Author: Mary Paul

Photography Spotlight: A Green and Winding Path
Photography Spotlight: A Green and Winding Path

Photography Spotlight: A Green and Winding Path

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Where would you guess the best Japanese Garden outside of the world is? Would you guess San Francisco? New York? Vancouver?

I have a thing for Japanese Gardens (and Japanese culture, honestly, since I’ve been speaking the language for ten years or so now) and I always swing by them in my travels. I’ve been to ones as far as Monaco and San Francisco, as far North as Boston and as far South as Florida, and by far my favorite of all is this one in:

The Best Japanese Garden in North America
A little canopy of stars at the Japanese Garden of Portland, Oregon

Portland Oregon.

Are you surprised? Portland is known for its food culture scene, but not for its gardens which is a shame because right next to this perfect zen garden is my second favorite garden in the world: the International Rose Test Garden. You wouldn’t believe in June and July the size, the breadth, the varietals this place has to offer!

Seriously, though, The International Rose Test Garden is the place to be
Look at the ruffled edges on these!

The Portland Japanese Garden is one of the best places on the planet for a quiet, meditative wander. The place is perfect to get slightly lost in. Not only does it feature endless bamboo walks and stone pathways, dappled pools and tinkling brooks, but it also offers classes on Japanese flower arrangements, mediation, and other Japanese cultural activities.

Perfect sunny roses at the International Rose Test Garden
Perfect sunny roses at the International Rose Test Garden

So any time of year, go to the Japanese Garden. And if you’re in the area in the Summer, you must go to the rose garden next door. Pre-purchased tickets to the Japanese garden are $14.95 for adults, $12.95 for seniors, $11.95 for students, and $10.45 for ages 10-17. The International Rose Test Garden is free and open 7am to 9pm in the Summer, but does get quite busy evenings and weekends!

The perfect roses at the International Rose Test Garden in Portland, Oregon
One last picture because I just can’t help it!

What do you think? Do you visit a lot of gardens when you travel? Have you liked any in particular? Tell me in the comments.

7 Quick Tips for Travel to High Altitudes
7 Quick Tips For Travel to High Altitudes

7 Quick Tips For Travel to High Altitudes

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Work and play in high altitudes when you’re not used to them can be tricky. Certain prep can ease your transitions and help you have a good time up top, whether that’s Denver, Nepal, or Macchu Picchu!

    1. Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate. High elevations have low humidity and your lungs will be breathing harder which will dehydrate you quickly. Your blood needs lots of water to not turn into sludge. Don’t make your heart work harder than it has to by letting yourself get dehydrated. The symptoms of dehydration are similar to that of altitude sickness and can make them worse- ie headaches, fatigue, and nausea.
    2. Don’t forget sunscreen. You are literally closer to the sun. Also, the atmosphere is a bit thinner so that UV will hit you right in the face.
    3. Watch your physical activity at first. It’s easy to underestimate the effect heights have on your body until you’re at the point of fainting. Go slow while you get used to it and let a buddy know if you’re feeling woozy. Don’t be afraid to sit down if you need to.
    4. Go easy on the alcohol. Cocktails are going to hit a bit harder in high elevations because you may already feel slightly woozy or dizzy. They will also add to the dehydration problem. If you drink, drink less than usual and have extra water to compensate.
    5. Grab a banana. Foods high in potassium can help with salt intake which can help you stay hydrated and keep your blood doing like it should.
    6. Snack on some leafy greens. 50% of the American population is low in magnesium. Magnesium and iron both help your blood transport oxygen- kind of a thing when you’re in heights. Anemia will make it harder to acclimatize to high elevations.
    7. Wear layers. The weather can change quickly up there and it’s often windy. Good idea to have options.
    8. Rest. If you’re not feeling great or feel tired, don’t be afraid to sit and rest. You won’t be able to do as much as you usually can, so don’t get yourself in trouble… like trying to outrun mountain goats…

Like recovering from Jet Lag, there are hard ways and there are easy ways of dealing with high altitudes. Do yourself a favor and make it the easy way so you can be sure to have a great time!

Have you had trouble with altitude sickness? How did you cope? What would you do next time? Let me know in the comments!

Photography Spotlight: Mt Evan's Wildlife
Photography Spotlight: Mount Evan’s Wildlife

Photography Spotlight: Mount Evan’s Wildlife

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How did I get this beautiful shot? More interestingly- How did I almost NOT get this beautiful shot? Read on, oh photographic warriors, and see how I almost had my ass handed to me in my giddy enthusiasm!

So this was smack dab in the middle of our massive 9700-mile road trip around the United States of America. Myself, my soon-to-be husband, his blue-haired friend, and her two-year-old daughter were tooling around national parks, Seattle-bound or bust. It was awesome.

When we hit Denver, I knew it was my kind of town. For one thing, there were pianos outside to play. Most were in terrible shape, but as a pianist, I always appreciate a few spares here and there. For another, it’s a very outdoor-centric town. Like the west coast, people are always outside doing exciting things like whitewater rafting or hiking canyons or jumping rattlesnakes.

I made up that last one, but I was a little nervous in the rocky areas, so I’d believe it. As musicians, we paid tribute to the hallowed ground of Red Rocks and as a stage technician, I would say my job would not be improved with more rattlesnakes. No thank you very much.

Unfortunately, although I loved Denver, Denver did not love me- It’s 8,000 feet above sea level. I was walking along the street, minding my own business, when I was hit with altitude sickness so strong I had to sit down. But we still decided to drive up Mount Evans, the “highest paved road in North America”. What could go wrong, right?

At 14,000 feet above sea level, the alpine flowers were blooming and wild goats and sheep were plentiful. Of course I hopped out of the car to get a better shot of the lambs. The wildlife were unfazed and I was delighted as I got closer and closer to the lambs.

Until I got too close.

Which was when a big ram took a good look and started walking towards me. Which was when I realized just how far away from the car I had wandered. Which was when I remembered that I couldn’t run even if I wanted to without fainting because of the altitude.

Oh boy.

Jumping lambs
But seriously look at these guys- wouldn’t you get closer?

Lucky for me and the photos you have today, I took this risk, and much luckier, the ram allowed me to back away slowly without incident. But this is a great example of how quickly and easily you can get yourself into trouble in a foreign environment!

This photo was shot on a Nikon D5000 camera and kit lens. It was edited in photoshop with the help of the Nik filter collection, which I adore.

What else do you want to know about travel photography or this shot in particular- gear? Location? Accessories? Post-processing? Workflow? Ask me in the comments and I’ll fill you in. 

Rocky alpine field
The weary photographer and husband returning to the car- victorious.

 

 

 

 

beautiful celtic cross in ireland
7 things you should know when renting a car in Ireland

7 things you should know when renting a car in Ireland

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Renting a car in Ireland seemed like a great opportunity- so many castles and ruins and abbeys to explore- but also intimidating. What’s it like renting a car abroad? How was I going to drive manual on THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD? It seemed like Roadtrip: challenge mode.

Because we rented a car, we were able to duck into tiny villages, take photos of misty graveyards, and explore the ruins of infinite churches. There’s just no substitute for the freedom of a car trip in new countryside.

It was certainly was challenging, but not in the ways I expected. Here are the main things I wish I knew in advance.

  1. Get a Refresher on Manual. If you’re not used to a manual transmission (I know they’re uncommon here in the states) ask around and see if you can bribe a friend into giving you a lesson or refresher on their manual vehicle. Many manual drivers would love to share their niche skillset with you. You definitely don’t want the first time to be trying to get out of the rental car parking lot- that would be embarrassing and potentially a disaster. Although you can get an automatic transmission in Europe, they will be more expensive and harder to find.
  2. Book with a credit card. Many cards will cover insurance themselves so don’t get pressured into unnecessary costs. On the other hand, assume you may get a scratch or two, especially if it’s your first time on that side of the road. Read up on your own policies- you may be pleasantly surprised. On the other hand, a little extra per day for peace of mind is valuable if you can afford it…
  3. Book online. We looked online before we went in person to the rental place. They tried to charge us around 200 euro instead of the advertised 40 euro online. Then they gave us a line about “special online promotions” that “would take a day at least to work”. We walked to the other side of the room, booked on our phone, and the car was ready immediately. Nice try, boys.

    travelers in front of the guinness building in Dublin
    Hanging out at Guinness early in our three months of backpacking
  4. Choose a navigator. There’s a lot going on driving in a foreign country so it’s good to give the map-following to a partner. The co-pilot’s job was to give directions and say “LEFT LEFT” at any and all major intersections so the driver could focus. Silly, but it helped a lot.
  5. Beware the hedges. The roads are not really two lanes in many places. When another car appears ahead, you may need to pull onto the side to let them pass. Be very careful pulling off because the hedges and small stone walls are vicious. Watch those mirrors!
  6. Find your Airbnb in daylight. If you’re renting a place, be sure to find it in daylight. The roads are not well-lit and many places don’t have proper street addresses. The address they give may just drop you off in the center of town.  If you get lost, ask directions just like the old days. There will always be someone in the local pub!
  7. Go easy on your speed, especially at night. The roads are unlit, there are many switchbacks, hills, valleys, potentially drunken drivers, and livestock that may cross the road. Better to take it a little slower.

Ireland is a great country to drive around, exploring little towns and stopping at anything that looks interesting by the side of the road. Have fun and remember the most nerve-wracking part of your journey will probably be driving out of the rental parking lot: you’ll be nervous and it’s likely to be a busy traffic area. Once you get out of town, the roads are less busy and stressful! Enjoy!

Photography Spotlight: Redwood Sunbeams
Photography Spotlight: Redwood Sunbeams

Photography Spotlight: Redwood Sunbeams

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Into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul

-John Muir

Redwood Sunbeams, Great American Road Trip, Nikon D5000.

Abstract colorful hot spring pool
Best American Roadtrip Photographs

Best American Roadtrip Photographs

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9,600 scenic miles across the United States and back in a little Mazda 3. That’s far enough to drive across the country East to West, then East, then back West again. We hit 27 states and 7 national parks- And we did it with three adults and one two year-old so never think that having kids will keep you from adventuring!

Photography has added a whole new joy (and sometimes frustration) to travel. I love creating works of art from the awesome things I get to see. I feel so lucky to be there, to be able to bring those images to others who are not. On the other hand, I hate it when I can’t seem to capture something beautiful, when my focus is off, when I forget to charge my camera, or leave some important accessory home.

I don’t have super high-end gear- my DSLR is only worth around $500 and has a kit lens. But because it’s not crazy expensive, I don’t mind shoving it into a backpack for three months or bringing it through rough areas. Even so, I’m happy with the quality of my images, and I know that by the time I upgrade I will really appreciate the higher quality and know enough to understand it better. I hope through my images to inspire people to love this world, like the images of others did before I started taking them myself.

This trip was actually the first time I got to know my DSLR and using it every day of the trip not only gave me great images and helped me remember what I saw, but it also taught me so much. You can only get better at photographs once you start taking some!

What do you think? Do you like any of these? Do you want to know more about my workflow or process? Are you thinking about taking a long American road trip? Do you wonder how we managed traveling with a toddler? Let me know what interests you so I can write about it!

Ibiza Sunrise
My Top 10 Best Backpacking Moments

My Top 10 Best Backpacking Moments

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Travel blogs are informative and instructive, but they also make you wander-hungry. And sometimes regular hungry, especially if you’re into food like I am. So this week I thought I’d post the top ten most amazing moments I had backpacking with my husband for ten weeks last summer.

10. Seeing the Scottish castle rising over the hill that we would be living in for free (article to come soon) for the next few weeks and realizing it was all real. Running up the stairs when we got there like little kids at Disneyworld.

9. Realizing I had just saved several hundred dollars on our Irish car rental. Yes! Having the cashier give me a congratulatory smile and nod, like I had figured out the correct answer to a fairytale riddle.

8. Wandering the market in Valencia, picking from different cheeses and sausage for lunch. Marveling over shellfish and seafood I couldn’t even identify. Grabbing a huge fresh squeezed Valencia orange juice, a giant horxata, and paprika-soaked meats for less than ten euro.

7. Sharing a bottle of cider with our Airbnb host, an ex-pat luxury fashion editor, in Milan. Oh, the stories!

6. Sitting outside my favorite cafe on Rue Mouffetard in Paris with a cappuccino, an apricot mini-tarte, and my journal, sketching.

5. Eating some of the best italian food of my life in El Brellin in Milan. Yes, I am a little food obsessed. Totally okay with that. Food to me is part of the magical, temporary nature of our lives.

4. Having a martini in the Monte Carlo in Monaco. Eat your heart out 007.

3. Going to my favorite London neighborhood (Camden Town) after ten years and seeing my husband also fall in love with it at first sight

2. Seeing the sunrise over the Mediterranean the first time after an all-nighter in Ibiza

And my most amazing moment backpacking Europe was….

  1. Sitting in a beautiful touring drummer’s apartment in Avignon, smoking a cigarette over breakfast(sorry, mom!) talking fluently in French about life with a traveling German girl of my own age.

This was the first time I felt like I was a part of Europe instead of just a visitor there. When you travel, it’s easy to just skim the surface- hanging out with one-day hostel friends, going to the major tourist areas, and not interacting in any meaningful way with locals. Sometimes having “an authentic experience” just means listening and opening up to a shop owner or tour guide. Sometimes it means staying in an Airbnb and making friends with your host, sacrificing exploring time for banter over a glass of wine. Sometimes it just means loafing around the kitchen.

More than just the moments above, I remember the people we met on the road and their stories. I remember how Alan almost bought an elephant. I remember “Ulysses” the angry Australian teaching us how to be homeless. I remember running into a couple from Amsterdam two cities later and hearing about their time as personal chefs in Cambodia. I remember our host explaining why her apartment might be bugged by the KGB.

And now, because we’ve kept in touch with some of our friends a year later, we get to hear what it’s like to build guitars in Prague, to teach English in Morocco, to pitch a bid in Dubai. Hearing their stories keeps my feet ready for the road (and gives me a place to stay in many foreign cities!) In many ways, the people we met were the most valuable backpacking moment of all.

What’s crazy is that for two people doing almost three months of traveling in some of the most expensive places on the planet, still enjoying nice dinners, museums, and stuff only cost around $6k American. I know it feels that way sometimes, but these kinds of experiences are attainable. I know people who spend several thousand dollars just to go to Disney World. If that’s your thing, cool, but if you want to spend a fun few hours, browse fares on my current favorite travel app, Momondo, and see how you can get almost anywhere on the planet for $300.

A beautiful Carcassonne morning
The 10 things I wish I knew before I backpacked Europe

The 10 things I wish I knew before I backpacked Europe

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To say I was unprepared before I went off to Europe for three months was an understatement. It’s not that I didn’t read up. I knew some things- I knew to pack earplugs for the hostels. I knew to use a credit card that waived international fees and have more than one card on hand in case one was lost or frauded. I knew how to spot a good restaurant. These are very important things! If you don’t know these already or are just starting out, I recommend the book How to Travel the World on $50 a Day.

However, there were some really stupid mistakes I made that I would like to save you from. They were stressful, in some cases, embarrassing.

10. Hostel booking is per person.
Okay, this is the most embarrassing one right at the top. Before Europe, I had never actually stayed in a hostel. Never. Weird, right? But imagine my embarrassment when I had only booked one bed (hey, I’m with my husband, it’s a co-ed room, we only need one right?) and then on arriving in Dublin, found out it was per person. And there were no more beds left. Oh boy, good start, right? What an idiot.

9. Balance flexibility and structure.
When we got to Europe, I was SO excited about the complete freedom we had. We had nothing to come home for in the immediate future. We had no idea where we’d end up. We planned on taking the cheapest flights and buses until we were getting short on cash, knowing we could use the points I had saved up to fly home. This was FREEDOM. I would only book one night at a time at hostels and Airbnb so we could follow WHIM and WHIMSY on our spiritual quest! (and also bail if the room turned out to be a dud.)

Yeah, here’s the thing- if you wake up at 9 and need to be checked out of your hostel by 10 and you have a 30lb backpack and no idea where you’re headed next, it’s a bummer. And a little scary. What if there is no place available? What if it’s hella expensive? Even if you’re keeping yourself free, make sure you’re booked around busy times like festivals, holidays, and weekends so you don’t get stuck. It’s totally ok, especially if you decide you like a certain hostel or Airbnb, to just book the next few days in advance. You’re going to have plenty of adventure in your life already, right? It’s okay to add structure in there.

8. Be realistic about how far you can walk, especially if you are unclear about how wide-spread public transport is.
Okay, so this one time we found a great place to stay in Galway (again, still in Ireland, can you tell it’s where we went first? Get all those mistakes out early!) It seemed a little far out of the way, but foreign countries are not always super google accurate. Ireland, for example, is not really into street numbers. After we had walked for several hours exploring the town, we set off to our Airbnb… only to discover it was eight miles away. About five in (as it was getting dark) we had to call our hosts and beg casually for a pick-up. Embarrassing. And although the walk back to town the next day was beautiful and full of thatched-roof cottages, it was also hard on our newbie backpacker backs.

7. You do not need to bring that extra pair of shoes. You do not. Do. Not!
Yeah, but I can just ship anything I don’t need back to myself right? That’s what I thought until I sent my first package back in Spain and found it cost $70! Ah! Do you know how many pintxos I could have eaten for that kind of money?? 70! 70 delicious pintxos!

The truth is, you can buy almost anything on the road you’re really in dire need of. Backpacking long periods is also money-saving in that it discourages you from buying needless souvenirs. If the question is “do I like that thing enough to carry it on my back for the next ten weeks?” the answer is usually no. Cha-ching, cha-ching! More money for pintxos!

6. Know your data options.
Do you have a cheap international data plan available with your carrier?Is your phone jailbroken so you can use foreign sim cards when traveling? My husband’s phone was paid off so he got a local sim card. Mine still had a little money owed so it was useless unless I wanted to pay $30 for every 500mB (which goes very quickly, let me tell you.) This meant half the battery life when we were out. Speaking of power, always carry a few charging bricks with you so you don’t get stuck in a strange place without a phone. While we’re talking about your digital life abroad, have you thought about how you’re going to back up photographs and information while you’re on the road? It doesn’t matter what your plan is as long as you have one. You’ll be really sad if you lose all those beautiful snapshots of how much fun you’re having because something happens to your phone and nothing was backed up.

5. Read the fine print with budget airlines.
Caveat Emptor- Buyer beware! There are lots of amazing deals out there. In Europe, it’s possible to grab a plane from Copenhagen to London for $14 and then London to Ibiza for $30. Fantastic! But if you’re not careful, you’ll lose your savings and more through not reading requirements on budget airlines.

Learn which airlines are more associated with “budget” fares- these are ones to be extra wary of. Ryanair and Spirit, for example, are notorious for surprise charges. Their carry-on required sizes are extra small, for example, and you may have to rely on the kindness or negligence of your particular stewards to let you slip through without extra fee. Their online check-in times close super early. They charge extra if you don’t pre-print your boarding pass before arrival.

We scored a $30 flight from Dublin to London, but with all the mistakes my husband and I made not reading the fine print in advance, we realized on arrival to the airport we might be charged a full $300 in fees! Yikes! We decided last minute to let our flight go without us and buy new $60 tickets to Liverpool instead. All the scheduling chaos could have been avoided if we had been more mindful of the rules when we booked our original tickets.

4. Take extra care of traffic. Even a cyclist can DESTROY you.
Nice is a busy pedestrian city. There are scooters, cycles, cars, trucks, and buses all over the place and the margins between street and sidewalk are not as clear as, say, New York. Plus, as you explore a new place it’s easy to get distracted by all the exciting things around you. In my case, I walked too closely in front of a stopped bus (the light was red) and was totally owned by a cyclist who had not begun to slow down. He went flying, I went flying, and I literally couldn’t tell you how I ended up with so much road rash because I don’t remember anything between Brian screaming and me looking down after getting up and actually seeing how much damage I took. Wow, those stress hormones, huh? I didn’t feel a thing. Hadn’t even realized that I was covered in blood when I said how okay I was. I was very lucky it was just a cyclist. Don’t make that dangerous mistake- stay very aware of your surroundings, especially in busy areas.

3. Protect your gear!
When the lens fell out of my UV filter and shattered on the pavement as I was swapping filters, I debated replacing it. Imported items were extra expensive in otherwise-cheap Spain. Why bother replacing a filter that doesn’t really do anything anyway? Because this $30 filter protects my $100 lens when the lens cap is off. I replaced it. That meant that when I tripped spectacularly in Carcassonne while taking a picture and landed camera-first on the pavement, it was only my filter that was bent and scratched not my lens. I was able to remove it temporarily and keep taking pictures another day. The beautiful featured photo on this post? It would never have been taken if I hadn’t bought that UV cover. Good job, past me.

2. It’s totally okay to have rest days.
If you had told me that while I was in the South of France, I was going to spend a whole day sitting on the couch watching Netflix, I would have been super mad at myself. What a waste! How could I not be out exploring the amazing place I was in?

If you’re a go-go-goer like I am (I’m really not the all-inclusive resort kind of girl,) taking a full rest day on a trip sounds crazy. But as your trips get longer, they become 100% necessary. I was tired. I had been hit by a bike. I could barely walk and my knees were all shades of purple and red and green. For the first time in my life, I found myself in a beautiful place wishing I were back home. Taking a day doing a home activity sated that urge and gave me the strength and mental energy to explore again.

And the number 1 thing I wish I knew before I left?

1. There may come a time that you want to go home. And that’s okay too.
I thought that once I was on the road, I might end up on it forever. I met many cool people who did that- people who started traveling and five, ten years later were still out there, having amazing adventures. Whatever your timeline is, there may come a point where you’re tired and road weary and need a break. That doesn’t mean you can’t go back or that there won’t be a next time. Italy, Fiji, Angkor Wat will still be waiting for you. There will still be Chinese kids to teach English and waves to surf in Costa Rica. But be real with yourself- being real about your needs and desires is what got you on the road to begin with and you need to keep listening to that while you’re out there. Coming home at any point is not a sign of failure.

Remember, the hardest step is that one out your front door. Once you’ve done that, the rest is easy.

Have you gone for a long-term trip yet? Are you dreaming of it? Comment where you’d like to go or have been below!
You’ve been doing New Year’s wrong

You’ve been doing New Year’s wrong

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“What?” you reply with indignation. “You don’t know me! I have the best New Year’s Eve every year on the planet! I party with my closest friends on a raft and sing Kumbayah at midnight when we dance naked in the moonlight!”

If that’s the case, go you, man, you live your life. Also, try not to catch cold. But let me tell you about what my New Year’s Eve used to look like and see if it’s at all familiar:

  • “New Year’s Eve is coming! I hope I do something special and get invited to a cool party!”
  • “Oh, gee, no one has planned anything. Hope I don’t end up at home alone this year.”
  • “Hey, I got sort-of invited to this acquaintance’s party, but I’m sure something better will come up.”
  • “Okay, acquaintance party it is.”
  • (Cut to me, in a stranger’s basement, drinking vodka-cranberry and pretending to have fun watching the ball drop on tv. If I’m lucky, I have a date to kiss at midnight.)

Let’s be real, this is a weak way to start a brand new, glorious year! Don’t passively wait and hope, create for yourself an active life that guarantees a good time. New Year’s Eve is a world-wide holiday- unlike Thanksgiving, you can be pretty much anywhere on earth to celebrate. In that case, might I make a suggestion?

MONTREAL

Montreal, my darlings! If you live in New England, Montreal is less than a six-hour drive away and it is glorious. It is the best parts of North America and Europe in a gravy-infused and reasonably-priced smoked meat platter of goodness. It is a snow-globe of gentle holiday festiveness. And, as a surprise bonus, nowhere parties like Montreal.

Fire Juggler at Cirque De Boudoir's incredible New Year's bash
What is even happening here? Oh, a lizard man is fire juggling in a drained swimming pool at the New Year’s bash, obvs. Cirque De Boudoir: Carnavalesque New Year’s Eve 2013 // Photo courtesy of Cirque and by Jo Gorsky. For upcoming events visit http://www.cirquedeboudoir.com

Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly holiday or a rock-n-rock party-all-night, Montreal has what you’re looking for. That’s why I’ve been there every New Years six years running.

Our first year was also my first time in Montreal, although I had visited it’s frostier cousin, Quebec. Fed up with boring plans, I had looked up New Year’s Eve parties to find the most interesting and stumbled onto Cirque De Boudoir. I’m not into the S&M scene, but I know a good party when I see one and “Venetian themed New Year’s bash in a former YMCA with an open bar, cage dancers, and burlesque” sounded right up our alley.

Suspended Cage Dancer, Montreal, New Year's Eve
Cage dancer hanging from the ceiling over the pool. No, really. Cirque De Boudoir: Carnavalesque New Year’s Eve 2013 // Photo by: Jo Gorsky. For upcoming events visit http://www.cirquedeboudoir.com

The city was beautiful- sparkling with fairy lights and chinese lanterns, warm with holiday cheer, stuffed with hearty food. Notre Dame is one of the most lovely cathedrals on the planet. The party was wild- airbrush artists doing full body makeup, a dance floor in the former pool, and great performers all night. Awesome. We’d be back.

The following year, we dragged a good friend with us and rented an entire apartment for $20 a night. Instead of buying party tickets this time, we explored the city and discovered The Greatest Cocktail Bar in the World, Le Lab.

 

There’s going to be an entire article about how amazing this place is in the future, but suffice to say, we have been all over the US and much of Europe sniffing out speakeasies and cocktails and this is still our favorite cocktail bar (sorry, New York.) And at midnight on New Year’s, they have a wild fire show.

Ever since then, we grab a van full of friends, rent an entire apartment, and explore the city. We always are at Le Lab for midnight. Prices are very reasonable, even for a fancy dinner, and the food is excellent. Splitting the costs with friends lowers our overhead even further. We have yet to have a bad time. How can you have a bad time in such a beautiful place?

partygoers in Times Square on New Year's Eve
Yeah, okay, you could go watch the ball drop, if you want to stand in 10 degree temperatures for nine hours. I’ve heard it’s a thing everyone should do at least once. Image courtesy Anthony Quintano.

But it’s cold!

Yes, my friends, but Canada is used to cold and has many fantastic warm drinks to keep the frostbite away! Dress well (another article on that will be forthcoming) and feel free to bar-hop your way down the street. Wear good shoes and toast yourself at the fireplaces in the central areas. You’ll have a wonderful time despite the cold!

But I don’t speak French!

Although Montreal is 100% French-speaking, pretty much everyone can speak English as well. Remember, half of Canada doesn’t speak French very well either. As long as you are polite and learn a simple “Bonjour!” and “Merci” for when you enter shops, you shouldn’t have much trouble. They will appreciate it if you at least try.

But I don’t have a passport!

….Seriously? Go to your post office. It’s time.

Have you been to Montreal yet? Do you have any specific recommendations you’re looking for? Hit me up here!

 

I love New York mural
How to drive in New York City (without losing your mind)

How to drive in New York City (without losing your mind)

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Okay, you’re heading to the city. And you’re thinking of driving?? All your friends think you’re nuts. Why would you drive willingly into a crazy place like New York when it’s one of the few American cities with perfectly good public transport?

I used to only take the train in, but now that I work in the city often, I drive more. I find it gives me more freedom to explore and gets me home faster when I’m working late at night. Plus, if I have a car full of people, it saves us all cash.

Good reasons to take a car

Mobility: New York is not the best city on the planet for people who have trouble walking and having a car gives you the freedom to drop people off before you go park.

Freedom: If you’re getting out super late, it may be faster to drive out than waiting for the subway and then train. It also allows you to explore a bit further afield- if you want to go from Manhattan to Williamsburg to Flushing (for the real Chinatown, obvs) it’s going to be easier to hop around with a car.

Downsides

Stress: Okay, New Yorkers are (justifiably) known for being high strung. There will be lots of honking, people weaving in and out of traffic, people right on your tail, oblivious pedestrians, and slightly confusing on and off ramps, though once you get into the city streets are very logical. If you’re an anxious person, it may not be worth the added stress. However, if you can take a deep breath and go slow at intersections you’ll be ok. A honk is not going to damage your car but getting t-boned at an intersection will.

Cost: Both tolls and parking are not cheap. If you’re bringing a car-full of people down, you may save money from train fare. If you listen to my tips, you’re not going to lose an arm and a leg to parking but you still need to be wary of costs. It might make sense to find a cheap garage, leave your car, and take the subway to other spots.

Timing: Any time you want to go into the city, you need to give yourself lots of extra time to get around, in a car or otherwise. If there’s anywhere you need to go around morning rush hour, save yourself the madness and take the train in. Or take your car to city limits and hop on a train there. Traffic is no joke- I had a French proficiency exam at 10 am and left at 6am (should be an hour drive) and it was going to take 4 hours by car to get in because of accidents. We ended up parking and taking the train. Google maps or Waze will help you stay updated.

Before you go:

Download an NYC parking app like Spothero:
This step is key. If you take exactly one thing to heart from this article, get yourself a parking app. This app will show you the cheapest parking in your area for the time you put in and then give you a discount as well! Last time I had a convention to go to, parking nearby was $50 for the day (damn you, “event pricing”.) Using Spothero, I found another garage a few blocks down for $15 for 12 hours! Hell yeah.

Designate a Navigator:
As Maverick needed Goose, you should have a co-pilot if possible your first time navigating in New York. They can let you focus on traffic instead of not getting lost. And be patient. If you miss a turn, you can just go around again. Because you gave yourself plenty of extra time, you’re not going to stress right?

Know where you’re going (at least at first):
“Where is it?” “Somewhere in Manhattan.”
Look, pal, Manhattan is a big place. Take a look at the map and familiarize yourself with where on the island you’re headed. Is it far south? Along the right side or left? Midtown? Bonus if you take a look at the New York neighborhoods and familiarize yourself with such magical places as TriBeCa and St. Mark’s Place.

If you take these basic precautions, practice your Zen breathing, and take a buddy, you’re going to have a fine, safe, and hopefully, inexpensive time driving in the city. The more you do it, the easier and less intimidating it becomes!

Oh, and avoid driving anywhere near Times Square! You’ll thank me later.