Archive for December, 2007

I read about a Slovakian poet who lost an entire year in a Bratislava café, like an umbrella left behind in the rain. Which sounds like quite a commitment to sloth. Yet this is exactly what I love about settling into a good local café: for the price of a latte / mélange / milchcafe / koffee verkied, you buy yourself a comfortable place in the world for a few hours, and a momentary brush with the lives of others.

Space to think, gazing out the window, reflecting on life, a step away from the responsibilities and distractions of your home or work environment, these are some of the benefits of heading down to your favourite café. The café is home to your urban family, an oasis of warmth and calm to retreat to from the world of constant movement, pressure to perform, demands and stress. And someone else does the dishes! No-one expects anything of you in a café, except that you pay the bill.

When you’re traveling, and having to negotiate language, unfamiliar streets and customs, finding a local cafe that feels welcoming is an essential part of the journey. Here are 6 of my favourites.

Café Prückel, Vienna, Austria

The authentic Viennese coffee house lends itself to long langurous conversations; even today I can see the knots of young intellectuals discussing thorny philosophical complications at Café Prückel. It’s one of the original Viennese café’s on the Ring, opened in 1903, and was renovated in the 1980s with a cool ’50s decor that enhances the suave air of conceptual nonchalance displayed by the clientele. Here it is perfectly acceptable to linger for hours alone with a newspaper, and echoes remain of the rich literary tradition, with writers and poets meeting to debate ideas, gossip, stay warm and write. The last time I was in there I overheard an earnest, slender young man with trendy black-rimmed glasses and an Australian accent making slanderous comments about his theatrical partner: “He can’t sing, he can’t dance, he can’t act; he’s nothing but a dilettante!” I looked more closely and realized that the speaker was in fact an extremely well-known director (and no, I never found out who he was talking about).

Sejuiced, Bronte Beach, Sydney, Australia

Overhearing delectable tidbits and juicy gossip is one of the many perks of a life spent watching the world go by. At Sejuiced, one of the original Bronte cafes, I once overheard a spectacularly glamorous woman at the next table complain about the difficulty of finding a man who wasn’t intimidated by her success. Glancing over at her flamboyant leopard skin coat and bright red lipstick, I recognized a young, self-made cosmetics Empress, whose romantic troubles were a refreshing perspective on the drawbacks to becoming someone who had ‘made it’ in their field. All against a backdrop of palm trees with a magnificent view of the ocean rolling into Bronte beach.

Cafes Rosal & Lil, Barcelona, Spain

The Café Rosal at the end of Passeig del Born was my local for a month in Barcelona, where I never quite found a home with the local culture or people except for these momentary smiles over the counter. I loved this place, and would never have even contemplated setting foot in the more spacious, bright ‘Sandwich and Friends’ next door. Why? Partly an emotional attachment. There is a comforting patina of age on the dark wood, all of the corners are cosy, even though the chairs aren’t the most comfortable, it feels homely. Something personal in the space, that gives it soul, is a crucial ingredient. The staff can be brusque, even rude as the infamous Marios’ waiters in Melbourne, but professional, not snobbish or unfriendly, and they need to provide efficient reliability, so that you know what kind to expect.

The gorgeous Catalan owner of Cafe Lil in Barcelona, tucked away in a side street off the Princessa Montcada, always had a twinkle in his eye, making it a treat to order the decadent hot chocolate on the menu; drinking it while perusing the arty selection of books and magazines was another. The crowd was mostly Spanish and Catalan, although it was right in the middle of the tourist area, only a few blocks from the Picasso museum, there was still the feel of a hidden treasure that you had stumbled across.

Cafes Ringo & Gagarin, Berlin, Germany

Ringo, Berlin

Sometimes, it’s the music that draws me back, like my Berlin local, Ringo, which I looked into wistfully as I walked by, broke, for weeks, until I finally ventured in and they captured my heart by playing Bob Dylan’s ‘Highway 61’ on regular occasions. The menu is basic, coffee, cake, bagels, alcoholic drinks, and the tables aren’t quite the right height for laptop tapping, but nevertheless it is constantly filled with interesting looking people, who I am sure are all local artists and musicians, and may get to know eventually.

And this evening I have just arrived home from a regular meeting in Berlin’s Russian Gagarin Cafe with the raucous writers group I joined a few months ago. The corner table is booked for us and the waitress stops by to chat, and as we settle in to catch up on the latest gossip, critique each others work and write together, there is a new community being formed of people who find a home in this spot together for a few hours every week, that will always be there, wherever our travels take us next.

–Jodi Rose

Editor’s Note: I originally posted these Vietnam itineraries last December, to answer the many questions I was fielding from friends about where to go and what to do in Vietnam. Over the past few months dozens of travelers have asked some great questions about traveling in Vietnam, which I wanted to share. If you have a question, just leave a comment and I’ll do my best to reply.

Let’s start with the coffee. Because in Vietnam coffee is more than just a drink. It doesn’t come venti or frappuccinoed or with whipped cream. And it definitely does not cost $3.75 a shot. No, coffee in Vietnam is thick, cheap and super-sweet. And it is beautiful.

Good coffee is just one of the many happy discoveries I had in Vietnam. It was my first trip, and as an American I had some baggage about visiting. You know, the war and all. The Vietnam War (or as it’s called locally, the American War). Telling friends that I was planning a trip to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) generated a shock-surprise-fear response that I was not prepared for, at least from people old enough to remember the nightly news reports from the battlefront.

So I was half-expecting a chilly response when I arrived. After all more than 400,000 Vietnamese civilians were killed in the war, not to mention the impact on the land itself (ever heard of Agent Orange?). There were plenty of reasons for the Vietnamese not to like Americans.

Yet the reality could not have been more different. No matter where I went, no matter who I met, the people of Vietnam were unfailingly polite, friendly, approachable. I am not just saying that, either. I’ve been to dozens of countries, and there is no contest here: by a mile the Vietnamese win the awards for “most friendly” and “most gracious.”.

Scott learns to cook in Hoi An

The other great surprise for me in Vietnam was the food. Fresh, simple and full of flavor. Since my trip I’ve become addicted to pho (rice noodle soup), which is delicious for breakfast or dinner; gao nep (sticky rice), which is suitable for the vegetarians among us; and nem (spring rolls), made with rice paper, minced pork, crab, mushrooms and extra-fine noodles called vermicelli.

I spent almost 3 weeks in Vietnam, traveling south to north from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. My Vietnam itinerary is below, in case you’re planning a trip of your own. If you have questions about Vietnam, leave a reply and I’ll do my best to field an answer for you. You can also see some of my photos from Vietnam over on the Viator flickr site.

• Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City (direct flight)
• 2 days in Ho Chi Minh City. I didn’t get a chance to visit the Mekong Delta, but wish I had. The city itself is worth exploring. The American War museum is first-rate. Plenty of restaurants, bars and clubs have opened in the past few years. I’ve heard some people say that Ho Chi Minh City has the best nightlife in Southeast Asia.
• 3 days in Mui Ne, a postcard-perfect beach village, very quiet and laid-back. Definitely not as busy as Na Trang. I prefer the calm of Mui Ne to the bustle of Na Trang.
• The it was off to Hoi An (via an overnight train from Na Trang to Danang). Hoi An was my second-favorite spot in Vietnam. The center of Hoi An is a well-preserved French Colonial relic, with limited access to cars. For me the place was heaven. Hoi An has cafes, street markets, riverside restaurants, and the best hand-tailored clothes in Vietnam. I took a cooking class and learned how to make fish wrapped in banana leaves, squid salad and homemade dumplings. For less than US$100 I also had 7 shirts, 3 pants, 1 jacket and 1 suit made to order. The quality is not perfect. But who cares at these prices. One tip: If you own a shirt that you like or that fits you especially well, bring it! The local tailors can make copies in a dozen different fabrics.

Boats on Halong Bay, Vietnam

• We took a short flight from Danang to Hanoi, my favorite place in all of Vietnam. I don’t know what it is about Hanoi that I clicked with. Maybe the jam-packed streets, packed sardine-style with bicycles and mopeds, which you cross at your own risk. Or maybe the tree-lined streets bursting with all manner of stores, shops, workshops, alleyways, impromptu temples, sidewalk restaurants.
• We also did a trip to Halong Bay, which is definitely worth doing. If the weather is hot, consider doing an overnight or two-night trip so you can swim and relax and take in the scenery. The setting is absolutely unique, with rounded rock formations as far as the eye can see, often shrouded in mist that gives Halong Bay an otherworldly feel.
• Last but not least, it was a flight back to Bangkok. While you’re there, get a message at the Wat Po Traditional Thai Massage School (on the grounds of Wat Po itself, in the heart of Bangkok). It costs something like $5 for 30 minutes. Was it the best massage I’ve ever had? Yup. And it’s enough to make me plan another trip to Vietnam. Via Thailand, of course.

–Scott McNeely

Planning a trip? Browse Viators tours and things to do in Vietnam, things to do in Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta tours.

They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky - welcome to the all-together ooky Top 13 Weird and Wonderful Things to do Worldwide. No offense to Scott and company, I am getting bored of all these Top 25 this and that. Bring on something a little unique!

Viator’s travelers were all over the Weird and Wonderful in 2007. Everyone still seems to love a good scare or a great thrill. Though Italy tops the list, it seems like the USA is home to most things weird and wonderful, but every corner of the world has something that’s a little strange. So here’s the top picks of Viator travelers for things that were a little different to do in 2007. Boo!

Top 13 Weird and Wonderful Things to Do Worldwide: 2007

13. Ghosts and Gravestones - St Augustine, St. Augustine, USA

12. Weird Sydney History and Ghost Tour, Sydney, Australia

11. Evening Walking Tour of Edinburgh - Haunted Underground Experience, Edinburgh, Scotland

10. Vampire Tour of San Francisco, San Francisco, USA

9. Winchester Mystery House Tour, San Francisco, USA

8. Take the Controls Flight, Los Angeles, USA

7. Brisbane Story Bridge Adventure Day and Night Climbs , Brisbane, Australia

6. Late Night Walking Tour of Edinburgh - Ghost Hunter Trail, Edinburgh, Scotland

5. Catacombs and Roman Countryside Rome Walking Tour, Rome, Italy

4. The Dark Heart of Rome - Ghost and Mystery Evening Walking Tour, Rome, Italy

3. Original Venice Ghost Walking Tour, Venice, Italy

2. Boston Ghosts and Gravestones, Boston, USA

1. Crypts and Catacombs Walking Tour - The Underside of Rome, Rome, Italy

Apparently you can’t go wrong with a good ghost tour, no matter what your haunt is. Also, a shout out to all the thrill seekers who climbed the Story Bridge in Brisbane (#7) or flew a plane over LA (#8). Keep pushing the envelope in 2008!

– Kelly G

Editor’s note: If you’re tackling the streets of Melbourne in person, be sure to read John’s Melbourne pub guide and list of top Melbourne outdoor cinemas; and Jodi’s notes on living a bohemian life in Melbourne.

Melbourne’s Yarra River on a hot summer night…

Melbourne gets a bad wrap from the rest of Australia for the weather, but this summer is gearing up to be another (climate-change induced) long, hot and dry spell.

The city’s location on a bay means that evenings are often tempered by cooling breezes, so any opportunity to get outside is lapped up by locals and visitors. With weather this pleasant you must go outdoors. You have no choice. And with that in mind here are my top summer picks for things to do in Melbourne.

#1 Australian Open Tennis

Melbourne famously loves its sport, and it also loves to show off on the world stage, so the Australian Open is always popular. The competition plays out at the hottest time of the year, making it an endurance event as well as a typical tennis tournament. While last year saw players endure court temperatures in excess of 50degC (122F), new rules mean they will be allowed to retreat to the locker rooms if things get fiery. Personally, I think it’s a cop out. I’m all for seeing these people made to earn their millions in tough match conditions.

As long as I can watch from home with the air-con on and a Long Island Iced Tea, I’m fine.

#2 Big Day Out & Laneway Festival

The Big Day Out is a touring music festival that takes place in major cities in Australia and New Zealand. This year, tickets to the Melbourne event (28 January) sold out in just minutes, so unless you got lucky, or can scrape together an eBay bid (currently A$200 but rising fast), you might have to set up a folding chair outside the fence of this year’s venue, Flemington Racecourse.

This year’s handy line up includes Rage Against the Machine, Bjork, Arcade Fire (about as good as music gets at the moment), silverchair, Battles, DJs I’ve never heard of and even good old Billy Bragg. It’s likely to go off like a frog in a sock.

Way smaller and far groovier is the new-ish St Jerome’s Laneway Festival, which also tours a few Australian cities. Taking place in a Melbourne city laneway and assorted nearby venues, the day-long festival (on 24 February) features some great acts, including Broken Social Scene, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Okkervil River (how good are they!), the stunning elecronica of Dan Deacon and local wunderkind Gotye. If you haven’t heard any of Gotye’s stuff, you should track it down.

#3 Queen Victoria Night Market

On Wednesday nights through summer, the Queen Victoria Market goes all Asian with the Night Market. Hawker stalls, fresh food, licensed bars, locally made gifts and tacky tourist tat vie for the attention of the tens of thousands of people who visit this weekly event. The live performances and the friendly vibe make this a great summer outing, especially after Christmas when the gift-panic has passed. The market runs from 5.30 – 10pm.

#4 Australia Day

Australia Day (26 January) may be a day of national pride celebrating the ‘discovery’ of Australia by British explorers, but to most of us locals, it’s the laziest day of the year. Flame up the barbeque and chill the drinks. It’s an open invitation, and it goes all day. Bring your own.

While it’s the same right across the country, Melbourne has a couple of unique ways of celebrating. A picnic on the banks of the Yarra River is a great way to do nothing in the great outdoors. Also, with an international cricket match being played in Adelaide, they’re always broadcast on the TV. Sip on a beer from one of Melbourne’s great microbrews (Three Ravens, Emerald Hill or – my favourite – Mountain Goat). Doesn’t get much better than that.

#5 Tai Chi at Fed Square

While it’s not especially – or even exclusive to - summer, and not traditionally ‘Melbourne’, the free Tai Chi sessions at Federation Square every Tuesday morning are still a great highlight of city life. Starting at 7.30am and lasting one hour, these expert-led sessions are a great way to get the mind and body moving in harmony. Set yourself up for a day of sightseeing with this ancient Chinese art, regarded by those in the know as “the physiotherapy of Traditional Chinese Medicine”.

–John Ryan

Planning a trip? Check out more recommendations in Melbourne. And have a look at all of Viator’s tours and things to do in Melbourne, from Colonial Tramcar dinners to Yarra Valley Wine Tasting.

While its reputation as a gritty industrial town is well-earned, Glasgow is also a fantastically stylish city, home to a diverse mix of music, art, entertainment and culture. All up, Glasgow has got it going on! It is an extremely cool, happening metropolis with a vibrant alternative and contemporary arts scene that is constantly reinventing itself. So on your next trip to Scotland be sure to spend some time in Edinburgh, of course. Yet don’t overlook Glasgow, don’t you dare.

Glasgow: Top Museums & Galleries

Crossing over the river of traffic flowing around the centre of town takes you into the heart of Glasgow. The CCA Centre for Contemporary Arts offers a cutting edge program of visual arts exhibitions, contemporary music and film, including a tango night, special multimedia events, and a great children’s activity program. The bar/café is one of the few decent place for coffee that I found along Sauchiehall St, and will caffeinate you for the first stage of your explorations.

The Tron Theatre in the fascinating Merchant City area offers an unusual night out, with up and coming directors, international festivals and a highly innovative programming policy. The bohemian atmosphere continues in the wonderful Bar Gandolfi (64 Albion St) just around the corner and up the stairs, renowned for serving champagne with mince and tatties…

The People’s Palace is one of the most unusual museums, highlighting the worker’s solidarity movement and socialist past of this highly industrial city. One of the only places in the Western world to actively support of the Communist states, there have been political protests on the cities bridges, and one of the statues along the river (next to the miniature ‘Golden Gate’) is of a woman with arms upraised, proclaiming “It’s better to die on your feet than live on your knees.”

Glasgow: Pop Culture & Art

Glasgow: I love your friends they’re all so arty

Transmission Gallery is part of the diverse and increasingly high-profile Glasgow arts scene that has evolved over the last 25 years (even making it into pop culture thanks to Franz Ferdinand: “Here we are at the Transmission party, I love your friends they’re all so arty.”) The gallery offers a place for local artists to meet, talk, and exhibit along with international visitors, and is a mainstay of the alternative art scene.

I took part in the Networking Artists Network day-trip visiting this and many other nearby galleries and the famous Sculptor’s Studio with a group of twenty artists, and discovered a thriving community of creative inspiration and activity in the shadows of the Gorbals apartments over the river.

The days of the legendary Chateau are truly over, and the official new hotspot for the ultra-hip and latest in cool, creative cultural happenings is Lowsalt Gallery. An artist run space with a DIY approach, wildly diverse range of interests, highlighted in the “free-wheeling curatorial approach… with a focus on short, sharp shows, inventive events and happenings,” this eccentric gallery is “fast becoming something of a Glasgow institution.” (Jack Mottrom Herald review).

If you’re lucky you might catch one of the parties organized by pointless creations, who recently returned from a summer with the circus, and are currently providing club visuals for Death Disco, the hottest thing for the young “straight, queer or not-so-sure.” A monthly night at The Arches, it’s an “alternative, open-minded environment to drink, dance, flirt and look HOT in.”

There’s always something happening at The Arches, one of the established arts venues in town, supporting and showcasing emerging talent and major artists, with live music, club nights, theatre and visual art. The stairway entrance to the bar was designed by Timorous Beasties with the socially timid in mind, so you can casually check out the hip crowd through the railings as you descend into this cosy drinking lair. If you feel like a more laid-back evening, Mungo’s HiFi presents Dub nights in various locations, including one adventurous sounding gig in a cave, playing a selection of dance-hall reggae and other fine beats.

Glasgow: Have a Snack

The Glasgow vegan+music empire is expanding again, the owner of cafe and venues Mono and The 78 (12-14 Kelvinhaugh Street) are re-opening a new Stereo in a bigger venue, an unknown Mackintosh building near central station that doubles as a bakery in the morning (20 – 28 Renfield Lane). On offer? Superb vegetarian food, including dairy-free cheesecake and fantastic veggie burgers, organic beer and comfortable surroundings, along with gigs like the launch of Fox Face album at stereo, and an in-house record store at Mono.

The Lighthouse just off the main promenade is “Scotland’s Centre for Architecture, Design and the City”, showing local and international exhibitions of architecture, design, technology and more. The building also contains the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Tower, and was the first public building to be designed by the city’s most famous architect, when he was an apprentice. The rooftop café is well worth a visit for the spectacular view, and you never know what leading lights of the cultural scene you may run into while devouring a bowl of crispy potato wedges.

Glasgow: West End & Off the Beaten Path

Kibble Palace Greenhouse

As you will no doubt find yourself wandering at some point in the West End, check out the Timorous Beasties shop for plush fabrics and wallpaper updating traditional designs with a surreal and contemporary edge. The Beasties host one of the best Burns’ nights in town, one year I managed to find myself a place at their banquet for a rollicking evening of bawdy verse, haggis, and whisky set out along their bounteous printing tables. Their designs are enough to make an itinerant wanderer yearn for a settled home base, just in order to decorate it.

An oasis of lushness on the Great Western Road and one of the hidden treasures of the city, Kibble Palace is the greenhouse in the botanical gardens. Originally built as a conservatory for the architects home in Loch Long, it was dismantled and shipped up the River Clyde in 1873, and now houses a veritable treasure-trove of exotic plants and spectacular flowers, all heated in a steamy tropical climate that will warm your bones on the cold winter days.

Walking through the grounds below the university takes you through a gorgeous park, following the turns of the river and looking up at the magnificent gothic-like spires. The newly re-opened Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum houses a spectacular collection of prehistoric animals, sculpture and art; including French Impressionists and a somber Dali, all re-interpreted in a post-modern context.

Just across Argyle St is the Museum of Transport, lingering here in the original warehouse until it moves to the newly designed quarters along the river in a few years. There is something charming about the displays of buses, trams and fire engines all crammed together into straight lines, while rows of vintage cars, motorbikes and gypsy caravans jostle for position in the rooms set off the main hall.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum

Continue along Argyle St towards the city until you reach The Goat Pub, a warm welcoming establishment with superb home-made comfort food including pies and locally brewed honey beer. The upstairs room offers cosy nooks on the chesterfields or church pews and friendly company, while downstairs is often host to live music or the current sporting event with a lively atmosphere.

A little further away from the main drag and across the river is the renovated Tramway Gallery and Theatre. In an old tram factory, it houses hundreds of square metres of exhibition and performance spaces, and the shows I saw there include one of the most innovative use of staging and projection in a theatrical production I have ever seen, and on another visit, a gorgeous immersive bed of surround-sound and light that was almost trance-inducing in its intensity.

Glasgow: And Now For Something Completely Different

The changing face of the city is in evidence if you take a stroll along the River Clyde, where the abandoned Govan Docks are still a great place to explore before the BBC takes over the whole area, with the clean-up and redevelopment as a “media village.” For lovers of modernist architecture, just 30 minutes out of town towards Dumbarton is the futuristic Cardross Seminary, which has been given heritage status… and is a great day out if you like sci-fi wilderness.

–Jodi Rose

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s tours and things to do in Glasgow, things to see in Scotland, and Edinburgh tours. We’ve got you covered in Scotland, laddie.

Rome - a traveler favorite in 2007

After much pummeling of calculators and mashing of spreadsheets, we’ve calculated our Top 25 Things to Do in Europe for 2007. As always there are some surprises on the list as well as some notable absences.

In the former category: Rome and Paris. Both of these cities continued to dominate travelers’ itineraries in Europe.

It’s a similar story with London and Florence, both of which maintained their popularity with travelers (and that’s despite the strong pound sterling!). We’re also very pleased to see Granada, Munich and Milan on the list.

And the absences? I’ll admit it, I have a soft spot for Istanbul, Dublin and Madrid. Yet none of these cities made it onto our list. Let’s agree to disagree for the time being.

(We’ll tackle these three cities - and why you should factor them into your 2008 travels - in a future post.) Anyway, enough of the overview let’s get into the winners…

Viator’s Top 25 Things To Do in Europe: 2007

25. Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Entrance Tickets, Rome, Italy

24. Capri and the Blue Grotto Full Day Tour, Rome, Italy

23. Florence Day Tour, Rome, Italy

22. Skip the Line: Guided Tour of the Louvre Museum, Paris, France

#16 - The Royal Castle of Neuschwanstein

21. Eiffel Tower Dinner and Seine River Cruise, Paris, France

20. Chianti Region with Wine Tasting Afternoon Tuscany Tour, Florence, Italy

19. Alhambra and Generalife - UNESCO World Heritage Site, Granada, Spain

18. Giverny and Versailles Day Trip, Paris, France

17. Bateaux Parisiens Dinner Cruise on the Seine, Paris, France

16. Royal Castles of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Day Tour, Munich, Germany

15. Siena and San Gimignano Full Day Tuscany Tour, Florence, Italy

14. Florence City Sightseeing Morning, Afternoon or Full Day Tour, Florence, Italy

13. Paris City Hop On Hop Off Tour, Paris, France

12. Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Walking Tour including Sistine Chapel, Raphael’s Rooms and St Peter’s, Rome, Italy

11. The Paris Pass, Paris, France

10. Venice in One Day - The Original Venice Walk and Grand Canal Boat Tour, Venice, Italy

9. Dinner and Show at The Moulin Rouge, Paris, France

8. Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Rome Walking Tour, Rome, Italy

#3. Eiffel Tower Dinner and Moulin Rouge Show

7. Paris Illuminations Tour and Moulin Rouge Show, Paris, France

6. Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Georgian Bath, London, England

5. Rome Hop On Hop Off Double Decker Bus Tour, Rome, Italy

4. Sightseeing Tour including il Cenacolo - Da Vinci’s “Last Supper”, Milan, Italy

3. Eiffel Tower Dinner and Moulin Rouge Show, Paris, France

2. Naples and Pompeii Day Tour, Rome, Italy

1. Skip the Line: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Tour, Rome, Italy

Do you have your own list of favorite things to do in Europe? We’d love to hear about them. Simply leave us a reply below and we’ll add them to the list.

Stay tuned for our final ‘Best of’ lists in the coming days, to help you plan your next trip across the globe. In the meantime, if your curious about the top things to do last year in Europe, keep on reading…

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Editor’s note: We asked Viator’s founder, Rod Cuthbert, to pick some of his favorite travel experiences in 2007; in this edition he makes us all very hungry with a review of his top meals in 2007. Also check out Rod’s Top 5 Travel Destinations for 2008.

Pasta with Lobster Sauce, Venice

I arrived at Venice’s Marco Polo airport late on a low cost carrier flight that made it clear why they’re called low-cost carriers… but forgot all that with a water taxi ride into the very heart of Venice. It’s after 11pm and the town is quiet, but the hotel manager calls a little restaurant around the corner and yes, they will take us if we come now. OK, we’ll unpack later, let’s go. We arrive, there are still a few people eating, and it feels warm and inviting. Red wine appears before we ask for it, as well as bread, and there’s no need for menus because there’s just one dish on offer: pasta with lobster sauce and “it’s bellissimo, you will like it.”

OK, we’ll take it. And our waiter was right, but maybe only half right because really this might be the finest pasta meal either of us have ever had, without exception. Fifteen minute later the meal is over, but we don’t want to move. There’s no rush to unpack, and just looking at our empty bowls is somehow satisfying. I just wish I could remember the name of this place, it’s somewhere near the Palazzo Vitturi Hotel…

Dinner at The Lido Cabaret, Paris

Either my memory is failing me or I’m just giving the Lido a plug, right? How could a meal served to 800 others at the same time as mine possibly be any good? Cabaret food has to be rubber chicken, doesn’t it? Well, that’s what I thought, and I had to keep checking with my fellow diners to ensure I wasn’t hallucinating… but the fact remains that of all the meals I had in Paris that week, the Lido’s three-course banquet stood out. It helps that Michelin-starred Paul Bocuse has consulted on the new menu, and that the Champagne was outstanding, but it was still a pleasant shock to encounter quality food in a “volume” environment.

House of Nanking, San Francisco

There’s a reason why a line forms outside House of Nanking every night of the year, no matter how thick the fog. It’s not the service, which is workmanlike at best; or the ambiance, which is minimalist to say the least; or the fact that most of the guide books list Nanking so that visitors just follow the advice blindly. No, it’s the food.

Everything on the menu is good, and of course it tastes even better if you have been standing outside in the fog and cold for 40 minutes. I’ve been to Hong Kong and China enough times to say with at least some confidence that you’ll go a long way to find better Chinese food than this. Just don’t go on the nights I go, OK? The lines are long enough already…

Breakfast at Bills, Sydney

I’m a great believer in a good breakfast to get your day started right. In Sydney, Australia, breakfast at some restaurants has become as famous as dinner at others, and Bills (in Surry Hills or Darlinghurst) is at the top of the pile. Once you’ve had Bills’ scrambled eggs you will give up making them yourself, unless you buy his cookbook in which case you will probably make them so often you’ll tire of it altogether, which would be an awful pity. Once again, I’m moved to say that words are not the right tools with which to describe Bills’ most famous dish: you need to go there and try it for yourself.

Roast Lamb Sandwich, Jet Blue flight, SFO to NYC

Really, when everyone around you is eating airplane food and you’re tucking into a home made organic lamb sandwich with roast vegetables and chutney… well, you get the great taste plus the satisfaction of knowing that for once, your forward planning worked. Leftovers always taste great, but they taste five times better at 36,000 feet!

–Rod Cuthbert

What was your most memorable meal in 2007? Leave us a comment and let us know!

You know how some things take on a life of their own? You never really know how they started or when, but they just evolve and become larger than life…

Welcome to the world of the Viator Hot Dog!

Now we’re not talking about that classic American iconic food (side note: the best ones I have ever had were from Tail o’ the Pup in Hollywood, which is sadly no longer) but a very strange and very weird hand sign. It’s almost become a rite of passage for Viatorians around the world!

Just like Matt Harding and his crazy dance, the ‘hot dog’ has traveled the world, been done by many a strange and colorful character and, of course, has been questioned by everyone! Personally I have had extremely quizzical looks from Homer Simpson, Mickey Mouse and Spiderman. I have assured each and everyone of them (in the 10 seconds you have to get your photo taken) that it is not rude and does not have any underlying satanic meaning, while also trying to explain how to do it! Not an easy task!! Luckily, my request has never been rejected.

So, how do you do the ‘hot dog’? Very simple really. Place your left palm up, slightly cupped. Turn it so it’s pointing to the right. With your right hand, wiggle your fingers vertically across your left palm.

But what of the origin of the ‘hot dog’? Should I spill the beans or perpetuate the legend?

Keep tuned – as more photos surface, we may just tell!! In the meantime check out these different galleries of ‘hot dog’ photos: Hot Dog with theme park characters, Hot Dog domestic, Hot Dog international.

–Jenny Crossling

Statue of Liberty, New York City

If you’re already following Viator’s ‘Top 25 Things to Do’ list mania, then no explanation is needed; this is the second-to-last installment in our series of Top Things to Do in 2007, this time focusing on the USA & Canada.

And there are a few surprises. Apparently New York City was and is all the rage in 2007. New York was our most popular North American destination this past year, as evidenced by the number of NYC tours and activities that made it on the Top 25 list below.

Nipping at New York’s heals was good ol’ Las Vegas, Sin City. It’s no surprise that Las Vegas is one of the top travel destinations in the USA. But what is a little surprising is how Las Vegas is evolving into a regional hub for travelers to visit the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, even Death Valley. We were also pleased to see San Francisco represented on this year’s list.

The other big surprise in the list? Helicopter tours. You love them. Whether in New York City or the Grand Canyon or Las Vegas, helicopter tours and 2007 went together like peanut butter / Marmite / Vegemite and jelly / butter (take your pick).

Top 25 Things To Do in USA & Canada: 2007

25. Empire State Building Observatory, New York City, New York

24. West Rim Indian Country Deluxe Air and Ground Tour, Las Vegas, Nevada

#23. Everglades National Park

23. Everglades National Park, Miami City Tour and Biscayne Bay by Boat, Miami, Florida

22. Teatro ZinZanni: Love, Chaos and Dinner, San Francisco, California

21. Grand Canyon West Rim Van Tour with Optional Skywalk, Las Vegas, Nevada

20. VISITicket: Power Pass, Las Vegas, Nevada

19. Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour, Las Vegas, Nevada

18. The Phantom of the Opera On Broadway, New York City, New York

17. New York, New York Helicopter Flight, New York City, New York

16. Old Town Trolley Tours, Washington, DC

#17. New York, New York Helicopter Flight

15. Overnight Swim with Dolphins and Everglades Airboat Adventure, Orlando, Florida

14. Grand Canyon West Rim Air Adventure, Las Vegas, Nevada

13. Vegas Night Strip Helicopter Flight, Las Vegas, Nevada

12. The Lion King On Broadway, New York City, New York

11. Mamma Mia! On Broadway, New York City, New York

10. Hop On Hop Off Tour, New York City, New York

9. Alcatraz and San Francisco City Tour, San Francisco, California

#1. Grand Canyon Helicopter Flight

8. Grand Canyon Helicopter and Ranch Adventure, Las Vegas, Nevada

7. New York Elegant Dining Cruise, New York City, New York

6. Grand Canyon Skywalk, West Rim and Hoover Dam Motorcoach Tour, Las Vegas, Nevada

5. The Big Apple Helicopter Flight, New York City, New York

4. The New York Pass, New York City, New York

3. Niagara Falls from New York by Air, New York City, New York

2. Ultimate Grand Canyon 4-in-1 Helicopter Adventure, Las Vegas, Nevada

1. Grand Canyon All American Helicopter Flight, Las Vegas, Nevada

Do you have your own list of favorite things to do in the USA & Canada? We’d love to hear about them. Simply leave us a reply below and we’ll add them to the list.

Stay tuned for more lists in the coming days, to help you plan your next trip across the globe. In the meantime, if your curious about the top things to do last year in the USA & Canada, keep on reading…

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Editor’s note: Feeling stuck finding that special something for Christmas this year? First have a look at our Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers. If that doesn’t sort you out Jack Brown has a few suggestions, if you dare. We take no responsibility for Jack and his Down Under sensibility.

Road-Kill Jerky, Camel Flavor

This is Jack here, why not try some Down Under, Outback, shrimp-on-the barbie, Aussie inspiration that will keep them coming back for more, or just plain confuse them. How about a…

• Kangaroo Paw Back-scratcher – Skip the customs declarations queues at your favourite airport and take home the gift that keep on giving. Hours of fun and relief with this strangely disembodied limb that brings a smile to even the itchiest of faces after a hearty Christmas feast.

• Create Personalised “Where the Hell Is…” Stickers. If you’ve been to Noonamah, Bonang or any number of places that don’t seem that far from anywhere but the locals really want to be remembered, then collect this set of wonderful stickers that say parochialism is only a hop, skip and a jump away.

• Build an Outback Espresso Maker. This one’s perfect for DIY types. Now that classic morning taste can be yours, just use the instant coffee mix supplied in your favourite espresso machine to make that rough, clean taste that could only come from complete mishandling of the ingredients and equipment at any remote roadhouse stop.

• Roadkill Jerky. Camel jerky, crocodile jerky, kangaroo jerky – carnivores will delight in the range of genuine outback animals that have been hit by 4WDs then carefully dried and preserved in this delicious culinary treat. All the salty goodness of your favourite billabong comes out in the tasteful crocodile jerky; all the rough, grumpy, chewy misanthropism of camels subtly emerges in said jerky; and the eyes wide-open stuck-in-the-headlights cuddliness of six-foot kangaroos can be yours in this great, nutritious snack.

• Make a Wombat Coffee Table. I’ve only ever seen one of these stubborn SUV-like animals once, unfortunately it was belly-up on the side of the road with its cute little stumpy legs also up in the air. Why not make this an ideal centrepiece for your lounge room or study, turning it right way up again to become a hairy little chair-side convenience with a cute little button nose that says “where there’s a will there’s a way”.

• Make Your Own “Crikey” T-shirt. Who could forget the inimitable Steve Irwin, outback hero and icon who went only where sense would fear to tread. Why not memorialise his confusing legacy with a shirt that says it all “Crikey!” – the ideal comment for any occasion. (“Crikey!, the relatives are here for Christmas lunch”, “Crikey! Is it time to go already?”) After all, if my grandfather can say it without a hint of irony after all these years then how could it not be a dinky-di expression of genuine surprise?

The Big Merino

• Big Merino Postcard set. One of Australia’s best and biggest of The Big roadside attractions, in fabulous Goulburn, has had a makeover as photos from the new and improved rear will attest!

• Horizon Measurer. Is this really the end of the Earth? Check your position relative to the Back of Bourke with this handy pocket tester, shows you exactly how far it is to the middle of nowhere

• Op Shop Passport. Remember your favourite Outback shopping retreats with this handy passport you can have stamped at every location as you search for cheap second-hand goods around this Great Brown Land of Ours.

• Create a “Drought Relief” Package. Make yourself an Outback Akubra complete with corks to keep away the increasing number of flies, a jar to collect rain should it ever fall and a can of Fosters beer that will keep for months in the advent of thirst because no one really drinks that stuff anyway.

• “Fruit fly Exclusion Zone” Christmas Hamper. Why not make the most of those little roadside stops that tell you to deposit all your fruit to avoid transmission of fruit fly into the “Exclusion Zone”? Get a nutritious collection of Australia’s best and fresh pickled produce in this diverse assortment of recovered goodies. Beautifully packaged and great for the family!