The Other Mexico: Slow food in Oaxaca

by Matthew Firestone on

All this week, Gadling will be bringing you coverage of the *other* Mexico. Beyond the margarita-fueled coastal tourist traps lie ancient ruins, colonial cities and culinary hot spots. So, leave your preconceived notions at home, and get ready to head south of the border to explore the other side of Mexico.

Mexican food in one form or another is enjoyed the world over. Not to discount the deliciousness of cheese nachos and mega-burritos, but finding truly authentic Mexican food can be a challenge. Indeed, first-timers in Mexico are often astonished to discover that real Mexican food is unlike anything they’ve grown accustomed to eating back home.

Just as cuisine varies from region to region in France, Italy and Spain, the Mexican culinary landscape takes into account climate, proximity to the sea and historical roots. It can take the form of a hearty soup of corn and beans, a martini glass full of marinated ceviche or a masterfully blended sauce served over a fine cut of meat.

When it comes to slow food, one region that steals the stage is Oaxaca (pronounced wa-HA-ka). Located in southern Mexico between the Pacific Ocean and the highlands of Chiapas, Oaxaca is a veritable foodie paradise of indigenous eats, French-style sauces and some truly amazing mescal.

%Gallery-120762%The State of Oaxaca is often thought of as Mexico in miniature. Home to no less than sixteen indigenous groups, Oaxaca is deeply rooted in its traditional culture. Yet Oaxaca City, a shining jewel of Spanish colonial architecture, is stylish, cosmopolitan and increasingly well-heeled. The state is also rich in biodiversity, complete with rugged mountains, fertile valleys and sweeping coastlines.

The menu is no less complex. Fresh grains and produce, free-range animals, abundant seafood and even wild game all find their way to the Oaxacan plate. While many items will be unfamiliar at first glance, Oaxaca surprisingly pioneered the quesadilla! On that note, here is a list of recommended items worth consuming or imbibing.

The humble quesadilla. Forget shredded cheddar cheese on a wheat tortilla with watery salsa. We’re talking about Oaxacan-style salted string cheese on a ground-corn tortilla with a blend of fire-roasted tomatillos and dried chilies. And that, mi amigo, is just your average run-of-the-mill Oaxacan quesadilla.

Want to get fancy? Add a lightly-fried squash blossom stuffed with soft cheese curds. Want to get ethnic? Add a handful of deep-fried grasshoppers doused in chili-salt and fresh lime juice. Want to get meaty? Add ground-up bits of spicy chorizo and shredded hunks of spice-rubbed chicken breast.

Anything from the markets. Oaxaca is justifiably famous for its food markets. Vendors run the gamut from small mom-and-pop shops hawking their homegrown wares to large industrial operators churning out processed products. Some markets occupy historic buildings in the colonial city, while others lying on the periphery are the size of small towns.

What should you look for? Anything that takes your fancy! Beyond that, don’t miss the rows of artisanal cheeses, barrels of sun-dried chilies, all manners of tropical fruits, handmade tortillas and vats of homemade pickles. As we mentioned before, deep-fried grasshoppers are everywhere, and serve as a popular snack food and a quick pick-me-up.

Soups and ceviche. Two of the heavy-hitting all-stars of Mexican cuisine are soups and ceviche. The former can be black-beans simmering in their stock with whole chilies and chopped cilantro, steaming tomato consommé with strips of fried tortilla and fresh corn or blended avocado with cream fraise and garlic salt served at room temperature.

Ceviche is often likened to Mexican sushi, though this is something of a misnomer. In fact, ceviche utilizes the acidic properties of lime or lemon juice to slowly cook cubes of raw fish, shrimp and octopus. After soaking for 1-2 hours, the marinated seafood is mixed with onions, tomatoes, garlic, cilantro, olives and/or capers.

The moles. We’re not talking about the blind, burrowing rodents, but rather the moh-lay or Mexican sauce. Oaxaca in particular is distinguished by its seven moles, ranging in color from the spicy, dark chocolate deliciousness of mole negro to the pumpkin-seed accented green tomatillo blend that is mole verde.

Moles are never served by themselves, but rather doused over meat, fish, eggs and/or tortillas. Some sauces are better suited to specific complements, such as mole negro and turkey breast, mole verde and chicken and mole amarilla and beef. Local tip: Eat mole for lunch as you will need plenty of time to properly digest.

Mescal and the worm. When it comes to spirits, mescal, the fermented and distilled heart of the agave plant, isn’t exactly a connoisseur’s first choice. But we’d wager that once you try the real stuff the way it was meant to be quaffed, you’ll agree that mescal deserves a spot alongside single malt whiskies and finely-aged cognac.

True mescal is 100% agave-derived, and contrary to popular belief, does not always contain a gusano or dried worm to mark its authenticity. Smoky in taste, mescal is best drunk straight or mixed with a pinch of chili-salt and chased with fresh oranges. Young mescal (blanco) is clear and light, while older mescal (reposado or añejo) is darker and more complex.

Still think Mexican food is just beans, rice, chips and salsa? Think again as one of the greatest cuisines in the world is richly varied, heart-healthy and not as spicy as you might imagine. With that said, consider steering clear of the overhyped coastlines, and taking the time to discover what lies in the *other* Mexico.

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The Legacy of Titanic, what we learned in the last 99 years

by Chris Owen on
This week marks the 99th anniversary of the sinking of the passenger liner RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. If you have seen the movie, you know the basic story. Four days into a transatlantic crossing, the ship hit an iceberg just before midnight then sank hours later. In one of the deadliest disasters in maritime history, over 1500 people died in the icy water south of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. Today’s cruise industry exists and operates in many ways as a result of the Titanic tragedy. This week we take a look at the legacy left behind that affects cruise passengers on every sailing of every ship.

Going down this road, safety at sea comes up as a primary topic when thinking of the Titanic.

In the world of travel agents from which I came, “Titanic” is a word avoided almost as much as “torpedoes” and “pirates”. I remember being told when I started “If you say the word “sink” you better be talking about a place to wash out your coffee cup and if you say the word “sunk” you better be talking about basketball.” When asked what he thought would happen to the cruise business if a cruise ship sank today, a cruise line sales manager told me over lunch one day “Oh, we don’t even talk about that.” The mood of that luncheon became somber from that point on.

Those keywords are not what we want to think about. It’s not the pretty picture of a serene cruise vacation that marketers want us to buy into. Cruise lines, sellers of travel and the like, want those images to be as far from our minds as possible. Ninety-nine years puts a lot of time between us and the sinking of the Titanic when 1517 passengers died.

Still, there are people charged to never forget Titanic and make it their job to take lessons learned back then, build upon them and move forward.

It can be as simple as the intensity that today’s cruise ship crew members have during the typical safety drill performed at the beginning of each cruise. This is not a time for joking around and having a frozen cocktail. That came before the safety drill and will resume after. As passengers follow directions during a safety drill, now is the time to practice what to do if faced with the worst possible event at sea.

It can be as complex as set-in-stone rules regarding documentation needed to board a passenger ship. The requirements are strict and systems on board keep track of every passenger coming on or going off a ship. Behind-the-scenes activities performed by everyone from travel agents to embarkation staff at the pier help insure a safe voyage.

It can be as commonplace as a change in the itinerary of a cruise ship due to weather, safety or mechanical concerns. That topic has come up a lot recently as ships from all major cruise lines canceled calls to trouble-spots around the globe. Each year during hurricane season, itineraries are commonly changed to avoid major storms. Not long ago, a major cruise ship lost power and had to be towed back to port.

Cruise liners today are much bigger and better equipped. At 46,328 gross registered tons, Titanic was the largest and most advanced ship of her day. Today’s largest and most advanced ship, Allure of the Seas, is more than four times larger and carries almost twice as many people. Big ships are not nearly as “remarkable” as they were in 1912. Shipyards seem to crank them out as fast as they are ordered. Cruise lines deploy ships all over the planet now without hesitation to move one if an itinerary does not produce the anticipated results. Are today’s cruise lines operating as safely as possible? Is it possible to ever have another Titanic-like event?

Join us tomorrow and the rest of this week as we answer those questions and remember some mistakes made at the time that might have avoided the tragedy altogether.

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Flickr photo by scmikeburton

Cruise lines branch out, sell other stuff too

by Chris Owen on
Looking to be the best-dressed passenger on your next cruise? No? How about looking like you went on a particular ship but didn’t really make it? No? Hmm, well how about you want a cool gag gift to give your friend who hates even the idea of a cruise? Oh, that might work? Well now there is no need to sail anymore just to get all the cool cruise line swag that makes your friends green with envy (or about to be sick) because cruise lines are branching out and sell most all that stuff in advance, online.

Just this week, Norwegian Cruise Line set up shop online offering everything from ball caps to coffee mugs for sale. At the new Norwegian Cruise Line shop, you can order and have those hard-to-get items that would normally cost the price of a cruise vacation to get delivered to your home. Some real thought went into these items too. I like the Solar Powered Battery Charger as a cool bit of cruise gear. It’s kind of pricey at $43.75 but the 60″ Golf Umbrella for $15.85 is a steal.

Other lines do this too. Check Royal Caribbean’s Gifts and Gear pages where they offer a wide variety of products for at home or on the road. A Royal Caribbean Dual Sports Bottle/Thermos is a good deal at $15.00. Royal Caribbean breaks down their products into categories too like Luxurious Lounge Wear, Adventure Gear and Travel Essentials.

Surely, these are no SkyMall Monday offerings but there is some good stuff here.Royal Caribbean International announced not long ago the new Royal Caribbean Bedding Collection available for sale to anyone. You might never sail on one of their ships but can get these fine linens delivered to your home.

“In line with our Royal Advantage program, the Royal Caribbean Bedding Collection was chosen with care to offer the indulgent sleep experience that they enjoy onboard and longed and requested to bring home,” said Lisa Bauer, senior vice president of Hotel Operations.

Royal Caribbean’s collection offers not just sheets and pillows but full-size ma tresses as well made in Italy by Matermoll and Emmebiesse. The popular Royal Memory Pillows start at $79 (with $26.95 shipping make that $105.95. Kinda pricey. Remember that number, we’ll be coming back to it shortly.

Rival lines Carnival and Holland America also offer bedding for sale. I have a bunch of the Carnival Comfort Collection pillows that have done well over the 4 years we have used them. It makes sense too; this stuff is made both for durability and comfort. To make it to luxury-status in a commercial setting, they have to hit both marks.

The other cruise line products available online tend to be well-made too, especially the logo items. Cruise lines want you wearing that ball cap for years to come. Free advertising is pretty hard to beat.

As cruise lines branch out, we’re hoping for Royal Caribbean to open a Cupcake Cupboard right down the street. That would be…well…sweet!

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Flickr photo by brianholsclaw

The Other Mexico: 48 hours in Mexico City

by Matthew Firestone on

All this week, Gadling will be bringing you coverage of the *other* Mexico. Beyond the margarita-fueled coastal tourist traps lie ancient ruins, colonial cities and culinary hot spots. So, leave your preconceived notions at home, and get ready to head south of the border to explore the other side of Mexico.

The statistics on Mexico City are impressive. Reportedly the fifth largest urban agglomeration in the world, the Distrito Federal (Federal District) or simply D.F. is an alpha global city home to nearly 20 million souls. It is the eighth richest city in the world, accounting for nearly 35% of Mexico’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Mexico City is also steeped in history. Founded by the Aztecs in 1325 as the floating island metropolis of Tenochtitlan, it was razed by the Spanish in 1521 and rebuilt as a major New World administrative center. In 1824, independence from Spain led to the official designation of the modern Federal District.

Yet despite this rich pedigree, a surprising number of foreigners imagine Mexico City to be nothing more than a narco-fueled criminal cesspool. And on that note, allow me to do a bit of much-need PR work by kicking off ’48 hours in Mexico City.’

%Gallery-120761%Truth be told, a lot can go wrong in Mexico City. But for the average tourist with a bit of street smarts, it’s all-together easy to avoid being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Besides, with so much history, culture and amazing street food on every corner, 48 hours in D.F. can change your perspective on the face of modern Mexico.

1) Visit the ancient ruins of Teotihuacan. A quick, one-hour bus ride north of the city will bring you to a spectacular archaeological site that most people have never even heard of. Home to the 3rd largest pyramid in the world – the Pyramid of the Sun – Teotihuacan was first constructed in 100 BCE, and was the largest city (pop. 250,000+) in the pre-Colombian Americas until its downfall in the 8th century CE.

The origins of Teotihuacan are shrouded in mystery. Archaeological debate points to Olmec, Toltec, Zapotec and even Mayan influences. The subsequent Aztecs were mesmerized by the city, and often underwent pilgrimages along its perfectly laid-out Avenue of the Dead. Teotihuacan’s signature-style of talud-tablero or inward-sloping steps connected by rectangular reliefs influenced the later construction of Tenochtitlan.

2) Get a first-hand anthropological education. If Teotihuacan ignites your curiosity for ancient cultures, then pay a visit to the Museo Nacional de Antropología (MNA). Often regarded as one of the world’s best anthropology museums, the MNA showcases the stunning pre-Colombian heritage of Mexico and Central America. It is also located at the center of one of Mexico City’s largest expanses of green space.

First opened in 1964, the MNA is a modernist structure of more than twenty galleries that wrap around lush gardens. Some of the more famous exhibits include Aztec sun stones, Olmec giant heads, Mayan carved panels and a rather eerie amount of exhumed skeletons, jewel-adorned skulls and hand-carved accessories made from various human bones.

3) Eat your fill of street tacos. Alright, let’s not side-step the issue. Mexico doesn’t exactly top the food-safety list, and the infamous Montezuma’s Revenge (read as: travelers’ diarrhea) is not to be taken lightly. You’re going to want to stick to bottled water, and avoid raw vegetables and fruit you can’t peel.

But don’t deny yourself the pleasures of street tacos! Hand-pressed corn tortillas are fried in alleyways and on corners, and topped with everything from roasted pork and barbequed chicken to refried beans and fresh habanero peppers. Keep an eye out for exotics such as orange squash flowers and boiled cactus leaves.

4) Wander the colonial streets of the Centro Histórico. Mexico City is centered on one of the world’s largest city squares, namely the Zocalo. The surrounding 34-block area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, comprises the historical center. Gridded by the Spanish conquistadores, the Centro Histórico was literally built from the stones of Tenochtitlan.

Arguably one of the safest areas of Mexico City, the Centro Histórico bustles with frenetic energy both day and night. Here you can sip a cinnamon-infused cup of hot chocolate at an alfresco cafe while watching shoppers pass. Or, pair a martini glass full of ceviche with a cold cerveza while listening to chill-out music at a late-night lounge.

5) Immerse yourself in the lives of Diego & Frida. Artists aren’t particularly known for leading stable lives, but unfiltered creativity does stem from hard times. The passionate yet tortured lives of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo sprung to international attention following the 2002 biopic Frida starring Salma Hayek and Alfred Molina.

Want to see the murals of Mexican history that cemented the career of a young Diego Rivera? Visit the interior stairwells of the national palace that lines the Zocalo. Want to see the split abode that housed the tempestuous newlyweds? Visit the Museo Casa Estudio in the neighborhood of San Ángel. And of course, don’t miss the Blue House in Coyoacán where Frida lived as a child and later as an old woman.

Still think Mexico City is a black spot on the travel itinerary? Think again as one of the greatest cities in Latin America is relatively safe, extremely affordable and surprisingly tourist friendly. With that said, consider steering clear of the overhyped coastlines, and taking the time to discover what lies in the *other* Mexico.

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Top 10 types of travel theft (and how to be safe)

by Justin Delaney on

In many large cities of the world, thieves hunt travelers from the shadows. They watch you take pictures at monuments, eat tapas at an outdoor cafe, and if you are unlucky, they will follow your steps with excited eyes as you fall into one of their traps. A few weeks ago while visiting Quito, thieves dumped a bucket of crap on me from a rooftop and then jumped me for my camera. It was horrible.

Fear-mongering aside, travelers are chosen as targets because they are not completely in tune to their surroundings. Maybe you are jet lagged, or you just ate a dangerous meal that has left you weak with intestinal anxiety, or you are lost in an uncomfortable part of Paris – these are all circumstances where you are in a vulnerable state and therefore a target of thieves. Like hyenas hunting for weakened game, thieves seek out confused tourists and map clenchers with wayward eyes.

These crooked opportunists have many breeds: child gangs in Italy looking for sincere mid-westerners, Vietnamese on scooters scoping for a wallet in an extended hand, and fake European police officers searching for rubes to shake down. While your trip will likely pass without incident, it is ideal to be prepared. If you know what to look for, then you can watch for danger signs and situations to avoid. Being a safe traveler is being a smart traveler. Here are ten common hustles to watch out for.

10. Monkey thieves in Bali
If you have ever been to Bali, then you have no doubt seen the clans of macaques congregating in various locales. Inventive locals have trained the monkeys to steal from travelers, and the macaques exchange the loot for monkey rewards. For example, they will snatch a pair of sunglasses off your head and only return them for some Indonesian Rupiah. Presumably, the monkeys later exchange the cash for snacks with their monkey trader. The thought of a monkey exchanging money for food is no doubt hilariously endearing, but no one wants to get their sunglasses nicked on holiday. This heist typically takes place around the cliffs of Ulu Watu and in the Monkey Forest of Ubud, both items on my list of things to do in Bali.

To prevent being robbed by monkey thieves, keep a safe distance, and be careful with your sunglasses.

9. Fake Police officers
This is a horrible scam that preys on your inability to distinguish the appropriate regional police uniform or badge. There are many deviations of this type of scam, but essentially, a faux copper approaches you demanding some sort of assistance. Either the officer is looking for counterfeit money, or needs to check your ID, or something that involves handing your wallet to him. He may just thumb through your wallet and sneakily take a few bills off the top. In some cases though, the fake officer will take off at full gait with your entire wallet.

Another form of fake police extortion happens frequently at train stations. They approach you and ask for your train pass. Nodding their fake cop heads in a discouraged manner they explain that you purchased the wrong pass for the route that you just completed. They give you an impromptu fine, and you hand them a fistful of euros, dong, or rupiahs, because you know no better. While now you do, never hand over your wallet and do not hand over money to police officers. If cops could collect their own fines, then the world would be too crooked to be spin.

8. Bus robberies

One of the most simple heists plays to our sense of humanity and ideological view that we will travel to foreign lands and strangers will be caring and helpful. Sometimes, this is undoubtedly the case, but be wary of helpful men with crooked smiles on public buses. This scam is a classic, happening everywhere from Boston to Bogota to Berlin. One person will assist you with stowing your bag above your seat while another pickpockets you or slashes your backpack. In another variation to this theft, the good Samaritan helping you stow your luggage takes off with your bag or hands it off to a runner near the front of the bus. One of the most notorious buses in the world for thieves is Bus 64 in Rome.

Another variation of the bus robbery involves a small child and a sharp object. While you sit on the bus, reflecting on your spiritual journey or perhaps gazing out the window at the splendid countryside, a small child with a knife or razor sneaks under your seat and slashes the bag at your feet, quietly emptying its contents.

These bus robberies can be completely avoided by never letting strangers handle your bags and keeping close watch of your belongings, especially on public transportation. Since buses are generally very low cost, the barriers to entry are low enough for thieves to thrive. When traveling in big cities on travel days, it is wise to avoid public buses. Nothing signals theft opportunity like a wheeled bag or a massive Osprey pack.

7. Train station distraction
You board a train and the day is young with possibilities. Maybe you are traveling from Prague to Berlin, or Rome to Florence. You are in full observer mode, sensitive to all types of stimuli. You put up your bags and sit in the train on the departure platform. Someone official looking taps on the window and motions for you. As you approach the window, or worse, de-board the train, his or her partner in crime quietly makes off with your stowed luggage. Both take off at a full sprint.

The best way to avoid this distraction heist is to never let your bags out of your sight on trains, and keep your most valuable possessions as close to you as possible. Ignore those outside of the train as well. If a conductor needs to communicate with you, then he/she will most certainly come to your seat.

6. Counterfeit money given at restaurant
This scam is very common in Europe, typically within the countries located on the Iberian peninsula. After you eat a delicious meal of fresh paella at a whimsical restaurant along the Costa del Sol, the restaurateur returns with your bill and bad news. The 50 Euro note that you tendered is a fake. With apologetic sympathy, the man will tenderly ask for a different type of payment. The problem? You gave him a real 50 Euro note and he returned with a counterfeit one.

This is easy to avoid. Minimize your risk by only breaking large bills at banks or other reputable establishments. However, if you find yourself mid scam, call the police and hope for the best. For the meticulous, you can write down the serial numbers of your big notes for insurance.

5. Stop and slash (or pickpocket)
This is a derivation on the classic pickpocket, except it is designed to make you a stationary target. You are walking along and someone stops in front of you. A lady maybe drops her bag, or a couple gets in an argument, or maybe someone just stops abruptly, directly in front of you. While you stop for the distraction, a pick pocket or slasher will come up behind you and relieve you of some of your belongings. It is perhaps the most common type of travel theft.

Slashers are very common and they use a sharp razor blade or knife to cut open a bag, empty a pocket, or slice a strap of a bag or camera. This is an increasingly popular method for the steady handed thieves. Defenses include using slash proof bag straps with reinforced metal wiring as well as stowing money and other valuables in a fashionably null money belt. Hiding your valuables creatively also inhibits the possibility of theft. Personally, I wear a slightly dorky but effective wrist wallet to hold my credit cards and walking around cash.

4. Luggage scanner heist
After you hear about this sneaky maneuver, you will loathe tossing your valuables through a x-ray scanner machine. The process goes like this: two thieves get in front of you in line at a scanning device and metal detector. Keep in mind it need not be an airport, many hotels and sporting arenas have x-ray scanners as well. (In fact, I think this sort of operation would be almost impossible at most airports in developed countries.) The first guy goes through slowly and waits on the other side of the metal detector. The second guy, the one you are directly behind, causes all sorts of problems with the metal detector. He forgets to take out his keys, belt, and whatever else causes the machine to beep. By this point, your bag has traveled to the other side of the x-ray scanner and the first guy has made off with it.

Prevention for this heist is fairly simple – just hold on to your bag until you are ready to pass through the metal detector.

3. The mustard/vinegar/pigeon poop/human feces heist
This is the product of years of thievery evolution. Since you are at your worst when you are shocked or short-sighted, thieves have taken this in mind and formulated a way to really get you to focus in on the moment at hand by blurring the big picture. The scam goes like this: you are walking along, and someone sprinkles bird poop on the back of your backpack, squeezes a mustard packet on your shirt pocket, or maybe, in an extreme case, dumps approximately ten ounces of shit from several floors above. Regardless of travel IQ, you are shocked by this disgusting invasion of space.

In many instances, a stranger will approach with tissues, attempting to assist you with the mess. Ignore this person. He will get you to focus on the situation while his partners steal from you. Also, do not take your backpack or camera off of your body. When I was robbed, I removed my camera strap to inspect my diarrhea flecked DSLR, and it was manhandled away from me by two Ecuadorians with wild eyes and stained pants.

To avoid being suckered into this scam, always be aware of your surroundings. If a foreign substance somehow makes it onto your shirt or bag, chances are someone is about to rob you. Keep walking and look for a police officer. Do not stop and chat, and especially, do not de-strap any of your bags.

2. The nail trick
This is perhaps the most damning heist of all. It is simple, effective, and almost impossible to defend against. It goes like this: you park your car, and while you sight-see or have lunch, an enterprising thief hammers a nail into your tire. Hours later, while driving down a quiet road, you get a flat tire. You pull over and a group of “good Samaritans” also pull over to assist you with your unfortunate situation. Except they don’t help you. They steal all your stuff, and in some cases, your car.

1. ATM scams
It is no shocker that thieves like to convene around automatic teller machines. It is a watering hole for wayward opportunists and droopy eyed bandits with swift hands. There are really two main scams that take place around money machines. The first involves a sticky or plastic slip being stuck in the card reader before your arrival. This will ensure that your card gets stuck in the slot. In many cases, a local will assist you in your troubles, attempting to witness your fingers glide across your pin number. If he finds you especially gullible, the thief may also casually ask you for your pin. Obviously, do not ever tell anyone your pin.

A variation on this scheme involves a fake customer service number being stuck on the ATM. After your card gets stuck, you phone the fake number for assistance, and they ask for your pin. Later, they take all of your money and you feel especially stupid and vulnerable while you wait for a money transfer in a depressing office.

The best way to avoid ATM scams is to only patronize machines inside banks or other structures. Also, if you see a little plastic sleeve hanging out of the card slot, pull that sleeve out of there and stamp it on the ground while glancing menacingly at the environs around you. The sticky fingered peasants will know to leave you alone.

Prologue
Always carry insurance during your travels, especially internationally. I routinely carry a vanilla World Nomads policy for international health insurance that comes with decent theft coverage as well. I also carry a personal property policy with USAA for my more expensive photography equipment.