Road trip season is right around the corner and if you’re planning to take off, don’t forget to pack a first aid kit. I love this IntelligentFirstAid talking kit which contains the usual safety supplies but is enhanced with audio instructions on how to handle common injuries. It will help you keep your head straight in an emergency and is especially good for children who may find the verbal guidance invaluable.

$129.99 IntelligentFirstAid

Source: Outside

Sometimes no matter how often you move about the cabin, a flight leaves you with sore, swollen legs. Whenever I fly long distance, I use these Ames Walker Microfiber Travel Socks to improve circulation and help prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis (blood clots). They are especially helpful when you have to sleep on a flight and don’t stretch as much as you should. I usually put them after boarding and I always cover them with warmer socks as they are thin. They feel a bit tight at first but you quickly get used to them and you’re legs will feel so much better when you arrive at your destination. They are available in men’s and women’s sizes.

For the rest of this month, Ames Walker is offering 10% off all orders and a flat shipping rate of $2.99. Just use coupon code may2008.

$10.79 Ames Walker

Remember this post I wrote last year about Corpus, the human body museum recently opened in the Netherlands? I actually got a chance to check it out!

To get to the museum, you have to hop on a train to Leiden from Amsterdam Centraal which takes about 20 minutes. From there you can walk along Leiden University to Corpus, which takes another 25 minutes but is pleasant if the weather is nice, or take bus 57 to the Snellius stop. The museum comes out of nowhere and is quite striking against the sky.

Inside, you are put into small tour groups and given headsets that lead you on a journey through the man/building with stops to learn about various parts of the body as you pass them. There are special effects, 3-D movies and interactive displays. It is extremely popular, especially with school groups, so advance reservations are a must. While I don’t think Corpus is a can’t miss attraction in Holland, it is a fun place to spend a few hours on a day trip outside of Amsterdam.

Corpus

Traveling to space may be out of the question for now, but you can defy gravity and float through the air on a Zero G flight. Pilots use the parabolic flying method, used by NASA to train astronauts, to create periods of weightlessness for passengers.

The Zero G Experience includes a training session, a flight of 15 parabolas (about 8 minutes without gravity), a suit and duffel bag, an after party with a meal and champagne and a DVD and photos of the flight. Trips depart from Las Vegas, the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and San Jose, California. It’s expensive at $3,950/person, but it looks amazing.

Zero G

Source: Travel 50 & Beyond

Check out My Adventures to read about our trip to Dublin, Ireland and see pictures on my Photos page or by clicking into the album through one of the images posted.

Date of trip: April 2008

Because I’m of Irish descent, Ireland is a place I’ve always longed to visit. I wanted to connect with the country my ancestors came from and I was eager to take in the beautiful, green landscape I had only seen in pictures.

Dublin is a safe and friendly city where most Americans will feel at home. Many sights are a good distance away from each other so it’s necessary to ride the bus. Some tourists buy Hop On/Hop Off tickets for the Grayline Bus that stops at popular attractions but the city bus line will get you everywhere, including to and from the airport, and costs less. Multi-day passes are a great option and can be purchased at the tourist information desk at the airport. The weather is completely unpredictable so an umbrella should be carried at all times.

Highlights:

-One of the most photographed landmarks in Dublin is the Ha’Penny Bridge over the River Liffey. A pedestrian bridge built in the early 1800s, it earned its name for the toll collected from walkers as they crossed. Although the fee was dropped in 1919, the name stuck. The sides of the river, also called quays, have stone boardwalks perfect for a stroll.

-All over the city, the townhouses have colorful Georgian doors with white columns known as the “Dublin Doors”. They are a long held tradition and it’s fun to search for the prettiest and most unique entryways.

-The General Post Office on O’Connell Street is arguably the most important building in Dublin. In 1916 when Irish citizens staged a rebellion known as the Easter Rising to demand independence from Britain, the post office was their headquarters. It sustained heavy damage in the battle that ensued but was later restored. In addition to serving as the hub for the An Post, it is considered a symbol of Irish freedom and is a popular gathering place for protesters. In front of the building stands The Spire of Dublin, the largest sculpture in the world. Erected in 2003 as part of a resurgence project in the area, it is a reflective, stainless steel pole reaching 120 meters (nearly 400 feet!) into the sky. It’s a impressive architectural feat and a true challenge to photograph!

-A few blocks away in Parnell Square, the Garden of Remembrance serves as a memorial to those who died in the name of Irish freedom. It also marks the area where leaders of the Easter Rising were held before they were sent to prison. It’s one of the most effective tributes I’ve seen with a beautiful pool shaped like a cross in its center.

-Many Irish rebels, including those that started the Easter Rising, served time in Dublin’s jail, Kilmainham Gaol. In addition to protesters, women and children also did time in the Gaol and all were mixed in the same rooms. One exhibit at the jail shows mugshots of prisoners with their crimes and sentences underneath. For stealing a piece of bread or pat of butter, a person could do time. It is a cold and dark place and was Ireland’s most infamous jail until it closed in 1926. Today it is the largest unoccupied prison in Europe. It is well restored and has been featured in several movies including In the Name of the Father and Michael Collins. Kilmainham Gaol may not be cheery, but it is important to Irish history and is a place you’ll remember long after you’ve left Dublin.

-Trinity College was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth during English rule. It has an interesting history but the main reason tourists flock to the campus is to see the Book of Kells. Written around 800 A.D., the Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript containing the four gospels. Housed in Trinity’s also impressive Old Library it has been called the most beautiful book in the world.

-After 6pm the only places open in Dublin are the restaurants and pubs. Many people head to the Temple Bar section of the city. It gets crowded and you may have trouble getting into a place at night without a reservation. I liked exploring the area in the afternoon when I could admire the cobblestone streets and the buildings by daylight and easily get a table for lunch.

-The drink of choice in Irish pubs is Guinness, a dark beer famous for it’s foamy top. Guinness has been produced at the St. James Gate Brewery in Dublin since 1759 and while it is now brewed and carried worldwide, all of the product served in the United Kingdom still comes from here. Visitors can walk through the Guinness Storehouse to learn the history of the company and how the beer is made. The tour ends in the Gravity Bar where floor to ceiling windows offer panoramic views of the city and guests can enjoy a complimentary pint.

-A popular day trip from Dublin is south to County Wicklow on the east coast of Ireland. Many companies offer tours of the area and they seem to stop in the same places. Our Grayline tour stopped at the Powerscourt mansion, famous for its Italian and Japanese gardens, the country’s oldest handweaver in Avoca where we watched scarves being made and the mystical Glendalough Monastery where St. Kevin lived with his followers. Visiting Wicklow is a great way to get a taste of the Irish countryside, especially if you are short on time.

Ireland has a tumultuous and sometimes tragic past and many important events in the country happened right in Dublin. Several attractions in the city focus on its history and while you might think it would be depressing, it’s actually inspiring. Today, Ireland is one of the richest countries in the world and its citizens are proud of the people who made their current prosperity possible. Immigrants are flocking in to fill the surplus of jobs and many Irish who left during the lean years are returning home.

When we visited county Wicklow, it rained most of the day. As we drove back to the city, a full rainbow appeared in front of our bus. I think Ireland is like that rainbow; a beautiful light after dark and stormy times. I loved Dublin and I can’t wait to go back and see more of the country!

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Dublin Links:
Dublin Official Site
Dublin’s General Post Office
The Spire of Dublin
Trinity College Old Library and Book of Kells
Guinness Storehouse
Grayline Grand Wicklow Tour
Powerscourt Estate
Avoca Handweavers

Currently touring through North America, the BBC produced show, “Walking With Dinosaurs-The Live Experience”, gives audience members a chance to see 15 life-sized, moving “dinosaurs” in person. The production depicts the 200 year lifespan of the creatures with realistic scenes of their daily lives including interactions between species and the evolution of carnivores to walk on two legs. The show sold out across Australia and is now breaking records here in the United States. Due to the success the tour has had, I assume more dates and countries will be added soon.

Walking With Dinosaurs-The Live Experience

Celebrity Cruises is adding a new ship to its fleet this year and it will feature real, growing grass on the top deck! The Celebrity Solstice Lawn Club will allow guests to play croquet and bocce ball, putt golf or even have a picnic, all while at sea. The ship begins sailing itineraries through the Eastern Caribbean and Europe in December of 2008 but reservations are being accepted now.

Celebrity Solstice

Source: Travel 50 & Beyond

New York residents can now earn Continental Onepass miles when they pay for their monthly electric service. Energy Plus customers receive 2 miles for every $1 spent on the supply portion of their bill plus 3,000 bonus miles after their second month on the plan.

Energy Plus Onepass Offer

Source: Global Traveler