Ship to Tangiers - several ferry services cross the Straight of Gibralter from Spain to Morocco or to Ceuta which is a small part of Spain on the African continent surrounded by Moroccan land. The most common departure point is from Algeciras to Tangier. Several ferry services operate this route - a ferry leaves every 90 minutes between 7am and 10pm - and during the very high season usually in mid summer - the ferrys run 24/7. The cost is … [Read more...]
Morocco – Touts of Tangier
Touts - are best defined as those who try to solicit something out of you often in a somewhat bold and brazen manner. I will add the words "highly persistent" to this definition. Tangier is a fairly unfriendly port town - tourists coming across on the ferry from Spain may find it quite difficult to escape its clutches, especially if you are not used to dealing with aggressive touts. The closest town I can think of to compare to Tangier is … [Read more...]
Backpack Nation – February 2003
Backpack Nation founded by famed San Francisco taxi driver Brad Newsham after the events of Sept 11, 2001 in NYC. Over the years, his organization has raised significant funding which were donated to individuals, families and unique projects worldwide. For more information please visit: www.bradnewsham.com … [Read more...]
Zanzibar – Attractions
Dhows located in the surf of the beach in front of Nungwi.Stone Town is full of old buildings including many that are in a state of severe decay. This city seems like a tiny maze at times, however its difficult to get too lost - if you walk far enough you will either end up on the seafront or on Creek Road which is the outermost road in Stone Town. While in Stone Town be sure to visit the evening waterfront "fresh fish cookout." This event … [Read more...]
Bangkok, Thailand – Jewelry Shopping
Note: Sometimes a tuk-tuk or taxi driver will offer to take you to a "fancy jewelry store" on the way to your desired destination. THIS IS A SCAM. Often they will tell you they can give you a better price if they first take you to a jewelry store. If you purchase, your receipt may show a false address. In my experience I have found the "jewelry stores" that they take me to of fairly low quality, it is often a great waste of time, and lastly the … [Read more...]
Bangkok, Thailand – Other Information
Bookstores Money Travel Agency Visa Overstay Embassy Info Post Offices Mobile Phones Tropical Fruit Guidebooks Photo Printing Vaccinations 7-11 Stores Language Tailor VAT 7-11 Stores - seemingly on every block, the convenience of having so many 7-11's in the city is often much appreciated. One of our primary reasons for visiting 7-11's in Bangkok is the fact they will accept large bills for small … [Read more...]
Bangkok, Thailand – More Information
Personal References We would like to thank the following four individuals for their insights and knowledge about Bangkok and Thailand in general: Nadia K. Nongnart P. Pattira Thitimajshima SoMa There are many resources available on the Internet about travel in Bangkok & Thailand in general. Here are just a few recommended ones. Thailand is our most visited country outside of the USA so when the latest version of a new Thailand … [Read more...]
Reno, NV – Lodging
Accommodation in Reno is diverse and varied from the larger casinos to many vintage "one-star" motels - usually one or two stories and often in a state of various decay. Reno is lacking in boutique hotels. Prices for hotel rooms tend to be fairly affordable, perhaps somewhat subsidized or supported by the gambling industry. All Phone Numbers are in the 775 area code. Please also visit our Reno Casino page for additional information about … [Read more...]
Guadalajara, Mexico
This is the 3rd in a series of five travel articles written about select locations in Mexico. These select locations are Oaxaca, Manzanillo, Guadalajara, and Colima. More recently we have written an article on Xcalak, located in the Yucatan Peninsula, near the border of Belize. Guadalajara has approximately 1.5 million residents, with estimates of up to 4.5 million including the suburbs. Even with such a sizable population, I did not get the … [Read more...]
Oaxaca, Mexico
We first visited the city of Oaxaca in December, during the dry season so some of our mentions in this article may be seasonally related. For example, some of the fruits we saw in the markets are only ripe during that time of year, and some of the festivals we experienced certainly only occur during December. Oaxaca (elevation 5,084 feet, population 265,000) is located in the state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico. The Oaxaca airport offers … [Read more...]