Bonnie's Eye On!

When I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes I wasn't so worried about my eating a different way or giving myself injections. I was more worried about how to protect myself from getting cuts and scrapes on my feet. When you have diabetes, taking good care of your feet is important - especially when traveling. Poor foot care can lead to infections and serious problems.

I went to the American Diabetes website, www.diabetes.org,  and found all I needed to know to protect myself and still enjoy my travels.

One tip is to keep your feet dry and never go bare foot, even at the beach.  I know it is hard, and I have to admit, I am still trying to do the right thing, but a cut on your foot can put you in serious problems.

  So, what should you pack?

• ·       Pack a first aid kit so you can treat cuts, blisters, or other foot sores right away to prevent infection.
• ·       Socks with padding will protect troublesome pressure points.
• ·       Choose shoes that will protect your feet from the outdoor condition

Make sure you examine the tops and bottoms of your feet each day. Look for any blisters, cuts, scratches, or other sores. Also check for redness, increased warmth, ingrown toenails, corns, and calluses.

I know it sounds like a lot and an inconvenience but it really isn’t very hard once you get used to it and in the long run, you will be thankful you won’t have the “Agony of De Feet!”

For more information on living and traveling with diabetes, visit www.diabetes.org.

If you are a traveler how happens to have diabetes,  I would love to hear from you. We can compare notes!

Keep your EYE to the sky!

Bonnie DeShong

Co-host of The Traveling Eye!

Chinese Baggage Handler Goes off

If you think that your baggage has been roughed up by the airline, be grateful you did not fly on this plane. Take a look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-d2_GorYeM

JA'VONNE'S TRAVEL MINUTE - THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

What do the broken chains at the feet of The Statue of Liberty symbolize?  Do they symbolize that all people have the right to life, liberty and the pusit of happiness? Or, is this specifically for the abolishment of slavery?  African Americans at the time didn't accept this theory of The Statue of Liberty because when it was erected on October 28, 1886, inequalities, discrimination and oppression still existed towards African Americans.  W.E.B. Du Bois wrote in his autobiography, The Autobiography of W.E.B. Du Bois: A Soliloquy on Viewing My Life From the Last Decade of Its First Century, he was unable to imagine the same sense of hope he assumed some immigrant arrivals had felt when he sailed past the Statue on a return trip from Europe.

Here is my Travel Minute and the links that inspired the tale of two sites?

On June 17, 1885 lady liberty arrived into the New York Harbor in 350 pieces. The statue was a gift from the people of France.

What I find interesting about the history of the Statue of Liberty are the different references made about the meaning and intention of the statue.

On the www.statueofliberty.org site
Designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and engineered by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the designer of the Eiffel Tower, the Statue was said to be a symbol of the alliance established between the United States and France during the American Revolution. 

However, on the National Park Services site it also states that the statue represented much more to those who proposed the gift.  In 1865, Edouard de Laboulaye (a French political thinker, U.S. Constitution expert, and abolitionist) proposed that a monument be built as a gift from France to the United States in order to commemorate the perseverance of freedom and democracy in the United States and to honor the work of the late president Abraham Lincoln. Also refer to http://www.nps.gov/stli/historyculture/abolition.htm

Now I find that the question of the purpose and symbolism of the gift often comes about because of the chains that are at the feet of lady liberty. Do the chains represent broken shackles and the abolishment of slavery or what France was still dealing with and breaking from a monarchy.  Well, I don’t know? What do you think?

The Statue of Liberty will reopen to the public on the 4^th of July since being closed due to damage caused by Hurricane Sandy

Ja'Vonne Harley

Bonnie's Eye On!

I love our topics because it gives me a chance to research some of the questions I usually just blow off.  Like – What is the difference between an herbs and spices?

In case you didn't know, Herbs are the leafy and green part of the plant.  Spices are the parts of the plant that aren't leafy, like the root, stem, bulb, bark or the seeds! However, some say that they are one in the same.

We all know that people travel all over the world to get herbs for medicinal purposes. I found sacredearth.com, and Hemi Weingarten on blog.fooducate.com, and was amazed at all the things spices I have in my cabinet can be used for.

           

Did you know that cinnamon lowers blood sugar levels, and cholesterol?

Everyone cooks with garlic but, if you fry garlic cloves in clarified butter and take it before meals it will alleviate Joint Pain. Or that daily applications of Garlic Juice and water in a nose drop (2 to 4 drops) are used to treat migraines.

Have motion sickness? Ginger is the spice of choice to relieve nausea and some types of heartburn and bloating. ( Ja’Vonne swears by this one.)

The heat from Chili’s suppresses the appetite and give a boost to metabolism.

Cloves – relieves the type of gas that comes from your bottom, and is used as all the antis’, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, and antiseptic

Rheumatism– coriander is what you need. A water extract of the plant applied externally serves as a lineament.  The list goes on and on.

Now when I open my cabinet I have a whole new respect for the Spice jars that sit in my kitchen cabinet. Who knew?  If you have some spice remedies I would love to hear about them.

Until next time, keep your EYE to the sky!

Bonnie DeShong

Co-host of The Traveling Eye 

Mancations & Father's Day trip Ideas

Don't know when the term Mancations was first spoken but in the 2006 film The Break Up, Vince Vaughn made reference to it.  What is it? A male only vacation.  No women allowed. Since Bonnie and I are a bit challenged in this area we asked a few guys we know about Mancations.  I must tell you that guys in general are a bit tight lipped about Mancations but we got it out of them or at least from those who agreed to speak to us.

First the rules of Mancations: (As told to us by those we interviewed)

1. Leave the wives/girlfriends behind both physically and mentally.
2. Do not bring emotional baggage.
3. Keep it simple.
4. Don't plan too much.
5. Leave time and room for spontaneity.
6. When dining out be mindful of what you order if you are splitting the bill or put in more if you order something expensive or a lot of alcohol.
7. Relax and have fun.
8. Find at least one common activity for all to enjoy.
9. Remember the "Bro Rules" they won't tell us what they are just that they need to be followed.
10. What happens on a Mancation stays on a Mancation

How do you Mancation? We found that men are very diverse with different likes, dislikes and interests.  However, when it comes to Mancations men will generally come together on common ground.  I must admit, I'm a bit jealous how easily men come together, don't sweat the small stuff and the rules seem to be upheld without being spoken.

In contrast to a girlfriends getaway, there's no night in with sharing, caring and emotional break throughs. Instead male bonding is all about sharing an activity. In fact their idea of a night in is watching a game or playing poker.

We interviewed three brothers with very different lifestyles.

Q: Who do you Mancation with?

• A # 1: My brothers
• A # 2: My brothers, Frat Brothers and some friends
• A # 3: My brothers and sometimes friends

Q: Where have you traveled to for a Mancation?

• A # 1: My brothers and I have attended our home team's football games in our home city and at some away games.  We fly in Friday or Saturday, attend the game on Sunday and go back home after the game or on Monday.  We've also gone to Vegas and New Orleans.  Vegas was just because and New Orleans was for the Essence Music Festival.
• A # 2: With my brothers it's usually a home team football game.  With my Frat Brothers it's usually a music festival like the Essence Music Festival, Soul beach Music Festival in Aruba or a casino in Vegas and/or night club.
• A # 3: Usually with my brothers to sporting events.

Q: What activities do you enjoy on a Mancation?

• A #1: I usually enjoy being a spectator at a sporting event.  When going to the Islands or a beach area, I enjoy the rest and relaxation, scuba diving and swimming.
• A #2: Going to a sporting event.  Playing golf, gambling, going to a nightclub, smoking cigars and drinking Jack Daniels
• A #3: going to a sporting event. Scuba diving, playing golf and going to a sports bar.

Q: How many guys are usually on your Mancations?

• A: No many, usually 3 - 6 guys

Q: How many days are your Mancations?

• A: Usually a long weekend 3 - 4 nights

Q: How often do you take a Mancation?

• A #1: It's been a few years.  My brothers and I used to go annually, however we haven't kept up with it.  it's time for another one.
• A #2: A few weeks ago with a friend
• A #3: A few years.  it's been too long

Q #2: Where do you like to play golf?

• A #2: Pebble Beach, CA. Golf Digest rates Pebble Beach as the # 1 Public Golf Course.  Another great place for golf is St. Andrews, Scotland.

Q: What would be your ideal Mancation?

• A #1: To the Caribbean for some fun in the sun, rest and relaxation.
• A #2: Can't say what I really want. But the ideal mancation would be to Cuba just men. Cigars warm weather golf fishing. Every man dreams of something they cant have or go to.  
• A #3: I always liked New Orleans, especially at the Essence weekend. If your single their are plenty of women at the festival.  New Orleans  is a party town. City stays up all night with plenty to do, food is great, music is fantastic, and if you like to gamble they have Casinos.  I don't think you can ask for more if you and your boys want to go on a trip (Mancation)

This interview gave us some insight to how men Mancation and it is even more evident that men are from mars and women are from venus.

 

Well, Father's Day is fast approaching and fathers are deserving of honor and appreciation.  They hold a special place in our hearts and in our lives.  With that being said how about having a Hall of Fame weekend for dad?  Whether you travel or not.

 

If you travel here are some great places to visit for dads Hall of Fame weekend:

Where? Cleveland Ohio www.positivelycleveland.com

• What to do?
• Visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame www.rockhall.com
• Take dad to a great restaurant. Michael Symon's Lola Bistro www.lolabistro.com or The Green House Tavern.  The duck fat fries are to die for. www.thegreenhousetavern.com
• The Cleveland Zoo

Where? Canton Ohio

• What to do?
• Visit the Football Hall of Fame www.profootballhallof.com or www.visitstantonstark.com

Where? Coopersville, NY

• What to do?
• Baseball Hall of Fame www.baseballhall.org

To enhance the weekend and to honor dad, have a photo of dad on a fake magazine cover with www.yourcover.com or on a Wheaties box www.shop.wheaties.com

Happy Father's Day to all the great dads out there!

Ja'Vonne Harley
Co-Host, The Traveling Eye
Owner, Advantage International, LLC

BONNIE’S EYE ON!

I am not and never have been a smoker. I really don’t like the smell of cigarette smoke; however, sometimes seeing a group of guys smoking a fine, expensive cigar is quite appealing.  I can’t imagine guys taking a “Mancation”, and there not be a cigar and a good drink involved. I did some investigating on Hauteliving.com, CBS Las Vegas and New York and found some interesting cigar bars in the country.

CHICAGO – The City of Big Shoulders

 Iwan Ries & Co. on South Wabash is a plush getaway for the cigar smoker.  Free Wi-fi; HD Screens are available in the BYO lounge.  There is even a board room for those who like to work while enjoying their favorite cigar.  Iwan Ries is one club that has hourly or yearly memberships. 

Tesa Cigar Company on North Halsted is a man cave where you can watch the game, enjoy a libation, and smoke a stogie.  All purchases of the Tabaclera Tesa line contributes toward providing housing repairs, education, and clothing to the people of Esteli, Nicaragua where the Tesa cigar factory is. 

Up Down Cigar Lounge on North Wells gets an honorable mention because it is owned by a woman and hosts monthly Chicago Cigar Dames secret smoking private events for ladies to come and enjoy a good cigar.

LAS VEGAS, the Mancation Capital of the World has many cigar bars along and away from the Strip.

Casa Fuente Las Vegas is inside of Caesars Palace on the Strip. It is known as one of the most elite of cigar lounges.  The open atmosphere and high-class décor will make any cigar smoker feel luxurious in this beautiful atmosphere.  I am told they have a mojito to die for.

Located just south of the strip, in Henderson is the Man Cave Cigar Lounge. It has modern living room seating that faces a gigantic television. It is an ideal place for those who want to see the game while enjoying a fine cigar.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK the Big Apple, is the Club Macanudo on east 63^rd Street.  It is an elegant oasis in the heart of the Upper East Side. It has the décor you think of when you envision a cigar lounge. Mahogany furniture, buttery-soft leather chairs, and comfortable sofas.  There is a dress code folks. Gentlemen must wear collared shirts. T-shirts, shorts, athletic attire and sneakers, or flip flops are prohibited.

 Beekman Bar and Books is on 1^st Avenue at 50^th street. While Beekman’s is a non-smoking environment, you can get your cigar smoking on at Max’s Tobacco Shop located in the rear of the bar. Max’s also offers Shisha service (hookah). Max’s is upon from 5 pm - 2 am daily.

So ladies, when he comes home with a smile on his face, relaxed and smelling like a fine cigar, don’t give him any grief, tell him to take a shower and change his clothes, he’s just been have a good time with his boys.  If you have a favorite you would like to share with us we would love to hear from you.

Until next time, keep your EYE to the sky!

Bonnie DeShong

Co-host of The Traveling Eye

Road Trip Ideas and Tips

Our show this week is on Road Trips for Adults.  We're leaving the kids and the rest of the family behind.  This one is for GROWN FOLKS. No, "Are we there yet?", unless you just want to irritate the other person.  Bathroom breaks, well as we get older I guarantee you there will be a few of those but it won't happen right after you've left the rest area.  These road trips are just because and to unwind.  Hit the road with abandon, take your time and become one with the asphalt and the scenery.  You can make it up as you go along or you can have a plan. A road trip can be for a day or for an extended period depending on your time and destination.

Why not make it a theme and add some adventure to the in between of your origin and destination.  Local fare is a great theme.  Kind of like that show on the Food Network, Diners, Drive In's and dives but make up your own.  You could make it roadside food or fine cuisine, which ever floats your boat.  Another theme could be off the beaten track or odd attractions.  The Internet can give you some great ideas and places to stop along the way and www.roadsideamerica.com is a great website to assist you.  You could make it all about historic sites, monuments and memorials.  If your road trip is for several days you can incorporate some night life and dance each night away or take in some local live music. The point is have some fun and make it a filled journey.

When you're traveling incorporate a day trip or a few.  It's a great way to see more of the destination, especially if you're in a big city.  Rent a car and venture to the country side or outskirts.  I've often done exactly that and those day (road) trips have become the most memorable. Like, my road trip in Maui, Hawaii.  We rented a convertible (you have to have a convertible in Hawaii).  My father in law got sunburn on his head so if you're sporting the shaved head make sure you put on some sun screen.  We got up long before the sun came up and headed to Haleakala, a mountain in Hawaii. Note: bring blankets because at that altitude and that early in the morning it can be quite cold.  Why did we get up this early? (I did get some complaints) To watch the sunrise.  Believe me it's worth it.  You're  10, 023 feet above sea level.  You can feel the air thinning as you ascend.  But the main attraction is standing there and watching the sun rise.  It comes from beneath you and this big bright ball slowly rises and it's so vibrant and appears so close you think you can touch it.  Some folks have done a Sunrise Tour and this includes cycling down the mountain.  There's no pedaling, just coasting and yes, you're given wind breakers. After we witnessed the sunrise we headed down the mountain to embark on our "Road to Hana".  The "Road to Hana includes some 600 hairpin turns, over a dozen one land bridges and beautiful and unique things to see along the way like Rainbow Eucalyptus trees.  The barks of these trees have stripes of pastels as if someone had painted them. You can either pack a lunch to enjoy at one of the many scenic spots or wait until you get to Hana and have a fabulous lunch at the Hana Hilton. You can do this trip in a day or you can overnight in Hana.

Another one of my favorites is the Tuscan region in Italy.  From Florence we rented a car, (most rental cars in Europe are manual shift, automatics are generally more expensive) and headed to the Chianti region.  Actually, you can't go wrong anywhere in Tuscany.  The region itself is gorgeous.  We went to the Verrazzano winery and castle.  This place is gorgeous and postcard perfect.  We had lunch with wine pairings, a tour of the castle, wine tasting, olive oil tasting and bought some of the most expensive balsamic vinegar $75 for 8ozs. This balsamic is like no other and is well worth every penny.  You savor it and you dole it out with a demitasse spoon.  This is not the pouring kind.  Take a bite of sharp cheese and a drizzle of this syrupy balsamic and it's magic in your mouth.  Another great day trip from Florence is Pisa with a stop in the walled town of Lucca.  This day trip is complete with a bicycle ride atop the Lucca Wall, lunch inside the walled city, shopping, climbing the stairs at the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Gelato when you finish!.

My last favorite was my day trip in Cape Town South Africa to Stellenbosch, one of the wine lands in the area.  The hubby rented a Harley Davidson and I hopped on the back.  We hit the highway because we were going to do our exploring once we got their.  We visited several wineries tasting wine.  No, not my husband, the driver, just me.  We then had lunch at Bellevue Manor, one of the guesthouses there that had an excellent view of the hillside and town. There's nothing like hitting the road on a Harley with the Harley's.  Pun intended!

Here are some great sites and apps for a road trip.
https://www.myscenicdrives.com/road-trip-planner
http://www.travelmath.com/ tracking distance
www.gasbuddy.com
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/ offbeat tourist attractions
http://www.wunderground.com/ Weather Underground or www.weather.com
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/road-trips/

http://chicago.aaa.com/member-services/triptik-tourbook-maps/670/971.uts

 

Drive Safe and responsible!

 

Ja'Vonne Harley,

Co-Host, The Traveling Eye

Co-Owner, Advantage International, LLC