For good or bad, people have a tendency to focus on what is coming around the next corner. Travelers tend to spend a fair amount of time researching and planning their next adventure, which can be a good thing as it can be diverting from the day to day drudgery. Thinking about the possibilities of what is coming next actually releases endorphins that makes you feel good. In that same way, dreaming about what you would do if you win the lottery actually reduces stress and makes people happier, even if they don’t win. Dreaming about your next big trip has the same effect and can be a wonderful way to make traveling a year long adventure and not just limited to the few weeks that you are actually on the road. With that in mind, for this week’s Cee’s Which Way Challenge, here a few photos to help us think about what is coming around the next corner.
Driving in IcelandBeaver Creek TrailHighway to GibraltarDriving in the AmazonRocky Mountain TrailPikes Peak Reservoir
Although they can certainly be romantic, we don’t tend to do the horse-drawn carriage rides in most of the cities that we visit. Unfortunately, often the horses are not treated well and the prices that they charge are generally not worth the experience. Sometimes you can get some interesting information about the city from the driver, but often times you can’t always trust what they are telling you. In New York City, they are considering banning the horse-drawn carriages, which has a lot of people upset, but perhaps some regulation would do the industry some good. Even though we don’t usually go on a horse-drawn carriage ride, we decided to share a couple of photos from two of our more memorable experiences. One is from our 10th wedding anniversary that we spent in Disney World and the other is from the time that we got lost in Seville, Spain. We hope that you enjoy these photos for this week’s Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge.
Our Horse-Drawn Carriage in SevilleGoing for a Ride in Disney WorldLooking Down at the CarriagesNot Much of a ViewThe Driver that Got Lost in SevilleOur Carriage in Disney World
Oddly enough, we have wanted to broach this subject ever since our return to the States. One of the things about traveling to different parts of the world is dealing with various bathrooms and the attitudes towards them. Obviously, this is a topic that make some people uncomfortable, but there are times when it is good to know what to expect before you go rather than being surprised, or perhaps even startled, once you get there.
The Spa Tub in Rome
In the United States, restrooms are usually tucked away in obscure locations, not to be seen and the expectation is that they are clean and there is an element of privacy. When spending time in Europe, you learn to let a little of your modesty go. The water closets are not usually spacious and don’t be surprised if the door opens to a full view of the bathroom with no obstruction for the guests outside. Occasionally you will have unisex bathrooms with private stalls, but a single washroom area. Since they are often retrofitted into older buildings, they are often small and awkwardly laid out. There will also sometimes be a bathroom attendant who collects tips although they rarely actually keep the area clean.
Eco Lodge in Bolivia – Looks can be Deceiving
That being said, the restrooms of Europe are nothing compared to those that you see when you travel to less modern parts of the world. Walking into a bathroom in India can lead you to the surprise that there is a hole in the ground and there is no toilet paper. There is a reason for the etiquette protocol that you don’t eat or shake hands with your left hand. We learned early on that we need to always carry tissues or a small roll of toilet paper with us when traveling places. In Bolivia, we stopped at place on our way to Lake Titicaca to use the restroom and were charged a dollar to once again for the use of a hole in the ground.
Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
This week’s Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge is Bathrooms or Outhouses, which poses a bit of a challenge since we don’t usually take photos of bathrooms. We have, occasionally, taken some pictures at the hotels where we have stayed when the bathroom has been especially nice.
