tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73391796980386262582024-03-13T23:14:55.797-07:00Quivertree Family Expeditions blogInteresting comments and observations on all things family travel related including guest posts.Quivertree Family Expeditionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160565969804607202noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7339179698038626258.post-63521935140866627162011-02-28T11:02:00.000-08:002011-02-28T11:22:26.840-08:00Useful and interesting travel informationAt Quivertree we're always looking for ways to make your travel more interesting, enjoyable and exciting. Now we understand you cannot be traveling all the time - how we'd all love to!- but you may be researching a trip, or just enjoy reading about travel. So we're always on the lookout for travel stories or guides that may help you with your trips.
<br />1. These could be any number of posts we've written ourselves. Here aresome examples:
<br />http://travellingdad.quivertreeworld.com/2011/02/07/bizarre-unusual-fantastic-family-travel-experiences-1-volcan-totumo-colombia/
<br />http://travellingdad.quivertreeworld.com/2011/02/03/travel-ideas-for-families-with-older-kids-part-i-language-schools-abroad/
<br />http://travelwithkidz.quivertreeworld.com/2011/02/24/how-to-choose-a-family-holiday-destination-or-where-should-we-go-this-year-part-1/
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<br />2. They could be interesting travel pieces. (My favorites usually come from Lonely Planet, Rough Guides and Bootsnall)
<br />http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/11-02/ten-lesser-known-places-to-visit-in-italy.html
<br />http://www.roughguides.com/website/Travel/SpotLight/ViewSpotLight.aspx?spotLightID=535
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<br />3. They could be useful tidbits of information which are designed to helping you with some aspect of your travel
<br />http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41282577/ns/travel-travel_tips/
<br />http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/travel/09pracsave.html?ref=travel
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<br />We're always on the lookout for these kinds of stories and tips, and rest assured, we'll be passing them on to you!
<br />Happy traveling in 2011
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<br />Quivertree Family Expeditionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160565969804607202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7339179698038626258.post-89303497894368248602011-02-07T09:56:00.000-08:002011-02-07T10:21:41.756-08:00Quivertree Family Travel Photo Contest!We are currently holding a Family Travel Photo Contest.Please send us your favorite family travel photos to our Facebook page and the winner will receive a great prize!Quivertree Family Expeditionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160565969804607202noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7339179698038626258.post-10329805557491693902011-01-25T14:27:00.000-08:002011-01-25T14:50:58.049-08:00India in summer - When to go, what to see?India is becoming more and more popular - we've had Quivertree families touring India since the beginning of November and interest continues to be sky high. Why? It's very simple - India has to be one of the most exotic countries on earth - the customs, food, temples, forts, palaces - add in a high level of English, magnificent hotels and thousands of years of history and you have an awesome combination. <br /><br />High season for most of India is from October through to April. And then the rains fall and fall and fall. And it gets incredibly hot. It really is no wonder that during the British Raj, the whole government packed up and left Delhi for nearly six months - the British just found it impossible to stay there. <br /><br />But families in North America and Europe have their long summer vacation in July and August. What hope have they got for a successful trip to India at that time? <br /><br />Think Ladakh!<br /><br />Ladakh is quite unlike any other part of India. It is a high altitude desert, and the people practise Tibetan Buddhism -in fact, Ladakh is much like Tibet was 30 years ago, before the influx of non -Tibetans that have changed it completely.<br />Because it is so high, Ladakh is too cold for most of the year, but from late May until September Ladakh offers the best weather in all India. The scenery is spectacular - high mountains, brown valleys, splashes of green from agriculture everywhere, and rushing rivers. The people are incredibly interesting as well - the festivals remind one of those in nearby Bhutan - huge masks and lots of dancing. Just google ladakh images - you'll be amazed.<br /><br />Quivertree is thrilled to offer families the adventure of a lifetime in Ladakh - staying in restored village houses, visiting monasteries at dawn to watch monks chanting, blowing huge horns, burning butter candles. Activities include short hikes and rafting on the rivers- in fact we offer a three day raft trip option after the regular tour, where you'll camp on the river banks attended by an army of chefs, guides, porters...Contact us for more info.<br /><br />In addition to Ladakh, it is possible to visit some of the "big name" destinations as well. The National Parks are mainly closed so no tiger viewing is possible at this time of year, and the beaches are mainly wet, but in Rajasthan - land of magnificent palaces and forts as well as the most colorful people in India, the weather is often decent and the palace hotels are on sale!<br /><br />So, if you've rejected the idea of India in summer, think again!Quivertree Family Expeditionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160565969804607202noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7339179698038626258.post-13066243516763222392010-12-31T12:48:00.000-08:002010-12-31T12:57:41.027-08:00Family Destinations for 2011At Quivertree we are always on the lookout for exciting family destinations.This year, we added Thailand, Turkey and Morocco to our original offerings. In 2011, we are most likely going to add a basket of European destinations, as we are finding increased demand for these. So expect to see Iceland, Portugal, France and Italy sometime in 2011! In addition, we will be adding a number of South American countries as well. Watch this space for details!Quivertree Family Expeditionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160565969804607202noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7339179698038626258.post-16447643668273586232010-10-18T10:13:00.001-07:002010-10-18T15:33:59.918-07:00Muddyshoesguides.com and CheapOairToday I want to talk about two sites that have caught my eye lately.The first is http://www.muddyshoesguides.com<br />This is really a terrific site with a great idea. The author and creator, Marcella Ponsen, is someone who clearly sees family travel in the same way we do. Muddyshoesguides.com is a series of guidebooks designed for kids to make their family travel more stimulating and interesting. The website has a lot of cool things, like child friendly cafes in intersting places, a tips and ideas section, and news items. I think this is a great idea. I've long been critical of the mainstream guidebooks (Frommers, Fodors etc.) who seem to believe family travel is restricted to theme parks, toyshops and malls with video arcades. We wish http://www.muddyshoesguides.com only the best success !<br /><br />I'm currently researching a family trip for next summer. Top of our choice list Ecuador, Peru, Spain and Italy. Looks like it will be one of them. It used to be one could search airfares at the Big 3 (Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity) but that's changing. One site I've found to be very good is Cheapoair which is a little bit like Kayak but includes more news, a blog, deals etc. I think in the future these all encompassing search option sites will become more prevalent, and Cheapoair (I accept maybe not the best name) is in a good place to carve out a niche for itself.Quivertree Family Expeditionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160565969804607202noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7339179698038626258.post-67204194612835404732010-09-27T14:06:00.000-07:002010-09-27T14:07:11.820-07:00Gideon's family visits TurkeyThis summer I took my family to Turkey. <br /><br />This wasn’t my first trip there- I’d been with my wife four times previously, but it was the first with the kids - my two boys of 5 and 9 and my daughter of 13. <br /><br />Many people don’t really know what to expect from Turkey - just the sound of it is highly exotic - it resonates with the echos of the Ottoman Empire and much more ancient empires before it - it is a meeting place between East and West, a place where cultures clash and of course, a Muslim country. But is it modern or backwards? First world or third world? Are the people friendly or not? And what about the food? <br /><br />The answer is that Turkey is exotic - but it is also modern and well developed and even in the middle of nowhere one feels safe and comfortable. The people are incredibly friendly, and the food is one of the great cuisines of the world. <br /><br />Turkey has always been one of my favourite countries - It was even better with the family. To see any country through kids’ eyes is literally an eye opener - and a completely different experience from travel without kids -everything takes on new meaning, one’s perspective changes and you get to visit places you would never have gone to otherwise. A trip becomes less of a pure sightseeing tour and more of an immersion in the country and it’s culture - kids want to see things that interest kids - sure, some of the big sights, but also the playgrounds, the ice cream parlors, the parks, the markets, and sometimes the more off -beat places and sights. <br /><br />Together we explored Istanbul, one of the great cities of the world, and then we journeyed through the almost unknown Black Sea region - the last great frontier of Turkey. It was awesome -first touring the great imperial city and seeing the remains of past civilizations and then visiting the smaller towns and villages and experiencing the magic of the Black Sea coast. Best of all, kids act as the perfect ice breaker with the locals, and we met so many people through our kids that we would never have net otherwise. Experiencing cultural differences with kids is fascinating too - they loved visiting mosques, and they really enjoyed exploring the new tastes of a culinary repetoire they had never come across before.<br /><br />Turkey proved to be the perfect family vacation - adventurous, but with the right mix of first world amenities and comfort as well. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Turkey to any family, well traveled or not, looking for a great cultural experience without suffering any discomforts. Follow my blog at www.travelwithkidz.wordpress.comQuivertree Family Expeditionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160565969804607202noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7339179698038626258.post-18094243473545124892010-09-21T11:51:00.000-07:002010-09-27T11:20:17.852-07:00Eating and traveling in TurkeyOne of the great highlights of Turkey is the food. And Turkish food is perfect for families traveling with kids.<br /><br />Turkish food must rank as one of the great cuisines of the world – but it is not necessary to eat expensively nor exotically either. The most simple food is also some of the most delicious food - lentil soup (for breakfast!!), rice and beans, Turkish meatballs (kofte), salads. The fruit and the olives are simply outstanding, eat as you go sandwiches are commonplace (the whole world knows about doner kebap), and unusual sometimes – one of our favourites is Balik Ekmek – Fish Sandwich, a great Istanbul tradition. Pide (Turkish Pizza) is available everywhere and is cheap. The meat and fish are good, and the vegetables (whether cooked or raw) are simply outstanding. You don’t need to eat spicy food at all, though you’ll often find a pepper or two served with the food. The bread is great as well (so long as its fresh from the bakery).<br /><br />And then we get to dessert! For the sweet tooth, Turkey is like heaven on earth. The range of Baklava is incredible – we have never eaten better baklava anywhere in the world. And the ice cream is great – for some reason, Turkey has excellent ice cream – from the sticky Maras Dondurma to the regular ice cream parlors, they are simply wonderful.<br /><br />Bottom line – one can eat like a king and pay like a king in Turkey if you want, but since most families travel on a budget, one can eat simply as well, and they’ll be some of theQuivertree Family Expeditionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160565969804607202noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7339179698038626258.post-74283528448403784942010-09-21T11:26:00.000-07:002010-09-21T13:57:14.903-07:00Colombia (again) and South AfricaOnce again, the New York Times Travel section featured Colombia on Sunday 9/19/2010. This has become quite common lately. The feature was focused on Santa Marta, which is a great tourist hotspot, thanks to its excellent location. It is situated on the Caribbean,not far from Cartagena and Tayrona National Park, arguably the two biggest 'must see's' on a Colombian trip. Colombia is not yet a popular tourist destination in the way Costa Rica, or even Guatemala is (and in South America, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina and Chile) but as long as the country remains stable it will become a major tourist destination. It offers so much - beautiful beaches, fabulous, spirited, throbbing cities, South American flair and fashion, and gracious, friendly hosts. Definitely a place to go, now, before it is properly and rightfully 'discovered'.Here's the link to Sunday's article<br />http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/09/19/travel/19nextstop.html?ref=travel<br /><br /><br />We just returned from a family trip to South Africa.The country was definitely at its best as the host for the 2010 World Cup and everyone involved did a terrific job.There's no doubt in my mind that South Africa is a premiere destination : it really offers anything and everything a traveler could want - great infrastructure and roads (perfect for a self drive holiday), good accommodations, great food, friendly people, incredible natural attractions, top class wildlife/safari, Cape Town, consistently ranked in the top 10 cities in the world, wonderful coastline and beaches, and a fascinating mix of cultures, African and European. It cries out to be visited. We had the most wonderful trip - it's a country you cannot help but love.Quivertree Family Expeditionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160565969804607202noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7339179698038626258.post-70321440329364026982010-09-15T09:15:00.000-07:002010-09-15T09:58:41.623-07:00Quivertree Destination surveyThanks to everyone who has participated in our destination survey.It has been most interesting to see where you want us to take you next ! Based on the voting so far, it looks like these will be our upcoming Quivertree family destinations :<br />Turkey<br />Thailand<br />Spain & Portugal<br /><br />Gideon just returned from a trip to Turkey. He has spent quite a lot of time there and his family just loves it ! Although I've only been there twice for very short periods, my wife, Liora, travelled in Turkey extensively before we met and loved it too. It has a great mix of culture, food, history, archeology and much of it child friendly. And it has the most gracious, welcoming hosts. We have long felt we would be adding this incredible country to our destinations and your survey responses just bear that out !<br /><br />While Thailand is quite touristy, it can be travelled in many different ways. Sometimes it's not so bad being 'touristy' as the infrastructure, food and accommodations are of a certain standard that we would desire for our families.My family visited Thailand in 2007. I'll confess that I really wanted to go to the Thai beaches, but our kids chose culture over sunning and swimming. We spent a memorable night at Elephant nature park, a refuge for damaged or abused elephants, and it was one the highlights of our entire 3 month trip. Check it out at http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/<br /><br />I was last in Portugal in 2007. I have never understood why portugal is so underestimated. Possibly it's just overshadowed by france and spain, 2 giants of the European tourist circuit. I found portugal to be beautiful, with everything you could ask for in a travel destination - food, beaches, castles, ruins, good roads (mostly)and the chance almost everywhere to get off the beaten track. Our goal is to offer trips to both Portugal and spain, concentrating in part on staying in Posadas (castles or historic buildings of Portugal)or Paradores/Pazos of Spain. <br /><br />I'm so excited to be adding these destinations as each offers so much in terms of family travel, but mostly the opportunity for a rich, thrilling, bonding family experience.Quivertree Family Expeditionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160565969804607202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7339179698038626258.post-47445008735008026632010-07-29T14:20:00.000-07:002010-08-03T17:11:50.637-07:00Some great coverage for Quivertree !!Recently we have been thrilled to be featured in a number of online publications and travel websites. It's clear (to us anyway) that what we are doing makes a lot of sense even in this very saturated world of online travel companies. There are a growing number of people who want to travel as a family with all the planning done by a professional, but they do not wish to join a larger group and be restricted by that group. They want their family unit to be THE group. We understand that.<br />So where have we featured lately ?<br /><br />The first is http://www.simonseeks.com<br />Simonseeks is a website where a community of travel enthusiasts, experts and celebrities can upload travel guides and share their tips on the best places to stay, eat and visit around the world so we were very pleased to be noticed there. Look at what they wrote at http://www.simonseeks.com/blog/looking-adventure<br />Currently I see they're currently doing a special on <br /><a href="href="http://www.simonseeks.com/accommodation/hotels/europe/italy/lazio/rome">Rome hotels</a><br /><br /><br />Secondly we've been featured in http://travelforkids.com, an online site featuring everything you want to know about, yes, travelling with kids. <br /><br />Last, but not least, you can find us in www.familytravelfiles.com, again an online resource for everything relating to family travel.<br /><br />These are the places we want to be in - they're concentrating on exciting, fun, meaningful family travel, just as we aim to do.Quivertree Family Expeditionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160565969804607202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7339179698038626258.post-12137859032278624762010-06-07T11:45:00.000-07:002010-06-07T13:42:18.198-07:00TripAdvisor Travel Choice 2010 awardsTripadvisor has just come out with its Travel Choice Awards for 2010. It's a great list, divided into numerous categories, like Best Beaches, Best Destinations, Best places for culture, Emerging Destinations, Top 25 by continent and so on. In fact, it's the kind of lists I love and probably spend too much time reading.<br /><br />So I'm a little shocked to read the Top 10 Destinations in the World for families. Of the Top 10, four - yes, FOUR - are selected not only for their theme parks, but for Disney theme parks (EuroDisney, Disney Japan, plus Disneyland and Disneyworld)). Not that I have anything against Disney - I've been three times and even took my kids for a day the last time we were in LA - but is that really the best in Family Travel ? Are those really four of the best family travel destinations in the world ? Is Eurodisney really a better destination than other areas of France ? Is Disneyland really a superior destination in the USA, than say San Francisco, New York or the National Parks of Utah and Arizona ? Would you really prefer taking your family to Disney Japan than say the Great wall of China and the Forbidden City, or Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia etc. etc. You get the point. This is one of my favourite rants, and the main reason we started Quivertree. I would rather take my kids to a real destination, to learn culture, see and hear different people living real lives than a contrived theme park. I want to go on real travel and have genuine, authentic experiences with my family, and to think that it can't be done so just go for the Disney default is sadly misguided. OK, that's probably enough from me.Quivertree Family Expeditionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160565969804607202noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7339179698038626258.post-78862951069122658812010-05-26T14:22:00.000-07:002010-05-26T14:33:19.778-07:00Colombia featured in New York Times Travel section again !Two of my very favorite destinations, Bogota, Colombia, and the Alentejo region of Portugal were featured in the New York Times special glossy travel magazine on 5/23/2010.<br />Firstly Bogota. It's the second time in the past 2 months that Colombia has been featured and I take it as further evidence that this once unthought of destination is quickly moving onto the traveller's hot list. Bogota's a fascinating city, and once there, you're likely to forget all the stories you once heard about Colombia, and revel in the passion and energy of the people. I loved the introduction to the piece. The author's first night in Bogota is rocked by the shocking news that the biggest event in town is a ...Coldplay concert ! How can this wild, untameable city be so mainstream ? Seriously, go to Colombia - you will not regret it.<br /><br />Likewise the Alentejo in Portugal has often been overlooked, lagging behind Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve as top tourist destinations. The Alentejo is dry and very hot, and often very empty, BUT it has great beauty and charm as well. You could be driving along and seemingly in the middle of nowhere, when suddenly on a hilltop you'll spot a picture perfect white walled town with a medieval castle to boot. I would ALWAYS include this area for a few days and not only the tourist hub Evora, but the countryside as well.Quivertree Family Expeditionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160565969804607202noreply@blogger.com58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7339179698038626258.post-90354465488772728072010-05-19T12:21:00.000-07:002010-05-19T12:27:22.094-07:002 great travel related blogs to watchOf course there are literally hundreds of travelblogs one could follow, and it all gets a little overwhelming. I try sift out the best or most interesting or at least the ones with the best photos ! When I start thinking about a destination to visit, I usually look at a lot of photos first as i tend to get excited by what I see.<br />Two really good sites are www.thetravellingkid.com<br />and http://lebestofparis.com<br />They are very different resources. Melanie's Travelling Kid is a site dispensing huge amounts of terrific, valuable travel information for anyone, like us, travelling with kids. It's a great resource, and very interesting too.<br />LeBest focuses on everything Paris. It's a beautiful site with fabulous photos, light and color, and if you weren't sure about visiting Paris, you will be after checking out this site !Quivertree Family Expeditionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160565969804607202noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7339179698038626258.post-50191963394681525952010-05-10T14:55:00.000-07:002010-05-10T15:01:17.622-07:00Cartagena, Colombia featured in Travel & Leisure MagazineJust a week after being featured in the New York Times, Cartagena, Colombia has now been featured in Travel & Leisure magazine.Again, after a glowing report, it's hard to ignore this fascinating, resurgent city, a must see destination in my ipinion. Go there now - you'll be very pleasantly surprised !Quivertree Family Expeditionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160565969804607202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7339179698038626258.post-89952519313174386112010-05-04T09:16:00.000-07:002010-05-04T09:17:37.732-07:00Quivertree Blog 5/4/2010<br />RUGBY WORLD CUP IN NEW ZEALAND IN 2011 !<br />New Zealand, already one of our favorite family destinations, hosts the Rugby World Cup (RWC2011) in September and October 2011. So if you're a sporty type, a fabulous destination just got even better (of course if you're not interested in the rugby, the best time to visit New Zealand would be a few weeks after the tournament has ended).<br />New Zealand is a wonderful family destination, no matter what the ages of your children. Blessed with spectacular natural beauty and full of adventure activities, Quivertree is offering Rugby World Cup packages of 10 days to three weeks, combining some of New Zealand's most loved highlights with rugby weekends for the quarter finals, semi finals and final in Auckland. Because New Zealand is relatively compact with an exceptional transport infrastructure, it will be possible to see a lot of the country even while enjoying the country. And for those who don't want to go to the rugby, that leaves more time for a fantastic family trip to one of the world's great destinations !<br />For more on the Rugby World Cup 2011, go to the official tournament website at http://www.rugbyworldcup.com<br /><br />Volcan Totumo, Colombia<br />Without doubt, one of the most bizarre and memorable travel experiences one can ever have is Volcan Totumo, a mud volcano about 45 minutes outside of Cartagena, Colombia. Nothing can prepare you for this. It really has to be personally experienced. First you climb up about 40 steps, wearing only your bathing suit and carrying nothing. Then you are helped into a mudbath by one of the 'stewards' - while another steward takes photos for you with your camera. You are placed horizontally in the pool - some say it is 1 1/2 miles deep - nobody seems to know - but you cannot sink, even if you try. The temperature is perfect, and while you are lying down, someone else gives you a full body massage. Now and then, the bath starts bubbling which just adds to the overall weirdness and entertainment. After about 45 minutes, you are instructed to get out, and run down the steps and into the lagoon a few meters away. There, a group of women wash you, even removing your bathing suit underwater, before you get out and return to Cartagena. For some photos see my blog at http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/2009/10/23/colombia-july-2009-cartagena-part-2/<br />It's really an incredible experience, not remotely strenuous and perfect for families and you'll be talking about it for a long time afterwards !<br />Cartagena, Colombia featured in the New York Times Travel section !<br />On Sunday May 2, 2010, Cartagena was the leading feature destination in the New York Times Travel section. Read the story at http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/travel/02cartagena.html?ref=travel<br />I think it's completely natural for the NYT to feature Cartagena - it is a 'must see' city, a real gem, and probably the best example of a Spanish colonial city. Add the atmosphere of daily Colombian life and you have an incredible destination, one you'll never forget !Quivertree Family Expeditionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160565969804607202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7339179698038626258.post-12040513738971434402009-12-15T12:18:00.001-08:002009-12-15T12:24:21.628-08:00New Zealand 2008, highlights by my 12 year oldThis is a report my 12 year old wrote of our New Zealand family trip in 2008. Enjoy !<br /><div class="mceTemp" draggable=""><dl id="attachment_704" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030484.jpg" mce_href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030484.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-704" title="P1030484" src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030484.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030484.jpg?w=300" alt="" height="225" width="300" /></a><br /></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd">Maori show</dd></dl></div> <div class="mceTemp" draggable=""><dl id="attachment_723" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p10304551.jpg" mce_href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p10304551.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-723" title="P1030455" src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p10304551.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p10304551.jpg?w=300" alt="" height="199" width="300" /></a><br /></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd">Coromandel beach</dd></dl></div> <div class="mceTemp" draggable=""><dl id="attachment_728" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 235px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/img_0130.jpg" mce_href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/img_0130.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-728" title="IMG_0130" src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/img_0130.jpg?w=225" mce_src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/img_0130.jpg?w=225" alt="" height="300" width="225" /></a><br /></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd">With my dad at Hot Water Beach - careful, that water is really hot !</dd></dl></div> <a href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/img_0132.jpg" mce_href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/img_0132.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-729" title="IMG_0132" src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/img_0132.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/img_0132.jpg?w=300" alt="" height="225" width="300" /></a><br /><div class="mceTemp" draggable=""><dl id="attachment_705" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030506.jpg" mce_href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030506.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-705" title="P1030506" src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030506.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030506.jpg?w=300" alt="" height="199" width="300" /></a><br /></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd">Zorbing down the hill; uncontrollable laughter inside !</dd></dl></div> <p>In January 2008, after visiting Asia and Australia, we traveled to New Zealand for two weeks. Here are some of my highlights of that great trip! </p> <p>When we arrived in New Zealand we drove to Rotarua where we would we spend the next 3 nights. We went to this place called Te Puia where they have geysers and mud pools, which are pools of boiling mud, which look kind of like small geysers.<br /></p><p>After that we went zorbing. Zorbing is where you roll down a hill in a zorb which is like a big inflatable hamster ball. We drove to the top of a hill and the people working there would put water inside the zorb. After that you had to dive into it into the water. Then when they told you to, you would stand up and push against the side of the Zorb to start it rolling. It would roll down really fast and you would be sliding, rolling over and trying to run inside it while it rolled down in what looked like an uncontrollable spin. It was one of the funnest things I have ever done. We did it twice. </p> <a href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030540.jpg" mce_href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030540.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-707" title="P1030540" src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030540.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030540.jpg?w=300" alt="" height="225" width="300" /></a><br /><br /><p>Next day we went to the Lady Knox geyser where the ranger put a bar of soap in the geyser to make it erupt. It was kind of disappointing and felt artificial. After that we went on a walk where we saw more mud pools and a steaming lake with lots of different colored minerals in it. It was really cool. On the walk we saw a Pied Stilt, which is a very small bird with very long legs. That night we went to a Maori dinner, a hangi, where we saw a Maori performance, which was fun. They did a great haka, which we’ve seen many times by the New Zealand rugby team (the All Blacks). The next day we drove to the Waitomo glowworm caves on our way to Taupo. We walked into this big cave and the guide showed us the long glowworm strings, which the glowworms use to catch food. Then we went on this little boat inside the cave and saw thousands of glowing glowworms. It was kind of disappointing though because the whole thing was pretty quick and we’d made a long detour to get there. Then we continued our drive to Taupo. </p> <p>The next day we went on the Tongariro Crossing, an 11.5-mile hike in Tongariro National Park through mountains, craters and volcanoes. We had to take a bus there and back so we had to finish in time to catch the last bus (there are only two). The first bus was scheduled to leave at 3.30 and since we had arrived on the later morning bus, if we wanted to catch the 3.30 bus back, we would have to complete the hike in less time than some of the people who started over an hour before us. The first part of the hike was an hour of flat walking. After that we climbed the very steep part called the Devils Staircase. There wasn’t really a path for that part so you would just climb up the rocks anywhere. My dad was carrying all our water (10 liters) and at the top he was covered with sweat. At the top we passed right next to the volcano that was used in the filming of Lord of The Rings for Mount Doom. Then we walked into this huge flat valley and then we scampered up this slope to the top of the Red Crater. At the top we walked on until we got to this steep drop where we ran down this slope with rocks and loose pebbles covering the path. At the bottom we got to the Emerald Lakes. We ate lunch next to the Emerald Lakes, which are green and shimmery. After that you walked through the Red Crater. When we reached the Ketetahi hut, abut 1-½ hours from the end, there were so many people there that we realized the wait for the second bus would be very long. So we decided to go really quickly to catch the first bus, which meant that me, my little brother and my dad had to run the last part to get our places and keep a place for my mom who was not far behind us. Tongariro crossing was definitely one of the best hikes I’ve ever done! </p> <div class="mceTemp" draggable=""><dl id="attachment_714" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p10306231.jpg" mce_href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p10306231.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-714" title="P1030623" src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p10306231.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p10306231.jpg?w=300" alt="" height="199" width="300" /></a><br /></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd">On the Tongariro Crossing</dd></dl></div> <div class="mceTemp" draggable=""><dl id="attachment_715" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030631.jpg" mce_href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030631.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-715" title="P1030631" src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030631.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030631.jpg?w=300" alt="" height="199" width="300" /></a><br /></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd">'Mount Doom'</dd></dl></div> <div class="mceTemp" draggable=""><dl id="attachment_722" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p10306541.jpg" mce_href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p10306541.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-722" title="P1030654" src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p10306541.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p10306541.jpg?w=300" alt="" height="225" width="300" /></a><br /></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd">On the way down to Blue Lake, Tongariro</dd></dl></div> <p>After reaching Wellington, New Zealand’s capital, we took a two-hour ferry ride to the South Island of New Zealand. The ferry had 10 floors with 2 movie theaters ! The ride, through the Cook Straits, is spectacular, and starts preparing you for the glorious South island. When we got there we drove to Motueka, near Nelson, and then went to the beach at Kaiteriteri, where we played cricket and had dinner. Next morning we went back to Kaiteriteri and did a kayak tour in Abel Tasman National Park. First we kayaked for about 45 minutes to Split Apple Rock, which is a big rock that looks like a split apple. It is one of the most photographed places in New Zealand. We stopped at a beach there and went in this cave where we saw a Fairy Penguin. Then we swam at the beach and started kayaking back. On the way back we saw another Fairy Penguin swimming in the water. When we got back we took a water taxi to Bak beach. On the way there we saw a bunch of New Zealand Fur Seals. At Bak beach we did a walk to this other beach. When we got close to the end of the walk we took the low tide route, not realizing the tide had come in. We had to climb over all these rocks, and then walk through waist high water to get to the beach. When we got to the beach we swam until the water taxi came to take us back. On the way back we saw a pod of about a hundred Bottle Nosed Dolphins jumping and swimming next to the boat. It was incredible! I had never imagined New Zealand to have good beaches, but I was so wrong ! The beaches here, and at the Coromandel were spectacular. </p> <div class="mceTemp" draggable=""><dl id="attachment_717" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030719.jpg" mce_href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030719.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-717" title="P1030719" src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030719.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030719.jpg?w=300" alt="" height="199" width="300" /></a><br /></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd">Beautiful waters of Abel Tasman</dd></dl></div> <div class="mceTemp" draggable=""><dl id="attachment_720" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030724.jpg" mce_href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030724.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-720" title="P1030724" src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030724.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030724.jpg?w=300" alt="" height="199" width="300" /></a><br /></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd">More Abel Tasman</dd></dl></div> <p>The next day we drove to this place called Buller Gorge where they have the longest swing bridge in New Zealand. First we went across the swing bridge, which swung a lot and was fun. Then on the other side we walked down this little path to the Buller River where we went on a 40-minute jet boat ride. The boat went really fast and sometimes would do spins at a really high speed. We got drenched, which was great fun! Then we went back up the path to this tower where we went on this thing called a Comet Line where you get strapped into this seat and you go really fast down and across the gorge on a zip line. It was really fun. </p> <div class="mceTemp" draggable=""><dl id="attachment_718" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030802.jpg" mce_href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030802.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-718" title="P1030802" src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030802.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030802.jpg?w=300" alt="" height="199" width="300" /></a><br /></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd">Fun at Buller Gorge</dd></dl></div> <p>After that we drove to this town called Hokitika where we spent the night. The next day we drove to Franz Josef glacier where we were going on a hike on the glacier. At first they did not let my brother Benjy do it (because he was only 10) but when we told them he had done the Tongariro Crossing, they changed their minds! We got our crampons and boots and then we walked through a little forest to this glacier carved valley. We then walked on a really steep path up this cliff where we had to use ropes and chains. It was really exciting. After that we got to the glacier and had to climb up these steep ice stairs for an hour. After that our guide found a crevasse and we climbed through it. It was really cool. Then we walked around on the glacier and had lunch. We went higher until we got to this ice waterfall where a meter on either side of us were very deep crevasses. Then we headed back down. On the way back our guide found an ice tunnel, which we went into twice. It was really fun. Franz Josef glacier is one of the only 4 glaciers in the world that is in a rainforest, and one of the others is a few miles away at Fox Glacier. </p> <div class="mceTemp" draggable=""><dl id="attachment_725" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030867.jpg" mce_href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030867.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-725" title="P1030867" src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030867.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030867.jpg?w=300" alt="" height="199" width="300" /></a><br /></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd">On the glacier</dd></dl></div> <div class="mceTemp" draggable=""><dl id="attachment_726" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030924.jpg" mce_href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030924.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-726" title="P1030924" src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030924.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030924.jpg?w=300" alt="" height="199" width="300" /></a><br /></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd">In an ice tunnel on Franz Josef Glacier</dd></dl></div> <div class="mceTemp" draggable=""><dl id="attachment_730" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 272px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030896.jpg" mce_href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030896.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-730" title="P1030896" src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030896.jpg?w=262" mce_src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030896.jpg?w=262" alt="" height="300" width="262" /></a><br /></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd">Great shoes, hey ?</dd></dl></div> <p>Our last great adventure was in Wanaka. My sister and me had asked our parents if we could go skydiving, and we were quite surprised when they said yes! My grandparents, who were with us, were horrified, and they were very relieved when on the day we couldn’t go because it was raining too hard. But the next day was beautiful, so off we went. We went up in a small plane strapped to these professional skydivers that we would jump with and who would pull the parachute cord. When we were at 2,000 feet it looked high, but we were going to 12,000 feet! When we got to 10,000 feet, even the mountains looked tiny! It had been decided I would go first (as the youngest) with my mom next (as the most scared), followed by my sister, and finally my dad. As we reached 12,000 feet me and the guy I was strapped to moved to the edge of the plane and smiled for a camera on the wing. (See my photo). Then we jumped off and it felt like I was going incredibly fast (which I was!). We flipped and then fell for 45 seconds before the parachute opened and we drifted down to the ground. It was probably one of the funnest things I have ever done. After that we went lugeing down a small mountain in Queenstown – that was fun, but not like jumping out of a plane at 12,000 feet ! </p> <div class="mceTemp" draggable=""><dl id="attachment_733" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030952.jpg" mce_href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030952.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-733" title="P1030952" src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030952.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030952.jpg?w=300" alt="" height="199" width="300" /></a><br /></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd">With my sister, and grandparents before our jump</dd></dl></div> <div class="mceTemp" draggable=""><dl id="attachment_719" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/ilani-skydive.jpg" mce_href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/ilani-skydive.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-719" title="Ilani skydive" src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/ilani-skydive.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/ilani-skydive.jpg?w=300" alt="" height="225" width="300" /></a><br /></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd">One, two, three, GO!!</dd></dl></div> <div class="mceTemp" draggable=""><dl id="attachment_732" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030988.jpg" mce_href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030988.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-732" title="P1030988" src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030988.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1030988.jpg?w=300" alt="" height="199" width="300" /></a><br /></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd">That's me, I promise</dd></dl></div> <p>Definitely New Zealand is an incredibly exciting destination filled with beautiful places and amazing things to do. You should go there ! </p> <div class="mceTemp" draggable=""><dl id="attachment_731" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 310px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1040075.jpg" mce_href="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1040075.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-731" title="P1040075" src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1040075.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://travellingdad.wordpress.com/files/2009/12/p1040075.jpg?w=300" alt="" height="199" width="300" /></a><br /></dt><dd class="wp-caption-dd">Last day, Milford Sound</dd></dl></div>Quivertree Family Expeditionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160565969804607202noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7339179698038626258.post-35530306048391740342009-10-20T14:59:00.001-07:002009-10-20T15:06:05.800-07:00Viva Colombia - a memorable family trip, July 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzZhSqiMRBFef0ZeC6YR3sXcwBVn96OdKGTdYwyiKI8AMf3BS_JWHnftbNkIOOsTt9W73rG4qbtGgwui2Bfx0ygQPFSbNCFgSjcAweRNXM0QUCchOGHm8U1hM-6TwUfKBHQn41LXv4-8Y/s1600-h/P1050826_2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzZhSqiMRBFef0ZeC6YR3sXcwBVn96OdKGTdYwyiKI8AMf3BS_JWHnftbNkIOOsTt9W73rG4qbtGgwui2Bfx0ygQPFSbNCFgSjcAweRNXM0QUCchOGHm8U1hM-6TwUfKBHQn41LXv4-8Y/s320/P1050826_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394805661517354546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumnlC5N4iiAAlzRK5NLJX9eO7qnWiXSW67zwfZEHiheDyG0HBSzjFZu3N2KMdodWQbqf5A4eNpMWpEhJ9TDOKkNLmwKhGI3S47-aRZhczDx9HhTWLfYWnb0aDdOy0ppVovkW_NCXugKWy/s1600-h/P1050790_2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumnlC5N4iiAAlzRK5NLJX9eO7qnWiXSW67zwfZEHiheDyG0HBSzjFZu3N2KMdodWQbqf5A4eNpMWpEhJ9TDOKkNLmwKhGI3S47-aRZhczDx9HhTWLfYWnb0aDdOy0ppVovkW_NCXugKWy/s320/P1050790_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394805647868173250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFw5P9K8pdVaEPsRpXzseHX1xuWs_L6l9_so8AwtstCBV9SMO-zthJmsDjIhgnj78Q0UbGUboHDVlrU3ee7k-g5JQmxt8j5R2zHa6vtH8bW1-XoLOvLK9iBTfzQ2KnWubgOcYbbaAzugN/s1600-h/P1050777.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFw5P9K8pdVaEPsRpXzseHX1xuWs_L6l9_so8AwtstCBV9SMO-zthJmsDjIhgnj78Q0UbGUboHDVlrU3ee7k-g5JQmxt8j5R2zHa6vtH8bW1-XoLOvLK9iBTfzQ2KnWubgOcYbbaAzugN/s320/P1050777.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394805633401647602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkGR4vdOwcM7HlnkV5p2XK0BWMZ7nIKycUEMn4kLjBYGx_ehJcvyxkc6_zQoHEkZdsKr4ytQ0KYPWSVSk1jGO9Lrt3CZtFri6NvgG62jIOcnylhxcVwkP8N_ScHSlO7FIyoipaoBMfXOM/s1600-h/P1050754_2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkGR4vdOwcM7HlnkV5p2XK0BWMZ7nIKycUEMn4kLjBYGx_ehJcvyxkc6_zQoHEkZdsKr4ytQ0KYPWSVSk1jGO9Lrt3CZtFri6NvgG62jIOcnylhxcVwkP8N_ScHSlO7FIyoipaoBMfXOM/s320/P1050754_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394805628085954818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJHcW_VQsDcU3b-kEtU4GS8vQ9a5Q5AMtsETJyWf0ZS2nv_t9H-tgbSDOplVJXr6Tao9oju-Fc7R-81FpuA5A4pFI8jAhFCxKh2R5Yp6pOqgK1NkjVzjlnQR_H2hj5Xh7umngoFJEOeEC/s1600-h/P1050655.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJHcW_VQsDcU3b-kEtU4GS8vQ9a5Q5AMtsETJyWf0ZS2nv_t9H-tgbSDOplVJXr6Tao9oju-Fc7R-81FpuA5A4pFI8jAhFCxKh2R5Yp6pOqgK1NkjVzjlnQR_H2hj5Xh7umngoFJEOeEC/s320/P1050655.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394805619610147778" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; ">We flew into Bogota on July 4th. Lots of activity at the airport and we were glad we'd asked the hotel to have someone meet us at the airport. Especially if you're staying in La Candelaria as we did, this is something to consider, as no taxi driver seemed able to find our hotel over the next few days.Stayed at Abadia Colonial. Hotel is pleasant in a wonderful area. By day La Candelaria is buzzing with great atmosphere, but at night it’s completely closed. The hotel has decent sized rooms, lukewarm shower water and a forgettable breakfast. If you’re travelling with kids, as we do, you’ll probably have to supplement breakfast (a piece of fruit, eggs and coffee or hot chocolate) with something else. Luckily within the next 3 blocks, there are all sorts of tasty treats available either in cafes or being sold on the street. And if you’re not that excited by the coffee (usually very weak with a lot of milk) there’s a Juan Valdez cafe (a Colombian Starbucks-like establishment) nearby.Our first day, being a Sunday, we strolled around the Plaza Bolivar area. If you’re going to Bogota, you must be there on a Sunday, as most city streets are closed to cars until early afternoon and are taken over by walkers, joggers, families, cyclists, roller bladers and the likes. It’s an awesome sight, especially combined with vendors of every type hawking just about anything imaginable (or not).Next day we went to Zipaquira. Although tourists go there for the Salt Cathedral which is an incredible sight, you should not miss the actual town which is absolutely charming and has a fabulous central plaza. The bus however is a little bumpy and our 11 year old felt really sick.Last day in Bogota we first visited the Gold Museum . It has a great collection, but for kids it can get quite boring quickly. Our son far preferred strolling through the streets and markets outside. Afterwards we went up Montseratte from where you can get a wonderful view of the city.We loved Bogota. It feels very safe, there’s something to see everywhere, has a great atmosphere, and looks like a thriving city. I’d really recommend it for a surprisingly good family experience.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; ">From there we went to San Andres. Talk about paradise ! Yes there are loads of beachfront hotels, jewellery, suitcase and duty free shops, but the water is beautiful and once you’re in the water you’ll struggle to get out ! Just a great place to relax and have a real Caribbean experience.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; ">Our final destination was Cartagena. This is a truly beautiful, magnetic city. We stayed in the San Diego area which is perfect as you’re in the middle of everything. Other than the constant, blazing heat and humidity, this would be one of my favorite cities I’ve visited (the others would be Barcelona, Hanoi, Prague, London, San Francisco, Boston and Rome). We stayed at Tres Banderas and it’s easy to see why it’s so popular – it’s relatively inexpensive in a superb location. Again rooms are minimalistic (although they do have the strongest air conditioning imaginable) , breakfast is very ordinary (our son supplemented it daily with Yogurt – Kumis – from the giant Exito supermarket close by), but there’s free internet and they’re very friendly. We walked everywhere, but took taxis when the heat got too much. Be warned that the restaurants in the central area are expensive – much better to go to Gethsemani for a very satisfying, cheap lunch.One thing you must do in Cartagena is go to Volcan Totumo, the mud volcano. This is an incredibly bizarre and memorable experience. You strip down to your bathing suit and climb a few steps to the entrance. From there you’re eased into this bubbling mud pool (reputedly over a mile deep) and given a massage by one of the attendants. Someone else takes photographs with your camera that you’ve entrusted to him. You cannot sink even if you try and eventually you have a strange mud substance all over you (I could not get the residue mud out of my ears for a few days). Then you charge down to the lagoon to wash off; actually another (female this time) attendant washes you off, including ordering you to take off your bathing suit for rinsing. All in all it’s great fun.Another excursion we took was to Playa Blanca, a fabulous Caribbean beach. Be warned that the beaches and sea immediately off Cartagena are dirty and ugly so for a real Caribbean experience you must take a boat out 45 minutes to get to Playa Blanca or another beach.But most of all we loved strolling the streets, teeming with people, vendors, food and an amazing atmosphere. At night when the heat cools off somewhat to a more tolerable degree, the city is just magical. It’s just a great destination, and I’d go back tomorrow if I could !I’m also going to add some observations and tips, especially relevant if you’re travelling with kids.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; ">1. We felt totally safe all the time. The reality we saw and experienced was worlds away from all the terrible things you hear about Colombia. Just be sensible as you would in many other places.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; ">2. Unless you’re in an expensive hotel, breakfast may well be insufficient so be ready to stock up.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; ">3. The weather in Bogota is much the same all year round. Mild to cool so pack accordingly. My son wore 2 of my light sweatshirts as well as his coat. In Cartagena, it’s always blazing hot.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; ">4. The street food is excellent although there was a lot of things we did not try.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; ">5. In Cartagena drink a lot of water all the time. I can’t stress this enough.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; ">6. Don’t try mailing a letter in Colombia – they have an odd mail service, half privately run, so finding a post office is not worth the effort.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; ">7. For lunch, have the plato del dia. It’s an incredible deal including soup, main dish and drink for only about 3 dollars. We went to GCB (Gethsemani Cafe Bar) 5 days in a row for lunch ! Also in Cartagena, try as many of the different fruit drinks as youcan. It’s worth it. Our favorite was maracuya – passion fruit.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; ">8. In Cartagena, DO NOT take the package tours out to the Rosario islands. It’s a total rip off. Instead, get a boat out to Playa Blanca. Otherwise, you’ll sit on a very crowded boat for hours (as we did) instead of the beach.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; ">9. Taxis within Cartagena cost about $2.50 everywhere so don;’t let yourself be ripped off.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; ">10. Make sure you give yourselves plenty time to stroll the streets of Cartagena and Bogota. You’ll take in the great Colombian atmosphere.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; ">11. In Cartagena, the big Exito supermarket in El Centro is a good place to duck into to escape the heat. Because it’s so close to almost everything, it never feels out of the way. They have a cash machine, deli, international phone station and lots of cold drinks !</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; ">12. A good chain restaurant for families is Crepes and Waffles – big selection, not too expensive.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; ">13. Every internal flight we took was excellent and on time, including Avianca which I know has a mixed reputation.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; ">14. In Cartagena, especially with kids, it’s worth staying in a hotel with a pool, even a small one. One can feel pretty desperate about the heat.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; ">Overall, what we saw of Colombia we loved and I’d strongly recommend it. Let me know if you have any questions.</span></div>Quivertree Family Expeditionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02160565969804607202noreply@blogger.com5