Traveling For Research

Sandra here and I am feeling thankful to be back home after a month long journey across Spain.

How many of you have traveled specifically to do research for your novel?

As the title states, I want to give you some practical tips for traveling for research based on my experiences. And then I will follow with some of the things I learned that will be important for my novel. These are the subtle nuances I picked up that wouldn’t have necessarily been found in online or paper research. This part will include a sharing of photos so I wanted to let you know that the nuts and bolts will be first, followed by fluff (in case you are in a time crunch) smile

I needed to do research for a story that has been in my heart to write for years. I could have written this book when it first appeared in my head. After all we do have the Internet and plenty of travel books to peruse, but I really wanted to travel to Spain. I am a kinetic learner and need to experience the hands on feel of a place to get the setting just right.

I finally had the opportunity to travel to Spain. My hubby wasn’t interested, but a girlfriend wanted to rent a car and drive around the country and she needed someone along who spoke Spanish. My hand went up immediately.  And we all know how God's perfect timing works. I was free for the first time in years to go that far away from home and I had the money.

¡Óla, España!

Coast near Navia, Spain

Nuts and Bolts of traveling to Europe (specifically Spain)

1. RICK STEVES TRAVEL GUIDE is a must. He focuses on cultural history sites to visit and sets you right in the heart of the interesting tourist part of the site. He even gives recommendations for places to stay in a range of prices. So we were able to stay in nice places at really reasonable prices where we could walk around and enjoy his self guided tours. He gives information for walking tours and recommendations for professional tours.

2. PACK LIGHT. Did you hear me?  I took one small suitcase and had everything I need.  See the photo below? My apartment in Seville was on the third floor of the building to the right. See why you travel light? We had to roll our luggage from the parking lot, down this narrow street and up three flights of stairs. The good thing about that is you can eat all the bread and fried potatoes they serve in Spain with every meal. LOL

My apartment in Seville is on third floor above me

Plan ahead to save sample containers of makeup and toothpaste, etc. Bring clothing that is polyester because they don’t wrinkle and when you hand wash, they dry overnight. My favorite pants were by PrAna. The pant legs zip off below the knee so they make capris or long pants and look dressy.

Pack everything in zip lock baggies. Take quart, gallon and two gallon spares. This makes it easier to sort through what you have. By squeezing air out of bags, you can fit more in your SMALL case.

3. Leave one fourth of your suitcase empty so you have room to bring back the things you want to buy.

4. COMMUNICATION:  International phone service on your cell phone is available, but pricey. You can set up SKYPE. I talked to hubby every morning for free. I took a Kindle Fire HD to use for internet. My friend used her I Phone for Internet (not phone service). All the places we stayed had free wi fi.  We purchased a cheap burner phone in Spain and bought minutes so we could call and make reservations, get directions, etc.    By the way, in Spain they have traffic circles so you can just drive around and around until you figure out where you are. LOL

5. TRANSPORTATION: We rented a car before we left and it only cost us a little over $300 for the whole month. So you can see it is cheaper to do it ahead of time and while home. You can shop around for the best deal and also have it all set up so when you arrive at the airport, you hop right into your car. (Well after standing in line LOL)

All major airports have information booths with multilingual staff so you can get bus and train schedules. We took local buses and the metro while in big cities. It is easy to do with a schedule in hand. Every town in Spain had an information booth and I got the impression that most of the towns in Europe provide these.  However, keep in mind that in Spain everything shuts down in the afternoon. They do take their siesta time seriously. You night owls will love it though because the towns are alive with shops and restaurants open until eleven or midnight.

6. MONEY: Spain uses Euros. No need to pay the exorbitant fees of money changers. Major airports have ATM machines. Most banks do charge for each ATM transaction so when you do get cash, get the full amount allowed. You will be charged the same fee for a $20.00 deduction as for a $200.00. So go for the one time fee.  If you can find a bank that is online only, they have to give you ATM cards with no fees. My friend does this and saved lots of money. My ATM fees were more than my credit card fees.

You can shop for credit cards that don't charge international exchange fees. I didn't know to do that, (sigh) but did save myself tons of money by putting a credit on my account. My bank charged 3% daily. So if you charge something at the beginning of your billing cycle, that purchase will get charged 3% every day. By having a credit in my account, the purchase was paid off so only got charged the minute it came in.  This saved me money. I used my credit card for most purchases.

A money belt is wise in crowded areas where pick pockets can abound.  I rarely had to worry about this, but was glad to have the belt when I needed it.

7. TAX DEDUCTION: Remember any travel you do for your writing is tax deductible. SAVE RECEIPTS. These are a must. Keep a daily log with references to all the places you went that pertain to the research and why. Keep a log of expenses so if audited you can present your expenses in an organized and precise manner. Travel expenses are allowed, but you must use them in a book within two years. Oh dear--a deadline already.

8. RESEARCH: There are many ways to take notes: dictate in your electronic device, photos, write notes, send yourself emails.  I took lots of photos of the displays in museums including the written descriptions and info so I will have a reminder of what they said. (See sample below)  We took tours in each major city to start with which would lead us to specific places to find info. I also collected email addresses of people willing to help and answer questions that might come up in the future while writing the manuscript.

Do you have to travel to your location to write an authentic setting? No. Just ask the other Seekers. There is plenty of info out there on the Internet and with the Internet you can connect with people who live in the areas you are writing about.

BUT

I am a writer who tends to make my settings a very integral part of my story and in order to do that, I have to experience the setting in person.

Anyone else out there like that?

All of my books are set in locations I have lived in or traveled to. My current release, LOVE’S REFUGE is set on an island in Puget Sound off the coast of Washington. My hubby and I spent a couple of weeks on a similar island where my aunt and uncle had built a cabin. The setting was so unique that I just had to use it for a novel. Then I had to think of characters who would live on that island or visit it. Hence, Skye and Danny were born. And many of their experiences on the island are similar to those hubby and I experienced.

CURRENT OF LOVE was set on a steamboat cruise up the Mississippi River. Hubby and I had won a trip to New Orleans and decided on taking the same cruise described in the novel. I interviewed crew members while on the cruise (hey, I’m a writer—what can I say?). I then came up with reasons my characters would be on the same steamboat. Hence Janelle and Rett were born. And many of their experiences are similar to those hubby and I experienced.

Are you seeing a pattern here? Can you catch a glimpse of the added value of traveling to the location of the setting of your novel?

Travel to these locations not only gave me hands on experience to write into my setting, but inspired the plot and characters of the novels.

Now my book set in Spain started with the character. I have had this character prowling around in my head for years demanding that his story be told. But he was born in Spain and I could have written him there with info gleaned from online/paper research but as I said before, I'm a kinetic learner.  I am glad I traveled to Spain because I did pick up plenty of things that will deepen his personality.

I loved Spain. They have statues of Jesus everywhere. And holy days are national holidays. All Soul's day fell on a Friday so the Spanish had a three day weekend.

Statue of Jesus

My character lived in the 15th century. As a boy he would have traveled on foot or horseback. I hiked in many of the Natural Parks and rode horses in the pine forests and on the beaches. Now I've hiked and ridden horses here but I can now relate to the flora and fauna my character would have seen. I will know what wildlife he would see.

Hiking in Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park

Picos de Europa Natural Park (We hiked 9 miles here)

One of the Natural Parks we visited used to be the hunting palace of the king. My hero's family would have hunted here. I know what it feels like to climb the steps of the palace and see the view over the tree tops. I know what eagles he will see flying overhead.

View of the forest from the hunting palace of the king

A last minute decision was to swing by Jerez and go see the horse show put on by the Andalusian School. What beautiful horses and riders. Now my character will certainly use some of these moves to impress the ladies. smile I would't have thought to use them before this.

Practicing for the show at the Andalusian School in Jerez

We toured the bull fight ring and in the museum I discovered that my hero would be living in the period of time bullfighting evolved. The men training for battle would practice their horsemanship skills in the plazas and the bulls would provide the role of the enemy.

Painting in museum shows evolving of bullfighting

While roaming around the countryside, my character will be using old Roman ruins that are still in use today.

Roman bridge in Ronda-Buses and trucks still travel on this bridge.

Roman bridge (See people walking on the top)

Architecture in Spain is amazing because the Romans built large cities and when the Moors conquered Spain they built their mosques on top of the Roman buildings. In other words they recycled and reused the existing structures to build towers and other buildings. Then when the Christians reconquered Spain, they did not tear down these mosques. They converted them to the cathedrals. They extended the towers  and placed the bells inside. The muslim prayer rooms became the church.  So when you tour the cathedrals and palaces, each building becomes a lesson in architecture. My hero will see the construction changing the mosques into cathedrals.

Cathedral in Segovia

Cathedral in Ronda

My character wanted to serve God, so he thought he should be a priest. Circumstances prevent this but he does serve God in a mighty way that he isn't even aware of.  (Don't we all know how that happens?)

Anyway, I visited the churches he would have worshiped in--huge cathedrals filled with statues and paintings on the ceilings and walls. To me, they seemed rather gaudy, but I was reminded by a tour guide that in the days these cathedrals were built, the people did not read. So the statues and paintings were put there to tell the stories in the Bible. In other words, these cathedrals are giant picture books.  Now that tidbit of knowledge is going to change big time how my character views his time in church and his memories and thoughts of church.

Gabriel talking to Mary (this is not old, but I really loved it)

In Spain the story of Jesus is still told in the manner they used for centuries. Each church builds a float that tells part of the story of Jesus' life. On special holy days, they parade their floats in the order the story goes. As the floats passed by, parents tell their children the story. In Seville, the parade during Easter week is world renowned. One and a half million people come to see this event. The floats are huge. They weigh over a ton and are carried by the men of their parish. They have two sets of forty men who walk under the float and they take twenty minute shifts carrying this huge float. 

The float of the Roman soldiers confronting Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane

Close up of the float with Roman soldiers

The floats are costly as you can imagine so in small towns, they pick one scene. Mary is a favorite because the story of Jesus usually starts with Gabriel coming to tell her she will be with child. Because of this many Protestants think Catholics pray to Mary, but they don't. When they go to a statue of Mary and talk to her, they are asking for her to intercede for them and give their prayers to her son, Jesus.  Very much like you would ask a friend to pray for you. 

Famous float of Mary (as described in Revelations ) at the Cathedral of Macarena in Seville

All of this information gleaned from touring the cathedrals in Spain will change how I portray my character as he attends church.  I might not have picked up many of these subtle nuances from books.

Well, I hope I haven't bored you to tears.  I actually have over 700 photos so be thankful. LOL

Pork is a favorite food in Spain so I will serve tapas with jamon (ham) and cheese. We have potato tortillas (these sound weird but they are to die for),  paella, and fresh squeezed orange juice. Fresh bread and olives are always served with every meal.  Most meals include fried potatoes and yummy salads. Deserts include a delicious pudding type crema. 

Every block has a bakery with breads and pastries. Lots of chocolate too (after all they brought chocolate from the Americas).   They also make churros to dip in hot chocolate.  Every block has bars that serve drinks at night, but I loved them because they served coffee in the mornings.  Expresso lattes are a favorite there. Be careful though because they make their coffee STRONG.  

So enjoy the feast. 

And tell us about any travels you did for research. All who comment will be put in a drawing for your choice of a copy of my new release LOVE'S REFUGE or a copy of my new audio release of LOVE'S MIRACLES.  Or if you're traveling and want a Rick Steves travel guide you can choose that as well.

If you haven't already, join us for the blog tour of LOVE'S REFUGE set up by the amazing Amber Stokes at SEASONS OF HUMILITY and enter the rafflecopter contest for a kindle loaded with all of my ebooks. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.  I am always thankful for the Seekers and our friends in Seekerville.

Excavation of Roman city of Baelo Claudia

Travel Tips

Which carryon tote is best?

By Debby Giusti

In less than a week, I’ll be flying to Dallas for the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference.  With keynote speaker Michael Hyatt and early bird presenter Nancy Kress, this year’s conference should be packed with great inspiration and information. 

Many Seekers and Seekervillagers plan to attend, and seeing everyone will be the highlight of the week.  Most evenings, we’ll gather in the hotel lobby/common area to recap the day's events. Follow the laughter and you’ll be sure to find us.  Remember we’re all family so don’t hole up in your room. Instead join in the Seekerville fun.

You’ve never flown? You’ve never been to a conference? You don’t know what to expect or what to pack or what to wear?  Today’s blog is for you.  Ask questions, voice your concerns, offer advice, and we’ll all be better prepared for this year’s conference.

Two years ago, I posted a blog on “Packing Tips—Seeker Style.”  I’ve included a few points from that article in the blog today, but refer back to that 2010 post for additional information.

Now grab a cup of coffee and let’s talk about the upcoming conference.

Here are some of my tips:

Ensure you have plenty of $1 bills so you can say thank-you to the many service workers who make your stay more pleasant.  Curbside check-in at the airport?  The going rate is $2 per checked bag.  The shuttle driver who whisks you from the airport to the hotel gets a tip as well.  The bell boy who carts your luggage to your room, the housekeeping staff who answer your requests for more coffee packets or the maid who cleans your room—all of them deserve to be thanked. 

Research how you will travel to and from the airport ahead of time.  Often shuttle services require advance reservations and cash payment.  Save some dollars to tip those who help you on your trip home and cash on hand for your shuttle or taxi ride back to the airport.

Carry Wet Wipes in your purse for quick clean ups.  I often find crumbs from the previous passenger’s meal on the fold-down airplane tray. Call me a germaphobe, but I wipe the tray as soon as I board.

Tie a bright ribbon around your luggage handle to quickly identify your bag in the crowd of suitcases that often look alike.

Prior to going through security, take off all jewelry and belts and store them in your carryon tote.  Before being scanned, you’ll need to remove your shoes. If you’re wearing sandals, take socks to slip on so your feet stay clean.  Thousands of passengers pass through security each day…athlete’s foot…you get the idea, right?

After going through security, buy a bottle of water so you’ll have something to drink in case of long delays on the tarmac.

  

Be sure to check your airline’s suitcase weight requirements, and weigh your luggage at home so you can shift heavy items into a second bag if you’re over the maximum weight allowance.  Hotel fitness centers often have a scale that you can use to weigh your luggage for the return flight.

I usually fly Delta, which has a 50 lb. maximum for each checked bag. To keep my larger suitcase underweight, I pack heavy items, such as promotional products and books, in my carryon.

A word of caution: A few years ago, my roommate packed powered Coffee-mate in a plastic baggie. TSA opened her suitcase and sliced through the baggie. Coffee-mate spilled all over her clothes. What a mess! To keep agents from wondering about any white powder I might be carrying, I try to keep dry products, such as sweeteners or Coffee-mate, in their original containers.

To lower the odds of having TSA rummage through my suitcase, I pack electrical cords, battery chargers, umbrellas and curling irons—items that could look suspicious when scanned--in my carryon bag. Going through security, I place those types of items in a plastic bin to be screened separately.

I use TSA approved locks to keep my suitcases from opening en route.  They can be purchased anywhere luggage is sold. The agents have a master key so they can check the luggage, but the locks keep the cases secure during the flight.

Now that airlines charge for checked luggage, most folks travel with carryon bags. The overhead bins fill quickly so board as soon as possible to ensure you can find space for your bag.

When I traveled to RWA this summer, I paid the extra $25 and checked a second bag filled with my promotional items. It would have been heavy to lift into the overhead compartment if I had taken it on board. Plus, I wanted to use my briefcase on wheels, which was my main carryon.  In spite of the extra charge, I found the trip less stressful because I didn’t have to haul the heavy bag around the airport and to and from my gate.

Some folks mail items to the hotel and have them held until their arrival. Be sure to check the fees first. The RWA hotel charged $50 a day for each box held for incoming guests. One woman, flying internationally, mailed boxes that arrived earlier than expected, and she ended up with a $1000 holding fee.

If you enjoy listening to music, take your own earphones so you can tune into the airplane’s sound system immediately upon boarding.

Grab an airline blanket when you board.  They can be used as lap blankets if the temperature drops or used as a lumbar roll to ease back strain.

Wear layers.  Some airplanes can be extremely cold; others—especially while waiting for takeoff—can be the exact opposite.  Layering is an easy way to help regulate your body temperature.

Food on board flights—even cross-country flights—is limited.  Fix a sandwich or snack at home or grab a pre-made meal at the airport before your board.  Remember liquids must be purchased after you pass through security.  Even if the airline sells sandwiches and snacks during the flight, the supply often runs low.  I’m not sure about other airlines, but Delta will not accept cash so have your credit card handy.

I pulled a muscle at a conference a number of years ago and now pack muscle relaxers, just in case. Extra reading glasses and a second pair of contacts are a must as well as a night reading light that could double as a flashlight in case of emergency.

Pam Hillman’s an organized traveler who provided the following tips.

“I have a small toiletries bag in my purse for Band-Aids, ibuprofen, peppermint, gum, lotion, clippers, etc. When I travel, I make sure the bag is stocked (esp. the ibuprofen) and transfer it to my carryon luggage. That way I have all those little essentials I need on the plane.”

She suggests minimizing the number of items you have to lug through the airport. “I have ONE bag. PERIOD,” says Pam. “I don't even carry a purse. I have a rolling backpack that I got at Walmart for about $30.00. It holds my laptop and everything else I need. I'm not concerned about an extra set of clothes. If my luggage is lost, I'll make do until I can pick up an outfit.”

Pam also suggests wearing a blouse or top with a front pocket for your ID and ticket. “Until you're safely through check-in,” she says, “keep your important documents in that pocket. When you no longer need your ID, STOP and put it BACK in your wallet/purse immediately. You will thank yourself later.”

Another great tip from Pam: “Use your smart phone to take pictures of your hotel room number, the street your hotel is on, etc. If you drive to the airport, leave your airport parking ticket on the visor of your car. Place your car keys in a safe, zippered location in your carryon bag or purse. Oh, and as you walk away from your car in the airport, snap a picture of the parking lot section you're in. Just sayin'.”

Pam plans to buy a lot of books at the conference and will pack a USPS Flat-rate box and a tape gun in her suitcase so she can mail her purchases home.

Missy recommends packing clothing in plastic compression bags. “I always pack a huge amount for each conference and will do anything to squeeze it all in! I usually use three of these bags. Plus, I like the idea that if my luggage gets checked by the TSA, all my stuff won't fall out or get wrinkled.”

She adds, “Pack a black skirt and one or two pairs of black pants. Then just switch out tops and take one black cardigan sweater.” (Missy, if that’s all you’re taking, why the need for the compression bags?  <grin>)

Janet Dean and her hubby often drive to conferences. “When we’re taking a long trip with lots of luggage and changing motels every night, we try to pack the small suitcases with the things we need for that night and the next morning,” she says. “That way we don’t have to haul all the luggage inside unless we’re staying for several days. We try to pack our clothes in order, with things we’ll wear later in the trip on the bottom. I’ve used the large zip lock plastic bags to coordinate outfits and minimize wrinkles. We put shoes, daub kit and cosmetic bag in plastic bags to protect our clothes. I keep items in my make-up bag all the time, even soap, lotion and shampoo since I’m sensitive to fragrances. Thankfully most motels/hotels use unscented detergent. We stockpile dollar bills and coins to tip maids and pay tolls. We take a small cooler for water/pop and a stash of snacks in the car. We also take a Garmin, charger cords and camera batteries, OTC and prescription meds, band aids, antibiotic ointment and doctor’s phone numbers. No matter how hard I try, I usually forget something.” 

Mary Connealy says, “I never ever check the bag with my computer in it. Instead I ALWAYS keep it with me to avoid damage and to have it close in case there's a chance to write. I stick two or three copies of my books in my computer bag, and if the opportunity arises, I give them to people I meet or seatmates on a plane. I also keep a stack of bookmarks in a pocket of my purse and some Seekerville pens to 'share.' I try not to be obnoxious about the marketing with people trapped beside me, I swear.”

She adds, “I always carry my Kindle, phone and computer charger cords in my computer bag so if I'm stuck in an airport I can keep working or phoning or reading. I usually carry a book with me that I SHOULD read but don't particularly WANT to read, because being trapped on an airplane will force you to open that book.”

Myra Johnson suggests packing an extra pair of comfortable shoes. “After a day of hiking the corridors of a huge hotel, your feet will thank you. Plan ahead what you will (most likely) wear each day and evening of the conference, along with an extra outfit or two just in case. Try everything on before you pack to double-check fit, look for missing buttons, etc., and make sure you have all the parts of the outfit you'll need, including accessories. Throw in a shawl or light sweater in case meeting rooms are chilly.”

In addition, Myra says, “Print out all important e-mail correspondence you received prior to the conference, including your registration info, hotel confirmation, prescheduled appointments, etc., and place them in a folder or notebook to take with you. Include a list of friends' cell phone numbers.”

Cara Lynn James always brings her health insurance cards just in case. A list of prescription drugs and the dosage is also a good idea as well as an emergency point of contact.

Say goodbye to ironing with Glynna Kaye’s packing tip. “I've been doing this Ziploc thing ever since I took a trip to Britain ages ago,” Glynna says. “I get varying sizes of bags--quart, gallon, 2 1/2 gallon. Then I neatly fold each item and put them in separate Ziploc. I've found it really does work.” The bags slide against each other in transit so the fabrics don’t get pulled or wadded up.

For fabrics that are easily wrinkled, Glynna folds the garment around a Ziploc bag and offers the following instructions. “I place a blouse face down on the bed and then lay an appropriately sized Ziploc bag on top of the back of the main body of the garment, below the shoulders and above the hem. I fold the sides in toward the middle of the garment first and then the sleeves. Finally, I fold the bottom up. That way the front of the garment isn't rubbing against the back.” And for quick cleans ups for her wrinkle-free clothing, Glynna packs a Tide To Go stick.

Lots of great advice from all the Seekers. Now, I’m eager to learn your travel tips.  Leave a comment to be included in a drawing for one of my books, winner’s choice.

Grab a cup of coffee and some breakfast – scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and grits—and let’s swap ideas on how to make conference travel easy peasy!

Can’t wait to see you in Dallas.  Hugs and love to those not attending this year.  We’ll bring back lots of great info to share.

Wishing you abundant blessings,

Debby Giusti

www.DebbyGiusti.com

www.craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com

THE COLONEL'S DAUGHTER available in print or e-book.  Click here to order your copy.

If you’re going to ACFW, check out our Seekerville Silent Auction Donation--a beautiful writing secretary handcrafted by Gary Harders.  Thank you, Gary, for providing such a wonderful gift for a lucky ACFW winner.  Proceeds from the silent auction fund scholarships for next year’s conference.