Matador Network's Blog, page 1234

The best farmers markets

Alongside museums, churches, and palaces, food markets should be on your “must see” list when visiting a new place. Not only can you discover a lot about the local food culture and try local produce, but farmers markets are a real feast for the eyes. These nine spectacular farmers markets from around the world include cathedral-like buildings, fruit displays that could pass as art, and backdrops so iconic they could be theatre scenery.

1. La Boqueria — Barcelona, Spain

Photo: La Boqueria Mercat/Facebook

Located just off Las Ramblas, La Boqueria is arguably Spain’s most famous market and the self-proclaimed “beating heart of Barcelona.” Over 300 stalls of enticingly arranged local and international products serve residents and tourists alike, six days a week. The fruit and vegetable stalls are an explosion of color, with exotic fruits, rows of differently-colored chili peppers, and even an edible flowers section. You can also find sweets, meat, cheese, and fish. While you’re there, try one of Catalonia’s specialties — bacallà salat, which is salted cod.

When: Monday to Saturday from 8:00 AM — 8:30 PM

2. Cours Saleya — Nice, France

Photo: bellena/Shutterstock

The Cours Saleya market in Nice is renowned for its pretty striped awnings that perfectly decorate the already picturesque pastel-colored buildings lining the streets. The stalls are a spectacular combination of vibrant fruit, vegetables, and flowers, which are grown on the hillsides around the city. Vendors offer free samples, which is a foolproof selling technique as after one succulent bite of melon or peach you can’t help but buy some to take home. If you’re feeling peckish, stop at a stall selling socca, a chickpea crepe that’s a specialty of the region.

When: Tuesday to Sunday from 6:00 AM — 1:00 PM

3. Edinburgh Farmer’s Market — Edinburgh, Scotland

Photo: Edinburgh Farmer’s Market/Facebook

Sitting in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, this award-winning farmer’s market is listed as one of the best in the world by UK food TV personality Loyd Grossman. Under the uniform blue-and-white-striped awnings, stallholders sell locally grown or reared products from venison and lobster to honey and gourmet chips. They even turn out when it’s snowing, so not only is it undeniably one of the best in the world based on location, it can also claim top marks for resilience.

When: Saturdays from 9:00 AM — 2:00 PM

4. Rialto Markets — Venice, Italy

Photo: outcast85/Shutterstock

Since the 11th century, the Rialto area of Venice has been home to markets, shops, and businesses. Set against the backdrop of the Grand Canal, gondolas, and gothic palaces, the fruit and vegetable stalls are with laden with brightly-colored products and strung with pretty bunches of garlic and chili peppers. Most of the produce comes from the nearby island of Sant’Erasmo, which is also known as the “vegetable garden of Venice.” It’s a market steeped in tradition, so you’ll only find produce that’s in season. With such a scenic backdrop and artistically stacked stalls, the process of selling and haggling makes you feel like you’re in an open-air theatre. Just around the corner, you can find the fish market, which boasts a special lagoon catch that is, naturally, as fresh as you can get.

When: Monday to Saturday from 7:30 AM — 1:00 PM

5. Markthal — Rotterdam, Netherlands

Photo: Markthal/Facebook

There’s a certain traditional image of a beautiful food market — striped awnings, wooden stalls, and iron and glass structures — all of which the Markthal in Rotterdam challenges wholeheartedly. The market is located inside an ultra-modern building, a big arched gallery that’s actually formed of luxury apartments. The interior ceiling of the gallery, soaring high over the stalls, is decorated by an impressive mural called “Horn of Plenty,” which blooms with flowers, corn, and gigantic fruits that seem to be tumbling down from a blue sky. Below it there are around 100 fresh food stalls, with produce just as colorful, if a little smaller, as that decorating the ceiling above.

When: Monday to Thursday and Saturdays from 10:00 AM — 8:00 PM, Fridays from 10:00 AM — 9:00 PM, and Sundays from 12:00 PM — 6:00 PM

6. Mercado Central — Valencia, Spain

Photo: Mercat Central de València/Facebook

So ornate is the metal and glass building housing the Mercado Central that it could aptly be dubbed a cathedral of food. The art nouveau ecclesiastical-style facade features big arched stained-glass windows, stone columns with capitals, and decorative tilework. Inside, iron columns support a wide arched roof, which is surmounted by magnificent domes. The stallholders have quite a task on their hands to get visitors to tear their eyes away from the architectural masterpiece and focus on the food, but they manage admirably. Row upon row of cured hams, bunches of bananas strung up like bunting and, of course, heaps of oranges are just some of the treats that await.

When: Monday to Saturday from 7:00 AM — 3:00 PM

7. Pike Place Farmer’s Market — Seattle, Washington, USA

Photo: Pike Place Market/Facebook

Founded in 1907, Pike Place is the oldest continuously operating farmer’s market in the US. Beginning with a few farmers and their wagons, it now houses over 500 stalls, shops, and restaurants inside its retro-style buildings surmounted by the iconic neon sign and clock dating back to 1927. The stalls of fresh fruit, vegetables, and cuts of meat are all pretty photogenic, but challenge yourself to capture an action shot in the fish market where fresh catches often get flung around. If you’re looking to sample something particularly local, try Seattle favorite Beecher’s mac and cheese, or chocolate-covered Washington cherries.

When: June to November, Saturdays from 9:00 AM — 5:00 PM

8. Dane County Farmer’s Market — Madison, Wisconsin, USA

Photo: MarynaG/Shutterstock

Four decades of selling have honed this market into one the best producers-only farmers markets, which was originally inspired by European open markets. Its location surrounding the State Capitol rotunda is one of the best setups in the country. The grand domed building provides the perfect backdrop to the colorful stalls of food and flowers, and often vegetables arranged so prettily in bunches that they look like flowers. On the market’s website, you can check what’s fresh each week, from vegetables to meat to cider.

When: April to November, Saturdays from 6:15 AM — 1:45 PM

9. Ver-o-Peso — Belém, Brazil

Photo: Wagner Okasaki/Shutterstock

The powder-blue structure housing Belém’s market looks almost Disney-like, with arcaded white-framed windows around the outside, and four spires, one in each corner. It’s reminiscent of Victorian industrial architecture and, in fact, the building was made in England, transported to Brazil, and assembled in 1901. Inside is a riot of color, with exotic-looking fruit and vegetables, many of which you’ve probably never seen before. The market is renowned for its acai berry stalls, which actually have their own special area of the market. Other typical products to try are fried pescada amarela, a local fish, and maniçoba, which is made with leaves of the Manioc plant.

When: Every day from 6:00 AM — 9:30 PM


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Vote and get a free trip

In case you needed an extra incentive to vote on November 6th, travel company Contiki is giving you the offer of a lifetime. Regardless of your political persuasions, Contiki wants to encourage young voters to head to the polls to exercise their civic duty, so it’s offering them a free trip abroad.

To be eligible, all you have to do is post a selfie on Instagram with your “I voted” sticker, and the #VoteWithNoRegrets hashtag. You must also follow and tag Contiki (@contiki) on Instagram. Just remember, taking a photo with your actual ballot is illegal, and you wouldn’t want to get yelled at by people at the polling station.

The contest is open to any US resident between the ages of 18 and 35. Official rules can be found here. Entries must be submitted between November 8th and November 16th, with the winner being announced on November 19th. The lucky winner will be able to choose one of six prizes: a 14-night, multi-destination trip to Spain, Morocco, and Portugal; an eight-night trip to Cambodia and Laos; a seven-night trip to the Peruvian Highlands; an eight-night trip to southern New Zealand; a seven-night trip to Egypt; or airfare credit amounting to $1,000 per person (must be booked through Contiki).

So get out there and vote on November 6th — if not for your passion for politics, do it for the freebie.


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The post Vote on November 6th and you could win a free international trip appeared first on Matador Network.

Perfectly rectangular iceberg

When we think of icebergs, we imagine jagged towers of ice, like frozen mountains coming out of the sea. That’s why this particular iceberg, shaped like a perfect rectangle with 90-degree angles, looks like such an anomaly. It was discovered near the east coast of the Antarctic peninsula by NASA’s IceBridge aircraft, near the Larsen C ice shelf. According to NASA’s tweet, the iceberg’s “sharp angles and flat surface indicate that it probably recently calved from the ice shelf.” The iceberg is around 130 feet tall and one or two miles long, although compared to the majority of Antarctic Sea’s ice, it’s actually rather small.

From yesterday's #IceBridge flight: A tabular iceberg can be seen on the right, floating among sea ice just off of the Larsen C ice shelf. The iceberg's sharp angles and flat surface indicate that it probably recently calved from the ice shelf. pic.twitter.com/XhgTrf642Z

— NASA ICE (@NASA_ICE) October 17, 2018

Kristin Poinar, geophysicist at the University of Buffalo, explained to that since Larsen C is a large ice shelf, “the ice has time to spread out and become perfectly flat.” So it’s no surprise that this broken-off piece looks like a large, symmetrical rectangle. , research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, echoes this explanation. “The ‘bergs detaching from Larsen C are so big,” he says, “they look perfectly rectangular or with linear features because they were created from rifts that run across the ice shelf for hundreds of kilometers straight.”

Larsen C is the last surviving member of the Larsen ice shelf family. Larsen A collapsed in 1995, and Larsen B in 2002. Scientists are monitoring the effects of climate change on Larsen C, afraid that as more icebergs break from it, a similar collapse could be imminent. In 2017, a trillion-ton iceberg — the size of Delaware — broke off of Larsen C and was one of the largest ever recorded.

H/T:

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The New York Times is looking for a writer to travel the world

The New York Times, probably the most prestigious publication in the world, wants to pay you to travel the world and write about it.

Every year it compiles a definitive list of the top 52 places to go — one for each week of the year — and sends a writer at large to explore each one. This year, it could be you.

According to the job advertisement, the successful candidate will “know how to share without oversharing, will bring destinations to life through the people who inhabit them, and are logistical masters.” Applicants should also have sufficient media experience, with a thorough understanding of social media and other digital devices. Fluency in English is required, and knowledge of other languages is encouraged, but not mandatory.

Here are the required qualifications for the position:

Has documented travel in writing, social media, or elsewhere
Is active on social media via writing, photos, and video
Is comfortable on camera
Has worked at a digital outlet, a film and television production company, or other media organization

Here are the preferred qualifications:

Has traveled to several destinations
Has traveled in the last 6 months
Has experience shooting and/or producing video
Fluency in foreign languages

Last year’s lucky winner was journalist Jada Yuan, whose travels took her to Rwanda, Serbia, Spain, Estonia, Italy, and dozens of other countries around the world. To become the New York Times’ next globetrotting journalist, review the official requirements here and apply before October 30th.

H/T: The New York Times

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The post The New York Times is looking for a writer to travel the world appeared first on Matador Network.

Best airports for a long layover

Layovers can be brutal. Stuck, often for hours, in an uncomfortable chair trying your damnedest to read or zone out on your headphones. Time goes on, and you finally give up on catching any rest and proceed to hunch over an overpriced, mass-produced beer in a dim and dodgy airport lounge. But many public spaces are evolving these days, and a handful of major international airports are leading the charge in giving us more to do than feel anxious about our flights. If you must have a layover, long enough to incite fear but not long enough to head into town for the day, try to do it in one of these five seriously entertaining airports.

1. Dubai International Airport — Dubai, UAE

Photo: Sorbis/Shutterstock

If ever a city went out of their way to be over the top it’s Dubai, and their airport is no exception. The grand terminals set the stage for an airport experience that will have you wishing you arrived much earlier because there’s simply no way to take everything in if you’re in a heated rush to get to the gate. Throughout the airport, there’s ample duty-free shopping, a gym complete with a hot tub, and just about any type of cuisine you could ask for, including everyone’s favorite: Shake Shack. Dubai’s airport authority likes to brag that the airport has its own “cafe culture” and while it’s certainly no Paris, you actually can sit in quite high fashion over a laptop and a latte at a number of spots onsite.

The airport itself is certain to overwhelm those who prefer a quick in-and-out flying experience, but there are a number of places to unwind and recharge, including the high-end Dubai International Terminal Hotel as well as cheaper fixes like the unforgettable SnoozeCubes that are essentially micro-hotel rooms complete with Wi-Fi and a TV. There’s also a zen garden to keep your mind off the fact that you’re about to hurtle through the air, likely over a large body of water, in a giant metal tube.

2. Schiphol Airport — Amsterdam, Netherlands

Photo: FOTOGRIN/Shutterstock

This one’s for the art lovers. Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport features famous works from the city’s Rijksmuseum in their onsite annex, the first time a top-tier art museum has ever set up a permanent second location inside of an airport. Beyond the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol, the airport itself is set in a way that stimulates the senses. You can relieve security-line tension over a massage, indulge in fine Dutch chocolate, and peruse the shops of top European fashion designers and vendors — and they love to reward those that do their research. Deep inside the airport’s website is this voucher for €5 off cosmetics, sunglasses, or a chocolate purchase made onsite.

The dining is on-point as well, highlighted by Kebaya Asian Brasserie and the excellent global brunch options at Leon. The airport has brought in chefs to highlight cuisine from every continent, so odds are you’ll find whatever it is you’re craving. You can even have your food delivered to you at the gate or in a waiting area — a major perk for when you need to settle down and send some emails off before switching over to airplane mode.

3. Changi International Airport — Singapore

Photo: EQRoy/Shutterstock

With the city’s legendary architecture and Vegas-esque grandiose, it would be a total buzzkill for Singapore to send travelers on their way without one final epic experience. Fortunately for us all, Changi International Airport ensures that won’t happen. The airport is as clean and welcoming as the city itself, and the napping game is notably strong with sleeper pods and plenty of space to spread out for long layovers. There are also a number of large gardens throughout the facility, such as the incredible Butterfly Garden or Rooftop Cactus Garden. You can check out the Balinese swimming pool at the Ambassador Transit Hotel in Terminal 1, even if you aren’t staying there. Most excitingly, there’s a giant, multi-player video game-like contraption in the lounge area below the second-level food court in the international terminal.

4. Nashville International Airport — Nashville, Tennessee

Photo: Nashville International Airport/Facebook

Because Nashville wouldn’t be Nashville if there weren’t a guy on the guitar around every corner, there is, of course, plenty of live music at BNA. The airport has a music scene all its own, hosting local musicians on the regular across four stages set throughout the property. It also has a bit of a bar scene too, with a number of spots to sit over a drink and chat up your fellow travelers or just take in the sights. Here’s the schedule to see who’s playing on your travel day.

If music isn’t your thing, the airport has solid food options that go beyond southern fried chicken. Noshville Delicatessen in the A/B food court is a great place to start, and local staple Whitt’s Barbecue is posted up on Concourse C for your smoked meat fix. The museum also hosts rotating art exhibitions typically highlighting the work of one specific artist and alternates decor throughout the airport to reflect what’s hot around town, from music festivals to cultural events.

5. Munich Airport — Munich, Germany

Photo: Flughafen München/Facebook

Munich Airport has two big, bold claims to fame. First, it’s home to Europe’s largest roofed-in beer garden, aptly dubbed Airbraeu. You can enjoy a pint, schnitzel, and, if you’re there at the right time, a bit of live music. For those already reeling from a beer-soaked trip, you can also just walk around the terminal and gaze in awe at the airport’s stunning architectural design. Built to incorporate glasswork and vast, expansive beams and structures, it’s sure to give your neck a stretch and help clear the fog out of your head.

Second, you might just bump into Kelly Slater while waiting for your flight. Despite its location in south Germany and nowhere near anything resembling an ocean, Munich Airport has become one of Germany’s most sought-after surfing destinations. A 33-foot-wide artificial wave is set up onsite each fall, and it’s waiting for you to drop in and throw down in front of a crowd of onlookers. Once the leaves have fully turned, surfing gives way to ice skating and a traditional German holiday market in the terminal, complete with vendors, revelry, and maybe even a solid Feuerzangenbowle.


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The 5 best viewpoints in Quito

Sitting at nearly 9,350 feet above sea level, Quito, Ecuador, is the second highest capital in the world after La Paz, Bolivia. Quito sits right in the Andes mountain range and is encircled by a ring of volcanoes. If you’re willing to take few steep hikes and breathless journeys, the combination of altitude and surrounding natural beauty makes for amazing vantage points within the city. Here are the five best places to take in the sights of Quito.

1. Basílica del Voto Nacional

Photo: Sheree Hooker

The Basílica del Voto Nacional is a neo-Gothic church located in Old Town from where you’ll get fantastic views of the surrounding historic part of the city. Make sure you go in around the back to buy your ticket for the tower as they’re not sold at the main entrance. The journey up to the top of the Basílica is navigated via an outdoor staircase, which will certainly get your heart pumping if you don’t like heights. If you can face your fears and tackle the ascent, you certainly won’t regret it.

2. TelefériQo

Photo: Sheree Hooker

Take a cable car to the top of the city for some stunning views of both Quito and the surrounding volcanoes. The TelefériQo, one of the highest cable cars in the world, will take you up to an impressive 12,900 feet. On a clear day, it is possible to see the snow-capped peaks of both Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, the highest mountain in Ecuador. As if these views weren’t good enough, a set of swings has been installed for you to have some childish fun while enjoying the view. Just remember to give yourself a couple of days in Quito to acclimatize to the altitude before heading up there.

3. Itchimbia Park

Photo: Sheree Hooker

If you’re looking for a chill afternoon in the sun, head to Itchimbia Park; it’s the perfect spot to relax with a book and take in the impressive panoramic views of Quito (you can even see as far as the TelefériQo on a clear day). Embrace the tourist within you and take a selfie in the “Q” of the iconic Quito sign. Relaxing around this part is generally pretty quiet until the nearby school lets out.

4. El Panecillo

Photo: GARY GRANJA/Shutterstock

Make a visit to La Virgen del Panecillo for a gorgeous view of the city below. El Panecillo literally translates to “small bread,” which is said to represent the shape of the hilltop. The sculpture of the Virgin Mary that resides here is said to bless those within her sights with good fortune while the side of the city behind her is neglected. (It has been said that this is a representation of wealth inequality in the city.) The statue is so huge (134-feet tall) that it actually surpasses the height of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. When traveling to El Panecillo, the safest option is to get a taxi or Uber; the walk up is known for muggers who specifically target tourists.

5. San Juan

Photo: Ecuadorpostales/Shutterstock

This is a little off the beaten tourist track, but that makes it a refreshing alternative to the other places on this list. Head on up to the San Juan neighborhood and make your way to the pedestrian footbridge near the gym. This quiet corner of town offers a peaceful place to take in the views of the historical center, undisrupted by hordes of tourists. It’s a great place to watch the sunset on a clear day as the mountains make for a dramatic backdrop.


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Best Caribbean Airbnb experiences

If you want to spend your Caribbean vacation posting up on a lounge chair and sipping fruity drinks at an all-inclusive, cool. Do your thing. Not every vacation needs to be an enlightening cultural immersion. But sometimes you might get a little cabin fever and feel the urge to get out and explore the island. Thankfully, it’s 2018, which means we can find complete strangers on the internet and pay them to show us around unfamiliar countries without having to go through an overpriced tour company.

Airbnb Experiences hooks you up with locals who can show you the hidden hikes, secluded beaches, and underground clubs no tours will. From drag racing in the Dominican Republic to sliding down natural waterslides in the Puerto Rican rainforest, here are a dozen of the coolest Airbnb Experiences you can have in the Caribbean.

Feed a baby manatee in Puerto Rico — $75

Photo: Centro de Conservación De Manatíes de Puerto Rico/Facebook

The Centro de Conservación de Manatíes de Puerto Rico — or Manatee Conservation Center of Puerto Rico — is an organization devoted to rescuing and rehabilitating stranded and injured manatees. You can spend a day working with the staff here, doing everything from preparing food to feeding adorable manatees. And if said manatee is a baby, you might actually get to bottle feed it, guaranteeing at least 400 likes on any picture you post. At first glance, this might seem like paying to do work, but the fee goes towards the center’s mission of protecting and educating about this unusual species.

Explore Cuban life with an economist — $40

Photo: javier gonzalez leyva/Shutterstock

All Americans can do is conceptualize living in a completely communist society. A world where you are rationed bread, milk, and meat and must stand in line for hours to get it. Fortunately, you won’t be spending $40 to wait in bread lines, but you will take trips through residential areas and popular markets where University of Havana economist Jorge explains Cuban life under this economic system. He’ll also provide insight into the country’s educational and health care systems (among the best in the western hemisphere) and conclude the tour with a meal at his family home.

Go on a rainforest adventure in Jamaica — $32

Photo: Ritu Manoj Jethani/Shutterstock

Though you’re not wrong in spending your entire Jamaican vacation on the beach, if you don’t get up into the mountains and see the tropical wonders of the island, you’re missing out. You’ll need a guide to do that safely, and Sherie and Wes are happy to show you around. They’ll take you to a private reserve where you’ll hike through the thick rainforest to the head of a clear river. There you’ll see towering waterfalls along with tropical birds, colorful flowers, and preening peacocks. There’s even an authentic Jamaican restaurant onsite if all that hiking makes you hungry.

Swim with turtles in Martinique — $36

Photo: Rich Carey/Shutterstock

Sea turtles are majestic in any language, right? You better hope so because while your host Regis will take you to a secluded fishing cove where sea turtles swim freely, he only offers the tour in French. No matter, if you don’t need him to explain how to snorkel, he says you’ll find turtles in about 12 to 30 minutes within 100 yards of this pristine, empty beach.

Hike to a secret waterfall in Guadeloupe — $32

Photo: Pack-Shot/Shutterstock

Your standard tropical waterfall surrounded by ferns and banana plants is great and all, but if you had a nickel for every one you’ve hiked to only to be sharing the scene with 10 families worth of tourists. Amirite? Ok, maybe not, but this hike in Guadeloupe guided by local Christophe takes you up a jungle trail to a river, which you’ll walk through for about a mile until you reach a secret waterfall. Since it’s not on any regular tour routes, you probably won’t run into too many people. Except for Christophe, who generously offers to teach you some French along the way.

Snorkel with a marine biologist in Jamaica — $40

Photo: Damsea/Shutterstock

We didn’t take the time to research Dalelan’s academic credentials, so as far as we know he may just be Jamaican Costanza. But taken at face value this sounds like one of the most educational Airbnb experiences one can have in Jamaica. You’ll go with your marine biologist host to a secluded spot near Ocho Rios called James Bond Cove. There, you’ll find and identify all varieties of marine life from barracuda to parrot fish and learn each one’s role in the complex ecosystem of a coral reef.

Explore city nightlife with a musician in Puerto Rico — $65

Photo: ClS/Shutterstock

Nobody knows the best underground bohemian clubs like a working musician. And since most working musicians generally need a side hustle, local piano player Andres takes visitors to the clubs and small venues where the soul of San Juan lives. As a member of several local bands, he knows the best acts at places few tourists ever hear about. You’ll spend the night listening to music, sampling local beer, and meeting local musicians as you learn about what it’s like to really live in Puerto Rico.

Ride along for a drag race in the Dominican Republic — $120

Photo: Sunix Autodrome/Facebook

Nothing gets you to the heart of a city’s culture like spending a night at the local drag strip, where young men in souped-up cars race them at high speeds in questionably legal races. In Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, Elvyn takes you into a real-life Fast and the Furious where you’ll be immersed in Dominican car culture with a front row seat to the action. Literally. After watching a few races from the VIP section of the Autodromo Sunix, Elvyn will convince a driver to let you ride shotgun for one of the races so you can experience the speed and excitement for yourself. Countries without liability laws are great, aren’t they?

Paddleboard through mangrove canopies in Guadeloupe — $48

Photo: Kaca Skokanova/Shutterstock

Stand-up paddleboarding is a great time until some bozo in a giant boat speeds by, tossing his wake right at you and toppling you into the water. No worries about that on this SUP tour, during which Mat takes you from the secluded shores of Babin Beach into a mangrove forest where no boats can come. You’ll paddle through the twisted, magical canopy as Mat explains the role mangroves play in the wetland ecosystem, and you’ll learn about all the birds and animals that call it home. In the end, you’ll stop in a small cove for homemade lemonade and a dip in the water.

Go on a rainforest waterslide tour in Puerto Rico — $100

Photo: Dennis van de Water/Shutterstock

Who needs the long lines, screaming kids, and questionable sanitation of a water park when you can spend the day experiencing nature’s own waterslides in the El Yunque rainforest? You’ll meet up with Chris who’ll take you through natural rope swings, 32-foot cliff jumps, and slides down water chutes that feel like a bumpier version of the stuff at your local Raging Waters. Chris does recommend a certain level of physical fitness, though, since climbing boulders and trekking through rivers isn’t for the out-of-shape.

Learn to surf from a Dominican surf champion — $69

Photo: Viktoria Gavrilina/Shutterstock

You can take an expensive surfing lesson just about everywhere in the Caribbean, but how often do you get a chance for a private surfing lesson from a 21-year pro and former Dominican champion? Pretty much every day, actually, if you’re in Cabarete on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. That’s where Victor Manuel will put you in the water and teach you Bobo’s Surf Techniques in a World Surf League-approved lesson. The lesson takes you to one of the more challenging spots in the country, but Victor says even beginners can have success here if they stay focused.

Spend the day in a Rastafarian village in Jamaica — $25

Photo: Galina Grebenyuk/Shutterstock

Admit it, most of us don’t know much about Rastafarians past what we learned from a Bob Marley poster. A much better place to learn about it is from an old Rastaman who goes by the name Firstman, hiking through the jungle near Montego Bay as he explains all the plants you see along the way. The hike takes you to a Rastafarian village where you’ll interact with Rastafari and learn about the movement, the culture, the food, and the beliefs. Just be forewarned that the village is completely vegan with no meat or alcohol allowed. Remember, it’s an educational trip, not an excuse to party.


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Where to get the most famous Martini

On the website for Dukes Bar at the Dukes Hotel in London, the first thing you see is a quote from the New York Times: “The hotel bar which some say concocts one of the world’s best Martinis.” The statement immediately establishes that the bar has a special drink, one that’s made with care each and every time. What it doesn’t tell you is that to make that Martini, one of the two ingredients is dumped on the carpeted floor shortly after it’s put into the glass.

The famous Dukes Martini is a ritualistic cocktail. It all starts on a tableside rosewood trolly with a placard that reads “Dukes Bar 1908.” It’s rolled out by bar manager Alessandro Palazzi (or one of his carefully trained bartenders) and loaded with Martini glasses and the gin or vodka of choice, pulled straight from the freezer. There are also two small bottles normally reserved for bitters on the cart that are filled with a vermouth Palazzi helped design the recipe for. Once the bartender arrives with the ingredients, the ritual begins.

First, the bartender shakes a couple dashes of vermouth into the frozen Martini glass. It’s swirled once, twice, three times and then tossed over the bartender’s shoulder onto the ground. The empty glass is then filled with gin or vodka, and the peel of an unwaxed, organic Amalfi lemon is expressed over the top. It’s reductively simple, ridiculously strong, and has resulted in plenty of happy customers and more than a few ruined patches of carpet.

How the Dukes Martini tradition began.

Photo: Courtesy of Dukes Hotel

The Dukes Hotel turned 110 years old in 2018. Fans and regulars of the historic bar include Ian Fleming, the author of James Bond. It’s only in the past 35 years that there’s been a strong focus on the hotel bar, however. In the mid-1980s, bar manager Salvatore Calabrese brought what he called the “direct Martini” to the Dukes Hotel. The technique uses gin or vodka pulled from the freezer and poured directly into the glass instead of being stirred over ice like a traditional Martini. That means it’s not diluted in the slightest. That’s either a positive or a negative depending on your disposition toward strong drinks, and for many writers who’ve made the bar famous, it’s a strong positive. San Francisco Chronicle journalist Stanton Delaplane was one of the first to take notice of the Martini and promptly called it the “best Martini in England.”

After Calabrese left Dukes, Gilberto Preti took over. Alessandro Palazzi came after Preti in 2007, and he brought renewed attention to the Dukes Martini.

Photo: Courtesy of Dukes Hotel

To start, Palazzi partnered with Sacred Distillery in north London to make a vermouth to his exacting taste buds. It might seem weird to create a custom vermouth that you’re just going to dump out on the carpet, but that’s the dedication Palazzi has to the subtle flavor the vermouth rinse adds. Speaking with Palazzi, he says the dumped out vermouth — a tradition he started seven years ago — makes all the difference.

“People used to talk about a specific move that the previous bar manager — my mentor — used to do when preparing the Martinis,” Palazzi says. “When I took over Dukes Bar, people were constantly mentioning that, and then I came up with my own move, which started as a joke but is now known around the world — and actually some bartenders even copy it. The vermouth we use is very strong, so what we need is literally just a wash of it.”

Then comes the main liquor, which is usually gin but sometimes vodka. There are 15 different gins kept in the freezer, and Palazzi prefers anything juniper-forward. During a showing of the Dukes Martini at New York City’s Eleven Madison Park, Palazzi brought from London his vermouth — which isn’t distributed in the States — and No. 3 London Dry Gin, a junipery gin with a slight citrus note from orange and grapefruit peels.

The result is a strong cocktail meant for sipping. And by strong, we mean really strong. There’s a two-drink limit at the Dukes Bar because one drink is the equivalent of around five shots. The Martini is already a cocktail known for its strength — whether it’s three parts gin to one part vermouth, four-to-one, or even the 11-to-one Cold War Martini — but the method that Palazzi prefers is a variation on the strongest type of Martini: the in-and-out Martini (as in the vermouth goes in and is then thrown out). It’s taken a step further at Dukes by keeping the gin in the freezer rather than chilling the liquor down by stirring with ice and diluting it.

As for the carpet, we imagine it has to be cleaned quite a bit thanks to all that spilt vermouth. Palazzi simply says, “This carpet has too much of history… and I believe our guests actually enjoy it. It’s all about this unique experience and the timeless atmosphere we offer.”

How to try the world-famous Martini for yourself.

Photo: Courtesy of Dukes Hotel

The Dukes Bar is open Monday through Saturday from 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM, as well as Sundays from 4:00 PM to 10:30 PM. The dress code is smart casual, so don’t show up in your newest athleisure outfit or the jeans you think are fancy.

“Dukes Bar was the first bar in the world to prepare the Martinis in the trolley and to do it with a frozen glass and frozen gin,” Palazzi says. “It’s a simple but very unique technique. The bar has a strong reputation thanks to the teamwork and won many awards through the years; nowadays we are known all over the world for having the best Martini, and of course, it is not just a drink, it’s an experience.”

If two-limit Martinis aren’t your cup of tea, the bar offers a special called the MarTEAni Afternoon Tea, which is three mini Martinis made with The East India Company Gin and paired with three afternoon tea courses. It doesn’t get much more English than that.


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Off-duty pilots cause two-hour delay

Sometimes flight delays are unavoidable, but this delay was just completely unnecessary. Last week, a Thai Airways flight from Zurich to Bangkok was delayed by two hours when two off-duty pilots demanded first-class seats. Unfortunately, the cabin was completely sold out, and the on-duty pilots refused to take off until their colleagues’ demands were met. A delay ensued that lasted until two selfless passengers agreed to bump themselves from first to business class. The flight was scheduled to depart at 1:30 PM but didn’t actually take off until 3:30 PM because of the needy pilots.

While it certainly doesn’t excuse the actions of the pilots, this route does not require passengers to pay extra for first-class seats. First class is offered as a first-come, first-served upgrade for business-class passengers, so the two who downgraded were not cheated out of their ticket value. Even so, we can’t imagine they were pleased by the unexpected bump. They later filed a complaint, arguing that the off-duty pilots should have been given vacant business-class seats instead of effectively holding the whole plane hostage.

According to the Bangkok Post, Thai Airways president Sumeth Damrongchaitham called the incident unprofessional, apologizing “to the passengers who were directly affected by the seat change. I take responsibility for the incident.”

It’s unclear if any restitution has been made to the two inconvenienced passengers.

H/T: Travel & Leisure

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Titanic II will set sail in 2022

The popular Titanic movie may not be getting a sequel, but it looks like the ship itself is getting a second chance at life. Inspired by the huge passenger ship that infamously sunk in 1912, causing the deaths of over 1,500 people, an exact replica will be built and is slated to set sail in 2022.

The ship’s aesthetic is designed to look the same as the original with the same cabin layout and luxurious ambiance. Well, there are going to be a few differences, thankfully. Titanic II will actually include a sufficient amount of lifeboats, life-jackets, and, of course, modern safety features. It will depart with nearly the same number of personnel as the original Titanic — 2,400 passengers and 900 crew — and, hopefully, return with them all intact.

Titanic II was initially slated for completion in 2016, but work was halted in 2015 when the Blue Star Cruise Line encountered financial issues. Last month, the company announced that production would resume on the $500 million project.

The ship’s maiden voyage will take it from Dubai — where it’s being built — to Southampton, England — where the original first set sail. It will then follow the first Titanic’s route, carrying passengers across the North Atlantic to New York City before embarking on a series of worldwide cruises. According to MSN, Blue Star Line’s chairman Clive Palmer said that the ship will carry “passengers from Southampton to New York, but she will also circumnavigate the globe, inspiring and enchanting people while attracting unrivaled attention, and mystery in every port she visits.”

Tickets for the luxurious Titanic II are not yet on sale.

H/T: TIME

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