Where's The Vatican? Araceli Reminisces This Christmas

In 2004, I experienced a life changing incident. Was it coincidence, destiny, fate – or, divine intervention? It started in Rome, Italy with one simple question “Where’s the Vatican?”

Let me back up a few days and explain that I originally went to Rome to visit a friend who was studying abroad. It was one of those opportunities to visit another country at a very reasonable cost.

I departed the United States on October 6th, with no expectations other than to visit a country which every Catholic dreams of visiting. My first stop was to visit St.Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City. My mission was to attend mass officiated by the Pope John Paul II along with filling up a few plastic bottles of holy water blessed by the Pope.

And I tried, but was very unsuccessful. Although I was able to attend mass, I wasn’t able to get the holy water I needed. For one reason or another, I couldn’t get Vatican officials to fill up my small bottles. They kept giving me the run-around, trying to avoid any requests that could potentially create a number of people asking for the same thing.

Again, I couldn’t leave Rome without Holy Water!!!! So every day for the next six days, I went back to the Vatican hoping that one of their priests would give me the Holy Water I needed.

By now, not only was I determined, but I was also frustrated with my mission and I was running really low on cash, so I opted to go back to Vatican City via bus. Although I speak Spanish, traveling in Italy is a little difficult because I didn’t really understand traveling instructions in Italian. So I got on the bus and I asked a passenger to please tell me which exit to get off at in order to be as close as possible. He gave me instructions, but I couldn’t understand him! I ended up getting off too soon, but what seemed like one more obstacle turned out to be a blessing in disguise!

Just imagine I’m at this bus stop, frustrated, tired, hungry and there’s no one there to ask for directions. At that moment, I saw a distinguished looking gentleman from a distance taking a last-minute sip of coffee, paying his tab and walking towards me. This guy didn’t even look my way, but I was determined to find out how to get there.

So I simply asked, “Where’s the Vatican?” and he kindly told me how to get there. His name was Mauro; and yes, he was an Italian.

He must have noticed my frustration because he offered to show me a short cut. At that moment, we started walking through an old hospital. I was a little nervous, but I was armed with “tourist equipment” just in case I needed to whack him with a swinging video camera or I needed to take a picture of the suspect. To say the least, I never had to use it!

Instead, this guy started to explain to me in Italian that this old hospital belonged to the Vatican and that it now served as a public hospital. I was a little surprised with his knowledge, but I was even more curious about why this guy would even be near the area.

As it turned out, he worked for a medical company as an engineer, and he handled the technical issues with MRI and CAT scan machines. As fate would have it, he was only servicing that hospital for the day because normally he’s all over the map in Italy servicing several hospitals.

What was best is that he spoke enough English to understand him. Luckily, I figured it out after spending more than 3 hours right outside the hospital talking about our lives.

As our conversation wrapped up, he asked if we could have dinner. I wanted to say “Yes!” immediately, but I reminded myself that I was in another country. Instead I accepted his invite only after he accepted my “Rules of Engagement!” The deal was he had to pick me up at my house no later than 8 p.m., and he needed to leave his identification behind just in case anything happened to me and he obliged

I can assure you that I have never ever done this, but sometimes it just feels ‘right’. Just to tell you how right it felt, that first night we spent at least four hours at a beautiful restaurant talking as if we’d known each other forever and guess what? You’ll never know what music was playing in the background? No, it wasn’t Italian romantic music, it was Tim McGraw. And, we danced our hearts away to “It’s your love…” by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill – in Rome. I’ll never forget how beautiful I felt that evening. Little did I know that this song would set the tone to a remarkable year thereafter?

I even re-scheduled my flight to stay an extra day! I spent the last three days with my personal tour guide.

When I left Rome, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see him again, but I’ll admit I was hoping I would. And luckily, I did! We spent all of 2005 traveling back and forth…. trying to combine it all - getting to know each other’s family, getting to know each other’s world and trying to find a way to establish a life together. Again, neither one of us ever expected finding each other near a bus stop in Rome, but, we did; and it’s been a true blessing! However, like any fairy tale there’s always a turning point.

At the peak of our happiness, right before I was departing to Rome to celebrate the New Year with Mauro right before my 30th birthday on January eighth and right before I was to be engaged, I received the phone call that would change my life forever. It was my father’s doctor telling me to hurry to the hospital. He told me that my father was dying, that he had suffered a massive heart attack and that his time on earth was limited. I drove to Laredo, Texas from San Antonio like a flying bullet. I called my sisters and in less than two hours we were all there. However, we didn’t make it on time. You’ll never know how much we prayed. We begged our Lord to spare his life, but God’s plan was different than ours.

The entire time I drove, Mauro and I prayed through our cell phones. Mauro kept saying, ‘Tell your dad our plans. Tell him that I was about to surprise you with an engagement ring. Tell him that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Tell him I’ll always take care of you. Tell him I’ve already confirmed the date at the church. Tell him to stay alive.”

Unfortunately, I was never able to tell him. On December 27, 2005, I lost the greatest man I’ve ever known. I lost my best friend. I lost part of myself. And on the last day of the year, instead of ringing in the New Year Italian-style, I buried the man I loved more than life itself. I swear this wasn’t my plan. It wasn’t what I expected. My plan was different. I had envisioned him walking me down the aisle…. I had envisioned a life with my father by my side.

Without even asking, within 24 hours of my father’s death, Mauro was by my side. The same way he had always been! Ready to comfort me during the most difficult time of my life, ready to be as patient and understanding as possible, ready to show me how much he loves and cares for me. Little did he know that it wasn’t going to be easy?

There hasn’t been a day since my father’s death that he hasn’t been by my side. He’s amazing and it’s his love that carries me through.

On October 15, 2006, exactly two years from the date we met and ten months after my father’s death, we exchanged the sacred vows in Holy Matrimony in the Eternal City of Love.

And, on our wedding day instead of dancing to the song that started it all, we danced to a “Candle in the Dark” by Diana Ross because, in my darkest hour God’s guidance and Mauro’s love kept burning like a “candle” when I felt I wouldn’t survive the loss of my father to heaven.

Fortunately, the lyrics “I'm shining like a candle in the dark … when he tells me that he loves me” still ring true.

Oh! By the way, if you’re wondering whether or not I ever got the holy water I so persistently pursued, I did, on the same day I met Mauro!

This is our incredible love story. The fairytale that allows me to Eat, Pray and Love in the city I now call Roma and not Rome. Since then, I firmly believe that “All Roads Lead to Rome!”

Flying Solo This Holiday Season?

While I love frequenting the globe, there’s nothing I detest more than spending unnecessary time at the airport and flying altogether. However, when becoming suddenly self- aware that I often do the following alone, I began making mental tallies for each time that I was pushed through security gates, passed up while waiting in bathroom lines and cursed when seated (or more like squished) in between a fat couple. During this mental tallying, I learned a valuable lesson: there is no retribution for solo travelers; if you are snubbed in the Starbucks line, you’ll look like Gal about the Crazy when trying to address it as everyone else waits kindly for their double caramel mochaccino frappes.

Since nothing says Merry Christmas more than blowing up at the flight attendant, here’s some quick and “common sense” tips to remember to get you through the security lines:

Preparation: Frustration happens when you’ve done the least amount of preparation and organization. Make sure you’ve not only checked in with your airline online but that you’ve printed out your boarding pass (if possible), and have read and re-read your ticket. What terminal and gate are you flying out of? Is the flight being operated by a sister carrier, and, if you plan on checking a bag, are there weight restrictions or baggage fees? I’ve miserably missed flights because A) I didn’t realize that my flight was operated by a sister carrier in an alternate terminal two train stops away and B) because I didn’t arrive at the airport 45 minutes before my flight departure (which is the minimum time an airline needs to get your baggage on board if flying domestically). FYI: federal government states that you must fly with your bag. You cannot check your bag for a later flight while you are on the earlier one.

Documentation/Security: Don’t forget your boarding pass, driver’s license and passport if necessary, as well as money (correct currency for trips abroad), credit cards and doctor’s notes for medication as well as any additional documentation for your cat or dog. I like to utilize a separate wallet for my travels, so that everything is at my fingertips. Also, if your carry on’s height or weight looks suspect, make sure you can prove that it is in fact only fifteen inches wide so you don’t get stopped while rushing through security gates. While most airlines allow maximum of a fifteen-inch carry on, we recommend checking individual airline websites for details.

Extra questions to ask yourself:

Does your luggage have name tags? If so, are they filled out with the most updated information?

Is your luggage distinguishable so you don’t pick up the wrong piece at baggage claim? Check out what happened to me once…

Since you’re traveling alone, check to see if you can juggle dragging all items around: carry on, laptop, coat, purse, etc…

Music Giant George Daniels on Jamie Foxx’s The Foxxhole

Jamie Fox’s show, The Foxxhole, which airs on Sirius Satellite Radio, was produced “live” from the Joynt in Chicago on Friday evening. Arriving early, I witnessed the behind-the-scenes set-up and learned, not only would Jamie Foxx suddenly miss his promised live performance, but thank God for technology; Foxx would make it via URL instead of being IRL. However, once Jamie finally did Skype in, we couldn’t hear him. Thankfully, the special guest of the evening, music giant George Daniel, saved the day.

If you’re not certain who George Daniel is, click on one of the following pictures to jog your memory. Even this past Friday, Daniel donned his dark signature shades and Chicago-style jazz hat while describing the good ol’ days and the start of his career: he owned a record store, worked with Motown and with names like Etta James, Muddy Waters and Smoky Robinson. “Have you seen the movie Cadillac Records?” he asked in excitement. “That’s what [life] was like [in Chicago].”

While Daniel recollected historical events and remarked on racial riots, I was more intrigued to hear his commentary on today, specifically about the Internet and technology.

What challenges would the Internet have provided for his little record store, or more importantly, his music career? Online record sales and piracy are one hurtle hurting privately owned record stores today, artists and the music industry in general, but “what about sampling?” Do kids these days even know where their new tunes originated from? Is sampling getting out of hand? Daniel had a point as he continued, “What about shopping malls?” What’s going to happen to shopping malls if people buy stuff online?

Ironically, technology had just provided some complications to the very show we were listening to, with producers on stand-by trying to troubleshoot the Skype technical difficulties. I wish I could have asked Daniel a few questions, including “can we call this show Jamie Foxx’s The Danielhole instead?”

But, even without Foxx, it was a fun evening of enlightenment and excitement. Who doesn’t love listening to their elders, especially when their past knowledge foreshadows the present?

Thanks to JenChicago and the Joynt for the exclusive invite!

Come Support Movember and Me!

Come support Movember and Me! On Thursday, November 19th, from 8 pm – 2 am, Basil Leaf Café will host a Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction to raise money for the Movember Foundation. Donations raised will go toward the campaign’s two outstanding beneficiary partners, the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Like the beneficiaries, the auction block will include some of Chicago’s outstanding bachelor and bachelorettes, featuring moi. We’ll come complete with a “date package” for donors to bid on and the highest bidders will win a “date” which will commence that evening, in a VIP area at the venue.

Please come out to support the cause, as November is men’s health month (and to support me; I need some friends to ante up the bid so I don’t look stupid on the auction block). Donations from the evening fund research to find treatments and cures for the Prostate Cancer Foundation and fund the LiveStrong Young Adult Alliance program, which aims to raise survival rates and life quality for young adults with cancer.

Additional event information:

Hosts: Sean Tehrani, Jason Crites, and Chad Manuel.

This event is 21+ and casual cocktail attire is recommend!

The cost for the event is $20 and includes one raffle ticketappetizers, Van Gogh Vodka and Lucid Absinthe.

Event sponsored by Basil Leaf Cafe, Van Gogh Vodka, Lucid Absinthe and U.S.Foodservice.

Official after party at BullandBear, where all auction attendees receive a free drink.

Gen Art’s “Fresh Faces In Fashion” the Grand Finale of Chicago’s Fashion Focus

On Saturday evening, Gen Art, a leading non-profit organization promoting emerging talent in the arts and entertainment, hosted “Fresh Faces In Fashion.” The annual event celebrated its seventh year with the ‘hottest’ new designers premiering their best and eclectic spring 2010 collections. Fresh Faces has already launched many successful designers like Zac Posen, Vena Cava, Rebecca Taylor and even Lara Miller –who was featured in Thursday night’s Fashion Focus kickoff show, “Macy’s Presents The Designers of Chicago.”

The Fresh Faces In Fashion runway show debuted three accessory designers, five women’s wear designers and one men’s wear designer: Kristin Hassan, Christina Fan of C/Fan, Jenna Lee Fowler and Melanie Manego of JLee Silver, Telo Dunne and Olivia Shanks of Imaginary People, Tatyana Merenyuk of Red Doll, Andrei Savtchenko of Dorsia, Matt and Emma of Emma Caroll Etc., Asia Borycka of Fab Studio and Natasha Kimling Kwan of Kling Handbags.

Upon first entrance guests were greeted by four models wearing Fab Studio’s jewelry of ‘harmony and grace.’ Semi-precious stones, metal necklaces and chains uniquely decorated the model’s black outfits, outrageously outlining their figures; perhaps they should be called ‘body’ laces, as the jewelry can be worn in a variety of ways to contour the figure. Emma Carroll Etc. displayed leather jewelry and other accessories; the jewelry in particular is made with vibrant veg-tanned leathers and can be custom-made by design and dye color.

The runway show began with C/Fan’s women’s wear, which featured loose, flowing dresses in pastoral hues and contrasted with Kristin Hassan’s outfits of bright gold, silver and neon pink hats and dresses. Dorsia’s men’s wear is what I hope to see my new boyfriend in: flirty and fitted knee-length shorts, white bow-ties with slacks, tuxedo jackets, stonewashed jeans and dressy vests over plaid shirts.

JLee’s tailored look caters to the fashion forward working-girl, and thank god. Who isn’t getting tired of Express’s overpriced Editor Pants? While JLee’s line includes jackets and pants, my favorites were the block dress with V-back, the grey A-line dress with a sexy front-zipper and the patterned pencil skirt with long and skinny blue tie.

Imaginary People’s line was inspired by active lifestyles. The clothes, while comfortable, are also functional for elegant evenings: black flowing dresses, snug black and white diamond-patterned pants, short black and white waist-cinched dresses, and my favorite— A-line dress with bright red and yellow flowers.

To view Red Doll’s collection of fun and flirty girlie prints and ruffles, for a look at Kling’s hobo evening clutch and other handbags, or to see more of the above-mentioned designers’ clothing lines, logon to GenArt.org. http://genart.org/fashion

Planning an English Getaway? How To Begin in Classic London...

London is the easiest city I have ever traveled to on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Recently, I booked a last-minute, cheap ticket for a quick get-away, remembering the lyrics to the song I sang as a little girl: London bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down...Once I arrived, I found the city to be truly amazing and diverse in every sense of the word. And to my surprise, there isn’t anything that is falling down. Instead, this global city is very well-connected allowing millions to move around freely.

London is arguably the only city in the world with an incredible, efficient transportation infrastructure (both land & air), allowing you to visit without relying on a GPS system or rental car. While you may choose to get around in a classic English black cab, their tube or bus system will do the trick. However, we recommend taking the tube as there’s one in every neighbourhood. Additionally, as London is one of the most accessible cities in the world, if won’t surprise you to also find more than 300 languages are spoken. Like me, you’ll probably ask yourself more than once during your visit: Where are they from? Are they speaking English, Español or Italian? Luckily, the primary language spoken and recognized in London is English.

If you’re planning a quick getaway like mine, you’ll need some last-minute getting there and travel information as well:

Getting There: You can fly into London Gatwick, Heathrow or Stansted Airports. But, while low-cost European Airlines, i.e. RyanAir, EasyJet, etc, may fly into Stansted for almost the cost of nothing, note that Stansted is the furthest airport from the city and you’ll spend a hefty fair on a car to transport you to London. Unfortunately, whichever airport you arrive into, you may spend an hour in a bus or cab. We recommend taking the bus or train into the city. Both Gatwick and Heathrow Airport have buses that take you to Victoria Station. Note: Although Stansted is the furthest airport, it takes the same time to get to the center. I paid 28 pounds round-trip for the London Express, which dropped me off at Liverpool Station (on the Circle line) - GREAT deal!

Accommodations: I recommend booking a hotel that is located at any tube station along the CIRCLE or CENTRAL line (see below)

Transportation Passes: Buy a travel card or pass for the amount of days you plan to be there. This will allow you to jump on & off the tube or bus line while saving money. Otherwise, you’re looking at paying £4 pounds each time you hop on or off. Ouch! Remember, you’ll have to purchase cards in “zones,” so check out your map before your purchase and figure out which zones you’ll spend the most time in. And remember, if you need help, the attendants speak English!

The CIRCLE & CENTRAL Lines feature the best of London:

St James' Park - Buckingham Palace (London Palace of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her lovely nephews Prince William & Henry). Time permitting; enjoy the ‘Changing of the Guard’ takes place daily at 11:30 a.m.

Westminster – Big Ben, Westminster Abbey & Houses of Parliament
This 700-year-old building is in the HEART of London. Everyone from kings, queens, statesmen and soldiers, poets, priests, heroes and villains make up the Abbey. It’s a must-see living pageant of British history. It’s also the same place where Princess Diana’s funeral took place.

Embankment – Walk towards River Thames and enjoy a river cruise or hop on the London Eye for a great view of the city. Or if nothing else, walking along the river is lovely on a sunny day! This tube stop is also close to Covent Garden - a cute shopping area with outside entertainment. From here you can visit Trafalgar Square (if you have time and enjoy the arts you can visit the National Gallery). You can also walk to Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square (where all major film premieres take place).

Baker Street – Mingle with the Queen, Amy Winehouse, Michael Jackson and Barack Obama while visiting Madame Tussaud's (the wax museum). This is the closest you’ll ever get to royalty.

Notting Hill - You saw the film with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, right? This classic residential London neighbourhood includes cute shops, cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy a hearty, delicious English breakfast! Antique lovers will want to walk towards Portobello Road Market, while die-hard shoppers will want to jump on Knightsbridge (one change of train on the tube) to see one of the largest and most famous shops in the UK – Harrod’s (owned by Mohamed Fayed – Dodi Al-Fayed’s dad - the guy Diana was with when she was killed). Plus, Michael Jackson was rumoured to spend a fortune there!

Bond Street - This stop is along Oxford Street, where you can choose to from over 300 shops. Wear comfortable shoes and carry a cash-filled wallet. You’ll need it!

St. Paul’s – Remember Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ “fairytale wedding”? Yes, it happened here July 29th, 1981. This jaw-dropping cathedral will have you in awe because of its size and sophisticated architecture.

The places I highlighted only scratch the surface of what London has to offer, but you’ll find the above itinerary is a great starting point. Once you get the hang of how the tube works, you’ll learn that the entire city is literally at your feet: Tower of London, the British Museum, Chinatown and everything in between. Luckily, you’ll save money when visiting the museums since they’re all FREE! Plus, if you’re trying to travel on a budget without spending a fortune on food – Don’t worry, London has food readily-available at every street corner for any budget.

Side NOTE: If you don’t want to be hit on the road – Don’t forget that the English drive on the other side of the road compared to drivers in the US and most of Europe! So LOOK out and ENJOY this fascinating global city!
Posted by Gal about the Globe at 9:05 AM

Fashion Focus Chicago Features Local Designers and Wet Weather

Perhaps the theme of this year’s Fashion Focus Chicago should have been wet weather. The celebration kicked off Thursday night under a big white tent-turned umbrella in Millennium Park, with Macy’s Presents the Designers of Chicago as the first headlining show. As drops momentarily crept through the ceiling to our seats, models scrambled back stage to dry off clothes, shoes, hair and we were told the runway show would be running a bit late. Would spring 2010’s collection include rain boots and trench coats? We’d have to wait a bit longer to see.

According to our program, last year Macy’s launched 21 world-class women’s apparel and accessory collections, and 14 of those ‘next great American designers’ would be featured this evening. Last year’s collections of apparel, jewelry, handbags, accessories and neck wear are currently located on the 1st and 3rd floor of Macy’s on State Street. I thought about walking a couple of blocks down Madison or Randolph to get a preview, but alas, we were finally told that the show must go on!

Lara Miller’s line featured strap dresses, ruffle wrap dresses in hand-loomed bamboo, as well as mesh sweater and mesh sweater dresses both made with recycled and organic cotton in colors like burnt mauve and midnight blues. Blake Standard’s line began with a fitted Parisian feel of black and white stripes, red vests and continued with berets, brighter colors of red and orange and fitted leggings. J’adore his pocketed pencil skirts. 5P1T featured waist-cinched dresses in vibrant greens and flower patterns, while Tennille White’s fuller-figure wear included an elegant black and gold duster jacket and cream flutter sleeve dress with bud belt.

The evening continued with exciting collections by Lauren Lein, Lee Allison, Jermikko, Anna Hovet, Zamrie, Furio, Nora Del Busto, Cynthia Ryba and Audey. However, the crowd will probably make their first purchases from The Tiebar at Macy’s as that collection showcased half-naked men in small round hats, tie and a briefcase; cause that’s what we all want our men to wear to work or the bedroom for that matter. Women shopping for themselves will love Anna Hovet’s Kylie Minogue-esque inspirations, and I’ll look to Furio, because I look great in something fitted, short and white. As for right now though, my first purchases will be from designer Jermikko because his line included a trench coat, and designer Audey, because her spring petticoat dresses came complete with umbrellas.

Fashion Focus Chicago returns for the fifth year, from Thursday October 22 – Sunday, October 25 and celebrates with the city’s best designers. It includes around town trunk shows, shopping extravaganzas, educational seminars and my favorite: VIP receptions with posh accoutrements, h’or dourves, things like vintage cocktails, meet-and-greets with talented designers and post parties. Reservations are required, but you can still logon to www.chicagofashionresource.com for tickets, events and more information.

The Magnificent Mile: Victoria's Secret Grand Opening

I cannot think of a better time of the year for a Victoria’s Secret Grand Opening than during the week of Chicago’s 2009 Fashion Focus. And, in what better location than downtown’s Magnificent Mile? But you know what would be even better, given the spirit of Halloween? If an angel flew in from up above—wings and all—to celebrate with guests. Wait a minute. That did happen! Well, almost.

While Victoria’s Secret Angel, Supermodel Marisa Miller, wasn’t wearing her wings, but instead, a pair of tight black jeans, platform heels and a pink t-shirt with the words, “Victoria’s Secret Chicago,” it still felt like our prayers—whatever they may be—were answered. Despite the wet weather, both men and women lined-up around Michigan Avenue anxiously awaiting autographs, and decked out with the pink VS striped umbrellas the store provided.

At first, I was taken aback, annoyed even. Not just by the angry crowds, ‘He told us to wait out there, so why do they get to wait in here?’, but by the bodyguards wearing earpieces. ‘Surely Obama is not back for fashion week, and surely Marisa does not think she’s the president, does she?’ I thought. But, the moment Marisa floated out, everyone—myself included—praised the lord (or maybe cursed him).

Her nose was so perfect and tiny, her forearms so skinny and toned; even her dirty-blonde hair looked like a halo rose high above her head (someone must have handed her ten of those umbrellas this morning). The women wished they’d worn heels today and the men wished they’d either worn heels too or done 500 crunches. At least some of us remembered to wear our Body-By-Victoria’s Secret push-up bras (shhhh…it’s a secret).

As Marisa sat down to sign autographs and we all did back flips with each of her hair flips, there was too much Grand Opening action to ignore. Make-up artists not only painted faces but gave cheekbone consultations, sales women handed out gift cards in excess of $100, and orange juice in champagne glasses danced around waitresses’ heads. Hmmm…perhaps they were really mimosas – I never got my hands on one so I can’t be sure.

To continue the spirit of the season, the place was decorated like a scantily-clad Halloween—but better. Golden wings in the sky, flying bras, tassels, fringes, and translucent corsets. I even spotted baggy mom pajamas for the evening’s end; a perfect opposition to transition from hours of suffocating breast-pushing and stomach-squeezing.

But, as with all of Victoria’s Secrets, the experience is never quite complete without the creepy guy. Typically, he’s someone else’s boyfriend sitting in the only chair that happens to be right outside YOUR dressing room. It was my cue to leave when I asked creepy guy, ‘Here with the wife, ha?’ and he naively responded with, ‘Yea. Shopping with my wife and daughter.’ Gross. I’ve never ever gone underwear shopping with my dad. Not even while running errands at Wal-Mart as he’s in the automotive section.

Although the spirit of this holiday was over for me, I long to use my gift card another day, but mostly, for smaller forearms and a nose that does not move left to right while making facial expressions.

Meals On Wheels 2009 Celebrity Chef Ball

If you didn’t make it to the Meals on Wheels 2009 Celebrity Chef Ball Friday night, then too bad so sad. The real celebrities of the evening were the guests; my girlfriends and I felt honored as the best chefs of Chicago’s premier restaurants cooked for a cause while serving us their sexiest dishes and delicious desserts. Celebrity chef hosts included Jimmy Bannos (Heaven on Seven), Stephanie Izard (Drunken Goat) and Tony Priolo (Piccolo Sogno). The annual event, held at Macy’s on State Street, benefits Meals on Wheels “to ensure Chicago’s seniors and disabled population retain a lifestyle of independence and dignity.” DSC00462

While tickets to the Chef’s Table sold out before Friday night, most guests came afterward for four hours of the fabulous Chef Tasting Party. Cocktails, gambling and music ensued on the seventh floor of Macy’s, and I spotted dresses and suits covered in guacamole, pork rib and lobster bisque soup before the night’s end. Favorites dribbling down my dress included the pequeno peppers stuffed with goat cheese from Tizi Melloul, butternut squash ravioli from Socca, sushi from Sunda, and ceviche from Adobo Grill.

Other featured restaurants included Boka, Vermillion, Lockwood at the Palmer House Hilton, Osteria Via Stato, Terragusto and the Gage. If you missed Friday night though, The Local Tourist says you’re in luck: there’s another, smaller ball in Ravenswood tonight, benefiting the Scleroderma Foundation.

What Do You Take Home From Your Travels?

Below: me in Santa Margherita Ligure in a scarf I got in Rome, a hat I got in Chicago, sitting in Villa Durazzo, a 16th-century castle, in a 17th-century park.


The detriment of travel is trying to figure out how to take home the experience with you. Instead of savoring the journey, you often waste time locating the finest wine, coffee, stamps, antiques, perhaps even some cheese—-despite the fact that you may have to learn how to say silly things like “air-tight seal,” or “put a cork in it,” in another language. Over the excruciating years of tearing myself away from a destination, I’ve found my favorite accoutrements to purchase are the ones that will stay with me forever: boots, shoes, a scarf, a jacket, a sweater.

Purchasing clothing goods may seem like an obvious choice for a traveling gal, so I’d like to state—-for the record—-that I do not own name brands, nor do I have a stash of Louis Vuitton and Prada handbags. My purpose for purchasing clothing goods has more to do with being a hopeless romantic and desperately yearning for a specific time and place. Simply smelling the fabric of a wool sweater from a foreign outdoor market recalls quite a few memories and brings about many questions other than the destination: who was I when I bought this? Was I happy Desiree or sad Desiree that day? What happened that year and was that the month that changed my life, or was I just having the time of my life?

Mostly, I find myself defining character moments in these clothes. It is October in Chicago and last night, just before going out, I found a brown sweater jacket with loosely-knit fabric. I threw it on and while warm in its somewhat itchy fur, I thought about December in Torino and the street I’d picked it up from, Via Roma. It was dark, cold and wet, just like last night in Chicago. Although a year later and an ocean over, one very important thing came to mind: last year I began struggling back and forth about a very difficult life decision I had to make. I remember, that despite my umbrella, walking through the cobble-stoned alleyways of Torino left my gray boots and tired feet soaking wet. Yet, while frustrated that I had to continue sloshing through the city for another couple hours before I could return to the hotel and change, I remember being even more frustrated about this decision I could not make.

Almost one year has passed and last month, I finally made that decision. It is difficult. I’m subjected to terrible advice from loving friends and family, like, change is the only constant. Think positively and positive things will happen. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, blah, blah, blah. Often, this advice is not fitting, and I sometimes respond to them with, “Boo” or “Poo.”

But it is fitting, that in another time, in another destination, the weather is the same, and the old Desiree meets the new Desiree, and all because a sweater coat still fits. I get to think about happier things: that trip was the trip I learned about Bicerin, an 18th-century espresso made with chocolate and milk. And it was one of the first times I thought about Gal about the Globe. I visited the Olympic Alps of Piemonte and learned that to make polenta perfectly, you have to stir it slowly for an hour; I learned that polenta and sausage is awesome while dining at Eataly, an amazing food emporium endorsed by Slow Food. I also learned never to buy disposable cameras from airports, and also, I learned that you can find imitation Ugg boots so that when they get soaking wet you don’t feel guilty about throwing away $100.

I still do not like flying. I still do not like flying.

It's Independence Day In Mexico

By Alba Xitlalic

Every September 15th, Mexicans celebrate the famous “Aniversario del Grito de la Independencia”, their independence day. Mexicans everywhere gather together to celebrate, especially in Guadalajara, where I am from.

After 23:00, the night of the 15th, the Major, or governor, performs the ceremony for the Grito de Independencia, where he recites history form the presidential balcony, and the people celebrate with him, watching outside the balcony. At midnight the bells are rung and the fireworks are lit.

Every city district in Guadalajara has a traditional Mexican party, with mariachi, tequila, and a small fair. The event is completely family oriented, where children can ride the mechanical rides, parents can sing-along with the mariachi, and walk thru the plaza, enjoying the firework shows. You may even see some families dressed up as Don Miguel Hidalgo and its escorts, or “adelitas”, ready to fight for independence.

Among college students, it is common to celebrate in a disco, in a more socialite matter. These types of businesses decorate in colors of the Mexican flag, offer promotions, and some may even do an indoor show to entertain their guests.

Either way you decide to celebrate, Grito de Independencia is a party that begins on the 15th and ends on the 16th with a parade downtown, where military, dancers, and schools march along.

Italy's Diamond: Sardinia

I’ve lived in Italy for over three years now, spending my vacations and extended weekends sailing the turquoise shores of Sardinia and cruising inland through its cavernous towns of limestone and granite. And, while I’ve not only explored the island’s treasures TEXAS- style, cruising in my Jeep Liberty from coastline to cross-country, I’ve also truly “felt, smelt, and tasted the real Sardinia.” Unfortunately, this month, National Geographic Traveler featured Sardinia’s “Carefee” Coast, with an author claiming that he bypassed the island’s northern shores of high-profile celebrities, yachts, and resorts, to pursue the western coast and inland towns of locals, shepherds and monks. But, having actually pursued the enchanting island myself, I found that the author never actually left the touristy north at all. So, why not follow me instead, for a real tour of the countryside where sheep really roam the land producing one of Italy’s finest cheese – Percorino Sardo! I’d also like to take you on a few of my many marked adventures, where we’ll actually find some of the “real Sards.”

Sardinia is divided into eight provinces, including its’ capital, Cagliari. Each province offers its own unique adventure, with most visitors kicking off their trip at the port – Golfo di Olbia.

The Province of Olbia-Tempio (OT) and Sassari (SS) include Costa Smeralda, Isola Maddalena (Parco Nazionale dell’ Arcipelago di La Maddalena), Isola Caprera, Costa Paradiso, Santa Teresa Gallura, Stintino and Alghero.

Travelling north, you’ll notice signs and displays with names like Baja Sardinia, Cannigione, Arazachena, Castelsardo and Porto Torres. Each name represents a tiny town, village, beach resort, or a port all intertwined with sharing a part of the coast. The most recognized name will be Porto Cervo, which is synonymous with Costa Smeralda. Yes, this is where the rich and famous “are seen and like to be seen” by paparazzi who make millions hanging out under the sun and doing “their job.” If you’re lucky, you might even see Italy’s Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi. But don’t be afraid to venture out and off the windy road instead! Note: Make sure that at all times, you have a swimsuit handy just in case you feel the deep desire to take in the sun or cool off by jumping right in.

From a distance, you’ll also notice tiny islands that make up the Maddalena Archipelago. La Maddalena is an island that deserves an entire day or two to see and experience. Along with its natural, untouched beauty and its cluster of tiny islands such as Spargi and Budelli, you’ll find the historical aspect of the island interesting. Whether it’s visiting revolutionary Guiseppe Garibaldi’s tombstone on Isola Caprera or spending time walking through one of Garibaldi’s forts, you’ll feel like a “Hero of Two Worlds” when you imagine life on the fort. If nothing else, you’ll enjoy the National Park which is a safe haven for wildlife.

Upon returning to the mainland, continue your adventure. While the island offers many accommodation choices (hotels, hostels, family run establishments, etc), our favorite accommodations are agriturismos. An agriturismo is a farmhouse that turns into a tourist destination for “farm stays” at a budget-friendly price, without sacrificing quality. This is the best way to truly experience the island since everything you eat is grown on or around the farm. And, it’s where Sardinia’s local cuisine is at its finest, as it includes eating porceddu allo spiedo or piglet-on-a-spit. Yes, baby piglet! Don’t worry, Winnie the Pooh won’t blame you for enjoying Sardinian roast sucking piglet. Make sure to compliment the meal with a glass of Cannonau di Sardinida, a very strong red wine made of Cannonau grapes.

After your dinner break, rest up and continue your adventure. Often times you’ll find yourself experiencing the calming island on your own until an adventurous surprise appears, luring you to explore the next hidden limestone cove or bright sandy village. Or—as was the case with my husband and me—a naked man dashes out of nowhere, not only enjoying his own little piece of island, but enjoying the nonchalance of his vulnerable state; at one point my husband and I felt like we were the weird ones for not abandoning our clothes in these parts and claiming our own piece of Sardinia.

Trekking on, you’ll reach one of the wildest places in Sardinia, Capo Caccia. Near the city of Alghero, it’s an ideal place for sports enthusiasts or anyone who enjoys cliff-hangers. Discovered in 1700, Capo Caccia is an underground cave and includes the famous Grotta di Nettuno (2500 m long), which can be reached by sea or foot climbing 656 steps, the Escala del Cabirol. Yes, the 656 steps will leave you breathless, not because of its ambitious climb, but rather because of the stunning view on its horizon! If you muster up the strength to reach the cave you’ll find a natural reserve that stretches three thousand hectares of stalagmites and stalactites. Plus, it includes rare, unique plants that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world, like the Paeonia of Gennargentu.

The "Girlfriends" Get Together Again

For those of you living under a rock, or without a radio, Kathy O’Malley and Judy Markey, known as, “the Girlfriends” formerly hosted the mid-morning Kathy and Judy Show on WGN-AM 720 for twenty years. But on May 22, the pair was dismissed, leaving not only a loyal and loving audience, but an endearing career which began in newspaper journalism. To honor their legacy, the Association for Women Journalists – Chicago and the Columbia College Chicago Journalism Department invite you to Kathy and Judy DIRECT: A Conversation with the Girlfriends.

The event is on September 17, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, at Columbia College’s Film Row Cinema on 1104 S. Wabash Ave, (8th floor). Ticket admission is only $20 and will benefit the AWJ Scholars Program. However you’ll want to register online soon, as the event is expected to sell out early.

Highlights of the evening will include NPR’s award-winning radio reporter, Cheryl Corley. She’ll start off the conversation and then give the rest of us a chance to ask Kathy and Judy about their career or perhaps life after the show.

During the Girlfriends twenty years on-air, they developed a connection and commitment with their steady fans, as they shared life events, tears and inspiring stories, creating intimate relationships, but more importantly, a family. On their final show, O’Malley stated, “One of the things that radio does is pull people together.” Fortunately, that’s exactly what they expect to do again on September 17, so we hope to see you there!

Last-Minute Montreal

By: Dijana Semovski
Below: Montreal apartments in St. Denis
Now that we’ve learned a bit about shopping, cafeterias, creperias, architecture and things to do while in Old and New Montreal, you’re going to need at least one evening of decadence while on this trip, before following up with some last-minute boutique hopping.

Boasting its "supper club" scene, St. Laurent is Montreal’s prominent street. Supper clubs are restaurants where large groups can reserve a table around dinner-time and stick around afterward, as a DJ transforms the restaurant into a night lounge. During the summer, you can pretty much walk down the street and pick and choose which supper club you want to go to. Of course, if you just want to hit up the lounge scene, there’s always eateries open afterwards, which serve late night poutine. Montreal’s guilty pleasure, poutine consists of pomme frites (or french fries in English), which is topped with gravy, and cheese. You must try poutine while visiting (as well as bagels)!

If you’re not tired from your long evening out, you can get some last-minute shopping in by heading to St. Denis the following morning. It’s a great street to do your shopping as the boutiques are a bit more authentic and less mainstream, while imports include unique and modern design-centric clothing from Italy and other European designers. Additionally, like the boutiques, you’ll notice unique housing while on your shopping stroll as well. Check out my picture of the colorful apartments above. Some of the locals living here informed me that their quarters in Montreal tend to be smaller, because people spend most of their time in cafes and being "out and about."

Old Montreal, New Montreal, cafeterias, creperias, supper clubs and shopping. That pretty much breaks down your week in Montreal. Sure, it may not be Paris, but being the second largest French-speaking city in the world, it’s a great alternative for a quick weekend getaway or a New Year’s destination, if you don’t have the time or funds to make a big trip to Europe.

Extra: If visiting during Montreal’s summer months, beginning from June 29th to July 9th, the city hosts an annual International Jazz Festival. It also coincides with their Canadian Independence Day, on July 1strd. If interested in racing, the Grande Prix weekend, also takes place in June, and is filled with Italian-speaking tourists, who seem to have captured this event the most.

To read more of Dijana's adventures, follow Dijana's Dare to Blog...

More Montreal

By: Dijana Semovski
Left:New Montreal


Montreal is divided into two parts: Old Montreal and New Montreal. In Old Montreal, there is definitely an old world feel to it as you walk amongst cobblestone roads and old historical landmarks, like the Notre Dame Basilica. One place you must stop by in Old Montreal, for an evening of live Jazz and French crepes, is a beautiful restaurant called Jardin Nelson. The restaurant is very romantic, as it’s surrounded with beautiful flowers and allows guests to dine under the stars, since there is no roof!

While making your way to New Montreal, stop by for a dessert crepe at one of the Creperias that line the streets of Old Montreal. Montreal has a Metro system that is pretty comparable to the ones in France, which assists with the transportation between Old Montreal and New Montreal, as the two are not relatively close for commuting by foot.

New Montreal is a bit more modern, with more of a metropolitan vibe to it. You can stay at any of their hotels here, including Le Sofitel, where I stayed at. This area makes it convenient for shopping, so stop by St. Catherine Street, which has been home to many of Montreal's boutiques and department stores ranging from Zara to H&M to Adidas to their own label stores and malls, making this a shopping mecca. The New York tourists I ran into while here told me that Montreal has more shopping per square feet than even New York City! They often make their way to Montreal just for the shopping experience.

Perhaps shopping builds up an appetite, because I have to say I could not get enough of their cafes, or “cafeterias,” as they were often referred to, which can also be a combination between a café and a bar, and reopen during brunch time.

While that concludes my shopping and dining through Old and New Montreal, join me on Friday for a couple tips on Montreal’s nightlife.

Read more of Dijana's adventures (pronounced Deanna) at, Dijana's Dare to Blog.

City of the Week: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

By: Dijana Semovski

Oo lala! Montreal, although it may not be Paris, sure comes pretty close. The second largest city in Canada and the largest city in Quebec, province of Canada, Montreal’s original name was Ville-Marie (City of Mary). However, the city takes its current name from Mont-Royal or Mont Re`al in Middle French, where a three-headed hill at the heart of the city lies.

French is the city’s official language, and many are surprised to learn that it’s the second largest primarily French-speaking city in the world, after Paris of course. Similarly, citizens just might believe it’s the Paris of the west, as even some of the architecture mimics the city of lights. The city’s Notre Dame Basilica for instance, was actually made from the same architecture as the Notre Dame Basilica in Paris.

On Wednesday we’ll take a tour through Old and New Montreal, visiting the cafes, boutiques, people and food, which truly helps Montreal make its mark as one of the greatest cities in the world.

Read more of Dijana's adventures (pronounced Deanna) at, Dijana's Dare to Blog.

Night at the Museum with Travel Channel's Andrew Zimmern

“Hi, I’m Desiree, Gal about the Globe,” I excitedly shouted, as I was introduced to Andrew Zimmern, host of Travel Channel’s Bizzare Foods. Andrew, standing proudly in front of his “Strange Foods” table, smiled back, shook my hand and took my business card as I proceeded to flatter him, recounting why I love what he does and love to do it too. Well, the travel part that is; not really so much as eating chocolate- covered grasshoppers, scorpions, caterpillars or a stingray’s heart for breakfast.

Andrew, one of the “special guests” of last night’s Dos Equis "Most Interesting Academy," featured at the Museum of Science and Industry, was a sweetheart. His brown eyes were a bit glazed over from tirelessly greeting guests and plugging the goey-duck clams considered a delicacy in China (that’s pronounced gooey—duck). But he took a moment to ask how I got started in this “biz,” referring to the travel industry and working as a tour operator. “Well…” I realized that my story began when I up and moved to Rome to study in college, which followed up with me moving to London, Chicago and the rest is history. He laughed with that coy, famous smile and told me something very valuable about myself. While he’s met a few other tour operators traveling the globe, their stories are the same, “they all got hooked while studying in college.”

I conceded, asking where he’s actually from, and of course he responded, “New York City.” Although Andrew is from the center of the universe, I didn’t hold it against him, since, given his occupation, he’s probably the only New Yorker that makes it out of Manhattan. Likewise, he loved that I’m from Texas and recounted a show of his in the Austin Hill Country last year, just before we took a couple photos.

Andrew returned to his “Strange Foods” table, pampering the large, penis-shaped clams and enthusiastically posed for more photos. But, it was not our last encounter. Throughout the evening, I was dragged over for more pictures with various groups of friends, forgetting that, hmmm…perhaps Andrew would rather us just try the clams instead, and get on with it. Most guests stuck with blood sausage, another favorite of his, and watered it down with food located at a table nearby that should’ve been referred to as the “Safe Foods” table, as it included chips and salsa, as well as buffalo wings.

Footnotes: Thanks to Reggie Brown, fellow NBC Chicago Street Team member (and famous Barack Obama impersonator) for originally introducing me to Andrew Zimmern and taking some photos.

See Classic Chicago in The Time Traveler’s Wife

Have you ever been so excited about a movie? I mean really excited? Having read The Time Traveler's Wife cover to cover a few years ago, I have been anxiously awaiting the premier of the film version for months. This time travel romance is essentially my summer’s Harry Potter or G.I. Joe.

The film tells the story of Clare (Rachel McAdams) and Henry (Eric Bana) as they attempt to overcome the challenges brought on by Henry’s genetic disposition, which sends him through time, sometimes for months, even years.

While McAdams and Bana are cast as the leads, the real star of The Time Traveler’s Wife is Chicago itself. Locals watching can appreciate how lucky the characters are to live in such a magnificent and versatile city, while doomed to endure its unforgiving weather. At one point, the fierce freezing temperatures prove to be a detriment to even Henry’s time travel, as he winds up in the hospital. That’s timeless Chicago: cold.

Familiar Windy City sights featured in the film include the Lakeshore, Newberry Library, the El, Lincoln Park Zoo and one of those charming “vintage” one bedrooms we’ve all experienced at least once while living in the city. Additionally, you can also visit Clare and Henry’s movie home yourself in Lincoln Square.

The film is based on the novel written by Audrey Niffenegger, a Chicago native and professor in the MFA program at Columbia College. The novel is a page-turner, and it’s disappointing to watch the on-screen adaptation with omitted scenes and characters (as well as complex character struggles), which might have strengthened the story’s climax. On The Today Show, Rachel McAdams concluded that as it’s a long book, the movie is “definitely distilled down,” but that the core of the on-screen relationship is true to the original story. If you’re a fan like me, the thought will likely cross your mind that “the book was better than the movie.”

But who doesn’t love Rachel McAdams? Her smile and acting talent is worth paying to see, as is Eric Bana’s performance in a serious, sentimental and romantic role. It only took one glance at Clare’s childhood home and the famous meadow, for me to think, “That’s just how I pictured it while reading the book!”

But it’s Chicago that steals the show. The seasons of the city alone make The Time Traveler’s Wife a timeless film. It’s a delight to see Chicago’s fall and winter, with such a short glimpse of warm weather, and wonder -- as in real life -- whether the city’s spring or summer actually exists.

Staycation? Give me a Breakcation.

Who came up with this super trendy new word? Everywhere I go this summer, billboards, Borders, the box office, everyone is advertising things to do and buy “while on your Staycation.” Now, assuming the stupid word spurred from a global economic epidemic, then isn’t it obvious that the underlined meaning is to save money? Ahem, a simple Wikipedia search claims its origin from the financial 2007 – 2009 financial crisis, with the actual word joining Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary in 2009.

The word’s as annoying and contradicting as Green-friendly campaigns, insisting that our martyr-selves can save energy (and the world) by spending more green, buying better cars, houses and boats. So, the experts at Gal about the Globe dug deep to find some real money savers for the rest of this summer’s Staycation. What are yours?
Who came up with this super trendy new word? Everywhere I go this summer, billboards, Borders, the box office, everyone is advertising things to do and buy “while on your Staycation.” Now, assuming the stupid word spurred from a global economic epidemic, then isn’t it obvious that the underlined meaning is to save money? Ahem, a simple Wikipedia search claims its origin from the financial 2007 – 2009 financial crisis, with the actual word joining Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary in 2009.

The word’s as annoying and contradicting as Green-friendly campaigns, insisting that our martyr-selves can save energy (and the world) by spending more green, buying better cars, houses and boats. So, the experts at Gal about the Globe dug deep to find some real money savers for the rest of this summer’s Staycation. What are yours?

* Instead of spending $30 on a book at Barnes&Noble or Borders, try somewhere you can get books at almost full-price off: The library. Go on, indulge in decadent late fees; maybe even take a chance on something you’d never in a million years be seen buying but always wanted to try. We won’t tell.

* Instead of eating three to five servings every time you order a meal, split that dish with your friend. Heck, split the dish with five friends. Try it with Ethiopian food. Or the grocery store.

* Freeze that gym membership for the summer (or what’s left of it) and get your booty outside.

* Research some basic astronomy, grab a blanket, stay out past your bedtime, and look up, up, up. As long as you can get some amount of distance from the worst of your town or city’s light pollution, the night sky is sacred and beautiful wherever you are.

* Take the bus, bike, train, tram, trolley, and carpool or walk wherever you go.

* Throw an intimate theme party with food as the means of escape. If you’re classy like us, you’ll combine the wonders of a Tour de Franzia party with a New York/Chicago/Sicilian/Hot and Ready Little Caesar’s style Pizza cabal for a Moveable Feast of true Staycation proportions.

* Read aloud from Gal about the Globe’s “City of the Week” and “Our Journeys” sections in a terrible British, New York or ambiguously European accent. You’ll feel like you just got back from a vacation. And your friends will hate you.

* Finally, dig deep yourself. Take some time to record the sights, sounds, feelings and memories of your past vacations, adventures, places you’ve lived. You’ll be conserving memories for years to come. Again, you’ll feel like you’ve just returned from a vacation. Plus, it just so happens we’re taking submissions. You can email desiree@galabouttheglobe.com

Travel Channel Visits My Hometown

Travel Channel's Man vs. Food visited my hometown, San Antonio, Texas. The episode premiered on August 5th, with host, Adam Richman taking a tour of Lulu's Bakery and Café to learn how to make a 3 1/2 pound cinnamon roll. Adam also headed to Big Lou’s Pizza for a 42 inch pizza, and Chunky’s Burgers for the "Four Horsemen Challenge," where he eats a burger "topped with the spiciest chilies in the world." While I argue that eating is one of best things to do in my hometown, Adam also enthusiastically gave us an historical tour, check it out here. Otherwise, enjoy the clip of his challenge below.

Cool Capitals

I received this video from the Swiss Tourism Board months ago. It was produced by a travel agency in Europe for promotional purposes and has remained my favorite plug for the continent. It's one of those videos that gets funnier each time I watch it. So watch the story about Francine's Five Husbands in five of Europe's Cool Capitals.

Spotted By Locals

If you're interested in visiting a city and combing through it like a local, we found another great site you should check out, Spotted By Locals. It includes city blogs by handpicked guides and while featured cities mainly include European destinations, the list is growing. We also noticed a few "Best in Travel 2009" cities are representing...

Layover in Amsterdam

For some reason, planes love to layover in Amsterdam. And, if you happen to be like the gals I’ve talked to, chances are—layovers in Amsterdam are famous for this—it lasts a ridiculous eight hours. What are you supposed to do during that time? How about take two trips for the price of one! That’s right; this is no time to take a nap. Suck it up; grab a coffee and start walking boots!

Okay, so imagine your flight has landed into Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, where, after exiting customs you have the option to walk to your next gate or exit. Exit, then take the escalators and follow the signs to the airport’s train station. Stop here! Do not get on the train yet! If you’re like me, you’re going to want to drop off any extra luggage, coat or carry-on that you did not check. Remember, you’ve only got eight hours so you’ll want to ditch the dead weight. Take the corner elevator (opposite the train station) down to the basement where the lockers await. The lockers are pretty easy to maneuver, but make sure you have Euro coins on you. If not, there’s an attendant that can give you change.

Once you get to the train station, you’re going to be intimidated. There are so many trains to figure out and so little time. First, take a right upon your entrance to pick up a ticket at the ticket booth. Note: there are ticket machines you can use; however, I found these not to be as user-friendly as say the ones in Rome or London. Buy a roundtrip ticket to Amsterdam Central Station, as roundtrips are cheaper than one-ways (roundtrip will run you approximately between 6 – 7 Euros). You can also purchase tickets ahead of time at the Dutch Railways website, where tickets to Antwerp, Paris, Berlin and beyond are available (hmmm…perhaps forget about the layover all together and take the train to your next destination).

Your average journey to Amsterdam Central Station is 17 minutes (13 minutes at the train’s fastest). Once you make it out of the station you can meander through the old town, be surprised to learn about head shops, marijuana shops, sex shops, etc…Do not be deceived. Amsterdam is still famously known as an art city, with the Van Gogh Museum (as well as 37 other museums), the Anne Frank House, theaters and concert halls, the Haarlemmerstraat, clogs, Heineken and much, much more. Check out Amsterdam’s official website.

My favorite finds on this trip: old-school bicycles everywhere, clogs, flying over the Baltic Sea, realizing that every European city with canals north of Venice is referred to as, “Venice of the North.” And learning that the sunlight in Holland is unique and the reason behind why Dutch pastoral paintings are so remarkable. Oh, and no matter how friendly head shop owners are and no matter how “normal” they make using drugs seem, do not buy shrooms. You have to head back to the airport, remember? You do not want to be Bridget Jones on her trip to Thailand.

Climb in California

Thinking about California this summer, with its bright lights and sandy beaches? What better way to get in shape for the Los Angeles nightlife or surfing the waves than a full-day hike on Half Dome at Yosemite National Park? Half Dome—literally half of a mountain made out of granite— climbs almost 5,000 feet, and according to the National Park, that’s 8,800 feet above sea level. The hiking challenge is a full-day feat and summons the most physically fit to its summit.

The roundtrip hike can take anywhere from 14-16 hours, and, in case you’re in over your head (note, the air is a little thin up there), park rangers offer their assistance. If you think you’re one in the few thousands that can pull off the hike each year, then spectacular views of Yosemite Valley, Vernal and Nevada Falls, Liberty Cap, and High Sierra await you.

If you’re a normal person and prefer to stay below with the bears and snakes, 1,200 square miles of National Park grounds include sinuous paths weaving in and around valleys, waterfalls, and wildlife. Note: If you’re prone to car sickness, do not sit in the back seat. For more information on camping and lodging, climbing the dome, year-round activities, or things like “glaciers,” check out the Yosemite National Park Webpage. Otherwise, we recommend flying into Fresno Yosemite International Airport and driving an hour and a half to the park. More airports and driving directions can be found here.

Beautiful Bavaria: Alps, Castles and Palaces

You cannot head to Munich without visiting its beautiful alpine region, Bavaria. Waterfalls scrape along the mountains’ rough cliffs, while lush meadows inside its layers open to crystal blue and green lakes, and clouds soar through majestic peaks. If you’re not visualizing a romantic postcard picture in your head yet, then maybe you’ll also need a tour of King Ludwig II’s enchanting castles, Lake Koenigsee and the town of Berchtesgaden. Once the Kingdom of Bavaria, the people may still call themselves Bavarian, despite its location on the German-Austrian Border.

Bavaria is a perfect place for skiing or summering, and tourists will want to begin with a trek through Berchtesgaden National Park, just outside of Austria’s Salzburg. Hiking trails, kayaking and mountain biking are a few outdoor activities, and while we recommend taking a boat ride through Lake Koenigsee in the summer, you may be able to ice skate on it during the winter! Perhaps the work of glacial recessions, Lake Koenigsee and Berchtesgaden National Park provide an impressive landscape, as steep mountain gorges and endless skies seem to sweep on forever, with the lake’s reflecting waters. Depending on the season, you may also ski, white-water raft or fish. However, if you’re interested in a unique indoor activity, consider touring the Salt Mines in Obersalzburg. A train snakes inside the mysterious mountain range, where caverns and little lakes stream through the cool interior of the Alps, teaching guests how salt is made.

While in Obersalzburg, you’ll find the Eagle’s Nest, a chalet style retreat built for Adolph Hitler for his 50th birthday. Obersalzburg is often associated with the Nazi hierarchy (Hitler supposedly finished writing Mein Kampf here), with ruins of Berghof remaining. While the Bavarian government and U.S. Army destroyed Berghof (they did not want any monuments that would tribute Hitler’s reign) history-hungry travelers can still tour the Eagle’s Nest. It is buried in a mountain half a mile up, and while it can be difficult for transportation to get to because of its height, steep and slim driving trail, tours typically run from May through October depending on the weather. Reportedly Hitler actually spent very little time here, as he was afraid of heights.

Just below, you’ll find the medieval town of Berchtesgaden, a favorite vacation spot for King Ludwig II. Finally, if you’re inspired, we suggest making visits to Ludwig’s three most beautiful, peculiar and interesting castles of Bavaria:

Located in Southwestern Bavaria between Hohenschwangau and Fussen, Neuschwanstein Castle’s fairy tale like towers and 19th century style architecture make it the most famous and recognizable castle and Walt Disney’s inspiration for his Cinderella Castle.

Herrenchiemsee Palace, built on an island in Lake Chimesse, was meant to be Ludwig’s response to the Palace of Versailles, and features more than 20 staterooms, grand staircases and a Hall of Mirrors.

Our favorite, Linderhof Palace, is located just outside of Oberammergau, where the famous Passion Play is performed once every 10 years. Linderhof, Ludwig II’s smallest castle built in Rococo style, was originally inherited from his father, and became Ludwig II’s final resting place (he did not live to see its completion). While he was known for being more than a bit “mad,” his castles and palaces are so eclectic and entertaining, that after his death, they were opened to the paying public, in order to pay off his debt.

Other areas of interest as day trips from Munich include Dachau and Augsburg.