by David McGuffin | Jul 4, 2005 | Adventures in Tour Guiding, Destinations
This morning I woke to another day in Paris. I’ve been here for five days leading a tour. The neighborhood where we are staying is peaceful…a little community in itself.
I started the day as usual. Up and out of bed by seven-thirty and out for a day of touring by nine. I did turn on the TV this morning, but all the news was about London winning the Olympic bid and Paris being in mourning. The media can sure put a lot of “hype” and their own spin into a story.
Walking the streets of my hotel neighborhood I heard not a word about Paris losing the bid for the Olympics. Most people were concerned about the light drizzle and the chilly July weather. The lady behind the counter at the pastry shop still greeted me with a cherry “bonjour” and had my favorite crème-filled pastry ready to go.
We walked from our hotel to Les Invalides and Napoleon’s Tomb where we spent a couple of hours visiting the church and tomb and touring the WWII museum. Afterwards we walked around the corner and visited the Rodin Museum.
While having lunch in the garden cafe I got a call on my cell phone from my wife. Her first words were “don’t ride any subways or buses.” Being “out of touch” with the US news media, I had no clue what she was talking about. Soon I learned of the bombings in London and the chaos it had caused earlier in the morning. Needless to say, this caused us some concern. We sat and pondered the terrorist act while finishing our lunch. It was odd, not a soul had mentioned the Olympics or the bombing in London during the three hours we had been sightseeing.
Soon we hopped on the Metro and went to the Champs Elysees for a little more sightseeing. I even popped into the Marriott Hotel to see if they had a television broadcasting the news from London. To my surprise there was not one in sight. Everyone seemed to be going about their normal duties. Later we did see a few more police than normal in the Metro.
City workers were busy putting up the “tri-colors” French flags on every light post up and down the Champs Elysees. Just yesterday there had been Paris 2012 banners hanging in the same places. But now, Bastille Day was approaching and French patriotism was over shadowing all the other news.
I guess my point is this…often we are shocked by events in the world. Hurricanes in Florida, a tsunami in India, mud-slides in California, G8 riots in Scotland, and now, the London bombings. The media focuses on these event making it seem that everyone in the area is affected by the event. But in reality the events usually only affect a small area.
This is true with today’s events too. Yes the London bombings were terrible and my thoughts and prayers go out to those who were killed or injured. I pray that those responsible will be apprehended and dealt with. But we cannot stop living, that is what the terrorist want…to scare us into cowering and become hermits.
Tomorrow I’ll visit Versailles just as planned. I’ll not think much about terrorism. Then on Saturday I’ll fly to the good old USA…home of ice-cold drinks, patriotism, slanted newscasts, huge food portions, the US Dollar, cheap gas (compared to the $8 per gallon in Europe), and, most importantly, to my wife, family and home sweet home!
Traveling is good. It gives a new and fresh perspective on life and the culture and society of others. Viva La France, hip-hip-hooray from the Union Jack, but there is no place like home.
I am happy, safe, and loving the French,
-David
by David McGuffin | Sep 16, 2004 | Culture & Customs, Destinations
Susan and David – Keg Party
by Susan McInarnay
Most of my adult life I have dreamed of the day that I would travel to the country of my ancestry. It had been a lifelong dream of my father’s that unfortunately died with him. Having the opportunity to travel to Ireland with my sister Debby was truly like a dream come true. The country itself is some of the most beautiful that I have ever seen. From the “40 shades of green” to the Cliffs of Moher it is no wonder that all Irishmen that leave long to return to this place. We learned a lot about the history of this proud notion. We have a better understanding of the fortitude, sometimes called stubbornness, of our father and of ourselves. It can be traced to our Irish roots. The respect and love of the land is also a trait that lies within our heritage.
We had a lot of good “craic” (fun) while we were In Ireland. We ate potatoes at almost every meal. There was a song to be sung in the pub almost every night. The memories we made will be treasured for the rest of our lives. The trip was more than just a sightseeing tour for the “McInerney” girls. It was a voyage back to the place where our family began. A place where the people are proud to be Irish and truly mean it when they greet you with, “Cead Mile Fallte” a hundred thousand welcomes.
I feel fortunate that I had the opportunity to visit this wonderful country that has fought long and hard for independence. I feel a certain amount of sadness for all that these people have endured. Yet had it not been for the plight of my ancestors I may not have been born in a country where we take our freedom for granted and don’t truly appreciate all that we are blessed with each and every day. I am thankful for that freedom and for the courage that my greatgrandparents exhibited so many years ago when they decided to make a new life in America and leave their beloved Ireland. I have returned to pay homage to them and their sacrifice.
Susan is a personal friend who has “trusted” me to take her on tours for many years. Her reflections on a recent trip to Ireland are moving and show how travel can affect one’s life. Irish Memories. – David
by David McGuffin | Aug 16, 2004 | Culture & Customs, Destinations
Umbria lies in the shadow of Tuscany and Latium, its regional neighbors. In fact the closely associated Italian word ombra literally means “shadow.” For me, this region certainly is overshadowed by Tuscany, its well known neighbor to the north. For most Americans when Italy comes to mind it is associated with the enchanting wonders of Rome, Florence, and Venice. Often it’s here our mental images are entertained by Lucy Ricardo frantically stomping the grapes, Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck dashing about the streets of Rome, and Mel Gibson as the famed Roman Gladiator.
Italy is a great tourist destination. On any visit you are sure to find a rich history and tradition laced with a bit of local color. In my travels I first try to enjoy the big tourist areas, then wander a bit in search of the local color and character. This is how I first discovered the region known as Umbria.
Umbria is famous for its unique cuisine. Far from the heavy spaghetti and alfredo sauces we’ve come to think of as “Italian,” Umbrian cooking is light and tasty. Recipes often contain fruit, locally cured ham, mushrooms, veal, and light pastas. Many times the main courses are laced with truffles.
The truffle, a warty mushroom-like tuber with a powerful flavor, is used in gourmet recipes the world over. Truffles are a delicacy and bring lots of money to the well informed truffle hunter. However, finding them is not an easy task as they grow underground and out of sight. The “truffle hunter” is usually aided by a little dog that can smell the truffle’s scent and will lead its master to the treasure. Once the little dog finds a “bed” of truffles, it begins to paw and dig at the ground. The hunter then takes over, giving the dog a pat on the head and a nice little meaty treat for its efforts.
The truffle hunter eventually reaps the reward from his harvest of the truffles, but it is the little dog who does the dirty work, scratching around the surface finding the treasure below. In some ways I am just like the truffle hunter and his dog. I have a passion for travel. I love to explore, scratch around, visit the forgotten, and dig up treasured destinations. My “reward” is the chance to share these with those who travel with me.
by David McGuffin | Jul 14, 2002 | Adventures in Tour Guiding, David's Journal, Destinations
It’s Sunday afternoon and I’m in the hills of southern Wales. I’ve taken a break from my tour group. This morning I attended a local Baptist church in Carmarthen and heard a sermon presented by the pastor and children of the church. The sermon topic was Jesus’ compassion. The lesson was presented as a set of readings and dramatic sketches.
While traveling in Europe I think it is important to immerse yourself into the local culture. Attending a church service puts you at the heartbeat of the community. Here you find real people, assembling for a common goal. Try it!
After lunch at the college cafeteria I visited the laundr-o-mat to give my clothes a well deserved treat of a machine wash and dry. (Those of you who have traveled know the chore of continuous hand washing in the hotel sink). It took about an hour to do my wash, then I was on the road heading back to my hotel. I missed my turning off spot in the round-a-bout and decided to take an alternate route. I had planned on going down the road a bit, finding a place to turn around, go back to the round-a-bout and return to my room, but the road quickly took me out of town and before I knew it I was in the countryside.
Today, being headed in the wrong direction wasn’t a bad thing. I had nothing to do and all afternoon free. I had my Ordinance Survey map of the area, backpack loaded with just purchased snacks, and plenty of petrol in the van. So off I went to find what lie in the distance hills.
Picture the blue haze of the Smoky Mountains in east Tennessee. Endless hill upon hill blanketed in a violet blue haze. This reminds me of the gently sloping mountains in the distance. In the near distance is the yellowish-green hue of rolling pasture offset every half-mile or so by the dark evergreen trees and hedgerows. Dotting these pastures are the white specks of sheep grazing contently. As the view draws near me more detail appears.
The pastures turns into roughly scattered patches of grass interspersed with large green weeds somewhat resembling bullrushes which grow in our marsh land in Florida. Scattered about are large pieces of sheep’s wool which have either fallen off the animals, or are the remains scattered to the four corners from the clipping area half a mile down the road.
This is a remote and far away land from London which I fly into just two days ago. Getting away from the crowd and experiencing a little time alone in the mountains is a great way to recharge your tourist batteries. No matter where you travel there is always places like the hills of Wales in which to seek refuge.
Be an explorer, venture out and find new places!
by David McGuffin | Jul 13, 2002 | David's Journal, Destinations
After spending ten weeks in Europe this summer my journal is full of stories about great travel destinations. Most recently, I’ve returned from England, Wales and Ireland and this month I’d like to share my experiences with you.
Last week I had a two hour flight from Spain to England. What a contrast! Although Spain is beautiful, its’ landscape is pretty well fried by mid-July. I left Madrid’s 100 degree heat for the United Kingdom’s moist, crisp, and fresh air.
During the two hour flight the aircraft’s cabin had been filled with the pure unfiltered sunlight that only an altitude of 35,000 feet can bring. As we descended into the UK the clouds were low and dense and I could not see our approach. Finally we broke through the gray misty clouds and there below was the beautiful landscape of southern England. A patchwork quilt of every shade of green lay below. Each patch was a pasture, field, or crop. The colors varied from rich evergreen to the pale green of an un-ripened tomato. Dividing each of these patches were hedgerows of blue-green uncut forest. Now take this complete patchwork quilt and drape it over a rolling countryside, scatter around some stone walls and small houses and you’ve got my impression of England.
by David McGuffin | Jun 24, 2002 | David's Journal, Destinations, Experiencing Europe
Last summer, I had the opportunity to travel alone in Europe for about two weeks. Traveling alone has many advantages: I was able to make all the decisions, my decisions only affected me, I had no schedule or agenda, I was free to roam wherever I wanted to in all of Western Europe. The drawback is that I had no one I knew, with which to share my travel experiences. I made the most of my time while driving in Europe and was able to cover a lot more ground than had I been with a group. I hope you enjoy this tale.
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My first thought was, “This is odd.”
Normally I would not have thought much of it, but I was in Tuscany, the land of olive oil and vino! I was traveling the back roads from Rome to Assisi on a Sunday morning and was determined to keep off the autostrada! My macchina (car) and I were one as we zipped through towns, hills, and valleys. I had rented a Renault in Paris three weeks ago, so we were pretty well acquainted.
The morning was turning into afternoon as I zipped through a small village, I noticed the local church was letting out, and the town center was filling with people rushing home to Sunday dinner. Throughout the morning, I had passed through many of these look-a-like towns which seemed to pop up every 20 kilometers or so.
The hills of Tuscany are deceiving. From a distance they appear to be rolling gently. Wide valleys are filled with alternating fields of amber grain and rich green pastures. The vineyards take over as the valley blends into the hillside. A little higher on the hills the vineyards are replaced with the silvery patina of the olive trees.
Throughout Tuscany, this pattern is repeated time and time again, arranged according to which crop will grow best at an elevation. Once you climb a hill and venture beyond the soil which will produce a crop, the hillside begins to fill with an assortment of weeds, bushes, and conifers. From a distance this adds a rich green cap to the hilltops. In the valleys the farms are each accompanied by a villa. Each villa is guarded by dual rows of very tall cedar trees leading up the driveway. The villas are constructed of golden sandstone with rich red terra cotta tile roofs, which complements the color palette of the landscape.
Just up the hill from the village, I came upon two girls standing in the shade of a tree. Their rich coffee-colored skin stood out beautifully against the brightly colored (and tightly fitting) clothing they were wearing. What were these women, so obviously out of place, doing here in the middle of nowhere?
I put it out of my mind as I continued on my journey through the hills. The next village came into view, situated far below in the valley. In a matter of minutes I was in the village center, passing the local church and heading out of town. Then, it happened again!
There standing in the shade of an old cedar, puffing patiently on a cigarette, was another one of these finely-dressed, dark-skinned women. Now this really began to catch my attention! What was going on here?
I found out about five kilometers up ahead when I encountered a whole slew of these women up and down the road as I approached the next village. These women were HOOKERS! They had migrated from Northern Africa to Tuscany where, for a fee, they will provide “entertainment” for the men-folk, presumably while the rest of the family goes to Mass or takes a Sunday afternoon siesta!
I know what you’re thinking…so I’d better get out of this while I can. Later in the day, while visiting a bar I bought a bottle of wine and shared it with a local gentleman. As he and I solved the problems of “politics and religion” he confirmed my suspicions. He said, “There are many young men, known as momma’s boys, that sneak off on a Sunday afternoon to visit the ladies on the outskirts of town.” Everyone knows it, and it is expected of the young and virile Italian boys. There is no problem!
Of course that’s a man’s viewpoint! However, it just goes to show that getting off-the-beaten-path can open your eyes to a lot more of local life than what is expected.
Travel is more than seeing the sights. Get out and explore!
This morning I woke to another day in Paris. I’ve been here for five days leading a tour. The neighborhood where we are staying is peaceful…a little community in itself. 
