Boomeresque:Definition
1. Adj.: Describing a person born between 1 Jan. 1946 and 31 Dec. 1964
2. Adj.: Description of a person, place or thing possessing Baby Boomer je ne sais quoi
3. See also, Boomer, Esq.: A Baby Boomer who is also a licensed attorney (See, e.g., About).

Sisterhood of the World (Travel) Bloggers

by Suzanne Fluhr on August 3, 2015 · 27 comments

sisterhood-of-the-world-bloggersI felt honored to be chosen to participate in the Sisterhood of the World (Travel) Bloggers by Boston based blogger, Alison Abbot. Alison’s blog is Green with Renvy, Travel and Lifestyle in Sustainable Shades of Green, an “enjoyable riff on the concept of renovating your travel and lifestyle in sustainable shades of green”.  I met Alison IRL (in real life) in Barcelona, Spain (or, as the locals would prefer, Catalunya) just prior to the last TBEX travel blogger conference in Lloret del Mar on the Costa Brava. I got to know her over some shared meals complete with cava and sangria. Yes, women of a certain age do sometimes just hang out.

Hmm. I must be somehow attracting Al(y)sons. I was also just nominated by Alyson Long of World Travel Family. Alyson has a mixed marriage. Her husband, “Chef”–because he is, in actual fact, a chef—is Australian and she’s from Wales in the UK. She home-schooled and now world-schools their two sons. They have been traveling the world for two years. I look forward to meeting them all IRL one day. (Their younger son is fond of cute animals and is apparently a fan of our dog, Dino.)

So, the way this works, is that I have to answer the following 10 questions posed by Alison Abbot, since she contacted me first. Then, I nominate 10 other women travel bloggers and ask them to answer my questions, at which point, they are supposed to do the same. Presumably, at some point, all the women travel bloggers in the world will already have been tapped and I’m not sure what happens then. I guess we could start including men travel bloggers, but then we’d have to change the name—-or not. 😉

Here’s what Alison wanted to know:

  • If you could sit next to anyone (dead or alive) on a one hour flight, who would it be and why?
Hmm. On second thought, he's looking a little chubby. Maybe I'd rather sit next to him on a park bench than on a plane.

Hmm. On second thought, he’s looking a little chubby. Maybe I’d rather sit next to him on a park bench than on a plane.

Benjamin Franklin. He was well traveled and interested in just about everything. He also had a reputation for being charming. I’d also love to get his take on what the Founders really intended and envisioned and hoped for when writing the United States Constitution.

  • What is one destination you would like to get to and why will you probably never get there?

Antarctica. I’ll probably never get there because my husband doesn’t share this particular choice of a place to visit and it’s really far. Also, I get seasick and the Drake Passage is notorious for its storms and rough water. Still, if any company wants to send me there, I’ll take meds and suck it up. 🙂

  • Do you incorporate any eco-friendly travel practices into your trips that you could share with your readers? (recycling, carbon off-set, hiring or eating local, hotel practices etc.)

I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t, but I’m always happy to see any eco-friendly practices being employed by hotels where I stay and I enjoy locally sourced food, but honestly, that’s because it usually tastes better and is more authentic.

  • Tell us about your carry on-what is always in it? 

Electronics (lap top for writing, tablet for reading). Meds (because I’m old). Hairbrush. Blow up pillow, pashmina and snacks for long flights.

  • What is unique about your travel blog?

The tag line for Boomeresque is: “Baby Boomer Travels for the Body and Mind”. This lets me write about travel, not only in the physical sense of getting to and being somewhere else, but also to share reviews of books, movies, Zentangle (my latest passion), and anything else that is a flight of fancy or comes to mind.

  • Do you have a guilty pleasure when you travel?

Nothing too weird, IMHO just eating more dessert and drinking more wine than I would at home.

  • What is your favorite travel book?

Last week I probably would have said, Incidents of Travel in Yucatan, by John Lloyd Stephens, published in 1843. I first read it before a college trip to the Yucatan and then I reread it during and afterwards. It gave me goosebumps to imagine how the various archaeological sites looked when Stephens road through the area with his illustrator, Catherwood. I’m now reading The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton which I’m savoring. De Botton’s observations about travel really resonate for me and it’s beautifully written. So far, my favorite line is, “Journeys are midwives for thoughts”. For me, travel is definitely stimulating for my mind. Then, of course, there’s Bill Bryson’s travel books. I read my first one in a B & B in Oxford, England in bed at midnight when I couldn’t sleep. Mr. Excitement let me know that he didn’t appreciate me laughing out loud in the middle of the night when he was trying to stay sleeping next to me, but I honestly couldn’t help myself.  [You were asking for one book? Oh well.]

  • Favorite city and what do you like to eat there? Could you give us a photo?  
"Philadelphia: The City that Loves You Back"--unless you're wearing a Dallas Cowboys jersey. (Photo: Sonja Lishchynski)

“Philadelphia: The City that Loves You Back”–unless you’re wearing a Dallas Cowboys jersey. (Photo: Sonja Lishchynski)

This is a tough one. I like different cities for different reasons, so I’m going to punt and say my hometown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the USA. The central core of the city is eminently walkable. It has the most historic square mile in the United States. There are places within in the city where you can feel like you’re communing with nature. It has a world class arts and music. I confess that I don’t find the quintessential Philly cuisine particularly inviting (cheesesteaks and soft pretzels), but Philadelphia was one of the first cities in the US to undergo a restaurant renaissance, so there are plenty of great choices. Further, because of Pennsylvania’s odd liquor control laws (the state has a monopoly on the sale of wine and spirits), many restaurants are BYOB. (If you ever visit Philly, check out my review of a great guide book to the historic, colonial core.)

  • What is the first thing you do when you arrive in a new destination?

If we’ve traveled all night and arrive in the morning, we usually take at least a brief nap and a shower. Then, if we’re visiting a city for the first time, we like to take a hop on, hop off tour bus to get an overview of the main attractions and the lay of the land. We usually hop off somewhere we want to visit that is the farthest away from where we’re staying because for the rest of our visit, we’ll use public transportation or walk.

  • Do you collect any particular item or souvenir when you travel?

1623390_789796937770218_2926184981162110749_nWe used to like to bring home an object d’art from places we visited, but ever since downsizing from a house to an apartment five years ago, we try to restrict ourselves to refrigerator magnets. This usually gets a raised eyebrow from the immigration officer when I itemize them on my customs declaration.

 

 

 

[Drumroll] My nominees for the Sisterhood of World (Travel) Bloggers are as follows:

Sonya Lischchynski of Montecristo Travels                  Larissa Milne of Changes in Longitude

Kristin Henning of Travel Past 50                                  Patti Maghamfar of One Road at a Time

Billie Frank of Santa Fe Travelers                                    Anita Breland of Anita’s Feast

Elaine Masters of Trip Wellness                                       Kristin Addis of Be My Travel Muse

Kay Dougherty of Blonde Brunette Travel                      Jo Karnaghan of Frugal First Class Travel

These are my questions:

  1. Did you do any traveling with your family when you were a child? If so, what trip made the biggest impression on you?
  2. What was the fist trip you made without your family?
  3.  Do you have a preference for independent travel or escorted travel? 
  4. Are you very proficient in another language(s)? If so, how did you acquire your proficiency?
  5. Is there a particular country or continent that is your favorite in which to travel? If so, why?
  6. Do you have a home base or are you “location independent”? Is there a reason(s) why you are one or the other?
  7. Do you still have a day job other than travel blogging? If so, what? If not, what was the last “day job” you had? Do you support yourself by blogging? (Feel free to ignore or to respond “MYOB” to any or all of these questions.)
  8. Do you use social media in addition to your blog? To what extent do you use social media? Do you have a favorite form of social media?
  9. Do you have a favorite mode of travel—i.e. train, plane, boat, biking, walking?
  10. Where are you off to next?

[I don’t think know if anything bad happens to you if you decline to participate—-you know, like ten years of bad luck. If you’ve already been nominated by someone else or you’re just too too lazy busy, feel free to pass along this nomination to another worthy woman travel blogger.]

So, who did you pick?

{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }

Jacqueline Gum August 4, 2015 at 5:49 am

I love that of all the places you’ve been in the world, that you choose your home town as a favorite destination! That says a lot of things about you Suzanne, and all of them good:) And what a jazzy refirgerator:)

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Mike August 4, 2015 at 1:51 pm

Hi Suzanne, terrific post! I love reading Q & A posts like this (when I actually find a minute to read posts ha, ha). I will tell you my one hour visit offline. I haven’t been to nearly all the cities you’ve been to but my pick would be Seattle for the seafood. And I’m with you on Antartica! Have a great day 🙂

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alison abbott August 4, 2015 at 5:13 pm

So great to scratch below the surface a little more Suzanne. I love your seat mate-good choice, could you imagine being able to ask him historical question? Thanks for joining in the Sisterhood!

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Elaine J. Masters August 4, 2015 at 9:13 pm

Dear Suzanne, What a sweet honor and such great company. Thank you. I’ll follow through asap!

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Doreen Pendgracs August 5, 2015 at 4:24 pm

Hi Suzanne, and congrats! I was named to the Sisterhood last month and it’s definitely a fun and growing group!

I loved reading your answers and getting to know more about you. I do hope to get to Philly sometime soon, and hopefully, will hook up with you!

Cheers and happy travels.

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Suzanne Fluhr August 5, 2015 at 5:54 pm

Doreen, by all means let me know if you’re heading to Philly. I can’t promise Waikiki ocean views, but there is the Reading Terminal Market. 😉

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Donna Janke August 5, 2015 at 6:38 pm

It’s great to learn a bit more about you through your answers. I’ve already learned more about your favourite city from reading your blog and hope to visit Philadelphia some day. I like the collection of fridge magnets. Holding up some Zentangle I see.

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Suzanne Fluhr August 5, 2015 at 9:04 pm

Very good eye. There are some Zentangles up there too. 🙂

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Anita @ No Particular Place To Go August 5, 2015 at 10:34 pm

Congratulations with the inclusion into the Sisterhood of World (Travel) Bloggers – Looks like you are in fine company! It was fun to read your answers and get a little more insight into the woman behind the blog. I loved your choice of randy old Benjamin Franklin – he would have been a fascinating and entertaining seatmate!

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Karen Warren August 6, 2015 at 3:42 am

It’s always interesting to read about other travel bloggers. I would have given exactly the same answer to the question about a destination you want to go to but probably never will!

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Rachel Heller August 6, 2015 at 7:07 am

I got nominated for this “Sisterhood of World Bloggers” too! I know it’s just bloggers nominating bloggers, but I felt really good to be asked! And it feels really good to be in a club where you’re a member too!

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Suzanne Fluhr August 6, 2015 at 2:57 pm

Rachel, I admit that my first reaction when I was nominated was — oh dear, but then I got into it. FYI, I didn’t nominate some of you whom I respect greatly because I thought your reaction would be !#/%÷$^_=.

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Sue Reddel August 6, 2015 at 9:33 am

Congrats Suzanne! Since I’m a bit new to the travel writing world I had never heard of it before. Loved reading your answers – like you I’d love to visit Antarctica but I’m not sure if that one will ever happen. Good choice switching over to refrigerator magnets much easier to transport. I once had a lengthy conversation with a Canadian border patrol office about travel magnets. Great conversation starter!

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Suzanne Fluhr August 6, 2015 at 2:58 pm

A US immigration officer said something like, ” Refrigerator magnets? Really?”

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Irene S. Levine August 6, 2015 at 10:26 am

So great to get to know you better, both by reading your responses and following Boomeresque!

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Carole Terwilliger Meyers August 6, 2015 at 4:52 pm

Your replies to the questionnaire were a fun read.

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Michele Peterson ( A Taste for Travel) August 7, 2015 at 7:26 am

Great fun! I loved your choices of books. I too was inspired by Incidents of Travel in Yucatan, by Stephens and Catherwood. It was especially interesting to trace their travel route through Guatemala by mule train and hear how challenging the conditions were prior to the paved roads being constructed. What adventurers they were. And Bryson just cracks me up!

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A Cook Not Mad (Nat) August 7, 2015 at 2:08 pm

Great answers, it’s always nice to learn a bit about fellow travel bloggers. Happy trails.

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Jo August 8, 2015 at 8:13 pm

thanks so much for the nomination and for being included in such a great group of inspiring women!

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Roz Warren August 9, 2015 at 2:26 pm

I think the most unique thing about your travel blog is that it’s also about Zentangle. Unless there are lots of other travel blogs out there that are also about Zentangle. (Since yours is the only travel blog I read, I wouldn’t know. Maybe ALL travel blogs are also about Zentangle?)

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Suzanne Fluhr August 13, 2015 at 6:08 pm

Ha! Jeremy (the digital nomad travel blogger kid) is urging me to separate my zentangle and travel blogs. I have no idea what to do. PS; Thanks for the Huff Po lead. They invited me to start a blog on there. Given their generous (air quotes) pay scale ;-), it’s a good thing they allow previously published work.

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1010ParkPlace August 10, 2015 at 9:13 pm

I just read your funny “You know you’re a boomer if…” and then proceeds to prove one of your points: I accidentally deleted your comment from my blog and can’t retrieve it. LOL! My answer’s still there. Just wanted you to know it was my bad/my dumb is more like it, and nothing you said.
Brenda

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Lyn (aka) The Travelling Lindfields August 16, 2015 at 5:07 am

Your explanation of why you will never go to Antarctica could have been written by me – reluctant husband and chronic sea-sickness. What about we leave the guys at home and go together – lol.

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Montecristo Travels (Sonja) August 22, 2015 at 3:11 pm

Oh wow … thank you for the nomination! Guess I will have to get on that! And I enjoyed seeing that photo of Montecrito again. Such a fun shot! Your answered were a fun read!

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Debbie D. August 27, 2015 at 9:20 am

Q & A posts are always such fun to read! Antarctica would be terribly rugged, not to mention cold. I’m with your hubby on that one, Suzanne. 🙂 Back in the 80s, we passed through Philadelphia on the way to Atlantic City. Thanks to a wrong turn, we saw more of the city than intended and enjoyed the tour. I’d love to go back one day and can understand why you chose your hometown as your favourite location. There’s no place like home! 🙂 Fridge magnets are my favourite souvenirs as well, along with art and knick-knacks, but we have no space left. Doesn’t mean we’ll stop travelling. Zentangle art is beautiful! Someone else I know does it too. Her website is alphabetsalad.com if you’re interested.
Happy trails!

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nan @ lbddiaries September 4, 2015 at 7:20 pm

Nice to learn a little bit more about you! I love soft pretzels and cheesesteaks but… not unless I’m exercising like crazy (smile)! Someday I’ll visit PA again.

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