Travel experiences, memories and stories about exploring this great planet of ours

1780 Bar and Restaurant

1780 Bar and Restaurant
* 167 Rose Street, Edinburgh EH2 4LS, Scotland * 0131 255 1446 *

The five of us – one American, four Germans … on day 1 of exploring Scotland together were already at a quick start to disagree where to eat. Thai, Japanese, Irish, Mongolian, Indian … many choices, but no mutual agreement. So as we were wandering down Rose street at a time while most restaurants were already closed for lunch, we settled in on the 1780 Bar and Restaurant. Much to the advice of a patron at the restaurant across the street that closed the kitchen and went to only serving brews … recommended it for good eats. It was an interesting experience. I dined on the fish n’ chips with mushy peas … and thought it was mediocre. Bulmers cider was served up to us nice and cold, beers and ales for the others seemed to satisfy. Me, a silly American, expecting the Scottish to be as crazy about Pimms as the English, since it was my first trip to Scotland coming directly from England, I got a glare from one of the bartenders off-duty as I was ordering it with him mumbling “you couldn’t pay me to go through making that” but was countered by a lovely lady who knew how to make them, and damn good one at that. I quickly learned through that experience here, it wasn’t a Scottish choice. We sat out on the patio, and service was slow. Not sure I’d eat here again. I might pop in to taunt ordering a Pimms … Rating: 2 stars out of 5.

1780 Bar and Restaurant

A wonderful time living in Brisbane as a volunteer tour guide, as I was staying with couchsurfing hosts in Brisbane’s artsy West End … I would cross this bridge daily to get to work on the HMB Endeavour. This was Brisbane’s first permanent bridge and had its foundation stone laid on August 22, 1864 by the late Governor Bowen. It wasn’t finished construction until late 1874 due to financial constraints the city was having at the time. A temporary wooden bridge was opened for traffic in 1865, but due to its partial collapse in 1867 due to the wood-boring worm known as Teredo, was closed until final completion of the now permanent one. In 1893 floodwaters carried away the northern half of the bridge, again in 1896 on the temporary structure, and it was re-opened in June 1897. Due to buckling stresses in 1943, the bridge began restricting number of trams allowed on it, though it lasted until 1969 when it was demolished. A second bridge was created by A.B. Brady in 1969, made of steel, costing 3.2 million, with two carriageways and two footpaths. A This was the first road connection between the north and south Brisbane. The bridge is shared by pedestrians, vehicles, and bicyclists – each with their own lanes. It connects the South Bank Parklands and the Queensland Cultural Center to the city center called the Brisbane central business district or the “CBD” at North Quay. Half of its current roadspace is now consumed by the southeast Busway system. The bridge has some great panoramic views of the Brisbane River, the Cultural Center, and the City Center.

Hostelling International – Washington, D.C

Hostelling International – Washington, D.C : * www.hihostels.com * 1009 11th Street NW * Washington DC 20001 * 1-202-737-2333 (Facebook)
As any on-the-budget world traveller knows, Hostelling International is you cost-effective solution to any city in the world that you care to travel. It’s certified, safe, clean, and can always expect the quality that goes with their name. I’ve ALWAYS found that true with Hostelling International. (I can’t say the same for other hostelling groups/networks, some of which put you in seedy locations) With Hostelling, you always meet great new people travelling like you around the world and many new friendships are made … chatting, playing games, watching movies, taking tours, computer networking, hostel activities, making meals together, or being roommates. Hostelling International – Washington DC (HI-DC) is one of those great places where Hostelling International gets a good name. It’s also the only current hostel in the world to be Energy Star certified. HI-DC is located within walking distance from all the tourist attractions, monuments, museums, and shopping that D.C. offers. For me who likes to do alternative clubbing at night, it’s also in the neighbourhood from the only venues I’ve been turned on to. HI-DC offers dormitory rooms ($26/night) as well as private rooms ($69/night). They offer: 24-hour front desk service and security • No curfew, no lock-out • Rates include tax • An environment that is drug-free, smoke-free and alcohol-free • A/C and heat in all guestrooms • FREE breakfast • FREE in-room lockers, linens and towels • FREE tours, movie nights and programs • FREE Wi-Fi • FREE local map and area information • FREE books, puzzles, pool table • Common room with big, comfortable couches, Internet stations, information center, and pre-paid phone card machine • TV room with big screen, 150+ channels, DVD, VCR, library with FREE movies and leather club chairs • Fully-equipped, self-service kitchen • Outside patio seating • Wheelchair accessibility • Visa and MasterCard accepted • Nearby restaurants, bars and pubs, grocery shopping, pharmacy and other conveniences • Individual travelers and groups welcome. They are open 24 hrs/day; every day of the year. Visit the above website for pictures around the location. My visit was fabulous … Highly recommended. Thank you HI-DC! Rating: 5 stars out of 5.

Cork Butter Museum

One of the most intriguing and interesting museums in Cork is the Butter Museum. My fiancee was quick to take me up the hill to this unsual museum that covers the history of Ireland’s most important food export and the world’s largest butter market. It’s definitely worth a gander and is enriching with the history of farming, commerce, and finance in Ireland. It doesn’t just focus on the food culture of early Ireland, but also covers the growth of Cork as a food trade center. The history of butter making is covered with a feature audio-visual presentation on Irish Butter, as well as a plethera of artifacts throughout history used in butter and food production. It can be done in about an hour, and only will cost you about 4 Euros to wander about. Rating: 3 stars out of 5.

Butter Churn

Peppermill Casino
Wendover, Nevada

Peppermill Grand Buffet Casino *680 Wendover Boulevard, West Wendover, NV 89883 1- 800 – 537- 0207 *
One of my favorite litte roadstops when I travel to Burning Man from (and return voyage back to) Colorado. I often visit the casino playa dust covered and all, and have always been welcomed there regardless of my state. I can’t comment on the hotel or the entertainment as I have yet to ever partake of those services, but the casino is nice. I’ve always done great on the penny slots with a good turnover of winnings. The main focus of my visit to this casino has always been the buffet. I usually always win the cost of the buffet from the slots. The Buffet is a bit pricey, but usually has delicious offerings. I’ve done the Breakfast, Brunch, and Dinner buffets – pleased with them all. The Breakfast/brunch buffet was $14.95 as all you can eat. Soups, Salad bar, Chinese food, Mexican food, seafood, and great breakfast bar. Unfortunately for the brunches, all I found was a pretty meager dessert bar, but since I’m watching my calories, I skip that anyhow. Rating 3 stars out of 5.

Reddacliff Place
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Also known as Brisbane Square. A great little market square located between the Victoria Bridge and Queen Street Mall, at the base of Brisbane Square across from the Treasury Casino. Wednesdays it is home to a farmer’s and crafter’s market, and other days of the week have various other activities taking place in it. Modern art dot its landscape with giant metallic balls giving light in some humor that “Brisbane has balls”. It is strictly a walking square, as bicycles are not permitted, though now has some bicycle racks provided.

Mooney Memorial Fountain a.k.a. Eagle Street Fountain>
corner of Queen Street and Eagle Street, near 123 Eagle Street, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

As I passed by this quaint little fountain each day enroute to work as volunteer guide aboard the HMB Endeavour, i took a brief moment to admire this work of art. It was created by artist William Webster in 1879 and today represents a good example of a Victorian era public monument and amenity with careful and ornate design. It was setup as a memorial for a brave volunteer fireman who lost his life fighting a fire on Queen street in the March of 1877. This was firefighter James Thomas Mooney. It is made in Victorian Revival Gothic style wholy out of Murphy’s Creek sandstone. The three drinking heads are lion motifs consisting of Sicilian marble inserts. The base of the fountain is Mt. Alexander granite. Some controversy was struck later as addition of the names of all the Aldermen of the day were added.

Pig n’ Whistle
* 123 Eagle Street * Eagle Street Pier/Riverside Center * Brisbane, Queensland, Australia * http://www.pignwhistle.com.au/content/pnw-standard.asp?name=Home_Riverside *

A traditional British Pub along the scenic and famous Eagle Street Pier in the heart of downtown Brisbane that’s quite famous for its food, service, and beverages in Queensland and Brisbane. They boast a wide selection of beer, beverages, and dishes trying to stick to their renowned “a la carte” menu. It is also considered a sports bar as they have large screen TVs for game viewing. They have a reputation for being the “Home of Football” in Brisbane. Service is highly prized and noted with other reviews on the internet as is the quality of food, though my experience was average. rating 3 stars out of 5 ~ Thomas Baurley, visited 4/28/11.

HMB Endeavour
Eagle Pier, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

It was April of this year that I decided to investigate the footprints of the intriguing Captain James Cook and his round-the-world adventures. I signed up with Australian National Maritime Museum’s volunteer program to be a tour guide for the onboard museum while the HMB Endeavour was in port in Brisbane, Australia – just before joining them as a crew hand. Criminal and background checks cleared, airline ticket purchased for Australia, resignation from my career to go study abroad on a walkabout to certain parts of the planet – I was set. Comfortable in my couchsurfing host’s home … I was soon off to my first day at work … as a volunteer. Issued my vest, water bottle, and tour guide booklet … i had to be quick to learn the history of Captain Cook, as I was soon on my feet every 15-30 minutes rotating stations to introduce tourists and ship visitors to various sections of the HMB Endeavour, the famed replica of Captain Cook’s ship – the HMS Endeavour that he used to sail from England to the discovery (at least for England) of Australia with. 11 days of volunteering – alternating from being a night ship watch guard to a tour guide leading children and adults through the ship. It was the most interesting experience, through which I gained some fabulous friendships and comraderie, in-depth knowledge about Captain Cook and 18th century sailing, as well as a peek into what life would be like aboard a ship in this period of time. In some ways it was like time-travelling back to the era, while other moments it was similar to living in a museum, but nonetheless … I got a good glimpse at what life at the sea would be like, and as tour guide, a better thorough understanding of the ship before embarking as a crew hand sailing from Brisbane to Gladstone with the Endeavour’s first circumnavigation of Australia on leg two of the journey. This amazing journey is still going on, and may still have available berth spots available to anyone seeking to also learn about 18th century sailing from a scrubbing the deck to climbing the mast perspective. If you have interest in such things, I’d highly recommend it. While it might be a pretty penny to invest for the learning experience, it will definitely open your eyes to the tough life of a sailor. In addition, if given the availability, I’d also highly recommend volunteering as a tour guide or night watch – getting to experience the Endeavour in that intimate setting, and to explore its nooks- and -crannies … is priceless. Not only that, but you’re given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to understand an important historical figure and expedition. What an adventure.

If you’d like to investigate becoming part of the journey, visit the Australian National Maritime Museum’s website and inquire within. http://www.endeavourvoyages.com.au/.

HMB Endeavour
Eagle Pier, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia