St. Martin and St. Maarten, Two Caribbean Paradises

by Jamie Rhein on

Adrienne Wilson’s posts about her St. Lucia trip have made me want to head to a tropical island for my own vacation-immediately. When my dad told me yesterday that he’s heading to St. Martin in May I started calculating dates to see if this jaunt might be doable. It might be, or I just might be fantasizing for awhile.

St. Martin shares an island with San Maarten. St. Martin is French; San Maarten is Dutch making this the smallest island that shares territory between two countries. The result is, visitors get two places for the price of one. Going between the two is easy and common, but each side has the flavor of its own country and particular highlights to see. St. Martin boasts the St.Martin Museum: On the Trail of the Arawaks that chronicles the history of the Arawak Indians who lived here at the time of Columbus and for 1,000 years before that.

Fort St. Louis, the fort built in 1767 is another historical landmark. The colonial architecture of the capital Marigot adds to the French ambiance. For the shopper in you, head to the Marigot open air market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

One place that also caught my attention is Grand Case, a small fishing village in St. Martin that has distinctly painted houses and great food. According to the St. Martin’s website, this is the place where some of the best restaurants are located.

If I do go to St. Martin I’m going to look into a helicopter trip. I’ve never taken a helicopter trip before and Adrienne’s shots of her ride over St. Lucia has me thinking. Plus, there are the gorgeous beaches to while away some hours. Here is a link to La Samanna, a resort on the island that has a page outlining the unique aspects of both countries.

Fresno’s Saroyan Walking Tour

by Neil Woodburn on

Small towns are fiercely proud of their local heroes who have made it big on the world stage. Fresno is no exception. This blip of a metropolis in the center of California gave birth to Pulitzer Prize winner William Saroyan.

Today, the William Saroyan Society is dedicated to keeping the author’s memory alive and to “to educate the public about the human values depicted in his works; to promote the heritage of the Armenian/American culture and its unique and rich experience.”

Fresno has been home to a large Armenian community since the end of the 19th century when immigrants arrived in the Central Valley to work in the region’s rich agriculture sector. Today, the Armenian/American population is still an integral part of Fresno cultural diversity.

Delving into the city’s Armenian past and exploring Saroyan’s personal connection with it will be the focus of a walking tour on April 21 in downtown Fresno. Participants will tour the city’s Armenian Town and the important role various locations played in Saroyan’s writings. The event starts at 9:30 in front of the William Saroyan Theater (naturally).

Hip Hop Culture Tours of NYC

by Jamie Rhein on

If you’re looking for a unique look at New York City, here’s a tour company that offers hip-hop tours of New York. The purpose of Hush Tour Company”s offerings is to give folks a positive look at hip-hop culture. According to the company’s website, hip-hop got its start here 33 years ago. The tour highlights the sights, sounds and tastes of Manhattan and the Bronx from a hip-hop point of view. The tour guides are hip-hop entertainers who got the movement started. Here’s an in-depth New York Times article about Hush Tours, but this video takes you on an actual tour for a little while.

.

The World’s Best Places to Catch a Buzz

by Willy Volk on

Recently, we mentioned some of the best places to grab a beer in Eastern Europe. If you were hoping for drinking tips with a more global appeal (both in terms of alcohol and destination), then you want to check out this list, which overflows with 13 of the world’s best places to catch a buzz.

In addition to telling you what’s bubbling about each of the destinations, the list runs down some of the local spots for sleeping it off. In short, travelers who love tippling will rejoice. Some of the pointers are somewhat sobering (Bourbon in Kentucky; Sake in Japan; Scotch in Scotland), but the majority of the destinations will make you drunk… with delight:

  • Port in Portugal
  • Rum in Barbados
  • Tequila in Jalisco, Mexico
  • Cognac in Cognac, France
  • Valtellina in Valtellina, Italy
  • Cachaça in Minas Gerais, Brazil
  • Pastis in Provence, France
  • Trappist ales in Flanders, Belgium
  • Meritage in Paso Robles, California
  • Microbrewed beer in New Glarus, Wisconsin

I’d like to point out that Stellenbosch’s Wine Route is pretty divine, too, though it didn’t make the list.

Evidently, we love drinking here at Gadling, because we have a number of related posts for you to drink in:

Philip Johnson’s Glass House Opened to the Public

by Neil Woodburn on

When it comes time for a world-renowned architect to lavish his skills and talent on himself, the result is quite often a personal residence that should be framed and placed in a museum.

This was most certainly the case with Philip Johnson. Johnson, who died two years ago at the age of 98, lived, quite literally, in a glass house.

The man who gave the world such masterpieces as the Seagram Building in New York City and the Crystal Cathedral in California, built one for himself on 47 acres of forested land in New Canaan, Connecticut. As you can see by the above photo, it is truly a piece of art, known for its minimalist approach. Unfortunately, since Philip Johnson’s Glass House was a private residence, architectural fans were denied the chance to visit while he lived there.

His death, however, has opened a door. Literally. The house, its 47 acres, and a handful of other unique structures on the estate, will now be open to the public starting in June.

Entrance fees will be $25 (90-minute visit) and $40 (two-hour visit). And please, don’t be throwing any rocks during your visit.