Vegetarian passenger tosses meat at flight attendant

by Justin Delaney on

One of the simple truths about air travel is that the food is usually somewhere between sub-par and awful. Sure, there are exceptions, but these are unlikely oases in a desert of damp sodium-rich indelicacies. Unless you are posted up in first class on Singapore Air eating pan-seared Chilean bass in bouillabaisse broth with capsicum confit and zucchini pasta or one of their many other haute options, you will likely be eating a mass-produced goo concocted by scientists rather than chefs.

It seems a brief food revolt began and subsequently ended on a Continental Airlines flight from the Dominican Republic yesterday. According to MSNBC, the flight was bound for Newark, and a vegetarian passenger was served a meat dish that offended her greatly. Instead of politely returning the meal, disgust consumed her. She tossed the meaty tray at a flight attendant in a display of disorderly resentment. Upon landing, the port authority greeted the plane, but the flight attendant declined to press charges.

flickr image via mr wabu

SkyMall Monday: Packable Wine Glasses

by Mike Barish on

Drinking while you’re traveling can be tricky. Open container laws, TSA regulations and the challenge of packing wine bottles (despite advances in bottle protection technology) conspire to make enjoying your favorite wines away from home harder than it needs to be. It shouldn’t be this way. Wine is good for us. Just like we pack our medications and vitamins, we should be able to take our wine wherever we go. It’s just a matter of our health. Even if you do acquire wine in a liquor store while traveling, how will you drink it? Wine glasses are nearly impossible to pack. Drinking wine straight from the bottle is simply too conspicuous and far too tacky to be a reasonable option. Wine is best savored when sipped from a proper glass to allow it to breath. This is something that SkyMall Monday knows firsthand. Imbibing it any other way is to behave like a heathen. Travelers are nothing if not classy and sophisticated. So, if they have wine, they need wine glasses. Packing these vessels is even more difficult than packing bottles. Between the stems and the thin glass, they’re practically guaranteed to shatter in your luggage. Thankfully, SkyMall is here to help us drink on the road (but not drink and drive – that’s not acceptable). Now you can have your wine and drink it too – no matter where you are – with Packable Wine Glasses.Now, we can drink wine on the beach, at the theater or while touring ancient ruins like dignified sophisticates. Unlike the heathens drinking beer out of koozies, we can flaunt our pinkies in the air as we savor our wines in proper glasses while sitting on the toilet in the airport bathroom. It’s enough to make me start wearing my monocle again.

Think that wine can be poured into any kind of glass or cup? Believe that only someone with an overly aggressive affinity for wine would need portable glasses? Well, while you’re pairing your entree with an energy drink, we’ll be reading the product description:

Life’s too short to drink fine wine from paper cups. With our packable wine glasses, you don’t have to! Made of virtually indestructible BPA-free plastic, the stem unscrews from the bowl, and both stash in a handy travel pouch for easy packing.

A life spent using paper cups is a life wasted. Finally, a product that puts things in the proper perspective.

The next time you’re setting off on an adventure, be sure to do so in the classiest way possible. Before boarding the plane, don your finest sweatpants, carry on your largest luggage and be sure to bring your Packable Wine Glasses. Then be sure to tell everyone that you’re classy. If you don’t tell them, how will they know?

Check out all of the previous SkyMall Monday posts HERE.

The best café in Zurich: savoring the Old World splendors of Conditorei Schober

by Don George on

I’m in heaven. It’s a sunny early-summer morning and I’m sitting in a cobbled corner of Zurich‘s Old Town in the third floor salon of the elegant Conditorei Schober. Placed just so on the table before me is the most beautiful multi-layered latte macchiato I’ve ever seen: creamy-caramel-colored on the bottom, a deeper brown in the middle, and a very deep dark almost chocolatey brown on top, beneath a glorious alpine crown of foam. Arranged beside it is a flaky pain au chocolat, browned to a delicate crusty-crunch on the outside, with fine flecks of chocolate oozing from the soft folds within. As I bite through the layers of croissant, I can feel each one, multi-layered like the latte but at the same time soft and yielding.

As if these perfections weren’t enough, there’s a French chanson in the air — and then there’s the room itself!

On the opposite side from where I sit, one entire wall, perhaps 20 feet in length, is covered in panorama wallpaper that showcases fanciful scenes of Greek and Roman columns, the Egyptian pyramids and sphinx, and assorted minarets, spires, turrets, and crenellations. All these are set in a faded, soft-hued, sunset landscape, with palms and green clumps of trees and a silver river undulating through. In the foreground, partly blocking these scenes, branches and bushes burst with bright pink and purple blooms that look as if they are about to spill out of the wall.

More romantic scenes cover the wall behind me – the remains of an amphitheater, ruined columns, and dusky peaks receding into the background, and in the foreground a luxuriant profusion of plants spilling over my shoulder. The wallpaper’s palette is echoed in the upholstery on the settee where I sit and the two armchairs that flank the settee, all covered in a luxuriously soft gray-green material with a gold design motif.

Beneath the panorama opposite me, a red leather banquette runs the entire length of the wall, with eight square tables and one chair set at each. Another five tables, two round and three square, are arranged on the floor between. In the corners of the room two-foot-tall studded brass pots hold real palms. An ancient coat rack presides at the entrance to the salon, a gray-green Roman-style column commands the middle, and two cascading, beaded, candle-crowned chandeliers regally oversee the entire scene.

All in all, it’s like falling into a dream.

%Gallery-119350%There is much else to love in this storied conditorei. The second floor is devoted to an intimate plush red room, all lavishly upholstered banquettes and stuffed chairs and period furniture. There’s an inviting open-air garden salon on the first floor, with green, twining vines and a tiled fountain. Outside the cafe, there’s a cobblestone terrace with a dozen green metal tables arranged under huge red sun umbrellas, and convivial couples chatting in German, Dutch, English and French. And just inside, there’s a room filled with delectable temptations: green and plum and orange and blue macaroons, strawberry and raspberry tarts all plump and glistening, sweet chocolate treats and multi-layered confections in tall, fluted glasses.

But right now, for me, it all comes down to this room, this moment:

Every once in a while you find a place like this, so perfect in every way that you just don’t want to leave, and the only compensation is the fact that you found it and know it’s there and you can go back. But at the same moment you think that, you also realize that you can never go back to this same moment, this same chanson, this same incomparable pain au chocolat. It will never be the same.

So you just have to take joy in the fact that you’ve had this experience and savor it while you have it – and be happy that life is made up of such transcendent moments, and revel in the very ineffability and evanescence of them as the Japanese do with the cherry blossoms every spring. Life has conspired to bring you to this moment – this Old World European splendor of cascading chandeliers and exquisite wallpaper and plush furniture and delicious café and croissant. Savor it. Savor it.

Suddenly the bells of Zurich erupt into peals that remind me of the seductive shops that await outside, the antique stores and bookstores, the chic boutiques, the classic and contemporary art galleries. But alluring as these may be, I order another latte macchiato and a regular croissant. I just don’t want to leave.

The regular croissant arrives and I lift it with hesitation. Could it possibly be as good as its chocolate counterpart? I bite and – yes! It’s equally heavenly, light and airy and somehow substantial at the same time. I can feel the layers of texture as I bite through it, taste the butter with a cloud-like lightness…

Time distends. The manager arrives and kisses the workers; some regular customers arrive and kiss the manager; everyone bows and beams. A feeling of family and a sense of history, of institution, pervades. The Schober is a guardian, sustaining traditions in service, in confectionery, and in esprit, preserving in some indefinable and important way the spirit of this gracious city.

The bells toll. I realize with a start that a plane awaits to take me to the States. But I think I have time for one more macchiato.

Photo of the Day – 51 Irish coffees for St. Patrick’s Day

by Meg Nesterov on


Happy St. Patrick’s Day! If you’re celebrating today in America, you’re probably planning to drink green beer or a nice pint of Guinness, but why not warm up with an Irish coffee, spiked with whiskey (Irish, of course)? In today’s Photo of the Day, Flickr user jrodmanjr snapped these 51 coffees in action at San Francisco‘s Buena Vista Cafe, which claims to have brought the drink to the United States from Ireland’s Shannon Airport and holds the Guinness World Record for most Irish coffees served. A fun photo bonus: another Flickr user caught the same coffees (and jrodmanjr) at the Buena Vista.

Take any pics of your favorite beverages while traveling? Upload them to the Gadling Flickr pool and we may use it as a future Photo of the Day.

Rome – 3 days in Italy

by Justin Delaney on

With the bustle of a large European metropolis and the detritus of a monumental past, Rome delights with a frenetic pace and antiquities lurking innocuously around each bend in the road. Here, history has been built on top of history for thousands of years. Seeing bankers in candy red Alfa Romeos zipping by millenia old ruins frames the endurance of this old city. Each sediment in time is visible and speaks to the ancient tale of decaying empire and modern function. The past is everywhere. You may be taking a stroll to sample some Trippa for a late lunch and accidentally stumble upon the Pantheon. There is a certain beauty to this unplanned chaos, and the overlapping of ages is historical mayhem at its most charming.

Rome is estimated to have been settled over ten thousand years ago. It has been a destination for a very long time. It is said that all roads once lead to this settlement on the Tiber. Thankfully, getting to Rome is inexpensive care of European budget air lines. Easyjet flies to Rome from several European cities such as Paris, London, Berlin, and Amsterdam for under $200 round-trip. Three days is plenty of time to see the highlights of Rome, but budget more time to truly understand this storied destination.

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Day 1 – Roam the streets of Old Rome

One of the most amazing qualities of Rome is the integration of the ancient city into the modern metropolis. Most ancient sites beautifully disturb the modern order of things. On an old square, a McDonald’s faces the Pantheon in a worthy example of the strange compromises the present has made with the past. Due to this integration of the historical and the proximity of many Roman landmarks to each other, Rome is a great city for wanderers.

Start at the Colosseum, and take in the crumbling feat of ancient engineering. The queue at the Colosseum can be rather daunting, but booking tickets in advance or purchasing a Roma pass bypasses the line. Here is a great online resource for line skippers. Around the Colosseum, also seek out the Arch of Constantine. It is hard to miss.

From the Colosseum, start heading northwest towards Foro Romano, or the Roman Forum – the ancient seat of Roman government. It is a ruined old structure, and its considerate ambitions can be ascertained by the remnants. The Foro Romano is just east of Palatine Hill – one of the seven hills of Rome. The Circus Maximus, or old chariot racing ground, is just on the other side of the hill.

Continue northwest along Fori Imperiali road and slowly make your way to the heart of Rome. You will pass Foro Traiano, Piazza Campidoglio, and several other breathtaking landmarks. Eventually, if you stay the course, you will arrive at the doorstep of the Pantheon. The Pantheon is such a feat of engineering that it is still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. During the renaissance, master architects such as Brunelleschi studied the Pantheon’s construction to reverse engineer advancements in the architectural field. This was 1300 years after the Pantheon’s construction. To call the Pantheon a marvel would be an insult. It stands as a testament to conquering impossibility.

Next the Pantheon, duck into Tazza D’Oro for some caffeine rejuvenation. Tazza is accused of making the best cappuccino in Rome. The place is busy and confusing. Follow someone who looks like they know the lay of the land.

Head north and east to the Trevi fountain, where well wishers toss away an estimated 3000 Euros per day. It is said that if you toss a coin into the Trevi fountain, then you will be guaranteed a return trip to Rome. North of the Trevi fountain is the Spanish Steps – the longest and widest staircase in Europe. Climb from the Piazza di Spagna to the top and cherish the view out over Rome.

For dinner, find a busy restaurant and order a lot of food. Rome is a mecca for food and has multitudes of delicious options. It is difficult to find a bad meal in Rome, so be adventurous. Hostaria Antica Roma on Appian Way is highly recommended.

Day 2 – Vatican City and Sistine Glory

Vatican City is a sovereign city state ruled by the Pope. With a population of less than a thousand, and only 110 acres in total size, the Vatican is considered the smallest country in the world, edging out the micro-state of Monaco. This center of the Catholic world boasts immaculate gardens, a heavenly basilica, and one of the top museums in the world.

The best way to reach the Vatican is on foot by crossing Ponte Sant’Angelo over the Tiber River. Castel Sant’Angelo is framed gloriously between winged angels on both sides of the bridge. The castle is a great first stop of the day, and houses a museum and Hadrian’s tomb. Castel Sant’Angelo has been a tomb, a castle for the popes, a prison, and also figures prominently int the novel Angels and Demons by Dan Brown.

West of Sant’Angelo is Vatican City. Entering on Via della Conciliazione is probably the most dramatic way to approach the holy place. Once in Vatican City, take in the breathtakingly large Piazza di San Pietro (St. Peter’s square) before entering the basilica. The square boasts an obelisk that was relocated from Egypt almost two-thousand years ago.

The height of the Michelangelo designed dome in St. Peter’s Basilica is so lofty that you could fit the entire statue of liberty within the dome with room to spare. The interior of St. Peter’s is a heavenly place, festooned with gold finery and artistic masterpieces. You can climb to the top of the dome for a stunning view out across Rome, or take to the crypts beneath the marbled interior to check on some papal tombs.

If you happen to be in Rome on a Wednesday, then you can be blessed by the Pope himself. He hands out blessings at 10:30am on Wednesdays. Check with your hotel or guesthouse to arrange tickets for the event. The Swiss guard also hands out tickets on Tuesdays from their post near the bronze door. Be sure to check the Pope’s schedule before getting too excited about being blessed. He is a busy man and routinely leaves his Vatican home.

The Vatican Museum is my favorite museum in the world. From entire rooms filled with the works of masters to hallways covered with brightly painted maps of an uncertain world, this place is an unbelievable experience. Budget plenty of time to take it in. The museum is laid out to move you through several gorgeous rooms and immaculate hallways before climaxing at the Sistine Chapel. The museum is free the last Sunday of each month, and is not open any other Sundays. The rest of the week is fair game.

Finish your day with a stroll down the Tiber river just as dusk blankets Rome.

Day 3 – Trastevere and personal interests

With so many options around Rome, pick something personally interesting to do on your last day. Take a cooking class, check out the art at Galleria Borghese, go to a wine tasting, explore catacombs and crypts, check out Florence (only an hour and a half away by fast train), go to a football game, or perhaps just take to some serious shopping.

On your third night in Rome, spend some time in Trastevere. Trastevere is a cool neighborhood on the west bank of the Tiber filled with locals, expats, artists, and college students. It is a great place to sample authentic Roman food, explore, and get inexpensive lodging. The area feels less like a museum than ancient Rome and is a great place to get in touch with the city’s less touristy side.

All photography by Justin Delaney