I mentioned this before, but someone just brought to me attention that even some who come from SAacramento call their town by the rather offending moniker: “excremento”. Not that the capitol city of California is such a bad place. It’s not. It’s actually quite pretty, if somewhat dull. And the fact is there’s not a lot to do there. Well, that’s what I used to think, anyway, until I read this travelogue over at Frommers that takes a look at all the fine things to do in excre…um, Sacramento. From the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee to the California State Railroad Museum it seems the town has more going on than we ever imagined.
GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of June 4
Drum roll please… Yes, folks you guessed right! It is time again for our weekly update and though it’s been a little more quiet than usual we’ve still got some goodies out there and here is this week’s list:
5. International Internet Cafés: Type Fast!
For those of us who still haven’t learned how to shut the world we know and the world that knows us back home out and off while on vacation here is a fine blurb on International Internet Cafés. Personally, I try to avoid these as the connections are always cruddy and the rates price out pretty ridiculous on some occasions, but if you’re the type that relies on lightening fast communication to say “hi” to mom rather than snail mailing a post card you’ll want to peek into this piece.
4. Best Stargazing Destination’s in America:
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no – it’s the stars… When I found this amazing article on stargazing in the U.S. in Nat Geo’s Adventure magazine I wanted to take off to Bryce Canyon and howl at the moon. As bad as it sounds star gazing isn’t something you can do out of your backyard anymore with the increase of light-pollution, but if you’re as passionate about seeing one of the most phenomenal natural light shows taking place every night, you’ll head to this piece and then book your own excursion to see the stars.
3. World Hum Top 30 Travel Books:
If the temperatures start climbing too high becoming a couch potato won’t be so bad provided you’re still taking your mind some place. Start your summer reading off with some of the travel classics found on World Hum’s list. Like Erik who brings our attention to the list, I have a tremendous amount of catching up to do when it comes to some of the fine works mentioned.
2. Traveling Syria:
This one gets picked simply because Syria is a destination we touch on very little and probably one we should blog on more often. For now we have this cool inside look from Outside Magazine writer Patrick Symms to hold us over until we make it there on our own.
1. Hidden Gems: Hell
Go to Hell. Seriously! Willy Volk gets this week’s top nod with his fiery travel tales to Hell and back. Go see for yourself.
Friday Funny: Colbert Says Don’t Go to Europe
Funny man, faux conservative Stephen Colbert of the Colbert Report want to help you with your summer plans. Those plans, says Colbert, should most definitely NOT include a trip to Europe. Or at least this is the sage advice offered to young folks who might be leaving college and considering Europe as the place to go to learn about themselves and the world. Seems he is basing the advice on some personal experiences from his own past, which I (so sorry) have nicked from the Worldhum site and post in its less-than-entirety here (Colbert was apparently traveling with a randy young buck named Ted and…
“Ted is so certain you’re going to get some action even though the girls keep chatting up these French bastards. Ted is such a fool! So finally you say f*** this noise and you leave. But then you get back to your hostel and your backpack is stolen along with your Walkman and your Siouxsie and the Banshees tapes. So you wait up all night for Ted because you just want to catch the first train the hell out of there. But he doesn’t even breeze in until 9 a.m. and they close the hostel at 8. You’re kicked out on the street. Turns out he hooked up with some girl and they were so drunk they crashed with these Arab guys who live over by that Jim Morrison cemetery. It’s just ridiculous. I didn’t get any action all summer. Bottom line: There’s nothing in Europe you can’t see here. One word: Epcot.”
Even though I am a semi-avid fan of the Colbert report (less so, I must confess, than the Daily Show with John Stewart) I somehow missed this episode. But Worldhum called my attention to it, and I thought it a wee too funny and apropos not to post. I haven’t been able to track the video down myself, but like Worldhum, am waiting for Youtube to give it some cyberlife. Here’s the video. But for those of us who did our own self-discovery tours in Europe, the Colbert monologue strikes an all too familiar note. Does it not?
(via Worldhum)
Beyond Bangalore
When I was in India two years ago, I spent a couple of days in Bangalore, partly to do some work, but also just to see this city that was so well known in America for being the place that steals American jobs. I was told Bangalore was a kind of high-tech Mecca, and I imagined the cleanliness and efficiency of Silicon Valley. I was wrong. I found Bangalore a mess. Lung-wrenching pollution, astounding traffic, and typical Indian urban crowds made me wonder what people were talking about…I mean, this place was not ready for prime time. But after a day or two, I started to move to the city’s rhythms and came to enjoy Bangalore. Many people spoke English and it was wonderfully friendly. And despite the complaints lodged above, I could actually find a nice strong cup of coffee there.
All this is to say that Bangalore is nice and OK and all that, but also to show you an article about places outside of Bangalore that might be worth your time should you be fortunate enough to visit India in the near future. This LA Times piece written by Bangalore native Vani Rangachar (who happens to be an LA Times travel Editor) on what to find once you get outside the rattle and hum of Bangalore is quite good. Written from the perspective of someone who knows the place well, you’ll find her perspectives informative and compelling. Check it out.
Fodors on Thessaloniki
I really enjoy readong Fodor’s Underrated series. They always have some place in there that I’ve never heard of, but which I immediately add to my list of “must see” places. Recently they featured a piece on Thessaloniki in (you guessed it) Greece. They provde ample detail on when to go, what to do there, what to see and so on. Give this one a special look.