I unusually don’t write about health issues unless it pertains to “Montezuma’s Revenge,” “Tut’s Tummy,” “The Flying Whazoos,” or similar. But having experienced foot surgery eight months ago that impacted running, hiking, trekking and travel, I thought you should really hear what online reading and Orthopedic Surgeons never tell you. Pre-surgery evolved over at least [...]
“Travel Tips & Advice on Sheila’s Travel Soapbox”
What you should know about foot surgery!
May 4th, 2012 
Sheila Simkin 
Posted in Featured, Sheila's Travel Soapbox 
Tags: feet, foot, medical advice, shoes, surgery, travel 
4 Comments »
Now there are designer baggage tags? How about a reality check…
October 15th, 2010 Sheila Simkin A short article appeared in the Wall Street Journal (of all places) about buying designer baggage tags and suggesting that, …instead of settling for some anonymous flop of fabric that comes with your suitcase and looks like all the others, invest in a snazzy tag to do the job right… And by the way, these [...]
Posted in Sheila's Travel Soapbox Tags: adventure, culture, destination, event, fashion, log, sightseeing, suitcases, travel No Comments »
Gutsy,”Older” Women Who Adventure Travel
March 28th, 2010 Sheila Simkin I’m tired of hearing whining from women and comments from others (including from my own adult children). You’re/I’m too old to travel. You’re/I’m too old for adventure. You’re/I’m too old for what? Are we talking mentally? Physically? Nonsense. On almost every tour or vacation, I’ve met some extremely gutsy women who are disproving all of [...]
Posted in General, Sheila's Travel Soapbox Tags: adventure, culture, destination, event, hike, hiking, hotels, log, sightseeing, transportation, travel, trek, trekking, women No Comments »
Blanche from Cape Town – A Gutsy Woman Who Travels
June 12th, 2009 Sheila Simkin Blanche, from Cape Town, South Africa, was a member of our Uganda/Rwanda trip traveling with her friend, Margot, and impressed ex-Marine (husband Steve) and myself for many reasons. First, Blanche wasn’t exactly young at 76 – in spirit, yes – and still up for this active, adventurous excursion. The Uganda portion included hiking through hot, [...]
Posted in General, Sheila's Travel Soapbox Tags: adventure, cruises, cruising, destination, event, events, food, information, landmark, log, nature, sightseeing, travel No Comments »
No One Hates to Exercise More Than I
February 24th, 2009 Sheila Simkin Why do people think that just because I force myself to go out and exercise, I love it? Thirty-one years of running, walking, hiking, aerobics, using weights (when I remember), skiing, cross-country skiing. Exercise tapes with Jane Fonda, followed by yoga with Jane Fonda. Health clubs, treadmills, a Nordic Track and elliptical. (I do own [...]
Posted in Austria, General, Sheila's Travel Soapbox Tags: accommodation, adventure, austria, destination, event, events, exercise, food, hotels, information, landmark, log, nature, sightseeing, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, St. Anton am Arlberg, travel, winter sports No Comments »
Thea from Johannesburg – A Gutsy Woman Who Travels
January 27th, 2009 Sheila Simkin Thea was part of our Annapurna Sanctuary Trek in Nepal and I dare anyone not be daunted by Thea’s prowess and sense of adventure. Thea is in her mid- to late-50′s (sorry, Thea) and can give anyone, man or woman, a run for their money. A widow from Johannesburg, Thea is awe-inspiring and fit to [...]
Posted in Sheila's Travel Soapbox Tags: adventure, africa, destination, event, events, food, information, landmark, log, nature, sightseeing, South Africa, travel 2 Comments »
Annabelle From Adelaide, Australia – A Gutsy Woman Who Travels
January 2nd, 2009 Sheila Simkin This is the first of articles about women who took travel chances and made a big impression on me. We met Annabelle in Nepal on our first “easy” trek in the ’80′s. Annabelle was from Adelaide, Australia (all these “A’s” would make a good song). She was a basically unathletic person with a yen to [...]
Posted in Sheila's Travel Soapbox Tags: adventure, destination, event, events, food, information, landmark, log, nature, sightseeing, solo traveling, travel, women No Comments »
Please Don’t Give Handouts While Traveling!
August 16th, 2008 Sheila Simkin I’ve written about this before but it keeps on happening… DO NOT hand out pens, caramels, sweets, soap, balloons, “MAWNEE” or plastic water bottles to the children. In the Mursi village, an English couple handed out balloons to the children. Two days later, we’re in a Karo village and the children are already asking for [...]
Posted in Ethiopia, Sheila's Travel Soapbox Tags: adventure, destination, ethiopia, event, events, food, information, landmark, log, nature, sightseeing, South Ethiopia, travel, tribes No Comments »
Saving Money In Europe
April 14th, 2008 Sheila Simkin An article appeared in the Chicago Tribune Travel Section yesterday, Sunday April 13, with a full page of Rick Steve’s recommendations on stretching your money against the Euro. Good suggestions with the exception of two. Rick’s Suggestion #6, was to skip your hotel breakfast with its 10 Euro charge and eat in a local cafe [...]
Posted in Sheila's Travel Soapbox Tags: adventure. destination, budget, Europe, event, events, food, information, landmark, life on board ship, log, nature, sightseeing, travel No Comments »
Climbing Up Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa
June 17th, 2007 Sheila Simkin An article about hiking to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro appeared in today’s Chicago Tribune Travel Section (6/17/2007) and really upset me. The writer, comically, wrote about “the 10 things she learned about climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.” I’d love to demolish each point she made, for example, “it’s okay to be naive“…“climbing Kilimanjaro just sounded like [...]
Posted in Africa, Sheila's Travel Soapbox Tags: adventure, africa, culture, destination, event, events, hiking, information, Kilmanjjaro, log, sightseeing, travel 1 Comment »
