It’s taken a long time, but New York has launched its public bike hire scheme. Similar to those in London, Paris and approximately 500 other cities worldwide, Citi Bike is a new network of bicycles you can hire, ride and drop off at your convenience. As can be expected in a transport network already saturated with traffic, New York’s answer to Boris Bikes are by no means perfect. Cycling in a heavily congested city is always going to be a … [Read more...]
War and Peace and Napoleon
I’ve always had a thing for Napoleon Bonaparte. After all, he was a pretty amazing guy. In addition to his military exploits, he oversaw the centralization of the French government, established the Bank of France, got the French people to accept the metric system (something I doubt even Barack Obama could do in the United States), reformed the law (the Napoleonic Code still forms the basis of legal process in a quarter of the world), and … [Read more...]
To the Lighthouse (Ila Al-Manara)
You can't understand the sense of triumph I felt as I crossed the street unless you've been to Beirut, a city in which I had been in and out over a two year span. My latest stint was nearing its end and I felt reflective and nostalgic and disappointed that the world has decided where you are allowed to live and work based on the coincidence of your birth. I had resolved to take advantage of a hole in the stormy sky and wander the streets of what … [Read more...]
Destination: Buenos Aires, Argentina
I could see myself, watching myself. An “out of body experience,” they call it. I was naked, wallowing hysterically in the crisp, clean, white sheets of the king-sized bed in my Marriott hotel room. I hadn’t eaten for many hours, too tired, emotional, and downright fearful to leave the room to forage for even a candy bar, of which there were plenty. Abundant bodegas were filled to the brim with candy brands foreign and domestic; chocolate … [Read more...]
How to enjoy Paris on a Budget
When most people think of Paris, they probably picture the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre or the bright lights of the Champs-Élysées. It is a city which evokes romance, not to mention a certain amount of decadence. The words ‘Paris’ and ‘budget’ are two which probably seem highly incompatible. However, is this notion of Paris as a destination for the rich a myth? We’re inclined to suggest it is in fact a misconception… After all, there are over two … [Read more...]
From the Outside In: My Reflections as a Non-Muslim Wearing the Burqa in Silicon Valley
My curiosity to try wearing the most conservative Muslim, black Burqa drapery in California overcame my dread that I would be found out by a Muslim who might eagerly approach me as any of us might do when we find "our kind" in a foreign land. I was fearful of offending, or appearing to make light of a serious cultural tradition. It took an immense amount of courage to overcome my trepidation. But at last I decided to just go for it. Logically … [Read more...]
Interesting & Unique Hotels
Some weeks we wade through hundreds of links to add to our always growing travel links directory (over 20,000 now!) - occasionally we update several thousand in a week. Every once in a while we come across some interesting sites for whatever reason - while adding additional hotels to our directory - here are a few interesting ones we came across: Boutique hotel based in Paris: Hotel Costes - this one takes the cake for creative video … [Read more...]
Travelling in Prague on a Budget
Why go to Prague? The capital city of the Czech Republic is one of the most picturesque places in all of Europe – with its ancient history and diverse and mixed architectural styles. Prague is not only a sophisticated and calm city, but also extremely hospitable. Delicious Czech food, breathtaking historical monuments, old churches and galleries, traditional architecture – Prague has it all and the city cannot wait to share it with you. … [Read more...]
Rio de Janeiro Becomes the First Big City to Receive Title of World Heritage Site
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (November 9, 2012) – The UNESCO Heritage Committee has elected the city of Rio de Janeiro as the first big city to receive the title of World Heritage Site in the Urban Landscape category. The decision was made at the Committee’s 36th session in Saint Petersburg, Russia on July 1, 2012. The National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage – IPHAN – presented Rio’s candidacy in 2009 with the concept of the harmonious … [Read more...]
Staying in Struga, Macedonia
I'm now staying in Struga, a small town on the shores of beautiful Lake Ohrid in Southern Macedonia. I've rented the top loft in an apartment building only blocks from the shoreline. This room has character - the ceiling is slanted so I can't stand up properly but the skylight opens onto the roof for fresh breezes blowing in the from the lake. If I pop up onto the roof I have views overlooking all the red roofs of the town with Ohrid in the … [Read more...]
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