This is a continuation of last week’s blog, Best 24 Hours on Earth, Part I that is excerpted from the October/November, 2016 edition of the National Geographic Traveler.
TOKYO, 5 PM
Happy hour in Japan means it’s time to seek out some sake. Amazingly, exports of Japanese sake to the U.S. have grown to $34 million annually. The Kuri bar in Ginza stocks more than 100 types of sake, including weekly changing seasonal selections. sake-talk.com Writer: Jill K. Robinson
Toyko, Japan
KERALA, 6 PM
Sunset in India sets off a series of rituals. The perfume of Kerala is woodsmoke. The nightly ritual of dusk involves hearths being lit, women cooking and men going to the toddy shop. Kerala is a small state with a high literacy rate and vibrant political traditions. Writer: George W. Stone
CUBA, 7 PM
When the sun dips behind Havana’s crumbling façades and the mercury drops to a bearable number, residents head outdoors. Tourists go to spots like the Tropicana Club, locals flock to the Malecón. Take a walk on this five-mile esplanade; it’s like a music festival. Writer: Jeannette Kimmel
Hotel Nacional along the Malecón in Cuba
NEW YORK CITY, 8 PM
This is the city where nothing is ever really closed. There are many New Yorks: one for the young, another for the old plus the newly arrived, the established, the broke and the rich. That’s the beauty of this vibrant place that fascinates and draws millions. Writer: Tara Isabella Burton
New York’s Greenwich Village: brownstones and tree-lined streets
CHINA, 9 PM
During the Shangyuan festival on the 15th night of the first month of the Chinese New Year, towns and villages across the country bathe in the glow of lanterns. So follow the crowds to this sizzling festival. Writer: J.K.R.
BUDAPEST, 10 PM
Plan to arrive via the river at night. Danube cruise ship passengers know to be out on deck when the Hungarian capital’s grand illuminated landmarks start to fill the scene. It’s a symphony of light. Writer: Amy Lipio
MONACO, 11 PM
The cars outside the Monte Carlo casino include a black Rolls with its top down. Ten euros (slightly over $11 US) gets you into the 153-year-old casino, which is surprisingly low-key. Writer: A.A.
NORWAY, 12 AM
Go mad for midnight spectacles in the far north that feature the dancing lights of the aurora borealis. A key consideration: make sure nothing stands between you and a clear night sky. kiekenessnowhotel.com Writer: J.K.R.
IN THE AIR, 1 AM
Get some shut-eye on a red-eye. In her book, The Sleep Revolution, Arianna Huffington offers tips for time zone-crossing travelers beyond just counting sheep. Try herbal sleep aids such as lavender. Writer: J.K.R.
ATACAMA DESERT, 2 AM
When the Chilean night is darkest, this is where you can best see the stars. Sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes this desert is one of the driest spots on Earth. spaceobs.com Writer: J.K.R.
TEL AVIV, 3 AM
This city has no last call, only last customers. When crowds elsewhere start to thin, head to late-night spots like Clara, or the underground club Bootleg. Have breakfast at Benedict’s: open 24 hours. Writer: Christine Blau
IN BED! 4 AM
The only thing hanging outside your door should be a “Do Not Disturb” sign or a creative version of those three words. Writer: Hannah Sheinberg
MAY WE SUGGEST…
Our must-have travel partner: Adea’s ultra-soft jersey knit stretch leggings can go with you to any spot on the globe.
Shaun Nelson-Henrick
Comments will be approved before showing up.
I just read an article that sounded – to me at least – like “a canary in a coal mine” or an early warning of danger. This piece, written by Joe Pompeo, appeared in the May 2020 issue of Vanity Fair magazine with the title “The British Tabloid Invasion” and a subtitle that read, “How the Daily Mail is conquering American gossip.”
The paparazzi horde, La Dolce Vita, 1960 – photo courtesy of Vanity Fair
Apparently the good old U.S. is a nation of “not great” sleepers. Really? And I thought I was the only one! According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention it was revealed that one out of three Americans are chronically sleep-deprived. Yikes!
I think we’re all taken by the incredible mystique of the famous French fashion house, Hermès that has been with us for two centuries and is still owned and operated by the same family. From its beginnings in fine equestrian leather goods, they are – in the tumultuous year 2020 – best known for their handbags and many other items.
My image of Hermès has always been rarified products at equally rarified prices so imagine my surprise when I recently received a very stylish publication of theirs in the mail.
