Horsing around

Sometimes a picture is worth, well, maybe a thousand words.  What about this one?

This animal is used in trail rides in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the area of Cades Cove, which is on the west side of the park. After a day of work, he's turned out to pasture and oftentimes, while hanging along the fence line, picks up a few treats from vacationers passing through the idyllic countryside.

Beast of burden enjoys carrot at Cades
Cove in Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee

Next post, May 24, 2011

Narrow-gauge adventure in gold country

Spectacular! Awesome! On the edge!

Those are just a few words that can describe the narrow gauge journey from sea level at Skagway, Alaska to the White Pass at some 2,865 feet.

The trip has been taken by thousands, most recently by tourists who arrive on large cruise ships. Travelers can get a glimpse of what it was like for prospectors long ago who had to make their way over the pass on foot on their way to the Yukon seeking gold.

Skagway at one time (back in 1897) was the largest city in Alaska averaging a population of 20,000 people.

The White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad serves up a horse of a different color these days for those who want to make the journey to the pass which is a 20.4 mile one-way trip. 

Plop down your cash, hop on one of their cars and you're off.

Memories still linger for my wife and I on a trip we took more than a decade ago.

The climb up to the pass was breathtaking, mainly because at times the train was running along the edge of steep cliffs or over seemingly rickety trestles. The sides of the mountain we were on were almost vertical.

As we climbed up to the pass, vistas opened to the sea. 

The main engines which pulled the cars we were on were diesel, a far cry from the early steam jobs.

The railway closed down in 1982 when metal prices dropped and mines closed. But in 1988 it opened again catering to the tourist trade. (History of the railway)

Next post: May 17, 2011

Enjoy things that annoy others

A traditional trip to a well-known place we have visited previously doesn't take much extra planning.

We know where we're going, the basic route, although sometimes there are sidetrips, and the costs  are usually known, within a few dollars.

When planning a trip overseas -- that's a horse of a different color.

My wife and I have planned and taken two such jaunts. One was a one-week stay in Paris. The other was a 10-day trip to Italy including stops in Rome, Florence and Venice.

Both were extremely enjoyable. The weather was great. The airline connections were good and  the accommodations were excellent. Did we luck up?

Maybe we did. But then maybe we look at things in a different perspective.

As the saying goes, "When in Rome . . . do as the Romans."

We can adapt, and some things that other people complain about, we just find interesting.

Looking at reviews on the Internet of what other people think of different accommodations gives one good insight.

But sometimes, we take those reviews, especially if they are not too favorable, with a grain of salt. One review indicated that the elevators in the hotels in Europe were small.

Golly, gee. A small elevator. 

On our trip to Paris, we found the elevator in the hotel in which we were staying to be of a birdcage size. There was just enough room for my wife and I and our luggage.

We found it fascinating and interesting. Going up to the fifth floor and then going back down was always an adventure and enjoyable.

We had a small room in the Mercedes and the bathroom was in a triangle shape. Not to worry. We adapted. Our room overlooked Avenue Wagram.

There wasn't much room out on the balcony. But we made use of it spending a number of meals overlooking the activities on the street below including the skaters on their weekly Saturday night jaunt.

Sometimes, things just turn out better than expected. And become a pleasant surprise.

Next blog: May 10, 2011