Learning Languages

Question: I'm interested in traveling to Europe this summer, but I don't speak any foreign languages. What should I do?

Answer: Second only to guidebooks, this question is a popular one among my students, especially those interested in traveling internationally. On two-week trip around Europe, travelers could experience multiple countries, speaking completely different languages. In most countries, the language barrier is not a problem. Why? Because everyone speaks a little English. Most businesses (usually the high-end hotels and restaurants) employ workers who speak a little English, which makes for better customer service. It's the unofficial travel language. On my first trip abroad, this was one of my biggest concerns, until I arrived with my phrasebook and didn't use it.

If you need more assurance, I suggest you purchase a good phrasebook. They're located at your bookstore near the travel department or in the reference section. I like Lonely Planet's Europe Phrasebook. It features 14 different languages, including Welsh, Maltese, Dutch, and Italian.

As I previously mentioned, you should not have problems speaking English, but I highly recommend you learn a few phrases in the local language. This is a matter of respect for the country you're visiting and a great conversation starter.

Hope this helps!

* Have a travel question? Please send an email to travelerspen@yahoo.com or leave a comment.

__________________________________
Terah Shelton
www.terahs.com
Traveler. Writer. Ingenue

Travel Question: Where to Next?

While preparing for my next trip, I wondered, where is everyone else going? With the warm weather just around the corner, what destinations are on your radar for the summer? I'm always curious about the traveling habits of other travelers, hence The Traveler Next Door.

I would love to hear about your plans, finalized or tentative. And to start, my next international trip is in March to Slovenia and Croatia for an assignment. Anyone else?

__________________________________
Terah Shelton
www.terahs.com

Traveler. Writer. Ingenue

2007 Top Destinations

Question: I'm in the process of planning our summer vacation. What are some of the top travel destinations for 2007?

Answer: Interesting question, because today, while deleting old emails in my inbox, I discovered an article on the 2007 travel trends. My opinion of these types of articles is two-fold. Being a off-the-beaten path traveler, I venture against the grain and what these articles tend to do is lead travelers to the destinations mentioned . On the other hand, they also highlight changes or new developments in cities or countries. Either way, I suggest using these destinations as an idea.

According to Frommer's, the stand-out destinations features cities from six of the seven continents. Here are a few highlights (along with my personal comments):

• Zurich, Switzerland --- I'm a bit bias on this one. I believe every city in Switzerland is a must-see. But, Switzerland's largest city enchants with churches, fountains, and great food.
• Asheville, North Carolina --- Everyone knows North Carolina's top attraction is the Outer Banks. So I was thrilled to see Asheville make the list. Mountain scenery, quirky art galleries, and hiking.
• Tokyo, Japan --- Be warned. Tokyo is not for the budget conscious. It's noted for being one of the most expensive cities in the world. But, don't let this stop you from enjoying temples, museums, and an active nightlife that rivals New York City.

Hope this helps!

* Have a question? Please send an email to travelerspen@yahoo.com or leave a comment.

Terah Shelton
Traveler. Writer. Ingenue.

Finding Unknown Destinations

Question: Where do you find off-the-beaten path outdoor destinations? I read that you recently returned from Montserrat. Where is it located and how did you hear about it?

Note: After I wrote this post, I learned the Soufriere Hills Volcano shot an ash cloud 5 miles in the air. According to the Associated Press article, recent volcanic activity began on December 24, which was my first day there. Who says traveling off-the-beaten path isn't fun?

Answer: Great question to ask. Coincidentally, I've adapted the tired and cliqued "the road less traveled" as my travel mantra. I love finding destinations void of swank hotels and fanny-pack toting tourists. There's something mystical about arriving in a country or city that's not dependent on tourism. Where the locals live comfortably without selling their inflated-price wares on street corners and your itinerary isn't filled with popular tourist attractions.

Don't misunderstand. I love picnicking at the base of the Eiffel Tower and viewing the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, but I believe there's more to a travel experience than one you share with other people. Some may argue, but I believe there's a difference between a tourist and a traveler. A tourist follows the crowd, visiting every historic attraction and recommended restaurant in their worn guidebooks. A traveler seeks raw, uncooked places, untouched by redundancy. A place where the real attraction is often hidden and buried. Montserrat is one of those places.

Twelve years ago, Montserrat was the Caribbean's little secret. The small island, located 27 miles from Antigua, once hosted celebrities Stevie Wonder, Sting, and Elton John, who frequented the island to record at the famous Air Recording Studio. Then, after 400 years of dormancy, the Soufriere Hills Volcano erupted, crushed the island's tourism industry, and sent 7,000 of the island’s 10,000 residents retreating north or abandoning the island altogether. Today, Montserrat is slowly recovering and I went to see how a destination can recover from devastation.

I first heard of Montserrat while researching a trip to Puerto Rico. I was looking for short day-trips from Puerto Rico to other Caribbean islands and came across a short blurb about it. After more research, I realize it would make a great story. So, I went.
A whopping seventy percent of Montserrat consists of mountains that yield arresting and dramatic views. Peaks enshrouded in the rain forest reach as high as 30 meters. It’s haven for off-the-grid connoisseurs who can:

* Hike the Trail to "the Cot", with views of the coast and abandoned villages in the Exclusion Zone (the southern portion of the island inhabited and illegal to enter due to volcanic activity), snaked with lush vegetation and a banana plantation

* Climb Garibaldi Hill, with 800-plus feet of elevation, for a clear view of the Soufriere Hills Volcano and the "modern-day Pompeii", Plymouth, Montserrat's former capital, now buried in volcanic dust and ash

*Tour the “eruption” and volcano monitoring with scientists from the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, the organization responsible for monitoring volcanic activity

* “Lime” the night away at one of the island’s restaurants and rum shops, where locals indulge in Montserrat delicacies of Mountain Chicken and Goat Water

Finding off-the-beaten path destinations is not difficult. In fact, they're everywhere. Take Paris for instance. Paris doesn't qualify as off-the-grid, but what else could you see or do while in Paris that no one else thinks of? Jim Morrison and a few other celebrities are buried a Paris. You could take a day-trip and explore Paris' cemeteries. A few years ago, I spent an entire day at a cemetery in St. Louis searching for William Clark's grave. Morbid? No. Different. Yes.

________________________________________

Terah Shelton

www.terahs.com

Traveler. Writer. Ingenue.