Airport Art Exhibits

by Neil Woodburn on

I’ve often seen them out of the corner of my sleepy eyes, blurred and somewhat indistinguishable, as I rush past to catch a flight or grab a transfer.  Art exhibits located in airports, however, never really grab my attention as they would if I was casually walking down the street and came across one.  But that’s because airports have a way of numbing your senses.  And, of course, such exhibits never seem to be located in the actual waiting lounge where I’m bored silly and dying for any tactile or visual entertainment whatsoever. 

Airport art exhibits are taken very seriously, however, by many airports around the country.  USA Today has compiled a short list of the very best.  Passengers hanging out at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), for example, can browse “exhibits exploring jukeboxes… and five centuries of Swedish silver.” 

Or, they can simply sit in a bar and watch the game. 

More art in every day life is a great rule to live by.  Unfortunately, I’m sorry that my airport induced Attention Deficit Disorder simply can’t cope with all that culture while I’m trying to get from Point A to Point B.  Unless, of course, it’s really cool like the Rainmakers Baggage sculpture at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) featured in the photo above. 

Running of the Nulls

by Erik Olsen on

Here we go again. Time again for he running of the nulls…I mean bulls…in Pamplona, Spain. Yes, legions wine-stoned youth with lofty notions of self will pit them selves against animals four times their size in a heart-throbbing frenzy to see who is the most “courageous”.

And as happens every year, at least one poor dolt gets himself hurt or killed. It’s always a toss up to determine whether this is serious travel or some form of gene pool selection:  i.e. the Darwin Awards with horns.

Already we have seen some injuries:  A New York man suffered potentially paralyzing injuries when he was thrown by a young cow in a mock bull fight Friday at the end of the first day of the event. There will be more, I assure you. Stay tuned.

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of July 2

by Adrienne Wilson on

It’s Friday and that means show and tell time here at Gadling. Ultimately we show you what you may have missed and you tell us what you like. Here we go.

5. Unique Hotels:
It wasn’t until last year sometime when it really started to dawn on me how much of an experience a hotel can provide. Before coming across some really cool spots to crash and lounge around I would just sleep, eat, and hit the road. So now, when I go to book hotels, before I grab the best deal, I look for other special qualities and what makes the place unique. In this blurb Neil describes places online that make it easier for travelers seeking similar hotel unique experiences. (I know I sounded a bit like an infomercial, but seriously check it out!)

4. Afghan Wildlife Reserves:
Erik is right – not many folks will bother going to Afghanistan let alone a wildlife reserve there should they every come to reality, but I felt it was a fine post and deserves another looksie. If we can’t go by foot, plane or train we may as well use our minds and travel with our imaginations.

3. Suspect Waters:
Hardcore, summertime, backing packing through the woods has never really been my thing and I can also tell you one other thing that hasn’t been my cup of tea on any trip of any kind. Um, diarrhea. Yeah, it sucks. In this post Neil directs us to the LA Times for a piece on some of the challenges faced by backpackers on their weekend escapes.

2. Mexico By Train… With Money:
Here’s an easy one… Ever been to Mexico by train? Got a little cash to blow this summer on your lavish vaca? Then drop a little money on a Mexican train excursion. Oh, and take me too!

1. Balkan Odyssey Part 1: Getting to Albania:
Did you know there was an airport actually named after Mother Teresa? I didn’t – until now. Neil’s back from his journey with plenty of tales to share. Go take a peek at his first installment to what looks like a very promising trip report to the Balkans.

Packing List

by Erik Olsen on

I little bit ago, I posted about a new site called One Bag or some such thing. I was actually surprised by the comments response. A lot of people have rather heart-felt passions about what should be brought or left home on a trip.

I suppose if there is any agreement on the matter, though, it is this: as best you can, it is always good to pack light. And so with that in mind, I offer you this link to a rather fancy calculator thingie that will help you do just that. The Universal Packing List gives you all sorts of parameters about the trip you are taking. Weather you expect, duration, part of the world. You add all this stuff, click go and voila, you get a list of all the things you need to bring. Now let me say that I have no idea how well it works. I just stumbled upon it this morning while looking around. But it does seem promising, at the very least to help you get started. So if anyone actually wants to give it a test and then post a comment/review, why we’d just love that.

Deadwood Trips

by Erik Olsen on

I try my best not to begin watching new TV shows, especially those on HBO. This is not because I am some kind of snooty anti-TV elitist (although I am, sort of. I mean, most of what’s on TV these days is garbage and a colossal WOT). But then you stumble on a show like the Sopranos or 24 and you’re hooked.

Well, I’ve been hooked for a couple of years now on the HBO show Deadwood. What can I say? I think it is one of the most clever, brutally entertaining programs I can remember. It’s been a wild hit for the company and, like all wild hits…i.e. Sex and the City…it has spawned its own cottage travel industry. To wit: there are now ample outfitters and touring companies offering trips to the real Deadwood, in Wyoming South Dakota.

Nevermind they don’t even shoot the program there. But the town has spruced itself up real nice-like, put on some lipstick and taken a bath, and now brings in tourists by the bus load.

Now, I’m not advocating you go to Deadwood, but as you will read in this piece over at Sunset magazine, there is an allure to doing so. Some of the places in the show are real places. Some are obviously there because of the show (I wonder if you can buy a Swearengen doll that says c*cksucker when you pull the string?). There is, for example, a Bullock Hotel. You can also see where Wild Bill’s body lies, which happens to be right next to Calamity Jane’s grave at the Mt. Moriah Cemetery above Deadwood. Whether you can visit Trixie at the Gem Saloon, well, the article doesn’t say.