The Penny Pincher Travel Blog

Cat, Statue in Mexico (Image©Ashuntae) It was nice to see this cat hanging out with a statue at the resort I visited in Mexico. This resort had a beautiful garden with dozens of beautiful sculptures.  At first glance one may think it is also a statue or part of the overall sculpture.  As you can see, the white sculpture seems to be looking at the cat while pointing at something. Is he trying to get the cat’s attention? The cat doesn’t seem interested in chit chat, he just wants to hang out  and enjoy the view.  However, it is great that the statue has the cat to keep him company.

Hill of Crosses - image Google It is worth the trip to Lithuania for a once in a lifetime look at the legendary Hill of Crosses just outside Siauliai county in Lithuania. The rural area offers the sightseer a memorable ad mesmerizing taste o a tradition steeped in miracles, ghosts and defiant acts. 100,000 Crosses The Hill of Crosses is covered with over 100,000 religious symbols and crosses and crucifixes. Chimes can be heard in the eriee stillness of the expansive countryside in Lithuania . People come here to feel inspired, to offer prayers and to contemplate the defiance and resistance of days gone by. An act of defince There was an attempt to get rid of all vestiges of Christianity in Eastern Europe by the Soviet government. In response to this, people would defy the government by placing crucifixes in the  dark of night. The crosses continnue to multiply in spite of multiple bulldozings and today stands as a monument of defiance. Legendary Hill of C...

passengers, sunquest, light load  On a recent Sunquest vacation flight, the plane was carrying a light load and passengers were asked to voluntarily  give up  their seats in the front and move to the back or be forced to do so. This was a first for me. We had just been assigned seats two hours prior to boarding so it was puzzling as to why we were given seats in the front of the plane . Did Sunquest not know they would be carrying a light load and seat passengers accordingly rather than disrupt passengers after they boarded? Before take off, passengers were told that the plane was carrying a "light load" and they needed to re-balance the plane for take-off. They needed some 10 passengers from the first rows to move to the back rows. Most volunteered and others were told to move. This was only until the next stop to pick up more vacationers they the displaced passengers could move back to their seats. At the second stop to pick up passengers, it happened ...

Boiling Hole, Bahamas, Image credit Bahamas.com Google advanced images The Bahamas will leave you dumbstruck by the site of their natural wonders one of which is The Boiling Hole. Tidal conditions in the clear lake called the Boiling hole, created burps and bubbles. As the tide flows out to the sea, the water coming out of the cave causes bubbles on the surface.   When the tide flows inward, a whirlpool is created by the water rushing into the cave system. There is a boardwalk for viewing and a ladder to get closer to this wonder.   You may also get a glimpse of spy rays, baby sharks and the many birds nesting in the mangroves. The Boiling Hole is in Hepburn Town, Eight Mile Rock Grand Bahama Island.  

Image fish fry While visiting one of the glorious Islands in the Bahamas, be sure to enjoy one or more of their excellent fish fry days. Escape the resort and resort food and venture out to one of the many fish fry events held on the harbours or beaches. Fish Fry at Anchor Bay is held year round on Fridays at 6PM. Hosted by the Governor's Harbour Development Association and located at Anchor Bay in Governor's Harbour. The fish fry is a huge favorite of tourists and locals alike. Not only will you enjoy it but you will be helping a good cause since the proceeds go towards several community projects.        Another popular fish fry is the one held at St James Cistern every Saturday from mid January to August at 12PM . The fish fry is held under cork tree to raise funds for the Heritage Affair Homecoming . Along with the fish fry you can enjoy baked macaroni and cheese, peas and rice, barbeque chicken and conch fritter...

(C) Ashaunte 2015 I was in Cozumel, Mexico last week and came upon this unassuming eatery as I walked through the streets of Cozumel. There is no shortage of  places to eat in Cozumel. I hung around the cruise ship port area, shopping and taking in the sights. Restaurants along the way were actively greeting tourists, menu in hand with attempts to lure you into their restaurants. However, on one side street we noticed the sign "The Machete" and was somehow drawn to it. There were weathered wooden table and chairs on the sidewalk and no one was brandishing menus and enticing you to enter. We approached the doorway and as we were scanning the posted menus, a group just leaving told us that the food was very good. That was all we needed. Soon we were offered a table by the very casual and amiable waiter. I ordered a vegetable fajitas and my partner the chicken fajitas. I had expected the usual run of the mill fare that we get back home but was pleasantly surprised ...

On a recent trip through the Alberta Rockies, I had to stop at the famous Banff National Park, just for a few hours to take in some of the extraordinary beauty of the area. ©2015 The Penny Pincher Travel Blog  This famous park is located in the province of Alberta Canada and is known for its exceptional beauty. Two of the 3 mountain systems that make up the Rocky mountains is included in the Banff National park. There are three life zones in the park. The first one is the alpine tundra, some 7200 feet above, it is filled with fascinating animals and gorgeous flowers that somehow survive in a cold and dry environment. The second life zone is the sub-alpine forest densely packed with two types of spruce and pine trees where bears, chipmunks, ducks and birds freely roam. The third life zone is the montane zone which is a forested area with fir, spruce and pine trees and lots of deer and elk and lost of feeding and nesting areas at the base of this zone The town of Banff i...

There is no doubt, Vancouver British Columbia in Canada, lives up to the slogan on its licence plate" Beautiful British Columbia. But on a recent visit, I stumbled upon a seedier side of this city. READ MORE

Hop on a turn of the century free tram and ride around Old San Juan to your hearts content. Explore the sights and sounds and sample the cuisine. READ MORE

If you are dreaming of sand, sun and water and Jamaica is your destination, you will be well warned to avoid the city of Kingston even though not entirely. You wouldn't find beaches and resort style adventures in the capital city of Kingston but yet there are some interesting sights and sounds. Below are a few of the highlights you can experience in Kingston, Jamaica: 1) The Bob Marley Museum Image Bob Marley Museum Kingston Copywite Ashauntae 2) Hope Gardens Hope Gardens Kingston Image copywrite Ashauntae 3) Devon House Devon House Kingston Image copywrite Ashauntae 4) Devon House Ice Cream 5) Emancipation Park 6) Port Royal On the less relaxing side, you must deal with the hustle and bustle of city life. Remember, that while you may be vacationing, everyone else has to continue the rat race of life. Many of the shops and city life you will find in the Constant Springs road area. Walking the streets downtown can be similar to making your way through a corn m...

Image Iberostar Laguna Azul (Source PennyPincherBlog) After much encouragement from my travel agent we decided on the Iberostar Laguna Azul in Varadero Cuba. It was our first trip to Cuba we had a glorious week of fun, sun, adventure and  relaxation at the Iberostar Laguna Azul in Varadero Cuba. Breakfast buffet (Source PennyPincherBlog) FOOD .  We had read negative reviews about the food in Cuba being bad but the food selection to be very good in terms of the wide variety of vegetables, fruits and overall choice of dishes available. However, if you are a vegan, vegetable protein sources like beans were often cooked with some kind of meat. Since there were sufficient meat dishes available there was no need to add meat to the beans. There was a marked absence of whole wheat or whole grain breads or cereals during our stay. Image Iberostar Laguna Azul (Source PennyPincherBlog)     THE RESORT.  The beauty of the Iberostar resort is undenia...

The Gallery in the Park is a hidden gem in the Town of  Altona, Manitoba and is well worth a visit. Sculpture Gardens waterfall   I took a day trip to  Altona, Manitoba   to see the Sunflower Festival held between the 27th and 29th of August, and ended up, by pure chance, in the Gallery in the Park. The Gallery in the Park is adjacent to theAltona Centennial park which is where I thought I was headed. Gallery in the Park  A stately white colonial house  stood close to the entrance of the park in all its majesty. Beyond the house I caught a glimpse of waterfalls and sculptures amidst a glorious landscape. I decided to leave the outside for last and enter the building through a closed door. I was greeted by a friendly young man and proceeded to view the first exhibit by Artist Don McMaster. A  truly wonderful exhibit which chronicles the life of David Thompson who was a Canadian explorer and map maker. McMaster tells the stor...

The disney cruise lines are going the distance with their onboard entertainment. If any cruise can provide you with dazzling displays, it would be the Disney cruise. After all, you are getting a taste of disneyland aboard the cruise. With a 1,340 seat entertainment palace covering 3 decks, no one is left wanting. The musical line up includes Disney's Aladdin musical spectacular, Wishes and An Unforgettable Journey. Spectacular displays of color and sound emblazen the night sky. The disney cruise has the largest fireworks display on a cruise ship, a delight for children of ll ages. The nightly entertainment includes exceptional musicals, high flying acts and swashbuckling adventures. The Disney magic is alive and well on a Disney cruise.

Your flight is booked and you are all set to embark on your Caribbean escape and you are likely the envy of all your friends and family who must remain behind. Just remember, that the Caribbean experience is one of total leisure, pleasure and relaxation so try not to agonize about all the things you must take with you. The basics will do just fine. I encourage you to make a list early with the suggestions below. READ MORE