The Hoover Dam Trip

My daughter and her husband just came back from Las Vegas. It was their second trip to Vegas, so they decided to spend one day exploring something new. This is their story:

As it turns out, Las Vegas is not only about flashy casinos, Cirque du Soleil shows and all you can eat buffets; there are actually some exciting things to see outside of Sin city.
On our last trip to Las Vegas we rented a car (about $60 a day) and drove to none other than the biggest construction project of the Great Depression, The Hoover Dam. Less than an hour drive on the I-15, the one that takes you all the way to California, brings you directly to one of the wonders of the modern world. Completed in 1935, almost 2 years ahead of schedule, Hoover Dam is not only a monument to the strength and resilience of the men who built it during the days of no unions, no labor laws, but also to the human ingenuity that used the power of destructive waters to bring good to the people (arguable environmental issues notwithstanding).

Different tours are available within the Dam, and I suggest taking the longer, 1 hour one, that allows you to go deep within the structure with a guide who informs you of many interesting facts and insider anecdotes of the Dam and what it takes to run it. Cost of the tour- $30 per person. An added perk of the trip: breathtaking scenery that unfolds before your eyes as you make your progress on the I-15.

Guatemala With Caravan

My close friends who recently returned from Guatemala, shared the following story:

We visited Guatemala from February 24^th to March 4^th, 2012 with tour organized by www.caravan.com.

The main reason for our trip was learning about the Mayan culture.Most of the regions of Guatemala are under the protection of UNESCO and are maintained in their original condition. Guatemala boasts the most historic Mayan artifacts of the region. The best archaeological museum in the country is located in the capital.

Guatemala is a very poor country, but it boasts breathtaking landscapes. Three large volcanoes were visible to us the entire trip.

The climate of the country is wonderful.The weather remains the same year-round, with temperatures dropping very slightly and some rains in the winter. For our trip the temperature remained 25 °C during the day and 19 °C at night (77 F and 66 F, respectively).

Life of the people can be observed on the streets, instead of museums. Guatemalans are friendly, pleasant people.

Most of the country is involved in farming and raising cattle. Additionally, some of the best coffee is grown in Guatemala, and you can see the cultivation process during your visit.

Although tourism is fairly new in Guatemala, all hotels were of very high quality, both design and service-wise. The hotel in Guatemala City was a very beautiful, modern hotel with great rooms and delicious food. Other hotels were very interesting architecturally and featured winter gardens. Parrots, peacocks, and exotic flowers beckoned one to relax in the gardens. All of the hotels featured swimming pools.

Food was not a concern during the trip; it was included in the cost of the trip and was delicious.

The trip was organized impeccably. At the end of every day, we were told what would happen the next day, how to dress, what to bring, etc. There was an unlimited supply of bottled water in the bus and at the hotels.

The tour director, Guillermo, was greatly qualified for this tour. He was able to answer any and all of our questions in regards to the country, its inhabitants, and the Mayan culture.

The trip was not physically taxing and there was plenty of time in the evening to relax and unwind. We have previously traveled with two other tour companies (Globus & Trafalgar) and Caravan turned out to be the best of the three.

Paris Off the Beaten Path, Part Deux

 

Here is the second installment, as promised.

Another great place to visit is Bercy Village, http://europeforvisitors.com/paris/articles/bercy-village.htm. It is a park where you can enjoy both shopping and a great dining experience. Do not skip Roastbeef and Frog pub, which is what the French and the English call each other. While on the topic of dining I will name a few restaurants where I have had delightful meals and had the pleasure of "people watching" the French. The first one is a little hidden cafe, 17 Rue St. Paul, 74004 Paris, where you can enjoy a quiet cup of coffee after exploring the wonderful streets of Le Marais (historic district where many different communities come together and one can see historic buildings and visit numerous art galleries). The cafe is inside of a courtyard, isolated from the hum of the city and gives the utmost serenity. If you are on your way to or from Musee D'Orsay and are wondering where to have lunch, I would recommend La Fregate, www.lafregateparis.com, which has an amazing view of Seine and Louvre. Since the former French president's Jacques Chirac's residence is on the same block, you might be lucky and spot him with his entourage. Next are just names of some great restaurants, Juveniles Wine Bar, 47 Rue de Richelieu, 75001 Paris, Cafe Etienne Marcel, 34 Rue Étienne Marcel 75002 Paris, Le Tambour, 41 Rue Montmartre 75002 Paris, (which is around the corner from the cafe where you can stop for an aperitif before coming here for dinner. The drink of choice is Joan Collins... Refreshingly framboise).Le Rosa Bonheur, http://www.zagat.com/r/rosa-bonheur-paris-france(a beer garden type of experience) is another destination where they usually have Sunday night parties.

Finally, if you are in Paris in the spring or summer and find yourself in the 12th arrondissement (which is also near where Bercy Village is), the place to visit is La Promenade Plantee http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promenade_plantée, which is a garden created on a railway bridge next to Gare de Lyon, and leads to the station. Once at the train station, a restaurant to keep in mind is Le Train Bleu, www.le-train-bleu.com. It is a great place to immerse in the Baroque Louis XIV decor.

Paris, of course, is not to be missed for shopping. Pay attention to the sales that are usually mandated and take place in June and January. Go to the big department stores (Printemps, Galleries Lafayette, BHV), where even the famous brands are put on sale, though not the new collections. Do not forget to ask about detax, a 12% refund of the sales tax.

For fans of quai (dock along Seine) walking, biking, and rollerblading, remember that the Seine river drive is closed to traffic and open to pedestrians every Sunday until 16:00.

Hope you enjoy Paris both on and off the beaten path!!!

Paris Off the Beaten Path

This is the first installment in the "Paris Off the Beaten Path" series. The article was written by two friends: one lives in Paris, the other visits frequently.

When visiting Paris it is imperative to visit all the famous landmarks that this amazing city has to offer. But it is the hidden gems that give you a true flavor of the Parisian life. One such place is Place Dauphine, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Place_Dauphine. It's a charming square (located on Ile de la Cité just between Pont Neuf and the Supreme Court, a short walk from Saint Michel and Notre Dame) where you can hide away and take a rest from walking the streets of Paris and pick a restaurant to have a delicious French meal in. One suggestion is La Rose de France where you can sit on the terrace and observe the locals play pétanque (ball game similar to bocce and bowls). Once you are back on your feet and ready to explore there are two museums that are not most popular but are fantastic - Shoah Museum, www.memorialdelashoah.org, and Jacquemart-Andre Museum, http://musee-jacquemart-andre.com/en/discover, though they are located on opposite sides of town. Ideally you can proceed to the Shoah Museum which is a modest walk away along the Seine. The Jacquemart-Andre Museum is best when combined with brunch which they serve on premises in a fancy bourgeois setting.

See you next week with the next installment....

LONDON OFF THE BEATEN PATH - FREEMASON'S HALL

As you have probably realized already, I like London very much and can talk about it a lot.

However, this article - the third one in a row, will be the final one, at least for now.

Today I’d like to share with you one place we went to last year- Freemasons’ Hall of United Grand Lodge of England, the oldest Grand Lodge in the world.  

Freemasons’ Hall is the headquarters of the United Grand Lodge of England and the principal meeting place for Masonic Lodges in London. Grand Lodge has been on Great Queen Street since 1775, the present Hall being the third building on the site.

Built between 1927–1932 as a memorial to the Freemasons who died in the First World War, it is one of the finest Art Deco buildings in England, and is now listed internally and externally. In addition to the Grand Temple (seating 1700) there are 21 Lodge Rooms, a Library and Museum, Board and Committee Rooms and administrative offices. The building is fully open to the public Monday to Friday, free of charge.

The Museum contains an extensive collection of objects with Masonic decoration including pottery and porcelain, glassware, silver, furniture and clocks, jewels and regalia; items belonging to famous and Royal Freemasons including Winston Churchill and Edward VII are on display.

When the Grand Temple is not in use, there are up to five tours per day at 11am, 12noon, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. Each tour starts in the Library and Museum. Remember, that photographic ID may be required to be shown.

To learn what Freemasonry is go to http://www.ugle.org.uk/what-is-masonry/.

To make a reservation for your tour send an e-mail by using a link on this page http://www.ugle.org.uk/ask-a-question/visiting-freemasons-hall/. We did it a month in advance to reserve a date and a time we wanted.

The address of Freemasons’ Hall is:
60 Great Queen Street
London, WC2B 5AZ
United Kingdom