Staying in Touch: alternatives to expensive cell phone plans

Staying in touch on the road, overseas or at home does not have to be expensive. As more and more people take to mobiles and 'smart phones', cell phone companies find more and more ways to take our money. Our recent travels overseas forced us to find alternatives to traditional cell phone plans. Now that we are back in the States, I've found that those same alternatives work just as well here... and save a substantial amount of money!

I've heard many people in the last few months complain about their 'phone bill'. I've shared my set-up with several folks and thought that writing up how I do it may help more people break free of contracts and save some money in the process.

Disclaimer: this is not an endorsement of any company or service. The services I mention are simply what I've found works for me. The costs are as of the date of this post. With the flood of VIOP, cell and service providers, you are likely to find alternatives that work better for you. Knowing what is possible is half the battle... making it work for you is the other half.

First, I'll start with what I had... an iPhone with AT&T service (unlimited data, texting and around 900 minutes a month). This ran me a little over $100 a month including fees, taxes, etc. My 2 year contract with AT&T ended shortly after we returned from Europe, so I had some time to try my alternative plan back here in the States before deciding whether or not to renew.

Last year, before leaving for Europe, we did some research on European cell plans and SIM cards. One thought was to simply get a pre-paid "burner" phone for use over there, but there were a couple problems with that idea. First, I did not want an overseas phone number that my friends and family back home would have to pay international rates to reach me or have to pay international rates myself to call the US. Second, I really enjoyed my iPhone apps and games and did not want to have to carry 2 devices.

For those that are not familiar with cell phone network protocols, there are two types; GSM and CDMA. There are many differences, but that is not the subject of this post. What's important to know is that in Europe and most countries outside North America, cell phones are of the GSM variety. Most North American carriers are CDMA. So if you are not on AT&T or T-Mobile, you have a CDMA phone that simply will not work in GSM countries... regardless of "international plans, etc".

As my iPhone was with AT&T, I did have a GSM phone. Our research led us to a 'Dual Number Global SIM Card' from GeoSIM (see link on right side of this page). This SIM card works pretty much anywhere in the world and is a no contract, pre-pay plan. Your GSM phone has to be unlocked in order for GeoSIM to work in it. You can set it to auto-reload (in my case $15 at a time) when the balance nears zero. The appeal of this GeoSIM for me was that it comes with two phone numbers... a UK and a US. This means that my phone will ring when either number is called. There is no contract and no monthly fee (although there is a small, $10, annual fee each year)... you simply pay per minute of use. In coming calls to your UK number are free and calls to your US number are 14¢ per minute. Outgoing calls depend on where you're calling from and where you're calling to. Calls from the US to the US are 48¢ per minute. This can get expensive if you talk a lot, but this is only one link in the chain.

The second piece is Skype. While Skype is no secret and has tens of millions of users, I believe most people just scratch the surface of what is possible with Skype. Skype has a plan that allows you to call any US or Canada number (unlimited minutes) for $2.99 a month. There are other subscriptions that are country or region specific, but US and Canada is fine for my needs. Once you have a subscription with Skype, they will give you 50% off of a Skype phone number ($30 a year). This is a normal US phone number like any other, the difference being that when someone calls it, Skype rings and you answer with whatever device on which you have Skype running at the time... your PC or Mac and if you have a iPhone or Android, get the free Skype app and it works just like your phone. An internet connection is required to use Skype, so this may not be an option at all times.

The last piece of the puzzle is Google Voice (GV). GV is a free phone number, but a virtual one. It can not make or receive calls in the literal sense. Once you sign up for GV and pick a phone number (or port a number to it) you have one number to give people as a way to reach you. (If you've been keeping track, I have 4 phone numbers). There's no need to tell people which number to call or when or worry about if you have wifi... for me, the only number people know is my GV. Behind the scenes, you register your other numbers (GeoSIM, Skype) with GV, then you tell GV where to send your calls. If you're home or somewhere with wifi, send them to Skype. If you're on the road with no data, send them to GeoSIM. The person calling you simply dials your number and you decide where to answer. The other benefit of GV is free SMS (texting) to US numbers. Skype charges per text message, but open up GV on your computer or smartphone and (if you're on wifi) you've got free SMS from the only number people have for you. Skype allows you 'spoof' your outgoing number, so when I call people from Skype it shows my GV number. GV also has free voicemail so if you don't or can't answer (there is caller ID), your caller can leave you a message. GV can not "forward" to non-US numbers, so the US number on my GeoSIM becomes even more essential, although it does cost 14¢ a minute.

I use my GeoSIM as little as possible since that is the one variable cost in the equation. I find I am much more selective in making cell phone calls - do I need to make this call or just want to? Can it wait until I am on wifi so I can call with Skype? Receiving calls on my GeoSIM is a matter of severity. If I choose to answer, I find out if its urgent. If not, I ask if I can call back later (with Skype when I'm on wifi). If it is urgent, I pay the 14¢ a minute. I've found (being selective with my use, not stingy) that I am 'topping-up' my GeoSIM about once a month, $15 at a time, or $180 a year. Skype costs me $66 a year for a phone number and unlimited calls to US/Canada. That's it and that is over $950 less per year than what I was paying! Even if I doubled my GeoSIM use, I'd still be about 1/3 of what I was paying. Note: The cost of home internet is not factored into this as I am paying for that with or without a "phone plan".


Pros:

• I can make and receive calls anywhere in the world
• I have one US phone number (behind the scenes I have 4)
• It doesn't cost anyone in the US anything extra to call me
• It doesn't cost me anything extra to call someone in the US
  
• I choose where my calls go and when
• I have free SMS, Caller ID and Voicemail
• $20 a month (averaged) vs. $100
• No contract
  

Cons:

• It is complicated, although once you get the hang of it it is actually very easy
• I do not have cellular data

The over-the-air data was the hardest thing in all of this to give up, but with public wifi becoming so ubiquitous, it is becoming less of an issue. When we were in Spain, pretty much every cafe, bar and restaurant had wifi. It was protected, but stop in for a pint and they would gladly give you the key. Eventually I had almost all of them on our walking route from our apartment to downtown. As we walked I would jump from hotspot to hotspot. I essentially had a (free) data plan at that point. Just make sure your phone has wifi capability

My iPhone was locked to AT&T when I bought it, but unlocking was pretty easy and when I popped the GeoSIM in, it worked like a charm. Recently my iPhone bit the dust, so I purchased an unlocked GSM Android based phone on-line for about $350. GeoSIM works perfectly. I downloaded Skype and GV (both free) from the Android Market. The transition was seemless and even with the new phone purchase I'm still way under what I was paying.

Lastly, I should point out that GeoSIM and most other companies that offer these type of cards are not based in the US. So setting up a pre-pay/auto top-up with them will result in foreign transactions fees on your credit card, if your card charges them.

Happy traveling. Happy talking. Happy savings.

What a Trip! Our (almost) year on the road...

It has been a fantastic year (almost) of being road warriors so I thought I'd do a little summary (well, I will shoot for little, but it's been a big year!) and share some thoughts.

200 days on the move (with a few more to come soon...)
6 countries (U.S. included)
3 continents

Here's a list of all the cities where we touched down:

U.S.: Atlanta, Greensboro, Nashville, Oak Ridge, TN, Nags Head/Outer Banks, NC, Charleston,SC, Richmond, Washington, D.C, Baltimore, Charleston, SC, Seattle, San Clemente, Laguna Beach & Anaheim, CA

Canada: Vancouver, British Columbia; Parksville, BC; Victoria, BC (& a few other little towns on Vancouver Island)

U.K.: Gibraltar, London, Bath, Lacock, Stonehenge

Spain: Alicante, Valencia, Denia, Benidorm, Madrid, Barcelona, Granada, Sevilla, Vejer de la Frontera, Jerez, San pol de Mar, Montserrat

Morrocco: Tangier

Italy: Venice

People most often ask what our favorite place/experience was, and that is truly a hard question to answer (like picking your favorite child:-). But, overall I tell people that the ability to live in Spain for three months and the day-to-day experiences are some of the fondest memories. That may not be the most exciting answer, compared to standing at the top of Gibraltar looking out into Africa or absorbing the sights and smells of the crowded markets in Tangier, but it holds the dearest spot in my heart. There is something different about being settled in a "home away from home" and doing all of the day to day (sometimes mundane) tasks in a new place that made me feel very alive and refreshed. I never did a "gap year" or a semester abroad, but I fully believe it is something everyone should experience at some point in life.

There is so much to discover, no matter how short or long a distance you travel. We went to new neighborhoods and caught up with old friends in places we had lived before, like Atlanta and Nashville. We delved in to bits of American history at Oak Ridge and on a Charleston carriage tour. Our relaxing visit to the Outer Banks was full of memories of family beach trips over the years. We've tasted wine in such a wide variety of regions, I've learned good wine is not exclusive to one terrior. And, we've seen the differences and similarities of people of many cultures. And, rediscovered the goodness inherent in humankind.

One of my other loves in life is reading and I always try to put my books together with my travels and places. I have tried to absorb things about the history and culture of some of the places we have traveled by simultaneously reading books about them or by local authors. I think I read every memoir of expats in Spain (and there are quite a few, full of humorous stories). I enjoyed some wonderful novels based in Barcelona, a history of Venice, a modern day look at Spanish culture and politics , and laughed my way through Bill Bryson's account of England during our days in the U.K. I try to rotate some of those books throughout the Amazon favorites section on the blog, but feel free to email me for (or with) suggestions too.

What will I take away from our journeys? A brain bursting with memories...sights, sounds, smells, newly discovered favorite foods and beverages and new friends. Also, a renewed love for travel and zest for life. Travel can be discomforting in many ways, and that's a positive in that it gets you "out of the rut"...that's my experience at least.

You can not only discover new things about the world, but about yourself. You may rethink your priorities or be opened up to ideas you wouldn't have at home. For some, it means coming home and feeling a renewed appreciation of the comforts of home. For others, it is a reminder of all that there is left to explore. And, that coming home can mean many different things. Personally, I have learned that home is not my house and that things mean very little to me. But, home is friends and family who mean everything. Home doesn't have to be a place...I feel the world is my home and that I was meant to see more of it. I have had wanderlust as long as I can remember and I know it is part of me. I am anchored by my friends and family who I know will be close by wherever I go. Fortunately, with today's technology and (relative) ease of travel, we're never far apart.

We've been lucky to do a lot of travel before this whirlwind trip as well, and you can read about more of our adventures in past posts. You can see we don't necessarily discriminate in the type of travel we will do...everything from baseball trips around the U.S. to luxury cruises. But, our favorite travel really is getting in to the local area and discovering as much on our own as we can...and getting those glimpses of day to day life even if it isn't a three month stay.

Happy travels to all and here's to many more adventures!

Bull Fighting in Spain

Bull Fighting dates back to 711AD and like it or not, is the National Sport of Spain. It is also seen in parts of France, Portugal, Mexico and Central/South America. In Spain, there are hundreds of cities that stage Bull Fighting and most are in the Andalucia region. We've seen the 'Plaza de Toros' (Bull Ring) in Seville, Valencia and Granada. However, according to the locals the place to see a Bull Fight (outside of Andalucia) is in Madrid. The Bull Fighting season runs from March to October and similar to other sports, starts with a 'pre-season'.

Our recent trip to Madrid (accompanied by good friends from the US) enabled us to catch one of the final pre-season matches for 2011. Pre-season is really no different from other Bull Fights except the Matadors are young novices trying to gain popularity in the sport.

I was recently asked, "so they kill the bull, right?" Yes, and 5 to 7 more. Each "match" lasts around 15-20 minutes from the time the bull enters the ring, until they drag its dead body out. I call it a "match" but in reality the bull doesn't really stand a chance. Although we did see one pass where the bull got hold of the Matador, flipped him airborne and came close to trampling him. The other Matadors, assistants and men on horses quickly came to his rescue and distracted the bull. It happens but is rare. In that match, score one for the bull.

When we were in Seville we toured the Bull Fighting museum. Our guide told us how many years ago, in the 1950's I think, one of Spain's most celebrated Matadors was killed in a match. She then pointed to this killer bull's head mounted on the wall, next to its mother. After they put the killer bull down, they killed its mother so that she would never produce another killer bull.

Bull Fighting is not pretty, but does have a beautiful artistry and ceremony to it. It is bloody, cruel and has to be seen to really be understood. I am not advocating the sport or recommending everyone sees a Bull Fight, but when in Rome... or in this case Spain. It is truly unique and very, very Spanish.

The next part of this post describes a match... and in some detail, so be warned.

A match starts by several Matador's assistants (Picadors) and Horsemen (Rejoneadores) teasing and angering the bull. This is in an attempt to gauge the bull's behavior and reactions. After about 5 minutes of this, the Horsemen stabs the bull in the shoulder once to twice to start the bleeding. The Matador's assistants have the bull take several passes at them while they attempt to drive Banderillas (long decorative spikes) into the bull's back. Once the bull is further weakened and made more bloody by the Banderillas, the Matador throws his hat into the ring and comes out to finish off the bull.

The Matador and bull perform a sort-of dance to the death as the bull makes many charging passes. The Matador is judged by his skill and artistry at getting the bull to charge and successfully avoiding getting gored in the process. After the bull has made many passes and the Matador is ready, he is presented with his killing sword, or Espada. This time it's the Matador that charges at the bull and attempts to drive the Espada into the bull's heart. If he misses, he is booed by the crowd and tries again until he succeeds. The bull will then fall to the ground and will finally be put out of it's misery as the Matador drives a Puntilla (small dagger) into the base of bull's skull severing it's spinal cord. Lastly, the dead bull is attached to horses and dragged out of the ring. Within minutes, a new match starts. Most Bull Fights consist of 6 or 8 matches.

People say, you either love bull fighting or hate it. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I imagine in the dead of summer, with seats in the shade among a packed arena of fans and more experienced Matadors is a better way to see a Bull Fight. I would like to experience that, perhaps with a local fan who can better explain the history, culture and sport. I'm not sure my sensibilities would allow me to become an ardent supporter, but I think to travel is to explore, be open and learn more before judging via those sensibilities.

Ryan Air

by Bryan


Ryan Air is the low-cost European carrier that wanted to offer "standing room only" fares, says they will charge customers for use of the toilet during flight, suggested the co-pilot isn't really necessary and was most recently in the news for the baggage incident (and retaliation) with the group of Belgian college students. Granted, a lot of Ryan Air's bad reputation is self-inflicted but on our recent round trip from Valencia, Spain to Venice, Italy we found the airline to be efficient, fun in a quirky way and well beyond our expectations. Our expectations were admittedly very low.

When we told people we were flying Ryan Air to go to Venice we got a lot of rolled-eyes in return. Which is the other part of Ryan Air's bad reputation, that lies with consumers expectations. I think they somehow forget they chose to be on a low-cost, no frills airline. I will admit that 30 euro ($42) for 1 checked bag is expensive, but only when compared to the 12 euro cost of the ticket itself. There are administration fees, online check-in and booking fees, but they are not much, all disclosed before you book and nothing is hidden. In total our two round trip tickets were less than 165 euro ($230) and considerably less than the same flight on other carriers. For about 50% more to fly a different airline we could have flown into the closer Venice airport saving us about 30 minutes and 8 euro total for the bus into town, oh and got a free in flight soda. The point is to remember why you chose to fly Ryan Air in the first place.

The in flight sales pitches are frequent, although harmless and kind of funny. The Flight Attendants parade the isles selling watches, perfume, smoke-less cigarettes (which are allowed on flights in Europe), lottery tickets (the Ryan Air Sweepstakes) as well as food and beverages. I didn't see anyone buy anything except drinks. This may sound annoying, but not at all different (just more frequent) than the "duty free" shopping time on our much more expensive trans-Atlantic flights with major carriers. With earbuds pumping my favorite tunes into my head, this was nothing more than Flight Attendants walking the aisles. It does however, seem to explain the cabin baggage limitations... they need more room in the plane for all the stuff they are trying to sell.

Ryan and most other low-cost European carriers also save money (and you money) by not having gate service. When it's time board or disembark everyone uses the airplane's steps and walks across the tarmac to/from the terminal. Everyone is allowed one carry on bag and it must fit into that little metal sizing cage that you always see by the gate, but always ignore. They are serious and look at every bag. If it doesn't fit, pay to check it or it doesn't fly... no exceptions. Everyone got a cheap flight, there are no classes, no preferential treatment, no one gets away with anything and there are no exceptions. Firm but fair and egalitarian.

One round trip in no way qualifies us as Ryan Air "frequent fliers", but our 737-800 flight was comfortable, cheap and on-time. In fact, our return was 15 minutes early. I'm sure, just like every other airline, there are occasional hiccups. Just remember going in that you get what you pay for and I don't mean this in a negative way. You didn't get a free Coke. You didn't get two ounces of peanuts. You didn't get half of an overhead bin for all of your crap. You paid for a safe, comfortable and hopefully on-time flight from point A to point B... and if that is what you received, what is the problem? Try to remember the ad slogan for Delta Airlines in the 80's, "we get you there". Ok, bad example.

Lastly, here are tips for flying Ryan Air, or any other low cost European carrier:

• Pay the extra few euro for priority boarding. For this Ryan Air flight it was 8 euro round trip and we were well ahead of the masses.
• Arrive early, to save costs there are only a couple agents and lines can be long.
• Get to the gate early. Remember the days of lining up early at the gate for Southwest flights and be happy you are "experienced" in this ritual.
• Pack light, seriously. If you don't need it in the plane, put it in your checked bag. If you didn't pay to check a bag, don't bring it at all.
• Headphones and enjoyable audio is a must.
  
• If after you do your research and find that Ryan or whatever low cost / no frills airline you chose is the best, do not forget why! Booking the ticket usually happens weeks, if not months before the actual flight. Remember you chose this option and you need to set your expectations accordingly.
  
• Forget that motivational saying about focusing on the journey, not the destination. If you care about the couple hour journey so much, pay more for it. In this case, it is all about the destination and getting there to enjoy it.

Snapshots from Spain

A snapshot of some of our day-to-day Spain experiences:

• Going to the city market to purchase fruits, vegetables and meat…the market is a bustling little place, with a few small bars/cafes where men sit drinking beer and snacking through the morning. On special days, the surrounding streets are filled with vendors with a huge array of fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs and nuts. You try some of the oranges, taste a fig, and jump in to get the best of the produce. The inside stalls sell everything from sausages to meat, chicken and dried seafood, plus baked goods, German products (the area has a large German contingent), deli meats and cheeses.

• Taking the FGV train (more a tram) from our small town throughout the Costa Blanca. The journey is quite scenic, but not a very efficient mode of simply getting from one place to the next—more a journey ideal for sightseers like us. It is used by many locals as a commuting method, as well as the high school students who travel some distance to school. We traveled a beautiful journey along the coast, winding through the mountains and arriving in Benidorm.

Benidorm is a large resort town, filled with European retirees. We walked through the crowded high rises down the old town and to the paseo along the beach, where Northern European retirees crowded the beach cafes and bars offering cheap food and drinks. Sometimes you have to just enjoy tackiness in all its glory, including the “American” biker bar, cheap souvenir shops and 2 for 1 drink offers galore.

• Taking a Sunday afternoon stroll along the waterfront with the crowd of locals, enjoying the varied scenery of the rocky coastline, the beautiful holiday homes and people watching. Today’s walk was even more exciting because the wind is stirring up the waves, so the surf was pounding and surfers were even catching some waves down along the Rotes beach.

• Getting a recommendation for the best area in town for tapas and finding the spots packed with locals. Doing the tapas stroll, having a glass of wine and a snack from place to place (and trying to figure out what some of the different foods are, with our limited Spanish…and being daring enough to occasionally try them even if we aren’t sure).

• Eating the delicious paella and local seafood. I don’t think I can ever have paella in a U.S. restaurant anymore—I had been to some supposedly wonderful Spanish restaurants before, but I have now been spoiled. I guess I’m going to be a bit of a paella snob from now on…

Crossroads between Spain, Britain, Two Continents & Two Seas

Gibraltar
by Bryan

It is an area less than 3 square miles and 30,000 residents, yet it has its own currency, own language and a history that spans back to long before the Earth was round. Gibraltar, on the southern most point of the Iberian peninsula, has been a British Territory since the 1700s. Driving into Gibraltar we instantly felt we were in a unique and special place in the world.

Just after crossing the boarder our bus had to cross over the live and active runway of the Gibraltar airport, holder of two Guinness World Records for only airport with a main highway crossing the runway and closest airport to a city center. Crossing it is also the only way in and out of town. The road and pedestrian walkway close when a plane is taking off or landing. If you are in the middle of crossing at this time, the gates go down, the siren sounds and you better hurry!




The main attraction here is, of course, The Rock of Gibraltar. One of the two Pillars of Hercules, it was at one time thought to be the end of the earth.

The Rock of Gibraltar is full of sites, beyond it's vast and unique views of the world. A quick hop into a guided taxi and you are on your way up. Not of the faint of heart, the road is narrow and treacherous. Within a few minutes, you are at the top where you see Europe, Africa, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea all at the same time. Truly stunning!






We met the famous Gibraltar monkeys who are cute, wild, seemingly always hungry and make you feel as if they think you are there solely to see them. They roamed around and one even jumped on our taxi as if asking if he could come along for the ride... or maybe he just wanted some food, we weren't sure.





We then walked thorough a narrow tunnel (past the gift shop)and were inside the The Rock, St. Michael's Cave to be exact. This cave is full of Stalactites and Stalagmites formed over thousands and thousands of years. It's dark and wet inside the cave system. They pump classical music through the sound system, which is kind of cheesy, but then you see the stage and the seating built into the rock. There only a handful of concerts there per year, mainly in summer, and we imagined ourselves sitting inside this cave listening to a concert... the acoustics, the setting, the history of this unique place... wow.

From the natural caves, we headed into the man-made system. The English, during WWII, knew that losing the tiny, yet extremely strategic Gibraltar would be devastating to the Allies. So, they built a vast city of tunnels inside The Rock. The tour of these tunnels is fascinating and terrifying at the same time when you think of the thousands of soldiers that lived in them and the constant threat of siege. We left the tunnel system and hopped into a van that looked like it had been there since before WWII and started the drive down. The driver's only rule for the van was “don't scream”. Like a theme-park ride, except you know it's real, we descended down the two-way, but one lane switchbacks dodging and barely missing other cars, scooters and pedestrians and finally landed in the center of town.

Happy to be on our own and on foot after the ride down, we walked down Main Street. The architecture, shops, pubs, restaurants really made us feel like we were in England. Wait... this isn't Spain anymore, we are in England. We had lunch in a traditional English pub with its smokey bar, edible food, and bad service...
yep, this is England alright, except they drive on the right side of the road here. We spent the rest of the afternoon poking in and out of shops and taking in the sights. We traded a couple Euros for some souvenir “Gibs” - Gibraltar money that, although the same as the British Pound, is only good in Gibraltar. Lastly, we went to the airport and walked across the runway for one of those “only here” moments before getting back on our bus for the 90 minute drive back to Torremolinos in Spain.

Georgia Wineries: A Real Surprise

Our friends shared a pleasant treat with us on our visit to Atlanta. There are some surprisingly good wines being produced in “Georgia Wine Country”—in an area north of Atlanta, around Dahlonega, GA. The area is beautiful, so the trip is worth it for the scenery alone. We traveled on a shining, sunny day and with the mountain breeze, it was about the most perfect day. The trip is a bit of a hike—up GA 400 and then through some extensive (and windy, hilly) back roads. But, not a bad jaunt for a Sunday afternoon and you’ll be rewarded once you arrive. We had originally planned to have brunch at Wolf Mountain Vineyard but decided to visit later in the day. The dining room there has spectacular views and apparently the brunch is great, so it’s probably worth visiting for brunch and making a day of it.

We started at Frogtown Cellars, which has a beautiful facility for tastings and events. They offer a 9 wine tasting for $15—whites or reds. I tried the whites and overall, had pretty positive impressions. My friend tried the reds, so we both got to taste a bit of both. My favorite white was probably the 2006 Frogtown Inclination, a blend of Chardonnay, Viognier and Vidal fermented in French oak barrels. It was easy drinking but with a nice flavor—not too sweet, but with a bit of toasty caramel on the end. Other favorites included: 2008 Viognier, 2008 Vineaux Blanc and the MRV (Rhone style blend of Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier. They also had a nice Vidal dessert wine called Cachet—not too sweet for a dessert wine, especially after recently traveling to Niagara and tasting true ice wines and very sweet Vidals and late harvest Rieslings. Frogtown also offers a “panini bar” if you need a hearty snack along your way, and my friends really enjoyed the Italian sandwich, made with Prosciutto.

We went on to Wolf Mountain, which has stunning views and a great facility. You go through the dining room down to the tasting room and can enjoy your wine on the terrace as well. They offer a standard tasting and an estate tasting, which includes their sparkling wines. This vineyard introduced champagne style sparkling wines to the region, and seems to be doing a pretty good job with what they are producing. I’m not a big rose fan, but they had a nice, relatively dry rose which I enjoyed. It was worth the visit for the views alone and the wine went nicely with the setting.

There are a few more vineyards to check out in the area. Blackstock is the largest and was the first in the area—apparently; they provide grapes for a number of the smaller wineries. We left in the afternoon, and everything pretty much closed by 5 on Sunday so we didn’t have a lot of time to explore the area, but Dahlonega is a cute little town and there’s plenty to check out in the area for a nice day trip.

Traveling as a Couple

My guess is there are a lot of couples like us…we have enjoyed travelling together throughout our relationship and think travel is an essential part of life. We enjoy a little bit of everything when it comes to travel and are pretty open to trying new things—we’ve done everything from cruises (weekend, low cost cruise of Bahamas through fully inclusive, luxury week long European cruise) to a very structured, sports adventure trip with a group to excursions on our own of all sizes and prices.

On our trips, we like to be busy and see the sights, but also experience a bit of the local flavor, plus rest, relax and have fun—so we try to balance things out. But, each trip is unique in flavor. I guess we’re pretty “equal opportunity” when it comes to travel (other than not being very "outdoorsy"). Travel as a couple requires compromise. I think it’s one of the advantages of traveling with a partner, that it loosens one up a bit and broadens your horizons and simultaneously, the travel experience does the same thing for the relationship. You have to be flexible in travel--and in relationships...

I'll share our adventures and some of the things we discover on our trips, plus tips and highlights (things we wish we knew and usually aren't in the guidebooks)...