Hot Tips from Travel Gurus at L.A. Travel Show

I had the pleasure of listening to Pauline Frommer and Peter Greenberg. Here are some of thier best tips.
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Pauline Frommer at www.Frommers.com  has tons of good info including podcasts of recent Travel Show Talks.

Peter Greenberg of Travel Detective fame. PBS show with lots of nuts and bolts information that helps you “Get off the Brochure.”

Peter insists that you get good travel insurance before you go. www.Insuremytrip.com is a good site to compare companies that offer travel insurance. He loves Medjetassistance.com and buys an annual policy. I use Travel Guard. They are the only company I know of that will give you medical emergency travel insurance separate from a larger all-inclusive policy

He likes .Darksky weather app because it lets him know the weather conditions where he is going.

www.TourRadar.com  according to Pauline is a wonderful source for finding the right outfitter for the region you want to explore. Outfitters from around the globe are listed here. Just enter your destination and away you go.

www.stridetravel.com is another site that gives you a roundup of outfitters

www.hostelbookers.com  is Pauline’s favorite source for lodging search. She says hostels are much nicer than they used to be and are cheaper than hotels.

www.autoslash.com. They give you best price on car rentals and apply any coupons that are applicable. What is more they will drop the price if it changes while you are waiting to begin your trip. Be sure and get their insurance if you are traveling in a foreign country.  Especially, if you are not used to driving on the “wrong side” of the road.

www.toursbylocals.com   is a great site if you have a couple of days before connecting with a group, or are an independent traveler. Just contact them ahead of time and they will be happy to give a very personal tour of their region. Let them know what you are especially interested in and they will try to comply.

HAPPY TRAVELS

Find a host of adventure travel articles at www.LindaBallouAuthor.com.

 Subscribe to her blog   http://lindaballoutalkingtoyou.blogspot.com

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Sneak Peek of Iguazu Falls

My South American sojourn with Overseas Adventure Travel began and ended in Buenos Aires, but fellow travlers went on to explore Iguazu Falls. Susan Pedrick, an avid photographer, captured highlights of the worlds largest falls and is sharing them here. I admit that after seeing her photo essay that I wish I had gone the extra distance. 

Catwalk to the falls

Igauzu Falls

Devil's throat

Local children

Buffet at Eco Lodge

Relaxing at days end

Thank you Susan Pedrick for sharing your images


My mission is to get to as many beautiful places I can before they are gone!!
www.LindaBallouAuthor.com

South American Sojourn Trilogy

 My sojourn in South America began and ended in Buenos Aires where half the population of Argentina reside. Like most Americans, my knowledge of the geography of South America is a bit fuzzy. The journey took me to less-traveled parts of Argentinaand Chile providing an overview of the landscape and high points, which I have shared in a series of pieces. 

First Stop: Buenos Aires to Bariloche, Argentina

Church bells ring outside my window and remind me that Buenos Aires is a strongly Catholic town.

You may recall that Pope Francis is from Buenos Aires and and he often returns to speak at the Metropolitan Cathedral, considered the heart of the city—a city that is a frenetic beehive of activity.  Buenos Aires to Bariloche

Second Stop  

Puerto Varas, nestled sweetly on the south shore of Llanquihue (“yan key way”) the largest lake in Chile, is the adventure hub of the Chilean Lake District.  On the far shore, the snow-tipped Orsorno Volcano offers head-spinning vistas for hikers in the summer (November-March) and in winter, thrilling downhill ski runs.

In the glacier moraine valley below lies the gateway to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, where you can explore the Petrohué Waterfalls. Puerto Varas is also the headquarters for Pumalín Park, a pristine wilderness area with native forests laced with cascading waterfalls. Let Adventure Find you in Puerto Varas

Third Stop

I am sipping coffee at Hotel Lago Grey in Torres del Paine, Chile before everyone arrives for breakfast. An exquisite rainbow is arcing to the left of a panorama of turquoise glacier-fed waters framed in snow tipped-giants that soar to 10,000 feet. I feel as misty as the gauzy clouds drifting over the Paine Massif; privileged to behold the grandeur before me.  Wet and Wild Patagonia

The Iconic " Horns" are behind me

This was an incredible journey. I would love to go back and horseback ride, river raft and hike in all of these regions. Thank you to Overseas Adventure Travel for giving me this overview

My mission is to get to as many beautiful places I can before they are gone!! 

www.LindaBallouAuthor.com

Let the Adventure Find You in Puerto Varas,Chile

 Puerto Varas, nestled sweetly on the south shore of Llanquihue (“yan key way”) the largest lake in Chile, is the adventure hub of the Chilean Lake District.  On the far shore, the snow-tipped Orsorno Volcano offers head-spinning vistas for hikers in the summer (November-March) and in winter, thrilling downhill ski runs.

In the glacier moraine valley below lies the gateway to Vincent Perez National Park where you can explore the Petrohue Falls. Puerto Varas is also the headquarters for the Pumalin Park, a pristine wilderness area with native forests laced with cascading waterfalls.Full article on my "Boomer Column."

NOTE: My sojourn in South America with Overseas Adventure Travel began and ended in Buenos Aires where half the population of Argentina reside. Like most Americans, my knowledge of the geography of South America is a bit fuzzy. The journey took me to less-traveled parts of Argentina and Chile providing an overview of the landscape and high points I will be sharing in a series of pieces. This is the second:

My mission is to get to as many beautiful places she can before they are gone! I shares a host of travel articles on my site, along with information about my travel memoir, Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler’s Tales.  

www.LindaBallouAuthor.com.  

Join her at Facebook –https://www.facebook.com/linda.ballou.9

Subscribe to her blog at -http://lindaballoutalkingtoyou.blogspot.com/

Let Your Spirit be Free

Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a treat. From the very first sentence you are drawn into the scene with descriptions of the sea and the Cornwall Coast that becomes a character in the story.
“When the east wind blows up Helford River the shining waters become troubled and disturbed and little waves beat angrily upon the sandy shores.”
Du Maurier infuses the story of an English aristocratic woman in the 1800’s, a caged bird, who yearns to escape the stilted trappings of court life in London. Dona yearns to be a man with all the privledges and freedom accorded her brothers and for adventure and romance. She is an intelligent, beautiful woman who wields power over her husband, but still yearns to escape the confines of her marriage. She meets the Frenchman, a pirate by trade, who spends hours doing sketches of birds. He takes her with him on a raid and lets her spread her adventurous wings. She falls in love with a mirror image of the spirit within her that yearns to be free. I was not happy with the ending because I would have let my heart lead the way. But, this story is set in time when women were struggling for emotional and financial independence. Still, the writing is superb with insights into the human dilemma, marvelous descriptions that place you at sea and in the forest where you smell the moss and dark earth. Plus, an intriguing plot filled with suspense. I have much to learn from this great writer


View all my reviews

Can We Talk? Interview on Author Express

Interview with travel-writer, Linda Ballou from Cindy Bauer

Buenos Aires to Splendid Bariloche

As promised, here is the first article Buenos to Bariloche in the heart of the Lake District in Argentina posted on my "Boomer Column" at www.nabbw.com

First Stop: Buenos Aires to Bariloche, Argentina

Church bells ring outside my window and remind me that Buenos Aires is a strongly Catholic town.

You may recall that Pope Francis is from Buenos Aires and and he often returns to speak at the Metropolitan Cathedral, considered the heart of the city—a city that is a frenetic beehive of activity. 

read full article here

Enjoy learning more about this diverse region full of outdoor adventures.

Adventure travel writer, Linda Ballou, has a host of articles on her site along with information about her novels and articles at www.LindaBallouauthor.com

Subscribe to Linda’s blog www.LindaBallouTalkingtoyou.com to receive updates on books, and travel destinations and events.

Sojourn in South America

My sojourn in South America began and ended in Buenos Aires. Like most Americans my knowledge of the geography of the South America was a bit fuzzy. This journey took me to less-traveled parts of Argentina and Chile providing me with an over-view of the landscape and high points I want to share in a series of pieces on my “Boomer” Column at www.NABBW.com. I will share the links of the pieces as they are published.

First Stop Buenos Aires

to Baraloche Lake
District-the chocolate capital of Argentina.

Second I take you across the Andes to Puerto Varas nestled on the shores of the largest lake in Chile where I hiked the flank of Orsono Volcano.

Not last, and certainly not least, Punta Arenas to Torres Del Paine the wild land at the end of the Earth.

 Finale: Christmas dinner in El Calafate and hiking the maze in Los Glaciares National Park

I hope you will join me on this epic journey orchistrated by Overseas Adventure Travel OATtravel.com

Adventure travel writer, Linda Ballou, has a host of articles on her site along with information about her novels and articles at www.LindaBallouauthor.com

Subscribe to Linda’s blog www.LindaBallouTalkingtoyou.com to receive updates on books, and travel destinations and events.

Heart felt thanks to my readers

I have been on the journey of a self-published author for nearly a decade. In this time of year end reflection it dawns on me that I owe a debt of gratitude to my readers. The collateral goodness of writing is connection with the hearts and minds of kindred spirits. Making a buck is always a good thing, but that is not why writers write. They do it because they want to share experiences in a way that engages and inspires others.
 The act of writing our thoughts comes back to us in strange and mysterious ways.

While I was at a guest ranch a man took a tumble off his horse. He bounced back up smiling and said" I want to thank you little lady. You just saved my life! I read you article the "Art of Falling" and I knew just what to do to break my fall and keep from getting hurt." That meant more to me than I can express here.

Fun Night Sharing Wai-nani with Book Club

It has been so wonderful meeting people online who have read one of my books and have found it worthwhile, even rewarding to travel with me, and my characters. Even though my books are in different genres, a common theme is that they are all destination pieces. They all take you to a places you can't get to any other way. It is my extreme pleasure to give back to the world in this way.


This a note of thanks to all of you have purchased my books and posted reveiws for them. That means so much to get feedback and to know that people have enjoyed my work. I hope there will be many more readers who want to see the ancient Hawaiian culture through Wai-nani's eyes, or will take a thrilling ride with Gemcie in the Cowgirl Jumped Over the Moon, or become a stow away in the " Lost Angel's "backpack for more wonderful outdoor adventures.

I am busy gathering more tales for my second travel collection. You can help me by selecting the title you like best.

(1) The Lost Angel Rides Again
(2) Wild Ballou Wander
(3) 50 Shades of Ballou

Please leave a comment letting me know which one you like the best.

Wishing you a Bountiful New Year filled with love and laughter!!

Last Blast for 2017

Rocky Mountain National Park

It's been a wonderful year for me filled with exciting journeys. Here are some of the articles I published that give you details on how to walk in my footsteps if you get a yen for adventure.
It's not over yet! I am leaving for Patagonia in a couple of days and will return with articles about the exotic locales I visit with Overseas Adventure Travel.

Patagonia

Morro Bay

Highlights of the year include attending the Bird Fest in  Morro Bay that takes place in February and kayaking in the estuary.

Exploring Discovery Highway 1 through Caycos, Cambria and points north. This piece details points on the Whale Trail for your viewing pleasure

Hiking in the Rocky Mountain National Park just outside of Estes Park.

Riding in the Hoofprints of Isabella Bird at Sylvan Ranch The Lady of Rockies first stop when she rode solo here in 1873.

Getting a real horseback riding experience at the Laramie River Ranch located on the border of Colorado and  Wyoming.

Hiking in the Jack London Beauty Ranch two weeks prior to the dreaful fires that scorched the area.

Linda at Jack London Beauty Ranch

Adventure travel writer, Linda Ballou, has a host of articles on her site along with information about her novels and articles at www.LindaBallouauthor.com

Subscribe to Linda’s blog www.LindaBallouTalkingtoyou.com to receive updates on books, and travel destinations and events.