SoSauce (travel geek blog) an Indian cooking lesson, including Naan.  Yummmmmmm!

LA Times Travel compares and contrasts Halloween activities at Knott’s Berry Farm and Universal Studios.

PlanetEye Traveler – Philippine Culture (formerly Filipina Soul) shares a delicious and easy  lumpia recipe.  I’m going to give it a try.

Intelligent Travel asks us if we’d take the Titanic cruise.

Consumer Traveler debates the issue of whether airport lounges are worth the price of admission.  For frequent travelers, I say yes.

A second post from Consumer Traveler outlining a new boarding process being tried out at Virgin America.  Travelers with NO carry on bags go first.  I think I like it!

PlanetEyeTraveler – Boston lists 5 great north end Italian restaurants.  A trip to little Italy is a must for any Boston visit.

My Bella Vita lists five essential Italian experiences.  How many have you done?

Itallyville provides a recipe and instruction for make homemade tomato sauce.  It’s a lot of work, but can’t you just taste that delicious freshness?!

Sharing Experiences lists five cities sure to part the shopper from some serious cash.  Not that there’s anything wrong with that!

PlanetEye Traveler – Las Vegas (formerly The Las Vegas Adventurer) lists the best places to hang out for Monday Night Football.

Italylogue lists options on how to get to Croatia from Italy, along with costs, pros and cons.  Having done this myself a few months back, I can tell you that it’s a close distance away, but takes a long time.

Up Up and a Gay portrays some classic traveler profiles.  Any Flight Attendant or frequent traveler will recognize these types.

Gadling gives us a look the shower on the Emirates Airbus A380.  First class only!

I hope you enjoy these travel posts as much as I did.  And if you stop by, please let them know that you read about them here at Flyaway Cafe.

Photo credit:

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I’ve gathered up some great weekend reads, so grab a cup of coffee, and settle in.  These posts are sure to make for great Sunday (or any day) reading:

Filipina Soul introduces us to the Ayala Museum which houses world-class collections based on the history of the Philippines.  Beautiful!

Notre Dame in Paris as viewed from the top of the Pantheon (c)Mary Jo Manzanares

Travel Writers News lists the best online travel resources.  I was aware of most of these, but picked up a few that I’ve now added to my list.  You’ll find this very helpful.

The Los Angeles Guide introduces to the mobile food vendors are the latest, hippest, dining experience to hit LA, grazing haven for foodies.

The Sydney Traveler tell us about the new iPhone app, FoodWatch NSW.  This Aussie app used the phone’s GPS to show which nearby restaurants have breached food safety standards, helping you avoid those dodgy spots.

iTravelNet has a great photo of Three Countries Corner in Basel, Switzerland.  This spot on the Rhine River is where Switzerland, Germany and France meet.

The London Traveler intrigued me with her post on the often overlooked Benjamin Franklin House.  I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the man who spent time at this house in London hoping to avoid a war between England and the Colonies.

Almost Fearless starts a great discussion on whether or not you should start a travel blog.  There’s plenty to ponder before you say yes, no, or maybe.

The Paris Traveler makes the list again this week with her post about vespa-ing around the city.  While I’m still a fan of the Metro, this could be quite a fun way to tool around for a day.

Gadling has me scratching my head with its post about a fold-up hotel room.  The Flexotel is a container type room that claims it can be unpacked and furnished in about 10 minutes.

The Venice Guide has a fun post about a high school where wine and students are encouraged to mix. The Venice, Italy, high school teaches students how to make wine, olive oil, and other specialty products produced from the farm.  Visitors can even buy the wine that students make.

IAG Blog takes apart the fine print of Jet Blue’s $599/one month of unlimited travel offer.  Read up on it to see if it’s a good deal for you.  Or for the ailing airline industry.

Happy reading!

Photo credit:  personal collection

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The new Drinks Matcher, from Nat Decants, is a combination wine sommelier and bartender, all in the convenience of your smart phone.  You can quickly choose a wine whether you’re sitting at a restaurant, lounging poolside, or shopping at the supermarket or liquor store.  Since the app doesn’t require an internet connection, you can even use it when you’re dining on the patio and some remote tropical location.

Natalie says, “As a wine-loving geek, I love finding ways for new technology to help us savour all of life’s pleasures, wherever we are.”

To search for the perfect drink-food combination, start with either a dish or a drink.  From there, select bubbly, white, red, rose, or dessert, or opt for beer, spirits, cocktails, liquor, coffee or tea.  True connoisseurs can drill down their selection even further by focusing on a particular grape, more specific food information, or the primary flavor of spices used in a dish.

Choose to impress your friends, if you must, but what I like about the app is that it gets you out of a rut and forces you to try something new.  That’s worth the $2.99 charge in my book.

The Drinks Matcher app can be downloaded from your smart phone’s online store, or download it from Nat Decants.

Photo credit: Nat Decants

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Many times today I stopped to ask people on the street if they were local, as I attempt to wend my way back to the hotel.  I like to ask for restaurant and/or bar recommendations, trusting locals to point me in the right direction.

However, I’m not sure that I could trust the locals as much as Andrew Zimmern does!

As he serves up the second season of Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern (starting September 9th), he starts in Phuket, Thailand with a bit more of an adventurous meal that I wound up with today.

Anyone for a little giant sea snail?

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Today’s matchbook is a contribution from Shane who writes The Tokyo Traveler.

I wish that I could offer up a little more insight as to the location and cuisine of the restaurant, but you’ll have to follow her blogs posts to learn about the food of Tokyo.

Thanks for the contribution, Shane!

If you have a matchbook you’d like to have featured on Matchbook Monday, along with a little accompanying link love, you can email me your photos (along with any anecdotes that you care to share). 

Photo credit:  Shane Sakata, with permission

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I noticed that Sound About Philly has added a new walking and podcast tour, this one called Philly Noir.  It’s a walking tour that covers African American culture, history, and experiences (past and present), and includes food, the arts, history and sports.  There are 11 tour segments, and you can download, and then mix and match them based on your interests and time. 

Here’s a sampling of some of the segments:

• Delilah’s/Geechee Girl Rice Café at 12th Street & Filbert.  Oprah named it the very best spot for macaroni and cheese (in photo).  I LOVE mac ‘n cheese!
• Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame at Spruce Street & Broad.  Hip Hop to Jazz and everything in between, a treasure trove of musicians that put Philadelphia on the music map.
• African American Museum at 701 Arch Street.  Making sure that the African American heritage is not lost ““ to this generation, or to the ones to follow.

Lots of GREAT suggestions that are worthwhile in putting together my own personal tour of Philadelphia.

There are other podcast walking tour options available from Sound About Philly, including some user created tours.  There seems to be something that will appeal to a wide variety of interests.

 If you have any suggestions about what to see and do in Philadelphia, please leave them in the comments.  (For those of you who read my post on Travel Resources for Planning Your Next Trip, this is part of the email phase of the research.)

Photo credit:  flickr

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When I mention dining alone, I’m not talking about ordering room service and eating in your room, or ordering up some take out, and working through your meal.  I’m talking about going to a restaurant, and perhaps a nice one at that, and sitting down for a glass of wine and a decent meal.  All that, and good service, too.  Even the most intrepid traveler can be daunted by the prospect.

Solo Dining exists to try to make dining alone a little easier and enjoyable, with a lot less discomfort, by providing information about restaurants around the U.S. that are committed to good food and service for solo diners. 

Some restaurants on the list have adopted a welcoming approach to solo diners, with special tables and/or amenities.  Other restaurants have instituted a communal table, where solo diners can request seating, giving them an opportunity to meet other travelers who are also dining alone.  Since most solo diners are traveling on business, it would be interesting to learn how much networking is happening over these communal meals.

Also at Solo Dining you’ll find tips about dining alone, starting with making the reservation, how to suggest solo dining amenities to your favorite restaurant, and how to discover a restaurant that is solo friendly.  A quick review shows tips on the following topics:  how to get a decent wine when ordering by the glass, tipping, and reading in a fine dining restaurant. 

Although the website isn’t terribly easy to navigate, and it can be difficult to find tips on the topic you are interested in, there is a nice listing, by state, of restaurants who go out of their way to welcome solo diners.

Do you have a tip for solo dining?  Or maybe know a restaurant that is particularly welcoming to solo diners?  If so, please share your information in the comments.

NOTE:  February 1-7 is Solo Diners Eat Out Week.  Give it a try!

Photo Credit:  Marc Garrido i Puig

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Here are this week’s money saving travel tips:

• Travel seems to be one of the few remaining areas where it’s okay to discriminate based on age.  And this time, that’s a good thing.  Look for “senior” discounts at restaurants, attractions, and various events where admission prices may be lower if you are senior.  The age that you become a senior varies from place to place, but if you think you might be in the general age range, be sure to inquire.
• On the other end of the age spectrum, there are frequently discounts for young children and infants.  Most attractions allow an infant (usually defined as under 2 years of age) in at no charge.  Other discounts are frequently allowed for children under the age of 12.  There are also lots of student discount options, so be sure to bring student ID for the kids.
• Take advantage of FREE or DONATION policies at museums.  Many museums offer hours during the week, or perhaps once a month, when there is no admission charge.  Others offer similar time frames, when admission is “pay what you want.”  Other establishments always have a “suggested donation” entrance fee that allows you to pay what you want at any time.  While I am not suggesting becoming cheap and miserly on your next museum visit (I do appreciate the culture that they bring to us), taking advantage of these policies is a good way to save a few shekels.  NewYorkology has a great listing of museums, hours, and policies for reduced rate admissions in New York

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Thanks to a handy little Google search, I know that:

• It is 2:30 pm in Paris;
• It is also 2:30 pm in Malta;
• It is 1:30 pm in Iceland;
• And it is 3:30 am in Tahiti.

What do those locations have in common?  They are all places that I’d love to visit in 2007.  While I probably won’t make it to all of them, I’m hoping to cross at least a couple off the list.

You can find out what time it is by searching in Google using these parameters:  time in ______ (fill in the location).   For example:  time in paris.

What time is it where you’d like to be right now?

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Today’s post comes from Lynn Rodriguez.  Lynn previously wrote Paris in the Fall so be sure to go back and read it if you missed it the first time around.

Lynn makes me feel like I’m sitting in a little cafe, having espresso, and planning what I’m going to do with the rest of the day. 

Thanks again, Lynn.  I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of your writing!

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FUSAC has been around for years. It means France USA Contacts. If you’re thinking of going to Paris or have just arrived, it’s a must have, and best of all, it’s free!

You can find an abundance of information in the magazine: apartments for rent, jobs, au pair positions, meeting places, things to do, places to go, American restaurants and stores, personal ads, classes, exchanges, the list goes on and on and on! You can also buy or sell items: books, household goods, clothing….you name, they’ve got it.

If you’re like me, you may be asking, why would I want to contact other English-speaking people while I’m in Paris?! Okay, this may not be for you, but there are a lot of other Americans, Brits, Canadians, Aussies, etc. who would love to get together with others in the English-speaking community. Not to mention, a lot of French people who read this magazine because they, too, are interested in meeting Anglophones.

FUSAC comes out every two weeks. If you’re new to Paris, or planning on staying for awhile, you’ll find that FUSAC is a gold mine of information. You can find it in every single arrondissement of Paris and in a couple of suburbs as well. If you happen to pass by an English-speaking bookstore, any American style restaurant, the American Express near the Opéra, the English-speaking embassies and consulate offices, go on in and pick up a copy. They all have FUSAC near their entrance and you’ll be happy you did.

You can tell them I sent you!

Photo credit:  dalia

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