Some bloggers write about the UNESCO sites they’ve visited. Other bloggers write about every plane they’ve boarded. I choose to document many overlooked areas of travel. The first is obviously pho. The second is espresso. Another is golf courses. Yet another is sports stadiums. And the final one, albeit a bit bizarre, is getting haircuts abroad. The fascination started when I lived in Shanghai. I would wander the back alleys off of Nanjing Xi Lu looking for a shifu that could get the job done on the cheap. 20 RMB (roughly $3) was the best I could find, though 30 RMB (roughly $4.40) was offered by more barbers in more convenient locations.
When I went to Boracay, Philippines, I found the deal of a lifetime: a haircut and shave with a proper razor for $2. When I lived in Mongolia, the price was a steep $4. Even in NYC, I would head to ChinaTown for the $5, cash only, special. In Abu Dhabi, I received a shave while at the Etihad Lounge.
I never thought about posting about my personal grooming experience until I wrote Fair Or Foul? Cutting Your Hair in a Hotel Room and a reader, Rio, commented: Of all people, why not go for a local experience. It costs a fraction of what you’d pay in the US (think $2) and you’re contributing to the local economy. Plus, it can be wonderfully entertaining.
Rio didn’t know that I have been doing this for years. And I have the pictures to prove it. With that, here is my first installment of Haircuts Abroad: Marseille Edition.
Steps away from the Vieux Port in Marseille is an area with a significant population of Algerians and Moroccans. Besides the vendors outside of Orange Vélodrome football stadium, this is where you’ll find the best street food in Marseille. After a kebab lunch, it was time for a haircut. On a side street, I found Coiffure Athena. The first hurdle in getting a haircut abroad is figuring out what the price will be. Here, the prices were clearly displayed on the window so there was no need to bargain or discuss the price. The next obstacle is to convey what kind of haircut I want. The clipper length I prefer is #1 and the length is 3mm. It is imperative that I see the clipper guard before the barber starts because #1 may be conveyed as 1mm, which is not a good look. Here, the barber only spoke French and a dialect of Arabic that I cannot understand. Fortunately, my sign language skills were sufficient i.e., I rubbed my head all over to indicate cut it the same everywhere and held up one finger for the clipper number.
The experience was pretty funny. While he was cutting my hair, he was also watching an Arabic soap opera. Every few seconds, he would pause to laugh or groan at the developments of the show. After he was done with the clippers, the skillful barber used a razor to touch up the sides, front, and the back. I was a bit nervous that he casually used the razor while continuing to watch his stories. The result was the best haircut I have ever had. Though the 8 euros I spent was higher than the usual deals, it was well worth it.
Haircuts Abroad: Marseille Edition
20 Bucket List Destinations for 2017: USA Today’s ZZZ Version
USA Today put out a bucket list of 20 destinations for 2017. First, I hate the term “bucket list.” Second, who comes up with these lists? Third, how many of you read them not for inspiration but to see how many of them you have already hit? In response to point two, I’m going to come up with my own list. In response to point three, I know I do! Here are the places on the list and a picture from my travel there.
- Northern Lights: I’ve been to Alaska and Helsinki.
5. African Safari: That’s set for this November. Till then, here’s a picture from Disney’s Animal Kingdom. 
6. Colosseum of Rome: Meh, this wouldn’t be on my list. When in Rome…prepare to get ripped off. 
7. Venice, Italy: I hear good things, but I’m over Italy for awhile after my last trip. Why deal with the tourist traps when Eastern Europe is just as beautiful and much cheaper?
8. Las Vegas: How is this on the bucket list? Who hasn’t been to Vegas, especially if you live in the US? If you haven’t, read all my posts on Vegas about where to stay and what to do.
10. Bahamas: Again, not a very creative addition to a bucket list.
17. Dead Sea: This is another must-do.
19. Louvre in Paris: If you’re a classic man like myself, go there. 
20. Santorini: I actually want to go here but instead of a nice trip to Greece on the beach, I ran the Athens Marathon instead. 
This is supposed to be the point where I ask you, “What’s on your bucket list?” Please do not tell me. I do not care. Just go there already. Then let me know what you thought of it.
Ladyboy, Ping Pong Show, Pad Thai? Vote Now for Bangkok
TPOL’s Runoff Vote for where I live next is live! To recap, the choices are Bangkok, Taipei, Lisbon, or Tirana.
There’s much more to do in Bangkok than ladyboys, but when I wrote the Tirana post, the headline “Debauchery & Promiscuity” got a lot of attention. Why not keep up the click bait to rock the vote? My Travel Guide to Bangkok can be found here and everything Bangkok related can be found here. Two of my favorite Bangkok posts are “Since I cannot personally go to SE Asia with Mikey and show him the ladyboy bars in Bangkok…” and “TPOL Is #1 in Thai Ping Pong Diplomacy.” Happy Voting! Kob-khun krab!
Champagne & Cigars at the IC Marseille
My birthday started in Paris with mild day of tourism followed by dinner at McDonald’s at the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome. Following that classy feast, I left for Marseille for proper French cuisine. That was followed by a night of drinking around Vieux Port. I woke up bright and early the next morning ready to explore Marseille. The first order of business was to take photos from the terrace at the IC Marseille. The view was spectacular, requiring more than a few photos. In turn, I decided to extend the birthday celebration and ordered a bottle of champagne and a fine cigar. Even if you are not staying at the IC Marseille, I recommend going there on a sunny day for a drink or an espresso. The bill for this detour was 140 euros, money well spent.
Where to Party in Marseille
Bouillabaisse in Marseille: TPOL’s Real Birthday Dinner
It was my birthday which is why I thought I would treat myself to dinner at Le Petit, a Michelin 3 Star restaurant that Anthony Bourdain had gone to when he was in Marseille. After reviewing the menu, I could not rationalize spending 180 euros per person on dinner, exclusive of wine. The hotel changed our reservation to Peron which had a beautiful view of the sea. I ordered Marseille’s most famous cuisine, bouillabaisse, which is a soup made up of a variety of fishes. If you order it from a cheap restaurant, you may find yourself in the hospital. If you order it at a fancy restaurant, sit back and enjoy the fancy presentation. First, the fish is served and then the soup is gently poured on top.
In addition to this expensive bowl of soup, I also ordered a local bottle of wine, oysters for appetizers, and another entree. At the end of dinner, I was surprised with birthday dessert.
The bill came out to a reasonable $200 for two people which was far more reasonable than the Michelin restaurant but a bit more pricey than McDonald’s in Paris.
TPOL’s Tip: If you go to Marseille, be sure to order the bouillabaisse.
Off to Marseille!
Are you tired yet? At this point in the Round The Atlantic Trip, I had gone to Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Naples, Milan, Sicily, and Paris. Now for my birthday, I decided to go somewhere different. I watched Bourdain’s segment on Marseille and thought that if angry men liked it then so would I. The flight to Marseille was on Air France. Once again, I didn’t have access to a lounge because Air France has a monopoly on lounges in its terminals, and I’m not Blu enough to enter. The quick flight had me further convinced that the DTW-CDG flight is a cruel trick played on Detroiters by the French in retaliation for us not pronouncing the name of the city as intended– “Dey-twah.”
Simply The Best: June 2017
June! Is now July. But June was great for TPOL’s views and for the exquisite articles I wrote. It was also a great month for comments. Many people didn’t get my humor. Others liked to point out how stupid I am for mistakes made while traveling. If you’re a first time reader or a snarky commentator, please realize that I shamelessly share all my experiences: good, bad, and stupid. My hope is that readers can get a laugh when I do something dumb, not repeat my mistakes when I encounter something bad, and follow in my footsteps when I experience something good. Pontificating complete. Here are the top posts for June 2017:
- Amalfi Coast: A Beautiful Tourist Trap
I hate tours. I say hate with a capital 8. Short on time, the only practical way to see the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii is on an 8 hour bus tour which goes for $85 - Scammed Or Stupid? A Big Fine In Palermo
The penalty for traveling without a bus ticket is legitimate, but I have questions if the persons enforcing the penalty were. - Park Hyatt Milan: Let Me Live Here Please
Everyone talks about traveling off the beaten path. Sometimes, it’s nice to get off of that and get back on the red carpet. - Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome: Overrated Breakfast
My recommendation if you go to the Park Hyatt Paris is to skip the buffet and do room service, an option that is included as part of your Diamondalist perk. My other recommendation is to stop listening to people. - McDonald’s Paris: Fine French Cuisine On My Birthday
Similar to my experience at the Olive Garden NYC, I knew I had made the right dining choice. - Agritourism in Sicily: The Insane Asylum Accommodation
Welcome to the insane asylum. That is the only way to describe Casale Poggio del tiglio – Catania 4584, an agritourism accommodation at the base of Mt. Etna. - Guns & Butter: Sicily Travel Guide
Looking to see and do everything in Sicily in 4 nights? Look no further.
United Basic Economy Review: It Sucks
This is TPOL’s first Flight Review of a United flight. I’ve done a great job of avoiding the airline and will continue to do so. Here’s what happened:
What I saved in money I lost in time. That’s the theme of this trip. (see Frontier MSO-NYC, see airport shuttles 1 & 2.) I booked a basic economy ticket and, per the terms, could not check in ahead of time. I arrived at DEN airport to the longest check in line. There were no check in kiosks. I tried to put in my information but received an error– ask agent for assistance.
The agent came over and scanned his card. I asked what the problem was and he said that he had to make sure that I didn’t have an oversized bag. “You’d be surprised that people buy these basic economy tickets and show up to the gate with more bags.”
Actually, I wouldn’t be surprised because I’d try to do the same thing. In this case, my companion had a normal ticket so there was no need for trickeration.
The idea of not checking bags is supposed to save time. The idea of basic economy is to save money. In this case, the marginal dollar I saved was lost by the time I spent in line.
Oh, and for some reason my TSA precheck didn’t come up. Joy to me.
Aloft Denver Airport: The Cure For Exhaustion
The only SPG hotel that is actually at Denver Airport is the Westin. Most ‘airport hotels’ are a fifteen minute drive away. The Aloft is one of those hotels. After an interminable wait at the airport, I arrived at the Aloft dead tired. In spite of my exhaustion, I still took the time to capture the simplicity of my favorite airport hotel brand.
Why I Love Aloft Rooms
Aloft is a spinoff of W Hotels. Like W’s, the Aloft has an amazingly comfortable bed. It also has a powerful A/C and a piping hot shower. Turn down the blinds, turn up the television, turn off your phone, and get ready for a peaceful night.
Aloft Denver by Day
Waking up at noon, it was time to do nothing before my late flight. The first task was caffeine. Though I’m an espresso drinker, I enjoy Aloft coffee. From there, I headed across the street. Near the hotel is a pizza spot, a Thai restaurant, Jimmy Johns and a taco cantina. I went with tacos but probably should’ve had Jimmy Johns delivered to the room.
Leaving
I took a few more pictures to remind myself never to route through Denver from NYC regardless of how much cheaper it is to fly a discount carrier. But i decided to stay an extra night instead of my usual Delta which had obscene rates due to the holiday weekend.
This time, the airport shuttle came on time.
