Monday, October 13, 2008

Ketchum/Sun Valley, Idaho

Since Sun Valley is the town next to Ketchum, Britt is going to stay at the Clarion Inn in Sun Valley. The cost is $100 per night. This hotel happens to be the Ernest Hemingway Memorial, anyways. The memorial is a place Britt is going to visit. The Ernest Hemingway Memorial is located just northeast of Sun Valley on Trial Creek Road. The Memorial is a bust of Hemingway and an epitaph he wrote for a friend who died in a hunting accident during Hemingway's first visit to Idaho. Hemingway spent many years in the Sun Valley area and called it his second home. It was in his home in Ketchum where he took his own life. Hemingway is buried at the Ketchum Cemetery.
A memorial to one of Sun Valley's most famous residents can be found on Trail Creek Road just a bit northeast of Sun Valley – the Ernest Hemingway Memorial. The author spent many years in the local area.
In 1939, Hemingway made his first trip to the area. Initially invited to the Sun Valley Resort as a part of the company's plan to use celebrities to lure tourists, Hemingway fell in love with the area. He worked on For Whom the Bells Tolls while staying in a luxury suite at the Sun Valley Lodge.
Twenty years later, Hemingway established a residence in the Wood River Valley. In his home, he worked on two more works – A Moveable Feast and The Garden of Eden. Hemingway was an avid hunter and enjoyed duck hunting with friends who came to visit him. The beauty of the Wood River Valley is thought to have provided inspiration to Hemingway.
Ernest Hemingway took his own life in 1961 and was buried in the Ketchum cemetery. In 1966, a memorial was erected by his family and friends. The bronze bust of Hemingway and accompanying plaque was dedicated on July 21, 1966, which would have been the famous author's 67th birthday. The inscription on the plaque reads:Best of all he loved the fallthe leaves yellow on cottonwoodsleaves floating on trout streamsand above the hillsthe high blue windless skies…Now he will be a part of them forever.
Another place she will visit is the Sun Valley Ski Resort. The Sun Valley Resort is the original ski resort in the United States. In 1936, the area was the culmination of a dream to bring the excitement and wonder of European ski resorts to the United States. The area has four distinct seasons, each with its own array of activities. A visit to Sun Valley will provide you and your family with a memorable experience.
Sun Valley Resort has the distinction of being America's first destination resort. In Sun Valley, you will find something wonderful to see and/or do each season of the year.
The Lodge at Sun Valley was built in 1936 and quickly became the place to be. Frequented by Hollywood elite, in the beginning, the Sun Valley Resort has now become a family vacation destination. In addition to world class skiing, there are a myriad of services and amenities offered by the Sun Valley Resort: The Lodge Dining Room, Gretchen's, the Duchin Lounge, Sun Valley Salon & Day Spa, massage center, sauna and heated swimming pool, workout facility, bowling alley, game room, room service and gift shop. In addition, for those who come to the enjoy the world class skiing, the Sun Valley Resort is conveniently located about a mile and a half from the River Run Day Lodge on Bald Mountain.
The last place she will visit is The Hemingway Exhibit. It is located within the Ketchum/Sun Valley Heritage & Ski Museum is an extensive exhibit covering the life of Ernest Hemingway and his association with the Wood River Valley. The Museum is located near downtown Ketchum and includes other historical items and memorabilia related to the heritage of the Wood River Valley.
During the later part of this life, Ernest Hemingway had strong ties to the Wood River Valley.
Making his first trip to Sun Valley in 1939 as a part of a promotional event for the then new Sun Valley Resort, Hemingway returned many times over the next several years. It is reported that he spent time in his designated suite #206 in the Lodge working on his famous book For Whom the Bells Toll.
In 1959, Hemingway became a resident of the Valley along with his fourth wife, Mary Welsh. He spent time in his home writing and additionally enjoyed all the ambiance of the Ketchum/Sun Valley area. Many of the businesses that he frequented are still in operation today. Many other celebrities would come to the Valley as guests of the Hemingways.Battling manic depression and various physical ailments, Ernest Hemingway took his own life in 1961. Today, visitors come to the Wood River Valley to see the area that apparently inspired the well-known writer. In addition to the exhibit at the Ketchum/Sun Valley Heritage & Ski Museum, photos of the Hemingway family can be seen hanging in the hallways of the Sun Valley Lodge, as well as the last letter that he wrote before his death.
The average temperature in Ketchum is 65 degrees Farhenhiet with a low of 34 degrees. It is in Blaine County. It is in the wood River Valley and is 1792 feet above sea level. You can go fishing, hiking, trail riding, play tennis, and go shopping. The town is a total of 3 sq. miles with a population of 3,234 people. It is in the United States, so they speak English and use the dollar for currency. It is all land and there is two streams. They are the Trail Creek and Warm Springs Creek.

Varadero

Varadero also has a communist government. All of Cuba does. This means they use pesos and speak Spanish. The climate is also the same, but the average temperature here is 84 degrees farhenhiet. Varadero is a resort town in the province of Mantanzas. The population is 20,000 people.
In Varadero you can go scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, yachting, and do all other watet sports. It has crystal clear waters and fine white send. You can also find 40 species of coral, a wide range of fish, lobsters, shrimp, crab, and dolphins. There are also 70 kinds of mullosks. They are also on the same time as Indiana is because it is still in Cuba.
While in Varadero Britt is going to Delfinario. It is a dolphin show with the option to actually swim with the dolphins. She will also visit the Bellamar Caves. It is a visit to the oldest tourist attraction in Cuba, open to visitors since the 1860s. The caves are extensive and impressive. There are quite a few steps down into the cave and it is slightly damp and rough underfoot, and also very warm. Another place she will be is the Seafari Cayo Blanco. It's an excursion by Catamaran, snorkeling in a coral barrier reef, entertainment, music, lunch and open bar with Cuban cocktails in Cayo Blanco. There is the option to either swim with the dolphins or visit the dolphin show at Delfinario and enjoy a sunset party. M-Su (7 hours duration). $81 for the sunset party and dolphin show trip. $91 for the chance to swim with dolphins instead.
After she gets on the bus to come back to Havana, she will catch a flight back to Cancun. This flight costs $412 and is on the 26th. After she arrives in Cancun, she will board a flight and head to Sun Valley, Idaho. This flight is $644. It is an 11 hour and 58 minutes flight. Sun Valley is right outside of Ketchum, which is where our travels end.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Havana, Cuba

Britt will arrive late in the night of the 23rd and stay in Havana the 23rd, 24th, 25th, and 26th. She will leave the next morning to go to Varadero. The cost of the hotel is $37 per night.
While in Havana she is going to the Acuario Nacional. At this aquarium, a variety of tropical and subtropical marine species can be seen swimming happily in their tanks, which thanks to their decoration and lighting effects offer an excellent recreation of the ocean depths. Located on the edge of the coast, this children's heaven has numerous attractions; these include a tortoise tank complete with beach, and the inevitable dolphin show in a setting that recreates Cuba's continental marine platform.
She will also see the Template (El)Plaza de Armas. It was the inhabitants of 19th century Havana, motivated perhaps by the origins of all around them, who erected this shrine with a bust of Christopher Columbus and three paintings by Juan Bautista Vermay. The monument marks the exact place where the settlement of San Cristóbal de la Habana was founded in 1519. Together with this building, which is one of the first examples of a neo-classical style from the colonial architectural period, also stands a column to represent the original ceiba tree under which the first mass and Council of Havana were held.
Lastly, she will visit the Parque Central. It is framed by majestic-looking early 19th century buildings, this park (also known as Parque Jose Martí) dates back to 1903. It is a large park surrounded by some of Old Havana's finest restaurants and hotels, including the hotels Sevilla, Plaza and Inglaterra. There are many exotic trees and royal palms in a well-landscaped garden environment. Well lit and quite safe, many people come to sit and relax with friends, while enjoying a drink and listening to the music that drifts over from the local clubs and nearby theater.
Havana is on the same time zone as Indiana. The average temperature in Havana in October is 84 degrees farhenhiet with a low of 73 degrees. It has a mild, sub-tropical climate with cool tradewinds. It is in the end of the rainy and hurricane season. The temperature rarely drops below 50 degrees.
It is 194 ft, in evevation above sea level. The population of the city is 2,400,000 and the urban area is 2,700,000. The metropolitan area's population is 3,120,000. The total population is 2.1 million.
Havana is considered to be "three cities in one". They are Old Havana, Hedado, and the suburban areas. There are very narrow streets.
They have a communist government and use pesos for currency. One peso is equal to 1.08003 U.S. dollars. The main language spoken is Spanish.
On th 26th Britt will catch a bus to Varadero that leaves at 8:00 A.M. and returns 6:00 P.M. It is three hours each way and $11 each trip.

Venice, Italy

The average temperature for Venice in October is 64 degrees Fahrenhiet. There is high humidity with thunderstorms, rain showers, and flooding. Venice is in northern Italy. the population is 271,251 people.
Venice is built on an archipelago. It is built on a system of canals and waterways. You have to get around on gondalas.
There are lots of museums in Venice. They have a republic government and use the euro for their currency. The mein language they speak is Italain. The time difference is if it were 10:00 P.M. in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, it would be 4:00 A.M. on Monday in Venice.
Venice has an extremly high literacy rate of 99%.
While in Venice, Britt will be staying at the Stlye Hotel. The cost is $60.93 per night. She will stay here the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd.
Also while in Venice, Britt will go island hopping. She will spend one day devoted entirely to the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. Murano is the centre of Venice's highly skilled glass manufacturing industry and Burano is famous for its lace. Burano also happens to be a pretty fishing village, its streets and canals lined with bright, pastel-coloured houses. Give yourself time to wander into the quietest corners and shady parks. Walk over the wooden bridge to neighbouring Mazzorbo, a larger island with little more than a few houses, a couple of trattorie and open green space. Delightful Torcello, with its overgrown main square and sparse, scruffy-looking buildings and monuments, once rivalled Venice. Now it's home to fewer than 80 people.
On another day she will attend a feista named Festa della Madonna della Salute. It is a procession - over a pontoon bridge - to the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Salute in Venice gives thanks for the city's deliverance from plague in 1630.
On another day she will be shopping. She will go to Antichità Claudia Zaggia. Nadia Viani runs this little Aladdin's Cave of, well, just about anything. Depending on the day, you might discover an Art Nouveau necklace, preloved pearls, old glassware, or rosy-faced ceramic dolls from another era.
She will also go to Attombri. For centuries, the long gallery running along the Palazzo dei Dieci Savi in Rialto glistened with the wares of the oresi (goldsmiths). Nowadays, about half a dozen gold and jewelery shops eke out a living here. Attombri is the exception. The inventive Byzantine-style jewellery constitutes a captivating and original collection, and not just in gold.
The last place she will go is Bambolandia. It is a wonderful world of old-fashioned toys and handmade dolls of all descriptions. If you can't convince the kids of the merits of these items over PlayStations, perhaps you'll be captivated yourself and pick something up as decorative nostalgia.
On the 23rd Britt will catch a flight to Miami, Florida. This costs $1217 and is a 15 hour 55 minute flight. From there she will leave Miami on a flight to Havana, Cuba. This is also on the 23rd, and costs $624. It is a 6 hour 39 minute flight with one stop in between.

The Nile River

From the hotel Britt is staying at in Kampala you can see Lake Victoria, which is the start of one of the two main tributaries of the Nile. It is the start to the White Nile. The other tributary is the Blue Nile, which starts in Ethopia. The Nile is the longest river in the world. The basin is 1,312,747 sq. miles. The length is 4,132 miles. The two tributaries meet at the Sudanese capital of Khartoum.
The Nile River flows throuh a total of nine countries. These countries are Uganda, Sudan, Egypt, Ethopia, Zaire, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi. The major cities it flows through are Cairo, Gondokoro, Khartoum, Aswan, Thebes/Luxor, Karnak, and Alexandria. The major dams are Roseires, Sennar, Aswan High and the Owen Falls dam.
If it is 10:00 P.M. in Indianapolis, Indiana on Sunday, then it is 5:00 A.M. on Monday at the Nile.
After walking and touring the Nile, Britt will return to the hotel in Kampala and get ready to leave for Venice, Italy. The flight from Uganda to Venice leaves on the 20th and is a 23 hour flight. She will arrive in venice a day later because of the time difference. The cost of the flight is $877.

Uganga

The car from Nairobi is an $850 dollar deposit for the driver and another $50 dollars for unlimited driving miles for the day. She only needs teh car for a one way trip. She will stay in Uganda the nights of the 17th, 18th, and 19th and check out on the 20th. Britt will be staying at the Cassia Lodge. Cassia Lodge is located on Buziga Hill, one of the highest hills of Kampala, close to Lake Victoria. The environment is cool with few mosquitoes and an astonishing view of Lake Victoria as well as the city. The cost is $95 per night.
Uganda's currency is the Ugandan shilling. The conversion for this is 1 U.S. dollar equals 1,6400.00 Ugandan shillings. The capital is Kampala and they have a republis government system. Kampala is the heart of the great lakes region. It is in Eastern Africa and west of Kenya. It is on the equator, so it is sunny with an average temperature of 26 degrees Celsius. October is the wet season in this area, though. It is a tropical climate that is more temperate than surrounding areas.
Kampala has 44,000 sq. kilometers of open water. The city is 241,139 sq. kilometers. It is generally flat is 1000 meters above sea level.
The main languages spoken in Uganda are swahili and english.
The time difference is if it were 10:00 P.M.on Sunday night in Indianapolis, Indiana, then it would be 5:00 A.M. Monday morning.
Britt will be going on another safari while in Uganda. It is the Queen Elizabeth National Park Wildlife Safari. It is a 3 day safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park. She will go in search of the Uganda kob, look for hippos taking a swim in the Kazinga Channel and watch elephants to come to the shores to drink. The cost is $288.45.
This is the itinerary:
Day 1 :
Kampala - Queen Elizabeth National Park (ca. 7 hrs) From Kampala we depart to one of the most beautiful protected areas in Uganda: Queen Elizabeth National Park. On our way we will pass the Ugandan Equator where you can take pictures and shop for a souvenir. We continue to Mbarara for lunch and then follow the road to the southwest and head for the Western Rift Valley. Upon arrival in Queen Elizabeth National Park you will enjoy a short evening game drive as we drive to our accommodation in the middle of the park. It is likely to spot waterbucks, warthogs and reedbucks while the sun slowly sets. Dinner and overnight at Institute of Ecology Hostel.
Day 2 :
Queen Elizabeth National Park The day begins early as we start with a morning game drive and head for the mating ground of the Uganda Kobs. We search for the lions, elephants, buffaloes and other wild animals in their natural habitat before returning for lunch. In the afternoon we take on a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, a natural channel between Lake Edward and Lake George. Thanks to the abundant bird life that is sighted, and the elephants, buffaloes and hundreds of hippos that are cooling off at the shores, this cruise will definitely be one of the highlights of your safari. Dinner and overnight at Institute of Ecology Hostel.
Day 3:
Queen Elizabeth National Park - Kampala (ca. 7 hrs) After breakfast you can choose to visit the Maramagambo Forest for a walk through the tropical forest, known for the Blue Lake and the Bat and Hunters Cave. You will get the chance to have a close look at the bats and maybe even the rock python and forest cobras that feed on the bats. The same walk will provide you with views of primates, different bird species and beautiful flora. An alternative for the forest walk is a hike in the Kyambura Wildlife Reserve (not included). Driving through a grassland area, all of a sudden we come across an amazing gorge of one hundred meters deep, covered with tropical rain forest. You will hike into the gorge of the Kyambura River in search of the wild chimpanzees. It is a beautiful walk through river valley, home to many primates, birds and butterfly species. After one of these activities we will leave Queen Elizabeth National Park and head back towards the capital city with lunch en route. Arrival in Kampala in the evening.
After she finishes her safari, she will travel to the Nile River then back to Uganda to depart for Venice, Italy.

Mt. Kilimanjaro

On the 17th, Britt wil be departing for Mt. Kilimanjaro. The cost for this round trip is $365. It leaves at 8:00 A.M. and returns to Nairobi and 3:50 P.M.
Mt. Kilimanjaro has three volcanic cones. They are all inactive. They are Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. The highest point of Mt. Kilimanjaro is Uhuru Peak on Kibo. It is the highest piont in Africa. Kibo is 19,341 ft. The top of Kibo is a 1.5 mile wide crater. Kibo is also one of The Seven Summits. Mawenzi is the 3rd highest poitn if Africa at 16,890 ft. Shira is 13,000 ft. Mt. Kilimanjaro is in Northeast Tanzania near the Kenya border.
Coffee and plaintains are the chief crops raised in the lower sothern slopes. Tourism from climbing is the important source or revenue. It has snow capped peaks. Human habitation lies on the southern and eastern slopes. The city of Moshi is teh main urban center.
The climate is very changing. First, you go throug very fertile cultivated farmland. As you go up the mountain, you go through traversr rain forests the to the moorland/semi-desert to total desert, then to the alpine desert, to the snow fields, ice cliffs, and complete and total ice and snow. There is always a constant feeling of summer since it is three degrees below the equator. it's ironic how you can be that close to the hottest part of the earth and have snow capped mountains. That's how tall it is, though.
There are 2 rainy seasons. One is in october, but it is the lighter one. The average temperature at the foot of the mountain is 25 degrees to 30 degrees Celsius. At the summit it ranges from minus 10 to 20 degrees. At 3000 meters it is anywhere from 5 to 15 degrees with frost at night.
When she arrives back in Nairobi, I have arranged for her to take a car to Uganda.