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“…travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.”

- Miriam Beard / American Writer

Most of us know from previous experience that the idea of sleeping on a overnight flight can be a bit daunting.  That is where the Zami Travel Pillow comes in.  I haven’t had a chance to try it yet, I’ve asked the makers to send me a sample, but it looks like it might have promise. www.TheZami.com

The picture pretty much tells the story.  The inflatable pillow is made up of three different blow up cells.  You inflate each cell untill you have the height you want. 

My two concerns would be: Does the weight on your legs become uncomfortable during a long sleep?  I’ve found in the past that sleeping on plastic can be very uncomfortable. 

I’ll update the posting if the makers send me a sample.

“The river delights to lift us free, if only we dare to let go.  Our true work is this voyage, this adventure.”

- Richard Bach / American Writer

 
If your looking for a large soulless hotel room in New York City stop reading….

These five hotels are smaller more intimate hotels that offer a bit of an escape from the big city. 

Blue Moon Hotel- A cozy hotel that has been recently restored to provide a luxurious yet “throw back” atmosphere of what historic New York once was in the good old days of Groucho Marx, and Frank Sinatra. The hotels exterior, woodwork and historical artifacts, along with it’s “famous” guest rooms and suites add a lot of character to this restored tenement.

Hotel 373 - Found in vibrant Midtown Manhattan, Hotel 373 Fifth Avenue is a great starting point from which to experience a wide range of things to do in New York City.  Great restaurants as well as world-class shopping along 5th Avenue are just steps away.  The hotels cool and modern ambiance, coupled with current amenities, attempts to exceed the expectations of sophisticated travelers who appreciate the warmth and character of a boutique hotel.

Hotel Le Blue - Hey am I in Miami Beach or New York City?  It is actually in Brooklyn at 370 4th Ave.  The 48 room hotel is considered Brooklyn’s only boutique hotel.  Spacious rooms with cool colors and stark furnishings give it that South Beach kinda feeling.  Inside that is, the neighborhood isn’t that posh, but it’s situated near Prospect Park, M, R, F, 9th Street & 4th Ave subway lines.

Duane Street Hotel- The Duane Street Hotel offers modern luxury in classic Manhattan style.  Under this roof at 1330 Duane St Manhattan is a six-seat bar, a 40-seat restaurant, and of course a 45-room hotel.  Yes it sounds small and it is small, or maybe compact is a better word.  Rooms have 11-foot ceilings, hardwood floors and loft windows.  It is found in the heart of Tribeca at Duane and Church streets. 

6 Columbus - Across the street from the Time Warner Center close to Columbus Circle, 88 rooms make this another small hotel.  A blast from the past, 1960’s to be exact, starts at the front desk.  The Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar and Grill offers 24-hour room service and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Offering a bit more cool than comfort, especially for the price, what was once a troubled 1920’s lodging has been transformed into a upscale hotel with twice daily housekeeping service and fine bed linens.

“There are only two emotions in a plane: boredom and terror.”

- Orson Welles / American Actor

The Zapata Ranch is an authentic working cattle and bison guest ranch sandwiched between the 14,000 foot peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Great Sand Dunes National Park.

The 103,000 acre ranch in Mosca Colorado is operated by the non-profit Nature Conservancy how’s goal is to preserve and protect the diverse area.  Home not only to the ranches cattle and bison, but thousands of elk and countless deer, coyotes, birds and other species.  Located 50 miles southwest of Pueblo Colorado.

Work side-by-side with the ranches cowboys at the ranch or explore the spectacular region on horseback or 4-wheel-drive vehicles. 

They offer programs that are designed for people who want to learn about and experience nature, whether it be conservation, hiking or riding to view the unique geology and spectacular vistas.  But they also realize that some guests might want to just relax in the historic lodge and soak in 14,000 foot Mt. Blanca towering nearby, or hike up to Zapata Falls, five minutes away.  Photography or wildlife viewing trips are part of the daily events, or they can be customized to meet your special interest.

This comfortable lodging serves meals family style with warm western hospitality.  From the Inns website: “Just outside the Inn there is a log cabin bunkhouse. The bunkhouse has 5 private rooms, each with a full bath; one room is a suite with a separate living room and a fireplace.  Rooms are in top order, beautifully decorated, large and with firm comfortable beds.  Windows open wide to let in the fresh mountain air and the views of the natural gardens surrounding the inn set you in a world all your own.” 

Photos provided by the Zapata Ranch website: www.ZRanch.org

Fairmont PR has just sent me these artist renderings of the new Fairmont Battery Wharf Boston that is scheduled to open in December 2008.

The new contemporary hotel is located on Boston’s waterfront, adjacent to the city’s historic North End. With the Fairmont Copley Plaza this makes the two hotels in Boston now managed by Fairmont.

“I’m delighted to learn that the Fairmont brand will have an extended presence in our city with the operation of a new hotel at Battery Wharf,” Mayor Thomas M. Menino said.

Fairmont states that “Guestrooms will be spacious with a large work area, marble baths and all of the technology features consistent with five-diamond standards. The décor will be residential in style and inspired by the property’s harbor side location.”

The new hotel will offer 6,000 square feet of meeting space, will feature a restaurant designed with guidance from three-star Michelin Chef Guy Martin, and a lounge with harbor views. A water taxi service to Boston Logan International Airport will also be available.

The Eee PC may be the perfect match for some casual PC users, but if your hard core computer geek you may be disappointed.

If you can live with the limits they make great traveling companions. They have small screens 9-11 inches. Small keyboards that are hard for big fisted guys like me.

They also have limited storage space. They don’t have hard disk drives, but use solid-state memory for storage. The models with memory card ports allow you to expand storage. And with the rapid increases in flash memory densities the port is nice and will allow the unit to grow with you for awhile.

Previous models of the Eee PC have only offered the Linux operating system. A software that is growing in popularity. But now you can get the latest the model 900 with Windows XP Home installed.

Many travelers just want to have a browser to deal with email while on the road along with a simple word processing. This Eee PC should be usable for them, but for road-warriors who want to edit video or photos while on the road this laptop/miniPC/netbook might not make the grade.

“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.”

- Lao Tzu / Chinese Philosopher

Cold weather is just around the corner and here are some tips for dealing with the cold while enjoying the great outdoors this fall.  If your hiking for a day or it’s a weekend camping trip don’t be caught off guard by the cold!

• A wool stocking cap that can be pulled down over your ears is still the best protection from cold weather conditions.
• Wear dark underwear. In cold climates it is said to absorb more body heat keeping you warmer. And it’s dark color makes them dry quicker in the sun after washing.
• A large cotton bandanna can be a great utilitarian item for outdoor uses. Use it as a washcloth, towel, napkin, dish cloth and more.
• Always carry a whistle. It is one of the most important items you can have if you find yourself in a search and rescue situation. A whistle is much louder than the human voice when shouts for help may not be heard.
• Many don’t realize that adding a tent’s fly can substantially increase the strength of your tent. If you don’t need the rain or snow protection add your fly in high wind conditions.

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