Travel Gear: 10 Easy New Pieces

BERLINThe big party: A mile-long sea of black, red, and gold will stretch from the Brandenburg Gate to the Victory Column when half a million fans fill the Strasse des 17. Juni to watch matches shown on boulevard-wide screens—all 48 of the matches from the second round through the final. Marquee matchup: If all goes according to plan, look for an elimination-round clash between Germany and the U.S. on June 27 at 4 p.m. Sing-along: "Auf geht's, Deutschland, schiesst ein Tor, schiesst ein Tor, schiesst ein Tor!" ("Let's go, Germany; goal, goal, goal!") Sideline tip: For a slightly smaller party, catch first-round action (with bratwurst and pilsners) at Prater Garten, a 173-year-old beer garden with picnic-table seating for 600. BOSTONThe big party: The largest World Cup viewing party in the U.S. will take place at Boston's City Hall Plaza, a red-brick and concrete square with one huge selling point: room for the 300,000 people anticipated to show up and watch the final at July 11 at 2:30 p.m. Marquee matchup: Brazil, Italy, Germany, France, and Spain are the most likely contenders to make the final match. Longer shots include the U.S. Go team! Sing-along: Stick with the universal soccer anthem, "Olé, olé, olé, olé," and you'll be fine regardless of which teams reach the final. Spirit colors: Boston was painted red, white, and green when Italy won its fourth title in 2006—expect a crowd lopsided in that country's favor if the Azzurri reach the final again. Sideline tip: The recently renovated Boston Children's Museum gets in on the South African excitement with a two-day festival of African food, music, and dance, June 11 and 12 (308 Congress St., 617/426-6500). CHICAGOThe big party: The Chicago Bears' house welcomes a different brand of football, with 40,000 people expected to watch the July 11 final on the Jumbotron at Soldier Field. Admission is $20. Marquee matchup: If the U.S. or Mexico makes the final, expect a sellout crowd closer to the stadium's 63,000-person capacity. Sing-along: American soccer fans are still looking for their own fight song. In the meantime, chants of "U-S-A, U-S-A!" are sure to fill the air if our team reaches the championship. Sideline tip: During the rest of game day at Soldier Field, walk around the World Cup Festival, with South African movie screenings and a French Bastille Day feast. On May 10, a couple of months before the key day, catch an early look at the Mexican team in a Soldier Field exhibition match against Senegal. MEXICO CITYThe big party: Up to 100,000 fans will fill the Plaza de la Constitución, a square framed by the National Palace—the baroque building that serves as the seat of the federal government—and the gorgeous Metropolitan Cathedral, to watch Mexico's matches on huge outdoor screens. Marquee matchup: Mexico is the favorite as it takes on host country South Africa in the tournament's opening game, June 11 at 9 a.m. Sing-along: "Cielito Lindo" ("Pretty Sweetheart"), a traditional song adopted as an anthem for the soccer team: "Ay, ay, ay, ay, canta y no llores" ("Ay, ay, ay, ay, sing and don't cry"). Sideline tip: Because of the time difference, games start as early as 6 a.m. in Mexico—a headache that can be treated with a café con leche and sweet pastries from nearby Café de Tacuba. Or a cerveza from Salón Corona ($2) if you want to start the party early. PARISThe big party: In the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, 15,000 fans will pile into the grassy mall known as the Trocadéro every match day, watching giant TVs and hoping to cheer the Blues to a third consecutive final. Marquee matchup: If France breezes through the early rounds as expected, look for a quarterfinal showdown with another title contender, England, on July 2 at 8:30 p.m. Sing-along: There's no signature song, but there's plenty of screaming of "Allez les Bleus!" ("Go Blues!"). Sideline tip: Just two days after the final match, the celebration will likely move down the Seine River to Place de la Bastille for an annual dance party that promises to be especially festive if the French squad wins a championship. RIO DE JANEIROThe big party: If celebrating were a competitive sport, five-time World Cup champ Brazil would be unbeatable. Case in point: 32 straight days of 20,000-person Copacabana Beach parties, starting with a pre-Cup concert June 10 and including live beach broadcasts of all 64 matches. Marquee matchup: Clash of the titans against sixth-ranked Portugal, June 25 at 11 a.m. Sing-along: "A Taça do Mundo é nossa! Com Brasileiro, não há quem possa!" ("The World Cup is ours! No one can handle Brazilians!"). Sideline tip: Drop by Estádio do Maracanã, one of the world's largest stadiums and site of the 2014 World Cup. Even if the stadium is closed to tours because of renovations, you can stand in the pavement footprints of soccer greats Pelé and Ronaldo at the accompanying museum (Rua Professor Eurico Rabelo, 011-55/21-2234-1705, $11). ROMEThe big party: There's only a footprint left of the Circus Maximus stadium where ancient Romans gathered to watch chariot races, but it's a large footprint. About 700,000 fans packed into this standing-room-only grassy knoll (and the nearby streets) to watch Italy's team hoist the 2006 World Cup trophy. Feeling bullish about a repeat, Rome will invite fans to watch every 2010 match here. Even Caesar would have been impressed by the anticipated crowds. Marquee matchup: Italy vs. up-and-coming power Paraguay, June 14 at 8:30 p.m. Sing-along: No one is quite sure why Italian fans took to chanting to the tune of the White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army" during the team's 2006 title run, but they liked the result and have stuck with the song ("I'm gonna fight 'em off/A seven-nation army couldn't hold me back"). Fans sing along to the pounding guitar riff: "Po-po-po-po-po-PO-ooh." Sideline tip: The viewing parties are just one part of this year's Estate Romana (Roman summer), a four-month festival of open-air movies, concerts, and sporting events in classic settings like the ancient stone amphitheater at the port of Ostia Antica, including the Golden Gala, a track-and-field event that brings world-class athletes to Stadio Olimpico on June 10 (estateromana.comune.roma.it). SYDNEYThe big party: Australia's enthusiasm for its boys in green and gold will be on full display in Darling Harbour, where two floating Jumbotrons are set to screen every game for the total of 30,000 fans watching for free from adjacent Cockle Bay Wharf and Tumbalong Park. Expect fireworks by the Harbour Bridge if the Australian heroes triumph. Marquee matchup: Australia vs. three-time champ Germany, June 14 at 4:30 a.m. Sing-along: "Waltzing Matilda," a nationalistic ballad about a noble sheep thief, is the raucous anthem belted out during games. Crowds will sing lines about the itinerant worker (called a swagman) who dove into a small lake (a billabong) to escape capture: "Up jumped the swagman and sprang into the billabong, 'You'll never take me alive,' said he." Sideline tip: Stay awake before the late-night (and early-morning) matches with lively experimental music, film and theater events at the Vivid Sydney festival, held at the Sydney Opera House and various other locations May 27 through June 21. TOKYOThe big party: Up to 37,000 fans, many clad in all-blue outfits topped with red-sun headbands, will head to the Saitama Super Arena to watch their Samurai Blue play first-round matches on the big screens, while the national team mascot, a blue-shirted, soccer-playing bird, leads the cheers. Marquee matchup: Japan vs. Netherlands, June 19 at 8:30 p.m., for the home country's likely do or die. Sing-along: Japanese fans are considerate enough to craft chants opponents will understand, as in "Vamos Nippon!" That one just means: "Let's go, Japan!" Sideline tip: Like in the U.S. (but almost nowhere else in the world), baseball is more popular here than soccer is, so even more intense fans are on tap at the Tokyo Dome during Yomiuri Giants games (1-31-61 Koraku, no phone orders, tickets from $11).

Unlike other French icons that have fallen by the wayside—the beret, the cigarette, Brigitte Bardot—the baguette remains a celebrated part of France's national culture. That's especially true in Paris, the birthplace of the baguette, which hosts an annual competition to identify the city's finest loaf. The Grand Prix de la Meilleure Baguette de Paris (the best baguette in Paris) contest has been making headlines every year since it began in 1993. That's the same year the government passed a law to distinguish an authentic baguette de tradition from the frozen imposters that had become a bane on the city. How can you tell which is which? Authentic loaves have a deep golden-yellow hue, a crust that smells nutty or grilled, and an interior texture that is elastic and tender, containing holes of uneven size. If your baguette is fluffy and uniform, you've probably been had. A record number of authentic baguettes were entered into the annual competition on March 22. After ploughing through a pile of 141 loaves and rating each on appearance, aroma, crumb, and taste (no word on the swimsuit part of the competition), the jury handed down the 2010 prize. THE 2010 WINNER LE GRENIER À PAIN ABBESSES 38 rue des Abbesses, 18th arr. Nearest Métro stop: Abbesses (line 12) or Blanche (line 2). Open 7:30 a.m.–8 p.m. Thursday to Monday; closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Baker Djibril Bodian from Le Grenier à Pain bakery, which placed fourth in the 2007 competition and fifth in 2009, snagged a cash prize of $5,400 (€4,000) and a contract to keep French President Nicolas Sarkozy in bread throughout the coming year. Bodian's baguette, which attracts long lines outside the Montmartre bakery, has a crispy and flavorful crust with hints of roasted hazelnut. Its chewy interior is marked by the irregular holes that are a sign of long and traditional fermentation. Beyond the baguette: Bodian's pain de trois—a dark, crusty, and intensely flavored loaf—is fantastic. As the name suggests, it's composed of three flours, including sourdough, and keeps well for several days. The bakery also makes gorgeous glazed breads stuffed with dried fruit and candied nuts. In the 'hood: Climb a few hundred stairs to reach the Sacré-Coeur cathedral, or take a rest while gazing at the nearby "I love you" wall. >> Slide show: See photos of 5 of Paris' best bakeries >> Baguette Protocol: Is there a best way to eat them? How long do they last? How do you ask for one properly? 9 MORE STANDOUTS LE GRENIER DE FÉLIX, baker Franck Tombarel 64 ave. Félix Faure, 15th arr. Nearest Métro stop: Boucicaut (line 8). Open from 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m.–1:30 p.m. on Saturdays; closed Sundays. Baguette awards: First place in 2009 and fourth place in 2008. Beyond the baguette: Tombarel's pain Allemand is a darker German bread studded with sunflower seeds. The salty-sweet combination of hazelnut, walnut, and raisin in the céréales aux fruits secs is delicious, as well. In the 'hood: The futuristic Parc André Citroën is far off and makes a nice spot for a Seine-side picnic. For those who are attending a fair or festival, like the Salon International de l'Agriculture, the Paris Expo center is in the same arrondissement. LA PARISIENNE, baker Daniel Pouphary 28 rue Monge, 5th arr. Nearest Métro stop: Cardinal Lemoine (line 10) or Jussieu (line 7). Open 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday through Friday; closed Saturdays and Sundays. Baguette awards: Second place in 2010. Beyond the baguette: Don't miss Pouphary's unusual variety of croissants, including noix de coco (coconut) and chocolat lait noisette (milk chocolate and hazelnut). Substantial sandwiches like ham and chèvre on a poppyseed baguette are packaged into a daily lunch special with a drink and dessert for €3.30 ($4.50). In the 'hood: In the heart of the Latin Quarter, La Parisienne is near the sprawling gardens of the Jardin des Plantes and the mosaic-tiled tearoom of the Paris Mosque. The market street of Mouffetard is just a few minutes away by foot. BOULANGERIE 134 RDT, baker Benjamin Turquier 134 rue de Turenne, 3rd arr. Nearest Métro stop: République (lines 3, 5, 8, 9, 11). Open 7:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. on Saturdays; closed Sundays. Baguette awards: Second place in 2009. Beyond the baguette: The addictive Schwarzbrot (black bread) from this bakery is a standout and is especially nice paired with cheese or salmon. The pavé des près, dotted with flaxseed and sunflower seeds, is a lovely alternative. In the 'hood: The northern Marais is filled with independent designer shops, especially on rue Charlot. Chocolate junkies should be sure to hit the Jacques Genin boutique and tasting salon—it's directly across the street from the bakery. LA BOULANG'EURY, baker Stéphane Eury 98 rue de Meaux, 19th arr. Nearest Métro stop: Laumière (line 5). Open 7:15 a.m.–8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; closed Sundays and Mondays. Baguette awards: Third place in 2009 and Ninth place in 2008. Beyond the baguette: The round loaves stuffed with figs and nuts are the perfect accompaniment for cheese. Eury's apple tart, which won third place in the Meilleure Tarte aux Pommes-de d'Ile de France apple tart competition, is a treat nobody should miss. In the 'hood: This bakery is perfectly situated between two prime picnic spots: the Parc des Buttes Chaumont and the Bassin de la Villette. It's also a short walk from the Parc de la Villette, where you'll find an open-air film festival in July and August. BOULANGERIE RÉGIS COLIN, baker Régis Colin 53 rue de Montmartre, 2nd arr. Nearest Métro stop: Sentier (line 3) and Étienne Marcel (line 4). Open 6:30 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday through Friday; closed Saturdays and Sundays. Baguette awards: Seventh place in 2008 and second place in 2007. Beyond the baguette: Colin has picked up a pile of awards for his croissants beurre, or plain butter croissants. The bakery's galette des Rois—a traditional tart with almond frangipane—is arguably the best in the city. In the 'hood: The Palais Royal, with its secluded interior garden, is just a short stroll away. You can reach this bakery from the Louvre in less than 10 minutes. BOULANGERIE ALEXINE, baker Alexandre Planchais 40 rue Lepic, 18th arr. Nearest Métro stop: Abbesses (line 12) or Blanche (line 2). Open 7 a.m.–8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday; closed Sundays. Closes at 8 p.m. on Saturdays. Baguette awards: 10th place in 2008 and eighth place in 2007. Beyond the baguette: This bakery's famous baguette aux céréales is a delicious departure from the traditional white baguette. The whole-grain loaf is decorated with a confetti of seeds—a sort of long and lean "everything" baguette. In the 'hood: A few doors down from Le Grenier à Pain, this second top bakery in Abbesses allows you to compare and choose your favorite baguette. Alexine is near the spectacular Montmartre cemetery, as well. ARNAUD DELMONTEL, baker Arnaud Delmontel 39 rue des Martyrs, 9th arr. Nearest Métro stop: Saint-Georges (line 12) or Pigalle (lines 2, 12). Open 7 a.m.–8:30 p.m. Wednesday through Monday; closed Tuesdays. Baguette awards: First place in 2007. Beyond the baguette: Try Delmontel's pure-rye round loaf called tourte auvergnate or his Kougelhopf, a sort of Alsatian coffee cake. You can celebrate the neighborhood by ordering the SoPi (named after the South of Pigalle district): a towering red and black cake erected from chocolate and piment d'Espelette (hot peppers). In the 'hood: SoPi is a trendy stretch along the rue des Martyrs and includes a good number of boutiques, cafés, and restaurants. It's a great area for exploring on foot and only a 10-minute walk from Montmartre. GOSSELIN, baker Philippe Gosselin 258 blvd. St.-Germain, 7th arr. Nearest Métro stop: Solférino (line 12). Open 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. on Saturdays; closed Sundays. Baguette awards: Fifth place in 2010. Beyond the baguette: Desserts like the Everest—a small mountain of cake topped with bright-red gooseberries—are even more tasty when taken and nibbled at one of the nearby monuments. The pain au levain, or sourdough bread, is a simple but delicious option. In the 'hood: The Musée d'Orsay is just around the corner, and the Esplanade des Invalides and the Seine River are only a few minutes away by foot. LA PRAIRIE DE COQUELICOT, baker Thierry Racoillet 50 rue de Douai, 9th arr. Nearest Métro stop: Blanche (line 2) or Place de Clichy (lines 2, 13). Open 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.–8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m on Saturdays; closed Sundays. Baguette awards: Seventh place in 2009 and sixth place in 2007. Beyond the baguette: Racoillet's baguette de tradition is the one that takes home the ribbons, but locals also adore his Picolla baguette. This hand-worked loaf has a denser and chewier crumb than the fluffy traditional baguette. A second location in Montmartre, called simply Coquelicot, features an upstairs dining room where you can pair the baguette with eggs and bacon. In the 'hood: The prize-winning location in the 9th is just around the corner from the Moulin Rouge.

The City by the Bay's locals know what makes it special: row after row of colorful Victorian houses, a famous bridge that gleams bright orange, the clang of a historic cable car bell, fog that rolls in as if it's part of a film noir, and a food-and-drink culture that borders on cult. Think you know San Francisco like the back of your hand? Take this quiz to find out. If you score a 9 to 12, you deserve an Irish coffee or sourdough bread loaf. Get between 5 and 8 right, and you'll need to do additional research at City Lights Bookstore, a favorite Beat poet hangout. Score any lower, and you'll need to keep visiting until you get the quiz right. More on San Francisco: - 20 Photos: San Francisco, My Cut - Japantown, San Francisco - Napa's Top Secrets - The Most Beautiful Ferry Rides in the U.S.

Some 1,300 dogs work for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Just how good are they at sniffing out drugs, money, food, and other items not allowed entry into our country? "The dog's nose is very sophisticated, thousands of times better than the human nose," says Clark Larson, director of the CBP's canine program. A CBP officer working with a dog can perform a full inspection of an incoming vehicle in about five minutes. An officer working alone might need 20 minutes to conduct even a cursory review—taking significantly longer to achieve a lot less. Beagles and other dogs are hardwired to sniff out trouble. Larson uses beef stew as an example to explain the exquisite sensitivity of a dog's nose. Most people know what beef stew smells like. But a dog that's been trained to detect spices will immediately be able to sniff out the presence of the tiniest pinch of basil and differentiate it from oregano or other spices. "That's why even when smugglers pack marijuana in several layers of cellophane, surround it with onions in sealed packages, and then immerse it in tanks full of gasoline, the dogs are still able to sniff out the drugs," he says. The dogs usually come into the CBP's possession by way of animal shelters and humane societies in the eastern and midwestern U.S. Most of the dogs are trained at the CBP center in El Paso, Tex., where they undergo a rigorous 10-week training—punctuated, of course, with many doggie treats. The dogs specialize in detecting either organic (fruits, meat, hidden animals) or some combination of currency, firearms, narcotics, and humans trying to sneak into the U.S. illegally. They're fast learners: Within two or three days of training, a dog knows the scents it's after. The rest of the training is devoted to fine-tuning its abilities and teaching it to pursue those smells anywhere. And yes, that means anywhere. The dogs go through exercise after exercise in which they're instructed to find banned items hidden inside suitcases, fanny packs, bicycle tires, baby sippy cups, car trunks, SpongeBob SquarePants backpacks, cowboy hats, or household objects like vases with hollowed-out bottoms, just to name a few. The CBP uses several dog breeds, including beagles, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, German shepherds, and Belgian Malinois. So why is it that beagles are used so often at airports? For one thing, because they're adorable. "Who doesn't love a beagle?" says Larson, describing the droopy-eared breed as "a massive nose on four little legs." Beagles are also lovers of food and are highly interested in other animals (their scents especially), making them the perfect foil for travelers toting banned meats, cheeses, and fruits, or prospective new pets like fish, birds, or snakes from abroad. Even when the offending item is stashed away in what appears to be an airtight container, the beagle's nose knows. Last fall at Chicago O'Hare airport, for example, a superstar CBP beagle named Shelby barked up a storm after sniffing the presence of live snails, which were sealed in plastic containers hidden inside a bag arriving on a flight from London. So while you're at the airport petting or making googly eyes at the cute little pooch at your ankles, you can be sure it's busy sniffing out the mango at the bottom of the bag held by the woman behind you. Or the wheel of unpasteurized cheese you shouldn't have stowed in yours.