Matador Network's Blog, page 1149

Cook Islands considering name change

The Cook Islands is following in the footsteps of (now Denali), and considering a name change to reflect its true indigenous roots. The group of 15 islands in the South Pacific was named after British explorer James Cook in 1835, but that name has heavy colonial associations which don’t reflect the islands’ Polynesian heritage. The name change committee, launched in January, is gaining widespread support for the proposal, and it’s currently in the process of evaluating 60 names received from public submissions.

According to Danny Mataroa, chair of the committee, the goal is to submit the top name choice to the government by April. The committee is looking for something that’s easy to pronounce, but also steeped in local culture and history. Mataroa told that the name must reflect the country’s Christian faith, Māori heritage, and its national pride. There no clues yet as to what that name might be, but Avaiki Nui — a name that locals use for the islands — is considered to be a top contender.

Mark Brown, Cook Islands deputy prime minister, expressed his support of the name change, telling RNZ Pacific, “I’m quite happy to look at a traditional name for our country which more reflects the true Polynesian nature of our island nation.”

This isn’t the first time the Cook Islands has considered a name change. A proposal to change the name was rejected in the 1990s, but Mataroa insists this time is different. Now, all 12 chiefs from the country’s inhabited islands are engaged in the process, which is very encouraging.

H/T:

More like this: One week exploring the Cook Islands

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Virgin Atlantic crew no makeup

Your Virgin Atlantic flight crew might start to look more relaxed. Although previously all female cabin crew were required to wear makeup, that will no longer be the case. They will also now be offered pants automatically, in place of their tight red skirts, instead of upon request as before.

The new measures taken by Virgin indicate a possible change in the industry toward a less strict appearance code, especially for female employees. British Airways, for example, had a strict “no trouser” rule for women until 2016, though it still requires them to wear makeup. As reported by The Guardian, “According to [British Airways] uniform guidelines from 2015, all BA female crew are expected, as a minimum, to wear lipstick and blusher, to ‘groom and maintain’ their eyebrows, and conceal obvious blemishes…wherever possible.”

Mark Anderson, Virgin Atlantic spokesperson, said, “Not only do the new guidelines offer an increased level of comfort, they also provide our team with more choice on how they want to express themselves at work.” He said the change was largely inspired by employee feedback.

If Virgin Atlantic female cabin crew members decide to wear makeup during flights, they must choose from an existing color palette determined by the airline.

H/T: BBC

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YouPorn language app

YouPorn clearly understands its short films don’t reflect reality.

Where in your typical YouPorn video, one doesn’t need to say much other than “I don’t have enough money for that pizza” to hook up, in the real world it usually involves a little more communication. So as a way to help international spring breakers find flings in foreign tongues, it’s launching the most useful language app in history.

Today YouPorn launched Sexy Lingo, an app that helps you learn basic phrases, flirt, and ultimately seal the deal in four languages. It gives lessons in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese, teaching you everything from the proper way to say hello to telling your partner that no, the sex was bad.

Working your way up from “Hello!”

At first, Sexy Lingo works just like every other basic language app, teaching nouns, pronouns, and short phrases with multiple choice and short answer questions, often accompanied by helpful pictures.

Even though it’s run by YouPorn, you’ll still be learning such un-sexy questions as “What time is it?” and “Where is the restaurant?” because even in Rio it’s best not to lead with “Are you on the pill?”

But after that, things get interesting.

Once finishing “The Basics” and “Starting a Conversation,” you’ll move to “Flirting,” which through three lessons progresses a little like a night out at a bar. First, you’ll learn to say things like “The guy is cute,” then “Your jokes are funny.” Then, assuming you’d like to get to know each other a little better over late-night falafel, “What kind of food do you feel like eating?”

The flirting section ends with the third lesson, with useful phrases like “Can we go somewhere else to talk?” and “Do you want to come home with me?”

If the answer is “Not tonight, but how long are you in town?” then Sexy Lingo helps you learn how to prepare for the international DM slide, with helpful phrases like “Can I follow you on Instagram?” and “Are you on Facebook?”

Then it gets real juicy in the final section: “Intimate.”

Being the socially responsible pornographers they are, YouPorn begins this section by teaching you how to establish consent by asking “Can I kiss you?,” “Do you like that?,” and “Should we stop?” Remember these, they’re the most important part of the whole lesson.

After that, you’ll at least learn the word for foreplay, but not how to properly do it. The app will also educate you on slang terms for other various sex acts. And, yes, there are helpful, very NSFW pictures for these too.

Finally, it’s time to learn in-sex communication in “Bedroom Talk.” Here, with the aid of helpful diagrams, you’ll learn how to properly ask if your partner is about to orgasm, which in Spanish looks like it’s dangerously close to asking them if they’re a stoplight.

It ends by teaching you how to invite your partner to stay over. Sadly, if you’re not about overnights there is no lesson on the proper way to say, “So should I call you an Uber, or…”

So while hooking up in other countries will never be as easy for you as it is for the lucky pizza delivery guy on YouPorn, at least it can be a little less awkward if you study up on Sexy Lingo. Part entertainment and part education, it’s an invaluable app for anyone going to a foreign country this spring break, or any time really. Just be sure to study the answers carefully, but not the ones with helpful diagrams for too long if you’re in public.


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8 family spots in the Outer Banks

Even if you’re not from the East, you’ve probably heard of The Outer Banks of North Carolina, be it from Blackbeard or Nicholas Sparks, the Lost Colony of Roanoke or the Wright Brothers. Today, these picturesque barrier islands are well known as a romantic destination — what with their seemingly endless miles of unspoiled beaches — but you’ll be surprised at what you can find here for the youngsters, too. Awesome state parks, national seashores, and (get ready!) donuts on a stick are just a few things on this list the entire family can get behind.

1. Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Photo: Outer Banks Visitors Bureau

This federally protected coastline stretches along more than 70 miles of the island chain, and it’s always open for you — and the fam — to explore. The most iconic landmark here is the spiral-striped Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, and many people who return to The Outer Banks year after year never miss a climb to the top.

The beach and waves offer plenty to do, too. If your kids are younger, they’ll love searching for seashells and sea glass between sessions playing in the sand and splashing at the water’s edge. Older kids may want to give surfing a go, as The Outer Banks are widely considered the best place to surf in the East. Then there are the horseback rides on the beach, the shoreline kayak trips, and the leisurely paddleboard adventures — no need to worry about equipment, as rentals are readily available.

If you have a 4WD vehicle, you and the crew can also traverse some off-the-beaten-path parts of the national seashore. And don’t forget the ultimate way to cap a long day exploring: a beach bonfire, allowed on different parts of the shore throughout the year. (Permits are required for both fires and off-roading. Get yours online or at one of the national seashore’s visitor centers, which also host exhibits on the history and ecology of The Outer Banks.)

2. The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island + Jennette’s Pier

Photo: Outer Banks Visitors Bureau

The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island gives you an up-close view of many of the marine animals living in the waters around The Outer Banks: sharks, river otters, alligators, stingrays, turtles, and tons of other fish species. Join shark and stingray feedings, walk through a sunken ship, watch movies about marine life, hear shipwreck tales — the list is long. Perhaps the coolest part: If you have a group of 12+ (or want to cover the equivalent cost), you can plan an experience your kids will never forget — your own overnight slumber party in front of the 285,000-gallon Graveyard of the Atlantic tank, filled with fish large and small.

Add-on adventure: At nearby Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, also operated by North Carolina Aquariums, you and the fam can cast your lines into the Atlantic and see for yourself what swims in the waters below.

3. Wright Brothers National Memorial

Photo: Outer Banks Visitors Bureau

More than a century ago, brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright launched the world’s first successful heavier-than-air powered flight on a tall sand dune right here in The Outer Banks. Today, your family can walk in their footsteps and learn about this world-changing innovation.

Climb up into a sculpture of the famous Wright Flyer and walk along the path of their first flight. Hands-on exhibits teach the kids all about the science and history of aviation, and you’ll come away with a better understanding of this historic achievement.

4. Donutz on a Stick & Ice Cream

Photo: David Williams for Donutz on a Stick

You can find several fresh donut bakeries and ice cream joints along The Outer Banks, but Donutz on a Stick & Ice Cream stands out for its creative recipes, unique presentations, and endless topping combos. After the kiddos scarf down their tasty treats, let them grab selfies with the six-foot duck and load up on mix-and-match candy. Come on, it’s a vacation!

5. Jockey’s Ridge State Park

Photo: Kitty Hawk Kites

As the home of the tallest natural living sand dune on the East Coast, Jockey’s Ridge State Park offers a ton of fun possibilities for kids. Throughout the year, you can sign them up for hang-gliding lessons or just enjoy flying a kite here — the winds are known to cooperate beautifully.

From October through March, the young ones (and you!) can give sandboarding a try, zipping down the slopes of the dunes. And year round, there’s a quieter and more relaxed atmosphere on the sound side of the park, where you can wade or paddle in the water, picnic on the sand, or hike the mile-long nature trail.

6. Pirates and Pixies toy store

Photo: Pirates and Pixies

Whether your kids like stuffed animals, board games, puzzles, arts and crafts, musical instruments, dolls, books, or building blocks, something will strike their fancy at this exte-he-hensive toy store in Nags Head. You’ll recognize popular brand names like Melissa and Doug, Klutz, Mattel, and Calico Critters — but you’re pretty much guaranteed to discover tons of innovative creations you won’t find back home, too.

7. Paradise Fun Park

Photo: Paradise Fun Park

Mini-golf courses are sprinkled all across The Outer Banks, but Paradise Fun Park ups the ante with bumper cars, go-karts, an arcade, and even one of those crazy bungee-cord trampoline contraptions that will let your kids do high-springing flips. They’ll love exploring all 36 holes of the park’s two pirate-themed putt-putt courses that wind through dark caves, a pirate ship, waterfalls, and other ultra-impressive features. Between activities, take a quick break onsite for some ice cream, snacks, and drinks before heading out again for the next round.

8. Roanoke and Albemarle Sounds

Photo: Outer Banks Visitors Bureau

The vastness of the ocean is a lot to take in, especially for young ones with wide eyes and vivid imaginations. Let them experience a taste of its wonder while staying comfortably within sight of land by going on a soundside dolphin-watching excursion.

Nags Head Dolphin Watch, Capt. Johnny’s Outer Banks Dolphin Tours, and Paradise Dolphin Cruises all provide memorable tours with nearly 100% sighting rates. That’s the beauty — and the guarantee — of a family trip to The Outer Banks.

The post 8 spots on The Outer Banks of North Carolina your kids are going to love appeared first on Matador Network.

The best things to do in Ruidoso

If you ever want to disappear for a while, there’s no better place than the hidden mountain town of Ruidoso in southern New Mexico. It’s so remote that you could drive the lonely interstates 10 or 25 that slice across the seemingly endless desert of without ever knowing you’d passed it. Make it your destination, though, and you are in for a treat.

Drive first toward White Sands National Monument and continue to the imposing Sierra Blanca mountain range that serves as the monument’s backdrop. When you arrive at Ruidoso over an hour later, you’ll quickly understand why its 8,000 residents embrace this quiet and isolated corner of the Southwest.

“You can literally hike naked through the woods and not run into anybody,” said Justin Huffman, director of tourism for Ruidoso, as we stood atop the gypsum sands of the monument on our way into town. Once you step out of the village and its neighboring satellite communities, there’s typically no one around for miles.

On the map, Ruidoso looks like a tough place to get to. But the drive is actually quick — about three hours from Albuquerque and just a bit over that from El Paso, Texas. The best approach is to drive in during late afternoon, just as the sun begins to set. Heading up Highway 70, old truck stops worn by decades of dust and desert sun begin to give way to forested hills. As the sun sets over the forested, snow-capped peaks in the distance, you’ll find yourself distracted by the purple glow of the mountains reflecting the fading evening light and specks of golden rays popping over the horizon.

Photo: Jason Kautz/Shutterstock

A town set on the edge of mountain and desert

Don’t mistake Ruidoso’s seclusion for exclusivity. It’s the most welcoming mountain town in New Mexico, free of the gated mega-resorts and Gucci purses you’d find in the Aspens of the world. Steadily growing, Ruidoso has seen an influx of metropolitan expats, including a former professional soccer player from Brazil and a few deep-pocketed old Deadheads — drawn by the town’s laidback attitude and slow pace of life.

The old A-frames and low-rise commercial buildings of midtown house clothing and gift boutiques, gear shops, and pubs where you can cozy up to a local and draw advice on where to spend your next day’s adventure. The people in Ruidoso love to talk about their town, and for every rough edge — there are few — you’ll find a dose of homegrown pride and charm.

“Craft creates more craft,” was a phrase I’d hear Huffman say repeatedly over the course of four days. Formerly a hub for horse racing and gambling, the new draw in town is Ruidoso’s makers and shakers, feeding off each other as the scene garnishes more attention. There’s a positive, inclusive energy radiating from the breweries and restaurants, and Lost Hiker Brewing Company signifies this spirit perhaps more than anywhere else in town. The taproom, and the brewery that feeds it, were opened by a pair of former school teachers from Austin, Texas, who left the big city for a more relaxed way of life in the mountains.

Photo: Tim Wenger

“We bought a plot of land nearby and knew we’d find a way to get up here permanently,” said co-founder Dan Carey, who runs the place with his wife Jennifer. “The name signifies us being sort of lost in life and finding our home here, as brewers.” The former educators’ brewery is barely a year old, but already you’ll see their brews poured at tap houses around town. That said, their taproom, rich with bluegrassy vibes and live music on weekends, is the best place to savor their beers.

“Liquid tourism” is taking off here, and midtown — the downtown strip running along Ruidoso’s Sudderth Drive — is remaking itself as a hub for local brews, wines, and spirits. Glencoe Distillery is the spot for stronger drink. The bar has a rustic feel to it, kind of like you’re drinking with Clint Eastwood on the set of Honkytonk Man, except for the fact that instead of pounding straight whiskey you’re sipping a barrel-aged Negroni. Wellness tourism — fueled by booze-free drinks — is also part of the boom, personified in the handmade tea blends at Old Barrel Tea Company and Sanctuary on the River yoga studio along the calm waters of the Rio Ruidoso.

Explore culinary traditions shaped by the local harvest

Photo: Joseph Sohm/Shutterstock

Despite its growth, Ruidoso has never lost sight of its native roots and New Mexican heritage. The southern part of New Mexico is the state’s breadbasket, with plentiful harvests of nuts, beans, and a variety of vegetables and herbs. Chili peppers grow in abundance here too.

In addition to spicing up the cocktails and coloring the landscape in vibrant reds and greens, those chilis means that two of the most seductive words ever spoken together — breakfast burrito — are amplified here like nowhere else. Sacred Grounds Coffee and Tea House is where you’ll find the best in town.

Chilis also infuse the meats at Circle J BBQ, giving it a unique kick not found in the BBQ joints of the South or Midwest, and satisfying the grilled meat cravings of visitors from nearby Texas. The full bounty of the local harvest is on display at Hunt and Harvest, the perfect place for date night and one of the few spots in town where you may want to break out that collared shirt.

The local ski area operates a world away from the corporate resorts up north

Photo: Esdelval/Shutterstock

Stretched across the nearby Sierra Blanca peak, Ski Apache is the southernmost fully operational ski area in the United States. The terrain is typical of Rocky Mountain resorts, with above-treeline bowls leading into mellow tree runs, complemented by plenty of moguled runs and groomed cruisers as well. Without the name recognition of Summit County or Lake Tahoe, the resort is far from the vacation radar of most skiers and boarders outside of New Mexico and western Texas. While this equals virtually no lift lines, it keeps the Mescalero tribe which operates the ski resort in constant marketing mode, determined to bring their isolated resort the attention it deserves.

Even with the tribe’s determination, the ski area still faces obstacles. Climate change hangs overhead, with opening dates consistently pushed back and a feeling in town that winters are becoming shorter. In June of 2012, the Little Bear fire hit southern New Mexico with a force unlike any the state had ever seen, burning through over 40,000 acres and destroying more than 250 structures. Ski Apache lost three chairlifts and its gondola in the fire.

The tribe, unwilling to let the disaster wipe their iconic ski area off the map, replaced all of the structures that summer — and opened the full mountain for the 2012/13 season. “It was an incredible story of survival and determination,” said Huffman.

Wind is a constant challenge for the resort, occasionally shutting the lifts down completely if conditions aren’t safe to operate them. But the resort is adapting, and year-round activities are a major priority. Ten miles of trails open to mountain bikers during summer months, and hikers have plenty of room to roam both onsite and at nearby trails, including the trailhead to the summit of Sierra Blanca peak just up the road.

Guests craving views of the 12,000-foot peak without breaking a sweat can hop in the gondola for a scenic ride to the top of the ski area. On New Year’s Day in 2015, the tribe opened the world’s highest zip line there, launching gliders from over 11,000 feet and sending them soaring nearly 9,000 feet across mountains and, if eyes are kept open, offering incredible views of the Sierra Blancas.

Ruidoso’s charm comes with out-the-door access to the whole of the Sierra Blanca mountains, the original draw to the area. The town is working to create a connected system of hiking and biking trails which traverse the area surrounding the village, providing year-round access to the mountains not dependent on seasonal weather.

Nearly all visitors want to see the mountains, but not everyone likes to hike, and Ruidoso is working to provide alternative ways to see the sights. Backcountry Attitudes is one example of this, a newly licensed operator of off-road buggy tours that cover the expansive dirt road system running through the high country near town. Guests can drive their own buggy or ride with a guide.

The Old West meets modern Southwestern charm

Photo: Discover Ruidoso

Ruidoso’s relaxed personality is as rich in Southern hospitality as Southwestern charm, and while you’ll see plenty of the turquoise-heavy imagery that New Mexico is known for, you’ll feel right at home in a pair of cowboy boots or trail shoes. Downtown lodging properties such as Ruidoso River Resort offer walkable access to both midtown and the trailheads leading out of it. Most lodging in town, aside from a row of chain motels dotting the outskirts, is done cabin-style. You’ll find wooden frames, pastoral decor themed around the elk that often outnumber humans in the town, and a host who’ll look you in the eye and shake your hand as they hand you a room key — which, by the way, is likely to be an actual key. This sounds rustic, and in many ways it is — but the fireplace turns on with the flick of a switch and the heat works like a charm.

If you’re coming by air, fly into either El Paso or Albuquerque and rent a car or hit up Shuttle Ruidoso for a lift. Midtown is walkable, but having your own vehicle is a plus because you can head out to the ski area and the region’s trailheads on whim. You can also make the quick day trip along the Billy the Kid Scenic Highway.

This 40-minute journey takes you to Lincoln, the site of the western legend’s famed jailbreak 1881. You can walk by the jailhouse and, if inclined, you can even snap a selfie on the spot outside where he landed after bailing from the jail’s top floor. More of a historic site than an actual town, you’re only an hour from Roswell, and the Old West vibes mix with a heavy dose of paranormal creepiness to create a haunted house-type feel. Settle in for a pint at Bonito Valley Brewing Company to capture this essence in full, as the taproom is set in a house as old as the legend of Billy the Kid himself.

Newcomers are welcome to stay

Photo: FrimuFilms/Shutterstock

“We actually want the people who work on laptops to come here,” Huffman said. “We want more bodies in the town.”

Ruidoso has a constant need for labor, as well — workers to fill shifts at restaurants, lodging properties, and cafes. The problem, as in mountain towns across the country, is affordable housing. The city has tried for years to turn an open lot near downtown into “workforce” housing, but the idea faces intense opposition from business owners and landlords worried about a negative impact on property values. Officials are hopeful that the property will be built.

Despite the tight housing market, Ruidoso is still more affordable than many other mountain towns. If you’re looking for a change of pace, or just want to hide out for a while, Ruidoso may be just what you’re looking for.


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The post For a mountain vacation where you can actually relax, head to southern New Mexico appeared first on Matador Network.

Best surf spot in Central America

Central America has long been a hot surf destination for Americans. It’s easy to see why. The tropical region is right in our backyard, there are direct flights, and many of the surf spots exist in thriving, yet somewhat touristy, towns that make traveling convenient and comfortable. Few locations maintain the exotic appeal of surf travel’s origins — back when surfers were explorers who set out into the unknown. But Playa Venao, Panama, does just that. It’s remote, protected, and surprisingly international all at the same time. Here’s why Playa Venao is Central America’s most fascinating surf destination.

Playa Venao is isolated.

Photo: Morgan Bernard

Convenience and comfort are perplexing concepts when it comes to surf travel. Originally, surf travelers discovered new territories armed with nautical charts, weather radios, and little else. They pioneered the art of forecasting, chased swells, crossed borders, and did whatever it took to find perfect, untouched waves. They were rarely comfortable nor were their trips convenient. Today, surf trips are a breeze. Book a ticket, arrange an airport transfer, and hire a surf guide to take you around — and you’ll be surfing in another country within hours of walking out of your front door.

Playa Venao, much harder to reach, harkens back to the old days of surf travel. Panama’s serpentine shape stretches all the way from Costa Rica’s southern border to Colombia’s northern border, a total of 480 miles of meandering coastlines. Most visiting surfers landing in the high-rise-filled capital, Panama City, quickly hop on a 45-minute domestic flight toward the Caribbean coast, where they surf at the Bocas del Toro archipelago.

In contrast, on the journey from Panama City to Playa Venao, you leave behind the urban bustle and head deep into the country’s lush and dense jungle landscape. On the long bus ride, large highways give way to two-lane roads that then devolve into bumpy, often winding, dirt roads. After six hours, you arrive at the town of Pedesi. From Pedesi, 30 minutes in a taxi or shuttle complete your dirt-road journey and bring you to the volcanic sands of Playa Venao. You might describe Playa Venao as comfortable, as it is, after all, a tropical beach. But given the arduous journey required to reach it, it’s not necessarily convenient. Thus, reaching Venao gives you that often sought after, yet rarely attained, sense of authentic adventure.

Its natural beauty is protected.

Photo: Morgan Bernard

Like its neighbor to the north, Costa Rica, Panama has an incredibly diverse ecology. It sits on the isthmus of Central America, linking North America and South America through a narrow strip of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Panama’s closeness to the equator and dual coastlines provide it with a unique mix of ecosystems that include coastal mangroves, tropical lowland humid forests, tropical mountain forests, tropical dry forests, freshwater wetlands, and coral reefs. Panama serves as a biological corridor between two major continents, allowing for an invaluable natural exchange of plants and animals across borders known as the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.

Located on the Azuero Peninsula, Playa Venao has a clean beach, pristine water, dense mangroves, and lush tropical forests that rise up through the adjacent hills. Playa Venao’s natural preservation is made possible by several chance factors. For one, it’s close to the Cerro Hoya National Park, which houses a sea turtle refuge. This proximity to the protected national park helps protect an abundance of wildlife and marine life, including curious monkeys, sea turtles, and whales. Another factor in Playa Venao’s natural preservation is the local Eco Venao accommodations. In addition to its mission of offering a sustainable, low-impact lodging, the Eco Venao is committed to maintaining a reforestation project covering 346 acres of hilled, tropical jungle right off the beach.

Its unique history keeps Venao safe from overgrowth.

Photo: Morgan Bernard

Approximately 12 years ago, a traveling surfer from Israel was making his way down the Pacific coast of Central America when he stumbled upon Playa Venao. At the time, the area was mostly untouched by tourism. There might have been a hotel or two, but surf tourism was completely absent. He set up camp and stayed for months, surfing by himself. At the end of his stay, he went to the only house nearby, knocked on the door, and offered to buy a lot of land on the beach right in front of the break. The owner of the house and the entire stretch of beach in front of the break declined. He told that surfer that, if he wanted it, he had to buy the whole lot.

The traveling surfer, along with a number of his Israeli friends, later returned and took up the offer, buying the entire stretch of beach in front of the surf break and dividing it equally among themselves. Today, most of the hotels — and there aren’t many — on Playa Venao are owned by those same friends, which means that the land in front of the renowned surf break is safe from overdevelopment. While each of these friends operates their beachfront businesses, many of which are restaurants or surf hotels, Playa Venao is safe from vertical growth. So, there won’t be any massive, towering resort structures right in front of the break anytime soon.

It’s surprisingly diverse, with a global food scene.

Photo: Eco Venao/Facebook

Due in part to the influx of Israeli travelers, Playa Venao possesses a unique blend of cultures. While traveling in Venao, you’ll hear a myriad of languages spoken including Spanish, English, Hebrew, German, and Dutch. Venao has become an international traveler’s haven — despite its isolation and small size.

Playa Venao has no grocery store. While many of the lodging options boast community kitchens, there’s not much more than a convenience store to grab a beer. Travelers in Venao who wish to cook must wait until the end of the week for the arrival of the “vegetable guy,” off of whose truck you can buy fresh produce. Similarly, the “fish guy” also comes at the week’s end, with a fresh catch for sale.

Given those circumstances, it may come as a surprise that in Playa Venao you’ll find excellent Italian food made with all-natural ingredients, crispy schnitzel that will make any German or Austrian feel at home, delicious pad Thai, fresh sushi, South American arepas, tasty shawarma, and more. The diversity of Venao’s visitors are behind this culinary variety. Many travelers choose not to leave, and when they stay, the food cultures from their home countries remain as well.

It has waves for every type of surfer.

Photo: Eco Venao/Facebook

Although located on Panama’s west coast, the Playa Venao beach itself is south facing. Playa Venao is situated perfectly for south swells. When south swells hit, the result is a fast-breaking, hollow, sand-bottom barrel that encapsulates Central American surf perfection. During a serious run of swell, the main break at Venao becomes an advanced-only wave.

That said, beginners can also find their fair share of milder waves. Playa Venao is tucked into a C-shaped cove. No matter what the waves are doing at the main break in the middle of the cove, there’s a consistent, mellow wave on either one of the cove’s protected corners. With its plethora of food, waves, and natural beauty, Playa Venao is an ideal location for foodies, surfers of all levels, and adventure seekers alike.


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Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama

Any mention of Mardi Gras in the US usually makes people think of New Orleans. While the Big Easy has the biggest and most famous Mardi Gras party, the first official Mardi Gras in the US actually took place in Mobile, Alabama, in 1703.

Mobilians are proud of being the location for America’s first Mardi Gras. So much so that the state tourism board put up a billboard outside of New Orleans stating in all caps, “You are 114 miles from America’s original Mardi Gras.”

And while the wasted hordes on Bourbon Street flash their stuff for beads and cause all kinds of commotion, around a million people head to Mobile each year for the country’s original, and second largest, Mardi Gras celebration. They just do it a lot more quietly.

Photo: Visit Mobile

How Mardi Gras started in Mobile

French settlers celebrated Mardi Gras in 1703 in what is now Mobile when the city was the capital of French Louisiana. The land passed hands from the French to the British to the Spanish, and eventually to the US, and celebrations varied depending on who was in control. In the 1830s, the first modern “society” (similar to the krewes in New Orleans) was formed and paraded the streets on New Year’s Eve. More mystic societies formed over the next couple of decades, all of which were white and male, until the Civil War.

The year after the war, Mardi Gras was once again held. Only, this time, it had an anti-Union atmosphere. Joseph Stillwell Cain, a former Confederate soldier and former member of the Tea Drinkers Mystic Society, dressed up as a fictional Native American named Chief Slackabamarinico and held an impromptu parade through the city on Fat Tuesday in 1866. He and other former Confederate soldiers paraded with others again the following year, which set the tone for Mobile’s Mardi Gras parties through Reconstruction.

Rather than being solely about religious aspects leading up to Lent, according to the Encyclopedia of Alabama, it was about the “Lost Cause,” which is a reference to the way of life in the antebellum South. Today, Mobile’s Mardi Gras still features a Joe Cain parade on “Joe Cain Day” that’s led by someone dressed as a Native American, and many of the festivities are segregated, as a 2017 New York Times photo essay shows.

Photo: Visit Mobile

How Mardi Gras in Mobile differs from in New Orleans

Mobile’s festivities have changed significantly since its early days. Although it shares some similarities with the party in New Orleans, there are also many differences.

It all starts on New Year’s Eve. Every year since 2008, a 12-foot-tall, 600-pound lighted mechanical moon pie has descended on downtown Mobile from the 34-story RSA Bank Trust building at the stroke of midnight. The world’s largest moon pie is then cut and served to the public as part of festivities, marking the unofficial start of Mardi Gras season.

Mobile’s Mardi Gras parties run from mid-February through the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. In general, it has the drinking, eating, and hard partying like New Orleans, but is more family friendly — and you don’t have to flash anyone to get beads.

Photo: Visit Mobile

Stop by the Mobile Carnival Museum for a full history. This museum showcases the celebration from start to finish, with stunning gowns and tuxedos complete with fur and diamonds. Posters, ball invitations, and historic mystic societies are honored, and the interactive exhibits include a life-size float where you can throw beads to your cheering crowd below.

Photo: Visit Mobile

Mobile’s Mardi Gras parades and balls

Mobile holds around 50 parades during Mardi Gras season, and up to 10 a day starting the weekend before Ash Wednesday. Many of the parades and events are organized by the more than 70 social clubs called mystic societies, all of which organize their own events. Some of the oldest societies date back to the late 1800s, but there are also relatively new groups such as historically black societies like MLK Mondays, an LGBT crew named Order of the Osiris, and women-only crews like the Order of the Mystic Magnolias.

Plan to spend your entire Mobile Mardi Gras days at parades. People who arrive the earliest can set up chairs to sit in, while later arrivals can stand behind. If you make the proper arrangements, you can watch from a rooftop or porch. Open containers from licensed bars are allowed on the streets in some areas, while others ban public drinking. The official city of Mobile website has a map of the parade routes and which areas allow alcohol.

Photo: Visit Mobile

Be sure to bring a bag to carry all the things you catch as they’re thrown into the audience from passing floats, and show up early for the full experience (and to maximize your takeaway). In addition to beads and moon pies, the goodies also include T-shirts and stuffed animals. Marching bands perform in between the grand floats, often tossing items to match the theme of their performance. Some get techy and create 3D high-definition painted floats or have movie themes like Star Wars or The Joker.

Most mystic societies throw a ball where the king and queen of the group are crowned. Many of those are secret and members only, but a few welcome guests willing to pay a cover charge. Just be sure to dress appropriately, as they’re generally fancy affairs. It’s like prom, but with a rich history and high stakes.

What’s all this talk about moon pies?

Photo: MoonPie/Facebook

A classic moon pie is a chocolate-coated graham cracker cookie with a marshmallow filling invented by the Chattanooga Bakery in the early 1900s. They started to be thrown from floats in the 1940s alongside the other popular float-thrown food, Cracker Jack boxes. Moon pies and their spherical, non-eye-poking design eventually usurped Crack Jack boxes as the tossed edible of choice. You can get a moon pie pretty much anywhere during Mardi Gras, but the preferred method is to stand streetside at a parade and raise your arms to the sky.


More like this: Everything you need to know before you go to Mardi Gras this year

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Trivia app offers free flights

Though we sometimes mock the Cliff Clavins among us, knowing loads of seemingly-useless information can seriously pay off. There’s free drinks on cruise ships, first of all. And who can forget the HQ Trivia craze of 2017-2018, when we all went nuts over the possibility of winning $5.42 by miraculously knowing the capital of Moldova when two million other people didn’t.

But now you can win a lot more than a jackpot split 1,300 ways, netting yourself a nice island tan for your expert knowledge on the Caribbean. A new app called Trippzy, created by veteran travel journalists with help from app developers, helps you win points toward everything from flights to scuba lessons just by answering some not-so-obvious questions about the islands.

Here’s how it works: Every day you’re given a certain number of “tokens,” each one allowing you to answer one trivia question about the Caribbean. They’ll range from the actually guessable — like “What is the national currency of Curacao?” — to the impossible but clearly sponsored, such as “How many rooms are in the Kura Hulanda resort?”

Some are interesting, like learning where the name “tortola” comes from. Others are useful, like finding out there are actually two airports in St. Kitts and Nevis.

You’ll have 15 seconds to answer, and the faster you guess the correct answer, the more “tripcoins” you receive. Each question is multiple choice, so you’ve got a pretty decent shot at getting them right. And even if you don’t, in true millennial fashion, you’ll still get points just for playing.

Each question is worth a maximum of 500 tripcoins, and you’ll get 10 questions per day until you run out of tokens. Once you run out, you’ll have to wait until the next day to play again.

The whole thing has a delightful steel-drum soundtrack playing in the background to get you in the island spirit and your coworkers sufficiently irritated.

After your high of correctly guessing the national dish of Curacao, it’s time to cash in your points. Rewards are available in six destinations: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, Curacao, and Nevis. Right now, most offer $25 flight certificates redeemable for 15,000 points. The exception is Curacao, which has all kinds of deals from free paddleboard rentals to scuba diving to a $5,000 vacation package which includes roundtrip airfare for two, a luxury hotel stay, $500 in cash, and “VIP experiences.”

Just like Skee-Ball tickets, it takes a while to accumulate enough to get anything worthwhile. But if you can rack up a few thousand points every day, and play every day on your way to work, in a few months you might have enough to fly somewhere warm. All for learning interesting stuff about a region most people lump into one, big, tropical vacationland.

The app has plans to expand to other destinations, but the Caribbean seems like a pretty good start this time of year. And as we can feed our national obsession with a chance to escape the cold for free, Trippzy seems like the perfect candidate for the next great American time-killer.


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1,500 smuggled turtles found

Turtle trafficking might not be top-of-mind when you think of illegal activity at the airport, but yesterday in Manila, in the Philippines, authorities uncovered a startling number of live turtles and tortoises hidden in four abandoned suitcases in the airport’s arrivals area. 1,529 live turtles and tortoises were spread across four suitcases. They had been bound with duct tape and stuffed between clothes, and it’s suspected that the incident is part of a wider multi-million dollar illegal wildlife smuggling operation.

In a Facebook post by Ninoy Aquino International Airpot’s Bureau of Customs, the luggage had been brought to the airport by a Filipino passenger arriving from Hong Kong before being abandoned. A few species found in the luggage, including the star tortoise and African spurred tortoise, are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

While turtles and tortoises might seem like strange animals to target for smuggling, they are actually huge scores for the illegal wildlife trade. Their meat and body parts are considered delicacies and used as medicine in many parts of Asia, and they are sought-after exotic pets.

Anyone involved in illegal animal trading in the Philippines is subject to a $4,000 fine and up to two years in prison, explains Smithsonian, but the potential payoff is still motivating smugglers to risk it. According to The Guardian, the estimated value of the turtles found in Manila is a staggering $87,000.

H/T: Smithsonian.com

More like this: 10 endangered animals to see (and save) before they’re gone

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Instagram account recreates movie

If you can’t be in the movies, you might as well try to recreate them. Thomas Duke attempts to bridge his favorite fictional worlds and reality by visiting popular filming locations, holding up a photograph of the scene, and then taking a picture of the of it all for Instagram. Yes, it’s very meta. The 20-year-old film student has built a thriving Instagram account, of over 35k followers, by paying homage to his favorite movies in this unique way.

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A post shared by Thomas Duke (@steppingthroughfilm) on Aug 31, 2018 at 11:07am PDT

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A post shared by Thomas Duke (@steppingthroughfilm) on Jun 15, 2018 at 10:56am PDT

He told the BBC that “The idea’s always been in my head. I just love exploring places and linking that with my passion for film […] I always want to visit the scenes that mean the most to me. I can visit the places that I’ve only ever seen on screen.”

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A post shared by Thomas Duke (@steppingthroughfilm) on Feb 13, 2019 at 11:39am PST

Duke celebrates films ranging from Harry Potter, Dunkirk, and Les Miserables, to Love Actually and Wonder Woman. With each post, he includes a caption explaining the story behind the visit. After visiting a beach in Wales and recreating the tragic death of Dobby from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I, Duke wrote in his caption, “I remember sitting in the cinema frozen to my seat when Dobby fell to his knees and slowly passed away in Harry’s arms. I hadn’t read the books beforehand so I had no inkling as to what was about to happen…watching a character I’d come to love so, so very much die like this and fade away while talking about his friendship was heartbreaking. The last few words Dobby breathes embody his personality so much and it’s always such a hard scene to watch. Such an innocent little elf who only wanted good for everyone else. Rest in piece Dobby.”

In another post, Duke recreates the ballroom scene from The Dark Knight Rises, holding up a photo of Bruce Wayne dancing with Catwoman. The scene was filmed in the Crush Hall in Senate House in London, and Duke writes, “The architecture was beautiful but the bright lights were a pain!”

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A post shared by Thomas Duke (@steppingthroughfilm) on Oct 23, 2018 at 10:38am PDT

Duke has visited over 150 filming locations, and chances are he’s stepped inside one of your favorite films. Check out his Instagram account to see more of his work.

H/T: BBC News

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