Travel UpdateBy: Stu Cooper / Happy AdventuresIt has been a little over a year since our worldchanged.Yes, travel has become a bit easier. However,complete freedom to travel, is still a bit allusive.First of all cruising inthe U.S. is suspended untilMay 31, 2021. And it mightcontinue even longer.For example, all cruising issuspended to Alaska for 2021 sinceCanada is not allowing ships to stop there. There is hope that Caribbeanand Mexican Rivera cruising might start over the summer, but this isstill in doubt.Some good news. River cruising in the U.S. has started up again.Mississippi River cruising is back in business.Ship capacity will be limited, and local rules will apply along theship’s itineraries. Mask requirements, social distancing and possibly anegative covid-19 test might apply during the cruise.Israel, which relies heavily on tourism, is still closed to foreigners.European travel is greatly restricted, and strict Covid-19 testingprotocols are still in effect for entrance into European countries. Italyannounced a shutdown of a large part of the country for the Easterholiday.In the United States a hodgepodge of rules exist. For example,38China Ranch Date FarmBy: Kathy Manney / Around Our World“Hidden Oasis” reads the sign on Old SpanishTrail Highway. Undeniably,China Ranch is an oasis.After leaving Old Spanish Trail Highway androunding the last curve on Furnace Creek Road, theroad abruptly ends. You have reached an extraordinaryhaven in the desert where date palms thrive.Similar to apples, dates come in different varieties. Asingle tree bears as much as 300 pounds of fruit a yearand can live 100 years or more.Date palms have been cultivated for their sugaryfruit since about 6000 B.C. A tree started from seedtakes about seven years before producing fruit. Andone male tree can pollinate up to 50 female trees.Their pollen is usually carried by wind or insects. However, growershand-pollinate their groves to assure a crop.The ranch is amongst the largest producers of dates in the UnitedStates. Imagine a remote area where you can purchase delicious,freshly made date milkshakes or buy fresh-out-of-the-oven date-nutbread.Hiking at China Ranch is not only welcomed, but also encouraged.March 2021if you want to go toWith Sharon on St. Martaan/Martin. But which side?Hawaii you must showa negative Covid-19 testresult taken within 72hours of departure. Youwill not be allowed onthe airplane without it.Hawaii is abiding bystrict Covid-19 protocolswith some restaurantsand public facilities stillclosed. However, Pearl Harbor is open to visitors.Florida on the other hand requires nothing whatsoever to visit. Sameis true for Arizona except for the Grand Canyon which is open butabiding by Covid-19 mask and social distancing protocols.New York is lifting its quarantine rules as of April 1. No more ten-dayquarantine for visitors to the state. Covid-19 protocols however are stillin effect.Finally, visiting the Caribbean and Mexico is a real challenge as eachisland has their own rules and regulations. Travel to these locations isincreasing but it is essential that you know what the rules are countryby country.One crazy example is the Island of St. Martaan/Martin. One side ofthe island is Dutch, one side is French. U.S. citizens can go to the Dutchside but not the French.Hikers will discover hidden surprises along the moderate climbingtrails.Picture a spot where the desert becomes a marshland, and a small,rustling river cascades to become a waterfall. Inthis barren desert, a river runs year-round, despitescorching temperatures. This waterway ranks amongfew rivers in the world that flow below sea level.Nearby Death Valley is the driest, hottest and lowestpoint in the Western Hemisphere. Its name is derivedfor being the site of a great deal of adversity duringthe early gold rush years. For this reason, the ranch’smarshland is a vital stop for migratory birds, wherehundreds of different species have been identified.“How did the ranch get its name?” Supposedly inthe mid-1800s, a man from China arrived there to work in the boraxmines.After working the mines for several years, he acquired some acreageand developed the area’s water to irrigate the fruits and vegetables heplanted. When crops were harvested, he marketed them to local miningcamps and the place became known as “Chinaman’s Ranch.”Kathy Manney enjoys visiting interesting places and being anAdventure Diva. Her “Must See” travel journeys continue - alwayswith enthusiasm.
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