How to visit the locations of last year’s most “travel inspiring” films

by Neil Woodburn on

We’ve posted a number of times here on Gadling about the impact of movies as a travel motivator. In other words, which movies portray a sense of place strong enough to make you want to visit?

Budget Travel recently came up with their own top ten “travel inspiring” movies released in the last year, with the Bourne Ultimatum coming in at number one thanks to six countries featured in the film and an exciting rooftop chase through the ancient medina of Tangiers (above). Although Martha blogged about this a few weeks ago, I’d like to update the post with a few other thoughts.

First off, CNN picked up on the story as well and recently interviewed Budget Travel Senior Editor Liz Ozaist. The interview not only expands on the article, but also includes clips from the movies. Click here to watch the video.

In addition, the Budget Travel article takes their list to the next, logical step and provides information on how to visit the actual locations where the movies were filmed. Casablanca Travel and Tours, for example, conducts a $120 tour of the Tangier medina that shadows the Bourne chase scenes.

Now, if only Budget Travel can teach us how to get our hands on multiple passports, then perhaps we can truly follow in the footsteps of uber-traveler Matthew Bourne.

Traveling where the dollar is strong

by Neil Woodburn on

If you’re earning a salary in US currency and are unlucky enough to spend it traveling internationally, you know the pain of the depreciating dollar.

The rest of the world has become frighteningly expensive as the dollar continues its slide. My recent trip to North Korea, for example, was $800 more expensive than it would have been two years ago for the mere fact that I had to pay for the tour in euros. Man, did this hurt! Unfortunately, such increased costs have become a factor in many travelers’ vacation plans as prohibitive prices continue to limit options.

But this isn’t the case everywhere. Certain parts of the world are still “on sale” due to local currencies that even weaker than the dollar.

Countries where dollars go the distance is a handy LA Times article that explores some of these remaining bargain locations–Vietnam, Morocco, Bolivia, Cambodia, Nicaragua, Albania–and provides a fantastic short list of wonderful places that would still be worth going to even if they weren’t “on sale.”

The toilet paper chronicles

by Aaron Hotfelder on

I want to tell you about how I first discovered the meaning of the word “love.” Sounds pretty heavy, huh? Stay with me.

Several years ago, some friends and I were traveling through Morocco in a rented Fiat Uno– the car Fred Flintstone might have designed had he been born a few centuries later. All of a sudden, as if a bolt of lightning struck my intestines, I felt rather ill. [Too graphic? Keep reading.] I was at the point where, as most travelers to the “third world” will sympathize, I was in need of a trip to the facilities.

We were driving along, and I made my requirements known: “If we don’t stop somewhere,” I said, “something very bad is going to happen.” That was all my fellow passengers needed to hear.

We soon pulled into some one-horse town– a place that probably wouldn’t have appeared on any map– and I bolted to an open restaurant. Seeing the establishment’s proprietor, I spoke my very best French: “Perdon, où est les toilettes?” Perhaps the man couldn’t speak French, but he could tell by my gingerly gait, and the look on my face, what I was after. “Upstairs,” the man said in Arabic, as he pointed to a nearby stairwell. “Shukran,” (thank you) I said gratefully.

I quickly made my way to the Promised Land, and soon everything was right with the world. Admittedly, the bathroom turned out to be a hole in the ground, but that would meet my needs considering the circumstances. But wait. Apparently this restaurant did not have the same hygienic standards as the nearby Denny’s in my hometown, because there was a roll of very important paper (VIP) missing.

“What the hell am I going to do?” I wondered. Without much elaboration, you can imagine the scenarios that rushed through my head. “What the hell/shit/fuck/ am I going to do?” (Really, pick an expletive– they were probably all used.)

As I am considering this nightmare situation before me, I suddenly hear a knock on the bathroom door. “Aaron,” said my then-girlfriend’s angelic voice. “You might need this.”

I opened the door, and accepted one of the most cherished gifts I will ever receive– a cloud-white roll of the softest toilet paper known to man. “Fiona,” I told her. “You have no idea how much I love you.” She had brought me the roll without a reminder or a prompting. She knew what I needed, and she came through. “That–,” I thought, “that’s true love.”

The moral of the story– besides that insignificant bit of wisdom about the real meaning of love– is to always carry a roll of the white stuff with you. You never know when it might come in handy.

Photo of the Day (10/11/07)

by Neil Woodburn on

Foreigners like to wear khaki when they trek through the desert. Locals, on the other hand, prefer garb slightly more colorful. I suppose when there is nothing but sand everywhere, one seeks out the most colorful garments possible with which to adorn themselves. The result is wonderfully beautiful as evident by the camera work of Gadling reader Maïlys, who captured this fine contrast of blue and beige amongst the soft velvety sands of Touareg, Morocco.

***If you’d like your photos to be considered for a Photo of the Day, post them at Gadling’s Photo Pool on Flickr. ***

Photo of the Day (9/21/07)

by Neil Woodburn on

I love the way that StrudelMonkey has captured a bit of the old and a bit of the new in this photograph of two doors in Tangier. And, just check out that workmanship! You can see exactly how that new door was put in. I wonder if they’ll ever get around to painting the cement or if it will remain in this condition for the next 100 years, proudly showing off the cement skills of the owner.