Swiss town offers “bike hotels”

by Sean McLachlan on

Switzerland is a mountainbiker’s dream. There are hundreds of miles of trails, beautiful scenery, and a generally bike-friendly culture.

One town has decided to get even friendlier. Gstaad, in the Berne canton, has organized “bike hotels” to specifically care for cyclists’ needs. Ten hotels in the scheme now offer repairs, maps, tours, staff who are knowledgeable about routes, even laundry services so you don’t have to smell like bad cheese at dinner. The hotels are in Gstaad and its satellite towns, and it’s possible to create an itinerary and stay in several. Gstaad itself doesn’t allow vehicle traffic, making it even more bike friendly.

Gstaad is a popular destination for skiing, and local officials hope to boost tourism revenues in the summer by encouraging more cyclists to visit.

Image courtesy Gstaad Tourism.

Hiking around Madrid

by Sean McLachlan on

Madrid is a city of fine dining, fine wines, and fine-looking Spaniards. Because of this many visitors never get out and see the beautiful countryside of the surrounding Comunidad de Madrid. Another obstacle has been the lack of English-speaking hiking groups.

Luckily that’s changed. A new group called Hiking in the Community of Madrid has been started by avid expat hikers Beau Macksoud and Cynthia Kane. Last Sunday I joined them in La Pedriza, a beautiful jumble of low mountains sculpted by the elements into bizarre shapes. It’s located outside the town of Manzanares el Real just a 45 minute bus ride from Madrid. The whole area is crisscrossed by trails and the cliffs are a big draw for rock climbers as well.

While our hike was only 8.5 km (5.3 miles) we still had an invigorating day. First we had a tough slog up a steep slope under a strong sun, followed by a scramble over strange rock formations that looked like dogs, camels, and sleeping people. We got sweeping views of a lake and castle far below, sightings of Spanish ibex, and a visit to a cave that used to be a hideout for guerrillas during the Civil War, and more recently by a group of murderers. The last part of the hike was a swift descent and a pleasant ramble along a stream back to town.

I found the hike well organized and the guides friendly and flexible to the needs of the various hikers. They have an expert knowledge of the region and have completed the first English-language hiking guide to the Comunidad de Madrid. It includes 18 towns easily reached by public transport and details hikes for each of them. They’re currently seeking publication.

Beau and Cynthia plan to run hikes every weekend. They may also run weekday hikes and intercambio hikes, where English and Spanish speakers practice their language on each other while enjoying the great outdoors. Costs vary, but are generally about 20 euros and includes a packed lunch and an information sheet about the area.

GadlingTV’s Travel Talk 007: How to build an Igloo, end of Cuban travel ban?, business model of Somali pirates & more!

by Stephen Greenwood on

GadlingTV’s Travel Talk, episode 7 – Click above to watch video after the jump

Ever wanted to build an igloo? We’re savoring the end of the snow season by taking you to the Sierras to show you how!

This week we’ll also discuss the White House’s second attempt to nominate a TSA Director, why Cuba is developing faster than ever, the business model behind the Somali pirate industry, and a popular tourist destination where a kiss could land you in jail.

We’ve got a new (spicy) Tasteful Destination for you, and some little known facts about a tea you know and love with Tea Time. Grab a blanket or cup of hot cider and enjoy!

If you have any questions or comments about Travel Talk, you can email us at talk AT gadling DOT com.

Subscribe via iTunes:
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Hosts: Stephen Greenwood, Aaron Murphy-Crews, Drew Mylrea
Produced, Edited, and Directed by: Stephen Greenwood, Aaron Murphy-Crews, Drew Mylrea


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Music:

Tea Time
“Revenge of the flying monkeys, part 2”
Ayetoro

Tasteful Destinations
“Stop Yield Go Merge”
Derek K Miller
http://www.penmachine.com/
(courtesy of Musicalley.com)

Adventure of the Week
“Wake”
Finn Riggins
http://myspace.com/finnriggins



Photo of the Day (2.2.10)

by Melanie Nayer on
Today’s Photo of the Day was submitted by Misha Loginov – a great snapshot that utilizes light, color, and the texture of smoke captured amidst a controlled burn in the Big Basin State Park. Established in 1902, Big Basin is California’s oldest State Park, and claims more than 80 miles of trails through redwoods, waterfalls, and oak groves.

Do you have any pictures from trips to State Parks laying around? Think they’re worthy to be our Photo of the Day? Submit them to the Gadling Flickr Pool and find out!

Chinese city rethinks renaming mountain after Avatar

by Kraig Becker on

A few days back we posted a story about how the Chinese city of Zhangjiajie, located in the southern Hunan Province, had renamed a mountain in the region after the blockbuster film Avatar, which is said to have found inspiration in the nearby landscapes. Now, according to ABC News, officials from the city are back peddling, denying that they changed the name at all, following online backlash over the affair.

Earlier in the week it was reported that a ceremony was held on Monday to officially rename a local peak formerly, known as “Southern Sky Column”, to “Avatar Hallelujah Mountain”. According to local oficials, a Hollywood photographer was in the area back in 2008 taking photos of the mountain, and those images would go on to inspire director James Cameron to create the floating mountains that wowed audiences in the film.

As word of the name change spread across China however, there was an outcry amongst the citizens there. The local government officials in Zhangjiajie were accused of being greedy and too accepting of western culture when they hastily renamed the mountain after the movie, which has been extremely popular with Chinese audiences.The choice to rename th e mountain was so unpopular in fact that an online poll logged a vote of 54,619 against the move, with just 5,897 in favor.

The sudden change in heart also signals a shift in the city’s tourism plans as well. Local guides were already offering “Avatar Pandora Tours”, but considering the public outrage, it seems the region will have to rethink their marketing strategy.