Before our trip we spent hours reading, watching videos, documentaries and googling info about all the places we were visiting as well as the roads we would be traveling. Many hours spent on the computer or in front of the tv doing research. Oh and let’s not forget the hours of reading posts on different Facebook groups with reviews, tips and tricks for people who have been there or were traveling and posting as they go.

So, who do you listen to? You read one thing and then someone says the total opposite. Then you have people in the groups arguing over who was right and who was wrong. Reviews are no different than someone’s opinion. And we all know what opinions are compared to. We all have one. You really have to consider the source before you take someone’s advice. There are a lot and I do mean a lot of people out there giving their 2 cents worth who really and truly don’t have a brain–but they sure think they do. And I have found those people are twice as likely to give their advice and argue consistently. Before you listen to just anyone, do a little research on them. Check out other things they say or do to see if their opinion really matters. I know, who wants to do that.

I thought I learned this lesson years ago but found I was still listening to idiots. Let me give you an example of my lesson learned years ago. I feel it should have been the best lesson but it will surely stick with me now.

Years ago, my daughters treated me to a trip to Puerto Rico. One of our plans was to go to a Bioluminescent Bay. While having dinner just before going on our little adventure, while I was in the bathroom my girls were reading reviews. When I came out one of the girls left to go to the bathroom and the other showed me the review. I can’t remember which one showed it to me but the other one told that one not to show me the review. She did anyway. Well that review was written by someone claiming to be a triathlete. This person went on to brag about how young and fit he/she was. Well, the review was horrifying. This triathlete struggled tremendously and didn’t think he/she would make it. The dark had this person terrified and claimed people were crying and bumping into others and falling in the water and couldn’t get back in their kayak. After all the terror this triathlete had to return to shore with sore arms still terrified. . .

You can imagine what I thought. OMG! Here I am 60+ years old, way over weight and definitely out of shape. My God, I was a pencil pusher. I reconsidered and told the girls to go ahead and I would wait for them. They convinced me to go and I honestly don’t know how. The leader took Christy in his kayak–she didn’t even get an oar and he teamed me and Melissa up. I was sure we were doomed. We climbed into the kayak, listened to his instructions and paddled out to the bioluminescent bay. Many times we had to put our ‘brakes’ on because Melissa and I were so damned good we were passing the leader. We got out to the bay, enjoyed seeing the glowing fish and paddled back to shore. I can’t begin to imagine why this triathlete was struggling. That was easy peasy. In fact, this fat old lady could have done it again. In addition with over 50+ kayakers out there not one fell in, not one cried (that I heard or heard of). I only heard oohs and aahs and laughter and joy. Well, time to get out of the kayak. Ok, now I know what that triathlete struggle with–getting out. I mean I struggled. I literally had to tip over onto the shore. The girls were laughing–as were quite a few others. But that was the hardest thing about the entire trip.

Had I listened to that one reviewer–I would have totally missed out. So consider the source and if you don’t know the source–check them out.

There are actually 4 species of Puffin. The Atlantic Puffin are found in Maine and Europe (get it? the Atlantic Ocean). The Horned Puffin can be found in both the Atlantic and Pacific and Tufted Puffin breed across the North Pacific. They can be found in Russia, Japan, Alaska and down the coast of Canada to central California. The last on is called a Rhinocerous Auklet and doesn’t look anything like the beautiful, colorful Puffins we all hope to photograph. For a whole lot more about Puffins read this. Just for the record this article states Puffins can dive 200 feet down in the water to fish. We were told by two different captains that they can dive 300 ft.

Researchers have suggested that the black soot on the glaciers could be coming from several sources including, industries related to fossil fuels, wood burning by humans and even the forest fires. Unfortunately the black soot increases the heat and helps melt the glacier. For more information on this you can go to Scientific American .