Everybody has their own favorite travel memories, transcendent moments occurring far from home that spawn a new awareness and perspective on life. For me, a snowy trip to Moscow in January, 1993 is one of the fondest, as it was a moment that awakened in me the idea that the world is there for the taking, and all that is needed to visit somewhere exotic is simply to get up and go. ]]>
As President Obama continues to tour the world, we love that he's including his family and allowing them to be cultural ambassadors while he's tied up in meetings, like today's talks with Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev over arms control.
While Obama conducts business in the Kremlin, Michelle and the girls are literally down the hall with first lady Svetlana Medvedev, who took them on a tour of famous tourist sites within the palace, such as the Cathedral of the Assumption and the Amory Museum and its 190-carat Orlov diamond. The girls even took tea in the Winter Garden; we are so jealous.
According to the Russian paper Pravda and USA Today, the Obamas might however be sleeping outside of the Kremlin walls at the Ritz-Carlton, since the hotel has suspiciously blocked off reservations for July 5 thru 8. There's yet another clue as to the Obamas' hotel sleeping arrangements: "In its lobby, the Ritz-Carlton installed an over-sized, chocolate statue of an American Eagle and a Russian Bear in honor of the visit." Our jealousy sees no end.
Related Stories:
· US first lady Michelle Obama tours Moscow's Kremlin as summit talks kick off [LA Times]
· President Obama's likely hotel choice while in Moscow: The Ritz-Carlton [USA Today]
· Presidential Travel Coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Stringer / AFP / Getty ]]]>
Last one in's a rotten egg! We're finding the best places in the world to stick our toes in this summer (or next winter) for our World's Coolest Pools map. Know of any pools we must check out? Let us know.
Ah, life is short and time is fleeting! We didn't get to Moscow in time to use one of the world's largest public pools—it closed in 1990—but its traces are still readily apparent on the site. Besides, we don't know of any other pools which later became houses of worship. ]]>
The folks over at Condé Nast Traveler recently sent three writers on a mission to Moscow and gave each of them a different tool to use in completing some touristy activities. One writer was armed with an iPhone, the other was given a new BlackBerry Bold phone and the last writer was left with an old-school guidebook from Eyewitness Travel.
Interestingly enough, the writer saddled with the guidebook ended up completing the required tasks much faster than the other two with the internet at their disposal. And here's why: ]]>
The reviews of Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport have to be some of the most dismal we've ever seen on the Internets. Having never been there, we hesitate to believe that "everything on the airport is a rip-off" in "The Airport That Time Forgot". Hope springs eternal?
There is one silver lining to traveling through Sheremetyevo, and it's not the opportunity to pronounce its name for your friends in a drinking game: WiFi access is free in pretty much all areas of the airport. So at least you'll be able to complain about the lack of seats, the ill-defined smoking areas and the long line at passport control to someone who cares.
Got an International Airport WiFi tip for us? Send it forth!. And you can always whine to us on Twitter, wherever you are.
Related Stories:
· Airport Connections: Improving at Moscow's Sheremetyevo [Jaunted]
· Room with an Anti-View: Novotel Moscow Airport is Forgettable [HC]
· Airport WiFi Map [Jaunted] ]]>
Chasing Racers is back, with a brand new Amazing Race 13 mashup. This map will update the morning after every new episode. Send along tips, rumors, gossip, locations and spoilers to our map editors, become a member and comment on the stories below and add to the Jaunted-Flickr photo pool to get in on the fray. Remember to zoom in, out and around on the map--with so much happening in each episode, it's easy to miss a map point.
After last week's non-elimination, there are still four teams competing for a coveted slot in the final three, and all bets are off. Toni and Dallas powered through to finish in first. Will they be able to hang onto their lead?
Will Nick and Starr be able to recover from their terrible luck with taxis, and will Andrew and Dan be able to rebound from their upcoming Speed Bump? With $1 million dollars on the line, the stakes are high and the tension is even higher. Who will be eliminated next?
LET'S FIND OUT!]]>
Chasing Racers is back, with a brand new Amazing Race 13 mashup. This map will update the morning after every new episode. Send along tips, rumors, gossip, locations and spoilers to our map editors, become a member and comment on the stories below and add to the Jaunted-Flickr photo pool to get in on the fray. Remember to zoom in, out and around on the map--with so much happening in each episode, it's easy to miss a map point.
Well, race fans, it's that time in the show cycle where the faces on the opening credits seem only vaguely familiar. We're down to four teams, and the race is definitely heating up. Nick and Starr have pulled off four first place finishes, and are hoping to keep the streak going, but will Dallas and Starr distract each other from a very competitive race? Will Ken and Tina lock step to edge out other teams? Can Andrew and Dan manage to keep focused, or will they continue to bumble their way around like blindfolded hobos?
LET'S FIND OUT!]]>