It was cold outside in Budapest on the day I visited Széchenyi Bath (or fürdő in Hungarian), a Neo-baroque-style bathhouse built in 1913. Snow flurries were intermittent and wondrous, the chill broken by pockets of bright sunshine streaming between the cloud cover. It was about 34 degrees Fahrenheit and I wore only a swimsuit, my skin goose-pimpled as I crossed the outside courtyard toward the pool. Steam wafted from the surface of the thermal water, purported to be healing. I stepped in and sunk down, wading slowly through the vapor, the air smelling faintly of minerals, icy flakes melting on my shoulders.
With bookshops on every corner, a unique mix of architecture and coffee shops as far as the eye can see, Buenos Aires is like a sweet marriage of New York and Paris, with lots of Latin influence. For art fans who want to see an authentic piece of the city, don’t skip out on visiting La Boca. This little corner of Argentina is in flux: enterprising entrepreneurs set up kiosks every day, peddling kitschy souvenirs next to artists lofts, while the artists themselves keep studio doors open to attract patrons. The real enjoyment, though, comes from walking the winding streets of this neighborhood and looking for the tiny details, like a pint-sized painting at the foot of a building, a neon yellow fountain in a fenced yard, or a political declaration sprayed on a curb.
It didn’t seem possible that Ace Hotels in Portland and New York could top their “virtual concierge,” which included a Google Chromebook for guests to use during their stay. Their latest offering, however, is both unusually cool and a throwback to an era before people could shoot photos with their phones. Guest will be able to shoot vacation photos with a refurbished Polaroid camera and limited edition packs of Ace Hotel branded Impossible Project black and white instant film. There’s no word how much this perk will cost guests, but the mark-up might be worth it to have a unique memento.
If you don’t plan on staying at any of their hotels — which you should if you travel to New York, Seattle, Portland or Palm Springs because it’s totally worth it — you can also purchase the branded kits through their website for $150 each. Not too shabby. The partnership with Google and the Polaroid perk isn’t the first time around the block for the boutique hotel chain. The company has worked with Uniqlo, Converse, Opening Ceremony, and other, primarily fashion, brands, over the years. [via PetaPixel]
The rush of travel comes from the excitement of the unknown, the new experiences fluttering by every moment of the day. Live the Language is an ongoing series of promotional travel videos from the EF International Language Centers which captures that exciting and frightful feeling of being in a new city and not speaking the language, and those strange cultural differences that make each place unique.
Last week, we clicked through a gallery over at Gawker documenting the still-ruined state of Six Flags New Orleans and marveled at the strange, surreal beauty of the destroyed theme park. Abandoned spaces are always interesting in their own way, particularly, to our minds, when nature begins to reclaim something forced upon it by man, but we think abandoned amusement parks are especially fascinating. After all, much like clowns and small children singing, the pomp and wild colors of many amusement parks are only barely to one side of the line between happy and ominous. It all depends on how the light is hitting them. Though these theme parks have definitely crossed over into creepy, we think there’s something beautiful and nostalgic about them, reminders of an age that seems to be slowly dying. Click through to see our gallery of abandoned amusement parks from all over the world, and let us know what you think in the comments.
Hot on the heels of The Atlantic’s trend piece on the growing popularity of travel to desolate locations like Roswell and Chernobyl, our friends at Gadling have put together a photo roundup of 10 abandoned cities that might strike your fancy. Our favorite of the bunch? The Sanzhi District of Taiwan, which is home to abandoned pod-shaped buildings (also known as “UFO houses”) like the one above; originally built back in the ’70s, the strange structures were intended to be part of a resort marketed at US military officers, but funding fell through.
Where have all the young artists gone? Well, they’ve been priced out of Melbourne, New York, Barcelona, and all of those other city enclaves that promised low-rent and lots of encouragement. But new art communities are popping up every day on unexpected parts of the globe. Creative hubs, city funded projects, and lots of public works are just some of the perks these locations offer to young artists who seek refuge. Click through for our eight favorite cities for young artists, and leave a comment if we forgot your favorite.
Consider yourself brave? Outlandish? The kind of person who, in the privacy of your own home, contemplates trading it all in for a shot at competitive luge? Or do you prefer to read about the world in books, rather than experience it directly? A desk jockey with a Kayak/Qixo obsession, forever running the numbers on the ticket to Bangkok you’ll never buy?
Either way, you’ll find some serious inspiration in our list of the world’s most extreme art vacations. Use them for fuel for your next hijinks, or simply read on, and weep with relief in the knowledge that you’re safe at home.
Last month, we followed the lead-up to the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project, which saw 14 countries trading culture to create international mash-up parties simultaneously around the world. Along the way, we headed to Thailand and India, to explore the unique culture of each country and document what we found.
The second stop on the trip was Mumbai, India, a city marked by non-stop activity, rich cultural heritage, diverse nightlife, and, of course, a striking divide between the rich and the poor. We were in town during the second anniversary of the 2008 terror attacks in the city, which added gravity to the visit, but the resilience of its residents was both striking and inspiring.
Last month, we followed the lead-up to the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project, which saw 14 countries trading culture to create international mash-up parties simultaneously around the world. Along the way, we headed to Thailand and India, to explore the unique culture of each country and document what we found.
The first stop was Bangkok, Thailand’s most well-known destination, and for good reason. The city hums with life, bustling with art, music, fashion, and infinitely eclectic cuisine. While there, we bore witness to an extremely colorful annual national festival, navigated the maze-like aisles of a weekend marketplace, cruised down a river lined (and filled) with captivating sights, discovered some of the best shopping areas (and some of the most strangely familiar), explored art and design, and met more fantastic people than we can count.
Of course, we also meticulously chronicled the journey in photo form, in order to share it with you. Join us for a virtual tour of Bangkok highlights, and start planning your next vacation now.
