Transnistria? Where??

It is always exciting to read up on obscure countries that nobody really hears about or visits. Featured GoNOMAD writer Daniel Reynolds Riveiro writes about his time spent in the country of Transnistria that technically, does not exist. After it declared independence in 1990, the little country wedged between Moldova and Ukraine has left haunting images from the times of the Soviet Union, as well as a very successful Cognac factory. Enjoy the excerpts!

"Back in America, when I let people know I was going to Transnistria, the collective response was: “where?”

And the reason they had never heard of it was because Transnistria, despite having its own constitution, army and currency, isn’t recognized by any other sovereign nation and technically doesn’t exist."

"A statue of Lenin still stands in front of the president’s administrative offices, a Soviet Star is atop the parliament building and a hammer and sickle sit outside the train station.

Diana, my traveling companion from Ukraine, was in a delirium of nostalgia, pointing excitedly to things not seen since her Soviet childhood: fonts from the 80s, Soviet water dispensing machines, Soviet beer kiosks, 20-year-old buses, and stores that are named by their one state-mandated function."

Tis the Season for Camping

Believe it or not, I have never been camping growing up (my mother always hated not having a hot shower). But alas, summer has finally arrived and this year, I am determined to try it for the first time. I found this article from the New York Times called The Last Minute Guide to Summer Camping. Jane Margolies mentions some excellent campground choices all over the U.S. I hope you find this article as helpful as I do. Enjoy!

"Although it’s still early in the season, there are already signs that more Americans will be vacationing in campgrounds this summer. Bookings are up at many parks — in some cases by as much as 30 percent. And some campgrounds were filled on weekends even before Memorial Day, the traditional kickoff of the camping season."

"Many in the camping community believe that the bad economy is causing this sudden interest in the great outdoors, with people who are worried about finances forgoing a stay at a fancy resort or a trip overseas in favor of a sojourn in the woods that can cost 10 bucks a night. Gas prices that are significantly lower than last summer’s (albeit rising) may also be affecting decisions to hit the road."


"Although many experienced campers booked five and six months ago, when many national park campsites went on sale, the good news for latecomers is that there is still plenty of room at campgrounds that take reservations, particularly during midweek, when demand is lower."

A Positive Outlook: Volunteering in Bomang'ombe

Nellie Huang tells her heart-warming story about volunteering in Tanzania, getting stuck in the mud, hitchhiking and the people she meets along the way. This is an inspiring article that must not be overlooked. Enjoy the excerpts!


"Our new friend Osle, one of the village committee members, wanted to show us his hometown. In his words, "You have to see Machame. I want to thank you for teaching our children and I want to show you my home. It’s beautiful, you won’t regret it." He was right. We would never forget this day."

"We had entered into the simple lives of the villagers in Bomang’ombe, and the hearts of children hopeful about their bright future. Within the few months of teaching in Bomani Primary School, I bonded closely with Naomi, a fellow teacher and a real friend whom I could confide in and be myself."

"Her husband Deo showed us many sides of Tanzania, even a thing or two about drinking beer in Tanzania (he sure could drink!). We shared travel tales with them, while they told us about their childhood and families."

"Not long after, Osle’s truck came to a halt. Two locals were standing by the side of the road and smiling as us. Conversations in Swahili were exchanged, and in no time, the two men were climbing up onto the truck and joining the ride. We said hi to our new travel mates. Life was as simple as this in Tanzania."

Amherst, MA: I Love this Town

Feeling a bit homesick for my old college town of Amherst, MA I decided to search GoNOMAD for any articles related to the area. Luckily, I stumbled across this gem written by Kevin McDowell about the places to be and see in Amherst; a quaint New England town with so many things to discover. Enjoy the excerpts!

"Antonio’s Pizza: Mentioned first for a reason. One of the best slices of pizza I have ever tasted, up there with the North End and New York City. The key is the crust, thin and crispy, but still somehow able to support the ludicrous amount of toppings on every slice. Pay no mind to the occasionally sarcastic or impatient counter workers; Antonio’s is a must visit on any trip to Amherst."

"Judies: Known throughout New England for their famous popovers. Expanded now into a huge winding space with comfy seating and great lighting."

"The Harp: You can find Harpo himself behind the bar here most nights of the week. Always talkative, usually joking with (or about) his guests, Harpo’s place is always a good time. You get the feeling he was born to run a bar. North Amherst, north of UMass at the end of North Pleasant St."

"Riding the Norwottuck Rail Trail, a 10-mile bike path running from Belchertown to Northampton (another busy college town), offering views of local scenery, the highlight a rail bridge over the Connecticut River. Soon to be repaved, after someone decided that paving bike paths with recycled broken glass didn't make much sense."

"The Amherst Chamber of Commerce has a walking tour of Amherst, highlighting more than thirty buildings and features of interest including the homes of the town's two most famous residents, Emily Dickinson.

Amherst also has 20-odd walking trails named after famous writers. The town continues to be a haven for the literary with a number of indie bookstores and scores of writers and picturebook artists in residence."

Salt Dunes, Gray Flamingos and the Dutch West Indies

You would never expect to encounter pyramids down in the Caribbean, but these mysterious pyramids do exist (also known as sea salt mounds). Contributing writer to GoNOMAD.com Toccoa Switzer paints a beautiful and endearing story about her discovery of the salt dunes, gray flamingos and other elements that crave to be discovered in the Dutch West Indies. Enjoy the excerpts below!


"But it is what lies above the water that captures my attention. At the southern most tip of the island, I notice a range of cone-shaped mountains, the color of snow. They dot the barren landscape like pyramids in an Egyptian desert. "

"The expat explains how the island’s dry arid weather and steady trade winds make it an ideal location for solar salt production. The topography also plays a key role.

The flat shoreline allows the sea to fill shallow pools, known as salinas. As the salt water sits, the sun and wind evaporate the water, leaving the salt behind to crystallize."

"I also learn that flamingos aren’t really pink but grayish-white. The birds change color from feeding in the salt pans. As you drive south on the island past the dive sites you can see a series of ponds, some brown, some green, others coral red depending on their levels of algae and bacteria. The rosier colors reflect higher levels of saline."

Traveling the High Seas on a Low Budget

Many who travel set out with expectations of moving fast and spending big, however when traveling by freighter line, these expectations are pleasantly unmet. Departing on a freighter voyage entails many of the amenities that one might find while traveling on a cruise ship, but at a pace that is a true travelers dream.

A recent article by Maggie Freleng about freighter travel on GoNOMAD.com stimulated my deepest desires as a traveler; to relax and to enjoy my myself and my surroundings. Not being surrounded by "neurotic tourists", but instead by crew members from across the globe seems like a pretty good way to avoid many of the pitfalls that are often inherently included in traveling by large commercial cruise lines.

The diversity in the composition of the crew offered a rich variety in both company and cuisine, which created a comfortable environment while offering delicious samples of ethnic foods. As well as a good environment, one can also find themselves steering away from the more conventional cruise ship activities like water slides and Tiki bars, and find themselves partaking in more
wholesome travel activities such as watching the dolphins swim next to the ship and watching the sunset over the bow of the ship.

Traveling by freighter gives a traveler the best of both worlds; time to relax between the hectic beauty of the port cities, as well as good company to travel with. The third, and perhaps most underrated value of all when traveling by freighter is a look through the porthole into the the industry that provides our global economy with all of its goods.

From Brisbane Australia to the Philippines; from the U.K. to the U.S., everything we own is being shipped by freight lines. Virtually all of our possessions and provisions are transported by these behemoth freight ships, and for less than one hundred dollars a day; we as travelers have the opportunity to do what we love best, while riding on the back of the boats that make the world turn.

An Introvert Reaches Out

I was so excited to stumble across this article and being an introvert myself, I HAD to include it here. Sophia Dembling writes about the struggles and rewards that come from being a shy traveler in her article, "Confessions of an Introverted Traveler." She gives a refreshing point of view of travelers who tend to shy away from forced social interactions; a common theme amongst traveling to new places. You may find yourself feeling exactly the same way. Enjoy the excerpts!


"Oh, I’m always happy enough when interesting people stumble into my path. It’s a lagniappe, and I’m capable of connecting with people when the opportunity arises. And when the chemistry is right, I enjoy it.

But I don’t seek people out, I am terrible at striking up conversations with strangers and I am happy exploring a strange city alone. I don’t seek out political discourse with opinionated cab drivers or boozy bonding with locals over beers into the wee hours. By the time the hours get wee, I’m usually in bed in my hotel room, appreciating local color TV. (So sue me, but I contend that television is a valid reflection of a society.)"

"Introversion and extroversion are inborn traits, and the difference between them is not that one is gregarious and at ease in the world and the other shy and awkward. Rather, extroverts are outwardly motivated and gain energy from interaction with the outside world while introverts are more inwardly directed and drained by interaction with others. Introverts’ thinking tends to be deep and slow, we require copious time alone, we prefer probing conversation to shallow chitchat, and our social lives are geared more towards intimate one-on-one interactions than “more the merrier” free-for-alls."


"Though I don’t need to talk to a lot of people, I love watching them. Many of my favorite travel memories involve sitting and watching. I spent hours under the midnight sun in the Vigeland Sculpture Garden in Oslo, watching people wander among the statues. In Venice, Tom and I returned several times to a café with tables under a huge tree where we passed some time over snacks and cold drinks, watching Venetians go about their business. In Rome my niece and I ended every day with gelato at a favorite spot outside the Pantheon. Sitting, eating, watching. Conversation optional."

Great Deals Down Under

While Americans are busting out the SPF 55, lawn chairs and oversized sunglasses, Australians are preparing for the winter. However, an Australian winter is not what it seems for they experience a much milder winter than any northerner can comprehend. Michelle Higgins, reporter for the New York Times, outlines the discounted prices in travel due to the struggling economy and also provides some great deals for those interested in checking out the land down under this summer (their winter). Enjoy the excerpts!

"A number of factors are making Australia look like a steal this summer. Just as the winter season in Australia is starting, the United States dollar has gained close to 25 percent over the last year against the Australian dollar, to 1.27 Australian dollars, bolstering Americans’ buying power. On top of that, resorts from Uluru to Melbourne are offering discounts of as much 30 percent to lure guests amid the travel slump."

"Jetting around the country has also gotten cheaper. Qantas has been offering its Aussie AirPass, which includes an international round-trip ticket and three domestic Australian flights for as low as $999. Virgin Blue is offering its own air-pass deal from 69 Australian dollars a flight."

"New Zealand, where the United States dollar has been buying about 1.60 local dollars, is also trying to bank on its increasing affordability with comparisons to Europe. “Compared to a holiday in the U.K. or Europe, it’s like getting a champagne vacation on a beer budget,” states its tourism Web site,."

Alexandra Regan visits kid-friendly Portovenere, Italy

Instead of whisking her two kids around Florence, Venice and Rome, contributing writer Alexandra Regan and her family settle into a relaxing village on the Ligurian Coast for a week. She writes about excellent exploring opportunities as well as places to eat and stay. Enjoy the excerpts below!

"Portovenere, with its colorful houses perched on a rocky shore of the romantically named Gulf of Poets (Byron and Shelley once lived in the area), is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but that’s not why the kids loved it. They were enchanted by the beach across from our villa, and my husband and I were happy to relax on the rocks while they played for hours."

"It is possible to do some serious hiking right from the hills above Portovenere, but just climbing the narrow winding streets and stone staircases to the top of village might be enough for the kids. We found a tiny playground – two swings and a teeter totter – just above the Church of San Lorenzo that has the best view of any playground I have ever visited."

"In addition to the frequent ferry service (as fast as and much easier than driving) to four of the five villages of the Cinque Terre, (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, and Monterosso) it is possible to visit the nearby islands by boat and to rent canoes and kayaks."

"We ate many of our meals at home on our terrace (provisioned by a small grocery store in town), but nevertheless found time to return for lunch at Bacicio, a small café and restaurant we liked for its casual atmosphere and incredible pastas and pizzas. I ordered the same black pasta, tomato, onion, and anchovy dish several times in a row, each time wondering why I’d never had anything as good at home. Bacicio Via G. Capellini, 17 Portovenere."