I was reading a blog today and in it was a picture of a large sink hole that had opened in the middle of the road in Guatemala.

The effect was devistating and caused the death of a father and two teenagers. Just another of those tragic stories.

It was actually reading about Guatemala that brought back childhood memories for me. Isn’t it amazing how something really simple as reading a blog can trigger off a memory.

When I was a child I remember having to write an essay on the Chicle Gatherers of Guatemala.

In my childs mind I remember thinking how great it would be to spend my days roaming the forest gathering chicle. As an adult I realise the harsh reality of what those peoples lives are really like. Children have such romantic notions about lifes realities, and rightly so.

So I researched the subject and learnt how the ‘chicleros’ would go out into the forest and tap the chicle trees so that the sap would gather into little pots that were tied to the tree. The chicle is exported to the United States and used in chewing gum.

So I did a little research to see if this is still how chewing gum is made and sure enough here is the low down:

Okay,  so Chicle is name of the gum obtained from the latex of the sapodilla tree (Manilkara zapota). This is an American evergreen which is widely cultivated in tropical regions for its fruit, which is plum-sized with translucent yellow-brown flesh. Apparently, large-scale cultivation of the tree for latex is impractical because it can be tapped only infrequently and varies widely in yield.

Chicle is collected during the rainy season from wild trees in the rain forests. Natives, called chicleros, cut gashes in the tree trunk to collect the sap which is boiled until it reaches a specific thickness and is then molded into blocks which are exported, mainly to the United States, for use in making chewing gum.

Unsystematic and excessive tapping of the sapodilla is leading to its depletion and has necessitated the increased use of chicle substitutes from other latex-producing plants.

To manufacture chewing gum, the blocks of chicle are ground, melted, and cleared in a whirling vat. Then the flavorings are added -fruits, licorice, mints, corn syrup sugar or artificial sweeteners. The gum is then rolled through sheeting machinery and chopped into sticks or into candy-coated pellets.

In today’s manufacture insoluble plastics may be mixed with or substituted for the chicle.

The United States is the major producer, exporter, and consumer, of chewing gum.

Chewing the resins from trees is believed to have been around since prehistoric times. The Native Americans chewed Spruce resin to quench their thirst. It is believed that chicle was imported into the United States through Mexico. William and Semple patented chicle gum in 1869.

So when your are chewing madly away on your next strip of chewing gum, remember the hard life of the chicleros. I know I will. I am especially fond of Airwaves, just love how it clears the sinuses.

You can read more about Guatemala: A Journey Through the Land of the Maya

Whenever Paula and I travel we stay in touch with family using our Skype accounts.

So what is Skype?

Download Skype onto your laptop or home computer and you can make free phone calls to anyone who has Skype installed on their computer.  So the only extras you need are a headset and a webcam if you want to see each other.

You can also purchase Skype credits to use on your mobile phone and this allows  you to make really, really cheap calls both locally and internationally to any phone whether mobile or home.

We have found that it is invaluable as will anyone who has spent time travelling. It is generally way too expensive to make calls from your hotel room and is only ever used as a last resort.

Pay phones are few and far between since the advent of the mobile phone and the rates are expensive.

So Skype gives you the convenience of not having to look for a pay phone or make expensive calls.

There are so many features to use:

• Calls to any mobile or phone worldwide
• Skypin numbers to have printed on your business cards or display on your website
• Call transfer
• Voicemail
• Send a fax
• SMS
• You can add the click and call button to your website so you clients can skype you
• Call forwarding for when you are away from your computer, you can divert calls to your mobile
• Record calls
• Set up a call center

I know that we find Skype invaluable.

We have found in some countries that when we make a call back home there is sometimes a delay which results in lots of  ‘can you hear me’, ‘Are you still there’, but once each party allows for the time lag the calls go without a hitch.

Skype are constantly improving and upgrading their service and you have the opportunity to rate the quality of your call plus you can participate in surveys to also have your say about the service.

It is really easy to sign up online to  Make cheap international calls with Skype .

If your next set of travel plans include a trip to France, you may be looking for great things to see on that trip. One of the things you don’t want to miss is Mont St Michel.

What is it?

If you are new to sites in France, you may not know of Mont St Michel. Mont St Michel is considered a wonder of the western world. It is an amazing tidal island. Atop the island is an amazing abbey. For over 1000 years this island has been a fantastic location that is naturally protected by the tides which act like a natural shifting moat around the island.

Where is it?

Mont St Michel is located just off the coast of Normandy, France. There is only a thin causeway connecting the mainland to the island.

When is the best time to visit?

Traveling to Mont St Michel should be done in conjunction with the tidal flow. Most of the year is just fine for visiting, but in the months of March and September there is more likely to be harsh weather. That can make for rough tides, which can make the roads to Mont St Michel impassable. For this reason it is best to avoid these two months.

How to get there from Paris

The easiest way to get to Mont St Michel is to take a car. It is about a 4-½ hour drive from Paris, but this would be a great way to take in a bit of the country and really get a feel for France.

Others prefer using public transport. Unfortunately, there is not a direct train service to Mont St Michel from Paris. You can, however, take a series of buses and trains to be able to get to the location if that is your preferred way to travel.

A little bit of History:

For those interested in the history of Mont-Saint-Michel, it was build in the 13th century after the original abbey was destroyed in 1203 by King Phillip of France, the original abbey having been founded by the bishop of Avranches, Saint Aubert in 708.

The abbey is so strongly fortified that it was able to withstand repeated English assaults during the hundred year’s war. During the reign of Napoleon 1, the abbey of Mont Saint Michel was used as a prison.

A causeway was built to link the rocky islet to the mainland in 1875 and these days the islet is only ever completely surrounded by water twice a month.

Being one of  the top tourist spots in France has given Mont St Micheal the distinction of being listed as a national historical monument and a the abbey is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

If you are planning a trip to London, you may be overwhelmed trying to sort out what you want to do on your trip. It’s a new country, new city and there are all sorts of options. So which ones should you put at the top of your list? Here’s a quick top three list of the things you want to make sure NOT to miss:

London Eye – How would you like to see all of London in one stop? You can do that by visiting the London Eye. This magnificent observation tower turns like a wheel and once you are at the top you can see all of London in one 30-minute revolution. Just sit still and enjoy the view! This is the most amazing way to see London.

National Gallery – In the national gallery is an amazing collection of artwork like no other that spans the almost 700 years. This is one of the most amazing collections in the world including pieces you can see nowhere else from artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Botticelli.

Tower of London – There is no doubt you have heard of the Tower of London. The tower has almost a 1000 year history of being a main focal point for London serving a number of roles from a fortress to a prison to a palace and even a home for some of the world’s most amazing jewels. The Tower has an amazing historical background which you can read about at Historical Palaces.

If you finish the top three and still have a little time left, there are a few more places you may want to try including the British and Tate Modern Museums, the National History Museum, the Science Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Madame Tussards Wax Museum and the National Maritime Museum.

We can truly recommend that you purchase a London Pass which gives you access to over 55 of London’s tourist attractions. We found it invaluable.