WIBlog - Travel News from Where I've Been

Singing in the Streets: Cheap Music in Vienna, Austria

2012-05-15T10:58:00.000-05:00

He was one of the most talented musicians I had ever heard. Sitting alone in front of his audience, his head bent in concentration over the cello. His fingers fluttered effortlessly in time with the bow and generated a haunting, complex melody. And he didn't even flinch when a black Mercedes zipped around him, horn blaring. You expect to find gifted musicians in Vienna, Austria, a city world-renowned for producing and nurturing many of history's greatest composers. You expect to attend a concert, hear the disciples of Mozart and Strauss practice their craft at the highest level. You do not expect to do so in the middle of a traffic circle.

But Vienna's music culture is not allocated solely to expensive opera houses and ornate palace halls. Music and music's history are so much a part of Vienna, that standing room and street corners often offer easier and more authentic substitutes.

I stumbled upon the cello player one evening in Michaelerplatz, a round courtyard carved into a corner of the enormous Hofburg Palace. The setting itself juxtaposed the elaborate, baroque wing of the Hapsburg’s winter residence, deity-laded fountains and all, with the trappings of modern traffic patterns. A narrow road emerged from the bowels of the palace itself, shooting out from underneath an archway before skirting Michaelerplatz's circular perimeter and branching off into a series of quaint boulevards.

In the center of this roundabout, across from some preserved ancient Roman ruins, a young man sat alone with his polished cello. He was dressed in a full tuxedo, his dark hair purposefully disheveled. He was accompanied by a small speaker at his feet and an open instrument case a few feet away.

Michaelerplatz, a plaza at one end of the Hofburg Palace

We must have caught him between pieces because people were already gathered along the waist-high stone wall that dissects the plaza, forming a perfect audience pit.

I believe in joining any impromptu group gathered in a public place, especially when it involves a musician. The quantity and quality of a city’s street performers is a good indicator on whether or not the indoor entertainment is worth anything. At the very least, it’s fun for free. So I claimed an empty wall spot just before the cello strings began humming.

In an instant, Vienna lived up to its musical reputation. The man with the cello played effortlessly through three classical movements. His small speaker supported him with taped percussion and horn, but his strings were always the star.

He began with a slow-paced piece, drowned in emotion. He paused briefly for applause, tipped his head in recognition and launched immediately into a fast-paced staccato. He tipped the scales, leaning into each stroke with gumption. More than a few heads bobbed along, mine included. He wrangled in the energy level for the third piece and boomed out a vaguely familiar tune. It was then that a black Mercedes raced out from the archway, bathing the cello player in headlight. He embraced the unplanned spotlight by closing his eyes, craning back his neck and hitting the song’s climactic point. His bit of flare earned a collective, “ooh” from the onlookers.

The Mercedes sped off, the cello player came to a rousing finish and twenty pedestrians erupted in applause. Without a word, he stood up from his stool, bowed, picked up his speaker and case and strolled away. In seconds, Michaelerplatz was empty.

I could not name any of the cellist’s pieces, nor did that matter. I had listened to beautiful music in the shadow of one of Europe’s most ornate buildings, played by a master artist drowned in a soft lamplight. The atmosphere rivaled any opera house.

Vienna's street performers are like no other

Which is not to say the Staatstoper, Vienna’s majestic opera house, should not be on everyone’s Austrian must-see list. There is a fair amount of chance associated with finding good street musicians. In Vienna, or Salzburg or Munich for that matter, the odds just happen to be greatly in your favor.

But most visitors seeking that classic musical experience have no shortage of opportunity, either. As soon as you emerge from the subway in the city’s busy Stephensplatz, salesmen dressed in Renaissance garb bombard tourists and locals alike with talk of cheap opera tickets and dinner shows. They are unnecessary.

The only things you need to enjoy a night of fine music, are strong legs and an open mind, because the Staatstoper offers standing room tickets. It’s a trick located in many good guidebooks, but one well worth taking advantage of.

I am by no means an opera guy. But an hour and a half prior to show time, I lined up at the Staatsoper box office with a couple hundred other people, curious about what was waiting for me inside. Four Euro later, I was being shuffled by ushers to a waiting area outside the mezzanine. Forty-five minutes prior to curtain, we entered into the shimmering, golden hall. We claimed spots along one of the tiered railings set aside for the standing room customers (they say bring a scarf to tie on the rail to save your spot, but any scrap of cloth will do). The railings provide good leaning and even have small screens that scroll translations during the show.

If there is a better view inside this gorgeous opera house, I didn’t see it. Center stage, elevated above the floor seats, this box should have been reserved for royalty. Instead, a hundred or so casually dressed deal-seekers stood gawking at the elaborate, lush décor. The rows of red boxes stacked encircled the hall like a lush, velvet-trimmed beehive, and buzzed with a similar excitement as they filled with opera enthusiasts.

With the start of that night’s production, Die Frau Ohne Schatten (The Woman Without a Shadow for all you non-German speakers), an opera by Richard Strauss, I found myself ignoring the translation screen altogether and focusing on the powerful voices onstage. Mainly, I did so because the opera’s story made little sense to me; a strange Prince and the Pauper-esque tale of a barren woman who teleports and casts spells. But the composition was beautiful and unlike any other musical experience. So when I left after an hour and a half, during the first intermission, I felt completely satisfied with my four Euro investment.

That evening ended the way any good Viennese night should end: sitting under an umbrella at an outdoor café, sipping a bright orange Aperol spritzer, noshing on a slice of cake and listening to urban chatter floating down pedestrian boulevards.

The Staatsoper, Vienna's ornate opera house

On the walk back to the hotel, I took the long way through Michaelerplatz, thinking maybe I could catch lightning in a bottle twice. I walked across the roundabout to where the cello player had sat the previous night. Tonight the stone plaza was empty. There was no audience lined along the half-wall.

But I had no reason for disappointment. For fewer than ten U.S. dollars, I attended the opera and listened to an immensely talented cellist, who by all rights could have charged admission. A win all around, even if the street musicians had taken the night off.

Just as I turned to leave the plaza, a group emerged from a chapel on the other end of the roundabout. They formed a haphazard half-circle near a street lamp. And for the next thirty minutes, I leaned against the half-wall along a street in Vienna, and listened to an angelic choir.

Biography

Michael Hartigan is a freelance travel writer from Boston, Massachusetts. From San Francisco to Salzburg, he has explored and written about unique people, places and traditions. Michael's writing has been featured in the Arizona Republic, USA Today and in his monthly travel column published in a series of local Massachusetts newspapers, such as the Danvers Herald. He believes that you should go wherever it takes, but always come back with a good story. Follow his blog at www.whereverittakes.com and on Twitter @WhereverItTakes

5 Tips for Packing Like A Pro

2012-05-10T15:33:00.000-05:00

You know you’ve been there: The night before your trip you stare at your suitcase hoping everything you want to pack will just magically fit in your carry-on. Unfortunately, the packing fairy can’t always save the day, so you’ll have much better luck using our Top Five tips on packing like a pro!

Luggage is Key
With airlines charging an arm and a leg to check a bag, it’s a good idea to invest in a carry-on. A good system for picking a carry-on is the Goldilock’s method, not too big and not too small. You don’t want your carry-on to be too big because every time you board, you will be stopped and asked to put your bag in the luggage sizer. You know that it fits, but it’s just a hassle that you can avoid. You also don’t want a carry-on that’s too small because you won’t be able to fit the essentials.

There are a few other important qualities you should look for when you invest in luggage. The perfect carry-on should be durable because you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a suitcase that will only last you two or three trips. If you ever decide to check your bag, it’s a good idea to buy a carry-on that also expands. Just make sure not to expand it when you’re carrying it on. One last thing, check how heavy the suitcase is when it’s empty. It should feel light because you don’t want a heavy suitcase before you add the weight of all your clothes. There’s no way you’ll be able to get it in the overhead bin if it weighs more than you do.

Make a List and Check it Twice
After you have the right suitcase, you’ll need to decide what should go in it. That’s where making a list can come in handy. First, think of all the things you’ll be doing on your trip. Will you be dining at a fancy restaurant where a nice outfit would be appropriate? Make sure to check the weather as well, you don’t want to pack unnecessary clothing that will only take up prime real estate in your suitcase.

After you’ve done all of this, you can start making a list of everything you need. First, list the number of outfits you’ll need. This will help you determine how many tops, bottoms and shoes you’ll have to pack. A list is also helpful because it’ll keep you from overpacking or packing non-essentials. Once you’ve made your list, start laying out the outfits you want to wear. Try to find as many overlaps as you can. You can re-wear a skirt with different tops, which frees you up for something else you might need to pack.

Include even the most obvious items on your list, like your cell phone, wallet, and passport. There’s always a sense of chaos on the morning of a trip so this list will give you that peace of mind that you have everything you need.

Roll, Roll, Roll
Now that you have everything on a list and your outfits are laid out, it’s time to put them in your awesome carry-on. Folding your clothes may seem like the obvious next step, but this will take up a lot of room in your suitcase. Instead, tightly roll all of your clothes, even jeans, until they look like this:

This will save a lot of room in your suitcase and keep your clothes wrinkle free. After you’ve rolled everything up, put your jeans and heavier clothes at the bottom and continue to form layers until you run out of clothes. You can even roll your socks to store in your shoes for maximized space.

Shoes and Such

Shoes are a tricky item to pack. Unless you’re going to the beach and wearing flip flops every day, shoes can take up a lot of room in your suitcase. If you go with the rolling method above, it’s best to line your shoes along the edge of your suitcase before you start adding your layers of clothes. This will ensure that the bottoms of your shoes won’t touch your clothes and it won’t take up as much room.

Airport Attire
Another thing to consider when packing is what you’ll be wearing on the plane. If you have shoes that would take up a lot of room in your suitcase, consider wearing them on the plane. Consider wearing layers, like a sweater and a coat, on the plane. It’s always cold on the plane and it’s a great way to make sure you have a coat without taking the suitcase space. Finally, make sure to bring a purse or backpack for the things you’ll need on the plane. This is a great place to store things like snacks and magazines. You should also consider putting essentials like a cell phone charger, medicine, and anything else you’d be lost without in your backpack. Just in case your baggage gets lost, you’ll have everything you need to get by for a day!

Traveling with Sisters: The Good, The Bad, and the Silly

2012-04-22T21:27:00.000-05:00

One of my first travel memories with my two younger sisters is hiding under a blanket in the back seat of my parent’s suburban on our way to my grandparent’s house 12 hours away. We were whispering ghost stories and getting silly because we had been stuck in the car for 11 hours and the best way to pass the time was to lean on each other for fun.

Fast forward twenty years and my sisters and I are still having a fun time traveling together. But now our travels with each other often involve 12 hour plane rides instead of car rides. Over the course of our trips I’ve discovered the good, the bad, and the silly of traveling with one’s sisters.

“The Good” of Traveling with Sisters

“Wait, I need a picture of that tree!” I said anxiously.
“We’re already past it,” my sister, Lorraine, replied.
“Please turn around,” I pleaded. “Please please please please please please!”
Lorraine gave me a look as if to say “how are you the older one” and turned the car around. We were doing a fall drive through New Hampshire and Lorraine was the unlucky driver for the day. Despite her methodical driving, I was constantly missing shots from the car and making her stop so I could get out for a better angle or turn around so I could get a better snap of something.

“The Good” Tip #1: Humor each other. Did I really need all those pictures in New Hampshire? No. But Lorraine knew how excited I was to finally be doing a drive through New England so humored my constant stop requests.

“The Good” Tip #2: Speak up and compromise. A huge plus of traveling with my sisters is that I’m not afraid to speak my mind so they always know what I want out of the trip and vice versa. That being said, sisters don’t always see eye to eye. That’s where the compromise techniques you learned when you were both in junior high and wanted to wear the same shirt comes in handy.

“The Good” Tip #3: You know each other well. Use that knowledge to fix any issues fast. I once tricked Lorraine into eating a granola bar while traveling because she was starting to get crabby due to being hungry. However, she refused to eat because she didn’t want to ruin her appetite for our dinner reservations. My response? I ate half a granola bar then said I didn’t want anymore so I was going to throw the rest away, knowing full well Lorraine hates seeing food go to waste. Just as I predicted, she ate it and became happier.

“The Good” Tip #4: Sisters makeup easily. There is no drawn out “I’m sorry I did this, but” conversation. Most of the time there’s automatic forgiveness, making for an easy drama-free time on the road – revel in that.

“The Good” Tip #5: Easier packing. Similar genes can mean similar jeans. If you’re close in size to your sister, take advantage of that by sharing clothes while traveling. Discuss what to pack beforehand so you each bring different things to share.

Backpacking sisters on our way to Santorini, Greece

“The Bad” of Traveling with Sisters

“Gina, if you’re tired, go to bed,” Anna told me exasperatedly from her perch by the bar.
“I don’t want to leave you alone with all these guys,” I muttered. We were at the Pink Palace in Corfu, a famous party hostel, and I was there with my gorgeous, voluptuous younger sister, Anna. Guys of every nationality flocked to her like puppy dogs and while most of the guys we had met over the past two days seemed harmless, the nature of this hostel made me not want to leave her alone.
“I’m fiiiine, I haven’t even drank that much,” Anna replied. True, she only seemed to be a little tipsy. But my big sister protectiveness was coming out in full force and with another furtive glance at the guys circling my little sister like sharks, I knew I was not leaving her here alone with them while I went back to our hostel room.
“Come on, Anna,” I reasoned. “The alarm clock is going to go off in five hours.” We had an early morning ferry to catch to Italy the next morning.
“I don’t care,” she said stubbornly. “I’m not going back to the room.”
I looked at her stubborn, but beaming face – she was having so much fun – and decided not to press it.
Not like she’d listen to me anyway. And so I stayed out as well and glared at any guys who got too touchy-feely with my little sis on the dance floor.

“The Bad” Tip #1: Getting overprotective. Instincts you didn’t even know you had to protect your blood come out while traveling, but everyone needs space. While my intuition to stay with Anna at the Pink Palace was probably right on, we did take time apart to explore in other cities during our travels.

“The Bad” Tip #2: Other family members. When traveling with your sister, be prepared that other family members may get a bit jealous. I get around this by always making sure my other sister is aware she’s welcome to come along and by telling my mom we’ll try to figure out a mother/daughter trip soon.

“The Bad” Tip #3: Sisters fight easily. The good part about making up fast has a bad counterpart – fighting easily. It’s easy to snap at each other when you know neither of you will hold a grudge against the other. But who wants to be arguing while at the Colosseum? Curb your urge to pick at each other and remind yourself you’re lucky to be traveling together.

In Boston Gardens: experiencing one of America's oldest cities with my sister

“The Silly” of Traveling with Sisters

The bus suddenly pulled to the side of the road and came to an urgent stop along the motorway outside Newcastle, England. Anna and I looked at each other, puzzled. Five minutes pass…then ten minutes…and the bus still didn’t move.
“I think the bus broke down,” Anna whispered.
“How come no one seems concerned we’re stuck on the side of the road?” I whispered back.
We looked around at the many English citizens surrounding us, most reading a newspaper, texting on their phone, or having loud teenage conversations about everything but the stopped bus. No one but us seemed concerned about the now 15 minutes we’d been sitting on the side of the road.
After standing in our seats for another peek out the window from the second story of the double decker bus we were on, trying to figure out what was going on – seemingly the only ones who cared – we made eye contact with each other and both of us burst out laughing. We huddled down in our seat so the others on the bus wouldn’t notice. A couple minutes later the bus driver came up to announce the bus had indeed broken down and another bus would come to pick us up, but it may take 30 or so minutes. No one seemed even remotely frazzled by this announcement, making Anna and I giggle harder, choking out that in America everyone would be freaking out right now, but no one here seemed at all concerned.
The uncontrollable giggles lasted long onto the second (longer route) bus, making a big blip in our day enjoyable and memorable.

“The Silly” Tip #1: Find the humor in things. Anna and I have been known to have giggle attacks over not much of anything except a meaningful glance about something we both find amusing since we were children. As we’ve entered adulthood this never occurs as much anymore as when we’re traveling together.

“The Silly” Tip #2: Just go with the flow – and ask for help when necessary. Anna and I were once right next to the 405 freeway in LA after a day of being Hollywood tourists and could not figure out how to get onto the freeway from where we were even though it was right there. Lorraine called to chat and we had her on speaker phone while I drove under and around the freeway over and over again. Anna was giggling, I was trading off between cursing and laughing, and Lorraine was trying to look up the signs we were explaining to her on the Internet to help us figure out how to get onto the freeway and no doubt rolling her eyes that we were lost and couldn’t understand road signs – in our home country of America – when our destination point was right in front of us.

Whether your sisters are older or younger, exactly like you or your polar opposite, your shared family history and childhood bond can make you perfect travel buddies. As for brothers, mine’s still in school and hasn’t caught the travel bug yet, but my sisters and I are working to introduce him to our traveling sisterhood – whether he likes it or not.

Biography

Gina Douglas has picked figs in Croatia, gone wine tasting in Tuscany, lived in a castle in England, rode an elephant in Thailand, and is currently dreaming up a hiking trip to Machu Picchu. She is the Director of Marketing for an online travel agency and also writes travel stories and offers advice on balancing travel with a career and relationship at her website, http://www.OneDayinaCity.com. You can follow her on Twitter at @onedayinacity or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/onedayinacity.

Share Where I've Been: Think "Outside the Box" When Planning Your Next Trip

2012-04-17T09:06:00.000-05:00

Hi there, Melanie here from excellent-vacation-ideas.com. We are a travel website that is out to inspire you to think “outside the box” when you travel and to spend your time and money wisely to make the most out of your vacation time with or without your kids!

Warren and I started this website out of our passion for travel and because people kept asking us about our adventures and how we managed to travel so much over the last 15 years. They were really surprised to find out that we spend 2-3 months a year travelling as a couple or as a family, have visited 6 of the 7 continents and dozens of countries, while running a business, and raising Warren’s daughter (my stepdaughter) Montana, who is now 16 years old.

The answer is simple; we place as much value on our vacation time, as we do on every other part of our life. It is a time that we can reconnect, experience the world together, have adventures and just relax!

Outside the Sydney Opera House

What are the major questions people should consider before starting to plan a trip?

People should start by looking at what they want to accomplish on their trip.

Is this a romantic vacation? A family vacation? Or both?

If it is a family vacation, what activities do the kids want to do? What activities do you as the parents and/or teens want to do?

How old are the kids travelling with you?

How much money do you want to spend?

How much time do you have?

Are you looking for a relaxing hang out by the beach holiday? Or a let’s learn a new hobby holiday?

Do you want to visit and really experience a new destination and culture like Hong Kong? Or have an easy vacation together like the beaches in Florida or an all inclusive in the Caribbean?

Ask your kids what they want to do… Sometimes you will be surprised at what excites them too.

There is nothing worse then spending a lot of money on a dream destination that you have always wanted to visit and your kids are bored and complaining that they are bored!

New Years Eve on the Las Vegas Strip

How do you encourage people to "think outside the box"?

We love to think outside of the box when planning our vacations together and I always encourage others to do the same. Some people are happy with taking a cruise every year, or going to the same island and hotel every year. Others do it because they can’t think of anything better.

On our website we have some great ideas and a free ebook available called “Secrets to Choosing a Family Vacation that Everyone will Love”. We pose some questions to ask each other and the whole family when you are in the planning stages of your vacation. Some of them include:

What are your kids interested in? Movies? Sports? Music?

When will you be travelling? Off season or Busy Season – this effects how much money you will have to spend and if you will be fighting crowds or not.

Ideas other than going to Disney World or to an all inclusive resort to hang out on a beach like touring the places where Harry Potter was filmed in Britain or touring the birthplace of Justin Beiber or Mylie Cyrus (ok maybe a bit of a stretch but at least it gets your family thinking).

What activities do your kids, teens and parents want to do, is there one place that covers all of them?

Have you learned any travel tricks for packing, planning or actually traveling that you'd like to share with us?

Here are some of our top tips:

Packing: Plan what you actually need for each day you are away and then actually pack what you plan.

Laundry while travelling: Research where you are going and see if there are any off hotel property laundry facilities close by. Take half of what you need and then get it laundered. Some destinations this works really well like in Asia.

While in transit: Plan what you and your kids will do while actually travelling to your destination. If you have small kids, plan for some surprises while travelling, so that if things get too boring or hairy, you have something new to give your kids to entertain them (works with husbands too).

Technology: We travel with our iPads and can’t remember what life was like before them. Not only can we entertain ourselves with movies, tv, music and books, we can play games and surf the net. We can even keep in touch and do business easily while away. The iPad has lightened our carry on load substantially!

Planning: Collect and then use your air miles and loyalty program points wisely. You will be amazed at how much you can save!

You've mentioned that you take a family vacation at least once a year. How far in advance do you usually plan this? Do you create a solid itinerary for yourself or do you keep it more relaxed?

We actually take more than one family vacation a year. Either as a couple or a family we travel for spring break, for a few weeks in the summer and for 2 weeks over the Christmas holidays and a few weekends in Las Vegas, Los Angeles or other cities.

For longer holidays where we have to travel longer distances (like Asia, Hawaii or Australia) we plan early. We usually start with the airfare first to anchor our dates and work from there. We work out if it is a better spend to use our loyalty program points, or to pay for our tickets. We then research the destinations and decide what we want to see, experience or where we want to stay (we use hotel loyalty programs or choose to stay in apartments/condos usually). Then the itinerary works itself out from there.

Exploring the volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii

We make sure that we plan to have down time while we travel too. So for every day we have activities planned, we plan ½ a day to 1 day to relax and spend time together hanging out.

What are some of the most reasonable places to travel on a budget? Does this answer change when you have kids factored into the equation?

Reasonable places to travel on a budget... hmm... Well a lot of places I would find reasonable are far away and hard to get to which can cost a lot more in airfare. I would choose places like Thailand, Ecuador or Eastern Europe as it is relatively inexpensive once you get there. The problem is getting there.

As a couple you can usually choose these further away places as you only have two airfares to pay for, as soon as you add kids to the equation, the costs go considerably higher. So with kids, make sure you book early, look for specials or deals or stay closer to home.

I do however, find that you can go anywhere and find a way to travel on a budget. If there is a destination that you really want to visit, but it is known to be expensive (like Disney World or Europe), travel in off peak periods, book your airfare early and choose to rent apartments. You will be amazed at how much you can save on accommodation and food by staying somewhere that has a kitchen and extra bedrooms. So it’s not necessarily the destination, but it’s how you vacation.

What's on the horizon for you guys? Where are you planning on going next?

On the horizon for us, is a cruise on the Norwegian Pearl for Spring Break. We can only take a week and we find that cruises are a great way to explore new places, while making travel relaxing and fun. If you choose the right cruise line and do your research it can be a relaxing, adventurous and family oriented time!

As for our next big trip away together as a family, we are planning a trip to South Africa for Christmas. It has always been my dream to return to Africa (I was in Kenya in my early 20’s) and to show Warren and Montana how beautiful it is. Montana will be graduating from high school next year (I can’t believe it!) and this will be her last big trip for awhile as she will be focusing on university. We are enjoying spending some time planning this trip together!

Excellent Links:

Website: www.excellent-vacation-ideas.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/ExVacationIdeas

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excellent.Vacation.Ideas

Top 10 Weirdest Wine Bars in the World

2012-04-15T18:15:00.001-05:00

As wine bars have grown in popularity, their style has become somewhat homogeneous. If you don’t want to change drink for the sake of changing scenery, here are 10 unusual settings to spread your wine drinking wings.

Cave Bar, Petra, Jordan
Not only is this bar set inside a cave, it dates back to the 1st Century BC and is thought to be the world’s oldest bar. Located at the entrance to Petra, dubbed the ‘red-rose city half as old as time’, the Cave Bar is the perfect refuge after a day of sightseeing. Although the bar is ancient, these days it is run as part of the Crowne Plaza Hotel and consequently has a delectable wine list to enjoy.

Cellier de la Vieille Eglise, Juliénas, France
With the roving vineyards of Beaujolais spreading for miles around, there is hardly a better place to indulge in a drop of wine. Juliénas is one of the Beaujolais Crus (Cru being best), but it is not just the light, fruity taste that is interesting; the winery is set inside a disused 14th century church. Cast aside for being too small, the church is now a fundamental part of Domain Grander’s family-run wine business. Don’t miss the stunning frescos inside.

Bodmin Jail, Cornwall, England
Ever wanted to experience a drink in the clink, but with the confidence you can go home at the end of the night? If so, Bodmin Jail can grant your wish. The jail was built (by its prisoners) in 1779 but closed in 1922. Today, visitors can explore the cells, which have been renovated to provide a glimpse of prison life. After the tour take to the Witness Box Wine Bar for a tipple. The wine list is a decent length and covers an international selection.

Rangali Island, Maldives
The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island has two unique locations for sampling wine. First, is the Wine Cellar, which sits six feet below sea level and is the best place for the resort’s sommelier to take you through their extensive selection. The second choice lies 16 feet below sea where you can sample wine over dinner at Ithaa Restaurant. It is the world’s first all-glass undersea restaurant, and provides 180-degree views of the reef.

Super chilled Champagne in icy surrounds

Below Zero Icebar, London, England
Ice bars are usually filled with vodka sippers but the Below Zero Ice Bar in London runs a special session so that Champagne drinkers can experience the bar’s freezing conditions. Don a designer cape and step into an environment made entirely of pure Swedish ice from the walls to the seats and even the bar. Thermal gloves are supplied and are essential as your Champagne glass will also be made of ice.

Office, Tokyo
If you enjoy the escape of a glass of wine after a hard day at the office, then visiting this bar in Tokyo may not offer too much of a reprieve. Designed to replicate the look of an office space complete with a photocopier, desks, bookcases, filing cabinets and desk lamps, this quirky bar is a surprisingly popular place. Best of all are the views the bar offers across Tokyo.

Runway 34, Zurich Airport
For those who simply can’t wait to board their flight, passengers at Zurich Airport can visit Runway 34 for drinks and dinner in a static airplane. Dine beneath the belly of the plane, enjoy the Wingwalker aperitif bar or visit the tube of the plane for the Cigar lounge, which has been kitted out in bright red and designed to replicate the interior of a first-class cabin. A good selection of wine is available.

Vernadsky Research Station, Galindez Island, Antarctica
The world’s most southern bar does not rest in Ushuaia, Argentina, but even further south at an ex-British, now Ukrainian run research station, Verdansky. At the spot where the hole in the world’s ozone layer was noticed, you can enjoy libation in a cozy bar that was once fashioned on a British Pub but now has Ukraine’s own style stamped on it. Yes, most people will be drinking vodka, but this is one of the world’s more interesting spots to sample Ukrainian wine.

A glass of wine... in bed?

Bed Supperclub, Bangkok
A glass of wine then bed? Look no further than Bangkok’s funky Bed Supperclub. Offering a chance to wine and dine in bed, the bar has been specially designed with a futuristic and contemporary white theme. Complete with mattresses, customers are invited to take-off their shoes, lie down and feel at home. However, contrary to being a prelude to a good night’s sleep, the bar turns into a full on club as the night progresses.

McDonalds, Mendoza, Argentina
Of all the places one might think to go for a glass of wine, McDonalds is unlikely to feature on the list. However, the delectable wines of Mendoza are so impressive that they truly do deserve to be served with every meal, even if that is a Big Mac Meal. Although you are unlikely to go for more than one glass (though the Malbec is pretty good), the presence of wine in McDonalds is arguably worth a visit at least once?

Would you like some wine with your fries?

Do you know any other weird and wonderful places to drink wine? Let me know in the comments below!

If you liked this, you might also like- Bean around the World: 12 Quirky Cafes to Get Your Caffeine on.

Biography

This article is brought to you by Jo Fitzsimons from TheFlyingFugu.com She’s part of a team of foodie writers delivering a menu of delights to your inbox: daring delicacies, foodie travel tips and easy recipes to re-create in your very own world kitchen. Sign up for blog updates and follow the Fugu on Twitter @TheFlyingFugu.

A Weekend Guide to Edinburgh

2012-04-08T19:07:00.002-05:00

The drizzly days of April are upon us here in New England, and the weather has me thinking about Scotland. Ah, Scotland – the land of haggis and Braveheart and bagpipes galore. I spent a weekend exploring Edinburgh’s Old Town, getting lost in its winding cobblestone alleys, looking up at medieval architecture, and most notably, being struck by the delicious aromas that waft from every corner along the Royal Mile. Sure, the gray days combined with the dark stone buildings can feel pretty spooky, especially at night; but the savory smells and friendly Scots make this a place worth spending some time in.

The area has so much to offer (and if you like golf, you’ve reached a Mecca), but you don’t need to stray from the main road – which runs all the way from Edinburgh Castle to the coast – to get a great sense of the place. From the highest ground to the underground, here are a few of my must-see spots.

Arthur’s Seat

There is no better view of the city than from the top of this enormous hill, located at the end of the Royal Mile. Now, my hiking experience is pretty limited, and all I brought with me that weekend were skinny jeans and ballet flats, so if I could climb this thing, I know you can. It would take more than a full day to explore all the trails that cut through this beautiful hill, but you only need to head about halfway up to see incredible views of rolling green landscape and rocky coastline. Beware of slippery pebbles on the way down, though.

Edinburgh Castle

This is perhaps the most “touristy” spot in the area, but that’s not a bad thing, except that there is no student discount on admission. Still, it’s an impressive place. (Though I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a castle that wasn’t impressive...) Stroll through the great hall and the crown room, and spend some time at the Scottish National War Memorial. There is even a cemetery for soldiers’ dogs, which I found sad but sweet. Also, since the castle is perched on yet another enormous cliff, there is a stunning panoramic view of the other side of Edinburgh, the New City.

Tolbooth Tavern

Well, all that exploring definitely works up an appetite, and what better place to try haggis than in Scotland? The Tolbooth Tavern is a cozy little spot, again on the same main stretch of road. Down past the street performers, the kilted bagpipe players, the man dressed as Braveheart collecting money for cancer victims, an ornate green clock will herald your arrival at the tavern. Its interior is accented with dark wood and deep red fabric covering the walls and floor. Once we settled in our booth, my friends opted for the safe route of fish and chips, but I dared to try the traditional Scottish favorite: haggis, neeps, and tatties (turnips and potatoes). The three heaping lumps on my plate didn’t do much to please the eye, but my stomach was more than satisfied. Haggis was saltier than I imagined, but very savory, and the vegetables felt just like comfort food. We were the only tourists in the place, which is always a good thing in my mind. Two thumbs way up to the Tolbooth.

Tron Tavern

Make your way back up High Street, and just off to the left you’ll find Tron Tavern, a more lively pub with a university feel. It was the perfect spot for a few 20-somethings to have a pint or two. The pub is split, and the lower level has plenty of tables and booths to gather with a group of friends. The biggest draw (for us college students on a budget) was the inexpensive drinks and drink specials. I found myself hooked on Brothers Toffee Apple Cider, which tastes just like a caramel apple! Too bad I couldn’t bring some home to the U.S.

Chocolate Soup

Okay, if you go nowhere else, schedule at least two stops to Chocolate Soup. That is, if you don’t mind an overwhelming taste explosion of all things chocolate...and I certainly find no issue there. This was the brightest, lightest space I explored the entire weekend, a refreshing change from stone and gray. Cushioned seats surround coffee tables nestled next to floor-to-ceiling windows, a perfect spot for people watching. Of course, you’ll do so with a steaming mug – soup bowl, really – of “chocolate soup” in hand. Really, it’s decadent, rich hot chocolate, and the menu boasts a variety of flavors. My choice was spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon, heaped with whipped cream on top. There are also milkshakes, pastries and other baked goods, as well as “actual food” such as hearty soups and sandwiches. In short, the café was the perfect place to start my day before heading to Waverley station for the train back to London.

With welcoming locals among myriad shops and marketplaces dotted along the Mile, it’s easy to find yourself getting happily lost in Edinburgh. And really, who could resist that Scottish brogue?

Biography

Sarah Cotton is graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. She spent part of her studies in London, a place she still calls home. Sarah’s parents planted the travel bug in her as a young girl, and she has not stopped moving since. Armed with a wanderlust and a love of all things visual, she is pursuing a career in travel writing and photography. Follow her on Twitter: @scottontrotter.

Share Where I've Been: Canada's Adventure Couple, The Planet D

2012-04-03T09:24:00.000-05:00

First off-- you guys are so cute together! How long have you been traveling together? How about under the name ThePlanetD?

Kissing in Antarctica

Thanks so much, we love being called cute at our age:) We've been traveling together since 2000 when we took our first extended vacation to Thailand for 5 weeks. We knew right then that we loved seeing the world and planned on making travel a big part of our lives. In 2004 we started looking into ways to make travel a full time career and brainstormed ideas from becoming diving instructors to leading cycling tours. We didn't know how we would ever turn our dream into a reality but we never gave up and in 2008 ThePlanetD was born. We signed up for the world's longest cycling race and started our website then to keep followers of the event up to speed on our travels through Africa. We initially wanted to pitch a travel show and the website was going to be a place to showcase our work and travel experience. When the show didn't take off the ground, the website took over. People seemed to embrace our story about traveling together and facing our fears together.

Do you have any relationships or rivalries with other traveling couples?

What we love about the travel industry is that everyone is very supportive of each other. We're hesitant to name them because inevitably we are going to miss someone and will feel terrible about the omission, but here goes anyway. We are great friends with travel couples like Indie Travel Podcast, Travels with Two, Green Global Travel, Over Yonderlust and YTravel Blog, just to name a few. We love how everyone has a different niche, yet we are all out there together showing the world that couple's can travel together. We support one another, brainstorm ideas and have a great time together when we meet up.

In your biography, you talk about having two different perspectives of the world-- What are some recent examples of this? What types of things do you see differently on?

Dave is fearless and I think about it more. With each adventure, Dave jumps in with both feet and doesn't worry about how things will turn out. I on the other hand, fret and worry and I am afraid of a lot. I was afraid to jump in the Antarctic waters for the Polar Plunge, Dave was thrilled and excited. I was terrified to fly a stunt plane, Dave couldn't wait to jump out of a plane. I have a fear of heights, Dave can jump off anything. People think that you have to be an adrenaline junkie to be an adventurer, but I face my fears every day while Dave is the adrenaline junkie. Because we travel together, we can share both sides of the story. One side for the people that are terrified but would still like to give it a try and another for those that are naturally adventurous.

We see things very differently on everything. I think that we can always give both sides of the story when sharing the experience. When it comes to an experience I think about the emotional side of the story while Dave will look into the pure fun of it all. We combine both aspects into the article giving what we think is a well rounded story.

Do you get a lot of questions about the positives and negatives of traveling as a couple?

We get that question all the time. We've been traveling together so long that we don't see a negative side. We love sharing moments together and because we are very social people we manage to interact with others a lot when traveling. But at the same time, we love just being alone together too. Neither of us would be very good at solo traveling, we love doing it together.

At Everest Base Camp

If there's ever something you don't agree on, do you ever split up and see different sites?

Surprisingly no. That is what we love about traveling as a couple. We inspire each other to step out of our comfort zones and try it anyway. Many times we come out happy that we tried it. Dave now enjoys getting a massage or shopping in the markets and I love climbing mountains and camping in the desert. If we split up and went our separate ways, we'd never expand our horizons to try something new. That's not to say that we don't have disagreements and need to go sit by ourselves at a cafe or hide in the bathroom since there is nowhere else to go to cool off, but we always do activities together.

Why is a traveling spouse better than traveling with friends?

We can speak our minds to one another and be very candid. I realized doing the Mongol Rally this year that I lost the art of being subtle. When something bothers us as a couple, we can just blurt it out, have a quick fight and get it over with. I think that with friends you have to be a little more careful to not hurt each others feelings.

And in our opinion, there is nothing better than traveling with the one you love.

Does having to document you entire trip get cumbersome? Or is that part of the fun? What are the pros & cons of sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly about your travels with the world?

Sometimes it can be difficult to put your heart out there for everyone to read but at the same time we love writing about overcoming our fears and sharing our frustrations to let others know that they aren't alone. When people see that we struggle too, they think to themselves that "hey, maybe I'm not alone in my thinking."

I feel that a blog is about putting yourself on the line. That's what people connect to. We can watch a slick tv show on the Travel Channel to get our fill of the perfect vacation, but a blog is about seeing what real people are going through and doing each day. Most of the time the feedback is positive and that feels amazing. When we get the negative comments, it stings a little but that is another thing we love about blogging. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and everyone can share both sides of the story.

Kissing in front of the Great Wall of China

Roughly how many days a year are you guys on the road? Do you ever get 'homesick'?

We're on the road at least 2/3rds of the year. We are lucky having each other and that we do get to come home more often now. When we first started traveling we'd be gone for months at a time and that is when we yearned for home. Now we pop in and out on a regular basis so we haven't been homesick for a couple of years. It's been so long since we've had a home that we are used to this way of living now.

Do you ever get recognized by the general public when you're on the road?

Nope. We haven't had anybody approach us like other bloggers. We have had people tell us after the fact that they used our blog as a reference once we get to know them, but nobody has ever come up to us as fans. I'm not going to lie, I'd love it if they did.

And one last one-- Is there anything too adventurous or crazy that you guys would absolutely not do on a trip? If so, why?

Dave would do anything so for him, there is nothing that he wouldn't try once.

For me, I'm quite afraid of a lot of things but I always end up doing them. The one thing that I can't bring myself to do is bungy jump though. We had free passes to the Nevis in Queenstown and I still couldn't bring myself to do it. In Zambia, we bought a jump off the gorge swing, but I chickened out there as well. It's not for lack of trying, but I still can't do a bungy jump. Jumping off a tiny platform is terrifying to me. Other than bungy jumping though, I think I can handle most things.

Biography:

Canada's Adventure Couple Dave and Deb are well known travel personalities. As a writer/photographer team, they share their experiences from around the world on popular travel blog ThePlanetD.com They have appeared on Canada's national news network as their regular travel experts and have appeared in such publications as BBC Travel, The Toronto Star, The Lonely Planet and National Geographic's Intelligent Traveler.

They inspire their readers through their motto “Adventure is for Everyone” and constantly take on unique and exciting adventures such as cycling the continent of Africa in the World’s longest bicycle race and driving ⅓ of the way around the world in the Mongol Rally. You can follow their adventures at their website, on Twitter and at Facebook.

5 Tips for Enjoying Marrakech to the Fullest

2012-04-02T10:07:00.000-05:00

Morocco was a great experience for me, but I still often travel with preconceptions in my mind on how it is going to pan out when i am there. I had visions of pickpockets, crowded streets, chaos... While some of that did come true in Marrakech, the place exceeded all of my expectations and gave me a new found love for this wonderful city. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your trip.

Eat at the local stalls at night in the heart of the city

The Jemaa el-Fnaa is the beating heart of Marrakech at night, a large open space with eateries, musicians, stalls and entertainers occupying the large central market place. Enticing chatter form the owners can often be a great experience in itself, with many of them remembering funny lines or quotes to get you into their stall. Each stall in the market place is numbered, which can often form form of their chat up lines. One of my favourites being 'number one one seven, always take you to heaven'.

From my experience, eating where the locals eat is generally a good idea and often the best value. Go for the mixed grill with harisa soup - a local favourite. Do not be intimidated by the overly friendly sales pitches, this is common in the market to encourage you over to their stall.

Drink tea as a nightcap

As Marrakech is predominantly a muslim area (although you can get alcohol in some restaurants), the locals take to tea and coffee for their evening tipple. The spiced tea stalls the surround the food court are fantastic way to finish your meal. The spiced tea which is very warming, contains a variety of spices including galanga, cardamon, cinnamon, star anise and a number of mystery spices i couldn't detect. Costing just 2 dirham a glass (around 25c), this is a fantastic thing to do and not to be missed.

Tea Stand in Marrakech

The tea is also served with an extremely sweet, but enticing sugar cake covering in sesame seeds. Spiced like an english christmas cake, this sticky delight is spooned onto a plate and served alongside this warming tea. There a reason why diabetes is so high in Morocco - they love their deserts and sugary treats!

Accept that you stand out

Your western clothing and 'tourist' look will ensure you stand out a mile from the locals, so accept that quite quickly and try not to get frustrated with the attention you receive. You will inevitably be inundated with sales patter from the locals offering you travel excursions, carpets, hats and even 'special herbal tobacco' so don't let this worry you. Simply say 'no thank you' and walk away - and try to stay friendly.

We often forget that these local traders are simply out to earn a living. Sure, some of these people will see tourists as 'easy targets', but that is because we often make them the most money. Many of these market traders are fantastic people to speak with, and will quickly know that you are not interested in their wares but will talk to you anyway.

Delve into the Souks for the best shopping offers

If you need a new leather bag, shoes or hand-carved wooden box for your mantle piece then you cant go wrong in the Souks. I picked up a small hand made chess board, backgammon board, pieces and a small box for around $20. As a rule of thumb you should always assume the true cost of most Souk bought items is roughly a third of the initial quoted price. You will see how the price quickly from the seller falls when you lose interest. A leather holdall may be quoted initially at 300dh ($40) but you could realistically pay 80-100 DH for the item. Of course if you have a set price in mind that you are happy to pay, work towards that and make a fair deal.

Having small change at the ready is always useful for these situations too - as you may find it becomes a deal breaker if they don't have enough change for a smaller purchase.

A 200 Dirham note (which is around $20-25) is too large for most Moroccan traders who charge 2-5 DH for a small ice cream, postcards etc. Break up your change quickly to avoid any issues.
All in all, the Marrakech experience exceeded all expectations and is a fantastic place to visit to experience the real hustle and bustle of this fantastic country.

Biography
This post was written by Duncan from the Travelistic travel blog. You can catch him on Twitter at @travelistic.

The Top Five Areas in London

2012-03-26T16:00:00.000-05:00

I have lived in London my whole life. After 28 years, I still have not seen it all! That is the magic of London. With millions of exciting new projects and developments every day, the city continues to expand to accommodate the millions of people who flock here to work and to soak up the energy and excitement of the city. However, as a seasoned Londoner I do feel qualified to share my top five spots in the city in the hope that others can experience different slices of this vibrant city:

Notting Hill
This beautiful area is like a village in itself. Like everywhere in London it combines cultures and styles, but the overall effect is of a winding market town, streets lined with candy-coloured cottages, boutiques and cafes on every corner. It appeals to all the senses and caters both for high end food and shopping, and for the budget traveller. Even the crowds of tourists and locals who flock here at the weekend to enjoy Portobello Market do not detract from the bustling atmosphere.

Brick Lane and Spitalfields
Brick Lane and the surrounding areas is London at its most stylish and chaotic. Street food combines with flea and vintage markets to show off London’s love of all things eclectic; the locals are young, edgy creatives. Crumbling brick walls are covered in urban art, and open spaces combine with winding, historic alleyways. Brick Lane itself is home to much of London’s Bengal population – you can enjoy cheap and excellent curry in one of the lane’s hundreds of restaurants.

Borough Market and London Bridge Borough Market, perched by the River Thames, is a great way to enjoy London’s vibrant energy and its history. Food vendors have been flocking here since the 13^th century, and to this day the market is a feast for the eyes and stomachs, hosting a huge variety of organic, quality produce. The area is beautiful – winding and architecturally diverse. The Shard sits alongside the ancient, winding streets of Bermondsey lined with industrial lofts. Cafes and bars spill onto the streets. The area is noisy, energetic and purposeful.

The West End
Right in the heart of the city lie Soho, Chinatown and Covent Garden. Once home to the prostitutes and the slums of the city (Soho is still home to the city’s red light district), the area is now fashionable and teeming with activity. From boutiques, cafes, restaurants and bars to theatres, street performers and dance, the area is culturally rich and full of things to see and do. Chinatown is an experience in itself – glistening crispy ducks hang in the windows, bright red lanterns adorn the streets and locals enjoy authentic Chinese produce in the various supermarkets and traditional medicine stores.

Hampstead
Hampstead is a wonderful way to escape the noise and bustle of the city. Parts of it resemble a sleepy French town, with winding, hilly streets, chic shops and lots of green. The Heath is vast and takes you out of the city completely – you can get lost for hours in the wild meadows and woods. Open-air swimming is a long standing tradition and a wonderful way to feel at one with nature. In the midst of the Heath you can enjoy the magnificence of Kenwood House – a stunning heritage site packed with art.

The best way to see London is to stay with friends or relatives, who will be able to give you local advice and guidance. Or, for a truly local experience without the obligatory socialising, onefinestay provides luxury vacation rentals, whereby you stay in beautiful, quirky homes around the city in the absence of their owners – like staying in a boutique hotel, complete with five star service.

Biography

Richard Hirson works in marketing for OneFineStay in London. OneFineStay allows visitors in London to stay in upscale homes while the owners are out of town. It's all the amenities of a top hotel but you get to live and experience the city like a local.

Website: http://www.onefinestay.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onefinestay
Twitter: @onefinestay
Blog: http://blog.onefinestay.com/

Share Where I've Been: Discovering The Fun, Food and Beauty of New Orleans

2012-03-20T10:23:00.000-05:00

Exploring new lands and experiencing the fun a city has to offer, has always been a core reason behind where I like to travel and whom I like to engage with before I get there. Most recently, I was presented an offer to visit New Orleans, Louisiana for the first time. Bud Light had sent my brother a message stating he had won an offer, for an inclusive trip to New Orleans, for the UFC, Battle on The Bayou, Fight Night 25 weekend event. This offer was a few hundred dollars and included air travel, hotel and tickets to the Fight Night event that was to be held inside of the Convention Center.

I was happy to learn that Southwest Airlines was the carrier chosen by Bud Light's travel company, to provide the air travel. My brother and I had been engaging with the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, a PR and social media company and the head of PR at the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans before the visit. UFC's Fight Night 25 was near our secondary location to experience, the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans. Fortunately, the travel packet from Bud Light included several RFID bracelets setup to post messages of what we were doing, during events on our respective Facebook pages.

Visiting NOLA rose on my list of places to travel, after engaging with the head of PR at the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, because she displays a great spirit and love for her city over social media. I love my city of Las Vegas, so we all started talking about how to best help each city. In addition, I wanted to see a city that still has a stigma surrounding it from the hurricane Katrina tragedy of 2005. Being finally able to see Bourbon Street, places where various movies and television shows were filmed and the promise of amazing food was getting me excited.

Birds of a feather, fly together! On the way to NOLA

The Southwest Airlines flight offered WiFi for only $5. The flights I usually take have in-flight WiFi that costs sometimes twice that for shorter flight times. Another nice perk of Southwest, is that they offer no extra fee for checked luggage. For two people and two checked bags, that's a minimum savings of $50. So the money you save from bags checked, you may use towards in-flight WiFi and maybe an adult beverage or two. We flew into Birmingham, Alabama for our one stop, this was a new experience for me. Unfortunately, my first visit to Birmingham would be what I could see out of the airplane window. Thankfully though, on my way back to Las Vegas, after my trip to New Orleans, I was able to walk inside of the terminal, in Birmingham. It looked modern with many places to charge cell phones and computers. The flight to New Orleans, from Birmingham was a quick hour and a half.

Flying in, I saw swampland, the Mississippi River and a bustling cityscape. It was cool to find out that the New Orleans airport was named after a very famous jazz musician, Louis Armstrong. After entering the terminal, I became aware of a fun atmosphere and a hotdog stand that was named Lucky Dogs. Traveling around New Orleans, you will see many Lucky Dogs stands, especially in the French Quarter.

Welcome to New Orleans, Louisiana floor inlay at the Louis Armstrong International Airport

Before leaving the airport, a nice lady welcoming the passengers, gave those who wanted them, a nice set of beads, in gold or green. I picked gold and my brother picked green. After baggage claim, that was fairly large compared to most standard sized cities I've been to, we found our bus to the Hilton Riverwalk. We all boarded an air-conditioned bus with coolers of Bud Light for everyone. After the freeway ended, a very large and shiny dome, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, home of the New Orleans Saints appeared! Many people were excited to see it and post the pics immediately, for friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter. As there was going to be a game coming up, many fans were walking around the Super Dome with face paint and jerseys of their favorite players. Now on Poydras Street, we finally were able to see how the city of New Orleans was really doing.

A few short blocks later, we arrived at the Hilton Riverwalk. Checking in was easy enough and we were happy to get a room on a higher floor overlooking the Mississippi River, complete with the crescent shape. New Orleans is known as the Crescent City, so it was cool to see. If you stay at this hotel with a river view, you'll notice a lot of river shipping traffic. That's quite a different scene for a guy that lives in the desert. One of the river ferries looked familiar. It was featured in the movie Déjà Vu starring Denzel Washington. I'll learn later on that New Orleans is known as Hollywood South.

The UFC Fight Night 25 event weekend kept us both busy, while checking out the Riverwalk area. I'll always remember the Riverwalk as where I first spotted someone making beignets at a Café Du Monde, a Chevelle rock concert and where I had my first muffaletta giant Italian sandwich. A muffaletta is a ten-inch Italian sandwich with marinated olive salad, layers of capicola, pepperoni, emmentaler, ham and provolone cheese and then heated. There are major notes of garlic and oregano too. Amazingly, as an Italian-American, I've never had one of those sandwiches. Of course it would take for me to travel across the US to discover it.

A big part of discovering NOLA, the right way, is by trying the many types of food offered there. This includes their versions of seafood, Cajun and a submarine sandwich called, Po' Boy and the city now has a Pinkberry, for those people from the West Coast who want tasty frozen yogurt. If you make it to the other end of Canal Street, you will find a doughnut shop named the Blue Dot. There are a few reasons why the Blue Dot is special. One of them is that a large majority of their maple bars are topped with caramelized bacon. You will have to get to Blue Dot early, as they go quick! The second reason is that this donut shop is owned by several active duty police officers. Now that you have filled up on sugar and dessert, you will want to try some of the famous seafood and service at GW Fins, located in the French Quarter. As you can see, the chefs know how to please foodies! (click through to see each one)

Domaine Chandon

Crispy Soft Shell Crab

Triple Iceberg Wedgie

Lobster Dumplings

Lobster Rolls

Blue Crab Pot Stickers

Sauteed Tripletail

Wood Grilled Pompano

White Chocolate Caramel Bread Pudding

Apple Pie ala Mode

Black Bottom Pie

Continuing the exploration of NOLA, my brother and I met up with Char, the PR director for the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans. Char was great to give us a walking tour of the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Entergy IMAX theatre, an amazing statue dedicated to New Orleans' Italian immigrants, Saint Louis Cathedral, which was founded in 1720 and is the oldest in the US, George Rodrigue's Art Gallery, famous for painting the blue dog, Frenchmen Street, Bourbon Street and of the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans.

Immigrant Square statue near the French Quarter in New Orleans. #NOLA is an amazing city!

Bill introducing the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans on Canal Street

The tour of the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans took us to the 25,000 sq foot spa, their calming courtyard and the Club Level lounge. The Club Level lounge at its core has a relaxing atmosphere to enjoy a beverage and a few snacks. This Club Level does not disappoint and has several key features that can only be found in New Orleans. On cold evenings, it has a room surrounding a large fireplace, a game room and a presentation room. There's another room down the hallway towards elevators that have more general seating with views of fine art. Since New Orleans' food and liquor are different than what can be found in the rest of the US, ask John F for a few mixed drinks. This is John showing me how to make what is known as a Pousse-café or layered drink.

When visiting New Orleans, be loose and to "laissez les bon temps rouler" or in Cajun French, let the good times roll. Because there are many ways to experience the city's food, drink, music and more in the "Big Easy" and Crescent City. A big thanks to the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans for providing excellent hospitality. NOLA is a destination I will try to visit again, there's so much more to see and do. Or as Louis Armstrong said about his city, "Way down yonder in New Orleans, In the land of dreamy scenes, There's a garden of Eden, You know what I mean."

Biography:

Christopher Rauschnot is an accomplished social media and engagement consultant. He has made a positive impact in the hospitality, travel, nightlife, entertainment and technology industries. He has been directly involved with the creation of several corporate media policies and is a conference speaker. Most recently, he participated in a panel at the 2012 CES titled “International Conference on Consumer Electronics ICCE 2012 about the Golden Age of Consumer Electronics.” He is an active user of Twitter at @24k and @24kmedia and he has a blog and a 24k Media Facebook Page. He blogs about technology at TheMacWizard.com and social media on the Huffington Post.

Riva Del Garda, Italy: My Winter Escape

2012-03-19T09:23:00.000-05:00

Rome, Venice, Florence, Verona... with so many beautiful and historic cities to see in Italy, how can you choose just one? As I set off on my first Italian adventure, I struggled to prioritize what I wanted to see and do. And by prioritize, I mean eliminate items from my lengthy “must-see” list.

I wanted to experience and see everything--the Colosseum, Duomo of Milan, the Leaning Tower of Pisa--these were the places my more traveled friends kept asking about, the places I was supposed to see. But with a limited budget and even more limited time, I found that while the landmarks and tourist destinations are famous for a reason, they weren’t going to truly satisfy my travel itch. So I made a list of what I was looking for in a getaway:

Relaxing (often easier said than done while traveling)
Beautiful (the “Oh my goodness I’ve never seen anything quite like it” kind of beautiful)
Exploratory (see and do something new and unexpected--meaning not planned--meaning this was going to be tough for a Virgo)

From this smaller, more focused list, I realized the getaway I was looking for actually was just that: a getaway. An escape--a chance to breathe, see natural beauty, and really interact with the locals. While I realized this would be hard to do in only a few weeks, I was lucky enough to re-connect with some old family friends who owned a villa they primarily kept rented in the smaller town of Riva Del Garda, Italy. And so I went.

Our villa in Riva Del Garda, Italy

By turning my vacation into a joint-family trip with old friends, I was able to truly connect with the local Italian culture they know so well and re-connect with them. We spent our days wandering around the historic town square of Riva, sipping cappuccinos while people watching, and of course, ate and drank... a lot. The local “new” wine was rich in taste but had a lighter flavor than the wine I was used to. My favorite spot soon became a small shop down the street where we were able to pour our wine from a gasoline-like hose directly from an old wooden barrel into a large jug. This extremely efficient process was not only environmentally friendly but reasonable in price. Walking up the hilly, mountainous roads and enjoying the sparkling lake was just icing on the cake.

Local Italian wine straight from the barrel!

While we were able to squeeze in a few day trips to Venice and Verona, I found my time was better spent in conversation at the villa and around town than standing in line to touch the famous statue of Juliet. For me, the escapism and calm was exactly what I needed and Riva Del Garda provided just that.

I decided to take my trip in January... just in time for, well, I had no clue. Traveling in the winter may not be every one’s cup of tea, but I needed a winter-blues escape and a few weeks in Italy sounded perfect regardless of the season. If you do decide to visit what is often referred to as the “Mediterranean of the North” (after its extremely mild climate), be sure to visit some of my favorite finds in Riva Del Garda:

Varone Falls: An amazing waterfall with multiple castles nearby
Pizzeria S. Nicole Ristorante: I had to break one of my rules and re-visit this local favorite multiple times--their thin crust pizza was just too good
Torbole Beach: Great for windsurfing lessons (although it was too cold for me to attempt)
Pie Del Castello ristorante: Delicious carne salada and an extremely friendly staff
Malcesine: A lakeside village perfect for sipping a cappuccino and people watching

These were just a few of my favorite spots, but I encourage you to explore Riva Del Garda on your own and report back! While I have a million other places I’d love to see, I have a feeling I’ll be returning to this magical little town.

The Colosseum in Verona... we had to do a few tourist stops!

Biography:

Evelyn is from Cincinnati, Ohio and is a graduate of DePaul University. She has spent the last 5 years in Chicago and enjoys exploring new neighborhoods as often as possible. Evelyn is currently planning her next trip with a few good friends to explore the outdoors in South America... She hopes to be conversational in Spanish by then! You can follow her on Twitter too: @evelynloomis

Queenstown, New Zealand: An Adventure Seeker’s Paradise

2012-03-12T09:43:00.000-05:00

If you’re an Adventure Seeker, you’ve probably exhausted the generic thrill-seeking activities like jumping out of planes. If you’re looking for an even more stimulating vacation, you must venture down to New Zealand’s South Island. I recently traveled all around New Zealand and Australia for a study abroad program, and there is no shortage of adventure here! Especially in Queenstown - The Adventure Capital of the world. I could talk for hours on everything to do in New Zealand, but I will just highlight my most memorable moments.

My Favorite Adventure

Before New Zealand, I never thought Glacier Hiking was an activity that I could actually do. I just assumed that you had to be certified and have experience hiking in crampons (the hiking boots with metal spikes on the bottom). I highly recommend trying this out because it was like nothing else I’ve ever done. The waterfalls and views are breathtaking, and glaciers themselves are a crazy concept when you think about it. It can be warm weather, yet there is a huge chunk of ice that continues to expand and grow over time. Glacier hiking is exhilarating, yet it can be very dangerous and extreme caution should be taken. It is not your average hike up a hill. They have a lot of crevasses, which if you slip and fall into one, it will most likely result in death. The strength of the ice can change over the day depending on the sun, and river underneath the glacier would not be good for swimming. Traveling with a guide who knows the ins and outs of the glacier is your best bet of avoiding any mishaps.

Rainy day on the Franz Josef Glacier

Getting serious with the ice axe

My Best Story

Every trip has that one story that will be with you for the rest of your life. Mine is about my time on the Rangitata River. I have gone whitewater rafting many times, and thought it would be a breeze. First of all, we decided to move the trip up a day early because it was raining at the top of the river, so the water level was rising quickly. If we waited, the levels would have been too high and dangerous to go. So instead we went at the highest water level possible. I was with a group of 30 college students who most have never been white water rafting, but were eager to try out the Grade Five rapids. (Most places in the U.S. you must be certified to do anything higher than a Grade Three.) Grade Five rapids are for highly advanced and experienced whitewater rafters. The highest level is a Grade Six, which is considered to be so dangerous that successful completion without death or a serious injury is considered to be great luck.

Whitewater rafting on the Rangitata

Long story short, we were not prepared for such a trip down the Rangitata. It was great until a couple of our group’s rafts flipped, people were ejected out of the rafts, and left to float down the river on their own. They were mostly just in shock from the freezing cold water and being bumped around by the strong waves forcing them along a rocky path. Our raft also flipped, and I can honestly say I have never had a near death experience until this. My raft-mates and I all were short of air, had troubles breathing, and struggled to hold onto the raft when we were submerged underwater. When I finally went up for air, we were still going very fast and the raft was headed straight for the large rock ejecting out from the canyon wall. Thankfully I was wearing a helmet or the damage could have been far worse. The rock bruised my left cheekbone severely as well as chipped off my front tooth and shifted it backwards. In the end, I only had to have a root canal and other dentistry work done once I got back in the States. I don’t know what was more scary, thinking I was going to die from drowning or having my face slammed against a rock.

No one else in my group was hurt (besides bruised parts and scrapes), and it is very rare that things like this happen. When considering these very adventurous activities, you must always assess the risks and know the dangers ahead of time. This was a mistake our group made because we were clearly not qualified for Grade Five rapids, especially at the highest possible water-level. Although my experience may not have persuaded you to hop on the next whitewater rafting tour, I still strongly recommend giving it a try! Just be sure to do your research, as you are the best judge on how qualified you are.

Other Adventures to Check Out

Bungee Jumping - New Zealand is the birthplace of bungee jumping, and it definitely lives up to its high expectations. There is so much to learn about their Bungee Jumping Culture if you visit.

Canyoning - The new thing! Go on a canyoning tour and you can do anything from climbing, jumping, swimming, swinging, or flailing in and out of canyons.

Skydiving - You can skydive anywhere essentially, but the reason you’d want to do it in New Zealand over anywhere else is for the striking view. You’ll see snow, the bluest of blue waters, and the greenest of green hills.

Lord of the Rings Tour - If you’ve seen the movies, now you can see where they took place in real life! I got to see some of the locations where they filmed the movies as well as the Chronicles of Narnia. Words or video cannot describe how beautiful the scenery is in person.

Whale Watching - A great way to spend your morning is on a boat chasing whales and watching them breach for air. If you don’t want to necessarily see whales, I definitely recommend getting out on the water somewhere in New Zealand, because the color and ocean-life is astonishing.

While you’re down there, you may as well hop on the 2 hour flight over to Sydney. This was actually the most fun I’ve ever had on a flight. We flew Air New Zealand, and the flight kicked off with the best In-Flight Safety Video I’ve ever seen. The video’s theme was all about Rugby and even featured a streaking grandma. The flight also offered a rather tasty meal (for airplane food), ice cream, and of course unlimited beverages. After all of the wine drinking, it seemed that the line to the bathroom got very long, so people started mingling in the isle and just chatted it up. Who knew a 2 hour flight could be such a party!

New Zealand caters to the adventure pros, and even the adventure newbies. You’ll want to try it all when you’re down there, so plan accordingly! If their attractions aren’t enough to get you there, the people are the true heart and spirit of the country. New Zealand was also ranked as the best place to live for escaping world conflict. Every Kiwi I met truly embraced life to the fullest. I only grazed the surface on adventure in New Zealand, but that just means you’ll have to travel there to find out for yourself!

About the author

Sarah originates from Kansas City, Missouri and is a recent graduate of the University of Missouri’s College of Business. She was raised in a family that loved to travel, and plans on many trips in the future. A goal of Sarah’s is to to play a round of golf at every single course on the World's Top Places to Golf list. You can follow her on Twitter too: @sarahjanejames.

Share Where I've Been Sitting down with the Journeywoman, Evelyn Hannon

2012-03-06T10:24:00.002-06:00

Just a few days ago, I was lucky enough to interview the true Journey Woman herself, Evelyn Hannon. Below are some pressing questions that I had for her about traveling as a woman and her rise to fame. Here's yet another chapter in our 'Share Where I've Been' series: 'Sitting down with the Journeywoman, Evelyn Hannon'. In addition, this Thursday, March 8th is International Women's Day! I couldn't have interviewed a better lady for this post. Hope you enjoy!

How long have you been involved with/referred as the Journeywoman?

In my daydreams, I've been a traveller since I've been old enough to read about the explorers - imagining new lands and new people! In real life the name Journeywoman was coined in 1994 during a Sunday morning long distance phone call. I was in my pajamas in Canada and my daughter was in London, England where she was living. We were brainstorming for the name of the 20 page black and white mini mag that I was beginning to publish. Journeywoman lived in print until 1997 when I put it on line to become Journeywoman.com.

P.S. I was 57 then, my kids rolled their eyes and said to me, "Mommy, you're digitally deficient; you don't even know how to use your microwave. How are you going to do this?" "Watch me", I said.

P.P.S. I'm 72 now and I confess my kids were right. I'm still digitally deficient but... keep watching me!

What sparked the idea for your woman-specific site?

The igniting spark was my own life. I went from my father's house to my husband's house when I married at 19. At age 42, my husband and I parted company. That was back in 1982 when women generally weren't travelling on their own. Though the concept of solo travel was enticing to me it was also very frightening. When I set out on my first solo journey I desperately needed the wisdom of a mentor or a 'Solo Travel For Dummies" guide but there were none to be found. I'll never forget how alone and isolated I felt but despite the tears and the fears I made it through those five weeks in Europe. My dream of Journeywoman began right then. Imagine if women worldwide could get together and mentor each other on the best and safest ways to travel. That dream, I'm proud to say, is now a reality via Journeywoman.com, Hermail.net and Twitter (@Journeywoman). Today over one million female visitors check into the site to research their upcoming journeys and our travel tip newsletter connects over 65,000 women in close to 200 countries. And... it's still just me in the office with a part time webmistress (who helps her digitally deficient editor).

How is traveling different for women?

From younger backpackers to businesswomen to energetic grandmothers, women today are travelling like never before. They’re travelling solo, in pairs, with their children and as members of interest groups. And while women travel for many of the same reasons as men do, their social concerns, as well as their health and safety needs, are very, very different. Female travellers are directly affected by the religious and societal beliefs of the countries they visit. As they make their way around the globe, chances are they’ll be called upon to adapt the way they dress or the manner in which they interact with the male population. They might even find that, in some places, it’s inappropriate to be outdoors after sundown. The more that women prepare themselves for these differing attitudes, the richer and safer their travelling experiences will be.

Do you have any personal stories/vignettes of things you wish you would have known or been aware of before traveling on your own?

Yes, from that original 1982 experience I've learned that 'we travel to observe rather than to be observed.' When I first started out I thought I should dress in a way that would attract attention so that locals would want to chat with me. I had a local knit shop create a bright read sweater with a very bright yellow sun on it. Oh, how wrong I was! Wherever I went, that sweater attracted every tout imaginable. It served as a bull's eye for any social deviant who wanted 'to do me wrong'. I learned very quickly to dress down, down, down so you disappear into the crowd and don't attract attention and from there you can do all the observing you like without been hassled.
P.S. That's why our Journeywoman International Clothing Guide was started. I invited women around the world to tell us what was appropriate clothing where they lived or where they travelled to. It's been very popular and we're still adding to it every day.

What are the dangers of traveling alone? Or is it all stereotypes that we hear about?

This is a huge question which can't be covered in a paragraph. All I can say is women are generally not as physically strong as men. That makes us more vulnerable to the social and sexual deviants that exist everywhere in the world (including in your own hometown). However, at home you don't live in a vacuum. Should you be in danger family and friends are always just an email or phone call away. If they don't hear from you for a while the alarm bells naturally go off and people begin checking. When you are all alone half way around the world and someone is holding you against your will, nobody knows and that makes things even more horrifying. Those trying to find you have no idea where to even start.
I've covered ways of staying safe in two comprehensive articles that have received a lot of attention. (1) An Expert's Safety Tips for Women and (2) Sex With Strangers as You Travel. Read them, stay aware and then go and enjoy the world!

If you had to pick your #1 favorite spot in the world, what would it be? You're only allowed one!

That's easy. I'd pick China. I love the people, the food, the sights, the shopping -- the complete culture. I don't know why but there is something about that country that resonates with me and tells me that somewhere way back in history one of my ancestors might have been Chinese. Today, two of my relatives definitely are. I have two wonderful adopted Chinese granddaughters and I travelled to China to help receive one of them.

Picture this: In a hotel room in Xi 'An, China we sat on chairs facing 12 orphanage nannies holding 12 crying babies. My daughter’s name was called. She walked to the center of the room. Lotus, her given daughter was placed in her arms. After three years of waiting -- a dream fulfilled. That's why I love China!

Biography

Evelyn Hannon (@Journeywoman) is the CEO of Journeywoman, largest online travel resource for women + free tip newsletter going to 74,500 women in 240 countries.

http://journeywoman.com

Eco-travel your way around South America

2012-03-05T09:23:00.000-06:00

South America owns some of the planet’s most stunning scenery, and a handful of eco-hostels are working to protect it by creating opportunities for more eco and sustainable tourism.

The environmental impact of cheap and easy modern travel is monumental: avian fuel accounts for 10% of worldwide carbon emissions and tourism encourages waste – hotels and hostels alone heat billions of showers a day with non-renewable energy and use countless tonnes of water to wash once-used towels.

An influx of visitors to smaller communities can also be devastating: natural landscapes are cleared as tourist hubs develop, and local livelihoods go bust as tourists’ money goes back into newly sprung-up hotel, fast-food and shopping chains.

None of this means you have to stop travelling altogether. Travel opens doors to meeting new people, learning about cultures other than your own and discovering amazing sights in the flesh rather than from an encyclopaedia. Plus, if your money’s spent the right way, you can help sustain local communities and cut down on the carbon footprint of your trip. Choosing a hostel that operates on environmentally-friendly principals can help towards this.

Eco-hostels across South America promote a more harmonious way of interacting with the environment while travelling. See the list below to find out fun, affordable places to stay in South America that won’t cost the earth…

Bellas Artes Guest House, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Bellas Artes Guest House in Brazil’s vibrant capital Rio de Janeiro heats water with energy drawn from solar panels on the roof, uses efficient light-bulbs, recycles and separates waste. Brazilian coffee, Minas Geras cheese and seasonal fruit is included in the breakfast, and a shop sells local Brazilian crafts.

Bellas Artes Guest House

La Casa Verde, Banos , Ecuador

Overlooking national parks Llanganates and Sangay, La Casa Verde is an eco-lodge nestled in the valleys of Banos, Ecuador. The lodge is built from sustainable materials, energy comes from a hydro-electric dam and all supplies are locally sourced. The owners are replanting damaged forest in the area too, and there’s a strong recycling initiative in place.

The view from Casa Verde

Refugio Ecologico Casa del Sol Naciente, San Agustin, Columbia

Set on an organic farm with a coffee plantation, Refugio Ecologico Casa del Sol Naciente is about a mile into from San Agustin and grows its own fruit, veg and herbs for cooking. There’s also an eco-trail you can follow to discover the stunning canyon and Magdalena River below.

Refugio ecologico Casa del Sol Naciente

Cerro Chato Eco Lodge, La Fortuna, Costa Rica

With views of the Arenal Volcano and tours on offer to help you discover the Costa Rica’s scenery and wildlife, Cerro Chato Eco Lodge provides traditional casita lodgings for eco-travellers on a budget. Take a bird-watching tour, go horseback riding, hike up the Arenal, take a canopy tour or visit to Caño Negro wildlife refuge.

Cerro Chato Eco Lodge

Biography

Clare Reynolds is a travel writer based in London.

More information: http://www.hostelbookers.com/

Inside a Turkish Market (in Berlin) with Sonia Gil

2012-02-27T10:52:00.000-06:00

Just as one discovers more about a person by visiting their home, the same can be said for cities. If you want to better understand a city then you must go to the local market. This past summer I was a first timer in Berlin so naturally, I needed to hit up some markets to get a firm grasp on what this city was all about.

I visited the Turkish market, which is one of the biggest open markets in Berlin. By Turkish they don't mean some baklava here and there. You walk through the open market and are immediately transported. At first I was excited by this idea of being transported out of Germany. But the more I walked through the market, the more I saw how representative it is of everyday life for these Berliners. This was not a different country but it was the new Berlin - reinvented, friendly and more diverse.

The market itself is located in the Kreuzberg, putting a modern spin on a classic Berlin neighborhood. It is here where Turks and Punks have lived for years. Interestingly enough, unlike the more reserved Germans, the Turks turned out to be some of the friendliest Berliners I met. After all, the Turks have been part of Berlin forever, but now they are coming of age and contributing to a more diverse city.

This New Berlin is full of Mediterranean inspiration. Scarves, jewelry and food in every color and texture make this market truly unforgettable. In the end, the market did help me get a grip of what the city is about. Berlin is vibrant, it is alive, it is beating, and growing and changing, and the market is the perfect example of where all of these elements come together.

Check out the 'Turkish Delight' episode below!

Biography

Sonia Gil (@SoniasTravels) hosts a weekly original web travel series called Sonia's Travels with episodes shot in Mexico, Italy, Berlin and Paris.

Each trip turns into a series of shows in which Sonia offers a small idea or tip about a place and the people who live there.

New episodes premiere every Thursday at 12 noon EST (9:00 am PST).

Share Where I've Been Why Brighton Rocks by GlobalGrasshopper

2012-02-21T09:49:00.000-06:00

Owning a travel blog means people will always ask you where you're favourite place is. It's not an easy question. We could mention any one of the beautiful and far flung destinations we've been lucky enough to visit. Although there's still one special place that we both love that's actually much closer to home.

Gray was born and raised in the seaside city of Brighton and even though we're based in London now, it's a place we still go when we're looking for a quick escape from our now very busy lives. For my husband it could be a nostalgia thing, but the city appeals to us both. Maybe it's the city's progressive ideals - a bohemian oasis on an otherwise conservative South England coast. Of course it could just down to the plentiful supply of fresh sea air!

Brighton Pier

West Brighton Pier

Travel photography is a big part of what we do, so the place we head to at dusk is the favourite muse of many a local photographer, the West Pier. The historic site has survived two fires and many other attempts to knock it down. The charred black structure strikes a hauntingly beautiful image and on clear autumns evening, when the swarm of starlings circle the pier ready to roost, there's not many other places we'd rather be - at least not this close to home.

Brighton Seascape

Biography

Becky and Gray are UK based travel bloggers and photographers. They own the travel tips and inspiration website GlobalGrasshopper.com where they aim to write inspiring guides, stories and unusual hotel reviews and match them with the most beautiful photos they can find. Having notched up many countries between them, the couple count Asia, Europe, Scandinavia and the USA as some of their favourite travel destinations. They have also now launched a graphic and webdesign business named DesignGrasshopper.

Becky & Gray

Blog: GlobalGrasshopper.com

Design Website: DesignGrasshopper.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/globalgrasshopr

Twitter: http://twitter.com/globalgrasshopr

Hotels Reviews:

10 of the best Boutique hotels Brighton

10 of the best Budget hotels London

Inspired Italian Vegan Cuisine You Can Enjoy Anywhere!

2012-02-20T11:04:00.001-06:00

Some people live to eat, others eat to live. I happen to be the first kind ~ I simply love food. I live a vegan lifestyle, healthy and inspired, but don’t be fooled. I create and dine out on fabulous fare. One of my favorites is Italian.

Fifteen years ago my husband and I honeymooned in Italy. We spent two weeks losing ourselves in the history of Rome, marveling over the museums, churches (and shopping!) in Florence, wandering the canals of Venice and admiring spectacular Amalfi coast. We also enjoyed the amazing cuisine. I loved the open air stands with fresh coconut, dining al fresco in Capri and soaking up hearty breads and pastas with decadent olive oils and homemade sauces. I can’t wait to go back!

In the meantime, I enjoy finding restaurants and creating recipes that help to bring back those tasty memories. Here are three I have created in the past few months ~ I hope you enjoy!

Olives and their oil are staples of any Mediterranean diet, and in Italy it is an essential ingredient of so many recipes. Extra virgin and virgin varieties are found throughout the country, but it is most popular in Southern Italy, for both cooking purposes and for enhanced flavor. The health benefits of this rich yet monounsaturated oil also cannot be ignored. The following recipe, inspired by one I recently enjoyed at a restaurant in Washington DC, embraces their tangy and subtle flavors.

Sicilian Cauliflower with Dates and Olives

You will need:

1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets, discarding the core and base
5 large dates, pitted and lightly chopped
12 olives, pitted and quartered lengthwise*

1/2 c water
1 TBSP Cinnamon
½-1 c Extra Virgin Olive Oil

*I used an assortment of green and purple for color, but use whatever you like best

Directions:

Preheat the oven to bake at 350 degrees.

Place the washed cauliflower florets in a medium baking dish, in one, even layer.

Cut up the olives and dates and sprinkle them over the cauliflower.

Pour in a half cup of water to help steam the cauliflower while baking.

Sprinkle a tablespoon of cinnamon over the top of the vegetables, and then drizzle a half cup of olive oil as well.

Bake for 20 minutes, stirring often to even out the cooking.

After 20 minutes, change the oven roast and set it for 400 degrees.

Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the dish, along with salt and pepper to taste.

Continuing to stir, roast for another 20 minutes.
Serve immediately and enjoy.

When I see a gorgeous display of tomatoes, particularly from my farmer’s market, I know I have to do something wonderful with them before they lose their freshness. What says “Italian” more than pasta? Perhaps just the sauce. Tomato sauces come in such a wide variety of flavors, but as a vegan, I need to beware of any cheese or cream, parmesan or anchovy that sneak into the jar. If you make this inspired recipe, you'll be both safe and happy, vegan or not!

The Trendy Vegan's Original Tomato Sauce

You will need:

1 (overflowing) pint (maybe 8) Jersey or medium-sized beefsteak tomatoes
3 cloves, garlic, minced
3 TBSP + 1 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 1/2 TBSP salt
1 TBSP sugar
2 TBSP balsamic vinegar
1 6 oz. can, tomato paste
3 large basil leaves, finely chopped

Directions:

In a large stock pot, add the 3 TBSP olive oil and minced garlic and sautee until the garlic starts to brown.
Increase the heat to high and add your tomatoes, chopped but not too fine a dice, with peel, seeds and all (ok, stems removed).

Once they start to break down and the liquid increases, add the salt, sugar and balsamic.

As the sauce starts to thicken, low the heat to medium, and add the tomato paste and basil, stirring until well combined.

After a few minutes, or when the sauce really starts to bubble and pop, add the remaining TBSP of olive oil and reduce to a simmer.

Then pour over fresh pasta with a little more basil or remove to cool.

Part of the elegance of Italian cooking can be the simplicity. Escarole sautéed with olive oil and garlic or fresh heirloom tomatoes with a balsamic vinaigrette. I think it’s hard to top the taste of warm foccacia drizzled with olive oil and kosher salt, but this pizza-inspired flat bread is pretty fantastic.

Grilled Pizza
You will need:

1 yellow squash, ends cut off
1 zucchini, ends cut off
1 small yellow onion
1.5 TBSP olive oil
1.5 TBSP truffle oil
Kosher salt
Balsamic glaze (or you can reduce a little balsamic vinegar until it thickens slightly)
Homemade or store bought pizza dough

Directions:

In a sautee pan, heat the olive oil and then add the onions to sweat. You want to leave them in there, stirring occasionally, until they become a bit translucent. Cut the squash and zucchini into quarters the long way, and then thinly slice in the opposite direction, and add them to the pan, stirring occasionally, covering in between so that the vegetables cook more quickly. As they soften, add a pinch of kosher salt and the truffle oil, and continue to stir until tender.

In the meantime, turn on your grill! You could make this in a regular oven for sure, but the grill adds such great flavor. Take some pizza dough, about half a ball/pie's worth, roll it out to 1/2 inch thick and brush with olive oil. Then throw it on the grill, oil side down, for 5 minutes. You'll love to watch how it bubbles!

When you flip the dough, top it with the sauteed vegetables and grill for another 5 minutes if the veggies can stand to be cooked a drop more, keep the cover to the grill closed. Remove from the heat and drizzle with the balsamic glaze or the reduction you've made and voila!

About the Author:

Yonni Limmer Wattenmaker is the creator and author of a lifestyle blog called The Trendy Vegan. In 2010, she started writing about embracing the vegan diet, and how to enjoy life as you do, by offering recipes, interesting tips, and profiling wonderful vegan fare in restaurants in NYC and across the country. Since then she has also contributed to cookbooks and a number of other publications and is a freelance writer for an e-magazine out of Greenwich, CT. To learn more, you can follow @vegandthecity on Twitter or “like” TheTrendy Vegan on Facebook.

3 Underrated Vacation Destinations in the States

2012-02-14T10:43:00.000-06:00

Planning your next vacation can be a very exciting and stressful time. Vacations inevitably mean spending more money than you had planned and having less time at your destination than you had hoped. But, nonetheless, vacations are a wonderful and exciting adventure. Rather than traveling to the usual hot vacation destinations—sandy California beaches or the slopes of the Colorado Rockies—try visiting some of the lesser known cities and town in the States. These three spots offer unique vacation activities and beautiful sights that many people overlook or under appreciate.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Not many people think of traveling to the desert for their next big vacation or trip. Moreover, New Mexico is likely one of the last states with think of to visit for a glamorous vacation. But, the small town of Santa Fe, New Mexico has many wonderful and unique things to offer a traveler. Tucked away in the mountains northern New Mexico, Santa Fe has a rich culture in art that attracts many visitors. With many museums dedicated to the rich Native American culture that exists in Santa Fe and surrounding areas, this trip is truly one of a kind. With beautiful painted desert landscapes, impressive mountain ranges, and unique small town life, Santa Fe is a great choice for the artistic at heart.

Santa Fe desert landscape via iGuide

Lawrence, Kansas

Kansas isn't necessarily one of those states that we think of when we imagine our dream vacation. However, with rolling green hills and endless blue skies, Kansas has a lot to offer as a peaceful vacation spot. Home to the Kansas University Jayhawks, Lawrence isn't an unknown town, but it is overlooked often as a vacationing spot. This small town has all the wonderful things a small town has to offer. Travel down Mass St. (the main drag) and experience small mom and pop craft stores and little quaint boutiques. Lawrence has a way of giving you that small town, down to earth feeling, without being overbearing or dull. Visit the beautiful sunflower fields in the fall or the local outdoor recreation center in the summer. For those of us who didn't grow up with fireflies illuminating our nights, stay out late one night and become mesmerized by the twinkling bugs.

Christmas in Lawrence, Kansas via Kansas Travel

Houston, Texas

Now, this one may come as a surprise for many of us and, I admit, I would have never recommended this destination if you asked me 3 years ago. However, Houston is one of those big (really big) cities that often goes overlooked as a quality vacation spot. Rather than exploring New Your City or Chicago, check out big city life in Houston. Houston is one of the largest cities in the nation and has all the things that big cities offer as well as small town charm nearby. Check out wonderful art museums, numerous delicious restaurants, endless shopping, and much more. What sets Houston apart is that you can experience big city life and with only an hour or so drive enter small town Texas. With NASA close by, Galveston beaches, downtown Houston, there really is something everyone can enjoy in Houston.

Downtown Houston via Stratos Jets

Author Bio:

Maria Rainier is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education where she writes about education, online colleges, online degrees etc. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

Share Where I've Been The Practice of Healthy Living and Full-Time Travel with Nomad Nathan Agin

2012-02-07T09:30:00.000-06:00

How long have you been a “full time traveler”? What prompted your life change and what were you doing before?

Why do you travel?

To test and challenge myself
To meet and connect with people
To absorb and share information
To see what is in this world and what is going on out there
To discover what fires me up, makes me tick, and how I can make a difference

Traveling keeps me on my toes; it forces me to adapt, be flexible, open, and always on the edge of my comfort zone. It also opens me up to people, ideas, and sights I never even dreamed possible.

What have your travels taught you?

People are so generous, hospitable, and kind.
It’s easier (and cheaper) to travel than I thought.
I need very little. It’s taken a bit of time, but I’ve pared down my belongings to a small backpack. I don’t carry many clothes or other items, and I do just fine. If I need something else, I can always purchase it (and then donate it). We’re lucky to live in such a digital age that with a couple electronics, we can still have so much.
Relax. I used to get annoyed and frustrated pretty easily (before I began traveling). If I still had that approach, I’d go insane. There are so many variables and circumstances outside our control that we have to just step back, breathe, and often laugh if we’re going to make it.

If all planes were grounded indefinitely, where would you want to be "stranded"? Why?

North America: there is so much here to take in (from all across the States, to Canada and Mexico), so many friends and family (and new friends), and there are still many other ways to travel (car, bus, train) – plus, it is possible to get down to South America from here without flying, too!

I’ve been visiting many of the National Parks recently, and I intend to see as many as I can while I have this annual pass (only $80!). These parks are so stunningly gorgeous, and to my surprise (living in cities for so many years), I have an absolute blast going out on hikes – it’s so amazing to be out in nature, far from distractions, and surrounded by peace, wildlife, and beauty.

Which destinations are on your bucket list?

India: would love to check out the Himalayas and spend time at Ashrams
Europe: Austria, Prague, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark
New Zealand
Kenya
Alaska: my “dream” trip for 2012 is to drive from Portland, OR (I’ll be there in July) all through Canada up to Alaska next summer.
Southeast Asia: Thailand, Laos, and Indonesia
An island way out in the middle of nowhere: maybe the Marshall Islands?
For 2013, I'm strongly thinking about a Round-the-World trip (I have just about enough points/miles) - so I may get to many of these places sooner than I thought!

What are your best tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle on vacation?

Know what keeps you going and commit to that! Your routine may look different than at home, and it’s important to have that foundation instead of taking the “well, I’m traveling, so I won’t be able to…” mentality.

Identify your practices: the activities you know maintain, sustain, energize and inspire you. This could be what you eat, how you exercise, what you read or listen to, or any other number of things. It’s vital to keep these activities going while you travel, at least to some degree.

Find the resources that can support you and your practices, such as restaurants, attractions, hotels, and parks. Check out my Healthy Living Guides for more on this!

Being flexible is also key! While guidelines can be helpful and can keep us on track, life also likes to throw curveballs our way. Be able to improvise and change up what you’re doing at any moment; let’s not be so rigid that we don’t have any fun! If you need to skip a day of exercise or want to eat something extravagant, go right ahead – that old cliché works, though: everything in moderation!

Specific ideas:

Carry fruit and nuts with you, and eat lots of vegetables
Take the stairs – in fact, MASTER them (three at a time!)
Find time to close your eyes and focus on your breathing
Rest before you need to, and get enough sleep (for most people, at least 7 hours)
Expose yourself to direct sunlight (about 15-20 minutes per day)
Engage your mind with reading, listening, conversation, and lectures
I believe that health and vitality are possible when we travel, that we don’t have to sacrifice either; with focus, commitment, and fun, we can have an amazing experience, every day, no matter where we are!

What’s the greatest travel bargain you’ve ever scored? How much did you pay and where did you go?

Riding first-class in Amtrak from Boston, MA to Portland, OR for $0. I had my own private car with a bed and shower facilities, as I traveled from Massachusetts through upstate New York, down to Chicago, up to Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana, and finally to Oregon.

All meals in the dining car (full service) were included – I ended up paying about $20 total, just in tips for the wait staff and porters. It was an amazing few days on the train, and such a cool way to see the country – I couldn’t believe I was doing it for free! One of my favorite memories from this trip is reading Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express (in one day!) – it is such an intriguing story, and it was so cool to be in the same kind of surroundings as the characters were.

I secured this trip with the sign-up bonus points from two credit cards. This is actually a very easy process, and luckily not the only way to rack up points! I even published a guide, Take the Train for Free + Other Legal Amtrak Hacks, so that others can see and experience how accessible and fun train travel can be!

What are your best tips for getting a deal when traveling?

When you narrow down exactly where you want to go and how you want to get there, then you can focus your attention on possible travel deals: search online for “coupons,” “discounts,” and “promotional codes.”

You can also check the websites of how you’re going (airplane, train, etc.) to see if they have a loyalty program (like frequent flyer miles), and look for all the different ways you can earn points (some do not require purchases).

I’m also a big fan of leveraging credit card bonuses toward loyalty programs. Travel has almost become exclusively for the rich, and many of these programs are designed to benefit the companies, so by “hacking” and sharing this information, this is my way to level out the playing field!

I’ve even launched omg! travel deals, a full-service business that gives people a customized plan of exactly the steps they need to take advantage of the amazing deals out there. I think one of the only reasons more people don’t do this is because they don’t know about it!

It can take a bit of time and energy to understand how to do this, and my goal is to help people cut through all of that as much as possible. While there’s so much terrific information out there, I felt a customer service/coaching/strategizing piece was missing from the travel hacking industry, and that’s where I wanted to step in.

It’s time to see more people take advantage of the insane prices available – it’s time for everyone to save 98% off the cost of a ticket! :-)

Tell us about your travel guides. How are they different?

I created the Healthy Living Guides to give people in unfamiliar cities a quick reference to some of the healthiest options around.

When you go somewhere new, there are usually lots of logistical and other important details you have to manage – your health can often be at the bottom of the list (if it’s on there at all) – these guides help you quickly find healthy ways to eat, play, relax and learn!

I feature restaurants that are organic, gluten-free, and have sustainable practices; large parks where you can run, swim, bike, or hike; meditation centers and gatherings that are often free; lecture series where your mind can be engaged; and much more!

These came out of my own experiences: I would find myself wandering around hoping to find fresh and local food; more often than not, I would end the night hungry and with tired feet. When I sat down and did some quick research online, I discovered many places I would never have found walking, so it then became a quest of “where would I love to eat?” and “what would I love to see and do?” I began publishing these findings, as I believe others are looking for this information, too!

I also see these guides as living documents, and as such, anyone who purchases a guide receives free updates for life. There are many ideas of what else to incorporate and how to improve these guides – I’m excited to see where the project goes!

In 140 characters or less, please tell me why someone should travel.

Discover how you can make a difference in this world. Have fun, learn, connect, and share. Across town or across the globe – just go! :-)

THANKS!

If you want to see more of my travels and where I’ve been, I put together this video for a new show on the Travel Channel:

Thanks to Where I’ve Been for the opportunity to share my story!

If you have any questions about what I’m doing and how you can do it too, please feel free to contact me at nathan[dot]agin[at]gmail.com - I’d love to connect further with any readers!

As for a Bio...

Nathan Agin practices and believes in a life of Nonstop Awesomeness, that life is always awesome when we bring our best to each moment. He spent many years in Los Angeles as an actor (he did get paid!) until he decided to get rid of everything and travel full-time. He writes for his own site, consults on how to travel for free, lives life to the fullest, and loves connecting with amazing people. He’s currently traveling to and living in different cities around the United States, as he examines the question what does healthy travel look like?

Blog: http://www.nonstopawesomeness.me

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nathanagin
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NonstopAwesomeness

Products:

omg! travel deals: http://www.omgtraveldeals.com

Healthy Living Guides: http://www.healthylivingguides.com

Take the Train for Free + Other Legal Amtrak Hacks: http://www.takethetrainforfree.com

Planning a Budget Trip to Portugal? 3 Albufeira Day Trips Not to be Missed

2012-02-06T11:23:00.000-06:00

The Algarve region of Portugal has for many years been a favorite getaway location for holiday makers and travelers from around Europe and beyond. In the central region of the Algarve sits Albufeira, where in the old town cobbled streets give home to bars, cafes, local shops and restaurants. These streets eventually lead down to the marina and the beautiful beaches which make the whole region so famous and one of the best places for cheap Portugal holidays.

But there is more to Albufeira than this. In fact, if you are travelling with family, children or on your own, you will be spoilt for choice if you want to get away from the beach and do something a little bit different when here.

Zoomarine

If you like theme parks and marine life, you’ll love the Zoomarine. This 8 hectare site consists of rides, aquariums, shops, 4D cinemas and lots, lots more. There is even the opportunity to interact with trained bottlenose dolphins. Zoomarine is best described as a theme park that is centered on marine life – it is the perfect place to visit if you want to get away from the beach for a day or if you have children to entertain. Entrance prices are reasonable too – always a bonus! It is located just 10km outside of Albufeira so is easily accessible.

The beauty of Albufeira

Go on a ‘Seafari’

From Albufeira it is possible to catch one of the Algarve’s ‘Seafaris’, which involves you being picked up by boat and then taken on a tour of several of Europe's largest caves which can be explored, along with some stunning rock formations along the Algarve coast. You will also be fed with a wholesome lunch, before cooling off in the sea and even doing a bit of dolphin watching if you are lucky. These tours are operated daily and trips can also include fishing if this sounds more appealing! Such trips are popular elsewhere, such as on cheap turkey holidays for example, and are just so here now too.

The pristine beaches of Albufeira

Cycle the Algarve

If you love being active and cannot imagine being sat on a beach for a few weeks straight, one option is to take to your bike and explore the local area. You can explore the coastline or even take to the hills which surround the Albufeira area. Pretty fishing villages such as the one found at Ferragudo can be reached without too much effort and there you will find tourist-free streets, fabulous Portuguese restaurants and an insight in local life not possible in the built up areas that attract the vast majority of visitors.

Albufeira is an ideal location for people looking for fun filled holidays or trips to Portugal. With plenty going on in and outside of the immediate area, you will never find yourself looking for things to do. And if you do not want to do anything strenuous, just stick the beautiful Albufeira beaches! If you have ever been on Tenerife holidays and enjoyed them, you’ll love the Algarve region too – both have similar positives that attract all sorts every year!

Written by Ricky Durrance for Beat the Brochure.

Instant Foods, Ancient Roots

2012-01-31T12:42:00.000-06:00

Americans gobble down countless fast-food meals every year. While the popularity of pizzas and tacos attests to their tastiness, most people have never experienced their authentic, traditionally crafted counterparts from across the globe. Behind nearly every Americanized quick bite is a one-of-a-kind culinary masterpiece. Many of these foods, such as Neapolitan pizza, Japanese ramen, and Mexican tacos, are still produced the way they have been for centuries.

Pizza di Napoli

Popular outside of Italy since the beginning of the 20th century, pizza has permeated most of the developed world’s diet. Each country (and sometimes city) has its own take on this famous Italian pie. While American pizzas might be topped with anything from pineapple and ham to barbecue chicken, the authentic Neapolitan pizza is dressed with extra virgin olive oil, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, oregano and garlic. Additionally, American pizzas often use frozen dough baked in electric or conveyor ovens, but Pizza Napoletana must be made from scratch, hand shaped and baked in a traditional wood-burning brick oven. The result is a true taste of Italy: a tender, easily folded crust with a raised rim that showcases the rich flavors of its natural toppings.

Pizza di Napoli via Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino

Fresh Ramen

In America, ramen is synonymous with deep fried blocks of instant noodles and preservative-laden seasoning packets. These go-to college student lunches are not only ridiculously cheap, but require very little skill to prepare. It’s a wonder that in Japan, the country that invented instant ramen, traditional ramen-y noodle shops elevate this one-bowl dish to an art form with handmade noodles, delicate broths and colorful toppings. Every major city in Japan has its own local style of ramen preparation and presentation, but all of them feature fresh noodles composed of wheat flour, water, salt and alkaline or egg to give the noodles their firm, springy texture. The noodles are served steaming hot with an artistic arrangement of toppings, such as sliced meat, tofu, leafy vegetable, mushroom, egg, toasted seaweed, or seafood. Instant ramen is notorious for its high sodium and low nutritional value. Worlds away, in a traditional Japanese ramen shop, bowls of steaming ramen promise a meal that is wholesome, fortifying and aesthetically balanced.

Japanese Ramen via Culinary and Cooking

Tacos Frescos

The prefab, mystery-meat filled tortillas of Taco Bell are a far cry from authentic Mexican tacos, which are typically soft corn tortillas with stewed chicken, grilled steak, sausage, grilled seafood or even organ meats. While there are endless varieties of authentic tacos, ground meat fillings are not common. Deep fried “flautas” or flutes may be filled with a finely shredded pork or beef filling and served over fresh lettuce, diced tomato and a dollop of sour cream. Instead of the neon orange cheddar shreds typically served on American fast food tacos, Latin American tacos are more likely to use a mild, white cheese, if any at all. Finally, traditional tacos are often accompanied by a variety of fresh and pickled vegetables to provide a crisp contrast to the savory snacks.

Pizza, fries and tacos are popular enough in this country to be considered cultural icons. However, it doesn’t hurt to probe into the history and tradition behind these foods. One taste of an authentic slice of Pizza Napoletana or the experience of slouching over a steaming spoonful of Tokyo ramen would be enough to convince anyone that the ubiquitous fast foods of our country are steeped in rich and tasty traditions from around the world.

Flautas via The Food Network

About the Author: Elaine Hirsch is kind of a jack-of-all-interests, from education and history to medicine and videogames. This makes it difficult to choose just one life path, so she is currently working as a writer for various education-related sites and writing about all these things instead. She currently writes for an online school resource.

Share Where I've Been Tom Stuker: The 10-Million-Mile, Family Man

2012-01-24T22:14:00.003-06:00

Where I’ve Been team member Amy Kulerski recently had the amazing opportunity to interview Tom Stuker. Known as the “10-Million-Mile Man;” Tom has flown so many miles with United Airlines that they named a Boeing 747 after him. Stuker is beyond a frequent flyer; he is a legend. Please enjoy the first episode feature on what we're referring to as "Share Where I've Been"- a bi-weekly showcase from qualified travelers from all over the world!

In July 2011, Tom Stuker flew his 10 millionth mile on United Airlines and was given the company’s first and only titanium Mileage Plus card. Upon hearing about this accomplishment, I immediately thought of George Clooney’s character from “Up in the Air” -- a lonely executive living on the road, traveling from place to place, finding himself better acquainted with flight attendants than family members. Boy, was I wrong to compare the two. First and foremost, Tom Stuker is a world class family man and a worldwide traveler secondly.

I am sure you are wondering how someone can spend almost five full years of his life at an altitude of 40,000 feet and still remain “close to home.” Stuker’s answer is a simple one -- quality over quantity. When he’s home, he makes the most out of it. He also travels with his family...a lot. Tom has traveled 2 million miles with his wife; they take about six “honeymoons” a year. Stuker has also traveled over a million miles with his oldest son -- in fact, they have circled the globe together twice.

Of his travels with his family, Tom said ”I’ve taken my family all over the world because I want to share the experience with them. I really am amazed with the world and I love sharing my passion for travel with my family members”

So, how does Tom feel about the comparison to Clooney?

“I’m the complete opposite of George Clooney in so many ways -- especially when it comes to looks! His character was a very sad character. The man went around firing people. My job is the opposite -- I work with people to expand their business.” And Stuker is very good at what he does too.

So good in fact, he will be starring in his own reality series alongside his sister, Roxy. The transformational program is called “Car Lot Cowboy” and is set to debut early in 2012 on Spike. The show focuses on Tom’s work as an auto retail sales consultant -- in it, he will visit struggling car dealerships and help them turn around their businesses.

Tom’s impressive career made me think back to a recent article in Forbes “Ten Ways Travel Can Make You a Better Business Leader” and I asked him whether he agreed that there was connection between the two. Stuker said that his travels most definitely made him a better leader and have contributed to his success. He remarked how his ability to think outside the box is at its best in the sky. “There are no distractions. My creative juices really flow... I find flying on a plane to be so relaxing and so focused of an environment to get work done.”

On United, Stuker has flown to every island in Hawaii, every state in the US, and every province in Canada. He’s traveled all over Asia, Europe, the Mideast, Africa, and Australia too. There are not too many places that Tom has not traveled to; the few experiences[c] that remain on his bucket list are a high-end safari in South Africa and visiting the Orient Express.

Many travelers are familiar with the Moorish proverb that reads: He who does not travel does not know the value of men. I wanted to know what Tom thought of this quote.

Stuker commented “though it is a very sexist comment, it is true that one can’t understand the human spirit, not just people, without traveling. Especially as Americans, he/she who doesn’t travel does not realize how lucky we are and the wealth that we have... We’re very lucky in so many ways.”

Finally, I asked Tom what he liked best about traveling. His answer: “going home.”

“Everyone asks where’s your favorite place to go, I say ‘home’. I love going to different places for different reasons... I love the romance of Italy and Paris. I like the serenity, calmness and romance of Thailand. I love the people of Australia. Hawaii is America’s paradise... but when all is said and done, there is no place like home.”

Tom continued, “You can go to Oz, but even Dorothy wants to come home. I don’t have ruby slippers, but I have United Airlines.”

What a perfect way to conclude our interview. Family definitely comes first for Tom Stuker. He’s a man that we can all learn something from -- whether the lessons are about fatherhood and being a good husband, traveling, or how to find success in business amidst a recession. It was a privilege to talk with him and to share his experiences with the Where I’ve Been community!

Do you think that you have a spectacular story like Tom Stuker's? Send me an email at katy[at]whereivebeen[dot]com for more information! Please include a short bio and any pictures/links to videos that you think would enhance your story as well. Your story could be a part of our *exclusive* new series, Share Where I've Been-- coming in two weeks from today!

You can be featured on Where I've Been!

2012-01-24T14:58:00.000-06:00

Have you been on some amazing adventures? When people ask you what you do, do you immediately blurt out “TRAVEL”? Would you like to share your best and favorite travel stories with others? Do you know someone who has had a unique travelling experience?

If you answered “yes” to any or all of the above questions, please apply to be interviewed by us! I’m looking for qualified travelers with spectacular stories to be interviewed as a part of our *exclusive* Share Where I've Been series!

The blog will run the stories or interviews bi-weekly and I would love to hear from you! Send me an e-mail at katy[at]whereivebeen[dot]com for more information! Please include a short bio and any pictures/links to videos that you think would enhance your story as well.

I'm looking forward for interesting travelers with spectacular stories!

-Katy

6 Things You Didn't Know About China

2012-01-23T15:51:00.000-06:00

What do you think of when you hear about travel in the country of "China"? Do images of panda bears, chopsticks, people-filled streets, a Great big Wall, or the modern architecture of Shanghai dance around your mind?

While yes, you will find these as you unwrap China's many layers, I am here to share with you a few lesser known aspects of China. My name is Megan Lee and I have studied and lived in China for almost 2 years now. It's funny, because some parts of my life here do not even strike me as anything but normal anymore. Oddly enough, it was only brought to my attention after my parents came to visit me in the Spring.

"Of course it's normal to sit down and eat at a table with strangers!"

"Why wouldn't that man be singing loudly to himself as he walks down the street?"

"I've come to realize that traffic lights are more regarded 'suggestions' instead of 'law'."

As China moves forward, it's vital we keep up. There has never been a better time to study abroad in China!

Here are some fun facts about China:

1. Elevators in most chinese buildings will NOT stop at floor five or below. This encourages people to instead use the stairwell to reach their destination and save the elevator space for people who actually need to use it. I think this is a great strategy for not only reducing energy consumption, but also encouraging a healthier lifestyle.

2. In some older Chinese buildings, there is not a “fourth floor”. The floor numbers will simply skip from three to five. This is because the word for death (死) and four (四) are both pronounced “si” (fourth tone). The fourth floor has been seen as unlucky for years!

3. Most Chinese girls wear heels — every day! Even their winter boots have sneaky high heels placed on the inside. I have even seen girls wearing heels while climbing a mountain. Though I was once confused as to why ANYONE would ever want to wear high heels every day (especially when perusing the streets of Beijing), I have now changed my perspective due to the realization that if these girls didn’t wear heels, I actually would feel uncomfortably taller than most of them!

4. Among the many interesting cultural phenomenons I have come across here, one of my all-time favorites is the assless chaps all the babies wear. To me, it started as a comical site — adorable children, running around with their baby butts hanging out. They claim it helps potty train them at a younger age, and I can agree it is less wasteful than a bunch of diapers, but I always feel a little queasy when I see a baby relieving himself on the side of the road.

5. Chinese celebrate "Singles Day" every year on November 11th. It's a fun tip of the old hat to China's growing youth pop culture. Some celebrate this holiday by trying to say “goodbye” to their single lives — attending both formal and informal mingling events / blind dates / the like. While others wallow in self pity or even laugh.

6. Fact: more than half of the World’s construction cranes are in China (http://bit.ly/cpojyy). With such abundant human labor (think: a fifth of the world’s entire population) coupled with a lack of safety regulations/loose planning restrictions — it 's no wonder that buildings are regularly (and quickly) knocked down and put up.

Come join me in this Nation and discover some of these fun, quirky parts of Chinese culture that you may not find in your travel book.

Born in the year of the Rabbit, Megan Lee's (twitter: @peglegmeg) first expedition to China ended in failure when she tried to dig there from Indiana at the age of eight. Now living in Beijing, she is a content editor for Go Overseas and enjoys writing about travel and study abroad, especially in China.

All photos belong to Megan Lee.

The Deadliest Animals of Africa

2012-01-09T16:25:00.000-06:00

What’s the deadliest animal in Africa? It depends on how you interpret the term “deadly”. The Big Five - Lion, African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Leopard and the Rhinoceros – are certainly the most impressive mammals that most people want to see and those beasts certainly have a deadly beauty, power and elegance. Some sources will have you believe that the Elephant is the deadliest, especially in mating season when a big bull will charge at almost anything that moves.

But if you define “deadly” as the most human fatalities caused (directly or indirectly) and you are not too pedantic about what you consider to be an “animal”, then the African “Top of the Terminator Pops” is as follows:

1. Mosquito

The Mosquito is, without doubt, the most dangerous animal in Africa. Their bite facilitates the transmission of the deadly virus that causes Malaria, one of the world’s deadliest diseases. Malaria is responsible for nearly half of the deaths of children under the age of Five in Africa, killing more than 2,800 children a day throughout sub-Saharan Africa where 90% of the infected people live.

2. Hippo

Looking at Hippos you might think they slow and sluggish animals. Don’t be fooled! Hippos can easily outrun you and are considered the second most dangerous animal in Africa. Because of population pressure and erosion of habitat, Hippos invade farmlands at night to feed and destroy the crops and this is when Hippo/Human interaction results in fatalities. There are many tales of Hippos going on the rampage, attacking people and spreading terror in the Niger for example.

3. Buffalo

Part of the “Big Five”, Buffaloes are considered to be very dangerous animals, especially the ones that are wounded. The Buffalo is a very strong animal, a fact known to several predators including lions. Apart from humans, they have very few natural predators and aside from deliberate attacks, cases have been reported of people being killed or injured badly by these creatures when they accidentally cross paths.

4. Elephant

Being the largest land mammals, you’d expect Elephants to be potentially dangerous animals. Their huge size means they are capable of crushing and killing almost any other animal, including human beings. When the time comes to mate, Adult male Elephants go through something called musth. They become very aggressive, aroused sexually and very territorial. An Elephant in musth is extremely dangerous to humans and should be avoided at all costs.

5. Crocodile

African crocodiles have very strong and powerful jaws that they use to bite their prey with extreme force (in excess of 5,000 pounds per square inch) and have the strongest bite of any animal! The Nile Crocodile and the Saltwater species are the most dangerous to humans. Every year, hundreds of attacks are reported throughout Africa. Most attacks on humans by large Nile Crocodiles and Saltwater Crocodiles take only a few seconds with the Crocodiles killing their victims not through their powerful lacerating bite, but by dragging them under water and drowning them.

6. Lion

You’d expect the “king of the beasts” to be up there at the top, but actually lion attacks on humans are quite rare. The most notorious case was the so called “Tsavo Man-Eaters”, a pair of big cats responsible for the deaths of a number of construction workers on the Kenya – Uganda railway from March through to December in 1898. Scientists have investigated the man-eating habit of Lions, especially in Tanzania, and one incontrovertible fact is that between 1990 and 2005 at least 563 people in a village in Tanzania were attacked by Lions and many were eaten.

7. Desert Locust

Though they don’t kill humans directly, the devastation the Desert Locust can cause to crops has a direct effect on human food supply and kills through enforcing starvation. They can spread over an enormous area when they swarm. The last major Locust plague outbreak occurred in the summer of 2004 in West and North Africa. The swarms migrated over the continent causing devastation and in November 2004 they appeared in northern Egypt, Jordan and Israel for the first time in 50 years. One swarm in Morocco was 230 km long and contained an estimated 69 billion locusts!

About the Author: Peter is a travel blog enthusiast and regularly writes about the best African holidays including his experiences on a Botswana Safari when not studying and raising a family. Follow Peter on Twitter at @pgrichards.