Tag Archives: Travel

Majestic is an Understatement

Have you heard the news? Pantone has declared emerald to be the colour of the year for 2013! I couldn’t love that colour more if I tried, and I think it’s high time I posted something related to Pantone’s decision. As St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, now seems like an appropriate time to post (another) tribute to the Emerald Isle with a photographic journey through the ever-so-emerald Cliffs of Moher.

Having spent a few hours at the Cliffs in the summer of 2010, I still can’t get over how massive and awe-inspiring they are. In fact, to say the Cliffs are massive is a major understatement. Majestic, humongous, and indescribable would be much better adjectives in this instance. And they are nothing if they aren’t cloaked in emerald.

But rather than trying to describe them with words, I’ll just let my photos do the talking for me.

Without further adieu, here are the Cliffs of Moher: Continue reading →

Irish Everyone Was That Straightforward

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If you’ve spent a decent amount of time with anyone from Ireland, you are likely well aware that they’re a straight-up bunch of lads and lassies. Unless there’s good craic to be had, or a bar stool to keep warm, the Irish just don’t have time to beat around the bush. Maybe it’s the ever-present threat of rain, or the need to get to the punchline before someone else comes out with a better joke. Who knows? Either way, the Irish get to the point and they do it quickly.

While it’s a little difficult to validate such a sweeping claim (and one that I make with love, to be clear), here are a few contrasting examples to clarify my point: Continue reading →

Welcome to the Calendar, Black Friday!

Very rarely do you get to witness the birth of a widely-observed cultural event. Most holidays and celebrations have deep histories rooted in the veneration of a significant figure, commemoration of an ancient religious feast day and/or festival to usher in a new season. Given that they generally have historically-significant backgrounds, new holidays haven’t sprung up very often in the past.

But then the era of mass consumption came along. And now all the rules have changed.

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Only in Vegas: Curing Hangovers Via Bus

I feel sorry for people who don’t drink. When they wake up in the morning, that’s as good as they’re going to feel all day.

~ Frank Sinatra

Since the day after the first person realized ingesting rotten food could lead to euphoria, the search has been on for a way to ensure a smooth ride the morning after.

Each alcohol-loving culture has developed their own folk remedies for the common hangover, and I have to admit that some of the cures sound worse than the illness itself. For instance, Romanians apparently swear by the healing properties of sour soup featuring tripe (aka cow stomach) as the main ingredient, and Russian overindulgers somehow gulp down pickle or sauerkraut juice to get through the day after. Eek.

With global alcohol consumption rates on the rise, it should come as no surprise that more and more companies are out to lighten the wallets of those who have overindulged. Of all the cities where you can acquire a hangover, it seems obvious that people suffering in Las Vegas would be most willing to fork out some serious cash to get rid of their pain. Afterall, the whole point of leaving your hotel room in Sin City is to engage in the serious business of enjoying the hell out of yourself. Right? Continue reading →

Only in Vegas: Married by a Dead Guy

Gone are the days of weddings involving the local church, a handmade (or handed down) dress, and a reception featuring a meal prepared by the newlywed’s families.

In our age of conspicuous consumption, many couples are trying to keep up with the Kardashians by throwing massive weddings that more closely resemble spectacles than public declarations of love. And if the bride-to-be isn’t fortunate enough to be an event planner by trade, she have a hell of a time deciding between the seemingly endless array of vendors offering wedding-related goods and services to ensure the happy couple’s special day is tailored to reflect their credit card limits unique personalities.

But what if you don’t care to make thousands of mostly insignificant decisions about an event that will last 12 hours at the very most? What if you truly can’t muster up even an ounce of interest in the colour of the chair covers at the reception, whether the invitations are embossed or debossed, or how many tiers the cake features? What if you just want to dress up in your fancy clothes, say a few words, put on your new ring, and get your party on?

In a word, the answer is Vegas. Continue reading →

Only in Vegas: Pancakes with a Side of Matrimony

We’ve all heard the saying “opposites attract” attributed to any number of situations, but I’d be willing to wager that statement is at its most accurate in Sin City. Nowhere else will you find a single boulevard packed with such random mash-ups as a rollercoaster that dips through a casino, gondolas (complete with singing gondoliers) that float you through the heart of a shopping mall, and an 8.5 acre dancing water display that laughs in the face of its desert locale.

As the city that pretty much invented one-upmanship, it’s no wonder Vegas is about to become home to what is arguably the most random mash-up of all.

Continue reading →

All Hat and No Cowboy

If you are anywhere near Calgary, Alberta right now you can’t help but be keenly aware that the Stampede is officially underway. Bales of hay dot nearly every doorway, red and white flags hang from most lampposts, fireworks dance in the sky each night, and C-Trains are being sullied by overindulgent partiers who can’t hold their booze.

If all those signs weren’t enough, the endless sea of cowboy-hatted heads should have given it away.

As someone who grew up in rural Alberta and has only missed attending the Stampede once (I was living in Australia! Get over it!), I can spot a wannabe cowboy from a country mile away. But advances in cowboy hat technology and denim fading techniques have made this much more difficult to do in recent years. Sigh.

Rather than forcing a potential cowboy to display their calf roping skills as evidence, here’s a short checklist that will help you spot those wannabes who are all hat and no cowboy: Continue reading →

Free Flapjacks for Days

They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Since I’m not one to argue with people I don’t know (road rage doesn’t count in this instance), I’ll let them have that one. You can, however, get any number of free breakfasts if you follow a few simple rules. Here’s how it’s done: Continue reading →

Only in Vegas: Bowling is Such a Drag

You know how bowling is kind of lame? I mean, it’s fun when you’re playing it and winning, but you hesitate suggesting it to your friends because they might get all judgy and think you’re a dork? Well, that isn’t the case anymore! As per usual, Vegas has figured out a way to make bowling not only cool, but awesome! And all it took was 22,000 square feet presided over by 24 of the country’s best drag queens.

Continue reading →