Gray Line Wanderings Travel Blog

Forgetting for a moment the actual sport of football, the forthcoming Super Bowl 46  also happens to serve as (yet another…) battleground for the everlasting debate. Chicken or egg, yin or yang, Boston or New York?

Technically, the Patriots are in Foxborough and the Giants are in Jersey – however, who doesn’t love the chance to beat a dead horse (only figuratively, obviously) and discuss the merits of these two nor’east rivals. This blogger actually doesn’t have a whole lot of loyalty either way, so we’ll just present the facts, ma’am:

• Food: (because it’s my favorite topic) – New York, pizza…clearly. Boston, what? Boston cream pie? Boston baked beans?  Point NYC.

• Traffic: In a painstakingly nonscientific and randomly chosen study, Travel+Leisure told me that New York’s traffic is second in the world only to Mexico City. Although one could argue that the population differences should be factored in…but then I got bored, so point Boston.

• Average Hotel Cost:  NYC, $194 – Boston, $154. Some might call that negligible. I, on the other hand, like $40. So, point Boston.

• Libation-Friendly Culture: I mean, it’s the Super Bowl, right? As rated here, Boston didn’t even make the cut, so….point NYC.

If you, like me, are a math whiz, you’ve noticed that we’ve got ourselves a tie. How about this – visit both, and make up your own mind!

A common refrain you’re likely to hear from people lucky enough to make their home in ski resort towns — especially in spectacular Rocky Mountain states like Colorado and Utah — is that they came for the skiing, but stayed because of the summers. It seems the ski resorts themselves are set to catch up with that sentiment, and boost their summer tourist numbers in the process.

A new bill is sailing through the U.S. Legislature that will open ski areas on National Forest land to year-round recreation. Look for ski resorts to capitalize on the new window of opportunity by adding new adrenaline-pumping activities like zip lines, climbing walls, alpine slides and mountain biking trails. Most Western resorts operate on National Forest lands, and offer some of these types of adventure activities already through selective exemptions. For example, many resorts in Colorado already have developed extensive summer activities on their mountains. Breckenridge has built an alpine coaster and developed a peak area full of summer activities. On a sunny day in Vail, bikers heading up on the gondola nearly match the number of hikers. You can still go snow tubing at the top of Keystone Mountain, even in summer.

But the new legislation (which in early October breezed through the U.S. House without a single vote opposed) should open the floodgates for resort operators everywhere to expand their adventure activities. Ski season may be just around the corner, but a trip next summer to a ski resort should be even more on your radar now.

Brazil Soccer Match Macrana Stadium - Flick keetr

Soccer and Brazil. Brazil and soccer. The South American equivalent of peanut butter and jelly, you just can’t have one without the other. With a long history of famous players and heated rivalries, soccer is the life for many Brazilians. On game day the stadiums vibrate with competition as thousands of rowdy supporters gather to cheer on their favorite team as if their lives depended on it. Travelers looking for a Brazilian sporting experience should under no circumstances miss the chance to see a game live. The games can get pretty rowdy and here are some tips for travelers to make the most of the event:

Step 1: Find a Ticket: This can actually be tricky depending on the game. There are three big soccer teams in Rio de Janeiro (Botafogo, Flamengo and Vasco de Gama) and each team has a fan club that reserves a large portion of tickets for their members. If you happen to speak Portuguese, arrive early on game day and haggle with ‘representatives’ from the fan club or see if you can find a ticket window with seats still left. For big games, you may want to consider a Brazilian soccer tour which will give you the peace of mind of assured tickets without any unpleasant hassles.

Step 2: Yes, but do you have a Flag?: Ok, so you’ve got your ticket, now it’s time for the opening festivities. Before the game starts, fans do their best war dance, skipping and jumping into the stadium, waving their flags, and chanting at the top of their lungs to the beat of massive drums. The sound is deafening and it is the best sports anthem since Rocky. The flags are simple in their designs and messages (Our team rocks!) and fans wave these banners with all their might as their pride ripples in the wind. Serious rivalries will ultimately include a duel of who has the biggest flag, with teams displaying gyrating flags that cover large sections of the stadium and hundreds of fist pumping fans.

Step 3: Learn Inappropriate Hand Gesture: Brazilians are a notoriously passionate people and often curse words alone are insufficient to express the deep emotions buried within their souls. Once the game starts, you would be wise to join the crowd and show your disgust for the other team by crossing your forearms and giving the double middle finger. If positive reinforcement is more your thing, then flick your wrists while raising your arms towards the heavens as you beg whoever’s upstairs for a freakin’ goal. If you are any having trouble getting these moves down, the locals will be more than willing to help you out.

Step 4: Enjoy the Game: Whether you call it soccer or futebol, everyone can agree that this is a beautiful game, especially when played by the Brazilians. Controlling the ball with skill and balance while maintaining an unceasing desire to win, the players are memorizing. Attending a Brazilian soccer match is an affair to remember and anyone who wants to travel to Brazil should put this on their must see list.