Posted in Asia, Belgium, Canada, Caribbean, Cheap Activities, Europe, Finland, Food, France, Free Stuff, Germany, Malta, Middle East, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, USA, Web Tips, tagged Ben and Jerry's, Free Cone Day, ice cream on 21 April 2009| Leave a Comment »
Once a year, Ben and Jerry’s gives away ice cream at its scoop shops free.
TODAY’S THE DAY!
In the U.S. and Canada, find your nearest scoop shop here.
Overseas, give one of these two links a try: 1, 2. (You’ve got a chance if you’re in Aruba, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, or the UK.)
Enjoy!
Posted in Europe, Free Stuff, Germany, Photos, Spain, Travel, tagged ITB, metablogging on 11 March 2009| 3 Comments »
What’s going on at the blog? Inquiring minds want to know!
There are lots of good changes coming soon — check out the beta version of the new site here. How do you like the new look? Something broken in your browser? Leave a message in the comments.
For the next couple of weeks, continue to check this page while everything gets sorted out at the new domain. When it’s time to change your bookmarks and your rss feeds, I’ll let you know.
Since I was hoping to launch at the beginning of March, I’ve been sitting on this month’s desktop calendar. No longer! Download a piece of spring for your computer by clicking on the “For Your Desktop” tab above.
Finally, I will be at the ITB here in Berlin for the next five days, making contacts with fellow travel bloggers and travel professionals. If you’ll be there, do send me a message via the contact tab. Let’s network!
Posted in Free Stuff, Germany, Photos, Travel, tagged Berlin, desktop background, wallpaper on 1 February 2009| 4 Comments »
It’s the first of the month (rabbit, rabbit), and you know what that means: February’s calendar desktop is now ready for download. Preview of the image at left.
If you’re not sure how to change your desktop wallpaper, follow the easy instructions in the For Your Desktop tab.
Enjoy!
Posted in Airports, Europe, Germany, Information, Public Transport, Travel, Web Tips, tagged Berlin, Schönefeld, SXF on 27 January 2009| 2 Comments »
A new “express” bus service now links Südkreuz train station in Berlin with Schönefeld Airport. Price: 6 euros, 4 euros with any BVG ticket, 3 euros with a weekly or monthly ticket. For those flying into Berlin, the ticket remains valid for further transit on public transportation in Berlin ABC.
This bus represents no monetary savings to Shoestring travelers.
I’m posting about the service nevertheless, as you may find that it will save you transit time, depending on where you are staying/living. For less than 2 euros more (with my monthly ticket), I may cut up to 30 minutes off my route to the airport — and that’s something worth writing about!
Related Posts
Posted in Architecture, Cheap Activities, Europe, Free Stuff, Germany, Photos, Travel, tagged Berlin, Photo Friday, Reichstag on 20 January 2009| 8 Comments »
I love capitols — can’t get enough of their marble halls, gilded domes, dark wood paneling and hundreds of tiny desks (at least they always *look* tiny from the viewing gallery) with multicolored voting buttons. They capture a regal era removed from our own with a permanence found rarely in modern architecture.
While in DC at the beginning of January, my destination of choice was the new visitors’ center at the U.S. Capitol. On the way, I passed the inauguration grounds with stage building in progress, pictured on Tuesday. (Where did you spend your inauguration day? Share your stories in the comments.)
In sheer contrast to the classical American dome is that of the German Reichstag, whose glass dome by Sir Norman Foster was added to the building after reunification. The overarching theme of Germany’s new governmental architecture is transparency, with buildings and offices as visible as possible. From the visitors’ area of the dome, it is possible to look down into the plenary room below, as pictured here.
A visit to the Reichstag is fun and free — check all the details for making yours a smooth one in this previous post.
Follow other Photo Friday participants here.
Posted in Airports, Architecture, Cheap Activities, Europe, Free Stuff, Germany, Photos, Shopping, Travel, tagged Frankfurt/Hahn airport, Koblenz, Photo Friday on 4 December 2008| 9 Comments »
At the confluence of the Moselle and Rhine rivers in the lovely city of Koblenz, Germany, stands a large 
monument called Deutsches Eck (German Corner). Originally dedicated to the empire of Kaiser Wilhelm I, its partial destruction in WWII led the remnants to serve as a memorial to German unity until 1989. It was rebuilt by Koblenz in 1993.
Climbing inside the central structure (below the statue) affords views along both river banks and of the town itself. Koblenz is a well-maintained city with abundant plantings and whimsical fountains and figures sprinkled throughout. The center of town is dominated by pedestrian shopping areas, though it’s easy to find refuge from inclement 
weather in the indoor (and partially underground) Löhr Center mall at the edge of this area. The monument is at most a 15-minute walk from the central bus or train stations.
Given its location, the area is popular with river-cruising tourists. You don’t need to commit a week, however — one- or three-hour boat trips are readily available at standard rates. In the summer, it is possible to make a leisurely daytrip all the way from Cologne or Bonn by boat.
The monument (admission: free) has many details to be discovered by visitors. Each of the German states are represented by a plaque in the rounded area while their flags grace the waterfront. I’m a sucker for reliefs like these giant carved stone snakes above the benches at the base of the monument. For younger visitors, there is plenty of open space for running, climbing and jumping.
Koblenz can be reached by bus from Frankfurt/Hahn airport and, if the timing is right, is an enjoyable day out for any passengers connecting on low-cost carriers with a long layover.
Find (and join!) other Photo Friday participants here.
Posted in Airlines, Free Stuff, Germany, Luggage, Packing, Public Transport, Travel, USA, Web Tips on 28 November 2008| 4 Comments »
The Russians have a term — avoska — for a small tote bag carried “just in case.” Theirs were used for the random times where lines spontaneously formed for things like bananas. When lines appeared, people would join even if they weren’t certain what was on offer (on the grounds that, if people were lining up, something good must be for sale)!
In the same “Be Prepared” spirit, such a reusable tote bag is one of the smartest things a no-budget traveler can stash in the outer pockets of their luggage or in their handbag.
The nice folks at Wellcare want you to have this tote for free. It appears to have nice long straps for shoulder carrying. If you don’t like the design, I recommend you simply turn it inside out!
Posted in Europe, Germany, Photos, Travel, tagged Bonn, Photo Friday, Poetry Friday on 27 November 2008| 11 Comments »
It was six men of Hindustan to learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant (though all of them were blind),
That each by observation might satisfy the mind.
The first approached the Elephant and happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side at once began to bawl:
“Bless me, it seems the Elephant is very like a wall.”
The second, feeling of his tusk, cried, “Ho! What have we here?
So very round and smooth and sharp? To me ’tis mighty clear:
This wonder of an Elephant is very like a spear.”
The third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Then boldly up and spake:
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a snake.”
The fourth reached out an eager hand
And felt about the knee.
“What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain,” quoth he;
“‘Tis clear enough the Elephant is very like a tree!”
The fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: “E’en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!”
The sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant is very like a rope!”
And so these men of Hindustan disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right and all were in the wrong.
So oft in theologic wars, the disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant not one of them has seen!
— John Godfrey Saxe, “The Blindmen and the Elephant”
Photographs taken in the Garden for the Blind, Freizeitpark Rheinaue, Bonn, Germany (June 2008 )
Posted in Airports, Asia, Caribbean, Carnivals, Cheap Activities, China, Entertainment, Europe, Free Stuff, Germany, India, Italy, Lodging, Museums, Public Transport, Travel, United Kingdom, USA, Web Tips, tagged Broadway, Carnival of Cities, Cirque du Soleil, Dominican Republic, Dublin, Ireland, London, Mexico, New York City, Rome, San Francisco, Thailand, Washington DC on 26 November 2008| 2 Comments »
Greetings fellow travelers and welcome to this week’s Carnival of Cities. I’m happy to be your host as we jet around the world following tales of tapioca, tumbling and taxidermy. Intrigued? Read on . . .
New York City, NY, USA: Sascha Zuger from Travel Savvy Mom scoops a great hotel package, describes her run-in with Sesame Street’s Gordon and highlights the Kids’ Night on Broadway offer in her post Broadway, Baby!
Rome, Italy: speaking of perfect hotels, Mara at Mother of All Trips has identified a real winner for young families near the Coliseum in her post Mondays Are for Dreaming: Hotel Lancelot.
Naples, Italy: Karen Landes is blogging at WhyGo Italy on the shades of life on display when slicing Naples in two in the post Spaccanapoli: Naples’ Historic Main Street.
Washington, DC, USA: Jon at The DC Traveler gives us a peek at the folks folding themselves in half and risking their lives nightly for our enjoyment when he goes Backstage at Cirque du Soleil KOOZA.
San Francisco, CA, USA: DFernandez takes us along on a twisty insider tour of his favorite tourist spots in The (Crooked) Road Not Taken at You’re So City.
London, UK: Caitlin at Roaming Tales is serving up top tips for London’s East End — not the least of which is where you may spot folk-dancing squirrels selling high-end clothes . . . Check out her post A Stroll through London’s Quirky East End for directions, or simply let your badger on a leash lead the way!
Prescott, AZ, USA: Granny J takes in an impressive number of public scupltures in Prescott’s Heroic Bronzes at Walking Prescott.
Dublin, Ireland: A detail on the airport wall caught the eye of Fin Keegan in the post Bitter in the End.
Dresden, Germany: You’d have to be blind to miss the detail on the tiled wall called the Procession of Princes in my post Saturday Photo Friday #4 here at Less Than a Shoestring.
Bangkok, Thailand: The news about hundreds of air passengers stranded as rebels seize the airport putting your Thai travel plans on hold? Conan Stevens serves up a perspective on the impact of the foreign spender in Is Thailand Safe to Travel in Now?
Shanghai, China: Our benevolent leader Sheila Scarborough gives us the scoop on a bubble tea chain discovered in China which has a branch in — no joke — Albuquerque in the post Stop into China’s rbt for Tea and Juice Drinks at the Family Travellogue.
Mexico City, Mexico: Gilocafe has a video to share from their visit to Teotihuacan Pyramids: Mexico City, Mexico.
Kanyakumari, India: Maneesh of Admirable India shares his photos from two museum visits in the post Trip to Kanyakumari: Chapter 2: Wandering Monk Exhibition, Kanyakumari and Government Museum, Kanyakumari: Part 1.
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: Jason Sarracini of Trip Quips gives a quick resort tip for a stay on the island.
That concludes this week’s Carnival — the next Carnival of Cities will be hosted by the friendly folks at UpTake. Submit your (one, non-spammy) blog post about any aspect of ONE city to the next edition before next Tuesday using the carnival submission form. If you like these posts, try browsing the extensive Carnival of Cities archives.
Posted in Architecture, Entertainment, Europe, Free Stuff, Germany, Travel, Web Tips, tagged Bach, church, Leipzig, Nikolaikirche on 20 November 2008| 8 Comments »
Traveling in Europe for nearly a decade, I’ve reached a saturation point with churches. Some study-abroad students come down with an unshakable case of ABC Syndrome (short for “Another Boring Church”) in just 10 weeks! Don’t get me wrong: I studied church art intensively and am still moved by the beauty and majesty of many religious temples — but these days it takes a soaring recommendation from the guidebook to get me in the door, which happens only once or maybe twice per trip.
Sometimes I am surprised, however, by a jewel of a church that I just have to recommend. The Pisa Cathedral (Italy) is one I’ve already mentioned; the Nikolaikirche in Leipzig (Germany) is another.
The pastel color scheme and the natural light give the church a truly uplifting feel while the unique palm-frond column tops reminded me of the tree-like columns designed by Gaudi in Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia. Your eyes are naturally drawn heavenward by the architecture.
I wanted to visit the Nikolaikirche because of the significant role it played in the peace movement leading to the end of the German Democratic Republic in 1989. I was not prepared for it to be so beautiful!
Johann Sebastian Bach was the choirmaster and organist here for over a quarter-century. Regular concerts of Bach’s compositions are held at the church; tickets are 10-15 euros and can be ordered online.
Open daily for visitors (even during weddings and services, it is possible to enter the rear for viewing and gift-shop purchases), even cheapskates can appreciate as admission is free.
Photo Friday aficionados — follow my fellows forthwith!
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