http://www.travelonion.com/index.php?cID=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=275 The Paris cafandeacute; is an institution. No trip to the City of Light would be complete without visiting at least one. Most cafandeacute;s keep continuous hours, making them a perfect spot for a full meal, an afternoon coffee or an aperitif. Rows of snugly placed tables and chairs sit facing the street as if beckoning passersby to an upcoming performance of Parisian street theatre. Locals have their favorite neighborhood hauntsandmdash;each one offering a different vibe. Why not experiment and find yours? Start with these tried-and-true options, many of which have been an important part of Parisian culture for upwards of a hundred years. La Closerie des Lilas La Closerie des Lilas, located in Montparnasse, is named for its beautiful enclosed lilac garden. In fact, the cafandeacute; (which opened in 1847) claims to have established the reputation of Montparnasse because of its proximity to one of the most famous balls of its time, the Bullier Ball. In the early 20th century, literary giants such as Hemingway, Miller and Apollinaire and artists including Candeacute;zanne and Picasso mingled with the bourgeoisie. Over the years Tuesdays became known as the day when poets, artists and great thinkers of all nationalities would gather for readings and discussions of some of the most exciting theories of their time. Those looking to follow in the footsteps of Hemingway, who lived in a nearby flat, can grab a stool at the polished mahogany bar, where a brass plaque engraved with his name marks his favorite spot. In the nicer weather, pull up a chair on the secluded terrace, where Hem himself wrote undisturbed for hours. There are two distinct sides to La Closerie. The less expensive brasserie, with its dark, smokey atmosphere, dim lighting and leather banquettes, gives off an understated vibe of luxury, enlivened by the chatty crowd, clinking glasses and the piano bar, where you can hear jazz nightly after 7 p.m. Classics like steak tartare, eggs with mayonnaise and terrines grace the menu. The more upscale restaurant consists of bright crimson seating, crisp white linens and formal waitstaff. Here you'll find lobster, Filet de Boeuf Hemingway (made with bourbon!) and classic desserts like crandecirc;pes suzette and baba au rhum. Cafandeacute; de Flore Another landmark cafandeacute;, the chic Cafandeacute; de Flore, has been a fixture on the busy boulevard St.-Germain since it opened in the late 1800s. The classically dressed waiters don black vests and pants, white shirts and long white aprons. The smoky ambience of the Flore, with its art deco interiorandmdash;including period lighting, mirrors, mahogany and red banquettesandmdash;hasn't changed much over the years. This upscale cafandeacute; is always bustling with a mix of young couples, well-dressed ladies, prosperous-looking businessmen and tourists. The sunny terrace is a popular spot for dining on a simple omelette and glass of champagne while watching the museum of life in Paris go by. Have your own story to tell? Head upstairs to the quiet second-floor dining room, where literary greats once spent hours writing. Les Deux Magots Flore's rival, located right around the corner, is the equally famous Les Deux Magots. The cafandeacute; began as a drapery store and turned into a wine merchant before becoming a cafandeacute; in 1914. Though it had a later start than its counterpart, Deux Magots quickly attracted the same literary clientele, including Apollinaire, Hemingway and Andrandeacute; Gide. Every year since 1933, the cafandeacute; has awarded a literary prize called the Deux Magots to contemporary authors of offbeat works. The inside is brightly lit and the decor understated, with creamy walls, cognac-colored banquettes and burgundy velvet drapes. Half of the wraparound terrace overlooks the aptly named Place Sartre-Beauvoirandmdash;who were also regularsandmdash;and offers lovely views of the square and church of St.-Germain-des-Prandeacute;s. You can catch a glimpse of the cafandeacute; in the 1995 remake of Sabrina. Bouillon Chartier Though it's more brasserie than cafandeacute;, Chartier deserves a spot on any eatery list. Now a historic monument, Chartier began in 1896 as a place to serve the working class a simple hot dish of boiled meat and vegetables (called a bouillon) for a very low priceandmdash;think soup kitchen, not Michelin stars. Though the clientele has diversified and the menu has broadened (as have the linesandmdash;reservations are not accepted), this Montmartre brasserie stays true to its roots with prices that are still a bargain. If you are adventurous and looking to try traditional dishes like sweetbreads, lambs' brains, tongue or tripe, you've come to the right place. Safer options like coq au vin and Boeuf Bourguignon are also on offer. The interior looks like a typical brasserie: think lots of brass, tall mirrors, banquettes, art deco globe lighting, whimsical wall murals and glass ceilings. In keeping with the owner's desire to create a homey atmosphere, however, you won't find any crystal glasses, fancy silverware or white tablecloths. Instead it's pink tablecloths, paper menus and plain white plates with nary a logo. The owner has even retained the original wooden apothecary-like numbered drawers, where loyal customers were able to store their personal napkins. La Palette The appropriately named La Palette pays homage to the art community. Its proximity to the andEacute;cole des Beaux-Arts and its quirky, laid-back atmosphere made it a favorite among students as well as figures such as Picasso, Hemingway and even Jim Morrison. This cafandeacute;/bistro has been going strong for more than 100 years and hasn't changed much since then. The inviting and worn decor includes an eclectic mix of art, mirrors, dim lighting, mosaic-tiled floors, warm wood and a zinc bar, which hides a steep stairwell that leads to the storage cellar. There is even a framed artist's palette hanging over the bar. Make your way to the back room to see the stunning ceramic panels created by Salcedo. La Palette serves up good, simple French food at prices anyone can afford. Grab a coffee and baguette with butter and jam for breakfast or, during the day, a simpleplat du jour or tartine (open-face sandwich). To experience the "real" Palette, spend time inside among the students and gallery owners. In the warmer months, claim a spot under the trees and among the trellised roses on the sidewalk terrace. Cafandeacute; de la Paix Cafandeacute; de la Paix, declared a historic landmark by the French government in 1975, is located near Opandeacute;ra Garnier, in the 9th Arrondissement. Originally opened in 1862 to serve the Grand Hotel, Paix eventually attracted the likes of Emile Zola and Guy de Maupassantandmdash;even the prince of Wales. In 1948 the restaurant was the setting for a live radio show broadcast from France to the US, hosted by Maurice Chevalier. The decor is chic and retains its Second Empire grandeurandmdash;think lots of gilt, frescoes and touches of emerald green and burgundy. The menu is a mix of contemporary and classic gourmet cuisine, often adapted for seasonal ingredients. The cafandeacute; boasts two terrace optionsandmdash;a covered inside and an open-air outsideandmdash;both offering views of the Opandeacute;ra Garnier, which is magical in the late evening. Either terrace would be perfect for an aperitif before or after a show. INFO La Palette 43, rue de Seine, in the 6th. 01 43 26 68 15.3_25_palette_coffee_a.JPGhttp://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=280 Listen to a Londoner is a weekly interview post with people who live (or have lived for a while) in London. If you fit the bill and want to be interviewed, give me a shout at littlelondonobservationist@hotmail.co.uk. Always looking for new volunteers. Sarah Orrick, 24 If you can find another native Kentuckian in London, you earn a cookie. Sarah came over in September 2008 to earn a Masterandrsquo;s degree in International Politics and Human Rights, and enjoys working for a childrenandrsquo;s charity in Kentish Town. LLO: How long have you lived in London and where are you from originally? SO: Iandrsquo;m from a tiny village on the border of Kentucky and Illinois, smack middle in the bible belt, land of fried chicken and all things unhealthy. I came here in September 2008 and never looked back. LLO: Whatandrsquo;s the best thing about living in your postcode? SO: I live in Camden Town and madly love it! Thereandrsquo;s always a store open late, always something going on, always the most unusual people hanging out. Plus, itandrsquo;s well-connected enough that night buses from nearly all parts of the city roll through. LLO: Favourite place to find a taste of home? SO: I miss great Mexican food from home, so La Perla in Covent Garden is pretty good when it comes to my Mexican cravings. Their Margaritas are to DIE for! LLO: Best London andldquo;discoveryandrdquo;? SO: That itandrsquo;s legal to drink in parks? Weeee! (See last question) LLO: If I only had one day in London and wanted to spend it off the beaten track, where would you send me? SO: A Sunday roast (assuming the day is Sunday) at a pub in Kentish Town called the Pineapple or perhaps exploring Borough Market and ending with an evening bottle of wine at Gordonandrsquo;s Wine bar..yes, not exactly unknown to London, but thatandrsquo;s what I envision FAR FAR away from Oxford Street. LLO: Favourite pub, club or other place to spend a Saturday night? SO: Iandrsquo;m madly in love with Retro bar, a gay bar hidden in an alleyway next to Charring Cross. You really have to search for it, but itandrsquo;s classy, clean and has board game nights! Otherwise, The Black Heart is your typical indie pub in Camden, also hidden in an alleyway, thatandrsquo;s full of andlsquo;misunderstoodandrsquo; but exceptionally nice people. They serve pizzas named after the seven deadly sins and banana bread beer. Highly recommend both, as alleyway pubs are the way to go! LLO: Whatandrsquo;s the most random thing youandrsquo;ve ever seen in London? SO: About 200 people dressed up in Santa costumes on a pub crawl in Camden. In January. They were a little lateandhellip; LLO: Whatandrsquo;s the most interesting or unusual food youandrsquo;ve eaten since moving to London and where did you go to eat it? SO: A couple weeks ago, I went to dim sum with friends and tried baby octopus, duck tongue, beef stomach and beef tongue. Everything was good except the duck tongueandhellip;.ugh. LLO: Most quirky or unusual place youandrsquo;ve discovered in London? SO: I live in Camden, you want only one?! All I have to do is walk outside my flat and I see strange things everywhere. Especially in The Worldandrsquo;s End. LLO: Describe a perfect Spring day in the capital. SO: A sunny, windy day for a picnic on Primrose Hill with great friends. The lunch includes some amazing hummous, pita, cheeses and wine, and the wind is helpful in flying our infamous dolphin kite. Bring on the summer! Thanks Sarah! 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 that one crazy airport story. For instance about a month ago I was in Mexico waiting for some friends to meet up with at the hotel we were staying at. They arrived a bit late because one of them was scrutinized going through customs because his passport looked andldquo;too beat up.andrdquo; He was told he was not allowed into the country. After waiting to talk to a supervisor, eventually he was, but just listening to the story made me uneasy. It definitely reconfirmed that you never want to have an outdated or worn down passport. Luckily, I was able to come across this site Fastport Passport which specializes in getting you your passports and visas in time for you trip. Same day service! And 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 legally leave your own country and enter another.This sparked my interest in more places where I would possibly like to travel. So I took a look at Travel + Leisureandrsquo;s 2010 Worldandrsquo;s Best Hotel awards and I was surprised to see that number two was Triple Creek Ranch located in Darby, Montana. The reason I was surprised was because it was not in a major city, on a coast, or a super ritzy hotel. Instead, it is an individually owned hotel that consists of 23 rustic cabins to stay in. It has rave reviews about the restaurant and wine choices. It also has a variety of outdoors activities available because it's located in the Montana Rockies. After reading the review it sounds like the quintessential outdoor-fresh air American experience. The selling point for me was learning that each room is stocked daily with freshly baked cookies and trail mix. 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=412When traveling this summer it is important to have priorities about how you want to spend your vacation. If going green is one of those priorities, then we have a couple of suggestions. If you are looking for a leisurely vacation then traveling to Costa Ricaandrsquo;s Tabacandoacute;n Grand Thermal Spa Resort is a great option. The spa has been certified 100% carbon neutral and receives its energy from a volcano close by. The hotel also makes significant efforts to help the local community by helping with buying local products and handcrafts. Funds from buying a room go towards constructing schools and donation of products for those schools.However, if you are looking to stay in the states this summer- RVParking.com has come out with a new iPhone app! Instead of flying to one city and staying there, take your home and amenities with you and try out some different camp site locations. This app has made access to over 18,000 RV parks possible. With a quick search you can find where you can spend the night. The president, Erik Budde, made the very acute statement that since RVing is a mobile form of traveling; researching it should be so as well. Check out RVParking.com to learn more about the next RV trip you could take.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.