In 2014, Spain's capital marked another cultural high point when the National Archaeological Museum reopened after a six-year, €65-million renovation. It’s still housed in the same handsome 19th-century neoclassical building on Calle Serrano in downtown Madrid, and still displays a wealth of world treasures including some unique to Spain such as a replica of the spectacular Altamira Caves prehistoric art and the iconic Celto-Iberian bust known as theLady of Elche (top). What’s different is a
South American cuisine–especially Peruvian and Brazilian–has been gaining quite a bit of worldwide attention in recent years. But even lesser-known cuisines of Latin America have been upping their games in a major way, as visitors will discover, for example, in capitalSantiago de Chile. Here, a mix of influences–rich indigenous cultures, the bounty of game meats and the Pacific Ocean, Spanish colonisation and immigration from elsewhere in Europe such as Germany and Italy–produces a singular cui
The birth of a new "exClone" unveils another world of potential for tech in travel. Phil Voyager, a project I've been working with these past months, it's artificial intelligence conceived of for cloning travel expertise.
A Primer On Semantic Technologies
Years ago I was introduced to technologies that would eventually alter the very communicative fabric of humankind. About a decade ago, technology writers like me were sent countless press releases about the most fabulous, and the most ridiculous
It was a rainy autumn day in Tokyo, as my companions and I shuffled out of the Toei Chikatetsu metro line at Asakusa Station. Emerging onto the street level, we quickly opened and raised our large, red paper umbrellas, on loan from our escorts, and made our way down a few alleys to the Ohshimaya Onda Chochin Lantern Shop.
Here, we were greeted with bows by Mr. Shunji Onda himself, a fifth generation master of the Japanese paper lantern.
Mr. Onda’s business was founded 160 years ago by his great-
Gunbarrel Highway in the Gibson Desert in Australia’s Northern Territory (photo: AustralianGeographic.com.au)
When you plan on a holiday in Australia, chances are you won’t want to rent a car, but you will want to rent a 4WD utility vehicle, from Budget Trucks. Even if you aren’t seeking out rugged terrain during your holiday travels, chances are you are going to come across roads that require a 4WD vehicle. Then, there are those of you who will regularly se
Shopping in Costa Rica, whether for Christmas gifts or birthdays, etc. is a creative affair in Playa Guiones, near Nosara.
The eclectic Guanacaste beach community is home to more than 35 talented international and national artists who sell handmade art and products. The Nosara Artisans group always holds an annual Holiday Art Fair in Playa Guiones in December.
Artists make everything by hand, such as handmade bikinis and beachwear, unique pottery, glass art, fabric art, jewelry, painting, photog
A few years ago, I was coming back from overseas into the US and was waiting in line for my turn to go through passport control at the airport. While hundreds of us were standing around waiting, we could see a few travelers head to a row of ATM-looking machines on the side of the entry hall and quickly head out to the baggage claims area. Given the long lines one can frequently find nowadays at airport security checkpoints and at customs passport control areas, any way to beat the lines is wort
‘Our ceilings are a fetching shade of old gold as a result of the millions of cigarettes which have been smoked on the premises since they were last painted white, and there is something homely and almost comforting about the smell of stale smoke …’
George East A Year Behind Bars.
I’m probably the worst kind of non-smoker … the ‘crusading ex-smoker’. That’s the kind of guy who, having successfully forsworn the Evil Weed, tries to persuade those around him to do the same. So, I’m probably the las
Whether you had a good year last year or not, it’s important to kick off any new year’s resolutions for 2015 on a positive note. A great challenge to set yourself for 2015 would be to travel and explore more, with the offerings that the USA have on hand there will be no shortages of adventures to experience!
1. The American Prairie Reserve
• Known as "America’s Serengeti," this reserve in northeastern Montana is a must for all adventure seekers.
• The reserve is buying back private land as
The French Riviera is a great tourist attraction and Nice is the biggest resort here. It can be quite expensive vacationing here but that doesn’t mean you can’t do Nice on a strict budget.
Mmm, Food.
Nice has an abundance of Michelin star rated restaurants, but there are a few places you can get delicious food without breaking the bank. Brasserie de Monaco brews their own beer in house and has delicious offerings such as a focaccia with tomatoes, olives and fried onions. There’s also Marc de Café
Ever wonder what it is like to face a cooking team challenge? The Wine Artist gives you the opportunity. Ever wonder how to make team building fun? The Wine Artist gives you the opportunity. Need a recipe? That’s a different Wine Artist day.
Team building is a necessity in any organization composed of people (yes, that’s every organization). The importance of the team is recognized in every company, in every military unit, in every volunteer group—what you get may well depend on how well yo
As we travel, we check off places that are on our Bucket List. Being film buffs, many of the things on our list are related to movies we have seen over the years.
We recently checked off another “to do” from our list by skippering the authentic “African Queen,” the boat made famous by Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn in the 1951 Academy Award Winning film of the same name.
The “Queen” is presently docked at a destination also made famous by Bogart in the Florida Keys, Key Largo.
Finding the Qu
El Salvador is a small country between Honduras and Guatemala in Central America. It has a tropical climate with marked wet and dry seasons. Spanish is the official language spoken by all inhabitants.
The capital is San Salvador, a modern city with large boulevards, many monuments, outdoor markets, museums, fun nightlife and other cultural buildings to visit. The only international airport is Comalapa, which is about 25 miles southeast of San Salvador.
Its tourism scenery is kind of different from
Hungry for a spicy taste of Budapest? Go no further than Central Market and try to sort out what paprika to buy – mild, hot, hotter? Your choice. Bev Malzard reports.
Ah, Budapest, we had such a short time together. On arrival in the evening and not in top form, the best way we could connect was me looking through the picture window of my hotel room, as the river at the ‘Pest’ side from my ‘Buda’ side of the mighty Danube River. The beautiful buildings high over the bank lit up, sparkly little b
According to theatrebreaks.co.uk's recent poll studying UK Theatregoers theatre-going preferences, family-friendly shows such as Wicked, Disney's The Lion King and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are what we most want to see in London's West End.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
You can see our colourful infographic at http://www.theatrebreaks.co.uk/top-uk-shows-seen-see/
TheatreBreaks.co.uk asked over 3200 UK theatregoers what shows they have enjoyed and what shows they think they would like to
Central America’s largest country was, not so many years ago, a staple of world headlines pretty much weekly for war and geopolitical intrigue. Yet despite its very flawed ruling régime Nicaragua today is peaceful, stable, and welcomes tourists of all stripes from around the world, with a growing tourism industry and infrastructure – reminiscent of, say, Costa Rica a generation ago, yet already offering a wide range of options from basic backpacker level to five-star luxury.
Capital Managua u
On February 20, as crews were still struggling to raise the fuselage AirAsia flight QZ8501, Indonesia's top transportation official said the aircraft climbed at an extreme rate just before it crashed. The accident investigators have had time to study the flight recorder; we can assume they now know what went wrong on the doomed Airbus A320.
After being initially candid, why have Indonesian officials now decided that the preliminary report, due by the end of the January, will not be made publi
by Cristóbal Ramírez
How do I love thee, Quartier Latin? Let me count the ways: Students. Chilled rosé at a sidewalk café. Students. Reveling in the Bohemian joie de vivre. Students. Chantilly-cream crêpes from a street stand. Students. Browsing fascinating museums like the Orsay and the medieval Cluny. Students. Selecting exquisite hand-crafted bonbons in a side-street chocolatier. Students.
Repetitive? Well, not too surprising, really: on the Left Bank of the Seine, home to not just theUn
Three of the prettiest beaches on the Southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica are Playa Cocles, Playa Chiquita and Punta Uva. That is if you like long stretches of gorgeous picture postcard Caribbean coastline with warm turquoise ocean and graceful tall palm trees.
When you are on the beach on the Costa Rica Southern Caribbean Coast, all you see are sea, sand, sky, trees … and maybe the occasional other person or pretty tropical bird or monkey. There are no high-rise mega-resorts or unending rows
This past weekend I took advantage of the break in the weather to join some friends on a winter hike in Starved Rock State Park. The park is located along the Illinois River, about 100 miles southwest of Chicago, just outside Utica, IL.
I remember going there as a kid. My family would take a picnic lunch and we would hike the trails. I remember the canyons and I remember climbing to the top of the Rock. My mother, fearful of heights, never let me near the edge. These days, it’s a lot safer.
