A History Of Rivals Between Two Eiffel’s Over Porto’s Douro River
November 29, 2011 by Anil P.
Filed under Pictures and Video
Porto, Portugal is a city that exudes those fleeting moments we get when creative inspiration hits us. Simply put, Porto is artsy and almost nothing, from store displays to the color on every corner, seems to exist without thoughtful regard to aesthetics. It’s not style that’s paramount in Porto, but an emphasis on the unique; something you can’t help but feel flowing down the Douro River that cuts between the towns of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. Of course, creativity flows over it too, in Porto’s famous 6 bridges and two in particular.
The
Luis I Bridge seen above was a joint project between Teophile Seyrig and then partner (and former teacher) Gustave Eiffel. Yes, that very famous man who has a tower in Paris named after him was commissioned by Portugal’s King Luis I to further connect Porto and Gaia. The Luis I Bridge was designed using an innovate and simple plan focusing on only 3 points of weight bearing. Seyrig learned the value of efficiency from Eiffel, a man who had difficulty sharing creative control over any of his projects. More significantly, Eiffel would not share revenue or credit for the Luis Bridge and Seyrig left Eiffel toward the end of construction.Although he was improvising on Eiffel’s design techniques, history has (rightfully) credited Seyrig as the influence behind the Luis I Bridge, completed in 1886.
So you may be wondering what the famed Eiffel’s Porto bridge would have looked like? Well, you don’t have to, Eiffel actually constructed the Maria Pia Bridge just down the Douro River – with Seyrig – when he was still a pupil 9 years prior, in 1877. Eiffel’s Maria Pia Bridge was at the time the world’s longest arch bridge and built in 22 months (the Dom Luis took 5 years), and weighs half that of Seyrig’s – arguably intentionally – less efficient design.
You can see the differences yourself in this rivalry brought to my attention by ATTTurismo in one of two excellent ways. The first is to climb up to the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar (Serra do Pilar Monastery) – where you’ll get this view of Porto’s UNESCO World Heritage City Center and Seyrig’s Luis I Bridge. The second is to take a traditional rabelo – flat bottom boats originally used to transport port wine – for a short 30 minute cruise of the river as I did courtesy of Douro Azul and Visit Portugal.
The Complete 2011 foXnoMad Travel Gadget Gift Guide
The only thing that moves faster than you and your traveling peers is the rate at which new gadgets are released, updated, and desired. Buying any electronic, whether it’s a laptop or digital camera, is largely a personal decision – there is no one “best” in many cases. Just like there’s no one “best shoe” for every lady but there is one out there your mom is sure to love. It comes down to asking the right questions, knowing how your traveler gets their gadget on, and having a few suggestions to help you narrow the choices down.
I’ve got the categories of tech you’re most likely to be looking at, along with my personal favorites added in for good measure. From expensive to cheap, you’re sure to find the perfect gift for your traveling techie.
Laptops: From Small To Ultra-Small
When it comes to laptops for travelers we often think smaller is better; but really it depends on how you use it. For some background reading you can catch up with the traveler’s guide to choosing the right laptop, but when it comes to size, most travelers go with either an ultra-light netbook or a laptop in the 13-inch range.
The major difference for a traveler? Screen and keyboard space; photo editing buddies may prefer an extra 3 inches of screen to work whereas your email-only/Facebook types would probably prefer ditching 3 pounds from their backpack. (Shopping for backpacks? – I’ve got you covered there too.)
13-Inch Laptop Category
- Toshiba Portege R835-P81 (~$799) – An impressive mix of power and size in a 13.3 inch laptop; this Toshiba only weights 3.2 pounds (~1.45 kilos), has an effective 7 hours of battery life (9 hours by manufacturer specs), and comes loaded with 6 gigabytes of RAM.
- 13-Inch Macbook Pro (~$1199) – If given the choice between a Macbook Air 13.3 inch and the 13-inch Macbook Pro; I’d go with the $100-less Macbook Pro. Sure it’s a little thicker (.3 inches extra) and weighs about a kilo more, but you get much more machine with components that can be upgraded for less.
Netbooks
- Dell Mini 10v (~$399) – This older, heavy (1.9kg – 4.4lbs), netbook might seem an unusual choice to go at the top of this list. The Dell Mini 10v is here because it’s hardware still holds up for casual use but more interestingly, that hardware is compatible with Mac OS X. That means the Dell Mini 10v can act as a poor man’s Macbook without the added $600 investment. (Here’s how to hackintosh your netbook.)
- ASUS Eee PC 1018-P (~$410) – For all of their faults (poor instruction manuals, manic-depressive customer support), the Acer Eee line of netbooks are durable little machines. They’re not the fastest (typically the processor’s are lagging behind other brands by 15%) but they’re not meant to be overworked with photo-editing or graphic-intensive games either. One bonus is they’re particularly efficient at dissipating heat; good for laptop longevity – especially if you’ll be hanging out in the tropics or be that guy who’s always working on the beach.
Laptop Accessories
You might not be the one buying a new laptop for a friend but can help spice up the one they’ve already got with these (much) less expensive accessories.
- SwissGear Computer Backpack ($59) – The backpack I’ve been using to carry my electronics for over 4 years now, the SwissGear line of backpacks are not only extremely durable, but come loaded with a large number of pockets. (Geeks love pockets.) There’s also a laptop compartment (making it easy to remove in airport security lines) and back cushioning for long walks around town.
- Encrypted USB Drives (~$70) – Added protection built-in to USB drives that tend to get lost easily. The IronKey S200 (~$69), Corsair Flash Padlock (~$49), or the Patriot BOLT (~$15) are good options to look at.
- Klear Screen Cleaning Kit (~$10) – Apple stores around the world use this solution to get your greasy fingerprints off of display models everyday. Klear works on screens or all sorts, keyboards, and mobile phones as well.
- USB Squid (~$9) – Adds 4 more USB ports to a laptop, making it easier for a traveler to charge all of their electronics at once.
eReaders: The Nook Vs. The Kindle
It wasn’t so long ago that there were some important differences between the Kindle and nook for international travelers. Since that time though things have mostly evened out – and you’ve got Amazon’s Kindle line competing with Barnes & Nobles’ nook – both taking up most of the eReader market. Things are quite even between the two – if you’ve already got a Kindle or nook and looking to upgrade best advice is to stay with the same company – otherwise these are the major selling points of both.
Non-Color Display Winner: Amazon
- Kindle Touch (~$139) – The shape of the competing nook Simple Touch is a bit too wide for my tastes and if you’re not committed to either online bookstore yet, the Kindle Touch makes a great eReader.
Verso Clip-On eReader Light (~$20) – For any eInk (aka non-color) eReader you’ll find these invaluable on night trains, flights, and hostel dorms.
Color Display Winner (With Geek Award Bonus): nook Tablet
- Nook Tablet (~$249) – A smoother display, more digital horsepower, and quite hackable with an active community, the nook Tablet is a slick tablet eReader. To sum it up, it’s an overall better computing device than the Amazon Kindle Fire; but lacks the online music and media cloud that Amazon offers. Still, head-to-head, I give my preference to the nook Tablet – which unlike the Amazon Kindle Fire – supports the ePub format.
Digital Cameras And Accessories
Let’s take a short look at 3 categories of digital camera, starting with the point and shoot I use.
Point & Shoot
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 (~$250) – A Leica lens with an amazing 24-384 millimeter range, this camera takes spectacular photos and decent HD video. This is the only dedicated camera I use (the other non-dedicated being an iPhone 3G.)
Micro 4/3rd
- Olympus PEN E-P3 (~$800) – I recently saw one of these in the hands of Jodi (aka. Legal Nomads) and was impressed with the photos I caught a glimpse of (here’s a taste from Morocco.) Jodi’s using the Panasonic f1.7 20mm lens (~$345) to snap those amazing pictures.
DSLRs
This is a gigantic category that I could devote multiple websites to; these are just some suggestions that might fit what you’re looking for and if they don’t – can help you get started.
- Nikon D90 Body (~$1,100) – Many travelers I’ve spoken with have or are using this as their first DSLR on the road. But while preference of the Nikon bodies vary, nearly all frequent travelers will tell you the 18-200mm Nikkor lens (~$879) is the most versatile they’re carrying.
- Canon 550D Body ($1,299) – When it comes to video the Canon’s tend to be much better at picking up audio, and this camera came highly recommended by several of you when I asked on Facebook.
The shot below from the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey can only be gotten if you throw yourself off the top balcony (ouch) or use an xShot Extender (~$25). This monopod lets you take good photos of yourself with background and company included – perfect for the solo traveler who only has photos of their face close-up from a million places around he world. Also, like I mentioned above, you can get photos above a crowd and over physical barriers as well.
You’ll notice I haven’t jumped into video here and that’s for two reasons. The first being that I don’t do much video work and the second being that for general shooting when traveling, a digital camera or newer smart phone does a pretty good job. That said, what makes any travel video better is good sound and a wireless lapel microphone ($20-250) can be your first big improvement.
Mobile Phones
Although I’m someone who hasn’t had regular mobile phone service in over 3 years, I test, take apart, and crack a surprisingly large variety of them. (Mostly companies sending them my way for testing.) So which phones are the smartest? Well, the one you pick of course…
- iPhone 4 ($679 – no contract) – Forget about the “S” for now because as sexy as Siri is, she’s getting an upgrade in a few months. Take this with a huge grain of salt…but back in August Apple is rumored to have sent iPhone 5 specs to China for manufacturing. Apparently scrapped due to design flaws, a potentially “radical” redesign in the iPhone 5 may appear next June at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Event (WWDE).
- Samsung Galaxy S II (~$549) – Thinner but with a larger screen, this is one of the slickest mobiles I’ve come across in a long time. The screen resolution is incredible and the apps run remarkably smooth on its Android 2.3 operating system. Add a 8.1 megapixel camera and 1080 HD video and it’s a powerful phone package.
- HTC Amaze 4G (~$650 – no contract) – Lots of processing power under the hood in addition to a vibrant display.
Whichever phone you go with, if it’s got a fancy screen you ought to invest in good protection for it. The ZAGG Invisible Shields (~$20) for phones and more were once used to protect the blades of military helicopters and do a heck of a job on digital screens.
Connections, Coils, And Cables: Going MacGyver
It’s the little, simple items in our backpacks that go unnoticed but work so hard to make our techie lives easier on the road.
- Organize Your Cables – Keep those cables organized so they’re easy to manage using either Applecores (~$7) or UT Cord Wraps (~$7).
- V-MODA Vibe Earbuds (~$35) – I’ve been using V-MODA to listen to my music, movies, and podcasts for several years now. They eliminate outside noise extremely well and provide exceptional audio quality.
- Duct Tape (~$5) – Combined with dirty socks can help reduce mosquito bites, along with countless other uses.
- All In One Charger (~$3) – A permanent resident in any frequent international traveler’s bag as is this Belkin mini-surge protector (~$12), turning one outlet into 3 plus 2 USB ports.
- Alfa USB Wireless Antenna (~$40) – Geek out and extend your laptop’s wireless range by 3-5 times.
- Stereo Audio Cable (~$1) – Anyone who spends a decent amount of time in rental cars will appreciate being able to plug their iPod or mobile phone in to listen to their own tunes.
- Garmin Forerunner 405 Water Resistant Running GPS (~$175) – Wherever I am in the world I run, and I run a lot. These GPS come in handy for athletic, hiking, and calculating travelers who might want to keep up with how many calories they burned sightseeing.
- Flip-It Plugless USB Charger (~$16) – That outlet isn’t really full; a great find on Legal Nomads’ resources page as is the JuiceBar Pocket Solar Charger (~$50).
Travel eBooks That Come In Paper Too: Recommended Travel-Nerd Reads
Of course the best gadget in the universe sits between your ears – and enthusiastic minds deserves some good hacking too. These are books (all come in handy digital Kindle, nook, etc. formats) that are a bit travel and a bit geek; some of my favorite recent reads you may enjoy as well.
- Incognito: The Secret Lives Of Brains By David Eagleman (~$15: Kindle/nook/Paperback) – One cubic centimeter of your brain has more neurons than our galaxy has stars. Find out what your brain is actually doing when you’re starring off into space on a long layover.
- The Hidden Europe: What Eastern Europeans Can Teach Us By Francis Tapon (~$10: Kindle/nook/Paperback) – One of the best history, culture, travel books, period, I’ve read in a long time. Here’s my full review.
- The Dervish House By Ian McDonald (~$10: Kindle/nook/Paperback)- Leap forward to the year 2027′s Istanbul in this science-fiction story that is based in much of today’s fact.
- Long Way Round By Charlie Boorman & Ewan McGregor (~$13: Kindle/nook/Paperback) – In many ways this journal by Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor led to the journey I’m on now, it’s still one of my favorite all-time books and one of these motorcycle best.
- The Post-American World: Release 2.0 By Fareed Zakaria (~$15: Kindle/nook/Paperback) – An insightful look into the “rise of the rest” and how world powers are shifting; what that means for economics, people, tourism, and more.
- From Eternity To Here By Sean Carroll (~$14: Kindle/nook/Paperback) – Why does time time flow in one direction? Scientists don’t know exactly but the possibilities may explain where our universes (yes, more than one) came from.
- The Survivors Club By Ben Sherwood (~$10: Kindle/nook/Paperback) – A book I’ve referenced in several posts that looks at how to survive plane crashes and what you can learn from super-survivors.
Finally, I’d like to show you over to my eBooks page with more of my recommended reads (and two written by me.)
Accept What You Buy Will Get Old Fast But Keep Receipts In Case It’s Too Fast
Keep in mind that there never is a “best” gadget – it’s more like a “best for the moment and best for you” gadget. Technology gets updated quickly but it doesn’t mean that a previous model isn’t the perfect deal and if you do happen to buy a large ticket item, keep the receipt as occasionally new versions get released a bit sooner than any of us anticipated.
Have any questions or gadget recommendations? Add you additions to the comments below!
96 Hours In Granada, Spain
I got a very clear impression, for most travelers moving through Spain’s southern Andalusia region, that Granada was a mere footstep on the way to bustling Seville or mysterious Cordoba. Some cities are quick stops in the grand scheme of travel and while Granada itself may fall into that category, its sites and sights do not.
Seeing what Granada has to show you takes time, and had it not been for Turismo Ciudad de Granada, I too may have missed some of its most intense offerings.
Let’s Start With The Expansive Alhambra
The bittersweet story of the Moorish empire’s last stand in Spain, the Alhambra, tells a lot about the character or Granada; the last city in Spain to remain under Arab control after nearly 800 years of rule. You would think such a large tourist attraction would be hard to miss but many do because they don’t allocate the 2-4 hours required to see this UNESCO World Heritage Site and neglect to purchase tickets in advance.
The easiest way (that doesn’t require you standing in line at 7am) is to purchase tickets online from ServiCaixa at least 1 day in advance. The tickets cost about 15 Euro (there are student and elderly discounts) to one of the two sessions from either 8:30am-2pm or 2pm-6pm. Don’t forget to schedule a time to visit the Nasrid Palaces which is included in your Alhambra ticket. The tour of the impressive palaces takes about 30 minutes and I would suggest scheduling it toward the end of your time in the Alhambra and remind you not to be late. Although it’s not the case for many things in Granada, you need to be on time for your Nasrid Palace visit.
Get Introspective At The Science Park Museum
In most cases I can’t say I’d put a museum this high up on any post about a city, especially one as rich as Granada. But the Science Park Musuem (Parque de las Ciencias) in one of the most interactive, fun, and informative museums I’ve been to anywhere. A 15-20 minute local bus ride from downtown, you can easily spend an entire day looking through Tropical Butterfly House, visiting the planetarium, seeing all of Granada from the Observation Tower, or watching the Bird of Prey In Flight demonstrations.
The Science Park Museum is just as much park as it is museum, making it easy to get lost, but two exhibits not to be missed are the ‘Journey Through The Human Body’ and the ‘Infinite Universes’. The latter of those two focusing on the art, life, and philosophy of Dutch artist M.C. Escher, who was inspired by the Alhambra on a visits to the city in 1922 and 1936.
General admission is 6 Euro and gets you into all of the exhibits except the planetarium, which costs 2.50 per viewing (my pick would be the Nanocam show).
Church Stops To Put In Between Your Long Afternoons
Granada is a city on church overload – there’s practically three on every corner – something my friends at Turismo Ciudad de Granada tell me was the Catholic reaction after ending 8 centuries of Arab rule. A demonstration of faith, you can use the elegantly designed interiors of the Granada Cathedral, about 3 Euros entry, to break up longer visits to the larger Granada sites.
- The Chruch of Santo Domingo‘s painted exterior is also worthy of your camera and retinal lenses; a sight made more endearing by the story of how it came to be. Too poor to afford large engravings or sculptures, the monks of Santo Domingo decided to use detailed paintings to recreate the illusion of a more elaborate construction.
Despite it’s religious facade, most people in Granada don’t attend church services regularly and things are so slow during the day, that mass is the only time you’ll find most open. So, while entry is free, be sure to check opening times or you may find yourself waiting outside.
Finally, I can’t complete a conversation about churches in Granada without mentioning the La Cartuja Monastery. Yes, it’s technically not a church, but the detail of the architecture, statues, and engravings inside stunned me. That after having seen a million other churches in Granada; so it’s well worth the 20 minute bus ride to go see it. Entry is 5 Euro or so and the only thing you’ll regret is that photos aren’t allowed.
Before We Get To The UNESCO World Heritage District Of Granada, Let’s Eat
Soaking up Granada is wonderful but literally absorbing it calorie by delicious calorie is even better. Why not enjoy so much of Spain that you can take a kilo or two of it back home with you? Well, one of my favorite places to eat turned out to be one with a misleading face.
Both of the two La Cueva in central Granada look like expensive, tourist-trap, disappointments-waiting-to-happen as you walk by them. After a long day of sightseeing I popped in one and discovered it serves fairly authentic, high quality food and wine, for very reasonable prices. Meat eaters should visit around 3pm for the ‘plato aapujarreno‘ – enough protein to last another Moorish empire and vegetarians can enjoy a variety of fermented grapes, salads, and meatless soups.
Now that we’re talking food, beer lovers will fall in love with the fact that bars in Granada serve a complimentary tapa with every drink. Beer and amazing Spanish appetizers are heavenly and Rojo Bar has a modern fusion take on local favorites. Monasterio Chill Out, located on the 5th floor of a hotel, has wonderful views of the San Jeronimo Monastery and for seafood with your beer, swing by Bar La Blanca Paloma.
If you’re not too full by now let’s head over to former Moorish town of the Albaicin; that UNESCO World Heritage Site I mentioned earlier. The Albaicin is an intense few hours of up and downhill walking so along the way you can get caffeinated at Abaco. That cafe which offers the view the gentleman in the top photo is enjoying. Now that you know about it you can too – with coffee in hand.
Tracing The Route Around The Albaicin
Like the Alhambra, the Albaicin is not a single site but rather an entire area. It will take a few hours to wander around the steep steps that narrowly wind through the mostly residential area. There are spectacular views of the Granada and the cave museums, Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte, gives you a glimpse into local Romani (“gypsy”) life and art. It’s best to bring a map as it’s easy to get lost and start early in the day to find the churches of San Nicolas and San Salvador. When you’re not feeling particularly athletic, you can also arrange for a Segway tour of the Albaicin from Plaza Nueva.
Seeing Sights Smart In Granada
When you’re spending your time in Granada and doing any more than 2 days of sightseeing, you’ll be able to cut your costs effectively by picking up a Granada Card. Starting at 25 Euros for a 3 day pass or 30 for 5, the Granada Card (Bono Turistico Granada) will give you access to nearly all of the sights mentioned above, including the Alhambra. In addition the card gives you 5 (or 9) free trips on the local bus, lets you skip entry lines, and gives you 30% off a number of guided tours.
- You can swing by the Turismo Ciudad de Granada – say hi for me if you do – to pick up a Granada Card and chat with those fun folks about all things Granada. They’re a wealth of information as are their Facebook and Twitter pages.
Now that you’re started you may find yourself wandering around the old Jewish quarter Realejo. Perhaps even creating your own tapas after stopping by the Mercado de San Augustin, for a stays longer than 4 days.
Turn Your Smelly Socks Into Mosquito Traps After A Long Day Of Traveling
It turns out that your stinky socks may deter your hostel-mates, significant other, and often yourself, but are irresistible to blood-sucking mosquitoes. Attracted by a compound of 8 chemicals (primarily carbon dioxide and octenol) that combine for a pungent cocktail in our shoes, mosquitoes are 4 times as likely to go for smelly feet than elsewhere in the body. There is now enough data behind this phenomena that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged $775,000 to developing traps with feet smell as the lure.
You, however, don’t have to wait for a trap when you can make your own – or at least use the latest research about the mosquito olfactory system to give yourself some relief from their itchy bites.
When You’ve Got Room To Breath
Mosquitoes use their noses – in a sense (receptors are found around the abdomen) – to find out where you’re hanging out. That long-range detection system is then tuned to the highest concentrations of carbon dioxide and other smells in the immediate area. The mosquito is looking to get the best blood meal for the risk it takes of being smashed out of existence by swatting hands.
- A mosquito’s sense of smell is about 30 meters (100 feet) wide; so if your concentration of pests in that radius is low, your best bet is to eliminate odor, not intensify it. (More on that in the next section.) When you do have a bit of space to work with, or have other bodies attracting mosquitoes with you in the same room (like a hostel dorm) you can mislead mosquitoes at close range.
By wrapping duct tape, with the sticky side out, around a pair or two of your worst smelling socks you may be a 75% less attractive mosquito target than others sleeping in the same room. This method isn’t completely effective but it can divert a number of hungry mosquitoes to the duct tape trap rather than the back of your neck.
In Empty Rooms, Go Mosquito Stealth
When you’re staying in a dormitory with several other human beings, you can essentially guarantee that your collective smells will have already broadcasted the blood-buffet you represent to mosquitoes nearby. When you’re the only human around however, it doesn’t hurt to mask your scent to reduce the number of mosquitoes that can pile in through an open window overnight.
What’s the answer in a bottle for mosquitoes you ask? Vodka, which can kill smells, stinky feet, mosquitoes and your sobriety if there’s enough left over.
3 of the 4 great travel uses for vodka can help you mask your smell, effectively reducing the number of mosquitoes who will pick up on where you are sleeping. Vodka, when sprayed on socks, kills the bacteria that makes them smell like gross feet. Vodka can also be used to actually clean your feet, disinfecting them at the same time. Finally, if a mosquito happens to be bold enough for a face-on confrontation, one good spritz will send them to mosquito heaven.
Repelling Who You Want To Attract And Visa-Versa
Depending on how far you want to take your mosquito protection, knowing the effect that foot odor has on the pests can at least help you plan where you leave your dirty laundry. Sealing your dirty clothes in plastic bags can make you slightly less attractive to mosquitoes and less repulsive to other human beings who you may be sharing a room with. Finally, there are countless things you can use duct tape for so that roll in your backpack isn’t likely to go to waste on your next trip.
[top sock photo by bark]
