Man

Man, a photo by Tim Craig on Flickr.

TSA Complaint App

I'm not exactly sure what I think about this app. In many ways I think it is good. But I hesitate to get behind anything that doesn't allow both sides of the story - in this case, why not also allow for positive comments on how the TSA is doing their job?

Here's a Fox News story on the app: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/04/30/group-launches-app-allowing-travelers-to-file-complaints-on-tsa-screeners/
And from CNN: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/30/sikh-group-develops-app-to-report-airport-profiling/?iref=allsearch

Interesting that the CNN report has it under "Religion" and not "Travel". Then again, Fox has it under "Politics".

Here is the Sikh Coalition site: http://www.sikhcoalition.org/
And they actually have a site just for this app: http://fly-rights.org/

And here's the app for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=sikhcoalition.FlyRights&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsInNpa2hjb2FsaXRpb24uRmx5UmlnaHRzIl0.

And for iPhone: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flyrights/id499883054?ls=1&mt=8

What do YOU think about this app?

Long, Cold Days Are Coming

Well, it looks like it is going to happen!!

We are planning another family vacation!
To Alaska!!

Land of the cold and the days of 20 hours of sun.

We took our first ever cruise back in June/July of 2008. This was an anniversary vacation for mom & dad with the entire family! Yes, 13 members of the family from mom & dad (grandma & grandpa to others), to their kids and their families.

This was actually the first time cruising from everyone (if you don't count dad's cruise to pacific islands during WW2). This original vacation was also the last time the ENTIRE family was able to travel together. Out of six cruises this was also the only time we have traveled Princess.

So I find it really interesting that as we return to Alaska we will once again be traveling Princess (on the Sapphire Princess), and we will all be together again. In fact we will ever be +1 as Rachel got married and her new husband Nate (we hope!) will be able to join us.

Wow - I still owe this blog posts from that original trip (and others) - but check out my posts on Alaska (more to come as mobile posts during this next trip): http://geocruise.blogspot.com/search/label/Alaska 

So much enjoyed that first trip to Alaska, and totally looking forward to being back there again! 

Most of the family - Ketchikan, Alaska 2008

Please feel free to comment with tips or ideas for any of the stops we will be visiting.

A new twist for us. We will be doing a "cruisetour" - 1/2 cruise, 1/2 land tour.

So just where are we making stops??

Leaving out of Vancouver, BC for the cruise
Ketchikan
Juneau
Skagway (Dad's specific request as he traveled her by car many, many years ago)
Glacier Bay
College Fjord
Whittier
Then a glass-covered train to Mt. McKinley to begin the land tour.
2-days at Denali
2-days at Fairbanks
Back home to San Diego

Would love to get ideas of things to visit at any of these stops. Thanks!!

Travel Memories

Sitting having breakfast with my in-laws, who are 85 & 86 we had just gotten a brochure from Oceania that we were looking over.

Never had I ever thought that I would open up a brochure like this and be able to say we have been to five of the six places shown in the fantastic photos! What fun! We have been so lucky to visit all these fantastic places!

From this 2012 voyages brochure we have been to Rhodes, Greece; Athens, Greece; Luxor, Egypt; Cairo, Egypt and Jerusalem. The last photo was of Dubrovnik, Greece.

Hopefully we will be blessed enough to continue travels to fun, interesting and historic places around the globe.

British Isles - July 2011 - Overview Slideshow

This was a fantastic cruise on the Oceania Marina - 14 days. London to London. Took us from London (Dover) over the North Sea (MUCH smoother than an earlier crossing of the North Sea back in July 2009 that did most of us in), to Scotland, Shetland Islands, Norway, Ireland, Isle of Man, Wales and back to Dover.

Way overdue with posts & photos about the trip, but thought I'd put up this slideshow for now...

Hope to get back to this part of the world someday. So much to see and do!

10 Popular Travel Scams - via FoxNews

Saw this article and thought I'd share it out here as it has some specific scan topics of interest for various cities around the world - and just as a reminder to be extra careful while traveling. We heard about the Egypt scam while there. Luckily our tour guide had some connections, and Jen and I had a great time on two camels at the pyramids! But do beware - all over Egypt. Lots of scams and people just waiting to catch you off guard.

And that's why I'm adding to the warning. You are out traveling. Be it locally, somewhere in within your country, or out on a trip to some distant land. You are there to have fun and see new things. You mind is busy and engaged. It probably isn't thinking about the many ways someone could take advantage of a certain environment to rip you off. And that's when something happens without you knowing about it.

Be careful out there. Some countries are known to be worse than others, but you can get ripped off by a pro, or by the kid on the street corner.

FoxNews article: http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2011/08/13/10-popular-travel-scams-around-world/ 

The Wellcome Collection London (mobile)

A few exhibits at the Wellcome Collection - Dirty & Medicine Man.

Didn't really care for Dirty at all. Wacky artists and their visions of the dirty mess us humans have & will make. Just some nutty stuff in my view.

While the Medicine Man was quite interesting & I wish we had spent more time there. Some very interesting historic medical and cultural pieces.

We cut the visit short to try to make it to the National Gallery, but by the time we had made it over there on the Underground mom & dad were pretty pooped & the museums were closing in about an hour. So we just headed back to the hotel to get some packing done & rest before our final family dinner before heading back to the states.

If you get a chance, see the Medicine Man exhibit. Quite interesting.
Tomorrow AM it is back to the states.
Been a great vacation and hate to see it draw to an end.