The Adventures of GI.JOE

The Adventures of GI.JOE - Part 5: United Kingdom

2010-12-31T04:57:00.001-08:00

A Royal Christmas

2010-12-31T04:39:00.000-08:00

We arrived to the United Kingdom after a delayed Monday morning flight on December 13. Little did we know at the time that our planned seven day visit to Great Britain would last more than two weeks – more on that nightmare later.

Our adventure began with some rest and relaxation in the English countryside of Hertfordshire at the Hanbury Manor, a Marriott Hotel & Country Club. With its fragrant walled gardens, stately Jacobean country house and over 200 acres of Hertfordshire parkland, the historic Hanbury Manor was beautiful. Considered London’s "Original Country Retreat,” GI.JOE took full advantage of the décor and surroundings and had a full-on holiday photoshoot. You can see our authentic Christmas card below!

On Wednesday, it was off to the city of London. After checking in to the Astor Hyde Park, we made our way to the famous O2 Arena, one of the largest indoor arenas in Europe and host to hundreds of celebrity concerts annually. The venue was awe-inspiring as its massive space hosts several restaurants, nightclubs, a circus and more. GI.JOE was there for The Night Work Tour by the Scissor Sisters. The opening act was Hurts, an English synthpop duo from Manchester composed of singer Theo Hutchcraft and synth player Adam Anderson. The Scissor Sisters delivered a two-hour set of disco jams with their unique and eccentric performance style. After the concert, we made our way to Soho and danced the night away at the Shadow Lounge.

We woke up on Thursday to a typically cloudy and rainy London. However, nothing would stop us from seeing the sights. We joined up with the New Europe tours that began at Hyde Park Corner and took us around to all the main spots including

Buckingham Palace, Churchill’s War Cabinet Bunker, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, St. James’s Park, 10 Downing St., Big Ben and more. Following the tour, we paid a visit to the infamous Madame Tussauds wax museum. A London staple, the museum is a theme park in itself with rides, exhibits and 3D shows. GI.JOE took photos with all the top celebrities including the recently revealed Lady Gaga statue. The Gaga statue displays her wearing the gigantic Philip Treacy telephone hat she sported on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross in March 2010. After an exhausting few hours of photos galore, we hightailed it to the West End to see the stage musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert. The show was incredible, especially the outlandish costumes and elaborate musical numbers. Shortly after intermission, the cast invited audience members to the stage for a short dance. One of the female dancers saw me and pulled me up on stage… of course, I stole the show! ;) The show doesn’t open until March 20, 2011 at the Palace Theatre in New York City.

On Friday, we finished our London sightseeing with stops at more of the cities’ landmarks including St. Paul’s Cathedral, London Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, Millennium Bridge, The Monument, The Tower of London, The Bank of England, Tate Modern, Tower Bridge and more. Our night began at G-A-Y Bar, a popular meeting point for London’s hip homos. After a few drinks we paid a visit to G-A-Y nightclub for their popular Friday night, G-A-Y CAMP ATTACK. The DJ paid classics and current Top 40 jams in each of the club’s four rooms. We were in heaven with all the UK pop songs and diva tunes.

We honored “Shopping” Saturdays by stopping by the world's most famous luxury department store, Harrods, along with the other stores along Oxford Street and more. For nourishment, we did like the locals and had an authentic Fish & Chips meal at a local English pub. Delicious! After some rest, we went to Purl London, a revolutionary cocktail bar that combines elements of Victorian Gin Palaces, prohibition Speakeasies and forward thinking cocktail technology. The underground bar was reminiscent of the cooler New York City spots and the cocktails put any and all Miami “mixologists” to shame. After cocktails at Purl, we again went to Heaven for G-A-Y Saturday, London’s (and some say Europe’s) largest gay and lesbian party. The place was packed and the energy was palpable as the UK’s season seven runner-up of The X Factor, Rebecca Ferguson, was performing at the club that night. However, something was brewing… something bad. We had already heard whispers of a big snow storm coming to London and Gino and I were already feeling under the weather. We called it an early night and went back to our hotel for some rest before our flight the next day – or so we thought.

The next day we had an early afternoon flight but we woke up to London covered in snow and it kept falling throughout the day. Needless to say, the nightmare had begun. Our flight was canceled and Heathrow airport was closed. We found out soon enough that we would not be leaving until the following Sunday – a full seven days later. The news reports all said the same thing – Heathrow was a mess and there was no easy solution. The BBC said the airport looked like a third-world country of travelers stranded for days and airlines being unresponsive and unhelpful. Thankfully, my father was able to get us a hotel for the remaining days but by then GI.JOE was deathly ill and in no mood for this travel mess. We would be spending the holidays in a hotel in London – BUMMER. We made the most of our days there by trying to get better and staying low-key.

Finally, on Sunday, December 26 we got out of London and returned to the warmth and sunshine of Barcelona.

The Adventures of GI.JOE - Part 4: Spain

2010-12-31T04:01:00.000-08:00

Feliz Navidad & Happy New Year!

2010-12-30T03:07:00.001-08:00

The Golden City and Downtown Switzerland

2010-12-30T02:40:00.000-08:00

Prague was astonishing! The Golden City resembled a picturesque setting out of a vintage Disney movie, magically brought to real life, circa fall 2010. Strolling the streets, we were enamored by endless romantic panoramas and the capital’s magnificent castle made the perfect backdrop for a many fairy tale moments.

We could pretend we’re princes all we want, but lets keep it real… GI.JOE’s adventures are on a budget. Those who truly know us, know that we’re a little hesitant when it comes to communal lodging, but we decided to give the “green” Mosaic House hostel a try. We booked a private double room (I know what you’re thinking... "Bye purpose of a hostel!” but we’re taking baby steps here!) and to our surprise it was on the top floor and featured our very own terrace garden boasting spectacular views. Not too shabby, huh?

Staying in the spirit of cheap and chic, we made our way to meet our New Europe tour guide (make sure to check out our last entry’s Diamond Tip for more info). We were introduced to countless city sites and landmarks including Old Town Square, the Astronomical Clock, the Jewish Square, Charles Bridge and of course the Prague Castle.

Old Town Square is one of the city’s main meeting grounds. This area includes access to St. Nicholas Church and a great view of the famous Astronomical Clock, which is mounted on Old Town City Hall. The Clock celebrated its 600th anniversary on October 2010 and is considered a popular tourist attraction. During the time of our visit we were lucky enough to stumble upon a large holiday festival, which gave us the opportunity to enjoy some of the area’s traditional bites and domestic beer.

On our way to the castle, we stumbled upon Prague’s Toy Museum. To our luck, the mini museum was showcasing a Barbie retrospective exhibition in honor of the doll’s 50-year anniversary. Did we go in? Of course. You can check out many photos of our plastic obsession on Facebook.

We didn’t venture too much into the city’s nightworld, mainly because we were exhausted every day from all the sightseeing…

but we did hit up a boozy maze of underground bars. We had a great time making our way to the last bar deep inside and had an even better time trying to make it back out. However, our favorite pass time was lounging on our terrace and spending a great deal of time enjoying our high tea sessions surrounded by the enchanting Czech sunset.

So, yes, everyone knows Zurich is gorgeous. To die for. But you’ll end up dead broke on dark corner of Niederdorf unless a sugar daddy/momma is safely packed inside your cosmetic bag. To put it in lamest terms, you need a lot of $$$$$ to have a good time. Nonetheless, GI.JOE was resourceful and we made the best use of what we had aka we starved.

We decided to get the torture over and done with by strolling down Zurich’s world famous shopping mecca “Bahnhofstrasse” first… it doesn’t cost a dime to window shop, does it? High-quality Swiss goods, jewelers, watchmakers and international designer labels can be found here. This long walkway led us to the tip of Lake Zurich.

Lake Zurich’s scenery is a direct snap shot from the most ridiculously beautiful postcard you can find. The greenery, the fresh breeze, the army of multicolored sailboats, the pristine swans and the Swiss Alps off in the distance make it a mesmerizing sight to see. Accompany this with a hot chocolate and you’re set for a fine afternoon! We were also able to get good photos of the Opera House, St. Peter’s Church and Church of Our Lady (Fraumünster) around this area. Furthermore, one can find other amazing views of the city by taking the funicular near the Lindenhof or Grossmünster.

Our favorite meal was recommended by none other than Ms Tina Turner. Well, hello, girlfriend should know... she lives here! If you’re into heavenly sausages topped with spicy mustards and an array of newly baked breads, than Vorderer Sternen Grill is your place! Inexpensive, too! Thank god we had Löwenbräu beers to help us down our second helpings.

Need to satisfy that pesky sweet tooth? Confiserie Sprüngli took care of us! This shop is famous for Luxemburgerli colorful mini macaroons filled with a top-secret cream mixture that is totally addictive. No gorge fest here, though. We only had about 10 each. Couldn’t really resist not indulging each and every flavor.

Kunsthaus Zurich took our vote for the best artwork. This museum of modern art was showcasing a revival of the first museum exhibition ever devoted to the legendary Pablo Picasso. This particular exhibit comes second to Picasso’s grand museum in Barcelona, but it definitely was marvelous to relish in the artist’s first ever museum retrospective originally debuted in 1932.

Lastly, we have to say Zurich’s nightlife wasn’t much up to par… maybe it was because we were beat each day. Or perhaps, a random night of dancing at Schwuz’s “Madonnamania” (they only played Madonna – that’s it) was a bit too much even for us. Whatever it was, we were ready for some Spanish debauchery – and we were in full throttle!

The Adventures of GI.JOE - Part 3: Prague & Zurich

2010-11-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

Guten Tag Germany

2010-11-16T08:21:00.000-08:00

On Monday, October 18, GI.JOE reported for duty and we began the next leg of our adventure. Our two-week journey would include visits to Munich and Berlin (Germany), Prague (Czech Republic) and Zurich (Switzerland) – four very different but unique cities. We arrived to Munich on Monday afternoon and decided to explore the city a little before dinner. Upon the advice of our hostel, we trekked several miles to an authentic Munich beer hall, Augustiner Braustuban. A local favorite, this Bavarian hotspot was packed to the max. We were able to score two seats at one of the many wooden benches inside the hall. The energy and smells emulating from the hall were palpable. We drank several liters of beer (a must in Germany!) and feasted on different Bavarian specialties including pretzels, sausages, chicken wings, pork schnitzel and cheese noodles.

The following day, we did a three-hour walking tour of Munich beginning at the Marienplatz by Mary’s Column. The city came alive and GiGi and I were amazed at the old world charm and beauty of this vibrant city. Highlights included the New Town Hall, The Glockenspiel, The Royal Residence, Church of St. Peter and the Memorial to the German Resistance. Our tour guide did an excellent job of sharing the history of the city and all the events that took place there. Did you know that Hitler was from Munich? The city was also the site of important historical events leading up to WWII including Kristallnacht (Night of the Broken Glass), Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch and more. Bonus Fact: Munich is also the site of the well-known Oktoberfest!

That night we joined the locals at the concert of dance diva Kelis. Held in the basement of an abandoned department store that was turned into a grungy, live music venue called Puerto Giesing, the concert was full of young Munich hipsters and scenesters. We dressed in our Munich-chic attire and danced the night away to the space-age jams of Ms. K. No concert experience is complete without some cutesy merchandise and concert tees.

Our mood changed quickly the following day with a visit to the Dachau concentration camp memorial. In March 1933, Heinrich Himmler ordered the construction of one of Germany’s first concentration camps, just outside of Dachau, a small town near Munich. The first 5,000 prisoners were political enemies to the Nazi regime. In the following years, other social, ethnic and racial enemies were imprisoned as Dachau went on to become the only concentration camp to remain active during the entire Third Reich period (1933-1945). At the time of liberation, over 200,000 prisoners from more than 30 nations had been imprisoned there. The Dachau memorial has become one of the most important centers of remembrance, contemplation and learning in Germany today. As soon as we passed through the camp gates, we came upon the infamous saying, “Arbeit macht frei” or ‘work will set you free.’ This was one of many intimidation and propaganda tools the Nazis would use to control their prisoners. It was especially frightening to visit the crematorium and gas chambers. It’s one thing to read about it in school or hear all the harrowing stores but nothing can prepare you to a visit to an actual camp. The visit ended with the very touching Memorial to the ‘Unknown Prisoner.’ How could this have happened to so many millions of human beings?

After our visit to Dachau, we boarded another train to Berlin, the modern capital of Germany. It was almost a return home for me as I had spent a month as Berliner last summer for my study abroad program. I had grown to admire this city for its melting pot of cultures and gastronomic treats. I was anxious to show GiGi the city. The following day, we awoke early to begin exploring Berlin. Our tour began at the Brandenburg Gate, followed by several important landmarks including the Gendarmenmarkt with the Concert House and the German and French cathedrals, Museum Island, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Checkpoint Charlie and Hitler’s underground bunker.

We also paid a visit to my favorite chic and cheap restaurant, Vapianos. A fast-casual concept that allows guests to make their own pasta and pizza dishes alongside a chef, Vapianos needs to be brought stateside ASAP. Thursday night was our first night out on the town and we visited a number of Berlin gay hotspots including the Axel Hotel Berlin, Prinzknecht and Connection Club Berlin. They sure know how to party!

The following morning we awoke to severe hangover that only a ‘China Box’ could cure. For all you non-Berlin visitors, residents there are a big fan of noodle boxes. From restaurants to food trucks, these heavenly noodles are served with chicken and come in easy to carry, Chinese take-out boxes. Delicious and uber-cheap, you’ve never tasted anything so heavenly. We also did a little shopping at Postdamer Platz and the Sony Center (we bought Cutesy the Penguin, an adorable H&M money pouch that has become the mascot of our trip; “Say hi, Cutesy!”), and paid a visit to the Schwules Museum, a permanent exhibition on the history, culture, art and everyday life of homosexuals. This fascinating museum is very unique and we hope that other cities establish similar exhibits. Before nightfall, we walked back to East Berlin to visit the Memorial for Nazis' Gay Victims memorial. This moving memorial pays homage to all the homosexual lives lost in the holocaust. We ended our stay in Berlin with a bang… literally! GI.JOE attended a gay circuit party at the infamous Kit Kat Club. An icon of debauchery and decadence around the world, the Kit Kat Club has served as the backdrop for many a crazy party and is also the legendary nightclub in the hit musical, Cabaret.

On Saturday, October 23 it was off to the magical city of Prague. To be continued…

Diamond Tips:

Pay a visit to www.neweuropetours.eu. Sandeman’s New Europe tours connect great guides with smart travelers. The company hosts free tours in many of Europe’s popular tourist cities and they serve as great introductions for any traveler. The tour guides work on a tip-only basis so you can decide what to pay. We did four of these tours and they were great!

The Adventures of GI.JOE - Part 2: Germany

2010-11-04T04:15:00.000-07:00

The Goddess Athena

2010-10-29T10:01:00.000-07:00

Athens was our last stop in Greece. We had been relaxed by the laid-back attitude of the islands for about a week and were planning to continue resting for one more night. However, as soon as we landed in the Greek capital, Ms. Athens was not having it! The vibrant city quickly shifted our mood, stirred us a stiff vodka soda and fueled us for a night of unexpected debauchery.

From our research, we noticed that most of the city’s hot stops were located in a centralized area called Gazi. This little hub of pure fun was packed with revelers and boasted either a bar, café, resto, club or fashion boutique on every corner. Loud music came from everywhere and to add to all the commotion – bam! – it also happened to be Athens Fashion Week! Tents were set up in the middle of the area’s main square and we could see lonely catwalks ready to be fiercely pounced by the nearby (and almost ready) Grecian models. We enjoyed the experience from afar since our tickets to the actual shows were non-existent. But after 2.5 seconds we discovered our first stop, S-Cape… S-Cape Army Academy to be precise. And what a perfect match this place was for a dazzling pseudo-militant duo as GI.JOE.

S-Cape, as you might have already guessed, is an army-chic nightclub decorated as such. Instantly, I was trying to stage photo shoots using the club’s setting and décor, but A. our girl and favorite Miami shutterbug/glitter dumpling Jipsy was not anywhere near this continent and B. we didn’t have our own camera since we were following JoJo’s cardinal rule of not bringing a camera to nightclubs (He hates carrying bulky things. I don’t carry things because 99% of the time I lose them. And most often than not, the pictures end up looking like we had rough night out with Ke$ha anyway). After we pretended dancing – awfully I might add – to Greek music in between songs by Rihanna and Katy Perry (YES! & YES!), we made our way to a smaller lounge around the block called Sodade. This place was fun and pretty much a sardine can of Greek men. Even though these men drank like fishes, they didn’t move very much or perhaps dancing wasn’t in their agenda? Maybe their plan was to sleep with the other fishes instead? Who cares?! Leave it to two Miamians and a classic Beyonce anthem and you definitely have ammo to tear up a dance floor and put on a show!

The night ended with this quote, “We should go to the hotel now as it’s almost 4 a.m. We have to wake up for our tour at 7.” Yeah, it was actually well past 5.

The next day (well, later that morning) we didn’t wake up at 7 a.m., but close to noon. We hadn’t paid for the tour – THANK GOD – so we decided to embark on our exploration. Athens is a gorgeous city made up of old and new - one block you have the breathtaking site of 8,000 year-old Grecian temple ruins and the next street begins with Starbucks. We made our way up the Akropolis (For free too, heeeey! Thanks strikers!) and visited the Parthenon, Old Temple of Athena, Hadrian’s Arch and the Temple of Zeus along our hike. The clear, panoramic views from atop are nearly as incredible as the history the Akropolis holds. In all, we find Greek mythology quite fascinating to say the least. I mean Xanadu is one of JoJo’s favorite movies after all.

After our Akropolian adventure, we got on a small train that took us all around the city… similar to a hop-on/off tour bus. The first stop was at the Akropolis Museum. This multi-level museum was awesome and it carried many interesting Grecian ruins, statues and artifacts. It also has glass floors enabling those walking by to look down and see additional ruins, still in their original location. I didn’t enjoy the latter part very much because I’m afraid of heights and falling. Actually, I found this walking experience quite terrifying and I felt like I was going to die the entire time. Another stop was at the ancient temple of Agora. This site is much smaller compared to the others, but just as nice. Taken by its beauty, we decide to stage photo shoots. Cut to us being kicked out midway during a lying down, Aphrodite-esque pose. Apparently, its illegal to lie on the marble rocks. Who knew?! ; )

We ended our evening by having dinner at a café near the Akropolis. It had just finished drizzling, the sun was setting and a rainbow had formed across the ancient grounds. We toasted to our time together, looked around and witnessed how the view complemented our mood rather cheerfully.

We spent our last night back in Gazi. The Blue Train Café and Bar was our first stop. Blue Train was noted as the meeting point for all hip locals to begin the night and it certainly was. JoJo and I happily sipped our cocktails while being glued to Fashion TV. Then suddenly JoJo started feeling sick. It seems that the mixture of room-temperature vodka and soda sans ice can do evil things to your stomach and gag reflexes. I mean, what is it about frozen water cubes that Europeans don’t like? Let’s just say our night didn’t go as planned, but it was OK. We had had enough of our girl Athina for one weekend and she wasn’t going to make us miss anything else the next morning… not even our flight.

As planned, we had our last serving of fried cheese saganaki (God, I dream about it!) and Greek salad before we took off to the airport. We made our flight to Barcelona and spent the night at our friend Alex’s one-bedroom apartment in Eixample. The day after we took off to Munich!

The Adventures of GI.JOE - Part 1: Greece

2010-10-23T09:42:00.000-07:00

The Sparkling Grecian Islands

2010-10-18T06:11:00.000-07:00

Mykonos, Greece

After five connections, four cities, three different airlines, two full days of traveling, one full day of workers’ strike in Athens and an endless amount of JoJo’s snoring we finally made it to the beautiful island of Mykonos.

From the moment we disembarked our Five Star Ferry Super Jet, the island’s crystal blue waters, warm breeze and bustling city center amazed us. Our hotel, Elysium - The Str8 Friendly Hotel, was equally as charming. Since Mykonos is known as the “Gay Mecca” of the Mediterranean it was only natural for us to exploit our fabulousness to the max… hence, the booking of an all-gay resort. Our suite featured all the usual amenities but the view, witnessed from its deep blue colored balcony, was magnificent. Just picture your typical Greek postcard and that was exactly what we saw for three entire days.

Our favorite bar was Jackie O’ (Yup, you guessed it! This watering hole is named after one of America’s most beloved first ladies – the ever-fashionable Miss Jackie Kennedy Onassis). Jackie O’ is an ocean side intimate lounge made out of coral located at the bottom edge of the cliff. Our bartender Nick (how original) told us that during the summer, gays and their complementing chic female counterparts, or in lamer terms “fag hags” (I personally prefer “fruit flies’’), packs the tiny lounge and spill onto the outside parts of the street. Nevertheless, our Friday and Saturday nights at Jackie O’ were still fun.

So fun that I ended up on top of a table hilariously dancing with a Greek quasi-tranny – ah, I can never turn down a dare! Next door, Babylon Dance Club is also a good time. Picture DJ WTF’s iPod on blast, a great mix of locals, foreigners, a gargantuan Brazilian drag queen and a sprinkle of confused (so they claim) males and bibidi-bibidi-bop you’re set for a wild night out Mykonos style! Lots of cocktails, Ouzo shots, dancing and being asked to strike several poses by – gasp! – said confused tourist, we made our way back up the cliff to our hotel. Who knows - my photo might end up in a cheap rag somewhere or perhaps just remain as another snap inside his memory card filled with memories and hopeless outbursts.The Greek isles are jam packed with tourists from early May to late September, however, Mykonos was still semi alive and kicking throughout our stay in early October and so was its main selling point other than its beaches… its nightlife!

A typical thing to do in Mykonos is to watch its beautiful sunsets while sitting in Little Venice’s (yes, it’s the island’s quaint version of the Italian city) numerous cafés sipping wine or enjoying a Mythos. The famous Greek windmills are nearby and make an important photo op. Even though a little run-down, the windmills still hold their historic beauty and are nice to look at. Unfortunately, the day we decided to make the trip to Super Paradise Beach the weather didn’t agree with our plans. Makes a great excuse to come back though!One thing that is definitely out in the open is the way Greeks love food! And our appetite made a perfect match in this Grecian foodie heaven. Besides the numerous traditional Greek salads, chicken and pork souvlakis, tzasiki plates and more, we have to say our favorite resto was Fish Tavern Kounelas.

Its charming bougainvillea covered courtyard made for an ideal dinner setting. Kounelas is known to have the freshest fish in all of Mykonos and our handpicked grilled sea bass marinated with local herbs, olive oil and lemon truly lived up to the resto’s fame.

The dish’s sliced baked potatoes sprinkled with fennel and white rice were great accompaniments. To our surprise there was a happy ending to our meal – a complimentary phallic shaped glass bottle containing cinnamon flavored Ouzo and two small shot glasses to boot. Happy ending, indeed.

Santorini, Greece

Santorini is known as Greece’s island of romance and love. Hence, it’s mainly filled with newlywed couples, couples getting married, couples with babies or couples on holiday – so if you don’t have a lover, hire an escort or don’t go.

Basically there’s plenty of hetero love to film an obscene amount of Bethany Getting Married?-esque reality shows, but sadly there is big lack of LGBT lovies. In time, I’m sure we’ll come around. A little dash of fabulousness didn’t hurt anyone, right bitches?

Our host hotel in Santorini was Reverie, located in Firostefani only a few minutes away from the island’s capital Fira. Our poolside one-bedroom studio (got a comp upgrade, heeey!) was more than adequate; we even cooked dinner one night. Mind you, the simple meal consisted of wheat pasta, olive oil, sliced Gouda cheese and fresh tomatoes… don’t judge, we’re on a budget here. Our hotel also had a nice view of the Palea and Nea Kameni (Volcano) islets which are an unparalleled testament of beauty, a site of major scientific interest and a protected natural monument – a must do during our visit!

In order to get the Volcano, one needs to make their way down the island to the Old Port and catch a tour boat. There’s three ways to get to the Old Port: take a cable car, ride a donkey or walk down 600+ steps. We chose to be adventurous and do the latter that turned out to be quite unfortunate. The old steps are in all shapes and sizes and are decorated with delightfully smelling donkey poop of well… all shapes and sizes. Too bad that we decided we couldn’t do this anymore half way down. It was late and we were going to miss our boat. So we made do after several “I’m passing out!” moments and reenactments of The Simple Life: Santorini Edition!

Our large wooden sailboat took us to the Volcano and we hiked our way through the entire toured visit. It was quite interesting, specifically because Nea Kameni doesn’t look like your typical pyramid-shaped hole of lava/magma fury. Instead, it’s almost like inside out. This has to do a lot with its shape and surrounding islands. The tour guide divulged enough information to write a 100-page paper on the subject, but a combination of forceful winds, tiredness and a case of serious ADD caused me to stop listening and begin humming Britney’s “Hot as Ice” on loop. I need to revisit my pamphlet on some downtime. If you’re interested, here’s the site: http://ismosav.santorini.net Oh, this said Volcano also is responsible for Santorini’s black sand beaches. Our favorite was Kamari!

After the Volcano, we made our way to the Hot Springs located at Palea Kameni. I was really looking forward to this part of the day trip until the tour guide announced that it was too shallow for the ship to get close the springs. The boat had to anchor about 150 meters away from our warm pool of amazingness and we had to swim our way to it and dive into the really, really cold Mediterranean Ocean. Lets be honest here, I am not the most experienced, graceful swimmer. That and the fact that the water was cold was making me rethink this whole “hot springs” experience, but before I could put my pants back on JoJo had already made his Olympic splash at sea. Never the “Debbie Downer,” I forced myself to follow. In all, I was happy with my decision to brave the waters – the springs felt aaah-mazing! After what seemed an all-day triathlon, we were back on the Old Port. This time, however, it was straight to the cable cars!

The cuisine is the same as Mykonos, obvi. Our favorite restos were Kapari and Mama Thira Taverna which has a marvelous terrace for sunset viewing and mean fried cheese sagalaki – god, it was good! A nearby town called Oia (the o is silent) also makes a great viewing spot and is overflowing with stores, cafés and restos. Since Santorini is also known for its exquisite wine, we spent our nights sipping local brands and just relaxing… something we hadn’t done in a while.

I’m currently writing this entry in our ferry on our way to Athens. We’ll be there until Sunday. My entire body aches because both of these islands were like two giant Stair Masters – I’ve got buns of steel now! Here’s to many more memories in Athens!

Funny side note: Lady Gaga was in Mykonos and Santorini during the same time we were. Birds of a feather flock together!

Diamond Tips:

Almost everyone in Greece knows English. No language barriers there, lovies!
Daily ferries are still available daily in October even though it’s not season. Both regular and high-speed boats are offered depending on your preference, but obvi, the faster your ferry, the quicker you arrive to your destination. So we chose the high-speed for that reason and partly because we were sick of traveling and JoJo hyperventilates on demand every 30 minutes and also suffers from an alleged seasickness. Regular boats are usually around 30 Euros and high-speed jets are 50 Euros plus.
While in Mykonos, make sure to visit the city’s best sandbox – Super Paradise Beach! Take a bus from the town for a 1.40 Euro to Paradise Beach. Then take a small boat to Super Paradise Beach. A seaside Eden awaits… so we’ve heard.
Over the past few years, Santorini has been trying to attract younger singles looking for fun by opening bars and nightclubs in Fira, but it still doesn’t even mildly compare to its wild sister, Mykonos.

Previous Content

2010-10-18T06:09:00.001-07:00

The below posts are from the Florida International University "Global Strategic Communications" study abroad program in Berlin, Germany in June 2009.

NIVEA: Bluetooth marketing

2009-06-19T06:28:00.000-07:00

During my stay in Vienna, Austria I was introduced to a groundbreaking and revolutionary form of advertising called Bluetooth marketing. In the United States, most consumers who own a cell phone have Bluetooth technology or capabilities. However, Eastern Europe is not quite as advanced. I must note that the ad I am discussing was for a NIVEA product and was placed by a highly populated tourist attraction, thus garnering attention from a wide range of people.

According to Wikipedia, Bluetooth is an open wireless protocol for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks (PANs). The NIVEA ad was promoting Happy Time Body Lotion which, according to the ad, moisturizes and cares for your skin, leaving it with a beautiful mild scent of orange flower. Although the ad was in German (the national language of Austria), the images and branding message of the ad could be understood regardless of one’s native tongue.

A viewer walking by could connect their phones to the Bluetooth computer inside the casing and download a NIVEA original song, “Happy Time.” The video I shot below is an example of my peer Mara Fernandez downloading the song by connecting her Blackberry to the advertisement. I found this to be a genius promotion strategy because the advertisement was interactive and entertaining and stuck in my head long after I had left. This promotion strategy has been coined Bluetooth marketing. The Institute of Bluetooth Advertising promotes this strategy by saying, “Bluetooth advertising with Bluetooth marketing is a local wireless distribution or Proximity push of advertising content associated with a particular place or product. Information can be received by individuals in that location or near the specific item who wish to receive them and have the necessary equipment to do so. The equipment may be a mobile phone, PDA or laptop. The advertisement or marketing material can be sent to any device, selected devices or communities of subscribers within the proximity of the product or location.”

Although this form of advertising is not as common in the United States, I believe brands should begin utilizing it immediately. Bluetooth marketing would enable brands to fully connect with their consumers on the spot and engage them. They will be able to leave with a unique experience and have a part of the brand with them. For example, after walking away my peer Mara had a NIVEA song she could listen to or transfer to her computer. Thus, NIVEA was able to continue their connection long after the consumer has left.

Disco and Music: Radio Berlin

2009-06-18T06:37:00.001-07:00

The ads shown here are for Radio Berlin, a popular pop radio station by RBB broadcasting. The station frequency, 88.8, omits classics such as disco, adult contemporary and more. According to the RBB station manager, Radio Berlin is a popular radio station for the adult set. There are limited commercials allowing listeners to enjoy the songs all day long. The advertising campaign shown here were used as outdoor billboards all across the city. In one ad, a car is seen driving through the city with funky headphones. The second shows a business woman with disco, bedazzled glass and the final advertisement is of a woman jogging with silver glitter bell bottoms. It is interesting to note that two of the ads primarily depict woman as this is their target market.

I believe that these ads are very effective and the slogan is simple and to the point. The slogan roughly translates to, “Once a pop fan, always a pop fan.” These ads could work just as well in America as the images are universal. We all have hidden desires inside and the older generation still yearns from their disco heydays. Although one might now have a family or a job, one always remains young at heart. These cheeky advertisements further this idea with out of the ordinary situations such as the woman wearing bell bottoms to exercise. This advertisement is an example of emotional connection advertisement where the brand makes a connection with its viewer. It also provides young people with an opportunity to understand the channel and as “oldies” become more popular, the channel younger audience will grow.

The ads also take a different approach than from what advertisers use in Miami. For example, Clear Channel’s 93.9 MIA recently launched in the South Florida playing much of the same music as Radio Berlin. However, their imagery and slogan elicit a different emotion. “Move to the Music” is displayed on the 93.9 billboards alongside older promotional shots of celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Prince, Madonna and Beyonce. While Radio Berlin used real people with funky disco accessories, 93.9 MIA used actual celebrities to sell their product. Although this is in line with America’s obsession with celebrity and fame culture, I believe Radio Berlin was able to convey their music and brand with better imagery and creativity.

Greece: Marketing a destination

2009-06-17T12:09:00.000-07:00

Description:

Greece is situated in Southeastern Europe, with an area of 131,957 sq.km. and a population of 10,964,020. (

www.visitgreece.dr) The advertisements displayed here were found on the streets of Vienna, Austria. They are promoting tourism in Greece. The ads show young people having fun at the beach with picturesque views of an ocean in the background. One ad shows a young man on a sailboat smiling and having fun. The ad invites the viewer to visit the Visit Greece website for more information. It should be noted that this ad was in a popular pedestrian street in Vienna and both ads were placed together.

Why I selected it:

Two years ago, I visited Greece for an extended two-week tour. I visited several important cities and landmarks in the country as well as a cruise of the infamous Greek islands. What initially drew us to visit Greece was its storied history and ancient ruins. In the United States, tourists who visit Greece do so to celebrate Greek history and gastronomy. However, in the Vienna ads they are promoting something different. They are marketing Greece as a summer destination for water activities and fun. This promotion strategy is different and unique. Our tour guide said that most Austrians go to Greece or Croatia for vacations and they enjoy going to the beach as Austria has none. These advertisements were paid for by the government of Greece and its tourism board to promote travel in the area.

Analysis:

According to the Visit Greece website, “The wealth and diversity of the Greek seas, the endless kilometers of the Greek coasts and the thousands of Greek islands, the protected sea areas covering thousands of square kilometers, the mild climate, the high percentage of sunshine and its interesting and varying landscape make Greece the ideal destination for the development of sea tourism activities. In Greece sea tourism started in the ‘60s and since then has been developing at a fast pace, especially in recent years.” This approach is similar to that of Miami as they have also changed their advertising strategy. Turkel Advertising (www.turkel.info) has been the agency of choice for the Miami GMCVB and has been in charge of the branding strategy for Miami. In previous years, Miami marketed itself as a sexy, beach destination while promoting South Beach and more. However, they recently changed their campaign to Express Yourself, where the ads depict the cultural diversity and art scene of the city.

Key Points:

The ads shown here depict an advertising campaign for tourism in Greece
They are marketing Greece as a summer destination for water activities and fun
This approach is similar to that of Miami as they have also changed their advertising strategy in an opposite way

Museum für Kommunikation Berlin

2009-06-16T14:23:00.000-07:00

Outside – elegant neo-Baroque architecture laced with modern blue neon. Inside – friendly robots in the atrium, and the history of all things communicative. The Museum of Communications was founded as a postal museum in 1872, the world’s oldest such collection, and has been in its present ornate location since 1897.

On permanent exhibition are tools of the written word - wax seals, postcards and stamps (such as the famous Blue Mauritius), agents of the spoken and visual word – telephones (including some of the first), radios and film, and of the virtual – telegraphs and computers.

The museum’s interactive and lively approach makes it an ideal destination for kids, but adults will appreciate the temporary exhibitions featuring cutting edge artists. On the outer wall of the museum, observant visitors will hear a sound art collage of music, language and everyday noises. A comfortable walk from Checkpoint Charlie or Potsdamer Platz.

Non-traditional advertising in Prague

2009-06-11T14:25:00.000-07:00

Description:

This advertisement depicted in the YouTube video was taken on the streets of Prague, the Czech Republic, on Saturday, June 6. This multimedia outdoor billboard is promoting Darling Cabaret, billed as “the largest and the best cabaret in Prague center with beautiful girls” for a “night full of entertainment.” The official website says that, “as every lover of good food can appreciate an excellent restaurant and its chef's exceptional skills, you also have a unique opportunity to allow your sweet tooth to choose the best from our menu: the most delicious entertainment in the whole of Prague! That is the reason for inviting you warmly to the world-famous Prague cabaret "Darling", which nowadays follows the erstwhile 1920s and 1930s' tradition of cabaret performances in a place where passion permeates through the atmosphere.” The billboards can be seen in several spots across the city.

Why I selected it:

This non-traditional advertisement is a unique promotion strategy. The ad immediately catches the attention of those walking past it as well as drivers on the road. While most outdoor ads are in simple 2-D print, this ad lights up and forms a spectacle of lights. No matter where you are, the lights catch the eye of the beholder and curiosity leads the viewer to look more closely. It is interesting that such an innovative ad is promoting a “cabaret.” Further down the road, I also noticed a white stretch limousine with the Darling Cabaret logo. The driver was handing out flyers for the place beside the limo. They were inviting people to step inside the car which would take one to the cabaret. As can be seen, I experienced three touch points with the Darling Cabaret “brand:” a multimedia outdoor advertisement, a branded stretch limousine and a flyer.

Analysis:

I find it interesting that a cabaret would use non-traditional advertising to gain the attention of potential customers. In the United States, there is still a stigma when it comes to cabarets, strip clubs and the like. Due to America’s conservative moral values, these types of places are discouraged from mass marketing like outdoor billboards, etc. The closet I have seen to this is on South Beach’s seedy Washington Avenue where Madonna club has provocative videos outside of the establishment as well as a limo outside the door. However, most places like these stick to print advertising in the more liberal publications such as the Miami SunPost and Miami New Times. Prague is obviously much more open as Europe tends to be more sexually progressive and liberal. I believe that Darling Cabaret’s promotion strategies are effective in garnering attention and do so in a creative way. Also, the constant repetition of the brand and logo keep the cabaret fresh in the consumer’s mind.

Key Points:

* This multimedia outdoor billboard is promoting Darling Cabaret, billed as “the largest and the best cabaret in Prague center with beautiful girls”
* This non-traditional advertisement is a unique promotion strategy
* As can be seen, I experienced three touch points with the Darling Cabaret “brand:” a multimedia outdoor advertisement, a branded stretch limousine and a flyer

Sex and Beauty in Berlin

2009-06-11T12:57:00.000-07:00

Description:

On May 28, 2009, Hennes & Mauritz, a major fashion retailer known simply as H&M, launched a major advertising campaign in 1,000 stores in over 30 countries. The campaign promotes the store’s collaboration with Designers Against Aids (DAA), titled “Fashion Against AIDS.” The collection of t-shirts and tank tops for boys and girls are designed by some of the world’s most acclaimed musicians, producers and designers. The artist participate free of charge and 25 cents of each shirt from the collection go to HIV/AIDS prevention projects around the world. According to www.designersagainstaids.com, the ultimate goal of the project is to mould the opinion of the biggest possible amount of fashion lovers towards AIDS prevention, especially youngsters in the industrialized countries.

Why I selected it:

Berlin, Germany is a major metropolitan city. Throughout my time here, I have encountered advertisements everywhere promoting H&M’s “Fashion Against Aids” campaign. I have seen billboards, posters and more. H&M has obviously spent millions on advertising as many areas of town have several ads in the same vicinity, all with different artists depicted. This year’s campaign includes designs by Tokio Hotel, Katy Perry, Roisin Murphy, Pharrell Williams/N.E.R.D., Estelle, Yoko Ono, Dita Von Teese, Dangerous Muse, Cyndi Lauper, Yelle, Robyn and Katharine Hamnett. As a fan of H&M and of several of the artists listed, I was particularly drawn to these advertisements. I am also an advocate for AIDS awareness and prevention. In fact, with every purchase of a shirt, you are given pins with the logo as well as a postcard pack with a free condom. Please see the accompanying photos for an example.

Analysis:

Taking on their corporate social responsibility, H&M created a platform for DAA to spread its message through the designs of international artists and musicians. Beneficial for both companies, the collaboration ultimately aids H&M’s brand image. It positions it as a leading company for community responsibility around the globe. In Germany alone, there were 53,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in 2007 (http://www.avert.org/hiv-aids-europe.htm). One can also explore the issue of globalization and that of standardization versus localization. H&M has been successful in creating a universal campaign that speaks to a variety of markets. However, they have also standardized the campaign by including celebrities who are more famous in some markets than others. For example, the German band Tokio Hotel is prominently featured in the ads and gained major media exposure in German media (http://tokiohotelnetwork.com/shirt-designed-for-hm-fashion-against-aids/). H&M is also extending their “green” image as all the shirts are made with organic cotton. The issue of sex and beauty is a hot topic with this campaign as it’s interesting that a brand has chosen to align itself with safe sex and provocative poses. However, I believe that because H&M is a youthful brand catering to young people and urban professionals, they are not afraid to change behaviors and influence a generation. I would also add that the campaign invites customers to visit the store for the line and will ultimately lead to the customer picking up other items.

Key Points:

* On May 28, 2009, H&M launched a major advertising campaign in 1,000 stores in over 30 countries promoting “Fashion Against Aids”
* Taking on their corporate social responsibility, H&M created a platform for DAA to spread its message through the designs of international artists and musicians
*H&M has been successful in creating a universal campaign that speaks to a variety of markets. However, they have also standardized the campaign by including celebrities who are more famous in some markets than others

Corona Branding in Berlin

2009-06-03T05:10:00.000-07:00

Description:

On Sunday, May 31 thousands of Berlin residents took to the streets in the heart of the city for the annual cultural festival. The festival celebrated the cultural diversity of the city and its ethnic minority inhabitants. Groups on the floats included Peruvians, Mexicans and more. The parade spread several miles with more than 100 floats and marching groups. Each had its own personality with many featuring dancers, music and more. Throughout the celebration, groups passed out flyers, information and samples. Brands took advantage of the festival as sponsors including Corona beer, who placed itself at the end of the parade with a creative form of non-traditional advertising. Although German beer is a cultural staple, especially in Berlin, it is evident that Corona has attempted to increase its market share abroad by participating in guerilla marketing and events sponsorships. Coronas involvement in the parade included a large float full of dancing young people and its recognizable color: yellow. They also had a large blow-up Corona bottle capped off with a lime. Guests of the parade could purchase beers from the Corona street vendors set up around the float as promotional brand representatives handed out giveaways such as key chains, bracelets and more all branded with the Corona logo. It is important to note that all beers purchased included a squeezed lime, an important characteristic of the Corona experience.

Why I selected it:

I was surprised to see Corona so prominently featured in a cultural festival in Berlin. I was under the impression that Germans hated other beers and took great pride in their offerings. However, as an avid fan of Corona beer I am fully aware of the Corona experience. The brand image of Corona is that of being a free spirit and celebrating beach-loving fun. The Corona beer is iconic for good times and its brand identity is cemented by its clear bottle and Spanish-language text on the bottle. Corona is a Mexican beer brand of a “pale lager” and it’s available in over 150 countries. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corona_(beer)) I was fascinated by its Berlin branding campaign through such diverse media. Using one of Berlin’s biggest events was smart to reach a large percentage of their target market.

Analysis:

In the United States, Corona also uses sponsorships as a main tactic of their integrated marketing campaigns (IMC). However, they also use commercials. In Germany, however, their campaigns differ slightly. In December 2008, Corona launched the “Save the Beach” campaign in several metropolitan cities including Berlin. (http://popsop.com/4899) They launched a mini-site that supported this campaign. I am under the impression that this promotional sponsorship of the cultural festival was not part of a larger campaign, but an efficient way to promote the brand. Tourists were also a large part of the festival as residents of other European countries travel to Berlin to attend the parade. Corona’s large presence was an important tool in furthering their brand image. Everything about their float, tent, giveaways and more was in line with Corona’s brand identity. Additionally, Corona has been able to standardize their brand by staying consistent with their message. No matter where you go, Corona’s logo, colors and products are the same.

Key Points:

Corona beer participated as an event sponsor and major presence in Berlin’s annual cultural festival and parade.
Corona has maintained a standardized brand identity that has positioned itself as a global beer brand, even in Berlin, Germany.
Corona beer was successful in using diverse media in a non-traditional way by giving away promotional items and creating a Corona atmosphere at the event.

Impressions of IMC in Berlin

2009-06-01T07:38:00.000-07:00

I have been both surprised and inspired by the integrated marketing campaigns here in Berlin. The campaigns are creative, unique and unlike many of the campaigns we see in America. The most surprising thing about the campaigns that I have encountered is the fact that all of the advertisements are in German. In other countries that I have visited, some of the advertisements are in English, especially in tourist locations. The German students we meet at the IMK school (www.imk.de/) said that they are taught English in schools and can understand and communicate quite well in English. Perhaps the brands have adapted my favorite quote, “Think Globally, Act Locally.”

Many American brands are in Berlin including McDonald’s, Starbucks, Burger King and more. I have also noticed a large presence in Berlin from T-Mobile. T-Mobile advertisements and displays are all over the city, more than any other mobile providers. I have also seen American personalities promoting brands here in Berlin including Kristin Davis of Sex and the City fame, singer Katy Perry and burlesque performer Dita Von Teese.

The biggest and most popular IMC strategy that I have seen employed is using outdoor advertising. Due to the fact that most residents use public transportation or walk, advertisers are using creative ways to reach their consumers. Among the tactics that I have seen are ads on buses, buildings, stairs and more. I have also been particularly drawn to the large television screens that play commercials outside the windows of the subway trains.

It is also important to note the cultural diversity in the advertisements. Outside our hostel is a website advertisement displaying two men embracing and kissing. I have also seen ads with cross dressers and provocative poses. Many of these types of ads would be shocking and controversial if they were placed in cities in the United States. In fact, I cannot remember anytime that I have seen an outdoor billboard in Miami showing two men kissing.

A popular ad that caught my attention was that for BVG, the public transportation service. (www.bvg.de/) I have seen the ad in several places throughout Berlin. It depicts one long subway train with people of all different races, cultures, genders and more entering and leaving this train. I have included several pictures below. This ad is effective in that it celebrates the cultural diversity that makes Berlin such a vibrant city. The subway is an important part of the city as residents and tourists alike use it as a main source of transportation. This ad can be viewed more as a “brand image” ad that is being used to further its brand as source of pride in Berlin. By showcasing so many different types of people in Berlin, the ad is truly depicting a melting pot of cultures.

Expectations: cultural differences

2009-06-01T06:52:00.000-07:00

I have traveled extensively throughout Europe including Spain, Italy, France, Greece, the United Kingdom, Portugal and more. I enjoy experiencing the different cultures and traditions of each place I visit. Although residents of each country have different frames of references, there are still many similarities especially as Western ideals continue to infiltrate these cultures.

I had been told many friends and colleagues that I was going to love Berlin. They told me Berlin was a vibrant city full of life and art. Ravaged by war and terrorized by communism, Berlin has begun to rebuild itself and position itself as a city reborn. In a television interview in 2004, the governing mayor Klaus Woweriet stated that, “Berlin is poor, but sexy.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_quotes_featuring_Berlin)

My frame of reference about Berlin was from what I had seen and heard from Nazi movies such as the recent Valkyrie, which I saw prior to leaving on the trip. Perhaps my most vivid image of Berlin is from the musical Cabaret, a childhood favorite of mine that is set in 1930s Berlin as the Nazi party grows stronger. The location for the musical is the Kit Kat Klub which is still open today. (http://www.kitkatclub.org/Home/Club/Index.html) Decadent and dangerous, I imagined the nightlife and culture in Berlin to be raunchy and seductive, much like the musical numbers in the movie. My biggest expectation of Berlin was that the city would be somber and retrospective of the atrocities that had happened there. It is shocking to realize that the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, only 20 years ago.

The biggest German personality in the US is Heidi Klum who has coined a German phrase as her closing statement in the hit Bravo reality show, Project Runway. Proud of her German heritage, Klum has allowed Americans to become familiar with a German figure. Prior to coming to Berlin, I have not had much contact with Germans. I was excited to travel to Berlin and meet people outside of my comfort zone. Now that I have been in Berlin for five days, I have a better understanding of the cultural differences between Germany and the US.

I have found that the culture here in Berlin, Germany is slightly off center. Specifically, the Germans here in Berlin are kooky. Many dress what we would deem in America as “punk rock.” I have notice no evidence of hip-hop culture as most here in the city listen to techno and house music. I have also experienced some hostility from many of the residents here. Perhaps it is due to the fact that we Americans have a bad reputation abroad. What I have most enjoyed about Berlin is its unique personality. Berlin is very industrial and modern, with avant-garde architecture and historical sites. Berlin is very liberal and celebrates a very bohemian lifestyle with creative neighborhoods, museums and nightlife. My biggest taste of the diversity of Berlin was this past weekend at the diversity parade. Thousands of residents came out to celebrate as hundreds of floats passed including those representing different sub-cultures and countries. All different types of people were out on the streets drinking and dancing in unison. It was a beautiful sight to see.