Bars travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises spa and resorts

I will lead on a journey through slow food and rapid development, just right in Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix is a city of uniqueness of the horizon and desert light. This optimistic attitude, accompanied with the arid climate and low cost of living has brought many people to the Valley of the Sun.

The Phoenix metropolitan area is one of the fastest- growing areas in the United States. It’s a pity because the car is king there – driving is only way to move around in 9, 200 square miles region. In this world it’s hard to state the foot and the bicycle as much as the car.

Phoenix is a lesson in freeway nomenclature. The endless pavement and strip malls remind of a distant Los Angles. But there’s a beautiful iridescent horizon and a new light – rail system will soon take place and run.

But behind all these statements comes the good. There’s a quality cuisine, a thriving art scene and unique modern architecture. The creative landscape has three museum institutions. They have the Phoenix Art Museum, a wonderful new second edition, and the other museum SMoCA, which was transformed from a five-plex AMC theater to 20,000 square feet of gallery space. And you have the Nelson Fine Art Center that combines the hispanic character with rich collections of Arizona State University.

The city is a totally electric mix. There is Temple’s musical heritage with the Gin Blossoms. The arts are there. There’s also a place called Red Modern Furniture, which is a little tapas. The city also got Passage, a wonderful boutique that is just blowing everybody away. It’s the coolest fashion spot with a spectacular environment and stylish items. It’s amazing and it’s affordable, accessible and cool.

If you happen to be there on the summer hiking the loop trail around Piestawa Peak or the trail up Camelback Mountain. It’s a great way to see the prespective of the city. As well as biking on the canal system is another perfect way to glimpse a diversity of neighborhoods and history of the city. And at the end for gourmets audience – whenever you’re going to eat in Phoenix or just have a snack, a cocktail, it’s a fantastic experience.

Melbourne is a city of layers with ever changing skies and facades. Today I will represent you the real Melbourne, which is like its inhabitants and is less public and reveals itself unwilling. In the last decade, Melbourne has radically changed the urban and cultural landscape. Architecture have become adventurous within cutting-edge buildings. The contemporary art scene is dynamic and breathtaking festivals fill the atmosphere of the city. In every corner, basement and attic initiative spirits are creating hole-in-the-wall bars, multimedia galleries, design studious and other experiences.

Nowadays in Melbourne opportunities abound. They got great design schools and really everything they have is as good as anywhere in the world. People there live on the coast looking out the horizon and they know what’s behind them. The other feature about Australian creativity and architectural culture is that they are well traveled. And they choose to come back!

Melbourne has many geographical features to explore. The Yarra River is one of them but the city boasts more about its parks and gardens. The Carlton Gardens are home to the World Heritage and behind them is the Melbourne Museum. On the south side of the Yarra is the Tan – a 2.3-mile running track. There you can pass quickly seeing some great buildings.

What I think makes Melbourne unique is the ever-changing light. The city gets four seasons in one day, which can be a bit miserable in winter. Apart from being cold, it often rains and the clouds are low and makes flat light. But in the summer the light is very harsh and direct providing great contrast like lazer.

Tourists have to walk to really see Melbourne. In that way you will get glimpses of notable architecture and some Gothic revival, urban art projects and pull up at cafes, bars and restaurants in the Centre.

Duisberg is a lovely German town, located on about 36 miles from Dusseldorf. Duisburg isn’t so famous, even in Europe. For those who have heard of it, it’s synonymous with the Ruhrgebiet—the former industrial heartland of Germany, now mainly remembered for the hard times of the 1980s, under the weight of ecological degradation, economic crisis, and soaring unemployment.

Today the city is known for its steel industry. There is still one coal mine in operation, but Duisburg has never been a coal-mining center to the same extent as other places in the Ruhr.

To give it a new role in the life of the city, there new inner water channels  were cut, which literally carry the water further into town, and a variety of public space was created on the waterfront. Duisburg Inner Harbor has retained between 30 and 40 percent of its old warehouses and mills, refurbished into offices, museums, and restaurants.

The whole idea was to bring the water back into Duisburg and nowadays this is reality. Lining the harbor are walkways, bike paths, lush green spaces, sculptures, a skateboard park, and cafe terraces. But the new paths are a mosaic of salvaged bricks and tiles, and while many old buildings were demolished to create these well-used public spaces, the Garden of Memories, for example, poignantly preserves certain segments of them.

The beautifully spare Movable Footbridge invites walkers to cross it, boats can moor at Steiger Schwanentor jetty, which rises and falls with the water level and a new dam has provided a more scenic stretch of water as the backdrop for the restaurant terraces, as well as a place to swim.

Duisburg has always had a lot going for it—the mentality is different from the rest of Germany, people are more open, friendlier, always ready to try new things.

Brussels is a surreal linguistic city between the Dutch-speaking Flemish and the French-speaking Walloons, many transactions occur in neither language. But people just speak English. Its modest character made Brussels the perfect compromise for postwar rivals choosing a headquarters for the European Union and NATO, while all the diplomats and a swirl 
of immigrants from North and Central Africa give it 
an intense international, cosmopolitan flavor rare for such a small city. The picture displays the Atomiumis, built in 1956 for the World’s Fair, an homage to the future. It recently reopened after a complete renovation.

The Atomium’s interior, which includes these atomlike seating pods.

The Belgian Center for Comic Strip Art was designed by Art Nouveau master Victor Horta.

The Grand Place—Brussels’s major tourist destination—was burned down by the French in 1695, but was rebuilt within five years. Brussels has parks and forests, of course, but one place I especially like is both outside and inside. The Galeries Saint-Hubert were the first glass-covered shopping arcades in Europe. There are cafes in the galleries where you can sit outside and watch people go by, but you’re not in the rain. One modern and peaceful world …

Sevva is a rooftop restaurant/club on the 25-th floor penthouse of the Prince’s Building in Hong Kong with a breathtaking views of the city harbor. The native Calvin Taso says ‘ We Chinese eat all the time. Nibbles, snacks, power breakfasts, late breakfasts,  lunch tea, drinks.’In my opinion Sevva is a real social hub with unique interior and vast establishment, giving its several restaurants and bars a relaxed elegance. Sevva offers the Taste bar for drinks, live music and tapas. The bars clear acrylic klismos chairs, vintage finds, have jewel-toned pony skin upholstery for punch. Moroccan style cushions, covered in equally vibrant skills, from a banquette that stretches 30 feet. Old bank chairs are upholstered in tufted baby blue silk, and a back-to-back sofa had its oak legs hand carved and gold-flecked in London. I would say ‘It costs an arm and a leg’.

For ultimate power lunch, there is the Bank Side restaurant adorned with images and magnificent banks. The dinning room’s custom furnishings include a stained-oak table and benches and a wool rug. High wall are filled with some of the most coveted pieces of Modern Art featuring works from world renowned photographer Candida Hoffer.

The best place for a relaxed drink is the long and narrow Lounge with its live garden wall. Casually elegant meals can be enjoyed under the vaulted ceiling of the Harbor Side restaurant. The owner of Sevva is Bonnie Gokson, whose reputation in the world of branding and fashion has helped Sevva gain lots of attention.

Gokson loves art and drama, so it is no wonder she chose Tsao & McKown Architects to transform the 1960s mixed-use Prince’s Building space into the dramatic Sevva environment.

Fresh vertical gardens energizes the  spirit of the Lounge area. The light streaming from the floor to ceilings windows complement the soft colors of the furnishing. The music selection harmonize more and more the lounge. This is just a spot to savour a good life…

Grand Daddy is a very interesting hotel situated in Cape Town, South Africa. The Grand Daddy’s big talking point is its trailer park, where a collection of vintage Airstream caravans sited on the rooftop. Each of the 7 two-sleeper caravans have been designed by local artists.

The hotel is part of Daddy Long Legs Group. The philosophy is simple, excellent service, clean and comfortable rooms. The hospitable staff of the hotel will help you through the gentle journey about the surroundings of the hotel and the history of the city.

The vintage caravans were designed by studio Whatiftheworld, which tasked local artists with decorating a space with a motif of their choice. They ended with a concept ranged from The Ballad of John & Yoko, adorned with a guitar and simple white interior, to Goldilocks and The Three Bears, which has a quaint storybook feel to it.

The two-person Airstreams are situated neatly around the rooftop bar, which is open for afternoon drinks to guests and just the plain curious alike.Rooms in the hotel start at 945 rands ($90) and can be booked through Tablet.

Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany, perfect destination to explore its culture walking or on water. The port of Hamburg is the second largest port in Europe. Huge numbers of rivers, canals and lakes offer many opportunities for sightseeing the city from water. Hamburg has more bridges than Venice, Amsterdam and London, all together.

The picture shows the Fleetschloesschen, a little canal castle, is a former public restroom, then a customs office and now a cafe and restaurant.

Homeowners in the famous Winterhude neighborhood kept their boats on the Goldbekkanal, one of the many branches of the Alster River. The Alster River flows under the Sengelmannstrasse Bridge in the Hamburg neighborhood of Ohlsdorf, nearly five hours from the city center.

Many of the buildings in Hamburg are converted into lofts and commercial space for publishing, advertising and architecture firms.

Hamburg has more than 40 theatres, 60 museums and 100 music venues and clubs.

I present you a fantastic structure located in Spain, the Espacio de las Artes at Santa Cruz, Tenerife. The building has urban beauty and generates a triangular plaza. Along the facade, over 1,200 openings in 720 different shapes filter the natural light to the inside, while generating an amazing view during night.

The structure features a public library, a contemporary art museum, the Photography Centre of the Tenerife Island, a store, a cafe/restaurant and several public use spaces for the community.

During the grand opening,  this building will change the image of Tenerife, and along with the Calatrava auditorium will turn the city into a cultural focus.

 

Photographs by Iwan Baan:

If you want to listen to nice music… if you want really to have real coffee or quality drinks… or want taste culinary wonders, we show you top 5 of most exciting places in Sofia, Bulgaria.

 1. “CAPPUCCINO”is the most fashionable club in Sofia. Located at the center of the city the club is very attractive at the night . The atmosphere is ideal for meeting with friends, elegant family or business lunch or private party. “Cappuccino” offers original menu of the Italian cuisine and the rich wine list with plentiful variety of white and red wines from Chile, Australia and New Zealand.
Official site: http://barcappuccino.net

2.  “UPSTAIRS”is charming club, located at the most busiest shopping area in Sofia – “Vitosha” bld. The menu features Italian cuisine and the bar offers a lot of classic and fashion cocktails.  Start the day with freshly baked croissants and coffee… have lunch as in Italy… and try the best “Mojito”.
P.S Dj parties on Friday and Saturday.
3. “MOTTO”is one of  fashionable places, distinguished with of modern design in retro-chic style. Here you can find a pleasant atmosphere accompany with a good cuisine with well selected original dishes. Its trendy settings and the wide variety of alcoholic drinks and cocktails make  Motto one of the few good bars in Sofia.
Official site: htpp://motto-bg.com
4. “OPERA”is at the heart of Sofia, at the National Theater for Opera and Ballet. The cuisine is modern combination of different styles, including sushi, vegetarian, oriental and European ones. The interior is a combination between the baroque architecture of the building and the modern design of the club-restaurant. After dinner the nice atmosphere with Dj’s participation predisposes consumption of exotic cocktails.
Official site: http://opera-bg.info
5.  “CAFE DEL MAR”has its own, simple style with dim light and relaxing chill-out music. The club offers its visitors wide variety of brand drinks and elegant cocktails. Here you can relax of the daily round with discreet conversation with your friends or can organized your small private party.

The Town of Vail is located in Eagle County, Colorado. The town is emerged as  having the largest single ski mountain in North America and other winter sports, being a year round destination for outdoor activities.

Vail offers 5,300 skiable acres, 193 trails and seven bowls. And this winter, skiers are checking into new boutique hotels with ski valets, getting pine-scented massages at Zen-channeling spas and warming themselves by outdoor fire places.

It’s good to have a plan, when you get ready for skiing in Vail, not because of the travel time, which can run upwards of 30 minutes without traffic, but also to avoid the morning crush.

Unlike skiing, snowshoeing requires no special skills.

Tourists in the venerable Red Lion, a dive bar packed with high-top tables, enjoy the apres-ski evening.

Dubai is located on the Persian Gulf coast of the United Arab Emirates and is roughly at sea level (16 m/52 ft above). Dubai lies directly within the Arabian Desert. But the topography of Dubai is significantly different from that of the southern portion of the UAE.

Dubai has a diverse and multicultural society. The city’s cultural imprint as a small, ethnically homogenous pearlingethnic groups and nationals — first by the Iranians in the early 1900s, and later by Indians and Pakistanis in the 1960s.

The diversity of cuisine in Dubai is a reflection of the cosmopolitan nature of the society. Arab food is very popular and is available everywhere in the city, from the small shawarma diners in Deira and Al Karama to the upscale restaurants in Dubai’s many hotels.

The two Emirates Towers amid other skyscrapers under construction.

The Five Green store.

The Republic of Island is an island country situated in the North Atlantic Ocean between Greenland and mainland Europe. Iceland is the world’s 18th largest island, and Europe’s second largest island following Britain. The climate is sub-polar oceanic and warm, which ensures generally higher annual temperatures than in most places of similar latitude in the world.

If you are on vacation there, it’s useful to know that there’re a lot of bars, pubs and restaurants. Many bars stay open past 4 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday. The picture displays the northeastern edge of Tjornin, a pond in the center of the city that doubles as a home to ducks and swans.

This is the luxury Hotel Borg, built in 1930 on the city’s prettiest square.Weekend rates for a double room in late January start at 195 euros, $280 at $1.44 to the euro.

Because Iceland is a topographical marvel — craggy, desolate, the way you imagine the surface of the moon. Head to the stables at Eld Hestar, where a ride can be a whimsical way to absorb the scenery.

One of the leading clubs for live music is NASA, which is a stylish nightclub with bars scattered throughout and an auditorium-style main stage in front of which people dance.

Koreatown is a place in New York City packed with kimichi, karaoke joints, Internet cafes and spas. Also famous like K-town, that is generally bordered by 31st and 36th Streets and Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenues. The Koreatown area of Manhattan is primarily a Korean business district, as few people actually live in the area. Most Korean residents of New York City live in the outer boroughs, especially in and around Flushing, Queens.

One neighborhood in Koreatown can be described as a mix of Korean lounges, Irish bars, sooty office buildings, vintage architecture and discount clothing stores.

The Empire State Building built in 1931 towers over the neighborhood.

Street performance entertain a crowd on 34th Street at Fifth Avenue.

Koreantown’s central locations make it easy to get anywhere in New York City. Penn Station, Port Authority and Grand Central Station are all within a 10-block radius.

Today there’re more intoxicating reasons to visit Amsterdam, than its popular coffee shops or its red-light district. Amsterdam is angling to become Europe’s creative capital. If you are on vacation there, the first thing to do is to rent a bike. This way you can avoided expensive taxi rides and feel like a local from the start. Don’t worry you won’t lost, because there’re bike paths everywhere. A nice spot to find a good bike is Orangebike.

The next best thing to do, connected friends in town is hiring a few. The company Like-a-Local connects tourists with friendly locals who will invite into their homes and cook a dinner for you. Such dinners are not only fun, but they’re great deal, with prices ranging from 23 to 35 euros, including a lot of wines.

The famous night club Jimmy Woo’s may be good times if you’re 22, but anyone older might feel like a chaperone. The club has an over-the-top Asian restaurant with ostrich wallpaper and mirrored tables, three cocktail bars with spectacular lighting and cool dance floor that vibrates.

Hong Kong is a trading megapolis located on China's south coast on the Pearl River Delta. The city become a dependent territory of the United Kingdom in 1842.

 

The city is one of the world's leading financial capitals and a major business hub. There east meets west and reflected in its cuisine, cinema, music and traditions. It has a population of 6,9 million people.

 

With colonial-era Hong Kong serving as a historic and gritty backdrop. Fashionable restaurants, including a private supper club, arrived. The printing presses began moving out, and their spaces were soon filled with clothing boutiques, design shops and trendy bars. A mix of design shops has fueled the style offensive.

 

If you look at every corner, there are still the two steps of stone leading up to the entrance. You still see the old Hong Kong, with Grandpa and Grandma, and people hanging clothes outside.

 

 At night, the formerly desolate street now comes alive with young partygoers. The mixture of sublime modern architecture, great food, nonstop nightlife and amazing views makes Hong Kong a great weekend destination.