to the days when we struggled to take time off, let alone go anyplace for vacation. We’ve come a long way from the days when we worried about getting food on the table, but we’re well aware that life can change in a heartbeat, so we never want to forget how far we’ve come.

With the hectic day-to-day life as well as planning another trip, it is easy to forget how blessed we are to have the opportunity to see the places that we have. We often see other posts from sites that we enjoy and think to ourselves, “wow, I wish we could go there”. It is easy to get caught up in travel envy instead of simply being thankful for the experiences that you have been able to have. More importantly, for the opportunity to share those experiences with the ones that you love.

We recently purchased a digital picture frame where we’ve loaded pictures from places that we’ve travelled, concerts that we’ve been to, and special occasions and holidays with family. It was really eye-opening to see all of those memories in a single place. It really gave us the opportunity to look back and think about how fortunate we truly have been. And that only includes the places we’ve seen since we entered the digital age, there are still photo albums filled with pictures yet to be scanned and added to the library.

Hopefully we’ll do a better job throughout the year of being thankful for our opportunities. It is easy to be thankful during the holiday season when it is forefront on people’s minds, but it is something that we want to remember the whole year-long. Hopefully next year will provide as many travel opportunities for you as we hope to have for ourselves. We truly are a lucky couple.

Five Tips for Travelling Abroad

On September 3, 2015September 4, 2015 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Travel Tips4 Comments

When travelling to countries outside of your own, there are few simple things that can make your trip more enjoyable and the locals more likely to treat you with respect. There are plenty of tips for travelling, but these are focused on things that can apply to any country that you visit. These are the things that we’ve learned over the years and we keep them in mind whenever we travel outside of the country.

Learn at least a few phrases of the language. Whether the only thing you can say is good morning, good day, how are you, or thank you, by speaking (or attempting to) in the local language, the people you meet will appreciate your attempts. Many people from English speaking countries will assume that English is spoken everywhere and just expect everyone to speak in English. The people of every country are proud of their heritage, traditions, and language, so we believe it is a matter of respect to at least try and learn a little of their native language.
Fish Monger in Morocco
Our Favorite Poolside Waiter
Eat where the locals eat. Depending upon where you are travelling, there are often many restaurants that cater to tourists, but we’ve always found that by asking our hotel manager, local bartender, even the policeman on the street, that you can find more authentic meals by eating where the locals eat. They might not be as fancy and often won’t speak any English at all, but if you’re adventurous, you can end up eating something that you would have never expected just by pointing to something on the menu and taking a chance.
Grilled Octopus in Spain
Lunch at a Moroccan Restaurant
Act like you’re a local, not a tourist. This is more about a state of mind than anything else. If you walk confidently as if you belong in your environment, it is less likely for bad things to happen to you, such as being the target of a pick pocket. Figure out directions to where you’re going before you go so that you’re not walking around with a map in your face. This has the added benefit of allowing you to keep your eyes on your surroundings instead of reading pamphlets or maps. The more you’ve prepared in advance and know what to expect, the easyier it will be for you to relax, enjoy the people instead of fearing them, and see more of what the city or town that you’re in has to offer.
Jewish Quarter in Seville Spain
Temple Prayer Booth in Chennai India
Stay at or go to as many different cities and towns as possible. Sometimes when we’re in a country, we’ll have a base camp where we do our exploring from, but we usually still add a couple of nights in different cities as well as day trips to nearby towns and attractions. Other times, we’ll spend two days in one location and then we’re off to the next. Some of the most fascinating things we’ve seen or done have happened when we’ve left the larger cities and spent time in the smaller towns.
Estapona, Spain
Stratford-upon-Avon
Respect the local customs, traditions, and religions. The greatest thing about travelling is learning about all the different people that inhabit this world. Not all of our belief systems are the same and in our opinion, the world is a better place for that diversity. So, learn about the culture of the place where you are travelling. Learn simple things such as whether certain hand gestures are offensive, what body parts should be covered, and what types of public displays of affection are allowed. We always do our homework and read up on the do’s and don’ts when visiting a country, which was something that we learned from a friend of ours who is a cultural anthropologist. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to make sure that what you do while you’re in a foreign country doesn’t offend or upset anyone’s belief system.
Blessing Elephant
Flamenco Dancers

Going to foreign countries is truly a magnificent experience, but one that is made even better if you do a few simple things that will make it that much more enjoyable. Perhaps it really is as simple as following the golden rule to do unto others as you would have them do unto you, but sometimes, when we get out of own environment, we tend to forget that it is the simple things that make everyone’s lives a little better. Hopefully, the next time you travel abroad, these simple tips will help make your trip a little better.