Air Sick

I just arrived back in NYC after a brief business trip to Chicago (touring details and pic will be provided later) and I have to share my air travel experience as a means to vent frustration. I chose to fly ATA even though the company was paying the bill...a mistake I will not make again. The flight was leaving Chicago Midway Airport at 3:00, and I was flying standby since my later flight had been mysteriously cancelled at the last minute. As I crammed myself in the middle seat of the 24th row in this Boeing 737-800 I suddenly had the feeling that this may be the worst flight I've ever endured (and I've endured some bad ones). Two grown men on either side, babies to the left and front and most irritatingly what seems to be the least bit of legroom I've ever experienced....and I've flown Ryanair before so I know tight fits!

As we lifted off from the runway all seemed well despite the cramped quarters...but this brief moment of satisfaction was not to last. Babies, joining together like a demonic choir of discontent, let us all know their opinion of the flight. Oddly enough I shared the same feeling of "Get me out of this place...now!"

I coped with the crying, gasping and screaming until nearly 20 minutes before arrival time, when the pilot announced, "Uhhh...ladies and gentlemen, we seem to have....uhhhhh...some gridlock on the ground...and...uhhh....I'll keep you posted on our new arrival time...should be 20 or 30 minutes. Thanks for your patience and we're working on getting you home."

Long story short, we landed one hour later in Connecticut...Bradley Airport to be exact. We stayed on the runway for hours..waiting to be refueled and cleared to land in NYC.
I dealt with this situation is several ways:
1. iPod - charged and full of music
2. Water - staying hydrated in important
3. Book - an advanced copy of Turning the Tables kept me occupied nicely
4. Mentally abusing fellow passengers - picking out who I would like to kick, slap and/or punch for annoying behavior is a nice pastime when trapped on a plane for multiple hours...do not however act on these thoughts...many celebrities do not seem to have the "don't abuse" policy in check, so avoid their mistakes

After nearly 7 hours of flying, waiting and flying again I arrived in NYC. Never have I been happier to jump into a Yellow cab, listening to my cabbie hurl obscenities at other drivers, knowing that Astoria was just a few miles away. Top Tomato here I come (don't ask...it's an Astoria thing).

Stay tuned for Chicago info...much less complaining...much more travel talk.

Northeasterly Road Trip

This July 4th Weekend will consist of a new travel adventure for Carrie, Leonidas, Iro and myself. Of course we mulled over the ideas of "Vegas, Baby....Vegas!!!" and also driving hours upon hours from NYC in traffic to hang out at the Montreal Jazz Festival (I'm still mad that it takes so long to get there by car!) but these just didn't fit into our ideal vacation. We needed to find relaxation, some touring and of course the obligatory wide open road with scenery for an official "Road Trip".

Basically we've decided to go to Portland, Maine....but not before staying two nights in Boston first. Typically I wouldn't write about a trip before it actually happens...but I'm pretty excited about this one...so I am bending the unwritten rules a bit. Besides...maybe someone can recommend a Boston or Portland sight that I've missed. Here's some of the sights we're hoping to enjoy:

Boston

The Freedom Trail (apparently a must for the Boston Tourist)

Faneuil Hall (apparently a must for the Shopaholic Boston Tourist)

Redbones BBQ (highly debated...but possibly the best BBQ in Boston...especially rare so far North)

U.S.S. Constitution Really big ship....not called "Old Ironsides" for nothing

New England Aquarium I can't help myself...I'm a sucker for a good aquarium...probably because I, like Ned and Steve Zissou, always wished I could breathe underwater

Portland, ME

Peaks Island I've been to a few islands in my time...the Greek Islands, Robben Island, Ellis Island, Long Island (if you're from NYC you know that's funny), Coney Island (another NYC joke) and Alcatraz Island (alright I only cruised around it) but that's not the point). The point is that I've never biked around, hiked and ate lobster all on the same island...so this should be a great time to try all of the above.

Portland Head Lighthouse Usually lighthouses aren't my thing...but I'll make an exception for the sake of a great photo op...and just to say we did it of course

Shipyard Brewing Company Did you really think that we wouldn't drink at least SOME beer on a road trip? Stay tuned for pictures of this event.

Well...that's a taste of what we expect to see...of course there will be additions to the list and changes to the itinerary...but this will be our basic journey. I'm sure I'll post before then....but I had to share before hand. Any suggestions are always welcome to modify our trip for the better!

Greek Adventure

Greece may possibly be one of the most perfect places on the face of this earth. Yes...the politics can be a bit messy and trying to find a parking place in downtown Athens during any month other than August (when everyone is in the Islands or the Horio...or village) may cause a difficult situation...but these things are minor when weighing them against the fantastic food, incredible people, awe-inspiring ancient ruins and the overall visual beauty of the experience. Honestly...Greece is a vacation which no one should miss and no one will want to forget.

Carrie and I stayed with her family in Melissia, a suburb of Athens near Kifisia, where we spent the time planning our sightseeing and also recovering from eating too much, drinking just enough and staying out too late. As it turns out, Carrie's family is closely affiliated with the ION chocolate company in Greece....somewhat like the Hershey's of Greece. Not a bad connection to have.

Her family urged us to visit the sights in Athens and then head to the Islands for awhile. We didn't resist their suggestions. We found two islands in particular to be well worth visiting time and time again. They are as follows:

Ios - This island rocks. We stayed at Markos Beach Hotel on Mylopotas Beach which is just a small trail away from the sand. The stay was great...the hotel poolside bar was nice...and the staff was incredibly friendly. I can't wait for our next visit.

Santorini - Poli Orea....or very nice. That's putting it lightly though. This island has a red beach, black beach and white beaches...great wine, great food and plenty of places to watch the sun set in Oia. We stayed in Imerovigli, finding a great little cave apartment which was carved into the side of the cliffs as is traditionally done in Santorini.

Also, be sure to visit the local churches...famous from the pictures printed of them around the world, such as St. George, which was located just above our apartment. The icons found in these churches are covered in gold, silver and jewels...incredibly beautiful and full of deeply moving history of the religion. We found that these icons were a part of the culture in general..in every home, every business...simply part of being Greek. The best part about enjoying these icons was that we fortunately found a way to have a beautiful piece of Greece in our home and now own several icons purchased from Religious Icons From Greece. Now each day I leave the house for work...I remember that Greece is calling me back...and I'm just one ticket away from leaving.

Southern Safari

A few years ago Carrie and I travelled to South Africa and Botswana to teach women & children basic business principles and also encourage entrepreneurship in these countries. Aside from this incredible mission however, we still found time to enjoy the surrounding sights. Some of our favorites were:

Pilanesburg National Park - It was amazing...and we drove a little VW Polo through the park despite being stopped by two rhinos in the road fighting and also dealing with other poor drivers swerving everywhere...because it's difficult to drive and spot game at the same time apparently. We saw four of "The Big Five", a term coined from white hunters for the five most desirable animals in Africa, which are lion, elephant, cape buffalo, rhino & hippo. We didn't see a lion until later in the trip.

Cape Town - Aside from the Greek Islands...I can't think of a more amazing place for the combination of sights, food and overall atmosphere. We drove for miles down the coast to the Cape of Good Hope to see the southwestern most point of Africa...as far south on the planet as we've ever been....yet. The wine country and beautiful homes in Constantia are reminiscent of Napa Valley, the sparkling ocean and enormous seaside cliffs are similar to those in Hawaii, the food is a mixed bag of Greek, Indian, Asian, and traditional African cuisines....which makes a very nice variety. If you want to fly to Cape Town from Jo'burg...check out the airline kulula.com which is similar to Jetblue and Southwest...but with a funnier twist. It's cheap, comfortable and a very enjoyable ride.

I would actually recommend trying to drive in Southern Africa if you get the opportunity....especially if you enjoy the challenge of trying to master driving on the opposite side of the road. Now it's important to note that I love to drive...it's part of my California past...so if you can't handle poor roads, horn honking, cattle randomly walking into traffic and the occational dead pedestrian (we saw this in fact....this is a big problem in these countries because it's easier to walk on the roads than in the brush and dirt on the side of the roads) think carefully before you rent a car or a combi.

I'll let that me enough reminiscing for the time being...but a trip to Africa is a must for anyone interested in really experiencing the world. On our conquest to visit nearly all the continents of the world...we've found some very special places, including many within Africa. The journey is just beginning.

Time To Eat - NY Restaurant Week

As tourists and heat descend on New York City for the summer...this is a fantastic time to start thinking about how to still enjoy yourself indoors....especially when you're in need of some nourishment. The answer for you my friend is New York Restaurant Week which you should immediately check out and make reservations for to get in on some gourmet cuisine at budget prices.
The official advertisement of the event goes something like this, "Savor the cuisine of the city's most talented chefs, and experience the quality, variety, and hospitality that makes New York the best restaurant city in the world."
And I agree with the statement 100%. I've eaten some of the most impressive meals of my life during past restaurant weeks....and I plan to continue this tradition, selecting different restaurants each season. Here are some suggestions to get you started.
Aquavit - Scandinavian (Swedish influenced)

Firebird Russian Restaurant - Russian...and very upscale...ask for a table in the back corner to view the entire restaurant...table 21 I believe

River Cafe - Very, very nice for a lunch date...one of the only reasons I'd go to Brooklyn (sorry Brooklyn fans)

These three are a nice variety of choices and shouldn't dissapoint.

Beer Garden - Prague or Astoria

While hanging out with friends at the Bohemian Beer Garden the other night it suddenly hit me that I could be very well in Prague if I didn't know better. The staff, most of them anyway, speak Czech....or something that sounds like it. The signs, knick-knacks and even beers behind the bar are predominantly of Czech origin...and most importantly, the food being cooked up is definitely Czech.

Now it is important to note that I am not Czech, nor have I been to Czechoslovakia...yet, so this is not a Czech bias by any means....this place just is a great time. The Erdinger beer is a great wheat beer...kind of lemony and great to beat the summer heat. At $12 per pitcher it's hard to beat considering you'd pay nearly $7 for one pint in Manhattan.

If anyone has been to Prague and also visited the Beer Garden I'd be interested in finding out how similar or dissimilar the experience is....but I surely won't ever quit praising the Beer Garden.

Anyone have some thoughts on this?

New York Summer

As summer is rapidly approaching everyone is fully aware of the humidity and foreign smells that will besiege NYC...however at this time all is well, the sky is blue, the air is crisp and the temperature is just right. The smells will never fully go away.

During this time of year there are several places that one must go to fully enjoy the moment. These places are as follows (and will be quite Astoria-centric....since I live there...and I love it)

1. Bohemian Beer Garden - This place is great for friends, affordable Belgian, Czech and German beers, good food hot off of the grill and most importantly relaxation.

2. Central Park - I realize that it may seem a bit touristy...but trust me...it's big enough to erase the thought that you're even in NYC, let alone surrounded by bustling crowds and tourists stopping without notice to take pictures of sidewalks, police and/or bad shots of towering buildings above...it's a fact.

3. Jackson Diner - Although Carrie would surely disagree, Indian food is always good. Especially if you take advantage of the weekend buffet and have a nice cool Mango Lassi to wash it all down it's hard to beat this dining destination...especially in Queens.

4. Greenwich Village - There's something about the Village in the summer that I like...especially at night near Washington Square Park. If you bypass the wandering pot dealers, walk right on by the random chess games and simply head to the fountain in Washington Square...it's a nice place to soak in the NYC atmosphere. Also, there are several great bars and comedy clubs, including the Comedy Cellar (my favorite) in the immediate area.

5. Astoria - As mentioned previously, I live here, I love the neighborhood...especially up near Ditmars where I live. On any given weekend make a trip to Avenue Cafe or Athens Cafe for a frappe and possibly a warm tiropita...if you're lucky you can grab a table outside and enjoy some people watching. Also check out Zlata Praha for some amazing Czech food....the Szegedin Goulash is unbelievable.

Well...that's all my tips for now...plenty more to come soon. I know I can't be the only one out there with some advice and/or stories of travel...so let's hear some.