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June 17, 2013

Great Michigan Bed and Breakfasts

There are over two hundred bed and breakfasts in both the rural and urban areas of this gorgeous Great Lake state of Michigan. You won’t be short of cozy, architecturally unique places to stay. If you like mission style furniture, antique tiffany lamps and cozy quilts then you are going to love a little stay in this relaxing natural and pastoral state.

 

Michigan is full of elegant inns bed and breakfasts, many of them historical gems that are located in the smaller towns around the ski resorts or on the shores of Lake Michigan.  Typical is the Hotel Frankfort which is a 150-year old bed and breakfast located in Beulah or the Victorian Villa Bed and Breakfast in Union City. If there is anything that Michigan bed and breakfasts are prized for it is their quaint architecture which is often referred to as being “gingerbread Victorian” in style.  Some of the architecture in Michigan small towns goes back as far in time as the late 1700s when America was first being settled.

 

Most Michigan bed and breakfasts are open year round and offer swimming and other beach sports in the summer, skiing and sleigh rides in the winter and antique hunting and fishing all year round. In fact a cozy Michigan bed and breakfast complete with roaring fire and four poster bed might be exactly what you want to return to after a frosty day spent in an ice hut on the lake.

 

Union city is a popular destination in central southwest Michigan as it is home to several dinner theaters and special Christmas Dinners (featuring Christmas Goose) that take place during the holidays. If you ever wanted to enjoy Thanksgiving or Christmas Dinner just like the folks in the famous Norman Rockwell paintings then you must experience a trip to an inn in Michigan.

 

. There are also several dinner theaters in the region. Union City is also near Kalamazoo Michigan which is home of the National Aviation Museum. Allen Michigan which is known as the state’s antique capital and features over 300 stores that can be browsed for treasures.

 

Southwest Michigan also offers many bed and breakfast treasures including Carriage House at the Harbor which is the state’s only 4 A rated bed and breakfast. This Michigan bed and breakfast is located, along with scores of others in South Haven, which is home to the sandy beaches of Lake Michigan.

June 16, 2013

Peru Trip: Machu Picchu , Cusco & Lima

So, this year I decided to make a trip to Peru. I wanted to go to Machu Picchu , Cusco & Lima. I decided to book my trip again through Orbitz. I priced it both ways and found it cheaper to fly into Cusco first them Lima next. So, I did it that way. There were no direct flights to Cusco, so I had a 2 hour layover in Lima on the flight there.

I also booked my Hotels on Hotels.com again. I like that they give me a free night for every 10 I book. I then booked the Machu Picchu stuff ahead of time, because I heard sometimes it sells out. I tried for a week to book on the official Machu Picchu site, but the site never took my order. So I purchased tough the travel agent ticket-machupicchu.com, which just charged a small booking fee. I also heard the train to Machu Picchu sometimes gets sold out, so I booked that in advance too. During the trip I found out that I missed buying something else I needed to get to Machu Picchu, I’ll discuss that later.

So, day 1 we fly into Lima on American Airlines for our connection. Customs line was small and smooth. No problems at all. We boarded the connecting flight on LAN Airlines to Cusco with no problems. During this flight we had a TV with a flight tracker. The ride should only be like 50 minutes, but I kept seeing the flight get longer and longer on the tracker. Turns out we were going in circles for a while, then we got sent back to Lima They said there was too much fog to land. So, we get back to Lima and got on another flight to Cusco. That one was allowed to land. We were supposed to arrive at 7AM, we got there about Noon.

Casa Andina Classic HotelWe took a taxi from the airport, it cost 20 Sol. All taxis from the airport cost more than anywhere else in Cusco. For the same ride in the opposite direction it costs 8 Sol. Anyway, we got to the hotel Casa Andina Classic – Cusco San Blas. They gave up a free upgrade, so I ended up liking the hotel a whole lot. Big windows with nice views. It was also in a nice location with a quick walk to the Gatos Supermarket to get some water and also a quick walk to Plaza de Armas. Plaza de Armas is the center of the Historic section in Cusco.

We were supposed to see some sites, but since we were flying for 12 hours because of the delays we decided to just go to Plaza de Armas and take some photos. Then get something to eat and call it a day. While walking to the restaurant for the first time in my life I felt the altitude. I wasn’t feeling sick, I just could feel a difference in my body. We were getting warned by everyone not to overdue it, or you’ll get altitude sickness, so we just took it easy and found a restaurant called “Tinta Restaurante Cultural y Galeria de Arte” to eat in. I choose it cause it had a sign that said food art. It was food art. The food was extremely delicious I ordered some Yuca as an appetizer It was fried balls with an olive inside and peanut butter sauce. I would have never imagined that combination tasted good, but it was delicious. The causa was also great. As an entree we just had some chicken skewers to play it safe because people kept hearing stories of other tourist getting sick and not making it to Machu Picchu. So after a great meal we headed back and went to bed early to catch a 5:30am train.

Machu PicchuDay 2 we woke up and went to the train station. The train to Machu Picchu is no longer running all the way to Cusco, so they put you on a bus for the first 2 and half hours. Then switch you to a train for the next 2 and half hours. I bought the upgrade to the VistaDome train. I was reading on another site that it wasn’t worth it, but I did it anyway. I am glad I did, because it was well worth it. They fed us both going there and coming back. We didn’t even know that was included and neither did the other people around us. Also, on the way back our regular attendants put on a fashion show for us. The point of the show was for us to buy stuff, but it didn’t matter, they made it real funny and lots of dancing.

Wayna PicchuThe train stops and we got off. I already bought my Machu Picchu ticket , and just did a very long bus ride and train ride. So, I thought I was done and ready to walk to Machu Picchu. I was wrong. There is another bus ticket you have to buy to get to Machu Picchu. So after some confusion we bought that ticket and did another bus ride.

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Machu PicchuWe were now in Machu Picchu. The best advice I can give you about Machu Picchu is not to buy a regular tour. If you book direct you get the option to buy a limited entry ticket to go to Wayna Picchu and Wayna Picchu is awesome. There are multiple spellings of it. It is also spelled Huayna Picchu. It’s about a hour and a half hike from the beginning of Machu Picchu. It’s steep and fun. They when you get to the top, the view to Machu Picchu is flat out amazing. The peak of Huayna Picchu is about 8,920 ft above sea level, or about 1,180 ft higher than Machu Picchu. During this hard hike we did not feel the altitude at all. Cusco was actually a lot higher at 11,200 ft above sea level.

So, we did this great hike. Enjoyed the top a bit and came back down. We explored the rest of Machu Picchu then had to catch the train back. We had another 5-6 hour ride back. The ride back was a lot longer than they told us. We got back about 8pm and went out to eat. The food in that restaurant isn’t even worth mentioning. I order my favorite soup which is Chupe de Camorines and it was pretty bad.
We then went back to the hotel we had a 6am flight to Lima

Casa Bella MirafloresSo day 3 we get up to go to Lima. When we arrive we already booked a taxi for the whole time we are there. We went to our hotel in Miraflores. It was the Casa Bella Miraflores. It is next to the Love Park in Miraflores. The park is very nice, but I didn’t like this hotel. The bathroom had ants. The towels had dead ones stuck to it. I told the front desk, they came up with RAID. This was a 3.5 star hotel. If I go to Peru again I’ll go with a 4 star.

Since we had the taxi for the whole day we just went to the popular sites and took some pictures and ate at a Chifa Restaurant. Chifa is a term used in Peru to refer to Chinese cooking in which many of the ingredients originally used in China were substituted by those available in Peru due to a lack of ingredients.

Temple of PachacamacDay 4 we booked a tour through the hotel to the Temple of Pachacamac. The tour was actually a lot better than I thought it would be. We started my doing to some sites in Lima I missed the day before. and then the Guide just made the trip very interesting with discussion of life in Lima, jails, poverty,incan sex, sacrifices and lots more.

After that we went to the artisan markets along Av. La Marina to get some Incan gifts. They have lots of booths and a great selection there. And that’s it. That was my short 4 day Peru trip. We left for the airport that night.

June 15, 2013

Bed and Breakfasts in Texas

No matter where you travel in Texas, which is a dramatic mix of scenes from the Wild West complete with cowboys roping horses and oil wells and glassy modern cities, you are bound to find a bed and breakfast with a charming and gregarious host or hostess. This is true whether you are staying in one of the more modern Texas B & B’s among the glass towers of a big cultural and business hub like Houston.

 

You might also want to plan to do a little fly-fishing on the Galveston coast (where all of the bed and breakfasts are located across the highway from the beach) This recreational area is also a boon for fisherman and nature lovers. Fredericksburg, Texas is an outstanding spot for sportsmen to find year-round opportunities to hunt native and exotic species of animals and has dozens of Texas bed and breakfasts that cater to sportsmen. At these places, many of which are institutions in the area, you can expect see to see a few oversized flying fish on the wall.

 

If you decide to stay in Houston make sure you take a visit to the space station, which is the home of the United States Space Shuttle. Houston is also famous for its five star fusion cuisines as well its trendy boutiques and artistic sidewalk café scene.  Most of Houston’s bed and breakfasts and little motels are located in this artsy district.

 

Yet another great place to stay in a Texas bed and breakfast is Dallas, the home of J.R. Ewing and the gang. Dallas hosts numerous million-dollar companies and is a city hat offers some of the worlds most sought after shopping.  If you stay in a bed and breakfast here expect some giant flapjacks to be on your place in the morning. You can find  BedAndBreakfast discount codes at DiscountStorm.com to save some money.

 

The only thing grander than the huge size of Texas is its cultural diversity. People from all over the globe have settled here through the centuries, weaving a rich tapestry of traditions and art forms. Culturally you will see this reflected in the state’s cuisine, which ranges from Cajun Creole to European to cowboy style.

 

No matter where you stay in Texas you are likely to be impressed by the “breakfast” part of the Texas BedAndBreakfast experience. Aside from providing the usual tea and crumpets you are likely to find everything from steaks, to pancakes to pork and beans served up to you in the morning.

 

June 11, 2013

The B&B’s and Inns of Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, located on California’s Central coast, has a great deal to offer the tourist (especially if you like bed and breakfasts that offer such five star luxuries as a built in spa service or breakfast in bed). These five star rated bed and breakfasts cater to the well heeled and are a cut above the usual mom and pop operations. Most of them are clustered near California’s Santa Ynez mountains, famous vineyards, five star restaurants and the Karpeles Manuscript Museum (that holds the original copy of the Declaration of Independence.)

 

In Santa Barbara proper there are many former stately residences in the historic section of the city.  Would you rather live in your own private cottage rather than stay in a stately mansions.  Many of the stately homes also have cottages that used to house the hired help.  Some hotels and B&B’s offer visitors an entire functional cottage.

 

One of the most famous of these Santa Barbara B & B’s is the Simpson’s Inn, which features fully outfitted cottages nestled among award winning rose gardens. You will feel like you have been transported to another world.

 

Another Inn that is well known for it’s cheap but affordable little cottages is the Secret Garden Inn which lives up to it’s name as all the cottages face into a beautiful green alcove with decorative tables and chairs. It is located right on Mission Street in downtown Santa Barbara close to all of the great shopping.

 

If you like the Spanish style of Villa and want to live right on the beach then try out the Brisas Del Mar. This is a mission stye place that has is just across the street from Pershing Park and the white sands of West Beach.

 

If you want to live in a standard beautiful motel for a few days then the Blue Sands fits the bill.  A combination of retro design with modern conveniences makes this a glamorous little place to stay.

 

There is plenty to see in beautiful Santa Barbara including a gorgeous coastline with a pounding surf, nature trails and many museums devoted to both English and Spanish colonial history. The museums, many of which are located within steps of Santa Barbara bed and breakfasts include The Santa Barbara Museum of Art (that contains an impressive collection of marble Roman statues) and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural Art (that has an exclusive shark exhibit and a Lizard Lounge.)  However you do not have to walk far from any B & B to see the real marine life as whale watching on the city’s shores is a popular pastime.

June 8, 2013

What to See in Curitiba, Brazil

Curitiba is known incredible European architecture and excellent food. It is also known as the ecological capital of Brazil as it enforces many programs to protect the environment.

 

In fact one of the Curitiba Brazil attractions are the twenty parks that boast bicycle paths that make it very easy to get around the city. Curitiba is great for single people both young and old because it has a very social park called the Parque Bariqui that is very laid back.  It is a great place to hang out with locals, roller blade or ride a bike.

 

The reason that the architecture in this city has such a European flair is because it is mainly populated by Ukrainian, Polish, German and Italian immigrants. The food that is offered in this city reflects this cultural diversity and there are many all you can eat style restaurants.  Most of these ethnic restaurants are located in an ethnic area of town called Batel.  The place also attracts a lot of German and Italian tourists each year.

 

This city, which is also about three centuries old also boasts a giant open market that is open every Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm.  This fair also features musicians and performers that wander through the streets.

 

This city is on the edge of a lush rain forest and tours of the Amazon are conducted on a bus that travels on a paved road called the Estrada da Graciosa through the lush greenery.  You can also book tours to the Guaraquecaba Environmental Protection Area, which is a Nature Reserve.

 

The city is also near the Parque Estadual de Vila Velha. This State park lies 52 miles from Curitiba. It contains twenty-two extraordinary rock formations dating from three hundred million years ago.

 

It also boasts some affordable luxury hotels such as the Parthenon hotel, which is located one kilometer away from the city center. There is also a Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, which has a spa. Many people come here to luxuriate in the sun and enjoy the five star treatments.

 

From Curibita you can also travel to gorgeous Honey Island, which is a place where no cars are allowed and there is nothing but small ramshackle homes, a few restaurants, humble hotels and miles of glorious beaches with warm calm water. You will have to travel 2 hours by bus and 30 minutes to cross the Paranagua Bay Channel but the trip is worth it as it like visiting a little bit of Eden.

June 5, 2013

Don’t Miss the Amazon Cuisine of Brazil

If you travel to Brazil then make sure you to travel to the lush jungles of the Amazon, where a very distinctive cuisine is served up by the villagers that live in the regions. These are dishes created by the hand of the cabocas and some the humble recipes have been handed down for generations.  Amazon cuisine is unlike any other type of cuisine you will find in Brazil or the rest of the food. It is made of specific fruits and liquors and fish that are indigenous to the Amazon forest in Brazil.

 

Some of these dishes are more elegant than any chef could serve up. A good example is pachica. This is a type of stew made from turtle blood and parts that is served up in the turtle shell itself. It is seasoned with chili and chicory and lemon.

 

As there is no wheat or any other substance to make flour with in the Brazil Amazon, the cabocas make flour out of fish. This fish flour is called piracui.  It is made out of a fish called acari, which is gutted, salted and dried.

 

The favorite fish of the cuisine is from a very fatty piscine found in the Amazon River called the pirarucu. This fish is so rich that it is not advisable for people with health states like pregnancy or diabetes. This fish is often fried or dried and is the main dish featured in many of the cabocas celebrations.

 

There is also a special casserole called the tambaqui, which is a fish stew that is made with parsley, shallot, chives, tomato, onion and a little palm oil or olive oil.

 

Yet another unique feature of this cuisine is the luscious fruits that are just served raw with it or made into ice cream, juice, desert, liquor, chocolate, salamis and wine.

 

You cannot travel here without sampling a pupnha. It is almost like bread it is so common in the Amazon. It is a big orange fruit somewhat like a papaya. A tucuma the fruit of a palm tree and has 1000 times more Vitamin A then an avocado. The jenipopo is a sweet purple fruit and is used to make wines. It is also used in celebrations that involve body painting.

 

If you are lucky you may be able to try cupuacu, which contains caffeine and theobromine. It’s juice is served everywhere in Brazil as a special drink and it is still used as a sacred drink in special ceremonies.