Traveling with Roman

Safe Travels

romankowalski — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 05:00:00 GMT

Throughout my travels in Europe and Asia, and yes, even throughout the United States, I have encountered pickpockets, scammers, aggressive beggars and even organized crime rings. None of this keeps me from getting out of my comfort zone and seeking out new and exotic destinations.

A long weekend in Macau gave me and my wife a chance to enjoy some of the best food on the planet, taste the legendary Portuguese egg tarts that are offered at nearly every streetcorner, and visit some of the wonderful casinos and play a little Baccarat. I learned to play Fan Tan. We stayed at the Hotel Sintra and ate fresh oysters at the buffet and enjoyed a carafe of house-made sangria.

We walked through Senado Square, where the sidewalks are adorned with beautifully ornate Portuguese pavement, and there, two men came up from behind me. One man carried a briefcase, which he positioned directly next to my right pants pocket so as to block their crime from public view. The other quickly tried to grab my wallet. I felt his light touch going into my pocket and yelled, turned around, and my wife yelled even louder and they ran away, but it was a close call. I learned two things from the episode: First, to be more aware of my surroundings, and second, to put my wallet in my shoulder bag, which I wear over the shoulder with my hand on the flap.

I never let that heightened awareness spoil my fun, though, and I look forward to my next trip to Macau. However, my awareness of pickpockets did result in an unusual encounter with a rogue chicken.

Back in Bangkok where we were living, we enjoyed a local pad thai restaurant. It was one of those side-street, shop-house sort of restaurants, a little primitive, run by an older lady who lived in back of the restaurant who made the best pad thai in the neighborhood. There were live chickens in cages, and a few of them running loose, and sometimes you could see them pecking around the restaurant's floor. I sat on a hard plastic stool at our table enjoying my noodles when I felt something at my back pocket. Remembering my episode in Macau, I reached around immediately, expecting to grab a pickpocket's hand – but there were no pickpockets that day, it was a chicken pecking at my backside! The pickpockets in Macau may have gotten away without consequence for their attempted thievery, but as for the chicken, I knew I would be eating him the next day.

I've picked up a few tips along the way for staying safe.

Rule number one: Don't look like a tourist, and don't be afraid to ask for help. In Krakow, we were sitting at an outdoor café in Rynek Głowny, enjoying the sights and sipping cold beer. I guess they must have heard me speaking English, and maybe I was dressed a little too upscale. I was immediately targeted by a group of aggressive beggars, led by a middle-aged woman who spoke broken English with a Romani accent, asking for money. Thinking I could make them go away, I gave her a few złoty, but it only encouraged her to beg for more. She held a ragged little girl out in front of her to gain sympathy. Eventually the maître d' came out and I motioned for him to come over, and he chased them away.

They weren't all quite so annoying, though. There was an accordion-playing street musician I would walk by every day and I would always toss him a few coins, and we would chat sometimes. When he saw me coming, he would say in a friendly way, "Hey, Yankee!" And then he would start playing "Yankee Doodle" on his accordion.

Rule number two: Leave the expensive jewelry at home. My wife, like most women, loves her diamonds, and probably has more carats than Bugs Bunny. But in a poor country, flashing those stones is asking for trouble. We left the high-end rings, necklaces and earrings at home, and got some nice-looking, but inexpensive jewelry online at In Season Jewelry. We selected several items for around ten to twenty dollars each, and they looked great, and we weren't worried about theft.

Rule number three: Be aware of your surroundings. Pay attention if somebody is getting too close to you on the street. My vigilance in Macau prevented my wallet from being lifted (and, prevented a chicken-pecking in Bangkok!).

Rule number four: Don't let the pickpockets and thieves spoil your fun. Go to new places, see new things. Be bold. If you want to go somewhere, just go, and don't let reports of a few petty thieves keep you from seeing the world.

Travellin' Shoes

romankowalski — Wed, 1 Nov 2017 04:20:00 GMT

Packing for vacation should never start with shoes. If that’s the first thing we pack, then there won’t be room for anything else. Faced with the dilemma of choosing which shoes to take on vacation, it’s essential to take into account where you’re going. Planning to go to the theater or a nice restaurant? You’ll need something a little more elegant, so put your favorite heels in that suitcase before it gets filled up. Planning to walk around town all afternoon? Comfort is paramount, so bring your most comfortable walking shoes. Beach? Sandals, of course.

Rachel, resident fashionista at The Scarpetta, an online retailer for women’s designer shoes, says “When packing for a vacation, packing shoes is almost always the most challenging part because they tend to be bulkier than most clothing and take up a lot of space in your suitcase.” Recognizing that “most women will bring multiple pairs to match multiple outfits,” she recommends condensing as much as possible to try to match multiple outfits with one pair of shoes, to relieve some of that much-needed suitcase space.

Amanda Hudes, founder of Smiling Through Chaos event planning, recommends traveling light, with one practical pair of shoes for walking, a pair of heels, and some sandals for walking around in the hotel (or outside, if the weather’s nice).

Comfort and style too?

What happens when you put a podiatrist and a fashion stylist in the same room, and tell them to come up with a design for a pair of women’s shoes? After the shouting, screaming, throwing of chairs, and maybe a little crying, they may just come up with something usable. That was the case with WORLDboots, a Los Angeles-based fashion brand that launched late last year with a star-studded Hollywood launch party.

The gold standard of any woman’s vacation shoe collection is a pair that is comfortable, and looks good enough to wear to the theater. “No pedorthist is going to recommend stilettoes if you’re planning on spending the afternoon walking around sight-seeing,” said Ben Zerbe, COO and chief designer at WORLDboots. “What we’ve accomplished here is creating an attractive product which men and women alike will be proud to wear – while putting comfort and foot health as our highest priorities.”

What you need most in your suitcase

Fashionable heels may look great, but most women will tell you, they are anxious to take them off as soon as possible – and perhaps one of the biggest needs in the women’s footwear industry is to create shoes that are stylish, and comfortable too, and with good support. There’s nothing quite like slipping into a pair of comfortable shoes that feel great when you’re walking, but at the same time, nobody really wants to wear shoes that remind them of their grandmothers.

Nearly 50 percent of all people will experience some type of foot issues at some point.

This is especially relevant for vacation packing, when you’re on a trip and likely to be doing a lot more walking than normal, and one of the most underrated but most important factors when packing for vacation is to select the right pair of shoes.

When you’re packing for that trip, keep in mind these expert tips that will keep your feet looking good, without having to soak them in hot water at the end of the day.

1. Bring a pair of heels for special occasions, the theater, or a nice restaurant, but don’t feel the need to wear them all day. Keep your heels to 2-1/2 inches or less to avoid foot pain later on.

2. Bring along a pair of all-occasion, stylish, low-heel or flat-heel shoes that you can wear with any outfit.

3. Style is about balance, especially when you’re on vacation. Find shoes that sit somewhere between runway model and frumpy grandma.

4. Casual runners are great to add to the suitcase for day-to-day support and comfort

5. Athleisure is a growing category that is well-suited to traveling, offering shoes that can be sporty and attractive for all occasions.

The architectural delights of unexpected vacation destinations

romankowalski — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 07:23:00 GMT

Vacations aren’t always meant for theme parks, overpriced restaurants, and souvenirs that you will never look at after you get home. Some of the greatest delights are those you least expect – and simply gazing at some of the country’s most amazing architecture makes a good vacation even better.

If you come from a part of the country where most of the homes are post-war construction, venturing through New England and the deep south especially will expose you to the type of buildings you’ll never see back home, many of which have historic qualities, fascinating backstories, and sometimes ghosts; some are even open to the public. “Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is known as much for its historic homes as it is the notorious battlefield,” said Tim Bakke, Director of Publishing at The Plan Collection. “With plenty of homes built in the 19^th – and even the 18^th – century, just looking at these homes is the best and most direct way to get a first-hand look at life in the early United States.”

The oldest home in Gettysburg is the Dobbin House, built in 1776 and currently in use as a restaurant. The grand stone-built home, once home to Rev. Dobbin’s 18 children, was used as part of the Underground Railroad prior to the Civil War. Besides enjoying the delightful 19^th century menu available at the restaurant (try the Adams County roast duck, made with tart apples and hard cider!), Dobbin House offers free tours, so you can take a look at the hiding places, the home’s underground spring, and the historically-decorated rooms complete with period-specific antiques.

Dobbin House in Gettysburg, PA. Photo by Charoenkwan Blacharski.

Gettysburg is one of a handful of places in the United States where the country’s history is deeply integrated into everyday life, and you can’t help but feel the drama and anxiety of the Battle of Gettysburg as you stroll past the Jenny Wade House, which was featured on the Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures show. One of the first things you’ll notice before you even go inside are the bullet holes in the front door, giving visitors a stark reminder that the horrors of war are not always in distant lands.

Jenny Wade House, Gettysburg, PA. Photo by Charoenkwan Blacharski.

The antebellum architecture seen throughout Louisiana is another opportunity to go back in time, and Bakke points to the splendid antebellum mansions as one of the best examples of 19^th century architecture, some elements of which are still evident in modern designs.

St. Francisville’s Myrtles Plantation, currently a bed & breakfast and known as one of the most haunted homes in America, was built in 1796 and still exhibits that wonderful antebellum splendor with giant rocking chairs on the veranda, and expansive grounds lined with live oaks, crepe myrtle trees, azaleas, and all of the other flora and fauna that were so typical of antebellum homes.

Myrtles Plantation

Of course, while in Louisiana, it’s essential to go to New Orleans, where the Garden District has some of the most intriguing and beautiful homes. According to Marko Mihajlovic, tour director at TourMakers, antebellum homes are “an integral and important part of the US history, and yet in a way alien and certainly not the first association travelers have when the US is mentioned.” Marko also recommends a visit to Chertien Point Plantation, a 12-room mansion on an old 3,000-acre cotton plantation. Adorned with slave-artisans’ woodwork and two massive live oaks on either side of the house, this one is truly legendary and filled with history. Legend has it that during the Civil War, Union soldiers spared the home when the owner came out and showed a Masonic sign. The mansion is also rumored to have been frequented by pirate Jean Lafitte, and of course, there are plenty of stories about lost treasures on the grounds.

Also in the Garden District is the Henry Howard Hotel, a quaint, 17-room hotel oozing with southern charm that is close in to everything you’ll love about New Orleans. A HotelsCombined Award of Recognition award winner for the best hotel in the state, it was originally built as a double-gallery townhouse in 1867. The Greek Revival home boasts Italianate elements and classic New Orleans galleries with walk-through windows and Corinthian columns.

New Orleans, LA. Henry Howard Hotel.

Sometimes those homes are less evident but no less historic, and according to Emile L’Eplattenier, real estate marketing and sales analyst at Fit Small Business, “One of my favorite homes in Manhattan [New York] is Alexander Hamilton’s former home, Hamilton Grange. Originally designed as a country home on 32 acres, as the city grew around it, Hamilton Grange found itself in a far less pastoral setting surrounded by a church and an apartment building on lovely (but still as tightly packed as any Manhattan street) Convent Avenue. I actually walked my dog past Hamilton Grange dozens of times before I even bothered to read the park services plaque dedicating it as a historic landmark.”

Hamilton Grange House

Emily Hines, who blogs about her on-the-road tours at Em’s On The Road, looks to neighboring Mississippi for architectural inspiration as well. “Longwood Plantation in Natchez, Mississippi, is one of the most unique homes I’ve visited. It is designed in the Moorish Revival style with a 16 sided onion dome, and one of the last remaining octagonal houses in the country.” Interestingly, the home was to have had 32 rooms and 30,000 square feet when complete, but constructed was halted due to the Civil War. Visitors can tour the home and visit the completed first floor, then venture upstairs to see the intricate framework of the rest of the house and the inside the unfinished dome.

You don’t have to be an architect to appreciate a slow drive through an historic neighborhood in New England, the deep south, or other historic parts of the United States, enjoying a rare look at some of the nation’s most historic homes. Take a little time to detour off the beaten tourist path. You may just come back home with a few ideas for an historic-inspired home of your own.

Pair Your Travels with Great Local Craft Liquor

romankowalski — Sun, 20 Aug 2017 03:04:00 GMT

Americans’ taste for craft beverages has given birth to thousands of small breweries, wineries and distilleries throughout the country, many of which depart from the status quo with daring and unique combinations of flavors and techniques. Craft distilleries in particular are transforming the liquor industry, giving consumers newer and more creative alternatives.

For those who don’t like the juniper-forward London Dry gin for example, American craft gins offer a delightful combination of botanicals with more citrus and floral notes. And lovers of vodka no longer have to resort to Russian and Polish imports to get the best American craft vodka can compare to the best Eastern Europe has to offer.

Vacation destinations can be a little more interesting when those museums, theme parks and giant balls of twine are paired with a visit to some of the country’s most fascinating craft distilleries. Some of our favorite destinations in the country are also home to some great distilleries – here are a few of the best.

Louisiana, Rum Country

Louisiana is home to a lot more than the Mardi Gras and delicious beignets. The state is one of the biggest American hubs for rum lovers, due in large part to the widely available sugar cane that grows throughout the state. Louisiana’s Cajun country is home to two of my own favorite rums, which stand up favorably against the traditional competition from the Caribbean.

Every part of Louisiana has something to offer, but of course New Orleans is a must-see before you head down to Lake Charles or Thibodaux to sample the state’s most exciting rum producers. The parties go on all night long and the food is incredible, but tourists will also delight in taking in a view of the city’s large collection of Southern mansions. While there, consider staying at one of the many unique bed & breakfasts like the historic Henry Howard Hotel, which recently was awarded HotelsCombined’s Recognition of Excellence award for the best big-city hotel in the state of Louisiana. The Greek revival and Italianate boutique hotel is one of the best examples of historic New Orleans.

After you’ve enjoyed the rich history of New Orleans and the Henry Howard Hotel, head on down to Lake Charles, where Bayou Rum offers handcrafted, made-in-Louisiana rum, created in a traditional copper pot using 100 percent natural, unrefined Louisiana cane sugar and molasses. But this is rum country, and you’re not done yet! Go to Thibodaux, to Rougaroux Rums by Donna Peltier, a line of rum with a fun backstory and a Louisiana favorite. A Rougaoux is a Cajun werewolf, and this line of rum is named after this mythical swamp creature. Rougaroux offers three rums: Sugarshine, a clear rum; Full Moon, a dark rum made with pure blackstrap molasses and raw sugar; and 13 Pennies, a wonderful praline-flavored rum. All sugar used in these rums is grown locally, on the distillery owner’s family farm.

Richmond, Virginia

Richmond, Virginia – a fine destination to take in some of the country’s oldest architecture including St. John’s church, where Patrick Henry famously uttered, “Give me liberty or give me death.” While you’re taking in the sites though, you may also want to say, “Give me a drink,” because Richmond is the home of Cirrus Vodka, a handcrafted super-premium potato vodka which is smooth enough to be sipped straight.

Cirrus distiller Paul McCann said, “I usually like for non-vodka people to try Cirrus. I work pretty hard on not distilling the character out of the spirit. I am not one to adhere to the tasteless, odorless definition. After all, what is the point of being able to enjoy something if it is totally void of any spirit? My belief is that vodka should be enjoyed as one would a bourbon or whisky or anything else that you would drink by itself.”

All natural and with no additives, Paul says they add pure spring water to the potatoes, and cook with steam in stainless steel tanks. The mash is then transferred to a fermenting tank, and the alcohol is triple-distilled to create a 190-proof base, which is then blended with purified water to create the 80-proof final product, which has pleasant citrus notes and a great mouthfeel.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago has one of the most unusual histories when it comes to liquor, but FEW Spirits in nearby Evanston, Illinois is a relative newcomer, showing up on the craft spirits scene long after the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. The small, grain-to-glass distillery makes both whisky and gin, with everything they produce made and bottled in-house. Master distiller Paul Hletko isn’t afraid to try something new, and he says his gins incorporate botanicals seldom found in other gins, from cascade hops they grow themselves at the distillery, to Earl Grey tea.

The Chicago suburb of Evanston has the dubious history of being a city that banned alcohol sales for 40 years after the end of national Prohibition, and FEW Spirits has the privilege of being the first (legal) distillery in Evanston, and Hletko is proud to say everything is made from scratch, on-site. “If we can’t grow it ourselves, we buy it locally. And if we can’t buy it locally, we buy it from friends,” he says.

FEW’s American Gin is especially unique, and the mash is distilled to 130 proof, much lower than most gins, so it retains the flavor of the Midwestern grains (corn, wheat, and malted barley), along with the unusual combination of botanicals that place the juniper in a more subtle background position to let the other botanicals come through.