Gettin’ Carried Away

Happy Halloween!

It’s no secret that fall is my favorite season. Naturally, I enjoy Halloween, as well. I love to watch terrifying movies (even though I’m easily scared by the smallest noise), and I always have fun putting up scary decorations. Most of all, though, I live for the costumes. Over the years, I’ve dressed up as a lot of characters: Jasmine from Aladdin, a referee, Devil Wears Prada. However, I think that my costume for Halloween 2009 trumps all of my past outfits.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Carmen Sandiego, let me give you a brief back story, courtesy of an amazing vocal group, Rockapella.

Well, she sneaks around the world from Kiev to Carolina.
She’s a sticky-fingered filcher from Berlin down to Belize.
She’ll take you on a ride on a slow boat to China.
Tell me, where in the world is… Carmen Sandiego?

Essentially, Carmen, and her merry band of crooked followers, travel the globe, stealing famous landmarks, paintings, sculptures and more. She was the subject of an old computer game that taught young kids geography. You had to follow clues and chase her around the globe to secure the loot and a warrant before you could arrest her. For example, a clue could be: “I think she was headed towards Montpelier, the capital of the East Coast state.” Then, you’d head to Vermont to keep the chase going.

I first played it on an old Apple Mac (one that had a black screen with green lettering and used actual floppy disks) during my computer class in grammar school. Eventually, the game was made available for our home PC (an IBM at the time), and I played it religiously. It also evolved into a TV show that was on every day, Monday through Friday.

Being an avid traveler, I don’t know why I never thought to be Carmen Sandiego. She may be a thief, and a fictional character, but she has traveled the globe more times than I can count. Another lyric from her theme song reads, “She go from Nashville to Norway, Bonaire to Zimbabwe, Chicago to Czechoslokvaia and back!” Aside from trying to lift iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben, she’s my idol. And so, for Halloween 2009, I dressed up as the “double-dealing diva” known as Carmen Sandiego.

If you really want a true Rocky Mountain experience, then you probably shouldn’t spend all your time in Denver, Colorado. You deserve a better taste of the Rockies than a simple swig of an ice cold Coors Light. And that is why my good friend Lindsey took me up to the charming mountain town of Evergreen, which is only 40 minutes to an hour away from Denver’s city center.

The drive from Denver to Evergreen itself is well worth the trip. In other words, keep your camera handy. The somewhat tree-lined highway (I-70 West) passes by open fields where mass loads of buffalo graze like no one is watching. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself pulled over along with other carloads of people, taking post card-like pictures. And even as you continue into the mountains, you’ll be winding your way around gigantic mounds dotted with Evergreen trees.

Because I was only visiting for two days, we headed straight for the most popular spot, the “downtown” area along Main Street (aka Highway 74). Imagine walking into a log cabin. Now picture 20+ log cabins, all connected by covered porches. Essentially, that is what you will find along Highway 47 in the form of jewelers, art galleries, clothing stores, restaurants and cafes, all connected by a rustic, wooden boardwalk. Some of my favorite shops like Unique Boutique–providing quality goods made by local artisans–and The Green Merchant–offering eco-friendly gifts–have yet to develop an online presence. You are sure to find something special that people will only be able to obtain if they make the trip up to the mountains.

Of course, there’s more to Evergreen than shopping and dining. If you want to learn more about the town’s beginnings, take a free tour at the historical Hiwan Homestead Museum. Evergreen Lake offers boating in the summer and ice skating in the winter, in addition to fishing all. year. long. Numerous trails are spread all over the town for leisurely walks (around the lake) or rigorous hiking (in the mountains).

If you’re taking a trip to London, you’ll most likely be using public transportation to get around the city. Forget about purchasing a one-day or three-day travelcard; I highly recommend getting an Oyster Card.

What is an Oyster Card?

An Oyster Card is a “Pay As You Go” plastic card (resembling a credit card) that you credit with money. That money gets deducted every time you use a London bus or the Underground.

Where can I get an Oyster Card?

You can get an Oyster Card online, but make sure to do this well before your journey, as it will be mailed to you. If you want to wait until you get to London, you will be able to get an Oyster Card at the Underground station in Heathrow Airport and in Gatwick Airport. Many of the centrally located Tube stations can also provide you with an Oyster Card. However, if you forgot to buy one at the airport, a newsagent would be good place to look, as well.

Do I have to pay for the Oyster Card?

You do have to pay a £3 deposit to get an Oyster Card. However, the money will be refunded if you choose to return the Oyster Card at the end of your trip.

How is an Oyster Card better than a Travelcard?

• A travelcard is only valid for the exact days you specify, whereas an Oyster Card is only debited when it is used. Even if you leave London for a year, when you come back, the money on your Oyster Card will still be useful.
• A single cash fare (one ride) costs £4 for the Tube and £2 for the bus, while a single ride using an Oyster Card costs £1.60 for a Tube ride and £1 for a bus ride.
• There is a cap rate for the Oyster card. This means, you can travel as much as you want in a 24-hour period, and you will be charged LESS than the total of a one-day travelcard. For example, a one-day travelcard for Zones 1 and 2 during peak hours costs £7.20. With an Oyster Card, you can take as many trips as you want during peak hours for £6.70.

This sounds too good to be true–are there any negatives to using an Oyster Card?

Just a few…

• When you return the card, if more than £5 is left on it, you’ll have to fill out a form and wait for a check. Remember, your refund will be issued in Sterling (aka £), so you’ll have to pay an exchange rate if you want another type of currency.
• There are quite a few places outside Central London where you cannot use an Oyster Card. Check out this map for a list of National Rail Service stations that only accept travelcards. Note, these are National Rail Service trains, not to be confused with Tube (subway) trains that also run in/out of many of these stations.
• If you will be using public transportation in London for a week, it may be cheaper to get the 7-day travelcard for £25.80. If you reach the cap for both peak and off peak hours on your Oyster Card all seven days, you’ll have paid about £70 to travel on the Tube and buses. However, it’s highly unlikely you’ll be on public transport that much. Do the math and see what would work for you.
• Travelcards can get you 2 for 1 admission into some London attractions like the Tower of London or the hop-on-hop-off tour buses; Oyster Cards do not. However, you have to purchase the travelcard from a rail station ticket office, not an Underground station, so many visitors don’t even get to take advantage of this 2 for 1 offer.

Inside tips:

• You may want to offer your Oyster Card to other travelers you meet in the hotel or out and about. This way, you can get your £3 back without having to wait in a long line.
• DON’T BUY THE VISITOR OYSTER CARD! It works the same way as any Oyster Card; however, you have to pay a non-refundable £2 fee to obtain the card, and it can only be purchased prior to your arrival in London. Why pay for an Oyster Card when you can use one for free (once you get your £3 deposit back)?

When all is said and done, you should buy an Oyster Card. Even though this seems like a ton of information to take in, YOU WILL SAVE MONEY. I’m happy to answer any other questions you have about Travelcards vs. Oyster Cards.