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.

The Shortest Path to Real-Life Conversations

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

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:

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.

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.”

John Lennon’s Typewriter

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The post Catch-up with the Latest Traveling Boy News 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.

The post Guided Walking Tours with Detour and Other News appeared first on Traveling Archive.