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MARSEILLES
A spinning globe stops here
The hilltop district of Cours Julien was what people expected from Marseille, France's Janus-faced second city. By day, it was the city's belly, dominated by a vibrant food market that sprawls from a central square. But by night the local gangs scrapped. Today, it is among the most dynamic neighborhoods in France, safe, prolifically diverse and a lot of fun. You'll find the spoils of decades of immigration to France's southern gateway - a showcase of the fashions of the Maghreb of North Africa, the cuisines of the Middle East and the music of southwest Africa. But it is perhaps Cours Julien's newest immigrants who have sealed its status as the alternative heart of the city: the so-called bobos, or France's bohemian bourgeoisie. &nbs... read |
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BALI, INDONESIA
THE LOOKEco-luxe. Stone paths lead from the bamboo-encased reception area through rice paddies at various stages of growth and past a soaring black bamboo multipurpose structure reminiscent of an ancient ship. Bambu Indah's natural swimming pool is virtually indistinguishable from an indigenous pond, thanks to a recyclable black rubber membrane ... read |
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KURDISH IRAQ
ON WAR'S OUTER EDGE
The roses were in full bloom as throngs of women in flowery head scarves swooped in to claim their spots in Sami Rahman Park, a triangular slice of greenery on the outskirts of Erbil in northern Iraq. Older men clutched Muslim prayer beads. Childr... read |
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IRAN
A skier’s haven
The mere mention of the word 'Ski' and 'Iran' in the same sentence causes disbelief for many people. In fact skiing has an ancient history in Iran which is a very mountainous country. However, modern skiing for leisure was indeed foreign to Iran a... read |
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ATHENS
High on a hill, with an acropolis view
Greek mythology has it that an enraged Athena created Lycabettus Hill after she dropped an uprooted mountain she intended to use for construction of the Acropolis. This “other hill” turned out to be the tallest in Athens, at about 900 feet abo... read |
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MIDNIGHT IN PRAGUE
A moveable fest
Travelers waiting for one of Prague's traditional trams will occasionally see something strange pull up to the station: a streetcar with a full-bore dance party taking place inside, complete with high-energy music, disco lighting and bartenders.
... read |
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MIDNIGHT IN BERLIN
On this stage, every dancer is a player
There is no door policy at the nearly 100-year-old Clarchen's Ballhaus, no bored-looking blonde Berlin fashion design student dressed like an American Apparel ad surveying the late-night crowd. There is a coat check, run by the same nattily dresse... read |
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Top nine ridiculous place names
Australia may boast some of the funniest sounding place names in the world, but it doesn't have a monopoly. Scattered across the globe are towns and villages with names so unfortunate that it's hard not to feel sorry for the locals. But if you're looking for an amusing spot to add to your travel itinerary, these places are ideal for a visit, esp... read |
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GOA,
INDIA
For many, Goa is synonymous with hippies, hedonism and all-night dance
parties held under a full moon. But India’s popular seaside destination offers
more than deadheads and cliches. For one thing, Goa is not a single beach, but
a rich and varied state – one that offers 63 miles of coastline along the
Arabian Sea. Beyond the beaches lies... read |
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BERMUDA
Bermuda has lots to celebrate in 2009. Four hundred years ago, an English sailing vessel was shipwrecked on this mid-Atlantic archipelago, giving birth to the island nation of Bermuda, one that is now in full-swing party mode. With regattas decked out in Christmas lights, folk dance performances and star-studded music festivals (Quincy Jones and... read |
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TULUM, MEXICO
It is hard to know who recited the first Om or unfurled the first yoga mat upon Tulum’s epic beach. But it is true that Tulum, on the southern edge of Mexico’s Riviera Maya (and a healthy distance from the bunkerlike developments there) is a hot spot for yoga tourists.
Don’t be afraid if you don’t know your downward dog from your dolphi... read |
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36 HOURS IN BANGKOK
The heat. The traffic. The crowds. That's all anyone ever talks about when you say you're going to Bangkok. All of it's true, of course - particularly the part about the traffic, as you will discover if you bypass this city's efficient mass transit system and instead find yourself trapped in a one-hour cab ride covering a distance that, on a map... read |
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CAMERA-LESS IN DAKAR:
A Lesson in Art and the Immaterial
And these were the photos I lost…
When Odette came into Hotel du Phare des Mammelles for her morning shift, she entered with the majestic posture of all her African sisters. (They walk as if at all times they carry delicately on their ... read |
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TAKING A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE IN TANZANIA
With the largest concentration of wild animals in the world, Tanzania is the perfect destination to see “The Lion King” come to life. This spectacular country is comprised of three vastly different landscapes – from highlands (including Mount Kilimanjaro), great rift valleys in the northern and central regions, to islands and rolling ... read |
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A NEW STYLISH AMMAN
Asserts Itself
“Aren’t you going to check out the terrace?” Madian Al-Jazerah said to me.
It was just after sunset on a summer Thursday evening, and we were standing on the sprawling front deck of Books(at)Cafe, the combination bookstore, cafe and restaur... read |
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THE CHARMS OF CUBA
Freeze time, pause history, forget about modernism, put globalization aside and visit Cuba.
The first image that comes to mind to anyone in the Middle East is the infamous Cuban cigar and the rumor that the best ones are those rolled on the thighs of a “chica”.
Beyond the clichés, the most appealing part of Cuba is how the old is not ye... read |
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