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How toast is prepared around world

If you’ve gone out for brunch in the last half-decade, you’d think avocado was the only legally allowed toast topping. But people all over the world belong to toast-making traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation of lazy cooks, many of whom created recipes that could pass just as much for dessert as for breakfast. From sugary spreads to savory schmears, let these seven intriguing toast preparations be the inspiration behind your next breakfast or midnight snack.

1. Hagelslag — Netherlands

Photo: Kelly vanDellen/Shutterstock

Sprinkles for breakfast? Nothing bizarre about that in Dutch households. Smothering toast with chocolate, rainbow, or anise-flavored sprinkles is the breakfast of champions in the Netherlands. Yes, even for adults. The recipe is simple: Butter a piece of toast and coat it with candy like a kid in charge of decorating their birthday cake. Seriously, don’t hold back. Hagelslag translates to “hailstorm” in English, so that’s your cue to go for a generous layer.

2. Skagenröra — Sweden

Photo: eugena-klykova/Shutterstock

Toast Skagen is a traditional Swedish dish made with a spread called skagenröra, a mixture of peeled prawns tossed in mayonnaise, a crème fraîche-like dairy product called gräddfil, whitefish roe, and add-ins ranging from horseradish to brandy. Spread thick onto crispy sauteed bread and garnished with dill, skagenröra is a popular snack and starter. Swedish restaurateur Tore Wretman invented Toast Skagen, although its namesake is actually the northernmost town in Denmark.

3. Vegemite — Australia

Photo: PageSeven/Shutterstock

Vegemite is notorious for being an acquired taste enjoyed almost exclusively by Australians (though Brits have their own version called Marmite). You’d be hard pressed to find a pantry Down Under that isn’t stocked with the concentrated yeast extract, which turns an ordinary piece of toast into something salty, savory, and scrumptious. Pro tip for people not used to the taste: Use a much thinner layer than you would with, say, peanut butter or Nutella.

4. Kaya jam — Singapore and Malaysia

Photo: Nawadoln/Shutterstock

Kaya is the topping of choice for Singaporeans and Malaysians. The coconut egg jam is flavored with pandan, an equal parts sweet and nutty herb used in South Asian cooking much like vanilla is used elsewhere. Kaya toast is often paired with soft-boiled eggs seasoned with soy sauce and white pepper. Odd as the combo sounds, it’s customary to dip the toast in the runny yolk as you go, satisfying that sweet-savory spot that inspired trendy breakfast foods like the almighty bacon doughnut.

5. Dulce de leche — Argentina

Photo: Evgeniya Uvarova/Shutterstock

You may be familiar with dulce de leche, a sweet caramel-like treat made by heating sweetened condensed milk. It’s put on everything from ice cream to churros. In Argentina, it’s not just for dessert, though, and is spread directly on toast. Equally popular is to roll the decadent spread inside thin, crepe-like pancakes. It’s guaranteed to give you a sugar rush to rival any coffee buzz first thing in the morning.

6. Baked beans — England

Photo: Richard M Lee/Shutterstock

According to the Brits, beans are just about the best thing you can put on toast aside from jam. Not just any beans, however. Canned baked beans are the way to go, specifically Heinz beans in tomato sauce. They come in a blue tin and aren’t sweet and syrupy like a lot of American baked beans. White bread is the preferred base for this simple dish. There’s nothing fancy about it — though you can grate some cheddar on top if you’re feeling festive.

7. Speculoos — Belgium

Photo: richardernestyap/Shutterstock

Speculoos adds another tally for sugary toast toppings. The Belgian dish is hot, buttered, and loaded with sucrose, which shouldn’t be a surprise coming from the same country that goes so crazy with its waffles that they’re strictly classified as dessert. Speculoos is a cookie butter made from spiced shortbread biscuits. It looks like a nut butter but tastes like a liquified gingerbread. It’s particularly popular in winter and during the holidays, but Belgians have been known to load up on the sweet spread year round.


More like this: 7 unique ways people drink coffee around the world

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Hawaii’s East Island now gone

We know hurricanes are powerful enough to flood streets and destroy buildings, but this hurricane was so strong that it wiped an entire island off the map. Hurricane Walaka, an incredibly powerful hurricane, struck a small island in Hawaii earlier this month and caused it to become completely submerged. East Island, only a half-mile long, 400-feet wide, and sitting atop a coral reef, was the second-largest island in the atoll of the French Frigate Shoals and an important bastion for the local wildlife. The endangered Hawaiian monk seals used the island to raise their young, and green sea turtles and albatrosses also relied upon it for survival.

Scientists confirmed that the island has vanished after reviewing new satellite images. Chip Fletcher, professor of earth sciences at the University of Hawaii, told The Guardian, “I had a ‘holy cow!’ moment, somewhat in disbelief that it had disappeared. The island was probably one to two thousand years old, and we were only there in July, so for it to be lost right now is pretty bad luck.” Fletcher and his colleagues had been in the process of monitoring East Island via drone devices, and taking sand and coral samples prior to its disappearance.

Hurricane Walaka, one of the most powerful Pacific storms ever recorded, has erased East Island, which is part of French Frigate Shoals in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. https://t.co/x9moCB1WA5 @NathanEagle #HIwx #Hawaii pic.twitter.com/BckfalPR90

— Honolulu Civil Beat (@CivilBeat) October 23, 2018

Fletcher and his team are disappointed by the loss of the island, but say that it actually teaches us a valuable lesson on the imminent dangers of global warming.

The French Frigate Shoals are part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Federal managers of the monument issued a statement, promising to “continue to monitor the species and islands to better assess the impacts from the hurricane. Based on the data, managers will determine next steps and management actions.”

H/T: Inhabitat

More like this: How to choose the right Hawaiian island for your outdoor passion

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Visit “Door to Hell” on a tour

Central Asia is a destination on the rise for travelers who like to head off the beaten track, which is why World Expeditions is launching this tour through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Led by professional travel photographer Richard I’Anson, the tour is designed for photography-oriented travelers who want to develop their technical and creative skills while taking the trip of a lifetime.

Beautiful city of Khiva in Uzbekistan (Photo: Dinozzzaver/Shutterstock)

The Silk Road Journey tour takes 15 days total, beginning in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. From there, guests will be taken through the country’s most inspiring sites, like the Registan, the heart of the ancient city of Samarkand; the Summer Palace of the last Emirs of Bukhara; and the ancient city of Khiva. The tour continues into Turkmenistan, where guests will see the breathtaking Yangykala Canyon, and camp by the Darvaza Gas Crater — nicknamed the “Door to Hell” — which has been continuously burning after a gas explosion in 1971.

Samarkand, Uzbekistan (Photo: Evgeniy Agarkov/Shutterstock)

The Darvaza Gas Crater, also known as the “Door to Hell”(Photo: Lockenes/Shutterstock)

The tour departs on June 4th, 2019, and will cost $5,299 per person. For a full itinerary, or to book this tour, visit the official website.

H/T: Lonely Planet

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The best train journey in Australia

The Ghan, also known as the Great Southern Rail, is a historic train that crosses the whole of Australia in three nights and four days, from Darwin to Adelaide (or vice-versa), taking passengers to remote locales in the country’s interior that would take serious effort to reach otherwise. Off-train excursions are just part of the luxury experiences that The Ghan offers, among high-end meals, open bars, and the care of superb staff. The best part is that all of it — every meal, all the activities, and all the transportation to and from the waiting train — is arranged on behalf of passengers, so no need to worry about logistics or the train leaving without you.

I had a chance to ride The Ghan this past July, during Australia’s winter, and found it to be an incredible way to get to see parts of the country that tourists seem to know so little about. Here are 10 reasons why riding The Ghan is the most magical way to see Australia.

1. You get to go to Darwin in the Northern Territory.

Photo: Great Southern Rail

Whether you start or end your train journey in Darwin doesn’t matter; the point is you get to go at all. This Top End town is often overlooked during tourist journeys to Australia, as well as by Aussies themselves. Australia is a big place, roughly the same size as the United States, and many visitors fool themselves into thinking they can hit Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania, Darwin, and Perth all in one go, typically going no further than the first two. The Ghan not only stops among some fascinating but remote Outback locations, it also requires that passengers visit Darwin and get to experience a part of Australia so many others miss.

2. You can cruise the Nitmiluk Gorge and spot crocs.

Photo: Great Southern Rail

The national parks in the Northern Territory have vast landscapes that are rich in the culture of Australia’s First People, but getting there can take a lot of careful driving across unfamiliar ground. The Ghan takes you right to where you want to go, and in this case, it’s the spectacular Nitmiluk (or Katherine) Gorge, an ancient river gorge carved through sandstones that’s also a great place for spotting crocodiles. Excursions like this are included on The Ghan and are arranged in advance with your cabin attendant.

3. Or witness the grandeur of the gorge from a helicopter.

Photo: Ali Wunderman

When the staff of The Ghan asked how I’d like to spend my time in Katherine, and one of the options was a helicopter flight over the gorge, there was no question about doing that. Every stop offers several options for off-train activities, and some, like this one, cost a little extra beyond the all-inclusive ticket price. Nitmiluk Heli-Touring does an incredible job of showing passengers the best sights in the area in a spectacular way.

4. You’re on board a TV star.

Photo: Great Southern Rail

The Ghan became a sensation when it was the star of Norwegian Slow TV show, an experimental approach to television that in this case showed the train chugging along Australia in almost-real time, from many different angles, with no narration whatsoever. You have to be pretty captivating to make that work.

5. The food is next-level delicious.

Photo: Great Southern Rail

The expectations for food cooked on a moving train could be reasonably low, but the kitchen team of the Queen Adelaide Restaurant put together thoughtfully-composed menus for breakfast and dinner every day, serving up freshly-cooked gourmet cuisine that reflects the particular cultures of wherever the train happens to be at the moment. Most meals are served on the train, but some of them take place during off-train excursions.

6. You get deep into the heart of the Outback.

Photo: Great Southern Rail

There’s nothing like taking ground transportation to bring perspective on the distance between two places, and The Ghan makes it impossible not to realize how big and seemingly empty the center of Australia really is. To get to spend significant time exploring the far reaches of the Outback is tough just from a logistical perspective, nevermind the realities of how harsh it can be out there, so it’s nice to have a train take care of all of that for you.

7. Australian wildlife is everywhere you look.

Photo: Great Southern Rail

I’m not going to pretend that I’m excluding certain classes of wildlife here: there are snakes and spiders. But there are also parrots, rock wallabies, crocodiles, all manner of birds, and many other unique creatures waiting to be spotted. A guaranteed way to spot wildlife is at the Alice Springs Desert Park bird show, where raptors like the owl pictured here enchant guests who have selected this particular experience.

8. You get to explore the strange underground opal mining town of Coober Pedy.

Photo: fritz16/Shutterstock

Coober Pedy is a town where most of the residents live underground somewhere in the endless desolation of the Outback. It isn’t an easy place to drive or fly into, but The Ghan takes you there easily — and although it doesn’t seem like the most fun activity on paper, the place is a sight to see. This mining town produces more than 95 percent of the world’s opal, but it’s more like the Gold Rush than coal mines in that it’s pretty much anyone’s game. European migrants are the main population, having sought their fortune there in the 1960s, making for an eclectic community of hard-headed, opal-seeking residents.

9. A desolate landscape is the best place for stargazing.

Photo: Jandrie Lombard/Shutterstock

The Southern Hemisphere is definitely the winner when it comes to who has the better night sky. With no light pollution for hundreds of miles in the Northern Territory, The Ghan provides some of the best views into the Australian night sky, either from the train itself or from the outdoor dinner in Alice Springs. Watching the Milky Way bloom into perfect vision is something worth chasing.


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9 things a bartender would never do

Doctors may make the worst patients, but bartenders, hands down, make the best bar guests. We know how it feels to serve guests for nights on end, so we do our best to be considerate, understanding, easy-going, and tip properly. Here are nine things a bartender would never do at a bar.

1. Leave a phone number for the bartender.

Not because we’re not tempted, but bartenders tend to not date other bartenders. We like to run the show and that can be a hard dynamic in a relationship. But, if we are going to ask you out, we’ll just ask if you want to grab a drink after your shift. A casual, yet straightforward approach is always best.

2. Ask the bartender, “What’s your favorite drink to make?”

Or any similar inane question about the drink list. Bartenders understand how challenging it is to walk an indecisive patron through the beverage options, especially when other guests are waiting for service. It’s just a drink, you aren’t buying a house — just pick something.

3. Try to split the check for one round on four different credit cards.

In fact, most bartenders will fight their friends to pick up the round. We prefer to take turns buying drinks for our friends. It makes you feel generous to pick up the check, and it all evens out in the end. We also usually carry cash, so splitting checks is easier when everyone can just throw in a $20 and call it a day.

4. Tip less than 20 percent.

Call it gratuity karma. No matter how dreadful the service, it is nearly impossible for bartenders not to tip 20 percent. Partly because we know what it’s like to work in the trenches, but also because we just feel such guilt if we don’t. Nothing annoys non-bartender friends more than our over-tipping.

5. Sit at a dirty bar before the bartender has a chance to clear it.

By all means, hover behind those bar stools to stake your claim, but other bartenders know how frustrating it is when bar guests start moving dirty glasses and demanding service before you’ve had a chance to clean the bar from the previous guests. There are some exceptions to this rule, but for the most part, give the people working the space to do their jobs. It’s a sign of respect.

6. Order a fruity cocktail, unless they’re at a tiki bar or trying to be funny.

The more you develop your alcohol palate, the more you want to taste the alcohol in a drink. Most bartenders favor spirit-heavy cocktails, such as Manhattans and Negronis, or simple classics like margaritas and daiquiris. The one exception is the tiki bar. Bartenders love a fruity, tiki cocktail and no one can resist a colorful cocktail umbrella.

7. Ask for a chaser.

One of the first things you learn to do as a bartender is how to take a shot. It’s not that a pickleback isn’t delicious, but it’s a badge of honor to handle a mezcal shot straight.

8. Take up unnecessary bar space.

Using bar stools for coats and bags. Sitting at such an angle that you take up twice as much space as you need to. Some guests just seem generally clueless when it comes to bar etiquette. You can always count on bartenders to be self-aware when they’re bar patrons. They shift to accommodate others, they don’t loiter on busy nights, and they’re generally conscientious.

9. Carry on extended phone conversations at the bar.

If we have an important call to take, we step outside. That way, we have some privacy, and the rest of the bar has some peace.


More like this: 9 things you wish you knew before becoming a bartender

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7 awesome new nonstop flights

While it’s tempting to save a few bucks on your next trip by booking a stopover flight, don’t overlook the time you’ll spend waiting around the airport eating an over-priced stale muffin instead of enjoying your final destination. Fortunately, there are a ton of new nonstop routes launching, so you can get to where to you actually want to be without wasting any of your precious vacation time. Here are the seven coolest new routes of the year that we’re most excited about.

1. Canada — Mexico

Photo: Kate_N/Shutterstock

The relatively new Canadian budget airline Swoop announced service to three Mexican cities including Cancun, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta beginning January 8, 2019. “Mexico continues to flourish as one of the most popular vacation destinations for Canadians,” said Steven Greenway, President of Swoop, which in part has to do with the attractive exchange rates. With service out of Hamilton, Ontario, and Abbotsford, British Columbia — two cities just a stone’s throw away from the US border — families and budget travelers can now trade in their winter coats for swimsuits.

2. San Francisco — Tahiti

Photo: Martin Valigursky/Shutterstock

Starting October 30, United Airlines will be the only US carrier to offer direct service between a US city and the picturesque island of Papeete, Tahiti — the capital of French Polynesia. As one of the many overseas flights added to United Airlines’ routes, this particular eight-hour flight from San Francisco will operate three times a week through March 28 aboard a Boeing 787. Crystal-clear waters are in your near future.

3. Chicago — New Zealand

Photo: Olga Danylenko/Shutterstock

Starting November 30, the award-winning, high-tech carrier Air New Zealand will launch a new nonstop flight between Chicago and Auckland. The new route will operate three times weekly on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday with an approximate flight time of 15 hours going northbound.

4. Newark — Singapore

Photo: Kanuman/Shutterstock

Get your neck pillow and eye mask ready for this one. At a whopping 18 hours and 45 minutes, Singapore Airlines reclaimed the title of the world’s longest commercial flight with its new flight from Newark to Singapore. The flight launched in October and is currently operating daily out of Newark with only 67 business class seats and 94 premium economy class seats. The route primarily caters to business and premium luxury travelers who no longer have to stop over to get to Singapore. The luxury carrier has also improved its in-cabin experience with the addition of LED lights that allow flight attendants to simulate sunrise and sunset, cabin air replaced every two minutes, and a more spacious interior with higher ceilings and larger windows. Singapore Airlines also announced a partnership with Canyon Ranch, a wellness brand, to offer new meals on select long-haul flights.

5. Los Angeles — Mammoth Lakes

Photo: jannoon028/Shutterstock

Ski season is swiftly approaching, so United Airlines will begin flying nonstop daily to Mammoth from LAX (replacing the Alaska Airlines route) beginning December 1. The airline offers service to more ski destinations (12 to be exact) than any other airline and even added a few new seasonal routes including Denver to Mammoth Lakes; Los Angeles to Vail; and Sun Valley, Idaho, to Mammoth Lakes. If you are willing to pay a little extra to fly like a VIP, you can also fly on partner airline JetSuiteX, which will resume its seasonal service from Burbank or Orange County to Mammoth.

6. Southern California — New York City

Photo: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Residents of the Inland Empire in Southern California can now book a direct flight to JFK, thanks to JetBlue. The airline will be the only airline to offer nonstop service between Ontario (the Californian city, not the Canadian province) and JFK. As the US airline with the most nonstop routes to New York from California, JetBlue’s Ontario flight will now be the 10th city served in California. Passengers can expect the same beloved in-flight amenities like the most legroom in economy, unlimited snacks, more than 100 SIRIUS XM channels, and 36 channels of free live DIRECTV programming.

7. Boston — Honolulu

Photo: groin/Shutterstock

Bostonians looking to escape the cold weather can now experience warm Hawaiian hospitality and island cuisine 36,000 feet in the air five days a week. The inaugural nonstop Hawaiian Airlines flight will take off on April 4, 2019, becoming the longest domestic route in history. First-class passengers can enjoy lie-flat leather seats that transform into 180-degree beds to enjoy the long haul aboard the all-new, appropriately named flight HA90 to commemorate 90 years of operation.


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Top US Day of the Dead festivities

The Day of the Dead, or Día de Los Muertos, may take place around Halloween and share many of its macabre themes, but it’s not simply “Mexican Halloween.” While Halloween is defined by spooky costumes, haunted houses, and horror movies, Día de Los Muertos revolves around embracing death rather than fearing it. Through the decoration of altars — called ofrendas — with photos, flowers, candles, and personal items, the holiday is meant to be a celebration of deceased loved ones and a way of keeping their memory alive.

Initially an Aztec holiday dedicated to the goddess of death, Día de Los Muertos later merged with the Catholic All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days once the Spanish came to the New World. Now, the holiday has grown in popularity — Pixar’s smash-hit Coco probably had something to do with that — and it’s not just Mexicans taking part in the emotional festivities. Cities across the United States are hosting Día de Los Muertos events, complete with an array of colorful traditions. Here are a few cities where you won’t want to miss out on celebrating the Day of the Dead.

1. San Antonio

Photo: Eblis/Shutterstock

It comes as no surprise that San Antonio, one of the country’s major bastions of Mexican culture, also hosts one of the best Día de Los Muertos celebrations. Taking place in the La Villita Historic Arts Village, a market for local artists, the Day of the Dead celebration features traditional Aztec dancing, puppeteer shows, original Day of the Dead art, and a parade of ornate altars. To play an active role in the festivities, you could take part in the altar-building contest or sign up for a workshop. The Que Vivan Los Muertos! workshop, for example, is an educational experience that gives you a summary of the history and symbolism of Día de Los Muertos and includes flower-making, mask-making, and sugar-skull decorating. Check out the full schedule here.

The festival takes place on October 27 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM and on October 28 from noon to 9:00 PM — and it’s completely free to the public.

2. Los Angeles

Photo: betto rodrigues/Shutterstock

Los Angeles’s Día de Los Muertos celebration takes place on the historic Calle Olvera, a tree-lined Mexican market street with taco, fruit, and churro stands. The authentic setting is appropriate for this colorful celebration, which is famous for the processions that occur each night. Called Novenario, or “parades of the living dead,” these processions are opportunities for people to honor dead loved ones by marching with bowls of burning incense, carrying huge photos of the deceased, and dressing in colorful costumes. Following each procession, a hot chocolate drink called champurrado and pan dulce (sweet bread) are distributed to the crowd. A particularly unique aspect of LA’s Día de Los Muertos celebration is the Carrera de Los Muertos on October 27, a 5K run to honor the deceased during which runners paint their faces like sugar skulls.

Olvera Street Dia de Los Muertos runs for nine days, from October 25 to November 2, with free admission. A full entertainment lineup — featuring all the live bands, dancers, and performances — is available here.

3. Fort Lauderdale

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Fort Lauderdale’s Florida Day of the Dead celebration is defined by its unforgettable Skeleton Processional parade, which begins at Huizenga Plaza. A tribute to traditional Mexican cultural rituals, the parade also integrates elements of Florida’s own unique aesthetic, like alligators, sea turtles, pirates, and mermaids (all in skeleton form of course). But it’s not just animals who get the skeletal treatment; there are also skeleton-clad humans and floats featuring giant skeleton puppets. The celebration also offers lessons on traditional folkloric dancing, puppet and mask-making workshops, and a craft session on how to make milagros — a religious folk charm.

Florida Day of the Dead takes place one day only — Friday, November 2 — from 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Check out the full schedule of events.

4. Chicago

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Chicago’s Day of the Dead celebration is unique in that it isn’t set up on a street packed with floats, costumes, food, and dancers but at The National Museum of Mexican Art. Given the venue, Day of the Dead Xicágo is one of the country’s more educational options for celebrating Día de Los Muertos, with a fully immersive experience. The area surrounding the museum will feature displays that visually tell the holiday’s history, and the museum itself will be illuminated with projections of departed loved ones. The nearby Harrison Park soccer field will be transformed into a plaza filled with altars, which visitors are encouraged to decorate and bring to the festivities. Live performances, art activities, and face painting will also be offered.

Day of the Dead Xicágo is free to the public and will take place on October 28 from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

5. San Diego

Photo: LagunaticPhoto/Shutterstock

Unsurprisingly, San Diego is deeply rooted in Mexican culture. Given it’s close proximity to the Mexican border, this might be the most authentic Día de Los Muertos celebration in the US. Taking place in San Diego’s Old Town, the festival features student mariachi bands, Aztec dancers, traditional costumes, and an afternoon parade that really integrates the entire community. In addition to the festivities, there’s also a fascinating educational element. Consistent with the theme of family and tradition, a team of family history specialists will be on hand to help visitors trace their family histories and shed light on their ancestry.

San Diego’s Day of the Dead celebration is free to the public and takes place November 2 from noon to 8:00 PM, November 3 from 11:00 AM to 8 PM, and November 4 from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Check out the full schedule of events.


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Stop spreading ashes at Disney World

Disney World might be honored that your loved one wants their ashes scattered in its parks, but they definitely don’t want you actually showing up with urns and spreading human remains everywhere. Apparently, the practice is fairly common, and Disney has had enough. “This type of behavior is strictly prohibited and unlawful,” a Disney spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal. “Guests who attempt to do so will be escorted off the property.”

Disney employees told the Journal that “HEPA cleanup” — code for a situation requiring ash residue cleanup — actually happens about once a month. It causes attractions to shut down and means the park must hand out “Fast Passes” for patrons to go on other rides.

Those who do spread ashes in the parks, however, do so because Disney was a meaningful destination for their loved ones. Jodie Jackson Wells, who spread her mother’s ashes on the platform of It’s a Small World back in 2009, told the Journal, “Anyone who knew my mom knew Disney was her happy place.” Alex Parone, an actor from New York, said that he went on the “It’s a Small World” ride after spreading his mother’s ashes in a Magic Kingdom flower bed. “I was still crying,” he said. “That song is playing over and over again, and there are those happy little animatronic things… I remember thinking, ‘This is weird.’”

Disney employees say that identifying and cleaning up human ashes is a typical part of their job. One Disney custodian said Disney’s Haunted Mansion was a particularly popular place to spread ashes. It “probably has so much human ashes in it that it’s not even funny,” he said.

The park is a widely popular venue for proposals, marriages, and birthdays, but the frequency of ash-spreading incidents is relatively unknown to the general public. It happens so often, however, that employees have even invented a colloquial name for it: Code Grandma.

H/T: Insider

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Dozens hurt in escalator malfunction

It’s common to hear about a fear of flying, or even a fear of driving, but hardly anyone is afraid of traveling by escalator. That might be about to change after this escalator in the Repubblica metro station in Rome malfunctioned on Tuesday and started rapidly speeding downwards. The result was a heap of passengers lying at the bottom, three of whom were seriously injured. One partially lost his foot.

The accident was caught on camera and shared via social media. In the video, you can see the escalator suddenly speed out of control and over 20 people panic as they hurtle toward the bottom. Many of the victims were Russian soccer fans en route to a Champions League match between Roma and CSKA Moscow.

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The hospital bulletin of Policlinico Umberto I in Rome’s San Lorenzo district said a 33-year-old victim was suffering from “complex trauma with a disassembled and exposed fracture of the lower right limb and fracture of the nose.”

Although Rome’s Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into the incident, it’s still unclear exactly what caused the escalator’s mechanical malfunction. A representative from ATAC, Rome’s public transport company, said, “All maintenance checks of the escalator were carried out regularly and the results were in accordance with the norms.”

On her Facebook page, mayor of Rome Virginia Raggi offered her condolences to those injured and expressed her desire for authorities to discover the root of the problem. It was, however, observed that some CSKA Moscow supporters had been dancing and jumping on the escalator prior to the malfunction.

H/T: BBC News

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The 13 best hotel balcony views

Is there really any point in traveling if you can’t post a picture from an envy-inducing hotel balcony, then sit back and stare at the likes rolling in instead of the view? Not in 2018, not really. Hotels around the world are designing themselves to have increasingly competitive balcony views, so screen-scrollers around the world will stop, take a screenshot, and say, “Holy Lagos filter where is that?” The key to a fantastic balcony view is its expression of place, combining images that could be taken nowhere else with views that drop your jaw as soon as you walk into the room. They don’t always come cheap, but if you’re looking for the best balcony views in the world, these 13 spots get the job done.

1. Hassler Roma — Rome, Italy

Photo: Hassler Roma

The architecture of Rome is the grandest in the world, and you could spend months walking through the city taking it all in. But it’s far easier to book the Penthouse Villa Medici Suite at this famous hotel set atop the Spanish Steps. From this seventh-floor terrace, you’ll see the best of Rome’s skyline, including those Spanish Steps, the Piazza di Spagna, the Barcaccia fountain, and the shopping along Via Condotti.

2. Beau-Rivage Palace — Lausanne, Switzerland

Photo: Beau-Rivage Palace Lausanne/Facebook/@m_travalgram

Though the balconies at this Lake Geneva luxury resort aren’t huge, you won’t need much space when you’re mesmerized by the deep blue lake and snow-capped mountains in front of you. Every room in the hotel offers a front row seat to the Alps, but the grandest among them is the spa suite where you can enjoy your own private spa while you gaze out the window.

3. Casa Polopo — Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Photo: Casa Palopo

Go ahead and call Lake Atitlan Central America’s Como. Though it’s missing George Clooney, the views are just as spectacular from this mountainside retreat — the country’s first Relais & Chateaux hotel — with panoramic views of the lake and three towering volcanoes in the distance. The best views are found in the three-bedroom villas set 150 steps above the main house, yours for a scant $1,589 a night.

4. Kura — Uvita, Costa Rica

Photo: Booking.com

Walking out to the beach on the famous Whales Tail in Costa Rica can be a little disappointing since the narrow point of the tail doesn’t leave much of a beach. It is, however, still a great spot for humpback-whale watching. But a better vantage point can be found at this eight-villa boutique hotel high in the hills above it. From your balcony, you’ll have a stunning perspective on the tail, and with the right binoculars, you can spot whales swimming by too.

5. St. Regis Bangkok — Bangkok, Thailand

Photo: The St. Regis Bangkok

You remember those menacing-looking views of the Bangkok skyline they used as B-roll in The Hangover 2? Probably not since that movie was pretty forgettable, but it was filmed at Phulay Bay Ritz Carlton. You’ll get the same eye-popping perspective on the city from the wraparound balcony in the Owner’s Penthouse at the St. Regis. The vista is best appreciated from the 23-foot infinity pool, where the lights of the city reflect off the water at night and your 24-hour butler can bring you whatever you like without you getting out of the water.

6. Mondrian Los Angeles — Los Angeles, California

Photo: Mondrian Los Angeles Hotel/Facebook

Standing above the haze and hills of Hollywood is about as close to living a real-life Entourage as most of us will ever get. But that King of LA feeling is available to anyone with enough scratch to rent out the Balcony Suite at the Mondrian on Sunset Blvd. On the odd clear day, you’ll get a stunning view of the Los Angeles skyline backed by the snow-capped San Gabriel mountains, realizing immediately why they call this place the City of Angels.

7. Scrubby Bay — Annandale, New Zealand

Photo: Annandale Coastal Farm Escape and Luxury Villa Collection/Facebook

This luxury lodge on a working farm in New Zealand has a balcony that stares right into a spectacular ocean cove. The balcony is so spacious that it’s really more of a deck, perfect for lounging and watching the sunset. Because it tends to get quite chilly on the New Zealand coast, you can warm up inside by the fire while enjoying a meal from the ingredients the farm’s chef left in your refrigerator.

8. Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa — Barga, Italy

Photo: Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa/Diamond PR

This 180-room gem in the heart of Tuscany is set high up in the green mountains with views of wineries, medieval villages, country landscapes, and the Serchio Valley all spread out beneath you. The view is best enjoyed over breakfast, when a soft fog fills the valley and the villages below start to peak out as the sun shines brighter.

9. Cape View Clifton — Cape Town, South Africa

Photo: Cape View Clifton

The world may not have a more photogenic city than Cape Town, with two coasts of stunning beaches separated by Table Mountain and Lions Head rock. At the base of Lions Head, you’ll find this boutique luxury hotel where your balcony comes with lounge chairs and crashing waves, as well as views of cliffs, beaches, and mountains in the distance.

10. Hotel Metropole — Monaco

Photo: Hotel Metropole

Have your own little James Bond moment when you rent out the Suite Carré d’Or penthouse at Monte Carlo’s legendary Hotel Metropole. The terrace — just the terrace, now — is 1,180 square feet with views of the Casino de Monte-Carlo, its gardens, and the Mediterranean Sea. As long as you’re living like an international spy, go ahead and order up a private dinner on the terrace — and ask your 24-hour luxury concierge to find you the “special” wine. Then maintain eye contact with your arch nemesis as you sip it slowly, wondering what, exactly, “special” means.

11. Jade Mountain — St. Lucia

Photo: Jade Mountain

At $2,500 a night, you’d expect a room to have more than three walls, right? Of course, when that fourth wall is replaced by a warm Caribbean breeze and nothing but air between you and the Pitons, maybe it can be forgiven. Here your room is your balcony, complete with a private plunge pool, an elevated bathroom, and a four-post bed that you have to hope no birds accidentally fly into and can’t get out.

12. Grand Hotel Tremezzo — Lake Como, Italy

Photo: Grand Hotel Tremezzo

While Atitlan might be Central America’s Como, Lake Como is, well, the original. This luxury hotel in the striking mountain town has one of the most spectacular pools in the world, jutting out into the lake with snow-covered peaks reflecting off the water. While you can’t swim in your balcony, you’ll still get the exact same view, in front of which you’ll enjoy a hot espresso in a comfy robe like you were Dr. Ross himself.

13. Chateau Eza — Eze, France

Photo: Chateau Eza

The artists’ village of Eze in the south of France is an old stone city set atop steep hills next to the Mediterranean. Strolling the streets feels like moving back in time to a medieval village that somehow smelled good and has something called “WiFi.” To fully immerse yourself in the scene, stay at the Chateau Eza, where your room is one of those ancient stone buildings, and you’ll enjoy your breakfast with a hearty side of Mediterranean sun and a panoramic view of much of the French Riviera.


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