Hola from Barcelona!

Wow, it’s hard not to make the title sound like a ‘wish you were here’ postcard  

So, it’s day three here in Spain (or four, it’s all running together), and this is the best work week I think I’ve ever had.   Landed at 7am on Saturday and got to our hotel to find it wasn’t ready, so we all ditched our stuff and, because this was really our only free time in Barcelona, (screw the jet lag!) hopped on the hop on hop off bus touristic for an overview of the city.  Saw all the main sights, Montjuic, the Port Olympic, Colom, Barri Gotic, etc, but honestly it will be easier to remember once I’ve had the pics developed because i’d been up for more than 24 hours at that point.  The goal was to stay awake to get onto local time and, with the help of caffine and lots of aimless walks down the Ramblas, I made it until 11pm before I crashed. 

So far I’m really loving this city.  Staying at the beautiful Catalonia Duques du Bergara hotel beside the Placa Catalonya, it’s a perfect location with great ambiance and an incredible amount of marble.  Barcelona is a city for wandering, and eventhough I’m a total Spanish newbie, I feel totally comfortable here.   The first vibe you get from a city makes a huge impact, and this one is great. 

Yesterday we started the working part, touring the Norwegian Gem and Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas cruise ships.  Really impressed with the Voyager, if I sailed that’s the one personally I would choose.  Loved the central shopping promenade, it looked just like a mall.  The Gem was good, but most people found the gaudy coulour scheme jarring.  I loved it, but then again I am twenty years younger than most of my co workers and I my tastes are a bit out there on a normal day!

Got finished with work about dinner time and wandered back up Las Ramblas,  finding the coolest bar on the planet along the way, right by the wax museum.  I think it was called el bosc de les fades, or the magical forest, but I’ll double check my Spanish later.  It was filled with trees, even coming out from the table centers, the bar was all carved out of fake rock and there was a blue grotto waterfall/fountain in one area.  I have never been in a more family-friendly bar in my life.  It was so funny watching everyone’s faces as they walked in,  looked around in wonder and then started taking pictures.

The metro here, and in any city, is a thing of beauty and for 1.35 Euro we were at the incredible La Sagrada Famillia cathedral in less than ten minutes.  Grabbed a nice German tapas (meatballs, beer rings, wurst and pizza, I don’t get it either, but it was good) dinner on the Place du Gaudi, seated at one of the sidewalk people-watching tables.  It was a great location for under $12 a person, drinks included.  Saw the lights of the cathedral go on at 10pm, and it was cooler than I could have imagined.  I mean, really, what was that guy on when he designed it?  There amongst the prerequisite saints and  angels there are carved frogs and a christmas tree covered in doves and a pile of oranges.  WTF ?  But most importantly, now I feel I’m truly in Barcelona, now that I have seen the one place more than any other that differentiates this city from any other.

Loving this city so far.  I’m not actually going to see any of it today as I have 12 hotels to tour (oh my god! This one has a sink too!), but a job is a job.  I wanted to get a bit of an overview posted, but hopefully I’ll get to blog tonight about all the cool little things that have happened, like the naked bike people with the pool noodles….

Tags: Barcelona, BlogSherpa, cathedral, city tour, cruise, hop on hop off bus, hotels, public transportation

WTF?!! Weird questions I’ve been asked at work

             Today a friend of mine asked me what the strangest thing I’ve ever been asked at work, and that got me thinking.  The first thing that came to mind was the trio of early-twenties guys who wanted me to request that the cruise line seat them at the same dinner table as “young hot girls, not old people” (not guaranteed, but the reservations agent at Royal Caribbean was laughing her ass off).  Or the guy who wanted me to fake a reciept so that his wife wouldn’t accidentally see he was taking his mistress with him to Disneyland (of all places.  Really?  Nothing turns people on like a giant mouse, apparently).  Didn’t do that one.  Minor legal reasons.

               Then it came to me:  To find a non-smoking city in Europe.

              Yep, I said city.  As in whole freakin’ place.  That’s like finding a cow with air brakes, it just ain’t gonna happen.  This is Europe, people.  Everyone smokes.   Infants come out of the womb with a filter tip and a Bic.  A client of mine even picked where to eat dinner by how much smoke was spilling out the door, because if there was lots, it was a popular place and the food had to be good! 

               Once I got past the “wow, did that make sense in your head before you said it out loud?” factor,  I found a non-smoking hotel and an Irish town (you’d think after all that I’d remember what it was called, but I don’t) that banned indoor smoking.  Afterwards the clients had no complaints, but it’s been years and I’m still shaking my head at that one.

             Ah, well, it could have been worse, like the time I lost a client…

Tags: BlogSherpa, cruise, travel agent, weird

Southern California so much fun!

            As a long-overdue Girl’s Week Out this past January/February my Mom and I vacationed in Southern California, seeking sun, sand and surf.  We were hoping for pure fun and boy, did we find it.  Not ones to lie on the beach all day, we packed our trip with all the stereotypical tourist haunts, beginning in San Diego.

            There we took in the exotic San Diego Wild Animal Park; admired the stunning views (and gale force winds) from Cabrillo Point, where Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo discovered San Diego in 1542; saw hunky lifeguards, low-flying military planes and the famous Hotel Del Coranado; and shopped for souvenirs in the tourist-oriented Seaport Village.

            From there we drove up the Pacific Coast Highway to Anaheim.  As a Christmas gift I had given Mom a Beach Boys CD, thinking that it would put us in the sunny California mindset.  No one could have guessed how perfect it turned out to be.  With songs such as “Surfin’ USA” and “Surfin’ Safari” we were driving through places such as La Jolla, Huntington and Redondo Beach when they were mentioned in the songs!

            Our final destination was, of course, Disneyland and it’s sister park, the California Adventure.  We couldn’t travel all that way without spending some time with the Mouse.

            Undoubtedly, the winter is the best time to visit the parks, with lineups so nonexistent that you could finish one ride, walk back around to the beginning and get right back on it again.  And the best part was that there weren’t millions of kids there.  Sure, there were plenty of toddlers and some older ones (those that we met hailing mainly from Australia on their summer vacation), but there were tons of child-free adults, too.

            We’d thought that we’d stick out, being two adults who couldn’t claim that “we’re only here for our kids”, but we were far from alone.  Couples, honeymooners and groups ranging from their 20’s to their 80’s were running from ride to ride, just as eagerly as the preschoolers.  How can you not be happy in a place where everyone – staff and guests- have permanent joyful grins on their faces?

            Our trip was exhausting, busy and full of all the tacky tourist stuff: absolutely perfect.  The people were all unbelievably nice and happy to talk or take a picture, and the sky was endless blue.  Coming home was hard, and both of us would go back in a heartbeat.

- As originally published in the Vancouver Province

Tags: Anaheim, beach, BlogSherpa, Disneyland, published, San Diego, Seaworld, sun, theme park, zoo

Las Vegas Baby!

               “What the heck are we doing here? It’s nothing but sand” was my first impression as the pilot announced final approach into Las Vegas this past fourth of July.  Then suddenly there she was, rising out of the heat waves like a miniature Egypt…no, Paris…no, Italy…no, Camelot.  The hotels should give passport stamps to go with their wonderfully tacky souvenirs.  As a Vegas beginner, the city comes at you like an adult Disneyland, all bright and flashy and promising to make dreams come true.

We were staying at the Excalibur, and were lucky enough to get one of the newly renovated rooms (read: tasteful décor and a massive flatscreen TV – that we never figured out how to operate, but it wasn’t like we were in the room long enough anyhow).  Already we had learned the first rule of Vegas: everyone’s looking to get rich, including all the taxi drivers who delight in taking the “fast way” which happens to cost double.

                 For two Canadian girls, the heat hit us like a blanket you can’t shrug off. Mid-afternoon we prayed for the wind to stop as it was hotter than the ambient air temp, and the sun setting didn’t provide much relief, because then the baked pavement released it’s stored heat, turning the whole Strip into a shoe-softening hot plate. On the 6th we were lucky enough to get the hottest day of the year, a blistering 125 degrees (according to our Gondolier at the Venetian) that would have been unbearable had there been any humidity.

            And the hotels lived up to their reputations.  Our favorite was the spectacular Venetian and the Paris flowed close behind, both in terms of great themes and overall photogenic-ness.  The Bellagio and Cesar’s Palace are beautifully over the top, and the Luxor’s playful Egyptian carnival was a lot of fun.   We managed to talk our way up the inclinators (diagonal elevators) ascending the walls of the giant pyramid and get memorable views over the casino and mock ancient city below. 

            If you’re not lucky enough to win the jackpot (as we were), you learn rule #2: Vegas is expensive.  Between the $4 bottles of water, $10 average fast food meal and souvenirs, our money went faster than if a slot machine had eaten it.  But there is hope, as the free dancing fountains at the Bellagio were spectacular, the volcano eruption at the Mirage was cool and the cheesy Pussycat Dolls-meets-Chippendales Sirens of TI show was fun to laugh at.  At both the Showcase Mall and Hawaiian Marketplace there were also half price ticket booths where you could snag great same-day tickets to many of the big-name shows for a steal.

            All told, Vegas wasn’t the “adult playground” I’d expected, much more tongue-in-cheek, a city that seemed to go out of it’s way to make fun of itself.  No matter how much you see, you will always leave with a list of things you missed or, as I like to put it, “saved for the next trip”.

- As originally published in the Vancouver Province

Tags: BlogSherpa, hot, hotels, Las Vegas, money, public transportation, published, sun

Hong Kong highlight: Ocean Park

               They rose like bubbles over the South China Sea, floating through the mist before disappearing behind the mountain.  I knew they were safe, transporting millions of visitors from the Lowlands section of Hong Kong’s Ocean Park up to the Headlands every year, but the gondolas just looked so fragile, clinging to the rock faces and rocking in the wind.  Once inside, though, the incredible view of Repulse Bay made this simple people-mover the best ride in the park.

I had to wonder what was it about this near-vertical chunk of rock that made the builders think it would be the perfect place for a theme park?  At first glance the topography didn’t seem suited to anything except mountain goats.  But it makes for a surprise around every corner, as you can’t see how high that roller coaster/how big that aquarium really is until you’re actually there.

The reason we had come to Ocean Park was so my Panda-obsessed friend could gawk to her heart’s content at four of the big, furry beauties, two of which had just arrived from mainland China, gifts celebrating the 10^th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return from English rule.  Normally solitary animals, the two newcomers were in the same enclosure and it was so cute to watch them sitting together, playfully fighting over the choice bamboo, their little black Shrek-like ears wiggling with every chew.

Another highlight was the Sea Jelly Spectacular, so popular with the locals that its lineup was just as long as the roller coaster’s.  The pitch-darkness, combined with  coloured neon lights and floor to ceiling mirrors gave the aquarium a “carnival fun house” atmosphere.  You practically have to feel your way through, and the strategically-placed mirrors made it look like there were hundreds of jellies (some more than six feet long) completely surrounding you.  They weren’t kidding about the “spectacular” part!

Part amusement park, part zoo, part aquarium, and all with incredible views, Ocean Park is not your typical theme park.  When you want to escape the hustle and bustle of this chaotic and congested city, all you have to do is climb into your bubble and let it transport you away.      

 - As originally published in the Vancouver Province

Tags: BlogSherpa, China, gondolas, Hong Kong, jellyfish, Ocean Park, pandas, published, theme parks

Finding Pura Vida in Costa Rica

              I admit it, I’m a city traveler.  London, Paris, Los Angeles, I love the hustle and bustle, and as long as there’s a gift shop I’m happy.  So, for me a twelve day vacation to Costa Rica was my test, to see if I could break free of my department store box and truly embrace what the local Ticos call Pura Vida, the Pure Life.

Within hours of landing in the capital of San Jose I was whisked off by minibus to the small but charming city of La Fortuna, at the foot of the active Arenal Volcano, four hours away.  The entire country feels vertical, and my ears popped every half hour as we drove up, down and up again the tiny one lane roads that cling to the hillsides like mountain goats. From here day-long canyoning, hiking and ATV tours are all at your disposal, but I selected a SkyTrek zipline canopy tour.  During a torrential rainstorm I flew along quarter-round steel cables as much as 660ft above the jungle below, suspended by nothing but my harness, while trading grunts with a troupe of howler monkeys.  It was incredible!  I couldn’t get the smile off my face for days.

After a few days there, it was time to move on to the Monteverde cloud forest.  Here the roads are not only vertical, but unpaved, and a drive that looks tiny on a map can take hours.  It gives you a bit of an Indiana Jones complex, and only serves to add to the adventure.  Rain here sneaks up on you, and in a matter of seconds a flawless sunny day can become a downpour, turning all the roads into muddy slip-n-slides with potholes the size of VW beetles.  The hanging bridges are not to be missed, and the hummingbird garden at the Selvatura park has dozens of species buzzing past only inches from your head.

The town of Quepos and the famed Manuel Antonio national park were my third stop, with postcard-perfect views and a relaxed beachy atmosphere.  By far the hottest and most touristy of all the cities, the park is the whole reason to stop here and is well worth it.  Our guide hauled a four-foot telescope the entire hike just to give us the best views of the two-and-three toed sloths, monkeys, birds and even a banded anteater that his well-trained eyes could (unbelievably) spot. The Rainmaker adventure forest, with it’s 190 ft high suspension bridges, is so much more fun than it looked on the Amazing Race: Family Edition, and a mangrove tour got us so close to a troupe of wild whitefaced capuchin monkeys that at one point they even jumped on the roof of our boat!  Leaving there was hard, and after a few final days in San Jose to see the stunning Teatro National and the Gold Museum (and shop), it was back to reality. 

Costa Rica surprised me in many ways, from the diverse climates to the awesome animals, but most of all the incredibly welcoming people.  It leaves you with the warm glow of adrenaline-and-sun fueled enjoyment, combined with the faint scent of coffee. Pura Vida.

- As originally published in the Vancouver Province

Tags: BlogSherpa, city tour, Costa Rica, monkeys, museum, national park, published, rainstorms, volcano, zipline

Chiang Mai – Ele-fun with Elephants

           “In Thailand you must ride elephants” advised my Lonely Planet, so I found myself in a squeaky minivan on a cloudless January morning driving through the outskirts of Chiang Mai towards the Maetamann Nature Camp.     

            We arrived just in time to see 12 of the camp’s 57 adopted pachyderms frolicking in the river, squirting and splashing and getting a good scrubdown from their mahouts (trainers).  Coming to Thailand I had been concerned about the welfare of the elephants,  having seen the TV exposes, but any worries I had were washed away as, after their baths, the elephants strolled past, free of any chains, whips or even fences.  The performance that followed was like Superdogs at the PNE, where verbal or practically invisible foot commands highlighted the elephants’ dexterity and intelligence as they moved logs, kicked soccer balls and marched in formations.

            A table sold bundles of sugar cane and bananas for 20 baht (60 cents CAD), and during the art portion of the show (where a baby elephant actually painted a detailed picture of an elephant holding a flower – if I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t have believed a trunk could make such intricate movements) my friend bought some.  It took seconds for the baby to spot the treats, and each time he gave his brush to his mahout for reloading he slyly peeked our direction through long eyelashes to make sure they were still there.  It was love at first sight.  As soon as the painting was completed, the baby elephant, like a kid on Christmas morning, looked to his mahout for permission and when he got a nod he rushed right over to us, trunk extended.  Though it was a crowded amphitheatre, for the few minutes it took for him to enjoy his sugar cane, everyone else ceased to exist and he was ours.

            Then the show was over and he was gone, but the disappointment was short lived as, after an oxcart ride to a nearby village, we got an elephant ride back to the camp.  The scenery was postcard perfect, lush and unspoiled as we sauntered along the sparking river (or, in our case, through the river, as our elephant decided it was too hot to follow the path like everyone else)!  En route we stopped at a lifeguard tower-esque booth and bought some bananas.  As we wandered away (periodically placing a banana in the trunk, like feeding quarters into an arcade game) I realized: we’d just gone through a drive-through on an elephant!    

            All too soon it was time to go, but the memories are priceless and evoke an excited buzz in me every time I think back.  The perfect day in Chiang Mai.  I’m so glad I listened to my guidebook!

Tags: BlogSherpa, camp, Chiang Mai, elephants, oxcart, sun, Thailand

Bangkok – Wat a great place

             I had read that Thai hospitality was legendary, but I never expected to be greeted by the King as I landed at Bangkok’s new Suvarnabhumi airport.  Or, more specifically, a giant banner of him, accompanied by the words “Long Live the King.”  I took it as a sign of good things to come, and over the next five days, the city did not disappoint.

            This is a city of sensory overload.  Seven million people and at least five million motorbikes meant the chaotic energy of daily life was inescapable.  It was not unusual to see three or four people, some in full high-heeled business attire, with a child or a dog in their lap, squeezed onto one bike as it wove through traffic.  Even the peaceful Wats (temples) could make your head spin with all their intricate detailing.  Every inch was painted, gold leafed or sculpted to perfection, and just as I took one picture another caught my eye. 

            My personal favourite, and one of the main reasons I wanted to come to Bangkok in the first place, was Wat Po, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha.  I had caught a glimpse of the giant golden deity on TV my freshman year in college and had been fascinated by it ever since, but standing in the narrow building, staring up at a face the size of a Volkswagon, I was wowed.  Buddha was so peaceful entering Nirvana.  I had no concept of how big 140 feet long and 50 feet tall truly was until I saw regular-sized tourists looking like the Lilliputians from Gulliver’s Travels. 

            As if the massive gold leafed body was not enough, the soles of the huge feet were painstakingly incrusted with mother-of-pearl, depicting the 108 auspicious signs of the Buddha.  And toe prints!  Keeping with the theme, 108 bronze bowls were lined up along the back of the statue, and for a small donation you could buy dishes of 1-satang coins that, when one coin is dropped in each bowl, is said to bring good luck and karma.  That was an offer I couldn’t resist, the satisfying “ping!” of each coin hitting the bowl echoing through the building.

            All donations went towards the upkeep of the beautiful Wat, and the friendly resident Monks were also selling terracotta tiles that you could write a personalized message on, and which would then be used to re-tile the roof.  It cost pennies, but the knowledge that a small piece of me would remain at Wat Po for years to come was priceless.  If I had my way, I would have stayed at Wat Po for years to come!

            As I exited the Wat there was another banner of the King smiling down at me, as if to say “I told you it was going to be good.”   Was he ever right.

Tags: 108 coin ritual, Bangkok, BlogSherpa, King, monks, public transportation, published, Reclining Buddha, temples

Off to Spain!

Woo-hoo!  I’m leaving Friday for a business trip to Barcelona and the Costa Dorada in Spain (I know, I’m working sooo hard!)  It’ll be a lot of busy days, but who cares, I’ll be in Spain!  This is when I love my job (travel agent – or, as I like to call it, facilitator of all things good and wonderful) more than anything.  I can stand getting up at five am daily and touring thirty hotels in exchange for a few days shopping on Las Ramblas and sunning on the Costa.  Maybe I’ll even get a tan and people will stop asking me if I feel all right (I swear, I really am that pale.  I live in Vancouver, what can I say? Think great white north).  Still in the frantic packing stage, with visions of Gaudi architecture, flamenco and tapas dancing in my head, but I’m totally counting down the seconds until takeoff.  How do they expect me to focus on work tomorrow?  The camera’s charging as we speak, and I’ll have details up soon

Tags: BlogSherpa, Spain, travel agent