The World Hum Travel Zeitgeist: ‘Heaven’ and the Wrath of Dean

Travel Blog • Michael Yessis • 08.24.07 | 12:26 PM ET

Hurricane Dean’s march through the Caribbean grabbed travelers’ attention this week, as did Hawaii, France and other iconic travel destinations. Here’s the Zeitgeist.

Most E-Mailed Travel Story
USA Today (current)
Hawaii’s Path to ‘Heaven’ is Forbidden
In this case, heaven is on Oahu, up the Haiku Stairs (pictured), atop the “mountain peak known as Puu Keahiakahoe.”

Most Popular Travel Story
Iloho (this week)
Heavens Above, Now Google Reaches to the Stars!
* Added support for our selection of Google Earth/Google Maps for one of the Seven Wonders of the Shrinking Planet.

Most Read Weblog Post
World Hum (posted this week)
Hurricane Dean Heading Toward Mexico’s Riviera Maya*
* World Hum commenters have some thoughts about the Category Five storm.

Most Viewed Travel Story
Los Angeles Times (current)
Hurricane Dean Weakens Over Central Mexico

Most Disappointing Tourist Site in the World
Virgin Travel Insurance (survey)
The Eiffel Tower

Most Read Feature
World Hum (posted this week)
10 Greatest Fictional Travelers
* Let us know if your favorite made our list.

Most E-Mailed Travel Story
New York Times (current)
Where the Buzz Isn’t Hype
* Where? At the Hummer/Bird Celebration in Rockport, Texas

Most Viewed Travel & Places Video
YouTube (this week)
‘Holy Smokes’ Hurricane Dean from Space

Most Popular Page Tagged Travel
Del.icio.us (recent)
How to Buy a Cheap Airline Ticket in First Class

Most Popular Travel Podcast
iTunes (current)
National Geographic’s Atmosphere
* Current podcast: Panda-monium.

Most Viewed Travel Story
Telegraph UK (current)
Nîmes: A Haven of Classical Splendour

Best Selling Travel Book
Amazon.com (current)
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert
* The latest runner-up stymied by Gilbert: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, for a third week.

Top Travel and Adventure Audiobook
iTunes (current)
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert
* Krakauer goes two-for-two as runner up with Into the Wild

“Hot This Week” Destination
Yahoo! (this week)
Charlottesville, Virginia

Most Viewed Travel Post
BlogHer (current)
The W Hotel: Form over Function?

Most Popular Travel Story
Netscape (this week)
10 Things You Must Bring On Your Next Trip

The Google “I’m Feeling Lucky” Button Travel Zeitgeist Search
Things You Should Never Travel With

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Photo of Haiku Stairs, via Wikipedia.

Tags: Shameless Self-Promotion, News and Briefs