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Arizona Adventures: Balloons, Birds and Waterfalls

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Have you been ticking off those once-in-a-lifetime adventures on your Bucket List?  Here’s one to add if it isn’t already on yours – a Hot Air Balloon ride!  Picture yourself floating with the wind at 500′ to 4000′ above the ground with the breath-taking 360 degree views of the area.  The silence is broken only at those times the pilot flares the burner in order to add enough heat to maintain the desired altitude.  A chase crew follows your flight and is read to pack up the balloon and carry you back to your starting point.  Arizona offers commercial rides in Phoenix, Tucson, Sedona and more.  There are annual balloon festivals in Yuma, Tucson, Chandler, Lake Havasu, Sierra Vista, Safford where often visitors are able to join a chase crew and may just ”earn” a free balloon ride.   These “gentle giants” are colorful and enchanting to watch as well as a wonderful way to get a different perspective on your vacation destination.

Birders, bird watchers, nature-lovers can find a lot to love in Arizona.  There are many birding hot spots around the state.  The Sierra Vista area has several within short drives of each other as well as plenty of rooms if you plan to spend a few days there.  Located in the Southeast corner of the state, Sierra Vista is home to the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, internationally known Ramsey Canyon is just down the Highway, and less than an hour away is Madera Canyon – all popular with birders.  Those are just a few of the many places birders gather to peer through binoculars, hoping to sight that rare species for their life lists.   You may be surprised to learn that there are more than 400 species of birds found in this area, including hummingbirds of all colors and varieties.  Go to Explore Cochise dot com for a guide and more information.

Do you love waterfalls?  In the desert, you ask?  Arizona is full of surprises!  The waterfalls in Arizona are mostly seasonal.  They are active during the snow melt in Spring, and during the monsoon season in Summer.  One of the most beautiful is Havasu Falls on the Havasupai Indian Reservation near the Grand Canyon.  It is nestled in a red-walled canyon which with its blue waters is quite the breath-taking sight.  There are no roads to this must-see spot.  One must walk or ride a mule eight miles down into the canyon where you can camp just north of the village at Havasu Campground.  Reservations and permits are required.  No pets allowed.

These are just a few of the many, many destinations Arizona has in store for you.  If you haven’t already planned a vacation here, we hope you will consider it in the near future!  Arizona – it’s more than just a Grand Canyon state.  Come see for yourself!

Hand Crafted Chocolates: The Stuff of Dreams

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A dozen children streamed from a school bus and made a beeline directly for a building a few hundred feet away. One by one, they pulled open the heavy front door, darted inside and reached for a tray sitting on a counter. A second later, they were skipping back outside, their cheeks full of chocolate and their finger tips smudged with the evidence. This routine seemed well-practiced as each child knew exactly what to look forward to at the Lake Champlain Chocolate factory. Each day, Lake Champlain Chocolates sets aside bite-sized treats for kids to pick up on their way home from school and the activity has become something of a tradition.

Handing out treats to the neighborhood is only one way that Lake Champlain Chocolates has become a beloved part of the community. The 30-year-old factory has been passionate about making delicious hand crafted chocolates from fair trade sources and local sustainable products since the day it opened. “We use maple syrup from the same neighbor that we’ve known since Jim Lampman first started the company,” said Megan Fitzpatrick, LCC’s PR and Communications representative. “We use Vermont honey and Vermont milk and butter in all of our products, so we use as much local ingredients as possible… it was the best tasting stuff and it was right down the road from us.”

In 1983, Jim Lampman opened the doors to Burlington’s soon to be favorite chocolate factory. Jim’s love for chocolate started at a young age when his grandmother served chocolate cake for breakfast. Her philosophy was that chocolate tasted best in the morning when one’s taste buds were most sensitive. When Jim was 15, he took a job working at Country Kettle Fudge shop on the Jersey Shore. There he learned about the magic of chocolate. For a while after that, Jim managed the Ice House Restaurant in Burlington and his only connection with chocolate was buying fancy truffles for his staff every holiday season. One year, his pastry chef proclaimed he could make better chocolates. Jim challenged the chef to his claim and the next day, he was tasting smooth, creamy hand-rolled truffles that were above and beyond anything he had experienced before. By the next Christmas, the restaurant had closed and Lake Champlain Chocolates was born.

Now, anyone who walks into the factory or orders online can sample dark chocolate truffles filled with raspberry ganache, dark french roast coffee, citrus, and dark chocolate filling. Viewing windows and boxes overflow with milk chocolate truffles filled with hazelnut, fresh vanilla, and cappuccino. The Chocolates of Vermont collection instantly wins the hearts of those who crave honey caramel, evergreen mint, almonds and currants, and maple crunch flavors. Each chocolate of Vermont is molded into a beautiful illustration of evergreens, mountains, maple leaves or beehives. Sea salt caramels, chocolate dusted almonds, peanut butter creations, toffees, dark chocolate almond bark, spicy chocolates, hot chocolate and a vast assortment of chocolate bars are also available throughout the year. There is also the Chocolate of the Month Club that sends different collections of chocolates to your door once a month.

Caption: The South End Kitchen and Cafe

Cacao (ka-cow) is the term for a raw bean.

Cocoa (co-co) is the term for the bean after it has been roasted and processed into butter, powder, liquor or nibs.

It would seem that Lake Champlain Chocolates would be plenty busy with manufacturing myriad chocolates, but it turns out that maintaining the factory is only the beginning. In January 2014, a brand new branch of the business opened its doors just a few steps down the road. “South End Kitchen is brand new!” said Megan, who explained that the new enterprise consisted of three different parts. The first part is a cafe that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The second part is an educational kitchen that offers cooking classes, chocolate bar making classes, wine tastings, chocolate sculpting demonstrations and more. The third part of South End Kitchen is Blue Bandana Chocolate maker, founded by Eric Lampman, the owner’s son. “Blue Bandana is a bean to bar chocolate making process. So, he sources the beans directly from Guatemala and Madagascar, and he is very involved in forging relationships with those farmers. It’s about single origin chocolate, but it’s also about direct trade and establishing partnerships for future cocoa endeavors.”

With all of its programs, initiatives and devotion to making outstanding chocolate, Lake Champlain Chocolates has certainly drawn a crowd. Apart from school children stopping by for an afternoon treat, adults have gathered in the evenings to learn about local chefs and culinary creations, families have stopped by on the weekends to craft their own signature chocolate bar, lovers have surprised each other with fresh truffles, co-workers have impressed their partners with lunch hour factory tours, and sustainability groups have applauded LLC’s efforts to become fair trade certified and positively impact communities across the world. Lake Champlain Chocolates has not only demonstrated that chocolate can be made sustainably, it has proven that chocolate can make a difference.

There’s more to LCC than You Think:

Lake Champlain Chocolates

With dozens of tempting chocolates to choose from and a Fair for Life certification, Lake Champlain Chocolates guarantees that every bite is fair trade certified. All ingredients that can be grown in Vermont are sourced from small organic farms in Vermont. LCC is also working to fund a World Cocoa Foundation Scholarship that is designed to empower women and educate youth on the Ivory Coast.

Factory

Factory tours are offered every day and include a special viewing of the factory floor, a demonstration on the chocolate-making process and a sample at the end. Arrive on a Saturday and enjoy a free chocolate tasting seminar.

Blue Bandana Chocolate Maker

On one side of South End Kitchen, visitors can watch how sustainably-produced, authentic chocolate bars are made from behind a glass wall; from sorting and roasting raw beans to pouring liquid chocolate into molds and wrapping each bar in paper, the entire process is completely transparent and available for all to view. Blue Bandana began as a dream thought up by Erik Lampman in 2012. Lampman wanted to make the best chocolate bar possible and so he set out to Guatemala to learn from the best. The first group of bean farmers he found was the Fundalachua, a group devoted to evaluating and improving tree selections and fermentation processes. It wasn’t long before Lampman discovered more small farming associations in Laguna Lachua National Park in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala as well as Madagascar. After two years, Blue Bandana was buying six metric tons of cacao beans. In 2014, Blue Bandana won a Good Food Award for its Madagascar Wild Pepper 70% and Madagascar 70% Dark Chocolate bar.

Cafe

South End Kitchen’s Cafe is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, snacks and even dinner a few nights a week. Enjoy a gourmet egg sandwich, a stack of pancakes with Tanzanian chocolate sauce or huevos rancheros. Cravings for macaroni and cheese, vibrant salads and burgers are also satisfied on a regular basis, as well as cravings for all things chocolate.

Kitchen: Chocolate Bar Making Classes

Join a small class of adventurous individuals and learn what it takes to make your own signature chocolate bar. This is a great activity for children and adults alike. Weekly classes are available upon registration.

Kitchen: Chef Dinners

Chef Dinners are an exciting series where local chefs are brought in from nearby towns and asked to cook an entire meal in front of a small audience. The Chef explains what she or he is doing and why. Each dish is paired with a wine and the wine producer is present to explain why the pairings were chosen. The vegetable farmers are also present to explain how everything was grown, what sustainable steps were taken to grow them, and what kinds of challenges arise when growing organic produce. Each guest describes what it is like to work together to come up with interesting dishes and to grow things in new ways.

“We always say there are 6 steps to tasting chocolate. A lot of people just chow down on the chocolate and don’t really think about it, but if you slow down and really taste it and smell the chocolate first and let it melt in your mouth and think about the flavors that are happening, it’s a whole different experience.”

– Megan Fitzpatrick

How to Taste Chocolate Like a Pro:

Step 1: Smell the chocolate. Does it smell sweet or earthy? Are there hints of other ingredients such as citrus, peanut or caramel? What does it make you think of?

Step 2: Break the piece in half; it should have a really good snap to it.

Step 3: Bite into the chocolate and let it melt in your mouth a little.

Step 4: Swallow slowly and let it coat your tongue. What flavor does the chocolate have? Can you tell how concentrated it is, what percentage of dark chocolate it has in it? Does it taste different than it smelled?

Step 5: Study the aftertaste. See what flavors linger. Does the sweet rich flavor of cream from the milk chocolate linger or does the hint of orange or spice dominate the palate? What flavor does 70% dark chocolate leave behind?

Step 6: Repeat.

Clare Hancock

Mrauk U: Finding Treasure on the Far Side of the World

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Mrauk U: Finding Treasure on the Far Side of the World

Created by Kevin Dimetres

Its crumbling ruins are so remote that time itself considered leaving them behind. Its mystical fortresses tower over rice paddies and rural villages. The silhouettes of their petrified remains reminds onlookers of the great empire from long ago. It is Mrauk U, the enchanting capital of the old Arakan kingdom, home to some of the most unique archaeological ruins on earth.

To travel up the Kaladan River in Myanmar’s western delta region is to journey back in time; simple homes are scattered across a worn countryside freshly tilled by water buffalo and wooden oxcarts. Conical straw hats and cylindrical longyi skirts with sandals are the apparel of choice. Life moves slowly as globalization has yet to take hold.

The temples of Mrauk U emerge from the pastoral hillside seemingly out of nowhere. Colossal structures topped with bell-shaped domes and spiraling stupas engulf the landscape like celestial palaces fallen from heaven. The Arakan architecture of the temples resembles a Frankenstein-like fusion of martial fortifications and royal mausoleums. Constructed as tributes to the religious and political zeal of the former Arakan kings, the ruins were the last remnants of a once mighty empire forged during the age of exploration.

The Arakan kingdom dominated trade throughout the Bay of Bengal during the 15th-18th centuries, controlling the lands between the Ganges River to the east and the Ayeyarwady River to the west. Following the kingdom’s collapse after the First Anglo-Burmese War, the trading center was seized by the British and moved to the coastal ports in Sittwe. Forgotten by outsiders, Mrauk U became something of a ghost town and its remaining inhabitants adapted to an agrarian lifestyle alongside the crumbling ruins.

I now find myself in this far corner of the world on an expedition to explore some of the most remote archeological ruins on earth. Wandering among the ruins, the rhythms of everyday life have an alluring vitality unlike any place else.

A passing farmer approaches me near the oversized Hershey Kiss stupas encircling a Buddhist shrine called the Ratanabon Paya, which translates to “pile of treasures.” Grazing on the thin patches of grass surrounding the temple, his herd of brown cows navigates through the ruins as if the spiraling stupas had grown organically from the soil beneath our feet. Thrilled with the opportunity to practice his English, the farmer introduces himself as Kyin.

Mrauk U may be a destination for travelers, but for locals like Kyin, this is home. Using a flurry of hand gestures to complement his heavy Myanmar accent, he points ahead to the Andawthein Temple while explaining that a tooth relic of the Buddha is enclosed inside the lofty central pagoda.

I scan my surroundings for a more formal individual to guide me to the temple before realizing the obvious: tour guides don’t exist here. Outside of a five dollar entrance fee collected by an elderly man sitting alone outside of the Shittaung Temple, travelers are on their own.

I am struck by the stark contrast between Andawthein Temple’s elegant layout and the brutish design of the neighboring Htukkanthein Temple. I make my way toward this next temple, which resembles something like a castle and has the stylishness of a bomb shelter.

Rising from the center of the Htukkanthein Temple as if it were an imperial crown, a massive bell-shaped dome dwarfs the neighboring shanty-homes constructed near the ruins. Exploring its dimly lit interior, I follow its spiraling, dungeon-like corridor adorned with carved statues of the Buddha to a deserted meditation chamber. Not another traveler is in sight.

On a beaten swath of grass outside of the temple, barefoot children play soccer with sticks for goal posts.  Dressed in million dollar smiles and brimming with youthful ambition to be the country’s next Suk Bahadur, they ask me who I am and where I’m from. I tell them and they respond with gleeful chants of “Obamaland!”

Laughing with the young soccer enthusiasts, I continue traversing the ruins. I find a quiet pathway that connects Mrauk U with the distant villages hidden behind the thick foliage of the Rakhine hillside. Without another thought, I start on the path.

Before long, I see the moss-covered Laungbanpyauk pagoda rising above the trees as if growing from a misplaced seed that had been dropped from the pocket of the Buddha himself. The pagoda would appear oversized and out-of-place anywhere else, but the unique juxtaposition of medieval ruins and agrarian lifestyles seems perfectly normal here.

A farmer shouts “Mingalaba” (Hello), to me as I walk by. He is harvesting rice from paddy fields planted around the Laungbanpyauk pagoda. As I wave back, he presents me with a trademark Myanmar smile from beneath the shade of his broad, cone-shaped hat.

Farther down a dirt road, past the endless fields of checkerboard rice paddies, the otherworldly Kothaung Temple strikes a portentous pose amidst innocent farming enclosures and cattle pastures. A visual assault of wonder and intimidation, the temple displays five rows of spiral stupas surrounding it like nuclear missiles positioned for launch. Often referred to as the shrine of 90,000 Buddhas, the spiritual fortress resembles a post-apocalyptic Stone Age stronghold more appropriately designed for the set of a Mad Max movie than the Myanmar countryside.

A lone Buddhist monk clutches a large alms bowl to his chest as he passes by the Kothaung Temple. He prompts me to conjure my best Myanmar accent in an attempt to continue a conversation. His eyes light up at my clumsy attempt to speak the native language, chuckling and muttering comments I couldn’t decipher. I bow to him as he moves along and he bursts into a comical fit of more laughter, stammering the words “Goodbye, friend.”

While I head back toward the town center, the sky turns into a frightening shade of dark grey and midnight blue. Myanmar’s summer monsoons are notorious for their flash floods, so I seek shelter anywhere possible.

Sneaking through an unlocked gate in the Lemyethna Temple, I escape just in time as the clouds release a torrent of rain. Stepping lightly into the temple, I find myself accompanied by four large Buddha statues each facing outwards in a cardinal direction, their backs around a central pillar. The shadowy crypt-like sanctuary allows just enough natural light to illuminate each statue. A window looks out over a lush hillside dotted with rural villages and spiral-shaped Buddhist shrines penetrating the horizon.

I’m quickly joined by five local men also seeking shelter from the pouring rain. They erupt into laughter when they find a like-minded foreign traveler hiding in the dark. They had been playing chinlone, a popular Myanmar game similar to hacky sack, when the rain had started. Now, with the animated persuasion of a Price Is Right audience, they insist that I participate in their next game once the rain lets up.

As soon as the storm passes, we form a circle outside the Lemyethna Temple gates. We kick the woven rattan ball back and forth with our bare feet, displaying as much artistic flair as possible to keep the ball from hitting the ground. I couldn’t quite grasp the scoring system, but no one seemed to mind; much like touring the temples of Mrauk U, a game of chinlone is more about the journey than the destination.

Hoping to catch a sunset view from the elusive Hariduang Paya, I embark up an unmarked hillside stairway hidden behind swaths of tree branches near the ruins of the former palace. Notable for its panoramic view overlooking Mrauk U from its hilltop setting, the glimmering golden stupa appears like the All-seeing Eye of Providence from the ground below.

A crew of edgy, young teenagers dressed in western attire sits near the stupa, blasting music from their smartphones while engaging in animated conversation. Curious, I walk up to the group and unintentionally startle them in what they thought was their secret hideout. I point to their smartphones and smile while nodding my head to the music, a gesture of approval which piques their curiosity about my taste for Myanmar pop-culture.

“Arakan music,” boasted my new friend, Ko, a charismatic kid wearing a backwards hat and polo shirt. “My favorite song… You like?”

Nodding, I pull out my smartphone and inquire about their taste in foreign music, particularly hip-hop and reggae. They nod collectively and I play a few tracks from Wu-Tang and Bob Marley, the latter of which brings jubilant smiles and head nods to the members of the group. As we jam to Bob Marley’s “Jammin’,” two novice Buddhist monks appear at the top of the staircase, laughing at our shenanigans.

Mrauk U receives a small fraction of the attention drawn by the more famous Southeast Asian ruins at Angkor Wat and Bagan, and perhaps it is better that way. Unlike theme-park styled archaeological tourism, which tends to convert humanity’s historical past into cultural caricatures for hire, Mrauk U is the rare phenomenon among ancient ruins: it is pure. Mrauk U presents the opportunity for inspired travelers to connect with the local culture. It provides a glimpse into the past and a living connection with the present. I came for the medieval ruins, but I left with priceless memories of the local people. Ancient monuments may make great backdrops for selfies and social media posts; however monuments don’t speak back; the true treasures are the connections with the local people.

All images by Kevin Dimetres

Best Places to Eat and Drink in Innsbruck?

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Adlers Restaurant

Eating and drinking is vital for all humans. These habits become even more important after a long flight, walk or trip in a new city. A big part of any trip is the food and drink experience. Tasting new recipes, and drinking local wine or beer is something people all around the Globe cherish when they go and visit a place. This is the main reason why the restaurants have to be carefully chosen. Although you may not be on a budget, it is no fun to leave a big amount of cash on a half-filled plate. The food might be great, but the servings could be too small.

What are some good places to eat and drink?

Here is a list of both pricy and cheap restaurants:

  • Adlers restaurant- a bit pricy, but they have a fantastic view. The food is absolutely delicious and the staff is friendly and nice. They also have a bar if you would only like to serve a few cocktails and enjoy small talk.
  • Altstadt-Schmankerl – this place offers some tasty regional specialties. Since it is more of a café-restaurant place, you can also enjoy a drink here. The terrace is absolutely lovely and it is nice to let the Sun warm you in a day of late autumn when it is a bit chillier.
  • Defreggerstube- the inside and the outside of this restaurant are charming. They offer local food at reasonable prices. The staff is also really attentive and warm, the serving is top-notch and the atmosphere is lovely. If you are visiting Innsbruck during summer you can eat outside, because it tends to get really hot inside.
  • Konrads Austrian Steaks- if you want the beast steak in town, this is the place to go to. The food is absolutely delicious and it will definitely make you come back here.

Innsbruck airport taxi

For people who are not particularly fans of public transport on their way to the hotel, companies have developed a way of making the journey more pleasant. Through Innsbruck airport taxi, clients are picked up and dropped off to their hotel or any other destination in a matter of minutes. Innsbruck airport taxi is a service that only requires its clients to give them the time of their arrival so they know when they should send a driver for them.

Thanks to the Innsbruck airport taxi, your first journey into Innsbruck will be safe and fast.

7 Water Activities You Never Dared to Try

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Surfing in Victoria bay

If you are into sunbathing, swimming, and taking lots of selfies, you must love the beach! Many people choose these activities because they want to relax, get away from their exhausting lifestyle and lie under the Sun. But, what about more adventurous types who want to stay active and try new things? Luckily, the sea has many secrets and offers tons of water activities, so here are some you might want to try.

Cliff Jumping
The premise of this activity sounds almost too simple: you find a really high cliff and – yes, you’ve guessed it – jump off it! Just try to land in the sea, not on the rocks, by the way. It requires no training, no equipment, and no previous experience, except your common sense. But, there’s more to cliff jumping than this, including quite complex physics you might want to consider before the jump. There are a few additional tips to remember: don’t do it alone, check how deep the water is, and remain calm.

Base Jumping
Meet cliff jumping’s more dangerous big brother, base jumping. It’s basically the same, but includes a parachute and is hence more dangerous and, consequently, more popular. What you need to do before performing the jump is find a cliff high enough and make sure you know how to handle the parachute. After you have mastered the technique, you can get spectacular results.

Surfing
There’s no better way to experience the sea than sliding through the waves on a surfing board. However, you will need special skills, some training, and exercise if you want to perform this activity. Moreover, get some professional equipment from the Channel Islands if you want to do it right.

Kitesurfing
A more complex variation of surfing, the one that involves a kite a surfer tries hard to hold on to is called kitesurfing. Despite being more challenging, this activity is even more enjoyable as you can freestyle and develop your own unique technique. However, since nobody can just stand on a board, grab a kite and become instantly successful, you should try building some muscles beforehand.

Underwater Scooter
Now, this is something only real adventurers will appreciate, even though it has little to do with your typical two-wheeler of the same name. Underwater scooters are actually called diver propulsion vehicles and there are several types available. Whichever you pick, be sure that it will take you on an underwater adventure you never expected – and probably faster than you thought!

Snorkeling
For people wishing to see the beauties of the sea up close, snorkeling is the thing to try. In fact, this activity became so popular that numerous high-end resorts now include it in their all-inclusive package and heartily invite you to experience it. You don’t have to prepare for snorkeling: just put on a suit, a snorkel, and a couple of fins, and you’re ready to dive right in.

Flyboarding
This activity really puts your fear of drowning in perspective: equipped with a jetpack on your back and a hoverboard on your feet, you can get up to 15 meters in the air, all due to water pressure. But, flyboarding is not only super entertaining and exciting but also positively affects your health by burning unwanted calories and building your immune system. So what if it frightens you a bit?

Other Ideas
These are not the only water-based extreme activities you can try on your visit to the seaside. Other ideas to consider include parasailing, kiteboarding, water skiing, as well as other aquatic sports that will make you forget all about that boring forward crawl you used to depend on for fun on the beach.

Prescott’s Best Bites

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Growing up in this seemingly inconspicuous town, our Editor in Chief, Clare Hancock, was exposed to many different types of authentic cuisines including Indian, Thai, Italian, German, Mexican, Spanish, all-American, and more. Believe it or not, Prescott is a haven for good food and the competition grows more fierce every year. These are the most delicious bites of Prescott we’ve found during our travels.

Coffee and Breakfast

Pangaea Bakery
Need something quick and delicious? Pangaea Bakery has been serving fresh baked pastries, breads, sweet treats and sandwiches for as long as Clare can remember and their fresh roasted coffee is impossible to ignore. Locals across Prescott visit weekly for a coffee and a loaf of Pangaea’s famous bread. From San Francisco sourdough to asiago cheese and roasted red pepper to cinnamon raisin oatmeal to roasted garlic to fig walnut, every loaf of bread is made with love and top-notch ingredients. Hungry for a sandwich? Try a grilled brie and fig sandwich, Southwest ham and cheese or the Baba Gone Vegan (baba ghanoush, roasted red peppers, oven roasted tomatoes, caramelized onions, lettuce, and goat cheese). Whether you are in the mood for something sweet or you are more of a savory kind of person, you really can’t go wrong at Pangaea.

Cuppers
Need a coffee house that can accommodate a big group of friends? Want to sit outside with a cup of coffee and your pup? Looking for a place that will keep the kids entertained while you chat with friends? Cuppers has everything you are looking for as well as good coffee and tea and a variety of tasty snacks. This deceptively large coffee house has an outdoor patio, several tables inside and a room where groups can convene. Cuppers is low-key, very casual and is a favorite local hangout. If you are staying at the Hotel Vendome next door, Cuppers is the optimal place to get a quick bite or enjoy a few leisurely hours.

Brunch and Lunch


Bistro St. Michael
St. Michael’s has always had a special place in the hearts of many Prescottonians. As one of the oldest buildings on Whiskey Row, it has seen hundreds of thousands of visitors go through its hotel and bistro doors. When Clare first moved to Prescott with her parents, the first place they stayed was Hotel St. Michael. The beds were small and lumpy and Clare managed to roll off the mattress a few times during the first night. However, memories of the historic building and the numerous breakfasts shared in the bistro over the years were some of the best memories of her childhood. The bistro is a beautiful place to enjoy breakfast. If you are an eggs benedict fan, this is where you need to go, as we haven’t had anything quite as good anywhere else. Look for the bullet holes in the brick walls that were made by rowdy cowboys back in the day.


Bill’s Pizza
After an exciting morning of combing through art booths stationed around Prescott’s courthouse and perusing the different antique shops nearby, one of the best places to satisfy a hungry stomach is Bill’s Pizza. With an extensive menu and several unique topping combinations, Bill’s has something for everyone. You can grab a quick pre-made slice if you are in a hurry, or sit down for a fresh-out-of-the-oven pie. If you’re looking for a lighter lunch, a medium pizza is the perfect size to share with friends. Or, if those antiques really stirred up your appetite, you can demolish it all on your own. A few of our favorite combinations are T-lo’s Pizza (olive oil and garlic sauce, mozzarella cheese, hot Italian sausage, onions, bell peppers, pine nuts, roasted garlic, and fresh basil), Christine’s Rocker (oil and garlic, mozzarella cheese, sicilian sausage, caramelized onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, pepperoni, and black olive), and Blue Moon (olive oil and garlic sauce, blue cheese, caramelized onions, toasted walnuts, and mozzarella cheese).


Prescott Brewing Company
The Prescott Brewing Company, known around town as PBC, is one of those places that every visitor has to try and inevitably fall in love with. Clare has been eating their fish and chips, black bean avocado burgers, steamed blue mussels, brew poo platters, and apple crisp ala modes since the impressionable age of six and she can say with certainty that there is something for every palate. There is even a beer for every palate and you can find your favorite with PBC’s sampler.

If you are an IPA fan, check out the Prescott Pale Ale and the Ponderosa IPA, which kicks you in the mouth and leaves a bitter finish. More of a light beer drinker? Their Pinon Light was the first to earn a thumbs up from us (dark beer drinkers). It’s smooth, refreshing, flavorful, easy to drink, and pairs wonderfully with peppery beer-battered fried pickles. Other pale ales to try are Lodgepole Light and Liquid Amber (delightful alongside PBC’s rich and creamy macaroni and cheese). Ordering the Settler’s Pot Pie? You’ll need a Petrified Porter to accompany that masterpiece. If you’re up for an adventure, try the Funkendunkel, a cardamom spice infused light beer that is quite funky, but in a good way. Still hungry for dessert? The Achocolypse is an experience all itself. Oatmeal, chocolate, espresso, delicious. However, if a liquid dessert isn’t going to quite cut it, have everyone at the table indulge in a Bodacious Brownie Sundae, a warm chocolate pecan brownie topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate whiskey sauce.

Dinner


Bin 239
If you are a wine and cheese connoisseur, head to Bin 239 where the wine is plentiful and the dishes are divine. The atmosphere is comfortable yet stylish with places to sit at the wine bar (where you can watch the firing of brick oven pizzas), the dining area, couches situated around a warm fire, or you can dine outside in their beautiful outdoor garden during the summer. Start your experience with the baked brie, a healthy circle of brie baked in the brick oven in a cast iron skillet amidst honeyed pecans. Served with warm bread and thinly sliced apples, this dish is always the best way to start the night. Anything else you order from there will satisfy your need for something delicious and memorable. Bin 239 has been the go-to place for holidays and special events for several years and they have never faltered.


El Gato Azul
When you are in the mood for something light and colorful El Gato Azul is sure to satisfy your cravings. Inspired by the Spanish tradition of pairing tapas with alcoholic drinks, the chefs at El Gato Azul work to create fresh new seasonal dishes designed to accompany cocktails such as prickly pear mojitos and red wine sangrias. Tapas are always better when shared with friends and family, that’s why El Gato serves them on small plates in the center of the table. Between three of us we enjoyed ceviche, cucumber salad, fried goat cheese, marinated mushrooms, chickpeas and chorizo, posole, and jammin’ chicken, just a small sampling of the extensive menu. Sharing stories over live jazz music, we devoured each plate. When seated outside in El Gato’s shade garden next to Oak Creek live music can easily be enjoyed. Inside, the open kitchen will send whiffs of garlic, saffron, honey, and seared meats through the dining area. The restaurant is small, so be sure to reserve a table.

Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal. Just typing the name makes our stomachs growl and our mouths water. For several years, this authentic Indian restaurant was located outside of town, but in recent years, the owners were able to move to a prime location, just a few steps from Whiskey Row. Now, locals and travelers alike can walk to the Taj Mahal and sample exotic cocktails, naan, grilled meats, vindaloo, saag, masala, and much more while listening to live music both inside and out (dogs are allowed on the outside dining patios, so be sure not to leave your puppy behind). Every dish is a traditional recipe passed down through generations and everything on the menu is free of gluten and MSG.

The best way to introduce yourself to the Taj Mahal is to go on a Wednesday night, vegetarian buffet night. A dozen mouthwatering dishes are put on display and vanish within minutes as everyone clamors to get a heaping spoonful of each. Don’t worry, the chef rarely lets a tray sit empty. Start the meal off with a mind-blasting beverage like a mango lassi (non-alcoholic mango and yogurt drink), The Peacock (Tuaca liqueur, lime, ginger ale. Like a dark and stormy with a kick) or the Royal Honey (lots of honey, whiskey, and amaretto. All kinds of yum). Garlic naan is our favorite kind of naan especially when ginger sauce, mint chutney, plum sauce, and pumpkin chutney are involved. If you don’t know what your favorite naan is, order a naan sampler that includes cheese, garlic and onion versions. The tandoori mixed grill is also a must-try. With fish, lamb, chicken, jumbo shrimp, pork, onions, and peppers grilled together with spices in an authentic tandoori oven, this dish is guaranteed to make everyone at the table swoon. If you can’t make it on a Wednesday, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. During our last visit, we ordered the chicken vindaloo (tangy dark orange sauce poured over cooked potatoes and chicken) and saag paneer (cooked spinach mixed with an incredible blend of spices and pieces of spongy farmer’s cheese. it might not sound appetizing but this is one of our favorite items on the menu). End the night with a scoop of mango ice cream, fried dough balls covered in honey or vanilla bean rice pudding.

Dessert

Goodies Sweet Shop

Believe it or not, handmade ice cream is not easy to find in this little town. In recent years, Prescott has gotten a few self-serve frozen yogurt shops, but Goodies Sweet Shop in downtown Prescott has always come through for us. This last visit, we tried the hazelnut and salted caramel flavors and they satisfied our hankering for something rich and creamy.

Judging from other online reviews, it looks like Goodies hasn’t always been a favorite. Just know that ice cream is their specialty and their small space doesn’t allow for long visits. We suggest filling a cone with one of their delicious flavors and enjoying it while walking around Prescott’s beautiful courthouse across the street.

If ice cream isn’t your dessert of choice, walk into The Raven, Prescott Brewing Company, Gurley Street Grill, or Firehouse Kitchen and ask for a dessert menu. You won’t be disappointed.

Anytime

The Raven

Cold watermelon soup with cucumber and dill. That was what was on the menu the last time we visited The Raven. Every vibrant spoonful was a delightful reward for trying something new. If you are looking for freshly roasted coffee, a calm atmosphere, free WiFi, tasty food made with fresh, local, organic ingredients, live entertainment, creative cocktails, local artwork, or a space to socialize, The Raven is where you want to be. With their neo-rustic decor, comfortable furniture and a large collection of paintings and sculptures from Prescott artists, The Raven has a great setting to stay and enjoy dishes from their varied menu. This community favorite is known for its creative and thoughtful menu items. One of the first times Clare ate here, she ordered a slice of amaretto bread pudding with fresh raspberry puree. “It was as if the taste buds on my tongue had found the love of their life. The chatter from friends faded to the background and every bit of my attention was focused on the artwork in front of me.” Warm spongy layers of bread soaked in amaretto turned to silk on her tongue and each bite finished with a whisp of raspberry tang and sweetness.

Side Trip

Spice Traveler

The Spice Traveler is by far our favorite place to shop in downtown. Located on the second floor of Bashford Courts, this little haven of spices is where you will find anyone who loves to cook. Smoked black pepper. Harissa spice. Green whole cardamom. Fresh lavender. Whole anise stars. Galangal root. Black truffle sea salt. Egyptian basil. Specialty rubs and spice mixtures for every style of cuisine. You will find just about any spice you want and if the shop doesn’t have it, they will find it and order it for you. Each kind of spice has its own open jar that is free for everyone to smell and salivate over. Apart from a spice market in Kerala, India, it doesn’t get much more fresh than this. Treat your inner chef and stop by The Spice Traveler.

Next Visit

Soldi Back Alley Bistro

We didn’t get a chance to try this little food cart, but we heard wonderful things about it. Fresh food made from seasonal organic ingredients. Each dish that has been tried has been raved about. We can’t wait to taste-test this little bistro on our next trip to Prescott.

How to Adapt to Life in Sydney?

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Sydney Australia

Adapting to life in Sydney, a sprawling metropolis of more than 4.84 million people, especially if you are coming from a small town can be pretty daunting. You rarely know anyone, you often get lost, the cost of living is higher… All in all, the future looks bleak. In order to adjust to living in Sydney relatively painlessly, you need a plan.

Find your way around

Start with Google maps as you can use them on any device you have. Before you come to Sydney, study the map, including all the major locations and the neighbourhood around your destination. In case you do not have either Internet data or Wi-Fi available, enable offline maps in the Google map app. And, just in case, buy a printed map, you can find at bus/train station.

Additionally, consider a city tour, not so much to see tourist attractions, but to help you orient yourself. You can opt for The Sydney and Bondi Explorer offering 24h and 48h tickets, or a 90-minute tour if you prefer to stay on the bus the whole time. MyMulti DayPass, an all-in-one ticket giving you unlimited travel all day long is also available. It can be used for trains, buses, harbour city ferries and light rail services.

Budgeting

The cost of living in Sydney is high, so make sure you have a monthly budget plan. Your budget should cover accommodation, food, transport, clothing, entertainment, domestic travel, telephone and incidental costs. Taking into account the cost of living index, do some maths to familiarize yourself with an approximate budget.

Accommodation

Assuming you will consider renting during the first months, do know that properties in Sydney are advertised a few weeks before they become available. In addition, most of the rentals are unfurnished and if they are furnished, they are usually flats, not family-size homes. You can start looking for accommodation by hiring a real estate agent (Our Properties, Real Estate, Domain, etc.), or through newspapers. The rent is usually paid fortnightly, or monthly. The average rent is $250 per week, or $1,083 a month.

Some of the popular inner suburbs for students and young professionals are Randwick, Newtown and Redfern, while the western suburbs are usually chosen by families. The eastern suburbs around Double Bay and northern beach suburbs are the most expensive.

Transport

Sydney’s public transport system includes Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink, Sydney Buses, Light rail, Harbour City Ferries and taxis. You can use Sydney Trains between the northern, southern and western suburbs and they live from Central, Museum, St James, Town Hall, Wynyard, Circular Quay, Martin Place and Kings Cross Stations, while the trains to the eastern suburbs leave from Martin Place Station. Sydney Buses and Light rail lines also travel through the city, while the train network operates beyond the city.

Even though Sydney offers an extensive and comprehensive public transport system, most people moving to Sydney find it useful to have a car. “Having a driver’s licence is very helpful since you have the freedom to explore and you can rent a car at a reasonable price”, say a driving school from Richmond. For example, visit VroomVroomVroom, where you can find information on the price of different car rentals.

These are only some of the recommendations we can give you. Remember that you should explore the city whenever you can as this is the best way to adapt to a new lifestyle. Many experience culture shock even though they stay within the same country. Fortunately, it is a transitional phase. Finally, try to meet new people by joining in clubs, organizations, or sports teams. Knowing you have a friend in a big city is a great consolation.

Destination Blackpool

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Ahabu Phillip
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Blackpool is an often overlooked seaside holiday destination in England’s north-west. After being industrialised in the 1800s, Blackpool became a top holiday spot for Britons.

Because of the increased opportunities for people to travel overseas, Blackpool has become a forgotten oasis of family fun and tourism, with many attractions. It has an air of carnivale about it, its Victorian roots of circuses, fortune-telling and rides by the pier have never really left it. It’s not uncommon to see someone enjoying a donkey ride on the beach.

Credit: Laura Reynolds
Credit: Laura Reynolds http://www-archive.theyorker.co.uk/lifestyle/getaway/11589-summer-day-trips-blackpool-pleasure

It’s like an eerie but lively step back in time for some old-fashioned family fun (and not-so family-friendly fun with its shows and cabarets). Its seven-mile beach is full of golden sand, fun and fairy floss, and is the perfect place to enjoy a classic British fish and chips by the sea.

It boasts the UK’s largest indoor waterpark, The Sandcastle. And its well-renowned theme park ‘Pleasure Beach’ won number one placing on TripAdvisor’s 2014 ‘Top 10 Amusement Parks in the UK’ with the tallest and fastest rollercoaster ‘The Big One’ in the United Kingdom. It stands at an impressive 235ft and is NOT for the faint of heart!

http://northoceanhotel.com/
http://northoceanhotel.com/

Other attractions include the iconic Blackpool Tower, which has a circus, a Jungle Jims for the kids, a dungeon tour, and spectacular views of the coastline and beach from the Blackpool Eye.

If you happen to be visiting in autumn, The Blackpool Illuminations is an annual light festival which lights up the town.

Machighlander @ Flickr.com / https://www.flickr.com/photos/machighlander/4012282958
Machighlander @ Flickr.com / https://www.flickr.com/photos/machighlander/4012282958

Kitsch but quaint, Blackpool is the perfect holiday town for young people, with its bustling attractions, events, nightlife and culture, all for an easily affordable price!

Cruise Holidays from the UK

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Ahabu Phillip
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Those that want to enjoy a holiday from the UK that is going to be a once in a lifetime experience, then going on a cruise is the answer. Despite what many people may think, a cruise is a delightful and safe way to experience a certain area. On most occasions when on a cruise, the person will touch port in several cities that they would have otherwise missed if they were to fly directly to their end location. For example, those cruises that plan on going to the United States, may touch on port in Italy and other areas, before getting into the US. It makes a trip even more exciting for a person due to them getting more than they bargained for.

When it comes to taking a cruise, there are several themes to these cruises that people can get in on. For example, there are cruises to celebrate certain holidays throughout the year, such as a New Year’s cruise for those that want to ensure that their New Year’s is something that they will always remember. While other people prefer to take cruises that are more age oriented. There are single’s cruises meant for those that are young adults, while there are also older couple’s cruises for those that are of the retirement age.

When on board a cruise, the person will find that it is much more than simply riding on a boat for a long period of time. There are activities and dinners that are coordinated to meet the needs of the age that the cruise is designed for. Activities that may be included are things such as a dance at night, games during the day, swimming classes, aerobic glasses and the like. The person will find that there is an endless amount of fun when they decide to take one of these cruises.

With that being said, those that are interested in taking cruise holidays from the UK then they are going to want to ensure that they book early. These cruises fill up quickly since they are something that so many people are interested in doing. Plus, they will find that the earlier that they book the better selection of rooms that they have, and they could even save money through booking this holiday’s earlier. They will find that travel agents will be the most helpful in booking these cruises and letting the person or couple know what cruises are available to choose from amongst others, the Top Carribbean Destinations. Some of the popular cruise destinations include the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas.

Why you should embrace the language barrier on exchange

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Ahabu Phillip
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If you enjoy feeling like an idiot, you should throw yourself into a foreign language when you go on exchange. Oh, and you might learn a thing or two about yourself while you’re at it, says Gina Baldassarre.

It was after a misunderstanding with a French shopkeeper involving the use of a regional slang word for plastic bag that I thought it was time to stop keeping track of my language fails on my year on exchange. The French, I decided, would just have to deal with another foreigner making a mess of their language.

However, it seems most Australian students heading on exchange don’t want to have to deal with the dreaded language barrier at all. Though the number of outbound students keeps rising, with the latest figures of student mobility from UNESCO showing that over 11,000 Aussie students set off on exchange or study abroad programs last year, over 8000 of those students went to one of either the United States, the United Kingdom, or New Zealand (that’s the one I really don’t get).

Admittedly, the college dorm or student town concept means life as a university student in the US and the UK might be somewhat different to student life in Australia, but if you’re going to bother spending tens of thousands of dollars to study on the other side of the world, why not go for broke and pick a country where they don’t speak English as a main language? Maybe I’m just biased given the year in France, but there’s nothing quite like throwing yourself into a completely foreign country.

There are many benefits: not only do you get to immerse yourself in a vastly different culture, but you get to learn another language too. In a time when university graduates need all the skills they can get to set themselves apart from the horde in the job market, being fluent in another language is a particularly handy skill to be able to put down on the résumé and talk up in a job interview. Given our proximity to the Asian market, Australian students would do well to get a handle on an Asian language, while learning Spanish may be useful if you want to work in America one day.

Not fussed about job prospects? What about the fact that learning another language and putting it into practice every day gives you valuable life skills? It’s true that students will gain life skills no matter where they go on exchange – seemingly simple tasks like buying a new SIM card, opening a bank account, and enrolling in host university classes can make students feel like toddlers learning to walk again thanks to unfamiliar rules and regulations. Even in English, dealing with administration systems you’re not familiar with can be extremely frustrating, to the point where you’re convinced the lady at the bank is talking in Swahili even though you’re definitely in London speaking English. Conquering these systems in a new language? You just slayed a dragon.

Dragon slaying abilities aside, learning a new language can also help you grow as a person, literally – did you know Swedish scientists found that learning a new language can increase the size of your brain? Putting it into practice among native speakers in an unfamiliar environment can also open up a different side of your personality. In the kind words of a Czech proverb, “Learn a new language and get a new soul.” To put it bluntly, it’s probably because you’ll feel like an idiot most, if not all, of the time.

On the bright side – and I think this is what the Czechs meant – you get better at really listening to people and thinking before you speak. I’m a native English speaker, fluent in Italian, and can hold a conversation or two in French, and I’m a different person in each language. For example, I’m much more polite in French and Italian, for the simple fact that I’m convinced that foreign swear words sound unnatural coming out of my mouth. I had to keep a lot of anger inside in France last year – there is no bigger dragon than French administration – but my inability to react to certain situations as I would have if I had been in an English-speaking environment meant I was forced to observe and try to understand the culture, and why I wanted to react to it the way I did.

Exchange is probably going to be the best semester or year of your life no matter where you go, but if you really want to discover a new side of yourself during your time on exchange, throwing yourself into a new language is the best way to do it.

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Journeys Magazine is a travel publication with In-depth features on best destinations to visit, things to see. tips and advice to help you travel around the world.
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