Archive for the ‘top articles’ Category
Good afternoon tea spots are hard to find. Los Angeles has a diverse collection of tea houses that range from traditional English to sleek and modern—you just have to know where to look. All the classics are present, from luxury hotels to Asian-inspired tea rooms. Here are our top 10 favorite spots:
10. Tudor House, Santa Monica
This Santa Monica tea room is classic English, casual, and perfect for tea followed by some beach time or shopping at Third Street Promenade. You won’t be fawned over by white glove waiters, nor hear harpists strum. Instead you can relax, enjoy classic English fare and pastries, then grab a pint at the English pub next door.
Tudor House Santa Monica
1403 2nd Street
Santa Monica, California
310.451.8470
This is it—I’ve reached MONTH 11, yes eleven—in a full year of around the world travel. How can I even begin to describe the adventures? While I write about some of my favorite experiences in bite sized chunks, it’s only the tip of the iceberg. Attempting to share everything I saw and did—now that’s proving to be quite a challenge. My mind is filled with so many impressions and facts…I’m looking forward to spending some time reflecting on everything, and of course delving into the huge photo library we’ve compiled over this journey—roughly 65,000 photos so far!
Fiji Me!
But first comes Fiji, a place I’ve always dreamed of going, and appropriately, the final destination is this giant adventure. It’s been one year, 4 continents, 27 countries, and over 200 cities—and what a year it’s been!
We’re taking a short hiatus while we soak up some sun and sand, but stay tuned for more adventures soon!
The national dish of Scotland is haggis. This hearty dish consists of minced sheep’s liver, heart, and lungs, mixed with suet and oatmeal and seasoned with diced onions and spices. All this is then cooked in the sheep’s stomach. It’s also served with neeps and tatties, or puréed turnips and mashed potatoes, respectively.
Berlin is a city that is constantly changing. Ultra modern building projects glisten beside historically grand structures and the occasional art-covered chunk of the Berlin Wall. In this constantly evolving landscape, there is never a shortage of sleek and stylish hotels either, many which have become some of the city’s most daring expressions of new design. Among these trendsetters Nhow Hotel has to be one of the most beautifully designed of them all.
Looking for a hip, youthful, and fashionable place to stay in Vienna, Austria? Then check out the Twenty Five Hours Hotel Vienna. Located at the MuseumsQuartier in Vienna, it’s in the heart of the city (7th district), right next to the Hofburg Palace and most of the city’s museums, conveniently next to metro and tram stops. What’s so unique about this hotel is that it’s circus themed, plus it’s a nightlife hotspot too.
Having spent the month in Argentina, I’ve compiled a bunch of fun facts and tidbits on the country to help anyone planning an upcoming trip to Argentina, but mostly just to entertain anyone who loves travel. Here goes:
Origins of a Name
The name Argentina comes from the latin word for silver, or argentum. Also the Río de la Plata near Buenos Aires translates to “River of Silver”.
Buenos Aires is filled with colorful street art. Everywhere you turn buildings have been tagged, and much of it has been elevated to an art form. You’ll find street art across the city, signed by the artists themselves. These images encompass bold graphics and painted characters, as well as classic typography and iconography. Some of the best street art can be found in two of B.A.’s trendiest neighborhoods: the up and coming San Telmo historic district and the stylish Palermo Viejo neighborhood.
Buenos Aires is an exciting city. For starters, it’s home to the sultry tango. Its buildings seem to have been splashed with all colors of the rainbow and turned into open canvases for some of the world’s best graffiti art. There’s a whisper of European flavor to the city, with strong Italian and Spanish roots that have produced great things, among them top notch helado. Plus the city is packed with steakhouses and everywhere you turn are steaming empanadas. Here you can watch a tango show in the park over cold cervezas, shop in street markets for hidden gems, stay out till dawn in the city’s many hopping nightclubs, and just wander about enjoying the relaxed vibe.
St. Gallen, tucked away in Switzerland’s northwestern corner, turned out to be a culinary slice of heaven. This city has it all—classic and modern architecture, a vast historical legacy, a focus on fashion, UNESCO world heritage sights and an emphasis on good food.
Monastery Haute Cuisine
Hands down, the most unique meal in town is the St. Gallus haute cuisine dining experience at Gaststuben zum Schlössli, a restored castle in the heart of St. Gallen’s old town with themed dining rooms.
Most people have heard of Zurich, the Matterhorn or Geneva. But St. Gallen? The name generally draws blank stares. Yet Switzerland’s northeastern capital is charming, foodie focused, relaxed, and blissfully tourist free.
I rode the train from Lucerne to St. Gallen, which turned out to be an incredibly scenic journey. It cut through green expanses of fertile valleys filled with grazing cows below big fluffy clouds in a brilliant blue sky, all surrounded by mountain peaks crowned with snow. Crossing rivers and curving past multiple lakes, this has got to be one of the best ways to see Switzerland, especially since traveling from one end of the country to the other doesn’t usually take more than a few hours.
