A HUNDRED YEARS OF CONTROVERSY MARKED AT THE NORTH POLE
©John Weller courtesy Quark ExpeditionsStunning vistas of ice and snow and rare wildlife highlight Quark Expeditions’ fifteen-day journey to the North Pole in July 2009
A century has passed since the first men claimed to have reached the North Pole. The validity of the claims of Americans Robert Peary and Matthew Henson continue to generate controversy. There is one incontrovertible truth, Quark Expeditions, leading innovators and operators of expedition cruises to Polar Regions, will once again journey to the top of the world with 128 intrepid travelers. From July 9 to July 23rd, the icebreaker, 50 Years of Victory, the world’s largest and most sophisticated nuclear-powered icebreaker, will crush its way through Arctic pack ice to the “North Pole.” Travelers will be accompanied by an Quark Expedition’s outstanding team of lecturers and naturalists.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
My sister is on the hunt for affordable vacation lodging this summer in/around Somerset, England, and asked me to put together a list of websites that could help.
Here’s my shortlist. But I’m sure you know lots more. So, come on, let’s get her a house!
VRBO.com (Vacation Rental by Owner)
Caretaker.org (Caretaker Gazette)
Homebase-Hols.com (Home Base Holidays)
Lonely Planet Thorn Tree Forum (House sitting & swaps)
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Check out this Canadian twist on city-slicker couples therapy…
Kick-start your relationship with a weekend at Elkin Creek Guest Ranch Couples Bootcamp (September 24 - 27, 2009), cowboy certified to help couples reconnect and ride off into the romantic sunset.
Designed to rekindle romance, encourage teamwork and add in a taste of unexpected adventure, the Couples Bootcamp promises to whip any hum-drum relationship back into shape. The 3-night package is priced at $675.00 USD (based on a 1.22 exchange rate) per person and includes three nights of luxurious accommodation, gourmet meals, and the Elkin Creek Guest Ranch’s complete Couples Bootcamp program and activities.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
According to the Economist Intelligence Survey’s latest Worldwide Cost of Living, London is now officially cheaper than New York. The survey found that, for the first time since 2002, London is more affordable to inhabit and visit. The survey compares prices and products in 140 worldwide cities; New York ranks No. 23, while London ranks No. 27. Weakening exchange rates and the gaining strength of the dollar have contributed. London is approximately 25 percent cheaper to visit now than at the same time last year. Read more about London here.
Source: Global Traveler
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Vacation in Maui: Surf, Yoga, Wellness with your VALENTINE
Another Valentine’s Day and with a busy year and a lot going on, it’s sometimes easy to forget the ones that we love the most. Isn’t it? Tired of the same old chocolates and roses? Looking for something that is REALLY special for your girlfriend, fiancee, wife or husband this year. It’s called SwellCo-ed and it’s located on the romantic island of Maui.
Looking for the antidote for leaving it all behind to rejuvenate for a week with your partner? A chance for you and your partner to get healthy and fit together? How does improving your well-being while bonding with your partner sound?
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
THE REAL THING AT THE MERRION
The Merrion in Dublin is the perfect backdrop for all things romantic in the heart of a city where none other than St. Valentine found his final resting place. Created within four Georgian townhouses, one of which was the birthplace of the Duke of Wellington, The Merrion has intimate drawing rooms, working fireplaces, a very private 18th-century style garden, an extensive art collection and a two-Michelin star restaurant. Three weekend escapes lead the way to romance:
Real Love: Looking to rekindle that flame? The Merrion has partnered with The Gate Theatre to offer guests the best seats in the house for the forthcoming production The Real Thing - “a play which reminds you why you go to the theater and why you fall in love, and why, just sometimes, it is all worth the effort.” The Real Thing was written by Tom Stoppard, one of the giants of modern playwriting. His razor-sharp wit burns with passion in this tender and poignant semi-autobiographical play of marital manoeuvring and the mysteries of love, commitment and authenticity. Real Love at The Merrion includes two tickets to see the production, overnight accommodation, full Irish breakfast in bed, a bottle of chilled rosé champagne, Valentine’s chocolates and a Champagne Afternoon Tea served in one of The Merrion’s log fired, cozy Drawing Rooms. Available from February 13 to 15, 2009 and priced at €515 (approximately $714), per couple, per night.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".