Travel Blog: News and Briefs
Paul McCartney Does Route 66
by Michael Yessis | 08.11.08 | 12:11 PM ET
The legendary Beatle and his girlfriend Nancy Shevell are apparently motoring west, driving a green ‘89 Ford Bronco with New York plates, and they’re leaving a wake of amazed fellow travelers as they head from Joplin, Missouri to Oklahoma City to Amarillo and so forth. What have we learned about Paul’s road tripping skills?
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Yahoo! BuzzIn Beijing: Three Cheers for Cheers
by Eva Holland | 08.11.08 | 11:43 AM ET
Last night I made it to some boxing preliminaries at the evocatively named Beijing Workers’ Gymnasium. The crowd—mostly Chinese, with scattered pockets of brightly colored foreigners—was a quiet one, rarely reacting to what happened in the ring with more than a low “oooh” or “aaah,” despite the organizers’ best efforts.
R.I.P. Wall Arch: ‘It Just Went Kaboom’
by Michael Yessis | 08.11.08 | 10:11 AM ET
Utah’s Arches National Park—the most beautiful park of many beautiful parks in the American Southwest—lost one of its most visited arches last week. It’s believed the 71-foot-tall arch, which was the 12th largest in the park, collapsed under its own weight. “Not being a geologist, I can’t get very technical but it just went kaboom,” Arches Chief Ranger Denny Ziemann told the Salt Lake Tribune. The trail between Double 0 Arch and Wall Arch has been closed indefinitely.
World Hum’s Most Read: Aug. 2-8
by World Hum | 08.08.08 | 4:03 PM ET
Our five most popular features and blog posts for the week:
1) Seven Reasons to Have a Foreign Fling
2) Audio Slideshow: My Travels, My Feet (pictured)
3) A Shocking Email From JetBlue
4) How To: Use a Squat Toilet
5) Disclosed: Travelers’ Laptops Can be Confiscated at U.S. Borders Without Reason
Photo by Sophia Dembling.
Inside the ‘Cuisines of the Axis of Evil’
by Michael Yessis | 08.08.08 | 10:13 AM ET
Kim Jong Il gulps the blood of virgins! Benito Mussolini loved strawberry frappes! Fidel Castro says, “I drink your chocolate milkshake!” These tidbits come from Chris Fair, author of the new book Cuisines of the Axis of Evil and Other Irritating States: A Dinner Party Approach to International Relations. Newsweek and USA Today have interviews with her.
In Time for the Olympics, a National Anthems Primer
by Julia Ross | 08.08.08 | 8:27 AM ET
Photo by Philip Jagenstedt via Flickr (Creative Commons).
China’s national anthem, March of the Volunteers, never fails to summon memories of my teaching experience in Shanghai several years ago, when I’d watch 1,600 grade schoolers greet each morning with a full-arm salute to their nation’s red and gold flag. I’m preparing to relive that experience many times over this month as I watch Chinese Olympians take to the podium in Beijing.
Obama, McCain and the Politics of a Vacation
by Jim Benning | 08.07.08 | 1:55 PM ET
Barack Obama is headed to Hawaii on vacation. He deserves a break, right? Besides, it’s a summer tradition. Apparently not, at least according to his opponent. A spokesman for John McCain just remarked, “Americans are facing sky-high gas prices, and instead of Barack Obama taking the initiative to call his allies in Congress back from vacation to carve out real energy relief, he’s joining them at the beach.” And to think, on our 2008 U.S. Presidential Candidate Travel Scorecard, we gave McCain a whopping four-and-a-half Air Force Ones out of five. I, for one, now regret that. I know times are tough, but we Americans must stand firm in support of vacations.
Travel in Mexico Getting More Expensive, Too
by Jim Benning | 08.07.08 | 11:34 AM ET
More bad news for American travelers. The dollar has lost 10 percent of its value against the peso since the beginning of the year, making Mexico trips too costly for some. USA Today reports on the fallout. One bit of good Mexico news for the pocketbook: As we noted recently, it’s still not a bad place to fill up your gas tank.
Photo by ClinKER via Flickr, (Creative Commons).
Bridging the Divide: Hong Kong to Macau
by Valerie Conners | 08.07.08 | 10:47 AM ET
The long-awaited Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge may soon become reality, thanks to additional funding for the project from the central Chinese government in Beijing. Financing details were announced yesterday. Construction is expected to begin by 2010.
Video: Can a 747 Engine do This?
by Michael Yessis | 08.06.08 | 3:58 PM ET
Is this footage real?
Unearthing David Bowie’s Berlin
by Elyse Franko | 08.06.08 | 1:42 PM ET
Those wishing to experience David Bowie’s Berlin will find that the city has changed quite a bit since the 1970’s, when Bowie—at the peak of his career—spent three years living there with Iggy Pop, recording the three albums in his Berlin Trilogy.
Women-Only Hotel Floors: Smart or Sexist?
by Elyse Franko | 08.06.08 | 12:27 PM ET
The revival of women’s floors in hotels—complete with vanity mirrors, yoga mats and extra-soft socks to satisfy the “needs” of a modern woman—is sparking controversy among female travelers and hospitality workers. While hotels seem to believe that women’s floors will make a stay more enjoyable by catering specifically to female tastes, the New York Times reports that women’s floors are viewed as discriminatory by many.
Want to Book a $650,000 Suite in Beijing for the Olympics? Here’s Your Connection.
by Michael Yessis | 08.06.08 | 11:43 AM ET
His name is Sead Dizdarevic, and he’s the “official corporate concierge to the Olympics.” He’s also one colorful dude.
Montreal vs. New York City: The Great Bagel Debate
by Eva Holland | 08.06.08 | 10:57 AM ET
Washingtonian.com’s Best Bites bloggers have weighed in on the endless debate about the home of the world’s best bagels. And their final answer? Montreal’s “artisanally handcrafted,” wood-fired offerings are tops. Jaunted is skeptical, but I’ve got to agree with Best Bites. On a cold, Canadian winter day, there’s nothing quite like sliding into a seat near the wood oven at the local deli, and watching your bagel come out of the flames hot and fresh. Sorry, New York. You can’t win ‘em all.
Photo by iwona_kellie via Flickr (Creative Commons)
One Airline’s Loss Is Another One’s Gain?
by Eva Holland | 08.06.08 | 10:17 AM ET
Or in this case: Every other airline’s loss is Emirates’ gain? The Telegraph’s Charles Starmer-Smith explains how Middle Eastern airlines—Emirates among them—are profiting from the skyrocketing price of fuel, and continuing to expand, while their American cousins cut every conceivable corner to salvage their revenue.
