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Newsletter

Early Spring 2010 

A LETTER FROM HOME
     In the depths of winter, a burst of taste from a dried cherry, softened to freshness in my hot oatmeal, jumped me back two decades to a campground in Yugoslavia, where I was visited at my tent-site by a local farmer and his son, selling freshly-picked cherries from a wicker basket. What a treat, both then and remembering it now! I went back to my journal of that European trip and relived the thrills and challenges of independent travel. I didn’t see any mention of cherry pits, but I did comment on moments of frustration and isolation being in places where I couldn’t communicate or understand what was being said. There are two reminders for me: Learn a little bit of a future destination’s language when I’m at home, and keep writing about my adventures when I’m traveling. I’m already savoring the next trip!

DESTINATION: Northeast Kingdom, Vermont
    Snow was delivered unevenly in New England this winter, leaving some back yards bare by the end of February but keeping ski trails open and lovely in back of an inn overlooking Caspian Lake in northeastern Vermont. A long weekend in this corner of New England is a great get-away during cabin fever season, not only visually beautiful but also entertaining. A restaurant in Hardwick adds creative tastes to local root vegetables; a community gathering place in Greensboro has wonderful acoustics for a music event; an arts center in St. Johnsbury serves up foreign and independent films; and the natural history museum in the same town draws visitors into the worlds of wild animals and birds within elegant Victorian architecture.
    There are other seasons to enjoy here, too. It’s almost sugaring time, when the sap from maple trees gets boiled down to a syrup, poured onto snow, and eaten like candy on a fork. The gathering, the smells of wood smoke, and the sights and sounds of the coming spring are as much a part of the experience as the sweet maple taste of sugar-on-snow. Catch it if you can! See www.travelthekingdom.com or get in touch with Earth Routes for more information.

FEATURED TRIP PLAN: Vacation with adventure and rest
    It may be time for a vacation rather than a trip! This plan includes options for exploring and having adventures, and puts you in a friendly place where you’ll be well looked after on the few nights you aren’t in a home of your own. Any traveling companion who needs more rest and relaxation can soak it up, while adventure-seekers can get daily doses of excitement and still be back at your home base to tell the tale at supper time. Ideally, you’ll set a pace to satisfy everyone’s needs and spend some fun time together. getaways.
    The destination for this plan is Costa Rica, where there are plenty of activities, natural wonders, warm weather, and welcoming hosts. Variations on this itinerary abound – ask Earth Routes!
    Day 1 – Arrive at San José airport. Transfer to a nearby guesthouse or small hotel, following your hosts’ directions.
    Day 2 – Breakfast and conversation with hosts. Ride with hired driver/guide to Lake Arenal area, stopping for lunch in a village on the way. Go on a guided walk, or kayak on the lake. View Arenal Volcano in the evening! Overnight at eco-lodge or inn.
    Day 3 – Breakfast with views of lake and mountain. Get a ride to town; take a bus to the Nicoya Peninsula coast. Rent a car for local touring. Continue to hotel or vacation rental.
    Day 4 – Awaken to the roars of howler monkeys! Your choice: get up early to watch for birds, or sleep in and enjoy being on vacation in a warm place. On your own time schedule, walk along a nearby beach or on a nature reserve trail. Take a guided kayak tour along a river. Walk to town for groceries if you’re putting together any meals; sample local café fare and shop for crafts.
    Days 5-9 – Beaching, shelling, snorkeling, birding, nature watching, forest walks, surfing lessons, canopy tour, yoga class, butterfly garden visit. Drive to a mountain trail and explore a nearby town. Eat at local restaurants. Imagine living here! Spend as much time as you want just relaxing.
    Day 10 – Drive to town to return rental car. Take a bus or hire a driver to get back to the airport area. (Let an experienced Costa Rican driver handle the highway stress!) Overnight at the same place as on your first night or sample a different family-run hotel.
    Day 11 – Early morning flight home. Write about your experience so you can re-live it next winter!

GREEN LODGING: Chalalan Lodge, Bolivia
     Tucked away in the heart of Madidi National Park in the Bolivian Amazon jungle is a project that has won the Equator Prize for community development and poverty reduction. The Quechua people of the area came together in the 1990’s to build an ecolodge that would provide a sustainable livelihood for their community and replace damaging logging practices. They now offer beds for 28 visitors in comfortable cabins made of local materials, and a restaurant with local foods. They provide guided walks and boat rides to explore the rainforest, with bi-lingual guides trained in explaining the ecology of Madidi Park, which is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.
     The lodge is a 5-hour motorboat ride from the town of Rurrenabaque, which is 50 minutes by air or 18 hours by land from the Bolivian capital of La Paz – a memorable journey as well as an exciting destination. See more at www.chalalan.com or ask Earth Routes for further information.  

TRAVEL TIP: Check baggage rules before packing
    There have been several changes in airline baggage regulations since the beginning of 2010. Airlines have increased fees for checked bags and are tightening up on size restrictions for both checked and carry-on baggage. On some flights departing from Europe only one carry-on bag is allowed, including a handbag or other personal item. Canada’s extra restrictions on carry-ons were removed in mid-January, but security screening has been enhanced. It’s likely that security screening will take more time, as travelers will need to adjust to these new arrangements, so plan on allowing more time than you think you need! Also, check with your airline for the baggage fees that were in effect when you purchased your ticket.

FEATURED GREEN TIP: Stay in lodgings that use resources wisely
    The lodging industry has a dramatic impact on water supplies, electricity use, and the transporting of construction materials and other supplies in any location that hosts visitors. By reducing and conserving, any hotel, inn, or guesthouse can make a significant contribution to helping the planet survive and flourish. Travelers play an important role in supporting places that are making these efforts.
    Conservation of water and electricity, use of renewable energy, and the practicing the 4 R's (reduce, re-use, recycle, and reclaim materials) are ways that lodgings can help the environment. Learn about these efforts before you make your reservations, and you can be enjoying a stay at a solar-powered lodge, a remodeled barn B&B, a hotel that composts its restaurant wastes and has a chem-free lawn and garden, or a tropical resort constructed of sustainably-harvested wood and locally-grown thatch. Contact Earth Routes for suggestions!

VOLUNTEER SERVICE TRIP: Help care for the children of the world
    There are catastrophes that need a response from trained professionals, but the victims of the ongoing crises of poverty, homelessness, and large orphaned populations also need a simple and vital connection with a caring person. If you are looking to go beyond a financial contribution and offer your service, there are several places where the Global Volunteers organization can use your help.
     Global Volunteers works with host partners in orphanages, child-care centers, and schools in China, India, Romania, Peru, Ecuador, and several other locations. For 1 to 3 weeks, you can join a program and tutor, play with, or simply hold these at-risk children and provide individual attention. The program fees cover your food and lodging, medical evacuation insurance, and support to maintain the program. There are several teams of volunteers arranged for each project, so you have a choice of dates and the children served have continued support.
     A participant from Canada says it well:
     "These children are going to grow up to be the teachers and governors and the police of their country. They're going to live in and have an impact on the same world my grandchildren will have to live in. I want that world to be a good world. Some told me that I would have done more good by sending the money I spent on the trip directly to Romania. I don't think much of it would have filtered down to the children who need it most. But I do think the kids (in Tutova) that we worked with will remember for the rest of their lives that they were hugged."
     View details about these and other types of volunteer projects at www.globalvolunteers.org or contact Earth Routes for more information.

TRAVEL TIP: Book a smoke-free rental car!
    At least two rental car fleets have gone smoke-free this year! It should be noticeable that every car from Dollar or Thrifty is now free of the odor of cigarettes and cigars. A new inspection process is in place, and cleaning fees will be assessed if a vehicle is returned and it smells of smoke or if ashes are found. Breathe easier, and ask other car rental companies to follow suit
!


                           Wishing you green trails and clear horizons -
                                                         Jan Carpenter