Holy Crap!?

Ah, well... speaking of mountains...


wingsuit base jumping from doubleA on Vimeo.

Treasure Trove of Travel Photos

By now, you've probably heard the news that Google is hosting the Life Magazine photo archive online... over ten million images of every historic subject you can imagine. It's fascinating stuff and a terrible time waster if you want to really dig.

Give then purpose of this site, I thought it would be cool to post some tourist and travel related images.

TWA Stewardess in 1933

American tourist and his guide in Paris, 1957

Cafe patrons in Buenos Aires in 1961

Tourists visiting ancient ruins in Greece in 1959

Musicians entertain travelers in Mexico City Airport in 1958

Cool Airport T-shirts

I came across a cool T-shirt yesterday while waiting for my flight back to Houston from San Francisco. Red White and Beer (yup, that's their name), has a complete line of t-shirts inspired by old school luggage tags. I picked up the SFO shirt because I liked how it wasn't your typical, "Hi, I went to San Francisco... or New York... Topeka, whatever" t-shirt. I'm looking forward to the FCO and EZE shirts but there are plenty of other great ones available and more on the way...

Shots fired at Santa

While I would love to visit Rio De Janeiro, I always wonder about safety in the city. Certain stories make you think - maybe it's not so safe when Santa can't even catch a break.

Starbucks Spreads Its Wings

Full Discolure... we're in a sitting in a Starbucks right now. We spend a lot of time at Starbucks... too much. We'll admit it. Yes, probably daily visits... and part of it is just the experience of going there, hanging out, bringing the laptop or a book or a magazine and just chillin' out with our little baby. It's an American take on cafe' society, I suppose. Cities like Houston don't really have hordes of cafes where one can sip an espresso and watch the world go by. So, for us in the States, Starbucks will do quite nicely.

But... what do you do when you encounter a Starbucks overseas? I think it's a bit of a quandary. I can unequivocally say that I wouldn't dare set foot in a Starbucks in Italy. No way - it would be like eating McDonald's in Italy. Just so wrong. Now, Canada? I felt no qualms about it - we did it quite a bit while in Ottawa. Then there's places like London...

According to my boss, there are more Starbucks in London than there are in New York City. I think he's telling the truth - from what we saw during our New Year's Eve trip to London, Starbucks was everywhere. There were two within close walking distance in Marylebone. You would usually find a competing Costa Coffee across the street. Well, I guess we just didn't have a big problem with it in London, as you can see from my wife's cup. We grabbed some before taking a train to Hampton Court.

Some people see this as a blight to foreign countries. I don't know... much of me tends to agree. I can't imagine getting a Starbucks in Buenos Aires - yes, it has arrived in Argentina. It just doesn't seem right in BsAs. Same goes for Italy, as mentioned. Now, what about China? Starbucks is starting to expand like crazy in China. Singapore is full of Starbucks stores. Apparently the locals don't mind. The Starbucks in Al Khobar, according to my business associates, is full of young Saudis enjoying a taste of western culture.

At the end of the day, the way I tend to look at it is this - the more "english" the country, the less I mind Starbucks. The more traditional European (i.e. France, Italy, Spain) the country, the less I like the idea (but don't tell anyone we had Starbucks in Madrid - I'm somewhat ashamed but dang it helped with jetlag). I guess it's personal choice. For me, it's remains a quandary. Just know this - Starbucks + Italy + me will never happen.

Saudi Blogs

One of my largest clients is a well-known international organization in Saudi Arabia. Given that I now work with this Saudi firm, I occasionally do a little bit of digging around a very complex but fascinating culture. It looks as if Saudi Arabia is going through some interesting boom times thanks to the sky high prices of oil. However, if you want to get the opinions of two "regular folks" who live in Saudi Arabia, I'm adding two blogs to my page - Saudi Jeans, written by a Saudi youth, and American Bedu, written by a former diplomat married to a Saudi. I hope you find them enlightening.

Protesting for Passengers

I can understand people's frustration when stuck on a plane for hours during a flight delay. Earlier this year, we sat on the tarmac for 3 hours in Newark - my wife was pregnant and not feeling very comfortable. However, I'm not sure what this is going to accomplish. I can't see Congressment stopping by this tent and, if anything, it reminds me of the squatter-style tents I would see protesting in Argentina. For the most part, they sit there and accomplish nothing. I would suggest some other form of lobbying for legislation but can't see this doing much. But that's just me...

I like Doors, I like Windows

I like doors, I like windows, I like doors and windows and people standing in front of doors, leaning out their windows, hanging out in the street by a door or the bicycle they used to get to that door. If it's a door, or a window or an interesting part of a door or window, it's a target for my camera.

An elegant knocker in Paris, France

The charm of Plaza Dorrego in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Detail of a lock in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

Ice Cream Shop in San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico

Lottery Ticket Vendor in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

18th Century Restaurant in Vieux Montreal, Canada

A watery front door in Venice, Italy

A Victorian Door Latch in Cardinal, Ontario

Scene from the old Jewish Ghetto in Rome, Italy

A colorful window off of Portobello Road in London, England

The decaying walls of Villa Torlonia in Rome, Italy

A San Telmo delivery made in Buenos Aires, Argentina

The late afternoon sun in Rome, Italy

Monkey Business and an Update on Yapta

I never thought I'd see the day where this kind of quote appeared in an article...

"Other passengers asked the man if he knew he had a monkey on him,"

Oh... I'm still testing Yapta - so far, all it's showing me is that the fares I'm interested in keep going up (!?!). One things I don't like about it is that I'm constrained to specific travel days in my searches. Personally, we're flexible so to have to give very specific dates is a problem. Travelocity used to allow people to look at "time periods" but has since stopped doing that for international flights. That's a problem when the fares you're exploring are Rome and Buenos Aires.

Bret Baier Blog on Mens Health

I spotted a great blog earlier today - the Bret Baier Project - on Men's Health. Looks like Bret, the Chief White House Correspondent for Fox News - is tracking his travels, his weight loss and the upcoming birth of his baby. Sounds familiar.

Back Home

Woo hoo... caught an earlier flight home from Philly today, making it back to the house 1 1/2 earlier than I would have. Whew!

It was all I could do to keep my nerves when stuck in traffic in Philadelphia knowing that I had to hurry to catch my flight. Of course, the security line was slow but what's new? Anyway, back home for a couple of weeks.

On a random note, the British version of Men's Health had an article on playing elephant polo. It was the magazine's latest installment of things one should do before dying. Pretty cool. The article points out another option that is decidedly less cool and, well, downright dorky.

"Heavy" action in a polo match

Conquitos

Things are getting a little calmer so here's something I wanted to share with you. I don't know about you but I love to visit grocery stores in other countries. You come across all kinds of random products, funny names and then those items that you had to see to believe. Well, here's one of those items, found in Spain.

Behold Conguitos...

So, what we're looking at here is the white chocolate version of the product (picture taken on my backpack while sitting in the airport in Madrid). These are white chocolate covered peanuts. You can just imagine what the character for the milk chocolate covered peanuts looks like. Am I the only one who finds the packaging for Conguitos unbelievable? Check out their web page to see more.

And now, to erase possible doubt, Conguitos will have their own signature: each and every Conguito will have a Conguito face so you will know that you have not made a mistake!

Well, they are indeed unmistakable.

Trouble in the Skies

Their first mistake... joining the "Mile High Club"... twice! Their second mistake, getting belligerent and ending up handcuffed while the flight is diverted.

We felt like we were being very naughty but we made a point of being quiet.

Well... you reap what you sow.

Travel threads

How many great T-shirts do you know that allow you blend your love for travel and lawnmowing? You'd think there would be a ton out there but, ironically, I've only found one (and I happen to be wearing it). Defunker has several unique designs... some wry, some very artistic and others just plain goofy. This shirt caught my eye as soon as I spotted it.

While you're at it, check out Threadless T-shirts. There's nothing truly travel related there but you're sure to find one you'll love. We just order a couple different shirts (one for me, one for her) but there were others that were tempting.

The Joys of Home

Neither one of us is traveling for a few weeks. Sometimes it's nice to just enjoy the scenery in your own backyard, like the way shadows dance across sheers in the morning light... a great way to wake up in your own bed.


Speaking of enjoying home, sometimes it doesn't take much to remind me why we don't live in a snowy climate. There's March in Houston (in our backyard)...


...and there's March up north...



...and

Fare Insanity

Memphis... home of Elvis, Graceland, BBQ and the mighty Mississippi.

London... A cosmopolitan city brimming with history, culture, Indian food and vibrancy.

These two cities couldn't be further apart from each other geographically or culturally. Memphis is less than 500 miles from Houston. London's Gatwick airport is 4,853 miles from Houston. Yet, the fares for the two cities are, give or take a few, the same!?

I occasionally check fares to Memphis so we can visit friends but the amounts are preposterous. Granted, you're flying from a Continental hub to a Northwest hub but $480 for a flight to Memphis in the Spring? Spend a few dollars more and you can visit London Tower. Baffling!? Typically fares to Memphis are a joke - $300 - $400 - but these fares take the comedic value to new heights.

By the way, think you know geography? Test your world knowledge via this 10 minute country quiz. I couldn't name 74 countries.

Decadent Affordability

Admittedly, Travel + Leisure has never claimed to be a budget travel magazine. Yet, I'm always amused when a travel magazine bandies about the word "affordable" when discussing $300 a night hotel rooms. While waiting in Logan Airport for a flight back from Boston, I picked up the March 2007 issue. The cover touted "25 Affordable Beach Resorts". Knowing I probably wouldn't come across a true list of 25 resorts, I still bought a copy as I do enjoy the magazine and generally devour most anything travel-related.

Keeping my eyes peeled for good tips, I came across a few gems inside:

Page 30 includes a list of (Best Deals) 3.07. Perhaps there are more ways to define "deal" that I realized. The lead "deal" was a two-night Romantic Hong Kong Experience package from the Langham Hotel that included a helicopter ride, all for only $1,400.00

Page 61 says that for "an affordable alternative" to Potsdamer Platz, you might want to rest your head at the Dorint Sofitel am Gendarmenmarkt for an economically-minded $375/night and up.

Page 81 lists essential items one might bring to Costa Rica for an upscale surf trip. Be sure to bring a heavily padded board bag to carry your $4,895.00 Chanel surf board. Don't expect a warm welcome as you paddle out into the line-up.

Oh... and those 25 resorts? Well, they may have actually named a few as a majority were listed as $200/night or less including the Hotel Estalagem da Ponta do Sol in Madeira for $106/night.

Conde' Nast Contest

One of the more recent issues of Conde' Nast traveler recently announced their 20th anniversary $20,000 Dream Trip Contest.

Upload a memorable travel moment—a photograph you took on your travels and a brief explanation of what you're sharing—to our online contest gallery. Wow the editors and win a $20,000 DREAM TRIP TO ANYWHERE ON EARTH!

Other prizes like digital cameras and noise canceling headphones are awarded on a daily basis. I submitted one of my favorite photographs from our past trip to London. However, it wasn't until I submitted the photograph that I noticed "the small print". If you care about maintaining the rights to your photograph, know that the contest rules include the following clause (all caps is their doing, not mine):

Sponsor shall have the right to edit, adapt, and publish any or all of the Submissions, and may use them in any media without attribution or compensation to the contestant, his or her successors or assigns, or any other entity. ENTERING A SUBMISSION IN THIS CONTEST CONSTITUTES PARTICIPANT'S IRREVOCABLE ASSIGNMENT, CONVEYANCE, AND TRANSFERENCE TO SPONSOR OF ALL RIGHT, TITLE, AND INTEREST IN THE SUBMISSION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL COPYRIGHTS.

Of course, if you simply want to enjoy the submissions, don't miss out on the contest gallery. There are thousands upon thousands of pictures to browse - some stunning, some not so great.

Feb 25th Amazing Race Results

You can have the Oscars, I'll take the drama in Amazing Race. Rob and Amber continue to be a force. People either love them or hate them - I enjoy watching them play the game and seeing everyone else obsess over them. David and Mary need to stop being so "helpful" and need to focus on the game if they plan on sticking around.

Amazing Race is Back!

Travel/TV addicts rejoice... Amazing Race is back with Amazing Race All-Stars. If you missed last night's episode or suffered the cruel fate of the 30 minute delay on TiVO or DVR, an episode and video recap is online.

No surprise... Rob and Amber came in first at the Quito, Ecuador pit stop. The leader board is now as follows: