A Trip to Dubrovnik

After a whirlwind tour through London, Lisbon, and Geneva in one week, my friends and I were looking forward to a relaxing week on the Adriatic coast. We arrived in Dubrovnik on an early morning Easyjet flight from Geneva, but our sense of exhaustion was quickly overcome during our ride from the Dubrovnik Airport into town. The road carved out of the hills, common place all along the coast, provided breathtaking views of sea and old town of Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik itself is a very busy small town, filled with tourists coming ashore off of the many cruise ships that dock nearby. However unlike many other European cities that serve as a tourist attraction (such as Venice) only a short walk away from city center yields an undisturbed local neighborhood where daily life goes on as usual.

We booked our accommodations at Hostel Marker (Apartments Lovrijenac) through Hostelworld.com, and stayed what in essence was an apartment just outside the city gates. At first we were disappointed by the lack of hostels in the town, as we were all looking forward to the community atmosphere that a hostel may offer. However, upon meeting our host, Marko, any sense of a lack of community was quickly overcome. Marko was the best host we have ever had, and quite possibly one of the nicest people I have ever met. Not only did he offer ample advice on what to see and where to go, one night he actually took us out and showed us the town from the local’s perspective. Marko arranged a rental car for us, transport to Montenegro, and even helped us retrieve a lost photo camera after my friend forgot it back in Dubrovnik, all in all cannot say enough good things about him.

During the day we took Marko’s advice and spent time at the Banje beach, walked along city walls, and took a ferry to the island of Lokrum.

Banje beach is located directly south of the old city. Although small, and a bit rocky it offers a cozy place to relax, take a dip, and have a drink along the water.

The city walls, are probably one of the biggest attractions of Dubrovnik. Very well preserved and very imposing, the walls take about two hours to circumnavigate and cost €7 to enter. The views of the old city and its distinctive orange roof tops present and excellent photo opportunity.

Lokrum is a nature preserve popular with hikers and nature lovers, the island is teeming with wild peacocks and offers beautiful vistas from its many cliffs. To get to Lokrum, simply board a 15 minute ferry by the south city gate.

For a small town, Dubrovnik offers a lively nightlife, although it is mostly limited to the weekends. Dubrovnik has two night clubs, East-West and En Fuego which are located on the opposite sides of town, about 1 km apart. The clubs charge a cover fee after 11, so make sure to arrive early if you don’t feel like paying cover. East-West appealed to my friends and I much more as it stands right above Banje Beach about 100 meters from the water. East-West has an open-air and an indoor section, I highly recommend staying in the outdoor section if you do not want to smell like smoke (smoking indoors is accepted here).

Food in Dubrovnik is more expensive than elsewhere in Croatia, but is still relatively cheap by American standards. Many restaurants line the main street of Dubrovnik which spans no more than a few hundred meters. It is worth noting that only a few meters away from the main street, restaurants tend to be 25%-30% less expensive. Expect to pay between €6-€7 for a main course, beer is about €2.00-€2.50 for half liter of domestic brew.

Overall, we greatly enjoyed staying in Dubrovnik and the people we have met along the way. I cannot wait to go back to Croatia, which is an inexpensive, fun, and beautiful destination that I highly recommend to everyone.

-Peter Razumovskiy, hostel volunteer

Taste & Travel with HI-Chicago

Taste and Travel is a monthly event that brings together HI-Chicago, REI., and Whole Foods for an evening dedicated to culture and travel. The event begins at REI with a slide show and firsthand travel accounts from Hostelling International Chicago. The discussion continues at Whole Foods Market as participants taste cuisine prepared by a local Chicago chef. You'll wash down the delicious food with complimentary wine from Whole Foods.

Anyone is welcome to the REI presentation portion 6:30 - 7:15pm But you must call Whole Foods to register for the dinner portion of the evening 7:30 - 9:pm. To register call Whole Foods Lincoln Park customer service at 312-587-0648. Cost: $15 per person per class. Each attendee will receive a $5 Whole Foods gift card.

Next two Taste & Travel events: TONIGHT! Wednesday, May 12th - Egypt, and Wednesday, June 9th - Argentina and Uruguay

Beginning locations: REI Lincoln Park, 1466 N Halsted Street, 312-951-6020

Ending locations: Whole Foods Lincoln Park, 1550 N. Kingsbury, 312-587-0648.

Look for more Taste & Travel events coming soon!

Chicago in the Summer top 10 list (part 3)

Kayak the Chicago River-The Chicago river, which is probably best known for being dyed green every Saint Patrick’s Day, is a great way to see the city while getting a nice work-out. Kayak tours on the river will take you through the heart of downtown in what has become known as Skyscraper Canyon. On both sides of the river you will be surrounded by amazing architecture which provides for great picture taking opportunities and a unique way to see Chicago. Alternatively, if for some reason you are unable to do the kayak tour, you can jump on a Water taxi and for just $2 take the trip from Sears Tower to Michigan Avenue. For more information visit the website links below:

http://chicagoriverpaddle.com/chicago.html
http://www.shorelinewatertaxi.com/commuterrates.php

Visit a Comedy Club-If you have heard of Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Dan Akroyd, Steve Carell, or Stephen Colbert, then you surely realize that Chicagoans are a funny bunch. Many of the most prominence comedic personalities have had their start in Chicago, which is why a visit to a Chicago comedy club is a must. You will find the “Second City” comedy troupe theater in Chicago’s Old Town Neighborhood as one of the premier destinations for funny people all across the nation. “Second City” which has been around for nearly 50 years draws large groups of visitors and is known for producing many cast members of “Saturday Night Live.” Near North and Wells you will also find Zanies, a small comedy club that features both well-known and up and coming comics. I love going to Zanies because such an intimate atmosphere allows you to chat with the performers after the show. The seating is on a first come, first serve basis, so make sure to arrive early. Tickets to Zanies are $22 plus a purchase of two item minimum is required, expect to spend about $35-$40 in total. Also note that this venue is open for those over 21. Best way to get to either Zanies or Second City, is from the Sedgwick stop on the Brown line, or Clark and Division stop on the Red Line (about half a mile walk away). For more information visit:

http://chicago.zanies.com/
http://www.secondcity.com/

Free Concert in Millennium Park- While talking to numerous visitors to Chicago, I found one commonality, everyone seems to love Millennium Park. As the name denotes, the park was built to celebrate the arrival of the second millennium, and has quickly turned into one of the biggest tourist attractions in Chicago. Throughout the summer, the park is a great place to take a stroll, admire the modern art, and also to listen to music at the Pritzker Pavilion. While sitting on the lawn, grab some food and a blanket and picnic out while listening to a free concert, which takes place weekly. Millennium Park offers an ideal opportunity for visitors to relax and enjoy themselves away from the hustle and bustle of the “Loop”. For a list of events in Millennium Park visit http://www.millenniumpark.org/parkevents/

Michigan Avenue Shopping-When foreigners come to the United States, often shopping is at the top of the to-do list. Michigan Avenue provides a great opportunity to do just that. With both high-end and mid-level stores, everyone is sure to find a suitable shopping experience. Just because, the stores are located in the middle of the city, does not mean you cannot find a bargain. If shopping is not of much interest to you, taking the stroll from the Tribune Tower to the John Hancock building will provide an excellent opportunity for people watching and enjoying local street performances. If you feel energetic continue your walk up to the Gold Coast and explore some local boutiques and fine restaurants. Grab a cup of coffee or an ice cream at the intersection of Rush and State and watch all the fancy cars go by.

Although Chicago has many more things to do and see, I wanted to provide you a list of my favorites which are by no means all-encompassing. Some of you might also be interested in events such as Taste of Chicago and the Air and Water Show, or a visit to Navy Pier, all of which I have left out. Although these events can be unique, more often than not they are extremely crowded and attended by suburbanites and other visitors to the city, rather than Chicagoans. Whatever activities you decide to undertake, I truly hope you enjoy your stay in Chicago.

-Peter Razumovskiy, volunteer

Chicago in the Summer top 10 list (part 2)

This week I would like to introduce you to four more "to-do" things in Chicago during the summer. Once again, they are listed in no particular order.

Visit the Art Institute-Since the World Exposition, nearly a century ago, the Art Institute has been compiling precious works of art from all over the world. The works at the Art Institute are primarily from the impressionist and modern era. The list of famous paintings at Art Institute of Chicago is endless and you are sure to find a piece of art by Renoir, Monet, Picasso, Cezanne, Degas, Gaugain, and Van Gogh amongst many others. Entrance is free on Thursdays between 5pm and 8pm, otherwise there is a $12 entrance fee for students. From the Art Institute take a stroll south to Millennium Park, or go north for shopping on Michigan Avenue also known as the Magnificent Mile.

http://www.artic.edu/

Attend a Street Festival – An activity that almost any Chicagoan will tell you is a must during the summer is attendance of one of the numerous Chicago street festivals. Nearly every weekend a different neighborhood of Chicago sets up a street festival drawing crowds of young Chicago residents. To enter the festival organizers often ask for a donation of about $10. The festivals are great way to mingle with the locals while enjoying the nice weather, beer and street food. Many festivals also feature live music which attracts large crowds. A festival worth looking into is the Old Town Street-fest on Wells, (between North and Division), this festival features local art-work, live music, and is one of the most popular festivals in the city. For more information about various street festivals which occur almost every weekend, visit http://chicago.metromix.com/events/article/chicago-festival-guide-2010/339943/content

Play Volleyball at North Avenue Beach – Us Chicagoans have long admired our beautiful lakefront. During the summers the beach is gathering place for young people looking to party, exercise, and people watch. One activity that is a must when visiting Chicago is playing volleyball at North Avenue Beach. Any day of the week, you are sure to find tons of people at the numerous volleyball courts set up on the beach. Although some courts are reserved for league play, don’t be shy about asking strangers to join in a casual game. Chicagoans are a warm bunch, and we are always happy to meet new people, especially those from out of town. After a long day of beach volleyball and sunbathing, you must visit “Castaways”, a bar/restaurant in a shape of a boat, yards away from the lake. At “Castaways” you will always find a crowd of young people, enjoying a few beers and live music. To get to the beach I recommend a 15 minute stroll from the Clark and Division Red Line stop. Walk East on Division until you are at the lake and follow the bike/jogging path straight to the beach at North Avenue, about half a mile north of Division Street. Bring your camera as the backdrop of the city skyline presents a great opportunity for picture taking. In addition, North Avenue Beach, is only a short walk away from Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo, one of the oldest "free" zoos in the country. Lincoln Park Zoo is perfect for a leisurely stroll through the park and is a great opportunity to admire some of nature's amazing creatures.

Go to a Roof-Top Party-What I love about the summer nightlife in Chicago is the abundance of outdoor venues, and when the outdoor venue is on a roof many stories above the city, it has a potential to turn into a favorite of mine. Chicago is the home of the original skyscraper, so it is no wonder that such marvelous architecture is prevalent throughout the city. To get a great view of the city I recommend visiting one of the many roof-top patio lounges/bars in Chicago. The Wit Hotel, Vertigo, and C-View provide patrons with a great atmosphere, music, and of course a wonderful view of Chicago at night. Please note that due to city ordinances open air venues usually close no later than 12am, so make sure to visit these places early in the evening. For those of you considering a trip to the top of the Sears Tower or Willis Tower as it has recently become known, I would encourage you to visit the Signature Room at the top of the John Hancock Building instead. The Signature Room, at the top of the 4th tallest building in Chicago is a restaurant with an amazing panoramic view of the city. Although the price of a drink at the Signature Room might be relatively pricey, it will surely be less than the price of a ticket to the Sears Tower observation deck.

Next Tuesday, look for the conclusion to this brief series (items 7-10). Enjoy your stay in Chicago!

-Peter Razumovskiy, volunteer

No Way Out!

The volcanic eruption in Iceland has wreaked havoc on the traveling industry across the world. Tour groups, backpackers, and business travelers alike are stuck in their current locations with no idea when they will be able to return home. Chicago is no different. Hostelling International Chicago has several travelers and groups who are unsure of how long their unexpected ‘vacation’ will last.

I caught up with one traveler in the hostel, Catherine King who is from Australia and now living in London. Her flight was supposed to leave on Wednesday April 14. Cat was traveling in the United States and fully expected to be home a week ago. Last Wednesday she boarded the plane and took off for London. However four hours into the flight, the pilot announced they were going to be turning back to Chicago. Laughing she said, “I gave it a test run. That same plane has not left yet and I liked the flight, it was a good plane so that is good! ” Cat managed to get another seat on a flight the next day, Thursday April 15. However, after checking in, the flight was then canceled. Cat has been in close contact with her travel agent back in London for the past week. Thankfully he was able to get her a seat on a flight for tomorrow, Wednesday April 21. Exactly one week later than she was originally scheduled to flight, Cat is still hoping the flight takes off. Third time is a charm right?



Despite the mess it has created, Cat remains positive. She said, “You just have to make the best of it!” The first night the airport gave Cat a voucher for the Hyatt. However, when Cat realized that her flight would not leave for another 6 days, she decided to come back to the hostel. She preferred to be downtown with things to do and the ability to meet people. “I could be out there at a really nice hotel for free, but it would be out by the airport. I would just be sitting in the hotel for four days,” Cat said.

When asked what she was doing about work, Cat said they are understanding: “There is really nothing they can do about it. I have been emailing them and staying in contact, but they know I can’t help it.” Cat works for a University in London in the lab, therefore working from Chicago is impossible. Two of her co-workers are also stuck, one in China and the other in Canada. Aside from work, Cat has also missed out on several other plans in the past week. Two of her friends celebrated their birthdays last weekend and she also had plans to take another trip next weekend. However, with the talk of no flights in the near future, she is unsure if those plans will go through as well. “My birthday is next week too. I really want to be home by then so I can celebrate with my friends,” says Cat.

Nonetheless, Cat is making the most of her stay in Chicago. She has been able to visit more of the museums around the city and she has attended several more of the outings with the hostel. If her flight does not go through tomorrow, she plans to take a bus out of the city and visit another city close by to Chicago; possibly Milwaukee. If this does happen her travel agent was able to hold a seat for her on a flight leaving Saturday April 24. This flight will be going through Calgary Canada. Keeping her positive attitude, Cat laughed and said if she gets stuck there she will at least get to see Canada too!

Cat is not the only stranded traveler at the hostel. Michael Baker, from the UK,
and Boris Hupkens Van DerElst, from the Netherlands,

are both hoping to leave soon. Michael has a flight on Saturday leaving Chicago, but he is already expecting to have it cancelled. Unfortunately because of the large number of travelers at the hostel, we are booked up for the next couple of nights. So Michael is trying to find another place to stay in Chicago until then. Boris managed to get a seat on a flight scheduled to leave today, however it was also cancelled. So, he was forced to make yet another change in plans. He is now flying to Houston and then to Frankfort. Both Boris and Michael were also keeping positive attitudes. They acknowledged that there was nothing you could do about it now, so you might as well make the best of your extended vacation.

So if you find yourself stuck with no sign of returning home in the near future, take advantage of it! Stay at hostels and meet other travelers who are in the same position. Let your frustrations with air travel be a bonding experience! If you are staying at Hostelling International Chicago, we are continuing to provide events and activities for you do to while stranded. Look on the bright side, you are in one of America’s greatest cities and spring has arrived! Happy exploring and minimal amounts of stress in your extended stay!

-Erika Ter Louw, HI intern

Even HI Staff Have the Travel Bug!

Working at a hostel, everyone has the travel bug. Hostelling International Chicago's staff members often take their vacation times and put them to good use. One staff member, Kimberly Turner, just returned from vacation. Naturally we were curious to see how her trip went and we wanted to share with you!

HI: What do you do here and how long have you been working at the hostel?
I am the assistant general manager. And I have been here a little over 4 years. 4 years and 3 months.

HI: So you recently went on vacation in Italy. Where were you in Italy?
We went to Rome, spent one night in the Cinque Terre, two nights in Siena, two in Tuscany in the countryside outside Florence.

HI: How long were you there for?
We left of the 7th. So, 10 days.

HI: What did you do as you were traveling?
We basically saw the sights. The Vatican, the Sistine Chapel, the Coliseum and we spent time just wandering around the cities. Eating a lot of good food and good wine (laughing). That about sums it up! Nothing too exciting.

HI: Sounds great! What was your favorite part?
My favorite part would have to be…(pauses thinking) I loved the Sistine Chapel. And the Coliseum, I loved them both. But the Sistine Chapel was my favorite. It was even more amazing than I pictured it to be. We went at night and had an audio tour. It was very helpful and so beautiful at night. It was incredible.

HI: If you had to recommend one thing that a person had to see in Italy what would it be?
I would say the Coliseum is an absolute must. Just because there is nothing else like it. The third station of the cross is there if you are religious; or event if you are not it is still cool to see. It is also cool to look back to that point in history. There is so much history there! ½ million people died in sick and twisted games. It is disturbing but part of history. The Coliseum is also really easy to get to! Its right off of the train stop. You get off and the Coliseum is right there!

HI: Wow!
Yeah it was really neat. It was like watching free entertainment for them. I learned so much! There was free food and free wine. And most of the animals, tigers, giraffes, and stuff, are from Africa. But only 20% of them made the trip from Africa!

HI: Wow, sounds like there was a lot of information there!
Yeah we had a 45 minute tour with a guide. There was so much I never even thought about. It was well worth the paid tour. I was thinking of just going in and walking around and looking at the signs, but it was so much more fascinating with the guide.

HI: So after your travels in Italy, trying to get back to the United States in light of the Volcano, were you affected?
No we weren’t! We were so lucky! Our flight was Saturday morning and we had been watching the news a lot to make sure we were still on. But there were still people traveling in Italy and Spain. So we made it out. The airports were busy but I expected it to be more hectic. When we landed in New York, JFK is normally such an insiane place already but it wasn’t bad at all. There were cots lined up for stranded travelers, but it wasn’t bad. It was much busier in Chicago.

HI: That is so great! I’m so glad you made it back and didn’t have problems.
Yeah we were so lucky! It was such a blessing that our flights were on time!

HI: Well, thank you very much for talking with me! Have a good rest of the day and welcome back!
No problem! Thanks!

A Great Winter Vacation Stop with a Nearby Hostel

For those of you who are sick of this winter climate, I just discovered a very quaint and historic Florida destination. It is Saint Augustine, the oldest city in the United States. Archeologists think this city had its beginning as an Indian village called Seloy, in what is now a national archeological park. In the year 1513 the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon landed near here while searching for the fabled “Fountain of Youth”.

Ponce de Leon was an explorer and named the land for Spain. Other explorers who followed, later concluded that an investment in the land was not worthwhile. It was filled with dangerous animals like alligators and snakes, as well as insects. Also, European agriculture did not prosper on the coasts. Based on these conclusions, the Spanish simply ignored risky Florida.

In 1562 however, French protestants arrived to settle there. In 1565 Admiral Don Pedro Menendez set sail from Spain to conquer Florida and on the feast day of St. Augustine, August 28, he sailed through an inlet and named the area after the saint. The town of St. Augustine fulfilled one of its major roles – serving as a haven for the treasure fleets on their way home to Spain.

Afterwards the English came and started a colony nearby. The city was later attacked by British ships. It was at this point that the Spanish Crown decided to invest in the construction of a massive fort. The Castillo was built and was never captured. St. Augustine remained a Spanish colony until the Treaty of Paris in 1763 when it was given to England.

The Castillo de San Marcos, built 1672-1695, has long protected the city and has been used under Spanish, American and British forces. It was made a National Monument in 1924.

In the city there is also a living history museum depicting the life of
Spanish soldiers and their families in 1740. Visitors will see the blacksmith, carpenter,leather work and other crafts of the 18th century. Houses where the
soldiers and their families lived, gardened and prepared food are also depicted.

The city of St. Augustine is beautiful and quaint. It is a must-see. FYI, it has a hostel near the center of the city as well.

-Marilyn Williams, Hostel Volunteer