Suzy Guese

Somewhat delayed after battling a cold and jet-lag, I bring the five favorites in travel submitted last week. You may have noticed the title of this week’s “Suzy Stumbles” to be different. While I have enjoyed helping writers receive more love and attention for their travel posts along with reading other traveler’s adventures and ways of thinking about travel, Suzy Stumbles takes a great deal of time on my part. Coupled with my love of procrastination, this will be the last week of “Suzy Stumbles Over Travel”.  I hope to delve into a similar segment on my site in the near future, or even start up “Suzy Stumbles” in time, but for now, this will be the last week to submit your travel posts. I would love to read loads this week for the last week of the segment so feel free to keep me busy one last week. Also, just because I am ending this segment on my site does not mean I don’t love stumbling. If you ever need a stumble or reader, send me an email or direct message me on Twitter and I would be happy to lend a helping click.

In case you are new here, since April, I have asked readers and writers to submit their favorite travel posts of the week. I read, comment, stumble (using Stumbleupon) and tweet every submission. The following Monday, I select my five favorites of last week to be featured here. Just some things to keep in mind, you have until the end of the day on Saturday (US Mountain Time) to submit your post. Please only submit one link per person. Leave a link to the post in the comment box below. This can be a post of your own or one you enjoyed reading from another writer.

The 5 Favorites Of Last Week

“A Simple Man is Not Always What He Seems” From Lost In Cheeseland

Submitted by Lindsey

Lindsey had me with her clever title and even more compelling writing on this little snippet. She observes a man in Calvi on the island of Corsica, drawing up a story on his life and being. I could relate to this piece as I feel as travelers, our imaginations are always at work, creating stories of people we see. Lindsey leaves you with a twist in her observations that is certainly worth a read.

“Is America A Real Country?” From Thom and Sean

Submitted by Thom and Sean

Also a little snippet, Thom and Sean bring up an intriguing point on American travel. Thought provoking, I wasn’t sure I agreed with their opinions on Americans not traveling to their own country, but the duo brings an outsider’s viewpoint. As I contemplate where my next travels will be, Thom and Sean may have convinced me it is time to explore more of the USA.

“The Wall” From The World Is Calling

Submitted by Lisa

Lisa explains her experience of crossing from Palestine into Israel, complete with a daring van ride I’m not sure I could handle. I enjoyed her story and the energy it creates as you read along with the intensity Lisa experiences.

“Hakas, rucks and scrums, oh my! Attending a NZ rugby match” From A Dangerous Business

Submitted by Amanda

Amanda takes us to a New Zealand rugby match, packed with the perspective of a traveler and novice to the world of rugby. I was intrigued by the customs and traditions that go along with a rugby match in New Zealand. Amanda also highlights how cultural differences often transcend to the world of sports. It is interesting to ponder how closely tied these two realms can be.

“What I Don’t Like About Travel” From The Mobile Lawyer

Submitted by Michael

After just returning from three months in Europe, I was a little upset to be back home and not traveling. However, for an instance, Michael’s qualms with travel reminded me of some of those aspects to life on the road that are not so pleasant. I often find people think travel is one long vacation. This piece will convince anyone of that opinion that just as there are dozens of things to loath at home, so too are their aspects to travel that are not one big long vacation.

Don’t forget to submit your travel posts to the LAST week of “Suzy Stumbles Over Travel”.

As I soak up my last few days in Europe before heading home to Colorado, I bring you this week’s Suzy Stumbles Over Travel. In case you are new here, each week I ask readers and writers to submit their favorite travel posts of the week. I read, comment, stumble (using Stumbleupon) and tweet every submission. The following Monday I profile my five favorites submitted last week.

Just a few things to keep in mind, please only submit one link per person. You have until the end of the day on Saturday (US Mountain Time) to submit your post. Leave a link to the post in the comment box below.

The 5 Favorites Of Last Week

“When Travel Takes A Friend” From Brave New Traveler

Submitted by Caz

Caz of yTravel Blog shares a story I’m not sure many would. Her piece deals with travel and death and the realities one must face when the two collide. I appreciated her honesty on the topic. Sometimes we need to be reminded travel is not free of the stresses of home, especially when it comes to losing friends on the road.

“7 Ways To Meet Other Travelers On The Road” From Jasmine Wanders

Submitted by Jasmine

Jasmine dives into solo travel willingly, but she knows how to socialize. Introvert or extrovert, if you are planning on traveling alone, this a good post to read. No one has to be lonely when they travel if they just know how to increase those chances of meeting other travelers on the road.

“How Not To Travel in Egypt” From World Curious Traveler

Submitted by Mary

Mary takes a somewhat humorous look at traveling through Egypt or rather how not to travel as she did. A place deemed “intense” by Mary and those I know who have visited warrants some experienced advice before visiting. If you are headed to Egypt or just a first time traveler, Mary’s experiences showcase travel in its most heightened sense where things go wrong and circumstances are not always in your favor.

“On Language Burnout After A Few Too Many Countries” From A Totally Impractical Guide To Living in Shanghai

Submitted by Mary Anne

Mary Anne looks at travel and learning languages in the process. She expresses her fatigue in learning yet another language after picking up several. I enjoyed Mary’s take on the matter. Some may judge a traveler for not knowing the language of the country they are in, but burnout is bound to occur when two many different ways of saying “hello” are swirling about the mind.

“Weekly Glimpse: Yangshuo’s Puyi Town” From On Ur Way

Submitted by Sasha

Sasha takes us beautifully and spookily through Puyi Town on Yangshuo’s Li River. Her photos capture a sleepy and seemingly ghostly town. I found the images behind this post to be powerful and unique, enough to make me feel that isolation of an isolated town in the Far East.

Straight from Barcelona, I bring you this week’s Suzy Stumbles Over Travel. In case you are new here, each week I ask readers and writers to submit their favorite travel posts of the week. I read, comment, stumble (using Stumbleupon), and tweet every submission. The following Monday, I profile my five favorites submitted last week.

If you would like to submit for this week, leave a comment in the comment box with a link to your post. Please keep this to one link per person each week. Also, you have until the end of the day on Saturday to submit your post (US Mountain Time). I can’t accept posts on Sunday. Be sure to follow me on Twitter and subscribe to my stumbles on Stumbleupon to make sure I get to your post.

The 5 Favorites Of Last Week

“Hiking in the Rain at Sunset Crater Volcano” From Kaleidoscopic Wandering

Submitted by JoAnna

JoAnna explores Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument in Arizona, completely drenched in the rain. I enjoyed her descriptions of being isolated with her husband in the pouring rain. Instead of running for the hills when bad weather presents, JoAnna takes the higher road, seeing the positives of being completely isolated on a crater.

“Use Travel To Make You Happy” From Todd’s Wanderings

Submitted by Todd

It sounds simple enough, “use travel to make you happy”. However, in the travel community, the traveler vs. tourist, long term vs. short-term traveler debate gets in the way. Todd presents another option. Love what you do and do what you love. If travel factors in to the picture, by all means embrace it. If not, no one is judging. I appreciated Todd’s positive attitude to differing travel styles.

“How To Couchsurf Without Couchsurfing” From Adventurous Kate

Submitted by Kate

Staying on a stranger’s couch, to be honest, does not and will not appeal to me. However, Kate presents a different option to couchsurfing. You can socialize with couchsurfers and not even couchsurf. I enjoyed her take on couchsurfing from someone that didn’t want to sleep with strangers, so to speak, but just used the medium as a way to meet people from all around the world.

“What I wish I knew BEFORE my RTW Trip” From Mobile Lawyer

Submitted by Michael

Nothing is more useful to a traveler than reading what an experienced traveler wish they knew before traveling around the world. For new travelers or veterans, we all can learn something for another’s travels, mistakes or misgivings.

“Travel Snapshots: Dancing Dragons” From To China…and Beyond!

Submitted by Jessica

If you need a blast of color, Jessica’s moments at the Dragon Boat Festival in Shibing, Guizhou will brighten your computer screen. I enjoyed the subtle moments she captured through the camera’s lens. Festivals are undoubtedly the best way to experience a place.

Don’t forget to submit your travel posts to this week’s Suzy Stumbles Over Travel.

Back in Florence, I finally was able to catch up on some travel reading. Hopefully you will as well with this week’s favorite submissions. In case you are new here, each week I ask readers and writers to submit their favorite travel posts of the week. I read, comment, stumble (using Stumbleupon) and tweet every submission. The following Monday, I highlight my five favorites from the week and the stumbling begins yet again.

If you want to submit, leave a comment here with your submission. This can be from your own site or another writer’s post you enjoyed. Please keep it to one link per person each week. The deadline to submit is Saturday (US Mountain Time). I can’t accept submissions on Sunday. Be sure to follow me on Twitter and subscribe to my stumbles on Stumbleupon to make sure I get to your post.

The 5 Favorites of Last Week

“Drinking and Travel” From Tiburón -Shark- Žralok: Writing Cooking Traveling

Submitted by Andrea

Andrea explores the connection between travel and drinking. Could you live without drinking on your travels? I thought the topic of her piece was particularly interesting and had me thinking if drinking helps or hurts the travel experience.

“Has Your Travel Style Changed?” From World Curious Traveler

Submitted by Mary

Somewhat along the same lines, Mary takes on her changing travel lifestyle, examining how she traveled when she was 23 and how she travels now. Much of traveling, we forget, is a growing process. Travel styles change and so do you. I think most will read this piece and find themselves dialing back memories of their first travels and travels today. It is remarkable how much you change and your travels change as a result.

“Parents: Bane of the Adventurous?” From The Traveling Editor

Submitted by Dylan

Just as drinking and age can affect our travels like the two posts above, Dylan explores how much his parents’ words affect his travels. To bungee jump or not? That is the question with Dad’s “Is that safe?” comment looming in the background. I appreciated Dylan’s honesty on the subject. Perhaps may be not just parents, there are always going to be people in our lives that caution us when we travel. Parents just happen to carry a great deal of weight when they utter their opinions about travel, good or bad.

“9 Surprising Facts About Southern Mexico” From Sean and Lauren

Submitted by Lauren

Sean and Lauren lend the reader some compelling reasons to head to Southern Mexico, a country these days the media does not always represent as a great travel destination as a whole. Their piece offers up some humorous facts about the area and their experience in Southern Mexico.

“Photo Essay: A Day in Vatican City” From Maiden Voyage

Submitted by Emily

Perhaps it is my upcoming trip to Rome at the end of my travels in Europe as I enjoyed how Emily captured her time in Vatican City. Her photographs are moving for the religious or not so religious. The grandeur of Vatican City requires no connection with Catholicism to appreciate.

Don’t forget to leave a comment here with your submission for this week.

I am delayed again this Monday in bringing you my five favorite stumbles of last week. I have a good reason though. As I explore Portugal, I was able to squeeze in some great travel reading. Take a look at my five favorite travel posts submitted last week.

In case you are new here, each week I ask readers and writers to submit their favorite travel posts of the week. I read, comment, stumble (using Stumbleupon) and tweet (using Twitter) every submission. The follow Monday, I feature my five favorite submissions of last week. If you would like to submit for this week, leave a comment here with a link to your post. You have until the end of the day on Saturday (US Mountain Time) to submit your post. I can’t take submissions on Sunday. Be sure to follow me on Twitter and subscribe to my stumbles on Stumbleupon to make sure I get to your post.

The 5 Favorites of Last Week

“Thoughts From Riad” From The Adventures of D

Submitted by DTravelsRound

Imagine a place that annoys you yet satisfies at the same time. Reading this account of Marrakech, I couldn’t help but feel the same emotions as the writer. The sensory overload of exploring the streets is present for the reader, the basis of the greatest travel writing. If you feel like spending some time in Marrakech’s medina today, I highly recommend reading this conflicted, yet not, account.

“Featured Travel Photographer: Bethany Salvon” From Over Yonderlust

Submitted by Erica

Over Yonderlust interviews Bethany Salvon of Beers and Beans. With so many travel interviews out there from travel writers, bloggers and photographers, it can be difficult to find one that really inspires you. Beth has some powerful and inspiring words about travel photography, how she started capturing travel through a lens, and of course the post features some of her work.

“Making Friends on the Road” From GloboTreks

Submitted by Norbert

Norbert reminds readers of the importance of making friends as you travel. It sounds simple enough, but if you are like me, you may not trust people easily, especially while you travel. Remain cautious, but open up to relationships with people all around the world. Norbert stresses the need to make these connections and we all could use a reminder every now and then.

“Visiting Paris? Follow These Rules” From Lost In Cheeseland

Submitted by Lindsay

Lindsay takes a humorous look at observing tourists in Paris. She applied her observations into rules visitors can follow in keeping with Parisian ways of life. These tips are great for first time travelers not just to Paris, but also to other European cities. While locals complain about tourists in heavily inundated areas, it doesn’t hurt to practice what they preach and may be those stereotypes of foreigners will reverse.

“The Crossroads of Travel and Materialism” From The Traveling Savage

Submitted by Keith

Keith explores, or rather confronts, travel and materialism. You sell all of your prized possessions to travel, yet find yourself colleting intangibles in the process to remember the experience. Keith’s post is thought provoking to say the least. Get ready to be lost in a cycle of traveling to rid yourself of materialism while at the same time engulfing yourself in acquiring or collecting.

Don’t forget to submit your travel posts to this week’s stumbling in the comment box below.

Just arriving back from a weekend in Switzerland, I am a little late with my stumbles this week. I know you are all on pins and needles every Monday so here are the five favorite travel posts submitted last week and your chance to submit for this week.

In case you are new here, each week I ask readers and writers to submit their favorite travel posts of the week in the comment box below. I read, comment, stumble (using Stumbleupon), and tweet every submission. On the follow Monday, I profile my five favorite submissions from last week. The goal of this segment is to help bring traffic to other travel sites and posts that didn’t get the attention they always deserve.

Just a few things to keep in mind when you submit, please only submit one link per person each week. Also, you have until the end of the day on Saturday (US Mountain Time) to submit your post. I can’t take submissions on Sunday. Leave the link here in the comment box below. Follow me on Twitter to make sure I get to your post and subscribe to my stumbles on Stumbleupon.

The 5 Favorites of Last Week

“Now that’s what I call adventure – an encounter with Charles Brewer-Carias” from Atlantic Rising

Submitted by Lynn

If you are in the mood to feel lazy, this post about Charles Brewer Carias will do just that. Charles not only has discovered the world’s oldest organism, but he also believes he knows just where El Dorado may be. He is in essence a 19th century explorer living in modern times. I was captivated by this interview and suspect you will be too.

“Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone” From This is My Happiness

Submitted by Jenna

We all must step outside our zones of comfort at some point while traveling. Jenna must deal with bats above her head, being surrounding by family, yet feeling isolated, and overwhelming poverty while in Brazil. I found her post to be incredibly honest yet profound at the same time as she shares those feelings of lacking comfort while traveling.

“How To Visit The Greek Islands On The Cheap” From Pause The Moment

Submitted by Ryan

I can’t express how much I want to go to the Greek Islands, yet I can never seem to find a cost effective way of doing so. Pause The Moment breaks down their trip to the islands, showcasing the best ways to save money. Not only is the post useful if you are trying to go, but it also provides great insight into how something so impossible to do for me might not be so impossible. Santorini (hopefully), here I come!

“Growing Up, Growing Scared” From Otts World

Submitted by Earl

Sherry at OttsWorld gives a presentation to a group of 6th graders in Nebraska about travel and her experiences around the globe. She explains how rewarding this talk became for her as she combs through thank you notes from the class. Travel innocence in the eyes of many who have never left the country should be examined more when we make decisions to travel. Sherry contends we should approach traveling as not an aspect of life to be scared or afraid, but rather something a 6th grader finds “cool” and “awesome”.

“Modern Communications, and the Death of Poste Restante” From Digi Drift

Submitted by Jason

Jason examines travel from the days of Poste Restante. If you don’t know the term, I suggest reading this piece. He breaks down how much travel and communicaton back home have changed, opening up the discussion as to whether travel today with Skype, Twitter, etc., has changed the experience and emotion behind travel.

Don’t forget to submit your travel posts this week in the comment box below.

Finally a breeze is blowing through Florence to quiet the intense heat. At any rate, I was able to get through all of the stumbles this week without air conditioning. In case you are new here, each week I ask readers and writers to submit their favorite travel posts of the week in the comment box below. I read, comment, stumble (using Stumbleupon), and tweet every submission. The following Monday, I select my five favorites submitted last week to profile here and start the stumbling all over again.

If you would like to submit for this week, leave a link in the comment box below to your post. Please only submit one link per person each week. This can be from your own site or another travel post you really enjoyed. You have until the end of the day on Saturday (US Mountain Time) to submit. I have had a few people submit on Sunday that I have let squeak by, but it gets too hard for me to be writing my favorites for Monday when I am still getting submissions at 6PM on Sunday. If you could respect my deadline, I would greatly appreciate it. Be sure to subscribe to my stumbles on Stumbleupon and follow me on Twitter to make sure I get to your post.

Without further delay, here are the five favorite submissions of last week.

The 5 Favorites of Last Week

“Forget The Tall Poppy Syndrome: Let Your Light Shine” From yTravelBlog

Submitted by Caz

Caz breaks down the tall poppy syndrome and its origins in Australia. I was fascinated by the story Caz told of how that human emotion was coined into a term, the emotion of feeling jealousy and revenge toward another’s successes. Not only was this an interesting insight into an Australia cultural tendency, but also the post had me realizing the tall poppy syndrome is all around, no matter where you go. When traveling and encountering new customs and cultures, syndromes like the tall poppy remind me we are really not so different after all.

“Rwanda By Bus =Possibly Not My Best Idea” By Nerdy Nomad

Submitted by Kirsty

Kirsty decides to take the slow road through Africa, on her way to Rwanda. Her selection of a cheaper bus route to her destination is one she seems to regret, yet makes for an incredibly entertaining story. Hours on end hitting speed bumps at full speed along a dirt road, I found myself picturing the scene so vividly. We have all had those hellish rides in far off places, those that you can’t wait to get off the train, plane or bus and reach your destination. Kirsty’s might take the cake.

“On Traveling And On Staying Put” From Ephermera and Detritus

Submitted by Mary Anne

Mary Anne takes on the problem of long term traveling, staying in one place for a few days or weeks and then heading out to somewhere new. Long-term travel can be exhausting, moving from place to place every few days. Mary Anne explains her want to stay longer in a place, popping in on locals and asking what they are having for dinner. Everyone deals with travel differently. Some can handle just the stop over trips, while others like Mary Anne find going at a slower pace helps her deal with places and herself on a better level.

“Nostalgia and Road Trips” From Over Yonderlust

Submitted by Erica

Erica discusses how road trips as a kid made her a better traveler today. I couldn’t help but see so many similarities between how much road trips shaped how I travel today. This is a great reminder for travelers to always look back at where their traveling began. Perhaps it wasn’t on road trips across Texas like it was for Erica, but the origin of your travels seems to tell the most about how you travel today.

“48 Hours on Kangaroo Island: Pardana Wildlife Park” From Vagabond 3

Submitted by Jade

Lastly, I leave you with cute and cuddly kangaroos. The trio at Vagabond 3 shares a video of their time at Parndana Wildlife Park on Kangaroo Island. I was surprised at how gentle the kangaroos seemed. If you need a bit of a pick me up this week and don’t hate animals, Vagabond3’s video will make you want to experience feeding and hanging out with kangaroos for a day.

Don’t forget to leave a comment here with your submission for this week.