Feed Editor 5 Oct 2006 19:56:09 GMT Alternative Travel, Around the World travel, Nude Beaches, Destination Guides, Travel Articles on GoNOMAD.com http://www.gonomad.com/index.html en-us http://www.gonomad.com/images/gonomad-logo-travel-guide.gif One quick conversation with Nicole Frank could probably convince you to hand over the keys to your house and even the keys to your car, even to a complete stranger. Nicole Frank is not a con artist though; she's a home swapping expert who knows what her priorities are when it comes to traveling. Home swapping is exactly what it sounds like: two parties agree to swap homes for however long they decide: a weekend, a month or even a year. No strings attached, no payments due. It’s a "what’s-mine-is-yours" concept for those who believe in the honor system and in true-to-life traveling. 8 Feb 2010 17:10:40 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/lodgings/1001/roof-swap.html 2C103753-E652-4249-9BAA-3E967667580B I wanted to get away. Really away. Having just graduated from college, I was ready to relax and relish the free time that spread out before me. So I grabbed my boyfriend Ty and we started driving north. Our destination was Rockland, Maine, the docking place of the windjammer Nathaniel Bowditch. This being my first summertime visit to Maine, I wanted to experience the state’s craggy coast the way it was meant to be seen — from the water. Part of History The most authentic way I could find to achieve this goal was a trip on the Nathaniel Bowditch, one of Maine’s beautiful windjammers. At 82 feet long, the ship is an impressive sight, and we were lucky enough to call her home for six memorable nights. 8 Feb 2010 17:09:06 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/cruises/1002/maine-windjammer-cruise.html AE7470B1-B03C-4524-9C2A-8592E067254F The man was on fire! Exploding into a karate kick, the chubby, middle-aged Elvis impersonator was belting out his rendition of “Hunk of Burnin’ Love.” As the sun was setting on the shore of British Columbia’s Okanagan Lake, the crowd at the annual Penticton Elvis Festival was eating it up. The cooler evening air creeping in, this was the first time all day I hadn’t felt on fire. Summers in the Okanagan Valley can be very warm and dry – especially when road-tripping in a car sans air conditioning. Earlier in the day – just after arriving in Penticton and just before checking into the hostel – my girlfriend (Stacy) and I cooled off by floating the channel flowing south from Okanagan Lake. 2 Feb 2010 20:31:52 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/1001/banff-british-columbia-canada.html F470B389-B39B-43B6-A26C-F08D95E93E7C On the train ride down the coast I tried to imagine what Portland would be like. “It’s a river port,” I remarked, “so maybe it’s like, St. Louis, or New Orleans. No, no, there is no place like New Orleans.” Gazing out the window at majestic Mount Hood, illuminated in the late afternoon sun, I reminded myself that Portland is a West Coast town, and settled on the notion that it would be something like Seattle. “Yes, it’s probably just like Seattle.” Our first impression of Portland was her railway station. As a frequent guest of Amtrak I’ve come to expect utilitarian but uninspiring depots. Portland’s Union Station is the polished marble and varnished oak exception to that rule. 2 Jan 2010 20:31:08 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/1001/oregon-weird-portland.html 7A8B3B2A-1E7E-41D0-9013-477E36634D84 For more than 50 years, the Macau Grand Prix has been one of the world’s most fearsome motorsports competitions. Each November, a 6.2 kilometer loop of downtown streets is blocked off with hurricane fencing and plywood and the metallic screaming that rises up from behind the barricades almost makes you think some kind of mythical beast is chained beneath the surface of the city. I was lucky enough to be invited by Macau’s Tourism office to witness this spectacle firsthand as well as experience the other wonders that Macau has to offer. Along with Formula 3, Touring Car and Motorcycle races, I was able to visit many of the downtown historic areas that were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, sample some of the signature Macanese dishes that blend Portugese and Asian styles and flavors, and tour the gigantic casino complexes that have made Macau the gambling center of the world. 29 Jan 2010 21:49:45 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/1001/china-macau-auto-racing.html AEE21049-D737-473F-826A-B4284DF835ED I had visited Quebec City, the cradle of French civilization in North America, a number of times but this was the first time I had come to take part in the SAQ New France Festival - for 13 years an annual extravaganza held by the Société des alcools du Québec (Quebec Alcohol Corporation). A celebration of the first Europeans to arrive in North America, it is an exciting event that is worth attending. It takes a visitor back to the time when Quebec had its beginnings - that is if one forgets the indigenous inhabitants of that French Canadian province. Quebec City was where the French Empire began in North America. The city became the center of New France but had only 5,000 inhabitants when the British occupied it, in 1759. Today, the French heritage in this city is the heart of where the Francophone culture in North America has been preserved. 29 Jan 2010 21:48:35 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/1001/quebec-new-france-festival.html DD9B5846-AECC-4D62-B03A-357DD4F47852 Gerard Hindmarsh has written a “true tale” of his grandparents who, in the early 1900s immigrated to New Zealand from southern Italy. Part history, part embellishment, he recounts the experiences of his grandmother, Angelina, as she adjusts to life in this beautiful, wild land. Her close friendship with a local Maori woman, Wetekia, is a central part of the story of her own growth as a strong young woman. For anyone who loves travel, culture, family, or history- Angelina by Gerard Hindmarsh is a lovely tribute to his grandparents and to all those who immigrate to a new land in pursuit of a better life. 29 Jan 2010 21:47:14 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/market/1001/angelina.html 0B0993F3-8D0E-4AA9-8568-24100FC7DF1F On November 20, Air France began using the world’s largest passenger airliner, the Airbus A380. Air France is the first of all European carriers to finally put the ‘pride of Airbus’ on a transatlantic stretch between Charles de Gaulle and JFK. So far there’s only one bird in the fleet and yours truly took a maiden voyage in it via a connecting flight to Tunis, Tunisia. 29 Jan 2010 21:46:20 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/transports/1001/flying-a380.html A047A49E-4778-473E-9EE5-8757364BF70D Queenstown is synonymous with adventure sports -- jet boating began here in the 60's, and commercial bungy jumping was invented here. But Queenstown attracted tourists long before AJ Hackett first bungied from the Eiffel Tower. People have been coming to relax in this idyllic natural setting by Lake Wakatipu, nestled at the foot of the Remarkables and Eyres mountain ranges, since Queenstown's first ski-field opened in 1947. This "adventure capital of the world" has every imaginable outdoor activity, including at least four variations on the bungy jump and nine variations on the original jet boat trip, but has been making a concerted effort to reach out to the non-thrill-seeker, and there is plenty for others to do. 29 Jan 2010 21:44:43 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0303/Queenstown.html BC9A68A8-C701-49AD-B085-83B54466839F In a previous post I talked about a flight from Tokyo to Paris where someone stole over $5000 worth of cash and valuables from other passengers WHILE IN THE AIR. I was incredulous that could happen, so I asked for other stories of in-flight theft. My findings in summary: Hide your stuff! Just because you're in the air doesn't mean you can drop your guard and leave your cash and valuables lying about. Don't depend on a flight attendant to look out for your belongings. Act the same way you would if you were in any other form of public transportation, or a movie theater or at a beach or park. Below are some additional in-flight horror stories, that prove you never can be too careful! 22 Jan 2010 21:06:22 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/traveldesk/1001/getting-ripped-off-inflight.html E551F294-9FF7-41FD-8DDA-4EF2735B95EA What is your temple threshold? For many, the ‘Grand Circle’ of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Ta Prohm in a single day will suffice. Perhaps just Angkor Wat will satiate your appetite. We thought the three-day ticket offered a leisure pace with the opportunity to investigate less visited ruins. With this option, you will not feel rushed. Approached from well-established roads, the eight-hundred-year-old temples are in poor condition. Challenging their inevitable collapse, angled timbers bolster disintegrating walls, brawny beams buttress collapsing archways, and bands of steel envelop stone pillars. Resist the beckoning of Lara Croft from the dark, eroded tunnel and do not trespass beyond the warning signs. 20 Jan 2010 20:27:25 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/1001/cambodia-angkor-wat.html#carve 6829ABC4-1014-4887-AB68-8CB34BB06045 It’s a clash of the South and the Midwest in a piece of American history. Harrison County (named for the 19th President William Henry Harrison), is such a mixture of variety in an unexpected land. I found quite an odd selection of sites in one small area of Indiana. It remains Midwestern, yet it’s less than an hour’s drive from Louisville, Kentucky, so it shares many Southern influences. The center of this unusual area is Corydon, Indiana, which was the state’s first capital before Indianapolis. It was where I began a journey through many different worlds without having to drive very far. 19 Jan 2010 21:46:25 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0912/harrison-indiana.html 3855CC47-F004-4A4C-90E1-D16AC3071119 Egypt does not immediately come to mind when most people think of taking a family vacation. This African country captivates foreigners familiar with its colorful history of pyramids, tomb robbers, and Cleopatra, but also frightens many Westerners, and when we told friends we were thinking of taking our children there during their February school vacation, they were surprised and worried. Egypt may have a rich heritage, but it is now an Islamic state, and didn’t many of the 9/11 bombers study in Cairo? However, a good friend of ours, who lives in Cairo with his wife and young children, assured us that the Egyptians are warm, friendly people who love children, and that the government takes the safety of tourists very seriously. We were easy to convince. The winter in Europe had been especially cold, and our Vitamin D deprived bodies craved the sun. Furthermore, we wanted to see this ancient country up close. I had seen the King Tutankhamen exhibit as a kid and never lost my fascination for pharaonic artifacts. 19 Jan 2010 21:45:43 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/family/1001/egypt-with-kids.html 1086019B-DAA3-4133-9BF6-CF7D3FD6FF8A Food for the Chinese has always been not only sustenance, but a social, cultural, and even spiritual tradition. The “Eight Great Traditions” which represent the different styles of food across China are somewhat familiar to most of us – Cantonese and Sichuan dishes, noodles and dumplings. While these traditions are alive and well, today’s modern China is also a melting pot of exciting new fusion cuisines. Which is why I jumped at the chance to visit the country when I was recently invited on a 12-day culinary tour. As I received the detailed itinerary for the trip, I noticed the focus on both food and also wine. I blinked and looked again. Wine? From China? 19 Jan 2010 21:45:00 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/food-and-wine/1001/china-food-and-wine.html 3424E42F-17B2-421F-BEF6-C591D5BCF068 Chicago is one of the best tourist cities in the world. It is compact, easy to navigate on foot and by public transportation and it’s full of surprises. Here are the top ten things to see and do in Chicago. Number 10: Universities Chicago's institutions of higher learning are world famous. From Hyde Park on the south to suburban Evanston on the north, college campuses are great for wandering. 14 Jan 2010 19:43:41 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/1001/chicago-top-ten.html E53E2236-3B2F-42A8-9BB9-DDD9C838D3EE Sardinia is crossed from Cagliari (the regional capital) to Nuoro (one of the main cities) by the highway 131, and in its very heart, just after the detour to Nuoro, is Fordongianus, laid out on the wide plain of the Campidano Oristanese, where prehistoric remains blend harmoniously with the vestiges left by the Roman presence. Today the village is a tangle of narrow streets and alleys, surrounded by the countryside and other apparently identical built-up areas. The ancient necropolis nearby is Domigheddas and the prehistoric tombs commonly called "fairies’ houses" (Domus de Janas, in Sardo, the region’s native language) of Gularis Santu Giuanni testify the human presence since the Neolithic Age, giving archaeologists the possibility to place the first traces between 4000 and 3300 BC. 12 Jan 2010 20:34:36 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0912/fordongianus-sardinia.html E922CB2A-B7E0-465A-9E66-743D9AD7333A A travel website needs to be edited and written by real travelers. Sometimes I wonder when I read glossy magazines about whether those editors really go anywhere, or do they sit in their big offices and look at stories about other people's travels? Not us! GoNOMAD's staff had a busy traveling year, and below we chronicle our various destinations that we wrote about and saw during last year. 11 Jan 2010 18:17:52 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/corp/1001/staff-travels.html 51413092-857A-47AB-A1C2-138C8F4725FF Even though it's the sixth smallest country in the world, only 62 square miles, Liechtenstein has a lot to offer the traveler: charming villages, excellent cuisine, breathtaking Alpine landscapes, friendly citizens, and a prince who jogs around town and says "hoi" just like everyone else. Liechtenstein is a principality bordered by Switzerland to the south and west and Austria to the east and north. It is home to 36,000 inhabitants and has only 90 police officers. It is a true landlocked country with neither an airport (the closest airport is in Zurich, Switzerland) nor a seaport. 11 Jan 2010 18:17:04 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/1001/liechtenstein.html 2E959649-E979-4A73-A944-899B2250BB40 We’ve been in Mongolia for seventeen days and have found it to be an absolutely enchanting country. After spending a few days in and around the capital Ulaanbaatar, waiting for Mongolian and Kazakhstan visas, we were glad to be off into the wilderness. After shipping the Land Rover from Brisbane Australia to South Korea, we drove to the north of Korea then hopped on a ferry with the car and landed in the tiny port of Zarubino in the Southeastern corner of Siberia. We traveled across Eastern Russia for five weeks, then dropped down over the border into Mongolia. We now have two months to traverse this magnificent country. I already know that it’s not going to be enough time. Mongolia’s vastness is difficult to describe. It’s like seeing forever and then seeing more! 7 Jan 2010 22:25:44 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/1001/mongolia-overland.html 68669291-766C-4E5D-ADB9-5119376194C8 The thick air stirred a bit under my netting, the sounds of jungle echoing through the grounds of the Karawari Lodge on the Sepik River in Papua New Guinea. As I sipped a cup of coffee I watched the fog follow the ribbon of the river and the staff busily prepared breakfast for our small group, the Finnish gent sipping a cup of Joe turned to me and said, "I envy you. You are just starting out." That certainly was a promising beginning. The Sepik River Basin in PNG is a visit to a world far away, hard to do these days, authentic and true, things unfound elsewhere. On the Karawari part of the river, life is unchanged for centuries, except for the Karawari Lodge. 6 Jan 2010 21:40:49 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/1001/papua-new-guinea-two.html CE896BA7-33EC-4B46-A1B7-AC00AC0FCE8B You can tell Nelson’s a serious arts town when you glance at their Art Directory… it’s one-inch thick, and full of listings for all of the various artists in the small city. From ceramics to jewelry to film & performance, Nelson is home to artists of every description. It's a compact city that is easy to navigate with about 42,000 residents, and many free spirits. Nelson is located at the very north of New Zealand's South Island. We hopped across the windy stretch of sea between the two islands, the Cook Strait, about 90 kilometers, on the Interisland ferry. This service can take cars as well as passengers. The nicely equipped ferry boat, with all sorts of amenities including a big bar and cafes on board, steams over amidst some of the strongest winds I’ve ever felt. Passing through the fjords on these vessels affords some very awesome scenery. 6 Jan 2010 21:39:52 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0912/nelson-new-zealand.html 0DDC93EC-7069-4495-89FE-F8CC78C9C3DC In my pre-adult days, I often daydreamed about seeing the race in person. Another fantasy was taking a lap on the track; rocketing down the back straight, diving through turn three into the short shoot that leads to turn four, whizzing through that turn and blasting onto the front straight, flashing past the pits on my left and the cheering crowd in the stands on my right. I’ve yet to see an Indy 500 in person, but I have taken a lap on the track — and so can you. I didn’t rocket down the back straight or flash past the pits and fans on the front straight. The lap my wife and I took on the asphalt of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) was in a van, not a racecar. And our top speed was more like 25-35 mph rather than a breathtaking 200 mph. Nonetheless, it was exciting to be on that track, go through the turns, cross the start-finish line still marked by a row of the bricks that for decades covered the entire surface of the 2.5 mile oval. 4 Jan 2010 18:28:42 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/1001/indiana-speedway.html A2EDD2A2-8868-4A5A-AFD9-8766589866C0 Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have been part of the European Union since 2004. While renovations of numerous heritage sites are being undertaken all over, large parts of the countries are still untouched by “Western” lifestyle. The Baltic States are small enough to visit all three countries in “one go” while still unique enough not to blend into each other. I traveled from Vilnius in Lithuania to Tallin in Estonia, passing through Latvia on the way. 4 Jan 2010 18:28:07 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0912/baltic-states.html 3179F56C-8994-4889-AAE1-65452B6FF06F Colombia currently has an international advertising blitz promoting tourism with the slogan, “Colombia: The Only Risk is Wanting to Stay.” But in Bogotá during its Expoartesanías in December, a massive annual handicrafts fair sponsored by Artesanías de Colombia, a more appropriate slogan would be “Bogotá: The Only Risk is Wanting to Shop.” For nearly 20 years the feria, as it’s known, has brought the extraordinary cultural diversity that is Colombia to Bogotá – literally. The Colombian government provides travel and accommodations assistance so that artisans from remote indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities can come to the capital city for the two-week long event and sell their wares. 30 Dec 2009 19:53:10 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0912/bogota-colombia-expoartesanias.html CA959A39-5CB3-4D96-A1E2-C72316521F11 Transylvania! To really be there at the top of the Borgo Pass, the site where Bram Stoker placed Count Dracula's "vast ruined castle," was the realization of a lifelong dream (maybe not everyone's dream, but it was mine). I was chilled to the bone by the piercing winds that overwhelmed the pale sunshine of May, but as I walked along the winding road that leads from Piatra Fantanele—the Romanian name for the Borgo Pass—to the borders of Moldova and the Ukraine, I knew in my heart that my journey had come to a successful end. All through my travels, in the darkest moments of doubt and misgiving, I had sensed the spirit of Bram Stoker, or even—a few times—the restless ghost of Prince Vlad the Impaler, urging me to go on just a little further, to tell the stories of themselves that they no longer could. 30 Dec 2009 19:52:15 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/market/0912/footsteps-of-dracula-romania.html 6FF51AFE-7012-4E7B-87E6-943AF83A18C2 Three years after my first visit, Cartagena, Colombia hadn’t changed an iota, still sitting pretty in pastel as South America’s party carousel, honeymoon carousal, and emerald capital. First place I’ve ever returned to that remained an exact clone of its former self, eternal Cartagena, city of dizzying beaches, bays, canals, islands, and copious pulchritude in architecture, gemstones, and femininity. Think San Francisco with decent beaches, whisked to the Caribbean. There are half a dozen excellent excuses to go to Cartagena. The first is its indescribable beauty, unsuccessfully concealed by almost five miles of massive ten-foot-thick walls thirty feet high, inexorably boasting of treasures inside, perhaps emeralds. 30 Dec 2009 19:47:14 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0912/colombia-cartagena.html 7124387A-81FD-4D70-B1CD-1AE6223BA368 You’re thrilled to be pregnant! You’ve planned a shower, painted a nursery, and have begun choosing names. You are overjoyed to become a parent but as a traveler, you know that this may symbolize the end of packing up and taking off whenever you’d like. You may be worried that the start of your pregnancy means the end of your freedom. While your jet-setting lifestyle may temporarily cease, these is a solution to soothe your worries: Take a Babymoon! A babymoon is the last trip before the baby arrives. The Babymoon is becoming more popular for expectant couples. It is a time in which the future mother and father can de-stress and spend quality time together before two becomes three. 30 Dec 2009 19:46:19 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0912/babymoons.html A59275A8-5208-44B4-9627-D1A8E724BECD First of all, it’s pronounced kerr-EH-ta-row, with an emphasis on the second syllable. And it is a state in the center of Mexico, whose capital is Santiago de Querétaro, although everyone refers to it as simply Querétaro. This vibrant city is only a two-hour drive from Mexico City, which makes it a popular tourist destination for Mexicans. It has yet to capture the attention of the average American tourist, but I hope its new international airport will help change that. During our trip we took a walking tour of Santiago de Querétaro, visited a newly discovered archeological zone called El Cerrito, visited a Friexenet winery and camped at El Jabalí, an ecotourism campground. After a night in the mountains, we were whisked away to a gorgeous hotel in Bernal, which is known as a magical town and is featured in many classic Dolores Del Rio films. 30 Dec 2009 19:30:35 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0911/mexico-queretaro.html B5E4A7B9-FA89-4006-8B92-1152D2BBA3F5 Because I’ve spent almost three decades writing about tennis travel, the people I meet often ask, “What’s your favorite tennis resort?” The unspoken implication is that the favorite of someone who has literally visited hundreds of resorts must also be the best. And yet there are places I love that I would never recommend to friends, knowing that their needs and mine are totally different. A great resort for a hard-core tennis junkie like me, who relishes five hours a day of demanding group clinics, will seem like torture to a someone who merely wants to play matches, with perhaps a lesson or clinic on the side. The place I’d choose for a romantic weekend isn’t where I’d go if traveling alone or with kids. Budget influences my choices; so do the needs of those traveling with me. 30 Dec 2009 19:29:12 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0912/top-ten-tennis-destinations.html 8189C668-F645-4E71-9B91-D0855A3E9B0D There is a spirit of quirkiness in the Uruguay which seems to manifest itself at every opportunity. The hostel where I stayed was in a converted Colonial style building, painted bright blue and orange on the outside, with a spiral wrought iron staircase dominating the center of the room inside. Several of my fellow residents in the hostel were sitting on orange and black leather chairs in front of a blazing fire, happily playing on a couple of guitars. 30 Dec 2009 19:27:44 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0912/offbeat-uruguay.html 53A50F9A-4F22-4F54-9EC9-BA171D4CF42D The Northwest corner of Montana is a land of long drives, big mountains, and far-reaching plains. It’s also an outdoor adventurer’s dream: inversion clouds dump foot after foot of snow during the winter months, guaranteeing skiing and snowmobiling through mountain passes that the locals call ‘steep and deep.’ In the summer, hiking, biking, kayaking, and canoeing along one of the region’s many roaring rivers abound. There’s also a rustic charm here that binds every Montanan experience together, though – from a soak in natural hot springs to dinner at one of the state’s finest restaurants. Tall trees frame the roadways, menus include wild game dishes, and men in 10-gallon cowboy hats and plaid shirts belly up to the bars. 30 Dec 2009 19:26:44 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/food-and-wine/0912/glacier-country-montana-eating.html EC91B2B0-240D-41B2-8696-622A3E3BE68A Often, when visiting a city for a conference, popular event, or during that area’s peak travel season, it is difficult to find a vacant hotel room. Even if one is fortunate enough to find hotel accommodations the price may be outrageous, making it not even worth the money since so little time that will actually be spent there. Airbnb.com is a website that solves these two problems. Airbnb.com, or Air Bed and Breakfast is an online marketplace that allows anyone from private residents or commercial properties to rent out their extra space. After signing up and creating a member profile, one can search for accommodations or post a listing. A traveler can search by country, city, room type, or price. Unlike other sites that users can use to rent out couches or guest bedrooms, Airbnb.com has a diverse repertoire of accommodations. 16 Dec 2009 18:17:01 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/lodgings/0910/air-b-n-b.html C6587BAC-1C83-46E0-9274-D43A3CACE87C With a Tony Soprano meets Boris Yeltsin reputation, we were not sure what to expect after arriving in this legendary capital. With six-dollar Big Macs, midnight sunsets, a hundred brands of vodka in your local convenience store, muscled pistol-packing bodyguards, pin striped businessmen, all night dance clubs, and beautiful women right off the set of a 007 movie, Moscow is an intoxicating affront to your senses. Love it or hate it, this city is a digestible history lesson. Prolonging the paranoia practices of the old regime, it tentatively reaches out to tourists while bureaucratically imposing strict visa requirements. Teeming with history, intimidating, intriguing and impressive, this eroded super power is high on our list of traveler’s destinations, and certainly worth a visit. 10 Dec 2009 19:34:39 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0911/russia-moscow.html 4CB64EFA-ABFA-43F5-B382-4A0EFAA968F1 Winter is a holidaymaker’s favorite season for an escape to the unspoiled kingdoms of Austria and Switzerland. An outdoor paradise of strolling, skiing and moonlight sleigh rides await you in the Tyrolean capital of Innsbruck, while shopping, haute cuisine and rich spa experiences abound in Zurich. 8 Dec 2009 22:11:35 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0911/austria-switzerland-xmas.html 0EFB858E-34D6-499D-AB25-D3096BDC5511 The mountains across Kimbe Bay were on fire; perhaps it was the jet lag. Neither fire nor jet lag is the correct answer, I found as I rubbed my eyes more. It was just the perfect mix of rising sun, blue sea and towering mountains; a repeat performance happened the next day, New Britain Island in Papua New Guinea was the perfect place to begin my sojourn. Papua New Guinea is a world away from the world; it is just that simple. When I told my friends I was heading there, 98% had no idea where it was, and I wasn’t so sure myself. As I landed in the small prop at Hoskins Airport, I knew I was onto something special and on my arrival after a 45-minute drive to the Walindi Dive Resort it was confirmed, the perfect place to being my trip to PNG. Throngs of villagers waved as we sped by, a very friendly vibe. 7 Dec 2009 21:29:33 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0911/papua-new-guinea-one.html 9170C6CF-E32C-4A37-8810-1D94F3D6E9B8 "There is a parable of Western Ukraine about a man who was born in Austria, educated in Poland, who went to war in Ukraine, fled to Germany and was executed in the Soviet Union, and he did it all without ever leaving his village." It’s difficult to write about Ukraine without writing about history, and it’s difficult to write about Ukrainian history and still leave room for anything else. I want to write a travel essay. My parents were encouraged to visit Ukraine in the 1970s after a friend of theirs did so and suffered only a long interrogation by Soviet agents. The lady happened to run a hotel in New York’s Catskill Mountains, and her interrogators revealed their knowledge even of the price of pierogies at her hotel’s restaurant. 7 Dec 2009 21:28:11 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/reflections/0911/ukraine-skaskiw.html 21B5C89B-6DA9-44BA-9CD2-DA8E6F79AB76 Dead Goat Polo may not be the most charming name for a sport, but it certainly does what it says on the tin. Raiding and kidnapping the neighbouring village may no longer be as acceptable as it once was (though bride-napping remains in vogue), but in its place the Kyrgyz have a surrogate pastime that offers the same outlet for aggression and a similar showcase for horsemanship. Each weekend in summer, and on a number of special occasions, too, mounted armies up to 200 men strong go head to head in hundreds of valleys across Kyrgyzstan. Their battlegrounds of choice are long, flat pitches alongside the rivers, armour ranges from rugby skull caps to leather coats, weapons include whips and fists, and the stakes are high: clan pride and the carcass of a dismembered goat both hang in the balance. The weekend’s entertainment has begun. 4 Dec 2009 17:33:37 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0911/kyrgyzstan-goat-polo.html 9CC7837A-BD3C-4C55-A1DE-CD63C8C11D7C We are off to Auckland and then Wellington, New Zealand. It has been a day of packing and trying to remember everything, and accepting that things won't get done but will upon our return. One of the things on the itinerary that excited me the most was Nelson Helicopters. We'll soar in a chopper over mountains and land up there, and hike our way down. We will also take a ferry across the strip of ocean that divides the north and south islands. Sometimes it's rough, but our friend Gabrielle assured us that sometimes it's not. An adventure, no doubt! 2 Dec 2009 21:03:33 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0911/new-zealand.html E24A314C-13C9-444B-B315-68F1349BEFDC Located at the southern extreme of the Iberian Peninsular, the Rock of Gibraltar, famed gatekeeper of the Mediterranean, is one of the legendary Pillars of Hercules which, in AD 711, was the stepping-stone for the Muslim invasion of Europe. Given its location, a mere 14 miles from the North African mainland and on the doorstep of Spain’s Andalucia region (close to the cities of Granada, Seville and Cadiz) it is no surprise that this tiny British overseas territory attracts over eight million visitors each year. What is perhaps slightly harder to believe is that such a famous location measures only 2.5 square miles with a population of fewer than 30,000 Gibraltarians. With 300 days of sunshine a year and an almost uninterrupted coastline, you would be forgiven for thinking that Gibraltar was nothing more than a sun-soaked Mediterranean retreat. However Gibraltar is perhaps just as famous for its turbulent history as it is for its present. 27 Nov 2009 20:44:22 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0911/gibraltar.html 2C17B55A-0C4A-46F1-95FE-6E76BE602D8E It was sunny with cottony clouds as I strolled past the huge crowd at Buckingham Palace waiting for the Changing of the Guard. I had done that along with all the other London tourist attractions ten years ago. Today, I was a tourist on a different mission. I wanted to see a real thatched roof, and I knew there was one at the Globe Theatre, a re-creation of Shakespeare’s theatre that didn’t exist the last time I was in London. According to the map, I could get there by following the river path along the Thames. I planned to meander like the river, letting the day take me where it wanted, ending up at the Globe. 25 Nov 2009 19:57:43 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0911/london-rhymes.html#plaque 21A3DD08-5896-498E-8885-F780F7EF9796 Soon after we got married, my husband and I quit our jobs and hit the road. We traveled through eight countries in six months — Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. Since returning home, we’ve discovered that family, friends, and curious acquaintances ask the same questions again and again. One of those questions is … Did you fight? Of course. No couple can spend 180 days together without having at least one argument. We had many. Most were petty, but there was this one fight in Chile… 23 Nov 2009 20:30:26 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/reflections/0911/love.html D5C0848B-6235-49E2-80A0-E1A8AADA3B98 During the spring and summer months my weekends are occupied with photographing festivals. I live in Okinawa, Japan. For an island only about 65 miles long, it must have more festivals per capita than anywhere else on earth. A festival (matsuri in Japanese) here, is like any county fair; crowds by the thousands, popular music performed by live bands, vendors pushing their overpriced food and drinks, children’s rides and games of chance. Then, there’s the crowded parking, far from the action, and the traffic jams, just like anywhere USA, when it’s time to head home. 23 Nov 2009 20:29:50 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0911/japan-shinugu-festival.html C80E73B1-CDE9-4662-BC3E-BFBBE6C2F238 My Little Steamer is a compact, efficient steamer, using 850 watts of powerful steam to smooth out clothes. It only takes two minutes before steam is produced and you can start de-wrinkling. Its main purpose is for travelling and last-minute touch-ups. The Callpod Chargepod comes with a handy sack to hold all the electrical wires included to attach to appliances. Earpollution Plugz from Ifrogz are noise isolating ear plugs that come with three different sizes to fit you perfectly and provide a crisp sound. The Morphie Juice Pack Air is specifically designed for iPhones, 3G and 3GS, ensuring 100% compatibility and designed to constantly be charging your phone while protecting it in a light-weight hard case. iSkin Cell Phone Covers are precise fitting covers for your cell phone, iPod, iPhone or Balckberry. 23 Nov 2009 20:28:05 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/traveldesk/0910/gadgets.html 857A8B14-9036-4C76-9271-155911C98FB7 When my nephew Sunil and I visited the Sukh Mahal (Palace of Comfort would be the rough translation) at Bundi, the caretaker who opened the room filled with paintings told me (in Hindi), “This is where the Mowgli writer stayed.” I told him the writer’s name was Rudyard Kipling and the book that is associated with Bundi is Kim not The Jungle Book. But he told me firmly, “It was the Mowgli man who stayed here.” That is how Kipling is remembered in Bundi. Kipling is said to have got inspiration for writing Kim in Bundi (I have yet to read that book but it is now high on my agenda) and I can imagine why. The Phul Sagar Lake behind the Palace gets filled with lotus flowers in September. I have never seen so many lotuses at one place in my life. 23 Nov 2009 20:27:30 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0911/india-bundi.html 51891EF9-BD18-4378-9F47-038DBC882EED If you are traveling to other countries, you have probably been warned by your family and friends about malaria, e coli, and dengue fever, not to mention “tourist belly,” medically known as traveler’s diarrhea. As serious as these illnesses are — don’t let these warnings deter you from traveling. Dr. Stuart Rose board-certified emergency physician and owner/CEO of Travel Medicine, Inc, author of the first edition of the International Health Guide, and creator of website travmed.com has tips on how to stay healthy while traveling, even in the most high-risk countries and cities. Dr. Rose views travel medicine as having three legs. “Leg one: knowing how to stay healthy and what the risks are. Second leg: going to get shots and drugs. Third leg: the products we sell. I try to put it all together. Those are the important parts of travel medicine,” says Rose. 17 Nov 2009 21:47:56 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/traveldesk/0911/staying-healthy.html F526F58E-0F30-4D14-8918-99815C146DF9 Christmas shopping in Germany is a great way to experience the true gift of giving, and late fall is the perfect time to consider a trip to the Bavarian Alps to do so. Visitors can stroll merrily through illuminated streets, buy handmade decorations, sip sweet cider, even, take a spin on an old fashion carousel. Old town squares, medieval castles and authentic dining await your visit. Christmas Traditions in Munich There are dozens of theme-driven Christmas markets in Munich from the Kripperl (manger market) to the Medieval to the Tollwood Market of Ideas. By far, the most popular is Christkindlmarkt (Christ-child market) at the foot of the neo-gothic Rathaus (town hall) in the Marienplatz Square. 16 Nov 2009 21:20:28 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0911/germany-bavaria-xmas.html 9571E6B0-4982-43D1-A352-4276760D8543 Is anything really ageless? I think not. But “girlfriend,” is an ageless word. Your girlfriend could be eight or 80. A girlfriend isn’t necessarily a girl, she’s born of friendship, history, empathy and love. Happily, I have several girlfriends. I shared an escape weekend this summer with two in particular, Jody and Brigitte. We spent the weekend, “Where the Sun Shines Through the Mist,” the Indian meaning for the word, Temecula. Sixty miles north of San Diego and 90 miles southeast of Los Angeles is the Temecula Valley. Our busy lives allowed us just two days and one morning to explore the area. From about 10 am to 10 pm each day our itinerary was plump with, grapes, spas, oils and antiques and chatting, chatting, chatting… 13 Nov 2009 20:51:47 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/womens/0911/temecula-girls-getaway.html 0B299D19-EDBC-4816-92C7-EB4086438FEB I’ve been traveling on international trips about 10 times a year for the past five years. Since that time I’ve compiled the following tips that in most cases occurred to me after I wished I had thought of them. Below are some recommendations that will make your next trip easier and safer. 1. If you’re given a piece of paper by customs or somebody else with a uniform in the airport, save it in your wallet…even if you don’t know what it is. You will most likely be asked for it again on your way home. 2. Ask to sit in an aisle seat or in an exit row when you check in if you get antsy and anxious during a flight. Being able easily get up and move around when everyone is sleeping in the dark cabin can make you feel much better. 13 Nov 2009 20:51:01 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/traveldesk/0910/i-wish-i-thought-of-that.html D3B4A78C-77D7-4BD7-9026-A432FE0973CE Colin Legerton and Jacob Rawson engage in an anthropological journey of more than 14,000 miles to encounter and reveal the ethnic minorities of China. Legerton and Rawson report on hidden minorities -- their language, homes, cuisine, and school systems. The focal point is to reveal their opinions of Chinese Government Policy and Han culture. However, even one without knowledge or interest in Chinese history will find this an enticing read through the authors' immersion into the day-to-day lives and homes of these people through their journey. Revealing the history and public opinion of Chinese minorities through the current culture and systems produces an eye-opening read. 13 Nov 2009 20:49:58 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/market/0909/invisible-china.html D65D4C41-4E0D-40D7-ACA0-FB2C74C76241 Just a few tire rotations from the arid town of Cajobado along the island’s eastern most fringes, the road takes a sudden turn north and we’re almost immediately forced to gear down. Save for the occasional ’55 Cadillac and galloping horse with carriage in tow, Tabi and I are left alone to tackle the steep switchbacks one laborious pedal stroke at a time. Wending through and cresting the Sierra del Purial mountain range on its way to once isolated Baracoa on the north coast, the last bit of pavement of the La Farola road was laid down in the sixties and is widely considered the first great engineering feat of the Cuban revolutionary government. Surrounded by a world that has come alive with resplendent views of lushly overgrown hills that hold some of the richest biodiversity in the Antilles, it's clear this lauded road is taking us deep into a landscape on steroids. 9 Nov 2009 22:21:36 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/bicycle-tours/0911/cuba-biking.html 723DF130-32CA-4D05-B80D-14D7CEDA1363 Few people realize that the Lake Region (Los Lagos) in Southern Chile looks just like New Zealand. The environment shares the same rugged appearance from formidable mountains to icy glaciers to craggy fjords. But, if you’re like me and never been to Kiwi country, well then, Chile might win you over as the closer and more affordable destination. My travels include visiting temperate rainforests and world-class volcanoes, old-world Bavarian farms and indigenous tribes - all about 150 miles apart. It’s September in Chile, springtime in the Southern Hemisphere and the buds on the trees are popping. As in New York, the weather oscillates between 45-60 degrees with the constant smell of rain on the way. 9 Nov 2009 22:21:05 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0911/chile-lake-region.html F412F2B5-2D43-4663-BA0C-317A27B3EA31 After leaving the bustle of Boise, we cruise along State Highway 75, or the Sawtooth Scenic Byway, confronting miles and miles of high desert vegetation: the ubiquitous sagebrush. The landscape doesn’t change much, which puts us in a kind of trance. We pass by the town where my mother-in-law was born, barely stirring from the stupor in time to notice it. In just a couple of hours, we’ll be visiting with her and getting a taste of what she now calls home. The scent of dairy farms wafting through the cracked window and the sight of lava extending to the horizon suddenly begin to transform into the Wood River Valley near the foothills of the Pioneer Mountains. 9 Nov 2009 22:20:24 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0909/central-idaho.html 8A425CDB-C8DE-4A25-AEC5-FC2E1211F098 We had the pleasure of meeting Roz Savage when she rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in 2005. Now, at 41, Roz is back with more motivation and determination than ever. She has proven to be not only the ultimate nomad, exploring the world, and an avid adventurer by rowing the Atlantic solo in 2005, she is now taking on the other side of the world, the Pacific Ocean. 9 Nov 2009 22:19:45 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/transports/0909/roz-savage-update.html 0A6A70AC-C116-4EEE-A519-9DFED72DFB31 If you happen to run into James Pratt in some random hostel, he won’t immediately strike you as exceptional. He appears to be like any other 20- or 30-something backpacker you might meet in South America. But behind a Clark Kent-like quality, this unassuming Englishman has embarked on a Superman-like feat – he’s crossing the length of South America solely by bicycle. Since beginning the journey in Caracas, Venezuela, four months ago, James has clocked about 3,000km on the road, crossing a range of surroundings as diverse as the continent itself; everything from snow capped mountain ranges and lush jungle valleys to windswept deserts and coastal highways. 9 Nov 2009 22:18:24 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/bicycle-tours/0910/cycling-south-america.html B08C763E-DC7E-404E-ADE3-550EF6CFD3E2 Most people associate Cape Cod or Provincetown specifically with summer. Right now, you are most likely picturing days out in the hot sand swimming and fishing. You picture strolling down the busy, narrow Commercial Street waiting in long lines at shops and restaurants. Our first trip to Provincetown was in October. Visiting off-season, on a windy, drizzling Saturday, I obviously didn’t go swimming and didn’t lie out in the sun. As the rain rapidly increased on the long drive there, I got antsy wondering what would be there to do in the rain, in October. I mean what else is in Provincetown besides beaches? The answer turned out to be... everything! Yes, Provincetown really has something for everyone, whether it is the arts, biking, whale watching, or boating. Yet, no matter what you choose to do or not to do, there is one thing you can’t escape — Provincetown's open-minded community. “Everything goes, we are totally non-judging,” says Rick Valentino, a restaurant manager I met. The more time I spent and the more people I talked to, the more I began to really understand this concept. 9 Nov 2009 22:17:25 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0910/provincetown-off-season.html 6F8EA2A7-16F5-4170-A6C8-0F8C92855336 The Joby Gorillamobile is a lightweight flexible tripod designed to attach still and video cameras, mobile phones and other devices to any solid item. The X-Shot extender is a secure, extendable device that you can attach cameras to in order to take pictures from a longer distance. Consider it an extension of your arm; it telescopes to 37 inches, and closes to 9 inches. Joey Totes are a handy item to take with you when you travel. They are durable, long-lasting, easy to clean, strong, eco-friendly carrying bags that fold up into a small pouch which can fit anywhere, and they're ideal for carrying items you pick up while you're on vacation. The Shoul is a litghtweight wrap that fits comfortably over any type of clothing to give you just enough warmth without being bulky. Because of its design, it doesn't have to be adjusted or tied like a shawl. 9 Nov 2009 22:15:55 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/traveldesk/0910/travel-products.html B05128B5-41BA-4560-B3C7-23A16CF40294 Unlike some tourists, when I contemplate Switzerland, I don’t think of army knives, watches, the alps or secret bank accounts. I think of the late psychologist Carl Jung writing about alchemy — transmuting base metals into gold as a metaphor for personal and psychological transformation. I think of the macabre surrealist H.R. Giger, whose horrific biomechanical nighmarescapes have influenced morbid self-seekers for generations. I have no use for standardized guides, so before my infiltration of the Swiss countryside, I landed a used copy of Richard and Iona Miller's The Modern Alchemist: A Guide to Personal Transformation, a work utilizing some Jungian concepts. 30 Oct 2009 17:10:07 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0909/switzerland-giger.html F3E4664D-C666-4741-A34A-33FFFB4F3E0A Vacationland proudly proclaim the state license plates. “Lots of hikes with great views,” says my husband, Pinaki. For him, great views translate to great landscape photography. “The world’s finest lobster comes from Maine,” screams the headline of the website of the Maine Lobster Council. Enough already, I am hooked. Picking a warm weekend in July, we packed our bags and drove up to Maine. All the way up to northern New England from our home in Connecticut. 28 Oct 2009 18:59:11 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0910/maine-mount-desert-island.html 665A26F7-19A9-4BCE-9FFB-6E709AEA551B Immersion into a different culture is intellectually stimulating and forces you to examine your culture and your place in the world. Additionally, if you go to a non-English speaking country, your kids will get a head start on a second language. However, a year in a different country will provide your family with other less obvious benefits. Childhood is short, and if your family lives a modern fast-paced lifestyle, it will seem even shorter. During our year in France we were freed from our never-ending list of chores and obligations. Our life was simpler, and as a result we slowed down and spent a lot more time together as a family. 28 Oct 2009 18:58:01 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/family/0910/tips-for-living-abroad-with-kids.html CE8AA0E2-A178-41D3-A817-862FFFFA13FB Susan Van Allen describes the taste and experience of Micaela and Mamma Agata's cooking school. In Ravello, where life is more beautiful, we are given the taste of what life is like, not only through the foods, but through the history and culture. Van Allen's knowledge and love for Italy is expressed through cooking, with descriptions so vivid, one will feel as though they are present Van Allen presents a guide to Italy's many attractions including historic sites, museums, villas, gardens, cooking schools, spas, beaches, shopping, crafts schools, and opera companies. In these excerpts she describes cooking classes in Parma and Ravello. 28 Oct 2009 18:57:26 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/market/0908/places-every-woman-should-go-in-italy.html 47D2CCB1-55EC-4680-AAE7-A16C33A8FF3A Cuddled by the mountains of the state of Guerrero, Taxco is an attractive town known for its colonial architecture, steep and narrow cobbled streets, edged with whitewashed houses with red-tiled roofs, dominated by the stately and towering 250-year old Santa Prisca and Santa Sebastian Church, carrying the name of two saints. The Aztecs first founded the city, built on the side of a mountain, which they called Tlacho (the place of the ballgame) and it was re-founded by the Spaniards in the early 16th century. 28 Oct 2009 18:56:30 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0910/mexico-taxco.html 199DAB52-0352-42B7-ABC6-1CF3A557FF1C Like an annoying metronome, the wipers slap in time to Michael Buble’s rendition of Come Fly With Me as they clear the fresh cache of snow from our windshield. “What’s with this?” I say to my husband who’s sitting next to me in the driver’s seat of our rented Chevy. “I thought we’d be escaping this white stuff.” Although not crooning like Buble, I had ironically suggested this very idea to him a few weeks earlier. “Let’s ditch BC’s wet west coast and take off for some higher and drier ground. Santa Fe would fit the bill.” 28 Oct 2009 18:55:14 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0910/new-mexico-santa-fe.html A6C0D21E-CAB5-44C9-B13E-105D7F0A06AC When you Google 'intrepid solo women's travel,' they should have a picture of Isabella Bird. I have been reading her book about Colorado, which she visited in the 1870s, but she also visited Australia, Hawaii, Japan, China, Vietnam, Singapore, India,Tibet, Turkey, Persia, Kurdistan, Baghdad, Tehran, China, Korea, and Morocco. In later life, she used the celebrity status she had attained to found not one but two hospitals in India. The following excerpts are from A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains. The book is a trifle slow-going at the beginning, but it winds up galloping away with you. 28 Oct 2009 18:54:31 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/historic-travel/0910/isabella-bird.html 6FF2ABDC-70FB-4BD5-94C8-D8B3E2DED22A Brazil is more than carnival in Rio de Janiero, crowded beaches in Sao Paolo and Amazon River cruises. There are quiet corners to this vast country where immigrants from across the sea have recreated a little bit of home. Santa Catarina is one of those places. European Influence The province (about an hour’s flight south of Sao Paolo) was settled by Europeans – primarily Italians and Germans – and their influence remains strong. In Pomerode, for example, where almost all of the original settlers in the 19th Century came from Germanic Pomerania, 90% of the population still speaks German. In nearby Blumenau, one of the best-known industries is beer production using traditional German methods (you can tour the Eisenbahn brewery as well as the city’s historic museum of beer-making). Each year, the residents don German costumes and celebrate Oktoberfest, even though in Brazil – because it’s in the Southern Hemisphere -- the celebration takes place in the spring instead of harvest time. The factory in Blumenau producing hand-crafted glass is called Di Murano (after the famous Italian island outside Venice known for its glass). Its studio is open to visitors, who can watch glassmaking in action –and then buy something wonderful to take home. 20 Oct 2009 21:37:41 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0904/brazil-santa-catarina.html DDA24CF9-E0E9-4B52-BDB1-666CC3F08090 Samos is a Greek island located in the northeastern Aegean Sea and a 1 ½ hour ferry ride from the Turkish port of Kusadasi, which was our starting point. According to Greek mythology, Samos was the birthplace of Hera, the long suffering wife of Zeus, and she was particularly worshipped on the island. Samos is very green and very mountainous. Mount Kerkis is actually the highest mountain in the North Eastern Aegean Sea. You’ll also find lovely beaches, bays, villages, historical sites and hotels to suit any budget. The capital of Samos, where the ferry docks, is located on the eastern shore and called Vathy. 20 Oct 2009 21:36:52 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/womens/0908/samos-greece-history.html BAE698D7-B9C3-453E-8E39-15BDC9F9A89B Sadly, the Bronx is often at the bottom of any traveler's New York list. A full week's worth of vulcanized rubber hardly dents most of Manhattan's must sees and the farthest most visitors make it from Gotham is the west part of Brooklyn. But for a certain type of traveler, possibly the kind who would gleefully burn a Lonely Planet, the Bronx might just be the place to be. This is for the Bronx that never makes the guidebooks. The South Bronx: the Bronx that burned, the cradle of hip-hop, the childhood playground of Colin Powell, Al Pacino and J-Lo. 20 Oct 2009 21:36:04 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0910/new-york-south-bronx.html FA372D4E-CF1B-4D7D-88ED-23257CA4EFD8 A page with links to all of GoNOMAD's stories about Chile 20 Oct 2009 21:35:15 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/countries/chile.html 79E55712-C3B6-41D4-84AA-75A16EDE66EA A page with links to all of GoNOMAD's stories about Argentina 20 Oct 2009 21:34:32 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/countries/argentina.html 4A119CE6-EBF7-409A-AFC4-F37FB376C3E6 Continuing south after our visits to Huntsville and Birmingham, we rolled into the capital of Alabama, Montgomery. Founded in 1819 when the two rival towns of NewPhiladelphia and East Alabama Town merged, Montgomery became the state capital in 1846. The long list of historic events that took place here justifies their slogan: “Courageous… Visionary… Rebellious.” Whether you’re interested in the Civil War or Civil Rights, Shakespeare, Country Music or Baseball, you’ll find it in Montgomery. 16 Oct 2009 16:05:51 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0910/alabama-montgomery.html D5F33FFB-6125-4F35-B429-1D7D21A40451 David Byrne is a musical innovator who was the catalyst behind the Talking Heads, one of the most influential bands of the '70s and '80s. He has collaborated with musicians from around the world, and in this new book, he provides succinct commentary on the state of the world learned from his many travels on the saddle of a bike. This book has a wonderful flow; he easily moves from Buenos Aires, to Manila, to New York, observing things like how buildings look and what local musicians are saying, and the pace is rapid, like a bike ride. Here is Byrne's opening to the book, setting out his agenda to transform cities that are bike-unfriendly to something a little more civilized. 16 Oct 2009 16:04:44 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/market/0909/bicycle-diaries.html 8934CACF-C514-4164-A946-2A0E86CD5EA2 Galveston is one of those destinations where there really is something for everyone. I happen to love those parts of America where the culture was shaped by other nationalities like the Dutch in New York or the French in New Orleans. In Galveston you can really feel the grandeur of Spain, most notably in the Hotel Galvez that fronts boldly on the Gulf of Mexico, named for Governor Bernardo de Galvez, one of the most interesting characters in the history of the Gulf Coast. I also love historic American architecture, and Galveston's position as the commercial center of the Gulf in the late 1800s led to the building of block after block of magnificent Victorian mansions. More than 2,000 buildings in Galveston are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. But that's just me. Galveston is a great destination for all kinds of reasons. But don't take my word for it. Ask the five million people who come here every year. There are miles and miles of beautiful beaches, possibly the best birding and fishing in the world (FDR came here to fish for ten days), as well as surfing, sailing, kayaking, shopping, antiques, art galleries, fine dining, you name it. 16 Oct 2009 16:03:41 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0909/texas-galveston.html 564F0A6C-B29A-4539-B021-CC8304CE32B9 Ouro Preto, means “Black Gold” a reference to the black iron oxide covered gold nuggets found in the Tripui River in the late 1600s that led to Brazil's greatest gold rush. In its glory during the 17th century it was the richest city in Brazil and the capital of the state. It is impossibly beautiful. Red roofed meticulously-preserved colonial houses, some painted bright pastel colors roll up and down the hills of the town that are topped by gold-laden churches. Thick cobblestones cover the steep winding roads. I am struck by the shear “weight” of the town and the amount of labor it must have taken to build it in such an extreme environment. 12 Oct 2009 17:55:02 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0910/minas-gerais-brazil.html F2EC16DE-6F1E-47AE-9B3D-788E98F49DEC The Bougmez Valley I’d seen described as “the best-kept secret in Morocco.” Admittedly, this was something I’d read in the Lonely Planet Guide to Morocco, and Bougmez is also mentioned at least briefly in a number of other guidebooks. But no two guidebooks even spell the name the same way – which I thought was a promising sign. And until fairly recently there was no paved road to the valley, so it was plausible that this was still an unspoiled Shangri La. I was eager to see if Ait Bougmez really was “nature’s answer to Prozac,” as the Lonely Planet described it. 9 Oct 2009 18:22:37 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0910/morocco-bougmez.html 75AEEC75-8B9E-4F62-AC8A-7C260C1FDB26 A trip to Nova Scotia involves a good deal of driving. When you get to The Cabot Trail, the driving pays off. Nova Scotia, the most populous of Canada’s Maritime Provinces, resembles an italic lowercase i on a map. With the Bay of Fundy on its west coast, the waters of the Atlantic Ocean on the Eastern Shore, the i shape of Nova Scotia gets its dot from Cape Breton Island. The province is easily reached by the high-speed CAT Ferry from Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine, a "super ship" with movie theaters, a casino, and other on-board amenities. 7 Oct 2009 21:48:25 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/features.html 9F635278-6C70-4EAF-B4D0-E67373380080 We flew up north and arrived in Iquique, a mining town of 200,000 right on the Pacific coast, and practically in the Atacama desert. More than 20,000 here work in giant copper, salt and other mines, the men work 10 days in a row with four off. The jobs are coveted and passed down from father to son. It rains about two millimeters a year, so restaurants like El Tercer Ojito don't need any real roofs. "When it rains, it's just a piffle," said Cristina. By the beach, we saw an entire gym set up outside with no roof. Water of course is very scarce here in this arid climate, and it comes from faraway rivers and lakes. The talk of the city is how they want to force the big mining firms to pay for desalinization plants as they do in Antofagasta, Chile's second largest city. 7 Oct 2009 21:47:02 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0909/iquique-chile.html 023001A3-334C-4B12-B452-F8FE30C797DB The decay is enchanting and matches the heat, not subtle, nothing about Salvador, Brazil is. It is a long way from the now comparatively polished streets of Rio and I am grateful for it. Just steps from my luxury hotel is a one time-convent. My eyes blink repeatedly; the bright morning unveils a city that is used. It alternates between obscene and heavenly. The young boy passed out in the street is unnoticed by the traditionally dressed female drummers, the polar opposite. This was also a feature of my trip up through the Pernambuco State: opposites making for one great trip. Busy building in Recife and slow paced beach life in Porto de Galinas; the colonial splendor of Olinda and the growing beach resorts up north. One stand-out feature of my journey was smiles, just so many smiles, which in itself was worth everything. 6 Oct 2009 17:51:55 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0909/brazil-salvador-recife.html B289E9A4-235B-45DA-9A9A-BCA88A83C0A1 You would think that it wouldn’t be that hard to spot an auburn-haired orangutan in a tree. But it is. No sooner had I dumped my bag at the lodge on the Kinabatangan River than river guide Nelson hurried me into a waiting boat to head down river before dusk. Fifteen minutes later Nelson cuts the boat’s engine, nods to the left and shushes everyone. I try to follow his line of vision, but disappointingly couldn’t see anything. Finally I see him, an adult male, hanging by one arm and chowing down on a handful of leaves in the afternoon sun. He is calm, quiet and watchful. I sit there amazed staring up at him in deferential silence. Only a flock of hornbills taking flight across the river breaks the stillness and quickly returns me to reality. A Long-Lost Relative The most impressive thing when you get up close to an orang-utan is how similar we humans are to them. Everything about them feels familiar. Weirdly, I felt like I was staring at some long-lost relative. 6 Oct 2009 17:50:25 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0909/malaysia-orangutans.html CD420985-D971-48A8-B52D-054FBDE3765D We didn’t have much money, we didn’t have much time, and we were going to one of the most expensive cities in the world. It was hectic but fun; and finding ways to keep the costs down was a challenging mission - but we accomplished it. Getting There The three of us split the flight and the hotel, and we each paid about $650 US for four nights and a return flight from Seoul. We were in a great location called Shinjuku (right off the Tochomae stop on the Oedo subway line, and near to the Shinjuku stop on the JR line Yamanote) and the hotel was called Shinjuku Washington Hotel. The hotel had least ten restaurants, a sauna bath, nice, clean, simple rooms, and some great bars; one of which sold beers from around the world in a more comprehensive way than I have ever seen. The hotel had a three-star rating and Shinjuku proved to be close to many attractions that we enjoyed thoroughly. 6 Oct 2009 17:48:56 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/transports/0909/japan-tokyo-subway.html A10DD4D7-7ABE-4B20-A59A-8D202D9C0BE2 There is no doubt about it – the best snorkeling and diving in the world is in Raja Ampat. This west Indonesian archipelago contains more marine bio-diversity than anywhere else in the world – more fish, more corals. In 2002, The Nature Conservancy conducted a scientific survey of the Raja Ampat Islands to collect information on its marine ecosystems, mangroves and forests. The survey brought Raja Ampat’s total number of confirmed corals to 537 species — an incredible 75 percent of all known coral species. 25 Sep 2009 18:18:43 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0909/indonesia-raja-ampat.html A7B0604B-8E39-4FB5-8F44-6654FBBCD685 An unexpected surge of patriotism overcomes me as the Union Pacific steam locomotive pulls into the depot. Music plays, banners wave, the arriving faces beam from the train’s open windows. The sky is crystal clear, the sun strong - all the makings of a festive opening for Cheyenne’s Frontier Days. Passenger rail service to Cheyenne ended in 1971, making today’s arrival a special event. For a while, some of the passengers will poke around the renovated depot, where vendors of Western crafts have set up for the rodeo’s ten-day duration. 25 Sep 2009 18:17:51 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0909/wyoming-cheyenne.html 941C689F-052F-4486-8A74-76D7FBF75BC9 Learning vacations are now more popular than ever; from Thai cooking schools to studying Spanish in Guatemala to practicing meditation in India. But how about somewhere a little closer to home and a place you can still get a rich cultural experience as well? The answer: The John C. Campbell Folk School. Whether it’s mountain dulcimer, digital photography, or quilting, you will find something of interest among the 860 courses offered. Located in the scenic hills of western North Carolina, the school, a registered non-profit situated on a serene 300-acre property in the hamlet of Brasstown, specializes in courses rooted in the traditions of southern Appalachia. But it offers a fine selection from other cultures of the world as well. I initially made the trip to Brasstown for a week-long Southeast Asian cooking course. 25 Sep 2009 18:16:40 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/alternatives/0909/john-campbell-folk-school.html F39C472E-3A69-4BBA-85F3-2F3A7ACE8EF6 From Connecticut, it took us almost five hours to reach Stowe, a classic Vermont village. Driving through Vermont, the irony hit me. Vermont’s fall foliage and ski-slopes have overshadowed its summer; its quaint towns have stolen the spotlight from its rugged summits. I was glad that my husband’s passion for hiking helped me discover a side of Vermont not known to many. We had booked a room for Saturday night at Fiddler’s Green Inn in Stowe. We got special summer rates and the fun of choosing our room. We picked one with a crooked ceiling overlooking a babbling brook. 25 Sep 2009 18:15:53 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0909/vermont-mt-mansfield.html 964B86AD-35E0-41C6-892C-DC6590E8E03C Across the largest land mass in the world, powerful and deadly empires once ruled. Genghis Khan shook up most of the continent by paving a ruthless path of destruction that stretched from China to eastern parts of Europe. Since then, the land and its people have been exploited by relentless wars, power-hungry tyrants and the Communist regime. But what maps and the media fail to highlight in modern, post-Soviet times, Jeffrey Tayler brings into the limelight with his new book Murderers in Mausoleums. Tayler begins his travels in Moscow and moves through the forgotten lands of Central Asia, ending in Beijing. 25 Sep 2009 18:14:54 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/market/0909/murderers-in-mausoleums.html B99CBAEB-7F1B-420C-BC2C-4FA346487C37 I’d hopped into the last available seat in a 16-passenger van leaving Qax, Azerbaijan, between a four-foot high granny and a couple of newly-weds. The newly-weds, though cruising the second day of their honeymoon, managed to momentarily untangle themselves for introductions, offering anglicized names of Pat and Rusty. As I looked around the van it seemed full of quiet and sedate people, all bound for Tbilisi, the capital of a brand new country, for me: Georgia, recently bloodied by a slam-bang war with Russia, which excluded the possibility it might be a familiar part of the U.S.A. After a tedious border crossing into Georgia, Rusty magically produced a bottle of Georgian wine, twirling it to catch the light: full-bodied purple. 16 Sep 2009 23:08:19 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0909/georgia-wine.html F28EF3B1-7051-4D2E-BB19-AFC1507570F6 There are few things more frustrating than being confined to a beach apartment in Brittany, France, growing plump on French wine and tiny lemon tarts. OK, so the lethargy was amazing, but that’s not the point. When my company sent me to Lorient, France for two weeks on a very important mission, I puffed with pride. Of course I could manage just fine with my little French knowledge. No problem. After completely confusing my co-workers’ affectionate cheek kisses for sexual assault, drinking sour cream which I thought was milk, and entirely confused with the geography of the area, I decided I could not waste my single night in Paris on the return journey. I had dawdled and fumbled enough. 16 Sep 2009 23:07:50 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/tours/0909/paris-in-context.html 9902C5F6-B06C-47B5-BC02-BA95B38ECC2B Despite its English roots, St. Francisville oozes Southern charm. One of the first things you’ll notice as your car pulls into town is the Spanish Moss. It drips from nearly every tree and shrub around. If you’ve never seen it before, which as a Yankee girl I hadn’t outside of movies, the moss is almost eerie. It’s harmless, however, to humans and trees alike. And the longer I spent in St. Francisville, the more I stared to believe that it was the moss, with its dingy gray color, that was responsible for the hush in the air. It seemed to filter the sun’s brightest rays and everything in its presence felt soft and shadowed. 11 Sep 2009 18:48:33 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0909/louisiana-st-francisville.html 2764993C-BEE7-436E-8905-4662A7541A58 Clean Breaks: 500 New Ways to See the World, from Rough Guides describes 500 eco-friendly adventures all over the world including homestays in Native American tipis, expeditions to watch the zebra migration in Botswana, sleeping in houseboats in India or riding with cowboys in Venezuela. Richard Hammond says he and co-author Jeremy Smith chose "the kind of holidays that get under the skin of a destination while genuinely benefitting local communities." "It is often about focusing on the uniqueness of the destination, staying in family-run hotels, visiting local markets and festivals, and hiring local guides so that their tourism dollars benefit the destination." 11 Sep 2009 18:47:42 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/market/0908/green.html A52A42C2-2F6F-495E-8911-C7BCFF03E748 A new travel social networking website, Go-Lo.net was launched August, 2009. The site, created by David Paul Appell, president and co-founder of EnLinea, designed the site to allow travelers, travel writers and tourism professionals a forum to exchange ideas about media, cheap hotels, airfare, and travel opportunities along with current events. Appell told GoNOMAD, “A fresh new way for travelers and experts to interact, Go-Lo breaks down the traditional barriers that have stood between travelers and travel journalist, publicists, agents, venders, and anyone else with good, actionable info.” 11 Sep 2009 18:46:59 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/traveldesk/0909/go-lo-travel-networking.html 2EF71CA4-0866-4086-B924-80E7A589B2D8 The island of Djerba, floating off the southeast coast of Tunisia, is a popular destination for relaxing in a traditional hammam, grilling your body on a sandy beach or haggling over handmade Andalusian pottery. Few realize that only a few miles away is one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world; some say it dates back 2,500 years to time of King Nebuchadnezzar. A Joyous Sound Covering my head with a white cotton hoodie and tossing my sandals atop a growing pile of shoes, I listen as a fantastic cocktail of sounds comes from inside the oldest synagogue in North Africa. 9 Sep 2009 15:48:08 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0909/tunisia-djerba-festival.html 966E1CCE-7CDA-475F-BB99-732728B6BE35 Second-timers are smart guys. They have this been-there-done-that attitude and seldom care for repeating their first experience. Who would be interested in the same old attractions if you have already taken pictures of them during your first visit? I think it’s this common psychological phenomenon, which largely explains why second-timers tend to extend their experience or pursue new directions and unbeaten paths. It’s Cool to Have Friends in London A good friend of mine, who now works and lives in London, was so kind that she invited me to this wonderful city for the second time this April. Either she forgot how it felt to have guests at home for a week, or missed my enthusiasm about exploring London, but there I was, at Heathrow airport, having to buy my Oyster card again. 8 Sep 2009 17:17:39 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0909/london-second-time.html 71F03028-2258-46DD-A05A-8BA292DD9C7C For decades, scores of public figures who shaped South American history and culture have passed through or made their home in the Chilean port-city of Valparaíso; people like revolutionary-turned-pop-culture icon Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, Chilean Nobel Prize winning poet Pablo Neruda, and even military dictator Augusto Pinochet. However, none of these prominent people match the personality of Valparaíso itself. Visitors will stumble upon the identity of this gritty yet richly historic port city most easily when travelling at ground level. Touring Valparaíso on foot is the best way to encounter everything from the grand historic buildings down to the lowliest hot dog stand surrounded by locals enjoying 'completos,' - hot dogs smothered in a thick layer of mashed avocado. 8 Sep 2009 17:17:04 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0909/chile-valparaiso.html 8FD6F3B8-78EA-43A3-9D6F-0EE528DF38AE Canada has always remained a mystery to me. It is rarely mentioned in politics, history or just in good old banter. Kind of like the quiet kid who sits in the back of the class that you suddenly find so alluring. My Aunt invited me to stay with her at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal for a few days while she attended a convention. I figured this was a true opportunity to dig down as deep as I could to answer the question that has been haunting me: What is it with Canada? I awoke bright and early to meet Claire-Marie Lavoie, a tour guide from the Infotouriste Centre who would be showing me around the best parts of the city via van. 3 Sep 2009 15:46:13 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/womens/0907/montreal-je-ne-sais-quois.html 9ADFDA3F-10C6-42C6-9C04-23E85DF7C026 spent my summers by the sea. Always, a beach, a dock and a longing to be out in a boat followed me each successive summer as I joined family and friends at our family vacation home in Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard or later, the Jersey Shore. My grandmother used to belong to the Chappaquiddick Beach Club, and one of the swell things about this club is the big dock that allowed members to come over to the club by small boat. I sat on that dock for hours, watching with envy the Boston Whalers and other small motorcraft that zipped in and out, piloted by grinning young men or bikini-clad teen girls. Oh how I wanted to be in that driver’s seat. Fast forward 35 years, and I’m waking up after spending the night on the bridge of a 42’ Krogen trawler yacht owned by the friends of a friend. When my pal Jack asked me if I’d like to rendezvous with Denny and Laraine and spend a few days on their boat off the coast of Chappaquiddick, it didn’t take me a second to say yes. 3 Sep 2009 15:43:59 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/transports/0908/cruising-the-mass-coast.html C38B8335-0EE7-41CC-9B15-C2715EA3DD57 Boston stands proud as the birthplace of the American Revolution and the present day hotbed of art, education and culture. For baseball fans, the city offers a taste of Red Sox history at Fenway Park. With so much to see and do, we set off early in an effort to reach Boston by 9 a.m. Our primary intention was to walk along Boston’s scenic harborwalk, which has been constructed to provide easy access to the Harbor and connect the waterfront neighborhoods. Some parts of it are still undergoing extension. 3 Sep 2009 15:43:10 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0908/massachusetts-boston-waterfront.html 15417ED0-6DAD-4BB7-8B69-82CEADBD0793 When I heard about Overlook Farm in Rutland, Massachusetts (about an hour-and-a-half due west of Boston), and the chance to spend three days there during goat kidding season, when the female goats give birth, I thought it would be a great chance to see if I really liked goats, up close and personal. Overlook Farm is operated by the charity Heifer International as a “learning center,” meaning that its main focus is providing educational opportunities to learn about world poverty, hunger, and sustainable agriculture. My now-husband and I had “bought a goat” through Heifer each of the past several years, and as donors we receive their magazine, where I originally read about the goat kidding program. 3 Sep 2009 15:42:13 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/womens/0908/kidding-goats.html 491BEC54-5A31-4385-9140-C6A3FA659A5B TravelMuse is a website, launched about a year ago, co-founded by Kevin Fliess and Eric Wood based on finding a solution to the travel planning space and helping people to find inspiration and ideas on where to travel. TravelMuse is free to use. No more pricy travel agents. “We make money through advertising and a revenue share on bookings (air, hotel, car and packages) made through our anchor partner, World Choice Travel, a Travelocity company,” Said Fiona Ashley, Director of Marketing of TravelMuse. The TravelMuse is a start-up company that empowers people to imagine, experience and share their travel ideas. The TravelMuse planner helps you quickly create a personalized trip, even multiple trips at once all through one window on your browser. This may sound like any other booking website offering choices of hotels and rental cars with flights, but TravelMuse is much more than just hotels and rental cars. 3 Sep 2009 15:41:06 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/traveldesk/0908/TravelMuse.html 4314A269-B4BE-4122-9EB3-4618729458EC When planning a recent trip to England our goal was “cheap and cheerful,” as they say. Frequent flyer miles and a business trip brought the six of us across the Atlantic and our British relatives suggested we meet on the Isle of Wight. It sounded ideal, in addition to beach activities we could look forward to biking and hiking. Generally when we travel together we rent a self-catering cottage, but with only four nights on the island, off the southern coast of Britain, a cottage was not an economical option. Hotels and B&Bs seemed too confining for our group of 10 and this was not the time or place to explore camping. Eureka a yurt! Just weeks before we were set to leave the US, still undecided about lodging, we received a message from our relatives suggesting that we look at the website of The Really Green Holiday Company. “They do yurts,” they said. 26 Aug 2009 19:57:50 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/lodgings/0908/yurt-holiday-on-the-isle-of-wight.html 98B5671E-C4C2-46B6-B55F-86633ECEF6E5 If Znojmo were any more anonymous, the Federal Witness Protection Program would stash all their people here. In fact, it would not surprise me to discover Jimmy Hoffa running the pension next to our hotel. Not even mentioned in the Lonely Planet guide, Znojmo is an inconspicuous and little visited destination apart from the trendy and popular towns of Prague and Cesky Krumlov. Three hours south of Prague, and an hour and a half north of Vienna, this spotless village in the Czech Republic territory of Moravia flirts with its neighbor Austria in the midst of a burgeoning wine industry, content with neglect and comfortable being overlooked as a tourist stopover. Arriving by bus from the Czech town of Brno, we were captivated with our first sighting of Znojmo (pronounced ‘Zaw No Way Moe’). The dominant church spire of St. Nicholas Church overlooks the terra cotta roofs of the village below, as they appear to be kneeling in homage during worship at a Sunday Mass. 26 Aug 2009 19:56:57 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0908/znojmo-czech-republic.html 3C4EE4A6-FF4B-433C-858E-31E239EFF46A When someone asked me about my favorite moment of the Calgary Stampede in Alberta Canada, I was at a loss. Ten days for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth is not enough to breathe in the beauty and excitement of the Canadian Wild West. Was it seeing the broncos burst out of their bucking chutes, feeling their wild energy and urge to run? Was it listening to the tales of the talented Chuckwagon riders behind the scenes as they prepared for a night of timing and skill unmatched in the rodeo world? Perhaps it was the brilliance of the Grandstand Show with its state of the art fireworks and 1600-pound Wheel of Death? Or the ultra-green ScrapArtsMusic quintet’s athletic, theatrical performance that uses industrial scrap to supply their eclectic sound? 26 Aug 2009 19:56:20 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0908/calgary-stampede.html AF678572-47E4-4845-947D-84BB8242F1E1 To explore Urbino today takes stamina as its narrow streets wind up and down the hills, but the rewards are great visually and the feel of an old town palpable. At night it is hard to feel like you live in these fast paced days; your pulse slows and steps shorten. In between twin humps of a hill is the Piazza della Republica; sitting at an outdoor café will certainly set the stage for a Marche mindset. The mindset will come in handy at the nearby village of Urbania on the fast flowing Metauro River. The Castel Durante is huge and dates from the 13th century. The name of the city was changed in 1636 when Pope Urban VIII took over the land and brought them into the Papal States. It is however on the arcaded streets that life in a Marche village unfolds; ice cream shops and cafes are interspaced with shops carrying the local ceramic works. If you're in a macabre mood behind the altar of the Chiesetta dei Morti in Via Ugolina are a dozen leathery mummified corpses, one with multiple stab wounds… shades of Urbania CSI. 19 Aug 2009 21:30:08 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0908/italy-marche.html 0A9F6DA7-415B-4082-8DCD-E93B90325271 Chefchaouen is a magical dreamscape of a place, occupying the saddle between two peaks in the Rif Mountains of northern Morocco. Houses, stone walls, alcoves, arches, streets, are all covered in whitewash tinted a shimmering iceberg blue. Doors, sashes, ornate iron balconies and window grilles are painted in shades from cobalt to aquamarine. The Spanish Influence This lends the winding streets and stairs an underwater feeling -- as if a Greek village had been relocated to the bottom of the sea. In fact, Chaouen, as it is locally known, is in many respects a Spanish town, having been settled by Moorish refugees fleeing the Inquisition. Christians were banned from entering the town until 1920, when Spanish troops occupied Northern Morocco. One of the three who tried to sneak in, an American missionary, was poisoned. 19 Aug 2009 21:29:20 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0908/morocco-chefchaouen.html C91E443D-7163-4EE0-B144-70321CDFA59E editor's note: Erik Gauger is the founder of Notes from the Road, one of GoNOMAD's favorite websites, which is known for its extraodinary landscape photographs. Jennifer Bellenoit recently caught up with Eric and asked him about the evolution of his photography and his website.] 14 Aug 2009 22:39:20 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0908/erik-gauger-notes-from-the-road.html A65CD17A-6201-4AEB-BBB7-2EEAED0FA401 In Thailand I took refuge in the northeast in a region known as Isan, where the people taught me how to sit like a Thai and then as a monk, how to walk like monk. In a rural Buddhist temple I learned the art of stillness without the aid of television and from some very fine monks I learned that there is still an awful lot of grace and beauty in this world if we are willing to see it, but more importantly if we are wiling to fully engage ourselves. My experiences did not result in my transformation, or enlightenment in the Buddhist sense. That would take more than a year anywhere, Buddhist temple or otherwise. It did teach me that spirituality and knowing ones purpose in life is an incredibly difficult journey on an unmarked path. 14 Aug 2009 22:38:25 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/market/0907/sons-of-isan.html 2845880C-5152-40EF-A163-4289B82BA0C8 Some of the most beautiful places in the world come with a history of civil injustice, often masked by the tourist industry. Lucy Popescu has worked with English PEN’s Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) from 1991 to 2006. She also writes for Tribune and has a monthly column in Literary Review called “Silenced Voices.” Her most recent book The Good Tourist includes accounts of human rights violations, violence and civil unrest in countries ranging from Mexico to Australia to the United States. It is a different kind of travel guide; the most attractive attributes of the country are still highlighted in the beginning, but a brief but passionate overview of the tumultuous history of the country is included. The book makes it clear that travelers, as human beings, have a responsibility to educate themselves on the different problems that persist in the world. The chapters are divided by country. At the end of each chapter, Popescu provides reading suggestions as well as steps that you can take to help make a difference. Below are some excerpts from her new book 14 Aug 2009 22:37:37 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/alternatives/0907/good-tourist-ethical-traveler-guide.html 9AC2624F-5923-4D7E-943A-50DD864CA795 After an action-packed visit to Huntsville, we moved on to the largest Alabama city, Birmingham. It’s known as the “Magic City” because it grew so fast after being founded in 1871 as an iron and steel production center. The 56-foot tall statue of Vulcan, the Roman god of metalwork, is the largest cast iron statue in the world and it makes a great first stop if you’re visiting Birmingham because you get a panoramic view of the city and there’s a museum that gives you a quick overview of Birmingham’s history as an industrial center, a focal point for the Civil Rights movement and its new incarnation as a center for medical technology and research. 14 Aug 2009 22:36:33 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0908/alabama-birmingham.html 9CBAB766-01EA-46BB-B6E3-A91803A8798D Some might say a “family-vacation” is an oxymoron. A friend told me once a family vacation isn’t a vacation, it’s a trip. With limited resources and time you really can’t afford to have a vacation that doesn’t feel like one. So the biting of nails and gnashing of teeth that usually comes with planning your family vacation, is completely reasonable. The trick is to create the overlap in your itinerary–things that kids and parents will both enjoy. And I believe a successful family vacation is based on the overlap being at least 50 percent. I’d say the other 25 percent is for them, the kids, and the remaining 25 percent is for us, Mom and or Dad. Visiting Toronto, there is plenty to do that falls into the overlap category. My son, James, and I spent about four days there sampling a typical family vacation. We were shown a variety of family friendly venues and attractions that were interesting and fun for both of us. 14 Aug 2009 22:35:38 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/family/0908/toronto-for-families.html 730196EB-1292-4D62-B80B-38272AD2DA5A Scratch beneath the surface of Laos’ burgeoning tourist scene, and you will see a country suffering with poverty and inequality. Charlotte Halligan discovers how micro-credit is changing lives for poor women across Laos.] I find myself in a rural Lao village surrounded by 15 women. They are all different ages; mothers, daughters, grandmothers, even babies. Their language is completely alien to me; I strain to understand but I only grasp a few numbers in their exotic tonal tongues. But I don’t need to understand what they’re saying to understand that they’re excited. The women hold up and pass round different cottons, fabrics and intricately embroidered silk. Their sing-song voices clamber over each other, reaching a deafening crescendo which descends into near hysterical laughter. Notable is the complete absence of any men. This is my first trip to the Ban Hai village in central Laos, and I am witnessing something truly special – micro-credit in action. 14 Aug 2009 22:34:43 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/womens/0908/laos-micro-credit.html 55544DFE-22DE-4378-A222-A63C5CB0A103 Normandy is famous for two great invasions: June 1944 and September 1066. After enjoying the many D-day tourism activities this region has become famous for, we headed west to the Department of Manche, Basse Normandy, which means 'the sleeve,' named after the French name for the English Channel. This western half of the Normandy peninsula is dotted with lovely beach towns like Granville and Carteret, and is full of fields, sweeping beaches and surging tides, but not that many people. Beach, Beach and Seafood Here the name of the game is beach, ocean, seafood and of course, great castles and well preserved Medieval buildings. In Bricquebec, one such castle remains standing that was built in the 11th century! Though many of the buildings here were destroyed by both Allied and German bombs during World War 11, this castle was unscathed, as was the place we'd bed down for the night....Chateau le Val 14 Aug 2009 22:33:45 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/lodgings/0908/chateau-le-val-normandy.html F3395685-5B53-44F5-8458-5A3AB4DC14EB I wasn’t expecting to be pampered in Vegas. Eat too much? Yes. Stay up late? Of course. Dissolve into a state of utter spa bliss? I’d take it, but was that even an option? My image of Las Vegas was that it was a city more accustomed to breaking humans down than putting them back together. What I experienced on a recent visit, however, proved my vision needed a makeover. Promising Pleasure Las Vegas in the business of promising pleasure, so I wasn’t surprised that its biggest hotels all have spas built right into them, nor was I surprised that all of these spas offer foot rubs, scalp massages and steaming, aromatic baths. I was surprised, though, by just how many spa experiences I had to choose from. For example, upon checking in to my suite at the Palazzo, I found a 30-page spa menu waiting for me in my room. The menu listed fitness classes and beauty services available at the Canyon Ranch Spa inside the hotel. 14 Aug 2009 22:32:42 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/womens/0908/nevada-las-vegas-spas.html 59DB6665-AB29-4F13-8F47-7E58D876CED3 I'm known around the office as the guy who never goes anywhere outside New England -- my dream vacation is doing nothing at a bed & breakfast in Maine -- but when I got a chance to visit Houston, I snapped it up like a hungry trout. Named for the wily Cherokee war chief who won independence for Texas -- that would be Sam Houston -- this place has character. Some say it's the western part of the South, and some say it's the southern part of the West. Actually, like the rest of the Texas Gulf Coast, it has a character all its own because of all the different groups of settlers who have arrived here over the years. 14 Aug 2009 22:31:58 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0907/texas-houston.html D87456C8-A3A5-42B6-8A3A-2013CA579D27 On this 65th anniversary, any visit to the north of France's Normandy region must include visits to the various locations of the Allied D-Day invasion in June 1944. Americans and others who want to get a first-hand view of where it all happened can find many fascinating opportunities to learn about the history in this part of France. We visited the D-Day beaches, the Caen Memorial Museum, the villages of Arromanches and St. Mere D' Eglise, the nearly destroyed city of Le Havre and pillboxes embedded over the beaches at Longue-sur-mer. It left us in awe of the size and scope of the battles, and impressed with how much of an impact the war still has on this region. 14 Aug 2009 22:31:12 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0907/d-day-beaches-and-museums.html 7512D2A9-E256-46CA-B287-A8A192365E87 On a visit to Panama, it's hard to know where to start. Because of its central location, the country is host to more species of plants and wildlife than anywhere else in the world. The country also boasts one of the man-made wonders of the world, the Panama Canal. But what may be Panama's greatest attraction is the opportunity to visit the villages of ancient peoples who have lived in America for centuries, at one with nature, long before the arrival of Europeans. Panama has a lot to offer the solo traveler, but with so many attractions and activities, many people like to travel with the assistance of experienced guides who can take care of day-to-day arrangements and make sure that visitors make the most of their time in this remarkable country. If you're planning a trip to Panama, a good resource is Viajes Cora of Panama, which has a wide variety of tours for families, couples and solo travelers that include snorkeling and diving, ecological parks, tours of the Panama Canal and many other attractions. 4 Aug 2009 22:24:40 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/tours/0908/panama-tribes.html 795B9D6E-9C45-450B-997C-F66069845CDF Soon after I arrived for my whirlwind tour of Louisiana Music Festivals, a Lafayette gourmet imparted this wisdom: “I love the food in New Orleans. Just don’t call it Cajun.” Lesson learned. This was, in fact, the first of many lessons I learned during my travels in Louisiana. There’s more to this place than even I, a long time devotee of the Bayou State’s food and music, would have thought. First there’s Lafayette -- the small, Southern city with an internationally renowned music festival, great food and all kinds of cultural activities. And Arnaudville -- a sleepy little hidden gem of a town with a diverse artists’ community. Baton Rouge is known for its music and art, but it was the history that stood out to me. And, while New Orleans could hardly be considered a hidden gem, there is so much more to it than Bourbon Street and Mardi Gras. 4 Aug 2009 22:23:15 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0907/louisiana-music.html 8F686CAE-504D-415C-8B83-AA970DCB2D6B The path leads me deeper into the jungle, where towering gum and ceiba trees block the sunlight, their limbs dripping with lianas and red bromeliads. The canopy is alive with humming insects, bird song, and howler monkeys’ eerie guttural cries. I round a bend and suddenly a pyramid looms before me, overgrown with moss and vines. It’s easy to imagine I’m the first explorer to stumble upon these ruins. Deep in the jungle of Chiapas, where monkeys still outnumber tourists, slumbers the ancient city of Yaxchilán (Maya for “Place of Green Stones”) which flourished from AD 300 to 800. The ruins are so remote that the only way to reach them is by boat along the Usumacinta River, which forms the natural border between Mexico and Guatemala. Yet Yaxchilán is still a surprisingly easy side trip from the tacky tourist mecca of Palenque. 4 Aug 2009 22:22:05 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0908/mexico-yaxchilan.html 056D7C5D-132C-4DAE-BA41-F8B5728579C6 As we boated up the Manu River the country got wilder and the wildlife more diverse. Thatched huts gave way to forest. Storks, herons, terns, vultures, and turtles became commonplace. And soon we observed speckled and black caimans sunning themselves in shallow water and on the sand banks. The black caimans can get quite large and we got close to a 15-foot specimen. “What would happen if I stepped into the water?” I asked. My sons looked at me with a ‘Duh’ expression. “Look at the teeth, Dad.” 29 Jul 2009 22:33:43 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/family/0907/peruvian-amazon.html BC387A87-83CA-430C-BBFB-8CBD2B022174 Twilight down the shore is a feeling, and an experience that’s been a part of my family’s life for three generations. It begins at the end of a long day at the beach, where lots of swimming and sun has left you sun bleached and tanned. It transitions with an outdoor shower and a change of clothes that feel smooth on your body and a relief from your wet bathing suit. Chairlift at Seaside Heights, above the boardwalk. It culminates as one enters the porch or the deck, surrounded by friends and family with a cocktail and a sense that all is well with the world. Anticipation of a seafood dinner only adds to the satisfaction. We were searching for the Twilight down the shore during this vacation. 29 Jul 2009 22:30:40 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/family/0907/new-jersey-shore.html D257E85B-1373-4521-AC36-0C23F9A62F7E There is not a great deal to do on the 22 by 2 kilometer isleta. Unlike Púcon, Chile or Buenos Aires there is little pressure to do, do, do. In fact, the locals have a nigh religious devotion to “hacer pereza” (literally, “to make lazy”). They are not necessarily lazy people; they simply know how to hit the pause button. On the island, there is so much to breathe in (starting with pure air): “the seven-colored waters,” the dry tropical landscape, the soft eastern breezes—and the lilting quality of the local’s patua language (a mix of English, Spanish and French creole). Even a fairly relaxed Sourthern Californian—as I prefer to imagine myself—has great trouble learning how to make a good lazy. I had to ascribe to myself a daily mantra: “Today I do not have… to do… a thing. I do not have… to do (exhale) a thing.” 29 Jul 2009 22:25:48 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0907/providencia-colombia.html 5E383534-2999-4A63-9D3C-72B61A9B5C24 We started our road trip in Huntsville, the Rocket City. It got that name when German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun moved there in 1950 to work on the American space program. He eventually created the Saturn V rocket that took Americans to the moon, and Huntsville has been a central part of NASA’s space exploration ever since. Many defense and aerospace technology companies have offices here and the city boasts more PhDs per capita than any other American city. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center is the most popular attraction in Alabama and it combines life-sized models of rockets, a space shuttle and other NASA equipment, with rides, informational displays and an IMAX® theater. 29 Jul 2009 22:23:59 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0907/alabama-huntsville.html AEB6545F-647D-4A95-BDB5-A2E256EF45B1 “You don’t go to Cuba to eat,” just about everybody had warned me. “There’s nothing… NOTHING!” admonished my friend Ruth, who gives food tours of Mexico. Well, it turns out it’s not true. I’d been to Cuba once, ten years ago, and my culinary memories are dim. As a food writer and restaurant critic, my recent return trip was an eye (and heart) opening experience. 23 Jul 2009 19:23:09 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/food-and-wine/0905/havana-dining.html 973977F1-073E-4E73-BAD3-CF4CB4CE37F2 While thousands of people then flocked to Hami to a purpose-built viewing area, my friend Alex had organised a horse-trek in the Koktokay National Park. Our guide, Dilshat, was a young Uyghur man who, as well as five other languages used in the region, spoke excellent English. Everything started badly. At the entrance to the national park Chinese officials told us that foreigners were not permitted to enter. A Chinese tourist had recently been stabbed and killed by a Kazak man for insulting the Kazak culture and spitting at him. In spite of this, Chinese tourists were still allowed into the park but foreigners were not. We were told that there was no way to enter but that it should be fine the next day. 23 Jul 2009 19:22:17 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/alternatives/0907/eclipse-in-china.html FB6B7E16-0E64-4F82-ACEB-1CA85D9755B3 After settling into our gorgeous room overlooking the pool and splendid acres of gardens and tennis courts, we headed out to Burlington to see the Lake Champlain Waterfront Festival, at the historic Church Street Marketplace. The festival celebrates the 400th year anniversary of French explorer Samuel de Champlain’s travels to the lake that now bears his name. Despite the ominous clouds, the festival and parade went on as planned. The people of Burlington do love their lake, and why not? Lake Champlain is a striking and stimulating place. The festival proved to be the same. 23 Jul 2009 19:21:09 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0907/vermont-burlington.html AF60C3BA-C76C-4188-962F-F905250C6F9F The Houston Art Car Parade was started by The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, an organization founded by Houston Postman Jeff McKissack to make art more accessible to the community. The first parade in 1988, with 40 cars, drew about 2,000 people. Now there are more than 250 cars in the parade and it draws about 250,000 people from all over the world and forms the nucleus of The Orange Show's Art Car Weekend, known as "Houston's best party." 23 Jul 2009 19:20:30 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0907/art-car-gallery.html 4919F1CE-5305-446C-AA1F-FADAB291F018 Normandy is known to many Americans only because of the Allied invasion on D-Day in June 1944, the most recognized piece of Normandy's long history depicted in the Tom Hanks movie "Saving Private Ryan." In June, 2009, I visited many of the places made famous during that historic time as well as landmarks made famous by much earlier battles, like Bayeaux. We began our trip in the city of Rouen, and then motored out to the coast. 23 Jul 2009 19:19:52 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0907/la-manche-normandy-france.html 352191AF-1C95-4580-B57A-5C2846E0CEDF Surprise Valley, located in the northeast corner of California, is a prehistoric lake bordered by the Warner Mountains, on the west and by the Hayes Range on the east. The frontier town of Cedarville has an elevation of 4,648 feet and approximately 800 residents. Main Street is bordered by buildings from the late 1800s when more than 300,000 emigrants in wagon trains traveled through. Today farmers still herd their livestock down the center of Main Street. Cedarville has B & Bs and ranches which offer guided horseback tours. The base camp for our rides was Fandango Ranch. 23 Jul 2009 19:18:47 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/womens/0907/surprise-valley-california-cowgirls.html 6A2F675D-9345-4243-8926-AC380A106124 Leech Lake is the third largest lake in Minnesota, covering nearly 112,000 acres. Even though I had never been there, by virtue of my being a Minnesotan and the lake’s unusual shape, I could quickly point it out on a map. It isn’t just a round blue blob. Instead, it has an amoeba-like quality. Plus, on a map, the land around the lake is always shaded as it is within the boundaries of the Chippewa National Forest and the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. Both ensure that almost 80 percent of the lake’s shoreline is undeveloped. Tourism is a major industry for the Leech Lake area. Lodge-style resorts, campgrounds and RV parks dot the western edge of the water near the small town of Walker. I was eager to get there simply to see the scenery. 23 Jul 2009 19:18:00 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0907/minnesota-leech-lake.html B379D1F0-2681-4274-8E8F-31E3B8D88725 The Cache La Poudre (pronounced kash la POOH-dur) is Colorado’s only National Wild and Scenic river, and it begins at the peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park, flowing north and east along the Roosevelt National Forest, and eventually passes through Fort Collins. The river, which owes its name to French-Canadian trappers who hid gunpowder in the river-valley during the raging blizzards of the early 1800s, is an absolutely prime candidate for travelers looking to go rafting on vacation. 23 Jul 2009 19:17:16 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/transports/0907/colorado-fort-collins-rafting-the-poudre.html 0E65D973-F3F1-4178-9E22-5B912ADCE4C1 I had hiked 10 days in Chile’s Torres Del Paine National Park to get here, and got up before dawn. I felt like a pilgrim waiting for a miracle. In a way, I got one. Along with many others I was staring at three towers of vertical granite that soar above a glacial lake, willing the sun to hurry up and rise now and for the fog to stay away. One minute, the spires were a uniform dark grey. The next the tip of the tallest had turned orange, then gold. Soon all three pinnacles were striped gold and dark grey. The whole show lasted less than five minutes, but it was unlike anything I have seen before or since. 13 Jul 2009 20:06:55 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0907/chile-torres-del-paine.html 71919E90-890F-4F97-98C0-158D1A455503 Twenty minutes from Ocean City, we found ourselves at the gateway to a gorgeous beach where wild ponies roam free. Yes, we had reached the Assateague Island National Seashore. Initially, Ocean City and Assateague Island were connected. In 1933, a storm formed the Ocean City inlet and thus separated them. Since then, the similarities between the two have been on a constant decrease. While Ocean City boasts of a lively atmosphere with hotels, restaurants, amusement parks and night clubs, the Assateague Island offers wildlife, pine forests and marshy lands. 10 Jul 2009 21:49:37 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0907/maryland-assateague.html 5BA8F77F-B64A-4F32-8483-91BCFDA371CD I had so much fun on my trip to the Texas Gulf Coast, it's hard to know where to begin. As associate editor of GoNOMAD, I've become something of an expert on fun, and the Gulf Coast has it all, especially for families: wildlife, outdoor recreation, the best fishing in the world, environmental education, history, architecture, drama, music... And art of all kinds: fine art, pop art, found art, performance art, you name it. Lots of cool museums that get people -- especially kids -- excited about art and inspire them to make some of their own. 8 Jul 2009 21:08:15 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0906/texas-gulf-coast.html 673E9592-C712-4B23-8A5C-3B9F491DD43E Orkney is a group of more than 70 islands, actually, north of Scotland. It's easy to imagine life here 200 years ago. People speak in paragraphs, taking time to tell a story or set up a joke. It’s almost as easy to imagine life five millennia ago. Really. Within an hour’s bike ride of this port town, Stromness, lies a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose structures rival even Stonehenge for their impressive antiquity. Best thing is, they’re easily doable for families. Kids especially love them for their sheer caveman cool. 7 Jul 2009 19:09:46 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0907/scotland-orkney-islands.html C8164547-D2F9-4B58-BBFB-8894BFE1A697 You’ve been cutting out recipes for years, everyone tells you you’re the perfect host or hostess, and you’ve stayed at more B&Bs than you can count — but will you be a good innkeeper? Maybe. The fact that you can cook doesn’t mean you have the persistence and stamina to run an inn, nor does being handy at restoring an old building mean you have the leadership skills it takes to run a business. Some equate the job of an innkeeper to that of an actor or actress in that you must be “on” whenever you’re working. The differences are that you can’t be acting, and the show never ends. When you’re an innkeeper, it’s show time 24 hours a day. 6 Jul 2009 19:51:17 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/market/0906/b-and-b-for-dummies.html 2BAE2C94-0AB3-4E6B-A1A5-56FE00E401A9 Islands are a strong pull for me, a strong enough pull to fly to the other side of the world from my home in the Hudson River Valley of New York. The fabled Great Barrier Reef was a part of my decision but the chance to sample some of Queensland’s Islands sealed the deal. I discovered three islands that were totally different from each other in every way but for the sheer delight they offer. 6 Jul 2009 19:50:43 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0907/australia-queensland-islands.html EADCD0F4-E752-4F03-99CA-597AC6EC30F7 Train'Shares Inc is offering guests the same luxury travel and private rail cars that used to be reserved for only the wealthiest of Americans. The trains will begin running in 2010. Barry Jones from Time Shares Inc. explains that this is to “ensure that full occupancy occurs, keeping in mind that the relatively long average lead time between when a Journey passenger makes a reservation and the departure date, is over eight months.” The trips aren’t cheap, but they are a serious throwback to the grand old days of railroad travel. You'll feel like a robber baron in your own private car! 2 Jul 2009 21:21:31 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/transports/0906/trainshares.html 9E17F4E9-215C-410D-A9C6-4247F03053AA Chres Village School and Orphanage had clean rooms, kind staff, and a patient, diligent director named Phat Fiphon. The orphanage was started by his father and relies mostly on donations, volunteers, and sponsors. When we arrived, approximately 40 children lived at the orphanage with more coming from other homes to attend the free classes offered in English, Chinese, Khmer, science, and geography. When the orphanage tour ended, Nicole and I offered to teach English classes, which Phat (or “Fi”) enthusiastically accepted. Nicole taught the older kids, who ranged from eighteen to early twenties. I led a class of about forty adolescents, approximately nine to eighteen years old. 2 Jul 2009 21:19:59 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/helps/0906/cambodia-teaching.html 92B30D3F-A5E0-40B6-BCA9-A00318491175 Soon we were moving in the Mukki region of the Kanha National Park. The first thing we spotted were colorful jungle fowls but they are very shy creatures and I could never get a good picture of them. The jungle is famous for its Sal and Bamboo trees. Alger showed me around with such enthusiasm that I am thinking of dragging my family to a national park in the future. I saw Gaurs (resembles a bison), cheetals (a type of deer), peacocks and even wild boars but there was no sign of the elusive tiger. At one particular road Alger and the park ranger got quite excited as they saw the pug marks of a tiger and they tried to track it. 2 Jul 2009 21:18:32 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/lodgings/0906/india-kanha.html DD58A7DD-2368-410B-93D9-B3940FC7D324 Archaeologically-minded visitors to Crete flock to the famous palaces of Knossos, Phaistos and Kato Zakro, and why shouldn't they? Ancient palaces, mysterious bull-riding rites and bright frescoes fascinate even the most historically uninspired traveler. But Phourni – arguably the most important archaeological site on Crete – lies ignored at the summit of a hill overlooking the Archanes township. 2 Jul 2009 21:17:44 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0906/crete-cemetery.html 42E470A4-8765-4931-9B40-AC13466A961D The mini-bus, packed with passengers, slowed and then stopped. Ahead, barely visible through the dirty windshield and the February mist, was something that shouldn't have been there: a border crossing. There shouldn’t have been a border crossing because there shouldn’t have been a border. As far as mapmakers and world governments were concerned, we were still in Moldova, an Eastern European country wedged between Romania and Ukraine. The guys up there, though, the guys with the guns, they didn't agree. Back in America, when I let people know I was going to Transnistria, the collective response was: “where?” And the reason they had never heard of it was because Transnistria, despite having its own constitution, army and currency, isn’t recognized by any other sovereign nation and technically doesn’t exist. 2 Jul 2009 21:10:35 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0906/transnistria.html 5F540957-7655-43A0-B1E4-B13C14EC96D3 About an hour after leaving Acapulco, Mexico’s number one resort, our van was parked in front of the Museum of the Tehuacalco Archaeological Zone - only recently opened to visitors. Located a short distance from the state of Guerrero’s capital city of Chilpancingo, Tehuacalco peaked between 650 and 1100 A.D. as the ceremonial center of the Yope and their surrounding region. It existed for more than two more centuries albeit in a declining cycle. Long lost to the South Sierra Madre Mountains of southern Mexico this pre-Columbian archaeological zone is the most recent addition to the cultural attractions offered to visitors in Acapulco. 25 Jun 2009 17:50:32 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0906/mexico-tehuacalco.html 62C12C31-3BDC-4865-8A64-3D27CF79322D What is lying just down the road from where you live? What unexplored places are just a few gallons of gas away but you’ve never set foot in them? For me the main one has been Huntsville, Alabama, a nearby enigma on my personal map. It’s my daughter’s spring break, though, and I’ve got the itch to explore. The three of us pack up the car with only vague ideas of what we’ll be doing there, but we have four days to figure it out. Huntsville’s marquee draw is the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. It took a lot of coordinated NASA brainpower to land a spacecraft on the moon and the blast-off part of the process was developed in this city. 25 Jun 2009 17:49:47 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/family/0906/alabama-huntsville.html 9F4E97D1-1126-487A-A628-2258DD4712A8 Some days blend into one another, but the five days we spent on safari in South Africa remain vivid and indelible. When we came to Africa, we lived at the Kapama Lodge, within the private game preserve that borders Kruger National Park. The wake-up call came every morning at 5:00 AM, and we arose in the dark. By 5:30, we were being served coffee on the veranda, looking across the lagoon at first light on the horizon. As we climbed into the large, open four-wheel drive Toyota Land Cruiser for our morning safari, the sun was just coming up. 25 Jun 2009 17:48:56 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/lodgings/0906/south-africa-kapama-lodge.html B7C28549-3A55-4B88-BEBF-C6B484A7B0D7 I suggest money not be wasted going to Turkmenistan, though the country is an admitted hoot. With the mandatory guide any visit is expensive, requiring private transportation over the boring desert, and nothing of interest to see; it’s easier and less expensive, for most, to simply visit Las Vegas. But for those who must visit every last weird country on earth, such as myself, Lufthansa and Turkmenistan Air fly to Ashgabat from Europe and the Middle East, expensively... Turkmenistan also has a reputation for ptomaine and unsanitary food preparation. But enjoy. 25 Jun 2009 17:47:33 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0906/turkmenistan.html 89991FAB-0977-43BF-9AC8-96C7F92DA028 The Tibetan plateau averages more than 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level. It boasts the highest peaks in the world. The culture is fascinating. Ever since I first learned about Tibet as a child, I wanted to go there. So, when Jon and I found ourselves cycling through China, it was only the next step to enter Tibet. We took the new Quinhai-Tibet railway, which had opened only a few months before, in the summer of 2007. This railway was both a blessing and a curse: it allowed us easy access into Tibet, but with increased Western tourism, Chinese immigration and trading, many fear it will bring fast change to a dwindling Tibetan culture. 18 Jun 2009 19:48:44 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/bicycle-tours/0906/tibet-descent.html 8A64B714-0866-4133-AD14-49082A4BBFAB Paraty Bay, one of the most beautiful places on the Brazilian coastline,is often referred to as part of the "Green" coast, but "Emerald" Coast best describes the sparkling translucence of the bay reflecting the lush verdant jungle on the shore. Islands, one for every day of the year, dot the warm waters. The beaches on them are all public. Getting to them is easy, too. Boats are available for hire on the wharf at Paraty. The different boat styles and colors offer a great opportunity for photographs in the morning light. 18 Jun 2009 19:48:03 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0906/brazil-emerald-coast.html 0DCBE91A-F09E-453D-B6E8-8EBB3D8E74EE When we think of New Haven, the first thing that comes to our mind is Yale University. Rightfully called “the most beautiful urban campus in America,” the architectural style of its courtyards, arches and towers range from New England Colonial to High Victorian Gothic, from Moorish Revival to Contemporary. Walking by the majestic buildings I felt close to its glorious past and its present-day quest for knowledge. Guiding generations of bright young minds, the buildings of this Ivy League university stand tall and proud. 18 Jun 2009 18:25:21 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0906/connecticut-new-haven.html 74B1CA95-E296-40BA-9E71-6670599679CB We had entered into the simple lives of the villagers in Bomang’ombe, and the hearts of children hopeful about their bright future. Within the few months of teaching in Bomani Primary School, I bonded closely with Naomi, a fellow teacher and a real friend whom I could confide in and be myself. Her husband Deo showed us many sides of Tanzania, even a thing or two about drinking beer in Tanzania (he sure could drink!). We shared travel tales with them, while they told us about their childhood and families. 18 Jun 2009 18:24:33 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/helps/0906/tanzania-bomangombe.html F20F138C-6CDF-4041-ADD7-1BE0274E39C6 One innovative tour company is combining the small-group, women-only format with theme-based tours that explore the history of a destination. The tours focus on notable women of history, who have often been neglected by historians until recent years. These tours also provide an opportunity for women to retrace their roots and visit their families' ancestral homelands. Eurynome Journeys of Camden, Maine, has been a pioneer in the area of women-only travel since 1998, when founder Erja Lipponen started her website www.wanderwoman.com. 18 Jun 2009 18:23:14 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/womens/0905/eurynome-journeys.html E96F8C62-2ECD-4F56-9AC8-074EAA1D4D3E There is something gritty about the isle of Bonaire. I feel it the minute I set foot on the ground. I also taste it. It may be the dry, scrubby terrain. Or maybe it is the thick, salty air. Perhaps, it is a little bit of both. Each year, tourists flock to Bonaire, fifty miles north of Venezuela, with snorkels and flippers in tow. Part of the Netherlands Antilles, it boasts one of the most environmentally renowned Marine Parks in the world, claiming over 300 species of tropical fish and over 120 different types of coral. 11 Jun 2009 20:43:57 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0906/bonaire.html 660DF454-4A0D-435C-98B0-64472144DD88 McLeod Ganj near Dharamshala is a popular tourist spot as it is the seat of the Dalai Lama in exile from Tibet. In a restaurant we overheard a tourist asking a waiter how she could get an audience with the Dalai Lama. We had other ideas. We were there to trek from McLeod Ganj through Indrahar Pass and wanted to exit in another town, Chamba. But the weather had other ideas about our trek. 11 Jun 2009 20:42:48 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0906/india-mcleod-ganj-triund.html 30FF9584-FFD5-4241-887C-15EC1A1A5ABA Freighter voyages are not for the ordinary traveler; they are for people who want to escape from the norms of planned, routine travel and step into the world of unpredictable adventure. Flying is for people who would like to get somewhere quickly. Freighter travel is for people who would like to slow life down a few notches and enjoy the world around them. In the words of Andrew, “By not flying we got to see a way of life that impacts our own lives so much - to hear about the people who transport all the white goods to our homes, the clothes we wear and the cars we drive, around the world. It's an incredibly nomadic existence and not one that we get to hear about very often, unless you put yourself in that position of sharing part of the journey with the crew.” 11 Jun 2009 20:41:31 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/transports/0906/freighter-cruising-experience.html F5ED32C1-8C1F-4FFC-9B21-E127863BA55D Luang Prabang is a small, ancient city tucked away in northern Laos at the junction of the picturesque Mekong and Nam Khan rivers where nature and community converge in an unassuming way. Longboats run the rivers, rice fields line the banks, mountains paint the distant landscape, and the slow pace of life will envelop even the most harried traveler. This is the perfect place to while away the hours relaxing on the quay with a good book or simply get lost exploring the town. 11 Jun 2009 20:40:45 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0905/luang-prabang-laos.html 1682DBA6-970E-4C07-B146-4B1822D7CA9B “I love Italy!” announced our nine-year old son on our first full day in Portovenere. Although he was the first to say it, we were all charmed by this seaside village on the Ligurian Coast. It had been rainy off and on all morning, but the weather hadn’t prevented us from exploring the city. My son and husband had already played giant outdoor chess in a choice spot on the waterfront while my daughter and I enjoyed fresh grapefruit juice in a café looking out on the stunning port, and we had all explored the village’s rocky fortress and San Pietro Church. 4 Jun 2009 18:46:51 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/family/0905/portovenere-italy-with-kids.html D315770C-DFF5-44B1-9861-AD4914D28297 The Nazca Lines are a series of large geoglyphs, or giant drawings on the ground, located in the Nazca desert in Peru. These geometric shapes of immense proportions are believed to have been created by an ancient civilization sometime between the 4th and 8th centuries BCE, though some believe they were created more recently. The lines seem to have been created through the removal of the reddish-brown desert rocks, which revealed the white Earth below. Since the desert is so dry and does not receive much wind, the lines remain uncovered. Other countries, including the USA, Chile, Bolivia and Egypt, also play host to mysterious geoglyphs, but the Nazca lines are considered the most complex, the most impressive, and the most mysterious. 4 Jun 2009 18:46:05 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0905/peru-nazca-lines.html 37198711-BDA9-4889-A56E-8ECC5BA8DF0D Vietnam had thrown lots of surprises our way. Three and a half weeks in the country had taught us that it was better to go with the flow than to fight for an itinerary we’d mapped before ever leaving home. For example, we hadn’t planned to spend any time in Mui Ne, a sleepy fishermen’s village turned tourist resort. However, our month-long tourist visa was about to expire and our flight out of the country was leaving from Saigon. The frenetic pace of the city, though, had worn our nerves. Mui Ne was an easy three-hour bus ride away and it provided the slower pace we were seeking. We knew exactly where we wanted to stay in Mui Ne: Bamboo Village. As budget travelers, Bamboo Village cost more for one night’s stay than what we were accustomed to paying for an entire week’s worth of lodging. However, we sprung for the big bucks, beachside villa because it was our wedding anniversary. 28 May 2009 18:34:30 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/lodgings/0905/mui-ne-one.html 8556A9C8-E7E5-4681-8D18-586665E44D4F My main purpose of visiting San Juan Island was to go on a whale watch. It being the beginning of May, it was uncertain whether I would see the resident orcas. Every winter they migrate as far as Monterey, California, but it wasn’t long before the Captain spotted a familiar pod. Dorsal fins as large as six feet protruded from the still waters. Our naturalists were thrilled to point out two new members of the returning pod. Two 300-pound pink and black babies dove in and out of the water. Orcas are black and pink shortly after birth, but soon after the pink turns to white. 28 May 2009 18:24:53 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0905/washington-san-juan-islands.html 05E80AB3-158A-4BD4-BC7A-44200798F86B In Macau, the Vegas thing is all there. On steroids. There's a replica of the Roman Coliseum, a volcano like the one at The Mirage, a Disneyesque version of the New Orleans French Quarter, and neon to light the night. However, I sensed this city might be more than just sum of its casinos, and as I fell asleep listening to waves lap at the shore that first night, I knew I still hadn't seen the real Macau. Often mistakenly referred to as an island, Macau is a peninsula just 37 miles southwest of Hong Kong and bordering mainland China. It is now one of two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China. Governed for 442 years by Portugal, it was the oldest European colony in the history of Asia before it was handed over to China in 1999. The Portuguese influence is apparent in the distinctive architecture, food, music and swirling mosaic patterns inlaid in city streets. 28 May 2009 18:24:03 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0905/china-macau.html 86EF434E-00E9-4D3F-A40B-17E8BD0CA27F I'd never set foot in the Republic of Texas until last month, when I discovered Beaumont, about two hours north of Houston. It's a city with big plans afoot. Their sidewalks are being ripped up and replaced with quaint brick, and black iron streetlights are being added to give the main drag, Calder Avenue, an old time feel. Things are looking up in this city of refineries. My first evening was spent on a couch, eating passed tapas at the Easy Street, emblematic of the relaxed charm of East Texas. 28 May 2009 18:05:43 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/features/0904/beaumont-texas.html 8CA33A1D-0A8D-466D-8636-5D53FF13333B Among most Americans the Finnish town of Pori is virtually unknown, but it is a favorite summer getaway for many Finns, as well as European vacationers from Sweden, Germany, Great Britain and the Netherlands. There are two big reasons: Pori Jazz, which is held every summer in mid July, is the oldest and largest Jazz festival in all Europe. It draws both popular domestic acts and artists of international fame: Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Sting, and more recently, Kanye West. For sun lovers and nature enthusiasts the nearby Yyteri beach -- which is known to many as the most beautiful beach in all of Scandinavia -- provides the ultimate reason to visit the Pori area. 28 May 2009 18:04:40 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0905/finland-pori.html ADDA1548-35A6-4B15-8BED-E5C763EB8B5F The Galápagos Islands, located about 1000 kilometers from mainland Ecuador, are home to a wide variety of land and sea life. The islands get their name from the old Spanish word “galápago,” which was a type of saddle. The first Spaniards to find the islands thought that both the shape of the islands and the tortoise shells resembled the saddles. With 12 main and 12 minor islands, you can spend about two weeks alone exploring each island and swimming in the surrounding areas. The more popular option is to stay on a boat and travel by night, but my friends and I were only in the islands for five days and on the cheap, so we stayed in a hotel on Santa Cruz. 28 May 2009 18:03:31 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0905/ecuador-galapagos.html B18F311C-F314-439C-A565-B16F7C0C2B1A Putumayo’s latest CD, Italia, was released in May, 2009. Featuring Italian singer-songwriters, this music at times transports you to hilltop villages, other times to smoky cabaret settings in postwar Italy. Folk music inspired by Latin rhythm, swing, and Celtic tradition, it is the vocals that take center stage in this musical storytelling. Gianmaria Testa, singer-songwriter and poet from Piemonte in northern Italy. In Il Viaggio, accompanied by his guitar, he tells the moving story of his plan to follow a raging river from his mountain village to the place where it will meet the sea, leaving behind the bright stars. 28 May 2009 18:02:40 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/market/0905/putumayo-italy-cd.html B936C958-C24B-4F73-AF27-E5E118C25FD2 Want to visit Greece? Interested in fighting animal cruelty? If so, a Colorado-based company called inside/out offers a unique combination of cultural immersion and cause-based alternative travel. Participants of inside/out’s “humanitourism” trip to Greece will visit the largely un-touristed Zagoria region to provide hands-on help to a project which desperately needs outside assistance. Located in the country’s mountainous north, and blighted by an overpopulation of dogs and cats, this Greek province has been the site of shockingly inhumane conditions for domestic animals. 16 May 2009 20:25:21 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/helps/0904/humanitourism.html 7B27ABC2-19B9-42E8-B06B-308846C64B6E Whether for business or pleasure, many people dislike leaving their small dogs behind when they travel. Instead of putting your dog in a kennel or one of those upscale doggie hotels popping up around the country, consider taking your small dog (weighing 15 pounds or less) with you the next time you travel by airplane. On many major airlines, passengers can pay a fee and have their small dog accompany them on the airplane within the passenger cabin, as long as the pet stays within an FAA approved pet carrier, and that carrier remains under the seat in front of the passenger (like a traditional carry-on bag). 14 May 2009 21:41:47 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0905/arizona-winslow.html FC12F794-283D-4069-B1C0-8EFF2F201CF0 It’s trivia question time. Who made the town of Winslow, Arizona, famous in the 1970s? If you answered The Eagles, you’re partially right. It was actually Jackson Browne who wrote the lyrics for the Eagles’ 1972 hit song, “Take it Easy.” Glen Frye wrote the music and, if he had also written the lyrics, he might have made some other town famous like Flagstaff or Chinle. But he didn’t, and Winslow will be the capital of Take-it-Easy-land forever or until everyone forgets the song whichever comes first. 14 May 2009 21:40:34 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0905/arizona-winslow.html DF32DC1E-CF2A-4D0D-87EE-4BE97465A904 iPhones and iPods are becoming essential for travelers--for example, TripIt automatically organizes all of your important travel documents (Photo - flickr user Irrezolut) The iPhone and iPod touch are quickly becoming essential travel tools. With the incredible growth of downloadable third-party software (apps) on iTunes, the iPhone and iPod touch have suddenly become an electronic Swiss-army knife for road warriars and avid travelers. 14 May 2009 21:39:41 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/market/0905/iphone-travel-apps.html 2C3B564C-41E2-4AAB-8F77-06157EEFB01C I am sitting sweating droplets the size of plums in a wood-burning Finnish sauna in Lapland. It’s well over 110 degrees Fahrenheit inside this little hut, though outside, it’s around 10 degrees. This is not surprising, considering I am 186 miles north of the Arctic Circle. I’d swear at Leena, my Finnish friend who has dragged me into this hot-hole, but Finns consider the sauna a sacred place, and you’re not supposed to use foul language. 14 May 2009 21:38:58 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0905/finland-lapland.html 6945AA6E-4AE5-409B-9AA9-95BEEF3D8EB4 Busy working mothers don’t often get the chance to find relaxation close to home. So when the opportunity struck for this mother, daughter, and three-month-old granddaughter to take a three-day vacation in early April, our options were limited. Where could two moms go to getaway and relax in the early spring in New England? We decided to head to the Outer Cape, the last leg of the journey out on the forearm of the Massachusetts peninsula that is Cape Cod. There was some concern about the possibility of cold weather. New England can be notoriously chilly at any given time of year and April is no exception. It has been known to snow on many an April day in this region, but was that enough to tamper our adventurous spirits? Definitely not. 5 May 2009 21:59:53 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/womens/0905/wellfleet-cape-cod.html 54AE065C-1382-4906-B747-C5D5CD450378 “We are very close to everything,” my driver from the airport explains, smiling as he swerves around a truck with one hand on a cigarette and the other out the window, “And very close to no one.” For a moment I am at a loss as to what he means, and can’t decide if it is a language error, or whether he is, indeed, making a fairly abstract point about the contradictions of Azeri life. Either way, the more time I spend in Azerbaijan, the more convinced I am that his statement actually makes sense. With its semi-desert plains and thickly forested hills, gorgeous coastline and polluted slums, Baku does make you feel like you are within reach of a dozen different places. 5 May 2009 21:59:09 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0904/azerbaijan.html CCE5177C-96BB-43C4-AB01-9C2C9FD9BCEA This was the first vacation we’ve had together where our kids (Julianne, age 14 and Justin, age 11), armed with charge privileges for arcade games and unlimited soda, felt comfortable abandoning us for their own pursuits. This is a godsend if you are looking for a family vacation where the adults can actually spend some quality time alone without worrying about the kids getting bored or into mischief. Our quality time consisted of playing craps in the Casino Royale and working out on the ellipticals in the Fitness Center while staring out at glaciers and other magnificent snow-capped vistas. 5 May 2009 21:58:25 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/family/0904/alaska-cruise.html 491D81D8-B9F8-4BA4-B081-3185D5A14CBD Qanta Ahmed, a young British Muslim doctor, takes a position at the top hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on a whim, hoping for adventure and acceptance in the Middle Eastern Kingdom. What she comes to experience during her two year stay is shockingly different. In the Land of Invisible Women describes Ahmed's encounters with sexism and racism in the Saudi Kingdom, as well as the humor, honesty, loyalty, and love that she eventually finds. She exposes some of the mysteries of the women behind the veil, and explains what it's like to don an abbayah [read: burqa] and become one of the invisible. 5 May 2009 21:57:29 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/market/0904/invisible-women-excerpt.html 99780A0A-B67F-4929-9993-C2D5716F2B8D Colorado is distinct proof that variety truly is the spice of life. Many amazing places can be described as having something for everyone, but Colorado is peerless in its unique atmosphere of well-balanced extremes and endless diversity. Over the course of the past 150 years Colorado has persisted through dangerous highs and lows; beginning as an undeveloped beauty, growing to a bustling gold rush boom state, shrinking to an economically devastated collection of ghost towns, and finally emerging from the ashes in the past decades to rise and thrive again, the Centennial State has continued to defy norms and expectations. 5 May 2009 21:56:26 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0904/denver-gold-rush.html 7C74B690-DF08-4DDF-BF78-5EB9954F205A Imagine climbing and leaping from cliffs into the Atlantic surf, then being buffeted helplessly about by whirlpools and tidal currents. Now imagine doing it safely and laughing yourself breathless. Invented in Wales, coasteering combines extreme sport and environmental consciousness-raising amidst the cliffs of the achingly beautiful Pembrokeshire coast. Death-defying alone, it’s perfectly safe with protective equipment and a local guide who reads the ecologically sensitive coast like a big-print hymnbook. 28 Apr 2009 22:18:13 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/alternatives/0904/wales-coasteering.html CB0A9BC6-4220-4A67-B613-B4D7604C9616 In France, and indeed worldwide, Burgundy has some of the best wine available; Romanee-Conti, Pommard and Corton-Charlemagne can bring tears to practiced taste buds. In the center of Beaune is the Hotel-Dieu (Hospices de Beaune) where a yearly auction of Burgundy wines is offered. This ancient hospital also offers an astounding view into past healing practices, and there are many artistic masterpieces on display. Nearby is one of the palaces of the Dukes of Burgundy, a dukedom which held power for ages in France. The main palace is in Dijon but the Dukes often were drawn by the vineyards. 27 Apr 2009 21:59:07 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/food-and-wine/0904/france-burgundy-beaune.html 2696BB00-89BE-41AB-8AEF-7B4425E1606B A chill went through my spine as I strode up the gangway to the USS Alabama, anchored just off the coast in the Mobile. It was a cool morning on Mobile Bay, where in the 1960s this 680' long grey piece of historical steel was towed from a West Coast shipyard to the state it was named for. Walking around on such hallowed steel made me think back about the real heroes, like my father, who served during the Second World War on ships like these. The legend has it that Alabama schoolchildren sent in their ice cream money in order to raise the million or so to pay for the relocation. On the ship, swing music is piped into the galley and on the deck, reminding me of the era in which this ship served active duty in the Pacific. It was a short stint, just 37 months. She sailed almost around the globe, served her time, and now she's by the side of the bay for tourists to walk around on and gawk at. 27 Apr 2009 21:57:40 GMT http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0903/alabama-attractions.html A21421C6-E8E3-45E3-B7D6-629424DF23D5