Mobissimo

This is big news for all you ipod junkies out there:

Starting in mid 2007 Apple Computer Inc. said its iPod media players will be integrated with the in-flight entertainment systems of six airlines.

Passengers on UAL Corp.'s United Airlines, Continental Airlines Inc. and Delta Air Lines Inc., as well as Dubai-based Emirates, Dutch carrier KLM and Air France, will be able to power and charge their iPods during flights and watch video content from their iPods on seat-back displays.

Read more at ABC News.com

Of all naturally occuring heavenly phenomena, few come close to a night with a magnificent northern lights display. Flickering curtains of dancing light against the dark skies, northern lights is certainly one of the most
spectacular of nature's phenomena.

Northern Lights is the name of a light phenomenon often seen in the northern regions. The lights have been around since Earth formed an atmosphere. The scientific name for the phenomenon is “Aurora Borealis”, aurora for short.

So, it's prime Northern Lights viewing time in Alaska and what better place to do it than the Bettles Lodge in Bettles, Alaska. The Bettles Lodge offers the premier lodge experience for your Alaskan vacation. The main lodge is a beautiful, rustic yet modernized building built in 1948. Brought up to date to provide guests full amenities. The main lodge features 6 guest rooms, 2 central bathrooms, a common area where guests can relax, watch TV or converse with other lodgers about the days activities. The second floor houses a game room complete with a billiards table! Snuggle up with your honey-baby under the amazing Northern Lights and think of us here at Mobissimo!

Check out the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC which goes from March 31 through April 15. The famous trees signal the coming of spring with an explosion of life and color surrounding the Tidal Basin portion of the West Potomac Park in a sea of pale pink and white. This year marks the 95th celebration of the original gift of the 3,000 cherry trees from the city of Tokyo to the people of Washington, DC in 1912. There will be tons of stuff going on, a cherry blossom dinner cruise, Japanese flower arranging presentations and a Pin-the-Cherry-Blossom on the Jack-Ass in the White House contest!! Also, not to be missed is the Cherry Blossom Parade hosted by your favorite low-cost airlines and mine SouthWest Airlines!!

Check for tickets to DC here on your best and favorite travel search engine: www.mobissimo.com

In honor of the Easter Holiday that is so rapidly approaching I am going to blog about a pretty fascinating place (in my mind at least.) This place is none other than Easter Island also known as "Rapa Nui" and "Isla de Pascua". Easter Island is over 2,000 miles from the nearest population center, (Tahiti and Chile), making it one of the most isolated places on Earth. A triangle of volcanic rock in the South Pacific - it is best known for the giant stone monoliths, known as Moai, that dot the coastline. Go have an Easter Egg hunt with these guys and send us a picture!! I love the 2 random horses in this picture, it gives you an idea as to the size of these massive Monoliths. And by the way, it was given its common name of "Easter" because it was discovered by the Dutch on Easter Sunday, 1722.

Lan Chile flies to Easter Island, with flights operating between Santiago, Chile and Papeete,Tahiti. Airfare from Santiago,Chile to Easter Island and back costs approximately $800 US. There are several companies who can arrange package trips, including hotels, tours etc., but it is possible, and much cheaper, to arrange a place to stay upon arrival. Many locals who operate hotels and guesthouses arrive at Mataveri Airport to greet the tourists, and is something you might consider. Staying in a private home is a great way to meet the islanders and experience the local culture; however, one should use judgment in choosing accommodations, as not all places are of equal quality.

Read more about Easter Island here: The Easter Island Home Page

Any of you guys in the market for your own airport? Geesh, $1.2 million dollars, that will barely get you a broom closet here in San Francisco.

Yes, I know the B-52's suck and all that but their lead singer Kate Pierson has opened up a little out-of-the-way hotel in the Catskills, New York that looks pretty funky. Kate's Lazy Meadow Motel is all wacko decorated in the whole 50's theme and sits on 9 acres of Catskill Mountain Glory! The best thing about this place is if you want to go white-trash-trailer-park style they even have 2 suped-up 2-person Airstream campers that you can (pardon the pun) Love Shack up in. Check out their website for room rates and pictures of all the rooms and campers here: http://www.lazymeadow.com/

How many of you readers think this contraption (The Grand Canyon Sky Walk) looks kind of shady? I am just curious and would be interested in hearing from you guys as to whether you would walk out onto this thing to look down 4,000 feet to the canyon's floor. Please post your comments at the bottom and watch the video to help you decide. Hell, any excuse to wear numbered shoe covers is all it takes for me. I'm all over that thing, shady or not!

Grand Canyon West, a destination owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe at the Grand Canyon’s western rim, announces March 28, 2007 as the official public opening date of The Skywalk. The Skywalk will be the first-ever cantilever shaped glass walkway to suspend more than 4,000 feet above the canyon’s floor and extend 70 feet from the canyon’s rim.

Access to The Skywalk will run from dawn to dusk and will cost $25 per person in addition to the cost of a Grand Canyon West entrance package. One hundred and twenty people will be allowed on the bridge at a time. Admittance is first come, first serve for walk up visitors; however, reservations can be made. Guests will enter and exit the walkway via temporary buildings while the adjacent visitor’s center is being completed. Grand Canyon West plans to issue numbered shoe covers – in order to avoid scratches and slipping - to each visitor that enters the open-air walkway.

Watch the construction of the Sky Walk:

Read More about it here: travel.nytimes.com

You guys ever find yourself in a foreign country, not familiar with the language, you run out of toilet paper and you are trying to mime out the action for a number-two clean up? Well, have we got just the travel necessity for you. The Point It® picture dictionary could very well be the coolest travel accessory ever. It's got images of 1200 items to which you can indicate for universal understanding. This passport-sized assistant is used not only by tourists but also by UN peacekeeping forces, Olympic athletes, and speech therapists who all have needed emergency TP.

American Airlines just announced that they would be letting coach passengers use the first-class restrooms on domestic flights and international flights starting in the US. Starting on March 01 the lavatories in the first class cabin will be fair game for those lowly coach passengers needing to relieve themselves. I don't know why I think this important news, I just do.