Travel

Solo Traveler: Food

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Pears for sale at a market in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas. Photo by Sherry Hardage
 
Solo Traveler: Food
Column by SHERRY HARDAGE

For people going on a cruise, where delicious food is available all day and into the night, it’s probably better to lose weight before the trip. Foodie tours of France, Italy, and Mexico can quickly pack on the pounds, too.

Even adventure travel can do in a diet. Several summers ago I went on a five-day rafting trip down the wild Yampa River in Colorado with the O.A.R.S. Company. In spite of days paddling the river and strenuous hiking, I still gained some weight Read More

Solo Traveler: Themed Travel – Fountains

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Solo Traveler: Themed Travel – Fountains
Column by SHERRY HARDAGE

When on a long trip, I’ve discovered that I don’t get terribly excited about visiting a place until I actually put feet on the ground. Then the smells, sounds, the struggle to understand and be understood, all conspire to light a fire in my heart and make me want to explore.

I read about the Trevi Fountain in Rome and wanted to see it, but I wasn’t savvy enough at the time to use my iPad’s map functions nor had I discovered the iPad’s GPS. Plus, I went to Rome with two other women who had their own agendas about what to see.

After their

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Solo Traveler: Socialized Medicine

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Solo Traveler: Socialized Medicine
Column by SHERRY HARDAGE

An issue that every traveler must eventually contend with is medical care. Inevitably travelers get colds, bellyaches, injured, or worse. So if you’re in another country, far from home, what do you do?

Most American medical insurance companies will cover you in foreign lands with the caveat that you pay for the medical services and they’ll reimburse you. Travel medical insurance is available for a reasonable fee per year, or a not quite so reasonable fee per trip. Some policies have specific riders providing a helicopter or airplane Read More

Solo Traveler: Themed Travel – Art

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Palau Güell, looking up into the atrium. Photo by Sherry Hardage
 
 
La Familia Sagrada seen from Park Güell. Photo by Sherry Hardage
 
 
Solo Traveler: Themed Travel – Art
Column by SHERRY HARDAGE

Themed travel was something I found myself doing without being aware of it. It appears, in retrospect, that my trip to Spain was all about tracking down modern art.

Seven of Antoni Gaudí’s projects are now World Heritage sites. It’s hard to be in Barcelona for one hour without running across his name, seeing something inspired by him or viewing a building that he designed.

I

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NCRTD ‘Blue Buses’ Not in Service Monday

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NCRTD NEWS:

The North Central Regional Transit District (NCRTD) has announced that the RTD “Blue Buses” will not be in service Monday Sept. 2, in observance of the Labor Day holiday. 

Regularly scheduled bus service throughout north central New Mexico including Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe and Taos Counties will resume Tuesday, Sept. 3.

The North Central Regional Transit District provides free bus service Monday through Friday to a service area that encompasses more than 10,000 square miles of north central New Mexico including the counties of Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe and Read More

Solo Traveler: Travel Apps

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Solo Traveler: Travel Apps
Column by SHERRY HARDAGE

With all the wonderful devices available today, which ones do you take on a solo trip?

Last year, I purchased an iPad. I thought about an iPhone, but with my over-60 eyes I could never read that tiny screen. The iPad has a built-in GPS that works with Google Maps, a feature I didn’t discover until a recent trip to Silver City.

I found my destination on a map and then turned off the cellular connection. As I drove, a voice came from the iPad telling me where to turn. For a long trip to Europe, I wanted to have access to language translators, which I thought Read More

Sydney’s Corner: Birds of Florence, Italy

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Sydney Frazier in Florence, Italy. Photo by Jason Frazier

SYDNEY’S CORNER: Birds of Florence, Italy
 
Introduction by Teralene Foxx
Los Alamos

I am an ecologist by training and interests; I love the out-of-doors. But with all the gadgets we have now (ipads, cellphones, computers), how do our children and grandchildren learn and become passionate about the natural and cultural world around them? How do we teach them earth-care and tolerance?

I passionately believe that the only way we come to appreciate the world around us is to be out exploring and experiencing the world. Climbing trees, Read More

Woman Takes 100 Mile Hike Around Mont Blanc with Father and Others from Los Alamos

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Fathers and daughters who participated in a 100 mile hike around Mont Blanc, from left, Harry and Angela Martz, Paul White (who had sons so he joined the trip by ‘adopting’ Kerri Frazier’s roommate), Stephanie Larsen, Brian and Megan Metz; Joy and Roger Ferenbaugh, Kerri Frazier and Charles Frazier aka Jim. Courtey photo

 

Tour du Mont Blanc
Introduction by Teralene Foxx

You have all heard about Daddy/Daughter dances but how about Daddy/Daughter hikes. Well not just any hike, but a 100 mile hike in France, Italy, and Switzerland. That is the hike my husband, Charles Foxx aka Read More

Nine Weekends of Taos Grand Fall Arts Begins

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A season of color in Taos. Photos by Jill Caven and Janet Burns

Staff Report

TAOS—Fall colors in Taos include not only the vivid changing leaves in Carson National Forest but a multi-colored palette of festivals that take place throughout September and October.  

The 2013 Taos Grand Fall Arts season includes many art, music, literary, and culinary events and several major festivals – Taos Fall Arts Festival, Taos Wool Festival, and SOMOS Storytelling Festival are among the most popular.

This year, the roster of events features a number of colorful personalities:

Aug. 17-Sept.1 Grammy-winner

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Solo Traveler: Why Wait?

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Solo Traveler: Why Wait?
Column by SHERRY HARDAGE

Why wait to retire before you start traveling? Why not retire now? Why not travel now and figure out a different way to make money?

I had the advantage of working for a big company that, in a cost-saving move, kicked me out before I planned to retire. Hiring someone very young with no experience was a sound financial decision for them.  

But let’s back up. I wasn’t “kicked out.” I was given a very powerful disincentive to stay in my job.

If I would retire by their deadline, I could keep my health insurance. If not, I would be on my own purchasing health Read More