An exploration of travel as homage?

Istanbul's Aya Sofia is an architectural wonder of the 5th Century still standing spectacularly at the edge of the European continent. Its lure to the traveler needs little explanation. It stood as the holy seat of a now lost empire, and the minarets that surround it today represent the one of the major shifts in cultural tectonics that has formed the contemporary world. History and antiquity aside, the chance to inspect its grand symmetry is worth the price of a plane ticket. The Chelsea Hotel in New York City - unique and well-aged rooms in a hip locale downtown for around $150 a night. You can probably find better digs for less down the street or around the corner. But the Chelsea has housed a host of literary celebrities. You can lay your head on a pillow that may have lulled the lobes of Mark Twain, William S. Burroughs, Dylan Thomas, or John Lennon. At the very least you'll be passing through the same lobby space. Arthur C. Clarke penned 2001: A Space Odyssey during a stay at the Chelsea, and Leonard Cohen sings "I remember you well at the Chelsea Hotel." Unless you've already gained entrance to the pantheon of words and music, though, it's unlikely that a few nights at the Chelsea Hotel will stir you to spin the fodder of the next Stanley Kubrick. And while the Chelsea's fame may render future recollections simpler, chances are you won't be penning poignant ballads and whatever transpires on your unmade bed would be just as orgasmic anywhere else in town.

Cheap drinks in the USA

If you want to make the most of your drinking money in the USA, venture to all the bars surrounding the local universities. They usually have regular nights where unlimited drinks are about US$5. That often includes the commemorative mug/cup too!

Art From Central Europe 1949-1999

The artistic views of 'unofficial' artists during the post-war regimes in Central Europe are aired in this comprehensive exhibition. The 120 works by 92 artists cover just about every artistic medium, from painting and sculpture to photography, video and installations. While the Iron Curtain was up, many of these artists worked in semi-secrecy and their labour is still practically unknown to the rest of the world. The current exhibition does much to shed light on artistic activity from one of the most creative areas of Europe.