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Eurovision Song Contest 2013: A Review

Call me a masochist (or whatever), but even after sitting through the often cheesy but extremely popular annual song festival that is Eurovision…

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Posted on May 18, 2013 at 6:30pm

¡Happy Cinco de Mayo!

There are of course a bunch of Mexican patriotic holidays that come around every year. But the that's caught on most outside Mexico is Cinco de Mayo – especially in the next-door United States, most notably out on the West Coast, but really, pretty…

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Posted on May 5, 2013 at 7:25am

The Mystique of the Quetzal

There are few animals – and offhand I can’t really think of any birds – with quite the mystique of the iridescent emerald-green denizen of southern Mexico and Central America known as the resplendent quetzal. Since they’re fairly rare (officially “near threatened”) and even more elusive, you’re very…

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Posted on April 26, 2013 at 12:48pm

Marking 500 Years Since Florida’s Discovery, Spain Sends Another Galleon

I’m standing on the deck of a mighty wooden treasure ship, 170 feet long and 495 tons, watching tourists amble and poke about – but I admit, in my mind's eye I’m picturing pirates, sailors, and skeezy, barnacle-encrusted zombies from Davy Jones’ locker slashing,…

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Posted on April 17, 2013 at 12:29pm

Martinique, A "Magnifík" French Caribbean Vacation

In February 2009, Martinique and its sister island Guadeloupe took an unaccustomed turn in the world's headlines with heated general strikes over inequality and the cost of living, resulting in the first ever cancellation of Martinique's Carnival. The poobahs in Paris responded by raising salaries and other concessions, President Nicholas…

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Posted on April 12, 2013 at 11:24am — 1 Comment

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Are you connected to the tourism/travel/hospitality industries or travel media in any way? If so, please specify how (kindly include any relevant company names/Web sites!).: Widely published/traveled freelance journalist: most recently, NY Post, LA Times, MSNBC.com, National Geographic Traveler, Imbibe, etc. Former Executive Editor, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, Caribbean Travel & Life. Director, Tripatini.com.

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On which destinations & travel topics can you advise members especially well?: South Florida, Spain, Italy, Mexico, Czech Republic, Cuba, Costa Rica, New York

What destinations are you most interested in learning about?: Thailand, Indonesia, India, Ethiopia, Paraguay

Other travel / language expertise?: Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, Czech, Portuguese

A Bit About Me

Hi, everyone! The founder of Tripatini.com, I'm a longtime travel writer and editor, an alum of Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. I've edited travel for HarperCollins' guidebook division, Hearst Magazines' Diversion, and ShermansTravel.com, and served as Executive Editor of Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel and Caribbean Travel & Life.

In addition to all that, I've written for a fairly respectable chunk of the travel media, as well as general interest newspapers, magazines, and Web sites. Just a sampling: Boston Herald, Brides.com, GQ, HuffingtonPost.com, International Herald Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Men's Fitness, MSNBC.com, Miami Herald, National Geographic Traveler, New York Post, Travel+Leisure, and the Iberostar Resorts blog. I've also written travel guides, most recently Pauline Frommer's Costa Rica, and co-founded CubaEnLinea.net, a social network for Cubans both in Cuba and around the world.

I speak six languages, and now live in Miami, Florida. But I lived for years in New York City, and among the more than 50 countries I've visited, I've also lived in Spain, Russia, and the Czech Republic. Travel is my overriding passion -- I get tired of many things in this life, but never, ever of travel!

Check me out on Facebook at facebook.com/david.paul.appell and follow me on Twitter at @DavidPAppell.

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Comment Wall (212 comments)

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At 9:30am on October 16, 2012, Cessy Meacham said…: Hey David!!! Just writing to send you and big hug, it s been a great year, and hope to connect in another great travel event. cheers!!!

At 2:11pm on July 18, 2012, Joe Haedrich said…: Hi David,

We run until mid-October.

You are welcome any time.

I also have tours in Burlington, VT, a great food town

www.burlingtonfoodtours.com

You are welcome on that one too.

Joe

At 1:49pm on July 13, 2012, Joe Haedrich said…: Hi David,

Thanks for your email.

If you and your friends would like to join Saturday's tour as my guests I would love to have you. Right now the tour has plenty of openings. We start at the Farmer's Market at 1230 for a few tastings then to the Old Bryan Inn for an appetizer then on to Broadway for several stops. You are welcome to join just for part of the tour too. There is plenty of food along the way.

If you are looking for a good ethnic place for lunch your best bet is Boca Bistro, a tapas place that just opened a few weeks ago--right on Broadway--you will like it. I've been there twice already. http://www.bocabistro.com/

Of course there are many others--Ravenous for crepes and a more informal menu, http://www.maestrosatthevandam.com/ which is not exactly ethnic but does have an innovative menu and Leon's for Mexican food--near the racetrack.

Let me know if you need more suggestions--there are plenty!

Joe

At 1:03pm on July 10, 2012, Vy Truong said…: Dave,

Thanks for the warm welcome! I'm excited to connect on Tripatini and have more people learn about Contiki.

Unfortunately, I won't be attending the ASTA conference but it is possible members of our parent company, The Travel Corporation, will have some presence!

At 1:01pm on July 9, 2012, William J. McGee said…: Thanks very much, David! Looking forward to learning more.

At 11:16am on June 26, 2012, Ari Bendersky said…: Hey Dave -- thanks for the note. Are you just coming to Chicago to visit or business? It's going to be HOT this weekend - high 90s so be prepared. I'm pretty tied up (event thurs, friends in Friday, gone Sat/Sun) so I likely wouldn't be able to connect. Where are you staying?

At 6:59pm on June 25, 2012, Margaret and John said…: Hey David! I have a bunch of different tours Thurs-Sun, so if there's something you like, I'd love to see you. If those times don't work, I'd still love to meet up for a coffee or something!

At 11:55am on June 25, 2012, Nancy Nelson-Duac said…: Hi David,

Of course we are interested in news for family travel from Iberia. The best way to work with us is directly. You may contact me at editor@thefamilytravelfiles.com and we can swap useful information. Luckily we are in the process of posting new information on Barcelona this week so your timing is perfect.

Ciao! Nancy Nelson-Duac

At 9:20am on June 25, 2012, Margaret and John said…: Hey David!

So yes, I definitely have tours while you're here. The Disaster Tour is Friday and Sunday at 1:00 and the Redlight Tour is Thursday and Saturday at 4:00. So if one of those works I would love to have you! If the times don't quite work out right, let's definitely meet up! I'd love to chat travel and the best city in the world, Chicago! What fun, we'll have a good time either way.

At 12:34pm on June 12, 2012, Barbara Weibel said…: Hi David: Great to hear from you again. Always happy to help any way I can. I'll be at TBEX Europe - if you're also planning to go, maybe we can get together. I plan to stay in the Costa Brave area for at least a week after the conference.