The latest T-Boy Society of Film & Music poll is devoted to our members’ favorite international destination. That is, the first international destination we’d visit when the roadways, skyways and waterways are deemed safe to travel. You’ll find members’ selections to be illuminating, telling us much about their own personal preferences.  – EB

Susan Breslow – T-Boy Writer

Madrid, Spain – Despite the king and queen of Spain issuing an order in 1492 for all Jews to be expelled from the country, this Semitic jet-setter is determined to return. I first visited Madrid in 2019. A big fan of walkable cities, I made my way from bustling Gran Via to Puerta del Sol (the center of the country) and then into wide, airy Plaza Mayor. Entranced by the sights, the sounds (what was a mariachi band doing playing in Puerta del Sol?), and the shops, I ventured beyond. I visited the Prado Museum, slipped into Casa Alberto at la hora de vermut (1 pm, the vermouth hour) for a glass of the sweet fortified wine and Spanish olives, wandered the Literary Quarter, attended live flamenco performances at night. It was only a taste, which left me hungry for more of this city and country.

Richard Carroll – T-Boy Writer

The first international destination I will travel when it’s deemed safe to visit is Buenos Aires. The sensuous flow of tango envelops Buenos Aires like a big hug from a long lost lover. Intricate and lush, the essence of exquisite grace, tango has long captured the heart and passion of this grand city. The Portenos are eager to explain that tango is their very own priceless art form based on tradition and cultural roots. The passion and fervor of life can be seen in the royalty of the dance, but not unlike a naughty and mischievous little child who slowly but indisputably develops into a captivating icon, and now is celebrated worldwide. Throughout Buenos Aires tango has always gracefully touched me with a joyous welcome. The tango neighborhoods of La Boca or San Telmo is where the captivating rhythms of tango rule, and where the music and dance unifies the city in an artistic way that no other destination on the planet can match. I found that not all Portenos in Buenos Aires can tango; it often depends whether their mother or father taught them, but with a few lessons tango is captivating.

Writers have tabbed Buenos Aires, The Paris of South America, maybe not, but the large boulevards, historic architecture, fine dining, and a collection of distinctive neighborhoods, captured my travel soul. Browsing through the city with drifting riffs of guitar music touching my heart is a splendid way to cover a destination. The museum-like Cafe Tortoni on Avenida de Mayo dating to 1858, the oldest in the country, hosting everyone from Hilary and the King of Spain, to the late great Spanish poet, Federico Garcia Lorca, offers a top-rated tango show that has been enjoyed by thousands of visitors and Portenos alike. It was easy to see that Tango aficionados are never at a loss for a dance or live tango music, realizing that tango was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The cultural heritage easily spread throughout the region. From the shores of Buenos Aires across the broad Rio de la Plata, the world’s widest river, is Uruguay with long-lasting tango roots in Montevideo with countless Tangueros or tango dancers, and a thriving tango culture.

Sitting in the crowded Bar Sur club in San Telmo, an earthy, popular, neighborhood in the heart of Buenos Aires, I was tucked around one of nine tables, where it feels as if you are smack dab in the midst of an old black and white foreign movie, and Bogart is going to wander in with a tango dancer draped on his arm, cigarette dangling. The intimate tango room with its classic black and white tile floor, twirling ceiling fans, and gorgeous servers, filling a space the size of a few postage stamps, continues non-stop. The dazzling female Tangueros have certainly left a trail of broken hearts behind them, and with a style and grace close to ballet, they are mesmerizing. I’m counting the days when I can again revisit Buenos Aires. A tango lyric is engraved in my thoughts, “Please take a slender slice of time and set it aside and listen to my fascinating music of life, passion, and lost love.”

Tom Weber – T-Boy Writer

Salò: Lake Garda’s elegant and historic town – Situated on the southwestern corner of Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake, Salò is the most elegant town of all the lake’s locales. Sadly, during World War II, this gem on the lake also served as the capital of Mussolini’s failed attempt to relaunch fascism as the Republic of Salò.

Fyllis Hockman – T-Boy Writer

Provence, France – Only because we’re scheduled to leave November 21st, after having been cancelled twice before. So unless France closes down between now and then, we’re there!

James Boitano – T-Boy Writer

United Kingdom: Manchester and Wales – I have some longtime friends who live in Manchester. I visited them regularly every 5 years: in 2010 and again in 2015. I had planned to visit them in 2020 and even had my flight ticket to Manchester. We planned a fun trip to explore Wales and the Channel Islands. Of course, Covid got in the way for the past two years. So, the United Kingdom will be my next international destination.

Ringo Boitano – T-Boy Writer

Monterosso, Cinque Terre, Cinque Terre, Italy – The Conque Terre is a string of steep, hillside towns on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline, each with its own majestic setting of colorful houses and vineyards clinging to the terraces. The Sentiero Azzurro cliffside hiking trail links the five towns and offers sweeping, almost unimaginable vistas of the sea – and you must try to experience each of the towns! Monterosso, the first and largest of the five towns, is the only one with an expansive sandy beach, and is the best place to choose as your home base, with a recommended stay of a minimum of five days. After a day’s hike a refreshing swim is in order, followed by a Sciacchetrà, a liquored white wine from the vineyards’ slopes, a plate of fried anchovies (acciuga) caught that very day, and a bowl of Pesto alla Genovese at one of the many trattorias on Monterosso’s pulsating promenade.

Jim Gordon – T-Boy Writer

For me, it would be Italy, Italy, Italy! 2nd choice: England!

Weave Cleveland – T-Boy Writer

Lake Como in Northern Italy – It’s an early summer daydream where (my perception of) a beautiful mature lady drives me all around the region for at least 10 days, being my guide and chaperone. It also looks like I would surely agree to share the driving. Last week I watched the film The Burnt Orange Heresy and just knew that was it. I had never given it thought before but the region in Lombardy, Italy seemed like a special slice of Heaven, and the first place I would like to go is to Lake Como.

Roy Endersby – Philosopher

Brownes Beach, Barbados – The coast of the island nation of Barbados ranges from beaches with powdery sand and protected Caribbean waters to the powerful swells on the eastern Atlantic coast, good for surfing, but dangerous for swimming. Brownes Beach is conveniently set near the capitol city of Bridgetown, and serves as the perfect venue for a serious dose of Bajan flavor with nearby tropical bars and grills, local music and dancing, crowds of people swimming and snorkeling; and yet you can still find your own place in the sun. And all this from a former English colony; today a fascinating cultural fusion of the descendants of plantation owners and slaves, who serve elegant high tea and play cricket.

Phil Marley – Poet

Magens Bay, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands – Perhaps because it was my first tropical beach or maybe it was due to its heart shape, turquoise waters and one-mile stretch of white soft sand, I was a goner the second I saw Magens Bay. Located on the Atlantic side of St. Thomas – one of the three US Virgin Islands of the Caribbean – Magens Bay is a short, picturesque drive from the port town of Charlotte Amelia. There are no waves and currents, and there is a good mix of sun and shade under the palm trees. On the ends of the beach are rock formations that provide good snorkeling. Despite its distinction of being called one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the world by National Geographic Magazine, there are also very few people. Now that I think of it, it is for these very reasons that Magens Bay is my favorite beach in the world.

Skip Kaltenheuser – T-Boy Writer

Carnival Anywhere – Right now, any change of scene looks good. But if and when festivals crank up again without becoming super-spreader events, my primary addiction has always been Carnival across different cultures. But alternatively, solitude also attracts, such as returning to museums in Berlin or pursuits of wildlife in Africa or elsewhere. Of course, there’s also abundant solitude wandering amid crowds in foreign countries, whatever they’re up to. Intergenerational travel, sharing perspectives and sights with younger eyes, is always an informative pleasure I seek.

Ed Boitano – T-Boy Editor

English Bay, Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC – A mandatory pilgrimage for me is to stroll down Robson Street in downtown Vancouver to Stanley Park, my favorite urban park in the world. In the days of my honeymoon, we knew it as Robsonstrasse, due to the number of its German and European delis and bakeries. Today, I would continue further west towards the bay, and soon I am at Stanley Park’s English Bay. With the exception of a kayak trek, I’ve never once set foot into its waters; for the cool of the evening is my desired time to visit. Locals after work congregate on the beach or at nearby bars and grilles. Hikers and bicyclists traverse the lanes along the shore, and I simply take a place on a piece of driftwood and bask in the beauty of what is Vancouver today.

Annie Brouwer – T-Boy Writer

Hello…Italy. We just watched “Luca” the Pixar/Disney film, but I think that town isn’t real (Potorroso). I’d want to go there though.

Roger Fallihee – T-Boy Writer

I would love to visit Morocco. I’ve read that a large part of country is mountainous, which includes the Atlas and Rif Mountains. Apparently both ranges are mainly inhabited by the Berbers. I need to have a better understanding of these fascinating people. I mean, who the heck are they?

Tony Chisholm: T-Boy Writer

The Oregon Coast – I’d love to repeat a trip I enjoyed a few years ago in June, when I joined a contingent of hardy (we thought) cyclists from Toronto. We flew into Vancouver with our bikes for a 10 day cycling trip down the coast of Oregon. Our group included 2 guides and we’d be camping out for this spectacular 400 mile scenic adventure. From Vancouver we drove through Washington State to the Oregon border in our mini-bus picking up the rest of the cyclists along the way.

Finally on our bikes, we head out of the town of Astoria with “the wind on our backs” as promised. We were filled with the confidence that only ignorance can produce. We rode 44 miles the first day and then camped out that night on a beautiful beach that looked to be 10 miles long and very secluded. We found out why it was so secluded. When we went into the water which at 50 degrees was totally leg numbing.

The next day we ride 60 miles. The weather is cool and my friend Chris bonks (an athlete’s expression for running out of fuel). We started a “Yellow Jersey” contest for all the cyclists. Chris wins it for showing grace during a severe bonk and in desperate need of food. In fact, that day when we finally stopped for lunch Chris just kept ordering food until something arrived on the table. It ended up being literally half the menu!
Then comes the trial.

Monday dawns with lots of rain, rain and more rain! It poured all night. Everything we owned seemed wet. So we had the lovely task of dressing in wet, cold clothes to head out on our 65 mile ride. What an experience. This was our trial by rain. As we headed out, the rain intensified. The cold water poured out of our jackets down our legs and into our shoes. It was so cold that on the downhills with the wind and the wet my hands started cramping on the brake hoods.

Finally when it seemed almost intolerable we stumbled across “Cinnamon Town” a restaurant in a tiny town that served huge, unbelievable cinnamon buns – an Oregon diet staple. There we sat, miserable in our wet cycling shorts, dripping all over the table. We tried to stay warm by soaking our feet in warm water in the sink in the men’s room. That’s how desperate we were. Then as if in a dream, the guides showed up with dry clothes. “Thank you.”

Warmer, those of us that went on, faced the rain again to start a 3 mile climb fueled by “cinnamon power”.

Oregon is well set up for cyclists. There is a bike lane all along route 101 that follows the sea. They offer excellent state campgrounds every few miles with special areas for hiker/bikers. Even at the tunnels they have special traffic signals the rider turns on before entering to warn drivers of a cyclist up ahead. The beautiful coast was broken up with side trips to lighthouses and amazing vistas on cliffs above the sea and over long unbroken beaches. I became known as “Mister Vista” when I’d continually complain that we weren’t stopping enough to enjoy the views.

By the 5th day we had a full day off riding in the old restored town of Florence to dry clothes and lick our tired muscles. The sun came out and our trial by rain was over.

As the rest of the week went on the sun got stronger and so did my legs. Must have been true for everyone because our speeds seemed to increase. We did notice a strange phenomenon. After stopping for lunch it seemed we always started out with a big hill. On those occasions it was all we could do to hold our food down. Salt water taffy was a local delicacy that we ate in vast quantities. It seemed our food consumption went way up as our bodies demanded more and more calories.

The last two days were among the nicest but also the longest thanks to a string of flats caused by the sharp gravel along the edge of the road. One day, 3 of us got 5 flats and I ended up walking most of the way back to camp having run out of tire tubes. We took all of this in our stride and everyone seemed to have a positive attitude that really helped make the trip so much fun. Besides, the rain was over and the sun just made these last beautiful days more precious.

On the last Saturday we proudly had our photos taken under the “Welcome to California” border sign. What a wonderful experience. Over 400 miles of riding past some of North America’s most spectacular country.

READERS, feel free to offer your won selections of the first international destination you’d visit in the post pandemic world. Please send to **@Tr**********.com , and we will post in our Readers’ poll.

READERS POLL (as of today):

As a lover of 20th century history, it must be Berlin, Germany. — Kyle – Seattle, WA

Though I’ve never been, island hopping in Tahiti should be the thing which I’d love to do. — Terry – Portland, OR

The post The First International Destination You’d Visit in the Post Pandemic World appeared first on Traveling Archive.

The T-Boy Society of Film & Music’s latest poll is dedicated to Sky’s the Limit,  where members select trips and destination/s in which money is of no concern. Like last month’s World’s Friendliest Destinations we’ve decided to continue with another uplifting theme due to the events of today. You’ll find members’ selections to be deeply personal and great fun, where we tap into their minds and go on an emotional journey and see what constitutes their wildest dreams.

Richard Carroll — T-Boy Writer:

Sky’s the Limit; Destinations where money is no object 

If I came upon a satchel of gleaming South Africa diamonds and with deep pockets where the sky’s the limit and money is no object, I would quickly book a private jet and invite family and close friends on a 21-day plus world excursion to Buenos Aires and a night of tango at Bar Sur with dinner at the Four Seasons; a few nights at remote Las Alamandas on the West Coast of Mexico; a visit to the Maya site of Tikal in Guatemala led by Maya guide Jose Antonio Gonzalez; dinner and lunch in Mexico City at Pujol, Mercaderes and Les Moustaches, serenaded by guitar and harp; a private Bordeaux winery tasting tour to Yquem, Margaux, Petrus, Lafitte Latour, and Haut Brion; overnights at Turtle Island, Fiji; dinner with Executive Chef Massino Defrancesca, Kimpton’s Seafire Resort, Cayman Islands; overnights at the historic 18th century Castadiva, Lake Como; three nights at The Ritz London,  and along the travel trail sharing with anyone in need.

Chloe Erskine — Educator:

Outer Space

Ed Boitano — T-Boy editor:

Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Railway – Russia

Much of my youth was colored by images of the Trans-Siberian Railway. All I really had was a little note card in a pack of other cards which illustrated the world’s most monumental engineering feats. At the length of 5,772 miles, traversing though eight times zones, my Sky’s the Limit  selection would be to experience Siberia via the Trans-Siberian Railway. Siberia constitutes 77% of Russia’s total land mass with the nation itself blanketing 11 percent of the world’s landscape. Reading about taiga forests; rugged mountains ranges; untamed rivers; ancient log infested  lakes; and little villages, first settled by Old Believers, preservationists of “pre-Nikonian” practices of the Russian Church, would no doubt be a stunning foray into a new world of images and history. After careful research, I discovered Golden Eagle, a luxury private train, considered the top of the line in deluxe first-class railway travel. My journey would commence in Moscow (or St. Petersburg) to the Pacific in Vladivostok. Perhaps  I’d bring half a-dozen friends who have a keen appreciation of caviar and vodka.  After all, isn’t this the Sky’s the Limit: Where Money Is No Object? Golden Eagle’s luxury service is provided by a provodnitsa, a female attendant in a military-style uniform, who keeps things running smoothly in a unique Russian way. Za Zdarovje!

Deb Roskamp — T-Boy photographer & writer:

Cruising.  Seeing the world. Two pleasures that bring me some of my greatest delights

Combine. Include a generous helping of the some of the most remote locales that I have fantasized visiting, but because of their location, make it highly improbable that I will. Sprinkle into the itinerary a few places that I’ve already been to, loved, but most likely will not return to.  Subtract COVID-19 and any pandemic to follow.  Find a pot of gold (4 kg worth).

My “Sky’s the Limit:” around the World in 167 days aboard Silversea’s Silver Cloud, departing January 25th, 2022 from Ushuaia, Argentina.  Includes Antarctica, Shetland Islands, multiple stops along Chile, Robinson Crusoe Island, Easter Island, Pitcairn Island, multiple stops in the Marquesas, Tahiti, Cook, Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon, and Papua New Guinea islands.  On to Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, Oman, Egypt, Greece, Albania, Tunisia, Sicily, Algeria, Spain, Portugal, France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Iceland, ending in Norway.  Aaah… bliss!

Fyllis Hockman — T-Boy writer:

Lodge at Tikana — Southland, New Zealand

So there I was lying in this massive tub overflowing with all kinds of goodies ‘cause I couldn’t decide between the rosewater bubble bath, the ginseng and orange blossom aromatic bath soak, the green tea and lime leaf water infusion disc or the green tomato and seaweed body scrub. I was so stressed out by the decision, it was a good thing there was the lemon-scented calming oil to finish off with. Not your usual hotel amenities! Which is an apt introduction to the Lodge at Tikana in Southland, New Zealand. Tikana, by the way, means style in the Maori language.

Did I mention that while I was soaking, I was also making eye contact with a family of deer peering in the wide bath-tub-level window next to me? This luxurious two-story retreat, the only guest accommodations on the property, is part of a working farm which breeds the afore-mentioned deer as well as thoroughbred horses. But let’s get back to the important things. How many lodgings have YOU stayed in that came with its own wine cellar???

Okay, you had a wine cellar, you say. Well, what about your own latte-making machine in the kitchen? Imagine curling up on the couch in your living room with freshly made cappuccino? We’re not talking International Coffees here. Of course, you probably wouldn’t also have a little fawn outside your window.

The décor is combination art house and rustic elegance — steel and stone flow together between raw timber-framed floor-to-ceiling windows to create an environment that entices the eye and embraces the soul. A heady escape from civilization but with surround-sound entertainment and internet hook-up.

Picture this. While sipping cappuccino mid-day, I nibbled on cheese and crackers from the fridge; with the Chardonnay, I opted for olives and deli. Keep in mind, this is no hotel mini-bar where you’re charged extra for every indulgence. And indulgences abound.

Owners Dave and Donna — he, a vet; she, a horse trainer — who also know a thing or two about treating humans, take pampering to a whole new level. Their gourmet meals are 4-star Michelin for both food and presentation.

I was so relaxed after my bath I dined in the fluffy, multi-colored robe they provided — though my evening wear didn’t do justice to the beautifully attired table. A candelabra of multi-layered candles oozed ambience, and the silver meal-covers warmed our hearts as well as our food.

Chef Donna discussed our preferences for every course ahead of time — did we want the lamb or the venison tonight? Basted in garlic or encrusted in dukah? I have no clue what that is but it tasted yummy. And would you believe sticky date pudding with toffee sauce?

I inadvertently picked an award-winning wine from the extensive collection to accompany the meal. It was beginner’s luck but I didn’t feel the need to disavow the hosts of my sophisticated taste.

Such all-inclusive sumptuousness comes at a price, of course — a hefty one — but this is Sky’s the Limit: were money is of no concern— and I’ll be ready for my return to Southland, New Zealand.

Tom Weber — T-Boy writer:

Ashford Castle: Elegantly Wrapped in Irish Charm

Of the 522 medieval castles that dot the Republic of Ireland’s landscape, one stands “keep and ramparts” above all others: Ashford Castle, the oldest fortress in the country, a true treasure of the Emerald Isle and a real “sky’s the limit” destination.

Several years ago, I arrived at this iconic landmark under a fine mist and was led across a stone bridge straddling the River Cong in Co. Mayo by a piper in full regalia. “Céad míle fáilte! (One-hundred-thousand welcomes),” announced the general manager as I walked up the entry stairs, flanked by a pair of Irish Wolfhound statues — four-legged guests are always welcome — and stepped onto the bespoke carpeting and entered into a world of regal elegance.

Winner of the 2020 World SPA Award as Ireland’s best hotel spa, Ashford Castle, a five-star country estate, is set amid 350 acres of well-manicured greenery, gardens and rustic paths and trails that overlook the Lough Corrib, the country’s second largest lake. With a heritage dating all the way back to 1228, the castle turned the page on its history in 2013 when it was purchased by Red Carnation Hotels and immediately underwent a top-to-bottom, multi-million dollar renovation and refurbishment that was unveiled to much fanfare in 2015.

I’m handed a green leather key card to a lovely, renovated deluxe view room on the top floor of the castle. As I swiped the card over the security pad and pushed back the door, my jaw dropped in OMG fashion. My suite, like the other 82 guest rooms, is richly appointed as the meticulous attention to detail is found in the unique works of art, carefully sourced antique furniture with sumptuous fabrics and custom-designed carpet, king-sized bed, feature lighting, exquisite toweling and VOYA seaweed-based organic bath and beauty products.

Cullen’s at the Cottage, a summer-only bistro restaurant occupying a traditional thatched-roof cottage, serves up international and local dishes inspired by Beatrice Tollman, owner of Ashford Castle, in a casual atmosphere accented by friendly Irish hospitality. Greeted warmly by the manager, she and her young and eager wait staff went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure my dining experience at the Cottage was memorable. And, it was.

A nightcap was in order, so I retired to The Prince of Wales Cocktail Bar where the on-duty mixologist prepped a Jameson, neat. Seated at a glass-covered table showcasing a few antique flintlock pistols, I sipped slowly wondering all the while if these weapons were ever used in a duel at 15 paces.

Sleep arrives quickly as I tuck myself into the inviting bed — turned down by evening maid service — with luxurious 400-thread-count Egyptian cotton monogrammed bed linen, and highlighted by a complimentary box of Lily O’Brien’s chocolates resting atop one of the pillows. Night night!

When it’s not raining on your parade, and that’s a real possibility when visiting the Emerald Isle, there are plenty of outdoor activities to keep you busy around the castle in between breakfast, lunch and dinner. Tee it up at the parkland golf course; play singles or doubles on two all-weather tennis courts; go fishing; grab a kayak and paddle around the lake; mount a horse and hit the woodland trails, or take a carriage ride with the entire family; hire a bike and cycle the castle’s vast estate; take aim at clay pigeons and bullseyes with skeet and archery; play billiards; screen The Quiet Man and other box-office hits in the velvet-seated cinema; relax in the spa; or, do what I did: experience the ancient sport of falconry.

Ireland’s School of Falconry is the oldest established falconry school in the country. Here, castle guests can book a once-in-a-lifetime “hawk walk” and fly their very own Harris’s hawk in the nearby woodlands. Following its “handler” from tree to tree, your hawk periodically swoops down into your gloved fist, grabs a “snack,” then flies off again. You know it’s somewhere nearby from the sound of the tiny bells attached to its talons.

I was told that a “history” cruise around Lough Corrib, sailing daily, weather permitting, from Ashford Castle’s private pier, is a terrific way to explore the camera-ready surroundings of some of the lake’s 365 isles, one for each day of the year, and take in the panoramic views of the Connemara Mountains in the distance. I board the M.V. Isle of Innisfree, an original tender (lifeboat) from the Cunard Line, and we shove off. The knowledgeable captain/historian steers the boat and narrates the scene at the same time as we cruise across the lake. Meanwhile, an 80-year-old musician entertains guests topside on the “squeezebox” with a selection of Irish tunes, like Danny Boy and Rakes of Mallow. In between the history lesson and the ditties, a member of the crew ensures that glasses are kept full with wine or Jameson, or both, to ward off the cold wind hitting us straight on. Brrrr.

In 1906, the Prince of Wales was a guest of the Guinness family, owners of Ashford Castle at the time. The prince went on to become England’s King George V. In honor of his visit, the Guinness family built a special dining room which still bears his name. Dressed in coat and tie, I’m ushered into the graceful setting that is the George V Dining Room and prepare to dine like royalty. From acclaimed Chef Philippe Farineau’s kitchen, a bounty of food magazine-worthy dishes are plated before me from Ireland’s lands, seas and farms, all paired with stellar wines from Bouchard Finlayson Winery of South Africa.

With my 48-hour, fairy tale-like stay coming to an end, I add my name to the guest book to ensure that I’m part of the Ashford lore. I thoroughly enjoyed the elegance of Ashford Castle, but found its Irish charm simply irresistible.

Richard Frisbie — T-Boy writer:

A cruise around the globe

I don’t have that lifestyle, or even that imagination. My last vacation was in the 1980s — a week in southern California followed by a weekend at Amelia Island resort. Since then it’s just been an overnight to Maine to visit family once or twice a year, or my press trips which are certainly no vacation. “Sky’s the limit” travel is beyond my ken, not to mention my wallet.

That being said, after years of writing hundreds of cruise port excursions annually for the largest reseller of same, I would love to do a world cruise in the best stateroom/suite/penthouse on board, with a butler and an unlimited budget. That way I could socially distance, (which is more my nature than it is pandemic-related) and see the best of the best everywhere in the world using top guides in all ports, with enough time to eat local specialties, drink local wines, while touring museums, historic city centers, and beautiful countrysides.

Ringo Boitano — T-Boy writer:

Tuscany Calling – Italy

A private villa with a swimming pool, surrounded by vineyards in Tuscany. Included in the package would be a SUV rental car and a chef, who specializes in Cucina Toscana as well as Italy’s other 19 regions. Cooking lessons by request. The theme would be to relax, take day trips or longer, and host friends from around the globe.

Phil Marley — Poet:

Summer: Norway’s Fjords

To spend six summer months in a large remote, vacation cabin, with electricity or not. Hiking, fishing, boating, touring nearby waterside villages. Evenings spent around a grand table with family and friends, dining on mammoth communal meals. And the laughing and joking in eternal peace.

Winter: Québec City

Yes, it’s cold, but with a warm jacket, gloves and a pair of solid boots, you don’t even notice. The season is filled with the spirit of hygge, the Danish expression of coziness, evoking  a warm feeling inside. Reflections of lights and historic buildings bounce off the snow. Restaurants welcome you with blazing fires. And, if the chance you become bored, there is Québec winter festival,  Carnaval de Québec.

Skip Kaltenheuser — T-Boy writer:

Kashmir – Pakistan & India

Some places I’d like to go to are off-limits, at least to my sensibility, because of internal political strife or potential international conflict. And in this case, the tensions are between nuclear powers, Pakistan, India and China. I hope they find a way to work it out and the whole region becomes travel friendly, I’ve heard its beauty is awesome. When it opens, no doubt someone will put together some over-the-top digs and pleasures, in the style to which I’d like to become accustomed but probably won’t. But if it does open, I hope it’s also backpacker/hiker friendly, sans landmine anxieties.

Brent Campbell — Musician and composer:

• Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia — Moscow to Vladivostok.
• Former Soviet Republics — A driving trip through Eastern Europe, maybe start by taking overseas delivery of a new Audi in Germany.
• Remote South Pacific Islands — Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Cook Islands.

Raoul Pascual — T-Boy webmaster:

With Sky’s the Limit, I wouldn’t necessarily go where it is expensive, but to where I probably could not ever imagine I could go.

• Go underwater in a yellow submarine tour.
• Go to the moon and see the earth.
• Go to the Brazilian rain forest and swing on ropes like Tarzan.
• Go to the most expensive cruise just to see what makes it so expensive.
• Go to Japan and soak up the culture of the big city and the tiny villages.
• Go to Singapore and Dubai to see how the filthy rich waste their money.
• Go to the Great Wall of China and enjoy the 360 degree view. I don’t think pictures can really capture this.
• Same goes with the Pyramids.
• Go to Alaska and marvel at the expanse of the icebergs. Eat fresh fish and crab.
• Go to Iceland and have a sauna massage.
• But in all this, I would want my wife and my kids to be with me because I’ve traveled alone before and it wasn’t fun without anyone beside me. I want to be in wonder with them.

The post Sky’s the Limit: Where Money Is No Object appeared first on Traveling Archive.

As my taxi cruised down 9 de Julio Boulevard, the driver informed me that it was the widest boulevard in the world, named in honor for Argentina’s Independence Day. He added that due to Argentina’s fluctuating economy “BA” was really dirt cheap ten-years ago, but do not be concerned for today it is simply dirt cheap, and your Yankee dollar will go far. I’d ditch your gaucho costume if I were you, he laughed. It’s always seemed to me that the best information comes from a taxi driver who has seen it all and gives it to you straight unlike many PR firms who have a tendency to sugarcoat certain attractions. But sugarcoating was not required for I was already dazzled by this city proper of approximately 2,891,082 people, with a lifestyle and architecture that is more European than any other city in South America.

The cafes were filled by stylish-looking people speaking a unique dialect of Spanish with an Italian accent, with many words and phrases in Italian. Over 62.5% of the populace is of Italian heritage, and I could not help but notice porteños (locals, people of the port) gesticulating with their hands like Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone in the Godfather film.  Mate (pronounced “mah-tay”), the national beverage of Argentina, is a tea made from yerba mate, courtesy of the Tupi People, who introduced it to the gauchos (skilled horsemen) of the pampas, the vast plains extending westward across central Argentina from the Atlantic coast to the Andean foothills.  Served communally in a gourd (squash rind), and sucked through a bombilla (metal straw) which acts as a filter, the bitter flavored tea seemed to be consumed everywhere I looked: shops, offices, saloons, picnics, even a bus driver on his route. Sampling this local tradition is an easy way to get a literal taste of Argentinean culture.

Beef from the pampas is also a defining cultural tradition. You’ll find the delicious steaks served at countless restaurants, but vegetarian empanadas are also widely available for those who shy away from meat. My first lunch was at a simple San Telmo restaurant where I consumed a steak with fries, an empanada and a local beer. The cost was a staggering $5. Didn’t my cab driver say something about my Yankee dollar going far.  Not to be missed is a tango show, a scandalous dance born in the brothels of Buenos Aires’ immigrant quarters. It gained respectability and popularity when Argentine students traveled to Paris and introduced it to the French, who proclaimed it a dance of great artistic value.

A walking tour of the vibrant La Boca (Italian for “the mouth”) barrio (neighborhood) was on my list.  Established by Italian immigrants from Genoa in the late 17 century, it’s a bit of a helter-skelter barrio, complete with colorful houses and a pedestrian street where tango artists perform and tango-related memorabilia are sold. It is also an unofficial national shrine dedicated to internationally famed football player, Diego Maradona, where his football career kicked off while he was playing for the Boca Juniors football club. It’s still a fairly poor neighborhood so keep an eye on your valuables.

My brief trip would end with a stop at La Recoleta Cemetery to pay homage to María Eva Duarte de Perón (1919 – 1952) at her simple black tomb. Born into a poor rural family, “Evita“ moved to Buenos Aires and secured a living as a B-movie actress. Her fate dramatically changed when she married Col. Juan Perón, later president of Argentina. Despite his dictatorial and fascist leanings, Evita dedicated her life to helping the poor, caring for orphans and the homeless. She was also a strong proponent for women’s rights. Even today, I noticed her passionate admirers placing flowers and notes at her tomb. Apparently on the anniversary of her death crowds grow to the thousands.

Well, my time was over. I did my best to explore Buenos Aires from a tourist’s perspective: wide boulevards, Italian heritage, mate, beef from the pampas, the gauchos, the tango, Evita; but I know I barely scratched the surface. I decided to contact Turismo Buenos Aires to get a wider perspective for our readers. And this is what I was told:

“Buenos Aires is a large metropolitan city with a lot for everyone. BA is home to over 100 parks, so it is very common to see groups of people at the park drinking mate picnic-style. For those that are night owls, locals really like to spend time at the many speakeasy bars around the city as well as bodegones – a typical neighborhood restaurant featuring local cuisine and popular selection of national wines. Also, for those that like to dance, milongas are very popular as well. These traditional social tango dance events are really popular with locals, and about 20-30 milongas take place in the city every night spread across different neighborhoods.”

There are actually a few things that most people don’t know about BA. Here are 10 really interesting ones:

• Buenos Aires has an official tea time – much like the UK.
• Tango (declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO) originated in brothels surrounding the city and the moves are meant to dramatize the relationship between a prostitute and her pimp. The tango is a fusion of cultural influences from Africa, Argentina’s native gaucho and colonial traditions.  Every August, the city hosts the Tango Buenos Aires International Festival and World Cup, with milongas, shows, classes, exhibitions and the most important international tango dance championship
• BA has the most bookstores per person of any city in the world according to a 2015 World Cities Cultural Forum report
• La Recoleta Cemetery is considered the most important cemetery in Latin America for its historical and architectural significance
• Avenida 9 de Julio is the widest avenue in the world
• Jardin Japones de Buenos Aires is the largest Japanese garden outside Japan
• The Buenos Aires Underground is the oldest system in LATAM
• The first ever animated feature film was made in Buenos Aires
• In 2002, Buenos Aires because the first Latin American city to allow gay marriage.
• BA has highest percentage of pets per capital.

For further information about Buenos Aires, visit Buenos Aires Ciudad

The post Buenos Aires: The Paris of South America appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Courtesy Nina Kokotas Hahn

Seattle, the South, and New York women dominated last week’s awards in Chicago

Turns out that Seattle is now the place to go for amazing Southern food at a restaurant run by a French-trained chef. Edourado Jordan scored the most coveted loot at last night’s James Beard Awards — the so-called Oscars of the food world—taking home Best New Restaurant for Seattle’s buzzy JuneBaby and Best Chef: Northwest for Salare. Jordan’s first restaurant, the French-Italian Salare, was followed by JuneBaby, which Jordan says tells the story of Southern food in America.

“I’m able to tell that story 3,000 miles away from where it first landed on American soil, and people are hearing me and understanding what I’m trying to do,” Jordan told us. “It’s an amazing feeling to be in the Pacific Northwest and have a Southern restaurant that people are listening to. I think with Salare and JuneBaby, we’re waking up the country that Seattle is a force to be reckoned with from a food standpoint.”

Other big James Beard Award winners of the night were Gabrielle Hamilton of New York’s Prune for Outstanding Chef, Camille Cogswell of Philadelphia’s Isreali-themed Zahav for Rising Star Chef of the Year, and Birmingham’s Highlands Bar & Grill for Outstanding Restaurant. Dolester Miles of the Alabama restaurant, who made it to stage with tears of joy, also took home the Outstanding Pastry Chef award.

Here’s the complete list of winners:

2018 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards

Best New Restaurant JuneBaby, Seattle
Outstanding Chef Gabrielle Hamilton, Prune, NYC
Outstanding Baker Belinda Leong and Michel Suas, B. Patisserie, San Francisco
Outstanding Bar Program Cure, New Orleans
Outstanding Pastry Chef Dolester Miles, Highlands Bar & Grill, Birmingham, AL
Outstanding Restaurant Highlands Bar & Grill, Birmingham, AL
Outstanding Restaurateur Caroline Styne, The Lucques Group (Lucques, a.o.c., Tavern, and others), Los Angeles
Outstanding Service Zuni Café, San Francisco
Outstanding Wine Program FIG, Charleston, SC
Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Professional Miljenko Grgich, Grgich Hills Estate, Rutherford, CA
Rising Star Chef of the Year Camille Cogswell, Zahav, Philadelphia
Best Chef: Great Lakes Abraham Conlon, Fat Rice, Chicago
Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic Jeremiah Langhorne, The Dabney, Washington, D.C.
Best Chef: Midwest Gavin Kaysen, Spoon and Stable, Minneapolis
Best Chef: New York City Missy Robbins, Lilia, Brooklyn, NY
Best Chef: Northeast Karen Akunowicz, Myers + Chang, Boston
Best Chef: Northwest Edouardo Jordan, Salare, Seattle
Best Chef: South Nina Compton, Compère Lapin, New Orleans
Best Chef: Southeast Rodney Scott, Rodney Scott’s BBQ, Charleston, SC
Best Chef: Southwest Alex Seidel, Mercantile Dining & Provision, Denver
Best Chef: West Dominique Crenn, Atelier Crenn, San Francisco
Restaurant Design Award for 75 Seats and Under The MP Shift (Amy Morris, Anna Polonsky, and Julie Nerenberg) for De Maria, NYC
Restaurant Design Award for 76 Seats and Over Aidlin Darling Design with a l m project (Joshua Aidlin, David Darling, Adam Rouse, and Andrea Lenardin Madden) for In Situ, San Francisco
Design Icon The American Restaurant, Kansas City, Missouri

8 Popular Destinations Where Air Pollution Could Ruin Your Trip

Air pollution does a lot more than cause canceled or postponed vacations — it kills millions of people worldwide every year, according to the World Health Organization. Some of the worst places for air pollution are also home to bucket-list-worthy sights. But missing them might be the least of your problems if smog ramps up during your visit: Symptoms of air pollution sickness include nausea, coughing, headache, itchy eyes — and air pollution can cause long-term breathing problems.

Here are some of the worst destinations for smog, especially if you already suffer from asthma or other respiratory problems.

India

The Taj Mahal attracts thousands of travelers every day, but the city it’s in is one of the worst in the world for air pollution. Smog in Agra can cut visibility so dramatically that you can’t see much more than an outline of the giant tomb, and visitors who don’t cancel their trip during a period of heavy smog can be seen wearing face masks to visit.

Agra, however, isn’t the worst place in India for smog: Delhi, Mumbai, and Calcutta are known to have some of the worst air quality in the world. Even lesser-known India destinations are affected by smog: the city of Jodhpur, which attracts tourists to its colorful and quaint “blue city,” has also been known to suffer from poor air quality.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Hoping to spot historic forts and towering skyscrapers that draw travelers to Saudi Arabia’s financial hub? Harmful emissions paired with dust storms can create near-unbreathable air conditions that might keep you from visiting. Riyadh is a manufacturing hub rife with cars that, when sand kicks up around the Saudi capital, can see thick smog that greatly blurs visibility and irritates lungs.

Los Angeles, California

It’s not just developing countries that suffer from poor air quality. Los Angeles is the worst place in the U.S. for ozone pollution, according to the American Lung Association, and the state of California is home to many of the other worst-ranked cities for air quality. Thanks to a combination of cars, the Golden State’s weather and topography, and added smog from less rainfall and more frequent wildfires in recent years, the air quality index is often over 100, which is considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

Buenos Aires, Argentina

The third-largest city in South America, Buenos Aires can get thick with smog on hot summer days thanks to the fact that many cars in the city run on diesel fuel, which burns particularly dense emissions. The city ranks slightly worse than Los Angeles for air quality, according to data from the World Health Organization, and slightly better than Paris and Rome.

Beijing, China

Crowded China has a reputation for smog, so most travelers to Beijing might know what to expect: crowds in gauzy face masks and buildings with heavy grade air filtration systems. Why? The air quality index here can get as high as the 400s — and have even surpassed the maximum grade of 500 before.

Paris, France

Paris, which has gone so far as to ban old-model cars (pre-1997) in an effort to go green, is still striving to fight car emissions that contribute to its poor air quality. Paris public transit is free to passengers on days with high smog, a move meant to encourage residents and visitors to ditch their vehicles and instead use the sprawling Metro system to get around. Recently, legislators have even proposed making free public transit permanent to improve air quality.

Bangkok, Thailand

Thailand is a popular bucket-list vacation for its awe-inspiring natural wonders and religious sites, but flying into Bangkok brings a heavy dose of urban air pollution. Air quality in the Thai capital can hit dangerous levels that cause residents – especially children — to stay inside until the smog lifts, and make masks commonplace.

Lagos, Nigeria

The largest metropolis on the continent of Africa is in the country ranked worst in the world for air pollution. Lagos, Nigeria is infamous for traffic and home to an unreliable electrical grid that means many residents rely on diesel generators instead. The intense sunlight near the equator only worsens the air quality index, making for thick smog and health problems for many of its residents. Lagos’s resort-addled Victoria Island is no exception.

The post Seattle and James Bear Award Winners; Air Pollution and 8 Travel Destinations appeared first on Traveling Archive.

BEATLE BEAT TRIVIA HODGEPODGE

A T-Boy staffer was listening the other morning to “Breakfast with the Beatles,”  and DJ Chris Carter (more than a serious Beatle-ologist) said years ago a friend posed this question to him: “If you encountered a visitor from another world and could play only ONE Beatles song that would explain their overall greatness, what would that song be?” Carter said his friend “then shoved a note into my pocket and said, ‘I already know what your answer will be and I wrote it down on that piece of paper.’” Carter continued, “Well, the pressure was on… so I went through all the mental deductions like, can’t use anything off Sgt. Pepper for example because those songs would only be representative of their psychedelic era…etc.”  Anyway, he came up with a song and it was indeed what his friend had written down on the note.

I was initially floored by his answer, but it made perfect sense and was the best choice the more I thought about it. (I likely would not have arrived at this on my own).

THE ANSWER

Ready For A Nap?

Weary travelers can rent sleeping pods and shower time in the Nine Hours hotel at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport
Courtesy Chris Weller – Business Insider

There aren’t many frills at the Nine Hours hotel, but when you’re only staying for a nap or a layover between flights, soft sheets and a dark space are pretty much all you need. Nine Hours is a Japanese chain of pod hotels started in 2009, with each chain designed to accommodate people for between one and nine hours depending on their needs. For $44, guests gain access to a private pod, sleepwear, and access to the bathrooms and lounge. Or for $7 you can just take a shower.

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The Shortest Path to Real-Life Conversations

Which language would you like to learn? Try it out for free!

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John Heard – RIP

Actor John Heard (1946–2017) passed away on July 21, 2017. He was 72-years-old. Though much has been made of him as a ‘character actor’ in trifles like Home Alone and Big, there are many who have been enamored by him for his earlier leading roles. In particular, his acting in Ivan Passer’s Cutter’s Way is regarded as a true Shakespearian performance. In the film Heard plays a cynical, hard drinking, conspiracy driven Vietnam War veteran who lost an arm, leg and one-eye on the battlefield. Romantic roles included Joan Micklin Silver’s Head Over Heels (aka Chilly Scenes of Winter) and Paul Schrader’s remake of Cat People. Between The Lines (JM Silver again), Trip to Bountiful, Martin Scorsese’s After Hours and his portrayal of Jack Kerouac in Heartbeat were also among critic’s favorites.

Visit this page for more details

Clear Your Schedules: Events Throughout Buenos Aires Fill Up The 2017 Calendar

South America’s Capital of Cool Abounds with Festivals Throughout the Year

Buenos Aires, a city renowned for its vivacity, cuisine, passionate people and unique culture gets even more thrilling and interesting in 2017, with a top-notch lineup of festivals and events. Travelers visiting Buenos Aires this year will have many things to see and do including agricultural festivals, tango competitions, design and fashion events, and gay parades. Festivals are also a great way to meet the Porteño locals, who are known for their warmth and welcoming attitude.

Upcoming events in the City of Many Passions during the second half of the year, include:

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Happy Summer Months from the staff at TravelingBoy

We have designated this Summer to think of those who suffer from great sorry and misfortune. Here are some of our favorite charities.

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Star Wars Resort Coming to Disney World

Disney World vacationers will one day have the opportunity for an all-encompassing Star Wars experience, from hotel to theme park.

Every Star Wars fan knows the park attraction is coming in 2019 (the 14-acre land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando now has an official name, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge). A Florida resort is coming, too, and Disney touts it as a “one-of-a-kind experience where a luxury resort meets a multi-day adventure in a galaxy far, far away.”

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John Lennon’s Typewriter

SFO’s mini art exhibit has a gem right now in current exhibition.

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TIME CAPSULE CINEMA

The Battle of Algiers – A Look Back

By Walt Mundkowsky

Directed by: Gillo Pontecorvo
Writing Credits: Franco Solinas and Gillo Pontecorvo
Music by: Ennio Morricone and Gillo Pontecorvo
Cinematography by:  Marcello Gatti
Cast: Brahim Hadjadj, Jean Martin, Yacef Saadi

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Hands down, this Canadian gem is our pick for the most hilarious, madcap travel show on the cybersphere.

In this zany episode, the Travel Guys take on a Mediterranean Cruise.

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How to Resolve Fights over Reclining Airplane Seats

An investigation into the economics of reclining
Courtesy of Christopher Buccafusco & Christopher Jon Sprigman, Evonomics

Not since the Battle of the Somme has such little space been the subject of such intense conflict.

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Countries That Require Visas for Americans

The State Department’s Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management (ACS) administers the Consular Information Program, which informs the public of conditions abroad that may affect their safety and security. Country Specific Information, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings are vital parts of this program.

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Stay Informed, Stay Connected, Stay Safe!

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

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Man Tried to Bite Flight Attendant, Jumped From Plane

The man then made his way to the galley, pried open the door and jumped. He appeared in federal court Friday on a charge of assaulting/intimidating a flight crew member.

Tipping Etiquette Around the Globe

As North Americans, tipping is a reality, and we are sensitive that the wait staff receives their due. We generally like to tip at the amount of 15% to 20%. After all, the wait staff in North America depends on it.

But if you are confused about tipping in other destinations, we determined what’s best to tip outside of North America.

• Africa: 10% to 15%
• Australia/New Zealand: None (the wait staff is well compensated in their hourly salary
• Caribbean & Central America: 10%
• China: None. (Tipping is against the law)
• England: 10%
• Germany: 10%
• Ireland: 12%
• Italy: None (except for great service, where you round out bill)
• Japan: None. (tipping is considered rude, but you always offer your chef a beer)
• Middle East: 15%
• South America: 15

We Are All Terminal – We Just Don’t Know Our Expiration Date

Addressing the elephant in the room about your own death is something most couples avoid doing together and it is a big mistake.

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10 Strange Laws from Around the World

Courtesy SmarterTraveler

From a stiletto ban in Greece to the pinball crackdown in South Carolina – give travel a unique flavor.

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Top 25 Most Interesting Webcams

Selected from hundreds of nominees by a panel of EarthCam producers, EarthCam announces the most unique and compelling webcams of the year.

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The post Catch-up with the Latest Traveling Boy News appeared first on Traveling Archive.

1. Question: What are some of the “things” or activities that people in Buenos Aires do for fun?

Answer:

This is a tricky question because Buenos Aires is a large metropolitan city with a lot for everyone. BA is home to over 100 parks, so it is very common to see groups of people at the park drinking Mate picnic style. For those that are night owls, locals really like to spend time at the many speakeasy bars around the city as well as bodegones – a typical neighborhood restaurant featuring local cuisine and popular selection of national wines. Also, for those that like to dance, milongas are very popular as well. These traditional social tango dance events are really popular with locals, and about 20-30 milongas take place in the city ever night spread across different neighborhoods.

2. Question: What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Buenos Aires?

Answer:

There’s actually a few things that most people don’t know about BA. Here 10 really interesting ones:

1. Buenos Aires has an official tea time – much like the UK
2. Tango (declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO) originated in brothels surrounding the city and the moves are meant to dramatize the relationship between a prostitute and her pimp.
3. BA has the most bookstores per person of any city in the world according to a 2015 World Cities Cultural Forum report
4. La Recoleta Cemetery is considered the most important in Latin America for its historical and architectural significance
5. Avenida 9 de Julio is the widest avenue in the world
6. Jardin Japones de Buenos Aires is the largest Japanese garden outside Japan
7. The Buenos Aires Underground is the oldest system in LATAM
8. The first ever animated feature film was made in Buenos Aires
9. In 2002, Buenos Aires because the first Latin American city to allow gay marriage
10. City has highest percentage of pets per capita

3. Share some aspect of what Buenos Aires has contributed to the world.

Answer:

Declared intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2009), tango was born on the shores of the Río de la Plata in the 19th century through a fusion of cultural influences from Africa, Argentina’s native gaucho and colonial traditions, and the contribution of European immigrants, mainly from Spain, Italy and the Middle East.  Every August, the city hosts the Tango Buenos Aires International Festival and World Cup, with milongas, shows, classes, exhibitions and the most important international tango dance championship.

The post 3 Things We Didn’t Know About Buenos Aires appeared first on Traveling Archive.

You Gotta Know the Territory, Walk with Those Who Do

Free Detours Until Labor Day

By Skip Kaltenheuser

How often do we wander new territory, or even revisit places we’ve trod before, wishing we had a better sense of place we’re walking through, of its interesting backstories?

After Groupon parted company with its co-founder Andrew Mason, Mason decided to liven up walking explorations throughout many of the world’s great cities with downloadable audio tours. Starting with San Francisco as a testing ground, Mason built an app taking advantage of smartphone tech platforms, incorporating knowledgeable locals and GPS to guide walkers and enhance their observations with local lore that makes locales more interesting. Synching with small groups allows one’s posse to share an experience.

I borrowed a cell – I’m one of the endangered hold-outs who avoids them – to try out a tour in Washington, DC. It became one of those temptations that almost but not quite puts me over the edge toward a digital appendage and thought-interruptus. The app is pretty cool.

My particular tour was in the vicinity of the White House and focused on espionage tales. In DC since ’79, I already knew much of the scene and stories, but found them well-presented by a retired CIA officer and well-paced as I was strolled to a number of haunts where infamous betrayals took place, including swank hotels, restaurants and bars. If one slows the pace, it could easily turn into a drinking spree. And I was reminded of some things I’d forgotten, as well as the lesson that even the most banal of places holds potential for mischief. Other DC options include the day Lincoln died, Go-Go music’s history and Theodore Roosevelt Island. By the way, if you want to get closer to Russian intelligence, catch a vodka at a reception at the Russian News & Information Agency located between Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan. Friendly folk.

One can take these tours alone or sync them with a group of friends. Explore the site here.

Domestic and International cities thus far, many with multiple tours, include

• San Francisco
• Chicago
• Los Angeles
• New York City
• Savannah
• Boston
• Washington D.C.
• Portland
• Charleston
• New Orleans

International

• London
• Barcelona
• Paris
• Berlin
• Marrakech
• Rome
• Seoul
• Tokyo

Some voices leading you will be familiar, such as Ken Burns discussing the Brooklyn Bridge, Peter Coyote drifting through Haight-Ashbury and Joel Grey on Broadway.

No word yet on if Professor Harold Hill will lend his knowledge of River City, but he knew the territory.

New Luxury Hotel Orania.Berlin to Open in Berlin’s Edgy Kreuzberg District.

A Schloss Elmau sister property, the Orania.Berlin will be the first high-end hotel in the diverse and authentic district.

Los Angeles / Berlin – For 28 years, Berlin’s Kreuzberg district was in the shadow of the Berlin Wall, home to squatters, draft dodgers, anarchists, free thinkers and the largest Turkish community outside of Turkey. Graffiti strewn, edgy Kreuzberg is the cultural heart of the city – but also the antonym of luxury. Yet, the team behind the famous Bavarian Schloss Elmau spa hotel chose Kreuzberg’s Oranienplatz square for their new hotel, the Orania.Berlin. The 41- room luxury hotel will be opening in a many-times-repurposed historic building from the early 20th century and feature subtle but rather luxuriously furnished rooms, minimalist design, and wood floors throughout. Soft opening is scheduled for August 21, 2017.

Elegant and eclectic, Orania.Berlin reflects the lively district of Kreuzberg and aims to attract local residents as well as global nomads. Looking for a positive reception into this fiercely authentic, creative, diverse and non-conformist neighborhood, the Orania.Berlin is about understatement and bringing in the neighbors: it will not publish a star rating and it is sourcing from nearby businesses. Above all, the Orania.Berlin wants to warmly welcome its guests as well as the local crowd to enjoy the large ground-level bar and the Julien Quentin-curated nightly performances of classical and jazz concerts, D.J. nights, poetry slams, and readings by Berlin artists.

Managing director and culinary chef is the Michelin star-rated Philipp Vogel, who will serve cuisine from Kreuzberg & beyond from his 70-seat, open kitchen.

The Orania.Berlin will be Kreuzberg’s first and only luxury hotel to date. Kreuzberg, which is also home a large immigrant community from around the work, is trying to keep gentrification at bay and preserve its authenticity. After all, this is what attracts many visitors and locals alike to this lively district known for legendary nightlife, art- and entertainment.

Other higher-end venues opening near the Orania.Berlin include the ORA Café, located inside a former pharmacy (Oranienplatz 14), and the Voo clothing store, featuring Jill Sanders and other high-end designers (Oranienstrasse 24).

The Orania.Berlin affiliated with Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Kreuzberg is legendary.

More information on travel to Berlin.

Clear Your Schedules: Events Throughout Buenos Aires Fill Up The 2017 Calendar

South America’s Capital of Cool Abounds with Festivals Throughout the Year

Buenos Aires, a city renowned for its vivacity, cuisine, passionate people and unique culture gets even more thrilling and interesting in 2017, with a top-notch lineup of festivals and events. Travelers visiting Buenos Aires this year will have many things to see and do including agricultural festivals, tango competitions, design and fashion events, and gay parades. Festivals are also a great way to meet the Porteño locals, who are known for their warmth and welcoming attitude.

Upcoming events in the City of Many Passions during the second half of the year, include:

Exposición La Rural Country Show
Held from July 19-30, the Exposición La Rural is one of the world’s largest and most famous annual livestock shows. “La Rural” has taken place every July since 1886. Organized by the Argentine Rural Society, and hosted at the society’s exhibition center and showground, the event became a fixture on the upper classes’ social scene in the early twentieth century and remains a spectacle for the whole family. It features hundreds of stands and thousands of animals, particularly cattle, with competitions in various categories and displays of acrobatic gaucho skills. A little-known secret of La Rural is that it is also a gourmand’s delight offering national delicacies, specially crafted food, exotic honeys and other agriculture bounty. Click here for more information.

Tango Festival and World Cup 2017
The annual Tango Festival and World Cup 2017, held Aug. 10-23, is a jam-packed two weeks of concerts, shows, classes and milongas in honor of Argentina’s cultural gift to the world and UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity: the tango. Visitors from across the globe will converge in Buenos Aires for the festival, with couples filling venue after venue. The annual event also includes the Mundial de Tango, the world’s most important international tango dance competition. For more information, click here.

August’s LGBT Diversity Events and November’s Pride Parade
Clearly, a city that is the capital of Latin America’s first country to legalize same-sex marriage knows how to put out the rainbow carpet for LGBT tourists and allies, with a variety of gay themed events. Diversa is the city’s celebration of diversity, held Aug. 14-18, with same-sex tango events, drag shows, the G360 LGBT Travel Conference and so much more.

Later during the year, on Nov. 4, the 26th edition of Argentina’s National Pride Parade kicks off in the heart of the city, Plaza de Mayo, and continues down Avenida de Mayo, with music, dance, floats and a kaleidoscope of color. The first march in 1992 was led by Carlos Jauregui, who was recently honored with the renamed and newly renovated Carlos Jauregui subway station complete with rainbow stairs, and attracted a mere 300 people, many wearing masks to conceal their identity. Today, Buenos Aires has become the LGBT destination of choice in Latin America and the Marcha del Orgullo – Pride March – attracts more than 100,000 people from all over the world.

Puro Diseño Design Fair
Held from Sept. 14-17, Puro Diseño is Latin America’s most important design fair. Born over 15 years ago as Argentina sought to recover from its economic crisis, Puro Diseño was a successful attempt by designers to showcase local designs. The small fair became the biggest in Latin America, and now attracts more than 400 exhibitors of the latest trends in fashion, accessories, jewelry, decorations, graphic design, home furnishings, textiles, photography and illustration. Click here for more information.

Vinos and Bodegas Festival
Held Sept. 15-17, the 16^th annual Vinos and Bodegas Festival is aimed at popularizing home-grown brands. Grape connoisseurs can enjoy four glorious days of wine choices with over 1,000 different labels to sample, as well as specialist tastings, seminars, and master chef demonstrations on wine and food pairing. The entry cost is about $15 USD, which includes event entrance and 12 tastings. More information here.

Ciudad Emergente Festival
The streets come alive from Sept. 20-24, during Buenos Aires’ festival of new and alternative music, dance, theatre and arts. Ciudad Emergente presents the best and latest of the city’s young talent, covering everything from alternative rock and electronic music to photography, film, stand-up comedy, poetry, and dance. It’s a window into the city’s latest cultural developments and guarantees something for every taste. All events at the festival are free. For more information, click here.

FIBA: Buenos Aires International Theatre Festival
One of the most important events in the global theatre circuit is FIBA, the Buenos Aires International Theatre Festival, held this year on Oct. 5-21. This bi-annual event celebrates international classical and contemporary theatre, with over 25 venues throughout Buenos Aires showing dozens of productions from companies across the globe. Click here for more information.

Buenos Aires Marathon
The Buenos Aires marathon is the largest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere, attracting up to 12,000 runners from around the world every southern spring. Taking place on Oct. 15, the route takes in some of the city’s most emblematic, historic and symbolic sites, such as the Obelisk, the Cabildo, the Teatro Colón, the Plaza de Mayo, the Casa Rosada, the Tres de Febrero park, and the neighborhoods of La Boca and Puerto Madero. This race is preceded by the Buenos Aires half marathon on Sept. 10, and followed by a 1/4 marathon (10.5km) on Nov. 19, and a 1/8 marathon (5.2 km) on Dec. 3. Click here for more information.

Argentine Open Polo Tournament
The 124th Argentine Open Polo Tournament takes place between Nov. 12 and Dec. 10, as the country hosts the best teams from around the globe. Boasting the highest number of 10-goal players in the sport, Argentina has long been regarded as polo’s mecca, and the annual Open in Buenos Aires is considered the most important international championship at club level. It takes place at the Argentine Polo Ground in Palermo. Restaurants and bars in the surrounding Las Cañitas neighborhood fill with celebrating players and fans during matches. For more information, click here.

Buenos Aires International Jazz Festival
Jazz lovers will find everything from classic bebop, to jazz fusion, swing and Argentina’s own special jazz hybrid – nuevo tango – celebrated at the annual BA International Jazz Festival Nov. 15-20. The festival inaugurated in 2008 and hosts some of the best international talents. Click here for more information.

With so many festivals on the calendar, it is always a good time to visit Buenos Aires. More information on festivals in Buenos Aires can be found at http://festivales.buenosaires.gob.ar and https://turismo.buenosaires.gob.ar.

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