Killer Travel Start-Up

I just saved Mutti $400 on a trip to see her sister and brothers in Europe this summer! How did I do it? It wasn't using my frequent flier miles or travel vouchers or Priceline.com. It was through a barely debuted website called 'BestTravelDeals.net' run by a local entrepreneur out of Schenectady.



Her name is Mary Song, President & CEO of Propel Media and for a song you can literally see Edinburgh, London, Frankfurt, Paris or Barcelona with the help of her site. Like I said, I just scored a trip from NY to Germany for under $450 round trip in the dead of August. That's unheard of!

Everyday, Mary and her team in their Nott Street office update an aggregate travel list of all the best sales and discounts on hotels, airlines, motels, cruises, vacation rentals and travel products.

The list provides links, popularity ratings and comments in a clean and organized manner. Rather than bookmark a bunch of travel sites, like Travelocity, Expedia, Orbitz and all major airline carriers, Mary provides a one-stop shop for quick reference to hard-to-find great deals.

It's no surprise that Mary should have already made herself known in the travel industry. A couple years ago she started homeaway.com that bled into a successful feature magazine called Beach Houses. She sold the site for big money and then had another "Eureka" moment when she realized there were no social networking sites for travel.

Poof, BestTravelDeals.net was born, a resource of information from real people with no hidden agenda or incentive. The best part is there are no ugly commercial banners littering up the screen.

After clicking on a deal BestTravelDeals actually redirects you to another page where the source offering is being made, in my case Continental Airlines. That way, you, the consumer, has the peace of mind of knowing the deal is legitimate, dependable and as low as it's going to go.

Even TravelZoo doesn't offer that distinction.

This Tuesday, Mary officially launches BestTravelDeals.net at a 2pm press conference. The site has already garnered online media attention from write-ups on Wisebread.com, KillerStartups.com and makeuseofit.com.

Freihofer's 31st Run for Women

Over 4000 runners competed in this morning's 31st Freihofer's Run for Women in downtown Albany. The 2 Ethiopian twins were neck-in-neck coming out of Washington Park on the last leg of the 5K. Camera crews jockeyed for position as Teyba Erkesso took first place with a time of 15 minutes, 27 seconds.

I debated running or shooting the race but 5 minutes after the gun went off I decided to do both. I rushed to join my buddy Karen and jumped in as her personal photographer nearing the last half mile.

Shadowing her all the way down Madison Ave she took one look at her freak friend wearing pants, a sweater and a 35mm around her neck and kicked it into high gear. "Kick it Karen!" I yelled. 30 seconds later she beat her best time, no thanks to her I-Pod, I'll take the credit thank you very much.

Crossing the finish line she blurted, "water, I need water." High powered water hoses supplied by the Albany Fire department were in full blast mode. She and dozens more girls drenched off under the 30 foot shower.

Another successful run for Karen and great shots for me to post online.

World Premiere at the Palace Theater

No other event in history has inspired more films than World War II. The genre has generated classics like Midway, Sands of Iwo Jima, The Longest Day and The Battle of the Bulge. Because WWII is so endemic to the human condition it's no wonder that almost 65 years later filmmakers are still finding fresh material.

"Last Operations Under the Orion" or "Manatsu no Orion" is a great example. It has thoughtful acting, beautiful cinematography, tight editing, a memorable score and one hell of a mighty American destroyer escort. She's called the USS Slater and she's moored right here in Albany.

Directed by Tetsuo Shinohara and based on a novel by Tsukasa Ikegami, the full-feature Japanese saga premiered at the Albany Palace theater tonight with a private screening. It was shot on location over the summer last year.

The cast, volunteers, film extras, board members, city mayor and even the Governor were invited. Patterson penned a note of congratulations that was read before the film started. A standing ovation was given to the 5 remaining Navy vets who sailed her in 1943-1945.

Accuracy was important to Producers Shohei Kotaki and Kanjiro Sakura so they chose the only remaining WWII battleship afloat in the U.S. to shoot their movie. And, because the USS Slater has undergone years of restoration by passionate volunteers she was a perfect fit.

Some of the scenes include radar controls in the pilot house, depth charges falling off the stern and sweeping views of the starboard. The destroyer stayed docked during filming but the action is so real you'd think she was fighting in the Pacific.

Actually, a second destroyer escort called the USS Hurst sold to Mexico in 1973 was used for the antisubmarine warfare scenes but only a well-trained eye can tell the difference.

Leaving the theater several old-timers had tears in their eyes for memories stirred up. The Japanese media pulled aside several wanting their opinion of the film. I overheard a few remarking how surprisingly cathartic the movie was, a tender tone brought out by an unexpected ending.

The Pickle Lady

She makes a mean sandwich and even meaner wrap but she's the nicest shop owner on Madison, unless you call her "Little Debbie." "Little" she is not she'll humorously point out and neither are her pickles.

My buddy George has 2 girls, each have called her "Pickle Head" for 15 years. She says that suits her better but she points out that actually her business, Debbie's Kitchen, has been in business for 25 years. It used to be on Lark but moved to its present location many moons ago.

The place is intimately small and packed even hours after lunch. Sis, George and I wedged ourselves (and our daily specials) into a spot close to the fresh made dessert case. We did our best to resist the brownies, pies and mousse cheesecakes. Yummy.

Her store front is only 4 doors down from the best Mobil Gas Station (and only one) in downtown Albany, Dunbrook Mobil. If you need your brakes fixed or a raunchy joke told from the hungry owner there's no better gas station and might I add, conveniently close to Debbie's.

Sylvie Knows Good Food

Last week Sylvie invited me to join a Travel writers support group in Manhattan. As a relatively new writer, compared to Sylvie and her friends, I jumped at the chance for constructive criticism.

Sylvie is a food writer, a bonafide French-born culinary expert of all things tasty and nutritious. She's known in foodie circles as one of the best in Manhattan.

Food writers, like Sylvie, are born with advanced palates so refined they can taste the smallest hints of any ingredient. Give her a sprinkle of paprika, she can smell it. Give her a dab of dill she can taste it. Throw her a curve-ball with strange spices like ajowan, nigella or green masala, she'll pause briefly, wrinkle her nose and then, with confidence, announce the correct seasonings.

On Wednesday she arranged for us to meet at B.Cafe, a Belgium Brasserie on the Upper West side. The place was crowded, a good sign and the owner lead us to the best table in the house. He then showered us with free drinks, from beer to wine to mixed drinks. And with 50 brands of beer, authentic Belgium ales too, it wasn't easy to decide.

For appetizers, the mussels, fries and a meat-based snack called bitterballen went down nicely with our suds. Sylvie and I skipped a heavy entree and went straight for the dessert, another kind gesture insisted on by the owner.

If you visit request that Leonardo from Mexico be your server. He's the best. If your wanting to know of other great places to dine in NYC, check Sylvie's website. She too is the best.

The Candy Parade

The Delmar Memorial Day Parade kicked off at 10:30 this morning. Make-shift floats, local marching bands, veterans, clowns, antique cars and town board members proceeded up and down Kenwood and Delaware.

Despite a cloud of candy that rained down on us when the Boys Scouts and Brownies passed by, the weather was perfect. This little pink angel, sitting to my left dove after bubble gum and lollipops quicker than I could blink. My dog Rocco played nice until the Clydesdales galloped closer. His barking abated when I fed him a rollo.

Capps Off at West Point

970 well-dressed graduates accepted their diplomas yesterday at West Point military school. Among them, 22-year-old Caroline Miller, a seventh generation cadet who's great-great-great-great grandfather did the same 173 years ago. Miller received a standing ovation from her peers as she collected her degree.

PilotGirl and Daniels Productions videotaped the proud moment along with the hat toss, pinning ceremonies and a speech by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Gates praised the students for their bravery in "a dangerous new century."

"You made your decision to serve knowing not only that America was at war, as did every man or woman who joined the military after Sept. 11, but that this war would be bloody and difficult, of indefinite length and uncertain outcome," Gates said. "In doing so, you showed courage, commitment and patriotism of the highest order."

Many of the class of 2009 will serve in Iraq or Afghanistan before the years end.

Morning Melodies in a Muslim Country

Having been gone for under 2 weeks in Tunisia you wouldn't think I had time to get used to any of the Muslim traditions. Then again, I underestimated the power of the adhan, or Islamic call to prayer.

I'm actually missing the melodic call to prayer five times a day. It was vexing at first, especially at dawn when my hotel windows were open. The first morning I propelled from my covers thinking there was an air raid in the city.

"What the hell is that!" I blurted out to myself in a darken room. I ran to the balcony where my hotel room had a beautiful panoramic view of the city of Tunis in the distance. It was still dark and the city lights were blinking while sparrows chimed in with the lyrics.

I returned to bed wondering what I had got myself into....

During breakfast it was explained to me.

The call to prayer used to be the job of a man called a muezzin. He would climb to the top of the tallest mosque and belt out a "Hasten to prayer." Today the message is recorded and can be heard on loud speakers throughout cities. The prayers inspire and remind Muslims to practice their faith. It's no different that Christians ringing a church bell or an old Jewish practice of using a ram's horn to gather the faithful.

It's nothing to be afraid of and after a few mornings even I preferred the morning wake up call to a phone ringing from a hotel desk clerk.

Traditions of the El Ghriba Festival

Isn't she cute! This blue-eyed babe is celebrating her first pilgrimage to the El Ghriba festival in Djerba, Tunisia. It's a noisy, crowded affair but an especially special place to be if your Jewish. Like the name El Ghriba which means 'the marvelous' or 'the strange' so too are the customs surrounding this festival.

On entering the synagogue (the oldest in Africa) I tossed off my shoes and covered my head. The Moorish building was crammed with pilgrims lighting candles, reading from the Torah and praying to the Grande Menara.

The Grand Menara looks like a giant candelabra but decorated with hundreds of multicolored silk scarves. It's tradition to ask favors of Ghriba like helping a single woman find her soul mate or a cure for cancer. Earlier it was paraded around town to music and hands clapping.

At the back of the sanctuary is an underground cave where visitors can crawl through and leave behind 1 or more raw eggs that have wishes written on them. Wishes include wanting to have a child or find a job or win the lottery. The eggs are left in the cave over night to be cooked by the heat from hundreds of candles. The egg is then given to the person whose name it bears.

This gent is wearing a small black band around his legs. It's a piece of clothing that shows that he's a direct descendant of cohanim or priests from the Temple of Jerusalem. That's over 2000 years of lineage starting from the destruction of the First Temple of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. Many people asked he pray for them and grant their blessings.

In the synagogue courtyard local traders sell traditional sweetmeats, refreshments, handicrafts and jewelry.

The Souqs of Tunis

"The souqs (cultural marketplaces) in Tunisia are the best in the world", Paul said.

And he's right. Narrow cobblestone alleyways divide into small squares with merchants selling, trading and bardering good from around the world. It's crowded and loud and smells of sweat treats. There's ceramic pottery, intricate jewelry, long dresses, fabrics, spices, books and gold to drool over.

It's truly a bazaar or craft fair gone mad but give a fair price for something and it's yours to keep. Try to demand less than what the merchant paid and your out the door.

The souqs have been around for a very long time and by the looks of it, will be around for many centuries to come.

Soccer Jubilation

Why do these smiling girls have the day off from school today? That's easy, it's because their soccer team advanced to the next level, beating out the competition. Soccer is revered here, as in many parts of the world and that's enough reason to turn the town upside down. Our van drove through a big celebration of waving flags and cheering fans in the Andaloussan town of Testour, known more for their ancient ruins and Jewish quarter than soccer homage. I so wish we could have stopped the van and joined in the fun.

Sea, Sun and a Blue Lagoon

It took four and a half years, $130 million and stretches hundreds of acres. It's called the Hasdrubal Prestige Thalassa and Spa, exclusively Tunisian in color and design and newly opened 8 months ago on the island of Djerba.

Talk about luxury, the attentive staff literally roll out the red carpet for you. You enter through a grand foyer with pillars dressed like palm trees and servants at your ever beck and call. Don't dare reach for a door or your luggage, that's their job.

Inside the reception area we were greeted with hot washcloths to refresh our faces, a long stem rose and homemade lemonade in champagne flutes. The manager introduced himself and his hotel while we stretched out on multicolored couches.

Let the tour begin I thought to myself.

The guest rooms aren't rooms at all, they are instead penthouse suites, even the junior models. My room included several 'firsts like the first with heated mosaic tiles in the bathroom to warm my toes. The first with a cavernous stand-up shower crafted of etched marble, even the seats. The first with a pillared balcony with 2 cushy chairs and a jaw-dropping view of the blue lagoon. And finally, the first suite with a walk-in closet dressed top to bottom in pine with shoe space, drawers and hangers.

I didn't dare mess it up with my stuff.

Then came a tour of the 3 indoor sea water pools, spa and hydro-massage cabins, exercise room and private hammam. Pictures paint a better description than I can so I'll let my photos take over from here.

A Hotel Oasis in the Desert

Every evening before bed and again early in the morning herds of sheep parade in front of the plush Tamerza Palace in Tozeur, Tunisia.

Between them and the braying camels, donkey calls and barking wolves it's no wonder I can sleep. But sleep I do because the comfort of a five star hotel is like being wrapped in a Tempurpedic mattress.

From my balcony is the perfect view of an ancient mud village washed away in 1958 by an unusual flash flood. Stone and brick foundations outline where the homes once stood.

Other amenities include a traditional Hammam including purification, exfoliation, steam and vichy rooms. The Tamerza also includes an indoor infinity pool overlooking the desert ruins for relaxation and a heated outdoor pool for exercise.

At the spa, I opt for a local Berber favorite: desert rain with apricot oil. It's ultimate hydrotherapy for the senses. For 25 minutes I lay underneath a vichy rain shower spraying warm water from head to toe coupled with the massage of a lifetime.



Later in the evening we sit under a twinkling blue sky eating cooked camel smothered in gravy to the sounds of 4 Tunisians musicians. Yup, you read right, I ate camel and had it been served as lamb, veal or sirloin I couldn't tell the difference.

I must admit, if a Bedouin lifestyle includes hardships like these, I'm ready for an immediate conversion.

Luke Skywalker's home

It happened a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... no, actually it all happened here in Tunisia. About 3 hours from a little town by the same name is the real planet Tattoine. It's where George Lucas shot parts of his unforgettable Star Wars series and where my press junket stopped to snap photos.

Inside the adobe sand caves is nothing but support beams and chipped paint but on the outside the set looks no different than it did in the last prequels, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. A huge expanse of dead Salt Lake and camel crossings will make up for the defunct moisture vaporators and empty houses.

Caution - A 4x4 vehicle or military tank is most suitable for crossing the Sahara to get here. Our little white van loaded with luggage and 5 tired journalists suffered some terrible potholes and sand traps.

Extending an Olive Branch

It's easy to take photos of the sweetest people on the planet: look no further than this doe-eyed gent dressed in a simple brown Hijab. He and dozens more Muslims welcomed me to their country and their homes with kindness and tolerance.

Forget everything you've heard on FOX news and radical right-wing radio about Islam. They speak for a very very small population of zealots in Arabic speaking countries.

In fact, so hospitable is the company of Muhammad-loving Tunisians that much to my surprise everyone traveling with me is Jewish. Our 10 day trip together covering nearly 2000 miles caters to many, not all, but many places significant to the Jewish faith.

Another surprising truth is that the island of Djerba in the Gulf of Gabès is home to one of the oldest synagogues in the world. Today about three thousand Tunisian Jews from France, Italy and Israel, attended the annual pilgrimage to the synagogue of El Ghriba. Photos of special blessings and ceremonial traditions along with a summary will be posted soon.

This renewed sense of peace is thanks in part to President Zine Al Abidine Ben Ali who invested in restoration of many historic Jewish monuments and synagogues.

Snapshots of the Sahara

For more photos of Tunisia visit my Flickr Tunisia set. I'll be adding photos to it daily.

My Life in Ruins

Many religions runs deep in the veins of early history in Tunisia. Christianity, Islam, Judaism and several shades of each contribute to Tunisia's magic. But the remains that most define this country's historical glory are found in Roman mythology. Something like 200 Roman cities were established in just the northern half of Tunisia.

Day 3 and my little press troupe of 5 fondly leave the whitewashed houses of the Mediterranean coastline for the sandy city of Sbeïtla. More sun-drenched ruins await us.

Built between 100-300AD, these are the stunning Capitoline temples dedicated to Gods Jupiter (middle), Juno (right) and Minerva (left). Surprisingly, this area is free for a curious public to climb, crawl and run all over. Walls of terra-cotta stone and tall handsome Corinthian columns grace the giant forum. It's easy to imagine how splendid this city once was with preservation like this.

We were rushed for time but still got to see the baptistry basin of the Basilica of St Vitalis and what's left of the Church of St Servus.

The Capital Ruins

Constructed in the first century AD, it's one of the largest temples in Roman Africa. It's made up of 6 Corinthian columns, a forum and a labrynth of rooms and it's known simply as The Capital. The Romans worshiped Jupiter, Juno and Minerva here but today dozens of Tunisians help restore and repair the ruins to their original glory. The ruins dominate the surrounding plains with a lonely shepherd manning his flock and a great irrigation wall running for 30 miles.

Tunisia's Tasty Elixir

Olive oil is to Tunisia what wine is to California. Some say the olive tree belongs to the Mediterranean landscape as much as the grape vine belongs to the Napa Valley. And for thousands of years, great civilization: Phoenician, Cretan, Greek, Egyptian and Roman, have dominated because of this tasty and healthy elixir.

My first brush with Tunisia came not in the form of architecture, politics or religion but a national taste-testing contest to determine who the country's favorite olive oil producer is. The winner: the Golden Tunisian Olive Oil company. Their logo - "Protecting your Health is our Mission."

With over 500 varieties, "Yosra" as it's called, is a leading exporter for Tunisia. And, it's not just for cooking.

Families take their newborn babies and bath them in olive oil to keep the skin moisturized and soft. Athletes do the same right before exercising. Women dab it on their face to prevent wrinkles and dentists encourage regular application of it on the gums to keep teeth white.

Mix it with lemon juice and you have a tanning lotion or combine with castor oil and cologne and it works great as a anti-dandruff shampoo. Boil 20 olive tree leaves for fifteen minutes in a half liter of water, add sugar and drink warm in the morning for fifteen days and miraculously your high blood pressure and diabetes will cure itself.

I learned more about olive oil in one hour than all the wine tasting festivals I've been to combined. And, I wasn't the only participant. Leading politicians, hundreds of guests and a media circus of cameras and reporters gathered for this headline news story.

Tomorrow we hop a bus to one of the local tree farms to see what all the fuss is about. They tell me the trees are immensely old, some 700 years and too beautiful to describe. I'll do my best in tomorrow's blog.

The Brains Behind SALT

The brains behind SALT? It's not Angelina Jolie nor Phillip Noyce nor Kurt Wimmer. It's a humble Russian PhD engineer from Tula, Russia.

On the first leg of my journey to Tunisia today I sat side-by-side with Lev Yevstratov. Oh the irony, this is what you'd call pure serendipity.

All week I was tempted to corner the crane ops while they worked in downtown Albany to ask about their gyro-stabilized camera equipment. But between tight security and hectic schedules I didn't dare bother the Hollywood filmmakers.

Then, voila, I'm sitting next to Lev, co-founder of Adventure Equipment, the brains behind building the most stable camera crane in the industry. Lev and his buddies play a vital role in the making the action scenes of SALT really fly. For the past 13 days they have assembled and engineered a giant camera crane to dolly, pan, tilt and shoot dozens of scenes around the 787 bypass.

As soon as Lev saw how anxious I was to meet him he launched into his career history. He's expertise helped craft Titanic, The Dark Knight, 007 Bond films, PineApple Express, The Hulk, Live Free or Die Hard, G-Forces, Yes Men, Mr. and Mrs. Smith and the list goes on.



"Did you enjoy filming in Albany?" I asked.

"Yes, it's a beautiful city with wonderful architecture," said Lev, "too bad we had no time to enjoy seeing it."

Working day in and day out can cause accidents though and Lev admitted that one of the cameras 'bit the dust' when the moving crane smashed into a road sign. There goes $60G down the drain.

Lev is originally from Tula, Russia, ironic too that his hometown should be Albany's sister city. Having been to Tula with Benita Zahn on assigment for WMHT we had plenty to talk about and photos to share.



Tula is also where most of the mechanical parts of the Ultimate Arm were built. Which didn't surprise me since it developed as a major iron-working city centuries ago. Nobody can weld, bond, braze, cement, fix, fuse, join, link and unite metal like the engineers in Tula.

If meeting Lev is any indication how the rest of Tunisia will play out, I'm in for a truly star-studded trip. Come along with me on this blog for the next 10 days where more stories of filmmaking will unfold.

Good Deeds

Over the weekend I stopped by the Albany Tula Alliance "Shall We Dance?" benefit at the Franklin Plaza in Troy.

I'd been to the historic 1833 building before and marveled at the spacious ballroom and grand ceilings. But it wasn't until I checked my coat in the Victorian Atrium did I notice the huge authentic bank vault.

It's mammoth, must weigh in at a couple tons or more. Architects probably built the building around the vault. Mary helped find me a seat while I wandered the venue snapping shots of its opulence.

I sat with a team of Ronald McDonald board members and listened to the quality care the house gives for the community. They introduced me to a couple at the next table by the name of Anna and Jose Ramirez. Their daughter of 7 years, Marisa, battled a brain tumor for years and when the time came to say goodbye she insisted on dieing at the Ronald McDonald House surrounded by the volunteers she came to know, love and trust. It was a sobering story but one of dedication, faith and compassion.

For more information on this home away from home for seriously ill children, visit
The Ronald McDonald House on South Lake in Albany.

Upstate NY's Burning Man Festival

It's impossible to find details about it on the internet but, through a friend, we scored directions to "The Event" of the spring season last night. This is the Saratoga Springs version Burning Man minus the sandy desert and naked people.

A magnanimous free-spirited doctor with hundreds of acres of property organizes the all night soiree twice a year. The doctor is also a skilled sculptor, his driveway is lined with tall thin Mayan-like statues and torch-lit tikis.

The event kicks off with a catered BBQ dinner, local acoustic singing (Kevin McKrell), a May Pole dance and 3 big bomb fires. BYO it or grab a free Pabst and connect with Saratoga's peace-loving subculture, many trying to relive their colorful past.

With such close proximity to Skidmore University, I was surprised to see very few college kids invading/ruining the easy tranquility.

Everybody huddled around three crackling bomb fires when the temps dipped to 40 degrees singing to a boom box blasting the Rolling Stones "Sympathy for the Devil". Sofas and couches circled the crackling conflagrations refueled by the occasional toss of another log on the fire.

Kim and Jen stayed on well past midnight but Miriam and I bailed worried about falling asleep at the wheel. The next festival kicks off in November and indeed a Wicker Man statue will glow strong throughout the night.

"Of the Nation's Army"

He may look rough and tumble but Thayer of Neptune, NJ, has a heart of gold. He's benevolent to all, helps where he can and prays when he has to. And like the rarity of his first name, he's, quite possibly, the nicest guy I've ever met.

The name Thayer in Latin literally means "Of the Nation's Army" and so it's no surprise that he should fit in so well at military bases. He and Producer Chris introduced me to dozens of military acronyms at Aberdeen this week, expanding my insight into military life.

Aberdeen is a Proving Ground Army base in Maryland that began construction on a new $477-million complex for C4ISR - Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance. The 1.5 million square feet facility near the Chesapeake Bay will be the future of high-tech.

Currently the C4ISR organization is located at Fort Monmouth. But that's where BRAC - Base Realignment and Closure comes in. It will relocate hundreds from Ft. Monmouth in New Jersey to Aberdeen as the facility nears completion. And that's why PilotGirl was in Aberdeen and Ft. Monmouth this week, to videotape dozens of interviews with spokespeople trumping the move and the facility as necessary for maintaining the nations security.

Aberdeen Proving Grounds (the oldest in the country) needs a new facility to remedy its antiquated 1917 patina. It opened six months after the United States entered World War I designing and testing ordnance material. Despite being in beautiful Harford County, our tour of the present campus was tired and gray.

But then Thayer brought out the sunshine with his winning attitude and quirky humor. Thanks Thayer - grabbing a door, lifting a tripod and dropping to give us 50 pushups when we jokingly demanded it, earned you another badge.