Mai Tag

Mai Tag or May Day is celebrated differently around the world. I remember as a child running around leaving flowers on the neighbors front step. Whether I was suppose to be doing that or for what purpose remains a mystery but that is what i did on May Day never the less. In Austria the make an all day event of it. In fact everyone has a day off for Mai Tag! The entire town shows up in traditional dress, Lederhosens and Dirndls. There is an all day feast with delicious food, beer and music! Traditionally the May Day celebration was a competition between towns. Men from villages would compete to see who could put up the largest May Pole. The pole was the largest pine tree the villagers could find. The pole is striped of all it's branches and bark. The May Pole would remain up all year and any visitor who came to town would see the pole and know how strong that particular village's men were and spread the word not to mess with the best! Below is a couple of photos from last years May Day!

My favorite man of the day: the beer man!!

Looks kind of heavy! How will they do it?

Awwww I see the secret weapons!

Its getting there.

Higher, Higher

Almost there!

Taking a much needed beer break!

Taa Daa! Sweet Sweaty Success!!

Now the fun really starts. After the May Pole is up and sturdy in the ground generally the men of the village strip down to their skivvies. Once striped the men then attempt to be the one to scale/shimmy to the highest point on the slipper May Pole! (see the pic at the very top)Rewards...............your pick of the village girl and bragging rights for a year!

Spring Time in NYC

shout out aperitivo in sutri

we really miss you, lindsay!

Sally Sells Sea Shells by the Sea Shore

Ogunquit Maine miss you!

Cooking world clue! - Get One

I was watching Gordon Ramsey’s Hell’s Kitchen last night. Admittedly I have a slight crush on him, except for last night. I couldn’t have been more disappointed and disgusted with a reality TV show. I could barley tolerate the annoying contestants and their whining! I know reality TV lacks substance and integrity. It thrives on its vapidness. I however expected more from the cooking world. Mr. Ramsey is known for his dirty mouth and in his other shows he has kept it down to a tolerable level. Yet the ridiculous amount of foul language spread to the contestants and even their behavior was in the gutter. I understand this is a competition but have a little class please! One “top chef” wanted to “use her body” to distract one of her male competitors! GROSS!!! REALLY REALLY GROSS!! These people are not top chefs!! Why has this type of attitude spread into the “popular” cooking world?
When did cooking and sharing the experience of food become about swearing at each other and other unspeakable grossness! I have worked in restaurants for years and have never experienced such appalling manners! Now, it is not like those words are never spoken in the kitchen away from the ears of customers. When a glass is dropped, a knife slips or crunch time arrives you can hear a S or F word spoken but never towards fellow comrades. Those who have worked in well run kitchens know that it is with positive communication and team work that create a successful night.
The experience of sharing a meal should be a pleasant one for everyone involved, the kitchen staff, wait staff and customer. Negative energy that happens in a kitchen is too easily transferred into the dinning room and that is the last thing a true restaurateur desires. This new line of vulgar cooking has left a bad taste in my mouth and I hope everyone gets over it soon!

Temporary Graffiti?

A new type of graffiti has emerge and it's temporary. The art form was developed by James Powderly and Evan Roth. They use a computer and laser lights to project their graffiti onto cityscapes across the world. You can see their videos on line and at the MOMA! check it out!

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1730645,00.html?cnn=yes

Good news!

France is thinking about outlawing way too thin models from the runway!!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080415/ap_on_he_me/france_anorexia

Globe

A definition from the Urban Dictionary online:


Globe

Who knows what its used for these days.

"And I spun it, and I spun it, and I spun it, AND THEN I SLAMMED MY FINGER DOWN and that's why I decided to invade Iraq."

by JBo Virginia May 28, 2005 email it

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=globe

Anyone want to cuddle??

So fluffy and cute! Flocke, whose name means "snowflake" in German, was born at the Nuremberg City Zoo in December! She is too adorable!

War Blog

http://baghdadbureau.blogs.nytimes.com/

This is a blog on the NY Times website. It is a glimpse into what the people of Iraq go through everyday. Something I can barely begin to imagine.

Oh and the Pope is coming

the controversial games

Protesters in London and Paris this past weekend displayed their support for Tibet as the Olympic torch made its way through the two cities. The torch went out several times in both London and Paris. Paris had over 3000 police stationed around the city and eventually the torch was moved to a bus. Things are not looking good for China right now!

Road Sign Clue!

If you are traveling to France soon renting a car is a great way to see the country side. To help you see the sights France has recently issued a few new road signs to help motorists navigate. One of my faves has to be the bunch of grapes. If you are thirsty when you spot this, great! pull over, cause you are near a winery! yummy!

Scotland Week NYC

Whiskey Live New York
Take part in a serious whiskey tasting, with plenty of samples of rare and oft-requested whiskies from Scotland to the U.S.A.
Wednesday, April 2, 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m. at the Puck Building (295 Lafayette St.)
Cost: $85 for standard ticket, $115 for VIP

Red Hot Chili Pipers
Get a taste of the traditional Scotch sound, updated by this band that uses wild drums and puts a modern style on the old-world bagpipe. All performances take place at Stout (133 W. 33rd St.) at 8 p.m., and all are free.
Thursday, April 3, to Saturday, April 5

Eat Like a Scot
The Scottish national dish of "haggis" (sheep's heart/liver/lungs, onion, oatmeal, suet and spices all boiled in the animal's stomach) will be served up for free at the corner of 52nd Street and Broadway.
Friday, April 4 (11 a.m.-5 p.m.)
Saturday, April 5 (11 a.m.-5 p.m.)

Tenth Annual Tartan Day Parade
Starting at 2 p.m., join over 2,000 bagpipers, clans and Scottish revelers as they march from 46th Street and Sixth Avenue to Rockefeller Center. This year's Grand Marshall is Lawrence Tynes, kicker for the world champion Giants, who also happens to be the first Scottish-born player in NFL history. The parade is free, but the after-party at Stout costs $30.Saturday, April 5 (2 p.m.)

Homecoming Scotland 2009
There'll be lectures on Scottish ancestry, clans and more, plus ancestral experts will be on hand to help explore your Scottish roots. It's a free event, but slots must be reserved in advance.
Sunday, April 6 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) at the New York Public Library, South Court Auditorium (5th Avenue at 42nd Street)
For more information, check the Scotland Week's official Web site.

This is too good!

Arriving in a new city can be stressful. Learning your way around may take a couple of days and if your visit is short that may be a couple days to long. The city of Istanbul has come up with a safe and comfy solution for women travelers. Pubracar is a pink BMW car service that will meet all your needs. Here is a short list of what a pudracar traveler can expect:

• Special maintenance and disinfectant spray is applied after each use
• in all of the cars there are battery chargers, magazines, healthy snacks, disposable cosmetics and other products (such as; nail polish, personal hygiene items, stockings etc.)
• 7" LCD Screen,
• DVD player and two wireless sets of headphones,
• A special connection to listen to music and Podcasts with the latest Ipod,
• There is a refrigerator to keep your orders, food and other items cold. You may need some ice cubes after a long and tiring night,
• For your business needs, there is wireless Internet connection and a fold-down table to place your laptop on,
• PUDRACAR SMS service to avoid lost time
• You can easily request the products mentioned above by filling the order forms in the cars while you travel

http://www.pudracar.com/

Ridiculous!!

Red Bulls

Red Bulls Season Opener is this weekend Saturday, 5th at Giants Stadium against Columbus Crew at 7:30 p.m.!!

Do you Dream in Japanimation?

You can get your art and your shop on at a new exhibit about to open this weekend. The show is titled ©Murakami and will open on April 5th at the Brooklyn Museum. The artists is Mr. Murakami, who is often referred to as the Warhol of Japan. Accompanying the show will be a LV - Louis Vuitton shop selling designs by Murakami. So if you have a free moment and an extra 6 grand check it out!

hoping spring is on its way!

Sutri, Italy April 2007

comfy!

Shout out to my bed in Sutri, Italy!

Travel Quotes

“Not all those who wander are lost.” - J. R. R. Tolkien

“Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.” - Benjamin Disraeli

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” - Maya Angelou

http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/07/the-50-most-inspiring-travel-quotes-of-all-time/

Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa who said it best, when asked if he was a woman because he had long hair. He replied, “You have a wooden leg. Does that make you a table?”

Resturant Clues

In one of my earlier posts I talked about how to survive between travel adventures. I find it helps to frequent restaurants that remind me of the places I love. Below I have listed two different styles of restaurants, one Italian and the other an Austrian/German that remind me of why I love the places I have been too.

Cacio E Pepe
182 2nd Ave New York, NY

This is a small Italian restaurant with an authentic feel. All of the staff is Italian and they serve their signature dish, cacio e pepe, Steaming from a giant wheel of parmigiana! My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Loreley
7 Rivington St. New York, NY

This has more of a bar feel than Cacio E Pepe. It is a great place to go with a group. The long wooden tables accommodate large groups easily and are a throw back to the brew houses in Germany and Austria. In the summer they have a a sweet beer garden out back, so you can enjoy your brew in the sun. I loved that they served the beer in the giant pint mugs from the Hofbräuhaus München. Most of the waitstaff was speaking German (or Austrian, although Austrian is not an official language, right?). A fabulous place to go to relax, catch up and enjoy a pint with old and new friends!! You may even make a few!

The Hills?

I am admittedly not an avid Hills watcher or Lauren follower(I do have to say she is a great business women! I want to get paid to travel to Paris and hang out with hot rockers!) but the premier on Monday night March 31st is featuring a song from a band I love, Iglu & Hartly!! So I will be tuning in to see what other drama she and her friends are getting into this season! Will you?

word clue

authentocrat

- a staunch adherent to all things authentic. In travel one who rejects the trappings and experiences of mass tourism and instead prizes that which fuels both genuine and rooted in place as in- Philippa's a true authentocrat - I mean, she spent her last vacation meeting with artisanal cheesemakers at dairies in Wisconsin. - Nathan Lump

http://www.nytimes.com/indexes/2008/03/30/style/t/index.html#pageName=30talkopen

Love Sickness hits early this spring!

In Muenster, Germany Petra the swam is love sick. After a failed courtship with a real white swan she was reunited with the boat she fell for in 2006!

Even kids are getting in on the action!

Tibetan High School kids scaled the brink wall of the United Nations to protest the Chinese goverment.

Traveling to Singapore?

For a creative night sleep check out this art hotel while taking in the sights and flavors of Singapore!

31-37 Bukit Pasoh Rd.

011-65/6511-4700

newmajestichotel.com

from $200

Victory to the Spaniards! David Villa scored one goal to push Spain to a 1 - 0 win over the Italian world champs!

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/football/03/27/spain.friendly.ap/index.html

Vic B's yummy hubby!

Even though David Beckham is playing for a US team now he has no intention of waving farewell to the England national team after reaching 100 international appearances.

What?!

Is Kate Moss a vampire?

Struggles

As our country continues to struggle in Iraq the importance of looking to the International Community for advice and help becomes more apparent to us all. (except for our government officials) I have been trying to keep up with the politics and the constantly deteriorating situation but I must admit that at times I am so dishearten and disgusted that I no longer want to pay attention. When I feel this way it is even more important to pay even closer attention because what about the people that are living it day to day hour to hour. I can not imagine what their lives are like. We have a combination of problems. Our "leaders" if you can call them that are ignoring much of the situation as well as many of the citizens in our country.

I have found it helpful to read the news from other countries as I feel they present a more diverse view of the situation. A blog written by Deborah Haynes the Baghdad correspondent for The Times. (http://timesonline.typepad.com/inside_iraq_weblog/) She provides a daily look into what life is like in Iraq. She reports on stories ranging from soldiers running marathons, snakes in the bathroom and most importantly the people of Iraq. Her blog is readable, insightful and informative.

Lets all hope this conflict will find a solution that costs the least amount of lives on both sides. I personally would like to be able to travel to that part of the world safely on day and experience all that the culture there has to offer. Here's to hoping!

Surfs Up!

Yes, all I can think about is warm weather and its activities. Here is a blog to get you excited!

http://timesonline.typepad.com/surf_nation/

why we should all love VB!

She looks fierce in a bag!!

http://www.lindseyputnam.blogspot.com/

burrr its cold out there!

Surfing in Europe in the winter!! Cold Cold Cold!! Even though I grew up in New England I would never have imagined jumping into any of the lakes, ponds or rivers, that are abundant here, during the cold winter days. Apparently in Europe that is exactly what many people are up to. For those who are heading to Europe for and extended stay and can not go 4 or more months with out riding a wave there are several options in Europe to flex your surfing muscles. Pictured above is the standing wave in the English Gardens of Munich, Germany! In the winter the surfing community of Germany enjoys keeping up their skills on this wave.

Another even colder option is to head north to Ireland. When I say north I mean north. Almost at the top of norther Ireland (but not in Northern Ireland) in the town of Bundoran a surfing community is beginning to emerge. Not the kind with dude man or itsy bitsy bikinis but full lengthen insulated high tech head to toe wet suits. Even after all that gear I am still cold thinking about it! There are several surf shops and the locals are welcoming! They are just psyched to share the waves with any one willing to stand the cold with them.

If you are looking for a more traditional option hit up Biarritz, France. It is one of the destinations on my list. It was immortalized in the surfing movie Endless Summer II.

mmmm Beer!

Not only is beer thirst quenchingly yummy it also fights cancer!

http://www.newsmax.com/health/Beer_Fights_Cancer/2008/03/18/81234.html

So grab a pint sit back and enjoy!

Escape from East Germany

For our generation the Cold War feels as if it is in the distant past. This article reminded me of actually how close for many it remains.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/world/europe/25bulgaria.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Olaf and Barbara Hetze where only kids, 20 and 22 when they tried to escape East Germany. They thought that by going over the Bulgarian broader they would be safer than going over the wall. The escape was stopped when Barbara was shot. They both were sentence to jail time in East Germany. West Germany bought their freedom a couple of years later.

Ridiculous! Here I am siting in my comfy office worrying about budgeting my next trip to Europe. These two were just trying to find their freedom! Defiantly provides some perspective!

Wishing it was summer today and seriously craving some lobster! Barnacle Billy's in Perkins Cove, Maine right next to Ogunquit is the best place to stop and grab some steamers and a fresh lobster!

Happy St. Patty's Day

Ode to the Shamrock
There's a dear little plant that grows in our isle,
'Twas St. Patrick himself, sure, that sets it;
And the sun of his labor with pleasure did smile,
And with dew from his eye often wet it.
It grows through the bog, through the brake, through the mireland,
And they call it the dear little Shamrock of Ireland.

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
may good luck pursue you each morning and night

As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.

When Irish eyes are smiling
When Irish eyes are smiling
Sure it's like a morning spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter,
You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.

Photo of the day: Mountians surronding the city of Salzburg, Austria March 2007.

strike a pose

LeBron James will become only the third man in Vogue's history of fashion to grace it's cover. He will be accompanied by none other than the gorge Gisele!

Total Hotness!!

Flash Freeze

Apparently students have been using social networks such as Facebook and Myspace to stage flash-mobs! The most recent one took place on Market Street in St. Andrews. Check out the article here.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7295327.stm

What if our generation got a clue and starting using Facebook and Myspace to stage flash sit ins to protest the war in Iraq or the entire Bush administration? That would be something to write about!

Enviromental Fashion

The brand Howies is not only dedicated to making rocking duds but they also want to help improve the environment. Their philosophy of grow slow grow strong is a way of life we can all take a clue from. Check out their site at www.howies.co.uk.

Clues on how to travel when you're not!

It has been almost a year since I have set foot in an airport. Too long! I am living that struggling post college year! When I returned from three months in Europe last May I knew I was in for the long hall. A year of finding a job and saving for my next trip. Every traveler has experienced the down time between travel gigs. For wanders like me it hurts! I found several solutions that have helped me survive my year of little travel.

1) Food! Heading to an open air market in the spring, summer and fall to pick up fresh fruits, veggies and flowers would help me recall spending hours wandering around the open air markets in the various cities I visited. The smells and all the people wandering around brought me back to the hustle and bustle the European markets have. I could almost see the nonnas with their wheel bags pushing me out of the way for the freshest loaf of bread or the sweetest cut of fish.

2) more food! Seeking out a new place to eat is a fabulous and yummy way to feed my travel bug. Hunting down restaurants where the staff barely spoke English allowed me, for meal time, to pretend I was somewhere else.

3) Food again. Sharing a table with those who love fresh and local flavors as much as I do always bring a smile to my face. There is nothing better than good conversation over a perfect filet of trout or a cinnamon gelato!

3) Travel Blogs. Reading about other peoples travels helped me stay connected to the travel community. Often reminding me of the people I have met on the road and the places I want to see.

4) Photos. Organizing my photos into scrape books and sharing my photos with people became a fun way to think about my trip.

5) Day Trips. The one thing I could afford was some gas to take short day trips. On my days off I would look for a place close that I had not visited. Local travel was an entertaining way for me to discover what was special about being home! Now I appreciate staying local a little bit more, not enough to stay put but enough to keep me going.

6) Planning. Researching for my next trip became fun and exciting. Exploring the Internet and books was an engaging way to pass the time. It also gave me a goal so I knew all my hard work was going towards something.

7) Reading. Looking for books that where written by non American Authors or those books taking place outside of the US became my obsession.

8) Music. Listening to music by artists from my favorite countries was nostalgic and I could make a strong connection with certain times and place in my travels. A song by Iglu and Hartly brought me back to my train ride form Austria to France on my way to visit my brother!

9) Fashion. Checking out the local fashions from Argentina to Hong Kong to Paris fashion week was a fun way to remember the places I have been and want to go.

10) Old and New Friends. I would often write emails and call those I spent time traveling with who were suffering from the same travel bug I was. It was a chance to reconnect and was a built in support network for me with those who shared my goals.

Those are the things I found that help keep me sane when I am not traveling. What do you do between your travels?

Clues to make billions

If you want to make billions move to Scotland! Apparently a ton of energy is created when oceans collide! Check out this article all about harnessing the oceans power! http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/11/news/international/boyle_waves.fortune/index.htm
It is good for the environment and with oil so expensive right now it is looking like a promising alternative.

Brewery Clue in

If you are making a trip up to Vermont soon make sure you make a pit stop at the Long Trail Brewery. Located in Bridgewater, VT between Woodstock and Killington, it is a perfect place to stop and refuel. The staff is super outgoing and friendly. The food is great on those cold Vermont days especially when it is paired with the delicious flavors of Long Trail's famous beers. My personal favorite is the winter seasonal Hibernator. Its dark and smoky personality is fitting after a long day of hitting the mountain. For those who prefer lighter beers the summer seasonal BlackBerry Wheat has long been a favorite of many beer and non-beer drinkers a like. The rumor has it is they are starting to make it year round! Yummy! Prost!

Shopping Clue

To get clued into the latest in Asian trends check out http://www.yesstyle.com/.

Take a Clue from NYU!

One of the best ways to gain a new perspective on our world is to travel. Too often we are sucked into our own small communities and forget what exists beyond. As a recent college graduate studying abroad was an easy and accessible way for me to experience other cultures. It opened my eyes and left me with a serious travel bug!! Recent trends show I am not the only one, both students and universities are being, infected with the travel bug. An article on examiner.com (http://www.examiner.com/Topic-By_Dena_Levitz.html) sited several universities who now have half of their student population study abroad during their college careers. Kids are not the only ones going abroad but universities are too. The New York Times highlighted the up and coming trend of US Universities expanding abroad. The article written by TAMAR LEWIN points out that as our world becomes increasing globalized we need to prepare the new generations. NYU is one of the front runners in the expansion. Most recently NYU set up an agreement to start a branch in Abu Dhabi. Why would Univesrities want to expand? There are many positive reasons for setting up branches abroad. The benefit to the future of forgein relations between countries is advanced when young students from different countries are allowed to mingle in the same class room. Exposure to differen cultures and the exchange of ideas opens minds. Hopefully relationships built during school hours led to fun times outside of class with new friends. I know that my study abroad experience gave me a new appreciation for other cultures. We can only benefit from the exchange of information. If you have the chance, please, study abroad it is an experience you will not regret. The time you spend in the class room leads to laughter outside with new people from places you wouldn't imagine! And if you are past your school years look into taking a trip abroad. Hopefully it will broaden you world just a little bit. So please, if you take a clue from anywhere take one from NYU. They are starting to expand more than just their thoughts abroad. So should we!