Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 351
November 30, 2014
USA Today: Salsa Dancing in Los Angeles
USA Today: Salsa Dancing in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is home to making movies, international cuisine and top salsa spots! Are you ready to dance the night away but not sure you can StepUp to the moves? Cristian Oviedo, who teaches in Los Angeles Monday through Thursday, has twelve international dance championship titles and is a caring and kind teacher who will get moving to the beat from your first time on the dance floor. Miguel Maganda and Nicole Gil teach twice at week at Monsoon and when class ends, a live band begins so you can show off your new styling! Pick any spot on this list and learn the moves to feel comfortable on the salsa scene.
If you already know how to strut your stuff, your styling and moves will be vastly improved with these great teachers and classes. Come meet new friends, enjoy live music and show off your steps. I cannot wait to see you moving to the beat on a dancer floor in Los Angeles.
Thank you to all the members of the Muntuno team, Judy Romanik, Cristian Oviedo, Nicole Gil and Miguel Maganda for sharing their favorite spots to dance the night away! We are all waiting to dance with you!
10 Olivia Restaurant
Looking for a intimate restaurant with family style Mediterranean cuisine and entertainment? This is your place and Thursday night is the time to dance salsa in Burbank with a full bar, lounge and the talents of teachers, Mike and Christina. This location has many perks besides being one of the only locations for salsa on Thursday night. The restaurant is open until 10pm and this site has free parking! If you want to take the 8pm Basic Salsa Class and/or the 9pm Intermediate Salsa class, the charge is $10, if you come at 9:30 for the salsa social with DJ Mic it is only $5. (818-556-5299)
9 The Warehouse
If Marina Del Rey is your favorite part of Los Angeles, get ready to move to the beat on Fridays with the sounds of Salsa and Bachata. This location welcomes dancers from 18 and up. Cover charge is $8 and includes a group lesson at 9pm. There is free parking if you can find it and there is always valet available. Enjoy the music by DJ Charlie and you can always step outside for the view of the Marina. Some people think the theme is Hawaiian tiki but I think it is more 1970s fisherman’s wharf. The drinks are not cheap but draft beers like Kona Longboard and Lagunitas IPA are on special during happy hour. (3108235451)
8 Hacienda Hotel
It is not easy to find a place where all levels of dancers can share the multiple dance floors. On Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, enjoy Salsa dancing in El Segundo, CA at the Hacienda Hotel. Salsa and Cha Cha Cha instruction with Yesenia & Raul Santiago starts at 7pm. For new students and first time visitors, class is only $5.00. No partner required. Raul is a teacher who knows that “each student learns in a different way.” Just do it! You might like it. A very friendly crowd struts their steps at this lively location which does not have live music but does keep the beat on three separate dance floors! (310-615-0015)
7 El Floridita
Wondering where to go for a Cuban experience that is worth the wait outside in line? Enjoy the fantastic drinks, great food and a place where people will appreciate your dancing! The music is live on on Monday and Saturday. My teammate Carina loves to dance here and show off her steps! Tempt your tastebuds with Cuban-style mojitos and Brazilian caipirinhas as well as Ropa Vieja and Churrasco! Check the website to see what the live music will be and make sure to make a reservation. Started in 1987, it is renown in Hollywood for the legendary live band line up including Johnny Polanco y su Conjunto Amistad, Orquesta Charangoa. ((323) 871-8612)
6 Steven’s Steakhouse
Steven’s Steak House has entertainment every night with concerts, dance competitions and special events. My teacher, Miguel Maganda, told me that Stevens Steak House is a “very important salsa spot. It has been open for decades. They have classes, competitions for dancers and have been an important part of keeping salsa alive in Los Angeles!” Don’t miss out on this spot which opened in October 1952! Whether you want to dance the night away, eat a great steak or both, this is your place. There are seven private dining rooms so Steven’s Steak House is ready to host your business dinner, graduation, special event or post salsa swoon. (3237239856)
5 Wokcano – Santa Monica
Happy Hour on the open air patio is one of my favorite things in Santa Monica. I love the chicken dumplings, vegetable tempura and Chicken Lettuce Cups. I also surprised myself by loving the brussel sprouts! The outdoors is basically a rooftop party in Santa Monica. Street Parking in many areas is free after 6pm so read the signs and search for a great spot. Tuesday nights show up for a great selection of appetizers and salsa dance lessons! The cover charge includes both the beginning (8-9pm) and intermediate (9-10pm) salsa lessons. Like all the clubs on this list, no partner is necessary! (3104583080)
4 The Granada
The Granada has something for everyone with a wide range of classes and styles. Be transported back in time with their 1930s style decor and enjoy over twenty five classes a week! Check out Salsa & Latin Nights on Tuesday, Bachata Tropical Nights on Thursday, and Salsa on the main dance floor on Friday and Saturday nights. You can sign up online to have your name on the guest list and they take sign-ups until 5pm the day of the event. Find the full list of classes, events and bands on the Granada website. They teach all types of dance as well as Latin music lessons with classes for violin, flute, piano, congo and bongos. (626-227-2572)
3 Zanzibarlive
Zanibar is the place for Salsa on Monday nights. The teaching is exceptional and very welcoming. I first took class with Cristian Oviedo at this club. There is a salsa lesson and a Bachata class. I highly recommend his teaching style and welcoming lessons. You do not need to bring a partner and there is plenty of parking. After class, the crowd has dancers of all levels and is very friendly. Remember to check your purse at the door and bring your dancing shoes. This club has a different musical theme every night. While the address is on 5th, you enter through the door on Arizona. (310-451-2221)
2 Monsoon Pan-Asian Bistro
Walking into Monsoon Cafe on Third Street Promenade, I instantly feel transported to another place, it is almost like taking a trip as the decor is so exotic. Enjoy happy hour on the patio, dinner in the spacious room or walk upstairs for salsa and bachata lessons on the excellent dancer floor. Nicole Gil and Miguel Maganda teach a beginner class at 8pm and intermediate immediately after on both Wednesday and Saturday nights. After class, have a cocktail and enjoy the live band while you dance the night away with your newly learned skills. As it gets later in the evening, more and more talented dancers show up to show off their skills! (3105769996)
1 The Salsa Salsa
The Salsa Salsa classes are small sized and well worth the reasonable price. Cristian Oviedo teaches Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights at Born to Play Studios but Thursday night class is only $5! After an hour and a half of instruction, music continues for practicing and dancing all night long. This is a great place to dance and get more comfortable in front of each other and the mirror. Members of Cristian’s beginner, intermediate and professional teams are in attendance sharing the floor and their knowledge. I recently joined one of the teams and I cannot wait for our first performance! (323 217 6360)
The post USA Today: Salsa Dancing in Los Angeles appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
November 29, 2014
The Crystal Palace: In the Depths of Marengo Cave: Part I
The Crystal Palace: In the Depths of Marengo Cave
Marengo, Indiana, United States
By Sana Szewczyk
It took only one hour for me to feel like a newborn child again, a castaway, an alien, my position in the world among warm living people had been compromised. After only one hour deep underground in the depths of Marengo Cave I felt like I had never experienced the noise, scents, and sensations of the outside world. I felt like I had never existed at all. This is what a person hiding in the darkness for too long must feel. This must be what it feels like to be a hermit, isolated in a solitary place, dedicating all of her senses to meditation. A liberated prisoner of war must feel like this when he finds his way out into the light and fresh air. I tripped and slid over and over again, making my way up the slate steps to finally be pushed by a crowd of mostly Japanese tourists into the bright light. Deep underground the air does not move. It is perfectly still. Underground there is only absolute darkness, utter coolness, the roughness of the rock, the soft sound of water dripping from the ceiling and running down the rock creating enormous stalagmites and stalactites over thousands of years. Time is irrelevant.
Emerging from the earth, I was thrown back into the unbearable noise of humming air-conditioners and the myriad voices crashing against my ear drums. The relative warmth of air conditioned air that felt hot against my suddenly too sensitive skin. It made me feel feverish and itchy. There was suddenly an overwhelming stench of sweat, human skin, musky perfumes, and the raw leather of the trendy hobo bags hanging on the rack by the door to the store. The door, I leapt for the door handle, rushing to get away from the crowd. As I tore the door open, the bell hanging over the door made a feeble “Ding!” which rung deafeningly in my ears. Once outside the hot humid wave of “fresh” air drowned me and I could not take a breath at all. My head swam as my eyes were blinded by the brightness of the sunlight.
I could focus until my eyes adjusted and then I saw my husband sitting in one of the wooden rocking chairs on the porch, waiting while a group of overactive kids tried to pet our bored dogs, an unlikely pair, a German Shepherd and a Lhasa Apso, lying at his feet. He looked up at me, the question is his eyes, “How was it?” I must have looked lost and confused. I was still overcoming my shock at discovering how much constant noise we are subjected to in our world. “I have…I want to go back,” I respond. “You need to feel it.”
When our group walked through the back entry of Marengo Cave I did not imagine this experience would be any different from our trip to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. Here I was with my two young children and my younger sister, standing in a group of other adventurers waiting for our sixteen year old, slightly over-prepared guide, with khaki shorts and bright red shirt with his name embroidered on it. Brandishing a large flashlight, he led us into the hill side while trying to authoritatively tell us the rules of the tour: no flashlights, stay on the marked trails, keep your hands to yourself. I you touch a rock formation the natural oils on your hands will stop the growth. I glance over at my husband who is patiently waiting with our dogs near the gift shop. When I asked about taking our dogs on the tour I was told we could take them with us if we could carry them for about an hour as we made our way down the one mile long Dripstone Trail. I smiled to myself as I got the mental picture of one of us carrying our eighty pound German Shepherd like a wounded soldier in a war movie. Maybe another time, and with a stretcher.
As we entered what appeared to be a dragon’s cave in the side of a hill, I saw that the cave itself is very “American-style” accessible. Each chamber is brightened by colored lights strategically and aesthetically placed by the Light Masters who specialize in placing light systems in the rare caves. Here and there we saw branches off of the main trail. These smaller trails appear to be only a foot or two wide and short and are a part of the Crawling Tour of the cave. We passed the Elephant Head, a cluster of stalactites named for its shape. Our guided pointed out several types of rock formations including Draperies hanging off the ceiling, the almost transparent strips of Cave Bacon, Soda Straws, and Cave Popcorn. The power of suggestion and the fact that food is not allowed on the tour reminds us all that we are hungry.
To be continued…Click here to read Part 2
Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.
The post The Crystal Palace: In the Depths of Marengo Cave: Part I appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
Sprint’s newest Samsung Galaxy Tab S: Thumbs Up!
The new Sprint Samsung Galaxy Tab S in gold is a great lightweight option for those who want incredible graphics and Samsung’s newest options.
I spoke with Chayse who is a technology expert on what kids want and need for the holiday season. He showed me several options that I had not seen before that will make parents thrilled to select this Samsung.
VIDEO: Sprint’s Samsung Galaxy Tab S with Chayse
The whole family can use this tablet without interfering with each’s other programs by setting up family accounts. Each person has their own section or area and will not impact on other family members. Kid mode is available so parents can set a timer for each use of the device or lock out usage from 9pm to 6am or whatever time your family agrees on.
I was impressed by the fingerprint scanner unlock device. It was easy for Chayse to set up and operate. You might forget your password but you always have your fingerprint!
You can customize with many design choices including multiple styles of wallpaper or use your own photo. You can control your television and cable box with this amazing tablet.
The video quality is astonishing! I cannot wait to watch a movie on this device and enjoy the sound and pictures. Chayse explained to me that Smart Stay means as long as you are looking at the screen or camera the tablet will stay on so you will not have interruptions while viewing your favorite film.
The tablet can create sound balance so that your movie watching experience with headphones is perfect.
This tablet is loaded with photo features including beauty face (air brush) and palm swipe to capture a photo. While I was able to figure out many things on this fancy tablet, palm swipe I still need to work at.
I liked the floating toolbox menu and the multi window view. I think Sprint hit a homerun with this tablet. It is lightweight, has long battery life, has great features and is easy to use. If you are looking for some bling to add to your holiday spirit, the Gold Sprint Samsung Galaxy Tab S is sure to put smiles on the faces around you!
Thank you to Sprint, Samsung and Chayse. Article first appeared in the Jewish Journal.
The post Sprint’s newest Samsung Galaxy Tab S: Thumbs Up! appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
November 28, 2014
Humboldt Peak – A Destination of Relief in the USA
When I was 17 and living in Northern Virginia, I ran around suburban bars with a friend two years my senior. She and I would chat it up with the regulars and make up stories based on whatever age they thought we were. I was always the English major at Virginia Tech on my way to be a writer, and she would change her story depending on the bar we were at and her mood that day.
It was fun, I guess, until I became what I said I was. Before I knew it, I was a technical writer well into my 20s and living in a one-bedroom apartment. I had a great job at a great company and lived in great neighborhood all tucked away nicely in a well-off suburb between Washington, DC and the Blue Ridge Mountains. My goal was met, but it didn’t feel right.
I constantly felt this tug when looking out my office window – high enough to see past the bland buildings to treetops out west. No harsh stop of the coast, just land as far as the sun would let me see. Almost 30 years old and I was yet to go on a grand adventure. Hell, I was yet to move out of my hometown state. Years of my life spent in an office. A music festival here, a beach getaway there. Long weekends that were supposed to be enough to make up for stressful deadlines and smoggy air. I had a job. I had a life. Why didn’t it feel right?
Then the man I was seeing left for the west. He packed up his things and drove off to further his music career. We never promised each other we’d be together forever, but damnit if we didn’t make each other happy. Suddenly the spotlight was back on me, and I realized I was living my life too much for other people. I should have left sooner if for no other reason than my desire to.
So I did. I left. I used the pain of the breakup as a catalyst and my dream of a freelance life in the mountains as a destination. I quit my job, packed up my things, and drove to Colorado. Within a week, I had my own place. Within a month, I had money coming in from writing gigs. And within six months, I was prepping to hike my first 14er – a mountain that exceeds 14,000 feet. I went from feeling stuck in a life that didn’t feel right, to living in a new city, free of social restraints, and ready to conquer a mountain.
It was three of us that went on that hike – myself, my friend Lia, and her brother Louis. Our bags were packed the night before, and the day was still dark when we woke. Louis scribbled on a post-it and secured it to the fridge, “We are camping in SOUTH COLONY LAKES and hiking HUMBOLDT PEAK in SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS.” A three-hour drive later and we were staring up at a distant peak. The Blue Ridge Mountains felt trivial compared to this, but I knew no other option than to make it to the top.
We trekked in a few miles with our 40 pound packs strapped to our backs, surveyed the scene, gathered firewood, and set up camp just before hail came storming in. It didn’t matter; we’d come too far. The next morning, we strapped water to our backs and started our final ascent. Switchbacks with chipmunks. Rock scrambling with marmots. There were so many steps. Step after step. Faint breath after breath. But they were just steps. The air was thin and the number of steps felt endless, but all I had to do was keep stepping – right then left, rock after rock until I made it to the top.
Finally, I was there – looking out over more than I’d ever seen before. My whole body felt lighter. I let in the mountains, the landscape, and magnitude of space that existed completely outside of myself. It was this great mixture of feeling so small in the scheme of things and invigorated to be a part of it.
Humboldt Peak gave me a destination that when reached, I could breathe a sigh of relief. I could feel another dream come true and make room for the next. My life was more than a conversation with bar flies. I look back on that moment with arms out wide, muscles flexed, open to whatever’s next, and still feel the crisp air tickle the hairs on my skin. I was exactly where I wanted to be and I had never felt more me. On to the next adventure.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.
The post Humboldt Peak – A Destination of Relief in the USA appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
Grateful: Sexiest Female Travelers Alive 2014
Thanks to Mapping Megan & the voting council for including me in their first ever “The Sexiest Female Travelers Alive 2014!”
Description: “We all know you should date a girl who travels; “she spends her weekends jetting around Europe, her holidays trekking through Uganda in search of gorillas, volunteering in a school in Ghana or lying on a beach in Sri Lanka. She spends her evenings reading travel books, watching travel movies or following travel bloggers on Twitter. She might appear to be independent and solitarily happy but, in reality, she would really like that perfect companion to be able to enjoy all of these things with.”
You’ll never get bored with a girl who travels; she’s generally drama free and is less materialistic. She doesn’t dote on possessions but rather treasured experiences.
So, with these qualities in mind, the following is our list for the 25 Sexiest Female Travelers Alive, 2014.”
I am so grateful to be included with all these talented travelers that I am extending the deadline of my Travel Writing Contest to Nov 30, 2014!
Share your story! (and remember the next contest on INSPIRATION will open Jan 2, 2015!)
Lisa Niver “Sexiest Female Travelers Alive 2014″
FALL 2014 GRATITUDE TRAVEL WRITING CONTEST
Enter until Sunday November 30, 2014 at midnight PST!
(Winter 2015 contest will open January 2, 2015)
WeSaidGoTravel.com invites you to enter its Travel Writing Contest with CASH prizes and no fee for entry. The theme for the Fall 2014 contest is “Gratitude: A Place That Inspires You to Feel Strong and Hopeful.” We hope your article will inspire others to travel more and find their inner hero!
We are looking for an article about your act of gratitude–a place you chose or that allows you to stand up for yourself. Be inspired by ‘s character, Elizabeth, in the Broadway sensation, If/Then, with her song, ,
No more wasted time
No more time for doubt
You say you’re not sure you’re a hero?
It’s time you should find out
So say you’ve made a few mistakes
Heroes know that’s what it takes
To find their way
No more wasted time
Not one more day
Where are you most able to be your true self? Your place of freedom might be far across the globe or in your own backyard.
THEME: Gratitude: A Place that Allows You to Feel Strong, Hopeful and Free.
DEADLINE: Enter by midnight PST on November 30, 2014, (Thanksgiving Weekend)
To Enter: Click here
PRIZES: 1st Prize – $500 usd cash 2nd Prize – $100 usd cash 3rd Prize – $50 usd cash
Winners will be selected by our judges, Richard Bangs, Annelise Sorensen and the We Said Go Travel Team. Cash prizes will be paid through PayPal in United States Dollars. All winning entries will be promoted on We Said Go Travel.
RULES: Publication is dependent on proper use of English language and grammar, appropriateness of theme topic, and being family friendly (G rated). If your post is written in a language other than English, please also send an English translation. Travelers of all ages and from all countries are encouraged to participate. Each individual may send up to 5 entries that are 500-800 words with 1 photo. Your article must be an original and previously unpublished piece. All posts, which meet the requirements, will appear on WeSaidGoTravel.com.
JUDGING: Richard Bangs, AnneLise Sorensen and the We Said Go Travel Team
Richard Bangs, the father of modern adventure travel, is a pioneer in travel that makes a difference, travel with a purpose. He has spent 30 years as an explorer and communicator, and along the way led first descents of 35 rivers around the globe, he is currently producing and hosting the new PBS series, Richard Bangs: Adventure Without End
AnneLise Sorensen is a travel writer, editor, photographer, and TV/radio host who has penned – and wine-tasted – her way across four continents, reporting for multiple media outlets, including New York Magazine, MSN, Time Out, Yahoo Travel, Rough Guides, Gourmet, and Galavante. AnneLise regularly appears as a travel expert on NBC and CNN and she teaches popular travel writing classes and workshops at Mediabistro and travel events and shows.
Other Contests, Courses and Books about Travel Writing Check back in January for our Winter 2015 Contest!
The post Grateful: Sexiest Female Travelers Alive 2014 appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
November 27, 2014
#StirMarket: The Next Generation’s “Cheers”
Lisa Niver & Chef Jet Tila at Stir Market
Walk into Stir Market and realize you are in The Next Generation’s “Cheers!” A place that feels like home and you can enjoy fabulous food with friends and family. They really might know your name here. Ask for Brian’s mom’s babka and Chef Chris’s mom’s chutney! Stop by in the morning for best ever pancakes and taste what happens when you brine chicken for two days, air dry for one and then rotisserie with lemon: Heavenly Perfection! Feel good about your choices as the dream team of Chef Jet, Chef Chris, Mimi and Brian have pre-selected local seasonal premium food–it is prepared and ready for your tasting pleasure.
Wondering where to wander for breakfast, entertainment power lunch or wine by the keg happy hour? You just found your new favorite place on Beverly. Located at the corner of Beverly and Gardner, come soon so you can stake out your favorite spot at the long table. Vegetarians and Meatarians are all welcome!
Look for special nights and classes with Chef Jet Tila, who is not only the very first Culinary Ambassador of Thai Cuisine but also regular judge on Cutthroat Kitchen and Guy’s Grocery Games. Try out his new specials with Schwans home service of traditional Asian cuisine.
If you purchase ingredients make sure to show off your creations online with the tag, #StirMarket. They want to know what you come up with! Maybe it will even make a future menu! Happy Thanksgiving!
VIDEO: Explore Stir Market in Los Angeles, Nov 2014
#StirMarket amazing smells and ready for tastes! Join us! 7475 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles ca 90036
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Nov 11, 2014 at 4:39pm PST
The Fairfax Veg: quinoa chickpea croquette, edamame humus, feta. #stirmarket this is fantastic! A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Nov 11, 2014 at 4:45pm PST
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Nov 11, 2014 at 5:04pm PST
#StirMarket burger using brisket and short rib with coarse grind. Excellent!! And get the fries! A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Nov 11, 2014 at 5:08pm PST
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Nov 11, 2014 at 5:34pm PST
Provencal roast chicken: brined for two days, air dry for crispy skin, preserved lemon, garlic, fine herbs with roasted root vegetables #stirMarket #Succulent #Perfect! A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Nov 11, 2014 at 5:42pm PST
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Nov 11, 2014 at 5:48pm PST
Happy Thanksgiving from @JetTila & @StirMarket! Get everything you need from homemade jams, rubs, chutneys to spectacular rotisserie chicken and amazing burgers and veggies you can feel good about! Take away or eat in and enjoy the incredible decor and atmosphere! #StirMarket spectacular! A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:19pm PST
The post #StirMarket: The Next Generation’s “Cheers” appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
A Visit to the City of Fog: London
A gloomy sky hung above, clusters of clouds moved and rain poured ever so slightly. The murky water of the Thames accepted the droplets of rain, and a concoction of languages were floated throughout the crowded street behind me. It was an experience from a tourist’s point of view; the continuous hand waves to halt the famed black cabs of London every now and then, the eerie looks I got walking down the streets by rushing Londoners, and the numerous stops I made to take photos of prominent victorian-era buildings.
A first stop. A mysterious window into the ocean. The London aquarium is situated adjacent to the Thames. It was filled with children left utterly baffled by the seamless movement of the calm sharks, the blue lighting immersed the visitors with an underwater ambience of calmness. The penguins wobbled left and right. Behind, tiny hands waved and smudged the glass with their fingerprints. The fish swiftly changing direction, trying to flee.
A transition from blue to green. From one form of life to another, I was taking a walk in Hyde park. Large trees loomed above, the shade from their leaves touching the ground. I had a calming gaze into the view in front of me, a cool breeze of wind passed along, people were lying on the smooth green grass, enjoying an earned break from work.
A modern view. A series of high end shops arranged within a shopping mall. Harrod’s provided something for everyone: food, souvenirs, fashion products, toys, and much more. It never seemed to end, floor after floor, shop after shop. Buying an item meant buying another, creating a chain reaction of purchases. The exterior of which was a meshwork of glowing lights.
A moment in the sky. I was standing hundreds of meters apart from the ground in a glass capsule in the London Eye. It overlooked the whole of London, you could see the outskirts of London on on the horizon. The sky still frowning with clouds, the waiting line was filled with a mixture of cheerful and unhappy faces. It felt like forever to reach the end of it, but it was a joy to experience such scenery that the Eye had to offer to tourists.
A snippet of the past. An image of war. The Imperial War Museum of London was dominated by a substantial amount of hanging aeroplanes, rusty tanks, submarines, and a collection of uncharged missiles from both World Wars. The next two floors downwards contained plastic replicas of soldiers frozen in time, shouting and pointing fingers and guns, ready to face death. The darkened, cold, corridors gave the perfect claustrophobic theme of war.
A familiar place. Towards the end of my visit, I found myself in Heathrow Airport once again. Some planes landing, others departing. I waited for my plane, thinking about the experiences I had in the city of fog and how wonderous my visit was. Contemplating about the future and looking forward to yet another visit to London.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.
The post A Visit to the City of Fog: London appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
Gratitude Contest Enter by Sunday Nov 30!
FALL 2014
GRATITUDE TRAVEL WRITING CONTEST
Enter until Sunday November 30, 2014 at midnight PST!
(Winter 2015 contest will open January 2, 2015)
WeSaidGoTravel.com invites you to enter its Travel Writing Contest with CASH prizes and no fee for entry. The theme for the Fall 2014 contest is “Gratitude: A Place That Inspires You to Feel Strong and Hopeful.” We hope your article will inspire others to travel more and find their inner hero!
We are looking for an article about your act of gratitude–a place you chose or that allows you to stand up for yourself. Be inspired by ‘s character, Elizabeth, in the Broadway sensation, If/Then, with her song, ,
No more wasted time
No more time for doubt
You say you’re not sure you’re a hero?
It’s time you should find out
So say you’ve made a few mistakes
Heroes know that’s what it takes
To find their way
No more wasted time
Not one more day
Where are you most able to be your true self? Your place of freedom might be far across the globe or in your own backyard.
THEME: Gratitude: A Place that Allows You to Feel Strong, Hopeful and Free.
DEADLINE: Enter by midnight PST on November 30, 2014, (Thanksgiving Weekend)
To Enter: Click here
PRIZES: 1st Prize – $500 usd cash 2nd Prize – $100 usd cash 3rd Prize – $50 usd cash
Winners will be selected by our judges, Richard Bangs, Annelise Sorensen and the We Said Go Travel Team. Cash prizes will be paid through PayPal in United States Dollars. All winning entries will be promoted on We Said Go Travel.
RULES: Publication is dependent on proper use of English language and grammar, appropriateness of theme topic, and being family friendly (G rated). If your post is written in a language other than English, please also send an English translation. Travelers of all ages and from all countries are encouraged to participate. Each individual may send up to 5 entries that are 500-800 words with 1 photo. Your article must be an original and previously unpublished piece. All posts, which meet the requirements, will appear on WeSaidGoTravel.com.
JUDGING: Richard Bangs, AnneLise Sorensen and the We Said Go Travel Team
Richard Bangs, the father of modern adventure travel, is a pioneer in travel that makes a difference, travel with a purpose. He has spent 30 years as an explorer and communicator, and along the way led first descents of 35 rivers around the globe, he is currently producing and hosting the new PBS series, Richard Bangs: Adventure Without End
AnneLise Sorensen is a travel writer, editor, photographer, and TV/radio host who has penned – and wine-tasted – her way across four continents, reporting for multiple media outlets, including New York Magazine, MSN, Time Out, Yahoo Travel, Rough Guides, Gourmet, and Galavante. AnneLise regularly appears as a travel expert on NBC and CNN and she teaches popular travel writing classes and workshops at Mediabistro and travel events and shows.
Other Contests, Courses and Books about Travel Writing Check back in January for our Winter 2015 Contest!
The post Gratitude Contest Enter by Sunday Nov 30! appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
November 26, 2014
Gratitude in Alaska
Gratitude in Alaska
As the waves crash over the bow I shut my eyes momentarily while the ocean spray reaches my face. Some days this happens every time I encounter a wave. Some days it doesn’t happen once. The goal every day is the same; to fill the boat, and no day is the same in terms of weather, tides, hours, or amounts of fish. These variables change by the hour and are almost always unpredictable. It’s the ultimate gamble, and it’s what I do for a living. It’s the ultimate gamble in terms of income, and it’s the ultimate gamble in terms of safety. If you don’t love it you hate it, and if you don’t hate it you love it. I’ve heard this job being described as one in which “Everyone can do it, but not everyone can do it.” There’s only one way to figure out whether or not it’s the job for you, and that’s to finish the season. You’ll be tested mentally, and you’ll be alone. It’s the best job I’ve ever had.
Isolation turns into appreciation, and exhaustion is rewarded with the few hours of sleep in the most comfortable bunk you have ever climbed in, at least tonight it is, because you’ve spent the last 19 hours outside in the weather with no breaks. Just you, your crew, and whatever nature has to offer. You will be soaked, whether it’s the rain, the waves, your sweat, or your tears you’ll wish that you were able to change your clothes every hour.
As I cruise down the highway with a navigational system with no sense of doubt that I’ll reach my destination, I feel lost. I feel lost because of this schedule I’m on with a set of priorities I must follow every day, where I’m a phone call away, and can be contacted every second of every day. In the middle of the Pacific, towing the net on a point I’ve never seen let alone heard of, I feel alive. I feel alive with no distractions to filter my thoughts, one schedule and no way to be contacted unless it’s via satellite phone. It gives me a sense of what is really important, living without the necessity of the internet every day, or a phone to contact my bank to see how much money I have. None of it matters because none of it is relevant when I’m in that skiff.
I wake up every morning the same way, and I go to bed the same way, but I never wake up the same man and I never go to bed the same man. Every day I’m on the Ocean I grow in which a way I can’t when I’m on land. It’s cold, and it’s wet, usually uncomfortable and you’ll stink. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world, and at times it’s the best place to be. You find a lot more than money when you’re on the ocean. Often times if you’re patient you find yourself, and you find true priorities. For that, my appreciation goes beyond explanation.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.
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Grateful News: Writing Contest, Articles and Thanksgiving!
Filming with Ashely in Bermuda at the Swizzle Inn
NOVEMBER NEWS from WSGT:
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I am grateful for your support for me and We Said Go Travel! Thank you!
WRITING CONTEST:
The Fall 2014 Gratitude Travel Writing Contest is open. Free entry and cash prizes. Share your story of how you are a hero!
The theme for the Fall 2014 contest is “Gratitude: A Place That Inspires You to Feel Strong and Hopeful.”
We hope your article will inspire others to travel more and find their inner hero! Share your story your act of gratitude–a place you chose or that allows you to stand up for yourself. Be inspired by ‘s character, Elizabeth, in the Broadway sensation, If/Then, with her song, ,
No more wasted time
No more time for doubt
You say you’re not sure you’re a hero?
It’s time you should find out
So say you’ve made a few mistakes
Heroes know that’s what it takes
To find their way
No more wasted time
Not one more day
Where are you most able to be your true self? Your place of freedom might be far across the globe or in your own backyard.
Bermuda Sunset! Thanks to Orbitz and Richard Bangs for inviting me to host their special!
The Editor in Chief from Wharton Business Magazine recently sent this to all the writers:
Great engagement has come not just on the magazine website, but through social media as well. One standout performance was by contributor Lisa Ellen Niver C89, whose latest blog tweet reached 4.1 million people. Lisa is fantastic about promoting her content (obviously!) and we’re currently dissecting what we were able to do for her, in order to replicate it again (and again). Read the article: CLICK HERE
New on USA Today from Lisa:
LA Live: A Pulsing Center of Downtown
10best Spas: Hidden Gems & High End Treatments in Los Angeles
Wolfgang Puck: The Nest at WP24, The Ritz Carlton
Rodeo Drive: Iconic and Historic Shopping in Beverly Hills
Thank you to Richard Bangs and Orbitz for inviting me to BERMUDA to be the host of their recent series. Click here for the behind the scenes footage! Official videos to be out in December!
Thank you for your support. Connect on Facebook, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, SlideShare, Twitter, and YouTube.
Thanks again! Lisa (Click here to sign up for this newsletter. )
Latest on Jewish Journal about Sprint’s Samsung Galaxy Tab S
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