Carole Terwilliger Meyers's Blog, page 101

Good Eats: Louie's Bar and Grill, Ashland, Oregon

This simple, dark-wood-paneled pub features matching high tables and a long bar. TVs run continuously. In good weather, creek-side seating in the back is hard to beat. Service is provided by young, often inexperienced students, but they do tend to be pleasant. Menu choices include a variety of burgers, a few Mexican items (the salmon tacos are very good), and some pub grub ribs and fish & chips.



Louie's Bar and Grill 41 N Main St., (541) 482-9701. $.



image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Great Sleeps: Dubai, Burj Al Arab

Billed as "the world's most luxurious hotel," the famous Burj Al Arab luxury resort hotel is a standout on the Dubai coastline. It stands on a man-made island 280 metres off shore. The hotel's 1,053-foot tower is designed to resemble the billowing sail of an Arabian dhow. Known as "The Tower of Arabs," it is now the world's second-tallest hotel but was the tallest when it was built in 2000. Its interior holds the world's tallest atrium (more than 180 meters high) and a cascade waterfall with fibre optics. Guests stay in two-level suites with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sea (a curving staircase leads up to the bedroom) and are pampered with over-the-top amenities fit for kings and queens—everything from the juciest stuffed dates to Bulgari amenities to butler service. The staff-to-suite ratio is 8 to 1. Rooms have phones galore and feature marble bathrooms with real gold faucets and a Jacuzzi tub big enough for a family of four. A large fleet of Rolls Royces transfers guests to and from the airport and around town, and guests get complimentary access to the Wild Wadi Water park located just across the street.

Visitors must pass through a guard house and must either be staying at the hotel or have a reservation for a restaurant or meeting. If you're not staying here, the least expensive option is tea in the Skyview bar at the top (US$80/person plus tip). You'll be able to see Palm Jumeirah Island from here.



Burj Al Arab Jumeirah Beach Rd., +971 4 364 7 111. 28 floors; 202 suites. Infinity pools; health spa.



 image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers  

Things To Do: abra ride across the creek, Dubai

The inexpensive traditional way to cross the saltwater Dubai Creek—actually more like a river---is by an abra, or water taxi. These small motorized boats connect Deira side and Bur Dubai side and have been ferrying passengers back and forth for decades.





image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Sights to See: San Miguel Shoe store, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

For the treacherous, cobblestone streets found here and throughout Mexico, the thick elastic-strapped sandals designed by Martha Muniz are de rigueur. In addition to having sticky soles that grip the cobblestones and sidewalks, they are very comfortable, inexpensive (start at about $25), and even attractive. They come in many colors and several heel heights, but if your foot is larger than U.S. 8 1/2 they will be almost impossible to find here. But fortunately they are also sold at high end shops in the U.S. and on the internet (www.sanmiguelshoes.net; www.mysanmiguelshoes.com), though it is much more fun to buy them, and wear them, at the source. Martha--the designer and shopkeeper here--is usually made up for prime time and wearing a monotone outfit--Paris Hilton pink, navy blue, black--she is definitely part of the show.

San Miguel Shoe store Calzada de la Luz #48, 01-415-154-47-02.



 image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers  

Travel Videos: Hawaii

Interested in photography, Hawaii, beaches--or all of these? Check out this beautiful and interesting new video, which also tells you a little bit about i-Phone apps. Be patient, it takes a while to load but is worth the wait, or hold off and just watch it on your next Hawaiian Air flight (it is part of the entertainment offerings). I've traveled with Doug Peebles and have one of his gorgeous Hawaii photo books on my coffee table.



image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

Misc.: World's Strangest Hotel Jobs

Ever long for someone to come to your hotel room and read you a bedtime story?



http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/01/28...

Sights to See: Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, Harbin, China

This festival has been held annually in January since 1963 and is one of the largest of its kind in the world.

Great Sleeps: NYC, The Algonquin Hotel -- update

After 13 years, the old Matilda has retired.



http://travelswithcarole.blogspot.com/2009/06/great-sleeps-nyc-algonquin-hotel.html



Meet Matilda III. 

Another blue-eyed Ragdoll, she is a rescue cat found at the Animal League's facility in Port Washington, New York. 





Friend her on facebook at

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pa...



E-mail her at

matildaalgonquincat@algonquinhotel.com

Good Eats: Las Tapas, Dresden, Germany

In the Old Town, Münzgasse (between Frauenkirche and the river) recreates the lively café scene of prewar Dresden. Here you'll find Las Tapas, where the tapas are as delicious as any I've enjoyed in Spain--especially the roasted potatoes—and the beer, of course, is better.



Las Tapas Munzgasse 4, 0351-496 01 08.



 image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers  

Sights to See: Saint Peter's Cathedral, Bautzen (Budysin), Germany

Saint Peter's Cathedral is Eastern Germany's only historic interdenominational church edifice. It dates from 1909 and has both a Catholic and Protestant door, as well as both a Catholic and Protestant organ—which are tuned so they can play together.



 image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers