Center Camp: Never mind that man’s bare butt next to the ball of pooh. See those people relaxing in tranquil shade? That’s what you’re after. Photo: Jesse Wagstaff

Burners crash everywhere, so don’t worry about being bothered or deliberately woken up. In 2007, I spent quite a bit of time at the Black Rock City Library and there were people sleeping all over the floor. Other Burners just stepped right over them.

You can also sleep on or around random art on the Playa, but I recommend getting your sleep in the City. You will be closer to the camps that serve food and drink, and you will be more protected from the sun, cold and dust. If you do end up sleeping in random places, bring a small pillow, a blanket or warm coat, and earplugs. According to the Burning Man website, you are not really allowed to show up at the gate without all your own supplies, including your bed.

Pros: Plenty of comfy couches and shade

Cons: A lot of people use Center Camp as their bedroom

As the heart of Black Rock City, Center Camp is the central meeting place for all Burners. Musicians, speakers, acrobats and dancers infiltrate the stages of Center Camp and keep up the lively atmosphere 24 hours a day.

The lines for the coffee and tea are long, the lighting is bright and the vibe is dynamic. You will have to be a deep sleeper to crash here.

Pros: Smells like black tea and chai

Cons: Popular place to begin or end a parade

Inside Skinny Kitty Teahouse: j_cavera

The massive, clam-shaped dome of the Skinny Kitty camp is a great place to hide from the dust storms. The Teahouse usually has a plethora of couches (some screened from view) in the back of their beautiful shelter.

You can wake up from your nap with a nice cup of their hot or iced tea. The Teahouse sometimes features singers and low-key musicians who perform on the large stage, so you could be woken up by a melodic guitar or by a woman who sings just like Ella Fitzgerald.

Pros: Easy to string up your own hammock

Cons: Popular and fills up fast

Hammock Hangout complete with drink service
(also used as Feature Photo): SanFranAnnie

It’s amazing how well you can sleep in a hammock when you are dead tired. Catch some shade under Hammock Hangout’s giant parachute tent. Hammocks are available for naps or you can bring your own, but know that the camp is also a karaoke bar at night.

Pros: Opulent atmosphere

Cons: You have to win their “win a room” lottery.

This camp is the epitome of class and elegance in Black Rock City. Each night leading up to the Burn, the organizers of the Ashram Galactica Hotel put on a posh dinner and cocktail party with a British Raj theme.

At the party, guests are entered into a lottery to win a room for their use for 24 hours. The “rooms” are swanky, canvas tents with soft beds, room service and electric fans. This is the place to live it up in Black Rock City.

Pros: Pillows provided

Cons: You may be in the way of a yoga or meditation group.

Inside the HeeBeeGeeBee Healers’ dorm: Zaskoda

Looking to get some sleep and a back massage? Heebeegeebee Healers has one of the biggest tents in Black Rock City. One of the best naps I ever had at Burning Man was under the multi-colored sheets of this camp.

You can sign up for a back massage from their professional healers, join in on a yoga session, or just curl up in a corner of their carpet and pass out.

Community Connection

MatadorNetwork’s Burning Man focus page brings you news from MatadorTV, tips ,and tales from the Playa. Feast your eyes on video to get you geared up or submit your own.

Locals with all their accoutrements. Photo: Corey Ann, Feature Photo: Hoggheff aka Hank Ashby aka Mr. Freshtags

Mardi Gras may be about indulgence and debauchery, but you’ve got to be serious about your preparations. Die hard revelers actually sleep next to the parade route overnight or bring their frat buddy’s beat-up couch out to the median. This isn’t entirely necessary, but you should still get out to the route early to avoid some traffic and to secure a good spot. Use a tarp or blanket to stake out your space.

Mardi Gras Revelers Smile for the Camera.
Photo: Bengt E Nyman

Wear your walking shoes. Mardi Gras parades—unless they’re very small—inevitably involve a hike from your car or hotel to the parade route. You’ll probably be standing for long periods of time, so that’s another reason to make sure you’ve got good footwear.

You’ll want good shoes to protect your feet from the inevitable broken glass, spilled beer, and unidentifiable liquids that accumulate on the streets.

You’re not going to be happy if you have to walk a mile with your arms full of stuff. But an ice chest and folding chairs with wheels, or devise a method of rolling them. Many parade-goers also wheel ladders to the route so they can see over the crowds standing on the ground and catch beads more easily. Cup holders on items like chairs, ice chests, even ladders are clutch.

Beads, trinkets, plastic cups, and more fly off of floats during Mardi Gras parades. Take a handful of sturdy bags with you to put everything in, and you might want to consider bringing a wagon to help you get everything home once the parades are over. If you run out of bags, get a grip and remember: beads might be shiny, but they’re just pieces of plastic.

Doubloons depicting Willie Nelson and Michael Keaton.
Photo: howieluvzus

Some parades throw custom doubloons, shiny metallic trinkets that, for whatever reason, are a popular throw. Should you see one on the ground, do not, under any circumstances, reach for it with your bare hands. The locals step on doubloons and other coveted objects if they hit the ground as a quick way to claim them for themselves.

Putting your hand on the ground to pick something up that you haven’t stepped on first is a good way to lose a finger.

Late winter/early spring means unpredictable weather for the U.S. Gulf Coast. Mardi Gras can be wet and cloudy, hot and humid, cold and windy, or all three. If you’re coming in from out of town, bring layers and check the weather before you head out to a parade. You should wear sunscreen even if it’s cloudy.

New Orleans at Night during Marti Gras.
Photo: Larry Johnson

If you’re standing outside all day, you’re going to need to eat and drink. Parades can be very lengthy events, and there’s not always easy access to restaurants. Plus, Mardi Gras is a celebration of indulgence; what would it be without rich food and copious alcohol?

Mardi Gras is so notorious for bathroom emergencies that New Orleans band Benny Grunch and the Bunch wrote a song about it called “Ain’t No Place to Pee on Mardi Gras Day,” which is funny ’til it happens to you.

Hitch your wagon to a clown. Photo: Infrogmation

Parade routes may have port-o-potties, but the lines will be extremely long so you should come up with a contingency plan ahead of time. Creative solutions range from building a makeshift bathroom in your truck bed to bringing a tent and a bucket. With that in mind, you should probably bring some hand sanitizer, too.

Mardi Gras day is a great excuse to act like a kid – or an idiot. Costumes are an acceptable way to get in the spirit, especially if you coordinate as a group and reference local or national politics/events/culture. Ironic cross-dressing is also popular.

Community Connection

Wanna know what’s sweet to eat at Mardi Gras? Pop over to MatadorAbroad to drool over Indulgence in New Orleans: A Guide to 7 Classic Desserts.

A train stopping snow in Buckinghamshire in February, 2009 – Photo (and Feature Photo): MonkeySimon

High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England

50 customers including 20 children were treated to just that in the bed department of the John Lewis store on Monday the 21st after intense snow stopped traffic. They were outnumbered still by the staff of the store which totalled 54.

They were fed, though there’s no word what was available to eat, before they all cuddled up in the beds that were made up for the purpose and settled in for a night of shut eye.

Deborah Strazza, the store’s managing director says, “It was so sweet, the kids absolutely loved it. They thought they were in Toy Story.” She is a mother, too, and couldn’t square herself with the idea of stranding families out in the snow. According to Independent, she went on to say, “The customers were really, really grateful and they could not thank us enough.”

Surely the cost of opening several packages of bed linens pales in comparison to the feel good word of mouth advertising of grateful customers. Good call, Deborah.

Community Connection

Matador Community member Global Grasshopper gives us the Top 10 Destinations for Holiday Shopping in the UK and John Lewis is mentioned. Make that last minute road trip using her list!

Become a community member and share your recommendations with a group of world travelers that is growing every day.

Moustache Ride Photos: mrflip Feature Photo: matthewspiel

Mo is for moustache. You can register here to get sponsored to grow your own for Movember.

What is Movember?

Movember is the month for you to put away your razor to raise awareness for prostate cancer, and if you’ve watched the above video, kick some ass. Anytime someone remarks on your new whiskers, you can open a door to conversation about the cause. Join as part of a team or by yourself. You’ve still got time.

In South Africa, New Zealand, Europe, the US, and Canada there are officially sanctioned costume parties and events and you can apply to host your own party. Participants dress for the moustache they’ve grown. Pirate? Motorcycle cop? Luigi? Moustache Ride, perhaps? Just because Halloween is over does not mean you need to give up costume parties for the year.

No matter where you are in the world, you can still raise awareness for the cause and, if you’re testosterone endowed, grow a moustache yourself. Check it out on Facebook and watch the summary video below.

Community Connection

All about raising awareness for cancer? Check out this piece about raising breast cancer awareness.

Is there a better time than summer to get out for a backyard barbecue?

Is there any better company than fellow travelers armed with accounts from all over the world, like those of us from Matador or our friends at Sosauce?

Noted travel writers and bloggers will be rubbing elbows with the likes of, well, you!

Get the scoop on how to travel the world and write about it, or just join us and try your hand at winning some prizes to make packing for your next trip abroad a little more gentle on the budget.

BYOB or L to loosen the tongue and enjoy the smooth sounds of DJ Brian Blackout at The Green Garden in Brooklyn.

The Greene Garden, Brooklyn, NYC

When? – Thursday, August 6th at 5:00 P.M.
Where? – The Greene Garden – 2 S. Portland Ave., Ft. Greene, Brooklyn
How Much? – Free! But you must RSVP to alisha [at] sosauce [dot] com by August 3rd.
Why? – Because we like you.
More Info? – Why, certainly. Please click the links below.
Sosauce Blog
Sosauce Journal
LinkedIn Event
Facebook Event