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!

Sep 19, 2012

The Peabody Ducks

Bummer! The peabody ducks are in Memphis and I'm going to Nashville! These ducks march into the Peabody hotel on a red carpet every day at 11:00 to spend the day in the beautiful fountain and then march back out at 5:00. The tradition started as a joke back in the 1930's and caught on. The ducks had the same trainer/warden from the 1940's till he retired in the 1990's. My favorite Duck fact is this:

Duck is not served anywhere at The Peabody, and has not been seen on the hotel's menus since its 1981 reopening, quite possibly making Chez Philippe the only French restaurant in the world that does not serve duck.

Sep 17, 2012

Roan Mountain

I just can't get over how PRETTY Tennessee is. One of the kids books we have claims that Tennessee has more flowers than any other state. I don't know about that--a quick internet search claims the flower leading state is Hawaii. But whatever, Tennessee looks lovely. The picture above is of Roan Mountain--one of the highest peaks on the Appalachian Trail. It's covered with rhodendrons every spring.

Sep 14, 2012

KKK

Blight on Tennessee--6 confederate soldiers formed the KKK in the 1860's. It got more or less stomped out by the 1870's, but really reared up again in the 1920's. The KKK claims that back then 15% of all eligible men were members--something like 4-5 million. This is when the cross burnings got going. It reared it's ugly head again in the 1950-60's of course with the civil rights movement. And it hasn't ever really gone away completely. Makes you wonder what on earth is wrong with people. The big cowards. At least most other terrorists aren't afraid to show their faces.

Sep 13, 2012

Dollywood

Who doesn't love Dolly Parton? I like her and I like her stuff even though I'm not a country music fan. For me a HUGE reason to visit Tennessee is to visit Dollywood, which looks like a right fun amusement park except for....

What the heck???? I realize that's it's difficult for an amusement park to be original--after all, everyone has merry-go-rounds and log flumes--but flying elephants? Seems that someone else VEEEERY famous has already done this one!!

Sep 5, 2012

Great Smoky Mountain National Park

First Surprise. Wickipedia claims that Great Smoky Mountain National Park is the most visited national park in the United States. Really? More than the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone or Yosemite? Apparently so. The Great Smoky Mountain webpage says that more than twice the amount of people visited in 2003 than other parks. Huh!! Based on some of the pictures though, it's not too hard to see why this might be the case. I'd love to go in the fall.

Sep 4, 2012

Intro Pic

Hello Again to England in 2015

I'm delighted to be back in England. Usually, the travelenvelope does not do repeat trips unless a real trip happens, but something went wonky with England so here I am again. Since my last visit I have discovered the author Karen Harper, who writes a wonderful series with Queen Elizabeth the first as the main character. The book below isn't the first in the series, but it is the first one I read. I was charmed because the queen is determined to give her faithful servant a good old-fashioned Christmas.

It's with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to Merry England, but there are many more worlds to discover. Also, I never really say goodbye to England altogether. There are always new mysteries, new BBC shows and scones for breakfast anytime I want them. The above picture was the lead picture for the page while I was in England.

Aug 29, 2012

Dave from London

Dave made it back from his week in London. It was an encouraging trip--he seems to have been able to see and do everything. Most importantly, he brought me back good souvenirs--an Olympic sweatshirt, a Sherlock Holmes desk minatures, shortbread from Wimbledon and chocolate from Harrods. For the whole family he brough a beautiful little china container from Queen Elizabeth's diamond jubilee.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from his trip

The full English breakfast--which I have to confess doesn't sound all that appealing--especially since the English don't have proper bacon.

This is Dave's friend sitting in a simulated bobsled ride machine. I like this because it exemplifies London's quirkiness.

I simply EXPECT to see this everywhere I go and will be very disappointed if there aren't tea shops around every corner.

Somewhere in an old album there is a picture of me at about 3 years old standing exactly here and with exactly this same guard.

Last and best! Platform 9 3/4.