Tag: Museum Travel

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A First-Timer's Guide to Mexico City: On the Canals of Xochimilco

March 20, 2013 at 11:32 AM | by | Comments (0)

We don't hear too much about Mexico City these days, even though it's a totally doable flight and an easy trip from most major US Cities. So this week we're changing that, and clueing you in to the must-dos for a first timer's trip to La Ciudad de los Palacios (The City of Palaces), AKA Mexico City.

Mexico City is dotted with UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but we want to talk about Xochimilco, one of the last remaining remnants from when Mexico City was an island. This district of canals is a popular place for locals to hang out on weekends and, naturally, the way to see the canals of Xochimilco is by boat.

The traditional small, brightly colored boats of Xochimilco all bear the names of women (Brenda, Rosita, Carolina) and can be rented by the hour. Adding to the female-friendly vibe is the fact that women are traditionally given rose corsages when they board. While on the water, other boats glide by and hawk their wares, selling everything from spicy corn on the cob to silver jewelry to beer and soda. If you’re interested, simply signal and the boat will attach itself to yours long enough for the purchase to be finalized.

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The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Reopen to Tourists After Conclave

March 18, 2013 at 9:35 AM | by | Comments (0)

There’s a new pope in town, but that doesn’t mean that pope-a-palooza is winding down anytime soon. If you’re lucky enough to be in Rome there are many opportunities to check out the goings on around the arrival of Pope Francis, and you’ll even be the first to score some fresh-out-of-the-box papal souvenirs. However, the whole conclave thing was an inconvenience to those looking to check out some of the Vatican’s best tourist attractions: the Musei Vaticani.

Beginning today—Monday—the Vatican Museums are once again open to the paying public, and that includes access to the Sistine Chapel. Visits to the Borgia Apartment as well as the Collection of Modern Religious Art are available too, so once again you’ll be getting your Euro's worth when you check things out.

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Four Museum Exhibits You Absolutely Have to See Right Now

March 11, 2013 at 4:14 PM | by | Comments (0)

These are the weird days. These are the days of blustery winds and wet afternoons, the days stuck in between winter and spring. In other words, these days are perfect for hitting museums and soaking in a little culture.

March and April are popular months for ending large exhibitions, so you've gotta get in while the getting's good.

Here the four museum exhibits we recommend you rush off to, right away:

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First Stop on a Gloomy Amsterdam Day Should be the Museum with the City's DNA

Where: Kalverstraat 92, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1001
March 8, 2013 at 11:34 AM | by | Comments (0)

Can a museum take on the mammoth task of finding a city’s genetic code? Well, the Amsterdam Museum has done just that by launching its Amsterdam DNA permanent installation in 2012. It’s an interesting exhibit, yes, but on top of that, it’s really kind of cool.

The Museum has traced the city’s history over the past 1,000 years and figured out what has made the city tick over all that time of development – the good, the bad, and the ugly. What they’ve come up with is this: the city has four genetic markers that gauge its progression through time. The first is its indomitable spirit of enterprise, secondly tolerance and freedom of thought, then civic virtue, and, finally, creativity.

When you first head up to the ticket counter, you are given your own personal DNA code (which looks like a QR code). With it, you scan your code to start films in your own language, activate your personal DNA analysis, and make and view online after the fact your civic-guard photo.

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Pan Am (Kinda) Flies Again at Palm Springs Modernism Week

February 19, 2013 at 5:39 PM | by | Comments (0)

"Air travel isn't like it used to be."

If you've ever uttered or even thought those words, then get your butt to Palm Springs this month to see what air travel used to be all about thanks to a large exhibition of archival pieces from Pan Am. This exclusive event is titled "Welcome Aboard: The Pan Am Experience" and will be on display through February 25 as part of Palm Springs' Modernism Week.

Collected by actor Phillip Keene, who worked as a Pan Am steward from 1987-1991, the bounty of vintage ephemera covers everything from Pan Am menus and uniforms to advertisements and luggage. It's really a chance to view the bits of iconic design that made up the legendary airline, and it doesn't matter if you've flown Pan Am in the past or not.

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Russia's Meteor is Nothing Compared to Arizona's Hole in the Ground

February 18, 2013 at 3:42 PM | by | Comments (0)

That meteor doing its thing over—and into—Russia was kind of neat in a crazy kind of way, huh? Still, we’re pretty sure that we’d prefer that the space rocks stay out of the atmosphere for a bit. However, it's totally possible to check out some of the space stuff that’s made its way down to earth already, which is why we were intrigued to learn about one museum where you can safely check out some astronomical debris.

The best preserved meteorite impact site in the whole world is just outside Winslow, Arizona. The one mile across, 550-foot deep crater is yours for the checking out, as the site and museum are open between 8am and 5pm daily. It’s not just a huge hole in the ground—although it is that first and foremost—as they’ve got hunks of space junk on display as well. There’s a meteorite fragment that weighs a cool 1,400 pounds, and there’s plenty of space this and astronaut that. They’ve even got some training items on display from the Apollo space missions.

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24 Hours in Istanbul: A Cultural Initiation at the City's Modern Art Museum

Where: Meclis-i Mebusan Cad. Liman İşletmeleri Sahası Antrepo 4, Istanbul, Karaköy , Turkey, 34433
January 24, 2013 at 11:49 AM | by | Comments (0)

If you're super-short on time in buzzing Istanbul (which is something that frequently happens with long layovers), we've "been there done that" so here are the things that’ll let you experience the modern side of Istanbul in a rush.

When you think of Istanbul we can’t blame you for thinking “ancient city,” “old ruins” and “archaeological treasures" (or singing "Istanbul, not Constantinople" to yourself). You’re absolutely right to, and if you haven’t yet had the chance to see the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet) and Topkapi Palace you should definitely go. But, if you’re ready for something new and especially if contemporary history is more your thing, don’t skip the Istanbul Modern.

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Travel around the World with the Latest in LEGOs

January 23, 2013 at 7:30 AM | by | Comments (0)

If there’s one children’s museum that beats them all, it might just be the National Museum of Play up in Rochester, New York. They’ve got all kinds of hands on exhibits going on all year long, but their latest feature might just call for a bit of a road trip and visit.

The LEGO Travel Adventure exhibit recently opened up to both the big and little kids, as plenty of brick built exhibits show off a brief history of the world. Obviously there’s some hands on opportunities as well, as you can pick up and piece together your own bit of history thanks to some free time with the LEGOs.

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How To Get Tickets To Visit Frida Kahlo's Wardrobe in Mexico City

January 16, 2013 at 12:14 PM | by | Comments (0)

The flamboyant artist Frida Kahlo knew there was no better runway than the runway of life and that was evident in her over-the-top style. For the first time in almost 60 years, the public can now view the extravagant wardrobe of Kahlo in Mexico City.

The exhibit, named "Appearances Can Be Deceiving," is housed in her former home-turned-museum in the Del Carmen area of the city, and it features about 300 items from her personal wardrobe. Everything from dresses and headpieces to jewelery and her famed corsetry are all on exhibit to honor the unique life of the artist.

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What's the Deal with the Mummy Airplane at Seattle's Museum of Flight

January 15, 2013 at 4:16 PM | by | Comments (0)

This is the ghost of airplanes past. For real, though, this is a B-29 Bomber from World War II that's been literally kept under wraps for over a year, sitting between the parking lot of Seattle's Museum of Flight and the runways at Boeing Field.

Anyone who lives near a seasonal body of water (the Great Lakes, for example) has surely seen shrink-wrapped boats being transported or stored away for the winter. The same industrial wrap comes in handy for aircraft; just Google Image search "shrink-wrap airplane" to see shots like this, of bound-up Blackhawk helicopters on a barge.

But back to the Bomber.

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The 'USS Intrepid' Weathered Hurricane Sandy and is Ready for Reopening

December 18, 2012 at 10:25 AM | by | Comment (1)

Hurricane Sandy was not kind to many areas of New York and New Jersey and, if you were a tent trying to ride out the storm, well...you can guess how that went. The photo above is the tented Space Shuttle Enterprise Pavilion onboard the Intrepid aircraft carrier, docked on Manhattan west side. Not only did the West Side Highway flood during the storm, but the winds destroyed the multi-million dollar enclosure and exhibit around the Space Shuttle, closing it down until further notice.

Here's what they had to say about damages:

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The World's Largest Aquarium Now Calls Singapore Home

Where: Singapore
November 29, 2012 at 1:00 PM | by | Comment (1)

Move over Georgia Aquarium, as it looks like there’s a new vat of water in town and this one now holds the title of world’s largest.

The S.E.A. Aquarium opened its doors and tanks for the first time last week, making Singapore is now home to the world’s largest aquarium. Obviously they have plenty of fish and friends, and they’re all doing their thing in almost 11.2 million gallons of water. The new place is home to around 800 different species of ocean critters, and in total there’s like 100,000 animals swimming and splashing about.

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