Archive for April, 2010
Monkey Around on the Rock of Gibraltar
Posted by: | CommentsA bit of jolly old England surrounded by Spain and the sea, Gibraltar is an entertaining stop on any coastal travel trip.
Towering high above the Mediterranean coast, the Rock of Gibraltar is the tiny territory’s “top” tourist terrain. You can hike up (crazy) or ride the cable car to the top of the rock. From the summit you can see ships at sea and, on a clear day, Africa in the distance. I read somewhere that it’s possible to view the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and the continents of Europe and Africa from this spot, which I think is pretty cool.
It’s great fun to watch the famous Barbary Apes climb and crawl around to the delight of tourists. The tailless monkeys are accustomed to people and have been known to pick a pocket if not carefully watched.
Back down in town, take a stroll down the pedestrian-only Main Street, see the courthouse where John Lennon and Yoko Ono were married and grab a chair at one of the many pubs along Casemates Square.
Leave the country like you entered, by literally crossing the airport runway.
Travel to Dublin: Don’t Miss and Dismiss
Posted by: | CommentsDon’t Miss & Dismiss is an occasional series of travel guide posts about the best (Don’t Miss) and worst (Dismiss) tourist sites in cities all over the world.
When I learned a buddy was planning to travel to Dublin, Ireland, I set about putting together a travel guide of things for him to do on his Irish travel trip. Here are my Don’t Miss and Dismiss Dublin opinions.
Don’t Miss: Trinity College Tour
The student-led tour of the grounds is easily my favorite thing to do in Dublin. I enjoy the school’s interesting history and the guides’ often-humorous insight into Irish college life. The tour also includes a visit to the famous Book of Kells and the library’s impressive long room.
Dismiss: Temple Bar
I admit you should take a stroll through the Temple Bar, but don’t stay long. If you’re looking to hang out with a bunch of other tourists, this is the place to find them.
Don’t Miss: Irish Music Pub Crawl
You bet it’s hokey and touristy, but it’s also a darn good time. Led by local musicians, the tour visits a handful of pubs and provides a fun and educational look (and listen) inside traditional Irish music.
Dismiss: Guinness Storehouse
You can’t visit Dublin without drinking a Guinness. That said, I humbly suggest that you throw back your pint of the dark drink somewhere other than the Guinness Storehouse. The expensive (€15) admission doesn’t cover any of the working parts of the brewery, but provides plenty of opportunity to purchase Guinness-branded souvenir junk.
Don’t Miss: Kilmainham Gaol
I likely would have skipped the Kilmainham Jail, but my lovely wife insisted we visit, and I’m glad she did. The guided tour is excellent and brings the jail’s history to life. Kilmainham is a must for anyone remotely interested in Ireland’s struggle for independence.
Dismiss: O’Connell Street
This big, wide boulevard straddles an uninspiring collection of statues honoring Irish heros and is also home to the 390-foot monstrosity called the Spire of Dublin. We found O’Connell Street so mediocre that we didn’t even take any photos.
Don’t Miss: Number 29 Georgian House
An entertaining museum, Number Twenty-Nine Georgian House represents a middle-class Georgian home and
provides an informative look at everyday life in the late 18th century. As an added bonus, the museum is located right off Merrion Square, a great place to photograph a slew of Dublin’s characteristic and colorful Georgian doors.
Hotel Review: Hotel Continental Barcelona – Barcelona, Spain
Posted by: | CommentsThe thing I remember most about my stay at Barcelona’s Hotel Continental Barcelona was neither its La Rambla location nor its proximity to public transit. The hotel’s affordable pricing doesn’t pop to the top of my memory either. 
No, the thing I remember most about my stay at the Hotel Continental Barcelona was our room’s dizzying decor.
But we’ll get back to that later.
When I travel to a destination city, I pick my accommodations based on four things; price, location, price and location. The Hotel Continental Barcelona hit the score on all four.
Located directly on Barcelona’s La Rambla, the hotel is convenient to many sites, restaurants and clubs. The Catalunya metro stop is right in front of the hotel and the Placa de Catalunya, where you’ll find the pick up point for the Aerobus to the airport and the tourist information office, is a just a short walk away.
It’s not the cheapest place I’ve ever slept, but considering its location, rates are quite reasonable. Our standard double room cost just €85 per night only a few months ago. Although tiny, even by European standards, the room was functional and included full bathroom facilities and an in-room safe. Guests have access to a 24-hour snack-type buffet that also includes soda, beer, wine, juice and water. The hotel has a couple of little patios, one that looks out on the busy tourist scene, and free internet access.
When planning your next travel trip, keep the Hotel Continental Barcelona on your list of lodging options.
Now, I promised to explain about the dizzying decor, but in this case, a picture is worth 1,000 words.
Travel to Quito, Ecuador – The Wanderer’s Take on Latin America
Posted by: | CommentsAdventurer Steve Barrymore is a frequent voyager and expert on travel to South and Central America and the Carribean. Steve blogs regularly as The Wanderer and has generously agreed to tell us a little about his favorite destinations in Latin America. Today’s post on Quito, Ecuador, is the final in a series covering Steve’s top five travel cities. Thanks for reading. -Charlie
Everyone has their favorite part of the world. Mine happens to be Latin America, which includes Mexico, Central and South America. I realize that certain cities have characteristics that may be appealing to me, but not to others. Since this is a list of MY top 5 Latin Cities, I will point out what I like about each one, and hope some of those things may appeal to you as well. – Steve Barrymore
This is a fantastic city!! You need at least a week in Quito to enjoy all it has to offer. It may take a day or two to get used to the altitude because you are at 9,200 feet!
This city is gaining popularity because of the close proximity of many other attractions in the area, which typically are just a short bus trip away.
The most popular tourist area of Quito is referred to as “Gringolandia” on Avenida Amazonas. Plenty of large (and expensive) hotels from which to choose. This area is also a great shopping district with the Mercado de Artsenias as the cornerstone. Don’t forget to check out the very high quality crafts in the retail stores in this area. The prices are reasonable. If you are female, you will definitely want to buy some “river pearls.”
There are many different types of restaurants in Quito, and plenty of inexpensive locally owned places that are very reasonable, such as lunch at the Hotel Calima for about $3. If you want to eat the traditional dish of Ecuador, the Guinea Pig, then head over to Mama Clorindas, just off Avenida Amazonas. Unless you are really hungry, the roasted half Guinea Pig will probably suffice. In Ecuador they call it “Cuy.” Just point to the photo in the menu and they will know exactly what you want.
The “Museum of the Equator” is just outside Quito and a great place to spend three hours. Make sure you have your photo taken while you are straddling the equator.
If you want a little different kind of experience, catch a bus to Otavalo on Saturday and go to the animal market. Take your camera and don’t get too attached to the Guinea Pigs!
