Travel

The Quirky Island of Puerto Rico

The Quirky Island of Puerto Rico

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Hola,

I figured, now that old man winter has been in full swing in the north, it is about time that I start talking about my last three months living on the sunny island of Puerto Rico. So I wanted to share some travel tips for Puerto Rico, Old San Juan, and my favorite beaches.

At first glance while looking on the Internet, this place may seem like the island paradise that everyone needs in their lives, especially during the winter. Who doesn’t want to spend their time in crystal clear water, on sandy white beaches, listening to reggaetón and sipping on pina coladas made with handmade Puerto Rican rum?  Sounds like paradise to me! However, once you arrive, you will find that this place is, well, quite different than the websites and Youtube videos show. There are a lot of problems with the island currently, the economy is not doing well, the roads are filled with questionable drivers and potholes, and when you leave the tourist spots of the island, the neighborhood can change very quickly.

Now, I know that some people might get scared, and make the decision to go to some other island destination, where, I’m sure, that they would have a good time. However, I encourage you to keep reading.

Even with all the bad things plaguing this country, there is still something very special about this island; a X-factor that has turned this place into one of the most incredible places I have ever lived in. When you start to look past the problems that I mentioned and begin to accept that this is a different country with a very different culture (even though you pay for things in dollars and most people speak English), you see the quirkiness of this island and how much is crammed into this tiny rock.. If you learn to embrace this island for what it is, you will definitely leave here with a smile on your face and incredible memories.

One of my favorite things to do during my days off is to get in the rental and drive. You can spend an entire day driving the beach roads and stumbling into some insanely incredible beaches and only cover about 1/8 of the island. And the best part is, it will only take you about two hours to get home, even from the farthest end of the island, if you take the highway. There is so much packed into this tiny island that, most days, I forget that the sea surrounds me, and I think that I’m on the mainland again. Just make sure to accept the insurance for that rental car because these roads are not friendly to the cars!

Tyler Gaebe's Travel Tips on Puerto Rico

After you get back to the hotel from exploring various parts of the island and take a quick power nap, you should explore some of the amazing cities that are near San Juan. One my favorite cities to go visit once the sun goes down is the historic Old San Juan. This is only about a 15 min drive from many of the hotels in Isla Vedre and Condado, but offers some of the most unique and fantastic bars and restaurants I’ve ever been to. Some even rival New York. And here, everyday is the weekend, and there is no such thing as last call. So, you can be sure you will have a memorable time here. You can meet people from all over the world or talk to some locals and get info on new places to check out while you are here.

The last good thing I’ll mention is that Puerto Rico is a major hub to get to any island along the entire island chain of the Caribbean. I’d highly recommended connecting through San Juan if you are traveling from the other Caribbean Islands.  Also, a huge plus is clearing customs in San Juan is one of the easiest experiences I’ve had.

To make the long story short, Puerto Rico may be a quirky little place, but it does offer some serious treasures if you’re willing to embrace this country for what it is. Stay tuned for more specific info on my favorite beaches, bars, and places to check out.

 

Till next time,

 

Tyler

 

 

Do Yourself A Favor

Do Yourself A Favor

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Hello,

Being a pilot and doing as much travel as I have already, I get asked over and over again, “Tyler, what is the best place you’ve ever been too?”

I always give the same answer:  Norway.

My answer usually shocks people at first, which raises the second question I always get asked, “Out of all the places that I’ve been to, and everywhere in the world that I could have possibly traveled to, why Norway?” It’s so far away, they think, but when you are in Europe, it’s so easy to country hop! Why spend that kind of money and suffer 12 hours stuck in a plane when you can’t even go to another country without wasting another day on a train or flying?

Well, first off, flying between European countries is incredibly cheap with the low-cost carries such as Norwegian Air and Ryan Air, just know how to pack (but that’s a discussion for a different day).

As for why Norway, I say, “It’s simple, Norway is THE most beautiful place I have experienced, and I doubt it will fall from my number one spot. Norway is not just physically incredible, but is so rich in other ways, like;

History Of Norway

Norway’s history is long and vibrant with the mix of different cultures that currently reside there. Its past boasts of the powerful Vikings explorers and the Norwegian resistance fighters of World War II. The country is proud of its history, and invests a lot of money to share it with several museums and landmarks scattered throughout the cities. Norway has done an amazing job of sharing its history, better that most of the other places I’ve been to. For example, they have entire museums full of Viking artifacts and entire Viking ships that were discovered in different areas of Norway! Seeing these ships and level of craftsmanship put into their ships is a truly awe inspiring experience. Try to imagine yourself sailing to Britain or France in one of these ships! This is only one of several landmarks and museums that surround the cities of Norway. That’s why history is one of my top reasons for visiting this country, whether you are a history buff or not, you can’t help but be intrigued and humbled by this country’s past. I’ll post about the top places to check out in Oslo and Bergen later.

Places to See in Oslo

Places to See

 As someone who has been face to face with the powerful glaciers of Alaska and flown through the Alaska Range itself, I was truly stunned by the views I saw during my short ten day stay in Norway.  Some were viewed during hikes in the mountains surrounding Bergen, and other sights were offered looking out the window of the train winding through the countryside. Even Oslo gave some truly astonishing moments that I’ll never forget. In fact, I tried to take pictures of some of these views, but failed to do them true justice.

Things to Do in Norway

People Of Norway

 What makes this country a truly special place to me is the people. Many of my friends are Norwegian, and I’ve found the people of Norway to be open and welcoming to me. What makes traveling here without know much about the language great is that everyone in the country grew up speaking Norwegian and English, and can converse with you with few language barrier issues. Now I will say, while it is possible to spend your entire stay without knowing a word of Norwegian, I don’t recommend it. Knowing a few words like Takk (thanks), Hallo (Hello), and most importantly, SKOL!! Which means CHEERS!  Will be an easy icebreaker for meeting new people. Norwegians are also very proud of their country and will easily point you in the right direction for things to see and explore.

Food In Norway

What would a vacation be without indulging on food a bit, right? However, while finding traditional Norwegian food can be a bit tricky, it is out there though. But you won’t need to fret too much because the other foods are equally incredible. Norway is an incredibly healthy country and you will not find the same gross food that are in other places around the world. All their food is all organic, no weird chemicals, in fact, all of their food might as well be from Whole Foods; even the McDonald’s there is healthy! Now, keep in mind, you will be paying more for food and drink than you might be used to, but it is totally worth it; at least you aren’t expected to tip. The cities also have a vast array of food to tantalize anyone’s taste buds. Even I, a sworn Pacific Salmon man, will admit Norwegian salmon is pretty dang good.

For keeping this article’s length somewhat reasonable I’ll end it here, even though I could probably write a novel on the ten-day trip I did over a year ago now. My memories from it are still incredibly vivid, and if it wasn’t obvious already, I have absolutely fallen in love with Norway. If it was easier for me to transfer my pilot license over to the European license, I’d probably be writing this post in Norway. So do yourself a favor, and go to Norway!

 

Till next time,

Tyler Gaebe

Take It From A Pilot

Take It From A Pilot

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Greetings all! Thank you for checking out my first post of many about my experiences and recommendations for discovering what this beautiful world has to offer.

For this first post, I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and explain to you how I am so well versed in the travel industry. After all, it’s kinda my job.

Travel Blog

My name is Tyler Gaebe; I’m a career pilot, and more importantly, a career traveler. I’ve seen the southern half of Alaska, explored most of Scandinavia, flown as far south as southern Mexico, grew up in the mountains of Utah, became a New Yorker, and will soon be a spending my winter in the sunny beaches of the Caribbean, flying into some of the most luxurious travel destinations in the world. And I’m only just getting started.

My journey began when I was growing up in Park City, UT, skiing the ‘greatest snow on earth!’ Later, moving to Salt Lake City and attending a liberal arts college and attaining my B.S in Flight Operations and minor in Business. During my college experience, I was able to move to Alaska for a summer and see over half of what that beautiful state has to offer.

After I graduated college, I was given a once in lifetime opportunity to become a bush pilot in Western Alaska, a long time goal of mine. However, this job turned into, by far, one of the most difficult jobs I’ve ever had. With those long days and weeks, I was able to see and experience some of the most rugged and stunning scenery this world has to offer. What really made this job special for me was the benefits! The company gave me two weeks off per month, and free airline travel on most major carriers! Needless to say, I took full advantage of this perk and traveled to Norway, Sweden, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Boston, Rhode Island, Montreal, Sand Diego, Los Angeles, and several other amazing countries and cities.

Top European Vacations

Now, I work and live in New York, flying into the top summer destinations in the northeast, such as, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Boston, and several other cities, both large and small. I’ve resided here for nearly 6 months now, and will soon be moving to the Caribbean for the winter. A nice break from Utah and Alaska winters I’d say. During my time down there, I will not only be flying into the islands such as, St. Barth’s, Nevis, Antigua, Anguilla, and several others, but also be spending time in these wonderful places and learning what to do in each island from the locals!

Top Caribbean Vacations

Now, for those of who think this will be a blog about my experience as a pilot, that is not my intent. The purpose of this blog to help people with planning, brainstorming, and researching the various places that I have been fortunate enough to visit. I plan on discussing the top things do in various cities and countries, my personal recommendations for restaurants and hotels, and other basic travel tips. I also plan on having guest writers who are well traveled in the areas of the world I’ve yet to go!

I’m so excited to get started, and hope that you stayed tuned for more content and send me requests for topics you want me to discuss.

Until next time,

Tyler Gaebe