Saturday Photo Friday #3

It would be far too easy and far less entertaining if I just came out and told you the story behind this photo:

I’d rather hear what you think.  Where was this photograph taken?  Whose door is it?  After five outrageously good guesses from the peanut gallery, I’ll still your curiosity and share the true-life traveler tale.  So give it a shot and get commenting!

Link to this week’s other Photo Friday images here.

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Welcome to the Carnival of Cities!

Welcome travelers!  I’m happy to be hosting the Carnival of Cities this week.  If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you should appreciate the variety of locations included in this weekly carnival; if you’re a follower of the carnival, welcome to my blog on no-budget travel and feel free to poke around!

Now, without further ado . . .

If planning a weekend trip to Canada, you’ll want to stop by Go Green Travel Green‘s post Vancouver in 2 (Eco-Friendly) Days at Go Green Travel Green.

Heading south to California with Fido? Nancy Brown presents Upscale and Affordable Dog-Friendly Lodging in Mendocino County posted at What a Trip, saying, “Welcome to my new website! Less Than a Shoestring readers will appreciate the budget minded and dog friendly Fort Bragg recommendations, as well as the insider tip on a FREE off leash dog beach in Mendocino County.”

Another California destination — Half Moon Bay, to be exact — is presented by the baglady in Expensive cars are unnecessary for a good time – The Baglady’s 1st Anniversary Trip posted at xynny.

Looking for a cheap hotel in Chicago?  You can’t believe everything you read on the internet says Neil in B.Y.O.F. posted at Your Mileage May Vary, saying, “Some shoestrings are stringier than others…”

Hopping the Atlantic to Europe, I’ve got a post on what to see on a quick layover in Berlin in my post Two Hours in . . . Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Part II here at Less Than a Shoestring.

A train ride eastward brings us to Caitlin Fitzsimmons’ Photo Friday: Jewish Krakow posted at Roaming Tales, saying, “The Jewish quarter in Krakow still persists but it’s a shadow of its pre-World War II self. The Jewish Cemetery is a poignant reminder of what’s lost.”

Down on the Mediterranean, Jason Green presents The other side of Croatia – Pula « Europe a la Carte Blog posted at Europe A La Carte Blog, saying, “The Croatian city of Pula has beautiful beaches, a Roman arena and excellent seafood.”

Flying on to the subcontinent, AdmirableIndia.com presents Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Bangalore: Part 1: Ancient Watch Tower and Organic Cultivation posted at AdmirableIndia.com.

Closing ceremonies this week in Beijing make Wendy’s post on City Icons: Beijing China at Escape From New York the fitting end to this carnival edition! 

Thanks for visiting and submitting!  You can easily get in on the next edition of Carnival of Cities by using the handy-dandy carnival submission form.  See you next week at the newly rebranded Family Travel Logue!

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Saturday Photo Friday #2

This week, not a traditional photo, but rather a collage of textures from the Alhambra in Granada, Spain (visited in June 2008):

Follow other photos around the world (and add your own) at the links in this week’s Photo Friday!

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Saturday Photo Friday #1

Debbie at Delicious Baby (tagline: Making Travel with Kids Fun) has started a new Photo Friday feature, allowing us web voyeurs to travel around the globe with everyone who chooses to participate (if you’re photo-happy, find out how you can join in at the link above). Since I’ve already got a Friday Freebie feature and because I’m difficult, I’ll be posting my contribution for now on Saturdays.

So without further ado, here an image shot in July in Rostock, Germany:

Does anything say summer more than shoes and socks removed with abandon to play in the fountain?

Thanks to those of you who’ve taken the time to write or comment on my absence. I recently started a new job and am on the road (actually, rail) for the entire month of August and half of September. I hope you can forgive this one-man show for needing to put major plans on hold and take a little hiatus from intensive posting. Many thanks as always for reading along!

 

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Friday Freebie: Earplugs

As a no-budget traveler, you’ve been there: trying to sleep in your hostel bed after an exhausting day of sightseeing, your roommates come in drunk in the wee hours, snore loudly or forget to turn off their 6 a.m. alarm. You want to nab a few winks on a train or bus, but can’t seem to ignore the voices around you, vigorously discussing nothing important. Or maybe there are other sounds you’re trying to block and your iPod just isn’t doing the trick: I once sat on a transatlantic flight next to a young man chewing tobacco who spit into a bottle every 30 seconds of the entire nine hours. NINE HOURS of spitting.

For you, my friend, this most excellent freebie: professional-strength earplugs. I’ve linked you directly to the “combo pack” selection, which includes four different models to try; however, please shop around the website and see if you like something else they have on offer.

NB: since I discovered this freebie, they have added a qualifier on the request page:

Please note: we reserve the right to qualify requests and will not send to public domains or personal email accounts.

So if you want to try this one, be ready to use something other than a free email account. It also can’t hurt to include a reason and catalog request in the comments form. Because once these earplugs have rescued you, you may well wish you had a bulk supply!

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