Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Vagabond Tales: How To Pay Off The Police While Traveling]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/10/vagabond-tales-how-to-pay-off-the-police-while-traveling/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/10/vagabond-tales-how-to-pay-off-the-police-while-traveling/http://www.gadling.com/2012/05/10/vagabond-tales-how-to-pay-off-the-police-while-traveling/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



Let's face it: things happen while you're traveling. Although many travels go off without a hitch, occasionally there are unforeseen hurdles, which simply need to be navigated. Sometimes this can be as minor as your bag ending up in Hamburg when it's supposed to be in Berlin, as unlucky as contracting swine flu in Mexico, or as downright scary as ending up in a knife fight in a back alley in Spain (more on those stories another time).

Of all the travel inconveniences I've experienced over years of vagabonding, however, the one which happens with undoubtedly the most frequency is being cornered into paying off the police. Sometimes this is my fault, sometimes it's someone else's fault, and other times it's nothing more than rampant corruption. Either way, I've paid off the police enough times while traveling to warrant mentioning it with some authority.

One thing I want to set straight, however, is that I have never intentionally bribed the police, because that, I believe, is illegal. In every situation where money has exchanged hands between myself and an officer of the law the idea was proposed to me without my offering it first. I don't by any means condone corruption because it's one of the largest social cancers plaguing much of the developing world. Nevertheless, when staring down the barrel of a sticky situation there is often too little time for letting your morals get the better of you.

It's worthy of mentioning that all of these situations occurred while driving vehicles in Latin America. If the idea of confrontations with police officers doesn't rank high on your list of travel plans, perhaps my number one rule of advice would be avoid operating vehicles in Latin America.

If your bucket list includes a surf safari across Central America or driving the length of Highway 1, however, I offer this mini-survival guide for navigating an awkward situation in places where the lines of justice and extortion are frequently blurred.

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: How To Pay Off The Police While Traveling

Vagabond Tales: How To Pay Off The Police While Traveling originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 10 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bribe the policebribes in Latin AmericaBribesInLatinAmericaBribeThePolicecorrupt Mexico policeCorruptMexicoPolicedangers of driving in other countriesDangersOfDrivingInOtherCountriesis paying off the police illegalIsPayingOffThePoliceIllegalla mordidaLaMordidapay off the policePayOffThePolicevagabondtalesThu, 10 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gallery: A guide to South American cocktails]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/gallery-a-guide-to-south-american-cocktails/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/gallery-a-guide-to-south-american-cocktails/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/gallery-a-guide-to-south-american-cocktails/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,


Margaritas, Cuba libres, piña coladas and mojitos are drinks with Latin American origins that have become staples at bars across America. But what about the drinks being mixed up further south? Whether you want to know what to order up at the bar during your next trip to South America or you are looking for a way to raise the bar at home, these mixed drinks will leave you thirsty for more.

Gallery: Cocktails in South America

CanelazoPisco SourGrappamielFernet & CokeCaipirinha

Gallery: A guide to South American cocktails originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alcoholargentinaboliviabrazilchilecocktailscolombiadrinksecuadorfood and drinkFoodAndDrinknightlifeperusouth americaSouthAmericauruguayWed, 08 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The world's most ethical tourism destinations]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/18/the-worlds-most-ethical-tourism-destinations/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/18/the-worlds-most-ethical-tourism-destinations/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/18/the-worlds-most-ethical-tourism-destinations/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ethical tourism destinationsEach year, non-profit organization Ethical Traveler conducts a survey of the world's developing nations, analyzing their progress toward promoting human rights, preserving their environment, and developing a sustainable tourism industry. The study, run by Ethical Traveler's all-volunteer staff, factors in country scores from databases like Freedom House, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the World Bank, then dives into actions that governments have taken to improve circumstances within their countries in the previous year.

The top countries are celebrated in Ethical Traveler's annual list of the Developing World's Best Ethical Tourism Destinations, with the hope that increased tourism will help those countries continue to improve. "Travel and tourism are among the planet's driving economic forces, and every journey we take makes a statement about our priorities and commitment to change," they say. "Ethical Traveler believes that mindful travel is a net positive for the planet. By choosing our destinations well and remembering our role as citizen diplomats, we can create international goodwill and help change the world for the better."

This year's list includes Argentina, the Bahamas, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, Latvia, Mauritius, Palau, Serbia, and Uruguay. Explore these countries more in the slideshow below.

Gallery: The world's most ethical tourism destinations

ArgentinaMauritiusLatviaPalauUruguay


[Flickr image via Lisandro M. Enrique]

The world's most ethical tourism destinations originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>argentinabahamaschilecominicaconscious travelConsciousTravelcosta ricaCostaRicadeveloping worldDevelopingWorldethical tourismethical travelerEthicalTourismEthicalTravelerfreedom houseFreedomHousehuman rightsHumanRightslatvialistmauritiuspalauserbiasustainable tourismSustainableTourismuruguayWed, 18 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Vagabond Tales: Nobody plans to visit a hospital in Uruguay]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/17/vagabond-tales-nobody-plans-to-visit-a-hospital-in-uruguay/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/17/vagabond-tales-nobody-plans-to-visit-a-hospital-in-uruguay/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/17/vagabond-tales-nobody-plans-to-visit-a-hospital-in-uruguay/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



About the last thing that anyone wants to have happen on their vacation is to end up in the hospital. This much nearly all travelers can agree upon.

What's even more fun is ending up in a hospital in a country that speaks a foreign language, realizing your vocabulary doesn't yet include the translations for words such as "syringe", "infection", and "spinal tap".

Luckily for me I found myself in a hospital in a country where I actually do speak the language (Spanish) and I didn't need any of the aforementioned words listed above. Also, perhaps even luckier is that I wasn't actually hurt, but instead was simply in search of some prescription drugs.

Allow me to explain.

Punta del Este, Uruguay is a South American beach oasis that's part South Beach and part Las Vegas. Furthermore, it's safe to say it's one of the premier party spots for global jet-setters who may be interested in obtaining some prescription drugs for a big night out.

It also just so happened to be the beach town that my wife and I found ourselves in on our honeymoon when we realized the Xanax she had been packing for the trip home was actually long-expired and completely ineffective, and we had 21 hours of flying coming up before we were safely back home in Hawaii.

It's been well documented here on Gadling that many people frequently cope with a fear of flying in their own personal ways, and the seriousness of this situation was not to be taken lightly. With the issue of the expired Xanax making itself known, we were really reduced to only two options: buying a used car in Buenos Aires and driving back to California without being kidnapped by FARC rebels in Panama's Darien Gap, or finding the nearest hospital and getting another prescription whipped up and bottled with our name on it. Stat.

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: Nobody plans to visit a hospital in Uruguay

Vagabond Tales: Nobody plans to visit a hospital in Uruguay originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fear of flyingFearOfFlyinggoing to the hospital while travelingGoingToTheHospitalWhileTravelingHawaiiparty capitals of the worldPartyCapitalsOfTheWorldprescription drugs for flyingprescription drugs in UruguayPrescriptionDrugsForFlyingPrescriptionDrugsInUruguayPunta del EstePuntaDelEstetravel Urugaytravel with a fear of flyingTravelUrugayTravelWithAFearOfFlyingUruguayvagabondtalesXanax for fear of flyingXanaxForFearOfFlyingTue, 17 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[10 best eco-friendly hostels in the world]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/05/10-best-eco-friendly-hostels-in-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/05/10-best-eco-friendly-hostels-in-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/05/10-best-eco-friendly-hostels-in-the-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

portland hawthorne hoste websiteWhile you can usually expect an inexpensive stay at a hostel, not all of these accommodations are alike when it comes to being sustainable and green. For your next trip, why not stay somewhere that will not only give you a social experience on a budget, but will also be good for the planet? Check out this list of the 10 best eco-friendly hostels around the world.

Portland Hawthorne Hostel
Portland, Oregon

The Portland Hawthorne Hostel offers a clean, safe accommodation in the Hawthorne District of Portland, Oregon. The hostel has free breakfast, cheap bike rentals, and is a short walk from Mount Tabor and Luarelhurst parks. Not only that, but this hostel does its part in being eco-friendly. One of their biggest draws is their ecoroof, a "green living roof of vegetation and soil". The project is low-maintenance and self-sustaining and is being encouraged by the city due to its ability to soak up stormwater and return it to a natural water cycle (water that is not soaked up usually becomes full of sewage and dirt and negatively affects aquatic habitats). Along with the ecoroof, the hostel makes use of green cleaning products, recycling and composting, and gives guests arriving by bicycle a discount of $5 per night.

Continue reading 10 best eco-friendly hostels in the world

10 best eco-friendly hostels in the world originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 05 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>budget travelBudgetTraveleco friendly accomodationeco traveleco-friendly travelEco-friendlyTravelEcoFriendlyAccomodationecotourismEcoTravelgreen accommodationgreen hostelsgreen hotelsgreen travelGreenAccommodationGreenHostelsGreenHotelsGreenTravelSat, 05 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[6 surf destinations you'd never think of]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/08/20/6-surf-destinations-youd-never-think-of/http://www.gadling.com/2011/08/20/6-surf-destinations-youd-never-think-of/http://www.gadling.com/2011/08/20/6-surf-destinations-youd-never-think-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,



Sure, we all know the world of surfing revolves around Hawaii's fabled North Shore. If you've ever owned a board, you can probably rattle off some of the other global hot spots: Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, Fiji, California, Costa Rica...the list goes on and on.

Just because the same 20 places have some of the best waves on the planet, however, doesn't mean that the rest of the globe is forced to go without. Ever since the 1966 release of the timeless surf film Endless Summer, global surf travelers have been pushing the boundaries of scoring waves in increasingly obscure locations.

Lately, it seems as if the act of finding waves in remote locations is potentially more exhilarating than the act of riding the waves themselves. Here on Gadling we've reported before about surfers hunting down waves from Lake Erie to Iceland in search of some stoke, and Surfing magazine has hosted contests such as the Google Earth Challenge in a modern effort to scour the globe for unknown pointbreaks and barrels.

So, in the spirit of ever-expanding global surf travel, here is a list of 6 locations you might want to put on your surf radar.

Continue reading 6 surf destinations you'd never think of

6 surf destinations you'd never think of originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>middle+east+surfing+destimationsmiddleeastsurfingdestimationsremote suf tripsRemoteSufTripsSurf BangladeshSurf GhanaSurf NamibiaSurf OmanSurf ThailandSurf Uruguaysurf+destinationssurf+spots+in+costa+ricaSurfBangladeshsurfdestinationsSurfGhanasurfing+skeleton+bay+namibiasurfingskeletonbaynamibiaSurfNamibiaSurfOmansurfspotsincostaricaSurfThailandSurfUruguayWeirdest places to surfWeirdestPlacesToSurfwho+would+think+that+lybia+is+a+surf+destinationwhowouldthinkthatlybiaisasurfdestinationSat, 20 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video of the Day - Cruise ship time-lapse]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/05/10/video-of-the-day-cruise-ship-time-lapse/http://www.gadling.com/2011/05/10/video-of-the-day-cruise-ship-time-lapse/http://www.gadling.com/2011/05/10/video-of-the-day-cruise-ship-time-lapse/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,


We have a lot of great cruise coverage here on Gadling, and today's Video of the Day is a must-see for all of our cruise ship fanatics out there.

Captured onboard a series of ships such as the Splendour of the Seas & Majesty of the Seas, YouTube user radiofreebc was able to capture some incredible scenes from both inside and outside the ships along the coasts of Alaska, Uruguay, Italy, Turkey, and more. For most of the videos, radiofreebc shot with a Sony Handicam (DSR-SR12) and altered the speed while editing with Final Cut Pro. The fitting soundtrack is by a now-defunct 90's band called Slide Five.

Do you have some amazing clips or photos from your latest cruise? Share them with our community! Upload photos to our Flickr Group or post a video link in the comments below; it could be our next Photo/Video of the Day!

Video of the Day - Cruise ship time-lapse originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 May 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cruisecruise shipCruise TimelapseCruiseShipCruiseTimelapseDSR-SR12final cut proFinalCutProMajesty of the SeasMajestyOfTheSeasradiofreebcroyal carribbeanRoyalCarribbeanSlide FiveSlideFiveSony HandicamSonyHandicamSplendour of the SeasSplendourOfTheSeastimelapsevideovideo of the dayVideoOfTheDayTue, 10 May 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Top ten cheap local fast food items worldwide]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/12/02/top-ten-cheap-local-fast-food-items-worldwide/http://www.gadling.com/2010/12/02/top-ten-cheap-local-fast-food-items-worldwide/http://www.gadling.com/2010/12/02/top-ten-cheap-local-fast-food-items-worldwide/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

cheap local fast foodFood is usually a major cost on the road, a significant component of any careful travel budget. Very good, inexpensive food is on offer in most of the world's destinations, no matter how expensive average meals may be. Here are ten delicious fast food items from ten different destinations around the world.

1. Burritos, San Francisco. San Franciscans are passionate about their burritos. It's easy to inadvertently inspire an argument through an offhand if opinionated claim about your personal burrito likes and dislkes. Try a riceless burrito at La Tacquería (2889 Mission Street) or drizzle your burrito from Tacquería Cancún (2228 Mission, among other locations) with distinctive green salsa. For $6, you'll be sated for hours.

2. Currywurst, Berlin. Currywurst is an extraordinarily popular German fast food, a sliced pork sausage doused with curry sauce. At Konnopke's Imbiss, a famed food stand in Berlin, a currywurst goes for just €1.70 ($2.25).

3. Okonomiyaki, Osaka. This delightful, greasy food item can be found in a number of spots around Japan, though it is firmly associated with Osaka. It's a cabbage pancake topped with several ingredients. These often include pork, green onion, other vegetables, shrimp, fish and seaweed flakes, mayonnaise, and a dark sauce. An all-but-the-kitchen-sink okonomiyaki in Osaka will set you back around 750 yen ($9).

4. Pintxos, San Sebastián, Spain. For just a few euros, you can fill up on extraordinary pintxos (Basque tapas, see above) in countless bars in the lovely seaside city of San Sebastián. That San Sebastián is also home to some very expensive restaurants is an entertaining notion to contemplate while you're scarfing three perfect €3 ($4) pintxos for lunch in a crowded bar. See Todo Pintxos for a listing of pintxos perches.

5. Hawker centres, Singapore. Many of Singapore's hawker centers, which are more or less open-air food courts, serve up very high quality portions of food for very little. As little as S$4 ($3) will get you off to a good start. Among Singapore's many hawker centers, check out Maxwell Hawker Centre, Chomp Chomp, and Lau Pa Sat.

Continue reading Top ten cheap local fast food items worldwide

Top ten cheap local fast food items worldwide originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>berlinbudget travelbudget-travelBudgetTravelburritosfoodgermanyistanbulJapanlocal foodLocalFoodmontevideoosakaport of spainPortOfSpainSaigonsan franciscoSan SebastianSanFranciscoSanSebastiansingaporespainthailandtrinidadTrinidadAndTobagoturkeyunited statesUnitedStatesuruguayvietnamThu, 02 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sun-loving world travelers seek endless summer]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/01/sun-loving-world-travelers-seek-endless-summer/http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/01/sun-loving-world-travelers-seek-endless-summer/http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/01/sun-loving-world-travelers-seek-endless-summer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Call it a refusal to grow up, an inability to tolerate winter weather, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), but some travelers will do anything to prolong their summer vacation.

A recent CNN article profiles a handful of travelers and entrepreneurs who have planned their lives around seeking sun rather than snow. Appropriately enough, folks like this are sometimes referred to as "summer chasers."

If the pursuit of sunshine appeals to you, the article offers the following tips:

Plan ahead
Couple Jared Heyman and Lauren Goldstein saved their money to fulfill a longtime goal: to travel the world for a year, visiting every continent without a set itinerary. Their one requirement: to only visit places with warm climates. Says Heyman, "To us, summer means freedom. Since we're taking a year to travel...without work or other responsibilities, summer seemed like the most appropriate season to chase. Our strategy is to always be wherever it's summertime, even if that means switching continents and hemispheres when necessary."

Continue reading Sun-loving world travelers seek endless summer

Sun-loving world travelers seek endless summer originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beach holidaysbeach rentalsbeach resortsbeach travelbeach vacationsBeachHolidaysBeachRentalsBeachResortsBeachTravelBeachVacationsendless sunshineEndlessSunshineFloridaHawaiiisland hoppingisland vacationsIslandHoppingIslandVacationsMauiMontevideoprivate chefprivate yachtsPrivateChefPrivateYachtsSADseasonal affective disorderSeasonalAffectiveDisorderself-employmentsnowbirdsSouthern HemisphereSouthernHemispheresummersummer chaserssummer travelSummerChasersSummerTravelsunny climatesSunnyClimatestech jobsTechJobstelecommutingwarm climateswarm weatherWarmClimatesWarmWeatherWest Palm BeachWestPalmBeachworking holidaysWorking overseasworking remotelyworking vacationsWorkingHolidaysWorkingOverseasWorkingRemotelyWorkingVacationsworld travelWorldTravelyachtingyearround travelYearroundTravelMon, 01 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the Day (09.06.10)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/06/photo-of-the-day-09-06-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/06/photo-of-the-day-09-06-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/06/photo-of-the-day-09-06-10/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Seeing as it's Labor Day, it seemed fitting to find a photo that paid tribute to the men and women all over the world who work their tails off. When we travel, we so often take countless photos of fisherman, cooks and other people who toil in conditions ranging from comfortable to downright inhumane. While we are on holiday, we glamorize the hard work of the people we observe to the point of romanticizing it. Work is work, though, and behind every exquisite photo of those tireless men and women is a story made of sweat, determination and, very often, survival.

This photo by Flickr user Michael Joseph Goldst...etc shows one such man who struck a pose, permitted a photograph and then went about his day. This man, a Uruguayan fisherman, makes for one hell of a photo subject. For him, though, it was most likely nothing more than an unusual moment on his morning walk to work.

Have any pictures of people working hard to make the world go round? Upload them to the Gadling Flickr group and we might just use one for our next Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day (09.06.10) originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cigarettefishermanLabor DayLaborDayphoto of the dayphotoofthedayThermosMon, 06 Sep 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Travel blogger Q&A: Jodi Ettenberg]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/07/26/travel-blogger-qanda-jodi-ettenberg/http://www.gadling.com/2010/07/26/travel-blogger-qanda-jodi-ettenberg/http://www.gadling.com/2010/07/26/travel-blogger-qanda-jodi-ettenberg/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

For many travel enthusiasts, bloggers, and armchair travelers, Jodi Ettenberg's story is downright inspirational. For several years a successful corporate lawyer, she left her comfortable if demanding life in New York to travel the world.

Along the way, she's had an unnerving number of bird crap incidents, documented Thailand's red shirt protests, and provided an enticing introduction to the Perhentian Islands, among many other engagements. One constant throughout is food, and in particular street food.

Ettenberg authors a fantastic blog called Legal Nomads and maintains a very active and always interesting Twitter account.

Q: Describe your profession.

A: A few years ago, I'd have said corporate lawyer. Nowadays: hungry nomad, avid reader, mountain climber, marshmallow enthusiast, and travel blogger.

Q: What drives your instinct to travel?

A: A desire to soak up as much as possible, as intensely as possible. I know this sounds broad, but it applies to almost every facet of what I've done these past few years. I am continuously energized by learning new things and experiencing them firsthand. Travel can be exhausting and it can be awe-inspiring, but I've found the best way to balance between the two is to keep reaching out to local people wherever you go.

My time learning, eating, and traveling with locals has compelled me to keep going, from living with a local family in the Philippines to shaking my head at the sheer insanity of a crazy transportation route in Burma.

Q: Your travels have focused on South America and Asia. What drew you to these parts of the world, in very general terms?

A: For South America, the language and the people. I lived in Uruguay and Ecuador in 2002, and taught myself Spanish by compulsively writing down words in the middle of conversations and then memorizing them at night. In my months on the continent, I managed to pick up quite a bit of the language. I was able to talk to cab drivers and learn about their life stories, and ask questions about South America's tangled history. More importantly, I was able to understand the answers to my questions, which deepened the desire to keep traveling there.

For Asia, the food, with the people a close second. It could be whatever magnificent street eats I find for breakfast, to the many soups in Burma, to sitting down in Kuala Lumpur and receiving cooking lessons in exchange for bringing tourists to a street stand near BB Plaza. I get obnoxiously excited about food, and will happily travel to another town just to try a dish. My interest in food adds a tremendously rewarding dimension to my gallivanting, especially in Asia where food is so integral to culture. I loved reading Anthony Zee's Swallowing Clouds for that reason, as it ties together Chinese food and history and culture in an intoxicating way.

Q: The sheer duration of your travels is an inspiration to tons of travel writers and bloggers, and your pace is both slow and relaxed. Talk about this.

A: I started out traveling at a relatively quick pace, but once I hit Asia and fell in love with Asian food I started to move more slowly. I spent four months in the Philippines and two months each in Indonesia and Malaysia. The 90-hour work weeks I'd endured as a corporate lawyer gave me the freedom to truly explore whatever enticed me as I wandered through the world. I worked hard, and I feel very lucky that I now have the time, energy, and desire to keep traveling as long as I have.

Continue reading Travel blogger Q&A: Jodi Ettenberg

Travel blogger Q&A: Jodi Ettenberg originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bloggerbloggingburmaecuadormalaysiaPhilippinesthailandThailandProtestsuruguayMon, 26 Jul 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mexico City offers free honeymoon to first gay couple married in Argentina]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/07/18/mexico-city-offers-free-honeymoon-to-first-gay-couple-married-in/http://www.gadling.com/2010/07/18/mexico-city-offers-free-honeymoon-to-first-gay-couple-married-in/http://www.gadling.com/2010/07/18/mexico-city-offers-free-honeymoon-to-first-gay-couple-married-in/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This week Argentina legalized gay marriage, the first Latin American country do so. Civil unions are legal in Uruguay, but Argentina's move puts same-sex marriages on the same footing with straight ones, with same-sex couples being allowed to adopt.

Mexico City, where gay marriages are also legal, has marked the occasion by offering a free honeymoon to the first gay couple married in Argentina. Both Mexico City and Buenos Aires are considered gay-friendly tourist destinations.

Mexico City's tourism secretary Alejandro Rojas said in a recent interview that he hopes gay couples will see his city as a destination for getting married and spending their honeymoon. His office is encouraging tour operators to create package tours especially tailored to same-sex couples. The city is also putting its money where its mouth is by investing in gay-friendly hotels and other businesses.

Photo courtesy user zackly76 via Gadling's flickr pool.

Mexico City offers free honeymoon to first gay couple married in Argentina originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 18 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buenos airesBuenosAiresgaygay marriagegay rightsGayMarriageGayRightsgayshoneymoonhoneymoonershoneymoonsmexico cityMexicoCitySun, 18 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The ten best cities for sunbathing]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/29/ten-best-cities-for-sunbathing/http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/29/ten-best-cities-for-sunbathing/http://www.gadling.com/2010/03/29/ten-best-cities-for-sunbathing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



After you've been cooped-up inside all winter, that first day of nice weather at home feels like a gift from heaven. Clothes come off, frisbees start flying and the hardcore sunbathing begins. Even if it's still cold where you live, the prospect of warmer days ahead looms large. In preparation for the endless days of spring and summer, here's ten of our favorite spots for sunbathing around the world. Grab yourself a towel and some sunscreen and check it out.

10. Barcelona, Spain
Barceloneta Beach is ideally located at the water's edge in Barcelona with fantastic restaurant and nightclub options at the nearby boardwalk. While the cleanliness of the sand has been an object of controversy in recent years, Barceloneta cannot be matched for its proximity to the many urban options that Barcelona affords. When you tire of the Mediterranean sun, there is Las Ramblas, La Sagrada Familia, Montjuic, Park Guell, and the smattering of architectural tributes to Gaudi.

Continue reading The ten best cities for sunbathing

The ten best cities for sunbathing originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barcelonabeachbondi beachBondiBeachbostondiamond headDiamondHeadhonoluluipanemalazylos angelesLosAngelesmalibumiaminew york cityNewYorkCityoutdoorsparispunta del estePuntaDelEsterelaxrio de janeiroRioDeJaneirosan diegoSanDiegosunbathingsunscreensydneytanvenice beachVeniceBeachwarmMon, 29 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World's longest bike race gets underway on Sunday]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/07/24/worlds-longest-bike-race-gets-underway-on-sunday/http://www.gadling.com/2009/07/24/worlds-longest-bike-race-gets-underway-on-sunday/http://www.gadling.com/2009/07/24/worlds-longest-bike-race-gets-underway-on-sunday/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

As that little bike race in France comes to an end this weekend on the Champs Elysees, an ocean away, another one will begin, as the inaugural Vuelta Sudamericana gets underway from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The "expedition race", as it is billed, is 134 days in length, making it the longest stage-race in the world.

The Vuelta is brought to us by the same deviously adventurous minds behind the Tour d'Afrique and the recently launched DreamTours, which lets you build your own cycling adventure. The organizers of the race have years of experience handling these types of events, and they allow the riders to focus on the journey while they take care of all the logistics.

While the race does run 134 days in length, only 110 of those are actual riding stages, with 23 rest days and 1 travel day built into the schedule as well. At the moment, 23 riders from all over the planet are set to embark on the ride, which begins on Sunday and will cover nearly 7500 miles, passing through Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia, and Peru before ending in Quito, Ecuador four months from now. Along the the route they'll peddle through steamy jungles, across arid deserts, and over mountain passes, climbing as high as 13,780 feet in the Andes.

The riders won't be at a loss for interesting scenery either. Along the course they'll pass by Iguazu Falls, Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in South America, the Atacama Desert, the driest place on Earth, Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable body of water in the world, and the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu. All in all, a fairly great tour of the continent.

Of course, not all of us have four months to go cycling around South America, so the entire ride is also broken down into nine smaller sections allowing cyclists who can't do the entire distance to join and leave at a variety of points along the way.

To learn more about the Vuelta Sudamericana, check out the official website, where you'll find updates from the riders starting soon. There is also more info on the route, profiles of the riders, an F.A.Q. and a detailed look at the event. This seems like a great adventure for anyone who is into long distance cycling, and makes the Tour de France seem like a short ride in the countryside.

World's longest bike race gets underway on Sunday originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aconcaguaadventure traveladventure-travelAdventureTravelatacamabike racingbike ridebike ridingBikeRacingBikeRideBikeRidingcyclingiguazu fallsIguazuFallslake titicacaLakeTiticacamachu picchuMachuPicchuvueltavueltasFri, 24 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the Day (3.22.09)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/03/22/photo-of-the-day-3-22-09/http://www.gadling.com/2009/03/22/photo-of-the-day-3-22-09/http://www.gadling.com/2009/03/22/photo-of-the-day-3-22-09/#commentsFiled under: ,



This past Friday was the first day of Spring, but here in New York you would have hardly known it. Friday morning we had snow showers, and temperatures have been hovering in the 40's and 50's. I'd much rather be hanging out with Flickr user wesleyrosenblum who took this quirky shot on the beach down in Punta del Este in Uruguay.

First off, I'm really fond of the framing here. I like how the tiny people and the hand are condensed down at the bottom of the frame, leaving the rest of the image for a seemingly limitless blue sky. Aside from that, you've gotta admire any municipality that will install a "giant hand" sculpture in the sand. I bet it makes for quite the sight when you come upon it on the beach.

Have any fantastic photos of Uruguay you'd like to share with us? Or maybe just from Utica, NY? Why not add them to the Gadling pool on Flickr? We might just pick one of yours as our Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day (3.22.09) originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beachgiant handGiantHandla manoLaManopunta del estePuntaDelEsteSun, 22 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA["No Reservations" season 4, episode 14: Uruguay]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/07/30/no-reservations-season-4-episode-14-uruguay/http://www.gadling.com/2008/07/30/no-reservations-season-4-episode-14-uruguay/http://www.gadling.com/2008/07/30/no-reservations-season-4-episode-14-uruguay/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Location: it's a Bourdain family vacation to Uruguay, the hidden secret of South America. Quietly tucked between beach-strewn Brazil and boisterous Argentina, Uruguay is the unsung hero of grilled meats, beautiful scenery and a quintessential "laid-back" lifestyle.

Episode Rating: Four bloody meat cleavers out of five. The cleavers are extra bloody this week from the insane amount of meat Tony eats during his Uruguayan odyssey. It's worth noting that the high ratings so far this season are not inflated - every single new episode this summer has made for highly-watchable television.

Summary: Little did we know, but the Bourdain family has a colorful family history, starting with Tony's grandfather who headed across the Atlantic in 1918 to settle for a few years in Uruguay. It is this mysterious voyage across the ocean which frames Tony's trip. Who were his ancestors? What was life like in early 20th Century Uruguay? To help in his quest, Bourdain invites along his brother Chris, and the siblings set off to try and find some answers (and possibly eat some animal flesh during their downtime).

Continue reading "No Reservations" season 4, episode 14: Uruguay

"No Reservations" season 4, episode 14: Uruguay originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anthony bourdainAnthonyBourdainarmadilloasadobarbecuebourdaincabo polonioCaboPoloniocandombechorizofrancis mallmannFrancisMallmanngarzonmontevideono reservationsNoReservationsparillapascualinapenguinpunta del estePuntaDelEsteWed, 30 Jul 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the day (01/07/07)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/07/photo-of-the-day-01-07-07/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/07/photo-of-the-day-01-07-07/http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/07/photo-of-the-day-01-07-07/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ahhh, great front yard treatment! Oh, the fertile soil of South America! I mean, how many landscaping companies in the US can grow blooming trees through cars?

All joking aside, this is a great photo from Uruguay by Marni Rachel. Awesome colors, too. Almost looks like an old photograph, partially painted.

***To have your photo considered for the Gadling Photo of the Day, go over to the Gadling Flickr site and post it.***

Photo of the day (01/07/07) originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Marni RachelMarniRachelUruguayMon, 07 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[More Independence Days to Celebrate]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/08/01/more-independence-days-to-celebrate/http://www.gadling.com/2007/08/01/more-independence-days-to-celebrate/http://www.gadling.com/2007/08/01/more-independence-days-to-celebrate/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

August is another Independence Day bonanza. The shifts of power didn't happen all at once, but 1960 was a big year. If you're in any of these countries expect a holiday. Maybe there will be fireworks or a parade or a speech or two.

  • August 1 - Benin gained independence from France
  • August 3-- Niger gained its independence from France
  • August 5 --Burkina Faso also gained independence from France.
  • August 11--Guess which country Chad gained independence from? That's right, France.
  • August 13--Central African Republic also gained independence from--you guessed it--France.
  • August 14- Pakistan from the U.K. in 1947.
  • August 15- India from the U.K. in 1947.
  • August 17- Gabon. Can you guess the country and year? If you said France and 1960, ***ding ding ding ! [Did you hear the you win bells?]
  • August 19- Afganistan from the U.K. in 1919. Wow, that's early.
  • August 24- Ukraine in 1991.
  • August 25- Uruguay from Brazil in 1825.
  • August 27- Moldova from U.S.S.R. in 1991
  • August 31- Kyrgystan from the U.S.S.R in 1991 and Trinidad and Tobago from the U.K. in 1962.

*The information is from the International Calendar published by the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Madison, Wisconsin. They put this calendar together every year and other Peace Corps groups sell it as a fundraiser.

More Independence Days to Celebrate originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Independence DayIndependenceDayWed, 01 Aug 2007 14:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Uruguay's Rebound]]>http://www.gadling.com/2006/12/27/uruguays-rebound/http://www.gadling.com/2006/12/27/uruguays-rebound/http://www.gadling.com/2006/12/27/uruguays-rebound/#commentsFiled under: ,

I know from having traveled there a significant amount that when most people think about traveling in South America, they don't think Uruguay. It's always Brazil, Chile and Argentina that come to mind. But according to this piece, that may be about to change.

Frommer's suggests that the Uruguayan town of Punta del Este is staging some kind of serious rebound. The town witnessed a serious loss of luster during the 1990s, but made significant infrastructure improvements and now the "Pearl of the Atlantic", has reinvented itself as South America's premier all-purpose vacation spot. There are attractions for everyone from lounge-music fans and families with small children to sport fishermen and gamblers. And if you just enjoy hanging out on the beach, well, you can do that too.

Personally, I'd love to see South America take off as a destination favorite of Americans replacing, say, Mexico. Chile and Argentina remain two of my favorite places on the globe, and now that I've checked out the piece here, I may have to add Uruguay to my list.

Uruguay's Rebound originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 27 Dec 2006 06:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 27 Dec 2006 06:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Megan Lyles Travel Writer]]>http://www.gadling.com/2006/12/26/megan-lyles-travel-writer/http://www.gadling.com/2006/12/26/megan-lyles-travel-writer/http://www.gadling.com/2006/12/26/megan-lyles-travel-writer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

StarfishWhen really good travel blogs manage to remain secret to me, I get bummed wishing someone had called me sooner to say, "Hey, Adrienne you need to peep this right now!" No personal calls were ever received which leads me to wonder how many folks even know about the travel writing goodness of Megan Lyles? It really makes no huge difference that I didn't follow Megan and her fiancé/photographer, Michael Simon, while they were blogging on the road. It just means I have a ton of catching up to do.

Back in the summer of 2005 Megan and Michael took off on a one-year long bus trip from Manhattan to the tip of South America. The trip has since been wrapped up and Megan and Michael are back in Manhattan, but the site is still up and there for your viewing pleasure. And I do mean it is a pleasure to check out. I read through some of the Mexico, Paraguay, and Uruguay stops not wanting to stop, but catching up is going to take a while. Before I departed I clicked on just one more plug while they were in North Carolina attending the Vans Warped tour. All I can say is Megan, where ever you are - I can totally relate.

Megan Lyles Travel Writer originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 26 Dec 2006 06:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bus tripsBusTripsroad tripsRoadTripsTue, 26 Dec 2006 06:49:00 EST