Matador Network's Blog, page 1289

Catcalling is now banned in France

In most countries, catcalling is sadly an inevitable aspect of daily life that is rarely appreciated (if ever) by those at the receiving end. But in France, it won’t simply be an unwelcome disturbance any longer — it’ll be a punishable offense. On the heels of a viral video of a Parisian woman getting assaulted by a catcaller that she had rebuked, France has instituted sweeping reforms to make catcalling illegal. The new law, passed on Wednesday, calls for on-the-spot fines of up to €750 (approximately $871) for catcallers.

Marlene Schiappa, France’s secretary for gender equality, told Europe 1 radio, “What’s key is…that the laws of the French republic forbid insulting, intimidating, threatening, and following women in public spaces.” Interestingly, there had been some resistance to the bill from those who believed it would kill the art of seduction. Critics were afraid that well-meaning men would be so afraid of the repercussions, they would refrain from approaching women at all. “Some say we will kill the culture of the ‘French Lover’ if we punish street harassment,” Schiappa told Reuters before the bill was passed, “But it’s the opposite. We want to preserve seduction, chivalry, and l’amour à la française.”

In addition to penalties for catcallers, the bill makes it easier for adults to be charged with rape for sexual encounters with minors (age 15 and under). It’ll also include a 10-year extension for underage rape victims to file complaints. Previously, the deadline had been 20 years from their 18th birthday; now, it’s 30.

H/T: Condé Nast Traveler

More like this: You’re actually breaking the law if you photograph the Eiffel Tower at night

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Why Kauai is underrated

Kauai is often the forgotten cousin of the larger Hawaiian islands. Travelers seek the endless sun of the Big Island, the pampering of Maui’s luxury resorts, and even the history and excitement of Oahu while overlooking the northernmost island in the Hawaiian archipelago: wet, sleepy Kauai.

Yet the very same qualities that make Kauai less attractive to some are ones that we think make it the perfect location for travelers who want a less polished, less tourist-laden experience. These are the unexpected reasons why Kauai is the most underrated island in Hawaii.

1. It rains a lot.

Photo: Jeff Stamer/Shutterstock

It rains at least fifteen days a month in Kauai towns like Hanalei and Poipu. That’s twice the days of rain you’ll get on the west side of the Big Island.

Of course, rain isn’t normally a desirable thing for people seeking a vacation island. And admittedly, the precipitation up north can occasionally last all day and churn up Hanalei Bay with brown river water. But those days are the exceptions. Most of the time, warm drizzle is interspersed with brilliant sunshine, and you can usually drive around the island to find dryer weather. The rain clouds are often so localized that you feel raindrops and sunshine at the same time — which makes for glorious rainbows.

The reason we love the wet weather — besides all those rainbows — is that it makes Kauai incredibly lush. After all, it is called the “Garden Isle.” The other, snarkier reason we appreciate the rainfall is because other people don’t. As long as Kauai remains the rainy isle, it will keep away a fair amount of sunseekers — leaving its sandy beaches for the rest of us.

2. It’s dangerous.

Photo: Gjorcheski/Shutterstock

We don’t mean to be flippant. Enough people have lost their lives in Hawaiian waters that the state has taken to running videos with stark warnings of ocean dangers at airport baggage claims. We agree that the power of the ocean should be respected, but we love that Kauai has a wild edge to it.

Unlike Oahu and Maui, no highway circumnavigates the island. If Kauai were a clock, time would go from noon to 9:00 PM and stop there. In the space from 9:00 PM to midnight, the otherworldly Na Pali cliffs are too steep and treacherous for a roadway. The only way to see them is to hike in, kayak to their shores, or view them from a helicopter.

Both ends of Kauai’s coastal highway are also pretty intimidating. On the west end, the dirt road to Polihale State Park gets filled with such large pools of water after a storm that you could get stuck — and there’s no cell service out there. On the north side, the highway past Hanalei is currently closed. It simply got too much rain last spring, but most of the time, you’re expected to just drive through the rivers of water that gush across it.

It’s not just the roads and Na Pali cliffs that are scary but the ocean itself. Kauai is home to some of Hawaii’s most hardcore surfers, and plenty of surf spots there are not for the meek. Waiohai at Poipu is a sea-urchin minefield at low tide while seemingly gentle Pakalas is mud-brown, sharky, and, frankly, not that friendly to newcomers. And while the pre-teen locals tearing up the surf by the Beach House are making those waves look easy, don’t be fooled. They’re challenging. But these pros-only waves also make for some of the most epic viewing experiences from the beach.

3. The best beaches are hard to get to.

Photo: Joe West/Shutterstock

Families weighted down with beach umbrellas, coolers, chairs, and the like are not looking for hard-to-reach shores. And that’s a good thing. It means those stretches of sand will stay blissfully empty for the rest of us.

At the north end of the island, in Princeville, a nine-car lot is the only place to park your car if you want to access Hideaways Beach. You may have to hang out in your car until a space opens up. Then a ridiculously steep and treacherous path down the escarpment — with rusted posts, uneven steps, and haphazard ropes stretched across slippery rocks — brings you to Hideaways, a jungly gem of a beach cove. The foliage is so dense here that you wouldn’t need a beach umbrella, anyway.

On the south shore, by McBryde and Allerton Gardens where botanical tours are available, you need to park along the road and scamper along a retaining wall to get past the locked gate. Then you’ll keep walking along an overgrown path, ducking under very low branches. Eventually, you’ll reach Ka Lea O Kaiwa Beach, another lovely, sandy nook. The only thing you may want to bring there are boogie boards, but be careful. The waves are fast and steep.

Or you can drive past the Grand Hyatt where the paving gives way to dirt, past the horse stables. At some point, your brain will be rattling from the rutted road, and you’ll become convinced you are lost. Only then will you see a car or two parked next to some trees. This is Gillin’s parking lot. Park, put on your flip-flops (they call these slippers in Kauai), and find a trail through the trees. You’ll be rewarded with a white-sand sliver of a beach and very few people.

4. You can snack on spam.

Photo: Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

Once upon a time, poke was an adventurous food, one you only tried if someone else who’d been to the islands told you where to get it on your own trip to Hawaii. Now it’s gone mainstream.

The fact is that Hawaiians are always onto something, and it’s not when they coat mahi-mahi in a thick layer of crushed macadamias and serve it to you at a resort restaurant. It’s when they prepare their own cuisine, which is an intoxicating meld of so many different cultures — Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, and others. If you can get off the beaten path and find those foods, you’re in for a treat.

Kauai is also a great place to get off that well-worn path. You could stop at the Salt Pond Country Store on your way back from Waimea Canyon. Get there by early afternoon on a weekend day and they won’t be sold out of the spam musubi, which is basically like a sushi roll with spam (a Hawaiian delicacy) inside. Unlike some of the other prepared foods, the spam musubi isn’t refrigerated. It sits on the counter, and it’s oddly satisfying.

If you’re staying in a condo or house with a grill, go to the Big Save Market in Old Koloa Town and ask the lady at the meat counter for the bright red marinated chicken thighs or spicy short ribs stashed in the back. These are normally set aside for locals. She’ll be impressed. In Princeville, hit up the North Shore General Store behind the Chevron station and preorder some grass-fed steaks from nearby ranches.

5. You can drink your breakfast — or lunch.

Photo: Chase Clausen/Shutterstock

If you’re driving along the Kuhio Highway by Anahola, an area where locals with Hawaiian ancestry can find housing at more reasonable prices, don’t just admire that cute orange shack nestled in the trees. Slow down and turn into the parking area of the Kalalea Juice Hale. The One Speed — a luscious whirl of coffee, bananas, house-made coconut milk, dates, and cocoa nibs — is better than a venti latte any day.

You’ll find amazing juice shops all over the island. The Kauai Juice Co. has three stores, and among its uber-healthy juices and energy shots is the Selfie, made with celery, cukes, kale, chard, parsley, turmeric, ginger, garlic, cider vinegar, and chili pepper. Essentially, it’s a liquid salad. You can also get smoothies at Hanalei’s Aloha Juice Bar, the all-natural Harvest Market or Living Foods Market, and the Little Fish coffee kiosk in Poipu. With fruit as good as you can get in Kauai, why wouldn’t you drink your meal?

6. You don’t actually need to be a surfer.

Photo: Melissa Burovac/Shutterstock

You don’t need to be a surfer to enjoy Hawaii’s waters. At Ka Lea O Kaiwa beach, you might see some heart-stopping boogie boarders. Local teens seek out the tightest barrels, getting in deep and letting the barrels spin them upside down like they’re in a rinse cycle as they zip down the line — before getting crushed by the close-out. Then they go back for more.

Those guys have grown up doing this. Don’t try it. You can, however, boogie board in calmer seas at Poipu or hit up the sand-bottom swells at Hanalei Bay. You can also snorkel in a few locations — the best spot is by the Beach House Restaurant. You can rent snorkel gear for $5 an hour right from Boss Frog’s, steps away from the snorkel spot.

You can also sea kayak to check out the Na Pali cliffs or kayak down the Hanalei River towards the bay. There’s some incredibly fun zip lining to be had, as well. Golf clubs abound in Kauai, including the Princeville Makai Golf Club, one of the top public courses in the country. And, of course, the hiking is fantastic. Besides the Na Pali coast, a great trail on the south side starts at Shipwreck Beach.

7. You can ride a bike.

Photo: Fominayaphoto/Shutterstock

You can mountain bike, and Kauai does have a few mountainside single-track options. But what we love is riding those uncomplicated, single-speed beach cruisers along Kauai’s eastern shore. You can rent bikes for just $5 an hour or $15 all day. They come with either baskets or cute little bags for your goodies tied onto the handlebars.

Then, pedal out towards the beach where you’ll find a paved road alongside it. Head due north. You’ll have the ocean on your right the whole way north, and you’ll pass a few ideal spots to take pictures or grab a covered picnic table to have a snack. You may see locals jogging or walking, as well. The six-mile round-trip journey will take you to Donkey Beach where you can jump in for a dip. It’s an easygoing excursion in a very Kauai sort of way.

8. There aren’t a lot of big resorts.

Photo: Andy Dean Photography/Shutterstock

This isn’t wholly accurate; there is, in fact, a Sheraton, a Marriott, and a few other big chain hotels. It’s just that you don’t feel their presence as much as you would in, say, the Big Island’s Kona-Kailua coast or Maui’s Wailea area. And on the north shore of Hawaii, you’ve only got the St. Regis at Princeville.

This means you won’t find yourself fighting resort-goers for a spot on the sand as there are miles of other shoreline stretches to choose from. Instead of staying at a hotel, you can rent a condo or splurge with a bigger group and rent a house in Hanalei.

Also, the resorts that do exist in Kauai are, for the most part, more low-key than you might find on the other islands. Sure, the Grand Hyatt Kauai has an opulent lobby, and its Tide Pool restaurant — which sits atop the water and with a cheesy thatched roof — is too much. But the evening Hawaiian performance has a homey quality to it and has been performed by some of the same musicians and dancers for years. On a recent Tuesday, the young Hawaiian boy lighting the torch and blowing the conch shell was being watched by his proud grandparents.

9. It has a few superlatives of its own.

Photo: MH Anderson Photography/Shutterstock

We love Kauai’s low-key vibe. You won’t find fancy shopping here. The shops in Hanalei Bay are inexpensive and have a Bohemian, surfer flair. Restaurants like the Mermaids Cafe, which serves hearty wraps to be eaten at picnic benches next to a brightly hued mural, exemplify Kauai’s chill style. The few exceptions serving tasty, fancier fare include Hanalei’s small-plates specialist Bar Acuda.

But Kauai has a few places where it tops the other isles. Kauai is the oldest island in the Hawaiian chain, located north of its cousins. If you look at a map, you’ll see that Kauai is actually farther from the other islands than they are from each other. Kauai, in a way, is set apart.

It’s also the greenest of all the Hawaiian islands, and 97 percent of it is covered by forests or mountain ranges. It has the most dramatic landscape in its 4,000-foot-high Na Pali cliffs. And it has the biggest gorge in the Pacific, the ten-mile-long and 3,000-foot-deep Waimea Canyon.

And with all that rainfall, we venture to guess Kauai has the most rainbows, too.


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

The post Why Kauai is the most underrated island in Hawaii appeared first on Matador Network.

Airbnb glamping on the Great Wall

The Great Wall of China, one of the new seven wonders of the world, attracts millions of travelers each year, but you can bet very few of them have actually camped out on the wall itself. In partnership with the Beijing Tourism Department, Airbnb is offering the chance for four people to spend the night on the Great Wall of China between September 4th and September 7th.

Photo: Airbnb

Entering the contest is simple. From Thursday, August 2nd, until midnight on Saturday, August 11th (Beijing time), visit Airbnb’s Night at the Great Wall contest page and answer two questions in under 550 characters:

Why is it more important now than ever to break down barriers between cultures?
How would you want to build new connections?

Evaluating for creativity and originality, a panel of judges will select the four winners. If you’re lucky enough to win, you and your guest will be flown to Beijing, courtesy of Airbnb, take a short hike to the watchtower that Airbnb has repurposed into a bedroom, and then sit down for a dinner consisting of traditional Chinese cuisines and live music. The next morning, you’ll learn more about the Great Wall and the efforts to preserve it, as well as partake in a Chinese calligraphy class.

Photo: Airbnb

To enter the contest, you and your guest must both be 21 or older, have a valid passport, and be available for travel between September 3rd and September 9th. You must also be a resident of one of the following countries:

United States
United Kingdom
India
Japan
South Korea
Australia
Germany
Italy
Spain
France
China (including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan)

Oh, and you must be fluent in Chinese, English, French, Japanese, and/or Korean.

H/T: AFAR

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The post Camp out on the Great Wall of China, courtesy of Airbnb appeared first on Matador Network.

Best life-coaching retreats in US

Between everyday stress, politics, and the rise of social media, everything we interact with can start to feel stressful. In a time where the concept of self-care can range from drawing a warm bath to having a therapist on speed dial, we’re more aware of the importance of taking time for ourselves.

In this environment, life-coaching retreats are growing in popularity, supporting those of us who need general guidance, help in dealing with life change, or support to move beyond a major trauma. Whether it’s two days or two weeks, the retreats below offer space, facilities, and knowledgeable and professional support. Here are seven of the best life-coaching retreats in the US.

1. Esalen — Big Sur, California

A fixture of the northern California coastline since 1962, Esalen Institute has been the go-to place for alternative, New Age, and philosophical practices from the moment it opened. In 2016, 15,000 people attended workshops on topics ranging from yoga and meditation to tantric sex.

Photo: Esalen/Facebook

The workshops currently offered focus on individual growth with a social and community-contribution focus. Visitors can partake in personal coaching classes like Quarter-Life Calling: Creating an Extraordinary Life in Your 20s, or build their own retreat using Esalen’s popular A Time To Reflect program, which allows visitors to enjoy the famous hot springs and organic cuisine, while tailoring daily movement and exploration workshops to their own needs.

Photo: Esalen/Facebook

If you’re seeking the opportunity to expand an existing life practice, Esalen also offers continuing education courses in a wide range of fields. In an effort to be as inclusive as possible, Esalen provides some scholarship and work study options — so don’t let cost be an impediment to exploring your true self on the Big Sur coast.

2. Desert Harbor — Sandia, New Mexico

When you imagine going on a retreat, you might picture a wild desert with blue skies and brown sagebrush, windswept canyons, and utter silence. It’s a cliched image, but it exists for a reason. Desert Harbor is a tiny but perfectly set-up guest house in New Mexico, right off the Turquoise Trail between Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

Photo: Desert Harbor Retreat

The center offers personal retreats, which can range in length, since the schedule is flexible and based around your needs. Life coaching is available in one or two-hour sessions. The facilities are eco-friendly and off-grid, powered completely by solar panels. It’s the perfect environment for finding inner peace.

3. Kripalu — Stockbridge, Massachusetts

This gentle, yoga-based community and workshop center began as an ashram deep in the Berkshire mountains.

Photo: Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health/Facebook

The center has established itself as a strong base for those seeking certification in massage therapy, therapeutic yoga, ayurveda, and a new program in Mindful Outdoor Leadership, which is designed to help integrate love of nature with mindful, appreciative living. Kripalu’s enormous facility sits on the edge of a lake and is surrounded by forest. The life-coaching retreats are interspersed with regular workshops on mind-body awareness, yoga, and a range of other topics, from writing classes to neuroscience. Workshops and classes offered are always changing, but are frequently repeated.

Photo: Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health/Facebook

If you’d like to tailor your Kripalu experience to your needs, you can also select an R&R Retreat, which allows you to stay as long as you like and participate in all of the daily movement activities, as well as scheduled personal life coach and nutritionist sessions. Well-known holistic teacher and life coach Stephen Cope is based out of Kripalu and frequently teaches classes there. Check the calendar for his schedule.

4. Omega Institute — Rhinebeck, NY

As with most of the other retreat centers listed here, Omega Institute offers a wide range of programs. The main focus of this educational nonprofit is on social justice, particularly trauma recovery and resilience, with special programs for veterans and women recovering from sexual assault.

Photo: Omega Institute/Facebook

The facility has a life coach training school, called Coaching for Transformation, which is a 10-month certification program specializing in helping coaches to understand clients from an intersectional perspective. Coaches trained at Omega learn about the social factors that might impact the lives of those around them and undertake 40 practice hours of coaching in the local community.

Photo: Omega Institute/Facebook

If receiving help from others is what you need at the moment, Omega also offers a range of accessible workshops, with more being added every month; check out their schedule page for current offerings. You can schedule personal sessions with onsite coaches, who are also teachers in the coach training program — so you know they know what they’re talking about!

5. Art of Living Retreat Center — Boone, North Carolina

A beautiful locale nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, the Art of Living is consistently listed as one of the best retreat centers in the US. Their popular Happiness Retreat helps participants reduce stress and find their inner purpose through quiet movement, meditation, gratitude practice, and more.

Photo: Art of Living Retreat Center/Facebook

Consultations are available, with a focus on ayurvedic medicine and lifestyle balance through natural remedies. Guests can also take movement or pottery classes, enjoy freshly-prepared organic meals, guided nature walks, chanting, and an evening bonfire.

Photo: Art of Living Retreat Center/Facebook

In addition, the facility has a spa on site offering a variety of treatments. After the consultations and classes, you can simply sink into a lavishing treatment and be utterly pampered for an hour and a half.

6. Nurture Through Nature Retreat Center — Denmark, Maine

Founded by life coach Jen Deraspe and located in the lush old-growth of Maine’s aptly-named Pleasant Mountain, Nurture Through Nature is the state’s first green-certified retreat center.

Photo: Nurture Through Nature/Facebook

You can book a personalized holistic life-coaching retreat with Jen, which includes 12 hours of coaching and a stay in one of their yurts or eco-cabins. If you prefer to explore life coaching in a group setting, you can check the schedule of upcoming workshops for a variety of options. Workshop facilitators also collaborate with the space to lead programs ranging from weekend mom getaways to sacred chanting or silent meditation retreats.

The center is open year round, so you may want to consider the silence and peacefulness of a winter visit; cabins and yurts are fully heated, and warm water for showers is available, as well as a Finnish steam sauna.


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Food costs around the world

Every traveler wants to know where they can get the biggest bang for their buck, especially when it comes to food. Whether you’re considering a permanent move abroad, and want to know where you can live like a king, or are simply curious to know if you’ll have enough money to fill your belly on your week-long trip to Scandinavia, here’s your answer.

Photo: numbeo

Click here to zoom in on the chart.

This chart, created by numbeo.com, shows how many days of food $100 will buy you in countries across the world. The chart-makers count one day of food as 2,400 calories, including carbs, protein, dairy, fruits, and vegetables. The results are pretty wide-ranging and staggering.

With the exception of Mexico, a North American can generally stock up on nine to 12 days worth of groceries for $100. Europe’s results are all over the board, however. $100 will buy you five to nine days of food in Switzerland, Sweden, and Norway, while in Eastern European countries such as Serbia and Moldova, $100 is enough to eat for over three weeks. India joins Eastern Europe at the far end of the spectrum, but if you really want your dollar to go a long way, you’ll go to Kharkiv, Ukraine. There, you could eat for 33 days for just $100.


More like this: The cost of living everywhere in the world in a single, awesome infographic

The post This is how much food $100 will buy you across the world appeared first on Matador Network.

Oldest businesses in the world

People are always raving about the hot new thing, be it the uber-hip restaurant that just opened up or the latest addition to the luxury hotel scene. We tend to like our attractions old and our establishments new, but there’s something to be said for businesses with staying power, whether that means keeping your doors open for a few decades, several centuries, or even a millennium or two. These brick-and-mortar ventures might be unknown to many of us, but they’ve been continually operating for way longer than most people can trace back their family trees.

1. Sean’s Bar — Athlone, Ireland

Photo: Remizov/Shutterstock

The Irish have been knocking back pints at neighborhood watering holes for what seems like forever, so it comes as little surprise that what many believe to be the oldest bar in Europe is located smack dab in the middle of the country. Sean’s Bar is situated in a tiny town on the River Shannon and has been since 900 AD, collecting records of its ownership and patronage over the years — rumor has it that Boy George even owned the place briefly in the 1980s. Today, visitors are invited to stop by for drinks and live music; you can also swing by the National Museum to see the pub’s original walls, as well as coins used by some of its earliest patrons.

2. Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy — Florence, Italy

Photo: Officina Profumo – Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella/Facebook

This venerable pharmacy (the world’s oldest) and perfumery in Florence has been around since 1221 when it was established by Dominican friars. Ingredients for tinctures were sourced from the monastic gardens and created to stock the site’s infirmary, but news of the monks’ talent for making healing balms and ointments quickly spread — by the 17th century, the pharmacy was open to the public. Step inside the Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy today and you’ll be pleasantly overwhelmed by fragrant perfumes and cosmetics, such as Acqua di Rose, which was originally sold as a disinfectant to combat the plague. Whether you want to browse, buy, or simply tour the onsite museum, you’ll find this historical relic just a few minutes away from the Santa Maria Novella train station. Tours are available for those interested.

3. Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan — Hayakawa, Japan

Photo: Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan

In business for over a thousand years, this serene hot spring hotel was founded in 705 AD by Fujiwara Mahito, and his descendants have been running it ever since. It’s located at the base of the Akaishi Mountains and sources its mineral-rich water from the Hakuho Springs — water which is said to aid with gastrointestinal issues and muscle pain, as well as provide skin benefits. Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan has a total of six open-air and indoor baths, and 37 rooms available for guests. The rooms aren’t exactly cheap — you can expect to shell out at least $300 a night — but luckily the inn’s treatments are designed to wash away stress, including any concerns you might have about the pricetag.

4. Sobrino de Botín — Madrid, Spain

Photo: Restaurante Botín/Facebook

When you set foot inside Sabrino de Botín, dubbed the oldest restaurant in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records, it’s immediately apparent that if the cavernous brick walls could talk, they’d have some stories to tell. Instead, we’ll have to settle for Hemingway’s glowing accounts. The author was a huge fan of the restaurant’s suckling pig, or cochinillo asado — which is still prepared in the original 300-year-old wood-fired oven — and even gave the restaurant a shoutout in The Sun Also Rises.

Sobrino de Botín was founded in 1725 by French chef Jean Botín and later inherited by his nephew, Candido Remis, who changed the name from Casa Botín. (Sobrino means “nephew” in Spanish). Guests have been dining in the bodega, Castilla room, and Felipe IV room ever since, reveling in the extensive menu and intimate tavern feel. Treat yourself to a zipper-busting meal then waddle over to Plaza Mayor — a short two-minute walk away — to digest in one of Madrid’s most popular and equally historic squares.

5. Cave Bar — Petra, Jordan

Photo: Petra Guest House Hotel

Petra is a breathtaking archeological city carved into cliffs and one of the last places you’d expect to find any semblance of nightlife. Located in a 2,000-year-old tomb built by the Nabateans, the Cave Bar is a historic drinkery just outside the entrance to Petra — which makes it an excellent place to stop for a refreshment after winding through the Siq and gazing up the Treasury like Indiana Jones himself. Deemed the oldest bar in the world, the Cave Bar sits next to the Petra Guest House Hotel, so you can go straight from Bedouin beverage to bed.

While the bar is right inside the craggy cave, much of its seating is arranged on a piazza where patrons can sip cocktails under the starry sky. Just be warned that the Cave Bar has a reputation for being overpriced, so you may spend more time drinking in the atmosphere than the alcohol.

6. Weihenstephan — Freising, Germany

Photo: Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan/Facebook

Beer brewing is a millenia-old tradition tracing at least as far back as Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), though it has since come to be associated with various countries around the world. Chief among them is Germany, the beer-obsessed nation behind Oktoberfest, which also houses the oldest continuously operated brewery in the world.

Weihenstephan was established roughly a thousand years ago by monks from a Benedictine abbey. It has since modernized its brewing equipment but proudly maintains its traditional beer-making process (and clearly, it’s been doing something right). Patrons will find a range of dark and light wheat beers at Weihenstephan, as well as a handful of special brews, including non-alcoholic options. Of course, no visit would be complete without the hour-long, eight-euro tour, which also includes a tasting.

7. Pontificia Fonderia Marinelli — Agnone, Italy

Photo: Campane Marinelli

This famous foundry was established by the Marinelli family in 1040, earning it the title of Italy’s oldest family business. The Pontificia Fonderia Marinelli specializes in making and restoring bells though it has also been known to create reliefs — sculptures carved into solid backgrounds — and various church artifacts. In fact, the Roman Catholic Church has been the foundry’s biggest client since 1924 when it was recognized by the Vatican and allowed to use the Papal Coat of Arms. Visitors can drop by the foundry and check out the onsite museum where several bronze beasts are on display. Just be sure to plan your visit in advance because the museum’s hours change seasonally.


More like this: The 7 coolest clock towers in Europe and the stories behind them

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Become Nutella tester in Italy

If you’re looking for the perfect excuse to quit your job and move to Italy, this might be it. The Ferrero company, which makes the popular Nutella chocolate hazelnut spread, is looking for 60 taste-testers. The job title, officially called “Sensory Judge,” involves tasting a variety of ingredients including different types of cocoa and hazelnuts, as well as tasting the Nutella spread and other products. While normally the company relies on professionals for this all-important task, this time Ferrero is taking a different approach — they want regular consumers, whose taste buds aren’t influenced by a formal education in nutrition.

No experience is required, but you will only be working two days a week, giving you plenty of time to enjoy your new life in Piedmont, Italy, where the job is located.

If you’re lucky enough to be one of the 60 successful candidates, you’ll embark on a three-month training course starting September 30th, to refine your sense of taste and smell. You’ll also learn the correct terminology to describe various tastes and sensations, so you’ll be well-equipped to perform your duties as an expert Nutella taste-tester.

For more information about the position, check out the Openjobmetis posting here.

H/T: Lonely Planet

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Vietnam’s “Gold Bridge” is must-see

No, it’s not a scene from Pandora or Middle Earth. This new footbridge near Na Dang, Vietnam opened in June, and it’s already making waves with tourists. The Cau Vang (Gold Bridge) does indeed have a golden hue, but it’s not the color that’s attracting visitors — it’s the two colossal stone hands, springing from the hillside, cradling the bridge in their palms. The bridge is 492 feet (150 meters) long and about 4,600 feet (1,400 meters) above sea level, with a fantastic view of the nearby Ba Na hills. The Ba Na hills area has recently undergone a widespread revitalization, including the construction of a colonial French village and gardens replica, and a 3.6 mile (5.8 km)-long cable car.

The bridge is the latest piece of a larger, $2 billion investment project to turn Vietnam into one of the world’s top tourist destinations. Unique bridges have attracted visitors to the country before; the Cau Rong (Dragon Bridge) that opened in 2013, also in the Da Nang region, looks like a massive dragon, and breathes fire and water every Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 PM.

Photo: TBone Lee/Shutterstock

The Cau Vang was designed by TA Landscape Architecture, and its principal designer, Vu Viet Anh, is overjoyed by how popular it’s been on social media. He told AFP, “We’re proud that our product has been shared by people all over the world.”


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See cherry blossoms in Japan

The best deals usually require you to plan ahead, and this one is no different. According to Scott’s Cheap Flights, now is the best time to book your flight to Japan for spring 2019, just in time to catch the cherry blossom season. To get the full effect of the cherry blossoms, try to travel between late March, when the trees in southern Japan start to bloom, and the end of May, when the blossoms come to northern cities like Sapporo.

Right now Air China, Philippine Airlines, and Singapore Airlines are all offering great discounted rates for under $800. By booking now, you can travel to Tokyo from New York City for $729, from Chicago and Las Vegas for just $760, and from other major cities for similarly low prices. Play around with the Google flights tool, find the dates that work for you, and take advantage of this limited deal.

Like most crazy cheap flight fares, this one isn’t going to last. Japan’s 2019 cherry blossom season might seem like a long time from now, but don’t wait too long, or you’ll miss out on these rare discounted fares.

H/T: Travel & Leisure

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Bourdain’s Parts Unknown to return

Bourdain’s death last June came as a terrible surprise to his fans. But new Parts Unknown episodes featuring the beloved chef, traveler, and TV host may bring a little comfort to those who would like to pay tribute to this travel legend. With these final episodes, CNN and the show’s crew look to honor the man who brought the tastes of the world into millions of homes and introduced Americans to cuisines and cultures from across the globe.

The forthcoming season will be the show’s 12th, with episodes based in the Asturias region of Spain, Kenya, Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Indonesia, and Texas. The show will then conclude with an emotional deep dive — the final two episodes will feature the cast and crew reflecting upon Anthony Bourdain’s legacy and lasting impact, as well as the process of creating the show and their lives on the road.

CNN executive Amy Entelis, one of the original masterminds that brought the show to life, noted that the only thing missing from most of this final season will be Bourdain’s narration. “Each [episode] will feel slightly different depending on what’s gathered in the field,” she told The Los Angeles Times. “They will have the full presence of Tony because you’ll see him, you’ll hear him, you’ll watch him. That layer of his narration will be missing, but it will be replaced by other voices of people who are in the episodes.”

Parts Unknown, which debuted April 14th, 2013, has received six Emmy nominations in recent weeks. No start date for the airing of the final season has been announced.

H/T Condé Nast Traveler

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