Carole Terwilliger Meyers's Blog, page 109

Sights to See: Yelapa, Mexico

In this tiny seaside village donkeys cart things. It has no cars, and electricity didn't arrive until 2001. But perhaps the town's biggest claim to fame is pie, sold by a lady who strolls the beach balancing the pie plate on her head, stopping to serve out big wedges of banana and coconut cream to those who simply cannot resist. After disembarking the water taxi into the sea's warm water, plop in a plastic lounge chair right at the water's edge and settle in for a few hours of watching the...

Things to Do: Scott's Pizza Tours, NYC

Pizza enthusiast Scott Wiener says, "I don't even like to call it a tour—it's more a support group for pizzaholics." He travels with a messenger bag stuffed like a Chicago deepdish with books and dog-earred brochures that he pulls out for illustration. His informative tour takes you behind the scenes of New York pizza, with plenty of history—he'll tell you more than you ever knew you didn't know about pizza--and massive and messy slices aplenty to taste, too. The three-hour walking tour inclu...

Things To Do: Tiger Kingdom, Chiang Mai, Thailand

I was surprised by the docile tigers that allowed people to lay their heads on their butts for pictures (it's claimed this is the only place in the world where you can get in the enclosures with the tigers and do this). A fish pedicure is available in the lobby. Surprisingly, the restaurant buffet here is exceptional.
Tiger Kingdom 51/1 moo 7 rimtai, Mae-rim, 053-860704; http://www.tigerkingdom.com/ . Daily 9-6.

image c2010 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Things To Do: Tequila Express, Guadalajara, Mexico

One of only two passenger trains left in Mexico (Copper Canyon is other), this festive, usually crowded, journey includes a two-hour-long scenic train ride, a distillery tour, a Mexican buffet, a folkloric dance show, and strolling mariachis, not to mention all the Tequila, beer, or soft drinks you can consume. Every weekend, this train journeys from Guadalajara through the agave fields to the town of AMATITAN, to the very old Hacienda San Jose del Refugio distillery (http...

Misc.: Virtual tour of the Vatican

Move your mouse slowly around the room or you might get dizzy.

http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_giovanni/vr_tour/index-en.html

Sights to See: spider sculptures, Guadalajara, Mexico

While recently riding in a charming horse-drawn calandria cab through downtown Guadalajara, I viewed the "creepy spider sculptures" by Alejandro Colunga that are displayed on a small plaza there.

Learn more about the artist: http://www.kvsmith.com/1/2008/10/alejandro-colunga-a-mexican-artist.html .

image c2010 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Good Eats: Real Food Daily, Santa Monica, California

The all-organic vegan menu here features items made from fresh vegetables, whole grains, and soy products. Cooking is done in stainless steel with filtered water. Opt for a familiar salad, or venture into the section of the menu offering Salisbury seitan and a tempeh Reuben sandwich. Create-your-own-bowls--with choice of veggies, beans and grains, and plant proteins—are also a good bet. And keep your eyes open for celebs; many are vegans.
Real Food Daily 514 Santa Monica Blvd./5th St., (310...

Misc.: National Park Week

In addition to free admission to all 392 national park units being offered by the National Park Service during National Park Week (Apr. 17 - 25), hundreds of special events, discounts and special offers are available by visiting
http://nps.gov/np-week
http://nationalparksonline.org/
http://parkpartners.org/


image Hawaii Volcanoes National Park,
c2010 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Sights to See: Utopia Orchid Park, Tel Aviv, Israel

The Utopia Orchid Park near Tel Aviv includes an indoor orchid garden with more than 20,000 orchids from different species from around the world; a rainforest with tens of thousands of tropical plants, including carnivorous plants, waterfalls and lush greenery; and a butterfly garden and animal park with a wide range of animals and birds.

The park also features two plant mazes--a classical English-style maze and a 6,560-square-foot obstacle maze.

http://www.utopiapark.co.il/english

Good Eats: deBoer's Dutch Brothers Cafe & Bakkerij, Holland, Michigan

Jakob deBoer emigrated here from the Netherlands. His great grandson, Jakob deBoer, is a fourth-generation baker known for his Klompen cakes, pea soup, pig in blankets, Hippy Hash, buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy, and much, much more. Don't miss a yummy, atmospheric Dutch breakfast here.
deBoer's Dutch Brothers Cafe & Bakkerij 360 Douglas Ave., 616-396-2253. B daily, L M-F; $.


images c2010 Carole Terwilliger Meyers