Papabubble opens up in NYC

by Grant Martin on

My favorite candy store, Papabubble, just opened up an American branch in the great city of New York. In a way it’s a little bittersweet for me; I used to be able to bring this unique fun candy back from Barcelona whenever I went to share with my friends. Now all I have to do is go to 380 Broome St on my semi-weekly trip into the city. But oh well — I suppose I had to share at some point.

The fun thing about Papabubble is that they formulate, cast and prepare all of their candy in-house, in front of your eyes. It’s fun to watch them roll the huge cylinders of hard candy down to a fine bar, then methodically chop them into shorter pieces. In the end they collect the pieces into jars and bags of various sizes, ripe for sale to the salivating public.

Papabubble has several stores scattered across the world. From their headquarters in Barcelona (pictured above), they have now expanded into Amsterdam, Tokyo and of course, into New York. Give them a try next time you’re in the city.

One for the Road: Don Quixote vs. Donkey Xote

by Kelly Amabile on

Even though this book about Don Quixote was released last year, I thought now was an appropriate time to mention it, since the first animated version of the famous novel will debut in Spain this week. Fighting Windmills – Encounters with Don Quixote takes a closer look at the making of this masterpiece of world literature, tracing its impact on writers and thinkers across the centuries. Authors Manuel Duran and Fay Rodd explore the central themes of Cervantes great work, and follow it up with examples of how the novel influenced generations of other writers.

One thing the book might not touch on is the fact that, although th 17th century story has touched many, few have actually read both volumes cover to cover. Will this week’s release of a first-ever animated rendition inspire more folks to take a stab at actually reading the lengthy tale? Probably not, but beginning this Wednesday, Spaniards will be able to view a condensed 80-minute cartoon version of the classic journey. Donkey Xote, a $20 million film production, took five years to make, and comes complete with a Shrek-like donkey. You can view the English trailer here.

The World’s Top Ten Views

by Brett Atkinson on

Yep, that’s a pretty bold headline, but that’s what a recent list published by www.askmen.com is promising. Here’s the top five from the list and I’ve added a few more I reckon are pretty special.

Askmen’s Top Five

  1. The Acropolis, Athens
  2. Lipu and Yaoshan Mountains, Guilin
  3. Lanikai Beach, Hawaii
  4. Eiffel Tower, Paris
  5. Grand Canyon, Arizona

Here’s AskBrett’s Alternative Top Five (OK, it’s a few of my favourite spots)

  1. Sunset on the Bosphurus, Istanbul
  2. The Remarkables, Queenstown
  3. Charles Bridge at dawn, Prague (right)
  4. Wadi Ghul Canyon, Oman
  5. Sydney Harbour. Sydney

Let us know what, where and when I’ve overlooked…

While you’re here, check out our photo galleries of some of the coolest places in the world!

Virgin America hosts in-flight Victoria’s Secret models

Inside Air Force One

Japan’s Ocean Dome

Barcelona Graffiti

China: Mao in Shenyang

Bear Grylls

Tokyo Motor Show

Sexxpresso Erotic Coffee Shop

Around the world in 60 pubs: month-long party or month-long hangover?

by Catherine Bodry on

As a traveler who — nonchalantly, with no prior intention! — tends to end up in heated dance-offs and other bizarre late-night situations, I’m not sure that a tour centered on drinking would be good for me. I tend to stumble upon party places without even trying. But if you’re the type of traveler who prefers pub crawls to walking tours and local beer to local cuisine, and you have an indestructible liver, an Australian tour operator has created what may be the perfect trip for you. The Around the World in 60 Pubs trip is a month-long, alcohol-drenched tour of the world’s hottest party places. Destinations include Munich, Germany; Prague, Czech Republic; the Thai island of Phuket; and Cancun, Mexico.

The tour’s operator, Thirsty Swagman, specializes in “thirsty tours;” besides the round-the-world venture, the company also offers a 10-day “Euro Hard ‘n’ Fast” power pub crawl as well as one Australian trip named the “Slammer.”

Although the website claims the “Around the World in 60 Pubs” is “one tour you’ll never forget,” I have a suspicion that it might be one that many of its participants barely remember.

Hungarian wine on my mind

by Kelly Amabile on

A few weeks ago I enjoyed sampling some Hungarian wines at a New York reception hosted by Perceptive Travel magazine. The folks at Monarchia Winery and Hungarian Tourism were kind enough to provide a collection of regional wines for tasting. I particularly enjoyed sampling two Tokaj varieties. Traditionally known for its sweet dessert wines, the two I tasted were drier, and quite nice. (You want to know what they are called, right? Yeah…well someone has misplaced her notes. Maybe one of my travel writing pals will jump in with an informative comment?!)

It was a pleasant evening, and left me reminiscing about my introduction to Hungarian wines, which began when I arrived in Budapest in spring 2006 on the eve of the country’s national labor holiday. I checked into my room at Grotta Haz, a quiet hostel on Castle Hill that unfortunately no longer operates. The best part of this place, besides the fact that no one else seemed to know about it, was that the owners operated a wine bar in the basement. Eszter, my gracious hostel host, doubled as bartender in the evenings, and welcomed me with an inviting glass of red from the Villany region. Throughout that week, after long days of sightseeing, I’d return to the Grotta, exhausted, but ready to sample whatever Eszter suggested. She introduced me to cuvees and rieslings from the Szekszardi region and also encouraged me to check out the nearby Hungarian House of Wines.
On my last night in Budapest, an American friend and I spent a few hours there, where we sampled at least 15 varieties from around the country, including a 2003 Egri Bikaver “Bulls Blood” from the famous Eger wine region. The House of Wines is an affordable (about $25 to sample up to 50 wines) and enjoyable way to sample Hungary’s vast wine offerings — as you can see from this happy photo of me and my friend with one of the wine house staff near the end of our tasting spree :) But I do wish that I had actually visited a few vineyards while I was traveling through the country. Eszter has invited me back to do some touring…all I have to do now is find the time. Thanks to Perceptive Travel for reminding me to plan that trip!