“The past is for the present, the present for the future.”
— William Least Heat-Moon, Blue Highways: A Journey into America.

Travel writer William Least  Heat-Moon  in his stunning 1982 memoir, Blue Highways: A Journey into America, said you could  once tell what side of the Missouri River you were on by how the catfish was prepared. Yes, some cities and regions — Paris, Santa Fe, Buenos Aires — still have cuisines so distinctive that when blindfolded you can actually tell exactly where you are in the world. While many others have transitioned with a spectacular fusion of flavors and ingredients, due to the rich immigrant experience.

Culinary tourism is the exploration of food as the purpose of traveling. Dining out is common among tourists and food is believed to rank alongside climate, culture, and scenery in importance to tourists. Indeed, flavor is very much in the taste of the beholder, so we thought it would be fun to compile our members’ selections of favorite food destinations. Needless to say, I was more than a little interested to read their choices in a subject which we’ve never addressed. — EB

Favorite Food Destinations Cities:

Stephen Brewer — T-Boy writer:

• Ferrara — Yes, Bologna is considered Italy’s food capital, but nearby Ferrara adds twists of its own with cappellaci di zucca, round pasta stuffed with squash, and coppia Ferrarese, sourdough bread stretched into the shape of intertwining legs. Salama da suga (local sausages) are the bases for the city’s own versions of grills and ragu.
• Palermo — The heady mix of Arabic, French, and Italian influences come to the fore in markets, street food stalls, and bustling restaurants. A walk through the blocks-long Capo market is a head-spinning introduction to the island’s bounty. Fish, especially swordfish and tuna, show up in such exotic preparations as tuna with a sauce of pistachio and mint. The favorite street foods are panino con la milza, little sandwiches with boiled spleen and cheese, and arrancine, little rice balls filled with meat and cheese. Top stop for sweet tooths is Segreti del Chiostro, bringing together old recipes from around the island for a rush of almond paste, pistachio, and mandarin cream.
• New York — It’s all here in one of the world’s most ethnically diverse cities, from traditional Italian and French to nouvelle Israeli, Haitian, blends of Cuban-Chinese, pizza, and lox and other classics of our own.

Rourke — Musician & composer:

• New York City — My walking tour of Manhattan starts in the morning in the lower east side at Kossar’s for a warm bialy, and then the Donut Plant.  Meandering through the streets of the lower east side, you burn off the calories until you end up at Clinton Street for some breakfast noshes, then press on, burning more calories, just in time for a little snack of some pastrami at Katz’s.  You end up in the streets of Chinatown for some soup dumplings and press onward through Soho, up to the village, to the west village, then back east, zig-zagging your way, all day uptown.
• Rome — Another great city for walking and getting lost.  If you’re lucky to be there in the fall, there will be street vendors everywhere selling roasted chestnuts, markets with tons of porcini and truffles, fried artichokes.   My best tip is to find out where the locals go, like Pizzeria Formula One.   In Rome you can eat just as well on a low budget as on a high budget.
• Hong Kong — This is where two worlds collide.  On one hand you have ultra-modern food and architecture, and then you find yourself in old world China, as you walk in out of alleyways.  The American Restaurant is an institution there; despite the name, no one speaks a word of English.    In Wan Chai is Hay Hay Kitchen for classic roast meats. In Hong Kong, you get the best of every region of China, all within a few square miles.
• London — Usually not on foodies’ top five destinations.  Tourists will be tempted to try classics like fish n chips, meat pies, and English Country breakfasts with blood sausage, but the real treasure in London is the ethnic foods.  The best falafel I ever had is at the Falafel King.   London is well known to have the best Indian food outside of India, but I found myself eating Lebanese and Iraqi food more than anything.   Still, I wanted to try a classic old-world British supper, and I found out in Kensington, called Maggie Jones.  It’s a space that’s over two hundred years old, lit only by candles in old bottles.  The food was so good, I went two nights in a row.
• Italian Wine Country — Rent a car and get lost.   There’s no wrong turn.  There’s no bad wine.  There’s no bad meal.  Siena is as good a starting point as any.   From there, it’s one small hillside village after another, my favorite being Spoleto, which is swarming in truffles during truffle season.

Ringo Boitano — T-Boy Writer:

• East Berlin, Germany — Arriving by time machine to the preunification GDR restaurant PILA (Pionierlager) was a fascinating step back into history.  Nostalgia restaurants are now spread across East Berlin, popular with locals for a taste of the past, and curious tourists in understanding the simple dinning experiences at the East German table. PILA’s small GDR museum, adorned with posters, artifacts and musical remembrances, puts everyone in a festive mood. Their menu features selected dishes from the former GDR as well as ‘bourgeois’ cuisine from today.  The Pioneer Camp Menu (three different course selections, including barrel shower – beer brewed in a barrel — or Berliner Pilsner) offers a good overview of their kitchen. I opted for pork chops, with sides of two epic boiled potatoes, and spinach, dressed with a unique concoction from a tube of unknown substance. The chops were tough and rather grisly, but I was appreciative of their authenticity.

Deb Roskamp — T-Boy photographer & writer: 

• Papeete, Tahiti — What is more alluring to the senses than tropical fruits and fresh catch from the Pacific in a seeming paradise?!?  Poisson cru (or, in Tahitian, ia ota), mango, papaya … bring it on!  When there, one must also explore the ornately painted vans (called les roulettes) serving inexpensive cuisine influenced by the French, Vietnamese and Chinese.
• Monterosso del Mare, Italy — Again, fresh catch from (this time) the Mediterranean, pasta, vegetables from the terraced hillsides – all cooked with centuries old traditions in a setting that is sublime.
• Parma, Italy — So much to say!  Hands-down, some of the best prepared food I’ve eaten in just a lovely little town.
• Copenhagen, Denmark — Had the most memorable meal in Tivoli Gardens!  Would love to be transported NOW!
• Coyoacan, Mexico — Fantastic lunch of exotic flavors after visiting the Frida Kahlo and Leon Trotsky museums.  Never to be forgotten.

Richard Carroll — T-Boy writer: 

• Los Angeles — The most ethnically diverse city in the world, Los Angeles offers an incredible dining scene with a huge number of culturally rich neighborhoods and the opportunity to experience authentic cooking. Ongoing cultural festivals with dining in the forefront are offered in a stunning collection of neighborhoods including, Little Tokyo, Thai Town, Little Ethiopia, Koreatown, Little Armenia, Boyle Heights and Mariachi Plaza, Olvera Street, Little Bangladesh, Leimert Park Village (African American), and Pico-Robertson where some 30 Kosher restaurants line the streets. The city is noted for Mexican cuisine with restaurants covering Northern Mexican cuisine, to dishes of Southern Mexico, the hot spicy sauces of Veracruz, and Puebla’s tasty mole, The French have also made their mark with a huge selection of restaurants, bistros and brasseries. Petit Trois, Barbette, Republique and Monsieur Marcel offer memorable pleasure along with a host of others all equally top drawer.
• Mexico City — Long celebrated among the world’s top five dining cities. A visit to Mexico City is a glorious dining experience. I found the cuisine in a city like this, noted as a dining mecca, would take years to cover. With more than 15 visits there seem to be surprises around every corner. The dining here ranges from home cooking and family recipes, to Maya influenced dishes, and special entrees from the various regions, along with high end international cuisine, and down home authentic Mexican dishes featuring variations from a hundred different styles of moles. A wonderful Mexico dining tradition is live music, sometimes it’s street musicians who wander in or it may be a house band or a single guitarist. Mexico City’s excellent selection of restaurants include Pujol ranked 13th in the world in 2018, Chef Rafael Bautista’s elegant Les Moustaches, influenced by the dishes of France, El Cardenal flying the Mexican flag and the essence of authentic Mexican cooking, Nico’s dating to 1957 serving traditional Mexican dishes with a modern touch, and San Angel Inn, located in a 17th century monastery, are only a tiny sampling.. For me, Mexico City is an international dining treasure.
• Grand Cayman — The island has an astonishing medley of chef’s and cooks who have landed here from all parts of the globe, all responsible for the island tabbed as The Capital of Caribbean Cuisine, Chef’s I enjoy are Executive Chef Massimo Defrancesca cooking at the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa, Executive Chef Danny Flanagan at the Sunshine Grill, Chef De Cuisine Crystal Marshall making her mark at the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort, Anchor & Den, and Sous Chef Chamara Jeewantha, creating in the Grand Old House.

Tom Weber — T-Boy Writer:

• The Salento, Puglia, Italy — The Salento, a sub-region of Puglia in the southeastern corner of Italy where the Adriatic and Ionian seas embrace, is best savored with a knife, fork and wine goblet as its grassroots la cucina povera (poor kitchen) — the quintessential Mediterranean diet — comes straight out of the “zero kilometer” soil and nearby seas and right onto your plate and into your glass.

Ed Boitano — T-Boy editor:

• Bologna, Italy — Bologna has long been considered the gastronomic capital of Italy. With the moniker of La Grassa (the fat one), it is the birthplace of Mortadella di Bologna, Tagliatelle al ragù, Lasagne alla Bolognese, Tortellini en brodo, and Polpette alla Bolognese all washed down with a bright, frothy Lambrusco. Nearby in the rich agricultural Po Valley, the cities of Modena hail balsamic vinegar as its home, and in Parma, Parmigiano–Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma, which all seem to make their way onto the Bolognese table. My waitress looked down at my half-eaten plate of rich lasagne, and asked if it was ok.  I replied it was beyond tremendous, but I just couldn’t consume any more food.  She smiled, Well, we are called the ‘Fat One’ for a reason.
• Valparaiso Chile — I jumped into my rental car at dawn’s first light, and traversed down Valparaiso’s winding cobblestone streets to meet the fishermen as they first pulled their boats upon the shore. Locals were already there, negotiating the cost of that night’s catch. I checked my watch and realized it was actually eight in the morning. Nevertheless, there was still a bounty of the sea to be purchased: Congrio (Conger Eel); Merluza, (hake), Reinet, (pomfret), and, Jurel, (Jack Mackerel). I took a stroll over to Valparaiso’s fish market for a look at local crustaceans: ostra chilena, oysters only harvested every five years; lobsters without claws and shrimp; and the delicate Machas pink clams, that really do melt in your mouth. Too early for a nap, I took a chair in one of Valparaiso’s rustic fisherman cafes for a Pisco Sour. As I glanced around the modest cafe at the tired, rugged-looking fishermen, silently huddled around tables, I realized I was on the edge of a world which I knew nothing about.
• Hanoi, Vietnam — Phở is still Vietnam’s national dish, but after 70 years of French colonialism, traditional Vietnamese cooking also has a Gallic accent, with a remarkable fusion of flavors, ingredients and combinations. To and from the main roads of Hanoi, peddlers sell baguettes (soft interior, slightly sweet, sans the Parisian air) to motorists in plastic bags.  The sliced baguettes also serve as an essential component in making Banh Mi, the vastly popular Vietnamese sandwich. Other dishes with a Franco-Vietnamese twist include Bún Ốc, a noodle soup containing sea snails; Bò lúc lắc, marinated cubed beef; and Bánh patê sô, a hybrid savory hot pie originating from the shores of Brittany. For this, Hanoi is considered the culinary capital of Vietnam.
• Province of Genoa, Italy I am biased for the little mountain towns and villages in Northern Italy’s province of Genoa is my families’ ancestral homeland. The province of Genoa (similar to a U.S. county) claims pesto, focaccia, Geno salami, and ravioli — the traditional Genovese Christmas day meal — as its origin. I was initially introduced to these dishes by my Italian born Nonna in Seattle, whose cuisine was almost identical to those made in Genoa, give our take a few imported items. Plus, there’s an abundance of additional delicacies borrowed from other northern regions: polenta, risotto, gnocchi, Parmigiano–Reggiano, Modena balsamic vinegar and Lucca olive oil.

T. E. Mattox — T-Boy music critic:

• Tokyo — You can find the best food underground in the massive subway systems. Any cuisine, American diners to Ethiopian spices and French delicacies! Truly International.
• San Francisco — From Fisherman’s Wharf to Italian Deli’s on Mission and in the Haight. A 45-year favorite, a little workingman’s cubbyhole in Chinatown called, Sam Wo’s. The Bay area is also a cornucopia of chocolates and wines.
• Austin, TX — Blue Balls and Fried pickles. Don’t miss the Mean-eyed Cat Cafe. B-B-Q in the back!
• New Orleans — This town is one giant bowl of Gumbo! Try the Red Fish.
• Sorrento, Italy — Seafood with the ultimate pastas. Even the truck stops and gas stations on the Autostrada serve phenomenal panini and vino. Grappa is hallucinogenic!

David Erskine — T-Boy VP of advertising:

• Munich, Bavaria, Germany  My Onkel Pitt lived on Damenstiftstrasse just off the famous Marienplatz in Munich’s town center (Stadtmitte) since 1158.  A favorite restaurant was the Augusteinerbrau Bierhalle, one of Munich’s oldest breweries started in 1328 with its award-winning lager (Helles Lager).  I traveled to Munich a number of times in the 70’s, 90’s and after 2000.  One of my favorite memories was walking from my Onkel Pitt’s apartment to the rear entrance of the Augusteinerbrau to pick up a few liters of lager for supper.  In fact, for many years, I didn’t even know of the famous restaurant because my first memory was always walking up the alley with my Onkel Pitt to get a few liters of that famous beer.

Roger Fallihee — T-Boy writer:

• New York — My wife and I are very fond of the NYC cuisine. We had the privilege to visit Red Rooster in Harlem, one of Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s signature restaurants. Also, Aureole, Chef Charlie Palmer; and lastly, D.B. Bistro, Daniel Blulud. Great tip for frugal travelers. Going to lunch at these places, if open, gives the opportunity to enjoy the world class cuisine at 1/2 to 1/3 less expensive.

Gary Brouwer — Therapist:

• Lima and Peruvian villages With 4,000 varieties of native potatoes grown in the Andean highlands, it’s hard not to be impressed. In a kaleidoscope of unique shapes and colors; blue, yellow, red, pink and bright purple, each has its own cultivated flavor.  Peru also included my first encounter with Coy a deep-fried or spionitted guinea pig, served only at special occasions. Also, the Chinese-Peruvian fusion Lomo Saltado, a stir-fry of beef and vegetables, and Aji de Gallina, a creamy chicken stew served with boiled eggs, potatoes, olives, and rice.

Richard Frisbie — T-Boy writer:

You’ll find spectacular food destination on my colleagues’ lists, but this doesn’t tell you the most important information, namely, what my favorite food region is. Hands down, that designation has to go to New York State’s Hudson Valley region. Here’s why:

It is the home of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), arguably the world’s most prestigious cooking school. Because of that, the Hudson Valley has the highest concentration of CIA graduate chefs. It makes sense. After spending years living and learning in one of the most scenic sections of the United States, these top chefs don’t want to leave. Or, after leaving to pursue hands-on education in some of the top restaurants in the world, they return to the Hudson Valley with their skill honed to settle down and open their own restaurants. They know the markets and sources here, they have a steady supply of vetted employees from their alma mater, and NYC is an hour train ride away. They have the best of both worlds.

New York City is where chefs of all backgrounds go to prove themselves. The “If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere” mentality is especially true in the restaurant world. But what comes after that? A move upstate 40 to 90 miles north of Manhattan is the logical choice. Chefs are closer to their farmers and purveyors here, their customers all own second homes here or vacation here, and the quality of life is just better.

Trust me — I live in the Hudson Valley, next door to the best restaurant in my mid-Hudson Valley county, and I work at what is consistently called the Best Bakery in the Hudson Valley. One chef friend has won Chopped three times, others own or work in “Best of” category restaurants, and still others are great chefs respected by their peers. New York State’s Hudson Valley is home to all this talent. If you haven’t eaten here yet, I can only ask “What are you waiting for?”

Susan Breslow — T-Boy writer:

• New York
• Tokyo
• San Francisco
• Milan
• Quebec City

Greg Aragon — T-Boy writer:

Porto, Portugal — Porto is a beautiful waterfront city set on the Douro River. The city is best known for its legendary port wine industry, but visitors also love its sights, highlighted by old fishing boats, historic cathedrals, arched bridges, cobble stone streets, colorful Portuguese tiles and lots aromatic sidewalk cafes.

During my visit to Porto, I was enchanted by the exciting and eclectic cuisine. Some foods that tantalized my taste buds include the francesinha sandwich, a warm sandwich with ham, sausages, and steak. It can be topped with melted cheese and an egg and served with French fries.

Another local delicacy is Porto Tripe, a traditional tripe stew usually featuring veal tripe, white beans, smoked ham, pork sausage, carrots, onions, spices such as paprika and cumin, and various cuts of chicken and pork.

I also enjoyed a delicious Bacalhau (cod fish) plate with shrimp, potato and cream sauce; and Cozido À Portuguesa, a Portuguese boiled soup with different kinds of meats, sausages and vegetables, slow cooked until the flavor jumps out of the pot.

Other dishes to try include Petiscos, which are Portuguese “tapas.” While in Porto, I had dozens of different Petiscos. They were all tasty and featured ingredients such as shrimp, ham, cheese, pork, sausage, and lots of canned fish such as sardines, mackerel, tuna and more.

Fyllis Hockman — T-Boy writer:

China — Nope, for me, not a city — a country. In addition to just eating regularly while traveling around the country, we were lucky enough to experience a vast number of banquets, where massive amounts of food — all different — are served over hours on a table-size Lazy Susan — and God-forbid you should sip your beer a bit, it will be immediately filled to the brim — again and again…..

So yes, there were a number of foods I passed on such as worms, jellyfish and duck-foot webbing and I did put the fried bee I had picked up with my chopstick down fairly quickly. I just couldn’t imagine eating something with which I had just made eye contact.

But after 36 Chinese meals over our 12 days traveling, I arrived home wanting more Chinese food. But definitely not American Chinese food — which bears no resemblance.

James Boitano — T-Boy writer:

• Paris It’s hard to find a bad meal anywhere you go, given the high culinary standards the French demand. And in the unlikely event you grow tired of French food, Paris boasts restaurants featuring nearly every cuisine in the world.

Chloe Erskine — Educator:

• Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — Had one of the best meals of my life there.
• Ilhabela, Brazil — An archipelago and city situated in the Atlantic Ocean four miles off the coast of São Paulo state in Brazil. The feijoada completa to die for, but the folx I was with were mostly cooking. A friend’s dad, who I stayed with, started Kinino Spice Company and he’s brilliant in the kitchen.

Brent Campbell — Musician and Composer:

As you can see by my list, I love red meat and classic steakhouses. In fact, I may be gone before you read this.

• New York — Delmonico’s, Sardis. Historic, Classic, old school.
• Chicago — Gene & Georgetti, another classic, exceptional service.
• Seattle — The Met, easily the best in Seattle.
• Atlanta — Bones Restaurant
• Portland — Ringside Steakhouse

However, my list of European selections is limited. That’s because whenever I have been either a vagabond hippie (wimpy, fish in newspaper, ham in a baguette, etc) or a dad with a hungry family in tow (local coupons or referrals, street food). Sadly, Mexico has usually been all inclusive. Nothing special there.

My real favorites have vanished in Seattle:

• Twin Teepees
• Clark’s, Dublin House, Red Carpet, et al — Almost affordable luxury.
• The original Black Angus on Elliott — A fine steak dinner with all the fixings for $3.49 before Stuart Anderson sold out.
• Frederick and Nelson’s lunch counter — Simply amazing!
• The Dog House — Last of the smoke filled, after hours joint.
• Blazes Broiler in Ballard — Eat a 64 oz steak and it’s free.
• Rossellini’s 4/10 — Get lucky on prom night.
• The Homestead — West Seattle, recently burned down. Seattle’s best fried chicken.
• Roses on Pacific Highway South — Western Washington’s best fried chicken, also burned down – who gave matches to the chickens?

A Seattle neighborhood called Magnolia (where I grew up with the one and only Ed Boitano):

• Gi Gi’s — A slightly, very slightly, upscale village cafe. I would go there to splurge while on break from the local gas station.
• Hickory Hut — A tiny cafe, but oh boy, Joe could flip a good burger.
• Magnolia Bowl — I would save two weeks allowance for a side of their sublime fries.
• I would be amiss to not mention Al’s Burgers on QA Avenue. Al’s tiny place (maybe where Betty’s is now) had the best burger secret sauce ever. I can almost taste it now.

Readers’ Poll

Charleston, South Carolina Charleston Culinary Tours offers the best of Charleston history, food, and drinks! — BB

Tenby and Swansea, Southwest Coast of Wales Welsh Rarebit, served with back bacon or tomatoes; cockles & mussel; Bara Brith, speckled bread; and laverbread — made of seaweed, described by Richard Burton as “Welshman’s caviar.” Best to enjoy while listening to a recording of Dylan Thomas’s poetry. — LF

The post T-Boy Society of Film and Music’s Favorite Food Destination Cities appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Season’s Greetings from the Staff at TravelingBoy

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

Together in Spirit – The Best Friends Animal Society

At the core of Best Friends Animal Society’s work is the dream that one day animals will no longer be killed in America’s shelters.

Holiday Travel Hacks

Holiday season is also peak travel season. Millions of people are getting away on vacation or getting together with family, and you want it to go as smoothly and effortlessly as possible.

So here are the World Nomads Holiday Season Travel Hacks.

Video Will Make Up 75 Percent of Mobile Traffic in Five Years

That’s up from just over half of all traffic now.

JetBlue’s ‘All You Can Jet’ Pass Is Back

Courtesy Cynthia Drescher

How many free flights can you fit into one year?

Buy one flight, get a full year of flights for free. It sounds crazy, but it’s true for the next two weeks, as JetBlue awards travelers who book even one ticket on their website with a chance to win one of three ‘All You Can Jet’ passes for 2018. Dubbed “AYCJ” for short, the pass allows for unlimited travel from February 1, 2018 through January 31, 2019. Hopefully winners are bursting with wanderlust, as these AYCJ passes will be valid for flights to the more than 100 cities on JetBlue’s route map, including international destinations like Mexico City, Grand Cayman, Bermuda, St. Lucia, and Cartagena, Colombia.

Four Affordable, Luxurious Christmas Getaways in Ireland

Courtesy Shivani Voranov

Christmas and the days leading up to the holiday are a magical time to visit Ireland, according to Siobhan Byrne Learat, founder of Adams & Butler, a Dublin-based company selling trips to Ireland. “The Irish go all out for Christmas with décor and celebrations, and the mood is cheerful and generous,” she said. “And over the years, it has become more of a cultural holiday for us than a religious one.” Ms. Learat said that while pubs and restaurants throughout the country are full of revelers, hotels have a lull in business, which means that enticing, amenity-inclusive deals abound for a Christmas-themed Ireland getaway.

Three Holiday Travel Myths You Can Debunk Now

Courtesy Joe Cortez

Year after year, holiday travelers often believe numerous holiday travel safety myths that are passed down through anecdotes. Although these tales may have at one time held some truth, the actual holiday travel hazards can create even more problems – or potentially be fatal.

When making holiday travel plans, it is critical to separate fact from fiction. Here are three holiday travel myths you can debunk right now, allowing you to focus on more important tasks as you plan gatherings with friends and family.

American Pilot Shortage Could Cause Flight Cancellations During the Holidays

Courtesy Tim Winship

Travel over the Thanksgiving holiday period was robust, and predictions are for similarly strong demand for air travel during the period between Christmas and New Year’s. For most airlines, that’s good news. For American, however, it’s a potential nightmare.

Cycling Through Cinema Sites in Europe On Freewheel Holidays’ Bike Vacations

The late actress Anita Eckberg showcsed Rome’s allure while splashing in the Trevi Fountain in the 1960 film La Dolce Vita. Scores of movies today have cemented plots in locales that, like the fountain, intersect with planned vacation itineraries offered by leading tour operators.

One trend-setting company, Freewheel Holidays, specializing in self-guided bicycle vacations throughout Europe, offers the chance to visit cinema locations on several of its 2018 itineraries. Included in program rates are lodging with breakfasts, detailed route notes, point-to-point luggage transfers and complimentary bike rentals.

Movie buffs or anyone with a love of history and adventure will enjoy these bike tours:

Dublin Makes National Geographic Travel “Best Of The World” List

Ireland’s capital city Dublin has been named as one of the 21 best cities in the world by National Geographic Traveler magazine. The list is an annual selection of “must-see” destination for the year ahead, and Dublin has made a claim for one of the finest cities in the world.

How to Fight Jet Lag

Being outside during daylight, exercising early and avoiding caffeine, alcohol or nicotine before bedtime can help lessen the effects of jet lag after returning home across time zones. Complete recovery can take multiple days.

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

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.

Most Popular Instagram Photos of 2017

Residents view the first iceberg of the season as it passes the South Shore, also known as “Iceberg Alley”, near Ferryland, Newfoundland, Canada April 16, 2017.

View the slideshow

Calls for Greater Fossil Fuel Divestment at Anniversary of Paris Climate Deal

Campaigners call for an end to fossil fuel finance and subsidies to avoid dangerous global warming at a meeting to mark two years since the signing of the landmark agreement.

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12 Things You Should Never Do in an Airport Security Line

Courtesy Neil Gladstone

If you’ve ever wondered whether airport agents perform a necessary function, take a look at the TSA Instagram account. You’ll find a stupefying collection of objects confiscated from passengers, including axes, crossbows, and handguns (and that’s just in the last few days). Acting foolishly, though, can get you delayed from a flight or even detained. To help explain what you shouldn’t do in an airport security line, we tapped Lewis Sage-Passant, a former British infantry officer who is trained in intelligence and has worked in security and crisis management for several corporations, including Goldman-Sachs. These days, he runs How Safe Is My Trip, a company that creates advisory reports for people going to risky destinations.

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Christmas Trees

By Robert Frost

The city had withdrawn into itself
And left at last the country to the country;
When between whirls of snow not come to lie
And whirls of foliage not yet laid, there drove
A stranger to our yard, who looked the city,
Yet did in country fashion in that there
He sat and waited till he drew us out
A-buttoning coats to ask him who he was.
He proved to be the city come again
To look for something it had left behind
And could not do without and keep its Christmas.
He asked if I would sell my Christmas trees;
My woods—the young fir balsams like a place
Where houses all are churches and have spires.
I hadn’t thought of them as Christmas Trees.
I doubt if I was tempted for a moment
To sell them off their feet to go in cars
And leave the slope behind the house all bare,
Where the sun shines now no warmer than the moon.
I’d hate to have them know it if I was.
Yet more I’d hate to hold my trees except
As others hold theirs or refuse for them,
Beyond the time of profitable growth,
The trial by market everything must come to.
I dallied so much with the thought of selling.
Then whether from mistaken courtesy
And fear of seeming short of speech, or whether
From hope of hearing good of what was mine,
I said, “There aren’t enough to be worth while.”
“I could soon tell how many they would cut,
You let me look them over.”

“You could look.
But don’t expect I’m going to let you have them.”
Pasture they spring in, some in clumps too close
That lop each other of boughs, but not a few
Quite solitary and having equal boughs
All round and round. The latter he nodded “Yes” to,
Or paused to say beneath some lovelier one,
With a buyer’s moderation, “That would do.”
I thought so too, but wasn’t there to say so.
We climbed the pasture on the south, crossed over,
And came down on the north.
He said, “A thousand.”

“A thousand Christmas trees! —at what apiece? ”

He felt some need of softening that to me:
“A thousand trees would come to thirty dollars.”

Then I was certain I had never meant
To let him have them. Never show surprise!
But thirty dollars seemed so small beside
The extent of pasture I should strip, three cents
(For that was all they figured out apiece) ,
Three cents so small beside the dollar friends
I should be writing to within the hour
Would pay in cities for good trees like those,
Regular vestry-trees whole Sunday Schools
Could hang enough on to pick off enough.
A thousand Christmas trees I didn’t know I had!
Worth three cents more to give away than sell,
As may be shown by a simple calculation.
Too bad I couldn’t lay one in a letter.
I can’t help wishing I could send you one,
In wishing you herewith a Merry Christmas.

Send Deb your favorite travel poems.

8 Weird Things You’re Allowed to Bring on Planes

Courtesy Stefanie Waldek

Many travelers know the drill when it comes to packing your carry-on bag for a flight. Make sure your bag fits the size and weight requirements. Check to see if you’re allowed to bring a personal item in addition to a full-sized carry-on. No liquids greater than 3.4 ounces, no firearms, no large sharp objects. There are seemingly endless banned items, but if you read the fine print, there’s actually a whole range of odd things that you’re actually allowed to fly with. Here, we name eight such items.

1. Falcons
2. Antlers
3. Christmas Trees
4. Pies and Cakes
5. Cremated Remains
6. Camp Stoves
7. Parachutes
8. Bowling Balls

8 Neck Pillows That Won’t Embarrass You on the Plane

Courtesy Shannon McMahon

Some of the best neck pillows are also the most packable. Skip clunky, over-engineered travel pillows with these simple-yet-effective options.

Unimpressed by some of the newest travel pillows to hit the market? Many are virtually unpackable or outright embarrassing, with armrest-mounted stands or bulky padding that makes them quite the spectacle. Luckily, over-engineered travel pillows aren’t the only way to sleep on the plane; some of the best neck pillows are also the most packable. Here are eight simple-yet-effective options that won’t embarrass you or take up unnecessary space, making them some of the best neck pillows out there.

MORE

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.

MORE

Being on the ground in over 180 countries means you get the full story.

The NAACP Warns that “travelers — especially African Americans … could [be] subject [to] disrespectful, discriminatory, or unsafe conditions.”

Courtesy Tim Winship

When Muslim Advocates and the NAACP issue a joint letter accusing the U.S. airline industry of racism, it’s big news. And when the NAACP, the “nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization,” follows that up with an advisory specifically questioning the racial policies of the nation’s largest airline, American, it’s nothing less than a media firestorm. Indeed, all the major news media covered the story exhaustively. And “American Airlines” has been a trending Twitter topic for several days.

MORE

The Best Place to Find Cheap Flights

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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.

MORE

The post Catch Up With the Latest Traveling Boy News appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Staff at TravelingBoy

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

Scott Pruitt Is ‘Hell-Bent’ on Dismantling EPA Rules

By Robert Redford

How to Fight Jet Lag

Being outside during daylight, exercising early and avoiding caffeine, alcohol or nicotine before bedtime can help lessen the effects of jet lag after returning home across time zones. Complete recovery can take multiple days.

New Security Measures Implemented for US-Bound Travelers

US-bound air travelers from Europe and Asia reported that new security measures weren’t very different from those already in place, although more passengers were selected for secondary airport security screenings. Procedures vary by country, leading to confusion for some travelers.

ViaHero: How to Have a Local Plan Your Personalized Trip

Judy Koutsky

When Kevin Maloney started to plan his trip to Iceland, a friend mentioned a new service called ViaHero. “I knew there was a lot to see in Iceland and I had a short period of time. I didn’t want to spend a lot of personal time doing the research,” Maloney says. “My goal was to have an expert map it out for me.”

He was looking for someone with expert knowledge of the area, but tailored to exactly what Maloney wanted to do on vacation. “It wouldn’t have been difficult identifying some of the big landmarks, like Blue Lagoon,” he says. “But it would have been hard for me to identify great local food spots, or natural springs that aren’t in the guide books.”

So he signed up for the service and received a local “Hero” in Iceland.

“Uncommon Flavors of Europe” Campaign Will Promote Three Delicously Italian Ingredients for Three Years

Under the “Enjoy, it’s from Europe” program adopted by the European Union, a new campaign titled “Uncommon Flavors of Europe” will bring the attention of consumers to three products from Italy for the next three years through grocery store promotions in the U.S. and Canada: Asiago PDO cheese, Speck Alto Adige PGI ham and Pecorino Romano PDO cheese.

The Top 10 Most Visited Cities in the World: Mastercard Index

According the latest edition of the annual Mastercard Destination Cities Index, Bangkok, Thailand received 19.41 million international overnight visitors in 2016 — a figure that’s expected to grow another 4 percent this year to 20.19 million.

Rounding out the top three spots is London, which is forecast to receive 20.01 million international overnight visitors by the end of 2017, and Paris, which trails at an estimated 16.13 million.

Sports Tours International Invites Amateur Cyclists to L’Étape du Tour 2018

Sports Tours International, the UK-based provider of vacations built around nail-biting, world-class cycling and running competitions, is taking reservations now for amateur cyclists who want to participate in L’Étape du Tour 2018, an opportunity to tackle a mountain stage of the 2018 Tour de France.

L’Étape du Tour 2018 is scheduled for Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Annecy, France. The finish is at Le Grand-Bornand, a resort in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. This finish was used in the 2009 Tour de France on Stage 17 when Alberto Contador famously went against team orders and left Lance Armstrong on both the Col du Romme and the Col de la Colombière.

Riders experience highs and lows while traversing a distance of 169km and climbing to heights of up to 4,000km, just like the pros when the 2018 Tour de France begins on July 7 and runs through July 29. For example, the Col de la Colombière will be the final climb for Stage 10 (Annecy to Le Grand Bornand, 159km) on July 17.

Non-Traditional Ways to Celebrate Thanksgiving

Roast turkey feasts, food comas, and football marathons are all perfectly fine Thanksgiving traditions. But if you’re looking to shake things up this year, check out these alternative ideas for T-Day.

All-Inclusive Pricing or Hotel

We’ve all been bushwhacked by hidden hotel fees. The one that always gets me is paying a ‘resort feel’ to use an oceanfront properties’ swimming pool, towels, beach chair, etc – the very reason that I selected that property.

Here’s an intriguing blog by Mark Kahler, which addresses that issue.

United Details How New Overbooking Compensation System Works

Courtesy Lewis Lazare

United Airlines launched a new voluntary overbooking compensation system Tuesday that will notify passengers upon checking in if they may be on a flight with potential overbooking problems. The notification will give passengers several compensation options, and if the gate agent chooses to rebook one or more passengers, travel vouchers will be issued.

How to Rack Up Airline Miles (Without Actually Flying)

You don’t have to book a flight or hotel reservation to earn points with these programs.

Courtesy Danielle Brown

When it comes to loyalty, we all know the typical ways to earn rewards – book a flight, open a rewards credit card, make a hotel reservation, enroll in a dining plan, rent a car. And chances are you’re earning points and miles this way already! While these methods tend to be top of mind, not many people know that there are actually a variety of ways to accrue valuable loyalty points.

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.

Never Collect Inanimate Objects, Because They Collect You

I was forty years old when I read this statement many years ago, and it struck me like a thunderbolt. I got it! Over the next couple of weeks, I had begun going through the things I had been accumulating since I was married.

Canada Will Have the World’s Longest Trail Network in 2017

The Great Trail, also referred to as the Trans Canada Trail, is a 14,864-mile network of paths set to be completely connected by 2017, to coincide with the country’s 150th birthday.

Operation Homefront

A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers with nationwide presence who provide emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors.

Worldwide Vacation Rankings

U.S. News Travel’s Best Vacations rankings identify the top destinations by region and vacation type.

7 Frequent-Flyer Tricks Worth Learning

Master the art of earning miles, attaining elite status, and working the system to earn free flights and other perks.

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.

Milan Tour: Highlights and Hidden Gems with Francesca

I just returned from a spectacular vacation to vibrant Milan. Thanks to With Locals’ guide, Francesca Giorgetti, I was introduced to a Milan that I never even knew existed. Francesca personalized my family’s walking tour to our interests, which covered historical sites, unique architecture, daily life in Milan and secret insights in which we would have never known on our own. Francesca is a walking encyclopedia on all things Milan. If you have an obscure question not generally asked, she would jump on her iPhone and have your answer in a matter of seconds. A true high point, was Francesca organizing a tour of the La Scala Museum, which included her edifying oral history of La Scala, seeing intricate outfits, musical instruments, various stage props and an actual viewing of a rehearsal at La Scala from a balcony setting. We later learned that she was actually at the museum the day before, in preparation of our tour. Milan was great, but it became a multi-dimensional city experience thanks to Francesca’s expertise.

More information about tours With Locals

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 Las Vegas.

WATCH Travel Guys Take on Las Vegas

The NAACP Warns that “travelers — especially African Americans … could [be] subject [to] disrespectful, discriminatory, or unsafe conditions.”

Courtesy Tim Winship

When Muslim Advocates and the NAACP issue a joint letter accusing the U.S. airline industry of racism, it’s big news. And when the NAACP, the “nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization,” follows that up with an advisory specifically questioning the racial policies of the nation’s largest airline, American, it’s nothing less than a media firestorm. Indeed, all the major news media covered the story exhaustively. And “American Airlines” has been a trending Twitter topic for several days.

MORE

One Day is There of the Series

By Emily Dickinson

One Day is there of the Series
Termed Thanksgiving Day.
Celebrated part at Table
Part in Memory.

Neither Patriarch nor Pussy
I dissect the Play
Seems it to my Hooded thinking
Reflex Holiday.

Had there been no sharp Subtraction
From the early Sum —
Not an Acre or a Caption
Where was once a Room —

Not a Mention, whose small Pebble
Wrinkled any Sea,
Unto Such, were such Assembly
‘Twere Thanksgiving Day.

Send Deb your favorite travel poems.

Courtesy Shannon McMahon

Some of the best neck pillows are also the most packable. Skip clunky, over-engineered travel pillows with these simple-yet-effective options.

Courtesy Shannon McMahon

Unimpressed by some of the newest travel pillows to hit the market? Many are virtually unpackable or outright embarrassing, with armrest-mounted stands or bulky padding that makes them quite the spectacle. Luckily, over-engineered travel pillows aren’t the only way to sleep on the plane; some of the best neck pillows are also the most packable. Here are eight simple-yet-effective options that won’t embarrass you or take up unnecessary space, making them some of the best neck pillows out there.

MORE

This Is the New ‘Best Airline’ According to Savvy Travelers

Every year, Conde Nast Traveler gets a lot of mileage out of its Readers’ Choice Awards, with feedback from over 300,000 travelers.

According to the travel-savvy group that comprises Conde Nast’s survey base, the world’s 20 best are as follows:

1. Air New Zealand
2. Qatar Airways
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Emirates
5. Swiss
6. Virgin Australia
7. Virgin Atlantic
8. Asiana
9. Aegean
10. Cathay Pacific
11. Korean Air
12. Qantas
13. All Nippon Airways (ANA)
14. Finnair
15. Turkish Airlines
16. Etihad
17. Japan Airlines
18. EVA Air
19. Lufthansa
20. KLM

And in the Best U.S. Airline category, readers voted as follows:

1. Virgin America
2. JetBlue
3. Alaska Airlines
4. Hawaiian Airlines
5. Sun Country

The 10 Best Airports in the World

Skytrax has released its latest World Airport Awards based on what it calls the largest annual global airport customer satisfaction survey. Nearly 14 million airport survey questionnaires were completed by 105 different nationalities of airline customers between July 2016 and February 2017. It covering 550 airports worldwide and evaluated travelers’ experiences via performance indicators including check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security and immigration. The awards were handed out by Skytrax at Passenger Terminal EXPO in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

See the top 10 airport winners

“Shoot for the Stars” Winners Announced by Global Connections

Global Connections, Inc. (GCI) has selected exceptional photos from nearly 1000 entries in its 12^th Annual “Shoot for the Stars” Contest.

First, second and third prizes were awarded in each of the three categories: Wild and Fun, Family & Friends, and Landscape. In total, prizes were valued at more than $3,000 overall.

“Another year, another amazing collection of photos from GDV members,” said Melanie Gring, GCI’s VP/Strategic Alliances. “Our members shared their memories from worldwide travels and it was a tough decision to limit our winners to only nine images.”

“It really is exciting to see all the places and activities our members experienced on their vacation,” she continued.  “We’re particularly fortunate these photos are so great because we use them in member collateral materials, on the website, and in testimonials.”

See the winners in each category

Random Acts of Canine Kindness

Cedric the Dog takes a well-earned break after organizing a protest at an alt–right Neo-Nazi rally in North Florida.

Dog Quotations

10 Free Scenic Drives for Budget Travel

Courtesy Mark Kahler, TravelSavvy

Free scenic drives provide some of the best budget travel values available. A breathtaking variety of vistas and views can highlight your stay in a new destination.

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100 Trips Everyone Should Take in Their Lifetime

Business Insider UK asked 20 top travel bloggers and writers/editors from the likes of Lonely Planet, Suitcase, and Airbnb for the top five destinations they’ve ever visited – or the ones that are at the top of their bucket list.

Based on their advice, here’s a list of must-see places across the globe that everyone should visit in their lifetime.

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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.

MORE

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

Being on the ground in over 180 countries means you get the full story.

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.

MORE

Together in Spirit – The Best Friends Animal Society

At the core of Best Friends Animal Society’s work is the dream that one day animals will no longer be killed in America’s shelters.

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The Best Place to Find Cheap Flights

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The post Catch Up With the Latest Traveling Boy News appeared first on Traveling Archive.