Carole Terwilliger Meyers's Blog, page 116

Good Eats: Food carts, Portland, Oregon

Food carts have been around town here for about 10 years. Now almost 400 cluster in numerous "pods" around the perimeter of parking lots. Depending on which pod you visit, you can select from Mexican, Thai, Korean, and Bosnian foods, not to mention Dutch waffles and Belgian fries. The pod of carts at SW 9th Ave./SW Alder St. has no running water. A few tables are provided, but most people take their lunch away to a nearby park or back to their office. More locations and a list of cuisines...

Sights to See: dolphin stampede, Sea of Cortez, Mexico

This video was shot on a fishing expedition between Isla la Guardia and Bajia de los Angeles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDiEXRMB-u8

Sights to See: Sea of Cortez, Mexico, dolphin stampede

This video was shot on a fishing expedition between Isla la Guardia and Bajia de los Angeles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDiEXRMB-u8

Sights to See: Botanical Gardens Montreal, Montreal, Canada

One of the largest botanical gardens in the world, this park is home to 22,000 types of plants, flowers, and trees, as well as 200 different bird species. It houses greenhouses with plants from around the world, plus many large, themed outdoor gardens that are covered with snow from November through April.
Botanical Gardens Montreal (Les Jardins Botaniques de Montréal) 4101 Sherbrooke East, corner of Pie-IX, 514-872-1400.

See more images of the gardens' spectacular topiaries at:

Sights to See: Montreal, Canada, Botanical Gardens Montreal

One of the largest botanical gardens in the world, this park is home to 22,000 types of plants, flowers, and trees, as well as 200 different bird species. It houses greenhouses with plants from around the world, plus many large, themed outdoor gardens that are covered with snow from November through April.
Botanical Gardens Montreal (Les Jardins Botaniques de Montréal) 4101 Sherbrooke East, corner of Pie-IX, 514-872-1400.

See more images of the gardens' spectacular topiaries at:

Great Sleeps: World's Top 10 Hotels Under $19

Of course, you have to travel some distance to experience some of these bargains, but one is right in the good old U.S. of A.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/InfoCenter-a_ctr.HotelsUnder19


image is of Shiva Guest House in Nepal; room is $9.

Things to Do: Swim with the Polar Bears at Polar Bear Habitat, Cochrane, Ontario, Canada

Unbelievably, you can swim with the polar bears here. However, for safety--though cute, polar bears are among the world's most ferocious carnivores--a bullet-proof, shatterproof glass that is almost 9 centimeters thick separates human from bear.

Polar Bear Habitat and Heritage Village 1 Drury Park Rd., in Cochrane, 800-354-9948, 705-272-2327; http://www.polarbearhabitat.ca/. Daily; in summer 9-5; in winter 10-4. $20, 65+ $18, 4-14 $12, Swim with the bears +$5.

Things to Do: Cochrane, Ontario, Canada, Swim with the Polar Bears at Polar Bear Habitat

Unbelievably, you can swim with the polar bears here. However, for safety--though cute, polar bears are among the world's most ferocious carnivores--a bullet-proof, shatterproof glass that is almost 9 centimeters thick separates human from bear.

Polar Bear Habitat and Heritage Village 1 Drury Park Rd., in Cochrane, 800-354-9948, 705-272-2327; http://www.polarbearhabitat.ca/. Daily; in summer 9-5; in winter 10-4. $20, 65+ $18, 4-14 $12, Swim with the bears +$5.

Good Eats: Dinner in the Sky, Las Vegas, Nevada

A spectacular view of the Las Vegas skyline is guaranteed from this table suspended 160 feet in the air.

http://www.dinnerintheskylv.com/

Sights to See: Lefortovo Tunnel, Russia

The 3150-meter-long "Tunnel of Death" is the longest city tunnel in all of Europe. You might want to avoid it when you are in town.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fLW3OiH8OQ