Matador Network's Blog, page 660
May 3, 2021
Rome’s Colosseum is getting a stage so visitors can feel like gladiators
If you’ve always wondered what it felt like to be a gladiator in ancient Rome, you’ll soon know. Dario Franceschini, the Italian minister of culture, recently announced that a $22 million contract has been signed to install a new lightweight stage in the center of the Colosseum, according to the Associated Press.
The new stage will give visitors the view the gladiators had back in the day — the difference being this platform will be much more high-tech than the original one.
The stage was an original part of the first-century amphitheater until the 1800s when Italy removed it for archaeological digs in the underground levels of the ancient structure, Franceschini said. Thanks to this new stage, visitors will get “to see the majesty of the monument” from its center and the ancient amphitheater will be able to host cultural events.
The new stage is mobile so it can protect or air out any structures underground, and it’s also expected to be completely reversible if plans for the Colosseum change in the future. Construction of the new stage is expected to be done in 2023. 
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April 30, 2021
The 10 best diners in New Jersey, the ‘Diner Capital of the World’
Dubbed the Diner Capital of the World, New Jersey has more diners than any other state. And because it’s also one of the most diverse states in the country, many of these establishments feature dishes from Italian, Greek, Mexican, and other cuisines. It’s difficult to know how many diners are in the state — by some accounts, there are more than 500 — but it’s more clear why New Jersey is such a hot spot for diners.
The automobile industry started to grow in the early 20th century, and as a result, commuters increasingly traveled by car. The route connecting New York and Philadelphia at the time passed through New Jersey. As drivers sped along, they needed places to eat, making roadside diners an important component of travel infrastructure. With bigger roads and better access came new factories, which brought new workers. Those workers were often immigrants who needed filling and affordable food that they could buy at whatever time of day their shifts permitted. Diners met that demand by catering to worker tastes and schedules, sometimes dishing out plates around the clock.
A large percentage of diners were, and still are, run by Greek families. Many Greek immigrants came to the United States in the early 20th century and worked in restaurants as waiters, busboys, and cooks. They then opened their own diners, catering to various immigrant communities and serving food that would appeal to Italian, Greek, and other European workers. As more people of different backgrounds arrived, diners expanded their menus to add dishes from Mexico and parts of Asia.
Shifting tastes in music, style, and décor over the years influenced diner design as if the history of the era each diner was built was painted on its walls with bright neon signs. Years went by, but diners stayed the same. Some have operated for more than 70 years and are still going today. From Hackensack to Wildwood and Clifton to Cape May, you can eat your way through the Garden State one diner at a time and no two will look or taste the same. And while you’d need a couple of years to sample every one of them, here are the top 10 you don’t want to miss.
1. Coach House Diner in Hackensack
Photo: Coach House Diner/Facebook
Coach House Diner is a testament to the sentiment that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Here, you’ll find the portions generous and filling. The French toast is tender, the waffles are crunchy, the pancakes and omelets are fluffy, and there’s a bevy of breakfast sandwiches for every taste. If you’re around on a weekend, Coach House Diner is a perfect place to indulge in a hearty Saturday morning breakfast before heading to the Garden State Plaza Mall or the Shops at Riverside. And if you can’t make it there in the AM, the lunch and dinner menus are enormous, and there’s a full bar to quench your thirst. It’s open 24 hours, so swing by any time.
Where: 55 NJ-4, Hackensack, NJ 07601
What to order: French toast with fresh berries and a milkshake
Photo: Americana Diner
Americana Diner is immediately recognizable by the bright neon signs and big glass block vestibule. It has a Greek-inspired menu with Italian infusions, plus plenty of other types of dishes that will satisfy every patron. The Helenic sampler platter of feta cheese, tomato, and grape leaves is a great starter, especially for a group of hungry guests, while a succulent beef or chicken gyro makes for a satisfying entrée. There’s also a section on the menu for Italian specialties, and there’s a long list of omelets and breakfast options. You’ll also find plenty of broiled choices, including scrod, trout, lobster, steak, and pork and lamb chops. Be sure to save room for dessert — the layer cake and lemon meringue are the best choices.
Where: 1160 NJ-35, Shrewsbury, NJ 07702
What to order: Helenic sampler, broiled trout, and a lemon meringue cake
Photo: All Seasons Diner/Facebook
Offering breakfast, dinner, burgers, salads, and a vast collection of sandwiches, All Seasons Diner serves fresh food and bakes everything in house. It has an expansive menu of various omelets, French toasts, fun finger food like pigs-in-a-blanket, and sandwiches that span from wraps to triple-deckers to pita pockets. Entrées get even more tempting when you have to choose between spanakopita, baked ziti, or broiled fish. Save some room for apple turnovers.
Where: 176 Wyckoff Rd, Eatontown, NJ 07724
What to order: Souvlaki pita pocket or Monte Cristo French toast with grilled ham and white meat turkey, topped with melted Swiss cheese
Photo: Flight Deck Diner/Facebook
The Flight Deck Diner in the Cape May County Airport doesn’t have a long menu, but the food will make a hungry traveler happy after landing and before takeoff. Breakfast is served all day and includes some irresistible choices like the Hungry Pilot omelet (sausage, bacon, ham, and cheddar cheese), the B-24 Bomber (open-face English muffin with two eggs and sausage gravy), and the B-25 Bomber (open-faced buttermilk biscuit with two eggs and homemade creamed chipped beef). Sides and add-ons are called co-pilots, and there are a dozen to choose from. Not a breakfast person? There are homemade soups and Angus beef burgers to savor. Here’s a little-known fact that only the locals will tell you: Oprah Winfrey uses the airport when she visits Cape May County where her longtime beau, Stedman Graham, was raised.
Where: 505 Terminal Dr, Rio Grande, NJ 08242
What to order: B-24 or B-25 Bombers with co-pilot home fries, plus a hot chocolate with whipped cream from a refueling station
Photo: Tom Sawyer Diner/Facebook
The spacious and friendly Tom Sawyer Diner serves tasty Italian favorites, a few Greek classics, and home-style breakfasts. Here, pastas range from primavera to putanesca, and from alfredo to a la vodka. For entrées, try the Bernando — salmon with prosciutto, mushrooms, asparagus, and mashed potato — or the Aztec turkey burger. The salad section deserves special attention. Mediterranean and Greek salads are very good, but so is the California salad if you like strawberries, melon, and banana mixed with cottage cheese. Breakfast comes fast and cooked perfectly to order. Last but not the least, the milkshakes are delightful, and so are the smoothies.
Where: 98 E Ridgewood Ave, Paramus, NJ 07652
What to order: The Bernando made with salmon, prosciutto, mushrooms, asparagus, and mashed potato. Order it with a peach or mango smoothie
Photo: Blue Swan Diner/Facebook
Touted by some as one of the best comfort food restaurants on the shore since it opened in 1974, Blue Swan Diner has a substantial menu of favorites. The menu has a Mediterranean, Mexican, and Italian influence — consider, for example, the grilled calamari followed by ravioli or stuffed shells parmigiana, or linguini with marinara sauce. You can’t go wrong with a Greek salad and lamb chops, or chips and guac as an appetizer with a shrimp jalapeño quesadilla entrée. There’s a good chance your only complaint will be that you don’t have room for dessert, but you can always grab some baklava to go and savor it later.
Where: 2116 State Route 35, Oakhurst, NJ 07755
What to order: Grilled calamari and shrimp jalapeño quesadilla, with an order of baklava
Photo: Vinecntown Diner/Facebook
Vincentown Diner is not just another diner. It’s more like an upscale bistro with a family-friendly menu. The diner takes the food quality seriously and serves organic eggs from cage-free hens along with Angus or grass-fed beef, and it uses cooking oils that contain no trans fats. Beers are locally brewed, coffee is freshly ground, and all desserts are made in-house from scratch. There’s even a local wine selection. It’s not every day that you find diners that serve French onion soup with melted cheese on top, bruschetta flatbread, and spinach salad with walnuts, gorgonzola, and fresh strawberries. For a filling dish, try the shrimp pesto pasta or the Vincentown volcano burger, but save some space for the tiramisu and chocolate mousse cake.
Where: 2357 US-206, Southampton Township, NJ 08088
What to order: Bruschetta flatbread and shrimp pesto pasta
Photo: Tops Diner/Facebook
Located in New Jersey’s most populous city, Tops Diner feeds over 15,000 hungry folks weekly and caters to its patrons’ diverse ethnic backgrounds. This shows on the menu. You’ll have to spend some time debating between Navajo chicken penne, Cajun salmon pasta, meatballs with ricotta, the Tijuana burger, or Peruvian stir-fry called lomo saltado. Choosing what to eat becomes even more difficult when you get to the dessert menu and have to decide between guava cheesecake and tres leches cake. You might just have to come again.
Where: 500 Passaic Ave, East Newark, NJ 07029
What to order: Navajo chicken penne and guava cheesecake
Photo: Tick Tock Diner/Facebook
Tick Tock Diner opened in 1948 as a small roadside place and has been greeting people ever since with generous portions and reasonable prices. Like a well-wound watch, Tick Tock never closes, cooking food 24/7, 365 days a year because, well, don’t people need three meals a day, every day? Among the classic burgers, tuna melts, and BLTAs (the “A” stands for avocado), you’ll also spot some daring dishes like General Tso’s crispy cauliflower with yum yum sauce and the Great Balls of Fire made from rolled-up mac and cheese with sriracha dip. A nice selection of wine and whiskey helps wash it all down. During its seven decades of operations, Tick Tock has hosted bar mitzvahs and weddings and fed celebs like Mick Jagger, Jerry Seinfeld, and Chelsea Clinton. It will happily feed you too.
Where: 281 Allwood Rd, Clifton, NJ 07012
What to order: General Tso’s crispy cauliflower and BLTA
Photo: Doo-Wop Diner/Facebook
Themed and named after the popular 1950s music and architecture style, The Doo-Wop Diner is located on Wildwood’s boardwalk, aka South Jersey’s summer vacationland. The diner is an attraction in its own right and instantly transports you into the bygone ‘50s in a way that feels so real that you wouldn’t be surprised if Betty Boop’s statue came alive to take your order. Speaking of orders, choices will be tough because you’ll want to try half the menu. There are about 30 types of burgers, from classic to peculiar like an option topped with shrimp or served on glazed donuts instead of buns. If you’re in a seafood state of mind, the Drunken Sailor sandwich made with fresh blackened mahi smeared with tartar sauce and topped with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions is refreshing. And at Doo-Wop, hotdogs and bacon go together for its Leader of the Pack. Don’t forget the milkshake.
Where: 4010 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ 08260
What to order: Drunken Sailor sandwich and chocolate milkshake
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Powering your campsite with solar energy just got way easier
This is The Climate Win, the most positive sustainability news around the world every week.
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With the weather warming up, camping season is around the corner. In this edition of The Climate Win we look at a breakthrough in solar generator technology that lets you power an entire van or RV campsite, including electric cook stoves and portable devices. That’s 1,500 watts of solar power harvested by portable solar panels in just 2.5 hours. We also cover a few easy ways you can make your camping trips more eco-friendly, whether they’re quick weekend car camps or full-summer #vanlife expeditions.
When camping, road tripping, or #vanlifing, powering devices like laptops, cell phones, and kitchen appliances can be a challenge. Traditional generators work fine, but they run on gasoline or propane. Enter Jackery, a California company that launched the first lithium battery charging station in 2015 and has followed this year with the most reliable, non-gas portable generator on the market, powered by its own portable solar panels.
Of course, there are multiple solar generators available, as well as portable solar panels useable for camping and van travel. What separates Jackery’s Explorer Portable Power Station is its development of an upgraded MPPT solar regulator, known as Solarpeak Technology, a built-in algorithm and battery charger that increases the generator’s charging efficiency by up to 30 percent. With the generator and the portable panels combined, the Explorer becomes a full-circle portable solar-powered station that can be charged to 80 percent in about 2.5 hours.
The Explorer Power Station, available in wattages ranging from 160 to 2,000, looks and feels much like a traditional gas-powered generator. For a bit of reference, 1,500 watts is enough to power an entire campsite including electric cooking equipment; devices like a laptop, phones, and tablets; and other small electronics. It also saves you the need to lug around a tank of gas to do so. The 1,500-watt, middle-of-the-road option runs for $1,599. Lesser-wattage options are more affordable and can still accomplish the same, albeit with more regular charging required. With the solar generator, you have the power — literally — to run an entire campsite or #vanlife setup for an evening on renewable energy, save for the van itself.
Certainly, $1,599 is a sizable investment for a generator (a similar wattage gas generator runs about $600), and most campers don’t need a generator for a night or two of car camping. Jackery also sells its portable, collapsible solar panels a la carte. So even without buying the generator, you can charge your laptop, phone, and other small devices while the sun is shining for far cheaper — its 60-watt panel runs for just $179.
Keeping the rest of your camping trip as eco-friendly as possibleMany options for eco-friendly van travel and camping necessities are super easy and don’t require much, if any, upfront spend. An easy go-to is to get some mason jars of varying sizes and lids to match. In addition to being handy drink glasses, mason jars can be your storage solution for most small items. For example, homemade cleaner — made from water, white vinegar, and an essential oil like lavender or lemon — goes perfectly into a 16 or 24 ounce mason jar. It’s non-toxic, zero-waste (assuming you recycle the containers the ingredients come in) and easy to store. You can keep everything from olive oil to toiletries to coffee grounds in mason jars. If you’re on the road, this handy zero-waste stores map from The Sustainable Collective tells you where you can stock up.
In general, making your camping and #vanlife trip as green as possible follows the same principles as other outdoor excursions. Avoid single-use plastics by bringing a water bottle and water filter with you, along with reusable grocery bags and mesh netting for food items. Use reusable ice blocks in your cooler rather than buying bags of ice wrapped in plastic. Follow the Leave No Trace principles including leaving what you find, minimizing campfire impacts, and properly disposing of waste. And when camping or parking a van outside cities or towns, camp only in areas where overnight stays are allowed — designated campsites, dispersed campsites, and permit-free public lands — so as to minimize impact on wildlife and sensitive habitats. To help locate campsites, here’s our guide to everywhere you can camp permit-free on US public lands.
More climate winsThe US Senate voted this week to reinstate Obama-era restrictions of methane leaks from oil and gas wells, The New York Times reported. The Trump administration had voided the rule, which originally came into effect in 2016.
Washington state became the second state after California to pass a cap-and-trade carbon pricing bill, Grist reported this week. After its expected signature from Governor Jay Inslee, the bill would enact a total allowed carbon cap beginning in 2023 that would slowly lower over time. Businesses will have to buy and trade pollution allowances, with revenue going to renewable energy projects.
A high court in Germany ruled that the country, which is Europe’s largest economy, must expand its plan to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, The New York Times reported. The ruling came after work by young climate activists in Germany who claimed the government was putting the wellbeing of future generations at risk by not taking stronger climate action.
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Fly over the American Southwest on this exciting new Las Vegas attraction
Can you imagine visiting the Las Vegas Strip, the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Zion and Arches national parks in Utah, and Lake Tahoe in California all in one day? With the new FlyOver Las Vegas experience, you can do it all in minutes.
FlyOver Las Vegas is an upcoming attraction located alongside the Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip that will take guests on an immersive trip high above the natural wonders of the American Southwest.
Photo: FlyOver Las Vegas
The press release explains that ride-goers will enter into a “unique and state-of-the-art moving platform” surrounded by a 52-foot “spherical screen.” Once the ride begins, guests will experience the same sensation as flying thanks to six degrees of motion and special effects like wind, mist, smell, and other effects that will bring the experience to life.
The Las Vegas FlyOver is the latest from Pursuit, the company behind the successful FlyOver Iceland and FlyOver Canada. The Las Vegas one will debut later this year.
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Wales’ highest peak may ditch its English name to be known as Yr Wyddfa
One of the most popular national parks in the UK, Snowdonia National Park, and its resident giant mountain, Snowdon, might soon get a name change.
Wales County Councillor John Pughe Roberts proposed that the Snowdonia National Park Authority refer to the park and the highest mountain in Wales by their original Welsh names and drop the English versions, reported. Snowdown would then be known as Yr Wyddfa (pronounced Uhr-with-va), and Snowdonia would be Eryri (pronounced Eh-ruh-ree).
Similarly, in 1993, Ayers Rock in Australia was officially renamed Uluru, a term traditionally used by aboriginal Pitjantjatjara speakers. In 2015, the name of the highest peak in North America, located in Alaska, changed from “Mount McKinley” to “Denali,” its traditional indigenous name.
Wales has been working to preserve its language. In 2011, the Welsh Language Measure 2011 declared Welsh an official language of the country. More recently, the Cardiff and Denbighshire councils have both ruled that all new streets in the country will bear Welsh-only names.
According to the park authority, the Welsh name Yr Wyddfa translates to “grave.” Legend has it that a mythical giant, Rhita Gawr, was defeated in a battle against King Arthur and was buried under a cairn of stones on the summit. Snowdon comes from the Saxon “snow dune,” meaning snow hill.
Eryri is thought to come from the Welsh word eryr (“eagle”) or the laying work oriri (“to rise”).
The Welsh language seems to be on the rise. Wales’ government wants 1 million people to speak the language by 2050, BBC reported.
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There’s never been a better time to discover Namibia’s stunning, solitary beauty
Tucked into an arid piece of land on Africa’s southwestern coastline, Namibia may not be an obvious choice for long-haul travelers. But even during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s still a destination that’s within reach of the United States and Europe. And in many ways, it offers up a combination of adventure, wanderlust, and solitude perfect for the times. If you can get there, there’s never been a better time to visit — crowds, and prices at several luxury lodges and tour operators, are at an all-time low.
Although a typical Namibian tourism brochure may not immediately reveal the diversity, and spark the excitement of, for example, neighboring South Africa, it’s a country brimming with natural beauty that few in the world can replicate.
In the more fertile north, the famous Etosha National Park spreads out across 8000 square miles of pristine land and offers one of the world’s best wildlife experiences. Along the country’s 976 miles of coastline is the Skeleton Coast, so named for its knack of claiming the lives of whales, seals, and various passing ships, the remains of which still linger ominously and strangely photogenically on the windswept beaches.
But if there’s one image of Namibia that lingers foremost in the minds of those who’ve seen it, it’s that of dead trees that stand frozen in time, set against towering sand dunes, in the country’s most Instagram famous natural attraction, Sossusvlei.
Photo: Andrew Thompson
It’s this attraction — and an ironic desire to escape the pandemic by further isolating myself — that saw me packing a bag for the NamibRand Nature Reserve, a massive, otherworldly span of land shaped and defined by the Namib desert.
“Ready to head off into the desert?” Scenic Air captain Wesley Thompson said as he took my bag at the entrance to the small Eros International Airport airport. “Our flight today may be a bit bumpy, it’s warming up a bit already, but I’ll do my best to keep her steady over the dunes.”
It had just gone 10:00 AM in the Namibian capital, and the temperature was already well over 70 degrees fahrenheit. Ahead of me was my second, and most exhilarating, flight of the day. The first was a somewhat more traditional affair that landed at Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport. There, I’d submitted to a variety of now-standard COVID-19 screening protocols — hand sanitizers, face masks, temperate checks, and the presentation of a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before departure.
Travelers who are unable to meet the 72-hour test rule can submit a test taken seven days before their flight, provided they quarantine at their hotel for the week. In all, it’s a set of requirements that are enough to set the mind of the anxious traveler at ease — but not enough to dissuade those eager to explore.
Returning to home countries may be a slightly trickier affair — but unlike neighboring South Africa, which is facing a raft of restrictions, Namibia is still largely considered safe. The country has had a share of cases, but its population density of just eight people per square mile, and stringent lockdown measures, have counted in its favor. Windhoek is also well equipped with testing facilities that can provide results within 24 hours for return flights, and several hotels are also providing in-room testing services for homeward-bound guests.
Flying into the desertAfter the international flight, and the crowded arrivals hall, followed by a commute across town to Eros International, I was more than ready to immerse myself in solitude once again.
“We’ve had a lot of rain in recent months, the first in ten years,” Thompson said as he walked me through airport security and out onto the runway. “You’ll see that large parts of the desert is covered in grass. It’s incredible to see from above.”
He motioned for me to climb aboard a small Cessna parked alongside the runway, and after the necessary pre-flight checks he fired up the propellor and drowned out any possibility of further small talk.
Photo: Andrew Thompson
Over the next hour, I watched the scenery shift from low buildings in the small capital city to rolling green hills, and then to the stark desert I’d been yearning for. Just as the turbulent ride became almost too much to handle, Thompson banked a hard right above a desert runway — to my untrained eye little more than a stony dirt patch — and prepared to land.
From above I noticed an oryx resting in the shade of a single tree, and in the distance, a herd of zebra, spooked by the loud engine, kicked up dust as they scattered into the distance. After two more turns to check the runway for wildlife and soft sandy spots we touched down, where the only other human was a man in a Land Cruiser who introduced himself as Papa G with a COVID-induced distanced fist bump.
Papa G, whose real name is Gert Tsaobeb, works for Natural Selection, a company with several lodges located at Namibia’s most famous attractions. For the week, I would be staying at the company’s Kwessi Dunes — an off-the-grid desert oasis that ironically opened its doors just a few days before COVID-19 forced its closure.
Photo: Natural Selection/Facebook
Although a lodge like this, which comes complete with a personal guide, an all-inclusive menu and open bar, luxurious tent-style accommodation, and some activities already included, may sound extravagant, Natural Selection like many others in Namibia is running deep specials in an attempt to lure tourists back to Namibia. Although there’s no shortage of thriftier ways to experience Namibia, including self-driving and camping, it’s an experience that’s now, at least until the pre-pandemic tourism numbers return, is more within reach of the average traveler.
The perfect introduction to NamibiaLodges like Kwessi Dunes, in the NamibRand, serve as the perfect introduction to Namibia. Sossusvlei, where you’ll find the iconic dead trees set against the famously scaleable dunes, is a 90-minute drive away — which the company will ferry you to in a comfortable closed Land Cruiser. And with Papa G running the show, I had little to do but pitch up, climb aboard, and gaze out at the early-morning scenery as we approached the landmark.
Photo: Andrew Thompson
As we placed the first footprints on a winding dune, Papa G explained just how atypical our morning’s experience was.
“Before the pandemic, it was impossible to be the only people here,” he said. “Although that does make it a bit harder to climb when you’re the one making the first imprints on the dune.”
Before the pandemic, you’d have to share a dune climb with other travelers, and Deadvlei below, where you’ll find the trees, is usually swarming with posing Instagrammers, often complete with costume changes, Papa G explained.
But on the warm April morning, as we plodded slowly up a dune carefully selected to give me the best perspective on our surroundings, I counted less than a dozen people below, all of whom were miniature specks dwarfed by their surroundings.
More than SossusvleiThe surrounding Namib desert offers more than just Sossusvlei, though — a statement confirmed by the sunrise hot air balloon ride I embarked on the following day.
Pilot Dennis Hesemans, whose family-owned company Namib Sky Balloon Safaris, has felt the full weight of COVID-19 on his business — and yet if the dwindling tourism numbers had taken a toll on him he wasn’t about to show it as he floated us high above the desert sands, dunes, and jagged mountains with a cheery lilt in his voice.
“Welcome to my office!” he said before blasting fire into the balloon above. “There aren’t many places in the world that offer flying conditions as good as these. Before the pandemic, we were unlucky if we weren’t able to go out most days of the year.”
As he piloted us through the desert skies, Hesemans pointed out some of the attractions below us which slowly came to life as the morning sunlight landed upon them — notable dunes, surrounding mountain ranges, herds of oryx often oblivious to our presence, and the bizarre “fairy circles” — inexplicable near-perfectly round yurt-sized circles devoid of any vegetation that dot the orange sands.
namibia hot balloon aerial.jpg
For the acrophobic, there’s also a lot to see and do that’s closer to the land — including nature walks and quad bike excursions through the dunes that also reveal some of the secrets of the land and the animals that inhabit it.
Aside from the roaming herds of stoic oryx, who must have been purpose-built to survive the hostile temperatures, you’ll also encounter mountain zebra, springbok, and ostriches. You may be lucky enough to spot far more elusive predators like brown hyena, black-backed jackal, leopard, or cheetah, seldom seen but known to reside in the reserve. But even stopping to appreciate the smaller critters — scorpions, insects, and various birds that have adapted to life in the desert — offers a refreshing take on the concept of a traditional African safari, especially when washed down with gin and tonic and a desert backdrop or big sky sunset.
Darkest skies in Africa
Photo: Andrew Thompson
In many ways, though, it’s at night that the NamibRand truly comes to life. The night skies in the reserve are among the darkest in the world — so much so that they’ve earned the rights as Africa’s only Dark Sky Reserve.
All lodges in the reserve must submit to stringent measures that reduce light pollution from lodges and vehicles, and most — including Kwessi Dunes — offer outdoor beds which offer the perfect view of an unparalleled astronomical experience.
Photo: Natural Selection/Facebook
Despite a few drops of rare desert rain and a beaming full moon, it’s here that I chose to spend my last night in the desert. As the fresh night air wafted over me I allowed the silence to envelop me as I reflected on an idyllic trip to the heart of one of the world’s most unique destinations.
Although Namibia’s size and distance may make it seem like a complex place to visit, especially amid a pandemic, it’s actually surprisingly doable. It may be considered a destination perfect for weeks-long 4×4 adventures — but even shorter visits to multi-faceted destinations like the NamibRand deliver spectacular rewards.
And if there’s one thing that a shorter visit to the south-west of the Namib desert does, it’s trigger all kinds of wanderlust that most of us have put on hold for the last year.
Practical info
Photo: Andrew Thompson
Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport currently fields several direct flights a week from South Africa, Ethiopia, and Frankfurt. Ethiopian Airlines operates several direct flights between the United States and Addis Ababa. If routing via Europe, many airlines fly direct to Frankfurt, from where Eurowings operates five weekly flights to Windhoek.
Scenic Air operates regular air transfers into the NamibRand reserve and elsewhere in the country, which is helpful when travel time is limited. Although distances are long, it is also possible to rent 4×4 vehicles in Windhoek and undertake a self-drive trip through the country.
Arriving travelers, including those from the United States, must follow certain COVID-19 requirements. These include presenting with a negative COVID-19 PCR test no older than 72 hours. Namibia does, however, accept tests that are up to seven days old provided travelers quarantine for the week at their respective hotels.
Namibia’s government has instituted various lockdowns, curfews and rules aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 in that country. Visit the Namibian Tourism website for updates and critical announcements.
Several companies, including the likes of Wilderness Safaris and Natural Selection, have not increased their prices since the start of the pandemic, and some lodges may offer discounted stays. Personal correspondence with these companies may yield better results than booking directly online.
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April 29, 2021
A tiny tour of Rhode Island: 12 perfect hours in the nation’s smallest state
Smallest is not always a coveted superlative. In Rhode Island’s case, its modest square mileage is all that some travelers know about the state, which measures just 48 miles north to south and 37 miles across. But being the smallest in the United States works to Rhode Island’s advantage when it comes to travel. An easy drive from both New York and Boston, the snug New England hideaway can be toured in a single day, whether you’re day-tripping from a neighboring city or road-tripping through the Northeast. Here’s how to spend 12 perfect hours in Rhode Island.
Breakfast in Providence’s East SideFrom the airport: roughly 10 miles, 15 minutes
Rhode Island’s capital city of Providence should bookend your state tour. You’ll want a car to get around for the day, which you can rent at the TF Green Airport or in town, though you’ll spend a majority of the morning on foot. First up on your Rhode Island itinerary: a walking tour of Providence’s East Side and all the best breakfast spots.
Photo: KNEAD Doughnuts/Facebook
The city’s East Side is comprised of six neighborhoods. Spend the morning focusing on two: north-south neighbors College Hill and Fox Point. College Hill is both old and young. Its National Historic Landmark District is filled with venerable sites like the 18th-century Old State House and the Providence Athenaeum, the nation’s fourth-oldest library. The neighborhood is also where you’ll find both Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. Students congregate here and in Fox Point, where they mingle with young professionals and new families in the cafes and thrift stores lining Wickenden Street.
Both neighborhoods are highly recommended for breakfast. If sightseeing in College Hill has you ready to fuel up right away, try visiting The Shop for a coffee and Knead Doughnuts for the perfect coffee-doughnut combo. Both are wholesome, if not the healthiest, and serve direct-trade coffee and vegan and flourless doughnuts, respectively. For something lighter, head to Amy’s Place in Fox Point for a matcha, choconut, tropical, or vegan smoothie and an on-the-go breakfast sandwich, bagel, bolo, or burrito. On the other hand, it’s hard to beat the classic diner fare at Brickway on Wickenden, featuring 15 omelets and eight types of pancakes. It’s going to be a busy day, so you may want to make your first meal a hearty one.
Pop over to PawtucketFrom Providence: roughly five miles, 15 minutes
Photo: Mary Terriberry/Shutterstock
A stone’s throw from Providence is a city on the Blackstone River that’s better known as the birthplace of America’s Industrial Revolution. At the tail end of the 18th century, Samuel Slater built the first cotton mill in North America here in Pawtucket, using a water-power technique he learned as an apprentice in England. This earned him two nicknames: “the Father of the American Industrial Revolution” to people stateside and “Slater the Traitor” across the Atlantic. Joining the Old Slater Mill in the national historic landmark complex are the Wilkinson Mill, an early textile producer, and the Sylvanus Brown House, a precursor to the Slater Mill that dates to 1758. Today, it houses relics of pre-industrial cloth-making like a loom and spinning wheel.
Pawtucket is more than its early American heritage, though. It’s creative, with an annual arts festival and riverfront summer concert series. It’s also outdoorsy, with opportunities to boat downriver to Narragansett Bay and fish below the Division Street Bridge. Pawtucket also hosts Rhode Island’s Music Hall of Fame and an impressive antique mall. There’s even a craft-beer scene. After the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, learn more about it at the Isle Brewers Guild, a co-op representing 15 New England breweries and distilleries.
Seafood lunch in South CountyFrom Pawtucket: roughly 40 miles, 45 minutes
Second to its size, Rhode Island’s 400-mile coastline might be what it’s most famous for. With that comes incredible Rhode Island seafood. Fresh, succulent, and often fried, options range from sausage-stuffed clams and creamy New England chowder to lemon-butter lobster and oysters on the half-shell. Suffice it to say you’re going to want to try some while in town. Enter South County.
Photo: Matunuck Oyster Bar/Facebook
Home to beachfront hamlets like Watch Hill that’ll have you rerouting your summer trip to Nantucket, South County has some must-eat seafood restaurants that are more than worth a visit. If you want to make this stop your base for a bit while indulging in seafood without having to travel, COAST at Watch Hill’s splurgy Ocean House hotel is where to go. If you have to pick just one restaurant on a journey through, go to the Matunuck Oyster Bar in South Kingstown.
Purveyor of some of Rhode Island’s freshest oysters, Matunuck proudly serves homegrown and harvested shellfish alongside locally sourced produce and farm-raised and wild-caught seafood. More than just a place to eat, Matunuck also provides guests the opportunity to learn about their meals, offering hour-long tours of its shellfish farm in Potter Pond. Tours begin with a lesson in aquaculture and fisheries where you can learn about their impact locally and globally. Guests are then shown around the seven-acre oyster farm, where they’ll learn about the pond-to-plate shellfish that’s featured on the restaurant’s menu.
To Newport and Narragansett BayFrom South County: roughly 20 miles, 30 minutes
No trip to Rhode Island would feel complete without a visit to Narragansett Bay. The same is true of Newport, the state’s second city, conveniently located on Aquidneck Island right there in the water. This gives visitors a couple of options for touring the bay, either on land or by boat. But first: a tour of the lavish, historic Newport Mansions.
Photo: Preservation Society of Newport County/Facebook
Now protected by the Preservation Society of Newport County, the Newport Mansions were originally built in the late 19th century as “summer cottages” for the East Coast elite. These opulent properties offer visitors a glimpse into America’s glitzy Gilded Age. There are 11 in total. The Breakers and Rosecliff are worth prioritizing if you have a busy schedule. The grandest mansion, The Breakers was commissioned by the Vanderbilt family. It’s now a National Historic Landmark. Baroque, palatial Rosecliff is reminiscent of Versailles. Originally a party estate for silver heiress Tessie Oelrichs and her steamship, the property is still used as an events space for everything from private weddings to the Newport Flower Show every spring. It’s also been featured in films like the 1973 version of Great Gatsby.
To fully appreciate the waterfront estates, tour them on foot following the 3.5-mile Cliff Walk. Then, swap the bay views for the bay itself by chartering a sailboat if your time, budget, and the weather allow. A less costly, on-land alternative to zipping around Aquidneck Island is the peddle-powered Rail Explorers experience operated by the Newport and Narragansett Bay Railroad. You likely won’t have enough time to do it all, but whichever afternoon activity you choose, you’re guaranteed unforgettable scenery and a bit of exercise to boot.
Back to ProvidenceFrom Newport: roughly 35 miles, one hour
It’s not NYC or Boston, but Providence pulls through with options for every type of traveler.
Photo: Edgewood Manor Inn/Facebook
If you’re looking to splurge for your one night in town, the Edgewood Manor Inn is a romantic, Victorian-style bed-and-breakfast housed in an early 20th-century mansion a few miles from downtown. Also spendy, Hotel Providence and The Dean hotel are centrally located, while the NYLO hotel has a boutique experience at a slightly more accessible price. Budget travelers will find reliable chains like Quality Inn and La Quinta near the airport, while Airbnb is a safe bet for finding something affordable in town.
Once you’ve settled in, revisit Providence’s food scene. You’ll find it all here: plant-based everything at the Plant City food hall, done-up tacos at Tallulah’s Taqueria, and Greek eats at Yoleni’s downtown. Some of the best dinner spots are concentrated in Federal Hill, from nonna-approved Italian at Enoteca Umberto to Southern-inspired comfort food at Bucktown. The same is true for bars if you’re interested in a pre- or post-dinner drink. Standouts include speakeasy-style The Avery; the kitschy, Americana-themed Ogie’s Trailer Park; and the Tammany Hall Pub & Parlor, which doubles as a cigar bar.
Wherever you wind up, end your evening on the Waterplace Park Riverwalk. If you visit in summer or fall, you can center your late-night stroll on WaterFire, an epic bonfire installation that stretches roughly two-thirds of a mile through the public spaces lining Providence’s three rivers. Honestly, we can’t think of a better way to wind down your full day in Rhode Island.
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8 fun and folksy experiences to immerse yourself in Icelandic culture
Everyone likes to brag about their vacation. For example, you might say, “fyndið ættirðu að spyrja, vinur minn (funny you should ask, my friend). I hiked into a volcano and searched for elves and fairies. And that was just the first day.” Having never been to Iceland before, your friend might think you’ve lost your mind. However, anyone who has been to Iceland knows the country is much more than waterfalls and geysers. Alongside the natural beauty are mythologies and traditions that still inform the Icelandic way of life today. Diving into the country’s cultural offerings is as rewarding as road tripping the Golden Circle and as beautiful as gaping at the Goðafoss waterfall. To truly get a sense of Icelandic culture, these are places to put on your list.
1. Take part in the Reykjavik Food Lovers Tour
Photo: Oleg Senkov/Shutterstock
It’s not always easy to find local cuisine when you travel, particularly to popular destinations — every restaurant likes to bill itself as “authentic” in an attempt to lure unsuspecting tourists. The Reykjavik Food Lovers Tour will make sure you don’t go astray when it comes to Icelandic food. The culinary excursion leaves from Ingólfur Square in Reykjavik and hits several eateries in the capital. You’ll sample Icelandic dishes like smoked puffin, lamb soup, lamb hot dogs, and minke whale steak and learn all about the country’s culinary history and traditions. Some highlights include the food stalls at the Reykjavik Flea Market and the Sægreifinn restaurant, where you’ll try what many call the best lobster soup in the world.
2. Check out the Lava Center and Volcano tour
Photo: Inside The Volcano/Facebook
When Iceland makes the news, it’s often because one of its active volcanoes decided to stir. Iceland has a unique geological landscape, and learning about it is key to understanding the people of Iceland and their way of life. Touring the Lava Center, you’ll learn about Iceland’s birth as a landmass from a scientific perspective. One of the world’s largest volcanic islands, Iceland has been shaped by many volcanic eruptions throughout its history. This story is told in depth by the museum’s volcano and earthquake exhibition. There’s also an earthquake simulator, a replica of the magma plume underneath Iceland, and a film about the most recent volcanic activity.
More hands-on travelers might prefer to actually stare down a volcano crater themselves. Luckily, you can do it without making a treacherous and ill-conceived solo expedition. This tour of the Thrihnukagigur volcano begins with a two-mile hike to the crater, where you’ll be equipped with a helmet and harness and descend via crane into the magma chamber. Once the descent is complete, you’ll be able to explore the inside of the volcano for about an hour.
3.Take an Icelandic language class
Photo: Andriy Blokhin/Shutterstock
Anyone who tells you it’s possible to become fluent in Icelandic after one vacation clearly isn’t spending much time trying to express in the local language. Luckily, you don’t have to spend more than an afternoon to get a fun introduction to Icelandic and return home feeling inspired by one of the world’s oldest languages. Designed for visitors looking for a taste of local culture, this immersive language class touches on basic vocabulary and pronunciation. You’ll match Icelandic words with pictures and even learn some “survival vocabulary.” By the end, you might even be able to tell your friends, “Ég borðaði lunda á íslandi” (“I ate puffin in Iceland”).
4.Visit Thingvellir National Park
Photo: Jose Arcos Aguilar/Shutterstock
Thingvellir National Park isn’t just a gorgeous landscape. It’s also one of the country’s most culturally and historically significant sites. Founded in 930, shortly after the first settlers arrived in 874, the park is often considered the country’s birthplace. It served as a gathering place and seat of government, where laws were made and disputes settled. The park hosted banquets and sporting contests and provided a gathering place for people to exchange stories and gossip. To this day, Icelanders celebrate their most important national events and festivals at Thingvellir.
Located in the Golden Circle, about 40 minutes from Reykjavik, the park still contains relics from its parliamentary days. The Law Rock was the actual seat of parliament, where the leading chieftain and priest declared the parliament session open. Snorri’s Booth, named after chieftain Snorri Þorgrímsson, is one of the most visible remaining booths — shelters where people stayed during the two-week parliamentary sessions. Remnants of 50 booths have been found, though Snorri’s is the largest. And of course, it wouldn’t be an Icelandic national park without visiting a waterfall. Öxarárfoss is the only waterfall in the park and is accessible via a short path.
5. Learn Icelandic knitting in nature
Photo: Maridav/Shutterstock
Returning from your trip to Iceland with memories is great, but returning with a hand-knit sweater is even better. Hélène Magnússon is one of Iceland’s leading knitters and designers, an expert at incorporating Icelandic knitting traditions and patterns into her work. She shares these traditions not just by selling her wares, but offering themed tours around Iceland. Her “hiking and knitting with the puffins 2021” tour, for example, takes visitors to the Westfjords, stopping at wool-friendly destinations along the way, seeing the wildlife, and taking a dip in geothermal pools. The next few days are a combination of sightseeing and knitting workshops, interweaving the traditional craft with the wonders of the surrounding landscape. She offers several other tours as well, such as “knitting in Icelandic nature,” “hiking and knitting,” and “knitting under the midnight sun.”
6. Take the Reykjavik Folklore Walking Tour
Photo: anderm/Shutterstock
Folklore and mythology are as integral to Iceland’s foundation as its geology. Whether it’s the elves or trolls that frequently appear in Icelandic sagas or the “hidden people” — reclusive and mischievous tricksters who live in the wilderness — Iceland takes its legendary creatures seriously. Since you’re not likely to encounter a troll yourself, you might as well take a Folklore Walking Tour through Reykjavik. The tour stops at the oldest graveyard in Iceland (dating back to 900), Lake Tjörnin, the Althingi Parliament House, and other sites that have been known haunts for ghosts, elves, and trolls. You’ll also hear tales of different monsters, including the aquatic beasts living in Reykjavik Pond.
7. Create your own street art tour of Reykjavik
Photo: Gorodisskij/Shutterstock
You don’t have to visit a museum to see some of Iceland’s best works of art. Reykjavik’s street art scene has exploded in recent years, with eye-catching murals appearing on buildings throughout the city. You don’t need to be accompanied by an art expert to appreciate it, either. Just take a self-guided tour through town.
Laugavegur and Grettisgata streets host many of the city’s best murals. Make sure to check out the smaller streets and alleys, several of which are filled with artworks you might not otherwise see. The Grandi Harbor area also has an abundance of murals, many created by artist Guido van Helten. Guided walking tours like those led by I Heart Reykjavik include murals, though they aren’t the main focus.
If you happen to be visiting during the winter months and don’t feel like wandering the cold streets, some galleries specialize in urban art, like The Living Art Museum and Dead Gallery.
8. Visit Hallgrimskirkja Church Tour
Photo: RPBaiao/Shutterstock
The Hallgrimskirkja Church is perhaps the most well-known human-made landmark in all of Iceland. Towering over Reykjavik at 240-feet, the church was completed in 1986 after 40 years of construction. It was designed to resemble Iceland’s landscape, particularly the basalt columns around Svartifoss waterfall and the country’s soaring mountains and glaciers. From the top of the church, you’ll get a view of the Snaefellsjokull glacier, and it’s widely considered to be the best viewpoint in all Reykjavik. Sightseeing tours of the church are available for booking.
In front of the statue, you’ll find a figure of Leif Errikson, the famous Viking and first European to arrive in North America in 1,000 AD. The statue was a gift from the United States in 1930, on the 1,000th anniversary of the founding of the Althing Parliament.
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The historic Native American sites you need to include in your Montana road trip
A road trip through Montana might include such famed stops as Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks or Big Sky. But as you plan your itinerary, remember that long before this stunning area was a US State, it was already the home of many Native people — including Assiniboine, Blackfeet, Chippewa, Cree, Crow, Gros Ventre, Kootenai, Little Shell Chippewa, Northern Cheyenne, Pend d’Oreille, Salish, Shoshoni, and Sioux. It’s important to respect their traditions, history, and cultural landmarks, and you can do just that by visiting these Native American monuments in Montana on your next road trip through the state.
Photo: Nikki Yancey/Shutterstock
A buffalo jump may have a recreational-sounding name, but its use had a more serious purpose. Indigenous Americans used cliff faces for hunting bison, running them to the edge and forcing them over as a mass hunting technique. First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park and National Historic Landmark recognize and protect what is believed to be the largest buffalo jump, just over 80 miles north of Helena. Before the arrival of European settlers, this site was used for thousands of years by the A’aninin, Assiniboine, Cree, Kalispel, Piegan Blackfeet, Salish, and Shoshone peoples. You can see the result — literally — in the 18 feet of “compacted buffalo remains” amassed at the bottom of the cliff.
Your first stop at the park should be the visitor’s center to read up on the area’s history. A small museum and bookstore are available. Then, hike the interpretive trail around the park. If a longer hike is in order, multiple loop trails, ranging from just over a mile to a few miles in length, will take you around the park’s high plain environment. Spring through fall is the best time to visit, and this park is day-use only — so don’t plan to camp on-site. The entire park is excellent for bird-watching, so bring those binoculars and a picnic lunch.
Photo: G Seeger/Shutterstock
In 1876, the banks of the Little Bighorn River were the site of a historic battle between the Lakota and Cheyenne peoples and the US Army — and they are one of the better-known Native American monuments in Montana. These first peoples had opted out of signing the Treaty of Fort Laramie, refusing to bow to its restrictions, which included recognizing reservation land in the western part of South Dakota and restricting to set areas their hunting practices developed over thousands of years. While other first peoples did sign, the United States failed to uphold its side of the bargain anyway, and gold-hungry settlers swarmed the Black Hills.
Tensions rose between the United States military and the Lakota and Cheyenne peoples, leading to armed conflict at what is now Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. This site marked the end of the road for Lt. Col. George A. Custer and 262 of his soldiers who died among the bluffs and banks of the river. Over 120 years later, you can tour the battlefields, view Custer National Cemetery, and explore the surrounding plains on a hike. While the memorial has been updated to contain more information about the Native peoples and includes gravemarkers of some of the Indigenous American fighters, the extent of the US soldiers’ headstones still gives arguably too much attention to Custer and his ill-fated endeavor. Today, the grassy site of this bloody battle feels quite peaceful, and along the monument’s trails, you should keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, including deer, snakes, and five species of bats.
Photo: BJ Ray/Shutterstock
Road trips are usually quite scenic, and this one comes with a lot of history to contemplate as well. The Sleeping Buffalo Trail begins in Great Falls and ends just south of Glasgow. Along the way is the Wahkpa Chu’gn Buffalo Jump which houses a 2,000-pound Cory Holmes Bison Sculpture; and the Fort Belknap Buffalo Reserve, where you can often spot — and photograph — bison from the side of the road.
Part of the Sleeping Buffalo Trail experience is a stop at Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs, where you can soak in (literally) the area’s history at a century-old hot spring resort. Driving the route from start to finish takes about five hours, plus however long you spend at each stop. Many spots for overnight stays are available along the way, including in the towns of Havre and Chinook, where you can try the Bear Paw Motel and RV resort.
Photo: US Department of the Interior
This tour of Native American monuments in Montana closes with an indoor option for educating yourself on the original inhabitants of what is now Montana: the Museum of the Plains Indian in Browning. Operated by the Indian Arts and Craft Board, a division of the US Department of the Interior, this museum highlights the Blackfeet, Crow, Northern Cheyenne, Sioux Assiniboine, Arapaho, Shoshone, Nez Percé, Flathead, Chippewa, and Cree peoples. Rotating exhibits featuring the work of Native artists, photographers, and groups pass through, with permanent displays showcasing traditional clothing, household items, and artifacts. Admission is $6 for adults and $2 for children age six and over. During the off-season from October through May, the museum completely free.
Editor’s Note: The Museum of the Plains Indian is temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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You can now rent a car through the Uber app
As the weather gets warmer and more Americans are getting vaccinated, it’s understandable that some people can’t help but have travel plans on their minds. Uber is stepping up with new features to make the transition back to travel as smooth as possible.
With many parts of the US in the middle of a rental car shortage, Uber is promoting Uber Rent, which allows Uber users to rent a car right from their phone. The new and improved feature is a partnership with major rental car companies like Avis, Hertz, and “dozens more,” according to a press release. Uber is also adding a valet service that lets you sign up to have the rental car delivered right to your doorstep, so you don’t have to go through the hassle of picking it up from the lot. The program will roll out in DC in May and will be available nationwide “soon after.”
Photo: Uber
That’s not the only new addition Uber is making. The service now offers a “Tap a Button, Get a Vaccine” service in partnership with Walgreens. Users will be able to schedule a vaccine appointment and an Uber ride to get there in just one click. Uber will also offer up to 10 million free or discounted rides to vaccination sites, and the company partnered with the National Urban League to educate people who may still have hesitations about getting the vaccine.
“Transportation should never be a barrier to health care,” Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber CEO, said in a press release. “We look forward to building on this exciting new partnership with Walgreens, harnessing the power of the Uber platform to help connect more people with vaccines, as we all work together to help end this pandemic.”
Other new features include what’s called Uber Pick Up so customers can order Uber Eats and pick it up on the way to their destination. There’s also a new way to preorder goods from select merchants before they open, and multi-order, which allows customers to order from two places at the same time without an added delivery fee. Lastly, Uber is instituting a saving hub to “highlight every eligible offer, deal, and discount available to you.”
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