Baraaza: Top Blogs

To Catch a Thief

We're certainly not endorsing high stakes, impeccably executed art theft. But this is pretty cool.

In the wee small hours between 2009 and 2010, some set of clever souls crept into a private residence in Marseilles and the Cantini Museum across town, making off with 30-some paintings worth more than $2.5 million. Police are currently tracking down leads, but so far it appears that the culprits have made off like—well, thieves in the night.

Gassed Up

If you're a fan of post-industrial rehabbing—and really, who isn't—we may have a modern wonder for you to check out the next time you're in Vienna. These gasometers were shut down in 1984, and after a few decades hosting Bond villains (and a series of truly awesome raves), they've been converted into a combination of condos, offices and shops. We doubt you'll run across anything too mind-blowing in the shops, but it ranks high on our list of post-industrial marvels.

ancient cultures

It is a passion of mine to investigate ancient cultures and the most accessible means to do so is to see ancient relics of artistic expression and accomplishment at sites and in archeological museums. The countries around the Mediterranean have long held a fascination for me and I've spent many hours reading about and visiting the typical sites and the not-so-known places with great enthusiasm.

If you have a chance to visit Athens, for example, make it a point to see the Cycladic Museum and the ancient Cycladic sculptures in places all over Greece, especially on Crete. Visit the Archeological Museum on Crete - it is spectacular!

Here I am standing on the site of Knossos, the palace grounds. We really have a lot of misinformation about the ancient cultures all over the globe because they are so vulnerable to tourist tales. Beware the stories associated with Crete, the Minoans, and the story of King Minos. Much of this is assumption and "Arthur Evans, a well educated Englishman, succeeded in revealing the Minoan culture on Crete" ... possibly! There is evidence too, of fabrication and tampering with artifacts and myth. Today these kinds of scientists and preservationists are much more concerned with presenting the past in as authentic a way as possible but in past days, not so careful renovations occurred.

There's a fantastic dig and resulting re-creation of an ancient city - Akrotiri - on Santorini (ancient Thera) that you must not miss! I found this to be a high point in our trip.

Off the Beaten Path

As you're laying out your far-flung wanderings for the New Year, you might want to consider a few spots that weren't open when 2008 drew to a close. Wendmag just outlined four of the most inviting newly opened countries, most notably Lebanon, which was undergoing some pretty serious military action this time last year. We'd add one more to their list: Sri Lanka. The Tamil unrest there has quieted down enough that adventurers can check out the more remote regions without too much danger. As for the places that are still too hot for outsiders...there's always 2011?

FELIZ NATAL 2009 ...

Underground

Even if you’re not one for public transit, it pays to get to know the subway when you’re passing through Europe. For instance, Stockholm’s 100 metro stations hold some of the best art in the city. This particular design can be found in the t-centralen station, painted by pere olof ultvedt in 1975.

Blowing Up

It hasn't breached national news, but the past week has seen tens of thousands of Filipinos evacuated out of the path of the Mayon Volcano. Early reports suggest lava is flowing as far as three kilometers down the hill. It doesn't mean much if you're not a volcano-spotter, but anyone in the area is in for some serious fireworks. Stay tuned...

Playa de Carmen

I have been to Playa back when it was a backpacker hangout, and sure it’s a lot different now, but it’s still a cool destination. What makes Playa del Carmen so cool is:

Its location. Located 45 min South of Cancun on the Caribbean Sea, this place is beautiful. The water is clear and warm and usually quite calm so it’s great for extended swims in the ocean.
The vibe. The vibe at Playa is hip and there’s a big fashion scene there. Cancun was designed for the Americans, while Playa del Carmen was built for the Mexicans – particularly the wealthy from Mexico City.
The nightlife. The Playa del Carmen nightlife is solid. There are several cool bars, a handful trendy lounges and a few hot clubs. If you want to party, Playa will accommodate you until well after the sunrises.
The size. Playa del Carmen is small, manageable, and easy to navigate by foot and taxi. There is no need to rent a car unless you plan on heading down the coast. Playa has a small-town feel and after you spend a few days there you really start to get to know people; the business owners, workers, etc.
The people. The people at Playa del Carmen are young, happy and friendly. A lot of the workers come for other towns in Mexico like Guadalajara, Vera Cruz and Mexico City to work for a couple of years. After their work day is done they like to party and have a good time. It’s not hard to understand why so many people fall in love with Playa and never leave.

If you want to more check out our Playa del Carmen Travel Guide

Canibal Royal

The latest addition to the Play del Carmen Beach Club scene is Canibal Royal. This is a hip new beach club located right on the water on the far north end of Playa de Carmen. Be prepared to encounter beautiful and friendly waitresses, delicious cocktails and tasty food. Mingle with locals and the trendy visitors while soaking up the sun and listing to the cool beats spun by the resident DJ.

Bartenders on the Border

An article in this month’s Atlantic drew our attention to Antara, an Azerbaji town on the Iranian border that’s found a unique niche: providing cultural release for an increasingly restrictive theocracy. A few miles over the border, you can get books, movies and styles that would bring down untold troubles in Iran, not to mention non-halal meat, liquor and prostitutes. The writer hails it as the Tiajuana of the Caspian—which sounds like the sort of thing we have to see to believe.