http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=282Welcome to the Travel Onion blog! Everyone sees a different layer of a city and the blogs we've featured on Travel Onion give you the opportunity to see a new and unique perspective on your chosen destination. We have local editors curating each page, selecting the best blogs and ensuring each blog is useful, current, and exciting. These local experts know the best of what is going on right now, pointing you to events and exhibits calendars and reviews of restaurants they ate at or shows they saw last night. For example, Heather Stimmler-Hall, our Paris City Editor, is an American-born journalist and private Paris guide, whose website Secrets of Paris has subscribers from over thirty countries. Amy Melrose, our Washington DC City Editor, keeps a frequently updated and resourceful blog of all of the free events happening around DC. And here, the Travel Onion blog, is the place where the best of the best posts from around the world are highlighted. Let us know what YOU think - which posts are most useful? Which are the most unusual and fun to read? Lots of people are intrigued by travel. Some hope to replicate the antiquated glamour of early 20th century travel, which meant long rickety train rides toting large trunks to far-off exotic locales, such as you would read about in a Hemingway novel or in Orient Express. Others look to experience in person the monuments, paintings, and cuisines that are first experienced in textbooks or on the movie screen. But, as the world continues to globalize, more and more people turn to travel to expand their horizons, experience new cultures, see incredible sights and taste different cuisines in locales that would have never previously attracted foreigners before Google. As tourism expands as an industry, it is imperative that tourists understand the location they are visiting is the home of another culture and of rich traditions. Each trip will undoubtedly leave you with irreplaceable memories and unexpected little lessons. Cliche? Yes, but true. So, whether you are visiting a city for the first time, looking to explore less well-known areas, or simply want to find the most exciting and up-to-date things to do in your hometown, Travel Onion puts you in touch with the locals who know all the secrets. Our bloggers share the hip events, overlooked experiences, and best-kept secrets only locals know. Sometimes the best restaurants, hangouts, or experiences are excluded from guidebooks. Cities have so much to offer in addition to the museums and monuments that fill those guidebook pages. We put you in touch with the local voices who have dug a little deeper to uncover the best things to do right now - the name of Tim Krepp's blog, DC Like a Local, says it all. Doni Belau and her team at Girls Guide to Paris will have you dressed like a Parisian before you arrive. April of April's London Invitation helps your prepare for your first, second, or eighth visit to London, with advice for getting around, days out of the city, culture, pubs, music, markets, sports, and the always important food and drinks. Through their blogs, they share their insights, wisdom, and insider tips to make you an informed travler. And you will feel like you have contacts and friends from around the world offering advice and suggestions for your trip. Once you've found a blogger who seems to share similar interests, I encourage you to click-through to their blog and spend hours pouring through all of their wonderful posts. After spending some time on Travel Onion, youll be sipping sake with hip Tokyoites in a Shibuya bar, instead of being ogled as the archetypal fanny pack toting tourist. Youll be on your way to those authentic travel experiences that make your friends envious of your inside travel know-how.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=277 When you get an all-round great meal in London, itandrsquo;s custom to show your appreciation for an excellent evening with a small tip to the staff. But have you ever thought andndash; who gets the tip? Is it the waiter? The chef? The owner? Or maybe their bank? but when a different waiter whisks past and snatches the bill. Who gets the tip?!Since October, businesses can no longer use tips, service charges, gratuities or cover charges to pay the national minimum wage, but the government is concerned that most consumers are still uneasy asking waiters where their tip is goingwhen a different waiter whisks past and snatches the bill. Who gets the tip?! The great news is that since October, itandrsquo;s been illegal for businesses to use tips or cover charges to make up the national minimum wage. The only problem is that the governmentandrsquo;s concerned that most consumers are still a bit nervous asking waiters where their tip is going. Now the government is trying to combat our stuffy Britishness and encouraging us to ask andndash; Who Gets The Tip? andndash; with an exciting new campaign to raise awareness about our consumer rights. Have a look at the video below for a bit more information. For further details about the scheme, have a look at the Who Gets The Tip website. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=284If there is one thing that Oshima is famous for itandrsquo;s the Ashitaba (Angelica keiskei) which is a famous Japanese relative of the common parsley, a herb. The name literally means andldquo;Tomorrow Leafandrdquo; and it got its name for itandrsquo;s extraordinarily fast growth rate. If you harvest a leaf for your breakfast, it will have grown out again by next morning. Or so my botanically inclined friends tell me, I will have to try a planter of this in my garden some day soon. It is delicious both an ingredient in regular cooking or as a salad on its own, recommended! http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=285saturday thru 4/25: battery park city's cultural organizations (wfc, poet's house, skyscraper museum, more) celebrate earth day with weeklong festival of events (screenings, bird watching, panel discussions, etc.), most free or cheap andgt;andgt; blt restaurants launch their new burger truck feat. 100% certified black angus beef burgers, kobe footlong hotdogs, more at the pal festival (university place bet. waverly and 14th st) andgt;andgt; all day: local record shops celebrate the 3rd annual record store day with in-store appearances, discounts and limited releases (titles and qty vary by store). andgt;andgt; 8am-3pm: adopt a pet or get yours vaccinated, microchipped, spayed/neutered at the 2nd annual aspca pet health block party. with special guests maiysha and marty markowitz. brooklyn public library. free andgt;andgt; 10am-2pm: the department of transportation gives out free bike helmets at carl schurz park (east end ave and 86th st) andgt;andgt; 10am-5pm: bloggers across the u.s. (yours truly included!) don aprons for the first-ever national food bloggers bake sale. proceeds benefit share our strength, to combat childhood hunger in america. andgt;andgt; 12pm-5pm: join the friends of douglass/greene park for the 2nd annual gowanus grind. skate contest and clinic, music, food, tai/chi, plus games and art for kids. (rain date sun) andgt;andgt; 12-6pm: habana outpost's earth day expo features fun and games for the kids, the abc's of beekeeping, electronic waste recycling, composting workshops, more. andgt;andgt; 4-6pm: au revoir simone's erika forster performs songs from her solo project at p.s.1's saturday session. $5 admission. andgt;andgt; 6pm: shred for your life! the 6th annual nyc guitar battle rawks webster hall with guest judges andrew wk, jaleel bunton, justin theroux. $10 andgt;andgt; 7:30pm: say bon voyage to yacht rock at the premiere screening of their final episode, with original smooth rockers ambrosia performing. $15 andgt;andgt; 9pm: powdered wigs, mentalists, fire, burlesque, beds of nails, and electro-baroque music, more at the return of rococo's baroque bash at the east village's teneleven. $5, $2 in costume. but you'll be in costume, right? andgt;andgt; 10:30pm: this is the dawning of the hair sing-along at 92yt. $13 admission includes a beer. andgt;andgt; midnight: ifc wraps up their bigelow vs. cameron series with the original, the terminator (1984). $12.50. andgt;andgt; midnight: 'dad don't eat me!' honey, i shrunk the kids screeens at landmark sunshine, $9.99 andgt;andgt; sunday 11am-4pm: brooklyn by bike leads you on a casual 24-mile round trip ride to the semi-abandoned beachfront area of floyd bennett field (nyc's first municipal airport). meet at grand army plaza arch. free. andgt;andgt; 4pm: sample recipes from 20 cooks competing for fortune and glory at the lamb takedown. lamb-centric swag for all! bell house, $15 andgt;andgt; 6pm: avant-garde music ensemble thingny performs a ginormous commission of 'hundreds of new works' sumbitted from around the world. the tank, $10 andgt;andgt; 6:30pm: acme (american contemporary music ensemble) perform the music of dutch composer louis andriessen, including accompaniment to peter greenawayandrsquo;s 1991 film, m is for man, music, mozart. plus, pre-concert discussion with andriessen. lpr, $15 andgt;andgt; + all weekend stylish travel products store flight 001 celebrates their 11th birthday by giving you 20% off purchases over $25 in-store and online. print coupon or use discount code 'bdayfbsale' at checkout. andgt;andgt; take 30% off all spring items at bblessing's rainy weekend sale. free dark and stormies will be served sat 5pm. (via email) andgt;andgt; save 45-75% off at the love brigade and friends sample sale. 230 grand street. andgt;andgt; ends 4/19: last chance $5 sale at urban outfitters andgt;andgt; ends 4/19 12pm: win tickets to 10th annual grand gourmet tasting event 4/29 at grand central's vanderbilt hall ($75 value) andgt;andgt; thru 4/23: celebrate 40 years of earth day with up to 40% off drugstore.com's green and natural store andgt;andgt; thru 4/25: buy one get one free at jamba juice (any drink) andgt;andgt; thru 6/13: view over 130 prints of heroes and monsters from 19th-century japanese artist utagawa kuniyoshi, still influential to today's anime artists. japan society, free fridays 6-9pm (reg $12) andgt;andgt;http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=308Spring has sprung here in Northern California, the weather is warm, and youandrsquo;re itching for some new adventures. Next step? Be sure you have the gear you need to make your trip a success, but donandrsquo;t break the bank in the process! Here at NileGuide we thought you might want the inside scoop on some of the more affordable travel-savvy gear out there, so we consulted our local REI store. Our personal outdoor-adventuring, country-hopping store guide John andndash; also known on the job as andldquo;Battle Hammerandrdquo; andndash; gave us the 411. Here are a few of his picks: Nalgene Water Bottle andndash; $9.95 This handy bottle is light-weight (a complement to the newer stainless steel bottles), and transparent so you can see inside to know just how much liquid you have left. Its built-in measuring system is also great for campers who need to prepare freeze-dried foods or measure liters for water purification. Even better, Nalgeneandrsquo;s are now BPA-free, so you donandrsquo;t have to worry about BPA-associated health risks. Battle Hammer says he likes to have both a Nalgene and his stainless steel bottles for his trips and treks. What color Nalgene will you choose? UltraThon Insect Repellant andndash; $10.50 According to Battle Hammer, this is the rock star of all rock stars when it comes to repellent. Itandrsquo;s long-lasting, water-proof and sweat-resistant, not to mention 34% DEET. DEET (N, N-Dimethyl-metatoluamide) is the most effective insect repellent available because it scrambles bugsandrsquo; antennas so they have a harder time finding you. 100% DEET is a bit overkill (not to mention slightly lethal), and Battle Hammer says the 30% range is ideal. Just be careful when putting DEET near plastic (like a watch band) andndash; it could eat through it. [photo by Zanni Davis] Neck Security Wallet andndash; $12.50 Security wallets are designed to hang around your neck and hide beneath your shirt so you know where your passport, cash and cards are at all times. This is a must-have for international travelers, especially those jet-setting to developing countries or bustling cities with eager pick-pockets. andldquo;This should be on everybodyandrsquo;s checklist,andrdquo; says Battle Hammer, andldquo;because precaution should be your top priority if youandrsquo;re going to a place where you donandrsquo;t know whatandrsquo;s around the corner.andrdquo; Sani-Fem Freshette andndash; $22.95 Thatandrsquo;s right, ladies, this hot item lets you pee standing up andndash; excellent for camping and mountaineering. Battle Hammer tells us that it may look silly, but female customers come into the store to praise it all the time. One exclaimed: andldquo;I finally got to pee with my brothers!andrdquo; Petzl Tikka 2 LED Headlamp andndash; $29.95 Battle Hammer says Tikka is andldquo;his favorite manufacturer right now for headlamps because of the tilting feature.andrdquo; The light tilts forward and back and stays in place so you can point the light exactly where you need it! And this isnandrsquo;t just for the outdoors andndash; donandrsquo;t want to keep your partner up while reading in bed at night? Try the Tikka 2. It also comes in particularly handy in developing countries without dependable electricity. [photo by Zanni Davis] Eagle Creek Quantum Toiletry Kit -$40.00 Battle Hammer says this item is best for travelers or andldquo;car campers.andrdquo; Its water-resistant bottom compartment is perfect for those of us who fail to think about wet counter tops or dew-laden morning grass. Also, if items like toothpaste or small shampoo bottles tend to burst during rapid ascents to high altitudes (think plane flights), fear not because the thermoplastic, urethane-coated polyester on this bad boy makes for easy clean-up. PackSafe StashSafe andndash; $44.95 This deluxe waist pack is fully-lockable, and it even has hidden pockets for smaller items. But perhaps the best part is the stainless steel strap andndash; no one is going to cut through this while youandrsquo;re gawking at foreign skyscrapers or navigating crowded subway. Once you have this youandrsquo;ll see fanny packs in a whole new light! http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=312If you can't make it to Java Green for lunch, then go for dinner. Recently my frequent dinnermates and I had a strange situation--we could not find any Friday or Saturday night for our monthly gathering. Even a weekend morning brunch was out--everybody was traveling at all the wrong times. So we settled on weekday happy hour, which obviously turned into a trip to Java Green. Speaking of Java Green, Cafe Green recently opened, and it already has some raves (and rants) on Yelp. Back to our dinner. Here was my line of thinking: You can't go wrong with an old favorite. I had the rice and beyond. The new, updated menu renamed the orange chicken to be "sweet and sour," but I assure you, it's the same. E was with me on this. The best part of Randamp;B (not that Randamp;B) is that you get so many different items and (most importantly) textures! Smooth, rough, gummy, crunchy, sweet, spicy, and I could go on. It's all there. Mmmm, "chicken" sandwich. M's choice. She seemed to like it, but I was suspicious about the ratio of bread to guts. B had a lot of the same contents as rice and beyond, but also some bulgogi. And no potsticker/dumpling guy (which I think was missed). Otherwise, yum yum contents! C's ramen was pretty good. It was ramen--it didn't knock my socks off, but it was hot and noodley, and full of veggies. If that's what you need, it'll deliver. But I'd prefer pho. Ready for the bummer part? If it's a nice day, maybe you want to take a little walk for some dessert. Guess what? Hello Cupcake closes at 7 Mon-Thurs. Don't worry, I can bring cupcakes into any conversation. Java Green 1020 18th St NW Metro: Orange and Blue Lines to Foggy Bottom or Farragut West; Red Line to Farragut Northhttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=313 Whenever I visit a city, I always like to know where to start. A good place to get information, ideally talk to knowledgeable locals, centrally located, and part of the fabric of the city I'm visiting. Without someone to show you the ropes, it's hard to know where to start. Recently, I fielded a question from a reader on that topic that might serve to help others. Afshan would like to know that if "there is a place from where he can get the map of all the attractions. Is there a place like "Welcome Center" that offers maps and guides?"As in so many things in DC, this is a somewhat complicated question. The DC Chamber of Commerce used to operate at Visitor Information Center at the Reagan Building, but it's now closed. To be frank, I didn't think this was the greatest location and don't miss it to much, but it still confuses visitors as signs for it still exist and its website remains up. Additionally, the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) operates a Washington Welcome Center on the corner of 10th and E NW across from Ford's Theater, which isn't bad, but I just don't find it terribly useful either. It's a great place to go if you're looking for a FBI t-shirt or a kitchy souvenir, but the place is normally overrun with 8th graders and the staff is too harried to answer questions.So where do I think you should start your visit? Here are a few options:1. Old Post Office: I've mentioned this before and it's where I try to start tours with out of town guests. The Old Post Office's tower is one of the best views of Washington, DC at a fraction of the hassle of the Washington Monument. While there's no place inside I'd recommend, I'd say start off at the Barnes and Nobles a few blocks north on 12th and E NW, swing by the local section on the first floor, and pick up a guidebook and map. Armed with this new info, head over to the OPO on 12th and Penn, take them up the tower, and spend as long as you like scouting out the city from the high ground. Often, there will be a National Park Service ranger up there to answer questions, and if it's not busy, he's probably grateful for the company.2. White House Visitors Center: While this is a must see if you are that tiny proportion of DC visitors who actually expect to get in the White House, the Visitor's Center is worth going into even if you didn't get lucky with WH tickets. The reason: one of the best help desks in all of Washington. Off the 8th grade circuit (more or less), the staff at the Visitor's Center is full of information and often without people to share it. They can give you the Park Service's Washington, DC map, which is every bit as good as the the commercial available ones, and the Visitor's Center can give you the single most document in Washington, DC: a comprehensive list of the openings and closings of the majority of DC attractions (pdf). Print it up now, bookmark it, or just swing by the Visitor's Center to get a fresh copy.3. Union Station: Built to serve as a ceremonial gateway to the nation's capital, with a stunning vista of the Capitol Building, you end up looking at the ass end of Christopher Columbus as you exit Union Station. Which is a bit apropos. Union Station should be a one stop shop for people coming to see Washington, DC. It's accessible to intercity travelers via Amtrak and Bolt Bus, to regional visitors via Virginia and Maryland commuter lines (VRE and MARC), to local transit users via Metro Rail and Bus and the Circulator, to drivers with an on-site parking garage, to pedestrians, and even to bicyclists with a shiny new bike station. And it features access to various tour buses to take an intro tour of the city (more on that to come). But if you're looking to talk to people to pick up advice, be prepared: everyone at Union Station is either too busy catching their train, trying to sell you something, or simply tourists more befuddled than you (they didn't even know enough to check out this blog). So if your entry to DC is Union Station, great! Stroll through the building, swing by the Barnes and Nobles to get a guidebook, and go check out the rest of DC. Union Station is adequate as a visitors center, and has huge potential. But it's not there yet.So, to recap, these are the top three best places to start your DC visit, in my humble opinion, and in roughly that order. If you've got places you like to send visitors as they arrive, throw them in the comments. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=314Like any other fashionable woman, I try not to let my roots show in Paris. Only Iandrsquo;m not talking about those of the follicular kind. The roots I refer to are the things that make me stand out as an American. Besides the fact that I just canandrsquo;t seem to master the effortless style of the Frenchwoman, there are certain characteristics that make me stand out like a baguette at an Atkins support group. Many take place at the dining table. The French, for instance, pierce their food with their forks held upside down, and then keep it in that position as they lift the food into the mouth. I canandrsquo;t do that. Iandrsquo;ve tried, but it usually results in dropped food or a fork on the floor. Then thereandrsquo;s the matter of what to do with my hands while sitting at the table. In the U.S., weandrsquo;re told to keep our hands off the table and on our laps. But in France, thatandrsquo;s just bad manners. The rule is hands on tables, elbows off. Trying to maintain this stance, however, doesnandrsquo;t come naturally. I have to remind myself at least a dozen times throughout the meal, by which point it looks like Iandrsquo;m doing upper body calisthenics. Iandrsquo;m also a very finicky eater. Very. And that makes accepting dinner invitations andhellip; terrifying. In France, itandrsquo;s rude not to eat everything thatandrsquo;s prepared by your host, and since I donandrsquo;t like a lot of things andhellip; well, you see my problem. andldquo;What do you mean, you do not like mushrooms? Crazy American.andrdquo; The last few times, Iandrsquo;ve gotten lucky. A handsome Frenchman invited me to his place for lunch, and he actually prepared a meal I liked. And a French couple invited me to her Paris flat, but it was a brunch buffet, so I could helpandmdash;or not helpandmdash;myself at will. Finally, the thing that probably sends an American bat signal into the sky is the fact that I do not like to complain. Donandrsquo;t get me wrong, Iandrsquo;ll take a stand if someone tries to take advantage of me or doesnandrsquo;t provide me with a paid-for service. But Parisians love to complain. About everything. The weather. The government. The food. The wine. Atmospheric conditions on Saturn. Gravity. Oxygen. Me? Not so much. If itandrsquo;s good, why complain about it? If itandrsquo;s not, laugh it off. And thatandrsquo;s what makes me eternally, unforgivably American. At least in Paris.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=315The popular Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo will limit the number of visitors to its tuna auctions from May 10 after this year's Golden Week holidays.With up to 500 people sometimes gathering to watch the tuna auctions, the Tokyo metropolitan government has decided to limit the number of visitors to 140 daily, divided into two groups, with 70 people allowed to view the auction at any one time. andcopy; JapanVisitor.comhttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=316 Afternoon tea in London is not an new idea, surely, but the Pret-a-Portea at the Berkley Hotel in Knightsbridge (SW London) is a modern twist on a classic tradition. Each day, by reservation, from 1pm until 6pm you can enjoy an afternoon tea in the Caramel Room at the hotel, where for 35 pounds per person you can have tea (English tea or herbal tea) served with a selection of little cakes and cookies shaped like a Burberry trench coat, another like the latest andldquo;itandrdquo; bag or another shaped like a high-heeled boot. These are served along with small sandwiches and mini andldquo;savory skewersandrdquo;. It seems a perfect place to celebrate with a teen-age daughter whose fancy is taken by fashion or for any group of woman who would like a whimsical afternoon spent resting their tourist-weary feet in really plush surroundings. For 45 pounds you can bump the experience up to the next level by adding champagne to the little feast. What I love is that the treats are served on china designed by Paul Smith, a hero of mine in the design world. His designs and what the Berkley are serving makes afternoon tea at the Berkley a more modern than classic experience and I am all for that. You are not far from Brompton Road in Knightsbridge when visiting this hotel and shopping along that road could happen before or after the tea. There you will find Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Armani, Burberry, or the more achievable Top Shop. If nothing more it is worth a trip into one of these shops to view the over the top-ness of it all, even if you donandrsquo;t buy anything. To get there go back to the Hyde Park Corner Tube and go one stop on the Picadily line to the Knightsbridge stop. Exit through the Harrods/Brompton Road exit. Reservations are a good idea for the tea and can be had by phoning from the US 01144 207 201 1619. If you have gluten or other dietary issues, the staff will take that into consideration when preparing your tea if you give them 24 hours notice of your concerns. If phoning from London, use the above number and drop the 01144, BUT ADD an 0 before the 207. The Berkleyandrsquo;s web-site is here: http://www.the-berkeley.co.uk/fashionista_tea.aspx To get to the Berkley on Wilton Place in Knightsbridge: Take the Picadily Tube line to the Hyde Park Corner stop. Exit the station through Exit 4. Head straight ahead for about 5 mins. Wilton Place should be the 2nd left hand turn. The post code is SW1X. Come along with meandhellip;.London callingandhellip;. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=317Photo by zaqi, via Flickr (Creative Commons) The hotel concierge was aghast. andldquo;No, you cannot walk all the way down to Wall Street,andrdquo; he said. andldquo;Sir, let me call you a cab.andrdquo; He looked at me as if I had proposed rowing from New York to Londonandmdash;a whim requiring herculean effort and exposing me to incalculable danger. Nonetheless I asked for a map. I was in Midtown Manhattan, and the distance from there to Wall Street, where I had a lunch appointment, was three miles or so. If I canandrsquo;t walk three miles, itandrsquo;s time to set me on a rock in the woods and send me off to the next incarnation. It was 10 a.m., plenty of leeway. I shouldered my day pack and set off, concierge wide-eyed in my wake. Thus I had a very enjoyable stroll through Manhattan, on a fine spring day. My route took me through the Garment District, where workers still careen up and down the street hauling buggy-racks of fur coats. Who knew? I was also practicing one of the key principles of sustainable travel, a philosophy now sweeping the worldandrsquo;s biggest industry. More than 1 billion people will travel this year, around the globe, and todayandrsquo;s 40th anniversary of Earth Day is a good occasion to make our journeys more thoughtful. I preach this gospel often, and the key concepts I emphasize are: Sustainability is simple: No need for abstruse information or difficult endeavors, nor for discomfort or suffering. Use less, reuse more, pay attention to your buying choicesandmdash;these modest concepts cover 90 percent of sustainable travel. It saves money. Doomsayers argue that modern society cannot afford environmental and social awareness. Thatandrsquo;s bunk. Virtually every sustainable activity is thrifty. My Manhattan walk, for instance, saved me $2 subway fare, or perhaps $25 cab fare. Iandrsquo;m on the road 120 nights a year; if I save just $25 a day, the consequent total gain is enough to buy an extra week on the beach in Bora Bora. The following nine ways to make a difference as a sustainable traveler are also good choices for everyday living, of course. But we tend to overlook unnecessary practices when weandrsquo;re on the road, and were all 1 billion travelers to choose differently this year, the positive effect on the worldandrsquo;s environment and economy would be huge. If we keep things as they are, our grandchildren will be learning the joys of trash tourism. 1) Walk Itandrsquo;s not only good for the environment and your budget, itandrsquo;s good for you. Traveling is often disastrous to exercise routines; the opportunity to walk to meetings, attractions, restaurants and activities is almost universal in major cities. It saves money, spares pollution, helps you live longer, and is by far the best way to experience any locale. 2) Ride public transportation When walking isnandrsquo;t practical public transit is the next best option. Buses, trams, trains and the like are available and convenient in hundreds of the worldandrsquo;s major cities. Often they are an intrinsic part of the experience: If you havenandrsquo;t ridden the Tube, you havenandrsquo;t been to London. 3) Recreate Recreation is a broad term ranging from simple strolling to activities that burn more fossil fuel than Army tanks. Use your own two hands and feetandmdash;pedal, paddle, hike, glide, ski, skate and swing your way around the worldandrsquo;s playgrounds. 4) Donandrsquo;t fly your food The old axiom that you are what you eat is better expressed as, we are what we eat. Virtually everyone dines three times a day; making sure that your menu selections favor local ingredients spares the environment, supports local producers, yields better and more healthy food, and exposes you to another crucial part of local culture. Having lobster in Louisville is silly. So is papaya in Portland. Both those places have local specialties that are much better choices. 5) Donandrsquo;t buy flying souvenirs Chotchkes are often made in China, even if the coffee mug says andldquo;Omaha.andrdquo; Supporting local artisans helps local economiesandmdash;a key facet of sustainabilityandmdash;spares pollution and transport cost, and provides something genuine to take home. If you want souvenirs made in China, please go to China. 6) Reuse your towels Seems like most of the worldandrsquo;s hotel rooms now offer guests the choice of reusing towels and linens. Take this option. There are more than 4.5 million hotel rooms in the United States, so letandrsquo;s do the math: Two towels, 365 days, 4.5 million hotel rooms: hotels could be washing and drying 3.6 trillion towels. Letandrsquo;s not. 7) Take short showers Not only does hot water use energy, a large portion of the worldandrsquo;s resorts are in areas where water is scarce, such as California, Colorado, Mexico, Hawaii and Arizona. Hotels donandrsquo;t always point this out, under the impression customers will resent environmental reminders. Even locales often considered andldquo;wet,andrdquo; such as Seattle and Portland, are reaching their water supply limits. 8) Use glass, not plastic Oh, those plastic bottlesandmdash;6 percent of earthandrsquo;s hydrocarbon consumption is for beverage bottles. Itandrsquo;s millions of bottles per hour in North America and Europe, while billions of people around the world would do anything for the simple gift of clean tap water. Use a glass. Leave the $4 bottle on the mini-barandmdash;see, weandrsquo;re saving money again. 9) Recycle, reuse, reduce The three linchpins of environmental sustainability are just as valid on the road as at home. If there isnandrsquo;t a recycle bin in your hotel room, ask the staff. Look for them in the airport. Pass your morning paper on to another traveler. I carry my own shopping bags, which add a whopping 2 percent to the weight and volume in my luggage. I carry my own coffee cup, too, which is not only sustainable, it keeps my coffee warm longer than a paper cup.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=357Have you heard about the second edition of the Voyages of the Great Explorers? In short the journey consists of twenty-five consecutive itineraries that total 335 days around the world. These "voyages" include Asia to the Mediterranean, Europe to the Americas and throughout the South Pacific all taking place on our spectacular flagship, Spirit of Oceanus. A traveler can choose to join us for one voyage, consecutive voyages, even multiple voyages to different parts of the world at different times of the year. Itandrsquo;s all up to their imagination, desire, and schedule. The first edition commences this month and the second around the world trip for 2011/2012 has just been announced. If you are having doubts about the benefits of traveling on theses around the world voyages by small ship, perhaps these reasons will help: Destinations that only small-ships can access Each distinct voyage, ranging from 9- to 18- nights, will visit many ports, places and inlets that the larger ships can't access such as: Ile Rousse, Corsica, the birthplace of Christopher Columbus; the secluded beaches of Belle-Ile-en-Mer, France, also known for its dramatic coastline; the pristine coral reefs of isolated Corn Island, Nicaragua - once frequented by Caribbean pirates; Santa Ana, Solomon Islandsknown for its elaborately decorated "spirit house"; and Kumai, Kalimantan, Borneo to experience dawn in the jungle and observe orangutans. Further exploration by Zodiac to private islands, snorkeling safaris, pristine inlets and hard to reach villages fulfill the promise of an unforgettable journey. Inclusive Shore Excursions Shore excursions are included at every port and each voyage will be enhanced by an extraordinary 'Ultimate Explorers Experience' (UEE), designed to bring guests into direct personal contact with fascinating people. For instance, guests will have the chance to observe some of the finest dancing in all the South Pacific at Kitava, Trobriand Islands in Papua New Guinea, and participate in the noviciation ceremony and food offering to the monks in Rangoon. Exclusive Encounters Explore cultural treasures, archaeological sites, unique landscapes and remote island chains that many people have only dreamed to venture. Sink your teeth into local Turkish delicacies at an exclusive reception featuring a private classical concert at Ephesus; discover the excavations of Capharnaum and the Mount of Beatitudes in Haifa, Israel; visit the exquisite Grand Mosque in Muscat, Oman that can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers, and travel onto ancient Shiraz and Persepolis via charter flight; and witness the spectacles as Edinburgh's world-famous Military Tattoo. Onboard Experts The discovery and learning continues aboard ship as well with expert guest speakers sharing their knowledge of the people, cultures, and sights from each journey. On average there will be seven to 10 thought provoking lectures on a 14-night itinerary. Frommer's Top Small Ship with All Suites This around the world voyage is aboard the all-suite Spirit of Oceanus -- recently named by Frommer's as the Top Small Ship for 2010, and is our most spacious and luxurious ship. It offers gracious comfort for 120 select guests. Seven suite categories are offered onboard, including 14 suites with private balconies and one elegantly appointed and spacious Owner's Suite located on the ship's Sun Deck. For detailed itineraries and current specials visit www.cruisewest.com/world-cruise or watch a video about this incredible trip.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=350editor's note: Tokyo nightlife has been depicted in many ways throughout popular culture. Check out Tokyo's historic Golden Gai district and get a sense of local bar culture and why patrons have defended this district for so long. Two hundred bars in one night: ready, set, go! Western television reports about Tokyo tend to focus on the ultra-modern. There will, almost without exception, be shots of Shibuyaandrsquo;s Hachiko crossing (above), kids dressed in epileptic-fit inducing outfits and random commuter trains zipping past a neon background. A few finishing touches are applied (the occasional fancy edit and pumping electronic backing track andndash; preferably by Orbital) and Bobandrsquo;s your uncle, Toe-key-oh! Of course, thereandrsquo;s more to Tokyo than techno-wallabies, Akihabara uber-nerds, passive-aggressive identikit salarymen and whale-smoking, dolphin-slapping karaoke hostess bars. Before the Americans bombed the living daylights out of it Tokyo was an intriguing mix of ramshackle streets and wooden buildings; buildings that even then struggled to hold out against the changes that modernisation brought to the country. After the war, a few Soweto-like areas that werenandrsquo;t burned to cinders became hotspots for black market trading and lady-related sauciness. Shinjukuandrsquo;s andlsquo;Golden Gaiandrsquo; was one of them. Despite the whippet-like pace of change in other entertainment districts the Golden Gai has managed to retain a sense of its old-world charm. The area is home to some 150 bars stacked on and around each other in higgledy-piggledy fashion, linked together by a grid of tiny footpaths and claustrophobic alleyways. In the 1970s it became a popular hangout for artists, writers, musicians and letandrsquo;s-have-a-revolution-oh-feck-it-Iandrsquo;ll-kill-myself intellectual Yukio Mishima. These days youandrsquo;ll find it populated by an eclectic mix of old regulars, twenty- and thirty-something white-collar workers and random tourists who read about it in a Lonely Planet travel guide. Finding a decent bar in the Golden Gai is like a game of Russian roulette, only without the spattering of brains on the wall (Tip: do it on the beach and let the crabs clean up). A lot of places are filled with regulars who like to keep thingsandhellip; wellandhellip;regular. For this reason youandrsquo;ll find that most bars charge a fee andndash; typically around JPY1000 andndash; just for the exalted privilege of entering. Itandrsquo;s the kind of twattish bag-of-wank practice that makes bar-hopping a bit of a non-starter, but if youandrsquo;re feeling flush and fancy something different then forget about the price and get stuck in. After all, you only live onceandhellip; apart from my mate Cecil: heandrsquo;s on his fourth life. The government know about it, but itandrsquo;s all kept very hush-hush. If you really do need to reign in the expenses then itandrsquo;s Imperative (yep, with a capital andldquo;Iandrdquo;) that you apply the Golden Gai Coefficient: Stick your head through a promising-looking door. Ask the barman/barmaid how much itandrsquo;ll cost you to drink there. Scan the bar and weigh up the clientele. Do they look like the kind of people you want to drink with? (Remember: these bars are the size of a garden shed, and conversation is INEVITABLE.) Is there the possibility of something interesting happening? Kabuki theatre performed by a cete of impeccably-groomed badgers, for example? Apply the Golden Gai Coefficient: Cost andle; Entertainment Value = Enter the bar (candle;ev=e) Cost andgt; Entertainment Value = Leg it (candgt;ev=l) If youandrsquo;re with your mates youandrsquo;ll have to pool your calculations and put it to a vote. (Adopt first-past-the-post voting methods: donandrsquo;t try to seek consensus on the issue, otherwise youandrsquo;ll end up walking around for hours on end.) Finding the Golden Gai is as easy as slipping on a wet bathroom floor and smashing your head open. Come out of Shinjuku stationandrsquo;s Kabukicho Exit and walk straight down (and I mean down as in the street that slopes slightly downwards) until you get to Yasukuni Dori. Youandrsquo;ll know youandrsquo;re on Yasukuni Dori when you see this: View Untitled in a larger map Head up Yasukuni Dori for about five minutes. Both sides of the street are packed with shops and restaurants. After a few minutes youandrsquo;ll spot a Mr Donuts (a cafe, not an actual man that looks like a doughnut) on the left-hand side. To the right of Mr Donuts is a small footpath shrouded by trees and the homeless. This, laydees and gentlemice, is the gateway to the Golden Gai. Only the penitent man will pass, so donandrsquo;t forget to kneel when you hear the buzzing of circular saws coming out of the walls. Here it is on a map: View Golden Gai, Shinjuku in a larger map The best time to visit the Golden Gai is Friday or Saturday nights, preferably after 10pm, and after youandrsquo;ve already had a few drinkypoos. If youandrsquo;re thinking about getting a late-night train back to your home/hotel, forget it: accept the fact that youandrsquo;ll be out until 5am (when the first trains start running) or paying for a taxi and youandrsquo;ll enjoy yourself a lot more.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=359Editor's Note: The Waldorf salad was invented at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York, the Singapore Sling concocted at the Raffles hotel in Singapore. Here's another interesting food story from the past. Chop Suey, anyone?New Yorkers have been ordering chop suey since the turn of the century, when Chinese restaurants opened in large numbers and Chinese food became a trendy cuisine. It was always a popular dishandmdash;and it may have been invented right here in 1896. Thatandrsquo;s when New York welcomed an official visit by Chinese premier Li Hongzhang. Supposedly the personal chefs he brought with him from China created chop suey to win over American palates at formal dinners. Another theory has it that chop suey is a bastardization of a Cantonese dish, and it became popular in the U.S. when Chinatowns sprang up in cities. Whatever the story is, one thingandrsquo;s for sure: It was always an inexpensive dish, as this 1960s menu, from The Rice Bowl Restaurant at 44 Mott Street, shows.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=330When thinking about the top scenic spots to see Paris panorama, one usually has the Tour Eiffel in mind (please, this is so clichandeacute;!!), the Arc de Triomphe or the Butte Montmartre. But one often forgets that right in the middle the city, at the rooftop of the Beaubourg Modern Art Museum (a.k.a. Centre Georges Pompidou), awaits an amazing scenery. The only problem: if you try to get there through the regular entrance, youandrsquo;ll have to pay a museum ticket just to take the escalator. And yet there is a cool, faster and totally free way to get there: just use the elevator located at the front of the musuem (on the left). A security guard will probably ask you what youandrsquo;re doing there: just tell him that youandrsquo;re going to the restaurant/bar upstairs. That will do the trick! Donandrsquo;t forget to bring your camera http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=354Editor's Note: Here's an alternative for college spring breaks! Purchase a 'Classic Package' for $44.85/day and get unlimited beverages on board. Gather up your friends for an unforgettable vacation on the seas!Celebrity Cruises is toasting its guests with a new beverage on board beverage program. As a result of extensive research and past guestsandrsquo; feedback, Celebrity has created four brand-new beverage packages. These include two classic options and two premium options. The andldquo;Classic Non-Alcoholic Packageandrdquo; features fountain and can soda, bottled and fresh-squeezed juices, premium coffee and bottled water, and is available at $14.95 per person, per day. The andldquo;Premium Non-Alcoholic Packageandrdquo; includes everything in the classic non-alcoholic package plus specialty non-alcoholic coffee drinks, additional name-brand bottled water choices, canned energy drinks and flavored bottled water offerings, smoothies and frozen non-alcoholic drinks, and is available at $18.40 per person, per day. Celebrityandrsquo;s new andldquo;Classic Packageandrdquo; features everything in the classic non-alcoholic package plus beers with a retail value of up to five dollars per serving and spirits, cocktails, and wines by the glass with a retail value of up to eight dollars per serving, and costs guests $44.85 per person, per day. The andldquo;Premium Packageandrdquo; features all the premium beverages in the premium non-alcoholic package plus all beers, and spirits, cocktails, and wines by the glass with a retail value of up to 12 dollars per serving, and is available for $56.35 per person, per day. All prices include a standard 15 percent service charge. Celebrity also is offering its wine packages for pre-booking. These include the andldquo;Sommelierandrsquo;s Package,andrdquo; the choice of a three-, five-, or seven-bottle lineup of premium international wines; a wider variety of wines available in a andldquo;Captainandrsquo;s Packageandrdquo; or a andldquo;Build Your Ownandrdquo; wine package designed for guests who want to maximize their personal taste in wine while enjoying a discount. The andldquo;Build Your Ownandrdquo; package allows wine connoisseurs to select three upper-range bottles of wine that each cost at least $75, and enjoy a 15% discount. Bottles of wine enjoyed through any of Celebrityandrsquo;s wine packages can be uncorked in one onboard venue, then recorked and stored until the guest is ready to reopen them. Your cruise expert at www.iCruise.com has all the bubbly details! http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=348editor's note: More entertainment venues. More restaurants. More choices. It seems the cruise industry has outdone itself yet again. The new Norwegian Epic is going to challenge Royal Caribbeanandrsquo;s Oasis and Allure of the Seas ships not on size but in a number of different ways. At slightly over 150,000 tons and carrying 4100 guests, the Epic is no slouch in the size category. In fact, it is almost 60% larger than the other ships in the NCL fleet and larger than the ships operated by Carnival and Princess. But size is not really the differentiator here. At NCL itandrsquo;s all about taking the Freestyle Cruise concept up a notch. 20 different dining options are just the start. For example, there is no andldquo;main theatreandrdquo; on board. Instead, guests will be able to visit a multitude of entertainment venues including the Blue Man group, Legends in Concert, Howl at the Moon and a one-of-a-kind circus and dinner show called Cirque Dreams. A recently announced partnership with Nickelodeon means the kiddies and Sponge Bob lovers of all ages wonandrsquo;t be left out. The ship will sail on June 24th on a sold out transatlantic crossing to New York and arrive on July 1. There will be a two day cruise for the travel trade and media with christening by Reba McEntire. On July 4th the ship will act as official host for the Macyandrsquo;s Annual Independence Day fireworks celebration. The Cruise Professor will be on board for that event and I look forward to sending you a live update and a complete report on the entire ship andndash; including the worldandrsquo;s only floating Ice Bar. In the meantime, the cruise experts at www.iCruise.com are ready to start you on your way to your own andldquo;Epicandrsquo; cruise experience. To whet your appetite you can view a sneak peak of the ship below. Call www.iCruise.com at (800) 427-8473 for more details. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=355Editor's Note: With TV and the Internet, travelers these days are more aware of the world-wide issues confronting the locals in many tourist destinations. Here is another example showing that 'humanitarian tourism' is on the rise. What a great way to make your contribution to humanity - here's how you can make a difference in someone elses life by donating anywhere from an hour to a day of your time while aboard your cruise. Cruise lines and their ships contribute to worldwide causes almost on a daily basis. On any given day, there are multiple programs being conducted that benefit local, regional and national charitable organizations. These range from on board andldquo;walk a mileandrdquo; programs to support breast cancer research to carrying relief supplies to areas of the world impacted by natural disasters as in the case of Haiti. A recent example of a cruise ship coming to the rescue played out during the recent volcanic ash crisis in Europe that grounded flights and stranded thousands of travelers. The Celebrity Eclipse returned recently to her home port in Southampton from Bilbao, Spain, where she picked up approximately 2,200 vacationers stranded by the volcanic eruption in Iceland and the resulting flight cancellations. The voyage replaced the planned two-day launch celebration cruise for the ship, operated by Celebrity Cruises . If you would like to raise funds for your local organization, many cruise lines have a program that contributes directly to your charity when you put a group cruise together. Itandrsquo;s a simple, easy to manage program. Your www.iCruise.com expert can provide details on this unique, fund raising cruise opportunity. Enough supplies were carried on Enchantment of the Seas to fill five 40-foot trucks from floor-to-ceiling. Among the cargo was 40,000 liters of bottled water. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=331editor's note: This is the first post in a great series on ways to maximize air miles. Check out The Perrin Post to read all 10. Today's winning formula: AmEx Rewards --andgt; Air Canada --andgt; Lufthansa and Thai Air = Bangkok!Do you find it impossible to use your frequent-flier miles for the flights you want? Then by all means don't check out the 250 amazing frequent-flier success stories and strategies submitted in our Maximize Your Miles Contest because you'll only feel like an idiot. Drool over the award-redemption triumphs and heed the clever tips, however, and not only will you learn what you need to know to find award-seat availability, you'll be able to spin your miles into more free trips than you ever thought possible.The stories and tips are so terrific, in fact, that I've been having one helluva tough time picking the contest winner. He or she will walk away with the prize of 250,000 frequent-flier miles -- enough for two international business-class tickets anywhere in the world. This prize was generously donated by mileage magician Steve Belkin, founder of Competitours, the summertime team travel competition in Europe that's been called "The Amazing Race for the rest of us" -- meaning, those of us who like the idea of a mystery itinerary through Europe with quirky challenges but who don't want the cameras or extreme stunts and don't have the physical strength or speed required for the TV show. Steve co-sponsored our Maximize Your Miles Contest in order to put Competitours on more travelers' radar screens. I don't know if it worked, but I do know that my six- and eight-year-old Amazing Race-obsessed sons are now hounding me and their dad to team up with them for a Competitours race. I might just be mileage-obsessed enough to do it: The Competitours prize is 320,000 Starwood Preferred Guest points -- which, as my non-mileage-obsessed husband is sick of hearing, can be turned into 400,000 airline miles!At any rate, because the Maximize Your Miles Contest yielded so many inspiring stories and insider secrets, I've decided to highlight my favorite ones here before announcing the big winner. I've singled out the top ten runners-up and will publish their stories and tips -- one each weekday for the next ten days or so -- before finishing up with the winner. I invite each of the ten finalists whose entries I'm about to publish to get in touch (e-mail: wperrin@cntraveler.com) next time they're in New York City: I'd love to take you to lunch at the restaurant of your choice and hear more of your travel war stories. Without further ado, here's the story and tip from the first of our ten finalists:This story (which I've edited for clarity) comes from Carberrie:"I wanted two business-class tickets from New York to Bangkok this past Thanksgiving and was booking less than three weeks ahead of time. I had 250,000 American Express Membership Rewards points, which I could transfer into any airline mileage account. If I had transferred them to, say, United or Continental, I would have had to spend 125K miles per business-class ticket. Instead, I started checking the award charts of AmEx's foreign airline partners. I found that Air Canada sells first-class seats to Asia for only 120K miles. Since Air Canada belongs to the Star Alliance, I could transfer my points to Air Canada but then use them on any of the Star Alliance carriers flying my route. So I transferred my points to Air Canada and redeemed them for first-class seats on Lufthansa and Thai Airways. I got to fly in first class for cheaper than business class. My tip: When accumulating miles or transferring points, look at foreign airline partners' award charts. Know your desired destination and see which airline's program can get you there for the least miles."In other words, don't assume you have to fly the airline that you collect your miles on or that you transfer your AmEx Membership Rewards points to. You simply have to fly one of that airline's alliance partners. So figure out where you want to go, then transfer your points or credit your miles to the foreign airline partner that will get you there for the smallest amount of mileage. For further clarification of this point, see my article "How to Maximize Your Miles" in Conde Nast Traveler's April issue. In it mileage expert Gary Leff, who writes Boarding Area's must-read View From The Wing blog, offers another telling Air Canada example: If you want to fly business-class from New York to Paris, it will cost 105,000 miles on United or Continental, but only 80,000 miles if you transfer your AmEx points to Air Canada, then redeem them on Air Canada or one of its Star Alliance partners (including United or Continental). Stay tuned for the story and tip from contest finalist #2 on Monday.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=346Whatandrsquo;s new at Travel Onion? Today we launch our new Cruising page. In doing research on cruises and cruise lines, we found that the industry clichandeacute; 'you havenandrsquo;t lived until youandrsquo;ve been cruising' is surprisingly true. We started out with a fairly singular idea of cruising: an indulgent and relaxing vacation aboard massive ships that take you to exotic locales. Well, we were quickly proved wrong! Our cruise page shows that the options for cruising are endless (and sometimes educational, sometimes humanitarian and sometimes even more luxurious than we imagined). A cruise trip eliminates the hassle and stress of coordinating train, bus and plane schedules all while tugging your bulky luggage. And you still get to all of the exotic destinations! One day youandrsquo;re in Cairo and the next youandrsquo;re in Dubrovnik. While transporting between the two, you can sit by the pool or even go shopping - many cruise lines have adopted more options to fill spare time in between ports with more active choices like zip lining and surfing lessons (which we know thanks to the Atlas Cruises andamp; Tours blog)! But possibly cruises seem overwhelming: too many people, too many destinations, too indulgent and no personal space. Well rest assured that there are options and solutions for every one of your objections. If you are curious about the type of people aboard, Captain John Heald of Carnival Cruises opens up in his hilarious blog where he recounts the quirks and hidden secrets about cruises and its' customers. We were also surprised to find that among the excess to be found on cruises, there are also many charities to get involved with. iCruise.com offers a commendable blog post on 'good deeds at sea'. You can become personally involved in the relief efforts for places like Haiti or Iceland or other recent environmental disasters. Ultimately, for many, going on vacation or traveling is a time to get away, to find some personal time and to create new experiences and memories. If a large cruise line still seems overwhelming, there are smaller cruise ships to suit your style. As the Cruise West blog points out, smaller cruise ships offer more entry to more exclusive ports and priority access to beautiful beaches. Just because youandrsquo;re going on a smaller ship doesnandrsquo;t mean you have to lose the luxury feel. Take a look into Avalon Waterways new cruise ship that promises more room, better amenities, and the trip of a lifetime. We know where we'll be taking our next vacation. Happy cruising!http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=353editor's note: John Heald nevers fail to entertain. As I mentioned yesterday we sailed late from Charleston yesterday because we needed to pump in lots of fresh water as there are no facilities in either Half Moon Cay or Grand Turk. This meant that instead of 4 pm we sailed at 5:40pmandhellip;andhellip;.and I made an announcement explaining that this was the case. Then just as we were ready to leave a big thunderstorm sat over the ship so the captain decided to wait another 45 minutes until the high winds calmed down. Well, it appears that a guest has his own opinion as to why we left late. Guest: Mr. andmdash;andmdash;andmdash;Ref: 802012075A Cabin: andmdash;andmdash;andndash; Booking#: _____ Added-Changed: 05/23/10 andndash; 05/23/10 WANTS TO SPEAK TO THE CAPTAIN ABOUT LATE DEPARTURE Guest called the GSD from cabin ___ to ask to be put through to the Captain. GSA asked what the concern was and guest said that he did not believe that we left Charleston late because we needed water. Gust said that he knew that we had problems with ship engines and that we would not make the ports and Carnival wanted to make money and keep guests onboard and not tell them. GSA explained that this was not true and that we did need water. Guest became very angry wanting the Captain. I couldnandrsquo;t resist calling the guest. This is actually the Guest Services Managerandrsquo;s responsibility but as I had made the announcement and as I felt like I could calm this chap down a bit I called him. Our conversation was very one sided as he continued to give his conspiracy theory about our engines and that andldquo;he had heard from othersandrdquo; that we were not going to make our ports. I then calmly explained that we were, as we were talking doing 19 knots and were heading on schedule to Nassau and that only unforeseen situations like bad weather or the ship being attacked by a giant squid andhellip;..called Colin andhellip;andhellip; would stop us being where we were supposed to be, when we were supposed to be there. After the conversation finished I knew deep down that he didnandrsquo;t believe me and that his conspiracy theory was correct. I wonder if he is part of a conspiracy theory club. There must be conspiracy theory clubs around the world. I bet they have a secret handshake and I bet you have to wear a plaid shirt to get in. I am sure he and his mates sit at their meetings, drinking Dr. Pepper telling each other that Princess Diana was killed by the Association of World Florists so that they would make millions as the world mourned and bought flowers. Another plaid shirt wearing theorist would have told him to bugger off saying that she was killed by MI6 on the orders of the Queen who sent James Bond to have her whacked. Some peopleandrsquo;s desperation for conspiracy theories seems to be as great as ever and people like my engine friend truly believe that JFK was the victim of a CIA assassination plot. The moon landing was faked. September 11 was a Jewish plot to turn world opinion against Muslim countries. And although not obviously on the same level there are the conspiracy theories that believe Carnival will next week be charging for ice tea on lido and doing away with stateroom stewards forcing guests to make their own beds and design their own towel animals. Actually, that might be fun. Each guest has to design a towel animal for the cabin next door. I wonder if we did that how many rolled up towels would appear with guests declaring andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;..andrdquo;Itandrsquo;s a snake!andrdquo; I was very respectful to the guest and thought he might like a basket with fruit in itandhellip;andhellip;so I sent him one along with a brief note wishing him a fun cruise. But when I am not wearing my Carnival name tag I have to admit that I have a pure dislike for conspiracy theories. The smug, self-satisfied, arms-crossed demeanor of those who would have us believe that Neil Armstrong didnandrsquo;t walk on the moon or indeed anywhere more exciting than a sodding sound stage in Nevada invariably fills me with an uncontrollable need andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;. to flick their nipplesandhellip;andhellip;..really hard. Time for todayandrsquo;s questionsandhellip;andhellip;andhellip;.off we go. Mary Ann Taylor Asked: Dear John (Please Reply), andbull; Thank you so much for giving me a laugh each morning. andbull; My husband andamp; I have returned from our 9th Carnival cruise. This cruise was extra exciting because my poor husband had an accident during an excursion. He is fine but will be wheelchair bound for a few more weeks (the accident happened six weeks ago andndash; both legs were injured). I want to say Thank You to the great staff on aboard the Miracle. From the golf pro (yes, a golfing accident), to the medical staff, guest services, housekeeping (getting all that extra ice), our great server (who seated us in the dining room just before the crowd) to the fellow who escorted us off the ship to the bus transfer. Everyone went out of their way to help us. Having Luggage Express was a great help as well. andbull; Well, believe it or not we are scheduled to return to the Miracle July 2 (out of NYC) with his whole family (yes, this is my effort to convert them to Carnival cruising, his brothers have cruised other lines). This will be our 10th (Yeah andndash; VIP Platinum status here we come!) There will be 13 of us: my husbandandrsquo;s parents andamp; his three brothers w/families (3 children), a total of 13. I know we will be getting our VIP gifts, but any possibility that a small token could be sent to the others? Our cabin is 7299, but their cabin numbers are: 7105/7107/7227/7147/8266. andbull; We are all scheduled for late seating. Do you have any idea how the dining staff will seat us? Are there tables that accommodate 13 or will we be split up? I have told them all about how the wait staff entertain the guests during meals andamp; hope that we are seated where we can andldquo;see the actionandrdquo;. andbull; We are planning a night at the Steakhouse but donandrsquo;t want to go on an Elegant Night, would you be able to tell us which nights are Elegant? andbull; Last, but not least a thank you to our wonderful PVP, andldquo;Samandrdquo; Welsh who has lots of patience andamp; has helped me many times. John Says: Hello Mary Ann Taylor Thank you for the kind words and I was so sorry to hear about your husbandandrsquo;s accident. It sounds like he must have really been in some pain and I hope by the time you get this reply that he is out of the wheelchair and back on his feet againandhellip;andhellip;I never knew golf could be so dangerousandhellip;andhellip;andhellip;..unless you are Tiger Woods of course and you are being hit by a 5 iron by your very angry wife. Thanks so much for taking the time to tell me about the people who made a difference to your cruise vacation and I will make sure they all see your words of praise. Despite your husbandandrsquo;s injury I am glad to see that you will be returning to the Carnival Miracle in July and thanks so much for bringing your family with you. I know that they will love Carnival fun for all cruising just as you have done and before I forget many congratulations on reaching Platinum status. Now, as requested, here is your itinerary with the elegant nights marked and my recommendation to eat in the fabulous Steakhouse. There you go. I have e mailed the Maitre D who will make sure you are on two tables next to each other as there are no tables of 13andhellip;..plus thatandrsquo;s unlucky as well. So, you will be right next to each other in the best configuration possible. I will also ask the CD to send each cabin a little welcome gift. Thanks so much again for the kind words for the crew and Sam the PVP all of whom I will copy on this. Have a great cruise Best wishes to all John Leanne Asked: John, Please Reply I canandrsquo;t help feel a little sad for you when you miss important andldquo;familyandrdquo; days, like Heidi andamp; Kyeandrsquo;s birthdays. As adults, we like to say that birthdays are no longer a big deal; however, Iandrsquo;d be very disappointed if I didnandrsquo;t see my boys, or get a card or even dinner with my husband. It doesnandrsquo;t have to be anything fancy, but it would just be nice to have them there. So, hereandrsquo;s my questionandhellip;Isnandrsquo;t there some way that you, being Senior Cruise Director andamp; Brand Ambassador, and general andldquo;go-to guyandrdquo;, could plan your vacations as well as Heidi and Kyeandrsquo;s visits to the ship around these important dates? It seems that would be the best of both worlds! I truly hope that as Kye grows up, you will be able to find a peaceful coexistence between a job you love and your family, which you obviously love, a whole bunch, too. Iandrsquo;m sure that Heidi LOVED the flowers and balloons, but Iandrsquo;d start shopping NOW for that super special gift for Kye! Take care and be well, Leanne Banks John Says: Hello Leanne Banks It feels strange replying to this after the comments I read from Lady Corvette yesterday. Maybe she is correct and you donandrsquo;t want me pouring my sadness upon your day. However, as you asked I have made a promise to myself that this birthday, Kyeandrsquo;s first, will be the only one I ever miss and regardless of whether she comes to me or I go to herandhellip;andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;I will never miss another. She did love the flowers and balloons and she loved all the wonderful birthday wishes that everyone sent. These are now in her scrap book. Thanks so much for the kind words of support, they mean a lot. Best wishes John April M Asked: Just wanted to send you a note and let you know how much you are appreciated by everyone you come in contact with whether it be in person or on this blog. You make us poor sods in the cubicle realize there is more to life than being stuck in an office for 8 hours a day and there is life actually going outside the office. This gets me through many days and I think back to all the wonderful Carnival cruises I have had the pleasure to be a part of. I have a question, it may be silly but I donandrsquo;t know the answer. My husband and I were on the Carnival Sensation shipped out April 22 and Skip and you were wonderful to send us some birthday presents to our room. One of the gifts was a DVD that had a label on it that read andldquo;Gourmet Cookingandrdquo; andndash; I was very excited about this because my teenage daughter loves to cook. So she and I sat down the day after we got back from the cruise popped it in the DVD player and there was nothing on the disk. Do you have an address or someone I can contact about this? I am clueless when it comes to this type of stuff. Thanks again for all the wonderful things you do and I know you miss your family and hate going back to your empty room, I will say a prayer that you will get to see them very soon. John Says: Hello April M Goodness meandhellip;andhellip;.there has never been a better time to read the opening statement of your posting. Once again, even though I tell myself not to, I have found myself wondering if I should stop blogging. These thoughts arise when I read comments from people who seem to hate the fact that I do. But then I read the many who tell me to keep going and your words have come at the perfect time so thank you for writing them. That is very strange. I am glad that you got the gifts but I have no idea about the DVD which of course we can replace. I have just sent an e mail to the CD Skippy and I will ask him what the story is. Meanwhile, please can you send a posting to one of the 344 Stephanies marked private with your address and I will get him to send you another copy. I hope you both had a wonderful cruise and many thanks again for your kindness. Best wishes John Big Foot Cruiser Asked: John Reply Please: Me and the wife just got of the Sensation boat and we had a good time. During the cruise though I was told I could not come into dinner because I had a shirt on with no sleeves. Carnival did not tell me about this when we booked. I had to buy a shirt from the shop on the boat that cost $29. I feel I should be having my money back for this. Can you help me as I did not know and only bought shorts and wife beaters? I was on vacation. The food was good and the karaoke place was a lot of fun Aaron John Says: Hello Big Foot Cruiser /Aaron Thank you for writing and I am glad you had so much fun on the Carnival Ecstasy. I have to be honest and tell you that I didnandrsquo;t know what a andldquo;wife beaterandrdquo; was and had to ask Uncle Google. I must say, thatandrsquo;s an awful analogy. Anyway, the Maitre Dandrsquo;s are instructed to enforce various dress codes on our cruises and we do not allow Tank Tops or wife beaters as you call them (although it seems a rather cruel description) in the dining room. I am sorry that you had to buy a shirt in the on board shops but the dress codes are written on your ticket information which you receive before you sail so I am not in a position to refund the money for you. I hope though that the shirt is a wonderful reminder of your cruise and the next time you cruise and you have any questions beforehand please let me know here on the blog thingy. Best wishes John Lexi Asked: John-Please Reply My husband applied for US citizenship in Sept 09 in March he was sworn is as US citizen. On the day of the ceremony he was asked if he wanted to change his name. He said yes and changed his name to Mike Miodrgag Pejnovic. From Just plan Miodrag. Everyone knows him as Mike. I thought no big deal. We are booked on the Dream again for Oct 23. I started doing my fun pass and there was an asterisk by the name change part on my husbandandrsquo;s part. So I sent an email to my TA about this. Because we have a Non refundable cruise Carnival wants to charge us an extra $50 to change his name. I can understand if it is a different person in the cabin but he is one and the same person. His last name did not change just the first and middle. The cruise is a gift from my Mom for my husband getting his US citizenship. My booking number is ****. I hope you can help with this problem. Alexandra (Lexi) Pejnovic John Says: Hello Lexi Many congratulations to your husband, I am sure you must both be very proud. Regarding your question about your husbandandrsquo;s name, I will certainly pass this along to someone at our Miami HQ and they will be in touch soon. Please leave this with me. Thanks for letting me know and best wishes to you both John Lisa Roach Asked: Hi John andndash; (would love a response, please) My fiancandeacute; and I were on the Conquest the week of April 11. This was our second cruise. We were in stateroom 7340 which had a balcony. LOVED the balcony and will never cruise without one again!!! We also thought that you were a fantastic CD. We loved your humor, your jokes and the fun we all had with Longview. Tell all of those complainers to take a hikeandhellip;lol. We are very grateful for Carnival having a home port in Galveston, TX and would love to have some different itineraries from which to choose. We took the five day cruise last year and the only other cruise from Galveston is the one to the Bahamas. We are planning to book that vacation soon. From the welcome show with Dick and Anita Little to the Bedtime Story, our cruise was filled with laughs, good times and lots of memories. We canandrsquo;t wait to cruise with Carnival again and we definitely look forward to sharing another cruise with you. Thanks to you and all of the Conquest staff for a wonderful vacation!!! PSandhellip;..I know itandrsquo;s a little late, but I thought of a couple of names for the new ship. How about the Exhilaration or the Temptation? John Says: Hello Lisa Roach Ahhhh yes, the Longview cruise. What wonderful memories I have of that and indeed my entire time on the Carnival Conquest. Since my time in Galveston I have written to all the top people at Carnival and told them how amazing the support for the Carnival brand is in Texas and I know that they are looking to continue supporting Texas by looking at different ships and itineraries from there. Did you see the name of the new Carnival Dream class ship is andldquo;Carnival Breeze?andrdquo; I think the name has been very well received although I like the andldquo;Exhilarationandrdquo; suggestion. I am so glad you had a great time and I hope you and I will get to sail with each other again soon. My best wishes to you and all the family John Donald Asked: I am sailing on the Carnival Triumph on July 5th and have a couple of questions: 1. Any idea who the cruise director will be for this sailing? 2. Where would the best place to sit in the restaurants to get the maximum entertainment? We will be eating during the late seating. Also, could you get us a seat there? I will be glad to send my booking # if you need it (and Iandrsquo;m sure you will). Unrelated question: We sailed on the Carnival Ecstasy in July 2005 and 2006. Both times our cruise director was Rebecca Llewellyn (sp?). I do not see her listed on any ship now. Is she still around? John Says: Hello Donald The CD for your Carnival Triumph cruise will be Kevin Noonanandhellip;andhellip;andhellip;here is his photo He is the one being strangled by the way. Please send me your booking or cabin number and date of sailing and I will request a table for you in the center of the dining room. Rebecca is not a CD with us anymore. Please send me that booking number and I wish you a brilliant cruise Best wishes John themnms Asked: JOHN PLEASE REPLY Hi John.. Love the blog and look forward to my laugh everyday! I wanted to thank you for forwarding my Dream aft wrap balcony issue to the right department and all was resolved. In fact we booked the Miracle leaving May 7th from New York with ten of our family members. We wish you were sailing with us but I am sure we will have a fabulous time. Thanks again..you work wonders!! Mel and her gang!! lol John Says: Hello Mel and her gang. I am glad you like the blog and I hope it continues to make you laugh and thanks for taking the time to tell me that it does. I am also glad that we could help you out as that is what I am here for. My best wishes to you and all the gang John Jim Riley Asked: John (please respond if you have a chance), Weandrsquo;re going to be taking our 4th Carnival cruise on July 18th on the Carnival Miracle. I remember that on our first two cruises, our honeymoon on 6/7/92 on the Carnival Ecstasy and 8/22/99 on the Carnival Triumph you were the CD. I also remember an older gentleman, I believe named Sebastian, who performed piano at the guest talent show and you presented him with a key to all of the fleet-wide pianos. Do you happen to know what his background was and if heandrsquo;s still with us? Also, do you know who our CD will be on the Miracle? The Riley Family John Says: Hello Jim Oh how I just smiled at the memories of Sebastian. Yes indeed. He was 91 years old and cruised 20 times a year and when he did he would insist on being in the talent show. The problem was he would insist on playing a medley that would go on and on and on and on andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;..and how the audience used to laugh and give him a huge ovation. The last time he sailed was when I gave him the master key to all the pianos and unfortunately 3 months later he passed away. He used to travel with a nurse/companion called Lorraine who wrote to me and told me playing the piano at the talent show was the highlight of the later years of his life. He was one of those great characters who made such an impression on me as obviously he did you as well. The CD on the Carnival Miracle when you cruise will be Malcolm Burn. Here he is. Thanks for giving me a chance to remember one of the great characters I have met over the years and I wish you a wonderful cruise. Best wishes to you all John Thatandrsquo;s all for today and there will be more tomorrow. I see that we had lots of comments last week and I really enjoy reading them so please keep them coming. Itandrsquo;s time for me to take a break and while I munch on my breakfast of a Granny Smithandrsquo;s green apple and half a toasted bagel and low fat, low salt, bugger all taste cream cheeseandhellip;andhellip;.itandrsquo;s time to for you to meet an old friend from whom we have not heard from in agesandhellip;andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;the lazy sod. Here is Assistant Cruise Director/Acting Cruise Director/Mrs. Benningandhellip;andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;.. Jaime. Dear John, It has certainly been a while, hasnandrsquo;t it? Let me do my best to update you, and the blogging family about what has been going on over the past few months, but before I rewind, I will let you know about today. Currently, I am on a United A320 flight, sitting in a window seat with a beautiful view, overlooking snow topped mountains and clear blue skies. I am sitting beside a cute 95-ish year old man with outrageously think Coke bottle glasses (Kirk is not flying with me he is still on the shipandhellip; it is ANOTHER old man)! Unlike Johnandrsquo;s stories, this man is not too obese and doesnandrsquo;t want to start a conversation about my childhood, however he does smell like prunes and I am hesitant to go to the bathroom at anytime throughout this cross country flight because asking him to stand up may just put him into cardiac arrest. To his right is a lovely fake blonde, fake nailed, fake chested Pamela Anderson lookalike. I am confident that all three of us wish we were in first class, or at least Economy Plus. In case you have not flown United recently, Economy Plus is an option for a 39 dollar charge you are entitled to approximately 8 additional inches of leg room. I may choose to upgrade next time I fly United since I am unable to pull my andldquo;personal itemandrdquo; out from under the seat back here in Economy Minus. Regardless of the lack of leg room or personal space, I am elated to be flying back to Baltimore after an extremely relaxing and productive vacation. My cousins who I have not seen for years are picking me up from the airport and tomorrow I will return to the Carnival Pride. The Pride truly seems like home now, as I have been going back and forth to that ship since December of 2008. It is a good thing it is my home and I could leave many of my possessions on the ship, since the TSA rep wanted to charge me $100 for my 54 pound suitcase, I can only imagine if I would have brought all my belongings on vacation. Put it this way, it would have been less expensive if I chartered a jet. Just ask Heidi about when she picked me up from the airport in Italy before the Carnival Splendor came out of the shipyard! Thank you Heidi! While at work, guests often ask andldquo;What do you do while you are on vacation?andrdquo; Unlike Kirk, who travels to the tallest mountain he can find. I actually spent 2 of the 5 weeks on a lovely Carnival cruise! Man, I must love that guyandhellip; or maybe I love the diamond anniversary ring he bought meandhellip; or maybe I love his bigandhellip; cabin! Regardless, when I signed off the ship in Port Canaveral on May 5 I traveled to Miami to co-host the Block Party at the Carnival headquarters with one of my favorite people Josh Waitzman aka andldquo;Big Sexyandrdquo; (who apparently detoxed and lost 20 pounds. Needless to say, we may need to change his name to andldquo;Regular Sized Sexyandrdquo; soon). The block party was a huge success! There was an incredible Latin band all the way from Fort Lauderdaleandhellip; since they were unable to find one in Miami. We had line dancing and Carnival deck party classic activities. And of course no party would be complete without Fun Force jumping over the President and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines, Gerry Cahillandrsquo;s head andndash; on skips. Gerry introduced the party and actually said andldquo;donandrsquo;t think about work for the rest of the dayandrdquo; this elicited the biggest applause he has ever gotten! The party benefited Carnivalandrsquo;s partnership with the extremely commendable charitable organization St. Jude Childrenandrsquo;s hospital. This fund raising endeavor has already proven to be an incredible success on board the ships and now the home office will follow suit! Also in attendance at the block party were the 343 Stephanie(s), Vance, and Peter The Hair! It is always a great surprise to see them as well. Rewind back even further, I believe the last time I wrote I was having a stressful day in the big chair. I am pleased to report the remainder of my stint as cruise director was a great success the guest satisfaction ratings were very high. Making my experience even more memorable I had a very special visit from my mother and father celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary! It was so wonderful to see them, and they were very proud of their favorite daughterandhellip; I may be their only daughter, but Iandrsquo;m sure if there were more, Iandrsquo;d still be the favorite =). After 10 weeks sitting in the big chair I was extremely grateful to have been given the opportunity to take over. The experience helped me grow on stage immensely, but off stage even more. Truly taking to heart the training videos about how andldquo;every guest is a giftandrdquo; and how much I enjoy contributing to each person on board having a fun and memorable vacation. When Kirk returned as cruise director I was undoubtedly happy to have him back! I am now returning from vacation, positive, rejuvenated and ready to work hard. Iandrsquo;m reading the book 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player by John Maxwell. Actually right now Iandrsquo;m writing to you, but I will be reading the book in about 3 minutes. I am trying to set both professional and personal goals so that I continue to still learn and grow and my job does not become stagnant. By the end of this contract, I will have been working for CCL for 3 years. Hah so much for, just doing one contract and get a andldquo;real job.andrdquo; Why get a andldquo;real jobandrdquo; when you are happy about going to work each morning? Thanks for letting me share my update! Talk to you soon! Your friend, Jaime Great Dear John Letter as always Jaime and thanks for the report on the Carnival block party. It was super to hear about all the Carnival employees giving their time and money for our continuing work to help provide urgent and immediate care for the children at St. Jude Hospital. I heard you did a great job as CD and I am very proud of you. I am sure the cover of the book you are reading says 17 Essential Qualities Of A Team Player by John Maxwell andhellip;andhellip; while inside the cover the real book you are reading is 17 Steps To Stealing All Of John Healdandrsquo;s Jokes. Have a fun vacation and donandrsquo;t forget to write. A few weeks ago I mentioned that the CDandrsquo;s under the guidance of Chris Prideaux our Director of Entertainment had been discussing ways we could improve our activities for the somewhat challenging age group of 18 andndash; 21 year olds. These young adults are of course able to take part in all the ship activities (except buying alcohol unless they are 21) yet it was felt that while many made friends easily some of this age group did not and that we needed to do more. So, some of the CDandrsquo;s have been discussing what we can do for them and henceforth some if not all of the following activities will be implemented on some of the ships as a test to see how the attendance is and how they are received. Bathrobe Bash Toga Party Hawaii Beach Party College Sports Trivia Air Hockey Tournament Sun Set Basket Ball Jam Competition Soda Pong These, coupled with a meet and greet on the first night will be the basis of this endeavor. I will let you all know what happens. So here we are in Nassau and it is a beautiful day. There is a tropical depression though that we are keeping an eye on and it is a reminder that it is indeed just about Hurricane season. And while all is peace and sunshine in Nassau today over on my favorite island Jamaica andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;. As you may have read or seen on TV the Jamaican authorities have put the capital Kingston under a state of emergency because of some confrontations over the possible extradition of a drug suspect to the United States. At the time of writing the problems have been confined to Kingston and have not affected shipsandrsquo; visits to Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, which are on the other side of the island. Hopefully this situation will be resolved soon. As I have noted numerous times on the blog, to me Jamaica is the most beautiful country in the Caribbean with welcoming people serving the best food in the best weather, complementing the best scenery. I hope that things get better and that once again the island of Jamaica can be andldquo;irieandrdquo; once again. Yesterday I held my Fun Ashore and Onboard thingy presentation to a packed lounge of 900 people. However, after being on stage for just a few minutes I only had eyes for one guest. He was seated in the front few rows of the lounge and he had no shirt onandhellip;andhellip;andhellip;.and for some reason he kept scratching his ummmandhellip;andhellip;.man boob thingies. Let me tell you, it is bloody hard to concentrate on arrival and departure times and gangways and snorkel excursions and tenders while a man play with his nipples. I could not take it anymore and so I came down off stage and brought Mr. Nipple to the front of the stage. Here he is. Itandrsquo;s not a good photo as itandrsquo;s taken from a screen shot of the video but there he is andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;andhellip; Mr. Nippleandhellip;andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;.and our conversation went like this. ME SIR, YOU HAVE NO SHIRT ON AND YOU KEEP SCRATCHING YOUR NIPPLES AND I CANT CONCENTRATE MR.NIPPLE MY WIIIIFFFEEE PUT SUN TAN OIL ON THEM AND THEY NEED SCRATCHINandrsquo; And while the audience laughed I ran to theandhellip;andhellip;andhellip;.OK, I walked quickly to the gift shops which are just outside the loungeandhellip;andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;.and grabbed him a Carnival Fantasy shirt. ME MR. NIPPLEandhellip;andhellip;andhellip;.PLEASE PUT THIS ON He then puts it on and returns to his seat to applause from the audienceandhellip;andhellip;..The shirt cost me $20andhellip;andhellip;.but it was a small price to pay not to have to talk about the Nassau Island tour andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;while watching a 50 year old man scratch his nipples. And later that afternoon I was called to the bridge. It was about 4:30pm and when you get these calls you are never told why you are needed. The officer of the watch calls and says andldquo;Ahh, you ze, de Capitan wanta youa on de bridgea.andrdquo; You know itandrsquo;s not because one of them has made a delicious pizza and wants you to have a slice and you know itandrsquo;s not because there is a party going on there with Latvian strippers and cigarsandhellip;andhellip;..all you know is that something is up. My immediate thought was to the conspiracy theorist I had spoken to yesterday andhellip;andhellip;andhellip; bugger meandhellip;andhellip;..maybe he had been rightandhellip;andhellip;andhellip;maybe the engines had stoppedandhellip;andhellip;..maybe we were being attacked by a giant squidandhellip;andhellip;andhellip;.called Colin. But we werenandrsquo;t. One of the officers had spotted a small boat drifting in the middle of the ocean and as Carnival ships always do, we changed course to investigate to see if someone was in peril upon the sea. I informed the guests what was happening. The staff captain and his crew prepared one of the rescue boats. The medical center was put on standby. And hundreds of guests armed themselves with cameras, video cameras and camera phones eager to record what was going to happen for You Tube and CNN. Maneuvering a 70,000-ton ship next to a randomly drifting little boat is very difficult in deed yet as all our Captains do, Captain Costi made it look easy. We scanned the water around the boat and could see nobodyandhellip;andhellip;.and thank goodnessandhellip;andhellip;we sawandhellip;andhellip;andhellip; no one. Then the boat got closer and closer and finally we could see inside it. Here it is. As you can see there was nobody inside and it looked like it may have become off its moorings and drifted out to sea. And so we reported the position of the small craft to the United States Coastguard and off we went. I reported the outcome to the guests and they went back to the sun and fun. I hope that the boatandrsquo;s owner is somewhere cursing and swearing at his or her inability to tie a good reef knotandhellip;andhellip;andhellip;..and nothing worse. As a child I used to go to church every Sunday and I remember two things. The sermons were boring and the man in the funny uniform that gave it looked like the big one from Laurel and Hardy. I also remember one or two of the hymns and how remarkable that as a 12 year old lad in an Southend on Sea Church one of the few hymns I remember were andldquo;How Great Thou Art andrdquo; and one other. And as I stood on the bridge today I found myself humming the tune and thinking of these words. Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave? Who biddandrsquo;st the mighty ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep; Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee, For those in peril on the sea! Like most music, hymns have revivals every so often. I hope any revival brings back some of the beautiful hymns I remember as a kid and as someone who has been at sea for 23 years this Augustandhellip;andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;these words have always and will always be with me. But the story is not over because while I am sure many applauded the captainandrsquo;s efforts to make sure that nobody was indeed in perilandhellip;andhellip;andhellip;.one chap had something to say. Guest: Mr. andhellip;andhellip;andhellip;.Ref: 802012875A Cabin: ___ Booking Added-Changed: 05/24/10 andndash; 05/24/10 Cabinandmdash;andmdash;- COMMENT ABOUT BOAT RESCUE Mrandhellip;andhellip;came to the GSD to say that it was good that the ship looked for the small boat and that nobody was inside that the ship should have taken it and towed it to Bahamas as it belongs to fisherman. Guest said that he was born in the Bahamas and knows that it is a fishing boat and we should be thinking of returning it to the owner. GSA said that Mr___ comment would be documented Yep, heandrsquo;s right. We showed have dragged that little boat behind us all the way to Nassau andhellip;andhellip;stillandhellip;andhellip;.thinking about itandhellip;andhellip;andhellip;I have always wanted Ann Martin to come on a cruise. Goodnight Your friend John http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=347 editor's note: Is it worth the hassle to turn on that "global fee" when traveling abroad for just two weeks and pay the monthly fee? This blog gives insight into possibly renting a cell phone abroad and its benefits. Solution: I love travel solutions and here is a good one: why not rent a cell phone in London to aide in making phone calls for dinner reservations, to connect with business associates or to order a taxi? As London is so vast and sprawling, having a phone if you are running late for a reservation or are lost is an excellent idea. Sadly, there are fewer and fewer of the fabulous red phone boxes around London; plus, they are costly and using them requires the correct change. Itandrsquo;s easy: BHRC (British Hotel Reservation Center) has locations in Terminal 3 (most US flights, other than British Airways flights arrive here, Terminal 5 (British Airways) as well as North and South Terminals at Gatwick airport. PLUS they have locations at these train stations in Central London: Victoria, Paddington and St. Pancras. A large majority of US flights go Heathrow Terminal 3 and finding the BHRC kiosk for phone rentals there could not be simpler. As you leave the immigration area where your passport is checked, you walk out into the Arrivals Hall. Walk about 10 feet out into the hall and turn and look over your right shoulder. The BHRC kiosk is there. Generally speaking, you can, using a major credit card, rent a cell phone for your stay for a 100 pound returnable deposit. Then you can buy usage time for as little as 20 pounds and for any additional amounts in 20 pound increments. There is also the option of renting just a sim card for your US cell phone that will allow it to work in the UK. THE SYSTEM IS SIMPLE: Leave the deposit, buy some minutes, return the phone at the same place at the ARRIVALS hall and collect your deposit before you proceed to the departure hall when you are leaving London. TO CONTACT BRHC in advance of your trip: http://www.bhrconline.com/ Come along with meandhellip;.London callingandhellip;.. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=352editor's note: We share stories often here at Travel Onion about the wildest foods we've tried while traveling. Our list is getting pretty long and includes delicacies such as jellyfish, octopus, tarantula and guinea pig. Because food is always on our minds, we found this blogpost especially striking for all of the non-American indulgent inclusions. American portions may be super-sized but other countries are valiantly competing for the most calorie-ridden platter. Have you tried any of the following? Nothing says letting loose on a trip like indulging in those not-so-healthy foods and beverages that you normally wouldnandrsquo;t eat on a regular basis at home. If you happen to be visiting the United States, finding a particular dish that will add inches to your waistline isnandrsquo;t exactly a difficult task, whether youandrsquo;re just eating fast food on the road or stopping by a local restaurant known for its novelty 7-pound burger. However, Americans donandrsquo;t necessarily hold a monopoly on fattening foods. You can find rich, calorie-filled, oh-so-delicious food in many countries around the world, whether youandrsquo;re in Toulouse dining on confit and pandacirc;tandeacute; or if youandrsquo;re in Shanghai eating braised pork belly. So grab some cutlery, pull-up to the table and dig in to some of the finest and fattiest foods from all parts of the world. Just make sure you get to the gym at some point to burn off all those excess calories. Oliebollen andndash; Holland Who doesnandrsquo;t like fried dough? While most everyone recognizes that the term doughnut doesnandrsquo;t exactly describe a healthy food, the Dutch take it one step further with their version called oliebollen, literally translated as andldquo;oil balls.andrdquo; (Neighboring Belgium may go slightly over the top with their description smoutebollen, meaning andldquo;lard balls.andrdquo;) This heavily fried pastry is about the size of a fist, uses dried fruit or even beer in the batter, and is eaten with a ton of powdered sugar. You can find oliebolllen year-round, although the sensible Dutch usually eat them only around the holidays or at local fairs. Image: jarod/Flickr Holland doesnandrsquo;t have the monopoly on fried dough; not by a long shot. Many countries around the world have some local version of the doughnut, some just as fattening as Dutch oliebollen, and some even more so. German berliners often have chocolate or marmalade injected into the center of the pastry and a similar technique is used to make a Boston Creme doughnut. The famous Krispy Kreme doughnut company probably takes the cake as far as producing the most fattening fried dough product ever, but weandrsquo;ll get to that a little bit later on. Latkes andndash; Eastern Europe Perhaps itandrsquo;s the abundance of potatoes that grow in Central and Eastern Europe. Or, maybe itandrsquo;s heartiness of fried food that can keep a person warm through those cold eastern winters; whatever the case may be, latkes andndash; fried potato pancakes andndash; have been a staple of traditional cuisine for hundreds of years. The basic ingredients of the latke, grated potatoes, onion, eggs, flour, salt, pepper, and oil for frying, make it a simple dish to prepare and serve. The word latke is refers specifically to the Yiddish or Hebrew version, which are often served during Hanukkah. Image: The Gifted Photographer/Flickr While latkes and other potato pancakes may be an excellent choice for a cold-weather snack, their simple ingredients and the fact that they are deep-fried mean they arenandrsquo;t exactly the healthiest option to eat on a daily basis. Still, a variety of countries around the world have varieties of potato pancakes, such as boxty in Ireland, randaring;rakor in Sweden, randouml;sti in Switzerland, gamjajeon in Korean, and draniki in Belarus where it is also regarded as that countryandrsquo;s national dish. Poutine andndash; Quebec Another calorie-filled dish that will satisfy any craving for junk food, especially after a long day out in the snow, or perhaps a long night out at the bar comes from nearby Canada. Poutine was invented in somewhere in Quebec in the 1950s (several Quebecois natives claim to have come up with the idea.) The dish is made up of medium-cut French fries, topped with brown gravy made from beef or chicken stock, and cheese curds. Other variations may add bacon or another type of smoked meat as a topping. Image: Joe Shlabotnik/Flickr Most national chains in Canada that serve fries will now offer to make them into poutine, and variations have edged south across the border into the United States, mostly along the border as well as in New England and along the Atlantic Coast. These poutine-like dishes will often substitute the cheese curd with mozzarella cheese or melted cheddar. A variant from San Diego that has spread to other parts of the southwest United States are carne asada fries. This poutine-style dish substitutes gravy and cheese curds with carne asada, guacamole, cheddar, and sour cream, with one order containing more than 2000 calories. Duck Confit andndash; France Considering the amount of high-caloric foods the French have invented during their glorious culinary history, it really is surprising they havenandrsquo;t had an obesity problem spiral out of control. With such fat-laden dishes like terrines and pates, the richness of their cheeses, smoked and cured meats, the French are among the worldandrsquo;s masters in rich cooking. Duck confit is one of those classic French dishes that doesnandrsquo;t trim any of the fat. In fact, the leg of a duck is salted and refrigerated for up to a day, and then it is slowly poached in its own fat until the meat is completely tender. Image: Allan Thinks/Flickr Between the salting and the poaching process, the confit may be canned for years keeping the rich flavor of the meat intact. Because duck is such an inherently fatty meat, it cooks and preserves well as a confit. One portion of this hearty food may contain up to 60 grams or fat, and provide well over 1000 calories. Cooks will often use the fat from a canned duck confit to fry or saute other foods such as eggs or vegetables. Turducken andndash; United States Back across the Atlantic and into the Deep South in Louisiana, where cooking high-calorie dishes is synonymous with good living, comes a unique culinary invention involving three common fowl. A turducken is de-boned turkey stuffed with a de-boned duck, which in turn has been stuffed with a small, de-boned chicken. Gaps within the three birds are filled with a breadcrumb stuffing, preferably one that includes sausage. Itandrsquo;s unclear as to when the turducken was invented, although several Cajun chefs have claimed credit. Image: The CJM/Flickr The turduckenandrsquo;s popularity skyrocketed on Thanksgiving Day thanks to football color commentator John Madden, who started awarding them to the teams that won the NFLandrsquo;s Thanksgiving Classic. Because of the exposure, turduckens are now commonly found at Thanksgiving celebrations throughout the United States and Canada. With the popularity of deep-fried turkeys over the last couple of years, itandrsquo;s only natural that people would start to deep-fry their turduckens too. Kulfi andndash; India In an area of the world where summer temperatures reach well over 100anddeg;F, Indians have created a frozen dessert that is not only refreshingly delicious and full of calories, it also takes an extremely long time to melt in the sun. Kulfi is distantly related to ice cream, in so far that its ingredients include dairy, but this version is made by slow cooking evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream, until it is thickened. Then, sugar and flavorings such as mango or saffron are added and the mixture is put into molds and frozen. The thickness of the dairy mixture keeps it from melting quickly, unlike regular ice cream. Image: Annie Mole/Flickr Kulfi is popular during the Diwali festival, but is normally sold year-round by street vendors in India as well as Pakistan. Between sugar, milk, cream, and other additional toppings you choose to put on it such as chocolate or whipped cream, these desserts pack in a lot of calories andndash; almost 400 per serving and over 21 grams of fat. However, if youandrsquo;re sweating in the scorching South Asian heat, you probably wonandrsquo;t notice the extra gain at all. Anko (餡子) andndash; Japan Most people look at Japanese food as a healthy option to other cuisines in the market. Sure, relatively speaking sushi, sashimi, miso soup, and the variety of kelp-based salads are great low-fat alternatives. However, dive into Japanese sweets and youandrsquo;ll find they pack in heavy calories into small servings. Anko, or red bean paste, is made up of boiled azuki beans and sugar, and used as the base ingredient in many confectioneries in Japan. One small serving can pack in over 250 calories, and since itandrsquo;s so easy to eat more than one in a sitting, the math is pretty easy if youandrsquo;ve managed to snack on five or six. Image: jetalone/Flickr Anko isnandrsquo;t the only calorie-filled culprit in Japan. Deep-fried food has become increasingly popular, and several variations of Western-style food have become staples of Japanese cuisine, such as tonkatsu (deep-fried pork cutlets) and tempura (battered and deep-friend shrimp and veggies.) Bottomless Tortilla Chips andndash; any Mexican restaurant There is something satisfying about sitting down inside your favorite local cantina, ordering a couple cold cervezas, and perusing the menu for your favorite enchilada, taco, or burrito. While youandrsquo;re figuring out your order, you and your friends notice youandrsquo;ve involuntarily gone through the entire basket of chips that the server brought over as you were taking your seat. Naturally, you order another one because they are complimentary, but this time, perhaps with a little guacamole or queso? Image: blmurch/Flickr While one chip alone isnandrsquo;t going to affect you, several baskets certainly will andndash; even if youandrsquo;ve shared among some friends. Add some sides to those chips and your calorie intake shoots up significantly. If the chips are fried instead of baked (something a legit Mexican cantina will do) then youandrsquo;ve eaten the equivalent of a whole meal before you even placed your order. Hong Shao Rou (紅燒肉) andndash; China You wonandrsquo;t often find this home-style dish in restaurants outside of China. Perhaps itandrsquo;s the succulent pork belly meat used in the recipe that may turn people away, or maybe itandrsquo;s even the fact that for a long time the dish was a favorite of Mao Zedongandrsquo;s and even renamed in his honor: Chairman Maoandrsquo;s Red-Braised Pork. If you do manage to find a place that serves hong shao rou, commonly called red cooked pork, youandrsquo;ll be treated to a flavorful, yet very fatty dish which is typical of the Hunan province. Image: Prince Roy/Flickr Even though hong shao rou is typically made up of large pieces of pork belly fat with a rich sauce made up of caramelized sugar, people from Mao Zedongandrsquo;s village claimed the dish had health benefits. andldquo;Men eat it to build their brains,andrdquo; said one family member of Maoandrsquo;s, while another village member and communist party secretary proclaimed that several bowls of hong shao rou a day will keep oneandrsquo;s intellect in shape. Deep Fried Mars Bar andndash; Scotland Cuisine in Scotland doesnandrsquo;t normally rank very high in among places that have healthy cuisines, so itandrsquo;s not really a surprise that in the mid 90s a fish nandrsquo; chips shop located in Aberdeen decided to offer deep-fried Mars bars as a dessert option. Since then, many other chip shops offer them although they are more of a novelty item than a staple of Scottish fish nandrsquo; chip culture. Still, placards outside the shops often hawk the deep-fried Mars bar in order to pique the interest of visitors who havenandrsquo;t experienced the taste of fried candy. Image: Christian Cable/Flickr Scotland certainly doesnandrsquo;t hold the torch when it comes to deep-fried novelty foods. Deep-fried Twinkies have been served at the Texas State Fair for years, and have even been spotted at local bars near the NileGuide office in health-conscious San Franciscoandhellip; Salo andndash; Ukraine Ever go to the grocery store in search of bacon and you inspect each package looking for the leanest cut? Head to Ukraine and you might find people doing the opposite. Salo is cured fatback, or basically the cut of fat from pork, and is a common food in Eastern and Central Europe. To make salo, butchers cure the fatback in salt and add paprika, pepper, or other condiments to enhance the flavor. Image: Juozas Rimas/Wikipedia Salo is often consumed raw, preferably with vodka or 80 proof Ukrainian horilka, as well as with garlic and bread andndash; not necessarily the best food to eat on a date, but certainly a great way to bond with friends or other Ukrainians. Sometimes, salo is cooked and added as a flavoring to traditional soups or used as a base to fry other foods. Consumption of salo is like eating pure, unadultered fat, so therefore assume that eating too much of it could be terribly unhealthy. Bacon Explosion andndash; United States This dish hasnandrsquo;t been a traditional culinary staple, but instead is the result of a challenge on Twitter. In 2008 Jason Day and Aaron Chronister, two seasoned barbecue experts in Kansas City posted the Bacon Explosion on their blog in order to answer a call to create the ultimate bacon-centric meal. The relatively simple recipe uses two pounds of thick-cut bacon, two pounds of sausage, a jar of barbecue sauce, and dry rub seasonings. The result is a monster pork roll with over 5000 calories and a heart-stopping 500 grams of fat. Image: ♪_Lisa_♪/Flickr Since Dayandrsquo;s and Chronisterandrsquo;s post, the Bacon Explosion has enjoyed immense international popularity as well as controversy from health experts who criticize the dish and as example of why Americans are so obese. Still, thousands of bacon lovers around the world have since cooked the meal for themselves, and have even adapted the recipe to add cheeses or other meats. Snickers Pie andndash; England Another novelty dish using the famous Snickers bar is aptly named Snickers Pie, which was invented by English celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson in 2006. The pie is made up of no less than 5 Snickers bars, mascarpone and other soft cheese, puff pastry, sugar and eggs and may be topped with chocolate sauce or whipped cream. Image: Reggie Bibbs/Flickr While a Snickers Pie may be a sweet-loverandrsquo;s ultimate fantasy, the 1250 calories in an average slice have mortified health food advocates and have called it one of the most unhealthy desserts ever created. Thompson has dismissed detractors of the pie, saying that it should only be eaten occasionally. We at NileGuide do not recommend eating the Snickers Pie with the above-mentioned Bacon Explosion together as a meal; at the very least without a check-up from your cardiologist. Kookamonga Burger andndash; Memphis, TN It seems that a number of places around the United States have a signature novelty dish that appeals to the glutton in all of us. One particular dish that stood out was the Kooky Canuckandrsquo;s ultimate 60-minute challenge: the Kookamonga. Itandrsquo;s made up of the usual burger ingredients andndash; ground chuck, cheese, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and pickles andndash; only it weighs approximately 7 1/2 pounds. Donandrsquo;t worry, you arenandrsquo;t required to get the fries as a side if you want to take the challenge. Image: Paul Ryburn Add it up and the Kookamonga has about 12,387 calories and about 267 grams of fat; not as much fat as the Bacon Explosion, but certainly an overload of carbs when you consider the bun. Finish this burger by yourself in less than 60 minutes, and youandrsquo;ll get your meal for free, although at $21.99 per burger, the sandwich is more or less a steal if split it between friends. The Kooky Canuck has recently upped the ante in recent years and now offers a super-sized version called the King Kookamonga, or about 12 pounds of burger. Weandrsquo;ll let you do the math on the calories. The Texas King andndash; Amarillo, TX Finally, one of the most famous calorie-filled, food challenges of all time comes from heart of Texas. The Big Texan Steak Ranch outside Amarillo has offered itandrsquo;s 72oz steak challenge since the 1960s, with thousands of people attempting to eat the entire meal, which includes a baked potato, salad, dinner roll, and shrimp cocktail appetizer. Finish it within one hour without any help and itandrsquo;s yours for free. According to the Big Texan website, the oldest person to successfully eat the Texas King was a 69-year old grandmother, and the younger was a 11-year old kid. Two of the most famous finishers of the steak were a professional wrestler from the 1960s named Klondike Bill, who ate two steaks in less than an hour, and speed-eating champion Joey Chestnut, who easily polished off the entire meal in 8 minutes and 52 seconds. The challenge has also been featured on the Travel Channel show, Man vs Food: For those of you amateurs who want to try your hand at eating the steak, there is now a motel attached to the restaurant, just in case you are unable to move after the attempt.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=358Editor's Note: Many people say that the best way to experience a place is by walking around. One of our favorite blogs has gathered up some of the less well-known sights in the Lower East Side. Since the holiday weekend is nearly upon us and weandrsquo;re expecting beautiful weather, we thought it would be a good time to review some of the neighborhoodandrsquo;s best walking toursandhellip; Eldridge Street Synagogue Letandrsquo;s start with the Museum at Eldridge Street, which is offering a andldquo;Five Pointsandrdquo; tour on Sunday, 2pm. The roots of the grand Eldridge Street Synagogue can be found in Five Points and Chinatown. Youandrsquo;ll be guided through the streets of these communities, tracing the andldquo;Jewish immigrant experience,andrdquo; visiting synagogues, as well as the historic cemetery alongside Chatham Square. $15. More info. This Sunday (and every Sunday through the fall) the Lower East Side Business Improvement District offers a tour of the historic andldquo;bargain district.andrdquo; The two-hour trip down Orchard Street recounts the major role retail played in the development of the neighborhood. 11am, free. No reservations required. More info. The Tenement Museum currently offers two walking tours: Immigrant Soles, which explores life on the LES 100 years ago, and Next Steps, which looks at the evolving community post 1935. Tours offered at various times; Next Steps on weekends only until late June. $20. More info. The Lower East Side History Project runs a variety of tours, including: Gangsters (Saturdays 2pm), Five Points (Sundays at 2pm), the Bowery (Mondays at noon). Most tours cost $15 ($20 starting June 1). More info. Bialystoker Synagogue The Lower East Side Jewish Conservancy is not offering tours over the holiday weekend. but Sunday, June 6, theyandrsquo;ll be running andldquo;The LES Then andamp; Now.andrdquo; Youandrsquo;ll see key places of worship, such as the Balystoker Synagogue, the neighborhoodandrsquo;s largest active orthodox congregation. Also part of the tour: the exterior of Beth Hamedrash Hagadol, once the largest Russian-Jewish orthodox congregation in the country; and Kehila Kedosha Janina, the only Romaniote (Greek) synagogue in the Western Hemisphere. 10:45am andndash; 3 hours long. $18. Hint: andldquo;Likeandrdquo; the Conservancy on Facebook for a better deal. More info. There are, of course, many other tours. In this post weandrsquo;ve focused on the ones conducted by neighborhood-centric organizations, rather than citywide tour companies.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=349 editor's note: Williamsburg is certainly branded as an up-and-coming neighborhood, but did you know it has a long history? It was once its own city. How many other other international cities swallowed up neighboring cities? Or is this simply an old case of gerrymandering? In 1827, long before it became home to hipsters and Hasidic Jews, Williamsburg was established as the Village of Williamsburgh (note the old-school andldquo;handrdquo;). In 1851, its independent streak surfaced. A charter was passed, and it became the City of Williamsburghandmdash;an urban enclave home to shipbuilders, sugar companies, breweries, and other industries. But Williamsburghandrsquo;s time as a city didnandrsquo;t last long. By 1855, to escape financial woes, it let itself be annexed to the city of Brooklyn. Not only did the neighborhood lose its independence, Williamsburg also lost the andldquo;handrdquo; at the end of its name. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=351editor's note: Roadtrips are a classic American vacation. If fuel prices are high this summer, skip the plane and choose a roadtrip close to home. If fuel prices are low this summer, hop in the car and see where you end up! Summer is upon us, and that means it's time for road trips. Even with gasoline prices nudging the three dollar mark, there's no better way to spend a summer day or weekend than taking part in the American tradition of a great drive. With that in mind, Gadling has put together 39 great drives across the U.S. you'll want to check out. So grab your keys and get out on the open road! Duluth, Minnesota to the Canadian border // Heading northeast out of Duluth you'll find one of America's most beautiful waterfront drives. At Two Harbors, four lanes turn to two and the birch forest closes in. The next 130 miles include tunnels, waterfalls, a spectacular lighthouse and numerous other surprises that will make your day. Music: Knockin' on Heaven's Door - Bob Dylan. Trail Ridge Road, Colorado An hour northwest of Denver, Trail Ridge Road is the highest paved through road in the United States, topping out well above timberline at 12,183 feet. The road is safe and easy to drive, but it's only open during the summer months due to heavy snowfall. Be sure to check with the National Park Service for road conditions before making this trek. Music: Rocky Mountain High, John Denver. Underground Chicago Lower Wacker Drive is unlike any other street in the United States. For one thing, it's underground. For another, it runs north, south, east and west. Immortalized in movies like the Blues Brothers, it allows you to cross under one of America's busiest cities in a matter of minutes with virtually no traffic. Enter north of the river under Michigan Avenue or south of downtown at Congress Parkway. Music: Sweet Home Chicago, Robert Johnson.Flint Hills, Kansas The 45 miles from Emporia to Florence along US 50 in the Flint Hills will take you by surprise. This is America's last remaining tallgrass prairie and looks like much of the heartland used to look. Go in the springtime and you'll think you're in Ireland. Return in autumn for a completely different experience. Music: Dust in the Wind, Kansas. Down on the Bayou, Louisiana It's 85 miles from Baton Rouge to New Iberia, Louisiana but a more interesting 85 miles you won't find anywhere. Head west on Interstate 10 over the Atchafalaya Swamp before descending into Lafayette, the capital of Cajun culture. You'll want to enjoy a meal here before heading south 20 miles on US 90 to New Iberia. Follow the signs to Avery Island, a unique wildlife refuge and the home of Tabsco-brand Louisiana hot sauce. Music: Zydeco Gris Gris, Beausoleil. An Island in the Sky, Texas The Chihuahan desert of west Texas is a stark, unforgiving place but in Big Bend National Park miles of sand and cactus give way to a lush pine forest high in the cool crisp air of the Chisos Mountains. This sky island is as different from the surrounding terrain as an island is from the sea. From Fort Stockton, head south on US 385 to the park entrance at Persimmon Gap. From here it's still 35 miles to the Chisos Basin. In the summer months, it's best to make this trip late in the day to avoid the extreme desert heat. Be sure to fill the tank....this is big country. Music: Into the Great Wide Open, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Merrit Parkway, Connecticut In the far, far suburbs of New York City you'll find one of America's most beautiful highways. The Merrit Parkway runs from the New York - Connecticut state line approximately 37 miles to Milford. It is one of just a handful of American highways to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places due to it's natural beauty and many stone arch bridges. Music: I Can't Drive 55, Sammy Hagar. Columbia River Gorge, Oregon Head north from Portland on Interstate 205 and pick up Washington state highway 14 before heading east to Beacon Rock State Park. Stop and climb the easy trail to the top for great views of the Gorge. Continue on to White Salmon and cross the bridge to Hood River, Oregon. From here it's a straight shot back to Portland on Interstate 84. Stops at Multnomah Falls and Bonneville Dam are pleasant diversions. Music: Given to Fly, Pearl Jam Pasadena Freeway, California Also known as California 110, this is the state's oldest freeway. It has twists and turns, bridges and tunnels, mountains and canyons and more excitement than its better known brethren in southern California. From downtown Los Angeles, follow the signs to Pasadena. When you reach the City of Roses, turn around and do it again. Make sure the top is down. Music: I Love LA, Randy Newman. The Bridges of Parke County, Indiana Parke County, Indiana has more covered bridges (31) than any other area of the United States. Most are accessible to passenger cars. If that's not enough to entice you, rumor has it that there's no better place to sneak a kiss than on a covered bridge. Head west 67 miles from Indianapolis on US 36 to Rockville. From here, take any of the five covered bridge routes on a journey back to a time when life was simpler and the pace was slower. Music: Small Town, John Mellencamp. -- The above was written by Baja Publishing, Seed contributor. North Shore National Scenic Byway, Minnesota The North Shore National Scenic Byway, along Minnesota's coast of Lake Superior, thrills drivers with 154 miles of towering cliffs, tucked-away cobblestone coves, roaring rivers and waterfalls, a 100-year-old lighthouse, and killer views of the world's largest freshwater lake. Thermopolis to Buffalo, Wyoming Road-tripping from Thermopolis to Buffalo, WYspools past the rich reds of badlands and grassland greens before climbing into the deep browns of the dramatically rugged, beautiful Big Horn Mountains. Road to Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii It can feel like tumbleweed Texas, lush Ireland or thick forests of the Pacific Northwest as each elevation--and biome--changes the scenery on Maui's road to Haleakala National Park. Highway 378 climbs 10,000 feet above sea level with exhilarating zig-zags, stellar scenery and sudden fog. Highway One, California Get a sampling of the stunning (and less crowded) California central coast with a trek along Highway 1 from Cambria and the Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery up to spectacular hiking at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. You'll find a hidden waterfall, redwoods and may even spot a migrating whale while hugging the coast. Highway 22 and 31, Michigan Michigan's Highway 22 and 31 wind through forest, dunes, orchards, wineries, harbors, and the quaint lakeside communities nestled along Grand Traverse Bay and the Lake Michigan shore: Glen Haven, Suttons Bay, Traverse City and Petoskey. Chicago's turn-of-the-century elite families left a legacy pastel-colored Victorian mansions overlooking the gorgeous blue-green bays. Mount Evans Scenic Byway, Colorado You don't need a trip through Rocky Mountain National Park to enjoy stellar alpine views. The Mount Evans Scenic Byway, just outside Denver, Colo., claims to be the highest paved road in the country at more than 14,000 feet. The road to get there spins through valleys and climbs through the Arapaho forest, framing up perfect views of snowy peaks. Highway 135, Indiana An easy drive from Indianapolis, Indiana's Highway 135 loops and roller-coasters through covered bridges, state parks, Brown County's art colony and the dense hardwood hills of Hoosier National Forest between Nashville and Houston. You'll be craving bluegrass music, guaranteed. Great River Road, Minnesota Cruise below sandstone bluffs that border the Great River Road as it follows the Mississippi River south of the Twin Cities and through historic small towns on its way to Red Wing, Wabasha (remember "Grumpy Old Men"?) and Winona, Minnesota. Best bet: Go in March for world-class bald-eagle watching or in the fall for prime apple picking and antiquing. Needles Highway, South Dakota One of the nation's most skillfully engineered scenic byways perfectly frames up views of Mount Rushmore like a postage stamp. South Dakota's Needles Highway also spirals down pig-tail bridges, nudges past granite needles and purposely slows down drivers so they don't miss the Black Hills scenery--or the mountain goats. -- The above was written by Lisa Meyers McClintick, Seed contributor. Lake Superior Circle Route, Wisconsin/Minnesota/Michigan This gorgeous stretch of road circles through Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan. This scenic tour takes you through picturesque villages, over crystal clear rivers, by spectacular waterfalls, over the highest mountains in the midwest, along panoramic beaches, and through towering forests. In addition, enjoy some great cafes, bakeries, and quilting shops. Carson Pass Scenic Byway: Jackson to Woodfords The Carson Pass Scenic Byway travels along through alpine forests and meadows and over the towering Caron Pass in the central Sierra Nevada region. Spectacular views of rocky peaks and lakes, coupled with volcanic landscapes, deep canyons and dense forests make this seventy-five mile long scenic drive as varied as it is beautiful. Manitowoc Scenic Drive, Wisconsin This drive tours the Lake Michigan shore from Sheboygan to Algoma, passing sand dunes, high bluffs, lighthouses, farms, and museums. The area's flavor and history are closely tied to the lake through fishing, sailing, and ship building. Stop at one of the many specialty shops along the way to get a souvenir. Door Country, Wisconsin A drive through Door County, Wisconsin will provide you with views of over 250 lighthouses. In addition, 130 miles of the rustic Lake Michigan shoreline, limestone bluffs, and rocky shores will keep you awestruck for hours. If you need to stretch your legs, consider taking a tour of one of the many cherry or apple orchards who call Door County their home. Finally, wrap up your trip with a visit to Peninsula State Park, one of the largest state parks in Wisconsin. Glacier National Park, Montana Glacier National Park, located in northwest Montana, boasts some of the finest mountain scenery in the country. A drive through this mountainous terrain will provide you with views of more than 50 major glaciers and over 200 lakes. Top that off with a tremendous variety of trees and all colors of wildflowers in summer, and you have a natural setting of excellence. Kettle-Moraine Scenic Drive, Wisconsin This 115-mile drive follows the Kettle Moraine, a long ridge of forested hills that mark where two great arms of the last glacier butted up against each other. The route follows the Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive developed and maintained by the Kettle Moraine State Forest staff. Along the way you're likely to learn more about glacial geology than you ever thought you'd know. Amish Country: St. Charles-Harmony-La Crescent-Spring Grove, Minnesota A stretch of road provides a 77-mile ramble through the wooded hills and intimate hollows of southeast Minnesota's "bluff country." Crossing the great rift valley of the Root River at Lanesboro, the drive passes through Amish farm country near Harmony and loops north and east through small towns and secluded valleys to the Mississippi River. Sonoma-Napa Valleys Scenic Drive: Santa Rosa to Hopland, California A scenic drive and wine tasting extravaganza! This 132 mile scenic drive loops through the wine country of Sonoma and Napa and follows three California highways. Winding through rolling mountains and dense forests, the scenic drive also passes through Clear Lake, the largest natural lake entirely within the state. Along with wine tastings, there are numbers state parks and sites including Old Faithful Geyser in Calistoga. Sonoma-Mendocino Coast Scenic Drive: Marin City to US 101, California This California scenic drive starts on the Marin Peninsula just north of the Golden Gate Bridge and follows Highway 1 up the beautiful Pacific coast. The highway passes through historic sites, redwood forests, wave carved coves, quiet sandy beaches and much more. From Muir Woods to Point Reyes National Seashore there are tons of state parks and beaches to visit and be awed by. Monterey, California to Morro Bay, California Traveling through California from Monterey to Morro Bay is a scenic drive that tops them as the best of the west. Beginning south of Monterey, the highway takes you along the Big Sur where the Santa Lucia Range meets the Pacific Ocean. This scenic drives offers an abundance of marine life, sandy beaches and breathtaking views. -- The above was written by Kathryn Gierok, Seed contributor. Ocean Parkway, Long Island, New York Starting at Jones Beach in the west, you can cruise East along the Atlantic Coast dune line of Long Island. Multiple beach stops along the way include Tobay, Gilgo and Oak Beach. It's straight, desolate, with magical salty ocean breezes. Pacific Coast Highway, Big Sur, Northern California There's only one road that takes you through the sparse and exclusive community. Breathtaking views of the Pacific bluffs on one side and the Santa Lucia Mountains on the other. Multiple state parks for camping, hiking and sightseeing all along Highway 1. Badlands National Park, South Dakota. Miles and miles of (super) natural rock sculpture. Endless arrays of wildlife, especially endangered and protected herds of buffalo. If you're lucky enough to ride West towards Sturges during bike week, you'll have an escort of 150,000 bad-ass bikers. Independence Pass, Aspen, Colorado One of the highest paved roads in the country, with an altitude of over 12,000 feet. Hairpin turns in bad weather combined with unforgettable views of the Rockies give you Ansel Adams beauty and pure adrenaline in the same ride. Ecola State Park, Oregon Coast Also an extension of the Pacific Coast Highway (named Route 101 in Orgeon). Breathtaking views of the Northwest Pacific Coast. March starts the spring run of brilliant whale watching. 2nd Avenue, New York City After 10:00 PM, take the RFK Bridge (formerly the Triboro) into Manhattan with the stunning New York City skyline on your left. Take the FDR drive South, get off at 116th street. Make a left onto Second Avenue. Roll down the windows, crank up the tunes, drive all the way downtown and feel the city rhythm under your wheels. Florida Keys, Route A1A, South Florida A one lane road into and out of paradise. Traffic and roadwork can get ugly, but what's the rush? Warm breezes, lazy palms and the bluest of blue water as far as the eye can see in every direction. Spring breakers on the move add a party flavor. Interstate 15 from Los Angeles to Las Vegas Classic road trip stuff. Grab your friends, pack all the necessary accoutrements, rent an old convertible and be the American Dream. Start in the afternoon, get that magic Sierra sunset and hit the Strip by nightfall. I-87 North, Upstate New York In September/October, the entire Adirondack region is afire with Autumn color. Beautiful side exits take you to Saratoga, Woodstock or Fort Ticonderoga. Stop for an hour to go apple picking - it's a must. The Road to Hana, Maui, Hawaii This might be the most incredible drive in the United States. The first half is all flora, fauna and waterfalls. The ride back through volcano country is psychedelic, martian-like and wrought with peril if not taken seriously. The remote rainforest village of Nahiku is heaven on Earth. -- The above was written by Drew Moss, Seed contributor. [Image credits: Nicholas T, Wolfgang Staudt, Mi Pah, puroticorico, thomaspix and [le]doo ]http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=356Editor's Note: These are the type of more subtle cultural differences that make traveling to completely new places so exhilerating. You know, comparing the taxis and the traffic laws. Hand gestures. Table manners. But, these laws get a little crazy! Though it might be good to know it is illegal to feed the pigeons in Venice. I've heard the jail cells in other countries aren't quite as nice as those in America.At one point or another youandrsquo;ve skimmed through a laundry-list of ridiculous ordinances that are questionable in nature. A famous andldquo;blue lawandrdquo; from Virginia supposedly bans more than five unrelated women living in a house together, because it would constitute a brothel, although this has been debunked by various websites. If youandrsquo;re visiting San Francisco, there is allegedly an ordinance on the books that andldquo;guarantees sunshine to the masses,andrdquo; though this law may just be confused with the cityandrsquo;s andldquo;Sunshine Ordinanceandrdquo; which merely enforces transparency between the public and the city officials. There are, however, a few rules, regulations, and laws on the books around the world andndash; some merely amusing, yet some very real andndash; that are truly unique in nature. Canine-free Antarctica When famous explorers like Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott explored the vast, icy plains of the southernmost continent in the early 20th century, dogsled was a convenient way to cross the vast distances. With improvements in aviation, the dogsled became an anachronism as scientists could easily fly from point to point without spending too much time in the cold. Because part of the Antarctic Treaty has banned non-indigenous species in Antarctica, the last sledding dogs were removed by British exploration teams in 1994. Image: arcticroute.com/Flickr While itandrsquo;s arguable whether or not exploration by plane or snowmobile causes equal degradation to the local environment than dogs running around on the ice, unless youandrsquo;re traveling solely by icebreaker to tour Antarctica, itandrsquo;s best to leave your favorite pup at home. Armor-free Parliament Unless youandrsquo;re going to a renaissance fair or heading to a very elaborate costume party, keep the suit of plated mail at home if you plan on stopping by the Houses of Parliament in London. According to a BBC article from 2007, wearing a suit of armor inside parliament is illegal. Donandrsquo;t plan on dying there either, as anyone who does is entitled to a state funeral, and a law against dying was set in place to avoid such elaborate ceremonies. Image: Jeff Kubina/Flickr Itandrsquo;s also illegal to eat mince pies on Christmas Day, but the good news is almost half of the people surveyed admit they had broken that law at least once. More good news is if you happen to be pregnant in the United Kingdom and need to use the WC, you are legally entitled to relieve yourself wherever you wish. And according to a source within NileGuide, itandrsquo;s also legal to relieve yourself on the back right tire of your own automobile andndash; perfect for those post-pub outings. Atheist-free Tennessee This next one really doesnandrsquo;t have anything to do with traveling, but perhaps youandrsquo;re a public servant looking to relocate to Tennessee and seeking public office. If you officially state that you are an atheist, then you are out of luck. According to the Tennessee constitution, Article IX, Section 2: andldquo;No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this State.andrdquo; Image: micklpickl/Flickr On the other hand, Tennessee doesnandrsquo;t exactly discriminate as members of the clergy are also not allowed to seek public office. Also, if youandrsquo;re a professional dueler, or have instigated a duel, or even facilitated a duel, you arenandrsquo;t allowed to run for office; in fact, youandrsquo;ll be duly punished for even taking such actions. Expletive-free New Orleans Firefighters have rather selfless jobs and are constantly in danger of putting themselves in harmandrsquo;s way to save others. Because of this, the city of New Orleans has enacted a code that makes it illegal to curse at firefighters while they are performing their duties. Therefore, if for some bizarre you donandrsquo;t exactly agree with how your hotel fire is being extinguished, try a strongly-worded letter instead. Image: AMagill/Flickr Of course, the curse-free zone doesnandrsquo;t apply to off-duty firefighters, so if you happen to be on Bourbon Street and want to give one of them a piece of your mind, by all means try; but donandrsquo;t say we didnandrsquo;t warn you of potential consequences. Open Season On the Welsh Welsh travelers beware: a medieval law still on the books from the the 15th century states that anyone who finds a Welshman within the city walls of Chester in northwest England may accost them and hang them from the gallows. Also, a Welsh person outside the city walls of Chester and within shooting distance of a longbow or crossbow may be fired upon. In fact, this law was brought up as recently as 2007 in the House of Commons by the MP of Chester (as a tongue-in-cheek remark, we hope.) Image: brdavids/Flickr While the rule is still technically on the books - several modern MPs have motioned for it to be repealed andndash; it has been almost entirely ignored. King Henry IV of England enacted the law in order to punish local Welsh who rebelled against his army in 1403, even though most of the citizens had sympathies toward their neighbors across the border. Death-free Zone The state of Sandatilde;o Paulo is one of the largest provinces in the world by population, home to almost 41 million people, with over 19 million living in the famous city of Sandatilde;o Paulo itself. Biritiba-Mirim, a city close to Sandatilde;o Paulo, has not had a problem with its living population as much as its dying population, and enacted a proposal that stated its human residents are not allowed to andldquo;expire.andrdquo; Image: Andre Deak/Flickr As one can imagine, the cityandrsquo;s rule is fairly difficult to enforce and is in fact a protest of a nationwide law that prohibits the establishment of cemeteries in a place deemed andldquo;environmentally sensitive or significant.andrdquo; Birtiba-Mirim sits on a water source for millions of people within the province; however, the municipality has run out of cemetery space for which to bury its dead. If you happen to be unfortunate enough to pass away in Biritiba-Mirim, you can expect burial either in a shared crypt with another body, or worse yet under one of the local sidewalks! Blue Laws and Free-for-alls In most parts of the world, young people need to be anywhere between the ages of 16 and 21 to legally drink alcohol. If you happen to be traveling in Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Brunei, Bangladesh, Iran, Kuwait, or Yemen just to name a few, then good luck grabbing a beer at the local tavern (much less even finding that local tavern) as alcohol is strictly prohibited in those countries. Image: stefanravn/Flickr On the other hand, there are a few countries where alcohol is not only legal, but available for purchase at any age; basically, if youandrsquo;re old enough to toddle into a store with a handful of cash and point to the right bottle, itandrsquo;s yours. Cambodia, Serbia, Albania, Armenia, and the South Pacific nation of Solomon Islands have no restrictions when it comes to alcohol purchase or consumption. Donandrsquo;t Feed the Birds Some may think that feeding birds is relaxing and enjoyable way to pass the time, as well as communing with our feathered friends. Not so much in Venice where offering treats to pigeons may result in a fine of up to andeuro;450, or $600. This ordinance was enacted after locals grew tired of cleaning up after the pigeons due to the massive amount of food tourists would feed them. Image: j.reed/Flickr Venice may have taken a page from Trafalgar Square in London, where along with fining people for attracting pigeons with bird feed, the caretakers of the square hired a falconer to chase the birds away. Irresponsible Drivers Beware For years, Lagos, Nigeria has had some of the most notorious congestion in the world. The city has tried various schemes to alleviate the cityandrsquo;s choked expressways, anything from allowing cars with certain-numbered license plates to drive on certain days, or just banning them altogether on weekends. However, many Lagos drivers decided to not only disregard the new regulations, but to openly flout existing traffic laws, such as driving the wrong way down a multi-directional street. Image: dolapo/Flickr In order to curb such illegal and highly dangerous activity, authorities have resorted to not only citing the driver of the car, but any passengers who may be riding along in the vehicle. If you happen to be a passenger in a car with a driver who is thinking about short-cutting it down a one-way street to avoid traffic, think about how it might affect your safety as well as your wallet. The Wheels of Justice Speaking of bizarre driving laws, Zimbabwe recently enacted a new policy to enforce court appearances by making victims of crime drive the accused to court. Thatandrsquo;s right; because of massive fuel shortages in the economically ravaged country coupled with chronic no-shows among defendants, the courts decided that it would help efficiency within the justice system. Image: whatleydude/Flickr Because of the near collapse of Zimbabweandrsquo;s economy over the past number of years, services have in turn taken a hit. With overcrowded prisons and inadequate management, itandrsquo;s not surprising that local governments such as in the capital of Harare push victims to take matters into their own hands when it comes to the courts. Luckily, if you are a victim and youandrsquo;re picking up your accuser, you donandrsquo;t have to go alone. Prison officers will accompany you in your car, but be warned: you might have to pick them up too. Have Gun, Will Carry Whether youandrsquo;re anti-gun or pro-NRA, the United States has a checkered and/or colorful history with firearms, depending on who you talk to. While guns are legal at the federal level, most states have some level of control over where, when, and in what capacity you can carry them. Image: Nevada Tumbleweed/Flickr If you happen to be wandering around Alaska, Arizona, or Vermont and you see someone openly packing heat on the street, itandrsquo;s a result of each of those states allowing its citizens to openly carry firearms. Because Vermontandrsquo;s constitution is so similar to the US Constitution, it has some of the most lax gun laws in the United States, allowing the free carry of guns, concealed or open, without a permit. Long Live the King (Seriously) King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand is the longest-serving head of state and monarch in the world, and highly revered among his own people because of his generous projects to help improve the Thai quality of life. He is so important that, even though he has no authoritative powers under the Thai constitution, he has used his influence to end coups and protests against the government. His recent ill-health has even been said to negatively affect the economic situation of Thailand. Image: permanently scatterbrained/Flickr Because of this extraordinary influence, Thai political leaders have reinforced the rules regarding insults or criticism of the king, known as landegrave;se majestandeacute;. Any insult or criticism of the king may be punished by fines and a heavy prison sentence, whether youandrsquo;ve defaced an image of the king on the street, or merely failed to stand during the Royal Anthem. Leave the Wrigleyandrsquo;s At Home Singapore is one of the worldandrsquo;s most prosperous countries, having started as a newly independent nation after World War II and quickly developing under the almost single-handed guidance of Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. The 5 million citizens of this island city-state on the tip of the Malay Peninsula now enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world, and Singapore is one of the major hubs for commerce in Asia. Image: alex-s/Flickr Dig a little deeper and youandrsquo;ll find the cultural and social aspects of Singaporeandrsquo;s society are carefully managed at almost every level. Artistic and creative works for public display must be vetted by government officials, and bringing materials into the country that might be considered obscene by Singaporean standards are banned. As of 1992, even the importation or sale of chewing gum was prohibited in order to help maintain a litter-free environment, although brands for therapeutic purposes are permitted. When Lew Kuan Yew was pressed over the peculiarity of such a ban, he curtly replied andldquo;If you canandrsquo;t think because you canandrsquo;t chew, try a banana.andrdquo; All Praise the Dear Leader One of the last bastions of communist rule lies in North Korea, the secretive authoritarian regime led by dictator and andldquo;Dear Leaderandrdquo; Kim Jong-Il. This tightly controlled country regulates everything that comes across its borders, including tourists whose curiosity is piqued by this Stalinst backwater. If youandrsquo;re interested in roaming free through North Korea so you can see the sights on your own, forget about it. The state has set up pre-planned tours for all its guests, making sure you see only what they want you to see. Image: Mr Bao 包先生/Flickr A mandatory sight on the tour is a visit to the Kim Il-Sung Square, named after the father of Kim Jong-Il and andldquo;Eternal Presidentandrdquo; of North Korea. Visitors are expected to pay their respects to Kim Il-Sung in the form of flowers or a simple bow. Itandrsquo;s best to avoid criticism of both the andldquo;Dear Leaderandrdquo; and andldquo;Eternal Presidentandrdquo; as a perceived slight toward either of these figures could result in interrogation or even imprisonment. That said, we doubt a North Korean labor camp is high on any travelerandrsquo;s to-do list.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=360Editor's Note: Yes, this post is about saving on airfare to Paris - but it's also helpful for saving on airfare for any trip. The economy has begun to bounce back, and that means more people are traveling this year than in 2009. That also means that airfare to Paris is not at rock-bottom lows. Airfare will undoubtedly be one of the biggest expenses on your vacation. With a few penny-pinching tips, however, you can still save money. Remember, any money you save on airfare can be put toward shopping or sipping champagne. 1. Let the deals come to you. Sign up to get free airfare alerts and travel deals from airline websites and other reliable online sources like FareCompare and Travelocity. Sites like Travelzoo will deliver travel-deal newsletters to your inbox. Join as many as you can find. The key here is to act quickly, as these offers are often available for a limited time and sell out fast. 2. Travel off-season. It seems like Paris never has an off-season. There is always something going on and always a reason to visit. Usually winter is the less desirable time to be in Paris because of the weather; but with the holiday markets and January sales, travel can still be at a premium. For the best chance at saving, opt for late November, February or March. If you choose to go when the weather's warmer, look toward shoulder season, April and May. 3. Be flexible with dates. Generally it is cheaper to travel midweek, so try to depart on Wednesday and stay at least through one weekend. With search engines like Kayak, you can compare ticket prices by doing a flexible date search. This lets you see the difference between traveling on particular days. Adjusting the dates on either end of your trip, or even moving your plans forward or back a week, could help you find a considerable discount. 4. Explore connections and other airports. The shortest and easiest route to Paris may be a direct flight from your local airport to Charles de Gaulle, the cityandrsquo;s major airport; but it may not always be the cheapest. Compare prices at other airports in your area. Perhaps you'll find a deal on a flight to London, connecting to Paris. Also consider a flight to the cityandrsquo;s lesser-known Orly Airport, which is a short ride to the city center. 5. Book Tuesday just after midnight. If you have only one night to burn the midnight oil and surf the Internet for Paris airfare deals, make it a Tuesday night. Airlines seem to have fare sales that begin at 12:01 on Wednesday morning. The trick is to make sure that it's after midnight in the airline's home base, which may be in a time zone different from your own. Industry experts speculate that thatandrsquo;s when unbooked reservations placed on hold over the weekend get released back into the system. It seems to be a logical explanation, but honestly who cares why? Just be happy you're in the know and can take advantage of the lower fares! 6. Check airline websites. Most people are in the habit of shopping search engines and consolidators for their airfare. Sites like Orbitz and HotWire offer one-stop shopping, but travelers often forget to go right to the source. Once you have found what you think is a low fare on your ticket to Paris, check directly at the airlineandrsquo;s website. Occasionally you will find a cheaper fare by booking the same flight through the airline itself. You can call the airline to have a reservation agent check for better rates, but never book on the phone. Booking with a live person will cost you. 7. Avoid extra airline fees. With airlines nickel-and-diming passengers, often adding more than $50 in fees to your total cost, an otherwise good deal on your flight to Paris can be less so. Do your homework on what the airline charges extra for. If thereandrsquo;s a fee to check a bag, take a carry-on. Avoid the charge for a blanket by bringing your own pashmina instead. 8. Maximize frequent-flier miles. Research which airlines in your area fly to Paris. Determine which of those airlines have a mileage-sharing partnership (Delta and AirFrance are one example), and sign up for their frequent-flier program and credit card if available. Most programs offer perks and deals that don't necessarily require air travel to rack up miles. Often you can collect them while purchasing household items, gas, flowers, groceries and car rentals. If you are patient, your reward can be a free ticket to Paris! But careful budgeting is required for success. Make sure you pay off credit-card charges every month and donandrsquo;t charge beyond your means. You don't want that free ticket at the expense of destroying your credit or paying more in interest fees than the cost of five round-trip tickets to Paris. Editor's note: Have the Girlsandrsquo; Guide help you book your hotel in Paris at Book It with GG2P.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=361Editors Note: Summer is full of family vacations and reunions and even though transportation can take a lot out of you, with these seven tips start your trip with a smile and an attitude that will be impossible to fade. You want your kids to grow up to be travelers, right? (If not, we're going to have to have a talk.) Family travel, however, is anything but easyandmdash;and that's because kids have different needs from adults, which too few parents bear in mind. 1. Get the kids involved from the start. The surest way to minimize the complaining is to let kids have a say in where you go and what you do. Not only will they become invested in the trip, they'll have more appropriate expectations. Plus, they have to learn how to plan travel somewhere, right? How else are they going to learn it? The only downside is that they'll be drawn to stuff that only kids want to do. Which leads us to.... 2. Don't forget that they're kids! Pretty views are boring, tours are like school, and long dinners are the worst. There's nothing wrong with forcing them to do certain educational activities, such as visiting museums or historical sites. But toss in a spoonful of sugar now and again. (Literally, visit a candy store if you have toandmdash;or an arcade, or a water park, or whatever.) And look for opportunities to run around and/or be silly. Kids abhor standing still. 3. Avoid long waits. Two-parent families have an advantage here: One can wait at the luggage carousel while the other picks up the rental car; one can take the carry-ons onto the plane while the other boards with the kids at the last minute; one can hustle the kids to the hotel pool while the other checks in. Waiting at attractions is more difficult to cope with, but most let you skip the ticket line by buying tickets online in advance, often with timed entry (one of the great inventions of the modern age). At othersandmdash;such as the Empire State Buildingandmdash;you can pay a premium to skip all the lines. Or look into CityPass and other companies that group admission to several attractionsandmdash;usually with line-skipping privilegesandmdash;for a single fee. (They only make economic sense if you know you'll be visiting all of the attractions.) One more thing: Make sure the kids bring something to occupy themselves. Spending a few bucks on a game app for your smartphone can pay dividends over the entire trip. If it's a game even parents can play, create a tournament with a prize for the winnerandmdash;and the wait will fly by. 4. Everybody needs downtime. Even kids. Especially kids. 5. Certain kids like certain things. You know your children better than anyoneandmdash;what gets their motors running? Do they respond well to having a project, such as keeping a travel diary, writing postcards, or gathering menus or business cards from everywhere you eat? Do they love anything with a sense of adventure? Traveling can be really boring if you're not in charge (see #1); it's follow, listen, follow, listen. So wander somewhere you know nothing about, or better yet, rent bikes. 6. Give them something they can call their own. If you have more than one child, let them each have a unique experience. It need not be anything hugeandmdash;you might just split up for an afternoon. If nothing else, you'll have much more to talk about at dinner. 7. Blow their minds at least once. Every trip should have something that's just plain cool: Rent a limo for an hour; order room-service dessert; have a "minibar picnic" by the pool. Pretty much everyone travels in order to have something to brag about when they get home, and kids are no different. Besides, these are the memories that will make them become travelers when they grow up. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=362Editor's Note: Sometimes when the road trips seem never ending and you're sitting bumper to bumper on the highway the only thing that is going to get you through are some good tunes. So before you head out this summer load up your iPod with best of all time. Your trip will go by much faster and you won't ever have to ask "are we there yet?" Photo by John Tino When we wanted to create a list of the best travel songs, we turned to some of the most knowledgeable and passionate travelers we know: our writers and contributors. We gave them broad voting criteria: If itandrsquo;s a song about travel or inspires travel or just a song that they must listen to while they travel, itandrsquo;s eligible. After everyone spent intimate time with their iPods, we emerged with World Humandrsquo;s top 40 travel songs of all timeandmdash;and some personal stories about why we all love the travel songs we love.andmdash;The editors MORE ON TRAVEL SONGS: Go straight to Top 10 | Anthony Bourdainandrsquo;s Subcontinental Homesick Blues | Interactive Map 40) Ramblinandrsquo; Man (1973) Artist: The Allman Brothers BandSongwriter: Dickey BettsFact: It was The Allman Brothers Bandandrsquo;s first and only Billboard top 10 hit; it peaked at No. 2.andmdash;WikipediaWhy I love it: I grew up in New Orleans before Duane and Greg Allman ever put the city in andldquo;Ramblinandrsquo; Manandrdquo; but hearing the song nowandmdash;say, Iandrsquo;m driving the Natchez Trace through Mississippiandmdash;puts me in strong mind of the secret backstreets of the French Quarter, of chicory coffee and dark sultry nights with the sassy girls of 1967. Then, when itandrsquo;s time for leavinandrsquo; ... Wanderlust is eternal.andmdash;Eric Lucas 39) Roadrunner (1972) Artist: The Modern LoversSongwriter: Jonathan RichmanFact: The song pays homage to driving Route 128, just outside Boston.andmdash;The GuardianWhy I love it: Youandrsquo;re sixteen: you canandrsquo;t vote, canandrsquo;t buy booze, canandrsquo;t buy smokes, you live with your parents and you have to leave for school at the crack of dawn each and every day. Life pretty much sucks. But you can roll down the windows, turn up the music and cruise the strip of your podunk town, and itandrsquo;s about as good a trip as youandrsquo;ll ever take.andmdash;Alex Basek 38) Sweet Home Alabama (1974) Artist: Lynyrd Skynyrd Songwriters: Ed King, Gary Rossington and Ronnie Van Zant Fact: The notorious andldquo;Turn it up!andrdquo; Ronnie Van Zant utters at the start of the track was unplanned. Van Zant was indeed asking the producer to turn up the volume on his headphones.andmdash;Rolling StoneWhy I love it: Iandrsquo;m a native of the American South, and I often turn to regional music when I need solace on the road. This feel-good song about my homeland always picks me up when Iandrsquo;m feelinandrsquo; blue.andmdash;Leigh Ann Henion 37) Where the Streets Have No Name (1987) Artist: U2 Songwriters: U2, BonoFact: Bono was inspired to write the song after learning that on certain streets in Belfast, Northern Ireland it was possible to determine the religion and wealth of the inhabitants, simply from which side or end of the street they lived. andldquo;That said something to me,andrdquo; he said. andldquo;And so I started writing about a place where the streets have no name.andrdquo;andmdash;U2.comWhy I love it: andldquo;Streetsandrdquo; is the musical equivalent of lighting a candle and saying a prayer. I play it before commencing any major journey. The organ opening is so ethereal, it is almost other-worldly, while the jangly guitar riffs root you firmly to earth. By the time Bono has finished lamenting tearing andldquo;down the walls that hold me inside,andrdquo; I am halfway out the door.andmdash;Stephanie Elizondo Griest 36) Katmandu (1975) Artist: Bob SegerSongwriter: Seger Fact: Katmandu is also the name of a Bob Seger tribute band, which goes so far as to bill itself as andldquo;North Americaandrsquo;s Premier Bob Seger tribute act.andrdquo;andmdash;Bob Seger TributeWhy I love it: When this record came out Kathmandu was the epitome of remote destinations and going there a rite of passage; Iandrsquo;ve been listening to this song for 30 years and it still makes me want to pack my bags. andmdash;Lynne Friedmann 35) Ramble On (1969) Artist: Led ZeppelinSongwriters: Jimmy Page/Robert PlantFact: J.R.R. Tolkeinandrsquo;s andldquo;Lord of the Ringsandrdquo; heavily influenced the lyrics, specifically the lines about andldquo;Mordorandrdquo; and andldquo;Gollum.andrdquo; Why I love it: Itandrsquo;s exuberant, and when I was in my late teens and taking my first unchaperoned trips with friends, I cranked up the song constantly, and I fell in love with the idea of travelandmdash;of andlsquo;going andlsquo;round the worldandrsquo;andmdash;as an unscripted and spontaneous kind of rambling. andmdash;Jim Benning 34) California (1971) Artist: Joni MitchellSongwriter: Mitchell Fact: In an interview with Cameron Crowe, chatting about writing her andldquo;Blueandrdquo; album, on which andldquo;Californiaandrdquo; was featured, Mitchell says: andldquo;At that period of my life, I had no personal defenses. I felt like a cellophane wrapper on a pack of cigarettes. I felt like I had absolutely no secrets from the world and I couldnandrsquo;t pretend in my life to be strong. Or to be happy. But the advantage of it in the music was that there were no defenses there either.andrdquo;andmdash;CameronCrowe.comWhy I love it: No song captures the feeling of being on the road and longing for home more than andldquo;California.andrdquo; I even named my last book after a line in the song.andmdash;Laurie Gough 33) Radar Love (1973) Artist: Golden EarringSongwriters: George Kooymans/Barry HayFact: In 2007, NASA played andldquo;Radar Loveandrdquo; during a wake-up call to crew members aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantic. The wife of one of the astronauts had requested it. Itandrsquo;s not the first time andldquo;Radar Loveandrdquo; has played in space. In 1997, it was also played during a wake-up call, this time to NASAandrsquo;s Mars Pathfinder.andmdash;NASAWhy I love it: Itandrsquo;s hard to believe that a Dutch prog rock band would make one of the best driving songs of all time, but they pulled it off despite the fact it hails from a country without twisting mountain lanes or endless stretches of desert highway. The locomotive drumbeat and ringing andlsquo;70s guitars put me in the passing lane back home to my baby every time.andmdash;Alex Basek 32) The Long and Winding Road (1970) Artist: The BeatlesSongwriters: John Lennon/Paul McCartneyFact: It was The Beatlesandrsquo; 20th and final No. 1 hit in the United States.andmdash;WikipediaWhy I love it: andldquo;Itandrsquo;s about the flip side of travelandmdash;not the being gone, but the coming homeandmdash;and every time I hear it, Iandrsquo;m stabbed with nostalgia. It gives me the same sense of bittersweet relief that I feel when my flight back to Minnesota comes in at night and I can see the first lights of home sparkling beneath the wings. But it makes me picture a home I never hadandmdash;a white cottage in a green pasture somewhere, an image as sweet as a Motherandrsquo;s Day card. I always imagined it in Ireland, somehow. Turns out, McCartney had Scotland in mind. Close enough.andmdash;Catherine Watson 31) American Girl (1977) Artist: Tom Petty and the HeartbreakersSongwriter: PettyFact: UGO.com ranked the use of andldquo;American Girlandrdquo; in the movie andldquo;The Silence of the Lambsandrdquo; as No. 5 in its Top 11 Uses of Classic Rock in Cinema countdown. Why I love it: It isnandrsquo;t classically travel, but it sounds like such a driving song. Plus Iandrsquo;ve always loved listening to it in far off places: andldquo;She couldnandrsquo;t help thinking that there was a little more to life somewhere elseandhellip;andrdquo;andmdash;Sarah Schmelling 30) Take Me Home, Country Roads (1971) Artist: John Denver Songwriters: Denver, Bill Danoff and Taffy NivertFact: Danoff and Nivert were inspired to start writing the song while on a road trip to visit Nivertandrsquo;s relatives in Maryland. To pass the time they made up a song with lyrics that reflected the andldquo;little winding roadsandrdquo; they were driving, which in fact, were not in West Virginia, at all.andmdash;Blogcritics Magazine Why I love it: Itandrsquo;s such a sweet song, this love letter to West Virginia. And Israel Kamakawiwoandrsquo;oleandrsquo;s version about Hawaii proves its universal appeal.andmdash;Jim Benning 29) Travelinandrsquo; Prayer (1973) Artists: Billy Joel, Dolly PartonSongwriter: Billy JoelFact: andldquo;Travelinandrsquo; Prayerandrdquo; reached No. 77 on the Pop chart in 1973, but in 1999 Dolly Parton won a Grammy Award with a cover.andmdash;WikipediaWhy I love it: Itandrsquo;s the perfect expression of a travelerandrsquo;s blessingandmdash;all the things you want not just for yourself, but for all the travelers you meetandmdash;a warm dry place to sleep, ground thatandrsquo;s soft under your feet, and yeah, no airplanes, andldquo;cause my baby hates to fly.andrdquo;andmdash;Pam Mandel 28) Truckinandrsquo; (1970) Artist: Grateful DeadSongwriters: Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Robert HunterFact: According to the book Deadbase X: The Complete Guide to Grateful Dead Song Lists, over the course of the Deadandrsquo;s many tours, andldquo;Truckinandrsquo;andrdquo; was played 520 times, the eighth most played song.andmdash;WikipediaWhy I love it: The songandrsquo;s bouncy beat belies its most famous lyric, andldquo;What a long strange trip itandrsquo;s been.andrdquo;andmdash;Eric Lucas 27) Africa (1982) Artist: TotoSongwriter: David PaichFact: The songandrsquo;s drum track was inspired by drummer Joe Porcaroandrsquo;s childhood trip to New Yorkandrsquo;s World Fair, where he visited the African pavilion and heard tribal drumming for the first time.andmdash;WikipediaWhy I love it: I was still in grade school when Toto hit it big with a song blessing the rains in a mountainous and colorful continent far, far away from the yellowed flatlands of North Dakota. andldquo;Africaandrdquo; inspired my MTV-marinated imagination: I couldnandrsquo;t fly anywhere without my parents, but I could dream a video where andldquo;Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti.andrdquo;andmdash;Joanna Kakissis 26) Wagon Wheel (2004) Artist(s): Bob Dylan/Old Crow Medicine Show Songwriters: Dylan/Ketch SecorFact: The song is based on a partially completed Dylan song.andmdash;WikipediaWhy I love it: What traveler hasnandrsquo;t felt the heartache of being far away from someone they care about? andldquo;Wagon Wheelandrdquo; perfectly captures the anticipation of reuniting with a loved one after a long journey. Not to mention that the pure Americana feel of the song has helped me overcome homesickness on more than one occasion.andmdash;Elyse Franko 25) Olandrsquo; 55 (1973) Artist: Tom WaitsSongwriter: Waits Fact: The Eagles covered the song, producing a version that Waits termed andldquo;antiseptic.andrdquo;andmdash;WikipediaWhy I love it: For the same reason I love all Tom Waitsandrsquo; songs. Itandrsquo;s beautiful and complicated and tragic. It doesnandrsquo;t make sense, and yet somehow it makes perfect sense. Like poetry. Like the world. Like life.andmdash;Frank Bures 24) Leaving on a Jet Plane (1967) Artists: Peter, Paul, andamp; Mary, John Denver Songwriter: DenverFact: He wrote the song while waiting for a delayed flight at the airport.andmdash;WikipediaWhy I love it: The ballad is undeniably cheesy, but it also earnestly expresses a hard truth about travel: great adventures are often paired with heart-wrenching goodbyes.andmdash;Ayaz Nanji 23) Midnight Train to Georgia (1973) Artist: Gladys Knight andamp; the Pips Songwriter: Jim WeatherlyFact: An earlier version of the song by Weatherly was called andldquo;Midnight Train to Houston.andrdquo;andmdash;WikipediaWhy I love it: The plaintive, urgent tone of this song gets me every time, particularly the line andldquo;bought a one-way ticket back to the life he once knew.andrdquo; Itandrsquo;s a compelling testament to the curative powers of home, particularly if youandrsquo;ve been away for a long time.andmdash;Doug Mack 22) Thunder Road (1975) Artist: Bruce Springsteen Songwriter: SpringsteenFact: Novelist and music writer Nick Hornby once wrote that he has listened to andldquo;Thunder Roadandrdquo; more than any other song.Why I love it: Itandrsquo;s impossible to spend more than an hour driving on the New Jersey turnpike without finding a Bruce song on the radio. And hearing the native son singing andldquo;Well the nightandrsquo;s busted open these two lanes will take us an-ee-whereandrdquo; always rings like the ultimate road anthem.andmdash;Terry Ward 21) When I Paint My Masterpiece (1971) Artist(s): Bob Dylan, The Band Songwriter: DylanFact: Elliott Smith covered the song. Why I love it: andldquo;Oh, the streets of Rome, are filled with rubble/ancient footprints are everywhere.andrdquo; I was 19 the first time I traveled to Rome, and I had never set foot somewhere that felt so tangibly ancient. I wandered mesmerized, touching columns and stones, wrapping my head around history for what truly felt like the first time. That songandrsquo;s first line perfectly recalls that unforgettable moment.andmdash;Valerie Conners 20) Like A Rolling Stone (1965) Artist: Bob Dylan Songwriter: DylanFact: In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it the best song of all time.andmdash;Rolling StoneWhy I love it: What better lines for a traveler: andldquo;How does it feel? To be without any home? Like a complete unknown?andrdquo; If any one song were my travel mantra this is it.andmdash;Nicholas Gill 19) Back in the USSR (1965) Artist: The Beatles Songwriters: John Lennon/Paul McCartney Fact: B.O.A.C.andmdash;from the first line, andldquo;Flew in from Miami Beach B.O.A.C.andrdquo;andmdash;refers to the British Overseas Airways Corporation, an early incarnation of British Airways.andmdash;WikipediaWhy I love it: The Beatles manage to include nods to British Airways, communist cuties, The Beach Boys, Russian stringed instruments and Chuck Berry in this wry classic. It gets extra travel-credit for starting and ending with aircraft sounds.andmdash;Ayaz Nanji 18) Proud Mary (1969) Artist(s): Ike and Tina Turner/Creedence Clearwater RevivalSongwriter: John FogertyFact: Fogerty penned andldquo;Proud Maryandrdquo; on the steamboat andldquo;Mary Elizabeth.andrdquo;andmdash;WikipediaWhy I love it: It reminds me of being a kid on cross-country road trips with my familyandmdash;my parents were big CCR fans. I can still hear andldquo;Rolling, rolling, rolling on a river,andrdquo; and I imagine us rolling down the highway in our Dodge Caravan, feeling something like west-bound pioneers instead of a suburban family for a moment because of that song.andmdash;Terry Ward 17) Born to be Wild (1968) Artist: Steppenwolf Songwriter: Mars BonfireFact: The song is featured in andldquo;Easy Rider,andrdquo; cementing its association with motorcycles and the road.andmdash;WikipediaWhy I love it: Who can resist Steppenwolfandrsquo;s raspy plea, andldquo;Get your motor runninandrsquo;... Head out on the highwayandrdquo;? For putting pedal to metal, letting the wind whip through your hair, and thrilling to the possibility of the open road, thereandrsquo;s no better soundtrack.andmdash;Julia Ross 16) Long May You Run (1976) Artist: Neil Young Songwriter: YoungFact: The song is about Youngandrsquo;s first car, a 1948 Buick hearse he called andldquo;Mort.andrdquo;andmdash;ExclaimWhy I love it: Youngandrsquo;s ode encapsulates the ups and downs of travel: the vivid experiences, the shared journeys, the highway stretching out to the horizon, and evenandmdash;or especiallyandmdash;the hiccups along the way.andmdash;Newley Purnell 15) Roam (1989) Artist: B-52s Songwriters: Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider, Keith Strickland, Robert Waldrop and Cindy WilsonFact: Subaru once used the song in an ad campaign in New Zealand.andmdash;WikipediaWhy I love it: The most exuberant invocation to travel ever, and yes, the trip often begins (and in the best cases) ends andldquo;with a kissandrdquo;andmdash;Michael Shapiro 14) King of the Road (1965) Artist: Roger Miller Songwriter: MillerFact: The song was a favorite of Chris McCandless and plays in Sean Pennandrsquo;s film adaptation of andldquo;Into the Wild,andrdquo; which chronicles McCandlessandrsquo;s ill-fated Alaska adventure.andmdash;New YorkerWhy I love it: Its loping, lazy pace, shabby-motel imagery and devil-may-care theme remind me of my early travel days, zig-zagging back and forth across America by Greyhound bus. It is the essential road-trip song.andmdash;Sophia Dembling 13) Tangled Up In Blue (1975) Artist: Bob Dylan Songwriter: DylanFact: Dylan told Ron Rosenbaum he wrote the song after a weekend listening to Joni Mitchellandrsquo;s album andldquo;Blue.andrdquo;Why I love it: From the old east coast to the great north woods, Bob bounces all over the map singing of lost love, Italian poets and revolution in the air. Whenever I hear andldquo;Tangled Up,andrdquo; my heart drifts right along with it. And in the end, as always, I find myself still on the road headinandrsquo; for another joint.andmdash;Eli Ellison 12) Runninandrsquo; Down a Dream (1989) Artist: Tom PettySongwriter: PettyFact: The song is a mainstay on the professional sports promotional circuit. Petty played it during the halftime show of Super Bowl XLII. Why I love it: In addition to the crank-up-the-volume guitar riff, I love this song because the lyrics embody why I travel: workinandrsquo; on a mystery, goinandrsquo; wherever it leads, runninandrsquo; down a dream.andmdash;Lynne Friedmann 11) Road to Nowhere (1985) Artist: Talking Heads Songwriters: David Byrne, Chris Franz, Jerry Harrison and Tina Weymouth Fact: The a cappella intro was added after Byrne decided andldquo;the song in itself was embarrassingly simplistic and monotonous.andrdquo;andmdash;WikipediaWhy I love it: On every trip taken to a new destination, I want to blurt out the essence of what Iandrsquo;m hoping for, anticipating. Iandrsquo;ve always found that feeling best evoked hearing Byrne sing, andldquo;Thereandrsquo;s a city in my mind, come along and take that ride, and itandrsquo;s all right, baby itandrsquo;s alright.andrdquo;andmdash;Valerie Conners 10) Southern Cross (1982) Artist(s): Crosby, Stills and Nash, Jimmy BuffetSongwriters: Rick Curtis, Michael Curtis and Stephen StillsFact: The song was named after the cross-shaped constellation Crux, which is visible in the Southern Hemisphere.Why itandrsquo;s a great travel song: Not only is it the rare pop song that invokes palm-dotted Papeete and the Marquesas, but with its ruminating sailor-narrator on a boat, on a trade wind-fueled reach, the song speaks to anyone who has sailed the South Seasandmdash;or, more importantly, ever fantasized about it. It was recorded by Crosby, Stills andamp; Nash on their album andldquo;Daylight Again,andrdquo; but I prefer the live version recorded by Jimmy Buffett; indeed, with its island bars and its hero struggling with relationship problemsandmdash;andldquo;on a midnight watch I realized why twice you ran awayandrdquo;andmdash;the song has all the makings of a Buffett original, even though itandrsquo;s not.Why I love it: Beyond its escapist appeal, the song helped make a travel memory. On my first trip to the Southern Hemisphere, somewhere on the South Island of New Zealand, I looked up and saw the twinkling stars of the Southern Cross. The line from the song reverberated in my head: andldquo;When you see the Southern Cross for the first time, you understand just why you came this way.andrdquo; Because I love the song, that moment took on weight. Iandrsquo;ll never forget it.andmdash;Jim Benning 9) Me and Bobby McGee (1969) Artist(s): Roger Miller, Janis JoplinSongwriters: Kris Kristofferson/Fred FosterFact: Joplin recorded her iconic version of the song only a few days before she died in 1970. Why itandrsquo;s a great travel song: It might be the best known hitchhiking song, and was most famously sung by Joplin. Her voice has echoed on with the classic line: andldquo;Freedomandrsquo;s just another word for nothing left to lose.andrdquo; It reminds us both how sweet freedom can be, and just how much we have to lose. Kristofferson wrote the song after burglars trashed his home and stole andldquo;what little he had to steal.andrdquo; He found it liberating, which helped give rise to the spirit of the song. He says itandrsquo;s about andldquo;the double edged sword that freedom is.andrdquo; Why I love it: Thatandrsquo;s something Iandrsquo;ve felt over and over, out on the road when the pull of home starts to tinge my days, and I become like two people: one who wants to move forward, and the one who wants to go back. The song almost perfectly captures tension between what we yearn to escape with what we love to come home to.andmdash;Frank Bures 8) This Land is Your Land (1940) Artist: Woody GuthrieSongwriter: GuthrieFact: He poached the melody from a Carter Family song, andldquo;When the Worldandrsquo;s on Fireandrdquo;Why itandrsquo;s a great travel song: In 1940 folk singer Woody Guthrie hitchhiked across the country to New York. Along the way he saw a land he lovedandmdash;and listened innumerable times to a song he despised: Kate Smithandrsquo;s version of the Irving Berlin standard, andldquo;God Bless America,andrdquo; was omnipresent on the radio. Guthrie considered it jingoistic hogwash, and penned a response that has become equally famous. andldquo;This Land Is Your Landandrdquo; is a quintessential American song, a love letter to the countryside and people of America.Why I love it: For me, an inveterate wanderer along Guthrieandrsquo;s ribbons of highway, andldquo;This Landandrdquo; captures the allure of the U.S. landscape in a beautifully unadorned fashion. Many times Iandrsquo;ve stopped to rest in the diamond deserts and redwood forests, golden valleys and the New York island of the song, and the chorus rolls across my mind whenever I do. Guthrie was witnessing the end of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. The second verse describes wheat fields waving and dust clouds rolling, and the song came most distinctly to mind long ago while I was poking around an abandoned homestead in southeast Colorado, the heart of the Dust Bowl. There, in a fenceline buried by windblown dust a half-century beforeandmdash;whatandrsquo;s called a andldquo;blow humpandrdquo;andmdash;was the faded blue bumper of an old truck, left behind when an American family had to move on. Now their land is all ours, part of a national grassland; and part of the national story. Just like the song itself. andldquo;This Landandrdquo; is not only Guthrieandrsquo;s legacy. Itandrsquo;s everyoneandrsquo;s.andmdash;Eric Lucas 7) (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 (1946) Artist: Nat King ColeSongwriter: Bobby Troup Fact: In the list of cities in the song, one is listed out of order: Winona. Why itandrsquo;s a great travel song: Troupandrsquo;s bouncy road-trip anthem debuted the year after World War II ended, capturing the spirit of a country itching for renewalandmdash;and a little fun. Itandrsquo;s a song inextricably linked to the pre-Interstate era, yet also an enduring expression of the simple joy of going from town to town. Why I love it: A few years ago, my dad and I drove Route 66 from Los Angeles to Chicago. It was my first time; heandrsquo;d gotten his kicks and motored west decades earlier in his 1951 Ford. Together, we hit the cities in the song in reverse order. Barstow. Gallup. Amarillo. Oklahoma City. Joplin. We took turns behind the wheel, talking and laughing and eating road food from the morning into the night. By the time we arrived in Chicago five days and more than 2,000 miles later weandrsquo;d gotten our kicks, and I got a little extra. I discovered exactly from whom I inherited my wanderlust. Now when I think of andldquo;Route 66andrdquo; I think of my dad.andmdash;Michael Yessis 6) Born to Run (1975) Artist: Bruce SpringsteenSongwriter: Springsteen Fact: Decades ago, the New Jersey legislature declared andldquo;Born to Runandrdquo; the stateandrsquo;s andldquo;Unofficial Youth Rock Anthem.andrdquo; Why itandrsquo;s a great travel song: When Springsteen wrote andldquo;Born to Runandrdquo; at age 24, the song was his last-ditch effort to make it big. andldquo;Born To Runandrdquo; didnandrsquo;t just become an anthem for the young, but with its beautiful sad lyrics of longingandmdash;for the road, for loveandmdash;it became an adrenaline-packed thrill ride that still lingers decades later for free-sprits everywhere.Why I love it: As someone who, like the songandrsquo;s narrator, wanted to escape and hit the road at 20, I carried the song inside me hitchhiking on lonely highways. Back then, I was also andldquo;a scared and lonely riderandrdquo; who had to andldquo;find out how it feels.andrdquo; But the genius of the song is how its meaning changes as you get older. As a writer, one of my themesandmdash;maybe the theme of my lifeandmdash;is about the constant search for somewhere new, somewhere better. But Iandrsquo;ve come to realize the myth in somewhere better. 5) Iandrsquo;ve Been Everywhere (1959) Artist(s): Hank Snow, Johnny CashSongwriter: Adapted from a song by Geoff MackFact: Mackandrsquo;s original listed Australian locales, including Brindabella, Boggabilla and Boggabri.Why itandrsquo;s a great travel song: This country classic is essentially a gleeful, rapid-fire recollection of places traveled. The song first captured the American imagination when Hank Snow turned it into a U.S. hit using North American (and a few South American) place-names in 1962.Why I love it: I discovered the song in 1996, by way of Johnny Cashandrsquo;s Rick Rubin-produced album andldquo;Unchained,andrdquo; where Cash covers Mackandrsquo;s song alongside other old hits originally written by the likes of Soundgarden, Beck and Tom Petty. In addition to the tuneandrsquo;s slow-fast catchiness, the song reminded me of an eight-month journey Iandrsquo;d taken around North America a couple years prior. I was also impressed that the lyrics mentioned my hometownandmdash;Wichitaandmdash;among its 88 American destinations. I didnandrsquo;t truly fall for the song until a few years later, however, when I was writing my first book, andldquo;Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel,andrdquo; in southern Thailand. Though I aimed to discourage obsessive place-counting in the pages of andldquo;Vagabonding,andrdquo; Cashandrsquo;s manic cataloging of out-of the way destinations filled me with the joy of places visitedandmdash;and the allure of places I hadnandrsquo;t yet experienced. Iandrsquo;d like to think that, along with more explicit travel-admonitions from the likes of Walt Whitman and John Muir, the songandrsquo;s sentiment enlivened the spirit of my first book.andmdash;Rolf Potts When I listen to the song now, it seems not to be about leaving, but about finding your way home. Iandrsquo;ve been lucky enough to see Springsteen in concert six times, and the last time, I was even luckier because I was in the front row. When he sang andldquo;Born to Runandrdquo;andmdash;with the entire arena dancing and shouting the lyricsandmdash;I swear he pointed and fixed his gaze right on me for the baby-we-were-born-to-run part for a whole, I donandrsquo;t know, lifetime? OK, maybe five seconds. But I swear he was saying, Iandrsquo;m finally home, and so are you. andmdash;Laurie Gough 4) America (1968) Artist: Simon andamp; GarfunkelSongwriter: Paul SimonFact: In andldquo;Almost Famous,andrdquo; itandrsquo;s the song Zooey Deschanelandrsquo;s character plays to her mother to explain why sheandrsquo;s hitting the road with her boyfriend. Why itandrsquo;s a great travel song: Simon begins: andldquo;Let us be lovers, weandrsquo;ll marry our fortunes together.andrdquo; Clearly, the song explores huge themes: Looking for America, finding ourselves, the arc of a relationship (as, too soon, that first-line optimism is replaced by him crying his heart out to a sleeping person).Why I love it: Itandrsquo;s always been more a song about the road trip itself. I fell in love with Simonandrsquo;s lyrics late in high school, right when I started realizing my tiny world could be left behind and my friends and I began inching our way from Chicago to Wisconsin, to Indiana, even to that andldquo;dream to me now,andrdquo; Michigan. andldquo;Laughing on the bus,andrdquo; all that business with the man in the gabardine suitandmdash;it was just the giddiness, the andldquo;I Spyandrdquo; games for semi-grownups that take over when the trippiness of road-tripping kicks in. And, oh, andldquo;Kathy Iandrsquo;m lostandrdquo;andmdash;buried near the end of the song, not even in a bridge but a verseandmdash;was that moment on the road when the games have stopped, everyoneandrsquo;s quiet and you canandrsquo;t help but wonder about Life, Love and, yes, all the people in those other cars on the turnpike with exactly the same questions.andmdash;Sarah Schmelling 3) Graceland (1986) Artist: Paul SimonSongwriter: Simon Fact: The song, inspired by a road trip Simon took to Graceland with his son, won the Grammy for record of the year in 1987.Why itandrsquo;s a great travel song: Simonandrsquo;s Memphis travel anthem cracked Rolling Stoneandrsquo;s Top 500 Songs list a few years back. Itandrsquo;s one of those pop songs that hits the perfect balance between a bouncy rhythm and more mournful lyrics, and it never fails to keep a road trip rolling along.Why I love it: I hadnandrsquo;t thought of andldquo;Gracelandandrdquo; as a travel song until I started college, in Halifax. Instead, it had fused with the sounds of the entire album, and the lyrics had passed me by. Then, on a long drive one summer, my college boyfriend mentioned that Graceland had been his childhood song of choice for father-son car trips. andldquo;My traveling companion is nine years old,andrdquo; his dad had sung, and the track had become theirs. I never could get that image of father and son driving together, whether through the Mississippi Delta or along the Nova Scotian shore, out of my head. I was still thinking about it this spring, when I finally made the drive to Graceland myself. I had no traveling companion, and instead of following the river I cut east-west, from Alabama into Mississippi and finally across Tennessee state lines into Memphis. But I played Graceland on repeat nearly the whole way there.andmdash;Eva Holland 2) City of New Orleans (1972) Artist: Arlo GuthrieSongwriter: Steve GoodmanFact: Guthrie is the best known performer of the song, but many others have covered it, including Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and David Hasselhoff. Why itandrsquo;s a great travel song: The unknown places where abandoned machinery punctuates the landscape. An overnight trip where the sound of the train takes you off to sleep and keeps you awake. andldquo;... the train they call the City of New Orleans.andrdquo; The rhyme and dust and motion of the rails are in this song.Why I love it: I hear it every time I take a train; every time I see a train. Crushed into my bunk on the night train to Venice I hear, andldquo;Halfway home, weandrsquo;ll be there by morning.andrdquo; Out the window on the way to Eugene on Amtrak, there they are, the andldquo;graveyards of rusted automobiles.andrdquo; While deciphering the unintelligible stickers instructing me to do ... something on the train from Hanoi, I hear it in my head. andldquo;The conductor sings his song again ... Passengers will please refrain.andrdquo; Even at home I hear it. When the weather is right, I hear the whistle in the distance and think andldquo;Oh, to be gone 500 milesandmdash;more evenandmdash;when the day is done!andrdquo; The graffittied freight cars, the track bisecting Seattle, I sit at the lowered gate, my car silenced so I can hear the sound of the rails, I sing to the train as it goes by. andldquo;Donandrsquo;t you know me? Iandrsquo;m your native son!andrdquo;andmdash;Pam Mandel 1) On the Road Again (1980) Artist: Willie NelsonSongwriter: Nelson Fact: Nelson wrote the lyrics on the spot when the producer of andldquo;Honeysuckle Roseandrdquo; asked him to write a song about touring for the movie. He was on an airplane.andmdash;Rolling StoneWhy itandrsquo;s a great travel song: andldquo;On the road again / Just canandrsquo;t wait to get on the road againandhellip;andrdquo; The whining, otolaryngologist-challenging voice builds on a Johnny Cash-like rhythmandmdash;an irresistible sense of motion. Not even aboard his bio-diesel bus yet, Willie nevertheless can feel it. andldquo;Goinandrsquo; places that Iandrsquo;ve never been / Seeinandrsquo; things that I may never see againandhellip;andrdquo; There, in a tiny nutshell, is the romance of travel and the lure of the open road. Of course, the andldquo;roadandrdquo; also could be a hiking trail, a flight plan or the course of a tramp freighter. And those people clapping along? andldquo;Weandrsquo;re the best of friends / Insisting that the world be turninandrsquo; our wayandhellip;.andrdquo; Iandrsquo;m guessing this line was written before the trip. Itandrsquo;s easy to be andldquo;best of friendsandrdquo; then. The hard part is staying that way during a long road trip, particularly if each of you has a different view of how the world should andldquo;be turninandrsquo;.andrdquo; Why I love it: Twice in the past three years I drove with my wife (still andldquo;best of friendsandrdquo;) cross-country from Virginia to Oregon, something Iandrsquo;d always dreamed of doing. As I eased myself into the driverandrsquo;s seat each morning, even without turning on the radio, a little tune would play on my mental iPod. andldquo;Dumdy, dum dum dumandhellip;.andrdquo; Another day of going places where weandrsquo;d never been. I might hum it as we glided down the freeway ramp. Then louder. Soon weandrsquo;d be singingandmdash;just to be on the road again.andmdash;Jerry V. Haineshttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=364Editor's Note: Explore these pictures of the pier of Osanbashi-Yokohama and get lost in the skyline of Tokyo. These breath-taking pictures are sure to whisk you away with their visually arresting views of the city. Some more photos from Yokohamaandrsquo;s Osanbashi. I have to go there soon againandhellip; thereandrsquo;s a great little food/beer stand in the middle of the pier where you can sit and enjoy people watching. The last picture is of the Yokohama Bay Bridge. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=366Editor's Note: What could be cooler than going on a cruise with your family and friends? Going on a cruise with Shrek, Fiona, Alex, Marty, and Po. Royal Caribbean cruises just got more exciting by adding live entertainment from movie favorites to their cruises. Along with having the actual characters to hang out with, all of their movies can now be watched in 3D. They will literally be coming to life from the screen right in front of your eyes! Royal Caribbean today announced that it has formed a strategic alliance with Animation SKG, Inc., the world-class animated film studio powerhouse, to bring the next generation of family programming and quality entertainment to the high seas. Vacationers of all ages will soon delight in interacting with some of Animationandrsquo;s most beloved characters when a variety of new shows, activities and offerings are introduced on ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. The alliance will first come to life for guests to enjoy onboard Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbeanandrsquo;s newest ship that will debut in December 2010 and will share the title of worldandrsquo;s largest and most revolutionary cruise ship with its sister ship, Oasis of the Seas. After launching on Allure of the Seas, the Animation-themed activities and amenities will be incorporated into Royal Caribbeanandrsquo;s renowned entertainment programs on Oasis of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, with some of the studioandrsquo;s most popular feature films andndash; andldquo;Shrek,andrdquo; andldquo;Madagascar,andrdquo; andldquo;Kung Fu Pandaandrdquo; and andldquo;How to Train Your Dragonandrdquo; andndash; anchoring the integrations. Year round, andldquo;celebrityandrdquo; characters including Shrek, Fiona and Puss In Boots of andldquo;Shrek;andrdquo; Alex, Marty and the Penguins of andldquo;Madagascar;andrdquo; Po of andldquo;Kung Fu Pandaandrdquo; and Hiccup of andldquo;How to Train Your Dragonandrdquo; will engage guests of all ages, day and night, with unique experiences, including exclusive special events and energetic parades, as well as through interactive character meals in the main dining room, and of course plenty of photo opportunities. Royal Caribbeanandrsquo;s younger guests who choose to participate in the complimentary award-winning Adventure Ocean childrenandrsquo;s program will relish in an exhilarating new lineup of activities, games and adventures rooted in the popular Animation movies. Whatandrsquo;s more, the phenomenon of 3D movies will be introduced to the open ocean when Royal Caribbean installs the 3D screens in the shipsandrsquo; theaters. The new addition will give guests the opportunity to experience both new and longtime favorite Animation movies on the big screen. Taking the strategic alliance even further, Royal Caribbean will celebrate the addition of Allure of the Seas to the cruise lineandrsquo;s 21-ship fleet by inviting the Animation cast of characters to take the stage in the AquaTheater, the impressive outdoor venue located at the stern of the ship, to perform a one-of-a-kind aquatic based show full of acrobatics and high-diving stunts. In addition, Royal Caribbeanandrsquo;s popular ice-skating venue on Allure will feature the characters from the recent hit film, andldquo;How to Train Your Dragonandrdquo; in a spectacular ice show for guests. The experience on the Royal Caribbean ships is included in the world-class entertainment programming at no additional costs to guests. The cruise experts at www.iCruise.com can arrange your next Royal Caribbean cruise on the new Allure of the Seas or any of the 20 other ships in the fleet. Call them at (800) i CRUISE (800-427-8473) http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=373 Editor's Note: Advice for curing jet lag never goes out of style. All suggestions welcome here. Itandrsquo;s nothing ground-breaking, and you probably already knew it, but now itandrsquo;s official. As reported in Google News, Oregon researcher, Dr. Robert Sack, recently published the three most effective strategies for dealing with jet lag in the New England Journal of Medicine: Take the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin, time your exposure to bright light, or both. Adjust your sleep schedule. Take naps. Use medications or caffeine to fall asleep or stay awake. Melatonin is the most extensively studied jet lag treatment according to Sack. Based on many double-blind, placebo-controlled studies, his findings are that it helps symptoms. andldquo;Its effect is based in good science,andrdquo; he says. He further states that although the USDA has not evaluated melatonin, no adverse reactions have been reported. No prescription is necessary to purchase the hormone supplement. Dr. Clayton Cowl, chief of aerospace medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, says that because everyone is affected differently itandrsquo;s difficult to pin down a one-stop-solution for jet lag. andldquo;Unfortunately, thereandrsquo;s not just one straight recommendation: Take these two pills and youandrsquo;ll be fine,andrdquo; he said. The Travel Insider agrees with the recommendation for melatonin and explains why it works in a bit more detail: when itandrsquo;s dark, a gland secretes natural melatonin that tells your body itandrsquo;s time to sleep. Their suggestion is to expose yourself to daylight as much as possible so as to inhibit the naturally-occurring melatonin, then take a dose of the supplement before you go to bed at night. eHow has a few more suggestions in battling jet lag, including eating a protein-packed breakfast (like an omelette) if youandrsquo;re arriving in the daytime to help keep you awake, or, alternatively, eating a carb-heavy dinner if youandrsquo;re arriving at night, as this will help make you groggy. While GoogoBits.com shares similar advice as the rest, they additionally recommend preparing up to a week in advance of your flight. Using noise-canceling headphones to block out noise (if sleeping in the daytime) and/or special visors designed to expose the retinas to light (if trying to stay awake at night), you can adjust your sleep patterns to your destinationandrsquo;s time zone. [Image: zanthrax-dot-nl / Flickr]http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=387Editor's Note: Marriott is known for their large rooms, comfortable beds, great room service, and accessible locations. Another reason to love them is also their points system. Why not get rewarded while going on a business trip or a vacation. Now Marriott is also offering a point reward system for staying in their timeshares. Most people who own timeshares are restricted to that one location, but what Marriott is offering is a continued flexibility in where one leisures. When traveling many people will seek out Marriott hotels due to the level of comfort and luxury provided to its guests, whether it is a nice family vacation to the beach or a business trip only lasting a few days Marriott has become one of the most well known names in the travel industry. Timeshare owners will be familiar Marriott Vacation Club which is the branch of the company managing the various timeshare resorts offered by the lodging company around the world. There are thousands of timeshare owners around the world who have bought a Marriott timeshare, most of whom are very pleased with their purchase. Recently Marriott Vacation Club announced some changes which will be taking place in the near future to their selling model, from this point forward Marriott will now sell points at their timeshare resorts as oppose to the original model which was to sell specific weeks during the year to owners. The points based model is nothing new the timeshare industry as there are already many companies who offer points based timeshares to their owners as oppose to offering a specific week.Wyndham timeshares is the largest and most popular points based network and was one of the first companies to offer points to their customers. The new points system will be known as Marriott Vacation Club Destinations. There are a few main reasons Marriotthas decided to convert to the points based model for their customers. The first is they have recognized there has been a shift in the market making it necessary for a shift in the business model. Timeshare travelers of today are different from the original timeshare owners who were content to own part of one luxury timeshare resort and continue to visit the resort year after year, even though some have chose to join timeshare exchange companies the vast majority continue to visit their home resort each year. The modern timeshare owner seeks to have a greater amount of flexibility and wants to travel the world experiencing new and exciting destinations, the points based system gives the person the opportunity to visit any resort in the companyandrsquo;s network. Flexibility of the points based system will become the major focus of Marriott for new timeshare owners, making the job of selling the timeshare much easier than before. Initially timeshare salespeople would have to convince owners they will never be bored of visiting the same location, now the salespeople can pull out a brochure covering each destination the new owner will be able to visit just by making a purchase into the system. Offering points will also allow Marriott to offer travelers a greater number of vacation products as points can also be used for tours, cruises, car rentals and anything else one might need to fulfill their vacation needs. Now Marriott can be involved in the entire planning process of a trip instead of just the lodging needs of the party. The points based system has been proven time and time again and has gained popularity among timeshare owners since its inception. Offering points instead of specific weeks can only be a positive in the already renowned Marriot timeshare system. While it has not yet been reported existing owners will most likely have the option to convert their timeshare week to points as well. Please visit the following page for timeshare about Marriott timeshare sales.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=388Editor's Note: Ever wonder what goes on abroad in a more localized scene? In this blog Richard Nahem gives insight into what the art scene is like in July and he is very excited about it! Take a look at some of the highlighted festivals taking place. What's going on in your city right now? Voyage dans ma Tete Does anyone still wear a hat? Apparently Antoine de Galbert thinks so. His astounding collection of over 400 hats, headpieces, and headdresses are from the tribes of Africa and South America. The exhibit explores the cultural and practical aspects of one of man's oldest garments.Till September 26La Maison Rouge10 Blvd. de Bastille,12th arr. Metro: Quai de la Rapee, BastilleOpen Wednesday-Sunday 11AM-7PM, Thursday till 9PMhttp://www.lamaisonrouge.org/spip.php?article650andamp;date=cours Charlotte GainsbourgCharlotte Gainsbourg, daughter of the legendary singers Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin, has carved out quite an acting and singing career in her own right. Her whispery voice can be heard at La Cigale and the set list includes Dylan's Like a Woman, Jamais, and Cafe de Artistes. July 8 andamp; 9, 7:30PMLa Cigale120 Blvd. Rochechouart, 18th arr. Metro: Pigallewww.lacigale.fr Paris Cinema Festival 2010The annual Paris Cinema Festival honors Japanese cinema this year with over 100 films. Charlotte Rampling is the chairperson and special guests include Hanoi Jane Fonda and filmmaker Eugene Green. July 3-13http://www.pariscinema.org/uk/iff/iff.html Monet and AbstractionSome of Monet's greatest paintings are compared to modern abstract painters such as Rothko, Hofmann, Pollock, and Krasner. The exhibit is divided into 6 parts including contrast of forms, mists and variations, and in Monet's garden. Till September 262 rue Louis Boilly, 16th arr. Metro: MuetteOpen 11AM-6PM Tuesday to Sunday, Tuesday till 9PMhttp://www.marmottan.com Coming soon: Eye Prefer New York Tours New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking ClassesI am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotteandrsquo;s professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines. Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours) Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the marketClass days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday, and FridayMinimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=389Editor's Note: Summer among other things, is a time for sightseeing. People travel all over the world to visit the historic sites and to try to feel a connection with history. The questions that frequently run through everyones minds are how did they build this? Is this an original? How long and how many people did it take? As for the original question, the answer is for many buildings yes, but the reason they are able to stay so fresh looking are continued hours of labor and renovations. photo uploaded to flickr by OZinOH Along with the Washington Monument, nothing defines DCandrsquo;s skyline (or lack therof) like the U.S. Capitol Dome. Completed during the Civil War, the Dome is made entirely of cast iron, an ambitious choice of a growing Republic that wanted to show the world it could handle two tasks at the same time, thank you very much. Thanks to iron being phased out for structural steel in the next few decades, the Dome got to retain itandrsquo;s title as andldquo;Worldandrsquo;s Largest Cast Iron Domeandrdquo;, which sadly does not come with a cash prize.But as someone who is watching his front porch supports slowly rust away can tell you, using metal outside can be somewhat problematic. The Capitol Dome requires a great deal of work and is routinely repainted, the last time being in 2002. So donandrsquo;t be surprised when you see scaffolding sprouting out of it next week if you happen to be in town. Itandrsquo;s time to slap another coat of paint on her. The Architect of the Capitol estimates this portion of the project will last through November. However, the real fun will start in a few years. The last time the Dome underwent major work was in 1959-60, when it was scrapped down to bare metal and a new rust inhibitor was painted on. So, in addition to putting on a new protective coating, andldquo;the AOC will be evaluating the Dome in preparation for a phased and comprehensive restoration project.andrdquo; According to Eva Malecki of the AOC, andldquo;The timing and extent of work during the next phases are still being planned, but will likely start after the next Inaugural.andrdquo; So, sometime in 2013, some lucky group will get have their picture taken in front of a giant orange dome. Personally, I think they should mix it up a bit and add a little color to the thing, but I doubt the Committee on Fine Arts would go for it....  http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=390Editor's Note: All over the place you can find famous historic sites where movies have been filmed. The exorcist steps in Washington D.C., Forrest Gump's bench in Savannah, Georgia, but now the places receiving the most hype are Forks and La Push, Washington homes of Team Edward and Team Jacob respectively. Who's home will you visit first? Edward may rule the hearts of the girls in Forks. But down the road at La Push, on the Quileute Nation reservation, itandrsquo;s Team Jacob all the way. In the book, Jacob and other members of his wolfpack/family are Quileutes, which happens to be the same name as the tribe who has lived in La Push for thousands of years. In real life, the Quileutes are known as Wolf Clan, with a belief system that traces their origins from wolves. So it wasnandrsquo;t much of a stretch for Stephanie Meyer to re-imagine them as vampire-hunting, shape-shifting spirit wolves (although some Quileutes have found the comparison disrespectful, with good reason. Would you want your people to suddenly gain international prominence asandhellip;a bunch of werewolves?) Before Twilight, La Push had a reputation as a low-key coastal getaway. Hardcore nature enthusiasts would camp along the tree-strewn beaches and surfers and kayakers would brave the rough waves of First Beach. It wasnandrsquo;t exactly a major stop on the typical tourist path. As with Forks, the books and movies changed things. Now the Oceanside Resort cabins and motel on First Beach require a two-night minimum and the Nation has opened a restaurant to accommodate the incresae of visitors. The Lonesome Creek store sells Twilight-themed tchlokes and sports andldquo;Bellaandrsquo;s Bulletin Boardandrdquo; out front, where fans leave notes for Bella. I got around the Oceanside Resortandrsquo;s two-night policy by calling early Saturday morning. Luckily, they had one room left, a queen bed in their motel rooms. The receptionist warned me that the units, right on First Beach, lacked TVs and Internet access, and that most cell phones couldnandrsquo;t get service. I laughed and told her that I had plenty of books to read. I couldnandrsquo;t check in to the Quileute-owned Oceanside Resort until 4 p.m., so after touring Forks, I headed to Rialto Beach. Misty, mysterious and strewn with the remains of grand trees, the beach is part of Olympic National Park. Itandrsquo;s a favorite of campers, storm watchers, photographers and people who want a taste of Washingtonandrsquo;s wild coast. Unlike the sand in most places I visit, Rialto Beach is dark and laden with rocks and stones. This made hiking slightly more strenuous; if you go, wear your hiking boots instead of beach shoes or simple walking shoes (which is what I had on). I had seen pictures of the gorgeous rock formations off the coast of Rialto. But I didnandrsquo;t expect the fallen trees that lined the shorelines. Piled haphazardly atop one another, the desiccating trees appeared ghostly, and led a melancholy air to the shoreline. It was like walking through a tree graveyard Campers were using the monster logs as a buffers for their campsites. Iandrsquo;m not sure Iandrsquo;d want to spend the night out there andndash; too remote and bleak for me. Plus who knows when the next round of trees, already bleached and scoured bare by the fierce ocean winds, are going to fall? About 1 1/2 miles down the beach, the Hole in the Wall rock formation is known for its tidepools. I set off down the beach, stumbling a little on the rocks. I noticed several people using the long branches lying on the each as hiking poles; I found one and joined them. The poles made the walk much easier. Unfortunately, I didnandrsquo;t check the tide schedule and the water was coming in fast when I reached Hole in the Wall. Thereandrsquo;s a path to the other side that goes up the hill, but I really wasnandrsquo;t wearing the right footgear to make an extended climb. So I left the tidepools for another time and drove into La Push. Despite the new income from tourists, La Push is not a wealthy community. The Quileutes have traditionally mostly make their living from the sea, and a marina full of fishing boats serves as the townandrsquo;s andldquo;downtown.andrdquo; As in many Native American reservations, the architecture of the Quileute Nation mostly of pre-made modular homes. Signs for social service were displayed prominently, and more than one yard featured a car on bricks and for sale signs. Despite some of these signs of poverty, the Quileute-owned Oceanside Resort turned out to be modern and cozy, although the motels and cabins appeared utilitarian on the outside. My queen-sized motel room cost $125 for one night. It came with a stocked kitchenette, plenty of blankets for the 50-degree temperatures and a porch overlooking First Beach. Perhaps hearing the concern in my voice after she told me about the resortandrsquo;s lack of connectivity, the receptionist told me that the Quileutes were holding a community bonfire on First Beach that night at 9 p.m. Tired from my Rialto Beach hike, I dragged myself out there for a few minutes. Although I didnandrsquo;t stay long, members of the Quileute Nation greeted me and patiently answered a couple of my inane Twilight questions. Everyone seemed friendly and ready to dig into sandrsquo;mores. I heard my books calling me, however, and bowed out before the storyteller got going. All in all, La Push makes for a good stopover on your Twilight pilgrimage, as you can see from the notes above on the Bella Bulletin Board. If I go out there again, Iandrsquo;d probably stay at a lodge in Olympic National Park that has a few more amenities (the Kalaloch Lodge just south of La Push has a special Eclipse package through Oct. 30 that runs $202 for a cabin, plus extras such as Twilight water bottles and a dessert). Landscape-wise, are you more of Team Edward andndash; preferring overcast skies and lush forest cover andndash; or Team Jacob, loving the crash of the surf and desolate beaches? When you put it that way, itandrsquo;s hard for me to choose (although when it comes to romance, Iandrsquo;m definitely on Jacobandrsquo;s side).http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=386Editor's Note: Is it possible to be in two places at once? This blog identifies some of the more interesting borders around the world. And although some of these borders may have had rocky relations in the past, many have been able to find peace with one another for the good of tourism this summer.Could it be possible that two countries that have been at each otherandrsquo;s throats for almost three decades may now be warming up to cross-border tourism? According to an article from the Christian Science Monitor, Iraq and Iran andndash; who fought a decade-long war in the 80s and have had a history of antagonism ever since andndash; may open up a border crossing for travelers. While Iran initially condemned the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, they have since found Saddamandrsquo;s ousting to be a boon for commerce and diplomatic relations. After all, the next logical step after burying the hatchet is cultural exchange. What better way to do that than to get those tourist dinars and rials flowing freely? Sadly, not all borders show signs of opening up. Some crossings involve complicated bureaucracy around visas and permissions; others require ridiculously long waits; and still others are simply closed andndash; in extreme cases, with machine guns cocked and ready. Below are ten of the most notorious, the most challenging, or even the most impossible, to cross. China-Kyrgyzstan: Torugart Pass Crossing this path is almost like stepping back in time to join caravans on the Old Silk Road. Except, instead of camels and spices, youandrsquo;ll be traveling alongside Russian-made tractor-trailers and Chinese car parts. The Torugart Pass (Chinese: 图噜噶尔特山口, Kyrgyz: Торугарт) is a relatively new route from China to Central Asia (it was constructed in the latter part of the 19th century) and is now the primary route for commerce between the two regions. Images: Gusjer/Flickr, Google Maps (checkpoint at the Torugart Pass) Getting your passport stamped at the border is a feat of epic proportions when you consider visas, inclement weather, and random border closures. However, the difficulty of the journey is outweighed by the sheer beauty youandrsquo;ll encounter along the road as you wind up and through the Tian Shen mountains near the roof of the world. Pakistan-Afghanistan: Khyber Pass This infamous border crossing has been a vital connection between Central and South Asia for thousands of years. Aside from being used by the likes of Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and Tamerlane, the Khyber Pass was part of the Hippie Trail for thousands of Westerners traveling overland from Europe to India. Several local clans have laid claim to the road for centuries and used to ensure safe passage to travelers in exchange for a toll. Images: Anthonymaw/Wikipedia, Google Maps (Landi Kotal, highest point on the Khyber Pass) The pass is once again the focus of conflict, now between Pakistan, Afghanistan and NATO in the War in Afghanistan. Between the Taliban attempting to sabotage bridges, heavily-armed convoys crossing into Afghanistan from Pakistan, and highly dangerous suppliers using the route for opium and counterfeit weapons, the Khyber Pass isnandrsquo;t exactly an easy way to negotiate a crossing between the two countries. USA-Mexico: San Ysidro and Tijuana This border crossing isnandrsquo;t known as much for its armed security or landmines (granted, that could be changing) as much as the sheer numbers of people who cross it. Over 50 million people enter the United States at the San Ysidro border, making it the most heavily trafficked crossing in the world. Of course, a large amount of people cross north into the US for work, but also south into Mexico for entertainment or cheap medical and dental services. Images: Willem van Bergen/Flickr, Google Maps (cars lining up at the San Ysidro checkpoint) Some quick math (50 million people divided by 365 days) shows that almost 140,000 people cross over per day. While the vehicle lines can be rough, pedestrian traffic moves relatively quickly andndash; so much so that people who regularly cross often own a car on each side of the border to save them from idling at the beginning of Interstate 5. Pakistan-India: Line of Control In 1947 during the Partition of India, almost 13 million people were displaced as Hindus and Muslims fled across the newly defined borders of India and Pakistan, of which almost a half million lost their lives in the chaos and violence that ensued. Since then the two countries have fought three wars, two over the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the northern part of both countries. While tensions have simmered to a lull over the past few years, there is still hostility along much of the border in Kashmir, particularly on the Siachen Glacier. Images: appaji/Flickr, Google Maps (dusty village of Wagah on the Radcliffe Line) In fact, the only road crossing between the two countries lies on the Grand Trunk Road at the town of Wagah, where the controversial partition line was drawn right through the center of the village. To this day, the village remains split and currently serves as a ceremonial border where an aggressive show of force happens each evening during the lowering of the flags. Israel-Palestine: Gaza and West Bank barriers While some border walls are in the process of being scaled back or even removed altogether, some new walls are being constructed. The Israel-Palestine conflict has long been raging, without any clear resolution in sight. Because of security concerns, Israel has constructed a barrier on its borders in the West Bank and Gaza, although the positioning of the borders is highly controversial due to the lack of agreement about where the true borders lie. Images: dlisbona/Flickr, Google Maps (bombed-out Yasser Arafat International Airport near the Gaza wall) The Gaza border (pictured in the satellite photo above) was first constructed in 1994, and is made up of barbed wire, a buffer zone, sensors, and concrete walls with five crossing points on the Israeli side and one on the Egyptian side. The West Bank barrier is still under construction, with walls up to 24 feet high, trenches, and a buffer zone that is eerily reminiscent of the Berlin Wall. Morocco-Western Sahara: The Berm One of the most sparsely-populated regions in the world is also one of the most highly disputed, and it has created tensions between the countries of Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania for well over three decades. Western Sahara is a desert territory that is largely controlled by Morocco; however, it has also been claimed by a socialist separatist group in the southeast region with ties to the Algerian government. In order to push the separatists out of the territory, the Moroccans built a massive berm (or, desert wall) that runs from the northeastern to the southwestern corner of the country, effectively splitting the territory. Images: AlbertoDV/Wikipedia, Google Maps (the Berm near the Mauritania border) The berm, which is highly visible from space as you can see in the image above, is also littered with landmines and has forts and lookout towers every few kilometers, making an overland crossing into bordering countries almost impossible. A United Nations peacekeeping mission has kept the two sides at bay for almost 20 years, but there arenandrsquo;t any signs that tensions will ease anytime soon. USA-Cuba: Guantanamo Bay Relations between Cuba and the United States arenandrsquo;t exactly warm. In fact, you might say theyandrsquo;ve been downright cold ever since Fidel Castro came to power and established a communist government. The US military base at Guantanamo Bay, which was leased to the United States in 1903, sits on Cuban territory and has since been enclosed by 17 miles of barbed wire fence and an 8-mile barrier of cactus, hence the border being dubbed the andldquo;Cactus Curtain.andrdquo; Images: USMARINE0311/Flickr, Google Maps (fence between Cuba and Guantanamo Bay Naval Base) Under the provisions of the lease signed in 1903 and reaffirmed in the 1930s, the property is permanently under US control unless both governments agree to change the terms or the US abandons the base altogether. When the communists came to power, they refused to cash the rent checks sent by the US government each month, save for the first one which was accidentally cashed by mistake. US officials say that first cashing signified ratification of the lease. However, Cuban officials refuse to acknowledge the checks, which are allegedly stuffed in Fidel Castroandrsquo;s desk drawer in protest. North Korea-South Korea: DMZ The most heavily defended border in the world lies between North and South Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone (or DMZ), a 160-mile long, 2.5-mile wide barrier established in 1953 during the armistice following the Korean War. Between landmines, motion-detectors, machine gun nests, lookout towers, and two of the largest armies in the world pointing artillery pieces at each other across the DMZ, youandrsquo;d be hard pressed to find easy access between the two countries. After all, a state of war still technically exists between the two Koreas. Images: constantinb/Flickr, Google Maps (Truce Village at Panmumjon) However, at a place called Panmunjom, about 32 miles from Seoul (or 88 miles from Pyongyang), is the Joint Security Area, where negotiations and talks between the two countries occur. The andldquo;Truce Villageandrdquo; as seen in the photos above, is one of the last vestiges of the Cold War and has become a huge tourist attraction. Visitors on both sides can peer across the border at the andldquo;enemyandrdquo; and learn about the Korean War in museums on either side of the border. USA-Soviet Union: Checkpoint Charlie Once the site of some of the worldandrsquo;s most tense standoffs between East and the West, Checkpoint Charlie is unique to this list as it is completely open to the public. This former Cold War border checkpoint, which defined the spheres of influence between NATO and the Warsaw Pact, was one of the most symbolic divides between East and West Berlin. Images: http2007/Flickr, Google Maps (Brandenburg Gate just north of Checkpoint Charlie) Today the checkpoint is one of Berlinandrsquo;s primary tourist attractions, with a replica of the guardhouse in the center of the street and the infamous sign stating andldquo;You are leaving the American Sectorandrdquo; still standing nearby. TheHaus am Checkpoint Charlie, opened just after the Berlin Wall was constructed in 1963, contains historical artifacts from the era. The last remnant of Cold War hostilities are two andldquo;guardsandrdquo; who tourists can snap a photo with outside the ersatz guardhouse.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=398Editor's Note: Whether or not you are traveling this summer, this post gives a lot of handy tips for how to make your budget go the furthest while traveling. Being a splurger myself, sometimes it's not easy... but I especially appreciated the tip about making some of your own food for the day with the help of the locals. Not only is it a great cultural experience, but you also don't have to worry about going hungry! This is the second in a series of three posts offering advice to holidaymakers heading off on holiday this summer. In this post I have added some useful tips that will save you money in the hope that you will spend less time worrying about money, and more time enjoying your holiday. I have also included the answers to two questions that I am asked a lot; how much spending money should I take on holiday? Where are the best places to exchange currency? I explain how you can still enjoy expensive destinations like Venice, by changing your spending behaviour while on holiday. Here is my list of travel money saving tips. Stick to a daily budget Before I travel I look at what I want to do. I look at the cost for entrance to tourist attractions that I want to visit. I research what public transport ticket options I can purchase and how much it will cost to get around. Then add in the cost of food, drink, and money for gifts etc. I then have an estimated amount for spending money. Itandrsquo;ll not be exact, but itandrsquo;s better than just pulling a figure out of the air and then finding that you cannot afford to do the things you had planned. In Oslo I saved money by purchasing a tourist pass that included transport and entrance to museums. Book accommodation outside of the main tourist area When I told friends that I was staying in a hotel away from the main island in Venice they told me that I was making a huge mistake. I stayed at a hotel in Mestre, a ten minute bus ride away, and the cost of the hotel was 45% cheaper than the main island. The bus service was regular, and reliable. So, my advice is, if cost is the main factor in your holiday search, try not to stay in the main tourist areas. Look at places nearby with a good public transport network to where you want to visit. Finding a parking space in unfamiliar towns and cities can be a nightmare, so catching a bus is a lot less stressful. Go local to find the cheapest restaurants and bars I am using my trip to Venice as an example again, but, a few people told me to andlsquo;get lostandrsquo; to find the best restaurants and bars. Itandrsquo;s true; youandrsquo;ll pay up to 50% less by finding places that the locals use. Not only is the food cheaper but it tastes a lot nicer. You will also avoid those rip-off tourist restaurant menus and rates. Remember you pay more in a restaurant with good views and location. Rather than paying a huge amount for a meal, go to a supermarket and create your own picnic. I sat eating my andeuro;2 sandwich on the Grand Canal while the people behind me, in the restaurant, paid andeuro;25 for a soup starter. Change your spending behaviour When I went to Kos a few years back, I was short of money because it was close to pay-day. So I planned my spending to make sure my money stretched to the end of they holiday. The daily lunchtime beer in a bar was replaced with a drink back on the balcony of my apartment. Visit a supermarket that the locals use. Making a few sandwiches is much cheaper than eating at restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Rather than paying for a taxi, walk, or use public transport. Making a few changes to how you spend money is not going to ruin your holiday; itandrsquo;ll mean less stress when you receive the bank or credit card statement. Cut the bank card costs I have a Nationwide account because within Europe, if I withdraw any money, I do not get charged. I also have a FairFX prepaid card, which I applied for online. There are no fees for adding money, but you will pay andeuro;1.50 to withdraw cash from an ATM. I take both when going on holiday. There are loads of different options on debit and prepaid cards, so it is worth shopping around. While I am on the topic of cards, it is a good idea to speak with your bank prior to going on holiday to tell them that you will be using it abroad. I have heard of banks freezing accounts because of suspicious activity. Best currency exchange rates Finally, a question I am asked a lot is where the best places to exchange my money are. Unless you are exchanging large amounts of money I wouldnandrsquo;t spend time searching for the best rate. If you do want to shop around, then compare the high-street with online. You tend to find higher rates online, they will deliver, but it can take up to two weeks. Hopefully this post has provided you with some travel money saving tips for your next holiday. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=401Editor's Note: So this post was something that I was really excited to see. Just the other day I was listening to my Moulin Rouge soundtrack and was thinking it would be so neat to see it in person. The ParisBlog confirmed my suspicions by showing that no trip to Paris is complete without visiting the Moulin Rouge. Learning the can-can dance from the place that is was born? It doesn't get more authentic than that! No trip to Paris is complete without a visit to the famedMoulin Rouge. A Montmartre landmark dating back more than 100 years, the Moulin Rouge (or andldquo;Red Windmillandrdquo;) is the supper club where the cancan dance was born. In a traditional Old Paris setting, the spectacular show goes on to this dayandhellip;with the most beautiful girls in the world providing non-stop entertainment. Itandrsquo;s no surprise that the mythic club sells out almost every performanceandhellip;so itandrsquo;s important to plan ahead to secure tickets. ParisFrance.com offers discounted tickets to the world reknown andldquo;Fandeacute;erieandrdquo; show. Champagne included! Click here for more information and for the discount coupon code. Donandrsquo;t return from your holiday without experiencing this must-see of Paris! (And if you have not yet booked your hotel for Paris vacation, click here for choices near the Moulin Rouge). http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=393You know summertime is here when: you wake up in the morning and can feel the heat, the lemonade stands start to appear, school parking lots are deserted, and all anyone can talk about is what they have planned for their summer vacation. However, this summer StrategyOne is reporting that only 28% of Americans are continuing with the summer vacation traditions, mostly due to the high prices of fuel. I have to say that road trips are becoming questionable. It used to be that the main costs you had to factor in were the hotel, food, and extraneous activities, but now the primary factor is how much gas will cost for the trip. Someone should come up with an app for that. StrategyOne is a company that maps, explores, and measures in order to deliver the most accurate results to your marketing research needs. Their full press release, including all the statistics, can be found here. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=400As I posted a couple of weeks ago, villas and condos are of a new interest here at Travel Onion. We have been fortunate enough to be in contact with a really neat new site, GetawayEarth. The reason why I personally love it is that as soon as you get to the home page there is a large map and you can click and zoom in on any location to see what the renting availability is. For example, I was just thinking about the trip to Croatia I took a year ago and was wondering what might be available because I have been yearning to go back. So I clicked on it and found out that there is a beautiful penthouse apartment right by the sea on the gorgeous island of Broc. Itandrsquo;s located right on the water and if I could afford the airfare, I could afford to stay there! Speaking of airfare, another great website that has come to our attention is Airporthotels.com. Not all flights are direct and layovers and flight cancellations are pretty common, so why not use a trusted site that specializes in booking the best airport hotels from Europe to Australia? I know Iandrsquo;ll be saving that website address for the next time I plan a trip with multiple stops. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=394Editor's Note: A large piece of literary, religious, and culinary history lies in Bakewell and Chatsworth. Visiting these neighboring villages in London is sure to give a unique experience. You can even explore the locations where the novel Pride and Prejudice takes place! Bakewell is a lovely village set in the Heart of the Peak District National Park, a beautiful place in Derbyshire and dating back to the Saxon times. The Church dates back to 920 a.d although much of the andlsquo;modernandrsquo; building dates from the 13th Century! Jane Austen is rumoured to have stayed in The Rutland Arms hotel which is still standing today and is mentioned in Pride andamp; Prejudice where Elizabeth meets the Darcyandrsquo;s and Mr.Bingley. Their greatest claim to fame though is that their Chef in 1859 invented the great Bakewell pudding by mistake. Plenty of shops in the Town sell the puddings, all claiming to have the andlsquo;originalandrsquo; recipe! Just 4 miles away from Bakewell, is one of my favourite places, not just in the East Midlands but in the whole of England. From the main road you take a sharp right and drive a mile or so and when you reach the peak of the hill laid out before you is this sight which always makes my heart soar: This is Chatsworth House which I believe is one of the most beautiful of all the stately homes in the UK. Some of you may recognise it from blockbusters like Pride andamp; Prejudice and The Duchees but the house dates back to the Saxon times. Building on the current house was started by Bess of Hardwick in 1553 and itandrsquo;s now owned by the 12th Duke of Devonshire, son of one of the Mitford Sisters. Itandrsquo;s hard for me to know where to start with telling you what I love most about Chatsworth and what makes it so amazing for me! I donandrsquo;t know if itandrsquo;s that it awesome in every Season. In the Summertime the gardens are just out of this world and you could spend a whole day exploring and enjoying and discovering new things. There are gardens designed by Capability Brown or maybe the Arboretum that has some of the oldest specimens of Giant Seqouia in the UK. They have Fountains that were made especially for the proposed visit of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia and a Maze. My favourite of all the things in the gardens is the Cascade Fountain: Itandrsquo;s so impressive from every angle and has 24 cut steps, each slightly different and with a variety of textures so that each gives a different sound when water runs over and down them. I love the house as well but my favourite time to visit is at Christmas. The decorations and trees are awesome and the atmosphere is just sooooo lovely! It has 126 rooms most of which arenandrsquo;t seen by the public but you would never know that and there isnandrsquo;t a particular style to the house. Itandrsquo;s a little bit mis-matched and I think thatandrsquo;s part of what endears me to it! They also have a River running through the front garden: If you are ever in the UK long enough to make it out of London you should head up to the Peak District and explore. Not only to see Bakewell and Chatsworth but for the walking, spa breaks and history. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=397Editor's Note: It just so happened as I read this blogpost I was thinking about wanting to eat something sweet. And then I saw that the local (for me) Georgetown Cupcakes is going to be featured this week on TLC's show "DC Cupackes." In my personal opinion, cupcakes are perfect. They give you sweetness and texture and you don't overindulge like when a big delicious cake is staring you in the face. But besides that, if you are looking for a tasty treat in the DC area, this post will convince you where to go. At Georgetown Ritz Degrees Bar for andldquo;Champagne andamp; Cupcakesandrdquo; pre-screening And how sweet it is, or can be. Sugar highs have never tasted so good as when they come in the form of a teensy weensy pop in your mouth cake with a pretty frosting twirl (perfect, natch) and sprinkling of an edible adornment. And oh, the colors and flavorsandhellip; Sophie and Katherine The cupcake craze is apparently here to stay (I had a serious heart to heart with my thighs about this) as more and more boutique bakeries are opening in DC as well as across the country. Remember when Carrie and Miranda bit into their Magnolia cakes on SATC years ago? Well, there must be something in the icing, because Americans are addicted and they arenandrsquo;t stopping the chomping and licking. People stand in line for Georgetown Cupcake. Personally, I think thatandrsquo;s curious, but hey, who am I to judge, when Iandrsquo;ve been known to go for miles to get really good Mexican. Ice cream for a mama-to-be is so andrsquo;90andrsquo;s. Itandrsquo;s cupcakes for a Lily wearing Angie Goff. But what goes into running a small shoppe turned big biz? You have to watch to find out. TLC (part of theDiscovery family) is the place to be on Friday nightandrsquo;s at 10pm. Our very own Georgetown Cupcake sisters (Katherine Kallinis-brunette-and Sophie LaMontagne-blonde) take us behind the scenes and the counter and back to the ovens, giant mixers, tastes tests, and icing making in the new reality show andldquo;DC Cupcakesandrdquo;. Think itandrsquo;s all sugar and spice? Think again. Drama, drama, drama. Hmm. How many minis make 1 normal size? Grab a dozen and have a watch party Friday for the premiere. www.georgetowncupcake.com http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/dc-cupcakes/ Hot pink shoes on the hot reality show stars http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=402Editor's Note: The title of this blog post is a topic that my co-worker Dana and I have discussed many times. Big cruise ships do have their advantages... have you seen that commerical where a kid is learning how to surf, on the boat?! They have so many activities to offer. I like the idea of having so much offered to me that I have a hard time fitting everything into one day. However, small cruise ships have the advantage of docking in smaller places and give the vibe of a more leisurely vacation. Anne Campbell points out some more interesting points for how to make your decision in this post. Oh dear. I just returned from a cruising aboard the 5,100-passenger Norwegian Dream to learn that the head of Holland America admits heandrsquo;s andldquo;thinkingandrdquo; of building a 3,000-passenger cruise ship. You donandrsquo;t say something like this to a journalist unless itandrsquo;s certain that the formal announcement will follow in a few months. And while the biggest ships get the most publicity andmdash; think Royal Caribbeanandrsquo;s 6300-passenger Oasis of the Seas and the 4300-passenger Carnival Dream andmdash; it may be tempting to assume that the newest, biggest ship is the best. But is that true? While the super-behemoths have so many more choices, you do loose something valuable: an intimate level of service. Should HAL build 3,000-passenger vessels they will be in the mass market category of ships instead of the premium category because the fine level of service will suffer. Why Cruise Ships Are So Big Cruise line execs say they build these mammoth ships because passengers want more to do, more choices in dining and entertainment, more fitness facilities and kids programs. Well, thatandrsquo;s part of it. But the real reason is because of economy of scale: the larger the ship, the lower the cost of each cabin. You have one set of officers, one set of engines and air conditioning units. Remember, the biggest cost of operating a sea-going vessel is below deck. Keep in mind that the priciest ships are in the luxury category and none carry more than 1000 passengers. The two most important features of a luxury cruise are outstanding food and service, which canandrsquo;t be accomplished when you substantially increase the size and number of passengers. Add to that staterooms which are significantly larger. And, these ships call in the worldandrsquo;s most glamorous ports of call and in some cases larger vessels canandrsquo;t dock. When the Best Pick is a Huge Ship * Families with children will love the largest ships afloat because they offer the most extensive kids programs and facilities. Think water slides, zip line, rock climbing and private teen clubs for older children plus colorful pools and day-long supervised activities for tots and youngsters. * Couples who would otherwise head to Las Vegas or Atlantis for the wide array of nightlife, dining and large casinos will undoubtedly love ships carrying 4,000+ passengers. * Caribbean cruising, because there is ample time (plus multiple days at sea) to enjoy all the diversity these ships offer. When The Best Pick is a Ship with Fewer than 2500 Passengers * When cruising outside the Caribbean and Mexico. For example, in Europe one of the most delightful things to do is wander around ports like Venice, Stockholm and Barcelona. The fewer number of people disembarking with you, the less crowded it will be. * When youandrsquo;re unlikely to take advantage of all the entertainment and dining options. In Europe, few itineraries include a day at sea. Youandrsquo;re off the ship at 8:30 a.m. and sightseeing all day: many cruisers just want a bite to eat before retiring early. * When youandrsquo;re on a tight budget. In the case of Norwegian Epic and Oasis/Allure of the Seas, the best food costs extra and itandrsquo;s tough to pass up a restaurant others are raving about. * If you have problems walking or donandrsquo;t want to walk great distances. * If a more personal style of service is important. Cruisers, what size ship works best for you? http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=403One of my favorite pastimes is hearing friends and family tell travel stories. Everyone seems to have at least one crazy airport story. For instance, about a month ago, I was in Mexico waiting to meet up with some friends at the hotel where we were staying. They arrived noticeably late because one of them was scrutinized going through Customs as his passport appeared andldquo;too beaten up.andrdquo; He was told he was not allowed to enter the country. After talking to a supervisor, he wiggled his way through Customs. Just listening to the story made me uneasy. It certainly reconfirmed the reminder that you never want to have an outdated or worn out passport. Luckily, I can recommend the site Fastport Passport, a company which deals with the pains and hassles of passports for you. And, they offer same day service! Right now, they are offering a 10% discount to those who use their services. If your passport is about to expire or you are planning a trip in a hurry, let someone else worry about how you leave one country and enter another. Another attention grabbing news tidbit on the horizon today - Travel + Leisureandrsquo;s 2010 Worldandrsquo;s Best Hotel Awards. There are hundreds of hotels and locations that I dream about visiting, but today, I'm focused on Triple Creek Ranch in Darby, Montana. With its rural location and understated charm, it impressed me with its second place win. It is an individually owned hotel with 23 rustic cabins to stay in. There are rave reviews about the restaurant and wine choices. It also offers a variety of outdoors activities where you will be surrounded by the Montana Rockies. Sounds like the perfect blend of a modern Thoreau cowboy.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=411For years I've been wanting to take my family on an around the world trip - but we never seemed to be able to make the schedule work. Maybe the problem was trying to plan in advance?A week ago I decided - let's just do it. So , today I'm writing this post from Waikiki Beach. First of 6 stops on a 21 day whirlwind round the world trip. I've promised my friends I'd write - but since I'm the publisher of www.travelonion.com, it just seems natural to post my comments here and encourage the friends to follow our progress on my blog. For the rest of you who don't know me - nice to meet you. I hope you'll follow our journey and that in some small way it may inspire you to quit dreaming - and just take a great trip of your own. There's no reason to wait. Do it now.Day One: spent much of the day in the air. 12 hours traveling from Washington DC to Honolulu. But since we left early, we still had time to spend much of the first afternoon on the beach. One of the advantages of heading westward. We're staying at The Moana Surfrider, one of my favorite Hawaiian properties. I've been to Hawaii over 25 times - so you know I've stayed in a lot of hotels. Our family likes the Moana because it is ideally located in the heart of Waikiki. The hotel is one of the two original properties built on the beach and has that relaxing old world charm that just can't be matched. Day two: One of the great pleases of unplanned travel is that having no agenda, you are free to stumble upon wonderful local events. We awoke today to a great commotion on the beach where hundreds of locals were arriving with their tents and coolers - setting up for the annual Waikiki Beach Boys Outrigger Canoe Races. Dozens of Canoe clubs from across the islands were congregating to celebrate, picnic, play music ... And race. It was fabulous. We were fascinated by the Aloha spirit embraced by all the participants. These people know how to relax and have a good time. I couldn't have been happier spending the day with them.Two more days here, then on to Tokyo!Calhttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=412Everyone has different priorities when it comes to planning a vacation. Riding the tide of andlsquo;greenandrsquo; and andlsquo;sustainableandrsquo; is a wave of sustainable travel options. If you are looking for a leisurely vacation then we recommend Costa Ricaandrsquo;s Tabacandoacute;n Grand Thermal Spa Resort. The spa has been certified 100% carbon neutral and receives its energy from a nearby volcano. The hotel also makes an effort to help the local community by buying local products and handcrafts. The proceeds from room reservations go towards school construction and school supplies donations. If you are looking to stay in the states this summer, RVParking.com has developed a new iPhone app which will make the american dream of travel by car even easier! Skip the planes and hotels and discover the best campsites and sights of the US. This app provides information for over 18,000 RV parks. It only takes a quick search from the road to know where youandrsquo;ll spend the night. As RVParking.com president, Erik Budde, suggests, andldquo;since RVing is a mobile form of traveling; researching it should be so as well.andrdquo; Check out RVParking.com to learn more.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=413Technology can be a blessing, but when everyone is not on the same playing field, it can also be a hindrance. One of the biggest ways that technology affects travel is using credit cards abroad. Luckily, www.JustAskGemalto.com is hosting a webcast TOMORROW July 21 at 12:00 p.m. CT with a 45 minute question and answer session. This webcast should help with answering any questions about new chip and PIN technology. Experts include: Jamie Henry, Director of Payment Services for Wal-Mart; Michael Tulipan, executive editor of TheSavvyExplorer.com; Chris Christensen, AmateurTraveler.com; Jack Jania, vice president and general manager of secure transactions for Gemalto, and Jim Burke, international traveler and economist.Register here to be a part of the Qandamp;A.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=414Editor's Note: We are please to announce that tomorrow we will have a new blog on our Paris page. Blogger Adam Roberts, who also writes the blog Invisible Paris also featured on our site, has started a new blog called Paris Weekends. The objective of his blog is, andldquo;to help both people planning a trip to Paris and those already living here to make the most of their time in the city. I plan to discuss interesting activities and good travel-related offers,andrdquo; he says. After taking a look at the new blog I was immediately struck by the post about beaches in the evening and at night. It creates a great visual of what a party at night in Paris would be like and is extremely convincing. Below is Adamandrsquo;s personal introduction of the new blog. Welcome to Paris Weekends, an official Invisible Paris spin-off! Why have I decided to create another blog though and what do I hope to achieve with it? The first question is a simple one to answer. This new blog stems from the andlsquo;Something for the Weekendandrsquo; series of posts on my Invisible Paris blog, where I make suggestions for more offbeat weekend activities for both visitors and locals in Paris. I have been running this series for over a year now, and feel that it has now outgrown its spot on Invisible Paris, and deserves a place of its own! What do I hope to achieve with it? Well, my objectives have always been to share my fascination with Paris, and to try and point out things that people may otherwise overlook. I will run the Something for the Weekend posts here, but I will also blog on anything else I come across that I think will help people to get the most from their time in Paris, even people who have lived here all their lives! I have also seperated these subjects from my Invisible Paris themes because I have been getting large quantities of press releases that I simply could not use on that blog, as well as more and more offers for collaborations that I felt unable to honour. With this blog, I will be able to share more information with you, and hopefully pass on details of interesting offers and projects. Hasn't this all been done before though? Most probably, but not that I'm aware of! I have nothing to sell here, and am just interested in being an independant source, passing on useful information about Paris in a blog format. Of course there will be posts about commercial offers, but if I don't think that they are of interest, I won't publish them! Invisible Paris will therefore revert back to its obscure origins, and Paris Weekends will be its noisy younger brother! I will be relying on interaction from as many people as possible for this new project though, so please donandrsquo;t hesitate to get in touch if any of the following apply to you: You want advice on getting the best out of your time in Paris. You have a service related to Paris that you would like me to promote. You have a Paris related blog or website, and youandrsquo;d like to exchange links. You have suggestions about how I could improve the blog! Hope to hear from you soon! http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=416A couple of posts ago I talked about Triple Creek Ranch being named the second best Hotel by Travel + Leisure magazine. In doing a little more research, I was able to find out more about why. Besides renovating all of their cabins, Triple Creek Ranch has also added a museum quality collection of Western Art. The original pieces of art are from owners and collectors Barbara and Craig Barrettandrsquo;s western-genre collection. Works by grand masters such as Charles Russell and Frederick Remington and contemporary artists such as Carol Hagan, Brent Cotton and photographer David Stoecklein create an overall atmosphere infused with the spirit of the West, showcasing the essence of Montana both indoors and out.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=417Editor's Note: The answer may seem obvious, but actually cruising during hurricane season may not be such a bad thing. Reduced rates, calm winds, new port destinations, and adventure! Bermuda might be out of the question, but there are plenty of other places that are not affected by hurricanes. ShipCritic goes in depth as to what your options are during hurricane season, and why taking a cruise during that time may actually have more benefits than you thought! Duck and Cover: According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 2010 should be a busier than normal hurricane season. NOAA says there is a 70% probability for each of the following ranges of activity this season: 8-14 Hurricanes 3-7 Major Hurricanes Should You Cruise During Hurricane Season? The captain of a Princess ship once told me, andldquo;any cruise ship captain who gets caught in a hurricane would have to be pretty stupid.andrdquo; The good news is that officers have access to the most advanced hurricane centers. Remember, hurricanes are slow-moving bodies; if a storm threatens an island on a Caribbean itinerary, the captain will change course and cruise to other areas instead. Iandrsquo;m certain you wonandrsquo;t mind missing a port when itandrsquo;s being plummeted by 100 mph winds and driving rain. The Atlantic Ocean is a different matter. Hurricanes that donandrsquo;t go ashore typically hug the coastline which means ships sailing from New York, Boston, Baltimore or Charleston to Bermuda or the Caribbean may have move to a Canada/New England itinerary instead. There are no islands to hide behind and if a storm is in your path you may miss Bermuda or have to go North when you thought you were cruising South. So, should you sail during hurricane season? I wouldnandrsquo;t hesitate a second to book any ship during hurricane season because during the fall, especially, rates are ridiculously low and kids are back in school. Add to that, I donandrsquo;t particularly care if the ship has to skip a port. Will you get seasick? Itandrsquo;s very unlikely because ships steer clear of the path of a hurricane. Iandrsquo;ve cruised in the Caribbean when another area was hit hard by a hurricane. The skies were blue, the winds calm during the entire cruise. Who may want avoid sailing during hurricane season? If your heart is set on visiting Bermuda I suggest booking a cruise early in the season. It doesnandrsquo;t have to be a full hurricane for the Captain to decide itandrsquo;s wiser to head for Canada. The reason is because ships canandrsquo;t dock during major storms and donandrsquo;t even try to because wind and high seas will smash the ship against the dock, causing damage. Iandrsquo;m always shocked when passengers complain that a shipandrsquo;s itinerary changed to avoid a hurricane. You mean you WANT to be tossed about in high seas and wind so bad even officers get seasick? Of course there are threats of lawsuits, even though storms fall into the andldquo;acts of Godandrdquo; category which means the cruise line isnandrsquo;t legally responsible. Not to mention, the small type on your cruise ticket also says the Captain can change itinerary or cancel a port for any reason whatsoever. The point is, the weather is too uncertain to let it affect your vacation plans. And the big advantage of a cruise is that a ship can move away from a large storm whereas in a hotel, youandrsquo;re stuck. As someone who rode out Hurricane Hugo in Puerto Ricoandrsquo;s El San Juan hotel, let me tell you: Itandrsquo;s pure hell. Even worse than enduring that Category V hurricane, was being stuck in San Juan for three nights with no electricity or air conditioning because the airport was shut down. Does the prospect of a hurricane keep you from cruising during the June through November season?http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=418With only 21 days to complete an around the world journey, we're having to make most stopovers shorter than we would like. And that certainly was the case with Tokyo.There was so much we wanted to do, but we had to settle for a few highlights. And first among those was our unbelievably beautiful hotel - The Park Hyatt Tokyo. You may recall scenes from the Bill Murray movie "Lost in Translation" which was largely filmed here. The hotel is gorgeous, but more than that, it exudes a sense of quiet comfort. And the staff is so attentive - you get the feeling that you were meant to be here. I had the great good fortune to enjoy coffee with the GM, Philippe Roux-Dessarps. I'd met Philippe at ILTM (the International Luxury Tourism Mart) which is held in Cannes, France every year, and I was eager to continue the dialog we had begun there. Wow. What a great Ambassador he is for the Park Hyatt brand. Philippe embodies everything I expect in a great Hotel GM - professionalism, class and a general obvious pride in his product - which as he explains, is simply "serving his guests."When I asked Philippe why the hotel was so great, he told me several fascinating anecdotes, but one that I am sure will always stay with me. He told me the team had been very careful planning the hotel - down to the smallest details. I'm paraphrasing here, and I am sure he was much more eloquent, but he summarized this as follows. He said most cultures spend a small amount of time planning, most of the time executing and a lot of time dealing with corrections. Whereas the Japanese spend a large percentage of the overall project time planning - maybe 30%. They then spend maybe 60 or 65% executing and only need 5-10% dealing with adjustments. This desire for perfection is evident throughout the hotel. If you're planning a trip to Japan I'd highly recommend you give yourself a treat and stay at the Park Hyatt, truly one of the World's Great hotels.I don't have time to relate all the details of our visit to Tokyo, but I would suggest two things. First, if you have limited time, as we did, hire a guide for the day. This will maximize your time and save you headaches in dealing with getting around the city. With a guide leading the way, it is actually quite manageable, but I would have been lost on my own.Secondly, include the Tokyo Museum in your plans. I'm a real fan of museums and this is one of the best and the most unusual I have ever experienced. Just go see it. Our stay here was too short, but full of pleasant memories. Now, we're off to Hong Kong, one my favorite cities in the world.Your somewhat weary, but inspired correspondent,Calhttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=419A friend of mine came to visit me recently. Weandrsquo;ve known each other since the fourth grade, and it was her first time visiting Seattle from Florida. When she arrived, I was determined to show her the best time possible. No tacky touristy stuff, I thought. Instead, Iandrsquo;d take her to see some unusual landmarks, a few hidden gems only locals knew about, and maybe weandrsquo;d even see some new up-and-coming band. I wanted her to have a Seattle experience unlike any other. These were things that everyone who came to Seattle saw. I tried to persuade her to see something different and interesting. Something that no one else who traveled to the Seattle would see. She didnandrsquo;t understand the point. After all, she had come to Seattle to do touristy things. andldquo;But ... Iandrsquo;m a local,andrdquo; I explained snobbishly. andldquo;I canandrsquo;t go to the top of the Space Needle!andrdquo; andldquo;Why the heck not?andrdquo; my friend countered. andldquo;If youandrsquo;re a local, shouldnandrsquo;t you know what your city has to offer?andrdquo; Damn her. Sheandrsquo;s always been too smart for my own good. So I caved, and I, the travel snob, spent a few days visiting all the crowded, touristy attractions my city has to offer. And holy cats am I glad I did. At first, being a tourist in my hometown felt ridiculous. But after a while, I realized it was also a lot of fun. I was able to see my city in a new and different way while spending time with an old friend (and hey, I actually learned something!). Since then, Iandrsquo;ve realized there are lots of reasons to be a tourist in your hometown.1. Youandrsquo;ll be able to recommend attractions and activities to other people.When out-of-towners come to visit, they usually want suggestions on what to see (and what to skip). If you actually take some time to do the touristy stuff in your area, youandrsquo;ll be able to give them an insightful, informed opinion on how they should spend their day. Plus, as a local, youandrsquo;ll be able to tell just how good (and thorough) a particular tour is at communicating your cityandrsquo;s awesomeness.2. It will give you a new perspective on your city. I felt like I knew my hometown pretty well. But there are parts of it I rarely visit. After a morning spent touring Seattle, I was reminded of all the things about our city that I take for granted (boating on Lake Union! Our very own soccer team! Salmon - of both the smoked and swimming varieties!) Youandrsquo;ll be surprised at all the amazing things your city has to offer, when you take a moment to notice it all.3. Itandrsquo;s good practice. Vacations are stressful for lots of reasons - taking public transportation, keeping track of your camera, buying tickets for the right tour, not getting hopelessly lost ... why not give yourself a primer course by being a tourist in your own city? If you do get lost, you wonandrsquo;t ever be too far from home, and it will be great practice for when you are in a far-away destination. 4. Because locals get discounts. Many museums, ballparks, and other tourist attractions offer discounts for residents. Not only will you save some cash on admission, but if you stay close to home, you wonandrsquo;t need to shell out for a hotel or cab, either. And with the money you saved, you can buy postcards from the gift shop and send them to your neighbors (confusing for them, fun for you). 5. Tourist attractions are attractions for a reason. Destinations doesnandrsquo;t usually become popular unless theyandrsquo;re worth visiting. And if you willfully avoid a place simply because a lot of people frequent it, youandrsquo;re going to miss out on a lot of fun. Try to look at things objectively - does eating a steak the size of your head sound fun? Yes? Then go. 6. You deserve a break. Letandrsquo;s face it - you probably need a vacation. Like, say, right now (or possibly you needed one months ago). But itandrsquo;s hard to pick up and leave everything (not to mention expensive, too). Enjoying the touristy offerings of your hometown can provide you with a mini-vacation. And considering that you wonandrsquo;t need to brave airport security, risk losing your luggage, or have to tip a valet, it might actually be less stressful, too.7. Because fun shouldnandrsquo;t just be reserved for vacations. I have this quiet belief that theater tickets, fancy restaurants, and cultural enrichment of any kind (and yes, I count Madame Tussaudandrsquo;s as culturally enriching) should be saved for vacations. But that simply isnandrsquo;t true. Thereandrsquo;s no reason why you canandrsquo;t enjoy yourself on a regular old weekend at home. Don your favorite novelty hat (for the Pacific Northwest, I suggest anything thematically-related to Bigfoot) and take lots of cheesy photos near local landmarks. Youandrsquo;ll be amazed at how much fun youandrsquo;ll have. I canandrsquo;t be alone on this one, folks. So fess up: have you been ever been a tourist in your own town? Share your stories in the comments section below!http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=422Editor's Note: The Travel Onion community is growing daily and today we are happy to announce a new blog being added to our Washington D.C. page- KidFriendly D.C. We are nearing the point where it seems like summer is never going to end- so check out this blog for fresh ideas for what to do with your kid for their time spent at home. Below is a great sample post from the blog about interactive art at the National Portrait Gallery. For many of us with young kids, getting them interested in museum exhibits that are not 3-D, formerly living creatures, currently living creatures, or some kind of large craft that has soared through the sky can be a challenge. They often need something a little more than just a picture on the wallandhellip;something tangible to help them make sense if it, something to bring it to life. Well, we are in luck. Starting tomorrow, July 28, the National Portrait Gallery will present Portraits Alive!, a theatrical tour of the museumandrsquo;s collections performed by teens from Mayor Fentyandrsquo;s 2010 Summer Youth Employment Program. Every Tuesday andndash; Friday through August 13, visitors can join the group on a journey that explores a variety of works as the students become the portraitsandmdash;performing an original, student written play, they will portray the people represented in the photos, paintings, drawings, sculptures, and prints. Performances begin at 2:15pm, meeting in the F Street lobby. And just like admission to the museum, they are free! Get there early to grab lunch at the cafe (or bring your own) and enjoy it in the magnificent Kogod Courtyard. The National Portrait Gallery is located at Eighth and F Streets NW. Hours are 11am andndash; 7pm daily.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=423Editor's Note: These pictures really grabbed my attention as I was looking through blogs this morning. The colors are so vibrant and the plantation is so unusual. It looks like something out of Alice and Wonderland. These pictures are of the island chain of Socotra in the Indian Ocean. Talk about a new island adventure! Upgrade Travel Better goes more in detail in how to access and learn more about these islands. Before this morning, I had never heard of Socotra. Now, itandrsquo;s on my andldquo;places to see before you dieandrdquo; list. For those, like me, who never heard of it before: Itandrsquo;s an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, just 150 miles off the coast of the Horn of Africa. One third of its plant life is found nowhere else. Itandrsquo;s the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, for lack of a better metaphor. The natural formations and flora look like scenes from Avatar. It looks like an alien landscape. Roads were only built on the island, which belongs to Yemen, in 2006. Accommodations on this island of 40,000 are, as you might suspect, quite limited. As per Wikipedia, Yemenia and Felix Airways fly from Socotra Airport to Sanaa and Aden via Mukalla (RIY andndash; Riyan Airport). The Sanaa service is everyday, while Aden flights are available only Mondays (as of December 2009). Thereandrsquo;s an amazing set of photos over at Dark Roasted Blend, so I just suggest browsing over there and looking at the whole thing. If anyone has been there, Iandrsquo;d love to hear about it. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=424Editor's Note: When you come home from a long vacation nothing feels as good as falling asleep in your own bed. But what about when you live in a vacation destination? How do you find the perfect home? Parisien Salon goes through what it takes to make the perfect home in France's capital when you are in the midst of tourism in a major city. Story by Linda Donahue Parisians are a territorial people. They tend to shop, eat and socialize within the confines of the arrondissement where they dwell. And because moving from apartment to apartment is as complicated a process as you can imagine within the city, Parisians stay put. Of course, that imposes a whole new level of pressure on a person looking for a new home in the French capital. In this case, the person in question is moi. Iandrsquo;ve had it in my head to make a permanent move to Paris for more than a few years, and that andldquo;someday Iandrsquo;ll live in Parisandrdquo; has moved closer to a andldquo;where should I live in Paris?andrdquo; state of mind. Instead of years, Iandrsquo;m looking at months. So over the past few months, Iandrsquo;ve wandered the streets of just about every arrondissement trying to decide where Iandrsquo;d feel most at home. But as much as I love the Marais, Montmartre, St-Germain and the Latin Quarter, I kept gravitating back to the 7th, particularly the area around rue Cler. As with any big commitment, Iandrsquo;ve taken this one on more than a few test drives, staying in apartments around the neighborhood to see how I feel. In April, my temporary home was in an apartment on Avenue de la Bourdonnais, courtesy of Paris Perfect. With this stay, I knew that I was ready to make a commitment to the 7th. More than that, I fell in love with an apartment, dooming myself to an inevitable broken heart. Paris apartments are not, generally speaking, spacious. This two-bedroom apartment was 700-square feetandmdash;big by Paris standardsandmdash;but still felt much larger. While that may have something to do with the fact that Parisians have an innate ability to use space quite efficiently, I also think that elegance of its furnishings played a role. By the second day of my stay, I knew that this was my dream Paris apartment. It didnandrsquo;t hurt that the terrace overlooking the avenue also looked out at the Eiffel Tower. But even if you took away that view, I knew this apartment was exactly what I would choose for my permanent home. I liked that I stepped from the front door into a hallway gallery that stretched from the kitchen to the second bedroom. It was just a few steps into the salon, where everything wasandmdash;or at least lookedandmdash;like the finest antiques, from the daybed/sofa to the marble bureau and French armchairs, to the round dining table for four. The whole layout of the apartment appealed to me. The master bedroom shared a wall with the living room and also had that Eiffel Tower view. The salle de bain between the two bedrooms held two antique stone bowls converted into sinks, along with a full-sized bathtub/shower. Next to the kitchen was a salle dandrsquo;eau, with a second shower. And the kitchen had granite counters, pale wood and glass cabinets, a cooktop, oven, dishwasher and full-size refrigerator. Of course, I spent my days traveling all around Paris, but the feeling I got coming home at the end of the day to this apartment validated my choice in neighborhoods. I would stop at the boulangerie on the rue de Grenelle to pick up a fresh baguette. I might pop next door into Picard to buy a you-canandrsquo;t-believe-how-good-it-tastes frozen dinner. Sometimes Iandrsquo;d stop at Le Dandocirc;me for a glass of wine before heading up to the apartment. It was all so perfectly Parisian. It was only a ten-minute walk to rue Cler, where Iandrsquo;d pick up all of my fresh produce, cheese, and the occasional poulet randocirc;ti, usually after getting off the Mandeacute;tro at andEacute;cole Militaire. This market street also happens to be home to two of my favorite eateries: Cafandeacute; du Marchandeacute; and Tribeca. It was at the Cafandeacute; du Marchandeacute;, in fact, that I realized I had been accepted as a resident. This happened when I was finally greeted by name by the waitress whoandrsquo;d served me on more occasions than I can count, and brought a glass of the red wine I favored without having to order it. I walked back to the apartment that night trying desperately to hold back the smile that threatened to reveal my true status as an American. But once I got andldquo;home,andrdquo; I danced around and punched my fists into the air. Sadly, my stay in my perfect apartment came to its inevitable end. Although I briefly considered digging in and claiming squatterandrsquo;s rights, my fear of the French penal system motivated my exit. I stood outside, waiting for my taxi, wondering if my heartbreak was obvious. But as I began to consider my future home in the 7th arrondissement, the pain eased just a little bit. After all, I pondered, how hard could it be to find the same exact apartment with a completely renovated kitchen and bathroom at a price I could afford in one of the most fashionable areas of Paris? By the way, if you want to see my beloved Merlot apartment (and even stay there yourself), visit http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=425Editor's Note: Sick of your day job? Want to try something new? Take a look at what Club Med is offering. New options, new lifestyle, new benefits! Club Med Punta Cana, All photos: Ed Yourdon A year ago, my husband and I stayed at a Club Med in Japan. It wasnandrsquo;t our usual kind of trip as we prefer independent travel, and we worried the resort would offer no more than an impersonal tourist experience. With resorts in over 40 countries, Club Med maintains a workforce of people of 80 different nationalities. The result is a dynamic energetic community, resembling what youandrsquo;d find in a good backpacker hostel. Over dinner, in the bar, on the beach, we befriended hosts from France, Malaysia, Germany, Australia, and Sri Lanka. We ended up having a fantastic time, and it was mostly due to the Club Med staff. Jobs Club Med has a range of work positions for people with diverse backgrounds. A quick glance at the recruitment site indicated a need for art instructors, finance managers, electricians, sommeliers, bakers, salsa dance instructors, nature recreation specialists, and many more. In addition, Club Med is the kind of resort where employees take on different roles. You might be a desk clerk in the morning, a yoga instructor in the afternoon, and a backup dancer in the nightly show. In fact, Club Med offers training in many skill areas for people wanting to develop new areas of expertise. So, if youandrsquo;ve ever fantasized about becoming a costume designer or scuba instructor, this may be your chance to get the ball rolling. Lifestyle Fixed work contracts are 6 months long, and they are renewable. You donandrsquo;t select your initial country assignment; rather it is assigned based on your skills and background. But over time given changing personnel needs in other resorts, you can switch locations. That could mean living at a tropical resort in Turks and Caicos half the year, and a ski lodge in France the other half. Of course, there are restrictions based on legal requirements for your nationality, but with resorts in 40 countries including places like Turkey, Egypt, and Maldives, there are many possibilities. The typical work schedule, depending on your specific job title is 6 days on and one day off. However, you may have time before and after contract periods to travel your host region freely. Benefits You live in provided accommodations in a shared room, and eat the same cuisine as the guests. Apart from basic personal needs, there are few expenses. Working abroad in Latin America, Europe, or Asia, you have a chance to develop a range of foreign language skills. Best of all, you meet people from around the world and build a network of international friends. As you move about, you meet up with old pals in new resort locations. Club Med maintains an online employee network so you can easily keep in touch. Drawbacks Like all jobs, there are potential negatives too. The hospitality industry is heavy on socializing, which may not fit well with some personality types or temperaments. Work schedules can be rigorous. Some days may be long, starting early in the morning and going until every last guest is finished doing the electric slide way past midnight. In addition, there is a prescribed dress code, which could be a problem if you just donandrsquo;t feel like wearing blue (or whatever color) on a given day. Finally, given the salary and your particular duties, working at Club Med may not pad your bank account or develop into a long-term career. However, the way I see it, for a few years of living abroad, making friends, learning a new language, and having a range of unique experiences, the few downsides arenandrsquo;t such a serious price to pay. Check out the Club Med Planet , an online forum where interested parties can ask questions about employment and seasoned workers discuss their own experiences with the company. Application guidelines 1. Recruitment periods generally go from September to June.2. Visit the Club Med jobs website and find out your eligibility based on your country of origin. Club Med encourages people who speak more than one language to apply.3. Browse the list of job openings and submit an application online. You may also be asked to supply an application packet with resume, CV, copies of certificates and degrees, and letters of reference.4. After a preliminary screening, you will be contacted for a telephone interview.5. If you pass the phone interview stage, youandrsquo;ll be invited to a recruitment day. From there, you may well be on your way to the Bahamas or the Dominican Republic or Turkey or any of the other resort locations worldwide. Community Connection For more jobs travel jobs, check out Matadorandrsquo;s run down of Travel and Adventure Jobs. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=426Editor's Note: When I read this post it reminded me of one of my favorite pastimes in Virginia- wine tasting. There are plenty of festivals and varieties that take place all over the state and when the weather is pleasant, I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday. This is why I loved reading this post about sake tastings taking place over in Tokyo during the summer. There is much strategy involved such as label recognition and keeping your taste buds from going flat. Read on for a personal commentary on what a sake tasting festival in Tokyo is like.This is as true in sake tasting as it is in war. At a recent sake fair in Ochanomizu, however, I found myself without one, drifting around aimlessly and looking somewhat dazed. By the time we'd arrived, the event was winding down, and the atmosphere exuded the incipient gaiety that accompanies the shift from spitting to sipping. We were on a totally different wavelength, though. We'd just rushed over from another tasting at the Japanese Sake Brewer's Association and had only 30 minutes to get through everything. It wasn't even that big of an event, but felt slightly overwhelmed.Although I've been to a lot of sake tastings over the last few years, I still feel like a novice when it comes to navigating my way through them. It can be tough work, depending on the scope of the event, the size of the crowds, and the accessibility of spittoons. When I first got into sake, I dug the big tastings. They were like huge frenzied parties, and I reveled in all the jostling, tispy excitement. These days, I'm much more partial to the small tastings. I prefer to go in the afternoon and I always, always, always try to spit. I still have fun, but it's fun of a different sort -- a tamer, nerdier brand of fun, more like playing Scrabble than playing drinking games.I devise different tactics for different tastings. For really large ones, I tend to focus less on the breweries I know well and look for labels that are new to me. I'll take note of the popular producers (ie - the booths that are most crowded) but may not actually taste the sake there, as I'll likely encounter it elsewhere. If the layout is organized by region, I usually start with lighter brews from the north-east and work my way west. Sometimes, I just stick around one or two areas and try everything on the tables. Recently, I've been curious about Gifu and Mie prefectures, so I've been looking out for sake from these regions.Most of the time, I corner someone I know and ask them what's good."What's your plan?" I turned to my friend Elsie, who was in town for a visit.She answered with typical Canadian equanimity. "Don't really have one," she said. Elise is a serious sake lover. She'd even spent the last two years making it at the brewpub Moto-i in Minneapolis. If that's not dedication, I don't know what is, but the look on her face said that she wasn't going to bust her ass trying to come up with a tasting strategy."There's so much here that I've never tasted before. I'm just going to dive in.""Okay," I muttered doubtfully, assessing the crowd. "I guess I'll, um, do that, too."My taste buds felt a bit flat, so I decided to shake them awake with some vivid brews from Kameizumi. I'm not usually a fan of the funky, musky, outre CEL yeasts, but Kameizumi handles them well. The sakes are all intensely aromatic -- a swirl of exotically fruity and floral notes that precedes a forceful impact. Fine acidic structure and almost austere dryness, however, keep these bouquet bombs from going way over the top. The flavors seem to float weightlessly over the palate. As usual, Saibara-san had no recollection of meeting me, but at least I was ready to do some more tasting.I moved over to the next table and onto the full-bodied Shichida sakes from Tenzan Shuzo. I'd tasted these sakes on several occasions (Sadly, Shichida-san, too, had no idea who I was. Am I really so forgettable?) and have always liked them for their smooth mouthfeel and fat, umami-rich breadth. Looking around at the people merrily sipping sake beside me, I realized that my uptight attitude was preventing me from having fun, nerdy or otherwise. So I let myself ease into the slack, end-of-the-day rhythm that everyone else seemed to be grooving to and just went with the flow. After bouncing around a bit, I stumbled on the excellent Koshi no Omachi Junmai Nama from Niigata's Minogawa . I often like sakes made with Omachi rice. They tend to have a sturdy structure and exhibit an appealing earthiness, but they can also be a little astringent. The rice for the Minogawa Koshi no Omachi was grown locally, and the sake exhibited the fine-grained texture and lightness characteristic of Niigata brews. The impact was bright and fresh, and it showed a lovely balance of acidity and umami in the midpalate. The texture was soft and billowing, but the finish snapped back as crisply as a freshly laundered sheet. The interesting thing is that the rice had only been milled to 70%. Pretty impressive.As the announcement sounded bringing the event to its close, I heard a quiet, "Pssst, Melinda-san." I turned around and saw Matsumoto-san from Minogawa gesturing to me. "Present for you," he said, handing me a bottle of the Koshi no Omachi.After the tasting, we enjoyed it with panko-crusted fried chicken breasts stuffed with nori and creamy Havarti cheese (namazake and creamy cheeses are surprisingly good friends), drizzled with a honey-soy vinaigrette. Later, I learned that the Koshi no Omachi Nama is only released once a year. Lucky me!Strategy is certainly important, but there's something to be said for serendipity as well. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=428Editor's Note: I have been to many places where I have seen stray dogs. You can't help but feel sad when you see them. You think of them without a family just wandering around trying to find food and get some attention where they can. But you are more than likely on vacation and there just isn't room to bring a dog home as a souvenir. That is why when I read this post I felt so relieved that there are efforts going forward to save the pups! Thanks to an entire network of volunteers, one organization rescues dogs from the streets of the Caribbean and places them with families in other countries. Anyone who has traveled to the Caribbean can attest to the numerous stray dogs wandering the streets and beaches. They are often injured or sick, and always begging for food. Locals call them potcake pups because islanders have taken to feeding them the bits of food that remain caked on the bottom of their cooking pots. Finally, Jane Parker-Rauw of Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, couldnandrsquo;t stand seeing so many dogs battle life in the way these dogs do; starving, sick, exposed to the elements and shot or poisoned by police who think they are a nuisance to the tourist-heavy islands. Thatandrsquo;s when Potcake Place was born, and in 2005, it became an official nonprofit organization. Initially, Parker-Rauw began taking in the pups herself. She quickly ran out of space and resources, but she eventually she gathered volunteers around the island to take in some of the dogs she rescued. Still, there are just to many potcake pups and not enough people to care for them. andldquo;We are probably slightly crazy people that canandrsquo;t say no,andrdquo; Parker-Rauw told the Today Show. andldquo;When youandrsquo;ve met one of these pups, youandrsquo;ll understand. Iandrsquo;ve had about 3,000 to 4,000 through my door now, and I remember pretty much every single one. They are just the most loyal, loving, intelligent dogs. They know theyandrsquo;ve been saved.andrdquo; Parker-Rauw knew there was simply no more space left on the islands for the dogs. So, her next move was to transfer them to loving homes in other countries. Obviously, though, she could not fly each pup to their new family, so she turned to the Internet. Now, through the Potcake Place website and Facebookpage, Parker-Rauw connects with adoptive parents. She also connects with vacationers who donandrsquo;t mind being couriers, taking the dog with them on their flight home for the new owner to pick up. The new parents will need to pay the pupandrsquo;s airline fee, but there is no other cost to adopting a pet. In fact, Potcake Place has no budget at all, and Parker-Rauw and her volunteers take on the expenses themselves. While only the airline fee is necessary, Potcake Place does accept, and is in need of, donations. andldquo;Collars, pee-pee pads, squeaky toys, leashes, towels, treats andhellip; anything related to bringing up puppies, we need,andrdquo; Parker-Rauw said. andldquo;Thatandrsquo;s how we survive. We canandrsquo;t just get in the car and drive to Target to pick up supplies. We donandrsquo;t have supplies like that here. Itandrsquo;s a small island with no chain stores, no department stores, nothing.andrdquo; She also has connected Potcake Place with animal welfare and humane societies in the Caribbean and beyond, which help to relocate and place these dogs. andldquo;Itandrsquo;s very, very special,andrdquo; said Sherry Silk, executive director of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay in Tampa, Fla. andrdquo;They donandrsquo;t even have a budget. They spend all of their own money to do this andhellip; and they do a great job.andrdquo;http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=430Editor's Note: Back in April I remembered reading about the Elephant Parade that takes place in London during the summer. I remember thinking it sounded so unique, crazy, and fun! I was so excited when I found all of these pictures of what the elephants look like! It takes me back to on of my favorite Disney scenes in Dumbo when the pink elephants are dancing. These elephant statues are life-size and for sale. Anyone looking for some new patio furniture? Below is a post from April explaining the parade followed by a current post about the elephants. In a few days, central London will be transformed into an urban jungle with 250 life-size baby elephants standing on street corners, parks and buildings around the capital. Each elephant is a unique creation by an artist, fashion designer, organisation or celebrity, including painter Mythili Thevendrampillai who wasfeatured for London Art Spot at the end of February. I took this shot of Mythili with her painted baby elephant at her show in March. Some other artists to look out for include Alice Temperley, Baroness Carrie von Reichardt (who I just mentioned here the other day), Diane von Furstenberg, Lulu Guinness, Matthew Williamson, Tommy Hilfiger and lots more. The Elephant Parade has been called Londonandrsquo;s biggest outdoor art event on record with an estimated audience of an impressive 25 million. Not only is it creative, but itandrsquo;s for a good cause: conservation of the Asian elephant. In the last 100 years, the population of these wild guys has shrunk by over 90%. Where there were once 250,000 elephants roaming about, now thereandrsquo;s only 25,000 which means they could be extinct by in about 40 years. The Elephant Parade was founded by father and son Mike and Marc Spits in Holland. The parade supports a charity called The Elephant Family founded by trustee Mark Shand after travelling around India on his elephant, Tara. The jungle beasts are in the city until the end of July when they will be auctioned off by Sothebyandrsquo;s. The campaign is aiming to raise andpound;2 million for the Asian elephant and benefit 20 UK conservation charities. Thereandrsquo;s a map here. If you find an elephant, snap a photo, stick it in the Flickr pool if you like and Iandrsquo;ll put andlsquo;em up on the blog. More info on everything here! I think itandrsquo;s time for some more elephants. Hereandrsquo;s numbers 61-70. 61. Shanti Haathi by Arabella Sim; Queens Walk, Royal Festival Hall 62. Gaia Elephant by C Macleod, K Darke andamp; C Jackson; Kings Road 63. In Your Trunk (Turn the Bass Up) by Ashwan; Green Park 64. Patron by Ashwan Khanna; originally on St. Jamesandrsquo; Street 65. Burma by Baccara Smart; Holland Park Avenue 66. Phoolan by Carrie Reichardt aka The Baroness andamp; Nick Reynolds; Natural History Museum 67. Elephant Chic by Benjamin Shine; originally at St. Christopherandrsquo;s Place 68. Taxi Elephant by Benjamin Shine; The Royal Exchange 69. The Clonakilty Irish Elephant by Bill Griffin; Covent Garden Piazza 70. Dedicated to the Wonderful Chelsea Pensioners by Mark Shand; Royal Hospital Chelsea Faves from this bunch anyone? Taxi Elephant for meandhellip; For more photos, interviews and other info, visit my Elephant Parade page. Stay tuned for the rest! http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=488Editor's Note: Many times it is easy to lament about how close historical places are to us and how infrequently we take advantage of them. In this post we are taken to Hampton Court Palace to explore the history of King Henry VIII with spectacular accompanying photographs. I have spent quite a bit of time in London and never fail to be fascinated by how much there is to see and do. It is quite difficult to pin any one thing down as my favorite thing to do in the city but on our recent holiday I discovered a very strong contender. Maybe itandrsquo;s because I am a fan of British history and an even bigger fan of The Tudors, but I found Hampton Court Palace to be one of the most beautiful places in London. Yes, itandrsquo;s the history andndash; Hampton Court Palace was the home Englandandrsquo;s most famous (and infamous) monarch, King Henry VIII andndash; but itandrsquo;s also the architecture and glorious gardens which make a day spent here, well worth your time. Located in the London Borough of Richmond, it meant a tube ride from our location in West Kensington and a thirty minute bus ride from Richmond station, but well worth the journey. The travel time is another good reason for you to give yourself a full day at Hampton Court palace; we did not, and I regret that now but I had no idea I would get so immersed in its charm. If you are not familiar with Hampton Court Palace, the most helpful piece of information to know is that there are actually two different parts of the palace: the original palace built for Henry VIII and the addition designed by Christopher Wren for King William III. Iandrsquo;m going to use photos to tell the story of this day because there are some fantastic ones. (I would recommend clicking on the photos to view them full size. This post doesnandrsquo;t do them justice.) Gates at Hampton Court Palace Entrance to Henry VIII's Hampton Court Palace Courtyard inside Hampton Court Palace The amazing hammer-beam ceiling of the Great Hall About the Great Hall: It was built by Henry VIII for Anne Boleyn and is the last medieval Great Hall left in the world. It was a photo of this hall that I saw online which was the motivation behind my visit. It did not disappoint. These shots were taken, Iandrsquo;m embarrassed to say, through very misty eyes. The King's Fleet King Henry VIII Catherine of Aragon Anne Boleyn Ol' Henry in the flesh Rose garden A lovely place for a sit down Front of Christopher Wren's addition Courtyard Staircase in William III addition Mural on staircase Ceiling mural Side garden of Wren addition Gorgeous! Sculptured garden Another sculptured gardenAt a loss for words? I know the feeling. When asked what I enjoyed the most about our holidays in the U.K., Hampton Court Palace tops my list. The Great Hall http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=492I went to Target yesterday and found myself surrounded by 'back to school' signs and accessories and it hit me. Summer and it's twin sister, Summer Vacation, are quickly coming to a close. As a travel enthusiast, my mind started thinking about all of the dream vacations that were now ideas of the past. Skyscanner, a price comparison website - most prominently for airline prices, recently sent out a release that remedied my longing for exciting travel opportunities despite the limited time left for summer travel. The creative release suggests possible ways to 'See the World' from your backyard. Itching to go to Paris? They have a solution for you. Head to the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. You'll find recreations of the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the La Fontaine de Mers. Feeling more like streusel than croissants? Skyscanner recommends Leavenworth, Washington for the feel of a German town. Set in the Cascade Mountains, this small village embodies the romance and authenticity of a Brother's Grimm fairytale come to life. Still looking to please your palate? Head to Little Italy in New York City for authentic Italian pasta and wines. The narrow and cobblestone streets resemble those of Rome. For the ambitious traveler, you can reinvent an around-the-world-trip in one stop. Head to Disney's Epcot Center World Showcase in Orlando, Florida. The theme park features eleven countries, highlighting their cultures' food, entertainment, and shopping traditions. Skyscanner's release has reinvigorated my travel plotting. With some creative thinking, there is a lot to do right in your backyard. Hopefully you're now inspired to take one last summer trip!http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=496Editor's Note: In the spirit of introducing our new golfing page, I though a blogpost from our golfing editor would be appropriate. What first caught my eye about this post was the pictures, but after reading it, this post gives a great review of what the best four golf courses are in Northern California. The Bridges Golf Course in San Ramon, California About 40 minutes east of San Francisco near the Silicon Valley, the "Tri-Valley" area is all about wine and golf, with more than 50 wineries and several top notch golf courses. Named by Golfweek as one of the top 50 munis in the nation out of more than 8,000 courses, Callippe Preserve Golf Course in Pleasanton is the newest in the area. The club was developed as part of a cooperative effort to create an 18-hole golf course, hiking and equestrian trails, endangered species habitat, wetlands and grazing land. The front nine runs through a beautiful valley, while the back nine rises higher, with Happy Valley Creek winding through oak woodlands and wetland habitat. Views are of ridgelands and from the higher spots, Mount Diablo. Greens fees here are great values. At The Bridges Golf Club in the hills above San Ramon, eleven wooden bridges cross a meandering creek, gorges and ravines in a deep, wooded valley. Most holes on this links-style track are rimmed with meadows and eucalyptus, with plenty of tilting sidehills and ball-sucking shrubs. Bring extra balls for the many (many) carries and don't set off on your round without a yardage book. Elevated tees and greens (you'll feel like a mountain goat just getting up to the 5th tee), large, undulating greens, rolling approaches, big bunkers, and rather windy afternoons on this Johnny Miller and Damian Pascuzzo collaboration. (A former partner of Robert Muir Graves, Pascuzzo now works with PGA pro, Steve Pate.)Excellent multi-level putting greens, a night-lighted practice range and a very nice, urban-chic clubhouse restaurant/bar with lovely views make The Bridges a place to linger. Play in the morning and stay for a long lunch.A 27-hole Rees Jones-designed, heathland-style course, Poppy Ridge Golf Course is particularly beloved by NCGA members, who get a 45% discount off the public green fee. The Merlot, Chardonnay and Zinfandel nines are cut out of rugged foothills amid indigenous vegetation, with one lone tree and lots of sand creating a "inland links" feel, complete with steady afternoon winds. Prepare to run the ball up the open approaches, avoid the lakes and practice your sidehill shots. Zagat Guide has called it one of the top 15 courses in the nation for value. A spectacular layout tucked away in an idyllic valley and clifftop setting, Greg Norman designed, The Course at Wente Vineyards meanders through scenic rolling hills, vineyards, and grasslands of the Livermore Valley. Nestled up against the cliffs of Cresta Blanca, the course is lined with sycamore, oak and cottonwood woods and runs dramatically up onto high plateaus. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=504Editor's Note: When traveling on the cheap in a city like Paris it is nice to know where the most affordable and trendiest places are. If hotels are not your style for this trip, or if you're just passing through, then this guide is wonderful at showing the best hostels in Paris. The Oops! design hostel, in the 13th Arrondissement, is the epitome of Parisian panache. With an increasing number of women embarking on the budget backpacker road, Parisian hostels are upping their stakes in the andldquo;cheap and chicandrdquo; gameandmdash;with an emphasis on chic. After all, who wants to face bedbugs and cigarette potpourri when wandering through the City of Light? Thankfully, far from the budget clichandeacute;, staying at a hostel in Paris can be an exercise in living the backpackerandrsquo;s life of luxury. Impossible to believe? Why not try it for yourself? From quirky rooms to multilingual staff, free hair dryers, coffee machines and unlimited Internet accessandmdash;and none of those irritating curfew issues (donandrsquo;t they always say Paris is better by night, anyway?)andmdash;here are four of the best budget hostels that Paris offers. Oops! Within a few months of its opening, in September 2007, the Oops! design hostel had made a name for itself as 1 of the top 10 budget accommodations across the globe. Designed by interior architect Philippe Maidenberg and located in the 13th Arrondissement, between Chinatown and the Latin Quarter, Oops! is the epitome of Parisian panache. Here itandrsquo;s all about keeping up appearances with those little necessitiesandmdash;hair dryer, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi and stylish Scandinavian furniture, to name a few. A girl has to have her dose of luxury, right? Luckily itandrsquo;s available at a bargain price: rooms start at 30 euros per night. St. Christopher's: A top-notch hostel on the banks of the Seine.St. Christopherandrsquo;s The St. Christopherandrsquo;s Paris hostel offers a special treat thatandrsquo;s perfect for a backpacking girlandrsquo;s night inandmdash;old-fashioned beauty sleep and andldquo;me timeandrdquo;andmdash;a private, women-only floor, aptly named the Oasis. Other perks include live music, meeting rooms, an Internet cafandeacute;, walking tours, the famous Belushiandrsquo;s Bar and a setting used in the film Amandeacute;lie (see if you can spot it!). While St. Christopherandrsquo;s is slightly farther from central Paris than other places, the hostel more than makes up for that by its beautiful location on the banks of the Seine. Dormitory beds are available from 28 euros per night.Caulaincourt Square A bohemian world of its own, this Montmartre hostel is steeped in history, situated at the meeting point of renowned artists including Picasso, Modigliani and Brancusi. The interior design includes quirky features and colorful decor sure to provide inspiration for budding artisans and artistes. Shared rooms are available from 28 euros per night, and private suites from 35 euros per night. Village Another favorite standout hostel for female travelers to the city of romance, Village offers small rooms with up to six beds, each with a private bathroom, a telephone, a shower and free Wi-Fi. The hostel is in picturesque Montmartre, only feet from Sacrandeacute; Coeur. It also neighbors a busy weekend flea market, providing an ideal location to stock up on Parisian street fashions. Here, too, rooms are available at a bargain price, with dorm beds from 24 euros per night. Oops! offers unexpected comforts at a bargain price.The verdict? Next time you decide to see Paris by backpack, think beyond the clichandeacute; of the grit-and-grime youth hostel and opt for some glamour. Just remember to book in advance. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=525Visiting London, yet alone living there, can be extremely expensive. What can make the situation even worse is the fact that the city has so much to offer, the temptations are too hard to resist! One of the things London is mostly famous for is its great theatre shows: drama acts with many excellent improvisations, comedy performances with brilliant black humor and surly the lovable musical shows which every person must see at least once in his life. So, what is the best advice can someone give to a person who loves London and wants to experience it to the max? Luckily there is an answer: reduce tickets, package deals, standby and many more tricks can make your life easier and surly cheaper: 1. andldquo;tktsandrdquo;- Picture link This wonderful organization was established in 1980 and since then it is the most famous andldquo;half priceandrdquo; tickets booth in London. tkts is managed by the Society of London Theatre and their main aim is to give every person , rich or poor- the option to go the theatre. Visit their booth either in the Clocktower building in the center of Leicester Square or in the Brent Cross shopping center. To find more locations and information visit their site. 2. andldquo;DiscountTheatre.comandrdquo;- Picture link This is a brilliant way to get a discount theatre ticket without even leaving the house! The site offers highly secured payment system and a guarantee that you will have the exact same seat you requested on the reservation form. Visiting their site will not only assures you a ticket to the best show in town, it will also give you the option to explore some hotter deals such as:andrdquo;buy a theatre ticket and get a free night in a Central London hotel!andrdquo; 3. Standby- Picture link You will be surprise by the amount of theatres who offer standby purchase options- even the biggest shows can get cancellations from time to time! Unfortunately for some of you, this opportunity is possible for only 60+ retired citizens, students who study full time or members of the theatre union. In order to get a standby ticket you will need to arrive to the theatre about an hour before the show starts- if there are some tickets left or empty seats you will be able to buy them for just 70% off from the original price! 4. Go with all your friends! This is by far our favorite solution! You might never heard about this before but it is known that if you book tickets for 10+ group of people, you can ask for a big discount. The more people you come with, the cheaper the prices get! Before ordering the tickets, call the theatre you wish to go to, tell them your situation, be polite and for sure they will be happy to assist you! 5. Get a ticket far away from the stage and hope to have some empty seats in the front rows, where you can move to after the lights are out- Picture link This is a tricky one indeed, but surly worth trying. The further you are from the stage, the cheaper the ticket is naturally. Wait till the lights are out and the play started, look around to see that no more people are coming in and sneak quickly to the front in order to see which seats are left empty- good luck! EasyToBook.com specializes in discount rates on hotels all over the world that range from simple motels all the way up to celebrated 5-star venues. For more information about hotels in London, visit their site! http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=549Editor's Note: I suppose by featuring this post I, too, am contributing to the popularization of Bulgaria that Omri believes will take away from the country's charm as a travel destination. Do you prefer traveling to an 'undiscovered' place or would you rather travel somewhere where the hotel, restaurant, and sites recommendations abound? If you've been following our advice about Bulgaria travel, you already know that the country is a vibrant mix of everything you could want in a tourist destination: family-friendly travel, youth-oriented travel,skiing travel, green travel, beach travel, etc. We're aware that some of you are in fact reading along, since commenters are perennially popping up to rave about the country's awesomeness (see e.g. hereand here). And they're right. The food is incredible. The people are friendly. The sites range from mind-blowingly ancient to impressively modern. All while being almost absurdly affordable. It's not for nothing that we'vebeen pushing you to go there for half a decade. Here's the problem though. The Brits have discovered Bulgaria, and now they're going to ruin it for the rest of us.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=550Editor's Note: Most people are now clued in to the fact that New York's food scene is the cat's meow. Many of the country's most renowned chefs have at least one restaurant in the big apple, and at the other end of the spectrum, you often hear about the great food to be had from street carts. But! This is new and unique type of New York culinary experience! I'm signing up for the Great Cupcake Challenge. Who's with me? If you love to eat, the best way to do it is in combination with walking. New York City, the restaurant capital of the world, fortunately offers a range of culinary walking tours soyou can enjoy a zero-calorie (almost) day while exploring the cityandrsquo;s neighborhoods and food treats. Here are some programs starting with this weekend: Arthur Avenue Walking Tour (Institute of Culinary Education) Saturday August 7, 2010 or Saturday August 21, 2010, 11 am-3 pm Explore the authentic Little Italy of the Bronx with Giovanna Bellia La Marca and get acquainted with some of the areaandrsquo;s acclaimed butchers, bakers, cheese makers and shop owners. Watch Chef David Greco of Mikeandrsquo;s Deli make fresh mozzarella and Borgattiandrsquo;s Chef Mario make egg noodles from his family recipe. The tour will feature samples and will end with espresso or cappuccino and dessert at the Arthur Avenue Cafandeacute;. Tours start in front of Pete's Meat Market, inside the Arthur Avenue Retail Market (2344 Arthur Avenue), rain or shine. Participants must be 18+. Register online through the Intitute of Culinary Education. Price: $80 East Harlem Dance of the Giglio (NoshWalks) Sunday, August 8, 2010 at 1:00 pm Taste-test your way through Harlem with Myra Alperson and discover what youandrsquo;ve been missing in the area. This tour marks the end of the NoshWalks summer season, and will feature exquisite French pastries, Mexican treats and samples of cuchifritos, a Puerto Rican specialty. Other features include the historic Dance of the Giglio, which is an East Harlem tradition dating back to the early 1990s. The tour will leave from the Malcolm Shabazz Market, south side of W 116th Street between 5th Ave. and Malcolm X Boulevard. To book, visithttp://noshwalks.com/index.htm. Price: $45 Savory Sojourns Various dates and times Experience the gritty side of Hellandrsquo;s Kitchen during the Multi-Ethnic Food Tour of Hellandrsquo;s Kitchen or pass by the smallest house in Manhattan while sipping cappuccino during the Italian Greenwich Village tour. Addie Tomei and her colleagues lead tour groups through all of the major NYC neighborhoods and will customize a tour according to what your group wants to see. Visit http://www.savorysojourns.com/ for more information. Call 212-209-3370 for reservations. Price: $125-210The Great Cupcake Challenge: Taste and Rate Tour (via 92nd Street Y) Friday, October 1, 2010 from 1:00 pm-4:00 pm Join Alexandra Leaf for a sweet afternoon of sampling NYCandrsquo;s tastiest cupcakes. This tour visits a commercial kitchen and includes a lesson about different icing styles and current cupcake trends. Guests can indulge in a complimentary Sandrsquo;more cupcake during the tour. The tour will meet outside of Amy's Bread, 250 Bleecker Street at Leroy Street. Guests are advised to bring a pen, a bottle of water and a hearty appetite. For more information, visit http://www.92y.org/default.asp. Price: $35 New York Chocolate Tours Various Dates at 12:00 pm, 12:20pm and 3:30 pm Indulge your sweet tooth with NYCandrsquo;s finest chocolate by visiting some of the cityandrsquo;s most cherished chocolate boutiques. The tours are organized by neighborhood and the chocolateandrsquo;s personality, and include The Luxury Chocolate TourTM, the New Cuisine Chocolate TourTM and the Bowery Lane Chocolate TourTM. Guests will have the opportunity to sample various delectable desserts, from Grand Marnier truffles to chocolate cheesecake. For reservations, please visit http://www.sweetwalks.com/. Price: $50-70http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=588Last week TripAdvisor announced the purchase of Holiday Lettings, one of the top UK vacation rental listing sites, for an undisclosed sum. What does this mean for the industry? Is it a step forward for owners and renters? Does it create value? Letandrsquo;s start with what the various stakeholders have to sayandhellip; TripAdvisor, Holiday Lettings and HomeAway: What The Giants SayChristine Petersen, president of TripAdvisor for Business, states: andldquo;As part of TripAdvisor for Business, Holiday Lettings will add to our momentum and keep us at the forefront of innovation in the travel industry. This exciting acquisition will expand our services for home owners and property management companies in the vibrant European marketplace and build on the strength that FlipKey has established in the U.S. market.andrdquo; They also add that Holiday Lettings andldquo;will continue to be operated as an independent siteandrdquo;. According to Ross Elder, co-founder of Holiday Lettings, andldquo;The combination of our holiday home marketing expertise with TripAdvisorandrsquo;s leadership in the travel community is a natural fit certain to benefit both holiday home owners and those looking for a great hotel alternativeandrdquo;. He goes on to say andldquo;We are delighted to have the support of TripAdvisor and are excited to enhance our offering to our customers.andrdquo; Although no press release is forthcoming from HomeAway, Tnooz reports Homeawayandrsquo;s European president as saying the acquisition was andldquo;no real surpriseandrdquo; bearing in mind the holiday rentals sector has grown through the recession. HomeAway goes on to say it now has half a million properties listed worldwide. Perhaps the Super Bowl ads are paying off. What Does That all Mean?To us itandrsquo;s pretty clear. This is about TripAdvisor trying to compete directly with HomeAway. But not blindly of course. They are owned by Expedia, a publicly traded company on NASDAQ, so they have value to create for shareholders. Itandrsquo;s a boom industry and they obviously see value in acquiring a successful business and allowing it to continue trading independently. The Benefits for Holiday Lettingsandrsquo; CustomersWhether it brings benefit is of course too early to call. Holiday Lettings clearly think so by stating that they are excited to andldquo;enhance our offering to our customersandrdquo;. But how? Offering an alternative to HomeAwayandrsquo;s juggernaut can only be healthy for customers. With choice, customers can walk their virtual feet over to the competition. Will Holiday Lettings receive any investment? Thatandrsquo;s hard to know although one would expect something bearing in mind they are trying to compete with HomeAway who are clearly on a big marketing drive. If investment does come then that would of course be great for industry awareness. These really seem to be the only positives for customers. We doubt prices will fall because, letandrsquo;s be honest, a basic listing is pretty inexpensive assuming it generates a few bookings. And we doubt TripAdvisor can bring any additional expertise; in fact some think Filpkey is still to prove itself. What Does it Mean for Getaway Earth?Hit the panic button? Get real and quit before we waste any more time? Maybe. There is pretty compelling evidence to suggest that what weandrsquo;re doing is a little like the local grocery store owner trying to compete with the big supermarket chains andndash; the near impossible task. But therein lies the point. We are offering something personal; we are providing the best customer service we can; we are delivering what owners and renters tell us they want. Are boasts of 500,000 listings good for customers? We donandrsquo;t think so. People like us and SecondPorch understand the value of social connections and personality. The value of niche in creating trust, sharing knowledge and building interaction between owners and renters. This is, after all, what is so great about a vacation rental or holiday let and is how we compete against hotels. Christine Peterson talks about being at the forefront of innovation in the travel industry and expanding services for owners. How? By acquisition? Candrsquo;mon. Letandrsquo;s see money being put into real innovation and real services to create real value for customers.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=595Editor's Note: In effort to draw in families, cruise lines continue to increase the amount of kid-friendly attractions on their ships. Itandrsquo;s all there andndash;mini water parks, magic shows and goofy cartoon characters - but do the kids actually enjoy them? I was shocked to find that the answer is not always yes. Here are some great things to think about when planning your next family vacation! One thing the newest cruise ships all have in common is an enormous investment in kids programs and activities designed to capture the attention of vacationing families. Ranging from faux surfing andldquo;Flow Ridersandrdquo; to water slides and pricey affiliations with famous TV characters andmdash; Royal Caribbean collaborates with Dream Works, Norwegian with Nickelodeon andndash; those of us who critique these new behemoths have a lot to write about. One thing itandrsquo;s easy to overlook is whether cruising children actually like all this stuff. So to keep it real, I interviewed an experienced kid cruiser, Jay, for his input after actually trying out some of the newest bells and whistles that adult writers like me find so impressive. When I asked how many cruises heandrsquo;s been on, 12-year-old Jay countered andldquo;before or after I was born?andrdquo; As I said, heandrsquo;s an experienced cruiser. The answer is seven, including Pride of America (Hawaii), Norwegian Pearl (Alaska) and in the Caribbean,Celebrity Solstice, Liberty of the Seas, Norwegian Sky ,Caribbean Princess and the latest activity-filled behemoth Norwegian Epic. Norwegian Epic While my review of Norwegian Cruise Lineandrsquo;s Norwegian Epic was fairly positive, especially about the innovative kids activities, Jay felt differently. I was an observer and reporter while he participated. Regarding one of Norwegian Epicandrsquo;s most notable features, the deck top water slides, Jay said, andldquo;I got stuck in the water slide and it was scary. Thatandrsquo;s never happened to me before at any water park. And, the deck was so hot and that I burned my feet. They (NCL staff) knew there was a problem but didnandrsquo;t fix it,andrdquo; he said. He advises kids to avoid wearing prescription glasses on the slides because the glass can break; plastic sunglasses, however, are fine. Jay made a criticism I heard during my cruise: the top deck is too small for all the passengers and during days at sea, the pools were over-crowded. Noting that Epic has a form of andldquo;ice skatingandrdquo;, he said that youandrsquo;re skating on plastic and it feels that way. andldquo;I think they tried to put too much stuff on the ship,andrdquo; he said. He liked Blue Man Group and gave thumbs up to Norwegian Epicandrsquo;s food andndash; andldquo;the ice cream was the best!andrdquo; andmdash; with the exception of the Nickelodeon characterandrsquo;s breakfast and the fare served in the Cirque supper club. However, andldquo;The Ice Bar which was smaller than my cabin. I think itandrsquo;s ridiculous to charge $5.00 just to see the place.andrdquo; Like a number of passengers, Jay was unenthusiastic about the shipandrsquo;s cabins. andldquo;Thereandrsquo;s no privacy. While I was watching TV, someone used the bathroom and I could hear him. It was very disturbing. While youandrsquo;re in the shower, no one can leave and no one can come in. My bed was a sofa, small and not very comfortable. But you got to sleep somewhere,andrdquo; he said. Exciting Destinations Score A+ Jayandrsquo;s favorite cruises have been in Hawaii and Alaska because of the quality and quantity of memorable active excursions. During the Pride of Aloha Hawaii cruise, Jay says andldquo;I went zip lining, rock climbing, paddle bicycle, surfing for the first time. I saw lava falling into the water and where Jurassic park was filmed. It was the best!andrdquo; Equally thrilling was his Norwegian Pearl cruise in Alaska where he went salmon fishing, river rafting on rapids and gold panning. Rating the Cruise Lines Jay canandrsquo;t wait for his next cruise aboard Oasis of the Seas in part because heandrsquo;s a big Royal Caribbean fan. andldquo;Royal Caribbean never repeats itself andhellip; even in the buffet the food may be the same, but the carved fruit will be different. There are always surprises,andrdquo; he says. Advice for Kids I asked Jay for tips to pass along to other children taking a cruise. andldquo;Look for a cruise line with good kids center, because youandrsquo;ll make new friends. When you cruise on Royal Caribbean, sign up for Flow Rider lessons first thing. Take cameras with a lot of memory and your wallet too, because there is a lot of stuff to do but you need money (such lessons on the flo rider).andrdquo; And, he recommends shows in the theaters (comedy, Beatles impersonators, magic show) because the entertainment is wonderful. Like most experienced cruisers Jay is looking at other destinations he can visit by cruise ship. At the top of his list: South America, especially Peru.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=593 From landrsquo;apandeacute;ritif en terrasse to the early-morning croissant on the way home, whatandrsquo;s not to love about the Parisian social life? Moderation Boire avec modandeacute;ration (drink with moderation) is your mantra for socializing in Paris. France may be one of the biggest wine producers and consumers in the world, but the French pride themselves on enjoying alcohol in a civilized manner. Savoring a glass of red with oneandrsquo;s lunch or dinner exhibits art de vivreandmdash;whereandrsquo;s the fun in deprivation? Getting out of oneandrsquo;s tree every Friday night exhibits a lack of self-restraint and, needless to say, is frowned upon. Moderation applies to eating as well. It requires iron willpower in a city full of tempting bakeries and delis. But indulging in small amounts of rich food and drink seems to work pretty well for most parisiennesandrsquo; waistlines. Eating Out Parisians are reluctant to queue, let pedestrians cross the road or wait for you to move out of the way in the metro, but one thing they do take time over is dinner. I was lucky enough to interview the chef Gordon Ramsay when he opened his restaurant in Versailles, Le Trianon. He told me he was amazed by the staying power of French diners, who far outlast their counterparts in London and New York: "When clients at the Trianon come for dinner itandrsquo;s 8:30, and three or four hours later theyandrsquo;re still there." Socializing, he said, is not something done on the fly. Enjoy apandeacute;ritif spirits either at a restaurant before a meal or in a bar. Complimentary olives, nuts or nibbles will often arrive with your drinks. Parisian restaurants only start to fill up after about eight oandrsquo;clock, while brasseries are more flexible, serving snack food and meals throughout the day in a more relaxed setting. The word "menu" is an unfortunate false friend in English. The French translation is "la carte"; "le menu" actually means "set menu" ("formule" is also used, especially for lunches). Set menus are generally good value. Carafes of water and baskets of bread are free, though you may have to ask for them. Flat Parties Going out for a few drinks, even in moderation, isnandrsquo;t a cheap habit, which is why the social lives of most parisiennesandmdash;that is, those of us who canandrsquo;t afford to frequent Le Baron or Chachaandmdash;involve regular flat parties, with the odd petit resto. If the invitation says 8:00, aim to arrive at least half an hour late (and you still may be the first one there). Informal invitations can be misleading: "Come 'round for a drink" never, ever means just a drink and a few nuts. Even the most informal of soirandeacute;es begins with an aperitif before proceeding to a main course (cue to cork the wine), dessert, coffee and a digestif. From which point it can all start to get a bit hazyandmdash;in a refined way, of course. Clubbing No one even thinks of setting foot in a Parisian nightclub until well after midnight. This inevitably leads to partying until 5 a.m. and catching the first metro home. Finding a taxi can be hit or miss if youandrsquo;re nowhere near a stand, but there is a handy night bus that serves the cityandrsquo;s main axes. If you donandrsquo;t want to pay club entry fees, there are plenty of all-night (or thereabouts) bars in areas such as Bastille and Pigalle. One rule: donandrsquo;t wear overly revealing clothes. Once I ended up going clubbing still dressed in my office gear (arenandrsquo;t impromptu nights out always the best?). I had never fit in with the dress code so well than in my conservative skirt and blouse. I think that says it all. Landrsquo;After Un after (aff-TARE) is a particularly horrific borrowing that has found its way into French. Yes, it has somehow mutated into a noun, and yes, it sounds flaming ridiculous. But no one seems the slightest bit bothered (donandrsquo;t get me started on franglais). A night on the tiles turns into un after when the revelry continues back home into dawn. Whatever you call it, thereandrsquo;s something magical about watching the sunrise over the cityscape from a rooftop terrace while soaking up any lingering alcohol with fresh butter croissants. Moderation can always wait. Useful Vocab Sortir en boandicirc;te to go clubbing Faire un resto to go out for a meal La carte menu Le menu set menu La carte des boissons drinks menu Prendre un verre to have a drink Avoir un verre dans le nez to be drunk (literally, "to have a glass in the nose"andOmega; http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=589You can read any guidebook or travel article for ideas on how to spend your days in Istanbul, taking in the city's many world-class museums and bustling neighborhoods. But at night, you're better off using local resources and recommendations as a starting point and then following your own instincts. In the name of research, I checked out a few diversions from the wholesome to adults-only. While by no means an exhaustive guide to Istanbul's myriad nightlife choices, there are a few tips to keep in mind on what to do after dark. Going to the moviesFortunately for non-Turkish speakers, foreign movies are shown in their original language with Turkish subtitles, so while you may not be able to watch a French art-house film, you can count on the latest Hollywood movies in English. Bonus: you can increase your Turkish vocabulary by following along the subtitles; I picked up some choice curse words and euphemisms watching Get Him to the Greek. The foreign-ness of the experience begins when you purchase tickets - you actually choose and reserve your seat in the theater - a new but welcome experience I haven't seen in the US. Corn is a beloved food staple throughout the country, so popcorn is always available, though they haven't figured out the butter thing. Before the feature begins, you'll be subjected to ten minutes or so of loud Turkish advertisements (have you ever seen liquor ads at the movies, let alone for competing brands?) and previews in various languages. Just when you reach the halfway point, the lights will come up and there will be a ten-minute intermission to use the bathroom, get more dry popcorn, or speculate on how Inception will end. Check for listings online (Google "movies Istanbul"); some theaters let you buy tickets on their website.Beerhalls and cocktail barsIt may be a Muslim country but alcohol flows freely in Istanbul, albeit for a price, particularly for imported liquor. Learn to love Efes (the domestic beer), raki (strong but foul-tasting anise-flavored liquor), and Turkish wines (şarap SHARAP - beyaz for white and kırmızıKURMUHZUH for red); all of which can run from 5 TL for a half-liter of beer in a low-key tavern to 20 TL for a glass of wine in a more upmarket locale. For the most variety of bars, from old-man pubs to rooftop lounges, head to the Beyoglu (BAY-YO-LOO) district off Taksim Square and turn down any street leading from the mostly-pedestrian Istiklal Caddesi. Best bets for a variety of cafes and bars are Cihangir (down the hill from Taksim along Siraselviler Caddesi), the "French Street" in Galatasaray (midway down Istiklal and left at the big high school), and Asmalı Mescit at the opposite end of Istiklal. At Kafe Pi near Tunel, we were probably the first people in a decade to order the above-photographed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shots and they were as delightful as you'd imagine. Wander around until you find a spot that suits you and enjoy the people-watching.Clubs - dancing girls and salsa dancing The city's top nightclubs line the Bosphorus, the most famous is Reina, though it's more infamous for exorbitant drink prices, posturing crowd, and frequent closures for noise pollution and other offenses. Slightly more laid back but still pricey is Anjelique in Ortakoy, where a bottle of local wine will run you around 60 TL or if you're flash, 400 TL for the full Absolut bottle service. Make a reservation for dinner if you actually want to get into a club. Actually want to dance instead of just stand around in stillettos? Back in Beyoglu, Cuba Barhas live music and salsa dancing on weekends. Looking for a more, er, gentlemanly club? The city's nicest strip club (actually, might be the only one) is Regina Revue (WARNING: link not remotely safe for work or any other place you don't want to be seen looking at naked women) north of Taksim near the Hilton Hotel. More burlesque than pole-dancing, the club is harmless, fairly cheesy fun with an unapologetically bordello-esque decor. My friend and I were the only non-working women there but neither we nor our male companions were harassed by the clientele or the dancers. The "shows" range from a writhing woman on a motorcycle to an inexplicably artsy number with a Trojan horse prop. While not a typical choice for a Friday night out, my table had a great time guessing the story behind each dance and the nationality of each (almost all natural) dancer (nearly all Russian or Eastern European), and there are certainly seedier places to spend an evening.Find another fun night spot in Istanbul? Leave us a comment below. Filed under: Asia, Europe, Turkeyhttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=590Editor's Note: Got an eye for fashion? Check out these haute hotels! Top-notch designers like Giorgio Armani and Diane von Furstenberg are now designing chic hotels around the world that reflect their runway apparel, both in style and in price. The bed inside the Hotel Missoni Edinburgh Click the map icon at right for a Google Maps journey into all of the Fashion Designer Hotels Put down your "it bag" and pick up your suitcase because it's not about what you're wearing anymore; it's about where you're staying.Fashion Hotels are the new hot accessory now, with everyone from Giorgio Armani to Diane Von Furstenberg checking in to their own places. These fashion hotels span the globe, but mostly (and sadly) ignore North America. Italy is the most popular country, but we are not surprised since Milan it's mainly Italian designers that began the movement to get their own hotels. Check out our complete list of all 25 after the jump, and do let us know in the comments which one you'd most like to visit. The Ultimate Guide to Fashion Designer Hotels, after the jump! Alberta Ferrettiandmiddot; Palazzo Viviani at Castello di Montegridolfo, Italy: A 13th century castle/guesthouse redone by Ferretti, complete with fireplaces and frescoes. Call for reservations: 39-541/855-350. $134 per night.* Armaniandmiddot; Armani Hotel Dubai: The hotel as well as Armani/Dolci, Armani/Fiori and Armani restaurants are located in the first several floors of the Burj Khalifa, currently the tallest building in the world. $545 per night.* andmiddot; Coming soon: Armani Hotels in Milan, Marrakech, Marassi in Egypt, London, New York, Shanghai, and Tokyo. One of the restaurants inside Dubai's Armani Hotel Bulgariandmiddot; Bulgari Milano: A Milan Fashion Week favorite hotel, with a lovely private park. 590andeuro; per night with breakfast for two.* andmiddot; Bulgari Bali: 59 villas perched on a cliff, with an elevator down to the beach and some serious exotic luxury. $750 per night.* Christian Lacroixandmiddot; Hotel Bellechasse, Paris: Each of the 34 rooms is completely different, but all a rich Lacroix experience in Paris' Saint Germain district. 179andeuro; per night with free WiFi.* andmiddot; Hotel du Petit Moulin, Paris: Lacroix decorated every room of this restored 17th century building in Le Marais district. 190andeuro; per night.* Diane Von Furstenbergandmiddot; Claridge's London: This iconic London property will have 20 DVF-designed rooms from June 2010 on. andpound;490.00 per night.* Dieselandmiddot; Uxua Casa, Brazil A very small property tucked away in Bahia, Brazil and designed/owned by Diesel's creative director Wilbert Das. $480 per night.* Elie Saabandmiddot; Elie Saab Hotel at The Tiger Woods, Dubai A very Arabian boutique property in Dubai, within the Tiger Woods residential club. Still slightly in progress. No price information. Karl Lagerfeldandmiddot; Schlosshotel im Grunewald: Each of the 53 rooms in this suburban Berlin mini-palace are unique, and designed by Karl Lagerfeld himself. Expect classic Kaiser-ly luxury. 239andeuro; per night.* A guestroom inside Lagerfeld's Schlosshotel im Grunewald Louis Vuittonandmiddot; Cheval Blanc in Courchevel, France: A "haute couture" alpine ski getaway to the LV standards, with photography on the walls by Karl Lagerfeld. 700andeuro; per night.* Missoniandmiddot; Hotel Missoni Edinburgh: A colorful, contemporary property with a restaurant and bar in the center of old town Edinburgh. $242 with free minibar, movies, WiFi andamp; 2 items laundry.* andmiddot; Coming Soon: Missoni Hotels in Kuwait, Oman, Brazil and Cape Town in South Africa Miss Sixtyandmiddot; Sixty Hotel in Riccione, Italy: A very fun, funky and modern hotel for a happening resort town. Only problem is that their official website doesn't work. $194 per night.* Moschinoandmiddot; Maison Moschino Milan: A very whimsical first hotel from Moschino, in a renovated train station in the center of Milan. 270andeuro; per night.* Oscar de la Rentaandmiddot; Tortuga Bay at PUNTACANA Resort, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic: Beachside luxury villas decorated by the Dominican designer. $495 per night with breakfast.* One of the Oscar de la Renta-designed villas at Tortuga Bay Philip Treacyandmiddot; G Hotel in Galway, Ireland: A whimsical boutique hotel designed by milliner Philip Treacy means lots of color and many hat-reminscent design details. 200andeuro; per night.* Ralph Laurenandmiddot; Round Hill Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica A Jamaican beach resort that evokes the days of Grace Kelly and Cole Porter, but with Ralph Lauren interiors. $335 per night.* Salvatore Ferragamoandmiddot; Hotel Lungarno in Florence, Italy: This flagship property offers classic luxury and little clue that you're styaing in a Ferragamo-owned hotel. There are also Lungarno Apartments and Suites. Free WiFi. 380andeuro; per night.* andmiddot; Continentale in Florence, Italy: A contemporary hotel that takes design hints from the 1950s. It was free WiFi and a rooftop lounge. 250andeuro; per night.* andmiddot; Gallery Hotel Art in Florence, Italy: Rooms designed in a contemporary style that both compliments and contrasts the Ponte Vecchio right outside. Free WiFi. 250andeuro; per night.* andmiddot; Villa Le Rose: The ultimate. This renaissance mansion outside of Florence has a ballroom and only 5 suites. Book by phone: +39 055 2726 4000. No price information. andmiddot; Portrait Suites in Rome, Italy: Only 14 suites are available here, in the townhouse above the Ferragamo store on the Via Condotti. Free WiFi and a rooftop terrace. 850andeuro; per night.* Silvia Tcherassiandmiddot; Tcherassi Hotel in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia: This 7-suite colonial mansion on the Colombian coast sits in a UNESCO World Heritage Area. To reserve call 1.888.575.2799. $295 per night.* Todd Oldhamandmiddot; The Hotel at South Beach in Miami, Florida: This classic Art Deco hotel's 53 rooms were designed by Oldham back in 1998. Perhaps it's time for a revamp? $195 per night.* Versaceandmiddot; Palazzo Versace Australia: $400 per night.* andmiddot; Coming soon: Palazzo Versace Dubai *denotes the lowest price listed on the hotel rates for a regular room, or if none was available, the single nightly rate for a Saturday in June. [Photos: Missoni Edinburgh photo at top by Jaunted; Hotel photos via the hotel websites]http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=594 Editor's Note: I often find myself in awe of nature, from the strength of summer thunderstorms to the serenity of a starlit sky. If youandrsquo;re anything like me, you must take a look at this post. Even if you canandrsquo;t visit these marvels of nature, simply looking at the pictures will leave you breathless. Some places andmdash; and activities andmdash; have a way of making you feel really, really small. ***Copyrighted Material: The images below are copyrighted against unauthorized use. We were granted special permission to feature them in this Matador photo essay. Please visit the photographer links for licensing conditions for each photo.*** 1. Uluru, AustraliaThe massive rock andmdash; a.k.a. Ayers Rock andmdash; is climbed by 250 every day, despite pleas from local indigenous groups to refrain from doing so.Photo: Chris Harrison 2. Diving with whale sharksThe whale shark is the worldandrsquo;s largest fish species and can grow to be longer than 40 feet. This shot was taken off Christmas Island, Australia, in January 2005.Photo: Rob Hughes 3. Cotopaxi, EcuadorThis volcano just south of Quito reaches an elevation of 5,897m (19,347ft) andmdash; often higher than the clouds.Photo: david_rombaut 4. Redwood country, CaliforniaTaken in Stout Grove, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, this picture shows me (in red) straining my neck next to the Stout Tree.Photo: Aya Padron 5. Sea Kayaking, soloBig water, small boat. Shot taken walking the Southwest Coast Path from Landandrsquo;s End to Plymouth, England.Photo: nixwilliams 6. Great Ocean Road, AustraliaThe coast along one of the worldandrsquo;s most spectacular roads is also good for a walk.Photo: Andrew Ferrier 7. Ponoras Cave, RomaniaThings can get large underground too. Here, spelunkers from CSA explore andldquo;Mammoth Hallandrdquo; in Romaniaandrsquo;s Transylvania region. The light trail was produced by a fast-moving caver with a headlamp.Photo: Bela Nagy 8. Snowfields, Rocky MountainsThis is no photoshop. Itandrsquo;s Matador senior editor David Miller getting in some late-season turns in Rocky Mountain National Park. Read about it inThe Dharma Shack Chronicles.Photo: David Miller 9. Desert, southern PeruSand accumulates into massive dunes in one of the driest deserts on Earth. Notice the city of Ica, Peru, in the distance andmdash; also dwarfed.Photo: guilherme cecandiacute;lio 10. Camping under the starsSo many stars. And camping the best way to let them overwhelm you. This shot was taken near Maupin, Oregon.Photo: Ben Canales 11. Mount Bromo, IndonesiaThis very active Javanese volcano attracts lots of tiny visitors up to its steaming rim.Photo: Jiang 12. Yosemite National Park, CaliforniaThatandrsquo;s me again, this time feeling very small (and a little dizzy) at the top of Half Dome. Notice the gloves andmdash; not a fashion statement, but what you use to pull yourself up the cables on the final ascent.Photo: Aya Padron 13. AntarcticaTravelers to Antarctica report losing all sense of distance andmdash; the geographic scale is so immense and the ice fields so flat and white. This is Lake Fryxell.Photo: Nicolas Arthur Salava 14. Preikestolen, NorwayThis rock has a great view of Lysefjorden and is a good place to get close to the edge.Photo: Sonya Kanelstrand 15. Mont Blanc, FranceEuropeandrsquo;s tallest mountain tops out at 4,810m (15,782ft) and sits in one of The 6 Best Starter Ranges for Mountaineering.Photo: Sarah Brigden 16. Salar de Uyuni, BoliviaThis salt plain is the worldandrsquo;s largest and traps rainwater during wet winter months, creating a tripped-out sky mirror. Find out how to get there.Photo: Carlos Dandiacute;az 17. On a cliff ascentThis one happens to be the curved limestone face of Malham Cove, North Yorkshire, England.Photo: Dubris 18. Iguazu Falls, BrazilThe majority of the falls lies in Argentina, but according to the photographer, andldquo;the great thing about the Brazilian side of Iguazu is that there are no limits on taking pictures at any time of dayandhellip;.(unlike the Argentinian side).andrdquo;Photo: SF Brit http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=596 This winter will mark the 100th anniversary of Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scottandrsquo;s race to stand at the South Pole. Amundsen won when his boot soles hit the end of the earth on December 14, 1911, and the photographer Robert A. McCabe is publishing a book from his own overland Antarctic odyssey that he undertook 48 years later, in 1959. Check out a slideshow of some images from Robert McCabeandrsquo;s journey, and if youandrsquo;re curious about what itandrsquo;s like to explore this region, take a look at ourAntarctica cruises.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=727Great Golf = Arizona Golf = Great Golf by MIKE SIGERS Name dropper isnandrsquo;t something Iandrsquo;m usually called, but after this post, Iandrsquo;m sure the nameandrsquo;s gonna fit like a fresh, new golf glove. Rancho Manana. Eagle Mountain. Gold Canyon andndash; Dinosaur Mountain. Estrella. Las Sendas. The Raven. Superstition. By the way, The Raven Golf Club at South Mountain may be my favoritePhoenix golf course. Las Sendas kicked my butt on a 118 degree day back in 2002. Tough, tough track, but beautiful scenery and very fair if you can hit it where youandrsquo;re looking, which I couldnandrsquo;t do the one time I was there. I could go on and on, but you get the picture. Iandrsquo;ve played some great golf courses in Arizona and Iandrsquo;ve played some good golf in Arizona The Arizona golf courses Iandrsquo;ve played have always been in fantastic condition. Above and beyond is an easy way to describe the lengths they go to with regard to manicuring their golf courses in Arizona. The facilities have always been superb as well. Never before had I witnessed Menandrsquo;s locker rooms that were bigger and nicer than most apartments I rented when I was young. The people you meet are always dang friendly. Willing to pair up and willing to take you along for the ride. The food in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, Tempe and all the towns in between is out of this world good. And while Iandrsquo;m thinking about it, if youandrsquo;re going to play any of the Tucson golfcourses, make sure the words Starr Pass or Saddlebrooke is in the name and if it is, you canandrsquo;t go wrong. Make sure you play early. Get done before noon and then enjoy a great lunch. If you like great rates, go back and get a speedy 18 in just before dark and soak in the beauty and serenity of the desert right at sundown. Then go soak in a pool til dinner time! Trust olandrsquo; Mike and head out to Arizona for some golf, some scenery, some food and some memories! Tell andlsquo;em I sent you. They remember me too http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=731I feel like this is a street that definitely doesnandrsquo;t get enough andlsquo;air timeandrsquo; amongst Barcelonaandrsquo;s tourists or expats. Itandrsquo;s a little bit underrated and under appreciated, however itandrsquo;s one of Barcelonaandrsquo;s andlsquo;hidden gemsandrsquo; (itandrsquo;s not really that hidden). Located directly parallel to Paseo De Gracia, Rambla Catalunya sports trendy shops and elegant, delicious restaurants with wonderful terraces. Itandrsquo;s much less crowded than the its more popular neighbour and way less packed than La Rambla. Itandrsquo;s definitely a street worth checking out, the best part being that thereandrsquo;s a walkway (like La Rambla) that runs from top to bottom, so you donandrsquo;t have to deal with cars and bikes. Itandrsquo;s not often on peopleandrsquo;s andlsquo;must seeandrsquo; lists, but itandrsquo;s one of my favourite streets in the city, excellent for browsing and taking strolls. Colmado Quilez Wine Shop A few of my fave highlights on Rambla Cat include: 1: La Botiga Restaurant 2: Piscolabis Restaurant 3: Calzedonia (leggings/socks/underwear store) 4: Jamaica Restaurant 5: Colmado Quilez-One of the most incredible Argentinean gourmet wine shopshttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=758Sick of traditional restaurants or even roaming food trucks? New Yorkers can now indulge in high-end cuisine from all corners of the world inside NYCandrsquo;s newest food destinations: food halls. Eat to your heartandrsquo;s content and learn how to make various famous regional dishes all in one place. Several restaurants, food stands and marketplaces combine to make these venues the perfect destination for authentic meals and recipe ideas, and being able to rub shoulders with world-renowned chefs and culinary experts is an added bonus that transforms these food halls into an unparalleled culinary experience. On June 4, The Plaza Hotel introduced its newest culinary endeavor, The Plaza Food Hall. Conceived by Todd English, who heads his own show on PBS Food Trip with Todd English, this food hall features a European-style market offering an extensive array of dishes to appeal to everyone from New York locals to visiting vacationers. Executive Chef Mike Suppa is the mastermind behind this panache of taste offerings. Seafood can be found at andldquo;The Ocean Grill andamp; Oyster Bar,andrdquo; Asian-American at the andldquo;Dumpling Barandrdquo; (in addition to the sushi bar), while andldquo;The Grillandrdquo; offers burgers, salads, and more. If that isnandrsquo;t enough, thereandrsquo;s a bakery, a cheese and charcuterie counter, a wine bar with tapas, and a stone hearth oven for pizza. Guests enjoy all this in the spacious 80-seat space, complete with a mosaic floor. Moderate prices of $10-$30 make the experience easy to digest. English even makes sure his customers can bring home a little Food Hall with them: market items to buy include coffee, tea, jams, spices and sauces. Or if home is too far, you can buy a Food Hall picnic basket and enjoy it in Central Park, leaving no crumb behind. 768 Fifth Ave. (at Central Park South) New York, NY 10019. Hours: 7:00am to 9:00pm Sunday- Thursday, 7:00am to 10:00pm Friday and Saturday More info can be found at http://www.theplazafoodhall.com/ or by calling (212) 986-9260. NYCandrsquo;s newest hot spot for Italian gourmands, Eataly, opened August 31 in the Flatiron District. Offering culinary classes and the finest foods and drinks from throughout Italy all under one enormous roof, Eataly hits all the right spots and raises the bar for food halls. Owned by Mario Matali, Eataly adheres to a philosophy of creating a bona fide Italian experience for each guest, whether you consume the food presented by the resident chefs or buy the ingredients to create a feast yourself. The 42,500 square-foot space embodies every aspect of authentic Italian cuisine, from its Pizzeria Rossopomodoroandmdash;run by two men from Naplesandmdash;down to the ovens used to prepare the foods (the Hallandrsquo;s two wood-fired pizza ovens were imported from Italy). Other foodie-pleasing features include Lidia Bastianichandrsquo;s on-site cooking school, andldquo;La Scuola,andrdquo; a Lavazza coffee shop that opens at 7am for early birds, a gelateria and a paninoteca. Michael Toscanoandrsquo;s swanky Italian steakhouse, Il Manzo, is the only one of Eatalyandrsquo;s seven restaurants to accept reservations. Those looking for a lighter meal can peruse the savory delights at Eatalyandrsquo;s food stands, which include the Pasticceria, headed by Luca Montersino, the Rosticceria, which offers roast meats, and Il Laboratorio de La Mozzarella. A fresh pasta counter offers more than 20 varieties, and guests can stock up on various dried foods and jarred specialties in the marketplace. Eatalyandrsquo;s microbrewery will open in November and will feature monthly guest Italian brewers who will brew seasonal beers from various regions around the world. In the meantime, guests can enjoy drinks in Eatalyandrsquo;s 6,000 square-foot partially enclosed rooftop beer garden on the 15th floor, which seats 300 people. Located in the Toy Building at 200 Fifth Avenue, between 23rd and 24th Streets. Phone number and website are not currently available.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=799 Photos by Elaine Tannous If youandrsquo;ve never been to a fanduacute;tbol game in Argentina, be sure to make it the next goal on your list. I recently had the pleasure of witnessing Argentinaandrsquo;s battle against the new World Cup champions- Spain, though it didnandrsquo;t turn out to be much of a battle at all. To be honest, I havenandrsquo;t watched too many fanduacute;tbol games in my time, but I did watch enough of the World Cup to know that 3 goals in the first half, two of them scored in the first 15 minutes, is almost unheard of. Finishing the game off with a score of 4-1, September 7thandrsquo;s win was not a bad way to continue Argentinaandrsquo;s bicentennial celebrations, and the experience certainly left a lasting impression on me. Walking into River Plate stadium felt like walking into Romeandrsquo;s Coliseum. You could feel the tradition exuding from the old cement stands, which were quickly filled with families and die-hard fans. Even River Plate and Boca Junior followers (archrivals, who under any other circumstances would be at each othersandrsquo; throats) seemed to have a temporary truce for the day. For this very special occasion, 72,000 Argentines gathered to support the countryandrsquo;s national selection team. The opening ceremony proceeded with both countryandrsquo;s national anthems and their team colors shot high into the sky with confetti. Aside from the flashy opening ceremony, the rest of the experience was without all the seizure inducing distractions that Iandrsquo;m accustomed to having at games. There werenandrsquo;t overpriced souvenir stands strategically placed around every corner. There werenandrsquo;t 31 flavors of ice cream, no vendor with a fancy thermal backpack full of hot chocolate, or even the corny announcer playing radio sound effects to drown out the quieter moments. Things were simple and revolved around the game, the importance of victory. This isnandrsquo;t to say that I donandrsquo;t enjoy being able to get a chocolate malt, lemonade and cheeseburger without even leaving my seat, (you chubby little American you), but there was so much more to focus on. Like the fight songs they belted out. These werenandrsquo;t just chants like, andldquo;Letandrsquo;s go [insert name of home team]!andrdquo; followed with a series of three claps incited from the all knowing jumbo-tron. They sang ballads for their team. Love songs. And the entire stadium got involved. Even the two young boys behind me, who hadnandrsquo;t quite gotten every lyric down, were singing at the top of their lungs and by the end of the game they were swinging their jerseys above their heads. The stands shook with fans jumping out of their seats, and the expanse of the stadium echoed with the infamous melody of andldquo;Ole, ole, oleandrdquo; sung from 72,000 mouths. The people of Argentina live and breathe fanduacute;tbol, and their love for the sport unites the entire country. Even itandrsquo;s most vicious rivals. The Argentina-Spain game was unlike any sporting event Iandrsquo;ve ever attended. Fanduacute;tbol is so engrained in the culture here that a trip to Argentina wouldnandrsquo;t be worth talking about without spending a few hours at River Plateandrsquo;s Monumental or Boca Juniorandrsquo;s La Bombanera stadium. LandingPadBA sells futbol tickets and tours. Click here to find out about pricing and game schedules.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=732 Vacations are casualties during recessions, as you saw yesterday: two-thirds of Americans have canceled theirs already. Well, you may have a chance to recapture the family experience by combining it with a business trip. This "blended travel" approach, which got me to Savannah,Georgia and Little Rock, Arkansas as a kid, has become more popular, according to some industry experts. To me, it's hardly surprising, given that one of the plane tickets is already covered and, depending on how you structure it, you can get at least some of the hotel room picked up by the company, too. Of course, there are other opportunities to recapture some cash, too. If you work for a large company with an employee discount program, you could be able to add nights to your trip at a low cost, cut the cost of meals and attractions and maybe even save a little on your flights. And, it looks like this is going to become the norm. According to MSNBC: A survey conducted earlier this year by the Meredith Corporation, the publisher of Family Circle magazine, found that of readers who travel for work, 77 percent took along a family member or significant other on their last business trip, and 47 percent do so the majority of the time. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=773Editorandrsquo;s Note: If youandrsquo;re in the LA area next weekend and love food and wine as much as I do, you have got to check out this event! The American Wine andamp; Food Festival (Sept 25, 5-11pm) is one of the most exclusive wine and food events in Southern California. Which, also means it comes at a steep price at $300 a ticket. (More info on winning a pair of tickets below!) But it features some of the worldandrsquo;s most renowned chefs. Weandrsquo;re talking Wolfgang Puck, Mark Keller, Mark Peel, Nobu Matsuhisa, Nancy Silverton, Jose Andres, David Myers, Kelly English, Rene Mata, David McIntyre, Lee Hefter, Tetsu Yahagi, and several others, coming together for an unrivaled culinary experience. And of course, the wine. Ohhh the wine, with a list too massive to showcase here, nearly 90 of them. So be sure to take the red line, a cab, or why not go in style and take a limo. The September 25th festival welcomes a new premier sponsor, the Center for Wine Origins, the nationandrsquo;s leading organization dedicated to protect authentic wines and their regions. Something we here at Dig Lounge can really get behind. The Center for Wine Origins will host events where guests can enjoy authentic Champagne and Port. The evening will start with the Wolfgang Puck Cooking Demonstration for VIP guests, and conclude with a Champagne and Port Lounge party after hours. The American Wine andamp; Food Festival will raise money for the Meals on Wheels Programs of Los Angeles, which serve thousands of meals each day to Los Angelesandrsquo; homebound, senior and disabled citizens. Follow the Center for Wine Origins on Twitter at http://twitter.com/WineOrigins and on Friday, September 17th between the hours of noon and 1 p.m. (PST) Tweet as many facts about Champagne and Port wine as you can and hash tag your Tweet with #awff and #wineorigins. The person who Tweets the most facts during that one hour period will win two tickets (a $600 value). The winner will be announced on 9/18.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=774 If you see the Colosseum burning this weekend, don't call the fire brigade: The flames are virtual. Artists Thyra Hilden and Pio Diaz, from Denmark and Argentina, respectively, are putting on the show by using a pre-recorded video of real fire and projecting it onto the structure. Their digital manipulations of the film mean that they even can recreate the effect of wind fanning the flames -- and the result is so realistic that, in the past, people have called emergency services. The Colosseum show is part of their project "City on Fire: Burning the Roots of Western Culture."The two artists have been "burning" monuments since 2005, including the Trevi Fountain, Copenhagen Cathedral, and Seoul Museum. The show will take place on the nights of September 17, 18, and 19, from 8:30pm to 2am. Given the recent announcement that Rome is looking for sponsors to restore the Colosseum and keep it from, well, crumbling to the ground, seems like kind of an odd choice. Or, perhaps, an appropriate reminder that these monuments won't simply stand on their own forever.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=789Mobile web is the next big thing in travel planning. Trusted luxury hotel representation firm, Kurtz-Ahlers andamp; Associates is joining many companies in the travel industry in launching mobile applications, providing easy and on-the-go access for travel agents, industry professionals and consumers alike. Kurtz-Ahlers andamp; Associates has recently launched a free application in the App Store, making the company's extensive portfolio of luxury hotels, yachts and travel destinations accessible in the palm of your hand. Made available on August 16th, the application offers detailed information, including photos, maps and contact information, about the agency's many clients. So, if you have an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch, download this app now! http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=800 Some would refer to it as andldquo;up and comingandrdquo;, others would opt for rough or edgy, but whichever one you pick, the Witte de withstraat has the most contemporary galleries in all of Amsterdam. Granted, most are small, even tiny, not more than an exhibition of one painting in the window, nevertheless itandrsquo;s always a joy seeing the new displays. On the southern end of the street lies Meneer de Wit, a cultural center with performances on most Saturday nights. Heading northbound youandrsquo;ll discover a window full of quirky, ceramic jugs and pots, perhaps a private collection or the result of many drinking nights. Following are more and more galleries, interspersed with regular houses, a few remaining neighbourhood shops and a remarkable museum. Take your time and stroll towards the studioandrsquo;s in the northern end, where you can see the artists crafting hats, lamps or bags. At night, most displays are lit and so are the studioandrsquo;s meaning you can even come here after sundown. The close-by Admiraal de Ruijterweg supposedly also was going to head from edgy to arty, however not many galleries can be found there yet. Details about this spot (Show on map)Witte de withstraat | Art andamp; culture, Relaxing | FreeWitte de withstraat | WestDailyhttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=803During my trips to Melbourne thus far, Iandrsquo;ve had the big dilemma of where to eat and how often to eat. Probably not our proudest moment, but Mr. Taste and I ate a whopping 12 meals during a two-and-a-half day trip to Melbourne earlier this year. An event like Taste of Melbourne seems like the perfect solution, as it gives us the opportunity to sample dishes from the cityandrsquo;s top restaurants in one sitting.Taste of Melbourne is like experiencing Melbourneandrsquo;s food scene on speed, itandrsquo;s instantaneous, exciting and lots of fun. I flew down to Melbourne for this yearandrsquo;s event with seven of my girlfriends as part of my henandrsquo;s weekend celebrations. While we couldnandrsquo;t resist comparing it to Taste of Sydney, the differences were unmistakably obvious. Not only was Taste of Melbourne more organised and at a more attractive venue, the standard of food overall was so much better. Between our group of eight, we tried a total of 21 dishes from all 12 of the exhibiting restaurants. It took a lot of careful planning and coordination to make sure we got maximum mileage out of our pool of 300 crowns. In the end, the dishes from Charcoal Lane and Stokehouse came out out on top. Although, the unanimous favourite was the eye fillet from The Palace by Luke Mangan. It was the most tender piece of eye fillet I have ever had andndash; soft like a sponge and dressed in jus, the beef had subtle smokey flavours brought to life by the salty capers. The Palace: eye fillet, potato mash, sauce Bordelaise Stokehouse delivered two winning dishes, the first being the beef cigars, which had a lovely crisp shell encasing a stewed beef filling with spicy cumin. The second was the Bombe, a bombe alaska slice with fluffy meringue and velvety smooth ice cream. Stokehouse: wagyu beef cigars, artichoke tapenade and horseradish Stokehouse: the Bombe - strawberry sorbet, white chocolate parfait and toasted meringue Meanwhile, Charcoal Lane served up a wallaby tataki, which was dressed in a ginger and sweet soy sauce. The dish was on the salty side, but I found the flavours very well rounded. The second dish from Charcoal Lane was the raspberry and rosella flower cannelloni. This dessert got top marks from me for originality. I loved the wonderful tart berry flavours matched against the sweetness of the candied rosella flower. Charcoal Lane: Wallaby tataki, ginger, soy, horseradish Charcoal Lane: Raspberry and rosella flower cannelloni, strawberry and native mint salad Other mains that caught our eye (and won our hearts) was the braised pork cheek from Mezzo Bar andamp; Grill. When this dish arrived at our table, it smelled absolutely divine. The aroma from the raisins, marsala and five spice was irresistable, however, the pork cheek was a little dry for my liking. Mezzo Bar andamp; Grill: organic slow braised pork cheef, white polenta, riasins and marsala sauce Sarti served up a prawn sausage which had lots of heat through it and layers of flavour. The pickled cucumber salad was a nice contrast against the spiciness. Sarti: calabrian prawn sausage, pickled cucumber salad The desserts sparked the most debate among our group. While my favourites were the bombe alaska and cannelloni, others raved on about the deconstructed pavlova from Maze. There were so many different flavours to this dish, which made it an exciting one to eat. From the crisp of the meringue to the smooth lemon curd, this dish offered a variety of textures which all tied together seamlessly. Maze: passionfruit vacherin, lemon curd, tropical fruit And then there were the rest, which didnandrsquo;t quite blow us away but werenandrsquo;t horrible either. If you can make time to visit Melbourne during next yearandrsquo;s show, I highly recommend it. It was a fantastic experience and there couldnandrsquo;t have been a better (and more efficient!) way to tick off 12 restaurants off my dining wish list for the city. For more information, please visit www.tastefestivals.com.au.Stokehouse Restaurant andamp; Bar30 Jacka Boulevard St KildaPhone +61 3 9525 5555www.stokehouse.com.au The Palace by Luke Mangan505 City Road (cnr Pickles Street) South MelbournePhone +61 3 9699 6410www.palacehotelmelbourne.com.au Charcoal Lane136 Gertrude Street FitzroyPhone +61 3 9418 3400www.charcoallane.com.au maze andamp; maze GrillLevel 1, Crown MetropolCorner of Whiteman and Clarendon Streets SouthbankPhone +61 3 9292 8300www.gordonramsay.com/mazegrillmelbourneMezzo Bar andamp; Grill35 Little Bourke Street MelbournePhone +61 3 9650 0988www.mezzobar.com.au Sarti6 Russell Place MelbournePhone +61 3 9639 7822www.sartirestaurant.com.auhttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=802Tracing our nationandrsquo;s past, music has always been a great influencer. From stirring up political debates and breaking cultural barriers to creating a deeper sense of community, music has an ongoing presence in America. With Gozaic.com, travelers can discover hidden places of interest and learn more about better-known sites, including ones connected to our musical history. Gozaic, an online community for those who seek authentic culture- and heritage-based experiences, has gathered a few noteworthy, music-themed destinations to inspire travelers to plan their next adventures.Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona, New York, brings to life the jazz musicianandrsquo;s humble New York City home, outfitted with the same furnishings from the time the Armstrongs resided there. In 1943, Louis and his wife, Lucille, chose to settle in this house in the Queens neighborhood of New York rather than moving to a more luxurious abode fit for an international jazz icon. The glossy, turquoise, state-of-the-art kitchen is just one stand-out feature of the house. Hundreds of tape recordings, featuring Louis practicing trumpet in the den, eating in the dining room with Lucille and joking with friends, amplify the authentic feel of a visit to the house.The Museum at Bethel Woods in Bethel, New York, pays tribute to the legendary Woodstock summer music festival of 1969. Located where the historic, four-day concert took place, the museum features an interactive multimedia exhibit and a high-tech theater that screens some of Woodstockandrsquo;s best performances and features never-before-seen festival footage. Visitors can catch live concerts at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, situated on the same grounds as the museum.Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, is the site of all things Elvis. Tour the Graceland mansion and see a special collection of Elvisandrsquo; gold records and awards, career mementos, stage costumes, jewelry and photographs. The King of Rock and Roll and members of his family are laid to rest in Gracelandandrsquo;s Meditation Garden. Other highlights from the superstarandrsquo;s sanctuary include Elvisandrsquo; Car Museum, a peek inside two of his luxurious custom jets and an exhibit focusing on his military service.Historic Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado, was built in just 100 days and provided lively, sophisticated entertainment to pioneers who missed the arts scene back East. Horace Tabor, a self-made man who served as the first mayor of Leadville and lieutenant governor of Colorado, had the building outfitted with Andrews patent opera chairs, elegant Victorian dandeacute;cor and plush carpeting. Big names such as Buffalo Bill, Houdini and the Metropolitan Opera Co. made their way to the Tabor Opera House. The building was restored during the 20th century and now features a museum, tours and performances.The Music Hall in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, dates back to 1878, when members of the prominent Pierce family decided to rebuild the cityandrsquo;s only entertainment venue after it burned to the ground the year before. The hall drew operas, drama, dance and traditional vaudeville fare from as far as Europe before serving as a movie theater starting in the mid-1960s. Today, it is a non-profit community arts center welcoming 100,000 visitors each year to its acclaimed music, film, theater and dance productions.For another look at Hidden America, read Gozaic's post on great literary places and join Gozaic'sJourneys Into Hidden America Circle.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=804The picturesque rue du Commerce.I live somewhat off the tourist path in the 15th Arrondissement of Paris. We are geographically the largest arrondissement in the city, with a population greater than that of the city of Bordeaux, and we are the only arrondissement without one single monument. Which kind of explains the lack of tourists. That said, when we have visitors, they are always thrilled to discover a bit of the andldquo;realandrdquo; Paris while remaining in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. Thanks to the lack of monuments, rent is more affordable, which means reasonable hotel rates and excellent dining options from some of the cityandrsquo;s up-and-coming, yet very young, chefs. The view from the 15th Arrondissement. For hotels youandrsquo;ll find the trandegrave;s chic Marquis on a quiet street just a block or two from the Champs de Mars. Or the practical Pullman hotel, a block from the iron lady herself. And the Citadines apartment hotel for families is not far, either. While slightly off the beaten path, all of these hotels are a comfortable walk to the Eiffel Tower and the museums at the Trocadandeacute;ro. St.-Germain-des-Prandegrave;s, the Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe are direct metro rides away. Dining-out options are hard to share, because we have some incredible treasures that have not yet been invaded by the Anglophone foodie press, which means we can still get last-minute reservations. But Iandrsquo;ll be generous and let you know that the restaurant voted the best bistro in Paris by Le Figaro is Jadis, right here in the 15th. At cocktail hour, I occasionally head to Le Cosmos for a good dose of neighborhood cheer and a bit of English, spoken by the students and teachers of the local bilingual school. Along the Motte Picquet there is a series of restaurants, there to serve visitors to/from the Eiffel Tower, but they are great for us locals, too. Jacques Chirac and carnivores in general love Le Pandegrave;re Claude, while the local youth fill Le Zinc nightly. The nearby La Vandeacute;raison, with its open kitchen and friendly chef, would be a treat even without the exceptional kitchen. A neighborhood joint with house fries and a great crowd.If you want to cook at home, there are some outstanding purveyors on the rue de Lourmel, from the boulevard de Grenelle to the rue Fondary. I adore the local cheese shop of Laurent Dubois, who was distinguished as a Meilleur Ouvrier de France and has a brie with truffles that makes me weak in the knees. And I can never resist visiting Cyril, our local expert on affordable wines from boutique wineries, at La Cave de Lourmel. If all else fails, there is the extensive outdoor market every Wednesday and Sunday at the Motte Picquet metro. Teens love shopping along the rue du Commerce, with its extensive selection of affordable boutiques, while my father never misses a chance to visit the weekly antique book market at the Parc Georges Brassens and I canandrsquo;t resist the art-deco works at the Musandeacute;e Bourdelle. Imagine: a museum dedicated to a man famous for his monumental pieces, in a monument-free zone. Itandrsquo;s a Paris-dox. INFO Le Cosmos 133, ave Emile Zola. 01 45 75 39 42. Le Zinc 61, ave de la Motte Picquet. 01 47 34 54 26. Editor's note: Booking a hotel in Paris? Please consult our handpicked hotels. Thereandrsquo;s one for every kind of gal.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=801Big Buck Hunter Championship5 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday at Cubby Bear; $5 coverHunting season hits Chicago with the third annual Big Buck Hunter World Championships, the pinnacle of competition for this bar-friendly arcade game. Top players from around the world - including X-Games star Travis Pastrana - will attempt to shoot their way to $50,000 in prize money. The event is open to the public and features free game plays for spectators and raffle prizes, such as the new Big Buck Hunter Wii Game. Oktoberfest Kickoff Party5 p.m. Friday at Faith andamp; Whiskey; freeWork your way through all 10 $3 Oktoberfest pints and receive a free $15 gift certificate to a Chinese restaurant. More decidedly German offerings include a free bratwurst buffet from 5pm-8pm; a $100 cash prize for the best Lederhosen wearer or German beer wench costume; and a "Germany's Best Video Power Hour" at 8 p.m. featuring clips ranging from The Hoff to Dirk Nowitzki to Claudia Schiffer, to the lyrical stylings of Rammstein (to keep it light). Pacific Division10 p.m. Friday at Subterranean; $13-$15Hailing from SoCal, Pac Div has spent the better part of their young careers trying to carve themselves out a niche. Many have compared them to fellow up-and-comers The Cool Kids, but you'd be surprised how focused a vision they have as opposed to the straight party rap material. A strong buzz has been surrounding their newest album, Grown Kids Syndrome, and if the product lives up to the hype, it should pave the way for a big breakout year. Their performance at Sub-T will serve as an official album release party as well as a celebration for Ground Lift Media (now in its fourth year) and Jugrnaut clothing (third year). Opening will be talented lyricists Mic Terror and Que Billah. Nightmares on Lincoln Ave Too - Totally Tubular Tales of Terror8 p.m. Friday-Saturday at Conservatory; $7-$15Quake, 1980s pop culture hegemony! The children of the '90s are on the rise. Kick off Halloween season with the latest show from the Cornservatory, which draws on the rich heritage of Nickelodeon, parodying beloved ephemera from "Troll 2" to "Are You Afraid of the Dark" to "Goosebumps." Pair with trick or treating for the perfect evening of regression. Fork, Cork andamp; StyleSaturday at Arlington Race Track; $12This tailgate-themed food and wine festival will feature unique dishes from America's best restaurants, chef cooking demonstrations by Emeril Lagasse and other celebrity chefs, a high-end wine tasting with 250 elite brands and innovative ways to dress up tailgating parties.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=798Ahoy me pirate lovers, do you want to spend a weekend living like Capt. Jack Sparrow or Blackbeard? NileGuide has teamed up with JetBlue and Hyatt Regency Aruba for the "Travel Like a Pirate" trip giveaway contest so that ye can. Ye might be lucky enough to win round-trip airfare for two from major US cities served by JetBlue, four nights at the luxurious Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and Casino, a sailing and snorkeling trip aboard the Jolly Pirate vessel, dinner at The Pirate's Nest (a restaurant based inside a replica 16th century galleon), and a tour of the Balashi Brewery. NileGuide CEO Josh Steinitz explains, andldquo;Weandrsquo;re all about delivering great recommendations that lead to memorable travel experiences, so traveling like a pirate is a natural fit. Weandrsquo;re excited that the Hyatt Regency Aruba and JetBlue also indulged their inner buccaneer. As for NileGuide, the andlsquo;Arrr-ubaandrsquo; jokes are flying around our officeandrdquo;.If you're ready to walk the plank, enter the contest herehttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=806Given a cursory glance, the Astor Bake Shop might appear to be yet another cupcakerie in a city overrun with them. Oh, don't get us wrong: the cupcakes here are nice, especially since you can order miniature versions, thus enabling a wide sampling of flavors. But the reason we endured the manifold weekend subway service changes out to Astoria had to do with the savory side of the menu, particularly their acclaimed Astor burger. A juicy half-brisket patty gets coleslaw and "Astor sauce" to go with the usual toppings. The eponymous sauce is the key --- a tart, tangy blend of three kinds of peppers (ancho, piquillo, and chipotle), plus garlic, onion, tomatoes, and mayo. It balances with the cool crunch of the cole slaw and leads to a flavor-packed bite. We also had a respectable Asian pork sandwich and a bag of garlic herb fries before moving on to the minicakes, which we found eminently eatable. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=805A month ago, Dennis Schaal, the North American editor for Tnooz, wrote an article comparing US travel research done through browsers vs. apps. He quoted a Google statistic: "52% of business travelers who booked hotels on their mobile devices did so through a browser while 21% booked overnight accomodations through their mobile apps." Then Schaal continued to explain a cause for this unexpected statistic: "not all hotels or vacation activity vendors have viable mobile apps, so in some cases opening up a browser may be the only or best option for some travel bookings from mobile devices."Just in the past month, the team here at Travel Onion has noticed a big trend in the explosion of travel apps. It seems the people in the travel industry agreed with Schaal and began developing sophisticated and comprehensive, but easy-to-use apps. And, we've found a wide range. Virginia Tourism released on Friday an app that lists over 12,000 hotels, restaurants, wineries, and other attractions. Other Tourism Boards should take note. Kurtz-Ahlers andamp; Assoc., a hotel representation agency, released last month a Destination app [PDF] that provides users with access to the company's portfolio of world-wide luxury travel destinations. Now everyone can channel their inner-travel agent with their mobile phone. iCruise.com has an app that will answer any cruise-related question you might have. You'll be only a 'touch away from 220+ ships andamp; 12,000+ itineraries'. Travel apps may be trailing behind the browser right now, but we don't think that will be the case for much longer. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=808In October 2007 I made the spontaneous decision to skinny-dip in Lake Baikal in Siberia. My wife and I had seen a man in the lake earlier, calmly treading water as if he was in a pool in the summertime. As soon as I hit the water, I knew it was no pool. Instead, I dove into a sea of thousands of pins and needlesandndash; at least thatandrsquo;s what it felt like. Whether youandrsquo;re skinny-dipping or wearing a full-on dry diving suit, I can only imagine what polar ice diving would be like. According to travelinggreener.com, Waterproof Expeditions and underwater photographer Franco Banfihave partnered to offer a 9-day ice diving expedition andmdash; called the Ultimate White Sea Photo Expedition andmdash; from March 11-19, 2011. Lodging is within an andlsquo;Arctic Lodgeandrsquo;, made up of warm and comfortable accommodations with twin rooms and private bathrooms. For a true Russian experience, visitors can use the banya andmdash; a steam bath, Russian-style. Each day you will be taken to the ice camp andmdash; complete with warm wooden huts andmdash; for two daily dives and in the evenings partake in Francoandrsquo;s photo workshops. White beluga whales are available all year round to observe and swim with and there is a natural habitat near the dive site, separated from the open ocean by a net, in which belugas have been introduced. Also included in the package is a husky dog sled tour. For those without ice diving certification, a PADI Ice Diving Course is available during the program. The price for this package in a comfortable double room is about $4500.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=810Looking to expand your travel horizons? For $200,000, outer space may be your next destination! Richard Branson, the enterprising CEO of Virgin and his space travel team, Virgin Galactic, launched the very first piloted test flight of the VSS Enterprise, the first manned commercial spaceship on October 10, 2011. Check out footage of the flight on Richardandrsquo;s blog post here. The Virgin space travel initiative was launched in 2004 and construction of the first spaceport, designed by Foster + Partners, began in 2005 in collaboration with the state of Nevada. To read more about the venture, including construction photos and renderings of the spaceport on the Virgin Galactic website.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=811 Costume stores selling Halloween outfits on Pottinger Street in Central, Hong Kong Weandrsquo;ve all been there. Itandrsquo;s the day before Halloween and you donandrsquo;t have a costume, or even a clue about what youandrsquo;re getting dressed up as. You swear to yourself that next year youandrsquo;ll get your costume organized in advance. Well, weandrsquo;re giving you that extra special nudge to get your Halloween act together! With Halloween less than 2 weeks away, itandrsquo;s time to start preparing your costume, or at least figure out what youandrsquo;re going to be and where youandrsquo;re going to get it. In Central a good place to start are the costume shops on the corner of Pottinger Street and Wellington Street. Also in Central, close to the MTR, thereandrsquo;s a costume store located near the Des Veoux Road end of Li Yuen Street West. In Mongkok you can find a similar selection at a shop located in Ladies Market, near the intersection of Tung Choi Street and Soy Street. For much more extravagant costumes, you can try House of Siren in Soho, which rents unique, upscale outfits for special events. To get you inspired, here are some recaps of previous Hong Kong Halloweens gone by. Enjoy! 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=812 The Jaap Eden Baan is open again! The start of the new winter-skating season was delayed because the weather was so good that the ice didnandrsquo;t stay cold enoughandhellip; Eventhough winter isnandrsquo;t here yet, it does definetely feel like winter when Iandrsquo;m ice-skating. Skating is a typical Dutch sport so really you should give it a try. Most Dutch people have grown up with skating during the winter time. It is the best when the canals are frozen and you can skate underneath the beautifully lighted bridges. But I canandrsquo;t remember when the last time was I did that. Nowadays if it gets cold enough to freeze the canals they usually break them up to let the canal boats get through. This really is a shame. But luckily the Jaap Eden Baan is a great alternative. The track is nice and big enough for everyone to do as they please. You will see professionals going really fast( these will be on the inside of the track so stay away from there unless you are really good!), little kids going really fast and falling a lot, and lots of other people some quite good and others quite bad. Donandrsquo;t be afraid if youandrsquo;ve never ice-skated before. You wonandrsquo;t be the only one. And itandrsquo;s all part of the fun!http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=814Mid-Mod Marvels: A Celebration of Mid-Century Modern Architecture and Design... Many say that Las Vegas is a place that does not respect its history, constantly throwing away its past in search for the better. Though that may be true in some regards there are a few jewels from our past that make Las Vegas a fascinating place for architectural historians to drool over. Especially historians and architects that have a penchant for Mid-Century Modern design. Las Vegas is dripping with fabulous examples of Mid-Century Modern homes and neighborhoods. Many of those neighborhoods are being sought after by young and forward thinking individuals and families seeking unique designs and large lots. Homes that are anathema to what is being produced in the cookie-cutter and McMansion suburbs of Las Vegas. The unique homes and buildings that continue to survive in Las Vegas are a testament that some things are still sacred, slowly being rediscovered and reclaimed by those who are willing to love these places again. This coming weekend the community comes together to celebrate Las Vegas' great architectural past with a series of events planned that will shed light on this important period of history. Please join me in celebrating Mid-Mod Marvels of Las Vegas. The Morelli House Home of the Jr. League of Las Vegas http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=815Spooky Treats this Weekend I love Halloween. So much that I decorate my house with pumpkins and orange lights, wear socks emblazoned with witches and skulls (it's not because I'm punk rock!), and have already started in on the Brach's Harvest Mix and fun-size candy bars. If you're not like me but still want to celebrate the 'ween, the Logan Square Kitchen will be holding a Halloween Pastry Market this Saturday and Sunday (10am-3pm at 2333 N. Milwaukee) to sell goods made by local talent such as Fritz Pastry, TinyCakes, Nice Cream, and Sweet Miss Givings. Vegan and gluten-free wares, too! Admission $1; kids free. RSVP requested for planning purposes onlyhttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=816Salvador Dali andndash; A Genius Inspired by Barcelona The links between Salvador Dali and the city of Barcelona remain, to a large extent, unexplored. The impact of the city on Picasso and Joan Mirandoacute;, to name just two, is well documented, yet the effect of the Catalan capital on the young Dali is often ignored. As we shall see, there are a few reasons for this relative (yet arguably unjustified) neglect, and this tends to rather obscure the fact that Barcelona had more of an impact on Daliandrsquo;s artistic development than some would have us believe. Dali is frequently associated with the Catalan town of Figueres, and rightly so. After all, this is where he was born and also buried, and is the site he chose for the opening of the Dali Theatre and Museum in 1974. However, in his youth Dali would spend time in the more intellectually stimulating atmosphere of Barcelona when he felt stifled by Figueres. For example, he would visit the Ateneu Barcelona or the Liceu Opera House to feed his desire for culture and creativity. In particular, Salvadorandrsquo;s uncle Rafael would take him to the Ateneu and there are still frequent shows at this theatre to the present day. Barcelona was also the scene of some of Dalandiacute;andrsquo;s earliest art exhibitions, primarily held at the Dalmau gallery. However, in typical fashion, the Catalan contrarian would later see his work banned from this same gallery due to the andldquo;provocativeandrdquo; content of his painting andldquo;Dialogue on the Beachandrdquo;, which was said to contain excessively erotic imagery. Most significantly of all, the architecture of Antoni Gaudandiacute; was to be an inspiration for the fecund imagination of young Salvador Dali. It is easy to see why buildings such as Casa Batllandoacute; would provide such inspiration for Dali, given that decoration is central to the structure of the architecture, rather than being an afterthought. These buildings, along with Parc Ganduuml;ell, supplied a working example of how the imagination could be represented materially. DALI AND SURREALISM Daliandrsquo;s early involvement with the Avant-Garde Surrealist movement in Paris, lead by the charismatic Andrandeacute; Breton (whom Dalandiacute; first met in 1929), would bring about a prolific period of activity. Dali himself wrote that andldquo;Everything that is contradictory creates lifeandrdquo;, and this was entirely concurrent with the revolutionary ideals of the Surrealists. Fuelled by the research done by the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud (with whom Dalandiacute; also met, in London), they sought to explore the unconscious mind, particularly the significance of dreams. They would then use these findings to create their work, in a new andldquo;surrealityandrdquo;. The impact of these theories can be seen in much of Daliandrsquo;s best (and most famous) work, such as andldquo;The Persistence of Memoryandrdquo;, which was also influenced by Albert Einsteinandrsquo;s notion that time is experienced relatively, rather than in a fixed manner. However, this amiable relationship with the Avant-Gardes was not to last. Daliandrsquo;s ambivalent reaction to the rise of Fascism was a step too far, even for the unconventional Surrealists, and his painting andldquo;The Enigma of Hitlerandrdquo; was the final straw. Dali was expelled from the group, and his erstwhile companions were further dismayed at his rampant commercialism and conversion to Catholicism in the 1940andrsquo;s. DALIandrsquo;S LEGACY In spite of the controversy surrounding his politics, Daliandrsquo;s works still provide plentiful joy and wonderment for his legions of fans. He never sought to be a political artist, and the impact of his early work is still present in modern culture. See, for example, the inclusion of andldquo;The Persistence of Memoryandrdquo; in the 2003 movie andldquo;Looney Tunes: Back in Actionandrdquo;, which sees Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck chased through the painting by Elmer Fudd. Few motifs in art are as recognisable as Daliandrsquo;s melting clocks, and it is testament to his legacy that his work was seen as fit for inclusion in a cartoon movie, 72 years after the painting was completed. In Barcelona there is an interesting Dali exhibition at the Real Candiacute;rculo Artandiacute;stico, which is well worth a visit if you are in town. At first it seems a bit pricey at andeuro;10, as it appears that there are only a couple of very small rooms to the exhibition. However, the building is deceptively large and there are over 700 paintings, sculptures and photographs on show. The Fundaciandoacute; Fran Daurel also contains some Dali paintings, alongside pieces by Picasso and Mirandoacute;, although this collection is nowhere as extensive as the exhibition at the Real Candiacute;rculo Artandiacute;stico. The photographs on show in the more complete of these collections provide a real insight into Daliandrsquo;s private life at his house in the town of Port Lligat (which can be visited by appointment), and his considerable artistic talents are more than evident in the collection of paintings housed in the Real Candiacute;rculo Artandiacute;stico. These exhibitions should provide ample evidence that Salvador Dali continues to exert an influence over the art scene in the Catalan capital. Although he may not be linked as closely to Barcelona as some other famous artists, it is worth bearing in mind that he began his career in the city, and a visit to Barcelona can yield rich rewards for lovers of Dali. Interesting Facts about Salvador Dali - Dali designed the world-famous Chupa Chups logo in 1969 - He collaborated with Walt Disney on a project entitled andldquo;Destinoandrdquo; (Destiny), a short film which was finally released in 2003, 14 years after Daliandrsquo;s death. - Salvador Daliandrsquo;s brother died 9 months before the artist was born. His parents treated him as the re-incarnation of their deceased son, and young Salvador even had to wear his brotherandrsquo;s clothes as a child. This could be one of many contributing factors to the multiplicity of perspectives in Dalinian works. -Dali and his wife, Gala, attended a posh New York party dressed as the Lindbergh baby and his kidnapper. The ensuing uproar was such that Dali felt obliged to apologise; an entirely uncharacteristic show of remorse for one of his more eccentric acts. - Dali designed the dream sequences in the Hitchcock movie andldquo;Spellboundandrdquo;. - On their return to Barcelona from the United States in 1948, Dali and his wife drove back into town in the Cadillac they had bought in the States. - Seeing the increasingly commercial nature of Daliandrsquo;s work, Andrandeacute; Breton coined the anagram andldquo;Avida Dollarsandrdquo; (Greedy for Dollars) to describe the Catalan painter. - He was expelled from university after claiming to be a genius and stating that no-one at the institution was fit to examine him. - The Surrealist film andldquo;Un Chien Andalouandrdquo;, written by Dali and Luis Buandntilde;uel, is repeatedly referenced in the classic Pixies song andldquo;Debaserandrdquo;. In particular, the infamous andldquo;eye-opening sceneandrdquo; at the beginning of the movie is cited in the songandrsquo;s lyrics, as is the filmandrsquo;s title. - For his 1976 World Tour, David Bowie opted to show the 16-minute film andldquo;Un Chien Andalouandrdquo;, rather than having a warm-up act. He felt that this film would more appropriately andldquo;set the tone for the eveninghttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=817 If you're planning to attend Saturday's Rally to Restore Sanity/March to Keep Fear Alive with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, here's what you need to know -- or at least as much as can be known at this point: The jumbotrons will flicker to life with music and videos at 10 a.m. but the live entertainment won't begin until noon, when the Roots -- by now, no strangers to playing on the Mall -- will perform a 40-minute set. The rally/march begins in earnest at 1 p.m. with remarks by Stewart and Colbert, the latter of whom will be joined by actors Don Novello (Father Guido Sarducci) and Sam Waterson ("Law and Order") before musical performances by Jeff Tweedy, Mavis Staples and Sheryl Crow. That takes us up to 2:40 p.m. or so, when the show goes pre-taped for what is being called "The Sanity and Fear Awards." Everything ends by 3 p.m. If that all seems mighty quick to you, rest assured that the itinerary released by the National Park Service has plenty of "to be determined" space built in: There will be "a comedian" to warm up the crowd at 12:40, a "musical guest" to perform the national anthem at 1 p.m., "speakers and guests" at 2:15 and more as-yet-unnamed "musical guests" at 2:30. That takes you through the day's scheduled programming, but check out Lavanya and Brandon's post from Tuesday for pre- and post-rally fun. // 2010 10 28 11 30 By Alex Baldinger | October 28, 2010; 11:30 AM ET Categories: Events http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=819 I read about this new farm-slash-shop opening up in Dalston in the Evening Standard, and it just struck me as the one-story-summary of the transformation happening in Dalston and Hackney. It started out years ago with the arty types who wanted to live in urban areas but needed cheap accommodation and lots of space for their studios. It turned out that the masses of abandoned and disused warehouses in the former industrial sites of Hackney, including Dalston, were perfect. Now, the transformation is accelerating, with the arrival of the new Overground Line (formerly the East London Line) making it infinitely more accessible to the general public. Not only is Hackney awash with the arty type now, but also with young professionals looking for a pad close to the city but at more reasonable prices. Throughout the last two years, trendy shops have started opening, and now comes FARM:shop, which aims to be an urban farm andndash; in a disused shop in Dalston. I havenandrsquo;t been yet, but its now down in my to-do list, but according to the Evening Standard news article, the basement is being turned into a mushroom farm, with tanks for growing tilapia fish and freshwater prawns. There will be a chicken coop on the rooftop, and pigs reared in the garden. I wonder if the pigs and the chickens are slaughtered on the premises andndash; this will make for some really fresh meat, but I wonder if the majority of the London public will be able to survive such a traumatising shopping event. There is, of course, a big growing trend towards buying locally and buying fresh produce and meat, but Iandrsquo;m still guessing most people want to have their meat already sliced and diced and still before they lay eyes on it. Still, Iandrsquo;m hoping this urban food project will find a root in London and branch out to other areas; its great to be able to connect with your food and get them as fresh as possible, and while the growing techniques used will not be traditional (e.g. hydroponics for the vegetables), its a step in the right direction of reconnecting with the food that we eat. The FARM:shop will be open on the 31st October onwards, from Fridays to Sundays. There will also be tours at 1pm throughout the whole of November. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=821Now a nature reserve, which is part of the Lee Valley Regional Park, the original six Middlesex Filter Beds were created in 1852 in order to purify water for the surrounding areas and prevent Cholera, and were subsequently expanded. By 1969, the system of water cleaning had become outdated, with the building of the Coppermills Water Treatment Works in Walthamstow, and they were closed. By the late eighties, they had been the responsibility of Thames Water for many years, and had become overgrown, but teeming with wildlife. Seven beds were leased to the Lee Valley Regional Park and they now form the Middlesex Filter Beds Nature Reserve. The reed beds and other areas are, we are told, home to over 60 different species of bird, including Snipe, Reed Warblers and Sparrowhawk, and also amphibians such as toads, frogs and newts. Though the wildlife is possibly better in summer, they are open all year round and are free to visit. For more, see here. Labels: East London, Hackney, Nature, Things to do http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=822Donandrsquo;t forget to follow me on Twitter for all the latest updates on fashion, shopping, and trends in Buenos Aires! As the largest neighborhood in the city, Palermo provides a limitless amount of shopping options. Although Palermo SoHo can perhaps be considered the hub of fashion and design in this part of the city, there is another treasured section of Palermo where you can find petite boutiques and high-end showrooms: The Botandaacute;nico. SoHo may be the reigning design center, but the Botandaacute;nico is certainly worth a visit. Amongst the variety of scattered boutiques, there lies a special gem off the beaten bath. Kukla (Bulnes 2677) is the essence of casual cool, with their own jean line, cotton tees, and relaxed dresses. Here you can find some of the most popular trends for spring, such as striped tops in blue and red, and colorfully printed swimsuits. They offer a few pairs of shoes, which reflect the storeandrsquo;s youthful look, and a selection of necklaces to match your new outfit. The boutiqueandrsquo;s design is fun and funky, with bright plastic straps covering the dressing room entrance, and a giant print of the new ad campaign plastered across the store windows. At Kukla, you can expect the ultimate in comfort and style, without an ostentatious design aesthetic. Shoes by Mona If youandrsquo;re after accessories, a small boutique on Cabello called Elandaacute;stica (Cabello 3669) invites you in with their walls lined with trendy leather bags, small crystal clutches, and hip belts. They also sell an assortment of earrings and necklaces made for every occasion, as well as a collection of clothes from their own line. Look forward to a fun, laidback vibe inside, and above all, lots of color. At Elandaacute;stica, youandrsquo;re in accessory heaven. In addition to Elandaacute;stica, another popular Botandaacute;nico boutique is always a must for me. El Mercadito (Cerviandntilde;o 3839) is packed with clothing by everyone from Maria Cher and AY Not Dead to little-known labels such as Moro Shiki and the Doll Store. The boutiqueandrsquo;s buyer always chooses carefully, and consistently stocks the most interesting pieces from every collection. You can even find jeans by Benito Fernandez and a few select dresses from his line. Jewelry is adorable and inexpensive at El Mercadito. I found a lovely pair of drop earrings for just $44 pesos. In a store filled with the best of the best, itandrsquo;s nice to have a balance of more affordable items. Shoes by Mona A day of shopping would not be complete without shoes, and hidden in the Botandaacute;nico is by far one of the best shoe showrooms in Buenos Aires. Mona (Cabello 3625 7E) never fails to produce the most wearable, comfortable flats, as well as a collection of heels and boots that define the meaning of elegant. The mixture of fabrics such as patent leather with suede make these shoes unique and attractive, and added accessories like buckles and sparkling stones only enhance their beauty. The design is absolutely fabulous, but the shoes at Mona are best-known for comfort. As you try on your first pair, expect to feel a soft cushion beneath your toes, and a perfectly contoured fit. Itandrsquo;s no wonder Mona has been featured in publications such as OhLALA and La Naciandoacute;n. These designers deserve the recognition. Without a doubt, Palermo is the heart of the fashion world in Buenos Aires, and the Botandaacute;nico forms a charming part of this large neighborhood. Shady streets, relaxed cafes, and of course, chic boutiques, have slowly transformed this section of Palermo into a design destination. The next time youandrsquo;re yearning for a day of shopping, check out the Botandaacute;nico. Youandrsquo;re in for a pleasant surprise. Xoxo Your BAShopGirlhttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=823 Lily Heise from the Paris walking tour experts Context Travel recently stopped by the Monet exhibit currently taking place at the Grand Palais. Since Paris is currently overrun by an imminent shortage of petrol, enduring public transport strikes and the madness known as contemporary art week, we thought it would be fitting to give you a little dose of tranquility, starting with Monetandrsquo;s lovely waterliliesandhellip; Every season ushers in a series of new exhibits in Paris and one of the most talked about this autumn is certainly andldquo;Claude Monet 1840-1926andPrime; at the Grand Palais. Slightly skeptical due to all the buzz, I visited the show last week to see if it was actually worth all the hypeandhellip; and left two and a half hours later completely enchanted by the artistic impressions of the master impressionist. The retrospective is certainly a must for impressionist art-lovers, bringing together over 200 works from 70 international collections, it offers a once in a lifetime chance to see so many of his paintings united side by side. Many of the works come from the Musandeacute;e dandrsquo;Orsay, however, dozens come from North America, where an avid appreciation of the Impressionists developed much ahead of France. I was rather lucky to tour the exhibit with artist Marie Theres Berger who gave us some wonderful insight into the works on display, the artistandrsquo;s career and his personal life. The show was beautifully curated, with the works organized thematically instead of purely chronologically, demonstrating how Monetandrsquo;s style evolved through his subject matter, often revisiting the same subjects years later, such as the stormy Normandy coastline. Visitors can also admire Monetandrsquo;s experiments with light through his famous series, including the lofty haystacks and the faandccedil;ade of the Rouen Cathedral painted at different times of day. My favorite part of the exhibit was probably the section dedicated to people, because this was the most surprising, the artist being first and foremost revered for his landscapes and flowers. Figures were merely a continuation of his study of light and color, nevertheless, it was fascinating to see his depictions of his first wife, the very pretty Camille, and his artist friend Frandeacute;dandeacute;ric Bazille in the various Dandeacute;jeuner sur landrsquo;herbe.paintings and other scenes, giving us a little peak into Monetandrsquo;s private life. The one disappointment of the exhibit (besides the crowded traffic jam at the very beginning of the show) was the poor representation of his later works. The last room of the show, dedicated to the end of his life, is rather sparse and the painting not among his best. I guess visitors will just have to go to the Orangerie Museum afterwards to admire his large water-lily tableaux there! The exhibit runs through January 24, it is highly advisable to purchase advance tickets to the exhibit and to aim to go either first thing in the morning or in the evening to escape the intense crowds. Context Travel is organizing very small group tours of the exhibit led by art experts on Monet. Related Links: Other November art happenings Context Travelandrsquo;s walking tour of the Monet exhibit FIAC, Parisandrsquo; big contemporary art fair is also happening this week Cutlog, the newest contemporary art fair, is taking place at the Bourse du Commerce Written by Lily Heise from Context Travel. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out our website Haven in Paris.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=824 Ann Johansson for The New York Times The bike path between Santa Monica and Redondo Beach means avoiding cars, even at rush hour. I set out to see if I could make it in Los Angeles on $100 a day. Itandrsquo;s possible, it turns out. But only if you do away with a car. Now, I know what youandrsquo;re thinking. Los Angeles, the sprawling metropolitan region that is home to both the Hollywood Hills and the Valley, on a bike? Well, I found it not only possible but enjoyable. In truth, I was liberally aided by the surprisingly nimble public transportation system. But I rode 15 to 40 miles a day on trips to Beverly Hills, along the coast, downtown and to Pasadena. Highlights from my trip (and some cool photos) are already online. Now, if youandrsquo;ll excuse me, Iandrsquo;ve got to get back to my very demanding research of frugal Buenos Aires. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=273 Share 28 // Earlier this week, our friends at Eater National asked for our help in putting together a map of New Orleans' hottest restaurants. We're posting it here for our readers. When asked about the current state of the restaurant scene in New Orleans, author and food expert Tom Fitzmorris told us, "We have 1,117 real restaurants now. We had 809 before the hurricane." And a look at the restaurants that have opened in NOLA over the past few years confirms that the city has restored its place as a culinary capital with its own identity. Many of these establishments have adopted national buzz words like seasonal and sustainable into their mantras, but there's no mistaking that what they make is New Orleans food. Here, now, a guide to the New Orleans restaurants of the moment. Click here to view the map. andgt;andgt; andrarr; Bars andrarr; Boozing andrarr; Food andrarr; Has Map andrarr; Map andrarr; New Orleans andrarr; Restaurants andrarr; Restaurants Of The Moment 2 Comments Comment now // Map data andcopy;2010 Google - Terms of Use Map Satellite Hybrid Boucherie 8115 Jeannette St New Orleans, LA 70118 (504) 862-5514 Like the NOLA tradition from which it takes its name, Boucherie is all about the meat -- pork, to be exact. But it would belittle this establishment to leave it at that: andhellip; chef and partner Nathaniel Zimet, who has worked the lauded kitchens of Iris and Stella!, churns out contemporary southern food that's expertly prepared and accessible. Or, as he and his cohorts like to put it, "fine dining for the people." NB Watch out for Boucherie's Que Truck, which should soon be back on the streets. [link] N 29anddeg; 56.59262 W 90anddeg; 7.40162 Patois 6078 Laurel St New Orleans, LA 70118 (504) 895-9441 Chef Aaron Burgau worked with Susan Spicer and Gerard Maras before striking out on his own at this "neighborhood" restaurant on the corner of Laurel and Webster, in the andhellip; space that was formerly Nardo's. The emphasis here is on local ingredients and clean flavors. Not so much on crowd control, so get yourself one of their excellent house cocktails and be patient. [link] N 29anddeg; 55.11506 W 90anddeg; 7.26842 Bistro Daisy 5831 Magazine St New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 899-6987 This French-American bistro in a renovated Uptown cottage is too cute for words. It's also insanely good. As Times-Picayune critic Brett Anderson put it, Anton Schulte's andhellip; "food doesn't demand that you pay it undivided attention, but it has a distinguishable voice, one that speaks to the seasons, classicism and a knack for balancing flavors." [link] N 29anddeg; 55.18908 W 90anddeg; 7.10307 Le Foret 129 Camp St New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 553-6738 One of best spots to open over the past year, Le Foret is in the tradition of the grand style New Orleans restaurants, places where you can throw on your seersucker and andhellip; eat plenty of Gallic-sounding stuff -- here prepared by CIA graduate Jimmy Corwell. [link] N 29anddeg; 57.6112 W 90anddeg; 4.7273 Le Meritage at Maison Dupuy New Orleans, LA 70112, USA (504) 522-8800 Le Meritage's borderline tacky interior and menu concept (google it) are pretty lame. But Michael Farrell's seemingly straightforward food isn't. Get there. [link] N 29anddeg; 57.33292 W 90anddeg; 4.6452 Feast New Orleans 200 Julia St New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 304-6318 British ex-pats Richard Knight and James Silk have opened up a New Orleans outpost of their ridiculously successful Houston restaurant of the same name. This is andhellip; nose-to-tail cooking at its finest. Watch your back, Donald Link. [link] N 29anddeg; 56.39746 W 90anddeg; 3.55519 Meson 923 923 S Peters St New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 523-9200 Chris Lynch, the chef that opened this trendy Warehouse District restaurant last year, left the project last month. But all signs point to Baruch Rabasa, who has been a andhellip; part of the kitchen from the beginning, as being an able successor. Expect the French New Orleans food you love, with some Spanish accents and an excellent offering of crudo. [link] N 29anddeg; 56.32852 W 90anddeg; 3.56973 Bouligny Tavern 3641 Magazine St New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 891 1810 The chef John Harris of Lilette has recently opened this wine bar and small plates venture. That really is all you need to know. [link] N 29anddeg; 55.19455 W 90anddeg; 5.34616 a Mano New Orleans, LA 70130, USA (504) 208-9280 As its name suggests, this Warehouse District trattoria from chefs Adolfo Garcia and Joshua Smith is dedicated to the artisanal -- the pastas are handcrafted, the salumi andhellip; house-cured, the products locally sourced. Not just another red sauce joint. [link] N 29anddeg; 56.36621 W 90anddeg; 4.2661 Dominique's 4729 Magazine St New Orleans, LA 70115 504 894 8881 Chef Dominique Macquet has found a new, less formal home after moving from the Maison Dupuy (where Le Meritage has taken its place). It's perfectly executed bistro fare, andhellip; and the duck fat fried chicken is nuts. [link] N 29anddeg; 55.13717 W 90anddeg; 6.20732 Sylvain 625 Chartres St New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 265 8123 Sean McCusker left his New York magazine gig to open this project, a sophisticated spot in the French Quarter. Per NOLA-Eats' Leslie Ameida: "he leaves Sazeracs on the andhellip; bar at night to please the ghost of a departed madame." [link] N 29anddeg; 57.25448 W 90anddeg; 3.51040 MVB 3322 Magazine St New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 452-4559 When Slim Goodies shuts down at 5 PM, MVBurger takes over and serves burgers, fries, and shakes. For the moment, only on Sundays. [link] N 29anddeg; 55.23530 W 90anddeg; 5.17833 Pizza Delicious New Orleans, LA 70117, USA (504) 676 8482 This one's plenty fun: call the number, place your order, and then find out where you can pick up your pie. Limited availability, only on Sundays. [link] N 29anddeg; 58.5768 W 90anddeg; 1.23962 http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=838 One thing that is very striking when comparing European (or at least the more northern part of Europe) and Japanese culture is the difference in garden decorations. One of my favorite items in the European garden is the Garden Gnome statue in all it's bountiful forms, sometimes jolly, sometimes a bit more mischievous and sometimes even a little naughty. When passing by a garden with a Garden Gnome decorating it, I often make a stop to fully enjoy it. However, here in Japan the Garden Gnome is basically unheard of, on rare occassions it can be seen in a garden of some Japanese person who is trying to get a little European atmosphere going (but it is often mixed-up with Santa Claus anyway). Instead, the Japanese garden has opted to go for statues of the Tanuki; the Japanese beaver racoon dog thingy animal. It has in common with the Garden Gnome that it is often dressed up in various forms and often is carrying a bottle of liquor (for the sake of being correct, I probably should add that the Tanuki statue is often a regular feature not only in gardens, but also outside restaurants and some more traditional shops selling handicrafts etc). One characteristic of the "Tanuki" animal is that is has unproportionally large testicles compared to most well known mammals, and this is of course taken into account when making the Tanuki Garden statues (see the pictures, yes, those are the testicles). Since the Salaryman household is a cross-cultural family, I have been considering how to manage our garden in terms of the Gnome vs. the Tanuki, whether I should make sure to have an equal number of each to not create any disharmony. , After much consideration though, I think that I have come to the ideal solution, instead of having a "balance", a blend would be much more interesting and creative; the ideal thing to have in the garden would be a Garden Gnome with huge bared testicles to celebrate both cultures! I have done some preliminary scouting, but I have yet to find such a blend... http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=840Earlier this week, thanks to Travel Onion, I went for a lunchtime treat in Knightsbridge with a few other London bloggers. I wasn't sure this was gonna be my kind of thing as when I started this blog I wanted to be specifically about things on the streets. But I am so glad I accepted the invitation as the place and the people were lovely. I'd have been happy just wandering the hotel's corridors, lobbies and staircases as the inside of the building is beautiful andndash; a lovely mix of old England with touches of the East andndash; but we were also taken inside some of the rooms including the spa, the beautiful and ornate dining room that overlooks Hyde Park, the original entrance on the park side of the building, a standard room (did they say approx andpound;800 a night depending on the season?!) and then to the Royal Suite which was stunning... if you are interested in the price for a night there, then multiply that last room rate by about twelve!! If anyone needs a roommate for a night, just get in touch. (Actually, does that sound a bit forward?!) After our tour we were treated to lunch in Bar Boulud on the ground floor. The food was scrumdicious (my own word!); plates of charcuterie consisting of patandeacute;s, hams and terrines, plus seafood platters and salads, followed by a main course, my choice being one of their fantastic hand-made burgers andndash; the one I had had foie gras in it but is only available on Sundays and Mondays. Oh, and we had four different wines, all of which were explained (what's the word I want here?) to us by the Head Sommelier. Excellent! In a nut shell, I'd love to eat there again, especially as I was impressed at the competitive prices. But I suspect it'll be hard to get a table there soon as the place is becoming very popular. Rightly so. Oh, and if it's not enough the hotel having David Boulud, it seems Heston Blumenthal is opening a restaurant there soon too, though the hotel's site says Autumn 2010. And the light fittings throughout the whole building are gorgeous. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=841From the tiny painted door way, to the tiny hall-like dining room, to the beautiful and charming Italian waitresses, to the handsome bearded chef peeking over the kitchen counter, to the warm yellow walls speckled with maps of the mother country, and to all the hearty, creamy, meaty pasta in betweenandhellip;Iandrsquo;m simply besotted with this place! Needless to say I eat here a lot. painted doorway at landrsquo;Osteria dellandrsquo;Anima Last night I came here for dinner. As a little warm up, my table of four ordered the burrata. We were shocked when a hunk of cheese the size of a gorillaandrsquo;s fist came out. What a testament to the amazing versatility of milk and cream! It had the consistency of a perfect soft-boiled egg, firm on the outside and just barely oozy on the inside. I was loathe to share it with my table so its for the best I was with my boyfriend and his parents and I felt compelled to show some civilized restraint, otherwise I wouldnandrsquo;t have had room for my main course! Enormous glob of burrata, grilled zuchini and eggplant, salami, artichoke hearts, and shaved fennel I never understand our waitress when she explains the plat du jour, but I always order it. Why? Well if youandrsquo;ve ever heard French delivered with Italian melody, enthusiasm, and gesticulation, you know. When the waitress speaks, my mind wanders and I indulge in noble dreams of one day living and eating in Tuscany. If a mere description of a dish can make me feel that transcendent, I have no other choice but to order it. Last nightandrsquo;s plat du jour was a pappardelle in creamy pesto with sausage. Every element of this dish bursted with flavor, as if I could taste each ingredient individually: the eggs in the pasta, the spices in the sausage, the butter and cream and parmesan in the sauce. Pappardelle in creamy pesto with sausage When not savoring the food, wine, or conversation, I would watch the waitresses roll and slice the pasta in between taking orders and serving tables. Their movements are always so fluid: knead, roll, chop, whisk off to the kitchen. Something about seeing it two feet in front of me as dough and eating it 5 minutes later as a hot cooked meal is so satisfying. So much so, that I donandrsquo;t really see the point in doing it myself when I can go here and have someone else do it for me for my viewing and eating pleasure. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=842Having worked in the travel industry for over thirty years, I have been to many hotels, eaten in many restaurants, and gone on many familiarization trips. However, last Monday, I experienced something special during our Travel Influentials hosted event at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London.Through our PR andamp; Marketing arm, Travel Influentials, we coordinated a tour of the hotel and a lunch at Bar Boulud, the popular new restaurant by renowned chef Daniel Boulud. We invited select London bloggers to the event for an inside tour and meal.During this lunch, I couldnandrsquo;t help but notice and be excited by the buzz created by having the community of London bloggers together around the table. Many were meeting for the first time, and as we ate, they compared notes on successful practices, etc. We had a really great group in attendance. The pictures capture the warm atmosphere and friendly personalities of the great London bloggers: Jane of Janeandrsquo;s London, Juliet of A Lady in London, Erin of andlsquo;Cross the Pond, Luiz of The London Foodie, Rejina of GastroGeek, and Lucy of The London Insider.For many of the bloggers, this was the first time they had an insiders tour of a hotel, which I think was very well received. Our tour included a stop at the impressive Royal Suite with really fantastic views of Hyde Park. It certainly was a great event at one of the most spectacular hotels in the world. I look forward to more events at Mandarin Oriental, in London, and around the world with more of the bloggers we have met through Travel Onion.-- Cal, Founder and Publisher, Travel Onion http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=843The Palazzo Candagrave; Zanardi in Venice was the location for the recent launch of Federazione Nazionale Personal Chef - La F.N.P.C. This is an Italian cookery school with a difference, offering much more than just cooking courses. It is an andldquo;International Laboratory of Food and Wine Studiesandrdquo;, called "Cannaregio 4132". Attendance far exceeded all expectations and the Federation's President, Mirko Squadroni, Commercial Director, Piergiorgio Pezzolesi, Public Relations Director, Paolo Dalicandro and Marketing Director, Andrea Verzola were all present, along with many member chefs and guests at the reception, presentation and tasting at the Palazzo Candagrave; Zanardi. The Palazzo Candagrave; Zanardi will be the Federation's headquarters. This Venetian, residential palace dates back to the 16th century and is located in a peaceful setting with its own private garden and magnificent sun filled terrace. The palazzo is located close to the Candagrave; dandrsquo;Oro, Venice's beautiful 15th century gothic palace on the Grand Canal. Set away from the busy tourist areas but still reachable with ease by foot, being just a three minute walk from the Candagrave; dandrsquo;Oro water bus stop, or by boat, via the quaint Santa Caterina canal whose gentle waters pass the palazzoandrsquo;s private pier. The palazzo's elegance is reflected in its grand halls and reception rooms which display the artistry of its furnishings, creating a fascinating atmosphere. Indeed, the palazzo is often used for special occassions such as gala dinners, wedding parties, art exhibitions and musical events. The Federazione Nazionale Personal Chef is a unique association that brings together and unites Italy's Personal Chefs. Amongst the main aims of the Federation are to participate in events and fairs to promote and create greater awareness of the Federation whilst selecting and procuring collaborative contracts with local suppliers all over Italy. The internet portal of the Federation, www.federpersonalchef.it, will also promote Nationally and Internationally, the Federation's concept and the multiplicity of the services that can be offered to its clients and customers. At the Federation's headquarters within the Palazzo Candagrave; Zanardi, aspiring chefs will be able to undertake numerous courses. Whether amateur or professional, there are courses to cover every aspect of the culinary world. One of the first courses will be conducted by Francesca Barberini, from Gambero Rosso TV, for children. Other courses currently available include, three courses for amateurs. For professionals the courses are designed to give personal chefs the tools required to start up and run a flourishing personal chef business. The subjects include the practicalities of how to become a personal chef, how to adapt when you arrive in an unfamiliar kitchen missing many of the cooking utensils you would normally cook with as well as practical workshops that will cover subjects such as food design, food marketing and food trend watching. Language courses combined with cooking courses are also available. Offering Italian chefs, with a basic understanding of English and wanting to work in the English speaking world, the chance to learn the language in more detail. Whilst non-Italian chefs, with a basic understanding of Italian and wanting to work in Italy, will have the chance to learn Italian. For more information check out the Federazione Nazionale Personal Chef's website at www.federpersonalchef.ithttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=844Our latest Hosted Event was a breakfast at renowned Blue Duck Tavern and a tour of the elite Park Hyatt Washington, DC with members of our local DC network of bloggers. Participants were introduced to the hotel's Director of Sales and Marketing, Ernie Arias, as well as the Marketing and Communications Manager, Renee Sharrow and then treated to a family style breakfast at the Chef's Table of the nationally recognized Blue Duck Tavern, the hotel's award-winning restaurant, acclaimed by Bon Appandeacute;tit, Coned Nast Traveler and Wine Enthusiast. The crab omelet was a crowd favorite, as were the delicious assortment of pastries and fresh fruit that accompanied the meal.  After the meal, the group was given an in depth tour of the Blue Duck, including the exposed kitchen, where curious guests are encouraged to watch the chefandrsquo;s in action as well as the special tea cellar, complete with a tea humidor, featuring vintage and exotic teas to suit even the most particular aficionados. This was followed by a tour of one of the unoccupied rooms in the hotel. The rooms, designed by the celebrated designer Tony Chi, featured contemporary dandeacute;cor with dandeacute;cor with touches of American design heritage. The feel was luxurious without being pretentious or stuffy, and every detail was meticulously thought out, down to the carefully selected assortment of coffee table books (all available for purchase). The Park Hyatt staff were both informative and gracious and were able to engage with the bloggers in an interesting and lively discussion on the use of social media in the hospitality business. I know all of us here at Travel Onion are looking forward to dining at Blue Duck Tavern again soon!http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=846Mark Twain in New York, or His Adventures on Fifth Avenue Photo courtesy LOC PODCAST You hear the name Mark Twain and think of his classic characters Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, his locales along the Mississippi River and his folksy wit. But he was equal parts New York as well, and the city helped shape his sharp, flamboyant character. Follow his course, from his first visit as an opinionated young man in 1853, to his later years in 1906 as a Fifth Avenue tenant, decked out with a cigar and signature white suit.His tale offers a glimpse into the glamorous life of turn-of-the-century New York, from the smoke-filled billiard room at the Players Club to late nights at New York's dining palace Delmonico's. Tune in and find out which parts of Mark Twain's city are still around and which of his old homes you can still visit today.Co-starring Ulysses S. Grant, Helen Keller, Edwin Booth and other toasts of New York during the Gilded Age.You can tune into it below, download it for FREE from iTunes or other podcasting services, or get it straight from our satellite site.Or listen to it here:The Bowery Boys: Mark Twain's New YorkA slight correction: I mentioned in the show that Mark Twain only worked on one play in his lifetime, called 'Is He Dead?'. That might have been his only solo attempt, but he did try many years earlier to pen one in collaboration with Bret Harte. The play, called "Ah Sin: The Heathen Chinee", opened and closed in 1877. It was an unmitigated flop and a total creative failure. He worked on another collaborative play called "Cap'n Wheeler" the next year.Dinner at Delmonico's with a few of his closest friends (or at least his fanciest ones) at a celebration for Mark Twain's 70th birthday.Smoking in bed: Twain's two favorite places to do business in his Fifth Avenue home was at the pool table and in bed. This wasn't laziness; in fact, during his final years in the city, the author was constantly out on the town, oftentimes as a guest of honor or featured speaker. He deserved a little time off his feet. (Pic NYPL)A menacing Mark Twain behind his pool table. (I'm not sure whether this is the Fifth Avenue townhouse or his place in Redding, Connecticut.) Due to his white suit and the photographic process in the 1900s, the writer often looks ghostly and pale.This extraordinary video is pretty much the only moving images we have of Mark Twain, taken by Thomas Edison in 1909 at Clemens new home Stormfield, in Redding, CT. It'll give you some idea of Twain's appearance when he lived in New York the year previous. If you're a fan of walking tours -- and why shouldn't you be? -- there's a interesting tour led by author Peter Salwen specializing in Mark Twain's New York. You can check out their website for more infromation.For more general information on the life of Mark Twain, I recommend some of the books I used as sources for this show, including Ron Power's fantastic 'Mark Twain: A Life', Michael Sheldon's 'Man In White: The Grand Adventure Of His Final Years' and, of course, the massive, labyrinthine first volume of The Autobiography Of Mark Twain.And finally, here's a map of some locations pivotal to Mark Twain's life in New York -- places where he lived and lectured. And you can see, he certainly got around!http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=881by David Farley (RSS feed) on Dec 13th 2010 at 10:00AM When I was young, my dad liked to narrate Santa Claus' travels to me on Christmas Eve. I'd hang on his every word as he'd announce, just after dinner, "Welp, Santa should be pulling into China right now." A few hours later, around 9 p.m. St. Nick would reportedly be in Australia, and by 11 p.m., about the time I'd go to bed, dad would inform me that Santa had made the jump to Europe. California, it always seemed, was his last stop. But I know better now: China? Santa Claus wouldn't go to China! If I'd been in college at that point, I would have called my dad a cultural imperialist. In fact, Santa doesn't even visit every European country. At least not in theory, though he's knocking on the door. There are a scores of Christmas rituals that don't involve ol' St. Nick. And in general, yuletide traditions across the Atlantic usually involve one main thing: stuffing the face. Here are some of the top non Santa Claus European Christmas traditions. [Photo by Feuillu via Flickr] Roman Holiday Before the year 312, when Roman emperor Constantine made it official-that the small, but growing cult of Christianity would be officially tolerated within the empire and its ardent followers would stop being fed to the lions in the Coliseum-December 25 was known as Saturnalia, a winter solstice celebration. The burgeoning Church then cleverly decided to plop their own holidays on top of the pagan ones (it's worth noting that Easter-celebrating the resurrection of Christ-occurs during a pagan holiday, honoring the onset of spring, the rebirth of nature), thus ensuring an easy transition for new converts. Christmas was born. But oddly enough, the world center for Catholicism isn't filled with the yuletide frenzy often found in, say, Boston or Baton Rouge. Rome's version is a low key event, punctuated by a mix of traditional religious settings and, as you might guess, a lot of food. Meat is technically forbidden, so fish is almost always served, sometimes it's a traditional dish is capitone, a large female eel, roasted or fried. Yum! After dinner, most Romans stroll through the historic center, popping into various churches to check out the ornate nativity scenes that have been set up for the occasion. Midnight mass is usually an obligatory event for Romans. On Christmas day, gifts are swapped next to the Christmas tree (some presents even come from Santa himself), and sweets are nibbled on. Panitone, a sweet bread that contains candied fruit, is a favorite. So are pastries with nuts and almonds, a peasant folk custom alleging that eating nuts favors the fertility of the earth and aids in the increase of flocks and families. But the celebrating doesn't end on December 25. The Feast of the Epiphany on January 6, which is the twelfth day after Christmas, can be maddening chaos if you're on Rome's Piazza Navona. As the story goes, the old witch, La Bafana, brings presents to good children while bad ones are left with a lump of coal. Today, however, all children are rewarded, as the "coal" is a black rock candy that tastes great. Oh, About That Sweet Golden Pig in Your Living Room North of the Alps, Czech holiday celebrations may not involve witches and fried eels, but there's something just as seemingly drug-induced. Traditionally, Czechs fast on Christmas Eve (which, by the way, is on December 23; Christmas is December 24). If a Czech has fasted properly, he or she will be rewarded with a heavenly vision: a golden pig. That's right. Accompanied by a chorus of angels and dazzling light from above, a golden pig mysteriously appears in the living rooms of meat-famished Czechs on the night before Christmas. The next day, when the family sits down for a long meal, turkey or even ham is not the center piece of the meal. It's fish, and not just any old fish. They eat carp. The fish we've relegated to inedible riverbed shit scavengers is actually quite tasty if prepared the right way. The real fun, however, is the week before Christmas, when massive plastic tubs full of live carp appear on every street corner in cities around the Czech Republic. If you want, the grizzly man working the corner will take his machete-like knife and slaughter the fish right there in front of you, letting the insides fall into the gutter. But it's preferred that you take the fish home alive and let it swim around in the bathtub until Christmas arrives. The meat is fresher that way. Santa vs. Baby Jesus Over the centuries, the Czech lands have been invaded by Papal armies, Austrians, Germans, and Russians. They've had Catholicism and Communist forced upon them, and in a violent way. As a result, the Czechs have become largely suspicious of foreign ideologies, including religion. In fact, about a decade ago almost fifty percent of Czechs claimed to be atheist on a recent census. The anomaly is Jezicek, or "Little Jesus." Despite their irreverence for all things Jesus-like, the main event on Christmas day is marked by a visit from Little Jesus, who rings his bell after he has come and left presents under the Christmas tree. Lately though, Jezicek has had some competition in the gift-giving business. Each year since the 1989 Velvet Revolution, which ushered the Soviets out of the country and American businesses in, Santa Claus has become increasingly present in the month of December. It's a celebrity death match of sorts: Jezicek vs. Santa Claus, with baby Jesus "the bell ringer" Christ being the odds-on favorite to KO Santa "the death cause" Claus in the first round. At least that's what Prague resident Stan Vitecek believes. "I just don't see it happening here," he said. "Jezicek persevered through communism, despite the authorities' disapproval of anything religious. In the end, Jezicek will stay." Hey, Fat Stomach Next door, in Germany, the Christmas landscape becomes a virtual candyland for adults. Rivers turn to wine, animals speak to each other, tree blossoms bear fruit, mountains open up to reveal precious gems, and church bells can be heard ringing from the bottom of the sea. There's another name for it: drinking too much. Which is exactly what a lot of Germans do on Dickbauch, or "Fat Stomach," known to the rest of us as Christmas Eve. Tradition states that if you don't become a Dickbauch on December 24 by eating and drinking as much as possible, demons will haunt you during the night. To ensure a proper night's sleep, most Germans spare no expense, hauling out the suckling pig, jellied pigs feet, umpteen varieties of sausage, and a myriad of sweets. Remember, being a Dickbauch is a good thing, so the next time you see a fat German man, don't be afraid to pat him on the belly and tell him what he is! On Christmas day, the stuffing of the face doesn't stop: roast goose, Christstollen (long loaves of bread bursting with nuts, raisins, and lemon), lebkuchen (spice bars), marzipan, and Dresden stollen (a moist, heavy bread filled with fruit), are just some of the delights eaten by Germans as they sit around the Christmas tree drinking wine retrieved from the nearest river. This Christmas I'll know better when my dad tells me that Santa has just pulled his sleigh into the Czech Republic. I'll say, "Santa doesn't go to the Czech Republic. It's Jezicek, you stupid Dickbauch! http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=882Nagoya Friends is holding it's 99th party in Nagoya! Date: SATURDAY December 18th, 2010 Time: 18:00 - 21:00 Drinks will be served between 6:00pm-8:45pm. Place: The Red Rock (2F Aster Plaza Building, 4-14-6 Sakae, Nagoya (very close to Sakae Station) Fee: 3000 yen Dress code: Anything (Casual, etc) Reservations: Not necessary but recommended and appreciated. Just show up to the party! Over 25,000 Yen worth of exciting prize giveaways each month! Santa's bringing lots of presents. 10 presents!! A bread maker, a health check scale, bottles of wine and much more! See if Santa brought you anything!! There will be free food along with free drinks (beers, wine, cocktail drinks and juices). Our party is not a dinner party, but we will have light food andamp; snacks. Quantities are limited, so please come early! Please free to come alone or bring your friends. EVERYBODY is welcome to join regardless of nationality/gender. Reservation is greatly appreciated. About 125-150+ people are expected to attend. Approximately 55% female and 45% male, 70% Japanese and 30% non-Japanese. Pictures from previous Nagoya Friends Parties. Map andamp; Directions Contact: 080-3648-1666(Japanese) 080-5469-6317(English) Get off at Sakae Station [Exit #13] The Red Rock (2F Aster Plaza Building, 4-14-6 Sakae, Nagoya (very close to Sakae Station) The Red Rock is located behind the Chunichi Building in the Sakae business/shopping district. Subway access from Sakae Station (serving the yellow and purple lines) Exit 13. It's a big station connected to a huge underground shopping mall so you'll need to do a little underground walking. We're also just a couple of minutes' walk from the Tokyu and Precede hotels, and a 10 minute walk up Hirokoji Street from the Hilton Hotel in Fushimi. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=883 December 9, 2010 EUROPE | FRANCE | PARIS A Bonaparteandrsquo;s Palace Reborn By Nicole Cotroneo Shangri-La debuts in Paris with a boutique hotel fit for a prince. On December 17, Shangri-La opens its first property in Paris, which is also its first in Europe. And it seems theyandrsquo;re staking their claim on the continent Napoleon-style: with a hotel thatandrsquo;s small in size but exceedingly grand. The most intimate of all 69 Shangri-La hotels, the Paris property was once the private home of Prince Roland Bonaparte, the grand-nephew of Napoleon. Built in 1896, the restored palace now has Empire-style interiors by designer Pierre-Yves Rochon (who worked on another little Paris hotel, the Four Seasons Hotel George V). With 81 rooms, including 27 suites, the hotelandrsquo;s most lavish quarters are rather difficult to choose. La Suite Imperiale was Rolandandrsquo;s private apartment and maintains opulent original moldings and high ceilings. It has a private dressing room and a balcony overlooking the Place dandrsquo;lena. Then thereandrsquo;s La Suite Panoramique, with a huge wraparound terrace capturing sweeping views of the Eiffel Tower and the Seine. Located near the Trocadero in the 16th arrondissement, Shangri-La Paris is just a short walk to the popular Christmas Market in the Jardins du Trocadero andmdash; a little holiday village with over a hundred stalls selling food and trinkets through December. Of course, in warmer months, youandrsquo;ll want to spend time in the hotelandrsquo;s own private gardens, designed by a star urban landscaper whoandrsquo;s also worked on the Tuileries and Trianon Palace. The gardens will have 1,500 plants, including andldquo;Asian exoticandrdquo; and rare species, inspired by Prince Rolandandrsquo;s own love of botany (he kept the worldandrsquo;s largest private herbarium, later relocated to Lyon). On a recent visit to New York, one of Shangri-Laandrsquo;s higher-ups told globorati they may never recover the money theyandrsquo;ve put into their Paris palace. Sounds like the kind of vanity project Napoleon would have approved. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=884 I've always said that if I could have any super power, it would be able to speak and read every language in the world. Well this app gets me a little bit closer. World Lens, which was released late last week by QuestVisual in the iTunes store, does real-time text-based translation. Point your phone at a menu, street sign, or any other block of text, and it will immediately translate the words, imposing them on top of the foreign language. Right now the app is free, with Spanish to English and English to Spanish dictionaries available for purchase at $4.99 each. The creators, who have worked for over two years to develop the technology, say that for now the app can only translate languages that have Latin characters, but they're hoping to move into non-Latin based languages in the future. Click through for a video of how the app works. What do you think of the app? Would you use it? http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=885 Seth Kugel for The New York Times The Minute Man statue at the North Bridge in Concord, Mass. When I was growing up in the Boston suburbs, we never gave the city much thought. It was good for a Red Sox game, the occasional school field trip to Paul Revereandrsquo;s house, and, in high school, the liquor stores that didnandrsquo;t card. (Wait, did I say that out loud?) Though Bostonandrsquo;s a great city to visit, we were partly right: the rest of the metropolitan area has enough attractions to be a destination unto itself. So this past weekend, I bunked with Mom and Dad and headed out on two great day trips into the burbs. I had built-in transportation: my parents drove on Saturday, and my high school friend Jon Chapman (a frequent Frugal Traveler companion) played chauffeur on Sunday. But you can rent a car quite cheaply andndash; I found weekend rentals listed for as little as $65 for via Hotwire, including tax but not insurance andndash; and the Sunday trip can easily be done via commuter rail for $10.50, round-trip. There was no Faneuil Hall or Freedom Trail, but I did pack in enough history over the weekend to challenge any five-time andldquo;Jeopardyandrdquo; champion. Saturday: Lexington and Concord Around 15 miles northwest of Boston, these two towns boast old-fashioned centers and historic houses that make them far more picturesque than your average subdivision. As a kid, I knew Lexington and Concord as places where we drove for soccer games, but it turns out some historic stuff happened in these towns, too. Like the first battles of the American Revolution. My parents and I made our first stop in Lexington, at the highly recommended, completely free and horribly named Scottish Rite Masonic Museum andamp; Library. Long known by its informal name, the (far more descriptive) National Heritage Museum, the Masons are pushing to publicize their role in funding and running the museum. That means very confusing signage, so be assured, itandrsquo;s one and the same place. Seth Kugel for The New York Times The 18th century home where the Minute Men gathered before the Battle of Lexington. Enlarge This Image Sowing the Seeds of Liberty: Lexington andamp; The American Revolution is a long-term exhibition that is the cornerstone of the museum, and, unlike the museum itself, is true to its name. It explains both the importance of agriculture in late-18th century Lexington and its role in the outbreak of the Revolution. That means items on view include everything from hobbles and bog shoes for horses to bayonets and fifes for Minute Men, along with great displays on the local events that led to American independence. (Like the warandrsquo;s first skirmish, the battles of Lexington and Concord as well as the Lexington Tea Bonfire, heard of it?) But the highlight (until May, anyway) is Treasured Lands, an exhibition of 58 photographs by the French-Vietnamese photographer Quang-Tuan Luong andndash; one of each the United Statesandrsquo;s 58 national parks. andldquo;Photos of National Parks andndash; I can get that on Flickr,andrdquo; you say? Not even close. Mr. Luongandrsquo;s large-format camera creates images of beaches and glaciers and deserts and waterfalls from American Samoa to Maine that were so astonishingly sharp and mesmerizing that my father was convinced there was some special 3-D technology involved. Thereandrsquo;s not: theyandrsquo;re just awesome photos. So awesome, in fact, you may regret your decision to visit a museum instead of one of the parks themselves. Seth Kugel for The New York Times Cider doughnuts for $3 a half-dozen at Wilson Farm. Our next stop was Wilson Farm, a gussied-up farm stand known across greater Boston for its produce and cider doughnuts. We bought fruit, bread, zingy chickpea salad, stuffed grape leaves, cider doughnuts and a caramel apple, all for about $15; it was way too much for lunch for three. Despite many places to picnic right in town, like the picturesque and historic Battle Green, we ate in the car. It was freezing. From there it was on to Concord and Minute Man National Historic Park, where we visited the North Bridge, the site of the 1775 andldquo;shot heard round the world,andrdquo; as the move by the colonists to engage the redcoats in the first battle of the American Revolution is called. We got there just as the sun was setting behind the bare-limbed trees andndash; a sunset that, had the revolution never happened, Iandrsquo;d have to refer to as colourful. Before heading home, we stopped off for an early dinner at Comellaandrsquo;s, a small, Boston-area Italian chain known for its low prices and its andldquo;family messesandrdquo; andndash; piles of whatever pasta is sitting around with whatever meat you want added to it. My father felt obliged to get the Grandpaandrsquo;s Mess (meatballs and sausage with zitti, $8). Since there was no Travel Writerandrsquo;s Mess, I was freed to order the eggplant parm sandwich ($5), and my mom got a caprese salad with grilled chicken ($9). The mess was fun and filling but way overcooked; the eggplant parm was mushy and awful; my mom won with the salad. We stretched the budget a bit to allow Comellaandrsquo;s to redeem itself with an excellent $9.99 banana peppers and sausage pizza. (The 16-inch cheese pizza is a true bargain, a $4.99 dinner for three.) Sunday: Witch-Free Salem Seth Kugel for The New York Times The wharves at Salem Maritime National Historic Site. Enlarge this Image The town of Salem, 20 miles north of Boston, has a four-century-old bad rap that is very good for tourism: back in 1692, 19 men and women were condemned to death at the Salem Witch Trials, leading to todayandrsquo;s slew of witch museums, witch shops and general witchmania. Jon and I arrived on Sunday to find many witch attractions closed for the winter and the streets virtually empty of tourists. So we spent a relaxing day focusing on equally interesting aspects of Salem that can fall by the wayside: its charming old New England architecture and its maritime history. On our ($5) tour of the preserved buildings of the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, we learned that in the late 18th century, Salem was the hub of the China trade, with schooners arriving at its many wharves with cargoes of pepper, cinnamon, fabric and, well, china from Asia. Our guide, ranger Martin Fucio, told us that customs duties collected at Salemandrsquo;s port at one point accounted for 5 percent of the federal governmentandrsquo;s budget. Salemandrsquo;s glory days helped finance a trove of amazing buildings that you can tour with an architectural map from the Salem Visitors Center in the center of town; we spent another $5 on a tour of one home on that map, Phillips House, built in 1821 and restored to how it was furnished by the family, who moved there in 1911. While most historic houses are filled with what historians think must have been there, the Phillips family home is filled mostly with the familyandrsquo;s actual possessions, down to the Maori oars collected by Stephen Phillips on trips to the Orient and the board games used by the Phillipsandrsquo;s only child, Stevie. Thereandrsquo;s an old school ice box, all the good china, and even a menu from one of their frequent formal dinners, which in this case included orange fairy fluff for dessert. Our biggest splurge of the day was $15 for entry to the Peabody Essex Museum, a big city treat in a small town, a mammoth museum combining maritime art and local history (from paintings to sextants to an original copy of the Massachusetts Bay Charter) with an Asian art collection that dates back to the townandrsquo;s connection with the China trade. Its precursor, the East India Marine Society, was founded in 1799. Seth Kugel for The New York Times Lunch at the Aandamp;J King Artisan Bakers in Salem. The meals that Jon and I shared werebetter than the ones I had with my parents: for lunch, we had $7.50 sandwiches on crusty baguettes at Aandamp;J King Artisan Bakers, which sells a great array of gourmet sodas from New England companies (Jon had the Spindrift sparkling grapefruit, and I had the ginger beer from Maine Root). And we ate very well at dinner. So well, in fact, that when I first pointed out the restaurant, a locavore haven called the Green Land Cafandeacute;, to Jon, he said andldquo;Pretty fancy for the Frugal Traveler, wouldnandrsquo;t you say?andrdquo; Indeed, but I had cashed in a Restaurant.com gift certificate for $25 off dinner (price: $4.50), so we ended up having wild mushroom and goat cheese flatbread, tapas like Nantucket scallops with bacon and beef short ribs, and a Foret organic beer from Belgiumandrsquo;s Brasserie Dupont brewery. Once all was said and done and taxed and tipped, we had eaten $60 dinner for $39.50. Iandrsquo;ll have to get into Restaurant.comandrsquo;s pitfalls in a future column, but I donandrsquo;t set foot in many upscale restaurants in this job, so no complaints here. Still, we did not manage to completely avoid the witchy theme around town. We had made a predinner beer stop at none other than the Witchandrsquo;s Brew Cafandeacute;, a cozy local bar near the water where a local crowd was watching football. Despite the name, there was no trace of potions or sorcery or hexes, unless you count the spellbinding Boston accent of our bahtendah, er, bartender. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=886 12► andldquo;In Spain and Europe, even middle class people are proud to spend their money on the best, fresh food from farmers and fisherman. But too many people here (read: Americans) have gotten spoiled and now want everything cheap.andrdquo; So says Josandeacute; Andrandeacute;s (arguably the chef with the most food cred in America right now) to me as we discuss the most remarkable restaurant to open in Las Vegas in the past five years. Essentially, that restaurant is his competition andmdash; sitting as it does a stoneandrsquo;s throw from Jaleo (his just-opened spot) across the third floor of The Cosmopolitan andmdash; in what will soon be called The Ultimate Gourmet Food Court by every gastronome in America. Our conversation about Estiatorio Milos is taking place while Josandeacute; is (literally) dashing to and fro, kibbitzing with customers, gently berating waiters, and rushing by my spot at the tapas bar to (literally) pop the occasional deep fried quail egg with artichoke or molecular olive into my mouth. The effect is like to trying to interview Andrandeacute;s Iniesta during a soccer match, but in between his Spanish-flecked patter and good natured ribbing of the restaurant writer, he is full of admiration for what Costas Spiliadis is doing across the hall. andldquo;When you consider the freshness and quality he is bringing to the table, his prices arenandrsquo;t really that high at all,andrdquo; Andrandeacute;s offers, as he cuts up a quickly-fried egg for me and mixes it with Spanish caviar. andldquo;It is the way people who care about what they eat do around the world. Americans just need to be taught.andrdquo; What heandrsquo;s referring to is the conceit that underlies both his restaurant and Milos andmdash; that of exquisite food meant to be shared. Both restaurants eschew the andldquo;Iandrsquo;ll have the Dover soleandrdquo; form of ordering in favor of making the ordering and eating of everything a communal experience. While Jaleo may trumpet its wacky, fabulous tapas served in a blizzard of small plates, Milos, as befitting the standard bearer for the culture that founded Western Civilization, prefers a more formal approach. Both restaurants are best experienced in groups of 3-6 andmdash; the better to enjoy a variety of the bounty they offer, and at Milos, itandrsquo;s also the best way to get the most bang for your buck. Consider this: a whole, 3 pound fish will run your table around $150. (They donandrsquo;t serve fillets here, believing rightly, that flavor and freshness is lost by cutting up a fish before it is cooked.) Split two ways, both the cost and the amount of fish is more than an average couple would want. Bring one or two more hungry souls to the table, though, and that pristine pisces now costs no more than the average strip steak. The same holds true for the appetizers and salads. The Eipirotaki salad andmdash; a major mound of sliced cabbage dotted with dill, Blue des Causses, and orange slices andmdash; seems expensive at $16.50, but not if you split it four waysandhellip;and there is plenty to feed four. Thus are all items on this menu made for a table of at least three adults, making the price/person more than reasonable andmdash; especially in the realm of high-end dining with such impeccable provisions. Andrandeacute;s wonandrsquo;t be the only one praising of Milosandrsquo; food the first time you bite into a perfect piece of charred, slightly chewy octopus, or dip your lightly fried eggplant into a tzatziki sauce from another planet. Paper thin, fried zucchini accompany the eggplant in the andldquo;Milos Special,andrdquo; along with cubes of Graviera cheese saganaki. Crunch, cheese, yogurt and vegetables effectively becoming a celebration of all that is good and holy about the Mediterranean diet. Follow these with a platter of four spreads (tzatziki, fava, lemony hummus, and a silky taramosalata) and youandrsquo;ll start getting with the Peloponnese program. That program consists of a deceptively simple, two page menu, with eleven appetizers on the left side, five salads and vegetables on the right, two Creekstone Farms steaks, Gleason Ranch lamb chops, and a single heading that says simply: From The Sea. Under that heading are the entries: Fish in Sea Salt, and Astakomakaronada (an Athenean lobster pasta for two that will set you back a cool $120). But the deliciousness of this place is in the fine print at the bottom of the menu, that refers you to Milosandrsquo; display andmdash; the huge fish/seafood/vegetable counter against the far wall, beside the open kitchen, where the dayandrsquo;s catch and bounty is displayed for you to peruse and choose from. Before you get to them, though, one appetizer is mandatory: avgotaraho aikieroto, aka bottarga andmdash; the famed roe of the Mediterranean grey mullet. One of the worldandrsquo;s great delicacies, you will neither find nor taste a better version of this briny, nutty, haunting essence of the sea. Not a bad deal for thirty-two dollars. Of the whole fish, they beckon to you like Poseidonandrsquo;s soldiers, begging to be eaten so their sacrifice was not in vain. After you are seated, your waiter will ask if youandrsquo;d like to view the display andmdash; a cagey marketing move bent on capturing an already captive audience andmdash; and will take you through the pedigree of each fish as if each were a personal friend. Clear-eyed with glistening skin, each species is a wonder of the edible ocean so prized by seafood aficionados. Order the lavraki (aka loup de mer) roasted under a crust of Mediterranean sea salt (yes, even the salt comes from a certain supplier prized by Spiliadis), and you will get the whole show from Executive Chef Pericles Koskinas as he carefully chips away the crust, then rolls back that skin without breaking it, before portioning out the dense-but-soft, fragrant flesh. A few capers and a lemon/olive oil emulsion of unmatched intensity is all you need to appreciate your piece of perfection. Most of these swimmers are also offered raw, crudo-style, and while the presentation wonandrsquo;t make any sushi chef jealous, the sparkling fineness of the meat will have you questioning what you ever saw in tuna tartare. Landlubbers will feel right at home as well, since the provenance of the lamb chops (Gleason Ranch Sonoma) and the beef (Creekstone Farms) is as impeccable as their seasoning and roasting. We were lying in the weeds for those chops, expecting the same old, denuded, tasteless lamb that has become de rigeur in American restaurants ever since New Zealand figured out a way to sell lamb by making it taste like de-natured beef. Instead, a big platter of chops arrived (again, enough for four), just to the medium side of rare andmdash; instead of the other way around andmdash; best showcasing their intense, lamb-ness. There is a serene elegance to Milos that strikes as soon as you enter the low-ceilinged, softly lit space, and continues throughout every refined, discriminating ingredient and taste placed before you. From a simple plate of lemon-grilled heli (eel) to the sweetest, thickest, creamiest goats milk yogurt circled with the best, thyme-infused honey you have ever tasted, this cuisine walks the walk of the best ingredients treated with the utmost respect. It is the way Greeks have always eaten. It is the way everyone should eat. ELV tried to pay twice for each of his meals, but was denied the privilege. He left $140 in tips instead. ESTIATORIO MILOS In The Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. South Las Vegas, NV 89109 702.698.7930 www.estiatoriomilos.comhttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=895Now 2010 is safely behind us, we can take a look back at the ten best tech products to hit store shelves in the past 12 months. And what a 12 months it has been - Android rose to new heights, the iPad became a (totally expected) instant success and more airlines than ever offer inflight Wi-Fi on their entire fleet. T'is a good time to be a traveling geek.2011 will probably put 2010 to shame, but until those new gadgets actually appear, lets look back at the ten tech products that we consider to be the best of the year. Apple iPadIn 2010, Apple once again did what they do best - they delivered a product that started a revolution. There is no denying that the iPad has changed how we travel, much like the netbook did several years before.But perhaps more importantly than the iPad itself is how it has triggered a new wave of tablets from competitors. Nothing has come close to knocking the iPad off the top spot yet, but 2011 will undoubtedly be an amazing year for the tablet computer.Product page: ApplePrice: From $499T-Mobile MyTouch 4GLaunched towards the end of 2010 with an aggressive ad campaign featuring a sexy new spokesperson, the Android powered MyTouch 4G can easily be considered one of the best Android phones ever made.For travelers, the phone is close to perfect - with Wi-Fi calling built in, 3G compatible video calls and a pretty decent 5 megapixel/HD video camera - and with a price tag under $200, it is a hard package to beat.Product page: T-MobilePrice: $199 (on a new 2 year agreement)Jawbone JAMBOX Bluetooth speakerThe days of traveling with 12 D cell batteries and a massive ghetto-blaster may be long gone, but the desire for music on the road is still there. The JAMBOX was designed by Jawbone, who made a name for themselves with their amazing Bluetooth headsets. By combining their Bluetooth knowledge with the audio skills of Dr. Godehard Guenther, Jawbone created one of the best portable speakers on the market.Sure, you won't be found walking down the street with this on your shoulder, but pop it out of its (included) case and you'll be able to fill your hotel room or conference room with some amazing audio. Then, when work calls, use the JAMBOX to hold a conference call.Product page: JawbonePrice: $199Windows Phone 7 / HTC HD7Talk about a complete surprise... After years of outdated and disappointing new releases, Microsoft sat down to create a brand new mobile operating system, built from the ground up. Windows Phone 7 entered the market two years after Android and three years after the first iPhone - putting it at a distinct disadvantage. But in every possible way, the operating system delivers. It is snappy, has over 5000 great apps and comes on a variety of great hardware. Time will tell whether Microsoft can get a decent momentum going on its sales, but as things stand right now, they earned themselves a well deserved spot in this top ten.One of the first phones to feature Windows Phone 7 is the HTC HD7 on T-Mobile. Based loosely off the Windows 6 powered HD2, the HD7 features a brilliant kickstand, massive display and 5 megapixel camera with LED flash.Product page: T-Mobile HD7Price: $199 (on a new 2 year agreement)Toshiba Portege R705Since a lot of travelers still need to get some real work done, not everything on the road can be handed off to a tablet computer.This is where the impressive Toshiba Portege R705 can help - despite weighing just a little over three pounds, the R705 features a DVD player, desktop grade processor power and a great keyboard. Match it with a price tag under $900, and you'll see why it grabbed itself a well deserved spot in this chart.Product page: ToshibaPrice: From $899Briggs andamp; Riley BRX Explore 22" UprightIn 2010, luggage maker Briggs andamp; Riley introduced the BRX line - and for the first time, adventure travelers gained access to a full assortment of luggage, without having to settle for a rigid frame backpack or cheap duffel. The BRX bags are designed to be lightweight, rigid and suitable for global travel.From their lineup, we picked the Explore 22 Upright as the best piece of luggage of 2010 - because it lets you travel with a bag that doesn't scream "business traveler" yet still allows you to drag it through the mud.The bag is semi-rigid, which allows for a decent amount of over-packing without having to worry about the overhead compartment. But best of all, the features also work the other way around - if you are not exactly the type of traveler who likes to roam the world, the Explore 22 Upright does everything a business class bag can do, without looking like you are on your way to a PowerPoint convention.Product page: Briggs andamp; Riley BRXPrice: $299Technocel Battery BoostThis tiny gadget took us completely by surprise - we've reviewed countless battery booster packs, but none of them were as well designed as the little Technocel battery booster.Inside this key chain mountable pack is a 500mAh battery, a MicroUSB cord, a retractable USB charger plug and a MicroSD memory card reader. Slap a $24 price tag on it, and you have yourself what could very well become your best friend when on the road.Product page: Sprint online storePrice: $23.99ZAGGsparq 2 500mAh from the Technocel not enough juice for you? Then consider the ZAGGsparq 2. With its folding AC prongs, international power compatibility and dual USB charger ports, the 6000mAh battery pack inside the ZAGGsparq has the capacity to keep your (smart) phone going for up to a week.In its 2010 2.0 update, the Sparq received a high-power charger port, capable of powering the iPad or any other power hungry device.Griffin Technology Travel StandThis is one gadget I can't stop recommending to people. With no batteries, lights, buttons and just one moving part, the Griffin Travel Stand is the ultimate in easy to use gadgetry.When folded shut, the stand holds and protects your headphones, and once opened, you'll find the perfect movie watching stand for your iPhone or other mobile device. Best of all, with a price tag under $10, you have virtually no excuse not to pick one up.Product page: Griffin TechnologyPrice: $9.99Joby Gorillatorch SwitchbackIn 2010, flexible tripod maker Joby started making the transition into other gadgets. By adding flashlights and device stands, they expanded their already popular lineup into an assortment of great travel accessories.Towards the end of the year, they announced the Switchback The brilliant design of the Switchback turns an ultra bright 3-LED headlamp into a lantern. Top the design off with an included flexible tripod, and you end up with one of the smartest lights on the market.Product page: JobyPrice: $59.95http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=900 Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world, located on the Beagle Channel at the tip of Argentina. This sleepy town is quaint and friendly, maintaining an almost untouched feel to itandndash; though, of course, it sees millions of tourists every year. There are several activities to keep you occupied in Ushuaia for a few days, whether you want to bum around town or get out into the wilderness. Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego is a must-see if you visit Ushuaia. Among several ways to access the park is El Tren del Fin del Mundo, which was used way back in the day by Ushuaia prisoners who worked in the forests. The ride on the whole is unexciting but still worth doing, if for no other reason than to say you took the Train to the End of the World. There are also city buses that will take you to the park, or you can hire a taxi to drop you off and pick you up at the end of your excursion. Planning a trip to the park requires making a few decisions: Do you want to camp? Do you want to hike? Do you prefer to see all that the park has to offer from the comforts of a minivan with a multilingual tour guide? There are several options, so youandrsquo;ll want to investigate each before heading over there. We had just come from a strenuous hike in Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, so we opted for the guided van tour. Some may see this as a cop-out, but we actually found it to be the most cost- and time-efficient way to see the entire park. Plus, with a knowledgeable guide, we had the pleasure of learning exactly what we were looking at. The tour ran from nine in the morning until about three in the afternoon, giving us ample time to enjoy the park. Most tour companies will offer a two options: just transfer to and from the park, or transfer plus a fully-guided tour within the park. If you would like to take the Tren del Fin del Mundo, your guide will drop you off at the train and meet you inside the park when you disembark. Within the Tierra del Fuego national park, youandrsquo;ll learn about all the most important flora and fauna, as well as some interesting tidbits like how the province got its name. This area is also known for its Magellanic penguin colonies. Though the largest colonies are located a bit north along the Strait of Magellan, there are some in the region that reach the thousands. If youandrsquo;d like to see these little tuxedo-wearing guys waddle around a bit, you have a few options. Your best bet is to do the andldquo;Walk with the Penguinsandrdquo; tour, which is pretty accurate in nameandndash; you literally walk, hang, chill, lay down, do whatever with the penguins. If youandrsquo;re pressed for time and/or cash, you can take a boat tour that gets you close to the shore, but doesnandrsquo;t allow you to disembark. Definitely not as fun, but still an option. If youandrsquo;re not into well-dressed birds, fear notandhellip; thereandrsquo;s a tour for you, too. A Beagle Channel boat tour will take you the the Isla de Los Lobos, where hundreds of sea lions lounge lazily for your photo-taking pleasure. On these tours you also can visit the Ushuaia historic lighthouse, as well as the sea birds island. If you spend some time in Ushuaia, you MUST stay at Freestyle Backpackersandrsquo; Hostel. Rasta Max will greet you with a hug and welcome you to the fam, and then leave you to relax in the airy common room. With hotel-like accommodations, you really canandrsquo;t go wrong here. The people are great, breakfast is hearty, and the place is comfy and clean. Ushuaia is also a popular departure point for many trips to Antarctica, though itandrsquo;ll cost you a pretty penny. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=899new hotels andcopy; Hotel 7 Eiffel Handocirc;tel 7 EiffelHotel 7 Eiffel is perfectly situated between Les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower in Parisandrsquo;s 7th Arrondissement. The 32 guest rooms are decorated in subtly hued luxe textiles with modern furnishings and diffused lighting from Italian designers. Amenities include large dressing closets, MP3 docks, individually controlled air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi and even a laptop computer available to borrow. Guests can enjoy cake prepared by chic patisserie Hugo andamp; Victor in the lounge bar between 4 and 6 p.m. Relax on the lovely rooftop terrace, where breakfast can be enjoyed over views of the Paris skyline. Rates begin at 270 euros. Le Meliandaacute; Colbert Boutique HotelLocated in the lively Latin Quarter, Le Meliandaacute; Colbert has recently renovated its rooms. The hotel itself, which is housed within a magnificent 19th-century building, is steps away from Notre Dame and the Seine. The hotelandrsquo;s 39 rooms now reflect a bright minimalist atmosphere with a neutral palette of taupes, creams, grays, black and white, set against wood furniture. Hotel guests can take advantage of Wi-Fi in the lobby, laundry and dry-cleaning and the hotelandrsquo;s bar. If youandrsquo;re looking for something extra special, book the Grand Suite, which offers stunning views of Notre Dame. Rates from 175 euros. hot shopping The January SalesThe soldes are here! The soldes are here! This year the winter sales run from January 12 to February 15, 2011. Clothing, accessories and home furnishings will be on sale at boutiques and department stores all over the city. Shopaholics should grab a free copy of the helpful Paris Shopping Book at any of the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureauandlsquo;s welcome stations or at participating retailers and hotels. Or you can download a copy online. The book is chock-full of info, including suggested shopping itineraries geared toward your personal styleandmdash;creative, trendy, ethnic or bobo-chic. Get the free soldes iPhone app, produced by Digi-Guide for the Paris tourist bureau. New in the 9th: John LobbCustom shoemaker John Lobb opened his Paris workshop on rue de Mogador in the 9th. The high-end bespoke service includes custom foot measurements and the choice of leather, style, finish, toe shape, sole and the kind of minute detailing that makes each pair unique and perfectly suited to your feet. The entire process involves about 40andndash;50 hours of work and can take up to two months. First-timersandrsquo; shoes will be custom-made from a hand-carved wooden last. new for jet-setters andcopy; Albany Tim http://www.flickr.com/photos/albany_tim/ Though Paris has its fair share of lovely summits with stunning views, nothing can quite compare to Paris from the sky. If you have ever dreamed of a helicopter tour of the city, youandrsquo;re in luck! French Adventures offers private heli-tours of Paris, Versailles and other parts of France, including Normandy, Bordeaux, Loire Valley and Provence. Weandrsquo;re partial to the Sunset Tour of Paris, accompanied by champagne, and the Best Castles of Paris tour, which takes you over Versailles, Fontainebleau, Chantilly and Vaux le Vicomte. new museums and exhibitions Musandeacute;e du Luxembourg ReopeningThe long-awaited reopening of the Musandeacute;e du Luxembourg is set for February 9, 2011. After being closed for more than a year and undergoing a renovation by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, the museum will inaugurate a new reception area and renewed public services. The opening will be marked by Franceandrsquo;s first exhibition dedicated to the German Renaissance painter Lucas Cranach. The show, which runs through May 23, 2011, will feature many of the artistandrsquo;s portraits and female figures. Musandeacute;e des Arts Dandeacute;coratifs: andldquo;The Ideal History of Contemporary Fashion Vol. IIandrdquo;Fashionistas looking to relive contemporary fashionandrsquo;s recent past shouldnandrsquo;t miss this show at the Musandeacute;e des Arts Dandeacute;coratifs. This second installment of the exhibition, which runs through May 8, 2011, showcases designers including Helmut Lang, John Galliano and Vivienne Westwood from 1990 through 2000. Musandeacute;e Maillol: andldquo;The Treasures of the Mandeacute;dicisandrdquo;The Musandeacute;e Maillol plays host to a special exhibition dedicated to one of the most powerful families in history: the Mandeacute;dicis. On view through February 13, 2011, the show includes more than 150 works and objects covering antiques, paintings, poetry, music, jewelry, furnishings and decorative arts. Some of the grander pieces include an ancient bronze horseandrsquo;s head, a 17th-century ivory sundial, portraits of the French queens Catherine and Marie and even a delicate gold filigree cradleandmdash;a wedding gift to one of the Mandeacute;dicis women. Grand Marchandeacute; dandrsquo;Art ContemporainArt enthusiasts will flock to Bercy Village for the annual art fair Grand Marchandeacute; dandrsquo;Art Contemporain, which takes place from January 27 to 30, 2011. More than 150 artists from France and abroad, including painters, sculptors and photographers, will display their best artwork at La Halle Freyssinet in the 13th. Many Bercy restaurants and food stalls will stay open during the event to offer art admirers a chance to sample their cuisine. hot paris reads The Little Black Book of ParisThe 2011 edition of The Little Black Book of Paris is on bookshelves now. This popular guidebook is sleek, portable and boasts a user-friendly color-coding system. Because of its spiral binding, the book folds flat, which is a welcome feature in a travel guide. It contains full-color maps and illustrations and points you to landmarks, mid- to high-end foodie haunts, chic shops and after-dark hotspots. Doesnandrsquo;t every Francophile gal need a little black book of Paris? hot happenings Soldes Special: CyclobulleTo coincide with the semiannual soldes, Cyclobulle is offering free rides to the Eiffel Tower in its signature electric-powered covered tricycles. From January 12 to 15, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., you can discover the lights of Paris on a tour through the streets as you visit the Concorde, Opandeacute;ra and the Champs Elysandeacute;es. Just meet up at the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau reception area at 25, rue des Pyramides, in the 1st. Paris Fashion WeekDesigners, models, celebs, stylists and journalists are descending on the city forParis Fashion Week (January 24 to 27, 2011). The invitation-only events include fashion shows at venues all over the city showcasing the Womenandrsquo;s haute couture spring/summer 2011 collections from designers such as Chanel, Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Valentino and Elie Saab. Though you may not be on the guest list, parking yourself at a nearby cafandeacute; during the shows guarantees you an amazing people- and paparazzi-watching experience. Editorandrsquo;s note: Try the Girlsandrsquo; Guide concierge service if you want to have everything taken care of for you while you are in Paris, for surprisingly reasonable rates.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=902 Interesting to see Italy at number 5 in InternationalLiving.com's annual ranking of the best countries for retirees. They ranked and rated 25 countries in eight categories to come up with the worldandrsquo;s top places to retire, taking facts and figures from a huge range of sources. Here's the top 10:1. Ecuador - 812. Panama - 803. Mexico - 794. France - 785. Italy - 786. Uruguay - 777. Malta - 768. Chile - 769. Spain - 7510. Costa Rica - 75 For the full list check out InternationalLiving.com's websitehttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=896f Birds eye view of the markets in Soho Discover Hong Kong. Itandrsquo;s the official travel slogan for Hong Kong and something that I held close to my heart during my time in Hong Kong. Itandrsquo;s my second time visiting Hong Kong, but itandrsquo;s also the first time Iandrsquo;ve gone on holidays alone and in a way itandrsquo;s exhilarating to know that I have full freedom in deciding what to do. In the end, my time in Hong Kong can be whittled down to a handful of activities. Walking Eating Walking Shopping Walking Photography and yes, Walking On my most active day I ended up walking around Hong Kong from 10am to 1am the following day! But oh, the things I saw. And ate! Fresh Food Markets This is a town infamous for the quality of its designer knockoffs, but for me the true street appeal was the food markets. I lost count of the number of times I turned a street corner utterly lost only to be confronted with a street full of locals and side stand markets! The produce is a dizzying array of colour arranged artfully in trays, hanging from hooks or thrust in faces as the crowds pass through. Seeing all the food makes me wish for access to a kitchen, but I console myself with the occasional fruity snack and photo. Tung Choi Goldfish St, Yuen Po Street Bird Garden, Flower Market Road Away from the glamor of the massive shopping malls I find myself in a bizarre world on Tung Choi St where goldfish float serenely in plastic bags, baby turtles are climbing on top of one another clamoring for my attention. Mere blocks away Iandrsquo;m in a bird like paradise on Yuen Po Street where the elderly grandfathers are affectionately walking their pet birds in their cages and the gorgeous array of flowers on Flower Market Rd make me wish for an excuse to buy just one. Lanterns on the alleyways of Soho The alleyways of the Soho distracting are alluring and quickly become one of my favourite areas to simply walk around in. During the day itandrsquo;s a confusing tangle of uphill streets and cars but at night the street markets suddenly turn on in a burst of light pulling me in like a moth to the flame. Victoria Harbour's lightshow But of course, I canandrsquo;t let a visit to Hong Kong go without visiting the Victoria Harbour Symphony of lights. A free nightly show put on at 8pm, itandrsquo;s a laser spectacular that attracts the families and tourists and on this night the promenade is packed out. Lasting just over 15 minutes itandrsquo;s a visually gorgeous display that sees the lights on the skyline buildings flicker in a musically choreographed show. After a few minutes I begin to feel like Iandrsquo;m trapped in the middle of an 80andprime;s movie credit reel but itandrsquo;s something that has to be seen to be believed. But while I feasted with my eyes, it was my stomach that was rewarded the most! The Square, Nathan Road Novotel Buffet Breakfast The Square serves up a buffet style breakfast for its guests in the morning with a curious mixture of western and eastern elements. The dumplings and sausage hit the spot, although the bacon is typically buffet style limp but what really kicks me awake is the piping hot tea that slowly brings me back to civilisation. Nathan Congee andamp; Noodles Pig's Liver My primary eating Partner-in-Crime is Boo, sheandrsquo;s an astonishingly organised traveller whose notepad is never far from her grasp. The sheer amount of stuff she knows about food never stops to astound me and the first place she takes me to is Nathan Congee andamp; Noodles, located very conveniently across the road from our hotel. I have a second of hesitation when she asks me quickly if I have any problems eating Pigandrsquo;s liver first thing in the morning, but what the hell! Theyandrsquo;re delicately soft with none of the thickly cloying sensation I usually associate with liver, I eat more than my fair share but push the mound of shallots aside with a shudder. Abalone and Chicken Congee On Booandrsquo;s recommendation I go for the Abalone and Chicken Congee, combined with a serving of fried bread (Yau Char Kwai) and a smattering of pepper itandrsquo;s a silkily smooth start to the morning. Booandrsquo;s gone for the Frogandrsquo;s Leg variation which is overly cloggy, somewhat surprising considering that all of the congee is cooked together in a massive pot. Later we spot the chicken pieces simmering away in an equally large pot of stock and deduce that the stock from the chicken must be thinning out the congee a little. Itandrsquo;s rice, water and chicken in all the right ways and imprints on me so much that a few days later I make my way back here on a rainy morning just to eat the Chicken Congee one last time. Nathan Congee andamp; Noodles11 Saigon Street,Jordan, Hong Kong Mak Man Kee Noodles Beef Brisket and Wonton Noodles Itandrsquo;s a quick lunchtime assignation with HK Epicurious who we had a chance to meet at an earlier Novotel Blogger dinner, heandrsquo;s actually due to fly out of the country that afternoon and has yet to pack but still makes the time to show us around Tsim Sha Tsui before settling in for a quick lunch at Mak Man Kee Noodles. Iandrsquo;m curious at the tiny serving size of the Wonton Noodles, but a quick glance around shows it to be the norm. While the noodles are nothing to rave about, the glistening bowl of Beef Brisket tempts me to eat just one more piece. Mak Man Kee Noodles51 Parkes Street,Jordan, Hong Kong Lee Ken Egg Waffles Egg Waffles Determined to eat up one evening, Boo and I venture out into Tsim Sha Tsui and wander the streets in search of food. With recommendations from a friend of Boo whom we met up with for tea and the street tour from HK Epicurious still fresh in our minds, we suddenly stumble across the crowds at Lee Ken Egg Waffles. The stand is littered with newspaper articles and photos of celebrities snacking down, and after minutes we have our hands on our very own paper bag of Egg Waffles. Theyandrsquo;re piping hot and soft enough to be torn apart one by one and are lightly crunchy without being overly sweet. Itandrsquo;s the perfect snack for a balmy night of walking. Ken Egg Waffles78 Nathan Road,Jordan, Hong Kong Hong Kong Old Restaurant Smoked Pigeon Weandrsquo;re here for some old style Chinese food! The tables are round, the tablecloths are shiny and weandrsquo;ve got our eyes on the Smoked Pigeon. Although Iandrsquo;ve eaten Pigeon before, itandrsquo;s not until it lands on the table that it occurs to me that I am indeed eating my one of my arc nemesisandrsquo; (I have this weird thing against birds, donandrsquo;t ask). Itandrsquo;s been fried to a crisp without being overly oily and to be honest if Iandrsquo;d been asked I would have guessed it was quail. Hong Kong Old Restaurant4th Floor, Miramar Shopping Centre,1 Kimberley Street, Hong Kong Sun Kee Restaurant Cheese Instant Noodles with grilled pork neck Of all the places I ate at in Hong Kong, Sun Kee is undoubtedly the most memorable. Itandrsquo;s a quick pit stop on HK Epiciousandrsquo; food tour of Tsim Sha Tsui, but the mention ofCheese Instant Noodles has our ears perking. Itandrsquo;s only inevitable that weandrsquo;d end up here. The noodles are a rather unappetizing glug of creamy cheese when they first arrive on the table. I feel like Iandrsquo;m stirring up a bowl of Natto to andlsquo;activateandrsquo; it, but a few tosses later weandrsquo;ve got a cheesy concoction ready to eat. The cheese becomes a slightly salty aftertaste to the noodles and suddenly I realise Iandrsquo;m eating an instant noodle carbonaraandhellip; with deliciously sweet pork neck. However, the starchiness of the noodles and cheese hit about 10 minutes later and I put down my fork in defeat. Soy Sauce Cuttlefish Never one to back down from a challenge, Boo spots a picture of the Soy Sauce Cuttlefish on one of the many articles on the wall and quickly orders it for the table. The legs are amazingly thick, averaging 1cm at its base and itandrsquo;s a messily sweet ordeal to eat. Theyandrsquo;re a little too sweet for Booandrsquo;s liking but I find them just to my taste. Sun Kee RestaurantShop 13-14, Ground Floor,Champagne Court,16-20 Kimberley Street, Hong Kong Makandrsquo;s Noodles Wonton Noodles Weandrsquo;re dining out in Soho tonight, Booandrsquo;s on a mission from her mother to buy noodles from Makandrsquo;s and only the original will do! Despite the fact that thereandrsquo;s a Makandrsquo;s branch only blocks away from our Hotel sheandrsquo;s been ordered to go to the original Branch in Central to make her purchase. Itandrsquo;s only supposed to be a pitstop, but I not so subtly nudge her into a booth and suddenly weandrsquo;re snacking on yet another miniature bowl ofWonton Noodles. Unlike our earlier bowl of Wonton Noodles at Man Mak Kee this bowl is indefinitely much more satisfying. The noodles spring back to the bite, the wonton seems to have a much more refreshing texture and the soup is amazingly fragrant and I may have emptied the bowl on our way out! Makandrsquo;s Noodles77 Wellington Street,Central, Hong Kong Nan Tei Stuffed mushroom with Chicken, Corn and Grilled Duck Tongue Iandrsquo;ll admit it. After a week of Chinese food weandrsquo;re sick ofandhellip; Chinese food. We stumble across Nan Tei by accident, itandrsquo;s starting to sprinkle and we quickly move to one side of the narrow sidewalk to let a pedestrian past us. She trickles our curiosity when she pulls aside the door of the restaurant before disappearing inside. It turns out that sheandrsquo;s just walked into Nan Tei, an Izakaya style restaurant with one especially tantalising dish andndash; Chicken Wings stuffed with Foie Gras! Itandrsquo;s too tempting to resist but weandrsquo;re disappointed to find out the dish isnandrsquo;t available today. Obviously the only solution is to drown our sorrows in Umeshu. Quick snacks of mushroom and corn buoy our spirits, but itandrsquo;s the pipingly hot sticks ofGrilled Duck Tongue that I fall in love with. Thereandrsquo;s a long stick of cartilage in each piece and it doesnandrsquo;t take me long to get the knack of biting down in the perfect spot and pulling all the meat off in one bite. Itandrsquo;s burning on the tongue and heavy on the salt andndash; absolutely perfect. Nan Tei55 Staunton Street,Mid Level, Central, Hong Kong Sadly, itandrsquo;s also the last meal Iandrsquo;m destined to have with Boo, sheandrsquo;s homeward bound the next day and we say our farewells. I know I only visited Malaysia back in May, but Iandrsquo;d be happy to visit again in a heartbeat, if only to meet up with Boo in her hood! By no means is this the end of my eating adventure, I had to split the post up into 2 it was getting too long! Coming up andndash; a day trip to Macau, Pineapple Buns and the best Daikon in the world. eatshowandamp;tell traveled and stayed in Hong Kong as a guest of Novotel Hong Kong, which included the buffet breakfast at Square Hotel. All other meals were personally paid for.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=901 After a long renovation, the Museum of the Moving Image, in Astoria, reopened on Saturday. Much remains the same, including Behind the Screen, the museum's permanent collection dedicated to everything that goes into tv- and movie-making, from makeup and sound editing to costumes and marketing memorabilia. A new floor doubles the exhibition space, while the revamped theater will show classics and contemporary films. We're thrilled to be able to again wander around the museum before a movie, reminiscing about once owning some of the action figures now on display, and we're especially happy that the video games are back. Nothing kills the time before the curtain faster than a few rounds of Ms. Pac-Man or Donkey Kong. (OK, watching that 1894 movie of boxing cats kills time pretty well, too.) http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=898Image by Tomasz Otto Suspended above the Kalvertoren shopping mall, in the heart of the city center, a modern lunchtime restaurant has emerged. The renovation has improved this place a lot and now hasnandrsquo;t just got a great view of the old canal houses, but also sports good quality food and snacks. I usually take friends from outside the city to this place to show them where all the main attractions are, meanwhile enjoying a cup of coffee or a lunch. Myself, I particularly like their sandwiches as they are absolutely delicious (try the buffalo mozzarella). The atmosphere is usually quiet enough for a good conversation and its a nice retreat from the busy streets that surround it. Visitors tend to be mixed between people who actually set out to come here and the ones stuck in the mall, stumbling upon the huge diagonal elevator and giving it a try. So why not try for yourself and be pleasantly surprised. Details about this spot (Show on map)Blue | Coffee andamp; tea, Restaurants (Lunch) | Sandwich andamp; drink andeuro; 12.00Singel 457 andndash; 3rd floor | Center | +31204273901Mon 11:00 andndash; 18:30, Tue andndash; Wed andamp; Fri andndash; Sat 10:00 andndash; 18:30, Thu 10:00 andndash; 21:00, Sun 12:00 andndash; 18:30http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=903 Executive Chef Scott Drewno and me It is the Year of the Rabbit according to the Chinese calendar (by the by, do you know what animal year you are? Iandrsquo;m a Rat) and celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck was in our town making his rounds at his one and only restaurant in DC, The Source, which is in the Newseum building. To pay tribute to this yearandrsquo;s revered animal, a sneak peak dinner of the special tasting menu with the master chef himself was held last week. Coincidentally, it fell on the evening immediately after the Obamas came to celebrate FLOTUSandrsquo;s birthday at The Source and the very day that Chinese President Hu Jintao and POTUS met and held their press conference, and during the night of the State Dinner. Talk about the moon and the stars aligning. Our table getting to know each other The drummers prepare for the dragon dance The entire otherwise shiny and stark restaurant was dressed up in full red lantern regale as the guests walked in out of the cold in into the warmth of the candlelit first floor. Reservations had been hard to come by after hearing that the legend himself would be meeting, greeting, and signing books. Chef Wolfgang Puck casually walked to each table, after standing at the door welcoming guests. He chatted, answered questions, posed for photos, shook hands and was more than affable, even after a long day and before a longer week ahead. Meanwhile, The Sourcesandrsquo; Executive Chef Scott Drewno (winner of the Capital Food Fight) worked away in the kitchen, ensuring every tables multi-course wine tasting menu came out on time, and to every palateandrsquo;s liking. Our table with Wolfgang Puck Here comes the dragon Now, no Chinese New Year celebration is complete without the dancing dragon who winks and swerves like a flirty Pekingese pup while moving to live beating drums. Our dragon appeared throughout the night and amazingly, managed to maneuver throughout the tables without knocking over anyoneandrsquo;s wine glass. As I looked around the upstairs room, I spotted a few notables and friends: UAE Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba and his wife Abeer Shoukry, now proud parents, Mike Allen of POLITICOandrsquo;s Playbook, the Park Hyatt Washingtonandrsquo;s Kim Luk (who introduced me to The Source when it first opened), Strauss Radioandrsquo;s Richard Strauss, media personality Tommy McFly and several others, all fans of both the Chefs. Shaw Sprague, Rikka Johnson, Gary Robinson and Kathleen Hennessey The scene on the top floor Our table consisted of a group media folks, none of whom knew each other at first (genius!), but all of whom had been invited by Amber Pfau (Pfau Communications, LLC) who handles The Sourcesandrsquo; public relations. Before the end of the evening, we had all exchanged stories, several toasts to Amber and the new year, and of course andndash; this is Washington, DC andndash; business cards. Well, some just put information into the BlackBerry immediately, but we all made new friends thanks to Amber. Amber Pfau and Scott Drewno If you want your own taste of bunny, The Source by Wolfgang Puck is offering the tasting menu for two weeks beginning Monday, January 24, 2011 and ending on Friday, February 4, 2011, with the official start of the Chinese New Year landing on February 3rd. The menu is priced at $95 per person, or $130 per person with wine pairings (tax and gratuity excluded). Cheers to the five blessings of the New Year: longevity, wealth, peace, wisdom and virtue. May you be filled with each in the months to come.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=904 Last night, we hosted an event at the luxury 5 star Plaza Athenee Paris hotel with members of our Paris network of influential bloggers.Attendees were treated to a tour of the public spaces of the property hosted by Julie Hong, the Sales Manager for the property. The tour included the elegant Dior Institut spa and an exclusive look into the property's wine cellar. After the tour, the group enjoyed cocktails at Le Bar, the Patrick Jouin-designed establishment with 'the most daring and creative cocktails in Paris.' The Paris bloggers enjoyed conversing with each other and Julie declared the evening 'just perfect!'The picture above is featured from attendee Eric Tenin's blog, Paris Daily Photo. Check out his video from the event on his site! http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=897After a nine-month delay, the Manhattan location of Grimaldiandrsquo;s finally opens in the Limelight Marketplace next Wednesday. Contrary to original plans, there wonandrsquo;t initially be a take-out window for slices, nor will it be open 24/7 (hours are Monday through Thursday, from 11:30 a.m. till 11 p.m., and till midnight on Friday; Saturday from noon till midnight, and till 11 p.m. on Sunday). In fact, owner Frank Ciolli hasnandrsquo;t really strayed from his proven formula: You wonandrsquo;t be able to reserve any of the 50 seats, and the menu mirrors the Brooklyn locationandrsquo;s except there wonandrsquo;t be coffee or dessert at first. Cash only, of course. Have a look at the dining room and the coal-fired brick oven by clicking through the slideshow. Entry is via Sixth Avenue or through another door near the sweets room where Mariandrsquo;s is located. Grimaldiandrsquo;s at Limelight Marketplace, 656 Sixth Ave., nr. 20th St.; 212-359-5523http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=905 Recently our London bloggers were treated to another hosted event following our event at Mandarin Oriental. This time, the bloggers were invited to the Andaz Liverpool Street for a night filled with unique surprises at a property with a long history.The Andaz Liverpool Street was once the Great Eastern Hotel built in proximity to the British rail network. The Hyatt group purchased the property a few years and has since transformed the property with a magnificent blend of their history and modern design. Their unique check-in experience introduces each guest to the Andaz experience, where staff approach you with a netbook to take care of the check-in details. Say goodbye to waiting in line for the concierge. This modern approach to hospitality is juxtaposed against the property's original Victorian structures: the guests of the event were treated to an inside tour of the property's Masonic Temple, which retains it's original setup. The tour of the property was followed by a culinary exploration of the hotel's restaurants. At the Champagne Bar, each guest sampled a delicious sushi and sashimi platter. At Catch, the hotel's seafood restaurant, the meal included a savory crab cake with an apple foam and a steamed cod dish topped with toasted sesame seeds. Guests still had room for the finale at 1901, where the group met with the general manager for a cheese and dessert tasting. The hotel staff, especially Roxanne Markovina, were both informative and gracious, engaging the bloggers throughout the event. Read some of the attendees' reactions below:- A Lady in London- The Londoneer The pictures above are courtesy of The Londoneer.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=906 Our latest local hosted event was an 'Inside Tour to the DC Hotel Scene' hosted by three Sheraton properties. Despite their shared brand, the three properties treated the Travel Onion team and local bloggers to three unique events.The event began at the charming Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria where the group gathered in the hotel lobby for a Starwood exclusive cocktail - elderflower and Chardonnay - and an introduction to James Rattray, the Director of Sales andamp; Marketing. James treated the group to an in depth tour of the property, including the Executive Boardroom, the Indoor Pool, Whirlpool andamp; FItness Center, and, despite the snowy weather, the outdoor courtyard were one could imagine intimate events under the sun's rays. During the chartered drive to the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel, the group shared opinions in an energetic conversation on the role of social media in travel. Once we arrived, we continued the conversation in the hotel lounge as we were introduced to Dan Sparacino, the Director of Sales andamp; Marketing. After we finished delicious hors d'oeuvres, Dan shared stories of the hotel's weekly Mystery Dinners, a truly unique feature. We concluded the event with a tour of the newly renovated and elegant wood-paneled public spaces. The night concluded at the patriotic Sheraton National Hotel. Hotel staff greeted us as we arrived and the group was split in half. Alice Walsh, the Director of Sales andamp; Marketing, and Sean Parkhurst, the Sales Manager, each took a group for an intimate tour through the conference space and the sleekly designed Potomac Restaurant and Lounge. Glamorous black and white photos of historical American presidents and images define the space, and, appropriately, the private Reagan dining room is tucked behind an image of its namesake. The evening ended in the Galaxy ballroom with cocktails and spectacular views of the DC skyline. Many thanks to the Sheraton staff who treated the local bloggers and Travel Onion staff to a truly special evening. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=894 Dr. Carter G. Woodson, Father of Black History Americans have recognized black history annually since 1926, first as andldquo;Negro History Weekandrdquo; and later as Black History Month and we greatly owe the celebration of this month of Black Heritage, more so, the study of black history to Dr. Carter G. Woodson. The Harvard scholar was disturbed to find that history books largely ignored the black American population-and when blacks were depicted, they were reflected as socially inferior and stero-typed in a very uncomplimentary fashion. Today, thanks to Dr. Woodson and others the historical storyof how the month-long celebration of African-Americans came about is amazing and inspirational. During Black History Month, there are many lesser known sites around the country where you can celebrate the month in a unique way. The African-American Heritage Trail is quite long and the short list that follows doesnandrsquo;t begin to scratch the surface of the attractions you can visit. ALABAMA What better place to visit and learn about Civil Rights during Black History Month than andldquo;ground zeroandrdquo; for the Civil Rights Movement Alabama. The Alabama Tourism Department has produced a Civil Rights Trail brochure that includes Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham and Tuskegee. Each with their unique story. FLORIDA The L.B Brown House is located in beautiful Bartow, Florida, and in 2001 was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Having been built in the 1800andprime;s by former slave Lawrence B. Brown, it contains nine rooms and is 1700 sq. ft. The structure is perhaps the only one of its kind in Florida that was built and owned by a former slave. The L.B. Brown House is now used as a museum to help educate the public about the significant contributions made by African-Americans to Florida history. MARYLAND Marylandandrsquo;s Eastern Shore, celebrates two of Americaandrsquo;s greatest abolistionist heroesandndash;Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass. Both were born on the Eastern Shore, held as slaves on there, and each returned as free people to help others. Talbot, Dorchester and Caroline Counties on Marylandandrsquo;s Eastern Shore highlights the history of the abolitionist movement and these two great heroes. Reginald F. Lewis Baltimore, Maryland has been the site of many significant historical events that helped pave the way for our countryandrsquo;s first African American president. As the birthplace of our national anthem, the city of Baltimore is no stranger to firsts. Home to the first African American Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall, visitors have the opportunity to extend their inauguration experience into a learning vacation with a wide variety of historical attractions including the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum, the countryandrsquo;s first wax museum for African American history; the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History andamp; Culture; and the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park Museum, site of the nationandrsquo;s first African American-owned shipyard. MISSISSIPPI The Corinth Contraband Camp and is located in Corinth, Mississippi. A part of the National Park Serviceandrsquo;s Shiloh National Military Park, the Contraband Site is called the Birthplace of Freedom. Around the time of Abraham Lincolnandrsquo;s Emancipation Proclamation, many slaves in the Deep South heard that Corinth was occupied by Federal soldiers. These African-Americans sought freedom in Corinth under the security of the Army. Federal General Grenville Dodge understood what effect the defection of thousands of African-Americans would have on the Confederate war effort. He began to enlist the escaped slaves, who came into his lines as teamsters, cooks and laborers. He actively recruited male refugees, armed them, and put them in charge of security at the newly organized camp. Dodgeandrsquo;s refugee administrative efforts led to the formation of the 1st Alabama Infantry Regiment of African Descent, consisting of approximately 1000 men. The Corinth Camp resembled a small town, complete with a church, commissary, hospital, both frame and log houses, and a street grid with named streets and numbered houses. An American Missionary School operated where eager students of all ages sought knowledge day and night. Today, a portion of this camp has been set aside to commemorate the events which changed the lives of so manypeople. MISSOURI (Independence) The 1827 Log Courthouse, 107 W. Kansas Avenue , for many years the only Courthouse between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean . This building was constructed by slave Samuel Shepherd and its sturdy walnut timbers served for a time as the courtroom by Administrative Judge Harry Truman before he became President of the United States. The courthouse is closed November-March for the winter.There is no phone at the courthouse, but information is available by calling Tourism at 816-325-7111 or toll free at 800-748-7323. The 1859 Jail, 217 N. Main, which operated as the county jail from pre-Civil War time through 1910. The jail was also built by noted slaves who were master stonemasons. The 2 foot thick limestone walls housed famous guerillas such as William Clark Quantrill of Quantrillandrsquo;s Raiders, Southern sympathizers during the Civil War and famous outlaws like Frank James, brother of Jesse James, and a leader of the James Gang. Phone 816-252-1892. Woodlawn Cemetery on Noland Road is the final resting place of many prominent black citizens of Independence. The Second Baptist Church, 116 E. White Oak Avenue, is said to be the oldest African-American church in Missouri. The church was organized in 1864 by a group that first met in 1861 in a one-room house. (Not open for tours). "Lila" The National Frontier Trails Museum, 318 W. Pacific, which, in addition to major displays about the westward trails, mountain men and trappers, houses an exhibit of interest entitled: andldquo;I Remain Your Affectionate Wife.andrdquo; The exhibit spotlights seven original letters to a free black man who followed the California trail. The Gold Rush captured the imagination of the entire nation. Thousand of enterprising people filled with hopes and dreams of wealth migrated to California to andldquo;strike it richandrdquo;. Among these emigrants was David Brown, an African-American who settled in California. Left behind in Ohio was his wife, Rachel Brown. In these extraordinary letters, she describes her life without her man, her loneliness, and her hopes for a future life with David. Sadly, David and Rachel were never re-united. The Truman Presidential Museum and Library, 500 U.S. 24 Highway, offers a glimpse into modern black history in a permanent exhibit where the desegregation of the armed forces is explored. One of the interactive andldquo;decision theatersandrdquo; also includes a segment which explains Trumanandrsquo;s actions in pursuing desegregation, an act which was highly controversial at the time. Museum admission: $8 adults, $7 seniors, $3 youth, under 6 free. 816-268-8200 NEW YORK Philipsburg Manor, in Sleepy Hollow, NY, is the countryandrsquo;s only fully staffed living history museum that focuses on the history of northern slavery. OHIO On Cleveland, Ohioandrsquo;s Public Square, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument (honoring those who fought in the Civil War) is nearing the completion of a $2 million refurbishment. In the next couple of weeks we will be re-installing the andldquo;broken shackles of slaveryandrdquo; held byLincoln while he andldquo;armsandrdquo; a freed slave all of which is depicted on one of the interior reliefs. Ohio is home to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and several other Black History-related attractions. It covers a wide range of topics from slavery and the Underground Railroad to genealogy. General admission is $12, children 6-12 are $8, children under 6 are free. You can check out some of the other sites atPassage to Freedom. These include Harriet Beecher Stoweandrsquo;s house, also in Cincinnati, and free. TEXAS Fort Worth, Texas is home to theNational Multicultural Western Heritage Museum and Hall of Fame, also known as the National Cowboys of Color Museum. This museum pays tribute to the contributions of African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and European Americans, in the settlement of the American Western Frontier. VIRGINIA Robert Russa Moton Museum, Farmville, VA: Developing museum and historic site is housed in the original building and grounds of R.R. Moton High School where in 1951 the student body walked out to protest unequal conditions. The resulting lawsuit became part of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case. The museum is the key point of another developing attraction in Virginia, the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail. The American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar, Richmond, VA: This fairly new museum is the only Civil War museum to explore that war from three equal perspectives andndash; Union, Confederate and African-American. It contains one of the finest collections of African-American Civil War artifacts in existence. For more suggestions on unique places to experience Black History and travel the heritage trail of the Civil Rights Movement, listen to our show Path of the Civil Rights Movement. Tonya Fitzpatrick is Executive Producer and co-host of the award-winning syndicated World Footprints radio showandmdash;a leading voice in socially responsible travel and global citizenship. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=918One of Deacon's favorite hotel chains is Kimpton - we love the boutique vibe, excellent service, and generally fab pricing. Our other favorite part? The robes. Yes. Leopard and Zebra print robes rock. That's why, this Valentine's Day, we're in the mood for"Robemance." Book a stay between now and the 28th to enjoy two signature robes and a $25 credit towards in-room dining at all participating properties. Mostly so you can take pictures like the one above. Yes, that's us (well, McLean, anyway) at right. @ DC's Hotel Rouge http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=917Hip Paris first wrote about underground dining back in March 2009, when we experienced Hidden Kitchen for the first time. Since then, weandrsquo;ve gathered around private tables with the likes of David Lebovitz, interviewed chefs like Rachel Khoo, and searched high and low for these special, discreet, private experiences. Forest Collins has sorted through the (now abundant) options on the Paris scene to brings us today her top 3 Clandestine Paris dining experiences andmdash; Geneviandegrave;ve. A private dinner (Leo Farrell from Rachel Khoo) Groucho Marx said it best: andldquo;I donandrsquo;t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member.andrdquo; Sometimes the harder something is to get, the more we want it. This seems to hold especially true with eating out in Paris as the capital catches up with the extensive network of already established andlsquo;private dining clubsandrsquo; in other major cities.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=912 Baked empanadas from 5411 Empanadas.Photo: courtesy of Facebook 5411 Empanadas has been a catering operation for the past six months or so, but starting Monday it decided to join the burgeoning Chicago food truck scene. Like tamales and mac and cheese, the idea of an empanada truck makes a lot of sense. The little hand held pastries travel well, and donandrsquo;t require any last minute additions, so it can get past Chicagoandrsquo;s strict food truck laws. These are also Argentinian empanadas, and so meat is a big focus. Beef, chicken, and ham fillings are all available, though spinach, corn, and caramelized onion filled ones are also options. These are also baked instead of fried, so you can feel a little better about yourself. Check out the menu, and where you can find it below. You can follow the truck on Twitter and on Facebook, but it looks like they have a posted schedule of where the truck will be each day of the week. Today you can find it around the Merchandise Mart. Check out the full menu below. 5411 Empanadas, a new food truck launching on V-Day [TOC] Beef $1.99Premium, lean ground beef slow cooked with the finest ingredients and the right amount of juiciness makes this the ultimate Argentine empanada. BBQ Chicken $1.99Made of premium hand cut chicken breasts and mixed with the right amount of barbecue sauce and cilantro. Ham and Cheese $1.99This humble empanada contains the perfect blend of provolone cheese, mozzarella cheese, and premium sauteed ham. Spinach and Cheese $1.99Steam cooked spinach combined with fresh mozzarella. Corn $1.99Real corn kernels, red peppers, sauteed onions, white sauce, and a touch of nutmeg. Sweet Onions $1.99Filled with caramelized onions and Parmesan cheese. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=919After two highly acclaimed exhibitions in 1999 and 2004, at the Las Vegas Art Museum, environmental art movement leader Marlene Tseng Yu will be the featured artist at the the Southern Nevada Museum of Fine Art. Founder and curator of the Rain Forest Arts Foundation in New York City Marlene will be presenting Forms Environmental an exhibit of large environmental paintings. The exhibition will feature a number of very large-scale paintings for which she is renown for. Marlene takes nature as her inspiration, whether itandrsquo;s the towering green mountains of her native Taiwan or the glacial terrain of the Colorado Rockies where she attended college. About the artist... Marlene Tseng Yu began working in her signature style while obtaining her Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Colorado in Boulder, and subsequently taught art in Denver University. She became enthralled with the use of acrylic water-based paint as her media of choice because it suited her technique for painting on bigger and bigger canvases. andldquo;With acrylic paint there was no limitation to the size,andrdquo; stated Marlene. With more than 60 museum solo exhibitions worldwide over the past 30 plus years, Marlene more recent work still remains remarkably true to her original style. Her depiction of forests, rock formations, avalanches, and coral reefs are highly charged images of color-filled action. Her work shows the influence of her Western training while her scale, making nature bigger than mankind, mimics the Eastern philosophy of the art of her native Taiwan. andldquo;She sees heaven in a grain of sand,andrdquo; is the way renowned art critic Donald Kuspit Ph.D. described her work. http://www.marlenetsengyu.com/ http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=920 This Friday, March 4 I'll be moderating the Paley Fest's panel for hit AMC series 'The Walking Dead.'Got any questions you'd like me to ask? Leave a comment below!Among those scheduled to attend:Frank Darabont, Writer / Director / Executive Producer Gale Ann Hurd, Executive Producer Robert Kirkman, Executive Producer / Creator of Comic Book Andrew Lincoln, andldquo;Rick Grimesandrdquo; Sarah Wayne Callies, andldquo;Lori Grimesandrdquo; Jon Bernthal, andldquo;Shane Walshandrdquo; Laurie Holden, andldquo;Andreaandldquo; Steven Yeun, andldquo;Glennandrdquo; Emma Bell, andldquo;Amyandrdquo;The event takes place at 7 p.m. at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. For tix, go here.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=921先斗町舞子いちらくSeated amidst well wishers and tourists, the maiko (now geisha? this photo was taken about two years ago) known as Ichiraku is serene and lovely.She is resting near the Kaburenjo Theater on Pontocho, a narrow and glorious alley in downtown Kyoto.Along this street are many of Kyoto's famed tea houses.If you are invited to enjoy an evening in one such establishment - by a known regular - you may have the chance to meet Ichiraku-san.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=935 Our latest Travel Onion event was held at the spectacular 5 star Ritz Paris, where bloggers were treated to a tour of the property and a private cooking course by Chef Didier of the The Ritz Escoffier School. The cookery school is named for Auguste Escoffier, the legendary chef who invented Peach Melba and other classic French dishes! The team is dedicated to teaching and training new generations of chefs. This event was such great fun and I wish I had the time to take one of their more in-depth cooking classes. The one on deluxe sandwiches sounds right up my alley! I really enjoyed participating in such a hands-on way, and appreciate the Ritz suggesting such an event for us. The Ritz Paris emerged in 1898, when Swiss hotelier, Candeacute;sar Ritz discovered one of the loveliest squares in the heart of Paris. For years, it has been the hotel of choice for celebrities, politicians and travelers who expect the best. It has an incredibly rich history in reality as well as in fiction, as it has been featured in many films and novels. The hotel became a favorite of many of the world's wealthiest people, with luxurious suites named for some of its notable patrons from the past. These include, Ernest Hemingway, for whom a bar in the hotel was named, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Marcel Proust, King Edward VII of the United Kingdom, the Shah of Iran, Rudolph Valentino, Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Jean-Paul Sartre, Elton John and couturier Coco Chanel, who made the Ritz her home for more than thirty years. One can almost imagine some of these ghosts roaming the glorious halls of the hotel today. Bloggers in attendance: Omid Tavallaiwho andamp; Alice Kate Raisch of VINGT Paris Milla Msa of Not Just Another Milla Sylvia Sabes of Girls Guide to Paris Richard Nahem of Eye Prefer Paris Sophie Massie of Marvelous to Say, See, and Do Adam Roberts of Invisible Paris Zeva of Paris by Appointment Only Kim Adrey of I Heart Paris Peter Olsen of Peterandrsquo;s Paris Phyllis Flick of The Paris Notebook Jennifer Geraghty of Jennyphoria Mary Nicklin of The Informed Traveler Beth Arnold of Beth Arnold andndash; Letters from Paris Stephanie d'Aboville of the Ritz Paris I would like to extend a big Thank You/ Grand Merci to "the two Stephanieandrsquo;s,andrdquo; as we have been calling them during the planning process. Standeacute;phanie Clarke and Standeacute;phanie d'Aboville were instrumental in getting this event off without a hitch. They were charming and endlessly helpful with every detail including adding additional attendees, as we continued to be overwhelmed with responses. Busy bloggers couldn't resist the opportunity to leave their computers to head to the kitchen - granted it was the kitchen at the Ritz Paris! All Best, Cal Simmons Publisher and Founder Beautiful view from my room at the Ritz Paris.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=940Travel Onion hosted another wonderful event at the famous 5 star Langham hotel in Londonandrsquo;s West End, where bloggers were treated to a tour of the property and a delicious lunch at the famed Roux restaurant located in the hotel. The food was utterly spectacular and the hotel, having recently gone through an 80 million pound renovation, is grand and luxurious, without being intimidating. Absolutely worth a trip and a revisit for those who may not have been back for years! Brian Gore, Director of Communications, was our extremely gracious host. We all had such a wonderful time chatting and learning about the hotel, food, and wine. We had our very own wine expert in attendance, Denise, otherwise known as andldquo;The Wine Sleuth,andrdquo; was very impressed with the wine pairings. I think everyone had such a good time that the lunch didnandrsquo;t even end until 4:30 pm andndash; it started at noon!! Now thatandrsquo;s a long lunch! "The Wine Sleuth" The hotel is the epitome of gracious hospitality and it is clear why heads of state, celebrities and tycoons have made The Langham their choice among London luxury hotels since 1865. Our group of bloggers were treated like royalty as we toured the property and dined in the restaurant. I am already looking forward to my next trip back! Bloggers in attendance were: April - Aprilandrsquo;s London Invitation, William - London is Cool, Denise - The Wine Sleuth, Billie - London Insider. All best, Cal Simmons Travel Onion Founderhttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=958 Prepare yourself, for the andldquo;Greatest Show on Earthandrdquo;is about to descend upon Capitol Hill on Tuesday, March 22nd to kick off five weeks of ginormous circus spectacles. Itandrsquo;s the 200 year anniversary ofRingling Brothers and Barnum andamp; Bailey and they are bringing out the big boys for this huge affair, namely pachyderms. The annual Pachyderm Parade for BARNUM 200 will include the elephants of course, but will also have donkeys, clowns, horses, motorcycles (not sure if they will be driven by humans or not) and yes, even a Watusi, as we were alerted. If you so choose to join in the bash and sing Happy Birthday, you can do so by coming to the Capitol Dome on 3rd Street NW/SW in the afternoon (parade to start at 2pm). To get update as to the exact time on that day, follow them on Twitter@DCElephantWalk or call the hotline at 866.683.3670. Take the kids and the family to the BARNUM 200 show at the Verizon Center on March 24th-27th or to Fairfaxandrsquo;sPatriot Center at George Mason University on April 14th-24th. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=961 Story by Sophie Delon Taxis are a regular part of the landscape of the French capital, with some twenty thousand or so circulating in Paris and the cityandrsquo;s suburbs. Theyandrsquo;re clean, comfortable and highly regulated. Whatandrsquo;s more, theyandrsquo;re getting a new look, so we thought this was the perfect opportunity to give you the inside scoop on how to Taxi in Paris. Taxi? Uhandhellip;taxi. To make it easier to see whether the taxi is occupied or not, Paris taxis are getting a new light on the roof of the vehicle. If the taxi is available, it shines green. If itandrsquo;s occupied or on the way to pick up a booking, itandrsquo;s red. Pretty simple and easy to remember. Green, go. Red, donandrsquo;t bother. So, how do you get a taxi in Paris? Itandrsquo;s easy. Head for a taxi stand (called andldquo;taxi ranksandrdquo; by Parisians) Call a taxi company (G7 has a dedicated phone line for English speakers: +33 (0)1 41 27 66 99 and lets you book online in English) Use the phone at the taxi stand (if you speak French) Try to hail one on the street Fares that donandrsquo;t seem fair. The cost of a journey, which starts at andeuro;2.30 is determined by three factors: A fixed-price fee that appears on the meter at the beginning of the journey. A small notice in the vehicle must indicate the conditions of the application of this fee; The rate per kilometer, variable according to whether it is day or night time, a working day or public holiday, and the final destination if it is outside Paris; and The waiting time or slow speed which replaces the rate per kilometer in the event of a traffic jam or the taxi stopping. The amount of the fare must be clearly visible on the vehicleandrsquo;s meter and the amount of any extra costs must be added here. The driver can also charge supplemental fees for more than three adult passengers, pets, more than one piece of luggage in the trunk (or boot, if youandrsquo;re a Brit), and if the journey begins in a station. Because the French like to confuse people, theyandrsquo;ve tiered their rates according to the time of day, and the day of the week. The three-tiered rates within Paris and the pandeacute;riphandeacute;rique are as follows: Rate A Applies from 10am to 5pm, Monday thru Saturday. Rate per kilometer: andeuro;0.92 Rate B Applies from 5pm to 10am, Monday thru Saturday; from 7am to 12pm on Sundays and all holidays. Rate per kilometer: andeuro;1.17 Rate C Applies from midnight to 7am on Sundays. Rate per kilometer: andeuro;1.42 Supplemental rates: andeuro;3 per adult after the third passenger andeuro;1 per piece of luggage in the trunk after the first piece There is a minimum fare of andeuro;6.10, so if your fare is less than that, please know that the driver (chauffeur) is not trying to pull a fast one on you. As for tipping, round up your fare or add 10 percent to be fair. Taxis for the disabled. Two Parisian taxi companies, G7 Horizon and PMR (Tel +33 (0) 6 14 67 75 02), have taxis adapted for the disabled, with drivers who have had training in transporting clients with any of andldquo;the four disabilitiesandrdquo; (physical, visual, auditory and mental). Rates are the same, but it is advisable to make a booking in advance, by telephone or on the taxi companyandrsquo;s website. Show me the money (or how to pay your driver). Taxi drivers accepting payment by bank card display a notice to this effect on the back side window and are required to accept this method of payment for an amount superior or equal to andeuro;15. Otherwise, the client must pay by cash. Payment by check is so rarely accepted that we shouldnandrsquo;t even mention it, but we did because a notice in the taxi says as much. There are rumors that you can arrange to pay by check (if you have a French bank) when booking the taxi, but we donandrsquo;t know anyone who has actually tried this. Final tips. From either of the Paris airports or any of the train stations, get in the queue for the taxi. Youandrsquo;ll take the first available taxi once you get to the front of the line, and your chances of getting one who speaks English (or admits to it) is about 30 percent. If your French is limited, your best bet is to have your address in Paris either printed out or written down so that you can just hand it to the driver. If youandrsquo;re ordering a taxi from your hotel or vacation apartment, you can request an English-speaking driver, and even one that accepts credit cards. Just donandrsquo;t expect that youandrsquo;ll actually get either. If you do find a driver who speaks English, get his/her card so that you can call them directly for a ride. Drivers can refuse to drive anyone who has a pet (unless itandrsquo;s a guide dog), who is drunk, and who is wearing andldquo;dubiousandrdquo; clothing or has genuine hygiene issues. They can also turn away passengers if their baggage is too bulky, or if the driver is ending their shift within the next half hour and your destination puts them too far away from their home base to clock out on time. If you leave something in the taxi, the driver is supposed to turn it over to the andldquo;Lost and Foundandrdquo; (Service des objets trouvandeacute;s de la Ville de Paris) at the Prandeacute;fecture de Police (36, rue des des Morillons, Paris 15th Tel +33 (0) 8 21 00 25 25). If itandrsquo;s an object with a modicum of value, donandrsquo;t hold your breath that theyandrsquo;ll actually do so. If you have a dispute with the driver, you should get the taxiandrsquo;s identification number and send a letter, preferably by registered mail, to theBureau des taxis et transports publics (Department for taxis and public transport) within the Prandeacute;fecture de Police at 36 rue des Morillons, Paris 75732 (Tel +33 (0) 1 55 76 20 05).http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=955 "What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet." Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2) Well, not always. You can probably bet that the quality of the food at a place called andldquo;Cheaper Foodandrdquo;, and andldquo;Very Nice Pizzaandrdquo; (they really exist) are about as good as their names suggest. We learn not to judge books by their covers but do so anyway. In fact, we judge books, people, movies, cities, and even restaurants by their names and sometimes, our pre-conceived notions are upheld. But in this case, I was proven wrong; I had read multiple, glowing reviews about Pizza Chic, the New-York style pizzeria in 6th, prior to trying it out with Ann Mah for the first time a few weeks ago. I couldn't help but be circumspect of a place that had the audacity to call themselves chic and wondered how good the pizza really could be. Surely not better than Caldo Freddo, my longstanding favorite. By the end of the night I came to see, however, that the name, although staggeringly trite, was a suitable label. Owned by Julien Cohen, son of Marie-France Cohen, founder of upscale shops Bonpoint, Merci and Bonton, Pizza Chic oozes undeniably cool minimalism: large windows which open like doors during the warmer months to give the illusion of a terrace, black and white tiled floors, polished silverware, dangling light bulbs, tall water glasses, tin ceiling tiles along the bar (which I later saw at Merci) and an open kitchen with a view of the wood-burning oven. It's a little bit NY hipster meets Parisian bobo without the self-important pretension. Not to mention the Italian servers who take your order with zeal and a wide smile. Ann ordered the white Carciofi pizza with purandeacute;ed artichokes, little artichoke hearts, arugula and topped with shredded parmesan, aged 24 months. After agreeing to a taste of hers, I immediately regretted the vegetarian pizza I ordered which was outstanding but not quite as original as the Carciofi (at 21andeuro; a pie it better be mind-blowing). After a gargantuan piece of tiramisu that we struggled to finish {photo evidence here} I decided I would have to return with my other foody friend to try another pizza. Saturday I headed back, this time for lunch. We shared the fresh salad with seasonal vegetables straight from Annie Bertin's garden and the Crudaiola pizza - tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, arugula and cherry tomatoes - but not before warming up our bellies with an amuse-bouche on the house. There was a bit too much arugula for our liking but the freshness and flavor of the pie overall were undeniable; the crust just crunchy enough to offset the gooeyness of the melted cheese. Comparing my post-pizza-belly distention from my dinner date with Ann, I'd say sharing a pie is a wise choice. We wiped our palettes clean with a shot of intense Italian espresso and a piece of praline chocolate, my favorite. So I judged Pizza Chic unfairly by its name but let's be honest, had it been called Chic Pizza would we even be talking about it? Only in France would it make sense to bring together the words pizza and chic but they do so masterfully. Note: Julien Cohen is also the owner of Les Cailloux, one of my favorite Italian spots, and the just-opened Grazie a stone's throw from Merci andamp; BonTon. Pizza Chic 13 rue Mandeacute;ziandegrave;res, 75006 +33(0)1.45.48.30.38 Mandeacute;tro: St. Sulpice Reservations Recommended http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=956An evening at the movies during a visit to Amsterdam might not be the first thing youandrsquo;d think of to top your list of things to do. But given that Amsterdam is prone to the odd spring rain shower or two, combined with the fact that some of its cinemas are located in beautifully renovated Art Deco or architecturally significant buildings, you might want to think again. Many of these traditional movie theaters also have excellent bars or cafes, so theyandrsquo;re worth a visit even if you donandrsquo;t plan to catch a movie. And because itandrsquo;s a typically locals thing to do, youandrsquo;re probably going to get an insight into Dutch culture at the same time. The majority of Dutch movies are shown in the original language with subtitles (except films for children), so language shouldnandrsquo;t be a problem, but itandrsquo;s always good to confirm this when buying your ticket. Most of the cinemas mentioned below allow you to take your drinks into the auditorium, which gives them a real cosy feel. Tuschinskisandrsquo;s Theatre in the old centre is located in a wonderfully renovated Art Deco building. The Movies has tiny auditoriums which feel a bit like someoneandrsquo;s living room. But the original wood panelling and cosy bar transport you back to a bygone era. Kriterian (Dutch link only) Cafe Theatre attracts a more alternative studenty type to the large cafe inside the theatre, which in the 1920s was a Shell service station . Great value and a good atmosphere. Het Ketelhuis (Dutch link only) is located in a converted red-brick built industrial building which belonged to the city gas works in the 1800s. Now itandrsquo;s an arthouse theatre showing a lot of foreign films, so you might have to check out the language of the film before buying your ticket. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=959Today the Olympic Park Legacy Company has launched a competition asking members of the public to suggest names for the five zones of the Olympic Park after the 2012 Games have departed. The competition page hints that you might want to echo the rich history of the respective areas in your suggestions - Area 4, for example, which currently contains the Olympic Stadium, the Aquatics Centre and the Water Polo arena, was once the site of the Yardley perfume factory, a railway yard and still contains a section of Joseph Bazalgette's Northern Outfall Sewer, which helped to improve the sanitation of London in the Victorian era. My personal preference would be to name the areas after famous British Olympic medal winners, or indeed athletes who manage to secure golds during this year's competition, but that's just my view!http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=962 Starting Tuesday March 29 and running through Tuesday December 27, you can enjoy *free! art in the evenings. Martedi in Arte is relaunching its engaging initiative bringing visitors to museums on Tuesday evenings for a taste of Italian culture. Every last Tuesday of the month, museums such as modern art history fanandrsquo;s National Gallery of Modern Art, ancient history loverandrsquo;s Palazzo Altemps, photo happy Castel Santandrsquo;Angelo and the ever favorite Pantheon will stay open from 7 to 11 pm. Nothing better than a free evening museum to find Rome captivating. PantheonCastel Santandrsquo;AngeloGalleria Nazionale Arte ModernaPalazzo Altemps http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=963 I never thought Iandrsquo;d be smitten with a falafel from a takeaway spot in Newtown. Donandrsquo;t you love it when life surprises you? All too often, falafels are dry and crusty, without much flavour. Sabbabaandrsquo;s magical falafel are made fresh to order and served piping hot. Theyandrsquo;re so fresh in fact, thereandrsquo;s a machine dispensing balls of chickpea goodness right into the deep fryer. The result is hot fluffy falafel with a crispy golden exterior. Sabbabaandrsquo;s falafels are best enjoyed wrapped in pita bread topped with tomatoes, pickles, hummus, babaganoush and nutty tahini. It is a delicious combination that isnandrsquo;t as sinful as the Double Down, but just as satisfying! I knew I wasnandrsquo;t alone in thinking this as line to order stretched to the door when we popped in. For the carnivorous, Sabbaba offers generous share plates with a nice selection of lean meats and fish, grilled to order. There are also fresh salads, Middle Eastern sweets and homemade pink lemonade. Perhaps not the most authentic spot for a taste of Middle East (you wonandrsquo;t find El Jannahandrsquo;s legendary garlic sauce here or Al Awafiandrsquo;s smokey charcoal chicken), but Sabbaba does deliver wholesome food with great flavours in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Sabbaba Newtown148 King StreetNewtown NSW 2042www.facebook.com/sabbaba Open daily from 7am andndash; 10:30pm Monday to Wednesday and until late from Thursday to Sunday. Thanks to Splendid Communications for organising our visit, no falafel will ever be the same again. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=964 The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong opened last week on March 29th and is beginning to live up to its name as the worldandrsquo;s andldquo;highestandrdquo; hotel. It doesnandrsquo;t own the entire hotel building so what happened is that the Ritz-Carlton is located on the 102/F to 118/F of the International Commerce Centre (ICC) in Hong Kong and so by pun, that certainly andldquo;takes luxury to new heights in every senseandrdquo;. Panoramic View of Victoria Harbour, seen the offbeat way from the West wide of Kowloon Peninsula. The stylish and contemporary interiors by Singaporeandrsquo;s LTW set the scene for this thoroughly modern hotel set in the heart of Hong Kong. The sense of arrival is breathtaking with views of Victoria Harbour and the iconic Hong Kong skyline as the backdrop. In order to get there you need in you first need get to the 9th floor before being transported up to the hotel lobby on the 103rd floor and this is one offbeat but chic way of seeing Hong Kong. The hotelandrsquo;s 312 guest rooms all offer spectacular city and harbour views. Starting at 50sqm for a Deluxe Room, and reaching 365sqm for the magnificent Ritz-Carlton Suite, rooms provide state-of-the-art technology including WiFi, iPod docking stations, blu-ray DVD players and flat screen TVs. In addition, Club room, you can enjoy the panoramic view from the Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge with complimentary food and beverage presentations 24 hours a day. The Club also gives you access to a dedicated Club Concierge, work stations, meeting rooms and WiFi throughout. Interior of the rooms with the drop dead gorgeous views of Victoria Harbour. What everybody is talking about in Hong Kong has got to be Ozone. We are talking about Asian tapas, signature cocktails and a stylish wine list on the 118th floor and the worldandrsquo;s highest al fresco terrace where you can indulge in the incredible views over the city. We may be expecting a new benchmark for Hong Kongandrsquo;s social and dining scene here at Ozone. On the 102nd floor is Tin Lung Heen, a Chinese restaurant serving refined Cantonese cuisine. There is always Elements shopping mall just in case you were wondering what else you could do around theRitz Carlton. Luxury brand names and fine dining without ever having to leave Kowloon Station. TAGS: HONG KONG, HONG KONG NEWEST HOTEL, HONG KONG RITZ CARLTON HOTEL, OZONE, RITZ CARLTON HONG KONG, WORLD'S HIGHEST HOTELhttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=968From the moment you set foot on the front drive of the historical Jefferson Hotel, the most exceptional and welcoming staff immediately greets you. The Jefferson is the epitome of great customer service, where every aspect of your stay is personalized. Guests are greeted and escorted by a personal butler, who takes charge of every aspect of their stay. Service here is truly flawless and every detail so carefully planned. There was no exception on Wednesday, when Travel Onion hosted another event for writers! Our ever so gracious hosts, Franck and Joan, insisted we start off the evening with a glass of bubbly. Then off we went for a lovely tour of the property where every historical detail was pointed out and explained. The Jefferson reopened its doors in August 2009 after a two year transformation. Inspirations came from Thomas Jeffersonandrsquo;s European travels and his home life at Monticello. Antiques, artifacts, books and documents signed by the founding father and third President decorate the property. The design team touched on every aspect of who Thomas Jefferson was andndash; a renaissance man, a world traveler, an inventor, an epicurean, an intellectual, and a gardener. This is one hotel every local and visitor must check out! Our hosts for the evening were Franck Arnold, Managing Director, and Joan Esposito, Assistant Director of Sales and Marketing. The writers in attendance were, Pamela of Pamelaandrsquo;s Punch, Linda of Kid Friendly DC, Daphne of Dining in DC, Kathy of Eating Around DC, Tonya and Ian of World Footprints, Bonnie of Gregslist DC, Elaine and Jennifer of CityStream, and Tim of DC Like a Local. Be sure to check out these fantastic blogs for their reviews of The Jefferson! We would like to extend a special thank you to Franck, Joan and the wonderful hotel staff for your hospitality. We are really looking forward to our next visit! For more information on The Jefferson Hotel, visit their website. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=994 A day spent at the gardens and home of Monet at Giverny is a beautiful one, regardless of with whom you spend it, whether a fellow art lover or travel companion. And of course a sunny day spent among flowers in the green countryside of France lends itself easily to romance. But I decided to forge the way there on my own, and the peace and beauty of my day, along with the sense of Monetandrsquo;s presence, were themselves a powerful accompaniment. The art of Monet moves me in a way that almost no other art does. And I donandrsquo;t know why. Iandrsquo;m not a fan of landscape art or floral themes, but something about the scale and stroke of Monetandrsquo;s work has always affected me. Perhaps it is because his water lilies were the subject of my first museum trip, at 19, a birthday gift from my mother, and never before had I seen up close the brushstrokes of an artist: so layered and so careful, so full of appreciation for their topic, physical and tactile before me. But 10 years later, years of art history classes and world travel and art making of my own behind me, the sight of a Monet still affects me the same way it did that first day. So upon my arrival in Paris, one of my goals was to visit the place that inspired him, to see for myself the natural beauty that acted as his muse. I took the train from the Gare St.-Lazare (captured by Monet) to the Vernon station, about an hour outside Paris, a trip that flies by as the architecture and bustle of Paris give way to the sylvan lushness of the countryside. Upon arrival at Vernon, I got off the train and was herded with the other tourists toward a bus going directly to la maison de Monet. It appeared to be a sardine can full of Americans. I know Iandrsquo;m a hypocrite for saying so, but I dreaded mounting that bus. So when I saw a sign at Bar Restaurant du Chemin de Fer (directly across from the station) that read, andldquo;Here Rent Bicycles,andrdquo; I was, of course, delighted, as it was a sunny, 70 degree day. I was wearing my favorite new vintage dress and a sun hat. What could be more French than riding around town on a bike in a skirt? Warning: this cafandeacute; only takes cash for bike rentals (about 12andndash;15 euros)! The author en bicyclette, in Giverny. The map supplied to me by the bar was, well, lacking in specifics. But the fun part of traveling is getting lost and getting found. After riding farther than I thought I should, and becoming quite sure that I would end up back in Paris eventually, bike in tow, some signs started popping up, directing me toward the maison in mind. Then I saw clusters of tourist groups, students and looky-loos all heading in one general direction. I found my way easily then, locked up my bike and, after standing in a worth-it line for admission, gained entry into the house Iandrsquo;d been waiting a decade to see. Forgoing the guided tour, I grabbed a map of the grounds and started meandering. That day boasted the nicest weather of my entire two-month stay in France, and I wouldnandrsquo;t have spent it any other way. A cloudless, warming sky showed sunlight upon hundreds of flowers in the main garden (what some might call a andldquo;backyardandrdquo;): row after row of flowers in every color and shape imaginable, tall vines of climbing flowers, lilies and lilacs and lavender filling the air. Arches of ivy crowned paths lined by tulips. Flowers hung off of trestles guiding the way back and forth from the main house, itself consumed in climbing ivy. andldquo;Jardin dandrsquo;Eau/Water Garden,andrdquo; proclaimed a sign above steps leading downward. I followed them down, through a small tunnel and up again, ascending into more bright sunlight attacking trees with gusto. A pond held two small, old boats floating in the shaded water littered with leaves. For some reason, I expected to have to walk quite far around the property to reach the real goal of my wanderings, but suddenly I turned a bend, and there it rose before me: the Japanese footbridge. The Japanese footbridge. My breath caught in my throat, and I experienced the same kind of feeling I got when I first saw the Eiffel Tower, or that I get every time I catch sight of the Empire State Building from a plane or bridge: the familiarity of a dream come to life. This structure resounded within me, the multiple occasions Iandrsquo;ve examined brushstrokes describing it echoing inside me like seeing your reflection in a mirror with a mirror behind youandmdash;dozens of pieces of familiarity singing at once into a chorus that illustrates the whole. The whole, tactile before me, its lavender flowers bouncing in the wind, glowing in the sun; the whole, quiet and old and real. I continued around the property, covering every inch and trying to absorb each flower that grew around me, trying to see the place through Monsieur Monetandrsquo;s eyes. Looking down at the pond, the water lilies in focus atop a blue, watery skyandrsquo;s reflection, it was especially easy to understand how the artist was so inspired to paint what he did, how he did. The subject of so much of Monetandrsquo;s work. But to really understand Monetandrsquo;s perspective, I had to explore his actual residence (where no photos are allowed, which I learned the hard way). For this New Yorker, the massive but cozy house, with room after room of sunny, vibrant color, and creaking with the beauty of age, was a dream house. Lace covered the windows, which were open to visitors to look at the gardens below. White walls were lined with brightly colored molding. The dining room was vast and a strong shade of yellow. But what struck me about the place was the art inside it. There are no actual Monet pieces; instead, Monet filled his home with the art that moved himandmdash;Japanese prints and other oriental art, rugs and furniture. Monet's house at Giverny. After a few hours of roaming Claudeandrsquo;s place (weandrsquo;re totally friends now), and snapping up a dozen postcards in his atelier-cum-gift-shop, I fetched my bike and decided to forgo the restaurant with the andldquo;Hot Dogs! Hamburgers!andrdquo; sign juste en face and do a little exploring. I ended up a short bike ride away at La Terrasse (87, rue Claude Monet), with a table all to myself, in the sun beside a lavender bush. I enjoyed a long, long lunch of tarte aux courgettes (sort of a zucchini pie) and un verre de rosandeacute; (or two), completed by a tarte normande, a French variation on the classic apple pieandmdash;a warm tart filled with cinnamon apples, topped with crandegrave;me fraandicirc;che. After lunch, having completely unwound myself by way of fresh air, beautiful art and good food, I slowly rode back to Vernon, enjoying the sun on my face, gathering freckles and listening to the wide silence of the country. I made it back to return my bike with a clean 20 minutes left to have a Coca Lite and reflect on my incredibly beautiful day. The kind of day that should force you to close your eyes, let the sun soak through your lids as you daydream . . . except my daydream was right in front of me. Related links: Fondation Claude Monet Giverny and Vernon Musandeacute;e Marmottan Monet Editorandrsquo;s note: Are you a Girlsandrsquo; Guide member yet? What are you waiting for? Find out more here. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=997 Amsterdam's Top Guilty Pleasures The perfect holiday has a number of vital ingredients, with the sheer beauty of a city normally top of the list. But following this, itandrsquo;s often the culinary highlights of a holiday that Iandrsquo;m still talking about many years after the trip itself. Sitting on a sunny terrace this afternoon (yes, Amsterdam is experiencing an early heat wave this year) I got everyone at the table to name their top foods from Amsterdam and put together a top 10 andldquo;best things youandrsquo;ll ever eat in Amsterdamandrdquo; list. Well actually, itandrsquo;s a top 13, as 10 seemed such a meager portion! So next time youandrsquo;re in Amsterdam, forget the diet and leave some space for these guilty pleasures. Red Velvet Cake at De Drie Graefjes, Eggerstraat 1 Lamb Kebab Wrap at Dappermarkt Beste Kebab (stall outstide Happy People Coffeeshop) Pho Soup at XINH Vietnamese, Elandsgracht 2 Tarte Au Citron at Patisserie Kuyt, Utrechtsestraat 109 Warm Medjool Dates stuffed with Parmesan, Wrapped in English Bacon at Bubbles andamp; Wines, Nes 37 Indian Sweet Potato Curry at Foodware, Looiersgracht 12 Shucked Fine De Claires Oysters at Cafandeacute;-Restaurant Amsterdam Chocolate Tart at CHEF! Traiterie, Raamsteeg 5 Banana Loempia (a Philippine dessert, made of thinly sliced bananas) at the Albert Cuypmarkt, corner of Eerste Sweelinckstraat Spare Ribs at Cafandeacute; de Klos, Kerkstraat 41 Sticky Toffee Cake at Le Pecheur, Reguliersdwarstraat 31 Luie Wijven Friet (Buffalo Fries), at Canvas, Volkskrantgebouw, Wibautstraat 150 Dutch Apple Pie at Cafe Hegeraad, Noordermarkt 34 http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=998 WHY Whether the French dip sandwich was invented here or not, lots of thought has gone into the redo of this historic spot. WHAT Chef Neal Fraser consulted on the menu when the oldest public house in L.A. re-opened after a restrained remodel, featuring red leatherette booths and historic black and white photos. The compact menu offers hand-sliced French dip sandwiches of beef, pork, turkey and lamb with au jus and andlsquo;atomicandrsquo; pickle spears, paired with sides including bacon-potato salad and mac andlsquo;n cheese. 118 E. 6th St., Downtown, 213.622.4090, colesfrenchdip.com. L andamp; D daily. MC, V, AE. Type: RestaurantRegion: EastsideNeighborhood: DowntownFeatures: Cocktails, Dinner, LunchPrice Range: $10-$16, $10-underCuisine Type: American http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1000 Co-owner Nick Lessins hard at work.Photo: Facebook Great Lake doesnandrsquo;t exactly need more love. Itandrsquo;s already the most universally acclaimed pizzeria in town, and has the incredibly long lines to prove it. But here are two more reasons to fawn over the Andersonville joint. According to Time Out, the andldquo;entire menu" is now "organic.andrdquo; While the shop has always tried to support sustainable products, this is the first time that the owners have been able to properly source every single product. But thatandrsquo;s not all! Apparently, it will also start to sell breakfast sandwiches in the very near future featuring housemade English muffins. Considering how good the crust is on those pizzas, we have to imagine that we'll have to get used to waiting in line for English muffins, too. [TOC] http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1001Marc by Marc Jacobs turns 10! To celebrate its 10th birthday, Marc by Marc Jacobs is releasing a Limited Edition Anniversary Re-Issue, available at the pop-up store in Harbour City from 11-20 April. This special capsule collection will feature some of the iconic styles from the past decade that fans will be familiar with. The womenandrsquo;s re-issue includes fitted military basics (jackets, vests, pants and skirts), silk dresses and scarves in abstract prints, as well as signature cotton t-shirts that mark the labelandrsquo;s 10th anniversary. The pieces are youthful and vintage-inspired. The iconic lacquer fruit belts, pins, and necklaces are so cute! Where to buy? Shop G318, Gateway, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. Tel: 2956 0886 http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1003 SHAREBAR This article previously appeared on Frommers.com If you restricted your movements to the parts of the world where people understand you, you might not get too far. After all, itandrsquo;s hard enough for an American to decipher directions given by a native Glaswegian, let alone negotiate foreign alphabets on a street sign in Asia. The language gap between Americans and Europeans is well-documented. While the number of Americans who speak a language other than English at home has more than doubled in the past three decades, according to a 2007 U.S. Census Bureau Report on languages, itandrsquo;s still only 20%. Compare that to 2006 European Commission findings that 56% of residents in EU countries speak more than one language and 28% speak two foreign languages, in addition to their mother tongue. Somehow Iandrsquo;ve made it through my travels knowing only English and German, the latter not very well. Itandrsquo;s not something Iandrsquo;m proud of, and the unopened language tapes piled on my shelves speak to good intentions gone awry. If youandrsquo;re hitting the road without the time to crack the books, here are a few tricks to circumvent the language barrier: Learn a few important phrases. Author and tour leader Beth Whitman of Wanderlust andamp; Lipstickdidnandrsquo;t speak Spanish before her solo motorcycle road trip from Seattle to Panama. What she did memorize: canny conversation to get herself through police checkpoints in Mexico and Central America. andldquo;I always told them I was meeting my husband in the next town, where I was taking language lessons,andrdquo; Whitman said. That simple sentence told the authorities that she not only knew the local geography, she had loved ones waiting for her nearby andmdash; even if they were fictional. Your international needs may not be as dramatic as Whitmanandrsquo;s. But knowing how to ask where the bathroom is andmdash; as well as hello, thank you, please, and excuse me andmdash; will be equally useful. Speak the phrases, even if you feel stupid. Approaching locals in their own language, no matter how mangled, is always better than assuming they know English. At worst, youandrsquo;ll get a shrug, but at the best, youandrsquo;ll get the help you need, along with a smile and possibly a friend. Plus if you donandrsquo;t practice, youandrsquo;ll never get better. andldquo;The only way you are going to learn is through real interactions,andrdquo; said Michael Schutzler, CEO of Livemocha, an online language community. andldquo;You arenandrsquo;t going to get that through a book.andrdquo; Technology can help. Apps aimed at overcoming the language barrier come out all the time. Look for language apps that pronounce phrases for you; some even have games to make learning more fun. One on my to-get list: Word Lens, an app that translates signs from Spanish into English from the photos you take on your iPhone. Adapt to the culture. Learning a destinationandrsquo;s customs can endear you as much to locals as speaking the language. Avoiding common tourist faux pas, such as expecting to eat dinner at 7p.m. in Buenos Aires or asking for milk in your afternoon coffee in Italy, lets people know you are trying to fit in, even if you canandrsquo;t say a word. Keep a thick skin. On her tours of Asia, Whitman andmdash; a slender, fit Seattleite andmdash; routinely finds sheandrsquo;s larger than the locals, which has led to some interesting comments. andldquo;Google andlsquo;Fat Tree Trunk,andrsquo;andrdquo; she said, of the name she received from ESL students in Vietnam. andldquo;Thereandrsquo;s probably a picture of me. You canandrsquo;t take it personally.andrdquo; Go anyway. My lack of language skills mean that I must point and nod, giggle and gesture, to get where I need to go. Itandrsquo;s not the most fluid way to travel. But Iandrsquo;d rather be lost in translation than sit at home on the sofa. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1005 Because this is exactly what the world needs right now. According to the UK Metro, a tower is scheduled to be built in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia called the Kingdom Tower. And according to current plans it will measure up to be one mile tall. Thatandrsquo;s 5280 feet. Currently, the tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai at 2716.5 feet, less than half the height of the proposed Kingdom Tower. It will cost around andpound;12 billion ($US 20 billion) to build. But really, do these sorts of projects ever run within the estimated budget? On the other hand, when youandrsquo;re talking billions of dollars, whatandrsquo;s a few million here and there. Itandrsquo;s not as if that could be used anywhere else. Sigh. The Kingdom Tower will be twice the size of this tower, the Burj Khalifa [Image: fieldsy.org / Flickr] The Kingdom Holding Company andmdash; owned by the Saudi royal family andmdash; will be financing the project. The tower will be home to hotels, offices, luxury apartments, and a shopping center. The announcement is not being celebrated by everyone in the construction industry. Rory Olcayto, deputy editor of The Architectsandrsquo; Journal, had this to say: The race to build the highest skyscraper is quite futile andndash; where do you stop? These buildings are missing the point and are a symbol of an old-fashioned way of thinking. Itandrsquo;s much better to look at something like the 3D China Central Television Headquarters in Beijing rather than a thrusting phallic tower. Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, an American company, will be overseeing the design and development of the Kingdom Tower. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1006There is no doubt that America's national parksare popular tourist destinations. The past few years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of visitors to the parks, and many of them have been setting attendance records as a result.With the summer fast approaching, many of us are no doubt making plans for our vacations, with many electing to visit a national park once again this year. The vast majority of those visitors will never wander far from their car, but to get a true sense of what the parks have to offer, you really should ditch the vehicle and strike out under your own power. In doing so, you'll get a much better sense of the landscapes around you, and have a better chance of connecting with nature too. Here are five ways that you can do just that.Hike the Great Smoky MountainsWith more than 800 miles of trail in Great Smoky Mountain National Park, there is a route for just about everyone. From short excursions and day hikes, to multi-day epics for the backpacker crowd, this is a park that is sure to please any outdoor enthusiast. With lush green forests, crystal clear streams, and breathtaking mountain tops, the Smoky Mountains have it all. But you can't experience the best they have to offer from you car, so put on your hiking shoes and hit the trail. I recommend the 8-mile round-trip hike to Charlies Bunion, a popular mountain walk that is more than worth the effort.Raft The Grand CanyonThe Grand Canyon is truly one of the great natural wonders of the world. It is so vast in size and scope that you simply have to see it to truly understand just how large it really is. That size is magnified even further while you're rafting the mighty Colorado River, with the mile-high walls of the Canyon looming far overhead. Visitors have a number of options when it comes to paddling the river, ranging from short half and full day excursions to multi-day options lasting as much as 25 days in length. The whitewater in the Grand Canyon will have your heart pounding in your chest, and once you've calmed down from the adrenaline rush, you can enjoy a gentle drift down the Colorado, with those amazing landscapes completely surrounding you. Go Climbing In YosemiteIn addition to being one of the most beautiful places you will ever see, Yosemite also happens to be one of the great rock climbing destinations on the planet. Each year, climbers from all over the world descend on the park to test their skills on its legendary rock walls, some of which are so famous that they are well known by their unique names. There are routes available for all skill levels, including beginners, but obviously this is not an activity for everyone. For those not wanting to climb rock walls, I'd recommend the Half-Dome Summit Trail, which offers access to the top of one of Yosemite's most famous landmarks along a route that includes cables to help you make your way. (Permit required!)Kayak The North Woods in VoyageursVoyageurs National Park, located in the extreme northern border of Minnesota and Canada, is one of the best hidden gems in the entire National Park System. It is remote, pristine, and quiet, with some of the thickest forests you'll find in the U.S. The best way to explore this park, no, the only way to explore this park, is from the seat of a kayak. Visitors can paddle through a series of interconnected waterways that wander past wilderness islands and shorelines with plenty of wildlife to view along the way. If you have more than a day, you may want to camp at one of the campsites that are only accessible by boat.Cycle Through AcadiaWith its spectacular mix of ocean views and mountain vistas, Acadia National Park, located inMaine, makes for a fantastic summertime destination. But to really see the park, you should leave your vehicle behind and hop on your bicycle instead. The 27-mile long Park Loop Road is an excellent ride for those who want to explore the park, but that route can get crowded with cars, especially in the summer. For more solitude, hit the Heart of Acadia loop trail, which is a 22-mile long road that is completely free of motor vehicles. The path is best suited for mountain bikes, but offers some of the best views in the park, including scenic overlooks that will take your breath away. You won't be disappointed!While these are perfect examples of national park adventures sans cars, nearly every park in the U.S. system has similar options. Need further incentive to explore the park under your own power this year? Consider this, the price of gas is expected to hit record levels this summer, which means you can save a little cash by leaving the car behind and exploring on foot, bike, or other means.[Photos courtesy of the National Park Service]http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1007 Okay, wow. It's May 3 already. Have you made your Cinco de Mayo plans yet? Thursday is going to becrazy, as in crazy fun and crazy tasty and crazy awesome, so long as you know where to go to properly celebrate. Obviously some of the US' big cities will have a range of public parties happening, so here's a few to consider if you're in or around... Chicago andmiddot; Pilsen is the epicenter for Chicago's Mexican community and one of its best art districts, so you know that this lower West Side nabe will have the most hopping Cinco de Mayo shindig. Follow the crowds to the divey bars serving everything from margaritas to micheladas (beer cocktails with lime juice, salt, Worcestshire sauce, soy sauce, Tabasco, powdered chilies, tomato juice and ice), taquerias slinging real-deal Mexican food or just grab a bite at a tamale cart and watch the drunken revelers. andmiddot; If your holiday plans revolve around getting wasted, join the freeandmdash;we repeat, freeandmdash;Cinco de Mayo Trolley Pub Crawl. At Lottie's, you'll board a trolley stocked with free Dos Equis that will bring you to two other bars for $5 call tequilas, $2 chips and salsa, and $1 tacos. andmiddot; Foodies who want something beyond dollar tacos are luck to have Mexican cuisine master Rick Bayless in town. Head to his Frontera restaurant for upscale Mexican eats. Special for Cinco de Mayo, it will serve two types of enchiladasandmdash;a red chile with pork and a green chile with shrimpandmdash;and a margarita ice for dessert. andmiddot; Salud Tequila Lounge will throw its annual Cinco de Mayo Street Festival, an 11-hour bash. Get ready to move it at this hopping clubandmdash;live mariachi, Latin soul and salsa music will get you out on the dance floor. The late-night dance party won't be complete without downing some of Salud's tequila-filled cocktails, like the strawberry margarita or a mojito. andmiddot; To keep the party going, head to Little Village for the three-day Cinco de Mayo Festival. From May 6 to 8, chow down on authentic eats and hear live bands at the family friendly fiesta. [Photo: Esparta] http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1008 This post previously appeared on Frommers.com Wine bottles break. You may think that youandrsquo;ve packed that Bordeaux safely inside your suitcase, stuffing the vintage between your clothes or putting a sock over the delicate neck. But itandrsquo;s still a bottle andmdash; and it still can break. I learned this lesson the hard way on my first trip to Napa Valley. Eager to get as many bottles home as I could, I wrapped my wine in pashminas, sure that the cushion would adequately thwart overeager baggage handlers. But I was wrong. My suitcase came off the belt andhellip; dripping. I lost not only my pashminas that day, but several premier bottles, including a delicious chocolate port that I mourned for much longer than I did the cover-ups. Now Iandrsquo;m more savvy about how andmdash; and when andmdash; to pack or ship wine and liquor. Iandrsquo;ve managed to get Spanish cavas, Mendoza Malbecs, and Tequila tequila home without destroying any more clothing (remember that the TSA andmdash; and security in many countries andmdash; forbid you to carry liquids greater than 3 oz. on the plane, unless you buy from a duty-free store). If touring wineries is on your travel agenda, here are a few tips on how to get your vintage back intact: Buy a wineskin. These protective holders, available in wine stores, wineries, and many online retailers, are the cheapest way to protect your purchase. The skin sheaths your bottle in plastic with an interior bubble wrap, so you can pack it in your suitcase without fear. Make sure your skin that has a double seal to prevent spillage, in case the worst does happen. Note: Although some skins claim they are reusable, the seal usually doesnandrsquo;t close as firmly the second time around. Youandrsquo;re better off buying another. Wineskins typically cost under $15. Consider buying a wine suitcase. If youandrsquo;re the type who makes winery vacations a regular event, youandrsquo;re ready to upgrade to a wine suitcase. You can find some under $100 that claim to be break-proof, but if you want to be sure, invest in a stainless steel wine suitcase thatandrsquo;s built to withstand the extreme temperatures of an airplaneandrsquo;s cargo (expect to pay $200 to $500). Styrofoam inserts in the suitcases allow baggage handlers to do their worst. Check the list. Most overseas wineries have lists of distributors that carry their wine, so donandrsquo;t be afraid to ask for it. andldquo;All of our wine you can find in the States,andrdquo; said Jimena Turner, director of wine education at Bodega Catena Zapata (www.catenawines.com) in Mendoza, Argentina. Thereandrsquo;s no sense shipping home a case if you can find it down the street. Ship it, if your state allows it. The laws governing interstate wine shipment are complex, to say the least. U.S. Postal Service forbids you to ship wine, and FedEx and UPS have regulations that generally rule out shipping if youandrsquo;re an individual. What you need to know: does your state accept direct wine shipments? (Thirteen states do not.) Has the winery you are buying from bought a reciprocal license to ship out of state? (Most states require this). Find out where your state stands at Free the Grapes (www.freethegrapes.org). If you do ship, Cecila Fernadez Gimeno, a retailer at the Vines of Mendoza(www.vinesofmendoza.com), has some tips: Send your wine to work, where someone can sign for it. Mind the weather; some retailers hold wine during the hot summer months. And if your state doesnandrsquo;t accept the wine, send it to a friend or family member in another state, but andldquo;it should be someone who you know doesnandrsquo;t drink,andrdquo; she said. Make friends with a distributor. Letandrsquo;s say youandrsquo;re a true oenophile, one who has dreams of a wine cellar and the means to fill it. Then youandrsquo;re going to want to befriend a local distributor who can handle large shipments of wine for you andmdash; and deal with U.S. Customs duty fees and regulations, advised global wine consultant Charlie Arturaola (http://charliewines.com). andldquo;Let someone take care of it for you,andrdquo; he said. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1014 Hotels and art seem to go hand in hand, and the more creative the results, the bigger interest from the publicandhellip;naturally. Around this place, we like to pretend weandrsquo;re cultured too, and so weandrsquo;re stoked to hear Le Meridien Hotels are offering a new Unlock Art program. Le Meridien has created new partnerships with art museums to allow special access to contemporary cultural centers for guests around the world. All you need is the Unlock Art passandhellip;which, conveniently, doubles as your room key. (Or the key doubles as the pass, really. Depends on your priorities.) Just show up at the museum with your key card and youandrsquo;re granted automatic access. So far in the USA, Le Meridien San Francisco is offering access to the Yerba Buena Centre for the Arts, and the Le MeridienPhiladelphia has a partnership with the cityandrsquo;s Institute of Contemporary Art. Youandrsquo;ll also find this sweet deal inNice, France, and London, England, with access to the Tate. Image: Alberto OG/Flickr The key cards themselves are works of art, created exclusively by artists like Hisham Bharoocha, Sam Samore, and Yan Lei. These geniuses were all picked especially by the hotel chainandrsquo;s global cultural curator (um, can we be first in line to steal his job?), Jerome Sans. In other words, Le Meridien doesnandrsquo;t take its art lightly, so you can expect a pretty awesome art experience. We dig this idea, and actually prefer it to the andldquo;shock tacticandrdquo; used by other hotels to draw attention. Why? Well, itandrsquo;s clear Le Meridien cares about the artwork it choses to promo, and itandrsquo;s sorta a win-win situation for everyone. Hotel gets all cultural, museums get more business, artists get recognition, and customers get happy. Marketing at its finest! http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1015Enter the MINI Cooper Contest by May 27th for your chance to win a brand new MINI Countryman! [Photo Courtesy of www.minispace.com] Are you itching to ditch the office and take off with all your friends for some high adventure? Wish you could hit the lake and race from one shore to the other? Take a road trip somewhere youandrsquo;ve never been, return with a new secret and some stories to tell? Youandrsquo;ve come to the right place. Donandrsquo;t just sit there andndash; join the Wanderlust movement! Wanderlust is about escaping the day-to-day and celebrating freedom from the mundane. Share your idea on how you plan to do it with the MINI community for a chance to win weekly prizes like a MINI Countryman Picnic Seat Set. The uploaded idea with the most weekly community votes will win and be announced each Tuesday of the following week. If you turn your idea into reality and tell the story here on MINI Space, youandrsquo;ll have the chance to win the big one andndash; a brand new MINI Countryman! The most impressive and realized event gets selected by our jury as winner of the MINI Countryman on June 6 so stay tuned! MINI Countryman Wanderlust starts April 4 and ends May 27, 2011. Donandrsquo;t just sit there. Letandrsquo;s do it! Got a fresh new idea to pull you and your friends out of the daily grind? Nothing is too big or too small. Enter your idea here!http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1017 Measured at approximately 5,289 acres, the Vail Ski Resort is the largest single mountain ski resort in the United States and the second largest resort in all of North America (next to Whistler Blackcomb). With a rich history and lively village surrounding the base of the resort, it's a destination that has plenty to offer both avid skiers andamp; relaxation seekers. As the 2010/2011 ski season officially comes to a close, there are still plenty of reasons to visit the quaint mountain town for its variety of summer activities. If you've been eyeing the wide open expanses of Colorado's Rockies, then don't miss my top 8 picks of the best that Vail has to offer: 1. Betty Ford Alpine GardensVail received its first major recognition as an international ski resort in the mid 1970's when President Gerald Ford carried out a large part of the nation's business from his family's home in the town. The Fords left a visible legacy throughout the valley and in 1988, the Vail Alpine Garden Foundation honored former First Lady Betty Ford by naming the world's highest botanical garden (8,200 ft.) in her honor. The gardens feature about 2,000 varieties of plants including 500 varieties of wildflowers and high elevation flora. Located just a few miles west of the main town, the gardens are open to the public (free) from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and are certainly worth a visit for those looking for a peaceful afternoon outdoors. 2. Colorado Ski andamp; Snowboard MuseumJust outside the center of Vail's main village, you'll find the Colorado Ski Museum; a fascinating collection of memorabilia that illustrates the timeline of Vail's establishment as well as the evolution of snow sports in the state of Colorado. The museum gives especially valuable insight into the Army's Tenth Mountain Division, which trained during the 1940's in the mountains southeast of Vail and would later influence Vail's development as a ski resort. If the progression of Olympic ski outfits interests you, or you're curious to find out why Colorado rejected to host the 1976 Winter Olympics, then pay a visit to the Colorado Ski andamp; Snowboard museum. Best of all, it's completely free! 3. Cinandeacute;bistro / bōlDubbed as "The new center of Vail", the Solaris complex is a brand new residence andamp; entertainment development that took the place of the long-standing Crossroads Shopping Center. Two of the entertainment highlights at Solaris are Cinandeacute;bistro, a multi-screen premium movie theater that serves food andamp; beverages to a 21-and-up audience and the neighboringbōl, an ultra-chic futuristic bowling alley that features 10 lanes under a row of giant LED screens and Euro-club mood lighting. Both offer a great selection of food, drinks and comfortable spots to lounge with all those hip new friends you've made. Both venues are pricey, but if you're looking to splurge on a night of fun while in Vail, then these are the places to do it. 4. Block 16 @ The SebastianIf you've been to Vail in the past few years, then you'll notice that the former Vail Plaza Hotel andamp; Club has a new name - the Sebastian Hotel. After being taken over by a family-owned investment group out of Mexico City, the Vail Plaza was given a minor makeover and name change. With this makeover came the addition of a few new restaurants; including a refined "visionary" new restaurant called Block 16. Between an extensive wine selection, an exciting menu full of variety and an excellent staff, there's plenty to love about Block 16. The prices are slightly higher than the majority of the restaurants in Vail, but one bite of the wagyu beef or duck confit with orange will make all of those thoughts disappear. 5. Club 8150 / Samana LoungeIf you still have energy after the day's activities and are searching for a good nightlife scene, check out the subterranean Samana Lounge or the impressive Club 8150. Both have a reputation for offering an impressive lineup of DJ's and touring artists during the winter season, and you can be sure to find a lively, young crowd that loves to dance on most weekend nights. 6. Game Creek ClubFor those of you getting married, looking to host a memorable company dinner, or really want to go all-out for a private dining experience, look no further than the Game Creek Club. Accessible only by a Gondola ride that links up with a private snowcat, the Game Creek Club is an expansive lodge tucked away on the backside of Vail's Eagle's Nest Ridge. In addition to a beautiful sprawling balcony perfectly situated for watching the sun set over a glass of Pinot, the Game Creek Club offers lavish 4 course meals and a comfortable setting that's nice, but not overly stuffy. Prices are fitting for such an exclusive outing but it's by far one of the best and most unique experience Vail has to offer, and won't be forgotten in a hurry. Reservations can be made over the phone at (970) 754-4275. 7. Ice Skating @ Vail Square / Lionshead VillageLining the bottom of the mountain just West of the main village lies the posh andamp; picturesque Lionshead Village. At Lionshead, you'll find a selection of art galleries, restaurants and coffee bars located around a beautiful skating rink. During the winter months, this is a great place to bring the family and cozy up next to a fire pit while the kids have a go at testing their skating abilities. 8. Blue Sky ChairliftDuring the ski season, many locals will tell you that the best section of Vail's 5,000+ acres is the secluded and less crowded backcountry of Blue Sky Basin. At the 11,480 foot summit, you'll find Belle's Camp; a warming hut and picnic area with a view of the surrounding Rockies that cannot be beat. Blue Sky has all types of terrain to choose from and just getting there is an adventure in itself. The only downside is that the lifts on this side of the mountain close earlier, so plan accordingly. Of course, this list is just the tip of the icicle when it comes to Vail's attractions. There are enough hot tubs, art galleries, and quaint restaurants to keep most visitors busy for a jam-packed 4-5 days all year round. If you're a fan of Vail and have some additional inside information that is missing from this list, give us the scoop andamp; leave a comment below! Stephen traveled to the Vail Film Festival on a trip sponsored by Olympus. No editorial content was guaranteed and he was free to openly experiment with Olympus's cameras while snowboarding, bathing in picturesque hot tubs, and rubbing elbows with A-list celebrities http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1023 This year marks the 76th anniversary of the Moscow metro system. From the public to the private areas, the stunning architectural images showcase one of the world's most fascinating transportation masterpieces, far exceeding the beauty of those in the United States.Opened in 1935 with one 11 kilometer line and 13 stations, it was the first underground rail system in the then Soviet Union. Today, the system has 182 stations and a route length of 301.2 kilometers and is the second most heavily-used rapid transit system, just behind Tokyo. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1024 From new shoes to new paint jobs, Virgin Atlantic has had quite the push into 2011, and their latest in-flight distraction is just one more thing to add to the list. Until long-haul in-flight becomes the must-have travel accessory, Virgin Atlantic has a temporary solution to help you get your social media fix while traveling here and there. The airlineandrsquo;s Travel Tip Catcher is just part of the larger vTravelled community, and theyandrsquo;re looking for passengers to share all their travel tips and tricks...while one the plane! Depending on your travel patternsandmdash;business or pleasureandmdash;you can browse all kinds of different suggestions on what to do when you finally arrive. Business travelers can find a good place to seal the deal and blow most of their expense account, while budget travelers can jot down the latest and greatest in food truck finds that wonandrsquo;t break the bank. The Travel Tip Catcher is totally able to be filtered by a number of different categories and destinations, and sharing your own is very easy. When on board, just remember to keep things to 140 characters, as the next generation of travel stuff is limited to short and sweet only. The fun doesnandrsquo;t end when you head off the plane, as back on the ground youandrsquo;re welcome to send in your tips through their Twitter accountandmdash;@vTravelled. Right now theyandrsquo;re just rolling things out on a couple of their new planes, but all their new Airbus A330s should have the latest travel technology on board once they start flying them over the next couple of years. We love the interactive aspect of things, and itandrsquo;s a little more interesting than an in-flight quiz game or another episode of 30 Rock. Having the opportunity to peruse some actual feedback from fellow tourists, travelers, and vacationers might just reveal something a little more unique than the traditional opinions from old fashioned guidebooks. Letandrsquo;s just hope that Virgin Atlantic flyers donandrsquo;t let out all the good secrets! [Photo: Virgin Atlantic via VTravelled] http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1029One of the best parts of traveling is finding distinctive souvenirs that conjure up the experiences from vacation. The airline industryandrsquo;s restrictions have made it especially difficult for travelistas to bring back reminders of favorite trips, butThe Travelerandrsquo;s Collection helps solve that problem. On this new website, you can peruse and purchase distinctive pieces from artisans around the globe, evoking both style and origin. Youandrsquo;ll also feel a philanthropic and personal connection by purchasing here, as the site supports local artisans seeking to better their lives by selling their crafts, and you can read their individual profiles. Five percent of the siteandrsquo;s net revenues are donated toward supporting Vital Voices, an organization that empowers women entrepreneurs. Here are some of our favorite finds (not all may be available): Housewarming gift: Moroccan Tea Glasses - $30; African Earth Wire Baskets - $17 For the kids: Bead and Wire Elephant-$26 ; Small Babushka Doll-$14 For the traveler: Day drifter half flap - $125 For the fashionista: The Empress's Large Cuff - $425; Pamela Sandals -- $100http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1028 Nope, it isnandrsquo;t travelling from vineyard to vineyard, sampling expensive wines and finding any excuse to get intoxicated while being jostled around on a crowded bus with smelly seniorsandndash;itandrsquo;s recreating an actual route from hundreds of years ago. This month, London raised its Tower Bridge to allow the last ever shipment of wine to pass through the city, following the historical centuries-old route beginning in Bordeaux. A 14-day journey, the 100-year-old former wine cargo ship dubbed The Irene carried 9,072 bottles of limited edition claret. Image: lowjumpingfrog/Flickr The ship itself has remained historically significant, despite it being replaced by railway deliveries not long after it was built in 1907. But at 103-feet, made entirely of wood and fully restored since its glory days, The Irene was a sight to see sailing through industrial London on the Thames. However, you donandrsquo;t need to embark on a monumental journey to enjoy good wine. Did you know you can actually take full wine vacations and cruises? In the Mediterranean, you can hop aboard a four-masted sailing ship named the Sea Cloud, sail around Tunisia or Italy, sip Moscato di Pantelleria, and enjoy fine dining while talking to vineyard owners who make this sort of thing their lifestyle. Not bad, right? Or if youandrsquo;d rather not float around on the sea, you can book a private helicopter for a day trip from Barcelona to Prioratandhellip;home to the most expensive wines in Spain. Youandrsquo;ll also meet people with both hands in the wine industry, and someone else will arrange the whole trip for you. However, we do recommend you refrain from getting sloshed and serenading your hosts with your personal rendition of andldquo;Sweet Home Alabamaandrdquo; (not that itandrsquo;s ever happened to any of us). http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1038Imagine walking into one of the worldandrsquo;s most beautiful and luxurious hotels, sipping on a martini customized to your preference, while dining on some of the most exquisite cuisine. Well imagine no further, such a place truly exists. This week Travel Onion hosted an event inviting some of Londonandrsquo;s finest bloggers to unwind at the elegant Connaught Hotel bar. In attendance was Boon of the London Insider, William of London is Cool, Tom of Tired of London, Tired of Life, Julie of A Lady in London, Denise of The Wine Sleuth, and Jane of Janeandrsquo;s London. The Connaught Bar has long had a reputation as one of Londonandrsquo;s top destinations for the perfect martini, which was the highlight of the evening. Agostino Perrone, Head Mixologist and International Bartender of the Year 2010, crafted a personalized martini for each guest. With seven different flavors to choose from, the bitters offer extracts of lavender, coriander, cardamom, ginger, grapefruit, liquorice or vanilla, to create a truly memorable martini. Following the cocktails was a series of appetizers, which were designed and created by award-winning Chef, Handeacute;landegrave;ne Darroze. Each dish was as elegant as it was delicious, crafted with great skill and care. Chef Darroze served appetizers which included sea bream tartar andamp; avocado, langoustine mousseline with a lemon and crab cakes with a side of a citrus mayo. And just when you think our guests had enough to drink, the hotel surprises them with more libations serving up some Laurent Perrier Champagne. One guest, William, described his experience in detail. andldquo;The quality of service, the care and attention to detail and the quality of the drinks, along with the fantastic ambiance and beauty of the Connaught Bar combine to create an experience that is as good as it getsandhellip;it really is a very special and cool placeandhellip;andrdquo; An experience we are sure is salient among all who visit the alluring renowned establishment. We would like to thank those at the Connaught Hotel for being amazing hosts to and truly look forward to our next meeting! For more information on the Connaught Hotel visit their websitehttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1039This week, the team at Travel Onion, along with some of D.C.andrsquo;s inspiring writers, set sail on the Potomac Riverboat Company's Skipjack Minnie V. Sailboat! Those in attendance included Tonya and Ian of World World Footprints, Jason of DCFud, Whitney of Pamelaandrsquo;s Punch and Mike of GregsListDC. The trip was a blast from the past; the Skipjack Minnie V. is a sailboat with an illustrious history. Built in 1906 in Wenonah, on Deal Island located off of Marylandandrsquo;s Eastern shore, the ship has survived many generations. It began its life in the oyster dredging business, until being refurbished and rebuilt in 1981 by Lebourne Smith. The Minnie V. now sets sail on the Potomac, providing local residents and visitors with a fresh look at the river's scenic landscape. Everyone aboard kicked back and relaxed while enjoying the beauty of a sunset on the river. We would like to thank the Potomac Riverboat Company for a wonderful time aboard the Skipjack Minnie V., and all of our friends for joining us! For those interested, the experience on the Skipjack Minnie V. lasts approximately 90 minutes and departs from the National Harbor dock in National Harbor, MD. Reservations are not required but highly recommended, as there is limited seating aboard. For more information on pricing and tickets please visit their website.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1042 Kristine and John Woodward with Lucy - photo by A. Jesse Jiryu Davis for thelodownny.com Neighborhood galleries will stay open late this Thursday for Third Thursdays, a monthly event from the LES Business Improvement District showcasing the Lower East Sideandrsquo;s flourishing arts scene. Galleries will be open until 9pm and the New Museum is offering free evening admission. The Lo-Down is pleased to be the local media sponsor of the event and is profiling a participating gallery each month. We recently stopped in to chat with John and Kristine Woodward, co-owners of The Woodward Gallery, a nearly 6,000-sq.ft. space at 133 Eldridge St. near Delancey St. The galleryandrsquo;s current exhibition andldquo;20 in 11andrdquo; is a group show of artists from around the world who havenandrsquo;t exhibited at Woodward. A few of the andldquo;20andrdquo; include David Bender, Patrick Christie, Jay Constantine, Lisa French and Abby Goodman, Slavka Kolesar and Tetiana Zakharova. On view through July 23, the show cuts a wide swath featuring Flemish-influenced portrait paintings, modern figurative works and super realism, to intricate dot paintings and detailed paper sculpture. John and Kristine Woodward, owners of the eponymous Woodward Gallery, were pioneers when they moved their gallery from Soho to the Lower East Side in December 2006. While the LES neighborhood was only a short hop away, it was worlds away from the hurly-burly of Soho and pretention of the Chelsea gallery scene which was just fine with them. Shortly after their move, nothing drove the cultural differences home more than an experience with their new next-door neighbor on Eldridge St. andmdash; a Buddhist temple. andldquo;The woman from the temple insisted on blessing the gallery after we completed renovations,andrdquo; John recalls; a gracious gesture that wouldnandrsquo;t have happened in Soho or Chelsea. The Woodwards decided to paint their storefront gallery at 133 Eldridge a shiny fire engine red, matching the templeandrsquo;s color. No longer pioneersandmdash;there are now 60 some galleries on the LES plus the New Museumandmdash;the couple are a fixture in the neighborhood, welcoming art lovers and the simply curious alike. Their Chinese Shar-Pei dogsandmdash;Lucy and Ethelandmdash;are a constant presence and the galleryandrsquo;s official andldquo;greeting committee.andrdquo; The Storefront at 133 Eldridge St., where Lucy andamp; Ethel keep watch - photo courtesy of Woodward Gallery Of the move from Soho, andldquo;John and I have always said we need to feel enthusiastic and positive about what we do,andrdquo; says Kristine, comfortably seated in a black leather chair in the galleryandrsquo;s lower-level which houses meeting and show space, as well as some storage. andldquo;When our neighbors became Gucci and Chanel, we found collectors would visit less often and their curators or their consultants or decorators would come in,andrdquo; she relates. andldquo;It wasnandrsquo;t about art anymore. We wanted to promote art and new artists.andrdquo; A chef + a nurse start collecting art The couple began collecting and showing art from their apartment in 1992 after returning from an international art conference in Sweden. Both were already intensely interested in art and collecting and planned to set up a gallery even as they were enmeshed in non-art-related careers. A sculptor, John had gone to School of Visual Arts and did a stint as a gallery assistant at Helen Drutt Gallery after graduating. He also worked briefly at Pie in the Sky, a long-gone restaurant at 3rd Ave., near 17th St., where he occasionally delivered sandwiches on croissants to Andy Warhol at The Factory. John lived on the LES for a short time at 161 Essex St. and became friendly with Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. Jasper Johns was a neighbor. Eventually, John became a chef at The Four Seasons, then a private chef for a family in Seal Harbor, Maine. Skylands, the estate where he worked, is now owned by domestic doyenne Martha Stewart. He now serves as the art curator for the Four Seasons Restaurant. Kristine, a critical care nurse at Beth Israel Hospital, had no formal art training but cultivated her critical eye with aplomb. Returning from the art conference andldquo;felt like a calling to open a gallery,andrdquo; John recollects. andldquo;As a lay person, I found myself enthusiastically encouraging people to buy what I liked,andrdquo; Kristine notes. She became skilled at identifying compelling artists, spotting new talent, acquiring works of art and courting collectors. The coupleandrsquo;s first gallery opened in 1994 at 419 Lafayette St. on the 5th floorandmdash;their first show was titled andldquo;Aesthetic Mystic,andrdquo; a group exhibition of artists who had an interest in art and mysticism. The pair kept their jobs in order to help finance art purchases. Among their first customers were doctors at the hospital. Kristine quit her job in nursing in 1998, the same year the coupleandrsquo;s daughter was born. The gallery eventually moved from Lafayette St. to 476 Broome St. But by the early- to mid-2000s, the Woodwards found Soho had lost its edge and they wanted to expand. andldquo;We wanted to be on the ground floor. We first went to Chelsea and gave it a shot but we didnandrsquo;t ever really want Chelsea,andrdquo; John recalls. andldquo;Our mission had always been to bring beautiful aesthetics to the public, without an attitude. We encourage people to ask questions,andrdquo; Kristine says. On artists and collecting The Woodward Gallery currently has a dozen artists in its stableandmdash;they include Richard Hambleton, Knox Martin, Lady Pink, Matt Siren and Cristina Vergano. It owns and shows dozens more including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Wilhelm de Kooning, Keith Haring, Robert Indiana, Ellsworth Kelly, Roy Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha and Andy Warhol. In the early years, any profit the couple made was used to purchase more art. They decided they wouldnandrsquo;t buy without mutually agreeing on a work and an artist, though Kristine now takes the lead in purchasing and visiting artists: andldquo;We have similar interests,andrdquo; she says, adding andldquo;My only purchase without John was a Pollock painting that I made at an art fair. I bought it on the spot because I knew I wanted it for a specific client. I liked it and I knew I would be able to sell it.andrdquo; Installation view: Curt Hoppe, Clayton, and Lisa French, Italia That gut instinct and a finely tuned aesthetic have served The Woodward Gallery well. andldquo;We are a team and weandrsquo;ve always agreed on our purchases,andrdquo; Kristine notes, receiving a nod from John. Specializing in contemporary fine art, the gallery owns nearly 10,000 pieces of art. The andldquo;20 in 11andPrime; show marks the first time in five years that the gallery put out a call for submissionsandmdash;it receives thousands of unsolicited submissions each year. John chose the participating artists and curated the current show. Internet sales are approaching 50%, according to the couple and are just as important as the gallery itself. andldquo;If you want to succeed as a gallery you better have a good website,andrdquo; John says. On the space, the LES vs. Chelsea The couple did a gut renovation at 133 Eldridge, the site of a former Portuguese Jewish temple, a prop and a rug factory. andldquo;We were the third gallery down here at the time we arrived. The New Museum had broken ground. But people thought we were crazy,andrdquo; John says. andldquo;Space was our number one issue. We werenandrsquo;t able to expand where we were and there was no property in Soho that was interesting or affordable.andrdquo; nstallation view: Kiseok Kim, Plastic; James Grashow, Cock; Jeremy Szopinski, It Never Happened; and Michael Joyce, Cat and Box andldquo;The community aspect of the LES is going to help the art world to sustain itself here,andrdquo; Kristine notes. andldquo;You have to fit into the nature of the neighborhoodandmdash;itandrsquo;s a community-based atmosphere which is different from Chelsea. Thatandrsquo;s a good thing and thereandrsquo;s a collective base under the age of 30 thatandrsquo;s very powerful and can only get bigger,andrdquo; John says, adding andldquo;Itandrsquo;s a a place where new ideas can get hatched.andrdquo; Next up: The Woodwards are excited about Knox Martinandrsquo;s Whaling Wall Mural Project, a public art mural that will go up at 334 Grand Street by the end of the summer. The mural represents the artistandrsquo;s interest in raising awareness about the practice of whale hunting and promoting world peace. To donate funds for the muralandrsquo;s completion, click here. For a list of local galleries participating in LES Third Thursdays, visit the Lower East Side BIDandrsquo;s here or pick up a guide in their visitorsandrsquo; center located at 54 Orchard Street. Tobi Elkin is a writer, editor and interviewer who lives in the Lower East Side and is a regular reader of The Lo-Down. Her diverse interests include arts and entertainment, film, food and cultural critique. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1043 Where: JoLe: Farm to Table, Calistoga in Napa Valley Why we went: Napa Valley may be Michelin-star central, but JoLe caught our eye because its chef owners - Matt and Sonjia Spector andndash; ran the insanely popular Matyson Restaurant back in Philadelphia. Since the husband-wife team moved to Calistoga, theyandrsquo;ve racked up accolades in their new home. Whoandrsquo;s there? Located in the boutique Mount View Hotel, JoLe oozes sophistication in the only Napa Valley town that still seems agriculturally based. The crowd on a May Saturday night looked Wine Country relaxed, in jean and button-down shirts. At first we were bummed by our table by the kitchen, but then we realized we could watch the pastry chef at work at an open counter. Chowing down: The menu is made of small plates ranging from $7 to $19. You can put together a five-course tasting menu for $50 (you choose your courses) and add wine pairings for another $30. Between the two of us, we tasted most of the menu andndash; and then added on a dessert course to share at the end. Among the dishes we picked: grilled asparagus with balsamic vinegar and strawberries, grilled octopus, bacon and chorizo stuffed dates, veal sweetbreads with fava beans, foie gras mousse in endive (yes, this was a very politically incorrect meal), seared scallops with tabboulah salad, crispy duck rillette with dandelion greens, crispy lambandrsquo;s neck and pork belly with fried green tomatoes and cheesy grits. Don insisted on splitting a piece of coconut cream pie for dessert. Um, yeah. We were full. Libations: Hereandrsquo;s where JoLe made its mark. All of the wines served with our courses were unusual varietals that perfectly matched our food. My grilled octopus came with a 2010 Qupe Marsanne, while the foie gras was paired with a Calistoga Charbono that was so good, I begged the sommelier to let me know where he got it (from a small vineyard called Shypoke). The wines turned what was already an innovative menu into a memorable night out. Order this:Comedian Jim Gaffigan calls bacon the andldquo;Fairy dust of the food world.andrdquo; Pair it with chorizo and stuff it in a date? If you donandrsquo;t like it, we probably arenandrsquo;t friends. You should also save room for dessert; JoLe celebrates its pastries, so much so that the owners have opened The Bakeshop nearby. Meh: I ordered the duck rilllettes primarily for the dandelion greens, which I love (my grandma used to make salads out of dandelions). But the dish faced stiff competition, so we felt it was the least memorable among them. The Damage: $216.41. Go back? Napa Valley is full of so many great restaurants that itandrsquo;s hard to go back to the same place. But I would absolutely recommend it to foodie friends, particularly if you are staying in Calistoga. Deets: Open for dinner seven days a week. Make reservations on weekends and holidays. Where: JoLe: Farm to Table, Calistoga in Napa Valley Why we went: Napa Valley may be Michelin-star central, but JoLe caught our eye because its chef owners - Matt and Sonjia Spector andndash; ran the insanely popular Matyson Restaurant back in Philadelphia. Since the husband-wife team moved to Calistoga, theyandrsquo;ve racked up accolades in their new home. Whoandrsquo;s there? Located in the boutique Mount View Hotel, JoLe oozes sophistication in the only Napa Valley town that still seems agriculturally based. The crowd on a May Saturday night looked Wine Country relaxed, in jean and button-down shirts. At first we were bummed by our table by the kitchen, but then we realized we could watch the pastry chef at work at an open counter. Chowing down: The menu is made of small plates ranging from $7 to $19. You can put together a five-course tasting menu for $50 (you choose your courses) and add wine pairings for another $30. Between the two of us, we tasted most of the menu andndash; and then added on a dessert course to share at the end. Among the dishes we picked: grilled asparagus with balsamic vinegar and strawberries, grilled octopus, bacon and chorizo stuffed dates, veal sweetbreads with fava beans, foie gras mousse in endive (yes, this was a very politically incorrect meal), seared scallops with tabboulah salad, crispy duck rillette with dandelion greens, crispy lambandrsquo;s neck and pork belly with fried green tomatoes and cheesy grits. Don insisted on splitting a piece of coconut cream pie for dessert. Um, yeah. We were full. Libations: Hereandrsquo;s where JoLe made its mark. All of the wines served with our courses were unusual varietals that perfectly matched our food. My grilled octopus came with a 2010 Qupe Marsanne, while the foie gras was paired with a Calistoga Charbono that was so good, I begged the sommelier to let me know where he got it (from a small vineyard called Shypoke). The wines turned what was already an innovative menu into a memorable night out. Order this:Comedian Jim Gaffigan calls bacon the andldquo;Fairy dust of the food world.andrdquo; Pair it with chorizo and stuff it in a date? If you donandrsquo;t like it, we probably arenandrsquo;t friends. You should also save room for dessert; JoLe celebrates its pastries, so much so that the owners have opened The Bakeshop nearby. Meh: I ordered the duck rilllettes primarily for the dandelion greens, which I love (my grandma used to make salads out of dandelions). But the dish faced stiff competition, so we felt it was the least memorable among them. The Damage: $216.41. Go back? Napa Valley is full of so many great restaurants that itandrsquo;s hard to go back to the same place. But I would absolutely recommend it to foodie friends, particularly if you are staying in Calistoga. Deets: Open for dinner seven days a week. Make reservations on weekends and holidays.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1053 Red Bull is bringing the roar of F1 racing to Hong Kong for the very first time, taking over the brand new Lung Wo Road in Central for a demonstration of automotive muscle power. Saturday, June 18th, at 6pm, they will be unleashing a Formula One car driven by the professional driver, Jaime Alguersuari. Over the last few years, Red Bull has built an impresive track record of events around the city. Last yearandrsquo;s Flugtag event, which had teams of participants crashing home-made planes into the harbor, was perhaps the most successful new event in Hong Kong in over a decade. (For videos of that go here!) The F1 event, officially titled andndash; Red Bull Dragon Run Hong Kong, will last for over an hour and include trick moves never seen on the racetrack! Also on the menu is stunt driving and a drift show! For fans of car racing this is a rare opportunity to see some high-powered moves up close. The place to catch the excitement is on the length of Lung Wo Road between IFC and the Wanchai Convention Centre. The show will take place between 6pm and 7:30. Red Bull F1 Dragon Run Hong Kong presented by 7-11Saturday, June 18th, 20116pm, Lung Wo Road (near Edinburgh Place)Central, Hong KongAdmission is Free!http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1055If the last 20 years has been about the Las Vegas Strip the next 20 will be about Downtown Las Vegas. With the redevelopment of the Las Vegas Arts District, the Fremont East Entertainment District and the old Union Pacific Railroad Yards the stage is set for a Renaissance that Downtown has yearned for years. I have been witnessing the change first hand and I am very excited to finally see it come into fruition. If Las Vegas is going to have a bright future it will be Downtown and those who live, work and play here that will make it happen. Over the last several days KLAS Channel 8 has done some great reporting on the state of Downtown. I have linked the segments below. Enjoy!The Arts Takes Center Stage -http://www.lasvegasvalley.com/story/14904637/the-arts-take-center-stageDowntown Arts District Flourishinghttp://www.lasvegasvalley.com/story/14931749/downtown-arts-district-flourishingRebirth of Downtown Las Vegashttp://www.8newsnow.com/story/14925273/the-re-birth-of-downtown-las-vegas The Smith Center for the Performing Arts Brian Paco Alvarez enculturating Las Vegas into the millennium...http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1056 By Punch Pep Correspondent Elizabeth Fischer It is summer time, and that means many things to many people. It is about adventures; it is about outdoor fun andndash; boats, pools, sun, swim, surf, beach, and happy hours; it is about keeping cool in the shade andndash; refreshing cocktails, popsicles, frozen yogurt, ice-cream, cold movie theatres, and invigorating restaurants; it is a time to reconnect with loved and old souls BUT also, a time to connect with fresh and new soulsandhellip;so with that in mind andndash; put your adventure hat on and come meet someone new andndash; you just donandrsquo;t know where that connection might lead! Jeffrey Platts - Eye Gazing Party in D.C. On Wednesday June 29, 2011 from 7:00pm andndash; 9:00pm at Tabaq Bistro andndash; Relationship expert Jeffrey Platts is hosting an Eye-Gazing Party. What is an eye-gazing party you ask? It is a great way to spark a captivating connection with an alluring new person. What is this great way andndash; eye contact! Even numbers of singles meet in an attractive space over drinks and world beats. After a fun mini-lesson in the art and psychology of eye contact, the group splits into pairs, and each pair spends up to two minutes looking into each otherandrsquo;s eyes, no talking, with inviting beats in the background. Pairs switch every one to two minutes, for a total of around half an hour. There is mingling, music and drinks afterwards. The eye gazing has an electrifying effect on the party. Two minutes of eye contact is the Cadillac of ice-breakers. Who goes to eye gazing parties? Fun, adventurous, attractive, creative, confident and vibrant singles who enjoy quickly establishing amazing connections with each other. Eye Gazing Parties have been featured in the New York Times, CNN, Good Morning America, andamp; Match.com. A Google search will quickly verify that this is the new craze in dating. Elle magazine called Eye Gazing Parties andldquo;New Yorkandrsquo;s hottest dating trend.andrdquo; To attend andndash; you must RSVP and tickets are required Tickets: Advance andndash; $12 for single ticket andamp; $20 for two; $15 at the door (provided there is space). 1 drink minimum. Venue Address: Tabaq Bistro, 1336 U Street NW 10% of all ticket sale profits will be donated to the American Red Cross for Disaster Relief RSVP on Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149701618436782 Purchase Tickets: http://www.jeffreyplatts.com/2011/06/eyegazingparty062911/ Contact: http://jeffreyplatts.com, jeffrey@jeffreyplatts.com, (202) 681-9499 *Attorney Elizabeth Fischer is Punch Pep Correspondent. She is working as an Entrepreneur, Lawyer and Student (environmental studies), covering events for Pamelaandrsquo;s Punch as a generalist correspondent. When she is not working, studying or playing soccer or tennis, she is walking her pups, traveling the globe, running marathons, and enjoying all DC has to offer.*** http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1057The Reader's Best of Chicago issue this week included a "Best [restaurant] for kids" honor, which went to Lakeview's Frasca Pizzeria and Wine Bar; runners-up were Wishbone, Ed Debevic's and Rainforest Cafe, but an honorable mention went to kids "[being] locked in a cold, dark, soundproof room," a groanworthy suggestion that is generating a lot of heat in the comments section, particularly from parents. "The Reader is not for me," one commenter wrote, "when the editors of a otherwise reasonable publication fantasize about the abuse and murder of his child." Oy. One upset parent who contacted GB wants the paper to apologize. Double Oy. Back in 2005, Dan McCauley, the owner of the Andersonville bakery A Taste of Heaven came under scrutiny for a posted sign that read "children of all ages have to behave and use their indoor voices" in his cafe. A boycott from neighborhood parents and load of publicity followed. The hubbub quieted down, but the sign is still there, and the restaurant survived the criticism. Digs aside, are we still living in a city that finds kids in restaurants annoying? andmdash; Robyn Nisihttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1058On Wednesday, June 22nd, Travel Onion hosted an event at both the Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner and Sheraton Herndon. Attending the event were Jason of Pamelaandrsquo;s Punch. Kate of K Street Kate, Daphne of Dining in DC, Anita of Gregslist DC, Kathy of Eating Around DC, Jason of DCFud and Anthony of Done Like Dundee...Gone Like Gandhi. To start the night, Sheraton Premiere treated attendees to some delectable food fare, including smoky bacon wrapped shrimp andamp; mini crab cakes, as well as their signature andldquo;Sheratiniandrdquo; andndash; all while previewing guests on the propertyandrsquo;s up and coming remodeling and renovations. The hotel has a rich history of service, hosting events and conferences while indulging business travelers for the past 25 years. The remodeling will transform not only the guest rooms, but also the lobby, bar, restaurant and banquet facilities. Guests will find the hotel even more accommodating due to the current D.C. Metro expansion, which will connect guests directly to Washington, D.C. from Tysons Corner. The renovations will commence this November and are set to be completed by February 2012. In combination with the development of the Metroandrsquo;s Silver line, the hotelandrsquo;s modern renovations are sure to make the Sheraton Premiere a stand out property in the area. After a full tour, a shuttle service transported attendees to the Sheraton Herndon, just a short drive away. It was there that guests were treated to a full tour of the charming and brand new hotel, followed by an outstanding spread of mouthwatering sweets and cocktails, before departing back to the Sheraton Premiere. Desserts included molten chocolate cake, a chocolate fountain, a variety of cookies and fresh fruit, as well as fabulous wines and custom lattes and cappuccinos. The property boasts an ideal location, just 4 miles from Dulles International Airport, as well as a plethora of amenities andndash; including a full fitness center, indoor pool, restaurant and club lounge, among others. A shuttle full of satisfied guests departed back to the Sheraton Premiere with a complimentary bottle of Pinot Noir, courtesy of Sheraton Herndon. All in all the night was a wonderful time and everyone is excited to see the continued development and success of both of these fabulous Sheraton properties.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1059A massive public sector strike planned for tomorrow in the UK will slow down travel in ports and airports.An estimated 750,000 public sector workers will go on a one-day strike in protest over proposed changes to pensions, and this will include thousands of customs and immigration officials. UK ports and airports will remain open but passengers should expect delays.Most schools and many other government buildings will be closed tomorrow. Strike organizers complain that the new public sector pension scheme will make employees work longer, put more money into the system, but get less when they retire.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1060Just past the tiny village of Ilias, on the two-lane highway that weaves through the Ceraunian Mountains, a sign pointing down a narrow road indicated a monastery about two kilometers on. andldquo;Why not?andrdquo; I thought, putting on the turn signal of my rental car. I had no agenda other than to seek out adventure along the very affordable 80-mile stretch of beaches and villages between the cities of Vlore and Sarande, an area known as the Albanian Riviera. But the road ended at a hilltop house where an old woman dressed in black stared at me quizzically. andldquo;Monastiri?andrdquo; I said in a hapless attempt at an Albanian accent in what I later discovered was a largely Greek-speaking region. She pointed in the direction of the way I had come and seemed to signal that I had missed a turn. Back toward the main road, I found a severely rutted turnoff, grabbed a camera and sunglasses from the car, and started hiking. Travel fantasy mode kicked in. Would the monks invite me to dinner? Let me stay on a cot for the next few days if I did chores? Ask my opinion about their latest batch of ale? They would not, because there was no monastery at the end of that road either. Instead, there was an idyllic pebbly beach where an otherwise inaccessible canyon opened up to the deep blue Ionian sea. There was not a soul in sight. Seth Kugel for The New York TimesBunkers along the coast put in place by Enver Hoxha, the isolationist leader of cold-war-era Albania. Near the beach were a number of mushroom-shaped bunkers that the isolationist dictator Enver Hoxha, who died in 1985, installed across the country to defend it against a foreign attack that never came. There were more recent artifacts too: a newspaper horoscope page dated a few days earlier and plenty of soda and beer bottles that indicated the beach had been used much more recently for purposes other than defense. But today, I thought to myself, itandrsquo;s all mine. With my bathing suit back in the car, I stripped naked and dived into crystal blue waters, registering the scene in my internal archive of top travel moments. It was only as I came out of the water that I spotted two sunburned Austrian tourists hidden under a rock outcropping reading paperbacks, or pretending to as they laughed at me. (I went over to chat with them, pretending nothing was out of the ordinary.) Seth Kugel for The New York TimesGjipe Beach. O.K., the Austrians had slightly sullied my afternoon at Gjipe Beach, as I later found out it was called. But at least in budget terms, Albania was surely the best stretch of the six-week-old Frugal Mediterranean adventure. For the first time, 500 euros a week easily paid for everything I wanted, starting with a confusing but not torturous seven-leg bus ride from Dubrovnik, Croatia, just 300 miles away. (Short of hiring taxis, I canandrsquo;t figure out a more efficient way to do it, and despite language barriers drivers were thoughtful in making sure I got to the next bus.) I also rented a car for four days and private rooms from local families every night. I ate huge restaurant meals topping out at around 8 euros, and guzzled espressos and spring waters at beachfront cafes with glorious views. Still, I didnandrsquo;t even come close to hitting my budget. (Though it would have been a bit tougher in July or August, when many rooms cost more.) For most travelers the starting point of the Albanian Riviera is Vlore, a somewhat tacky city with lots of outdoor cafes that have fancy cushions but too much mindless club music; the cluttered, unattractive coastline has mediocre if bustling hard-sand beaches. Thereandrsquo;s a certain amount of chaos in Vlore andndash; virtually no signs giving street names, nutty drivers, ugly and seemingly stalled concrete construction projects. But thatandrsquo;s not really surprising in a country thatandrsquo;s still one of the poorest in Europe and only a quarter century removed from the Communist dictatorship of Hoxha. If Albania no longer feels isolated or scary, it still seems to be finding its way. Seth Kugel for The New York TimesIn a park along the main drag of Vlore, men huddle around an intensely contested game of chess. There were two highlights in Vlore: a park along the main drag, Bulevardi Vlore-Skele, where old men smoked like chimneys around intensely contested games of chess and dominoes and warmly welcomed a visitor with a camera. And then there was the Museum of Independence, in the two-story house where Ismail Qemali ruled as the first prime minister after the country gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912. As the lone visitor that afternoon I was rewarded with a personal tour by the director, Ilia Cano, who made a valiant attempt to explain the history in poor English mixed with French. (He also let me sit at Qemaliandrsquo;s desk and pretend to sign documents with his quill pen.) I stayed in Vlore on the first and last nights of the week, but the tripandrsquo;s real payoff came in the string of small towns that start once you drive up and over the perilously steep and forest-lined roads of Llogara National Park. After asking around about prices of hotels and private rooms in a few towns, I chose Himare as my base. A young man named Simos whose family runs the Internet cafe offered me a large apartment attached to his house, practically in the center of town, for 20 euros a night. (The Albanian currency is actually the lek, at 142 leke per euro or 96 per dollar, but lodging and car rental are often quoted in euros.) Himare didnandrsquo;t have the best beaches, but it impressed me with cafes overlooking the water and souvlaki stands galore. And it won my heart forever when I spotted a man leading a donkey through town, trying to unload two baaing baby goats slung over its back to the highest bidder. Seth Kugel for The New York TimesWarm feta with olive oil, peppers and tomatoes at Taverna Viron. My favorite place in town was the family-run Greek restaurant Taverna Viron. I had three dinners there, attended by Amalia, the English-speaking 15-year-old daughter of the owners, who was very sweet but not so helpful in helping pick the from the menu. Everything, she said, was andldquo;so delicious.andrdquo; Then again, she was right: pork chops with tzatziki and potatoes, shrimp saganaki (tiny shrimp in a tomato-based, feta-heavy and Tabasco-spiked sauce), and whole grilled fish were all, indeed, quite delicious. I ate alone but often chatted with interesting groups, from an Albanian-American family from Pelham Parkway in the Bronx to Amaliaandrsquo;s male cousins who invited me over to drink rakia, a liquor distilled from grape pomace. Though Albania is known for its historic and archaeological treasures like the ancient city of Butrint, this particular stretch of coast has few. But I loved Himare Castle, a medieval site on the northern edge of town across the street and up the hill from the Alpet gas station. Donandrsquo;t even think of looking for signs, either directing you to the ruins or telling you what they are. But in lieu of actual information, you can play amateur archaeologist, as in: andldquo;This must have been an oven. Or a childandrsquo;s bedroom.andrdquo; Though that first trip to Gjipe Beach was fun, I soon switched loyalties to Jali Beach, three miles downhill from the main highway. The beach, lined with umbrellas for rent, is very family-friendly; Iandrsquo;d estimate a running toddler is swept up in a grandparentandrsquo;s arms approximately once a minute. And the shallow water is a shade of electric blue that designers of mint gum packaging only wish they could emulate. I was hooked on Jali not for the beach, though, but for the instant friends I made at Taverna Peshkatari, one of several informal beachside restaurants specializing in seafood. (Peshkatari means fisherman in Albanian.) I usually ask for the menu before sitting down, to scout out prices and size up the friendliness of the staff. The guys at Taverna Peshkatari were friendly: they immediately brought a bucket of fish from the kitchen, noting that the owner had caught them all this morning. Jorgo Andoni mans the outboard motor on a fishing expedition. I hear these claims all the time, so I shot them a dubious look. andldquo;Tomorrow, come fishing and youandrsquo;ll see,andrdquo; said a young blue-eyed man in passable English. andldquo;Be here at 6 a.m.andrdquo; This is what we in the frugal travel business call a ka-ching moment. Free boat trip! Local friends for the making! andldquo;When I was fishing in Albaniaandrdquo; stories for back home! The next morning I arrived at 5:55 a.m. to find that I had beat the young man, Jorgo Andoni, who turned out to be the owner of Taverna Peshkatari. But three older guys who recognized me from the day before were there drinking espresso and rakia. They invited me to join them. Hey, a 6 a.m. shot of liquor to start the day? Why not, Iandrsquo;m on vacation. Soon after I was out on the water with Jorgo and his two fishing assistants andndash; Geni Pirra and Eljon Likmeter andmdash; reeling in the nets they had laid the previous afternoon just off the rocky coast and watching them untangle their catch: merluza, cuttlefish, shrimp, even a flying fish. Round about Net 4, Eljon and I abandoned work and dived into the water, swimming over to a tiny sand-lined cove carved into the rocks. I took another mental snapshot to file under Travel Memories andndash; Best Ever. And, this time, no sunburned Austrians to ruin the moment. IF YOU GO You can fly to Albania from many European cities, but Iandrsquo;d suggest combining it with a trip to Greece, Italy or another Balkan nation. From Athens, there are daily buses via Ruci Tours to Vlore or Himare (30 euros, about 11 hours) and thereandrsquo;s a ferry from Brindisi, Italy to Vlore (six days a week; seven days in August, 45 euros). Then there are buses from Croatia and Montenegro: it took me seven legs and just under 43 euros from Dubrovnik to Vlore. Your results may vary. In Vlore, I rented a car for 33 euros a day (price goes down with longer rentals) from Tirana Car Rental. Few hotels and fewer private rooms have Web sites, though those intent on booking online will have some luck on www.albania-hotel.com. In Himare, you can e-mail Simos at hokyspokys@hotmail.com about his familyandrsquo;s rooms; Amalia and her family rent nice rooms above the Greek restaurant as well; call (355-69) 221-8728 or (355-69) 425-5755. Jorgo Andoni rents rooms; try him at Taverna Peskatari, (355-68) 200-0343. But unless youandrsquo;re going in August, itandrsquo;s probably best just to show up. MY BOOKS I ate fresh fish and octopus and lamb and Greek salads and Albanian byreks (savory pies) until I burst and still couldnandrsquo;t break 8 euros a meal. I slept in private rooms for 20 euros a night and could have spent less if I had bargained. I rented a car. I did pretty much whatever I wanted, and the total bill was 459.87 euros, 40 and change below budget and finally covering my debt from Week 2 in France. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1061Yep, now might be the time to question the chemicals being used in our food. In China, fields of watermelons are currently exploding all over the place. We donandrsquo;t mean exploding in an ironic way eitherandmdash;we mean these fruits are literally blowing up. No, nobody actually gets hurt around these thingsandhellip;as far as we know. But the effects on farmers is pretty serious: about 20 farms in Jiangsu province have lost up to 45 hectares of watermelon due to a growth accelerator known as forchlorenuron. One farmer reported over 180 exploded watermelons in one day, meaning a huge loss in crops. Even the ones that didnandrsquo;t explode showed signs of forchlorfenuron usage, like misshapen melons and white seeds. Image: Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com/Flickr While the growth accelerator isnandrsquo;t illegal and is used on many fruit shipments to North America, the exploding fruit is a telltale sign that farmers are misusing pesticides and fertilizers. This doesnandrsquo;t necessarily mean that the accelerator is dangerous, however; other factors contributing to the fruitandrsquo;s exploding factor include heavy rain and the variety of melon. The chemical has actually been around for a long time, and without this kind of side-effect. The whole mess started happening not long after Chinaandrsquo;s andldquo;kiwi scandalandrdquo; in January, when farmers were accused of using harmful growth accelerators causing nervous system damage to double the size of kiwis. Unfortunately, China doesnandrsquo;t have many regulations in place for the use of such chemicals. Our solution? Everyone start setting up their own homesteads without the use of chemicals and be really careful when eating non-organic fresh fruits and veggies in countries with lax food regulations.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1062 Who doesn't like hiking, biking and exploring in our national parks in the summer? Now there's a chance to help maintain them while you're at it. The Sierra Club's Volunteer Vacations give everyone the opportunity to give something back to the public lands we all love. Trips take place year-round at national parks across the USandmdash;from the Grand Canyon to the Bartow-Pell Conservatory in NYCandmdash;so there really is something for everyone. The Sierra Club also makes an effort to design trips that will accommodate all levels of skill and stamina. Each vacation includes a variety of tasks which range from building and maintaining trails to helping archaeologists perform research duties. Trips last about a week and include at least one day off to explore. Next month's trip will vist the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in Montana and Idaho for six days. Volunteers will meet on Sunday, August 14th and will spend Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday working in the vicinity of Little Carleton Lake repairing trails. Wednesday will be a free day for a hike to Lolo Peak. Most service trips include meals, lodging, on-trip transportation, guide services, and gratuities. Prices range between $495- $1,295. Transportation to the volunteer location is not included. For more information, visit SierraClub.org. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1063Hello, city-lovers! Today we head over to Chicago, where Joseph Hernandez, managing editor for Go Galavanting tells us why he loves the Windy City. Want to see your city on IT? Copy and paste our list of fill-in-the-blank questions into an e-mail, fill in your answers, and send your responses to IntelligentTravel@ngs.org. Chicago is My City The first place I take a visitor from out of town is Belmont Harbor at sunrise. Iandrsquo;ve known no greater bliss than when the sun just peaks over the lake, slowly casting its light on the skyscrapers. The mist from Lake Michigan lifts, runners take to the path and birds wake up. Visitors are always surprised at this softer side of Chicago. When I crave pizza, I always go to Pequodandrsquo;s Pizza. Itandrsquo;s not quite Chicago deep-dish, but in my opinion, itandrsquo;s far better than the local chains touting the stuff. To escape Wrigleyville and rowdy Cubs fans I head to the Music Box Theatre. Just a few blocks make all the difference. The Music Box was built in 1929 and is always showing some camp favorite or the newest art-house feature. The architecture and decor are a whimsical blast-from-the-past; itandrsquo;s always a joy to sit in the deeply-giving theater seats while sharing popcorn with friends. Music Box Theatre (Joseph Hernandez) If I want to dance I go to Berlin. Something always happens at this Lakeview bar. The crowd is interesting and diverse, the bartenders friendly, and the music is never the same. For complete quiet, I can hide away in the Myopic Bookstore. The smell of used books is one of the most soothing, elegant scents around, and thereandrsquo;s no better way to get that olfactory fix than here. This four(ish)-floored bookstore is crammed with books. Tables and couches upstairs afford customers a chance to curl up with a tome for hours. If you come to my city, get your picture taken with the Bean. Itandrsquo;s your new Facebook photo, without a doubt. If you have to order one thing off the menu from Lula Cafe it has to be the pasta andldquo;yiayia.andrdquo; So simple, you could make it at home, but why would you want to? Sprout Home is my one-stop shop for great home decor, gifts, plants, and anything beautifully designed. Locals know to skip Taste of Chicago and check out any of the other multitudes of street fests instead. Taste gets hot and crowded, while the smaller neighborhood fests are truly reflective of the cityandrsquo;s population. When Iandrsquo;m feeling cash-strapped I go to Tai Nam Food Market in Uptown. This Asian-centric grocery store has every spice you could ever need, far below the big-box store prices. For a huge splurge I go to Apartment Number 9. I dare you to find a menswear boutique with product as impeccably curated as this one. Willis Tower (Phil Ritter/My Shot) Photo ops in my city include the glass floor in the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) and the best vantage points are from the lakeshore paths in Lincoln Park. If my city were a celebrity itandrsquo;d be Mary Louise Parker. An amazing actress with a diverse range of work, sheandrsquo;s accessible to just about any audience but still maintains an edge. The most random thing about my city is how few of its citizens are actually from Chicago. Many grew up in the surrounding area, but Iandrsquo;ve met only a handful of true born-and-raised Chicagoans. My city has the most straight-forward, inexplicably kind men. My city has the most feisty, strong-willed and independent women. In my city, an active day outdoors involves running alongside Lake Michigan, a walk through (always free) Lincoln Park zoo, followed by some al fresco dining in the Lakeview neighborhood. My cityandrsquo;s best museum is The Shedd Aquarium. Beluga whales and otter; enough said. My favorite walking route is through Hyde Park, near the University of Chicago. The stately mansions and overhanging trees are calming. For a night of dancing, go to The Hideout. Or, for live music, check out Kingston Mines. Though letandrsquo;s be honest: both are interchangeable. Clarkeandrsquo;s in Lakeview is the spot for late-night eats. The food is filling and the clientele entertaining. To find out whatandrsquo;s going on at night and on the weekends, read Gaperandrsquo;s Block. You can tell a lot about my city from riding the El. Thereandrsquo;s no better way to gauge the citizens and see the city than lumbering along the elevated tracks. You can tell if someone is from my city if they think ketchup on a hot dog is a sin. In the spring you should take advantage of the free days at many of the museums. My favorites are the Chicago History Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. In the summer you should take in a free summer concert at Millennium Park, while picnicking. There are a ton of free performances, with the best often featuring the Chicago Symphony Orchestra accompanying some andldquo;itandrdquo; band. In the fall you should take advantage of the last months of outdoor farmers markets. Thereandrsquo;s a certain magic to spending a Sunday lingering at the Logan Square Farmers Market as the leaves change color. In the winter you should find another place to visit. Short of that, bundle up! A hidden gem in my city is The Old Town School of Folk Music. As an institution, it nurtures a variety of musical traditions and anyone who has ever taken a class cannot speak more highly of it. For a great breakfast joint try Orange. Custom juices, orange-zested coffee and weekly themed pancake flights make for the ultimate wake-up call. Donandrsquo;t miss the Pitchfork festival in the summer. Just outside my city, you can visit the Ravinia Music Festival. You can listen to amazing live performances either in the pavilion or with loved ones on the lawn. The best way to see my city is slowly and methodically. Take in each neighborhood one at a time and you wonandrsquo;t be sorry. If my city were a pet it would be a border collie, loyal and playful. If I didnandrsquo;t live in my city, Iandrsquo;d live in San Francisco, Vancouver or New York City. The best book about my city is Studs Terkelandrsquo;s Division Street: America. When I think about my city, the song that comes to mind is andldquo;Chicagoandrdquo; by Sufjan Stevens. Navy Pier (Sergey Zuyev/My Shot) If you have kids, you wonandrsquo;t want to miss Navy Pier. Obama winning a second term could only happen in my city. That, and the Cubs winning the World Series. Both would be epic. My city should be featured on your cover or website because Chicago is the crossroads city. New York City and Los Angeles are larger and get more press, but Chicago makes visitors feel welcome. Thereandrsquo;s no pretense here: what you see is what you get. Real people live in real neighborhoods, while world-class attractions provide cultural interest for those who decide to take the tourist route.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1065 In La Ville-Lumiandegrave;re, where the wine can be cheaper than the water, there are times when we forget that there is something other to drink than the humble grape: I refer you to the classic cocktail. Paris is full to the brim of kitsch cocktail bars popular with les bobos, anduuml;ber-cool joints where the process of whipping together a cocktail has more oomph than the finale of the Cirque du Soleil. But sometimes nothing beats going back to basics. And where better to enjoy the perfect Bloody Mary than under the very roof where it, along with other classic favorites, were invented and have been drunk for 100 years. Harryandrsquo;s New York Bar is the oldest cocktail bar in Europe, and first opened minus the andlsquo;Harryandrsquo;sandrsquo; prefix in 1911. Itandrsquo;s since become the darling of Parisians and expats alike, celebrated for its extensive cocktail list, beautifully prepared drinks and excellent service. It sits just five minutes walk from the hustle and bustle of Opandeacute;ra and, in tribute to their loyal expat clientele, a sign outside reads andlsquo;Sank roo doe nooandrsquo; andndash; a phonetic transcription of the barandrsquo;s address to help lost and thirsty compatriots find there way there. A warm greeting from the sweetly smiling hostess and a push through the swinging saloon doors, and I feel like Iandrsquo;ve tumbled into New York in the days before prohibition, when the men wore top hats and women feathers and fur. Thereandrsquo;s not such stylish attire now, alas andndash; more button down shirts and loosened ties, but the dandeacute;cor and atmosphere still shimmer of debonair early 20th Century days: smartly adorned bar staff, beautiful dark reddish oak panelling, walls plastered with triangular American state flags and rows upon rows of glittering bottles of all shapes and sizes andmdash; alcohols, mixers and syrups, all ready to be whipped up into a perfect cocktail creation. Even the old style hot dog stand on the bar counter pays tribute. Iandrsquo;d missed lunch, which is the only time they serve anything other than New York style hot dogs; so instead, I sipped mojitos andndash; Iandrsquo;m still une bobo at heart andndash; in the piano bar downstairs and listened blissfully to the jazz pianist work his magic on an upright piano into the small hours. The lingering taste of that freshly squeezed lime and the memories of old tunes strummed up and down that piano rang long in my ears and carried me on into the night. Itandrsquo;s worlds apart from the outdoor culture of a summer in Paris, but it was lovely to be able to slip back, just for an evening, into old New York. Harryandrsquo;s New York Bar. 5 Rue Daunou (1st arr.), 01 42 61 71 14. Open 10:30am-4am daily; Piano Bar Tue-Fri 10pm-2am, Sat 10pm-3amhttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1079Ouch. Thatandrsquo;s gotta hurt. The worldandrsquo;s largest cruise liner, the Queen Mary 2, has been labeled andldquo;filthyandrdquo; by the U.S. governmentandrsquo;s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Preventionandrsquo;s Vessel Sanitation Program. According to the Daily Mail, American inspectors made a surprise visit on June 10 to the famous cruise ship while it was docked in New York. Throughout their report, they branded the ship as filthy five times. They cited andldquo;extremely dirtyandrdquo; water and floor tiling in the splash pool, a hair found in the ice machine, and live adult cockroaches and fruit flies in a storage locker as some of the reasons. In addition, they discovered that staff was storing chemicals near napkins, paper cups, and utensils, as well as dirty surfaces that should have been wiped clean. Inside the Queen Mary 2. [Image: Averain/Flickr] The inspectors scored the Queen Mary 2 an 84. A minimum of 86 is deemed satisfactory; 85 and below is unsatisfactory (un-ac-ceptable!). It sounds like an uncharacteristic slip for the cruise line. A Cunard Line spokesperson called the result andldquo;uncharacteristically lowandrdquo;, stating that the ship normally scores around 95 and has scored 100 three times. In a statement released: The poor assessment on 10 June resulted largely from one small area of the shipandrsquo;s overall operation. All the issues raised in the report were immediately addressed and have now been corrected. The Queen Mary 2, launched in 2004, is the biggest and most expensive cruise liner ever built. Surprise inspections for cleanliness are conducted twice per year. And with a report card like this, we think they might need to be done more often.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1090 Saucing Forcella's special montagnara pizza. [Photographs: Adam Kuban] Forcella 485 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn NY 11211 (Powers/Borinquen map); 718-388-8820; forcellaeatery.comGetting there: G/L to Metropolitan-LorimerPizza style: NeapolitanOven type: Wood-burning Acunto brand ovenThe skinny: OK. Forget for a minute that Forcella is doing some solidly legit traditional pizzas. That's all well and good and totally worth your while. But just know that the place is the only pizzeria I know of in NYC that's doing a deep-fried "montagnara" pizzaPrice: Marinara, $9; Margherita, $11; Pizza alla Carbonara $12 The montagnara pizza at Forcella is reason enough alone to put this new Williamsburg Neapolitan joint on your shit-I've-gotta-hit-it list. It's a small 8-inch pizza whose crust is first stretched, then deep-fried until almost cooked through, and finally tossed in a pan, topped, and finished in the wood-burning oven (an Acunto imported from Italy, if such things excite you). As one of my dining companions last night said, "The oil gives the flavor a whole other dimension." Indeed, the crust has that extra bit of savoriness from its oil bath, but its texture is just as special. Imagine a very good Margherita pizza, with a bright, zingy sauce and some incredible house-made mozzarella but with a foundation reminiscent of one of those fried-dough wonders you only see at the state fairandmdash;at once crisp, chewy, moist, and puffy in only that way fried breads get. It's a bit different from the fried pizzas of Naples (pizze fritta). Those are almost calzone-like with sauce and cheese inside. These have the unusual two-step cooking processandmdash;one that Forcella pizzamaker-owner Giulio Adriani says only two or three places in Naples do. And Adriani is certainly the only one I know doing this in NYC. (If you haven't seen this on the menu at Forcella, that's because they just started serving it on Wednesday night.) But to focus only on the unusual at Forcella would do a disservice to the rest of the excellent options at this month-old pizzeria. The traditional Margherita and marinara pizzas are well worth your time, dollar, and stomach space. What I said above about the montagnara's sauce and cheese holds true for the Margherita, since the same elements are used. The crushed tomatoes are well balanced in sweetness and acidity. The cheese is made in house daily. It's an attempt to tamp down on excessive moisture, says Adriani. He buys curd, heating it for stretching not in water, but in milk. It gives the mozzarella an incredibly creamy flavor, balanced by an ample amount of salt. This cheese should be sampled on its ownandmdash;in a caprese salad, for instance: The crust at Forcella is flavorful, crisp, chewy. It has a nice rise at the rim. It's sometimes a bit too charred in places. Not burned, mind youandmdash;it's perfectly edibleandmdash;just at times a bit overpowering, masking the otherwise pleasant flavor of the dough. Another showstopping pizza here is the marinara pie. "It's the most difficult pizza to make," says Adriani. That's because there's nowhere to hide with this one. It's simply tomato sauce, garlic, and oregano. And, oh, the oregano. The herbiness of this pizza tweaked our noses as soon as our server placed it on the table. Adriani says that this pizza is a slow sellerandmdash;maybe 1 to 2 every couple of days. Hey, well, 'muricans love their cheesy pizzas. And, hell, I do too. I'm not the biggest marinara fan and almost never likeandmdash;or orderandmdash;these pizzas. This one is worth it. Giulio Adriani. I should now take the time to point out that you might recognize Giulio Adriani's name from last year around this this time. He was the opening pizzaiolo at Olio e Piu, which I thought was pretty hit or miss when it opened in Greenwich Village in August. It showed promise, I thought, but just didn't quite hit all the marks. Forcella is Adriani's promise realized. The Margherita pizza, which was a bit soggy, is retooled just a bit and is just firm enough for an American audience but probably moist enough for Neapolitans, who tend to like the wetter centers. At Olio, pizzas were sometimes clumsily topped. No more. Adriani is slicing toppings thinner and seems to be a bit more restrained with them. There are still inventive toppingsandmdash;like the Vomero, with its mozzarella, ham, corn, cream, and ricotta. It's like a really good ham and cheese sandwich ... with corn. I can't say it stunned me, but it wasn't bad, either. Probably just not something I'd order again. What I would order again ... ... would be the Pizza alla Carbonara, which is just what it sounds like. Served only at brunch on weekends, it's one of Forcella's two weekend egg-topped pizzasandmdash;a mashup of pizza and bacon-egg-and-cheese sandwich made with the creamiest scrambled eggs you'd want. And it's made in a rather unique way. Adriani says that his oven is too hot to properly cook an egg on a pizza. He wanted a soft, moist egg base but realized it would overcook by the time the crust was finished. So first he spreads a layer of crushed ice onto a round of stretched dough: And then cooks that in a cooler part of the oven, pouring off the melted water and returning the dough to the fire for a little bit. Then he tops the pizza with an egg-pecorino cream, some pancetta, black pepper, and some more shaved pecorino. This one is worth a brunch visit, folks. It's nice to see Adriani in a new space with a completely different vibe from Olio. This place is warmer, more natural, more pizzeria-like. It's small but not uncomfortably cramped. The staff seems attitude-free, and the focus seems to be less on the pizza-competition awards Adriani has won (at Olio they were noted on the menu) and simply on the here and nowandmdash;which is to say just some great pizza. But, hey, seriously ... GO GET THE MONTAGNARA.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1093The Space Shuttle Atlantis returns to Earth this week from its final flight. That pretty much puts NASA out of the business of launching humans into space anytime soon. On one hand that's sad, the end of a grand program and many space workers will lose their jobs. On the other hand, its the right move at the right time that may result in more American space travelers than ever as America's next space race blasts off. "I'm convinced in the next few years we're going to see multiple companies flying several times a week," says George Nield, head of the Office of Commercial Space Transportation at the Federal Aviation Administration reports NPR.com. "And that will mean hundreds of launches every year, with thousands of people getting to experience space flight firsthand." Indeed, several companies are offering trips that will give people a few minutes of weightlessness at the edge of space. Space Adventures, Virgin Galactic and XCOR are all taking deposits. Other companies are planning to make spacecraft that can take NASA astronauts to the International Space Station.The Space Shuttle program did it's job. Hauling huge payloads of equipment, parts and supplies into space to build the International Space Station and more. Now it is time to turn the page on the next chapter of space exploration and some believe a whole new space race will be the result."The new American space race has begun" says Richard Garriott who paid a reported $30 million to ride a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 2008, "This new race promises to create safer, cheaper spaceships that will explore farther, sooner. More importantly, in addition to exploration and fundamental research, this new era will return economic value from space resources like energy and minerals and microgravity research in fields such as biology."Garriott agrees that privately funded space travel will be the new frontier for NASA but notes the big difference is in how NASA will go about it's business."NASA has always owned the vehicles that its astronauts rode into space" says Garriott in an article on Statesman.com, "What is changing is merely this procurement method. Instead of buying a vehicle, NASA is buying rides, just like it does for satellites." http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1100I recently learned that the Victoria Line's upgrade is now complete and every train on the line is 'new'! According to TFL's blurb, these new trains are "more spacious and have wider aisles, as well as improved customer information, CCTV and better ventilation". Well well. So what have they done with the old stock? Will we be seeing the carriages looming over Shoreditch as pop-up offices? Or perhaps they can be given to youth groups to practice their tagging skills on? But don't get too excited just yet... all is not finished, for there will be planned closures on the line for sometime yet, and on most of the other tube lines too... But at least we can rest assured, knowing that when the Olympics begin the whole tube network will be running as smooth as clockwork* ;-) 16 Victoria Line stations: *a wind-up clockhttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1101The magazine andldquo;GQandrdquo; recently came out with a list of the countryandrsquo;s least-fashionable cities. And, out of all the cities in the U.S., the winner, er, loser isandhellip; BOSTON. Boston takes top honors because andldquo;GQandrdquo; says itandrsquo;s where the countryandrsquo;s trends go to die. The city was docked specifically because of its inhabitants love of hoodies, leggings, and Uggs. Here are the top 10 least fashionable cities, according to andldquo;GQandrdquo; 1. Boston 2. Los Angeles 3. Pittsburgh 4. Chicago 5. Manhattan 6. Philadelphia 7. Maui 8. Salt Lake City 9. Miami 10. St. Louis You can see the full top bottom 40 here. Iandrsquo;m sorry, but Iandrsquo;m calling B.S. on this list andldquo;GQandrdquo;. Youandrsquo;re telling me that Omaha (#32), Detroit (#31), and Cleveland (#30) are MORE fashionable than L.A., Manhattan, and Miami!?! Really? Have you BEEN to these cities? And the Jersey Shore is only #19??? You didnandrsquo;t even need to GO to that city, you could just watch the TV show. Come on. Snooki: Advertising her fashion sense right on her shirt http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1102I hаd lunch yesterday wіth аn andomicron;ld friend andomicron;f mine whandomicron; remarked thаt andldquo;Things change whеn уandomicron;andupsilon; саn see thе еndandrdquo;. Hе wаѕ referring tandomicron; thе fact thаt hе wаntѕ tandomicron; work less аnd еnјandomicron;у hіѕ life more. Hе, lіkе mе, іѕ 57 years andomicron;ld. It іѕ trandupsilon;е. Even аt, ѕау 49, life looked different tandomicron; mе. Increasingly, еandnu;еrу minute іѕ іmрandomicron;rtаnt. More аnd more I look аt mу stock photo career аnd аѕk myself handomicron;w I саn andupsilon;ѕе іt tandomicron; nandomicron;t јandupsilon;ѕt mаkе money, bandupsilon;t tandomicron; еnјandomicron;у mу life. A gandomicron;andomicron;d example саn bе seen іn a stock shoot I dіd іn Buenos Aires. I arranged tandomicron; gandomicron; wіth two friends andomicron;f mine, Dew Kelly аnd Sam Diephuis. Both аrе ехсеllеnt shooters аnd andomicron;ftеn work wіth mе tandomicron; produce stock photos fandomicron;r Blend Images. Thіѕ wаѕ a ten day trip tandomicron; produce stock photography аnd produce іt іn a way thаt wе сandomicron;andupsilon;ld аlѕandomicron; really еnјandomicron;у thе experience. Aftеr committing tandomicron; thе shoot thе first thing wе dіd wаѕ tandomicron; look fandomicron;r ѕandomicron;mе locations fandomicron;r andomicron;andupsilon;r shoot. Wе settled andomicron;n three primary locations knowing thаt once wе wеrе thеrе wе сandomicron;andupsilon;ld fill іn andomicron;thеr locations аnd shoots аѕ needed. Thе first andomicron;f andomicron;andupsilon;r locations wаѕ found via thе Internet. Wе found a luxury Apartment andomicron;n one andomicron;f thе top floors andomicron;f thе second highest building іn Buenos Aires. It hаѕ 360 degree views andomicron;f thе city аnd a сlеаn, modern look. Thе apartment easily accommodated thе three andomicron;f andupsilon;ѕ, аnd wе wеrе аblе tandomicron; stay thеrе аѕ well аѕ shoot thеrе. Even аt 0.00 per night іt wаѕ a bargain. Whаt wе saved over thе location fee andomicron;f a comparable рlасе іn thе U.S. more thаn paid fandomicron;r andomicron;andupsilon;r travel expenses! Wе shot stills аnd video. Sam shot a panorama video frandomicron;m thе roof andomicron;f thе building аnd thаt footage, whіlе andomicron;nlу having sold twice ѕandomicron; far, pretty much paid fandomicron;r thе cost andomicron;f renting thе location. Thе apartment provided fandomicron;r both upscale lifestyle shots аnd business shots (thе dining room аlѕandomicron; passed fandomicron;r a corporate boardroom). Wе shot party scenes, people wіth thеіr dogs, romantic couples, domestic chores, home exercise аnd much more. I wаѕ аblе tandomicron; wake up іn thе morning tandomicron; breath taking views аnd tandomicron; bеgіn shooting without schlepping equipment. Wе сandomicron;andupsilon;ld dine out andomicron;r cook andomicron;andupsilon;r andomicron;wn meals. Actually, wе hаd ѕandomicron; much andldquo;shootandrdquo; food thаt wе couldnandrsquo;t eat аll andomicron;f іt. Bandupsilon;t hey, wе hаd a refrigerator аnd freezer tandomicron; store іt іn. Wе hаd a washer аnd dryer, rooftop access аnd grounds tandomicron; еnјandomicron;у. Nandomicron;t a bаd way tandomicron; conduct a stock shoot! Wе rented a smaller, bandupsilon;t still nice apartment, fandomicron;r thе remainder andomicron;f thе shoot. Oandupsilon;r shoots (рandupsilon;t together wіth thе hеlр andomicron;f andomicron;andupsilon;r Argentinian producer Paula Zacharias) included a gym (shooting a gymnast doing hіѕ routine іn a business suit), a theater (whеrе wе staged a rock concert, a bodybuilding contest, a political debate аnd аlѕandomicron; shot audience reactions), аnd a soccer shoot іn whісh wе hired a local semi-pro team. Wе hаd аn awesome time аnd came back wіth tons andomicron;f grеаt content including ethnically diverse lifestyle, Business, аnd concept images. An іmрandomicron;rtаnt thing tandomicron; remember fandomicron;r thеѕе kinds andomicron;f shoots, іѕ tandomicron; gеt property аnd model releases upfront. Thіѕ trip wеnt smoothly іn thаt regard, bandupsilon;t I hаandnu;е hаd ѕandomicron;mе unpleasant surprises whеn I hаandnu;е failed tandomicron; take thе andldquo;upfrontandrdquo; precautions. Another іmрandomicron;rtаnt thing іѕ tandomicron; look closely аt еandnu;еrу model release before thе model leaves. On thе whole, models dandomicron; a tеrrіblе job andomicron;f filling out releases (thеу аlѕandomicron; dandomicron; a tеrrіblе job andomicron;f bringing thеіr andomicron;wn wardrobeandhellip;bandupsilon;t thаt іѕ another ѕtandomicron;rу). Whеn shooting іn situations lіkе thеѕе I аlѕandomicron; tend tandomicron; hire extra models. Thе expense andomicron;f one andomicron;r two models іѕ small compared tandomicron; having everything set up аnd ready tandomicron; roll, аnd thеn nandomicron;t having enough models. It іѕ always a gandomicron;andomicron;d іdеа tandomicron; allow fandomicron;r thе andldquo;model flake factorandrdquo; (nandomicron; offense tandomicron; thе many models whandomicron; аrе professional, prompt аnd thorough). Alѕandomicron;, whеn іn foreign countries іt іѕ іmрandomicron;rtаnt tandomicron; understand thе cultural differences around time аnd commitment. I hаandnu;е shot іn Argentina many times аnd hаandnu;е finally gotten andupsilon;ѕе tandomicron; mу producer calling up models аt 1:00 іn thе morning fandomicron;r a shoot thаt day! Come tandomicron; thіnk andomicron;f іt, maybe thе mandomicron;ѕt іmрandomicron;rtаnt thing tandomicron; remember whеn shooting іn far andomicron;ff places іѕ tandomicron; bring уandomicron;andupsilon; best attitude. I always try tandomicron; keep іn mind thаt іf a shoot јandupsilon;ѕt isnandrsquo;t working, fandomicron;r whatever reason, іt wonandrsquo;t bе thе еnd andomicron;f thе world, аnd еandnu;еrу minute I spend іn unhappiness over іt іѕ a minute I wіll never gеt back. Abandomicron;andupsilon;t thе Author Stock Photos andomicron;f Animals, People, Lifestyle, аnd more Elephant In Thе Room Ethnic stock photos: Latino Stock Photos African American Stock Photos: African American Stock Photos http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1111My first Comic-Con experience was perhaps different from most; moderating four -- yes, four -- panels ("Shameless," "Chuck," "Community" and "Charlie's Angels") made it baptism by fire. And having the big TV Guide Magazine presence (including a mini yacht behind the convention center) was quite nice as well. So yeah, this was exactly the way to do Comic-Con for the first time. And I had quite a blast.Surreal moment: Standing by an escalator as Steven Spielberg and his entourage suddenly arrived. I whipped out my Blackberry camera, while photogs around me also shot pics of him. In turn, Spielberg whipped out his iPhone and began taking pictures of us. "Don't forget to tag me, Steven," shouted one paparazzi. Disgusting moment: Opening a drawer in my hotel room (at Little Italy's Porto Vista Hotel) and finding a bag of Q-Tips and a big jar of foot cream. Um, gross?Small world moment: Finishing up the "Community" panel and discovering that a college pal, Maggie Bandur, had just joined the show as a writer.Emotional moment: Pulling off the final "Chuck" panel without a hitch, getting some real emotion out of star Zachary Levi, and riding high knowing that it all worked out. Whew.Zinger moment: "Shameless" star Emmy Rossum was either offended, or feigned offense when I asked her the nudity question. "Emmy, I was actually referring to William H. Macy's ass," I responded.Delicious moment: Biting the ear off a Yoda cookie made by the one and only JustJenn.More from the floor:Spielberg heads up the escalator.Drinks, anyone?Megan Mullally and Ken Marino chat about "Childrens Hospital."Robot Chicken costume.JustJenn's Yoda cookies.It wouldn't be a Comic-Con without stormtroopers.The Shreks.He-Man.One of two DeLoreans on the floor.The other DeLorean.South Park.Inside South Park.Legos. Labels: Comic-Con, Convention posted by Mike| 11:53 AM|andgt;andgt;andgt;andgt;andgt;andgt;andgt;andgt;Comments (1) Monday, July 25, 2011 Live from Comic-Con: Monkeying Around with the Cast of "Community" (Flickr pic by Cody Tuthill.)Yes, I'm a very, very lucky guy. Not only did I get to moderate the fifth and final "Chuck" panel (watch it here) for Comic-Con this year, but I also got to do the same for season three of "Community." And lemme tell you, the fans were even wilder. My favorite part of the whole Comic-Con? When I led the crowd of 2,000 into a rousing "Pop-POP!" (If you don't watch the show, well, just go Google the name "Magnitude.")The cast, except Alison Brie, was all there, as was creator Dan Harmon... and yes, the monkey known as "Annie's Boobs." Watch!UPDATE: Wait a sec, I see that NBC edited out my "Pop-POP" call and response! See it here: Labels: " TV, Comic-Con, Community, Panels http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1112 Sometimes itandrsquo;s hard to stay on top of all the new route announcements that come our way, so weandrsquo;ve complied a little bit of a rundown below. As long as you can afford the fares, this should definitely help add to your passport stamp collection. andmiddot; JetBlue:When it comes to new routes, JetBlue just canandrsquo;t stop/won't stop, and this week theyandrsquo;re bringing a new international option to the residents of the greater New York City area. Thanks to JetBlue, Westchester County Airport is getting their very first international flight to Nassau, Bahamas as of November 15. Of course they need to get government approval first, but weandrsquo;re thinking that wonandrsquo;t be too much of an issue. Flights will run every day of the week, and if youandrsquo;re looking to test things out for yourself thereandrsquo;s one-way fares as low as $129 if you book today. andmiddot; American Airlines:Thereandrsquo;s one more option between New York-JFK and Tokyo-Narita thanks to American Airlines beginning this September. The carrier already kind of does this pretty much all the time, but as of September 6 it becomes a daily option. There doesnandrsquo;t appear to be any sales or other deals to celebrate, but maybe theyandrsquo;ll surprise us as the schedule change approaches. Just be sure to pack plenty of in-flight entertainment and snacks, as this trip is going to be a long one! andmiddot; Vision Airlines:We still donandrsquo;t know exactly how we feel about Vision Airlinesandmdash;we still need to check them outandmdash;but apparently theyandrsquo;re doing something right since they keep expanding. The airline is no longer satisfied with domestic routes, so theyandrsquo;re taking their cheap flights to the Bahamas. Beginning in November spots like Baltimore, Louisville, Raleigh, Richmond, and Fort Lauderdale will all be connected to Grand Bahama Island thanks to some new nonstop options. Flights start as low as $39 one-way out of Florida and around $100 each way from other cities. Weandrsquo;ve got the credit card out, and weandrsquo;re thinking about bookingandmdash;maybe you should do the same. andmiddot; REDjet:They arenandrsquo;t flying back and forth just yet, but apparently itandrsquo;s only a matter of time at this point for REDjet. The prime minister of St. Kitts and Nevis has given his stamp of approval for the Caribbeanandrsquo;s very first LCC to begin flying there, so weandrsquo;re kind of expecting the official announcement sooner than later. The flights will probably head back and forth between St. Kitts and Barbados, but of course thereandrsquo;s always the possibility that the flights go a little bit further. Weandrsquo;ll be sure to pass along the information when it becomes official, but for now a Caribbean vacation complete with some island hopping sounds pretty awesome. andmiddot; Delta:Residents of Philadelphia have a new nonstop option when it comes to getting to Los Angeles this fall, as Delta is looking to connect Philly with LAX five times per week beginning on October 2. Flights will be operated thanks to some Boeing 737s, and we just hope that they are some of the ones that have access to the live television. If not, thereandrsquo;s always WiFi, but we prefer both; weandrsquo;re kind of needy travelers. [Photos: Jaunted and Andrew Morrell Photography] http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1121 Tropi Cold War Stories, Arlington Arts Center studio If you really want to learn about somebody, it's said a good way is to go through their trash. Oneandrsquo;s trash can tell a lot about a person. It can also tell you a lot about a city. El Salvadoran artist Simandoacute;n Vega travels with only a toolbox. Taking from the environment around him, he uses what is thrown away to make his art. His pieces, then, inevitably reflect the place where he created them. And theyandrsquo;re just as varied as the cities heandrsquo;s been. Drawing his methods of working from his surroundings, Simandoacute;n uses found objects to create site-specific installations (some in public spaces, others in gallery exhibits). His materialsandmdash;bottles, wrappers, cans, tape, caps, and any other scraps you can imagineandmdash;commonly regarded as trash, seem to be very much his treasures. On July 1st, Simandoacute;n came to the Arlington Arts Center (AAC) to spend a month doing its visiting artist residency program. His home is El Salvador, but heandrsquo;s studied in Mexico, Madrid, and just before coming to AAC, was in Long Island City, Queens, where he spent 20 days creating a piece for a show at Socrates Sculpture Park. (Here, he created his second andldquo;Sputnikandrdquo; installation inspired on Sputnik 10 called andldquo;Sputnik NY~Z-011,andrdquo; which can be seen below.) As an artist so interested in his surroundings, his home city is his original muse. The capital, San Salvador, is a city high in poverty and population. Its colorful streets bustle with street vendors, informal architecture, and unfortunately, he says, a lot of garbage. andldquo;You might see a beautiful, tropical landscape while driving,andrdquo; Simandoacute;n explains, andldquo;then a huge bus rolls by that sends out a huge cloud of black smoke.andrdquo; The contrasts are extreme. andldquo;Itandrsquo;s super chaotic. It feels like this massive imploding thing, beautiful but dysfunctional and lost.andrdquo; This idea of a lost city mixed with his ideas on the mythical and the biblical all invoke a personal feeling about his city that comes through in the art makes from it. He wants to connect to the phenomena going on in a place. Making art in the DC area wasnandrsquo;t easy at first. andldquo;The city is so clean,andrdquo; he says. Thereandrsquo;s no garbageandmdash;at least not the same kind of access to it as in other places. So instead, Simandoacute;n rummaged around the garbage bin of the AAC. Art institutions have great material other artists have thrown away, he says. So what came through in his artwork based upon DC? andldquo;By just looking at the tourist pictures I had taken around town, I noticed that there are a lot of linesandhellip;straight lines, curvy lines, some bridgesandhellip;it was all so orderly, so linear.andrdquo; Much of his work over the past month includes multiple repetitive lines and linear curves. (See andldquo;Linear Experimentalandrdquo; below). Sometimes the reflections are obvious, other times more subtle. The work responds to both the feeling of what he sees, and the materials that are available there. DC was also a bit of an exception. Instead of working outside, Simon took advantage of his large, high-ceiling studio space. Coming in, he had originally intended to do a series of mini installations, but as soon as he saw the height and abundant light of the room, he knew other things were in store. His central piece, andldquo;TropiCold War Stories,andrdquo; is 12 feet tall and is made of objects mostly found in the studioandmdash;including stacked metal classroom stools as the base. Many people when traveling will experience a place through food, culture, shops, or nightlife. Simandoacute;n learns about a place through his artandmdash;and through discarded objects. andldquo;Creating art isnandrsquo;t that much different from eating or sightseeing,andrdquo; he says. He goes to a new place, learns about it, creates. Goes to another place, learns about it, creates, and so on. To him, it doesnandrsquo;t matter if a permanent product is created. He learned about a place and the people who make it up, and thatandrsquo;s what matters. This month, he learned about DC. Emphasis on the learning experience aligns quite well the larger temporality of his work in general. He does site-specific installationsandmdash;many in public spacesandmdash;where an audience can react to them. But most all of this work is ephemeral; itandrsquo;s created from trash, and when it has served its role, it goes back to being trash again. andldquo;Art has a lot to do with transforming materials; itandrsquo;s the idea that counts. If I can put materials together in such a way that they associate with what I want them to, itandrsquo;s successful. Experience is more important than product.andrdquo; Plus, he has fun deconstructing the pieces and taking them apart again. Permanence is not the emphasis. Simandoacute;nandrsquo;s art process is an organic one, a project or idea always feeding into the next. This way, heandrsquo;s always moving. Recently, heandrsquo;s been experimenting putting the same piece in a different environment. Simandoacute;n brings a large amount of information and research to his work. One of his largest inspirations is the Cold War, and how it affected El Salvador. During the Reagan administration, many El Salvadorans moved to the DC area, creating a large community still existent today. Heandrsquo;s also interested in how the Cold War affected the hot, tropical country of El Salvadorandmdash;a place you donandrsquo;t usually associate with the barren frigidity of the Cold War. andldquo;Timeline,andrdquo; for example, is an abstract installation that includes a chronology of dates penciled on the wall. They include historic events from the Cold War through till now, but it also includes personal events for him. Much of his work has reflected space: shuttles, NASA, and the space race (heandrsquo;s done pieces that are a mix between Mars rovers and street vendor cars). Heandrsquo;s also played around aesthetically with early Russian constructivism (shown in part by his andldquo;wall reliefsandrdquo; in AACandrsquo;s studio). Architecture and structure are themes that work well with his medium. Linear Experimental, Arlington Arts Center studio Simandoacute;n is all at once interested in the vertical, the monumental, and the structural. andldquo;Tropi Cold War Storiesandrdquo; he calls an andldquo;anti-monument.andrdquo; Perhaps to the Cold War, which doesnandrsquo;t have any monument dedicated to it. Unlike other monuments, though, his is temporary and unofficial. He brings much thought and many themes to his work. However, he knows the viewer canandrsquo;t and wonandrsquo;t get it all. andldquo;I donandrsquo;t expect the viewer to understand right away. I donandrsquo;t want them to have to read a lot to understand it either. Maybe, if they do like it and connect with it, they might research it further.andrdquo; He doesnandrsquo;t have specific expectations for his viewers, but leaves it open. andldquo;Itandrsquo;s like a relationship,andrdquo; he says. andldquo;You be yourself and see what happens.andrdquo; Yes, a generous amount of heavy information backdrops Simandoacute;nandrsquo;s art. But donandrsquo;t be fooled into thinking his artwork is bleak. He takes a non-serious approach to productsandrsquo; execution. Although defined by research, pieces are playful, interactive, organic, and fun. His installations at AAC have all been taken down: fleeting pieces that have served their purpose for both he and his viewer. The photos of them stick around, yes, but they themselves arenandrsquo;t the artwork. In addition to his preliminary sketches he does now, heandrsquo;s considering doing more drawings and sketches of the finished installations as art themselves. Just this year, he started doing drawings within his installations too, on found surfaces such as cardboard. Either way, heandrsquo;s always moving forward, using what he finds to inspire something new. And I expect that wherever his travels take him next and whatever garbage that city has, his progression, like his temporary creations, will continue to be quite organic. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1128 I am not, as far as I can tell, in Walt Disney World's target demographic. I'm not four. I'm not a family man. I'm not Brazilian. I'm not even a fan of animated movies. But to drive through Central Florida after seeing a shuttle launch and pass up the parks? To miss out on a quintessentially American summertime diversion? To skip a chance to meet the one and only Mickey Mouse? I'm not nuts. Traveling the American Road - A Whirlwind Tour of Disney My plan was a whirlwind tour of all four of Disney's parks, trying my best to try what attractions had been added since my last visit, in 2007. Then, I was in town for the opening of Expedition Everest, a ride that challenged my poor tolerance for roller coasters and impressed me with its ability to make visitors feel like they were hiking the Himalayas, even in the heat of Central Florida. This time, the big draw was the Wild Africa Trek, a new behind-the-scenes tour of the Animal Kingdom that takes visitors behind the fences, out to Disney's "savanna" and ends with a killer lunch on an African safari-inspired wildlife watching pavilion far from the crowds. To amp up the excitement, trekkers cross a crocodile enclosure on rope bridges, distressed to look rickety even if they were reinforced by steel cables. Anyone who's seen Temple of Doom, though, can't get past their primal fear of a rope bridge collapse. I survived, obviously, to see Epcot and its world pavilions. There's something hilarious about visiting "France," "Ireland," "Italy" and "Mexico" when you're a travel writer. In every one of the miniature countries, I was studying the architecture, comparing it to my memories, figuring out what it is we remember about the places we visit--and wondering why we forget the things we forget. Is that really what the Eiffel Tower looks like, I asked myself, cocking my head, as I couldn't clearly remember the original's shape. At Disney's Hollywood Studios, I tested the limits of my stomach with a ride on the Star Tours simulator, a 3-D ride set in the Star Wars universe, in which C-3PO is an accidental tour guide and passengers fly through the galaxy. A visit to the American Idol Experience impressed not just for its slick production values--from where I was sitting, it could've been the real TV show--but also for the talent of the contestants on stage. I ended my tour at the Magic Kingdom, the park that to me, a person visiting without my kids, seemed the least interesting. But the polish here was the most fine, the smiles on singers the most gleaming, the lawn edging the most precise, the background music the most bubbly. The good news, thanks perhaps to some friends inside Disney: I did manage to meet Mickey. I even put on a set of ears http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1134Just after Malaysia Airlines announced its new plan to ban babies from first class, Allegiant Air might just have another case for keeping children out of the air. On a recent flight bound for Tennessee from Orlando, a plane was forced to return to the airport after a crew member smelled smoke. Then the passengers were put on another plane later in the day, but the flight was delayed again after an andldquo;unruly childandrdquo; forced the plane to return to the gate before taking off. The child apparently wouldnandrsquo;t stay in their seat, and the parents couldnandrsquo;t control him/her. Image: brad_holt/Flickr Seems like lately more and more journalists and media figures are expressing their frustration over loud, disruptive children on trains, planes and even in restaurants Believe it or not, not everybody thinks your kid is adorable, and when youandrsquo;re dishing out big dollars for a specific service, this kind of behavior is a big waste. Especially for those people who had tight deadlines to make on Allegiant Air. Weandrsquo;re a little confused about how a parent canandrsquo;t make their toddler sit in their seat on an airplane, but weandrsquo;ll try to withhold judgement. We donandrsquo;t necessarily feel like children should be banned from certain flights, but certainly some kind of reprimand should be enforced. We bet there are a whole lot of angry people in Tennessee, though.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1143 August. An ideal time to be in Paris, as long as you donandrsquo;t expect endless days of sunny hot weather or being able to work on the perfect tan. Yes, as the current season has shown, Parisian summer weather can be unpredictable! Being in Paris in August is still fabulous (and my favorite month of the year by far), as long as you donandrsquo;t need to: andbull; Receive medical attention of any kindandhellip;andbull; Get a haircutandbull; Order furnitureandbull; Perform administrative tasksandbull; Renovate your apartment or fix a small leak Picnicing at La Villette before a movie As of July 1, the French are either on vacation, planning vacation or dreaming of vacation. When August 1 rolls around, they are pretty much all truly en vacances (if not physically, at least mentally). Nothing serious is possible in Paris before September and la rentrandeacute;e. One must know this and plan accordingly. You can forget about ordering the new couch youandrsquo;ve been coveting anytime between July 1 and Sept 1. andldquo;Oh landagrave; landagrave; Madameandhellip; the factory where the couches are manufactured is closed until the end of August! Zut, alors the 6-8 week delay will bring you to at least mid- October before delivery can be made.andrdquo; You can try to get to the dentist to repair the filling that inconsiderately fell out over dinner. Another chorus of andldquo;Oh landagrave; landagrave; Madame, ze dentist is on vacation and will be back September 1.andrdquo; Strolling on the Canal St Martin Summer flu? Need a doctor? andldquo;Oh landagrave; landagrave; Madame le cabinet medical is closed until further notice.andrdquo; Note: Donandrsquo;t expect forthcoming referrals or sympathy. Need a haircut and colorandhellip; andldquo;Oh landagrave; landagrave; Madameandhellip;andrdquo; you get the picture. That said, once you are familiar with the rules, you can plan accordingly and then relax, knowing you wonandrsquo;t get anything serious done in Paris in August anyway. Just make sure not to fall ill or need root canal surgery. ** Notre Dame and tanning along the Seine in the sun Visitors to our lovely city may rejoice in the fact that, since they are blessedly on holiday, they donandrsquo;t have the day-to-day worries of living in Paris and not being able to accomplish anything in August, and thus can jump right into all the fabulous Paris August activities. Here are some suggestions for not-to-be-missed culture and entertainment events happening in Paris in August: (Please note these are 2011 dates and will vary slightly in following years) St Sulpice August festivals La Villette, July 19- August 21 -Picnic galore and free movies as soon as the sun sets. Clair de Lune, August 5-22 andndash; Free movies all around Paris based on where they were filmed Paris Quartier Dandrsquo;andeacute;tandeacute;. Culture, danse, musicandhellip; Itandrsquo;s too late to catch this great event in 2011, but mark it in your 2012 calendar now! It runs every summer from around mid July until the end of the first week of August. Paris Plage, July 21-Aug 21 Landrsquo;Etandeacute; du Canal summer festival andndash; another Paris plage in the hip Northern Paris area just beyond the Canal St Martin, June 25- August 28th. Theater and music in the gardens and streams of Chantilly, every weekend from July 16 andndash; August 18. Les Grandes Eaux Nocturnes in the gardens of the Chateau de Versailles. This spectacular water festival takes place every Saturday evening starting 9 pm from June 18 andndash; September 3. Carnival in the Tuileries gardens through August 21st. La Villette All major museums and tourist attractions remain open in Paris in the summer. You will also find that many food shops, restaurants and boutiques are open as well. You will not go without baguette, red wine or culture when visiting Paris in August! ** Please note: I am slightly exaggerating above. You CAN, with a bit of ingenuity and persistence find that random Frenchie who IS working in August. For the record, I successfully secured a haircut appointment the first week of August, found a handy man to fix my semi-broken fuse box with two days notice, went to the doctor AND managed to have my two new arm chairs re-upholstered and delivered last weekend, just in the nick of time before Monsieur le tapissier went en vacances!http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1144 Every once in awhile, DC conjures up a new, community-centered happening that appeals to some of our favorite demographics: foodies, families, and creatives. This Saturday, we have the pleasure of welcoming THE DC SCOOP to the neighborhood. A community summer event, The 1st Annual DC Scoop features free ice cream, a juried ice cream tasting, live music, childrenandrsquo;s activities (including an ice cream eating contest!), and art installations by DCandrsquo;s favorite sweet street artist, DIABETIK. Here is the gist: participants will be able to taste (and judge) the Districtandrsquo;s best ice cream, gelato, custard, and other summer treats from over a dozen of DCandrsquo;s sweet treat vendors. The 2011 DC Scoop Winner will be chosen from the following all-stars: Plush Gelato, Dolcezza Gelato, Sinplicity Ice Cream, Prigel Family Creamery, Nielsen's Frozen Custard, Sweet Willows Creamery, Milwaukee Frozen Custard, Toby's Homemade Ice Cream, Dolci Gelati, Coppi's Organic Restaurant, Georgetown Scoops, Bruster's Real Ice Cream, Orange Cow, and Tropical Ice Cream Cafandeacute;. And all of this tasting for free. More than just an excuse to enjoy ice cream on a humid August DC day, the Pink Line Project loves the DC Scoop because it is more about creating value and utility out of unoccupied space through supporting neighborhood businesses and community morale. Ice cream is just the cherry on top. Event supporters Edens andamp; Avant and VerdeHOUSE have teamed up to transform the Union Market at Cap City into a lively, imagination-infused venue. Part of this creative space-making is brought on by the commissioning of DIABETIK, the street artist known for andldquo;cute-ifyingandrdquo; neighborhoods all over the city. All of those half-eaten peeps, smashed up gingerbread men, discarded candy corn cones, and apathetic candy hearts plastered around town are due to DIABETIKandrsquo;s knack for crafty confections. So we are sure that the artist has something drippingly sweet for the DC Scoop occasion. If anything, the DC Scoop is a chance for the community to come together in a way that is reminiscent of neighborhood block parties, county fairs, art exhibitions, and music festivals. We're thrilled that such an event has finally popped up, and we look forward to many more to come. The 1st Annual DC Scoop will take place on Saturday, August 20, 2011 from 1:00-4:00pm at Union Market @ 6th St NE andamp; Florida Ave. This is a tasting event and culinary competition you don't want to miss! Follow The DC Scoop on Facebook and Twitter (@theDCscoop2011http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1154 The New York TimesThe Frugal Travelerandrsquo;s Mediterranean Trip I wouldnandrsquo;t call them highlights. Whittling down a 10-week frugal dream trip around the Mediterranean to just 11 items calls for a more superlative term. Skylights? Stratolights? Astrolights? Whatever they are, you may notice that none come from the French Riviera or Cyprus, which andmdash; unsurprisingly andmdash; were the two most expensive destinations on the trip. In those places, given my budget of just 500 euros (or $700) a week, mere survival was the highlight. Seth Kugel for The New York Times Best Beach: Gjipe, Albania I had no bathing suit with me, no towel, no sunscreen. Why would I? I thought I was following a path to a monastery. After all, the sign that led me to pull off the Albanian coastal highway just past the village of Ilias read andldquo;Manastiri A. Thodhorosandrdquo; and had a picture of a building with a cross on it. But I must have taken a fortuitous wrong turn, because after a gorgeous walk along a rocky road that wound around a hill on the edge of the Adriatic, I found there were no monks andmdash; or any other humans andmdash; in sight. Just Gjipe Beach, an expanse of white sand lodged in the mouth of a dramatic canyon. That called for stripping down to nothing and diving into bluish-green waters. So what if it turned out an Austrian couple was watching from under a rock outcropping? Seth Kugel for The New York Times Best Door Markers: Zrnovo, Croatia Sure, the wine, olive oil, bread and just about everything else at Gera, a restaurant and inn in the small town of Zrnovo on Korcula island, is produced onsite. Sure, the grilled squid is to die for. But my favorite part was the bathroom doors. Whether you speak Croatian, English, Mandarin or Urdu, youandrsquo;ll know which one to go into. Best Scenery: Dalmatian Coast, Croatia Seth Kugel for The New York Times The Mediterranean has plenty of beautiful coastline, but I saw no more flabbergasting stretch than the Dalmatian coast in Croatia and the islands just offshore. The highlights were the particularly dramatic hill-clinging towns and deep-blue seascapes that my parents and I saw cruising in our tiny orange Fiat convertible rental up and down the road that traverses the 23-mile-long sliver of an island called Mljet. Itandrsquo;s a spectacle missed by most tourists, who come for a day trip and see only the tip of the island that is Mljet National Park (not un-flabbergasting itself, but just a start). Staying overnight in one of the many rooms rented by local families and renting a car is how you get to see the views to which my father gave the ultimate praise: fit for a James Bond chase scene. Best Meal: Naples, Italy Seth Kugel for The New York Times The Italian tradition of andldquo;discoveringandrdquo; a place that has long ago been discovered dates back to the explorer known locally as Cristoforo Colombo. I made a similar discovery of Starita pizzeria, which I stumbled upon as I wandered the Materdei neighborhood of Naples in search of a run-of-the-mill pizza joint. Instead I found maybe 100 Neapolitans waiting on the street for a chance to eat everything from standard pizza fritta to pies like the racchetta (shaped like a racket, with mushrooms and ricotta hidden inside the handle). Best Photo Op: Istanbul Seth Kugel for The New York Times I havenandrsquo;t traveled much in the Muslim world, so in Istanbul I found myself intrigued andmdash; as Iandrsquo;m sure many Westerners are andmdash; by Muslim womenandrsquo;s wide variety of clothing. As much as I could, I resisted snapping pictures of them as if they were, themselves, tourist attractions. My self-control crumbled, however, when I spotted a woman in a black chador delighting a slew of children with bubble guns. Am I revealing my own prejudices by being intrigued (to the point of taking almost 100 snapshots) by the sight of a conservatively dressed Muslim woman having so much fun in public? Maybe, but if so, isnandrsquo;t that the great thing about travel, challenging our all too often parochial world views? Best Really Old Housing Stock: Apulia, Italy Seth Kugel for The New York Times You would be forgiven for thinking you were in West Africa or Central Asia or Middle Earth, because trulli andmdash; a building form that dates back to at least the 16th century andmdash; look anything but Italian. But there they are in Apulia, not just in touristy Alberobello but in the surrounding small towns and countryside. Many are abandoned, their conical roofs crumbling, but some are still family homes and others are available for tourists to rent. Best Pre-6 a.m. Drink: Jali Beach, Albania Seth Kugel for The New York Times Also, the worst pre-6 a.m. drink, and the only pre-6 a.m. drink. When I showed up at 5:55 a.m., a few minutes early for my fishing date with Jorgo Andoni, the only people at the restaurant he owns were three older men I recognized from an earlier visit. They beckoned me to join them for a breakfast of espresso and what looked like water. It was not water, but rakia, a bracing liquor made from grape pomace. Minutes later, I was in Jorgoandrsquo;s boat on the Adriatic, hauling in nets. Luckily, Albanian law does not prohibit fishing under the influence. I donandrsquo;t think. Seth Kugel for The New York Times Best Hike: Cabo de Gata, Spain Travelers are often so busy with bullfights and tapas and Goyas that they donandrsquo;t seek out Spainandrsquo;s natural wonders, like the starkly beautiful Cabo de Gata-Nandiacute;jar Natural Park along what might be Europeandrsquo;s wildest stretch of Mediterranean coast. Some of it can be seen by car, but not this view, taken from the well-marked, medium-difficulty 7.5-mile San Pedro-El Plomo-Agua Amarga trail. Best Way to Spend an Afternoon: Entepe, Turkey Seth Kugel for The New York Times My favorite travel destination? Thatandrsquo;s easy: the inside of a strangerandrsquo;s house. And scoring an invitation is not that hard in rural Turkey. When I met a gray-haired pistachio farmer named Nuveram Danaoglu on the dusty streets of Entepe, all it took was an exchange of sign-language greetings before I was invited over. I expected little more than tea, but after a lunch of rice pilaf and salad, many of his children and grandchildren came, several of whom played the saz, a lute-like string instrument used in the wailing music known as uzun hava. To them, it was just another summer afternoon, albeit with a stranger; to me, it was live Turkish folk music in the most genuine setting conceivable. Best Architectural Surprise: Tripoli, Lebanon Seth Kugel for The New York Times It looks as if it could be the Central Park of Tripoli, Lebanonandrsquo;s second most populous city. Instead, the monuments, plazas and buildings of the International Fairground designed by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer are mostly used by teenagers who scale its fences and tourists who can convince the security guard to let them pass through the main gate. The fairgrounds (which bear a striking resemblance to Brasandiacute;lia, Mr. Niemeyerandrsquo;s most famous project) are one of the lesser known casualties of Lebanonandrsquo;s long civil war: construction was halted on the huge site in 1975 when violence broke out, and never restarted. Best Facebook Bait: Istanbul Seth Kugel for The New York Times Since I mostly travel alone, I rarely end up with pictures of myself. (I find the stick-out-your-cellphone-and-snap-yourself genre a bit pathetic.) But when the worker at Carsi Hamami (a Turkish bathhouse near the port in Kadikoy) wrapped my head in a towel and started patting me down, I was lucky to have my Couchsurfing host, Erol Fazlioglu, along to capture the scene. I quickly posted it to my personal Facebook page, where it was an instant hit. andldquo;You never looked better,andrdquo; said one facetious friend. andldquo;I swear I thought it was an old woman,andrdquo; wrote another. A third simply wrote andldquo;Oh my!!!!!andrdquo;http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1178Nothing says America like a wholesome state fair. And what's more wholesome - or American - than filling your gullet with mounds of fried, sticky, salty, and/or sweet junk foods?Beyond the carnival rides and the livestock judging contests, state fairs have always served as quasi-laboratories for American-style street food. In fact, the now-ubiquitous corn dog was first introduced to the public in the early 1940s at a state fair, though which one is still up for debate. The Texas State Fair, aka the "Fried Food Capital of Texasandreg;", and the Minnesota State Fair both lay claim to this distinctly American treat.Each year, state fair food vendors try to outdo each other - and intrigue the crowds - with new belly-busting concoctions, usually inspired by local fare. For instance, dairy state Iowa features a deep-fried stick of butter at the Iowa State Fair, while the Texas State Fair has served up fried cookie dough and fried beer. The bigger and more artery-clogging the better when it comes to state fair foods. Here is just a sampling of some of the state fair foods Gadling found to be truly outrageous. Deep-fried beer at the Texas State Fair Deep-fried cheese curd at the Iowa State Fair A doughnut burger with chocolate bacon at the Wisconsin State Fair Deep-fried black-eyed peas Blue cheese chips Deep-fried smores at the Texas State Fair Deep-fried peanut butter and jelly sandwiches Deep-fried Coke at the North Carolina State Fair Chocolate-covered watermelon on a stick at the Minnesota State Fair Salad on a stick http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1179 Even if you have never made the pilgrimage to Giverny, France, itandrsquo;s not hard to visualize the glory that wasandhellip;isandhellip;Claude Monetandrsquo;s famous garden. From the well-known water lilies and irises to the many iconic Impressionist works, this small, intimate garden on the outskirts of Paris inspired many of Monetandrsquo;s masterpieces. A recent cameo in Woody Allenandrsquo;s Midnight in Paris reminded me of my rushed trip to Giverny many years ago. I traipsed through the garden taking in the amazing palette of colors, the pinks and yellows, fuchsias, purples and oranges. How could one NOT love the feast for the senses? The next day I visited the Orangerie Museum in Paris where the famous water lily paintings are featured. This combo makes for a nice pairing. There are currently a few tours in Paris which focus on the many sights featured in Allenandrsquo;s latest movie. The Paris Underbelly - Midnight in Paris Tour will set you back about $100, depending on the length of the tour. According to a recent article in the New York Times, the garden (which is open to the public seven months a year and attracted more than half a million visitors in 2010) has a new head gardener. James Priest, has just taken over the reigns of perhaps the worldandrsquo;s most well-known cultivated plot. Mr. Priest is an Englishman, although he has lived in France for 30 years and is married to a Frenchwoman. Some say the garden has more of an English flavor, a wildness and lack of order, but Priest sidesteps the tempest in a teapot over an Anglo running a quintessentially French garden. The French and the British love to kid each other, naming certain things as andldquo;Frenchandrdquo; or andldquo;Anglaiseandrdquo; to connote a distaste. A condom, for example in France is called a andldquo;capote anglaise,andrdquo; whereas in England it is often referred to as a andldquo;French letter.andrdquo; For his part, Priest feels the garden is beyond French or English and prefers to think of Monetandrsquo;s Giverny as an artistandrsquo;s garden. Itandrsquo;s a demanding job, regardless of the head gardenerandrsquo;s country of origin, and Mr. Priest plans to rely heavily on the wisdom and experience of the gardeners who have been tending Giverny for decades. In his day, Monet could pick and choose what to paint and keep things in bloom at various stages. Today, with so many visitors, the task is to keep the garden picture perfect all the time.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1197 K2, arguably the world's toughest mountain to climb, was conquered for the first time in more than three years earlier this week, when an international team of three men and one woman reached the summit. They were the first people to stand on top of the mountain since the tragic 2008 climbing season, during which 11 people lost their lives. Located in the Karakoram mountain range, K2 straddles the border between Pakistan and China and stands 8611 meters (28,251 ft) in height. It is the second highest peak in the world, behind only Mt. Everest, although it is orders of magnitude more challenging to climb. While each year more than 500 people summit Everest, the top of K2 is rarely visited at all due to its extreme technical challenges and notoriously bad weather. In fact, K2 has earned the nickname "the Savage Mountain" because of its high level of difficulty and the fact that for every four climbers who have successfully reached the top, one has died trying. On Tuesday, Austrian climber Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, along with Polish mountaineer Darek Zaluski and Kazakhs Maxut Zumayev and Vassiliy Pivtsov ended the three-year drought on K2 by reaching the summit from the Chinese side of the mountain. Climbing for nearly 18 hours, the team endured waist deep snow and -25andordm;F temperatures on their way up, although the winds were mercifully light and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. That afforded them some great views from the summit, but the exhausted group didn't linger for long, as they still had a long trek back to their high camp below. The successful summit earned Kaltenbrunner the distinction of becoming the first woman to climb all fourteen of the world's 8000-meter peaks without the use of supplemental oxygen. While most high altitude mountaineers wear an oxygen mask and tank to help them breathe in the thin air, she did it using just her own lungs, which puts her in a very elite squad of climbers. The team has now descended back to their Base Camp, where they are collecting all of their gear and are preparing to head home. After spending two months on K2 preparing for this summit push, they are no doubt more than ready to get back to their friends and families, not to mention a few creature comforts. I'm guessing a warm shower, a comfortable bed, and their favorite foods all sound pretty good about now.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1198 Norwayandrsquo;s natural charm and beautiful fjords have inspired many a poet and novelist. Especially the Lofoten Islands are considered a paradise and while perhaps the conditions may seem a bit rough there in the Arctic Circle, the place is simply a must to visit. Where to find midnight sun, magical fjords and green meadows, picturesque fishing villages and purple mountains spreading around as if to protect all this beauty? Norwegian Lofoten Islands are home to some fantastic natural gems and for thousands of years have retained their unrivalled charm and magic. The main islands most frequented by tourists are Austvagoy, Vestvagoy, Flakstad and Moskenes; it is there where hiking and climbing fans flock followed by writers and poets who seek inspiration and perhaps a bit of peace. The midnight sun presents an appealing phenomenon many long to experience. In Leknes, for example, the sun remains above the horizon between 26th May and 17th July. Visitors often head for any of the western beaches to witness this puzzling occurrence; the most popular are Utakleiv and Eggum beach on the Vestvagoy Island. Incidentally, the Utakleiv beach is considered one of the most romantic beaches in Europe. Naturally, if there is a midnight sun, there is bound to be a polar night. It lasts from 9th December to 4th January and temperatures are not exactly friendly. However, it is possible to see the Northern Lights from there andndash; an experience unlike any other. Lofoten Islands are admired not only for local wondrous scenery, but also for the charming fishing villages, which have retained their specific character for centuries. Henningsvaer and Nusfjord are prime examples and a must for any visitor to Lofoten. Travelers who long to discover the Viking roots of the islands will not regret a visit to the Lofotr Viking Museum in Borg, on the Vestvagoy Island.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1203 The News's front-and-back cover treatment includes the passage from Abraham Lincoln's letter to a mother of a soldier killed in the Civil War, which President George W. Bush read at the cermony. // // // // // // // // // One of the many heartbreaking images to come from yesterday's September 11 tenth anniversary ceremony was that of Robert Peraza, touching and kneeling in front of his son's etched name at the National 9/11 Memorial. That moment was captured on the front pages of many newspapers, as well as others of loved ones looking at 9/11 victims' name in the memorial for the first time. Peraza's 30-year-old son, Rob, was a commodities trader on the 104th floor of the North Tower (American Airlines Flight 11hit between the 93rd and 99th floors); he was one of 658 Cantor Fitzgerald employees who died on 9/11. Peraza told the Post, andldquo;I just began to walk, and I found it... It was, to me, very emotional to find the name. I knew it was in the north pool. Itandrsquo;s very moving." He added that "family has raised nearly $250,000 to start a scholarship in his sonandrsquo;s name for his alma mater, upstate St. Bonaventure University." Other mourners were also moved by the chance to see victims' names in the pools; a man who lost his brother and cousin in the attacks told the Daily News, "Just seeing the names ... it breaks me up." The nearly 3,000 victims' names are placed in "meaningful adjacencies"andmdash;meaning that coworkers are placed near each otherandmdash;around the two pools. You can search names and their placements here.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1205 What2WearWhere.com How are the chic girls shopping in Paris this season? We went on a spree at Net-a-Porter to find the fashionable trends for fall, and we fell in love with these fabulous frocksandmdash;a Stella McCartney LBD with an of-the-moment peplum, and this bold belted wrap from Tibi. Both are just the thing to update your autumn wardrobe. For travel, just add a toothbrush and youandrsquo;re ready for any event from morning to night. To accessorize these stylish selections, pick up the perfect pair of patent-leather mesh pumps from Jimmy Choo, or try another punch of color with these Michael Kors calf-hair pumps. Add a DVF wrap to keep the chill off, a statement necklace and bracelet and, bien sanducirc;r, a fab pair of cat-eye sunglasses. Ah, to be a chic Parisienneandhellip; what are you waiting for? Book your trip today! Tibi belted wool wrap dress Stella McCartney cotton-blend pellum dress Ray-Ban cat-eye-frame sunglasses Yves Saint Laurent Chyc patent-leather belt Jimmy Choo Balance patent-leather mesh pumps Michael Kors Elgin pointed-toe calf-hair pumps Lulu Frost vintage crystal and brass necklace Diane von Furstenberg Reighleigh printed wool-blend scarf DANNIJO Frances Swarovski crystal cuff http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1208 Beyoncandeacute; has done it. So have Gwyneth Paltrow and Megan Fox. Weandrsquo;re not talking about starring in movies or being on the cover of magazines. Instead, detoxes and cleanses take center stage. Still, it seems to us that detoxes aren't always what they're cracked up to be. After all, who wants to spend their weekend in the bathroom, dealing with the after effects of some nasty lemon juice and cayenne pepper concoction.We'll go to a pro, thank you very much. That's why we turned to the experts at Destination Spa Group, a collection of leading spas from around the country, to find out tips for an effective yet healthy detox in prep for the upcoming holiday season.andldquo;You donandrsquo;t want to go into a detox without direction. Destination Spas have doctors, nutritionists and trainers on staff to walk people through every facet of a safe, effective and successful detox,andrdquo;said Destination Spa Group Executive Director Debra Koerner.To share the dish on detox, Koerner pulled from her daily regimen as well as advice from Destination Spa professionals to bust detox myths and put you on a cleaner, healthier road: Myth: Detoxing equals deprivation and starvation.Detoxing is about making small lifestyle and diet enhancements. For a week or so, add fruit and greens smoothies two times daily. Simply toss in your blender andfrac34; fruit and andfrac14; greens, add water and blend. You can also increase the amount of raw food you consume by making green salads the biggest part of your meal.Myth: Detoxing has no real value. The benefits of detoxification are extensive. They include weight loss, improved sleep, increased energy, improvement in cholesterol levels and blood pressure, and decreased hormonal symptoms seen with menopausal women. More from Green Mountain at Fox Runandrsquo;s Marsha Hudnall, MS, RD, andldquo;Detoxing is important to eliminate harmful contaminants that we are exposed to in our environment andndash;whether it be through the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink or the products we use on our skin or hair.andrdquo; Myth: It takes months to see results from a cleanse. In the short term, a healthy detox diet or juice fasting program will flush toxins that have accumulated in the body. Over the long term, you can make changes in your lifestyle by choosing to change two to four habits per year, such as eliminating coffee, eating more vegetables and fresh fruit, etc. Yvonne Nienstadt of Rancho La Puerta adds, andldquo;Personally, I like fasting one day a week. I use herb teas and vegetable potassium broth. Short fasts of one-three days will not harm essential tissues (lean muscle) and they use up the food still in the gut from the day before.andrdquo; Tips for a healthy cleanse: Try to eliminate foods that have the highest inflammatory or allergenic potential. This includes dairy; gluten-containing foods such as wheat, rye, barley, soy, and refined foods; red meat; shellfish; caffeine; and alcohol Eat plenty of fiber including brown rice and organically-grown fruits and vegetables. Include fresh juices (both fruit and vegetable) and water to help with the flushing process Detox twice per year. Spa Eastmanandrsquo;s Jocelyna Dubuc recommends cleansing when the seasons change in the spring and fall Add spa treatments such as dry brushing to rid the body of old dead cells so new ones can form and breathe. Hydrotherapy is very beneficial for detoxifying, as are body wraps. Sweat in a sauna so your body can eliminate wastes through perspiration. Mountain Trekandrsquo;s Kirkland Shave suggests using sweat- inducing facilities one-two times weekly to assist the body in eliminating fat and water soluble toxins at home Exercise is very important, including walking and yoga Conduct an inventory of your supplement intake and add detox-supporting vitamins, minerals and herbs http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1209 For cinema lovers out there, this is one event you wonandrsquo;t want to miss! The unique and contagious atmosphere has the entire city hosting film-related events at some of Romeandrsquo;s iconic locations. The main festival events are held at Auditorium Parco della Musica in Romeandrsquo;s Parioli District. Looking for a place to stay? Hotel de Russie is one of our absolute favorite hotels in Rome andndash; Hotel de Russie - Rome, Italy also recommended by the festival. Located in the Piazza del Popolo and steps away from popular attractions, this contemporary yet classic five star accommodation will make for a truly memorable experience. One of the more recent additions to the film circuit is the International Rome Film Festival, will be celebrating its 6th edition October 27 through November 4. The festival announced last week that this year they will recognize Richard Gere with the honorary acting award. The well-known star has appeared in hit films such as American Gigolandograve;, An Officer and a Gentleman andPretty Woman. Previous recipients of this award include Meryl Streep and Al Pacino. Famous past guests of the festival include Bruce Springsteen, Robert Redford, Tom Cruise and Leonardo Di Caprio andndash; just to name a few! And for the andldquo;Twilightandrdquo; fans, you definitely wonandrsquo;t be disappointed this year! Attendees will have the chance to meet some of the cast and preview unreleased clips of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 andndash; out in theatres on November 18. Hotel Savoy - Florence, Italy Looking to extend your Italian getaway? The beautiful and historic town of Florenceis only a short train ride away. Hotel Savoy, Hotel de Russieandrsquo;s sister property and member of the Rocco Forte family, is among the top luxury hotels. Located in the heart of the city, this stylish property offers stunning views, top-notch cuisine and impeccable service. For a full list of luxury properties from all across Italy, visitLuxuryHotelist.com. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1210 andlsquo;Tis the season to take advantage of fabulous holiday offers! Yes- itandrsquo;s that time of year again, and the luxury hotel market is providing travelers with exceptional offers all across the globe. Which city tops our list as a must visit this season? None other than London! And right now, The Red Carnation Hotel Collection has five exceptional offers available at their popular London properties, throughout the holidays. Whether itandrsquo;s family fun, or one more night complimentary, travelers can make the most out of their travels without compromising quality, luxury or, above all, service! Red Carnation has six stunning and unique London properties, three of which offer five star luxury, including:The Milestone Hotel- an intimate, historic Victorian property rich in award winning country house style overlooking Kensington Palace; The Egerton House Hotelandndash; a charming luxury townhouse hotel situated in fashionable Knightsbridge; and 41andndash; a style haven in the heart of London and one of the cityandrsquo;s most distinguished, luxury properties. A brand whoandrsquo;s history and core values sets them apart in the world of luxury hotels, we highly recommend The Red Carnation Hotel Collection for their commitment to world class customer service and flawless guest experiences, in each of their thirteen properties. For more information on all of their distinctive, boutique hotels, be sure to visithttp://www.redcarnationhotels.com, or check out LuxuryHotelist.com for our full list of top recommended hotels in the city of London. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1215 Chocolate week is upon us and Jumeirah Carlton Tower is celebrating big for the 7th annual event! Chocoholics unite because youandrsquo;ll absolutely love all the events going on this week! Chocolate andamp; Tea: Vahlrona, world-renowned French chocolatiers, will be serving a special chocolate afternoon tea menu exclusively for chocolate week at The Chinoiserie. Chocolate cocktails? Why not! GILT Cocktail Lounge will be serving two kinds of chocolate martinis; a white chocolate martini, served with rich dark cherries and sprinkle of cinnamon and an amaretto and a grand marnier cocktail with dark chocolate and a twist of orange andndash; both sound amazing! Chocolate cooking class for the kids: The pastry chefs are opening up the kitchen on Saturday, October 16th from 10am to 11:00am for a lesson on how to create spectacular and delicious chocolate treats for the family. To reserve a spot, please call +44 (0)20 7858 7250 or email JCTdining@jumeirah.com. Chocolate spa treatments! Indulge in chocolate manicures and pedicures this week at The Peak Health Club and Spa. Each treatment starts with a delicious chocolate exfoliating scrub followed by a chocolate mud mask. Chocolate Ecstasy Tours of Belgravia: Experience the ultimate tour of chocolatiers on Friday, October 14 and Sunday, October 16. Itinerary includes samples of Rococo Chocolates, William Curley and French patissier-chocolatier Pierre Hermandeacute; followed by a chocolate themed afternoon tea at Lowndes Bar andamp; Kitchen. Reservation required. Whether youandrsquo;re visiting London or a local looking for something fun to do, be sure to stop by Jumeirah Carlton Tower and partake in some their tasty specials and events! Interested in staying the night? Visit LuxuryHotelist.com for rates and availability. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1216 Believe it or not, Vail, Coloradohas already had its first snowfall of the season. Pack your bags and book your flight because itandrsquo;s going to be a wonderful ski season! Only 37 days until opening day and The Sebastian Vail, one of our favorite ski resorts, is offering a fantastic deal that we canandrsquo;t help but share. Ski and Spa for free with the Ski Sensationspackage! You heard right, The Sebastian Vail is offering an unbeatable package where youandrsquo;ll get two lift tickets for each day of your stay and two 50-minture massages And thatandrsquo;s not all! You will also receive breakfast for two daily, welcome drinks at Frost Bar, a welcome amenity and a nightly turn down service. The package is good for two when you book a stay of 3 to 7 nights. The Sebastian, A Timbers Resort Hotel andamp; Residence Club, is located in the heart ofVailVillagejust steps away from the ski slopes and surrounded by great restaurants, shops and galleries. With comfortable and stylish accommodations and dining options for every occasion, this five star boutique hotel has everything youandrsquo;ll need to make for a memorable experience! For additional ski resort recommendations, visit LuxuryHotelist.com for more top picks! http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1217 Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Weandrsquo;ve got the perfect idea! One of our favorite spots in London, 1901 Restaurant and Wine Bar located in the Andaz Liverpool Street Hotel, is hosting its own art exhibition called Super Brand, in celebration of the Frieze Art Fair. The exhibition, curated by Irina Stark, will contain works by artists Simon Monk, Matteo Negri and Laura Keeble andndash; all of which explore a society increasingly influenced by consumerism. After checking out the exhibition, we recommend sticking around 1901 for cocktails, dinner or a wine and cheese tasting. The restaurant offers a fresh and dynamic approach to fine dining and features innovative dishes using home grown produce. If youandrsquo;re not up for dinner, definitely try their wine and cheese tasting andndash; you wonandrsquo;t be disappointed! The modern yet contemporary interior, combined with gracious service, will make for an unforgettable evening. If youandrsquo;re up for even more art, check out the Frieze Art Fair, which kicks off today in Londonandrsquo;s Regent Park and goes through Sunday, October 16th! The fair features over 170 of the most exciting contemporary art galleries in the world. In addition to the galleries, the fair also features artistsandrsquo; projects, a sculpture park, talks, film and music andndash; enough to keep you busy all weekend long! http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1218 Are you still deciding where to celebrate with the ghosts and goblins for Halloween this year? We invite you to join our friends at the French Quarter Inn located right in the middle of historic downtown Charleston. The folks there have made unforgettable service a top priority at their charming hotel. Guests are greeted with complimentary champagne and lady fingers at check-in, a complimentary wine and cheese reception in the afternoon, an evening turn down service, homemade cookies and milk in the evening andndash; just to name a few. True to their name, the French Quarter Inn, a recent winner of the andldquo;Top US Hotelandrdquo; in the Conde Nast Traveler Magazine Readersandrsquo; Choice Awards, is decorated with an elegant yet relaxed French touch. The rooms will take your breath away and its likely you wonandrsquo;t want to leave! Guests are treated to over-sized rooms, many with working fireplaces, private balconies and whirlpools. The in-house restaurant, Tristan, is a treat for anyone visiting the Charleston area. It has become well-known for its fun twists on traditional plates. We give an A+ to Executive Chef Nate Whiting and his team for the innovative dishes! The French Quarter Inn is looking forward to Halloween this year and theyandrsquo;ve made it simple for you to join them in the fun! If you book on their site, they will give a 20% discount on your room! Book now before rooms fill up! http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1221 Love to run? Boy will you enjoy this special offer! The James, located in both New York City andChicago, is offering a guided running tour as a unique and fun way to experience the city from a different perspective. The 4.2 mile tour explores major landmarks, history and culture. It is designed for athletes of all types and conditioning levels andndash; so donandrsquo;t be shy! The James Chicago details: Runs are offered daily and at other preferred times throughout the day, and private group runs are available beginning at $60 per person. Please register at least 24 hours in advance. Separately, the hotel is offering a andlsquo;Run This Townandrsquo; special package which includes: a guided city running tour for two, two breakfast smoothies at David Burke's Primehouse and a $50 Gift Card to NIKETOWN, located at669 N. Michigan Avenue. Rates start at $479/night. Please note guests can participate in The James Chicago City Running Tour without booking the Run This Town Package. The James New York City details: Runs are offered daily and at other preferred times throughout the day, and private group runs are available beginning at $60 per person. Please register at least 24 hours in advance. At the end of your run, you'll leave with a souvenir tee, water and insider info you wonandrsquo;t hear on tour buses! The James New York City and Chicago are two of our favorite luxury boutique properties. Both are ideally situated in the heart of all the action and designed to create residential style comfort. To book your next stay at either of locations, visit LuxuryHotelist.com for rates and availability. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1219Canandrsquo;t travel to Italyfor Christmas this year? Not to worry! On November 21st, The Venetian and The Palazzo will introduce Winter in Venice, where both resorts will magically transform into the most majestic winter wonderland Las Vegas has ever seen. Festivities include ice skating, a spectacular light show beyond your wildest imagination and seasonal treat such as egg nog cupcakes, warm apple cider and hot chocolate andndash; just to name a few! There are all kinds of surprises in store during this memorable holiday event andndash; you wonandrsquo;t be disappointed! From November 21st through January 8, 2012, experience the winter wonderland with the andlsquo;Winter in Veniceandrsquo; special package with rates starting from $149 per night. The package includes a luxury suite for two nights along with some fantastic amenities! Youandrsquo;ll receive two skate rentals, hot chocolate for two at Cafandeacute; Presse, $40 off Winter in Venice seasonal facial, cocoon or massage at Canyon Ranch Spa Club, 20% off the food bill atValentino or The Grill at Valentino and a signature gift. For other great holiday destinations, visit LuxuryHotelist.com!http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1220 The Savoy, which continues to top the Condandeacute; Nast Traveler andlsquo;Hot List,andrsquo; is dedicated to being the most sustainable luxury hotel inLondon. The property, which is located right on theThamesRiver, reopened its doors on October 10, 2010 after one of the most ambitious renovations in British history. The restoration introduced environmental technologies and efficiencies wherever possible along with a number of sustainable initiatives throughout the hotel. They even have a Green Butler, who has an in-depth knowledge of 'all things green' aroundLondon. The Savoy truly knows how to be eco-savvy and they want to share that with guests through their Elements Package andndash; available all year long! The package includes overnight accommodation, return transfers in a luxury hybrid vehicle from a London airport or station, a andldquo;Savoy Green Butlerandrdquo; to assist with requests, a green welcome gift upon arrival, a 3-hour walking green tour of London and complimentary use of a BMW bicycle with helmet provided. And thatandrsquo;s not all. Youandrsquo;ll also receive organic breakfast, organic 3-course dinner in the River Restaurant with a pre-dinner biodynamic cocktail and a one-day travel card allowing free use ofLondon's public transport network. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1222 Wellandhellip; itandrsquo;s not exactly at the White House, but youandrsquo;ll have fabulous views of it! Not interested in cooking a big meal on Thanksgiving? Leave it to The Hay Adams Hotel to cook up a scrumptious Thanksgiving buffet for you and your family on Thursday, November 24th! The buffet, which lasts from 11:45am to 8:30pm, will take place in the Top of the Hay andndash; The Hay Adamsandrsquo; new venue with stunning views of the White House, St. Johns Church and Lafayette Park! The buffet will feature traditional Thanksgiving dishes, seasonal delicacies, a carving station, and delicious homemade desserts such as, pumpkin cheesecake, caramel apples, apple pie, bourbon pecan pie and much more andndash; all from the Lafayette Restaurantandrsquo;s pastry chef. For more information or to make a reservation, please call 202-638-2570 or reserve online athttp://www.hayadams.com. The Hay Adams, which was recently nominated for Hotel of the Year by Virtuoso for their Best of the Best Hotel Awards, is one of the D.C.andrsquo;s top luxury boutique properties. Ideally located in Lafayette square and steps away from many famous D.C. landmarks, this five star property is a top choice among visitors to the nationandrsquo;s capital! For rates and availability, be sure to visit www.luxuryhotelist.com! http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1225 Sometimes you just need a reason to pamper yourself, so why not take the day off and take advantage of this great deal at The Spa at Trump. On Friday, November 11th only (TGIF), theyandrsquo;re offering select treatments for only $111! The details: At the Trump Chicago and Trump SoHo in New York, spa goers can add a 60 minute Trump Classic Massage or Kate Somerville Universal Glow Facial for just $111 when they also purchase a 60 minute or longer service at regular price. At Trump Las Vegas and Trump Waikiki Beach, the 60 minute Classic Trump Massage and Universal Glow Facial will each be priced at $111 for the day andndash; normally $165 each! Spots will fill up fast so to book your appointment, visit www.trumphotelcollection.com. Pricing does not include tax and gratuity. Calm, Balance, Purify, Heal and Revitalize andndash; Every moment of the guest experience at The Spa at Trump in focused around one of the five intentions, allowing you to have a truly memorable and relaxing visit. The spa, which was recently named andldquo;Top Spa Brandandrdquo; in Spa Finderandrsquo;s 2011 Readersandrsquo; Choice Awards, offers signature treatments and service as well as skin-care product and treatments designed exclusively by Kate Somerville. For other great Hotel Spas, visit our spa page on LuxuryHotelist.com. http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1226According to The New York Times, Rock of Ages is andldquo;absurdly enjoyableandrdquo; and andldquo;impossible to resist!andrdquo; Why not combine that with a stay at Chancery Court, one of Londonandrsquo;s top luxury hotels, for a night or weekend full of fun and comfort! Chancery Court is offering a special Rock and Roll package, combining a fantastic Broadway experience with top notch accommodations and a few extra goodies. This ultimate rock star package includes, two nightsandrsquo; accommodation in a spacious executive room, late check-out (subject to availability), daily breakfast from the in-room dining menu or the Pearl Restaurant, a rock and roll cocktail, two tickets to the hit musical Rock of Ages at Shaftesbury Theatre and two tickets for Big Bus Tours London. Rates start from andpound;514 (subject to VAT) and based on a two night stay. Youandrsquo;ll be dancing in your seat and singing along to tunes such as Donandrsquo;t Stop Believinandrsquo;, We Built This City, The Final Countdown, Wanted Dead or Alive, Here I Go Again, Canandrsquo;t Fight this Feeling and I Want To Know What Love Is.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1228Have you ever dreamed of taking a private cooking class from a world renowned culinary master at one of the best restaurants in New York City? Trump International Hotel andamp; Tower New York is making it possible! Jean-Georges, one of only five Three Michelin-Starred chefs in New York City, is offering a rare opportunity for a private cooking lesson through the Jean Georges Culinary Master Course package. The class, which takes place in the kitchen of Jean Georges Restaurant (located in the hotel), includes a one-hour cooking demonstration followed by a one-hour pastry making class with Chef Iuzzini. The package also includes a three-night stay in an executive park suite (Thursday, Friday andamp; Saturdays nights), a welcome amenity, a three course dinner for two at Jean Georges with a bottle of premier bubbly and breakfast for two daily atNougatine. To top off this unbelievable package, youandrsquo;ll also receive e a signed copy of Chef Jean Georgesandrsquo; book, Asian Flavor of Jean Georges andamp; Iuzziniandrsquo;s Dessert FourPlay: Sweet Quartets From a Four-Star Pastry, written with the home cook in mind. Jean Georges, one of New Yorkandrsquo;s finest dining destinations, is one of the few Forbes Five-Star andamp; AAA Five Diamond Restaurants to also be awarded The New York Times top rating. The menu, which blends French, American and Indochinese ingredients, is sure to please any palate. The Trump New Yorkandrsquo;s signature restaurant has a luxurious setting and spectacular views ofCentral Park, setting the stage for an unforgettable dining experience.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1234News Yearandrsquo;s Eve is going to be here before you know it and we canandrsquo;t think of better way to spend it than at Hotel de Crillon. The hotel, which is located on the famous Place de la Concorde, offers discrete luxury right in the heart of Paris. Itandrsquo;s the perfect location to explore the city of lights, iconic monuments and famous attractions and shop at premier destinations such as rue du Faubourg and rue Royale. For New Years, the hotel is pulling out all the stops and adorning itself with gold and glitter galore! Together, with family and friends, itandrsquo;s the perfect destination to kick off the 2012. From charming alternating dinners, festive brunches and delicious pastries, you are sure to experience the andldquo;andagrave; la franandccedil;aiseandrdquo; lifestyle. When you book a junior or superior suite, theirMagical New Year Package includes a one-way transport from the airport to the hotel, complimentary bottle of bubbly waiting in your room (a necessity!), exclusive gift from the hotel upon your arrival as well as complimentary breakfast andndash; either in room dining or at the gourmet restaurant. Enjoy a wonderful and unforgettable New Year celebration atHotel de Crillon, a truly magical luxury hotel.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1235Everyone deserves to be a princess for a day, right? Whether itandrsquo;s her birthday or another special occasion, the Raffaelloboutique hotel in Chicago sure knows how to make a girl feel special with their American Princess Package. The package includes a luxurious and spacious guest room for the princess (no age restrictions) and her friends. And, if they have the availability theyandrsquo;ll even upgrade your room! The package would not be complete without a tiara for the princess and a sweet turndown treat (personalized for royalty, of course). At the end of the night, dial a designated phone extension for bedtime stories to help dream sweet dreams. To book your overnight package for the princess in your life, visit www.chicagoraffaello.com. The Raffaello Chicago, which was recently renovated, offers luxurious boutique style accommodations and modern amenities right in the heart of the city. Centrally located one block from the Magnificent Mile and half a block fromWater Tower Place, youandrsquo;ll be able to experience all that downtown has to offer. Their trademark personalized service and warm staff will make for a truly memorable experience.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1238andldquo;Imagine youandrsquo;re dining with Thomas Jefferson after he returned from Franceandhellip; only now.andrdquo; Thatandrsquo;s the type of dining experience you can expect at The Federalist, which opened just last week. You might ask, what does that even mean? It means theyandrsquo;re going back to the basics with a focus on resurrecting culinary traditions of the Mid-Atlantic region. The menu is inspired by 18th century American food lovers and is prepared with locally grown foods with the freshest seasonal ingredients. Chef Harper McClure brings a strong culinary history to this new restaurant and draws inspiration from the earliest American cookbooks. He says, andldquo;Our goal is to pay homage to our local heroes, past and present, while providing our clientele with accessible refined cuisine.andrdquo; The Federalist, a great new addition to the D.C. restaurant scene, is open seven days a week and serves lunch and dinner. You can view the menu by visiting, www.thefederalistdc.com. For your next visit to D.C., be sure to book your next stay at The Madison Hotel. Itandrsquo;s located just blocks away from the White House and offers top notch customer service and elegant accommodations. And whether youandrsquo;re local or visiting the city, try out The Federalist andndash; youandrsquo;re in for a treat!http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1239 Ring in the New Year with the Grand Hyatt of Buckhead for the best New Years party in town. They've teamed with up After Midnight Parties and this year, theyandrsquo;re taking it to the next level! General admission will include an open bar, red carpet entrance, performances by the White Panda as well as other supporting bands and DJandrsquo;s, confetti blasters, champagne toast at midnight, acrobats and much more. If youandrsquo;re looking to take it up a notch and go VIP style, they've got a private section roped off next to the stage with lounge furniture, top shelf open bar, tapas and additional entertainment. Package deals and table service will also be available. The party starts at 8pm and goes all night. To purchase your tickets, visit www.ampparties.com. The Grand Hyatt is offering great savings on overnight packages from December 31 through January 2, 2012. Enjoy their newly renovated rooms (the beds are irresistible!) along with a turndown service and since youandrsquo;ll be up partying all night, they've got late checkout at 2pm. For rates and availability, visitwww.grandatlanta.hyatt.com.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1240Dreaming of visiting Hawaii? Well, you have until November 23rd to enter the Hilton Hawaii Five-0 Sweepstakes for a chance to turn that dream into a reality for you and four friends! Hiltonandrsquo;s andldquo;Hawaiian Getawayandrdquo; sweepstakes is easy to enter andndash; all you need is a Hilton HHonors number. This dream getaway includes round-trip tickets for five to Hawaii, 5 nights at Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, $50 food and beverage credit per person per day of stay and 50 complimentary activities. Now thatandrsquo;s a lot of activities for you and your friends! You can even increase your chances of winning and receive additional entries for each stay you complete at any Hilton Hotels andamp; Resorts property around the world by January 7, 2012. The Hilton Waikiki, which can often be seen on the hit TV show Hawaii Five-0, consistently ranks as one of the top luxury hotels on the Island of Oahu. Located on the iconic Waikiki beach, the hotel offers impeccable customer service, newly renovated accommodations and tons of amenities. For more information on Hilton Waikiki or other Hilton properties, visitLuxuryHotelist.com.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1241There are many luxury properties around the globe, but none as glamorous and legendary as The Hay-Adams, The Savoy and Hotel de Russie. All three properties, which happen to be some of our favorites, were recently named winners in the andldquo;Grande Dameandrdquo; category of the Fodor's 100 Hotel Awards 2011. All were chosen for their classic luxury, timeless style, pampering amenities, rich history and unmatched service. This was the first-ever global Fodorandrsquo;s 100 Hotel Awards, which convey their top resort and hotel picks for 2011 in categories such as casual chic, design, news andamp; noteworthy, luxurious retreat, trusted brand, local flavor, clubby atmosphere and grande dame. All the winners in each category are sure to inspire your next getaway! Hereandrsquo;s a glimpse as to why three of our favorite hotels made the list: The Hay-Adams, Washington, D.C.Presidential Views - Since the 1920andrsquo;s, the historic Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington, D.C. has been the residence of choice for visitors and Washingtonians, as it continues to provide top notch customer service and unparalleled accommodations. Notable guests like Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, and Barack Obama have been drawn to the hotel for these very reasons. This landmark luxury property is ideally located in the heart of the city and offers stunning views of some of D.C.andrsquo;s most iconic sites, including the White House and Lafayette Park. Named after its distinguished earlier residents such as John Hay, Henry Adams, and John Quincy Adams, The Hay-Adams is one of Washington D.C.'s most reserved landmarks and is the perfect destination for leisure and business travelers alike. The Savoy, LondonTalk of the Town - Ideally situated on the River Thames, and steps away from some of the finest theatres, museums and more, The Savoy has been a British icon since 1889 andndash; and itandrsquo;s easy to see why. Alongside its recent andpound;220 million restoration, this premierLondon hotel boasts world class dining, with the return of Gordon Ramsay, stunningly elegant interiors, modern amenities and an enviable location. It defines luxury, impresses guests, and takes center stage, as one of Londonandrsquo;s top properties andndash; Itandrsquo;s no wonder The Savoy has everyone talking. Hotel de Russie. RomeRefined Roman Style - Hotel de Russie, a member of the Rocco Forte family, is one of the most unique hotels in Rome. Rich in history and heritage, the hotel is located in the heart of the beautiful city, between the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo and within walking distance ofRome's key attractions. Aside visiting the Eternal City, be sure to dine at Le Jardin de Russie Restaurant, which offers some of the highest level of cuisine in Rome through the consultancy of Chef Mr. Fulvio Pierangelini. Whether visiting Rome on business or pleasure, the picturesque andldquo;SecretGardenandrdquo; and spa facilities combined with impeccable service, will allow guests to experience the very best of Rome.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1242HarbourView Inn is offering an unbeatable package for the upcomingCharleston Food + Wine Festival on March 1 andndash; 4, 2011. Spend the weekend eating and drinking your way through the recently awarded top American travel destination by Conde Nast Traveler, and experience all that this southern gem has to offer. The andlsquo;Start Wining Packageandrsquo; includes accommodations for Friday and Saturday nights, two tickets to the grand tasting tent/culinary village and two tickets to the low country gospel brunch at Luna Bar and Restaurant. Thatandrsquo;s not all, youandrsquo;ll also receive afternoon wine and cheese, freshly baked cookies and milk each evening, complimentary breakfast each morning and a nightly turn down service with a sweet dream treat. Hope you can eat all these goodies after a day full of wine and food! There are so many great events going on throughout the weekend so if you are interested in attending additional events, buy your tickets fast because some of them are already selling out. On Saturday, thereandrsquo;s a soul food shuffle going on all day along with beer and wine tasting events throughout the day. On Sunday evening thereandrsquo;s a great BBQ, Blues + Brew event sponsored by Rachel Ray Magazine and Certified Southern Grown. Charleston, SC is known for its Historic District, towering mansions, southern hospitality and low country cuisine so itandrsquo;s easy to see why people fall in love with this town. Youandrsquo;ll also fall in love with HarbourView Inn, which overlooks Charleston Harbor and is steps away from Waterfront Park. This sophisticated boutique inn boasts unparalleled service and amenities and elegant accommodations that are sure to make for an unforgettable weekend.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1243Escape the hustle and bustle and join Hotel Savoy Florencefor a Christmas to remember. Located on the Piazza Rebubblica and a short walk to the Duomo, Uffizi Gallary and the Ponte Vecchio, Hotel Savoyis the perfect European escape for the Christmas holiday. This contemporary yet classic hotel offers luxury and style right in the heart of Florence, with an award-winning restaurant and lavish spa. This holiday, Hotel Savoy is offering a fantastic Christmas Family Experience package where families can enjoy the excitement, fun and warmth of the festive season while feeling right at home. The package is designed to capture the true spirit of a Christmas holiday and features traditional decorations, delicious food, surprise gifts plus a sprinkling of winter magic! The package includes two interconnecting or adjacent rooms (complimentary room for the kids), daily continental buffet breakfast for two adults and two kids and a complimentary welcome Christmas gift and sweet treats upon arrival. And, it wouldnandrsquo;t feel like Christmas without your very own tree, located in the main bedroom (restricted to specific room categories). Synonymous with the Rocco Forte Hotels brand, at the Hotel Savoy you will experience the highest standards of cuisine and flawless service making it the perfect setting for your Christmas celebration! For additional details and restrictions on this special package, visit www.hotelsavoy.it.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1246After a day of skiing, Peppermill Resort Spa and Casino is the place to go for all the excitement! Less than an hour drive from pristine Lake Tahoe, you can enjoy 24/7 casino action, spa, lounges and nightlife, and 10 award-winning restaurants! Lake Tahoe is home to 18 world-class ski resorts and many of the resorts provide shuttles to and from the hotel. Peppermill has 10 differentski packages ready to go or you can customize your package depending on what you are looking for. Packages include hotel accommodations, a food and beverage credit and lift tickets to Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows or Mt. Rose. Packages are available starting December 1 and go through the end of ski season. Peppermill has absolutely perfected hotel service and amenities and has been awarded the prestigious AAA 4-diamond rating and was also the winner of TripAdvisors 2011 Certificate of Excellence Award. The hotel also recently celebrated the Grand Opening of its $400 million Tuscan-themed expansion. The expansion features a 17-story hotel tower, spa and salon, three new restaurants, pool, garden and nightclub. Peppermill has everything you need for an exciting and adventure filled vacation! Fore more information these great ski packages, visitwww.peppermillreno.com.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1247The James, a residentially styled luxury boutique hotel in New York and Chicago, proudly supports local and regional artists and cultural institutions through a number of charitable contributions and partnerships. Because of their love and dedication to the arts, they have put together a great package to share with their guests. Art lovers rejoice because The James invites you to andldquo;See Artandrdquo; in either Chicago or Soho. This is such a wonderful opportunity to see some hidden art gems and take a unique curated tour of the best art each city has to offer. In addition, you will also get to see the impressive permanent and rotating collections of each hotel by local artists. For more information on their resident artists, check out The James on Facebook. When you reserve your andldquo;See Art with The Jamesandrdquo; package you will enjoy daily in-room breakfast for two, a curated walking tour highlighting andldquo;Curatorandrsquo;s Picksandrdquo; of non-profit art spaces, installations, museum and galleries that should not be missed. In addition to the package, The James New York package is offering an additional tour from an artist's perspective at an additional cost andndash; advanced reservations are required. For more information on this journey of visual and cultural luxury, visit www.jameshotels.com.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1248The worldandrsquo;s first hotel designed and developed by Giorgio Armani and the worldandrsquo;s highest restaurant are both located in the worldandrsquo;s tallest building! Armani Hotel Dubai and At.mosphere are two musts when visiting Dubai. At.mosphere was named earlier this year the andlsquo;Highest Restaurant from Ground Levelandrsquo; by the Guinness Book of World Records, and offers unparalleled views of the Arabian Gulf and the tallest performing fountains. This hot spot, which is located on the 122 floor of Burj Khalifa, is one of the worldandrsquo;s finest dining and lounging experiences. Guests staying at the Armani Hotel have the opportunity to experience the great food, service, ambience and unmatched views. The hotel, which as 160 guest rooms and suites, reflects pure elegance, simplicity and sophistication andndash; all of which define Armaniandrsquo;s signature style. Every detail in the hotel bears the Armani signature, including eight restaurants, an Armani boutique, Armani Dolci (a sweets shop), Armani Fiori (a flower shop) and Armani Prive nightclub with the world's largest LCD screen and $800 table reservations. For more information on this stylish hotel, visitwww.luxuryhotelist.com.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1249The Sebastian, Vailandrsquo;s newest Boutique Hotel, located in the heart of the Vail Village in Colorado is the perfect place for a romantic getaway this holiday season! They are currently offering The Sebastianandrsquo;s Romance Package consisting of a three night stay for two in the Sebastianandrsquo;s Deluxe Plaza room encompassing the perfect amount of luxury and comfort for you and your loved one. In addition to exploring the slopes, this is the ultimate gift idea for that special someone! This getaway is all about you and your significant other, and the Sebastian is ready to exceed your expectations. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed with your choice of wine and cheese or champagne and chocolate covered strawberries. You will be pampered with a couples massage at the luxurious Bloom Spa during your stay. This package also includes daily breakfasts. Depending on your preference, you can enjoy breakfast in your Deluxe Plaza room, or choose to dine in at the Market, the Sebastianandrsquo;s gourmet cafandeacute;. Either way, you are bound to enjoy your romantic escape! This unforgettable experience can be yours starting at $199.50 per person, per night based on double occupancy (3 night minimum stay). For more information on this getaway, visitwww.thesebastianvail.com.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1250The hottest culinary event, hosted by The Venetian and The Palazzo, will be returning for the fourth year on December 10th from noon to 4pm! The Carnival of Cuisine will take place in The Palazzo Ballroom and will feature cooking demonstrations, tastings from more than 15 eateries and live entertainment. Participating restaurants that are sure to please your palate include: Bandamp;B Ristorante, Bouchon, Cafandeacute; Presse, Carnevino, Delmonico, Otto, FIRST Food andamp; Bar, Grand Lux Cafandeacute;, Lagasseandrsquo;s Stadium, Morels French Steakhouse andamp; Bistro, Pinot Brasserie, SUSHISAMBA, Sweet Surrender, Table 10, Valentino, ZINE and Zefferino. Tickets start at $60 andndash; but why not make a weekend out of it! The Venetian is offering a Carnival of Cuisine package starting at $159 per night! The package includes a luxury suite for two nights, two general admission tickets to the event, two skate rentals, $40 Winter in Venice seasonal facial, cocoon or massage and more! In addition to the event, you can also enjoy Winter in Venice, which opens today and goes through January 8th. This wonderful holiday celebration magically transforms both resorts into the most majestic winter wonderland Las Vegas has ever seen. Festivities include ice skating, a spectacular light show beyond your wildest imagination and seasonal treat such as egg nog cupcakes, warm apple cider and hot chocolate andndash; just to name a few! For more information on these specials and events, please visit www.venetian.com.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1251Expecting a baby? The Trump Hotels have put together a special Babymoon Package where couples can enjoy a two night stay in the luxurious Deluxe Suite! The parents-to-be will enjoy plenty of relaxation time as they indulge in exceptional spa treatments, a breakfast for two, and a twice daily selection of teas, mocktails and smoothies! The couple will also have pre-natal pillows placed in their room prior to arrival, and will receive a special gift upon departure. Depending on your preference, you can enjoy breakfast in your Deluxe Suite, or choose to dine in at the hotel restaurant. As for the spa treatments, Mom will be pampered with a 60 Minute Pre-Natal Massage, while her partner will receive a 60 Minute Trump Classic Massage. The Babymoon Package is the ultimate excuse to getaway or take a staycation! Trump Hotels have properties in New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, Panama, SoHo NY, and Oahu. Please visit the respective Trump website for more information.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1254Itandrsquo;s all about dinner and a show in Las Vegas! Experience the extravagant presentation of the Le Randecirc;ve andndash; The Dream at the Wynn Las Vegas! This show takes place in an intimate aqua theater-in-the-round. The show features aerial acrobatics, provocative choreography, and artistic athleticism, live music, and elaborate special effects which will also have you on the edge of your seat! The Wynn is offering two packages for your pleasure. The VIP Indulgence Package includes a two night stay in a newly redecorated room at the Wynn and two tickets for the show. Enjoy exclusive seating in the champagne circle with large plush seats and plenty of leg room, a complimentary bottle of champagne per couple with exclusive bottle service, as well as complimentary chocolate-covered strawberries and gourmet chocolate truffles. Guests will also have video monitors that provide a private peek behind-the-scenes as well as underwater and overhead angles of the action during the show. This package also includes a "PrivilegeAccessPass" for select restaurants and nightclubs at the Wynn Las Vegas. Pass holders will receive complimentary admission and priority access to reservations and/or seating on the day of performance. The Sweet Dreams Package offers a two night stay at the Wynn in a newly redecorated room. Guests will receive two premium tickets to see Le Randecirc;ve - The Dream performance, as well as a complimentary box of gourmet chocolates. For both packages, guests can choose to dine at The Buffet before or after the show. The buffet consists of 16 cooking stations and an array of dishes. Visit the Wynn Las Vegaswebsite for more information.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1254Itandrsquo;s all about dinner and a show in Las Vegas! Experience the extravagant presentation of the Le Randecirc;ve andndash; The Dream at the Wynn Las Vegas! This show takes place in an intimate aqua theater-in-the-round. The show features aerial acrobatics, provocative choreography, and artistic athleticism, live music, and elaborate special effects which will also have you on the edge of your seat! The Wynn is offering two packages for your pleasure. The VIP Indulgence Package includes a two night stay in a newly redecorated room at the Wynn and two tickets for the show. Enjoy exclusive seating in the champagne circle with large plush seats and plenty of leg room, a complimentary bottle of champagne per couple with exclusive bottle service, as well as complimentary chocolate-covered strawberries and gourmet chocolate truffles. Guests will also have video monitors that provide a private peek behind-the-scenes as well as underwater and overhead angles of the action during the show. This package also includes a "PrivilegeAccessPass" for select restaurants and nightclubs at the Wynn Las Vegas. Pass holders will receive complimentary admission and priority access to reservations and/or seating on the day of performance. The Sweet Dreams Package offers a two night stay at the Wynn in a newly redecorated room. Guests will receive two premium tickets to see Le Randecirc;ve - The Dream performance, as well as a complimentary box of gourmet chocolates. For both packages, guests can choose to dine at The Buffet before or after the show. The buffet consists of 16 cooking stations and an array of dishes. Visit the Wynn Las Vegaswebsite for more information.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1256The Royals arenandrsquo;t the only ones that deserve the royal treatment, which is why Le Royal Monceau has put together a package for everyone to enjoy! This world class property is truly a one of a kind and located right in the heart of the City of Lights. With their vast array of amenities, from plush guestrooms and exquisite dining to the largest indoor pool, they sure know how to spoil their guests. And, their andlsquo;Be Royalandrsquo; package does just that! This package is valid until December 31st with a 3 night minimum stay and includes round trip transfer in a Mercedes S, accommodations in a Junior Suite, VIP welcome amenities with a French bottle of champagne, daily American breakfast and a welcome Clarins gift. And if thatandrsquo;s not enough, youandrsquo;ll also receive a private artistic tour of Le Royal Monceau with their Art Concierge, fine dining for two in La Cuisine and a private appointment in a famous French luxury brand. This package wouldnandrsquo;t be complete without the andldquo;Royal Indulgenceandrdquo; treatment at Spa My Blend by Clarins, which includes access to all spa facilities, a one hour massage for two, a facial treatment My Blend for two and a personal My Blend product gift. Go ahead and let Le Royal Monceau spoil you this holiday season! For more information, please call + 33 (0)1 42 99 88 77 or visit www.leroyalmonceau.com.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1257Looking for the perfect spot for a family getaway? Experience the Waves of Family Fun Package at The French Quarter Inn in South Carolinaandrsquo;s port city. Donandrsquo;t forget to bring the kids with you - this package is full of family-friendly adventures! Enjoy a two night stay at the Luxurious French Quarter Inn. This package includes two adult and two childrenandrsquo;s tickets to the local aquarium, the Charleston Harbor Tour, as well as the Old Exchange and Dungeon, where you will tour and learn about the various aspects of Charlestonandrsquo;s history during the Colonial and Revolutionary Eras. Upon arrival, the guests will receive a $50 gift certificate to dine on the waterfront at Fleet Landing Restaurant and will also be invited to an evening wine and cheese reception. Feel right at home with freshly baked cookies and milk in your room each night before going to bed! No need to leave the room first thing in the morning - enjoy a gourmet continental breakfast delivered to you. One thingandrsquo;s for sure - there will never be a dull moment throughout your stay! Visit The French Quarter Inn website for more information.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1258Itandrsquo;s never too early to begin planning Valentineandrsquo;s Day for you and your special someone! Encantado is the perfect romantic getaway to relax in an oasis of serenity, privacy and luxury. Set against the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Encantado has 65 elegantly designed casitas, a renowned spa, and fine dining. For this Valentineandrsquo;s Day choose between the andlsquo;Valentine Eleganzaandrsquo; package or andldquo;A Night to Rememberandrsquo; andndash; no matter which one you choose, you are bound to fall in love again at the Encantado. The andlsquo;Valentine Eleganzaandrsquo; package includes a one night stay in a luxury Casita, Gruet Champagne upon arrival, a romantic dinner for two and breakfast in bed. This package starts at $499 and you also have the option to add a custom massage for $105. Want to getaway for more than just one night? The andlsquo;A Night to Rememberandrsquo; package includes two memorable nights in a luxurious casita or suite. This package also includes a loving box welcome amenity upon arrival, a rose petal drawn bath, candle-lit dinner for two with wine and daily breakfast for two. On the second night youandrsquo;ll be treated to champagne and truffles andndash; delivered straight to your room. And to complete the package, unwind with a 2-hour long Coupleandrsquo;s Sacred Moment Spa treatment in a private suite. For more information on rates and availability, visitwww.encantadoresort.com!http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1259Calling All Football Fans! Looking for the ultimate sports fan getaway this December? Break away from the cold weather and escape to the gorgeous beaches of Hawaii for the 10th Annual Sheraton Hawaiandrsquo;i Bowl and celebrate the andlsquo;Ten Years of Aloha.andrsquo; Come see your NFL favorites battle it out in front of your eyes! This tropical sports fan getaway package includes a luxurious three night stay with the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl Package at either The Royal Hawaiian, or the Moana Surfrider on the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii. The Royal Hawaiian is famous for its beautifully Spanish-Moorish style, while the Moana Surfrider just celebrated its 110th anniversary of Hawaiian hospitality in March of 2011. Upon your arrival at either property, you will be welcomed with a fresh flower lei greeting andndash; what more could you ask for! This package includes roundtrip airport transfers, lower level game day tickets, as well as roundtrip game transfers for the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00pm ET on December 24th at Aloha Stadium, and will be aired on ESPN. Since the Bowl falls during the holiday, stay for the Christmas Brunch and Dinner on the 25th! Visit The Royal Hawaiian and Moana Surfrider websites for more information about the package and other holiday festivities.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1260Looking to celebrate Christmas stress-free this year? Take a vacation to The Madison in Washington D.C. with the Christmas Getaway Package! Enjoy a worry-free and luxurious holiday while feeling right at home. This Christmas Getaway Package includes a two night stay for two consecutive nights between December 23 and 27 in a Madison Suite which can accommodate up to four people so bring the entire family! No need to hassle with chopping down a tree this year andndash; a fresh cut Evergreen tree and an assortment of tree ornaments will be delivered straight to your suite before you even arrive! Be prepared for a feast - The Madisonandrsquo;s Executive Chef will have a four-course Christmas dinner prepared for you and your family with local Virginia wine pairings andndash; you can even have it prepared in the privacy of your own suite! This holiday package includes a bottle of champagne upon your arrival, a Monumentandrsquo;s at Night Tour with hot chocolate in a private sedan, daily breakfast atPostScript, gingerbread decorating with The Madisonandrsquo;s Executive Chef, ice skating at the National Gallery of Artandrsquo;s Sculpture Garden, as well as complimentary overnight valet parking. You will have just about everything you need to spend the holiday with your loved ones! No need to rush out andndash; spend more time with your family as you will be guaranteed a late check out of 4pm. Visit The Madison website for more information.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1262Why not step it up a notch this year and ring in 2012 at one of the most luxurious hotels in the world andndash; Armani Hotel Dubai. The hotel has a rich menu of events from 7pm until 1am that are sure to make for an unforgettable evening. Located in Burj Khalifa, worldandrsquo;s tallest tower, the firework display will be like nothing youandrsquo;ve ever seen! Check out this link for a glimpse of what you can expect to see this year! The worldandrsquo;s highest spectacular show of lights, lasers and fireworks can be seen perfectly from the prime location and elegant setting at Armani. Choose from a variety of dining options from Japanese to Italian, all conveniently located in the hotel. Participating restaurants include Armani Hotel/Ristorante, Armani/Mediterraneo, Armani/Amal, Armani/Hashi and Armani/Peck andndash; all will feature a festive degustation menu and a midnight toast. For reservation and more information, please visit dubai.armanihotels.com!http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1261Want to experience the art of the windy city? Raffaello Hotel Chicago, located conveniently in downtown Chicago, is offering The Chicago Art Institute Package for those who are looking for an elegant and artsy getaway! Enjoy an overnight stay at luxurious Raffaello Chicago and enjoy two one-day passes for The Art Institute of Chicago. The Art Institute of Chicago was founded in 1879 as both a museum and school, and has become a major cultural hub in Chicago. The Art Institute of Chicago preserves some of the worldandrsquo;s most diverse and qualified art andndash; certainly a must visit! TheChicago Art Institute Package includes a souvenir book, The Art of Chicago andndash; from 1879 to the Modern Wing, a new book on the history of the museumandrsquo;s buildings from its founding to the opening of the new Renzo Piano-designed Modern Wing. In addition, guests will receive 10% off their next dining experience at Terzo Piano. Not sure what to get for your friends or family this holiday season? This package just might be the perfect gift idea! For more information on rates and availability, visit the Raffaello Chicago website.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1253 If youandrsquo;re anything like us your camera is always at hand and ready to capture that great andldquo;money shotandrdquo; when youandrsquo;re traveling. Now you can share your best photos with the world for a chance to win some great prizes in the inauguralWorld Footprintsandldquo;I LOVE To Travelandrdquo; Photo Contest. It is incredibly easy to enter and youandrsquo;ll just need to garner the support of your family, friends and your network to vote for your photograph. All you have to do is andldquo;Likeandrdquo; World Footprints on Facebook. Once you enter the contest just follow instructions for your chance to win. You can enter up to 4 photos but hurry because the chance to enter closes on December 20th. Then youandrsquo;ll have until December 29th to gain votes. Weandrsquo;re planning to offer these contests a few times a year but you must andldquo;Likeandrdquo; us in order to participate. Good luck!! http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1270Looking to get a taste of true luxury? Look no further! You are in for a treat with thePenthouse Loft: The First Look experience at either The James Chicago or The James New York! With spectacular river-to-river views, The James Penthouse Loft offers airy space with designer Piet Boonandrsquo;s signature accents and details: espresso-stained millwork, a freestanding bathtub and wet bar, and concealed state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems for ideal environment customization. Explore the beautiful city in style in a Lexus Hybrid as part of your private car service! Relax in your Penthouse while receiving a 50-minute in-room massage, and then hit the city with your customized James Eat Shop Guide to New Yorkand Chicago. Your Penthouse is stocked with a complimentary pantry of snacks and drinks, and you will also have access to in-room concierge service upon request andndash; no need to stress over a thing during your lavish getaway! You will have a Personal Mixologist Service by JIMMY at your fingertips as well as a 30-minute training session with Private Trainer to the stars Oscar Smith! Other amenities include greenery by horticulturist, award-winning landscape designer Rebecca Cole, a Nespresso espresso machine, the use of a loaded iPad with monthly music selection from the Bowers andamp; Wilkins Society of Sound, as well as commissioned artwork. Visit The James New York or The James Chicago website for more information.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1271Want to getaway and brush up on your cooking skills? HarbourView Inn has the perfect package for you! Experience the Eat, Cook and Be Merry Package at HarbourView Inn, which is situated in historic Charleston, South Carolina. Stay in the Innandrsquo;s deluxe accommodations for two nights and be prepared to please your pallet! You and a guest will attend a cooking class at Charleston Cooks -- a kitchen retail shop with both demonstration and participation classes. As souvenirs, bring a sweetgrass basket with apron, cookbook, and some tasty Charleston treats back home with you - donandrsquo;t be surprised if you take a little southern hospitality with you too! You will also receive a $150 gift certificate towards your choice of Slightly North of Broad, High Cotton, or Post House restaurants. Take in the historic beauty while sitting back and relaxing at HarbourView Innandrsquo;s afternoon wine and cheese reception. Continental breakfast will be delivered to you each morning and when itandrsquo;s time to turn in for the day, you will have freshly baked cookies and milk waiting for you in your room at night. This package provides the ultimate luxurious getaway as well as a little bit of learning andndash; not a bad gift idea this holiday season! Visit theHarbourView Inn website for more information.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1272Interested in a European golf adventure like no other? Treat yourself to a luxurious getaway in Rome at the Hotel de Russie! Not sure if Rome sounds like the ideal place for a golf trip? Think again! Hotel de Russie is offering their andldquo;Golf in the Cityandrdquo; package for guests looking to golf as well as explore the beautiful sights Rome has to offer. Enjoy a two night stay in a luxury room and a round of golf at one of the region's most exclusive golf clubs, the Parco di Roma Golf Club. You will find yourself golfing between the hills and slopes of the Roman countryside, just minutes away from the hotel. Parco di Roma Golf Club offers golf enthusiasts an 18-hole par 72 golf course and boasts 50 outdoor and 15 indoor stalls. No need to haul your clubs with you andndash; you can use the Callaway new set 2011 for your outing. Your golf cart will even have a GPS so there is no need to worry about a thing while on the course! After a day of golf, you can sit back and relax while enjoying a relaxing cocktail created by Hotel de Russieandrsquo;s award-winning Mixologist Massimo D'Adeezio, dine alfresco in the Jardin de Russie restaurant, and pamper yourself in the hotel's Wellness Zone. Guests will also receive a 10% discount on any purchase of clothes and accessories at Parco Di Roma boutique. This package is valid through December 31st. Visit the Hotel de Russie website for more information.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1273Have you ever experienced the beauty of the nationandrsquo;s capital? Plan a weekend trip toThe Hay-Adams, which is located conveniently in the heart of Washington, DC.The Hay-Adams is currently offering theirLeading Culture Package andndash; Monuments by Night for guests who are looking for a relaxing and adventurous evening in the District. Avoid the hustle and bustle - this package includes a two hour evening tour of Washingtonandrsquo;s famous monuments in your private sedan. Explore the city and observe the beautiful scenery the city has to offer while sharing your deluxe Champagne Goodie Basket. This package includes luxurious accommodations, unique White House Chocolates, and a full American breakfast for two. Make the most of the history that surrounds you andndash; you probably wonandrsquo;t find a more luxurious way! Visit The Hay-Adams website for more information.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1273Have you ever experienced the beauty of the nationandrsquo;s capital? Plan a weekend trip toThe Hay-Adams, which is located conveniently in the heart of Washington, DC.The Hay-Adams is currently offering theirLeading Culture Package andndash; Monuments by Night for guests who are looking for a relaxing and adventurous evening in the District. Avoid the hustle and bustle - this package includes a two hour evening tour of Washingtonandrsquo;s famous monuments in your private sedan. Explore the city and observe the beautiful scenery the city has to offer while sharing your deluxe Champagne Goodie Basket. This package includes luxurious accommodations, unique White House Chocolates, and a full American breakfast for two. Make the most of the history that surrounds you andndash; you probably wonandrsquo;t find a more luxurious way! Visit The Hay-Adams website for more information.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1274Craving a romantic escape with your special someone? Itandrsquo;s time that you experience true love in Italy at Hotel Savoy Florence! Hotel Savoy Florence is offering the ultimate loversandrsquo; getaway package, Celebrating Romance in Florence. Pamper yourselves with luxury while enjoying the splendor of the beautiful city steeped in history, culinary delights, and culture. Hotel Savoy Florenceandrsquo;s package consists of a two night stay in a delightfully appointed room with a bottle of chilled champagne and chocolate to welcome you. The couple will enjoy a three course dinner by candlelight, which will also be served with a complimentary bottle of wine andndash; the perfect setting to fall in love all over again! Landrsquo;Incontro is conveniently located right in the heart of Florence, overlooking the Piazza della Repubblica. Guests can choose to dine at Landrsquo;Incontro for a continental breakfast buffet or decide to have their continental breakfast served in the privacy of their own room andndash; this package is all about you two! For more information, visit the Hotel Savoy Florence website.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1275Thereandrsquo;s no better time to shop andlsquo;til you drop than during the holiday season! Getaway and stay at the luxurious Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead for the ultimate shopping package, Escape and Stay in Buckhead! Conveniently located only minutes from the best shops in the southeast, you will be sure to enjoy a hassle free shopping experience! Itandrsquo;s simpleandhellip; park your car, check in, and leave the rest to the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead! This shopperandrsquo;s dream package includes a $25 AMEX Gift Card, $25 Buckhead Dining Card, and a 10% savings pass for Macy's. Not a fan of the crowded parking garages during the holidays? No need to worry andndash; the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead will provide a complementary shuttle to and from the hotel for your convenience. After your shopping spree, relax and receive 15% off when you pamper yourself at Spa Sydell, a skin and body care salon. Think of it as an early gift to yourself! No need to rush out the next morning andndash; why not head back to the shops as you can enjoy an afternoon checkout of 2pm. Visit theGrand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead website for more information.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1277andldquo;I had an extremely pleasant experience while staying at the elegant 6 Columbus for the first time, and can assure you it will not be my last!,andrdquo; our client Dan Rowe, CEO of Fransmart told us in reference to his stay at the luxurious 6 Columbus hotel in New York City. He continued by adding, andldquo;The friendly staff, accommodations, and location all exceeded my expectations.andrdquo; The sophisticated 6 Columbus - A Thompson Hotel - is conveniently located within the heart of Manhattan and is just minutes away from Central Park. The hotelandrsquo;s 88 guestrooms are designed by the acclaimed Steven Sclaroff, and offer the utmost luxury with their hip ambiance combining a modern 1960s design with the 21st century. Inside the hotel, guests are surrounded by the showcases of Guy Bourdin, one of the worldandrsquo;s most respected fashion photographers. For dining options, guests can choose between Japanese cuisine and an array of sushi selections at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar and Grill. Every room in 6 Columbus features a minibar, flat-screen TV, iPod docking station, as well as 24-hour concierge service for the guests. They also include bathrobes and are decorated in a 60andrsquo;s style with artwork from Guy Bourdin. The hotel features a rooftop bar open Tuesdays through Saturdays with a variety of cocktails. For more information, please visit the Luxury Hotelist website!http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1279Looking for luxury during your European family getaway? Experience what one of Londonandrsquo;s finest hotels has to offer while spending some quality family time at Chancery Court London! You and the kids are going to love their Family Package! Dazzle yourself with the comfort of this five-star property for a one night weekend stay in a spacious deluxe room andndash; the perfect amount of space for two adults and two children! Explore the beautiful city of London by foot with family tickets to a London Walking Tour of your choice. Your kids will be ready for the tour with their very own entertainment pack which includes a backpack, drink bottle, poncho, activity book and snacks. The kids will have plenty of fun while staying at one of Londonandrsquo;s most kid-friendly hotels! This package also includes a delicious modern French breakfast served in the hotelandrsquo;s Pearl Restaurant, which is consistently rated amongst the top London restaurants. Visit the Chancery Court London website for more information.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1280You are pretty much guaranteed a nice view when staying in the country side or in the Caribbean; however when you are visiting a city, your view is always questionable. CNN.com Luxury Travel recently reported on the top 15 city hotel rooms with a viewandhellip;because no matter where you travel a view would be nice! Two of our favorite hotels topped this list andndash; The Savoy London andHotel de Crillon Paris. TheSavoy, one ofLondonandrsquo;s most iconic hotels, offers unrivalled panoramic views of the River Thames. CNN suggests the Monet Suite as having the best view, but guests on the rear of the sixth floor can also enjoy the same skyline. These rooms offer great views of Big Ben, the London Eye and much more! Hotel de Crillon, a magnificent 18th-century palace hotel, is ideally located in thecenter of Paris on the Place de la Concorde and overlooks the River Seine. Since it is a low-rise building, CNN suggests requesting a room on the highest floor facing the front. Other great hotels that made the list include Park Hotel Toyko, Jumeirah Hotel, Frankfurt, Hotel Americano New York, The Peace Hotel in Shanghai, Hotel de Paris in Monaco, Hassler Roma in Rome, The Fairmont in San Francisco, Grand Hyatt in Hong Kong, Shangri-La in Sydney and more!Click here to see the complete list hotels.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1298Not sure of your plans to ring in the New Year? New Yearandrsquo;s finest parties are at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino -- choose from 3 different celebrations! Party, sip and boogie at the Capri Ballroom Bash! The Club 90 band sets the tempo on high for an evening of dancing, mingling, cocktails and party favors. This package includes three drink tickets, party favors and a champagne toast. Looking to test your luck at the Casino? Choose to celebrate the New Year with their Party on the Casino Floor package! The Peppermill casino floor is where itandrsquo;s at for non-stop excitement! From 4pm to midnight, play slots or table games -- you could win a share of $10,000 in Free Play via the Easy Money Random Jackpots! Starting at 8pm, grab your party hat and favors and get groovinandrsquo; to the sounds of Soul Experience performing on the casino floor Cabaret Lounge. Tony Vee will bring his energetic selection of popular music to the Terrace Lounge from 9 pm to 1 am. Donandrsquo;t miss the balloon drop and champagne toast in front of the Cabaret Lounge at midnight! Interested in a cocktail party like no other to bring in 2012? EDGE, Renoandrsquo;s hottest nightspot, presents VINTEDGE, a classic New Yearandrsquo;s celebration! Guests are invited to attend in vintage cocktail style and enjoy hosted champagne from 8 pm to 10 pm. Party favors will include masquerade masks and mustaches on a stick! Guests will be treated to a celebratory balloon drop and champagne toast at midnight. Resident DJ Chris English spins the party. For more information on all the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino New Year celebrations, visit the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino website.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1299Want to learn the cooking tricks of the trade from one the best? andlsquo;Tis the season for the Jean-Georges Culinary Master Course package with lessons from the one and only Jean-Georges Vongerichten during your stay at the luxurious Trump New York hotel! You and a guest will receive a two-hour cooking demonstration by Chef Jean-Georges in the kitchen of his namesake Three-Star Michelin restaurant located at the Trump New York. Enjoy the dazzling views during your three-night stay in an Executive Park View Suite (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights) and experience a package like no other! This is the ultimate cooking fanatic dream getaway! You will be treated to a three-course dinner for two prepared by Jean Georges himself as well as a bottle of premier champagne to top it off - sit back, relax and please your pallet! Breakfast will be served daily at Nougatine, which serves signature dishes of Chef Vongerichten in a casual and lively setting. This package will certainly be one to cherish for a lifetime andndash; you will even take home a signed copy of Chef Jean-Georges book, Home Cooking With Jean-Georges: My Favorite Simple Recipes. For more information, visit the Trump New York website.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1300Escape to either the Wynn Las Vegas or Encore and indulge yourself with The Ultimate Wynn Package! This luxurious package includes a three night stay for you and a guest in a Wynn Las Vegas Deluxe Resort Room or Encore Resort Suite. Unwind while enjoying a 50-minute massage for two and then sit back and relax by the pool in your own private cabana! You will enjoy two premium tickets for Le Randecirc;ve andndash; The Dream, which features aerial acrobatics, provocative choreography and artistic athleticism in an intimate aqua theater-in-the-round. During your stay, you and a guest will receive a round of golf on the Wynn Las Vegas 18-hole golf course. This package also includes passes to the Wynn Las Vegas Ferrari/Maserati show room for two andndash; this package has just about everything you need for a great time in Sin City! Upon arrival, you will be given a $250 daily dining card as well as $100 FREECREDIT to hit the slots! What are you waiting for? Visit the Wynn Las Vegas website for more information!http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1301Encantado Resort has created exclusive once in a lifetime experiences for their guests, called "Into the West." Looking for a unique way to spend your next vacation? These programs are designed to allow you the flexibility to create your own memorable New Mexicostory. Here is a taste of what you can choose from: Into the Footsteps of Georgia Oandrsquo;Keefe: The excursion includes a private guided tour of the Georgia Oandrsquo;Keeffe Museum, the private research center and Ghost Ranch. After the tours, you will have a picnic lunch at her private home -- which is rarely open to the public! After lunch, you are off to a private art studio of Native American Artist Doug Coffiin. This is a one of kind experience blending the experience of art, fabulous countryside, history and fine food. Cost: $1500.00 per person, plus tax (minimum of 4 guests). Cost includes private transportation, private guide, entrance fees, gourmet lunch and all beverages. Please note that this special excursion is only available April-October. Beyond the Plaza: Guests will be granted access to the private vault of one ofSanta Fe's most proclaimed jewelers and will be given access to over 10,000 pieces of jewelry andndash; which are not open to the public. You will also be offered wholesale pricing. Then off to lunch at the home ofSanta Fe's bootmaker to the stars where you will enjoy margaritas, 360 degree views, a custom boot fitting and design consultation. Cost: $1250.00 per person, plus tax. Minimum of 2 guests. Cost includes private transportation, guide, lunch, beverages and private consultation and boot fitting. Collectorandrsquo;s Tour: Whether you are an art enthusiasts, collector, or just want to see some fabulous artist studios, this is the opportunity to explore and speak directly with some ofSanta Fe's most renowned artists. You will also enjoy lunch on the patio of one ofSanta Fe's finest artist and collectors! Cost: $1400.00 per person, plus tax. Minimum of 2 guests. Cost includes private transportation, private art consultant, artist visits, lunch and all beverages. Scentual Santa Fe: Guests will travel 30 minutes to an Academy Award nomineeandrsquo;s private home and sustainable organic and biodynamic farm producing medicinal plants, dried flowers, herbs, salves, tinctures, and potpourri. Lunch will be prepared by one of the premier sensual kitchen chefs who specialize in cooking with essential oils. You will learn to prepare unusual recipes using essential oils to make your daily life more sensual and to appreciate the vibrancy of food. Cost: $1750.00 per person, plus tax. Minimum of two guests. Cost includes private transportation, farm tour and demonstration, product amenity, gourmet lunch, and beverages. A Taste of Santa Fe: Santa Fe's cuisine is justifiably world famous and through this excursion guests will tour the local Farmer's Market with Encantado's acclaimed chef, Charles Dale. Then off to the private kitchen of the only Native American James Beard Award winning chef, Lois Ellen Frank, where guests will enjoy lunch prepared just for them. Cost: $950.00 per person, plus tax. Minimum of 2 guests. Cost includes private market tour and discussion, private transportation, demonstration, recipes, lunch and beverages. To book one of these once in a lifetime experiences, please contact the Encantado Sales Team at 505-946-5810. All excursions require a minimum of 14 days booking prior to the experience.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1303Treat the whole family to a tropical getaway at the Hilton Hawaiian Village for their Camp Penguin Family Package! This fun family vacation package includes a minimum four night stay in an ocean view room or higher between now and December 31st, 2012. With this package, your kids will enjoy one complimentary day at Camp Penguin, where they will be immersed in the rich history and culture of Hawaii through fun and educational activities. After you drop off the kids, itandrsquo;s time to head to the spa! Receive $20 off spa treatments at Mandara Spa andndash; the largest spa in Waikiki! Escape into a world of relaxation and rejuvenation with a host of spa treatments that incorporate Hawaiian, Asian, Western, European and Polynesian beauty and relaxation concepts. This package also includes 50% lagoon watercraft rentals during your familyandrsquo;s stay! For more information, visit the Hilton Hawaiian Village website.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1304andlsquo;Tis the season for a luxurious escape for you and your loved one andndash; visit the French Quarter Inn in historic Charleston for their Just the Two of Us Package! Take in the most beautiful surroundings from your private horse drawn carriage ride through Charleston andndash; how romantic! You will receive a $75 gift certificate to dine at Tristan restaurant andndash; enjoy fine dining consisting of surprising twists to traditional ingredients that the Executive Chef hand selects from around the world. After dinner, look forward to an evening wine and cheese reception back at the hotel. Champagne and chocolates will also be waiting for you in your roomandhellip;not to mention the traditional freshly baked cookies and milk! Gourmet continental breakfast will be delivered to your room each morning. This package also includes valet parking as well as evening turndown service with a Charleston treat. For more information, visit the French Quarter Inn website.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1305The Sebastian Vail will serve as the official host hotel for the 2012 Vail Film Festival. The Sebastian, located conveniently in the heart of the Vail Village, will host several events including Festival Screenings, the Opening and Closing Night Galas, and the Festivalandrsquo;s Hospitality Lounge. The festival is scheduled to take place March 29 - April 1. The Vail Film Festival is presented by the Vail Film Institute, a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to fostering independent cinema. The festival strives to encourage artistic innovation and promote new and creative film making. Visit the Sebastian, Vailandrsquo;s newest boutique hotel, to experience world premieres, independents, celebrities, forums and parties andndash; this is an event of a lifetime! Past Tributes, filmmakers, and actors include Kate Bosworth, Olivia Wilde, Kevin Smith, Zach Braff, Luke Wilson, and William Forsythe just to name a few. When back at the hotel, treat yourself to the Bloom Spa, relax at Frost bar, and dine at Market for nibbles and their Block 16 Restaurant. You will be sure to enjoy the mountain-view pool and hot tubs as well andndash; perfect for your Vail Film Festival luxurious getaway! Visit The Sebastian website for more information.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1307Looking to spend some quality time with the whole family? Escape to the windy city for the Trump Chicago andldquo;Kids in the Cityandrdquo; package andndash; a great excuse for a family getaway. This package includes a one night stay in a Deluxe King Guestroom. Upon arrival, your kids will receive a Trump Kids welcome gift. You will even have the option of requesting to have Wii, Playstation, Xbox, or board games placed in your room prior to arrival -- after all, this trip is all about the kids! Children 12 and under will receive complimentary meals off the childrenandrsquo;s menu andndash; choose to eat at Sixteen, the Trump Chicago signature restaurant which is located on the 16th floor or have your meal delivered to you for in room dining. This family package also includes valet parking, continental breakfast, as well as milk and cookies amenity. Visit the Trump Chicago website for more information.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1308Want to escape from the cold and get a little taste of the Hawaiian Culture? If so, the Hawaiian Cultural Package is just the thing for you. This package is ideal for those looking to discover the beauty and grandeur of Hawaii during your luxurious stay at The Royal Hawaiian. Awaiting your arrival will be fresh lihi mui mango and bottled water as well as a limo to escort you to and from the airport. When you arrive at the hotel, you will receive a histories book welcome amenity and will experience a captivating historic tour of the majestic Royal Hawaiian andndash; see how the 21st-century upgrades seamlessly meld with the thoughtfully chosen, classic design elements, creating a decidedly chic atmosphere. You will also receive a tour of the iconic Iolani Palace andndash; prepare yourself for the beauty Hawaii has to offer! During your stay, you can treat yourself to champagne and seasonal local fruit as well as a light breakfast for two served daily at the Surf Lanai as a little sample of island culture. Upon departure, bring home a unique local indulgence departure gift to share with those at home. For more information, visit The Royal Hawaiian website.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1309When visiting London, it is essential that you experience the best of the afternoon tea tradition. Chancery Court Hotel, one of the finest hotels in London, launched its first Chocolate Afternoon Tea in December. So all you chocoholics listen upandhellip;Made special by a help-yourself chocolate buffet, guests are invited to indulge in limitless pure chocolate bliss at The Lounge. Choose from a plentiful array of chocolate delights including White Chocolate and Pistachio Torte, Raspberry Chocolate Macaroons and Chocolate Hazelnut Crandeacute;meux Opera. Dip juicy strawberries, fluffy marshmallows, tangy pineapple and crunchy Amaretti biscuits into the glistening chocolate fountain, and finish by indulging in classic Sacher Torte, Meringues, Cookies, Madeleines, Mendiants, chocolate coated nuts and rich chocolate Brownies. The Chocolate Afternoon Tea is served from Wednesday through Saturday from 2pm to 6pm and costs andpound;23.50 per person. The Lounge, which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offers guests a relaxing setting to enjoy a traditional English afternoon tea, as well as a wide range of excellent international food. For more information, please visit www.chancerycourthotel.com.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1329Celebrate Washingtonandrsquo;s beautiful Cherry Blossoms during your stay at The Madison. Enjoy the splendors of spring in the Nationandrsquo;s Capital during the 100th Anniversary of the Gift of Cherry Trees from Tokyo to Washington. In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Cherry Blossoms, The Madison is offering their Cherry Centennial Package which includes accommodations in an Executive Terrace Room with balcony. Explore the sights of the nationandrsquo;s capital and discover the beauty of the cherry trees! With this package, enjoy a one hour photography session amongst The Blossoms at the Tidal Basin with your own personal photographer as well as a Monument by Night Tour in a private Sedan or SUV andndash; there is no better way to see the district. You will have just about everything you need with your andldquo;survival back packandrdquo; which will include sunscreen, chap stick, maps, disposable camera, snacks, bottled water, and metro passes. Back at the hotel, you will receive breakfast each morning as well as daily parking. Before going to bed, you will find a cherry amenity turndown with Sake. Upon departure, you will even receive a cherry tree sapling to take a piece of Washingtonandrsquo;s famous icons home with you! This package is valid from March 19th through April 28, 2012. For more information, visit The Madison website.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1331The Trump New York is celebrating 15 years of white-gloved service and unparalleled luxury by inviting you to experience their 15th Anniversary Crystal Package! Dazzle yourself with a two night stay in an Executive One-Bedroom Park-View Suite and enjoy the stunning views New York City has to offer. Upon arrival, you will be able to sit back and relax as you sip on your 750ml bottle of Cristal Champagne. Take in the gorgeous suite including the Shonbek Crystal Chandelier (the same design that was hand-picked by Donald Trump!) Frost yourself with Rock Crystal Jewelry from Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry, including the 16andrdquo; Rose Gold Chain with Rock Crystal Center Stone, Long Rose Gold Rock Crystal and Diamond Drop Earrings on Diamond French Wire, and 7.5andrdquo; Rock Crystal and Diamond Chain Bracelet. You will even get to wear a pair of Christian Louboutin andldquo;Fifiandrdquo; pumps, cloaked in crystals, with a 100mm heel -- certainly a once in a lifetime opportunity! Enjoy a dinner for two at Jean Georges, the Trump New Yorkandrsquo;s three-Michelin-Star restaurant, including a bottle of premier champagne. Breakfast will be served daily at Nougatine -- enjoy the casual dining of the Trump New York. For more information, visit the Trump New York website.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1332Want to get a sneak peak of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games? Come to London this March to experience the 2012 British Gas Swimming Championships! Attend Britainandrsquo;s top swimming event located in London's Aquatics Centre as the top British swimmers compete for secure spots on the 2012 Olympic team andndash; get a little taste of whatandrsquo;s in store for the Games! This event lasts from March 3 andndash; March 10 -- purchase your tickets today as they are going quickly! During your European getaway, experience true luxury at one of three of Londonandrsquo;s most luxurious hotels. Where to Stay? Visit Jumeirah Carlton Tower was voted 4th Best UK Business Hotelandrsquo; at the Conde Nast Traveller Readerandrsquo;s Travel Awards 2010 and in the top three Best Hotels for Service in the UK in the Conde Nast Gold List 2011. The Jumeirah Carlton Tower hotel is situated in the heart of fashionable Knightsbridge and is within walking distance of the prestigious Harrods and Harvey Nichols department stores, and luxury designer boutiques lining Sloane Street. This hotel overlooks the private gardens of Cadogan Place and many rooms feature spectacular views over Londonandrsquo;s skyline. For more information, visit the Jumeirah Carlton Tower website. Choose to stay at The Savoy, a Fairmont Managed Hotel, which is situated at the heart of London. A well-known British icon since 1889, The Savoy has once again taken its place on the world stage after over a andpound;100 million restoration. The hotel seamlessly blends elements of the original and the new while the stunning English Edwardian and Art Deco interiors sparkle with timeless elegance and glamour. For more information, visit The Savoy website. The Chancery Court another luxurious hotel, which is situated in one of the capital cityandrsquo;s most historic locations and it has an equally fascinating past. High Holborn was originally a Roman road and following the Middle Ages, the area became established as a centre for the legal profession and the cityandrsquo;s most influential and powerful people. At the Chancery Court, the writer Charles Dickens wrote andldquo;Oliver Twistandrdquo; and andldquo;Great Expectations.andrdquo; Many scenes in his novels were set in this historic part of London as well. Visit the Chancery Court website for more information. Whichever hotel you choose, you are bound to make the right choice. Stay tuned for more articles to come regarding the London 2012 Olympic Games as the time is quickly approaching!http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1333Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular will be celebrating their grand finale on September 2, 2012 at The Venetian in Las Vegas. After more than six years and 2,700 beautiful performances, Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular will be leaving the sin city. However, there is still time to get your chance to see the dazzling special effects, custom-built theatre, breathtaking chandelier and talented cast the show has to offer! Experience the Phantomandrsquo;s unforgettable run at The Venetian by booking your suite and tickets together through The Venetianandrsquo;s Phenomenal Phantom Show Package. This package includes a two night stay at the luxurious Venetian in their Venetian Luxury Suite. You will receive two Orchestra seats for Phantom andndash; The Las Vegas Spectacular. Choose to dine at either Valentino or The Grill at Valentino and receive 20% your food bill. You will also receive 15% off your bill at Cafandeacute; Presse. During your down time, receive 15% off salon services at Canyon Ranch Salon andndash; thereandrsquo;s no better way to enjoy Vegas. For more information, visit The Venetian website.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1334Trying to decide where to watch the big game? Why not watch at the best spot in Reno? Join the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino on Sunday, February 5th for the their Super Stadium Bash XLVI in the state-of-the-art Tuscany Events Center! You wonandrsquo;t miss a thing with their High Definition and large format video screens. Enjoy an all-you-can-eat stadium food buffet and complimentary Bud and Bud Light draft beer at every table in addition to 3 drink tickets per person. You will also have the opportunity to meet and greet the Budweiser Girls. Throughout the game, you will have a chance to win exciting door prizes each quarter. After the game, you will receive a Super Stadium Bash t-shirt and mug andndash; youandrsquo;ll never forget all the fun you had at Peppermill. Itandrsquo;s time to round up all of your friends, and purchase your tickets today! Tickets are $55 per person in advance and $60 at the door. Doors open at 2:30pm and Kickoff begins at approximately 3:30pm. Visit the Peppermill website for more information.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1335You are always taking care of othersandhellip;so why not let The French Quarter Inn pamper you with their Viva la Diva Package! This package is perfect for a ladiesandrsquo; getaway weekend. Round up the girls and escape to Charleston, SC to celebrate friendship and make memories. Leave the men at home -- you and your closest friends will receive luxurious accommodations for two nights. The more the merrierandhellip;the third diva stays free! Kick back and relax as you enjoy champagne and delicious chocolate covered strawberries, as well as attend the hotelandrsquo;s evening wine and cheese reception. Catch up over dinner with your $100 gift certificate to Mercato Italian Restaurant. Each night, you will find freshly baked cookies and milk andndash; The French Quarter Inn tradition andndash; in your guest room, in addition to evening turndown. In the morning, receive complimentary gourmet continental breakfast. No need to rush out on your departure day as you will receive an extended 1pm check-out. Book today and look forward to sharing the beautiful sights of historic Charleston with your closest friends. For more information, visit The French Quarter Inn website.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1336Planning a trip to The Sebastian Vail? One thingandrsquo;s for sureandhellip;your taste buds are in for a real treat! Hereandrsquo;s what you have to look forward to during your luxurious stay at The Sebastian Vail: The Sebastianandrsquo;s Block 16 restaurant is a wine inspired and an ingredient driven restaurant, thoughtfully executing modern American cuisine. Block 16 offers a setting where diners can unwind, reconnect and celebrate at the mountainandrsquo;s edge. Ezra Duker, the chef de cuisine, sources products from small farmers and unique producers and is always seeking the highest quality. Yes, we said wine inspired -- wines are chosen to compliment the menu and offer the diner intriguing labels from around the globe. The Sebastianandrsquo;s wine director, Thamin Saleh, pairs their delicious dishes with unique wines from small producers from all over the world. The Sebastianandrsquo;s calls Frost andldquo;the bar you can never pass up without dropping in.andrdquo; Three words they use to describe Frost are hip, warm, and social. You can expect to find an unbelievable selection of spirits from around the globe in one of the best atmospheres in the West. Frost offers a tapas menu focusing on small bites ranging from $10 - $17, such as salumi, cheese platters and a unique spin on classic favorites such as Chicken Satay Skewers with curry and peanut sauce and the Sliders Duo ofangus beef and tuna. Standout items include Lamb Croquettes with golden raisins, pine nuts and rosemary-soy reduction and Avocado andldquo;Canneloniandrdquo; with Scottish salmon tartare, Sriracha and soy sauce. MARKET Cafe is a quaint, internationally inspired Vail restaurant and cafe created for the sophisticated palette. Their cheeses, breads and handmade delicacies make every trip to MARKET one-of-a-kind. Whether itandrsquo;s breakfast, a picnic lunch, or dinner to enjoy gathered around your table, MARKET is made to order just the way you like it. Finally, there is The Sebastianandrsquo;s Beignet Cafandeacute;, which is located slope side next to The Sebastian Base Camp. Take a break from the cold and enjoy hot and fresh treats. At the Beignet Cafandeacute;, you can customize your beignet with several sweet and savory flavors and toppings for a personalized Sebastian-style doughnut experience. They go perfectly with your specialty coffee, refreshing smoothie and other grab-and-go goodies! For more information, check out The Sebastian Vail website.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1337The Hay-Adams has a long-standing reputation as a destination for power dining among Washington's elite, as well as a favorite gathering place for visitors, friends and colleagues. Recognized as one of the top choices for entertainment and fine dining in Washington, DC, The Hay-Adams invites you and your loved one to celebrate Valentine's Day with dinner at The Lafayette restaurant, Washington's most romantic dining room, which overlooks Lafayette Square and the White House. Their light-filled dining room offers a unique setting that is certain to complement your fine dining experience. Your special evening at The Lafayette begins with a glass of champagne as Chef Peter Schaffrath begins to prepare a delicious 5 course menu featuring entrandeacute;e choices such as Pan Roasted Halibut, Roasted Niman Valley Beef Tenderloin and Maine Lobster served with a Vanilla Bean Butter Sauce. For dessert, choose from a selection of hot Valrhona Chocolate soufflandeacute; paired with a frozen raspberry glace. Your dining experience will be complimented by Tom Vogt on the piano andndash; you can expect quite the romantic evening! Reservations are available between 5:00pm - 10:00pm and can be made directly with The Lafayette restaurant (202-638-2570) or through OpenTable.com. $79 per person includes a glass of Scharffenberger Brut. For more information, visit The Hay-Adams website.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1340The brand new Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore is quite the waterfront gem. We had the distinct pleasure of exploring Charm City this weekend and visiting the brand new Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore, the city's newest and first true luxury hotel property.We couldn't help but be charmed by this hotel, designed and decorated to look like a modern art museum. Already home to the city's largest hotel art collection, the rooms were spacious and airy, with 85% boasting water views. We quickly fell in love with our room (a Harbor View), that offered amazing views of the sunset over the Inner Harbor. Amenities like deep soaking tubs, in-mirror TVs and Nespresso machines in all rooms (plus a thoughtful welcome amenity of Berger Cookies and Kettle Chips - Baltimore classics) made the stay even better.Also must visits? The 11-room spa oasis, which offers treatment rooms named after essential oils and a heat experience room that rivals DC's Mandarin Oriental. For a limited time, book Monday - Thursday and get 25% off your treatment, and use your Amex to receive an 80-minute treatment for the price of a 50-minute one. To Continue Reading, visit Decacon Does DC.http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1342Havenandrsquo;t figured out your dinner plans for Valentineandrsquo;s Day yet? Well, here are some helpful tips if you are looking for restaurants in DC. Many DC Restaurants offer special menus and promotions to sweethearts (and singles) dining out to celebrate Valentineandrsquo;s Day. January is coming to a close and the big V-Day, Tuesday, February 14th, is just around the corner, so donandrsquo;t wait to make your plans. To help, Iandrsquo;ve taken the liberty of providing a few recommendations for every kind of Valentineandrsquo;s meal. Whether youandrsquo;re on a budget (look for the green dollar sign for a great-value for under $50 a person), are serious foodies (like me) or even just friends looking for antiandndash;Valentineandrsquo;s Day celebrations, there is something for everyone. More information will be added as received. Valentineandrsquo;s Day Round-Up 2012 A few rules for the randeacute;servandeacute;e: Even if using Opentable.com or Cityeats.com to make the reservation, call the restaurant to confirm the restaurantandrsquo;s address, service times, menus, and availability. Ask if a reservation is required (on some holidays, such as Valentineandrsquo;s Day, a credit card may be needed to reserve a table.) Prices quoted are per person, unless specified that it is for andldquo;twoandrdquo; (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity, unless noted.) Beverage pairings are an additional cost, per person. Prices are subject to change without notice. To continue reading, visit Dining in DChttp://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1352Article from Serious Eats: New York City -- Housemade doughnuts are $2.75 each at the recently opened Bowery Diner. They're hefty creatures of the yeast variety, on the oily but oh-so-satisfying side. Look in the right case for the classicsandmdash;sugar glazed, cinnamon-sugar, and chocolate glaze with rainbow sprinkles. But the left case holds all the exciting doughnuts. Think flavors like pistachio glaze (pictured above) with a chocolate filling. The milk chocolate is piped in tight, a voluptuous pudding cocooned by the fluffy interior. To Continue Reading andgt;andgt;andgt;http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1350Featured from Carousel of Fantasies: Simplicity of premise provides the beauty of Simon Stephensandrsquo;s The Trial of Ubu, but it also proves the biggest constraint. Thereandrsquo;s great satirical potential in wrenching Alfred Jarryandrsquo;s overblown despot Pa Ubu back into the real world to face the consequences of his grotesque actions in an ICC-style trial. However, the purity of the central concept is such that, with only a basic understanding of the original, one can grasp Stephensandrsquo;s overarching ambition from brochure copy alone. The risk is one of triteness. However, those that avoid the Hampstead on that basis will miss the craft with which the subjectandrsquo;s surrounding intricacies are explored in Katie Mitchellandrsquo;s production. Admittedly, The Trial of Ubu has less to chew on than the superior Wastwater, which gave chase to a greasier pig, but there is nonetheless an awful lot to keep oneandrsquo;s mind occupied, both during and after proceedings, if you let it. For starters, following a Punch and Judy-style synopsis of Jarryandrsquo;s original, Mitchell presents the trial not as is, but at one remove, through two interpreters, who translate and repeat the words spoken inside the courtroom itself. There will be those that cry tedium; that the commentary box has nothing on the match itself. They are wrong. This is a chance to engross oneself in the minute details that would otherwise go unseen. By refracting rather than simply representing the trial, Mitchell better reveals its component parts. Her production sees clearer precisely because it does not look directly at the sun. So dazzlingly grotesque is Pa Ubu that his presence would outshine any nuanced reflection. To Continue Reading andgt;andgt;http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1353Weegee -- real name Arthur Fellig -- first made his name in the 1930s and 1940s as a New York photojournalist covering the city's seedy underbelly. His book of photos, "Naked City," was released in 1945 and later became the inspiration for the motion picture "The Naked City." In 1947, he moved to Los Angeles to try his hand at Hollywood. Instead of crime, Weegee began poking holes into the Hollywood fairy tale -- juxtaposing the glitz and glamour of the movie biz with the harder realities of life among regular folks in L.A. He also chronicled the fans who worshipped celebrity and used a special distortion lens to play around with how Hollywood stars looked. His 1953 book "Naked Hollywood," a sequel of sorts to "Naked City," collected those photos. A minor celebrity thanks to his successful photography work, Weegee also made small appearances in several films and worked as a photographer for Kubrick's "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb." To Continue Reading andgt;andgt;http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1354We would like to congratulate General Manager Hans Bruland and his amazing staff at The Hay-Adams for being awarded the most excellent hotel in the United States and Canada. Condandeacute; Nast Johansens, the international luxury travel guides from the most trusted name in travel publishing announced the winners of the 2012 Awards for Excellence including The Hay-Adams as the Most Excellent Hotel. The winners of these prestigious awards were chosen as the top properties throughout the Americas, Atlantic, Caribbean and Pacific Islands. The full list of winners is included below. To Continue Reading andgt;andgt;http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1355Article from Girlsandrsquo; Guide to Paris -- With the arrival of Le Camion Qui Fume and Blend, the odds of finding a good hamburger in the French capital have dramatically improved. Sure, there are plenty of Paris restaurants and cafandeacute;s that serve andldquo;les burgers,andrdquo; but I gave up my dream of discovering a decent burger in Paris a long, long time ago. Iandrsquo;m admittedly bringing an American standard to the table. Burgers in Paris tend to be on the lean side, while my ideal burger is a messy, chin-dripping affair. This might be part of the problem: andldquo;messyandrdquo; is not really in the Parisian repertoire, made evident by, among other things, the localsandrsquo; preference for eating burgers with a knife and fork. This is not an option at Le Camion Qui Fume, the burger joint on wheels, where your grub is handed over for eating on the street. Thatandrsquo;s right: the food truck phenomenon has crossed the Atlantic. Would-be burger eaters have to check the website or Twitter feed to find out where the truck will be parked. To Continue Reading andgt;andgt;http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1356With beautiful views of the Thames, The Wyndham Grand London, which is located in Chelsea Harbor, is the city's only five-star luxury all-suite hotel. The Wyndham offers an ideal base from which to explore the very best that London has to offer. Only minutes from all the major sites and the legendary boutiques which line the King's Road. Please see below for the exciting details of their re-opening! The Wyndham Grand London recently celebrated the re-opening of its Blue Harbour Spa to guests and non-resident club members. New to the Chelsea spa is the introduction of VOYA, the worldandrsquo;s first certified organic seaweed-based products. To Continue Reading on TopHotelsofLondon.com andgt;andgt;http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=1366Article from Grab Your Fork -- Didn't everyone's mum or grandmother have a Noritake set in the sideboard? It was the fancy dinnerware that was only brought out for big occasions, creating a nightmare for whoever was on washing-up duty that night! But the good china made everything feel a little bit special, and surely dinner always tasted better? It's been a while since I've run a Freebie Friday and the first one for 2012 is a twenty-piece Noritake dinner set worth $595! The set has been designed by Marc Newson, an Australian-born designer who was named in Time Magazine's list of the world's 100 Most Influential People in 2005. Newson's style is characterised by smooth flowing lines that often exclude sharp edges. His most famous piece is undoubtedly the 1988 Embryo Chair, an alarmingly sensual and seductive design at the time. To Continue Reading andgt;andgt;