Archive for February, 2011

February28

Images: Hotel California | Todos Santos | Baja California, Mexico

By: JoAnna

Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year, you can find it here

In Todos Santos, a small town in Baja California Sur, Mexico, there is a hotel called Hotel California. But is it the Hotel California that inspired the Eagles to write their famous song? Some say it is, some say it isn’t. The Eagles have stayed at the Hotel California in Todos Santos, but the members of the group have never said outright if this property is the place that inspired their song.

Regardless of whether this is the Hotel California, I do know that it is an incredibly colorful boutique hotel with a restaurant, bar and customized tequila label. Here are some of my favorite shots of the property:

Images: Hotel California | Todos Santos | Baja California, Mexico

Continue Reading

Posted in: Photos3 comments

February25

Here’s a Question for You: Week 8

By: JoAnna

One of the things I most enjoy about traveling is talking about it. In this new weekly series, I’d like to pose some of the questions I’ve discussed with friends, family and fellow travelers over the years. I invite you to pull up your backpack, grab a handful of the local snack food and chime in with your comments and thoughts. Feel free to respond to others, but remember to play nice!

Here’s a Question for You:

When you travel, what is your favorite form of transportation?

As much as I love to fly and road trip, if it’s at all possible, I would prefer to go by train in order to reach my destination. Like cars, trains allow for an intimate view of the landscape that can’t be found when flying, but I also like the fact that I don’t have to worry about the physical act of getting somewhere on the train, just like on an airplane. One of the things I most enjoy about traveling by train, though, is how roomy and comfortable it is. In most cases, there is a lot of legroom and freedom as well as lounge or dining cars. You can’t find that when traveling by plane or car. Once I’ve reached my destination, however, I like to walk whenever possible.

Join the conversation!

Posted in: Here's a Question for You18 comments

February23

A Ripple on the Landscape | CostaBaja Resort | La Paz, Mexico

By: JoAnna

A Ripple on the Landscape | CostaBaja Resort | La Paz, MexicoThree massive, artistic manta rays decorated one wall. Vases and dishes sat haphazardly on tables; wicker balls and shells rested in them. Candles in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors adorned end tables and shelves. They weren’t yet lit — light still came through the large open windows, reflecting off the Sea of Cortez and into the lobby. Books by John Steinbeck in English and Spanish translations were lined up along the top of one of the tables. In one corner was a small, unobtrusive desk with a single hotel employee, checking guests in with a smile.

In my room, I passed by the oversized shower and made-up bed and stepped out onto the balcony, taking in the view of the pool and marina. I sidestepped the small table and two chairs, opting instead to stand so that I could get the widest peripheral view. A single employee skimmed the pool, which was fringed with palm trees. Beyond that were more buildings — condos, I later learned — and beyond those was a beach and then the water.

To the left were a few other buildings belonging to the CostaBaja community, then expanses of desert vegetation along a road that led around the bay to La Paz. To the right was a marina, a parking lot of sorts for a variety of different boats owned by expats and locals.

Continue Reading

Posted in: Stay2 comments

February21

The Tech / Travel Relationship

By: JoAnna

The Tech / Travel RelationshipEvery time I board an airplane, I bring along a big stack of magazines that have been collecting dust sitting on my dresser. On a recent trip to Mexico, I spent some time picking through the January-February 2011 issue of National Geographic Traveler, which I love to read but never seem to find the time to absorb while I’m at home.

One article that caught my attention was the piece by Christopher Elliott called “Savor the Trip, Don’t Tweet It.” In it, he talks about a time not so very long ago when vacations were void of social networking, DVD players, MP3 players and iPhones. I’m talking about a time when we could wander down the streets of Cusco or hike the hills of Switzerland without announcing our every move or scrolling through an app that leads us to some genuine experience down the street.

According to Elliott’s article, nearly one in five American carries a smart phone, and I’d be willing to bet that a good portion of those who travel frequently use them abroad as well. I have avoided this urge, choosing instead to turn my phone off before my plane lifts off for an international destination. It stays off until I touch American soil again. This means I spend several weeks throughout every year without any phone-based connection with the world.

It’s worth noting that I was on that plane to Mexico for a press trip, which means that I was working. As a result, my laptop was tucked into my backpack (which is almost always the case when I travel now). During the trip, I logged on at night to check my email, update Twitter and upload pictures to Facebook. I traveled with two cameras (my good one and a back-up one), and I have a video camera and voice recorder that I take on these trips as well. Despite the fact that I’m smart phone free when I travel, I’m still weighed down with technology.

Continue Reading

Posted in: Contemplation26 comments

February18

Here’s a Question for You: Week 7

By: JoAnna

One of the things I most enjoy about traveling is talking about it. In this new weekly series, I’d like to pose some of the questions I’ve discussed with friends, family and fellow travelers over the years. I invite you to pull up your backpack, grab a handful of the local snack food and chime in with your comments and thoughts. Feel free to respond to others, but remember to play nice!

Here’s a Question for You:

If you could have dinner anywhere in the world tonight, where would you eat?

Hands down, no questions asked, I would eat in Italy. I don’t know enough about Italy to know if there’s a particular city, town or even restaurant that I should eat at, but I am a fanatic when it comes to Italian food, so I know that’s where I’d like to eat. Fresh pasta with creamy, flavorful sauce served with hot bread and wine that’s not too sweet or too dry in a cute, quaint or otherwise memorable café, bistro or restaurant. That’s where I want to have dinner tonight.

Join the conversation!

Posted in: Here's a Question for You15 comments

February16

4 Hotels in Switzerland

By: JoAnna

While I was traveling through Switzerland in September of last year, I had the opportunity to visit the Appenzell and Lake Geneva regions of the country. Along the way, I stayed in four different hotels.

4 Hotels in SwitzerlandHotel Hof Weissbad — Weissbad, Switzerland

In Switzerland, there is a specific emphasis on wellness and holistic care, and, as a result, there are many health spas located throughout the country. Hotel Hof Weissbad is one of these wellness spas, which means that it is not only a place to spend the night but also a place to receive holistic care and a wide variety of spa services. I did not take advantage of any of the spa-specific services, but I was a huge fan of Hotel Hof Weissbad anyway.

Conveniently located about a quarter mile away from the train station, Hotel Hof Weissbad is set in a small, quaint town at the base of the Pre-Alps. Two more train stations up the road is a cable car that leads high into the mountains to a maze of hiking trails. The hotel also has manual and electric bikes available on a complimentary basis for guests. Needless to say, the area surrounding the hotel begs for guests to get outside, enjoy the mountain air and indulge in some sort of physical exercise.

Continue Reading

Posted in: Stay1 comments

© Copyright Kaleidoscopic Wandering. All Rights Reserved.