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It Really Is Cheery

Burano…The Cheeriest Little Island

Burano, an island in the northern Venetian Lagoon, has been referred to as one of the most colorful places on earth. Approaching Burano from Venice, it’s easy to see why. Brightly colored houses, every single one of them, pop against the water of the channels. At first glance, their narrow streets and impossibly bright colors appear almost tropical. One more look and you feel like you’ve just stepped into a postcard view, as small boats line both sides of the canals and the bright colors rise above.

Legend has it the houses were painted brightly so returning fishermen could see them from long distances.

When you take the vaporetto from Venice, get off at the small island of Mazzorbo, just one stop before Burano. Walk past the 14th century church of Santa Caterina, a local vineyard, and a park. Cross the foot bridge connecting the two islands and it’s easy to walk the island from one end to the other. Check out the Museo del Merletto or lace museum, Galuppi Square, and the campanile of the San Martino church. Now take a look from another angle of the campenile and see how it leans. Yep, they have their own leaning tower.

The pace is slow here; slower than Venice. Flower boxes, overflowing with flowers, offer sweet scents. Laundry, hanging from second story windows, is just as common as open shutters. Bikes, sitting by doorways, wait for their owners. Cats, posing for their close-up photos, lazily groom their faces. This is a real island with real Venetians living their lives. You just happen to be their visitor for the day.

With tiny streets opening up to small squares and eventually to the island’s main square, you’ll find tourists mingling with locals chatting and drinking espresso or spritz. Elderly ladies work on their embroidery as children whisk in and out. Find a little wider spot and you’ll find an impromptu soccer game.

Lace making used to be a main industry with Burano lace exported worldwide. Leonardo da Vinci supposedly came here to shop for cloth to use at the main altar of the Duomo di Milano. Making lace was an exacting endeavor and each lady specialized in one stitch. One stitch. Each piece, tablecloth, or shawl required seven different ladies to complete the stitching. You can imagine how long it took to finish.

Today most inhabitants are fishermen and that’s why you’ll have a fantastic lunch of the freshest seafood. A couple of restaurants have been featured on food shows around the world. If you visit during a street market day, be sure to look at the fish to catch a glimpse of typical Venetian Lagoon seafood.

It won’t take you long to walk the entire island, but take some time to wander away from the main squares to find a small bar to sip your espresso or spritz and people watch. Eat lunch here and sample the local catch of the day or fantastic risotto.

Take photos…lots of photos. Remember, it’s one of the most colorful places in the world.

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Where’s Rudolph When You Need Him?

Traveling doesn’t have to be a hassle this holiday season.

Maybe you’re waiting until the new year to travel. Regardless of when you’re taking your next trip, some of these tips may save some time and frustration.

Check in online…

If you can, check in and print your boarding pass before you leave home. If you’re checking luggage, try the curbside luggage check in. Many times, it is quicker. If you can’t do this at home or at your hotel, use the self-service kiosks instead of standing in the longer lines.

Travel with a carry on bag…

If possible, try to pack only a carry on bag. You can save time by not standing in any lines to get your bags tagged. If this isn’t possible and you have heavy or numerous bags, look at shipping them ahead of time to your destination. It may save you some money and will definitely save time.

Better yet, if you’re taking gifts, why not just have them shipped when you order them? If you bought the gifts locally, good for you. Wrap them and ship from your home post office instead of packing them.

Drive and still have fun…

If your road trip is long, think about taking enough breaks so everyone isn’t stuck in the car for hours and hours. You might even find a halfway spot to stop and have some extra fun. If you’re traveling in or toward weather issues, check the weather before and during your trip. Your route may have to change.

Buy attraction tickets in advance…

Going somewhere lots of other people are going? Check online to see if you can buy your tickets ahead of time. Print them at home or arrange to pick them up at the will call booth.

Speaking of attractions…think about reversing the way you visit. When we would go to Disneyland, we’d head for the back corner and work our way to the front. Why? Because most people start at the front of an amusement park, zoo, or other attraction and work clockwise through it.

 

 

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My Shampoo Exploded…Again

Plastic Wrap for Packing

Who knew plastic wrap would come in handy when traveling?

If you’ve opened your toiletries bag, only to find one of your nice little bottles of shampoo or conditioner has leaked all over everything…you’ll appreciate this tip. Maybe it’s because of a change in altitude or because you have a faulty seal of the bottle. What to do?

Add a layer of plastic wrap under the cap of the bottle. This should help the leakage problem.

Traveling with jewelry and don’t have a jewelry wrap to keep your chains untangled? Place your jewelry on a sheet of plastic wrap. Roll it over and over until you have a fairly flat piece. Pack it in your carry on and off you go.

I’ve not tried this, but other travelers tell me it works. If you’re taking a banana for a snack, wrap a piece of plastic wrap around the stem. It keeps the banana from getting messy and apparently keep it fresher longer. Plus, you have something to wrap up the peel in when you’re finished eating it.

 

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What…I Can’t Take That Through Security?

TSA’s 5 Holiday Travel Tips to Get Through Security

These are always good tips, but especially important during this time of year.

  1. Get to the airport early

The Transportation Security Administration, TSA, recommends you arrive at least two hours early if you’re flying domestic and three hours for international travel. So, plan even further ahead. There will be more people on the road, more people parking, more looking for Uber, longer rental car return lines, and people who only travel once a year.

  1. Use your time in the checkpoint line wisely

Again, always a good idea. While waiting in what may be a long line, empty your pockets and put loose items into your carry-on bag. This will save you time because you won’t have to put small stuff into a TSA bin and then have to empty it on the other side. Get your boarding pass and identification out. Make electronics larger than a cellphone easily accessible. New TSA regs this year require you to put them in a bin with nothing else around them.

  1. If you are traveling with gifts, don’t wrap them with wrapping paper and tape

Sounds crazy. Right. Though it’s not illegal to bring wrapped gifts through security, they could cause delays. If your bag is flagged during the X-ray screening, officers will need to thoroughly check all items in your bag. That means unwrapping any presents you have. If you need to wrap presents ahead of time, the TSA suggests you use a gift bag or box.

Oh…those snow globes. Guess what? They have liquid. If you’re carrying one as a gift, make sure it contains less than 3.4 liquid ounces.

  1. Traveling with food items during the holiday is OK

Many people wonder whether they can bring food, and the answer is yes. The TSA has specific guidelines that address this rule. If the food item is a solid, like cookies, pie, or a ham, you can pack it in your carry-on bag. But if the food is spreadable or pourable, then it must contain no more than 3.4 liquid ounces. The agency says if you’re unsure, consider this: If you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it, pack it in your checked bag.

  1. Don’t bring along prohibited items

It seems like common sense, but every day the TSA finds banned items that passengers say they mistakenly left in their carry on. It happened to me. I had a corkscrew that had traveled with me for years. It never created a problem…until one time. Something about it TSA didn’t like, or maybe it’s new regs. In any case…don’t put it in your carry on.

Lastly, an extra tip. Though you can’t bring bottled water through security, you can drink it while in line and then refill the bottle on the other side. This will save you a few dollars before you take off.

 

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Restaurant Review…in Agay, France

Restaurant La Galere, Agay

By Wendy VanHatten

Agay may not be on your radar when visiting the south of France. You may not have even heard of it. But, you should take time to look it up.

Then, take time to stop here at Restaurant La Galere for lunch, dinner, drinks, dessert, or all of the above. You’ll thank me.

When traveling and we see locals eating at a café, wine bar, bistro, or restaurant…we figure it has to be worth stopping. This one was recommended, so we thought we’d try it. Locals mixed with regular holiday-goers to the South of France. French was definitely the language of choice. And, that’s okay. The menu on the board out front was in French. These are the places we like.

I’m not going to France to find American food and an American only menu!

Our waitress helped my weak French skills as we looked over the choices. Rick’s fish was crispy on the outside and flaked delicately off the bones. My crispy duck breast, cooked medium, was delightful on its own. When I dipped it in a tangy, almost bitter orange sauce, it melted in my mouth.

French Rose was the perfect choice for both dishes. I mean, we are in the south of France. And, it’s warm out.

Dessert of rich, vanilla crème brulee and espresso made me extra glad we opted to stop and eat here.

 

If You Go: Restaurant La Galere is located at 54 Avenue du Cap-Roux, Agay, France