Travel

Solo Traveler: Tours

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Solo Traveler: Tours
Column by SHERRY HARDAGE

Those of us who travel independently sometimes have disdain for tours. We know how much things generally cost and think tours are often a rip-off.

I do not enjoy being taken to a restaurant the tour company has chosen, and then told what to order off a limited “tourist” menu. And I’ve come to despise being taken to a “crafts workshop” that is actually nothing more than a high priced trinket store on the pretext of a “cultural” experience.

But sometimes I opt for day-tours so I can be assured of getting to the places of interest in relative safely. In a country Read More

Somethings Wrong With Plane’s Return Schedule … Speak Up Now

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Courtesy photo

COUNTY News:

Ridership, load factors, passengers per week for the Los Alamos Commercial Air Service show signs of positive growth although at a slower pace than last month.

This is seasonal and this “slowness” will be countered in August and September when most government employees generally travel “a little extra.” Unfortunately, we are utilizing the grant money faster than hoped. A meeting between County personnel and Lab representatives is schedule in mid-July to discuss this.

The flight schedule was changed four weeks ago to increase ridership on early morning and early Read More

Adventures in Mexico Featured at July Meeting of Los Alamos Mountaineers

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Sherry Hardage, Mexico adventurer, will speak at the July 17 meeting of the Los Alamos Mountaineers. Courtesy photo

By Bill Priedhorsky
Los Alamos Mountaineers

Have you ever traveled abroad with a tour group and thought “I could lead my own trip?”

In February 2012, Sherry Hardage took a tour to Copper Canyon and Bahia Magdelena with Nichols Expeditions. After living in Chiapas, Mexico for six months, Sherry decided to organize her own expedition and offer it to the Los Alamos Mountaineers.

Eight people signed on, and the July Mountaineers program will tell the story of their adventures.

Mayan Read More

Solo Traveler: Free Lodging, Part II

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Solo Traveler: Free Lodging Part II
Column by SHERRY HARDAGE

In the previous column, I talked about people swapping their homes for free lodging on trips.

But for those who don’t yet own a home, and/or are still energetic and adventurous, there are more interesting alternatives: WWOOF, WorkAway, and volunteer programs.

WWOOF stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms and WorkAway gives you a chance to work away from your comfort zone.

On both websites people who need some help with a farm, business, or home, advertise room and board in exchange for about twenty hours of work per week. Read More

Jason Frazier’s London In Red

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Changing of the Guard. Photo by Jason Frazier

LONDON IN RED

Introduction by Teralene Foxx of Los Alamos

It has been six and a half months since our daughter, husband, and 8-year-old child (Kerri, Jason, and Sydney Frazier) left to travel the world. Their travels have had ups and downs, but overall has been as good, or better than their expectations.

They have met interesting people, seen amazing sites, and experienced different cultures. To date they have spent a month in each of the following places: Paris and Arles, France; Denia, Spain; Rabat, Morocco; Bantry, Ireland; Bath and London, England. Read More

Solo Traveler: Free Lodging, Part I

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Solo Traveler: Free Lodging Part I

Column by SHERRY HARDAGE

I have mentioned in previous columns how traveling solo over many months can be rather expensive. And I’ve talked about house sitting as an alternative to paying for expensive hotel rooms. But there is another excellent way for people to travel without paying a dime for lodging.

For those who own homes, the cheapest way to travel abroad is to trade houses with other people.

I’ve had friends express horror at the thought of strangers using their stuff, and possibly stealing or breaking their things. But the flip side of that is when you trade Read More

Sydney’s Corner: Food of the Netherlands

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Sydney Frazier, 8, with Poffertjes. Photo by Jason Frazier

FOOD OF THE NETHERLANDS

Introduction by Teralene Foxx of Los Alamos

I have previously updated you on the around the world travels of our daughter Kerri Foxx Frazier, Jason Frazier and their 8-year-old daughter Sydney. Every week, as part of her home schooling Sydney does a blog of something she has found interesting. Having just been in the Netherlands on a river cruise, I found this blog about her experience with food in the Netherlands delightful and wanted to share it with you.

 
SYDNEY’S CORNER: FOOD OF THE NETHERLANDS
By Sydney
Read More

Solo Traveler: The Stripper’s Keys

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Solo Traveler: The Stripper’s Keys
Column by SHERRY HARDAGE

As a solo traveler, I’ve learned the hard way that there is no one to count on but myself. That means I have to be über-responsible, always alert and on guard.

Traveling in second- and third-world countries, every day is a training ground. Literally, the ground must be watched carefully, or I will fall, trip, drop into a hole, or have my feet slide out from under me. Falling is by far my biggest travel fear, and I seem to have a trip per trip, no matter how careful I am.

The other great fear is losing something extremely valuable, like the Read More