TWA Hotel - New York, USA

A red carpet, the ultimate symbol of status, is rolled out for you the moment you enter the TWA Hotel. Literally. The carpet that covers the entrance corridors and part of the lounge areas is bright red, after the original colors of the airline. But it’s not only the carpet that makes a big impression.

I took the elevator from JetBlue’s Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport and in a few seconds was transported in time. It was the 60s and this was the jetset lifestyle. 

A makeshift office welcomes you next to a futuristic tunnel that will lead you to the hotel. Before walking through the tunnel, I couldn’t help but explore the MadMen-style desk, wooden decor and full bar (all props left there for you to take some cool antique snaps).

Inside the hotel, the celebration to this precious era of aviation continues. A monochromatic sunken lounge, a departure board with split-flaps that switches with the iconic clicks and clacks, and a wing displaying vintage flight personnel uniforms bring to life what the TWA Terminal was like back in 1962.

1962 is the year this terminal originally opened its doors. The building, known as the headhouse of the terminal, was designed by Finish architect Eero Saarinen. The design itself is considered to touch a few different styles, including Futurism, Neo-Futurism and Googee styles.

Today, the terminal is the anchor between the three buildings that make the TWA Hotel. Additional to 512 rooms, there is also a rooftop infinity pool that overlooks the active JFK runway. It’s an amazing sight and one of my favorite parts of the hotel.

If you’re feeling peckish, try one of the many food options: a restaurant by Jean Georges called Paris Café, the Pool Bar, The Sunken Lounge or the Connie Cocktail Lounge (a lounge inside a vintage airplane!)

 

Good to know:

Rooms:

Average per night is around USD$ 250 depending on how far in advance you book.

But you can book a room for 4 hrs to rest between layovers for $150.

Pool:

You can get access to the pool by staying at the hotel or by reserving a table at the Pool Bar.

Website: https://www.twahotel.com

Address:Terminal 5, 6 Central Terminal Area, Jamaica, NY 11430

Fisherman's Bastion - Budapest, Hungary

White stone towers line the Castle hill overlooking the Danube River. You can imagine Rapunzel letting down her luscious locks for her prince to climb up from any of them. The Fisherman’s Bastion is a place where fairy tales crossover to reality. But this terrace didn’t come from the imagination of Walt Disney.

The neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque structure was built on the design of Hungarian architecture Frigyes Schulek. It took 7 years to complete and was finished in 1902. Seven is a key number for this magnificent destination. There are 7 small towers, or turrets, that encompass it. Each of the towers representing one of the 7 Hungarian tribes that founded the country. 

Fisherman’s Bastion is a translation from the original Hungarian name, Halaszbastya. There are many theories of where the name comes from, but most agree that it comes from the fisherman’s guild who were the early protectors of the Castle walls. 

The Bastion was almost destroyed during World War II, and it was Fridgyes Schulek’s son, János Schulek, who led the restoration to bring it back to its original splendor in 1948. 

A statue of the first king of Hungary, Stephen I, stands on the terrace.

The Fisherman’s Bastion was originally built as part of the celebration of the 1,000th birthday of Hungary as a decorative lookout tower from which the locals could enjoy panoramic views of the city. Today this unique structure continues to be one of the most iconic sights on the Buda bank from where you can get the best panoramic views of Budapest. 

 

Entry:
The terrace and many of the balconies are free. However, you can choose to get a deeper look.
Upper observation deck: $1000 Hungarian Forint

Website:
http://www.budavar.hu/halaszbastya-belepodijai

Address:
Budapest, Szentháromság tér, 1014 Hungary

Gellért Thermal Baths - Budapest, Hungary

Magnesium, calcium, zinc, fluoride ions and sodium. I’m not just listing random portions of the periodic table, these are some of the elements found in the hot spring waters of the Gellért hills. Hungary’s rich geothermal waters have been popular since Roman times. The Romans were followed by the Turkish who built more baths for both enjoyment and medicinal purposes. 

By 1920, Budapest had an established reputation as a city of spas. Today, the city’s reputation continues on with estimates of nearly 1,000 sources of spring waters filling countless baths in the city. Therefore, when I visited the city I knew I needed to stop by a local bath. 

The first bath we tried to attend was the well-known Széchenyi Baths, but as a typical summer afternoon, the baths were packed and the line was so long we gave up after about an hour of waiting. But I wasn’t going to give up, even though our departure from Budapest was scheduled for 11 a.m. the next morning. 

We were staying in Buda and within walking distance from the Hotel Gellért, so I felt that visiting the unique baths housed within the hotel was meant to be. We arrived at 6 a.m., careful to get in before the crowds of tourists started to flock it. Luckily, it was only us and the locals there so early. 

If only I could start every day by bathing in 40° C healing waters.

We arrived wired with the energy of trying to rush through it prior to our departure, but once we took a dip in the first warm pool, it was impossible not to relax. The beautiful Art Nouveau decor of carefully constructed blue tile work transported us back in time. 

Inside, it was like playing inside a relaxation labyrinth. Every turn led to a new pool, a new massage wing, a different sauna. 

The Gellért Thermal Baths are comprised of 13 pools. In addition to the multiple hot spring pools, an open air pool generates artificial waves every 30 minutes and another indoor swimming pool is filled with effervescent water. There are also Finnish saunas and cold water pools that accompany them. You can also schedule a massage or other treatments. Many locals come with prescriptions for specific therapies that are applied by the medical department within the Gellért Thermal Baths. 

The effervescent pool is one of the most iconic potions of the Art Nouveau spa with columns that flank the perimeter of the pool and a sky light. 

The Gellért Thermal Baths are the perfect place to spend a whole day. It’s fun to discover new sections while allowing the local waters to heal you. They are also not as crowded as other baths so it’s easier to get a more authentic experience. 

You can choose to rent a locker or a private cabin to change. Also, don’t forget to grab a map, you’ll need it to move around. 

 

Ticket with locker:
Weekdays: $6,200 Hungarian Forint 
Weekends: $6,400 Hungarian Forint

Hours:
6 a.m. - 8 p.m. Daily

Website: http://www.gellertfurdo.hu/

Address: 
Budapest, Kelenhegyi út 4, 1118 Hungary

Uluru - Northern Territory, Australia

4am. I woke up with a start in a hotel room with my closest childhood friend (a.k.a. “best friend 4 eva”). We were thousands of miles away from home in Australia. The trip was a joint celebration of our 30th birthdays. The alarm had gone off to signal us it was time to go. 

We were staying at the Sails in the Desert hotel just outside the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and we had signed up for a sunrise viewing of Uluru. We packed ourselves into the tour bus half asleep. It was still dark when we arrived at the viewing area and our guide set up a table with hot chocolate and tea. It was a chilly morning and the hot chocolate felt like a warm hug from within. 

We hiked up to a plateau where we stood a few kilometers away from the rock. The darkness was starting to shift and dashes of pink began to splash across the dark blue sky. Any sleepiness we had arrived with was suddenly replaced by a rush of energy and excitement. There is no more beautiful sight on this planet than the iconic landscape of UIuru as the night gives way to the day.

It was not only the beauty of it that overtook me, but the energy. There is an electrifying peace that rises from the bright red ground at this location. It’s a palpable vibrancy that made me feel more connected to the earth than ever.

Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is one of Australia’s most iconic natural landmarks. It is located near the center of the country in the Northern Territory region. The red sandstone monolith stands tall at 1,142 ft high on the flat Australian desert, making for a breathtaking scene. 

The local aboriginal people, the Anangu, are the traditional owners of Uluru and Kata Tjuta rock formations as well as the land that surrounds them. But it wasn’t until 1985 that Australia’s government returned ownership of the land. Today, the park is managed by the Anangu traditional owners and Parks Australia. It is also recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

It’s important to note that Uluru is a sacred place for the local community. Due to its spiritual significance climbing Uluru is disrespectful to the aboriginal culture and traditions. I chose not to climb Uluru out of respect as a guest in Anangu land and because I believe it’s important to preserve the sacred meaning of the location and protect the Anangu traditions. 

As of October 26, 2019 climbing Uluru will be officially banned. 34 years after the land was returned to its rightful owners. 

Instead of climbing, a way to honor and enjoy this sight is walking around the perimeter and watching the spectacular sunrise. I chose to stand barefoot at one of the viewing points back at the Resort, in a sort of standing meditation also known as Earthing. 

As we closed our day inside the national park, we saw the sun set over the rock. My friend and I made a pact to return here to celebrate our 80th birthdays. 

 

Ayers Rock Resort Information
& Sails in the Desert Hotel 

Website:
www.ayersrockresort.com.au

Address:
163 Yulara Dr, Yulara NT 0872, Australia

Extraordinary Libraries: The Morgan Library & Museum

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Think of 34th street in Manhattan. What’s the first thing that comes to mind? If you live in NYC, you probably thought of the busy streets of Herald Square. If you’ve visited the city, you probably thought of the massive Macy’s department store and the Empire State Building. In any case, your first thought most likely had nothing to do with a library. And yet, just a few blocks east of Macy’s, you’ll discover an extraordinary book collection.

Hidden in plain sight, on the corner of Madison Avenue and 36th Streets is the Morgan Library & Museum. Though many have never heard of it, it’s been standing in the same place for over a century. 

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It’s a stunning place to explore. This library has nothing to envy major national libraries. The extraordinary collection includes the scraps of paper on which Bob Dylan wrote “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “It Ain’t Me Babe”; autographed and annotated libretti from Beethoven, Chopin and Mozart; and manuscripts of Charlotte Brontë, Lord Byron and Sir Walter Scott’s novel “Ivanhoe”. 

Most notable amongst the books inside are the Gutenberg Bibles. As of 2009, only 49 copies of this bible survive and only 21 of those are complete. While the most prominent libraries around the world have 1 or 2 copies of it, the Morgan Library is the only library to house 3 copies. Even the Vatican Library only holds 2 incomplete volumes. You can view a digital copy of one of the bibles here. 

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Morgan’s Study

But it’s not only the collection that’s impressive. The interior design of the building is just as amazing. There’s a rotunda with a domed ceiling with painted murals inspired by Raphael. Another breathtaking room is Morgan’s study. A dark room with rich scarlet upholstery that covers the walls, as well as a matching red carpet. The furniture are all antique pieces that draw a picture of what it would have been like to visit this library back in the day. 

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A bit of history

The library was founded by John Pierpont Morgan, Sr. in 1906 to home his personal collection. JP Morgan was one of the most prominent financiers and bankers of his time, and his name is still synonymous with banking and investments today. He was also an avid collector, buying books, pictures, drawings, paintings and other art objects. He loaned many of these to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, of which he was the president. Many others were kept at this library. After his passing, the library was made a public institution in 1924 by his son J.P. Morgan, Jr.

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Museum entry:
$22 Adults 
$14 Seniors (65 and over)
$13 Students (with current ID)

*Free to members and children 12 and under (must be accompanied by an adult)

**Admission is free on Fridays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Hours:
Tuesday through Thursday: 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed Monday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

Website: www.themorgan.org

Address: 
225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street
New York, NY 10016

Biosphère - Montréal, Canada

We saw it from across the river. It was a fresh summer day and we decided to go for an early morning run in the Old Port. As we traversed the piers, we passed cruises, restaurants and shops and as we got closer to the Clock Tower we saw it:

A giant iron dome across the river. 

We immediately knew we had to go there. It took a quick Google search to find out that a ferry from the pier would take us across to Parc Jean-Drapeau on St. Helen’s Island. 

The Biosphere was built in 1967 by architect Buckminster Fuller for the International and Universal Exposition that same year, also known as Expo 67. The original structure was covered with acrylic cells that sheltered the building inside. However on May 20, 1976 the building caught fire during renovations melting the acrylic cells and leaving behind only the steel skeleton of the structure.

It wasn’t until 1990 that the building was taken over by Environment Canada and restored. It opened its doors once again in 1995 and today stands as the only museum dedicated to the environment in all of North America.

Inside we found countless interactive exhibits, like a rain room that explained different weather patterns while fans blew wind and speakers recreated the sounds of the storms all around you. We also saw a 4D film, in which climate change was brought to life with actual raindrops, snow and icicles falling on you as the scientists explained the phenomenon.

Useful info:
To get there we took the Montreal, QC - St. Helene, QC ferry from Jaques-Cartier Pier on Old Montréal Port to the Parc Jean-Drapeau, then we walked 5 minutes in the park to the Biosphere. It’s a short walk that takes you through a more local side of Montréal.

 

Ferry price: CAD $4.25 per person

Museum Entry: 
Adults: CAD $16
Seniors (65 years and over): CAD $12
Students (18 years and over): CAD $10
17 and under: Free

Hours:
10AM to 5PM daily, except national holidays
*Museum admission ends at 4:15pm.

Website: http://www.parcjeandrapeau.com/en/biosphere-environment-museum-montreal/

Address:  160 Chemin du Tour de l'isle, Montréal, QC H3C 4G8, Canada

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How-to: Afford Travel

Vasastan, Stockholm

Many people ask me, “How can you afford to travel?” The truth is I barely can. It involves a ton of planning, and usually months of savings. Every January I choose my destinations and travel dates for the rest of the year. Then I make a plan: tracking airfare prices, hotel deals, researching the exchange rate and how to make the most of my hard-earned dollars once I land there. I also start cutting back on eating-out and random purchases. The usual ways of saving. I’m not great at it, but I keep at it. Because regardless of the cost, I believe there’s a lot more we earn from travel than what we spend.

Swedish Institute, Stockholm

But I recently discovered a way to travel that allows you to learn more about your chosen destination in an affordable way, and grow your career along the way. I’m talking about grants and scholarships. Many governmental and nonprofit organizations around the world offer travel grants to foreign students and influencers to encourage international relations between nations and as a way of sharing their culture abroad. I used to think these grants were only available to students, but there are a few that are actually targeted to working adults, in order to help them develop their careers. One of the organizations offering these types of grants and scholarships is Svenska Institutet (SI).

“We have governmental grants that we provide to the countries of interest to Sweden, and that’s basically the whole world,” said Johanna Jeppsson, Deputy Head of Unit of Talent Mobility at SI.

The Swedish Institute, as it’s called in English, is an organization under Sweden’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs that provides aid in two ways. One branch focuses on poverty reduction, providing scholarships to students in need who live in developing nations. The other branch focuses on promoting Sweden around the world, mostly concentrating on the U.S. and other western countries.

As an American citizen, I applied for a professional growth scholarship called the Bicentennial Swedish-American Exchange Fund. The goal of this particular fund is to give American citizens and permanent residents a chance to grow in their respective fields and contribute to the development of their societies with those learnings.  

“We are looking for what we call change makers,” said Jeppsson. “People that have an idea of how they would like to use the amount of money they receive from us, in order to change something or to create opinion.”

Johanna Jeppsson

Each person selected for this scholarship is awarded up to SEK $30,000 to pay for a study visit to Sweden ranging between two- and four-weeks. At the end of the trip, scholarship holders are requested to submit a report to SI explaining what they learned and how they accomplished the goal originally stated in their proposal.

And don’t worry, you don’t have to be a social media influencer to get awarded. There are many ways in which your field can influence change in society. Those involved within public administration, the environment, politics, education and business can also benefit greatly from this type of study visit. Bringing back their knowledge and influencing their community.

“We had a person from the U.S. who came here to study our transportation system,” said Jeppsson as an example. “We also had a social worker from the U.S., who came here to study how we work with the refugees, in order for her to use these methods.”

The Bicentennial Fund is only one of the scholarships offered. In 2016, the Swedish Institute sponsored 1,707 people from all different walks of life.

Swedish Princess Cake and Smörgås lunch.

For me, the visit to Sweden helped me define a more focused vision for my career, this website and my social media presence. It also allowed me to experience an incredible society and a culture that, while being very different from my own, it’s incredibly easy to fall in love with. Most importantly, it allowed me to share that beautiful culture with the world.

To learn more about the Swedish Institute, visit: https://eng.si.se/

The Bicentennial Swedish-American Exchange Fund will be managed by the Sweden-American Foundation as of this year, for more information visit: http://sweamfo.se/in-english/

Santa Lucia, A Swedish Tradition of Lights

Lucia concert at Storkyrkan. Photo: Julie Cid

I sat inside a beautiful church -- Storkyrkan, a cathedral in the heart of Stockholm. The lights dimmed and the crowd grew quiet. Everyone knew what was about to take place. And while I didn’t understand a word of Swedish, I, too, knew I was in the middle of something special.

Suddenly the choir director gave a swift signal and a fleet of young women and men dressed in white started singing in unison. Their melody resonated through every corner of the church and vibrated against my skin. For the next 50 minutes I was enchanted.

On December 13th swedes young and old come together to celebrate Lucia’s Day. The charming celebration involves processions of lights all across the country. They happen at schools, churches, hospitals and offices. These processions feature a young woman or a girl dressed in a white gown with a red sash tied around her waist. She also wears a unique wreath crown with lit candles on her hair.

She’s the chosen one to represent Lucia and is accompanied by a group of maidens and star boys. The maidens also wear white gowns with a red sash, but instead of a crown with candles, they wear wreaths with berries and hold a single candle in their hands. The star boys wear the same white gown and red sash, as well as a large, pointy hat decorated with stars.

They sing carols together, bringing a warm and cozy feel to an otherwise cold and dark winter day.

The festival originated in Italy hundreds of years ago. Santa Lucia represented light in what was thought to be the darkest night of the year. In fact, the first Lucia celebration recorded in Sweden dates back to the 1700s, but became popular nationwide in the 1900s. Today it is one of the most celebrated traditions.

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Saffron bun. Photo: Julie Cid.

Additional to the procession and singing, there’s also one particular sweet bread bun that accompanies the celebration. The Lussekatt, or saffron bun. This bun can be bought at coffee shops, outdoor markets and bakeries everywhere during the holiday season.

Storkyrkan
Address: 1 Storkyrkobrinken, 111 28 Stockholm
Website: www.svenskakyrkan.se

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Vasamuseet - The Most Visited Museum in Scandinavia

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Vasamuseet, or Vasa Museum, is the most visited museum in Scandinavia according to its website. The museum is unique in that it only holds one centric piece in exhibition: The Vasa.

This majestic ship was commissioned by King Gustav II in the early 1600s. It was a warship, build to fire over 500 lbs of ammunition from each side. It carried 64 cannons, 300 soldiers and 145 sailors. However, just as strong and powerful its rise, so was its demise.

As crowds gathered to watch the ship leave the harbor, they witnessed the unthinkable. The ship sank in its maiden voyage on August 10, 1628, just 20 minutes after sailing. All but 30 of its passengers survived.

The day after the accident the Council of State and the King started looking for the responsible parties and started an Inquest. However, no one was ever punished or held responsible for what happened. Today, it’s believed that faulty design was to blame in the tragedy. After all, ships of that size and capabilities were unstable and susceptible to the technology of the times.

The vessel remained lost in the cold waters of the Baltic Sea for hundreds of years. It was 333 years later that a team of expert divers were able to raise and restore the ship.

Today the wooden ship is well above water and protected by a massive concrete building tailored to keep it safe.

Vasamuseet
Address: Galärvarvsvägen 14, 115 21 Stockholm
Website: www.vasamuseet.se

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A ride along the West Lake - Hangzhou, China

The sky is gray and a thick fog hangs well below the clouds, yet somehow this adds a touch of vibrancy to the place. This is Hangzhou, China. A city of over 9 million people. A small city by Chinese standards, but one with big traditions and rich with folklore.

I hopped on a traditional river boat and cruised the West Lake to hear the legend of the Leifeng Pagoda. The pagoda has become a tourist destination since it was rebuilt 4 years ago. But it’s tale dates back to 925 AD, when it was originally built.

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Hangzhou, China

As the story goes, a white snake disguised herself as a beautiful woman and fell in love with a young man. They fell hard for each other and finally got married. However, because she wasn’t really human, their love was forbidden. So the gods trapped her under the Leifeng Pagoda for eternity, or until the pagoda crumbled to the ground. In 1924, that’s exactly what happened. The Pagoda collapsed and the old tale regained its fire.

Today thousands of people visit the new pagoda and take river cruises around it to admire its history.