I was invited on the two-day inaugural preview on Norwegian’s colossal new cruise ship, the Epic. While most of the other journalists were upstairs getting soused on the open bar (which I did — later), I was downstairs investigating the new “Studio” cabins. These new solo quarters will enable people who wish to vacation alone,… Read more »
travel
Google Earth shot in 1924: the Manhattan you never knew
It’s just like Google Earth: a flyover of New York City, showing all the rooftops, streets, rail lines and street life. Except it was shot in 1924.
My video interview: What it’s like to work at Epcot
Here’s a new video I did (and the link to the original). I’m not actually in it because I felt that it should be about them, not me. But it was me who was asking the questions, and it was me who approached Disney to do this topic. There are actually a bunch of people… Read more »
Live! From my vacation! It’s how to see Venice for less than $50 a day
I took a few days out of a five-day vacation to create this video because I thought it would be so cool to have an internationally shot segment on WalletPop. I am especially proud of a few of the shots in here, such as the shot of the traghetto gondolier shot from below. On the… Read more »
The macabre truth behind those Duck boat tourist tours
After yesterday’s appalling Ride the Ducks tragedy in Philadelphia, which killed two Hungarian tourists, the media is doing its typical post-game pig-pile, grilling operators about the safety of the land-to-water vehicles and forcing Herschend Family Entertainment, which operates Ride the Ducks, to suspend all operations across the country. The sad truth is that accidents happen…. Read more »
Setting sail on the new Norwegian Epic
Leaving Manhattan by ship is always sublime. It makes me feel lucky, or like it’s 1924.
Wizarding World of Harry Potter opening: All My Tweets
I just got back from the grand opening events of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure theme park. I covered it for so many outlets that I don’t feel like typing those words together ever again. I wrote it up or shot it for Aol, WalletPop.com, Gadling.com, and The… Read more »
The Emigrating Apostrophe
I used to assume that many Western Europeans understood English better than Americans do. I suppose that is still true (it’s definitely true for American current events), but I spotted the dreaded plural apostrophe everywhere, including at this menu in Berlin’s Sony Center.
The case of the missing Berlin Wall
Every city has its Penn Station. Every modern city, at some point, eats its young and then regrets the decision. New York wrecked its cathedral to rail travel. London knocked down Euston Station and tossed it into the swamps. And Berlin, ironically, had its Wall. Yesterday in Berlin, I asked a wide-eyed German working on… Read more »
Overheard in American accents in Venice
“I wonder if they have Ed Hardy up here.” “How did I learn Italian? I came for study abroad.” To a gondolier: “Where in the river do you go?” “This place is like a jigsaw puzzle. I’ll show you.” “East of the Mississippi, there are more deer now than in 1607. Whaddaya think of that?”… Read more »