Travel - Lili on the Loose

20 10, 2016

Death on the Nile: The Ghost Ships of Egypt

By Lili|October 20th, 2016|Categories: Travel, Travel Memories|Tags: 2015, Africa, Aswan, Cruise, cruise ship, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, G Adventures, ghost, Ghost Ship, Google Earth, Google Maps, Luxor, Middle East, Nile, Nile Cruise, Travel Thursday|0 Comments

Ghost Ships at Luxor Temple Preparing for my trip to Egypt, I read many blogs. One of the unique articles I read was "Egypt's Modern Day Ruins: The Nile River Cruises of Yesteryear" from Roaming Around the World. It was fascinating to read about the fact that tourism has dropped so much in Egypt that out of over 350 Nile Cruise Ships that use to be working less than 15 are still in use. I marveled at the photos of the dilapidated Ghost Ships, decaying in the desert heat. Rows of mothballed ships. Source And I wondered

17 10, 2016

Museum Monday: Egyptian Antinous

By Lili|October 17th, 2016|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: 2005, Alexandria, All in the family 2005/2006, All in the family Italy 2005/2006, Antinous, Egypt, Europe, Hadrian, Italy, Middle East, Osiris, Roman Emperor, Rome, statue, The Vatican, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Vatican City, Vatican Museum|0 Comments

Antinous was a lover of the Roman Emperor Hadrian who drowned in Alexandria in October 130 AD. After his death Hadrian commemorated him with many different statues and elevated Antinous to an almost god-like hero/deity. This version shows Antinous as Osiris, an Egyptian god who came back from death after his body was scattered in the Nile. This is actually a remarkable Roman take of the typical Egyptian statue pose of royalty, with one foot forward. It is on display at the Vatican Museum. Museum Monday is an every other week series about museum news, objects, and reviews.

15 10, 2016

Souvenir Saturday: Japanese Wooden Dolls

By Lili|October 15th, 2016|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2004, Asia, doll, Japan, japanese wooden doll, Kokeshi, Sister Cities Japan 2004, Tokyo, wood doll, wooden doll|0 Comments

A common souvenir from Japan is the Japanese Wooden Doll, or Kokeshi. There are two types, the traditional kokeshi, which is made in two parts and all details are usually painted on. Or the Creative Kokeshi which may have other elements. This Kokeshi below I got in Tokyo and is a Creative Kokeshi. I picked it out as its wearing a kimono with a sakura blossom design. Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

14 10, 2016

Skull Dancers at Playa del Carmen

By Lili|October 14th, 2016|Categories: Art, Photography, Travel|Tags: 2013, Central America, Dia De Los Muertos, Latin America, Mayan Encounter 2013, Mexico, Photo Friday, Playa Del Carmen, Skull|0 Comments

A trio of Dia De Los Muertos dancers outside a shop in Playa del Carmen. Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.

11 10, 2016

Local Haunts: Banjo Billy’s Ghost Bus

By Lili|October 11th, 2016|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Local, Travel|Tags: Banjo Billy, Boulder, bus, Bus Tour, Colorado, comedy, crime, Denver, Ghost Tour, stories, tour|0 Comments

Source: Vince Darcangelo Another one of my Halloween traditions is to take Banjo Billy's Ghost Tour in Boulder. This is all about the experience. The bus is made of wood, and inside are an eclectic mix of seats. (While the saw-horse is a novelty, it is not comfy enough to sit in on the entire ride.) The decor is also very mixed with christmas lights, buttons, tassels, disco balls, and other kitschy decorations hot glued here and there. The horn has a mixture of sounds from a cat-call like whistle to the sound of a barking dog.

10 10, 2016

Travel Missteps: Trapped in Prayer

By Lili|October 10th, 2016|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: 2015, Africa, Cairo, Call to Prayer, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, Egypt Explorer, G Adventures, Gadventures, GAP, Islamic Cairo, Khan el Khalili, Lamp, market, Middle East, Muslim, prayer, Souq, Star Lamp, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site|0 Comments

I only had a few minutes before my group was going to leave. And I really really wanted a star lamp. I mean really, being in a Middle Eastern Souq/Market just screams buying a lamp. So I was determined to get one during my visit to Khan el Khalili, the large market in the heart of Islamic Cairo. But, all the other shops had lamps that were much too big. And I knew I was going to have to carry on whatever I bought. So right as I was about to leave, when I spied the perfect smallish star lamp

7 10, 2016

Charlie Eagle Plume’s

By Lili|October 7th, 2016|Categories: Local, Photography, Travel|Tags: Allenspark, Carlie Eagle Plume, Colorado, Estes Park, Fall Colors, North America, Photo Friday, USA, Yellow|0 Comments

I remember going to Charlie Eagle Plume's as a child, and listening to Charlie's stories. Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.

6 10, 2016

Traveling with Medications

By Lili|October 6th, 2016|Categories: Travel, Travel Tips|Tags: medications, Travel Thursday|0 Comments

Source The old joke about American Tourists is that we are walking pharmacies with every possible over the counter drug on us. I've even heard tour guides say if you need anything make sure to ask your American tourmates before heading to a pharmacy. But jokes aside, traveling with medication isn't as simple as throwing it in your bag and heading out the door. Here are some things to think about: Each county has different restrictions on drugs and medicine. So don't assume just because you have a prescription that its legal for you to have it. In some

3 10, 2016

Museum Monday: Detailed Drawings of Cartier

By Lili|October 3rd, 2016|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century, cartier, Colorado, DAM, Denver, Denver Art Museum, drawing, museum, North America, USA|0 Comments

The Denver Art Museum had an exhibit called Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century which I was lucky enough to see in its last few days. It was amazing to see the artistic studies and detailed drawings that the Cartier artists made. Artistic Study Museum Monday is an every other week series about museum news, objects, and reviews.

1 10, 2016

Souvenir Saturday: Hand-Crafted Chocolate

By Lili|October 1st, 2016|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2013, Antigua, Central America, Choco Museo, chocolate, Chocolate Museum, Guatemala, hand-crafted chocolate, Hucks, Mayan Encounter 2013|0 Comments

As I wrote before, Making Chocolate in Antigua, Guatemala was one of my favorite activities. However, making chocolate during a heat wave, and then staying at a budget hotel with no AC meant that my handcrafted chocolates were not long for the world. So I decided to give pieces of chocolate to the people in my tour group! My chocolate before it set. Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.