Author name: Miha

Landstuhl germany
EUROPE, GERMANY, Germany Lodging, Landstuhl/Ramstein, Lodging

Hotel Christine, Landstuhl, Germany

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Hotel Christine in Landstuhl, Germany  is where we stay and the location works well. The Italian pizzeria and restaurant Taormina is across the street, the New York Grill-Pizza-Kebap  is near as well and the hotel has a restaurant of it’s own called Cockpit Lounge . Hotel Christine has nice clean rooms with custom made furniture. A few rooms have a unique bed design, kind of like having your bed in it’s own cave in the wall.  Makes you feel like being in a doll house. Sure that is not for all tastes but only a few rooms are that way and I did like that. Location is near downtown (small town anyway), shopping and restaurants. The breakfast is worth getting up for, especially if you have it included in the price of the room. You can order your omelet the way you like it, plus coffee or tea. There is fresh bread of many kinds, yogurt, cold cuts and super good salmon and tomato & mozzarella cheese. And more… The only problem I see is with the internet. It usually works OK in the lobby, but even if they now provide wi-fi in the rooms too, many times it does not work well in there. Lobby has two free computers and printer for use and free coffee. So food is near, not to forget the great free breakfast. Within walking distance to the hotel is a few grocery stores. We usually go to shop for wine and great chocolates. Bread is also great in Germany and do I speak volume if I mention the jarred chocolate cream, Nutella, which here is used like peanut butter is in the States: on bread. Yummy! Yet, I prefer Nutella injected directly with a tea spoon and no bread. Bad girl! But on fresh, soft warm bread, it also would not be refused.  

NORTH AMERICA, Oregon, USA

Construind Case din COB in Oregon

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La inceputul anului 2012 am primit de la un bun prieten un film video despre arhitectura ecologica. Dintre toate metodele existente m-am indragostit de casele din “COB” (argila+nisip+paie). Adevarata atractie pentru mine are de a face cu exprimarea artistica prin aceste case. Mi-a placut totdeauna sa construiesc, sa creez cu ajutorul miinilor si a imaginatiei. Ca rezultat al acestui vechi interes, dar nu tocmai cu binecuvintarea parinteasca, am urmat cu mult timp in urma facultatea de constructii. Punind calatoritul pe primul loc, nu am profesat meseria studiata, dar am facut un hobby din ea. Metodele constructiei conventionale ne limiteaza insa forma de expresie si cred ca odata cu casele din cob mi-am descoperit o noua pasiune. Aceste case nu au forme stricte si nu ne reduc la liniile si unghiurile drepte ale materialelor conventionale. In plus, ele au un impact mai prietenos asupra naturii inconjutatoare, folosind materialele de pe terenul propriu, deci reducind poluarea asociata cu transportul, si folosind mai putin lemn, deci taind mai putini pomi vii. Sa mentionez si faptul ca e mult mai ieftin a construi propria casa in loc de a plati ani de zile unei banci o suma de 2-3 ori mai mare decit imprumutul initial? Vei sfirsi prin a avea casa pe care o creezi, nu cutia care seamana cu toate celelalte. In vara lui 2012 am decis deci ca ne entuziasmeaza aceasta idee destul ca sa platim un curs destul de  scump, in Oregon. Am ales cursul unui arhitect si profesor cu vechime in domeniu si cu un intreg manual publicat pe acest subiect. Am invatat deci practic sa sculptam case din cob cu Ianto Evans, in timp ce ne-am reprogramat mintile si am regindit propriile adevaruri sub ghidarea acestui om deosebit. Ianto Evans si sotia sa Linda Smiley, impreuna cu toti cei din clasa din august 2012 au avut un impact profund asupra experientei noastre de viata si gindire. Recomand clasa aceasta ca un nou mod de a gindi viata, finantele, oamenii, alimentele si natura, cit si ca si un exercitiu fizic si retreat mental si psihologic. Aici este linkul la site-ul profesorilor mei favoriti:  http://www.cobcottage.com/workshops

Cob HomeOregon
NORTH AMERICA, Oregon, USA

Building Cob Homes in Oregon

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In the beginning of 2012 somehow I ran into a movie about earth friendly architecture and, out of all the existing methods, fell in love with cob homes. The real appeal to me was the artistic expression in these cob homes.  I always loved building and making things and a long time ago I earned a construction engineering degree. Yet, the conventional construction method is limiting in its form of expression. Cob homes have no strict shapes and are not reduced to the straight lines and angles of conventional materials. Besides, they are ecologically friendly, as the impact of building with materials on the site is less abusive on nature: less pollution from moving materials around and less use of wood/trees. Should I also mention the reduced cost of building your own home, expressing your own creativity, instead of paying a bank 2-3 times the cost of the loan over the life of the that loan? So you end up with the house you create, not the one anyone else has: the look alike box. In the summer of 2012 we decided we would love to learn how to build ecologically friendly artistically sculpted homes.  We chose a work shop in Oregon, as the architect and teacher has many years of experience with cob construction and a famous book/manual (The Hand Sculpted House) co-authored with partners Linda Smiley and Michael Smith. We practiced building cob with Ianto Evans, while retraining our minds and rethinking our truths under the guidance of this special and loving old soul. Ianto Evans and Linda Smiley, along with all of the August, 2012 class impacted us in a deep and meaningful way. I highly recommend the class as a new way of thinking about life, finances, people, food and nature, as well as for a good physical exercise and as a mental/psychological retreat. Here is the link to my favorite teacher’s workshop classes: http://www.cobcottage.com/workshops

EUROPE, GERMANY, Landstuhl/Ramstein, Nanstein Castle

Nanstein Castle – Landstuhl

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If you find yourself in Landstuhl what else can you do besides shopping for wine and chocolate? The walk up the hill, to one of the most important medieval castles will take you 30 minutes or less. Totally worth it. Beautiful uphill walk and great view from above the city. Even on a cloudy day, you never know…. You might be lucky, as I was, for the sun to show up for your visit and some of your pictures. The Nanstein Castle is open for visitors from 10 am to 4 pm from the 1st of October through the 31st of March (except in December) and from 9 am to 6 pm from the 1st of April through the 30th of  September.  On Mondays and in December the castle is closed to the public.  Entrance fee to the Nanstein Castle is €3.00 for adults or €2.10 with a discount (military, retirees, disabled, over 65 years of age, students etc.) Children under 6 years old enter free of charge. The castle brochures cost €1.10 and I highly recommend it, since all the signs around are in German, and the English brochure gives you interesting and informative information on the history and lay out of the castle, and the history of the owners and the medieval times. To make reservations for a guided tour, contact the Sickingen Tourism Office at 06 37 1/49 53 11 or e-mail tourismus@landstuhl.de The Nanstein Castle took the name of the 15m high sandstone rock overlooking the city of Landstuhl. Burg Nanstein (Burg=Castle, in German) was initially built between 1152 and 1160. During the following centuries it was reinforced, destroyed and restored. Its fascination- for most- has to be in connection with the Knights and the fact that this particular castle was owned by Franz von Sickingen zu Edernburg, “Idol of the Middle Ages”, honored with the title of the “Last Knight”. From the brochure I learned a lot. The knights usually got their income from paid tolls on the use of bridges and rivers and the services and taxes of farmers. Sickingen was a great war businessman. He offered his services and soldiers to every body for financial profit and oftentimes defended simple citizens in legal disputes against cities. During that time in history, those citizens would not stand a chance against a big city in a legal claim. Confronting the enemy with an impressive army (activated in a short time) made a profit for Sickingen, while the execution of such a move finalized with no bloody battle. The castle was destroyed in 1523 during the “Imperial Knight War” due to modern gunfire. Franz von Sickingen estimated they could last the attack up to a few months, until reinforcement could arrive. Yet, in less than a day the modern artillery collapsed the castle’s powerful gun tower (the main defense plant) by intense firing at the same point on the tower from three differed locations, causing the stone to vibrate and create tension in the sandstone. Franz von Sickingen was badly injured during a trek through the gun tower and died on the 7th of May 1523, after surrendering. The destruction of Burg Nanstein marked the end of medieval castles used as fortresses in all Central Europe. Life in the castles was not as glamorous as some may imagine it today, as they were built for battle not comfort. Due to the new artillery, fortified houses would not stand a chance in a battle anymore and the lower aristocracy lost its ability to use them. New fortresses could only be defended by a strong arsenal of artillery and a big army, therefore they required enormous financial power.                                                                                                             The map below reminds me of my pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. One of the roads of the Camino de Santiago passes through here.      

Beach Across from Hotel Biloxi
Mississippi, NORTH AMERICA, USA

Flip-Floppin’ in Biloxi, Mississippi

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I feel lucky to be back flying again for my beloved 65 year old charter airline. She feeds my travel addiction needs very well. LOL. Not that taking me to Biloxi, Mississippi was on my bucket list but it is a sunny beautiful day and we have 48 hours here. Picked up at the airport in a Hummer stretch limousine provided by King Limo Biloxi we could feel like celebrities. And our hotel is just across from the beach. We could literally walk out barefooted and dig our toes into the fine white sand of the narrow beach, if only highway 90 was not so close to the water. Today I took a walk downtown and found out the distance was further than I appreciated. It took me about 50 minutes to get there and I walk at a good speed. Once there, walking trough the streets, I found not much of interest. This is a  gambling and sea food lover’s paradise, neither of the two groups I belong to. Looking for vegetarian food I found none, so I walked back to my hotel, happy that I asked Mike to cook before I left and that I had carried my own food with me. Yesterday we had food across the street. The place had vegetarian quesadillas on request. They were OK but Mike makes them even better. I call them flip-flops since he flips them in the frying pan in an expert way. He should open a restaurant. He loves cooking. The restaurant is called Shaggy’s and the place was good. I can recommend it for sea food and drinks on the beach. Shaggy’s seems to be very popular. Lots of people and a great beach view.  Not fancy – just relaxed and beachy. If you prefere fancy, I discovered an old French restaurant downtown. Called Mary Mahoney’s Old French House, it was built in 1737 and it has a great atmosphere, a beautiful yard and it is near the downtown casinos. Walking by U.S. Route 90/Highway 90 I was weighing my options for a day in the sun. The sidewalk  separates the road from the nice mansions and, even if their yard is green, the white sand is often covering the sidewalk. One option calls for the white powdery beach, as the narrow strip of land before the water is inviting. Yet, the water …. not so inviting. The color is not enticing and the big pipes running into the water make you wonder. Remembering the oil spill not so long ago makes me think of the other option: the hotel’s pool. Oh but wait! That is surely full of bleach and I still remember the demonstration on how skin (which is the biggest organ we posses) is absorbing all that fast. So now my options do not appear that great: pool full of bleach or the Gulf Of Mexico where the oil spill happened. Hmm…. does our species pollute and destroy too much of this  planet? Am I strange for being vegetarian in a land where the norm is “eat the fish” and any sea creatures, not to mention the mammals and birds? Funny to think that people eat any living creatures we get our hands on? Consider that over the world you can find all kinds of foods. From bugs, snails, spiders, rats and snakes to dear, horses, pigs, zebras and further. Which one you consider normal to eat depends of  where you were raised and where you live. Oh, well…. I’ll go to the beach!

Machu Picchu by travelswithmiha
Machu Picchu, PERU, SOUTH AMERICA

A Memo from Machu Picchu

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“Can you imagine waking up and opening your eyes to the amazing sunny site of Machu Picchu somewhere below you? How lucky you might feel to have under your eyes one of the most wonderful sites of this world! As the loner I am at times, and to enjoy the peace of thinking and feeling, I chose a faraway terrace opposite to, and higher than, the ruins of Machu Picchu. I sat face down in the morning sun with my cheek on a stone, facing the ruins and the opposite peak, Wayna Picchu. I was daydreaming and slowly passed unto a light sleep. When I woke up, again I was enchanted. This is not a site I normally see when I open my eyes in the normal days of my life! It is unique and wonderful and I have no words to describe it. I wish I could hide in the surrounding plants and stay here overnight so I get to see this again and again, each  time I wake up. The road here was not an easy one for me. A four day trail that began in Cusco. We took a van to an altitude of 4,350 meters and we were asked to choose a bike and go down a mostly asphalted road that weaved through the  mountains. We needed not to pedal at all as the entire trail was on a downhill slope – but we did need good brakes. Someone in our group had an accident at the second curve. He ended up in the hospital with a broken collar bone. Yet, this was the easiest day for me by far. The next two days we hiked on mountain trails that went way too high up for my taste. I learned another thing about myself in this incarnation: That in this body I am not mediocre on hiking and walking. I was either the first and the fastest of our group of 15 (including the guide, with me possibly the oldest of them all), or the last of us all when the trail went up the mountain. I could not keep up with the rest of the people for the life of me and I was breathing like a tractor, with that as the only possible noise I was able to hear in my head. No more birds, wind or animals. Even my own steps were beyond my timpani’s capability. But I was the best at being the last! 🙂 And then, this morning came along. We had to wake up at 3:30 am to hike from Aguas Calientes (2,000meters) to Machu Picchu (2,432meters). The gates to the site open at 6 am but just the first 400 people in line get the admission tickets to the other peak: Wayna Picchu. So we walked in the dark following people with lanterns or head lights, and the trail was steep. Almost all of it up on step stones. I was peeling layer after layer of sweaters and blouses off of me. June is winter in Peru. I got to the gates wearing a wet T-shirt and dropped on the ground behind the last person in line. Next time I will take the bus here. The 21 Soles (about $7 U.S.D.) is totally worth it for me now. Yes, the buses get here after 6 am, so no chance to get a Wayna Picchu ticket but that was an effort made in vain in my case as that peak is too high for my climbing taste, anyway. So the admission I won I gave to my guide in the hope that he finds someone that will use it. And yes, lots of people got bug bites and itched and scratched from the first day on the trail. I even heard of some that got sick from bug bites, while I was hardly kissed by any insects here. And they love me in Florida. Not that I crave their love! Do they recognize me from a previous incarnation and give me a free pass from their vampiristic behavior, or do they know here that I was born in Transylvania? LOL Am I too strange? Will the friends and family move to other neighborhoods? OK Now you have it! The internet unreachable four days of my life. In a nutshell.” Photos from Machu Picchu (Click on photo to enlarge  or comment)

ISLANDS, South Pacific

Tahiti

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How would you feel if your job called you at 4:20am to advise that you were flying out at noon the same day, on a trip to Tahiti? Would the below images invade your mind? Let’s say you would have to pack in a hurry and take a flight across the country to position for working an eight and a half hour flight to Tahiti. Let’s say that, like me, you are stopped in the jet way, while connecting flights, by the Drug Enforcement Administration, because your flight ticket to LA was bought last minute and one way. The questions being asked by the agent you find to border funny with ridiculous and he goes through your bags right there, in front of everyone boarding the plane. Would you be upset? Knowing that you are on the way to Tahiti and you will have 26 hours in one of the most beautiful and expensive corners of this world? Paid trip, hotel and breakfast! Well… I have to admit… tired and anxious to find space for my bag in the overhead bin (so I do not have to check in my uniform and manual) the approach at the boarding door was not my favorite. Yet, a day and a half later, after serving, chit-chatting and laughing with the cruise-line passengers we transported there, we  got to unload our luggage in to one of the most luxurious, and therefore expensive, resorts in Papeete, Tahiti. The “glamour and pains” of a life as a Flight Attendant paid off this time. The Intercontinental Tahiti Resort in Papeete is one place I would not feel like spoiling myself in, if it were not for my job paying for it.  In French Polynesia, lands of lush vegetation set in shades of topaz and turquoise surrounding waters, snorkeling and scuba diving are as divine as the colors of the corals and fish, a surreal apparition through the sun light reflected in the water. All of it enchants your vision while the sound of the waves and fish chewing on corals and plants delights and surprises your hearing. The Tahiti Resort expands on 32 acres of land by the lagoon, surrounded by green plants and colorful flowers. The infinity pools, spas, restaurants, bars, tiki bars and hammocks hanging around the resort are especially designed to enchant your senses, pamper you and help your wallet lose weight. Oh … I feel so spoiled! A bungalow over the water would have been magic but how could I be so picky!? Was I born in a castle? The room I was given has a patio facing the lagoon. I walked straight from it, barefooted, through the rest of the resort. I did this again at sunrise, even though the sun rises on the other side of the island. A wonderful view through my patio doors, great wooden floor in the room and marble counter top in the bathroom, these rooms will set you back about $250 per night, in a regular night. The bungalow would just about double the speed of your slimming wallet. The breakfast buffet, an ample choice of fresh-juicy fruits and fresh juice, scrambled eggs, dairies, breads, pastries, cereals, etc. is “only” about $37. One of my colleagues would have said: “Do not worry girl, they will not make money out of me”. Sorry to report that I could not eat enough to make them lose money on me. Cry, girl, cry! The explorer in me woke up at 5am for a sunrise that came to be on the other side of the island and about 45 minutes later. No complaints. It colored in picturesque clouds that reflected in our infinity pool for a super picture. The same explorer could not pass on the opportunity to take the public bus to town. Ticket was 200 (about US$2.50) one way and there was not a lot to see. It is not just the resort that is expensive, but most everything here. Time and money permitting, a trip to the mountains in the background of town, and the waterfalls from the magazine pictures would have been great. Yet, all in all, my 26 hours here were well spent walking barefoot around the resort, enjoying the pools, taking lots of pictures, going downtown, and having a great breakfast. Not enough sleep, but knowing that we are taking a commercial flight back I figured that I can sleep in the plane.  Note: Beware of Tahiti Nui Airline. They kept the plane’s cabin so cold that I had three blankets on me. At least they can provide that.  

Abadiania, BRAZIL, SOUTH AMERICA

Getting to Abadiana

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For thousands and thousands of people around the world the rural town of Abadiania is the only place they visit in Brazil. “Why is that?”, one would ask, when Brazil is such a large country with so many places to visit? Where is Abadiania anyway and what is there? The right question, rather, would be who is there and what attracts all those people to such a small place? Abadiania was not well known (even by Brazilians) until 1979, when the well known, highly regarded, and much loved Brazilian medium, affectionately called John of God (Joao de Deus) made it the location of his new spiritual center. The center is called the Casa of Dom Inacio of Layola. Dom Inacio is one of the many spirits that helps Joao in his healing work, and the closest to him on a personal level. Joao, the man and the medium has done his work for over 50 years now. He had his first mediumistic experience at age 9. He is a modest, humble and loving man that dedicates a big part of his life to helping hundreds of people weekly. He sees everyone that shows up, no matter how many hundreds per day, and does not charge for the service. The Casa supports itself from donations, with shops and a pharmacy located on the premises. Many people have been helped with physical, emotional or spiritual issues and many return over and over again, as the place has a magnetic draw. It is said that the small town is located over one of the biggest crystal deposits in the world and this assists the mediumistic work. What I know for sure, after my three weeks in Abadiania, is that the place has a great feel to it and one can relax to the point of desiring not to ever leave its beautiful sunrises and sunsets over the green valleys. I met a few people that came here and never left, a few that keep returning and a few that had left but then returned to stay. The peaceful, quiet, loving and slow rhythm of Abadiania has the magical touch of an angel’s wings. It quiets you down, makes you wonder, brings you back to your core and draws you back to it over and over. You may say it gives you an addiction to its energy but in a strange way – as many addictions have been cured here, too. A few people recall that they were drawn to see the medium Joao by some unknown force and they changed completely while here. It does not happen for everyone; or rather not everyone gets what they think they came here for. Yet, all get something, being what they know they asked for or something that they have to look inside themselves to notice. It might be the mysterious, hidden corner of your being that holds all the magic power of the innocent child we might once have been and may return to, or the easier to notice physical problems or addictions disappearing. If the reports of numerous doctors stating they have to accept that they do not understand how people are cured by Joao, but they are; or the mass popularity of the medium does not impress you, maybe thinking of how little we really know about our own world will make you wonder what else there is. Considering the limited five senses we possess, and how they fail or trick us at times, for me there is no way but to wonder what we don’t see or hear, but is present. One might not want to know while another might be curious, intrigued, or excited. What category do you fall into? Do you want to go and experience for yourself? To get to Abadiania, the best and faster way is flying into the capital city of Brasilia. A bus ride from there takes about three hours and cost approximately $10. If you take a taxi it will be faster but your pockets will have to be deeper: About $90 deep. The price for the most basic room with no meals included starts at $15 per person per night, and increases in price according to the amenities you desire or the meals you prepay for. The posadas usually have basic rooms. There are some nice hotels in town as well, so one can choose depending on pocket depth and willingness to pay. If you choose a posada keep in mind the owners ask what they desire and the price does not necessarily reflect the quality. The best option would be to go see some and then choose. If you can relax, go with the flow, and accept that you will end up where you should be so you can meet the right people by taking a chance, just go there- no reservations ahead. You can always pay for the first and second night only and look to move after, if you are not satisfied with what you have got. If you pay for a long stay and ask for your money back it might get tricky. Keep an open mind and observe how you end up meeting the people that are on the same vibration, have the same life path or are on your desired path. The magic reveals itself to the one that is open, receiving, accepting, observant and insightful. If all this sounds a little mumbo-jumbo to you and you feel insecure going with no reservations ahead, you will find various accommodations that you can prepay for on- line.

Florida, NORTH AMERICA, USA

Orlando

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My first time here I fell in-love with Orlando for the green, the old oak trees and vegetation. As opposed to the palm trees Miami, Orlando reminds me more of my home town, where I grew up. Disney, Sea World and all the other parks nearby are great entertainment for children as well as adults and the water parks can be splashing fun when the weather is hot. But Orlando’s weather is not always hot and the city is not all about Disney. From November to April or even May you can have spring/fall like temperatures and you might need a sweater. That is perfect when you plan to walk around, visiting the downtown and Lake Eola. You will see white and black swans sharing the water and the grass territory with geese, egrets and other gracious and envied birds. The walk around the lake is a delight and sitting in the grass or on a bench there is always a relaxation that calms the spirit and excites the senses. A walk on the old streets close by will delight the eyes with the view of beautiful homes and well maintained porches and lawns, an inspiration for any garden lover. Another area to enjoy is the Winter Park area. The small but trendy downtown often hosts events with live music and/or arts and crafts plus food vendors. The nearby park often holds open air concerts and the rich neighborhood is full of colorful vegetation and beautiful homes. I love walking around both of these downtown areas. I hope more people will discover Orlando and Winter Park and experience what it has to offer besides the obvious theme parks.

Boca Chica/Boca Brava
CENTRAL AMERICA, Panama

Boca Chica/Boca Brava, Chiriqui Provence

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To get to this hidden fisherman’s paradise the bus ride is not the easiest one. From David the bus goes to Horconcitos but not too often. From Horconcitos apparently there is another bus to Boca Chica, but this is one bus I never got to see. Luckily a taxi showed up in the bus station and the driver was willing to take all of us for the same price as the bus. If you are not alone it makes sense to take any bus that goes along the David – Santiago route and to ask to be dropped of at the intersection towards Boca Chica. From there you can take the taxi the rest of the way. The small town of Boca Chica is not a commercial town,  and there is not much to do or see if you do not have a boat. If you make it all the way to Boca Chica your best and least expensive option for overnight lodging will be on the nearby island called Boca Brava. The water-taxi will take you across for $3.00 and the hotel/hostel Boca Brava is located right on the top of the hill from the dock. It has a restaurant with a wonderful view and a variety of accommodations. From sleeping under a roof in a hammock, in a bed in a dormitory or in a standard, deluxe or suite room, it is all there to choose from. The island is home to a variety of wildlife, including howler monkeys. If you walk around you will not miss their loud cry. There are a lot of trails to walk, however the beaches are not the best as the ocean is usually murky. Yet, it could be a quiet and restful time if you do not want crowds for a while, as the island is almost totally uninhabited.

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