Moved on to Gadling

I started this blog when I lost my travel column at Doubledown Media (shortly after which, Doubledown Media lost itself). Well, I’ve since picked up a new gig at Gadling. So, if you want to keep up with my work, go check it out.

Time to go to Quebec

Hotel Clarendon, Quebec, Canada

It’s getting to be the perfect time of year to go up to Quebec. I went up just shy of a year ago, and it was amazing. There was a pleasant chill in the air. This year should be even more exciting, as Quebec is celebrating its 400th anniversary.

The place to stay is the Frontenac Hotel, which is a Fairmont property. But, it is priced like a Fairmont, so be ready to invest in your taste of luxury. If you’re on something of a budget (as I was), check out l’Hotel Clarendon. It’s inside the city walls and has large guestrooms that are clean and comfortable.

Something to keep in mind: L’Hotel Clarendon does offer a limited spa service. You can get in-room massages from an absolute professional. But, do note that this is arranged through a partnership with an independent masseuse, so you may have to schedule in advance. Plan ahead; it’s worth the effort.

What travelers hope to find on the Wandering Blogger

I’ve picked up the habit of posting the most popular search terms used to find my other blog, Migrant Blogger, and I think I’ll do it here. Wandering Blogger is finally picking up some momentum! Well, since launching, the most popular search term appears to consist of variations on “Cafe Mozart closed,” often including “Manhattan” or “New York” in the query. Yes, the restaurant did close, much to my chagrin (but not my father’s). The place lost its lease, which is why it shut down (to answer one search engine-based question).

For those of you looking for absinthe in Naples, FL, your SOL– at least if you’re looking for real absinthe. You can’t get it anywhere in the United States. But, if Naples, FL is on your mind, you might want to check out the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. I spent a weekend there and loved it. Learn more at TraderDaily.com or TripAdvisor. Gare du Nord, a train station in Paris, Albert Maes, and foreign street signs are popular as well.

Also, someone was looking for “Blue Lagoon Spa fucking.” I get it. The Blue Lagoon Spa is a great destination not far from Reykjavik, Iceland. I assume they frown upon sex in the lagoon, but I guess it’s worth a shot.

News in from Pyongyang!

The Arirang Mass Games will be extended this year until October 10^th. As a result, Koryo Tours’s early October excursion guests will have the chance to attend the event. October 10^th is the Party Foundation Day in North Korea, this year will be the 63rd anniversary of the event that created the party that continues to reign in the DPRK to this day. Applications must be filed by September 26^th, only nine days from now.

Click here to learn more about early October tours of North Korea >>

If you are an American and want to check out the Mass Games >>

The nastiest terminal in the world

This distinction used to belong to the Delta Shuttle terminal at Logan Airport in Boston. But, Logan finally reopened A Terminal as the Delta spot, and it is quite nice. Now that the Delta Shuttle has received a facelift in Boston, it’s New York location wins top honors as nastiest terminal in the world. Marine Air (also known as Terminal A) services the Delta Shuttle to Boston, Washington, D.C. and Chicago. I think there is another low-rent airline in there, but I can’t remember. Doesn’t matter. Marine Air Terminal is a fucking dump.

But, let’s not dwell on the negative. Unlike the old Boston digs for the Delta Shuttle, you don’t have to go through security to hit a bathroom. Coffee is freely available on weekday mornings (and tastes like shit– both counts true in the old Boston terminal), several free newspapers and magazines are offered. But, the closest thing to even fast food is a cafeteria-style sit-down place … outside the security checkpoint. Inside, there is some prepared fare, but I wouldn’t go near it. A regular-sized candy bar will set you back more than $2.

It really is a sad state of affairs.

I mean, just take a look at this insanity. You are supposed to navigate this maze in order to grab a taxi or find your towncar– both of which jockey with regular-people-cars who are suckered into dropping off or picking up. It’s insanity. I hate all airports, but this is just obscene. It’s like taking an airport and giving control to Greyhound. Disgraceful.

The Crazy Hotel Helix

The Hotel Helix is a pretty crazy place. The logo shows just how goofy the place is trying to be.

Once you go inside this joint, you’ll see why the place drove me fucking nuts. Quite simply, it’s trying to hard. It’s just trying too damned hard to be interesting. And, it’s failing.

 

The curtains are automatic, like an automatic door. You step up to them, and the spread open.

It seemed like a bit much. But, I guess it does add a bit of flair to the place, so, I’ll forgive it.

In general, the lobby tries to be both smooth contemporary and 1960s retro. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. The hotel should have chosen one way or the other.

 

The hotel’s bar was even worse than the lobby. It was fucking nuts, as evidenced by the padded walls.

 This hallway was rather tame, but the guestroom floors were not …

 … as you can plainly see below.

 So, here’s the guestroom. The colors were off the charts– way too much to see when you wake up in the morning. But, the beds were quite comfortable.

 The bathroom is around the corner, and they did have decent coffee available. Here’s what blew my mind. The coffee smelled terrible but tasted fine. I’m not sure I understand how that can happen, but it did.

 This is what passes for a closet …

 … holding exactly the sort of bathrobes you’d expect ot find here. But, they were comfortable.

 And, here’s the bathroom. There’s only a shower stall (not a bathtub). But, it worked well. 

National Zoo: Panda Porn

Like pandas? I do. I’m not sure why; they are living proof that man is trying to thwart evolution. Pandas clearly are too lazy/stupid/unevolved to be able to survive on their own. So, we help them. And, I like that.

 This panda is standing on his head. Usually, they just sit around and do nothing, so I was pretty excited to see this one put on a show.

Tian Tian is walking around, happy as hell. He has a pretty good gig.

This is the box in which panda bear Ling Ling came to the United States.

Women Wild about Wine at Tides Inn

A Weekend Getaway for Girlfriends Celebrating Friendship and Virginia Wine Month

This Chesapeake Bay weekend getaway for women who are wild about wine celebrates the 20th anniversary of Virginia Wine month this October. Guests will enjoy exclusive access to Virginia wineries on a self-guided tour of the Northern Neck Wine trail, complete with a Chesapeake regional picnic lunch. There’s also plenty of time for catching up and relaxing back at the peaceful setting of the waterfront inn with mani-pedis over wine, and activities such as tennis, golf, boating and nearby antiquing and historical attractions.

The two-night Women Wild About Wine Package includes:
- Friday and Saturday night accommodation in a Vista Suite, double occupancy
- Scrumptious breakfast for two
- Two manicures and two pedicures accompanied by a Virginia wine of your choice, selected from the six wineries on the self-guided itinerary
- Picnic basket lunch for the Saturday self-guided tour of six Virginia wineries located near the Inn (basket is yours to keep): Athena Vineyards, Belle Mount Vineyards, Ingleside Vineyards, Oak Crest Vineyard & Winery, Vault Field Vineyards, and White Fences Vineyard & Winery. Tastings at each winery included
- Bottle of wine from each of the six wineries presented at each respective winery
- Two “Women Wild about Wine” logo shirts

Two-night package for two people, based on double occupancy, is $335 per person, per night, plus tax. Valid for Friday-Saturday weekends through November 15, 2008.

These vineyards are part of the Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace appellation and enjoy a climate similar to that of Bordeaux, France. The weather is moderated by the Chesapeake Bay and the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers, allowing the region to grow exceptional wine grapes in well-drained, sandy loam soil. Gently rolling hills are planted with American hybrid and grafted European vines, offering breathtaking views and award-winning wines.

About Tides Inn
The intimate 106-room Tides Inn, set on its own waterfront peninsula in the charming town of Irvington on Virginia’s Northern Neck, has been a Chesapeake Bay tradition for over 60 years. A preferred mid-Atlantic getaway for couples, families and small groups, the resort features luxury accommodations furnished in British colonial style and dedicated state-of-the-art conference facilities certified by IACC. The resort’s signature fine dining restaurant, the Chesapeake Club, serves seasonal regional Chesapeake Bay cuisine. Additional amenities include a full service spa; an award-winning 60-slip marina that accommodates boats up to 125 feet; a professional sailing school and an array of outdoor recreation, including championship golf, tennis, croquet and volleyball.

For more information, please visit www.tidesinn.com.

Hitting the Same Ol’ Spots

As I’m sitting here, blogging and smoking my cigar, some crazy ass cougar is smoking American Spiritsand waxing drunk on politics, psychology and the boredom of living in DC. I made the mistake of mentioning that I live in New York. Apparently she did around 25 years ago. That lengthened an already boring conversation.

 

Apparently, we have entered the Age of Aquarius (this happened in 2000), and the assassination of John Lennon was orchestrated by the U.S. government. I’m sure she was hot when she lived in New York, but … yes … that was a long fucking time ago. Now, she looks tired. And, she has no sense of what is age appropriate. I was tempted to tell her that she’d like my father, but I don’t think his taste has fallen that much. I don’t want her to be my new mom, either.

 

I found myself regretting that I hadn’t put batteries in my audio recorder, because I really wanted to capture and publish every word this crazy-cougar-broad said. Seriously. She was out of her fucking mind. Her friends, she says, claim that she is one of the “pillars of light holding up this city [Washington, D.C.].”

 

Wow.

 

Well, enough of that. My headline mentions something about the “same ol’ spots.” As I left the McPherson Square metro station, I saw a familiar sight. McPherson Square, I hadn’t realized at first, was where I waited before interviewing Phil Harvey, founder of Adam & Eve, and I hung out there later before my flight. Well, that’s what I saw as soon as I came out from underground! It was really cool. I took the picture (above) of this spot with my blackberry (and now use it as my device’s wallpaper).

Headed Back to DC

I’m back in our nation’s capital, after only a few months. I went down in early May to interview Adam & Eve founder Phil Harvey—it was part of my ongoing effort to finish a Doctor of Business Administration degree. This time, the trip is purely recreational. I’m going to check out the pandas at the National Zoo, check out a new hotel and grab a few decent dinners. After the recent grind at day job, it’s nice to get away for a few days.

 

The Delta Shuttle has been … well … about as good as it can be. We were late getting out of LaGuardia—big surprise. But, we’re in the air as I type this, and everything seems to be running smoothly. The snack service has been surprisingly good. Pepperidge Farm must have paid a fortune for the privilege. Honestly, even the coffee’s not bad.

 

Maybe it’s just the Delta Shuttle to Boston that sucks. Hey, consider where it lands.

 

I used to go to Boston a few times a year for short getaways like this, but I’ve grown tired of that dump. I learned growing up there that the people are assholes with little on their minds aside from baseball (which bores me to fucking tears). Finally, I’ve decided that that second city won’t be on my itinerary for a while. For me, DC is the new Boston.

 

Last time, I stayed at two Hiltons (great deals on Hotwire.com). We’ve put Hotwire to work again for this trip—the Hotel Helix will be home for two nights. I’ll let you know how it goes. For now, check out my reviews of Hilton Washington and Capital Hilton on TripAdvisor.

 

Read about the Hilton Washington on TripAdvisor>>

 

Read about the Capital Hilton on TripAdvisor>>