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New York Visit Starter Pack Part 2

When I’m in New York, I just want to walk down the street and feel this thing, like I’m in a movie. –  Ryan Adams

New York offers various attractions that highlight everything that the city can offer from culture to architecture, finance, and art. Although these attractions are a must see for anyone intending to visit New York it doesn’t capture the entirety of what the city has to offer. Here’s a quick list of the lesser known places to visit when you happen to drop by New York.

5 Off the Grid Places to Visit in New York City

  • The Piece of the Berlin Wall in Manhattan

The painted pieces of the Berlin wall can be seen in various places in New York (5 in total) the most notable of which is situated in 53rd street near Madison Avenue.

Flickr Joerg Moellenkamp
Photo Credit: Flickr- Joerg Moellenkamp

Source: Moellenkamp, Jeorg. “Part of The Berlin Wall near MoMA.” July 27, 2008

  • The GhostBusters Fire Station

For that pop culture fix the Hook and Ladder 8 fire station found in Tribeca was the fire station used as the headquarters of the Ghostbusters in the cult classic.

Flickr Eli Duke
Photo Credit: Flickr- Eli Duke

Source: Duke, Eli. “NYC: Ghostbusters Fire Station.” May 22, 2011

  • Greenacre Park

A serene escape from the fast paced lifestyle of the city Greenacre Park hosts a variety of foliage plus an enchanting 25 foot waterfall.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Source:Henderson, Jim “Greenacre Pk 215.” October 18, 2008.

  • Trinity Churchyard

A landmark showcasing what New York City architecture has to offer. This landmark expresses a medieval feel that is sure to stand out amidst the tall buildings of the city.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Source:Gryffindor “Trinity Church NYC.” January 1, 2010

  • New York Hall of Science

A place where history meets innovation, the NYSCI was built for the 1964 World’s fair and currently holds various exhibits and displays that are both interactive and informative.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Source: MusikAnimal. “Main Entrance to the New York Hall of Science.” February 16, 2015

Tip!

There are a lot of off the grid locations and hidden attractions that can be found in the tapestry of culture which is New York City. A way to further enjoy the depth of the city is to ask locals about locations or attractions aside from the usual must-see’s of New York.

 

New York Visit Starter Pack Part 1

When I’m in New York, I just want to walk down the street and feel this thing, like I’m in a movie. –  Ryan Adams

Amidst the tall buildings and the glaring fast paced lifestyle of Metropolitan New York lies a city that is yet to be explored and appreciated. The Big Apple may seem daunting and overwhelming but a few tips and guides will help you appreciate not only the beauty of what we know of New York but also the hidden gems situated in the most mundane of areas and alleys. Here’s a quick list of recommended places to help you start your journey in the Big Apple.

5 Must See Destinations in New York

  • The Statue of Liberty

To start things off nothing screams of New York City than the Statue of Liberty situated off shore from Manhattan on Liberty Island.

Pixabay MonicaVolpin
Photo Credit: Pixabay MonicaVolpin
  • The Empire State Building

Tip – be sure to consider the optional VIP ticket to bypass the long lines going up the building.

Photo Credit: Pixabay Unsplash
Photo Credit: Pixabay Unsplash
  • Central Park

Live out your romantic comedy moments by taking a stroll with your special someone in Central Park.

Photo Credit: Pixabay JodesJ
Photo Credit: Pixabay JodesJ
  • Metropolitan Art Museum

Indulge in what New York has to offer culturally in the prized collections and pieces found in the Metropolitan Art Museum.

Photo Credit: Pixabay anielbaez0
Photo Credit: Pixabay anielbaez0
  • Broadway

Cap off your New York trip with a Broadway musical. Be sure to check the listings regarding the shows and show dates prior to your visit.

Photo Credit: Pixabay Unsplash
Photo Credit: Pixabay Unsplash

Tip!

New York has a lot of things to offer and these 5 are but a few of the main attractions of the city. A useful tip is to begin your trip with a view of the city from an observation deck. This allows a complete view of the city and its impressive skyline. The Empire State Building is one that offers such an experience, but other places such as the Top of the Rock Observatory and the One World Observatory offer the same experience plus the added feature of seeing the Empire State Building as well.

5 Places to Fill your Tummy and Soul in Batanes

With calming and serene landscapes, Batanes really is a must in one’s travel itinerary to the Philippines. From breathtaking sights to Philippine heritage, it really captures the hearts of people that go there. Combine that experience with food that fills your body and soul with the Batanes spirit. Here we have listed some of the places you should eat at when visiting the Philippines’ frontier in the North.

Café de Tukon

Café de Tukon, located at the Fundacion Pacita Batanes Nature Lodge, uses locally grown organic ingredients. They also offer traditional food from Batanes.

Fundacion Pacita Batanes Nature Lodge

Address: Fundacion Pacita Batanes Nature Lodge, Brgy. Chanarian, Tukon, Basco, Batanes, Philippines 3900

Shanedel’s Inn and Café

 

With a view of one of the ports in Batanes, Shanedel’s Inn and Café gives you both good food and a breathtaking view of the sea. However, dining here is by reservation so grab your phones and set them now!

Shanedels Inn Cafe

Address: National Road, Kaycharianan, Basco, Batanes

Pension Ivatan

Pension Ivatan serves authentic Ivatan cuisine, or the cuisine of the local ethnolinguistic group of Batanes. Some of their must try food are grilled tanigue or grilled fish, and the Ivatan Platter which consists of several different seafood delights.

Pension Ivatan

Address: Basco, Batanes 3900

Octagon Bed and Dine

Combining the view of the sea and good food, Octagon Bed and Dine is surely not to be missed.

Octagon Bed and Dine

Address: Sitio Disong Brgy. Kaychanarianan, Basco, Batanes

Beehan Cafeteria

Beehan Cafeteria is another place you should not miss. From traditional dishes to everyday food, this place will satisfy any craving.

Beehan Cafeteria

Address: Lizardo St., Kayhuvukan, Basco, Batanes

French Delicacies You Have to Try

Every country has its own delicacy which you should eat when you visit. In France these are the delicacies that you can’t pass up. Make sure to look for these so you can proudly say you’ve given their French delicacies a try.

Escargot

One of the better known French delicacies which evokes equal fascination and uncertainty, it’s cooked land snail and is regarded as the ‘gold in meat’ for its nutritious benefits.

Escargot Flickr- Fabio Sola Penna
Photo Credit: Flickr- Fabio Sola Penna

Foie Gras

A delightful explosion of flavor in your mouth, you’d be surprised to learn that it is specially fattened duck or goose liver. It’s considered a luxury food product and served in five star restaurants.

Foie Gras Flickr- stu_spivack
Photo Credit: Flickr- stu_spivack

Boudin Noir

This French delicacy is plainly known as blood sausage. The sausages are made from pork, pigs blood, bread, pork fat, and spices.

Boudin Noir Flickr- Naotake Murayama
Photo Credit: Flickr- Naotake Murayama

Frog Legs (Les Cuisses de Grenouilles)

Frog legs are rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, and potassium. It’s been said that they are similar to chicken wings.

Frog Legs Flickr- stu_spivack
Photo Credit: Flickr- stu_spivack

Fromage

There are over 350 to 450 distinct types of fromage or French cheese. Every region of France has its own particular cheese and lends to the regions distinct flavors.

Fromage Flickr- Jorge Cancela
Photo Credit: Flickr- Jorge Cancela

Movies to Inspire Your Wanderlust

How many times have you watched a movie and thought “I’d really like to go there.” or “I REALLY need to travel.” Sometimes we need a little inspiration to spark that wanderlust in us. We’ve gathered movies to inspire your’s and given you reasons why you should watch our movie picks. Check it out!

Eat Pray Love

Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) is a modern woman on a quest to marvel at and travel the world while rediscovering and reconnecting with her true inner self in Eat Pray Love. At a crossroads after a divorce, Gilbert takes a year-long sabbatical from her job and steps uncharacteristically out of her comfort zone, risking everything to change her life. In her wondrous and exotic travels, she experiences the simple pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy; the power of prayer in India, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of love in Bali. Based on an inspiring true story, Eat Pray Love proves that there really is more than one way to let yourself go and see the world.- Source: Sony Pictures

Why you should watch it:

Traveling to Italy, India and Bali even just through this movie will ignite that wanderlust in you. The amazing backdrop and scenery in the movie will you have you booking your ticket.

Before Sunrise

A young man and woman meet on a train in Europe, and wind up spending one evening together in Vienna. Unfortunately, both know that this will probably be their only night together.- Source: IMDB

Why you should watch it:

Meeting new people is basically the essence of this movie and where else would be perfect than in a train in Europe? It’s about taking chances and going for it.

Under the Tuscan Sun

A writer impulsively buys a villa in Tuscany in order to change her life. Source: IMDB

Why you should watch it:

Sometimes a new place is the answer. Tuscany, is one hell of a place to start anew. Luscious, gorgeous and beautiful, this gives you unending inspiration to just pick up and go.

The Beach

Twenty-something Richard travels to Thailand and finds himself in possession of a strange map. Rumours state that it leads to a solitary beach paradise, a tropical bliss – excited and intrigued, he sets out to find it. Source: IMDB

Why you should watch it:

Thailand has some of the most beautiful beaches. The Beach features Phi Phi Island near Phuket. Though the once perfect island was ravaged by a terrible tsunami it has now recovered and is once again pristine.

Midnight in Paris

This is a romantic comedy set in Paris about a family that goes there because of business, and two young people who are engaged to be married in the fall have experiences there that change their lives. It’s about a young man’s great love for a city, Paris, and the illusion people have that a life different from theirs would be much better. It stars Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, and Carla Bruni among others. Source: Sony Classics

Why you should watch it:

Midnight in Paris literally looks like a storybook of beautiful Paris City. One of the most visited and dreamt about destinations, the movie features Paris in the 1920’s and also shows us it’s modern beauty.

P.S. I Love You

A young widow discovers that her late husband has left her 10 messages intended to help ease her pain and start a new life.Source: WB Shop

Why you should watch it:

Though the movie starts off in New York, we follow the lead, Holly to the beautiful countryside of Ireland. We watch in awe and envy as she experiences traditional Irish life while taking in the luscious sites.

Letters to Juliet

Sophie dreams of becoming a writer and travels to Verona, Italy where she meets the “Secretaries of Juliet”. Source: IMDB

Why you should watch it:

One of the most romantic cities in the world, Verona, Italy is the setting for Letter to Juliet. We’ll get to travel to the bustling city of Verona but also see the famous wall where thousands of letters are left in the hopes of inspiring burgeoning love.

The Bucket List

Corporate billionaire Edward Cole (Nicholson) and working class mechanic Carter Chambers (Freeman) are worlds apart. At a crossroads in their lives, they share a hospital room and discover they have two things in common: a desire to spend the time they have left doing everything they ever wanted to do and an unrealized need to come to terms with who they are.

Together they embark on the road trip of a lifetime, becoming friends along the way and learning to live life to the fullest, with insight and humor. Each adventure adds another check to their list.
Source: Warner Bros

Why you should watch it:

Sometimes, it takes dire circumstances to achieve our goals especially visiting dream destinations. It’s not likely we can just leave at the drop of a hat so we watch as Edward and Carter travel all around the world checking off their bucket list.

The Holiday

In Nancy Meyers’ The Holiday, a romantic comedy from the director of Something’s Gotta Give and What Women Want, two women trade homes only to find that a change of address can change their lives. Iris (Winslet) is in love with a man who is about to marry another woman. Across the globe, Amanda (Diaz), realizes the man she lives with has been unfaithful. Two women who have never met and live 6000 miles apart, find themselves in the exact same place. They meet online at a home exchange website and impulsively switch homes for the holiday. Iris moves into Amanda’s L.A. house in sunny California as Amanda arrives in the snow covered English countryside. Shortly after arriving at their destinations, both women find the last thing either wants or expects: a new romance. Amanda is charmed by Iris’ handsome brother Graham (Law) and Iris, with inspiration provided by legendary screenwriter Arthur (Wallach), mends her heart when she meets film composer Miles (Black). Source: Sony Pictures

Why you should watch it:

Have you ever wanted trade places with someone? Well, today you can trade houses at least. In The Holiday, Iris and Amanda switch it up and live in each other’s houses not realizing they’ll also be living a bit of the other’s life.

Lost in Translation

Bob Harris (Bill Murray) and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) are two Americans in Tokyo. Bob is a movie star in town to shoot a whiskey commercial, while Charlotte is a young woman tagging along with her workaholic photographer husband (Giovanni Ribisi). Unable to sleep, Bob and Charlotte cross paths one night in the luxury hotel bar. This chance meeting soon becomes a surprising friendship. Charlotte and Bob venture through Tokyo, having often hilarious encounters with its citizens, and ultimately discover a new belief in life’s possibilities.

Shot entirely on location in Japan, Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation is a valentine to the nature of close friendships and to the city of Tokyo. Ms. Coppola’s film, from her original screenplay, contemplates the unexpected connections we make that might not last – yet stay with us forever. Source: Focus Features

Why you should watch it:

Japan has so much to offer and one of those is the natural yet robust culture they have and constantly are perfecting. Lost in Translation not only has a beautiful story but it has an amazing backdrop.