Gadling

Vagabond Tales: "The Governator is better, yes?"

Kyle Ellison — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Stories, Europe, Austria, Slovakia, Transportation

Crossing borders can always be a bit of a hectic experience. There are long lines, scam artists, customs officials, new currencies, people offering to expedite your visa process for a fee, screaming children, rogue livestock, and occasionally people with guns. Dirty and dingy, border crossings are never the favorite part of my trip.

Luckily, however, I was once aided through a particularly tense border moment by of all things, an American politician. As any American traveler who spends copious amounts of time out of the country will tell you, divulging the fact that you are an American frequently involves being buffeted by a hailstorm of opinions/questions/debate over American foreign policy, war, clothing, oil, health care, politics, and lately, Justin Bieber.

This is because--and excuse me as I fabricate completely random statistics to argue a point--it's becoming apparent to me that about 70% of the globe knows more about American politics than 70% of Americans do.

Evidence? I offer three examples:

-A particularly smelly hitch hiker I once picked up in New Zealand was able to tell me how many seats the state of Hawaii has in the House of Representatives (2).

-The Kathmandu shopkeeper from whom I was purchasing a $1.50 plate of dhal bhat discussed with me the geopolitical ramifications of Hillary Clinton's recent visit to Burma.

-A mate from Sydney writing me to express his concerns about the upcoming vote in Congress to once again raise the debt ceiling.

The list goes on.

Although flashing the blue cover of an American passport will frequently lead to this uninvited political joust, I would like to thank one American politician for effectively waving me across international lines.

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: "The Governator is better, yes?"

Vagabond Tales: "The Governator is better, yes?" originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eurail to expand into Slovakia

Kyle Ellison — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Slovakia, Transportation, Budget Travel, News, Travel Deals

Attention college students, rail-lovers, and European travelers with a fear of flying. Eurail has just announced that starting in 2012 the national railway of Slovakia will be included in the oft-purchased Eurail Global Pass, thereby linking Slovakia with 22 other nations in what has historically been many traveler's favorite means of scouring the European continent.

When I last took a train into Slovakia it was before the country was even a member of the European Union, much less part of Eurail. There were guns, and soldiers, and a hailstorm of passports being thrown about the cabin from all angles. It was also New Years Eve, the streets were full of liquored up Germans, and there was a tight-wearing archer shooting flaming arrows across the Danube. That's another story for another time, however.

With the addition of Slovakia into the Eurail network, it's now possible to connect the Slovakian capital of Bratislava with virtually anywhere else in Europe for the low 15-day price of €345, if, of course, you're under 26 years old. The rest of us, per Eurail standard rates, are still forced to shell out considerably more.

Regardless, for those lucky European travelers holding a fancy new 23 country Eurail Global Pass for 2012, you are now stuck with 3,616 more km of rail to further complicate your decision on how to get from Athens-Zurich, all the while attempting to fill in towns that start with the remaining 24 letters of the alphabet while you're at it.

Photo: Flickr/Chris Yunker

Eurail to expand into Slovakia originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Israel, Chile, Slovak Republic among countries with highest adventure travel potential

Kraig Becker — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Learning, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Israel, Jordan, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, New Zealand, Chile, News

A new study conducted by George Washington University, Vital Wave Consulting, and the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) shows that Israel, Chile, and the Slovak Republic led the way in adventure tourism in 2010. The study, which resulted in the third annual Adventure Tourism Development Index, uses a mix of quantitative data and expert surveys to rank nations from around the globe on their approach and commitment to sustainable adventure travel.

The study examines what researchers call the "ten pillars" of adventure tourism. Those pillars include such things as infrastructure, cultural resources, adventure activities, entrepreneurship, and more. When those factors were all examined and ranked accordingly, for each country, a score was calculated that resulted in rankings for both developed and developing nations.

So exactly which countries earned high marks in the latest Adventure Tourism Development Index? The top ten developing countries included the following: Israel, Slovak Republic, Chile, Estonia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Jordan, Romania and Latvia.Conversely, the top ten developed nations included: Switzerland, Iceland, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Norway, Finland and Austria.

The ATTA is quick to point out that these lists are not an indication of how well visited these countries currently are as adventure travel destinations, although some are already popular amongst travelers. Instead, it is a general rating on the climate that exists in these places that make it possible to support sustainable tourism now and into the future.

Judging from the list, it appears that Europe is well ahead of the game in terms of promoting sustainable travel. Both lists are dominated by countries from that continent, which could come as a surprise to many travelers.

To read the entire report click here.

Israel, Chile, Slovak Republic among countries with highest adventure travel potential originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 31 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Schengen and the disappearance of European passport stamps

Alex Robertson Textor — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Cyprus, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican City

Creative new use for border crossing posts at German/Austrian border.

In the late 1980s, an American spending a summer traveling across Europe with a Eurailpass would see his or her passport stamped possibly dozens of times. With a few exceptions, every time a border was crossed, an immigration agent would pop his or her head into a train compartment, look at everyone's passports, in most cases stamp them, and move on. Every Eastern Bloc country required visas, some of which could be obtained at the border and others of which had to be applied for in advance.

Today, an American can enter the Schengen zone in Helsinki, fly to Oslo and then on to Amsterdam, proceed by train through Belgium, France, Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland, then by bus to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, and then by ferry back to Helsinki before catching a flight to Athens and landing in Greece without once needing to submit a passport to a border guard's scrutiny.

The development of the Schengen agreement across Europe has altered the geopolitical map of the continent in many ways. For tourists, the development of the Schengen zone has simplified travel by drastically reducing the number of times a passport can be checked and stamped as national borders are crossed.

The Schengen Agreement is named after the town of Schengen in Luxembourg. It was here in 1985 that five countries-Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, West Germany, and France-signed an agreement to essentially create borderless travel between them. A model for this agreement had been created years before by the Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg), which eliminated border controls back in 1948. The Nordic countries also did away with internal border posts, in 1958.

In 1995, the five original Schengen countries plus Portugal and Spain inaugurated the zone. In 1997, Austria and Italy joined. Greece followed in 2000 and the five Nordic countries joined in 2001. In late 2007, nine more countries joined the Schengen zone; most recently, Switzerland signed up in 2008.

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Schengen and the disappearance of European passport stamps originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Europe expands high-speed train system with new bridge

Sean McLachlan — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, France, Italy, Slovakia, Transportation, News

A new bridge across the Ill river in Strasbourg is a major step forward for the European Union's plans for a high-speed railway reaching from Paris to Bratislava, the BBC reports.

An earlier bridge had only one track and could only carry trains going a maximum of 100 kph (62mph). The new bridge has two tracks and can deal with trains going 160kph (99mph). The Paris-Bratislava line is one of a network of high-speed railways being built across the EU, but with a price tag of 63 million euros ($84 million) just for the bridge, construction is being affected by the economic crisis. Some countries have already cut back funding and delayed projects. Still, high-speed trains are becoming increasingly popular across Europe because they're more comfortable than planes, and more convenient since they take passengers from city center to city center.

The French city of Strasbourg is close to the German border and home to the European Parliament. It's also attractive to tourists for its medieval and Renaissance architecture.

[Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons]

Europe expands high-speed train system with new bridge originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 12 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ten budget-friendly destinations in Europe

Alex Robertson Textor — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Moldova, Portugal, Slovakia, Budget Travel

For Americans, Europe can be very expensive. Let's take a moment to acknowledge this fact. Tourist costs are high, and currently the euro is doing well against the dollar, even if the pound is down somewhat from its stratospheric performance a few years ago. So yes, Europe is expensive. But its high costs are merely a marker, not a prisonhouse. There are always ways to cut costs and forge an alternative path.

One way visitors can cut costs is by forsaking traditional tourist hotels for alternative types of accommodation. There is a new wave of very stylish hostels in many cities in Europe at odds with the traditional reputation of hostels as dirty, packed dormitories. (Look, for example at Paris' Oops! Hostel, with doubles starting at €60 [$81] to see the new hostel wave in action.) And there's also a newish recession-appropriate embrace of owner-occupied accommodations that are often quite inexpensive. Airbnb is the latest splashy arrival on the owner-occupied scene, but there are plenty of other local options, including the Italian agriturismo network, French gîtes, and couchsurfing.

Here are ten destinations, cities, regions, and countries where traveling on a budget won't be a struggle in the least. Budget-friendly Europe begins here.

1. Bulgaria. Gadling writer Meg Nesterov visited Bulgaria this fall and raved about the local price index. Bulgaria, a member of the EU since 2007, is cheap in just about every possible way. Nesterov hones in on the tried-and-true tourist stop of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria's Medieval capital, as particularly inexpensive.

2. Bratislava, Slovakia. About an hour from Vienna by train, Bratislava boasts a cute Old Town and many astoundingly cheap restaurants serving hearty Slovak fare. At Prašná Bašta, dinner can be as cheap as €6 ($8). Hotels are more expensive than they should be, though there are a few basic properties like Old City Hotel that cater to the budget set. Old City Hotel's rates start at €53 ($72).

3. South Tyrol, Italy. This one is a bit difficult to wrap one's head around, as this German-speaking region is one of Italy's most prosperous corners. The landscapes are stunning up here, and simple, glamorous inns like Gasthof Bad Dreikirchen sell rooms on a seasonal basis starting at €57 ($77) including half-board (that is, breakfast and dinner). Bad Dreikirchen is open from the end of April through the close of October.

4. Berlin, Germany. The German capital remains impressively affordable and amazingly cool. Before you arrive, peruse some of the very good English-language blogs on life in Berlin; when you touch down, get yourself a copy of Zitty and get caught up to speed on what's going on. You'll be ready to sink into some of Europe's hippest and cheapest corners in no time. Budget pick: Die Fabrik, a funky renovated factory, with doubles from €52, or $71.

Continue reading Ten budget-friendly destinations in Europe

Ten budget-friendly destinations in Europe originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trade Mocked

Andrew Evans — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Algeria, Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Morocco, South Africa, Zambia, Bangladesh, Iran, Israel, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Turkey, United Arab, Emirates, Vietnam, Albania, Andorra, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Monaco, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Jamaica, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Internet Tools, Middle East, Central America, Caribbean, French Polynesia

You were a cheerleader, you dated a cheerleader, or you hated the cheerleaders. As I recall, that's how high school worked.

Thanks to travel PR, that same primeval paradigm lives on long after graduation. That miniskirts-shouting-slogans thing still works, whether you're a used car salesman, Miley Cyrus on VH1 or the tourist board of a small Balkan nation. When it comes to selling your destination in today's busy world of busy people, a country's name just isn't enough--just like school spirit, you need colors, a pep band, a mascot, a brand and most important--a cheer.

It's tragic but true: tourist boards don't trust their country's name to inspire appropriate thoughts in your brain. Toponyms are too open-ended and too untrustworthy--also, way too obvious. For example, what's the first thing that pops into your head when I say . . . Monte Carlo? How about Australia? The Bahamas? Kuwait? The Gambia?

Whatever you're thinking, it's not enough. Tourist boards want you to choose their destination over all others, then allocate all of your vacation days to them and then come spend your money on very specific things--like miniature golf by the sea or hot air balloon rides across the prairie. In short, they want your school spirit so much they're churning out cheers to fill up all the Swiss cheese holes in your mental map of the world.

Like a good cheer, a good destination slogan is simple and so memorable it sticks in your head like two-sided tape. Sex sells, but then so does love: "Virginia is for Lovers", Hungary offers visitors "A Love for Life", Albania promises "A New Mediterranean Love", while the highlighted "I feel Slovenia" spells out sweetly "I Feel Love". Meanwhile, Bosnia & Herzegovina call themselves "the Heart Shaped Land" and Denmark's logo is a red heart with a white cross. Colombia and Dubai have red hearts in their logo. Everybody else uses sunshine.

Continue reading Trade Mocked

Trade Mocked originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 10 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A video bike trip from Berlin to Istanbul

Jeremy Kressmann — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Biking, Europe, Turkey, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Video

Josh Wedlake spent a month riding a bicycle from Berlin to Istanbul. Not only was his ride an impressive feat of endurance, the animated video recreation he's made of his trip is nearly as amazing. For over four months upon his return, Josh was animating and editing a 3D version of his journey using an open-source animation tool called Blender.

Not only does the film provide viewers with a beautiful visual feast, Wedlake provides a wonderful accompanying narration, loaded with deep reflections and plenty of poignant moments. Passionate travelers like Josh are inventing a new method of travel storytelling, using digital tools and new methods to bring their experiences to life.

Best of all, Josh is raising money from his ride and the video to donate to charity. If you like the film, you can offer a donation here and here.

[Via Metafilter]

A video bike trip from Berlin to Istanbul originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 04 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adventure Tourism Development Index rates top adventure destinations

Kraig Becker — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Europe, Oceania, South America, Botswana, Israel, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Ecotourism

The Adventure Tourism Development Index is a study put together by the Adventure Travel Trade Association, in conjunction with George Washington University and Xola Consulting. The joint effort examines 192 countries and ranks them based on their commitment to sustainable adventure tourism, as well as a number of other factors that influence their ability to host an adventure travel market and offer unique experience to travelers.

The ATDI uses what it calls the "10 Pillars of Adventure Tourism Market Competitiveness" to determine its rankings. Those pillars include Sustainable Development Policy, Safety and Security, Tourism Infrastructure, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources, Adventure Activity Resources, Entrepreneurship, Humanitarian, Health, and Image.

The study used a combination of surveys, gathered from top adventure travel specialists from around the planet, and quantifiable data from each of the countries to establish a list of the top adventure destinations in both the developed and developing world.

The results of the research are quite interesting, offering up some destinations that might not have seemed like viable options in the past. The top ten developing countries are as follows:

1. Slovak Republic
2. Israel
3. Czech Republic
4. Estonia
5. Slovenia
6. Chile
7. Bulgaria
8. Latvia
9. Botswana
10. Lithuania

And the top ten developed countries are:

Continue reading Adventure Tourism Development Index rates top adventure destinations

Adventure Tourism Development Index rates top adventure destinations originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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25 great adventures for 2010

Kraig Becker — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Biking, Climbing, Arts and Culture, Hiking, Paddling, Scuba Diving, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania, Bhutan, Laos, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, France, Iceland, Ireland, Slovakia, Canada, Costa Rica, United States, New Zealand, Tonga, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Camping, Ecotourism

The latest issue of N ational Geographic Adventure has just hit the newsstand with a special treat inside for adventure travelers looking for their next big trip. The magazine has listed its selection for the 25 best new trips for 2010, offering up suggestions of places to visit in nearly every corner of the globe.

The list is organized in alphabetical order by destination, starting with Bhutan and running through several U.S. locations as well. Each of the locations also has a tour operator associated with it, and clicking on the text will give you a more detailed description of what you can expect on your adventure.

No matter what draws you to adventure travel, you're sure to find something on the list that appeals to you. For instance, if you're up for a challenging kayaking adventure, head to Bhutan with Bio Bio Expeditions, where you get the opportunity to make the first descent on a previously unpaddled section of the Drangme Chhu River. Does an island adventure sound more enticing? Then plan a trip to Sri Lanka with Access Trips, where you can go surfing and mountain biking through that amazing setting. And for those who would prefer a little more rest and relaxation with their adventure, there is always the Muang La Resort in Laos which offers jungle escapes that includes luxury rooms and a deluxe spa. That trip is available through Asia Transpacific Journeys.

No one knows adventure like National Geographic, and you can bet that each of these trips will deliver in that category. With 2009 quickly coming to an end, it is never too early to start planning your own adventures for 2010, and this list is a great place to start.

25 great adventures for 2010 originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Photo of the Day (7.07.09)

Grant Martin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Slovakia

We get a lot of spam email at Gadling, but the worst perpitrator is this place called Hotel Spirit, a random hotel in Bratislava, Slovakia that wont stop sending us emails every day or two. All of them say the same thing:

Cheap accommodation in attractive avant-garde hotel in Bratislava, Slovakia!

We've tried emailling them back, blocking IP addresses and begging for them to stop spamming us, but the emails keep coming. And coming.

Finally, our blogger Jeff White decided to stop by and see what all of the fuss was about. Passing through Eastern Europe on one of his assignments he stopped by the hotel for a look. He recalls the experience in this team email:

"I was first told that they had no rooms available. I asked how this was possible in Bratislava on a Sunday in February. It actually turned out that there was only one other person staying at the place, but that the girl at the front desk just hadn't gotten around to cleaning any of the rooms. Funny, indeed. My physical beauty, such that it is, did not improve from the experience. The black speck in the picture is me."

With Jeff's passing last week we lost not only a great friend but also a person would who cared dearly about the blog and would chase down leads like this just to give the team a laugh. We'll miss him dearly.

If Hotel Spirit gets struck with a bolt of lightning in the near future, well, it may not be a coincidence. Safe travels, Jeff White.

Photo of the Day (7.07.09) originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Newest "St. Pauli Girl" wins popular vote

Tom Johansmeyer — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Food and Drink, Europe, Slovakia

Katarina Van Derham is the newest St. Pauli Girl spokesmodel. Unlike her predecessors, the latest to carry this honor won through an online election. The people have spoken, and Van Derham will bring them their beer! The election was conducted via Maxim.com and consisted of four finalists. The competition was fierce, but one look makes it clear that beer goggles will not be necessary in 2009!

Van Derham is a native of Slovakia and grew up in a small village in the woods - a story that seems to add to the mystique. More than just a pretty face, she speaks five languages and bears a striking resemblance to the young lady on the bottle's label. As a result, she is now the 26th person to carry the responsibility of being the world's hottest ambassador of malted beverages. "Being named the 2009 St. Pauli Girl means the world to me," said Van Derham. "I am very honored and look forward to meeting St. Pauli Girl fans all over the country."

The latest beer gal moved to the United States when she was 22 years old and had no intention to become a model. As a waitress in Los Angeles, though, she caved to the peer pressure four years later, and the rest, as they say, is brewing history. Van Derham became a U.S. citizen last year and voted for the first time in the U.S. presidential election in November. Now, in addition to modeling, she works in web design for an architectural graphic design firm."

Let's all welcome her into our hearts ... and stomachs!

Gallery: 2009 St Pauli Girl

[Photo via St. Pauli Girl]

Newest "St. Pauli Girl" wins popular vote originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Photo of the Day (9-24-08)

Jamie Rhein — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Photos, Slovakia, Photo of the Day, Hotels and Accommodations

I picked this photo because it encapsulates the very points that makes travel so incredibly interesting. It's those details that make you shake your head and say, "What were they thinking?" And you have no idea what they were thinking because people don't always think alike. What makes sense to the people who live in a particular country can seem stupid to those not from there--or at least nonsensical--except that it could make sense. Kind of.

According to Damiel who took this picture, this billboard is on the hotel building where he was staying in Bratislava. His room is behind the letters "o" and "u" in "navigáciou." I wonder if that means that he could look out through the "o" and the "u"? Or were the windows covered over? Either choice seems odd.

If you have a photo you'd like for us to consider for Photo of the Day, send it our way at Gadling's Flickr Photo Pool.

By the way, I'm dedicating this Photo of the Day to my fellow Gadling bloggers. It's an inside joke.

Photo of the Day (9-24-08) originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael Palin's travel series "The New Europe" starts Monday

Jamie Rhein — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Blogs, Europe, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, News

This coming Monday Michael Palin's new seven-show travel series, "The New Europe" starts on The Travel Channel. He's taking the TV audience through "post communist" Europe to highlight the natural beauty, history and culture of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Hungary, and Bosnia among several others in Eastern and Central Europe (20 in all), many that were behind the Iron Curtain when he was growing up in Great Britain.

There's an interview with Palin at World Hum about the series. David Farley's questions brought out an intriguing look into what thoughts go into a travel series in the first place--including the name of it.

"The New Europe" stuck for this series title, even though it's a term coined by Donald Rumsfeld, of all people. I wonder if Donald Rumsfeld has a travel series in his future.? Or if people are looking for a catchy title they could call him up for his wordsmith magic." To be clear, the name of the series and the fact that Donald Rumsfeld called this part of the world "the new Europe" while he was U.S. Secretary of Defense is purely coincidental. They have nothing to do with each other, but in the interview with Palin, Farley included the show's reaction to the sameness and the decision to keep the name anyway.

When deciding what to include and what not to include in an episode, the balance between what will make for an interesting show and what the country's reaction to its portrayal are taken into consideration. For example, the idea is to show the scope of the region so countries are not necessarily highlighted for the same reason. In summary, people from one country may look at the depiction of another country as having gorgeous scenery, but not that aspect of the their own and feel slighted. It's heck to be an editor. Someone is bound to feel slighted.

In the Farley's interview Palin also muses about the difference between Americans' and Europeans' ideas about travel and what draws him around the world. The series that airs at 8 p.m. looks like one that won't disappoint-- and I certainly recommend the interview.

Michael Palin's travel series "The New Europe" starts Monday originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 26 Jan 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If I have a layover in Beijing, have I "been to" China?

Aaron Hotfelder — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Morocco, China, Slovakia, Transportation

In his "Ask the Pilot" column over at Salon, Patrick Smith has an article of interest to every traveler who has ever wondered, in this age of layovers and transcontinental bus trips, so how many countries have I visited? What constitutes "visiting" a country? If I'm flying from Chicago to Bangkok, and I have a six-hour layover in Tokyo, does that mean I've been to Japan? If I'm on a bus from Prague to Budapest, and we stop for a bathroom break in Slovakia, does that mean I've been there?

Salon's article provides an answer-- albeit an unsatisfying one-- for those who care about such things. Smith writes that, of course, each traveler is free to come up with his or her own criteria for what constitutes a "visit," but his own criteria are as follows: "[A] passport stamp alone doesn't cut it. At the very least, a person must spend a token amount of time -- though not necessarily an overnight -- beyond the airport and its immediate environs."

What about a visit to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in northern Morocco? Here, Smith has no answers-- only more questions. "Consider the world's various territories, protectorates, self-governing autonomous regions, occupied lands and quasi-independent nations. Yeah, I know, Vatican City is a sovereign state, politically speaking. But in practical terms, is it really? Did my visits to Hong Kong count as visits to China? What about Tibet? Western Sahara? Sure those are foreign nations, but which ones?"

Feel free to list your own criteria, if you have any, in the comments.

Read the whole article here.

If I have a layover in Beijing, have I "been to" China? originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 21 Jan 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mushroom Pickers Unite!

Iva Skoch — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 15:10:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Czech Republic, Slovakia

Well, it's that time of year again in the Czech Republic. Time for those atavistic hunter-gatherer instincts to be unleashed. Thousands of Europeans with crazed looks in their darting eyes, trembling fingers clutching baskets, socks rolled over their pant legs (ticks!), marching, probing, snooping, we stumble through the forests like zombies. We guard our secret spots, we spy on others for their secret spots, we come home lucky, or we come home dejected.

Yes, it's mushroom-picking time.

With Czechs and Slovaks, at least, it's an obsession. I've heard claims that 80% of us do it at least occasionally. And this is the time of year. A certain combination of weather conditions (usually rain then heat) makes these buggers sprout up, filling the forests. And collect them, we do. It's a family affair, taking up our weekends. The fuller the basket, the better. They are sauteed, made into soups, dried for the winter.

The kind we hunt is called the "hrib," also known as the boletus or porcini mushroom (pictured above).

Americans can't seem to understand this custom, although there is 'gold in them thar hills': one need only read a recent New Yorker article about the fortunes made mushroom-picking in the woods of Oregon, for example. Wikipedia, in a well down article, lays mushroom picking down as a Slavic custom, only for those braving poisoning, using knowledge passed down for generations.

Mushroom Pickers Unite! originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 02 Sep 2007 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Savvy Traveler: Let Czechoslovakia Die, Please

Iva Skoch — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 09:03:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Europe, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Savvy Traveler

It has been 14 painful years for me since Czechoslovakia broke up in what they called a "Velvet Divorce". Not so velvet for me.

Since January 1, 1993, I have been trying to patiently teach everyone outside the country to learn to love the sound of "Czech Republic" and "Slovak Republic". I know, I know. It doesn't quite come out as easily but please, don't make me suffer any longer.

See what I have to go through on a daily basis:

"I can detect an accent. Where are you from?"

"Czech Republic."

"Ah, Czechoslovakia."

"Well, it's actually the Czech and Slovakia now. The country split up in 1993."

"Oh, I see. So, in Czechoslovakia, do you have indoor plumbing?"

Well, OK. It's not quite that bad but it often comes close. Sometimes, when I travel I just tell people I am from Iceland so I don't have to put up with the whole routine of "Czechoslovakia" any more. Please, let the nonexistent country die a velvet death.

Savvy Traveler: Let Czechoslovakia Die, Please originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 28 Aug 2007 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slovenia's Mini-Riviera

Iva Skoch — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 18:06:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Europe, Slovakia, Slovenia

With all the publicity the coast of Croatia has been getting lately, it makes you wonder why not many people talk about the coast of Slovenia. Perhaps because it is only 46km (not quite 30 miles) long? Croatia, on the other hand, has over 200 miles of coastline. Somebody got ripped off after the split of Yugoslavia!

I happen to be a fan of Slovenia. I have even heard people compare the Slovenian coast to the French riviera, just not as crowded and pretentious. A few budget airlines fly from a bunch of European cities to the capital, Ljubljana, which is only an hour away from the beach.

(Don't get the country mixed up with Slovakia, as G.W.Bush once did. Slovakia is land-locked.)

Slovenia's Mini-Riviera originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 26 Jul 2007 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Whogoslavia Means Traveling with Kids

Jamie Rhein — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Blogs, Slovakia, Slovenia, United States

How many folks have heard, "Travel now before you have kids?" When I didn't have kids and I was traveling it was, "It is good you're traveling now before you have kids" as if once I had kids, I'd park myself in a chair somewhere to do what, I don't know. I always figured as soon as a kid is born one should hit the road to get him or her used to hitting the road. When we adopted our daughter from Vietnam when she was 3 1/2 years old we were living in Singapore. Two weeks later we moved back to the U.S. and a two-month-long journey that brought us from Hawaii to Ohio through California, New Mexico and New York, some of which was done in a U-Haul.

Writer Ayun Halliday has really hit the road with her husband and kids. They're on a journey this month to various spots in the Balkans and she's chronicling the trip on one of her websites, Whogoslavia. Halliday is one of those writers' writers who discover a never-ending source of fodder in daily life because she gets out there and lives. For those of you who've thought about setting up your own travel website, hers is a clever example. For those of you who fancy traveling with kids, this might entice you to jump on in. I know it makes me think that we need to cash in our frequent flier miles soon and go somewhere further than where our car can take us.

[from ParentDish.com]

Whogoslavia Means Traveling with Kids originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Apr 2007 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For the Perfect Pilsner, Try Plzen.

Jamie Rhein — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 09:10:00 EST

Filed under: History, Food and Drink, Europe, Slovakia

Willy's post about the best places to drink beer in Eastern Europe reminded me of my trip to Plzen (Pilsner) in what is current day The Czech Republic. This town is the reason why there is Pilsner beer. The name of the town is where Pilsner got its name and is still a fine place to partake in the good stuff. That's why we went there.

The Brewery Museum is a place to learn about the town's beer-making history. Like, back in 1307, every home owner brewed his own beer and the brewery, the Pilsner Urquell has been around since 1842. At the end of the tour, you can enjoy a cold one in the original cellars.

Plzen's website is neatly divided into sections where you can learn about the town's history and what there is to do. Some of it is in Czech, though. Other sections are videos put to music. The brewery video is a quick way to see how the beer is made. If you hit the play button, the video will appear.

For the Perfect Pilsner, Try Plzen. originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 21 Mar 2007 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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