tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-298570584100905382024-03-28T23:29:49.732-04:00Bits and PiecesTravel, photography, marketing communications and other topics I know something about.Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-16963638270338764872016-07-17T00:30:00.000-04:002019-12-02T18:52:15.351-05:00What You Need to Know About Renting a Vacation Home<div class="MsoNormal">
A few years ago, I wrote an <a href="http://joannedrummond.blogspot.com/2012/08/live-like-native-on-vacation-rent.html" target="_blank">article</a> recommending that travelers
rent an apartment to better experience local living while on vacation. Since
then, the short-term term rental industry has exploded in popular tourist
destinations, thanks to online services like AirBnB, VRBO, HomeAway and similar
online services. As a result, I will never rent a whole home again. After
reading about the effect this industry has had on many cities, I hope you will
feel the same way.</div>
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AirBnB started out as a guy who rented an air mattress in
his apartment to tourists visiting San Francisco to make enough money to cover
the bills. The company still insists the majority of its hosts are people who
rent out part of their home. The reality is that most of the properties are
whole homes that are not occupied by the owners, and many of the owners have a
large number of houses and apartments listed on this site and others. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Know the Risks</b></div>
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Privately owned properties can be more affordable to rent than a hotel, but that’s
often because they are not paying taxes like hotels do. They are also not
subject to safety inspections like hotels, so you never know what condition the
home is in until you actually show up. If the place does not meet your
expectations, it’s usually too late to find another one, and you are definitely
not going to get a refund. If there is a fire or other catastrophe,
the owners are probably not insured to operate as a hotel, so your belongings
would not be covered if they were destroyed. <o:p></o:p>If you aren’t concerned, consider the home in New Orleans without smoke alarms and bars on the windows where a fire started and the guests barely made it out alive. </div>
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If you stay in a hotel, the staff is always available to
provide directions, daily maid service, room service, recommendations for
places to eat and tour and other important information about the area. You will
usually have nothing more than a combination to a lockbox when you arrive at a
whole home rental. Nobody will tell you which areas are safe to walk in and what
you can do to avoid crime, which is a concern in any city.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Housing Crisis</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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In addition to the negative aspects that travelers face when
renting a whole home, the housing market in many popular destinations like
Paris, New York, San Francisco, Barcelona and New Orleans have been devastated
as property owners have evicted tenants in favor of the higher prices they can
charge to short-term renters. Low income service workers, artists and
entertainers who used to live and work in tourist areas have been forced out of
the area and must take long bus rides or pay high parking rates when
driving to work. </div>
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The dream of owning a home in these areas is now out of reach
for most, and many homeowners are being forced to sell because they can no
longer afford the property taxes. The popular French Quarter in New Orleans,
which used to have about 6,000 residents, now has about 1,000 and has lost much
of its neighborhood feel as the area has become a large center for illegal hotels. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Neighborhood Impact</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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With fewer full-time residents in the neighborhood, crime
tends to increase as there are fewer neighbors to look out for each other and
take note of who doesn’t belong. The problem is exacerbated by tourists who
attract criminals by carrying large amounts of cash and flashing valuables like
cameras and cell phones. With their carefree on-vacation attitude, often fueled
by alcohol, they are easy prey. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As a resident of an area frequented by tourists, I have
first-hand experience with the negative impact of whole-home rentals. Each
weekend brings a new set of strangers to the units next to and beneath mine.
While the building does have a locked security door, it can’t prevent strangers
from entering when my neighbors give them a key. Some of the people are nice,
but many are not, and a number have been downright frightening. On several
occasions I have looked out the window and discovered strangers peering in, so
I have been forced to put up a sign asking people to respect my privacy. When
people are around, I have to close the shutters, so I feel like I am living in
a cave. I have been awakened on several nights at 4 or 5 in the morning by
drunken guests stumbling up the stairs and screaming like maniacs. Other times
I have come through the gate and been followed by people who could be guests or
criminals. When I’ve asked them where they were staying, I have been met with anything
from rudeness to downright belligerence as if I am the one who doesn’t belong.
People have left cigarettes and half-empty drinks on my window sill and the
table beneath my window, thrown trash in the courtyard and basically treated
the place like it’s a hotel with 24/7 maid service. One night a guest was
beating his girlfriend in the unit beneath me, and another time, a guy dropped
a bottle off the balcony just seconds after I passed beneath it. If these
situations had taken place at a hotel or a home with an on-site owner, they
would have been addressed immediately; however, with nobody on the premises, my
only option is to track down the owners, but it’s become pointless because the
guests will be gone in a day or so and a new bunch will be in there a few days
later. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Cities Cracking Down</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Many city governments are waking up to the reality of the
negative impact that short-term whole-home rentals are having and are starting
to take action. Since the practice is already illegal in most areas, cities
like New York and Paris are setting high fines for violators. They are also requiring
platforms like AirBnB to collect taxes, which puts properties closer to the
price range of hotels. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Where to Stay</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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If you are still looking into a short-term property rental
for your next trip, please consider the impact your choice will have on the
city you will be visiting. By renting a room in someone’s home, you can be
helping him or her to continue to live there. By staying in a whole home, you
could be the reason why someone lost his home. <o:p></o:p></div>
Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-20592532972554201512013-03-03T20:01:00.000-05:002013-03-03T22:04:55.243-05:00Vive le Carnaval de Nice<br />
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When most Americans hear the term Mardi Gras, they think of the
wild partying that goes on in New Orleans on the day before Ash Wednesday.
However, Mardi Gras is part of a season of partying that takes place in the
Crescent City, and it’s just as popular in other parts of the world. The festival dates
back to the thirteenth century in Nice, France, which is considered one of the
first cities to hold the event. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If you’re looking for a fun winter getaway in a mild
climate, Carnaval season is an excellent time to visit the South of France. It
usually runs from late February to early March, when temperatures are in the
upper 50s to low 60s, and the sun is generally shining. While the price of
lodging is higher than the rest of winter, it’s still cheaper than the summer
months. In addition, flights are much cheaper, and other than Carnaval events,
crowds are significantly thinner. While the temperature is not quite high enough for sunbathing, it’s
still nice enough to enjoy a stroll or a bike ride on the Promendae des
Anglais, the pedestrian area that runs along the sea. You can also relax with a
picnic on the beach or a drink at one of the beachfront cafés.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FMrax0F4x2dE7qBAcoAqlS4ymXUZu_Gsi5TAaxSiqq6Kyeu57Lqu5KeAlQst5LpDUEtIY3b_ZwPxruq0KH8WAwceqPB4PpcQgYoTY5gbvhyphenhyphenvIhKN45BRUoahBpNVqtxlM5Z4SO10LpA/s1600/6922750121_8c41214dbb_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FMrax0F4x2dE7qBAcoAqlS4ymXUZu_Gsi5TAaxSiqq6Kyeu57Lqu5KeAlQst5LpDUEtIY3b_ZwPxruq0KH8WAwceqPB4PpcQgYoTY5gbvhyphenhyphenvIhKN45BRUoahBpNVqtxlM5Z4SO10LpA/s320/6922750121_8c41214dbb_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Performers at the Bataille de Fleurs</td></tr>
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<b>The Carnaval experience</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Carnaval is fun for both adults and kids. The festival
starts off with opening ceremonies on a Friday night at Place Masséna, one of
the most beautiful squares in Europe. People come from miles around to enjoy the circus
performers, music, dancing, fireworks and super-charged atmosphere. Throughout
Carnaval, visitors can attend daily events until the closing ceremony, including the nighttime parades called the Carnavalesque Illuminés
or the daytime Batailles de Fleurs, which are best described as a scaled-back
version of the American Rose Parade.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Carnaval traditions</b><br />
While Carnaval in Nice and Mardi Gras in New Orleans are
held for the same reasons, the traditions are a bit different. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyG2neoy5zoVNTrJX7XHyG-tE2n8LqvG-lP4M6LRa2-QVTj1YC34fTBcjNvGqc4P49boe53TwKk49DAA-2Xm5WYNJQCYIbFnoW8V17qUV57jBrUB-E_49EMFNTCWulwTsqymYDsSPJQj4/s1600/IMG_5954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyG2neoy5zoVNTrJX7XHyG-tE2n8LqvG-lP4M6LRa2-QVTj1YC34fTBcjNvGqc4P49boe53TwKk49DAA-2Xm5WYNJQCYIbFnoW8V17qUV57jBrUB-E_49EMFNTCWulwTsqymYDsSPJQj4/s320/IMG_5954.JPG" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mardi Gras mask</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li>You won’t find
women exposing themselves for beads in Nice, but everyone in the crowd will
try to catch the flowers thrown from the floats during the Bataille de Fleurs.</li>
<li>On Mardi Gras, New Orleanians enjoy king cake, but in France,
this treat is served on January 6, the feast of the Epiphany. Pancakes are common for dinner in both cities, but in Nice, where they are known as crêpes,
they are flat and stuffed with meat and vegetables. Dessert crêpes are sweet and covered with a variety of toppings, including fruit, jelly, Nutella or powdered sugar. Fried dough, similar to the
beignets found in New Orleans are another Mardi Gras treat sold in all the
bakeries in Nice.</li>
<li>Whether you are in new Orleans, Nice or any other city that
celebrates Mardi Gras season, you will find the famous Mardi Gras masks and
fun-loving people dressed in crazy costumes.</li>
<li>In addition to throwing confetti, spraying silly string at
other Carnaval-goers is a popular tradition in Nice. Since there are vendors
selling cans on almost every corner, it’s easy to join in the fun.</li>
</ul>
<b>More interesting Carnaval facts</b><o:p></o:p><br />
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<ul>
<li>At least 75 percent of the plants and flowers that cover the
floats that participate in the daily Bataille de Fleurs parades in Nice are
grown in the region. The floats cover the parade route several times until the
people aboard them have tossed all of the flowers to the crowd.</li>
<li>Most of the parade participants are circus and carnival
performers who come from other parts of Europe and the rest of the world.</li>
<li>Carnaval attracts more than a million visitors every year.</li>
<li>Many neighborhoods throughout the city throw their own
traditional celebrations throughout Carnaval season. Schedules are available throughout the city.</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0g2hU2gnuZq_AaL-HdUH0oU8bRZxMlvell6z7aYVlG6l3KtmOwhIALKD-ouwtcvp6se677qJ_KbKE4YDj1F7jpH-M8hyphenhyphenyiEgbaDVf6r6_Kh8UosoF8Ld60V2k7gmLWr7yfB3BoiMn1o/s1600/IMG_6440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0g2hU2gnuZq_AaL-HdUH0oU8bRZxMlvell6z7aYVlG6l3KtmOwhIALKD-ouwtcvp6se677qJ_KbKE4YDj1F7jpH-M8hyphenhyphenyiEgbaDVf6r6_Kh8UosoF8Ld60V2k7gmLWr7yfB3BoiMn1o/s320/IMG_6440.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bataille de Fleurs, Villefranche</td></tr>
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<br />
If you're going to Carnaval, you can also enjoy some nearby festivals that take place at the same time:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The <a href="http://www.fete-du-citron.com/#googletranslate" target="_blank">Lemon Festival</a>, which celebrates the special lemons grown in the area, takes place in Menton, a lovely city about 30 minutes from Nice by train. </li>
<li>Villefranche sur Mer, a stunning seaside village five minutes by train from Nice, has a one-day Bataile de Fleurs that takes pace on the waterfront. Ask for the date at the tourist office. </li>
</ul>
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<b>Ready to go?</b><br />
Carnaval season ends this year on March 6, but it takes place every year, so you can start panning for next year. The Nice
Convention and Visitors Bureau has produced a <a href="http://www.nicecarnaval.com/en/carnaval/programme-tarifs.php" target="_blank">website</a> with plenty of information on this year’s Carnaval,
and it should be updated for 2014 in a few months. <br />
<br />
If you're looking for lodging, be sure to read my <a href="http://joannedrummond.blogspot.com/2012/08/live-like-native-on-vacation-rent.html" target="_blank">previous post on renting an apartment</a>.<br />
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Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com2Baltimore, MD, USA39.2903848 -76.61218930000001139.093742299999995 -76.9349128 39.4870273 -76.289465800000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-74984552682572873302013-01-16T17:00:00.000-05:002019-05-08T01:27:16.679-04:00Cinque Terre Travel Tips<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.joannedrummond.com/p101811220/e52791b14" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="photo of Riomaggiore" border="0" src="http://www.joannedrummond.com/img/s2/v72/p1383668500-11.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riomaggiore</td></tr>
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Cinque Terre, the five cliffside villages on the Italian
Riviera is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an entry on the bucket list of many
travelers. If you’re going to Italy, it’s worth the effort to make side trip to
the Ligurian region, where you can enjoy the spectacular natural beauty of this
national park as well as the scenic villages of Santa Margherita and Portofino,
which are about an hour away by train.<br />
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<b>Getting there</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Most travelers find the most affordable way to arrive in
Italy is to take a plane to Rome. From there, you can rent a car and drive from
city to city on your own schedule. You can also take the train, which takes
about seven hours. The closest major city is Genoa, about two hours away by
train. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Where to stay</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel Italia in Rapallo</td></tr>
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To get a better view of the entire region, I searched online
for a hotel in Santa Margherita. While there are plenty of hotels in this town,
they tend to be rather pricey, so I settled on <a href="http://www.italiaelido.com/eng/" target="_blank">Hotel Italia e Lido</a> in Rapallo, the quiet seaside village next to
Santa Margherita. I was thrilled with my choice. A five-minute walk from the
train station, the hotel is on the seaside overlooking a small castle built to
defend the village against pirates in the fifteenth century. Rooms are clean
and comfortable, and there’s even a free hot breakfast buffet and wifi in
public areas. Since I was traveling in September, the hotel was not fully
booked, so I got a free upgrade to a sea-view room, where I enjoyed my evenings
sitting on the small terrace sipping wine and tasting cheese from the nearby
shop. Talk about la dolce vita! <o:p></o:p></div>
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From Rapallo, you can take the bus or small boat that runs
throughout the day to Santa Margherita and Portofino. I recommend walking along
the seaside to Santa Margherita, which takes about 30 minutes to an hour,
depending on how often you stop for pictures. Just be sure you walk before
sunset because there is a stretch without a sidewalk that can be pretty
dangerous after dark. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Note that there are no roads in some of the villages, so
it’s best to take a train. To go from Rapallo to Cinque Terre, take the train
to Riomaggiore, the farthest village, which takes about an hour. You can also
take a boat that will stop in one or two of the villages, but if you want to
walk from village to village, or if you want to see all the villages, the only
option is to take the train. Schedules are posted in all the stations. If
you’re coming from the east, take the train from LaSpezia. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Seeing Cinque Terre</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch in Riomaggiore</td></tr>
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Plan to spend at least a full day visiting Cinque Terre,
especially if you are hiking between the villages. When you get off the train
at Riomaggiore, you will find a tourist information window outside the station, where you can ask for a map. If you want to do the hike, you will climb some
stairs to the starting point, where you will buy you ticket (€5). Before
starting the hike, be sure to visit this fascinating village. You can either
take a short walk through the tunnel from the train station or wander around the
side of the cliff, which offers a spectacular view of the harbor and sea. If
you have difficulty with stairs, be sure to take the tunnel. For a treat, stop
for lunch at one of the cafés overlooking the harbor. You can also find picnic
fixings in some of the shops and have lunch along the seaside.</div>
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If you don’t have time to visit all the villages, be sure to
make a stop in Vernazza. This scenic village has a lovely harbor and beach, a
delightful place to stop at a café for a glass of wine, some ice cream or a
meal. You can also climb up the cliff to visit an old castle and enjoy the view
of the sea and the town below. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Note that when you buy your train tickets to and from
Riomaggiore, you can use them for up to six hours from the time you validate
them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Other Sites to See</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo of Porto Venere" border="0" src="http://www.joannedrummond.com/img/s4/v68/p1383684604-11.jpg" title="" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porto Venere</td></tr>
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Not far from the Cinque Terre area is Porto Venere, a scenic village
with tiny streets, ancient ruins, a beautiful port and seaside cafés. Some say
this village is more beautiful than Cinque Terre. Be sure to visit and decide
for yourself. The ferry that runs among the villages of Cinque Terre also
visits Porto Venere. In addition, you can take a boat on a day trip from the
same place where you pick up the boats that operate in Rapallo and Santa
Margherita. <a href="http://www.traghettiportofino.it/index.php" target="_blank">This cruise</a>
includes commentary in Italian and English, and it makes a brief stop in one of
the villages in Cinque Terre. This cruise isn’t available every day, so be sure
to stop by the ticket booth to find out when it runs. Also, if the captain
decides the sea is too rough, the cruise will be canceled, so tickets are only sold shortly before the boat departs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The first time I tried to take the cruise, it was canceled,
but I quickly and easily made it to the train station, bought a ticket to
Riomaggiore and found my way there. I met several other people who were making the
same journey, so we found our way together and ended up running into each other throughout the day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After wearing yourself down in Cinque Terre, you can take a
relaxing stroll through the towns of Rapallo, Santa Margherita, Portofino and
Frutuosso. Again, it’s simple to take the boats, which run about once an hour.
Just be sure to check the schedule to avoid getting stranded in another town. Depending on what you
want to see and do, covering these towns will take a day or two. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>More Tips</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>Cafés and restaurants in Italy have a cover charge for table
service. The fee is generally about €1.50 per person, but runs around €3 in
some places like Portofino, a more popular spot on the Italian Riviera. In
fact, everything in Portofino costs a lot more, so if you’re trying to save
money, don’t plan to eat here.</li>
<li>Be sure to stroll up the hill above Portofino to visit the
Church of St. George and Castello Brown. If you still have any energy, hike out
to the lighthouse.</li>
<li>Buying train tickets in smaller Italian towns can be a
challenge if you don’t speak the language. I have yet to find a ticket seller
who speaks anything but Italian. If you’re lucky, you can find another person
in line who speaks English and will help you translate. Otherwise, you can
write down the name of the town where you’re going. If the ticket window is
closed, you can use the machine, which offers information in English, but you
will need a credit card with chip and PIN technology.</li>
<li>Before boarding the train, you must validate your ticket by
placing it in the small device usually found just outside the ticket office. If
you present a ticket that hasn’t been validated to the conductor, you could be
thrown off the train and face an expensive fine.</li>
<li>Be sure to try pansotti cum salsa di noci, a specialty of
the Ligurian region recommended by someone who grew up in the area. It’s a mild
ravioli-like pasta with walnut sauce, and it’s delicious.</li>
</ul>
<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’ve visited the Ligurian region of Italy, please share
any additional tips you have for other travelers. If you haven’t been there,
but would like to go, feel free to post your questions, and I’ll be happy to
respond. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://photos.joannedrummond.com/p101811220" target="_blank">See more of my photos from Italy.</a></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com57Baltimore, MD, USA39.2903848 -76.61218930000001139.093742299999995 -76.9349128 39.4870273 -76.289465800000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-49804636512822522192012-12-28T15:37:00.001-05:002014-01-07T20:05:18.296-05:00A Grammar Checklist <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
As 2012 draws to a close, you're bound to read all sorts of top-ten lists. I will leave you with Grammarly's Top Ten Grammar Peeves. There are no celebrities on this list, but it's still good, so be sure to give it a read. Feel free to add your own grammar peeves in the comments section.<br />
<br />
Happy New Year, everyone!<br />
<br />
UPDATE: Sorry, the original article is no longer available.Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com1Baltimore, MD, USA39.2903848 -76.61218930000001139.093742299999995 -76.9349128 39.4870273 -76.289465800000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-51804709597121628372012-12-21T19:19:00.000-05:002012-12-22T15:46:19.252-05:00The Wine’tastic Mile Is Baltimore’s Latest Attraction <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmO5PsEsbpUMEEZrF3xHkFhW12LnvE2dgK49Z-hYLofZFvqFCF5Nnqymaa2Q1op9Q7ft8I_l2XfXhMLJcXZNhuw4mQ8GmSN2UN9kGs6u5G-4UNNbl4v8fQ7llQOtGL3qLWVnEo1BYZnQ/s1600/IMG_9079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmO5PsEsbpUMEEZrF3xHkFhW12LnvE2dgK49Z-hYLofZFvqFCF5Nnqymaa2Q1op9Q7ft8I_l2XfXhMLJcXZNhuw4mQ8GmSN2UN9kGs6u5G-4UNNbl4v8fQ7llQOtGL3qLWVnEo1BYZnQ/s320/IMG_9079.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wine'tastic Mile sign was unveiled 12/12/12.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many cities are known for a street that has become a tourist
attraction: Broadway in New York, Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, Bourbon Street
in New Orleans, the Champs-Elysées in Paris. When Derrick Vaughn thought about
all the fine restaurants along Baltimore’s Pratt Street, the road that runs along
the Inner Harbor, he decided to take on the project of marketing the area as a wining and dining destination, giving both visitors and locals another reason to visit the downtown area of Charm City.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In June of this year, Vaughn launched the Wine’tastic Mile
to promote the 1.3-mile stretch of Pratt Street from Martin Luther King
Boulevard to Harbor East with a wine walk and the approval of the City of Baltimore.
The organization’s activities include setting up events, such as wine tastings
and food and wine pairings at participating sites for individuals and groups.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Vaughn, who has extensive experience in fine food and wine, has
a vested interest in making the Wine’tastic Mile a hit. He owns and
operates the charming and popular <a href="http://www.cbwinebar.com/" target="_blank">Corner Bistro and Wine Bar</a> in Ridgely’s Delight, where the Wine’tastic Mile
begins. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Based on his success with the restaurant, things are looking good for
Downtown Baltimore diners and wine lovers. I’m looking forward to swirling down
Pratt Street.<o:p></o:p></div>
Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com2Baltimore, MD, USA39.2903848 -76.61218930000001139.093742299999995 -76.9349128 39.4870273 -76.289465800000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-9045773638493778432012-12-14T12:45:00.001-05:002012-12-14T12:52:32.578-05:00There’s More to Coffee than Meets the Eye … and the Taste Buds<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Jimmy Kimmel Show recently ran a taste test to
compare Starbucks’ new product that costs $7 per cup to a standard brew. There
was no general consensus as to which was the higher quality cup, although most
testers chose one or the other as the finer selection. One blue collar type
admitted that he couldn’t tell the difference. The guy was actually right. Both
samples were the same bean, and it wasn’t the fancy Starbucks variety.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qygem1cyeETPOabTHsfjADBv1kvTtdXWDeeBbGOnPkFAf8H61Ue03vtWiHHYh5hwUthYpOk200PYJmiRbqELauFrvjLNdBS6K8ncm0Vk8u4aAt_t2FsIA9ddx-k6dwsO2oBMS-Zm8mk/s1600/IMG_8994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qygem1cyeETPOabTHsfjADBv1kvTtdXWDeeBbGOnPkFAf8H61Ue03vtWiHHYh5hwUthYpOk200PYJmiRbqELauFrvjLNdBS6K8ncm0Vk8u4aAt_t2FsIA9ddx-k6dwsO2oBMS-Zm8mk/s320/IMG_8994.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sampling the new coffee flavors. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So why are we paying so much for coffee if there seems to be
no difference? Is it the branding, or is there really a difference in coffee
beans? To find out, I headed over to the <a href="http://sidewalkespresso.com/" target="_blank">Sidewalk Espresso Bar</a>, the new coffee shop in my neighborhood, for a coffee cupping.
That’s the term the pros use when referring to a formal way of evaluating
coffee without a filter. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ronnie, an expert at <a href="http://ceremonycoffee.com/" target="_blank">Ceremony Coffee Roasters</a> in Annapolis, Md., which
supplies Sidewalk, educated us on the finer points of coffee. He explained that
there are differences in coffee beans depending on where they are grown. Farm
altitude, harvest time and weather conditions are some of the factors that
influence the taste. Ronnie noted that all specialty coffees are picked by
hand. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a specialty roaster, Ceremony wants customers to have the
finest possible experience with every cup, just as a connoisseur feels about his wine. The buyers acquire an eight-month supply of the best beans available because
they lose their superior flavor if used after that point. The experts at Ceremony
roast a small supply of each bean three ways, choosing the best profile to
process the rest for sale. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The cupping process</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just like wine tasting, there is a method for tasting coffee.
The entire process should take no longer than 15 minutes. Following are the
highlights:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Step 1:</b> Place the ground coffee in the cup, sniff it and
evaluate the aroma. Is it roasty, fruity, floral, etc.? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Step 2: </b>Pour the hot water into the cup. It should be about
200 degrees Fahrenheit. When the coffee has settled, put your head close to the
cup, use a spoon to break the crust that has formed on top and push the spoon
away, inhaling the aroma of the coffee. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Step 3:</b> Scoop the remaining grounds from the top of the cup.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Step 4: </b>Taste the coffee by taking a spoonful at a time from
the top of the cup and slurp away so that the coffee covers your tongue. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Tips for killer coffee</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’re not a coffee connoisseur, and you just want your
morning java jolt, Ronnie offers these tips to help make it tastier:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Use a clean cup.</li>
<li>Drink coffee when it’s freshly brewed, before the aromatics
escape into the room.</li>
<li>While water should be 200 degrees for pouring, wait a few
minutes for it to cool off. If it’s too hot, you won’t be able to taste the
full flavor. Scalding your tongue isn’t fun either.</li>
<li>Use filtered water, not tap or distilled. Since 99.6 percent
of the drink is water, using the proper type makes a huge difference.</li>
<li>The type of filter you use affects the taste of the coffee.
Paper filters provide more flavor and less body. A French press offers more
body and less flavor.</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t know too many people who would be willing to pay $7
for a cup of coffee, but after the cupping, one taster said he’ll never buy
generic again. I’ll drink to that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com1Baltimore, MD 39.2903848 -76.612189339.1920723 -76.7701178 39.3886973 -76.4542608tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-11044702326106011552012-12-07T12:40:00.000-05:002012-12-07T12:45:15.137-05:00Sweet Holiday Treat: The Union Square Cookie Tour<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like every large city, my town of Baltimore has its holiday
traditions: the lighting of the Washington Monument, the Mayor’s Parade, the
Santa House and the nationally acclaimed <a href="http://christmasstreet.com/" target="_blank">Miracle on 34th Street</a>. This Sunday, December 9, the community of Union
Square will hold its 27<sup>th</sup> annual Holiday Cookie Tour at which guests
will tour about 20 homes throughout the neighborhood, receiving a homemade
cookie at each house. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCdAZlr74nsQJZHvgXk34bY1kQBaCnIVWhN5UVenT84SVcI7A-Uxmmyf3Whqd0YL9oM57ctcaYY7kafAiKEnJWaspnZK7yCNj3nE6lH2k2XjWyWM-Yex1JStawxXKMbM9pgJ9pB_D4dk/s1600/IMG_8549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCdAZlr74nsQJZHvgXk34bY1kQBaCnIVWhN5UVenT84SVcI7A-Uxmmyf3Whqd0YL9oM57ctcaYY7kafAiKEnJWaspnZK7yCNj3nE6lH2k2XjWyWM-Yex1JStawxXKMbM9pgJ9pB_D4dk/s320/IMG_8549.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scene from the Cookie Tour</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Walking through this southwest Baltimore neighborhood, which
is on the National Registration of Historic Places and was once home to H.L.
Mencken, is a special experience on any day. The Victorian streetscape is
comprised of huge houses in Federal, Greek Revival and Italianate architecture.
During the tour, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy the true creativity of
homeowners, which is exemplified inside the houses. With styles ranging from traditional Victorian to ultra modern, all of them look like they are straight out of a magazine. That
makes each house a must-see, even for those who aren’t in it for the cookies.<br />
<br />
If the stunning architecture isn’t enough, meeting the friendly folks of Union
Square is a treat in itself. All the hosts are happy to welcome guests and answer questions about the history of their houses, the renovations and the neighborhood in general. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Cookie Tour is a major event in Union Square.
Participating homeowners spend months making repairs and updates to their
homes, and they bake enough cookies to serve each of their 500 guests. All of
the proceeds from the tour go to the community association, which plans
neighborhood beautification projects, including the recently restored fountain
and community Christmas tree in the park. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A lot of work goes into making the Cookie Tour a successful
event that both the neighborhood and visitors are happy to continue, from
recruiting volunteers to open their homes to printing the guidebooks to
promoting the event to setting up the ticket office. Surprisingly, Chairperson
Fran Rahl says that he and his committee of only about a half dozen handled it all after
only one meeting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tickets for the Union Square are $20 per person and are
available for cash or check at 1401 Hollins Street, beginning at 11:30 on the
day of the tour. <a href="http://union-square.us/cookietour.html" target="_blank">They are also available online</a> at a discounted rate until Saturday. If you buy online,
bring your receipt to 1401 Hollins to pick up your guidebook, which includes a
map of the houses on the tour and serves as your ticket. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This event is a win-win situation. Not only do you get to spend the afternoon getting into the Christmas spirit, but you can get a pile of delicious homemade cookies without setting foot in the kitchen. Count me in.<o:p></o:p></div>
Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com0Baltimore, MD 39.2903848 -76.612189339.1920723 -76.7701178 39.3886973 -76.4542608tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-89473190809803667852012-11-29T13:25:00.000-05:002012-11-30T12:47:19.995-05:00Finding the Heart of New Orleans Outside the French Quarter<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last week, I took a trip “down yonder to Old New Orleans”
after finding great deals for travel on off days during the holiday week. I am
happy to report that this vacation spot is better than ever after Katrina. With
the Super Bowl coming to the Crescent City this February, the city is hard at
work repaving roads, upgrading the streetcar system and making other
improvements to infrastructure. The shops and galleries of the French Quarter,
the main draw for tourists, are open now that most of the proprietors have returned after the
storm. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/p377996304/e4d827b64" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/img/s4/v66/p1300396900-11.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heart NOLA</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I first visited New Orleans, the main attraction for me
was the historic architecture of the Vieux Carré, which reflects the French,
Spanish and Caribbean people who originally settled in the city. If you visit
during the week, especially after Mardi Gras or in the fall, it’s possible to
take a pleasant stroll down quiet streets and enjoy the mild weather. After
having my fill of café au lait and beignets at Café du Monde as well as the
stumbling drunks and cover bands of Bourbon Street, I decided to venture out of
the French Quarter to discover what goes on outside the tourist zone. That’s
how I discovered that the true strength of New Orleans is its people. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cross the border of the French Quarter at Rampart Street,
and you’ll enter Tremé, which is considered to be the first black neighborhood
in America. Many famous musicians were born in the Tremé, and it’s even
considered the birthplace of jazz. It’s also the site of the recently renovated
Louis Armstrong Park and Congo Square, where slaves used to gather on Sundays
to play music and dance. If you ask anybody in the French Quarter, they’ll warn
you not to go to the Tremé. Maybe they say that to keep the visitors spending
money in the tourist area, or maybe it’s because I’ve lived in Baltimore for so
long, but I felt completely comfortable walking around the neighborhood during
the day. Everyone I passed said hello or made friendly conversation, making me
feel welcome. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KDoKiCMhelRG5rTU4_jqtn0js9aLooLHgrv1OBrUJGCw3A0DGbdxpN8riX9fBsOCm5oxcahjoVBdkzKYFGCPN9QlzjLbBAL9WfTMgPQvlIJqXPqmzpKtcsJmu-Bp0J72J5UC7m2WQN4/s1600/IMG_8527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KDoKiCMhelRG5rTU4_jqtn0js9aLooLHgrv1OBrUJGCw3A0DGbdxpN8riX9fBsOCm5oxcahjoVBdkzKYFGCPN9QlzjLbBAL9WfTMgPQvlIJqXPqmzpKtcsJmu-Bp0J72J5UC7m2WQN4/s320/IMG_8527.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backstreet Cultural Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are uncomfortable visiting Tremé alone, <a href="http://www.frenchquarterphantoms.com/4up/tour-treme/" target="_blank">French
Quarter Phantoms</a> offers a wonderful two-hour tour. My guide was Emelie, who
provided a wealth of information on the history and culture of the area and
seemed to know everyone we passed. Since I was the only one on the tour, I felt
more like I was hanging out with a friend than playing tourist.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After finishing the tour, I returned to the <a href="http://www.backstreetmuseum.org/">Backstreet Cultural Museum</a>, which
tells the story of the Mardi Gras Indians and other groups that make the
culture of New Orleans so interesting. Mr. Francis, who founded the museum, is a
delightful man, who enjoys telling personal tales about the people who donated
the memorabilia. Although the museum only has two rooms, I spent more than an
hour there, fascinated by the intricate work of the Indian costumes and his stories.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wanting to experience the true music of New Orleans, I
visited Kermit Ruffins’ Tremé Speakeasy at 1535 Basin Street after reading
about his new restaurant in a local entertainment magazine. On Monday nights,
this cozy restaurant offers a delicious, affordable meal and an amazing set by
Kermit and friends that starts around 6:30 p.m. Etiquette in New Orleans calls
for any musicians in the house to get up and play with the band, so a long list
of people were called onstage to perform, even some of the servers. Since there are only about ten tables, early
arrivers invite the late-comers to fill in the empty seats, making it a great
way to meet people. By the end of the set, everyone in the room was dancing
together and tossing balloons around like old friends. It felt more like being
welcomed to a house party than hanging out in a bar. You don’t find that
friendly, laid back attitude in the North. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZAQ5HGIgbCM0_pxC5v5X9-GqD8XyUktxePzQttpwQwv3fkEuQ1QzUTKg4iDUyQLQRXz4aBmjYQUyp16OoQ5e2G-Fivl_rxGYQI906l4j9TFWvCeM9y3mtgJ-Z9HsXHJcDPZteNvE6xs/s1600/IMG_8615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZAQ5HGIgbCM0_pxC5v5X9-GqD8XyUktxePzQttpwQwv3fkEuQ1QzUTKg4iDUyQLQRXz4aBmjYQUyp16OoQ5e2G-Fivl_rxGYQI906l4j9TFWvCeM9y3mtgJ-Z9HsXHJcDPZteNvE6xs/s320/IMG_8615.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A typical night on Frenchmen Street</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After all that fun, it was barely 9:00, and the night had
barely begun. The couple next to me invited me along to hear more music on
Frenchmen Street, the area next to the French Quarter where the locals go to
hear the best jazz. How could I refuse? I suddenly found myself in a cab with
this former scout for the Texas Rangers, his newly divorced girlfriend, Kenny
Terry of the Tremé Brass Band and several other groups and his lady friend
Raynette. While I normally wouldn’t get into a car with strangers, Raynette assured
me that if they were murderers, she could stop the bleeding because she is a
registered nurse. I had nothing to worry about because we had a blast popping
in and out of clubs and dancing while Kenny joined the bands onstage. Kenny and
Mike, the guy who invited me along, seemed to know everybody and introduced me around
like they had known me for ages, or at least more than a few hours. I felt like
a regular, and I liked it. When the night finally came to an end, Mike and his
girlfriend even walked me back to my bed and breakfast. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Laissez les bons temps rouler!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/p377996304">Check out more of my photos of
New Orleans.</a> </span>Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com0Baltimore, MD39.2903848 -76.612189339.1920723 -76.7701178 39.3886973 -76.4542608tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-49892390272184420752012-11-16T16:48:00.000-05:002012-11-16T16:48:42.162-05:00Eat and Drink Your Way Through Old NiceAs the days grow shorter and colder at my home in the
mid-Atlantic, I fondly reminisce about my time in my tiny apartment in Old Nice
just a few months ago. I miss feeling like a part of the neighborhood and wandering through the tiny streets, discovering
new shops, galleries and cafés along the way. If you are lucky enough to visit Nice yourself, be sure to make time to visit Vieux Nice, the old town, where you’ll
find some of the tastiest food and wine in the world. And a lot of it is even
good for you.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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When someone refers to Niçoise cuisine, you probably
think of Niçoise salad; however, that’s just one dish on a long list of
this city’s specialties. While Nice is located in the heart of the lavish French
Riviera, its cuisine evolved when the region was controlled by Italy, and the
majority of its inhabitants were poor. Therefore, the primary ingredients are
grown or caught in the area, and they are always fresh. Local olives and olive
oils, cheese, zucchini, tomatoes, herbs de Provence and fish are easy to find
at the daily market on the Cours Saleya. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Where to go</b></div>
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Beside the market, here is a list of some of the can’t-miss
spots that will give you a true taste of Niçoise cuisine.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBY-5Id1vpu3JtBG2g2WIAO8aahjx6IxapQ7T9fWSrAyxqF9qK8bLtB7gKs62HfQR6eQtqdYF1QnPNbcKO7qplfhfe7JynEf811a9kivxTVbbf4rJdBCmLWRfqbq4kX-uFh_gotNkGsT8/s1600/IMG_9444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBY-5Id1vpu3JtBG2g2WIAO8aahjx6IxapQ7T9fWSrAyxqF9qK8bLtB7gKs62HfQR6eQtqdYF1QnPNbcKO7qplfhfe7JynEf811a9kivxTVbbf4rJdBCmLWRfqbq4kX-uFh_gotNkGsT8/s320/IMG_9444.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alziari</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.alziari.com.fr/" target="_blank"><b>Alziari
Moulin à Huile</b></a>, 14 rue St. Francis de Paule (near the Opera)<o:p></o:p></div>
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This shop is known for its olive oil, which has been
produced for more than 150 years. In addition, you can find honey, spices and
wine here. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Coté-Vin</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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This wine shop is next to Alziari, so be sure to stop in and
buy a few ice bags, a thick plastic bag that doubles as portable wine chiller and is perfect for picnics and parties. It makes a great souvenir for friends who
like wine, and it’s easy to pack. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Bistrot Antoine</b>, 27 rue de la Préfecture, (0)4 93 85 29
57 (past the Palais de Justice)<o:p></o:p></div>
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This small restaurant is frequented by the locals, which
usually means you can’t go wrong. The menu is definitely not geared toward
vegetarians, but there are some fish dishes. Prices are reasonable, and it’s
always crowded, so reservations are a must. The restaurant is closed Sunday and
Monday.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Les Distilleries Idéales</b>, 24 rue de la Préfecture<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is one of the best happy hour spots in Nice. Small
tables outside are the ideal place to sip on a draft beer or a glass of local
wine and watch the world go by. Inside, you’ll find large televisions airing
sports in a pub-like atmosphere. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Caves Caprioglio</b>, 23 rue de la Préfecture<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you’re looking for a great bargain, visit this wine shop.
Bring in your own bottle, and have it filled with the house rosé or red for
only €1.90. Speaking of rosé, this isn’t the rosé that’s considered undrinkable
by connoisseurs. In fact, it’s a specialty of the region. If you like wine, be
sure to try some while you’re here. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Pizza Pili</b>, rue du Collet and 24 Rue Benoît Bunico<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Nothing goes with cheap wine like cheap pizza, and Pizza
Pili doesn’t disappoint. For €6.50, you can get a large pizza loaded with
toppings. There are about a dozen varieties, including my favorite, the
Provencal, which overflows with vegetables. Like other pizzerias in Italy and France,
this dish has thin crust and creamy cheese, and I find it more delicious than
the American version. If you plan to go to Pizza Pili, be sure to avoid the
rush around 8:00, the traditional French dinner time. Also, there are only a
few tables on the street, so it’s best to count on taking the pizza back to
your hotel. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<b><a href="http://www.fenocchio.fr/eng_qui.html" target="_blank">Fenocchio</a></b>, Place Rosetti<br />
Known as the best ice cream in Nice, Fenocchio boasts more than 100 flavors ranging from the everyday chocolate and vanilla to the exotic, including basil, cactus, oregano, beer and zucchini. Enjoy your treat and the view of St. Réparate cathedral, which dates back to the eleventh century, in this bustling but beautiful square. <br />
<br /></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5BKxYfUYoEmS3l0y5HmJi7CVQuKwYlb0Yiim7f9qOqv8pKBcpB29nhEGjgethcVJIDlyvg0ckZiDNVFkR_VtfNFjSJuU9WbZ17mQE7yc1yAVfi0P5Q_wkA6_ASPfT0LvhD_f5IcUW7S8/s1600/IMG_9551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5BKxYfUYoEmS3l0y5HmJi7CVQuKwYlb0Yiim7f9qOqv8pKBcpB29nhEGjgethcVJIDlyvg0ckZiDNVFkR_VtfNFjSJuU9WbZ17mQE7yc1yAVfi0P5Q_wkA6_ASPfT0LvhD_f5IcUW7S8/s320/IMG_9551.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chez Juliette</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Chez Juliette</b>, 1 rue Rosetti, (0)4 93 92 68 47<o:p></o:p></div>
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The food at this tiny restaurant off Place Rosetti is only
matched by its charm. I passed this place quite often since it was around the
corner from my apartment, and it was always packed. When I stopped in to eat
shortly after it opened one night, the outside dining area was already full, so
I settled for a table inside, but I was not disappointed, thanks to the shabby
chic décor and impeccable service. The menu included local favorites, including
petit farcis, a dish made of vegetables stuffed with meat. Whether you’re with
friends or on a date, Chez Juliette this is a delight in dining. Just be sure
you arrive when it opens at 7 or make a reservation. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Local flavor</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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You can find several restaurants in Old Nice that serve
local dishes. Here is what to look for: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Petits farcis</b>: vegetables, such as red peppers, eggplant and
zucchini stuffed with ground meat, parmesan cheese and olive oil.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Tarte aux blettes or tourte de blettes</b>: tarte made with
swiss chard, a vegetable similar to spinach and kale. You can order it either
sucré or salée. Sucré means that it’s sweet, which makes a delicious dessert.
Salée is salty, making it a delicious appetizer or main dish that is similar to
spinach pie found on Greek menus.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Socca bread</b>: made of chickpea flour and olive oil, it’s simple
and filling. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Pissaladière</b>: an appetizer similar to pizza, it is topped
with anchovies and caramelized onions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Tapenade</b>: puréed or finely chopped <span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">olives</span>, <span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">capers</span>, <span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">anchovies</span> and <span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">olive oil</span>. Spread it on bread and serve as an hors d’oeuvre. A similar recipe is caviar d’aubergines,
which is made of puréed eggplant and olive oil, but has no caviar. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<i>Bon appétit!</i></div>
Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com0Baltimore, MD 39.2903848 -76.612189339.1920723 -76.7701178 39.3886973 -76.4542608tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-31965827548799013392012-11-02T15:49:00.000-04:002013-10-08T21:14:57.236-04:00A Non-communicator’s Guide to Creating Effective CommunicationsIf you work for a small organization, you will probably have
some involvement in a publication or a website at one time or another. Sure,
you know your organization inside and out, so this should be a snap, right? Hardly. To
do it right always requires work, but if you follow these tips, you can create
a more professional looking piece, which will give your organization more credibility. It
will also increase the chances that people will read your piece and take the
actions that you intend, which is the goal of your project.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Do your research. </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/p658223309/e14369599" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="photo of beach" border="0" height="212" src="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v30/p339121561-11.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creating effective communications is no day at the beach. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Before you begin, find out as much as you can about your
audience. Consider education level, age, level of knowledge about your product
or service. What benefit will you provide to them? Keep in mind that the reader
wants to know what’s in it for him, so develop your material accordingly.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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Interview members of your target audience. They are your
best resource for developing effective materials. If several people offer similar
comments, incorporate them into your piece. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Write active, effective copy.</b></div>
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<ul>
<li>Write copy based on your research. </li>
<li>If you are writing to the
general public, do not use technical terms or industry jargon. If you can’t
avoid certain terms, define them clearly.</li>
<li>Use active voice rather than passive.</li>
<li>Write concisely, deleting unnecessary words. This
is especially important if you are writing for the Web.</li>
<li>Don’t try to impress your reader by using big words and long
sentences. This is not a term paper, and people are too busy to invest their
time in reading a document that requires effort.</li>
<li>If you are trying to engage the reader, do not ask him to do
anything that requires work. For example, I recently wrote a flier for my
neighborhood association to present to new residents as a means of engaging them
in caring about the community. In it I listed the social activities as well as
the online resources that provide more information about the community. I
purposely did not mention the monthly clean-ups because telling people that
they have to go to work as soon as they move in is only going to turn them off.
We’ll save that until they hang out with us a few times and begin to feel an
obligation to help. </li>
<li>Do not include more than two to three central messages because
research shows that people will not retain more than that.</li>
<li>Avoid exclamation points, parentheses, underlining, bolding
and all caps.They are distracting.</li>
<li>Use spell check and ask someone else to proofread your work
because people tend to miss errors in their own writing. Also, someone else
will be able to tell you if something you wrote is not clear.</li>
<li>Use short paragraphs, bullets and subheads to break up the
copy.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Form follows function and budget.</b></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Design your piece to fit its purpose. For example, if you
plan to mail a short message to present to your reader, consider a post card,
which has a lower mailing cost and increases the odds that your reader will
look at it since he doesn’t have to open an envelope. However, if your piece
will be part of a packet of materials that is stuffed in a folder, a
letter-sized flier is more appropriate. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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At this stage, you also need to make sure that you have
enough money to create what you’ve envisioned. Don’t waste your time working on
a booklet for mailing to hundreds of people if you only have a budget of $100.
Determine mailing and printing costs now and adjust your project accordingly. If
you don’t have a lot of money, consider what you can do on your website or on
social media. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Follow design principles.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Make your copy as easy to read as possible. If you have to
use a decorative font, save it for large headlines. Do not use justified copy,
which is copy that extends from margin to margin. This is especially
distracting with larger fonts. For printed pieces, use a serif font, the type
with the curly tail, like Times Roman. For a website, use sans serif, a font without a tail, because the tail is harder to read on a monitor since the resolution is lower than that of a printed piece. It’s also important to
choose a font that most people have on their computer, such as Arial. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Use callout boxes, photos, illustrations and lots of white
space to break up your copy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Be consistent throughout your material. Use your corporate
colors and try not to deviate. Do not
use too many fonts. Usually, two font families are enough. Make sure all of
your photos are of a similar style, whether black and white, color or altered with
a filter.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Speaking of photos, make sure they are good quality if you
are going to use your own. Make sure they are 300 dots per inch for printed pieces, and don’t
enlarge small ones. Also, keep in mind that photos found on the Internet are
only 72 dots per inch and should never be used in printed pieces. The same goes
for cell phone photos. If you are going to use photos of people, make sure you
have their permission. <a href="http://www.betterphoto.com/article.asp?id=37">Read
this article</a> to find out when you need a photo release form. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If you don’t have your own photos, you can buy them from a
stock photo agency. Some of the better known stock photo companies are Photostock,
iStock, Veer and Bigstock.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Review with care.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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While it’s important that others in your organization review
the work for accuracy, avoid writing and designing by committee. Since everyone
has a different opinion and style, the piece gets watered down and becomes less
effective when everyone starts making changes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If possible, have a few members of your intended audience review
your work before publishing it. Ask the readers how your piece makes them feel,
whether they are motivated to take the action you intended, whether anything is
confusing and what would make it better. This is valuable feedback, and
although it may require a lot of adjustments, your extra work will pay off in
the long run. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Call any phone numbers and tests any email addresses or
links to websites one last time before publishing. I know from experience how
embarrassing it is for a reader to tell you that he called the number in your
magazine and reached a sex line. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Find a good printer.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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If you are creating a printed piece, make sure you go with a
good printer. With advances in digital printing, this task has become much
simpler and more affordable for small organizations that have little experience in
printing and don’t need large quantities. Before printing, ask the printer what
kind of file you should submit. Usually, it’s either a print quality PDF or
original design files, such as Quark or the more commonly used InDesign.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Some tips on dealing with communications professionals</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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If you are working with a writer, designer or web
specialist, keep in mind that your expectations are probably not be the same as
theirs. At the beginning, it’s essential that both parties clearly define their roles, production
timelines and other conditions that will affect the project to ensure the best
results. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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One of the most common misconceptions about working with
designers is that they can just push a few buttons, and a masterpiece will
appear. The best design does look simple. It facilitates the reader’s
experience rather than detracts from it. It takes time to make a professional peice. It’s important to
settle on a schedule at the beginning, and remember that just because you need
something tomorrow, that doesn’t mean that it’s possible to do an effective job
in your time frame, especially when there is a lot of text, or if there are many
photos to process. Agree on important milestones such as the following due
dates:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<ul>
<li>sending copy and images to the designer</li>
<li>first proof from designer</li>
<li>providing changes to the designer</li>
<li>second proof from the designer</li>
<li>date to printer</li>
<li>due date from printer</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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The easiest way to create a production schedule is to work
back from the due date.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s also important to define the specifications for the
designer, such as:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<ul>
<li>whether the work will be printed or published online</li>
<li>for printed pieces, how the piece will be distributed and any
required format, such as trifold brochure or post card</li>
<li>whether the piece will be black and white or color</li>
<li>budget for producing the piece</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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When requesting changes from the designer, mark exact
corrections on the proof. For example, if you have to change the wording of a
sentence, cross out the words on the proof and write the correct words next to
them. Don’t give general comments, like “this is too confusing.” Unless you’ve
contracted with a designer to provide copywriting services as well, it’s not his
or her job to figure out what you should say.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Remember that the designer is not a miracle worker. If your
copy is not well written, or if your photos are of poor quality, your final product
will not be successful. In addition, some changes are impossible, such as
adding photos to a page that is completely full. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Finally, if the designer tells you that your changes aren’t
going to work, don’t ignore his advice. Just as you are trained in your field,
so is he or she. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Communications professionals, feel free to add your tips and advice.</div>
Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com2Baltimore, MD39.2903848 -76.612189339.1920723 -76.7701178 39.3886973 -76.4542608tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-89215763731237007672012-10-17T13:42:00.000-04:002012-10-17T13:42:18.804-04:00Get Credit for Foreign Travel<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’ve been reading my blog, you know that I recently
returned from a fabulous trip to the South of France. One of the best parts of
staying in Nice is that the train runs along the coast, so it’s easy to visit
the many beautiful villages on the Côte d’Azur. One of the worst parts is
waiting in the long lines at the station’s ticket windows. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/p505802100/ef719e03" target="_blank"><img alt="photo of Villefranche" border="0" height="212" src="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v31/p259104259-11.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/p505802100/ef719e03" target="_blank">It's easy to visit the villages near Nice. </a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you don’t have time to spare, there are machines that
dispense tickets for the regional trains if you have a basket of change or a
credit card. The problem for most Americans, though, is that they usually can’t
come up with enough coins, and the machines won’t accept their credit card.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While the U.S. is known for advanced technology, we are way
behind when it comes to credit cards. The chip and PIN cards, which are
standard in Europe, are virtually unknown here. Chip and PIN is supposed to be
more secure because like the name says, there is a small chip on the front, and
users must often key in a security code to complete the purchase. Foreign
merchants still do accept American cards, so don’t worry if you want to use
yours overseas. However, be aware that standard cards aren’t accepted in
certain cases, like at the ticket machine and at toll booths. You might also
come across some people who don’t know how to process your card, as I did.
Luckily, her boss was able to handle it because I would have been really
disappointed if I had been unable to buy that cute top. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Knowing the difficulty I would face when paying at certain
places in Europe, I was pretty excited when I heard that Bank of America
introduced a card with chip technology this summer. I had to learn more. When I
spoke to the sales rep, he told me that the BankAmericard Travel Rewards card
offers some other nifty benefits. There is no foreign transaction fee and
unlike British Air’s chip card, there is no annual fee. While the card doesn’t
offer the PIN that European cards do, I decided to take my chances. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The third weekend of September is the weekend of patrimony
in France, meaning that most of the cultural institutions offer free admission
to encourage the French to discover their culture. You can also buy a Carte
Isabelle train ticket valid for travel all day throughout the region for a mere
5€; it’s usually 14€. That Sunday, my friend and I had decided to take the
train to St. Raphael, where we would take a ferry to St. Tropez. With the line
for the ticket agents stretching out the door, I crossed my fingers and joined
the line at the machine. When it was my turn, I punched in my request for two <i>aller-retour</i> tickets, inserted my credit
card and held my breath. Accepted! I was ready to go. Unfortunately, the train
wouldn’t leave for another hour, and we’d have to wait another hour for the
ferry, but at least we spent that hour relaxing in a café rather than standing
in line, so I was glad for my card. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>This is not an endorsement of Bank of America, nor any of
its credit cards, and I have received no compensation from any credit card
company for this article. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com0Baltimore, MD39.2903848 -76.612189339.1920723 -76.7701178 39.3886973 -76.4542608tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-73818142860782177562012-10-05T10:17:00.003-04:002012-10-05T10:19:23.371-04:00Leaving on a Jet Plane, Didn’t Know When I’d Get Home Again<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/p505802100/h2ed05ea#h2ed05ea" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v27/p49087978-11.jpg" title="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/p505802100/h2ed05ea#h2ed05ea" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/p505802100/h2ed05ea#h2ed05ea" target="_blank">Old Town Nice</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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Like all good things, my dream vacation in the South of
France had to come to an end. As it turns out, however, my journey lasted
longer than I had anticipated. On Monday morning, I bid adieu to my charming
little hovel and the old couple who used to call “bonjour madame” from the
window below my apartment when they saw me leaving, which made me feel like a
regular part of this vibrant quarter of Vieux Nice. I dragged my bags full of
French books, chocolate and savon de Marseille onto the bus and gazed at the
sea like a convict headed to prison as the vehicle
made its way to the airport. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I arrived at the British Airways desk to check my bag,
the perky agent informed me that my flight to London would be very late, but if
I could wait for a bit, she’s check to see if there was room on the prior
flight. A few minutes later, just as cheerfully as she had offered to help find
me another flight, she informed me that it was full, so she’d just check me in for my original flight and I
could speak to Customer Service to figure out my options. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Next stop: Customer Service. After waiting for some other
disgruntled customers from my flight, I put on my best polite French voice and
asked the agent how I could get back to Baltimore since I’d probably miss my
connecting flight. This woman was not so cheerful. She told me I’d just have to
take the later flight to Dulles because after all, it’s still Washington. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I guess someone with a long line of tired, frantic customers
who has never been to DC doesn’t understand, or more likely just doesn’t care
that when you live in Baltimore, flying to Washington-Dulles instead of Baltimore-Washington Airport is just as inconvenient as going to Philadelphia, New York or Atlanta. I
tried to explain that you just can’t land at Dulles at 9:00 p.m. with no prior planning
and expect to find your way back to Baltimore in fewer than several hours and
for less than hundreds of dollars. She was already tired of me, and she told me
to just ask British Air to get me a taxi when I landed. Clearly she done with me, so I figured I’d just wait for my flight to London and hope
for the best. Maybe they would hold the plane for me in London or pick me up in
an airport vehicle and rush me to the runway like they do in the movies. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two hours after my scheduled departure time, I boarded the
plane. A very nice Brit who had permanently traded in the grey skies of London
for sunny Cannes told me it was in the pilot’s hands now. I figured he
was right, so I stopped worrying and started taking note of his opinions on the
economy and tips for buying property on the Riviera. Investors beware: Avoid the super exclusive area of Cap Ferrat, which is now overrun by Russians building garish houses designed to show off their
wealth. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we landed in London, I rushed off the plane ten minutes
before the gates were due to close for my flight to Baltimore. There was nobody
waiting for me, so I rushed to fast track at passport control only to
learn that the flight was closed. My heart sank. The agent directed me back to
the connecting flights desk, where I waited for what seemed like an eternity
while an African lady yelled repeatedly in French at a companion and the agent
that she knew a better schedule for getting to Marseille through Paris. My head
was screaming and all of the calm that I had found in France was gone for good.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When it was finally my turn, I explained my problem
to the next British Air representative, who told me she could put me on the
flight to Dulles. Here we go again. I recalled the words of the Brit on the
plane telling me to get what was best for me. Dulles was not the best option,
not even close. Trying to be work with the agent, I explained that I had no way of getting
home from Dulles, and I suggested booking me to New York because surely there
must be a flight to New York, where there should be a flight to Baltimore. Sure
enough, there was a flight to New York and to Philly as well, but nobody was
flying to Baltimore that night. With £3.70 in my wallet and no authorization to
use my credit or debit cards in England, I started to panic at the thought of
wandering the streets of London until I could get on a flight the next day.
Luckily, Sandy, the only helpful British Air employee I had met that day came
through for me. Not only did she give me a voucher for a place to spend the
night, she put me up at the Sofitel luxury hotel connected to the airport and
gave me vouchers for breakfast and dinner. She even provided an overnight kit
with a t-shirt to sleep in and toiletries since it looked like I wouldn’t be
getting my suitcase that day – or ever if somebody didn’t figure out that my
flight had changed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So off I went to my hotel, which had the comfiest bed I have
ever slept in and the most sparkling bathroom I have ever used. I had a pasta
dinner served by a Polish waitress who asked me if I needed help reading the
menu as if I didn’t understand English because I didn’t have a British accent. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was strange to be in another country on an unplanned
visit while none of my friends or family knew where I was. With no financial
resources, I couldn’t go out on the town, but I figured out that I could use
American dollars to buy a small bottle of wine in the airport and enjoy a drink
in my room. I started to enjoy my little adventure. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The following morning, I made my way down to the restaurant,
where I was treated to a huge English breakfast, although the Middle Eastern
host was so hard to understand that I had to ask someone in the restaurant what
my breakfast voucher entitled me to eat. I was starting to wonder if I had been
away from the States for so long that I was forgetting how to understand
English. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After breakfast, I gathered my few belongings and checked
out of my hotel, almost sorry to leave. On a side note, I noticed a sign by the
elevator indicating the location of the “Victorious Ryder Cup Press
Conference.” Is it me, or does adding the word “victorious” make it sound a
little arrogant? Seriously, every station in England was going on about this amazing
comeback by the Europeans. Anyone attending the press conference should have
been prepared enough to know who won the tournament. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No time to worry about golf tournaments when I only had five
hours until takeoff. Instead, I watched cricket while I waited, and in all that
time, I couldn’t figure out the game. Sorry fans, it seems like baseball for sissies
to me. I’m sure that match went on long after I left London, too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So now I’m back in the US of A and my house feels like a
palace compared to my hovel in Nice. Still, I miss my tiny flat and the funky
neighborhood that was my home during a most extraordinary trip. I wish that
everyone could experience the beautiful villages of the South of France, and in
my next few posts, I will share practical details on how to reach these towns
and tips to make your euro go further should you care to make the trip. <o:p></o:p></div>
Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com0Baltimore, MD, USA39.2903848 -76.612189339.1920723 -76.7701178 39.3886973 -76.4542608tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-76693376992390753102012-09-26T15:43:00.000-04:002012-09-26T15:43:49.390-04:00Back to School
Wondering where I've been lately? No, I
haven't been slacking off. In fact, I've been quite busy attending
French classes in Nice. If you're looking for a great way to learn
and practice a language, taking a vacation at a foreign language
school offers many opportunities.<br />
<br />
The school provides affordable housing
options with a host or a family, which enables you to practice the
language in an everyday setting and learn first-hand about the local
culture. You even have the option to pay a little extra for dinner
and/or breakfast with your host.
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The schools screen hosts, but some can
be a nightmare, like the one who had me sleep in the living room, or
the one who would only let me come out of my room for dinner, which
was usually no more than a bowl of green beans or a boiled egg.
However, there are some great ones, like Solange, who included my
classmates in family gatherings and even went out for dinner and
drinks with some of us. If you are unhappy with your host, you can
always ask the school to find you another place to stay.</div>
<br />
If you don't want to take the risk, the
school can also recommend a studio apartment or nearby hotel. After a
few bad experiences in the past, I opted to rent an apartment on my
own, mostly because I knew exactly where I wanted to stay, and because I
planned to remain in Nice after the class.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
If you want to look into classes, start
with <a href="http://www.ef.com/us-home/" target="_blank">EF International</a> or <a href="http://www.applelanguages.com/" target="_blank">Apple Languages</a>. Use their sites to select
the language you want to study, your preferred city, housing
preferences and any other options. For example, I chose the program
that included morning lessons and afternoon excursions.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
On the first day of class,
you will normally take a placement test and be placed in a class,
typically no larger than ten students, based on your level of
knowledge. Generally, schools don't accept beginners, but you can
always take an intro class at home before you go. Most community
colleges offer non-credit classes for adults.</div>
<br />
Besides learning more about French
language and culture, I was also happy to find out more about the
countries where the other students live. I also enjoyed going out
with them for a glass of wine after the excursions and exploring
nearby villages with them on the weekend. Since most students attend the school on their own, everyone is looking for someone to hang out with, so there's no need to worry about being lonely or bored, even if you're shy. In fact, I actually made several new friends. <br />
<br />
Oh, and according to my certificate, I
am finally ready to proceed to advanced level French. C'est bon!<br />
Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com0Nice, France43.696036 7.26559243.604192 7.1076635 43.78788 7.4235204999999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-2332781869259983232012-08-31T15:14:00.001-04:002012-08-31T15:23:43.860-04:00Getting to the South of FranceBonjour from the South of France, my
favorite place to be. Aside from the wonderfully mild climate, the
beautiful colors, the delicious food and the abundance of art, it's
the ideal area for travelers. You can find all sorts of
accommodations in many price ranges, and the transportation system
makes it easy to visit the many small villages as well as get around
my favorite base of operations, Nice.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfwjEI7dUy03uXMi3nJz-PU-hP2PF7mXTltG9zRKoptJO8C_EaTM_KqGk0H43sNvZGepjbdteAXZijhysQhUc8epjBYUJld3RiVAoS2OL57Drauzj-oAAlWOSegYWVtXJl7BzV2sD2mI/s1600/217907_4465266439119_2135770215_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfwjEI7dUy03uXMi3nJz-PU-hP2PF7mXTltG9zRKoptJO8C_EaTM_KqGk0H43sNvZGepjbdteAXZijhysQhUc8epjBYUJld3RiVAoS2OL57Drauzj-oAAlWOSegYWVtXJl7BzV2sD2mI/s320/217907_4465266439119_2135770215_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a beautiful afternoon in Nice.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I'm currently renting an apartment in
the delightfully charming Vieux Nice (Old Nice), which dates back
several hundred years. I found this little gem on <a href="http://www.homeaway.com/" target="_blank">www.homeaway.com</a>
and described the process of renting it in a previous post.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
If you're interested in coming to Nice
yourself, you are probably wondering how to get to your destination.
It's actually very easy. If you're coming from another area of
Europe, you can arrive by train at the station Nice Ville. From
there, make a left when exiting the station and walk down a block to the tram, which makes many stops around town. Several buses run from the front of the station
throughout the city. You can also pick up a cab in front of the
station.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
If you fly into Nice's airport on the
edge of town, you can take a bus to several towns in the area as well
as the buses that go to the train station and the bus station with
several stops along the way. The cost is a mere 4€, and you can use
the ticket for the rest of the day on the Nice tram and any <a href="http://www.lignesdazur.com/tarif/?rub_code=7" target="_blank">Lignes d'Azur bus</a>. If you don't want to deal with the bus, taxis cost
35-50€. Or if you're one of the many jetsetters who frequent this
area, and you're heading to Monaco, you can hire a private
helicopter.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Speaking of the bus, it's clean and
reliable, making it the most convenient way to get around Nice and
the surrounding villages. It's also remarkably cheap at only 1€ per
ride, 4€ for a day pass or 15€ for a weekly pass. These passes are also valid on the Nice tram. Buy bus tickets
from the driver, and buy tram tickets from the machines found at
every tram stop.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Monthly passes are also available for
40€ at a Lignes d'Azure office if you are going to be in the area
for more than a few weeks. For these passes, you have to bring a
passport and a passport-sized photo as well as a photocopy of the
passport, which you can make at the office. Why you need these items
is a mystery to me because the clerk scans your passport, throws away
your copy and returns the photo to you. I really wanted to ask the
clerk why I had to go all the way back to my apartment for the extra
photo, but I didn't want to
make her mad at me, so I just kept saying merci to avoid engaging her
in a conversation that could lead to a question that I was unable or unwilling to
answer.
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Now that I have my bus pass, I'm
ready to venture out int the Sunny South. So why is a region that
boasts 300 days of sun each year forecasting rain for the next six
days?</div>
Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com2Nice, France43.696036 7.26559243.604192 7.1076635 43.78788 7.4235204999999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-14368954408952353652012-08-28T12:27:00.000-04:002012-08-28T12:27:06.768-04:005 Items You Need to Pack<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/p505802100/h2689c008#h2689c008" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="photo of people on a beach" border="0" height="212" src="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v27/p646561800-11.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bring some plastic flatware so you can have a picnic.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
You probably have a list of standard items that you pack
when you’re taking a trip. Add these small items to save time and aggravation
on your next journey.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Plastic flatware</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When you have forks, spoons and knives, you can pick up some
local bread, cheese and other goodies and have a picnic in a scenic area.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Corkscrew</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What’s a picnic without some nice local wine? Just make sure
you pack it in your checked luggage because corkscrews are forbidden in carry-on bags.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Grocery bags</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Extra bags have several uses. You can place your dirty
clothes in them to separate them from the clean clothes or use them as a beach
bags or tote bags. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Medicine</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You may feel fine when you leave home, but that doesn’t mean
you won’t catch a cold or have an allergy attack or headache during your trip. If you’re going to a foreign country, and you
don’t speak the language, it can be a real hassle to get the medicine you need.
Many countries keep any type of medication, even non-prescription, behind the
counter, so you will have to explain what you need to the pharmacist. In
addition, medication is different in other countries. When I went to France
last year, I came down with a terrible cold, and I was frustrated to learn that
there was no Ny-Quil in the entire country, and the strongest medicine
available did nothing to ease my symptoms. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When you pack the cold medicine and pain reliever, be
sure to throw in an extra supply of prescription medication in case your return
home is delayed. Make sure you pack it in your carry-on luggage so you won’t
have a problem if your checked bag is lost.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Small flashlight</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As the daughter of a fireman, I learned to locate the
emergency exit upon checking into a hotel and to make sure I have a flashlight
in case of fire. My flashlight has also come in handy during a power failure.
Sure, the light from a smartphone will help in a pinch, but if you run the phone's battery
down, you will lose your phone service in addition to being stuck in the dark. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you have a must-have travel item? Please share.<o:p></o:p></div>
Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com0Baltimore, MD 39.2903848 -76.612189339.1920723 -76.7701178 39.3886973 -76.4542608tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-63845283981977215032012-08-24T13:37:00.000-04:002012-08-24T13:37:27.368-04:00The Joke’s on Me<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/p377996304/h19095d72#h19095d72" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v32/p420044146-11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you receive my blog posts by email, you probably thought
it was a bit ironic that my last post talked about proofreading and using spell
check when the post was full of typos. Although I followed my own advice and
did just those things before posting, it seems that Mr. Google wanted to prove
that he knows more than I do because he removed the spaces between several
words after I clicked on the Publish button. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Despite all your planning, sometimes you just can’t control
the way things turn out. So you make adjustments, offer an apology and move on.
I just hope Mr. Google hasn’t put a hex on me. <o:p></o:p></div>
Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com0Baltimore, MD39.2903848 -76.612189339.1920723 -76.7701178 39.3886973 -76.4542608tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-33961244451344570072012-08-20T13:15:00.000-04:002012-08-21T16:00:31.248-04:00Mistakes That Spell Check Won’t Find<br />
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When I ran into one of my friends last week, she suggested that I use my writing skills to help guys create presentable online dating profiles. She told me that most of the ones she’s read are full of typos, and she is turned off by anyone whose first obvious trait is poor writing skills. Whether you’re trying to get a date, writing a report for work or school or sending an email, taking the time to correct the errors can make a big difference in the way your reader perceives you. Even if you have edited carefully, be on the lookout for these common errors, which spell check won’t detect. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/p395644790/hfe5fee#hfe5fee" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v35/p16670702-11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desert or dessert? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>You’re vs. your</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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You’re is short for you are. Example: You’re going to win. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Your is possessive. Example: I have your jacket. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>S or ’s</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Add an s to make it plural. Example: The dogs are outside.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Use an apostrophe followed by s for a possessive. Example: The man’s jacket is on the chair. </div>
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<br /></div>
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An apostrophe followed by s is also used as a contraction for a noun followed by is. Example: The girl’s going out. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Another point of confusion is how to form the possessive of a family name. For example, if you are going to give the Smith family a sign for their new home, it should say The Smiths’ and not The Smith’s because The Smith’s means that the house only belongs to one person named Smith. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Its vs. it’s </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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While the above rule tells you to add an apostrophe and s to a noun to make it possessive, its is an exception. Therefore, you would say that the house lost its roof. </div>
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It’s is short for it is. Example: It’s going to be a great day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Whose vs. who’s</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Who’s is another exception to the rule that calls for apostrophes for a possessive. Who’s is a contraction for who is. Example: Guess who’s coming to dinner. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Whose is possessive. Example: Whose life is it anyway? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>There, their or they’re</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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There is a preposition. Example: There is a place I love to go. I often go there. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Their indicates possession. Example: I like to go to their house. <o:p></o:p></div>
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They're is short for they are. Example: They’re going with us.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Too or to</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Too means also or excessive. Example: I am going, too. That is too much.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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To has several meanings. It refers to a direction, as in I’m going to the store. It also refers to a limit, as in six to nine hours. To is also used as part of an infinitive, which is the basic form of a verb. Example: I am going to run in the race. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Loose or lose </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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When did mixing up these two words become the norm? Lose is the opposite of win. If you forget whether it's one o or two, remember that it is the same as the past tense, lost. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Loose is the opposite of tight. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There are several other words that have similar spellings, but have completely different meanings, such as dessert, which you eat after dinner, and desert, which is a dry area, like the Sahara. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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When in doubt look it up. It could mean the difference between a hot date and a being stuck home alone watching reruns.<o:p></o:p></div>
Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com0Baltimore, MD 39.2903848 -76.612189339.1920723 -76.7701178 39.3886973 -76.4542608tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-12681207059758709642012-08-10T14:43:00.000-04:002012-08-11T18:20:09.963-04:00Live Like a Native on Vacation: Rent an Apartment<br />
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In a recent episode of Househunters International, a woman was
hunting for a Paris flat that she and her husband could rent to tourists after using it for a long-term business stay. If you were wondering who would
ever rent a property in another country and why, I will be glad to tell you. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnyd2WY8kDSokpenADhW9Z6DzQ_xK6x-xtBozxJ-AVXyilorE9LrGP094z08wOSYcn-ycvIEr8Ihqs_Q03fsTxQ8NDzfwJXIFrn_e5iLd-D90bdy5Djl0mp94x0CmtKVoKgtgWQywm4Y/s1600/place.massena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnyd2WY8kDSokpenADhW9Z6DzQ_xK6x-xtBozxJ-AVXyilorE9LrGP094z08wOSYcn-ycvIEr8Ihqs_Q03fsTxQ8NDzfwJXIFrn_e5iLd-D90bdy5Djl0mp94x0CmtKVoKgtgWQywm4Y/s1600/place.massena.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of pedestrian street and <br />
Place Masséna from Ajoupa <br />
apartment in Nice, France. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I have rented four apartments in Paris when my stays lasted
a week or more. For the same standard of living in hotels, I would have spent a
lot more. My apartments offered amenities that a hotel did not, most notably a
kitchen, which was a huge convenience at breakfast time or when I was too tired
to eat out or just trying to save some money. It also gave me the opportunity to
enjoy one of my favorite aspects of French life: wandering through the markets
in search of fresh vegetables, cheese, baguettes and other goodies for meals. I
didn’t even miss the maid service. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>How to Find a Flat</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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You’re probably wondering where to find a list of apartments
and how to avoid getting ripped off. I found my on the following websites:</div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.homeaway.com/" target="_blank">HomeAway</a> is a
reputable site recommended by several travel magazines. Renters can search the
site based on all sorts or criteria, even whether the property has Internet
access. If you register, you can create a list of favorites, and the site
records which properties you have contacted. Best of all, the site provides <a href="http://www.homeaway.com/info/about-us/legal/terms-conditions/basic_rental_guarantee">protection</a>
against Internet fraud.</li>
<li>HomeAway has some sister sites, including <a href="http://www.vrbo.com/" target="_blank">vrbo.com</a> and <a href="http://www.homelidays.co.uk/" target="_blank">Homelidays.com</a>. While most of the
properties are the same, it’s worth looking on them because you can sometimes
find some additional ones.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.nyhabitat.com/" target="_blank">New York Habitat</a>
offers properties in New York, Paris, London and the South of France. Unlike
HomeAway, which is not involved in agreements between renters and property
owners, New York Habitat is a leasing service, so you will deal with an English-speaking
agent who can provide a list of apartments based on your criteria or simply
facilitate a rental agreement for an apartment you find on the website. This company also handles long-term rentals.</li>
</ul>
<b>How to Choose the Perfect Property</b><o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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A reliable website will provide an ample amount of
information about the property as well as plenty of pictures. Following are
some of the most important factors to consider when making your choice:</div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><b>Location:</b> If you’re staying in a city, you don’t need to pay
high rates to be in the tourist area. As long as you are close to public
transportation, and it looks like a decent neighborhood, you should be fine.
Beware that some listings show the center of town on the map rather than the
property’s actual address. Be sure to verify the address and look it up on
Google maps. You can also research the neighborhood on <a href="http://tripadvisor.com/" target="_blank">tripadvisor.com</a> or other
travel forums.</li>
<li><b>Language spoken by the owner:</b> If you are not using an agent,
check the listing for languages spoken by the owner. Many of them speak
English, but you could run into problems if you don’t speak the local language
and the owner doesn't speak English. If the owner speaks English, the contract
could still be in his native language. In that case, use Google or a free
translation website to translate to English.</li>
<li><b>Floor:</b> Since many old buildings in Europe do not have
elevators, I learned the hard way that you should always ask which floor the
apartment is located on if the listing doesn't mention an elevator or indicates
that it’s unsuitable for the elderly or infirm. Dragging a heavy suitcase to
the fifth floor is one thing I will never do again. Also, what Europeans call
the first floor, we call the second, so add one to the number you’re given.</li>
<li><b>Floor area:</b> Space is limited in other countries, especially
in the cities, so it’s important to check photos and floor area to make sure
you’ll have enough space.</li>
<li><b>Beds:</b> This is an important issue, especially if you are
traveling with other people or a person who is not your significant other. If
you’re looking at a studio, the bed may be a sofa bed. Again, check the photos
closely.</li>
<li><b>Noise level:</b> If you’re staying in the city, it’s convenient
to be close to a lot of commercial activity, but it could also make for some
sleepless nights. Find out if the double glazed windows (double vitrage in
French). It could make or break your trip. I always bring ear plugs just in case. </li>
<li><b>Air conditioning: </b>While most American buildings are
air-conditioned, this is not the case in other countries. Check the average
temperatures for your destination and decide whether this amenity is necessary.</li>
<li><b>Payment form:</b> Most rentals require a deposit of 25 to 50
percent. Before signing a contract, make sure you can pay in the form
requested, typically PayPal or a bank wire. Some apartments accept credit
cards. Note that some banks don’t offer wire services. If they do, they usually
charge a fee of $30 to $45 and a currency conversion fee of one to three
percent of the amount wired. Owners may charge an additional fee for PayPal or
credit cards.</li>
<li><b>Security deposit.</b> Most owners require a security deposit
when you sign the lease. The amount will be mentioned in the listing. Be sure
to find out how you will recover the deposit at the end of the trip. Typically
the owner will give you cash when you leave. You’ll probably return to the
United States after renting the apartment, and if you’re splitting the deposit
among several people, it shouldn't be a big deal to spend the foreign currency
on cab fare to the airport and last-minute souvenirs or to save it for a future
trip. However, if you are footing the bill on your own, you’ll have to decide
if it’s worth it to hang on to the cash or lose a bit of it when trading it for
greenbacks. Note that owners sometimes
send a check to the renter a week after the rental, which is not convenient for
foreigners.</li>
<li><b>Additional fees:</b> Is there a cleaning fee? Are utilities
included? Are sheets and towels included?</li>
</ul>
<b>A Few Tips on Contacting the Owner</b><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>The best places go quickly, so find a place well in advance,
especially if you are going during peak travel times, like summer, Christmas
and local holidays.</li>
<li>Contact several owners because some places may have been
recently booked for your preferred time although the schedule says they’re
available. Also, some owners don’t respond if they are busy, or if they have booked the
property.</li>
<li>Don’t book with the first owner who responds if you’re not
absolutely sure you want the property. It sometimes takes a few days for owners
to respond. Allow at least a week for a response on a property you really want.</li>
</ul>
<b>Another Option: Apart’hotels</b><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If dealing with the foreign language, security deposit and
payment to a stranger is too much for you, but you still want the apartment
experience, try an apart’hotel, which is basically a hotel room with a
kitchenette. Apart’hotels don’t offer the local charm of most privately owned
apartments, but they usually accept credit card deposits, they don’t require a
security deposit and there is usually someone on staff who speaks English. In
addition, you can stay at most of them for a few days. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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To find an apart’hotel, just do a Google search for
apartment hotel in whatever city you want to visit. If you are visiting Nice, I can recommend
two:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.studiosfloreal.com/index-en.php" target="_blank">StudiosFloreal</a>: located next to the tram by the main train station in the middle
of the main shopping area of Jean Médecin. It’s a very lively area, but
double-glazed windows block the noise. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.ajoupa.fr/index_uk.html" target="_blank">Ajoupa Baie des Anglais</a>: in an ideal location on a pedestrian street just off the beautiful
Place Méssina. It’s very clean and reasonably priced, so book early because
rooms go quickly.</li>
</ul>
Renting an apartment isn't for everyone. If you want to live
like a native, though, it’s the best way to go. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where would you like to immerse yourself? </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com34Baltimore, MD, USA39.2903848 -76.612189339.1920723 -76.7701178 39.3886973 -76.4542608tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-22176138971234683652012-08-03T13:28:00.003-04:002012-08-03T13:30:03.122-04:00Olympic Facts for Those Who Can’t Get Enough of the Games<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYL2Y1oJphT1fSJp2pp-0huyA1cE3LzmKrs-jawDVSElsT2SUP3jH3cbglpCinFHkdG3c-e0V6VQs_XXBtFH8Ad07mZelJXDTfoyBhCbQaacszJdLs2mCZXlc92PbL7fpwqEn91w027U/s1600/Phelps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9UcMYoDvWmHKrjmHCfKd0l8YjPP4a7YewLN6f-IH8lNj5l7JlgBPOiiy7CW4Muj4nxWm4nzPPO8Q5Idy-uUI_48Qq5fJMXd1BXXWPGgBkQsRhDuBG8LeO_zOjkU2q4Y-oP_ZQfbp6AM/s1600/Mini2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo of Mini keychain" border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv9UcMYoDvWmHKrjmHCfKd0l8YjPP4a7YewLN6f-IH8lNj5l7JlgBPOiiy7CW4Muj4nxWm4nzPPO8Q5Idy-uUI_48Qq5fJMXd1BXXWPGgBkQsRhDuBG8LeO_zOjkU2q4Y-oP_ZQfbp6AM/s200/Mini2012.jpg" title="" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Official souvenir of the 2012 Olympics</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The 2012 Olympics offer an unprecedented amount of coverage,
with programming running almost around the clock on several television
channels. In addition, fans can keep up online and with apps for smartphones
and tablets. As the media scrambles to keep our attention, they continue
to churn out obscure facts about London, the Olympics and specific athletes. Following
is a list of some of the oddest and most interesting things I have learned during the first week of the Games. I'm not sure if it's all true, but it's what I've heard. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<ol>
<li>The London Tube is the oldest subway system in the world,
dating back to the mid-1800s. It’s been around so long that a species of
mosquito unique to the Tube has had time to evolve.</li>
<li>London taxi drivers have to memorize the location of all of
the streets and landmarks in the city, and they must pass a test to qualify for
the job. The pass rate is only 50 percent.</li>
<li>While tea is the most popular drink in England, with 156 million cups consumed per day, it was such a rare commodity in the 17th century that servants weren't permitted to touch it. The Brits give credit to the Duchess of Bedford for giving birth to the ritual of afternoon tea, but claim that the requirement of extending the pinkie is a myth. </li>
<li>The Olympic medals are stored in a vault in the Tower of
London until they are awarded to the winners of each event. Legend has it that
if the ravens leave the grounds of the Tower of London, the white tower will
crumble, and the monarchy will fall. Therefore, London’s most popular tourist
attraction is required to have six ravens on hand at all times. There are also
two backups in case something happens to the official birds. A group of ravens
is called an unkindness, not a flock. The opponents of Baltimore’s football
team probably consider this an appropriate name. </li>
<li>Michael Phelps consumes 12,000 calories per day. That’s six times the recommended rate for the average man.
</li>
<li>London is hosting the Olympics for the third time, but Queen
Elizabeth’s grand entrance in 2012 marked the first time she has attended the
opening ceremonies.</li>
<li>In another first, Wimbledon will not enforce the rule that
tennis players wear predominantly white during the Olympics. Showing her true
colors, Venus Williams is sporting a patriotic hairdo with red, white and blue
braids.</li>
<li>While, the governments of most countries fund the athletes who participate in
the Olympics, the American government does not.</li>
<li>The men and women who marched under the sign of Independent
Olympic Athletes in the parade of nations at the opening ceremonies come from
the former Netherlands Antilles and the newly formed South Sudan.</li>
<li>While I can’t verify that volleyball is the only Olympic
sport that has cheerleaders, I have not seen them at any other event in London,
nor have I noticed them at a previous Olympics. Along the same lines, beach
volleyball matches now feature dancers.</li>
<li>Horses that participate in the equestrian events must have a
passport and a microchip to travel. The American team’s horses were placed in
huge containers and flown to London in FedEx planes.</li>
<li>The marathon has been one of the most well-known events
since the Olympics began, but the women’s event was not introduced until 1984.</li>
<li>The Australian flag is red, white and blue, but the country’s
athletes normally wear green and gold uniforms. The Australian athletic
community adopted these colors after its country’s cricket team wore them
during a British tour in 1899. Green and gold represent the golden wattle,
Australia’s national flower, as well as the colors of the landscape.</li>
<li>The last Olympic gold medals that were made entirely out of
gold were awarded in 1912. This year’s medals, designed by British artist David
Watkins, are the heaviest and largest in Olympic history. <ol><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYL2Y1oJphT1fSJp2pp-0huyA1cE3LzmKrs-jawDVSElsT2SUP3jH3cbglpCinFHkdG3c-e0V6VQs_XXBtFH8Ad07mZelJXDTfoyBhCbQaacszJdLs2mCZXlc92PbL7fpwqEn91w027U/s1600/Phelps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo of Michael Phelps" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYL2Y1oJphT1fSJp2pp-0huyA1cE3LzmKrs-jawDVSElsT2SUP3jH3cbglpCinFHkdG3c-e0V6VQs_XXBtFH8Ad07mZelJXDTfoyBhCbQaacszJdLs2mCZXlc92PbL7fpwqEn91w027U/s200/Phelps.jpg" title="" width="196" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">This guy needs no introduction.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The following story was not discussed during the Olympics,
but I heard it several months ago, and it stuck with me. At the 1936 Olympics
in Berlin, Jesse Owens famously humiliated Hitler by winning four gold medals.
His roommate Louis Zamperini, although virtually unknown, was also a hero. A
member of the Army Air Corps, his plane was shot down in 1943, and he survived
47 days at sea before becoming a prisoner of war for two years. Captain
Zamperini won several awards for his valor. He wrote “Devil at My Heels” and is the
subject of the book “Unbroken,” both of which tell the story of his remarkable life.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Please share the interesting trivia you have learned during the Olympics. <o:p></o:p></div>Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com0Baltimore, MD, USA39.2903848 -76.612189339.1920723 -76.7701178 39.3886973 -76.4542608tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-73335745640640681762012-07-28T23:29:00.000-04:002012-08-08T12:23:29.213-04:00Culture Club: Asian Pop Comes to Town<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
While most of the world was focused on London this weekend, there
was a whole lot of activity in my neighborhood, too. With the Orioles in town,
an army of orange turned out to support the team in its bid to reach the
playoffs for the first time since 1997. Down the street at M &T Bank
Stadium, home of the Ravens, Tottenham and Liverpool drew a more international
set for their soccer match. While it wasn’t always obvious which of these events
people were attending, there was no doubt about who was in town for the third
big affair, the Otakon convention. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m not really sure what Otakon is all about, but when 31,000
teenagers in strange costumes take over the streets around the Baltimore
Convention Center every year, I know it’s time for the convention. According to
the <a href="http://www.otakon.com/">Otacon website</a>, this event is for the
otaku generation, honoring anime, manga, and all facets of Asian pop
culture. I don’t know what that means, but I do know that the kids are
well behaved, friendly and happy to pose for pictures, so they’re alright in my
book. <o:p></o:p></div>
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You have to see it to believe it, so here you go. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfZc2qVlyey2k7Wnp78Wofxz56SF27c9zKVivZi0d9Qzm1PJ_b32mHipo6AuQdpuD6w_E695UiVcAr9iFQxzEvhcKyLTEznTNjxq_8fuBpaeTVDwYdu4IR2NEKIhKhAXBYZ06WxNImak/s1600/IMG_8294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DQkTwc34BqSHH0mWyRfyEXl06FBKlpMkIT1Aag-f1B35lHtuMSHtNiO7vAjOB8P2AmPpySRnDl6xiVcOzZoN8vkYhlAc1bXAa7qtFk5uRLK03Mzn3Dsv-1NAy22Lh6HWT9zxKAnCD4s/s1600/IMG_8299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Otakon photo" border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DQkTwc34BqSHH0mWyRfyEXl06FBKlpMkIT1Aag-f1B35lHtuMSHtNiO7vAjOB8P2AmPpySRnDl6xiVcOzZoN8vkYhlAc1bXAa7qtFk5uRLK03Mzn3Dsv-1NAy22Lh6HWT9zxKAnCD4s/s320/IMG_8299.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJyf8_hhzVRIM7vB8QyWaiH6irELBcqzVtDqYauOf9G5XGRocClX2D0jKtTCbwI7l8UalL1lvDQZrUjjgwzb9KyESAYj3RFGBl1tfAEaLeE0W6CLO-zAtoT9SICgM1j8ZYq9IBvSbUAQ/s1600/IMG_8297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Otakon photo" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJyf8_hhzVRIM7vB8QyWaiH6irELBcqzVtDqYauOf9G5XGRocClX2D0jKtTCbwI7l8UalL1lvDQZrUjjgwzb9KyESAYj3RFGBl1tfAEaLeE0W6CLO-zAtoT9SICgM1j8ZYq9IBvSbUAQ/s1600/IMG_8297.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_P1-nNg1Bims-2XtckQNC9D1aP2QVWR984DtsLc5hZB4mqJCaycKiXRhnEEFm_Pc46-SJwtDKIYBZMFDcrPUZh6dTludVWz6BRcrveGlI4kMGiiq5Lt6VQ-kWp8ScESO9a02RgLQJI0/s1600/IMG_8307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Otakon photo" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_P1-nNg1Bims-2XtckQNC9D1aP2QVWR984DtsLc5hZB4mqJCaycKiXRhnEEFm_Pc46-SJwtDKIYBZMFDcrPUZh6dTludVWz6BRcrveGlI4kMGiiq5Lt6VQ-kWp8ScESO9a02RgLQJI0/s320/IMG_8307.jpg" title="" width="167" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAiCsSVT_ZhAp7H_Bb-BcR4kX3xZR5I3nwERmtX75DBECeTOHi0JTo9fTRu0KfK2HAtbAE5SQfkathbcRtyus9AV2GizA-yd1aG7o9JA5ZlJApsuIerm7FGy6UjadQofi0ZuB2jCH1X0/s1600/IMG_8305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Otakon photo" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAiCsSVT_ZhAp7H_Bb-BcR4kX3xZR5I3nwERmtX75DBECeTOHi0JTo9fTRu0KfK2HAtbAE5SQfkathbcRtyus9AV2GizA-yd1aG7o9JA5ZlJApsuIerm7FGy6UjadQofi0ZuB2jCH1X0/s320/IMG_8305.jpg" title="" width="164" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxGZD6or-gHPnqNkMqxNFcqd_KgsUtdZTmE06PJzLBNK1g6YpwOvNMKXluwB2c6ZDXx1E78fK7cO5cOREe31TRTouJWYcUySTF7Eb9lLgcIdGaA1XjrduV0r3V96S1iY3cIJdhK82Mu0/s1600/IMG_8320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Otakon photo" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxGZD6or-gHPnqNkMqxNFcqd_KgsUtdZTmE06PJzLBNK1g6YpwOvNMKXluwB2c6ZDXx1E78fK7cO5cOREe31TRTouJWYcUySTF7Eb9lLgcIdGaA1XjrduV0r3V96S1iY3cIJdhK82Mu0/s320/IMG_8320.jpg" title="" width="170" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFvpHhP7cGsFHT7MtATKuJdOsz7grRYRc0kdG7DeVAWKfPkBv4cDzPL28caI057CLvUp5H9PC7LyR7UwhvkWBFt2vMOlBKSE5XqDvkbJ2qiDn-7BWPSKqyLT8ZeGD2CI2vxNyju5uR2s/s1600/IMG_8314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Otakon photo" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFvpHhP7cGsFHT7MtATKuJdOsz7grRYRc0kdG7DeVAWKfPkBv4cDzPL28caI057CLvUp5H9PC7LyR7UwhvkWBFt2vMOlBKSE5XqDvkbJ2qiDn-7BWPSKqyLT8ZeGD2CI2vxNyju5uR2s/s320/IMG_8314.jpg" title="" width="249" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaE5WfAna6eWBgwDLNPWuziUfOQ7OCprRBo-1qwhwDmUbpJ5zv7JiTf8rV8lPNulJVWttBTY8AtIe5-rzsaNytOwvYnviSL5OFtmvBcapjhr-Qa6gJ0VZvGyzPA3n7GBs1T5LLSzmlZSc/s1600/IMG_8315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Otakon photo" border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaE5WfAna6eWBgwDLNPWuziUfOQ7OCprRBo-1qwhwDmUbpJ5zv7JiTf8rV8lPNulJVWttBTY8AtIe5-rzsaNytOwvYnviSL5OFtmvBcapjhr-Qa6gJ0VZvGyzPA3n7GBs1T5LLSzmlZSc/s320/IMG_8315.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKKjYfCFOG4fisMUyvT0kKVal77HKHKx1TJJ_nNpyzg1T07D7-OaLX9N_dgc_M3bQqJpQRdsBirck8Y56w0HpYblLvgqRq8ypWKRsJ1Neb_mzxrAWfbQ2n3uCExEl_3os_m4LMVHZnuU/s1600/IMG_8308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Otakon photo" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKKjYfCFOG4fisMUyvT0kKVal77HKHKx1TJJ_nNpyzg1T07D7-OaLX9N_dgc_M3bQqJpQRdsBirck8Y56w0HpYblLvgqRq8ypWKRsJ1Neb_mzxrAWfbQ2n3uCExEl_3os_m4LMVHZnuU/s1600/IMG_8308.jpg" title="" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscGt17zqsGgT0elMC8zpkjn5D10Zv6CWfRBi_N5PwJQp30PaLSw4X67UfT0m9Sv1pZkD-4F9QdKTTqtYnldHKDtRhvFQ2DdRrzTWkXJpFOar39vAPbQ-SgNVZjA13PekP9B8OArMIhIg/s1600/IMG_8310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Otakon photo" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscGt17zqsGgT0elMC8zpkjn5D10Zv6CWfRBi_N5PwJQp30PaLSw4X67UfT0m9Sv1pZkD-4F9QdKTTqtYnldHKDtRhvFQ2DdRrzTWkXJpFOar39vAPbQ-SgNVZjA13PekP9B8OArMIhIg/s320/IMG_8310.jpg" title="" width="129" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBP16oX745keag6jlo-kreAP3VilMwInOn7bey8hRGU1x15-G2CsBbUpkYvSEagrdU25ssW1QY_oe347DnwTJ1T83E3CslQNjKA0cyt4VmSqDwdJ3pqWL76-X8fV2Umd12iaOawnrEyw/s1600/IMG_8311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Otakon photo" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBP16oX745keag6jlo-kreAP3VilMwInOn7bey8hRGU1x15-G2CsBbUpkYvSEagrdU25ssW1QY_oe347DnwTJ1T83E3CslQNjKA0cyt4VmSqDwdJ3pqWL76-X8fV2Umd12iaOawnrEyw/s320/IMG_8311.jpg" title="" width="128" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhFc4SSSu_5lVspvpxZQhgQKrIxqeBz2dLYu3_7cExvXU5G44B4gVXK3vOTZ4mkTiNvWeCWl3jWt20__TmvENNhgLMrNtR89v3m6hBaQigR5BOEUK4mNEI_04a-Es3eTgluOnJDDPpOE/s1600/IMG_8321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Otakon photo" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhFc4SSSu_5lVspvpxZQhgQKrIxqeBz2dLYu3_7cExvXU5G44B4gVXK3vOTZ4mkTiNvWeCWl3jWt20__TmvENNhgLMrNtR89v3m6hBaQigR5BOEUK4mNEI_04a-Es3eTgluOnJDDPpOE/s320/IMG_8321.jpg" title="" width="170" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYYThG0SMh_uOaPB_Y9_EQZmO-sIPW0jxCFNZtCkmBJ6I7Kpdkrqr-JIOYtV5w61Yg8lxqsebUJhr1Z6y1ssYBvdroCp-_GaAt3fWriEf06VIUbql9NdkvjLd6MxgCszca2Lw9sXkIo8/s1600/IMG_8309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYYThG0SMh_uOaPB_Y9_EQZmO-sIPW0jxCFNZtCkmBJ6I7Kpdkrqr-JIOYtV5w61Yg8lxqsebUJhr1Z6y1ssYBvdroCp-_GaAt3fWriEf06VIUbql9NdkvjLd6MxgCszca2Lw9sXkIo8/s320/IMG_8309.jpg" width="147" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com0Baltimore, MD, USA39.2903848 -76.612189339.1920723 -76.7701178 39.3886973 -76.4542608tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-22397402585593099722012-07-23T21:22:00.001-04:002012-08-21T15:40:47.675-04:00Get Your Art on in Baltimore<br />
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If you’ve never been to Baltimore, your impression of the city has probably been formed by the television shows Homicide and The Wire, two gritty series about drugs, murder and corruption. After living downtown for 16 years, I can tell you that everything you see is accurate–broken families, failing schools, political corruption, gang violence, teen pregnancy, STDs and substance abuse. We’re known to many as the City that Breeds, the City that Bleeds and a few other titles that are nothing to be proud of.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/p1059356094/e117a299d" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Joanne Drummond Photography: Baltimore &emdash; " height="320" src="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v56/p293218717-2.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Waters has made Baltimore <br />
famous for its quirky characters.</td></tr>
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But there’s a lot more to Baltimore than you see on TV. There’s also the Baltimore of John Waters, creator of the hit Hairspray and several other quirky films that accurately portray the many lovable, offbeat characters with big hair and strange accents who have earned us the name Charm City. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Art Lives Here</b></div>
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If you scratch off the grimy reputation, you’ll discover that Baltimore is a cultural gem. The city is filled with so many museums and other sites that feature world-class art, music, literature, history and theatre that you’ll never have time to see it all if you visit. In fact, after all these years, I still haven’t. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This weekend, Baltimore showed off its finer side by putting on <a href="http://www.artscape.org/" target="_blank">Artscape</a>, the largest free arts festival in the US. For three days every year, visitors from across town and across the country try to take in as much of Artscape as they can cover. The festival features every form of art you could think of and then some. The most popular attractions are the hundreds of booths filled with unique treasures created by local artists and at least five stages that offer music of every genre. This year’s national acts included Brian McKnight, Clutch and Rebirth Brass Band. Artscape also offers visitors the opportunity to find out about what’s new at local museums, pick up giveaways from national sponsors, enjoy street performers and take in short features by local filmmakers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A walk down Charles Street is a surreal experience during Artscape. </td></tr>
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<b>Welcome to Wonderland</b></div>
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Artscape’s borders have expanded to include Charles Street, which was converted into a fantasy land. In strolling the few blocks, I felt like I was living Alice’s adventures in Wonderland. I passed three stages, one of which was made of pallets; a knitted port-a-potty; a houseboat topped by a guy wrapped in a snake and a band; a rock opera performed by a cast of medieval punks; a turkey breast children’s ride; an enormous crash-test dummy; a large drawing of John Waters’ head, an art car exhibit and a fashion show. My favorite was a human exhibit that I think was supposed to be an artful interpretation of some down and out folks. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The most impressive part of the festival was that it brings together people of just about every race and economic class, and everybody gets along. Funny thing about art. It always seems to melt away the differences among people, yet it’s the first thing that gets cut when budgets are tight. Perhaps if we started replacing guns with guitars, our streets wouldn’t be littered with bullets and drug paraphernalia.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dance more, sing more, make art more, Baltimore. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://jdrummond.zenfolio.com/p1059356094" target="_blank">Check out more of my photos from Artscape. </a></div>
Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com0Baltimore, MD, USA39.2903848 -76.612189339.1920723 -76.7701178 39.3886973 -76.4542608tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-26645466844458900172012-07-16T17:01:00.000-04:002012-07-16T17:08:34.212-04:006 Rules for Finding the Best Airfare<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many travelers are staying closer to home or making the long
drive to their destination these days as the cost of a plane ticket becomes
more unaffordable. If flying is your only option, and you don’t have wads of
cash or piles of frequent flier miles, try these tips when searching for your
next flight.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJIZ0W1wSpzcFDznfdYqudIpaaMYJOqQ4JTepoy3F071PWhZZb68kzKPijHB75mFLfnCFQt1FlLMvydp_3yI97Edurns51QZrAXVJSm0iHqW0Pc6jWwU8YQ5wsHbcW8PaJqVxGReOm3Y/s1600/Versailles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photo of Versailles" border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJIZ0W1wSpzcFDznfdYqudIpaaMYJOqQ4JTepoy3F071PWhZZb68kzKPijHB75mFLfnCFQt1FlLMvydp_3yI97Edurns51QZrAXVJSm0iHqW0Pc6jWwU8YQ5wsHbcW8PaJqVxGReOm3Y/s320/Versailles.jpg" title="Versailles" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Use these tips if driving to your destination isn't an option. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>1. Know when to book.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Look for flights at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday. This is when the
low-cost airlines like Southwest publish their specials. The larger airlines
follow suit within the next few hours. Prices tend to rise by the weekend. Rates
can change quickly, and other travelers can snatch up the cheap seats, so if
you find a good price, jump on it. Note that the Tuesday rule applies to
domestic fares. International fares don’t seem to change on a set schedule. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t book more than two to three months in advance. Rates
usually fall a few months before the departure.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2. Know where to look.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Websites like <a href="http://kayak.com/" target="_blank">kayak.com</a> and <a href="http://farecompare.com/" target="_blank">farecompare.com</a> search several
sites to come up with a list of available flights and prices. They can also
lead you to more convenient flight schedules you wouldn’t find on an airline’s
sight because they mix flights with other airlines. Note that some airlines,
including Southwest, do not appear on these sites.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At <a href="http://airfarewatchdog.com/" target="_blank">airfarewatchdog.com</a>, users can enter their closest
airport to come up with a list of the best prices for flights to cities
throughout the United States as well as some international cities. Users can
also sign up for weekly emails with the best flight prices, many of which are
unadvertised. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>3. Be flexible. </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I clicked the “My dates are flexible” option on the last
flight I booked, and I ended up saving more more than $1,000 by changing my
departure date by two days. I can’t promise you’ll be as lucky as I was, but
you can often save a decent amount of money if you’re willing to change your
schedule by a few days. Tuesday and Wednesday are usually the cheapest days to
fly, and the old rule about flying more cheaply if you stay over on a Saturday
no longer applies. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>4. Be social. </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some airlines release special offers on social media
outlets like Facebook and Twitter before revealing them to the rest of the
world. You can also learn about deals from your city by registering for the
airline’s email list. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>5. Check the schedule. </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many people buy the cheapest ticket without looking at the
flight times. That’s a bad idea for a
few reasons. Let’s say you want to spend a long weekend in New Orleans. You
book a ticket that leaves on Friday and returns on Monday. Imagine all the fun
you can have in four days in the Big Easy. In checking your itinerary, you
notice that the flight arrives at 10:30 p.m. on Friday and departs at 7:00 a.m.
on Monday. Add in the time it takes to travel to and from the airport, and
you’ll arrive just in time for bed on Friday night, and you’ll have to be in
bed just after dinner to make your early morning flight on Monday. That only
gives you two days, not to mention that you’ll miss out on two nights on the
town. After considering the money you’ve spent for a hotel for those two nights,
it’s just a bad deal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Transportation to and from the airport could be an issue
depending on your flight times. You’re less likely to find a ride from a friend
if you are flying early in the morning or late at night. That leaves expensive
options like hiring a taxi or airport shuttle or parking in an airport lot. The
tram near my house only costs $1.60 each way, so I try to book during its
operating hours when possible. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Direct flights are hard to find these days and are often
priced much higher than those with connections. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If your flight has connections, beware of layover times. I’ll
pay more to avoid a long layover, which costs me valuable time and often a good
chunk of change on meals and snacks. I also pass on any itinerary with less
than an hour between flights, even if they are in the same terminal, because if
my first flight is late, I'll be mor likely to miss my connection and lose my luggage. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have taken several international flights through JFK, which
is the perfect storm for airport unpleasantness on the return trip. If you
absolutely can’t avoid this airport, allow at least three hours between flights
on the return trip. Since it’s the first port of entry in the country, all
passengers must wait in long lines at Immigration, pick up their checked baggage,
pass through Customs and check their baggage again. Then they must go to
another terminal for their connecting flight, where they must pass through
security. I have never spent less than 45 minutes in security, and they won’t
send anybody to the front of the line for a flight that’s about to depart
because everyone in line is facing that issue. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>6. Add up the hidden costs. </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fees for checked bags, choosing seats and other services not
included in the price of the ticket can add up, especially if you’re traveling
as a family. Therefore, come up with a total cost before making your choice. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you have any other tips for finding cheaper airfare,
please share them here. <o:p></o:p></div>Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com0Baltimore, MD, USA39.2903848 -76.612189339.1920723 -76.7701178 39.3886973 -76.4542608tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-38885904480965622322012-07-09T13:49:00.000-04:002012-07-09T14:00:47.416-04:00My Memory of Lionel Batiste<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I was skimming headlines on msn.com last night, I was
two stories down before my heart skipped a beat. Uncle Lionel Batiste is dead.
Wait … what? I had to back up and read it again. Lionel Batiste. I know him!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To be honest, I don’t actually know Lionel Batiste, a huge
figure in the New Orleans music scene, but he made a big impression when I ran into him about two years ago. As I was entering the courtyard of the legendary
Preservation Hall to meet up with my jazz tour, he was finishing up a photo shoot.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most of my family and friends know that I adore the music
and culture of New Orleans. I’m also a huge fan of Tremé, the HBO series about
the city, so I immediately recognized Uncle Lionel and his Tremé Brass Band
drum. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All I could think of was getting a picture of
that drum because I was certain that I would never come across anything that
screams New Orleans like that beat up instrument. Had I known at the time that
Uncle Lionel had used his drum to keep himself afloat in the post-Katrina
floods, I probably would have passed out on the spot. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I stood there trying to work up the courage to ask
permission to take a picture, Uncle Lionel was packing up his things. I knew
that he’d be gone in a few moments. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What if he thought I was crazy for asking? What did it
matter since I’d never see him again? What if he said no? And why were the
other few guests meandering around looking more interested in starting the jazz
tour when a living, breathing musical giant was standing right in front of
them? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPmzZK0OPYm8srfkRqN3uxqa8-b8myYvNNDi_71cp05BZ_WF5VJL8wbIhB9ZRBTMP5piJz7Fr846K1BIVbnhLCZPynhvTRNKa4ir6dcKTrwterVLAV9GfPzUxHLDlc5YiKs3pqKdJqTU/s1600/Batiste.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPmzZK0OPYm8srfkRqN3uxqa8-b8myYvNNDi_71cp05BZ_WF5VJL8wbIhB9ZRBTMP5piJz7Fr846K1BIVbnhLCZPynhvTRNKa4ir6dcKTrwterVLAV9GfPzUxHLDlc5YiKs3pqKdJqTU/s320/Batiste.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ah, what the hell? “Hi, do you mind if I take a picture
of your drum?” I practically whispered, and my heart stopped as I waited for
his response. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Slowly, he turned around and picked up his drum. Oh, no, you
idiot! Why didn’t you just walk over and take the damn picture before he had a
chance to move the drum? I can’t believe I upset him so much that he’s going to
hide it. Now I’ll never get my shot!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Suddenly, he turned to face me and struck a pose with the
drum. This was too good to be true! My heart resumed beating and began to pound
furiously. I only had seconds to get the shot. I was looking straight into the
sun. I was too close to get a full body shot. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He started to lower the drum, and I snapped as quickly as I
could, praying for the best. Then, despite his age and frail build, he disappeared
with his drum in an instant.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I spent the next few minutes willing my heart back to its
normal pace, trying to look nonchalant about my run-in with a legend. Inside
the tiny, dark hall, I struck up a conversation with the photographer, who
explained that he was working on a book of photos of famous musicians posing
with their instruments. He soon excused himself to shoot his next subject,
Mardi Gras Indian chief Monk Boudreau, who was waiting patiently while we
wrapped up our chat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t know whether it’s the Southern culture or the fact
that musical talent is the norm in New Orleans, but it’s remarkable to me that
musicians in this town mingle with the masses and don’t put on any airs. In any
other city, they would be surrounded by an entourage and a throng of fans and
paparazzi. Despite this unusual attitude, I preferred to focus on my success in
shooting Batiste rather than pushing my luck with Boudreau, so I faded into the
shadows to wait for the tour. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the tour guide called us together and led us back into the light of day on St. Peter Street, he offhandedly revealed the identities of the gentlemen we
had seen inside. The rest of the group, assuming the New Orleans attitude,
seemed unimpressed. As for me, it was the highlight of my trip and a memory
that will last a lifetime. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rest in peace, Unc. Enjoy your second line.</div>Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com0Baltimore, MD, USA39.2903848 -76.612189339.1920723 -76.7701178 39.3886973 -76.4542608tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-34205016326791709892012-07-07T14:13:00.000-04:002012-07-07T15:09:38.735-04:00Interrupting the Heat Wave with a Simple Writing Request<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Can it get any hotter outside? Yes, and according to weather.com,
it could reach 109 today. That’s about 43 for anyone born outside the United
States. I’m not even going to attempt to leave the house for fear that I will
spontaneously combust. Instead, I’ll enjoy the air conditioning and plow
through the stack of magazines that’s been growing on my coffee table. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicW07dIUapii-rHmVY5RDIArLsK6hPki81XZtISK2qNG8kHXvUaLLDFIqDKFOyt0HfjHwzA51M4woG1j3TeyWdVNmM4gIEgnusmgFouVQbj9aTAAQaT5T7aXCdLpur-IDsJz4EnBDH9Z4/s1600/IMG_2772_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicW07dIUapii-rHmVY5RDIArLsK6hPki81XZtISK2qNG8kHXvUaLLDFIqDKFOyt0HfjHwzA51M4woG1j3TeyWdVNmM4gIEgnusmgFouVQbj9aTAAQaT5T7aXCdLpur-IDsJz4EnBDH9Z4/s320/IMG_2772_web.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For more effective writing, KISS: Keep It<br />
Simple, Stupid. It shows respect for your<br />
reader's time and increases the chances<br />
that he or she will read your document. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My magazine-reading habits are like those of most people,
according to what they teach in the communications seminars I attend. We prefer
articles we can scan quickly and lots of white space, graphics and photos. When we come across long blocks of text, we tend to feel overwhelmed, unwilling to
invest our time on long sentences that lead us down a long confusing path with
no sign of reward at the end. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We feel the same way about insurance, legal and financial
documents, pretty much anything you’d find in the business world. Don’t get me
wrong; our preferences don’t mean that we’re stupid or illiterate. People are just really busy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Don’t Forget to KISS: Keep Is Simple, Stupid</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If given the choice, I’m sure that people would choose the
concise, simply worded document over the long one filled with words you’d find
on an SAT test. So why do people continue to churn out documents that look like
they are a college essay? Is it because they believe they will look more
intelligent? Actually, a Harvard study says that the opposite is true. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although it takes practice, it’s possible to simplify your
writing by using short words and short sentences without sounding like you’re
talking down to people. You wouldn’t use those long sentences and big
vocabulary words if you were talking to someone, so write like you are having a
conversation with the reader.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>How to Simplify Your Writing</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Following are some suggestions from a writing bootcamp that
I recently attended:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">Replace long words with short words that mean
the same thing. For example, <i>use</i> instead of <i>utilize</i>, <i>have</i> or <i>feel</i> instead of
<i>experience</i>, <i>home</i> instead of <i>residence</i>.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">Cut words that would not change the meaning of
the sentence if removed. Delete phrases like </span><i style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">it is believed that</i><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">in my opinion</i><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">
and </span><i style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">in terms of</i><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">Don’t use a phrase when a word will do. Replace </span><i style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">that
point in time</i><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;"> with </span><i style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">then</i><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;"> or </span><i style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">when</i><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">, cut </span><i style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">because of the fact that</i><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;"> to </span><i style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">because</i><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">;
shorten </span><i style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">in order to show</i><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;"> to </span><i style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">show</i><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">Use active voice instead of passive so the
reader knows who is performing the action, and that the person or organization
is taking accountability. </span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">Use bullets, subheads and graphics to break up
your text.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">Avoid referring to the reader in the third person. Write as you would speak, using you or the imperative voice. My city government should be fined for breaking this rule on a regular basis, constantly issuing alerts and instructions on what citizens or residents should do in various situations. Considering the low literacy rates
where I live, most people probably can’t even read the words, let alone realize
that the information is directed toward them. Please, Madam Mayor, just say you. Also, leaders, please stop referring to yourself in the first person. Geez, even the president of the United States says we, not I.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">Avoid overuse of bold, italics, capitalized and
underlined text because it overwhelms and confuses the reader, often making him
feel like he is under attack.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">Use spell check, but proofread afterward. Spell
check will not notify you if you typed <i>loose</i> instead of <i>lose</i> because it’s still
a word.</span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What’s the Point?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Writing simply shows respect for your reader’s time. It also
increases the chance that he or she will read your document and take the action
you request, which is your ultimate goal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not sold? Research has shown that people overestimate
the vocabulary knowledge of others by 30 percent. That means that your reader
might not understand about a third of what you’re writing, which is sort of
like trying to read a foreign novel after only a few years of language class. It
doesn’t work. Trust me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you still need convincing, a study by the University of
Baltimore showed that people at high literacy levels actually benefit more than
people at lower levels when reading simplified materials. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bottom line: For everyday use, try simple, concise
writing. Save the big words for the <i>New York Times</i> crossword puzzle. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We now return you to the scheduled heat wave. <o:p></o:p></div>Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com0Baltimore, MD USA39.2903848 -76.612189339.1920723 -76.7701178 39.3886973 -76.4542608tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29857058410090538.post-85975052756539042322012-07-05T18:18:00.001-04:002012-08-21T15:42:36.355-04:00Use Your Smartphone Wisely When You Travel<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
I
recently attended a jazz concert sponsored by the city in my neighborhood’s
park and decided to take pictures of the crowd enjoying the show for use on the
community website. When I downloaded the photos, I was disappointed to find
that most of them showed people who were more involved with their phones than
they were with the neighbors or the music, hardly an advertisement for my exciting urban lifestyle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
While
cell phones drive me insane when their owners use them to communicate with
everyone but the people right next to them, I’m addicted to some of my iPhone
apps, especially when I’m on the road, and I don’t have access to a computer. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkCUxN2VCuTqYtpjcVyxIZ7yHzODRcNFEn-_4R5C1rG35hHHWGG5fREtXZCYuqKeD43usvvrjo6_Xetm1micXxiRBFLFQincu3AhpQn-R2IuDnLWRLMGiweZm0vCtULHy4pUnYuO4RHY/s1600/IMG_4277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="photo of Sahara" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkCUxN2VCuTqYtpjcVyxIZ7yHzODRcNFEn-_4R5C1rG35hHHWGG5fREtXZCYuqKeD43usvvrjo6_Xetm1micXxiRBFLFQincu3AhpQn-R2IuDnLWRLMGiweZm0vCtULHy4pUnYuO4RHY/s320/IMG_4277.JPG" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A smartphone is handy, even when you don't have service.</td></tr>
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If
you travel overseas, you probably know that the first thing you need to do is
turn off the data and roaming to avoid a huge bill. If you can find a café or
hotel with Internet access, you can still take advantage of Wi-Fi to use your
apps. McDonald’s offers free Wi-Fi, and the coffee wins awards in several
countries, so it’s a good option in a pinch.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>There’a an app for that.</b> There are lots of apps, many of
them free, that can simplify travel. Following are some of favorites:<span style="background-color: white;"> </span></div>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">Most airlines offer apps that enable you to
check in and get updated flight information. Some allow you to download a
boarding pass for certain airports. I would still recommend a paper ticket
after witnessing a TSA agent at JFK tell a passenger who had waited an hour in
line for a plane that was due to take off in 15 minutes that the smartphone
reader wasn’t working, so she had to go back and get a paper ticket. </span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">TripIt (available for iPhone, iPad, Android,
Blackberry, Windows Phone 7) enables users to forward their confirmation emails
for plane and hotel reservations to the app, so all of the vital information is
available in one place. If the information is a small hotel or other vendor not
supported by the TripIt system, the user can manually enter the information.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">If you will be in a city that has a metro
system, MetrO is a necessity. Plug in the starting and ending stop or landmark and
the time that you want to travel to find out which metro, tram or bus to take
and where to transfer. Best of all it’s a downloadable database, so you don’t
need WI-FI or a data plan. Just beware that some city names are presented in
their native language, e.g., Prague is Praha, and Vienna is Wien. </span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">Check the website </span><a href="http://metro.nanika.net/index.php?p=Z" target="_blank">http://metro.nanika.net/index.php?p=Z</a><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">for the list of smartphones supported, as the
company continues to add more.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">A foreign dictionary always comes in handy if
you are going to a country where English is not the native language. There are
free versions for many languages, but like most apps, the paid versions offer
more. Before buying, be sure to find out whether Internet access is required if
you won’t be using your data plan.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">A currency converter is a big help when you are shopping and trying to figure out how much you are spending on a souvenir, or when you're at the ATM trying to figure out how much money you need. I use GlobeConverter Free because I can open it before I leave or when I have Wi-Fi access to download current exchange rates, and it will use the last rate downloaded to make the calculations. </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">To stay in touch with the folks back home without spending an arm and a leg, download Pinger's free texting program. If you have Wi-Fi, you can text anyone in the U.S. for free. Pinger also offers free incoming calls from any U.S. phone and free outgoing calls to any mobile phone in the U.S. that also has this app.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">Walking tours can offer advice on what to see
and how to get there. Again, find out whether Internet access is required if
you won’t be using your data plan. Rely on user reviews to choose the best
guide. Some of the popular travel guides, such as Frommer’s and Rick Steves,
are available for a fee, but they are cheaper than the printed books and
certainly less weighty. Remember that most hotels and tourist spots overseas
can provide a free map as well as advice on the best places to visit, so don’t
rule out the locals as some of the most useful resources.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">Foursquare, available for most smartphones, is
helpful if you can use your data plan and you want to know what’s worth seeing
in the vicinity. Although I don’t really care to be the mayor of any of the
places I visit, I was happy to let it lead me through the Garden District of New
Orleans to the homes of some celebrities and the resting place of Lestat, the
main character in several Anne Rice books.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; text-indent: -0.25in;">Living Social offers bargains in your town and throughout
the world. PayPal also offers an app called Where that provides information on
local offers based on your GPS location.</span></li>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Know where to go.</b> While a map app can be a great travel
tool, it’s still a good idea to print out a map that shows the location of your
hotel before you leave. While I’m on this topic, research the best way to go
from the airport to wherever you’re staying by doing a search for
“transportation from whatever airport to whatever town.” You can compare prices
between shuttles, taxis and whatever modes of transportation available and
learn how and where to buy tickets. You will probably be tired and disoriented
when you arrive, so it won’t be a good time to start figuring out where you are
and where you need to be, especially if you won’t be in an English-speaking
country.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A photo of your luggage doesn't have to be a work of art. </td></tr>
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<b>Take a picture.</b> You’ve probably heard that you should keep a
copy of your passport in a separate bag. But what of you lose your bag? What if
you lose your passport and you just can’t get to your bag? As a simple
safeguard, take a picture of your passport and email it to yourself. You can
also take a picture with your cell phone. If the phone or the camera uses a
flash, make sure your photo, the passport number and expiration date are still
visible. As I mentioned in my last entry, use your phone to take a picture of your
suitcase just before you leave for your trip. That way, if the airline loses
it, you can show someone exactly what it looks like. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I hope you get a lot of use out of your phone while you’re
away, but I also hope that you don’t become so involved with it that you miss
out on all of the exciting activities and scenery around you. And if you come
across a must-have app, please let me know. <o:p></o:p></div>
Joanne Drummondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17614420805772858910noreply@blogger.com0Baltimore, MD, USA39.2903848 -76.612189339.1920723 -76.7701178 39.3886973 -76.4542608