TravelCent

Boston French

Boston is like a lot of cities in this part of the world, where there are varied and exciting mixes of cultures and languages, reflecting the migration patterns of people all over the world. At times, it seems as though the patterns all converge here. It makes for a very heady mix of traditions and cultural displays, and it keeps things exciting, where the city has a heartbeat that plays in polyrhythms. For travelers looking at staying at a boutique hotel, Boston USA is a perfect choice.

It’s not hard to find evidence of culture here, because it’s all around the city. And all around the city, there are celebrations throughout the year that mark a people’s presence here. On Saint Patrick’s Day, the Irish population comes out in full force, along with everybody else, to make a holiday that’s bigger than the one in the native land. It’s hard to compete with France, however, on Bastille Day, because it’s such a local focal point in the history of the country, but there are efforts in Boston to mark that day in unique style.

Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity are in the air here on July 9th. The official holiday is July 14th, but this is the time to see a whole lot of French culture. Bands playing Gypsy jazz and music from Haiti will be performing their favorite songs to the delight of the crowds, suggesting that the French are not at all limited to one border, but have an influence all over the world.

There is also the local Boston French Party who celebrate events all through the year. This is a much more locally-based group, where people of French descent, or have interest in French culture, can participate in meet-ups, which can be anything from a night out at a cafe or pub, or watching the World Cup together.

There are many other events in town, centered around music, theatre, film, and many other forms of expression. It all contributes to the fact that Boston is a very lively place.

What is a Boutique Hotel?

What is a boutique hotel? Since the 1980′s they’ve been growing in popularity in many of the major tourist cities around the globe. They are intimate hotels that have a tendency to be themed or have quirks geared at certain clientele. Often known as “lifestyle” or “design” hotels they are generally smaller than the mainstream hotel chains; often having from three to, depending on the location, as many as fifty rooms.

While you know for sure what amenities are going to be available at a chain hotel you should do your research when hunting for a boutique hotel. Some boutique hotels aren’t much more than bed and breakfasts while others are experimental offshoots of larger hotel chains . A majority have on site dining, lounges, or bars for patrons to mingle in or that are open to the general public. Some are rustic having only the bare necessities for your stay while others are complete with wi-fi, cable TV and other modern conveniences.

Different cities have different clienteles the boutique hotels cater to. New York was the birth place of the American boutique hotel movement with many hotels catering to various themes from historical to modern or futuristic. In New Orleans a boutique hotel may focus on anything from the antebellum French Quarter or Mardi Gras to a hotel geared at the thousands of fans that flock to New Orleans to see the streets roamed by Anne Rice’s vampires. The boutique Miami hotels tend to cater to the Art Deco feel of the city and Caribbean weather, these are almost always located along Ocean Drive or other ocean-side streets. No matter the city you go to you can easily find a boutique hotel that’s perfect for you, you just have to know where to look.

USS Midway in San Diego

In Southern California, there’s a number of floating museums, such as the Queen Mary in Long Beach or the Star of India in San Diego. Also in San Diego, there’s one of the most remarkable ships you’ll ever set foot on –the USS Midway , a veritable floating city with 50 years of world history. This aircraft carrier is the longest-serving vessel of U.S. Navy in the 20th Century, and admission to it allows you and your family to take a self-guided audio tour, viewing over 60 exhibits and 25 restored aircraft.

The exhibits include the engine room, the ship’s brig, a post office, machine shops, pilots’ ready rooms, an immense galley and the crew’s sleeping quarters. Throughout the ship, you’ll meet museum lecturers, people who can provide personal stories of life aboard ship, as well as many other statistics and anecdotes.

Most likely, the harbor will be a brief taxi drive or even walk from your San Diego hotel , allowing you to maximize your time aboard ship. Most guests spend as much as three to four hours exploring the carrier. In addition to all the artifacts and planes, there are activities aimed at the family, including different types of flight simulators, short films and music videos, even aircraft and cockpits.

Flight simulators include Strike Fighter 360, where two people can board a state-of-the-art machine that rolls, somersaults, spins and loops; Mach Combat, which contains double-seat simulators for pilot and co-pilot as well as single seat simulators, allowing you to fly for ten minutes of pre-flight and thirty minutes of flight in which you’ll be put through basic aircraft maneuvers and dogfights; and Flight Avionics, which is a group motion simulator that accommodates 12 guests at a time and features a launch from the deck and air-to-air combat in a F-18 Hornet.

It’s possible to see this amazing museum on the water everyday from ten in the morning to five in the afternoon, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Last admission on the ship is at four p.m., and the cost of general admission is $18 dollars. For those over 62 or students, the cost is $15 dollars. Retired military may board for ten dollars; young people from six to 17 may also board for ten dollars. Children five and younger may come aboard for free, as well as active-duty military personnel (and reservists).

If you’re looking for something to do this July 4, you’ll find that the museum will welcome guests aboard after hours for an “Apple Pie 4th of July!” Tickets for these festivities go on sale as of June 10th and are $15 for adults (whether they’re military, retired military and seniors or not), and ten dollars for children (those 17 years old and under).

Everything you Need for Fun is on Sentosa Island

Sentosa Island, off of Singapore. is a wonderful vacation choice, especially if you want to experience an entertaining, fun place. With a variety of attractions like the Tiger Sky tower, which is a free standing observation tower at a height of 110 meters above ground. Plus, the hotels on Sentosa Island offer tourist better deals than the hotels in Singapore.

Once you’re on the Island, visit the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom, where you’ll get to see well over 15,000 varieties of butterflies and insects; check out the Oceanarium – Underwater World and see the most fascinating marine creatures, both fresh water and saltwater species; or enjoy watching dolphins play at the Dolphin Lagoon , which is the home to the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. There are also rides a-plenty at the Island, like the Sentosa luge and the skyride. If all those attractions have exhausted you, then head for the beaches and relax under the sun while enjoying a nice cool drink from one of the beach bars or even an ice cream; the beach is handmade , hence is perfect for any beach lover, because the sand is soft to walk on and you’ll enjoy watching huge cargo ships pass by on their way to Singapore harbour.

If you’re not staying at one of the hotels on Sentosa Island , then you can reach it either by the bridge; driving a car or taking a taxi or bus, you can take the local train, or take the Cable Car, where you’ll get a spectacular view of Singapore’s harbour, Singapore’s skyline and a great view of Sentosa Island. As you enter upon the Island, you’ll be greeted by the Merlion, a huge statue, the same as the one on Singapore, but much better and is the ultimate symbol of Singapore. Sentosa means peace and tranquillity in Malaysian, except when the monkeys, which abound freely on the Island, come across your path, just don’t feed them, they’ll never leave you alone if you do.

Places to walk in Manila

There are some really lovely areas to walk in Manila when one needs to unwind the mind and exercise the body. Check out the culture that is thriving in some of the local parks.  

Rizal Park was named after a national Philippines’ hero and it has become a sort of symbolic place for the nation’s soul. The locals call it Luneta and it is filled with lots of beautiful gardens, lots of open spaces to catch some sun, wooded areas to wonder through and cool off and it seems to draw a steady stream of people from all over. There is an area that is the actual site were Rizal was executed and now has a monument marker. There are some fountains and a pool to enjoy. Some of the more specific gardens are the Chinese garden and the Japanese garden. Near the park is the National Library as well as the National Museum to spend time learning more about the history of the people and the city for which they live. Check with one of the Manila hotels for more information on were to go.

Catch a walking tour with Old Manila Walks . It is a great way to walk were the historical area along the same paths that the early people walked. It is a nice chance to see what they saw and learn about what they did. This company has a very up beat enthusiastic view of the old city and they love to share it. They take people through many of the churches, historical homes, graveyards and shops and fill visitors in on the many stories and history of such and old area.  

Then there is always a nice stroll along the Greenbelt Park. It is away from the hustle and bustle for any one who just wants take in the green beauty. The Ayala Museum is near by as well as many little places to catch a bit to eat.

Four Great Things to Do in Boston

There is so much to do and see in Boston, sometimes tourists brake down there agenda into a particular category and enjoy their stay in the city based on a particular theme. This is a great way to experience Boston if you have the ability to and plan to be there more than once or even regularly. Regardless of the amount of times you visit Boston, you really cannot run out of things to do and see. It is incredibly rich in historical landmarks and cultural heritage and also has an incredible contemporary arts and entertainment scene as well as great food in some of the country’s finest restaurants. So, if you plan to visit Boston , it is a good idea to choose a few landmarks and/or attractions and base your agenda on those. A good starting point would be to visit the Museum of Science, The New England Aquarium, The Boston Children’s Museum and the Adams National Historical Park.

The Museum of Science has a great collection of interesting scientific based exhibits that demonstrate various aspects of the world we live in. From technology to exhibits on the natural world and life, there are incredible things to do and see. The Planetarium is extremely popular with children and adults and has shows on a daily basis. The New England Aquarium is a must see attractions in the city. It as founded in 1969 and continues to be a global leader in marine conservation. There are amazing exhibits and also an IMAX theater.

The Boston Children’s Museum is one of the city’s great places to take kids and parents also enjoy the exhibits there. Many of these educational as well as entertainment exhibits are interactive and offer the children a hands on approach to learning and experience. The Adams National Historic Park is centered around the birthplace homes of both John Adams and John Quincy Adams. It includes the house that was home to four generations of Adams family members.

Dallas Wine Served at Local Festivals

A new state law that took effect in September has Dallas wineries celebrating. Visitors to Texas now need look no farther than the local farmer’s market to find local vineyards selling their wares. The winery festival permit means consumers have the option to sample, buy a glass or walk away with a bottle of Texas wine while at local street fairs and markets.

Some wineries are already taking advantage of the new law but most Texas wineries are still sorting out how best to use the new permits.The licensing department at the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission anticipates an applications to start filing in when the farmers market and festival season picks up this spring and summer. It’s not just obtaining a two-year permit, wineries must get certified for each event or market. The certificate limits their participation to no more than five days at one location within a 30-day period and no more than three consecutive days at a single location. Meaning, events such as a weekly farmers market can only be attended once a month by that winery or that they can only sell their alcoholic wares for 5 days at week long or multiple week festivals. It won’t matter if the festival or street market is held in a “dry” city or county as long as the wine contains a certain percentage of Texas grown grapes or juice and is bottled in state.

Texas presently is the fifth largest wine producing state in the nation, so if you’d prefer to visit the actual vineyards to taste the local wine’s that’s fine too. There are many wineries and vineyards in Grapevine, Texas nestled right between Fort Worth and Dallas. this town was named for the Mustang Grapes that grew wild in the region when it was settled in 1844 and is a popular destination for visitors looking to experience the local wines.

Centennial Park in Tampa

Before I went to Tampa for the first time, which was actually on a business trip with my husband, I had heard an ad slogan for the city somewhere. It went something like, nothing in Tampa is ordinary, no typical. I remember it was typical because I thought that was something of a major boast. And if it was true, what did it mean the people would be like. I guess that was back in my more sarcastic days, but I did wonder. I thought of it as a sort of social science experiment when my husband asked me to go with him about three months later. I didn’t normally go with him on his business trips but this one was going to happen on our anniversary to I agreed.

And while I agreed to go because he insisted on spending our anniversary together I was really interested in putting this lack of typical elements city to the test. And the first thing I discovered actually supported the idea. The people there were amazingly nice. I mean really friendly. I wondered why and decided that it had to have something to do with the beauty of the city and the fact it is right there on the water. Larger bodies of water are known for soothing your soul and relaxing your nerves so I figured that aspect of its location and the overall beauty of city had to produce a friendly attitude in people. But then I thought if everyone is friendly than that is typical, so does typical to itself count? I decided it doesn’t and explored more.

While my husband was working during the day I decided to spend sometime outdoors. I went to a few of the parks, which the city has plenty of, and enjoyed my afternoons there. My favorite was probably Centennial Park and I went there twice and brought a sandwich for lunch both times. One the day of our anniversary I noticed my husband wasn’t getting in the shower like he was supposed to. I asked him what he was doing and at the moment there was a knock on the door and a delicious breakfast arrived with flowers via room service . It turns out he had insisted on having the day off and we spent it together enjoying a romantic day at the beach. That night he had made reservations at Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant . The food was incredible and my husband was charming. After that trip I had to agree that nothing in Tampa was typical, not even my husband.

Congealed Salad and Nashville Culture

Living in the moment like I do, I never give much thought to cultural shifts until they are so plainly apparent that I have to admit that we live in a curious place at a curious time. The place I refer to here is any place, really, because this is a global phenomenon, it seems, and there is a strange sense of the uncanny everywhere. It seems like it happened just yesterday, where the local and the retro that characterized my parents’ childhoods became the stock and trade of our realities right now.

But it has earlier origins, I’m sure. Spending a little time in cities such as Nashville, where the Nashville hotels speak to a generous hospitality that you can only find in the south, gives a little bit of sense to the notion that this is a recycling time. The old brands here that some of us remember very clearly from other days are suddenly everywhere again, and there’s even interest in the things we thought we might have left behind.

There are places like the Elliston Place Soda Shop that continue to offer the taste of earlier times, when no one really cared what cholesterol was. Not that it has to matter right now, because a vacation is a vacation, after all, and the south is what it is. It’s really rather spectacular to find that some of the most basic Southern cooking has its origins in Africa, and so what we get to sample here is a variation of a diasporic tradition, one that continues before our eyes.

Then there is even more reason to try not to blink, because Elliston , as it turns out, is actually one of the coolest neighborhoods in the city. Visitors wondering what to do when the usual tours are over might like venturing out here, to see how alternative culture is starting to gather more steam and focus. Conscious, examined lives participate in a race of human constructions, and somehow the thought that if we know more about the food, we’ll wake up and start to see clearly, seems sometimes immanent.

Sistine Chapel in Rome Inspires New Artist

I always thought art was, well pretty, but also kind of silly and pointless. I mean, come on, anyone can draw a few lines on a wall or canvas or even splash the paint on and someone will call it great. I guess I’ve just never been into it or the amount of money that people pay for it. Oh, and it actually cracks me up that there are university degrees in art. I mean, really? Okay, so actually, that has been my attitude up to a year ago when I went to Europe with my parents and my sister. We spent a week in Rome while we were there we did what most other people who visit the city do, we went to Vatican City and saw the Sistine Chapel. And you guessed it, I really wasn’t into the idea and the only reason I didn’t complain was I wanted to hurry through it and get to some pasta place.

Okay, and this is where I tell you, as ridiculous as it sounds, my whole life changed. Ha ha, I’m not kidding. Do you realize that Michelangelo painted the ceiling of that place? Not only that but he also painted at least one wall fresco, The Last Judgment. And I’m telling you that you just can’t imagine how, okay I’ll say it, beautiful it is unless you are standing before or under it. Michelangelo wasn’t the only artist who worked on the chapel. Other artists like Botticelli, Raphael and Bernini also had some paintings there, Michelangelo is just the most famous and also painted the ceiling, which is one of its major piece.

So, I stood there and didn’t move and, don’t tell my friend Mikey, but my eyes actually began to tear up. It was crazy. I couldn’t talk and I don’t know how much time had passed. My dad actually had to drag me away eventually and I had forgotten all about the pasta dinner we were going to have. I immediately started to look into all of Michelangelo’s work and when I returned from summer vacation I switched one of my electives and took a drawing class. And if all that isn’t enough, get this, this semester I switched from being a business major to, you guessed it, art.