You Can Be Indiana Jones on a Budget

Name: Budget Travel LLC
Price range: $

By Stephen Jermanok

June 4, 2005

By going to the source--a local adventure tour operator--you can enjoy spectacular travel thrills for wonderfully low prices

Buy your adventure tour directly from a local outfitter, a person on the spot who actually organizes and supervises the activity, and you can save big bucks, sometimes a thousand or more. That was the message I advanced in a recent issue of Budget Travel, citing examples that ranged from diving in Fiji to mountain biking in Thailand.

But it isn't only overseas that small outfitters actually operate the tour and yet receive only a small fraction of the fee charged for it. Here at home, the overwhelming majority of domestic adventure tours are also operated by modest, local outfitters charging reasonable rates. But far too often, their prices are marked up by big national tour companies whose strength is in marketing, advertising, and sales. Innocent adventure travelers buy their tours from national companies when they could have gotten them straight from the local source, and hence pay far more than necessary.

Here are 12 outstanding American adventures that you can buy directly from distinguished local outfitters for a fraction of the cost charged by nationwide concerns. Each is available in 2002 (and most will also be available in 2003), and all but one are priced below $150 per day, sometimes for considerably less, but only when purchased directly from the outfitters mentioned in the text.

Fishing and canoeing in the boundary waters of Minnesota

Maybe it's the one-million-plus acres of seemingly endless wilderness--a whopping 1,300 miles of canoeable waters through countless lakes, rivers, and ponds--that gets paddlers all dreamy-eyed over Minnesota's northern frontier, the Boundary Waters. You can go days without seeing another person, intent instead on moose, whitetail deer, black bears, beavers, otters, and those laughing loons. Wilderness Outfitters in the border town of Ely has been taking people away from civilization since 1921 (800/777-8572, wildernessoutfitters.com). In 2002, they're offering five 6-to-10-day guided trips through the Boundary Waters and neighboring Quetico Park in Canada.

This area is truly an angler's paradise, to name just one of its attractions. Crystal-clear waters hold trout, walleye, bass, and northern pike in abundance. Since there is almost no motor access to the Boundary Waters and Quetico, fish are plentiful. The cost of most six-day trips is $895 per person, including canoes, guides, food, and tents. Of course, Wilderness Outfitters also offers food, canoes, and maps for alternative self-guided trips, which reduce the price for the latter to $55 per person, per day.

Backpacking Yosemite National Park

It began more than a century ago in the rugged wilderness of the Sierra Nevada. Deep among the towering sequoias and cascading waterfalls, John Muir and other leading conservationists founded an enduring group dedicated to preserving this awesome mountain range. Today, the Sierra Club has more than half a million members and offers guided trips throughout northern California and around the world (415/977-5522, sierraclub.org/). One of the best of the bunch is a seven-day backpacking trip through Yosemite.

Called "Majestic Yosemite," this 65-mile, on-trail trip leads you to unforgettable vistas at heights of well over 10,000 feet and past deep-in-the-woods waterfalls that few people besides Muir have seen. The trip begins and ends in Tuolumne Meadows, where the wildflowers are at their peak during the dates of the trek, July 9-16. Cost of the backpack adventure is $485, including all food.

Biking Vermont

There are many reasons for bikers to cherish Vermont. The numerous back-country roads connect picturesque hamlets, all with very little traffic. The rolling hills challenge the novice, but also allow the experts to feel a sense of accomplishment. Yet it's the scenery that makes a bike trip in Vermont so appealing. Around every bend there's another meadow greener than the last, another freshly painted white steeple piercing the clouds overhead, and another Green Mountain standing tall in the distance. Strict environmental statutes prohibit roadside billboards and other eyesores. In their place stand small signs advertising pure maple syrup or identifying the types of cows found on a farm-Holstein, Hereford, or Jersey. This state was meant to be seen at a slow pace.

Depending on your ability, budget, and length of stay, Vermont Outdoor Guide Association (800/425-8747, voga.org/) will develop a detailed itinerary that includes accommodations (B&Bs, youth hostels, or campgrounds), bike routes (including a map and a description of the terrain), even a bike. This is a self-guided tour of the state, so luggage will be transported by the lodging properties and each night's accommodation will keep track of your route in case of an emergency. Take a weeklong tour in the affordable and majestic northeast kingdom of Vermont, and your total cost, including bike rental, inns, and food, will be $500-$600. If you prefer to camp and want to bring your own bike, the weekly price plummets to about $150, not including meals.

Rafting the Yampa River, Colorado

Roaring for 72 miles through northwestern Colorado, the Yampa River is the last major free-flowing tributary in the entire Colorado River system. This Class III river, ideal for families, is in its prime in early June, when the snowmelt fills the channel. Large, playful waves run from start to finish through Yampa, Whirlpool, and Split Mountain Canyons in the heart of Dinosaur National Monument. (Butch Cassidy found these slickrock walls and layers of cavernous rock to be the perfect hideaway.) Two-thousand-foot-deep sandstone gorges create a colorful canyon maze that effectively blocks out the world. You'll find golden eagles, bighorn sheep, and one of the largest concentrations of the threatened peregrine falcons in the States. Adrift Adventures (800/824-0150, adrift.com/) features a five-day run on the Yampa. Cost is $769 adults and $679 children.

Surfing Oregon

Much of Oregon's northern coast is undeveloped and protected as state parks or public beaches. It's an ideal place to camp and wake up in the morning to look for shells on miles-long crescents of sand. If you register for Adventure Surf Unlimited's (781/648-2880, adventuresurf.com/) weeklong camps on the Oregon coast, you roll out of your sleeping bag at sunrise and look out over the bluff at the waters of the Pacific. Minutes later, you're donning a wetsuit and hitting the surf. Far away from the crowded conditions of California beaches, Oregon is a far gentler place to try this sport.

In the ocean, guides ride directly alongside novices, even giving them a little push, if necessary, to catch the wave. Although Adventure Surf Unlimited primarily attracts beginners, seasoned riders come to fine-tune skills such as walking the board or setting up for bigger waves. Throughout the session, guides shout instructions like, "This is a good wave, you can catch it," or "Paddle right." Out of the water, instructors discuss tidal conditions, tell you how to read waves, and critique how you did that day. Take it in stride, dude. The seven-day course, including all instruction, food, and camping equipment, costs $799.

Mountain biking in Moab, Utah

Moab and the Canyonlands are to mountain biking what Hawaii is to surfing. It's home to the legendary Slickrock Trail, a 12-mile pedal through a stunning labyrinth of deep narrow canyons that twist and turn sharply, without reason, like the scribbling of a three-year-old. Adventurebus (888/737-5263, adventurebus.com/) will take you and your favorite mountain bike on a weeklong biking-and-hiking tour of Utah on the Slickrock Express.

Starting from Southern California, you drive through Las Vegas, arriving at the red and amber canyon walls of Zion National Park at dawn. Rise and shine on a hike in the Narrows, where you walk in the Virgin River through a 1,000-foot-deep chasm that's a mere 20 feet wide. The next day is spent hiking or biking in Bryce Canyon National Park. Then it's on to Canyonlands for four days of camping under the stars and biking through rolling juniper and burnt-red butte country. You'll try all the renowned routes-Slickrock, Gemini Bridges, and the Porcupine Rim Trail-spending hours slithering through chutes of sandstone. Cost of the trip is $800, including food.

Sailing the Keys, Florida

There was a time, not long ago, when yachting was an outing only for the affluent. Thankfully, that's no longer true. The Moorings (800/535-7289, moorings.com/), a yacht charter company for the past 33 years, is offering a great deal out of Tortola, the British Virgin Islands. From July 29 through October 24, 2002, you can bareboat charter the Moorings 332, a 33-foot yacht, for a cost of $1,500 for six nights. Since the boat has two spacious staterooms, the yacht is well suited for two couples. The final tally for four people would be $53 per person per day, not including provisions.

Rock climbing, Joshua Tree National Park

Three hours east of Los Angeles, huge boulder outcroppings bake in the Mojave Desert sun. Joshua trees, yucca, creosote, and other desert shrubs cover the sandy ground, leaving only these mountains of rock uncovered. Welcome to Joshua Tree National Park, home to the Joshua Tree Rock Climbing School (800/890-4745, joshuatreerockclimbing.com/). More than 100 million years ago, these jumbled piles of bedrock cooled, hardened, and then eroded into fantastic shapes. Today, there are over 4,000 rock climbs to choose from, appropriate for any level of expertise.

The school offers four-day beginner and intermediate seminars year-round. A typical day starts at Turtle Rock in the north end of the park. During a quick 30-minute talk about the equipment, you'll be outfitted with a harness, helmet, and climbing shoes, whose bottoms are made of sticky rubber. Then you'll spend the rest of the morning "bouldering" (climbing, low to the ground, up a large boulder) before tackling a sheet of rock. After your guides delve further into the mechanics of the ropes and the belay (the thing that stops you from falling if you slip off the rock), you will spend the afternoon on the rockface, getting comfortable with hand- and footholds as you climb up and rappel down a 75-foot cliff. By the end of four days, you'll look like SpiderMan as you climb a 100-foot cliff. Cost of the program is $315. Most camping is free in the park, but it's first-come, first-served. You may reserve a site in Indian Cove or Black Rock Campgrounds for $10 a night (800/365-2267).

Scuba diving the Big Island, Hawaii

Scuba divers who head to Hawaii's Kona Coast have more than 70 sites to choose from. After a 15-minute boat ride from the shores you arrive at Turtle Pinnacle. Here, in 35 to 40 feet of water, you'll be eyeball-to-eyeball with large green sea turtles. At Manta Ray Village, the mantas come out at night to feed on plankton. Another favorite location in the area is Long Lava Tube, where you swim in a 70-foot-long cavelike tunnel that was created by lava flowing into the sea. Inside this tunnel, hundreds of tropical fish delight you with their neon patterns.

Eco-Adventures (800/949-3483, molokai-hawan.com/), regarded by many as the number one outfitter in Hawaii, offers numerous diving packages. Six nights at the Royal Kona Resort in an oceanview room, plus rental car, full buffet breakfasts, two days of two-tank diving, and a one-night dive with the mantas is priced at $695. Skip the rental car and breakfasts, and they'll put you up at Kona Seaside Hotel for $498. You can probably get a discount if you book through the Internet.

Sea kayaking the Barrier Island, Georgia

While many islands off the Atlantic coast continue to build resorts and second homes, Georgia has left its barrier islands pretty much alone. Only four of its dozen islands have been developed. The others are still marsh wetlands and dunes, where giant sea turtles come to lay their eggs and the occasional alligator stumbles though brackish swamp. These countless miles of tidal rivers and coastal waters are a sea kayaker's dream.

Sea Kayak Georgia (888/529-2542, seakayakgeorgia.com/), based on Savannah's Tybee Island, takes kayakers on a three-day trip to Little Tybee and Wassaw Islands, of which the former is a green expanse of tidal marsh and maritime forests in various stages of succession, from hammocks of live and laurel oak to scrubby forests of palm and slash pine, as well as deserted beaches populated only by mink, sea otters, snowy egrets, blue herons, and ospreys. On the paddle over, you'll most likely be accompanied by bottlenose dolphins and diving pelicans. Wassaw Island is a national wildlife refuge open to the public during daylight hours only. The cost of the trip is $360, including all food and camping equipment.

Horseback packing, New Mexico

The half-million-acre Gila Wilderness sits in the southwestern part of New Mexico, near the Arizona border. This is desolate country, where 11,000-foot peaks tower over deeply eroded canyons and hundreds of miles of lonely river. Once infamous for Apache raids on early settlers by the likes of Geronimo, Gila is now known for its large herds of elk, bighorn sheep, black bears, and mountain lions.

The only way to pierce this vast interior is by foot or on horseback. Tom Klumker, owner of San Francisco River Outfitters (505/539-2517, gilanet.com/sfroutfitters), has been leading pack trips into this region for the past 25 years. In the saddle of a strong quarter horse that he supplies, you'll lope through large stretches of ponderosa pines and tall aspen, some as high as 100 feet. In the nighttime, you can soothe your sore bum in a cool river. Five-day trips cost $750. Horses, camping equipment, and hearty steak dinners that could satiate John Wayne are included in the price.

Boston-based writer Stephen Jermanok is a contributing editor at Outdoor Explorer, and author of Frommer's Great Outdoor Guide to New England.

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A Presidential Tour of Virginia

At George Washington's Ferry Farm, the Virginia plantation where the nation's first president lived as a boy, you learn some of his youthful secrets. Like the time he took a dip in the Rappahannock River, which flows past the farm, and two women from a neighboring town pilfered his britches. "It's in the court records," I was told as I toured there recently. Did the Father of Our Country scamper home unclothed? I wondered. On that we can only speculate. Part of the fun of traveling to historical places is coming across odd, sometimes gossipy—but always fascinating—stories like this one, which add flesh and blood to notables like Washington who figure so prominently in school texts. In Virginia, four of America's first five presidents almost seem to step from the pages of history at the plantation homes where they once lived. You can meet them on a seven-day, budget-priced driving tour, in the footsteps of the Founding Fathers. The 500-mile loop itinerary out of Washington, D.C., takes you to Mount Vernon and two other plantations on which Washington lived; and on to Monticello, the gadget-filled home of Thomas Jefferson, America's third president. Settling nearby as neighbors—and good friends—were James Madison, the fourth chief executive, who called his mansion Montpelier, and James Monroe (the fifth) who retired to Ash Lawn-Highland. At these sites (and more), you learn about the everyday world of the men chosen to shepherd the new United States. The tour skips John Adams, the second president, who hailed from Massachusetts. To see Virginia's presidential quartet, plan on staying two nights each in three small colonial-era cities—Fredericksburg, Williamsburg, and Charlottesville. I've scouted out economy lodgings and good family-priced restaurants in each. Entrance fees at the presidential homes are modest. For recess from the history lessons, I've also pointed out inexpensive recreation. Outside Fredericksburg, take a cooling dip in lovely Lake Anna, a state park with an inviting sandy beach. Sample Virginia's fine vintages on a winery tour. Hike a shady segment of the famed Appalachian Trail not far from Monticello. Go tubing on the gentle James River. You'll mostly travel country roads past woodlands, fields, and pastures. But the focus of this drive is on the men—and their wives—who helped create the nation. They have the continuing power to inspire. We see them both as the pedestaled icons they have become and as the real-life men and women they actually were. What struck me most as I recently revisited their homes is that they achieved so much while facing daunting personal problems: the early death of loved ones, troublesome debts, family squabbles. Poor Madison, I learned at Montpelier, had to put up with an alcoholic stepson addicted to gambling. A disillusioning note is that all four-champions of freedom-kept slaves. This, too, is a story told at their plantations. Fredericksburg We know George Washington as a victorious general and astute president. But he was also a pioneering farmer, experimenting on new crops and methods of growing them. This is one of the stories told at Mount Vernon, the estate where he lived for 45 years. Little has changed, including the handsome furnishings in his white-pillared mansion (which you can tour) and its grand view across the Potomac River. Adult tickets from $17, kids ages 6-11 pay $8, $16 for seniors. As a farmer, Washington was especially proud of the massive 16-sided treading barn he designed to keep his wheat crop safe from the weather. Destroyed in the nineteenth century, it was rebuilt recently—and visitors can now watch his innovative structure at work. As my wife and I stood in the center, piles of newly cut wheat stalks were spread on the nearly circular plank floor. Then a trio of large horses, treading in a circle around us, separated the grain. Kernels fell though gaps in the floorboards to collecting bins below. Mount Vernon is 30 minutes south of Reagan National. You can stop for a half-day at the estate before continuing on for the evening to Fredericksburg, Washington's hometown. Devote the next day to visiting his boyhood homes: Popes Creek Plantation, where he was born, and Ferry Farm, where the family moved when he was six. Entrance to Popes Creek Plantation is free; admission to Ferry Farm is $8 for adults, $4 for students, and free for children under age 6. Officially designated the George Washington Birthplace National Monument, Popes Creek celebrates Washington's ancestors. His great-grandfather John, an English merchant seaman, was the first of the family to land in America in 1657, and he is buried here. The 550-acre park, about 38 miles east of Fredericksburg via Route 3, is maintained as a colonial-era farm with costumed interpreters. Devon oxen keep the grass mowed and a trio of turkeys struts. The river views are as lovely as Mount Vernon's. Pack a lunch and savor them at the picnic area. From Popes Creek, return to 115-acre Ferry Farm, just outside Fredericksburg. As a youth, Washington learned to hunt, ride, and farm—the skills of Virginia gentry. Here, too, is where he may have chopped down a cherry tree-wild cherries still abound—and perhaps tossed a stone across the Rappahannock. The river is not wide, and his arm was strong. Time your visit so you can watch archaeologists dig for colonial artifacts. In Fredericksburg's Historic District, you can also pick up the early footsteps of James Monroe. As a young man, he practiced law in the city. The James Monroe Museum, located at the site of his office, displays rich furniture pieces he took with him to the White House. As a history buff, I've known him as a statesman. But here I learned he was a Revolutionary War hero, wounded as a lieutenant the night Washington crossed the Delaware. His wife Elizabeth, so a guide told me, introduced place cards to society dining in America—etiquette she picked up when Monroe was minister to France. Admission is $5 for adults, $1 per child (ages 5 and under get in free). Getting thereFrom Reagan National, take the George Washington Parkway/Mount Vernon Memorial Highway south through Alexandria to Mount Vernon. After touring, continue west on Route 235 to Route 1 south and follow signs to I-95 south. The beach at Lake Anna State Park is about 25 miles southwest of the city. Where to Stay & EatExcept in summer, try for one of the 26 fully equipped cabins at Westmoreland State Park near Popes Creek. Contact them for current rates. Eat at Yesterdays in nearby Montross. In Fredericksburg, well-priced motels are clustered at the intersection of U.S. 17 and I-95. Try the 59-room Travelodge (800/578-7878), the 77-room Super 8 Motel (540/371-8900), or the 119-room Motel 6 (540/371-5443). Near the motels, the Johnny Appleseed Restaurant features southern cooking with full dinners under $9. In the Historic District, Sammy T's is a local favorite with a nineteenth-century look. Go for the quesadilla plate, $5.50. Williamsburg As the capital of England's richest American colony, Williamsburg drew important visitors. The footprints of Washington, Jefferson, and Monroe crisscross often here. Many lodgings, taverns, and government offices they frequented have been rebuilt or restored to create Colonial Williamsburg, a 173-acre eighteenth-century town. Washington served for 16 years in the House of Burgesses. Topped with a soaring cupola, Colonial Williamsburg's impressive brick capitol duplicates the one in which the burgesses met as revolutionary fervor grew in the 1770s. Jefferson and Monroe attended the College of William and Mary, adjacent to the Historic District. The school's beautiful eighteenth-century Wren Building, where they studied, is the oldest academic building in use in America. A lifelong scholar, Jefferson is credited with broadening the school's curriculum to include chemistry, medicine, and modern languages. As Virginia's second state governor, Jefferson occupied the Governor's Palace that earlier had housed England's colonial governors. A beautifully symmetrical structure, which had to be rebuilt, it was one of America's most ornate residences. As you exit, take a stroll—as Jefferson may have—through the garden's holly bush maze. Washington and Jefferson were often guests at Raleigh Tavern, a popular gathering spot also authentically reconstructed. Step inside for a tour. As a student of 20, Jefferson is known to have spent at least one especially gala evening here dancing and drinking - to excess, it seems. After the night's revelry, he complained in a letter to a friend, "I could never have thought the succeeding sun would have seen me so wretched." To meet Washington as a military commander, take the Colonial Parkway about 12 miles east to the Yorktown National Battlefield, where his troops won the war for independence in 1781. Stretch your legs as you walk among the still-evident trenches and earthworks he ordered dug beside the York River. Getting thereWilliamsburg and Yorktown are about 105 miles south of Fredericksburg via U.S. 17. Where to Stay & EatArea motels are plentiful and inexpensive. Summer-season rates begin at about $30; at the 22-room Rochambeau (800/368-1055), $32; the 75-room Econo Lodge Pottery (757/564-3341), $60; the 39-room White Lion (800/368-1055), $44; and the 108-room King William Inn (800/446-1041), $65 weekdays/$79 weekends. Dine one night at a colonial tavern. At Chowning's, full dinners begin at $14. A less expensive alternative, the Old Chickahominy House serves up a bountiful colonial lunch-fruit, Virginia ham, Brunswick stew, biscuits, homemade pie, and coffee—for $7.75. In Yorktown, meals at Nick's Seafood Pavilion, beginning at $7, come with a water view; a heaping seafood platter is $16. Charlottesville The homes of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe all perch atop green hills with grand Blue Ridge views. Acres of fields and gardens surround them. So untouched is the setting, I find it easy to imagine each Founding Father is at home when I come calling. Jefferson designed Monticello himself, adding to it for 40 years. More than any museum house anywhere, it reflects its master's inquisitive and industrious nature. He filled it with gadgets he designed, such as the giant clock over the front door that faces both inside and out. Indoors, the clock sports two hands; outside, he placed only an hour hand—since, to quote my guide Charlie Gay, "You only have to know the approximate time when you're working outdoors." A man with expensive tastes, Jefferson furnished his beloved retreat lavishly—and died deeply in debt. Admission from $25 for adults, $16 for children ages 12-18, $8 for children ages 5-11, children under five are free. Two miles up the road, Monroe's Ash Lawn-Highland is humbler, seated at the end of a long entrance drive lined with ash trees. Monroe, instrumental in negotiating the Louisiana Purchase, held more major offices than any other president: senator, ambassador, governor, secretary of state, and secretary of war. His home displays many of the rich objects he and his wife acquired in their travels. In the drawing room stands a bust of Napoleon that the emperor himself gave to Monroe. Admission is $14 for adults, $8 for children ages 6-11, $12 for seniors over 60. Madison's Montpelier is located 30 miles north near Orange. Take Route 20, a scenic byway. Its entrance marked with four soaring pillars, Montpelier is a stately structure with a dual personality. Madison's lifelong home, it was acquired subsequently by a horse-loving Delaware du Pont, who greatly enlarged it. Scholarly and introverted, Madison was complemented by his vivacious wife Dolley, a born hostess, according to my guide Bob Carr. Admission is from $18 for adults, $7 for children 6-14, and free for children under age 6. Elsewhere in Charlottesville, the "academical village" Jefferson designed for the University of Virginia was cited in 1976 by the American Institute of Architects as "the proudest architectural achievement of the nation's first 200 years." His magnificent Rotunda is patterned after Rome's Pantheon. Jefferson so loved the university that he ordered "Founder of the University of Virginia" carved onto his Monticello tomb, ignoring his presidency. Two miles from Monticello, the city-run Monticello Visitor Center displays 400 original Jefferson objects. As a study break, stop for a complimentary tasting at Jefferson Vineyards, a 50-acre vineyard near Monticello. After all, Jefferson is considered America's first wine connoisseur. Or drive south 18 miles on Route 20 to Scottsville, where James River Runners will put you in a rubber tube on the James River. The fee is from $24 per tube. Just 18 miles west, hike along the Appalachian Trail through Shenandoah National Park. Getting thereCharlottesville is 120 miles west of Williamsburg. The fastest way is via I-64; the most scenic, Route 6 west from Richmond. En route, stop in Richmond to see the neoclassical State Capitol Building Jefferson helped design when Richmond succeeded Williamsburg as the capital city. A famed full-size statue of Washington stands in the Rotunda. Where to Stay & EatThe 37-room Budget Inn (800/293-5144) is an easy walk from the college campus; $46 weekdays/$55 weekends. Other choices: On the northern outskirts, the 115-room Knights Inn (804/973-8133), $54 weekdays/$65 weekends, or the 65-room Super 8 (800/800-8000), $49 weekdays/$59 weekends. In Orange, the new 65-room Holiday Inn Express (540/672-6691) occupies a Monticello-like hill with a view, $85. Just outside Monticello, eighteenth-century Michie Tavern serves the same hearty buffet lunch daily. For $10.95 (adults), the bill of fare lists fried chicken, black-eyed peas, cole slaw, mashed potatoes, corn bread, stewed tomatoes, green beans, "tavern beets," and biscuits. Across the street from the UVA campus, join students for budget meals at the College Inn, a pub where the eight-ounce steak platter (fries, salad) comes to $9.50. Up the street, the Virginia offers a baby back rib plate for $8.95. An easy walk from the Knights Inn and Super 8, the Chiang House Restaurant features lemon chicken at $7.45. Next door, heap your plate high at the Wood Grill Buffet; a choice of salads, entrees, and desserts runs $7.99.

Transcript: New Orleans

New Orleans has always been a haven for folks who need to cut loose for a few days without tarnishing their hometown reputations or getting thrown in the pokey. Let's face it, at some point in their lives most people can benefit from walking around town with a drink in hand, eating a lot of deep fried foods, and listening to great live music in seedy neighborhoods for hours on end. But there's more to the City That Care Forgot than Party Gras, Jazz Fest, and Bourbon Street. Velvety public golf courses, primeval wetlands, super funky shopping, an abundance of art and antiques, lush parks, and a long list of family activities make it an alluring destination for all types of travelers. Malia answered your questions Tuesday, January 27, at noon EST. Malia Boyd has lived in New Orleans for 10 years. She is a contributing reporter for Food & Wine magazine, and she also writes for Martha Stewart Weddings, Travel + Leisure, Travel + Leisure Family, and Budget Travel Magazine. She is currently at work on the 5th edition of the Frommer's Irreverent Guide to New Orleans. _______________________ Malia Boyd: Hi all. I'm here and ready to answer your questions. _______________________ Spokane, WA: Hi Malia, My wife and I will be visiting New Orleans this month. We have never been and would like an idea of any highlights you might suggest for a 3-4 day visit: food, music, events etc. etc. Thank you. Malia Boyd: Your first trip! How great. Lucky for you, New Orleans is a pretty small city and 3-4 days is enough time to catch a lot of the highlights. Definitely stroll through the French Quarter. You can't really come here without doing a daytime and nighttime walk-through. At night, the French Quarter is awash in live music opportunities, but if you want to get a little more off the beaten path, cross Esplanade Ave. and head to the Faubourg Marigny, the neighborhood just downriver. Its main drag, Frenchmen St. has myriad clubs featuring excellent live jazz, funk, rock--you name it. Snug Harbor is an obvious pick, and across the street is Café Brasil, a live music club so popular, crowds routinely end up on the street out front. Tipitina's Uptown is also a classic place for live local music and worth the cab ride. For food, the Quarter has upscale places such as Peristyle, Bayona, and GW Fins (Reserve ahead at all of them. If you have to eat late, do it. They're worth it!), all of which serve extraordinary food. Out of the Quarter, try more casual places like Dick & Jenny's or Jacque Imo's, both of which take no reservations but are worth the wait. Another hidden gem Uptown is Gautreau's which dishes out gorgeous New Orleans-inspired food in a former neighborhood pharmacy. There are so many more great places to eat and hear music, I could go on and on. To find out what's going on during your specific dates, grab The Times-Picayune's (the local paper) Friday section called Lagniappe, which is filled with tips on what's hot for the weekend/week ahead. _______________________ Tampa, FL: Where is your favorite place to stay? Malia Boyd: The House on Bayou Road is one of my favorite places for a few reasons: The service is fantastic and the place, though it is a B&B, is still very private feeling. They have cottages or rooms in the Caribbean-style Plantation house. It is also in a spot that is preternaturally quiet for this city, giving you the illusion that you are in the middle of the country, when you are in fact a five minute ride from the Quarter. Call them about availability at 800-882-2968, or 504/945-0992. _______________________ New York, NY: On a recent trip to New Orleans a local friend took me out to breakfast at a place, I believe, called The Coffee Pot. She insisted I try the local breakfast dish "Lost Bread". It looked like French toast, but was more heavenly than any other French toast I've tasted! Can you tell me what makes Lost Bread so special, and what the history is behind this delicious dish? Malia Boyd: You are referring to "pain perdu" or in English, lost bread. I'm not trying to shatter any illusions here, but it's just French toast using French bread or sometimes brioche instead of regular old Wonder bread. Perhaps The Coffee Pot just has a wonderfully seasoned grill? _______________________ San Francisco, CA: Hi Malia! I'll be in New Orleans, one of my favorite cities, around Labor Day. I've never been to New Orleans before during the summertime. Tell me, how bad (hot and muggy) is it really? Malia Boyd: Hey there. Well, of course, heat tolerance is all relative. But as someone who has endured 10 Augusts here (one of them 9 months pregnant!), I would characterize it as head-wrapped-in-a-wet-electric-blanket-cranked-up-to-10 hot here. Bring tank tops (Ugh, I know.), cotton, Right Guard, and many changes of clothes. _______________________ Lexington, KY: Malia, how is the job market there in New Orleans? Malia Boyd: Well, considering one of the headlines on the front page today is concerning one company cutting 1,000 local jobs, you may want to send your resume elsewhere.... _______________________ New York, NY: We are planning to go to New Orleans for the long 3-day weekend of either the 13th or the 20th in February. I have been able to find a good flight deal on American Airlines for $250. But I think it is too late to look for any hotel accommodations now. Please help with any suggestions. Malia Boyd: Yikes! You are going to be here during the height of the Mardi Gras melee! You may well have to shell out the $ you saved on flights to find a place to stay. Try the big chains--Sheraton, Marriott, Hilton--only because they have so many rooms. Or try places more away from the fray like B&B's in the Uptown area. Or if you really want to be here no matter what, then you may have to consider staying outside the city proper, i.e. on the West Bank or in Metairie. Both are a fairly short ride to the action, but neither has the charm or character of the Big Easy itself. _______________________ Hackensack, NJ: Hi! I will be in New Orleans for the first weekend of Mardi Gras, 2/13-2/16, staying at the Maison Dupuy. I am looking for a place that we can go to watch the uptown parades, away from the crowds. Any place that has balcony seating that would could see the night parades either Friday or Saturday night. Price is not an issue. The concierge at my hotel did not have any ideas, I sure hope you do. Thanks! Malia Boyd: Unfortunately, all of the balconies or platforms that I know of along the St. Charles route Uptown are private&.However, the further Uptown you go, the less crowded and obnoxious it gets. Many, many New Orleanians stay Uptown with their kids during the night parades and have a safe, fun time. You are still on the level with the "riff-raff" but Uptown's riff-raff is much more benign that downtown's. _______________________ Somewhere, USA: Hi, what are the dates for the Heritage Jazz Festival Malia Boyd: Unlike Mardi Gras, which varies from year to year, Jazz Fest, as it is colloquially called, is ALWAYS the last full weekend in April and the first weekend in May&..makes it easy to remember, huh? Incidentally, they have an excellent, informative website nojazzfest.com. _______________________ New York, NY: I'm planning to visit New Orleans this year for the Jazz Festival in early May. We have a hotel booked, and have visited before, just never for Jazz Fest. Any Jazz Fest specific tips we should be aware of? Malia Boyd: First, a warning: The city gets incredibly crowded during the Fest. So expect LOOOONNNGGG waits for restaurants even if you have reservations, and big crowds at clubs, even obscure ones. If you want to save yourself at least the restaurant part of the equation, eat at the Fest. The food is unbelievable. My fave is the combo plate, which consists of crawfish beignets doused in remoulade sauce; an oyster patty, which is sort of oyster stew nestled in a puff pastry; and a crawfish sack, with a bunch of the little buggers in a spicy sauce sealed into an edible pastry "bag." Man, I can't wait 'til April/May. _______________________ Warwick, NY: How is the French Quarter Festival? This will be my fourth time to N.O. and my wife's first. My visits were always associated with a convention. Malia Boyd: FQ Fest is a lesser known festival that's actually quite great. Lots of live music in Jackson Square and on little stages around the neighborhood. Fun food booths. Drinks galore. If you like N.O. and want a festival experience without the astonishing crowds, French Quarter Fest is it. _______________________ Anacortes, WA: Hi Malia, my husband wants to go to New Orleans to visit the WWII museum, we also want to eat some of the terrific food, rent a car and drive to some of the small villages and bayous. We want to do this after Mardi Gras is over. We are retired and on a limited budget. Do you have tips for other things to see and perhaps how best to spend our money? Thanks. Malia Boyd: Well, first off, you two are going to LOVE the D-Day museum. It is both incredibly informative and deeply moving. Well worth the trip alone. As for renting a car and driving somewhere, I'm not sure how far you want to go, but heading up River Road through Plantation Country is always a good bet. See scads of antebellum mansions (some of which you can stay in for a reasonable price) and some real tiny, folksy towns. Another fun drive--about three hours away--is up to St. Francisville (est. 1785) and its sister town across the river, New Roads. Pick up a copy of Country Roads magazine, or better yet, ask them to send you a copy before you come. (phone. 225-635-9118) It has loads of info on just the kind of places you want to see. _______________________ Freeport, FL: Someone told me that it would be safe for my friends and I (all ladies) to go to the French Quarter for a weekend to stay, dine and shop and go out at night. Is this true, and if so, where might I get info on safe and fun places to go that aren't outrageously expensive? Malia Boyd: The French Quarter is as safe--or as dangerous--as any other nighttime hot spot in any other American metropolis. Crimes against tourists definitely happen here, but they happen everywhere and if you observe basic safety rules, you'll be just fine. Stick to the populated streets. Don't get so incapacitated that you lose your judgment. If you are advised to take a cab to a certain spot, take it, even if the place you're going seems close enough to walk to. Don't flash big wads of money around, etc etc. As female travelers, you're probably all well aware of the rules. Having said all that, now GO! As for places to stay, dine, and shop, New Orleans has never struck me as a particularly expensive place to visit, all things considered. For shopping, window shop only on Royal Street, then head to Magazine Street for stuff you can actually afford. Stretches between Jackson and St. Mary, just downtown of Louisiana, and between Arabella and Jefferson have particularly good concentrations of antiques, vintage stuff, and hip boutiques. For going out I would recommend Frenchmen Street, because of its high concentration of clubs in a small area. If you get bored with one, you can easily move on. And to stay, well, rates fluctuate wildly here depending on conventions and special events. Cruise online package deals, and talk to the folks at the Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-672-6124 or nawlins.com. _______________________ San Diego, CA: I am planning a trip to New Orleans in July. I have gone online to book a hotel and I'm completely lost. How do I find big hotel alternative, such as good bed and breakfast or smaller, more quaint hotels near the French Quarter? Thanks for your time! Malia Boyd: Well, if you can get your hands on it, the February issue of Budget Travel magazine has a quick one-pager on affordable hotels and inns in the Big Easy. Another excellent resource is the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau. Their very raison d'etre is to help people like you find the type of accommodations you desire. You can call their tourist info line at 800-672-6124, or visit their comprehensive website at www.nawlins.com. And a word of warning: Pack a LOT of wispy, cotton garments. It is HOT HOT HOT here in July! _______________________ Minneapolis, MN: My boyfriend and I are are going to New Orleans this weekend to celebrate my birthday. A co-worker of mine told me about an experience he had when he was there a few years ago. He and his friends went to see a witch doctor. He said it was the most incredible experience and something he will never forget. We'd like to do something like that while we are in New Orleans. How can you find a reputable witch doctor? Do you have any recommendations on "must sees" while we are there? Malia Boyd: Oddly enough, I have an answer to this question--sort of. I am not aware of witch doctors in New Orleans, although this place is weird enough to have several, I'm sure. But I do know that the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum on Dumaine St in the French Quarter does have a Voodoo Practitioner in residence who will do up potions, spells, and gris gris bags for you. They have been having line trouble with their phone (must be bad mojo), so try this number: 504/581-3824. And if you're asking about witch doctors, I can only imagine you'd also not want to miss the Cities of the Dead, our cemeteries, and a ghost tour of the French Quarter. A good source for tours of both: Magic Walking Tours: 504/588-9693. _______________________ Blacksburg, VA: I've been to New Orleans many times, but for my next trip in 10 days my boyfriend and I would like to go somewhere nice to eat, but he doesn't eat red meats or sausage. He does eat chicken and fish. Can you recommend some places for us? I'm sure there are places that have good meatless entrees. I would hate to make reservations only to arrive and find very little selection. Malia Boyd: Ugh! No red meat in NOLA? Well, actually since we are on the Gulf we are also known for our very fabulous seafood. Almost every restaurant in town, whether offering haute cuisine or diner fare, has some kind of fish offering. A few of my fave spots--that all have fish and poultry on the menu--Gabrielle, Gautreau's, Restaurant August, Peristyle. _______________________ Cardiff, CA: Hi Malia, my wife and I have been to Jazz Fest 4 or 5 times and hotels seem to, ahem, charge a premium around that time. Any suggestions as to how to attend Jazz Fest and still afford to eat? Malia Boyd: Not trying to be flip here, but make a local friend and stay with them! So called "special events" like the Fest and Mardi Gras are the times for hoteliers great and small to make their money. The other thing you might try is to tap into a good B&B and then book WWWAAAYYY in advance. Beau Sejour is a great place Uptown and the owners are well connected with a network of other places to recommend. In the Faubourg Marigny, try the B&W Courtyards. Again, if they can't help, tell them you are Fest regulars and ask them to recommend other places. A local on your side always helps! _______________________ Wichita, KS: I have a good friend who just returned from New Orleans and hated everything about it, especially the bums/drunks who were allowed to sleep on the benches all over their area, including INSIDE the restaurants and shops. Why is this allowed? They did not feel safe AT ALL. Also, they had planned to rent a car until the kind car rental agent informed them that their hotel charged $35-$40 PER NIGHT for parking. Malia Boyd: There does not seem to be an actual question here. But I will say that people who want a fresh-and-tidy tourism experience would be better off in a fresh and tidy spot like Orlando. New Orleans is earthy and wacky and stinky and wonderful. Indeed, not a place alluring to all. _______________________ Danville, VA: Hi Malia. We are coming to New Orleans this weekend (29th through the 2nd). Can you recommend any particular events or activities for this weekend? Malia Boyd: Visit www.nolalive.com for a list of all that's happening in the clubs and other venues around the city. _______________________ Lexington, KY: I'm a long-time Nola visitor. What's your favorite hotel & restaurant? I know...it's hard... Malia Boyd: Favorite Hotel (that I can't afford): Soniat House Favorite Restaurant: Right now, Gautreau's. Ask me again in a month and I'll probably have a different answer. _______________________ South Bend, IN: Is it worth going to New Orleans in August or will it be too hot? I have kids aged 15 and 8. What are some of the activities they would enjoy in New Orleans? Malia Boyd: It's hot, but there are lots of wonderful things for kids here, so come anyway: The Audubon Zoo, Aquarium of the America's, Dr. Wagner's Honey Island Swamp Tours, a round-trip on the streetcar--even the 15 year old can get behind these. _______________________ Malia Boyd: Well, I'm out of time! Thanks for all your great questions. Wish I could have answered many more. Come on out and see us soon. Ciao--Malia _______________________

Transcript: Spain

Mike knows not only the city of Barcelona but also the surrounding towns and villages on the coast, the interior and in the mountains and can speak intelligently about almost any aspect of the regions social and cultural customs. Mike speaks nearly native Catalan and Spanish. His insight and understanding of both American and Catalan culture make him uniquely qualified to answer almost any question regarding the city, its people and their view of the US and the world. Mike answered your questions Tuesday, February 10, 2004 at noon EST. Mike McCready is a Nebraska native and has lived in Barcelona since 1986. He's seen the transformation of the city from a dirty provincial and industrial capital with it's back turned from the sea to THE Mediterranean city of reference and international cultural and nightlife Mecca. He's an international music industry executive with a deep interest in art and politics. Mike is friendly with several of the Catalonian politicians such as the current president of the autonomous government, Pascual Maragall and was fortunate to have met Salvador Dalí and to have become friends with Joan Brossa. _______________________ Suwanee, GA : We will be flying in to Barcelona to board our cruise ship in July of this year. We will then have an evening and all of the next day to "do" Barcelona. What would you recommend as the "don't miss" thing for us to do? It will be our first visit there. Thanks. Mike McCready: If you're really into taking in the city quickly I suggest you go to Plaza Catalunya in the center of the city and getting a tour sightseeing bus. It will take you to all of the very important sights. You can get off the bus at any of the ones you're most interested in and catch the next one when it comes by. It allows you to stay at each sight as long as you want or even skip some. I think the best sights are the Gaudi building including the Sagrada Familia. Of course you'll also want to see the old Gothic Quarter and perhaps the Olympic Ring on Montjüic Mountain. _______________________ Weston, NE: How has security interfered with the Old World setting? Mike McCready: Hey, a fellow Nebraskan. I grew up in Broken Bow! Barcelona is a very cosmopolitan city. Security is an issue but not more or less than in any other major city in the US or Europe. Barcelona is a very safe city. If you need to be on guard for anything it is petty crime which is increasingly a problem. _______________________ Fresno, Ca: Mr. McCready, Thank you for entertaining the questions from the online public. I am glad I found your article online. I fell in love with Spain during a one-week trip to Madrid in 1993. After lots of soul-searching, I have decided that my future is in Spain. I plan to relocate there as soon as I finish business school. You have your pulse on the life of the country. What is the job market for MBAs in Spain? I speak perfect Spanish and English. My goal is to obtain a position in the field of investment banking. Which city offers the best opportunity for someone with my qualifications and ambitions? Mike McCready: I think that either Madrid or Barcelona can offer you what you're looking for. One of the best things to do I think is to get in touch with the American Embassy in Madrid and get a listing of the US companies with branches and subsidiaries in the country and start your job search there, perhaps contacting in the US first. MBA's are well received and the University of Chicago even has a Graduate School of Business campus in Barcelona. _______________________ Boston, MA: I have not been to Spain since the Euro currency conversion. Is it still the "bargain basement" of Europe, or has the Euro currency made the country less affordable to travelers? Mike McCready: Spain is still affordable and if you spend any amount of time in NYC Spain seems downright cheap. Real Estate is rising sharply in the major cities but you can still get great deals on property. Shopping for fashion and other higher end items is just as expensive as the rest of Europe however. You'll notice a bigger difference in the super markets. _______________________ New York, NY: I am going on an exchange trip with my high school on February 12th. I and a group of other students will be visiting Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Soller. My question is, how is the weather during the winter season? Do the lower temperatures of winter take away from the scenery? Any tips on places to visit? Thank you. Mike McCready: The scenery is still beautiful but the beaches are not very used and the water is very cold in February. But you can have a great time seeing the sights and the weather is usually very agreeable in the 60 and 70's on the islands. _______________________ Alexandria, VA: I am visiting Lisbon but want to travel to Segovia and Seville. What is the best (and cheapest) way to do this for 2 people? What cities in Spain would you recommend visiting (out of Lisbon) instead, if not those 2? Mike McCready: More than Segovia I'd visit Toledo, although it is a little more touristy. I think your best bet for economic travel would be the train. _______________________ Wichita, KS: We are planning a cruise out of Barcelona in mid-October. What is the weather like then? We are planning to go a couple of days early so we get a chance to see the city and acclimate to the time change. What would you recommend for us to see? Mike McCready: October weather can be either pleasant or rainy. It's very unpredictable but is actually my favorite month for Barcelona weather. It is cool in the evening and the mornings but the days can be bright and sunny and very nice. You'll need a jacket most likely. The city will be covered with fallen leaves. _______________________ Paris, France: I live in Paris 9 months each year. I'm flexible with time & date since I travel alone. When is the best time to go to Barcelona from October through April? I use a cane but it is just a balance problem versus a painful health problem. I'm happy to live in a pension, B & B, small hotel. I travel alone and like to be around people - locals as well as travelers (versus tourists). I usually arrive with no reservation, asking the taxing to find me a safe, clean, inexpensive, & quiet accommodation - it works. Thank you. Mike McCready: Wow. Sounds like a very nice routine. If you don't mind the cooler weather one of my favorite times in the city is right around Christmas. Seeing the city all decked out in lights and visiting the area of the Cathedral is very impressive. The Catalan Christmas traditions are very unique and worth looking into. There are many inexpensive places to stay around the city so I'm sure your technique will work in Barcelona as well. If you're not into spending Christmas there perhaps you'd like to go a bit earlier and be in Barcelona on September 22 - 25 approximately. That's when the city celebrates it's patron saint's day, La Mercé. The city is one huge party for an entire week and end with one of the world's most impressive fireworks displays. _______________________ US: Why is the Northern cuisine of Spain so underrated in the US? And why are Latin American cultures using the term "Spanish food" when it's really not Spanish food? It's Mexican, Caribbean, or from somewhere else! Mike McCready: Yes. Good question. Outside of France there are only 8 restaurants (as per my understanding) that get a rating of three Michelin stars. There are two in Catalunya (El Racó de Can Fabes and El Bulli) and one in Santander (Arzak). The New York Times Magazine recently called Ferran Adrià, the chef and owner of El Bulli the best chef in the world and said the world's greatest cuisine in general has moved south of the mountains that divide France and Spain. The food in general is amazing in all of Spain and yes, even more so in the north. As for why some people confuse Mexican, spicy food with Spanish food I'm not sure. Lack of information I guess. Please help spread the word. _______________________ Swanee, ID: I've noticed in visits to Spain, and Barcelona in particular, that American students traveling there take the "party" culture to the extreme. Should this worry me about a parent who's thinking of sending their daughter to study abroad in Barcelona? Mike McCready: Not really. Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid are known as party towns more because the northern European youngsters can go there, the beer is cheaper than in the north (especially countries like Sweden) and the drinking age is mostly non-existent. Kids with even less money have what are called El Botellón (the big bottle party) where they buy big bottles of beer and drink them together in the plazas and streets. It's is more of a public nuisance than anything else. It is mostly harmless. If your daughter is responsible and knows to take care of herself she should be ok. Kids party everywhere and at least they do it in the open in the cities and typically no one is driving home because public transportation is so good. _______________________ Clemson, SC: My wife and I are vegetarians (ovo-lacto-veg). Will we find food that is compatible to our diet in Barcelona? What other places would you recommend? Thanks. Mike McCready: There are several vegetarian restaurants in Barcelona. One is on the corner of Gran Via and Rambla Catalunya...more on Gran Via toward Passeig de Gràcia. Other than that I don't really know much about that. Sorry. But I can tell you that the open markets such as La Boqueria sell a lot variety of fresh produce, eggs and almost anything else. You will not have any trouble at all maintaining your lifestyle. _______________________ Seattle, WA: I've heard great things about the Parque Nacional de Ordesa near the French border in the Basque country. What are your favorite open spaces for hiking in Spain? Mike McCready: That's a great place. I recommend Mountain Aneto for great hiking in that area. I also think La Vall d'Aran in northern Catalunya is amazing. _______________________ Dracut, MA: I will be travelling to Spain in June with my 14-year-old niece. This is her first trip to Spain. She is torn between Madrid or Barcelona. Which would you recommend to a first-time visitor to Spain? We will be traveling for 1 week only. Mike McCready: I cannot recommend Barcelona highly enough. Madrid is a great city, don't get me wrong but it doesn't have the attraction and energy that Barcelona has. Barcelona has a very rich and old history that you can live and breathe. Madrid is good for a few of it's museums and the nightlife but don't forget that it was just a village until the king decided to move the capital there about 300 years ago. So the city is not as much of a natural capital as Barcelona is. Plus it's landlocked. _______________________ Astoria, NY: Hi! We often hear alot about the big cities in Spain. Please talk about some off-the-beaten path places that represent the old Spain. One of my favorites is Merida in Extremadura. Thanks. Mike McCready: Off beaten... well, I think some of the most beautiful places to go are in the rural Catalunya areas. I mentioned earlier that I like the Vall d'Aran in northern Catalunya. It is so typical of a quaint mountain area where things haven't changed for years and years. It is worth visiting. I also like an area in northern Catalunaya near Andorra called La Cerdanya. In the rest of Spain I think that a lot of Murcia and Andalucia is beautiful and you can see the olive country. There a re a lot of little villages to see there. _______________________ US: We want to go to Spain for the first time in 2005. What are the best times of year to go to beat the crowds yet have nice weather??? What towns are a must-see and are there villas that we can rent on the water at a reasonable price??? Thanks. Mike McCready: A reasonable price for a little beach apartment might be about $7,000 per month in the summer months. If you want more than an apartment it can get very expensive. $15,000 and up for a decent villa or house. The best time of year to beat the crowds and still have good weather is without a doubt, May. _______________________ US: I will be traveling to Valencia on March 6-13. How much of Spain will I be able to see in a week? Do I need to speak Spanish fairly well or is English common there? Any recommendations on things to see and do? Mike McCready: Most tourist places have people that can generally get by a little bit in English, but taking a good Spanish / English dictionary is a good idea. But if not you will have no trouble. It's not like rural China where you can't find anyone to even understand you. Everyone knows someone who speaks English if they themselves don't. _______________________ Cherry Hill, NJ: I am a woman contemplating a guided tour to Spain this year, but will probably spend some of the time on my own. How safe are the cities in general, but especially for American tourists? Mike McCready: They are extremely safe. Please just be careful for pickpockets. Petty crime can be a problem and losing your documents can be a nightmare. Keep that stuff in your hotel safe or in an inside pouch under your shirt. Otherwise you should have no problem at all. Oh.. and I don't want to scare anyone because it truly is a very safe place. I've never felt insecure there. But there is a robbery tactic of having someone come up to you and ask directions or something and while you're distracted talking to them they have a partner who may try to take the stuff you've left out of sight. So, be cautious but not scared. No one will try to hurt you. _______________________ Los Angeles, CA: How safe are cities like Madrid and Barcelona compared to Los Angeles in terms of street crime? Also, I'm thinking of visiting areas in the north like San Sebastian and Galacia. As a tourist, should I worry about the separatists in the Basque country? What can you tell me about Galacia? Mike McCready: Basque terrorists are usually targeting Spanish politicians. In the last couple of years they've tried to hit a couple of tourists areas but it is more of a scare tactic to worry the government about losing tourism money than to actually hurt anyone. They always call the police about 30 minutes before the bomb goes off so the police evacuate everyone from the tourist area. They don't want to get a really bad reputation and kill a lot of innocent people when what they are fight for in the independence of their homeland. People have been injured but rarely killed in these tourist targeting attacks. As I said earlier I have lived in Spain for 18 years and have NEVER felt insecure or in danger. You shouldn't either. _______________________ Huntington, NY: We went to Barcelona and Madrid three years ago we thought that it was dirty and the people weren't nice. In other words, we didn't like it, but we hear so much about Spain that we want to give it another opportunity. What other cities would you recommend to visit? We love to travel alot and we don't mind taking trains, renting cars, but would like a nice and friendly city to visit in Spain. Mike McCready: Hmmmm... I've never felt that way. IN fact I've felt that Barcelona is a lot cleaner and friendlier than NYC even though I LOVE NYC and spend a lot of time there (like right now). But you might like to try Seville and Toledo and a couple of my personal favorites. Seville is generally kept very well groomed and the streets are lined with Orange trees and when in season make the city so beautiful. _______________________ Whiting, IN: Hello, Mike. My wife and I will be going to Spain for an extended stay (2 to 4 weeks) in the foreseeable future with the intention of learning Spanish in a total immersion setting. This second language will be a professional asset to both of us since we work in the diverse Chicagoland area. Is it practical to learn the Spanish spoken and taught in Spain considering we interact with people mainly from Latin America? If so, can you recommend a language school in a memorable locale? P.S. We are festive, outdoorsy types. Mike McCready: I think Spanish Spanish as opposed to Latin American Spanish are about as different as British and American English. However the language is the same for the most part. One interesting thing is that in English we hear the difference in accents on the vowels and in Spanish it is on the consonants. In Barcelona there is a great school called ESADE that has some very good intensive courses. You can fide them on the Internet. _______________________ Rochester, NY: We may be traveling to Spain late March or early April. Is there a Mediterranean cruise to one of the nearby islands for 2-3 days that might be reasonable price and yet charming going out of BCN, say the first week of April? Mike McCready: From Barcelona you can take a hovercraft to the Islands and it only takes a few hours and that gives you time to spend on the Islands. Otherwise you can take an overnight boat both there and back which is nice because if you've rented a car you can take it with you. _______________________ US: What's the value of the dollar today versus last year or two years ago? Mike McCready: The dollar has gotten weaker to the Euro over the past couple of years. But Europe is still not "expensive" for Americans... or at least no more than it is famous for. _______________________ Orlando, FL: I used to live in Spain, enjoyed it a lot, but I presently am concerned about security and safety issues regarding everyday life in Spain. Also interested in Barcelona, architecture (mainly Gaudi's), and classical music events. Mike McCready: Please see my previous posts regarding security. Not something to be overly concerned about any more so than in any other major city in the western world. Barcelona and Madrid are very safe cities. Usually there are more murders and violent crime in general in any one major US city each year than in all of Spain combined. _______________________ Long Island, NY: For retirees, when is the best time to visit Spain both weather and budget-wise? Is it vital to be able to speak Spanish? How much would it be to rent a small house with a Mediterranean view for a month? Mike McCready: A small house with a Mediterranean view can cost from between $10,000 and $20,000 per month in the summer. If you want that in the winter (November - March) it can be very significantly less. I think the best time for budget and weather is April and May. _______________________ Sanford, MI: We have enjoyed Barcelona in the past as well as the Marbella/Malaga area of Costa del Sol. We are thinking of spending some time soon in Seville. Any suggestions for things not to miss there? Mike McCready: Seville is a great city. The Cathedral is a must see and where one of the King's daughters was married a few years ago. _______________________ Huntsville, AL: Hi Mike, Last May, I spent a month walking the "El Camino" de Santiago. Had a great time!! Enjoyed speaking my very limited Spanish with the locals. My first day out on the way into Roncevalles from St. Jean Pied de Port, I met a couple of guys who were definitely not fellow peregrinos. It turned out they were hiking the Pyrennees, the GR11 or GR10, I believe. It sounded really fascinating. They were hiking the entire width of northern Spain from east to west. I'm really interested in a true backpacking experience. Is it possible to camp and not use the huts? Can you recommend some guidebooks/maps preferably in English? BTW, how long is this and is resupplying a logistical problem? Thanks. Mike McCready: I don't really know a lot about this but I have friends that do this. I know that resupplying is not a problem at all because there are so many villages along the way. Also, it is possible to camp and not use the huts at the camp sites but you'd need to take your tent or have other shelter plans. Best of luck. Sounds fun!! _______________________ Long Beach, CA.: Mike, my life-long dream has always been to live abroad in Barcelona, Spain. How can I accomplish that goal without having to pay a great amount of money? Do you know of any jobs where I may be able to work or just do voluntary work? I really don't care much about the pay, as long as I have enough to live off of and realize my dream. Mike McCready: There are a lot of opportunities like this. I know someone who just did this. She found a program in Barcelona that teaches native English speakers how to teach English the Spanish. Then the same school tries to place you with companies that send out teachers to companies and private homes. You should probably go with a little bit of money in your saving account because getting established there to a point where you're making enough money to support yourself can take a while. Also, you'll want to look into legalizing your situation with a work and residency permit after a while so it's best to go there and find a different job as quickly as you can. _______________________ Mike McCready: Thanks for joining me here online. I'm sorry I couldn't get to all of your questions but I hope there's been something for everyone in my answers. - Mike _______________________

Transcript: Las Vegas and Orlando

Disney theme parks and Las Vegas are my primary beats as a writer, but I also write about skiing, mountain biking, and river running. Travel, a lifelong passion, is something I've learned a lot about, primarily by doing everything wrong at least once. I would be very pleased if the lessons learned through my goofs and blunders could smooth the bumps of whatever road you travel. Please feel free to ask whatever you want. Bob answered your questions Tuesday, July 13, at noon EST. Bob Sehlinger is the creator and Executive Publisher of the 60-title Unofficial Guide series published by Wiley Publishing Inc. A Lowell Thomas Gold Award winning journalist, Bob Sehlinger is author or co-author of over 20 travel guides and five books on whitewater canoeing and kayaking. His Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and his Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas, along with the Unofficial Guide to Cruises, co-authored with Kay Showker, are each the number one best selling guidebooks on their respective subjects according to Amazon.com. In addition to his travel guide credits, Sehlinger is a contributor to the Dallas Morning News, the Denver Post, Fox Television Network, and Minnesota Public Radio among others. Sehlinger and his Unofficial Guide organization are unique in travel publishing. Instead of publishing guides based on an author's singular tastes and preferences, Sehlinger begins every project with exhaustive research on the specific needs of his intended readers and then develops the guide to expressly address those needs. Sehlinger is also known for exposing the inner workings of the travel industry and for showing readers how to save money, time, and how to avoid hassle by drawing on this insider knowledge. _______________________ Bob Sehlinger: Hi, Bob Sehlinger here, ready to discuss Walt Disney World and Las Vegas. _______________________ Garden City, NY: Dear Bob, I intend to take a group of 30 adults (ages 50 to 70) during a slow convention week in February or March. I thought to book the Flamingo or the Imperial due to location and presumed price. Is either a good choice? Is either run-down, or do you have a better suggestion? I want to arrange for a day trip each day to the usual spots, such as Red Rock, Death Valley, etc. Can you recommend a local tour operator? Also, I am planning 2 nights in Laughlin (including a day trip to Havasu City). Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks for your advice. Bob Sehlinger: I'd go with the Flamingo. The Imperial Palace will still be in the midst of a major renovation. You might also check Barbary Coast and Bally's. Finding a tour operator for day trips depends on what you want to do. The operators specialize in various activities like biking, mountain biking, rafting, hiking, climbing, horse riding, Lake Mead boat tours, auto touring etc. Route 66 Car & Van Rentals will equip to do your own driving tours (702 369-5642) check the Internet for specialized touring companies. We don't cover Laughlin, so I can't be of much help there. _______________________ Los Angeles, CA: Hey Bob. In a couple of months, a couple of my friends and myself will turn the magical age of 21. Naturally, we are planning a trip to Las Vegas to test out our new privileges that come with adulthood. Being college students, with somewhat limited funds, what are your suggestions as to how we can truly experience Las Vegas in our expected 4-day trip. Bob Sehlinger: Stay in the middle of the Strip. Consult travelaxe.com for the best deals on rooms. Visit the major Strip hotels. Spend an evening downtown. Play Blackjack. Take in the view from the Stratosphere tower. Drive out to Red Rock Canyon. _______________________ Olathe, KS: Bob, I would like to know if you have had a chance to see Zumanity in Las Vegas and what your take on that show is. Also, what is the Mirage currently doing now that Sigfried & Roy have gone dark? Thanks. Bob Sehlinger: I loved Zumanity. It's very erotic but sometimes uproariously funny. But you'd better be comfortable with sex in all its myriad forms. _______________________ Harpers Ferry, WV: I've seen a lot of tour for helicopter rides into the Grand Canyon leaving from Las Vegas. With so many tour companies to choose from, how do we pick one that is safe and good? And are you spending most of your time just getting there and getting back? Bob Sehlinger: You do spend a lot of time commuting to the canyon if they go all the way to the really scenic parts. Ask how far they go and what % of the time you'll actually spend at the canyon. All of the chopper tours are heavily regulated, so one's about as safe as another. Equipment is a different story&.ask about windows and visibility. _______________________ Chattanooga, TN: If you don't particularly enjoy gambling, what might be a reason to visit Las Vegas? Sightseeing at Hoover Dam doesn't seem appealing either. Maybe I should just forget Vegas? Am I missing something about this city? Bob Sehlinger: The environment is fun, the sights surreal, and the entertainment exceptional. You could stay a month and never gamble but still have a great time. _______________________ Orlando, FL: Most people coming to Orlando come for the theme park experience - and never venture past International Drive. In fact, most tourists think International Drive is downtown Orlando. What should Orlando do to promote itself beyond the theme-park experience? Bob Sehlinger: This is a question I wish I had all day to discuss. Bottom line, Orlando is a great city with much to offer, but it's an ordeal to get there from the theme park areas. If you want people to come to Orlando, the city and state will have to invest in infrastructure, specifically, develop I-4 so that it's a breeze to drive to Orlando from the theme park areas. _______________________ Calgary, Alberta: Got a great flight deal for 2 to Orlando mid-October. We can't seem to find ANY hotel deals on DisneyWorld Resort for this time period even though it appears to be a SLOW TIME PERIOD. Is October a good month to go? And will there be any luck in finding a great resort hotel at a great price? Bob Sehlinger: October is a great month to go, and you shouldn't have any trouble getting a deal unless there is a large convention at the Orange County Convention Center during the time of your visit. _______________________ Virginia Beach, VA: Hi, Bob, we're a military family (2 adults, 3 kids) traveling to Las Vegas in August on a budget. What's the best way to get from airport to hotel: taxi, bus or limo service? Will a taxi take all five of us, or will we be forced to take two separate taxis? We fly home on a redeye: how do we get the hotel to hold our baggage and is there typically a charge for this service? Can you recommend the best way to snag discount tickets on family oriented shows? Thanks. Bob Sehlinger: Taxi is your best bet, and yes, you might require two. Your hotel bell service will store your luggage until you''e ready to go to the airport. As for shows, try the half price ticket outlets just down the Strip from the MGM Grand. _______________________ La Habra, CA: Since taking a 13-day tour of Egypt and the Nile River, I have constantly thought about becoming a tour guide. I could do a lot better than the 20-year-old girl we had. Anyway, how would I go about getting started in the profession? I have had a career and now am looking to fulfill my dreams of traveling and getting paid for it! Thanks! Bob Sehlinger: Find a touring company near where you live and ask them for an internship. They'll train you and you'll work free or almost free until you're qualified. If they like you, they'll probably offer you a job, or failing that, a referral and a positive reference. _______________________ New York, NY: I am going to be in Florida the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, and am thinking about heading to Orlando for a few days with my 6 and 3-year-old. Are Universal Studios and SeaWorld generally just as crowded as ? Bob Sehlinger: All the theme parks will be in gridlock. _______________________ Cleveland, OH: Is it possible to visit Hoover Dam while in Vegas? Is there any other sites to see close by other than casinos? Bob Sehlinger: Hoover dam is about 45 minutes from the Strip. Also check out Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, Mount Charleston, and Lake Mead. _______________________ Atlanta, GA: What's gay-friendly in Vegas? Thank you. Bob Sehlinger: The whole city is very gay-friendly. _______________________ Las Vegas, NV: I've read quite a bit about the Mirage and how its quality seems to be lowering. I also read about how chaotic the pool area can be...in your experience is that true? Bob Sehlinger: The Mirage is improving, not declining. It's a great property. Their new buffet might be the best in town. Pool can be chaotic, but the same can be said for almost all of the larger Strip hotels. _______________________ Ellisville, MO: We are planning an August trip to . We want to stay on Disney property. Does Disney have last-minute deals, or should we book now? We would like a deluxe such as the Polynesian resort, but the budget is looking like we can afford the moderates. Thanks. Bob Sehlinger: If you're going the last 12 days of August, wait until a week before you go to book. If you're going earlier, book now. _______________________ Orlando, FL: Where is the best place to go skiing, mountain biking, and river running in Orlando? Bob Sehlinger: For river running try the Econlockhatchee on the east side of Orlando off FL 50. For mountain biking the Ocala Mountain Park off I-75 near Belleview, FL offers some of the most scenic singletrack in the SE. Takes about 75-90 minutes to get there from WDW or Orlando. _______________________ Riverside, CA: My husband and I go to Vegas quite regularly. My question is, is it true that the casinos that the locals go to pay the most? Bob Sehlinger: Local casinos offer player friendly rules for Blackjack and provide the type of slot and video poker machines that locals enjoy playing. Slots are programmed to return a certain percentage of money played over the long run. If a casino advertises a slot or video poker machine with 97% payback that means that the house advantage is 3%. It's generally accepted that local casinos have more machines with higher return rates (as a % of the total number of slots in the casino) than Strip casinos, but only the casinos know for sure. For table games other than Blackjack, the odds are the same for almost all casinos. _______________________ Middle Village, NY: I've been to Vegas 4 or 5 times already but always went low budget. When is the best time to travel and stay in one of the nicer hotels without going BUST? Bob Sehlinger: Mid July to mid September, December after the National Finals Rodeo, and January excluding New Years and Super Bowl weekend. Always check for city-wide conventions before choosing your dates. _______________________ Anonymous: Bob, Where is the best Keno game in Las Vegas? Bob Sehlinger: Keno is a sucker game, so you'll bleed dry wherever you play. If you're looking for the lessor evil, try the Silverton. _______________________ Lincoln, RI: We've always heard Las Vegas was cheap, but I've been pricing a 3-day trip from the east cost and there didn't seem to be an bargains? What's the best deal in town? Bob Sehlinger: No casino has the best deal all of the time. You have to shop and play the internet. Having said that, try the Boardwalk and the Aladdin on the Strip and the Orleans, Gold Coast, or Silverton off the Strip. _______________________ Denver, CO: Which showgirl show would you see in Vegas? Foiles Bergere or Jubilee? Bob Sehlinger: Both are excellent, but given the choice I'd go with Jubilee. _______________________ San Antonio, TX: I am a seasoned Disney Fan and have read your guide cover to cover. We are planning our first Christmas trip this year during the most crowded time, the week between Christmas and New Year's. We are going to see the decorations and so that our teenagers can be MK for New Year's. Do you have any advice for getting into the park on Dec. 31? We will be staying at Fort Wilderness. Is it at all feasible to leave the park at noon and come back? Bob Sehlinger: Arrive at the turnstiles 40 minutes before park opening. Yes, it's feasible to leave the park and return later...just make sure you use Disney transpiration when you return. _______________________ Fort Wayne, IN: We are going to Disney World at Christmas, being there on Christmas day. I know it'll be busier than usual. Any suggestions to make the day better, fun and interesting with my family? I have boys, 8 and 13. Thank you for your time. Bob Sehlinger: Not a good day for experiencing attractions. Pretend you're a Type B personality, relax, and go with the flow. Spend your time enjoying all of the special live entertainment. Use FASTPASS for attractions that are important to you. _______________________ Fort Lauderdale, FL: As a novice gambler I enjoy Vegas and I love 3 card poker. Can you enlighten me on money management so I can enjoy the gambling aspect and still manage to keep the casinos from taking all? Bob Sehlinger: Define a stake limit for the trip, a stake limit and time limit for each play period, quit when you're ahead, and don't play when you're tired or sloshed. _______________________ Rocky River, OH: Due to our budget we are staying at the Stardust when we go to Vegas in a few months. How would you rate that hotel? Also how is the casino there? Bob Sehlinger: Rooms are fine, but the tower rooms are nicer than the garden rooms. Expect Holiday Inn quality. _______________________ Blacklick, OH: I am 35 years old, myself and 7 of my college friends meet annually in Vegas for a reunion. Every year we try to do something different in Vegas. We have done the ATV's in the Grand Canyon, golf and popular attractions (shows and, of course, gambling). We are looking for something else to that is out of the "norm". I have researched a bunch of websites, but I keep getting the same information. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks. Bob Sehlinger: Raft or kayak the Black Canyon of the Colorado....see downriveroutfitters.com. Take the Calico Tanks hike at Red Rock Canyon. _______________________ Los Angeles, CA: Las Vegas hotel rooms at a decent resort have gone through the roof. why have things changed? In the past you could get great deals on rooms because the hotels just wanted to get you in to gamble, now it seems all they care about is filling up their $350 a night rooms, what has changed? Bob Sehlinger: Here's what changed: for the first time, some of the larger, newer casinos are generating more revenue from hotel, restaurants, entertainment, etc. than from gambling. In other words they discovered they don't have to give it away. _______________________ London, England: My wife and I will be in Vegas (again) on the 20th to 23rd September 2004, staying at Harrahs. As we MUST go and see the new Fremont Street Experience, can you suggest the best route to downtown, and, more importantly give any advice on parking downtown (I seem to remember it being a problem in '99). Bob Sehlinger: Go north on the Strip, left on Spring Mountain, right onto I-15 (N), and follow the signs to downtown. Park at the Binion's Horseshoe garage. _______________________ Elyria, OH: We're planning a family vacation at Walt Disney World in January or February. I've only been there in August, so I was wondering what the temperatures are like? Bob Sehlinger: February is usually sunny but temperatures are all over the scale. Be prepared for lows in the mid 30s to highs in upper 70s and everything in between. _______________________ Phoenix, AZ: There has been an increasing number of off-Strip hotels that are being highlighted. For short trips to Vegas (a 3-day weekend), do you recommend sticking to the Strip or is it worth venturing off it? Bob Sehlinger: I really like off-Strip hotels. Among my favorites in no particular order are Silverton, Hard Rock, Rio, Palms, Orleans, Gold Coast, Green Valley Ranch Station, and Suncoast. Of course, it doesn't make any sense to stay off-Strip if you plan to spend most of your time on the Strip. _______________________ St. Louis, MO: Being a novice a gambling, where do I find the more generous slots? Is this information published as it is here in Missouri? Bob Sehlinger: It's a closely guarded casino secret in Nevada, so nobody knows for sure. But try the Las Vegas Hilton for dollar slots, the Palms for quarter slots, the Fiesta Ranchero for quarter video poker, and the Las Vegas Hilton for dollar video poker. _______________________ Plano, TX: Hi Bob, My question is about Las Vegas....I myself no nothing about Las Vegas but I've always had it in my mind to purchase a home there, sort of vacation home. With me knowing nothing about Las Vegas and not wanting to live in a lower class or too expensive area, more like white-collar working people, with quiet schools and still being able to drive into Las Vegas for fun with an easy drive, tell me what part of Las Vegas would I purchase? Bob Sehlinger: Green Valley _______________________ Anonymous: Dear Bob, Do you believe I will get a better price on a Las Vegas package looking on the Internet or dealing with a local travel agent? Bob Sehlinger: Shop the internet, find a deal, and then take it to your travel agent and ask her if she can do better. _______________________ Buffalo, NY: Are Fast Passes only available to guests who stay at one of the Disney owned hotels? Bob Sehlinger: FASTPASSes are available to everyone. _______________________ Greensboro, NC: Bob, Love your books! How do you keep all of your information updated for each new version? You must travel a bunch! Bob Sehlinger: Many thanks. To answer your question, we stay at it. We literally work on our annual editions (WDW, Las Vegas, etc.) all year long. _______________________ Charleston, WV: When is the best time to visit Las Vegas? Please take into account both cost and most pleasant time of year for visit. Thank you. Bob Sehlinger: Personally, I like November, March and April. _______________________ Henderson, NV: Is there anywhere in the Vegas area to take kayaking lessons? Bob Sehlinger: I'm not aware of lessons offered, but try www.downriveroutfitters.com _______________________ Anonymous: What are three "must see" things to do in Las Vegas if we're only there for 3 days? Bob Sehlinger: Hard to answer because I don't know your tastes, but I'd recommend the view from the Stratosphere Tower, a hiking, biking, or driving tour of Red Rock Canyon, and catching a performance of Cirque du Soleil's Mystere. _______________________ Bernardsville, NJ: I've heard that the best time to visit the Orlando theme parks (in terms of the smallest crowds and shortest lines) is the last 2 weeks before Labor Day (i.e. before school starts up North.) Do you agree? We're thinking of visiting Aug. 30-Sept. 6. What are the average high and low temperatures at this time? My husband is concerned it will be too hot. And how rainy is it likely to be? Thanks. Bob Sehlinger: That's a good time period for crowds, but not as good as later fall and certain periods in the winter and spring. It will be hot and humid (highs in the 90s) and you can count on scattered thunder storms each day. _______________________ Port Richey, FL: When will Steve Wynn's new hotel/casino open in Las Vegas, & what what will be the theme? Also, does he plan any attraction such as the volcano or water show? Thank you! Bob Sehlinger: Wynn Las Vegas will open in the spring of 2005. Wynn claims there will be no theme but he's building a "mountain" with waterfalls, etc. next to the hotel tower. _______________________ Raleigh, NC: Bob--Going to Las Vegas in two weeks but do not have a room. Where would be the best hotel to stay at for a modest price range i.e. $100-250 per night. Will stay two nights, if that helps. Thanks for your thoughts. Bob Sehlinger: You can get a lot of hotel for that price range in July or August. Check out travelaxe.com, a search program for the best rates at over 70 hotels _______________________ Colton, CA: What is the best (and cheapest) way to get to Disney's All Stars Sport resort from the airport if I will not be renting a car? I will be traveling in early November. Thank you. Bob Sehlinger: If it's only you, take the Mears shuttle. If there are three or more, a cab's you best bet. For two people it's a toss up. _______________________ Jackson, NJ: A few years ago, Vegas was trying to entice families with children to vacation there. Since then they seemed to lay off that advertising. Would Vegas still be a place my family would enjoy this August? If so what resort would you recommend staying at with kids? My children are ages 11 and 14. Bob Sehlinger: The hotels don't want families because the kids generally keep the adults out of the casinos. But LV is still a great family destination. Excalibur and Circus Circus cater to families, but you can stay at any of the hotels whether they prefer families or not. _______________________ Hudson, WI: I love Las Vegas and go there every 3 months, but am now wanting to look for bargains rather than pay full price for everything. Do you know of any websites that offer 2-for-1 or 1/2 price coupons? Thanks much. Bob Sehlinger: Try travelaxe.com _______________________ Youngstown, OH: I'm planning a trip to Walt Disney World in December. What makes the advice in your book better than the advice found on the Internet? I can find free guides to touring the parks at many sites for free. Bob Sehlinger: It's simple, my advice is better because I work for you and only you, and I'm not trying to sell you anything. _______________________ Chicago, IL: We are going to Vegas for a couple days in mid-Sept staying at the Venetian. We were wondering: Which are the "must do" buffets? We heard Bellagio is very nice? For buffet, should we only do lunch and save dinner in a nice restaurant? We love exotic food, what restaurant would you recommend in Vegas? Bob Sehlinger: Mirage, Aladdin, Paris Las Vegas _______________________ Bob Sehlinger: Thanks so much for all of your great questions. I apologize for not being able to answer more of them, but hopefully we'll have another opportunity to hook up. Also, allow me to express my great appreciation for your support of the Unofficial Guides. Happy travels, Bob Sehlinger _______________________

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