Andromeda321

I can't believe you live so close to Canada and don't have it yet! Pleased to announce that Israel/Jordan is booked for March. As I said earlier that means Palestine is also a possibility, but I think I'll play that one by ear. It looks like there is one in Jericho, and one near Bethlehem towards the Shepherd's Fields, but I don't want to commit to anything yet until I'm there and can ask around about the situation at hand.

There is nothing funny about an LPC. Not only that but they don't exist in Europe, so it's a bit pointless to mention them. I just heard from the organizers btw that it's even shorter- it's a 20 minute talk, and then a 10 minute Q&A session. So short! Also discovered luckily tho that there's an intro presentation on the geocaching site itself, which I won't have time to go through all of but using some of the slides are a great starting point type thing, so that's nice. I was also thinking it might be interesting to mention on the nerdy side a brief start to the history of geocaching, as I doubt most people realize the reason we now have GPS everywhere is because before 2000 it just wasn't possible! Also, I realized last night that it might be cool to ask the organizers if we could host a geocaching event there too for geocachers- just have a signup sheet on a table with a box for trackables type thing- as it's free and pretty fun normally as a night out, so why not?

Hi all, I was asked to do a "Nerd Nite" talk- a ~30min talk on a nerdy topic, usually to an audience of 20-30 somethings, at a bar over beers on a Friday night- about geocaching. This isn't for two months, so I have time to prepare! But I was wondering, has anyone given such a talk before for the general public about geocaching, and if so are there any resources for writing one? Obviously, the first part I know has to be a general explanation about how geocaching works, and I have a mess of pictures from my adventures in exotic destinations where I found geocaches (like Tibet and Argentina), so was thinking one or two anecdotes from there. I was also thinking of highlighting one or two local caches that I think are cool, but don't want to pick ones that are too easy to find if you just want to vandalize them... luckily here in Amsterdam we have one or two "by boat" geocaches under bridges, so one of those might be cool to show. But hey, these are just some ideas I'm tossing around, and I'm happy to hear any others folks might have. Thanks all!

Went to Malaga, Spain this weekend! Ok, not just for geocaching, it was also to escape the Dutch winter as it's been pretty bad weather and the fares down to there were €100. But there were a few caches in town- not many, but enough to stumble across a handful of them while sightseeing type thing. One was even a webcam cache, so that's always fun!

So, a few things: - I went to Malaga this week, but Gibraltar didn't happen. Basically because the bus system was screwy and there were no tourist bus options due to it being off season, and I wasn't in the mood to rent a car to drive three hours solo when I could just hang out with some nice folks I met in Malaga instead! So hey, saw some sun, and worked on the Spanish geocache number tho think if I ever want to try for Gibraltar again what I'd so is just rent a car and drive out there straight from Malaga airport for a weekend in that area. Alas no flights to Gibraltar itself from Amsterdam, so that's probably the best option. - Regarding the Helsinki to St Petersburg ferry thing, yes, it's an overnight ferry in both directions- apparently this deal was worked out with the authorities for the ferry company to make more money (as there is a casino onboard etc), from Helsinki, Stockholm, and Tallinn. So if you ever want to do it you need to plan for 4 nights basically- 2 in Russia, 2 for there/back- but still beats the expense and hassle of getting a Russian visa in many cases! - The only border I've snuck across that was of particular note was when I was a kid, and when visiting Hungarian relatives we went across to Slovakia on a dirt road while visiting the area my uncle went hunting in. We rolled some hay bales off a farmer's hill, then ran back across the border. Alas this was pre geocaching, so that's why I don't have Slovakia yet! - Gonna book my Israel/Jordan trip this week if all's true, for a week in late March! Took awhile to find a week that didn't have a major holiday in spring, and there are elections so decided to not go that week lest my mother worry back home... and the hostel I'm eyeing in Jerusalem runs a tour midweek for 3 days/ 2 nights to Jordan that takes you all the way to Petra and Wadi Rum, so shame to miss those if already "in the area!" The big question there is if I get Palestine as well- geocaching has apparently gotten political and thinks it's a country, but there are all of 9 in Palestine (all in the West Bank), and it's not clear to me yet just how easy any of them would be to visit. Plus the whole not worrying my mother thing may come into play... - I'm also having an issue trying to figure out Easter- I get the Friday/Monday off the week post Israel trip, and before I chose my dates I thought I'd head to Morocco for it (cheap and nothing closes down for Easter), but now I'm not so sure. Pretty far and I might not appreciate it just after Israel and Jordan, you know? But then of course the problem with Easter if closer is a lot of places just shut down- Italy would be nice a few days for example, but not so much when you realize nothing would be open! Plus the new countries are getting minimal in Europe for me by now- Slovakia? Slovenia? Serbia? Bulgaria?- so yeah, not sure yet. (Was kinda toying with the idea of heading over to Jersey/Guernsey- €120 fare still!- but not sure what there is to actually do there, especially in early April.) If anyone has an idea give a shout.

So I learned something cool recently for country collectors, and that is there is a way to visit Russia visa free! Specifically, there's a loophole whereby if you intend to only go to St Petersburg for less than 72 hours (ie 3 days/ 2 nights) you are allowed to do so if you take the overnight ferry there/back from Helsinki or Tallinn. Technically you need to do a tour, but a tour can involve just taking the ferry company's bus downtown, so... might do that one later this year! Heaven knows the price is cheap enough these days for Russia. Also, interestingly, I may pick up Gibraltar before the end of the month. Cold and dreary in Holland but it's sunny and high 60s in Malaga, and in January the roundtrip flight+ hostel bunk would set me back €120 for the weekend, so I think that one is gonna happen. And if already there, gee, I gotta make the trek down the Costa del Sol for country #35, right?

Hobbies get regional flairs, so it's not all that strange that geocaching does as well. Full disclosure, I lived in NE Ohio for many years and this was the first event cache I visited (I also logged it 4 times from four different visits, so my visited/unique numbers are accordingly different). No one in the area ever really had issue with it. I should also note, now that I have lived away from the area for 4 years, the only thing that ever annoyed me is once or twice a year I still get the announcements for some sudden change in the event for the next month!

I agree- I think it would be great if they devoted their resources to a few souvenirs outside the traditional Western countries. It just seems weird that there's nothing at all in the Americas south of the USA for example! I also think I'll believe it when I see it when Groundspeak bothers to make souvenirs for the less developed countries. Just not worth their while in the countries where you might only have one or two caches for hundreds of miles.

Can very highly recommend Croatia- I've spent about two weeks of my life there total, twice on the Dalmatian coast (once post geocaching, so I am excited for that souvenir! and for Italy). Like others, I hope they introduce some non-European ones too, but meh, not why I collect countries. Busy here these days with work (submitting my first first author paper on Monday! yay!) but counting down to traveling to the USA soon. Visiting three states, but have already been to all three, but they're all places I love so who cares? Am eyeing geocaches in all locations, so that'll be fun either way. Still planning for Israel/Jordan/Palestine in spring. The issue there is finding the week to do it, as I was told to avoid Passover/Easter like the plague (Israel shuts down that time of year), and they're trying to do the first Dutch Mega event on March 14. And I was hoping to go in March, but the best week to do it would mean missing the mega and I've never been to one! Sigh... Also was thinking of going to Morocco over Easter break (we get the Friday and the Monday off here- yep, I'm planning ahead!)- fly in/out of Marrakech, spend two nights out in the desert. I've heard too many horror stories of solo travel as a woman in Morocco to want to devote an extensive trip there, plus I reckon if I like it I can always return. Other options for Easter were Malta or Cyprus, but I don't think they're beach destinations yet in early April so I may save them for later. Alas I've cleared out my radius of easy countries for weekend trips from the Netherlands, and instead have friends to visit now in ones I've already been to, so we'll see how weekend trips go. Btw FunnyNose, if you go to Luang Prabang in Laos check out my Earthcache nearby- it's in an amazing place! Lots of people who log it remark how they wouldn't have gone out there if it wasn't for the cache and are thankful it's there. As a final note, photo logs- I don't do them myself, but when traveling in 3rd world countries I will often keep a spare micro and/or nano cache in my bag (as often in logs it's obvious that the container is no longer there and the CO wants it replaced). Yeah you can argue one shouldn't do throwdowns, but sometimes we're talking about literally the only geocache for hundreds of miles! And I think extraordinary circumstances allow those measures. Btw, it does remind me tho, the craziest example I ever found like that was a cache that was the only one in Xi'an, right by the terra-cotta warriors. Read in the logs and then confirmed that the cache was behind a giant no trespassing sign, but people were still logging it by either going behind the sign or posting a photo from the sidewalk nearby. Both sound like a real smart idea, eh?! So that one I got archived because I don't care if it's the only one in the area, it was a setup for a bad situation.

Checking in to report that I got Poland this past weekend! Country #34! Krakow was awesome and I am now going to recommend it to everyone over Prague- it's just as pretty and fun, but cheaper and fewer tourists. Only issue is the thickest fog I've seen in my life rolled in on Sunday night so I couldn't get out of the airport until Monday evening. First time in three years my travels went awry and I wasn't in at the office due to waylaid plans. Luckily the boss didn't care. Also kinda sad, as I think I've now hit most of the "easy" new countries from the Netherlands for weekend trips- I have lots of places I want to go, but most are in countries I've made finds in. Quite the achievement though in its own I guess! I still have an urge for Finland/Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania but those are going to wait until spring/summer when the weather's better. There are a few down in the Balkans too, but flights just start getting longer and more expensive for just a few days. Still planning a week in Israel if that stays stable, in March or so- the hostel I'm eyeing in Jerusalem does two night tours to Jordan so snag one of those too if it happens, and worst comes to worse on that there's an Earthcache at Petra. And there are geocaches in Palestine which counts as its own country on Groundspeak- controversial in itself I think!- and it looks like there's one in Jericho that day trippers from Jerusalem have found, so it's hopefully doable! But hey, all told that'll be in 5 months, so no need to go too crazy on planning now. Enjoy your adventure abroad, NYPaddleCacher!

I found 3 caches in Slovakia. I did it as a day trip from Budapest. We took a train to Esztergom (Hungary) which was just over an hour I think. We explored Esztergom (I recall the Esztergom Basilica was very impressive). We then walked over the bridge into Štúrovo, Slovakia. There didn't seem to be much in Štúrovo, though there was some wine fair going on and that was nice. We found 3 caches; I think that was all there was at the time. One was on the bridge itself, but I see that is now archived. I'm sure there are lots of interesting places in Slovakia. One thing Geocaching has taught me is there are interesting things to see everywhere; even where there aren't major tourist attractions. I'm sure there are, so perhaps I should rephrase: as a gal with Hungarian relatives, I can't think of a good reason to present to go there instead of just visiting my 90 year old grandmother! I've been there a few times, many years ago, just haven't gone out of my way since geocaching (so past 5 years). For example, I remember when I was a kid we once drove across the border on a dirt road and rolled some hay bales down a hill in a farmer's field, then promptly drove back to Hungary. So now you know the truth- I can never return to Slovakia because I'm on the lam.

Just got back from the Prague weekend- yay for country #33! Glad I finally went back- when I was last there it was still part of Czechoslovakia, so needless to say it's been awhile. Heading to Rhine River region in two weekends with some friends (already got Germany, but don't think I have that state so I get a new souvenir), then Krakow the weekend after that so Poland will be #34. Really been looking forward to that one awhile now, as I've never been before! Then thinking even further ahead on countries... starting to plan a spring break week in March, and for whatever reason Israel is calling my name. Just noticed though that the hostel I am eyeing in Jerusalem runs a 3 day/2 night tour into Jordan where it's one day Petra and one day some other sites in Jordan. So if Israel happens I think Jordan will too! I'm also toying around with a few days in Morocco but am not certain yet about it- basically I'd want to fly in/out of Marrakech so a few days there/ a few days into the Sahara Desert, but I don't like traveling to countries where they harass me a lot as a solo woman. Also it's funny, but I am getting annoyed by the countries in Europe that are hard to visit just on their own. Liechtenstein is so hard to get to! And Slovakia has very little interesting just for a weekend... luckily I have a Hungarian cousin getting married next spring, and their place is just over an hour from the border near some UNESCO-listed caves. So with luck I can convince someone we should go tour the caves for the day and then run across the border to Slovakia so I can stop being annoyed by that gap in my map. Second annoyance: Slovenia is still white but all the other countries around it are dark, and there are no direct flights there from Amsterdam. Argh! Ah well, I knew you guys would understand.

I went to Prague for a weekend as part of my "I moved to Europe so I can travel to other countries for a weekend trip easily" plan. I was actually in Prague once, as a little girl when it was still Czechoslovakia, so high time to return! Grabbed 6 caches, three physical and three virtual, but it could have been a lot more, no question, just that wasn't the emphasis of this trip. Prague is an amazing city for geocaching!

I was just in the Prague airport yesterday and grabbed a regular cache... in the airport! Literally just below the check-in desks in the international terminal! I suspect that happened with getting the right permissions, and it probably helps that geocaching is very popular in the Czech Republic (cache in question for those keen). I have to date only heard of two virtuals inside secured areas of airports- the O'Hare one, and the Frankfurt one, mentioned here earlier. Beyond that I know there are virtuals in Washington Reagan and Atlanta in the parking lot areas, but the winner for me was an Earthcache in a cave under the Dubrovnik airport. Spectacular! I've also found physical containers in Budapest, Geneva, Vienna... probably a few others too, usually in the parking area. The long and short of it is this: in the USA where the TSA and "terrorism threat alert" is forever on high, good luck getting something approved at an airport. The rest of the world is more lax about these things (proof: you can wear shoes through security) so geocaches can be allowed if you ask the right person.

Istanbul is amazing (currently the #1 rated city on tripadvisor IRC, for good reason!). Spent four days there once and really could have done longer, and it was really a shame that I didn't get to explore the rest of Turkey too! Note though, even if all your geocaches are on the European side of the isthmus, it counts as a country in Asia on your maps. News from the front here, going not this but rather next weekend for my Prague weekend (went when I was 7, well before geocaching existed), and also booked a weekend to Krakow, Poland. I'm rather excited about the last one, as I've wanted to go to Krakow for a long time! And not just for the food... I lived my entire life before now in areas of the USA with huge Polish communities (either present or times past), so it was really disappointing to move and learn pirogues aren't just something you can buy in a grocery store like normal pasta in most of the world. Then likely the USA for Christmas, but no other real plans really for new countries. I am thinking of a week in Israel/Jordan in the spring, but of course a lot of people freak out around me when I mention that because of all the stuff going on lately in the Middle East. I'm more of the opinion that something is always happening in the Middle East, but it should be fine sticking to the safer areas/ far enough in time removed from the latest Palestinian conflict that it won't be more unsafe than usual.

I know there are two virtuals in Dublin that are pub crawl geocaches, should be easy to find them if you do a search there. I remember though unfortunately I did one of them btu must've mixed up a number, as it was a few hours work but didn't end up anywhere.

Wait, people actually care about this? You see, some people have lives that interfere for whatever reason so they can't maintain geocaches. I suspect those agonizing over others not doing so are lacking their own.

Just got back from my great Alaska adventure. Three new ones for the log which are very cool even if not countries in their own right: Alaska, British Columbia, and the Yukon! Fun fact for collectors heading to Alaska: only found one geocache in Vancouver as I was having fun catching up with my friends who live there, but unexpectedly got a second British Columbia one while visiting Skagway, Alaska. Turns out if you take the White Pass Railway up over the pass for the day you enter briefly into BC but don't get off the train, and if you're lucky enough to be on the first train like we were you go past an Earthcache before the turnaround point (I don't think all the trains do so). So a second geocache in BC for me, and didn't even have to show my passport. Also, could've gotten a layover cache in Washington State during my layover in Seattle on the way home, but saw the security line before leaving the area and it wasn't one I really wanted to stand in. Especially as it looks like I'm likely returning to Seattle in January for a conference, so it doesn't really matter for a few months IMO. Future plans: going to the UK in two weeks for a workshop outside Manchester, then heading to London for a long weekend (was originally planning Lake District, but think it'd be a letdown after Alaska just now and the incredible scenery there). Already have the UK, but for those heading to London it looks like there are a really neat series of challenge caches now just north of the Greenwich Observatory focusing on travel- for example,6 in 6 means you need to have found six categories of caches (trad, multi, puzzle, etc) in six countries. I qualify for 3x3 and 4x4, but am one cache shy of a 5x5. If it's nice weather I think I'll walk around and find/sign them all, and then post notes for the ones I haven't found yet and change them to smilies as that happens. It'd give me something to do in countries already found if/when I return to them! Also looks like I'm heading to Prague next month for a weekend with some friends, so will log Czech Republic for #33. Running out of "easy" new countries to nab around the Netherlands, particularly with winter coming on (I mean gee, lovely as Finland and Ukraine must be in winter... pass!).

Find caches in 100 countries (hey, I'm at 32 now!) and find the last A.P.E. cache in the jungles of Brazil.

I'm sure this is high up everyone's list of TV shows, but my sister tipped me off- apparently a couple days ago on this The Real Housewives of New York the ladies were out in Montana, and they went geocaching while drunk after lunch, or something. Actual quotes involved: "I don't know what geocaching is. It's just another punishment." "I don't need no GPS!" Just sharing because geez, that's a certain kind of mainstream if trashy reality tv shows are doing it. Plus have fun running into people who watch this show trying it out this weekend.

Haha yeah, multis and puzzles are hugely popular in continental Europe. Almost to the point where a quick cache is impossible- I was in Vienna this past weekend with family, so caching a long multi just wasn't an option with them, and maybe only 10% of the caches remained after I filtered those options out in the city center. At least that's what it felt like... Got my big Alaska adventure booked, and besides that state I should also be getting British Columbia (starting the trip in Vancouver) and Yukon Territory this trip, as I want to hop over the border to Dawson City. I also have a three hour layover in Seattle on the way home so might pick up the state of Washington if the flights all go as planned. Decided against a longer layover as I'm likely to be heading to Seattle for a conference in January, so can hit up Groundspeak etc then. Beyond that, nothing planned for weekend breaks because, well, I've realized I've definitely hit "city fatigue" in Europe and that's like 90% of weekend trips here I think. You can only visit so many world class historic towns before thinking about just saving money and spending time in your own! So while I still want to get Czech Republic for Prague and Krakow, Poland and a bunch of other spots I think I'm holding off for now until I find them interesting again. Tends to happen quickly to me.

Got Norway! Country #32 for caching... think it's #55 overall. And man, what a nice country- glorious weather right now in Bergen, which I understand is super weird but I seriously appreciate nonetheless.

Actually I find Brazil an interesting case because they have a pretty simple rule- any country's citizens who want to enter Brazil just have to do the same as what Brazilian citizens have to do to enter the others' country. So if it's a hassle, blame the US policy on Brazilians. I actually have yet to enter Brazil for this reason too, or visit South America a lot for that matter (just waaay too many countries where US citizens have to drop a couple hundred bucks a pop just to enter... or I can go to SE Asia where I don't have to!). Now that I have a Hungarian passport too though with no such requirements on it (no visa required to enter Brazil for example) I am looking forward to exploring there sometime. The only visa I ever had to get in advance, mind, was my student visa for New Zealand when I studied there in 2007 (before I was a geocacher unfortunately!). Everything else was just at the border- NYPaddleCacher I'm surprised you needed Tanzania in advance as I just forked over $100 at the border and they gave me one- except China where my brother and I just had that arranged while we were in Hong Kong.

Last time I went I did it all by mail with these folks PVS International It is still$175 plus a $50 fee to the handling agency. Be aware you do need to mail in your passport, which may be problematic for a US citizen living abroad... Sorry- to be clear yes you can apply by mail, but I cannot apply to the Russian consulate in the Netherlands (either by mail or in person) despite my residency here. So I could courier my passport abroad, but who really cares that much? (I mean unless I have business that sends me there sometime.) Sorta like me and going to Morocco- in a world where there are so many nice places to go and things to see, I don't see why I should go out of my way to visit places where you're not exactly welcomed.

Well to be fair there are many cheap fares to Russia from here too (Moscow and St Petersburg) but the real issue I have there is obtaining the visa. You actually have to apply through an embassy in the country where you have citizenship- for me meaning going to the embassy in either Hungary or to the USA- and that's just not going to happen due to the hassle factor. A real pity too as I'd love to see the Hermitage. Morocco is also an odd one btw as I know a lot of folks who love traveling there, but it sounds so much of a hassle as a solo female traveler I'm just not that interested in it. Maybe someday if I was dating a guy who really wanted to go...