If you find yourself tiring of night clubbing or sunbathing on the island beaches of Ibiza, you might do yourself some good by taking a walk through one of the oldest sections of Ibiza Town.   Start out at the main gate known as Portal de les Taules.  While the drawbridge was built in 1990, the gate itself was constructed in 1585.  Just a short way ahead, you’ll find the placa de Vila, once an ancient market place.  If you turn left here, strolling up the sa Carrossa you’ll find yourself at the bastion Santa Llucia.  There’s a great view of Old Town (or D’alt Villa) here, overlooking as well a tremendous seascape.  From this point, continue along the G. Balansta and you’ll pass a 16th Century Church (the Church of Santo Domingo), while turning left at a small square (the Placa d’Espanya), you’ll find another terrific view of the Mediterranean.

You can visit here the Ajuntament, once a Dominican convent, now the Ibiza Town Council.  Inside, you’ll note some interesting portraits in the first room.  Back in the main hall, go left, and find a peaceful courtyard.  Spend as much time relaxing here as you’d like, then return to the street.  If you climb Calle Pere Tur, you will pass along some grand houses from the 18th and 19th Centuries, which will take you to Career Joan Roman, where you will find the site of a former Seminari.  A little farther: the Augustine nuns’ cloister convent.   Walk up Career Sant Ciriac, and there’s a small chapel built in 1754, honoring the saint after which the street is named.  Legend has it that this is the point where the troops of King Jaume came into the city and took control.  If you continue even higher, you will find Carrer Major (or main street, if you like), and now you’re at the highest point.  Houses here date back to the 15th Century!

Carrer Major ends at the Placa de la Catedral, with an incredible view of the port and city.  There’s two buildings here you want to see: The Cathedral (build from the 14th to 16th centuries, redone in the 18th Century), and la Universitat, a political institution that governed Ibiza, known also as Eivissa, from the 13th to the 18th Century.  It’s now the site of an Archelogical Museum.

From here, leaving the Cathedral, you can find your way down a narrow passage that leads to the bastion of Sant Bernat.  Here, you’ll find, yes, once again, a magnificent view of the sea, this time with the addition, in the distance, of the island of Formentera.  At this point, no doubt, you’re ready to head back to one of the luxury Ibiza hotels and take a nap!

It’s one of those places where the nightlife is exciting and fascinating, offering something for everyone, and for every taste.  There are some wilder sides to the place, with places to watch people in cages beat each other up, as well as other older professions, and there are also some of the most lively upscale dance clubs in the country.  There are many different sides to Phuket, however, and it’s possible to visit here and never even notice most of these sides.  If you come looking for family friendly entertainment and attractions, you’ll certainly find it.  If you’re looking to spend a weekend or a week in pure beach luxury, Phuket hotels can offer a sense of the sublime, and you’ll never have to see any of the city at all.

The beaches here are awfully lovely, and wherever you go, the food is the most heavenly-spiced cuisine on the earth.  There are some really interesting local scenes, with art and live music, and different kinds of performance that speak to Thailand’s long traditions in multiple art forms, as well as splendid entertainment that the ex-patriate community is often engaged in.  Of this last scene, Jamie O’ is a splendid example, and his life demonstrates how an artist’s life can work when it’s based on so much chance and luck.  The talent is often irrelevant, although in this case he has plenty of it, but it often is a question of being at the right place at the right time.

Whether or not that’s true for him is a good question, because it seems as though the young singer-songwriter from Scarborough was following inspiration and impulse, and was also extremely resourceful.  He plays acoustic music in town, and also works as a DJ, under the name DJme, and is also one of the big forces behind Wave Entertainment.  Through this company he works with the hospitality industry in booking live music acts, among many other things.  It’s a splendid way to make a living while playing live music, and learning about all the things that unwind before you when making up a life in a splendid place, with splendid talent.

Baltimore is one of the many cities of the United States that is steeped in history.  One way to spend the day, or a few days for that matter, is to walk the streets and soak in a bit of this history as you go.  One of the most incredible architectural structures is the Basilica.  This was the first cathedral placed in a metropolitan city in the U.S.   Within the neo-classical site, there still sits to this day an organ from the seventeenth century.

The Cypress Swamp Sanctuary at Battle Creek offers peace from days spent working hard in business, in offices and on the docks of the harbor.  Employees from Baltimore plumbing companies often take refuge in the gardens and the parks that surround this one hundred acre nature preserve.  Climbing up to the Washington Monument offers a bit of a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city life as well.  There are two hundred-twenty eight steps needed to take to get to the top of this, the first American monument to George Washington, and once you climb that last one, the view of the city is astounding.

Another hike to make, if panoramic views are your style, is to the top of Federal Hill Park.  This was once a lookout during the Civil War, so now in modern times, you will be assured to have a wide and tremendous view of the area surrounding the city.

The trees are incredible, and one of the best ways to experience this bit of the outdoors is to take a walk through the Cylburn Arboretum and the Park at Druid Hill.  The Arboretum spans more than two hundred acres and the collection of the Hollies, the Japanese Maples, the Magnolias, and the Tree Peonies, will leave you astounded that you are really standing in the center of one of the largest cities in the country.  The Druid ranks among some of the oldest public parks in America.  So either way, you can’t go wrong.

One thing is certain when living in or visiting New York. You must have transportation. And while some people are completely fine with always using the subway system, others prefer to take a city bus. Then there are those, with the money, who will only ride in taxis. And of course there are numerous individuals who own and drive their own car in New York City. And while this seems to be the least common form of transportation, the streets are always jammed with the sound, sight and smell of private automobiles. Without spending too much time on the transportation resources of this great city it is also common to divide one’s time between the subway and buses or taxis.

This brings us to the main point here, which is the incredible benefit and usefulness of a company with car hire New York City services. Just as it was with other transportation services and resources there are various car hire companies and features. At the top of the list and is frequently associated with famous personalities and New York Broadway premieres is the stretch limousine. This is one of the fabulous and luxurious forms of big city transportation and most people end up splurging for this at least once in their lifetime.

There are also multiple car rental companies that are perfect for the tourists who wish to have their own transportation for upstate travel and sometimes for the business traveler who needs the assurance and dependability of independent transportation. However, it is extremely important to remember that New York streets are always crowded and driving in the city can be incredibly difficult and tricky. This is also true for parking, which can surprise the unsuspecting driver in its difficulty and sometimes rarity. It can also be disconcerting to walk out to your car and discover someone has double-parked next to you. All things considered, a car rental company is there to serve your needs, and many of these the first time traveler may not even be aware of.

Mumbai is an amazing city, and one worth visiting multiple times.  It is always evolving, and the rich, diverse population is always moving it forward, with a rhythm that is at turns frenetic and soothing, and seems to speak the rhythm of life on the planet.  There is a fantastic sense of history here, and Mumbai is an amazing place historically.  It has seen a number of stunning events, some of the most interesting times in the past century for sure, and there are many historical tours that can teach you more about the place.  It seems to attract people from all over the world, looking to capture some of the energy here, and for travelers, there are magnificent Mumbai hotels.

Splendid accommodations are an important part of the trip, offering you and your guests a place to refresh in luxury and splendor at the end of every day.  The hotels here have a marvelous mixture of old-fashioned hospitality and new conveniences, so that you will always feel your best, and always feel the incredible energy of the city.  Between Bollywood and the beaches, there is so much to see, and so much that is happening here every day.  There are new families that move here all the time, as well as residents who have been here for generations, and they will all have opinions on what you should see and do in Mumbai.  So use your judgement, but be sure to ask about local favorites, because there are many secrets here that you won’t find anywhere but from the residents themselves.

Like the kheema pao at Olympia Coffee House.  This is in Colaba, and might be hard to get to if you don’t know someone who already lives here, and it’s definitely something for the more adventurous travelers, but well worth it.  The dish is a kind of goat cooked in delicious gravy and served on a bun.  It might not sound as good as it actually is, but the proof of the kheema is in the eating.  It’s usually gone by mid-morning, scarfed up by the taxi-driver and bachelor population, so it might be worth it to ask a cab driver to take you there.  You’ll be in for an adventure, meet lots of people, and also sample some of the best of the city as it’s really lived.

It’s one of the greatest countries on the planet, and many of its residents refer to it as their mother.  South Africa has a magnificent and difficult history, having seen some of the most amazing events of the 20th century, and it’s still in the middle of its evolution, its fate tied to the human race.  The fantastic diversity of cultures and traditions here is always changing, and it has a stunning beauty that never fails to dazzle anyone who visits here.  There is a lively night life in all of its larger cities, and even in the small towns there is always something going on after dark.  For travelers looking to spend some time here enjoying the fruits of splendor, there are some magnificent luxury hotels.  South Africa offers a beautiful hospitality to travelers, and has an energy to replenish even the most tired souls.

It’s a pleasure to begin a day here in sumptuous beauty, enjoying a spa treatment and perhaps a splendid meal in your hotel, then heading out to see what kinds of adventures await you.  There are all sorts of attractions to appeal to travelers of all ages, and if you’re in the mood to see some of the local art, there are lots of galleries to fulfill your desires.  If you’re in Cape Town, one of the hottest and consistently interesting spaces in town is the UCA Gallery.  This is a white cube space that’s been open since 2008, and the interior has a fantastic, minimalist feel.  Their work is always innovative and provocative, and they have an enormously interesting curatorial team involved in selected the exhibitions.

The UCA Gallery is pretty slick, and unlike other spaces where the facade is classy and elegant, the work stands up to the surroundings, and it’s apparent that there is something very exciting happening here.  The focus is on local artists, to showcase some of the most interesting work here, as well as attracting international artists to the space.  It’s a great way to begin artistic conversations, and in some of the more established spaces, one feels like they’re entering into a history of dialogue, and this space has managed to install a sense of historical weight into the short time they’ve been working here.

The exquisite culture of Barcelona is nothing new, but every time you visit, it always feels like the first time.  There’s also often a sense that you’ve discovered it for yourself, that this gorgeous city in Spain is something that’s opened up to you.  It’s a spectacular way to find a way to get back to the reasons why you ever wanted to travel in the first place.  There are new cultural moments here that seem to form every single day, combining the creative energies of the people who are drawn here, and mixing with its amazing history, to create something unique and exciting.  Traveling here can make you feel like you’re a part of the creation, or at least a very fortunate witness.  It’s a splendid city with a magnificent and complicated history.

There are certainly many excellent choices for accommodations here, and the luxury Barcelona hotels are some of the finest, taking the amazing cosmopolitan nature of the place and reflecting it in design, hospitality, and style.  There are also tremendously sumptuous restaurants, preparing food that speaks to the best parts of Spanish culture.  Then there’s the art.  You can see all sorts of fantastic works, from antiquity up to the present moment, and probably a little bit into the future as well.  It’s one of the really great cities to see art, and if you do get used to the classical, and decide you want something a little more recent, make your way to Rojo(r).

This is a new space totally devoted to the contemporary art scene, paying attention to local phenomena as well as international works.  They also have spaces in Milano and Sao Paolo, and networks literally all over the world, so their focus is truly global, and one of the central ideas here is networking and forming coalitions across borders to help artists meet other artists and make new connections.  You can see interesting and evocative work here, like the French artist Diva, whose new evolution in art, her Sol Negro series, can be viewed.  These are fantastic black and white – mostly – designs that interrogate the biological order, with lush graphics that speak to a world that’s here and there, now and then.  This exhibition is in conjunction with her new book, and is just one of the many splendid offerings here.

Thomas and Cheryl are doing our packing and theirs, getting ready to leave Bangalore. They lost a bet to us, so that’s why they have to pack for us. I’ll tell you about the bet later. But, don’t feel bad for them, it’s not like we had much to pack. A few t-shirts, a couple of pants and pajamas. We hated leaving one of the best five star hotels in Bangalore, but it was time to move on to Dharamsala.

Since last we wrote, we left Colva where not only did the beggars put on an act for our sympathy, but so did all the dogs! On our way back to our hotel one night, we were befriended by a ‘kangaroo dog’, this is a trick, so don’t feel like we were ignoring a wounded dog. We’ve seen this ploy in many parts of India, the dog will hop on his two back legs appearing hurt or disabled, and tourist will give the owner money to get the dog care, but as soon as no ones around, the dog will walk on all fours. We also got to stay at a lousy hotel in Colva, they touted themselves as a four star, but when we got to our rooms, there was not air-conditioning and the hot water for our showers was tepid. But, after six days of not showering, Cheryl’s hair smelled worse that any street beggar that crossed our path, so tepid water or not, I shower was most definitely necessary.

After we left Colva, we briefly went through Goa then onto Palolem. When we arrived in Palolem and had lunch down by the beach, we actually bumped into some familiar faces! It was John and Carl from Baga. What a great surprise! We hooked up with them the next night, but our party was cut short at midnight. It was Gandhi’s Birthday, it’s celebrated all across India, and the whole nation becomes ‘dry’, no alcohol will be served by bars, pubs or shops. They can’t even display alcohol. Goa just isn’t Goa unless there’s libations. When we went for dinner, we all felt like we were at the Last Supper, but without the wine!

Since Carrie and Renee were not allowed to leave the country during their high school spring break the decided that Fort Lauderdale, Florida would be a perfectly good option. In fact they decided it was their preferred spot and looked forward to spending everyday on the beach. Carrie’s parents agreed to escort the girls to the city though they let them stay in their own private room of one of the luxury hotels Fort Lauderdale.

Their first morning in town they girls enjoyed a great breakfast with Carrie’s parents and then headed straight for the beach without looking back. Carrie’s parents decided they would be fine on their own and left them to their adventures. Instead of following the girls they decided to do a little sight seeing and visited the Stranahan house, one of the historic landmark buildings in the city. The house was originally built as a trading post and is actually the oldest building in the city.

The second morning the previous day’s events looked like they were going to repeat themselves. At breakfast Carrie and Renee were looking a little darker than they did the day before though no one seemed to take note. Carrie’s parents mentioned that they were planning on going down to the marina and taking a cruise tour of the area. Carrie and Renee looked at each other and with a slight nod decided that the ferry cruise sounded pretty interesting and they might be able to scope out great beach spots to hit the following day. So, their second day in town the girls and Carrie’s parents spend the day and evening together. On their third day the teenagers and adults went their separate way again, save for their early morning breakfast together at the hotel. And though they didn’t spend that much quality time together as a complete group, each of the four people on that spring break vacation ended up having a great time.

When I arrived in New York, I found out that not only had my hotel not reserved a room for my, but that there were no rooms in Manhattan because there was this gigantic bike race happening in New York the next day. This was not a good start for me, but fortunately, the hotel where I was supposed to be booked, made a few calls and got me a room at the New York airport hotel. They even drove me there, which was really very nice of them. I would’ve preferred a voucher from them, but at least they found me better accommodations and for less money. I’ll have to remember that the next time I book a hotel in New York.

It wasn’t bad getting to Manhattan from my hotel, actually it was quite easy. I found New York to be an amazing, awesome and spectacular place. It was so much more than I could ever imagine. So much more. It’s so tangible, so alive. I only had two days here, so I worked very hard at fitting in a lot. I got a metrocard, which saved me time and money. The subway served me well and I got to pack in most of the touristy sights, like the Empire State Building, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, Grand Central Station, Wall Street, City Hall, Ground Zero, Central Park and Times Square. Whew!

I now know why most New Yorkers love it here, even after 9/11. The airport hotel was extremely convenient for me to catch my flight out of New York and on to California. The hotel provided free service to the airport. Yes, most definitely, I’ll be booking my hotel room here from now on. What a nice thing my other hotel did by losing my reservations. I found even a better hotel.