Daisy McCarty

Mobility Travel Tips For Arthritis Sufferers

One of the really frustrating things about arthritis is that it gives you good days and bad days. Sometimes, just getting out of bed is a long, groan inducing process. Other times, you feel OK – and may not realize you are “overdoing it” at favorite activities until the next morning. It’s particularly challenging to plan for a trip when you tend to experience widely varying levels of mobility. Travel plans may need to change on the fly if your pain flares up. Here are a few tips for feeling good, managing pain, and increasing your ability to get around when you travel.

Do a Personal Evaluation

When you’ve lived in the same place for years, you tend to have lots of strategies in place to help you cope with arthritis. This means there are probably accommodations you’ve discovered or created that you don’t even notice any more. Before you plan a long trip, consider taking a weekend vacation at an unfamiliar location that’s not too far away. See how you fare when there aren’t any of your usual support systems in place. This will give you a good idea of what daily tasks are still problematic for you. This may include walking for long distances, climbing stairs or hills, getting in and out of a vehicle, or turning knobs.

Enhance Your Ability to Get Around

If you have been putting off using a mobility travel tool like a cane, a rolling walker with a seat, or a scooter, now is a good time to give these a try. Increasing your mobility with assistive devices can mean the difference between sitting in your hotel room and watching TV and going on a fun filled tour. On a personal note, my grandfather found that he could get out of the house again once he gave in and started using a cane. My younger brother carved and stained a beautiful wooden walking stick with a handle for him years ago; and one day he just decided to give it a try. It’s made a huge difference. The fact that it’s a great looking walking stick that was hand crafted with love makes it even better. Accessorizing a mobility device to make it special to you might help ease the transition to using one.

Start Using New Tools

Once you start shopping for stuff that will make your arthritis easier to manage when you travel, it will be hard to stop! If your hands tend to bother you, pack an extra pair of fingerless arthritis gloves. Moisture wicking textiles make these comfortable to wear even when you are traveling somewhere warm. If your back, hips, and butt tend to suffer from the jarring impact of air, train, bus, or car travel, consider investing in a portable seat cushion. When you bring your own, you can instantly install it in any vehicle. Finally, don’t forget to pick up a copy of Rx: The Freedom to Travel Language Series audio book to help you communicate about your mobility issues easily and effectively.

Daisy McCarty

How Do You Travel with Diabetes?

Some health conditions (like migraines) only flare up once in a while; but diabetes is with you all day, every day. If you have this disease, you know that managing it starts out as a full time job. Then, you eventually get into a routine that makes things a little easier. That routine can go out the window when you travel with diabetes. Keeping your blood sugar stable is especially difficult when circumstances outside your control prevent you from staying in control of your health.

Here’s a true story that demonstrates how tough things can get:

At my previous job, I had a coworker with type 1 diabetes. She went on a cruise to the Caribbean with her family in early September of 2001. She took her insulin with her as usual. Then, after the catastrophe of 9/11, she was told that she could not take her insulin on board for the long return flight from Florida. Her medication was properly labeled and she had a letter from her doctor, but the security personnel wouldn’t budge. She ended up making it back home without having a medical crisis, but it was a close call.

Can You Travel by Air Safely?

Fortunately, the TSA quickly abandoned its “no insulin” rule – but that could change if the threat level is increased again in the future. These days, you can bring your insulin, syringes, pumps, and other related equipment and medication on board. It may take a little extra time to get through security with these items, so pack them in a clear bag to separate them from your other belongings. There’s plenty of great information on this topic at diabetes.org. They’ve even got a PDF you can download that covers airline travel and your rights as a diabetic traveler.

Learn to Communicate about Your Health

The American Diabetes Association has very specific recommendations for people with diabetes who are traveling to foreign countries. They advise you to learn phrases like “I have diabetes” and “sugar or orange juice, please” in the language of the country you’re going to visit. The organization also suggests that you ask about the ingredients in unfamiliar foods.

Being able to communicate about your needs makes it much easier to have a safe and enjoyable trip. One issue that’s made it difficult for diabetics to travel in the past is that typical tourist language programs don’t cover health topics in detail. You’d have to cobble together your own smattering of words like “No, sugar, bad” to get your point across.

Now, you have a tool that is specifically designed for your needs. We’ve got Rx: The Freedom to Travel Language Series of audio books available in 10 different languages. These books include phrases like “I need some candy or other food to raise my blood sugar” that you can use when hypoglycemia starts creeping up on you. You’ll learn to talk about your dietary needs in a restaurant setting with questions like “Do you have a sugar substitute?” You will also learn the terminology for your medical supplies in case you lose your glucose monitor or your meds.

Daisy McCarty

Increase in Medical Tourism Raises Safety Questions

When most people travel, they do it for business, education, fun, or to spend time with relatives. However, every year more travelers are making their way to other countries for a very different reason – they need affordable medical treatment. Not all medical tourists travel for elective procedures like liposuction, breast augmentation, or dental veneers. According to statistics collected by healthtourism.com, the primary reason people travel to other countries for medical care is because they don’t have insurance. This means there are plenty of travelers going abroad for hip replacements, cardiovascular surgery, and other medically necessary procedures.

Potential Drawbacks of Medical Tourism

There is certainly no shortage of media coverage about medical tourism catastrophes. We hear stories about patients dying after liposuction or requiring tens of thousands of dollars in corrective surgery after a botched gastric bypass. Not everyone has a bad experience when seeking medical care abroad. However, there are some factors that make problems more likely:

Difficulty assessing a doctor’s credentials and references – Just like in the U.S., there are plenty of other countries where anyone with a medical license can advertise plastic surgery services regardless of their level of training. Add in a foreign language, and it becomes even more difficult to research a doctor’s actual credentials effectively.

Lack of appropriate follow up – Complications may not show up until days or weeks after a procedure. If you are traveling abroad for surgery, plan to stay as long as possible. That way, the surgeon who performed the operation (and knows your case better than anyone else) can help you through your recovery.

Inability to communicate effectively – This is where things start to get really tricky. When you’re going under the knife, your doctor needs to know about any health conditions (such as diabetes) that could complicate a surgery. After the procedure, you could be served hospital food – which is probably awful no matter where you go! If you have a food allergy, you might need to double check with an orderly about what’s on the menu. Or, you might need to notify a staff member about pain or discomfort that could be a sign of a complication.

What You Can Do To Reduce Your Risks

If you decide to become a medical tourist, how can you prepare for the types of conversations you expect to have about your health? Learn a set of useful phrases specifically geared toward health concerns to increase your chances of a good outcome. A doctor who caters to medical tourists is likely to speak some English. But it never hurts to have the ability to communicate more effectively about your medical history and any symptoms you may experience after the procedure. Plus, if you are staying at a local hotel during your recovery period, being able to talk about your health needs with hotel staff using non-technical language is essential.

Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama are the most common destinations for Americans seeking treatment abroad. So, a Spanish version of the Rx:The Freedom to Travel Language Series audio book or Iphone /ipad app might be just the tool to help equip you for a well planned medical encounter.

Genna's Blog! "Packed & Ready"

Glasgow – style city

It wouldn’t be difficult to think that the term “shop ‘til you drop” was coined for Glasgow. The UK’s favorite shopping destination outside of London, this is a city that seems to be designed around retail therapy.

In the heart of Glasgow you will find the so-called ‘Golden Z’ of Sauchiehall Street, Argyle Street and Buchanan Street, packed with stores such as Diesel, Office, LK Bennet, Open and Jo Malone, with plenty of covered malls, notably Princes Square. Over in the West End, under the neo-gothic spires of the university, vintage divas will be absolutely spoilt for choice at funky cornucopias like Starry, Starry Night and Retro.

Whilst most stores close around 6pm, Thursdays are late night shopping nights, and you get an extra couple of hours to spend alongside impeccably dressed Glaswegians searching out the perfect weekend outfit. And the ever-friendly Glaswegians won’t hesitate to help you out with a few of their very own shopping secrets.

And that brings us neatly on to another of Glasgow’s favorite pastimes – a night on the town. Start off with relaxed drinks in the dark leather booths or airy beer garden at elgantly designed Chinaski’s – most definitely Scotland’s only Bukowski-themed Bourbon bar. And forget the stereotypes about Glasgow’s deep-fried-everything menu, sample fresh ingredients and clean tastes at Conran restaurant, étain or West End staple, Stravaigin. Mingle with the incredibly in-crowd for after dinner cocktails at Brutti Ma Buono in the hip Merchant City, before heading off with all your new made friends to dance the night away at the Buff Club. Scotland with style – there’s absolutely no denying it.

Eating and Drinking

étain
The popular ‘Epicurean Menu’ offered by Terence Conran’s only UK outpost outside of London is a tasting menu with each course matched perfectly with a different wine. Epicureans will feel truly in heaven in Conran’s sleek but subtle penthouse restaurant.

No.Sixteen
Tiny, unpretentious, and ever so slightly off the beaten track – although still pretty close to the throng of the bohemian West End – No.Sixteen is one of Glasgow’s favorite restaurants. So good, that it has become one of Edinburgh’s favorite restaurants too!

Ubiquitous Chip
Perhaps the most fabulously named restaurant in Glasgow, ‘The Chip’ as it is affectionately known is renowned for its strong Scottish flavors, and a refined coziness that Glaswegians have grown to love over its thirty-year tenure.

Uisge Beatha
A unique ‘old-style’ pub in the stylish West End, you’ll find over 125 single malt whiskies to choose from, served by men in kilts!

Rab Ha’s
A triumph of individuality over uniformity and of soul over empty style comprising boutique hotel, enticing restaurant and traditional Scottish bar, Rab Ha’s is found within the Merchant City.

Babbity Bowser’s
Housed in an original Tobacco Merchant’s house attributed to Robert Adam in the Merchant City. Fraser and his team are a local institution and look forward to welcoming you to this bar, restaurant and small hotel. The restaurant offers a selection of freshly prepared Scottish meals or snacks, daily billboard specials and real ales with live music every Saturday night.

Café Gandolfi
The Tim Stead-designed wooden furniture in this Merchant City institution have become almost as much of a draw as Gandolfi’s simple but incredibly enticing menu.

The Lansdowne
Through a leafy West End close, you will stumble across The Lansdowne, which after renovations in 2005, emerged as one of the neighborhood’s favorites – with a stylish bar, and well-prepared but uncomplicated dishes.

Mother India
Glasgow isn’t called the Curry Capital for nothing, and there are many first-class Indian restaurants – with Mother India being one of the most authentic, and one of the best – absolutely bursting with fresh ginger, spices and herbs.

Liquid Ship
Taking its name from a misspelled letter addressed to ‘Ubiquitous Chip’ (see above) – Liquid Ship is brought to the West End bar by the same family that owns the remarkable Chip. This ambient little bar is home to fantastic acoustic music, accompanied by a great selection of beers and wonderful tapas dishes.

Brutti Ma Buoni
Translating as ‘ugly but good,’ this unpretentiously hip bar and restaurant on the ground floor of the achingly trendy Brunswick Hotel in the Merchant City is always full of Glasgow’s cutting edge artists and trendsetters, and their new basement level is the perfect pre-club spot.

Shopping

Cruise
From much more humble beginnings as a small designer boutique on Renfield Street, Cruise – now a seven-story emporium in the slick Italian Centre – is a Mecca for serious shoppers, with collections from designers such as Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Joseph.

Princes Square
Not just one shop, but a whole bevy of chic boutiques – including Space NK, Reiss and Whistles – alongside stylish bars and restaurants, all under one beautifully restored nineteenth century roof.

Brazen
Right in the heart of the very trendy Merchant City, Brazen is a very sassy and incredibly stylish jewelry store where you can pick up attention-grabbing, one-of-a-kind pieces made right there in the in-house workshop.

Office
A little store on Buchanan St that is always jam-packed with shoe fanatics, both male and female. Their collections are at once inexpensive, stylish and fun. Just try leaving with onlyone pair.

Timorous Beasties
With their name taken from a Robert Burns poem, Timorous Beasties have been a strong force on the design scenesince being founded in 1990. Their new storeon Great Western Road is a haven of the new Glasgow style – from chairs and lamps to their modern take on pastoral flock wallpaper.

Starry, Starry Night
Down a little lane in the West End is a tiny little store packed to the rafters with racks and racks, drawers and drawers of antique and vintage goodies. Starry, Starry Night has been a favorite for nearby university students and West End bohemian types for almost twenty years.

Culture

House for an Art Lover
You can’t visit Glasgow without at least taking in some of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Trail – and House for an Art Lover, set in beautiful Bellahouston Park, brings together all aspects of Mackintosh design. Take the unique experience a little further by actually dining in a room that Mackintosh designed in 1901.

The Citizens Theatre
‘The Citz’ as it is affectionately known, has been bringing the work of leading Scottish playwrights as well as outstanding international writing to the peopleofGlasgow since the mid-1940s.

Òran Mór
With a name meaning ‘big song’ in Gaelic, this renovated church is an absolutely stunning venue encompassing two bars, two restaurants and a nightclub. It hosts some of the best of Scottish music and culture – including the famous ‘A Play, A Pie and A Pint’ series – to the creative West End.

Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery
Newly restored, and opened again to the public in 2006, this celebrated red stand-stone museum is full of even more historical, scientific and artistic artifacts than ever before – including, of course, Sir Roger, the beloved Asian elephant.

The Arches
Down below the arches of Glasgow’s Central Station is one of Scotland’s most cutting edge arts venues. First opened in 1991, and then massively renovated in 2000, The Arches is all at once a bar, a nightclub, a music and art venue, and home to the highly acclaimed Arches Theatre Company. And on top of all that, the Arches Café made quite a name for itself, too.

The Lighthouse Centre for Design and Architecture
Opened in 1999, during Glasgow’s tenure as City of Architecture and Design, The Lighthouse was built around the old Herald Newspaper building, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Climb the steps of the Mackintosh tower for panoramic views across Glasgow’s townscape.

St Andrews in the Square
A beautifully renovated eighteenth-century church, St Andrews in the Square has become Glasgow’s premiere venue for traditional Scottish song and dance – including, of course, lively ceilidhs in the spacious oak-floored main gallery.

*From the Scotland Tourist Board!

Finally! Your Freedom to Travel...

The Hidden Cost of Air Travel

 It’s been a long time since I’ve traveled cross country to see my mother in Florida, so when I got an e-mail from American Airlines the other day noting a fare sale to the Sunshine State, I figured I’d poke around a bit. I plugged in some random dates in October and was amazed to see really cheap fares pop up…as low as $116 one-way from San Diego to Tampa.

 This seemed almost too good to be true, but I called my mom to check on her availability for a visit from her oldest daughter, and then I returned to the American website to make my plans. My travel dates were very flexible, so I started sticking in some dates in September. The fares were a bit higher than they were in October, so I skipped forward, although I realized that I amazingly already have a lot of things on my calendar for that month.

 I finally decided I could move a dentist appointment, and settled on a flight leaving San Diego late on a Wednesday morning, arriving in Tampa around 8 p.m., and returning the following Monday, getting home around 9 p.m. I’d have to change planes in Dallas/Fort Worth coming and going, but I was just thrilled with my round-trip fare: $242.

 Of course, that was just the fare. Once I hit the button to make the purchase, those inescapable “fees and taxes” came into the picture, so my final cost was $42 more, or $284. That’s still pretty reasonable, but in doing the math, I realized those extra costs increased my expenditure 17 percent over the fare alone.

 American does note in very small print that taxes and fees apply to its fares…but what makes a bigger statement is copy like “fares as low as $57.” As an educated consumer, we need to try to train ourselves to understand that an advertised airline fare only has a slight relationship to what our final cost will be.

 We all know taxes and fees are a part of life. What really astounds me about the airlines these days is all the extras they dangle in front of you before you purchase a ticket online. American inquired as to whether I wanted an upgrade package that would guarantee me Group 1 boarding and a couple other things that were so insignificant I can’t even remember them. The cost for that was $38.

 I don’t check bags, so at least I escape that outlay, but it’s not a stretch to say that a $242 fare can easily double or more when you take all the mandatory and proffered extras into account. I chose to stick with the minimum, fare plus fees and taxes, even though my mom is picking up the tab.

Finally! Your Freedom to Travel...

Adieu USA? Many Boomers Are Making That Choice

Some friends of mine, I’ll call them Susan and Bob, knew long ago that their retirement dream involved beachfront living. Unfortunately, when they learned how much that would cost them in their chosen destination of San Diego, they realized they couldn’t afford it.

Today, Susan and Bob are living the life they dreamed in a beautiful home that’s just steps from the Pacific Ocean…in Mexico. They realized their retirement dream by leaving the high prices of the U.S. behind them, and they are not alone. A 2007 survey noted that 10 percent of all Baby Boomers were interested in retiring outside the U.S., with a significant number choosing Central American countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Belize and Brazil.

Being able to achieve a higher standard of living than would be possible in the U.S. is the main reason Boomers are heading abroad. One issue they may have, however, is language. While English is widely spoken around the world, when you choose to live outside the U.S., you really do need to become at least conversationally fluent in the language of your adopted country. Using Rx: The Freedom to Travel Language Series is a great way to become more familiar with a new language and be able to deal with health issues from food allergies to diabetes.

Susan and Bob live just a short drive from San Diego, so continue to take care of their medical needs in the U.S. If you plan to really “go native,” you simply must be able to express yourself in the native tongue, especially when it comes to issues affecting your health.

Here is a great news article about boomers moving to Mexico — just like my friends did.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Finally! Your Freedom to Travel...

We Deserve Good Service

Delays are unfortunately a way of life when it comes to airline travel. When I learned my flight from Chicago to Washington D.C. would be delayed recently due to an electrical problem with the plane, immediately following disappointment my emotion was grateful…since I surely didn’t want to fly on a plane that isn’t mechanically sound.

My attitude soon turned sour, however, and it wasn’t because of the delay, but how the United Airlines crew handled it. Instead of letting us know what was going on and being empathetic, they were non-communicative and at one point, surly.

We were supposed to leave O’Hare at 4 p.m. We were told an hour after the scheduled departure time that we’d finally be able to board the plane. This announcement was made after more than 45 minutes of silence.

We boarded the plane, and right after the last person had settled in, were told the electrical problem wasn’t fixed after all, so we’d need to deplane and go to another gate, where a plane was waiting to take us to D.C. We scrambled to collect our already-stowed belongings and walk to the new gate, only to be greeted with silence once again.

Ten minutes went by, then 20, and about a half hour after leaving our grounded plane, our crew finally arrived at the gate, where we passengers were, to say the least, restless. We boarded a second time, and once we’d all sat down, were told we’d have to wait for the plane to be supplied.

 I believe if asked to vote, we’d have gladly taken off without pretzels and sodas…but we weren’t given that chance. We sat there. A maintenance guide boarded the plane and headed toward the back. Everyone wondered what was going on, but I was the only one to ask a passing flight attendant, who snapped at me, “we’re waiting for supplies.”

 Her attitude was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me. That, and the fact that once we did get underway, nothing was offered in the form of an apology; the crew was totally unfeeling.

This may be one reason the passengers’ bill of rights was so important.

Click here to view the embedded video.

We finally made it to our nation’s capital more than two hours after our scheduled arrival time. I know I wasn’t the only passenger who was dismayed over the way we were treated, but I don’t know how many others wrote United to express their dismay.

I received an apologetic reply along with an electronic certificate for $150 off a full fare ticket. Will I use it? Maybe…only if the price is right, since I seldom purchase full fare seats.

The sad thing is it wouldn’t have taken much from the flight crew to make me feel OK, despite the delay. On my way home, we circled Denver for a long time due to bad weather, but the crew kept us up-to-date on what was going on and apologized…even though they could do nothing about the situation. My connection home was also delayed, yet that crew noted they would get us there as fast as they could and when we finally landed, almost an hour late, they made a joke of it, welcoming us to San Diego “three days later.”

The moral to all this is twofold: airline passengers deserve good service, especially when delays occur, and it does pay to let the airline know when you feel you’ve been treated poorly. If we don’t tell them, how will they know?

Finally! Your Freedom to Travel...

Game On in South Africa

 My “bucket list” for international travel includes countries like England, Germany, Italy, and Greece…pretty standard tourist destinations. It’s never included South Africa.

 Two things recently happened to make me take another look at South Africa as a travel destination and both have to do with soccer: I saw “Invictus,” and I’ve been pulled into all the excitement revolving around the World Cup.  Since then, I’ve learned a few things about this country of 49 million: 

South Africa has 11 official languages, including English.

Johannesburg International Airport is the major air hub for South Africa, but Cape Town International Airport is gaining steam as an important gateway.

South Africa is ideal for driving; most major roads are in excellent condition, but you’ll have to drive on the left-hand side of them.

The peak tourist season is from mid-December to mid-January (summer), followed by Easter, when prices can more than double.

South Africa’s winter season (June to September) is cool and dry, ideal for hiking and outdoor pursuits; spring (mid-September to November) is the best time to see carpets of wildflowers on vast expanses of the Northern Cape.

Traveling in South Africa is typically less expensive than doing so in Europe or North America, but facility and infrastructure quality is generally high.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommends being vaccinated for hepatitis A and B, rabies and typhoid before traveling to South Africa, and getting boosters for tetanus, diphtheria and measles.

U.S. travelers don’t need visas to visit South Africa; you’ll receive an entry permit upon arrival that’s good for up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days after the end of your stay.

 A short list of places to explore in South Africa includes: 

Kruger National Park, a renowned safari destination

Drakensberg, featuring magnificent peaks and plunging valleys great for hiking

Southern Coast, from whale-sighting at Hermanus to Tstisikamma National Park’s rivers and ravines

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, home to wildlife galore

Cape Town, one of the world’s most beautiful cities, featuring plenty of cosmopolitan chic

 Thousands of Americans have descended on South Africa to cheer on team USA’s pursuit of the World Cup and so far they’ve had a lot to cheer about. In its first game, the U.S. earned a draw against favored England.

OK gotta plug my favorite T-shirt site again for these games. www.freshmintees.com love them!

Finally! Your Freedom to Travel...

Check out this great site for discovering all the summer festivals in Paris Ile-de-France and this terrific city guide (excerpt follows) http://www.new-paris-ile-de-france.co.uk/  

Every summer, the Château of Versailles revives its past of grandiose parties and offers the general public some unique experiences. The most stunning of which occurs near the Neptune Fountain, the largest of the Garden’s ornamental water features with 99 different effects. At the start of summer, a terrace seating 7,000 is set up around the fountain, in a semicircle, looking towards the Château. Five new shows will be stirring this magical place once again this year.

On 24th June, the Groupe F, who lit up the Eiffel Tour on the eve of the new millennium, has a pyrotechnical enchantment in store, set to the spellbinding sound of Haendel’s Music for Royal Fireworks. A suite written for George II’s royal fireworks which took place on the Thames, performed here by the Concert Spirituel, directed by Hervé Niquet. You can see the Groupe F again with their new piece Les Noces Royales de Louis XIV on 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th 17th and 18th September.

As for recitals, the singer Mathieu Chedid, alias M, will perform a show commensurate with his exceptional talent and this sumptuous setting on 29th June.

Dance enthusiasts will be thrilled by the aerial duos of brilliant choreographer Angelin Preljocaj. Following the huge success of last year’s Snow White, he is back with his troupe to pay homage to the Ballets Russes, in this their centenary year, with two of their masterpieces: The Wedding and The Rite of Spring by Stravinsky.

From the metro Villiers, walk along the rue de Levis. This pedestrian axe is bordered with charming little shops, like Oliviers & Co (quality Olive Oils), or Petit Bateau (children’s clothing) and is also a gourmet sanctuary of fish shops, rotisseries and cheese shops, open 7 days a week. Take the time to admire the colourful market stalls, leaving to your right the rue des Dames.  The rue des Dames is punctuated with lovely restaurants, such as the Bistro des Dames, with its small planted terrace, not far from the convivial Russian table, La Gaieté Cosaque. One must admit, the area is full of good restaurants: Agapé, a little higher up, on the rue Jouffroy d’Abbans, is the new ‘bistronomic’ address, signed by three former students of Alain Passart (restaurant L’Arpège). At Porte Maillot, L’Orénoc (Meridien Hotel) serves a delicious fusion cuisine, while near to the place des Ternes, the very serious Rech – recently taken over by Alain Ducasse – is famous for its fresh seafood products, its camembert and its giant coffee eclair. If you don’t have room for a heavy lunch, take a moment to try one of the delicious pastries at L’Ecureuil, found at the end of the rue Lévis.

Also newly revisited, take the rue Cardinet on your right, to the Pont Cardinet Train Station and to the Clichy-Batignolles Park, large green place in the North-West of Paris. When crossing the bridge, you can see to your left a large abandoned area. In 2010, tree-lined aisles will line the way through this urban renovation project, mixing ecological commercial and residential structures of the new generation. In the meantime, the Batignolles district has already dedicated itself to welcoming sustainable development, for one of three Biological Markets takes place every Saturday morning along the Boulevard des Batignolles!

Once across the Cardinet bridge, you are now in front of the Batignolles Square.  If you like birds, ducks and black swans… take a walk through this English garden, complete with a cave, a waterfall and a river!  In the some country flavour, don’t miss the magnificent white church that sits just behind the square, on the rue de Legendre. You can browse the biological boutique, Biocoop at number 153.

Afterwards, to satisfy your picturesque soul, take a moment to stop by the workshop Kej, located in a building giving onto the square.  The area is extremely dynamic as far as ecology and arts go: between the rue de Legendre, the rue des Batignolles and the avenue de Clichy, there are more than fifteen galleries and workshops!  Paris-Ateliers Adac (61 rue de Legendre) is specialised in the restoration of old paintings. The gallery, Antigravité, (n° 80) exhibits jewellery, paintings and photographic mobiles. The decorative spirit also has a place on this street,  with interior decorator Aleth Vignon (n° 98) working with vegetal fibres, and the Japanese influenced shop Home Trotter (n° 77).

Need to catch your breath after all this beauty?  Make a quick stop at the restaurant-bar Les Puces des Batignolles for a terrific week-end brunch or wine on a string (the bottle is opened before you, but you only pay for what you drink). At the cross-roads of the rue Nollet, take a sharp right to find the Atelier Nollet and the Galerie Espace (n°1 & 1 ter) and the Madar Décors workshop (n° 4).  In the evening, these well-known or unknown addresses are home to the local crowds and bring an authentic feeling to the area.

Place de Clichy : popular culture and musical effervescence

From the rue Nollet, keep going straight until you cross the rue des Dames.  Turn to the left, you will find a tiny little street called the rue Biot where you will make a right. Passing in front of the intimate Théâtre de l’Européen or its neighbour, the bar-brasserie Cyrano  before arriving at the place de Clichy, which boasts the hugely popular Brasserie Wepler, notably frequented by Henry Miller.
What a contrast to the arty bohemian spirit of the Batignolles ! This is one of the busiest areas in Parisian nightlife. Following the boulevard de Clichy, you will notice starting from métro Blanche, a succession of sex-shops and girlie bars, but most importantly a host of music halls like La Boule Noire, La Cigale, le Trianon… With a concentration of concert halls and theatres, the area is famous for its evenings of fun and its white nights in hip-hop clubs or discotheques like the Bus Palladium, rue Fontaine. The vocation of this « singing village » hasn’t changed and the new addition to the French singing tradition,  Les Trois baudets, proves that the Place Blanche and Place Clichy are still singing and swinging!

In anticipation of the evenings events, return to the effervescent place de Clichy.  After a game of billiards at the Académie de Billard (rue de Clichy), loose yourself in the popular flow of passers by that haunt the avenue de Clichy.  Have a look at the elitist Cinéma des Cinéastes (7 avenue de Clichy) with its New York style wine bar, Au Père Lathuille, on the first floor.  At metro La Fourche, put yourself on the left pavement of the avenue de Clichy to catch a glimpse of the shop window of jewellery and accessory designer Zinat (1 rue Jacquemont).  In case you get hungry, at the end of the road you will cross the rue Lemercier and its lively restaurant Au Bon Coin, which serves its traditional ‘veal head’ every week. Once is never enough!

A bit further to the North (after the metro Brochant), the avenue de Clichy crosses the rue Guy Moquet on the right. Here you will find the Le Kloog Café, small café-resto with a great wine list. La Cité des Fleurs sits at the start of the rue Guy Moquet, in the Epinettes area. This tiny little street is lined with charming houses that each have their own private garden. In the beginning, all of the owners were required to plant three trees, and in the warm weather the smell is wonderful. A few hundred metres away, the restaurant Le Bouclard serves a traditional French cuisine. You will find in this neighbourhood the feeling that Henry Miller aptly described in his novel, Quiet Days in Clichy.  Miller didn’t actually live at place de Clichy, but rather in a modest flat on the other side of the peripheral boulevard (4 ave Anatole France). A new art-deco building has since replaced the former building, but a commemorative plaque reminds us of the writers passage.

After this bucolic pause, it is time to discover the unknown side of the capital. Take the number 13 metro line at La Fourche, direction the Basilica of Saint-Denis.

Saint-Denis: the beauty of the unknown

As you exit the station, take the passage Héloïse to the passage Six Chapelles, both of which are pedestrian. You will pass in front of the Café culturel Arts et Rencontres, now widely known thanks to the ‘Slams’ of French musician Grand Corps Malade. You may even cross the popular and colourful Saint-Denis Market , held every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday morning, on your way to the Saint-Denis Basilica.  After a visit to this sumptuous, royal necropolis, take a few minutes to appreciate the splendid Legion of Honour Park, with its facade of 140 metres, designed by architect Robert de Cotte, in 1717.  The park also houses the Royal Abbey of Saint-Denis.  A marvelous example of 18th-century architecture that was transformed into the Girls Academy of the Legion of Honour, by Napoleon.

Turn around and follow the same path back towards the Basilica, turning onto the rue de la République.  The central axe of the city is animated by lively little Moroccan restaurants, but also by a large department store selling products from the Caribbean – Exotic Centre (44 rue de la République). Before arriving, you will cross the rue Gabriel Péri and take it on your left. The famous Hammam Pacha (n° 147) is home to Parisians looking for something a bit more exotic. The Musée d’art et d’histoire  (The Art & History Museum), installed in an ancient wine cellar, offers a passionate visit and if you continue you will cross the rue des Ursulines, where the Ursuline Convent awaits behind impressive doors. A few feet away, on the rue Franciade, the workshop-boutique with the same name proposes objects from yesterday, with the savoir-faire of today. From the rue Franciade, take the rue Désiré Lelay to the boulevard Marcel Sembat. Walk back up the boulevard towards the tramway, you can follow the rails on your left, to the charming little street rue du Port.

All this walking will take you to the Saint-Denis train station, where you can take the RER D, direction Paris. Get off at the stop: La Plaine Stade de France.  Follow the avenue François Mitterrand, then the avenue du Président Wilson to the left (800 metres) to arrive at the trendy restaurant L’Usine, Installed in the former building of the French Central Chemist, founded in 1852 (379 avenue du Président Wilson). Enjoy a meal or a drink, admiring the backbone of the city: the Stade de France ! Less than one hundred metres from the esplanade of the French Stadium, this architectural wonder is brilliant. For those who want more, feast your eyes on the Fratellini Academy, dedicated to the circus arts, or enter for a meal in the restaurant Amazir (advanced booking advised). A lovely way to end the day, just 300 metres from the metro station Saint-Denis Porte de Paris.

Another Option : A walk along the Canal Saint-Martin

Genna's Blog! "Packed & Ready"

Thought I’d share this exciting article with you!    

Working Holiday Australia by Lisa Valentine

Ok, you’ve spent years revising, spent a fortune on beer and take-aways and now you’re anxiously awaiting the results of the exams you’ve just sat, with fingernails bitten away and an unhealthy fear of the sound of the letterbox. The next few years depend on these results – the rest of your life may well depend on these results! So what is it to be, MacDonalds worker or ambitious graduate?

Well whatever your results may be why not consider getting away from the stresses and strains of the last year, having a holiday of a lifetime AND getting paid to boot? Doesn’t that sound good? More and more young people are deciding to spend up to a year on working holidays, making the most of their freedom by having experiences of a lifetime whilst earning cash to pay for it all.

Almost 335,000 students will graduate from University this year, all of them looking for a job in this competitive climate. So what will make you stand out from among the rest? Well let’s look at it this way, which is an employer more likely to hire, the fresh-faced University student who has spent the last year with his nose in his books and has barely been outside the college campus? Or you, the graduate who left University a year ago and has since then developed organisational skills, has experience of working in a team and using your own initiative and who is not afraid of getting your hands dirty? So not only does a working holiday involve fun, beer and perhaps a little romance, but it also means enhancing your CV and putting a little money in your pocket – not to mention giving you plenty of stories with which to impress the opposite sex. It’s a no-brainer!

Australia has long been the popular country amongst backpackers and students. The weather is gorgeous; the beaches are long, golden and sandy; the ocean is warm and inviting; the cities are young and vibrant and best of all – there are plenty of work opportunities! We’ll give you the best guide to some of the opportunities that await you in the land Down Under, we’ll tell you how to get there and what to expect when you arrive.

Working Holiday Visa

First thing’s first. Unfortunately you cannot enter Australia without a visa. But happily the process  of obtaining a working holiday visa is fairly straightforward, largely due to the fact that Australia welcomes young temporary migrants who are there to work and in fact some of Australia’s agricultural industry relies on temporary overseas workers. Now if you are American you will need to apply for a visa subclass 462, more information on which is at the Australia Department of Immigration and Citizenship. For Brits and Europeans it’s the visa subclass 417 that you need to apply for. The visa allows young people from 18-30 the freedom to travel and work in Australia for up to a year – you can even leave Australia during that time and return later in the year. The longest you can stay with any one employer though is 6 months – it’s worth bearing that in mind. You can also study in Australia for up to 4 months. And if you find that a year in this fabulous place just isn’t enough, you do have the option to apply for a second working holiday visa. Look at our own Australia visa guide for more information.

You could have your working holiday visa within days!

Don’t worry about endless reams of paperwork involved in the visa application process, these days you can apply online making the process even simpler and quicker. The cost of applying is $230 AUD, around £133, the cost of a single night out in London for the experience of a lifetime! Once you’ve submitted your application online you can check on its progress anytime but with the efficient electronic visa system the DIAC has in place, you could have your application finalised within two working days!

Working in Australia

There are a plethora of jobs you can go for in Australia, from fruit picking to waitressing. You can decide to risk it and find a job once you are in Australia or you can start making enquiries now. Once you have a rough idea of who employs who it might give you a better idea of which area of Australia you want to head for. One thing to remember though when packing – take your CV.

City Employment

– You can approach employment agencies over in Australia and see what they have on offer. Much like a British employment agency, they’ll take your details and experience and let you know what’s available. This might be the easiest way to obtain employment in the city, of course you could get footsore going from bar to bar offering your services, but if there’s an easier way it makes sense to go for that! Many of the temporary jobs during the tourist season are going to be working in the public sector, so bar work and waitressing are going to feature highly, but you can also do housekeeping, babysitting and office work.
One word of warning though, competition for employment in the city can be tough in the tourist season, so if you want to stand out from the rest it may be an idea to volunteer in your local establishment for a few weeks before jetting off so that you have a little experience under your belt. And remember, popular cities like Sydney may have more jobs on offer, but there’ll also be more competition for those jobs.

Agricultural/horticulture work

– Seasonal work always demands lots of workers over a short period of time, making it ideal work for students. It may be back-breaking work at times under the hot sun, but it generally pays well and in most circumstances workers can get accommodation on the farm meaning there are very little in the way of outgoings. It’s not all about fruit picking either, some farms need tractor drivers, cow milkers and general labourers.

Working on a farm means you pick up all sorts of skills.

Farm jobs

- Living and working on a farm also means that you get to experience the ‘real’ Australia and spend some time embracing all that the outback has to offer. What’s more is that there is often a chronic shortage of agricultural workers so there is less competition. It’s also sociable work as you usually get to stay with other workers and a local community is formed, leading to some long lasting friendships. This work is ideal for young people not afraid of hard work and willing to have an adventure!

Picking fruit jobs

- If fruit picking in Australia is your thing then you need to be aware of Australia’s harvest seasons. It’s a great way to travel around Australia picking up work as you go along. It’s possible to get some fruit picking work all year round so long as you know where to head for. Here are the general harvest seasons for each region of Australia.

• New South Wales – November to April is the busiest period with workers need for fruit orchards, asparagus, onions and cotton. Bananas are picked all year round in the Coffs Harbour Area.
• Queensland – December to March are the busiest months here fruit and vegetable picking.
• South Australia – February to April is when the grapes are picked around the vineyards. The Barossa valley is one of the more famous vineyards but there are plenty to choose from such as the Southern Vales.
• Tasmania – December to March fruit picking.
• Victoria – November to April is the fruit picking season.
• Western Australia – October to June is the time for fruit and grape picking but if you don’t mind fishy smells, March to November is great for working in the fishing industry around the west coast close to Freemantle and Carnavon. For bananas and mangoes try the Kununurra region.

Hostel work

– Some hostels take on workers in return for board and lodgings. It’s a great way to meet people, the pay isn’t great but if you’re staying in a hostel there’s no harm in asking if they need any temporary work doing. Or you could always call round before you set off, many hostels get busy in the tourist season and will be planning to take on casual staff during this time.

Working as a volunteer can be incredibly rewarding.

Volunteer work

– Ok it may not pay but it’s a great way to put something back into the country you are visiting and to notch up some valuable experience on your CV. You could work for environmental organisations, nature conservation, disabled or disadvantaged children or wildlife organisations. It’s a great way to learn new skills and meet likeminded people. We’ve written a whole guide to volunteering in Australia, read it here.

So what are you waiting for? Why join the queue at the job centre once you leave college or University? Get ahead of the rest and do something that will provide a talking point for years to come.

The following agencies may be able to help point you in the right direction:

Free Spirit

Go Workabout

Jobs to do

Aussie Farm Jobs

Volunteer Abroad

This information is from www.embraceaustralia.com