Churchill Downs: Home of the Legendary Kentucky Derby

If you ask for a list of iconic sport venues, Churchill Downs the home of the Kentucky Derby, often dubbed “The Most Exciting Two Minute in Sports” would be at the top of it. Opened in 1875, it has more than 150 years of history including hosting the signature Kentucky Derby continuously including during both World Wars and Covid. Is the longest non-interrupted event held in the United States.

The racetrack was named for the family (John and Henry Churchill) that leased the initial 80 acres of land to build the site, done by Meriwether Lewis Clarck Jr. It was at the right time, since other tracks were closing. The property has evolved from the original design, today it holds more that 150,000 people during the Derby (using the infield), has luxury suites, and a big board that could fit 6 basketball courts.

Not all the renovations have been to increase capacity, in 2023 they inaugurated a new paddock that the horses use to prepare for their races and spectators can get close to the beautiful thoroughbred horses. In the property you will also find the Kentucky Derby Museum which focuses on the history of the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs, a 2-story building that bring the interesting story of the best horse race in the world.

If you like horse racing or tune the TV every year to see the Kentucky Derby, going to the museum is a must. There you will find tons of information on how the race had become one of the top events in sports every year. One of the highlights in the museum is a movie run on a 360-degree theater, where they try to bring Derby Day emotion to the audience. The museum is a great half day of immersion to Kentucky thoroughbred horse racing.

Churchill Downs only has around 70 days of racing a year divided into 3 different meets, if you are planning to go make sure there are races, and you could do a full day of racing with good drinks and food while taking a chance with some bets. I would also recommend taking the Churchill Downs tour, this activity is almost half a day and start early in the morning watching horses practicing and you will have an inside view of the life at Churchill Downs.

A great activity if you are doing the Bourbon trail, and an awesome opportunity to know better Kentucky. Thanks for taking time to look at this post, please share it with your friends and sign in to receive our updates; also follow us on Instagram, and Facebook search for #BORICUASLIVINGABROAD. Until next time…

Exploring the Bourbon Trail: A Traveler’s Guide to Louisville

Just four and a half hours driving south from Chicago you will reach Louisville, a great place to use as base if you want to explore the Bourbon Trail in Kentucky. Louisville is the most populated city of the state of Kentucky and has many cool thing to do like horse racing in Churchill Downs, visit the Muhammad Ali Museum or the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, eat a Hot Brown sandwich in one of the many restaurants or just go to Whiskey Row and learn about how Bourbon is made in one of the more than 10 distilleries they currently have.

We went on a short trip during Memorial Day weekend looking to learn more about Bourbon, how is made and the history behind the distilleries and their brands. Exploring restaurants in Chicago we have found a great selection of Bourbon in many of them, trying them neat or in Old Fashioned. Researching the brands we found the Bourbon Trail, a growing tourist attraction around Bourbon distilleries including tours, restaurants, and experiences. We found a good excuse to escape the city and enjoy some of the best Kentucky has to offer.

George Garvin Brown one of the pioneers of the Bourbon Industry / Sipping and Chillin in a Rickhouse

Bourbon is a barrel aged American Whiskey, made primarily of corn tracing back to the 18^th Century. There is no certainty of who invented it but there was a Baptist minister called Elijah Craig and some people attribute him as the originator another story calls for the first bourbon to be produced in Bourbon County in Kentucky. No matter where bourbon was first produced, Kentucky is the place to enjoy and learn about Bourbon. In 1964 the US Congress recognized Bourbon as a distinctive product of the USA, making it unique a unique offering to the world.

Each distillery do their best to provide a memorable experience

There are rules that need to be followed to call your product Bourbon. There is no aging requirement, but usually Bourbon is aged at least 4 years (2 years to be labeled straight bourbon) and very important no flavoring or coloring is added during the whole process. Here is a summary of the rules:

Must be Produced in the US (Not only in Kentucky)
At least 51% Corn (Can be more, no less)
Distilled no higher than 160proof (80% ABV)
Must be aged in new charred Oak barrels at no more than 125 proof (62.5% ABV)
Bottled at no less than 80 proof (40%ABV)

2 Key elements in the Bourbon expression: Limestone + Water / Barrel Charred – (Above) Aligator Char

There are a good number of distilleries to visit, our focus in the selection was around having different experiences at each stop, while exploring known and new brands as we went through the different distilleries. Not every day you have the chance to go places that have more than 150 years of history and have helped create part of the history of a country. During our visit we came across great stories on some of the most iconic bourbon brands. Below are the places we visited along with some of the stories we got to experience. If you plan to go, I invite you to explore different areas of the trail and also different sizes of distilleries; one thing is constant every place is awesome and beautiful.

OLD FORESTER DISTILLERY: Americas First Bottled Bourbon Brand, being sold sealed to protect the product from adulteration. Distillery opened in 1870 by George Garvin Brown one of the founders of Brown Forman, the tour is downtown on Whiskey Row a great place to start the journey. Really liked their Old Forester 1897 a bourbon that follows the Bottled in Bond standard that was put in place to ensure quality back in the 1890’s and still being done today.

Interesting memorabilia, advertising and the first sealed Bourbon bottles

WOODFORD RESERVE DISTILLERY: Traces back to 1812, currently a national historic landmark. Is here where the Sour Mash fermentation was perfected, promoting consistency of character from batch to batch. It was purchased twice by Brown Forman and the brand was launched in 1996. Currently the Bourbon Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby, on the way to their distillery you go through beautiful ranches and even a practice horse racetrack. I already knew their Woodford Reserve double oaked but now understanding more about craft that goes into production made the expression more enjoyable.

Walking through the distillery is a trip to the past…

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY: They claim to be the oldest continuously operating distillery in the United States, it is also a National Historic Landmark. Records say that distilling started in 1775, located in Frankfort KY the capital of the state. Property is beautiful and in 2016 during renovations on a building they found the remains of the original distillery building dating back to 1873, is crazy the amount of history on that land. Our tour was free and included a tasting, you need to reserve ahead of time. From the tasting I liked Blanton’s, the first single barrel bourbon that was first commercialized in 1984. The top of the bottle has a jockey and a horse, they sell 8 different positions (one for each letter) and is the scenes of a horse race.

Buffalo Trace is recovering from floods and they are doing an awesome job

HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in 1935, is privately owned by the Shapira family is the second largest holder of Bourbon in the world. As part of their business model, they were producing Bulk whiskey for third parties, while producing some of their own brands. They had a big fire on 1996, where the plant was almost destroyed and lost 90,000 barrels of product. The company survived though provision of production capacity by fellow local bourbon companies like Brown-Forman and Jim Beam a great sign of the values of these companies. Here I liked a Whisky not Bourbon because is only 37% corn 12% Malted Barley, and 51% Rye; the expression is very different to bourbon, but the expression had very nice flavor it is a good choice for Mixology the name Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whisky

Good Blend of Old and New across the distillery…

WILLETT DISTILLERY: A small family-owned distillery in Bardstown, KY . They also make their own product and serve as contract bottler for other companies that want to market their own brand. They also have a very nice restaurant in their property, that makes a great place to end a day of tasting and learning about bourbon. You can enjoy Whisky flights from the different brands they have at the restaurant, while pairing to some great food. Here I enjoyed a bourbon called Speakeasy, smooth flavor and sweetness was a great companion to the food we order as we finish a great day in the Bourbon Trail.

Nice grounds, awesome restaurant and a balcony to end a great day!!!

Thankful for the opportunity to continue traveling and having great experiences, I encourage you to do the same and plan to go somewhere you really like and experience it full. Thanks for taking time to look at this post, please share it with your friends and sign in to receive our updates; also follow us on Instagram, and Facebook search for #BORICUASLIVINGABROAD. Until next time…

Tips for an Unforgettable “Chinchorreo” Experience in Puerto Rico

If you ask a Boricua what is a “Chinchorro”? they will describe a small bar, that serves local food while playing local festive music. So “Chinchorreo” would be the act of going on a day trip stopping in a good number of “Chinchorros” to eat, drink, and have a good time with family and friends.

Puerto Rico have the best X-mas in the World!!!!

The word “Chinchorro” has different meaning in other places of Latin America, in Venezuela it can mean a hammock and in Cuba could mean a small boat. For us in Puerto Rico the ward “Chinchorro” has been used to call a small bar since 1930 according to historians; during that time, people used horses and carriages to move from place to place stopping in places to have food, drinks and get some rest.

Great place to go with friends or just meet new great people…

We are fortunate to have family and friends that like “Chinchorrear”, for us is a must do if you are spending time over the holidays. The activity is one that help showcase the beauty of our island, and how fun us Boricuas can be. There are many routes to select and do the activity, most picturesque ones are along the central mountains, going through different municipalities like: Cayey, Aibonito, Orocovis, Jayuya, Ciales. Every route is different, but all of them will offer good food, music, sights, and friendly people.

Country Side or near the sea, natural beauty is always present…

Once you get to a “Chinchorro”, there are a couple of tips to get the most enjoyment out of that stop and here are my 5 tips.

Plan to stop at 3-4 “Chinchorros” during your visit
- The idea is to spend time at each stop, so you can enjoy the best of what the place has to offer, Plan to spend on average 1-1.5 HR per stop. You are not in a hurry and use the time to enjoy the views, talk to the people and have fun
- You can stretch and go for places , in my opinion is not about quantity and more about the quality of the stop. I prefer to go less places but get to enjoy more time in the “Chinchorro” having fun, if a place is super full go to the next and maybe on the way back you can stop and go in.

All “Chinchorros” are not created equal…

Ask what are their specialties before ordering… then get some!!!
- Medalla is our local beer and it is a superb mass produced beer, Beer culture has grown in Puerto Rico and you will find a good number of small brands made by local breweries here a couple of breweries: Boqueron Brewing, Ocean Lab Brewing, Old Harbor
- Besides great beer, you can also find great cocktails in the different places. If you want to enjoy a cocktail, you may find a good creative mojito or an alcoholic drink with some fresh juice like grapefruit or Passion Fruit. As the “Chinchorros” have evolved the owners have identified that having great cocktails creates differentiation versus other places, just ask and see if they have some special drink that you can enjoy.

You will find a great selection of food and drinks…

If you see live music… STOP, you will get to enjoy a free show
- In all of the “Chinchorros” you will find music, either from a streaming service or some live presentation. This is an important piece in the experience and can either add to an awesome experience or make you go out fast and furious to another place. Get to the place and feel the vibe… you will quickly see if the music is adding to your experience or not
- Watch Out for a big bus of people getting down in a Chinchorro ready to party with their own instruments and start a “parranda”… Don’t be shy and get into the chorus, it adds to the fun. You will see this big groups celebrating birthdays, business retreats, boricuas from the “diaspora” or a high school reunion.

Music is an important part off of the outing… From professional to just for fun!!!

Be Patient… You are in Island Time
- Expect a good number of people at each stop… This places can get busy, just Chillax and go with the flow. If you went out to “Chinchorrear”, there is no need to stress over a line, take the time and start talking with the person you just met in the line or even better pay a drink to someone just for fun. We are here to have a blast!!!
- If you come from a big city, you will see a change of pace from the hustle and bustle of city life. This is an important element for you to understand, here seconds are minutes and people don’t have to punch a clock to get to the next meeting.

Happy to call Puerto Rico my “Patria” – “Boricua hasta en la luna”

If you are in Puerto Rico, give yourself a chance to a great day and connect to the island with a real experience. You can go to the Puerto Rico tourism (Discover Puerto Rico) page and just search “Chinchorro” and you will get a list of couple of them. Thanks for reading and please share this post with your friends. Sign in to get our updates. Also follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Search for #BORICUASLIVINGABROAD. Until next time….

Exploring the Best of Hong Kong in a weekend

Looking to have one last trip before moving out of Dubai and coming back to America, I decided to visit Hong Kong / Macau, these are the 2 Special Administrative regions of China. These territories were transferred from British and Portuguese control in 1997 and 1999 respectively. This designation provides high level of autonomy to both places, and it was designed as a path to integration to China in 50 years. They have their own currency, government, and immigration policies; something that will create good debate as we come closer to the 50-year mark.

Now, sharing some of my highlights about Hong Kong. You will find 7.4 million people living in an area of about 1,100 square KM (Puerto Rico has 9,000 square KM) making it the 4^th most densely populated area in the world and the city with the most Skyscrapers. Their public transportation system is massive including Subway, Tram, Ferries, Buses, and even a system of escalators that has been given the tittle of the biggest in the world. 90% of the daily trips are done in some type of public transportation.

Hong Kong is always in constant movement…

You can easily move from the airport to the city by train and be in the heart of the city in 30 minutes, once you are there the blend of old and new is incredible, in my case I went first to Macau by bus from Hong Kong international and took the ferry from Macau to Hong Kong after exploring the other Chinese SAR (wait for a post on Macau later). The Ferry from Macau is also a very convenient mode of transportation and drop you in the middle of the city, from there you can either walk or get transportation to your hotel. I stayed at the Mira Moon Hotel, great location to get from the airport and to go exploring the city. You will also enjoy the views from the room.

You always find Chinese characters along the city…

Want to share 5 things you must do if you are in Hong Kong for a couple of days, there are many other things, but I will say this can give you a good sense of the city. You need to remember that Hong Kong never sleeps so you will find activities around the clock, you will feel very secure around the city and would recommend the typical safety recommendations.

ENJOY THE HK SKYLINE FROM VICTORIA HARBOR

HK has an iconic and beautiful skyline, easily at the top of the list as one of the best in the world. It is magnificent to see during the day or the night, there are many points around Hong Kong to see and enjoy the views, one of the best ways is to take a ferry across Victoria Harbor and walk along the Avenue of Stars where you will have a great view of the Skyline, plus get to learn more about the huge number of celebrities HK has including the famous Martial Arts, Actor Bruce Lee. During the night you can go to a rooftop bar to enjoy the view at night and the daily show they have with music and lights.

2. SEE HK SKYSCRAPERS / SKYLINE FROM THE TOP

If you want to get a different perspective of the city and feel that you are on top of the world, then you can take the tram to The Peak in Victoria where you would enjoy an awe-inspiring view from Hong Kong. Once you get to the top, you can walk to the Peak Tower and spent some time above the Skyscrapers, here you will understand why Hong Kong is so dense with the huge number of buildings side by side. The views will vary depending on the weather you encounter that day, for me it was a so-so day, but you need to always enjoy the opportunities you have.

Only way to fill with more than 7 million people… Go Up!!!

3. VISIT A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN OR A TEMPLE

Hong Kong is more than buildings and the stock exchange, once you start walking and talking with local people you will understand a more real side, where tradition and history take center stage. I stopped at one of the most stunning places in HK, the Nan Lian Garden a Chinese classical garden in the middle of all the concrete jungle that will make you forget that you are in the Skyscraper capital of the world. Is here where you can re-connect with your inner self or spend time meditating, is a newer place but still provides great insights on the Chinese culture and the Yin yang philosophy.

Another place to visit is the Wong Tai Sin Temple, a 100-year-old place where locals go to get their prayers answered. It is a Taoism temple with focus on self-cultivation. If you go in the first 15 days January, you will see numerous visitors that got their prayers answered. Most of the visitors come to the temple in search for a spiritual answer; they light incense sticks, kneel before the main altar, make a wish, and shake a bamboo cylinder containing fortune sticks until a stick falls out. This stick is exchanged for a piece of paper bearing the same number, and then the soothsayer will interpret the fortune on the paper for the worshiper.

Full of People looking to get their wishes granted…

4. WALK AROUND THE CITY EXPLORE THE OLD AND NEW

HK is a very walkable city, ready for you to get lost; from walking across the markets and see locals buying their produce to visiting Lan Kwai Fong and have a drink in one of the many bars there is some much to see and enjoy. It was in Lan Kwai Fong that I met Joe another Boricua that was currently working there and is one of thousands of #boricuaslivingabroad making “patria” and showing the world what we are made of. One curious thing that I saw while walking around the city was that many buildings under construction use bamboo for their scaffolding, asking to one of the locals he said that the availability, weight and ease of use makes bamboo the perfect material for workers to work around the buildings while on construction.

There are good boricuas all over the world!!!

5. DINE AT A MICHELIN RESTAURANT OR TRY HK NATIONAL DISH

One of the best things of travel is trying their food, getting something to eat on the street or sitting at a fine dining place is a great opportunity to now more about their culture, ingredients and the people that live there. While searching what to eat in HK I found that Sweet and Sour pork is the national dish of this great city, with a quick search found Sang Kee, a restaurant with almost 50 years opened and winner of Bib Gourmand recognition. They have moved now to a fancier place, but the national dish is so simple that is the main reason it works; the sauce is tangy and full of flavor it has the right stickiness that helps get the right amount of rice in each bite. You must try this dish at any of the many places that serves it.

How you decide a place to eat when there are 79 Michelin restaurants, offering all kind of different foods. You search your soul, and I found Mono a restaurant owned by a Venezuelan Chef. In his restaurant he pays homage to his Latin American roots and serve top quality food. What a great choice for last dinner in HK, the food they prepare is superb, the way the team explain each dish and how they connect with you made it a night to remember. Please have that sourdough bread it is truly signature. They images talk by themselves…

Hong Kong might look and feel crazy based on the people density and walking through so many high rises, but after being there you can find space to breath and be on your own or connect with locals and learn about their life. Thanks for reading the post, please share it with your friends and sign in to receive our updates; also follow us on Instagram, and Facebook search for #BORICUASLIVINGABROAD. Until next time….

Dubai winter, you will love the time outside!!!

If Dubai summer is a tough time of the year to be outside in the desert heat with temperatures above 40 Celcius (100+F) every day, the winter seasons is completely the opposite with “cold” weather from 16 to 26 Celsius and do I need to add sunny with no rain. Is the time of the year where you only plan to do things outside enjoying the great places Dubai has to offer like going to the beach, seating outside in a restaurant for a drink/meal, watch a nice sunset or ride a bike across the city exploring it.

Beach during winter months is a great option, water is cold for my taste but just enjoying the sun is more than enough.

We have been living in Dubai Marina for the past 2 years and as empty nesters it offers a great environment if you don’t mind being in a tourist area; being so close to the beach, restaurants and bars makes it an enviable place to live. From Marina you have easy access to the metro, tram, water taxi, scooters, and bikes, there is no excuse to enjoy yourself outside and have a good time.

A couple weeks back we decided for a different outing and enjoy the benefit of having a Careem bike station in front of the building, for $20AED ($5.50 USD) you get to rent a e-bike for the day with unrestricted trips of 45 minutes. The service is very easy to use, you just need a mobile to download the app, register and be ready to enjoy the service, the only thing is that every 45 minutes you need to stop a a station lock the bike and then unlock it again to start new 45 min.

Dubai is a flat city, riding an e- bike is easy, plus the infrastructure help to get you along good distances. Our plan was to bike 40km, from marina to Dubai mall and do some sightseeing along the way, finishing in the mall for some shopping and a good late lunch. The route would be mostly across the beach shore making it more enjoyable, passing through some of the most iconic places in Dubai like the Burj Al Arab, Kite Beach, and the Burj Khalifa.

As you can see from the photos, it is a great way to explore the city and exercise a bit (bike e-system makes it easy). Now that winter has arrived, we will enjoy the next 3 to 4 months outside before is time back again to go inside the buildings and turn on the AC to manage the intense heat of the desert.

If you come to Dubai during these months, take advantage of the great weather and explore all the beauties of this great city. Thanks for reading the post, please share to your friends and sign in to receive our updates; also follow us on Instagram, and Facebook search for #BORICUASLIVINGABROAD. Until next time….

Tokyo Bar Scene… A must in your travel agenda…

When growing up in Puerto Rico, planning a trip to Japan usually was not at the top of the list (For sure Disney or a Caribbean Cruise). Going to Tokyo from San Juan means to travel more than 20 hours before you land in Tokyo. If you ask me, before moving to Dubai the land of the rising sun was not on our travel plans. As part of my current assignment the opportunity to visit Tokyo arrived and we decided to stay additional days to grasp the rich culture, energy, and history in the most populated city in the world. What an excellent decision it was.

Tokyo impressive nightlife is definitely something to build the schedule around

We spend 5 days exploring the city and the result is we fell in love with Tokyo. This city is so impressive that a year will not be enough to really explore it; from the delicious food (Okonomiyaki, a must try), meaningful theater (Kabuki, so unique art), beautiful parks and public spaces (Cherry Blossom season is inspiring) Tokyo has it all. I have decided that my first post on Tokyo would be what for me was a big surprise, the impressive bar scene you can find in Tokyo and that can be a great complement to your daily activities and a way to end a day of sightseeing. In the post will share 3 bars we went and had an absolute blast, making our visit even more spectacular.

3 great bars that you will enjoy for sure!!!

The first bar is Bar Orchard Ginza, is located at 6-5-16 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. The premise of this bar is very simple you select a fruit from the display they have on the bar and they will make you a drink. Here come the twist of this place, don’t expect just a drink in a glass with ice, they will create a drink that will tell a story while enjoying it. In Bar Orchard you go for more than a drink, you go for the entertainment, craftmanship, and creativity of the bartender.

Fresh fruits of the day… for you to select and enjoy a drink

It is so cool that you just want to try a new drink to see what else they can master… A Shark that just had lunch… A Hippo that can devour you… A Flower pot, that you need to pour some “water” before drinking… or a trash can with a syringe and test tube for you to make the drink (clean and sanitized before prep). All of this preparation happens in a small locale (not more than 12 people) with the Chief bartender and the apprentice. They are good at the small talk while preparing the drink, also some background music is there to have the proper ambiance, still you can easily have a conversation and unwind after a full day of exploring Tokyo massive landscape.

No 2 drinks are alike… Need to ask for something different every time

Second bar we went is named Tir na nog, different to the first one they are located in the basement of one of the buildings in the Ginza area. Here is the address that will help you find it – 5 Ginza Chuo-ku Tokyo 104-0061 Japan, as you walk in the street you need to watch carefully because there are many signs and you can easily miss it. Once you go down the stairs and enter through a heavy metal door, there is a complete change of mood, you go back in time hundred of years in the time of castles. The décor used is very cool (dark, mix of metal and wood) and really make you forget that you are in Tokyo year 2023, you are now in another time and place.

Now that you found the place, need to ask for a good a good drink… and let me tell you here they are also very creative in the way they put together their drinks. In the bar you can find a Candy Floss machine, not for kids to enjoy but to put together as part of a drink!!! talk about sugar rush. One of the drinks we order was the Empress Garden, thy use Mochi as part of the garnish like a cherry; another drink we tried was the Bridgetown Old-Fashioned, here the mix of rum, angostura, Pomegranate, sugar and orange oil makes one delicious cocktail that will make you have more than one (My wife preferred drink now).

Cotton Candy machine… not for kids to enjoy

Tir na nog, is much bigger than the other bars we went; here you can easily have 35-450 people in the bar at the same time, but the service was also very good and like I told you earlier once you enter time will stop and you forget that you are in one of the most impressive cities in the world where million of people leave in a fantastic display of harmonic chaos. I would recommend the bar if you are in a group.

Nice music in the background, but you can talk and enjoy a laugh with friends

The last bar we visited is named Star Bar also located in Ginza (1-5-13, Chuo-ku, Tokyo), you find it also in the basement of the building but more easy to identify as it has a good size sign in the entrance. This bar is very classic, you enter the room and is all dark wood and leather with the right light (Not to dark or to bright). You will served by the Chief bartender, the apprentice, and 1 or 2 additional supporting staff (one speak great English and help us translate to Japanese) they all are focus to provide top notch service and upscale experience.

Japanese whisky is fine!!! Here master Hisashi Kishi sharing some of his stories

Here at Star Bar you find “Ninja Ice”, this ice is so pure that is invisible to sight when in a drink, they use very pure water and 72 hours to freeze it creating the effect of Ninja Ice. I tried a Whisky highball and it is really impressive the quality and purity of the ice, but for me what I found impressive was Japanese whisky. During the trip had the opportunity to try and bring home a couple of them: Yamazaki, Hakushu (2021 Single Peated Malt was my favorite), Hiniki – this are some of the brands you can find at every bar, feel free to explore them you will not be disappointed. My wife had the crème de cacao /menth and fresh cream a sweet drink that is an excellent choice for after dinner.

Look at that ice on my drink… Ninja style!!!

During our visit we meet Hisashi Kishi, owner and master bartender of Star Bar. Winner of bartending championships his a celebrity in this arena. We had the opportunity to chat with him and also learn that Seiko used 2 of his drinks to create special watches for a collection. This guy is so famous that someone enter the bar to get his autograph and have a drink prepared by him. At the end of the night we took a photo with him outside the bar, we were so impressed not only by the level of service but also by the personal touch.

What a great opportunity to meet bartender champion…

The bar experience we had in Tokyo was not only great from the drinks we had, but also by the great people that work in there and how each place reflects a different personality; they made our Tokyo visit even better. At the end of a long day of sightseeing we were energized by the fact of going to one of the many bars they have in Tokyo and explore something different. Some of this bars have been in top 50 bars in Asia list, and is clear now for me why they have been selected.

Need to be on the watch to find the entrance to this different bars… Cheers!!!

This is my first of a couple of post I will do on Tokyo, it is a great city and the people we met and places we went are a small sample but we can say Tokyo needs to be high on the list of places to visit. Thanks for reading the post, please share it and sign in to receive our updates; also follow us on Instagram, or Facebook look for #BORICUASLIVINGABROAD. Until next time….

Let’s finish the list on 10 things you could do in Dubai, while coming to Qatar World Cup – Part 2

Will take the opportunity to finish the list of things you could do here in Dubai, making the most of your time in the Middle East for the world cup in Qatar. Many of the big Airlines have announce the use of Al Maktoum International (DWC) airport to serve as a bridge between the 2 countries during the soccer event. Dubai is just 1 hour flight from Doha so definitely doing a couple of days here can be a great addition to what will be the biggest sport event of the year.

6) Explore the Dubai Mall and see the city atop the Burj Khalifa

In Dubai breaking records is a common thing, is not strange to find the second biggest shopping mall and tallest building in the world next to each other. They are both located in downtown Dubai, thousand of people go there daily to shop, dine and entertain. It is crazy to see hundred of people walking in bunches from the metro station to the Dubai Mall entrance, just the walk is 1 mile long.

Impressive view of the Burj from the outside

Once you are inside the mall, there is plenty to do… Some of the attractions are full hockey court, 22 movie cinema, Fountain show (Las Vegas Style), 150 million old Dino Fossil, VR Park, 1,000+ stores, more than 100 restaurants (Fine dinning, Casual dinning, Fast Food, Cafes). You need to plan ahead just to not get lost!!!

Dino is here to salute you… 150 million years old

From the Dubai Mall you can directly to the Burj Khalifa entrance where you can take an elevator and go up to different floors and admire Dubai from the altitude. In the lobby you will find interesting information on the development of the building and all the great technology it has. It is an impressive building from the inside but for me is more spectacular admiring it from different places of Dubai, you can see the building from many miles in the distance

Night View of the Burj Khalifa, being part of the Fountain show

7) Visit Dubai Marina and have a good time in one of the many restaurants

30 minutes by car from the Dubai airport you will find Dubai Marina an artificial canal city that opened in 2003 and now makes home for more than 50K people. Getting to Marina is very easy, you could take the metro and get down in the Dubai Marina Metro station, from there you can walk to many places or take the tram that will make it more accessible to move toward the outer parts of marina.

You can find great places to eat and have fun, during day or night… check for daily brunches and happy hours to benefit of good specials in food and drinks. There are places with great views of the Marina and JBR, some of the places I like are Pier 7 (7 restaurants under one roof), Bliss Lounge (great view to the Dubai Eye), Chalco’s Cantina at Marina Gate (Great Mexican food and Corona Beer, you will find me here during the World Cup). Very close from here is Dubai Harbor one of the places that will have FIFA fan zones to enjoy the games.

8) Jump into a Water Taxi and admire Dubai Skyline from the sea

In Dubai you will see a huge number of exotic car on the streets, you can even rent a Ferrari for 60 minutes and take it out for a spin; there is also many public transportation alternatives and one of them is a water Taxi service where you can move to key locations around Dubai. It is a great way to see a little bit of the city from the see with great skyline views of Dubai.

Enjoy a different view of the Dubai Skyline

Some of the locations you can go and start a trip are: Dubai Marina, Dubai Creek, Al Ghubaiba (Old Dubai). Depending the distance you will pay between $6USD to $20USD, taking the longest route will bring you some great views of different landscapes of the city. For sure is a great activity for all people, and you can combine it with other transportation methods to cover all the city.

This one takes you from one end to another end of the Dubai Marina

9) Visit Expo 2020 site and watch a game in this FIFA fan zone

In October 2021 with a delay of 1 year the Dubai World Expo 2020 opened, for this even that run until March 2022 Dubai created a city from zero a place where more than 180 countries got together to share the best they have to offer from innovations, culinary arts, folklore, business opportunities. It was an event that brought more than 20 million visitors in 6 months, and now the Dubai Expo site is being prepared to become a center for entrepreneurs to develop ideas and foster innovations that will impact the world.

In October they are reopening some of the country pavilions and activities that where part of the Expo, and during the world cup the central plaza will be converted into a FIFA fan zone where you can go and enjoy football with for sure thousand of people of different nationalities. It will be clearly a place to go during the world cup and after it, since it is reopening as Expo City Dubai.

Good Parks at expo, you will find some big screens

10) Make a short trip to other Emirates, they are all very close

If you want to explore beyond Dubai there are other great Emirates and activities to do a couple of hours from downtown. Here are a couple of ideas if you want to adventure: Go to Abu Dhabi just a 40 minute drive and do a day tour to see this Emirate and enjoy Ferrari World, WB Park or try some car racing in the Yas Marina Circuit. I will be doing a full post on Abu Dhabi so I can share detailed information on the richest Emirate of the UAE. The second idea is go and do the longest Zipline in the world at Jebel Jais in the Ras Al-Khaimah Emirate is around 2 hour drive, you will not be disappointed with this adventure.

There are many other things to do in Dubai but this 10 that I just shared are definitely must do if you have the time, the World Cup in Qatar is near and Dubai will be a great destination to enjoy the event. Thanks for reading the post, please share it and sign in to receive our updates; also follow us on Instagram, or Facebook look for #BORICUASLIVINGABROAD. Until next time….

Going to Qatar for the world cup… You could jump to Dubai for a couple of days… Part 1

This last August mark my first year living in Dubai, what was a six month assignment is now a one year and still going adventure. I will tell you that time flies… and more when you are having fun, during this past 12 months been having the opportunity to go to different countries in the AMEA region (Asia, Middle East, Africa, Australia), met great people and experience closely their cultures, something that you don’t get to experience so intimate living in the USA or Mexico.

Museum of the Future… Emirates Towers behind… Some of the great architecture you will find in Dubai

In November of this year the world will be looking to Qatar for the 2022 world cup, one of the biggest sporting events in planet earth. We expect more than 1 million people going to see matches there and many more just visiting Qatar as tourist. The UAE is also preparing for this event as both countries are very close just one our flight can take you from Dubai to Doha, so we expect to live the world cup like we were live in Qatar.

Dubai has great roads to manage huge number of visitors

As part of the world cup Dubai will have official FIFA fan Zones, and also hundreds of flights will be available to go and see a match in Qatar to then come back a couple of hours after the match ends. This initiatives plus other private initiatives are to support the tourist infrastructure of Qatar and generate tourism spend in Dubai taking advantage of the millions of persons coming to the region. We are all in Dubai excited for the world cup, not only for the sporting part, but also for the additional events (Artistic, Open Air Watching Parties) that will happen in Dubai during this very intense 30 days.

Qatar world cup will bring a good number of visitors similar to the World Expo on 2021-22

Taking into consideration that many people will be first timers in Dubai and maybe with limited time between the games, I just want to share 10 things that you should put on the list to do while in Dubai. Dubai has many things to enjoy, so the idea is to share some information that will help you decide what to do. I will separate the list into 2 posts so I can describe a little bit more each activity, weather should be great in November to be outside and enjoy 100%.

1, Take the Metro and connect to many attractions and Shopping Malls

Dubai Metro is a very simple 2 lines system connecting many great places for dinning, shopping, or entertainment. The red line is currently the longest self driving metro line in the world. You can buy tickets at every stop in machines or in a booth where personnel can help you. Cost for a single trip in the silver cabin goes from $1.50 USD to $3.00 USD, also there is Gold cabin that cost 2X. Some of the key attractions connecting the metro are: Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Ibn Battuta Mall / Old Dubai has a stop / Museum of the Future / DXB Airport / Dubai Marina (connect to tram) / Expo 2020 (Site of Event).

The metro makes the city very mobile, you will need to use taxi or buses but the trains makes a great opportunity to see the city from an elevated track; if we have a clear day it makes for a great trip to explore the city. Metro runs from 6AM till 12/1AM depending the day so it is available many hours during the day, it can get packed during peak hours but you can always squeeze in.

2. Visit Jumeirah Mosque and learn a little bit of Islam

Close to La Mer Beach, you find Jumeirah Mosque a very beautiful place that open doors in 1979 and operates using the Open Doors, Open Mind program of the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU) promoting and sharing of Muslim culture and Islam to non Muslims with the idea of better understanding their beliefs. The activity is 90 minutes long, where they share a little bit of what is Islam and the core values where it stands, also they open a session for questions looking to share some wisdom with the participants. For me was a great learning experience, that makes me more sensible to their culture and beliefs. There are some requirements (Women wear scarf covering head, Men have long pants), but is open to anyone that want to have the experience

3. Go to JBR beach and enjoy a bath in the Persian Gulf

Dubai has many beaches along the coastline, one of them is know as JBR. This urban beach is filled with many restaurants and hotels is the perfect place to enjoy a full day of beach activities with good food and cold refreshments. You can come with your car and park in one of the underground parking or if you are staying in one of the many hotels of the area just walk and find your place on the beach. You could easily forget that you are in the desert, once you sit and enjoy the sun and the calm water in front of you. JBR for me is special since you can find activities for everyone: Rent Jet Ski and go along the Palm, Rent a boat and go out to sea and see the sunset, Go to one of the many beach clubs and enjoy the pool, Get some food and have a picnic on the beach.

4. Go to the desert and have dinner under the stars in front of a Bonfire

One activity that for me was exceptional last year and also was lots of fun was an outing to the Desert, it is one of this things that you can do with different budgets. There are desert trips that you go and do dune bashing, sand surfing, live shows, BBQ, the whole enchilada or you could do a more intimate gathering to have good food and enjoy the company of friends and family. Be there by Sunset is a must, also be comfortable with sand on your shoes but most important admire the sky and the stars that you will see. The farther from the city the better as you will have less light contamination.

5. Visit Old Dubai, explore the Gold and Spice Markets

Before all the big building and majestic developments Dubai was a merchant port that was supported by maritime industry, Old Dubai is a place you can’t miss if you come to Dubai, here you will find some interesting stores offering wacky gold, diamond stuff like women clothing or you could try and buy the biggest gold ring in the world. The market is not only good for sightseeing but also prices are good for gold since Dubai does not charge taxes on it. Beside the gold market you will also find the spice market where you can get your favorite spice or explore new ones. A trip to this part of the city will take you 2-3 hours, you can get by using the metro.

In my next post will finish the list of things to do in Dubai if you have a couple of days in the city, one thing is important Dubai will not fail. Thanks for reading the post, please share it and sign in to receive our updates; also follow us on Instagram, or Facebook look for #BORICUASLIVINGABROAD. Until next time….

Dubai Marina: Impressive promenade, close to JBR beach with many restaurants and activities for all ages

30 minutes from the airport on Sheikh Zayed road you will arrive to Dubai Marina, one of the top communities in the UAE, established in 2003 is considered one of the biggest man made marina in the world (If you ask here they will tell you is the biggest). For the developers to make it real, they excavated and brought the Persian Gulf waters into the development creating a 3KM long canal.

A great urban space with activities for everyone

There are 2 big areas that are part of of the community, one is Dubai Marina with many buildings across the canal and the other is JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence) which is in front of the JBR beach. The JBR project is massive with more than 30+ buildings, that include hotels and apartments with many retail outlets. JBR is the largest single phase residential development in the world (another Guinness record for the UAE), the project looks impressive when looking it from the sea.

Great Skyline of the Dubai Marina from the different points in the Promenade

There are hundreds of boats that go in and out every day, from daily excursions, big yachts rentals, and private boats that are anchored on the marina. Just sitting in one of the many restaurants and look into the canal and see the boat movement can make for a relax experience. You can rent from a couple of hours to full days and get to explore a different view of Dubai from the sea.

One of the secrets to view Dubai Marina is the RTA public transportation boat you can board, at 4:30PM every day the boat leaves from a station near the Dubai Marina Mall it goes through the canal and to open sea, making it way back when it reaches the hotel Atlantis, the trip is one hour long and provide great views of the many attractions in the area. The price is around $30 Dirhams ($8 USD)

Dubai Marina connects with JBR beach, this adds tons of additional things to do and enjoy

If you like to run the Marina promenade give you the opportunity to run around the marina, with great views of the buildings, boats and tourists. The route is around 6KM so you can do some work before going to one of the many restaurants and then to the beach. The views are simply spectacular, the massive buildings and the canal waters makes it for great views something very difficult to find elsewhere.

Great place to catch a run or simply walk to relax after a hectic day

There are restaurants for every taste from the classic fast foods, to local cuisine or international restaurants; many of them have tables outside and when the weather is good makes it for a spectacular gathering. One of my favorite places is Pier 7, this locale has 7 different restaurant where you can go to eat, drink and have fun with great views of the marina.

Walking distance from the JBR beach is a new development called Bluewaters also a place with many entertainment options and also restaurants, here you can find Ain Dubai the tallest and biggest observation wheel, another record set in Dubai. Is a great place to get a good view on the Dubai Marina skyline

Ain Dubai and Bluwaters at the top of the photo

If you are in Dubai do not miss it, take at least one full day to enjoy it. For sure I will be writing again about this great place, if you just read the post please forward to a friend and sign in to receive our updates; also follow us on Instagram, or Facebook look for #BORICUASLIVINGABROAD. Until next time….

La Perle by Dragone… Great show, must see if you are in Dubai

Dubai is full of great activities to do… some outside and extreme like Skydubai and the tandem skydiving jump, others inside live Ski Dubai where you can go and have a great time doing some skiing in an enclosed ski park. Options are numerous, so companies need to put lot of thought and investment on great shows with the best of the entertainment industry.

If you been to Las Vegas, you would know regular shows like KA, O, Blue Man Group, Mindfreak. This are regular shows that have their own theater, with shows almost every day of the week (2 functions per day). The theaters used for the shows in some cases in some cases are built with unique specifications only designed for that show, investment goes into millions of dollars.

La Perle is located in Al Habtoor City – Close to the Dubai Creek

La Perle is based on the same concept of a permanent, 2 daily functions held in a custom made for the show theater in Dubai consisting of performances by acrobats, gymnasts, and daredevils with awesome music and special effects. The show opened in 2017 and was developed by Franco Dragone, hi is one of the creators of some Cirque du Soleil shows.

Theater Ambience is great, you feel close to the show

You can buy tickets for one of the 3 zones they have, in my view all tickets are good since the theater is not that big and the way is designed let you have a good view from any vantage point. Once you enter the ticket area, you can buy a drink and some snacks, take them to the seat and enjoy the 90 minute show.

One of the performances… The acrobatics were awesome

The show has a good balance of big performances (high flying) and other more light (comedy), making the 90 minutes very enjoyable with a very energetic finish. As you will see in the photos the theater decoration make you feel that you are part of the show.

If you want you can go earlier to the theater and have some food at restaurants that are in the same area where 3 Hilton properties are located, also you can do it after the show as Dubai is a night city where people are outside enjoying themselves until late in the morning. It is a great alternative for entertainment in the city, it doe not matter if you been to similar shows La Perle has it’s own essence.

If you are in Dubai do not miss it. This is all for now, if you just read the post please forward to a friend and sign in to receive our updates; also follow us on Instagram, or Facebook look for #BORICUASLIVINGABROAD . Until next time….