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Travel adventures of Wendy Koro Boitano
Travel adventures of Allan Smith Boitano
Travel adventures of Tamara Lelie Boitano
Travel adventures of Jim Friend Boitano
Travel adventures of Deb Roskamp Boitano
Travel adventures of Terry Cassel Boitano
Travel adventures of Joel Polinsky Boitano
Travel adventures of Jeff Fried Boitano
Travel adventures of Herb Chase Boitano
Travel adventures of Ringo Boitano
Travel adventures of Raoul Pascual Boitano
Travel adventures of Timothy Mattox Boitano
Travel adventures of Eric Anderson Boitano
Travel adventures of James Thomas Boitano
Travel adventures of John Clayton Boitano
Travel adventures of Brom Wikstrom Boitano
Travel adventures of Corinna Lothar Boitano
Travel adventures of Dette Pascual Boitano
Travel adventures of Beverly Cohn Boitano
Travel adventures of Roger Fallihee Boitano
Travel adventures of a Boitano family friend

Traveling Boy Archives

TRAVEL ARCHIVES

dream vacations

travel nightmares

Jim Friend Boitano's travel article
Jim Friend Reporting from The Frontlines of Afghanistan

bricked-up doorway Jim Friend continues with his photographic essay of Afghanistan. The photographs were taken on January 27.

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Ringo Boitano's travel article
A Room with a View on The
Oasis of the Seas


Florida sunset viewed from the Oasis of the Seas deck What weighs 225,282 gross tons, carries over 6,000 passengers, has 12,175 plants and 56 trees, a carousel, an ice rink, 21 swimming pools, zip-line and all-you-can-eat donut bar? If you’re up on your latest travel news, you know I’m talking about Royal Caribbean International’s new Oasis of the Seas.

Deb Roskamp Boitano's travel article
My Newly-found Oasis on the Sea

on the deck of the Oasis of the SeasOasis: something that provides refuge, relief, or pleasant contrast (from Miriam Webster). I have found my oasis in the sea of cruise vessels. The most beautiful, harmonious ship that I have ever sailed on, Royal Caribbean’s “Oasis of the Seas” debuted last month out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Ed Boitano's travel article
It's the Time of the Season in New York

rainbow over Manhattan, New York City Much of my adolescence was spent in New York - despite my never actually having been there. As a teenager from Seattle, I had been emotionally transported there many times, but it was the New York of the Hollywood back lot in Warner Bros classics that starred Cagney, Bogart and George Raft.

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Tim Mattox Boitano's travel article
BLUES….the Next Generation

Joe Bonamassa at the Royal Albert Hall There's an old French proverb that states, "the more things change, the more they stay the same." For the life of me, I couldn't think of a more insightful description of modern day blues, even if I tried.

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Guest Contributor's travel article
Magical Aruba: The Everything Island

Aruba beach & Ken Walker Want a break on a truly magical and mystical island, where everything seems possible? You don't have to survive a plane crash and spend a season among strange characters on TV. You just have to hop a plane or cruise ship to Aruba.

Traveling Guest

Jim Friend Boitano's travel article
Shaking the Hand That Shook Bin Laden’s

Peter Jouvenal with machine gun Being able to roll out to Afghanistan on an Army Public Affairs media embed in Eastern Afghanistan was enough of a thrill, but when I got to my hotel Kabul, another pleasant surprise was awaiting me.

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Corinna Lothar Boitano's travel article
Normandy

William the Conqueror's castle, Caen The name evokes wide beaches, quaint villages, creamy cheeses, pungent Calvados, hard cider, the great invasion of Britain in 1066 that changed that nation’s culture and language, and finally the greater invasion of Normandy itself 900 years later that saved France and all of Europe from Nazi dictatorship.

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John Clayton Boitano's travel article
This Is The World's Most Luxurious Train!

afternoon tea on the Venice Simplon Orient Express Kings and Queens have relished its opulence; international entertainment stars have been pampered by its luxury; books have been written about it; big budget Hollywood movies have detailed its storied past. It is the world renowned Orient Express, which began service in 1883.

Eric
Europe's Churches: Religion's Treasures

the Church of St. Charles, Vienna People, of course, like to look at pretty things: Charlize Theron, Brad Pitt, sunsets, waterfalls, Ferrari automobiles, cathedrals. The last two might have something in common. The late French critic, Roland Barthes once said such exotic cars were the equivalent of today's great Gothic cathedrals.

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Raoul Pascual Boitano's travel article
Do You Want to be a Mermaid or a Whale?

mermaid or whale poster caricature Recently, in a large city in Australia, a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said, "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"

Bev Cohn Boitano's travel article
Maggie Gyllenhaal: Up Close and Very Personal

Maggie GyllenhaalMaggie Gyllenhaal is the product of a show business family. Her father Stephen is an actor who launched Maggie’s career, and her screenwriter mother Naomi Foner won a Golden Globe for Running on Empty. Sister of Jake Gyllenhaal, Maggie has established herself as a solid actress capable of creating a myriad of characters ...

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Guest Contributor's travel article
The Parade Has Started

rose bowl The Parade has started. Grand Marshal Captain Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger waving to my grandstand. But a tour director is informing me that the grandstand is collapsing.

Traveling Guest

Terry Cassel Boitano's travel article
Meditations for the New Year

bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius The Roman Forum was one of the first places in ancient times where ordinary citizens had the right to stand up and publicly voice their opinions, even unpopular ones. Visiting these ancient ruins can give you a chance to reacquaint yourself with Rome's history and one of its great philosophers, Marcus Aurelius.

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Herb Chase Boitano's travel article
Samish Island's Modern Pilgrims

dog on beach, Samish Island Skagit County is in the northwest area of Washington where the majestic Cascade Mountains appear to the east overlooking the fertile valley and a variety of crops. World famous tulip fields blanket the valley and in the Spring when flocks of Canadian geese and trumpeter swans can be seen.


Seattle's Kubota Garden

Kubota Garden, Seattle Photographer Allan Smith focuses his camera on Seattle's Kubota Garden. A stunning twenty acres of hills and valleys, the Kubota Garden features streams, waterfalls, ponds, rock outcroppings and an exceptionally rich and mature collection of plant material. This unique urban refuge displays over sixty years of vision, effort and commitment by the Kubota family.

Wendy Koro Boitano's travel article
The English Countryside: Fresh Food and Real Ale

pub fare at the Lamb Inn, Ripe Until recently Britain was portrayed as a culinary wasteland, home to overcooked, boring food and an abundance of uninspired bland chefs. There were only a few tasty exceptions to their miserable repertoire-namely, fish 'n' chips, tea, beer and dessert.

Brom Wikstrom Boitano's travel article
The Hill Towns of Tuscany and Umbria

apartment above Lake Trasimeno
I sometimes wonder what I was thinking about taking a wheelchair to the Italian hill towns of Tuscany and Umbria. It was a given that the ancient cobblestones would punish my wheels mercilessly and that the transportation would be a challenge to put it mildly, not to mention the currency exchange.

Jim Friend Boitano's travel article
Snapshots of Kabul, Afghanistan

a bakery in Kabul Jim Friend continues with a photographic essay of his visit to Kabul, Afghanistan. The photographs were taken on January 19 and 20.

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Jim Friend Boitano's travel article
Kabul, Afghanistan Through a Lens

a biker in Kabul Part ll of Jim Friend's photographic essay of Kabul, Afghanistan. The photographs were taken on January 21.

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TRAVEL QUOTE

Mark Twain's caricature

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s life."

--- Mark Twain



Traveling Boy travel tips

Traveling Boy Charities, Travel News,
Deals & Steals

A Time to Give

The recent earthquake in Haiti has shown us the importance of giving. And in that spirit, here are some of TravelingBoy's favorite charities.

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Everything You Need to Know About Airport Security: A Primer for 2010

It's been quite a few weeks for airport security, following the failed Christmas Day attack and several subsequent breaches and mishaps.

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Cruise Deals from Joni

Check out TravelingBoy's favorite cruise specialist.

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Packing Light and Right
by Rick Steves

The measure of a good traveler is how light she travels. You can't travel heavy, happy, and cheap. Pick two.

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Don't let your wallet get swiped abroad!

Perhaps one of the worst ways to have a perfectly wonderful vacation go to ruin is to lose your wallet, or worse, have it stolen, especially while you're traveling abroad. All doesn't have to be lost, though, if you keep three basic, easy-to-remember rules in mind as you travel.

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Avoid Airport Anxiety during the Olympics

Vancouver Airport is gearing up for what is sure to be its busiest two months ever. If you're arriving in or departing from Vancouver between February 1 and March 28, 2010, keep these three things in mind.

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Last-Minute Airfare Deals

Find the latest last-minute Web fares for flights departing from within the United States and Canada.

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The Best Places to Stay in Canada

Canadians are a naturally hospitable bunch. You'll experience this hospitality first-hand whether staying at a small and quaint bed and breakfast, one of the many luxury hotels or any place in between.

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How to Get Drunk Around the World: 5 Countries & Their Drinking Rules

Tell someone you travel in order to taste new foods and you’re congratulated on your willingness to embrace other cultures. Tell someone you travel for booze and you’ll invariably be met with raised eyebrows and a look that suggests what a sad life you lead.

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Win a Vancouver Getaway This Winter

Start your next journey by winning it. Win a trip for two to Vancouver.

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Top 10 Types of Adventure Travel

Exploring any of these types of adventure travel will enrich your life, and the pictures from your trip will fill a scrapbook with lasting images. From scuba diving to mushing huskies, these examples of unforgettable adventure travel will open new worlds to you.

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Top Ten Most Visited World Heritage Sites in the U.S.

The United States abounds in what Time magazine once dubbed "the Oscars of the environment” from mountains to monuments, lakes to landscapes -- all of these wonders made the list for their must-see, iconic status. The following attractions, however, comprise the top ten most-visited across the nation. Which World Heritage Site ranks number one? Read on: You might be surprised!

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See Sitka Through a Different Set of Eyes

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Five Tips for Avoiding Passport Hassles

You can't travel abroad without a valid passport. Everyone knows this, and everyone planning a trip can find out how to easily get a passport issued. But that's not the end of the story. Here are five important tips for avoiding passport hassles that can ruin even the best planned vacation.

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Five Things that Should Always be Inside Your Carry On Bag

While there are a number of "must have" items on every traveler's list, here are five that -- regardless of circumstances -- you should always pack in your carry on bag.

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Couches in Coach: What One Airline's Gamble Means for You

Air New Zealand generated a lot of ink (and pixels) with the announcement that it was installing "Skycouches" in a few rows of seats in the economy cabins of its long-haul 777s. Couches—really? Yes.

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Air Tahiti Nui Celebrates Black History Month: Book "Black Paris Tour" and Save 10% on Air From L.A.

February is Black History Month. Explore Paris and understand the contributions African-Americans made to Paris and the Arts by Ricki Stevenson.

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Ten Places to See in the U.S. Before You Die

Since one traveler’s must-see is another’s must avoid, a list of America’s ten top wonders is equally notable for what’s not on it. Our list excludes extraordinary sights like the National Mall in Washington D.C., and we restricted ourselves to the Lower 48, otherwise Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park and Alaska’s Denali would have deserved consideration too. Our aim? To include something for every taste and budget, from nature at its most dramatic at the Grand Canyon to the man-made neon circus that is Times Square.

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Visit the Caribbean This Spring for Under $1,000

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Test Your Knowledge of Berlin

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International Phone Calls

Easily keep in touch when overseas.

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Join Like-a-Local and Become a Local!

Do you like to guide travelers to the secret places of your city? Are you interested in different cultures and do you like to meet other people? Do you speak English (fluently)? Then become a local and click here to register!

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Worst International Travel Hassles (and How to Prevent Them)

Picture international travel and you might visualize new cultures, unfamiliar languages, and exotic foods. Less fun to imagine is finding out only too late that you were supposed to get a travel visa before leaving on your trip, or nearly missing your plane when you had to scramble to find the cash needed to pay the airport departure tax on your way home.

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Last-Minute Cruise Inventory Sale

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Deb's poetry break


Growing Orbits
by Rainer Maria Rilke,
translated by Robert Bly

I live my life in growing orbits
That move out over the
things of this world
Perhaps I can never achieve the last,
But that will be my attempt.
I am circling around God,
Around the ancient tower,
I have been circling for a thousand years
And still I do not know
If I am a falcon,
Or a storm,
Or a great song.

Send Deb your favorite travel poems.


TRAVEL NIGHTMARES

travel nightmares


Margaret and I snapped our gaze to the right. A sentry had jerked a machine gun up to his shoulder and was leaning forward to fire.

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Ten Ways to Get a Better Airline Seat

1. Join a frequent flier program
2. Buy your tickets early
3. Consider purchasing a better seat
4. Select your seat when you book
5. Confirm your seat at check-in
6. Get to the airport early
7. When in doubt, ask
8. Be specific
9. Keep the agent informed if you have a medical condition
10. Kindness counts


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Traveling Boy Archives

Traveling Boy's other
helpful resources for your travel adventures

Traveling Boy contains more than stories and photographs about local and world travel. You can also find great resources for travel adventures including the following:

Travel Advice:

Helpful Links: links to other helpful sites on local and world travel, travel booking sites, cruise sites, US and world tourism department sites.

Webcam Section: See real time images of some of the world's most interesting views.

Traveling Blues Features - broadcast journalist, photographer and blues aficionado Tim Mattox writes about the blues and several outstanding musicians:
Bob Hite (Canned Heat)
Tom Ball & Kenny Sultan
Blues storytellers
Charlie Musselwhite
Frank Frost
Honeyboy Edwards
John Hammond
Field Hollers
Eddie Vinson
Willie Dixon
Mark Hummel & the Blues Survivors
John Mayall
Lowell George (Little Feat)
BB King
Johnny Winter
Joe Bonamassa

Travel Humor - a collection of jokes (with bits of travel adventures) from graphics artist Raoul Pascual:
Airplane Jokes
Unusual Funeral
Three Priests/Lake Tahoe
Marital Negotiations
Wong Baby
Blonde Kidnapper
Can You Get Married in Heaven?
Three Men, Three Women & Three Beers
Dangerous Snake
The Truth About Reindeer
Health Warning
Do You Want to be a Mermaid or a Whale?

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