Eat, Sleep, Breathe, Travel

Celebrate Doomsday Mayan-Style

So you’ve all undoubtedly heard our world is heading toward certain peril today... Or maybe not. Here in the U.S., this inevitable end has sparked many celebrations, including wild parties, taco nights, and our personal favorite, a “last chance to dance costume party.” But our humble American Doomsday parties pale in comparison to the historically relevant celebrations happening this weekend in Mexico and South America.

The JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa in Cancun, Mexico is running an end of the world special for guests. Travelers can treat themselves to Maya-inspired couple’s spa visits including “body exfoliation incorporating honey and ground corn or a massage performed according to the historic beliefs of energy flow.” After they’re sufficiently relaxed Mayan-style,  it’s time to explore the ancient Mayan remains in Chichen Itza, which date back over 1,300 years.  

The Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort in Hopkins, Belize has the advantage of a close proximity to several major Maya sites, and is hosting a complete Maya-themed Doomsday vacation package. Guests will receive a Maya-themed gift, Maya meals, and five Maya-inspired day trips, including pyramid exploring at Xunantunich and Cahal Pech, and enjoying lunch a with a local Maya family.

One of the more epic Doomsday parties will be held among the Mayan ruins in the Cayo District, Belize. The Xunantunich ruins will host an Olympic-like torch run, followed by a concert and festival.

Lastly, if you’re looking to check out as many Mayan relics as possible, hop on over to Yucatan, Mexico. They’ve just opened the Merida Museum of Maya, the new home to 750,000 Mayan artifacts.

Beat the Boring New Year's Trap in 2013

Think back to last New Year’s Eve. Did you have high expectations of spontaneity, romance, or just plain excitement? Were you devastatingly let down? Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us... every. single. year. It’s not too late to plan an amazing New Year’s and avoid the routine. You know what routine I’m talking about...a few bottles of cheap champagne and hanging out watching the ball drop on TV in someone’s basement. Check out some of our favorite cities to spend NYE... guaranteed more fun than that party you go to every December 31st.  

Berlin:
New Years celebrating starts early on December 31 with Berliner Silvesterlauf, the annual costumed pancake race. After working up an appetite, join around one million of  your closest friends at Brandenburg Gate to ring in the New Year in a big way. This area is packed with over a mile of stages, party tents, light shows, and of course, more food or drink than you can imagine.

London:
Whether you’re looking for a classy cocktail party or an all night rager, London has what you need for an epic New Years Eve. For a glamorous night, celebrate Prohibition-style at one of London’s most legendary New Year’s Eve parties. Channel your inner Gatsby or pull out that flapper dress and sip teacup cocktails while dancing the Charleston. London is also home to Ministry of Sound, one of the most intense NYE club experiences in Europe. Looking to enjoy the fireworks? Hop on one of the many river cruises to get a great view of all the action.

Madrid:
New Year’s Eve in Madrid is marked by lots of grapes,and I don’t just mean in the wine. When the clock strikes twelve, all celebration stops while everyone attempts to eat the 12 lucky grapes in time with each chime. If you’re successful, you’ll experience one full year of good luck. Crowds gather at Puerta del Sol to watch the clock strike together, but after midnight the real partying begins. The crowd disperses throughout the city where parties and bars are packed until the wee hours of the morning.

 

Royal Scandals: Beyond Britain

It’s been a busy year in one of our favorite cities, London. News about the royal family has been all over the tabloids all year. Earlier this year Prince Harry and Duchess Kate both had their moments of...shall we say... overexposure. And as you know (unless you live under a rock, or in a remote location with no access to internet, TV, or human contact of any kind), the Duke and Duchess are expecting a royal baby. While England has created its fair share of gossip this year, let’s not forget all the other countries with royal scandals of their own. Here are three recent dramas that did NOT involve Will, Kate, or Harry.

• First stop- Belgium, 2008. Here we have the classic case of boy meets girl, boy gets girl pregnant, years later their love child comes forward claiming her father is the king. You know, the usual fairy tale. Forty years after the King of Belgium’s affair, an artist named Delphine Boel published an autobiography coming clean about her famous father, and exposing him as a total deadbeat dad. There’s one scandal England’s current royal family has avoided! 

• Every princess dreams of marrying a handsome prince. Or... a personal trainer? Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden confused the country and the world when she announced her engagement to Mr. Daniel Westling in 2009, a man with no royal background but who DID own his own gym.   Looks like William isn't the only one who married someone that would keep him down to earth. 

• Although Spanish King Juan Carlos has been no stranger to controversy (or to bedding many, many women) he still managed to shock his country in 2012 with his latest alleged affair. According to the Spanish press, he was having a long term affair with a “strategic adviser” on his team, who joined him on official business trips. She was also 28 years his junior. There has to be a certain point when these things are no longer shocking...