The requirement that all citizens returning to the U.S. by air present a passport for entry into the country has been suspended. Why? Because the passport office cant keep up with all the applications for a passport. Heres a very brief overview of what happened: A new regulation was enacted with an effective date. That effective date was delayed in order to give travelers additional time to get a passport. It then became effective. Now we find out that there is still a huge back up in the passport office, and because they cant get the required documents issued, the rule will be suspended. Hmmmmmm, didnt anyone think of this issue before? Wasnt the high demand a foreseeable occurrence? Photo credit: SXC _________________________________________________________ Tags: airlines, airports, b5media, flight attendants, Flyaway Cafe, travel, travel blogs, travel tips, vacation Share This

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The b5media Travel & Culture bloggers are at it again another theme day with some seriously yummy posts. Yummy? Yes, thats right, because this theme day is all about Food! We need it, we want it, we have an ongoing dialogue about it. Food and friends just seem to go together, and thats why were so excited to bring you Food in June hosted by Jon at The DC Traveler. ____________________________________________________ Tags: b5media, flight attendants, Flyaway Cafe, food & beverage, outdoor activities, restaurants, Seattle, Seattle tourism, Seattle Traveler, Tacoma, The Seattle Traveler, travel, travel blogs, travel tips, vacation, Washington, Washington State Share This

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Do you have a problem getting your sports enthusiast friends to dabble their toes in the cultural waters? The Vancouver Museum has a great exhibit sure to strike the fancy of baseball lovers, history buffs, and Asian culture fans alike: Levelling the Playing Field, on display now through November 4th. The exhibit chronicles the Asahis, Vancouvers legendary Asian baseball team. From 1914 -1941, the team, consisting of Japanese Canadian baseball players, competed and won in the Vancouver senior leagues. All that was changed with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the players were sent to internment camps during World War II. The personal and team story is told through photos, artifacts, personal histories, and baseball trivia, as viewers relive the glory days, followed by banishment. Its powerful stuff! The Vancouver Museum is located at 1100 Chestnut Street, Vancouver (Vanier Park). Hours through June 30th are: Tuesday - Sunday, 10 am - 5 pm, Thursday open till 9 pm. Closed Mondays. Hours starting July 1st - September 3rd - Monday - Sunday 10 am - 5 pm, Thursday till 9 pm Admission to the museum is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students (with ID), $6.50 youth (5-17 years old), and children under five are free. A family admission, covering two adults and two youths, is available for $30. Id recommend seeing this exhibit. It focuses on a story that is not that far back in our history. Photo credit: Vancouver Museum _____________________________________________________________ Tags: b5media, baseball, city blogs, destination blogs, tourism, Travel, Travel & Culture, Vacation, Washington, Washington State Share This

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By and large, I embrace technology. Yes, I get accustomed to doing things the way that Ive always done them, but after a few fits and starts, I manage to adapt. Although Ive never claimed to understand technology and how or why it works the way it does, Im pretty comfortable with using tools to help me accomplish what I need to do. I make all my travel plans online. From research, to pricing, to making reservations, I am happiest when I dont have to actually talk to a person. Its not that I dislike people, its the process of being put through endless voice prompts to get to a department that then puts you on hold. For hours. The lure of talking to a real person just does not square with the reality of it. My job requires me to use online tools, from things as simple as checking in for a flight to the process of bidding for my montly schedule and trading around trips. Blogging requires me to be use technology. Learning how to post, add photos, and the various nuances of whats required to get information from my mind to the keyboard to the page that you are reading. Im not the quickest kid on the block in blogging technology, but with some careful guidance, I learn with only a modest amount of pain and frustration. (Well, Aaron and CJ may see that differently but lets not ask them!) So why is it then that I have been such a Luddite when it comes to the issue of buying an iPod? Yesterday, my resistance was worn down. Whether out of frustration (my laptop battery wont last all the way across country) or desire for convenience, I went out a bought an iPod. I spent much of last night getting some televisions programming and podcasts loaded onto it (lawyer friends take note, these were all legitimate and authorized downloads no copyright violations involved!), and then started the process of transfering my music onto it. While it will till take many hours to get all my music transfered, I made a respectable start. When I experienced a flight delay this morning, it was easy to watch an episode of Meet the Press while I was waiting. And now that Im in my hotel room, Im enjoying listening to some music. Its all very convenient, with great quality in both picture and sound. Cant wait to start downloading some of those travel podcasts. What was I waiting for? If you know any great sites for legitimately downloading audio or video material, leave me a comment. Im sure Im going to be spending lots of time discovering all the ways to use my new toy! Photo credit: Chance Agrella ________________________________________________________________ Tags: air travel, b5media, flight attendant, Flyaway Cafe, tourism, Travel, Travel & Culture, Vacation, music Share This

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The Fort Worth Symphony has made it easy for your to enjoy some great music in a beautiful setting with its annual Concerts in the Garden at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. And there are fireworks after every concert. The concerts begin June 1st, and run through July 7th, and feature the Symphony in a variety of programming and a few other performers. A quick scan down the list of concerts, and Ive already found the one that I want to see Tango Tango! on June 30th. Its billed as an exploration of the rich variety of beautiful music from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Peru and more plus Nuevo Tango featuring the extraordinary Argentinean violinist Alejandro Drago. Sounds terrific! The Garden Grounds open at 6:30 pm on Concert days, and the concerts begin at 8 pm. The Garden Restaurant can provide you with a picnic, or you can bring in your own picnic. City Club Catering can also provide you with a gourmet box lunch or picnic basket, and have it ready for you to pick up when you arrive at the Garden. Prices start at around $6, and a kids menu is also available. Tickets are required for every person for table seating, regardless of age. Tickets are available online, and start at $22/adults for an advance-purchase, reserved table seat, and starting at $25 day of performance. General admission lawn passes are $15 in advance and $18 day of. Children 10 and under are free in the lawn area and do not require a ticket. Check out the seating map here. Parking at Farrington Athletic Field parking lot is available for $5; a free shuttle will take you right to The Gardens entry gate. Self park is available at The Gardens for $10. VIP and Valet parking is available for $20. Thanks, Ray, for letting me know about this concert series. It sounds like a great way to spend a summer evening, and I wish I was going to be in town for one of them. __________________________________________________________ Tags: b5media, flight attendants, flowers, Flyaway Cafe, gardens, music, outdoor activities, Texas, travel, travel blogs, vacation, Fort Worth, Dallas Share This

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