Stories about Travel from July, 2008
Russia: Street Name Changes
Eternal Remont writes about street name changes in Moscow.
Russia: Bashkiria
Dmitri Minaev of De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis describes a recent trip to Bashkiria and posts pictures.
Russia: City Name Changes
The Turkish Invasion posts a list of Russian cities, which through history have undergone name changes, and comments on the phenomenon.
Czech Republic: Expensive Water
The Czech Daily Word reports on how Czech restaurants are making money on drinking water: “Generally speaking the purchase prices for a .3L bottle of water in wholesale is CZK 4 (yes, FOUR), but if you go to a restaurant, a coffee house or a similar place, you pay CZK...
Cuba, Venezuela, U.S.A.: Empty Dialogue?
Cuban bloggers Babalu and Ninety miles away…in another country focus on U.S. Republican senator Arlen Specter's upcoming Latin American trip, during which he hopes to meet with both Raul Castro and Hugo Chavez: “The Cuban government has made clear that the only thing it is interested in is the unilateral...
Russia: An Expat Exodus?
Copydude follows up on an earlier story, on increasing difficulties for foreigners to stay on in Russia, and partly supports his claim with statistics, and Russia Blog picks up and develops the story.
Saudi Arabia: On the move…or not
The journey, not the arrival matters? Two bloggers from Jeddah would disagree. They have both been having problems getting from one place to another: one in Jeddah itself and the other back to Saudi Arabia from Canada.
Cuba, Mexico: Good Relations
“I’ve always admired how Mexico, despite its own internal contradictions and conflicts, was able to dodge the US pressure on Cuba…in the early 1960s”: On a recent trip to Mexico City, Havana-based blogger Circles Robinson has a chat with an immigration officer that makes him realize “Mexico is no exception”...
Armenia: Driving in the Caucasus
Having arrived in Armenia for an internship, It's Very European to Stand… comments on driving in the capital, Yerevan, and concludes that crossing the road can be hazardous and sometimes life-threatening.
Arabeyes: Head Over Heels for Muhannad
A strange phenomenon has gripped the Arab world and Arabs seem to agree on something. It is an infatuation with a Turkish soap opera, dubbed in Arabic, and its stunning star Muhanned (played by Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ), whose romantic trysts are beamed on television screens across the region. The obsession of some people with the soap has also prompted the Grand Mufti of the Islamic world, Shaikh Abdul Aziz Al Shaikh, from Saudi Arabia, to issue a fatwa (religious edict) banning the drama, saying watching it is Haram (a sin).
China: Beijing on the eve of the Olympics
There's been lots of talk of the ‘leave Beijing for the Olympics’ (避孕) movement, but how's it looking for those who are going to stick it through (受孕)? Danwei.org‘s Joel Martinsen translates two definitive blog posts from the latter camp in ‘Life in Beijing on the eve of the Olympics’.
Bermuda: Business or Pleasure?
The latest statistics from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation prompt 21 Square to ask how much of Bermuda's tourist market “is actually…reliant upon business travelers”, while Vexed Bermoothes adds that the sagging tourism sector is causing an even greater salary gap between hospitality employees and international business workers.
Russia: Two “Seven Wonders” Competitions
Vilhelm Konnander writes about the results of two parallel competitions whose aim was to choose “Seven Wonders of Russia.”
Russia: Cost of Living in Moscow
Two-Zero writes about the cost of living in Moscow – for expats and for locals.
Ecuador: Guayaquil Celebrates its Past and Present
“Cheers, Guayaquil on your Anniversary!” writes Alex Anazco of Cambiemos Ecuador [es]. He writes about its past, but also about its present, which boasts the best airport in Latin America according to an international business magazine.
Bahrain: Missing India
Many Bahrainis study at universities and colleges in India, and one of them is blogger MuJtAbA AlMoAmEn. He recently wrote about his feelings of missing Bahrain when in India - and his desire to go back to India after a long break in Bahrain.
Indonesia: Oil company endorses improper use of motorcycles?
My Busy Brain criticizes an oil company for distributing pamphlets which indirectly encouraged improper use of motorcycles in Indonesia
Ukraine: “Package Experience”
Michelle Knisley of Greetings from Kyiv writes about the fate of the packages sent to her by other people to Ukraine.
Ukraine: Olechko's New Paintings
Lots of new, Ukraine-related, work – at Olechko's blog.
Nigeria: Erin-Ijesha waterfalls
Fadekemi of the blog ConnectAfrica describes the Erin-Ijesha waterfalls in the Nigerian Osun state, “definitely a site to behold”.
Cameroon: Why tourists and investors avoid it
Dibussi Tande of the blog Scribbles from the den quotes an article from the newspaper Eden in which the U.S Ambassador to Cameroon explains why tourists and investors are not coming more to that country.
