Flying First Class with the Emirates

by Erik Olsen on

Ah, first class. The real silverware, the champagne on your arrival, the cushy seats. It just doesn’t get any better than that. Or does it? Well, a site that features some of the best that Google Video has to offer featured this clip, shot by an obvious amateur, of his experience riding on United Emirate Airlines. The camera work is shoddy, but the seats, well, lets just say you’ll be seething the next time you ride coach.

Travel like a sheik with a gaping space all to yourself and fresh OJ in a crystal glass. All that’s missing are the belly dancers and the harem girls feeding you loins of lamb. Of course, maybe the guy’s tape ran out.

Jazz in Marciac

by Adrienne Wilson on

Summer and France are almost synonymous for many Americans who can’t possibly fathom braving the country through the winter when most of the French natives are running about. Additionally, summer is probably the only time most Americans have time for travel or are allowed their one week of play during the rest of the 365 days. Whatever your reasons, if you find yourself meandering from café to park to outdoor concert in search of the next big, cool thing to do during your French summer days and nights check out the Jazz in Marciac festival.

The festival, in its 29th year, runs July 31, 2006 – August 15, 2006 and includes musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Roberto Fonseca, Herbie Hancock, Omara Portuondo, Jaime Cullum, Jeff Hamilton, Ile au Jazz, and Jean-Jacques Milteau to name only a few. Having had a small sampling of what’s in store from Richard Johnson (playing piano with Wynton Marsalis) I’d make sure to mark August 11, 2006 on your concert planner at the very least. I might have to make a last minute jaunt to France myself for this one and another during cooler temps, of course.

See the full schedule of events here.

Pandariffic!

by Erik Olsen on

Brace yourselves everyone, I’ve got some delightful news for you. Contrary to what you thought, that there were only four or five pandas left in the world…two of them at the Bronx Zoo…there are actually many more…well, a few more. According to this piece on (yes) happynews.com, a group of scientists used DNA samples to determine that their estimate of the wild panda population in a nature sanctuary in China was off by half. Good news for pandas everywhere. So how many are there…in this reserve? Looks like there are between 66 and 72 pandas in the Wanglang Nature Reserve. Wow, 66, they are breeding like flies.

Train Ride to Mexico’s Copper Canyon

by Adrienne Wilson on

Searching for a unique way to get to Mexico this summer with a few pals or significant other? Not in the adventurous kind of mood to plan the whole trip point-to-point on your own? I understand – it’s the heat. Well, here’s an idea a nice fella passed onto me just days ago knowing I’d want to hop all abroad – train travel from El Paso, TX into Mexico’s Copper Canyon. There are a number of companies that offer rail tours into the area and this is just one from Caravan Tours that seemed pretty good. Their 8 day roundtrip excursion out of El Paso takes you to a bustling border town of Juarez, to trading posts with handicrafts made by Tarahumara Indians and the town of Chihuahua for rates as low as $995. What I’ve mentioned here isn’t nearly the full scope of what’s included in a package like this one. I’m normally not the type to trhow out packaged tour ideas either, but this one happens to sound very promising. Something to consider for summer…

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of June 18

by Adrienne Wilson on

Time for another end of the week compilation of Gadling goodies you may have let slide by during the busy week. Here’s a look at some of our fav five once more:

5. Great Bistros:
Nothing rocks the socks off a well-seasoned traveler more than well-seasoned, savory, delectable, and toothsome cuisine from the locale they’re visiting. Agree? Neil points us to a Travel + Leisure piece on Great Bistros of Provence and if your mouth isn’t already watering from the suspense then perhaps you should hurry up and check it out now. Then let your senses and buds be taken by the delicious descriptions of all the yummy finds you’re missing in Provence.

4. Roadside America:
Long road trip planned through some pretty sparse areas of the country? Feel as if attractions are to few and far in between you and your final destination? Worry not – Erik kindly directs our attention to a life and road trip saving site called Roadside America. We’ve talked about it before on Gadling, but with summer here now you’ll want to plan ahead to so not to miss the World’s Largest Ball of Twine. Far out, right?

3. Roots Travel – African Ancestry:
Great, great way to plan a trip to Africa and possibly learn something about your family’s lineage. African Ancestry is a company helping individuals trace their DNA and find their roots. Too cool if you’re an African American or anyone who feels they may have an ounce of African  blood in their family tree. I’m already on the bandwagon to discovering more about my own lineage.

2. World Refugee Day:
There is never enough to be said for the growing population of refugees and to highlight the contributions made by refugees worldwide there is World Refugee Day. Events don’t end on June 20 though. Read the blurb and find ways to lend your hand to refugees after the date.

1. How to Get it All Into One Bag:
Packing – one of the biggest pains in travel! Argh! Just when you think you’ve got it down to a science you do something boneheaded like pack (insert your very unnecessary item here) and find later that you’ve created one of the biggest headaches ever. Take a look at this piece inspired by the Onebag.com site here on Gadling and share some of your own packing fixes. I think this is one refresher we can all use.