Lostman's Star
Not all those who wander are lost, but I certainly am!
5 Travel Products you Don’t Need
I’ve already told you about the dangers of travel wallets, but there seem to be a lot of ‘must have’ travel gadgets out there that are, at least to me, riddiculously unnecessary. I’ve a list of 5 products here, and because of course I won’t leave you hanging, 5 alternative solutions to the problems these products ‘solve’.
#1. Packing Cubes
If you are heading out on a roadtrip, packing cubes are fine. A flight, not so much. Unless your’e willing to pay out the nose for luggage overages, you’ll need to keep your suit case under the airline’s weight and size allowances. Even if they’re light, packing cubes can take up a fair chunk of that weight. To keep things organised, put your pants at the bottom of your suitcase, your shirts next, and tuck your undergarments and socks along the sides. If your suitcase comes with extra pouches use those for your toiletries. If you want to keep your laundry seperate use one of these extra pouches or pack a plastic or cloth bag about the size one might use for groceries.
#2. Travel Door Alarm
These are tiny sensors which beep if your door is opened. They seem to be popular among solo female travellers though I can’t understand why. All they do is alert you to an open door. True it might scare someone off, but if they’re truly determined to harm you a beeping alarm probably won’t deter them. Instead, invest in a solid door stop. They’re slightly cheaper, and it will actually prevent someone from entering your room instead of just letting you know they already have. Put it under your door when you’re in your room, and put your still packed suitcase in front of it, on it’s side so that it won’t just wheel out of the way. If there is a chair in your room, you could also put that under the door knob and put your suitcase on it as extra weight.
#3. Mini Electric Toothbrush
My electric toothbrush is battery powered and perfectly portable. Just bring it, and an extra battery. You’ll be able to afford the weight now that you’ve saved space by leaving those packing cubes on the shelves where they belong. You could also just bring a manual toothbrush and save yourself the hassle.
#4. Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers
This one is my weakness. I rather want one for at home so I can jam to my tunes in the shower, but I just don’t think anyone really needs this when they travel, not even me! Even at the beach or a pool there’s a significant amount of land where any non-waterproof speaker should be safe.
#5. Mini Power Bank
Do not waste your money on a mini power bank they run out far too quickly. Invest in a big one. I have two and I keep them with me at most times, they’re a necessity in my travelling life and well worth the weight and money you will expend on them.
There you are dear reader! Five products that you don’t need and five alternatives that will hopefully enhace your post covid travels and keep your wallets safe from needless expenses! Stay home, wear a mask, wash your hands, and stay safe gentle readers.
Old Pompeii: The Dream
Normally I try to avoid talking about cities as a whole when I write about places I’ve been, but it’s almost impossible in this case. Old Pompeii was once a city, but now it is an excavation site. There are a lot of things to see, but each should be explored all at once. There are two versions of Pompeii; the historian’s dream, and the historian’s reality. This week we’ll focus on the dream. Positive stuff first, right?
The ash that enveloped Pompeii and Herculaneum did a magnificent job of preserving the town. A great many frescoes, buildings, and objects survived to show what life was like in Pompeii before the volcano erupted. It’s the next best thing to actual time travel!
You will find shops that once held the ancient equivilent of fast food, beautiful works of art, stones which were meant to be crosswalks when the rain filled the streets, and many more surprises in this ancient city; including an ingenious method of advertisement. Pompeii was known for it’s brothels back in the day, and so to advertise that fact as well as direct potential customers, there are various stones placed strategically around the city which depict phalluses. In the brothels themselves are frescoes above the doors of various rooms which depict which act it’s occupants were particularly good at.
These bits of Pompeii aren’t child friendly but there are plenty of other things for families to enjoy, including many villas with fountains still intact (thought not filled with water) and the infamous Cave Canem mosaics which tell passers by to beware, there is a dog guarding the home! If you want to impress your tour guide you can pronounce the warning in proper, classic latin; Kah-weh Kah-nehm. Latin did not have a ‘V’ sound, they’re pronounced as ‘W’s, and ‘C’s are always pronounced with the hard ‘K’ sound.
I remember getting an ice-cream cone when I was there, but after Covid I would expect that the food selection would be limited or none. Bring a lunch! Bring sunscreen and an umbrella to use as a parsole, too. It gets exceedingly hot during the day, the paving stones just reflect all that heat back up at you, and believe you me your legs will burn because of that reflected heat. Bring lots of water too so you don’t get dehydrated!
Next week we’ll be taking a look at the reality of pompeii, which is quite a bit darker than one might be lead to believe.
Lost’s Favourite Restaurants
The pandemic is hitting harder than ever. In Northern Ontario where I live the sun is barely coming out, and those of you who live in the the darker places of the world know what that means; a serious case of the winter blues. It’s not the healthiest habit in the world, but when I’m down and out I do enjoy a bit of comfort food from my favourite restaurants. I know that money is tight right now, but for those of us who can afford to do so I encourage you to support these restaurants if they’re local to you.
#1: The Wooden Whisk in Dublin, Ireland
I’ve posted about the Wooden Whisk before as one of my favourite places to get tea, but the lunch there is also very good. As far as I can see they’re open for delivery, dine in, and take-out food. I highly recommend the raspberry chocolate roulade, it changed my life as well as Arrows!
#2. The Sultan’s Tent in Toronto, Canada
I went there once over a decade ago but I still remember the experience so vividly. The food was delicious, the atmosphere sparkling and exotic, and the staff was excellent! This particular option is a bit pricey, so if right now isn’t a good time for your wallet save The Sultan’s Tent for after the pandemic, but go irregardless! It’s so good!
#3. Devil Burger in Queenstown, New Zealand
This restaurant would be my first stop if I ever went back to Queenstown; it’s been over a decade and I still remember the Dark Knight burger. I went there for lunch and dinner in the same day, it’s so good! I also remember calling my parents from one of their tables to tell Mom and Dad I was going bungee jumping. Good memories!
#4. Don Vincenzo’s in Rochester, England
I’ve had several birthday dinners in this restaurant and I can say that it is a bit pricy but well worth it. The food is delicious, and the staff are very friendly and accommodating. I only regret not going more! I’m not sure if they do take out, but I do know that when the UK lockdown lifts they have an outdoor seating area which you can request.
Next week I’ll be posting a list of my favourite small businesses, so be sure to come back next Tuesday for a list of amazing people who make amazing products!
The Royal Pavillion
This destination is for all the people who binged Bridgerton over the holidays. I didn’t love it, it started off strong but became extremely problematic later, but if you loved it the aesthetic and you’re looking for the real stories of the aristocracy of that period you’ll want to have a visit to the Royal Pavillion.
Construction started in 1781 but the palace came into its full glory around the 1820s as a seaside getaway for King George and Queen Charlotte. I’ve seen a few royal getaways and homes, but none of them quite compare to this place. The palace was designed to be ‘Asian’ inspired, as takes influences from all of Asia including China, Japan, India, and also from the Arabian Peninsula. Just keep in mind that it is built from the perspective of a Westerner, most if not all of those who participated in the construction and planning had never seen Asia. The influence came from Chinoiseries, the porcelain vases, plates, and bowls decorated with idyllic scenes of Asian life. They were very popular in England during this period.
When you first walk in the aura is one of cool calm. In fact I’ve decorated my bedroom in a muted style of this first jade room. The extravagance becomes more and more apparent the more you move through the palace, beginning with the dinning room and culminating in the music room. At one point the construction and maintenance of the palace, along with the spending habits of the King, bankrupted the nation. When you walk into the dinning room, it’s easy to see why.
You aren’t allowed to take pictures inside the palace, but honestly it doesn’t matter because no pictures I could take would ever do it justice. Even the photography books and post cards on sale in the gift shop don’t fully capture the grandeur of the palace. Look around, enjoy it, soak it in while you can.
If you are visiting Brighton after Covid this palace is well worth the £25 you’ll spend on it. The audio tour is a must, as is the cafe upstairs which sells simple meals, delicious cakes and tea. If you’re going to get high tea get it here! If the prices seem a bit steep to you just remember that this is the only royal palace in England which isn’t owned by the monarchy anymore. The people of Brighton voted to save it after it had been abandoned for years and now the money you pay to visit helps to support its maintenance.
After you’re done visiting the palace head on down to Brighton Pier for more adventures, or head up to The Stalls for some amazing shopping! The sea can bring in a breeze, so bring a light sweater, sunscreen, and a waterproof jacket just in case. You can walk pretty much everywhere in Brighton but there is a significant hill down to the water from the train station so bring good shoes, and as always, bring a water bottle to keep yourself hydrated!
5 Easy Ways to Spend Less on Flights
As an experienced traveler, I do love a good travel hack. I mean the good kind, not the ones that tell you to call around to all the airlines you want to fly with and demand free stuff because you have a successful instagram following, or those that tell you to get a very specific credit card that you can’t use until you have ten million points.
These are five easy travel hacks for the likes of normal people who are just getting started in the travel world and could use a bit of a hand navigating it. Best of all you can use them immediately; or at least when Covid is over.
#1. Plan your trip on a different device than you book on, or in a private/incognito window.
The prices of the flights and hotels will go up the more you search them. The price will also go up on Expedia when you’re getting yourself booked, that’s just the way of the world. When you are ready to book go onto a different computer entirely and book your trip there. If you can’t use a different device just keep it in incognito mode. It’s better for your cyber security anyway.
#2. Look for flights to different airports.
Wincing at the prices to fly into a major city? A quick google search will tell you if there are other international airports. If I flew into Heathrow every time I wanted to go to London my first trip would have been the only one. Fly into Gatwick instead and take the train into London. Is it a bit longer of a trip? Yes. Will you have to pay a bit more for the train? Yes. Is it worth it? YES! Flying to Gatwick regularly shaved a minimum of $200 Canadian off my flight prices, which more than enough to compensate for a £60 train ticket which got me all the way home, plus a cab if I didn’t feel like taking the bus.
#3. Use a booking site.
There are a lot of travel influencers who will tell you to book with the hotel directly, but they aren’t regular tourists. They can flash their instagram wherever they please and expect special treatment. For those of us who have no such gram, you can use a booking site to book your flights, hotels, cars, tours, and whatever else you want all in one go. Do that, and you’ll save a lot of money. Forest and I got to Bavaria, stayed in a hostel with a private room and bathroom, and went on several tours for under £800 tax included.
#4. Do your own online check in.
Twenty-Four hours before your flight leaves, check-in will be open. You can either have your passport and computer (or phone!) ready and waiting, or you can pay $50 for someone to do it at the airport. I’ve not once paid and I’ve never had a problem doing it myself, all you have to do is input a bit of information!
#5. Use your points.
On the offhand chance that you do have a credit card which gives you points, have a look at what they can be used for. You might not have enough for a flight, but you might be able to pay for other things like airport lounges, one or two nights at your hotel, or a variety of other bonuses. You could also keep saving and keep your points for future flights!
Of course these are all for use once lockdowns have passed and travel restrictions ease. Wash your hands, wear a mask, stay home, and stay safe gentle reader.
Happy New Year!
The year is now 2021, gentle readers. We have before 365 brand new pages on which to write whatever we wish. I hope that you find a way to fill your books with laughter, joy, accomplishments, love, and all that matters to you in this world. I hope that your new year resolutions will be for the betterment of yourself, your life, or the world at large, and I hope that whatever you resolve to do this year will be attained, maybe not easily but attained none the less.
As for my resolutions, they’re quite simple.
Laugh, travel (hopefully) and write more; worry, stagnate, and erase less.
And I resolve to lose all the weight I gained over the Christmas break, naturally.
Happy New Year, gentle readers, may you all be well.
5 Things travel will do to you
Travel marks you. It changes you as you go along. Some changes will be small, learning preferences or trivia facts, some will be large. Learning the extent of your capabilities and how far you will go … the further you travel, the more these things will begin to happen to you.
#1. Movies and TV shows will either be vastly improved or completely ruined.
Having seen sets from Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and various other historical locations which have been used for filming, you will either love that you know what’s there, or you won’t be able to suspend your disbelief. Personally I love the historical settings and knowing where the characters are in a certain scene, or being able to look into the background scenery of Jack Taylor and within the first few seconds say “Hey! That’s Galway!” There is however one movie wherein the filmmakers use an office which I have been in. It’s a ground level minicipal building which they tried to pass off as the 40th floor of a building in New York. My knowledge of the location ruined the scene. Sometimes it’s best not to know!
#2. It will change your perception of time.
Having lived in Canada most of my life the oldest thing I grew up seeing was a building constructed just after the second world war. In England I lived near an eleventh century castle and several shops that dated back to the Medieval era. During my travels I bought three news papers and a map which likely outdate every building in my current town. Your perception of how old or new things are will absolutely change when you travel.
#3. It will improve your self understanding.
You will come to know things about yourself that you might not otherwise. It could be very small things, like figuring out that you prefer the front of the bus to the back because your motion sickness isn’t as bad when you can look out the window; to the big things like realising that you don’t like the baroque style of architecture, what you like is actually called Rococo, and you will be decorating your house in that manner from now on. You will also develop a very clear timeline as to how long you can go without using the bathroom and just how much water you can consume without significantly throwing that timeline off.
#4. It will give you a better understanding of the significance of those around you.
If you’ve only ever lived in one small town where the opinions of one individual governs everything from the PTA meetings to what passes for ‘good Sunday clothes’ at church, you’d be forgiven for thinking that their opinions are very important. Travel might not rid them of that notion, but it will certainly show you just how short reached those opinions are.
#5. It will change your perception of how far something is.
I had to explain to some English children that I hadn’t seen the ocean until I was five years old, and that Forest hadn’t seen it until she was in her twenties, because to get to the ocean we would have had to drive for several days. They were confused, until I showed them a map. They asked if Ontario was Canada. Canada was literally too big for them to comprehend. I think it still is, and it will be, until they leave England, travel the world, and start changing their perceptions of the world.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Wishing all of my readers a very happy Christmas, a wonderful holiday, and a prosperous New Year.
Here’s hoping Covid has a 2021 expiration date.
Stay home, wash your hands, wear a mask, and stay safe gentle readers.
The covid Grinch
So I found out yesterday, just in time for the holidays, that there’s a new strain of Covid. Although we don’t know how severe it is in terms of symptoms it’s proven much more transmissible than the original strain. If it were any year other than 2020 I might say I was shocked.
It’s 2020. I’m not.
I still see people wandering around with no masks on or with masks not covering their noses. A full year into a global pandemic and some people still haven’t understood the concept that this virus is deadly, contagious, and an ongoing problem.
It’s not hard to extrapolate data from that; those are the people more likely to be travelling to see their family and friends this holiday season, and I just wanted, as a travel blog, to get this holiday message out there:
STAY HOME
It’s still not okay to travel. It’s still not okay to have large gatherings, or really even small ones. It’s still not okay to go out of town shopping for gifts. I’ll also say the thing everyone dreads saying: You shouldn’t be visiting family or friends for the holidays.
Do I sound like the Grinch? Absolutely, but I’ve not stolen anything.
The people who stole your celebratory plans are the ones who refused to wear a mask in public, who insisted this virus was a hoax, and who continue to have large gatherings despite being asked and told not to for the safety of public health.
I, too, would love to have a party. I would love to see my friends, be able to hug them, and spend the day laughing with them. I just happen to be of the opinion that one day of merriment isn’t worth putting them into hospital for. I want them to be able to taste their food when they come out. If they come out.
So here’s the simple, hard to hear truth; stay home, wash your hands, wear a mask, shop online where you can, and have your holiday meetings over facetime or zoom.
As always gentle reader if you need more information about the virus you can visit the websites for the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Government of Canada, or the World Health Organization. If you are looking for a qualified spokesperson to get your covid news from please listen to the latest interviews done by Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Royal Tyrrell Museum
As a child my parents used to take me often, perhaps every two weeks or so, to get some borrow some new books. To this day I still know my way to the shelf where one of my childhood favourites is kept. It’s a purple book about Velociraptors, and I loved to read and reread it. If it wasn’t available there was one about Allosaurus but it just wasn’t the same. If you couldn’t tell, I love dinosaurs.
That said, I remember that I had a lot of fun at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta when I went, and I was very sad to see that because of Covid it is temporarily closed. It’s for the best, but that still doesn’t ease my worry. They have a distance learning program, but it’s not quite the same.
For adults it’s a wonder to see the skeletons which are collected from the Albertan badlands, but I think every child should be given the opportunity to see this museum in person. You can get loads of information about the species that once inhabited North America, and you can learn all sorts of things about the life of these animals, the process of their extinction, their fossilization, excavation and reassembly, but that’s not really what you’re there for. You’re there for your imagination.
I remember looking up at some of the species and marveling at their size, staring in shock and awe at just how massive their heads were and their teeth. I’m really glad that I did see this museum as a child for the specific reason that the sheer size of these animals is permanently etched in my brain. I also remember being shown how to find dinosaur bones which to my childhood brain was one of the coolest things I’d ever experienced.
All this to say that if you have children, plan on having children, or want to reignite your childlike wonder, nothing is better than seeing dinosaurs at the Royal Tyrrell Museum. Check it our post Covid!
Lostman's Star 