travelenvelope

See the World for Free

The idea here is to TRAVEL THE WORLD regardless of time or budget. It dawned on me one day that even if I had unlimited time and money (which I definitley do not), I still couldn't see everything in the world that I'd like to see--I'm simply not going to live long enough to do it.

But I had a bit of brain wave and soon after the travel envelope was born. This is an actual physical envelope. I typed the name of every country in the world, plus every state in the US on little slips of paper which I then put into the envelope. In the beginning we (myself, my husband, Dave and daugher Catherine) would draw out a slip at random at the beginning of the month and that's where we would go---at least in our minds. We grab some books about the country from the library and put them in our bathroom to look at. We also check out some videos about the country if any. We check it out on googleearth, listen to the music, try the food, maybe even attempt to learn a dance or celebrate a festival.

After the first two years we discovered that even virtual traveling can be tiring, so we travel now whenever I happen to be in the mood.

It's great fun. I especially love it when people I meet have been to the place I'm "visiting" in real life, or get excited and have some virtual adventures of their own. I hope that anyone who comes across this blog will feel welcome to come with us on the trip!

You have a standing reservation to see it all!

Jan 12, 2011

Air Mattresses

According to one of the children's books currently in our bathroom, the Poles make great air mattressess. In one demonstration they drove a semi-truck over 30 different kinds and not a single one was damaged. What would that be like? To use an air mattress with confidence? Boggles the mind.

Jan 11, 2011

Wisconsin

There is actually a place called Poland, Wisconsin right here in the good old USA. Wikipedia has nothing to say about the little town of Poland, WI other than it's a few miles east of Green Bay. I'm living a bit far away just now, but somebody ought to drive out there and inject few tourist dollars.

Jan 7, 2011

Motto!

My new motto for life is (at least as soon as I learn how to pronouce it):

Jedzcie, pijcie i popuszczajcie pasa!!! Eat, drink and loosen your belt.

Jan 6, 2011

Joke

This just in from Dr. Foster. A joke so bad I just have to post it.

Q: Who is Alexander Graham Bellski?
A: The first telephone pole!

Yes, well. Thanks, I think, Dr. Foster.

Pottery

Thanks to my friend Margarita, who has traveled everywhere. She tells me Poland is famous for its pottery. It had it's origins in Silesia--another hurrah for my origins. The big town for pottery in the area is Boleslawiec. The internet says the pottery is made from a very dense clay which results in a majorly chip resistant product. It's all hand crafted and painted using the "punch" techniqe, which involves small stamps soaked in paint that builds up the design. As you can imagine there are thousands of stamps. If you buy the pottery in Poland it is very reasonable. If you buy it in the US you pay a bunch, although Margarita said she actually found some authentic spoons at Kohls, of all places, for only 3 bucks.

Warmer in Poland!

Okay, I'm living in the midst of a cold snap--a REALLY cold cold snap. And, because my pre-conception of Poland is that it is a very cold place, I am offended to learn that at this minute it is a balmy 30 degrees in Poland but only 15 degrees here in Ogden!

Jan 5, 2011

Copernicus

Nicolas Copernicus was born in Poland in 1473. He did things right. Came up with ideas that revolutionized science, but died before he got in trouble with the inquisition; unlike poor Galileo embraced his ideas and was lucky to have escaped with only lifelong house arrest.