WLT News Feed: December 1, 2009

Freediving World Championships 2009 - Adventure World Magazine

85m? Psh...

Dalai Lama Calls for Climate Change - Treehugger

And when the Dalai Lama calls, you better freaking listen

Travel North for a New York Past - NYT

196 acres of Manhattan shrubbery goodness

V Australia and Accor Hotels Team up for Good - ehotelier.com

Needy children in Thailand benefit from mid-air auction

World's Friendliest Countries - Forbes

Canada comes in second, eh?

[Photo: Adventure World]

WLT Must-See Video: Change the World

This is a great video from the Nature Conservancy's "Planet Change" Campaign.

For why this campaign is different than other climate change web campaigns, check out the Cool Green Blog.

WLT News Feed: November 30, 2009

JetBlue's Cyber Monday Sales - LA Times

Sale ends tonight at 10pm PST

The DC Power Lunch - CNN

Where DC's power players chow down

Las Vegas Calendar of Events - LA Times

Tis the season

Is Travel Bad for the World? - Lonely Planet

Hm.

[Photo: LA Times]

WLT Travel Blog: 100 Montaditos

[So, I'm kind of late, but here are the catch up blogs I never got to post from my latest romp in Europe. Enjoy!]

Our first official meal overseas was at a place called Cerveceria 100 Montaditos. The chain which has become somewhat of a Andalusian franchise began in Islantilla in 2001 and had reached 100 locations by 2007, 39 of which are in Madrid.

[Crisp, refreshing and cheap bearing the 100 Montaditos logo]

The Cerveceria gets its name from the 100 varieties of small sandwiches otherwise known as bocadillos or montaditos from which diners choose from on a piece of paper and hand over to the cashier.

The petite subs were basic, but delicious. A crispy mini baguette formed the vessel for all sorts of fillings from the normal ham and cheese to salami to small shrimp to salmon and cream cheese. While one may not be enough to fill you up, a six-sandy party platter will certainly do the trick for around 5 Euros. Do not underestimate these little guys.

[Party platter of deliciousness]

However, the best part about Cerveceria 100 Montaditos:

1 Euro beers. What better way to celebrate our arrival in Madrid than a pre-noon brewski from Madrid's McDonald's.

[Fellow traveler Matt trying to catch up on his beer intake]

For more on these travel-sized subs and other Madrilena ponderings, check out Tapasdealyssa.

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

It doesn't matter where you go in life, where the winds blow you or where the roads take you. A good meal among family and friends always feels the same. While traveling the world, the back roads and mountaintops is enlightening, exciting and breathtaking, there is nothing quite as satisfying as coming home to the people who know you best.

No matter who I meet or where I go, there can never be a replacement for friends, family and places I call home.

So, to all those out there who have played a part of my life, I am deeply thankful for you and the impact you have had on my life and I wish you the very best.

Have a good Thanksgiving everybody!

Let the agony of early and incessant Christmas music commence.

[Photo: Google Earth Blog]

WLT News Feed: November 25, 2009

[Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!]

China Sends Two Pandas to Australia - Treehugger

Koala population dwindles.

Catalina Island Hotel Deals - LA Times

Still not affordable. Sorry.

WLT's Long Lost Brother FLT - Coastal Living

Reunited at last!

6 Stupid Traveler Tips from Pauline Frommer - Bing.com

She calls it like it is.

Visit Greenland! - Kayak.com

I would.

[Photo: Treehugger]

WLT Travel Blog: Thank God for Stewardesses

[So, I'm kind of late, but here are the catch up blogs I never got to post from my latest romp in Europe. Enjoy!]

You know you're about to set off on an epic cultural experience when you find your first two meals consist of a Sausage McMuffin and a slice of pepperoni and sausage pizza. I mean, let's face it, both are delicious and, well, we weren't out of the States yet.

The pizza was a prelude to our nearly nine hour ride from Atlanta, Georgia to Madrid, Spain. Despite landing the exit-row seat and semi-delicious in-flight meal, it was on that plane, Delta Flight 108 I encountered the first obstacles of the journey.

I could talk on and on about the red-eye eight hour and 40 minute flight, the worst turbulence I've ever felt (seriously.) or the massive time difference between Madrid and Los Angeles, but those all pale in comparison to the freelance meteorologist sitting next to me. That's right.

Midway through the flight I jotted down these notes:

Striking up a conversation on the plane is always risky. Much like the proverbial 'box of chocolates,' you never know who you're going to get.

You might end up with the quiet reserved guy who deflects your questions with simple one word answers, either unwilling to share information or just too lazy to contribute. Or you could get the guy who never stops talking.

Such was my fate today.

Sitting in my palace of an exit row on Delta's Flight 108, I struck up a conversation with a freelance meteorologist from Tampa Bay. This means he goes from weather channel to weather channel on a freelance basis and forecasts, well, weather. Yup.

Initially, I asked him loads of questions because I was intrigued at such an occupation as freelance meteorologists, but soon the questions stopped and his continued lecture on traveling, frequent flyer miles and clouds commenced.

Halfway through our conversation, I slipped into smile-and-nod mode and began drafting this blog in my head. Luckily, a stewardess sat down in front of us and he found his new chatter pal while I drifted off to sleep.

Thank god for stewardesses.

Here is CNN's advice on how to deal with what they call the Talkative Airplane Seatmate and if you want to share your own chattery stories you can post them on the website Flights from Hell.

[Photo: CNN]

WLT Spotlight: Fast Track to Fast Food

If only I had one of these in college, my decision making would have been far less strenuous. The blogger of Eating the Road has graced our lives with the beauty of "Where should I eat: Fast Food Edition."

It's a simple flowchart that will make all of your tough semi-drunk, late night or early morning fast food decisions. My favorite? Question #1: Are you in Canada? which, if 'yes', yields only one choice. Oh, Canada.

Click photo for better detail.

[Photo: Eating the Road]

WLT News Feed: November 24, 2009

Vomiting Snake Reveals New Species - TreeHugger

New survey: Baby Otter vs. Shiba Pups vs. Snake Vomit

More Than 100 Icebergs Headed Towards New Zealand - The Independent

Causes slow-reacting but inevitable concern.

Top 5 European New Year's Celebrations - Venere.com

Fairly predictable, but still cool.

Hawaii's Beaches Disappearing - Intelligent Travel Blog

Only Coach and ABC stores remain.

EasyJet Withdraws Holocaust Museum Photoshoot - Breaking Travel News

Tropical beach, thumbs up. Holocaust Museum, ehhh...

[Photo: Treehugger]

WLT Spotlight: Looping Water Slide

Yes. It's finally coming to the US. A looping water slide. A what? A looping water slide.

According to this LA Times article, Europe and Asia already have the Aqualoop slide in various watery locations and Noah's Ark in Wisconsin and Jay Peak in Vermont may open America's first looping slides Memorial Day weekend 2010.

WhiteWater is the designer/builder/mad scientist behind these awesome creations and have been around since 1981. According to their website, they are the largest and oldest builders of waterparks and water attractions.

Some of their other new products? The Giant RainFortress, the Family Boomerango, and the Flowrider Double.