Matador Network's Blog, page 601
August 11, 2021
If you and your bae met during the pandemic, you could win a trip to the Caribbean
If you were in a relationship before the pandemic started, good for you. Congrats on the human contact. If you were single going into the pandemic, my heart truly goes out to you. 2020 and early 2021 were perhaps the worst months in human history for meeting people. It was like a sadistic social experiment engineered to see how single people could survive without bars and Tinder dates. Some of us fared better than others, somehow managing to not only date but actually find a relationship during a pandemic. If that describes you, Sandals Resorts wants to make the rich richer by rewarding you with a free stay at one of its Caribbean resorts.
The Sandals Swipe-Stakes is designed for couples who met their current partner on a dating app or social media during the pandemic. Since you probably spent the first part of your relationship wearing masks and with limited date options, Sandals wants to help you make up for lost time.
According to Sandals, couples can “enter to win the dreamy honeymoon phase they never got, courtesy of the experts in love and romance at Sandals. The requirement? Couples must prove that they met online during the pandemic (March 2020 onward) by uploading a screenshot of their dating app match or first social media DM.”
Entries can be made to the Sandals Swipe-Stakes online from August 10 to September 2021, and the winning couple will receive a three-night stay at one of Sandals’ 16 all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica, Antigua, Grenada, St. Lucia, the Bahamas, Barbados, or Curacao. 
The post If you and your bae met during the pandemic, you could win a trip to the Caribbean appeared first on Matador Network.
Puerto Rico travel guide
This time last year, vacations were a tenuous and nerve-wracking prospect. Vaccines weren’t yet available to the public and restrictions were in place that made travel far less appealing to prospective tourists. Although the Delta variant poses a serious threat, vaccines are widely available and those who take them are largely protected even against this new, more transmissible strain of the virus. For vaccinated travelers, Puerto Rico is an ideal place to dip your toes into travel once again. Vaccinated US citizens are permitted to visit the island without restriction, and freely enjoy all the island has to offer.
Puerto Rico is also blessed with outdoors that make social distancing easy, including the only tropical rainforest operated by the US National Forest Service. It’s an easy sell, really. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Puerto Rico.
Entry requirements and COVID testingWhat’s open in Puerto Rico?Staying in San Juan A crowd-free island experience to the west Explore El Yunque National ForestEntry requirements and COVID testingPuerto Rico is welcoming air travelers at three ports: the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Mercedita International Airport in Ponce, and Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla. Fully vaccinated US visitors are no longer required to have a negative COVID-19 test before entering. Unvaccinated US travelers, however, must still show a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival. All travelers are still required to submit a Travel Declaration Form prior to their trip, which includes uploading your official Vaccination Card as proof of vaccination.
What’s open in Puerto Rico?
Photo: Martin Wheeler III/Shutterstock
There’s good news for travelers seeking a literal and figurative breath of fresh air in Puerto Rico: Outdoor spaces like beaches, nature reserves, and golf courses are open. All businesses, including bars, museums, gyms, theaters, casinos, supermarkets, salons, and spas, are open and operating at full capacity. The island also recently eliminated its nightly curfew, meaning guests are free to explore the island into the evening hours. Just note that masks are required in all indoor spaces regardless of vaccination status, and advance appointments may be needed for certain services.
As of August 16, Puerto Rico will require all guests of hotels and short-term rentals like Airbnbs to be vaccinated. Those not vaccinated must show a negative PCR or antigen test taken within 72 hours of the beginning of their visit. Negative tests must be shown on a weekly basis if the visit lasts longer than a week. Anyone found violating this rule will be fined up to $5,000 or face six months in jail.
For more information on what to expect, consult the Discover Puerto Rico website.
Staying in San Juan
Photo: Gem Russan/Shutterstock
Anyone visiting Puerto Rico should try to see as much of the island as possible, but it’s likely that you’ll be spending at least a day or two in San Juan. Just because you’re in the capital city, however, doesn’t mean you need to be squeezing through crowds of tourists. There’s no shortage of beaches on the island, and San Juan is no exception. Condado, Ocean Park, and Pine Grove beaches are all located within city limits, and a great break from the urban environment.
There’s no doubt that Old San Juan is the city’s premier tourist area. It’s currently only open to residents and tourists who are staying in the area, however, so you may want to consider booking your accommodation there. While its cobbled streets, fort of Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Castillo de San Cristóbal, and nearby Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery are among the city’s most famous attractions, you can also enjoy a less crowded version of San Juan by staying in the newer Ashford Avenue, the main drag of the Condado neighborhood. The modern street runs right along the beach and is replete with cafes, restaurants, and resorts.
The Old Town alternative to Ashford Avenue is Paseo de la Princesa, which means “walkway of the princess.” Located just outside the walls of Old San Juan to the south, Paseo de la Princesa is a 19th-century avenue that has Old World charm without the crowds that typically clog the narrow streets inside the city. Ambling down the street, and through the plaza, you’ll have a great view of San Juan’s historic fortifications. The street is defined by its antique lamp posts, stone fountains, street vendors, and views of the old city walls.
Around San Juan, you’ll quickly notice an abundance of street art murals. The capital is full of colorful artwork that will really liven up any walking tour. The Calle Cerra, and adjoining side streets, are particularly known for their colorful art. And if you happen to be visiting in August, you’ll be treated to the Santurce es Ley contemporary art festival, where street artists decorate empty parking lots and old buildings with large murals.
A crowd-free island experience to the west
Photo: Jeramey Lende/Shutterstock
You can have an epic Puerto Rico vacation without ever setting foot in San Juan. From rainforests to hidden beaches, there are plenty of ways to get the full experience while keeping your distance from others.
It’s currently only open to residents and tourists who are staying in the area, however, so you may want to consider booking your accommodation there. While its cobbled streets, fort of Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Castillo de San Cristóbal, and nearby Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery are among the city’s most famous attractions, you can also enjoy a less crowded version of San Juan by staying in the newer Ashford Avenue, the main drag of the Condado neighborhood. The modern street runs right along the beach and is replete with cafes, restaurants, and resorts.
Photo: nestorportalatin/Shutterstock
Just south of Rincón lies Cabo Rojo, another area perfect for escaping the crowds and indulging in the island’s natural beauty. In the southwest, Cabo Rojo is known for its beaches, dramatic limestone cliffs, and restaurant scene. Its name is a reference to the water’s reddish color where the salt flats are located, due to a high concentration of salt. The salt flats here are seriously impressive and one of the island’s most beautiful hidden landscapes. Perched atop the cliffs of Cabo Rojo, the observation deck of Los Morrillos Lighthouse offers one of the best views in the area, looking out over the sea, and it’s probably the best way to admire the surrounding cliffs. For a more active experience, take one of the hiking trails to Cabo Rojo’s natural stone bridge.
Photo: Ilya Sviridenko/Shutterstock
A short drive from Cabo Rojo, you can find La Parguera bioluminescent bay. It may not be as famous as Mosquito Bay in Vieques, which is closer to San Juan, but you’ll find fewer crowds. Better yet, it’s the only bioluminescent bay on the island that allows motorboats and swimming, versus just paddling. Take a boat tour, kayak, or just go for a dip and enjoy the surreal feeling of swimming among the glowing dinoflagellates.
Explore El Yunque National Forest
Photo: Dennis van de Water/Shutterstock
As you’ll soon learn from spending just a few days in Puerto Rico, rainforests aren’t just for South America. El Yunque National Forest, the rainforest near the east coast of the island, is open to visitors with limited capacity in main recreation areas. All other areas in the park are open with social distancing measures enforced. To access the main recreation areas, you’ll need a reservation, which can be made online.
Two of the best hikes in the area are the trek up to Mount Britton Tower and the El Yunque Rock Trail. At the end of both, you’ll have a great view all the way to the coast. To cap off your rainforest experience, take a refreshing dip in the Mameyes River. The El Angelito Trail ends at a rope, which you can use to swing right into a swimming hole.
Photo: ButtermilkgirlVirginia/Shutterstock
There are a few waterfalls in El Yunque National Forest, but for a truly dramatic waterfall experience, drive out west to Gozalandia Falls. About 30 minutes from the city of Aguadilla on the island’s west coast (and an hour from Rincón) Gozalandia Falls are a tranquil getaway in the heart of one of Puerto Rico’s most beautiful jungles. The falls lie at the end of a short hike through the trees, spilling into a pool that’s perfect for swimming. While there will probably be locals there jumping off the falls or using the rope swing, it’s one of Puerto Rico’s more secluded experiences and a great break from civilization.
A version of this article was previously published on July 20, 2020, and was updated on August 11, 2021, with more information.
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New Mexico’s incredible Bats Flight is happening right now at Carlsbad Caverns
This is the monthly Wildlife Spotlight, where we highlight the best time to see certain animals in all their splendor.
For much of the year, the casual observer climbing down the zigzagging edge that lines the jaws of the Earth’s crust at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico might miss the swiss-cheesed pattern around the walls where all the sparrows and bats live out a portion of the year. But not in August and September.
Right now, these multi-colored nooks and crannies are currently alive with the flapping and screeching of both birds and mammals. This writhing mass bubbles with cacophonic howls and hints at the grandiose exodus the bats make from the mouth of the megacave each dusk for the Bat Flight.
The bats’ safety comes first
Photo: Doug Meek/Shutterstock
With each occasion, the horde pours out counterclockwise, flocking southwest towards the distant lights of rest stops and banks along the river. The fact that cameras, electronics and anything else that can buzz or flash is strictly prohibited only adds to the allure and mystery of the event. But they won’t be around for much longer.
For several months in Spring, the Bat Flight amphitheater of cement and stone seating was roped off as a safety measure against the pandemic. That didn’t stop tourists and park visitors from gathering in the parking lot of the visitor center to see it. With their cameras pointed into the sky they wandered back and forth in the parking lot trying to follow the bats as they launched out into the darkness. With the relaxation of some COVID measures, the Bat Flight finally is once again being made available to the public.
“It’s spectacular,” Says Rodney Horrocks, who is the Chief of Resources for Carlsbad Caverns National Park. “The Bat Flight has been given here at the park since the 1920’s along with a program called Bats and Their Habits. Now we have lots of different programs given our interpretive staff.”
More bat species than have even been seen
Photo: National Park Service
Not to be confused with a common-sized flapping flock, the Bat Flight is of truly terrifying scale, like an earth-and-smoke-colored waterfall flowing upward into the sky. In the hour or so that the event lasts there are trickles and spurts, and then a flood comprised of several hundred thousand of the screeching mammals. That’s between twelve and seventeen subspecies of bat, including cave myotis, fringed myotis, and a favorite among photographers: the Brazillian free-tailed bat.
One subspecies of bat hasn’t even been discovered alive yet, but according to Pam Cox, Carlsbad Caverns National Park’s Supervisor with the Department of Interpretation, “We know it exists because the skeletal remains have been found.”
From studying the bats, zoologists have further discovered each species live in completely separate areas within the cave, which makes it easier for NPS personnel to keep an eye on some of them.
“The Brazillian free-tailed bats this year are doing great. We had enough rain earlier in the season so we’ve got a lot of water and bugs for them to eat now,” Cox said of the current state of bat affairs in the park. “If we have a really dry year, that’s not the case because they don’t get all the bugs they need to survive.”
Bats and the parks’ history
Photo: National Park Service
If we view The Bat Flight as a centerpiece to the park, Carlsbad Caverns is so much more than otherworldly geologies and an ecosystem that thrives more than 30 miles under the rocks below. The Bat Flight distinguishes Carlsbad Caverns from its peers in the park service as the ultimate outdoor stop for vampire wannabes, Batman fans, and your angsty goth teen. It offers a window into a colorful history of the area too.
In fact, some speculate that the Bat Flight was the reason Jim White spotted the prehistoric caves in the 1880’s while he was working long days as a fencer for a ranch hand along the historic Butterfield Trail. The trail travels right by the cave and, if White was on it at the right time of day, the billowing Bat Flight would have been difficult to miss.
At the young age of 16, White also is accredited with being the first person to rappel into the cave using fencing wire and branches to assemble swings and ladders. That said, we know that Indigenous peoples had knowledge of the cave for generations, as evidenced by the many artifacts and drawings that have been found along the mouth of the cave.
The Dawn of the Bats
Photo: National Park Service
A less crowded and arguably equally special Dawn of the Bats, is also an option at Carlsbad Caverns. If Bat Flight is the takeoff, then Dawn of the Bats is the landing. With bellies full of little wrigglers and sore wing muscles, the bats all come home at first light where they can rest through the day.
“The bats will start way high up in the air and come dive bombing into the cave at about 25mph.” says Horrock.
For nature photographers, it’s a chance to test your mettle with a moving target. And for those hoping for a more intimate experience (smaller crowd), fewer people turn out for the early morning show than for the Bat Flight later in the day. Dawn of the Bats starts at 4:00 AM and lasts until around 6:00 AM — so make yourself comfortable, bring a blanket or a cushion, and maybe a cup of coffee or two.
Whether you choose to enjoy the early option or its day-end counterpart, the Bat Flight is a true ephemeral spectacle. A capitalizing experience with nature, like the firefalls at Yosemite or the Aurora Borealis in Denali. It’s a flash of magic that etches a place for itself in your heart. And, like a flash, bat season will be over in a blink too. Don’t miss it!
For the most current info on the Bat Flight Program, call the dedicated Bat Flight phone number 575.236.1374 or visit the National Park Service website to look for announcements.
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It’s time for airlines to change how they treat wheelchair users
Snaking security lines. Cramped middle seats. Lost luggage. Unexpected delays. For many people, air travel can be a nuisance. For those who need to take a wheelchair on a plane, it’s a nightmare.
Just ask Cory Lee, the accessible travel blogger behind the award-winning website Curb Free with Cory Lee. Cory was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at age two and began using a power wheelchair at age four. “My wheelchair means total independence,” he says. “It’s my legs, in a sense, but it’s so much more than that. My entire well-being is dependent upon the wheelchair.”
Cory has traveled to 37 countries and all seven continents. His custom-made wheelchair serves him well on his journeys. Airplanes, conversely, do not.
Due to a total lack of space for mobility devices, Cory must surrender his wheelchair every time he boards a plane. “Without it, I can’t really do anything,” he notes. Giving up his wheelchair means giving up his freedom.
After a flight on June 28, Cory received his wheelchair with the joystick and armrest dragging on the ground — broken. It took nine days to repair the damage. The airline paid roughly $500 to repair the damage and Cory received a $500 future flight voucher and a total flight refund. In all, this incident cost the airline over $1,400. Cory’s wheelchair didn’t work properly for nine days.
Disasters like these are all too common. An airline broke Gabrielle deFiebre’s wheelchair on a plane this past May. In a Tik Tok video shared by model and disability rights activist Bri Scalesse, deFiebre pleads with a TSA agent, saying, “It was made for me,” while choking back tears. By the end of July, deFibre shared on Instagram that she’d yet to receive a replacement. Over a month later, the same airline also broke Scalesse’s wheelchair. Scalesse again used Tik Tok to share her dismay, saying, “I don’t know how I’m going to live my life.”
In a report filed by the Secretary of Transportation to the United States Congress in 2018, it states that passengers filed 36,930 disability-related complaints with airlines flying in, out and within the US. The US government finally began collecting data on airline-related wheelchair mismanagement the same year, and since then, over 15,000 wheelchairs or scooters have been lost or damaged. According to a 2020 report from the Department of Transportation, airlines damage roughly 29 disabled travelers’ wheelchairs daily.
It’s been 31 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became the law of the land — forcing buses, subways, and other modes of public transportation to accommodate wheelchairs and their users. But airlines are not included in the ADA; they follow the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986, which doesn’t adequately address the needs of passengers with disabilities.
It’s now 2021. We’ve landed a rover on Mars. Billionaires can fly safely to the edge of space. Isn’t accessible air travel long past due?
“It just doesn’t make any sense to me — why there’s funding for space travel, but there can’t be funding to make an accessible spot on an airplane,” says Cory.
What flying is like for a wheelchair userFor Cory Lee, the horrors of flying begin anywhere from 48 to 72 hours before he arrives at the airport. This is when he starts cutting back his food and beverage intake to avoid using airplane lavatories, which don’t meet accessibility standards for wheelchair users.
“I’ve actually never used the bathroom on a flight,” he admits. “I flew from Atlanta to Johannesburg, which was 17 hours nonstop, and I didn’t eat anything for about three days or drink for about 24 hours before the flight.”
“I always try to tell myself it’s going to be worth it once I get to the destination. I know it’ll be a lot of fun if I can just get through that flight.”
When Cory arrives at the airport — usually starved and dehydrated — he must contend with another indignity — an invasive security pat-down.
A TSA agent-in-training administered Cory’s most recent security check. “It was horrible,” he says. “The TSA agent was padding too hard, squeezing my arms, and trying to lift my arms and legs. I can’t do all that.”
Once he gets to the gate, he’s forced to part with his mobility device and transferred to an aisle chair: “a thin, manual wheelchair that can roll down the aisle of the plane,” Cory explains. Many in the disability community refer to this as the “Hannibal Lecter chair” — an apt comparison, considering the user’s appendages must be strapped down while getting wheeled to their seat.
Next, Cory gets transferred into his plane seat. “The transferring process is always the part of air traveling that makes me the most nervous,” he says, “because, in the past, I’ve been dropped by the crew.”
Cory always sits on a cushion to avoid getting pressure sores from a chair not designed for his body. “But sitting on a cushion means my feet often can’t touch the ground, and my legs will go numb.”
“If I’m in first class and get a lie-flat seat, that’s a bit better, but it’s such a debacle even getting into the seat,” he says. Cory requires a moveable armrest to transfer safely from the aisle chair into his plane seat — an accommodation often lacking in first-class cabins. “For that reason, I usually fly in economy or comfort plus, because they more frequently have movable armrests.”
During the actual flight, Cory worries about his wheelchair. He prepares for the worst by bubble wrapping the joystick, taking any removable pieces on board in a carry-on, and putting signs on the wheelchair detailing how baggage handlers should treat it. “But frequently, the signs and bubble wrap will get ripped off,” he says.
A Delta Airlines representative informed Matador Network that bubble wrap can sometimes make wheelchairs too large to travel in a plane’s cargo hold, which is likely the cause for removal. But messaging concerning proper packing can be inconsistent and confusing from one flight to the next. “The airline personnel usually encourage [bubble wrap],” says Cory.
“Once I arrive at the destination, I’m anxiously waiting to see my wheelchair and make sure that it’s going to work and in good condition.” A quarter of the time, something is damaged. “Without my wheelchair, I can’t travel,” Cory reiterates. “I can’t even do my job.”
For Cory, the solution to these problems is clear: Existing airplanes must be retrofitted to accommodate a wheelchair space, and new airplanes must incorporate accessibility into their design. “There’s no reason why I should not be able to get on an airplane and stay in my wheelchair,” he says.
Fighting for an accessible future“How is it that the most technology-advanced machines — airplanes — are not equipped to handle better accessibility?”
This is the question Michelle Erwin started asking herself ten years ago after navigating a difficult flight with her four-year-old son, who also has spinal muscular atrophy and uses a power wheelchair.
“I started doing research and learned that there was no organization out there advocating for a wheelchair spot on airplanes, no less funding the research to make it happen,” says Erwin.
That’s when Michele decided to take up the task herself. In 2011, she founded All Wheels Up (AWU) — a wheelchair advocacy group focusing on accessible air travel. “We are the only not-for-profit organization in the world funding and conducting the research needed for a wheelchair spot on airplanes,” she says.
After years of working directly with Congress and the Federal Aviation Administration, change is finally on the horizon. In March, US Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Representative Jim Langevin (D-RI) introduced the Air Carriers Access Amendment Act, which would require both new and existing airplanes to meet the needs of people with disabilities.
But Erwin doesn’t expect change to happen overnight. She says donations from the disability community are responsible for most of the research necessary to get wheelchairs on airplanes. “There hasn’t been any sponsorship or government funding — nothing to come our way and help push this along.”
On top of financial struggles, Erwin remains realistic about the logistical and regulatory quagmires that come with new laws. The ADA, for example, gave buses and other modes of ground transportation 14 years to accommodate wheelchair users after it became law. Erwin believes airlines should get similar parameters. “As long as your demands aren’t irrational, everyone’s open to the conversation,” she says.
Meanwhile, the team at AWU is doing their best to make current air travel experiences safer for disabled fliers. In January, they launched the Fly Safe Today initiative, a program that addresses the lack of airplane evacuation plans for people with disabilities. The program provides disabled travelers with a CARES Special Needs harness and an ADAPTS sling. The harness helps position people with disabilities in airplane seats; the sling is an evacuation device for emergencies and safe transfers.
To apply for the program, travelers should email contact@allwheelsup.org and include their name, email, home address, phone number, and age, and explain why the equipment will benefit their flight experience.
AWU has recommended to Congress that an ADAPT sling be added to all evacuation kits on airplanes. Until that comes to pass, Erwin says the company will provide one to “any wheelchair user who wants to advocate for their own safety while flying.” She hopes to give out at least one hundred slings a year. AWU is still searching for sponsors and grants to make Fly Safe Today an annual program; a virtual 5k will take place in August to raise money for the organization.
The results of inaccessibilityMichele’s son is now 14; he hasn’t flown on an airplane in seven years. “It’s honestly too hard,” she says. As a result, he missed a Make-A-Wish trip to Japan, a family wedding, and countless other chances for travel. According to a survey conducted by AWU, 80 percent of wheelchair users don’t travel because the risks — both physical and wheelchair-related — are too high.
People from the disability community aren’t the only ones missing out. By failing to recognize the economic impact of travelers like Cory Lee and families like the Erwins, airlines don’t reap the rewards of their business. In 2018 and 2019, 27 million travelers with disabilities took a total of 81 million trips and spent $58.7 billion, which doesn’t account for any companions who traveled with them. “We’re such a huge portion of the travel population,” says Cory, “and I wish airlines could see that and do something about it.”
Although accessible wheelchair spots aren’t likely to materialize for years, Cory says airlines can still act immediately to become more accessible. “Train the ground crew and their employees on why wheelchairs are important and how to load a chair without damaging it.”
A power wheelchair like Cory’s can cost anywhere between $10,000 to $78,000. “That’s more than most people’s cars,” notes Michele. When an airline damages or loses a wheelchair, it’s their job to replace it and appropriately compensate the injured parties — an endeavor that costs companies millions of dollars every year.
Airlines cannot treat wheelchairs like luggage — they must treat them as extensions of the user’s body. Learning this simple truth might be one small step for the airline industry but one giant leap for the disability community. Accessible air travel is prepared for takeoff; it’s time for airlines to get on board.
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August 10, 2021
TSA technology singles out marginalized communities — and it needs to end
If I have my hair in a protective style like box braids, after going through an airport body scanner, I can expect a pat-down. I have a very distinct memory of one instance at airport security when an officer looked down at my passport about three times before finally allowing me to go through with the comment, “Just make sure to get a new passport photo.” I had taken the photo only a month prior. The only difference? At the airport, my hair was braided up.
TSA works directly with the public every single day. As travel is picking back up, yesterday saw some 2,022,858 individuals pass through security checkpoints in the US. And yet, I can’t think of any reason why someone would enjoy the screening process. Not only is there the inconvenience of getting to the airport two to three hours early to wait in a long and slow-moving line, but it can also be confusing, stressful, and anxiety-inducing.
But for some people, TSA is more than just a nuisance. For many transgender folks, Black people, and other people of color, going through TSA can result in embarrassment, trauma, and violations.
Systems of oppression are rooted in the history of TSA procedures. According to the Department of Homeland Security, “the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created in the wake of 9/11 to strengthen the security of the nation’s transportation systems while ensuring the freedom of movement for people and commerce.”
In 2007, six years after the TSA’s inception, the Pew Research Center conducted a study and reported that 18 percent of Muslim Americans said they had been singled out by airport security for inspection or questioning in the past year, with 30 percent believing it was because they were perceived as being Muslim.
The problem exacerbated itself once TSA replaced metal detectors with full-body scanners after Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab boarded a flight on Christmas Day 2009 from Amsterdam to Detroit with plastic explosives inside his pants. According to a report published by ProPublica, TSA brought in the updated technology to check for foreign objects. However, it’s still unable to scan through thicker items, like braids or underneath hijabs.
Current TSA procedures also single out transgender folks. As of now, the process requires the scanner operator to select a gender identifier for the individual. A pink button is pressed for females and blue for males. The TSA states gender is determined by “how you present yourself” at the airport and to the officer that operates the body scanner.
In 2019, another ProPublica investigation found that transgender travelers are often subjected to “pat-downs” of genitals, misgendering, pressure to expose private body parts, and invasive screenings, sometimes in private rooms. The report also found that although transgender people make up less than one percent of the population in the US, five percent of online complaints against the TSA between January 2016 to April 2018 came from transgender folks.
In March, Rosalynne Montoya, a model, actor, and public speaker, spoke of their personal experience going through airport security.
@rosalynnemontoya♬ original sound – Rose Montoya
“I don’t feel safe. I don’t expect TSA agents to have my best interests at heart,” Montoya said. “I’ve been sexually assaulted, groped, grabbed, forced to remove my clothing [at TSA checkpoints]. I remember those times every time I go through TSA,” she later told The Washington Post.
Unfortunately, stories like Montoya’s are not uncommon. Running someone through the scanner “based on how you present yourself” at the discretion of the TSA agent is a flawed system. And although there have been calls, and lawsuits, advocating for change, not much progress has been made. TSA technology and procedures single out travelers from marginalized communities — and it needs to end.
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New study shows differences in Gen X, Millennial, and Gen Z travel plans right now
For some vaccinated people, it’s starting to feel like it’s time to dust off that suitcase and get to packing as travel starts to open back up. And statistics show that you’re probably ready to go, though exactly how ready and what type of travel you’re looking to do may depend on your age.
The travel booking platform GetYourGuide conducted a study how Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z feel about travel. According to the survey, the thing that people are most excited about as pandemic restrictions ease is travel — at least more so than eating in restaurants, attending parties, and going to bars and clubs.
More than 70 percent of total respondents have already planned their vacations. Sixty-one percent of Gen Xers said they’re staying domestic, while 20 percent said they’re looking international. On the other side, 51 percent of Gen Zers are planning international trips versus 37 percent who stated they’re planning a trip in the US. Only 35 percent of Millennials surveyed are seeking out international travel, though 48 percent are planning domestic travel.
The study also asked where people are planning to travel. The top domestic destinations include New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Juan. Outside of the US and its territories, Dubai, Cyclades, and Paris are the most popular. More than a third of Gen Z and Millenials have been in a different city in the past month, while Gen Xers are more cautious, with a third not having traveled to another city for more than a year.
Gen Z (57 percent), Millennials (54 percent) and Gen X (55 percent) are prioritizing safety and putting outdoor activities in demand. But across the board, people in each generation can agree that the most annoying part of travel is figuring out how to pay for it. Sixty-three percent of Millennials are willing to pay someone to figure out all of the arrangements and excursions for them. The majority of Millennials are also stashing away more money for their excursions, spending between $51 and $100 per person for experiences each day, while only 15 percent of Gen Z and 14 percent of Gen X are budgeting that amount.
Whatever your travel plans are, it’s time to get moving in the safest ways we can.
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There are two types of Italian coffee drinkers. Which one are you?
In Italy, the phrase prendiamo un caffè – “let’s get a coffee” – is loaded with meaning. From the macchiato you throwback at an opulent bar in Milan to the espresso you savor al fresco in Palermo, getting a coffee in Italy involves engaging with a well-established set of cultural and culinary regional practices.
Coffee arrived in Italy in the late 17th century, entering Venice from the Ottoman Empire. When Venice’s first cafe, Caffè Florian, opened in 1720, coffee consumption became popular among wealthy intellectuals. It wasn’t until the early twentieth century — relatively recently, in fact — that coffee became more widely accessible.
In 1905, Luigi Bezzera and Desiderio Pavoni, both mechanics from Milan, teamed up to improve on the steam-powered coffee machine that launched at Turin’s General Exhibition in 1885. The improvements Bezzera and Pavoni added enabled the water to get hotter and the machine to produce more pressure when brewing. While their machine didn’t produce espresso by modern standards, coffee could be prepared faster than ever before.
This quick-serve style of coffee arrived alongside the industrial revolution. Coffee transformed into an affordable indulgence that exhausted workers could grab running to work. But it took Italy’s economic boom following the second World War for espresso as we know it today to embed itself into Italian culinary culture.
While American money from the Marshall Plan was helping to reboot the Italian economy and increase wages, Milanese engineer Achille Gaggia was building a lever-operated horizontal espresso machine. Not only did the horizontal positioning enable drinks to be briskly passed from server to customer, the machine also exerted nine bars of pressure. This pressure resulted in a frothy cap on top of the coffee, known as crema. Modern espresso had arrived.
Photo: Henk Vrieselaar/Shutterstock
If you’ve visited Italy and tried to order a post-lunch cappuccino, you probably are already familiar with the coffee rituals and routines that Italians revere. Alongside these rituals sit unique recipes, roasters, and drinking styles, all of which vary across Italy’s twenty-one different regions. Being fluent with these nuances is key to enjoying your caffè all’italiana (Italian-style coffee).
Before we delve into these regional traits, we need to establish the coffee protocols that are universal throughout Italy. First, call it caffè, not espresso. Second, milk is reserved for morning drinks – you’ll struggle to find an Italian drinking a cappuccino as an afternoon pick-me-up (bad for the digestion, they’d say). You’ll pay less to drink standing at the bar, as the government controls the price of an espresso to keep it affordable (a 2021 survey says the price of a standard caffè tops out at 1.21 euro in Trento). Drinking at the bar is also a social experience; Italians see coffee as an excuse to chat. This ritual starts in the morning, when people catch-up with friends over colazione al bar (breakfast at the cafe), then continues throughout the day with regular breaks for a pausa caffè (coffee pause).
Coffee in Northern Italy
Photo: Kirk Fisher/Shutterstock
Head to the North – which for the purposes of this article we’ll say extends as far south as Rome – and you’ll be among the country’s most illustrious coffee cities. There are internationally renowned roasters in Turin (Lavazza) and Trieste (Illy), while opulent, storied cafes dot cities from Florence to Bologna.
No matter where you go in the North, there are some key commonalities between the styles of coffee you’ll encounter and ordering strategies you’ll need to get your perfect drink.
The majority of cafes serve only one brand of coffee. In the North it’s frequently Illy or Lavazza, though also common is Caffè Vergnano, which comes from a town outside Turin. While these are reliable options, you should also seek out smaller, regional roasters to sample more unique flavors. Each city tends to boast their own hyper-local roaster, from Caffè Janko in Pavia (Lombardy) to Spinetta in Valdobbiadene (Veneto). Also notable are Caffè del Doge, tucked behind the Rialto Bridge in Venice’s San Polo district, Rome’s Sant’Eustachio near Piazza Navona and Bergamo’s third-wave roaster Bugan Coffee.
These northern roasters tend to favor Arabica coffee beans, which produce a drink with a thick body. The aroma can range from floral to caramel notes, depending on how long the beans are roasted.
Photo: Kcuxen/Shutterstock
Arabica coffee provides an ideal canvas for dessert-worthy drinks. For a chocolate-dusted pick-me-up, head to Milan and order a marocchino, which mixes espresso and steamed milk with a generous dusting of cocoa powder. Turin’s bicerin layers espresso, hot chocolate and milk with a spoonful of whipped cream on top – you can find it across the city, or head to its source Caffè Al Bicerin. Complete your chocolate-coated coffee tour in Padua, where the historic Caffè Pedrocchi serves espresso blended with mint cream and cocoa powder.
There are also more moderately flavored drinks to sample. When in Trieste, opt for a capo in b. Served in a small glass, the drink has more milk than a macchiato but less than a cappuccino. A similar formula is available in the Veneto by asking for a macchiatone. If you’re trying to pass as a local near Milan, you can order your cappuccino by requesting a cappuccio. And for a post-dinner pick-me-up, Livorno in Tuscany offers the potent ponce (punch), which combines espresso, rum, sugar and a lemon peel.
For breakfast around Milan or Turin, order a brioche. This croissant-shaped pastry can be eaten plain, or vuota (empty), but is more likely to come filled with sweet options like crema pasticceria (pastry cream), marmellata (jam, typically apricot) or gianduia (or its name-brand equivalent, Nutella). And if it’s dessert for breakfast you’re craving, seek out bomboloni, sugar-dusted doughnuts filled with pastry cream, or a veneziana, a cream-filled pastry most commonly found around Milan.
Coffee in Southern Italy
Photo: AP_FOOTAGE/Shutterstock
Once you head south of Rome, coffee flavors and rituals transform. Broadly speaking, southern coffee roasters tend to appreciate Robusta beans more than they do in the North. This quick-growing, hearty coffee varietal has a strong, bitter taste. The presence of robusta in the coffee gives the area’s drinks a distinct bittersweet tinge.
Many people choose to accentuate robusta’s flavour by ordering a caffè ristretto, or a restricted coffee. In comparison to a standard caffè, caffè ristretto is made by letting water pass more quickly through the coffee grounds during brewing. While this results in a smaller overall quantity of liquid, the flavour is more concentrated. The resulting coffee is also lower in caffeine since the water has less contact time with the grounds during which to extract it. Most people sweeten their caffè ristretto with sugar.
Naples should be your first stop. Start by popping into a postage stamp-sized bar on Spaccanapoli – a collection of streets splits the historic center in two. Inside, you’re likely to find locals trading quipps about soccer over a caffè al volo (coffee drunk on the run). From there, walk over to Caffè Gambrinus, whose belle epoque interior has hosted leading Italian intellectuals. Splurge on table service to sip coffee elbow-to-elbow with well-heeled locals savoring baba au rhum, Naples’ favorite cream-stuffed, liquor-soaked pastry.
This dichotomy of the grand cafe and the casual bar permeates southern Italy. In Palermo you can bounce between wood-clad Antico Caffè Spinnato and trendy bars in the seafront Kalsa district. Cosenza’s (Calabria) Gran Caffè Renzelli opened in 1803, while in Lecce (Puglia) the cafe Doppiozero weaves together new American cuisine with Italian coffee rituals. And in Bari (Puglia), Martinucci serves traditional pastries among modern decor.
Both types of cafe offer an extensive array of one-of-a-kind, regional drinks. In summer, you can sample everything from a simple caffè sul ghiaccio (espresso over ice) to a caffè shakerato (espresso shaken with ice, milk and sugar). While these are available at bars throughout the south, there are a few more drinks that merit a detour. Head to Lecce to try the city’s iconic caffè leccese, which swaps the simple syrup in a shakerato for almond syrup. And in Sicily, it’s acceptable to order a granita al caffè (sweetened shaved ice with espresso and cream) all day long.
Photo: Andrei Molchan/Shutterstock
No matter what drink you choose, you’ll want to sample the region’s pastries alongside your coffee. While many of the breakfast pastries have the same crescent shape as their northern counterparts, in the South they’re referred to as cornetti. Order a brioche and you’ll receive a yeasted roll, sprinkled with sugar. Like in the North, you can find cornetti with many fillings, but pay special attention to those filled with regional specialties, such as ricotta or pistachio cream.
Southern pastries extend beyond cornetti. In Puglia, sample a pasticciotto. These ingot-shaped cakes combine a thick pasta frolla (shortcrust pastry) exterior with a filling of crema pasticceria, which can be studded with candied cherries or citron. Occasionally you’ll find slices of crostata (tart), slick with apricot jam. And you can even opt for a sfogliatella, a Neapolitan favorite. These can be made either riccia – which involves filling an ultra-flaky pastry with cream – or brioche – stuffed with the likes of cream, chocolate or Nutella.
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Mexico City’s newest exhibition immerses you in the life and works of Frida Kahlo
Matador Network will be taking travelers to Mexico City and Oaxaca from October 24 to 30, 2021. Venture into the cultural heartland of two of Mexico’s most celebrated cities and join in the excitement of the days leading up to the Day of the Dead festivities! For more details, check out Matador Trips.
An artist as dynamic as Frida Kahlo deserves to have her work showcased in an equally bold setting. Mexico City’s newest exhibition, “Frida: La Experiencia Inmersiva,” lives up to the task.
The installation opened in Kahlo’s hometown last month in celebration of her would-be 114th birthday. Part music and light show, part living diary, and part interactive experience, the exhibition is the latest in the immersive art trend that garnered traction in the past couple of years with the wildly successful launch of the traveling “Van Gogh Alive” exhibit.
Photo: Frida Inmersiva/Facebook
According to Cocolab, the multimedia experience brand that produced the show’s visual effects, “Frida is an immersive, multi-sensory experience that takes the work of artist Frida Kahlo and presents it on a monumental scale accompanied by music, scenography, sculpture, interaction, and digital animation.”
A 35-minute light show illuminates many of Kahlo’s most moving works, including “The Two Fridas” and “The Broken Column.” In total, the installation uses 90 projectors and 50 speakers to breathe new life into the artist’s vision.
Photo: Frida Inmersiva/Facebook
Also included in the exhibition are interactive displays such as “Free Stroke,” which invites visitors to create digital masterpieces of their own, and a “Fantastic Creatures” game room that lets visitors select the subjects from Kahlo’s work that they most identify with. Even the bones of the exhibition space honor the artist’s genius, with thoughtful touches like textured curtains, visuals projected on the floor to mirror the artworks on display, and walls designed to disappear to make the installation feel limitless and larger than life.
“Frida” also immerses visitors in Kahlo’s life. The exhibition is soundtracked by Spanish musicians the artist loved, and it includes narration from her personal journals and letters. This allows visitors to “get to know Frida’s paintings, but with a little bit of familiarity and intimacy,” Kahlo’s great-grandniece Mara de Anda told Agence France Presse. “I believe that Friday was very avant-garde and modern, so this fits perfectly. She was a woman ahead of her time.”
Photo: Frida Inmersiva/Facebook
According to Spanish news organization EFE, Anda also expressed her family’s hopes that the installation will help viewers get to know the woman behind the artwork, “not the Frida who suffered, but the one we know and the one we love.”
This hope reflects the nature of Kahlo’s work. Famous for her self-portraits, Kahlo’s portfolio reads like an autobiography, chronicling her life as a woman, an artist, an influential figure, a person with illnesses and disabilities, and the wife of fellow artist Diego Rivera, whose romance with Kahlo was notoriously complicated.
Photo: Frida Inmersiva/Facebook
“Frida: La Experiencia Inmersiva” is on display every Tuesday through Sunday in the Frontón México entertainment center by Alameda Central, the oldest public park in Mexico City and one that’s fittingly ringed by several must-see museums, including the Museu Nacional de Arte, Museu de Arte Popular, and Museo Mural Diego Rivera. Art-loving travelers in the Mexican capital can experience all of the above on a single outing, then head to La Casa Azul, or Blue House, a museum dedicated to Kahlo housed in the home she once shared with Rivera.
Tickets to the exhibition range between $14 and $18, and shows start on the hour from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. For optimal immersion, visitors can download the Frida app, which syncs with the audio-visual performance and offers more in-depth background on the artist and her works.
For US-based Frida lovers, “Frida Kahlo: Timeless,” an exhibition displaying 26 of her paintings, will be taking place in Chicago until September 6, 2021.
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This road trip will take you to the most wish-listed Airbnbs in the Midwest
Airbnb compiled its report of the most wish-listed stays in every US state so it’s time for a road trip with some epic accommodations. This road trip that connects the most wish-listed Midwest Airbnbs starts in North Dakota and heads south before turning north again and then back south, a rollercoaster of a road trip that’s even better than the crazy rides at Cedar Point.
Here is a map covering the route of this itinerary:
Lamppost 15 — Bismarck, North Dakota
Photo: Airbnb
Lamppost 15 is everything you want in an Airbnb. It’s affordable, has enough room for a small crew, and is located near the commercial center of Bismarck. You can escape to attractions including Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park or a Lewis & Clark Riverboat Cruise. Or you could hit the Missouri River on your own tubes or kayaks. We wouldn’t blame you if you booked an extra night to try all them, leaving time, of course, to lounge around Lamppost 15 and challenge your travel partners to a round on the Ms. Pac Man machine.
Six guests, two bedrooms
$98 per night
Photo: Airbnb
South Dakota is the most underrated US state for its ease of access to incredible hiking and outdoor recreation. To spend as much time as possible outside during your time in South Dakota, book a night at the Cabin at Green Mountain. Here, just outside the mountain town of Nemo, you can hike and stargaze and porch hang to your heart’s content. You’ll also be close to Rapid City, Sturgis, and the Black Hills, including their famed monuments.
Six guests, two bedrooms
Price: $252 per night
Photo: Airbnb
Of course, no Midwest road trip is complete without at least one night in a tent. The Lazy Oaks Glamping site is set up for success with a spacious tent on an elevated platform, complete with a queen-size bed and a patio for lounging. By night you’ll doze to the call of bullfrogs and the songs of owls. By day you’ll explore the 11 acres of private land and the surrounding countryside.
Two guests, one bedroom
Price: $71 per night
Photo: Airbnb
This cabin retreat outside Tonganoxie, Kansas, includes a tree-hung hammock and an outdoor campfire area, and all the fixins’ of a good ole’ fishing cabin that got a luxurious makeover on the inside. It’s rustic yet comfortable, simple yet complete. The property has hiking trails, axe throwing, and even a labyrinth to keep you occupied. You’ll also have the option to participate in any activities happening at the adjacent retreat space, which could include anything from yoga to a heated chess tournament, depending on the group in residence.
Four guests, one bedroom
Price: $96 per night
Photo: Airbnb
Nobody ever said all yurts have to play by the same rules. The most wish-listed Airbnb in Missouri is a wood-framed yurt whose top more resembles the white-capped peaks of the Rockies than it does that of a Central Asian traditional dwelling. This is to your advantage, as the accommodation is both warm and cozy, without sacrificing its rustic charm. You’ll be surrounded by the Ozard forest and all the tranquility therewithin.
Six guests, one bedroom
Price: $150 per night
Photo: Airbnb
This cabin sums up everything that the most wish-listed Midwest retreat should be. It’s surrounded by a forest with plenty of deck space; wildlife sightings are common and diverse; and the home is a great place to prepare a home-cooked meal. The listing also touts the accessibility to hiking and golf. Though with the onsite library and fireside reading space, this spot is the perfect point in the trip to simply cozy up with a book and let the logs crackle.
Sixteen guests, six bedrooms
Price: $941 per night
Photo: Airbnb
For being inside a major metropolitan area, the Wolf House studio sure feels remote. Walking into the living space is like entering a new world. You’ll feel like a hobbit among the rocked walls and ceilings and murals reminiscent of Middle Earth. Should you decide to venture out, the Minneapolis Arts District is just outside the door — perhaps justifying the unique artisanal approach that makes this property among the most wish-listed Midwest Airbnbs.
Four guests, one bedroom
Price: $214 per night
Photo: Airbnb
This property perfectly encapsulates the modern take on off-grid living. Remote and self-reliant, yes, but also comfortable, inspiring, and architecturally beautiful. You’ll really feel a part of nature here. A standalone sanctuary of wild awesomeness, this property in the Off Grid Inn complex is an ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of even the smallest of towns. You can hike or snowshoe, depending on the season. No matter when you come, brewing up a pot of coffee and gazing through the bay window into the forest beyond is always in order.
Three guests, one bedroom
Price: $271 per night
Photo: Airbnb
The coffee view from Ryan’s Place Cabin is the best in the Midwest — open the doors to gaze out and you’ll feel as though you’ve awoken to the Serengeti Plains right here in the middle of Illinois. The Rhymer Nature Preserve is nearby, as are more local fruit and cheese vendors than you could hope to visit in one trip here. The spot was built in 1865 and retains its historical charm, albeit with modern conveniences and a high level of comfort.
Two guests, one bedroom
Price: $95 per night
Photo: Airbnb
From the outside, Birdsong looks much like many other large barns converted into cozy retreats on Airbnb. It’s the inside that separates this incredible property from the rest. It’s perfectly furbished with a hot tub, modern kitchen, and spacious living area. There’s a pool table, reading room, and bedrooms that gaze upon open pastures. And while the hot tub takes all the glory, it’s actually the jacuzzi tub indoors that is the real hero of relaxation here.
Six guests, three bedrooms
Price: $264 per night
Photo: Airbnb
There are two types of people in this world. Those who wish they lived in A-frame, and those who are lying (ok, technically there’s a third type, those who actually live in one — but these are less actual people than they are gods amongst mere mortals). This picturesque A-frame is in northern Michigan’s hill country, with lake activities at Mullet, Black, and Burt Lakes nearby as well as the state’s too-often-overlooked ski country.
Four guests, two bedrooms
Price: $585 per night
Photo: Airbnb
This modern take on a treehouse is a far cry from those of our childhood dreams. The Box at Treehouse Village is elevated with the surrounding Aspens and outfitted with the niceties of a luxury retreat. This spot is the perfect end to a road trip across the most wish-listed Midwest Airbnbs. Gaze out from the treetops at the surrounding hillside, raising a drink to the epic journey now behind you.
Four guests, one bedroom
Price: $182 per night
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You could be a part of NASA’s next Mars mission
NASA is holding a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all you space enthusiasts out there. It’s taking applications to send four astronauts to live on Mars for a year. According to its website, to prepare for the real-life challenges of future missions to Mars, NASA will study how these individuals react under the rigor of a long-duration, ground-based simulation.
This Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog mission will send four astronauts to live and work inside the Mars Due Alpha. A 3D-printed, 1,700-square-foot module made by ICON. While living in this habitat, astronauts will experience simulated challenges of a mission to Mars like resource limitations, equipment failure, communication delays, and other environmental stressors.
“The analog is critical for testing solutions to meet the complex needs of living on the Martian surface,” said lead scientist Grace Douglas, for NASA’s Advanced Food Technology research effort at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. “Simulations on Earth will help us understand and counter the physical and mental challenges astronauts will face before they go.”
Other tasks will include simulated spacewalks, virtual reality robotic controls, exchanging communications, and other scientific research. To participate, candidates must meet NASA’s strict requirements:
Participants must be healthy, motivated US citizens and permanent residents who are non-smokers and ages 33 to 55. They must be proficient in English to communicate between the crew and mission control.Participants must have a master’s degree in a STEM field (engineering, mathematics, or biological, physical, or computer science) from an accredited institution with two years of professional STEM experience or a minimum of 1,000 hours piloting an aircraft. Participants who’ve completed two years toward a doctoral program in STEM or military officer training bachelor of science in a STEM field may also be considered.Participants have until 5:00 PM CST on Sept. 17, 2021, to submit their application.For more information on applying, qualifications, and the application process, you can visit NASA’s website. For more information on the Mars analog mission, visit here.
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