2008, A Year of Ups and Downs

Ending 2008 isn’t going to be hard; it was a strange year for me. It had ups and downs as all years do; the highs and lows were just wider apart. The year was so much like my drive back from Montreal yesterday, filled with ups and downs. We left feeling relaxed and still feeling the great vibes of two people traveling together in unison. Soon though the wind blown snow made the stretch to the border hazardous and the trip started slow. Then we crossed and had a great lunch at a place I have stopped at for years. Later we got two flat tires on the Northway but triple AAA came quickly and towed us to a shop. More bad news from the owner of the station, no tires my size. Then wham, great news, his crew plugged both tires and even put the spare back on the trunk. To top it off no charge, just tip my guy and have a great New Years. The kindness of people has always been the highlight of every year and yesterday’s kindness a great ending to a year of ups and downs.

Farewell Montreal

The snow is falling here in Montreal and it is early, the best time to take the camera out for a walk. To me a visit here isn’t about going to attractions though there are plenty. It is more about people watching and visiting neighborhoods, Latin Quarter, Old city or Little Italy being my favorites. The city is vast in its ethnic populations and that makes Montreal a great place to eat. While filled with many well know tables it is often the small unknown places that thrill. I had for lunch today a wood fired pizza that I will remember always, St Lucia off St Catherine a block from Loews. Strip clubs stand side by side with stately stone buildings and we spent the afternoon in one of the largest urban movie theaters I have ever seen. The Wrestler with Rourke fascinating but no more than the people that call Montreal home.

Loews You First Versus Priority Club, Loews Hotel Vogue Wins Hands Down

I have moved to the Loews Hotel Vogue today after last night at the Intercontinental and I immediately felt relieved, the reasons were posted a few blogs ago. It gave me a chance to compare the two gold status loyalty programs I have, Loews You First and Priority Club used by Intercontinental. I found a huge difference between them to the benefit of Loews. My Priority Club card enabled me to pay for an Executive Floor room and use of a lounge not even open. My Loews gives me an automatic room upgrade and for $50 I can upgrade further and get a suite if available. Intercontinental wanted to charge me $100 for checking out a day early, a fact I found absurd since I was leaving due to the services I paid for were not available. After calling the Priority Desk last night and hearing that they would contact the Intercontinental, they didn’t or at least the hotel claimed they didn’t, I had to again explain that the lack of promised services was the reason. After reaching gold status for nine years, I also found that absurd.

I reviewed my forgotten benefits from Loews and was again impressed, besides the automatic room upgrade; I get free internet, late checkout, fitness center access and best of all some great service. This Loews was 87 CAD cheaper and the room far better including the Jacuzzi tubs that are in all rooms. In fact it stood up well to some of the great hotels I have stayed in. My gut feeling is that Priority pushes the certain number of stays for a free night plan. Loews pushes the service and making you feel appreciated plan. Right now at my room in Montreal, I am feeling mighty appreciated! Little wonder that Cloony, Damon and Roberts pick the Loews, even stars like to be treated like one.

Magic in Old Montreal

Old Montreal is magical, even with the wind whipping at up to 100 kilometers. The only made our fireside dinner at Restaurant Vieux Port that much better. The service and style perfect for a winter night. A bit of ice wine fortified us for the walk back through the serene streets. Old Montreal is a mix of delightful decay and upscale wonder. You can almost feel back in a different time.

Montreal's Intercontinental and Priority Club, This Travel Review isn't Good

When you see a complete room set up where you check in to a hotel run, I should have known better but checked in anyway. I could never understand the concept of showing you the room that you will not get but the one you might get if you return after renovations. I am very surprised by Montreal’s Intercontinental doing some shady shifting or perhaps I should feel that way about the Priority Club, their loyalty club and booking people. When I made the reservations I was asked if I would like to use my Gold Status and some extra bucks to get a room on the Executive floor with the lounge and comp breakfast and afternoon treats. Hey it is something I love to treat Lil to so I agreed. After calling from the room to the temp check in I was told that due to low occupancy the lounge was closed and if I wanted I could get a drink coupon for the one temp bar. Not quite the same thing I paid extra for and agreed to on booking. Look I know that places need to renovate, they sure do here. It was a good place a few years back but the hotel has fallen far behind in this city of fantastic boutique hotels. I guess what annoys me is on the website and when talking to the reservation agent I got no notice of renovation or cancellation of the Executive Lounge. The, “oh well” attitude of staff didn’t help. If you’re going to renovate, start with letting the public know before they book and do not sell what isn’t available. I stay at hotels about 1/3 of the nights in a year, if lucky. I love to rave about great finds. I also like to warn readers about things to beware of and I have to wonder if I would try another Intercontinental or even use my Priority Club card again after being told that I would be charged $100 if I checked out a day early. There are too many great places to stay; tomorrow night one of those great boutique hotels, cheaper and I hope better attitudes.

Intercontinental in Montreal, Lil and I

No trip to Paris but still Lil will get to slaughter the French language; we are headed to, Montreal for a few nights. Great people watching and bathrobes with views from the Intercontinental Hotel of the city below. We will checkout galleries, restaurants and each other as travelers do. In fact I believe that everyone should be forced to travel with possible life partners before commitment. So much is evident while on the road, little things that grow with time. I love traveling with my wife, more would be better! If you read this blog often you know how many times a year I say goodbye to head somewhere, soon the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef. So glad that this time we are just saying goodbye to the cats. I also want to congratulate Kate and her husband on the arrival of Valerie Sofia Cosme, Max’s second grandchild. I will hoist a glass to the newest member of the GN Team, long may they run!

Putting the Champagne on Ice

Merry Christmas

Lunch With Andrew Zimmern in Morocco

Moroccian%20Food.mp3 Today I had lunch with Andrew Zimmern, he in Morocco and myself in Cottekill. Andrew's Travel Channel Show, Bizarre Foods always amazes me. Listen to the audio for the memories stirred up by watching.andrew.aup

Scarier Than the Macau Tower, Removing Ice From the Roof

For years I have been sing the praises of owning an old house dating from 1845, loved it, the creaks, the uneven wide pine floor planks, all of it. Today I was reminded about the downside, the quirks and things that just never seem to work. I was sitting at my desk in the office when I felt water drop on my head. Then on my computer, not a good sign. I was really into finishing some writing that I need to get done ASAP. Instead I spent the last several hours climbing ladders in deep snow, it was scarier than my jump from the Macau Tower. Swinging a hammer trying to break up the ice that formed on the roof, my next course of action was to heat thousands of pots of water to melt through the ice. All too soon I looked like an ice sculpture myself. Still the incessant sound of dripping water sends me into a tizzy, Chinese Water Torture couldn't be as bad. It is time to pack up all the office equipment under a tarp and take the laptop into the living room. Time to build a roaring fire and get busy writing, to leave all 2008 trips finished and get ready for 2009. I will much prefer the sound of crackling wood than that horrible drip!No wonder I sometimes ache for the road, I've yet had a leaking ceiling in a great hotel.

The High Falls Cafe, Very Local and Very Good

On a cold winter night we didn’t want to head to Kingston for dinner, we wanted very local and we wanted it to be great, we got our wish. We went to the High Falls Café and loved it. The menu had changed to the better, fantastic CHOICES, in all categories. Quesadilla, burgers and meatloaf may sound standard but not when done by scratch and with care. The chicken breast stuffed with ricotta, sausage, fresh basil and mozzarella with a plum tomato marsala sauce was to die for.

Atmosphere was delightfully rustic and comfortable, a plus on a snowy night. Service from our waitress Sarah was the best I have run into in a longtime. The chef Brian is a master at unique and tasty. The bar gets filled with locals and live music happens after the dinner period. The town of High Falls is itself very picturesque, especially with freshly fallen snow. I was so happy to rediscover that very local is now very good!

More of the White Stuff

It just keeps on coming! More than nine inches expected today.

France's New Logo For Tourism

This is the new look of France's tourism logo. If ever there was a better tourism board to work with, I haven't found them. To my wonderful friend Katherine many thanks for making life so much better. I wish all of France, Happy Holidays.

A Che For Kelly

Like Kelly Westhoff I am fan of Che art, that face just pulls me in. Che is found eveywhere in the world perhaps second only to Coca Cola. I was going through some pictures and found this picture I took in Paris. Kelly this Che is for you!

Gridskipper, Budget Traveler, World Hum and Other Ways to Spend a Snowy Day

I got to love a snowy day because I get to float around the sites and blogs of traveling folks. I can tell when Gridskipper has posted links to my blog on their site; hits go up like a roman candle. Same for Budget Travel, World Hum, Tim Leffel and Johnny Jet, and a host of others and I will be linking some more great sites here soon. It truly is a small world we all work within. Tonight I would especially like to thank Gridskipper, such a cool site with info any traveler would use. Max and I discussed much of what we will talk about at our seminar at the NY Times Travel Show this year; you all deserve to be given a shout out on my handout. Time to put on the snow suit and dig out, the slopes of the Catskills will call soon.

Travel and Leisure's Top 500 Hotels, Heading to Queensland and Voyages Lizard Island

I am a confirmed hotel ho, a man in love with special places to bed down, to hideaway in splendor and comfort, to revel in special settings designed solely to pamper. Yes a hotel ho! I was pumped up to see that Travel & Leisure just did their top 5oo Best Hotels of the World and one of the places on my upcoming trip to Queensland took best in Australia, Voyages Lizard Island. It is a private island with 24 beaches surrounded by tropical bushland. I will be living the not rich or famous but lucky lifestyle, doubles start at $2,056. Others on the list that I have bedded in recently are the Shelbourne in Dublin, Hotel de la Cite in Carcassonne and the Ritz-Carlton in Philadelphia. Actually I’ve done quite a few of the top ones, just another day in the office.

Getting a Passport, A Must

We treat our passports like the holy book, we need them to do what we do, that simple. The truth is that we usually have to figure out just when to get new ones, you don’t want to miss a travel experience because your passport is sitting in some pile in some office. This morning in NYC Max had his photos taken because it is that time to get a new one. He had them taken by the Annie Leibowitz of passport photos at a Duane Reade pharmacy, the photographer jumped from artist to checkout clerk like a super hero. To see about getting passports of your own go to http://www.usps.com/passport/

Massage in NYC, "Qi" is Tops

I got a massage today while waiting for Max to end his day with Dad. My sister found this place and the low price massage great. I had "Qi" done to open the meridian lines get the balance. It worked heading to the village tonight to find great food and talk GN.

Todays Weather in the Northeast

Press Trips and Photos, Reliving It

I love when my nephew Drew, niece Kourtney or pro photographer as well as friends come and sit by the fire for dinner. The comment I get most often that this old farm house is like a museum. It is to me, reminders of fantastic places I have had the honor to visit!
dreamphotos.mp3

Bright Holiday Lights of NYC Soon After Belfast and Dublin

Having just seen the Christmas lights of Brussels, Belfast and Dublin, I am ready to check out the lights of the Big Apple tomorrow night. It takes me a bit to warm up to the Holidays but thousands of twinkling lights do it. I remember as a kid heading in with my family to Rockefeller Center for the Christmas Show and then a huge dinner in the city. We usually bedded down at the Waldorf and my Mom usually had me decked out like a little wimp. See the Scrooge still pops up! I am sure the decorations of NYC will change that.

The Great Barrier Reef, What a Great Christmas Present

I’m not sure if I was really all that good this past year but I did get a fantastic early Christmas present. I’m going where the eco system contains over 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of mollusks, island rainforests and beaches fill out the dry land options. I will get a chance to feed giant cod and snorkel with giant clams, from my own motorized dingy. I will be island hopping at the Great Barrier Reef, Australia in early Jan. Small props and high speed ferries will be the mode of transportation besides the fins strapped on. The islands covered will be Hamilton, Fitzroy and Lizard; key is the fantastic Voyages Resort, world renown and tops of lists worldwide. With friends like Melissa Braverman and Quinn and Company who needs Santa.

National Geographic Traveler, Best of 109 Places, Love them All

I recently read the new issue of NG Traveler and their list of 109 rated destinations, the 5th annual. I was overjoyed to see that one of my favorite towns I spent some time in the Best Rated List, in excellent shape, relatively unspoiled and likely to remain so. Parati, (Para-chee) Brazil provided a great place for me to explore after a press trip to Rio, often I extend my trip to go solo. I loved the 250 year old city and its unchanged look. I stayed at a small B&B overlooking the Ilha Grande Bay and Bicaina Mountains, damn fantastic! I paid the cousin of my B&B’s owner $35 for a small tour of some of the 300 beautiful beaches by small boat. I was also so glad to see that Lyon, Cesky Krumlov, Dijon, Aix and Stockholm’s Gamla Stan are all on the Best–Rated List. Max and I spent some time last Dec. checking out Stockholm. With travel magazines like Town and Country Travel going down I urge people to buy NG Traveler, especially when they cover the state of the destinations like they do. I would like to think that future generations will have the ability to experience the joys of special places as I have.

Traveling With Sleek Emmy Winning Blondes

I don’t want you all to think that traveling with Emmy winning sleek blondes happens on all of my trips, just sometimes. I got an email from buddy Karen Schaler a two time Emmy winner and a gorgeous blonde who I met on an adventure trip to Puerto Rico not long ago. Karen manages to look great even after slogging in a steamy rain forest and rappelling down cliffs. Her first Emmy came from coverage of the war in Bosnia; she then covered Afghanistan with the 285th unit from Arizona. She is a power house and I was grateful that she asked me to do a blurb for her upcoming book Travel Therapy. She will be on Fox & Friends Sunday, tomorrow morning talking about volunteer travel, something we at GoNOMAD push. I must admit that I am jealous that she will meet my favorite Fox personality Alisyn Camerota. Her book comes out in April 2009 and will be a winner, Karen doesn’t believe in losers!

Ice Storm

Foodie Press Trips, Enjoy Learning

Even with hundreds of TV channels I still prefer to pick up a book in bed, last night I started Anthony Bourdain’s The Nasty Bits. I had to chuckle a bit about all the names and food descriptions, felt much like I was on a tasting food trip. Occasionally I end up being the token all purpose writer on a trip. For example all the other writers last trip were food writers first and travel for that reason. I do not know who Norman Van Aken is though I have heard of Nobu Matsuhisa, if only because his restaurant is named Nobu. I do not like Monkfish liver and have to think twice before ordering La Langoustine dans un ravioli truffe au choux vert, ravioli usually seals the deal. The foodies compare notes and stories and I find their tales interesting.

Every once and a while I let out the info that I was a restaurateur years ago and even took some extension courses at the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) before opening. Before that I bartended and front room managed in NYC and the Hamptons for a bit. Even with that in my past I have to confess to them that I know so very little, I am always grateful when the foodies take me under their wings. I think I get absolution because I confess my lack of knowledge. One of toughest trips I ever took was a golf trip in Wales, golf writers seemed less forgiving! To me the trip no matter what the focus is still thrills me. Perhaps there is logic to the Jack of all trades, master of none theory. May all your soufflés be merry and your tuna rare.

Do It Like A European

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Dumb in Derry, or is it Londonderry

I am fascinated by history and three counties that have history most interesting to me are Mexico, France and Ireland. Last night while showing Lil my pictures, she brought up a phone call I made to her one night from Derry. I called because from my room I watched British troops patrol beneath my window, she could hear the noise of helicopters crossing the sky. I called because I was a bit freaked out having gone to a pub known as an IRA hangout in the Bogside. I had asked to many questions and raised some ire. I lifted too many pints as well. This was long before I wrote travel articles; I went out of sheer curiosity.

One great part of traveling to Ireland is the wonderful book stores filled with books in English; they tend to be the souvenirs I love bringing back. I bought a book called The Telling Years… Belfast 1972 by Malachi O’ Doherty. The book was a well a balanced look at the troubles by a young catholic journalist. I had to laugh at myself a wee bit after reading it. One strange night in Derry long ago freaked me out, O’ Doherty lived it day after day. I have to pass it on to Max who also visited Belfast.

The Butcher and Miss Ireland, Dublin

Just got some emails from my fellow Taste of Ireland participants and I guess I am lucky that I got hit pre Atlantic cross over. I managed to find four seats across and stretched out, sometimes better than a bizz seat. According to the hotel doctor the other casualty saw it was a bad flu that was going around the Isle. Ireland is now however going through total pork product shut down, devastating for a country that exports amazing amounts of pork. Even during the Great Famine Ireland was sending its pork and cattle across to the UK and the only starving was being done by the poor Irish.

I though about a great guy I met while on a food tour of the Liberties area of Dublin, today a place where fantastic food shops are congregated. Hugh Morrissey of Morrissey’s Family Butchers, the family consists of mom and pop, five daughters and two sons. One of Hugh’s daughters just happens to be Miss Ireland 2006. As you can see by the photo Hugh is quite proud. She is now under a modeling contract with Elite in NYC. Even today the Irish send some of the very best abroad.My heart goes out to Hugh and the others that will be hit in these hard economic times, perhaps they also deserve a little bailout. Hugh's is after all a Main Street business and Hugh is a great CEO.

Dublin Writers Museum Audio

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Irish Wit

Irish wit is world renowned and available countless times just about everywhere here. It was Oscar Wilde who when asked if he had anything to declare by US Customs answered he had nothing but his genius. McDaid's Pub was a hangout for the likes of Patrick Kavanagh and Brendan Behan. Perhaps Behan came up with this quote sitting in the pubs corner. “ A whiskey glass and a woman;s arse has turned many a man into a fool”. Bottoms up, it is time for me to face US Customs myself. no genius to declare!

Pork Pulled in Ireland

In Ireland a butcher is an important man in town.This one dresses for the role. a note was slipped under my door last night about the hotel not serving pork for the foreseeable future. The Department of Agra culture and Food Safety has declared tainted pork products. Could it be that delicious bacon I have been raving about did me in?

Done For in Dublin

It may sound weired but two of us came down with food poisoning or a bad flu, I mean knocked down. Not really conducive to a food trip. The violent retching this morning was fierce and powerful. That said I have had an amazing time exploring some of Ireland and N. Ireland's best restaurants as well as hotels. No fine dining for the two of us tonight. It is holed up in my great room at the Fitzwilliam Hotel. The hotel is fabulous and the service caring as chamomile tea is delivered regularly. I did manage to drag my butt around Dublin this afternoon, a city that is colorful and busy. Soon I will have a hot toddy recommended by the manager Peter, he guarantees a fitful sleep will follow.