Gadling + BootsnAll – Picks of the Week (3.6.09)

by Jeremy Kressmann on

Last week we announced a new partnership between Gadling and the self-styled “independent travel” specialists over at BootsnAll. Every Friday we’ll be taking a look at some of our favorite BootsnAll content from the past week, along with a few choice words about why you should check it out. Sound good? Read on below for this week’s picks…

  • Navigate South America’s “Visa Obstacles” – the idea of a South American backpacking trip has always appealed to me. Between the mostly common language of Spanish and some amazing sights, the continent seems ripe for exploring. But as BootsnAll writer Eileen Smith reports, keeping track of each country’s constantly changing visa rules can be a real pain. Never fear, Eileen lays out some easy strategies to make that pan-South American trek a bit less costly and just a bit easier.
  • Europe Disappoints? – the Mona Lisa sucks. There, I said it. Yes, it was painted by one of history’s most famous men, Leonardo da Vinci, but beyond that, it’s just a painting of a woman surrounded by hundreds of tourists and a plexiglass box for protection. Roger Wade has a couple other complaints with disappointing tourist attractions in Europe, and for the most part I agree with him. Sorry Roger, I have to disagree with you on the interior of the Sagrada Familia. What do you think? Check out his list.
  • France’s Unofficial Dress Code – some of us like to blend in with the locals when we travel, going to great lengths to dress, act and behave much like the locals would. Others couldn’t give a damn what the locals think. Whatever your stance, BootsnAll’s France guide has the low-down on what to wear in France for that next trip Think you know how to blend in? Want some tips? Check it out.
  • Caffeine Junkies, Unite! – does your morning demand you start with a cup of coffee? It can be tricky to find sometimes when you’re on the road, especially in out of the way countries where coffee is not a common drink. Writer Eileen Smith comes through with yet another great piece on how to handle your caffeine addiction on the road. Check out her piece for some tips on how to cope and remember to stay away from that weak Nescafe stuff if you can help it.
  • Building Bridges – I’ve always found bridges to be one of the most underrated landmarks in any tourist destination. They serve such a pragmatic, obvious purpose that you sometimes forget the degree of craftsmanship, ingenuity and expertise that goes into their creation. Cristina Dima is on the same page – this week she takes a look at 12 of Europe’s most beautiful bridges. Some are ancient wonders, some are modern marvels. Have a look for yourself.

That’s all for now. Stay tuned next Friday for more Gadling and BootsnAll Picks of the Week!

Photo of the Day (1.17.09)

by Brenda Yun on


It really is no wonder why we say, “We’ll cross that bridge when we get/come to it.” For me, crossing a bridge symbolizes a journey from one state of mind to another.

Wherever it is you travel in the world, bridges are some of the most beautiful sights. Take the London Bridge, the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, or the longest teak bridge the world, which can be found in Myanmar. Robert James Waller’s famous novel, The Bridges of Madison County, also speaks to the nostalgia of bridges.

Sometimes, the bridges in our own backyard are the most beautiful, which is what cgrubbs captures here in this breathtaking photo of bridge, nature, and sky. This photo reminds me how you don’t have to travel across a bridge in order to be transported to another world. Sometimes just seeing one that blends in so perfectly with its surroundings is enough.

If you have some great travel shots you’d like to share, be sure to upload them to the Gadling pool on Flickr. We might just pick one as our Photo of the Day!

Hong Kong-Macau Bridge to be Built

by Josh Lew on

Hong Kong is now connected to Macau by ferry. Long-running negotiations for a bridge connection between the two cities, and their mainland neighbor Zhuhai, have led to nothing but hurt feelings and finger pointing. Enter Beijing. The government of China has a rare chance to play the good guy in the former colonies. And it will only cost them a few billion dollars. According to The Standard, Beijing has stepped in to take over the project and will spend 7 billion yuan (HK$ 8 billion) to get things off the ground.

The result: in 6-7 years it will be possible to drive from the mainland to Macau to Hong Kong without having to board a ferry or even get out of your car. Impatient compulsive gamblers will not have to deal with sea-sickness or tardy ferryboat captains on the way to Macau. The bridge will also do wonders for the mainland, turning an already crazy shopping scene into an orgy of consumerism and name-brand knockoffs.

But what about the storied ferry service? Will it disappear? Probably not. When the tunnel was built under Victoria Harbor, ferries continued to do a brisk business up above. The same would probably be true for the HK-Macau service. Emphasis on probably.

Photo of the Day (10/28/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on


I’ve been to Philly about two or three times and have never seen the city from under the Schuykill River bridges like this. Luminous Lens notes after much debate she decided to take her camera outside although there was overcast and came back with two shots. This was one of them and personally I think it’s great. The muted colors and browns in the photo all look really visually attractive here. Even with the slight murky feeling this shot makes me want to see this secret place underneath Philly’s bridges.

Photo of the Day (8/29/2006)

by Erik Olsen on

Ah, if there is a more classic photo of the lovely West than the sandstone bridges of Utah, I don’t know what it is Well, OK, the Grand canyon, Monument Valley…and so on. But you get the point. This shot by JasonBechtel does justice to the majestic natural beauty of the West.

Now, I have to make a confession that I’ve never actually been to this part of Utah, the Natural Bridges National Monument, but someday I shall, be sure of that. In the meantime, I have to depend on the talented folks who post (as any of y’all can do) to our Gadling Flickr site.