Dining out in the Woo

I’ve lived in Worcester, MA (aka the Woo!) for almost six years now, and for the first four, I was kind of an in-between resident since I attended college here but went home during breaks. So it’s really been in the last few years, when I got a car and then moved out of my college apt (if you know where Clark is, you know what I’m talking about!) that I’ve discovered Worcester is pretty cool. It has its bad parts but also good ones – you could say it’s a diamond in the rough, well almost.

There are lots of things to do and see in this city: Watch the Eastern Sprints - one of the US premier rowing events on Lake Quinsigamond; go to a Tornadoes, Sharks, or Surge game; visit the Ecotarium or Higgins Armory Museum (really cool!); check out one of the city’s 11 colleges and universities – they have great campus greens and there are always events going on open to the public.

But what I love most about this city is the diversity of food choices. Here are some of my favorite places to catch a bite in Worcester:

Chinese
Nancy Chang: This is my go-to place for Chinese takeout. They specialize in a healthier version of Asian food, with no MSG so you don’t get that weird empty feeling shortly after you eat.

Italian
As mentioned, there are tons of places to eat on Shrewsbury Street, but I really like Porto Bello…no web site but you’ll have to take my word for it. They’re a family owned place and I enjoy going there for a nice quiet dinner.

Caffe Espresso Trattoria: I would label this a hole in the wall joint. I went there with friends who have been going for years and I would have never thought to go in if I drove by it. Food is really good, prices also – $15-$20 a plate but a good deal because it’s BYOB. There’s a waitress there that makes the desserts from scratch that are the yummiest I’ve had in a long time.

Mexican
Tortilla Sam’s: Big hit with WPI students, as it’s right there on Highland Street. Also a BYOB and I’ve had good meals here.

Moe’s Southwest Grill: This is my pick for Mexican, hands down. I technically go to the one in Shrewsbury on Route 9 but they opened a location in Worcester last year. Love the names for the burritos (I always get the Joey Bag of Donuts!) and the portions are huge.

Japanese
Haiku: there are a couple of new and very classy sushi joints popping up in Worcester and my favorite is on Park Avenue. I love the décor in here and sushi is what I always get, but my guy has quite enjoyed some of their non-sushi entrees.

Vietnamese (I heart Asian food!)
Pho Dakao: Another kind of hole in the wall place but very clean and very good. In fact, when we eat here, we often see other Vietnamese locals dining here also. Now that’s a good sign! Warning: people have complained about the service (I’ve never experienced this myself) but at the same time they admit the food is good.

Middle Eastern
El Basha: My favorite lunch on a Saturday when I don’t feel like making anything is going to pick up two falafel sandwiches for $10.50. Very tasty and their pita bread is some of the best I’ve had.

Variety/Eclectic
Flying Rhino Cafe: on Shrewsbury Street, I label this restaurant as eclectic because their menu is so diverse and unique. For an appetizer, try the tequila shrimp and for an entree, the pumpkin ravioli with pesto cream sauce, asparagus, and sun dried tomatoes.

Dessert
Caffe Dolce: Right next to Porto Bello on Shrewsbury Street, it’s got a European café feel to it, where you can pop in for a variety of coffee drinks and – lots of tasty options here.

Bean Counter: For a while, I had an extreme addiction to this place in college. They have an assortment of coffees and great looking desserts. I say great-looking because I can only vouch for one – the vegan cupcake. My roommates and I used to come here too often sometimes. I’m not vegan (they do offer regular cupcakes) but I preferred these for some reason, especially when they were fresh. I so want one right now!

Eurovision: a positively craptastic tradition

Before I dive into honeymoon hotel reviews this week, I must spend some time on an entertaining TV show we stumbled upon while in Greece.

Long before there was "American Idol", there was the Eurovision Song Contest. I've been to Europe many times, but never in May - so until now I didn't have the pleasure of catching one of the premier European television events. The Eurovision Song Contest was created by the European Broadcasting Union and has broadcasted every year since 1956. The purpose was to create unity in post-war Europe, and to test out some new technology to see if it would be possible to simultaneously broadcast in multiple countries. ABBA won back in 1974 with "Waterloo", and according to the Eurovision site, they've been the most successful winner to date. This year Russia beat out 42 other participating countries, with Dima Bilan's little ditty, "Believe". Similar to "American Idol", each performance is assigned a phone number for fans to call and vote for their favorite.

Based on the few songs I watched performed live, many countries take this competition very seriously and it is a source of national pride. Others, not so much. Take Ireland, for example. The so-called performer was "Dustin the Turkey" - a puppet so ugly it would make Jim Henson roll over in his grave. Dustin was accompanied by several drag queens (or ladies dressed to resemble drag queens) wearing Turkey feathers and bopping around the stage to "Irelande Douze Pointe".

Another entry getting some press on the international news channels was Rodolfo Chikilicuatre for his song, "Baila El Chiki Chiki" (wait about 40 seconds for the intro to finish). I forget if it was CNN or BBC, but an interviewer spoke to a Spanish government official to get his take on his country's entry. The official essentially said, "yes, it's a national embarrassment, but really, it could worse." Oh, how I wish I spoke Spanish - I can only imagine what he's singing about as he plays his toy guitar....

On a related note, I am super-psyched that David Cook won American Idol! Can't wait to hear his first real, non-Idol song.

A new cure for jet lag?

Thought i'd share this very interesting article i read about a potential way to prevent jag lag. A new study (only proven thus far with mice) says that fasting for about 16 hours helps the body's clock to adjust to a new time zone. Wonder if they'll try it with humans and if it will work. I for one would need some convincing...i can get quite grouchy on an empty stomach!

Where to Travel to Next?

With so many places to travel to how do you pick where you want to go? If you're traveling for work you have to go where you get sent but if your travel is for pleasure the options are almost limitless. The Traveler's Century Club designates 314 countries in the world so how do you choose?

I could live quite happily out of my suitcase for the rest of my life traveling from place to place around the world. So where to travel to next has always been a very serious consideration. My childhood goal was to travel to all seven continents but now that I have accomplished that goal my next is to join the Traveler's Century Club for which you have to have visited 100 countries. 100 countries opens up the possibilities immensely. I want to see Morocco, Egypt, India, Japan, Thailand, Norway, Italy, Croatia, Australia, Chile, the North Pole, to name a few. And I want to go on a multi -country tour of Europe and a multi-country safari along the western side of Africa. No big deal huh?

Whether you want to travel in luxury or you're more comfortable with just your backpack you can start finding the next place to travel to by asking yourself these questions...

1. When do you want to go? (Antarctica can only be visited in it's summer for instance)
2. What is your budget for the trip?
3. How long can you go for?
4. How are you going to travel? Car, plane, boat, train? Space shuttle?
5. Hot or cold?
6. City or country?
7. Large resort or small private location?
8. What do you want to see? What do you want to do?
9. Relaxation or adventure?

I really like to just bring out the map and start picking places but the questions above should help you start to narrow it down a little. And remember that these questions can lead you to some fabulous places right here in the good old USA as well, you don't have to have a passport to have a great vacation!

Health and Safety Tips

I know that I may be a worry wart because I'm a mom now but I thought that it might be useful to have a quick blog about the things you should consider to protect your health and safety when traveling. It is worth the little bit of research time before you go because really now who wants to get the avian flu, malaria, or be kidnapped. OK that sounds a bit dramatic if you're headed to New York City or London but you get my point.

Health

For health recommendations you should take a quick peek at the CDC's Destination List. This website lists for each country the current travel notices, safety and security tips, vaccinations needed, general health information for that region of the world, general tips on staying healthy, and what to do if you get sick when you're on your way home.

The World Health Organization has a down-loadable book on the main health risks for travelers and posts updates of disease outbreaks like yellow fever and malaria.

Safety

Europe's Foreign & Commonwealth Office has a great website that provides you with safety information including terrorism risks, local laws and customs, and crime. Just remember that this is printed with British entry requirements so be sure to look up the US entry requirements when traveling.

A similar website is provided by the US Department of State. This website provides information on the location of the U.S. embassy or consulate in the subject country, unusual immigration practices, health conditions, minor political disturbances, unusual currency and entry regulations, crime and security information, and drug penalties

General Travel Information

The US Department of State's Tips for Traveling Abroad is useful for preparing for your trip and how to make it back home safely. I once got caught trying to "smuggle" a wooden duck into New Zealand. The duck was a present for a friend that lives there but New Zealand doesn't allow the import of wooden objects so my bags were searched. A happy ending, they let me keep the duck since the wood was processed and coated. USA.gov also has a website with some great links.

And if you ever need to know a little about the country you can't beat the CIA for gathering information, right? The CIA World Factbook is a great website for general knowledge about the country from geography to economy to military and politics.

Traveling Green

These days, there is a lot of talk about being eco-conscious, earth-friendly, or simply being "green." This awareness about our Earth and its precious but limited resources has led us to be more conscious about travel. We have left our carbon footprint (determine it here) all over the world and there are numerous ways that you can be eco-friendly when you travel that don’t require you to make big changes.

Just as you would do in your own home, implement some of these when traveling:

- Take the stairs instead of an elevator
- Turn off appliances when you are not using them
- Use public transportation or walk – best way to explore a city!
- Re-use your travels
- Take trains instead of planes - this works especially well in Europe if you are visiting several countries. Invest in a multi-destination train pass before you leave
- Use electronic tickets, not paper, when booking travel
- Avoid using disposable cameras since they can only be used once and take a lot of energy to make

The Independent Traveler has tons of additional tips as well as other resources on traveling green, including top green hotels, green cruising and green deals!

Check out if your national or worldwide destination is a green hotel (click on Travel Destinations in top right-hand corner) and book flights with airlines that recycle the waste created when serving food and beverages to passengers (BA has a strong environmental agenda and SouthWest recycles all cabin waste).

In another section on the same site, you can find a lot of information about carbon offset companies, which offset your carbon emissions for flights, car travel or household energy use. They list a number of projects with explanations, but always make sure that your money and efforts are going to a legit cause.

A few small changes go a long way!

Travelspark Wedding

Yesterday I was pleased to be a part of one of the most beautiful weddings I've ever been to. The rain that was supposed to drench us all disappeared as Travelspark hoped it might and the sun shone down on a glorious bride and groom. Congratulations Travelspark and Mr. Travelspark! Here are a few pictures to wet your appetite, I have to pare down and edit over 400 so I will try post a few more later.

Travelspark getting ready! What a stunning bride!!



The Ladies!



Travelspark in profile, one of my personal favorites!



Mr. Travelspark at the altar patiently waiting! (and looking a tiny bit nervous)



The Kiss!



Travelspark and the guys!



First Dance as Husband and Wife!



Cake Cutting!



Cutting a rug and entertaining the crowd!



A Gentle, Loving Touch!

It's honeymoon time!

I'm getting married this weekend, and after tying the knot with Mr. TravelSpark, seeing how my colorful yet sophisticated vision plays out at the reception, and dancing the night away while wearing what is in my opinion the most gorgeous gown ever, we'll be off on our honeymoon in Greece. We'll spend two nights in Athens, four nights on Crete in Elounda, and four nights on Santorini in Oia.

Usually, I plan out every aspect of our vacations and dig through the depths of the internet to find great deals. This time, though, I'm taking a cue from my hubby-to-be and just letting it ride. We have a guidebook which we'll likely read on the plane, and only a general idea of what we want to see and do. For the first time, that's actually ok with me.

Honeymoon planning carries a great deal of pressure. For many people, it's the most significnant vacation of their lives - so it had better be good. Here are some tips to make it a bit less stressful.

1) Figure out your budget. I don't believe in going into debt for any reason, let alone your vacation. As soon as you get engaged, start saving a bit of your paycheck every month, preferably by automatically deducting it from your check and putting it in a savings account, or automatically transferring it from your checking to savings account. No matter how you do it, save - in the end it'll save you a lot of stress. You can even register for a honeymoon at sites such as TheHoneymoon and Honeyfund and have your guests help you pay for it. However, be sure to check the fine print to avoid unexpected fees. Please don't specifically ask for cash to fund the honeymoon though - that's just tacky.

If, even after your diligence, you still don't have enough to go to your dream destination, don't fret! There are lots of amazing places to go, and you have a lifetime to visit them. Go where you can afford to go so you don't start off your marriage fighting about finances.

2) Decide where to go. Make a list with your SO. Where does he or she dream of going? Which destinations have you read about or seen on TV?Do you want to go back to a favorite destination, or check out a new one? Write everything down and see which locations you both have in common. I keep a list of all the places I want to go in my lifetime, and used this as a starting point.

3) Determine what the theme will be. In addition to agreeing on where to go, you'll also need to determine what you want to do. Do you want to sit on a beach all day, every day in the Caribbean? Do you want to spend your time going from museum to museum trying to find your favorite impressionist painting in Europe? Does the idea of zooming down a zip-line through the jungles of Belize sound like your ideal trip? Whatever you choose as your overall theme, be ready to compromise. If he wants to golf for a day, make an appointment at the spa or camp out by the pool, or go to that museum that would bore him to tears.

4) Do the research. Whether you use a travel agent, like we did (Liberty Travel), or book on your own, you'll still need to decide how you'll get there and where to stay. For me, how to get there seemed easy: I'd been saving Delta miles for ages and had amassed over 100k. Surprise! Even booking the tickets as soon as they were available, we still spent my 100k miles on only one ticket. And, it leaves from JFK, but we live in BOS. Argh. There are so many fare-finders out there for airfare and hotels, so check out TravelSpark's "How to Go" and "Where to Stay" section for links to many of the popular search tools. If you stumble upon a great link, let me know and I will add it to the list.

5) Organize your house. When it's time to go, ask the post office to stop your mail, bribe a friend to water your plants, ensure your pets will be looked after, set timers on your lamps to trick would-be thieves into thinking someone's home. Oh, and please don't leave any food on the counters for our little rodent friends to snack on in your absence. When I was little, my family would watch our neighbor's house and go in to feed their cat. I still remember being shocked at the state in which they left their home: open containers of food, cereal and milk in a bowl on the kitchen table, and loads of dirty dishes in the sink. It was almost like they had to evacuate or something.

Remember to relax! Wedding planning is so stressful, don't let planning the honeymoon, be, either.

Luxurious Color

Many thanks to TravelSpark reader Sharon for pointing out some super-colorful travel accessories from one of her favorite stores, Neiman Marcus. These items are on the pricey side, but would liven up any classic black or navy luggage:

Left: Armand Diradourian cashmere travel blanket zips into a convenient pouch and retails for a cool $485. Right: This monogrammed umbrella is much more affordable at $28.

Left: These passport holders, luggage tags, and document holders would be easy to spot at the bottom of your Longchamp bag (from $30-$125). Right: Pretty and bold makeup case with jewelry roll, on sale for $45.

Left: Manicure set for $70. Right: MP3 player case & speakers for $80.

Speed-dating in Paris

Paris may be the city for lovers, but if you prefer quickies to long-term commitment, it's possible to speed date your way through the city's sights in one day.

During my recent business trip, I had one day to see Paris with my colleagues. It was my fourth time in the city but it was the first for one of them, so we tried to fit in as much as possible. Our hotel was in a suburb called Issy les Moulineau, which is connected to Paris by the RER (commuter train).

We left our hotel around 10am for the 15 minute ride to the Musee d'Orsay. There was a line, but it moved quickly. I was pleasantly surprised that I still qualified for discount admission for those age 18-30 (free for those under 18). The museum opens at 9:30am and is closed on Mondays. This is one of my favorite museums for its beauty (it was built in an old train station) and the ease with which you can see everything in a short amount of time. It's also home to a fabulous colleciton of impressionist paintings.

After a little over an hour, we were ready to walk across the Seine to the middle of the Jardin des Tuileries, up to the Louvre to take photos of the impressive and controversial I.M. Pei designed pyramid and the museum behind it. If you only have one day to see Paris, don't even bother going inside. Unline the Orsay, the Louvre requires at least a full day to see all it has to offer.

Hunger took over and we went in search of lunch, so we took a left at the Louvre and headed down side streets until we found ourselves at the Royal Opera Cafe, near the Opera of course and right at the Pyramides metro stop. After some very tasty croques messieurs sandwiches, our group separated. Three of us took the metro from Pyramides to Poissoniere, and set out for a walk through the neighborhoods to Montmartre and Sacre Coeur basicila, where we climbed to the top to take in the view of the city and tour the basilica.

Next, we took the metro the Champs Elysees and l'Arc de Triomphe for a photo op, before we set out along the George V Boulevard towards the Eiffel Tower. Our RER station was nearby, and we made it back to our hotel by 6:30pm.

France is worth a long-term visit, but if you just want to say you've been there and done that, it's definitely possible to hit up the major sights in one day. If we'd left our hotel a bit earlier we would have been able to squeeze in a visit to Notre Dame. I guess we'll just have to save it for another day!

There's No Excuse for a Fanny Pack!

When I arrived in London for my semester abroad, the study-away program organized a talk with a local policeman to explain the UK's basic laws and offer tips to stay safe. He asked the group, "What is the safest kind of bag to carry?" and an enthusiastic girl in the front offered "A fanny pack?"

His reaction was not what we expected - he collapsed on the floor, laughing hysterically. The words 'fanny pack' had reduced a very serious London cop to a mess of tearful giggles. It turns out that in England the word 'fanny' is the equivalent to the derogatory four-letter word for the va-jay-jay. So why in the world would you want to wear a va-jay-jay pack around your waist? Uhh.... ok that just sounds wrong.

Designers may try to dress it up, but even a skinny supermodel looks ridiculous with a fanny pack around her waist. There are so many other, better options out there that there is no reason to add another ten pounds to your hips and be the butt of jokes during your travels. So, what's the solution? The fabulous Longchamp tote. I saw so many of these at the airports during my recent European jaunt, so they're not exactly unique. They're not trendy either - they're just incredibly practical. The tote has a nylon exterior, zip top, sturdy leather handle and ability to fold into itself - so it's small when you need to stow it in your luggage for the journey to your destination, and large when you need to carry home souvenirs.

I spent quite a while looking for a Longchamp tote at a good price (the one above retails for $135 at Saks). When Mr. TravelSpark had some spare wampum points for Foxwoods and couldn't find any golf gear he wanted, he donated them to my handbag cause and I came home with a Bric's X-Bag:

It's waterproof, has a smaller bag inside it that snaps into the large bag to act as an inner pocket, and is so deep that it would make Mary Poppins proud.

So hunt around for a cute, functional bag. Unless you're riding a bike, walking in an a-thon, or climbing a mountain, you have absolutely no business wearing a fanny pack!