Writing Travel

Gifts for people who have everything made easy with Kiva and Passports with Purpose

  

This morning I received a couple of emails from a long-time friend who has just started a new job with Catholic Relief Services in the Congo. One of them contained a link to the website of the micro-loan project Kiva, with a note: "This is an idea for a Christmas present for someone who has everything. It was given to me and I love it."

Last week, I celebrated my 4000th Twitter follower with a promise to award a prize "suitable only to that person."

This was a bit risky, as my follower number 4000 could easily have been a spambot pushing whiter teeth. Luckily, that wasn't a problem. I was overjoyed when I saw that my 4000th follower was @JoeDiazAFAR, co-founder of AFAR Media and experiential travel expert. I can't think of a more suitable prize to award Joe than a contribution to Kiva in his honor.

Thanks for the follow, Joe! I enjoy reading AFAR and love that it takes me places I can only dream of experiencing.

As you finish your holiday shopping, don't forget Passports with Purpose as another end-of-year gift idea. They have met the initial target of $13,000 toward building a school in rural Cambodia with American Assistance for Cambodia and have doubled that target to include health services for the school. So far, there's enough money to build the school and hire a nurse. Additional funds are needed to create a garden and hire a gardener and cook to improve the students' nutrition.

Please consider donating. It's easy, in increments of $10 through Paypal, and every $10 buys a chance to win a great prize. See the list of donated prizes here.

Corpse Bride and Victor Van Dort figures in the window of Album, Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris

Figures from Tim Burton's film The Corpse Bride, among others, on display in the window of Album 84 on boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris. Located here in the Latin Quarter since 1948, Album 84 is the oldest bookshop in France specializing in comics, better known as BD or bande dessinee.

Photo Friday ~ Pyramide renversée du Louvre

 

Shoppers enjoying the January soldes in the Carrousel du Louvre.

This slideshow is part of DeliciousBaby's Photo Friday, a weekly blogging event. Please check out all of this week's submissions.

Wednesday Window ~ La Maison du Chocolat, Carrousel du Louvre, Paris

Photo Friday ~ Find your marbles at Moon Marble Company, Bonner Springs, Kansas

Did you ever wonder how marbles are made?

Handmade ones are a rarity nowadays, but the art is definitely not lost at Moon Marble Company. Artisan and owner Bruce Breslow demonstrates the craft in his Bonner Springs, Kansas, shop on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Call ahead (913-441-1432) for exact times or to arrange a group tour.

Don't forget to use the restroom during your visit: it's also a marble museum.

This photo is part of DeliciousBaby’s Photo Friday.