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Show Volume II, Issue XIX THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 7 October 1, 2000 An Addicted Traveler? By Jane Olson, Adventure Travel Either you’re a traveler or you are not. And if you are a traveler, there are those moments in life when you finally understand why you are addicted to traveling. For future addicts, the perfect moment will be a view—-a scene unspoiled by human activity, or one buzzing with mysterious life. For some, it will be a meal—either delicious enough to be an art form or so disgusting that you want to find out how other people could possibly love it. For some, it will be an unexpected conversation with a person who offers an insight into another culture. Or, the traveling experience may be so alarming that you’ll need years to appreciate it. Here are five of my personal favorite places that have contributed to my addiction to traveling: Machu Picchu, Peru. Hidden by jungle, Machu Picchu was never discovered by the Spanish, and so it did not suffer the same destructive fate as other Inca sites. American Hiram Bingham came across the ruins in 1911 while searching for the fabled “Lost City of the Incas.” The mist-shrouded citadel continues to fascinate historians who debate when it was built—-and why it was abandoned in the late 15th century. You can get there by walking the 25-mile Inca Trail along the mountaintops, or by taking the more popular train in from Cuzco, with a gutwrenching 25-minute bus ride to the top. The controversy now is that Peruvian officials are promoting an $8 million cable car project that will whisk travelers from the bottom to the 8,000-foot sanctuary in six minutes. New York City. While some may disagree, I think the most surprising thing about New York is how beautiful the place is. There are spectacular views all over New York—Manhattan from a Staten Island Ferry, the lawn and trees of Central Park through a massive window at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the panorama from the rooftop of the World Trade Center. While crime was a credible fear a decade ago, you can now ride the subway, walk around most parts of the city or visit Times Square and Harlem with little trepidation. While their manner of conversing is somewhat brusque, you can even talk to New Yorkers and get a polite response. A favorite memory of mine is an early morning stroll through the side streets near Broadway with a stop at a small, French bakery. Those warm, flaky croissants still make my mouth water when I remember back. Santorini at sunset. This Greek island and its main village sit high on steep cliffs (formed by an ancient volcanic eruption that blew out the heart of the island). You can explore the ruins of an ancient castle or just enjoy the whitewashed beauty of the island. Show time, however, is at sunset when you can sip a cool drink while overlooking the sea or take the donkey ride down the mountainside to your cruise ship. However, next time I’ll skip that ride as the “smell” interfered with the visual senses! Costa Rica. A few years ago I spent a month in Costa Rica studying Spanish. The whole country impressed me with its peaceful, friendly people (no such thing as an “army” here), tropical scenery and great adventure activities. Unfortunately, there was a recent, much-publicized murder of an American there, but we all know that can happen in all countries of the world. Up north, there’s a spectacular night view of the active Arenal Volcano as you sit safely on your hotel’s terrace watching the glowing lava flow. Nothing surpasses the beauty of Tabacon, a naturally structured water park at the base of Arenal, where you can relax with alternating dips in both cold and steaming hot water—and no “sulfur” smell. China. You’ll definitely want to spend a few days in Beijing, with its Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Summer Palace. The old and the new blend side by side with bicycles and limousines sharing the wide boulevards. The new, spectacular skyscrap- ers have their own exterior cleaning crews who mop and buff the granite courts and sidewalks. A trip to Xian is a plus, for there you can find the army of Terracotta Warriors still being unearthed, and witness evidence of the cruel emperors and rulers of the past. It’s no wonder the Chinese are pleased with their new semi-socialistic lifestyle when you consider the autocratic demagogues of even the recent past. If you can go within the next two years, you’ll be able to cruise the Three Gorges on China’s Yangtze River. Completion of the world’s largest dam will soon flood the misty, craggy landscapes of the Gorges. The dam will submerge many of the classic art scenes we recognize of the gorges, along with 1,500 towns and villages. Well, there’s a few of my favorites. If you’d like to share your favorite destinations, e-mail me at adtravel@webpipe.net and I’ll include them in a future article. Until then, keep feeding that travel addiction! ADVENTURE TRAVEL Full Service Travel Agency Specialist in Hawaii, Mexico, Disney, Cruises, Golf Packages. Open daily, weekends & evenings. Call Jane Olson 745-2807 ACTIVE REPRESENTATION IS .......... —— Serving our Community ——— Grant Protzman has always been a contributor to our area whether holding public office or not. Here are a few of many examples. In addition to wide ranging service in his church, Grant’s experience on the Advisory Board for the Utah Center for families in Education, the N. Ogden Elementary School Community Council, as Chair of the Inner Ogden City Boy Scout Mountain View District and Chair of the Foster Care Citizen Review Board have given him insight into the broad range of needs experienced by our families and children. Service as Chair of the Western States Recycling Coalition increased his awareness of growth problems and their possible solutions. Membership on the Northern Utah Corrections Advisory Board has provided unique vision into Public Safety. Contributions as President of the Mount Ogden Rotary Club and Vice Chair of the Weber Morgan Private Industry Council have given him understanding of Business needs and their ability to help our community. Membership on the Hospice of Northern Utah Board of Directors and the Board of Directors of Avitar Corporation has provided knowledge of Senior Citizen, Handicapped citizens and general health care needs. Membership on the State of Utah Tax Review Commission helped Grant realize how our tax structure unfairly impacts the middle income citizen. |