CAT | Travel
There’s a place to laugh in Portland. The whole city is really rather pleasant, and perhaps one of the most pleasant in the country. It’s a great town to laugh in, because there are always interesting things going on, and the pace is laid-back enough to enjoy it. Enjoying the moment is, in fact, one of the great past times here, and if it’s ever challenging, it’s one that’s taken seriously. So, folks who take their laughs seriously have a new spot in town, the Helium Comedy Club .
It’s another version of the highly successful one in Philadelphia, and good news for the NorthWest. It’s always good news when there’s a new comedy club, and this one is part of a great tradition. Travelers coming to town, checking Portland hotel rates and wondering what else is happening can count on some lovely nights in pubs, with live music, and now, plenty of stand-up. Their lineup includes some of the coolest new names in comedy, and among them, Natasha Leggero is a sparkling sensation. Her humor is both biting and charming, and can leave even the most serious guest defenseless. Rising stars are often coming to Portland, and they can be seen all around town.
Dallas is a great place to get out at night and have some fun. The streets of the famous warehouse district called Deep Ellum is where the creative art and music are tossed out for everyone to enjoy. This is not just another street lined with corporate restaurants and stores. This is a street where trends are started.
During the day you can wonder around the area checking out the really cool vintage shops and fashion boutiques as well as art galleries and tattoo parlors. You may find a great treasure that will end up being some sort of new top fashion created right there in Dallas.
There are a number of places to catch some live music in the neighborhood. One moment you could be siting in a cafe sipping on coffee listening to a live acoustic duo and the other slamming shots in a dance club. Get a cab from one of the best dallas hotels that you are staying in and check out what the artists are up to in Deep Ellum. It is Soho with a drawl. An art district is not the first thing you think of when visiting Dallas but it is there and it is alive.
The oldest cities seem to have all the best ghost stories, which probably makes good sense. Whether the hauntings are products of real lives, or products of the imagination, an old city with as many people as Boston has plenty of room to entertain both possibilities. Those who are looking for a little bit of haunted fun and touring in the city are in for some real surprises, and guests in the Boston hotels can find tours, or just make their own.
One very popular spot among the ghost buster crowd is Boston Common, a site that played host to a rather disturbingly large number of hangings. There was a gallows installed in the middle of the 18th century, and the hangings continued into the first part of the nineteenth century. There were stories of these events that came well before this, from the 17th century at least, and one of the most interesting is the case of Mary Dyer .
Hers is not just the story of a haunting, but contains events that speak of Boston’s history. She was an outspoken Quaker, and her passionate work ultimately lead to her unfortunate end, but not before she was also accused of giving birth to a monster child . Such events are deep in Boston’s past, fortunately, but they still hold a lot of interest.
Once you’ve had a chance to check into the Jerusalem hotels of your choice, you’ll quickly note that this ancient city is a travel destination unlike any other. Located in the Judean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea and the north side of the Dead Sea, the oldest portion, the City of David, was established in the 4th millennium BCE, making it one of the oldest cities in the world. With many sites sacred to the great religions of the world, you may find it difficult to know exactly where to start. Over two million people who visit Jerusalem each year are faced with this choice: What’s the best way to get an overview of this historically and spiritually rich city? How do you begin?
To get an overview of the city itself, perhaps you should take a trip to a citadel originally constructed about 2,000 years ago by Herod the Great. At the Tower of David Museum , you’ll see incredibly scenic views from the citadel towers, enabling you to take in the modern and ancient city and its rich, archaeological gardens.
The museum is dedicated to the long history of Jerusalem, tracking the many years with state-of-the-art exhibits and displays, exploring how the city and its peoples changed throughout the centuries — from Canaanites, Hebrews, Greeks and Romans, Crusaders, Muslims, Turks, and British and Israelis.
From the Tower of David Museum, it’s possible to gain a perspective in a city that has lasted literally thousands of years, stretching back nearly to pre-history, and home to the world’s most important religious sites, from the Temple Mount, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock to the al Aqsa Mosque.
Right now the best time to visit Denver is in August, mainly because of the Denver Botanic Gardens Summer Concert Series. This year will be the Gardens 30th year in delivering one of the best summer concert series in the United States.
Beginning August 3rd, Joan Armatrading, the 3 time Grammy nominee with 19 stunning albums to her credit will kick of the Summer Concert Series. August 5th brings in Nanci Griffith and Leo Kottke, both masters of the guitar. August 11th, the remarkable depth of Marc Cohn and his lyrical poetry set to music will be felt throughout the night.
The second half of August, Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain and Edgar Meyer will come together on the 19th and transcend the world of classical jazz, bluegrass and world music. The next night, August 20th, Grammy winning Shawn Colvin and Loudon Wainwright III, will delight the audience with the best traditional folk music in the world.
Sorry folks, but Garrison Keillor’s ‘A Prairie Home Companion’, is already sold out for August 29th! But, it’s still not too late to buy tickets for all the rest of the fantastic line-up in August. Plus, there are still rooms available with great Denver hotel rates from now through the end of summer. You may puchase tickets at the Denver Botanic website or by phone. Ticket prices vary if you have membership to the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Corsica has a lot more in common with its neighboring Sardinia than it does with the country it’s connected to, France. No doubt that there are plenty of evidences of French culture here, and visitors will remember the food for its lovely flavors, and its butter, which has some French contributions. But in terms of places that are misunderstood, it has a similar history to Sardinia, and certainly a contemporary frustration that at times turns into nationalist sentiments toward preserving the culture here.
Although it does have a language that’s difficult to navigate, and there are many cultural forms here that are very peculiar to the place, it’s also a fantastic place to visit. Any place where the cuisine has equal shares of French and Italian and Spanish influences is worth visiting, and the lovely coastline is something that speaks to everyone. Corsica hotels are experiments in how lovely life can be, and there is no final answer, in any language.
While hospitality and flavor can appeal to just about anyone, with or without common sense, there are elements of Corsica that are very much part of the culture here, and are enormously fascinating. One image that will be seen everywhere, although not necessarily noticed, is the granitula . This is the spiral, and it’s a symbol that has peculiarly heavy weight here, but actually connects with other very old traditions.
The spiral-granitula is seen in many of the saint festivals, where barefoot penitents will walk in a procession, and at times dance in a clockwise spiral, and at times counter-clockwise. There are lots of interpretations for this, and what it actually signifies.
Like in most places that use the spiral, echoing the movement of water through a hole, or the design on a snail’s back, it refers to time and space. Moving forward and backward, something coming out of nothing, and returning to nothing again, in an endless dance. It marks the mystery of existence, and also speaks to a notion that life is always in flux, and always in motion.
Coming to Amsterdam can sometimes feel like becoming part of a much larger inheritance, one that has been paved long before the first tourists set foot here. The legacies run along multiple lines of flight, and they intersect at corners in every neighborhood. One of the great things about Amsterdam is that it is a city that holds the potential for many great moments, and for anyone that’s not used to European cities in general, this can be a very big welcome. It’s also a kind of relief, to be able to speak with strangers on a whole range of topics, and the depth of conversation can range from friendly and kind, to the illuminating and essential.
Moments are here to be opened, like gifts, like presents that make the here and now a very palpable thing. It is also a very elusive thing, and the big questions that get asked in the coffee houses are nothing new. This can be very good news, because there are moments when pondering becomes too weighty, and on a vacation, it might lead one to wonder if anyone has ever thought this deeply. The answer, in Amsterdam , is a big yes, and artists and philosophers have claimed this as their stomping ground then and now.
The place is already paved, then, with a history of thought, and like the streets, one can walk the same places that the thinkers like Spinoza walked. And there are certainly moments when the mind and body problem can seem to be wholly resolved. Whether it’s in a conversation with other travelers, a moment on a corner chatting with a local, or even contemplating all that is inside an Amsterdam hotel , these things do come to light, waiting for them to be revolved around inside of another mind. It’s a fantastic city for chasing mental knots around, and trying to figure out ways of deciding that none of these really matter, because this a holiday, and there are moments waiting around the corner.
There are many great things to do and see in and around the city of Santa Barbara, California. From the diverse and exciting cultural attractions and entertainment options to the fabulous opportunity for outdoor recreation and fitness activities, tourists and residents alike never find a dull moment in this beautiful city. And actually, the tourist population continues to grow as people across the country and even beyond discover all of the great and frequently low cost and even free things there are to do and see in this city. There are plenty of family oriented establishments and the relaxing accommodations welcome children and families.
One of the great things for families to do while visiting Santa Barbara is to visit the zoo. This is a popular activity for families all across the country and not only is it exciting and entertaining, it is also educational and introduces children to the idea of animal conservation and respect for their well being as well as the environment. One of the great educational aspects of the Santa Barbara Zoo is the Spring Zoo Camp for children, which is actually about to begin and will extend through April 2nd.
The zoo in Santa Barbara is home to a diverse collection of animals, reptiles and birds and represents many of the world’s endangered species. More than 500 of these animals are visible to patrons as they enjoy their comfortable existence -after all who couldn’t be comfortable in Santa Barbara? – in one of the zoo’s open and naturalistic habitats. From the giant anteater to the African lion and snow spotted leopard, these majestic creatures will capture the imagination and hearts of everyone who visits them. In addition to the great educational features as well as the conservation programs, the zoo also sponsors great social events. From culinary experiences to job fairs and various celebration events, there is always something extra going on at the Santa Barbara Zoo.
There are many myths about Singapore. It is rumored that you can be fined for more things there than in any other place in the world. While this may or may not be true, you can be true; you cannot be fined for chewing gum, at least not today. In 1992 Singapore banned chewing gum. This is not a myth . The manufacturing and distribution of distributing gum was banned. Importing and exporting the product was also banned. The government cited that it was a product used to deface the city streets and buildings. In 2004 the government decided to lift the ban. Even though the ban was lifted, it was not sold in general stores. Persons wishing to purchase gum in Singapore had to show their I.D. and register their names with the pharmacist who then sold it to them. Failure to properly register someone carried a sentence of up to 2 years in prison for the pharmacist.
Another myth is regarding Indian food in Singapore. It is believed by some that all Indian dishes are spicy. This is not true. A large number of Indian dishes have no heat at all. Many Indian restaurants in Singapore will ask the degree of heat you prefer your dish to have, mild, spicy or extra spicy. Some even use a number system, one being very mild and three being super spicy. Those dishes that do contain spice are traditionally countered with coconut or another sweet ingredient. Saffron is another spice that is commonly found in Indian cuisine, and does not bring any heat at all.
It is true that you can be fined for many things, like urinating in elevators and carrying combustible products on the subway, but aren’t these things common sense? Since the lifted ban on chewing gum, there do not seem to be any extraordinary fines that are in place for things that people would commonly want to do.
Amarillo, Texas is a place with an awful lot of character, inducing a constant supply of pride among the locals, and a sense of quiet pleasure for visitors. It’s too big to be a small town, and still doesn’t quite seem like a city, but it’s in-betweenness gives it a charm that is pure Texas. It’s still the wild west out here, or wild enough that there are traces of a ranching past that don’t seem exotic enough to place them in a museum. There’s an old-fashioned sensibility, one that couples tradition with common sense, but there’s no careless disregard for innovation either.
When new inventions come along that are useful to the people, Amarillo is happy to adopt them. But common sense will still take precedence over anything new and shiny that might happen along. This is exemplified in one of its most famous residents. A few years back, Oprah made a comment about cattle ranchers and mad cow disease, and although the link was already in the public’s minds, there being a very common thread here and that thread is the bovine creature, it was deemed damaging to the beef industry. They were suffering a horrible time of it, of that there can be no doubt, but that didn’t come from any great revelation from the great talk show host.
However, it was necessary to get some kind of legal help, and she even relocated here for a year. Maybe some folks remember, and maybe some folks have forgotten, but she hired a lawyer to help in a fair jury selection, such was the gravity of the situation, which was being misread in a hundred directions, and that laywer’s name was Phil McGraw . His own brand of horse sense appealed to Oprah, who always had a good eye for these things, and it turned out to be an extraordinary bout of foresight on her part, because this was none other than Amarillo’s own Dr. Phil. An event that would surely attract visitors to the fine hotels Amarillo has to offer. That’s good sense.
