So I began my journey westward from Turkey to Bulgaria yesterday, and after hearing how miserable the bus ride is, I decided to take the train. The train left Istanbul at 10 PM and was supposed to reach Plovdiv, Bulgaria the next day at 10 AM…12 hours…Shit. I had read online that there were private sleeper cars available, but when I got to the train station, all that they offered was a cohette car which is 6 bunks in a little compartment. I didn’t have a choice so I bought it. I got onto my car and the conductor…
Byzantium, no Constantinople….Dammit, Istanbul!
So it has been a few days since I’ve been on my Turkish getaway in the ancient city of Istanbul (it has had many names in the past), and so far, I’m having a great time. There is so much history here and you can literally see it stacked on itself through the many visible levels of architecture from ancient Roman ruins to modern shining glass sky scrapers. Istanbul is truly where east meets west, and the city is divided up into many districts where you can either feel like you’re in Saudi Arabia, or strolling down a tree-lined boulevard in…
Screw Hotels, Stay at Someone’s Place for Half the Price!
Before I left for Istanbul, I decided to try out a new concept in vacation rentals via an online service called Wimdu. I found out about it after receiving some recommendations from friends who were making a lot of money renting their apartments (free to list) with them in the States. Basically,Wimdu is a website where you can list your apartment or house for a night, week, month or however long you want, and vacationers can “book” it for a short stay. It’s a great way to make a little supplemental income and meet some interesting people in the process. Wimdu offers users a much more…
My Grand Arrival in Istanbul!
After 12 grueling hours 30,000 feet above the earth, I finally made it to Istanbul. I lucked out on my flight from Miami to Madrid with no one sitting next to me, but the overly vocal red neck missionary across the aisle erased me enjoying that luxury. My second flight from Madrid to Istanbul was one of the most turbulent i’ve ever been on, but I lucked out again with no one in my three-person row, so I had the chance to curl up into fetal position and catch a few Z’s. Upon my arrival at Ataturk Airport, I opted…
Video of the week: Mexico’s Coolest City
After reading an article in USA Today…today, about how Mexico is spending $30 million on an ad campaign to bring back its favorite American tourists, I thought I’d do my part and help reiterate the fact that Mexico is indeed a safe place to travel. I think it all comes back down to not going to places you probably shouldn’t go, or doing things that will probably end you up on an episode of Locked up Abroad (great show by the way). I’m from Philly, one of America’s worst cities, but you would never know it, unless you go to…
Picture of the Week: Wine Tasting in South Beach
Last night I went to a free wine tasting event compliments of Bordeaux Wines at a really cool “local’s” spot on South Beach called Bistro 555. I sent the email invite over to my always “Yes” saying friend Clark. We filled out our “wine profile” online and when we arrived, were given 4 drink tickets to our predetermined “personal preference table”. Mine somehow ended up being the shitty desert and juice-tasting white wine table, so after bartering with various patrons, I managed to trade some of my tickets for some at the robust reds table. I had a great time,…
How to not gain weight while traveling
People always complain about gaining weight when they travel. And while I personally don’t think putting on a few pounds on the road is that big a deal, especially if you’re going on a weeklong cruise (you’re supposed to eat whatever you want), there are a few things you can do to not gain weight while traveling. My view is that short term travel (a week to two weeks) is all about indulgence, having fun and not worrying about things like your gym regiment, stringent diet, etc. You go on short term vacations, because 1. You only get two weeks…
Video of the Week: Every Boy Band Has to start somewhere
Yesterday, I got called up by a friend from college asking if I’d like to come to an event at a high-end fitness club in downtown Miami. I had a long day and needed a drink (it was open bar) so I decided to head over. I have been to plenty of “events” at fitness clubs before being that my background is in exercise science and I used to be a personal trainer. They usually consist of a couple bush league vegetable platters from the super market, awkward fluorescent lighting and the club’s 65 year old patrons looking to snag some free snacks.…
The Caste System in Colombia
When on a trip to Bogota for work, I was first introduced to a social system I had no idea existed, one consisting of 6 strata that basically define where you live, where you work, who were you friends, and where you were welcome. The social strata system in Colombia, and particularly in Bogota, was originally set up to help spread basic services to the rather large underclass. As in most Latin American countries, and most so-called “Third World” countries in general, there is an extreme proportion of the population classified as “poor” and a small decision-making population of wealthy. In…
Photo of the week: churros…for breakfast?!
When growing up and as a young American male, all I wanted to eat were cookies for breakfast (Cookie Crisp cereal satiated that one), so I guess it just makes sense that a young latin boy or girl would want churros for breakfast… Saw this new cereal at the super market this morning and found it comical/genious marketing. Gotta give em’ what they want!
Indiana Jeremy and The Secret Mayan Mounds
It seemed like a normal Sunday for me. Up at 7, breakfast and straight to the city archives to scour the South American records post 1492 for any references to the ancient Mayan Mounds of Guatemala and the secret treasure they hold. I had spent months checking old maps scribbled out by conquistadors, documented accounts from the natives about the terrain and stories of cities completely made of gold that glistened in the afternoon sunlight. It was that Sunday that seemed no different than the rest that I finally found what I was looking for, a document from Pedro de…
Surfing in Guatemala – Not for beginners!
Being involved in the world of Promotional Marketing is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you work for yourself and are no one’s bit…employee, but on the other hand, you have zero work security. Thankfully, I’ve been involved in the industry for a couple years now and have built up enough contacts within marketing companies that I can work as much as I want to (most of the time), and after a month of none stop busting ass, I decided I had earned a little vacation. As most chronic travelers will attest, “popular” destinations are overrated (think Venice and Rome)…
Photo of the Week: Hieroglyphics?
After trying to post something on Craig’s List for my Resume Service, I was confronted with this ridiculous security code to enter…The funny thing is, what you see above is what I typed, and it worked! What’s the funniest/weirdest word you’ve ever had to type into one of these Recaptcha security things?
Melting Clocks and More Boobs than I Saw in 8th Grade
One of the coolest places I visited while living in Barcelona was the Salvador Dali Museum in Figueres, Spain (actually known as the Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dalí). Figueres is a small city about 1.5 hours north of Barcelona and just a few miles south of the French border. The kooky surrealist artist was actually born there too. When I was studying abroad, my program arranged for a trip to Figueres via private shuttle, but it is easily accessible by rail from Barcelona and trains leave very frequently, check here for train schedules from Barcelona to Figueres. You can also get…
Photo of The Week: Everything is Bigger in the US
Well, after making my monthly trip to the super market (I try to go weekly), I was in the home cleaning aisle looking to stock up on some paper towels when I saw this behemoth. It’s equal to 2.5 rolls of regular paper towels! But, after buying it (as well as the plastic cups shown too), I have decided to be more “green” and use my dishtowels and glasses more often. When I used to live in both Spain and Argentina, everyone was so much more conscious of energy usage and pointless waste, and I don’t think I’m doing any redwoods justice by purchasing a tree trunk’s…
How To Find Cheap Airfares to Europe
The one thing that always seems to get in the way of a great trip is, you guessed it, funding it! Europe ain’t cheap and the last thing you want to do is blow all that extra spare change you’ve been collecting from under the sofa cushions on just getting there. Follow the next few steps on how to find the cheapest flights to Europe and start your “vacay” sooner than later. 1. Decide when you want to go Figure out when you’d like to take your trip, the cheapest months to visit Europe are in Spring (mid-February – the…
Dominica: A Peace Corps Awakening
The Below is a guest post from a good friend of mine, Brian Longin, who is currently a Peace Corps Volunteer in the small island nation of Dominica…. The island of Dominica is rich in many ways. Fresh water is ubiquitous and you can find creeks and streams winding through almost every village. Many locals tend their own gardens which yield sweet potatoes, citrus, plantains, and avocados, as well as seasonings like bay leaf, cinnamon and nutmeg. Citizens of Dominica are also proud to celebrate their vibrant Creole heritage. Today, Dominican children are still raised speaking the patois language, learning…
Wynwood and Art Walk
Once a predominantly working class Puerto Rican neighborhood of Miami (and still largely is), Wynwood is full-speed ahead in the gentrification process with the infiltration of many artists, musicians, entrepreneurs and, of course, everyone’s favorite conforming non-conformist, the Hipster. This area of Miami is just north of downtown and just south of the Design District. What’s extra cool about the neighborhood is the prevalence of old textile warehouses, perfect for an art gallery, music venue, restaurant, or boutique…and that’s what’s moving in. With windowless two story cement facades basically comprising the landscape, artists have giving the area a face lift, painting…
Mexico: Lions and Tigers and Cartels, Oh My!!!
Querétaro, Mexico is just one of those places that “gets it”. This is my final reflection on my month long stay there.
Medellín, Colombia…Not Your Average Disney Vacation
For my last spring break, I decided to go on another little sojourn. No, no, no, not to Nassau for a crappy all-inclusive buffet and unlimited bottom shelf rum. Not on a cruise where I would have lost more money than I had playing drunken roulette (been there, done that). I wanted to go somewhere a little more exotic, a little more real. This destination has always fascinated and awed me… I speak of a country named Colombia.