Chicago’s iconicCloud Gate sculpture — also known as “The Bean” — has been vandalized this week, and seven suspects have been taken into custody. According to authorities, around midnight last night the group spray-painted several areas of Maggie Daley Park and Millenium Park, including The Bean and Cancer Survivors’ Wall, benches, and other surfaces. They were spotted by an off-duty security guard, who then alerted authorities.
The structure was finished in 2006 by British sculptor Anish Kapoor, who is known for his massive works of stone and reflective steel. One-hundred-sixty-eight stainless steel plates were used to create the sculpture, which stands 33 feet high, 42 feet wide, and 66 feet long.
Officers said that the suspects were known taggers who call themselves the “35th Street Crew” and usually mark their targets — including the Bean — by spray painting “35th,” the Roman numerals for three and five, and the word “crew” onto the surface.
According to the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, which is tasked with the cleanup, “Last night’s vandalism to Chicago’s iconic ‘Cloud Gate’ is reprehensible,” adding, “Crews are in the process of removing the graffiti.”
The suspects remain in custody, and charges for the incident are still pending.
Last week,Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Bordeaux, Brussels, Krakow, Munich, Paris, Valencia, and Vienna wrote a joint letter to the EU, arguing that Airbnb was negatively changing neighborhoods by leading to housing shortages and rising rent, and asking for help fighting the home-sharing giant. Now, Airbnb is firing back with a letter of its own. In an open letter to European governments and regulators, Airbnb touts its positive economic impact on the communities it serves and emphasizes its collaborative relationships with cities.
“European cities believe homes should be used first and foremost for living in,” the cities argued in their initial letter. “Many suffer from a serious housing shortage. Where homes can be rented out more lucratively to tourists, they vanish from the traditional housing market.”
Airbnb fired back with some pretty staggering numbers. “New data released today,” its letter reads, “shows that travel on Airbnb had an estimated direct economic impact of more than €36 billion in EU Member States in 2018 alone. Made up of host earnings and reported guest spending, that’s almost €100 million per day.”
It does, however, concede that its services should be regulated. “Every day,” the letter reads, “we are investing in working with governments around the world to proactively seek new regulations to help diversify tourism and protect housing, and to make it easier for more hosts to pay more tax.”
Airbnb’s letter also (unsurprisingly) takes direct issue with the letter penned by the EU cities, pointing out sections it believes to be erroneous:
“First, the letter overlooked many of the tourism challenges facing cities today. For example in Amsterdam, guests on Airbnb account for just 8% of overnight visitors to the city, and more than two thirds of Airbnb guests stay outside the city centre, helping to create a sustainable tourism model that benefits locals in more communities.”
“Secondly, we feel the letter misrepresents the collaborative relationship we want to have — and already do — with many cities across Europe. In Amsterdam again, we have worked with the city since 2014 to help hosts share their homes, follow the rules and pay their fair share of tax. We are one of the only platforms to limit how often hosts can share their space.”
It concludes by expressing Airbnb’s wish to “continue working together on rules and regulations that work for everyone and that will help more people benefit from modern, healthy and sustainable tourism in the EU.”
WebBeds, Agoda Rush to Serve New Generation of Muslim Pilgrims to Saudi
Quba Mosque, a mosque in the outlying environs of Medina, Saudi Arabia. Mohamod Fasil, Flickr.
Skift Take: Saudi Arabia is expanding its infrastructure to support 15 million Umrah visitors a year by 2020, and 30 million by 2030. WebBeds and Agoda are two major Asian players that are jostling for position in the promising niche.
WebBeds, Agoda Rush to Serve New Generation of Muslim Pilgrims to Saudi
Quba Mosque, a mosque in the outlying environs of Medina, Saudi Arabia. Mohamod Fasil, Flickr.
Skift Take: Saudi Arabia is expanding its infrastructure to support 15 million Umrah visitors a year by 2020, and 30 million by 2030. WebBeds and Agoda are two major Asian players that are jostling for position in the promising niche.
“That place felt like a prison,” my friend told me as he got in the car at the Embassy Suites Clifton Hill, on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. “It was just KIDS, running. Everywhere. Lobby full of Mennonites. Lines for EVERYTHING. Why would anyone want to come here?”
My friend, apparently, wasn’t aware of the tourist bonanza that is Niagara Falls. It’s a great natural wonder of the world, yes. But also a great natural wonder of humanity, where on weekends during the summer you might find yourself sharing the falls with the entire population of Rhode Island. Don’t get me wrong, Niagara Falls is absolutely worth seeing, and if you can snag a spot on the zip-line you’ll get the odd moment of peace over the water.
But once you’ve seen the falls, there’s a lot more do than tourist traps. It’s one of the best wine regions in North America, where the rolling hills of Southern Ontario are lined with vineyards and best seen by bike. There are also adorable little towns, sprawling craft breweries, jet-boat rides, and hikes through the gorge. Offering far more to a vacation than waiting in line to take selfies.
Next to the Hornblower cruises and the Journey Behind the Falls, the Whirlpool Jet Boat tours are probably the next most popular attraction. But when you’re speeding over Class V rapids on a boat that looks straight out of Miami Vice, the fact you’re sharing it with 45 other tourists is easily forgotten.
Whirlpool doesn’t give you that snazzy yellow slicker as a fashion statement, either. You’re getting WET, which can be refreshing if you’re here in the height of summer. Enjoy racing through the green canyons of the Niagara River Gorge, with the US on one side and Canada on the other, racing through rapids made famous in Superman II.
The area around Niagara Falls is homes to dozens of wineries, which cover the landscape along the Niagara Escarpment in rows of meticulous grapes. And yes, they make a lot more than ice wine. Rent a bike and spend the afternoon rolling through the countryside, stopping intermittently and tasting some of the most surprisingly great blends in the hemisphere. Zoom Leisure Bikes is probably the biggest supplier though County Cycle in Beamsville will get you a little closer to the action.
The big winery names will be Peller Estates and Two Sisters in Niagara-on-the-Lake. But you’ll be better rewarded heading a little further out to the smaller, boutique spots. Start your day at Vineland Estates in Vineland, a hilltop winery with two helipads, popular among celebrities visiting the area. Enjoy a spectacular view and stunning reds like the Cabernet Franc and Elevation Cabernet Sauvignon.
Continue pedaling a mile or so down the hill to Tawse Winery, where you can taste the subtle Riesling in a cave, then enjoy a glass while watching a herd of sheep groom the vineyards. Tawse also has an in-house distillery, if you want to mix some spirits into your drinking tour.
Gear up for your steep climb back up to Megalomaniac Wines, where you’ll find a view worthy of a hyper-inflated ego. You’ll also find the perfect gift for the arrogant prick in your life, with bottles named Contrarian White and Pompous Reserve. Some labels are printed backward, too, ideal for the selfie-obsessed.
From there, close the day at Ridgepoint Wines, a family-run estate winery with the friendliest tasting room in the region. Their reds are the go-to, particularly the Meritage and Sangiovese. It caps off a day riding an easily traversable wine trail, even for novice cyclists. And easy to manage even after a day’s worth of samples.
3. Bask in the sunshine while drinking craft beer.
Wine not your thing? That’s cool, Niagara Falls has an entire ale trail you can follow, boasting over a dozen breweries within a short drive of the falls. The closest to the falls is Niagara Brewing, and though it’s on Clifton Hill, it doesn’t feel overrun with tourists. If you want to get out of the madness, though, make the short drive to Oast House in Niagara on the Lake. This old farmhouse makes some of the finest farmhouse ales in the land, from its signature saison to a refreshing watermelon gose. The high-ABV stuff is best enjoyed on Oast’s sprawling back patio, paired with Brushfire BBQ’s brisket.
Another outdoor drinking destination is Bench Brewing, set atop a small hill in the heart of wine country. The massive operation is partially contained in an old schoolhouse, where Erik Peacock — one of its proud alums — has crafted the best brewery menu in the region with stuff like Moroccan chicken wings and dry rub beef ribs. The beers are standouts as well, with the Ball’s Falls session IPA drinking especially nicely on a sunny day on the patio.
Cheese tourism hasn’t exactly caught on like beer and wine has. But if you’re pedaling through Niagara’s wine country and see an unassuming little roadside shop called the Upper Canada Cheese Company, make a stop. Inside, an eager and knowledgeable staff of cheese mavens will walk you through some of the tastiest cheeses in the country, with free samples for all who stroll through. Upper Canada’s cheeses all come from Guernsey A2 cows raised just up the road, giving them a fresh, unique flavor you won’t find back in the States. Go for the Niagara Gold and Comfort Cream, which have both won awards in national competitions.
After a day of standing in lines, getting cold water sprayed in your face, and dodging unsupervised children at your feet, few things sound better than a relaxing dinner in a vineyard. If you’re into pairing wood-fired pizzas with wine, make the drive to Honsberger Estates, where an Italian chef has set up a brick oven within smelling distance of the vineyards. Here you can relax as the sun sets over the farm, smelling the wood-burning oven cooking your dinner. The restaurant is set between an old barn and a brick farmhouse, where you’re best to pair the 2015 Cab Franc reserve with the pie of your choice.
If pizza isn’t your first choice — or you’d rather eat indoors over a sweeping vineyard view — opt for Redstone Winery, walking distance from Bench Brewing. The glass-walled estate serves up $1.50 oysters on Sundays and a menu of New American stuff like Elora chicken with raisin-carrot puree and lamb with smoked paprika marmalade. The indoor setting makes it perfect if the weather isn’t cooperating, and it’s every bit as calming as its outdoor counterparts.
Though there’s no shortage of hotels near Niagara Falls, if you really want to avoid the hordes, make your escape an overnight. The little village of Jordan Station feels like it was dropped from Northern California on the shores of Lake Ontario, with a small strip of boutiques lining one side of its main drag and the colonial-style Inn on the Twenty on the other. The Inn is full of two-story suites where you can relax with a glass of wine by the fireplace on the lower level, and inside a jacuzzi on the upper level.
Across the street you’ll find the Cave Springs Cellars tasting room, so you can keep the wine-tasting party going. It’s the perfect spot for a little pre-dinner Riesling; three of its vintages scored over 90 from Wine Spectator. After dinner, walk five minutes to the other end of town and the Jordan House Tavern. It’s about as close to a locals’ bar as you’re getting, with wood-lined walls and big screen TVs perfect for enjoying a hockey game and a big, draft Canadian.
Eating and drinking your way through Niagara Falls might leave you feeling a little… heavy. Not that an afternoon on the gorge will negate a weekend’s worth of beer and wine, but it is a scenic way to get your heart pumping after a couple days of gluttony. The Niagara Glen Gorge offers plenty of hiking trails with postcard views out over the Niagara River and the lush gorges around it. From there, you can spot all the boats jetting through and be thankful you’ve found a way to separate from the masses.
You’ve likely heard travelers from all over laud their Turkish bath experience, and you’ve probably added it to your bucket list without even fully understanding what exactly a Turkish bath even is. First things first: Turkish baths aren’t only found in Turkey. They span the Middle East and Asia, from Morocco to Syria to India, and have even cropped up in Western countries, specifically England. From knowing how much to tip to knowing exactly what state of undress you should expect to be in, here’s everything you need to know about experiencing your first Turkish bath and why you should give it a try.
The first signs of Turkish baths date all the way back to the 14th century, during the Ottoman Empire’s vast reign of much of the Middle East and Europe. Inspired by Roman practices in bathing, Turkish baths were a source for both community gathering and hygiene maintenance. With indoor plumbing not coming into existence for another few hundred years, communal baths were designed to be a focal point in city centers, accessible to everyone. The origins of Turkish baths can also be tied to Islam as a form of cleansing before entering a mosque for prayer. Today, remaining Turkish baths can often be found close to Mosques in the city center.
What to expect at a Turkish bath and what to wear
At most Turkish baths, there will be separate entrances and sections for men and women, so if you’re going with a friend of the opposite sex, expect to meet them out at the other end. Every bath is a little different in terms of the amount of clothing coverage most people wear, but it’s accepted that you keep a bathing suit on if you’re not comfortable donning the thin disposable underwear they often provide. We recommend bringing flip flops, as well, which you can wear throughout the changing rooms and public pool areas. And don’t forget a fresh change of clothes and your own toiletries if you want to do as the Turks do and consider this your bath for the day.
The one main feature of a Turkish bath that is different from a Russian bath or Moroccan hammam is that there will be small rooms of dry heat, rather than saunas. After building up a sweat for 10-15 minutes in the dry heat room, you’ll enter the larger communal pool, usually an ornately built marble room with tall ceilings and skylights for natural lighting, where you can relax alone as long as you wish.
The Turkish bath experience can also vary depending on if you’d like individual treatments or to wash alone. We recommend going all in and paying extra for an attendant to wash and scrub you. You may think you know what exfoliation is, but until you’ve experienced a Turkish bath, you actually have no idea.
You’ll be lathered up with soap (always by an attendant of your same sex); scrubbed down with an exfoliant paste, most often a gommage or savon beldi, which are gentle and painless exfoliants that are most effective when the applier rubs vigorously; and then washed and rinsed again but with cool water. Don’t be alarmed when you see gray-colored “noodles” sloughing off your skin during exfoliation. Those are just the layers of dead skin you probably didn’t know you had before you walked in. A traditional treatment usually includes a massage, as well — these massages are pretty quick with deep pressure, so we recommend those for people who are familiar with massages.
It’s recommended to tip your attendant about 15 percent, so make sure to take out some cash in the country’s currency before heading in. Towels, a wash basin, and maybe a robe should all be included in your treatment. After your treatments, feel free to relax in the bath for as long as you please. An entry fee permits you to lounge all day, with some baths staying open until midnight. When we said Turkish baths are a place for community gathering, we meant it!
Why you should go to a Turkish bath
Walking into a traditional Turkish bath feels like a step back in time. It will be easy to envision life during the Renaissance when Arab nations built ornate and intricate mosques and baths that could withstand the elements for hundreds of years. Besides experiencing one of the oldest still-practiced cultural traditions of the East, you’ll want to partake in a Turkish bath because of its health benefits as well.
Because of the hot temperatures, you’ll experience increased circulation and an opening of the pores that will prepare your body for deep cleansing and exfoliation. Heated air and water provide for muscle relaxation, so even if you don’t decide on a massage, you’ll be receiving similar benefits. Dead skin renewal during the exfoliation treatment will leave your skin soft and more elastic. When your skin has been heated up and exfoliated, it’s in an optimal condition to absorb moisture, resulting in an observable “glow.”
And maybe the most important benefit of a Turkish bath is both physical and mental relaxation from your travels. The sudsy massage will relax your muscles and joints and allow for your body to heal from jetlag, long periods of sitting, and the tension that sometimes follow sleeping in an unfamiliar bed.
Best places for a Turkish bath in Turkey
While you can find Turkish baths worldwide, there really isn’t anything like experiencing it Turkey. Before you go, you’ll want to do your research on which Turkish bath fits your price point and desired experience. Some are more tourist-oriented and housed in luxury hotels while the traditional bath structures built hundreds of years ago are more affordable and visited by locals.
The Cağaloğlu Hamamı was actually the last Turkish bath built by the Ottoman Empire as its reign was declining in the 1700s. It has unique architecture harkening to the Baroque style with a bright white stucco interior. Visitors rave about the kind staff and vigorous scrubs.
If you’re a big planner and want to make sure you’ll be fit in for a scrub and massage as soon as you arrive, visit Cağaloğlu Hamamı because you can book a reservation slot before you go. A little on the pricey side, this bath is pristine. It also offers couples treatments if you want to stick with your partner or friend the whole time.
The Ağa Hamam resides on the corner of one of Istanbul’s most famous streets. You’ll be able to seamlessly slip in after a full day of shopping, eating, and sightseeing. Popular with visitors, the Ağa Hamamı is also Istanbul’s oldest bath, dating back to 1454. They have a separate area upstairs for oil massages as this location tends to get crowded.
Address: Kuloglu mahallesi, Turnacibasi sokak No:48, Istanbul 34433, Turkey
Recently renovated, the Cukurcuma Hamamı dates back to the 1830s. It is highly recommended that you book your preferred services in advance due to its popularity. There are couples’ services too, so this is a unique hamam that you can experience together with a significant other or friend of the opposite sex.
Address: Firuzaga Mahallesi , Cukurcuma Caddesi No:43 | Beyoglu, Istanbul 34425, Turkey
“That place felt like a prison,” my friend told me as he got in the car at the Embassy Suites Clifton Hill, on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. “It was just KIDS, running. Everywhere. Lobby full of Mennonites. Lines for EVERYTHING. Why would anyone want to come here?”
My friend, apparently, wasn’t aware of the tourist bonanza that is Niagara Falls. It’s a great natural wonder of the world, yes. But also a great natural wonder of humanity, where on weekends during the summer you might find yourself sharing the falls with the entire population of Rhode Island. Don’t get me wrong, Niagara Falls is absolutely worth seeing, and if you can snag a spot on the zip-line you’ll get the odd moment of peace over the water.
But once you’ve seen the falls, there’s a lot more do than tourist traps. It’s one of the best wine regions in North America, where the rolling hills of Southern Ontario are lined with vineyards and best seen by bike. There are also adorable little towns, sprawling craft breweries, jet-boat rides, and hikes through the gorge. Offering far more to a vacation than waiting in line to take selfies.
Next to the Hornblower cruises and the Journey Behind the Falls, the Whirlpool Jet Boat tours are probably the next most popular attraction. But when you’re speeding over Class V rapids on a boat that looks straight out of Miami Vice, the fact you’re sharing it with 45 other tourists is easily forgotten.
Whirlpool doesn’t give you that snazzy yellow slicker as a fashion statement, either. You’re getting WET, which can be refreshing if you’re here in the height of summer. Enjoy racing through the green canyons of the Niagara River Gorge, with the US on one side and Canada on the other, racing through rapids made famous in Superman II.
The area around Niagara Falls is homes to dozens of wineries, which cover the landscape along the Niagara Escarpment in rows of meticulous grapes. And yes, they make a lot more than ice wine. Rent a bike and spend the afternoon rolling through the countryside, stopping intermittently and tasting some of the most surprisingly great blends in the hemisphere. Zoom Leisure Bikes is probably the biggest supplier though County Cycle in Beamsville will get you a little closer to the action.
The big winery names will be Peller Estates and Two Sisters in Niagara-on-the-Lake. But you’ll be better rewarded heading a little further out to the smaller, boutique spots. Start your day at Vineland Estates in Vineland, a hilltop winery with two helipads, popular among celebrities visiting the area. Enjoy a spectacular view and stunning reds like the Cabernet Franc and Elevation Cabernet Sauvignon.
Continue pedaling a mile or so down the hill to Tawse Winery, where you can taste the subtle Riesling in a cave, then enjoy a glass while watching a herd of sheep groom the vineyards. Tawse also has an in-house distillery, if you want to mix some spirits into your drinking tour.
Gear up for your steep climb back up to Megalomaniac Wines, where you’ll find a view worthy of a hyper-inflated ego. You’ll also find the perfect gift for the arrogant prick in your life, with bottles named Contrarian White and Pompous Reserve. Some labels are printed backward, too, ideal for the selfie-obsessed.
From there, close the day at Ridgepoint Wines, a family-run estate winery with the friendliest tasting room in the region. Their reds are the go-to, particularly the Meritage and Sangiovese. It caps off a day riding an easily traversable wine trail, even for novice cyclists. And easy to manage even after a day’s worth of samples.
3. Bask in the sunshine while drinking craft beer.
Wine not your thing? That’s cool, Niagara Falls has an entire ale trail you can follow, boasting over a dozen breweries within a short drive of the falls. The closest to the falls is Niagara Brewing, and though it’s on Clifton Hill, it doesn’t feel overrun with tourists. If you want to get out of the madness, though, make the short drive to Oast House in Niagara on the Lake. This old farmhouse makes some of the finest farmhouse ales in the land, from its signature saison to a refreshing watermelon gose. The high-ABV stuff is best enjoyed on Oast’s sprawling back patio, paired with Brushfire BBQ’s brisket.
Another outdoor drinking destination is Bench Brewing, set atop a small hill in the heart of wine country. The massive operation is partially contained in an old schoolhouse, where Erik Peacock — one of its proud alums — has crafted the best brewery menu in the region with stuff like Moroccan chicken wings and dry rub beef ribs. The beers are standouts as well, with the Ball’s Falls session IPA drinking especially nicely on a sunny day on the patio.
Cheese tourism hasn’t exactly caught on like beer and wine has. But if you’re pedaling through Niagara’s wine country and see an unassuming little roadside shop called the Upper Canada Cheese Company, make a stop. Inside, an eager and knowledgeable staff of cheese mavens will walk you through some of the tastiest cheeses in the country, with free samples for all who stroll through. Upper Canada’s cheeses all come from Guernsey A2 cows raised just up the road, giving them a fresh, unique flavor you won’t find back in the States. Go for the Niagara Gold and Comfort Cream, which have both won awards in national competitions.
After a day of standing in lines, getting cold water sprayed in your face, and dodging unsupervised children at your feet, few things sound better than a relaxing dinner in a vineyard. If you’re into pairing wood-fired pizzas with wine, make the drive to Honsberger Estates, where an Italian chef has set up a brick oven within smelling distance of the vineyards. Here you can relax as the sun sets over the farm, smelling the wood-burning oven cooking your dinner. The restaurant is set between an old barn and a brick farmhouse, where you’re best to pair the 2015 Cab Franc reserve with the pie of your choice.
If pizza isn’t your first choice — or you’d rather eat indoors over a sweeping vineyard view — opt for Redstone Winery, walking distance from Bench Brewing. The glass-walled estate serves up $1.50 oysters on Sundays and a menu of New American stuff like Elora chicken with raisin-carrot puree and lamb with smoked paprika marmalade. The indoor setting makes it perfect if the weather isn’t cooperating, and it’s every bit as calming as its outdoor counterparts.
Though there’s no shortage of hotels near Niagara Falls, if you really want to avoid the hordes, make your escape an overnight. The little village of Jordan Station feels like it was dropped from Northern California on the shores of Lake Ontario, with a small strip of boutiques lining one side of its main drag and the colonial-style Inn on the Twenty on the other. The Inn is full of two-story suites where you can relax with a glass of wine by the fireplace on the lower level, and inside a jacuzzi on the upper level.
Across the street you’ll find the Cave Springs Cellars tasting room, so you can keep the wine-tasting party going. It’s the perfect spot for a little pre-dinner Riesling; three of its vintages scored over 90 from Wine Spectator. After dinner, walk five minutes to the other end of town and the Jordan House Tavern. It’s about as close to a locals’ bar as you’re getting, with wood-lined walls and big screen TVs perfect for enjoying a hockey game and a big, draft Canadian.
Eating and drinking your way through Niagara Falls might leave you feeling a little… heavy. Not that an afternoon on the gorge will negate a weekend’s worth of beer and wine, but it is a scenic way to get your heart pumping after a couple days of gluttony. The Niagara Glen Gorge offers plenty of hiking trails with postcard views out over the Niagara River and the lush gorges around it. From there, you can spot all the boats jetting through and be thankful you’ve found a way to separate from the masses.
