Mark Around the World Posts

Kosher Meat Restaurant & Bar in Jerusalem, Israel ✈ Jacko's Street Restaurant in Jerusalem, Israel I spent a recent evening on Agripas Street, the busy spine that flanks Jerusalem, Israel ’s Machane Yehuda market, and followed the flow of shoppers and after-work drinkers toward the low façade at number 74 where Jacko’s Street Restaurant & Bar glows under a crisp white sign. Even before I stepped inside, the air smelled of charred meat, rosemary, and toasted bread drifting t

Kosher American Style Retro Diner in Jerusalem, Israel ✈ Buchman’s Diner in Jerusalem, Israel I first noticed Buchman’s Diner earlier this year on a visit to Jerusalem, Israel , while walking on Emek Refaʾim Street in the German Colony. The bright chrome-framed windows and candy-red booths that peeked out from behind them looked like a still frame from a mid-century postcard, and the smell of dough in a wood-fired oven slipped through the doorway. On my most recent visit to

Kosher Café & Bakery in Jerusalem, Israel ✈ Duvshanit Café & Bakery in Jerusalem, Israel I arrived at Duvshanit Café & Bakery at 42 HaPalmach Street early in the day, halfway along the gentle bend of Old Katamon’s main commercial corridor in Jerusalem, Israel . The façade is modest—gold Hebrew lettering on a charcoal awning and Israeli flag bunting fluttering above the window. Turquoise-and-pink woven chairs and a few green rattan seats spill onto the sidewalk under broad be

5-Star Hotel in Jerusalem, Israel ✈ Theatron Jerusalem Hotel & Spa in Jerusalem, Israel I recently had the opportunity to experience the Theatron Jerusalem Hotel & Spa , regarded by many as Jerusalem, Israel 's best new hotel. It’s located in the Talbiya neighborhood, just a few blocks south of Jerusalem’s busy downtown yet feels more like a secluded garden suburb. Tree-lined streets curve around early-twentieth-century villas, diplomatic missions, and cultural landmarks, chi

SXM Airport in Sint Maarten ✈ The Princess Sky Lounge at SXM Airport in Sint Maarten I cleared security at Sint Maarten ’s Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on a sunny Caribbean afternoon and followed the signs toward Concourse D. A quiet corridor led me past duty-free perfume bottles and beach-hat displays until I reached the Princess Sky Lounge . Twin blue-ceramic planters, each cradling a young palm anchored in smooth river rocks, flank the frosted-glass sliding

Marigot, Saint Martin ✈ Fort Saint Louis in Marigot, Saint Martin While staying at The Villas at Simpson Bay Resort on the Dutch side of Sint Maarten , I crossed into the French side to visit Fort Saint Louis in the Saint Martin French capital of Marigot . After a brief look around the waterfront Marigot Market, I directed my attention to the limestone ridge crowned by the fort, a stone sentinel that has guarded the bay for centuries. The path to the fort begins just west

Marigot, Saint Martin ✈ Marigot Bay on the French side of Saint Martin I woke up early in Sint Maarten , the Dutch side of the Caribbean Island, left my air-conditioned one-bedroom suite at The Villas at Simpson Bay Resort , and walked the short slope to Welfare Road to flag one of the vans that serve as public buses. The driver collected the fare in cash, waited until every seat filled, and then rolled west through Cole Bay, skirting the lagoon before crossing the invisible

Sint Maarten/Saint Martin ✈ Waiting for a bus in Sint Maarten I landed at the Dutch side of Sint Maarten at Princess Juliana International Airport on an easy afternoon flight and faced the same choice every visitor confronts: rent a car or rely on local transport. The island’s compact size, just thirty-seven square miles, tempts many travelers to drive themselves. Rental desks line the arrivals hall, and every major agency operates just beyond the terminal. Driving feels fam

Phillipsburg, Sint Maarten ✈ Dutch Blonde Beach Bar at Great Bay Beach in Phillipsburg, Sint Maarten I arrived in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten just as the heat pressed down on Great Bay Beach . The concrete boardwalk radiated warmth, so I looked for higher ground and shade. The heat forced me to find relief, and I climbed the wooden stairs of Dutch Blonde Beach Bar at number 79. The bar sits inside a bright-red windmill façade that rises above the promenade like a beacon. From

Phillipsburg, Sint Maarten ✈ Great Bay Beach in Phillipsburg, Sint Maarten I reached the eastern end of Philipsburg, Sint Maarten just after sunrise and walked the few steps from Walter Plantz Square onto the Great Bay Beach Boardwalk . The wood planks were already warm, but the air still carried a light salt smell that hinted at the long history of this shoreline. Behind me, Front Street’s pastel façades were slow to open, while ahead the boardwalk curved for more than a mi

Kosher Food in Sint Maarten ✈ Chabad House of S. Maarten I walked the short stretch of Billy Folly Road from The Villas at Simpson Bay to the Chabad House of S. Maarten . After three blocks of small storefronts, a plain cream-colored building marked by a Chabad sign and a mezuzah came into view. Inside, one practical multipurpose room serves as synagogue, community space, and kosher kitchen. I have picked up kosher meals from Chabad houses elsewhere - most recently in San Ju

Beach Bar at Maho Beach in Sint Maarten ✈ View from Sunset Bar & Grill at Maho Beach in Sint Maarten While visiting Maho Beach in Sint...

Maho Beach in Sint Maarten ✈ Maho Beach in Sint Maarten I touched down in Sint Maarten at Princess Juliana International Airport, the...

4-Star Hotel in Sint Maarten ✈ The Villas at Simpson Bay Beach Resort in Sint Maarten I recently stayed at The Villas at Simpson Bay...

JFK Airport in New York City ✈ Chase Sapphire Lounge at JFK’s Terminal 4 in New York City I reached John F. Kennedy International...

Kosher Meat Restaurant in Jerusalem, Israel ✈ Andalucia Cocktail Bar in Jerusalem, Israel I reserved an evening for dinner at Andalucia...

Kosher Café in Jerusalem, Israel ✈ Aroma Espresso Bar on Emek Refa'im Street in Jerusalem, Israel I woke up early on a mild mid-week...

Jerusalem, Israel ✈ Hebrew Music Museum in Jerusalem, Israel I recently visited the Hebrew Music Museum in Jerusalem, Israel . I entered...

Kosher Meat Restaurant in Jerusalem, Israel ✈ Rooftop Restaurant at Mamilla Hotel in Jerusalem, Israel On a recent trip to Jerusalem,...

Jerusalem, Israel ✈ Davidka Square in Jerusalem, Israel During a recent trip to Jerusalem, Israel , I made a point of visiting the...