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Why Portugal?? Why Christmas?? |
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Hello! My name is Kyla
Gurganus, and I am a chemistry teacher from Ypsilanti, Michigan.
I love international travel and usually take a big trip each
year. This Christmas, I decided to go to Portugal.
Why Portugal, you say? I saw an episode of Rick Steves's TV show years ago where he went to Cape Sagres to see an old wind compass. It looked so cool to me! I've always wanted to visit it. Since cruises at Christmas are very expensive (especially for a single person), I decided that, for about the same amount of money, I could go to Portugal and visit Cape Sagres. Portugal's winter climate is mild (I didn't need my winter coat), it has a good tourist infrastructure (very easy to get around), and it uses the euro (easy to exchange and use); all three are great reasons to visit.
Planning the trip was fun! As usual, I bought the 2007 Rick Steves Portugal guidebook (from Amazon). My local library (the Ypsilanti Dictrict Library) also had tons of books on Portugal. Some of my favorites were Let’s Go Spain and Portugal 2007, Lonely Planet Portugal (2005), Time Out Lisbon (2007), Frommer’s Portugal, and Exploring Portugal (by Fodor’s). The Eastern Michigan University Halle Library also has a fabulous travel planning resource: a vertical file filled with tourist information and maps from around the world, free for anyone's use (but only for patron check-out). Need a map of Lisbon or a tourist guide to Sintra? They have them!
Why Christmas, you say, and not summer? First of all, I use travel planning as a stress-reliever during the school year. Teaching chemistry is a difficult (but rewarding) job, and focusing my mind on something else for even a few minutes every day keeps me sane. Having a trip to look forward to also helps me make it through the tough moments of my job. Plus Christmastime in Michigan is cold and dreary :)
Why Portugal, you say? I saw an episode of Rick Steves's TV show years ago where he went to Cape Sagres to see an old wind compass. It looked so cool to me! I've always wanted to visit it. Since cruises at Christmas are very expensive (especially for a single person), I decided that, for about the same amount of money, I could go to Portugal and visit Cape Sagres. Portugal's winter climate is mild (I didn't need my winter coat), it has a good tourist infrastructure (very easy to get around), and it uses the euro (easy to exchange and use); all three are great reasons to visit.
Planning the trip was fun! As usual, I bought the 2007 Rick Steves Portugal guidebook (from Amazon). My local library (the Ypsilanti Dictrict Library) also had tons of books on Portugal. Some of my favorites were Let’s Go Spain and Portugal 2007, Lonely Planet Portugal (2005), Time Out Lisbon (2007), Frommer’s Portugal, and Exploring Portugal (by Fodor’s). The Eastern Michigan University Halle Library also has a fabulous travel planning resource: a vertical file filled with tourist information and maps from around the world, free for anyone's use (but only for patron check-out). Need a map of Lisbon or a tourist guide to Sintra? They have them!
Why Christmas, you say, and not summer? First of all, I use travel planning as a stress-reliever during the school year. Teaching chemistry is a difficult (but rewarding) job, and focusing my mind on something else for even a few minutes every day keeps me sane. Having a trip to look forward to also helps me make it through the tough moments of my job. Plus Christmastime in Michigan is cold and dreary :)