Photo of the Week: Hawaii

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - Arizona Memorial

I will be taking off of posting for the rest of the week.  I will be back next week with a giveaway, my first! After that I will be back with my regular posting about trips.  Happy Memorial Day!

@Travelingiraffe on Twitter

Book Review: Crash Course Getting A Job On A Cruise Ship

I recently got an opportunity to review the new Ebook:  Crash Course Getting A Job On A Cruise Ship.

It's not my usual type of book that I would review, or read, but I have to admit I have often dreamed of working on a cruise ship.  Of course I often choose to believe that I would get a big cabin, days off to lay by the pool, someone to serve me.  Occasionally I will consider the reality - working 7 days a week for 4-8 months and not seeing my family in that time.  Hmmm, not seeing my family?  Just kidding!  I do often think about my retirement and what types of jobs I would like, and with the right job, I might like working on a cruise ship and really wouldn't know where to get started in getting a job.  

So then came this Ebook in my email box.  This is an abbreviated copy of a larger book, Work On Board Cruise Ships by the Wandering Earl.  The Crash Course Getting A Job On A Cruise Ship costs $10, compared to the full book costing $37.

So did I like the book?  Yes.  It was an easy read, important to me for an ebook.  The book also talks about the different positions on the cruise ship, though not in too much detail.  It talks about what life on board is like - so how is the food?  Then the book goes into how to find jobs, applying and what to do when you actually get a job.  It's tailored for working for a cruise line, but as someone who has worked for many years and has worked in different offices within a company (each time applying for a different position), I recognize a lot of good tips for making yourself stand out.  In a competitive job market, getting your resume to stand out is very important.  

The one thing that really jumped out at me as missing from the book - interview tips.  But, that is in the longer version of the book.

My thought is that if you're considering a job on a cruise ship then $10 for this Ebook would be a good investment.  If you REALLY want a job on a cruise ship or don't have much experience with applying for jobs, then buy this Ebook, learn some tips and then use the coupon code at the back of the book for a reduced rate on the full version of the book.  

Photo of the Week: Scotland

Sunrise over Edinburgh, Scotland

Just a reminder, you can find me on Twitter @Travelingiraffe

Randomly interesting things to me

Contiki has announced South America as a destination.  Hmmm, Iguza Falls and Machu Pichu are calling my name.  Sadly, I'm turning 35 this year so I don't know if I'll have a chance to take one of these tours, or any more tours with Contiki for that matter :(

The May 1 episode of Amazing Race - how awesome - they got dropped on the Matterhorn and had to either rescue someone by rappelling or dig a dummy out of the snow.  Ok, I think it was much more awesome to watch someone do it while laying on my couch then it would be to actually do it.  Have I mentioned I don't like the cold?

My Brother-In-Law who doesn't have a clue about travel talks to me about travel as though he knows stuff.  The guy couldn't figure out how to get his cruise documents and it was a week before the cruise.  Actually, I don't think it even occurred to him that he needed them.  But he and my sister did enjoy the cruise, they were on the Norwegian Gem for a 1 night cruise.  They said there was every walk of life on the cruise - solo passengers, families with young kids, bachelor and bachelorette parties - you name it, it was there. 

Jetblue's website - when you track a flight you can actually pull up a map that shows where the plane is over the United States, I thought that was cool!  My other sister thought it was stalkerish. 

In Rick Steves' latest podcast (#246) his guest said something interesting.  He was discussing the European Union and freedom.  He said American's think of "freedom to..." (bare arms, press, speech, etc).  Europeans think of "freedom from..." (war, starving, etc).  I thought that was an interesting distinction.  I'm not sure how true it is, but it does it certainly made me think of what I value and how I view it. 

Photo of the Week: England

Westminster Abbey, London, England

Giraffe, The Restaurant

About a year before I went to London my friend mentioned that there were "giraffes everywhere" in London - he was referring to the restaurant chain, Giraffe.  I was instantly intrigued and quickly fell in love with Giddy the Giraffe. 

I managed to visit 3 different Giraffe's when I was in London:  Southbank Center, Russell Square (which is not called Russell Square but is near there), and Heathrow. 

It's a cute little cafe type of restaurant with a long menu of English food - I didn't have any great meals there, the menu had a lot of foods that just didn't appeal to me.  The food itself was good, but not great.  I also didn't get to see Giddy.  But the locations were great - Southbank center is a short walk from the London Eye and in a nice shopping/eating mecca where you could tell it was more of a local place then a tourist place.  The one near Russell Square was in a pedestrian mall with other restaurants and shops - another great location that doesn't scream tourist. 

But the true highlight was when I was at Heathrow and decided to get a smoothie - it was delicious!  I drink a lot of smoothies and this one was really really good.  I'm sorry I hadn't gotten one on my previous trips as I probably would have had a better opinion of the restaurant.


Overall, I wouldn't suggest anyone run there, I would check out the menu and if you see something that intersts you, then go.  If nothing interests you on the menu, go to a pub and get fish and chips.  But if you love giraffes, like me, then go, if nothing else the theme is fun.

Photo of the Week: France

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Photo of the Week: Washington DC

Washington Monument on a sunny day