Unique Holiday Destinations: San Juan, Puerto Rico

There are only twelve days of Christmas, right? Not in Puerto Rico. This U.S. commonwealth begins its celebrations the day after Thanksgiving and keeps the Yuletide spirit flowing until the feast of the three kings on January 6. During the six-week-long festivity, visitors can enjoy the Christmas decorations seen at homes, businesses and throughout the streets.

While you're there, you should also witness one of Puerto Rico's famous holiday traditions - group caroling called parrandas. Visitors to this Caribbean locale can also experience unique holiday culinary customs like lechón asado (roast pig on a spit) a coconut pudding called Tembleque, or the sweet sap from a Chilean palm tree, coquito.

 The holiday season may get started earlier, and the buildup to the big day is similar to ours, but once the 25th rolls around, there are two weeks of family get togethers, parties, food, more parties, drinking, and one final family celebration on January 6, Three Kings Day. Old San Juan makes a good base, but a relative’s or friend’s house is even better.

How many places in the U.S. can light up an ancient city that's more than 500 years old? That's the true magic of the Christmas lights in Puerto Rico: the timeless colonial beauty of Old San Juan decorated with the colorful whimsy and brilliance of the holiday season.

Puerto Rico is well known as a shopaholic's destination of choice, and not just during Christmas. But the holiday season is also a terrific time to get a special Christmas gift (like a hand-carved wooden saint, or santo), a uniquely 'Rican souvenir, something shiny for a loved one, or even a great bottle of rum!

Looking for that uniquely different vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

10 Travel Photography Tips

Irish Tree copyright 2005 H R Litman

1. Get lost
Wander down alleys. Sit in cafés and watch life pass by. Don't eat where the tourists do, but where you see locals. Just set off down a street and see where it leads. Look around the bends, over the rises. Get away from the crowd.

2. Get up Early
The best light to capture most kinds of subjects is in the golden hours- one hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset (depend off course on where you are on the globe). So get up early to get that amazing photo opportunities, while all the other tourists are still asleep.

3. Learn your Craft
Don’t waste your expensive traveling time on learning how to operate that new camera, lens or flash. Do your homework at home.

4. Edit on the spot
You're not going to want to come back home and spend a long time at your computer going over eight images of the same thing. Delete the bad ones while you're still in front of the subject (if there's time). Be selective even before taking your picture: Spend a little more time making one photograph rather than randomly pointing your camera in every direction.

5. Move in
Zooming can degrade photo quality. Let your feet do the work when you want to get closer.

6. Be sure to back up your photos
There are few things more annoying than going to take a shot and finding that the card is full or the battery is flat. It’s all too easy to leave images on a memory card, and then forget whether you’ve transferred them to your computer.

7. Avoid boring shots of buildings
When you are photographing buildings, statues, or other monuments, think about what they represent before you shoot. For example: There's a large statue of Vulcan outside Birmingham, Alabama. You could make a perfectly nice image of him standing on his hill on a sunny day, but such a picture would not say a lot about who Vulcan is. A photograph on a stormy evening, with perhaps lightning in the background, would. Cannons on a historic battlefield might look better in fog than in bright sunlight. Get the idea of the subject, then think of the weather, light, angle, etc. that best communicates it.

8. Feel the Place
Photography is not only about visual inspiration. Try the local food, smell local markets and hear local music, this will help you to better understand the story of the place.

9. Say Hello
People help your photos capture the life of places you visit. Learn how to say “Hello” in the local Language, and greet the locals and ask to take their photo. It leads to a conversation and you get some great local advice.

10. Don't photograph everything
Even accomplished professionals say a photograph never trumps the experience of real life. Don’t try to see everything on your limited time. It is much smarter to get a better understanding about each place you visit on your journey. Slow things down, and your images will get better.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

Fort Sumter National Monument South Carolina

Decades of growing strife between North and South erupted in civil war on April 12, 1861, when Confederate artillery opened fire on this Federal fort in Charleston Harbor. Fort Sumter surrendered 34 hours later. Union forces would try for nearly four years to take it back.

The first shot of the American Civil War didn't hit anything. It was a 10-inch mortar shell, fired from Fort Johnson, that exploded above Fort Sumter as a signal for Confederate artillery to open fire on the Union-held fort.

Fort Sumter is located on an island in Charleston harbor and is only accessible by boat. Visitors without their own boat cannot reach Fort Sumter from Fort Moultrie. A concession-operated ferry service takes visitors to Fort Sumter from downtown Charleston and Mount Pleasant.

At the Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center, Liberty Square offers a connection by the Cooper River where visitors may sit, rest, read and watch the harbor traffic in a very pleasant setting.

Fort Sumter is designated historic, so recreational activities are limited to passive pursuits such as scenic viewing and bird watching. Ranger talks are offered to each group of visitors who arrive by ferry. Wayside exhibits interpret the historic resources found throughout the site and the vistas visible from the observation level.

Fort Sumter's island was constructed with a foundation of over 70,000 tons of granite and other rock. For over a decade contractors from as far away as New York and the Boston area delivered this material by ship and dumped it on a shoal in Charleston Harbor.

Fort Moultrie (Sullivan's Island) can be toured using the self-guided brochure. Interpretive wayside exhibits are posted throughout the fort. By using these signs and the park brochure, visitors guide themselves through the fort traveling back in time from World War II to the Revolutionary War.

Fort Moultrie is the only unit of the National Park System where the entire 171 year history of American seacoast defense (1776-1947) can be traced.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

Rawhide Travel and Tours' "Locks of Fun" Panama Canal Super Cruise

Rawhide Travel and Tours 

presents 

"Locks of Fun" 

 Panama Canal Super Cruise

November 04-19, 2014

$3949 per person based on double occupancy

Gone down lately? If you haven't, you can come with us if you join our 16 day "Locks of Fun" Panama Canal Super Cruise down South America way, and rumba 'til the cows come home on Celebrity Cruise Lines awesome 91,000 ton luxury Superliner, the M/S Infinity stopping at six of the most sought after ports in the world not too mention "passing through" the legendary Panama Canal itself!

 Departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA you'll first visit dazzling Cartagena, Colombia (South America) where the world's supply of stunning emeralds can be found! Don't miss the Gold Museum where Samuel Bolivar lived while enjoying Latin history, culture and world renowned shopping!

Next stop, Colon, Panama (Central America)! Colon’s greatest claim to fame, and the main reason visitors come here, is the Colón Free Zone, a massive shopping showroom where retailers, wholesalers and the general public shop. And don't forget to take a ride on the restored Panama Canal Railway.

Next, the Panama Canal (Central America), what this adventure-filled super cruise is centered around. Here, you'll see the Three Colossal Locks ("Locks of Fun") while transiting through one of the greatest engineering wonders of the modern world for twelve hours of non-stop heart-pounding excitement with "once in a lifetime" spectacular photo opportunities as you cross from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean!

Next stop, enchanting Puntarenas, Costa Rica (Central America) where you can climb a real volcano, see Two Oceans at the same time, savor blooming orchids, see wild jaguars and ocelots in rain forests that dot this small fascinating country.

Next port is the quaint town of Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala (Central America) where visiting the best preserved ruins in the world in the ancient city of Tikal is a must. But visiting La Antigua, Guatemala's colonial capital is also must! Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Continuing to the Mexican Riviera, our first stop will be at world famous Puerto Vallarta, Mexico! From Yelapa Bay, where Night of The Iguana was filmed, to the majestic Sierre Padre Mountains that surround this sizzling resort town, you'll discover everything from jungle tours to shopping, and from fabulous sights to exotic dining. This is one lush port you'll long remember.

Last stop, Cabo San Lucas!  Located on the tip of Baja California on the Sea of Cortez, it's a favorite for many celebrities. Here, turquoise and azure blue waters, rugged cliffs, quiet coves teeming with abundant marine life, desert vistas and mountains all come together with a wash of vibrant colors. Awesome. And, as if all of these sights and thrills weren't enough, you'll also be enjoying a Deluxe Balconied Stateroom on  this magnificent luxury cruise including All Meals, nightly "Las Vegas style" entertainment, round trip air from Phoenix (air is also available from 171 other U.S. cities but price may vary depending on your actual departure city other than Phoenix), all foreign and US. taxes, all security, government and airport fees, all fuel surcharges, all transfers, several gala parties and events during the cruise..even cancellation insurance and ship tips! Oops! forgot the kitchen sink! So what are you waiting for? Some people wait a lifetime for their ship to come in. You only have to wait until November 04, 2014. Eyes in the back of your head recommended for this adventure. Experience life without a ripcord and call Rawhide Travel and Tours today! Limited space. Happy "sailing" trails to you!

Looking for that perfect beach vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

In the News: Europe to Start Allowing Larger Liquids on Planes

Airline passengers in Europe will soon take a step toward bringing larger bottles from duty-free shops with them in carry-on luggage.

Restrictions in Europe and the USA limit passengers to carrying liquids in 3.4-ounce containers in the cabin because of the threat of explosives. The European policy change in January is modest, applying basically to travelers connecting on flights at an airport while carrying a bottle of liquor or perfume from a duty-free shop.

If security officials become confident that the change doesn't open the door to explosives, the European Commission goal eventually is to allow all passengers to keep all sizes of liquids, aerosols and gels with them.

"This should lead to a complete lifting of restrictions in 2016," said Dale Kidd, a European Commission spokesman. "The operational impact of this first phase will be carefully evaluated and pave the way for further steps expanding the types of liquids, aerosols and gels that passengers will be able to bring with them in cabin baggage."

In the USA, the Transportation Security Administration is monitoring the experiment. John Halinski, deputy administrator of the TSA, said he would like to end the liquid restrictions "sooner rather than later" to focus on more serious threats, because more than half the time passengers are simply carrying water bottles.

First, security officials must confirm that scanning machines catch explosives efficiently without giving off too many false alarms. The problem with liquid screening is too many false-positive results, which would gum up checkpoint lines.

But the machines have improved during the past decade. Manufacturers say the tests are brisk and reliable.

Restrictions against carry-on liquids date to August 2006, when British authorities foiled a plot to destroy an airliner with liquid explosives. A month after a ban was created for liquids in carry-ons, the TSA allowed as many 3.4-ounce containers as fit in a clear 1-quart plastic bag in carry-on baggage.

The restriction remains contentious. About one in eight leisure travelers cited restrictions on liquids as the most frustrating part of screening, according to a 2012 survey by the International Air Transport Association. One in four travelers acknowledged smuggling restricted-size liquids through security, according to a 2011 survey by the travel-search site Skyscanner.com.

Starting Jan. 31, passengers connecting through European airports will be able to carry duty-free bottles from other countries through checkpoints in special plastic bags called STEB, for security tamper-evident bags.

Some of the machines that will scan liquids look like standard conveyor belts for carry-on bags, such as Smiths Detection's aTiX and Safran Morpho Detection's XDi. Others will scan each bottle individually.

If a liquid sets off an alarm, Battelle's LS10, which looks a bit like a table-top slot machine, can be used to double-check the result. The screener puts a container on the machine like a self-serve scanner at the supermarket and pulls down the one-armed bandit to screen the liquid in two to five seconds.

One part of the test is a low-power radio-frequency pulse, which distinguishes flammable liquids from water and soda. Another test uses ultrasound, which gauges the liquid's density and compressibility.

If security officials learn of new liquid threats, the machine's software can be updated.

Battelle machines are being installed at London's Heathrow, along with Aberdeen, Southampton and Glasgow; at several airports in Scandinavia and in Australia's Brisbane and Sydney airports.

Looking for that uniquely different vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!

 Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

Unique Holiday Destinations: Branson, Missouri

Just like the finale of a fantastic show, Branson's Ozark Mountain Christmas (November and December) brings together a mix of world-class entertainment, recreation and holiday spirit to provide a truly exhilarating vacation experience. 2013 marks the 25th season for Ozark Mountain Christmas as Branson transforms into a holiday wonderland featuring spectacular lighting displays, shows celebrating Christmas, theme parks in all their holiday glory and seasonal special events.

Experience the magic of the season during the Branson Area Festival of Lights as all of Branson is aglow for the holidays. From fabulous shows and dazzling lights to spectacular shopping and breathtaking scenery, Branson is a special gift for everyone in your family during this special time of year.

The centerpiece, Branson Area Festival of Lights Drive-Through, will delight children of all ages. Your journey begins with a magical one-mile drive along a path illuminated with more than 175 displays. Conveniently located off Shepherd of the Hills Expressway and Roark Valley Road, this one of a kind family experience promises to be spectacular.

In 1948 the first Adoration Parade made its way through Historic Downtown Branson, bringing the community together to celebrate the true reason behind the season.

Branson is a holiday shopper's paradise with three major outlet malls featuring more than 200 name brand shops. Hundreds of area boutique and specialty stores offer one-of-a-kind hand-made heirloom quality gift items.

Your family can discover Branson’s newest “Winter Wonder Landing” at the Branson Landing waterfront, featuring a promenade of trendy specialty shopping and dining establishments, and a brilliant water and fire spectacular that dances to the sounds of the season in the Town Square.

Looking for that uniquely different vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com

Travel Tips: Holiday Road-Trip

Are you and your family planning to drive to a holiday get-together this year? Whether you’re heading to Grandma’s house or a favorite vacation spot to celebrate holidays with family or friends, These simple tips can help make your drive a smooth one, so you can arrive at your destination safely and without incident.

Make sure that your vehicle is running properly and up for the trip. Take it in for a routine maintenance check-up. Request that they change and fill your oil as well as check your spark plugs and all liquid levels. Check all the exterior lights and electrical components. Check air pressure in the tires and take a fully functional spare in the trunk.

Carry an emergency kit with a flashlight, batteries, warning devices 9 such as flares or reflective triangles), jumper cables, a first-aid kit and extra water.

Don't let the gas level get below one-quarter of a tank.

Map your route in advance with an atlas or mobile app and be prepared for busy roads during the most popular times of the year. If possible, consider leaving earlier or later to avoid heavy traffic. Make stops every q00 miles or 2 hours to avoid drowsy or fatigued driving.

Reserve all accommodations in advance, but be flexible if you need to stop an extra night due to traffic, fatigue or change of plans.

Lock your car when you leave it and keep anything of value in the trunk or covered storage area.

Make sure all passengers are properly secured in seat belts, car seats, or booster seats.

Bring books, DVDs and music to keep the children and other adults entertained.

If you’re traveling with children, remind them not to talk to strangers. Go with them on bathroom breaks and give them whistles or two way radios to be used only if the family gets separated.

Have roadside assistance contact information on hand, in case an incident occurs on the road.

In case of an emergency, keep a cell phone and charger with you at all times. Many companies offer smartphone applications that enable motorists to request help without making a phone call.

Bring information on your destination to make the most of your trip.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com