Matador Network's Blog, page 2097
June 22, 2015
23 things that will surprise you when you come to the US
CHECK OUT THIS NUMBER: 9.857 million km². That’s the size of the US.
Before we start this article, let’s just address one thing: America is huge. It takes 2 full days to cross, and 4 or 5 if you ever plan on sleeping. Because of this, we’re all different people. Some of us lead the Hollywood life you see in the movies, some of us are overweight gun owners that spend their free time drinking beer on porches, and some of us are quiet, thin, and fit zero American stereotypes.
But while we’re pretty hard to generalize — and you’ll see that on any visit — there are a few things about this country at large that you might find surprising, wherever you go.
1. There are 311 languages spoken in the US.
Photo: Jesse Acosta
Three hundred and eleven! Talk about a diverse melting pot of people. But while we have no official language, English will be seen everywhere you go. Despite this huge number, most signs will only be in English, since most of us speak one version or another.
Keep an ear out to see if you can spot the differences as you travel from region to region. The further north or south you get, the less it will resemble the American English you hear on TV.
2. We might chat you up in line for coffee or at the grocery store.
One of the most common things foreigners say about a visit to the US is that the people are so friendly! Almost too friendly, really. If we notice something we have in common with you, whether it’s the fact that we’re both waiting 15 minutes for a Frappuccino or the weather is particularly amazing that day, we might just start talking to you about it. The woman at the check-out counter will ask you how your day is and if you found everything okay, and she’ll mean it.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean we’re open about ourselves. Don’t ask us about how much money we make or how much we weigh!
3. You probably care more about our politics than we do.
About 60% of the voting-eligible population votes in the US presidential election, by and large. How many of those voters are informed? Well, that’s another question. It’s not uncommon for a foreigner to have more vehement opinions on this topic than a natural-born American, and that’s largely because, well, life is okay for us. The things that aren’t okay (like our not-so-great healthcare system) have always been the way they are, so we don’t really know any differently. And if it does bother us, odds are we’re the 5% that’s doing the work or it’s a long, drawn-out bureaucratic battle we don’t really feel like fighting.
In addition to this, you’ll probably find that while the two parties we have to choose from seem incredibly similar to you, they seem pretty different to most Americans.
4. Fitness is practically a way of life.
In general, America is pretty vain. Even in teeny towns it won’t be hard to find a gym and a tanning salon, and sometimes on the same corner. The upside to that is that a lot of us care about being fit. You’ll see runners and joggers along even the most commercial of streets, yogis in parks at all hours of the day, and marathons advertised everywhere, all times of the year, for all walks of life. We gotta do something to work off that double cheeseburger, right?
5. 1 out of 8 of us has worked at McDonald’s.
Photo: SportSuburban
This says two things: America has a lot of McDonald’s and we’re not as rich as you may think we are. Many high schoolers get jobs at fast food joints, car washes, and coffee shops, and many adults take whatever job they can get and just barely make ends meet. There are pockets of extreme wealth and pockets of extreme poverty — in the same city.
Here are some staggering facts: there are 3.5 million homeless people in America and about 1 in 3 people takes some type of welfare benefit. We’re real people with real problems, despite our good roads, plethora of food choices, and hot water available 24/7. Just like anywhere else, there’s two sides to every story.
6. Our language is full of polite-isms that we don’t even realize are polite.
If someone feels they might be even slightly inconveniencing you – whether it’s asking you to budge over an inch on the sidewalk or they’re taking too much time digging around in their purse – they’ll say “sorry.” You’ll also hear a bunch of “Do you mind?” at things you wouldn’t even bat an eye to and “Bye!” when hanging up the telephone. It’s just the way our version of English has evolved and we don’t think twice about it – especially when everyone else does it, too.
7. It’s generally more expensive to be healthy in America.
If you come from a country where the rich are fat and the poor are thin, know that in America it’s the other way around. Cheap food is fast food, junk food, and candy — and it’s everywhere. Better, healthier, more wholesome food is generally less accessible, more time-consuming to prepare, and more expensive.
So no, not all of us are fat. It correlates with a few factors, like poverty, but even then, it’s not a given. Though 1 out of 3 of us are “obese,” 2 out of 3 of us are not. And if you visit different cities and states, you’ll notice that it varies by region, race, and age, too.
8. College athletes are basically celebrities.
Photo: ChadCooperPhotos
While university sports are second-tier at best in most other countries, in America they can practically be someone’s first religion. College athletes can be superstars, even though they’re just kids participating in a sport at school. For some programs, this goes for high school, too. Heck, Lebron James was on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a junior. We’re a little obsessed, and that’s one quality that doesn’t change much from East to West.
Oh, and this starts at an early age. Most kids are involved in some sport (or three), the moms or dads go to all their games, and the facilities in plenty of schools are practically professional-level. In short, sports make money, and sports get the money. It’s just how it works.
9. The drinking age is largely enforced and we know it all makes no sense.
We know the system is messed up when it comes to drugs and alcohol, so don’t ask us about it. 21 to drink (and most bars will card you), but 18 to vote, be in the military, and own a gun? Marijuana is basically still illegal, despite state efforts to change that? Yeah. To quote Hillary Clinton, “There’s just too much money in drugs to legalize them.” And that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
10. We’re not as promiscuous as Hollywood makes us out to be.
Let’s just leave this one right here. While plenty of American women walk around in short shorts and tank tops, it’s because that’s what the stores are selling and it’s hot out. That’s all. While plenty of American men go to bars to “get laid,” most men with that sole aim in mind go home alone. We like to have a good time, sure, but it’s not more than any other country. Anyone with this stereotype in mind should leave it at the door.
11. We’re so much more than just NYC and LA.
In fact, those are two of about 20,000 towns or cities. The media depicts the US as made up of sparkles and glitter, neon lights, raring nightlife, and expensive cocktails, while most of us are living at home in the suburbs in a 1-family home or apartment ordering delivery pizza and watching Game of Thrones on DVR. If you come to America expecting NYC or LA, make sure you go to NYC or LA!
Oh, and remember how big America is? Try going out west to parts of Montana and Wyoming — where in some places there’s 6 people per mile.
12. Our security checks are absolutely ridiculous.
Make sure you allot another 45 minutes just for getting through security at the airport, and they’re even going to check your bag at museums, fairs, and most other public events, too. It’s largely a post 9/11 thing. However, it’s so ubiquitous it doesn’t take long getting used to.
13. Cereal choices and sandwiches and desserts, oh my!
Photo: lyzadanger
“Is this a football field or a cereal aisle?” you may find yourself asking. Wal-Mart is the size of a city block, and the cereal aisle alone will cause your jaw to drop. Then you’ll go out for lunch, and you’ll have about 85 sandwich places to choose from, including burgers, of course. And after that, dessert. Yep, it can be its own course, especially if you’re getting fancy for a nice sit-down dinner. Heck, why not skip the sandwich and just have ice cream for your meal?
…In other words, if you’re trying to cut carbs, good luck!
14. The “news” we know is local culture and pop culture – and not much else.
Photo: Eva Rinaldi Celebrity and Live Music Photographer
Why don’t we know much about international news? Well, some of us do. It’s not an excuse, but the rest of us are caught up in local happenings or pop culture. Since we’re at that center of lots of media forces (aka Hollywood), you won’t have a unique experience if you run into someone that knows nothing about Greece’s financial status, but can quote to you just how much money Jurassic World made this weekend. It’s all about priorities.
15. Leave your cash at home.
Here’s a challenge: come to America with only your debit or credit card, and never go to an ATM.
Wait, that’s not a challenge at all — that’s the norm. 99% of places will accept your plastic; even independent little stands (heck, organized picnics in the park) will have a credit card reader attached to a phone or iPad. So easy!
16. Public toilets are everywhere, largely clean, and free.
And it’s fantastic.
17. There is an app for everything you could possibly need.
If you ever get lost, hungry, or need anything, know there’s an app for that. Stranded in the middle of nowhere and need a ride? Download the Uber app. Craving pizza? Every pie of your dreams is available from the app store. Even places that have no need for an app have an app. With a smartphone in your hand, you’ll never be without the world at your fingertips.
18. Diversity is tolerated, but not necessarily embraced.
Remember: we’re a country that’s produced Kim Kardashian and the Westboro Baptist church. If you want to walk down the street in tie-dye pants, a garbage bag for a shirt, and planks of wood for sandals, by all means, go ahead. You’d be surprised how many people don’t even look at you for fear of seeming impolite.
That being said, it won’t exactly be easy to make friends. We’re a melting pot, sure, but we tend to stick to our own. You’ll be amazed at how many races and walks of life you see in America — and how often they come in homogenous groups.
19. To fit in, get a car.
In America, barring a few places, you need a car. Our public transit system isn’t great, in that it doesn’t really exist. Nobody (the colloquial nobody) takes the bus. Most streets aren’t super pedestrian friendly (though you’ll see runners and joggers). This is why everybody owns a car – there’s not really an alternative option.
But for the record, this isn’t everywhere – just most places. In NYC, you’ll be fighting through hoards of pedestrians, and in small towns you can cross the street because there’s one car coming and he’s a kilometer away. Some college towns are pedestrian friendly, but for most Americans, they’ve had a car since high school.
20. Everything is bigger. Everything.
Photo: jdrephotography
It’s not just Texas. Everything is bigger, from our cars to our portion sizes to our houses to our parks. Does anyone need a quadruple burger topped with a hot dog and potato chips? Don’t think so. Does a family of three need to drive a car the size of a boat? Well, no, probably not. Does that same family need a 3000-sq foot house? Nope. Is Denali National Park the same size (or bigger) than some countries? Yes.
Why is everything bigger? Well, because of all that space. That and we like it that way.
21. To fit in, carry around a bottle of water (and don’t be afraid to wear sweatpants).
Again, this isn’t everywhere (especially not at the workplace), but you’d be hard-pressed not to spot someone wearing something that resembles pajamas if you frequent your local cafes and restaurants. And as for the bottles of water, don’t ask. No one knows. The water is drinkable everywhere — and water fountains aren’t uncommon — but we still have this fascination with…staying hydrated?
22. We have incredibly beautiful, diverse terrain.
Photo: Jeff Pang
For some reason, the US isn’t known for its national parks and crazy-gorgeous landscape, though it should be. Again, we’re huge, so we have just about everything (part of the reason we don’t travel internationally). Snow-covered mountains? Check. Waterfalls flowing into crystalline lakes and rivers? Check. Miles and miles and miles of beaches? Check, check, check. Canyons, marshes, rolling hills, geysers, volcanoes — it’s all there somewhere. We’re too busy working to appreciate it, so you should do it for us!
23. Your experience in the US is determined greatly by where you go.
Just to reiterate: No two people in different locales in the US will have the same — or maybe even similar – experiences. In the West, you might experience bad traffic, mountainous landscapes, and tan, friendly people. Go out east to Boston and NYC, and you’ll notice that it’s a little more harried and rushed, more people ride public transit, and the cuisine is like a different world. Somewhere in the middle you’ll get wide open spaces, hospitality that’s almost saccharine, and lots of cheese-y, butter-y foods. Again, generalities. So before you go anywhere, do yourself a favor and choose more than one spot. It’s the only way to get a better, more accurate, detailed, genuine experience out of this large, diverse country that has so much to offer. 
Chinese woman crosses continent and pays thousands to rescue 100 dogs from traditional Dog-Eating Festival
Every year, the city of Yulin in southeast China commemorates the summer solstice with a highly controversial festival, revolving around the slaughter and consumption of 10,000 dogs.
And each year, the Yulin Summer Solstice Dog-Meat Festival grows increasingly more controversial:
(via)
With some critics claiming that the animals are butchered and cooked with needless cruelty, and others claiming that these antiquated traditions need to be shed altogether.
This year, the opposition came to a head on social media with the #Stopyulin2015 campaign.
Enter: Xiaoyun Yang.
(via)
According to Fight Animal Cruelty Laws In China, Yang is a 63-year-old retired school teacher who witnessed a family attempt to drown an unwanted kitten in the 90’s. After rescuing the cat, Yang was inspired to found “Common Home,” an animal shelter for homeless and abused pets.
Yang runs ‘Common Home’ out of a dilapidated building in the Dongli District of Tianjin, where today she has rescued over 1,500 animals.
(via)
Yang personally oversees the care of more than 200 cats and 1000 dogs that live in ‘Common Home’, including administering meds to the disabled and sick animals (which outnumber the healthy).
(via)
And she makes scores of steamed corn buns, which take 8 hours a day and are all she can afford to feed them.
(via)
Though occasionally, volunteers will provide extra treats and care for the animals (welcome aide for both the pets, and Yang).
(via)
(via)
It’s a 5 AM-10 PM job, funded solely only donations (almost all of which go to paying the $4,300-a-month rent and $6,000-a-month food and medical bill).
But in spite of her regular commitments, Yang still set out for Yulin this year.
(via)
Proving that one person can make a difference, Yang traveled over 2,400 km (1,500 miles) from Tianjin to Yulin, and paid traders over 7,000 yuan (~$1,100) to save 100 dogs from being eaten.
And while those dogs will live to see another day, the story does not yet have a happy ending.
Sadly, Common Home is in peril.
(via)
The building itself is set for demolition, and the expenses for maintaining the shelter (wherever it goes next) far exceed Yang’s resources.
If you’d like to find out how to get involved or help Ms. Yang, Fight Animal Cruelty Laws in China have published the following pieces of information:
Direct Bank Wire Transfer to Ms. Yang
Bank Name: Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行）
Bank Account City: Tianjin (开户城市－天津）
Bank Account No.: 0302845001009282956
Account Name: Ai Yun YANG （杨爱云）
Xiaoyun Yang’s Cell Phone: 13164073263
h/t: Boredpanda, Time, news.163.com, FACLC
20 signs you learned to drink in Oklahoma City
Next
Prev
2. You still do all your pre-gaming with plastic cups from Fuzzy’s Tacos or Irma’s Burger Shack.
Next
Prev
3. When you hear the word ‘lunchbox’ — you know it’s not the plastic Power Rangers version with a smashed PB&J and some Jello.
Next
Prev
4. Your beer drinking friends can be divided into Choc v. COOP lovers just as easily as IPA v. Wheat.
Next
Prev
5. You rarely go out in Bricktown because you don’t want to walk past the free parking lot at Bass Pro Shop to get back to your car at the end of the night.
Next
Prev
6. When a bartender yells last call at 1:30 a.m., you only roll your eyes and casually pull up Uber on your phone rather than stand in disbelief at how early it is.
Next
Prev
7. The late Skyy Bar conjures up pissed off memories of watered down drinks, a laughable cover charge and racial profiling.
Next
Prev
8. You’ve had to use Bricktown’s only public bathroom (yes, the one outside of Hooters) more times than you’d like to admit.
Next
Prev
9. You panic every time you realize that it’s 8:50 p.m. on a Saturday and you haven’t bought booze for that night or even brunch the next morning.
Next
Prev
10. You consider Byron’s Liquor Warehouse to be your version of El Dorado — except the treasures you find there bring you a blackout instead of gold and glory.
Next
Prev
11. It doesn’t concern you when every television in the bar is turned to severe weather coverage. And you know to take a shot when the tornado sirens start going off.
Next
Prev
12. You’ve been to many a bachelorette party at Copa and you’re not afraid to say that it’s actually one of the most fun bars in the city — whether you’re gay or straight.
Next
Prev
13. You let the drastically embellished advertisements of City Walk entice you one time. Just once — not counting the other three times you can’t remember.
Next
Prev
14. You’ve gotten confused more than once trying to hit up Edna’s, The Drunken Fry, or Hilo and ended up back on I-44.
Next
Prev
15. You know the pain of craving craft beer past 9 p.m. but having to settle for a 6-pack of PBR pounders from the nearest gas station instead.
Next
Prev
16. Wednesday isn’t just Hump Day — it’s Burger Night at McNellies, which means burgers on the cheap and piping hot sweet potato fries. Come to mama.
This story was produced through the travel journalism programs at MatadorU. Learn More
Next
Prev
17. You’ve been ashamed to see yourself tagged in Robotic Wednesdays’ fisheye lens photos on Facebook Thursday morning. And you’ve had to wear the black ‘X’ of shame on your hand for days before it finally faded away and put you out of your misery.
Next
Prev
18. You were thrilled to finally try sake with your California roll at Sushi Neko, but then quickly switched to Sapporo when your more sophisticated friends weren’t looking.
Next
Prev
19. You like to think of yourself as incredibly cultured while drinking on top of the art museum on Thursdays — even though that’s literally the only time you ever find yourself there.
Next
Prev
20. While others are soaking up the Lord’s presence on Sunday morning, all you can do is drag yourself to Pearl’s Champagne Brunch for cheese grits and Bloody Mary’s.
Next
Prev
This is why scientists are tracking your movements through National Parks
In the endless battle to maintain relevance, the National Park Service still has a few tricks up its sleeve for prying people away from their screens, and getting them back out into nature. And unlike the social Find Your Park initiative that launched earlier this year, this new one is backed by science.
How many times has this happened to you?
You go to visit a National park (having romanticized your day in the great outdoors) expecting:
(via)
But when you get there, you find this:
(via)
Day. Ruined.
If you find a huge crowd marring your view of the horizon a huge turnoff, you’re not alone.
(via)
And the National Park Service is doing everything it can to give you back that alone-with-nature experience touted on every brochure and National Park advertisement, ever.
Since 2013, the National Park Service has been circulating questionnaires and tagging visitor volunteers with GPS beacons to gather data on the flow (or lack thereof) of people through the nation’s beloved parks.
(via)
Visitors were asked what they wanted out of their day at the park. Were they coming for “opportunities for solitude? Time with family? Exercise?” Perhaps something else altogether? When commenting on the process, Penn State professor and recreation specialist Peter Newman told Mashable, “People love their parks,they love to answer questions and know that their voice is being heard in some way.”
So far, they’ve gathered data on the routes visitors took through Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park, California’s Yosemite National Park, and Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park.
(via)
Data revealing which trails were the most popular among park visitors, where those visitors rested along the trails, where the paths became congested, and where individuals broke from the trails to catch a little “alone time.”
The NPS hopes to use this data to make decisions about the placement of new ‘parking areas, restrooms and multipurpose trails,’ as well as enhancing the shuttle systems to and from the most popular spots in the parks.
(via)
“It’s getting people to the right place at the right time, so they have a better experience while they’re at the park,” former Utah State associate professor Kevin Heaslip told Mashable.
Ultimately, the National Park Service hopes this move will help make parks more appealing to millennials and the younger generation — by ensuring that the next generation of visitors get out of their “visit to the park” what they came for.
What do you think about this new initiative? Do you think it’s what the National Parks have been sorely missing, or is it a little creepy? Do you think it’ll help folks achieve a more authentic park-going experience, or are you wary that the NPS may end up manufacturing that experience in the process?
Sound off in the comments!
h/t: Mashable
(feature: Moyan Brenn on Flickr) 
15 things Nashville locals always have to explain to out-of-towners
Believe it or not, the plethora of musical talent steaming off Nashville isn’t just twang. There’s the Black Keys, The Allman Brothers, Kings of Leon, Paramore, Jack White, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, The Civil Wars, Kelly Clarkson, Kyle Cook, Peter Frampton, Ben Folds, Little Richard – and that’s just skimming the surface. Not to mention, it’s here in Nashville where Jimi Hendrix learned to cut with his teeth, Ray Charles smoothed Jefferson Street with his soul, and Etta James recorded her first album.
Also, while we’re on the subject, let’s go on and clarify that Bristol is the actual birthplace of country music. Nashville just had the show that made it famous.
Next
Prev
2. Avoid Honky Tonk Highway like the plague.
Just because there’s an aura of neon light pollution hypnotising bachelorette parties to compete with who can slur “WOO!” the loudest on Pedal Taverns doesn’t mean you, too, should be sucked in like a moth to a flame. Go share a PBR with Santa instead. Your sanity will thank you.
Next
Prev
3. Yes, our roads are paved.
With one of the fastest growing large metros in the country, it was decided recently to smear some cement on all those downtown dirt roads. Now our revving, souped up trucks won’t churn dust everywhere at intersections. Nashvillians: they’re just like you!
Next
Prev
4. And no, we don’t sport studded cowboy hats and rhinestone belts.
…well, okay, some do. But that’s beside the point.
Next
Prev
5. Trailer Trash? You want it.
A brilliant concoction of Vanilla blended with Twix, Oreo, Snickers, Butterfinger, Nestle Crunch, M&Ms, and Reese’s Pieces? Trashy has never been so creamy.
Next
Prev
6. You can thank us for all that vinyl.
On one end of the spectrum, you’ve got United Records Pressing, which is the largest vinyl pressing plant in the United States, having pressed records for artists such as The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Jack White, Justin Timberlake, Kings of Leon, Stevie Wonder, The Roots, Radiohead, and The Black Keys. Then on the more local end, there’s Grimey’s New & Preloved Music, which played a huge part in the recognition and growth of independent record stores, branding the third Saturday of April as Record Store Day. And, of course, who can forget Jack White’s Third Man Records?
Next
Prev
7. Fried eggs. Fried eggs on everything.
Fried eggs on pasta, fried eggs on biscuits, fried eggs on salads, fried eggs on burgers, fried eggs on BLTs, fried eggs on pizza, fried eggs on pulled pork sandwiches, fried eggs on eggs on eggs…
Next
Prev
8. “I’m broke” doesn’t cut it here.
The first time you step foot in a bar flooded with live music free of charge, you might feel a little special. The fifth, 12th, or 27th time? Now, that’s just Nashville, baby.
Next
Prev
9. You can’t handle our chicken.
Seriously. Complain away about how you’re never satisfied with the level of spicy you want at restaurants. Just be warned, the second some shut the cluck up hits your tongue, the instant glistening of sweat and face reddening translates to “Well guys, I’m actually a bitch when it comes to hot chicken.” Now, admit your defeat with a heat numbing cup of red skin potato salad, pimento mac & cheese, and dill pickle slice and move on.
Next
Prev
10. For the last time, it’s ‘Da-mun-bree-un.’
Not ‘Dee-mun-broo-in.’
Next
Prev
11. You should always go to Church.
Mind you, Church means Church Street and Church Street means spending the evening entertained by badass drag queens dressed as Maleficent or Dolly at Play.
Next
Prev
12. You might actually make it here as a musician.
You don’t have to be Beck at Blackbird Studio to make it big here. For up-and-coming musicians, in addition to the Nashville Entrepreneur Center’s 14-week initiative Project Music, Nashville opened Ryman Lofts as the city’s first subsidized housing designed for artists at an affordable rate. Also, according to the local Chamber of Commerce, for every one thousand working-age population, Nashville leads the nation with 7.8 jobs in the music industry as opposed to Los Angeles’ 2.8.
There’s a unmatched support system here — one you feel the second that Batman Building comes into view.
Next
Prev
This story was produced through the travel journalism programs at MatadorU. Learn More
Next
Prev
13. A meat and three is a perfectly good part of a balanced meal.
Because nothing screams clean eating like a plate of sliced roast beef cozied up with pinto beans, creamed corn, and mac & cheese — which is totally a vegetable — from Arnold’s.
Next
Prev
14. You will be treated with kindness here.
Voted #1 Friendliest City in America 2013, Nashville has the ability to slap a genuine smile on the bitterest of faces and draw a “Yes ma’am” out of the foulest of mouths. Don’t think we’re weird — we’re just really hospitable.
Next
Prev
15. But please, for the love of god, don’t call it Nashvegas.
Cue the eye roll.
Next
Prev
June 21, 2015
Che's travels through South America
IN HONOR OF THE ARGENTINE REVOLUTIONARY’S 87th birthday, Go Andes has put together this infographic of Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s route through South America. The trip, which Guevara credited for his sympathy towards the poor and oppressed, was the subject of his famous book The Motorcycle Diaries. The places he visited are all still there (though undoubtedly changed since his trip), so Go Andes has updated it for the modern traveler. 
Amazing photos of the midnight sun
DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, areas north of the Arctic Circle enjoy an incredible amount of daylight, even at midnight. On June 21st, the day of the summer solstice, those who live in these northern regions experience 24 hours of sunlight. Why would anyone want to go to bed when they can enjoy such views?
1. Jökulsárlón, Iceland
Midnight Sun. by Dieter Weck on 500px
2. Hamnøy, Norway.
Hamnøy Midnight by Cristian Kirshbom on 500px
3. Over the Arctic Ocean in Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada.
Ten To Midnight by Francis Anderson on 500px
4. Raahe, Finland.
Summer memories by Esa Heikkilä on 500px
5. Brookes Range, Alaska.
Midnight Sun – Brooks Range by Noppawat Charoensinphon on 500px
6. Norrland, Sweden.
The midnight sun by Jens Wedin on 500px
7. Ilulissat, Greenland.
Between the Icebergs by Gaaba Jensen on 500px
8. Midnight sun puffins on the Island of Loppa, Norway.
Midnight Sun Puffins by Olav Thokle on 500px
9. Ingjaldsholl, Iceland.
Land of the Midnight Sun and Lupine Heaven by Bridget Calip on 500px
10. Midnight sunbathers in Svalbard, Norway.
Midnight Sunbathers by Olav Thokle on 500px
June 20, 2015
The world's most lavish mosque
Follow Matador on Vimeo
Follow Matador on YouTube
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is located in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. The mosque, which took 11 years and $545 million to construct, is an architectural feat most notably for its use of artisans and materials from all over the world, including Italy, Germany, Morocco, Pakistan, Turkey, Malaysia, Iran, China, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Greece, and the United Arab Emirates itself. At 30 acres it’s the largest in the UAE; it’s not just the size that’s impressive though, but its stunning design… 
10 reasons why music lovers should stay far away from Nashville
Sure, Nashville is home to United Records Pressing, which has pressed records for artists such as The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Jack White, Justin Timberlake, Kings of Leon, Stevie Wonder, The Roots, Radiohead, and The Black Keys. But let’s be honest — who’s ever heard of them anyway? Truth is, Nashville not only hosts the largest vinyl pressing plant in the United States, it’s also home to Jack White’s Third Man Records as well as Grimey’s New & Preloved Music, a record store that played a prominent role in the recognition and growth of independent record stores. This would later influence the third Saturday of April as Record Store Day, which is when a bunch of pretentious hipsters congregate and fight over the crackle and pop of their favorite albums.
Nice try, Nashville. But everyone knows vinyl is only good for stacking on bookshelves next to rows of novels you passionately recommend but have never actually read.
Next
Prev
2. There’s no musical diversity.
It doesn’t matter if The Legend of Zelda is reverberating off neoclassical architecture at the Nashville Symphony or if the Jerry Vinett Big Band is flooding Centennial Park with their Boot Scootin’ Boogie, the diversity of music here is about as dry as a shriveled up bone.
Next
Prev
3. Musical artifacts, shmartifacts.
Because where else would bore you with Elvis Presley’s gold piano, Buddy Holly’s bass, Maybelle Carter’s 1928 Gibson L-5 guitar, and other lame stuff like handwritten letters from George Harrison, Webb Pierce’s 1962 gun-obsessed Pontiac Bonneville convertible, or Jimi Hendrix’s lefthand guitar?
Next
Prev
4. There’s absolutely nowhere to record.
Blackbird Studio is where musicians from all genres create and invent, including Beck, R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers, My Morning Jacket, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Pearl Jam, The White Stripes, Manchester Orchestra, and Martina McBride; RCA Studio B is where legends like Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Jim Reeves, and The Everly Brothers spilled their influence; and Quad Studios Nashville is where Jimmy Buffet wasted away in Margaritaville.
Which is all well and good until someone is ready to step up and record with the big boys — not some dinky recording studio with a collection of over 1,000 vintage microphones and state-of-the-art technologies. You either rock or you suck, Nashville. Get it together.
Next
Prev
5. It’s not actually the birthplace of country music.
The Grand Ole Opry, founded in 1925 as a one-hour radio “barn dance” on WSM, is the longest-running radio broadcast in history. Hailed as ‘The Show That Made Country Music Famous,’ its stage has hosted regular legends such as Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Bill Monroe, Kitty Wells, the Carter Family, Minnie Pearl, and Dolly Parton. There’s also the Country Music Association, which was founded in Nashville in 1958 as the first trade organization created to promote a music genre, but let’s not get it twisted — due to the genre’s deep roots in Nashville, many forget that Bristol, Tenn., is actually the birthplace of twang.
Next
Prev
6. There’s too much free music everywhere.
Free music readily available 365 days of the year? What gives? We’re not a freakin’ charity case.
This story was produced through the travel journalism programs at MatadorU. Learn More
Next
Prev
7. Musical history? Yeah right.
Jefferson Street is Nashville’s own Beale Street, where the culture of rhythm and blues, jazz, and soul once thrived and manifested itself in Ray Charles’ soulful singing, Jimi Hendrix’s teeth cutting, and Etta James’ first recording.
But, as you know, Nashville’s real history lies on Honky Tonk Highway where you probably spent your first night hugging a questionably sticky toilet during your cousin’s bachelorette party at Tootsie’s.
Next
Prev
8. There’s no personality behind the music.
No one walks into the Bluebird Cafe and leaves the same as they were before. It’s where musicians sit in intimate circles, surrounded by dimmed lights and contemplative listeners as they acoustically perform songs accompanied by personal stories; it’s cleansing, therapeutic, and detoxing. Here, your soul is in gratitude for the art of music.
Or you can listen to someone slur and stumble their way through ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ as a personal shoutout to their ‘dickhead ex-boyfriend’ while someone inevitably yells ‘Freebird!’ in the background. The latter is just as detoxing, but more in the sense of blowing chunks all night and ridding yourself of that Baja Burrito from earlier.
Next
Prev
9. As a musician, you’ll be homeless, jobless, and on your own.
In addition to the Nashville Entrepreneur Center helping those in the industry make their startup sing through the 14-week initiative Project Music, Nashville opened Ryman Lofts as the city’s first subsidized housing designed for artists at an affordable rate. However, there’s simply not enough jobs in the industry here. According to the local Chamber of Commerce, for every 1,000 working-age population, Nashville leads the nation with 7.8 jobs in the music industry as opposed to Los Angeles’ 2.8 and New York’s 2.0.
Next
Prev
So good for you, Nashville, but we’re not buying it ‘til that number is at least a solid 8.
10. Nashville just thinks it’s Music City.
Ever wonder where Nashville got its acclaimed name of Music City? In 1866, Fisk University opened in Nashville, becoming the first American university to offer a liberal arts education to “young men and women irrespective of color.” The Fisk Jubilee Singers began performing in small towns, and then larger cities like Cincinnati, Boston, and DC, later going on to perform in Europe. In 1873, they sang for Queen Victoria who was so impressed with their musical abilities, she said that with voices like theirs, they must have come from a musical city. In other words, if you’re really looking for music, whether to dive into the industry or simply to go to a free concert, you might as well pass this city up.
But don’t worry — there’s always LA.
Next
Prev
June 19, 2015
39 signs you learned to drink in Portsmouth, NH
Next
Prev
2. You’ve braved a blizzard on snowshoes because beers are $2 at Gaslight every time it snows.
Next
Prev
3. You’ve gotten so drunk at Legends that you should not have been allowed to throw darts.
Next
Prev
4. Every night — good or bad — ends at D-Street.
Next
Prev
5. When you go to the Press Room, you ask Tristan for a City Wide — a shot of cheap whiskey and a PBR — even though he hasn’t worked at the Stone Church in years.
Next
Prev
6. You’ve exchanged your parking tickets for beers at the Portsmouth Brewery.
Next
Prev
7. You know you have to start drinking at 4 because the bars close at 12:30, but you also know that closing time is the halftime show between the bar and the after-party.
Next
Prev
8. You’ve peed in Prescott Park while giggling about the ‘PISS-cataqua!’
Next
Prev
9. You’ve had more than one drunken conversation with the statue outside the Langdon House.
Next
Prev
10. You’ve bought beer at a Farmer’s Market.
Next
Prev
11. You’ve dodged snowballs in the annual Market Square snowball fight while bar-hopping.
Next
Prev
12. You voted for your bartender in the city council race.
Next
Prev
13. People recognize you in the grocery store as ‘that guy/girl who sang karaoke last night at D-street’ even though you don’t even remember being there.
Next
Prev
14. You spar joke for joke with Mark when he’s bouncing at the Coat of Arms.
Next
Prev
15. You have woken up in a half-eaten pile of food from Gilley’s food cart.
Next
Prev
16. Buck at the Rusty Hammer knows what you’re drinking before you do.
Next
Prev
17. You’ve suggested that town meetings be held at Joe’s NY Pizza at 12 am because more people would show up.
Next
Prev
18. Every major dispute in your friend group can be solved with the hoop machine or big buck hunter at D-street.
Next
Prev
19. You have gotten day drunk off cheap Tuesday Margaritas at the Blue Mermaid.
Next
Prev
20. You have enough pictures of yourself posing with the Prescott Park ‘Whale Penis Statue’ to fill an album.
Next
Prev
21. You have made friends with at least a dozen sailors whose names you’ve forgotten.
Next
Prev
22. You’ve waited out a hurricane in Fat Belly’s while listening to storm-themed music.
Next
Prev
23. Ever since you won that free beer that time, you live to guess the daily trivia at the Jimmy LaPanza lounge in the bottom of the Portsmouth Brewery.
Next
Prev
24. You’ve been to at least one party on the deck of the Union Street Factory or in the basement of the Brewster house.
Next
Prev
25. You know Caffe Killim is the only place with hangover-curing coffee — if you can brave seeing everyone from the night before in line.
Next
Prev
26. You have gone night skinny-dipping at Pirate’s Cove beach.
Next
Prev
27. You own beer growlers from at least four local breweries.
Next
Prev
28. You’ve attended more Booze Cruises than you would ever admit to, “just to see a friends’ band play.”
Next
Prev
29. You’ve danced to thriller dressed as a zombie in the Halloween Parade.
Next
Prev
30. You’ve winter hiked Mt. Washington without a problem, but taken a digger drunkenly walking the icy bricks in Market Square.
Next
Prev
31. Whether hiking Franconia Ridge, climbing Rumney Rocks, or surfing Wallis Sands, you know that cans of 603 are the only all-sport item to bring with you.
This story was produced through the travel journalism programs at MatadorU. Learn More
Next
Prev
32. You have used the cigarette machine at D-street and you don’t even smoke.
Next
Prev
33. Your Sunday morning is spent drinking Bloody Mary’s at the Radici brunch and erasing Facebook photos of you from Gaslight upstairs the night before.
Next
Prev
34. You’ve gone to the Portsmouth Brewery during your lunch break because an anonymous informant told you they were tapping a secret keg of Kate the Great.
Next
Prev
35. You know the relative six-pack pricing at Provisions, Middle Street Market and Cabot Street — and you refuse to buy beer at one if it’s cheaper at a different one.
Next
Prev
36. You pour your wine into coffee cups for the Prescott Park concert series.
Next
Prev
Next
Prev
38. You’ve realized you spent the night at the decks when you wake up smelling like Jimmy Juice, fish, and cigarette smoke.
Next
Prev
39. You can solve any problem with a cask beer at the Coat of Arms.
Next
Prev
Matador Network's Blog
- Matador Network's profile
- 6 followers
