Travel Tuesdays With KM

Trains, planes, and camels....OH MY!

In my travels, I have taken just about every form of transportation.  Taxi, boat, train, camel, you name it and I've most likely done it.  Each one was a unique experience and some I would rather not do again and don't suggest anyone partakes in.

It's very important to research transportation before you travel.  Once you land in the airport of your destination, you need to think of what is the easiest and most economically friendly way to get to your hotel or wherever you're staying.  When I studied abroad in London, figuring out how I would get my two large suitcases as well as my large duffel bag to the flat was a concern.  There was the obvious choice of a taxi but it turns out that the Tube, London's subway system, could also bring you into the city.  If I had been to London before and knew that I didn't have to change trains, I might have attempted the tube.  However, with all my luggage it was much easier to take a taxi.  You can book a car in advance which could turn out to cost less or you could wing it and grab a taxi once you get there.

The Tube I came to learn is one of the easiest subway systems that I've ever used.  An Oyster card was provided for us which is similar to Boston's Charlie card where you add money to it when needed for travel.  It was a clean and easy system.  Make sure that you have enough money on your Charlie, Oyster or whatever cards they call it in that place before entering the queue...the locals do not like bumping into you because you're not prepared and being bumped into is never fun.  As always when traveling via the Tube...Mind the Gap!  The double-decker buses are also a MUST while in London!  Along with their black taxi's, their buses are a staple that remind you of London.  There were signs near the stops that showed you where the bus would take you and some of them even ran all night.  It's usually cheaper to take the bus however you have to remember there may be traffic and they might not arrive on time.

While I highly recommend trying new things while you travel...do not under any circumstance get in a taxi while you're in Egypt.  They are crazy drivers!!! I'm pretty sure that they only have traffic signs for decoration or to comfort travelers before getting into one of their cars.  While on my tour of the Egyptian Kingdom, we decided to venture to Old Cairo one evening.  The ride there was fine, our driver drove a bit faster than I would have liked considering how congested the streets were but I was fine....the ride back was a different story.  My group pushed me into a different taxi with some of the other girls on the trip which meant I had a different driver.  They gave me full warning that he was not a good driver and boy was that the understatement of the century.  He flew through the streets and around cars, slamming on the breaks when necessary and gunning it when he felt he needed to.  My roommates arrived back at our hotel room to find me in the fetal position (See picture below).

Besides the unforgettable taxi ride, I also took several other forms of transportation while I was in Egypt.  Our hotel for the majority of the trip was a cruise boat that took us down the Nile River.  I think that this made the trip better because we didn't have to worry about getting up at a certain time to take a long bus ride to our destination for the day only to turn around and have to drive back.  Once we reached the end of our cruise we took an overnight train back up to Cairo...again another experience.  I had never been on an overnight train before and the longest train ride I'd even been on was going through the Chunnel from England to Paris.  Everything we needed was confined to a small space.  There was a couch that folded down to create bunk beds.  Luckily the bathroom wasn't somehow squished into there because I don't think I could have handled that.

Train with seats, all our luggage, and me thinking this is going to be a long ride

Train with bunks and all our luggage

One thing you must do while in Egypt is take a camel ride.  It was my absolute favorite part of the trip.  Our tour guide arranged for us to ride camel's along the Nile River to a Nubian Village.  My camel's name was Jafar and it was a gorgeous ride...besides the fact that someone asked how much I cost along the way it was an enjoyable ride.

My most recent trip was to Brazil where I traveled through a small portion of the Amazon.  We hiked through different trails and took boat rides along the Rio Negro.  It was during the rainy season so the only way to travel was by boat and I wouldn't have had it any other way.  The ride was amazing and even more amazing was going through the flooded forest.  If you have a travel bucket list like I do, then I highly recommend including a visit to the Amazon.  You won't regret it!

The lesson this week?  Mind the Gap and don't let yourself be sold for twenty-thousand camels...


Any good stories from your travels?  Let me know!