RSS Feeds, A Review

For this blog, I chose five RSS feeds.

NY Times City Section – Since I live here, it’s important to know what’s going on. One of my favorite columns is F.Y.I. where readers ask quirky questions about the city and get answers to them.

NY Times Travel Section – I love popping over here to check out destinations, especially their “36 Hours In” column. Whether it’s a transatlantic voyage or a trip up to Maine to visit relatives, there’s nothing like getting out of your realm and exploring.

Fodors – The real treat of this site is the forum. I’ve learned about so many things going on in my own city. IMHO though, some of the posters over in the France section are uptight holier-than-thou parade rainers who assume that you’re a sell out if you dare to visit the Eiffel Tower. Tread lightly!

The Traveler’s Lunchbox – I discovered this site a few year’s back and it’s really progressed. I love it for the recipes. The links to all the other blogs is pure food porn.  Try the avocado milkshake. I promise, you won’t regret it!

The Elephant Nature Park – Let’s get one thing straight – Elephant’s don’t paint!! They are abused in order to do all those tricks we see them perform. If you don’t believe me, do a search on the word “pujan”. It’s so brutal I refuse to provide a link. The next time you see oh-so-cute footage of elephants doing tricks, look in the background at what the trainer is holding in his hands – a bull hook to remind the elephant that any shenanigans, they get beat about the ears and feet. The woman who established and runs this organization works tirelessly for the protection of elephants in Thailand and allover the world. A minor contribution can provide health care for her brood and for the elephants she can’t protect but whose owners are kind enough to bring them to her for some R&R.

Postcards (and Shot Glasses) From the Edge

Souvenirs, or as my mother calls them “silvanears”, are a integral part of our travels. The list includes, but is not limited to; postcards, magnets, t-shirts, and shot glasses. Whatever a person’s choice, these items form a deeply personal connection to one’s memories of the places they have visited.

I was reading this article on Fodor’s website. It asked the reader what kind of souvenir shopper they were and I really had to stop a moment and think about it. To be honest, I don’t really know what kind of collector I am. My choices can’t be pinpointed to a specific pattern. Aside from postcards, which I must have from every place I visit, my preferences can run from tacky tourist (mini Dutch wooden shoes) to classic (a great blazer found at a thrift shop).

So, I have to ask the question. What kind of souvenir shopper are you?

Bruges On My Mind

A few weeks ago, I rented In Bruges. Aside from the fact that it’s a really good movie, I had such a difficult time watching it. The reason? Bruges. This city, in the country of Belgium, acted as a co-star of the film, but clearly was the star of the show. The town council allowed the film crew full access to almost all of it’s sites. Bruges is probably one of the most stunningly beautiful cities in Western Europe. Frozen in time, it became a popular tourist destination around the time the city could take heed and preserve it’s Flemish past, while allowing the residents to live in the present.

I first discovered Bruges by accident. Back in 2006, while planning an itinerary for a trip to The Netherlands, I felt as if something were missing. I needed another country, but only for a few days. Searching around, I found my answer. Beautiful, compact, and walkable; Bruges seemed perfect. I took the train there from Amsterdam, the countryside changing before my eyes, assuring myself I was going to like this place. I wasn’t disappointed. I was only able to spend two days, but it felt like a lifetime. I fell in love with the architecture, the history, and the people.

After the movie was over, I immediately began to browse through my photo album, comparing what I’d just seen on screen to the places I had visited while there. Imagine my surprise when only a few days later, an article would appear in the NY Times about the Beguinages all around Belgium, which would further catapult me back two years when I first laid eyes on this gorgeous city.

In Bruges. In my heart and soul, this city will always be.

A Work in Progress

The SlamminGiraffe has gone live!

I’ve spent most of my time trawling through several pages of WordPress themes hoping to find a template that provides the right fit. Picky me. I still don’t know if I’ll stay with this look, but it’ll work for now.