- Blogs - Tripatini2024-03-29T15:10:07Zhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/+Close Encounters With Whale Sharks in Costa Ricahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/whale-sharks-costa-rica2016-06-03T17:33:03.000Z2016-06-03T17:33:03.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008935877,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008935877,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="640" alt="9008935877?profile=original" /></a>Would you love to see a monkey in the wild? Or maybe a sloth right next to you in a tree? What about getting close to wild dolphins, or a humpback whale? OK - how about a bus-size whale shark?<br /></p><p>When travelers come to <b>Costa Rica</b> – the eco-capital of Latin America with nearly six percent of the world’s biodiversity – they often want to see certain animals. Maybe it is a favorite animal they have been dreaming their whole life to see in person. Or they recently read up on the <a href="http://costarica.com/wildlife/" target="_blank">cool wildlife in Costa Rica</a>.<br /></p><p>In April, guests and staff at <a href="http://www.nicuesalodge.com/" target="_blank">Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge</a> in southern Costa Rica had an incredible experience with a surprise visit by a <a href="http://dive-whalesharks.divescover.com/" target="_blank">whale shark</a> swimming in front of Nicuesa Beach in the Golfo Dulce.<br /></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009057455,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="650" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009057455,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009057455?profile=original" /></a><br /> Boat captain Alejandro was readying a boat for a guest trip that morning, when he saw a huge school of sardines swimming nearby, followed by a whale shark. The small bay in front of Nicuesa Beach is very calm and the water is crystal clear, making it easy to see marine life. As usual, when a Nicuesa staff member sees interesting wildlife, Alejandro called all staff and guests by walkie-talkie to come to the beach immediately.<br /></p><p>For one of the hotel’s guests, seeing a whale shark in Costa Rica was a moment he’d waited his whole life for.<br /></p><p>“It was an unforgettable experience for everyone,” said Natalia Solis, Sustainability Coordinator at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge. “Our guest was super grateful because whale sharks are his favorite animal, and by surprise this was his first time to ever see one … when he was at Nicuesa.” <br /></p><p><span class="font-size-4"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009057288,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="650" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009057288,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009057288?profile=original" /></a><a href="http://www.divereport.com/animals/whale-shark/" target="_blank"><br /> Whale Sharks</a><br /></span></p><p><br /> Whale sharks live in warm and tropical waters and are considered to be the <b>largest fish in the world</b> – growing up to 40 feet (12m) long. Despite their name, whale sharks are not related to whales and are not mammals. And though they are in the shark family, whale sharks feed mainly on plankton and small fish.</p><p><br /> Whale sharks usually swim with their huge gaping mouths wide open, making it easier to scoop up food along their way. After getting its fill, the whale shark will close its mouth and filter out the water through its gills, leaving only its meal trapped.<br /></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009058253,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009058253,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="502" alt="9009058253?profile=original" /></a><br /> Despite being big and looking intimidating, <b>whale sharks are surprisingly gentle</b>, curious and non-aggressive. They tend to swim near the ocean’s surface, and snorkelers and scuba divers frequently report that they enjoy close encounters with whale sharks.</p><p><br /> Whale sharks, which live to be 70 to 100 years old, at one time populated most of the Earth’s tropical waters, but their numbers are dwindling fast. These docile sharks are being hunted in the waters around Asia and are now endangered worldwide.<br /></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009058866,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009058866,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009058866?profile=original" /></a><br /> Playa Nicuesa Lodge’s 165-acre <b>private Costa Rica rainforest reserve</b> is located in the extraordinary <a href="http://www.nicuesalodge.com/about-playa-nicuesa/getting-here/" target="_blank">Golfo Dulce/Osa Peninsula region</a> in southern Costa Rica. Accessible only by boat on the Pacific gulf of Golfo Dulce, the lodge fronts this important life zone for Pacific Humpback Whales, dolphins, hammerhead sharks, whale sharks and sea turtles. It is a <b>unique Costa Rica adventure travel destination</b> for its remote, pristine wilderness location.</p><p></p></div>Yountville, Deep In the Heart of Napa Valley's Essencehttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/yountville-napa-valley-california2015-12-15T22:20:11.000Z2015-12-15T22:20:11.000ZSteve Mirskyhttps://tripatini.com/members/SteveMirsky964<div><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/downtownyountville.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/downtownyountville.jpg?width=639" width="639" alt="downtownyountville.jpg?width=639" /></a><br /> Yountville, California embodies many quintessential visions you undoubtedly have when planning a Napa Valley excursion. It all started in 1836, when George Calvert Yount founded the town planting Napa Valley's first official vineyard. Today, vines<a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/yountvillesidewalk.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-right" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/yountvillesidewalk.jpg?width=289" width="289" alt="yountvillesidewalk.jpg?width=289" /></a> stretch from the Mayacamas mountains to the Napa River. Yountville's compact layout, clustered around Washington Street, is also perfect for biking not only on the existing street grid but along the ever expanding <a href="https://vinetrail.org/en/">Napa Valley Vine Trail</a> which when completed will extend 47 miles from Vallejo to Calistoga.<br /> <br /> Yountville has the highest concentration of Michelin-rated dining in the valley, and a wide array of luxury hotels to stay in. When you need a break from wine tastings, be sure to drink in some culture at the <a href="http://napavalleymuseum.org/">Napa Valley Museum</a> and explore Yountville's sculpture-filled <a href="http://www.townofyountville.com/about-yountville/art-in-yountville/yountville-art-walk">Art Walk</a>.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/VMarketplace.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-left" style="width:242px;height:265px;" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/VMarketplace.jpg?width=300" height="299" width="300" alt="VMarketplace.jpg?width=300" /></a></p><h3>Where to Stay</h3><p><br /> Despite growing exponentially within the past 10 years, Yountville's small scale historic architectural elements remain influencing newer development. An impressive example is 23-acre Vintage Estate featuring <a href="http://www.vmarketplace.com/">V Marketplace</a>, formerly a circa 1874 winery and now a lifestyle center listed on the National Register of Historic Places offering boutique shopping and dining. Chef Michael Chiarello’s flagship <a href="http://www.vmarketplace.com/napastyle/">NapaStyle</a> and signature <a href="http://www.vmarketplace.com/bottega/">Bottega</a> are two stellar examples. Walking the richly landscaped grounds with a continuously flowing, stone-lined stream and fountains at the center evokes the ambiance of a French country chateau.</p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Vintage-Inn-Grounds.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Vintage-Inn-Grounds-1024x728.jpg?width=668" width="668" alt="Vintage-Inn-Grounds-1024x728.jpg?width=668" /></a></p><p><br /> Two on-site luxury hotels, <a href="http://vintageinn.com/">Vintage Inn</a> and <a href="http://villagio.com/">Villagio Inn & Spa</a>, are situated on the estate as well. AAA-Four-Diamond Vintage Inn's 80 newly remodeled guestrooms and cozy, cottage-style villas with gabled roofs and plantation-style shutters invite guests to linger and luxuriate. Each room has either a private balcony or garden patio furnished with oversize Brown Jordan wicker furniture. Interiors are graced with acacia hardwood flooring accented by hand-woven Indian wool area rugs, original photography shot by local Napa Valley artists, and glass-front mini-refrigerators providing refined storage for the edible treats you're sure to accumulate during your stay.</p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Vintage-Inn-Entrance.jpg"><br /></a> <a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/vintageinnroom.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/vintageinnroom.jpg?width=534" width="534" alt="vintageinnroom.jpg?width=534" /></a></p><p><br /> Cozying in never felt so good with stone-framed wood burning fire places, vaulted<a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/NapaAloft2.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-right" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/NapaAloft2.jpg?width=312" width="312" alt="NapaAloft2.jpg?width=312" /></a><br /> ceilings, and marble tiled bathrooms perfect for sinking into an oversize sunken whirlpool bathtub or soaking under a dual headed shower outfitted with carrara marble mosaic tiled floors. Complimentary in-room wine, nightly turn-down service featuring craft chocolates, and a full Champagne breakfast buffet await guests each morning. Wake up a little early before the sun rises and take a <a href="http://nvaloft.com/">Napa Aloft</a> hot-air balloon ride. Tours depart daily, weather permitting, from the V Market parking lot providing spectacular sunrise vineyard views. If you opt in, you'll still get your Champagne breakfast post-ride at <a href="http://www.pacificbluescafe.com/">Pacific Blues Cafe</a>.<a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Spa-Villagio-Loft-Suite.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Spa-Villagio-Loft-Suite.jpg?width=561" width="561" alt="Spa-Villagio-Loft-Suite.jpg?width=561" /></a></p><p><a href="http://villagio.com/spavillagio"><br /> Spa Villagio</a>, a 13,000-square-foot residential-style sanctuary adjacent to Vintage Inn offers sixteen state-of-the-art treatment rooms. As part of their "Signature Suite Experiences," you can revel in blissful relaxation a bit longer in one of their five private spa suites outfitted with fireplaces, jet-equipped infinity soaking tubs, steam showers, wet bars, private patios, and flat-screen TVs with Bose surround-sound systems.<br /></p><p><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/FrenchLaundryCulinaryGarden.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-left" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/FrenchLaundryCulinaryGarden.jpg?width=367" width="367" alt="FrenchLaundryCulinaryGarden.jpg?width=367" /></a></p><h3>Dining</h3><p><br /> <span xml:lang="en" lang="en">Distinctive dining in Yountville dates back to 1977, when Philippe Jeanty opened</span> <span xml:lang="en" lang="en"><a href="http://www.chandon.com/">Domaine Chandon</a>'s restaurant. Now still in the kitchen but at his own <a href="http://www.bistrojeanty.com/">Bistro Jeanty</a> down the street, top quality dining has mushroomed into</span> Michelin-star territory with <a href="http://www.thomaskeller.com/tfl">The French Laundry</a> and <a href="http://www.thomaskeller.com/bouchon-bistro-yountville">Bouchon</a> topping the list while Michelin-rated eateries like <a href="http://www.lucyrestaurantandbar.com/home">Lucy Restaurant and Bar</a>, and <a href="http://www.redd-wood.com/">Redd Wood</a> create <span xml:lang="en" lang="en">year round farm-to-fork dishes. French Laundry's three-acre vegetable garden, right across the street from its namesake restaurant, is open to the public, and a highly visible example of where all this fresh produce is sourced from.<a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/ReddWoodCharcuterie-768x1024.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-right" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/ReddWoodCharcuterie-768x1024.jpg?width=322" width="322" alt="ReddWoodCharcuterie-768x1024.jpg?width=322" /></a></span></p><h4>Redd Wood</h4><p><br /> Redd Wood, a more casual sister restaurant of <span xml:lang="en" lang="en">Richard Reddington's <a href="http://reddnapavalley.com/">Redd</a>, is an osteria with ultramodern bar and clusters of tables benefiting from bright outside views thanks to knee-to-ceiling plate glass windows. To the left of the door as you enter, you'll see various cuts of meats</span> <span xml:lang="en" lang="en">aging in a glass-door, walk-in refrigerator. A lit</span> copper buoy serves as the central lighting feature while the private dining room is flanked with magazine wall-art.<br /> <br /> A sure bet among other treats on the menu here is <span xml:lang="en" lang="en">building your own wood fired pizza masterpiece. It all starts with a finely blistered crust with </span></p><p><span xml:lang="en" lang="en"><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/ReddWoodDish.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-left" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/ReddWoodDish-768x1024.jpg?width=306" width="306" alt="ReddWoodDish-768x1024.jpg?width=306" /></a>satisfying chew and subtle smokiness topped with Neapolitan-style sauce (whole peeled tomatoes, salt, olive oil) fresh mozzarella, and basil. Next, pick from toppings including their in-house aged pancetta, goat cheese, smoked mozzarella, ham and bacon, Calabrian chili, and just picked arugula.<br /> <br /></span> <span xml:lang="en" lang="en">Dining outside on the terrace is a highly contested seating option where at night you can truly look up into the sky</span> <span xml:lang="en" lang="en">and identify the constellations along with a glass of wine from an impeccably curated 200-bottle list. Although heavily focusing on local varietals, roughly 50 percent lean Italian, including 21 by-the-glass offerings. <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/tacos-garcia-yountville-2">Tacos Garcia</a>, a city-licensed taco truck sets up in a parking lot across the street alongside a dive bar lending an egalitarian ambiance to Yountsville's dining scene on this stretch of Washington Street.</span></p><h4>Lucy Restaurant & Bar</h4><p><br /> Ensconced within ultra posh LEED-Platinum-certified <a href="http://www.bardessono.com/">Hotel Bardessono</a>, Lucy Restaurant & Bar cultivates an equally inspired menu based on what's available from their kitchen-side garden. Executive Chef Victor Scargle <span xml:lang="en" lang="en">regularly leads garden tours identifying and harvesting herbs and produce like Persian limes, eight mint varieties, as well as salad greens and other vegetables.<br /> <br /></span> <a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/lucyrestaurantsaladsoup.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/lucyrestaurantsaladsoup.jpg?width=601" width="601" alt="lucyrestaurantsaladsoup.jpg?width=601" /></a><br /> And if they don't have it, local farms make up the difference in dishes like Schmitz Ranch Pork Chop and Liberty Farm Duck Breast. While Lucy does showcase Napa wines, its list specifically focuses on small vintners from around the world committed to organic and biodynamic practices.</p><h3>Can't-Miss Wineries</h3><h4>Jessup Cellars</h4><p><br /> <a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Jessup-Cellars.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-right" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Jessup-Cellars.jpg?width=422" width="422" alt="Jessup-Cellars.jpg?width=422" /></a>A standout among Yountville wineries, <a href="http://jessupcellars.com/">Jessup Cellars</a> turns out some stellar <span xml:lang="en" lang="en">small-production vintages expertly crafted by winemaker Rob Lloyd. You can explore their bold Cabernets, smooth Bordeaux–style blends, crisp whites, and rich Ports in their Tuscan-style tasting room across the street from Redd Wood. Like many Napa tasting rooms, art takes just as much of the stage as the wines. At Jessup, this is taken a step further with their artist-in-residence program allowing artists to spend time in Yountville performing in their gallery space. Regularly scheduled events include an Art House Short Film Series</span> featuring four award-winning shorts paired with a Jessup Cellars wine and chef Mike C’s wok-popped, flavor-infused popcorn.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/JessupCellarsWinemakingTeam.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/JessupCellarsWinemakingTeam.jpg?width=562" width="562" alt="JessupCellarsWinemakingTeam.jpg?width=562" /></a></p><p><span xml:lang="en" lang="en"><br /> Rob Lloyd's simple yet crucial wine making cornerstone is sourcing particular grapes from where they grow best in the Valley. This requires an intimate knowledge of micro climates that can only come from</span> <span xml:lang="en" lang="en">years of walking vineyards during all seasons. Pinots, Chardonnay and Merlot grapes from Carneros Bay are a case in point. These cooler climate grapes benefit from ocean breezes which naturally slow maturation allowing proper ripening before they sugar up. “A longer hang time amply softens the skins before the Brix level gets too high,” says Lloyd. Conversely,</span> Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel and Petit Verdot are sourced from “up-valley” regions where it's hotter and drier. The best part is that Jessup's wines are richly concentrated and accessible when young yet poised for the benefits of cellaring.</p><h4>HALL Wines</h4><p><br /> <span xml:lang="en" lang="en"><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/HALLSculpture.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-left" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/HALLSculpture.jpg?width=350" width="350" alt="HALLSculpture.jpg?width=350" /></a>It will be extra-difficult to coax yourself farther afield after experiencing the benefits of having everything at your fingertips in Yountville, but it's well worth it to make the trek one town up Route 29 to</span> St. Helena's <a href="http://www.hallwines.com/">HALL Wines</a><span xml:lang="en" lang="en">. Run by Kathryn Walt Hall and her husband Craig, HALL's distinctive Cabernets and Sauvignon Blancs are among the big tasting attractions here, but as impressive as these wines may be, the tasting room is a work of art in and of itself. Entering is like being admitted to a contemporary art museum. Large outdoor sculptures like a 35-foot stainless steel <em>Bunny Foo Foo</em> and a larger-than-life-size head constructed of marble and lead tie in the surrounding vineyards, while glass paneled walls in the tasting room overlook it all, presenting the wines in a naturally lit gallery. Even the bottle labels are painted by local artists depicting distinctive characteristics of each varietal.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/HALLTastingRoom.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="http://www.gastrotraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/HALLTastingRoom.jpg?width=550" width="550" alt="HALLTastingRoom.jpg?width=550" /></a></span></p><p><br />Roughly half the grapes HALL uses come from its estate vineyards; the other half are sourced from over 130 certified organic Napa vineyards. Rooted in a potent combination of hands-on and high-tech, winemaking here begins with handpicked grapes that are then sorted with a digital optical sorting machine outfitted with laser powered sensors to identify just the right grapes for predetermined flavor profiles.</p><p></p><p></p><blockquote><span class="font-size-1"><em>Photos: yountville.com, French Laundry Culinary Garden,Vintage Inn, HALL Wines, Jessup Cellars, and Steve Mirsky. Coverage made possible by participating in a sponsored visit.</em></span></blockquote></div>16 Top Orlando Draws Beyond the Theme Parkshttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/16-top-orlando-draws-beyond-the-theme-parks2017-02-05T18:11:33.000Z2017-02-05T18:11:33.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><p><a href="http://love2fly.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/L2F-Dec-15-pic-USA-FL-Orlando-Lake-Eola-dusk-Sean-Pavone-shutterstock_262697789.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://love2fly.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/L2F-Dec-15-pic-USA-FL-Orlando-Lake-Eola-dusk-Sean-Pavone-shutterstock_262697789-640x427.jpg?width=640" width="640" class="align-center" alt="L2F-Dec-15-pic-USA-FL-Orlando-Lake-Eola-dusk-Sean-Pavone-shutterstock_262697789-640x427.jpg?width=640" /></a></p>
<p><br /> Back in the mid-1960s, the Orlando region of central Florida was lake-dotted but also unappealing to most people - a hot, swampy, mosquito-ridden backwater. Then came “The Mouse” – Disney’s <strong>Magic Kingdom</strong> – and lo, these 45 years later, <strong>Greater Orlando</strong> is now a pixie-dust-transformed mecca for holidaymakers from across the globe, and indeed, the USA’s most visited city. <strong>Walt Disney World</strong> (with parks <strong>Epcot</strong>, <strong>Animal Kingdom</strong>, and <strong>Hollywood Studios</strong> added) remains a key draw of course – now in addition to many other large and small theme parks including <strong>Universal Studios</strong>, Universal’s <strong>Islands of Adventure</strong>, <strong>SeaWorld</strong>, <strong>Gatorland</strong>, and water parks such as <strong>Wet ’n’ Wild,</strong><strong>Typhoon Lagoon</strong>, and <strong>Blizzard Beach</strong>.<br /></p>
<p>But as fun as they are, the theme parks remain just part of the story. The cities and towns of Greater Orlando also harbor some marvellous lesser-known gems – both those that are a result of or enhanced by the area’s nearly half-century tourism boom and those that predate it. I’ve been visiting and writing about Orlando for many years, and here are my favorites:<br /> <br /> <span id="more-11883"></span></p>
<p><a href="http://love2fly.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/L2F-Dec-15-pic-USA-Florida-Orlando-live-oak-Spanish-moss-legenda-shutterstock_1807111671.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://love2fly.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/L2F-Dec-15-pic-USA-Florida-Orlando-live-oak-Spanish-moss-legenda-shutterstock_1807111671.jpg?width=678" width="678" class="align-center" alt="L2F-Dec-15-pic-USA-Florida-Orlando-live-oak-Spanish-moss-legenda-shutterstock_1807111671.jpg?width=678" /></a><strong style="font-size:1.17em;"><br /> Orlando Downtown/Thornton Park</strong></p>
<p><br /> I wouldn’t blame visitors for losing sight of the fact that Orlando is an actual city in its own right. A few minutes’ drive north of the Disney and Universal parks, what began in the mid-19th century as a frontier ranching-and-citrus-farming town is now a handsome modern city that mixes urban sophistication with old Southern-style charm, including pretty parks and pockets of quaint <strong>Victorian architecture</strong> amid Spanish-moss-draped live oaks.</p>
<p><br /> The <strong>Central Business District</strong> is home to a clutch of nightspots and restaurants, including the entertainment/dining/shopping complex <strong>Church Street Station</strong>, a renovated railway station dating back to 1889. Heading east past <strong>Lake Eola</strong> with its iconic mid-lake fountain, you arrive at one of my favorite local neighbourhoods, <strong>Thornton Park</strong>, with brick-paved streets, lovely historic homes, and a buzzy restaurant/shopping/clubbing scene popular with young professionals and hipsters and alternative types.</p>
<p><br /> Fine local museums include the <strong>Orlando Museum of Art</strong>, the <strong>Orlando Science Centre</strong>, and <strong>Well’s Built Museum of African American History & Culture</strong>.<br /></p>
<p><a href="http://love2fly.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/L2F-Dec-15-pic-USA-FL-Orlando-airboat-Experience-Kissimmee-Flickr.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://love2fly.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/L2F-Dec-15-pic-USA-FL-Orlando-airboat-Experience-Kissimmee-Flickr.jpg?width=640" width="640" class="align-center" alt="L2F-Dec-15-pic-USA-FL-Orlando-airboat-Experience-Kissimmee-Flickr.jpg?width=640" /></a></p>
<h3><span><strong><br /> Kissimmee</strong></span></h3>
<p><br /> A half-hour drive south of both Disney and downtown Orlando, this low-rise city has its share of crap and sprawl (yes, I admit I’ve visited <strong>Medieval Times</strong>, the jousting-knights dinner theatre, but only because of my nephew). But there’s also a low-key and old-timey-feeling historic <strong>Old Town Kissimmee</strong>, a downtown with galleries, boutiques, and nice eateries. There are also several of eco/outdoor adventure attractions in the area, such as <strong>Forever Florida</strong>, <strong>Wild Florida</strong>, and <strong>Kissimmee Swamp Tours</strong>, offering combinations of eco safaris, airboat rides, horseback riding, and ziplines.<br /></p>
<p><a href="http://love2fly.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/L2F-Dec-15-pic-USA-FL-Orlando-Winter-Park-Hosmer-Museum-Louis-Comfort-Tiffany-Spring-Raymond-Martinot-Wikipedia.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://love2fly.iberia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/L2F-Dec-15-pic-USA-FL-Orlando-Winter-Park-Hosmer-Museum-Louis-Comfort-Tiffany-Spring-Raymond-Martinot-Wikipedia.jpg?width=800" width="800" class="align-center" alt="L2F-Dec-15-pic-USA-FL-Orlando-Winter-Park-Hosmer-Museum-Louis-Comfort-Tiffany-Spring-Raymond-Martinot-Wikipedia.jpg?width=800" /></a></p>
<h3><strong><br /> Winter Park</strong></h3>
<p><br /> I once moved to the Orlando area for a while for a job, and it was in this charming little city (just 15 minutes north of downtown and about 40 minutes from Disney) that I chose to live. It has some of the prettiest scenery in the region as well as a lovely, genteel downtown lined with more moss-draped live oaks, and including Florida’s oldest institution of higher learning, <strong>Rollins College</strong>, site of the <strong>Cornell Fine Arts Museum</strong> (with artists as varied as <strong>Thomas Gainsborough</strong>, <strong>Grandma Moses</strong>, and <strong>Pablo Picasso</strong>); also downtown is the <strong>Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art</strong>, specialising in decorative arts and most especially an amazing collection – the world’s largest – of glass, pottery, furniture, and other iconic creations of <strong>Louis Comfort Tiffany</strong>. The “outdoorsy” side of Winter Park is also a real treat, including the <strong>Mead Botanical Garden</strong> and boat rides along the local lakes and canals.<br /></p>
<p><em>More information: <a href="http://www.visitorlando.com/" target="_blank">VisitOrlando.com</a>.</em></p>
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<p><span><br /> <span class="font-size-1"><em>photos | <a id="portfolio_link" href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-578401p1.html" name="portfolio_link">Sean Pavone</a>, <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-403348p1.html" target="_blank">legenda</a>, <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/kissheartoffl/3328833432/sizes/z/" target="_blank">Experience Kissimmee</a>, <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spring_panel_from_the_Four_Seasons_leaded-glass_window_by_Louis_Comfort_Tiffany.jpg" target="_blank">Raymon Martinot</a></em></span></span></p>
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<p></p></div>Costa Rica's Hacienda Guachipelín Is a Family Fun Bonanzahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/costa-rica-family-travel-hacienda-guachipelin2016-07-13T13:55:43.000Z2016-07-13T13:55:43.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008856869,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008856869,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="575" alt="9008856869?profile=original" /></a><br />Costa Rica is always great for family vacations, with its exotic wildlife, amazing nature, thrilling adventure tours, and of course, being the safest place to travel in 2016.<br /><br />Families who travel to Costa Rica know that the charming Central American country is a fun, easy and safe family vacation destination. Costa Rica is not only a most recommended travel hotspot in the world; it also tops the list of <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/global-peace-index-2016-there-are-now-only-10-countries-in-the-world-that-are-not-at-war-a7069816.html" target="_blank">safe places to travel in 2016</a>.</p><p><br />Costa Rica is always a great place for families to travel with kids. You have incredible wildlife, rainforests and cloud forests, adventure tours, and live volcanoes. The country is known for its friendly people and good service, along with its commitment to the environment and to peace. And who wouldn’t want to visit the <a href="http://www.happyplanetindex.org/countries/costa-rica/" target="_blank">happiest country on Earth</a>?</p><p><br />What makes Costa Rica so great for families is that each day can bring a different adventure: sighting monkeys, sloths and iguanas in the jungle, thrilling zip lining, river rafting, swimming by waterfalls, and hiking near a volcano, to name a few.<br /><br /></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009067055,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="600" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009067055,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009067055?profile=original" /></a><br />At family-friendly <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/" target="_blank">Hacienda Guachipelin</a> in Guanacaste, there are plenty of activities to keep the whole family busy during the day and comfortable <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/rooms-and-rates.html" target="_blank">accommodations</a> to spend the night. Besides being sustainable and as organic as possible, meals at <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hotel/bar-restaurant.html" target="_blank">Hacienda Guachipelin’s restaurant</a> are delicious, abundant and varied. A huge breakfast is provided as part of the room rate.</p><p><br />The traditional Costa Rican ranch by the <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/location/national-park.html" target="_blank">Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park</a>, offers fun nature and adventure tours with one-day passes, which include lunch.<br /><br /></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008946487,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008946487,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="640" alt="9008946487?profile=original" /></a><br />With Hacienda Guachipelin’s <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/one-day-adventure-nature-pass.html" target="_blank">One Day Nature Pass</a>, you can swim at waterfalls and natural volcanic hot springs, go hiking in the <strong>Rincón de la Vieja National Park</strong>, learn about ancient cultures on an archaeology tour, and see exotic wildlife in the ranch’s butterfly garden, serpentarium & frog exhibit. The dry tropical forest covering the western side of Rincón de la Vieja Volcano in Guanacaste creates an interesting ecosystem for many different animals and plants than you would see elsewhere in Costa Rica.<br /><br /></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009067255,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="600" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009067255,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009067255?profile=original" /></a><br />Hacienda Guachipelin’s <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/tours/one-day-adventure-nature-pass.html" target="_blank">One Day Adventure Pass</a> gives you the best combination of Costa Rica adventure tours: zip lining, horseback riding, river tubing, and natural volcanic hot springs.<br /><br /></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008840057,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008840057,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="640" alt="9008840057?profile=original" /></a><br />You don’t have to be a hotel guest to enjoy <a href="http://www.guachipelin.com/en/hotel/adventure-center.html" target="_blank">Hacienda Guachipelin’s Adventure Center</a>, open every day from 8 am to 5 pm. Many day visitors staying in other Guanacaste locations come to the popular eco-adventure hotel for tours.</p><p></p></div>Barcelona's Bountiful Boqueria Markethttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/barcelona-s-bountiful-boqueria-market2016-01-11T20:07:39.000Z2016-01-11T20:07:39.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><p style="text-align:center;"><img width="640" height="480" class="aligncenter" alt="" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6470756119_4a952e3383_z.jpg" /></p>
<p><strong><br /></strong> "By their markets ye shall know them." OK, no one actually ever said that, but on my travels I have often found it to be true. After all, what lovelier way to learn the nuances of a foreign culture than rubbing shoulders with the locals, tasting the flavors of their land? Well yes, there is literature and art and music, but we certainly can't appreciate those on an empty stomach; and so, before heading to the Prado or the pyramids or a voodoo ceremony, you may just find me visiting the local public market for a fortifying cultural immersion.<br /> <br /> In <strong>Spain</strong>, my favorite market is without doubt the <b><a href="http://www.boqueria.info/index.php?lang=en">Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria</a></b>, a huge tin-roofed building located roughly midway along downtown <a href="http://www.iberia.com/us/cheap-flights/Barcelona/?utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=love2fly.iberia.com&utm_source=%20love2fly.land.bcn" target="_blank"><strong>Barcelona</strong></a>’s celebrated <b>Las Ramblas</b> (at No. 91), a grand promenade stretching from the Plaça de Catalunya to the Mediterranean Sea. With roots in the 13th-century open-air market set up outside one of the gates of the then city wall, an enclosed structure was inaugurated in 1853, and the current covered market building we see today dates from 1914.<br /></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img width="1024" height="768" class="aligncenter" alt="" src="http://farm1.staticflickr.com/20/73333346_f0c8594ef9_b.jpg" /></p>
<p><br /> The dozens of stalls – most run by third and fourth generations of sellers – can be general, but many specialize in, say, meats, fish, produce, or dairy (and some can get very specific indeed, such as Franca Torrens’ "Simplement Ous," Catalan for “Just Eggs”). You’ll notice some intriguing local quirks, of course, such as a taste for rabbit, snails, cured ham, and oxtail than you might find elsewhere. And that sack of wrinkly little things at the dried fruit and nut stands? That would be <i>xufes</i>, the raw material for a milky, locally popular soft drink called <em>orxata</em> aka <i>horchata</i> (not like the Mexican kind, which is rice-based). And lest you think it’s only about sightseeing and great photo ops, I’d totally recommend bringing your appetite, because there are also about a dozen sit-down counters dishing out both tapas and heartier fare traditional and nouvel alike – all market-fresh and utterly sublime (just keep in mind that depending on the time of day, you may end up having to stand with your goodies, because these places are popular but their stools are not plentiful).<br /></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><img width="1024" height="684" class="aligncenter" alt="" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7301/11470977866_466ba2dd2b_b.jpg" /></p>
<p><br /> The Boqueria’s managers have also kept up with <b>foodie</b> and <b>culinary tourism</b> trends by launching a <strong>cooking school</strong> with morning/midday classes held in a third-floor venue toward the back of the market. They’re especially aimed at young people but open to all, and range in length from two hours for a hands-on workshop and tasting (15 euros) to four hours for the workshop, a full meal, and a tour of the market (35 euros). An integral part of the experience, of course, is visiting the market stalls to scope out the ingredients. A local outfit called <a href="http://www.boqueriabites.com/">Boqueria Bites</a> also offers a series of tours focusing on different aspects such as meat, fish, sweets, and wine/cheese; they include food and drink, natually, and start at 35 euros for two hours. In short, <a href="http://www.iberia.com/us/cheap-flights/Barcelona/?utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=love2fly.iberia.com&utm_source=%20love2fly.land.bcn" target="_blank">Barcelona</a>'s Boqueria market is a great place to roam and soak up local colour and flavor, quite literally. To get more of a sense of this grand old market in action, check out this video (subtitled in English): <a href="http://youtu.be/A7qRg-i5Ri0">http://youtu.be/A7qRg-i5Ri0</a> Will you include La Boqueria on your next visit to Barcelona? We'd love to know :-) i</p>
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<p><span class="font-size-1"><em>photos | Barcelona.cat, WordRidden, Chakchouka</em></span></p>
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<p></p></div>The Temples of India's Rajasthanhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/rajasthan-india-temples2015-06-24T19:11:44.000Z2015-06-24T19:11:44.000ZRajender Singhhttps://tripatini.com/members/RajenderSingh<div><p><a href="http://www.rajasthantourism.gov.in/" target="_blank">Rajasthan,</a> the dessert state of India is not only known for its beautiful and picturesque tourist destinations but also for its cultural heritage that is depicted by the numerous temples in the state. The temples of Rajasthan are in fact some of the most excellent tourist attractions of the state. While some of them were built more than a few centuries ago, there are many that boast of amazing architecture too. Here is a quick look at some of the interesting temples in Rajasthan.<br /><br /></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008964480,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008964480,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="637" class="align-center" alt="9008964480?profile=original" /></a></p><p><br /><strong><span class="font-size-3">Pushkar Temple</span></strong><br /><br />The Brahma temple in Pushkar is one of the three in the country and is also known as the Jagatpita Brahma Temple. It is located near the famous Pushkar Lake. The temple is built with stone slabs and also marble. The temple houses the deity of Brahma and his consort Gayatri. The temple remains open throughout the year from 7 am till 6 pm.<br /><br />So if you want to explore the beautiful city of pushkar then we will suggest you to visit the Pushkar Cam Fair in 2015, <a href="http://chetramvoyages.in/pushkarcamelfair/" target="_blank">here is a link</a> for more in formation on the fair.</p><p><span class="font-size-5"> </span></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008965464,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008965464,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="600" class="align-center" alt="9008965464?profile=original" /></a></p><p><br /><strong><span class="font-size-3">Ranakpur Temples, Udaipur</span></strong><br /><br /><br />Ranakpur, a small town in Rajasthan is known for its beautiful Jain temple. The temple is dedicated to the first Jain, Adinath and was constructed in in the 15th and 16th centuries. The temple boasts amazing architecture with beautiful carvings in marble and stones.<br /><br />Plus if you are interested to visit these temples and want to explore the city of Udaipur in a day or two, then have a look at <a href="http://chetramvoyages.in/udaipur-tour-package/" target="_blank">this link</a> about a tour package for udaipur which would be great for you.<br /><br /></p><p><strong><span class="font-size-3">Govindji Temple, Jaipur</span></strong></p><p><br />Located in Jaipur's City Palace Complex, it is dedicated to Lord Krishna, aka Govind ji. The deity was brought from Vrindavan by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II who was the founder of Jaipur. It is a well known tourist destination in Jaipur and people from different parts of the country visits this temple when they visit Jaipur.</p><p><span class="font-size-5"> </span></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008965098,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008965098,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="600" class="align-center" alt="9008965098?profile=original" /></a></p><p><br /><span class="font-size-3">Tanot Mata Temple, Jaisalmer</span><br /><br />Tanot Mata is located in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. It is in the border of Pakistan and is very close to the battle ground of Longewal, famous for the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. It is a well known tourist destination in Rajasthan, not only because of the religious reasons but also because it is close to the Indo Pak border. The ideal time to visit this place and also the temple is from July to November as the climate is friendly and warm.<br /><br />Beside I will suggest you to book a 10-12 days Rajasthan tour packages to explore all these tourist attractions. Have a look at this <a href="http://chetramvoyages.in/rajasthan-tour-package/" target="_blank">holiday offer</a> by our firm Chetram Voyages on holiday tour package for Rajasthan.<br /><br /><br /></p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008965286,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008965286,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="600" class="align-center" alt="9008965286?profile=original" /></a></p><p><br /><strong><span class="font-size-3">Jagdish Temple, Udaipur</span></strong><br /><br />A large Hindu temple and an important pilgrimage in Rajasthan, it was earlier called the temple of Jagannath Rai, and is now known as Jagdish ji. In fact, the temple is a major monument and tourist destination in Udaipur. It was completed in 1651, and has a double-storey hall along with a double storey sanctum. Itwas built by Maharana Jagat Singh.<br /><br /><br />There are several other interesting temples and religious places in Rajasthan that are all worth visiting and exploring. However the above mentioned ones are some of the most popular and visited by tourists from different parts of India and also by international tourists. When you are planning a temple trip to Rajasthan, do not forget to include all the above mentioned temple sites in your travel itinerary.<br /><br /><br /></p></div>When Did Travel Become a Commodity?https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/when-did-travel-become-a2011-06-06T19:25:37.000Z2011-06-06T19:25:37.000ZKaleel Sakakeenyhttps://tripatini.com/members/KaleelSakakeeny<div><strong>When Did Travel Become a Commodity?</strong> <br /><br />When did it stop being an experience and more of a package, a deal, a search result?<br /><br />Travel has turned into an obsession for the cheapest airfare, cheapest hotel room and pretty much the lowest, cheapest cost for anything and every thing related to travel.<br /><br />Wasn't so long ago that airlines, the most commodified of the travel experience were sufficiently different from each other that you could them apart.<br /><br /><br />There were differences in food served, space between rows of seats, service, in-flight amenities.<br /><br />Not any longer. <br /><br />In their drive for quarterly profits, says veteran business traveler, Bruce Schoenfeld, airlines have sacrificed building long-term customer loyalty.<br /><br />Writing in <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/index.html" target="_blank">Entrepreneur Magazine</a> Schoenfeld says that maximizing profits has been the driving force behind the airlines' <em>raison d'être</em> for so long, it has "become integrated into their DNA."<br /><br />But the public is much to blame for the commodification of travel. <br /><br />The public’s collective decision that price is just about the only thing that matters, allowed the airlines to discard amenities and courtesies, and concentrate solely on price, m indistinguishable from each other.<br /><br />But there is a service that makes one airline preferable over another, especially during play-offs: live television, or more generally, in-flight entertainment systems.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/08/28/wifi-airplanes-airlines-internet/" target="_blank">Daily Finance</a> says that there are more than 2000 commercial aircraft offering WiFi and related services, and those that don't will lose customers<br /><br />So Schoenfeld flew <a href="http://www.frontierairlines.com/frontier/home.do" target="_blank">Frontier Airlines</a> on a flight during the NCAA tournament, even though he enjoyed Executive Status on United Airlines. <br /><br />Frontier has a DirectTV package. United doesn't . So he watched the games on Frontier.<br /><br />• Delta has WiFi, live TV and a strong movie and music library.<br /><br />• United has no WiFi, no live TV and only 20 music channels.<br /><br />• U.S.Airways has WiFi on some planes, no live TV, but some programming on longer flights.<br /><br />Entrepreneur provides a convenient chart to compare these services.<br /><br />But the point is, technology, not the food or the pillows, may be the last remaining differentiator among the look-alike and fly-alike airlines of today.<br /><br />Enjoy the difference while you can.<br /></div>En Guanacaste, el Bosque Resurge en Forma de Ave Fénixhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/el-bosque-resurge-en-forma-de-ave-f-nix2013-07-10T11:41:01.000Z2013-07-10T11:41:01.000ZDanny Solano Alvarezhttps://tripatini.com/members/DannySolanoAlvarez<div><p style="text-align:left;"><a href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/CR-Prov-bs-T-m.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/CR-Prov-bs-T-m-300x276.gif?width=292" width="292" class="align-left" alt="CR-Prov-bs-T-m-300x276.gif?width=292" /></a></p><p style="text-align:left;">¿Sabe usted dónde se concentra la mayor cantidad de bosque tropical seco de <strong>América</strong>? Podrá encontrar la respuesta en la provincia de <strong>Guanacaste, en Costa Rica</strong>. Valga la ocasión para describir grosso modo en qué consiste este tipo de foresta. Se compone de una vegetación que sobrevive con mucho menos agua que el bosque tropical húmedo, pues tiene una temporada seca que se extiende por aproximadamente 8 meses. Sin embargo, esta característica no le resta magnificencia a la <strong>flora y fauna</strong> que la habita. Eso sí, hubo un tiempo en que esta belleza particular era empañada por la reducción de las áreas de conservación. En vez de preservar las riquezas naturales, los habitantes de la zona utilizaban el espacio como potreros para que el ganado pastase. Ello condujo a un proceso rápido de degradación. Incluso cuando quitaron las reses, el decaimiento de los terrenos continuó. Lo anterior debido a que la hierba jaragua había sido utilizada para alimentar a los animales, pero posteriormente invadió la flora local. Como consecuencia, se convirtió en material inflamable para los incendios de la temporada seca, lo que trajo consigo una mayor reducción de los bosques.<br /><br /></p><p style="text-align:left;"><a href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/12561487951.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/12561487951.jpg?width=274" width="274" class="align-right" alt="12561487951.jpg?width=274" /></a></p><p style="text-align:left;">Posteriormente, el <strong>entomólogo estadounidense Daniel Janzen</strong>, quien hacía estudios en la zona, se percató del grado de riqueza de vida silvestre. Asimismo, se dio cuenta de la fragilidad del ecosistema y que, de no ocuparse de su cuidado, se convertiría en un recuerdo para las generaciones venideras.</p><p>Fue a partir de este acontecimiento que arrancó la trama <strong>del libro «El Fénix Verde», del autor William Allen</strong>. En él, un equipo de científicos y voluntarios costarricenses y provenientes del vecino del norte se adentraron en la arena política, ecológica y social del área. El propósito iba más allá de la simple conservación de los bosques sino también la promoción de su recrecimiento. La idea era conectar las pequeñas islas de bosque remanentes y transformarlo en un corredor que replicara la formación original. En un principio el concepto fue considerado como estrafalario pero la osadía de los propulsores acabó sobreponiéndose a la dificultad operativa del proyecto.</p><p style="text-align:left;">El escritor realizó una investigación extensa para recrear la cotidianidad de los personajes principales. De igual manera, se esmeró en el carácter de cada uno de ellos. Así, logró plasmar la manera en que los participantes hicieron a un lado su ego en pro del bien común.<br /><br /></p><p><a href="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/img_hotel-area-costarica01.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://enchanting-costarica.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/img_hotel-area-costarica01-300x198.jpg?width=300" width="300" class="align-left" alt="img_hotel-area-costarica01-300x198.jpg?width=300" /></a></p><p>Allen incluyó además, algunos aspectos increíbles sobre la ecoestructura delicada de la zona. Describió con gran detalle cómo las plantas, animales e insectos se vinculan intrínsecamente los unos con los otros. Un elemento descollante es que este proceso se replica en condiciones idénticas tanto en el bosque tropical húmedo como en el seco.El libro es un modelo, un caso de éxito que sirve para analizar la interrogante: <strong>¿se puede prevenir la destrucción de los bosques tropicales del mundo?</strong> En las colinas costarricenses heridas por el fuego del verano, el científico y escritor encontró una respuesta maravillosa: no solo es posible es detener la destrucción sino devolverle su riqueza original.</p><p>Esta es una historia inspiradora relatada con energía viva. En ella se reflejan imágenes sin igual de playas vírgenes, bosques exuberantes; además del heroísmo y la capacidad de los equipos científicos. Describe el carácter heterodoxo del ecologista Daniel Janzen. En resumen, una obra que todos querrán leer.</p><p>Posterior a la lectura, usted deseará vivir en carne propia una experiencia similar. Si lo suyo no es acampar a la intemperie, <a href="http://pranamarvillas.com/es.html">el hotel y villas Pranamar</a> le ofrece opciones de alojamiento de primer orden. Este es un lugar íntimo ubicado en <strong>Santa Teresa</strong>, una impresionante playa de arena blanca en el océano Pacífico. Situado en la <strong>península de Nicoya</strong>, le ofrecen áreas hermosas de natación y todas las comodidades que desee.</p><p><br /> ¡Atrévase a dominar esa ave fénix indómita que vive en la región!</p><p></p></div>Keeping Your Home Safe When You Travelhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/keeping-your-home-safe-when-you-travel2012-11-22T14:49:29.000Z2012-11-22T14:49:29.000ZThe Traveling Eyehttps://tripatini.com/members/TheTravelingEye<div><p>I travel a lot which means I'm away from home and it also means that I think about home safety and security. I have a few things that I do but I'm always on the prowl for tips and useful information on keeping my home safe. I live in a condominium and recently received a notice under my door that our building had two break ins. Both break-ins occurred when the home owners were out of town. This means that someone must have known they weren't home. You couldn't get any closer to home than this so I decided to do "Ja'Vonne's Travel Minute", a weekly travel vignette that I do on our show The Traveling Eye on keeping your safe when you travel. Doing my research I came across an article in <a href="http://www.rd.com/slideshows/13-things-you-never-knew-about-home-safety/#slideshow=slide1">Readers Digest titled "13 Things You Never Knew About Home Safety"</a>. While not all of these tips are for when you're away, a lot of them were.</p><div id="post-body-4390838185382373518" class="post-body entry-content"><ol><li>Sock away your valuables in your children's rooms because most burglars don't go in there.</li><li>Plant thorny bushes under a low window. It's decorative and a deterrent</li><li>Ask a neighbor to be on the look out for fliers in your door and collect them if they're there. This is a trick burglars use. They leave a flier and then come back later to see if it's still there.</li><li>Turn your phone ringer on low or off</li><li>If you don't have a security system get a decal for display</li><li>Join a neighborhood watch</li><li>Don't load up the car until the morning you're leaving</li><li>if you have a security key pad make sure the display it is not visible.</li><li>Take care of mail slots that are in doors. There's a more strategic place for it.</li><li>Keep your car keys next to your bed on your night stand</li><li>Store wood away from windows or any home entry point</li><li>When you have workers in your home do a security sweep of your home when they leave.</li><li>choose your locksmith wisely.</li></ol><p>Prepare and be prepared and have a wonderful trip.</p></div></div>5 Musts on a Weekend in Romehttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/rome-travel-attractions2015-03-15T23:03:08.000Z2015-03-15T23:03:08.000ZVelimira Velikovahttps://tripatini.com/members/VelimiraVelikova<div><p>Every year millions of tourists from every corner of the earth flock to <a href="http://www.sunnyrentals.com/search/italy/roma/t3169070"><strong>Rome</strong></a>. The city enjoys a never-ending stream of visitors, simply because there is so much worth seeing. It might take you weeks and weeks to see and do everything in this open-air museum, but if you are going for a short weekend break, there are <a href="http://www.sunnyrentals.com/search/italy/roma/t3169070"><strong>5 must-dos in Rome</strong></a>!<br /></p><p><a href="http://www.sunnyrentals.com/search/italy/roma/t3169070" target="_blank"><img src="http://traveler.sunnyrentals.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Rome1.jpg?width=600" width="600" class="align-center" alt="Rome1.jpg?width=600" /></a></p><h1><span>#1. Watch the sun goes down over the city</span></h1><p><a href="http://www.sunnyrentals.com/search/italy/roma/t3169070" target="_blank"><img src="http://traveler.sunnyrentals.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Borghese.jpg?width=600" width="600" class="align-center" alt="Borghese.jpg?width=600" /></a></p><p>The best spot for sunset watching is probably the <strong>Pinciana Hill</strong>. It is part of the park of <strong>Villa Borghese</strong> and close to <strong>Piazza del Popolo</strong>, which is the location of Earth in Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons. It is ideal for taking a little evening picnic there.</p><h1><span>#2. The Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps</span></h1><p><a href="http://www.sunnyrentals.com/search/italy/roma/t3169070" target="_blank"><img src="http://traveler.sunnyrentals.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Trevi_fountain_at_night.jpg?width=600" width="600" class="align-center" alt="Trevi_fountain_at_night.jpg?width=600" /></a></p><p>The <strong>Trevi Fountain</strong> and the <strong>Spanish Steps</strong> are two of the major attractions in the city and are often very crowded. Although it’s worth the wait, just to <strong>toss a coin</strong> into the water of the fountain – the legend says that one who does so, will once again come back <strong>to the city</strong>.</p><h1><span>#3. Loads of loads of ice cream</span></h1><p><a href="http://www.sunnyrentals.com/search/italy/roma/t3169070" target="_blank"><img src="http://traveler.sunnyrentals.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/GELATERIA_MIGNON.jpg?width=600" width="600" class="align-center" alt="GELATERIA_MIGNON.jpg?width=600" /></a></p><p>The Italian <strong>gelato</strong> is something quite different from what we usually perceive to be ice cream. <strong>Must try it!</strong> Just walk into one of the many <strong>gelateria</strong> in the city. There is a well-known (and unfortunately expensive) <strong>gelateria</strong>near the <strong>Trevi Fountain, San Crispino on Via della Srl Panetteria, 42</strong>.</p><h1><span>#4. Cozy Italian neighborhoods</span></h1><p><a href="http://www.sunnyrentals.com/search/italy/roma/t3169070" target="_blank"><img src="http://traveler.sunnyrentals.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Trastevere-Neighborhood.jpg?width=600" width="600" class="align-center" alt="Trastevere-Neighborhood.jpg?width=600" /></a></p><p>Not too far from the sights of <a href="http://www.sunnyrentals.com/search/italy/roma/t3169070"><strong>historical Rome</strong></a> there is still so much to see. <strong>Trastevere and Testaccio Pigneto</strong>, especially, have a little less tourists and will give you good sense of the local lifestyle. It is best to visit these areas in the evenings.</p><h1><span>#5. Select the correct month for your visit</span></h1><p><a href="http://www.sunnyrentals.com/search/italy/roma/t3169070" target="_blank"><img src="http://traveler.sunnyrentals.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/via_veneto_rome.jpg?width=600" width="600" class="align-center" alt="via_veneto_rome.jpg?width=600" /></a></p><p>It is an obvious thing, but we must sat that <a href="http://www.sunnyrentals.com/search/italy/roma/t3169070"><strong>Rome</strong></a> is perhaps in her the best in spring, early summer or autumn. August is probably the <a href="http://www.sunnyrentals.com/search/italy/roma/t3169070"><strong>worst month to visit</strong> <strong>Rome</strong></a> – the metropolitan is boiling hot and Italians also have vacation in August and many restaurants and other attractions are closed.<br /></p></div>Why Is Hotel Web Content so Boring?https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/why-is-hotel-web-content-so-boring2011-11-04T19:33:17.000Z2011-11-04T19:33:17.000ZKaleel Sakakeenyhttps://tripatini.com/members/KaleelSakakeeny<div><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008664080,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008664080,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="300" alt="9008664080?profile=original" /></a><strong>Why Is Hotel Web Content so Boring?</strong> <br /><br />There was an interesting round table discussion recently sponsored by visual content management powerhouse, <a href="http://www.vfmleonardo.com/" target="_blank">VFM Leonardo</a> .<br /><br />The basic question the panel was asked to consider was this: Why is hotel web site content so boring, and how can it be made more engaging for the traveler?<br /><br />It so happens, that the initial stage in travel decisions is the all-important “Planning Stage,” the tipping point, so to speak.<br /><br />So if content is almost exclusively transactional and booking-oriented (which it is), the customer’s emotional needs are not met.<br /><br />And if the emotional needs are not met, the panel agreed, there is no incentive to book because there is no excitement; no connection to the property or destination.<br /><br />I think it was Keith Harrison, Director of Strategic Hotel Content at <a href="http://travelport.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=620" target="_blank">TravelPort</a> who sited a report claiming that 44 percent of people would pay more money if they could experience what their stay at a hotel would really be like before they go.<br /><br />If that’s true, then why isn’t hotel content more vivid; more rich - more tied into the customers “experiential” needs?<br /><br />One explanation was that those in charge of providing content for hotel web site and portals are thinking too much like IT people and not about the “wow” factor of a property.<br /><br />Edward Perry, E-commerce Director at VFM Leonardo referenced a <a href="http://www.forrester.com" target="_blank">Forrester Research</a> study that said two-thirds of consumers won’t even consider a hotel unless the visuals are compelling.<br /><br />So, again, how can hotels make their content connect more?<br /><br />One surprisingly obvious answer was video.<br /><br />All the participants said that video was a must; perhaps the single, strongest content enhancer.<br /><br />More importantly they argued, what mattered was not just putting video highlighting a property on a hotel or destination’s web site. <br /><br />Given all the video sharing sites today, being able to share the video globally, and thus powering hotel brands is critical. But it’s a concept destination and property managers don’t get. <br /><br />We at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/travelvideo" target="_blank">Travel Video PostCard</a> are well aware of the “video illiteracy” of most hotels. <br /><br />We see the struggle for our client hotels and destinations (except New Media-award winning <a href="http://www.discoverireland.com/us/?WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=us_ga_0409_ss_www_tourism_ireland" target="_blank">Tourism Ireland</a>! ) to fully embrace the idea.<br /><br />Some argued that hotel brands still think video is too expensive to produce, failing to grasp how new technologies make video production a very cheap event with huge ROI.<br /><br />A big question was why hotels seem to feature empty hotel rooms and too-gorgeous people in their images and videos.<br /><br />One answer was that architectural shots like a dining room or suite gave no offense. Imagine, said a speaker, if you were a childless couple, how would you feel seeing a video or images of a family cavorting in the pool? <br /><br />Regardless, whatever the combination is (text, images, video), the overarching idea was to move away from the dry content of most hotel web sites, and create the kind of content that pulls the visitor into the property or destination even before they arrive.<br /><br />Our vote goes to video, of course, but an emotional mix of video, strong still images and fun text will carry the client to the booking process, happily. ,<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>TripAdvisor Plot Thickens: Second Charges Filedhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/tripadvisor-plot-thickens-second-charges-filed2011-11-10T20:28:26.000Z2011-11-10T20:28:26.000ZKaleel Sakakeenyhttps://tripatini.com/members/KaleelSakakeeny<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008664065,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008664065,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="284" alt="9008664065?profile=original" /></a></p><p><strong>TripAdvisor Plot Thickens: Second Charges Filed</strong><br /> <br />The review giant seems reeling these days with legal and PR woes from all directions.<br /><br />In the latest plot development, <a href="http://www.hotelmarketing.com/index.php/content/article/new_tripadvisor_complaint_threatens_review_syndication/" target="_blank">Hotelmarketing.com</a> reports that a more serious complaint against TripAdvisor has been lodged with the <a href="http://www.asa.org.ukhttp//www.asa.org.uk" target="_blank">Advertising Standards Authority</a>, the UK organization charged with regulating advertising across all media.<br /><br />The second probe, instigated by reputation management gadfly, <a href="http://www.kwikchex.com" target="_blank">Kwikchex</a> is now asking that all third parties using TripAdvisor’s reviews to market their properties be prohibited from doing so.<br /><br />While Kwikchex’s first complaint questioned the truthfulness and accuracy of the site’s reviews, this claim goes further and is potentially more damaging to the review site.<br /><br />It says, in effect, if the review’s author can not be determined, and if the truthfulness of the review itself can not be ascertained, then third parties have no right to post such reviews as a means of promoting their properties or destinations because, in effect, these third-party reviews are “fruit of the poisoned tree.”<br /><br />In other words, a unverified review like an unverified product or medical claim is illegal.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.travolution.co.uk/Articles/2011/11/09/5182/new+tripadvisor+complaint+threatens+review+syndication.html" target="_blank">Travolution</a> says ASA has not confirmed the second complaint, but leaves no doubt the charge has been filed.<br /><br />Kwikchex co-founder, Chris Emmins, cites a rule from the <a href="http://www.cap.org.uk" target="_blank">Committee of Advertising Practices</a> stating that marketers must be able to show a review’s authenticity by proving it was made “by an identifiable and potentially contactable person.”<br /><br />And there’s the rub.<br /><br />The government wants to act before public confidence in published reviews is eroded completely.<br /><br />One Twitter follower asked me if she could post favorable excerpts of a TripAdvisor review on her site.<br /><br />While I’m not sure of the exact legal standing at this point, I would say she runs the risk of a negative PR backlash as more and more travelers question the veracity of any unsigned review, by an “uncontactable person’ that appears on any site.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p></div>Wine Country Artist Retreathttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/wine-country-artist-retreat2011-07-08T14:10:34.000Z2011-07-08T14:10:34.000ZLinda Kissamhttps://tripatini.com/members/LindaKissam<div><p>There are all types of getaways. The choices are limitless…from big adventure to soft adventure, romantic to family, glamping to camping. The key to getting it right is understanding what your heart and soul needs. Is it downtime you crave, or do want to lounge beside a pool drinking long cool drinks, or maybe you just need time to listen to your “creative” without distractions? I call this last kind of getaway, <b><i>Going Away To Go Within</i></b>. If you’re an artist of any kind you’ll know exactly what I mean.</p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008631489,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="200" class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008631489,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008631489?profile=original" /></a>Occasionally, we need to pause - step away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. One way to do this is to get away from our daily life and go on a getaway that is a mixture of retreat and vacation. A <a href="http://www.dorlandartscolony.org/">Dorland Mountain Arts Colony</a> Getaway integrates some traditional aspects of seclusion with some more modern traits of a vacation. Far more than a vacation, this artist couple’s getaway offers time to rest, reflect, and renew your creative spirit. It allows time to slow down, breathe in and breathe out so that you can emerge renewed, refreshed, and ready to pursue your creative passions with a new found perspective. Think time for reconnecting with your creative self to produce something of merit, with a splash of soft adventure to remind you what uncomplicated “fun” is all about. It’s that “ah” moment; the convergence of the exact right place, with just the right people, with just the right level of activity.</p><p>You’ll find Dorland Mountain Arts Colony in Southern California, about 90 minutes from San Diego or Los Angeles. It’s a nonprofit artist’s community set on 300 acres along a ridge overlooking the Temecula Valley. The Colony covers<a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008631890,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="200" class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008631890,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008631890?profile=original" /></a> about 10 acres with the rest of the land left in its natural state. It also happens to be just 10 minutes from the trendy <a href="http://www.temeculawines.org/">Temecula Valley Wine Country</a>. The mission of Dorland Mountain Arts Colony is to provide a unique working and performance retreat fostering creativity, and a community connection to the creative process, in a secluded natural setting. They do this by offering a unique residency program in their two self-contained cottages that can accommodate up to two people per cottage. Residencies are intended as professional development opportunities for writers, composers, visual artists and most other artistic media’s. So whether you’re trying to finish your latest book, compose a new song, paint a masterpiece, or do some serious scrapbooking, this is the place for you. And you can do it for about $250.</p><p>Cottages rent out for a minimum of one week at $250 a week. Artists must apply to stay at the retreat. Artistic merit and promise are the basis for selections. Mature and emerging artists are encouraged to apply. Applicants 21 and over may apply. It’s an easy <a href="http://dorlandartscolony.org/index.php/component/content/article/2">online application</a> that starts your adventure. You’ll need to give about 2 weeks to 30 days for <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008632660,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="200" class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008632660,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008632660?profile=original" /></a>confirmation of acceptance.</p><p>Once accepted, Residents are housed in individual, furnished, small cottages with complete kitchens, one bedroom with full bath, a great room with a wood burning stove (wood is furnished by Dorland), and a veranda or porch with magnificent mountain, canyon or Temecula Valley views. Residents structure their own time and activities. Residents may choose to maintain their privacy or to engage with other residents and activities at Dorland. In order to protect individual privacy, residents are encouraged to communicate with each other by leaving messages in mailboxes located by Dorland’s gazebo and Reflection Pond. Residents are responsible for their own personal living expenses, food, beverages, supplies, telephone and expenses related to the production of their work during the residency.</p><p>I’ve visited Dorland several times. The residents come for the distraction free environment – the beauty, the inspirational moments…and the occasional outing to fine wine, dining and gaming. Dedicated sessions to their craft, long nature walks on the property, and the occasional trip to the lush green vineyards, wineries, a nearby <a href="http://www.pechanga.com/">glitzy casino</a>, and small town amenities seem to be the key to the success of this artist getaway. Check<a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008632089,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="200" class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008632089,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008632089?profile=original" /></a> out <a href="http://www.temeculanightout.com/">www.TemeculaNightOut.com</a> for a complete listing of what to do, where to eat, and where to go in the Temecula. Some of my favorite “must do’s” are <a href="http://www.thorntonwines.com/">Thornton Winery & Café Champagne</a><a href="http://www.hartfamilywinery.com/">, Hart Winery</a>, <a href="http://www.keywayswine.com/">Keyways Winery</a>, <a href="http://www.tesorowines.com/">Tesoro Winery</a> , <a href="http://www.temeculaoliveoil.com/">The Temecula Olive Oil Company</a> (ranch and store), <a href="http://www.rosascantina.com/">Rosa’s Cantina</a>, and <a href="http://www.oldtowndining.com/">Baily’s Bar & Grill and Fine Dining</a>. If you go into Old Town (a mixture of tasting rooms, antique shops, dining, and more) be sure to purchase the <a href="http://www.gpsmycity.com/gps-tour-guides/temecula-5648.html">Old Town Wine Walk Tour</a> app for your iPhone.</p><p>Without the pull of deadlines, relationships, the Internet and other media, you and a partner can give yourselves the gift of time and reflection. Hopefully, when you return home, you can take a little bit of this time alone back with you creating the space for deep reflection, a creative life renewed , ready to take on the world. Take a look at this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4S-UBGjr1s&feature=email">video</a> of an open house I recently attended at Dorland to get a better idea of the scope of this magical place.</p></div>Are You Flying a Mean Airline?https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/are-you-flying-a-mean-airline2011-06-14T14:40:38.000Z2011-06-14T14:40:38.000ZKaleel Sakakeenyhttps://tripatini.com/members/KaleelSakakeeny<div><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008624485,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="500" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008624485,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-left" alt="9008624485?profile=original" /></a><br /><strong>Are You Flying a Mean Airline? </strong> <br /><br />It’s great that the airlines made money last year, all except American Airlines that is.<br /><br />And according the recently released 2011 Airline Quality Rating (AQR) report, the experience of flying has improved too.<br /><br />The <a target="_blank" href="http://aqr.aero/">AQR</a> is a touted as a “premier statistical study of major airline performances in the United States” conducted by a Wichita State and Purdue University professor.<br /><br />Still, outrageous baggage fees, elimination of food and other creature comforts, numerous add-on fees may well contribute to an airline’s healthy bottom line, but it leave us pretty disgruntled.<br /><br />And judging from last year’s dramatic exit from a JetBlue plane by an employee, airline workers are also pretty unhappy with the flying experience.<br /><br />So when <a target="_blank" href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-38962879">Yahoo Travel</a> came out with its “Meanest Airlines 2011” list, it seemed like all the airlines would qualify for the top spot, an ignominious list of 1.<br /><br />Turns out there are gradations of meanness.<br /><br />So, here are the best of the losers, the meanest of the mean, as Yahoo sees it:<br /><br />• Meanest Major Carrier<br />United Airlines, which came in last place. Its AQR score indicates the number of customer complaints exceeded those of all other airlines in its class.<br /><br />• Meanest Regional Carrier<br />American Eagle won hands-down here, largely due to an unacceptable number of mishandled bags and high rate of “involuntary denied boardings.”<br /><br />* The Most Complained About Airline<br />And the top prize goes to Delta with “the highest consumer complaint of all the carriers surveyed “ for the 2011 Airline Quality Survey Report.<br /><br />* Most Likely to be Late<br /><br />The top honors go to Comair, with the “worst on-time performance for all of the airlines surveyed for the report.” Nice<br /><br />There are more “Meanest Categories,” but we’re too depressed to list them.<br /><br />For more information, check out <a target="_blank" href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-38962879">Yahoo Travel</a> or give up flying! <br /><br /><br /></div>Tango at New York State's Rhinecliff Hotel (Video Review)https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/tango-at-new-york-states2011-03-04T23:30:00.000Z2011-03-04T23:30:00.000ZKaleel Sakakeenyhttps://tripatini.com/members/KaleelSakakeeny<div><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008600883,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="440" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008600883,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-right" alt="9008600883?profile=original" /></a><br />Tango At The Rhinecliff Hotel, New York (Video Review) <br /><br /><br /><strong>Please watch the 1-minute <a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzTrkjbWB8A">Video Review</a> at the end of this post</strong><br /><br />I love the rooms at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.therhinecliff.com">The Rhinecliff Hotel</a>. There is something special about the lack of clutter, the "granny chic" touches, the way the walls jut and curve, and the rich, broad-beam wood under my feet.<br /><br />Of course you have to like funky, like it a lot, to love The Rhinecliff.<br /><br /> It sits across an antique railroad trestle that looks like a set for a play. A real train passes under it on its frequent journey to Manhattan, and its whistle in the night is either a lovely lonely sound of travel, or it's an annoyance.<br /><br />Wisely and humorously, management provides ear plugs, but most guests who stay at this 9-room hotel on the banks of the Hudson River appreciate the sound. And they appreciate the outdoor dining on the terrace over lookng the Hudson. <br /><br />The Rhinecliff is a destination hotel. People come here for the fun, up-beat progressive events like Tango night. <br /><br />From the alfresco dining space it's great fun to watch the dancers slide by open doors (now you see them, now you don't), an elegant angle of an arm here; a head suddenly turning there. A full view of the dancers, briefly. <br /><br />Glasses raised in a silent toast.<br /><br />Then there's Iron-Grad Night, a fun, loud, packed competition among several <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ciachef.edu">Culinary Institute of America</a> grads (CIA) where the choices include Peppered Crusted Goat Crouton with Summer Squash Noodles, followed by Scallops and <em>Chanterelle</em> Mushrooms, etc. all paired with appropriate wines.<br /><br />We missed Bastille Day (July 14) with Elaine Rachlin singing "Vive La France," and on it goes.<br /><br />The tiny hamlet of Rhinecliff is about 5 miles from the better know rather chic town of Rhinebeck and within a short drive there's Bard College with its spectacular new theater.<br /><br />There’s a very cool River Walk Bridge that spans the Hudson for pedestrians and of course the house that <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nps.gov/vama/index.htm">Frederick Vanderbilt</a> built in nearby Hyde Park, a perfect example of a country home in America’s gilded age.<br /><br />The Rhinecliff Hotel continues to invent itself for its guests and itself, making it a hotel easy to love. <br /><br />In fact, <a target="_blank" href="http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/traveler-magazine/)">National Geographic Traveler</a> called it "one of the top hotels they love." <br /><br />So, how wrong can we be ? <br /><strong>Video Review</strong><br /><br /><object codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" height="349" width="560" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/zzTrkjbWB8A?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" ></param><param name="allowNetworking" value="internal" ></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="false" ></param><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zzTrkjbWB8A?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" ></param><param name="" value="" ></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque" ></param><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zzTrkjbWB8A?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="never" height="349" width="560" allownetworking="internal"></embed> </object></div>Kylie Minogue Goes "Chiggy Wiggy" in Indiahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/kylie-minogue-goes-chiggy2011-02-17T20:30:00.000Z2011-02-17T20:30:00.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell<div><p>by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tripatini.com/profile/Tripatini">Tripatini staff</a><br /><br />Most pop songs in India come out of its movie industry — the famous “Bollywood” based in Mumbai aka Bombay — and this tune is from <em>Blue,</em> released in late '09. It’s a big-budget action flick shot in the Bahamas — something about an underwater treasure guarded by sharks — but being Bollywood, you also need your big musical numbers, of course. Composed by A.R. Rahman, who did the music for <em>Slumdog Millionaire</em>, for this one they snagged Aussie dance diva Kylie Minogue to duet with leading Indian singer Sonu Nigam (the song goes into full Bolly-mode after Kylie’s part — she sings in English, he in Hindi). Those two dudes you see wriggling around Kylie in the clip, though? They’re the movie’s co-lead Akshay Kumar and supporting actor Zayed Khan (Sonu Nigam doesn’t actually appear in the video, but is lip-synched). And as you can no doubt guess, “Chiggy Wiggy” don’t mean a darn thing.</p>
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</p></div>Forgive Me World, I Am an Irresponsible Travelerhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/forgive-me-world-i-am-an2013-04-01T19:23:18.000Z2013-04-01T19:23:18.000ZJennifer Huberhttps://tripatini.com/members/JenniferHuber<div><p></p><p style="text-align:center;"></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img style="width:602px;height:450px;" src="http://www.solotravelgirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/dubainight.jpg" alt="dubainight.jpg" /></p><p><img style="width:13px;height:13px;margin-right:5px;float:left;" class="htmlbox-toolbar button-image highlight" src="http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/index/gfx/x.gif?v=201008301606" alt="x.gif?v=201008301606" /></p><p></p><div style="text-align:center;">Nighttime View of Dubai Taken from the Hilton Dubai Creek</div><p><br /> (TTBS) I like to think of myself as a good person and responsible traveler but here's a confession, I'm not.<br /> <br /> Sure, I've chastised litterbugs and those molesting animals in national parks and even <a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.solotravelgirl.com%2Fcold-french-fries-can-beggars-be-choosers%2F">gave my food to a homeless man</a> last year but my irresponsible tourism blunder happened during my 2006 trip to Kabul. For those not in the know, I <a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fqkgirlafghanistan.blogspot.com%2F2006%2F03%2Fbest-made-plans.html">missed my flight to Kabul</a> and ended up spending the night in Dubai before meeting up with the rest of the group the next day.<br /> <br /> The taxi driver who picked me up from the Dubai Airport was named Shazad and probably thought he scored the jackpot by picking up an American. I realize I wasn't the first American he’d come in contact with as his English was nearly perfect (better than my Farsi) and Western contractors have been crawling throughout Dubai. But I had to wonder how often he picked up solo women travelers from the airport. We engaged in innocent chatter and he replied, "I think Afghanistan is very dangerous," upon telling him my final destination.<br /> <br /> Not sure how the conversation segwayed to living and working in the United States but Shazad told me about his cousin who was living the American dream so he pleaded his case as to why I should help him come to the U.S. to find his dream. Unlike my 2003 trip to Cuba when I was propositioned twice on the streets of Havana, no marriage proposal was involved but Shazad straight out asked me for my mailing address and phone number so he could get a working visa.<br /> <br /> Having no clue how close we were to the hotel (<a href="http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/DXBDCHI-Hilton-Dubai-Creek/index.do;jsessionid=5ZQ5FLRM4EE3QCSGBJT222Q?ctyhocn=DXBDCHI">Hilton Dubai Creek</a> – loved it!) and afraid to say "no," I gave him AN address, telephone phone number and name. While the name was real – not mine – the address and telephone number were fictitious.<br /> <br /> I didn't know what to do. I had spent the past two nights sleeping on airplanes, was disorientated and in a country I had curious yet negative stereotypical thoughts about. If I said no, would he have taken the extra long way to the hotel? Or worse, would he have harmed me since he knew which hotel I was staying in? He gave me his phone number too, and for an odd reason I still have it.<br /> <br /> It's been more than four years since our chance encounter and guilt still lingers. I wonder if he tried to contact me or provide “my” fictitious information to the U.S. Embassy in hopes of gaining a visa for an opportunity to live the American dream. And if he did, how disappointed did he feel that the information was false? Did he feel cheated and wronged by an American? Have I contributed to the international hatred of the United States by not delivering on a promise?<br /> <br /> Forgive me World, for I have sinned and vow to be a more responsible traveler.<br /> <br /> This post originally appeared on <a href="http://www.solotravelgirl.com/confession-of-an-irresponsible-traveler/">SoloTravelGirl.com</a>.</p></div>