Chad D. Thomas: August 2018

What’s a typical day like in Antarctica? What do you do? How do you spend your time? How cold is it, anyway?! I’ve gotten so many questions about Antarctica, but what I’ve really wanted to write about is what a typical day in Antarctica is really like.

First things first: anyone who has been to Antarctica is laughing because there’s no such thing as a typical day in Antarctica! You’re held to the whims of the harsh environment. Your crew might have the best laid plans, and they can be knocked asunder in an instant.

I traveled on the Ocean Diamond in March 2018 with Quark Expeditions, who hosted me on this trip. I spent a few days taking notes on everything I did so I could write this post for you. Here’s a complete log from how I spent one day in Antarctica.

6:45 AM: My alarm goes off. Leanne, my roommate, is up already and taking a shower. As a solo traveler, I knew I’d be paired with a stranger; I lucked out to get someone as sweet and considerate as Leanne, who is a few years older than me and comes from Melbourne via Adelaide.

I grab my phone and take a quick look at the ship’s email, my only source of internet during our 12 days at sea. (There is satellite internet on board, but at $100 for 100 MB, I don’t plan to touch it!) I’m only emailing a few friends and family members to let them know that I’m alive and check in on everything at home.

7:15 AM: “Good morning, everyone, good morning.” Every morning starts the same way, with an announcement on the intercom. It’s going to be a beautiful day on Danco Island.

7:25 AM: Kayaking meeting in the upper restaurant on Deck Four. We meet every morning to get a primer on the conditions and find out what lies ahead. Kayaking conditions can change by the minute, especially somewhere as wild as Antarctica, but it looks good — we’re cleared to paddle today, both morning and afternoon!

7:35 AM: Breakfast! I hit up the custom omelet stand for a veggie omelet and chat with my cook, who comes from Kyrgyzstan. It’s the end of the Antarctic season and he’s excited to go home. His family is planning a welcome home party.

I wrack my brain for Kyrgyz knowledge. “Are you going to have plov?”

He bursts into a grin. “Yes! My mother makes the best plov!”

8:10 AM: Suit up! It takes a good amount of time to get dressed: first my base layer, then my second layer, then my kayaking drysuit. I top it off with my kayaking skirt, booties, life vest, hat, hand warmers, and mittens. (More details on what I wore and packed here.) Ready for anything.

8:25 AM: Kayak meeting time! We meet 20 minutes before the first group is due at the gangway, “zipped and clipped,” and get to spot the zodiacs being lowered from above.

“Hey,” our guide Michael says. “Everyone, put your hands in the center. Now turn them sideways.” He clenches his fist and causes us all to make a spiral, and we cheer!

Since we’ll be walking on Antarctic land today, we step through a tub of disinfecting solution to keep impurities away. Or driver today is Juani from South Africa — not surprisingly, it takes us about two minutes to realize we have a South African friend in common — and speed toward our drop-off spot.

Brian and I are partnered up for this trip. He’s probably the passenger with whom I have the most in common: he’s in his thirties, lives in an east coast city, loves Broadway, and lives a five-minute walk from his sibling, just like I do. Brian’s in the back; I’m in the front. Our guide Vickie holds the kayak in place as I put my feet on the seat, sit on top of the kayak, and slide my way in smoothly before stretching the kayak skirt over my seat.

Danco Island is our morning excursion. This is a major gentoo penguin colony and we paddle along the shore, marveling at the penguins playing in the water before us. The first group arrives on the island and we watch them lots of photos.

Just then an absolute miracle happens — hundreds of porpoising penguins begin jumping around the water! Until today, I’ve only seen about a dozen of them, max. This is incredible. I am knocked senseless with joy.

Soon we make a turn and begin paddling around the island. Soon we land in brash ice. We paddled through brash ice in Port Charcot a few days ago, but this ice is different. It’s not as noisy. It requires a level of athleticism I haven’t deployed until now and soon I’m out of breath — but I keep pushing. (I feel bad that I’ve been taking so many photos and leaving Brian to do the brunt of the kayaking!)

But there’s a reward. We get through the ice and end up in a clearing, surrounded by calving blue glaciers on all sides. We can’t get anywhere near them for safety reasons, but you couldn’t miss the sound even if you try. The sixteen of us paddle into a line and become a raft, holding onto the kayaks next to us. Our raft floats in circles, as we stay silent, the ice calving around us.

10:30 AM: Excursion finished, we leave the kayaks with Vickie and Michael and Juani drives us to shore to hang out with the penguins.

Earlier in the trip, I spent all my time trying to capture perfect photo after perfect photo of the penguins. This time, I sit and watch them. One of the advantages of doing an Antarctica cruise in March is that you see lots of adolescent penguins. While they may not be as cute as the furry gray babies, they’re a lot funnier — they have lots of pool parties!

Since we’re on a 200-passenger ship and international law only allows 100 people from a ship on the continent at a time, half the group does a zodiac cruise while the other half does a landing. This isn’t to say that a zodiac cruise is inferior — some of the best experiences take place in a zodiac! But for me, with these penguins, this is all I need.

11:15 AM: It’s time to head back — I hop in the zodiac and we speed back to the boat! After climbing up the gangway, we spray down our boots and step through disinfecting solution once again to keep the penguin poop off the ship.

After hanging up my suit to dry, I head to the Club, the lounge area with comfy sofas, big windows, and 24-hour coffee and tea. I grab a seat with John and Trish, an affable Aussie couple in their fifties and two of my favorite people on the ship.

“Now, Kate, I have a question for you,” says John. “What are apartments in New York like?”

Ha. John is about to learn more about New York apartments than he ever knew possible!

“Tiny,” I tell him. “Until you get to 110th St., and then they get enormous — and that’s one reason why I live in Harlem…”

12:30 PM: Lunch time! On the way in, I say hi to maitre’d Alex and accept his offering of a squirt of hand sanitizer. We sanitize our hands often on this ship — before every meal and before we enter the Club or the theater. It seems like overkill, but longtime staff tell me people used to get sick much more often before they started doing this.

Not only is Alex Ukrainian, he’s from Odessa, one of my favorite cities in Europe! We’ve been eagerly gabbing about all things Odessa ever since!

Lunch is a buffet and I usually grab fish and vegetables. Each day there are meat, fish, and vegetable entree options, plus side dishes, a salad bar, and a soup, pasta, and sandwich of the day.

I sit with Bob and Barbara, two more of my favorite people. Barbara is a New Yorker as well and we met at the New York Times Travel Show in January — she came to the speech I gave with Quark and told me she was going on my upcoming trip.

Barbara and Bob met on a tour of Papua New Guinea and they’ve traveled together on several trips since. (Since Antarctica, they’ve also traveled on a cruise from Japan to Vancouver, a long trip through Central America, and they’re planning a trip to the Himalayas next!)

1:15 PM: Nap and rest in my room. I don’t actually fall asleep, but this busy ship can be a lot for an introvert, and I need a bit of alone time before we head out again.

2:20 PM: Time to suit up again. Kayaking is still good to go.

2:40 PM: Time for our afternoon outing in Wilhelmina Bay. There won’t be a landing here, so there’s no disinfection –the others will be doing a zodiac cruise only.

I have to admit that I’m hoping for a more low-key excursion after the hardcore paddling through brash ice we did in the morning. And I’m in luck in the best possible way — Wilhemina Bay is resplendent with whales, and we spend most of our time watching them in wonder.

Normally when there’s a wildlife sighting, everyone speeds to the same location. It’s like a safari that way. But in Wilhelmina Bay, every zodiac has its own whale or pod to watch!

We paddle around, keeping a good distance from the icebergs, searching for seals and penguins in addition to whales. For the past two days, we’ve started yelling, “Come on, come on, come on,” when it looks like a whale is about to show its tail, then we cheer when the tail appears.

Then IT happens. The biggest, most insane thing to happen to use while in kayaks.

A whale slowly rises out of the water, nose first, coming up higher and higher and higher. This is completely different from everything we’ve seen so far! Most of the whales just barely edge out of the water. What is this one doing?

Nausea burrows inside me. I think I might wet my drysuit.

And then…it goes underwater once again. It happened too quickly for me to photograph it, but I don’t care — I’m just lucky enough to have lived it!

“You know those dry suits?” my kayak friends joke. “They’re not dry anymore!”

“Everything surprises me in Antarctica, but it takes a lot to impress me. That impressed me,” says our guide Michael. “The only thing that would make that better would be if an orca jumped over all the kayaks.”

“And then Michael Jackson randomly started singing,” I add.

5:00 PM: Back in the zodiac and back on the boat. I take a shower and change into my lounge-around-the-ship clothes: leggings, a t-shirt, and my favorite long hoodie from Athleta.

Image: Quark Expeditions

5:40 PM: Time for the ship’s daily recap in the theater. Each day, our Expedition Leader Woody and several of the Expedition Staff share some of the best moments. Today it includes an AWESOME photo of us kayakers in Wilhelmina Bay with the whale breeching in front of us!

Everyone is uploading their photos to the shared drive. (Everyone, that is, except the pro photographers, because the rights will transfer to Quark.) We’ll be able to access them for the next two years.

6:00 PM: Usually we do a four-course plated dinner with unlimited wine. But tonight is special — we’re doing a barbecue on deck! The deck has been transformed and music is blaring. Everyone is in their bright yellow coats, grabbing food and laughing. It’s also “crazy hat” night, though only about a third of the passengers join in.

Hilariously, the Macarena starts playing.

“I haven’t heard this song since high school,” an American guy around my age says.

“Well, now you’ve heard it on every continent!” I offer. He laughs.

8:00 PM: Tonight’s activity is Antarctic Trivia in the Club. I get paired with a group of randoms including the Macarena guy. We choose the team name “Unstable, But Not Unable” then later lament that it should actually have been “Clueless and Unaware.” We’re pretty terrible at the trivia!

“I love when drunk people shout out the answers,” jokes our host. That, of course, leads to a drunk guy shouting out the answers. “What explorer was named Gentleman of the Border Region?” “RICHARD NIXON!”

The tie-breaker question: “How many eggs has the ship used since the beginning of this trip?” The answer? Over 8,000. Wow.

8:45 PM: I grab a seat with Kirsty from Australia and Leo from Brazil, both of them around my age. While most people on the ship are over 50, what kind of thirty-somethings end up on a trip like this? Kirsty works in broadcasting; Leo works for a big tech company. There’s an American engineer and a Brit who works in the oil industry. I notice that the North American and European thirty-somethings tend to work more upscale jobs; then Australians tend to work more middle-class jobs. You’re far likelier to find an Australian nonprofit worker than an investment banker. There’s a whole blog post in that, I’m sure.

In a celebratory mood, the three of us split a bottle of champagne. We discuss Kirsty’s green card lottery win and upcoming move to New York. We have no idea at the time, but five months later, she and I will be drinking mojitos together in the Hamptons!

10:30 PM: Back in the cabin, catching up with Leanne, and winding down for the night. Between the kayaking, the socializing, and the champagne, sleep comes quickly.

How are other days different?

Sometimes the conditions aren’t safe for kayaking. And if that’s the case, the kayakers do zodiac cruises and sometimes landings, just like the rest of the passengers. Luckily, we have primarily glassy conditions on this trip.

Keep in mind that most passengers don’t kayak. There were only 16 kayaking spots for the 200 people on this expedition; I was extremely fortunate that I got a spot. If you definitely want to kayak, try to book as far in advance as possible.

(Starting in late 2019, however, Quark will be offering a paddle-for-a-day option which lets you try out kayaking in a sturdy inflatable kayak. This is a good option for people who don’t want to commit to kayaking the whole trip.)

Sometimes there’s no morning or afternoon excursion. While the crew tries to get you out as often as possible, sometimes you can’t argue with Mother Nature. They often don’t know if they can clear passages until they arrive. And if there’s no afternoon excursion, they serve afternoon tea in the Club! (Which we really didn’t need, considering how much delicious food there was, but MY GOD we took advantage of it!)

Whenever you’re not doing an excursion or activity, there are lectures on science, ecology, and history. My favorite takes place on International Women’s Day. Our ship historian, Justine, leads a presentation on the history of women in Antarctica called “Where are all the women?”

I am now obsessed with Jackie Ronne and Jennie Darlington, the first women to spend the winter in Antarctica in 1947-1948. They didn’t let subzero temperatures stop them from wearing the most glamorous clothes. Jennie later wrote, “Antarctica to me is female. Fickle, changeable, unpredictable, her baseness disguised by a white make-up of pristine purity. Suddenly she strips off her gloves, rolls up her sleeves and with the ferocity of a wolf, springs at your throat.”

Usually it’s a plated dinner. Dinner has four courses: appetizer, soup, entree, and dessert. After a few days of gorging, most of us take a cue from the staff who have lived on this ship for months and omit one or two of the courses. Unlimited wine is served: one signature red and signature white.

Clearing Up Antarctica Misconceptions

I find that people have a lot of misconceptions about what trips to Antarctica are like. Perhaps nobody more than my mom, who was asking me a few days before the trip if I really had to go! She was more worried than she’s been for lots of my other trips. But after seeing it for herself, now she wants to go to Antarctica.

I hope this typical day cleared up for you just what these trips are like.

And just remember:

It’s adventurous, but not frighteningly so. Yes, the elements are wild, but you only spend a few hours outside each morning and afternoon, and other than that, you’re on a really nice cruise ship with a professional crew. The crew and staff always take steps to keep you as safe as possible.

You don’t need to be in excellent shape. You should be in decent shape, and good shape if you plan to kayak, but you don’t need to be an ultra-marathoner before you tackle Antarctica. The hardest thing is climbing the steps of the gangway. Some of the older passengers had issues with this climb, but they were able to explore Antarctica safely.

You could have a nauseating journey…or not. The Drake Passage is home to some of the roughest seas in the world, and you spend two days crossing them from Ushuaia. We happened to luck out on my journey and had moderate crossings without much nausea. I have friends who have fared much worse.

You learn a lot, but that’s not all you have to do. There are lectures on geology, marine mammals, history. And you can go to them…or you can slink off to the library to borrow a book. And there is always a cup of tea with your name on it in the Club.

Everyone is welcome — and everyone is interesting. What kind of people do you think go to Antarctica in the first place? People who have traveled extensively, of course. And everyone has stories to tell.

Did this day surprise you? How did you think a day in Antarctica would be? Share away!

The post A Typical Day on an Antarctica Expedition Cruise appeared first on Adventurous Kate.

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Weiss Wins GAM Women’s Senior Championship

Southfield’s Shelly Weiss Wins GAM Women’s Senior Championship MANISTEE – Southfield’s Shelly Weiss has been ... Read more.

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Made In Denmark Golf Tournament Winners and History – European Tour

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CaddyTek EZ-Fold 3 Wheel Golf Push Cart

CaddyTek EZ-Fold 3 Wheel Golf Push Cart You should walk when you play ... Read more.

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5 Tips on Stage Presentation Part 1

Stage presentation is an important topic, not just for those who perform regularly, but also for students preparing for exams, diplomas, or school concerts and festivals. In my latest article for Pianist Magazine newsletter (which you can sign up for here), I offer the first of two articles on stage presentation, with a few ideas for honing and developing a more assured approach to performing. I hope it’s of interest. You can read the original here.

This topic might, at first glance, appear frivolous, but it’s important for many reasons, not least to illustrate how we should ideally conduct ourselves onstage. But it also helps various aspects of our piano playing, from choice programming to addressing that all-consuming issue; learning to focus whilst playing. It’s for these reasons that this ‘5 Top Tips’ article is the first of two on the subject. These tips are reminders for anyone giving concerts, taking exams or diplomas, participating in music festivals, or just playing for family and friends.

Before you play a note or even prepare to play a concert, some thought must be given to programming. What will you play? Your programme choice will reveal your personality, and for an audience, may or may not attract them to your recital. A balanced programme is a good idea, but it can be more adventurous to include some Contemporary music. This is especially true when programming for a diploma exam. For a 35 minute diploma recital, why not consider adding 10 minutes of new music. It doesn’t have to be dissonant or atonal music; there are plenty of Contemporary composers who write in an essentially tonal style.
When discussing your next performance, how do you feel? Excited? Fearful? Probably a mixture of the two. The best way to overcome fear is to keep exposing yourself to it; if you can perform regularly, it starts to take on an element of routine. Whilst routine shouldn’t equate to boredom, repeated performances will help to extinguish nerves, and allow you to feel more in control on stage.
Another way to alleviate any potentially negative psychological aspects of performing, is to really fall in love with the piece or pieces that you intend to play. This is why it is paramount that you connect with your chosen repertoire. Ask yourself the following: why do you want to play your piece? Do you love it? How does it make you feel? If you feel a strong attachment to your repertoire, then you will be keen to communicate this with your audience, which can detract from the worry and fear associated with performing.
Should we address our audience on stage? Some performers prefer to walk on stage and just play, whereas others like to talk to their audience, establishing a connection and informing them about the repertoire. I played classical recitals on cruise ship for many years, and one facet which was crucial to the success of a performance was talking to my audience. Even if you just briefly explain what you are going to play, it sets the audience at ease and, hopefully, brings them into your space.
What will you wear to your concert? Attire is important, adding a sense of occasion. Comfort is crucial, and high heels may not be a good idea for all ladies! Aim to find a style which allows you to move freely, but without looking too casual. In my opinion, a concert is an event, therefore smart is the order of the day. Again, this is especially important if taking a diploma, as certain examination boards mention that suitable attire will be taken into consideration during the exam.

My Publications:

For much more information about how to practice piano repertoire, take a look at my two-book piano course, Play it again: PIANO (Schott). Covering a huge array of styles and genres, 49 progressive pieces from approximately Grade 1 – 8 level are featured, with at least two pages of practice tips for every piece. A convenient and beneficial course for students of any age, with or without a teacher, and it can also be used alongside piano examination syllabuses too.

You can find out more about my other piano publications and compositions here.

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Monday, August 27, 2018

Dell Technologies Championship Winners and History

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Making Myself Scarce

Sorry, I neglected to mention last week I won't be around much through Labor Day as it's End-Of-Summer-Family-Extravaganza time. (I'm off the Bike Forecast too.) Very early this past Saturday morning I headed down to Central Park for the velocipeding contest, realized "What the hell was I thinking?," and sat up almost immediately. Instead, I took the meandering route home, during which I took in murals:

And marine equipment:

Then upon arriving home I shucked my chamois, hosed myself down, loaded up the Wagon Queen Family Truckster, and hit the road along with my co-parent and seventeen (17) children:

(Obscured my vanity plate, which reads SCRANUS)

I had been considering bringing the Jones, but generally speaking the road bike is the safe bet when going out of town.

Hey, don't think of it as a vacation; think of it as an extended test of the Saris SuperClamp EX rack I'm evaluating. I'll give a full accounting upon my return, but I will say the meantime that we made it to our destination and the bikes were still there, which is awesome. Also, as you can see there's a fairly big size differential between wheels on each bike (that's a 24"-wheeled mountain bike in the foreground), yet the two-hook-per-arm configuration still manages to hold each bike securely.

If you want to know what pressure we're running, I'm afraid I can't tell you, though I'm pretty pleased with the tubeless setup on the Subie.

Anyway, it's possible I'll pop in between now and Labor Day if anything urgent comes up, but failing that you probably won't hear from me until Tuesday, September 4th or thereabouts.

Boom Shanka and so forth,

--Tan Tenovo

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023: Managing Properties From Thousands of Miles Away – Interview w/ Lucas Hall of Cozy

In this episode, we talk with Lucas Hall, Founder of Landlordology and the Head of Industry Relations for Cozy.co.

Lucas has a plethora of experience and industry knowledge relating to rental properties – everything from property management to …

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Boyne Highlands Resort Hosting The GAM Mid-Amateur Championship

Award-Winning Boyne Highlands Resort Hosting GAM Mid-Amateur Championship HARBOR SPRINGS – Boyne Highlands Resort’s premier ... Read more.

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Puma Titantour Ignite Hi-Top SE Golf Shoes

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Saturday, August 25, 2018

Manistee Golf & Country Club Hosting GAM Women’s Senior Championship

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Golf Is Everywhere: Yellowstone Edition

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Friday, August 24, 2018

Playing A Classic Alister MacKenzie Design

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Golf Ball Massager

Golf Ball Massager Ridiculous Golf Item of the Week

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Thursday, August 23, 2018

New Outside Column!

In my latest column for Outside I share all the wisdom I've failed to gain from many years of city cycling:

Ah yes, cycling here never gets old:

I mean at least he's doing something important. pic.twitter.com/uYDCfn1TBv
— Bike Snob NYC (@bikesnobnyc) August 23, 2018

Sure, I could move to Portland, but it happens there too:

Alas, transcendence is your only option...or a tank:

Whatever works for you.

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Solo Female Travel in Italy — Is it Safe?

Hi. My name is Kate and I’ve been traveling solo in Italy for 14 years. It’s one of my favorite countries in the world. Even though I’m trying to visit new countries, I keep getting drawn back to Italy again and again!

And you’ve landed here because you’re looking to do the same. You want to travel in Italy, and you’re considering going on your own. And you probably have some well-meaning loved ones who insist that it’s not safe for a woman to travel alone in Italy. You’re not sure whether or not to believe them — so you’re seeking advice from an expert.

And I’m here to tell you the truth. There are few countries that I know better than Italy. I’ve been more than a dozen times. I lived in Florence for four months. I’ve been to 10 of Italy’s 20 regions. I studied Italian and still speak it, though my command of the language has dwindled in recent years. And my career is teaching women how to travel around the world safely.

In short, when it comes to solo female travel in Italy, I know what I’m talking about. I know Italy is a dream destination for so many women, but they’re held back. Is it a good idea? And most importantly, is it safe?

Why Travel to Italy Solo?

Italy is a wonderful place to travel solo as a woman. What makes it so good?

It’s a destination most people dream about. Haven’t you always thought about taking a gondola through the canals of Venice as your gondolier sings to you? Italy has a magic that we’ve been dreaming about since we were kids.

The food is exquisite. Each region has its own style and specialties (hell, in Italy each town has its own signature dish!). In my opinion, the best food in Italy is in the Emilia-Romagna region, followed by Tuscany.

The towns and cities are absolutely beautiful. And not just the churches, palaces and piazzas — even regular buildings are beautiful in the old towns of Italy!

It’s easy to get around. You can hit most of the major destinations by train, and several high-speed lines have been added in the last decade, making it faster to get from city to city. If not, you can get around by bus or even car.

It’s a generally safe destination. There’s crime everywhere in the world, but generally speaking, Italy is as safe as your hometown. More on that below.

The art is unparalleled. I once had an art history professor who claimed that an estimated 50% of the world’s artistic treasures were in Italy, and 50% of Italy’s artistic treasures were in Florence. While I can’t verify that claim, you can’t deny that Italy has some of the most magnificent works of art in the world.

The scenery is stunning. Italy might not be as famous for its landscapes as, say, Norway, but you’ll find yourself swooning over the hills of Tuscany, the mountains and lakes of the Dolomites, and the rugged cliffs of the Amalfi Coast.

Beautiful fashion and excellent shopping. Italians take their style and grooming very seriously, and in Italy you can find all sorts of classy and fashionable brands. Florence in particular is good for gold and leather goods.

The Instagram factor. Sure, you can get yourself holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but that’s not all — there’s also the sunset over St. Peter’s Basilica from Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome, the cliffs of Positano on the Amalfi Coast, and the postcard-perfect towns of Cinque Terre.

Learning about your heritage. If you are of Italian descent, it can be moving to come to Italy and see the country that your ancestors called home. If you can track down the town that they left, like I did in Sicily, even better!

If you’re country-counting, you could add add three. Two countries are completely surrounded by Italy: the Vatican, within Rome, and San Marino, near Rimini and an easy day trip from Bologna. They’re also wonderful destinations in their own right. A trip to Italy could turn into a trip to three countries for you.

Is Italy Good for First-Time Solo Female Travelers?

Many travel experts recommend that first-time solo female travelers start in an English-speaking country, but I actually think Italy can be good for first-timers. There are three primary reasons for that.

1. Travel infrastructure. Italy has been a major tourism hotspot for centuries. You can find all kinds of hotels, all kinds of resaturants, all kinds of tours. There is an extensive train network and if not, there are buses. English is spoken throughout Italy, especially by young people and in the most popular tourism destinations.

2. Well-worn tourist trail. If you stick to the beaten path, there will be plenty of tourists there along with you. You never have to worry about being the only foreigner in a town. Not unless you want to! And Italians are used to dealing with tourists and their needs.

3. Familiarity. Italy is a more familiar and accessible culture than in lots of other countries. You’re probably familiar with the art, the architecture, and definitely the food. At the very least, you can always find pizza, pasta, and tiramisu. (Just don’t order fettuccine alfredo. It’s not a thing.)

If your trip to Italy is your first solo trip ever, you may be more comfortable sticking to the tourist trail. Luckily, there are plenty of tourist trails all over Italy.

Is Italy Good for Experienced Solo Female Travelers?

Absolutely. Don’t think of Italy as “amateur hour” — if you want to avoid the tourists, go ahead and get off the beaten path! There are so many regions that are beautiful and interesting but not discovered by the masses (and particularly the North American masses). Think Calabria, Abruzzo, Friuli.

If you’re already an experienced solo traveler, you’ll probably have an easier time in cities like Naples, which can be intimidating to women who aren’t as street-smart. If you’re used to hiking on your own, you might enjoy regions like South Tyrol.

And if you want to throw all your expectations of Italy out the window, head to Sicily. As well as I know Italy, I found Sicily to be quite challenging, especially once you get off the beaten path. Consider it Italy on hard mode!

Is Italy Safe?

Most women who want to visit Italy are held back because they’re not sure whether it’s safe. Many of these women have well-meaning relatives and friends who tell them that they shouldn’t go to Italy because it isn’t safe.

Those well-meaning relatives and friends are wrong. They’re coming from a place of love and concern, but they’re wrong.

I always tell travelers to consider the source. Who is giving you this advice? Ask yourself the following questions:

Does this person travel?

Does this person travel in my style of traveling (i.e. backpacking as opposed to resort travel)?

Has this person been to this destination?

Has this person been to this destination recently (in the past 3-5 years)?

If the answer is yes to all of these, chances are you have an accurate source and should listen to what he or she has to say. But if the answer to one or more of these questions is no, you should seek out opinions elsewhere.

A lot of people who claim that Italy is unsafe have never traveled solo and are remembering something bad about Italy they heard on cable news a few years ago. Some of them remembered a bad anecdote about Italy from a friend decades ago and it’s colored their opinion of Italy ever since.

The truth? Generally speaking, Italy is as safe as your hometown. Violent crime is rare; you’re far more likely to be murdered by your romantic partner than a random stranger on the street, just like anywhere else. The crimes that make headlines, like the Amanda Knox trial, do so because they are so rare.

The main risk you face is petty theft. The best way to guard against that is to protect your belongings in your room and on your person. Lock up your belongings in a portable safe and lock it to something sturdy in your room. When you’re out, use a crossbody purse that zips shut (see more here on what kind of handbag is best for travel) and you may want to try a Speakeasy Travel Supply Scarf, which has a hidden pocket for your valuables that no pickpocket will know about. Use a good day bag that locks if you’re carrying your camera and lenses; I use this one.

What About Italian Men?

This is the one aspect of traveling in Italy that deserves a warning. Italian men can be quite aggressive to women, especially foreign women. This can take various forms — incessant compliments and flirtatious overtures, saying “Ciao Bella” whenever you walk by; mild to loud catcalling; and sometimes following you or grabbing you.

The best thing that you can do is ignore it. Don’t react to the “Ciao Bellas”; if he grabs your arm, shake it off and keep walking. Italian men are used to local women ignoring them. 95% of the time, their behavior does not escalate if you do not give them a reaction.

In the event that the behavior continues without abatement or escalates, go into a shop or restaurant. Ask for help. Locals are familiar with this behavior and know how to defuse it.

I don’t tell you this to scare you. Most of the behavior of Italian men will cease if you ignore it. And that’s not to put the onus on you — it’s THEIR problem that they’re bothering a stranger, and your feelings about it are valid, no matter what they are!

I will add that while I used to get constant harassment while in Italy, I get very little harassment today. I chalk that up to three reasons: I’m no longer very young-looking (neither innocent nor as easily manipulable); I dress and act Italian; and these days I primarily travel in parts of Italy that don’t see as many tourists.

This is what I mean about dressing Italian: the day I got the most harassment in Italy was when I was 20 and wearing a denim miniskirt and a cream-colored tank top. Italian women don’t wear a skimpy top and a skimpy bottom simultaneously, and they rarely wear skirts that short; coupled with my youth and foreignness, it immediately set me apart as easy prey. I went home, changed into a long skirt, and things were better. More on how to dress below.

Travel and Safety Tips for Italy

DO NOT OVERPLAN. One of the biggest problems I see with Italy travelers is that they want to see as much as possible and plan too much into too short a time. My advice? Make peace with the fact that you won’t see everything you want to see, and plan an itinerary that gives you room for serendipity. Keep in mind that packing, moving, and unpacking every day (or even every other day) can be exhausting.

Get a SIM card. If your phone plan doesn’t work overseas (don’t roam, it’s crazy expensive), pick up a SIM card in the airport or in a shop on the street. This way you’ll always have internet on your phone in case of an emergency. I usually get a Vodafone SIM card when I’m in Italy. There are Vodafone shops everywhere. You’ll need to bring your passport.

It helps to dress to blend in with Italian women. Italians tend to be well dressed and groomed, especially in the cities; dressing this way will help you keep a low profile. Don’t wear athletic wear, shorts, baseball caps, or torn jeans unless they’re fashion items. Don’t wear sneakers or flip-flops; instead, bring nice flats, boots, or sandals. The Walking Company is my go-to for comfortable shoes that are cute; I strongly recommend black ABEO flats, which have fantastic arch support.

Italians tend to wear a lot of black, but you don’t have to restrict yourself to dark colors. In summer, I wear tailored dresses; in other seasons, I wear tall boots, nice jeans or pants, and a leather jacket. Italians tend to wear designer sunglasses; some solid black frames at any price range should do you well.

Always validate your train ticket. After you buy your train ticket, you’ll see boxes near the platform where you stick the ticket and get it stamped. You must do this. If you don’t, you could get thrown off the train at the next stop, even though you paid for your ticket.

Ignore the Roma (formerly known as gypsies, a racist term that you should phase out of your vocabulary) and try to keep your distance. The Roma in Italy target tourists for scams, whether that’s panhandling while holding a sedated baby or poking you to distract you while they pickpocket you. DO NOT GIVE THEM MONEY. You are rewarding a system where the men enjoy all the money and force the women and children to work.

You are not obligated to tip the musicians who play near or in restaurants. However, if you make eye contact or make any indication that you’re enjoying the music, they will hound you for tips until you give in.

Consider bringing a Speakeasy Travel Supply scarf. These beautiful scarves are designed and sewed by my friend have a hidden passport pocket in them. I love these scarves (I even designed my own!) and they are so good at keeping your valuables hidden. They’re also extremely chic, enough to work in a fashion-conscious country like Italy.

Driving can be challenging. Italy is famous in pop culture for crazy drivers; unfortunately, there’s a bit of truth to this stereotype. The driving tends to get crazier the further south you go. I personally didn’t have issues with the driving in Puglia, but the driving in Sicily was absolutely insane and needed multiple people to navigate around the crazy drivers!

Summers can be excruciatingly hot in Italy. Plan your trip carefully. If you’re visiting during the summer months (mountainous regions like the Dolomites excluded), prepare for temperatures into the high 90s (mid-30s celsius). Many Italians stay inside during the hottest part of the day. Be sure to hydrate frequently and wear broad-spectrum sunscreen. Many cities in Italy have water fountains where you can refill your reusable bottle.

Don’t let food allergies stop you from visiting Italy. Italians understand the severity of food allergies. Celiac disease is especially understood as all children are tested for it. Italians are used to cooking with all kinds of flours, so finding gluten-free Italian food is much easier than you may think. If you have an unusual food allergy, it helps to get it translated and bring the card to restaurants with you. My friend Jodi sells gluten-free translation cards and has one for Italy.

The Best Experiences in Italy

Walking into the Sistine Chapel. Finally seeing those Michelangelo paintings that you’ve dreamed about for years as the guards call out, “Sileeeeeencio.”

Staying at an agriturismo. Italians were doing farm homestays long before Airbnb existed! Relax in the countryside and enjoy fresh meals from the garden every night.

Taking the cable car to the top of Capri. Stepping up, admiring the view, and wondering whether you’re in a Greek myth.

Sitting in Caffe Rivoire on Piazza della Signorina in Florence, watching the world go by. Be sure to get their hot chocolate. It’s unlike any you’ve ever had.

Learning how to cook your favorite dishes. You can find cooking classes all over Italy!

Enjoying aperitivo in Bologna. In the early evening, order an aperol spritz or glass of wine and help yourself to the complimentary buffet.

Wearing a vintage-style dress and posing on the beach in Positano. It feels like you’re an extra in The Talented Mr. Ripley, waiting for Jude Law and Matt Damon to appear.

Being delighted by the sight of a nun speeding by on a bicycle. And it’s not a rare occurrence in this country.

Enjoying a gondola ride through Venice. It’s like you’ve always dreamed it would be.

Shopping for jewelry on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. Yes, it’s touristy, but you can get some truly beautiful pieces here. And it’s minimum 18k gold.

Eating gelato at every opportunity possible. Multiple times per day! Go ahead, you’re on vacation!

Where to Go in Italy

There are so many options in Italy! No matter what kind of trip you’re planning, you can find it in Italy. (Unless you’re looking to ski in the middle of the summer. Though you can do that in neighboring Austria…)

If it’s your first time, you may want to hit up the greatest hits. That would be Rome, Florence, and Venice, and they do make a great trio. Depending on how much time you have, you can add on day trips or extra destinations. Some first-timers like to add the Amalfi Coast, often basing in Sorrento. Others add Milan, or Cinque Terre, or Bologna.

I’m a big fan of staying in one Italian city and using it as a base for day trips. This way you only unpack once and don’t have to lug your bags throughout the trip. My biggest tip is to stay in a major train hub so you have lots of options.

Florence is probably my first choice for a day trip-centric Italy trip; you can see this post for details. My second choice would be Bologna. Milan and Verona could work. All four of these destinations are major train hubs and can get you all over the region easily. I wouldn’t recommend doing this in Rome because you have to go pretty far from Rome to see a lot of the day-trippable destinations.

Tuscany is a dream destination of many travelers, and for good reason. You’ll recognize the hills from all the Renaissance paintings you’ve seen, and the hill towns are beyond charming. Another great option is the region of Umbria, which is next door and not as famous nor as expensive, but has a very similar beauty to Tuscany with delicious food, too.

Puglia, the heel of the boot, is an interesting destination and has some of the better infrastructure in southern Italy. This is a great destination to see on a road trip. I particularly loved Alberobello, full of white conical buildings called trulli.

If you’re a foodie, you must go to Emilia-Romagna. I consider it my favorite food region on the planet, and Italians grudgingly admit that Bologna is the best food city in Italy. Base in Bologna and dive into the local cuisine; take day trips to Modena, Parma, Ravenna, Ferrara, Rimini, and San Marino for more. Here are my 25 favorite food experiences in Emilia-Romagna.

If you’re an experienced traveler and looking for something different, consider Sicily. I found Sicily to be an intense and challenging destination, but very rewarding. If you’re a less confident traveler, stick to the beaten path in Sicily. Here are the best spots on the East Coast; my favorite was Siracusa.

This is just a taste of what Italy has to offer. I could list everywhere, but this post would be 10,000 words long!

Travel Insurance for Italy

One last note — it’s absolutely vital to have travel insurance before traveling to Italy. If you get sick or injured on your trip, or even have to be flown home, travel insurance will protect you from financial ruin. I use and recommend World Nomads for trips to Italy.

My friend once broke her foot while in Florence. Her travel insurance company not only handled all the medical expenses, but they got her a business class ticket home so she could keep her foot elevated. Travel insurance protects both your health and your finances, and that’s why it’s so important.

Don’t be afraid — Italy is waiting for you!

Italy is one of my favorite countries in the world and it has brought so much happiness into my life! I only want you to have the same happiness that I’ve known.

Consider this your blessing. Read up on travel safety, go to Italy, and have the time of your life.

Then come back and tell me all about it.

Have you traveled solo in Italy? What would you add to this post?

The post Solo Female Travel in Italy — Is it Safe? appeared first on Adventurous Kate.

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6 Genius Ways for Investors to Make the Most of Social Media

The most successful real estate investors today don’t rely on just one or two marketing approaches to generate interest in their properties and get people to rent or buy them.

Rather, the top-tier investors wisely allocate much of their marketing …

The post 6 Genius Ways for Investors to Make the Most of Social Media appeared first on REtipster.

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Houtteman Wins Playoff, Michigan PGA Professional Championship

Houtteman Wins Playoff, Michigan PGA Professional Championship Lee Houtteman of Cedar Survives Playoff to Win ... Read more.

The post Houtteman Wins Playoff, Michigan PGA Professional Championship appeared first on GolfBlogger Golf Blog.

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Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Comes Crashing Through Wall On Zipline I'm Here!!!

Sorry for my absence. It's that fallow period between camp and school which means I've got to kick the parenting machine into high gear--and I'm not messing around, either, because I'm just back from the Bronx Zoo Treetop Adventure:

And yes, I wore a helmet.

If you're looking for a family activity I highly recommend it, though I'm sure to the Mountaineering Freds it's the equivalent of riding a rental bike around Central Park. Speaking of which, we also got a little riding in yesterday:

On our fancy new neighborhood bike lane:

Which the Community Board chair called a "failure of democracy."

The younger one's also getting better at riding, though he's still more interested in pitching socks out the window:

You now know every single thing about my life.

Didn't you like it better when I was anonymous?

(Nobody ever did figure out the significance of that hat.)

Sure you did:

Speaking of Bicycling, they're taking a completely unnecessary stand against pedestrians in the bike lane:

Filling bike lanes with pedestrians, pushcarts, and construction equipment is not just frustrating for cyclists, but actually works against the efficient movement of people on bikes through crowded urban spaces. If your city really wants to unlock the mass mobility benefits of cycling, bike lanes must be treated as travel lanes.

I guess what happened is people saw this video and thought Henry Grabar was advocating for walking in the bike lane:

And I feel like I'm taking crazy pills because it seemed totally clear to me that's not what he was saying at all. He's just saying they're also for non-bike (and obviously non-car) traffic that's "moving too fast for the sidewalk," such as those new fangled electric scooters, which I'm totally cool with.

Then again, he also defends shoaling:

Hey, he credits me for the term and pronounces my name right, so as far as I'm concerned he can say whatever he wants:

Honestly you can break any rule as long as you do so conscientiously.

Also, at this point in my life it's becoming extremely difficult to care what people do on or with their bikes.

Finally, yesterday I tweeted this:

So do we tell him about bikes or...?https://t.co/zwsHzjWAol
— Bike Snob NYC (@bikesnobnyc) August 21, 2018

Which prompted someone to tweet this:

pic.twitter.com/uOOIGrUn5K
— Aberdeen Cycle Cam (@ABZ_Cyclecam) August 22, 2018

Nice.

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Friday, August 31, 2018

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Tuesday, August 28, 2018