5 Green Hotels that Lure Families
If you're into responsible tourism - and who isn't these days? - check into ecolodges and green hotels in the Caribbean, Central and South America and even in the US, where families can have fun while learning about the environment. While it's easy to maintain environmentally friendly practices at home, eco-conscious citizens usually find this task daunting when they're on a family vacation....
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Radiohead at Dublin
About the most touristy thing to do in Ireland is visit a castle. Little did I know that most castle grounds double as concert venues. For Dublin, that place is Malahide Castle. For me, the concert was Radiohead. When I was going through my little teen angst...
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SIDEKICK Pro Is The Must-Have Bag For All Hitting The Slopes
The SIDEKICK Pro can easily hold all of your skiing gear as you glide down the mountain this season.Transpack debuted its newest addition to the Pro-series of carry-all ski/snowboard-boot backpacks in Fall 2008. The SIDEKICK Pro seems to be able to hold everything but your skis. With two padded side pockets with air/water drainage holes for your boots, a large central compartment (1400 sq.in./23...
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How to Drink Wine in the Backroads of Montpellier
Rent a car. Bring friends, Irish ones. Forget the Sat Nav and get lost. In the beginning you will all enjoy the sun and the beach, especially Biarritz. In Spain you will lose your patience, especially by the time you get to Valencia. Try to enjoy Barcelona. When you start to make your way back through France you will hate each other. Try to salvage the trip. Go to Montpellier. ...
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You Had Me At Palak Paneer Chaap…?
I know that most people leave Ireland craving Shepard's Pie or Lamb Stew, but my last meal happened to be the best Indian food that the old picky Ifer would never have tried. My addiction to Indian cuisine began back in New York, thanks FTF, for showing me Bombay Frankie! It's hard to resist Indian food over in Ireland when even Uncle Ben's has ready...
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Forget Trick or Treating Just Dance all Night Instead!
About two months ago my friend, Paul, told me about the line up for HARD Haunted Mansion. I was still in Ireland and had already missed out on seeing Soulwax when they were at Ibiza Rocks. I thought it was a sign, but my road trippers did not want to add Ibiza, Spain to our itinerary. This time no one was going to stop me from getting...
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Cuckoo’s Nest Comes to Cork
One night, I was in Cork City picking up a friend from work. Her boyfriend was telling me about The Everyman Palace, the theatre across from her office. One night, I was in Cork City picking up a friend from work. Her boyfriend was telling me about The Everyman Palace, the theatre across from her office. ...
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Attack of the Flies: Tales from the Farm
So, when I first met my boyfriend, Alistair, we were both studying at University College Cork, in Ireland, of course. Every now and then, I would go home with him on the weekends for a nice relaxing couple of days at his family's dairy farm, just outside of Fermoy. Fast forward two years and we are back there again, but this time it's longer than just a Saturday and Sunday. With rent costs...
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Camping along the French Atlantic Coast: Biarritz
After a very disappointing start to our road trip, which included a pit stop in a La Rochelle truck stop for some much needed shut eye and then a waste of €100 at six o'clock in the morning for the five of us to sleep in a budget hotel until it was checkout time, we decided it was time to do a little planning. With the sun and sand on our mind, we figured Biarritz...
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Things to Consider on a European Road Trip
I've just returned from a road trip through France and Spain with four of my Irish friends. We booked cheap Ryanair flights from Dublin to Nantes, rented a car, and took off for the 'Murphy's Law' road trip. For those who don't know Murphy's Law is --"Anything that can go wrong will go wrong." In about 11 days, we went through Nantes, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Biarritz, San Sebastian,...
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Flip Flop Graveyard: La Tomatina
Outside of Valencia, this small village known as Bunol hosts something equivalent to Glastonbury, minus the music and, instead of mud, everyone is flinging tomato-bits. La Tomatina is otherwise known to the English-speakers of the world as “The Giant Tomato Throwing Festival in Spain.” It’s hard to say how the festival...
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Instant ChapStick: A Few Thoughts on Take Away Food
The golden arches have taken over the globe, but in Ireland, Mickey D's, or Mack-ie Dee´s as they say over here, has some competition with the local chipper. Chipper? Beside fast food chains, the best option for those who want food, and want it now are small, greasy 'Take Away' places. Take Away places consist of a small counter and sometimes display the battered concoctions...
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When the Races Get Ritzy
It’s no surprise that Ireland indulges in what many consider ‘vice’ in the States. There are pubs on every corner, typically beside a bookies. Green and gold signs distinguish the popular bookie, Paddy Power. It’s home to several of the older men who like to wear tweed and drink stout,...
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Crepes, Fromage and Escargot: A Quick Visit to Paris
One of the best parts about living in Europe is the travel perks. What a simple New York to Washington D.C. or Los Angeles to San Francisco flight would be for east and west coasters was my simple flight from Dublin to Paris. No transatlantic flight, no jet lag, and practically no time difference helped to make my short trip hassle free. The quick visit was to meet up with an old...
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Discover Toulouse: “The Other Paris…”
...well, actually there is no other city like Paris. But now that I’ve got your attention, here is a brief spiel about southern France’s secret little treasure that is a great place to visit. And actually it’s not that little. Toulouse, the major city of the southwest, is located in the Région Midi...
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Dreaming of Exotic Islands: Puerto Rico
One of my dreams has always been to travel to an exotic island. I thought Puerto Rico would be an ideal place. A commonwealth country of the U.S., I pictured it to be similar to Miami with Spanish-speaking people. So, for my first trip out of the country, I went to San Juan in 2001. It was more beautiful...
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Soccer Team’s Goal: Brazil
My soccer team, made up of twelve mostly 13-year olds, two coaches, and me, went to Brazil in the beginning of summer 1997. We thought after winning two big tournaments and coming in first place in our league, it was time that we should go where soccer rules. Because it lies south of the equator, it was winter when we went. The weather was usually around 75° with a breeze. Pack...
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