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APPARENTLY, WE ALL BELONG TO THIS ISLAND
And, I tell you what, I would pay good money to belong to this island. It’s almost literally paradise on Earth. Can’t get over the postcard perfect images, the description of traffic as waiting for a team of wild horses (this is what you call a “herd” of horses – also known as a harras, a rag, a stud, or a string) to pass through, the almost invisible buildings, being woken up by a rooster even at their best resort, and probably best of all, the people. The people seem to have this chill tranquilo confidence about them – makes sense why so many people traveled there only to stay. From Lonely Planet, on the island of Nuku Hiva: “We are standing at the edge of a dusty mountain path, overlooking the busy Taioha’e Bay. ‘Busy’, in this context, is a relative term. It is only busy in the sense that we left Nuku Hiva airport over an hour ago, and these are the first buildings we have seen since. None of them are taller than one storey.” I’ll be writing my newsletters from there one day, I hope.
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NO MAN’S AN ISLAND
While on the topic of islands, how about one that hasn’t changed much in the last 50 years. By now you’ve probably guessed I’m talking about Cuba. However, specifically, if you wondered what a trip there must be like, TripSavvy put together a classy 48-hour itinerary on what to do in Havana: “10 a.m.: Start your perfect 48 hours in Havana with breakfast, coffee, and fresh juice [Editor’s note: a good start to any stay] at Cafe Bohemia in Old Havana’s Plaza Vieja. Cafe Bohemia is an homage to Cuban journalist Ricardo Saenz, the owner’s father. Saenz was the editor-in-chief of Bohemia, a magazine credited with being a leader in chronicling Cuban culture. Cafe Bohemia’s outdoor seating area in this bustling public square is the perfect vantage point for watching the Havana’s historic core come to life in the morning. After breakfast, explore this UNESCO World Heritage neighborhood. This is where you’ll find winding cobblestone streets, postcard-perfect churches, and architectural gems that have seen better days. 12 p.m.: Make your way toward the waterfront and select a classic car for a city tour to get your bearings. Vintage car tours typically pass by the Havana Capitol, the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, and the Plaza de la Revolución, a public square that has hosted many political rallies and popes over the years. Plaza de la Revolucion is where Fidel Castro frequently addressed the Cuban people and where Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis have held masses.” Oh…and so much more!
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FLYGSKAM – OH HOW DARE YOU?
Alrighty. Let’s tackle this one together, shall we? If you haven’t heard the term before, Flygskam is Sweden’s new mot du jour meaning flight shaming. As in shaming us for the travel we do due to the harm it causes our planet. Don’t get me wrong, my heart aches at the things we do to our planet, but at the same time, I can’t feel anything but hopeful that we, as a people who travel to expand our minds and learn about the ways of others, will find a way to continue to travel, to connect with others, AND protect our environment. Flight shaming will not do that – I just don’t feel that gets at the heart of the problem (and yes, Houston, we have a problem). That being said, there are already a number of steps we can take to travel more consciously. CNN does a good job of summarizing a few ideas: “”The only way we can reduce our amount of carbon emissions is to fly less,” he says. Francis rejects the idea of carbon offsetting schemes — a 2017 European Commission study found that 85% of such schemes do not work. Instead, he says, we need to change our travel habits. “When I was growing up, people tended to take one longer holiday a year, of about two weeks, plus a domestic trip, and maybe one more. “With the advent of low-cost aviation, many of us are taking multiple flights, and holidays are much shorter. “If we went back to the style of travel we used to enjoy, we’d achieve the reduction in flights that we need.””
Also check out my buddy’s article on traveler social responsibility (TSR). Sign us up!
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WUNDERBARCITY
In homage to Greg’s article in the previous snippet, let’s pay tribute to a city I just can seem to get people to stop talking about: Vancouver. Whether you live there now or not, National Geographic does a decent job of covering what a local’s guide to the city would be: “For nature lovers: Walk through the rainforest of Stanley Park with Candace Campo, the First Nations owner of Talaysay Tours, and you’ll start to see cedar bark as clothing, hemlock needles as the makings for tea. “The forest is our grocery store, our pharmacy,” Campo says. Take that notion to Deep Cove, for a paddle up Indian Arm before checking out the North Shore Spirit Trail, a new greenway luring pedestrians, joggers, bikers, and in-line skaters. For culture vultures: The UBC Museum of Anthropology curates innovative programs and in 2017 opened the Gallery of Northwest Coast Masterworks. Led by Vancouver Art Gallery, the contemporary art scene has expanded with the new Polygon Gallery, dedicated to Canadian photography. Fans of Coast Salish art should stay overnight at Skwachàys Lodge, where 18 rooms were designed by indigenous artists like Richard Shorty, whose work is sold in the lodge gallery. (Journey through the indigenous art scene in Canada.)”
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WHILE ON THE OTHER END OF THE CONTINENT
Now, let’s put a few of these together: we’ve got the sustainability aspect – so perhaps take one long vacation this year rather than four shorter ones, we’ve got the American continent (Vancouver), we’ve got the Latin American culture (Cuba). When we add all these up, what do we get? A nice long holiday in South America: From Travel + Leisure, Brooke Garnett’s 27-day Itinerary Around Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay: “Today you will be transferred to Cerro Castillo, on the border with Chile, where you will clear customs and immigration and meet your private guide and driver. Continue by road to Awasi Patagonia where you will check in for a four-night stay. A private guide and vehicle from Awasi Patagonia are available for you to plan activities and explore at your own pace. You will have time to explore Awasi’s private land ,as well as Torres del Paine National Park and other surrounding areas. For hiking enthusiasts, be sure not to miss the French Valley and the hike to the base of Las Torres. You will also be able to explore the private reserve of Baguales as well as Awasi’s private land.” And there, you have it.
Thanks,
Joe Naaman
Managing Editor, Waywinds
Keep Exploring!