Schmaps

by Erik Olsen on

OK, I pretty much hate anything that requires me to down load some new application to put on my machine. But this looks pretty cool. This site called Schmaps offers downloadable information for various cities around the world, specifically cities in the US, Canada Europe and Oceania (aka Australia and New Zealand).

As I say, you have to download the Schmap Player which, according to the site “is a small and easy-to-use piece of freeware. Install it on your Windows PC” (sorry Apple folks). But ti does seem to have promise, as once you download it you can gain access to tours, trip-planning help. photos and a library of extensive city-specific information including picks for restaurants and hotels.

All very nice, the kind of thing every guidebook should be. So I say up front I didn’t try it out because I am not on a PC right now, but anyone brave enough to give it a try ,please do and post a review .

Flights within Europe for $50

by Iva Skoch on

At one point, Europe had more than one hundred budget airlines. Not all of them made it through the turbulent few years, but those who remained (some fifty) are pretty solid. You know the spiel – you can book one-way tickets without penalty, there is no free food on board, usually no assigned seats, you are only allowed to carry on 1 bag and check 1 bag, otherwise you pay. That is after all, how they make their money. If your dates are flexible, the tickets are very cheap.

SkyEurope.com is one of those airlines. The biggest budget airline in Central Europe, headquartered in Slovakia, started a major promotion today to celebrate their 5-year anniversary. They fly to all major European destination and have new planes.

This week only, you can buy tickets anywhere they fly for FREE (you only pay taxes). I booked a round trip ticket from Prague to Rome for $50. Go snatch some!

Bordeaux Chateaux

by Iva Skoch on

When you’re planning your trip to visit the incredibly lovely Bordeaux region of France, you’ll simply have to cast off your urge to bring along your backpack and camp. Bordeaux must be done haut-style.

Whether you arrive in Bordeaux via the TGV from Paris or by plane into the Bordeaux airport (Merignac), head north out of the city, and you’re right in the Medoc region. I can give a strong recommendation to Chateau Le Lout, a wonderful nineteenth-century, Venetian-style chateau in Le Taillan-Medoc, that serves as a B&B.

We relied heavily upon the proprietor, Olivier Salmon, for our evening entertainment recommendations, and weren’t disappointed. The rooms were sizable (by European standards) and the bathrooms were well-appointed and large. You can take your Continental breakfast on the back terrace, in the morning sun. Don’t forget to bring your Speedo, to enjoy the pool.

Within minutes from the chateau, a magical road that twists past wineries took us to fine dining at Lion D’Or, in Arcins, to sample the wine and a local specialty: milk-fed veal. They open for dinner at 8, and be sure to call ahead for a reservation, as the place is small and the friendly and jovial patron, Monsieur Barbier, packs everyone in, to create a festive mood.

For fantastic outdoor dining, you can’t beat the cozy atmosphere of Restaurant Le St. Julien, further up the road in St. Julien-Beychevelle, which had a huge rotisserie-barbecue area in the middle of the terrace. This time, we sampled the fantastic local roast lamb. The tables were covered by tent-like canvas awnings, and the lighting was soft and romantic. Definitely a place to take in the night air and enjoy dinner for two. Or three, if you are really feeling French.

Disappointing Troy

by Neil Woodburn on

A few years ago I was within an hour of visiting the famous town of Troy before being talked out of it by a disappointed tourist who had just come from there.

Troy is one of the most famous cities in history, its legendary siege made famous by Homer’s Iliad. It disappeared for many years, as besieged towns tended to do over time, but was eventually unearthed by a crazy German who bulldozed his way through the strata of artifacts instead of gingerly picking away with a toothbrush.

The end result, from a tourist perspective, is that there is really not too much to see. Robert Crew, writing for The Star, recently returned from Turkey (site of the Troy remains) and agrees. The village of Hisarlik (30 minutes from Canakkale, Turkey) sports a recreated Trojan Horse (apparently very hokey) and not much else.

The true joy, it appears, is looking across the landscape and imagining what had happened on that very spot so many years ago.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, the Brad Pitt movie Troy was filmed in Mexico and Malta so if you venture this far, don’t expect things to look like they did in the film.

9/11 Memorial Hole

by Erik Olsen on

Normally, I’d use this for our popular Friday Funny feature, but it’s so wonderfully relevant to today’s 9/11 anniversary, that I couldn’t wait. The bit comes from the always gut-busting online staire mag The Onion, and in typical Onion fashion takes a rather tragic event ,and puts the most delightfully clever (and sardonic) twist on it. The headline reads: NYC Unveils 9/11 Memorial Hole. It speaks for itself, but you need to read this to inject a bit of humor into your day.