Moraine Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta

from Everything Everywhere Travel Blog http://everything-everywhere.com/2014/12/21/moraine-lake-banff-national-park-alberta-2/

Hugo Chavez and the US-Cuba deal

News analysis: It's going to be a bad year for Venezuela's leader Nicolas Maduro.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/pulse/hugo-chavez-helped-bring-us-cuba-closer-together/

Pivotal moments in 2014 – when Alibaba launched Alitrip.com

When a business with global aspirations such as Alibaba, currently valued at more than $270 billion, launches a separate standalone travel business, ...



from Tnooz http://www.tnooz.com/article/pivotal-moments-2014-Alibaba-alitrip/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pivotal-moments-2014-alibaba-launched-alitrip-com

A Time Machine Look at Early Travel Blogging

As another year draws to a conclusion, I’ve been remembering what travel blogging looked like when I started FrugalTravelGuy on October 27, 2007. There weren’t a lot of independent bloggers back then. The home of most of the travel blogging world was BoardingArea — nine bloggers on the main site and three more on a […]



from Frugal Travel Guy http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/2014/12/a-time-machine-look-at-early-travel-blogging.html

The Museum of Alchemists and Magicians of Old Prague in Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is a city steeped in history both known and otherwise, and the darker side of the Czech capitol's past is brought to light in evocative displays at The Museum of Alchemists and Magicians of Old Prague, which looks at some of the famous dabblers in the dark arts that have called the city home.

As king of much of eastern Europe and eventually Holy Roman Emperor during the 16th century, Rudolf II was not known as an especially effective ruler, but he is widely remembered for his interest and patronage of the occult arts. It was during his reign that he turned Prague into the unofficial capitol of the dark arts. Funding a number of alchemists and other so-called sorcerers, most notably the likes of Edward Kelley and John Dee, Rudolf created possibly the most active period of occult practice in history.

Whether or not his patrons were simply charlatans wrapped in mystery (which they probably were), or bold proto-scientists, the legacy of these magicians and madmen is remembered with a carnival flair at The Museum of Alchemists and Magicians of Old Prague. Consisting of two levels of displays and tableaus, the exhibits trace the history Rudolf's alchemists in the city, especially Kelley. The main floor has displays and replica artifacts of the trade alongside such fantastical scenes as a failed magician being stolen up into the ceiling by the Devil while cackling sorcerers huddle around the glowing runes beneath. The second floor, which claims to be the actual tower where the real Kelley performed his esoteric experiments if decked out like an alchemists lab, all aged scrolls and stacked grimoires, complete with a half-completed homunculus, the ultimate alchemical achievement.

The museum is more than a little sensational in its presentation, but to be fair these alchemists were likely more than a little bit showmen themselves. What better way to remember and learn about their arcane history than with a little bit of magical realism?

from Atlas Obscura http://atlasobscura.com.feedsportal.com/c/35387/f/665719/s/41abb5f0/sc/10/l/0L0Satlasobscura0N0Cplaces0Cthe0Emuseum0Eof0Ealchemists0Eand0Emagicians0Eof0Eold0Eprague/story01.htm

He paid for a first-class seat, but it didn’t last all the way to Portland

from Elliott http://elliott.org/can-this-trip-be-saved-2/paid-first-class-seat-didnt-last-way-portland/

A Mom Walking Home in Chefchaouen

Category Reminder Remember that if you want to see more photos from this “Town of Blue” in Morocco, just click on the “Chefchaouen” tag above! It’s kind of hidden there, and not everyone sees it! Daily Photo – A Mom Walking Home in Chefchaouen Here is that mountain town in Morocco where everything is painted […]



from Stuck in Customs http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2014/12/22/a-mom-walking-home-in-chefchaouen/

Denied a Cabana at Cathay Pacific’s “The Wing” First Class Lounge

Must-read Earlier Installments: Singapore, Cathay, and Qantas First Class.. Some of the Best Meals of My Life, and a Tour of Hyatts in Bangkok, Singapore, and Sydney Inside the New Oneworld Lounge at LAX’s Tom Bradley International TerminalCathay Pacific First Class, Los Angeles – Hong Kong On arrival in Hong Kong you head to the […]

The post Denied a Cabana at Cathay Pacific’s “The Wing” First Class Lounge appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/12/21/review-cathay-pacific-the-wing-first-class-lounge/

Has Barclays Started Limiting Targeted Signup Bonus Offers to Members That Are Actually Eligible?

In my post about earning miles by referring your friends to the Barclays US Airways card, I point out that Barclays has been making an offer of 50,000 miles plus 10,000 miles at card renewal available, marketed to US Airways elite frequent flyers. Many consider the 10,000 mile offer at renewal ‘better’ but as I […]

The post Has Barclays Started Limiting Targeted Signup Bonus Offers to Members That Are Actually Eligible? appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/12/21/barclays-started-limiting-targeted-signup-bonus-offers-members-actually-eligible/

Airport Etiquette: Cutting Security Lines When Running Late?

Reader Mike asked the following question on the "Ask Lucky" page of the blog:

"What are you thoughts on those in security lines that ask to jump ahead because they’re late? Just yesterday I was called an asshole by some guy whose family was running behind to catch a flight and I refused to accommodate. Regardless of the reason, I’m late, they’re late, why should I allow another person ahead to increase my chances of misconnecting?"

It's an interesting question, and one I don't have an answer to. So I'd love to hear what you guys think.

The post Airport Etiquette: Cutting Security Lines When Running Late? appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/12/21/airport-etiquette-cutting-security-lines-when-running-late/

Exploiting the Freshly Increased Value of Citibank’s Thank You Points

I receive compensation for many links on this blog. You don’t have to use these links, but I am grateful to you if you do. American Express, Citibank, Chase, and other banks are advertising partners of this site. I do not write about all credit cards that are available — instead focusing on miles, points, […]

The post Exploiting the Freshly Increased Value of Citibank’s Thank You Points appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/12/21/exploiting-freshly-increased-value-citibanks-thank-points/

Deal Alert: Europe Business Class Fares For $1,100

Business class fares to Europe tend to run anywhere from $3,000-$6,000 depending on the season and destination. But per this FlyerTalk thread, some intrepid travelers have uncovered fares as low as $1,100 roundtrip on Star Alliance airlines throughout the next year. There are two catches, though. The first is that the fares are only being […]



from The Points Guy http://thepointsguy.com/2014/12/deal-alert-europe-business-class-fares-for-1100/

Five Thoughts On Last Night’s Singapore Suites Class Flight

Hello from Germany! I flew Singapore Airlines Suites Class from New York to Frankfurt last night. I wrote an extensive trip report about the same flight last month, so won't be reviewing it again, since it was basically the same (including the menu).

Instead I figured I'd share five thoughts on last night's flight:

How adorable is it that Singapore Airlines has wreaths aboard their aircraft? While I'm not much of a holiday person, there's something nice about getting a bit festive when flying (preciously I just relied on holiday themed cocktails as a way of getting festive). ;)

The post Five Thoughts On Last Night’s Singapore Suites Class Flight appeared first on One Mile at a Time.

from One Mile at a Time http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/12/21/five-thoughts-last-nights-singapore-suites-class-flight/

I Lost a Top Tier Elite Status — and How I Could Get it Back…

You used to be able to

The post I Lost a Top Tier Elite Status — and How I Could Get it Back… appeared first on View from the Wing.

from View from the Wing http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/2014/12/21/lost-top-tier-elite-status-get-back/

Race and diversity in Spain

Jessica Poitevien reflects on how the color of her skin has influenced and shaped her experience living abroad, and it's a must read.



from Matador Network » Matador Network http://matadornetwork.com/life/black-look-race-diversity-spain/