Nine Tips for Air Travel with Little ones

There is nothing more exciting for children or grand-children than to hear they are going to take a trip on a plane, but, once they're aboard, the novelty quickly wears off.  Flying is the exact opposite of what children are about.  There no pots to bang or wide-open spaces where they can run.  In-flight movies are not geared toward passengers who love to sing along, and the noise level s reminiscent of a library, not a fast food restaurant playground.

Here are some great suggestions from  a former flight attendant and a mother of two....

1) Carry-on or check.  When you're traveling with kids or grand kids, checking luggage and being suitcase free despite your balking at the cost, make it fairly simple to get through security, the airport, and on and off the plane.  A stroller is a must for zipping through airports, but leave the big, bulky one at home.  Opt for a lightweight umbrella stroller.  They're easy to fold and they fit most overhead bins; this means you don't have to wait with squirmy 2 year old after landing; they child will be comfortable in the stroller.

2) Plan your seating.  Even if your children or grandchildren are young enough to be considered "lap children (younger than age two), it's safer to purchase their own seats for them.  Buckle infants in their own aviation-approved car seat, which offers familiar comfort.  Toddlers can stand when the seat belt sign is off and use the airline seat a a coloring or play table.  If you've worried about disturbing other passengers, request bulkhead seats facing the partition that divides a plane into sections.  This is a terrific place to park with kids because there are no passengers to disturb in front of you. 

3) Dress the youngsters appropriately.  Slip-on shoes make the security screening process go smoothly, and bring layers - sweater, sweatshirts, sweatpants, even socks - aboard; airline temperatures are unpredictable.  Just to be sure to have an extra outfit, including underpants, ready.

4) Food.  Eating lunch and snacks is a great diversion tactic.  Trail mix, colorful crackers, grapes, and baby carrots are all airplane-friend food.  Turn eating time into fun time with games of counting, sorting, letter sounding, and spellings.  Use sippy cups and bowls with suction cups to keep containers secure to the tray table and to avoid spills.

5) Potty stops.  There are two crucial times to insist your toilet-trained little traveler use the potty: before take-off and before landing.  Simply walking the cabin aisle on the way to the lavatory can amuse toddlers (after beverage and snack service ends).  Kids love company so as you're roaming the cabin, look around for other children to visit.  I've seen families switch seats so the children could sit near one another and the kids end up entertaining themselves for the entire flight.

6) Books.  Children love to be read to and to turn pages of picture books.  Take it a step further with a photo album filed with photos of the family. 

7) Showtime. DVDs have changed the way children travel.  With a DVD player (and headset) and a new show to watch, they will remain busy and in their seat for hours at a time.

8) Make a tent.  Get creative with the tray table and drape a blanket over the seat or between the upraised arm rest and immediately you have a world of fun in your row.  Better yet, bring along dark blanket and charm  the little traveler with glow-in-the-dark toys; they're perfect for night flights too.

9) Surprise.  Have ready a surprise sack filled with new toys, treats (skip the sugar), and diversions.  Pipe cleaners - stickers - traveling play dough equals extended entertainment.

Mardi Gras -The Different Countries that Feast before the Fast!

Just the name Mardi Gras conjures up images of bead-wearing revelers dancing through the streets of many partaking Countries.  Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday".  Traditionally, it is the last day for Catholics to indulge - and often overindulge - before Ash Wednesday starts the sober weeks of fasting that come with Lent.  Today all around the world many countries celebrate Mardi Gras with masks, music and mayhem. 

In the United States, Mardi Gras draws millions of fun-seekers to New Orleans every year.  Mardi Gras has been celebrated in New Orleans on a grand scale, with masked balls and colorful parades, since French settlers arrived in early 1700s.  French royals, feather-covered showgirls, Energizer bunnies, painted clowns, masked lions - you can find them all in the streets of New Orleans at Mardi Gras.  By dawn on the most famous Tuesday, people have claimed the best spots on the streets to watch fabulous floats, outrageous performers, and visiting celebrities go by.  Many travel hundreds of miles to be part of the excitement.

In Canada Mardi Gras celebrations are common throughout the country, especially in major cities like Toronto, St. John's, Vancouver, and Montreal.  French speaking Quebec is the province where Mardi Gras is most widely celebrated in Canada.  Quebec City and Montreal hold Mardi Gras celebrations, with events such as music festivals, comedy festivals, food festivals, and street parties.

In Italy Carnevale is the traditional pre-Lenten celebration.  Carnevale was Mardi Gras predecessor.  The French borrowed this idea and made it popular.  This is a time of merry-making, masquerade processions, masked balls, parades, pageants, jugglers, magicians, stilt walkers, elegant costumes and opulent masks, singing and dancing, fireworks and outdoor feasts in the weeks prior to Ash Wednesday. 

In Sweden the celebration is called Fettisdagen.  It comes from the word "fett" (fat) and "tisdag" (Tuesday).  Originally, this was the only day one should eat semlor (cream filled bun/pastry).  These are now sold in most grocery stores and bakeries preceding the holiday, and up until Easter.

In Poland paczki (comparable to a jelly donut) are eaten on Fat Thursday.  Many Polish Americans celebrate Paczki Day on Fat Tuesday.  Traditionally, the reason for making paczki was to use up all the lard, sugar, eggs and fruit in the house, because they were forbidden to be consumed due to Catholic fasting practices during Lent.

So it seems no matter what type of celebration you are looking for on Mardi Gras you can celebrate with many of the locals in numerous countries around the world.  Enjoy your Mardi Gras celebration!!!!!!!

Resources used wikipedia.org, mardi gra story and info please mardi gras

Where to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

While St. Patrick's Day began as a religious holiday in honor of Ireland's patron saint, it has become a worldwide celebration of Irish culture.  St. Patrick's feast day was celebrated on March 17 as long ago as the ninth century, and became an official public holiday in Ireland in 1903.  Today, all around the world, Irish and non-Irish alike decorate with shamrocks, wear the color green and feast on corned beef and soda bread on March 17, and yes, many of them are drinking green beer.

In the U.S., there are celebrations in New York, Boston, Chicago and many other cities, big and small.  The parade in New York may be the largest in the world, taking about five hours to progress down Fifth Avenue.  Chicago uses a vegetable dye to turn the Chicago River green, matching the attire of the city's St. Patrick's Day revelers.  If you want to see the oldest parade in the world, you'll have to travel to Boston - it's first parade was recorded in 1737, many years before Dublin's first St. Patrick's Day parade, which was held in 1931.

Of course, Dublin, Ireland, is one of the best places to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.  The city holds a five-day St. Patrick's Festival with a big parade on March 17.  There are carnival rides, boat races, craft shows, live music, film premieres, comedy performances and walking tours of the city.  Many other cities, towns and villages in Ireland hold festive St. Patrick's Day celebrations as well.

You can also find St. Patrick's Day fun in some unexpected places.  If you happen to be in Buenos Aires, Argentina, head downtown to Reconquista Street, where authentic Irish pubs anchor a St. Patrick's Day party.  On Montserrat, a tiny island in the Caribbean settled by Irish refugees, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated as a public holiday.  Seoul, South Korea, hold a St. Patrick's Day parade and festival organized by the Irish Association of Korea.

With so many option for places to celebrate St. Patrick's Day travel you'll be able to enjoy the wearing of the green this year or begin planning for next.