Cuban Cravings:

Once you land at Miami’s International Airport, you’ll find night-owls at Versailles for their $7 Cuban sandwich which is a combination of ham, cheese, pork, pickles and mustard.  I’d recommend their tres leche cake with a Cuban espresso.  The café con leche with a freshly baked spinach and cheese empanada is just as divine.

Another Cuban delight is David’s Café, located in South Beach on Lincoln Road mall.  They prepare Cuban sandwiches with a crunch factor, fluffy croquettes and frita cubanas (Cuban hamburgers).  Don’t be surprised if you came back again the next morning after trying a few shots of their Cuban coffee.

I stayed at a hotel near Biscayne Boulevard and drove only 25 miles south to this 24-hour European-style café that opened back in 1988. I rented a car to drive down Ocean Drive to News Café for their delicious Middle Eastern dishes, pizza, grilled Mahi Mahi sandwiches and breakfast bites.  Located on the corner of 8^th Street, this South Beach café is my ideal brunch spot.  I love their omelettes and the Mediterranean combo that is no more than $8.

French and Italian Cravings:

Fancy French fare all under $10? Just off Washington Avenue on 34 SW 8^th Street, you’ll find a late night sandwich bar called La Sandwicherie, serving custom-made French baguettes until 5am. Get yourself a spot at the open-air counter for fresh veggies, smoked salmon and sliced saucisson sec (French salami).  Their prosciutto with mozzarella is another winner but I’d go for the smoked salmon pressed between a hot croissant, alongside a tossed salad with their signature vinaigrette.  The juice bar serves up exciting smoothies like the Miami sunset, a blend of raspberries, papaya, orange and mango.

My 3am cravings always include a New York style pizza and in Miami, the best place to grab a slice is at Gino’s Pizza on 1608 Alton Road.  If you’re worried about calories, they have a fat-free pizza by the slice.  But if you want to go big, try the cheesy chicken cordon bleu or a massive 22” Napolitano.

Mexican Cravings:

On to the tacos, burritos, nachos and quesadillas loaded with flavorful fillings.  Open until 6am on weekends, Tyrannosaurus Mex is a ‘Tex-Mex’ restaurant located at 235 14^th Street.  I like their $12 duo, guaco loco, a crispy chicken taco wrapped in a soft tortilla with guacamole.

Chinese Cravings:

If you’d rather pick up after hours Asian food, I’d suggest heading over to Chow Down Grill on 920 Alton Road.  They have a variety of options including home-made lo-mein ($10.95), pho ($11.95) and sashimi all available until 5am.  Other dishes include juicy dumplings, wonton soup, braised beef moo shoo and a chow burger served on a bao bun.

Getting to the Top:

Once you get to the corner of W Jefferson Blvd and Hetzler Road, you’ll have three ways to reach the top; hike, bike or drive.  The most popular way is of course, to make the hike up the stairs.  If for some reason stairs don’t do it for you, you can always hike, bike or drive up the road leading to the top.  Parking is available at the top for $6.

What Are They?

The Culver City Stairs are a series of cement steps that lead up to the top of the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook.  The stairs and surrounding trails were built in 2006.  The area of Baldwin Hills is owned by the state of California.

What’s at the Top?

On top there’s an overlook with views to the north, east and west.  On the north side you can usually get pretty good views of downtown, the Hollywood sign and Westwood.  To the west, you’ll be able to see all the way to the coast on a clear day.  And to the east, you’ll notice the oil rigs around La Cienega Blvd.  To see the views of the south side, you’ll need to walk to the back side towards the parking lot.

Aside from sweet views, the top of Baldwin Hills also has a tiny museum, a hall that is used for small concerts and some fairly clean restrooms!

Time:

The stairs can be ascended in about 10 to 15 minutes if you’re in reasonable shape.  If not, there are always places to stop and rest along the way.  If you decide to take the road up, it will be a little longer as it is less steep.

That’s it for the Culver City steps.  This is some of the information that I would have wanted to know before I went, so hopefully it helps you out.  Enjoy your trip!

Nyamata Church:

For an authentic glimpse into the events that took place during the Rwandan genocide in 1994, the Nyamata Church is a sobering reminder of what happened.  With piles of decaying clothing and blood stains still on the walls, this location has remained mostly unchanged since 1994.  It was at this location were over 5000 people were killed.

Hotel Des Mille Collines (Hotel Rwanda):

This is probably the most well known site in Rwanda these days…thanks to Hollywood filmmakers.  It’s where the movie “Hotel Rwanda” took place.  Despite it’s appearance in the movie, these days it’s an upscale hotel and restaurant….and a little pricey.  Although even if you don’t end up staying here, it’s easy enough to stop by for a drink or some grub.

Kigali (Gisozi) Genocide Memorial Center:

A powerful look into one of the centuries’ most brutal genocides, the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center will not be soon forgotten.  Emotions will be compounded by the fact that you’ll be viewing these horrors right next to the people who actually suffered through them.  They’re not only mourning the tragedies of humanity, but of their closest relatives.

Downtown Kigali:

Aside from a handful of bars, restaurants and shops there’s not a lot to do in downtown Kigali.  But chances are your hotel will be somewhere close by, so a visit is worth a bit of your time.  If nothing else, its a good chance to see the new Rwandan “business class” that has emerged since the genocide…or just grab a drink or two.

Presidential Palace Museum:

It was at this site where the death of the former Prime Minister sparked the Rwandan genocide in 1994 after his plane crashed at the compound.  There may not be a ton to see here but the museum will let you visit all the “secret passageways” inside and you can still see the remains of the plane crash.

So those are the main attractions in Kigali.  It’s not a city that is especially known as a tourist destination but you’ll have a great time exploring it for a few days.  Enjoy!

Interesting Eats:

Washington, D.C. is a haven for ethnic food. From Japanese to Chinese to Indian, many of the world’s unique tastes converge in both upscale restaurants and unassuming hole-in-the-walls throughout the city. One area you definitely won’t want to miss is Little Ethiopia, where you can set your tongue alight with a diversity of spices and fill your belly with injera — the region’s famously spongey bread used instead of utensils. If you happen to visit on a Sunday afternoon, you might want to participate in a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony — a very old ritual that lets you get a first-hand look at the complicated coffee preparation process that’s been practiced for hundreds of years. Traditional dancing and music are also available at certain venues during the week.

For fare that’s a little closer to home, take your pick of steak houses, grills, seafood restaurants, taverns, and chili joints, spread far from Georgetown to Capitol Hill.

Unusual Tours:

Visit the Spy Museum to learn more about real-life spies and the notorious stories of espionage that have peppered the city’s past and present. Or take a Spy City Tour, where you’ll get a first-hand look at significant locations in the city of 10,000 spies.

Visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing for a quick yet compelling look at the place where the American dollar has been printed since 1914. As you look over the production floor, you’ll see thousands of dollars being printed right in front of you.

Check out the Washington National Cathedral, but don’t just stop in to pay your respects. Scattered among over a thousand gargoyles strewn along its heights, you’ll find the head of Darth Vader, a mouth that looks like it’s chewing on the building itself, a camera directed toward the Russian embassy and many other weird wonders. Tours are offered between April and October.

Odd Monuments:

Head to the National Academy of Sciences and visit the Albert Einstein Memorial. Don’t be shy; this isn’t the Lincoln Memorial. Visitors are often seen climbing into his lap for a photo op.

For an even bigger seat, head to the chair sculpture in the Anacostia neighborhood, which at over 19 feet tall once had the distinction of being the world’s largest chair. In 1960, a woman named Rebecca Kirby lived in a 10-by-10 foot cubicle on the chair for 42 days.

After slogging through the crowds that congregate around the famous memorials, you’ll be glad to take a rest and visit a few of the more unusual destinations. And no matter which attractions you decide to visit, you’ll be able to find plenty of Washington DC hotels that are in a convenient location for your stay in this truly a unique and fascinating city.

For a city with so many beach options, there’s truly something for everyone.  From sections of sand packed with crowds to desolate  areas of peace and quiet, you’ll be sure to find something that suites your mood and personality.  So here’s the breakdown!  Going from north to south we’ve listed out each major stretch of sand with a blub on what to expect.  So now you can find out….which one is right for you?

Will Rogers State Beach:

Similar to the Malibu beaches in many respects and a hell of a lot easier to get to from LA, Will Rogers State Beach is a nice quiet break from the chaos of Santa Monica and Venice.  There’s a parking lot there if you want to drive, or if you want you can actually bike there from Santa Monica if you’ve rented a bike.  As you head up the coast you’ll notice people becoming less and less of an obstacle as you ride.

Santa Monica:

As seen on TV and in film, this is LA’s most famous beach and home to the Santa Monica Pier!  With tons of shopping and restaurants on the 3^rd Street Promenade and a stretch of bars on Main Street, this place can get busy!  The pier itself is a constant madness with tourists coming from near and far.  As for the beach itself, you’ll probably notice that it’s packed full of people of all kinds…families, children and sunbathers.  It’s a bit of an overload.

Venice Beach:

Dogtown, Ghetto by the Sea, the Hippie Beach…no matter how you feel about it you have to admit that Venice Beach is something special.  These days this tiny section of Los Angeles is a crazy mix of hippies, thugs, yuppies and tourists.  It can be a little wild and obnoxious at times but it’s always entertaining.  The boardwalk is lined with shops, artists, and performers.  And if you get tired of the sand, make sure you check out the all-too-often forgotten Venice Canals as they are walking distance from the boardwalk.  Venice Beach is the only beach in Los Angeles city proper…all the rest are in other cities in Los Angeles county.

Marina del Rey:

The beach in the Marina de Rey should probably fall into that “average” category.  The sand and surf is just as good as anywhere but its mainly surrounded by residential housing so it’s not necessarily a go-to spot.  In fact it’s one of the few areas where the bike path doesn’t hug the sand so they really do a good job of keeping you away.  Other than that, the marina itself is a nice area to walk around on a sunny day.

Dockweiler State Beach:

This beach is primarily known for its evening bonfires where locals pile onto the sand with food and booze to enjoy the summer breeze off the ocean.  During the summer months, the bonfire pits fill up fast and it feels like a festival on the sand.  However most other times you can probably have this beach all to yourself as its pretty quiet…probably because of the airport backdrop.

El Segundo:

El Segundo is hardly a beach town but technically it does have a beach.  It’s probably the least desirable stretch of sand in Los Angeles due to the ever-so-lovely water treatment plant that sits only meters away from the sand.  You’d never make a specific point to come to El Segundo beach but you could easily cut across it while biking along the coast.

Manhattan Beach:

As the most northern of the “Beach Cities” (a name for the beaches of the South Bay), Manhattan Beach is most known for being a wealthy community of mid-30s professionals.  It sits on a sublime stretch of sand just south of the airport and has a laid back feel free of tourism and crazy partying.  In the summer you’ll frequently see volleyball and surf competitions taking place on the strand.

Hermosa Beach:

Spanish for “Beautiful”, Hermosa Beach definitely lives up to the name!  It’s a tiny portion of sand that is dominated by a mid-to-late 20s crowd and is the center of drunken debauchery for the South Bay.  In the day time the beach is packed full of volleyball players and girls in bikinis.  At night the central street of Pier Ave becomes a drunken mess of young professionals desperately trying to hold on to their college days.  Expect long lines and the occasional bar fight.

Redondo Beach:

Redondo Beach can be said to have two sides, one is the busy area of the marina and the other is the sparsely populated stretch of sand on its south side.  The marina is on the north side of Redondo and is home to a bustling wharf that hosts a plethora of sea food, carnival games, and boat docks.  It’s a popular spot for families.  The south side is worlds apart as a mostly forgotten beach where you’ll easily be able to bike or run while free of dodging other beach-goers.

Okay, that’s wrap for Los Angeles!  Although going north or south you’ll find a ton more beaches to explore.  With small beach towns to the north and Orange County to the south, we’ve only scratched the surface.

While some of the plants encountered are native to the region and grow in the wild, families who live in the mountains maintain most of the fruitful trees we crossed. Local Peruvians use a healthy way of farming in the forest, planting a wide variety of flora rather than clearing an expanse of forest for monoculture planting (planting and farming only a single crop). Planting a wide diversity of crops, polyculture, in wild forest is accepted by many ecologists as a sustainable way of farming, as opposed to monoculture, which often leaches nutrients from the soil.

After a few seasons of a monocultured crop, soil often becomes too unhealthy to sustain life again. When exploring Peruvian cloud forest, be sure to appreciate the local’s farming techniques, and keep the following checklist at hand so that you don’t miss a single sweet taste.

Avocados (las paltas in Peruvian Spanish):

A variety of avocados grow in the cloud forest along the Inca trail. Hass avocados are common, and it is thought that they were carried down the Pacific coast from Central America by the Incas. Hass avocados have the darkest of all avocado skin and are a small variety. They are described as having a rich, nutty flavor. In Peru you may also encounter Fuerte or Reed avocados, which are often large with bright green skin. These avocados are sweet, rather than rich in taste. All avocados are high in protein and contain good, unsaturated fats for your diet. They are also high in fiber, as well as vitamins A, C and E.

Mangos:

Everyone knows how deliciously juicy mangos are, making them a favorite choice by many people worldwide. On a hot day, the freshest of all mangos is utter heaven. Mango trees we encountered were covered in a bounty of green mangos, so ripe ones stuck out to the eye like a ruby amongst emeralds. In addition to being high in vitamins, mangos are also thought to increase immunity to colon, breast, and prostate cancers. An experimental eater can try eating the peel, which is high in antioxidants.

Bananas:

Many of the banana palm trees sprouting across South America yield small, sweet bananas rather than the long ones we are accustomed to buying from stores in the United States. In South America there are actually a variety of names in place to distinguish between bananas and plantains that grow there. Wild banana trees provide inedible fruits, so all of the bananas consumed by humans are a domesticated species. Each tree can only produce one bunch of bananas, after which the tree will die. Bananas burst from a beautiful maroon-purple flower, considered the heart of the fruit. Each heart contains a few hands, or tier groupings. Each hand contains up to 20 fingers, or the individual sweet bananas.

Coca plant:

The coca plant is harvested for tea, amongst other mysterious things. Andean cultures have been growing and chewing coca leaves for decades, until recently when Peruvian government began to carefully monitor coca production. According to our guide, the Peruvian state buys and distributes all coca leaves in the country, and where all the coca goes is debatable. Our guide discussed rumors of continuous vending to the Coca-Cola Company, as well as the possibility that the government is making big bucks in selling coca leaves for cocaine production. Nonetheless, when in the Andes, one must enjoy local coca tea. The tea is mild in taste, delightful when mixed with instant coffee, is a natural reliever of altitude sickness, and in high quantities may even stimulate its consumer.

Cocoa Beans:

In addition to coca, cocoa also fruits on trees in Peru. Cocoa beans grow in a large, yellow pod that hangs from its tree. The cocoa beans are protected by a sweet white substance that can be enjoyed in its natural state. Cocoa beans, on the other hand, don’t taste so delightful raw. Some hill families harvest cocoa, ferment it, dry it, and coat the beans in a sugar cover to make tasty chocolate beans. I recommend both the fruity white substance in the cocoa pod, as well as freshly dried cocoa beans.

Coffee:

Of course coffee is grown throughout South America. When traipsing through Peruvian jungle, you are likely to cross the path of vibrant coffee trees as they photosynthesize and reach toward the sun. Coffee is commonly served in Peru as a dense coffee bean extract, placed on tables in exquisite glass pitchers. This extract is then combined with hot water when one desires a caffeinated drink (many foreigners seem to agree that this coffee is not so satisfying!). As with many other parts of South America, instant coffee is also commonplace. Why the region grows such enormous quantities of beans for export, but drinks low quality coffee, is quite a mystery. The beans can be seen clinging to branches in their raw green form, before being dried and roasted.

Though its easy enough to book a tour of Taroko Gorge from Taipei, most people base themselves out of Hualien, located just outside the park.  Hualien is a medium sized town that offers everything a traveler/tourist might need including food, lodging, scooter rental and tour organization.  It also has a small Taiwanese night market where you can fill up on Stinky Tofu.  A closer jumping off point is Taroko Village, although there are limited options for hotel, food and tour bookings.

Below we’ve listed the 5 ways that you can visit The Taroko Gorge with brief descriptions of each.  Good luck and have fun!

Bus Tours:

This is the most popular way to see the gorge, but keep in mind that doesn’t mean its the “best” way to see the gorge.  The main benefit to booking a bus tour is that it will be “stress free”.  You can book one from Taipei or Hualien, everything will be taken care of and you don’t have to worry about missing a thing.  On the flip side, you’ll loose any sense of adventure and will feel like cattle being herded from stop to stop.  At the end of the day it depends on how much time you’re willing to dedicate to the gorge (this is an efficient option).  Prices stretch the gamut from $650 to $5,800 TWD depending on type and duration.

Jump On/Jump Off Shuttle:

This option is similar to a Bus Tour but with more freedom, no audio tours and no meals included.  With this option you’ll be able to see the gorge at more of your own pace but you will most likely spend a lot of time waiting around for a shuttle if you decide to take a little more time at a particular area.  It’s also cheaper at around $250 TWD for one day and $400 TWD for two days.

Scooter Rental:

This provides you with the most freedom by far!  Scooters can be rented from Hualien or from Taroko Village (AKA Taroko Archway), but riding from Hualien can be a bit long.  Your best bet is to take a bus from Hualien to Taroko Village and rent one from there.  In Taroko Village you can rent a scooter for approximately $400 TWD per day plus gas.  The downside of renting scooters is that you will need to navigate the gorge on your own, dodge packed roads of tour buses and brave the elements if it decides to rain.  Over all, its a fun and affordable way to see the gorge.

Taxi Rental:

If you’ve got the money and don’t want to worry about driving then a taxi is a great way to go.  You can hire a guide, avoid the elements and sit in a comfortable seat.  But as expected, you’ll pay for the convenience.

Public Bus:

In theory it can be done, however its not a common choice.  The buses are infrequent and hard to spot.  In most cases, it’s probably not worth your time.  For a few more dollars you might as well just jump on a shuttle and see the entire park in one day rather than be at the mercy of the public bus.

That’s all folks!  Our hope is that you’ll now be able to make good decisions on how to best see this great park.

My advice: Put on your best walking shoes and drink a couple of strong cups of espresso for caffeine-loading, then head out into the historic center for lo spettacolo di luci (light show).  From Trastevere, St. Peter’s Square, Piazza del Popolo, The Spanish Steps, Piazza Venezia, to the Coliseum and every little lane and alleyway in between – all you really have to do is look up.

Buone Feste da Roma (Happy Holidays from Rome)!

Photographs by Eyalos and Toni DeBella

Below, I’ve listed my top 5 cities in the United States that I hope never to have to visit.  They are not in any specific order and do not represent any specific poll or body of knowledge.

Flint, Michigan: 

If it wasn’t the butthole of the American Midwest before the recession it sure is now.  Since 2008, Flint has been slowly transforming into an economic ghost town.  Maybe someday it will recover but for now it’s a No-Go zone for me.  For anyone still living in Flint, stay strong and God help you!

Bakersfield, California: 

Staying true to the human body part analogy, Bakersfield is often referred to as the “Arm Pit of California”.  “How could that be?”  You say, “it’s located in sunny southern California!”  Well, it’s actually located miles inland from the beautiful sandy coast and smack dab in the middle of the desert.  On top of the that, it gets a healthy (or unhealthy) dose of Los Angeles smog  blowing over it.  The icing on the cake is it’s “oh so exotic” white trash culture of trailer parks and crystal meth labs.  Simply lovely!

Des Moines, Iowa: 

“Hey man, why so hard on Des Moines, what did they ever do??”  That’s exactly it….nothing.  Des Moines is completely mediocre in every way possible.  Nothing good, nothing bad.  Nothing beautiful, nothing ugly.  At least if you moved to The Congo you’d have something interesting to say.  So Des Moines makes the list for being completely forgettable.  And because of that maybe Flint, Michigan doesn’t look so bad after all.

Houston, Texas: 

Just because it’s the fattest city in America.  That’s not cool.

The Entire State of Florida, Excluding Miami: 

Packed full of alligators and elderly people, Florida is where people go to die.  And they do so while baking themselves in the states’ unbearable heat and humidity.  Chances are if you go to Florida you’ll either die from dehydration or get sloooowly run over by a Cadillac.  That’s the facts people!

Okay, that’s it!  Not too hateful, was it?  Thanks for letting me rant and rave like a bumbling idiot.  Also, I apologize for making you just a little dumber than you were 5 minutes ago.

The views expressed above do NOT necessarily represent the views of This Boundless World staff and editorial team.  

Pop-Up Shops are seasonal stores in downtown Portland filled with handmade treasures. It’s a clever way of filling vacant businesses, and at the same time providing ready access to locally-designed goods. Pop-Up Shops also make downtown Portland more festive!

Wolf’s Apothecary/Enchanted Alpaca (902 SW Morrison St.), is a dual-use Pop-Up Shop offering local health and beauty products and modern home goods on one side, and comfortable, breathable alpaca garments for men, women, children and babies on the other side. Live alpacas are available for petting outside each weekend!

Emit (535 SW 6th Ave.) is a Pop-Up featuring unique women’s apparel created with layered cut-out performance fabrics. These sharp looks will help you to feel confident and sassy!  

Boys’ Fort (614 SW 11th Ave.) is a delightful collection of custom-built furniture, reclaimed lighting fixtures and men’s bags, wallets and jewelry.

Over at Portland Saturday Market, booths remain open the entire week before Christmas for “Festival of The Last Minute.” This market, the largest arts and crafts market in continuous operation in the United States, is the jackpot of locally-made artisan treasures. A Country Place offers Bonsai and Folk art. The Artifactory booth features three-dimensional puzzles, and custom furniture by commission. DirtyFace Soap Company has the best (vegan!) swirly soaps anywhere. Warning: super fun to play with! Roving entertainment at the Market during Festival of the Last Minute includes the Dickens Carolers, Sugarplum Elves, and the Candy Tree Man! If you are visiting the Market during your next trip to Portland, it is at the Skidmore Fountain MAX Train Stop (also near Voodoo Doughnut.