Places to visit if you are a fan of Mediterranean delicacies

Mediterranean cuisine is one of the healthiest and tastiest in the world, utilising fresh fish, vegetables, and fruits as well as dairy and whole grains as its base ingredients. Whether you’re a self-proclaimed foodie or merely a fan of fresh foods, a visit to the Mediterranean should be high on your travel wish list. Here are the best places to travel to try the most delectable delicacies in the Mediterranean…

Greece

The typical Greek diet is the poster child of Mediterranean cuisine, where fresh fish is cooked alongside okra, eggplant, green beans, tomatoes, lentils and broad beans to create simple but delicious recipes. Vlassis, a small restaurant in Athens, serves tasty home-style Greek cuisine, with the onion-flavoured octopus stifado and katsiki ladorigani (goat with olive oil and oregano) being particular favourites. You won’t find fresher fish than at the Fish Taverna Takis to Limeni, which serves everything from plain fish to a delightful lobster diavalo (lobster with spaghetti and green peppers).

Italy

Food is Italy’s most famous export, and that is thanks in large part to its use of classic Mediterranean ingredients. Olive oils, pastas, pizzas, and fine wine—you’ll find it all on your travels to Italy. San Domenico in Imola is one of the country’s finest establishments, boasting a wine list of over 3,000 selections and a tasty ravioli dish stuffed with egg yolk and topped with Parmesan cheese, Alpine butter, and white truffles. Borgo Antico in Florence is a go-to pick for its pizzas and spaghetti all’aragosta (lobster spaghetti).

Turkey

While Turkish food is not strictly Mediterranean, it does fuse the most popular Mediterranean ingredients with Middle Eastern staples to create some truly delicious dishes. The wide selection of Turkish appetizers, known as mezze, proudly display the country’s Mediterranean cooking influences, with fresh hummus, eggplant salad, and stuffed vine leaves commonly found on the menu. Kebabs made from slices of eggplant and lamb display the Mediterranean influence as well. Moreish in Istanbul and Kırmızı in Bodrum are just two standout examples of Turkish restaurants that serve tasty Mediterranean dishes.

Cyprus

Another fusion cuisine is that of Cyprus, which combines Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and a bit of Asian influences into its best dishes. There, mezedes are popular as well, with fresh bread, olives, salads, and potato and garlic dip being among the most commonly served appetizers. For the main course, kebabs, lamb chops, and chicken are dietary staples. Among the best classic meze taverns are Zanettos in Cyprus, Mandra Tavern in Paphos, and Seven St. George’s Tavern in Paphos, but there are plenty of others to be found all over the island. Check out luxury hotels in Protaras that are located near the island’s top-end restaurants for a culinary experience you’ll never forget.

Photo Friday: Beware of Sharp Edges

Top 8 Travel Food Safety Tips

One of the most common problems with travels is food safety.  Stomach and intestinal illnesses can range from everything such as a sore tummy to death – it’s even possible to die from diarrhea.  But if you use a bit of common sense, and these practical tips, you can come home without too much hassle.

1. Know your allergies – and bring appropriate medicines.  You have to be just as careful with this 50 miles from home or 5,000.  If you’re traveling in another country that speaks a different language, be sure to look up and know how to say it in a foreign language.

2. Watch out for food that has been sitting out.  Hotel breakfasts are awful about this (dairy? eggs?), so skip anything that looks questionable – freshly prepared hot eggs are best.  Restaurants with those awful, weak heat lamps.  Food cart stalls already a bit questionable?  Keep on walking on.

3. Peel things that have a peel.  This is important when you’re far from home and enjoying any kinds of fruits or veggies.  The peel can be a real attraction for all sorts of bugs and bateria.

4. Stay hydrated and take regular vitamins.  When traveling, you tend to be dehydrated, a problem exacerbated in places where the water isn’t safe.  Along with that, long days and jet lag and the weariness of travel can be a real drag on your immune system – so don’t forget the Emergen-C!

5. When in doubt, go without.  Provided with some mayonnaise-like topping but  no idea what it is?  Want to order your steak medium but worried it won’t be cooked enough?  Always had problems with seafood?  Then go without.  It’s not work risking your vacation for.

6. Be friendly and smile with your wait staff.  Try to be as kind as possible with your wait staff, and tip generously as possible.  It’s hard work but being kind will result kindness is return.

7. Careful with slip-ups.  Putting bad milk in your coffee.  Eating fruit that was washed with contaminated water.  Having a cocktail that was made with contaminated ice.  Forgetting to wash your hands. It’s easy to put down your guard, but you have to be vigilant.

8. Go with your gut.  You don’t have to have gone to a prestigious hospitality college like Kendall or have your master’s degree in molecular gastronomy to have a gut feel (pun intended) whether or not a restaurant is going to be trouble.  It’s not about signage outside but a quick glance inside, at the dishes coming out, can usually tell you whether or not you’ll be ok.

Safe travels! For more food safety information, also check out www.foodsafety.gov.

Top Tips for a Safe Ski Holiday

Planning your ultimate Rocky Mountain ski vacation? Well, gear up, you are heading to America’s most sophisticated snow playground! Aspen, Colorado vacation rentals have a reputation for being some of the most glamorous, luxurious properties of any ski resort.

Attracting the world’s ski masters, families and beginners alike, Colorado’s premier ski resorts let you take advantage of North America’s most spectacular mountain range. However, these majestic mountains’ massive proportions also mean black-diamond terrain and changing weather conditions, which can spell danger for those who are reckless on the slopes. It’s important that before you strap on your skis, you’re aware of the risks and take the necessary precautions in order for your ski vacation to be a safe one.

The Hazards

Sunburn/ Frostbite

Colorado is known not only for its snow, but also for its sunshine! Although a sunny day on the slopes is the best time to enjoy the runs, you may not be aware that U.V. rays are much more intense at higher elevations. Make sure to wear sunscreen and goggles with UV protection, no matter what your skin type, and don’t forget to re-apply. The nose, cheeks, fingers and toes are particularly vulnerable to frostbite. Proper thermal, water-resistant clothing (in layers!) is an absolute must.

High Altitudes

Skiing at high altitude resorts gives you access to perfect dry, fluffy powder. But watch out, super high slopes can also generate symptoms such as headaches, nausea, coughing and difficulty breathing. Do not wait until these symptoms persist, but seek medical attention as soon as possible. On your first day, stay low, so that your body has time to adapt to the elevation, and take water breaks frequently throughout the day.

Changing weather/snow conditions

Changing weather conditions affect the snow under your feet, and hitting deep snow or icy patches can cause accidents. Changing conditions become a particular threat if you choose to ski off the designated ski area boundaries (in the backcountry). Here, risk of avalanche, unmarked obstacles, deep snow and other hazards may be extreme, and help is not readily available in an emergency. Unless you are willing to put your life at risk, stick to the trails that are patrolled and maintained– it’ll keep you out of a whole lot of trouble.

Injury and Collisions

With skiing always comes the risk of injury, but this risk is quite small as long as you stick to runs that are within your ability, and maintain proper control. Knee, shoulder, head and wrist injuries are the most common, and strong joints and muscles are essential to prevention. Make sure you yield to other skiers when merging onto another run, and always practice proper skier’s etiquette– people ahead of you have the right away, and it is your responsibility to avoid them.

What you can do

Ski with a buddy– Not only does skiing with somebody make the experience a lot more fun, but it provides you with support in the event that you ever require assistance, as a buddy can go alert the ski patrol.

Be honest about your abilities– Sticking to runs that are within your ability level is essential to keeping control and avoiding collisions. If you ever lose control, fall to the side, get out of the way of oncoming skiers and do not hesitate to get a ride down with the ski patrol. Take ski lessons if you are a beginner, in order to pick up and maintain good skiing habits.

Be aware of signage– Runs vary greatly in difficulty, from those marked by a green circle (beginner), to blue square (intermediate) to black diamond (expert). Double black diamonds or black diamond runs marked with an “ex” indicate extremely steep, difficult terrain. Only move up to the next level if you have absolutely mastered the previous level. Other signs serve to warn you when a run is closed due to hazards and to indicate family and slow- zones, so keep your eyes peeled.

Use proper equipment– Equipment should be specifically tailored to your proportions and skill level, so you should never borrow main equipment off a friend. Make sure the staff at the equipment rental facility take time to fit you properly and take into consideration your height, weight and ability level. Wearing a helmet is always an excellent idea in order to reduce risk of head injury.

Don’t forget, the risks associated with downhill skiing are minimal for skiers who avoid being reckless and most importantly, know their limits. Downhill skiing can be both safe and fun, and there’s no need to stress if you are well-prepared. With these safety basics covered, you can look forward to worry-free days of superb carving and shredding in the magnificent Rockies.

10 Signs You Should See a Doctor Immediately

Traveling exposes you to a new environment and new medical risks, if you are aware of dangers, take preventative measures (like drinking bottles water or getting vaccines before you travel), carry a good first aid kit and have comprehensive medical insurance your trip could go off without a hitch. But just in case you have any of the following symptoms remember sometimes it is better to seek medical advice when on vacation that waiting until it is too late.

1. Diarrhoea

Many travelers suffer now and then from a runny tummy because of eating foreign food. If you get the runs and it passes within 24-48 hours that’s fine but if it continues past 48 hours you should see a doctor.

2. Malaria

If you have symptoms such as a fever, headaches, sweating, stomach pain and aching joints then you may have caught Malaria, this can happen even if you have taken anti-Malaria pills. Of course this is something you would watch out for especially in certain countries, African countries in particular. You should seek medical advice as Malaria can only really be diagnosed by blood analysis.

3. Rabies

When an open wound (cut, scratch, bite) comes into contact with the saliva of an animal infected with rabies you may contract the disease. If you are bitten by an animal or had broken skin come in contact with the animal’s saliva then seek medical advice. Although rabies is fatal if contracted it can be prevented by getting immediate post-exposure vaccine injections. Medical measures must be taken quickly as once the virus reaches the brain there is no cure. Clean and disinfect the wound, scrub with soap, flood with spirits and seek immediate medical advice.

4. Nausea and Vomiting

If you’ve over drunk or eaten something that doesn’t agree with you that’s one thing but if you have nausea and vomiting which persists and is accompanied by other symptoms then you need to find a doctor fast. If you also experience extreme headaches, chest pain, are unable to keep anything down for 12 hours, you feel weak and dizzy, blurred vision, high fever, your vomit has blood in it or you have signs of dehydration together with the vomiting then find a doctor quickly.

5. Flu

A normal cold where you experience symptoms you have had before is nothing to worry about, you can continue you trip but if you find that together with flu symptoms you find it hard to breath, have chest pains, severe difficulty swallowing, a persistent fever or couching which lasts more than two or three weeks then seek medical advice. Even if you are traveling a simple bout of the flu could be whooping cough, GERD, a sinus infection or pneumonia.

6. Dehydration

Dehydration can be brought on by not drinking enough, by vomiting up all you drink, diarrhea, fever or heat exposure. In short when more water is leaving the body than is being taken in. The symptoms are dry mouth, weakness, fainting, palpitations, difficulty breathing and confusion.

7. Asian Flu

When traveling in Asia lookout for symptoms of H5N1 or avian Flu or Bird Flu. The symptoms look like flu symptoms they include fever, coughing, a sore throat and aching muscles. If you find you have a combination of these symptoms and are maybe finding it hard to breath then visit a doctor while still on vacation.

8. Hepatitis B

Although sometimes difficult to diagnose the symptoms of Hepatitis B are loss of appetite, exhaustion, aching muscles, sore stomach, diarrhea or vomiting and you may also experience signs of jaundice like yellow skin and eyes. See a doctor if you have a combination of these symptoms.

9. Lyme Disease

If you are bitten by a tick you may contract Lyme disease, look for a small red bump which is tender and slightly warm. The redness may spread outwards over several days forming a rash that looks like a bull’s eye. This is accompanied by flu symptoms, swollen glands and fever. It may also include numb limbs. See a doctor immediately; don’t wait until you get home.

10. Returning home

Finally if you return home at the end of your vacation with a fever visit a doctor immediately, also if you have any other symptoms as many diseases picked up overseas only show up after you have returned home. So keep an eye on your heath directly after returning from your vacation.

Overall if you have symptoms like fever, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, aching muscles, chest pains and flu symptoms which seen extreme and last longer than they normally would see a doctor immediately.

How to Avoid Altitude Sickness while on tour in Nepal

Hiking the highest mountains in the world. Nothing says adventure traveler like a vacation through the Himalayan Mountains in Nepal. A unique country with lots of local culture, Nepal has been drawing travelers here for centuries. As home to 8 of the world’s 10 highest peaks, you’ll always need to be aware of altitude sickness in Nepal – you’ll never be close to sea level. Here’s some tips to avoiding falling ill.

Go with a vetted guide. Trekking the Himalays isn’t something to be done by yourself – it is too dangerous. Research some of the more popular brands, such as Bales Worldwide or work with a travel agent to find a good tour operator.

Acclimatize, Acclimatize, Acclimatize. They say it takes 1 day just to fully acclimate just 300meters in altitude change when up in the mountains. Because of this, when you arrive to Nepal, it is important to spend several days adjusting. You’ll find on arrival that you may be short of breath and have frequent headaches. Just imagine what that would be like if you were on a strenuous hike? Take your time – those mountains aren’t going anywhere.

Pack in layers. The weather can change rapidly. As Flip Barnes said on his Nepal trek, expect the unexpected. You’ll want to be mindful of the weather which can make light altitude sickness symptoms worsen.

Pack bottled oxygen for extreme treks. The trend to have small, personalized bottles of oxygen started at higher-end ski resorts, and now you have them everywhere. These small but pricey bottles deliver a couple of deep puffs of oxygen, which can help clear the fog of a oxygen-deprived brain. These are meant to help you feel better, not to ward of more serious altitude sickness issues, which often require medical treatment.

Ginger chews and pills are my favorite ailment remedy. Personally, altitude sickness hits me hard with headaches, nausea, and just a general malaise. The best remedy are the ginger chews or ginger pills widely available. Some pills also have aspirin-like medicines in them, or also some swear by gingko. Try the pills – they help. And they’re inexpensive.

Hydrate more than you can hold. It means having to use the bathroom a LOT, but hydrating can make a huge difference. Because of the altitude, your blood thins and many of your bodily organs dry out a bit in the thin air. You may notice a dry throat, but since you aren’t swearing out fluids, you won’t notice how dehydrated you are. It’s best to have a bottle of water on hand at all times, and plan on drinking at least 5 or 6 bottles of them a day – especially before you go to bed.

Treat yourself! Some of the luxury tours of Nepal offer all the accoutrements you can think of, and more. Hot apple pie on the way to the top? Oh yes. And when you have clean, comfortable accommodation, you’ll be well rested, and that’s also really important to making sure you are alert and safe up on the mountains.

Staying Healthy and In Shape While on a Cruise Boat

If you’re going on a cruise boat for the first time, then there are certain precautions that you should be aware of. Going on a cruise boat can be lots of fun, but it can also be a huge nightmare if you get seasick or end up with tummy troubles, the two most common cruise ailments. Some advice on staying fit and healthy on your trip.

- Be One Of The First In Line At The Buffet

Be one of the first people to be in line at the buffet, as this will not only mean that the food your eating is still fresh, but it also means the food is completely clean. Some guests will touch the food and then place it back, which can easily spread germs.  Also be mindful of what you’re eating – sometimes norovirus can spread just because of too many folks getting indigestion and practicing bad sanitary behavior.

- Sanitize Frequently

Speaking of which, wash frequentlyl! Sanitize and wash your hands as much as possible when you’re on the cruise boat, because you will be touching a lot of germs on the boat. Bring a hand sanitizer when your on the cruise boat so that even if you can’t go to the bathroom, you will still be able to clean your hands. Cruise boats can still carry germs even when kept clean,  because even though the industry is trying hard to keep things clean, it doesn’t mean that the guests are obligated to be clean.

- Drink Bottled Water Not Tap

Buy bottled water instead of drinking the tap water, as the local tap water in different countries aren’t clean like the tap water in the United States. Although bottled water may be expensive, at least you are certain that the water is clean. Sometimes this can be difficult, especially when you’ll spend a number of days at sea – such as on South Pacific cruises – but keeping mindful of the water is always important.

- Take The Stairs Instead Of Using The Elevator

To avoid gaining lots of weight, you should consider to take the stairs to go to your room instead of using the elevator, as you will burn a lot calories from doing so, and burning calories keeps your immune system humming. Some ships also offer fitness classes which can be a way to sweat out those toxins and help boost immunity.

By following the simple yet very effective tips above, you will then be able to avoid getting sick and keep that immune system humming when you’re on a cruise boat.

Find a Doctor Away from Home

If you have recently moved to a new home or a new state in the US then you will need to find a local doctor and know where your dental surgeon and nearest hospital are located. Many Americans travel around the country and stay at motels on business trips and often find themselves in towns or cities they have never been to before.

You will never know when you may suddenly need a surgeon, doctor or dental practitioner. You may be feeling unwell suddenly, you could suddenly be 300 miles away on a business trip and find you are need of a dental surgeon as you develop a toothache from hell. So, what do you do? There is a website which provides an answer to these problems with comprehensive information. Your City MD (www.yourcity.md) will provide you with detailed information on the doctors and dental surgeons that operate in the area where you are located inAmerica.

How does it work?

All that is required is for you to enter a zip code or town name and the search engine will take you to a comprehensive list of all the medical professionals that are in that area. It may be that you need an acupuncturist or a cardiologist. By selecting a range of medical specialists from a drop-down list available you can found out where you nearest chiropractor, hand surgeon, infectious disease specialist or licensed practical nurse are located. Your City MD will track you to your zip code or town and district.

A Test Run

We road tested Your City MD to see if we could find a glaucoma specialist in Beverly Hills,California. We entered into the search field 90210 (the zip code for Beverly Hills) and then found in the drop down list there was no glaucoma specialists in the drop down list. There was almost everything else from addiction medication specialists to varicose vein surgeons and back pain specialists to sports medicine specialists.

However, all was not lost! Next to the drop down list was another field you could select the type of symptom or condition you have and sure enough glaucoma was there and Your City MD helped to locate two glaucoma specialists inBeverly Hills. One was in Century Parkand the other in Camden Drive. There are also some NIH articles on the disease listed next to the full address and phone numbers of the medical professionals we were looking for.

All in all, when it comes to finding a medical professional in a pinch, YourCity MD seems like a great choice.  Bookmark it on your phone so you have it when you need it!

Plastic vs. Stainless Steel

What Type of Water Bottle is Right for You?

Who knew ‘Going Green’ could have so many choices?! Bottled water is a huge industry, as it seems everyone is looking for ways to keep hydrated on the go, but with the environment at stake disposable bottles of water are not such great options. So with that being said, it is time to find the right type of reusable water bottle for your needs; plastic vs. metal.

Advantages of Plastic Bottles

Plastic bottles are strong, yet lightweight, and still safe to drink from. Plus, retain few odors! Bottles made of high-density and low-density polyethylene are free of BPA, a hormone disruptor which is not safe for your health and may cause cancer. Sometimes it is still best to check the tag and make sure the bottle is indeed BPA-free because some of the older model bottles may still contain bad chemicals.

The conveniences of plastic bottles usually gains favor, as they are easy on the wallet, come in a ton of shapes and sizes, plus are usually dishwasher safe.

Disadvantages of Plastic Bottles

Like I had said before some older model bottles can contain BPA if reused regularly. It is important to check the bottle’s label specifically when choosing the type of model you want. If your bottle is labeled “1,” it is recyclable but not reusable due to the possibility of bacteria build-up. If the bottle is labeled “2,” “4″ or “5,” it is safe to reuse, but will not stand up to repeated washing in the dishwasher. If it is labeled “3,” “6,” or “7,” it may leak BPA.

The durability can vary as well and some plastic bottles can be easily broken or not able to withstand a dishwasher or microwave. In general, it is not usually safe to put any type of plastic in the microwave so the same would go for a water bottle as well. However, if you are just looking to have a cold bottle of water, you shouldn’t run into that problem.

Advantages of Stainless Steel Bottles

Water (and drinks in general) tends to stay cooler in one of these bottles and since stainless steel doesn’t retain odors, your beverage will taste much fresher each and every time. While they do keep water cool, stainless steel bottles can also hold hot beverages and keep them hot throughout the day.

No matter how many times you use them they will continue to be reusable and not leak BPA. Plus, they are extremely durable and usually, depending on the model, dishwasher safe.

Disadvantages of Stainless Steel Bottles

Your wallet may not enjoy dishing out $10-$30 for one of these bottles when a disposable water bottle is about $1. Plus, if you attempt heating your drinks in the microwave the heat will easily transfer to the outside of the bottle and you will more than likely be experiencing some very hot hands. Mother Nature’s microwave, the Sun, can also do this to your cold drinks during the hot weather and if you plan on being out in the sun all day your drinks may not stay cool for long.

So you decide; Plastic or Stainless Steel?

5 great African countries to see hippo in

The Channel 4 programme Inside Nature’s Giants, which was screened on Monday April 9^th, took a fascinating forensic look at the inner workings of the hippo.

Excited tourists who journey to Africa for wildlife safaris tend to overlook the hippo in the rush to see the glamorous ‘Big Five’ game (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino).

However, Inside Nature’s Giants could well re-awaken interest in this fascinating beast.

Before I watched the programme I didn’t know that:

• Hippos have inch-thick skin as a defence against the foot-long canines of rival hippos
• Hippo skin produces its own natural form of sun cream to protect against the African sun’s fierce rays
• The hippo’s closest-living relative is the whale!

These are all interesting facts but there’s nothing quite like seeing a hippo in the flesh, or listening to their engaging ‘talk’ echoing up and down rivers across the continent.

Bill Adams of Safari Consultants, specialists in tailor-made travel to East and Southern Africa, has picked out five of the best places to see hippo in Africa. Here is Bill’s list; together with some details about the areas where they can be found.

1. Zambia – Luangwa and Zambezi rivers

Zambia’s Luangwa Valley is the place where the Inside Nature’s Giants’ anatomical team journeyed to for their hippo research. Zambia and Luangwa are synomonous with walking safaris and the South Luangwa National Park is home to large herds of herbivores, including many hippo. Yes, the hippo, despite killing more people in Africa than lions, elephants and crocodile combined, is a herbivore.

The Lower Zambezi and Upper Zambezi are two other places in the Zambia safari region which boast excellent hippo populations. The Lower Zambezi National Park is a particularly fine place to see hippo in during the dry season (May to October). This is a time when an amazing variety of other wildlife (including elephant, buffalo, lion, wild dog and crocodile) are present in the area; lurking in the grass, sheltering under the shade of the trees or submerged in the waters.

2. Tanzania – Selous

Imagine a wildlife area the size of Ireland and which is home to a magnificent range of wildlife including lion, leopard, elephant and elusive black rhino. The Selous safari region is just such a place and every lover of African wildlife should journey to the Rufiji River, East Africa’s greatest waterway, to take part on a river cruise. Hippo is just one of the many amazing animals which call Selous home.

3. Uganda – Queen Elizabeth

Big game viewing opportunities are excellent in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The Ishasha sector of the park is renowned for its tree-climbing lions and, according to the park’s website, hosts the world’s highest concentration of hippos.

If you miss seeing a hippo during the daytime then try seeing them at night when they leave the rivers to graze.

4. Botswana – Chobe

Chobe National Park is a wildlife photographer’s idea of paradise. The vast park’s river courses attract large herds of elephant and buffalo. The elephant frequently have a cooling dip and swim in the waters – to the delight of all who watch.

The sight of a hippo in the water is just as arresting; capturing the moment when a hippo opens its powerful jaws in a huge yawn is also on the ‘to-do list’ of any wildlife photographer visiting this fantastic corner of Africa.

5. Kenya – Masai Mara

The Mara and Talek rivers which flow through the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya help sustain a vast wildlife population – including hippo.

July to October is a particularly good time to travel to the area as this is when the annual wildebeest and zebra migration is ‘in residence’.

Don’t be surprised to see around 30 larger species of mammal if you take a three- or four-day trip to the Masai Mara, and don’t forget to try and catch a glimpse of hippo among the throng of other animals which gather in and around areas of water.

You’ll be surprised by just how gracefully these enigmatic animals can move. To find out other surprising acts about hippo – such as why they use their tails to playfully flick mud around – be sure to watch Inside Nature’s Giants!