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Oct 2009
Sneak Peek: Sleeping Around #2
27/10/09 01:06 Filed in: Sleeping Around | USA
Let’s just say that the only trash I found in this trailer park was firmly nestled in the dumpster.
Coming to The Toronto Star in November 2009. Meanwhile, you can read Sleeping Around 1: Berlin HERE.
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Take it Home...Bavaria
Where is it? Bavaria, Germany
Describe it? Breakfast is a big deal in Germany, usually consisting of farmhouse favourites like cold cuts, cheese, bread and a hard boiled egg. It is of course especially crucial to stock up on breakfast if you’re going to be suiting up in Lederhosen and getting hosed at the beer hall in the afternoon. Bavarians traditionally chop it all up on one of these cutting boards and don’t bother with a plate.
How much? These novelty breakfast boards, featuring typical Bavarian images, are €7.90 each at Obacht (Ledererstrasse 17, Munich - www.obacht-web.de).
FROM MY FOOD AND SOUVENIR COLUMN IN
Nanaimo: Refreshed
12/10/09 09:43 Filed in: Canada
Story and photos by Reb Stevenson
NANAIMO, B.C.–When I was growing up in a small town on Vancouver Island, every weekend I longed to hear my dad say these magical four words: "We're going to Nanaimo."
My brothers and I would leap for joy. We'd even take the monumental step of voluntarily abandoning the Nintendo for a few hours.
But the thing is, in our minds Nanaimo wasn't a city – it was a mall.
I didn't even discover that Nanaimo, which lies 115 kilometres north of Victoria, had a downtown until I was in my late teens.
The buildings were neglected and dilapidated. A scent of danger (in the form of cigarettes and booze) was in the air. Characters who looked like their mailing address was simply "JAIL" stumbled around. Read More...
A Taste of...Quebec
09/10/09 16:13 Filed in: Food
Where is it? Ile d’Orleans and Quebec City
Describe it? Try as you might, you’re not going to leave Quebec City without a maple souvenir of some kind. But if you want something a little more grown up than a basic can of #2 amber, look to Cidrerie Bilodeau. Their “Fascination”, an apple mistelle flavoured with maple syrup, can be imbibed as a digestif, drizzled on sorbet, added to crepes Suzette or used for marinating pork and chicken. The 6-acre orchard itself is located about 15 minutes from Quebec City (you can pick your own apples there from mid-August to October), but Cidrerie Bilodeau also has a large booth in the city’s Marche du Vieux Port.
How much? $8 per bottle at the Marche du Vieux Port (www.cidreriebilodeau.qc.ca).
One Ultimate Experience Book
07/10/09 08:17 Filed in: Books | Active Travel
In keeping with the 1000 Places to See Before you Die, 100 Things to do Before you Die and 30 Angry Phrases to Scream Before you Die trend in publishing (ok, made that last one up), Lonely Planet is releasing 1000 Ultimate Experiences this month. Thankfully no death theme this time - that was getting a little depressing. 
Here are the ultimate Canadian experiences included in the book:
Best Road Trips -- Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island
Classic Train Trips -- Rocky Mountaineer
Most Extreme Environment -- Banff National Park
Best Adventure Travel Ideas -- Cycling the Icefields Parkway
Top 10 Boys (and girls) - own Adventures -- Cattle drive, Alberta
Best Party Cities -- Montreal, Canada
The World's Best Human Races -- Grouse Grind Mountain Run
Most Lip-Smacking Street Food -- Poutine
The Best skiing in North America -Blackcomb/Whistler, British Columbia, Canada,
Whitewater, Nelson, British Columbia and Banff, Alberta
Sea kayaking -- Johnstone Straits, Canada
Here are the ultimate Canadian experiences included in the book:
Best Road Trips -- Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island
Classic Train Trips -- Rocky Mountaineer
Most Extreme Environment -- Banff National Park
Best Adventure Travel Ideas -- Cycling the Icefields Parkway
Top 10 Boys (and girls) - own Adventures -- Cattle drive, Alberta
Best Party Cities -- Montreal, Canada
The World's Best Human Races -- Grouse Grind Mountain Run
Most Lip-Smacking Street Food -- Poutine
The Best skiing in North America -Blackcomb/Whistler, British Columbia, Canada,
Whitewater, Nelson, British Columbia and Banff, Alberta
Sea kayaking -- Johnstone Straits, Canada
Gear: Check this Out
05/10/09 13:14 Filed in: Gear
$389.97 at www.heys.ca
From my weekly travel gear column in