“GO WEST YOUNG MAN” DISCOVER WESTERN IRELAND

A newspaper editorial in the 1800s proclaimed, “Go West Young Man,” in heralding the exciting opportunities that could be found in the western expansion of the American landscape. Those words still ring true today when the subject is travel and Western Ireland.

Any discussion of the old West in America conjures up images of cowboys on horses and those who guide travelers to Western Ireland are likely to mention Celtic warriors and the Connemara Pony, the only native Irish equine breed.

The Connemara Pony, which can be traced back to the arrival of the Celtic warriors on the Emerald Island nearly 2,500 years ago, is named after the rugged terrain the breed populates in Western Ireland. Over the years, the Connemara Pony took on the characteristics essential for survival in the unforgiving mountainous terrain, developing stamina, agility and an amazing jumping ability that has made it popular for equine dressage events.

Today, it is also known as a sport pony that can be ridden by adults or children and is often used in competition such as show jumping and dressage. The pony has earned a reputation for its ability to handle long rides because of its endurance.

Every year, the Connemara Pony Show is held in Clifden, where more than 400 Conemara ponies from around the world are gathered. A guide will tell you that the show’s history dates back to 1924. Still known as an Irish pony, the Conemara is also bred in places like the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

While the Wild West of the United States is long gone, any guide familiar with the area known as Connemara will tell you that the unspoiled terrain of Western Ireland is still the same in County Galway. Those who like hiking will surely be attracted to the “Twelve Bens,’” a group of small mountains located in the Connemara countryside. Climbers have been known to traverse all 12 “Bens” during a single day.

Connemara, however, is not limited to ponies and unblemished mountainous countryside. There are many other attractions that make travel to this part of Ireland unique and CIE Tours can guide you through an unforgettable experience with its “Ireland Spectacular West” package.

The Aran Islands – Inishmore, Inismaan and Inisheer – can be reached by ferry boat from Galway City. And, no matter where you travel in Ireland, even to the most remote places on the West Coast, you are never far from the country’s historical sites. A trip to Galway will most likely guide you Athenry, a medieval town founded in the 13th century, located outside of Galway City. You’ll recognize it when you arrive since it is surrounded by a wall with towers and a moat. It is the only walled town in Ireland.

You can also travel back to 1691 if you choose to visit the “Battle of Aughrim” Interpretative Center, where you can relive the bloodiest battle in Irish history, where 7,000 reportedly died.

Click here and find out more about the Irish West and the Irish Spirit
http://www.cietours.com/affiliate/cietours/summary.rvlx?tourID=2234

Traveling Soon? How to Get Your Passport in One Day.

Need to get your passport in one day? Got a trip coming up… fast? I was in this position. Just a couple of years ago I was lucky enough to get a free trip to Israel. I packed, I learned some useful phrases in Hebrew (where is the bathroom, spare a smoke), I kept away from falafel for an entire month. And then, two nights before my flight as I lay in bed, I realized my passport had expired.

After peeling myself of the ceiling, doing some research and procuring a ride from a loyal friend - Thanks, Terry! - I was on my way to Philadelphia. A few very bureaucratic hours I was clutching a brand spanking new blue and gold symbol of my international autonomy… and you can too. Here’s how:

First, determine where you’re going to go. You can deal with the government itself, like I did, or you can go to an agency. Agencies will tell you they know the ins and outs, the finesse and that they make it easier. I say they exist to take your money and make you feel incompetent. You decide. The only real benefit to using an agency is that you don’t have to be there to do the work. Call 1-877-487-2778 to find the nearest office. You’ll get an appointment and confirmation number. Tattoo it somewhere visible.

Fill out the application clearly and completely. Government employees exist to see flawless forms. Give them that warm, fuzzy feeling to avoid missing your trip.

You’ll have to prove you’re leaving within two weeks. Not hard - have your e-ticket or paid itinerary. Simple.

You’ll have to prove you’re you. Not so simple. Just like Descartes couldn’t even prove to himself that he existed until he came up with ‘cogito ergo sum’ the government won’t believe you’re not an evil foreigner stealing state secrets until you bring them proof. What was suggested that I present? Birth certificate, old passport, driver’s license, social security card, elementary school records… I think that may be it. The first half of my day was spent trying to track down all the documents required. Seeing my old elementary school was bizarre.

Go to the bank. You’re going to need some cash. Whatever the cost of an expedited passport is, plus $60.

Be early. It’s good practice for the airport - security check, metal detector, bag search and tired officials. Then wait in line, give up your documents, wait some more and you’ll have your passport and the ability to leave the land of the free.

11 things you didn’t know you said in British

You’ve decided to take an international vacation. It’s time to see Europe, you say to yourself, and if not now, when? You’ve scheduled vacation time, set aside some dough and realized you don’t speak a foreign language. hmmm… Britain!

Maybe you’re not interested in stumbling through a French market with a phrasebook, mispronouncing vegetable names with disastrous consequences, or maybe you always wanted to see the isles. Whatever the reason, you choose Britain.

Hey, I won’t have to learn a new language! Wrong. Not only can a British accent be confusing enough when it’s not confined to Monty Python videos, even proper British English has its idiosyncrasies. Just consider your car for a moment. The hood, that’s a bonnet. The trunk? A boot. If it’s raining you’ll have to carry your brolly or bumbershoot and make sure you’re not skint if you’re low on petrol.

And that’s just common usage. Then there’s British slang which, at best, is just confusing. At its most convoluted it seems to make no sense whatsoever. Take, for example cockney rhyming slang.

Cockney Rhyming Slang is perhaps the most convoluted method of (mis)communication I’ve come across. A word is made to take the meaning of another word it rhymes with, or that a related word rhymes with. The simplest example is saying Barney to mean trouble because Barney Rubble rhymes with trouble. Why they don’t just say rubble is beyond me.

From there it gets even more far removed. If you’re strapped for cash you can say you’re brassik, i.e. “Can you pay for the petrol? I’m completely brassik.” Why is this? Because brassik sounds like boracic which is a shortened version of Boracic Lint, an ointment. Lint rhymes with skint which means having no money. Lost yet? Good. Despite the cultural exchange between the UK and the US, there’s still plenty of differences in language and custom.

I hope I’ve given you a little insight into how different the queen’s English is from Queens, NY English. Following are some expressions that have completely different meaning in American and British English. This is just A through C. Check in soon for D through F!

1. Apple – an example of Cockney rhyming slang (CRS from now on…), Apple is short for Apple Core which Rhymes with Score. Apple means 20. How old is she? Apple. Gimme apple pounds.

2. April – Another example of CRS. You might get giggles if you say you really like April. Why? Short for April in Paris which Rhymes with Arris, another way of saying buttocks. Ah, April in Paris is beautiful, after all.

3. AC/DC – This has come to be a euphemism for bisexuality. Well… if the current can go both ways, I guess it makes sense.

4. Article – Being a writer I take personal objection to the term Article being taken to mean a jerk. But it does.

5. Bubble – To rat out or snitch. CRS returns with this shortened version of bubble and squeak (mashed potatoes and vegetables) which rhymes with speak. e.g. Bubble on me to the bobbies and you’ll be pushing up daisies.

5. Balmy – If you say it’s balmy out your fellows might think you mean it’s insane out. Derivative of barmy.

6. Basket – Though I doubt anyone would use basket accidentally in a context where it could be mistaken for its slang meaning – bastard – it’s still something to be conscious of.

7. Blurt – For some reason the Brits have chosen this singularly unattractive word to refer to a woman’s treasure.

8. Cacky – Now here’s one you want to be very careful of. It means dirty and, by extension, crappy. Do not go into a clothing store and ask for a pair of Khakis.

9. Call – Do not tell your friend that someone called them. Say they rang. Call means insult.

10. Chore – From the Romany cor with means to steal. Go do your chores honey – but don’t get caught!

11. Coupon – Why this means face is completely and utterly beyond me.

So, watch your tongue, America. You never know if you’ve accidentally started an international incident until it’s too late.

Ten Tips for Americans in Europe

In Europe you are confronted - perhaps a better word would be “presented” - with cultures many times older than our own, with customs and traditions that will not change for a visitor. This can promote a feeling of being a stranger in a strange land. That’s exactly the feeling I pursue whenever I step out the door but not everyone is ready to be shocked by every new experience. Well, we at ITC are a wealth of information on what can surprise, confound and amaze a Yankee in King Arthur’s court (or a good ole boy in Charlemagne’s palais, or a golden stater in Ludwig’s castle or… oh, you get it) and we’re happy to share. We want you to enjoy Europe, so we want to expose some things that may surprise you. But we also want you to be surprised, so we won’t tell you everything, only

Ten Things Americans Should Keep In Mind In Europe

10) Chilled Red Wine - If red, red wine makes you feel so fine you might want to prepare for a trip to the south of France by putting some in the fridge. If you’re like me you probably drink your table wine at room temperature. The southern regions of France, however, with their keen knack for relaxation and leisure, prefer to chill out in every way possible. For the French, the way they drink their wine is the way they set the mood for everything so you can avoid a little culture shock by trying it before you depart. Of course, if you are even more like me than most you’ll enjoy trying it for the first time when you get down there.

9) The Concierge is Your Best Friend - You can get great information from your doorman or concierge without greasing their palm. Roy, the captain of our fair vessel, relates how on one trip to Paris he was tired of visiting the tourist traps. He asked the concierge for a genuine local restaurant. He was referred to a side-street restaurant populated entirely by locals with great food at half the price he was paying on previous nights. On another trip he made friends with the desk clerk at his hotel, tipping him on the way to his room with whatever change he had left over from the day’s adventures. One night a taxi driver tried to raise the fair on him at the last minute and Roy’s new friend not only chased the driver off but hailed another taxi. You can’t expect every concierge to treat you like a king, but if you take the time to make friends you’ll reap great benefits from European hospitality.

8). Tipping is Only Something a Canoe Does - Put away the little tip calculator card. Gratuity is included in every price at the restaurant. You can still tip if you want, but reserve that for exceptional service or if you have an especially large group or raucous children. For the record, when you’re in America, to calculate 15% just move the decimal point one space to the left so you get ten percent. Take that number ($10 for a $100 meal…) and half it, then add the two together. ($5 plus $100 = $15) and you’ve got standard American gratuity. In Europe you don’t worry about the percentage, you give what you feel is appropriate.

7) The Broom of The Stomach - That’s salad, folks. In French countries the salad always comes just before desert and your after dinner drink. Please, please do not ask the waiter where your salad is when your first course comes. The French have their roughage last to make room for desert and - you may be surprised - it works.

6) Reserve Your Train Seats - Believe it or not if you’re taking a long train trip or rail tour you’ll probably have to reserve a seat ahead of time or risk standing. Don’t take this lightly, the popular trains fill up and you’ll be left standing. Once you’ve got your ticket, reserve a seat at the counter or by calling the train station. If you’ve booked a train for a specific time, your seat is probably already reserved: just ask to make sure. One of the beautiful things about a European holiday is the freedom the trains give you to explore. A rental car is great if you want privacy, or if you book a vacation home in the country, but by and large the rail system throughout Europe is excellent. You can purchase a weekly or monthly Euro Pass that gets you on any train, any time. If there’s a little adventurer in you, that’s the way to go.

5) See a City on Your Terms - The train (or “rail”) is a beautiful way to get between cities and from spot to another within some cities. The Metro in Paris, the Tube in London and every other underground rail system is good for getting from point A to point B but if you want to really see a city you have to take advantage of something a little touristy - the Hop On Hop Off bus. You’ve seen them on TV or the streets of New York; those double decker red busses that London is famous for. Many cities offer them and they’re a great way to learn all about a city. Buy a ticket, get on and when you see somewhere you want to explore just get off. Walk around, have a snack or a drink and get back on.

4) Keep an Eye on Your Pockets - Ok, not literally. That would just look silly. Instead, be aware of the people around you and conscious of your belongings. The tourist areas are not stuffed chock full of pickpockets and thieves, but there are enough confidence men and criminals to make it worthwhile not to look too much like a starry eyed yokel. If you’re from a city like New Orleans or New York City this will be easier - pickpockets are very much the same the world over. On a bus trip I once undertook the man beside me was from New Orleans. He leaned close to me and said, “I keep brushin’ these Spanish fellas’ hands from my pockets but that’s okay, Man. My money’s in my sock.” Keeping your money somewhere other than your back pocket or purse is a good precaution, but the best way is just to look like you know what you’re doing. Also remember that it’s unlikely for a criminal to look like Dastardly Dan from the silent westerns. In a tourist area they’ll usually be dressed as tourists. As a final note, check your travelers cheques every now and then. My father, on a trip to southern Italy found that several travelers cheques were missing from the middle of the book. A clever thief had lifted them from his jacket pocket, taken the center notes that wouldn’t be immediately missed and replaced the book to avoid the cheques being cancelled. What do I do? I have a hole in the bottom of the lining of my inside jacket pocket where I put very important things.

3) Keep Your Passport Handy - If you’re traveling between countries you should keep your ID close by. Traveling between European Union countries is painless and seamless - so make sure you ask what country you’re in from time to time - but if you go from Germany to Switzerland you’ll have to present proof of identity. Your passport is best. It should never be hard for you to make a border crossing, but make it as simple as possible by being prepared. This sometimes is lost on visitors from the states who are used to driving across an entire continent without crossing a guarded border.

2) The Language Barrier(s) - English is understood all over Europe. In theory. Most people you’ll meet on the other side of the Atlantic will have been forced to learn the Queens English from a textbook. Making yourself understood is not so hard as you might imagine. The first thing to know is to use British words. “Vacation” means nothing (literally, since it comes from the same root as Vacant) but “Holiday” is easily understood. Speak slowly, clearly and use one or two word sentences. “Where eat?” will get you some pointing fingers. “Excuse me, kind sir, where is the local restaurant?” will get funny looks. Rick Steves, the excellent travel writer, has another tip: keep useful phrases written in the local languages in a notebook. “Boiled water,” “I am a strict vegetarian,” “I need a doctor,” and “I am rich and single,” are phrases you will want to reference more than once, so have them ready.

1) Open Your Mind - Europe is a continent of diverse cultures and people. There are some commonalities between the differences between over there and over here, though. America, forgive me for saying so, is puritanical. We’re afraid of our bodies, and we cover them up. If you go to a beach, especially a French one, in Europe you may be a little surprised to see people of any age nude. Remember, it’s the difference in culture that you took this trip to discover. Open yourself up to new ideas and experiences and you’ll find yourself boundlessly enriched.

Is a Guided Tour Right for You?

Travelers fall into two categories: Free and Independent Travelers - known as FIT - and people who book guided tours and all inclusive holidays. The FIT is a fearless soul, tossing caution and discount opportunities to the wind, packing a phrase book, currency conversion chart and money belt and taking to the world with nary a care.

She may have visited Europe before. She may simply want the excitement of being cut loose. Perhaps she’s a secret agent. Chances are, if it’s your first time traveling overseas, she’s not you.

Booking a guided tour eliminates a lot of the hassle of vacation planning and lets you see the sites and experience what the experts consider the finest or most interesting points for someone with your interests.

But, maybe, you want to make those decisions yourself. Listed below are some questions you can ask yourself to determine if a guided tour is right for you, and how to choose just the right one.

1. Do you speak the local language? If you’re planning on traveling to Spain and you don’t speak Spanish, a guide that does can be invaluable. Don’t count on just showing up and finding a good guide - the best guides are certified and work for reputable tour companies.

2. Do you have a long list of sites to visit? If the answer is yes, a tour is a good idea. Good tour companies offer a variety of itineraries with many stops in the most efficient way possible, maximizing the number of places you see and minimizing the rush of seeing them. On the best tours, you’ll hardly realize you’ve spent time on the bus.

3. Do you just want to meander around a small area? If you do, a guided tour might not be the best option. While many tours give you one or two days in a more popular area, that is not really enough time to get to know a city like Paris or Dublin. On the other hand, a city tour is always a good option, and you can always stay a few days longer to wander on your own.

4. Do you want the expert scoop? No one knows an area better than a great guide. On my last trip to Israel I had the pleasure of having a tour guide who could tell me everything from the species of bird atop Masada (the Chris Tamit, a warbler) to which falafel stand had the best pickled eggplant. Wherever we went people were greeting him on the street, by name. There is no way that I could have gotten all that information without extensive research and first hand experience. The love of a tour guide for their city can provide you with a depth of experience otherwise impossible.

5. What about an intimate experience? There are tours that limit the maximum group size to a relatively small number of people but, by and large, a group guided tour will not be a close experience between a small amount of people. The guided tour is for the traveler who wants to be among compatriots. A stranger in a strange land can take comfort in the private home island of a bus full of ‘people like me.’

6. So how do I know which tour is right? It’s absolutely true - there are a LOT of tours out there. All a company needs to start a new tour is an idea and an expert guide. My suggestion is to choose a budget, an interest and how long you want to travel. When I say interest, I mean category of travel. Maybe you want to see the seven cities of Australia or the churches of Portugal. Perhaps the opera houses of Italy or the statues of Rome. There is definitely a tour for every interest, and each company will specialize in a specific country or interest. Be specific, then find the tour that matches your criteria and research the company that offers it.

So I hope I’ve helped you to determine whether you want to throw caution to the wind or put your vacation into expert hands. Thanks to CIE Tours International, absolutely the company I would book with for a tour in Ireland or Britain, for help with this list.

Munich ‘s Most Delicious Tradition: the Beer Garden

They call them Biergarten, but you’ll call them wonderful. A Bavarian beer garden is like an organized picnic patch decorated by theme with a menu of delicious foods and beers at your disposal. Yes, you heard right: heaven is on earth and it’s landed in Germany. You won’t be able to miss the beer gardens if you end up anywhere near Munich, just make sure you stop in for a Mass. That’s a liter mug, in German.

And if you check out the Chinese Tower in the English Garden–yes, we’re still in Germany, here, folks–be sure to pick up a joint of hendl (traditionally roasted chicken) to soak up some of the beer while listening to a classic brass band oompah-pa-pa along.

If you want to run the style gamut, also check out Waldwirtschaft in Grosshesseiche in the south of Munich. This jazz-club styled beer garden has popular, modern music highlighted by micro-brew beers from around Europe and some eclectic selections of new recipes. Incontestably, the beer garden is the most universally lovable German tradition.