Category Archives: HOMEPAGE – WANDER

Airplane Yoga: 8 Moves to Keep Calm and Stretched on the Go

The verdict is in: sitting is out. Evidence suggests sitting for long periods of time can contribute to cardiovascular problems, on top of general stiffness and discomfort. Not great news for people clocking in a 40-hour work week (by Wednesday). Standing desks, exercise balls and periodic walks are good solutions for the office, but what if your job has you logging lots of seated hours at 30,000 feet? Check out these breathing exercises and modified yoga poses, which can be done just about anywhere, anytime, to make flying easier for mind, body and soul.

1. Ujjayi Breathing

Calmness comes from within, so start by checking in with your breath. Take a moment to notice its tempo and intensity, which is usually a reflection of your energy level and state of mind. Take deep, full breaths in and out through the nose, allowing air to pass through the back of the throat (like the beginning of a yawn) on the exhale. Try to make your exhales slightly longer than your inhales. Known as ujjayi breathing or “ocean breath,” this foundational yoga technique is by itself a powerful stress reliever. A great move to remember the next time you’re stuck in the security check-in line.

2. Neck Rolls

Excessive sitting and carrying heavy bags can both contribute to tension in the neck, shoulders and upper back. This exercise helps to relieve tightness in all three areas. Begin by sitting upright with a straight spine, shoulders slightly back. Exhale and drop your left ear to your left shoulder. Inhale and slowly rotate your head forward until your right ear touches your right shoulder. Keep your head heavy and neutral and your shoulders relaxed. Repeat, moving left to right, 10 times. Reverse, rotating right to left, and repeat another 10 times.

3. Seated Cat-Cow

This subtle move is great for keeping the spine supple and flexible in flight. Seated with a neutral spine, place hands on your thighs. As you inhale, gently puff your chest outward while sliding shoulders back, creating a curve in your back (“the cow”). As you exhale, slide shoulders forward, look down and round the spine, creating an arch (“the cat”). Repeat five times, holding in each position for a breath or two.

4. Seated Spinal Twist

For deeper spinal tension and to relieve knots and kinks, try this gentle twist. Begin by crossing your left knee over your right. Place right hand on left knee and, with an inhale, twist to the left while keeping your spine as straight as possible. Hold the twist for three breaths, looking over your left shoulder. Then, return to a neutral seated position. Repeat three times on each side.

5. Seated Chair Pose

The name might sound redundant, but chair pose is actually an intense quad-strengthening exercise similar to a standing squat. This modified version tones back and arm muscles while lengthening the spine. Begin at the edge of your seat with a straight spine, feet firmly planted on the floor. With an inhale, raise arms straight up. With an exhale, bend forward to a 45-degree angle, keeping your spine straight and chin slightly tucked. Keep arms firmly lifted, relaxing shoulders down and away from your ears. Hold for five breaths. Repeat three times.

6. Thigh Lifts

 This is a great move for warding off that “tingly toes” feeling that often accompanies long flights, with an added bonus of core strengthening. Seated with a straight spine, knees bent, lift one thigh as high as you can on an inhale. Keeping abdominal muscles tight and engaged, hold thigh lifted for two breaths. Repeat 10 times with each leg. For extra tummy toning power, try lifting both legs at the same time, using the arm rests for support if necessary.

7. Ankle Rolls

In addition to improving circulation, this simple move helps to prevent fluid from collecting in the ankles, which can cause swelling and the dreaded “travel cankles.” Sitting with legs stretched slightly out in front of you (ideally with shoes off), roll each ankle in a complete circle several times in each direction. After a few reps, incorporate pointing and flexing of your toes for a deeper stretch of the entire foot.

8. Breath of Fire

This breathing technique is a great way to close your airplane yoga session, or to simply arrive at your destination with a greater sense of calm and energetic focus. Begin by sitting upright and notice the movement of your abdomen as you inhale and exhale. Open your mouth and pant like a dog, noticing the change in abdominal movement. Maintaining the panting action, close your mouth and allow the breath to move rapidly in and out through the nose. Breathe quickly, moving the abdomen rapidly. Each exhale should be as sharp and staccato as possible, but the duration of inhale and exhale should be equal. Continue for three minutes, while keeping the jaw and face muscles relaxed.

Living off the Dover Land

At six a.m. on a Tuesday morning, a father and son quietly creep through the woods around Dover, New Hampshire, searching for elusive brassica leaves, aster flowers, sunchoke and black garlic. All ingredients that the hunter and gatherer hope to plate up for tonight’s dinner at Stages at One Washington, one of the country’s top new restaurants owned and operated by Chef Evan Hennessey.

Chef Hennessey is bringing new meaning to the idea of living off the land to Dover and to anyone who visits, offering his guests locally sourced and foraged produce, and meat and poultry from farmers with whom he has longstanding relationships. Often going to the farms himself to see the animal husbandry and slaughter, he forms a relationship with the food before he prepares it, ensuring that the animals are happy and well-cared for, which is quite unorthodox and refreshing in today’s factory farmed food economy.

 

living off the dover land featured

Although Evan has spent most of his life in Dover, his culinary skills have been sampled and awarded internationally by the likes of James Beard and StarChefs.com where he recently was named the region’s rising star. His approach to creating novel culinary experiences each night is as fresh as whatever he’s picked that morning. Tonight’s dinner will be comprised of a twenty-seven course tasting menu, something that even chef Hennessey isn’t sure he can pull off. But that’s his whole philosophy.

He says, “We have something that we like to say: Never stop creating, never stop pushing, never stop. We wanted to create something that nobody has tried here yet. A restaurant that never stops changing, evolving, and creating. Our mission is to utilize produce, meats, fish, and products only from local farms. To create an old world approach to sourcing our food. A relationship with nature that evolves with growing cycles and schedules and local farms. Those farms growing vegetables and herbs just for us, and because of us. Raising heritage breed poultry, pigs, and sheep, just for us. Eggs from the farmers hands directly to us. Fish dictated by what the fishermen tells us they’ve just caught as they are coming back into dock. This system has led to our food constantly evolving, becoming more thoughtful, more purposeful, more rooted in history.

 

Dover Land

 

Tonight, I’m one of eight foodies sitting in the large kitchen that comprises one third of the space, while another twenty-two are eagerly awaiting their own portions in the dining room.  I taste two mouthfuls of ingredients like smoked duck, black currant jam, fried leek roots and honey caviar sorbet.

There’s a bite of cabbage, mushroom, smoked crème fraiche and black garlic.

DL

Another of preserved cucumber, long bean, sunchoke, artichoke and tiny yellow aster flowers.

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Followed by peas, Romanesco, pickled mushroom, brassica leaves and forest flowers.

jk;

Pork neck, potato millefeuille, blistered carrot, rutabaga jam…

sdfsdfd

The courses go on and on and on, ending with sorbet that has been spun with house-smoked and caramelized popcorn.

At some point I simply lose count and the ability to know what exactly it is that I’m consuming. It’s all alien but I succumb to the invasion and it all tastes amazing and looks like art. I almost feel bad eating it.

I walk out feeling more satisfied from a meal than I can remember. Knowing the amount of work and care that went into each bite is remarkable, and I feel like I’ve just experienced what I used to think of as a cliché: food made with love just tastes better. Chef Hennessey loves what he does, and he pours that love and care back into the local community, making for a sustainable and unique top-tier restaurant in an unlikely spot. If you make the trip up through the North Eastern corridor to visit, it will be worth it.

America’s Top 9 Best Cities to Travel to—If You Love Snacks

Let’s say you identify as a “foodie” and you want to find the world’s best place to brunch. The Internet is built for people like you: the people who will cross streets, cities and mountains to locate the highest ranking “eggs benedict and a side salad.” A quick Google search will return hundreds of results for the best cities to brunch, lunch and dine in. You have a need, and somewhere, a listicle has an answer.

But not all of us identify as “meal people:” some of us live our lives perfectly content just to eat snacks. Despite what the “meal majority” says, many snacks are quite nutritious, and even the medical community has recently come in out in favor of a snack-based society. Snacks taste good, they feel good and they often “cost good” too. Yet it can be hard to find out what cities to travel to (and eat in) if you identify as a snacker. The Internet doesn’t have easy answers. That’s why we—after an in-depth investigation and extensive amounts of round-the-clock-snacking—decided to identify and share the best 9 cities to travel to—if you love snacks (which obviously, you do).

 

1. Philadelphia, PA

It’s home to some of America’s most beloved landmarks, including The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the world’s best pretzel stall—Miller’s Twist. For people who grew up with Rold Golds and Bachmann’s, pretzels bring up salty, dry, underwhelming memories. But Miller’s Twists, located in Reading Terminal’s glorious food market, reinvents the often abused snack. Slightly sweet, lightly buttered and just soft enough, Miller’s Twists are a must-eat-NOW in a must-see-soon city.

 

#NationalHotDogDay? Don’t mind if we do! #MillersTwist #PretzelDog #LoveRTM

A photo posted by Reading Terminal Market (@rdgterminalmkt) on

   

2. Madison, WI

Madison might have a fascinating and storied history, but all of their accomplishments pale in comparison to their chief regional export: cheese curds. Head down to The Old Fashioned to eat the city’s best soft-yet-stable, milky-yet-moist, cheesy pieces of heaven. Is it good for you? Irrelevant. It’s a cheese curd, and it is wonderful.    

3. Brooklyn, NY

Called the “snack capital” by snack-enthusiasts everywhere (this writer), there are so many reasons to head to Brooklyn for snacks—chief among them, donuts. While the city is home to many donut specialists, locals recommend Clinton Hill’s Dough, known for its strange and wild variety of flavors: hibiscus, chocolate salted, Earl Grey. Dough donuts are softer than traditional donuts, which makes eating them feel like you’re eating a really delicious pillow.        

4. St. Louis, MO

Bacon might have the best reputation, but people who care about pork know the best place to find it is in prosciutto. St. Louis is home to Volpi, a brand you might be able to find in your fancy supermarket, but originates in this bustling city. Head down to Volpi for freshly sliced slabs of joy, and the never-to-be-missed opportunity for free samples.

5. Chicago, IL

Chicago might be the restaurant capital of the Midwest, but their biggest culinary delicacy is a little more quotidien: popcorn. Sure, you might be able to find branches of Garrett Popcorn in other cities, but Chicago is home to the original legendary popper and flavors such as: Cashew CaramelCrisp, Macadamia CaramelCrisp, and the one and only—plain.

 

My favourite popcorn from where it originated.. straight outta Chicago!

A photo posted by YeeWen Tan (@yeewenscreams) on

   

6. Palo Alto, CA

Sometime in the last decade, hummus simply went viral in the United States. And while most supermarket shoppers are familiar with decent alternatives Sabra and Tribe, some people want and deserve the best. Oren’s Hummus Shop in Palo Alto, California, imports many of their organic ingredients from Israel, and their time and attention shows up in both their silky smooth hummus and five-star Yelp results.    

7. Hyannis, MA

Forget the stunning beaches and legendary families that travel here every summer: let’s talk chips. You might have seen or eaten Cape Cod Chips if you have access to a local Whole Foods or up-and-coming bodega. But seriously—why buy one bag when you can eat free ones in a factory, without shame, without judgment? Back in the 80’s, Cape Cod Chips–crispy, salty, and not full of poison—brought “kettle chips” into the mainstream.        

8. Las Cruces, NM

Las Cruces might have been rated one of the most boring places to live in America, but who cares: they’ve got nachos. Specifically, nachos covered with smoky-sweet brisket over at the infamous El Patron. That, combined with guacamole, salsa, cheese and homemade tortillas, will make all of your subsequent health problems seem totally worth it.

9. Portland, OR

No comprehensive snack list would be complete without Portland, home to some of America’s best healthy snacks, and yes—chicken wings. While there’s a bevy of socially conscious wing joints to choose from, we recommend Pok Pok, a Thai eatery with awesome, garlicky, fish-saucy wings and absolutely reasonable prices. Win-win, wing-wing.

Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland

Touching down at the Reykjavik airport is a bit like landing on the moon. Windswept volcanic lava flows cover the ground for miles, again covered by snow and ice, or green moss depending on the season. Sky blue water flows from under rocks and steam vents erupt in the distance, showing a hint of the country’s geothermal prowess.

snow-capped mountains

The temperatures are extreme and moon boots (or Uggs) are welcomed, if not completely mandatory for being comfortable in such seemingly inhospitable beauty. Thirty minutes down the road from the airport, one quickly discovers home base to this small nation in the quaint town of Reykjavik.

Colorful rooftops and an eclectic mix of stores, restaurants and bars line the small European style streets.

colorful rooftops

Walking down Bankastræti, the main street in  Reykjavik’s city centre, you’ll find stores selling Icelandic wool sweaters, backpacking gear, beautifully designed kitchen gadgets in a wide range of pastel colors, furniture carved using Scandinavian design principles and kids toys too cute to play with.

balloons

Icelandic meals

The traditional restaurants serve up rotten shark, shots of Cod liver oil and Skyr (a thick and delicious yogurt) while more modern approaches to cuisine feature Michelin star worthy food from around the globe. Down the hill near the water a beer festival takes place, where Viking descendants and plenty of tourists down pints of craft ale from Europe and the United States.

muskat

The drinks are made with novel ingredients and the bread is truly other worldly. Maybe it’s something in the water or something in the air or maybe it’s some secret Viking baker mojo. But if you go, eat the bread.

bread

nice view

For those looking to get a view from above, a helicopter ride over the city and surrounding volcanic mountains is well worth every large penny that it costs. The country’s power grid is completely supported by geothermal activity and from the sky it’s obvious that the land runs deep with energy. Volcanic lava vents cover the ground and steams rises from multiple peaks creating clouds of steam hundreds of feet in the air.

snow on ground

There are also frozen waterfalls of equal height and a clear view of two massive tectonic plates colliding. At first glance the island seems dormant but the longer you spend understanding it, the more it reveals itself as a living and breathing host to its inhabitants. Mid flight it’s mandatory to take a pit stop on one of the active volcanoes to sip a bit of champagne and take a couple #nofilter Instagram pics.

There are plenty of things to do and see during the day but night offers up its own bounty inside and outside of Reykjavik. Iceland is one of the best places to see the northern lights to witness solar clouds passing overhead like illuminated ghosts. People in the city party late into the night, listening to live music and dancing while most outside of the cosmopolitan enclave huddle around warm hearths with a book or a story and a few eager listeners. There are many beautiful lodges outside of town to do so in.

beautiful lodge

For a day trip outside of town it’s great to get out to the coast where the sea collides with rocky cliff sides and oceanic birds soar overhead.

nice day at the beach

There are tales of Viking landings as well as nuggets of volcanic rock on the beach, considered magical as they were blessed by nomadic trolls. One of the rock formations is named after a Viking ship and its not hard to see why.

sunset

There are seemingly few animals as you drive down endless roads but there are horses. And their ability to survive in this harsh ecosphere is apparent by thicker than normal fur and heavy manes. The horses in the barren field to the side stand steadfast in a circle. No shelter other than one another. I can only believe their ability to survive is a testament to thousands of years of genetic selection. Along the road there are farms brimming with activity (although I’m not sure what you can farm in the middle of winter) and plenty of houses that have seen better years, now standing only for photo ops.

house on beach

No trip to Iceland would be complete with at least one stop at one of the world’s most famous wonders (and tourist traps) The Blue Lagoon.

house on the water

Here you can bathe in natural springs heated by volcanic energy. The bottom of the lagoon is coated in silica rock that has healing powers and above the lagoon you can order a fresh juice or glass of champagne from the in-water bar. It’s a bit of scene but it’s also something that has to be seen, as is pretty much everything in this stunning country.

Eat, Drink and Be Arty in San Diego

Despite being one of the 10 largest cities in the country, San Diego has an easy breezy small town feel. Seventeen miles of coastline ring the city, bringing wafting ocean breezes to the collection of diverse neighborhoods that comprise it. Known for its sunshine, surf culture and laidback attitude, San Diego is coming into its own. Whether you have a week or a weekend to explore, we’ve gathered our top picks of must-sees in this sunny, seaside city, whatever your mood.

Get Caffeinated: Swell Café Mission Beach

 

Begin the day sipping coffee by the sea at the Swell Café in Mission Beach. Located a block from the ocean, the sweet smell of coffee mixes tantalizingly with an ocean breeze. The popular spot roasts its own beans while staying conscious of its impact on the environment. You won’t find any Styrofoam here. So, grab a cup “for here” and order from their diverse breakfast menu. From acai bowls to vanilla bean French toast, there is something delicious for everyone from the health-conscious to the less-so.

 

Get Arty: Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego Downtown

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the architecture of our downtown location this Saturday! Join us for two FREE…

Posted by Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego on Wednesday, October 14, 2015

 

This offshoot of the larger MCASD space in La Jolla is worth a visit, especially if you’re under 25 (admission is free!). Dedicated to art made after 1950, the space is small and intimate with just a few quiet galleries to explore. Currently on display through February is Robert Irwin’s literally brilliant Light and Space, a room-sized installation of florescent light tubes. You can also interact with Judith Barry’s experiential video installation, Voice Off, an exploration of our interior and exterior voices made manifest at the same time.

 

Get Shopping: Junc Life in South Park

It takes a village to create holiday spirit! Start yours with one of these! #junclife #lifestyle #shopsmall #christmasvillage #gifts #decorations #shoplocal #accessories #southparksd

Posted by JUNC LIFE on Wednesday, December 16, 2015

 

From Downtown San Diego, the cozy and tree-lined enclave of South Park is less than a 10-minute drive away. Meander in and out of a bevy of boutiques, many of which specialize in local and artisanal goods. It’s like a well-curated Instagram account come to life. Junc Life bills itself as a “lifestyle mercantile” and carries new and vintage clothes, accessories, furniture and food. Its offerings are quirky, eclectic and often one-of-a-kind, just like the neighborhood itself.

 

Get Tipsy: Societe Brewing Company in Kearny Mesa

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Photo Courtesy of: Societe Brewing Company

San Diegans love their beer as evidenced by a booming craft brewery scene. More than 100 breweries entice locals and tourists alike to taste their specialties. Brewery-hopping tours have popped up in the last few years, but we suggest heading directly to the tasting room at Societe Brewing Company. Brewed on the premises, four distinct series of beers can be sipped and analyzed in a big open space. Get a bite from one of the food trucks that rotate throughout the week and if you plan to stay a while, grab a board game and play with your new beer-loving friends.

 

Get Down: RoofTop600 in the Gaslamp Quarter

Give yourself a midweek treat with drinks by the Rooftop600 at Andaz fire pit!

Posted by Rooftop600 at Andaz on Wednesday, April 9, 2014

 

Revelers of all kinds are drawn to the Gaslamp Quarter, the heart of San Diego’s booming nightlife scene. Victorian buildings are nestled among skyscrapers and a trolley chugs its way down the main drag. The walkable neighborhood makes bar- or club-hopping eminently doable, even in heels. Head up to RoofTop600 at Andaz. This poolside hotel lounge transforms into a club at night, complete with velvet ropes, fire pits, DJs and bottle service. But if Vegas-level clubbing isn’t your scene, there are plenty of other options all within stumbling distance.

 

 

Moving Abroad: One of the Scariest, Craziest, and Best Decisions I Ever Made

One day, not unlike any other, I got a call from my husband that would inevitably change our lives forever. There was a job opening for a position in England and he wanted to apply for it. We both thought that it would be an amazing opportunity for us and for our children to try something new and experience a completely different culture. We decided to go for it and let fate decide.

About a week later, he called me and told me that he had been selected for the job. I was equally thrilled and anxious. I’ve always wanted to visit England, but living there would be quite different. We only had three months to prepare for our move and there was so much to do. After we got the big stuff out of the way (passports, visas, and travel plans) I started to feel more excited than anything else. Finally, moving day came and we were on our way. The actual trip over went better than I had imagined. Our infant and toddler rocked the long flights, even with delays and sleep deprivation.

passengers plane blue
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

As we handed our paperwork to the customs officer, it really set in: I live in England. I’m thousands of miles away from everything and everyone I know. We wouldn’t be seeing our families much over the next few years, unless it was on a screen. I suddenly felt displaced and alone. Maybe I would feel better after I got some rest and regained my bearing, I thought.

When the jet lag finally wore off and coffee was enough to pull me out of the haze I was in, I started transitioning to my new life in England. We started looking for a house and a car. There was definitely a bit of culture shock at first. Everything was smaller here. Looking at houses and cars made me panic for a moment. Are we going to find a place that works for us? Are the kids going to be happy? Was moving here the right decision?

Then I realized that I needed to stop comparing everything and just see it for what it is. Things weren’t wrong, they were just different. The second house we looked at was in a small village and had an amazing view of a big potato farm behind it. Unlike the first house we looked at, it wasn’t on a busy,  narrow street. It was also walking distance from my son’s new preschool and a nature preserve. We fell in love with it almost instantly.

Image via Pixabay under license CC0
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

This is an old country, brimming with historical sites and beautiful architecture. However, the layout of the roads is just as old and was designed with horses in mind. I was actually warned upon my arrival to watch out for horses because they’re worth more than my car: no joke. Many roads are barely wide enough for two cars. Parking is scarce so it’s common to see people parked halfway on a curb anywhere along the road. When driving, you have to weave around them, pedestrians, and cyclists while hoping that the drivers coming at you have had enough tea to keep their reflexes sharp. After awhile, it’s become second nature and I’ve honestly wondered if it’ll be just as weird switching back to driving on the right side of the road when I go back to America.

Once we settled in a little, I began to fall in love with England. The skies here are the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. Breathtaking blue skies and big, fluffy clouds provide the perfect contrast for the bright green, open fields. Every time I look out at the view behind our house, especially at sunset, I feel serene and content.

Image via Pixabay under license CC0
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

Of all the places to move abroad, I’m glad I went to England first. There’s a wide variety of accents and, while they use many words and phrases that I’m not used to, it’s still less of a dramatic difference since they speak English. I keep forgetting that I’m the one with the foreign accent now. Most of the locals don’t seem to care at all and almost all of them have been very friendly.

There are castles, cathedrals, Stonehenge, Shakespeare’s home, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace… the list of things to see and do here goes on and on. It’s also just a cheap train ride or a quick flight to many other places in Europe. I love that my kids get to explore these places rather than just reading about them in a book. Also, my son gets the experience of attending British school for the first few years. My daughter is just learning to speak, so it’ll be interesting to see if either of them pick up a British accent.

I miss my family and friends all the time, but I also feel like this is the opportunity of a lifetime and I’m so glad we went for it. If you’re considering moving abroad, I would tell you to let go of the fear of the unknown and take the leap. You won’t regret it.

A Native’s New Orleans

“Welcome to Nawwwlins,” the cabbie says as I shut the dilapidated white taxi door outside the Louis Armstrong International Airport. It’s Monday night, and tomorrow is Mardi Gras. My plane departs again in 24 hours but that’s all one needs to experience New Orleans, as long as you’ve got an itinerary from a native and the ability to fend off sleep with a little voodoo. Most visitors to the Crescent City head straight for Bourbon St., but any local resident knows there’s a whole lot more than a Hurricane at Pat O’ Brien’s.

The cab driver drops me off uptown at the Columns Hotel, a historic 19th-century era home along St. Charles. Trolley cars trundle by the hotel, which is held up by the tall white columns that you’d expect to see on a plantation home. Humidity hangs heavy in the air along with draped Spanish Moss on oak trees, providing a spooky atmosphere unique to the city. I walk through a tall and elegantly engraved doorway, joining the small crowds that have gathered in a mahogany-walled smoking room drinking Sazeracs in front of a mirrored bar. The Columns is a great hotel to rest your head, but on this night of the year, sleep isn’t on the agenda. At least that’s the mantra of Frank Purpera, a local physician and my wingman. We’ve known the city and each other for years, having grown up on the bayou. And each year we unite for a few hours that can often seem like days.

Columns Hotel New Orleans

Walking just a couple blocks north along the steel trolley tracks, we find the door to Cote Sud, a small, cash-only French bistro on Maple Street. We order steamed mussels swimming in garlic and white wine butter, baked oysters with a side of blue cheese butter, baked frogs legs, salmon with creamed spinach and grilled hanger steak served with Dijon mustard and mixed vegetables. Fat Tuesday is a celebration of decadence before Easter fasting or Lent begins. In New Orleans, the restauranteurs are experts at indulging the local practice pretty much year round.

Cote Sud New Orleans

After dinner we visit the laundromat, Igor’s. I don’t have any clothes to wash (yet) but the combination pool-hall, laundromat and bar serves the best Bloody Mary’s in the country. Maybe the world. Home to several scenes from the movie, The Pelican Brief, Igor’s offers great drinks at reasonable prices and drink specials from 5 AM until 7 AM. For a second I wonder if it’s weird that a laundromat is also a bar. But on second thought, shouldn’t that be the norm?

At around 9pm, Frank and I wander from St. Charles to Tchoupatoulis [Chop-a-too-lis] Street to Tipitanas, a music venue where many local and national bands cut their teeth and get their big breaks. Tonight, the Raw Oyster Cult is performing, and The Radiators’ front man and guitarist, Dave Malone and Papa Grows Funk’s founder John Gros are leading New Orleans style blues vocals. Gros plays his monster Hammond B-3 organ like the Muppets’ Animal at a church rock wedding. On any given night at Tipitinas, you might hear rock, blues, jazz or any number of local or international favorites like The Rebirth Brass Band or The New Breed Brass Band. The lineup is always changing and you can usually get a front row standing spot.

Tipitina's New Orleans

After the show we stop by Snake and Jake’s Christmas Club Lounge . It’s a “club/lounge” in the sense that someone’s decided to convert their uptown garage into a Christmas themed bar well over a decade ago. The fat tabby cat is lounging on the bar as mixed breed dogs wander around the pool table. The black and white TV is plugged into an old school Atari, which was not placed there for hipster irony. I dig in a bin for the paddles to play Pong and survey the scene. It’s rumored that if you show up in a birthday suit at Snake and Jake’s, everyone drinks for free. We don’t stick around to see that. After a two-dollar Schlitz, we move on.

Snake and Jake's Christmas Lounge New Orleans

Ten PM is quickly 2AM, and at 6AM sharp Mardi Gras will kick off. Not in one place, but in hundreds across the Pelican State. The most unique site is the Courir De Gras Festival, in a town southwest of New Orleans named Mamou. There are only about 3,500 residents in Mamou, but their Mardi Gras celebration is one of the most interesting and historically rooted in the world. There’s no time to drive the 80 or so miles west so we ring up a local helicopter pilot and friend, Beau Randall. Beau’s father made a living flying blue crabs from the Gulf up to Maryland where they fetched top dollar in the 80s. These days, he’s carrying on the family tradition as a private helicopter pilot to the big players in the oil and gas industry.

After a quick flight over the Atchafalaya Basin, we touch down in a Mamou rice field. Down the gravel lined street the Courir de Gras is getting under way with a whip yielding costumed man atop a horse instructing eager participants on how the race will be run. Masked men and women listen to his commands before chasing chickens and pigs through the muddy fields, collecting ingredients for what will become a celebratory gumbo dinner. The tradition, which originated in Europe, was carried to Louisiana by the French Acadians in the late eighteenth century.

As the festivities carry on, Beau and I walk back over to the Robinson R22 that’s parked in one of the nearby rice fields. He powers it up and we’re back in the sky on our way to New Orleans once again for the pièce de résistance of my twenty-four hour stay: The Zulu Parade.

But before heading to the parade near the French Quarter, we stop for breakfast at Café Du Monde. Its famous powdered sugar beignets are the perfect breakfast on pretty much any day, not to mention Fat Tuesday. Frank, Beau and I match them with hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and Irish Coffees. We talk about Zulu and about our chances of catching an elusive coconut, careful not to inhale the powdered sugar, a rookie Café Du Monde mistake.

Cafe Du Monde New Orleans

Early in 1909, a comedy at the Pythian Theater in New Orleans included a skit entitled, “There Never Was and Never Will Be a King Like Me,” about the Zulu Tribe. That comedy evolved into an African American Mardi Gras crew in New Orleans that each year celebrates Fat Tuesday with a parade and the most coveted throws of all: a hand-painted coconut. The jungle beat of drums thud through the crowd, people scream for coconuts and beads, and I’m attempting to call an Uber to get back to the airport when Frank inexplicably catches the prize. It’s all a bit hard to believe, but that’s just New Orleans done right. Feb 9, 2016, it all happens again.

I Heart Lisbon in One Day

Nestled amid rolling hills and along the Tagus River is Lisbon — the capital city of Portugal, and an ideal travel destination for anyone who enjoys history, art, Mediterranean cuisine, music, unique architecture, and a happy environment. Practically everything about the city is cheerful and bright, from the sunny skies to the friendly residents; and tourists quickly fall in love with their surroundings.

Image via Pixabay under license CC0
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

There is plenty to keep you busy, but the first thing to do when you wake up in Lisbon is head to a local café and enjoy coffee with a simple breakfast of bread and butter or a tosta (a toasted sandwich of your choice). Few cultures bake bread better than the Portuguese, and the butter will have you salivating for more. Also, for around $3 (or less) how can you go wrong?

Literature lovers may opt to enjoy their morning coffee at Café A Brasileira, which was commonly frequented by writers and artists, including the famous Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa in the early 1900s. This charming spot is one of the oldest and most famous cafés in Lisbon.

iStock.com/Holger Mette
iStock.com/Holger Mette

One of my favorite things to do in Lisbon is meander through the neighborhoods on foot. There is so much to see and walking gives you time to absorb the sites. Plus, walking allows you to see half of the city streets that are connected with stone steps leading up and down the seven hills.

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Stairs through the Seven Hills in Lisbon neighborhood

Asking for the city center is a vague request, and a few neighborhoods are all considered central. Baixa-Chiado is one that attract droves of tourists for its shopping and proximity to other hotspots. There is also Avenida, known for designer stores and big name hotels, Bairro Alto, which is full of restaurant patrons by day and swarming with party animals at night, and the beautifully eclectic Cais de Sodré, famous for its Pink Street (Rua Cor-de-Rosa), colorful history, and sexually-charged burlesque shows and risque themed clubs.

Chiado Lisbon Portugal
Chiado neighborhood, Lisbon, Portugal

Freckled across these neighborhoods are parks decorated with gardens, statues, and benches, and crowned with lookout points that allow visitors to see across the city. Some have views of the river while others look over the city and toward the Moorish castle of São Jorge. They are the perfect locations for picnics and picture-taking.

castelo de sao jorge
Castelo de São Jorge

Though much of the city will make you feel like you’ve gone back in time, not everything is old and historic. When you need a modern setting, check out Parque das Naçoes, the site of the World Exposition 1998. Here you will find the aquarium, a theater, and plenty of restaurants, all settled along a boardwalk where people run, hang out, and walk their dogs along the river. This is also the location of Oriente train station, where trains connect travelers to other locations across the country.

Image via Pixabay under license CC0
Belem Tower | Image via Pixabay under license CC0

From Parque das Naçoes, visitors have a close view of the Vasco da Gama bridge, the longest bridge in Europe. South of the city you will find two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower. Both were built in the 16th century and are worth a visit for a glimpse of Portugal’s traditional gothic-themed architecture mixed with the renaissance flair.

jeronimo monastery
Jeronimo Monastery | Image via Pixabay under license CC0

While exploring, you will get hungry, and Lisbon has no shortage of delightful restaurants and cafés to satisfy most palates. Like its history, the Portuguese cuisine is rich in maritime influences. Squid, clams, cod, sardines, mussels, and snails are a few examples of seafood you can find in a Portuguese dish. Other popular dishes include a variety of soups, pork-based sausages, and surf-turf blends.

Do you want to sit outside with friends and hear music? Visit Martim Moniz! The expanse of green lawn is lined with food vendors that reflect cuisine from the mainland as well as Madeira Island and the Azores, and almost always serenaded with concerts reflecting various music styles.

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Arroz de Marisco (Seafood rice)

When dining in Lisbon, there is usually never a need to pay more than $20 per plate, and budget savvy travelers can eat well at dinner time for under $10. And don’t miss dessert! The residents of Lisbon, known as Lisboetas (pronounced leesh-bow-et-ash), have a sweet tooth; a fact that won’t be missed when looking through the windows of the bakeries and sweet shops. Pasteis de Nata, small custard cakes with egg cream filling, are a must-try that melt on the tongue. You should also sample the variety of cakes, puddings, cookies, creams, fried dough, and truffles available at every street and corner.

Image via Pixabay under license CC0
Pasteis de Nata | Image via Pixabay under license CC0

Of course, there are times when we feel like escaping the hustle and bustle of city life, and the Lisbon district has the perfect getaway location. Hop on a train from Oriente Station and in under an hour later, you will find yourself in the enchanting, storybook town of Sintra, located in the mountains and with a view of the ocean. Surrounded by forest and dotted with castles, remnants that date back to the Bronze and Iron Ages, and lavish gardens, this location will make you feel like you’ve traveled to the world where kings and queens still rule and fairies grant wishes.

Castle in Sintra, Portugal | Image via Pixabay under license CC0
Castle in Sintra, Portugal | Image via Pixabay under license CC0

4 Days in Chiang Mai, Thailand

In northern Thailand, you’ll find the intriguing city of Chiang Mai nestled among rolling hills. An hour by air from Bangkok, its counterpart in the south, Chiang Mai is the capital of Chiang Mai Province and former seat of the Kingdom of Lanna, which still influences its culture. It’s the opposite of Bangkok in many ways, offering a more relaxed pace and opportunity to catch your breath after the hustle and bustle of the southern capital. The welcoming spirit of its people, breathtaking scenery and spicy food have been drawing more and more visitors in recent years. We’ve put together a list of must-sees that will have you communing with elephants, tasting the food and saying a prayer in and around beautiful Chiang Mai.

Wat Pan Tao in the Old City

In the heart of the old city is Wat Pan Tao, a small wooden temple that stands out from the rest of the temples in the country for its simplicity and natural materials. A golden statue of Buddha floats above a pond near the monastery. Remember that when visiting a wat, you must remove your shoes and cover your shoulders, so bring along a scarf or long-sleeve shirt.

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Huen Phen Restaurant

Before you leave Chiang Mai, have lunch at Huen Phen, a famous restaurant that has been catering to locals, and now many tourists, since the 1960s. They specialize in traditional northern Thai food, called Lanna cuisine, that’s served in the Karan-style on a family-style tray. Pork is an important part of Lanna cuisine, so be sure to taste the larb khua moo, a heavy, dry-spiced curry made with minced pork, seasoned with cinnamon and cumin and garnished with shallots and crispy kaffir lime leaves. The best part: a delicious four-course meal comes out to about the equivalent of $6, including tip.

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Chiang Mai Eco-Village in the Karan Valley

From Chiang Mai, the Karan Valley is just a bouncing and bumpy SUV ride away. If you’re lucky, the driver might just blast some Britney Spears hits from a thumb drive as you pass rice patties, banana trees and lounging elephants. Lying low among the hills is the Chiang Mai Eco-Village, a rustic hotel made up of six bungalows and an open-air kitchen. What it lacks in luxury it makes up for in elephants, which you can see from the window of your hut each morning when you wake up. Join a tour to a nearby watering hole. A cool, crisp spring trickles from the steep hills and gathers in a natural pool of sorts. It’s a delight to watch elephants relish their baths after a hard day of work. Eco-Village visitors can also go bamboo rafting. Just beware of the carnivorous snakes that lie below the surface of the muddy water.

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Savannah: A Spellbinding Getaway

I lived in Georgia for a number of years, and one of the best parts about it was having so many unique destinations nearby to visit on my weekends off. All throughout the Peach State, North and South Carolina, and into Florida are beautiful cities bursting with history, culture, and that Southern Charm for which the region has come to be known throughout the world. Savannah–where you’ll find majestic oak trees dripping with Spanish moss, cobblestone streets from decades past, and horse-drawn carriages, all throughout a grid of historical and architecturally-fascinating buildings–is the oldest, and possibly most classic city in Georgia.

It’s a perfect place for a quick getaway this season, not to mention, the weather is perfect right now for a city where it’s best to blow around wherever the winds take you.

head stones savannah ga
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

While putting this together, I enlisted the help of a good friend of mine, Mike, who happens to still live in the area. He’s always had such wonderful, interesting stories to tell of his adventures. He shared his first trip to Savannah with me:

“[It] involved the ‘best walking tour ever’ created by a close friend of mine. This ‘tour’ revolved around a clover shaped pattern centered on a pirate themed t-shirt store that sold dollar pints. We’d get a pint for each hand, go off on our merry way, find adventure, loop back, get more pints, repeat; you get the picture. Objectively, it was not the best tour. As memory serves, it was a fantastic evening.”

I have gathered from his tales and my own experiences that there is no wrong way to do Savannah. Mike was kind enough to provide me with some tried and true suggestions before I returned to the historic district of Savannah, GA.

 

SEE

Bonaventure Cemetery is the most famous cemetery in Savannah and is over 200 years old and 100 acres in size, according to the Bonaventure Historical Society. Here, you can take in the sights of unique Gothic headstones and grave markers, some above very prominent individuals in history. Stopping by here is a must; it is absolutely gorgeous. Half of the graveyard is simply (while not simple at all) works of sculpted art so ornate you may forget you’re in a cemetery. The famous Bird Girl statue from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil was once a huge tourist draw to the cemetery (although it is no longer here). Stop by the visitor center on your way in for maps and all the information you need.

Bonaventure Cemetery – 330 Bonaventure Road, Savannah GA 31404

Photo courtesy of Bonaventure Historical Society
Image courtesy of Bonaventure Historical Society

You’ll find that there are plenty of tours to choose from–some walking, some in horse-drawn carriages–that will regale you with stories of the spirits that roam the city. A unique one is the World Famous Hearse Tour, which will take you around town in a real hearse, through cemeteries and historic districts, telling spooky tales to ensure the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Don’t worry, they promise on their website to keep it funny and lighthearted.

Hearse Ghost Tours – 412 E Duffy St, Savannah, GA 31401

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Image courtesy of Hearse Ghost Tours

Savannah Smiles Dueling Piano Bar, located near River Street, is a great way to start the evening. There’s lots of food, drinks, and limitless energy, coming from both the crowd and the pianists.

Savannah Smiles Dueling Piano Bar – 314 Williamson St, Savannah, GA 31401

 

EAT

As far as food is concerned, Bay Street and River Street both have plenty of dining options to choose from. While they definitely cater to tourists, they’re no slouches when it comes to food.

As for ‘secret’ spots, there aren’t many Savannah places that stay secret for long. You can find so many good things to eat in this city, and it’s one of those locales where you have your choice of price ranges, cuisines, and at the drop of a hat, can wander in any direction and find something tasty.

crab legs
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

Tubby’s Tank House is a seafood restaurant that is considered ‘real’ Savannah. If you’re planning on having shrimp, crab, oysters, etc., Tubby’s is a great option. They have a giant deck overlooking the marina at the mouth of the river, providing a relaxing view while you dine on the waterfront.

Tubby’s Tank House River Street – 115 E. River St., Savannah, GA 31401

tubbys tank house restaurant
Image courtesy of Live Oak Restaurant Group

World Famous Clary’s Cafe – skip the celebrity cathedral of butter and check out this nostalgic cafe for crab eggs Benedict, biscuits and gravy, grits, and more. Another southern staple you can get here: sweet tea. Nowhere is sweet tea done as well as it’s done in the South.

Clary’s Café, 404 Abercorn St., Savannah, GA 31401

biscuits and gravy
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

For those with a sweet tooth, check out Lulu’s Chocolate Bar – a dessert restaurant, all items made from scratch, that also serves drinks and martinis (in chocolate variations, of course).

Lulu’s Chocolate Bar -42 MLK Jr. Blvd., Savannah, GA 31401

Also, Savannah’s Candy Kitchen – because pralines; no need for further explanation. Keep in mind, you’re now in the part of the country where pecans are referred to as PEE-cans.

Savannah’s Candy Kitchen – 225 E River St, Savannah, GA 31401

 

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Moon River Brewing Company is known for good food and craft beers like “Yoga Pants,” a pilsner with fruit aromas, and “Taterlicious!” an amber ale made with sweet potatoes. According to their site, Moon River is also regarded as one of the most haunted in the city and is Savannah’s only haunted brewery.

Moon River Brewing Company21 W Bay St, Savannah, GA 31401

beer glasses
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

Molly MacPherson’s. Go there. Mention Kevin Barry’s (Irish Pub). Start a fight. Molly MacPherson’s Scottish Pub has the East Coast’s largest selection of single malt scotch whiskey, according to their site. Try the Shepherd’s Pie, a traditional Scottish dish, or the fish and chips, a favorite among return patrons.

Molly MacPherson’s – 311 W Congress St, Savannah, GA 31401

molly macphersons pub
Image courtesy of Molly MacPherson’s Scottish Pubs

Vinnie Van Go Go’s Pizza for late night cravings – right in the middle of Bay Street and staffed almost entirely by SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) students, they will make you a heavenly slice. You’ll eat it right outside, standing, because its a busy joint. Cash only, of course.

Vinnie Van Go Go’s – 317 West Bryan Street, Savannah GA, 31401

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Image via Pixabay under license CC0

 

STAY

Elegant antique décor, luxurious amenities, and Southern charm await guests at the Marshall House in the Historic District. According to their site, ghosts have been seen in the hallways and foyers over the years, but they assure you that there’s nothing to be afraid of. Situated in a great location, the hotel is walking distance to River Street, a 200-yr old area filled with restaurants and shops, and just four blocks from Chippewa Square Park, the site of Forrest Gump’s bus bench from the 1994 film. The actual bench itself can be seen at the Savannah History Museum just 15 minutes away.

savannah river boat
Image via Pixabay under license CC0