My First Stop in Spain: Paella and Sangria

Guest writer: Clint Laschkewitsch

Our tour leader, Karen, had been teasing our appetites for several days as we were touring around Portugal.  “Oh, we will stop along the way to Seville and have some of the best paella”, she would say.  “Its right down on the beach.”

The day came and we travelled by bus leaving Lisbon behind and entering the farmlands of Spain.  Fields of stubble which probably grew cereal grains like wheat spread out from the highway.  I could imagine Roman soldiers and conquered peoples working those fields 2000 years ago.  After awhile, the flat lands of the fields gave way to hills with grapes and olives.

About noon, our bus driver headed for an exit along the Costa del Sol region of southern Spain.  By the signs, we were likely to run into all kinds of transportation modes in the town we were headed to. 

Down toward the Burriana Beach, we headed through Nerja, Spain and parked within easy walking distance of our restaurant.  A city street ran along the beach with shops and places to eat along the road up from the beach

While along the beach side, open-air restaurants, umbrellas, and places to rent chairs and water sports equipment lined the sidewalks.

Within a few minutes, we arrived at our restaurant, Chiringuito de Ayo, and Karen talked to one of the staff to get us seated.  Just 10 feet away was our kitchen where huge mounds of paella were cooking.

A waiter came by and took our drink orders.  Do you like sangria?  It came in big pitchers.  Soon the waiters were bringing our heaping plates of paella.

Shrimp, chicken, rice all with a delectable mix of spices made mouths water.  It was all you could eat but seriously one plate full seemed to be the limit for most of us.  Oooohhhh it was so good!  My mouth waters even today as I write this article.

One of the things I most enjoyed about Spain was the lack of “sales pressure” on tourists.  Shops and restaurants were there for you to peruse and enjoy but you were not constantly haggled to buy something.  While we ate, a lady wandered around with trinkets to buy. 

She did not stop and try to sell.  If you wanted to look more closely, you could motion her over but she would not disturb your meal.  Refreshing.

After our meal, we had a chance to stretch our legs, walk on the beach, or find a restroom.  Plants, different from what we can grow in southeast Minnesota, were around to enjoy.

Refreshed, and perhaps ready for an afternoon nap, we re-boarded our bus for the journey to Seville.



 

Talking Turkey

Thanksgiving is an all-American holiday, right? Or is it? It’s a little known fact that America’s 4th of July is formally celebrated outside the United States. So I got to wondering if Thanksgiving is also celebrated outside the U.S. in some fashion greater than a few ex-patriots staying connected to home. What I found is that in a fashion and sentiment similar to our Thanksgiving holiday, there are many other similar holidays around the world. While the names are different, and the dates are not the same, the concept of these celebrations are similar - mainly being thankful for the gifts life has given us, especially a fruitful harvest.

America is probably the most multi-cultural nation on Earth. Every day we take for granted how this has improved our lives. Without all of the immigrants that added to our national identity, we wouldn’t have green beer one day a year! Perhaps one way to celebrate our great diversity would be to learn about these other cultures and how they celebrate Thanksgiving, and then taking a bit of that culture and adding it to the Thanksgiving feast.

Personally, I will never take Chinese food for granted. I love the stuff, and it just so happens China is one of those places that has a Thanksgiving-like celebration of its own. The August Moon Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival is the Chinese celebration of the harvest. Unlike American pumpkin pie, the Chinese serve moon cakes. Want to add a twist to your Thanksgiving? Scratch the pumpkin pie and celebrate America’s diversity by serving moon cakes! (Click here: just one of many recipes online)

The Roman version of thanksgiving might be the second oldest celebration of this type (as the Chinese started about 3000 years ago). The Roman harvest festival known as Cerelia was held in honor of their deity Ceres, the Goddess of Corn. Romans offered the first fruits of the harvest (and a few unfortunate pigs) to their goddess in thanks. The celebration included parades (check, we have that), games (our family has played countess games of 500 after the big meal) and sports (yep, the NFL always has two big games on Turkey Day), and of course a large thanksgiving feast. This is almost like deja vu! While I can't find a recipe for you that is traditional to this event, the Romans always liked wine... I'm just sayin'.

As a final example, I'd like to bring up Korea. Now the Koreans take Thanksgiving to a new level, as they celebrate it for 3 days! I hurt physically after one Thanksgiving meal, I don't want to even think about three days of this. But, I'd like to draw attention to how the Koreans start their celebration. The celebration known as Chu-Sok starts with the family meeting under the moonlight, to remember their ancestors and forefathers. This in fact, is probably the most important thing we forget about our Thanksgiving. Those brave pilgrims started what we have as a nation today. They endured immensely so we could enjoy our lives today. This is a part of the Korean tradition we should remember to incorporate in our Thanksgiving Day. Take a moment to say thanks to all those who came before us, and offered us the riches of our lives today.

One last thing... the Chinese moon cake recipe might have been a teaser. For a few more recipes for the daring or adventurous, click here.

Faith-based Travel: The Why, Who, When, Where and How

by Paul Larsen, President, Ed-Ventures, Inc.

...Sitting at a street-side table of an Arab restaurant lunching on falafel and shawarma with our new Jewish, Christian and Muslim friends, we experienced a peace beyond understanding….In Wittenberg a discussion became tense within our tour group of Catholics and Baptists until it was pointed out that during the Reformation, Luther and Zwingli factions agreed on everything except the meaning of communion, and those factions killed each other over it---and after recognizing that we are only dividing one another’s spirit in similar fashion, we began to learn from each other...And when returning to a village in Haiti, we witnessed at our ministry site a significant change in character that we never thought we would see…..

Why faith based tourism?  We all have stories about how travel breaks down walls and builds bridges of understanding and respect. That is part of the “why” in faith based tourism.  There is a business side too. Some have estimated that this segment of the business is at a level of at least $18 billion annually or 300 million travelers. It is a market where the first criteria in the traveler’s decision making process is not the dollar, but rather the experience---and in the current economy, that helps.

Why do they travel?  They travel with a purpose.  Some travel to share their faith, to provide humanitarian relief, or to encourage others.  They travel to follow the roots of their faith or their heritage. They travel to experience creation or simply to bond and fellowship with one another.  They learn about their faith while overcoming their fears climbing a canyon wall in Utah or at a religious retreat or camp.

Who are these faith based travelers?  They are travelers who will go anywhere in the world depending on objectives of their journey. Generally they are like-minded individuals of similar faith, but not always.  These travelers can be found in colleges, churches, synagogues, non-profit organizations and NGOs, on Facebook, or following leaders with a message of faith.

Where do they travel?  They travel anywhere in the world on day trips, long trips, or to events, overseas or close to home; perhaps to Sight & Sound Theaters or the Rockies, or to a third world country or an inner city, to the grandeur of Rome or to the Holy Lands, or perhaps even Disney World. They travel to a place where they can listen to or tell a story. The faith based traveler will go where their own faith can be strengthened and refined, or where they can engage other cultures.

When do people of faith travel?  They travel any time of the year.

How is faith-based travel different today than years before?  Faith based travel used to be defined as a pilgrimage or a mission trip.  Today that definition has been expanded to be much more, as it encompasses not only the knowledge, but the experience of faith with others.

The Floriade 2012

Once every decade, Holland hosts a horticultural showcase that is beyond compare. The Floriade 2012 is fast approaching, and this is a once per decade chance to enjoy an exceptional showcase of flowers, plants, trees, fruits and vegetables. This is an experience of the senses, allowing you to touch, smell, taste and see how horticulture influences our quality of life every day. But what exactly is the Floriade?

The Floriade is a celebration of horticulture, and how it affects our daily life. More than 100 exhibitors from around the world participate in this event. Every day you can experience exhibits emphasizing sustainable living, music, dance, literature, theatre and visual art. The park outside Venlo is itself a wonderous sight to behold, and you can opt to view it from a 90-foot-high cable car if you wish.

In addition to taking in all the beauty of the Floriade, this is a learning experience, where you can discover or re-discover how significant the flowers, plants, trees, vegetables and fruits around us are. If you've wanted to bring more green into your life the Floriade offers the opportunity to learn how to bring nature into your home or your office at work.

If you are a flower, gardening or farming enthusiast, or if you are interested in sustainable living through horticulture, this is a rare opportunity. We are offering a number of departures to the Floriade in May 2012. Click here to download a brochure.

Are Egypt and Jordan safe for tourism?

Perhaps it's best to ask a person who has recently visited a country if it is safe or not. In April my father traveled to Egypt and Jordan with a group that consisted of the four association presidents of the NTA¹, the USTOA², ASTA³ and the ATA⁴, four members of the travel press and five tour operators. He told me how he never felt insecure or felt bad vibes from the local people. Not only himself, but everyone was surprised in a positive way. Everyone they met made them feel welcome. The local people know that the recent events have caused some short term pains - especially due to the negative impact on tourism  - but they see the future as bright and their lives to be far better than before. We can help them to find a better future through tourism, by taking travelers to these destinations which are rich with culture, and offer them a chance to see sites which are truly wonders of the world.

I was recently speaking with my friend, Romani Gaballa in Egypt.  He is an Egyptologist and an accomplished tour guide.  It is a historic time in Egypt. There are similarities and differences to our own country in 1776. If you have interest in traveling to Egypt in this historic time, we please let us know. I have a church group with him right now.  They will be waking in not too long to climb Mount Sinai.  In the mean time I would like to share some of the questions I recently asked Romani and his answers.

Q-Can you tell me a moving story about recent travelers to Cairo and what they experienced.

 A- I have not met many (travelers) after the revolution, but last month I led a shore excursion with three Americans from the Seabourn Cruise Ship.  It was on a Friday which is the common day for protesting at Tahrir Square in front of the Egyptian Museum, so we were ready with the Egyptian Flags for them. People came to take pictures with us. My clients were so happy and moved by the friendliness of the Egyptians even in a demonstration , there were thousands that day. One of my clients looked at me and said, “ I am so happy that our ship decided to make this visit. It was the first after the revolution. I am so proud and feel a great privilege to be here and participate in writing a new page in the very long Egyptian history.” It really touched me.

Q- Are travelers safe in Egypt and how will they be received?

A- No Doubt. It is a revolution against the government representing injustice, oppression, and violence towards its own people. Many top VIPs from  all over the world have come to meet with Egyptian officials and have been to Tahrir Square with the normal security procedures the government does, and they were so much welcomed by ordinary people.

Q- What does it mean for you, Cloudina (his wife) and the girls to be living in Egypt during these historic times?

A- For me, these were far away hopes of fixing the country, and we trust God that it will go in the right way, and everyone is doing their best to make sure that will happens.

For Cloudina, she likes what she knows more than something she doesn’t know. Cloudina says, "Nothing has changed yet," as you know ladies sometimes say when they want something and they want it NOW.

For the Girls, I think we should be very careful when we answer to their requests, the revolution has influenced them.  One night Aurora wanted something before bed which was not allowed, so she went to her room , got her Egyptian flag, then went to her mother putting her hand up with the flag saying the revolution slogan (system fall down).

[1] National Tour Association

[2] United States Tour Operator Association

[3] American society of Travel Agents

[4] Adventure Travel Association

Shrink the Planet

Travel..."to go on or as if on a trip or tour".¹ Is that all travel is about? I don't discount that travelers take their trips to see the wonders of the world like the Great Pyramid, the Eiffel Tower or the Grand Canyon, but is there more to travel than taking in these sights?


I recently returned from the National Tour Association's annual convention in Montreal, Canada. I noticed a theme begin to repeat itself throughout the 6 day event. We as travel professionals can help "shrink this planet." As part of the closing evening events, our convention chair put it eloquently, "We connect travelers with people who live and work all over the world, or even right next door. And every time they make a connection, we increase understanding between people. And when we increase understanding, the world becomes a smaller more peaceful place." (Dawn Rueckl, Well Gray Tours)


Its an inescapable fact that the world is enduring a time of strife. The media is relentless in its efforts to impress upon us the negative events around the globe. What's troublesome is that we aren't shown the positive events. The world is in troubling times to be sure, but for every sad event that takes place I'd submit hundreds of good things worldwide are taking place. In 2003-04 I was a member of the US Army serving in Iraq. I was asked to speak to a reporter that wanted to highlight my Army Reserve unit. After exchanging handshakes and introductions, I was asked if I'd like to share our story. I agreed on the condition that we not only talk about the ugliness we encountered on our tour of duty. His interest was slightly peaked, and he asked about "the positive things". I told him about the mother of a soldier in our unit mobilizing her church and community to gather necessities for some of the schools and orphanages that we had been bringing aid to. I emphasized how these people had sent literally truck loads of pencils, cots, paper, clothing and more to us via the mail at their own expense, and how willingly the soldiers in our unit volunteered to risk the journey to deliver these gifts. At that point all the reporter wanted to know was what happened to us en route. He wanted to hear the negatives, and forgot the profound act of charity.


For 18 years I've had the fortune to work in an industry that helps shrink the world. I've been lucky enough to see cultures meet, mix and gain understanding. I've seen sincere tears shed upon saying goodbye between new found friends whose nations had fought mercilessly in relatively recent wars. I don't make a lot of money in this industry, but these experiences are priceless.


If you have a moment, share a short story about your travels and how they've opened new doors for you. Maybe we can flood the internet with positive stories, and show how they vastly outweigh the bad.


1  (Merriam-Webster Dictionary; http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/travel)