Rainy Rt. 101 in California

It was one of those dreary days that Southern California rarely gets and yet in way it was okay. I crawled down Rt.101 past Carlsbad, Del Mar and Encinitas each with new memories for me. In Carlsbad I found a great Italian restaurant with my favorite dish, chicken parm. Vigilucci’s dish was perfect for a rainy day. Encinitas had a store called Cost Highway Trader that was filled with funky imports from Mexico. The memory with the biggest imprint however was the beach near Delray. A lifeguard jeep with surf boards on top appeared out of the fog to keep me company as I sat and starred at the Pacific Ocean. Over the years I have tried to never let the weather adversely effect my travels, sometimes I get lucky, just like today!

The Travel Media Showcase, Another One Chalked Up

J Vero’s booming Brooklyn accent screaming, “Going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come”, hit the over worked travel media visitors as it always does, like a tidal wave. That’s right next years travel media fest will be in Kansas City. I am barely over this year to think about that! All in all I had a good time meeting some old media buds and some new ones also. Despite feeling flu like mid session I think I hooked up some good domestic destinations for Max, myself and our regular GoNOMAD writers.I even managed to do a radio segment for Around the World Travel Radio.

Best part of the show was hearing how well received GoNOMAD has become, our rep has climbed high over the past years. I remember when Max and I started going to these events and online sites were a hard sell. Not anymore! The picture is of Scandinavian Tourism Board’s Harald Hansan and Julia Hallin, fitting since I have traveled to Norway with Harald and am heading to Sweden soon with Max. Smart marketing on Scandinavia’s part to attend the show. Today I meander down the Southern California to La Jolla, no schedule and on my own.

The Haves and Have Nots in Palm Springs

I opted out of this afternoon and evening events and it was a good thing for two reasons, I used my car rental to explore on my own and I have the chills and aches coming on. To explore I used my Magellan and a free give away brochure. I enjoyed my drive but the truth is that for every Jaguar out in Palm Springs there is a junker on the road. For every 5 Star restaurant there is a Poco Loco chicken stand. To be fair that is the case everywhere, this time it just hit. It is dinner in the room at the Morongo tonight with television on and a book open.

Traffic in California

It was a tough day flying the domestic airways, full planes and delays; it got worse as I hopped into the rental car and headed to Palm Springs from San Diego. The traffic was unbearable and bumper to bumper, all the way! I finally arrived just in time to jump in the shower and head to the welcome party here at the Morongo Resort. Even stuck in traffic I must admit that the skies were beautiful in that California multi layered way and the air full of a Mediterranean feel. Busy day in the morning.

What Happens in Palm Springs Stays in Palm Springs, Not on This Blog!

It is time to go speed dating in the travel world once again, this time with domestic tourism folks. I head to Morongo Resort & Casino in the morning to press flesh and catch up with some travel media buddies. I have skipped the last Travel Media Showcase so it should be interesting and if not I am bound to still have a good time. I wouldn’t have it any other way! “What happens in Palm Springs stays in Palm Springs”, not with this blog. Here is the press release:

More than 200 of the world's leading travel writers will convene next year at the 44-acre, $250 million Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa (MCRS) located near Palm Springs, California for an elite gathering of international print and broadcast travel media professionals.
The Travel Media Showcase (TMS) recently announced their selection of the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa for their 8th annual convention, a sought-after event by the hospitality and convention industry for the exposure that it brings to the year's chosen conference venue. The event, which will take place November 27-29, 2007, will mark the first time that the showcase has been held in cooperation with a Native American tribe or property.

Tango in Lyon, France

A Full Garden of Thanks

After a day spent with family and friends I came home and thought about how thankful I was for all the opportunities life has given me. I am truly a lucky man!

NY Post, Ellen DeGeneres and Richard Mineards

I caught Richard Mineards name today in the NY Post’s Page Six, reporting on Ellen DeGeneres’s sale of her Santa Barbara estate. The estate is 81-year-old, four- acre piece of heaven. Every time I call in to do a segment on Around the World Travel Radio I get to banter with my favorite host Arthur von Wiesenberger and Richard with his cool Brit accent. You can hear the show by clicking the above link and going to the archives.

NY Post and the Yucatan, Revisiting Merida

The NY Post travel section this week was all about the Yucatan. While Cancun (really in the State of Quintana Roo) was well covered, I was pleased to find a lot of info about one of my favorite Yucatan destinations, Merida. The article called Merida, “colorful and historic”. Cultural offerings also figured in as a big plus. I indeed enjoyed my stay in Merida this September especially my digs at the Villa, truly special. Also covered was Playa Del Carmen, with its euro feel and hip yet affordable vibe. Let it snow then go!

Hong Kong and the Chinese New Year

On my last trip to Hong Kong I happened to catch a pro democracy protest and while that was thrilling, it is the fantastic food that I always think about. While I rarely post any of the PR releases I get, I thought this one looked great.

Hong Kong is an irresistible blend of old and new, East and West and is one of the best places in the world to celebrate Chinese New Year. Selected by Lonely Planet’s Bluelist 2007 as one of the world's most fascinating attractions, Hong Kong’s Chinese New Year does not disappoint.

This year guests can celebrate Chinese New Year in style with China Travel Services (USA) Inc. from February 4-10, 2008. The celebration includes a banquet by Iron Chef Chow K.C, VIP seats for the Chinese New Year Parade, and a harbor cruise to watch the spectacular fireworks. Book before December 7, 2008 to receive an early bird savings of $150 for a total package cost of $1,298 per person.

Celebrate Chinese New Year in Hong Kong with Iron Chef! February 4-10, 2008 http://www.discoverhongkong.com/usa/plan/vacation/pack_info.jhtml?id=83&st=L

St. Croix on the Come Back Trail

I read an article by Laura Kelly in Caribbean Travel and Life today that really was a thrill. Since I was twelve I have been going to St Croix with my family, my Dad bought a condo at Coakley Bay before they were built. Over the years I have sat on the balcony of G-15 and gazed at Buck Island, so many memories. I saw the devastation that Hugo and other hurricanes have done and it was heartbreaking.I have gotten down from time to time and did this June. I agree with Laura, things are looking up for the isalnd that will always have a special place in my heart, I will soon return to G-15 and gaze at Buck Island!

"Brother" King and the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary in the Grenadines

One of the best parts of traveling is meeting people that make a difference and Orton “Brother” King is one of the best. “Brother” King runs the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary on Bequia Island in the Grenadines. Hawksbill sea turtles have a survival rate of one in a thousand and are dangerously going extinct. Brother King works hard at changing the odds and has been doing so for the last twelve years. In his salt water ponds he takes collected hatchlings and raises them up for release. They start out eating canned tuna fish then move on to small fish. At age three they are released back into the sea, over 2000 have been released. Brother marks his turtles with a hole in the back of the shell and his babies are found all over the Grenadines. Standing by the largest pool I was amazed at how friendly a hawksbill can be, they loved having their shells lightly scratched. It is quite obvious that this man loves his cause, check his site and see how you can help.

Chateau De Bagnols, My Hotel Pick for the Year

Averaging a hundred hotel stays a year for several years makes it hard sometimes to remember many. One that will always stand out as a top five is the Chateau De Bagnols, in the heart of Beaujolais country, France. The Chateau dates from the 13th century and is stunning in its beauty. The Italian Renaissance decorations and bold ceiling arabesques were a delight to behold and my huge bathroom was a part of a huge circular tower complete with arrow slits. Of course having a Michelin-starred restaurant was the final feather in the cap. I recently saw a piece in Sherman’s Travel and they agreed, it would be hard not to. Here is a link to my trip and more about the hotel as well as a stay in Lyon.

Claire Bear's Life in Chicago

Press trips are a mind set; it can be like traveling with your family, you temporarily get that close. That also could mean it is like traveling with crazy old Aunt B or the twin brother you hate. Of course most of the time you meet some really interesting people, my travel mates to SVG were like the good relatives you like sitting around with at the table after Thanksgiving. One has a great blog going on about her move to Chicago from LA and all the changes she is going through and although she has been writing for a long time she has been bitten by the travel bug. I see a great travel writing future for her. Check out Claire’s

Find discount flights to Chicago

The NY Times & GoNomad.com. a Winner

It was a thrill to read the NY Times Travel Section today and see the GoNomad logo in the Grey Lady about the upcoming Travel Show, Feb. 29-March 2. 2008. We are Media Partners for the first time this year. Max and I with help from Cindy, Lil, Sony, Paul, Joe and others have been in other shows in NYC but we have reached another level. For years Max and I would set up a booth and all of us would be talking in scratched throats after packing up our booth to head home, a wave to Cindy and Max as his packed car left the auditorium was a tradition for Lil and I.

Better yet is reading some great articles about Columbia, Morocco, Puerto Rico and Portugal, all of which we have covered over the past year. Awhile back we were named as a site to see by the NY Times, we still are.

Winterizing in Cottekill NY

It was a chilly weekend in the Hudson River Valley and even the Catskills had some snow dusting visible from the house. While many like warm weather I do not mind cold. For some reason I tend to be more active in cooler temps. We spent the day raking leaves and winterizing the house, not easy with a old farm house dating from 1845.This afternoon I went through pictures to send up to the GoNOMAD Cafe for a show. That is where I came across this photo from Lake Placid last winter, it is just around the corner. Time to cover the sailboat and check the ski bindings.

Vemex, My European Friends

Max and have been speed dating, its okay my wife understands. After ten years of travel writing she should. We went to our fourth VEMEX show in NYC to meet with European Tourism officials to meet and greet. It is the best way to keep up on just what is going on over there and also get to see some great people met along the way. It is a very close knit industry and we all share a common love of traveling. As the years go by I run into other writers that I have shared fantastic trips with and this is one place that I see many at one time. I ran into Tim Leffel, Peter Mandel, Bruce Northam and many others. The only face I missed was the King of Travel, Johnny Jet. No doubt he was busy traveling!

It isn’t however just the writers that I loved seeing, great folks from the other side of the business also fit in. Good friends that bust hump to keep us up to date that have also shared unbelievable adventures and moments, Germany, France, Sweden, Croatia, Norway and Finland have kept GoNomad up to date, to name just a few. These people earn their bucks the hard way! The picture is of Katherine Johnstone and Jessie Lathem, from Maison de la France; both have made my world a better place.

Bequia and Manhattan, Night and Day

After a fast paced day at the European Travel Commission yesterday, I was drawn to pictures I took down in St Vincent and the Grenadines last week. I wanted to relive the bare footing slow pace and breath the salty air, it doesn’t take me long to get nostalgic over a special place.

One of my favorite places down there was the Island of Bequia (“BEK-way”) just nine miles away from St Vincent, a perfect sail. Its main town is Port Elizabeth, a funky little place with great water views and small scale restaurants and shops. Amy’s Creole Grill was also where I had the best French fries I have ever tasted.It was almost like my lobster sandwich was the side dish. In keeping with the laid back Bequia way it is also a place to drop off a finished book and trade it in for a new one. A long way from the fast pace of Manhattan and people rushing around.

Sail More, Work Less

Sailing the Grenadine Islands

With some of the finest sailing in the Caribbean it is no wonder that Sail Fast, Live Slow and Sail More, Work Less tee shirts are found everywhere in St Vincent and the Grenadine Islands. After our trip I couldn’t agree more!

Plane Insanity

 Picture two of the Little plane that couldn't on Union Island.

Just Plane Crashed Out on Union Island

It was a long day flying back from St Vincent today but not half as bad as the day this pilot recently had. We found this crashed plane on Union Island, a wee bit further down the runway than a plane should be. My experiences on puddle jumping the SVG was however thrilling. Flying little props is something I love and we did a lot of it, fortunately without a hitch.

Heading Home From St. Vincent

It has been an amazing trip filled with sailing adventures complete with storms and sunny skies. A plane crash, not mine, and petting those lovable Hawk bill Sea Turtles also filled hours while exploring St Vincent and the Grenadine Islands. Unfortunately at the airport in Kingstown posting pictures isn't working. Hope to be able in San Juan to do so.

Cruising The Beach in St Vincent

Pirates and Jumby on St Vincent Island

I am loving being in my sweet room at the Grenadine House after a tough day hiking the rain forest to the Trinity Falls. Hiking up and down steep trails was killer but so good to do. On the way we stopped at several fishing villages, it was like the Caribbean used to be years ago, not tarted up but real. The people friendly and life lived, no wonder why Depp's pirate films were made here. Tonight is Jumby Away night and I can see the fires and laterns in the grave yard across the hill. The people go to talk about the dead relatives and party, much like day of the dead in Mexico.

Dinner on St Vincent

Made it through the busy San Juan Airport where gate agents were decked in Halloween garb, hilarious to think that a pirate or clown is having to tell passengers about delays while decked out. The Grenadine House is high above Kingstown St Vincent and really beautiful. Our chef last night made an astounding chicken breast stuffed with local bananas and covered with a passion fruit B Que sauce. the chef Winston, is a Canadian that once went home to Canada to visit family. When he went to return to the US he wasn't allowed back in! He ended up here and I say what a lose to the taste buds back in the US.