Volunteer Spotlight: Jodi & Chuck Cerny

By Margaret Sheridan

Jodi and Chuck Cerny agree on many things: a love of Chicago, a curiosity about other cultures and people, the adventure of travel and the joy in giving back.

What divides the couple is giving directions. That is part of their volunteer job at HI-Chicago's Information Desk.

They handle the desk, morning shift, twice a week. Chuck works on Monday and Jodi is there on Thursday.

"We tried early on in our volunteer work to do the desk together, but it didn't work out," says Jodi. We got the guests to their destination but Chuck and I couldn't agree on which was the best way."

"We each have our own opinions," he added.

Amen!

The Cernys are veteran hostel enthusiasts. They met as teens in 1956 on a camping trip organized by a hostel in Chicago. Friendship blossomed through many outdoor activities, but their lives diverged. Decades later they met by chance at a square dance reunion in 1980. They married eight years later. Due to their busy schedule, they made separate interviews for this article. 

MS: How does volunteer work fit into your retirement?

CHUCK: I used to work in building and grounds management for the Park Ridge School District. Jodi taught geography in Junior College. Recently, we downsized from a home in Lincoln Park to a condo in the Lakeview neighborhood near Belmont and Lake Shore Drive. We both love travel and meeting people of all ages. That is the great part of working at the hostel. Retirement has given us the opportunity to be able to volunteer.

JODI: I like getting to know younger people and listening to their thought and opinions. We also like to explore the city, such as taking buses to different locations in the city.

CHUCK: I like helping people out and I am really proud of the city, so the information desk is fun.

MS: Do you travel well together?

CHUCK: Jodi has travelled more than I have. As a teacher she had summers off and took advantage of it. When started dating in 1980, we did a group tour to China, Korea and Hawaii for a month. It worked!

JODI: He likes his creature comforts...we used to camp a lot but not now. Your health changes as you age and one wants more comforts such as hot and cold running water and clean sheets on the bed. I did a lot of treks and overland travel in many continents. I’ve been to all 50 states, over 100 countries, and 7 continents.

MS: Talk about your other volunteer work.

CHUCK: I help at Hull House on a lecture series called "Rethinking Soup." I also do things for Gilda's Club and work as a Chicago Greeter (for the City of Chicago Department of Tourism).

JODI: I am also a Chicago Greeter and volunteer at the Art Institute. Besides this I am the President of the DePaul (University) Geographical Society.

MS: What's a cool memory from working at the hostel?

CHUCK: I had a little old lady, someone’s grandmother in her 70s, ask me directions to the Leather Museum. What? I didn't know we had one until I researched it (on Devon Avenue). It was exactly what she wanted. You know all the crazy stuff like whips. She was delighted and thanked me profusely.

JODI: There are many memories, but just one does not come to mind.

MS: What do you love about Chicago, what do you miss about when you're away?

CHUCK: The lakefront. It's always changing. The cityscape.

JODI: The people. Most people are outgoing and willing to help. The minute they see someone on the street with a map, they ask if they can help. Many travelers have mentioned this to me at the desk. I also like looking at Belmont Harbor and the lake.

MS: What are some of your personal favorite secrets about Chicago?

CHUCK: The Fine Arts Building (410 S. Michigan Ave.) It’s floors of galleries and studios. There is even a repair shop for stringed musical instruments. Plus, on the second Friday of every month there is an open house from 5-9pm. often with live music and theatre.

JODI: I like the Red Apple, a Polish restaurant on Milwaukee Avenue. Nearby is St. Hyacinth, a large Polish Catholic church, which Chuck discovered. The Asian pastry shops on Argyle Street, especially the sweet bean paste sesame balls, are another find. We also like to take bus rides, such as along Archer (#62 bus) or the Belmont bus (#77) to learn about new neighborhoods. Oh, there is the Mega Mall in Logan Square. There are stalls, just like in Mexico. To have a quiet time out in the downtown, go to Gallery 109 at the Art Institute. It is a dark room with some Oriental art, very quiet, calm and Zen-like.

MS: What is your next travel destination?

CHUCK: Australia and New Zealand.

Kathy Schubert: HI-Chicago Volunteer and Green Activist

By Margaret Sheridan


On Saturday evening, March 26, Kathy Schubert left the hostel guests at HI-Chicago in the dark. By design.

Kathy, a 12-year HI-Chicago volunteer, brought her special passion to everything - from bike safety in the city to her promotion of all-green living and energy conservation – to HI-Chicago.

For sixty minutes she turned off all unessential lights and other electrical appliances to celebrate Earth Hour, a global event started in 2007 in Australia, to raise awareness and take action on climate change. (see website www.earthhour.org).
It was a first-time event for the hostel, but the third year Kathy hosted such a happening. Usually, she does it at her home.

MS. Why did you introduce it in the hostel?
KS: I wanted to share with the guests, and then learn from their input how people conserve energy in their countries. One guy who worked on a submarine was forced to conserve water by showering only for a minute or two.

MS: What else?
KS: We had two young ladies from Japan who told us they have seven different kinds of recycling and try to separate items properly – batteries, glass, and paper. We had Geri Naynick from Madison, WI who does recycling and gave away her old lawnmower by putting it out on the front lawn with a sign FREE. This is how they do it in Madison. We agreed that people would probably recycle more if they were fined for not doing it right. Where people pay for garbage pickup and recycling pickup, they're more likely to participate. Most of the people who participated bicycle at least in the warmer months. The Japanese student from Columbus, OH lamented her college roommate's preference to turn the furnace up and the air conditioning down instead of adjusting clothing. We advised her to keep the temperature steady to keep the bills down and prevent damage to the system. I said that I hang my laundry indoors and have stopped using my electric dryer. I use my plastic bags for dog poop twice (I have a small dog). I use handkerchiefs instead of tissues for my nose and avoid using paper towels whenever possible.

MS: You’re well-known around Chicago for cycling with your dog.
KS: I’ve rode for 15 years with my dog Joey, a Miniature Schnauzer. She rode in a basket and wore a helmet. It was my way of educating other cyclists to wear a helmet. Joey died at age 15. My new dog is Suzy, 4 ½ years old. I got her from a shelter. I travel around the country, and world, with my dogs.

MS: Long bike rides with your dogs?
KS. Yes. I’ve done 12 RAGBRAIs (a five-day organized ride across IOWA), and I’ve cycled 12 days in Capitol to Capitol, a 669-mile ride from Ottawa, Canada to Washington DC with Joey. I’ve been cycling since I was a kid. I grew up in Albany Park.

MS: Any advice for would-be urban cyclists who are nervous to ride in Chicago?
KS: Open your eyes, unplug your ears and watch for pedestrians.

MS: What’s your professional background?
KS:. I graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in psychology. Worked in advertising and film editing for years, even had my own company for 20 years. I’ve lived in New York City and London. I volunteer at the hostel at the information desk. I enjoy leading tours to places like Maxwell Street or the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie. It’s fun to show guests how easy it is to use transit system. I also volunteer for the Red Cross in recruitment and on projects such as blood drives.

MS: How do you travel?
KS: I enjoy doing homestays in Europe and Australia. I like meeting people and understanding their culture and how they live. I belong to Servas. It connects travelers with home stay opportunities. (www.servas.org).

MS: How do you live “green”?
KS: I do composting. I bike instead of drive. Use paper on both sides. Keep a garden. I try to teach my tenants to recycle, but it’s hard. They need to be reminded, and especially to keep the thermostat down in their apartments. Mine is kept at 58 degrees in the evening and 66 degrees during the day. I try to recycle stuff. My favorite site is www.freecycle.org. You can give away what you don’t need and get free things that other people don’t need.

Volunteer Spotlight: Fred Locher

What's your involvement with the hostel?
I volunteer giving travel presentations as part of the Travel & Taste series with REI-Whole Foods. They only occur once a month, so I decided to get more involved and be a volunteer guide as well leading travelers to events around the city. It´s been a lot of fun so far! I enjoy trying to put together unique events that are not only interesting to me, but also to someone who is only in Chicago for a few days. I´ve been trying to keep the events more cultural with a small outing afterwards for those that want to continue the night on a more social level.


What initially motivated you to get involved at the hostel? And what do you enjoy about it now that you're doing it?
I initially attended a Taste & Travel event on Brazil at REI & Whole Foods. After the event I inquired about being a travel presenter volunteer for some of the countries I have visited. Also, I enjoy traveling and thought it would be a great way to continue to stay in touch with other travelers while meeting people from around the world. I am always curious as to what brings people to Chicago and I want them to have a good impression of our city. From my personal travel experience, I know that sometimes it can be tough meeting other travelers and I thought that by leading events I can help to make it easier for hostellers to meet each other. The events I have led so far have been a lot of fun and I think the travelers enjoy the uniqueness of them as they typically aren´t what you´d see in the guidebook. It has given them a different, more local perspective on the city. The visitors seem appreciative that someone would go out of their way to show them around, so that has been rewarding enough for me.

What is your own personal history with traveling and hostelling?
I took my first around the world trip in 2000 and fell in love with traveling and learning about other cultures. I haven´t looked back since. It´s mostly been in Europe and Central/South America that I´ve stayed at hostels or guest houses. I enjoy taking long trips and staying in hostels helps to keep the price down. In addition, it´s a great way to meet other travelers and learn about the places they´ve been or recommend. It´s an amazing network of global citizens.

Describe your ideal trip in just a couple of sentences.
My ideal trip is a bit off the main tourist path trying to get to a place before the mainstream travelers do. Culture is important for me as well as a bit of adventure. I am in a hostel now in Nicaragua as I write this and it has it all so far!

Volunteer Spotlight: Roger Pomerance

By Margaret Sheridan


In describing his many interests, Roger Pomerance uses the verb “dabbles”.

Hardly. Whether racing sailboats, researching a location or baking cookies, Roger’s concentration and attention to detail challenge that choice of word.

The financial consultant staffs the Information Desk on Monday evenings at HI-Chicago. He handles any interruption during this interview with graciousness. One teacher, leading a group of 20 students, asks for inexpensive dining suggestions before the group grabs a bus to the United Center for a Bulls game. He rolls off names such as Epic Burger, pizza, Thai food, Panera and Exchequer Pub.
Another mother and daughter from Kansas City tosses Roger questions about pizza (thin crust at Lou Malnati’s) and shoe shopping. “State Street will take care of that,’’ he assures the teen.

He keeps a stash of freshly made oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies in a plastic container and offers them to staff between bidding hellos and answering questions from new arrivals. He eases their anxiety about the city with street maps, a sharp pencil and a smile. “I’ve been volunteering here for four or five years. I like being an ambassador to Chicago, and introducing guests to the city’s highlights."

The native of Chicago was raised and lived in the suburbs of Elmhurst and Wheaton, but he returned to the city 15 years ago when he bought a condo near Addison and Lakeshore Drive. Now, he can ride a bicycle or take the 151 Bus to HI-Chicago.

These cookies are great. Are you a cook?
I like to bake. I’m a better baker than a cook because baking is so specific. You have recipes, and if you follow them, you’ll have success. With baking, there is less uncertainty. With cooking, there’s so much guesswork. A little of this, a pinch of that. I’m not good like that. But I do make one-pot meals such as chili and goulash. I enjoy chopping ingredients.

What are some of your favorite Chicago eats?
Cinnamon rolls at Ann Sather’s. Polish rye bread, my heritage, from most any bakery on Milwaukee Ave.

You say you dabble in sailing?
Yes. I’m a part-owner in a Tartan Ten (a popular 10-meter sailboat). We sail off of Chicago and keep the boat in Michigan City. I’ve raced the Chicago-to-Mackinac Race (the annual 333-mile sailboat race in July from Chicago along Lake Michigan to Mackinac Island, Michigan) 19 times. I got into sailing years ago through the American Youth Hostels. I took lessons and used their boats in Monroe Harbor. That organization held meetings in the same building where HI-Chicago stands today. So, I feel like home here.

What are some of your recommended spots for entertainment?
I enjoy the group-led outings to the Green Mill and Kingston Mines.

What makes being at the hostel rewarding?
I traveled around Europe when I was younger. I remember meeting strangers on the street or in the trains and they gave me advice about where to go or what to do or where to eat. Those people made my day. So, that’s what I can do here. I can make their day a little nicer. I like answering so many questions. I’ve been in Chicago all my life and when I first manned the information desk, I was stunned by what I do not know. I like the energy of being around travelers.

Any secret aid to help with curveball questions?
I rely on the RTA Trip Planner Website for some tough addresses in the suburbs.

How do you travel?
I enjoy the planning and the research of a trip as much as doing it. I like to stay in little pensions for the privacy. I backpack and use trains.

What do you miss about Chicago when you're away?
Lakeshore Drive, it’s the city’s jewel, and Lake Michigan. If the guests ask for best vantage points, I suggest viewing it from the Adler Planetarium and from Montrose Harbor. I also miss cycling along the lake, and along the Chicago North River Branch Bike path.

Volunteer Spotlight: Linda Fuller

By Margaret Sheridan

Linda Fuller is in the middle of an interview when a guest in goose down parka approached her table in the dining room.

The guest using gestures similar to a symphony conductor raved about one of Linda’s recommendations. The SOFA Intuit, an art fair at Navy Pier , rated five-star accolades from the beaming hostel guest. Linda graciously nods acceptance, and smiles.

“Such feedback, I love it. And I’ve only been here since July.’’

The hostel is within walking distance of Linda’s neighborhood in the Loop. The native of California has lived and worked downtown since she and her late husband arrived in 1980. They couple have lived many places including Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Connecticut.

Recently retired from the CTA after nearly 12 years of working in planning and operations management, Linda says her knowledge of the city’s transportation system is a bonus in manning the information desk on Friday mornings.

What are some perks of being a volunteer?
The enthusiasm from guests, when I see them discover what Chicago has to offer, and how easy it is to get around the city. You don’t need a car. I try to make the city accessible. Some guests, unfamiliar with the city, are overwhelmed, at first. Other travelers, especially Europeans, seem more familiar with using public transportation. Many come from places that have great transit systems.

Want to share some Chicago secrets?
I urge people, especially if the weather is bad, to visit lobbies. They are architecturally significant, and warm in winter. Favorites include the Marquette Building (140 S. Dearborn St.), The Rookery (209 S. LaSalle St.), and the Art Deco elegance of 135 S. LaSalle St. (formerly known as the Field Building).

Another place to see is the Grand Ballroom on the second floor of the Blackstone Hotel. The detailed ceiling plasterwork is amazing. I encourage visitors to go to the Chicago Cultural Center. They offer free building tours. There’s always something going on…a concert, an exhibit, a movie. There’s also the Museum of Contemporary Photography (600 S. Michigan Ave.) right in the neighborhood.

Got a secret dining spot?
Yes. It’s a little Mexican place on the Pink Line at the Damen stop on the “L”. It’s called Abuelo’s Mexican Grill (2007 S. Damen Ave.).

How do you travel?
I love to travel. In Europe when I was younger, I’d just go to train stations and ask for referrals on pensions and little cheap hotels. About five years ago, for fun, I took the train from Chicago to Los Angeles and proved to friends you don’t need a car in L.A. The train ride took two-and-half days. Then I got around LA very easily. I stayed in Little Tokyo. All you need to understand is the network of bus lines, airport shuttles and the subway system. Yes, LA does have a subway system.

Any future trips coming up?
I’ve got relatives spread out across the States. I’m busy discovering this country for now.

Volunteer Spotlight: Ervin Lopez

What volunteer positions do you hold at the hostel and how long have you been doing them?

I volunteer in the traveler programs as a Chicago guide and as a Chicago Specialist at the Information Desk. I have been a Chicago Guide since early August and a Chicago Specialist since mid-September.

What motivates you to volunteer?

My main motivation is learning about and understanding the culture of other countries. This is by far the best way to understand culture, by meeting travelers and taking them to outing in different neighborhoods in Chicago.

What has been your most fun or interesting outing so far, and why?

I'm not going to lie! The most fun outing so far has been taking travelers to pub crawls, and it was my first outing with HI-Chicago. We took travelers to Wicker Park during the Lollapalooza weekend. Over 70 travelers pub crawled with us to seven pubs.

What is your top travel destination (a place you've already been or your dream place?

My top destination is visiting Brazil and it may be my dream place to live. Also, Brazil is hosting both the Olympic Games and the World Cup therefore it seems to be the place to live before, during, and after those two events. Brazil will be the next economic powerhouse.

What other ways do you keep busy outside of the hostel?

Since I'm currently a new graduate student, I definitely keep busy with reading and writing. I work full time as a job recruiter. I work out at the fitness center, do some running and weightlifting. I also burn calories by doing some dancing--salsa, merengue and bachata. I enjoy watching independent films, hanging out with my friends, eating at different ethnic restaurants, and of course, travelling.

Volunteer Spotlight: Katie Gombas

What volunteer position do you hold at the hostel and how long have you been doing it?

My volunteer position at the hostel is a Chicago Guide, and I've been doing it since April.

What motivated you to to become a hostel volunteer?
My motivation to become a hostel volunteer was ultimately to give back to the hostel community, because I have stayed at quite a few hostels, and at many of these hostels there were very helpful volunteers from whom I benefited. I have been on historical tours and pubcrawls led by volunteers, and being a Chicago guide allows me to give back to fellow travelers. Also, I had a feeling I would like being a guide, as I enjoy the hostel culture of socializing with people from all over the world when I stay in hostels myself.

What has been your most fun or interesting outing so far?

It's hard to choose what has been my most fun or interesting event has been so far, but I would say the concerts in Millenium Park and pubcrawls have been the most fun. Those outings always allow a lot of interaction while enjoying music and dancing.

What is your top travel destination (a place you’ve already been or your dream place?)
Right now I'd say my top travel destination is Brazil-to both Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The best friend I made while studying abroad in Liverpool lives there, and I would really like to visit her and have her show me around.

A Trip to Dubrovnik

After a whirlwind tour through London, Lisbon, and Geneva in one week, my friends and I were looking forward to a relaxing week on the Adriatic coast. We arrived in Dubrovnik on an early morning Easyjet flight from Geneva, but our sense of exhaustion was quickly overcome during our ride from the Dubrovnik Airport into town. The road carved out of the hills, common place all along the coast, provided breathtaking views of sea and old town of Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik itself is a very busy small town, filled with tourists coming ashore off of the many cruise ships that dock nearby. However unlike many other European cities that serve as a tourist attraction (such as Venice) only a short walk away from city center yields an undisturbed local neighborhood where daily life goes on as usual.

We booked our accommodations at Hostel Marker (Apartments Lovrijenac) through Hostelworld.com, and stayed what in essence was an apartment just outside the city gates. At first we were disappointed by the lack of hostels in the town, as we were all looking forward to the community atmosphere that a hostel may offer. However, upon meeting our host, Marko, any sense of a lack of community was quickly overcome. Marko was the best host we have ever had, and quite possibly one of the nicest people I have ever met. Not only did he offer ample advice on what to see and where to go, one night he actually took us out and showed us the town from the local’s perspective. Marko arranged a rental car for us, transport to Montenegro, and even helped us retrieve a lost photo camera after my friend forgot it back in Dubrovnik, all in all cannot say enough good things about him.

During the day we took Marko’s advice and spent time at the Banje beach, walked along city walls, and took a ferry to the island of Lokrum.

Banje beach is located directly south of the old city. Although small, and a bit rocky it offers a cozy place to relax, take a dip, and have a drink along the water.

The city walls, are probably one of the biggest attractions of Dubrovnik. Very well preserved and very imposing, the walls take about two hours to circumnavigate and cost €7 to enter. The views of the old city and its distinctive orange roof tops present and excellent photo opportunity.


Lokrum is a nature preserve popular with hikers and nature lovers, the island is teeming with wild peacocks and offers beautiful vistas from its many cliffs. To get to Lokrum, simply board a 15 minute ferry by the south city gate.

For a small town, Dubrovnik offers a lively nightlife, although it is mostly limited to the weekends. Dubrovnik has two night clubs, East-West and En Fuego which are located on the opposite sides of town, about 1 km apart. The clubs charge a cover fee after 11, so make sure to arrive early if you don’t feel like paying cover. East-West appealed to my friends and I much more as it stands right above Banje Beach about 100 meters from the water. East-West has an open-air and an indoor section, I highly recommend staying in the outdoor section if you do not want to smell like smoke (smoking indoors is accepted here).

Food in Dubrovnik is more expensive than elsewhere in Croatia, but is still relatively cheap by American standards. Many restaurants line the main street of Dubrovnik which spans no more than a few hundred meters. It is worth noting that only a few meters away from the main street, restaurants tend to be 25%-30% less expensive. Expect to pay between €6-€7 for a main course, beer is about €2.00-€2.50 for half liter of domestic brew.

Overall, we greatly enjoyed staying in Dubrovnik and the people we have met along the way. I cannot wait to go back to Croatia, which is an inexpensive, fun, and beautiful destination that I highly recommend to everyone.

-Peter Razumovskiy, hostel volunteer

Volunteer Spotlight

Adrienne Nothnagel, Chicago Cultural Ambassador!


What do you do at the hostel? What’s your motivation for doing it?I get to lead awesome travelers of all ages, races, and nationalities all over the city. Sometimes I'll show them something super touristy, and other times I will take them to something that is more of a city-local type of deal.

What motivates me is that I have been a traveler for a few years now, and I like to see and know the "real" culture of a place when I visit it. Thus, I try to do the same for the travelers. The touristy stuff is always spectacular and predictable (and usually crowded), but the off-the-path type of activities really show what "US citizens" are like on a day to day basis. I also am selfishly motivated because I'm relatively new to the city, and I like to learn more about experiences in the city and the history behind neighborhoods.

What has been your most interesting encounter with a traveler so far?
Hmm... There was a blues night when we had almost every continent represented. I remember there being one from Spain, Argentina, Japan, South Africa, Mexico, Denmark, Germany, Ukraine, etc... What was so awesome about it was that despite being from such different places, we all were in that same room, sharing beers and exchanging stories. I am always interested to know their reasons for travel, and it's awesome to compare how our societies and social systems work. I've met people here on business and I've met people here deciding to travel the world and doing it solo. Figuring out the root of the latter is always intriguing.

If you had no limits on money, what would be your dream for the hostel?
I would give all travelers a free wine, pizza, and chocolate tour of the city. What better way to know a city than through it's food? The tour would take the travelers to different neighborhoods to get a feel of what it is really like to live in Chicago, and they would be able to experience the Chicago deep dish pizza!

Summer in Chicago

Welcome to Chicago! By now, you probably have found out that this is a “City of Broad Shoulders”, Blues Brothers, Al Capone, Michael Jordan, and deep dish pizza. But besides these well known symbols of Chicago, what does Chicago have to offer to its visitors? The answer is everything!

One of the wonderful things that Chicagoans truly appreciate about their city is the broad range of activities that will suit nearly anyone. While there are many other cities in the world that are bustling with culture and round-the-clock activity, Chicago offers a wonderful balance between large city adventure and small town coziness.

As flowers begin to blossom and a new leaves spring up on trees, the entire city of Chicago awakens from its winter slumber. Although, our Chicago winters have been known to intimidate many, Chicago residents believe our colder season builds character, and forces us to truly appreciate our warmer months.

With that said, over the next several weeks I would like to share with you the top 10 activities to do in Chicago during the next few months, in no particular order.

Attend a Cubs Game at Wrigley Field - If you are visiting from another state, chances are that someone has already recommended a visit to Wrigley Field. This modern day shrine to baseball is the second oldest baseball park currently used in the Major Leagues. A trip to Wrigley, can easily transport a baseball aficionado to an era of baseball long gone. However, if baseball isn’t your cup of tea, you’ll definitely find a great party in the stands. Before and after the games, I highly recommend visiting the bars surrounding Wrigley Field, an area residents have come to call Wrigleyville. You will find bar after bar on Clark Street, making it ideal for pub crawls even on a day when the Cubs are not playing. The drink prices are quite affordable and the atmosphere is very casual. Best way to get to Wrigley is on the “El”, getting off at the Addison stop on the Red line.

For the Cubs schedule visit http://sports.chicagotribune.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=chicagosports&page=mlb/teams/002/scheduleCT.aspx?team=002,season=2010

Go to a Blues Bar – It’s no coincidence that the Blues Brothers films have been filmed in Chicago. Chicago has a long standing reputation of being one of the premier blues destinations in the entire nation. The multitude of blues clubs can be found throughout the city. For a unique night of true Chicago blues, the Hostel offers free tours to Kingston Mines nearly every Monday evening. Kingston Mines provides a very casual laid back atmosphere, inexpensive drinks, free entrance (to Hostel groups or students) and wonderful music played by some of Chicago’s most talented musicians. If you love blues, definitely check out the Chicago Blues Festival in Grant Park (June 11-13), the largest outdoor blues event in the world. With good music and the amazing Chicago skyline behind you, you are sure to have a wonderful time.

-Peter Razumovskiy, HI Volunteer

Egypt: In and Out of the Bubble

Hi-
I’m Tom and a volunteer at the HI Chicago Hostel. I mostly work the Info Desk, but also occasionally lead outings to places like the Green Mill Lounge and Smoke Daddy. I just returned from a tour of Egypt with my son and daughter and we had a great time. Our itinerary started with arrivals in Cairo. My daughter overland by bus from Jerusalem and my son and I from Chicago via Istanbul. We started our sightseeing in Cairo with the Sphynx and pyramids in Giza and then headed south to Aswan via the overnight “sleeping train”. We arrived late morning in Aswan and then had four days down the Nile on a cruise boat. We went from Aswan to Luxor and visited the Temple of Isis, the Aswan Dams, the Unfinished Obelisk, the Temple at Kom Ombo, then down the river further to Edfu and the Temple of Horus. On the third day we saw the Colossi of Memnon, the tombs in the Valley of the Kings and the largely restored Temple of Hatshepsut.(the queen who became a Pharoah) on the west bank of Luxor. We left the boat and our tour guide in Luxor and checked out the Temples of Luxor and Karnak, as well as, the wonderful Luxor Museum. The next day we went by train to Alexandria for four days to check out the Alexandria Library and other sites including the National Museum, Fort Qaitbay and the Presidential Palace at Montazah. After Alexandria a 3 hour evening train ride got us back to Cairo four days and the Egyptian Museum, Coptic Cairo, Old (Islamic) Cairo.

Most of the trip we made up our itinerary as we went using Lonely Planet and other resources for guides as to what to see and how to get there. The obvious exception was the cruise which included our own guide and prescheduled and prepaid outings and tours with still a fair amount of free time. In general the cost was higher, but more time efficient compared to going on our own. The package tour also allowed us to ease into the Egyptian way instead of a sink or swim approach of doing everything on our own. It also helped that my daughter Sara has a pretty good command of Arabic and is used to negotiating with taxi drivers in the West Bank in Palestine. 

My favorite experiences there included Alexandria in general for it’s combination of Middle Eastern and European influences and great museums including the new Library which is an architectural masterpiece and the region’s great seafood. The Egyptian Museum in Cairo is a must as are at least some of the temples, tombs and pyramids in the Nile Valley. They all can be somewhat overwhelming, but taking them in manageable chunks and not trying to see them all is a good strategy. Getting around on foot can seem a little scary at first, but despite all the honking and lack of traffic control and structure that we are used to in the US, pedestrian and vehicular traffic moves fairly efficiently even in the busiest sections of Cairo. I highly recommend walking as much as you are comfortable in all of the cities. Follow the natives and keep an eye out, but drivers are highly aware of where the pedestrians are and will usually give tourists just a little more room to get through the traffic. I never saw outright road rage and in general drivers and walkers operate from a position of enlightened self-interest. When you get tired there are plenty of cheap minibuses and taxis that will get you to most places in the cities for a few cents to three or four dollars.

Food was great, inexpensive and easy to access without going near any western hotel chain dining rooms. Shammie is most like Greek or Lebanese pita, baladie is similar but darker with more whole grain and bran on the bottom. Schwarma of all kinds is available on the street and in restaurants. Egyptian pancakes tend to be fairly plain, but in some places are on the same menus with more standard Italian style thin crust pizza. The pancakes tend to have the ingredients baked totally inside the enveloping crust and are more like pizza than western style pancakes. Everywhere you go mezzes (salads and appetizers) are available. Some are served on a complimentary basis or can be ordered in combination plates. They vary from baba gannouj to green salads to pickled vegetables and various kinds of humus and tahina, as well as kibbeh and felafel. One dish unique to Egypt is kushari that contains lentils, pasta, rice, chick peas, onions and is topped with vinegar sauce and/or hot sauce made with chilies and tomatoes. Essentially vegetarian or in most cases vegan it can also be topped with schwarma, shish kabob or kibbeh. It is served in tiny street stalls and shiny, clean fast food places. One thing I did not see anywhere in Egypt is hot dogs, but there is the occasional McDonald’s and lots of KFC’s including across the street from the Sphynx in Giza. In Alexandria seafood reigns with street vendors and white table cloth fine dining. Many places you pick out what you want from either the raw catch on display or point to it as its pulled from the deep fryer and then piled on your platter. For a great selection of Egyptian fast food in Cairo or Alexandria go to GAD. The bakeries are not that plentiful, but very popular, particularly at night and many have great cheap gelato. Food and beer (when you can find it) is amazingly cheap in restaurants. Nice lunches will run to 
15-25 Egyptian Pounds ($3-5) and easily feed two. Half liter beers are usually ten poounds. Even in nicer restaurants bills were typically under 100 pounds for two for dinner. Tips are often itemized and included on the bill. 

Hotels tend to run from big city western rates for Sofitels and Hiltons to hostels for about $5 per person for a shared room to less than $25 for a private ensuite for two or three. Budget hotels in Alexandria are not plentiful, but the one we found was brand new (in an old building) and less than $50 per night for a private ensuite for three. Almost everybody includes breakfast in the rate as well as all the taxes. Our hostel/budget hotels in Alexandria and Cairo were both in the top floors of apartment/office buildings built in the late 19th century with lots of charm and floor to ceiling french doors with louvers and balconies and great views. The only downside seemed to be the lack of dependability of the elevators which were old cage style ones with slightly modernized cars. All of our hotel/hostel reservations were done through Hostelworld or Expedia and there were no problems with the reservations or the rates quoted. Hostelworld charges a small booking fee and prepaid deposit.

So if you go to Egypt, you don’t have to do the package tour. You can mix and match with cruises and side trips or even do it all ad hoc. Just one other piece of advice–take your ATM card. ATM’s are everywhere in Egypt and generally the fees are less than exchanging US$ travelers checks or cash and almost no one takes credit cards outside of the big hotels.

Volunteer Spotlight

HI-Chicago is so lucky to have our amazing volunteer base to add to our capacity and show travelers the best of Chicago! 

AMY WEBER

What do you do at the hostel and for how long have you been doing it?
I been volunteering since last August. I am involved with Chicago Guides, Cultural Kitchen and do a shift at the Information Desk on Monday's. 



How did you get involved at the hostel?
I have been staying at hostels since my first backpacking trip to Europe. When looking for volunteering opportunities at home, HI-Chicago seemed to be the perfect fit. I am able to still be involved with the international community and I get to share my view of Chicago with travelers. 

What is your most memorable traveling experience?
It was the trip I did with my brother, David, around the world. We stopped in Europe, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Hong Kong. It was amazing to share all the different experiences in each country with him. From mac attacks on Khao San Road, getting custom made clothes in Hoi An to learning to play backgammon with Nitan in India. We still laugh and talk about this trip when we see each other. All the experiences are bonds that help us stay together even though he lives in Arizona now. 

What is one fun fact about yourself that most people at the hostel would not know?
I learned to surf in Costa Rica a couple years ago and loved it. Costa Rica is the one country I will continue to visit over and over and over. Also, they have really good fried chicken.

Volunteer Spotlight: Emily Johns

World-traveler and world-class travel educator!

Tell us about the types of volunteering positions you've had at the hostel.
I've done a number of things at the hostel since I started volunteering two years ago. I started off as a Chicago guide, which I still do sometimes. I especially like going to concerts in Millennium Park. It's nice to go to something I was planning to see anyway, but taking along a bunch of interesting people and showing them the city. I've also done a few lectures about how to travel and places I've been. The most fun was the Taste and Travel last week--after talking about Brazil for half an hour I got to go and talk with other travellers and volunteers while the chef at Whole Foods made one of my favorite Brazilian meals! My favorite volunteer activity is Cultural Kitchens, though. I love cooking and I love interacting with the funny, bright teenagers who always seem to be in the kitchen!

Do you stay involved in the international community in any other way?
I have a lot of friends in different countries all over the world, so that's my main outlet to international affairs other than the news. I haven't been able to travel as much lately as I'd like, but I have a trip to Uruguay coming up in March!

What is your most memorable traveling experience?
There have been a lot of great travelling experiences, but one of my favorites was in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. After trudging around the beautiful old city all day I went back to the hostel, only to find that I was the only woman staying there that night. No big deal. But I was quite surprised an hour later to find myself sitting on a couch, surrounded by boys, eating warm homemade linzertorte and watching the latest Reese Witherspoon hit (not my selection).

What's your favorite place in Chicago?
My favorite place in Chicago is the Cultural Center. I've always loved it--when I was a kid I would walk through the rooms and plan where my furniture would go when it was my private home. I think it's the most beautiful building in the city (and one of the best I've ever seen in the world) and I love that it's open (and free!) to the public, full of great lectures, concerts, and art galleries, and right across the street from one of my other favorite places in the city!

A Great Winter Vacation Stop with a Nearby Hostel

For those of you who are sick of this winter climate, I just discovered a very quaint and historic Florida destination. It is Saint Augustine, the oldest city in the United States. Archeologists think this city had its beginning as an Indian village called Seloy, in what is now a national archeological park. In the year 1513 the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon landed near here while searching for the fabled “Fountain of Youth”. 

Ponce de Leon was an explorer and named the land for Spain. Other explorers who followed, later concluded that an investment in the land was not worthwhile. It was filled with dangerous animals like alligators and snakes, as well as insects. Also, European agriculture did not prosper on the coasts. Based on these conclusions, the Spanish simply ignored risky Florida. 

In 1562 however, French protestants arrived to settle there. In 1565 Admiral Don Pedro Menendez set sail from Spain to conquer Florida and on the feast day of St. Augustine, August 28, he sailed through an inlet and named the area after the saint. The town of St. Augustine fulfilled one of its major roles – serving as a haven for the treasure fleets on their way home to Spain.

Afterwards the English came and started a colony nearby. The city was later attacked by British ships. It was at this point that the Spanish Crown decided to invest in the construction of a massive fort. The Castillo was built and was never captured. St. Augustine remained a Spanish colony until the Treaty of Paris in 1763 when it was given to England.

The Castillo de San Marcos, built 1672-1695, has long protected the city and has been used under Spanish, American and British forces. It was made a National Monument in 1924. 

In the city there is also a living history museum depicting the life of 
Spanish soldiers and their families in 1740. Visitors will see the blacksmith, carpenter,leather work and other crafts of the 18th century. Houses where the 
soldiers and their families lived, gardened and prepared food are also depicted.

The city of St. Augustine is beautiful and quaint. It is a must-see. FYI, it has a hostel near the center of the city as well.

-Marilyn Williams, Hostel Volunteer