EVERYONE knows J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed entirely on location downunder by Kiwi director Peter Jackson. But did you know that a real sorcerer, a magi of magic realism straight out of the Oscar-winning series, only rather recently left New Zealand after the nasty Christchurch Earthquake of 2011. Born Ian Brackenbury Channell in London (4 December 1932), "The Wizard of Christchurch" is an inspired soap-box … [Read more...]
Curse of the Sea Gypsy
Looking for Love on Lovina, Bali Well, er, the problem was, I thought I saw a real live mermaid. Get that? Loping on Bali's Lovina beach one day, I came across a troglodytic Indonesian man crouching over a campfire, cooking a stunted animal on a skewer. Was he eating a cat?! "Very nice bitch," the local sarong hawker spat in the sand. Lo and behold! I saw a bikinied blond, like the statuesque prow of a Viking vessel, … [Read more...]
Neil Mandt: Actor, Producer & Traveler
From multi-Emmy winners Neil and Michael Mandt comes a new series about travel, adventure and family - the thrill of irresponsibility and the agony of pursuit. "Next Stop for Charlie" spotlights Charlie (Neil Mandt), a bathroom supplies salesman whose hobby as a world traveler is tapped by a rich aunt after her son, Erik (Erik Adolphson), quits college and decides to cavort around the globe with an unlimited credit card. Charlie is hired to … [Read more...]
Come Have a Grape Stompin Good Time at the Chicago Marriott
Guests are invited to crush grapes at the Chicago Marriott's 2010 wine-making event Upon entering the lobby of a hotel, guests are expected to gather their bags, check in, and proceed to their room. Upon entering the lobby of the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, guests go through the motions before having the opportunity to de-stem and crush grapes that will be used to create signature wines served within the hotel bar and Harvest … [Read more...]
Chicago Tourism: National Tourism Foundation
Chicago is located along the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. The city has the honor of being the major center of transportation, industry, politics, culture, finance, medicine and higher education. The "Second City," the "Windy City," "Chi-town," and the "City of the Big Shoulders" are the informal names of Chicago. Chicago, like much of the Midwest, has a climate with a wide range of weather conditions. The city experiences four … [Read more...]
Italy Story: Hostage of the Hostile Hostel
When I arrived, panting, at the three-story brick-and-steel building, I was dismayed to see a mob of backpackers crowded around the front desk. Two surly staff members were shouting at them in Italian, grabbing crumpled piles of money, and stuffing registration forms, one each, into the hundred cubby holes in the wall behind them. Each nook denoted one available bed. As I made my way to the counter, I heard one of the clerks answer the … [Read more...]
Columbia, CA
However, instead of continuing their journey, they elected to camp for the night under a large oak tree. The five men had traveled for months searching for gold said to be easily picked out of California's mountain streams. They had found plenty of streams but no gold. All five spent a miserable night on the ground as a rain storm drenched Tuolumne County. In the morning, the men decided to let their blankets dry out before continuing on … [Read more...]
Cannon Beach
Oregon's coastline is full of secrets: veiled pleasures and surprises, clandestine, deserted beaches and hidden gems peppering the towns in the form of lodgings or eateries. But perhaps the most stunning secret on all of Oregon's coast lies just outside of the art and culture mecca of Cannon Beach, on the north coast. There's a castle a bit south of town, hidden behind the walls of trees just north of the Arch Cape Tunnel. You can become king … [Read more...]
Chamonix, France – More Information
Tourist Office in Chamonix is located on the Place du Triangle just opposite the Place de L'Eglise and St. Michael's Church. This office is open daily from 8:30am until 12:30pm and then again from 2pm to 7pm. During July and August there are extended hours. They stay open from 8:30am until 7:30pm. Worth visiting to talk to staff about current weather conditions, conditions of the trails and pickup provided maps and other printed materials about … [Read more...]