Can we all just agree that Cancun isn’t really all that great? After all, it’s a man-made vacation destination bogged down by mammoth, cheap all-inclusive resorts with lots of drunk tourists. Having said that, the weather there is great, the beaches are stunning and it’s super easy to get to. With a little extra planning and venturing beyond the main Hotel Zone, a perfect week at the beach in Mexico is absolutely possible! It’s not far by … [Read more...]
Trinidad and Tobago Gears up for the “Greatest Show on Earth”
Thousands of revelers take to the islands’ streets to celebrate Carnival 2014 PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – February 13, 2014 – With just a few weeks to go, partiers are finalizing preparations for Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival, the radical explosion of color, music, dance and creativity that sweeps the dual-island nation every year. With its massive masquerade bands, colorful costumes, pulsating music and exuberant celebrations, Trinidad’s … [Read more...]
Notes from the Great Australian Outback, Northern Territory
Garth Brooks, "Friends in Low Places" was playing at some point in the last few days in one of our tour vehicles. The trend in music among the outfitters seems to be older American Country. I'm perfectly fine with that. I didn't hear about the incredible amount of flies in the Outback this particular year prior to my trip - probably something to do with all the rain they've had here. There is a cream you can dab on your face which keeps them … [Read more...]
The Unexpected Charms of Dusseldorf
Dusseldorf was the last stop on my recent trip to Germany. After the non-stop excitement of Berlin and the Grande Dame beauty of Dresden, my expectations were low. Dusseldorf was a city I associated with trade fairs and big business, neither of which hold my interest. Instead, what I got was a city bursting at the seams with a vigorous art scene, robust cultural life and plenty of culinary mojo. It’s a convenient city to visit, thanks to … [Read more...]
Ring in the New Year all Over Again in Richmond BC
Authentically Asian city readies for two-week Chinese New Year festivities Richmond, BC, Canada (January 23, 2014) – Already abandoned or forgotten those New Years resolutions? Don’t despair. Chinese New Year, celebrated this year on Friday, January 31, is just around the corner. It’s a second chance to say good riddance to nagging bad habits and usher in good ones. Also called the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is the … [Read more...]
Cock-a-Doodle-Don’t, Cockfighting in the Philippines
John M. Edwards attends a horrific “cockfight” on Bantayan Island in the Philippines, only to end up wondering what exactly were the ingredients in the national dish of adobo. . . . The roosters swaggered around like Mick and Keith, with dangerously sharp spurs attached to their legs. While the apocalyptic poultry sussed each other out with malice, the excitement began to build. My two new Norwegian backpacker friends snapped photos with … [Read more...]
Brr-cold in Barbes-Rochechouart: Christmas in France
In Paris’s Muslim quarter, Barbés Rochechouart, John M. Edwards finds ho-hum Christmas cheer, but no champagne or beer. . . . Back when I lived in Paris, one of the most comically incongruous things I saw as a temporary expat was a pathetic Pere Noel with a guelle de bois (“face of wood” = hangover) peeing in the snow, with an excessively painful grin, on the legendary Boulevard St. Germain (namedropped ad infinitum in Hemingway’s elegy to the … [Read more...]
Biscuits, Booze, and Bodies – 36 Hours in the Florida Keys
Normally, I'm not big on cocktails before 10am. But when we blearily wandered in at 8am to the Blue Heaven, one of Key West’s signature restaurants, that’s what our server suggested. Sitting in the crazy-quilt courtyard, with its rustic artwork and scurrying chickens, looking up at the former bordello on the second-floor, and knocking back some booze seemed in keeping with all things Keys. I opted for the pancakes, which I found just as … [Read more...]
Martha’s Vineyard, on the cheap
Martha’s Vineyard, noted for its rich residents and famous for presidential vacations, is not a cheap place to visit, especially in high-priced summer. But there are places to see and things to do year-round that won’t break your bank. By far, my favorite was the Martha’s Vineyard Boys and Girls Club’s thrift shop in the heart of Edgartown, on North Summer Street. The long-time nonprofit club that has been serving island children since 1937 … [Read more...]
10 Free Things to Do in New York City
New York is one of the most costly cities in the United States, but taking your holiday here doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Slash the cost of your New York City holiday when you enjoy some of these fun and free attractions. BAMcafe at the Brooklyn Academy of Music On Friday and Saturday nights from September through to June, you can enjoy free live music at BAMcafe Live, a program hosted by the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Since … [Read more...]
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