I’m heading to Paris (so excited!!!!) and there will be minimal posting while I a gone.

Instead I am rewarding you for sticking around while I take several days off from the blog (I will be on Instagram, Foodspotting, Twitter and Facebook etc so follow me there if you are interested!).

I’ve got a nice prize for you. I am giving away a Kindle Fire HD.

This isn’t a group blog event with 20 other bloggers. This is me, myself and I giving one hard-working reader a chance to win, simply by doing what you do best…reading this blog and commenting.

It’s kind of what you do anyway, I am just rewarding you for it!

So here’s the deal. I am gone six days. From tomorrow, June 19th through next Tuesday, June 25th. There will be very few posts between now and then. But I do have nearly five years of posts available to you to peruse and ponder, and that’s exactly what the giveaway is all about.

To enter, you must visit, read and comment on THREE posts. You can either do them all at once or spread them out over the next week and a half (I’m giving you extra time, I am even starting today and I haven’t even left yet!). The Rafflecopter will keep you honest and keep me sane.

A couple of things:

[1] They should be real comments. Things like “great job” or “I like this post” aren’t going to count.
[2] If you are a faithful reader that comments on nearly every post, come back anyway and find something new to say, we are talking about a Kindle Fire HD!

I am also going to give you some extra time. You have until midnight EST, Friday June 28th to complete your 3 entries.

Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Andi’s Vacation Giveaway 2 appeared first on Misadventures with Andi.

Oh Minnie, Disneyland Paris for just us two!

Visiting an amusement park without children instills a sense of wickedness.  It’s like you are doing something that you aren’t supposed to.  Enjoying something completely and freely the way you want to as opposed to the whims of those four feet and under.  That got me thinking about how I’d do Disneyland Paris from a DINK perspective, or at the very least, an adult-only trip. I thought it might be fun to share what a visit could be like without kids.

With or without children you should scope out deals for Disneyland Paris, the money you save on buying a discount package can be put into your hotel or food budget!  I really like the UK version for the Disneyland Paris website.  It’s got great info for every aspect of your trip. There is a French version of course as well for my French speaking friends.

I recommend spending a little more to stay at an on-site hotel.  Doing so will gain you access to enter Disneyland Paris one hour (or more depending on the hotel) before the general public.  If you don’t stay on-site, make sure you arrive at the park entrance at least 45-60 minutes before it opens. It’s about a 15-20 minutes to walk to the entrance from the parking area.

Getting a jump on everyone else means getting through some of the more popular rides without major lines. Maximize your time by planning ahead. Know where you are heading to before you even get there.  Don’t be one of those bozos hovering over a map figuring out where to go, every minute counts.

Don’t be these guys!

Another way to avoid lines is to use the FASTPASS reservations system.  It works just like Disneyland and Disneyworld in that it allows you to go to the front of the line at a reserved time. You should be aware that some of the rides aren’t on the FASTPASS system so you may want to head there first.

After a long morning of rides you can always head back to your room to have a petit dodo midday and miss all the lunch hour craziness.  I recommend saving your money for a nice dinner and drinks by having a picnic in your room or somewhere nearby.  There is a huge shopping center at Val d’Europe with an Auchan (like a Target or small Walmart with groceries) a perfect spot for picking up picnic supplies, or wine/champagne to celebrate your “I-made-it-through-a-day-at-Disneyland-without-kids!”

Now this is lunch in style!

If you want to stay in the park for lunch you CAN take picnics (some guidebooks say you can’t). Of course there is plenty of fast food to eat if you can stand the lines (I can’t and don’t like fast food).

In the afternoon hit the park again and enjoy every minute of it.  Relish the feeling of choosing what you want to do and where you want to go. Observe children throwing fits and be thankful you aren’t dealing with that for the day.  Smile at the children who are having a wonderful time…as you pass them on your way to your next activity.

We’ve got this place to ourselves! Photo credit: MyWedding.com

When dinner comes around you can find an interesting dining in an ocean liner-like ambiance at the Restaurant des Stars inside the park.

In the Disney Village, located between the Parks and the Disney Hotels, is an entertainment district that’s open from 7.30am until very late every day. There are plenty four bars and 10 themed restaurants, entertainment like the 15-screen cinema complex with an IMAX theater and dancing.  Spots like the Rock-and-Roll American Cafe that offers live music and specialty cocktails as well as Billy Bob’s Country and Western Saloon. There is a club called Hurricanes Nightclub for those wanting to dance away the night, no babysitters required!

Kids? What kids? Image credit: pressmaster / 123RF Stock Photo

The next morning wake up late. You deserve it after waking up so early the morning before.  Have a lovely petit dej while the rest of the world waits in line to get into the park.  Late morning head back to the park and catch what you missed the day before all the way through lunch while everyone else is eating (remember you had that luxurious breakfast).  As early evening approaches, wish Mickey and Minnie adieu and head back to the city of light to enjoy the other adult playground in Paris!

Well, that’s how I would do Disneyland Paris. How about you?

I did a lot of research looking for the best resources and still think the actual Disneyland Paris site has it all.  From tickets and packages to hotel and restaurant information, I didn’t find another site that was as exhaustive.  I was really surprised.  With the large number of bloggers who blog about everything under the sun for the parks here in the U.S. it seems that just isn’t the case in my beloved France.  I think that Disney might want to consider some of the extensive blogger programs they do here for Disneyland and Disneyworld for Disneyland Paris. I’d take them up on it!

Only one of my favorite Parisian bloggers, David Lebovitz, has written about a trip to Disneyland Paris and because it is from a food-centric point of view, I love it.

Consider leaving a comment! For every comment left on Misadventures with Andi during the month of June, I will donate 50 cents to the AFAR Foundation. And when you leave a comment you earn a chance to win a Kindle Fire HD, so comment often it will help my charity of choice and you may get yourself a treat too!

The post Disneyland Paris for Adults appeared first on Misadventures with Andi.

I am a big fan of cheese too. I think it is part of the wedding vows when you get hitched to a Frenchmen!

Growing up the main cheese in my house was Velveeta (makes awesome grilled cheese sandwiches). My Dad would snack on Monterey Jack and cheddar before dinner. And for entertaining or holidays my Mom would make hors d’oeuvres with Cracker Barrel cheddar cheese.  I remember those blocks for Christmas etc.  It was special and different from our “regular” cheese.

As an adult I have had a chance to explore cheese all over the world as well as pick up new versions of old favorites at home. Like white cheddar, something that I was only introduced to in the last five years. My first experience? The Cracker Barrel Aged Reserve (true story!).

Cheese can get expensive. Trust me, I know.  With a French guy in the house I swear sometimes it is a third of my grocery bill!  But it really isn’t the case for all cheeses, there are lots to explore and many that won’t break the bank.

Although I love many sandwiches from around the world, I don’t consider a sandwich American without cheese, weird quirk of mine but true.

I was anxious to talk cheese and sandwiches with Jeff Mauro and between his busy schedule and mine we made it happen over the phone last Tuesday.

[MWA] I don’t eat a lot of fast food now, but growing up, we were a fast food family and when I think of my favorite cheese sandwich the one I’d say is my favorite and want to recreate a healthier version of is the Arby’s Beef and Cheddar Classic.  Hot roast beef, melted cheddar cheese and some sort of spicy barbeque sauce.  What is your favorite sandwich where cheese is one of the stars?

[Jeff]  I like a nice aged intense cheddar, thinly sliced black forest ham, and pickled jalapenos on a pretzel roll. That might be one of my top three all time favorite sandwiches. It reminds me of a ball park or festival food, you know, and it those pairings of salty ham and cheese with the jalapeno and pretzel it’s just so American and awesome!

Maybe something like this? (Photo credit: Some Kitchen Stories)

[MWA]  No joke, except for the pretzel roll that is what I ate last night for dinner!  I love jalapenos on my sandwiches! I do the same thing with turkey, I always add jalapenos.

[Jeff] Well good, see, and you did not give me that answer in advance, I promise!

[MWA] One thing I am always seeking out is fried chicken sandwiches. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area the best is Bakesale Betty and it is even being replicated in Paris.  I haven’t seen every Sandwich King, have you done a fried chicken sandwich? If not, where do you think the best fried chicken sandwich in America is?

[Jeff]  No I haven’t done a traditional fried chicken sandwich yet on my show, I did a waffle sandwich with fried chicken, but I love a traditional hot fried chicken with iceberg lettuce and mayo on a soft bun, it is another one of my favorites and showcases the simplicity of a great sandwich.

I’ll be honest with you, two weeks ago I had my first ever Chick-fil-A. They just started rolling them out here in Chicago and for a bun, chicken and two pickles it was phenomenal and I just love it. Politics aside, I am in it for the food and they executed a great sandwich.

Jeff, you need to try THIS one > THE Bakesale Betty Fried Chicken Sandwich

[MWA] With your various shows you do a lot of traveling, so what is the food item you miss most when you are on the road? What do you want to come home to?

[Jeff] Believe it or not, pizza. I am in New York a lot so I don’t want to start that whole argument about NY vs Chicago who has better pizza.  But it is a misconception that Chicagoans only eat deep dish pizza for every meal.  That’s not true.  It’s a special occasion thing.  Growing up we would have deep dish or stuffed pizza once or twice year maybe.

We eat thin crust pizza primarily. That’s usually cut in squares with a nice crackery crust, big chunks of locally homemade Italian sausage – I have not found anywhere else in the country or the world that makes it better than here.  It’s got whole milk mozzarella, nothing spared. I wish the world knew about that more.  We are only known for Unos, Due’s or Malnati’s which are great, but our thin crust is something to be experienced and should be.

Looks pretty good to me! (Photo credit: Thrillist)

[MWA] That sounds yummy! Conversely, when you are on the road, what kind of food do you seek out?

[Jeff] For product research (!) I do have to eat many, many, many sandwiches. And I prefer to as I am always trying to get new ideas for recipes and for locations. One of the first things I do when I check into a hotel is open up “the binder” and flip to the room service menu and see what they got and chances are I’ll order a couple samplers of something even sometimes before I go out to dinner. Just because I want to know whether or not I would ever order anything [outside], it is a way of gauging what’s out there [locally].

It’s something I heard Chicago chef Graham Elliott does. He orders 90% of the room service menu and I thought that was a great idea. The other specific thing I seek out in Los Angeles is one of my favorite sandwiches in the world, a Langer’s pastrami on rye.  Hand cut from Langer’s deli in LA. I am going there in two weeks and that is what I am eating. (Another great one in NY is at the Chelsea Market called Friedman’s Lunch)

Langers Delicatessen Pastrami (Photo credit: Dine Delish)

[MWA] There are some really great spots for pastrami sandwiches here in San Francisco, there are even some pastrami blogs!

[Jeff] Really? How I am not related to this person, I don’t know…

[MWA] I am always writing about not needing a lot of money to travel, which is why I love your show $24 in 24.  It shows people you can have great food without breaking the bank! Do you have San Francisco favorites that you think would make the cut if you filmed here?

[Jeff] You know, I’ve been to San Francisco once and it was probably 10 years ago. I went for Thanksgiving which I had on a farm outside the city. I remember getting a breakfast burrito at the farmer’s market. And that was my fondest memory eating there. That whole market on a Sunday morning. I ate my weight before 9 a.m.

[MWA] So it sounds like you need to come to San Francisco!

[Jeff] I do! My wife is going out there in a few weeks for business, I need to have her do reconnaissance for me.

[MWA] Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today.  I love Cracker Barrel cheddar and was blown away to hear that is was award-winning too!  The white cheddar is one of my favorites – I love it alone with a glass of red wine, the perfect way to end a day.

I’d say Jeff Mauro and Cracker Barrel are a perfect pairing!

Make sure to follow Jeff on Twitter and Like him on Facebook and tune into his shows Sandwich King and $24 in 24 on The Food Network.

Check out great recipes and pairing for Cracker Barrel’s award winning cheeses on their website.

Want more cheese? Check out my Say Cheese Wanderlist on AFAR.

Cheesy goodness in San Francisco

- The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen in either South Park or The Mission totally rocks!

- The Melt has several locations including food trucks out and about in the city.

- Visit the Cowgirl Creamery store in the Ferry Building or cross the bridge to the Cheeseboard Collective in Berkeley to discover a myriad of cheeses to try.

Consider leaving a comment! For every comment left on Misadventures with Andi during the month of June, I will donate 50 cents to the AFAR Foundation. And when you leave a comment you earn a chance to win a Kindle Fire HD, so comment often it will help my charity of choice and you may get yourself a treat too!

The post The Big Cheese of Sandwiches: A Conversation with Jeff Mauro appeared first on Misadventures with Andi.

Recreational vehicle (RV) trips are an exciting way to explore the country. Across the 50 states, there are thousands of campsites, each offering a unique experience and different amenities. Don’t let the long list of possible destinations overwhelm you. Use these tips to help you get started planning your RV vacation.

When planning your RV trip, start by selecting a region of the country that appeals to you. From hiking the Northern Rim of the Grand Canyon to soaking up some rays on the sandy beaches of Florida, RV trips can be customized to appeal to any traveler. To help you get started, here are a few must-see RV destinations in each region of the United States:

West – Yosemite Pines RV Park, California

Yosemite (Photo credit: msauder)

Yosemite Pines RV Park mixes the serenity of nature with some fun, family-friendly amenities. Take a short drive to explore the tranquility of the wilderness at Yosemite National Park. But be prepared to liven things up back at the park. Choose from a variety of activities including a pool area, gold mine tour, sand volleyball court, barbecue areas and fire rings. Full RV hookups (electric, water and sewer) as well as just water and electric are available.

Southwest – North Rim Campground, Arizona

North Rim (Photo credit: Omar Omar)

As the name indicates, this campground is located along the Northern Rim of the Grand Canyon. Just a short walk to the scenic canyon walls, this destination is ideal to explore the Grand Canyon. This rustic, back-to-the basics campground doesn’t provide RV hookups, but it does have the essentials: restrooms, showers and laundry facilities.

Midwest – Gull Lake Recreation Area, Minnesota

Gull Lake (Photo credit: ejbSF)

This campground has something to offer for everyone. Nested on the Gull River, at the Gull Lake outlet, this is the ultimate destination if you enjoy boating, fishing and swimming. But visitors who prefer to stay dry have plenty to keep them busy, too. Hike part of the 100-mile Paul Bunyan trail or check out the nearby Native American Indian mounds. Electric RV hookups are available.

Southeast – Emerald Beach RV Park, Florida

Emerald Beach (Photo credit: Navarrian)

If you’re hoping to focus on relaxation during your RV vacation, Emerald Beach RV Park could be just what you’re looking for. Located directly on the Intercoastal Waterway, this tropical destination offers plenty of rest and relaxation any way you’d like it. Grab a lounge chair by the pool, back your RV right up to the private beach, watch the sunset on the tiki deck, or set sail to relax. No matter how you choose to unwind, you won’t have a care in the world with access to full RV hookups.

Northeast – Cherry Hill Park, Maryland

For the history buff, Cherry Hill Park has a lot to offer. It’s the closest RV park to Washington, D.C. and a perfect location to post up while exploring our nation’s political epicenter. It’s also a great starting point to head north and explore the New England states. On-site amenities are plentiful and include a pool, cable TV access and miniature golf. Full RV hookups are available.

While exploring the country, make sure you have the RV insurance coverage you need. Finding the right RV insurance company is easy and it will keep you protected from unforeseen trouble and get you back on the road faster should issues arise.

Sponsored content was created and provided by Nationwide Insurance

What about you? Have an RV Park recommendation or tip?

Consider leaving a comment! For every comment left on Misadventures with Andi during the month of June, I will donate 50 cents to the AFAR Foundation. And when you leave a comment you earn a chance to win a Kindle Fire HD, so comment often it will help my charity of choice and you may get yourself a treat too!

The post Best RV Trip Destinations by Region appeared first on Misadventures with Andi.

I don’t have a broken heart but, I can’t enough of this Love Hurts kit spotted on Fast Company’s Co.Design.  I am going to snatch one up for the next person in my life who gets knocked around by love.  It will at least bring a momentary smile and a couple hours of just what the doctor ordered.

Photo credit: Co.Design

As a fan of Instagram and now Oggl (find me, my user name is Andi), I am totally intrigued by this Lomography camera (spotted on Travel & Leisure).  I can’t think of one good reason to justify its purchase, but I want one!

Photo credit Lomography

Barbeque season is on its way and who doesn’t like a pulled pork or BBQ beef sandwich? Preparing it can be on the messy side which is why I think this meat shredder from Williams Sonoma (spotted on Food Republic) is pretty awesome.  I am sure it is therapeutic to use too!

Photo credit Williams Sonoma

I saw these really cool travel-inspired iPhone cases on Double Takes.

Photo credit: Double Takes

Which led me to the Society 6 website where I saw a myriad of cool things including this Paris-themed iPad skin in red, and you know how I feel about red!

Photo credit: Society 6

Speaking of my favorite color, here is a really stylish car phone charger from Tylt. If you have to have a utility piece why not make it beautiful?

Photo credit Tylt

Leaving you on a sweet note.  Mr. Misadventures and I could own stock in Chuao Chocolatier with the amount we consume.  We love the Firecracker bar equally and then each have our own other favorites.  If you have not tried these, drop everything and go order one now!  You won’t regret it.  They have a brand new bar that I am dying to try: Pop Corn Pop.  It’s got “puffed whole grains, toasted corn chips, popping candy and a sprinkle of sea salt in creamy milk chocolate.” Hay carumba!  Want it!

Photo credit Chuao Chocolatier

That’s it for this edition of J’adore, a few my my recent favorite finds as I travel the web!

How about you? What are you currently adoring?

The post J’adore #51 appeared first on Misadventures with Andi.

I am really hoping that my upcoming trip to Paris will be just what the doctor ordered.  In the meantime, here are this week’s Saturday Six, a collection of posts that resonated with me recently

[1] It is the simple things in life that will keep you happy from day to day. Nothing is simpler than a smile.  When things go wrong and life gets you down, facing it with a smile just makes it that much easier to conquer.  It isn’t easy, but it is so worth it.  I love this essay from Leo Babatua of Zen Habits which offers a simple reminder of that.

[2] I don’t like to dwell on the past. What could have been.  What I should have done.  I endeavor to live my life purposefully, mistakes and all. That also means that I am in a constant state of moving forward.  Things may be marked off a virtual checklist, but those are usually only to be replaced by new ones. I think that is why I really enjoyed Chris Brogan’s post, “A Thousand Before and After Pictures” because it illustrates that life is really all about transitions. To celebrate what is and what is ahead of you.

[3] As I wade through my mini blog crisis, posts like “Your Blogging Voice: Pour Your Heart Out” from Things I Can’t Say are really inspiring.  It is so easy to fall into the trap of looking outward instead of in, which is why nearly five years into this blog I still remember the words from my very first blog conference spoken by Velveteen Mind, OWN IT. Shel’s post reminded me to not feel obligated by anything else than myself. (Here is an oldie but goodie that encapsulates more on this topic.)

[4] People are constantly seeking to define bloggers and the blogosphere. It is human nature to want to understand any popular phenomena. We must categorize things, dissect them to figure out how or why they function.  I think the best analogy I have ever seen for bloggers is one I recently read from All Things Fadra.  In “A Blogger’s Sense of Entitlement,” Fadra compares bloggers to actors and it is brilliant.  She nailed it.

[5] Social media is in a constant state of change.   New platforms launch every week (dare I say every day?) and it is so easy to get sucked into them.  Sometimes it is just simpler to spend an hour on Facebook-Pinterest-Instagram than to spend an hour (often more) writing a blog post.  These channels are a necessary (and fun!) evil that support blogs (hub and spoke model) but the blog needs attention too! That is exactly what Julochka of Moments of Perfect Clarity is lamenting in her post “blogs are being diluted by other social media” and I would have to say I agree!

[6] I want to end on a happy note and nothing made me happier this week than this adorable post on Paris dogs from Lindsey of Lost in Cheeseland. There is a magical spot across the street from Verjus where a wonderful set of dogs meets every day. Go see.

That’s it for this week!

How about you? Have any good posts you discovered in your blogosphere journeys that you want to share? How do you discover new blogs?

Consider leaving a comment! For every comment left on Misadventures with Andi during the month of June, I will donate 50 cents to the AFAR Foundation. And when you leave a comment you earn a chance to win a Kindle Fire HD, so comment often it will help my charity of choice and you may get yourself a treat too!

The post Saturday Six #125 on Sunday appeared first on Misadventures with Andi.

Throughout history, the popular holiday destination, Majorca, has been home to several cultures. Before being annexed by the Spanish empire, the island was occupied by number of civilizations including the ancient Talayotic culture, the Romans, the Moors, and the Byzantine Empire. The various peoples that fed from this land have left their particular marks on its culinary scene. While the Romans cultivated its tasty olives and squeezed fine wine from its grapes, the Arabs profited from its sheep and lamb cattle and created delightful meat hot pots and savory cheese.

frit mallorquí (photo credit: Recetas Mallorquinas)

One of the most popular and succulent dishes of Majorca is the frit mallorquí, a mixture of roasted potatoes, peppers and meat—typically beef liver, pork, or lamb cooked in its juices. Try an unrivaled version of this dish at Ca’n Pedr, a traditional restaurant that boasts one of the nicest views of Palma de Mallorca from the top of a nearby hill.

Palma-de-Mallorca (Photo credit Charter World)

Located a mere 10 minute drive southwest of the capital in the nearby village of Génova, the two-floor local restaurant—run by the Esteban family since 1976—specializes in meat and snails.

The atmosphere and the excellent service turn this local joint into a perfect option for an evening out to watch the city lights and relish in delectable Majorcan food which can be followed by sweet local wine to wash it all down. Watch out though, this place tends to get very busy at weekends.

Ca’n Pedr is located at: 14, Rector Vives stree, Génova, Palma de Majorca, Spain (closed on Wednesdays)

Our next course takes us to a place that seems immune to the passage of time. Ca’n Angel is immersed in an extraordinary environment—curious depictions on the walls, a tree trunk growing in the middle of the room, and antique furniture epitomize the unique personality of this bar that has been feeding and quenching its neighbor’s thirst for over 40 years.

Coca de Trampó (photo credit: Recetas Mallorquinas)

Ideal for breakfast, this restaurant serves the typical homemade Coca de Trampó—a square shaped pizza topped with fresh local produce including onions, garlic, tomatoes, and light-green peppers. After sunset, the bar also transforms into a great spot for drinks. Amusingly, the age of the customers here decreases as the night sets in.

Try the incredibly refreshing Pomada Menorquina, a drink made from lemonade and a local gin brewed in the neighbour island of Menorca (once British territory).

Ca’n Angel is located at 7, Sant Jaume street, Palma de Majorca, Spain

Mallorcan tapas (Photo credit: ismon)

Bar Día is an authentic tapas bar close to the heart of Palma’s fortified old city. Try the amazing roast lamb or the oven-cooked chicken with potatoes. All food is homemade and the prices are affordable for any wallet. If you are lucky enough to catch a live tuna performance, you’ll discover that this doesn’t actually involve fish, but traditionally dressed Spanish student music bands singing serenades as they empty their glasses of beer.

Bar Día is located at 18, Apuntadors street, Palma de Majoca, Spain

True locavores shouldn’t miss Palma’s two authentic local markets, Olivar and Santa Catalina, where fresh fish arrives daily and vegetables and fruit are all recently picked. If you love to cook, I suggest you tour these markets and prepare yourself a wholesome meal using fresh fish and the best of land harvest.

Also well-known for its finely cured meats, Majorca’s Sobrasada (minced seasoned pork meat) is a must. Spread the savory mixture over toast, tip with honey and a sprinkle of rosemary and enjoy.

Deli in the Olivar market (Photo credit: David Smith)

Inside the Santa Catalina market (Plaça Navegació), by the south gate, you will find a small stand at the right (only 3 or 4 tables and a few stools) where you can delight in a truly local treat, in the most traditional and urban of ways. This is a quick-transit eating place: arrive, find your way to a stool, order your food, eat it, and leave—one of my favorite places for genuinely blending into one of Palma’s local food scenes.

Tumbet (Photo credit: The Cuilnary Chase)

Try the octopus, the soups and the Tumbet (stir fried vegetables with fine potato slices using local olive oil). You can finish your meal with a zip of local herb liqueur and go for a siesta on the grass of Plaça Feixina, just across the street, east from the market and facing the sea. Unbeatable.

Food tastes better in good company. Eat heartily and wash it down with local wine, and always, always toast to absent friends. !Que aproveche!

About the Author
Camilo Mejia is a freelance journalist and translator, a professional cook, and restless nomad, currently writing on behalf of Monarch Airlines. He lived on Majorca for about two years, where he worked as a cook in a couple of restaurants in the island’s capital. He has always enjoyed mixing his passions, words and food, pouring in a good amount of traveling in order to taste new places with all the senses.

Consider leaving a comment! For every comment left on Misadventures with Andi during the month of June, I will donate 50 cents to the AFAR Foundation. And when you leave a comment you earn a chance to win a Kindle Fire HD, so comment often it will help my charity of choice and you may get yourself a treat too!

The post Devouring Majorca appeared first on Misadventures with Andi.

Tours cover numerous area of interest and every tour guide is an expert in their field. Whether it is art , history, architecture or food, your docent will be local, and extremely knowledgeable.  Along with a small group size, it is a perfect combination for an intimate experience.  Now, every where I travel I look to see if Context Travel has tours and I seek them out.  Even when it is a city as familiar to me as Paris, there is always more to learn.  And for new destinations like Kyoto for our trip in November, it is likely lucking into a local friend living in the area and using their experiences to broaden yours.

It is not surprising that this year Context Travel is celebrating their ten-year anniversary. They are a company that practices, and deeply believes in, sustainability. They’ve even created the Context Travel Foundation for Sustainable Travel and operate as a certified B Corporation a relatively new kind of company which uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.

I was thrilled when owner Paul Bennett agreed to an interview to help celebrate the company’s ten years of success.  Please welcome Paul!

Paul Bennett, pictured with his wife Lani Bevacqua. (Photo credit: Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer at Philly.com)

[1] Ten years, wow!  How did you start (and where) and in what ways has the company changed (and not changed) in the decade Context Travel has been in existence.

Ten years. So, we’re still young!

Although we’re an urban company, soaked in history, culture, and the arts, the whole thing began on a sailboat hundreds of miles from land. Lani, my wife and business partner, and I lived for two years on a boat and traveled a good part of the globe (Central America and the Mediterranean). Along the way we learned the value of connecting with local experts who could give us insight into the places we were visiting. Partly, this was connected to my work as a freelance journalist. But it also just proved really sensible. We wanted to learn about the places we visited, and wanted to immerse ourselves. A local expert became indispensable to this project.

Our trip ended in Rome when we discovered that Lani was pregnant with our first child, and we simply transferred the idea to land. I was working for National Geographic, Smithsonian, and a bunch of other magazines, and I’d compiled a great rolodex of experts in art history, archaeology and other topics. Many of those sources became docents, and many continue to work for us still.

Context Travel in Rome (Photo credit: Context Travel)

[2] How did your mission to run a sustainable company and to give back locally come about?

I wrote a big piece for the now-defunct National Geographic Adventure magazine a decade ago on sustainable travel, which exposed me to a lot of the great work happening in this sector. Fast forward many years as Context is taking off and I realized that although we’re low impact, we’re not really sustainable. We weren’t doing anything proactive to support and nurture the cultural heritage of the cities where we live and operate. And, yet, we have this amazing network of 300+ scholars who adore those cities. If we could leverage that we could make a real impact.

Our Foundation is still in its infancy, and we only have a handful of projects. But, they are amazing, if small, and point to a bright future for us as a B Corp and sustainable business.

Context Tour in London (Photo credit: magellanstraits)

[3] Can you give us a peek into the future?  Will there be Context Tours in every major city in the world or do you have certain things you look for in a potential candidate city?

We’re currently operating in 23 cities, and will launch two more before year’s end. I can see us eventually in 40-50 cities worldwide. There is absolutely a set of criteria. First, it has to be a city. Our model of a la carte day tours relies on having a nexus of local experts. A Context walk isn’t an escorted tour in the traditional sense. It doesn’t last many days or weeks. And we can’t send someone a long distance for just three hours. We need someone local, a true local expert. And, so cities are our best bet.

Which cities? Well, it has to be a culturally rich place with deep history, art, architecture, and other capital “C” culture. That’s our primary currency and what we do best. It also has to have a sense of place, or geo-character. And, of course, people have to want to visit. We work in Rome, Shanghai, Washington, DC…. These are major urban destinations of the world, and cities of layers that you penetrate more deeply with each visit.

Shanghai (Photo credit: Context Travel)

[4]  You offer so many tours, do you have any tips for selecting the “right” tour?

Ah, good question. This is a tough one. It depends on the traveler’s needs. For example, a family visiting Paris for the first time is going to have different needs than the couple who come every spring. It’s also very personal. Again, using Paris as an example, some visitors are completely focused on food, while for others it’s part of a broader experience. Travelers also have different “levers.” I’m a connection person. I love learning the timeline of a place and understanding how it is connected to other places. For example, when I take one of our Habsburg walks in Prague and then another one in Vienna or Budapest, and the docent can weave together that story and those interconnections between the cities, I’m enthralled. I’m a complete geek that way.

I think travel depends a lot on rhythm. You have to go at the right pace, have the right companion, and feed yourself the right mix of food, sleep, adrenaline, and inspiration. Our walking seminars play an important role in this. For me, personally, I like to take one walk each day, in the morning. It gets me thinking, and I ride that the rest of the day. Our walks last three hours, so perfect before lunch; and then lunch can support the ongoing conversation with my traveling companion about what we learned, further questions, and so on. I like to work chronologically, too. So, if I can load the beginning of my visit with antiquities and move toward more modern history later in the visit that’s great, though not always possible. And, I love to have one curated meal along the way. This is something unique that we do, and I think it’s crucial to understanding a place.

(Photo credit: Context Travel)

I travel a ton and I take a lot of our walks. I go on our popular walks like the Forbidden City in Beijing, Louvre in Paris, and our Gaudi walk in Barcelona mainly to check in and see how we’re doing on those. But, what I love are the new, thematic, off-the-beaten path walks, like the Daoism walk in Beijing, the Immigration and Changing Face of Paris walk in Paris, and the Made in Barcelona walk there about local design. These give you insight into a place far beyond a traditional tour.

When I answer the phones in our Philadelphia office and get a question about which walks to take I always urge people to sprinkle in one or two of these unusual topic walks. Invariably, when they call or write afterward this is the walk that blew their minds.

[5] Do you have tips for impending tour takers? Things that will make their tour more successful?

I’m an advocate of slow travel. Stay in an apartment instead of a hotel. Spend twice as much time in a place than you think. Couple your cultural touring with experiential learning like food tours, curated meals, or learning how to do something—like our fresco-making workshop in Florence. Try to avoid the tendency of being a drive-by tourist. Love it. “If there’s life, there’s travel.”

Thanks Paul!

Wonderful responses, I wouldn’t have expected any less coming from the man who created such a wonderful company.  I am looking forward to tours in Paris in a few weeks and new ones in Kyoto in November!

Consider leaving a comment! For every comment left on Misadventures with Andi during the month of June, I will donate 50 cents to the AFAR Foundation. And when you leave a comment you earn a chance to win a Kindle Fire HD, so comment often it will help my charity of choice and you may get yourself a treat too!

The post Context Travel – 10 Years of Exceptional Curated Tours Around the World appeared first on Misadventures with Andi.

This month I am pleased to raise money for an organization that is near and dear to me, the AFAR Foundation.  I have written before how I feel about this charity that teaches underprivileged children about the world, and themselves, via travel.

For every comment left on Misadventures with Andi during the month of June, I will donate 50 cents (up to $100) to the AFAR Foundation.

And when you leave a comment you earn a chance to win a Kindle Fire HD, so comment often it will help my charity of choice and you may get yourself a treat too!

There are some rules:

[1] They should be real comments. Things like “great job” or “I like this post” aren’t going to count.

[2] No more than TWO (2) comments per day on two DIFFERENT posts. But you can come back every day if you like!

This month the recipient of the donation is AFAR Foundation – you are welcome to donate additional money to the campaign if you like.

For July, I have selected ProtectAGirl.org.

I will select a different charity every month.

Thank you for your consideration and contribution! Happy commenting!

The post Comment for a Cause – June appeared first on Misadventures with Andi.

I have been going on some great weekend road trips recently, like this past weekend to Mono Lake that included time in Mammoth, Yosemite and Bodie, an awesome gold mining town that was abandoned nearly in tact. Eventually I will actually write about these places, but in the meantime I am sharing this photo.

I always feel awkward taking people’s photos never knowing who will mind and who won’t. I didn’t have the right lens to really get this cowboy, but I liked this photo which also captured me spying as I spied on the cowboy across the way.

What’s it like for you when it comes to capturing people with your camera?

Consider leaving a comment! For every comment left on Misadventures with Andi during the month of May, I will donate 50 cents to Oklahomans for the Arts. And when you leave a comment you earn a chance to win a Kindle Fire HD, so comment often it will help my charity of choice and you may get yourself a treat too!

The post (Not quite) Wordless Wednesday #191: Spying on a Cowboy appeared first on Misadventures with Andi.