Journeys and Adventures

I know today is St. Patrick’s Day and there are plenty of fun adventures taking place today, but today is also my birthday, so I wanted to share one of my favorite travel tips—always travel on your birthday.  For the past seven years, my boyfriend and I have traveled on each of our birthdays (mine is obviously in March and his is in November, so they’re spread apart nicely).

     As one grows older, birthdays can become awkward uneventful days; so instead of bringing cupcakes to work or planning a party for myself, I take a trip.  It gives me something to look forward to every year, helps me avoid the forced birthday wishes (and the loneliness of being at work on your “special day”), and it saves my boyfriend from having to get me a gift (he always pays for the hotel or transportation or something special as a gift).

     Take a look at your birthday (and the birthday of your significant other) and see if travel is a gift you can give yourself this year.  Even if it’s just a trip to a special inn or dinner and a show in a big city, enjoy it—the day is yours!

I have great memories from all my birthday trips:

2003: Dublin, Ireland–With a birthday on St. Patrick’s Day, where else would I go?  (See me with my friends enjoying my birthday dinner at McDonald’s?  I’m on the left.)

2004: Egypt–We did a seven-day trip that included the Red Sea and Cairo.

2005: Canary Islands, Spain–We stayed just three days, but enjoyed the sun and seafood every day.

2006: Tuscany–We stayed in a villa and explored the area with some wonderful food and wine—and a few sights, of course.

2007: Vienna, Austria–A night at the opera courtesy of my dear boyfriend.

2008: London, England–One of my favorite cities.  We were at a St. Paddy’s Day fest on the 17th, but had dinner the night before at The Square, a fantastic Michelin-starred restaurant.

2009: Edinburgh, Scotland–I’m sure we’ll be celebrating in a pub somewhere…I’ll have a pint—or two—for you!

How can you create some special birthday memories using travel?

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It’s that time of year when high schoolers and college kids start planning that all-important moment of life—Spring Break.  Families also take Spring Break as a time to get away from the snow and cold of winter and enjoy a short family vacation.  With this year’s economy, however, student budgets may not be able to afford the usual seven-day party in Mexico, Florida, or the Caribbean and families are not able to splurge on big vacations.

      Resorts, theme parks, and cruise lines are starting to develop some great Spring Break deals, though, to combat those economic woes:

• $59 package (including a free bottle of wine) at the Carmel River Inn near the beach on the Monterey peninsula in California

• 3-night cruise to Baja, Mexico from San Diego for just $149

• $27-$37 a night stays at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas

There are also deals for families taking their Spring Break vacations:

• $1375 for a week-long stay and 7-day theme park passes for a family of four at Walt Disney World

• 55% off tickets to see the musical Shrek in New York City

• $89-$99 room nights at one Parents Magazines’ top-rated family hotels, the Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club in Cape Cod

More Spring Break deals are available here for those that want to enjoy cheap travel in March and April.  Be sure to fully read through all requirements and restrictions and act fast!  Travelzoo is a great website for finding the cheapest travel deals—sign up for their e-mail newsletter to always get the best deals sent directly to you.

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The 40 days before Ash Wednesday and Lent are known as a time of celebration around the world—Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Carnaval in Brazil, and Carnevale in Venice. 

     The detailed and ornate Venetian masks are a well-known attraction for Venice’s Carnevale.  Made from a variety of materials by master mascherari, the masks and costumes worn during the celebrations have come to represent Venice’s beauty, secretive nature, and elegance.

     First mentioned as part of Carnevale in the 13th century, the masquerade masks and costumes became a way for members of different social classes mingle without issue.  Some masks are based on traditional characters (like Harlequin), while others simply come from the maskmaker’s imagination.  The traditional Venetian mask is actually a white half-mask that covers the nose or has a long beak.
     Costumes are also elaborate and usually hand-made.  Some are simply black robes while others are colorful, bright, and have many layers. 
      The masks are now widely photographed and easy to purchase at any time of the year, because in modern Carnevale, locals and visitors dress in their costumes and walk the city posing frequently for photographers.  You can purchase your own masquerade mask (although possibly not an authentic Venetian mask), like this one:

Enjoy!