Moscow - New Cool eating Diggs!

Just flew Moscow this past month and I found two new restaurants steps away from our layover hotel. Yes, they have English translated menus! What a relief! and one cafe is right next to the other, so here it goes.

The first one is The Icebox Cafe. This is a very modern, Starbucks type cafe with free wi-fi, modern decor, and a relaxing atmosphere where one can linger for hours cruising the net, with out causing a stir. They specialize in pastries, coffees, and simple pre-made salads and sandwiches that you can eat while you are there or you can take back to your room.


The second place is called Biskotti Cafe and you wouldn't know this by reading the sign in the street that reads BNCKOTTN (photo enclosed), but your clue to find this restaurant will be the red bench that sits out in the street, right in front of the place. This is a reasonably priced, western style restaurant, that serves a large variety of international dishes. It also has free wi-fi and offers a relaxing dining atmosphere with hip, modern decor and great music in the background. I had a delicious mozzarella and tomato salad, plus a wonderful shrimp risotto during my first visit. On my second visit, I had a yummy Beef Strogonoff served with wild mushroom over creamy, home-made mashed potatoes. Not bad at all, I promise. Prices are reasonable - About ten dollars per entree and lots of options on the menu.







The location of these places is as follows. Make a right from the front door of the hotel, walk to the corner. Make a right as if you were going to the food market. Walk past the market to the next block on the same side, and just past the fancy men's clothing store (you're still on the same side as the food market), you will see first the Icebox Cafe, and right past it, the Biskotti Cafe. Remember, look for the red bench.

Enjoy these two new, nice eating options nearby the hotel in Moscow. They are really perfect spots to get nice snacks and meals while you're on a short stay in Moscow.

Do you have any favorite watering holes or eating spots in Moscow? Let us know, so we can share them with everyone. Send pictures too, so we can see what you are talking about and don't forget to share this with your flying partners. That's how we grow!

DC - Capital Bikeshare and Other Bike Rentals in DC

I went biking last week in downtown DC and it was wonderful! I had forgotten how exhilarating it was to cruise freely past crowds and traffic while able to view gorgeous monuments, museums and Potomac river sights. So much to see guys! World class museums from the Smithsonian; Memorials and monuments; Historical sites; The White House; The Capitol building plus all the lovely green areas in The Mall.

Don't miss the brand new FDR Memorial on the Reflecting Pond. It's gorgeous and very moving. A must stop if you choose to do the bike thing. And then of course, there's spring. It's here in DC already, I swear! Two weeks ago I saw the buds on the Cherry Trees screaming to bloom. They were just, just there. One more week (or two) and they're in full bloom. So NOW is the moment guys, to catch this awesome display of color downtown in DC.

So where does one get a bike? Well, I have two suggestions for you. One offers you a bike with the option of a lock and/or a helmet (if you want). The other one does not. The first option is good for those who plan to make stops along the way. Maybe to view a new exhibit in The Smithsonian? You get my drift. So, here are the options.

OPTION ONE - Capital Bike Share - This is a new "bike sharing" program in the District of Columbia (downtown DC), that offers brand new bikes for rent by the hour, by the day or by the week, from a variety of stations in downtown DC. Check their website www.capitalbikeshare.com for prices and options. These are easy bikes to use/rent. I used one this past week, and it was a breeze to rent. All you'll need is a major credit card for the transaction and you're pretty much set to go. The first 30 minutes are free. Then, there's an additional charge every 30 minutes. Check their website for exact charges. The only draw back, as I mentioned before, is that these bikes don't offer a "lock up" option, other that to return them to another bike base station. Oh well. Otherwise they are great. Brand new and with three speeds. All you'll need to fly down the scenic bike paths of DC.




OPTION TWO - Rental bikes from Thompsons Boat House in Georgetown's waterfront. The bikes that are available for rent here, are less jazzy than the ones offered by Bike Share, but they are sturdy and comfortable cruising bikes. Also, you can ask for a lock, as I mentioned before, if you plan to stop along the way. This will give you a little more freedom to wander around the sites "sans" bike (with out the bike). Something to think about. I'm enclosing a photo of Thompsons Boathouse's board with rental charges below. You can also rent Kayaks if you're feeling adventuresome! The boathouse is located right next to the Georgetown Marina (to the left if you're looking directly at the Potomac). The Marina, is a great waterfront spot filled with trendy restaurants, popular with the locals, specially, during sunny days. Worth a visit!






So there you go. It's your decision, Boathouse bikes or Shared Bikes. Both good options. Don't miss out and get out there to see the city from a completely different perspective, One that I promise, you will always remember and you will most definitely enjoy!

For more info on Capital Bike Share, click on the blue link enclosed below and enjoy! And remember, it's real easy to get a bike in DC and it's a fun way to get around guys!!!

PS- If you want to check out both bike options before renting, go to the Georgetown Marina. There's a Shared Bikes station right in front of the Danish Embassy, in the alley, steps away from Thompson Boat House (photo of map enclosed).



Capital Bikeshare

Photos, courtesy of Capital Bike Share's website.

Crowne Plaza Dulles Airport Hotel

Dulles Commuters! Pay attention! A great airline rate is being offered to Dulles commuters by the Crown Plaza Dulles Airport Hotel. The rate of $40.00 (forty dollars) per night is available, if you call them directly and they have the rooms.


What do you get for these $40.00 dollars? Well, according to Thom Cross (UALSW), a Florida commuter and a frequent contributor to this blog, you will stay in a very nice property near the airport with free Internet access via the hotel's business center, plus free airport transportation. Tom claims there's a supermarket right across the street in case you need some groceries and about twenty restaurants and several movie theaters steps away from the hotel. It also has a fitness center and it offers a late Check-out at 2:00pm for no extra charge. In addition, you can earn points in their frequent stay program which entitle you to future discounts on additional hotel stays. It's really an awesome deal for our Dulles commuters! Thank you Tom!!!

If you decide to give this a try, call the hotel directly to see if they have the space at the $40.00 rate for the dates you have in mind. Their direct number is: 703-471-6700

For additional information on this hotel, click on the (blue) link below or go to the Dulles Crown Plaza Hotel's official website at: www.cpdulles.com and enjoy your stay!

Do you have any recommendations for your co-workers? your favorite hotels, travel deals? reasonably priced restaurants or cafes, etc.? If you do, drop us a line with the information and we will be glad to post it and share it with our readers.

Thank you in advance for your contributions and happy flying!



Dulles Airport Hotels | Crown Plaza Dulles Airport Hotel | Hotel near Washington Dulles Airport

Pura Vida Adventures - Costa Rican's Premier Surf Camp & Yoga Retreat

Do you want to learn to surf in Costa Rica? Or perhaps you'd rather practice yoga in a peaceful, tropical, beach setting as the sun sets? Look no further! I've got you covered.

Pura Vida Adventures in Costa Rica, offers surf and yoga retreats in their beach front property in Malpais beach - a "scenic village" on the Pacific Coast. You can sign up solo, with a bunch of girls, or as a couple for a week long stay full of daily surf (and/or yoga )classes with local experts. Practice your Spanglish, sample the local food, hike in nearby national parks or simply relax in their peaceful, tropical, beach front setting.

Pura Vida offers all inclusive packages - daily surf lessons, three meals a day, hikes to nearby parks plus accommodations - for around $2,000 to $2,500 per week. Too expensive for me right now, but hey, maybe sometime in the future.

If interested in more information on Pura Vida's Surf Retreats, please check their website - www.puravidaadventures.com - or click the enclosed (blue) link below for additional information and to check the testimonials and photos of previous visitors. Maybe one day, in the not so distant future, we will be posting our photos too!

Pura Vida Adventures - Costa Rican's Premier Surf Camp & Yoga Retreat, Womenn's Surf Spa, Surf Vacations, Luxury Yoga and Surf Holiday, Surf Yoga

My View from 30,000 Feet

Wow, another blog (website) written by a Flight Attendant, one of our peeps! and it's a really cool site! Bravo chica! Please visit her site My View from 30,000 by clicking on the enclosed (blue) link below or go directly to her site www.myviewfrom30000feet.blogspot.com and support her efforts!

A sample post from her website is included in the link enclosed. It covers "items one must bring on a trip to be comfortable". A very informative post and it's spot-on with the suggestions!

My View from 30,000 Feet

Paris - Moet and Chandon Tour

Champagne lover? I'm not, but I know plenty of you who are, so for your next Paris visit, keep in mind you can book online (or call from the US) to reserve your place on a tour of the Moet & Chandon's Champagne Cellars right outside Paris. Now, wouldn't this be too cool? Even for me, a so, so Champagne drinker?

As per the info I have gathered about this little Paris side trip, there are three tours available daily.

- The Standard Tour is $20 dollars.
- The Visite -Imperiale is $35 dollars.
- The Visite Milesime, is $45.

Once you reach Moet&Chandon's property, you can stop by their boutique and stock up on some classy, champagne memorabilia.

To reach Moet&Chandon's cellars, you must first take the fast train to the nearby town of Epernay from The Gare d'Est. Round trip train tickets to Epernay cost around $92 dollars for First Class or $62 dollars for Second Class. Both, the ticket for the train and for the tour can be purchased together when you purchase your tour.

For more information on this - schedules, duration, prices, etc., please click on the (blue) link enclosed below and enjoy the bubbly! Salut!

Moet and Chandon Tour

Interesting Sight In Moscow

By any chance, have you seen this building in Moscow? It sits right across the Kremlin, on the other side of the Moscow River, not far from the Red October Russian Chocolate Factory along the water.

To identify it, just look for the large Mercedes Benz logo-sculpture on it's roof. It's pretty visible from the Kremlin - Photo enclosed above.

So what's so important about this particular building in Moscow? Well, amazingly, much sinister, movie-style (Russian) government spying took place here during the Stalin years during the 1940's. At the time (as per my Russian tour guide), the building housed top leaders of the Stalin's government. These folks, sadly, were unaware that their building had double walls to spy on them.

Tragically, as a result of the spying, literally, "through the walls", an obscene number of top government leaders who resided in this building, were exiled to Siberia as a punishment for speaking against Stalin or his government. Eeeek!

Do you know any curious stories about Moscow? If so, send them in, so we can share them with our readers!

Pass this on, so we can grow!

Dosvitania!