Captivating Copenhagen

December 12, 2012December 8, 20147 Comments

Ah, Københaven…what a fabulous city! I spent 5 days experiencing as much as I could. In my opinion, Copenhagen has a bit more “color” than some of the other Scandinavian cities I’ve visited (Oslo and Helsinki). It reminds me a lot of Amsterdam with the vibrantly colored buildings & canals.

I stayed at the Radisson Blu Scandinavia hotel (which I reviewed here). This hotel was perfectly located…not only because it was within walking distance to my company’s office, but also in walking distance to most attractions.

If you are on the fence about visiting the Nordics (or just never thought about it), I highly recommend you try visiting Copenhagen for the following reasons:

Big Mike and I during his wonderful bike tour!

Big Mike Bike Adventures. By far, this was THE BEST thing I did in Copenhagen. It was COLD (as you can see from my huge coat). But it was so fun! Mike is THE.BEST.EVER! I promise that you will have a fabulous time. We started off meeting up with him and a few others at his bike shop. Once outfitted with our bikes, we started pedaling thru the city (which is super easy to navigate because of the bike lanes and motorists being used to navigating bicyclists). We were able to see most of the city by bike, stop for hot chocolate and meet a lot of cool people. Big Mike has a huge personality that is so fun & light. He was a superb tour guide…I learned more about the Danish culture from him than my trusty guidebook! I was also inspired by him as he is a cancer survivor and left his job in the corporate world to pursue his passion. He truly is following his bliss. I need to do that!

The Green Light District (aka “Christiania”). Um…this is the “alternative-living” section of Copenhagen which is home to idealists, hippies, potheads, non-materialists and lots of kids & animals. It was founded in 1971 when 700 Christianians established squatters’ rights at some abandoned military barracks. This place is fascinating! Locals build their own homes but don’t own the land (as it’s still owned by Denmark’s Military of Defense) and most use wood or gas heat (not oil unless you are a “luxury hippie”). Since they don’t own land, they are unable to buy or sell property. When someone decides to move out, the community decides who can move in to replace them. This community has 9 rules…among them: no hard drugs (but they do sell & use pot); no guns or explosives (I assume they don’t want you high and shooting stuff up…which if you are high, aren’t you pretty chill?); etc.

I was only able to get a few pictures as photographing is strictly prohibited once you get into the community…and should you miss the big sign (like I did); someone is there to promptly remind you. As Renee & I walked down “Pusher Street” (named for the sale of soft drugs), we found ramshackle homes, cozy cafes, and lots of stalls with people selling different types of pot. Then there were the outdoor areas with picnic tables where you could go and smoke to your heart’s delight. It is clear that this is a place of freedom, free love, no taboos and no judgment. And, it’s very popular…it’s the 3^rd most visited place in Copenhagen!

bicycles, bicycles, bicycles

Fitness. If you are a runner or bicyclist, this is the place for you! It seems that everyone works out. With so many beautiful lakes, canals and trails, it’s hard to find a reason not to be outside taking it all in. You will find a large number of people bicycling all day and night (the city is set up perfectly with bike lanes). I was able to download 5 running routes (with distances between 3 – 7 miles) around the city.

apropos

Food. It’s no secret that I love to eat. And those that know me well are aware of the fact that I have to eat at Wagamamas if there is one in the city. I fell in love with the Pan-Asian restaurant in Glasgow and make it a point to eat there whenever I see one since we don’t have one in Atlanta. The one in Copenhagen was okay…not as good as the ones in London, Dublin or Glasgow. To sample a bit of the local cuisine, I highly recommend brunch at a delicious restaurant called “apropos”. They served a wide selection of culinary treats (French toast, eggs, bacon, pastries, mimosas, fruits…you name it). There are 2 traditional Danish foods that you should try for lunch…Smørrebrød (which is an open-face sandwich) and pølse (basically a big hot dog). Both are delicious!!! If you are ever in Copenhagen, you must check it out!

Canals & Colorful Buildings. We spent hours walking around the different sections of Copenhagen…taking in the colorful buildings, lingering on bridges over canals and marveling at the beauty of it all. Some big cities are so congested and vanilla but others have such character that you can’t help but stop to take it all in. I suggest taking a stroll thru Nyhavn (“New Harbor”) which is new gentrified harbor with beautiful canals filled with glamorous sailboats of all sizes. It has trendy cafes, tattoo shops and jazz clubs to hang out while enjoying a cup of java or juice (which is really big in this city).

Sights. There are so many things to see and do while visiting. Check out Copenhagen’s amusement park, Tivoli Gardens. Or the Rosenborg Castle & Treasury, Christiansborg Palace, Danish Jewish Museum…or plenty of others. As per my usual routine, I brought along my Rick Steves “Scandinavia” guidebook which was very helpful in organizing which sights were “must sees” vs. “if you have time, check it out”. It seems like I am forever visiting places of worship on every trip I take (Shout out to Jesus! See? Just because I don’t always go to church in the states doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about you :)). We ended up at a very cool church called, “Our Savior’s Church” which has a Baroque design to it.

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Have you been to Copenhagen? If so, what were your favorite sights/things to do?

The French Riviera: Days 4 & 5 “Livin’ it up, Monte Carlo-style”

December 11, 2012December 8, 20143 Comments

Hey everybody! My Mom and I finished our vacation in the French Riviera with 2 days in Monte Carlo. It is a beautiful place! Approximately 45 minutes from Nice by bus, Monaco consists of 3 distinct tourist areas: Monaco-Ville, Monte Carlo, and La Condamine. Most of this small country was built on a cliff. The streets are a bit narrow and since it’s built into a cliff, things seem a little congested but it is breathtaking so you sort of just overlook that. This place has a very distinct feeling of “money”…people have it. That is obvious. For me and my poor little pockets, well…I was pretending 🙂

When taking the bus from Nice, you will ride along the Low Corniche. If you want to take the route all the way to Menton (like we inadvertently did), it takes just an hour. You pass thru the beautiful villages of Villefranche-sur-Mer, Cap Ferrat, and Beauliu-sur-Mer on your way to Monte Carlo.

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Monte Carlo Bay

Once we arrived in Monaco, we checked into our FABULOUS hotel, the Monte Carlo Bay Resort & Hotel. The resort has a casino, gym (with free personal trainers) and a spa. I was able to hit the gym and get a good 45 minute run in before hitting the casino. My absolute favorite thing about Monte Carlo? THE CINQ MONDES SPA! OMG, this place is heaven on earth. Seriously. The purpose of our visit to Monte Carlo was to gamble & spend a day at the spa. Well, we lost at the casino (I love roulette and my numbers weren’t hitting all night…and I just knew I was about to hit it big and live the life of a newly rich jetsetting diva…but, it apparently wasn’t meant to be that day *sobs*). On the plus side, the spa more than made up for it.

Japanese Bath

I’ve been to countless spas and this has to be the absolute best in my opinion. We started out in the hammam to relax prior to our spa services. My first service was the “Aromas & Flowers Japanese Bath” — and it was the most fabulous thing I’ve ever experienced in my life. It was like Christmas! The Japanese Bath is essentially a big wooden tub that traps heat so the water never gets cold. You step into the tub of very warm water, then you have aromatherapy oils poured over you in the water. Once that is complete, rose petals are sprinkled on top of you. Next, the masseuse places a pillow under your neck and proceeds to give you a scalp and neck massage. Afterwards, you are left alone for about 15 minutes to relax. Once you are fully rested, the masseuse brings you peach tea, honey and dried fruit to snack on while still in the bath. Um, seriously…did I mention this was HEAVEN? Because it is. I do not think I will be able to replicate this in my own tub with some Calgon & Lipton. You already know I was notating everything because my next home needs a relaxation room like this.

After the Japanese Bath, I had an Oriental Massage which was basically laying on hot towels being massaged with warm oils. Total bliss. Once the services were over, I was taken to the “Relaxation Room” to lay down with more peach tea & honey. I would go back to Monte Carlo just for the spa. It was that fabulous. Want to know more about this fabulous resort? Check out my hotel review here.

Cathedral

The next day, Mom and I head out to do some sightseeing. We decided to take the bus from the hotel around this “city”. Word of caution…if you don’t speak French, you may be a bit challenged as there are no English translations and it’s not really clear where the stops are.

Monaco-Ville is the oldest section of Monaco and contains the Royal Palace, the Cathedral (which holds the tombs of Prince Rainier & Princess Grace), the Cousteau Aquarium, and the Exotic Gardens (pictures are in the slideshow below).

Tomb of Princess Grace

Tomb of Prince Rainier

The famed Monte-Carlo Casino

The district of Monte Carlo is the area around the famous Monte Carlo Casino (which has a cover charge and dress code). The area is absolutely gorgeous but it is very tight & congested since everything is built very close together. It’s also very expensive. Breakfast was 35 euro/per person…and this was a continental breakfast. Once you get over the sticker shock, you can really enjoy it and see that it is a wonderful place to visit.

The were a couple of cool sculptures across the street from the casino (which remind me of sculptures I saw in Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo, Norway).

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Overall, the French Riviera was really nice and a wonderful experience. I can only imagine how wonderful it is when the temperatures allow you to get in the water. Nice was my favorite city as it lends itself to a lot to do. Monte Carlo is nice…but I would suggest that you day trip over from Nice. It’s not really worth 2 days unless you want to stretch it out. Cannes…that was one of those places where I can say I’ve been there. But, not interested in going back as there really isn’t much there to see.

Here are some of my favorite photos:

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Next stop…Milano!

The French Riviera: Day 3 “Yes We Cannes”

December 10, 20122 Comments

January 4, 2010

Bonjour! It’s day 3 and today was cold and overcast. We woke up this morning and went to our favorite cafe, Grand Cafe de Lyon, for our croissants & cafe au lait. How am I going to live my life without this cafe near my home? Clearly they need an Atlanta location [makes note to self to speak with manager about this].

We head out to see the Russian Cathedral before taking the train to Cannes (which is about 30 minutes from Nice). As we are walking, I notice that almost every dog has on a designer outfit! Seriously. Let me ask you a question. What dog do you know in the U.S. that is rocking a leather jacket???? Not Riley. He wrote a blog post about dogs dressing up. These dogs don’t wear plain little coats…they have designs and ruffles. Like they are about to go on the runway at a Stella McCartney fashion show. There is even a dog & cat clothing store. I kid you not. And, the dogs have the nerve to get attitudes if you stare a little too long…like they think you are about to steal their designer duds. There is a dog in the apartment building we are staying in who barks as soon as you come into his line of sight. But, I think that’s because he may be the poor relations around town since he didn’t havean outfit on.

Anyway, the train station is in the opposite direction from the promenade and the markets which we saw yesterday. As we are walking to the cathedral, the “element” (you know who I am talking about) seems to be more prominent. Maybe they don’t let them visit the nice part of Nice??? Anyway, it’s cold & rainy so I am focused on following the map to get to the cathedral. I then start to notice that the area isn’t as pretty as other parts of the city but it has “character”. However, my Mom stops me and asks, “Is this the ghetto? Why is dog crap all over the sidewalks?” It was too much for her and I knew she was ready to hightail it back to the bourgeoisie part of town. But I was determined to see the cathedral so she was going to have to talk to New Brenda and tell her to come on. LOL.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA We finally find the Russian Cathedral and it’s nice…but not exactly what I expected. I guess because it was in the ghetto? I expected something a bit grander (and in a nicer area of town). Kind of like expecting St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and getting St. Mary’s Hold My Mule So Help Me God Church of Christ AME on Bankhead Highway. But, it was still pretty.

My Mom and I start walking to the Nice Ville train station. Now, I don’t know why I think things in Europe are different. In the states, the Greyhound is always in a seedy part of town. But, I thought that since the train I took from London to Bath was in the nice Piccadilly area, maybe that’s how they roll across the pond. I guess they didn’t share the memo with Nice.

Then it happens. We are waiting at a stoplight and suddenly some man almost knocks down a woman who is standing next to us waiting to cross at an intersection. The lady was very dramatic about the whole scene and I recognized crazy instantly. And, let me tell you…Nice has a whole new brand of crazy I ain’t never seen before (and yes, I had to use a grammatically incorrect sentence to highlight this fact). My Mom was a beat behind since she thought it was just an ugly woman (he was a tad large and had man-breasts) but he had a buzz cut so I don’t know what she was thinking. Being in the ghetto had her shook, I guess.

Anyway, Beat’em Up Bertrand (hereinafter known as “BUB”) dang near assaults a woman trying to rush to make the bus…and ends up missing it. This is wear the C.R.A.Z.Y. comes out. BUB decides he’s gonna cuss out the bus driver (or maybe just the bus because it was rolling down the street without poor BUB). Then, once the bus is out of site…he decides to cuss out everybody else. We are walking behind him and it’s like a bad car accident you just can’t stop looking at. This fool takes his bottle of whatever (probably whiskey…you know crazy likes to stay bourre). Oh, now “bourre” is my new favorite French word. It means “drunk” and is pronounced “boo-ray”. You know I use it in sentences like, “I think he’s bourre’d” (because I don’t know how to conjugate in French so work with me). That’s just how we do in Atlanta. Anyway, Bourre Bertrand takes his bottle of spirits and THROWS it at a car that is pulling up to the intersection. People are looking around at BUB but nobody says anything. Not even the driver of the car. They recognize he is bourre’d. My Mom and I cross the street because that’s what my Grandmama told me to do when you see crazy. He was out of control crazy. I don’t know what he was saying as it was in French but I have a pretty good idea because crazy people usually use the same 4 key phrases. Maybe he should’ve walked over to the cathedral and talked to someone.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA After witnessing the Battle of Bourre, we finally make it to the train station and are on our way to Cannes. As I stated above, Cannes is about 30 minutes by train from Nice. This city’s focus is on big money and shopping. You won’t find a lot of museums. But, the shopping and hotels are phenomenal if you can afford it (and sadly, I could not). We went inside the Hotel Carlton (which I believe was the hotel used during the Cannes episode of “Entourage” but I need to double-check) and is the most famous address on the boulevard de la Croisette. Rooms start at 750 Euro and go up to 5300 Euro. They embroider your name on the bathrobe and everything. It really is a beautiful hotel.

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After leaving the Hotel Carlton, we went to see the Film Festival Hall where they show the movies during the annual Cannes Film Festival.

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Afterwards, we ate at LaMocca restaurant which is across the street. I had the Tandoori Chicken & Coconut Mashed Potatoes. I wasn’t sure how the mashed potatoes would taste with coconut but I’m always game to try something new. It was delicious! My Mom had the antipasta dish which was tasty as well.

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At this point, it’s getting dark so we head back to the train station. The train back to Nice was delayed by 30 minutes so I felt at home since this is a normal occurrence on MARTA 🙂 After we finally get on the train…next thing I know, the metro police are rushing through the train. Some guy is looking guilty…like he may be trying to get his 13 virgins or something. At this point, I’m like, “Are you there, God? It’s me, Nikki. Tell Margaret to hold on because she’s been tying up the line for dang near 40 years! Please save me from crazy and the Taliban. Amen.” I guess he heard my prayers because the final 20 minutes were peaceful.

We leave Nice tomorrow morning and head over to Monte Carlo so I can win big money at the blackjack and roulette tables (cross your fingers!). Au revoir!!!

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The French Riviera: Day 2 “Nice is Nice”

December 10, 2012Leave a comment

La Nice est magnifique!

January 3, 2010

Bonjour! Today was our first full day in Nice. The weather was mild (but still needed a coat) and the skies turned sunny by early afternoon. Nice is a beautiful city. You will fall in love with the market, the buildings, the sea, the people!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA We got a bit of a late start today due to jet lag but once my Mom and I got started, we were good to go. The first item on our agenda was to walk about 5 minutes to Avenue Jean Medecin to find a place for breakfast. We found the perfect cafe which had the best croissants & cafe au lait!!! And, it was just 8 euro for 2 people!!! You can’t beat that.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA After breakfast, we walked down to Place Massena (which is Nice’s ground zero — everything old meets new). I tend to agree with Rick Steve’s when he says that standing here makes him feel like he’s in St. Mark’s Square in Venice. It has that feel…especially with the curved buildings around a central place/piazza. It also reminds me of Disneyland in a way. With the colorful markets, Christmas decorations, piped-in music of children singing songs…it really had a fairytale feel. But, then they started playing a Michael Jackson song so…maybe a Neverland feel?

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After leaving Place Massena, I happened to see the most fabulous faux fur vest in a store window. It was on sale and it fit. It’s like the fates declared for me to have it!

I was a bit nervous with the shopping because everybody that I see in France is tiny. The store didn’t have sizes on the garments…I guess they could eyeball you to tell you whether or not you needed to keep on walking. Although they spoke limited English (and I, limited French), the clerk & I were able to have a limited conversation…enough for him to ask if I was from South Africa.

Which brings me to a point of observation…everybody who knows me well knows that I research my travel destinations thoroughly before I arrive. Well, I had read several places that the French were a bit aloof and that you should have a rudimentary understanding of French or they would give you the side-eye. That has not been my experience at all. Most of the people I have met have been very friendly and understanding of my language “handicap”. If we can’t figure something out with hand signals & my French/English phrase book, they find someone who can translate. I do find myself defaulting to Italian when I’m searching for French words which just confuses them even further. As far as people being rude, honestly, it’s the same as in the U.S. As long as you are respectful and smile, the French will love you!

I met a guy named Bruno who was born in France but moved to Georgia (the U.S. state, not the country) when he was 16. He actually owned a hair salon in Roswell for about 16 years or so before deciding to move back to Nice with his wife (who is American). Bruno is fabulous…love him!!! Now, I will admit that it is sometimes hard for me to understand accented English. My friend, Abenaa (who is from Ghana), will testify to that. I may have a blank look on my face while I try to figure out what you just said. But, eventually, I will either get there or ask you to repeat what you said 🙂

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA So, back to our day. We ended up shopping at the outdoor markets. Let me just say that I absolutely LOVE the outdoor markets. Nice is known for growing lavender and olives (and they have lots of it). Everything is so fresh and upscale. People are out with their dogs (they even bring them into cafes!). Riley (my cocker spaniel) would be in heaven. Maybe I’ll try to find him a little beret. Of course, Riley is from the streets so I know he wouldn’t even entertain that. Plus, he likes to fight so we’d get to walk about 2 minutes into the market before he thinks a Jack Russell terrier is mean mugging him and wants to go “introduce” himself. He will probably write about it in his blog.

While in the market, I come across a beautiful painting and asked the seller if he is the artist. He says yes and we have a limited conversation (as he isn’t selling croissants or cafe au lait, I don’t have much more French to use). I instantly fell in love with the painting as it seems so peaceful.

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After leaving the market with gifts for family and friends, we finally get to the the famed Promenade des Anglais (or “walkway for the English”). It’s a 4 mile promenade along the Mediterranean Sea with stunning views of Nice around the bay. This is what I had been waiting for. The views are absolutely gorgeous!

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As we walked down the promenade, we came across some “rollerblade street performers”. I have never seen anything like this. They do all these rollerblade tricks to French & American hip hop music. They were actually very entertaining. We need that on Peachtree!

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After that, we continued down to the Palais de Mediterranee (which is gorgeous).

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Once we completed the 4 mile walk, we headed back to our flat thru Old Town Nice.

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Then back home to rest & blog. Tomorrow — Cannes! Au revoir!!!

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The French Riviera: Day 1 (Getting There)

December 9, 2012December 8, 20142 Comments

*I’m migrating posts from my old blog to this site…so don’t get alarmed and think I’m suffering from dementia. I still have at least 6 months before that gets ahold of me fully.*

French Riviera guidebook

January 2, 2010

Happy New Year everyone!!! I pray that you all have a prosperous, blessed & happy 2010! So excited to start the year off in Nice, France! I decided that I was going to be a more patient person in 2010. “New Nikki” is supposed to just brush off irritations and frustrations. “Old Nikki” has been struggling with that concept for some years 🙂

So, to that end, I decided to give US Airways another try for international travel. If you read my Italy travel blog post from my trip in 2007, you already know that this was a big step for me as I had named them Beelzebub Airlines due to the drama that I had to deal with (delayed flights, lost luggage, etc). So, New Nikki thought 2010 would be a year of second chances. Sigh. I arrived at Indianapolis International Airport 3 hours ahead of time since crazy folks had been out during Christmas trying to take down flights with firecrackers & possibly a 5 oz bottle of contact solution. As soon as I stepped to the kiosk to check-in, the gate agent asked if I was connecting thru Philadelphia (where B-bub ALWAYS has an issue). Once I answered affirmatively, the agent told me that he would need to re-book me on another flight since the flight I was scheduled to take in 3 HOURS would be late. Apparently, the plane was having mechanical problems and they only have like 5 planes that operate nationally. Seriously. Why are there never enough planes to accommodate the mechanical failures? Don’t they have Service Level Agreements with the manufacturers???

Anyway, B-bub Airlines decided to test New Nikki on the very first day of 2010. The agent stated that instead of arriving in Nice at 10am, I would arrive late afternoon which effectively took out 1 day of my vacation. New Nikki tried to see the silver lining, Old Nikki was like, “F&*K THAT!” But, it’s a new year and I couldn’t cave 11 hours into 2010. So, I sucked it up and tried to put a positive spin on it.

After waiting 5 hours, we are able to board the “repaired” plane. The plane is pushed back from the gate…then the PA system comes on and the pilot says, “Brakes still don’t work. Guess they weren’t fixed in Philadelphia. Sorry. We will have to cancel this flight.” New Nikki — “At least we found out before we taxied too far”; Old Nikki — “F&*K THAT!” I am a cracked plate, y’all.

Good news is that B-bub was able to get us on another flight within 30 minutes but I still missed my connection. Which meant another 4 hours of waiting. This caused me to drink a large number mimosas and wine in an effort to soothe my nerves. Trust and believe that. New Nikki tried to think “at least the international flight was only delayed by 10 minutes.” Old Nikki’s response? I think you already know. I was able to leave B-bub in the dust and fly Air France from Paris to Nice. Of course, B-bub is a bad influence because you know that after traveling for 22 hours, we get 2 crying kids in our row and the row behind us.

I’ve decided that US Airways is like that friend you don’t really like but you feel sorry for them because they are so pitiful and against your better judgement, you decide to hang out with them. You know the type. They call, beg you to hang out and they even offer to drive. Only to tell you after you are dressed and waiting that either 1) the car doesn’t have any tires or 2) they are running an hour late. New Nikki has to side with Old Nikki on US Air. It’s a wrap.

So, it took a total of almost 24 hours for me to fly from Indianapolis to Nice. But, I am here and it’s fabulous so I’ll stop complaining.

We took a taxi to the apartment rental and let me tell you…these cabbies drive Audis and Mercedes and the few that I saw look like male supermodels (I’m sure there are a few that may not be runway ready but hey…New Nikki is trying). Our taxi driver even turned up Jay-Z & Alicia Key’s “Empire State of Mind” during the drive. So, not only do you get a cabbie, you get a dj!

After arriving late afternoon, My Mom and I checked into our vacation rental. I got the idea of renting an apartment from tripadvisor.com. There is much more space and it’s cheaper than a hotel. Great location, free internet, lots of room and it’s really peaceful. We rented a 2 bedroom apartment from Nice Pebbles. As you can see below, it’s a really cute little place and definitely a sight for sore eyes after a long day of travel.

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We will do some sightseeing tomorrow. Good night!

2012 Update: New Nikki never made it back. She tries to make an appearance every year but sadly, she ends up being beaten to death by Old Nikki in a fit of rage over something. She’s going to try to make it work in 2013 but I think we all know how that is going to end. Don’t tell her though…she has hope. And clearly some issues since she’s talking about herself in the 3rd person.

The Life of a Nomad

October 18, 2012December 8, 20145 Comments

The life of a nomad isn’t an easy one. Sweltering heat, freezing cold, scorpions and snakes…these are just a few things to worry about living in the desert. I had the pleasure of meeting a nomad family during my visit to the Sahara. My first reaction was one of sympathy…but by the time I left, I felt humbled.

Nomad camp

In order to get around in the Sahara, you have to either walk, ride a camel or drive a 4×4. As we were on our way to our own camp, we were invited to visit with an interesting nomad family. Luckily we had our fabulous guide, Tata, to translate and inform of us traditional customs.

I was told that there are 9 people who make up the nomad family I spent time with (a mix of men, women and children). What immediately struck me were the “structures” that were built for cooking, showering and shelter. I assumed that nomads were constantly moving from place to place with no sense of permanency. However, I found out that these nomads usually stay in a place for 3-4 months before moving on. The catalyst for the move is usually the fact that the food source (grass, etc) has dried up for the camels & animals they raise.

The Sahara covers 3.5 MILLION MILES. And while the popular thought is that deserts are dry & barren, the Sahara has pockets of areas that are abundant with food and water sources. However, these sources aren’t unlimited which is why nomads have to move on in search for new sources. They do tend to come back to the structures they built before…after enough time has passed so that grass has been able to grow again. Kind of like these settlements are their 2nd, 3rd and 4th homes.

sleeping quarters

The ladies allowed me to spend time investigating their housing structures and asking questions. I noticed that there were 3 separate sleeping quarters. One area was completely covered on all sides to protect them from rain and harsher elements, while the second was more open to allow for air during the hot, dry months. The third seemed to be a combination of the two…walled but open ceiling. I also noticed that there were a lot of toys…big wheels, bikes, dolls, Transformers, etc. The kids had plenty to entertain them. I don’t know what the adults do…there is no television. And they don’t seem to understand how much their life is lacking because they can’t watch Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.

While these women did not have a lot of “wealth”, they were so gracious to offer us mint tea. Which seems to be typical of Moroccans. They may not have a lot of material things, but they are the most hospitable people I’ve met. You can count on being asked to stay for tea and cookies.

Since our guide knew this family, the ladies were open to answering my questions. And I had a lot. Below are some highlights.

kitchen

Q. Why do you opt to live in the desert moving from place to place? Why not living in a city with a more permanent home?

A. This is what we know. We grew up as nomads and find the desert to be peaceful. Cities are too chaotic and noisy. Too many people and sounds. We like the solitude of the Sahara and not having to constantly see other people.

Q. How do you get food & water to feed your family?

A. We dig wells to get water. Once a month, our family will drive into Merzouga [the city right outside the Sahara] and get supplies. Mostly grains to make couscous and vegetables. We are also able to find food here in the desert which we will catch or gather.

Q. How do you get to Merzouga? Do you have a car?

A. Sometimes we are able to borrow a car from another family. Other times we use our camels to get us to the edge of the Sahara then ask for a ride into town.

Q. How do you earn money to buy supplies?

A. The men offer the camels to tourists for rides thru the desert. The women and children sell trinkets. Usually small toy camels or dolls that we make from scraps of cloth we are able to find.

During this time, a little boy around the age of 2 has started crying. His mother tells the guide that she is worried that something is wrong with his legs as he has refused to walk all day. We take a look to make sure there is no swelling, redness or tenderness. Then, the guide says that he will escort them to the hospital to have the boy examined. But, the mother says that she cannot leave without permission of her husband. She pulls out a cellphone (I know…who knew they had those? And the next question I wanted to ask was where she charged it since they had no electricity?) and tries to get in contact with her husband to no avail.

As we end our visit, our guide gives the mother his number with the instruction to call him once her husband came back so they could take her son to the hospital. He even offered to pay the medical bills.

The next morning, while hiking thru the sand dunes, I am stopped by 3 little girls. They told me they were 8 and 9 years old. When I asked if they went to school, only one said yes. She lives in Merzouga with her mother but comes to the Sahara during the weekends to visit with her father. During the time I’m asking questions, they have spread out their trinkets to sell. While I didn’t buy anything, I did give them some money so that I could take their picture.

3 nomad girls

I grew up with plenty of advantages…and the expectation that not only would I graduate from high school, but I would graduate from college as well. So, it was mind-boggling to meet children who don’t go to school. While it is hard for me to grasp living without electricity (I mean, I get the shakes when my iPhone dies and I don’t have a way to charge it for a couple of hours), there is a certain tranquility in being able to unplug from the world and just enjoy the solitude. No emails or text messages to answer. No demands. No stress. No noise (not even crickets…it is dead quiet). Just stars lighting up the sky.

While some children grow up and leave the nomad life, others are content to raise animals and move from place to place following in the footsteps of their forefathers. It’s an interesting life…one that I know I’m not strong enough to live, but I am smart enough to respect. If you ever have the chance to visit the Sahara (and I strongly suggest you do…it is unbelievable), please take time out to visit with a nomad family (but definitely go with a guide…don’t just show up saying, “Hi, got some mint tea?”). The next time I visit, I plan to take them supplies (grains, vegetables, toys for the kids, blankets, etc.). If you can, I recommend you do the same. As Oprah says, “pay it forward.” The great thing about that? You can pay it forward anywhere in the world.

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Nikki’s Nest: Riad Laaroussa (Fez, Morocco)

October 5, 2012December 8, 20142 Comments

Planning a trip to the fascinating imperial city of Fez? I recommend staying at the Riad Laaroussa which is located inside the Medina. This 17th century palace is a welcome retreat of peace after spending the day exploring the chaotic Medina. My Mom and I had the pleasure of spending 3 lovely days at this riad in September 2012.

What’s a Riad?

Historically, it is a traditional Moroccan home with an open garden or courtyard. However, now most function as hotels/resorts. Riads are more inward focused. You won’t see large exterior windows. In fact, the exterior is plain and you are unable to tell if the home is upper or lower class. There are clay walls with a huge (and in some cases, ornate) door. Once you enter thru the massive door, you will be amazed at how lovely the interior is. Beautiful tiles & mosaics, water fountains, lush fabrics…riads provide you with the opulence of a grand mansion combined with a cozy atmosphere. These lovely “homes” only have a small number of rooms (i.e. 5-10). Riads provide you with a unique Moroccan experience that you won’t get staying in a hotel.

Getting There

Riad Laaroussa will arrange for a taxi from the airport, train station, or other cities at your request. Your taxi will drop you off just outside one of the gates to the Medina. The streets are very narrow inside the Medina so no cars are allowed…only push carts, donkeys & mules. They will also arrange for a luggage porter (who will have a wooden cart) to greet you at the gate and lead you to the riad which is just a few minutes walk away. My advice…do not try to find the riad on your own. The Medina has over 9,000 streets and this riad is located off a side street from another side street. A 20 Dirham (which is approximately $2 USD) tip to a luggage porter is money well spent. Plus, this will allow you to take in the sights and sounds of the Medina while walking to your destination.

Promotions

You can book directly via the website or go thru a 3rd party discount booking agency (i.e. Booking.com).

The Courtyard

This riad surrounds a breathtaking courtyard that has 2 water fountains and beautiful landscaping. There are open lounge/sitting areas surrounding the courtyard. Each area makes you feel comfortable and relaxed. Tables surround the courtyard so you are able to eat breakfast or dinner in a lush environment.

The courtyard is also where you will find 3 of the Riad Laaroussa inhabitants. Mimi the Cat and her 2 canine companions are extremely friendly (and very lazy). If you are an animal lover, you won’t want to leave them at the end of your stay. Typically, Mimi & crew are waiting to greet you as you enter the courtyard and hang around long enough for belly rubs before dinner (and will stick around during dinner just in case you are feeling charitable & want to share). As you can see from the pictures below, they aren’t missing any meals 🙂

Rooms & Suites

There are 8 rooms (4 rooms & 4 suites) at the Riad Laaroussa. Each room has a theme color (we stayed in the Orange Suite). Be sure to check out the pictures on the riad website (linked above) or tripadvisor.com as each suite is different. Upon arrival, we were taken to our room and given time to relax before heading up to dinner. Words really can’t describe how wonderful this place is so I created a video. My videography skills aren’t that great (this is my first one) but I hope it captures how fabulous this place is.

Dining

The chef at the Riad Laaroussa is PHENOMENAL! You can dine in the courtyard or on the terrace (which is up several sets of very steep stairs). The riad provides a bountiful breakfast of fruits & pastries (you can request eggs as well) and a daily set menu. Want to learn how to cook the fabulous Fassi cuisine? Join the chef on her daily trip to the market and spend an afternoon in the kitchen watching her create delicious dishes for the evening. Make sure you are camera ready as the staff will stop by your table to take pictures then email them to you so you have a keepsake of your time in Fez.

Mom and I at breakfast

Moroccan appetizers

The Hammam & Spa

What better way to unwind from a day of sightseeing than to enjoy the Riad Laaroussa’s hammam & spa? The massage is fab-u-lous! You pick between a couple of fragrant oils (my choices were “orange flower” and “jasmine”). Those magical hands lulled me right into a light nap. Want to know more about what to expect when visiting a hammam? Check out my Tale of 2 Hammams post.

Overall

If you are looking for the perfect place to unwind and relax during your visit to Fez, this is the place. Have insightful conversations over mint tea while learning about Moroccan culture from the locals. I must warn you that this riad is not suitable to those who are wheelchair bound or have mobility issues due to the amount of stairs. Other than that, this place is perfect. Centrally located with delicious food and an absolutely phenomenal staff, the Riad Laaroussa is a wonderful place to stay during your exotic trip to Fez. So forget using hotel chain rewards points and enjoy the unique experience of staying in a riad!

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Nikki’s Rating: Absolutely Wonderful 5

Rating Scale 1-5 (1 = GET OUT NOW; 2 = Seriously?; 3 = Eh, it’ll do; 4 = Fabulous; 5 = Absolutely Wonderful)

Travelin’ Mr./Mrs. Daisy

September 24, 2012December 8, 20141 Comment

This post is intended to help you learn how to travel with your parents. Once your parents are eligible for social security, something happens. I don’t know what it is. But trust me. Here are some handy dandy tips to make your family travel experience smoother.

1. Guidebook Dilemma

Most of us use guidebooks to prepare and use for travel. It makes sense to follow the advice of someone who has been there, done that. Unless you are my Dad. I swear by Rick Steves. His guidebooks have always provided me with helpful tips. However, a map (usually hand drawn in the books) was off/unclear during our trip to Rome. Which meant that Rick can’t be trusted to tell you the time of day. Sorry, Rick. You had your chance. No second chances with Mr. Daisy. My Dad acts like he suffers from Rick Steves PTSD. When I suggest some international destination to visit, his response is, “Did Steve Bob’s recommend that?” Because he is not going to get Rick’s name right. That’s what happens when you have 2 first names & you mess up directions.

My Mom, however, has to find every book related to the country we plan to visit. I usually stick with the big 3: Rick Steves, Lonely Planet or Eyewitness Travels. She found The Cadogan Guide to Morocco by Barnaby Rogerson on Amazon. This guide has a bit more color than usual guides. For instance, Mr. Rogerson says the following about sexual attitudes in Morocco, “”Moroccans also tend to think of themselves as immeasurably more virile & potent than Western men. However chaste your intentions, why not pack some condoms beside the sun cream and romantic fiction?” Really, Barnaby? Now I have to put an “elderly lock” on my Mom’s laptop.

Do yourself a favor and just handle all the travel and prep. Monitor their internet & tv usage because this can lead to trouble. Retired people find time to explore & become scholars based on the latest gossip from “Spacebook”. My Dad has become an international travel expert based solely on 60 Minutes reports from Mike Wallace that aired 15 years ago. It doesn’t matter if you have been there and he hasn’t. You don’t know the real deal. Don’t become a victim. You will only get confused trying to wade thru their attempt at using hip jargon. My Dad can’t grasp the concept of BFFs. He keeps saying BSFF…like it’s Best Super Friends Forever. I don’t know. See how I just got sucked into that?

Only 8 kilometers? Whatchu talkin' bout, Willis? That should say 12!

The look they give you when you suggest something “exotic”.

2. You’re Taking Me Where?

Not all elderly parents (and by elderly, I mean anybody older than you) can handle “exotic” trips to Miami. I blame Mike Wallace. My Dad isn’t into traveling to Africa and Italy was full of too many basilicas. When I suggested London, I was met with “I don’t want to look at butter teeth.” I tried to explain that their dental care has improved since the 1800’s but Mike can’t verify that since he passed away. I then attempted to talk my Dad into going on a safari. His response? “I haven’t lost anything in Africa.” See a pattern? Don’t try to force it, kids. Let your parents go on a jazz cruise where they can fall asleep on the Lido Deck after slurping down a 189 ounce daiquiri while listening to the sleepy time music of Brian Culbertson.

Now, if you happen to have an adventurous parent, keep it in perspective. Your type of adventure isn’t theirs. There will be no backpacking or taking public transportation. Understand that now. You can’t make your mother walk 3 blocks after she spent 202 hours in labor with you 40 years ago. You are still paying on that. It’s like labor layaway. Ease them into the adventure. Morgan Freeman didn’t tell Miss Daisy to take MARTA. He made sure she was comfortable and that her needs were attended to.

3. Once, Twice, Three Times Too Much

Some parents like to overpack. You know how you grew up hearing, “You can’t ever be too prepared”? That is a lie. You can be too prepared. Don’t fall for that. And, the older they get, the more “prepared” they get. During one trip, the guidebook said we should plan to bring toilet tissue as some bathrooms may not have any. I bought a 24 pack of Tush Wipes and told my Mom not to worry about that. So why did she show up with 3 rolls of toilet paper? I don’t know. Apparently, 24 wipes + 3 rolls of Quilted Northern seemed like the right amount for a 12 day trip for 2 people. Don’t let your parents take a Sam’s Club approach to packing. You’ll be the one hauling it around. Remember, labor layaway. Some things you can’t get around. Do you remember Titanic when Rose came on the ship at the beginning of the movie and had 44 trunks and 132 picture frames? That is what you are battling against. Don’t let your Mom bring every item from Magellans…or your Dad bring his tool belt because you never know when something will need to be fixed. Have an intervention if you need to. Because if you don’t, Delta will.

4. Picture Time

I took a travel photography class to learn how to capture creative images that don’t look like Honey Boo Boo took them. This requires setting up your shot…which means you must have patience. Especially for someone new at it. I’ve got some news for you. Elderly parents aren’t patient. They don’t have time to wait on you to set up a shot. Take the picture as you are walking. Who cares if it is blurry. That’s your fault. Practice walking and clicking.

The deluxe “ghetto”

5. 25 Star Hotels

Elderly parents have a Kanye West mindset to travel. Which means that 5 star hotels may not be enough. Ask yourself this question…Would Oprah stay there? If you are not 100% certain, then find someplace else. Yeah, you might have to sell yourself on the streets but that’s what happens. Labor Layaway. That’s the Big Joker to any argument you may have. Parents will always win. You can’t make your Mom stay someplace that is 4 stars after you ripped her open and then refused to sleep thru the night for weeks.

For example, my Mom and I did the 5 star hotel option for our recent trip to Morocco. Which included an upgrade to a deluxe tent in the Sahara Desert. The tent had 2 twin beds (complete with mattresses on frames), bathroom (which included a shower) and sitting room. But, it is a tent…in the Sahara. My Mom was like, “What is this?” I don’t know if she thought there was a Ritz Carlton – Sahara or what. Now, in my mind, I had already prepared myself for the fact that I would encounter a bug or 2. I already had my Avon Skin So Soft and Off (courtesy of my Mom). The operators had the nerve to shut the power off at night so my Mom couldn’t keep the lights on for fear that bats would swoop in, turn into Dracula, and bite us. What would happen if we turned into vampires? We didn’t have any True Blood in our emergency preparedness kit (there wasn’t enough space with all the toilet paper). Around 1am, I awake to my Mom screaming about scorpions. She’s got her flashlight on and pointed towards her face like it’s the Moroccan Blair Witch Project. I’m trying to figure out what is going on. I mean, I know she isn’t serious. I must be dreaming this. Did my mint tea have another type of herb in it? I’m confused. At this point, she has moved into my twin bed and made the proclamation that she will NEVER sleep in that bed again because there is a scorpion the size of a “cow” in it. But, before I could find Bessie the Scorpion and lead her out of the tent, my Mom wanted me to see if her arm was swelling. Sigh. After confirming that there was no swelling, I check the bed and can’t find the Velociraptor-sized scorpion. I did see a big cockroach though. Lest you think we are going to sleep peacefully together in a small twin bed, I’ve got news for you…we are not. Labor layaway requires counseling sessions as well. And, my Mom had to question why there was no actual door on the tent. You read that right. And, I’m sure that will go into the survey feedback she is working on right now. See, as you get older, things don’t have to make sense. A tent in the Sahara to young people means just that. But to older people? It means a cottage with a fireplace, butler and an exterminator on speed dial.

I’m pretty sure it was the Scorpion King who came into the tent.

6. Hustled

Hustlers target older people because it’s easy. Older people don’t like to be hassled and would prefer to pay you 110% more than you deserve just to get you to leave them alone. Younger people? We will protest on basic principle. If the guidebook says that you should tip $2 to a porter for getting your bags out of the car, you can best believe that that is what you are going to get if there is nothing exceptional about the service. Are they pushing the luggage up a hill? Okay, they get extra. But to take my luggage that I lugged all the way thru the airport and just move it from my hand to the trunk? TWO DOLLARS, buddy. But, this philosophy can only work when you aren’t traveling with older parents. Just pay the man. I don’t care that you had to ask your guide to go to Lowes – Marrakesh to find a storm door for the tent. Make it rain.

7. Trying Something New

Not all parents will try something new. My Mom is really good about being open to certain things. But, my Dad? Forget it. Here are some examples of new things I tried to expose him to:

Me: Hi Dad, I brought you some boisenberry jam back from London! Try it.

Dad: *puts the jam on a biscuit…then spits it out* This is the nastiest stuff I’ve ever tasted in my life. Do me a favor and don’t ever bring me back anything to eat. This must be why they have yellow teeth that look like they’ve been chewing on rocks.

——————–

Me: I went to a public hammam in Morocco. It was a surreal experience. You should try it!

Dad: I don’t need my booty scrubbed.

——————-

Mom: I learned how to make chocolate molten lava cake at a Pastry & Desserts class in Paris. What do you think?

Dad: This doesn’t have anything on Chili’s chocolate lava cake. Where is the chocolate sauce? Why isn’t caramel drizzled over it? You don’t have any Breyer’s ice cream to go with this? Paris seems awful plain to me.

I’m sure that my Dad is finding a cooking class at the local Chili’s right now. That will be his Christmas gift for my mother. Bottom line, if you are traveling with elderly parents (or just folks that are older and like to go on Robin Leach-style vacations), do yourself a favor and take my advice above. Need further convincing, read my post from Las Vegas. Last tip for you? Pack a flask and your favorite spirits. You’ll need their guidance 🙂

A Christian Among Muslims

September 23, 2012December 8, 20144 Comments

I had the pleasure of spending 8 days in the Muslim country of Morocco. To be honest, I was a bit nervous after reading the warnings in the guidebooks. I was aware of a bombing of a tourist cafe in Jamaa el-Fnaa square in Marrakesh in April 2011 as well as a general anti-American sentiment from people who had visited the country in the early to mid-2000’s. However, I was assured by the local travel agency I used that it was completely safe for Americans to visit. And, I am so glad that I did.

I’ve traveled to many countries and, on the whole, Moroccans have been the kindest and most generous people I have met. The people I met treated me as a family member as it is a very family oriented society. When an old friend passes by, Moroccans don’t just say “hi”…they take time to ask about the individual’s health, family, job, etc. They also greet each other as “brother” or “sister”. In addition to treating each other (and people they don’t know) warmly, they gave money to the disabled and elderly, and they made religion their priority. Everything revolves around Allah. You will hear a call to prayer over loudspeakers five times a day.

During my visit, I had some great conversations about religion. I wanted to understand the basics of Islam as well as the culture. I am a Christian and being American, I’ve heard a lot of “anti-Muslim” rhetoric since 9/11. Quite honestly, I get tired of people and certain media demonizing an entire religion based upon the actions of extremists. As my late grandmother used to say, “not everybody who goes to church is a Christian.” Every religion has its own sect of crazies. Westboro Baptist does not represent me or my beliefs. Yet, they call themselves “Christians.” Hitler saw himself as Christian. And, I am sure the Catholic priests who molested little boys see themselves as Christians too. Just as al-Qaeda sees themselves as Muslims.

Claiming a religion doesn’t automatically make you the representative of it. Everybody has their own set of beliefs…whether they believe in a form of religion or not. But, all of us have a belief system. Whether we worship God, Allah, Buddha…or a set of gods…or none at all. The bottom line, I feel, is that we should be able to respect those that are different from us.

In speaking with some Muslims in Morocco, I was able to learn the following about the differences in our religions:

1. They regard Jesus as a respected prophet, not God. I think this is the biggest difference. That’s the essence of the message of Islam…which is to call upon people to worship the one God of Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Jesus, etc.

2. They don’t believe in the original sin. I’m told that the Quran mentions the story of Adam, Eve and the apple but places the blame on Adam and Eve equally, then forgave them. Thus, Jesus didn’t die on a cross nor did He die for anyones sins (since we are born sinless). He was raised to heaven and will return before the end of times.

3. They are accountable for their actions. On the day of judgment, their deeds will be weighed. Belief alone does not guarantee them Heaven. Their good actions have to outweigh their bad actions. These deeds could be anything from praying to God to serving for a better humanity.

Islam has 5 pillars that every Muslim must practice:

1. Shahadah = the declaration that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is his messenger.

2. Prayer (Salat) = establishing of the five daily Prayers.

3. The paying of alms (Zakat) = which is generally 2.5% of the total savings for a rich man working in trade or industry, and 10% or 20% of the annual produce for agriculturists. This money or produce is distributed among the poor.

4. Fasting (Sawm) = refraining from eating, drinking or satisfying other needs from dawn to dusk in the month of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar (usually around August/September).

5. The Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) = this is done during the month of Zul Hijjah, and is compulsory once in a lifetime for one who has the ability to do it. If the Muslim is in ill-health or in debt, he or she is not required to perform Hajj.

While there are differences (mainly that Christians recognize God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit), there are some similarities (we fast from time to time, pay tithes, help the less fortunate and pray). I’m not saying that one religion is better than the other. I am a Christian. However, my grandmother is a Jehovah’s Witness. I’ve had to learn from an early age to figure out differences and make a decision on what I believe is true. Just because I don’t agree with the tenets of certain religions doesn’t mean I should disrespect them. As long as our rights and person aren’t infringed upon, we should be able to live in peace.

The terrorists from 9/11 and from the recent U.S. embassy attacks are horrible people. And so was Queen Mary (also known as Bloody Mary) who burned Protestants on the stake for refusing to convert to Catholicism. History is riddled with those who want to use violence & murder to uphold their “religious beliefs.” Let’s not judge an entire religion based upon the acts of a few. Making Muslim synonymous with terrorism is wrong. Just like the anti-Muslim movie that has caused a firestorm recently was wrong. I think if we quit judging others, we will find that we are more alike than we realize. Of course, this is just my humble opinion.

The Fascinating Finns — Moose, Reindeer & Bears, Oh My!

April 5, 2012December 8, 20144 Comments

I had the pleasure of spending 3 days in Finland (2 full days in Helsinki [Vantaa] and a quick day trip to Nokia). Unfortunately, I had to work most of the time and didn’t have any time to sightsee other than for 15 minutes before dinner one evening. Therefore, unlike my other posts that cover most of the top attractions of the city, this post will focus more on what I’ve learned about Finland and my experience with the Finnish people.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived in Helsinki. The one thing about “travelling while brown” is that you have to always be prepared to be the subject of stares. Which is fine if you are just curious and not ignorant. Especially if I’m visiting a country where there aren’t many other people of color. I have to say that I believe my skin color actually provided me with an advantage in Finland.

I had the pleasure of travelling with a Finnish attorney (Jura) who took it upon himself to try to educate me in everything Finnish during my 3 day trip (complete with trying to learn Finnish phrases…and I am now proud to say I know 3 words…ha!). As a sidenote, Finnish is HARD. There are like 19 letters in the word “fish” (or something crazy like that).

Jura explained to me that the Finns don’t do small talk and niceties. It’s not that they are rude, but they just don’t see the need for a lot of extra conversation. And, with it being so cold, I understand why (I mean, who wants to stand around hearing about Laaki’s corns when you can’t feel your fingers?). However, he was surprised in the responses I would get everyplace I went. The Finns were super nice and went out of their way to be of service. He said it’s because they know I’m a tourist but I like to think it’s because they know I’m special 🙂 From the hotel to the restaurants, it was like being among friends.

My absolute favorite moment was getting to meet Jura’s father. He is a big bear of a man and was the absolute best! He picked me up from my hotel to take Jura and myself to the train station and even walked us to the train station platform then waited to make sure we got on the train safely. At the end of the day, he was waiting for us to get off the train to cart me back to the hotel (and Jura to the airport). That is hospitality at its best!

I’m naturally chatty so I asked a lot of questions about their history (which seemed to be a very subject of many). Below are some interesting facts I learned during my stay:

1. Santa better hide Rudolph because reindeer was on EVERY menu that I saw during my 3 day stay.

2. In addition to the reindeer, the Finns eat bear (watch your back, Yogi…maybe get with Rudolph in Witness Protection or something) and the Helsinki airport even sells bear liver pate. I’m sure that just made you salivate…I’ll wait while you go to Google and search for companies that ship internationally.

3. The Arctic Ice Bar. Words cannot describe how much I wanted to check this place out. Trust me, if I had stayed over a weekend, I’d have been in there with the club-offered parkas freezing my booty off while setting my drink on an ice table. Per their website, “Inside the icebar the temperature is a constant -5C. Upon entry to the Icebar guests are given a warm cape and gloves to wear.” That is awesome! Of course, the funniest thing I’ve read in a long time was from a reviewer on Trip Advisor who said, “You won’t find a lot of locals in the ice bar. We think it’s a damn silly idea to pay extra to be cold as we get enough of it for free.” Ha!

4. The Finns are required to learn an additional language in primary school (i.e. Swedish, Russian, etc.) and it is required that all men (not sure about women) serve for 9 months – 1 year in the military.

5. Finland was once part of Sweden, then Russia before becoming its own republic.

6. This country has 187,888 lakes and 179,584 islands which was created by the effect of the Ice Age (much like the Norwegian fjords).

7. Want to visit the Arctic Circle? Just go to the top of Finland! You can freeze to your heart’s content.

8. Northern Lights. Finland (like Alaska) is known for its Northern Lights. In northern Finland, you can experience 24 hour darkness in January/early February and 24 hours of sun in the summer.

9. Looking for a great place to eat? Try out the FishMarket (which has a great choice of fresh fish prepared in a variety of ways) or Farang (which is delicious Pan Asian food with a Finnish flair) in downtown Helsinki.

10. Finns like to hunt and one local favorite is moose.

Below are the few pictures I was able to take in downtown Helsinki. Notice how the lakes are frozen around the boats. Unreal that it was that cold.