Pirates Plank

Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

Because Johnny Depp may be the most visible pirate in the world today, sometimes sharing screen time with Penelope Cruz and a host of other talented stars, the pirate’s life holds a certain mythical attraction.  It’s not entirely difficult to see why, especially these days, where precarious financial situations and increased responsibilities can make the usual rules of waking life a little overwhelming.  Daydreaming about another kind of life is nothing new, and as long as there has been an imagination, there have been dreams of living differently.  Or at least a little more intensely.

It is easy to see why pirates have taken hold of the popular imagination, where cultures around the world have seemed ready for a new way of thinking about their own inner desires.  A reckless and lawless life, one guided by instinct, and a host of other rules that are nothing if not romantic, is one that can take hold of nearly everyone, at least for a little while.  In a setting like Australia, the romanticism of the place is doubly fueled by the romance of the outback, and here is where myth comes face to face with history.

It isn’t always a particularly complex history, however.  William Dampier, one of the most famous pirates to set foot down under, didn’t stay for a particularly long time.  By all accounts, he found the desolate areas he saw to be very desolate, and soon enough settled with his treasures in England, long before the 17th century was to come to a close.

Perhaps that’s just long enough for a myth to take hold.  Whenever cultures come into contact, there is a certain charge that lasts long after the meeting.  His time here was just enough to give power and strength to a romantic ideal, enough so that sometimes
Sydney night life seems to be moving into a new direction, fueled by the energy of that particular spirit.

At the same time, there is already something of the pirate in the Australian national spirit.  The presence of sea-themed attractions and pirate-oriented quotations give proof to the notion that this is a place where the fierce independence of individuals is held in very high esteem.  In chaos there is order, and in order, there is the potential for chaos, and the particular cultural scene in Sydney is such that it’s impossible to know which of these forces are at work, and sometimes it doesn’t seem to matter.

(Howard Pyle illustration of a pirate ghost, from Howard Pyle’s Book of Pirates.)

Getting ready for a trip to a foreign country can be an exciting time, filled with heady anticipation of the exotic sights and experiences that are just over the horizon. Of course, there are also a lot of logistical hurdles to be faced. Making sure that all those items are taken care of ahead of time is the key to being able to relax and enjoy the trip itself.

The first step is determining what documentation will be required to enter a given country or countries. This will start with having a current, valid passport but may also include inoculation records, work or study visas, or other documents. Make sure that all the necessary documents are ready and in order before departure.

In the 21st century, technology is important. Travelers need to investigate whether their cell phones, iPads, laptops and other devices will be compatible with the tech systems in use in foreign lands. They will even need to check on the electrical systems in place, to make sure they have the proper adapters on hand to plug in everything from hair dryers to electric toothbrushes.

Other things to consider before heading overseas are currency, travelers checks, and global health insurance . Tourists will want to have reservations for transportation and lodgings once they arrive as well as at least a tentative itinerary for their visit. Travel guides and brochures will help with planning and should be taken along as reference.

Every trip to the Grand Canyon is a once in a lifetime experience, even for visitors who have visited the Canyon previously. This is because every visit brings new sights and experiences as the Canyon grows and changes through the seasons.

A trip to the Grand Canyon is going to focus on the natural beauty of the area. Tourists can chose to explore this breathtaking attraction in a variety of ways. Companies like papillon grand canyon offer package tours of the Canyon utilizing mules, hiking, boating and even helicopters. It is possible to take a helicopter ride to the Canyon from nearby Las Vegas, land at the bottom of the Canyon, and then take a boat tour of the base.

The Canyon offers the opportunity for a more direct experience through hiking and camping trips. Visitors can learn about the history of the Canyon from exhibits, guided tours, and by visiting historic sites or ongoing archaeological sites within the Grand Canyon National Park.

Vacations may also incorporate some of the attractions located within driving distance of the Grand Canyon. Lake Powell and Hoover Dam are popular destinations themselves while nearby Sedona offers amazing red rock formations and a thriving community of artists and craftsmen.

Washington D.C. is building quite a reputation for itself as a food town. Between the recently completed season of television’s popular Top Chef: D.C. and great food festival and events like the upcoming Taste of Georgetown, it’s becoming harder and harder to deny that Washington is taking it’s place at the national table.

The 2010 Taste of Georgetown is the 17th edition of the annual event and is scheduled for October 9th. It shines a spotlight on the spectacular cuisine offered in some 30 of the top restaurants in D.C. This year’s event will include a Wine Pavilion as well as some of the area’s food celebrities. There will also be a jazz performance by Blues Alley. The event raises benefits the Georgetown Ministry Center’s homeless services.

Restaurants that will be providing some of their best dishes include Dean & Deluca, J Paul’s, Bodega Spanish Tapas & Lounge, Farmes & Fishers, Neyla, Morso, Fahrenheit Restaurant, Cafe Bonaparte, 1789, and Morton’s the Steakhouse. The Wine, Spirits & Ale Tasting Pavilion will pair cuisine with wine, ale and spirits provided by Cointreau Nori, Cleveland Park Liquor & Wines, St. Germain, and DGB’s South Africa Wines.

If you’re staying in one of the many Washington business hotels , try to make your way to Georgetown in between meetings. Your taste buds will thank you.

Miami is an incredibly cultural diverse city, and this diversity is also represented in the cultural attractions. There is something for everyone in this progressive southern Florida paradise though it is probably most known for its incredible beaches and nightlife. And while those to words might some up some of the attraction elements they don’t begin to describe all there is to do and see on the beaches or in the evening. You can find great party fun, volleyball and other recreational activities along the beaches and you can engage in one of the great water sports that are possible there. You can learn to scuba dive, sail and a seemingly endless variety of other sports.

There are plenty of great sailing lessons and schools in and around Miami that are structured to serve beginners, intermediates as well as the more advanced student is looking for a refresher course or to heighten their skills. Some of the top schools include the Island Dreamer Sailing School and the Shake a Leg Miami water sports training organization. There are other quality programs and schools and it is recommended that you seek out the agency that is most suited for your interests and skill level. The majority of them are ran by qualified professional staff and include actually marine excursions. The next time you stay in a Miami hotel you might want to learn the fine art of sailing.

Gardens are a living museum of the natural beauty of any city. This is why so many cities set aside land and funds for botanical gardens, parks and specialty gardens. Vancouver is no exception, with the VanDusen Botanical Garden providing a beautiful landscape that changes with the seasons. Located in the heart of the city, VanDusen sits on 55 acres and has been open to the public since 1975. In addition to over 225,000 plants, the Garden is home to 65 distinct bird species.

Vancouver’s mild climate is conducive to a wide variety of plants, including collections from the Himalayas, South America, tropical South Africa, the Mediterranean, and Canada’s own Boreal forests and Great Plains. Of course, there are also many plants native to the Pacific Northwest . The gardens represent more than 7300 plant families (taxa). Some of the gardens include the Rhododendron Walk, the Sino Himalayan Garden, the Water Lily Garden, and the Laburnum Walk. Other sections include the Korean Pavilion, the Canadian Heritage Garden, the Stone Garden, and the Maze. In all, there are over 50 distinct areas to visit, including several lakes and houses, including the Glass House & Bonsai (Penjing) House.

Visitors to the gardens will find free parking and tourists staying in hotels in Vancouver will find that there is convenient access to public transportation. The gardens include a restaurant and gift shop so that families can spend an entire day on site.

Without out question, the most popular thing for tourists to do when they visit Las Vegas is to spend some time at the poker tables or slot machines. And while most of these card sharks also enjoy some of the great shows and cultural attractions of the city, you know like laying out by the pool all morning before finding your way back to one of the tables, gambling is most definitely the most popular activity for guests in a Las Vegas hotel . And people come from all over the world to either play against the house or some of the top international poker players. And they can be found in Vegas, by the handful, no pun intended.

Major world poker stars like Doyle Brunson and his son Todd Brunson (a chip off the old block, okay this time pun intended) and international stars like Antonio and Gus Hanson are just a few of the greats that can be seen in the Vegas casinos. And when one of the major tournaments is happening you can ‘bet’ that they will all turn out. Phil Hellmuth , Daniel Negreano, Annie Duke and Phil Laak are few of the top names in the game that will most likely be seen at the tournaments and periodically through the year. In addition, a number of the poker television shows are filmed in Vegas and the big players are always featured on them. And a great number of the tourists who visit Vegas do so to either watch or even sit in on some of these tournaments. Meanwhile others come and hope for the chance to sit down a table with a great, or even sit back and watch the play from a safe distance.

Some of the Montreal hotels provide not only great accommodations but are also excellent resources for discovering some of the hidden attractions of the city that are local favorites. However, here is a great hint about one of the main passions of the city’s residents, hockey. Okay, so maybe that was a bit direct, but it’s true, hockey is the most popular sport in Montreal and most of the people have a great love for it. You are guaranteed to see large crowds of locals at any one of the Montreal Canadiens’ games. The team is one of the original six teams of the National Hockey League and it holds a record total of 24 Stanley Cup Championships .

The team is only second to the New York Yankees baseball team in total number of championships won, and their most recent Stanley Cup was came in 1993, so the team and the city feel there are more than due for a 25th. If you plan to visit Montreal and you want to really experience the culture, you will definitely want to attend a hockey game. Their home arena is the Bell Centre, which was known as the Molson Center until 2003, and this is where you’ll find some of the most passionate sports fans in the world.

Currently, Cabaret is playing through October 29, 2010 at the OBERON in Boston. Tickets are sold out, but some performances might release tickets on the day of the show or if you’re staying at one of the finer hotels Boston offers its visitors, check to see if their concierge service has tickets available to offer their guests.

The story of Cabaret continues to be timeless, and it’s due to all the actors and crew involved in the American Repertory Theater‘s production. They keep it as strong as it was when it first premiered in 1966. You can still feel the pain and anguish the people of Berlin felt as the Nazi party slowly took over, as well as feel bad for those who thought the Nazi would only be a phase. The songs are performed exquisitely, and the live band only enhances the performances. The costume designs are like icing on a cake, which helped create the proper mood and time period of Cabaret. The set design is almost over-the-top with the entire audience seating is set-up like a cabaret club. As you wait for Cabaret to begin, the atmosphere was like being at the Kit Kat Klub where scantily clad women and men frolicked with the audience, danced in the aisles and played drinking games with the audience, but the intertwining of the backstage and the Kit Kat Klub are put together thoughtfully.

If you’re visiting Boston now until the end of October, do what you can to see this thoroughly wonderful musical.

Saint Louis is a city where some of the most refined elements of contemporary culture come to nestle in. It’s partly got a sense of the midwest, with a certain welcoming sensibility to its general demeanor, and partly influenced by its relation to the south, with a fair share of east coast directness added to the mix. It’s no surprise then to see how much hip hop culture has influenced the city, and the present holds some spectacular surprises.

Guests at Saint Louis hotels can hear the music every night of the week at the local clubs, where djs and mcs might be spinning, or might be concocting new and potent mixes. The present is more than a reflection of the global trends in the music, it’s also a reflection of Saint Louis’ own past. In 1979, when the Sugarhill Gang were on the way to changing the history of music, they couldn’t find airplay for their song Rapper’s Delight .

They did have a lot of fans, but few who had influence, and very few who had both the influence and enthusiasm that Jim Gates had. He played the record over and over, sometimes taking up half of every hour on the hour, because he recognized there was something going on here that would affect the generations to come.