Hey Wayfarers!
Backstory: Yours truly, Marinarena, here to share and educate about travel as an alternative voice to “Big Travel”, to encourage sanity and wellness, highlight my creative side (particularly with poetic entries) and share what's going on with me personally and at marinarena.com
What brought me to Substack: Lot of press chatter, cool & intelligent people raving about it and mainstream media hating on Substack- so naturally, I began to gravitate towards it. God, I love the independent spirit of this outlet.
So on with the first post: Introducing Marinarena, the “poetic me” and the virtual realm celebrating the convergence sea and the land. (Read more at Marinarena Discover page ). I’m just a girl in the world … (digressing here. No Doubt ‘s “Just a Girl” is playing loud in my mind, especially at the part Gwen Stefani emotes, “ I'm just a girl, living in captivity…what's my destiny?) I’m just a girl in the world -in the world of travel. I’m not an industry titan, not a celeb trav influencer, rather, an ingenue travel advisor who started off as a tour coordinator assisting folks to book their trip of a lifetime, particularly via Ama Waterways ship journeys featuring wine and dine indulgence on enchanting rivers of Europe. I assisted with worldwide excursions as well, dealing with the nitty-gritty of land and air transportation. Best thing about the job was researching various destinations, discovering local insider tips and hidden gems of town, then relaying this info to clients.
Steadily, I’m working to officially get my certified creds from the Travel Institute. In the meantime, you globetrotters and novice nomads can explore destinations and trip ideas, then book them via my site @ marinarena.com.
For self-booking, click links on Bookings and proceed to book directly from there or bookmark and save for future booking at a convenient time. To book an extended getaway, hotel or full holiday/vacations, go to LAVA Travel.
My strong belief is that travel expands horizons of the mind, open your eyes and heart. These days, I’m encouraged that the world is opening up, lifting the dearest, most severe Covid-related restrictions. Indeed, there is more progress needed to be made. Why there are still long quarantines and curfews baffles the mind! Despite relatively high cases of here and there, countries have, for the most part, managed their own situation enough so that tourism restart and help bring much needed revenues. It’s well past time to get back to travel. #opentravel (#OpenTravel is a preferred hashtag throughout Marinarena social to signal return of outsider travel.)
What’s new in Travel & Recent Travel Headlines
American Airlines Suffers Fourth Day of Cancellations
from Travel Pulse
Much to my chagrin, I read this kind of article so often in travel media. Most of mainstream media fails us awakened (not woke) people who know what’s really up with the airline current backward culture. Cancellation of “bad weather and staff shortage”. Good joke. Tell me another- wait, don’t! Don’t insult awakened people’s intelligence! Not even a hint in the article about AA flights x’ed ‘cause of pilots strong case of freedom flu flaring up due to proposed vaccine mandates. Woke travel is the worst- completely soul-less!
Canada Changes Travel Advisory for US Nearing Border Reopening
from Travel Pulse
So, Great White North is officially restarting tourism; The travel advisor in me would like you to start making plans to book Montreal in 2022. However, the travel freedom warrior in me wants you to not get too excited. Hold off your travel plans- especially if not jabbed with the oh-so-controversial injection of our lives. Canada is only accepting vaccinated travelers with negative Covid-19 test result. There is no promising sign that Canada will allow those not vaccinated any time soon. The utter bias and inhumanity!
Addressing travel barriers and roadblocks
Indeed the barriers for the “unvaccinated” (new 2nd class citizen designation?) are, sadly, tales of brutal reality. Pray for an end to the passport madness, Draconian travel advisories and restrictions. Cringe, cringe, cringe!
Jabbed and unjabbed will spread Covid or other flus.
Fortunately, there are a few places where travel is open and less restrictive for all able travelers. As of November 2021, Mexico, Dominican Republic and Columbia do not require Covid vaccinations nor testing. REMINDER: Travel advisories are subject to change and NO travel destination is 100% safe from Covid, other diseasez and the like.
My Travel Plans in 2022
So drifting away from the Pacific waters and a site far from the marina. I’m planning for desert wonder, Arizona in January. Looking at Sedona (so overdue for a wellness trip here) and Phoenix (perhaps some major biz opportunity there). Thankfully there will be no brutal dry heat in the dead of winter- right? Folks: I welcome your insider AZ tips , restaurant and shop recommendations!
What to follow here in the near future:
My premier choice coastal and water-centric travel destination pick is
The free coastal state of Florida. Of course, beaches and other coastal attractions are certainly the best draws to the Sunshine State. If concerned with Covid cases, they are low here currently and the downward trend is likely to continue due to seasonality. Of course, we should realize that NO place is Covid-safe, no matter the infection rate. Don;t let the media fool ya!
Travel & Poetry
Expect both teased lines of some poems as well as some full poems here for free. However, other selections may be saved for monetized posts!
Here is a recent poem on Tai O, Hong Kong, where I’ll virtually visit as it would be too tragic to visit in these crazy times.
Be Well and Travel
On Travel and Wellness page of Marinarena, explore curated travel pages , including
Destress on a boat- find a marina, go on a boat ride
Destress via RV (find at the end my RV deal)
Drink water- don;t get hydrated better on the go
On the Very Bottom Floor:
Shop small business for the holidays and beyond @ The Sea-it Shop
Buy a cool tee, hoodie or accessory @ Shore Shoppe
Donate to Marinarena.com and help worthy non-profs @ The Anchor
Book your next quick weekender, holiday getaway or journey:
Locals and Visitors Alike Travel - LAVA
Follow the new Locals and Visitors Alike on Locals . Join to add your local travel stories.
Seeking a travel affiliate or partner? Do you sell sea-oriented products?
Have a small, good-natured business or page you want promoted?
Let’s connect!
Fellow Travel bloggers: Be included as a wayfarer
@marinarena on Twitter
I’ll leave you with this to take to heart: Chase and ride waves- not worry.