Iceland should really think about changing its name; sure it can get a bit cold in Iceland but not like Greenland, which ironically is covered in ice. Iceland has got to be losing millions on tourism because of the assumptions that people probably make about it because of its name. In reality, Iceland is hardly icy at all, and is actually covered in lush green hills and mountains. In a way Iceland is like the European version of Colorado.  Among the rolling green hills and snow capped mountains of Iceland sits the Hótel Brimnes. The Hotel Brimnes is located in the small Icelandic town of Ólafsfjörður and what separates the Hotel Brimnes from other generic hotels is that guests can choose to stay either in the main standard hotel facility or in Finnish style bungalows that sit at the edge of Lake Ólafsfjarðarvatn . In truth, the main Hotel Brimnes facility is quite average so if you really want to have an unforgettable stay in Iceland then go with the cottages.  Each of the Hotel Brimnes’ eight wood cottages has a hot tub, kitchen, and a lounge in addition to the usual bedrooms and bathrooms.  Cottage accommodations range from the small four bed cottages to the large 6 bed family cottage.  The main Hotel Brimnes facility has eleven double rooms and like the cottages, have a great view of Lake Ólafsfjarðarvatn and the surrounding mountains and countryside.


If you’re staying at the Hotel Brimnes and you see a series of bright green lights coming from outside your hotel or cottage window at night then don’t panic.  It’s not the Icelandic police: they use blue lights. In fact, what you are probably seeing is the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. The Aurora Borealis is nighttime display of lights in the sky which is caused by ionized particles impacting the Earth’s magnetic field. The Northern Lights are only visible in Polar Regions like Iceland and are truly a sight to behold.

Alright, the Northern Lights are great and all, but what are you going to do during the day?  Well why not go for a drive and explore some of Iceland’s natural beauty?  Just stop by one of the many off-roading rental companies operating in Iceland and to explore the countryside. You’re going to want a real study vehicle that has some all terrain tires and some study wheels though because Iceland definitely has some rugged terrain. Drive to the newly formed town , Fjallabyggð or visit the fjords of the Tröllaskagi peninsula. Or if you’re daring, travel to the famous and difficult to pronounce volcano, Eyjafjallajokull, which that erupted in 2010. The volcano is pretty safe now, and it’s just one of many areas in Iceland you might want to explore.  Maybe a name change isn’t necessary but in any event, Iceland seriously needs to work on its image problem because the country is gorgeous. Find out more about the Hótel Brimnes at their site here.

Photo by Senior Airman Joshua Strang (USAF) & Rögnvaldur Jónsson

The Hótel Brimnes in Iceland is a post from: Bob Travel

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1. The Chambers hotel in New York

The Chambers Hotel in New York claims to be the Ultimate Modern Luxury Hotel, let’s see if it lives up to that claim shall we. First of all,The Chambers Hotel is located off of New York’s 56th Street and the famous 5th Avenue, so the hotel’s claims about being the ultimate luxury are already looking promising and we haven’t even addressed the interior yet. The Chambers is only blocks away from Central Park in an area that many people consider to be the heart of New York and it’s easy to see why. The area around the Chambers has something for everybody from fine dining at Adour restaurant to shopping at Sony Style to browsing the art at the Tibor Denagy Gallery. And for the fashonistas the Chambers is located only a short walk away from Gucci America, Louis Vuitton, and the Prada Boutique.  Also, if you’re just crazy about Tiffany’s like Holly Golightly then fear not because the famous jewelry store is only a short walk away. In any event, the attractions around the Chambers Hotel will ensure that you will never be bored on your stay.

The Chambers Hotel has 72 rooms with 9 different floor plans from standard queen rooms all the way up to the two story duplex suites, but with any plan you’re guaranteed to be treated like royalty. Want proof the Chambers is the ultimate in modern luxury? Well before you even make it to your room you’ll notice the artwork of eminent artists like John Waters and Shelia Pepe exhibited in every hallway and guest room.

Moreover, each suite has free high speed internet access along with 42-inch Plasma televisions and complimentary iPods. Each bed has 300 thread-count Egyptian cotton linens and down pillows, although foam pillows are available upon request for people that hate feeling like they are sleeping on a cloud.

Treat that special someone to foie gras at the Chamber Hotel’s restaurant Má Pêche, an elegant eatery modeled in a French bistro style famous for its fusion of Vietnamese and American cuisine. Run by Executive Chef Tien Ho, Má Pêche has really made a name for itself among New York foodies, so stop by for a meal and count yourself among the privileged. Má Pêche also provides the room service to the Chambers guests so if it been a long day then relax in your room and order some the best food you will ever eat. Feeling a little sluggish? The Chambers Hotel provides guest with complimentary passes to the nearby fitness center and a personal yoga instructor.

Images via Rachel Kramer Bussel

The Chambers hotel in New York is a post from: Bob Travel

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Lafayette is a gorgeous city in the middle of some of the more scenic places in the country.  Louisiana is a fascinating place, rich with histories and cultures that intertwine, disconnect, and meet up again further down the road to intertwine again.  It has all the mystery that a swamp should have, along with a very vibrant culture.  There are plenty of things to see in town, and plenty of inspired people.  That’s certainly the case with Sarah Mikayla Brown, who grew up here, and had some of the more formative years in the beginning of her wild and adventurous career.

It’s possible, then, to check into a cool hotel, and start poking around the city, finding little hubs of culture here and there that can be very inspiring.  It’s also a fantastic place to come to get away from a busier schedule.  The pace of life is different here, and the geography certainly does enter into the world view of the people.  This is the home of Cajun culture, after all, and the blend of hospitality and taste come together in a deep appreciation for the simply things in life.  For the artists, however, it’s never all that simple, no matter where you live.

As Brown certainly knows, to make a mark in the incredible competitive theatre market, it takes a lot of hustle.  She learned that she was apparently born with immense inner resources that would drive her to do impossible things.  She worked with Acting Up!, an improv troupe, in town, before moving to Chicago.  There, she she’s begun the Chicago Fringe Festival, which is no small feat in a world where the odds are very much stacked against you for these kinds of ventures.  Along the way, she’s also has the chance to work with Rude Mechanicals, Tantaus, and Corn Productions, among others.  It will be thrilling to see how this next year’s festival goes, and hope she gets all the credit she deserves.

Sarah Mikayla Brown from Lafayette is a post from: Bob Travel

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The English city of Newport is located along the Isle of Wight, just off of the southern coast of Great Britain.  Many amenities and activities are to be found throughout the region, including an array of choices for accommodation in a Newport hotel, along with a vast array of parks and museums.  One such fascination is the Seaclose Park which is located just along the Medina River.  This park is home to the annual Isle of Wight Festival of Music.   Located close to the park is the Saint George’s Park.  This is the home and the training grounds of the Newport Football team, the most successful of the teams on the isle.  Cricket courts are also located close by in Newclose, just outside of the city.  The largest museum of Postal history is located in Newport, with an exhibit that spans years of vintage equipment and post boxes, perhaps the largest collection in the world.  The largest celebration on the island occurs every June for a few days, and that is the music festival.

The Isle of Wight Music festival won an award this year, and is among the very first festivals to win such an award…the Greener Festival Award.  This award goes to festivals that participate in the Eco-Action partnership.  They look at the impacts that a particular festival has on the environment, in the areas of travel, waste and energy.  This award was considered three years ago, in an attempt to minimize the affects that festivals tend to bring on the environment and to encourage all those involved to take care, to do all in their power to reduce the pollution with a fifty six point list of greener policies for which to adhere.  Included on the list are the policies on the use of energy, the recycling and water use calculators, as well as the protection of the environment and the reduction of noise pollution.  Teams of auditors travel to various festivals and record their assessments of the practice of the green policies.   More festivals each year are becoming involved with the project, promoting not just their festival agendas, but the agenda that promotes overall greener ways of living.

The English City of Newport is a post from: Bob Travel

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There are many historical buildings in the city of Jaipur.  Many were at one time the residences of the various members of the Royal families, or houses of government.  In modern days these structures become registered on the Heritage site, and many of these sites become locations for the heritage hotel.  India has many such sites, and many are in the Pink City.  The City Palace was once a complex, a bit like extremely luxurious condominiums of today, and the architecture shows evidence of the influence of the Rajput Rulers and the Mughals.  There are monuments around the city and in the parks and gardens to these bygone kings and queens, many of whom may seen in the photographs collected and on exhibit in the Palace Museum.  The Hawa Mahal is another location from the earlier times of the city and stands eminently in the Bazaar of Johri.  This is said to be one of the coolest places in the city as the breezes have easy access through any of the nine hundred and fifty three windows in the structure.

There are many observatories throughout the city of Jaipur, as the early king was taken with the sky and the importance of the study of astronomy.  Many of these were constructed by Jai Singh, with the most significant one being, the Jaipur Observatory.  This designed with giant shapes of geometric patterns and curves, a testament to this belief in the need of an understanding of the science of astronomy.  And although this was constructed hundreds of years ago, it reads as modern architectural designs of today.  Amber Fort is another Heritage Site that is located on top of a mountain, easily accessible by car or by riding an elephant.  The positioning of these building makes the best times for a visit during the morning hours when the sun is rising or at evening time as the sun is setting, as the light during this times is perfect for highlight the amber, the gold and the red hues in the designs of the building’s facade.  These are just a few of the Heritage Sites in the city of Jaipur that must be visited on any holiday to the city.

The Heritage Hotels of India is a post from: Bob Travel

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Traveling in this economy is still possible.  Many businesses are offering discounts such as the airlines and the restaurants, and even in New York City one can find a good deal on a room in a hotel.  Central Park is one of the many locations wherein most of the fun to be had there does not cost a penny.  During any season one chooses to visit, there are activities in the park that fit the budgets of many of today’s travelers.  During the springtime and the summer months, the fountains burst into life and the flowers in the gardens bloom.  Sheeps Meadow becomes lush and green and many will spend the days sunbathing, picnicking, playing Frisbee, or keeping an eye on Pale Male’s next for the first glimpse of the hatching hawks.  There are many free concerts and theater shows in the Park during this time as well as the Summer Cinema Program.  For those traveling with children, one option is the Central Park Zoo, which is open to the public and admission is free.  And during the winter months many come to Central Park and ice skate at the Wollman Rink.
Other free or inexpensive ways to visit and sight see are a plenty.  Simply walking through Washington Square park can be a beautiful, and entertaining way to spend an afternoon, as around every curve of the walkway there is someone playing guitar, performing street theater such as mime shows or magic acts, as well as the drummers that produce incredible rhythms simply using their plastic tubs turned upside down.  A fifty cent ride on the Staten Island Ferry is a great way to catch incredible views of the Statue of Liberty as well as the New York City Skyline.  And for those who enjoy walking tours, along with so many of the neighborhoods such as the Village or Chelsea, one can take a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.  This is a must do walk for anyone, especially for those with an eye for photography and structural wonders.  And then of course, there is the quiet view of the entire island from atop the Empire State Building.  The best time for this excursion is at dusk, when the lights of the city are just starting to twinkle.  Traveling these days should be relaxing and stress free, and there are many ways to find those experiences, even in a city such as New York.

Central Park, and Other Inexpensive Experiences in NYC is a post from: Bob Travel

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To hold reservations for a hotel in Bali, Indonesia is a fantastic gift.  It portends a great deal of pleasure in the near future, where comfort and luxury are promised in a place where the good life is a practice and not an ideal.  The hotels here are excellent combinations of tradition and innovation, providing guests with cutting-edge amenities in an aura of island hospitality, where gracefulness is a value.  There are splendid opportunities to participate in activities that are fun for the whole family, and there is also a night life here that is really extraordinary.

Bali is an Indonesian island that has a long history of cultural diversity.  The contemporary Bali blends indigenous culture with Chinese and Indian influences, and this is evident in the performing and visual arts.  Visitors here should try to see some traditional and contemporary works of Balinese dance, as these styles are amazing spectacles that will stay in the memory for a long time.  One of Bali’s most famous dancers is Ni Wade Pujawati whose artistic credentials extend throughout the world, having performed in the U.S. and Europe.

Ni Made Pujawati was born in Bali, and used to sneak away to study dancing at night, until her family saw her perform, and then started to support her choice of life’s direction.  She studied at both the Indonesian Conseratory of Music and the Indonesian Institute of Arts, where she learned many aspects of performance, with a focus in dance.  She is currently based in London, where she operates her aptly named organization, Balinesedance, which is devoted to promoting Indonesian dance forms all over the world.  There are performances all over the world by Ni Made Pujawati, in Balinese and Javanese dance, as well as Balinese theatre.  Her work is increasingly more cross-cultural, and she works to make Balinese dance more accessible to “western” audiences.

Bali’s Ni Made Pujawati is a post from: Bob Travel

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Barcelona is known for attracting both artists and tourists. It is an incredible global city located on the Mediterranean Coast of Spain. While its financial, entertainment and commercial trade industries account for its status as a global city, some of the incredible architecture of the city accounts for much of its fascination and attraction. Antoni Gaudi was a Spanish architect who designed many of the buildings in what is known as the Gothic quarter of Barcelona. He is known for his unique style and was part of the modernist era. While he is not the only great architect to have designed buildings in the city, he is certainly one of the most renown and honored. The city’s buildings represent its diverse history and tourists staying in a Barcelona Spain hotel are often positioned in one of the historic buildings.

Gaudi was born in 1852 into a family with a long history of coppersmiths. Some of his designs in Barcelona include the lampposts at the Placa Reial and the Casa Mila. His individual style gained him early recognition and remains one of the reasons for his standing out through history. He went through many phases during his career and his later works are focused on religious themes and creations. He was a devoted catholic and late in life he abandoned his secular endeavors. The Sagrada Famila is considered to be his masterpiece.

The Casa Mila is better known as La Pedrera, meaning the quarry, and was constructed between 1906 and 1910. It officially considered to have been completed in 1912. It is located in the Eixample District of Barcelona, at 92 Passeig de Gracia. The building was designed and built for the married couple Rosario Segimon and Pere Mila. There was some conflict between city officials and Gaudi regarding the design and it was not strictly followed during the building’s construction. The owners were fined after its construction due to its having violated some of the city codes, such as height restrictions.

Gaudi Buildings in Barcelona is a post from: Bob Travel

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Pablo Picasso is one of the most well known painters in history.  His images are widely recognized throughout the world, and in his home town of Madrid, Spain, hotel walls, businesses and cafes are alive with the images of this son of the Spanish city.  Many artists traveling through Madrid will often make the pilgrimage to the house in which he was born.  This is now the site of the Foundation Picasso.  On of more famous museums, housing much more of an extensive collection of Picasso’s work is located near by, the Palacio de Buenavista. This is one of the favorite locations of art lovers, fans of Picasso, and fans of modern art in general, located in the country of Spain.  For not only are the images created by Picasso brilliantly colored and finely executed, the way that this man painted changed the course of the history of modern art.  Picasso is considered as a true genius in the art world, and innovator of life.

When Picasso was growing up in Malaga, he was recognized by adults, including his father, as a young kid with incredible innate talent, a prodigy.  His early work, much of it accomplished by the time he was still a very young man, is housed in the Museo de Picasso located in the city of Barcelona.  His early drawings resemble and convey the three dimensionality and the details of sculpture.  Picasso was somewhat of a young rebel, preferring to hang out in the cafes where the intellectuals and the working artist gathered rather than in school and art class.  He later went to Paris where he fell in love with the works of his contemporaries, Courbet, Toulouse-Lautrec and Manet.  Picasso was always one who appreciated, respected, and admired the works of the painters of his day, and although he was influenced by the work, he still succeeded in following his own path and creating his own unique style.  His paintings now hang all over the world, in the museums and the galleries, however there is nothing so spectacular as the viewing of these works in the home town of the master painter who created them.

Picasso of Malaga, Spain is a post from: Bob Travel

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I am a 22 according to the science of numerology. The Number 22 – Twenty-Two is a Master Number. Numerology is the science of Numbers. The word ‘Numerology’ comes from the Latin word ‘numerus’, which means: number. The Greek work ‘Logos,’ means: word mostly, but it can also mean thought or expression. Numerology does influence all aspects of one’s life. It will create the blueprint with which to base ones future; it can open and reveal ones own deeper natural purpose.

I didn’t know I was a 22 until I was in my thirties. I was checking out of a Mumbai Bombay Hotel when the desk clerk notice my birth date and quickly added and reduced the numbers. She looked an me in awe and told me that I will accomplish wonderful things in my life. I asked her what she meant and she proceed to explain to me about how my soul number is the number 22 and what that means. I just laughed and proceed to check out. I, at the time, had no interest in this numerology stuff, until I notice that that number kept appearing in every aspect of my life. My lot number for my condominium is 22. The initial of my First name is V, the 22nd letter of the alphabet, my middle name adds up to 22 and I have many other instances I could site.

The Master Number of 22 also known to be The Master Builder, they concern themselves with tangible creations with the use of the material form. They are gifted with a wide-range visual imagination. They grasp the totality of their visions like a lightning strike of inspiration. They can fully view the details, understand it’s absolute meaning and know what is required to complete their vision. This is The Master Builder, the number 22.

To find out if one is a – 22 – a Master Builder. One needs to know their birth path number that uses ones complete birth date. It is easy to calculate. Add up the digits of your birth date, then reduce the total down to one number, but the number 22 does not get reduced to a 4. For example, my birth year is 1957 (1 + 9 + 5 + 7 = 22).

Master Builder is a post from: Bob Travel

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