transient travels

It’s that time of year when I wake up and leave my house for work in the dark and by the time I return, it’s even darker. The only bright side is I get to see the sun rise on the train each morning.

Winter in New England can be dreary, even when you come across some unexpected spring-like days like we had this week. While I’ve always been one to love having all four seasons, this time around, I’m already ready for Spring. Who knows, maybe if we had more snow I’d appreciate just how pretty a winter in New England can really be.

Until then…

How’s winter treating you?

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Also, it’s time to announce the winner of my giveaway for an Easy Canvas print. Did you think I’d forget?

Congratulations to Katelin of Pretty Sandy Feet! And thanks to everyone who commented and shared your travel photo memories with me.

One of my favorite parts of travel is being able to experience the everyday of another place because it’s different. There are cultures and rituals that aren’t my own, that strengthen my perspective. What’s more rare though, is being thrown into a time machine that takes me to a place that’s both far away and from long ago, to see the everyday of a people that make me realize, we’re not all really that different.

That was my experience at A Day in Pompeii at the Museum of Science. The exhibit was simply amazing. Bringing you back to 79 AD, the 13,000-square-foot exhibit features more than 250 artifacts from Pompeii that were discovered and pieced together by archaeologists.

On our visit, Mike and I were met by everyday items like pots and pans, a skillet, bread, artwork, jewelry and even dice for gambling. There were walls featuring graffiti that marked political opinions and even restaurant reviews – social media in its ancient form.

It was easy to look back on these artifacts and envision what life was like way back then.

But that was before we entered the most memorable part of the exhibit: the bodies of the Pompeians, preserved in their last moments of life by the scorching ash of Vesuvius.

Words can’t describe how moving this portion of the exhibit was. I had spent a good portion of my visit getting to know the Pompeians. I learned what they liked to eat, how they liked to cook their food, what they liked to hang on their walls. I related to them. The lines of time, language and country had melted away and when I saw the first preserved body, I somehow didn’t feel like I was coldly glaring a stranger.

If you’re in Boston, or will be over the next few weeks, A Day in Pompeii will be at the Museum of Science until February 12th. You should go.

Pompeii is a place that I’ve always wanted to visit, but until a plane takes me, A Day in Pompeii brought me there.

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Disclaimer: I received my ticket for this exhibit complimentary. But the views expressed here – especially my recommendation to go see this amazing exhibit yourself – are entirely true and all mine.

There was a canvas photo of me, my brother and my sister that hung over the couch in the Maine house where we vacationed as kids. We’re smiling, and a little sunburned. Whenever I see a canvas print I think of that photo and I’m back inside that little house – which once defined travel for me in a way – settling in after a long day of swimming or figure skating on the pond.

When Easy Canvas Prints contacted me to see if I wanted a new print of my own, I was excited to recreate that same feeling with a new memory. I jumped right to my honeymoon photos and chose one from our time in Tunis.

The below photo of the photo doesn’t quite do it justice, but I definitely was impressed with the quality.

And while we still don’t know where we’re hanging most of our photos in our new house, including this one, I know it will take me back, like the one in Maine, whenever I see it.

And guess what!

I’m giving away a print to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment below and tell me about a photo in your life that takes you back. I’ll also give you a second entry if you like Easy Canvas Prints on Facebook (just tell me that you did). Also, if you do decide to create your own photos on canvas, you’ll get 50 percent off and free shipping on your next order if you’ve liked their Facebook page. You can also follow them on Twitter.

I will randomly select a winner next Wednesday, January 25th.

Just one disclaimer: the winner must be a U.S. resident *excluding Hawaii and Alaska due to shipping costs.

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Easy Canvas Prints gave me the above product for free. The views expressed are entirely my own.

 Mike and I experienced some significant milestones over the last year and a half. We got married and then we bought a house. While we’re making decisions that tend to more physically ground one to a single place, to me that just means we’ll have to be even more disciplined about keeping travel at the top of the list. Yes, as we continue on our path, money will become tighter, free time will continue to be stifled, but we’ll just have to prioritize.

To me, purchasing a plane ticket will always take precedence over a designer whatever. I’ll continue to try and find a balance between work and travel, while always being open to uncovering special opportunities that will take me anywhere.

We’re on the brink of 2012, but I’m not making a list of resolutions. Instead, among all the commitments I’ve made over the last few years, I’ll simply add one more to the list. From here on out, I’ll commit myself to always being open to new experiences and adventures (no matter where), to relish the times that I can get away, and also value them as life-changing, as integral to my growth as a human and an important way to connect with the world.

To what will you commit next year?

Flying through the streets of San Salvador on a bus – that was once used to take U.S. children to school – you’ll most certainly be approached by someone trying to sell you something, anything. When I traveled to El Salvador back in December of 2008, just one time, I decided to make a purchase…

 

I still have this tiny little Christmas card, which is blank and addressed to no one, as a wonderful little reminder of my trip.

Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Happy Holidays!

 

I don’t visit a new city without tasting its beers. Beyond experiencing the local flavors, beer can teach you a lot about a place.

During our road trip through Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, we had a hard time finding a full-bodied ale until we got to Halifax. Mike and I resorted to ordering a different beer at every stop in search for something that would satisfy our thirst for strong flavor, full-body and a lot of hops.

Finally, on our first day in the city, we discovered Garrison Brewing, whose ales are all natural and preservative-free. Garrison has been around since their inaugural batch of “Irish Red Ale” in 1997. They’re young, but they know what they’re doing.

 

Propeller was another favorite. They sell all-natural, British-style ales and lagers. Mike and I discovered this hoppy brew at our hotel in Halifax -  you know, where we became best friends with Mike Holmes. It very quickly became our go-to after a long day of sightseeing.

Mike and I also experienced a whole lot of Alexander Keith’s India Pale Ale. This was our least favorite beer. It was light, very carbonated and packed no punch.

Despite our lack of preference for this particular beer, we couldn’t deny its historical and cultural relevance in Halifax. So when we had a few free hours one afternoon, we spontaneously decided to take a tour of the brewery.

The tour is led by actors in period costume who enthusiastically take you back the 18630′s to teach you about the beer, the business and the city. The tour begins with an explanation of Alexander Keith’s journey from Scotland to Halifax and the path he took to become not only the city’s largest brewer, but the mayor, multiple times.

We moved on to learn about the brewing process…

And then the tasting…

We enjoyed the tour because it offered us a bit of history and context. Next time, I definitely want to spend some more time touring my favorites.

Do you make it a point to try local beer when you travel?

I have news.

Mike and I bought a house. We spent last weekend painting, cleaning and lugging boxes – with the help of family and friends – hence my lack of activity here.

We’re not quite settled, but we’ve made a good effort. We got a Christmas Tree, which is something that I’ve been dying to have for weeks! And thanks to my favorite blog buddies - Becca, Susie, Kristen, Chelsee and Julie - we have a glitterized ornament already.

I’m also very late in announcing the winner of my On Location Tours giveaway!

Congrats to Hope of  A Handful of Dreams! I hope you enjoy your Boston Movie Mile!

It’s that time of year when travel planning, at least for me, tends to slow down simply because from here through January all of my weekends, and most weeknights, are booked. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not forgetting about travel. My girls weekend crew and I are plotting our next move and Mike and I are dreaming up our next adventure. But for now, here in Boston, getting adventurous means getting creative without getting away.

Enter On Location Tours, who recently shared news that they have acquired a movie tour in Boston. You may remember that they let me give away a Sex and the City Tour in New York a little over a year ago. If you’re not familiar, they’ll bring you straight to the scenes of your favorite movies or TV shows via a number of different tours.

In honor of their new Boston location, they’re letting me give away another round! The winner will receive two tickets to an On Location Tour of his or her choice in Boston or New York. The winner can choose from the following tours:

• Boston TV & Movie Sites
• Boston Movie Mile
• New York TV & Movie Sites
• Brooklyn TV & Movie Sites
• Central Park TV & Movie Sites
• Sex and the City Hotspots
• Gossip Girl Sites
• Sopranos Sites

The best part is the ticket certificates never expire, so the winner can redeem them at their convenience!

To enter… Just leave a comment below letting me know which tour you’d choose if you win! Remember, they never expire so if you’re not in Boston or New York, you already have your itinerary started for your next trip Also, I’ll give you an extra entry if you share your thoughts here on Facebook.

I will randomly select a winner next Monday, December 12th. Please make sure you include your email address in your comment.