With just two weeks to go until I am off to Eastern Europe, I bring you this week’s Suzy Stumbles Over Travel. In case you are new to this site, each week I ask writers and readers to submit their favorite travel posts of the week. I read each submission, comment, tweet the article on Twitter, stumble the piece using Stumbleupon and place a link to the post on my Facebook page. The following week I select my five favorites to be featured here and the stumbling begins again into the next week. The goal of this segment is to bring to light those travel posts that might not have received all of the attention they deserved.
Just a few things to keep in mind, please only submit one post per person each week. Leave your submission in the comment box below. Your submission must be travel related. You have until the end of the day on Friday to submit. I will get busy reading and promoting your articles throughout the week. All submissions will be promoted by the end of the day on Sunday. Be sure to follow me on Twitter, subscribe to my stumbles on Stumbleupon and “like” me on Facebook to make sure I give your post the attention it deserves. Check back next Monday to see if your submission made my five favorites.
The 5 Favorites of Last Week
“Maoist Guerilla Bombings and Dramatic Departure from Nepal” From Lash World Tour
Submitted by Lash
After quietly hiking the Annapurna Circuit trek in western Nepal, Lash comes out of being one with nature to find bombings going on around her in Nepal’s capital city. She must get out of Nepal to avoid the Maoist guerrilla activity, making for an interesting tale of luck and the ultimate hairy travel situation.
“Into a Soviet Bunker” From Katie Going Global
Submitted by Katie
Katie journeys into a Soviet bunker, circa 1984, just outside of Vilnius. The site is set up much as it would have been back in the day, complete with yelling guards and gas masks. Katie’s tour in this piece of Soviet history lends tremendous insight into what life was like for those living through this time.
“Last Minute Changes Are Not Appreciated—Morro Negrito Surf Camp” From Ordinary Traveler
Submitted by Christy
Ordinary Traveler recalls their experience with a surf camp in Panama. When the owner unexpectedly changes their accommodations days before departure and then says he won’t refund their money once Christy and Scott decide to abandon the idea, they are faced with some of the worst customer service. Their story is a good reminder to be careful where and with whom you book.
“A Village of Death and Memory in France” From Finding The Universe
Submitted by Laurence
Laurence visits the ruined town of Oradour-Sur-Glane in France, the victim of a German invasion just four days after D-Day. Essentially, the entire population of the town was tortured and killed. Laurence wanders the streets, left as they were on that day. His photographs and words offer a chilling look war firsthand.
“Not Knowing Where I’m Going” From Pack Your Passport
Submitted by Beverley
Beverley deals with a topic every traveler must face at one point or another, uncertainty. As she battles feelings of enjoying having a home base in Australia, she also must tackle her reasons for packing up and leaving that 9 to 5 job to travel. She presents the idea of embracing the uncertainty of life travel lends, even if it might terrify you.
Don’t forget to leave your submission in the comment box below. You have until the end of the day on Friday to submit.
From Suzy Guese:
Submission from Barbara…
Hi Suzy,
I love your photo in this post. Gorgeous!
Here’s my submission “Riding a Goldfish for New Year” … featuring Vietnam, Thailand and a huge chúc m?ng n?m m?i (happy new year) to you and all your readers.
http://www.thedropoutdiaries.com/2012/01/riding-a-goldfish-for-new-year/
Barbara
From Suzy Guese:
Submission from Shirlene…
We’ve had a rather hectic but great start to 2012. Hope you’ve had a good start to the year as well!
Here’s our submission for next week’s post:
http://www.idelish.com/2011/12/20/caribbean-smooching-stingrays-at-grand-cayman/
From Laurence:
Thanks for featuring me in this weeks round up Suzy
Eastern Europe sounds like a wonderful adventure!
From The World of Deej:
Who knew you could zip line in Vegas of all places….
http://www.theworldofdeej.com/2012/01/fremont-street-zip-line-finding-my.html
From Caz Makepeace:
Hi Suzy!
Been such a long time since I have submitted to this segment. Thought I would return and join in on the fun.
Here’s my latest on learning to love my own country again
http://www.ytravelblog.com/re-embracing-my-own-culture/
IT’s taken me awhile to re-embrace my culture and get over reverse culture shock
From lindsey:
Loved loved the post on France! Beautiful.
Submitting my post from my trip to China! Lost in Shanghai and Beijing: http://www.lostincheeseland.com/2012/01/lost-in-shanghai-and-beijing.html
From Harrison:
Hi Suzy, sharing my time in Boulder: http://www.hustletoparadise.com/2011/12/14/hiking-the-flatirons-at-chautauqua-in-boulder-co/
From McCool Travel:
Happy New Year, Suzy. Thank you for continuing to do this. I have submitted a couple of times. Here is my latest:
8 Great Travel Lessons Learned From The Amazing Race
http://mccooltravel.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/8-great-travel-lessons-learned-from-the-amazing-race/
From Katie:
Thanks for including me this week Suzy! Always appreciated.
From The GypsyNester:
Hey Suzy!
Could there BE a more wonderfully weird building on earth?
http://www.gypsynester.com/sagradafamilia.htm
From Audrey:
Hi Suzy,
This week I’m submitting my travel encounter with two little girls in Jujuy, Argentina. http://thatbackpacker.com/2012/01/17/snapping-photographs/
Thanks!
From Beverley | Pack Your Passport:
Thank you for including my post Suzy!
From Ryan @ PauseTheMoment.com:
Hi Suzy!,
I’m back with another great submission. My personal Travel ABC’s!
http://bit.ly/z0nKY4
I spent some serious time putting this together and you’ll see why once you read it. Enjoy and let me know what you think!
From Ellen (The Time-Crunched Traveler):
I may have just posted this twice … if I did, my apologies.
Great recommendations this week. I especially enjoyed Katie Going Global’s Soviet Bunker experience.
We would like to submit this week, “A first-timers guide to eating Alpaca.”
http://thetimecrunchedtraveler.com/2012/01/10/a-first-timers-guide-to-eating-alpaca/
In this post, we detail our experience sampling Alpaca meat while in Peru, hypothesize as to what it might look like if we marketed Alpaca in the U.S., and offer a brief explanation of some of the historical and cultural significance of Alpaca in Peru.
Hope you enjoy! (We promise we don’t always write about Peru!)
Thanks, Suzy!
~Ellen and Justin (the time-crunched travelers)
From Fiona:
Hi Suzy
This week I’d like to share my review of a hostel set in a former Duke’s palace in Sintra, Portugal. Very fairytale-like
http://www.traveledits.com/bed-edits/best-hostels-in-portugal-nice-way-sintra/
From alexplorer:
Suzy,
Good luck in E.Europe let me know if you need any advice I traveled there for about 4 months…. My birthday was this week and I have some reflections about my vagabond lifestyle now that I’m 26… Here’s my submission and good luck on ur journey…. http://ilikegoingplaces.com/2012/01/18/am-i-doing-what-a-26-year-old-should-be-doing/
-Alexplorer
From Shane:
Hi Suzy
My submission this week is on low cost volunteer work opportunities in South America:
http://artofbackpacking.com/cheap-places-volunteer-south-america/
From Emily in Chile:
I’ve been reading these posts for a few weeks now and finally feel like I’ve got something worthy of diving in – my post on York, England. The photos are gorgeous (thanks to gorgeous subject matter), and I’m always looking to remind people that there’s more to England than London.
http://www.emilyinchile.com/2012/01/exploring-york/
From Sabrina:
I would like to submit one of my latest posts this week. I wrote it right after a vacation in China: Communicating in China When You Don’t Speak Chinese
http://countryskipper.com/2012/01/15/the-importance-of-language-or-communicating-in-china-when-you-dont-speak-chinese/
From Amanda:
Hey Suzy! Here’s my submission for this week, from my stay in a haunted jail hostel in Ottawa!
http://www.dangerous-business.com/2012/01/my-night-in-prison/
From Kit Whelan:
Hey Suzy! Submitting my post on how it’s impossible to find Mexican food in Europe (which doesn’t seem inportant until you’re here for a few months): http://www.seeknewtravel.com/its-impossible-to-find-mexican-food-in-europe/
Thanks
From Wez:
Hey Suzy,
Here is my submission for this week. Continuing on my treks through Cambodia, walking around and exploring some of the temples in the Angkor complex.
http://wezwanders.com/2012/01/17/intrepid-trip-day-3-angkor-wat/
Thanks for this segment by the way
From Heather:
Hey Hey!
Hope you’ve had an awesome week. Here’s my submission!
http://www.gingernomads.com/2012/01/20/reflections-on-the-cambodian-genocide/
From Eric @ Trans-Americas Journey:
Hi Suzy, belated Happy New Year. Here’
s one that’s a bit different its a fire spinning photo essay from Guatemala – http://trans-americas.com/blog/2011/12/fire-spinning-guatemala/
Have a great week and good luck getting ready for your upcoming trip.
From Gerard ~ GQ trippin:
Hi Suzy! Not sure if it’s too late. But here’s our first post from NZ and about the amazing Bay of Islands.
http://gqtrippin.com/new-zealand/the-rock/
From Shereen:
Layer, layer, layer! Last time I went in late fall/early winter, it was quite warm and all I brought were heavy sweaters. Lightweight sweaters, cardigans or fleece over a t-shirt or tank is always a good bet and easy to pack. I hope that’s helpful
Good luck!
Here’s a submission for the week on getting a passport and doing it before you actually have to have it in your hand before you travel: http://shereentravelscheap.blogspot.com/2012/01/passport-to-world-11412.html