Susan Spíndola shared her photo.
Nuestros verdaderos amigos. ¡¡¡¡ Las mascotas.
Our true friends. ¡¡¡¡ :) Pets. (Translated by Bing)
Budget, Backpackers, Surfers, Beach Lovers, Naturalist, Hippie, Sun and Sand worshipers, Off the Beaten Path Paradise! Everyone is welcome at Zipolite!
Playa Zipolite, Oaxaca, Southern Mexico, on the Pacific Ocean. A little bit about my favorite little get-away on this small world of ours.Zipolite, a sweaty 30-minute walk west from Puerto Angel, brings you to Playa Zipolite and another world. The feeling here is 1970's - Led Zep, Marley, and scruffy gringos.A long, long time ago, Zipolite beach was usually visited by the Zapotecans...who made it a magical place. They came to visit Zipolite to meditate, or just to rest.Recently, this beach has begun to receive day-trippers from Puerto Angel and Puerto Escondido, giving it a more TOURISTY feel than before.Most people come here for the novelty of the nude beach, yoga, turtles, seafood, surf, meditation, vegetarians, discos, party, to get burnt by the sun, or to see how long they can stretch their skinny budget.I post WWW Oaxaca, Mexico, Zipolite and areas nearby information. Also general budget, backpacker, surfer, off the beaten path, Mexico and beyond, information.REMEMBER: Everyone is welcome at Zipolite.ivan
10 Travel Mistakes That Will Ruin Your LifeAirfarewatchblog10 Travel Mistakes That Will Ruin Your LifePosted by Caroline Morse on Tuesday, February 4, 2014
(Photo: Hand on Mountain Ledge via Shutterstock)
From contracting parasites and bedbugs to illegally crossing a border or racking
up exorbitant cellular fees, these 10 travel errors could have serious health or financial consequences that will haunt you long after your vacation is over.
(Photo: End of Border via Shutterstock)
Crossing the Wrong Border
In some places, it's easy to wander over an unmarked and unguarded border
from one nation to another. While this might not be such a big deal if you're in, say, the European Union, it can mean big trouble in other parts of the world. Take the case of three Americans who were imprisoned from 2009 to 2011 for allegedly crossing into Iran while hiking near the border in Iraqi Kurdistan. The Iranian government accused the hikers of being spies and sentenced them to eight years in prison. (One of the hikers was released after 14 months, and the remaining two were let go after serving about two years and paying more than $465,000 each in bail money.)
(Photo: Thinkstock/Digital Vision)
Contracting Parasites
You can't see them, and you might not know you have them until months or even
years later, but parasites can ruin your health. Microscopic parasites can be contracted by drinking contaminated water, by eating undercooked meats or improperly washed fruits and vegetables, or through a bug bite.
One SmarterTravel staffer experienced the trauma of a parasite, and his story
gives us chills: "I don't know where I contracted [leishmaniasis]. They think most likely when I was in Crete, since that timing seemed to fit and that was the only place I'd been where this disease occurs, although it's still pretty rare there. If it was Crete, the symptoms didn't appear until almost a year later. I was on and off sick for about four months until they figured out what it was. Went through lots of doctor's visits and tests. They were going to remove my spleen for diagnosis but found out what it was right before that."
(Photo: Bedbug via Shutterstock)
Getting Bedbugs
Contrary to their name, bedbugs can live almost anywhere—including in luggage, on
clothing, or on furniture. All it takes is one bedbug hitchhiking from a fabric airline seat or hotel bed to infect your entire home. Getting rid of them once you have them can cost you more than your trip—think thousands of dollars in extermination fees, furniture replacement, and laundry bills.
Be sure to always check your hotel mattress for signs of bedbug infestation, wash
your clothing immediately upon returning home, and consider using hard-sided luggage to keep bugs out.
(Photo: Thinkstock/iStock)
Having Your Identity Stolen
Opportunities for identity theft are everywhere while traveling. Making a transaction
with an unfamiliar ATM, using a public Wi-Fi connection, or being the victim of a pickpocketing—these are all ways in which your identity could be stolen. Identity thieves can open fraudulent accounts in your name and ruin your credit for years while the matter is straightened out.
Use secure Internet connections; consider using an RFID-blocking wallet; and check
your credit card, bank, and credit-report statements carefully and frequently after traveling.
(Photo: Burglar via Shutterstock)
Having Your Home Burglarized
Being away from home for an extended period of time can make your house a prime
target for burglars. Even something as innocuous as mentioning an upcoming vacation on Facebook can alert thieves that your house will be empty. Consider the case of a New Hampshire robbery ring, which used Facebook postings to target victims while they were out of town.
Limit who you tell that you'll be gone (including out-of-office emails, voicemails,
and social media postings) and freeze newspaper and mail deliveries so they don't pile up when you're gone.
(Photo: Thinkstock/iStock)
Getting Locked Up Abroad
The television show Locked Up Abroad may be entertaining to watch, but it won't
be so much fun if you have to live through it. Make sure you know the local laws wherever you're going. For example, did you know that in Singapore, officials can legally submit anyone(including tourists) to a drug test—which means that you could get in trouble for illegal substances consumed before you even traveled? It gets worse: Some narcotics offenses carry mandatory death penalties in Singapore. Or, in the less-obviously-illegal department, a British couple received a one-month prison sentence for kissing in public in Dubai.
Familiarize yourself with local laws before traveling!
(Photo: Kidnapped via Shutterstock)
Getting Kidnapped
Travelers, especially business travelers, can be easy targets for kidnappers looking
for financial or political gain. Last year, an American tourist was kidnapped, robbed, and raped in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Four kidnappings in Honduras have been reported to the U.S. embassy in the last two years, and in 2011 the Mexican government reported a more than 300 percentincrease in kidnappings since 2005.
Check the State Department's website for travel alerts and warnings for regions
that you are planning to visit—it will have good information on whether or not kidnapping is a high risk and which areas should be avoided.
(Photo: Drunk Man Passed Out via Shutterstock)
Getting Too Drunk
Knowing your limits while drinking alcohol is important, especially while traveling.
A drunken slip could mean lifelong consequences. Take the case of Joe Rickey Hundley, a former executive who lost his job after he got drunk and slapped a toddler on a plane. Be careful to always watch your surroundings while drinking as well—the State Department warns of reports out of Thailand of tourists being robbed after their food or drink was drugged with a sedative.
Drink alcohol in moderation while traveling (and remember that being tired,
jet-lagged, or dehydrated can make you feel more drunk than you would under normal conditions), and never accept a drink from a stranger.
(Photo: Thinkstock/iStock)
Not Turning Off Cellular Data
Don't forget to turn off your cellular data (or set up an international plan) if you are
bringing your phone with you on the road. Consumers have been hit with unexpected bills for exorbitant amounts (think $10,000) because they used their phones briefly while abroad or they forgot to turn off cellular data/roaming.
(Photo: Open Bottle via Shutterstock)
Consuming Counterfeit Products
Inadvertently buying a fake handbag in a foreign market may be annoying, but it's
nothing compared to what could happen if you consume a fake product. Multiple tourists have died in Indonesia after drinking methanol (a lethal substance) that was sold to them as regular alcohol in a money-scamming scheme.
Other travelers have experienced dire consequences from taking counterfeit medicines
while abroad. The CDC, for example, warns against buying antimalarial drugs while abroad; many sold outside the United States are counterfeit and ineffective.
Stick to bottled beer in places where counterfeit alcohol is a known problem, and buy
your medications before you go.
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This article was originally published by SmarterTravel under the title 10 Travel Mistakes That
Will Ruin Your Life.
Follow Caroline Morse on Google+ or email him at editor@smartertravel.com.
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My Spanish Notes |
Posted: 08 Feb 2014 06:00 AM PST
Have you ever need to know how to ask for a straw in Spanish? Surprisingly, knowing how to say straw in Spanish can be more difficult than you might think.
I remember when I learned how to ask for a straw. I considered this a victory and moved on. Then I discovered there was more than one word for straw. After that I discovered there were actually quite a few words for straw.
Let's take a look at some of the words for how to say straw in Spanish: Paja, pajita, caña, sorbete, cañita, pajilla,pitillo and popote.
If you're wondering why there are so many words for straw, it's because they're all regional. I'm not sure if there is a generally accepted word for straw, so if you have any suggestions feel free to leave a comment.
Let's revisit that list of translations for straw and I'll tell you what words are used in what country. At least in general.
Catalunya (Spain) - caña
Rest of Spain - pajita
Argentina - pajita, sorbete
Peru- cañita, sorbete
Dominican Republic, Cuba - sorbete
Puerto Rico - sorbeto
El Salvador, Costa Rica - pajilla
Mexico - popote
Colombia, Venezuela - pitillo
This list is not meant to be exhaustive, those are just the words this gringo has heard of. And the list comes with the additional disclaimer that it's based on my conversations, experience and opinion, so everyone may not agree with my list.
I also want to point out that in certain parts of Spain a caña can also be a beer, so you really need to know your audience.
Now it's time to talk about the title of this post.
¿Una paja por favor? A straw please? Something as simple as asking for a paja can end up being a little embarrassing. Yes, I know what you're thinking, how can asking for a straw be embarrassing? Let me explain. It turns out paja has another not so innocent meaning. And by not so innocent I mean vulgar. It's also a way of referring to masturbation in some countries. I won't go into detail on this blog, but you can read more about that here, on my blog about Swearing in Spanish. If you're the paranoid type when you ask for a straw using the word paja you can clarify things by asking for a paja para beber. Or you can simply avoid the word altogether by using pajita instead. Let's get back to the real issue, straws.
For those of you who like pictures, here's a nice photo that also serves as a handy reference. It was created by Veinte Mundos, which is a great (free) podcast site. You should check it out.
So what can you do to remember the right word at the right time? My advice is to just learn the words the people you associate with use the most. Beyond that you'll have to use good old-fashioned body language if you can't find the right word.
And that's it. Now you're equipped with everything you need to know for how to say straw Spanish.
Know any other words for straw or have some words of wisdom? Leave your comments below!
¡Hasta la próxima!
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