There’s no stopping Sandra Scott.
The Mexico resident is a world-renowned traveler and has journeyed to the most remote corners of the globe. Her mission is to not only take in the sights and sounds of what the world has to offer, but also to culturally connect with diverse populations she comes into contact with.
She documents her experiences and does travel writing for various publications and media outlets.
“I enjoy meeting people the most. My husband John and I travel slowly and by ourselves and take time to meet people,” she said.
Scott writes a weekly travel column for the Syracuse Post-Standard “Stars”section and also for Copley News Service. The writing aspect of her passion is what drives her to do adventurous things.
“It just makes me do interesting things that I may not normally do, and contrary to perceptions, the world is a very friendly and safe place. People have gone out of their way for us. People are basically very nice and we are well received.” she noted.
While she and her husband traveled prior to 1985, it was that year when Scott began to journey in earnest. It began with a visit to Eastern Europe, where her family roots lie, and the addiction to travel began from there. Several years later, she delved into travel writing.
Memorable Moments — Scott has journeyed to more than 100 countries, some of which hold a special place in her heart. “I usually like the country I’m in the best,” she joked.
“I actually majored in Russian history and have been there twice,” she said.
On her first trip to Russia, she was captivated by a late-night view of the Red Square and recalls viewing the St. Basil Cathedral in Moscow at the heart of what was once an “evil empire.” St. Basil’s was built in the 16th century on Red Square by Ivan the Terrible to commemorate his successful military campaign.
“Vietnam is also fascinating, and China is just moving along so fast,” she added. Easter Island in the South Pacific, considered one of the most isolated and mysterious sites, also features “wonderful things,”.
Easter Island also ranks as the most remote tourist destination Scott has ever visited. It is located about 2,300 miles away from any other place. Its area is only 144 square miles.
Perhaps the most romantic place to be for the Scotts is aboard a gondola in Venice,Italy. As far as outstanding scenery goes, Scott said a 12-hour bus/boat excursion from Chile to Argentina featured some breathtaking views.
Also on the list of most scenic places is The Inn Above Tide, an elegant and secluded Inn with magnificent views of San Francisco Bay. It’s located in the heart of Sausalito, Calif.
The promontory Rock of Gibraltar is also a stunning site, she noted, on the southern coast of Spain.
As far as “best kept secrets,” there are a “thousand places in the U.S. that are hidden wonders, and you have to get off the beaten track and off the highways and onto side roads.
As far as foreign countries go, Uruguay on the southeastern coast of South America between Brazil and Argentina is absolutely awe-inspiring, and Indochina features wonderful locations that are reasonably priced and incredibly friendly,” Scott noted.
Rio Incomparable — The most exciting event that Scott has attended is carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Carnival, with its spectacular street parades and vibrant music, has become one of the most potent images of Brazil. The event begins at 9 p.m. A crowd of approximately 90,000 views the parade from 9 p.m. until 8 a.m. the next day. Numerous samba schools involving up to 5,000 people are part of the celebration.
The eight-hour Mummers Parade in Philadelphia on New Year’s Day also ranks as one of the more “outlandish” events on the tourism schedule, Scott said.
Who are the most gracious hosts?
“All of Asia. There’s no question. The Asians are very welcoming and will bend over backwards to please,” she said. One place that Scott never grows tired of is Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. She has visited there nine times. “It doesn’t matter where you go, there’s always different things to do,” she said.
Scott has certainly seen her share of unique—and harrowing—experiences on the travel scene. She recalls a trip when her 9-year-old child was mistakenly left on a train all night in Russia. “That was probably the most horrific thing,” she recalls. “The child was returned in the morning and had slept through it. I didn’t, however.”
Roughing It - Other memorable moments include sleeping in a tree house in a Bedouin village and traveling down the Nile River for six days in an open sailboat called a felucca. It is a small sailing boat with curving triangular sails, but no bathrooms.
“It was cold at night and when we slept, we rolled up like little sausages, and we laid there can counted one meteor after another, and off in the distance, we could near the Nubian drums“.
Scott has experienced several scary and dangerous episodes. When we first traveled behind the Iron Curtain, we saw a lot of guns, but realized that the people standing there with guns were not there to hurt us, but to make us safe, and while in Instanbul she was accosted by a pack of dogs, but luckily, they stopped before levying an attack.
Traveling in the post 9/11 era has featured enhanced security measures, Scott said.
Scott was in Bali during a terrorist bombing and remembers it transforming into an area more reminiscent of communist-controlled Eastern Europe during the Cold War era. Scott said tourism is “very big business” in some countries. “The people there need to make tourists feel as if they are doing everything possible for security,” Scott said. “All in all, tourists tend not to go where trouble spots are,” she said.
The Scotts are not without their travel rules, the first and foremost being to stay together, and always look behind, because people tend to leave things.
“Also, if you are not having a good time, rethink what you are doing,” she quipped. Travel writing pays off, and Scott uses her writing proceeds to pay for trips, although she said they travel inexpensively because all the arrangements are done by ourselves.
She estimates that traveling takes up seven months in the year, and most of that time is spent researching and creating flexibility in their schedules, so they can plan where to go and when.
“Sandra does most of the planning. I get to go to amazing places that I might never visit otherwise,” says her husband John. “And I do things, like bungee jump, that I might never do - so she can get the pictures she needs. And, as a bonus, I get to carry the bags and pay the bills.”
Scott recently embarked on an Adirondack River rafting excursion, and in September, will be going to Long Island Sound. October calls for a trip overseas, including stops in Dublin, London, Athens and Lebanon.
Does traveling take a toll physically? “In 20-plus years of travel, we have never really been sick,” she said. “We seem to adjust quite well. Time changes can be annoying for a day or two as can altitude but by taking our time we adjust.”
“The most annoying health issue is sinus-related, so we carry medication,” she said. “We don’t know if it is the air on the airplane, the air conditioning, and/or different pollen, so we carry over-the-counter medication.”
About Susan:
Susan Scott is a co-founder, charter member, and trustee of Mexico Point Park and Friends of Mexico Point Park. She is also co-founder, charter member and trustee of the Mexico Historical Society. Scott said her intention is to “see the best parts of the town preserved for future generations.”
Scott has co-authored two history books on Mexico. Scott is originally from Lowville in Lewis County. She has been a resident of Mexico since 1970.
