I've spent today reading "To do" and "Not to do" lists for cities that I plan to visit, and I've found almost all of the latter repeatedly advises not to follow the most popular sight-seeing routes, and do not go where the herds of tourists go. While there are some practical justifications for this -- it's crowded, line-ups are long, and food is expensive -- I have to rebut with "the crowds are there for a reason".
How many times have you walked by a restaurant with a patient crowd milling out front, that turns out to serve great food or offer terrific value? Or there's a circle formed on the street because of a particularly captivating street performer putting on a show? I'm not saying crowds don't gather for silly or negative reasons, but don't be so quick to dismiss the masses.
In Singapore there are many markets with endless food hawkers, the way to figure out what's good is to observe and see where the locals go. The most popular places are the ones with the longest lines. I also found my favourite sandwich and wine lunch spot in Florence that way. I was heading towards the Uffizi art museum from the Duomo one day, looking for a quick bite before an afternoon at the gallery when I saw all these people standing/sitting on the curb on a side street, from students to suits, all of them chatting, eating, and drinking wine. After the line that seemed to stem from a hole in the wall thinned out, I realized it was a sandwich stand and that was the day I fell in love with I Due Fratellini
Even in situations of more questionable enjoyment, sometimes you want to see sights/monuments just for the sake of saying you've seen them. The Mona Lisa in the Lourve for example. She's small, roped off, and that room is always packed and full of cameras being waved in the air. You would think it was Brad Pitt there instead of da Vinci's iconic face, which you can't even photograph properly because there's a pane of glass that causes a glare if you try to use a flash. However would many of you consider going to the Lourve and purposely shying away from the Mona Lisa? Probably not.
Each visitor to a foreign place has a different purpose in mind, sometimes it's a little cheesey or a bit of a guilty pleasure, but no sight/event/monument should be avoided just because it's choke full of tourists. The majority of folks probably want to see it for a reason - probably because it's worth seeing! But what's most important is that you identify the most popular attractions, then research them to see if, in fact, you want to wade into the crowds, or if there is an off peak time when the hordes are thinner. When it comes to eating in tourist areas, look at the menu and prices before you sit down, and google some nearby alternatives just in case. A little research and thinking ahead helps you know what you're getting into.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Sleeping with the French...
Ok, this is not nearly as provocative as the title suggests, but helpful to know all the same.
When booking accommodations in Europe (especially at B&B's) you may come across the description "French Double Bed", a term most of us North Americans aren't so familiar with. A quick search pulled up this description:
So, something to keep in mind when you're booking a room on the cheap overseas and you and your buddy aren't prepared to do some serious spooning... ;)
When booking accommodations in Europe (especially at B&B's) you may come across the description "French Double Bed", a term most of us North Americans aren't so familiar with. A quick search pulled up this description:
Commonly called "un grand lit" in French, the French double bed is another characteristically French item. A French bed is smaller than a double bed, measuring 115 cm to 140 cm. It is larger than a twin bed, so a person may fit more comfortably in a french bed. The French bed is meant for a single person, since it may be rather small to fit two people. It is meant to provide a better sleeping experience for the single person, or a cozy experience for a couple.
So, something to keep in mind when you're booking a room on the cheap overseas and you and your buddy aren't prepared to do some serious spooning... ;)
Thursday, June 09, 2011
Terrific Tips from a Travel Pro
No, not from me although Christine Estima is every bit as fabulous as I am ;) She's an accomplished writer, blogger, playwright, reality show star and world traveller several times over. And now she's gone and written a concise and informative article entitled "Stree-Free Ways to Vacation on a Tight Budget" full of pointers and recos that I abide by religiously when I travel.
This is the link to the original article. I've also pasted the text below (with my own two cents after that!)
In addition to Christine's great advice:
-Aside from London, cities in Scotland and Paris are also very cheap cities to fly into. Depending on your subsequent destinations, you can check whether Ryan Air or EasyJet operates flights from these airports, as they may be more geographically convenient for your itinerary. Transat is currently offering a crazy deal from Toronto to Hamburg for the end of June, that's another city that Transat often offers deals to - which is a short train ride to Northern Europe compared to London/Paris/etc.
-Rail Europe's Canadian website is a great one-stop shop for passes and tickets, especially if it's your first time in Europe. However they don't actually always offer the best prices and the passes may have restrictions when it comes to some local trains. If you're super thrifty and brave, give the destination country's rail/bus company site a search and you may come up with much better deals. Like Megabus a lot of these companies use confirmation numbers instead of hard tickets, so all you need to do is print the email and bring it with you (or even just show it to them off your phone). You can also book along the way from internet cafes.
-Let me repeat: The Swiss Army Knife is vital! And packing it checked luggage even more so. I use a Swiss Army Card myself, a souvenir from Switzerland, and it's gotten me out of every kind of bind including the time I got overzealous at a Singapore fruit market and bought a papaya the size of my head with no concept of how to eat it (wait, I guess that's not the best example...) I've also nearly had to part with it a couple times because I forgot to pack it, but the beauty of a card tool versus the regular 'knife' is that I was able to dash into the post office and mail the card home to myself for very cheap.
If there's anything Douglas Adams taught us, it was to always bring your towel. In addition to that I would throw in a spork and some hand sanitizer and bon voyage!
This is the link to the original article. I've also pasted the text below (with my own two cents after that!)
Traveling might be the only incurable virus that I’m happy to have; it’s infected my brain, and I’ll never stop longing for more! Most of us want to travel and see the world, but not all of us have the bank notes to support our habit (I mean: treat our virus). Luckily, travel doesn’t have to be a wallet-emptying experience. There are lots of ways to cut costs without cheapening the experience. If your travel agent hasn’t filled you in on the cost-effective goods, fire her arse and consider this list your bible:
Discount Airlines: Made popular in Europe, discount airlines are popping up in North America too, and even major airlines are offering sweet deals on some of their carriers. WestJet offers discounted flights and vacation packages to Mexico, the Caribbean, and even Cuba (you’ll have to fly through Canada first and then to Cuba, but trust me, Havana is worth it). Porter Airlines offers discounted flights to New York, Montreal, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, Myrtle Beach and most major Canadian destinations. If you want to compare discount prices, websites like CheapoAir aggregates all the lowest prices available to online purchases, and offers discount codes at check-out to drop the price even further. If you’re heading to Europe, keep in mind that London is the cheapest city in the entire continent to fly into. Air Transat offers flights for as low as $99 before taxes to London. If you’re willing to forego the direct flight to your European destination, make London your stopover spot, and then hop on one of their discount airlines (Easy Jet, Ryan Air) which can take you to almost any European city for the cost of a cup of Joe (I once flew from London to Seville for one pence, which is maybe equivalent to two cents).
Discount Accommodation: When we were teenagers and in our twenties, we were more than willing to sleep in university dorm rooms or hostel bunk beds. As we mature, there is the tendency to outgrow those ‘slumming it’ ways, and want to actually enjoy a soft comfy bed. Hotels need not be a major cash drain. Websites like Hot Wire keep track of hotel rooms that have become available at the last minute, and offers them at discounted rates, so you can stay in major cities for up to 50% less. If hotels are still too rich for your blood, guesthouses and B&B’s are also great ways to save some coinage.
Rail Passes and Buses: You don’t need to rent a car to get around. Europe has perhaps the best rail network of any continent, and offer a variety of rail passes that will save you money on individual tickets. Overnight trains offer comfy couchettes, and some tickets include the price of a meal. South America offers extensive coach bus services, as does North America. Check out MegaBus, a European bus company that recently launched in North America, for coach bus seats selling as low as $1.
Gear: When it comes to packing, you want to pack as light as possible, especially when lugging a suitcase up a flight of stairs, or a really steep road. Packing gear that is multi-functional will save you space and migraines. A Swiss Army Knife is a vital tool (but make sure you pack it in your checked luggage, not your carry-on!). It can act as scissors, a can opener, a knife to cut food, a bottle opener, and even a nail file. Garbage bags or plastic bags are good to have, as you can throw your dirty laundry in them to keep separate from your clean clothes. They can also go over your luggage if it rains, and they’re handy for packing muddy boots. You don’t want to carry heavy shampoo bottles or moisturizers that will just take up space and weigh you down. Hold on to those free samples you get in the mail, or at the mall, as they are perfect single-serving toiletries, and there’s no bottle to carry around after you use them. A money belt is great to keep your passport and valuables safe, but there’s the risk that thieves will target you, as fanny-packs=tourist. Make sure you always wear it under your clothes.
Money: You don’t need travelers cheques, they’re not accepted everywhere, contrary to popular belief, so don’t waste your money on them. No matter where you travel, you’ll find an automated bank machine, especially at airports and train stations. The only extra fees for using them normally are determined by your bank (some will waive them entirely), and you won’t have to carry around any more money than what you’ll use.
Food: Of course you should sample the local cuisine, no matter where you go, but you don’t have to eat out every night. Hit the local farmer’s market or grocery store, and make your own meals. Make it an excuse to pack a picnic and eat at the National Parks or summery beaches.
Tours: Who says you have to pay for a tour? Most guidebooks, like Lonely Planet, offer detailed maps and backstories on major city sights, so follow along on foot, and see the attractions while dropping some extra weight. Hope on a bike, and cruise along rivers, boardwalks, and city landmarks. What’s more, there are even free walking tours now. Sandeman’s New Europe offers free walking tours in 13 cities across the continent. I’ve taken three of them, and I highly recommend. They are at least two hours, they are detailed, and they are really a great way to meet other travelers, learn a bit, and enjoy the city (Psst. The guides only make money from tips, so show your appreciation with a few Euros).
In addition to Christine's great advice:
-Aside from London, cities in Scotland and Paris are also very cheap cities to fly into. Depending on your subsequent destinations, you can check whether Ryan Air or EasyJet operates flights from these airports, as they may be more geographically convenient for your itinerary. Transat is currently offering a crazy deal from Toronto to Hamburg for the end of June, that's another city that Transat often offers deals to - which is a short train ride to Northern Europe compared to London/Paris/etc.
-Rail Europe's Canadian website is a great one-stop shop for passes and tickets, especially if it's your first time in Europe. However they don't actually always offer the best prices and the passes may have restrictions when it comes to some local trains. If you're super thrifty and brave, give the destination country's rail/bus company site a search and you may come up with much better deals. Like Megabus a lot of these companies use confirmation numbers instead of hard tickets, so all you need to do is print the email and bring it with you (or even just show it to them off your phone). You can also book along the way from internet cafes.
-Let me repeat: The Swiss Army Knife is vital! And packing it checked luggage even more so. I use a Swiss Army Card myself, a souvenir from Switzerland, and it's gotten me out of every kind of bind including the time I got overzealous at a Singapore fruit market and bought a papaya the size of my head with no concept of how to eat it (wait, I guess that's not the best example...) I've also nearly had to part with it a couple times because I forgot to pack it, but the beauty of a card tool versus the regular 'knife' is that I was able to dash into the post office and mail the card home to myself for very cheap.
If there's anything Douglas Adams taught us, it was to always bring your towel. In addition to that I would throw in a spork and some hand sanitizer and bon voyage!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Manhattan Movie Mania
For those who know me personally, you'll know that most of my paycheques are spent on one of 2 things - travel or movies. And every once in a while the two come together.
The obvious is when I attend different film festivals during my travels, but I also like to do a little movie shopping where ever I go and have much to say on the topic. For those who are not avid collectors (or travelers), one of the first things is to make sure you'll be able to play what you buy overseas at home. I have a region-free DVD player for this purpose, though most DVDs will play on a computer, blu-rays are much trickier (though all-region blu-ray players seem to be getting cheaper). If you're still unsure, then your safest bet is to buy all your movies within North America. Foreign films are usually easiest to find in the country from which they originate, just make sure they have English subtitles or you understand the original language. Also if you're an anti-fullscreen fanatic like me, it's worthwhile to learn the word for "widescreen" (if you don't know what the terms "full screen" and "widescreen" mean, we cannot continue to be friends until you've read this.) and keep in mind anything from the early 50's or older will not be widescreen, so they're safe to buy indiscriminately. Many countries impose fines or penalties if you are caught with bootleg movies, therefore I don't encourage purchasing unlicensed discs.
While I was in New York last month, I made an effort to check out a few stores, where I came across some bargains and rare finds. Note: These are not your slick large chain stores with the shiny displays of the lastest Fast & Furious movie, expect a little grim, have some patience, and be prepared to be surrounded by collector geeks.
The DVD Funhouse is a cramped store on Broadway near Union Square, I found it one night last year on my way to The Strand bookstore (which is almost kiddie corner from this place). They feature a good - but incomplete - selection of steeply discounted movies. Most discs are new, they stock mostly DVDs with a little Blu-ray, and the majority of the titles are all under $10. If I had to guess, I would say these are excess stock of blockbusters from years past that never sold at larger retailers. I've amused at the horrible reviews this place gets on google, it's a discount store for bargain movie hunters, not an HMV. As a frequenter of Union Square, I intend to stop by here every visit, I think it's a good spot for deals.
Also nearby is an Entertainment Outlet, with a wider selection than DVD Funhouse including more obscure & classic titles. This place requires a LOT of patience though, be prepared to crouch and flip through bins. There are walls of new regular-prices movies, discounted $5.99 (average) titles in the middle aisles, and steeply discounted $3.99 DVDs in bins sitting on the floor (the latter two in no particular order). They sell a mix of new and used movies, again mostly DVD, but they do have some blu-rays and even a Criterion section. I would recommend this place for avid collectors, bring some hand sanitizer though as the cases are dusty.
Academy Records is another collector's haven, though they advertise a movie selection this place is more of a music collector's dream, especially if you buy records and/or are a fan of classical/jazz/older music. I only glanced at the classical section and found it not only separated by composer but also by musical period (ie. mideval, pre-classical, etc. which blew my mind). Video-wise there are a lot of DVDs of classical music performances, but when it comes to actual movies, the DVD/Blu-ray selection is a bit slim.
All of the above are good spots, but be prepared to leave your heart and life savings behind at Kim's Video in the East Village. Odds are, if you've ever searched for it fruitlessly, it'll be here. For those who frequented Suspected Video on Queen Street before it burned down :( Kim's is just like Suspect except everything is for purchase! It's roughly the same size, building in a similar state of disrepair (haha) with titles organized by country, then director with special sections for new releases, blu-rays, eras, and other special collections. For North American titles they are separated by decade. There are collections here I never knew existed, things I would never have thought to search for even on-line! If you're into old hollywood there are complete studio collections from the Hollywood Code era, silent era, etc. Everything is full price but you'll want to buy it anyway, this is one of my new favourite places in NYC.
The obvious is when I attend different film festivals during my travels, but I also like to do a little movie shopping where ever I go and have much to say on the topic. For those who are not avid collectors (or travelers), one of the first things is to make sure you'll be able to play what you buy overseas at home. I have a region-free DVD player for this purpose, though most DVDs will play on a computer, blu-rays are much trickier (though all-region blu-ray players seem to be getting cheaper). If you're still unsure, then your safest bet is to buy all your movies within North America. Foreign films are usually easiest to find in the country from which they originate, just make sure they have English subtitles or you understand the original language. Also if you're an anti-fullscreen fanatic like me, it's worthwhile to learn the word for "widescreen" (if you don't know what the terms "full screen" and "widescreen" mean, we cannot continue to be friends until you've read this.) and keep in mind anything from the early 50's or older will not be widescreen, so they're safe to buy indiscriminately. Many countries impose fines or penalties if you are caught with bootleg movies, therefore I don't encourage purchasing unlicensed discs.
While I was in New York last month, I made an effort to check out a few stores, where I came across some bargains and rare finds. Note: These are not your slick large chain stores with the shiny displays of the lastest Fast & Furious movie, expect a little grim, have some patience, and be prepared to be surrounded by collector geeks.
The DVD Funhouse is a cramped store on Broadway near Union Square, I found it one night last year on my way to The Strand bookstore (which is almost kiddie corner from this place). They feature a good - but incomplete - selection of steeply discounted movies. Most discs are new, they stock mostly DVDs with a little Blu-ray, and the majority of the titles are all under $10. If I had to guess, I would say these are excess stock of blockbusters from years past that never sold at larger retailers. I've amused at the horrible reviews this place gets on google, it's a discount store for bargain movie hunters, not an HMV. As a frequenter of Union Square, I intend to stop by here every visit, I think it's a good spot for deals.
Also nearby is an Entertainment Outlet, with a wider selection than DVD Funhouse including more obscure & classic titles. This place requires a LOT of patience though, be prepared to crouch and flip through bins. There are walls of new regular-prices movies, discounted $5.99 (average) titles in the middle aisles, and steeply discounted $3.99 DVDs in bins sitting on the floor (the latter two in no particular order). They sell a mix of new and used movies, again mostly DVD, but they do have some blu-rays and even a Criterion section. I would recommend this place for avid collectors, bring some hand sanitizer though as the cases are dusty.
Academy Records is another collector's haven, though they advertise a movie selection this place is more of a music collector's dream, especially if you buy records and/or are a fan of classical/jazz/older music. I only glanced at the classical section and found it not only separated by composer but also by musical period (ie. mideval, pre-classical, etc. which blew my mind). Video-wise there are a lot of DVDs of classical music performances, but when it comes to actual movies, the DVD/Blu-ray selection is a bit slim.
All of the above are good spots, but be prepared to leave your heart and life savings behind at Kim's Video in the East Village. Odds are, if you've ever searched for it fruitlessly, it'll be here. For those who frequented Suspected Video on Queen Street before it burned down :( Kim's is just like Suspect except everything is for purchase! It's roughly the same size, building in a similar state of disrepair (haha) with titles organized by country, then director with special sections for new releases, blu-rays, eras, and other special collections. For North American titles they are separated by decade. There are collections here I never knew existed, things I would never have thought to search for even on-line! If you're into old hollywood there are complete studio collections from the Hollywood Code era, silent era, etc. Everything is full price but you'll want to buy it anyway, this is one of my new favourite places in NYC.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Ich verstehe nicht
I received my first piece of German correspondence today. It came in the form of an email ticket confirmation, presumably containing details for a Cirque du Soleil show I'm going to see in Salzburg this fall. I was highly amused about being addressed as Frau Wong, less so about getting all my ticket pick-up details in a language that I had no hope of deciphering.
Thank god for Goggle translate. In this age of smartphones, one would also be wise to keep a translation app on their phone as well. Next up I'd like to see some technology where I can snap a photo of a foreign sign and have it deciphered for me. Those of you who are less tech-dependent, or just don't want to pay crazy data charges, I would suggest looking over all travel confirmations, bookings, tickets and directions before you leave and printing off translated copies. Keep the 2 versions stapled together, one for you to refer to, the other in case you need to show it to someone in that country for further information.
Phrase books never hurt anyone either, but when it comes to those, pricier isn't always better. Every book as the essentials, it's just a matter of finding it in a pinch. Go to a used book store or discount book store (in Toronto that means BMV) and see what they got, flip through before your trip and flat the pages you think you're most likely to use. Alternatively make up your own list with Goggle Translate and print a copy to take with you.
Some words/phrases I make a point to learn:
I don't know
I don't understand
washroom/toilet
thank you
yes
no
English
cup of tea please
hot water please (as I usually bring my own tea when I travel)
no beef (because I don't eat it)
Thank god for Goggle translate. In this age of smartphones, one would also be wise to keep a translation app on their phone as well. Next up I'd like to see some technology where I can snap a photo of a foreign sign and have it deciphered for me. Those of you who are less tech-dependent, or just don't want to pay crazy data charges, I would suggest looking over all travel confirmations, bookings, tickets and directions before you leave and printing off translated copies. Keep the 2 versions stapled together, one for you to refer to, the other in case you need to show it to someone in that country for further information.
Phrase books never hurt anyone either, but when it comes to those, pricier isn't always better. Every book as the essentials, it's just a matter of finding it in a pinch. Go to a used book store or discount book store (in Toronto that means BMV) and see what they got, flip through before your trip and flat the pages you think you're most likely to use. Alternatively make up your own list with Goggle Translate and print a copy to take with you.
Some words/phrases I make a point to learn:
I don't know
I don't understand
washroom/toilet
thank you
yes
no
English
cup of tea please
hot water please (as I usually bring my own tea when I travel)
no beef (because I don't eat it)
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Toronto to Vancouver for less than $500? *brain explodes*
Consider this an elaborate re-tweet. I was just going through this week's Travel Alerts email and followed a link for cheap flights to Vancouver between Jun 16-21st on Sun Wing Airlines (which I'm not familiar with). It looks like the real deal with a return flight leaving June 16th, and coming back June 21st for $482.01.
I couldn't even get a flight under $600 when I went flew to Vancouver 10 years ago!
So if you're budgeted for an extended weekend getaway next month I suggest you check this deal out, doesn't come up too often.
http://www.flysunwing.com/default.asp
I couldn't even get a flight under $600 when I went flew to Vancouver 10 years ago!
So if you're budgeted for an extended weekend getaway next month I suggest you check this deal out, doesn't come up too often.
http://www.flysunwing.com/default.asp
Monday, May 09, 2011
A Few of My Favourite Things - Favourite Montreal Things That Is...
For those of you who are Southern Ontario dwellers, you will note that the weather is finally starting to look at little bit better, even a promise of temps reaching 20 later this week (albeit with showers but given the last few week's weather, I'll suck it up and take it).
There are a few things every year that signal the approach of warmer weather to me... when I start to wear sandals into the office (as opposed to bringing a pair to change when I go home), my best friend's Victoria Day bbq in the beaches, and a trip to Montreal before all the Grand Prix madness starts. I've been to Montreal during different times of the year and have made about 10 or so trips in the past 8 years, so I've become pretty familiarized with Downtown and the Plateau areas, etc
Admittedly frequent trips with similar purposes and often the same people year after year can turn you into a creature of habit. My interests and tastes have changed throughout the years, I'm no longer obsessed with getting into the after hours club with the best sound system in North America for starters (incidentally I have made it to Stereo in years past). What I now aim for is a mix of old and new, this works better some years than others depending how many days I'm there and who I'm with.
Naturally the only things I can speak of are those that I've experienced, in exchange I would love to hear from you some of your favourite things to do on a leisure weekend in Montreal and maybe I can incorporate some of those into my trip next month. Please forgive me if I make a few errors in my references (and please feel free to correct), I'm doing this with a guidebook and much as I go there, it's not my home city.
There are a few things every year that signal the approach of warmer weather to me... when I start to wear sandals into the office (as opposed to bringing a pair to change when I go home), my best friend's Victoria Day bbq in the beaches, and a trip to Montreal before all the Grand Prix madness starts. I've been to Montreal during different times of the year and have made about 10 or so trips in the past 8 years, so I've become pretty familiarized with Downtown and the Plateau areas, etc
Admittedly frequent trips with similar purposes and often the same people year after year can turn you into a creature of habit. My interests and tastes have changed throughout the years, I'm no longer obsessed with getting into the after hours club with the best sound system in North America for starters (incidentally I have made it to Stereo in years past). What I now aim for is a mix of old and new, this works better some years than others depending how many days I'm there and who I'm with.
Naturally the only things I can speak of are those that I've experienced, in exchange I would love to hear from you some of your favourite things to do on a leisure weekend in Montreal and maybe I can incorporate some of those into my trip next month. Please forgive me if I make a few errors in my references (and please feel free to correct), I'm doing this with a guidebook and much as I go there, it's not my home city.
- Mont Royale -- This is a must for everyone who enjoys a little nature, and a free panoramic city view. The greatest thing about Mont Royale is that it's situated right in the middle of city, it's walkable from the hotel strip on Sherbrooke, McGill Campus, the Plateau, even downtown and the Latin Quarter if you can stand to walk for about 30mins. Before taking another walk that is, usually on the trail that leads all the way to the top of the mountain to the lookout and the cross that is visible throughout the city. I've been up there a couple times, I hope to see the sunrise one of these years, I think it'd be an interesting experience.
- Parc du Mont Royale -- just below Mont Royale is large stretch of green space, fields, playgrounds, picnic tables, walking trails and is the home of the Tam Tam Festival every Sunday during the summer. It was designed by the same guy who created Central Park in New York. The Tam Tam festival is not only one of the great drum circles, but features many vendors and hawkers selling their wares spread out on blankets in the park, while a lot of stuff is trinkety tourist crap, you can still find some unique crafts and jewelry in the midst of all the sellers. Tam Tam aside, my favourite thing to do in Mount Royal Park is to toss the frisbee around, the grass is always so lush and fresh that I can never resist taking off my shoes to play. It's also not bad to nap in (next time you arrive on a 4am bus to save a few bucks) but I suspect those days might be behind me as well.
- Maison Simons -- http://www.simons.ca/ Outside of Macy's in NYC, Simons is probably my favourite fashion department store in the world to shop at. Which might surprise some of you considering I also frequent places such as Harrods, El Corte Ingles, etc. Of all the people that I've brought along to Simons, guy or girl, I don't think there's a single person who disliked the place. What they offer is a wide variety of clothing for men and women, in a multitude of styles AND prices. In a one stop shop I can pick up basics by their store brand (Twik) starting at under $10 for sale items to the latest styles by international designers, selection ranges from tanks & tees to formal dresses, purses, scarves, and there's even an extensive swimwear and sportswear collection and lingerie upstairs. My guy friends walk out with everything from graphic tees to dress shirts. Everytime I go in I forewarn my friends that they will not hear from me again for at least an hour and a half.
- Chez Jose -- http://www.yelp.ca/biz/chez-jose-montreal A little independent cafe in the Plateau that a friend introduced us to in 2003 and has been one of my favourite cafes since. Delicious crepes, baked goods, and coffee at affordable prices. It's a tiny shop so during peak hours you might have to stand at the entrance for 10-15 mins before a table opens up, and if you show up with 8 people (as I have done before) don't expect to be sitting together, but the character and atmosphere of the place will make you fall in love.
- Patati Patata -- http://www.yelp.ca/biz/patati-patata---friterie-de-luxe-montreal Another dirt cheap spot serving up delicious food, this one more like a greasy spoon establishment though. They make everything fresh that you can observe from over the counter so there's usually a bit of a wait for your food (nevermind the potential lines). All burgers are in slider size so order a few because you'll definitely want more, they are also the only place I know of that makes slider-size TOFU burgers! I'm not talking about some pre-processed Yves veggie burger, but a thick slice of firm tofu marinated and grilled. I sometimes lie in bed at night and dream of this tofu burger lol. I'm also always torn between salad or fries, both are so good. It'd be a miracle to get a seat inside this narrow joint tho, so head outside to the parkette across the street to eat.
- Frite Alors -- http://www.fritealors.com/en/indexb_a.html Who in their right minds goes to Quebec and then doesn't eat poutine right? So chances are if you're in Montreal you're going to come across one of the Frite Alors restaurants. Pop in for some poutine, they have a pretty great selection and the portions are pretty big. If you're a meat eater, try the smoke sausage with gruyere.
- Bar B Barn -- http://www.barbbarn.ca/ My friend Chris turned me onto this place and I've been a few times since. You gotta be a big meat-eater to survive this place (I learned the hard way one year), otherwise plan ahead to share a meal with another weakling. They take the "barn" part to heart with the wooden stables decore, and their main focus is chicken & ribs. It's good value, you get a decent portion for your money, it's a great casual dinner hangout (my pick for pre-hockey game meal)
- Old Montreal and The Bonsecours Market -- http://www.vieux.montreal.qc.ca/eng/accueila.htm Another lovely place for a walk, this is the historical center of Montreal that is most reminiscent of Europe with the water nearby and horse-drawn carriages trotting along the cobblestone streets. Within Old Montreal is the Bonsecours Market, housed in an impressive Neo-Classical building. With sections stores selling different items, my favourite is shop that sells the ethnic instruments, I have been known to walk out with a tam tam or rain stick.
- Fairmount Bagels -- http://www.fairmountbagel.com/ My bagel intake isn't what it used to be, but bagels are a Montreal staple and I still never go without stopping in at Fairmount for my fix. The best part is, they're open 24 hours so I can stop in any time to see their bakers working on a fresh batch of handmade goodness. A passerby once witnessed me holding my dozen bagels so lovingly outside the store that he asked to take my photo. True story!
Monday, May 02, 2011
Raw beef and cocktails - Venice vacation or recipe for disaster?
Salutations and happy Monday to all you travelers (well, it remains to be seen about the "happy" part but...) J leaves our humble offices for a year in Central and South America, V has jetted off on vacation to New Orleans, and L is busy planning her month-long trip to Australia while waiting for her boss to approve her vacation time (come on boss, give the girl a break!)
Not wanting to be completely left out of the fun, I booked myself a plane ticket to Venice in the fall. This will just be a European departure point, I hope to see a handful of cities before I have to come back.
Venice has always struck me as having a distinct culture even within Italy; streets of water, decorative masks, and beautiful glass to start. A quick google search has led me to 2 more Venetian inventions that I wasn't previously aware of:
Carpaccio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpaccio
Typically thinly sliced raw beef with seasonings, which I will not eat (I'm adverse to the "beef" part as opposed to the "raw") Carpaccio can also be raw fish, which I will eat.
Bellini
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellini_%28cocktail%29
A delicious fruity cocktail (yes, a chick drink but don't let that stop you from experiencing the culture!) made with peaches, champagne, and other ingredients.
I'm not sure the two are exactly complimentary to each other but I will make an effort to sample both (especially the bellini, as it's already a favourite cocktail of mine) while I'm there. Also expect many coffee beverages to be ingested.
Sidenote: In my attempts to experience culture in their native homes and bring back relevant souvenirs, I'm kinda glad Venetian blinds weren't actually invented in Venice.
Not wanting to be completely left out of the fun, I booked myself a plane ticket to Venice in the fall. This will just be a European departure point, I hope to see a handful of cities before I have to come back.
Venice has always struck me as having a distinct culture even within Italy; streets of water, decorative masks, and beautiful glass to start. A quick google search has led me to 2 more Venetian inventions that I wasn't previously aware of:
Carpaccio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpaccio
Typically thinly sliced raw beef with seasonings, which I will not eat (I'm adverse to the "beef" part as opposed to the "raw") Carpaccio can also be raw fish, which I will eat.
Bellini
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellini_%28cocktail%29
A delicious fruity cocktail (yes, a chick drink but don't let that stop you from experiencing the culture!) made with peaches, champagne, and other ingredients.
I'm not sure the two are exactly complimentary to each other but I will make an effort to sample both (especially the bellini, as it's already a favourite cocktail of mine) while I'm there. Also expect many coffee beverages to be ingested.
Sidenote: In my attempts to experience culture in their native homes and bring back relevant souvenirs, I'm kinda glad Venetian blinds weren't actually invented in Venice.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Master of your vacation
In this largely useless Friday entry, I would like to draw your attention to the expedia.ca site. If you advance through the booking pages to where you enter your travellers' information, you will see here you have a choice of personal titles via a drop-down box.
Look closely and you will see one of the options is "Master"... lol
Officially an outdated title used to address young boys, you can now be referred to as "Master" on your online expedia reservation. I wonder if the airline staff will also call you Master when you go to check-in?
Someone please try this and report back!
Look closely and you will see one of the options is "Master"... lol
Officially an outdated title used to address young boys, you can now be referred to as "Master" on your online expedia reservation. I wonder if the airline staff will also call you Master when you go to check-in?
Someone please try this and report back!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
SMS - A Traveler's Best Method of Communication?
In this day and age, most of us feel pretty naked without our cell phones. One of the greatest challenges of traveling is we often have to switch off our phones, even if they do work on overseas networks, the charges for staying connected through email, social networking, and even good old fashion voice calling can be phenomenally high!
More and more wireless carriers are starting to offer travel plans, a flat fee for 'x' amount of roaming, and then a fee of 'y' dollars per min/mb thereafter. This helps to lower the costs, but ultimately you still need to be smart about usage or it can still cost you a small fortune. There's usually 3 types of roaming, packages are usually available for each and sometimes in combination. Voice roaming is the one that most people are familiar with, that's when you're making phone calls. Data roaming comes into play when you access your email, your social networking, and web. If you have a Blackberry, bbm will also fall under this. Then there's text roaming, which few people think about but I think has the most value.
I don't talk on the phone personally, I rather loathe it. But I can see how it's a necessity to some, I'm not talking about gabbing with your girlfriends while you're away, but maybe you have an elderly family member at home that you need to check up on. Instances like that you need the voice roaming. If that's not the case though, think carefully under want circumstances you might need to make a call with your phone. And of those circumstances how often will you need to exchange more than a few words? For example, if you're traveling with friends or meeting up with someone in another country, will you be able to coordinate a meet-up spot via text messaging?
Web browsing and social networking on our phones is pretty essential to many of us when at home, but our monthly packages come with large buckets of data where data roaming packages won't. The amount of web surfing and tweeting you're accustomed to may cost you dearly overseas. Really stop and consider how much tweeting/surfing/foursquare-ing you really need to do. Most hotels offer free or cheap wifi, so provided you print a few good maps before you leave and do all your additional research and social networking at the hotel, you shouldn't really be needing too much data while you're out taking in the sights.
At first texting (SMS-ing) seems pretty useless compared to the other two right? Well, think again. Text roaming packages usually come with a good number of included texts, and additional texts are rarely over 50 cents each. If your msg is concise you can get your point across in one message rather than take a minute of voice time, which would cost you at least twice as much than sending one text msg. Also you can do more that just direct message someone using SMS. Did you know you can Tweet via SMS? Blog via SMS? Get transit prediction info via SMS in some cities? Most advertisements featuring scan barcodes for your smartphone will also include in the fine print below, a method for those who don't have smartphones to send an SMS message instead to receive more info.
So next time you're assessing your wireless roaming needs, keep those text roaming packages in mind!
More and more wireless carriers are starting to offer travel plans, a flat fee for 'x' amount of roaming, and then a fee of 'y' dollars per min/mb thereafter. This helps to lower the costs, but ultimately you still need to be smart about usage or it can still cost you a small fortune. There's usually 3 types of roaming, packages are usually available for each and sometimes in combination. Voice roaming is the one that most people are familiar with, that's when you're making phone calls. Data roaming comes into play when you access your email, your social networking, and web. If you have a Blackberry, bbm will also fall under this. Then there's text roaming, which few people think about but I think has the most value.
I don't talk on the phone personally, I rather loathe it. But I can see how it's a necessity to some, I'm not talking about gabbing with your girlfriends while you're away, but maybe you have an elderly family member at home that you need to check up on. Instances like that you need the voice roaming. If that's not the case though, think carefully under want circumstances you might need to make a call with your phone. And of those circumstances how often will you need to exchange more than a few words? For example, if you're traveling with friends or meeting up with someone in another country, will you be able to coordinate a meet-up spot via text messaging?
Web browsing and social networking on our phones is pretty essential to many of us when at home, but our monthly packages come with large buckets of data where data roaming packages won't. The amount of web surfing and tweeting you're accustomed to may cost you dearly overseas. Really stop and consider how much tweeting/surfing/foursquare-ing you really need to do. Most hotels offer free or cheap wifi, so provided you print a few good maps before you leave and do all your additional research and social networking at the hotel, you shouldn't really be needing too much data while you're out taking in the sights.
At first texting (SMS-ing) seems pretty useless compared to the other two right? Well, think again. Text roaming packages usually come with a good number of included texts, and additional texts are rarely over 50 cents each. If your msg is concise you can get your point across in one message rather than take a minute of voice time, which would cost you at least twice as much than sending one text msg. Also you can do more that just direct message someone using SMS. Did you know you can Tweet via SMS? Blog via SMS? Get transit prediction info via SMS in some cities? Most advertisements featuring scan barcodes for your smartphone will also include in the fine print below, a method for those who don't have smartphones to send an SMS message instead to receive more info.
So next time you're assessing your wireless roaming needs, keep those text roaming packages in mind!
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