womantraveler

Traveling by Book: Just Read!

Writer Sonya Worthy's journey to document people reading in the USA thrills, then confuses, me. I start the article in today's San Francisco Chronicle, then put down the newspaper before I finish and rush to the computer to write about it. Online I puruse one of her blogs. Shouldn't I be digging into my next book instead? Simple answer --  as National Book Week opens, accompanied by the dour statistics about the declines in reading, the value of the printed page must be aggressively noted -- and celebrated.

As a business womantraveler, books and book blogs are the way I see the  world when I'm not on a plane galloping hither and yon. One of my favorite discoveries is the Read and Return program sponsored by The Paradies Shops in several dozen US airports. Buy a book at the regular price and return it within six months with the original receipt to any location on the list -- and receive 50% off the purchase price. Now that's a page-turner.

I also use books to prepare for my next adventure, such as my trip to Paris three years ago. A book in hand is much more pleasurable than a laptop. While traveling coast to coast for a business trip recently, I heard the woman across the aisle remark, "Fancy this -- we're reading the same book!" It was Kiran Desai's The Inheritance of Loss, which is well worth every beautifully crafted thought.

My son arrives at Christmas. His backpack is loaded with a laptop, an iPod and books. We head to Barnes and Noble and hang out. At 23, beyond the drudgery of college textbooks but now caught up in 12 hour workdays of the real world, he finds great pleasure in reading. He turns off the TV and opens a book. There is hope!

DC: You Can't Go Home Again

I've moved in and out of Washington, DC at least a half dozen times over the past 30-some years, so it's more "home" than anywhere else. But what I keep experiencing when I return now on visits is that old adage, "you can't go home again." What happens when we leave and come back to favorite places? Our remembrances of the old days lock in time -- and the new experience can be terribly irritating. Let's face it, in the grip of our memories, we hate change! And then I found a favorite old haunt had not changed at all -- the restaurant, Vietnam Georgetown (read on).

First I have to grouse a little about how DC has changed. To wit -- traffic: Washington is gridlock. The city has grown three or maybe six times since it took off and decided to be more than a government town in the late '60s, but the road infrastructure hasn't. Downtown at rush hour is simply gridlock, not slowly moving confestion as in LA, but complete gridlock.

I got to ride on the Metro the first day it opened in the early '70s. What a frolicking overland cruise to the suburbs! Today those who have moved to the suburbs while they work downtown have to push and shove to get to work on the Metro, the system is so beyond its capacity. Same with the once innnovative highways, like I-66 through northern Virginia. Forget that. It was practically outdated once it opened. Today the fastest way from Dulles International Airport to downtown DC -- depending on the time of day -- is not along the highways that beckon you with road signs but via the twists and turns of neighborhoods, for which no maps exist. They have long caught onto this game by installing vexing road bumps throughout, but I still fool them and weave through their precious streets. One data point of small note: twenty years ago there were 90 Washington Flyer taxis serving Dulles International Airport. Today there are over 600.

But the theme of this article is not whining; it's goal is wisdom and some tools for being able to "go home again." Here goes...

Beware of Wi-Fi Hackers

Wi-Fi's spread and convenience bring threats, so be prepared. A helpful article in today's Wall Street Journal offers these tips to minimize the dangerous machinations of hackers. It's good info for general Wi-Fi use in your hotel room, home or office, and especially for Wi-Fi hotspots. The person nearby in the hotel lobby or airport waiting area may be a hacker lurking to steal information from your laptop -- or even take it over:

• Keep all computer software and computer protection software current.
• Name your Wi-Fi network.
• Conduct all financial transactions -- such as banking, stock market trades and purchases requiring a credit card -- at home over a wired connection or wireless firewall.
• Close down your computer when you're not using the Internet.
• Use a wired connection wherever possible.

Comfortable In-flight Gear? Suit Yourself!

In this do-it-yourself era of stripped-down in-flight services, you have to make your own comfort. How to do that without wearing your PJs (or looking like it) and without schlepping too much gear? Remember, these days you're likely to be on a small commuter flight with very little carry-on space.

Here's the list I check off before every trip for, especially as a woman business traveler:

Best luggage:

• Briggs & Riley -- lighter weight than anything else I've tried, lifetime guarantee -- even if damaged by the airlines! -- and discreetly stylish colors that mix well with other black pieces in my collection.

Best shoes:

• Slide-ons, whether flat or well-supported low heels, for passing through security easily, and easy to change or stow under the seat in front of you once you're onboard.

Best gear to keep warm:

• Socks -- tuck in your pocket book or carry-on, then slip on once you're in your seat.
• Lightweight rayon pashmina -- to pack flat or folded in a computer case or carry-on personal bag whether you can find a blanket or not. Available for $10-20 in many colors in most airports.
• Sleeveless vest -- especially quilted or lightweight fleece versions that pack flat and are warm, but non-confining, for layering. (I keep a black cotton quited vest with me and it works at my destinations with most anything I wear, including business attire.)

Best overall clothing:

• Skirts -- always wear them! Mid-calf or longer, they keep your legs warm and they certainly are easier to navigate in tiny bathrooms. However, as of fall 2008, they slow down your trip through airport security, as this link notes.

Best back support:

• After trying many, Pocket Pillow, which packs flat, inflates and was recommended by my chiropractor, is the winner. It moves with you, as opposed to the too-firm varieties. Just let the air out when you're landing and repack.