Singing in the Streets: Cheap Music in Vienna, Austria

He was one of the most talented musicians I had ever heard. Sitting alone in front of his audience, his head bent in concentration over the cello. His fingers fluttered effortlessly in time with the bow and generated a haunting, complex melody. And he didn't even flinch when a black Mercedes zipped around him, horn blaring. You expect to find gifted musicians in Vienna, Austria, a city world-renowned for producing and nurturing many of history's greatest composers. You expect to attend a concert, hear the disciples of Mozart and Strauss practice their craft at the highest level. You do not expect to do so in the middle of a traffic circle. 

But Vienna's music culture is not allocated solely to expensive opera houses and ornate palace halls. Music and music's history are so much a part of Vienna, that standing room and street corners often offer easier and more authentic substitutes.

I stumbled upon the cello player one evening in Michaelerplatz, a round courtyard carved into a corner of the enormous Hofburg Palace. The setting itself juxtaposed the elaborate, baroque wing of the Hapsburg’s winter residence, deity-laded fountains and all, with the trappings of modern traffic patterns. A narrow road emerged from the bowels of the palace itself, shooting out from underneath an archway before skirting Michaelerplatz's circular perimeter and branching off into a series of quaint boulevards. 

In the center of this roundabout, across from some preserved ancient Roman ruins, a young man sat alone with his polished cello. He was dressed in a full tuxedo, his dark hair purposefully disheveled. He was accompanied by a small speaker at his feet and an open instrument case a few feet away. 

Michaelerplatz, a plaza at one end of the Hofburg Palace

We must have caught him between pieces because people were already gathered along the waist-high stone wall that dissects the plaza, forming a perfect audience pit.

I believe in joining any impromptu group gathered in a public place, especially when it involves a musician. The quantity and quality of a city’s street performers is a good indicator on whether or not the indoor entertainment is worth anything. At the very least, it’s fun for free. So I claimed an empty wall spot just before the cello strings began humming.

In an instant, Vienna lived up to its musical reputation. The man with the cello played effortlessly through three classical movements. His small speaker supported him with taped percussion and horn, but his strings were always the star.

He began with a slow-paced piece, drowned in emotion. He paused briefly for applause, tipped his head in recognition and launched immediately into a fast-paced staccato. He tipped the scales, leaning into each stroke with gumption. More than a few heads bobbed along, mine included. He wrangled in the energy level for the third piece and boomed out a vaguely familiar tune. It was then that a black Mercedes raced out from the archway, bathing the cello player in headlight. He embraced the unplanned spotlight by closing his eyes, craning back his neck and hitting the song’s climactic point. His bit of flare earned a collective, “ooh” from the onlookers. 

The Mercedes sped off, the cello player came to a rousing finish and twenty pedestrians erupted in applause. Without a word, he stood up from his stool, bowed, picked up his speaker and case and strolled away. In seconds, Michaelerplatz was empty.

I could not name any of the cellist’s pieces, nor did that matter. I had listened to beautiful music in the shadow of one of Europe’s most ornate buildings, played by a master artist drowned in a soft lamplight. The atmosphere rivaled any opera house.

Vienna's street performers are like no other

Which is not to say the Staatstoper, Vienna’s majestic opera house, should not be on everyone’s Austrian must-see list. There is a fair amount of chance associated with finding good street musicians. In Vienna, or Salzburg or Munich for that matter, the odds just happen to be greatly in your favor. 

But most visitors seeking that classic musical experience have no shortage of opportunity, either. As soon as you emerge from the subway in the city’s busy Stephensplatz, salesmen dressed in Renaissance garb bombard tourists and locals alike with talk of cheap opera tickets and dinner shows. They are unnecessary.

The only things you need to enjoy a night of fine music, are strong legs and an open mind, because the Staatstoper offers standing room tickets. It’s a trick located in many good guidebooks, but one well worth taking advantage of.

I am by no means an opera guy. But an hour and a half prior to show time, I lined up at the Staatsoper box office with a couple hundred other people, curious about what was waiting for me inside. Four Euro later, I was being shuffled by ushers to a waiting area outside the mezzanine. Forty-five minutes prior to curtain, we entered into the shimmering, golden hall. We claimed spots along one of the tiered railings set aside for the standing room customers (they say bring a scarf to tie on the rail to save your spot, but any scrap of cloth will do). The railings provide good leaning and even have small screens that scroll translations during the show. 

If there is a better view inside this gorgeous opera house, I didn’t see it. Center stage, elevated above the floor seats, this box should have been reserved for royalty. Instead, a hundred or so casually dressed deal-seekers stood gawking at the elaborate, lush décor. The rows of red boxes stacked encircled the hall like a lush, velvet-trimmed beehive, and buzzed with a similar excitement as they filled with opera enthusiasts. 

With the start of that night’s production, Die Frau Ohne Schatten (The Woman Without a Shadow for all you non-German speakers), an opera by Richard Strauss, I found myself ignoring the translation screen altogether and focusing on the powerful voices onstage. Mainly, I did so because the opera’s story made little sense to me; a strange Prince and the Pauper-esque tale of a barren woman who teleports and casts spells. But the composition was beautiful and unlike any other musical experience. So when I left after an hour and a half, during the first intermission, I felt completely satisfied with my four Euro investment. 

That evening ended the way any good Viennese night should end: sitting under an umbrella at an outdoor café, sipping a bright orange Aperol spritzer, noshing on a slice of cake and listening to urban chatter floating down pedestrian boulevards.

The Staatsoper, Vienna's ornate opera house

On the walk back to the hotel, I took the long way through Michaelerplatz, thinking maybe I could catch lightning in a bottle twice. I walked across the roundabout to where the cello player had sat the previous night. Tonight the stone plaza was empty. There was no audience lined along the half-wall.

But I had no reason for disappointment. For fewer than ten U.S. dollars, I attended the opera and listened to an immensely talented cellist, who by all rights could have charged admission. A win all around, even if the street musicians had taken the night off. 

Just as I turned to leave the plaza, a group emerged from a chapel on the other end of the roundabout. They formed a haphazard half-circle near a street lamp. And for the next thirty minutes, I leaned against the half-wall along a street in Vienna, and listened to an angelic choir.

Biography

Michael Hartigan is a freelance travel writer from Boston, Massachusetts. From San Francisco to Salzburg, he has explored and written about unique people, places and traditions. Michael's writing has been featured in the Arizona Republic, USA Today and in his monthly travel column published in a series of local Massachusetts newspapers, such as the Danvers Herald. He believes that you should go wherever it takes, but always come back with a good story. Follow his blog at www.whereverittakes.com and on Twitter @WhereverItTakes

5 Tips for Packing Like A Pro

You know you’ve been there: The night before your trip you stare at your suitcase hoping everything you want to pack will just magically fit in your carry-on.  Unfortunately, the packing fairy can’t always save the day, so you’ll have much better luck using our Top Five tips on packing like a pro!

Luggage is Key
With airlines charging an arm and a leg to check a bag, it’s a good idea to invest in a carry-on. A good system for picking a carry-on is the Goldilock’s method, not too big and not too small. You don’t want your carry-on to be too big because every time you board, you will be stopped and asked to put your bag in the luggage sizer. You know that it fits, but it’s just a hassle that you can avoid. You also don’t want a carry-on that’s too small because you won’t be able to fit the essentials.

There are a few other important qualities you should look for when you invest in luggage. The perfect carry-on should be durable because you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a suitcase that will only last you two or three trips. If you ever decide to check your bag, it’s a good idea to buy a carry-on that also expands. Just make sure not to expand it when you’re carrying it on. One last thing, check how heavy the suitcase is when it’s empty. It should feel light because you don’t want a heavy suitcase before you add the weight of all your clothes. There’s no way you’ll be able to get it in the overhead bin if it weighs more than you do.

Make a List and Check it Twice
After you have the right suitcase, you’ll need to decide what should go in it. That’s where making a list can come in handy. First, think of all the things you’ll be doing on your trip. Will you be dining at a fancy restaurant where a nice outfit would be appropriate? Make sure to check the weather as well, you don’t want to pack unnecessary clothing that will only take up prime real estate in your suitcase.

After you’ve done all of this, you can start making a list of everything you need. First, list the number of outfits you’ll need. This will help you determine how many tops, bottoms and shoes you’ll have to pack. A list is also helpful because it’ll keep you from overpacking or packing non-essentials. Once you’ve made your list, start laying out the outfits you want to wear. Try to find as many overlaps as you can. You can re-wear a skirt with different tops, which frees you up for something else you might need to pack.

Include even the most obvious items on your list, like your cell phone, wallet, and passport. There’s always a sense of chaos on the morning of a trip so this list will give you that peace of mind that you have everything you need.

Roll, Roll, Roll
Now that you have everything on a list and your outfits are laid out, it’s time to put them in your awesome carry-on. Folding your clothes may seem like the obvious next step, but this will take up a lot of room in your suitcase. Instead, tightly roll all of your clothes, even jeans, until they look like this:

This will save a lot of room in your suitcase and keep your clothes wrinkle free. After you’ve rolled everything up, put your jeans and heavier clothes at the bottom and continue to form layers until you run out of clothes.  You can even roll your socks to store in your shoes for maximized space.

Shoes and Such

Shoes are a tricky item to pack. Unless you’re going to the beach and wearing flip flops every day, shoes can take up a lot of room in your suitcase. If you go with the rolling method above, it’s best to line your shoes along the edge of your suitcase before you start adding your layers of clothes. This will ensure that the bottoms of your shoes won’t touch your clothes and it won’t take up as much room.

Airport Attire
Another thing to consider when packing is what you’ll be wearing on the plane. If you have shoes that would take up a lot of room in your suitcase, consider wearing them on the plane. Consider wearing layers, like a sweater and a coat, on the plane. It’s always cold on the plane and it’s a great way to make sure you have a coat without taking the suitcase space. Finally, make sure to bring a purse or backpack for the things you’ll need on the plane. This is a great place to store things like snacks and magazines. You should also consider putting essentials like a cell phone charger, medicine, and anything else you’d be lost without in your backpack.  Just in case your baggage gets lost, you’ll have everything you need to get by for a day!

Traveling with Sisters: The Good, The Bad, and the Silly

One of my first travel memories with my two younger sisters is hiding under a blanket in the back seat of my parent’s suburban on our way to my grandparent’s house 12 hours away. We were whispering ghost stories and getting silly because we had been stuck in the car for 11 hours and the best way to pass the time was to lean on each other for fun.

Fast forward twenty years and my sisters and I are still having a fun time traveling together. But now our travels with each other often involve 12 hour plane rides instead of car rides. Over the course of our trips I’ve discovered the good, the bad, and the silly of traveling with one’s sisters.


“The Good” of Traveling with Sisters


“Wait, I need a picture of that tree!” I said anxiously.
“We’re already past it,” my sister, Lorraine, replied.
“Please turn around,” I pleaded. “Please please please please please please!”
Lorraine gave me a look as if to say “how are you the older one” and turned the car around. We were doing a fall drive through New Hampshire and Lorraine was the unlucky driver for the day. Despite her methodical driving, I was constantly missing shots from the car and making her stop so I could get out for a better angle or turn around so I could get a better snap of something.

“The Good” Tip #1: Humor each other. Did I really need all those pictures in New Hampshire? No. But Lorraine knew how excited I was to finally be doing a drive through New England so humored my constant stop requests.

“The Good” Tip #2: Speak up and compromise. A huge plus of traveling with my sisters is that I’m not afraid to speak my mind so they always know what I want out of the trip and vice versa. That being said, sisters don’t always see eye to eye. That’s where the compromise techniques you learned when you were both in junior high and wanted to wear the same shirt comes in handy.

“The Good” Tip #3: You know each other well. Use that knowledge to fix any issues fast. I once tricked Lorraine into eating a granola bar while traveling because she was starting to get crabby due to being hungry. However, she refused to eat because she didn’t want to ruin her appetite for our dinner reservations. My response? I ate half a granola bar then said I didn’t want anymore so I was going to throw the rest away, knowing full well Lorraine hates seeing food go to waste. Just as I predicted, she ate it and became happier.

“The Good” Tip #4: Sisters makeup easily. There is no drawn out “I’m sorry I did this, but” conversation. Most of the time there’s automatic forgiveness, making for an easy drama-free time on the road – revel in that.

“The Good” Tip #5: Easier packing. Similar genes can mean similar jeans. If you’re close in size to your sister, take advantage of that by sharing clothes while traveling. Discuss what to pack beforehand so you each bring different things to share.

Backpacking sisters on our way to Santorini, Greece

“The Bad” of Traveling with Sisters


“Gina, if you’re tired, go to bed,” Anna told me exasperatedly from her perch by the bar.
“I don’t want to leave you alone with all these guys,” I muttered. We were at the Pink Palace in Corfu, a famous party hostel, and I was there with my gorgeous, voluptuous younger sister, Anna. Guys of every nationality flocked to her like puppy dogs and while most of the guys we had met over the past two days seemed harmless, the nature of this hostel made me not want to leave her alone.
“I’m fiiiine, I haven’t even drank that much,” Anna replied. True, she only seemed to be a little tipsy. But my big sister protectiveness was coming out in full force and with another furtive glance at the guys circling my little sister like sharks, I knew I was not leaving her here alone with them while I went back to our hostel room.
“Come on, Anna,” I reasoned. “The alarm clock is going to go off in five hours.” We had an early morning ferry to catch to Italy the next morning.
“I don’t care,” she said stubbornly. “I’m not going back to the room.”
I looked at her stubborn, but beaming face – she was having so much fun – and decided not to press it.
Not like she’d listen to me anyway. And so I stayed out as well and glared at any guys who got too touchy-feely with my little sis on the dance floor.

“The Bad” Tip #1: Getting overprotective. Instincts you didn’t even know you had to protect your blood come out while traveling, but everyone needs space. While my intuition to stay with Anna at the Pink Palace was probably right on, we did take time apart to explore in other cities during our travels.

“The Bad” Tip #2: Other family members. When traveling with your sister, be prepared that other family members may get a bit jealous. I get around this by always making sure my other sister is aware she’s welcome to come along and by telling my mom we’ll try to figure out a mother/daughter trip soon.


“The Bad” Tip #3: Sisters fight easily. The good part about making up fast has a bad counterpart – fighting easily. It’s easy to snap at each other when you know neither of you will hold a grudge against the other. But who wants to be arguing while at the Colosseum? Curb your urge to pick at each other and remind yourself you’re lucky to be traveling together.

In Boston Gardens:  experiencing one of America's oldest cities with my sister

“The Silly” of Traveling with Sisters


The bus suddenly pulled to the side of the road and came to an urgent stop along the motorway outside Newcastle, England. Anna and I looked at each other, puzzled. Five minutes pass…then ten minutes…and the bus still didn’t move.
“I think the bus broke down,” Anna whispered.
“How come no one seems concerned we’re stuck on the side of the road?” I whispered back.
We looked around at the many English citizens surrounding us, most reading a newspaper, texting on their phone, or having loud teenage conversations about everything but the stopped bus. No one but us seemed concerned about the now 15 minutes we’d been sitting on the side of the road.
After standing in our seats for another peek out the window from the second story of the double decker bus we were on, trying to figure out what was going on – seemingly the only ones who cared – we made eye contact with each other and both of us burst out laughing. We huddled down in our seat so the others on the bus wouldn’t notice. A couple minutes later the bus driver came up to announce the bus had indeed broken down and another bus would come to pick us up, but it may take 30 or so minutes. No one seemed even remotely frazzled by this announcement, making Anna and I giggle harder, choking out that in America everyone would be freaking out right now, but no one here seemed at all concerned.
The uncontrollable giggles lasted long onto the second (longer route) bus, making a big blip in our day enjoyable and memorable.

“The Silly” Tip #1: Find the humor in things. Anna and I have been known to have giggle attacks over not much of anything except a meaningful glance about something we both find amusing since we were children.  As we’ve entered adulthood this never occurs as much anymore as when we’re traveling together.

“The Silly” Tip #2: Just go with the flow – and ask for help when necessary. Anna and I were once right next to the 405 freeway in LA after a day of being Hollywood tourists and could not figure out how to get onto the freeway from where we were even though it was right there. Lorraine called to chat and we had her on speaker phone while I drove under and around the freeway over and over again. Anna was giggling, I was trading off between cursing and laughing, and Lorraine was trying to look up the signs we were explaining to her on the Internet to help us figure out how to get onto the freeway and no doubt rolling her eyes that we were lost and couldn’t understand road signs – in our home country of America – when our destination point was right in front of us.

Whether your sisters are older or younger, exactly like you or your polar opposite, your shared family history and childhood bond can make you perfect travel buddies. As for brothers, mine’s still in school and hasn’t caught the travel bug yet, but my sisters and I are working to introduce him to our traveling sisterhood – whether he likes it or not.

Biography

Gina Douglas has picked figs in Croatia, gone wine tasting in Tuscany, lived in a castle in England, rode an elephant in Thailand, and is currently dreaming up a hiking trip to Machu Picchu. She is the Director of Marketing for an online travel agency and also writes travel stories and offers advice on balancing travel with a career and relationship at her website, http://www.OneDayinaCity.com. You can follow her on Twitter at @onedayinacity or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/onedayinacity.

Share Where I've Been: Think "Outside the Box" When Planning Your Next Trip

Hi there, Melanie here from excellent-vacation-ideas.com. We are a travel website that is out to inspire you to think “outside the box” when you travel and to spend your time and money wisely to make the most out of your vacation time with or without your kids!

Warren and I started this website out of our passion for travel and because people kept asking us about our adventures and how we managed to travel so much over the last 15 years. They were really surprised to find out that we spend 2-3 months a year travelling as a couple or as a family, have visited 6 of the 7 continents and dozens of countries, while running a business, and raising Warren’s daughter (my stepdaughter) Montana, who is now 16 years old.

The answer is simple; we place as much value on our vacation time, as we do on every other part of our life. It is a time that we can reconnect, experience the world together, have adventures and just relax!

Outside the Sydney Opera House

What are the major questions people should consider before starting to plan a trip?

People should start by looking at what they want to accomplish on their trip. 

Is this a romantic vacation? A family vacation? Or both?

If it is a family vacation, what activities do the kids want to do? What activities do you as the parents and/or teens want to do?

How old are the kids travelling with you?

How much money do you want to spend?

How much time do you have?

Are you looking for a relaxing hang out by the beach holiday? Or a let’s learn a new hobby holiday?

Do you want to visit and really experience a new destination and culture like Hong Kong? Or have an easy vacation together like the beaches in Florida or an all inclusive in the Caribbean?

Ask your kids what they want to do… Sometimes you will be surprised at what excites them too.

There is nothing worse then spending a lot of money on a dream destination that you have always wanted to visit and your kids are bored and complaining that they are bored!

New Years Eve on the Las Vegas Strip

How do you encourage people to "think outside the box"?

We love to think outside of the box when planning our vacations together and I always encourage others to do the same. Some people are happy with taking a cruise every year, or going to the same island and hotel every year. Others do it because they can’t think of anything better.

On our website we have some great ideas and a free ebook available called “Secrets to Choosing a Family Vacation that Everyone will Love”. We pose some questions to ask each other and the whole family when you are in the planning stages of your vacation. Some of them include:

What are your kids interested in? Movies? Sports? Music?

When will you be travelling? Off season or Busy Season – this effects how much money you will have to spend and if you will be fighting crowds or not.

Ideas other than going to Disney World or to an all inclusive resort to hang out on a beach like touring the places where Harry Potter was filmed in Britain or touring the birthplace of Justin Beiber or Mylie Cyrus (ok maybe a bit of a stretch but at least it gets your family thinking).

What activities do your kids, teens and parents want to do, is there one place that covers all of them?

Have you learned any travel tricks for packing, planning or actually traveling that you'd like to share with us?

Here are some of our top tips:

Packing: Plan what you actually need for each day you are away and then actually pack what you plan.

Laundry while travelling: Research where you are going and see if there are any off hotel property laundry facilities close by. Take half of what you need and then get it laundered. Some destinations this works really well like in Asia.

While in transit: Plan what you and your kids will do while actually travelling to your destination. If you have small kids, plan for some surprises while travelling, so that if things get too boring or hairy, you have something new to give your kids to entertain them (works with husbands too).

Technology: We travel with our iPads and can’t remember what life was like before them. Not only can we entertain ourselves with movies, tv, music and books, we can play games and surf the net. We can even keep in touch and do business easily while away. The iPad has lightened our carry on load substantially!

Planning: Collect and then use your air miles and loyalty program points wisely. You will be amazed at how much you can save!

You've mentioned that you take a family vacation at least once a year.  How far in advance do you usually plan this?  Do you create a solid itinerary for yourself or do you keep it more relaxed?

We actually take more than one family vacation a year. Either as a couple or a family we travel for spring break, for a few weeks in the summer and for 2 weeks over the Christmas holidays and a few weekends in Las Vegas, Los Angeles or other cities. 

For longer holidays where we have to travel longer distances (like Asia, Hawaii or Australia) we plan early. We usually start with the airfare first to anchor our dates and work from there. We work out if it is a better spend to use our loyalty program points, or to pay for our tickets. We then research the destinations and decide what we want to see, experience or where we want to stay (we use hotel loyalty programs or choose to stay in apartments/condos usually). Then the itinerary works itself out from there.

Exploring the volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii

We make sure that we plan to have down time while we travel too. So for every day we have activities planned, we plan ½ a day to 1 day to relax and spend time together hanging out.

What are some of the most reasonable places to travel on a budget?  Does this answer change when you have kids factored into the equation?

Reasonable places to travel on a budget... hmm...  Well a lot of places I would find reasonable are far away and hard to get to which can cost a lot more in airfare. I would choose places like Thailand, Ecuador or Eastern Europe as it is relatively inexpensive once you get there. The problem is getting there.  

As a couple you can usually choose these further away places as you only have two airfares to pay for, as soon as you add kids to the equation, the costs go considerably higher. So with kids, make sure you book early, look for specials or deals or stay closer to home.

I do however, find that you can go anywhere and find a way to travel on a budget. If there is a destination that you really want to visit, but it is known to be expensive (like Disney World or Europe), travel in off peak periods, book your airfare early and choose to rent apartments. You will be amazed at how much you can save on accommodation and food by staying somewhere that has a kitchen and extra bedrooms. So it’s not necessarily the destination, but it’s how you vacation.

What's on the horizon for you guys?  Where are you planning on going next?

On the horizon for us, is a cruise on the Norwegian Pearl for Spring Break. We can only take a week and we find that cruises are a great way to explore new places, while making travel relaxing and fun. If you choose the right cruise line and do your research it can be a relaxing, adventurous and family oriented time!

As for our next big trip away together as a family, we are planning a trip to South Africa for Christmas. It has always been my dream to return to Africa (I was in Kenya in my early 20’s) and to show Warren and Montana how beautiful it is. Montana will be graduating from high school next year (I can’t believe it!) and this will be her last big trip for awhile as she will be focusing on university. We are enjoying spending some time planning this trip together!

Excellent Links:

Website: www.excellent-vacation-ideas.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/ExVacationIdeas

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Excellent.Vacation.Ideas

Top 10 Weirdest Wine Bars in the World

As wine bars have grown in popularity, their style has become somewhat homogeneous. If you don’t want to change drink for the sake of changing scenery, here are 10 unusual settings to spread your wine drinking wings.

Cave Bar, Petra, Jordan
Not only is this bar set inside a cave, it dates back to the 1st Century BC and is thought to be the world’s oldest bar. Located at the entrance to Petra, dubbed the ‘red-rose city half as old as time’, the Cave Bar is the perfect refuge after a day of sightseeing. Although the bar is ancient, these days it is run as part of the Crowne Plaza Hotel and consequently has a delectable wine list to enjoy.

Cellier de la Vieille Eglise, Juliénas, France
With the roving vineyards of Beaujolais spreading for miles around, there is hardly a better place to indulge in a drop of wine. Juliénas is one of the Beaujolais Crus (Cru being best), but it is not just the light, fruity taste that is interesting; the winery is set inside a disused 14th century church. Cast aside for being too small, the church is now a fundamental part of Domain Grander’s family-run wine business. Don’t miss the stunning frescos inside.

Bodmin Jail, Cornwall, England
Ever wanted to experience a drink in the clink, but with the confidence you can go home at the end of the night? If so, Bodmin Jail can grant your wish. The jail was built (by its prisoners) in 1779 but closed in 1922. Today, visitors can explore the cells, which have been renovated to provide a glimpse of prison life. After the tour take to the Witness Box Wine Bar for a tipple. The wine list is a decent length and covers an international selection.

Rangali Island, Maldives
The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island has two unique locations for sampling wine. First, is the Wine Cellar, which sits six feet below sea level and is the best place for the resort’s sommelier to take you through their extensive selection. The second choice lies 16 feet below sea where you can sample wine over dinner at Ithaa Restaurant. It is the world’s first all-glass undersea restaurant, and provides 180-degree views of the reef.

Super chilled Champagne in icy surrounds

Below Zero Icebar, London, England
Ice bars are usually filled with vodka sippers but the Below Zero Ice Bar in London runs a special session so that Champagne drinkers can experience the bar’s freezing conditions. Don a designer cape and step into an environment made entirely of pure Swedish ice from the walls to the seats and even the bar. Thermal gloves are supplied and are essential as your Champagne glass will also be made of ice.

Office, Tokyo
If you enjoy the escape of a glass of wine after a hard day at the office, then visiting this bar in Tokyo may not offer too much of a reprieve. Designed to replicate the look of an office space complete with a photocopier, desks, bookcases, filing cabinets and desk lamps, this quirky bar is a surprisingly popular place. Best of all are the views the bar offers across Tokyo.

Runway 34, Zurich Airport
For those who simply can’t wait to board their flight, passengers at Zurich Airport can visit Runway 34 for drinks and dinner in a static airplane.  Dine beneath the belly of the plane, enjoy the Wingwalker aperitif bar or visit the tube of the plane for the Cigar lounge, which has been kitted out in bright red and designed to replicate the interior of a first-class cabin. A good selection of wine is available.

Vernadsky Research Station, Galindez Island, Antarctica
The world’s most southern bar does not rest in Ushuaia, Argentina, but even further south at an ex-British, now Ukrainian run research station, Verdansky. At the spot where the hole in the world’s ozone layer was noticed, you can enjoy libation in a cozy bar that was once fashioned on a British Pub but now has Ukraine’s own style stamped on it. Yes, most people will be drinking vodka, but this is one of the world’s more interesting spots to sample Ukrainian wine.

A glass of wine... in bed?

Bed Supperclub, Bangkok
A glass of wine then bed? Look no further than Bangkok’s funky Bed Supperclub. Offering a chance to wine and dine in bed, the bar has been specially designed with a futuristic and contemporary white theme. Complete with mattresses, customers are invited to take-off their shoes, lie down and feel at home. However, contrary to being a prelude to a good night’s sleep, the bar turns into a full on club as the night progresses.

McDonalds, Mendoza, Argentina
Of all the places one might think to go for a glass of wine, McDonalds is unlikely to feature on the list. However, the delectable wines of Mendoza are so impressive that they truly do deserve to be served with every meal, even if that is a Big Mac Meal. Although you are unlikely to go for more than one glass (though the Malbec is pretty good), the presence of wine in McDonalds is arguably worth a visit at least once?

Would you like some wine with your fries?

Do you know any other weird and wonderful places to drink wine? Let me know in the comments below!

If you liked this, you might also like- Bean around the World: 12 Quirky Cafes to Get Your Caffeine on.

Biography

This article is brought to you by Jo Fitzsimons from TheFlyingFugu.com She’s part of a team of foodie writers delivering a menu of delights to your inbox: daring delicacies, foodie travel tips and easy recipes to re-create in your very own world kitchen. Sign up for blog updates and follow the Fugu on Twitter @TheFlyingFugu.

A Weekend Guide to Edinburgh

The drizzly days of April are upon us here in New England, and the weather has me thinking about Scotland. Ah, Scotland – the land of haggis and Braveheart and bagpipes galore. I spent a weekend exploring Edinburgh’s Old Town, getting lost in its winding cobblestone alleys, looking up at medieval architecture, and most notably, being struck by the delicious aromas that waft from every corner along the Royal Mile. Sure, the gray days combined with the dark stone buildings can feel pretty spooky, especially at night; but the savory smells and friendly Scots make this a place worth spending some time in.

The area has so much to offer (and if you like golf, you’ve reached a Mecca), but you don’t need to stray from the main road – which runs all the way from Edinburgh Castle to the coast – to get a great sense of the place. From the highest ground to the underground, here are a few of my must-see spots.

 

Arthur’s Seat

There is no better view of the city than from the top of this enormous hill, located at the end of the Royal Mile. Now, my hiking experience is pretty limited, and all I brought with me that weekend were skinny jeans and ballet flats, so if I could climb this thing, I know you can. It would take more than a full day to explore all the trails that cut through this beautiful hill, but you only need to head about halfway up to see incredible views of rolling green landscape and rocky coastline. Beware of slippery pebbles on the way down, though.

Edinburgh Castle

This is perhaps the most “touristy” spot in the area, but that’s not a bad thing, except that there is no student discount on admission. Still, it’s an impressive place. (Though I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a castle that wasn’t impressive...) Stroll through the great hall and the crown room, and spend some time at the Scottish National War Memorial. There is even a cemetery for soldiers’ dogs, which I found sad but sweet. Also, since the castle is perched on yet another enormous cliff, there is a stunning panoramic view of the other side of Edinburgh, the New City.

Tolbooth Tavern

Well, all that exploring definitely works up an appetite, and what better place to try haggis than in Scotland? The Tolbooth Tavern is a cozy little spot, again on the same main stretch of road. Down past the street performers, the kilted bagpipe players, the man dressed as Braveheart collecting money for cancer victims, an ornate green clock will herald your arrival at the tavern. Its interior is accented with dark wood and deep red fabric covering the walls and floor. Once we settled in our booth, my friends opted for the safe route of fish and chips, but I dared to try the traditional Scottish favorite: haggis, neeps, and tatties (turnips and potatoes). The three heaping lumps on my plate didn’t do much to please the eye, but my stomach was more than satisfied. Haggis was saltier than I imagined, but very savory, and the vegetables felt just like comfort food. We were the only tourists in the place, which is always a good thing in my mind. Two thumbs way up to the Tolbooth.

Tron Tavern

Make your way back up High Street, and just off to the left you’ll find Tron Tavern, a more lively pub with a university feel. It was the perfect spot for a few 20-somethings to have a pint or two. The pub is split, and the lower level has plenty of tables and booths to gather with a group of friends. The biggest draw (for us college students on a budget) was the inexpensive drinks and drink specials. I found myself hooked on Brothers Toffee Apple Cider, which tastes just like a caramel apple! Too bad I couldn’t bring some home to the U.S.

Chocolate Soup

Okay, if you go nowhere else, schedule at least two stops to Chocolate Soup. That is, if you don’t mind an overwhelming taste explosion of all things chocolate...and I certainly find no issue there. This was the brightest, lightest space I explored the entire weekend, a refreshing change from stone and gray. Cushioned seats surround coffee tables nestled next to floor-to-ceiling windows, a perfect spot for people watching. Of course, you’ll do so with a steaming mug – soup bowl, really – of “chocolate soup” in hand. Really, it’s decadent, rich hot chocolate, and the menu boasts a variety of flavors. My choice was spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon, heaped with whipped cream on top. There are also milkshakes, pastries and other baked goods, as well as “actual food” such as hearty soups and sandwiches. In short, the café was the perfect place to start my day before heading to Waverley station for the train back to London.

 

With welcoming locals among myriad shops and marketplaces dotted along the Mile, it’s easy to find yourself getting happily lost in Edinburgh. And really, who could resist that Scottish brogue?

 Biography

Sarah Cotton is graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. She spent part of her studies in London, a place she still calls home. Sarah’s parents planted the travel bug in her as a young girl, and she has not stopped moving since. Armed with a wanderlust and a love of all things visual, she is pursuing a career in travel writing and photography. Follow her on Twitter: @scottontrotter.

Share Where I've Been: Canada's Adventure Couple, The Planet D

First off-- you guys are so cute together!  How long have you been traveling together?  How about under the name ThePlanetD?

Kissing in Antarctica

Thanks so much, we love being called cute at our age:) We've been traveling together since 2000 when we took our first extended vacation to Thailand for 5 weeks. We knew right then that we loved seeing the world and planned on making travel a big part of our lives. In 2004 we started looking into ways to make travel a full time career and brainstormed ideas from becoming diving instructors to leading cycling tours. We didn't know how we would ever turn our dream into a reality but we never gave up and in 2008 ThePlanetD was born. We signed up for the world's longest cycling race and started our website then to keep followers of the event up to speed on our travels through Africa. We initially wanted to pitch a travel show and the website was going to be a place to showcase our work and travel experience. When the show didn't take off the ground, the website took over. People seemed to embrace our story about traveling together and facing our fears together. 

Do you have any relationships or rivalries with other traveling couples?

What we love about the travel industry is that everyone is very supportive of each other. We're hesitant to name them because inevitably we are going to miss someone and will feel terrible about the omission, but here goes anyway. We are great friends with travel couples like Indie Travel Podcast, Travels with Two, Green Global Travel, Over Yonderlust and YTravel Blog, just to name a few. We love how everyone has a different niche, yet we are all out there together showing the world that couple's can travel together. We support one another, brainstorm ideas and have a great time together when we meet up. 

In your biography, you talk about having two different perspectives of the world-- What are some recent examples of this?  What types of things do you see differently on?

Dave is fearless and I think about it more. With each adventure, Dave jumps in with both feet and doesn't worry about how things will turn out. I on the other hand, fret and worry and I am afraid of a lot. I was afraid to jump in the Antarctic waters for the Polar Plunge, Dave was thrilled and excited. I was terrified to fly a stunt plane, Dave couldn't wait to jump out of a plane. I have a fear of heights, Dave can jump off anything. People think that you have to be an adrenaline junkie to be an adventurer, but I face my fears every day while Dave is the adrenaline junkie.  Because we travel together, we can share both sides of the story. One side for the people that are terrified but would still like to give it a try and another for those that are naturally adventurous. 

We see things very differently on everything. I think that we can always give both sides of the story when sharing the experience. When it comes to an experience I think about the emotional side of the story while Dave will look into the pure fun of it all. We combine both aspects into the article giving what we think is a well rounded story. 

Do you get a lot of questions about the positives and negatives of traveling as a couple?

We get that question all the time. We've been traveling together so long that we don't see a negative side. We love sharing moments together and because we are very social people we manage to interact with others a lot when traveling. But at the same time, we love just being alone together too. Neither of us would be very good at solo traveling, we love doing it together. 

At Everest Base Camp

If there's ever something you don't agree on, do you ever split up and see different sites?

Surprisingly no. That is what we love about traveling as a couple. We inspire each other to step out of our comfort zones and try it anyway. Many times we come out happy that we tried it. Dave now enjoys getting a massage or shopping in the markets and I love climbing mountains and camping in the desert. If we split up and went our separate ways, we'd never expand our horizons to try something new. That's not to say that we don't have disagreements and need to go sit by ourselves at a cafe or hide in the bathroom since there is nowhere else to go to cool off, but we always do activities together. 

Why is a traveling spouse better than traveling with friends?

We can speak our minds to one another and be very candid. I realized doing the Mongol Rally this year that I lost the art of being subtle. When something bothers us as a couple, we can just blurt it out, have a quick fight and get it over with. I think that with friends you have to be a little more careful to not hurt each others feelings. 

And in our opinion, there is nothing better than traveling with the one you love.

Does having to document you entire trip get cumbersome?  Or is that part of the fun?  What are the pros & cons of sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly about your travels with the world?

Sometimes it can be difficult to put your heart out there for everyone to read but at the same time we love writing about overcoming our fears and sharing our frustrations to let others know that they aren't alone. When people see that we struggle too, they think to themselves that "hey, maybe I'm not alone in my thinking."  

I feel that a blog is about putting yourself on the line. That's what people connect to. We can watch a slick tv show on the Travel Channel to get our fill of the perfect vacation, but a blog is about seeing what real people are going through and doing each day. Most of the time the feedback is positive and that feels amazing. When we get the negative comments, it stings a little but that is another thing we love about blogging. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and everyone can share both sides of the story. 

Kissing in front of the Great Wall of China

Roughly how many days a year are you guys on the road?  Do you ever get 'homesick'?

We're on the road at least 2/3rds of the year. We are lucky having each other and that we do get to come home more often now. When we first started traveling we'd be gone for months at a time and that is when we yearned for home. Now we pop in and out on a regular basis so we haven't been homesick for a couple of years. It's been so long since we've had a home that we are used to this way of living now. 

Do you ever get recognized by the general public when you're on the road?

Nope. We haven't had anybody approach us like other bloggers. We have had people tell us after the fact that they used our blog as a reference once we get to know them, but nobody has ever come up to us as fans. I'm not going to lie, I'd love it if they did. 

And one last one-- Is there anything too adventurous or crazy that you guys would absolutely not do on a trip?  If so, why?

Dave would do anything so for him, there is nothing that he wouldn't try once.  

For me, I'm quite afraid of a lot of things but I always end up doing them. The one thing that I can't bring myself to do is bungy jump though. We had free passes to the Nevis in Queenstown and I still couldn't bring myself to do it. In Zambia, we bought a jump off the gorge swing, but I chickened out there as well. It's not for lack of trying, but I still can't do a bungy jump. Jumping off a tiny platform is terrifying to me. Other than bungy jumping though, I think I can handle most things. 

Biography:

Canada's Adventure Couple Dave and Deb are well known travel personalities. As a writer/photographer team, they share their experiences from around the world on popular travel blog ThePlanetD.com They have appeared on Canada's national news network as their regular travel experts and have appeared in such publications as BBC Travel, The Toronto Star, The Lonely Planet and National Geographic's Intelligent Traveler. 

They inspire their readers through their motto “Adventure is for Everyone” and constantly take on unique and exciting adventures such as cycling the continent of Africa in the World’s longest bicycle race and driving ⅓ of the way around the world in the Mongol Rally. You can follow their adventures at their website, on Twitter and at Facebook.

5 Tips for Enjoying Marrakech to the Fullest

Morocco was a great experience for me, but I still often travel with preconceptions in my mind on how it is going to pan out when i am there. I had visions of pickpockets, crowded streets, chaos... While some of that did come true in Marrakech, the place exceeded all of my expectations and gave me a new found love for this wonderful city. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your trip.

Eat at the local stalls at night in the heart of the city


The Jemaa el-Fnaa is the beating heart of Marrakech at night, a large open space with eateries, musicians, stalls and entertainers occupying the large central market place. Enticing chatter form the owners can often be a great experience in itself, with many of them remembering funny lines or quotes to get you into their stall. Each stall in the market place is numbered, which can often form form of their chat up lines. One of my favourites being 'number one one seven, always take you to heaven'.

From my experience, eating where the locals eat is generally a good idea and often the best value. Go for the mixed grill with harisa soup - a local favourite. Do not be intimidated by the overly friendly sales pitches, this is common in the market to encourage you over to their stall.

Drink tea as a nightcap


As Marrakech is predominantly a muslim area (although you can get alcohol in some restaurants), the locals take to tea and coffee for their evening tipple. The spiced tea stalls the surround the food court are fantastic way to finish your meal. The spiced tea which is very warming, contains a variety of spices including galanga, cardamon, cinnamon, star anise and a number of mystery spices i couldn't detect. Costing just 2 dirham a glass (around 25c), this is a fantastic thing to do and not to be missed.

Tea Stand in Marrakech

The tea is also served with an extremely sweet, but enticing sugar cake covering in sesame seeds. Spiced like an english christmas cake, this sticky delight is spooned onto a plate and served alongside this warming tea. There a reason why diabetes is so high in Morocco - they love their deserts and sugary treats!

Accept that you stand out

Your western clothing and 'tourist' look will ensure you stand out a mile from the locals, so accept that quite quickly and try not to get frustrated with the attention you receive. You will inevitably be inundated with sales patter from the locals offering you travel excursions, carpets, hats and even 'special herbal tobacco' so don't let this worry you. Simply say 'no thank you' and walk away - and try to stay friendly.

We often forget that these local traders are simply out to earn a living. Sure, some of these people will see tourists as 'easy targets', but that is because we often make them the most money. Many of these market traders are fantastic people to speak with, and will quickly know that you are not interested in their wares but will talk to you anyway.

Delve into the Souks for the best shopping offers

If you need a new leather bag, shoes or hand-carved wooden box for your mantle piece then you cant go wrong in the Souks. I picked up a small hand made chess board, backgammon board, pieces and a small box for around $20. As a rule of thumb you should always assume the true cost of most Souk bought items is roughly a third of the initial quoted price. You will see how the price quickly from the seller falls when you lose interest. A leather holdall may be quoted initially at 300dh ($40) but you could realistically pay 80-100 DH for the item. Of course if you have a set price in mind that you are happy to pay, work towards that and make a fair deal.

Having small change at the ready is always useful for these situations too - as you may find it becomes a deal breaker if they don't have enough change for a smaller purchase.

A 200 Dirham note (which is around $20-25) is too large for most Moroccan traders who charge 2-5 DH for a small ice cream, postcards etc. Break up your change quickly to avoid any issues.
All in all, the Marrakech experience exceeded all expectations and is a fantastic place to visit to experience the real hustle and bustle of this fantastic country.

Biography
This post was written by Duncan from the Travelistic travel blog. You can catch him on Twitter at @travelistic.

The Top Five Areas in London

I have lived in London my whole life. After 28 years, I still have not seen it all! That is the magic of London. With millions of exciting new projects and developments every day, the city continues to expand to accommodate the millions of people who flock here to work and to soak up the energy and excitement of the city. However, as a seasoned Londoner I do feel qualified to share my top five spots in the city in the hope that others can experience different slices of this vibrant city:

Notting Hill
This beautiful area is like a village in itself. Like everywhere in London it combines cultures and styles, but the overall effect is of a winding market town, streets lined with candy-coloured cottages, boutiques and cafes on every corner. It appeals to all the senses and caters both for high end food and shopping, and for the budget traveller. Even the crowds of tourists and locals who flock here at the weekend to enjoy Portobello Market do not detract from the bustling atmosphere.

 
Brick Lane and Spitalfields
Brick Lane and the surrounding areas is London at its most stylish and chaotic. Street food combines with flea and vintage markets to show off London’s love of all things eclectic; the locals are young, edgy creatives. Crumbling brick walls are covered in urban art, and open spaces combine with winding, historic alleyways. Brick Lane itself is home to much of London’s Bengal population – you can enjoy cheap and excellent curry in one of the lane’s hundreds of restaurants.

Borough Market and London Bridge Borough Market, perched by the River Thames, is a great way to enjoy London’s vibrant energy and its history. Food vendors have been flocking here since the 13^th century, and to this day the market is a feast for the eyes and stomachs, hosting a huge variety of organic, quality produce. The area is beautiful – winding and architecturally diverse. The Shard sits alongside the ancient, winding streets of Bermondsey lined with industrial lofts. Cafes and bars spill onto the streets. The area is noisy, energetic and purposeful. 

 
The West End
Right in the heart of the city lie Soho, Chinatown and Covent Garden. Once home to the prostitutes and the slums of the city (Soho is still home to the city’s red light district), the area is now fashionable and teeming with activity. From boutiques, cafes, restaurants and bars to theatres, street performers and dance, the area is culturally rich and full of things to see and do. Chinatown is an experience in itself – glistening crispy ducks hang in the windows, bright red lanterns adorn the streets and locals enjoy authentic Chinese produce in the various supermarkets and traditional medicine stores.  


Hampstead
Hampstead is a wonderful way to escape the noise and bustle of the city. Parts of it resemble a sleepy French town, with winding, hilly streets, chic shops and lots of green. The Heath is vast and takes you out of the city completely – you can get lost for hours in the wild meadows and woods. Open-air swimming is a long standing tradition and a wonderful way to feel at one with nature. In the midst of the Heath you can enjoy the magnificence of Kenwood House – a stunning heritage site packed with art. 

 
The best way to see London is to stay with friends or relatives, who will be able to give you local advice and guidance. Or, for a truly local experience without the obligatory socialising, onefinestay provides luxury vacation rentals, whereby you stay in beautiful, quirky homes around the city in the absence of their owners – like staying in a boutique hotel, complete with five star service.

Biography
 
Richard Hirson works in marketing for OneFineStay in London. OneFineStay allows visitors in London to stay in upscale homes while the owners are out of town. It's all the amenities of a top hotel but you get to live and experience the city like a local.


Website:  http://www.onefinestay.com/ 
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/onefinestay 
Twitter: @onefinestay 
Blog:  http://blog.onefinestay.com/ 

Share Where I've Been: Discovering The Fun, Food and Beauty of New Orleans

Exploring new lands and experiencing the fun a city has to offer, has always been a core reason behind where I like to travel and whom I like to engage with before I get there. Most recently, I was presented an offer to visit New Orleans, Louisiana for the first time. Bud Light had sent my brother a message stating he had won an offer, for an inclusive trip to New Orleans, for the UFC, Battle on The Bayou, Fight Night 25 weekend event. This offer was a few hundred dollars and included air travel, hotel and tickets to the Fight Night event that was to be held inside of the Convention Center.

I was happy to learn that Southwest Airlines was the carrier chosen by Bud Light's travel company, to provide the air travel. My brother and I had been engaging with the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, a PR and social media company and the head of PR at the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans before the visit. UFC's Fight Night 25 was near our secondary location to experience, the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans. Fortunately, the travel packet from Bud Light included several RFID bracelets setup to post messages of what we were doing, during events on our respective Facebook pages.

Visiting NOLA rose on my list of places to travel, after engaging with the head of PR at the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, because she displays a great spirit and love for her city over social media. I love my city of Las Vegas, so we all started talking about how to best help each city. In addition, I wanted to see a city that still has a stigma surrounding it from the hurricane Katrina tragedy of 2005. Being finally able to see Bourbon Street, places where various movies and television shows were filmed and the promise of amazing food was getting me excited.

Birds of a feather, fly together! On the way to NOLA

The Southwest Airlines flight offered WiFi for only $5. The flights I usually take have in-flight WiFi that costs sometimes twice that for shorter flight times. Another nice perk of Southwest, is that they offer no extra fee for checked luggage. For two people and two checked bags, that's a minimum savings of $50. So the money you save from bags checked, you may use towards in-flight WiFi and maybe an adult beverage or two. We flew into Birmingham, Alabama for our one stop, this was a new experience for me. Unfortunately, my first visit to Birmingham would be what I could see out of the airplane window. Thankfully though, on my way back to Las Vegas, after my trip to New Orleans, I was able to walk inside of the terminal, in Birmingham. It looked modern with many places to charge cell phones and computers. The flight to New Orleans, from Birmingham was a quick hour and a half.

Flying in, I saw swampland, the Mississippi River and a bustling cityscape. It was cool to find out that the New Orleans airport was named after a very famous jazz musician, Louis Armstrong. After entering the terminal, I became aware of a fun atmosphere and a hotdog stand that was named Lucky Dogs. Traveling around New Orleans, you will see many Lucky Dogs stands, especially in the French Quarter.

Welcome to New Orleans, Louisiana floor inlay at the Louis Armstrong International Airport

Before leaving the airport, a nice lady welcoming the passengers, gave those who wanted them, a nice set of beads, in gold or green. I picked gold and my brother picked green. After baggage claim, that was fairly large compared to most standard sized cities I've been to, we found our bus to the Hilton Riverwalk. We all boarded an air-conditioned bus with coolers of Bud Light for everyone. After the freeway ended, a very large and shiny dome, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, home of the New Orleans Saints appeared! Many people were excited to see it and post the pics immediately, for friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter. As there was going to be a game coming up, many fans were walking around the Super Dome with face paint and jerseys of their favorite players. Now on Poydras Street, we finally were able to see how the city of New Orleans was really doing.

A few short blocks later, we arrived at the Hilton Riverwalk. Checking in was easy enough and we were happy to get a room on a higher floor overlooking the Mississippi River, complete with the crescent shape. New Orleans is known as the Crescent City, so it was cool to see. If you stay at this hotel with a river view, you'll notice a lot of river shipping traffic. That's quite a different scene for a guy that lives in the desert. One of the river ferries looked familiar. It was featured in the movie Déjà Vu starring Denzel Washington. I'll learn later on that New Orleans is known as Hollywood South.

The UFC Fight Night 25 event weekend kept us both busy, while checking out the Riverwalk area. I'll always remember the Riverwalk as where I first spotted someone making beignets at a Café Du Monde, a Chevelle rock concert and where I had my first muffaletta giant Italian sandwich. A muffaletta is a ten-inch Italian sandwich with marinated olive salad, layers of capicola, pepperoni, emmentaler, ham and provolone cheese and then heated. There are major notes of garlic and oregano too. Amazingly, as an Italian-American, I've never had one of those sandwiches. Of course it would take for me to travel across the US to discover it.

A big part of discovering NOLA, the right way, is by trying the many types of food offered there. This includes their versions of seafood, Cajun and a submarine sandwich called, Po' Boy and the city now has a Pinkberry, for those people from the West Coast who want tasty frozen yogurt. If you make it to the other end of Canal Street, you will find a doughnut shop named the Blue Dot. There are a few reasons why the Blue Dot is special. One of them is that a large majority of their maple bars are topped with caramelized bacon. You will have to get to Blue Dot early, as they go quick! The second reason is that this donut shop is owned by several active duty police officers. Now that you have filled up on sugar and dessert, you will want to try some of the famous seafood and service at GW Fins, located in the French Quarter. As you can see, the chefs know how to please foodies! (click through to see each one)

Domaine Chandon

Crispy Soft Shell Crab

Triple Iceberg Wedgie

Lobster Dumplings

Lobster Rolls

Blue Crab Pot Stickers

Sauteed Tripletail

Wood Grilled Pompano

White Chocolate Caramel Bread Pudding

Apple Pie ala Mode

Black Bottom Pie

Continuing the exploration of NOLA, my brother and I met up with Char, the PR director for the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans. Char was great to give us a walking tour of the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Entergy IMAX theatre, an amazing statue dedicated to New Orleans' Italian immigrants, Saint Louis Cathedral, which was founded in 1720 and is the oldest in the US, George Rodrigue's Art Gallery, famous for painting the blue dog, Frenchmen Street, Bourbon Street and of the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans.

Immigrant Square statue near the French Quarter in New Orleans. #NOLA is an amazing city!

Bill introducing the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans on Canal Street

The tour of the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans took us to the 25,000 sq foot spa, their calming courtyard and the Club Level lounge. The Club Level lounge at its core has a relaxing atmosphere to enjoy a beverage and a few snacks. This Club Level does not disappoint and has several key features that can only be found in New Orleans. On cold evenings, it has a room surrounding a large fireplace, a game room and a presentation room. There's another room down the hallway towards elevators that have more general seating with views of fine art. Since New Orleans' food and liquor are different than what can be found in the rest of the US, ask John F for a few mixed drinks. This is John showing me how to make what is known as a Pousse-café or layered drink.

When visiting New Orleans, be loose and to "laissez les bon temps rouler" or in Cajun French, let the good times roll. Because there are many ways to experience the city's food, drink, music and more in the "Big Easy" and Crescent City. A big thanks to the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans for providing excellent hospitality. NOLA is a destination I will try to visit again, there's so much more to see and do. Or as Louis Armstrong said about his city, "Way down yonder in New Orleans, In the land of dreamy scenes, There's a garden of Eden, You know what I mean."

Biography:

Christopher Rauschnot is an accomplished social media and engagement consultant. He has made a positive impact in the hospitality, travel, nightlife, entertainment and technology industries. He has been directly involved with the creation of several corporate media policies and is a conference speaker. Most recently, he participated in a panel at the 2012 CES titled “International Conference on Consumer Electronics ICCE 2012 about the Golden Age of Consumer Electronics.” He is an active user of Twitter at @24k and @24kmedia and he has a blog and a 24k Media Facebook Page. He blogs about technology at TheMacWizard.com and social media on the Huffington Post.