Holocaust Museum Opens in Israel

by Erik Olsen on

There is a
new museum in Jerusalem dedicated
to the Holocaust that just opened is is certainly worth a look if you’re heading to the biblical city.

The Holocaust History Museum is an addition to the Yad Vashem Holocaust
Memorial complex in the outskirts of Jerusalem and overlooks the towns and valleys to the west of Jerusalem. It is a
fairly spacious 47,000-square-feet, and centers its attention on the personal experiences of Jewish victims and
survivors. The museum was designed by Jerusalem architect Moshe Safdie, at a cost $56 million. 

Going Solo

by Erik Olsen on

For some pople, traveling alone is the only way to go. I often feel this way. I think you meet more people and tend
to throw yourself into the local culture a bit more when you are by yourself. Writer Lea Lane agrees.

In her new book, Solo Traveler: Tales and Tips
for Great Trips, Lea Lane takes a look at all the benefits derived from hoofing it alone, and offers her top ten
best places for doing so.

Here is the list:

1. Amalfi Coast , Top budget pick.

2. Canada, Top budget/solo-friendly pick.

3. Thailand, Top budget pick.

4. Grand Canyon, Top solo experience
pick.

5. Canyon Ranch, Top spa pick.

6. Cliffside Inn, Top lodging pick.

7. New York, Favorite solo city/domestic.

8. London, Favorite solo city/ foreign.

9. Peter Deilmann Cruises, Top river cruise
line.

10. Windstar, Top small cruise line.

Open Skies With India

by Erik Olsen on

Good news for Indiaphiles.

India’s cabinet yesterday approved an open skies policy with the United States that removes restrictions on the number of flights operated between the two countries. The deal would replace a 50-year-old agreement that limited flights and the ports of call between the two countries. The deal, one would assume, will help make flights cheaper and should be a great opportunity to expose more Americans to the wonders of the subcontinent. Nearly two million passengers currently travel between the two countries each year.

Seriously, take advantage of this. If you have not experienced the wonders of India. Go. Go now. India is one of the most amazing places on the planet and you owe it to yourself to see it before your draw your terminal breath.

Kerouac’s Destiny Highway

by Erik Olsen on

On The Road. I’ve read it twice. So far. The last time was when I was coming back from Bangkok on a 24-plus hour
flight and my head felt like someone had whupped me with a bat. But I read every word of that book and committed myself
to a goal of always moving, to live a life always seeing and experiencing and traveling. Kerouac was a big inspiration
for a lot of folks like me.

He was also an inspiration to Matt Miller, who
wrote this excellent piece on Kerouac and his travels. The story is from an excellent Web site that deserves more just
your fleeting attention. There are some great pieces here related to literature and travel. But this Kerouac piece, and
others like it caught my eye in particular this morning because I am feeling the need to travel…to move, to be on the
road.

LA From a Local’s Perspective

by Erik Olsen on

Being from LA, I always bristle at people who dis my home city. Yet, I have to say I bash it a bit myself. I mean, it’s great and all: the amazing weather, the beaches (don’t even get me started on the beaches!) but when you add up the traffic, the smog, the Hollywood culture…there are other places I’d rather be.

So while I have my own reasons for not wanting to go back and live there, it always irritates me when people criticize it as a place where there’s nothing to do, when they say that they went to Disneyland or Hollywood and Vine and found LA wanting.

So it was nice to read an article in the CSM by a local who offers some of the great places in LA that the average visitor might not catch. Places like the Museum of Art, Thai Town, Little Ethiopia and so on. The fact is, culturally, Los Angeles is a rich and textured place…probably more so than most other big cities that lay claim to being culturally rich. Even if I don’t want to live there, I still have a place for it in my heart.