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Best rooftop bars in Athens

With a recorded history of more than 3,000 years, Athens is magical. Here, history teams up with skyline views. There’s the Acropolis (“high city” in Greek) and its most famous temple, the Parthenon, as well as Areopagus (“Ares rock”) where, so the legend goes, the god of war was tried in court for the murder of Poseidon’s son. Both offer an elevated view of the city you can’t get from ground level.

Yet some of the very best views of the city can be found at more modern establishments: rooftop bars. There are rooftop bars all around the city that are perfect perch points to take in the Athens skyline with a drink in hand. Starting with businesses around Monastiraki Square at the heart of Athens center, these are the seven rooftop bars to go to in Athens.

1. A for Athens

Photo: AforAthens/Facebook

A for Athens is just off Monastiraki Square. The cocktail menu has a Greek mythology theme with cocktails like The Sirens (vermouth, mezcal, maraschino, and tsipouro) and The Underworld (rum, Champagne syrup, sherry, kirsch, and a smoked salmon foam). There’s also a 100-plus option wine list featuring Greek and international options (as well as more than 30 wines by the glass). Brunch and dinner are both served as well, both featuring classic Greek dishes using local ingredients.

It’s not just the food and drinks that draw people here, though. At A for Athens, you can enjoy the sunset as the day comes to a close and then turn your attention back to the Acropolis as the ancient hill and its famous temples are lit up.

Where: Miaouli 2, Athens 105 54, Greece

2. 360 Cocktail Bar

Photo: 360 Cocktailbar/Facebook

Located on a corner of Monastiraki Square, 360 Cocktail Bar is filled with olive trees and an abundance of other greenery. As the name suggests, the bar has a 360-degree view of Athens. Sip on a classic or original cocktail or pick from one of the carefully selected Greek wines. The food menu is organized by regions in Greece, with seafood, lamb, pasta, and other Mediterranean options. 360 is a great place to mingle and gather with a group of friends, and it’s a favorite among Athenians.

Where: Ifestou 2, Athens 105 55, Greece

3. City Zen

Photo: City Zen Athens/Facebook

Just a few steps from Monastiraki Square, on Aiolou Street, is the quaint entrance to City Zen (it’s conveniently located just off Ermou Street, the main shopping street of central Athens). The modern design and music set the mood for casual drinks that contrast with a clear view of the Acropolis. The cocktail options range from strong tiki classics like the Zombie to all-day aperitivo sippers like a white chocolate and lemon pepper gin and tonic. It’s a great place to check out in the morning for the coffee and brunch menu, which has a long list of sweet and savory options, as well as cocktails.

Where: 11 Aiolou Street, Athens, Greece

4. Anglais

Photo: Anglais Athens/Shutterstock

Though Anglais is just a couple years old, it’s quickly become a favorite with locals and tourists. Lights drape over the seating area, and the sights to see from said seating area include the Acropolis, Hadrian’s library, and Monastiraki Square below. There are coffee drinks starting at 11:00 AM, and you can stay through the night for aperitivo and cocktails. Anglais is as cozy and comfortable as if you were visiting a friend’s place.

Where: Kirikiou 6, Athens 105 55, Greece

5. AthenStyle

Photo: AthenStyle/Facebook

Just one road down from the famous Little Kook cafe, located a little bit back from the main square, is AthenStyle hostel. Enter and make your way up to the top floor where you’ll find an epic view and a bar buzzing with young travelers. With beer on draft, cocktails, and a happy hour every evening, this spot is sure to keep the energy up, perfect if you’re a young traveler looking to meet other like-minded people.

Where: 10 Agias Theklas Street, Athens, Greece

6. Couleur Locale

Photo: Couleur Locale/Facebook

Couleur Locale has an incredible overall setting and vibe, but finding the entrance is like a little treasure hunt. To get there, you go down a quiet alley, head through what seems to be an antique store, and finally go into an elevator with a blue glass wall. At the top floor, you’ll be greeted with a view of the Acropolis perched above. The bar has a mellow setting with low lighting and a chilled out atmosphere. There are long tables with benches for a group of friends and secluded tables for a more romantic evening if you wish. The well-balanced signature cocktail list is complimented with good food and snack options.

Where: Normanou 3, Athens 105 55, Greece

7. Thissio View

Photo: Thissioview Roof Garden Restaurant & Cocktail Bar/Facebook

Thissio View is a hotel with a lovely rooftop bar. It’s located a short walk from Monastiraki Square and flea market, and it takes a walk down Apostolou Pavlou, a market street with handmade jewelry and souvenirs. The restaurant-cafe-bar combo is especially striking at sunset as the colors in the sky shift and the city lights switch on, showing the Acropolis and Parthenon. The food menu skews Mediterranean while the cocktails tend toward classics with slight moderations (think spicy margaritas).

Where: Apostolou Pavlou 25, Athens 118 51, Greece


More like this: The 21 best bars in Athens to drink at right now

The post 7 Athens rooftop bars with the best views of the city appeared first on Matador Network.

All about Korean sauces

Sungchul Shim and I have been sitting at the marble countertops at the restaurant Kochi, where he is the executive chef, in midtown Manhattan, chatting about Korean food for about a half hour before he disappears into the kitchen to retrieve a couple of Tupperware containers. All around me, the staff is preparing for service — cleaning dishes and utensils, arranging place settings, prepping ingredients, and reviewing the evening’s reservation list. It’s quiet, but busy work.

Shim emerges from the kitchen and places two containers in front of me, removing the red lids. Each one contains mounds of thick, pungent paste — one dark brown and the other brick red. Shim offers me a spoon and I dip into each container. First the red sauce, gochujang, a fermented chili paste that’s a punch of rich spice followed by honeyed sweetness. Then the brown sauce, doenjang, a fermented soybean paste that’s earthy, full-bodied, pungent almost to the point of sourness, and gently salty. There is so much power and flavor in that little spoonful that the only reaction I can muster is a dumbfounded, “Wow.”

Shim explains that at Kochi, gochujang, doenjang as well as ganjang, or soy sauce, serve as a basis for nearly every dish on the menu — asparagus topped with a ricotta infused doenjang or scallops paired with spicy gochujang on the side, for instance. These three sauces are fundamental to Korean cuisine. Shim worked in a Japanese restaurant for many years, and characterizes much of the food he cooked as “mild.” With these sauces at the helm, the opposite is true of Korean food.

“Korean cuisine is strong,” he tells me. “And there is a lot of spiciness. Korean people love spicy food. The flavors are more pungent and stand out more.”

Jang sauces in Korean family life

Ganjang, gochujang, and doenjang make up what Hooni Kim, chef at New York City restaurants Hanjan and Danji, calls in his forthcoming cookbook, My Korea, the “holy trinity” of Korean cuisine. They take on an almost religious significance in Korean society, both enhancing Korean food and holding a revered place in the daily lives of many Korean families.

Kim grew up visiting his grandmother on a small island in Korea called So An Do, where the residents “cooked food the way Koreans did 100 years ago,” he says. Each family cultivated their own farm and came together once a year to prepare huge batches of kimchi and their own jang sauces. The distinct scent of fermentation-in-progress permeating the island, especially in the summer, haunts him to this day.

Photo: Beautiful Korea/Shutterstock

Though these practices are becoming less common (especially as condiments like soy sauce are available at nearly every grocery store) all three sauces are still staples in the typical Korean family’s pantry. Suyoung Park, a sous chef at the two-Michelin-starred restaurant Jungsik, doesn’t have much experience making her own jangs, but she too has known their flavors since childhood.

“Growing up, my mother used to make me a grilled pork dish that was flavored with gochujang and it was my favorite dish throughout my childhood,” she says. “Whenever I see this kind of pork dish it makes me think of my mom.”

How to use jang sauces

Photo: sungsu han/Shutterstock

Each jang sauce has its own personality, adding elements like salt, heat, sweetness, depth, and balance to almost every Korean dish. On the surface, those flavors sound deceptively simple. Yet they form the foundation on which chefs build complex dishes, from stews to barbecue meat.

Gochujang, Park explains, adds sweet, spicy, and earthy flavors. Doenjang adds salty, earthy, and umami flavors, while ganjang is salty and umami. The latter is primarily used as a seasoning, Park says, but can also be used as a condiment and for pickling and marinades. Gochujang is often made into a sauce or braise, and doenjang is used for soups, condiments, and banchan, which are small side dishes.

According to Park, popular dishes that jangs appear in include doenjang guk, a simple, everyday stew made with vegetables and tofu; dukbokki, a Korean street food flavored with a gochujang-based sauce; and gejang, crabs fermented in soy sauce and eaten with rice.

Fermentation is key to Korean food

Photo: TMON/Shutterstock

The magic of the jangs comes from fermentation, arguably the most important cooking technique in Korea. The fermentation happening in the jang sauces, as well as kimchi, is called acetic acid fermentation, which converts starches or sugars in grains, fruit, and vegetables into condiments with that distinctive sour flavor. In Korea, fermentation started out as a way to make vegetables last longer and easier to digest.

“Fermentation is essential to Korean cuisine,” Park says. Before refrigeration, there weren’t many crops that grew in the mountainous terrain other than alliums (the plant family that includes onions and garlic) and simple vegetables, she says, adding that “because of this, Koreans had to ferment many of their vegetables and proteins, so that they could last a long time.”

There’s a health benefit, too.

“Koreans are also very health conscious,” Park says, “so fermentation is good because it helps the body break down the food further, and also provides natural probiotics into the Korean diet.”

Practical use isn’t the only reason fermentation traditions have survived thousands of years. It has also remained a part of the culture because it creates intense flavor and texture changes — in both the ingredient being fermented and the dish it’s added to. And because jangs are traditionally fermented in the open air, yeast strains native to certain regions add their own flavors to the jangs, making each batch distinct. This pungent tang of fermentation has become a hallmark of Korean cooking. In fact, Kim doesn’t hesitate when I ask him to describe the signature flavor of Korean food.

“It’s the funk of fermentation. There’s no better word than funk. It’s a beautiful word when you apply to cheese, and I feel the same way when you apply to the jang sauces,” says Kim. “You just add a little [ganjang] to your stew at the end like a finishing fleur de sel or an expensive olive oil.”

If you’re not accustomed to it, the funk of a naturally fermented soy sauce, for instance, might be off putting. However, once it’s added to food, that funk blooms into a conduit that enhances all the other ingredients surrounding it.

“When I apply [soy sauce] to food that funk becomes this powerful, dynamic source of depth. Just like a French chef would use salt to season, Koreans like soy sauce to season. The difference is, besides five years of fermentation, it has this ability to carry whatever the flavors are that it’s combined with a lot longer, and gives it more oomph.”

Eighteen years after Kim stopped visiting his grandmother in Korea, he finally became a professional chef. Only then did he really come to appreciate that signature funk — the smell, texture, and taste that makes Korean food distinct.

“It’s probably because of nostalgia but the smells aren’t bad anymore,” Kim jokes. “[The smell] reminds me what Korean food is about. Korean food is about connecting with nature.”


More like this: Everything to know about makgeolli, Korea’s fizzy rice wine

The post The ‘holy trinity’ of Korean cuisine is all about fermentation appeared first on Matador Network.

The best snowshoe trails near NY

A fact that cannot be denied: New York knows how to do winter. When the cold descends on the East Coast, hiking boots often get shelved for the season and swapped for ski boots. If you’re missing your beloved trails, though, sometimes the ski resorts just can’t scratch that itch. Snowshoeing to the rescue. New York has an abundance of places to enjoy the activity, within a day commute of the city but fully removed from the chaos.

So grab your backpack, your favorite trail snacks, your beanie, and gloves, and hit these epic spots. Whether you want to snowshoe for long distances, scale mountains, or take it easy on a leisurely trail, this list of places to go snowshoeing throughout New York State has you covered.

Hudson Valley

Photo: Lopolo/Shutterstock

Saratoga Spa State Park

Calm, scenic, and sprawling, Saratoga Spa State Park is a prime location for snowshoeing in Hudson Valley. If you don’t have your own snowshoeing gear, the park offers full-day snowshoe rentals seven days a week (though hours do vary slightly from weekdays to weekends). There’s over 12 miles of trails to explore here, and if you keep your eyes peeled, you might even have some cool bird and wildlife sightings. The 1.7-mile South Loop and 1.5-mile North Loop are a good challenge that, when done together, take you through the park’s golf course, past the tree nursery, and back to the parking lot. Opt for one or the other for a shorter outing. You’ll pass a number of mineral springs on the Peerless Loop (0.7 miles) and Geyser Picnic Loop (one mile).

Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Enjoy the waterfalls and ice caves that line the Shawangunk Mountain Ridge at Minnewaska State Park Preserve, among the Hudson’s Valley’s most expansive protected areas. Sam’s Point Preserve is a great trail to head out on. It’s a bit of a challenge, but you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views. If you’re looking for a guided hike, and a chance to check out some waterfalls, the park provides “Waterfall Snowshoe Outings” that you can sign up for — and, if you need, you can rent gear through the park for these events for $5. The trek up to Awosting Falls is 2.5 miles, making for a lengthy roundtrip, but the views are spectacular, whether or not you take the guided tour. The Millbrook Mountain Trail is five miles roundtrip, but you can go as far as you like and turn back. It circles Lake Minnewaska before ascending the surrounding ridge.

Mohonk Preserve

No snowshoe trip to Hudson Valley would be complete without a stop at Mohonk Preserve. While you can’t rent snowshoes at the preserve, there are plenty of nearby places to rent gear before you hit the trails. Also, it’s important to note that there are specific trails for snowshoeing so as not to create unsafe terrain for skiers, i.e. creating “foot potholes” on groomed trails. Choose from either Sand Farm Trail (a little over three miles, loop) or West Trapp Trail (over nine miles, loop) — both have incredible scenery and on crisp, clear days great mountain views.

In and around the Adirondacks

Photo: Ecaterina Ersova/Shutterstock

Table Top Mountain

If you’re a peak-bagger, snowshoes mean summit season doesn’t have to come to a close come winter. Table Top Mountain is New York’s 19th-highest peak. Though 19th place isn’t the best of bragging rights, the trail leading up the peak is among the most challenging and rewarding in the state. Even in the best of conditions, this 10-mile, out-and-back trek is tough, however, so keep that in mind when setting out in the snow. There’s some serious elevation gain (over 2,000 feet), so for this hike, poles might be a wise choice. Challenge aside, it’s sure to be one of the most idyllic locations, especially when blanketed in winter white.

Bald Mountain

For a more family-friendly peak-bagging experience, Bald Mountain has a short and sweet (about two miles out and back) snowshoeing trail that’s enjoyable for all skill levels, and bonus: your pup can join, too. This trail has under 500 feet of elevation gain, making it much more manageable for youngsters or newbies. The views are stunning, and you can also check out the Rondaxe Fire Tower, which can be climbed for even more spectacular views.

Montezuma Audubon Center

Wildlife abounds at the Montezuma Audubon Center outside of Savannah, making it an exciting place to spend time exploring in any season. In particular, the center provides a sanctuary for an abundance of birds, which is why they are hosting a bird-friendly snowshoeing event this February. Guests will enjoy a bird-friendly chocolate tasting and, according to Montezuma Audubon Center, “discover how these sweet treats are created while protecting important habitats where warblers and other neotropical migrants spend the winter months.”

On Long Island

Photo: AerialVision_it/Shutterstock

Bethpage State Park + Bethpage Bikeway

With free off-season parking in the park and easy access to Bethpage Bikeway from a number of nearby towns, either Bethpage State Park or the bikeway is a good choice for snowshoeing. The park itself has plenty of wide-open space to explore while the bikeway offers an easy-to-follow trail leading to a few picturesque preserves. Rolling hills add a nice challenge to either. The bikeway itself spans over 13 miles, but you’ll want to hop on near the town of Bethpage.

Robert Moses State Park

New Yorkers are beach people by nature — it is the East Coast, after all — so it should be no surprise that a beach-adjacent snowshoeing location would make this list. Check out the infamous Robert Moses Lighthouse at the namesake state park, and, if you’re up for putting in some long-distance trekking (it’s a little over three miles one way), head to Fire Island’s Kismet Beach.

Blydenburgh County Park

Blydenburgh is a great space for snowshoeing through a wooded winter wonderland. This loop trail (a little over six miles roundtrip) is easy to follow as it goes entirely around the park’s Stump Pond. The terrain is mostly flat, and it’s a great trail for families to enjoy together. There’s a dog park here, too, that your four-legged family members will surely enjoy.

Cold Spring Harbor (Nassau Suffolk Greenbelt Trail)

The Nassau Suffolk Greenbelt Trail has 20 miles to traverse in any season. If you’re looking for a challenge, though, try out the Cold Spring Harbor section. It’s an out-and-back trail of a little over four miles that’s definitely more intermediate than beginner thanks to some steep sections. While poles are not required for snowshoeing, they’re recommended for this trail as the steep areas and snow can make for slippery steps.


More like this: It’s time for the Adirondacks to get the respect they deserve

The post The most epic places to go snowshoeing in New York this winter appeared first on Matador Network.

Most popular last name around world

If everyone in America named Smith formed their own state, it would be the 35th most populous state in America. Let that sink in.

And while our country and a number of other English-speaking nations have an abundance of Smiths, every country in the world has its own ubiquitous name, where it seems like you’re never in a class, workplace, or on any list without 10 other people having the same name. To find that name in every country in the world, NetCredit took a look at data from Ancestry.com and Oxford reference, and found not only the most popular surname in each nation but also what they all mean.

The answers below are far more interesting than you might think — and will definitely make you a bar trivia god this weekend.

Editor’s Note: For concision’s sake, we’ve only broken down the etymology of each name once, at its first inclusion, and added other fun facts when appropriate as the name comes up again. Countries that belong to two continents are grouped under according to map representation. This list also excludes territories.

North America

Photo: NetCredit

Antigua and Barbuda

Joseph

Family name derived from the Hebrew name “Yosef,” meaning “May God have another son.” One of three Caribbean islands where this is the most common name.

Bahamas

Rolle

Like many Caribbean surnames, Rolle is taken from a European name passed on to enslaved people from early colonizers. This one is the Middle High German rolle, which, much like it does today, means “list” or “roster.” It may have referred to someone who worked as a scribe.

Barbados

Clarke

Taken from Olde English clerc, which means “priest.” May have denoted a religious clerk or scribe.

Belize

Martinez

Derived from the Latin name Martinus, a reference to Mars, the Roman god of fertility and war.

Canada

Smith

Occupational name for someone who works with metal.

Costa Rica

Rodriguez

Derived from the Germanic word hrōdrīc, which is a compound of hrōd — meaning “renown” — and rīc, meaning “power.”

Cuba

Rodriguez

Five countries have Rodriguez as their most popular name, the most of any in Latin America.

Dominica

Joseph

Dominican Republic

Rodriguez

El Salvador

Hernandez

Related to “Fernandez,” which is derived from Ferdinand, an Old German combination of farð — meaning “journey” — and nanð — meaning “courage” or “daring.” Collectively, it translates to “bold voyager.” Literally “son of Hernando” or “son of Fernando.” Meaning Fernandez and Hernandez are almost the same name.

Grenada

Charles

French form of the Germanic word carl, which means “man.”

Guatemala

Lopez

Means “wolf.”

Haiti

Jean

French for John, which like Johannes means “God has favored me with a son,” or “bless this child.”

Honduras

Hernandez

Jamaica

Brown

This term refers to physical appearance, specifically someone with brown hair and/or complexion.

Mexico

Hernandez

Over 4.8 million Mexicans have this last name, a full 1.3 million more than second-place Garcia.

Nicaragua

Lopez

One in 27 people in Nicaragua have this wolf-meaning name.

Panama

Rodriguez

St. Kitts and Nevis

Williams

Derived from William, which is a combination of the Germanic will, meaning “want” or “desire,” and helm, meaning “helmet.”

St. Lucia

Joseph

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Williams

Trinidad and Tobago

Mohammed

A reference to the great Islamic prophet, which in Arabic also means “praiseworthy.” Trinidad and Tobago is the only Caribbean nation where the most popular surnames are Arabic, with Mohammed and Ali ranking first and second.

United States

Smith

Nearly 3 million Americans are named Smith, followed closely by Johnson with 2.3 million and Williams with 1.9 million. Rounding out the American top 10 are Brown; Jones; Miller; Davis; Wilson; Anderson; and Taylor.

South America

Photo: NetCredit

Argentina

Gonzalez

This literally means “son of Gonzalo,” and though you don’t meet a lot of Gonzalos walking around these days, back in medieval times you did meet a good number of Gundisalvus’. This was a Latin version of a Germanic name combining the words gund — meaning “war” — and salv, with a meaning that’s unclear. So, to summarize, Gonzalez means “son of war.”

Bolivia

Mamani

Refers to someone who came from the Spanish town of Miaman, which is present-day Ourense. One could draw the conclusion that many Spanish settlers in Bolivia came from that region.

Brazil

da Silva

Means someone from a number of places called Silva, which means “thicket” or

“bramble.”

Chile

Gonzalez

Colombia

Rodriguez

Ecuador

Garcia

Its exact origin is unclear though the name dates to medieval times and is likely related to a Basque word meaning either “young” or “bear.”

Guyana

Persaud

West Indian alteration of Indian name Prasad, from the Sanskrit prasada, meaning “favor,” “grace,” or “offering.”

Paraguay

Gonzalez

Peru

Quispe

From Aymara word for “glass” or “precious stone.”

Suriname

Lin

From a Chinese root word for “forest.”

Uruguay

Rodriguez

Venezuela

Gonzalez

Europe

Photo: NetCredit

Albania

Hoxha

Derived from a Persian word khvajeh, which means “lord.”

Andorra

Garcia

This independent country sandwiched between France and Spain has more Spanish-leaning names.

Armenia

Gregoryan

The most common name in Armenia is taken from the proper name Grigor, from the Greek Gregorios — meaning “to be awake” or “watchful.”

Austria

Gruber

Austria’s most common name is taken from the Middle High German word groube, which means “pit” or “hollow.” Basically it refers to one who lives in a depression, hollow, or other lowered area.

Belarus

Ivanov

Means “son of Ivan.”

Belgium

Peeters

Taken from the name Petrus, which means “rock” or “stone.”

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Hodžić

This name taken from the word hoza means “son of the lord” or “son of the master.” Its root is from the Persian word khawaja, meaning “lord” or “master.”

Bulgaria

Ivanov

One of three countries where the most common name is a descendant of Ivan.

Croatia

Horvat

Taken from Croatian word hrvat, which means “person from Croatia.” This would be like if the most common name here was actually Johnny America.

Cyprus

Georgiou

If you’ve traveled the rural countryside of this Mediterranean island then it’s not much surprise its most common name means “rustic” or “farmer.”

Czech Republic

Novakova

When the most common name in your country comes from a Slavic word for “newcomer,” it must get confusing to know who has actually lived there a while.

Denmark

Jensen

Shortened version of “son of Johannes.” Johannes is a version of John, Jean, and other variants, which means “Jehovah has favored me with a son” or “God bless this child.”

Estonia

Tamm

Means “oak tree” or “dam.”

Finland

Korhonen

Gotta love those playful Finns, whose most common surname comes from the word korho, which literally means “deaf person” but is also used to describe someone who is clumsy, silly, or foolish.

France

Martin

Like Martinez, this name is derived from Mars, the Roman god of war and fertility.

Germany

Müller

Also Mueller, referring to one who mills grain. Any surprise this country’s good at beer?

Greece

Papadopoulos

Combination of papas, which means “priest” in Greek, and poulus, which means “son.” So we can assume Greek priests were not a celibate order.

Hungary

Nagy

Hungarian word for “big,” referring to a large or powerful person.

Iceland

Jónsdóttir

Fairly self-explanatory if you read it out loud, this means “daughter of John” in Icelandic.

Ireland

Murphy

No surprise as this is also the most common name for any American bar that offers two-for-one shots of Jameson, Murphy comes from the Gaelic name Ó Murchadha, meaning “descendant of Murchadh,” a personal name meaning “sea-warrior.”

Italy

Rossi

Interesting to see the most common name of stereotypically dark-haired, olive-skinned Italians refers to a person with red hair and a ruddy complexion.

Kosovo

Krasniqi

A descendant from the Krasniqi tribe of northern Albania.

Latvia

Bērziņš

Related to bērzs, the Latvian word for birch trees, this literally means “one who lives among birch trees.”

Liechtenstein

Büchel

From the Middle High German bühel — which loosely translates to “hill” — this name refers to someone living on a hill.

Lithuania

Kazlauskas

Name related to the familiarly-Polish Kozlowski, it literally means someone from any number of places called Kozłów.

Luxembourg

Schmit

Middle High German version of Schmidt — or Smith. Literally, it’s the “Smith” of Luxembourg.

Macedonia

Stojanovski

The “Stojanov” part of the name is of unknown Macedonian origin, but the “ski” suffix is the result of the government’s effort to make names sound more Greek.

Malta

Borg

Old Norse word meaning “fortification” or “fort.”

Moldova

Rusu

Refers to a person of Russian descent, like Ruski.

Monaco

Rossi

One family can tip the scales in Monaco, as the 89 Rossis could be easily overtaken by the Lorenzis, who number 67.

Montenegro

Popovic

Not a nation of die-hard Spurs fans, this name is a mixture of the Serbian word for priest, pop, and the suffix “ovich,” which means “son of.”

Netherlands

de Jong

Dutch name meaning “young.”

Norway

Hansen

Old Norse word meaning “creators of annoyingly catchy songs.” Or it’s a derivative of Hans, which is an aphetic form of Johannes.

Poland

Nowak

Derived from the Polish word nowy, meaning “new.” Denotes a newcomer or someone new to the area.

Portugal

Silva

This is close to the most popular name in Brazil too, meaning “person from a thicket.”

Romania

Popa

From Romanian word popa, meaning “priest.”

San Marino

Gasperoni

From the Latin word gasparus, which comes from the Persian word kaspar, meaning “treasurer.”

Serbia

Jovanovic

Meaning “son of Jovan,” another of the Jean/John/Johannes family.

Slovakia

Varga

From the Hungarian word for “cobbler” or “shoemaker.”

Slovenia

Novak

From Slavic word for “new,” meaning one is a newcomer.

Spain

Garcia

Almost 1.5 million people in Spain have this name from a Basque word for “bear.”

Sweden

Andersson

Meaning son of Anders, which is ultimately derived from the Greek andreios, meaning “manly.”

Switzerland

Müller

Turkey

Yilmaz

Turkish name meaning “unyielding.”

Ukraine

Melnik

Russian occupational name for miller, or one who works with grain.

United Kingdom

Smith

Guessing there were a LOT of people working with metal in old-timey England.

Vatican City

Bachmann

Exactly four people with this name live in Vatican City. If one more Graf moves in, it’ll drop to #2.

Africa

Photo: NetCredit

Algeria

Saidi

Ancestral name and derivative of the word sayyid, which means “lord” or “master.”

Angola

Manuel

Manuel is short for Emmanuel, which if you paid attention to all those Christmas carols you may recall as Immanuel — Hebrew for “God is with us.”

Benin

Bio

Unknown.

Botswana

Molefe

The father of the Batlôkwa tribe — found in Botswana, Lesotho, and South Africa — was named Modungwane. This name is thought to be from its commonly-used shortened version, Molefe.

Burkina Faso

Ouedraogo

A little like how immigration officials at Ellis Island shaped American surnames in the 20th century, so did the French in their former African colonies. This name is a French spelling of Wedraogo, son of Princess Yennega, the mother of the Mossi people.

Burundi

Nkurunziza

Bantu name meaning “good news.”

Cameroon

Ngo

Proto-Indo-European word meaning “ox” or “bull.”

Cape Verde

Lopes

From the medieval word lopo, which means “wolf.” Lopes itself is Portuguese, stemming from Cape Verde’s time as a colony of Portugal.

Central African Republic

Moussa

Variant of Musa, a reference to Moses.

Chad

Mahamat

African variant of Mohammad.

Comoros

Mohamed

Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

Kone

Unknown.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ilunga

A highly-efficient Bantu word meaning “a person who is ready to forgive any abuse for the first time, to tolerate it a second time, but never a third time.”

Djibouti

Mohamed

Egypt

Mohamed

Equatorial Guinea

Nguema

Eritrea

Ali

The name referring to the all-high was also the name of Ali IbnAbi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the prophet Mohammed.

eSwatini (formerly Swaziland)

Dlamini

A fifth of the country has this name relating to the Dlamini people.

Ethiopia

Tesfaye

Taken from tesfa, which means “my hope” in Amharic.

Gabon

Ndong

Unknown. The tenth-most popular name here? Obame.

The Gambia

Jallow

Fula name that comes from the Arabic word jalil, “meaning greatness.”

Ghana

Mensah

Name for the third-born child in Akan, a language native to Ghana.

Guinea

Diallo

Another French colonial spelling of a native name, this Fula name means “bold.”

Guinea-Bissau

Gomes

Taken from the Visigoth name “Guma,” which means “man.”

Kenya

Mwangi

Means “rapid expansion” in Kikuyu.

Lesotho

Mohapi

Sotho word for “victor” or “champion.”

Liberia

Kollie

Distantly derived from Old Norse word kollir, meaning “helmet.”

Libya

Ali

Madagascar

Rakotomalalav

Rakoto is actually quite common in Malagasy surnames, with the three most popular beginning with this prefix, and four of the top 10. This version is blended with the word malawi, which means “beloved.” All 10 of the most popular names begin with the letter R, which probably makes alphabetizing in Madagascar a nightmare.

Malawi

Banda

Forgive Malawians if they have a bit of an ego, but when your most common name literally translates to “I am a gift from God,” it can be hard to stay humble. Malawi’s first prime minister was named Hastings Banda, and as it is customary in this part of Africa to have surnames that speak to life aspirations, he may also be responsible for much of its popularity.

Mali

Traore

Originally this name was something more along the lines of “Tarawele,” a Manding word meaning “the called ones,” referring to calls to battle. But when French colonizers began writing it down, the name took on this form.

Mauritania

Ba

A couple of possibilities here: First, it could be a Fula prefix denoting where someone comes from, like Ba-Sudan. But it could also be a shortened form of aba, the Arabic word for father.

Mauritius

Beeharry

Sadly, this is not a last name that excuses its owners from body hair maintenance, nor is it a reference to a furry insect. Rather it comes from the Sanskrit word vihara, which means “one who roams about for pleasure.”

Morocco

Alaoui

This is essentially the same as Ali, but a French transcription.

Mozambique

Langa

Bantu word meaning “sun” or “light.”

Namibia

Johannes

German derivative of John.

Niger

Abdou

Derived from the Arabic abduh, which means “his servant.” Though in this case the “him” is Allah.

Nigeria

Ibrahim

Arabic for Abraham, the father of all Semitic peoples.

Republic of the Congo

Ngoma

Means “song,” “drum,” or the song made by beating a drum.

Rwanda

Uwimana

Rwandan origin meaning “daughter of God.”

Sao Tome and Principe

Fernandes

Literally is “son of Fernando,” though that name is taken from the Gothic name Frithunanths. Broken down it’s “frith,” which means “peace with,” and “nanth” which means “daring.”

Senegal

Ndiaye

From Arabic nadīy, meaning “generous.”

Seychelles

Hoareau

You can credit Rene Hoareau, one of the first French settlers in the Seychelles, with the popularity of this name.

Sierra Leone

Kamara

Derived from the Aribic word qamar, meaning “moon.”

Somalia

Ali

Combined with Abdi, the second-most popular name in Somalia, about 1.9 million of Somalia’s 14.74 million people have some derivative of a name meaning “all high” or “lofty.”

South Africa

Nkosi

Means “god” or “king.”

South Sudan

Deng

It’s no coincidence in the tropical climate of South Sudan, the Dinki people’s most powerful god is Deng, the god of rain.

Sudan

Ahmed

Alternate spelling of Ahmad, a word meaning “most praised” in reference to the prophet Mohammed. It’s also the second- or third-most popular name in a number of Islamic countries.

Tanzania

Juma

Derived from the Arabic word jum’a, which means “assembly.” The name is often given to people born on Friday, the “day of assembly” in Islam.

Togo

Lawson

Literally means “son of Lawrence,” but proliferated in Togo due to the slave trade.

Tunisia

Trabelsi

Refers to people from Tripoli in Libya. Pronounced “trablus” in Maghrebi Arabic.

Uganda

Akello

A term from the Luo people meaning a child born after twins.

Zambia

Phiri

This is the name of a clan from the Chewa people, who inhabit central and southern Africa.

Zimbabwe

Moyo

Zimbabwean name meaning “the heart.”

Asia

Photo: NetCredit

Afghanistan

Muhammadi

A derivative of Mohammad.

Azerbaijan

Mammadova

Means “son of Mammad.”

Bahrain

Ali

From the Arabic Al-Ali, which means “all high.” It can also mean “lofty” or “sublime,” and is a reference to Allah, the almighty god in Islam.

Bangladesh

Akter

A variant on the Arabic word akhtar, meaning “star” or “good luck.” Ironic for a country that seems to never catch a break.

Brunei

Haji

Reference to one who has made the hajj, or Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.

Cambodia

Sok

The word means “thick rope or chain” in Cantonese, but may also refer to people from Suo, a Chinese state during the Shang dynasty.

China

Wang

If you thought that Smith stat in the intro was crazy, if everyone in China named Wang formed a country it would be the 14th most-populous in the world, right between the Philippines and Egypt. Over 103 million people share this name that means prince, king, or vast.

Georgia

Beridze

Unknown.

India

Devi

From Sanskrit word for “goddess.”

Indonesia

Sari

Indonesian word for “essence.”

Iran

Mohammadi

Iraq

Mohamed

Israel

Cohen

From the Hebrew kohen, meaning priest. This referred mostly to the kohanim caste of priests, descended from Moses’ brother Aaron.

Japan

Sato

This denotes a descendant of the Sato family, a branch of the Fujiwara clan dating back to the ninth century.

Jordan

Allah

Kazakhstan

Kim

Translates to “gold.”

Kuwait

Ali

Kyrgyzstan

Ismailova

From the Uyghur name for Ismael, the son of Abraham, whose name means “God will hear.” The -ova suffix makes this “son of Ismael.”

Laos

Inthavong

Unknown Laotian term.

Lebanon

El Din

Combination of Arabic words el — meaning “god” — and din — meaning religion or faith. So, effectively, this means “god faith” or “faith in “god.”

Malaysia

Tan

Refers to people from the Zhou dynasty-era state of Tan.

Maldives

Mohamed

Mongolia

Ganbold

Just when you thought Mongolia couldn’t get any more badass, you learn the most common name in the country means steel.

Myanmar

Maung

Burmese term of honor for a younger brother.

Nepal

Caudhari

Sanskrit word meaning “holder of four,” which may refer to the amount of land someone owns.

North Korea

Kim

A full 25 percent of North Koreans have this last name, which is a reference to “gold.”

Oman

Al Balushi

Al Balushi is not the long lost third member of a great Chicago comedy family, but rather a tribal surname meaning someone is of Baloch ancestry.

Pakistan

Khan

From Turkish word meaning “ruler” or “nobleman.” You’re yelling it like William Shatner in your head right now, aren’t you?

Palestine

Awad

Based on Arabic word for reverence or kindness.

Philippines

de la Cruz

Filipino take on the French name “de la Croix,” which means “of the cross.” Pacquiao did not crack the top 10. Yet.

Qatar

Khan

Just when you’d gotten Captain Kirk out of your head…

Russia

Ivanova

Saudi Arabia

Khan

Singapore

Tan

Over 723,000 people, or one in eight Singaporeans, has this name from the Tan state of the Zhou dynasty.

South Korea

Kim

Over 11 million, or one in five, South Koreans are named Kim.

Sri Lanka

Perera

From the Portuguese word pereira, meaning “palm tree.”

Syria

Khaled

From the Arabic word khalid, meaning “eternal” or “remaining.”

Taiwan

Chen

Refers to people from the Chen region, in Henan province.

Tajikistan

Sharipov

Literally means “son of Sharip,” which is a Tajik version of Sharif. Who, as you may recall, don’t like it.

Thailand

Saetang

Thai variation of Chen, the most popular name in a number of other Asian countries referring to people from Chen in the Henan province.

Timor-Leste (East Timor)

Soares

From Portueguese word soeiro, meaning “swineherd.”

Turkmenistan

Mamedova

Means “son of Mammad.”

United Arab Emirates

Ali

Of the seven countries where Ali or some form of it is the most popular surname, this is the only one with an indoor ski slope.

Uzbekistan

Karimov

Unknown.

Vietnam

Nguyen

Vietnamese version of the Chinese word ruan, which is a type of lute.

Yemen

Mohamed

That’s over 10 countries, if you were counting, where some version of Mohamed is the most popular name.

Oceania

05_The-most-common-last-name-in-every-country_NorthAmerica

Australia

Smith

Smith, to exactly no one’s surprise, is the most common name in five countries, which also happen to be the largest majority of English-speaking countries in the world.

Fiji

Kumar

From the Sanskrit kumara, which means “son,” “child,” or “prince.” Prince of a white castle, perhaps?

Kiribati

Ioane

Member of the John/Jean/Johannes family of etymology.

Marshall Islands

John

Same as Jean, Johannes, and other versions of the “blessed with a son” name.

Micronesia

Mori

From a Japanese word for “forest,” that more specifically means the hallowed ground around a shrine.

Nauru

Harris

Derived from the English name Harry, which is a combination of the Germanic word haim, which means “home.” And rīc, meaning “power” or “ruler.”

New Zealand

Smith

Palau

Tellei

This island nation of just over 21,000 only has seven last names with over 400 people. The origin of this most-popular one is unknown.

Papua New Guinea

John

The two next most popular surnames here are Peter and Paul, and the entire top 10 are English names of biblical origin.

Samoa

Meredith

Taken from the Welsh name Maredudd, a combination of words meaning “pomp” and “lord.”

Solomon Islands

Mae

Japanese for “front” or “before.”

Tonga

Latu

About 2,700 Tongans have this native name of unknown meaning.

Tuvalu

Apinelu

Technically, this tied with Smith for most popular name in this small Pacific island nation. But really, don’t we have enough Smiths on this list?

Vanuatu

Tari

Native name of unknown origin beat out yet-another John by 1,400 people.


More like this: Listen and discover Indigenous languages on Google Earth’s new platform

The post appeared first on Matador Network.

Bougainville could become a country

If your New Year’s resolution was to visit every country in the world, then that list is about to get a little bit longer. After residents of Bougainville, a group of islands in the South Pacific, voted on December 11, 2019, to separate from Papua New Guinea, the islands appear positioned to become the newest country in the world.

Photo: Google Maps

Bougainville is composed of volcanic islands and atolls in the Solomon Sea, located about 870 miles north of Australia. The 3,600-square-mile area is home to around 25,000 people, most of whom live on the islands of Bougainville and Buka. The town of Buka is the capital, with restaurants, bars, shops, and small guesthouses, though the island doesn’t have many sites geared toward tourists. Bougainville Island, however, has an abundance of natural beauty, including forests, lagoons, waterfalls, caves, beaches, and mountains. Visitors can hike to Mount Balbi and Namotoa Crater Lake or go birdwatching and diving in the southern Arawa region.

To access Bougainville, you’ll have to take a boat from the Solomon Islands to Uka Island, or take a plane from Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. You won’t really need to worry about a visa, either, as there is currently a visa on arrival system in place.

Although the independence process has been set in motion, it’s not likely to be settled for some time. Before fully gaining its independence, Bougainville will need to negotiate and agree to terms with Papua New Guinea.


More like this: 7 reasons you need to see Papua New Guinea before you die

The post These South Pacific islands could be the world’s newest country appeared first on Matador Network.

Things to do in Jardín, Colombia

Colombia’s Antioquia region has no shortage of charm. Spanning the country’s northern Andes, Antioquia is home to the sprawling city of Medellín, where many long-term travelers base themselves for an extended stay in the country. Medellín’s young, creative class has started so many businesses that the city has been named one of the world’s most innovative. But at the end of the day, it’s another big city you’ll eventually need a break from. While lots of travelers take a trip to the beaches of nearby Guatapé to escape the hustle, going south to verdant Jardín is actually a better option. Here’s why.

It’s the place to try the best of Colombian coffee

Photo: Catherine Tansey

Jardín is a small Paisa town south of Medellín. You’ll first be captivated by its lively main plaza, accessible nature, and friendly locals. Colorful colonial buildings line the narrow streets and frame the city’s central square, where locals in dusty blue jeans and cowboy hats sip coffee streetside at all hours. Jardín feels largely untouched by Colombia’s recent tourist boom, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty going on in this small town in the Andes.

Jardin is located in the middle of the eje cafetero, the coffee axis, so sitting over a strong cup of joe is a way of life here. Despite being among the world’s leading producers of coffee, most of the country’s best has historically been exported. Jardín is a place where locals and visitors can try the good stuff, with many specialty cafés opening in recent years to service the growing appreciation and interest in locally sourced coffee. Cafe MonteSer, in the center of town, has excellent house-roasted coffee and gives you the option of pour-over, Aeropress, siphon, or French press. Within walking distance, you’ll find nearly a dozen additional spots to grab a cup including delosAndes Cafe and El Cafe 1935, both cozy spots that are great for conversation.

Walk by the Basilica de la Inmaculada Concepcion

Photo: Barna Tanko/Shutterstock

The town’s most notable structure is the massive Basilica de la Inmaculada Concepcion, which you’ll undoubtedly walk past en route to just about anywhere in town. Built in 1872, you can enter the Catholic basilica until 8:00 PM, but the best photos are taken from the surrounding gardens and square. Also worth a few hours is a guided tour of the Cueva del Esplendor, a cave with a massive waterfall pouring through a hole in the rock ceiling. Tours run daily, though in an effort of conservation, only 40 people per day are allowed to enter.

Day hikes abound

Photo: Catherine Tansey

Jardín shines in a lot of ways, but it’s the town’s accessibility to scenic mountain day hikes that makes it the best day trip from Medellín. Go in almost any direction outside of the pueblo, and you’ll find winding country roads dotted by colorful casitas, broad-leaved banana trees, and lazy grazing livestock. If you have only a day or two in town, try these trails, both accessible on foot from your morning stop for coffee. Use the MapsMe app to see these two trails and plenty of others in Jardín.

Cristo Rey: The Cristo Rey is a mirador, or viewpoint, overlooking the city on the northern edge of town. Named for the large Jesus statue marking the overlook, Cristo Rey requires a steep uphill sprint but rewards hikers with views of the valley below and a mountainside cafe near the top. To get there, take the walking trail from Calle 11. You’ll head down a very steep, rocky path and past a large oak tree dripping in moss. Pass over the wooden suspension bridge, and the trail will climb upward.

La Garrucha Loop: This four-mile loop includes the La Garrucha scenic overlook and two waterfalls. There’s also a cable car that services La Garrucha, so it’s possible to take the gondola up and hike down from there. The hike follows gently sloping gravel roads outside of town lined with fragrant lime trees, sleepy bungalows, and sweeping bougainvillea. Follow the full loop to end up back in town.

Getting to Jardín from Medellín and finding a place to crash

Photo: Catherine Tansey

The easiest way to arrive in Jardín is to take a RapidoOcho or Suroeste bus from Terminal Sur in Medellín. Buses run just about every hour and cost around $8. The quoted time to Jardín is three hours, but it can take up to five or six depending on traffic, landslides, roadslides, and construction. However long the trip, expect a beautiful, bumpy ride. Antioquia is a mountainous region of Colombia, and the ride to Jardín is a winding one. Motion sickness medication is a good idea if you’re prone to car sickness.

Unlike other big-name Colombian destinations, Jardín doesn’t have a ton of options when it comes to lodging. Located a few blocks from the main square, Sgt. Pepper’s Hostel is a good pick for cheap and comfortable accommodation. The second-floor patio is flanked by views of the surrounding mountains where you can lounge in a hammock and read a book. A bunk in the shared dorms runs about $11 while a private room is just over $30, and breakfast is included. Ayahuasca Casa Artistica is a hostel and guesthouse located three kilometers outside of town and has excellent reviews. Guests rave about the tranquil setting and friendly owners. You can stay for as cheap as $8, but prepare to share because there are no private rooms available.

For something a bit nicer, the Hotel Jardín starts at $85 per night and the Balcones de Parque starts at $45. Airbnb is available, but options are quite limited, and you likely won’t be in the city center.


More like this: Why you should do Colombia’s most famous hike in reverse

The post For the perfect day of hiking and Colombian coffee, head to Jardín appeared first on Matador Network.

African-American culinary exhibit

A Kickstarter-funded exhibit dedicated to the African-American contributions to American cuisine for the past 400 years is coming to New York City this winter, highlighting black chefs, farmers, and food and drink producers who have made the nation’s cuisine what it is today. Slated for late February, the exhibit entitled “” will be curated by African-American culinary experts and chefs, and will open in the Africa Center in East Harlem.

The exhibit’s Kickstarter campaign was launched by the Museum of Food and Drink in mid-October, with the goal of $150,000 being reached in just a few weeks.

Dr. Jessica B. Harris, one of the exhibit’s curators, said in a press release, “In the 400-plus years since enslaved Africans first arrived on the North American continent, African Americans have been the bedrock of American cuisine. For centuries, we worked the fields, harvested the crops, wrote the recipes, brewed the beer, distilled the whiskey, cooked the food, set the table, served the food, cleared the table, and emptied the chamber-pots. In so doing, we made this nation’s table — and our influence continues today.”

The exhibit will be separated into four separate stories, one for each century. The first will highlight enslaved rice farmers; the second will focus on James Hemings, the enslaved chef of Thomas Jefferson; the third on Nathan Green, who taught Jack Deniel to distill whiskey; and the fourth on Leah Chase, the Creole chef whose New Orleans restaurant played a major role in the civil rights movement.

Photo: Museum of Food and Drink

The exhibit’s centerpiece will be the Ebony Test Kitchen, where Ebony magazine editors once tested their recipes. The psychedelic space has undergone a thorough restoration, and will even hit the road on tour after making its February debut in Harlem.


More like this: The 6 best black-owned restaurants in New York City

The post Exhibit dedicated to black contribution to American cuisine is coming to Harlem appeared first on Matador Network.

Landmarks in dangerous countries

Although the world is generally a safe place, and strangers are often more kind and well-meaning than evil, there are locations where travelers typically shouldn’t venture, places ravaged by wars, terrorism, civil unrest, or violent crime. But lack of safety hardly means that these risky nations have nothing to offer but conflict and despair — like every other place in the world, they are home to stunning natural beauty, fascinating history, unique culture, and impressive architecture. With that in mind, we’ve used International SOS to identify seven nations deemed some of the most dangerous places on Earth and highlighted their best features for travelers to admire — with the hope that one day, they can see them in person.

1. Citadel of Aleppo, Syria

Photo: Anton_Ivanov/Shutterstock

Syria has been gripped by a deadly civil war since 2011. Before the conflict between pro and anti-government forces began, Aleppo was Syria’s largest city and its main industrial and financial hub. But by July 2012, the war had split Aleppo in half, with the rebels occupying the east and government forces controlling the west. Fierce fighting raged for four years before the government launched a series of decisive incursions and drove the rebels out. While the scars of war are all too visible across the city and its UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town, beauty can still be found here — not least in the Citadel of Aleppo, a vast fortified palace that dominates the city’s historic center and that was once a busy tourist attraction.

Much of the current-day citadel dates back to the Ayyubid dynasty of the 12th and 13th centuries, but the 100-foot high limestone hilltop site has been historically significant since at least the middle of the third millennium BC. Although the citadel came under heavy fire during the civil war — with government troops using it as a military base — and sustained significant damage, the striking structure still remains, its fortified entrance as imposing today as it was over 800 years ago.

2. Ziggurat of Ur, Iraq

Photo: Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH/Shutterstock

Iraq has endured near-constant violence ever since the US-led invasion of 2003. American troops were officially withdrawn in 2011, only to be redeployed in 2014 to counter the cross-border spread of the Syrian Civil War and the growing presence of Islamic State militants. The terrorist group may have lost substantial tracts of territory since its 2014 peak, but Iraq remains highly unstable. But as well as being one of the most dangerous places on Earth, Iraq remains one of the most historically important — not by chance is the fertile land bordered by the Euphrates and Tigris rivers often referred to as “the cradle of civilization.”

Of its many cultural treasures, arguably the most striking is the Ziggurat of Ur, an immense mud brick pyramid-like structure topped with a temple dating back to the 21st century BC. By the sixth century BC, 1,500 years of history had begun to take their toll on the Ziggurat, and Neo-Babylonian King Nabonidus had the structure restored. In the 1920s, the site was entirely excavated and “rediscovered” by archeologists. In the 1980s, the Ziggurat was partially reconstructed under the rule of Saddam Hussein. Some remains of the original temple can still be seen atop the ziggurat’s 70- to 100-foot walls, but the structure has been damaged in the recent war.

3. Dar al-Hajar, Yemen

Photo: Judith Lienert/Shutterstock

The UN has described the ongoing conflict in Yemen as the world’s largest humanitarian catastrophe. In 2018, the Human Rights Watch reported that at least 6,872 civilians have been killed in the violence and that 14 million people remained at risk of starvation and death in the country. While Yemen suffers greatly from the armed conflict, it is still home to natural and man-made beauty, like the Dar al-Hajar palace. Perched precariously atop a tall natural rock spire, Dar al-Hajar was built by an Islamic spiritual leader in the 1930s. The main structure is five storeys tall, but various outbuildings cling to lower reaches of the rockface. While the interior is undeniably impressive, incorporating grand appointment rooms, kitchens, and a warren of corridors and stairways, the star attraction is undoubtedly the view of the exterior, which looms over the surrounding valley floor.

4. Laas Geel, Somalia

Photo: imeduard/Shutterstock

Somalia is second only to war-torn Yemen on the Fund for Peace-produced Fragile States Index. Infighting, terror attacks, and recurring droughts have led to an extreme humanitarian crisis and hundreds of millions of displaced Somalis. Yet, as with every country on this list — and, indeed, every country in the world — Somalia deserves more than to be viewed from such a one-dimensional perspective. Among its extensive cultural heritage is Laas Geel, described by the British Museum as one of the region’s most important rock art sites, and also the oldest. Dated by archaeologists to the mid-fourth to mid-third millennia BC, the colorful paintings that adorn the granite rockface depict human figures alongside groups of up to 15 cows. As such, they provide some of the oldest evidence for cattle domestication in the Horn of Africa.

5. Archeological site of Leptis Magna, Libya

Photo: Aleksandra H. Kossowska/Shutterstock

Since the overthrow of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been the site of a violent struggle for power involving rival governments, many armed groups, and the support of foreign nations. The conflict has been crippling the national economy, killing thousands, and causing around 200,000 Libyans to be internally displaced. The ongoing crisis is made all the more tragic when considered alongside the country’s rich cultural history. Libya is home to five UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the remarkably preserved remains of Leptis Magna — described by the organization as “one of the most beautiful cities of the Roman Empire.”

While Leptis Magna is full of large, spectacular structures, including a racecourse measuring 1,500 feet in length, and a vast amphitheatre built by the Romans between the first and third centuries AD, it was abandoned in the seventh century and got buried under layers of sand until the site was excavated in the early 20th century. Today, Leptis Magna is in danger of destruction due to the ongoing conflict.

6. The Great Mosque of Djenné, Mali

Photo: trevor kittelty/Shutterstock

Since 2007, rebel activities (by Tuareg people and Islamic militants linked to al-Qaeda) and terrorism attacks by armed Islamist groups have made Mali one of the most dangerous nations in the world. Despite the political and military instability, the violence, and the severe human rights situation, there’s beauty in the country. In the historically significant town of Djenné, looming over the neighborhoods of traditional low-rise adobe houses, is one of the world’s most unique religious buildings, the Great Mosque of Djenné.

Little is known about the original mosque, which is thought to have been built with local material in the 13th century when Islam was flourishing in the area. Having fallen into ruin from lack of upkeep (a mud-brick building like this one requires regular replastering; nowadays, it is replastered annually), it was replaced in the 19th century, only for this iteration to be demolished and rebuilt in 1907 with the structure that is still standing today. It is unclear to what extent the current-day mosque echoes the design of its medieval predecessor, but as the largest mud-built structure in the world, it is undeniably impressive.

7. Buddhist remains of Bamiyan, Afghanistan

Photo: Torsten Pursche/Shutterstock

Afghanistan is the scene of the longest-running war in US history. Eighteen years after the start of the war, the violence has yet to burn itself out; on average, an estimated 74 men, women, and children were killed every day during August 2019 reports the BBC. But the casualties have been cultural as well as human. In 2001, six months before the 9/11 attacks, the world was horrified by reports that the Taliban had destroyed the seventh-century Buddhas of Bamiyan — a pair of immense statues hand-carved from sandstone cliff faces.

While the Buddhas themselves have been reduced to rubble, the colossal niches in which they stood still exist and are spectacular in their own right. In 2015, a high-powered projector gifted to the Afghan people by Chinese donors was used to display a huge 3D image of the Buddhas into one of the niches. Discussion about the feasibility of rebuilding the statues has been discussed, although the focus is currently on stabilizing the niches.


More like this: 7 historic treasures destroyed in wars that travelers will never get to see

The post The 7 most beautiful places to see in the most dangerous countries in the world appeared first on Matador Network.

Cheapest cities in the world

Perhaps you’ve been reading all these year-end “Where to go in 2020” stories and thinking to yourself, “Well, that sure must be nice for people who have money to do stuff like travel.” But it doesn’t always have to be that way. Keeping your eyes on cheap flights can get you out of the country for less than the cost of a trip home for Thanksgiving. And a lot of cities around the world won’t cost more than $75 a day once you get there. Starling Bank took a look at the average costs of food, entertainment, and hotels in 35 of the world’s biggest cities and found 10 where even a tiny budget can take you a long way.

10. Warsaw, Poland

Average daily cost: $70.60

Photo: fotorince/Shutterstock

The lone European city to crack the top 10, the Polish capital won’t cost you more than $20 a day for food, with $2 beers in the city’s most popular pubs. Entertaining yourself won’t break the bank either, as you can score free admission to the Warsaw Rising Museum on Sundays and the National Museum on Tuesdays. Though you might not usually think of landlocked Warsaw as a “beach town,” head here in summer and you can bask in the sunshine at the beaches along the Vistula River, or get your Polish tan on at Lazienki Park. The end of the night will be painless too, with average hotel costs just over $50*.

9. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Average daily cost: $60.10

Photo: Milosz Maslanka/Shutterstock

Perhaps you have a friend who spent a few weeks in Argentina many years ago and to this day will bring up how they got the best steak dinner of their lives with flowing wine and a free tango lesson for less than the cost of dinner at TGI Friday’s. Turns out, that wouldn’t really be hyperbole. If you’re into steak and wine, you can dine fantastically cheap in Buenos Aires, where meals will rarely top $20. Beyond gorging yourself on red meat, you can also cruise the cafes of Palermo where coffees are less than $2. The National Museum of Fine Arts doesn’t charge admission, nor does Feria de Mataderos — a traditional craft and food market marked by gauchos on horseback and live tango demonstrations. Rooms won’t wreck your wallet in BA either, as an average night only costs about $36.

8. Lima, Peru

Average daily cost: $59.48

Photo: Skreidzeleu/Shutterstock

Granted, if you’re trying to hit some of the spots from the vaunted World’s Best Restaurants list, you’re gonna end up dropping a lot more than $59 a day in Lima. But satisfied to eat fresh ceviche in beachside bodegas, you’ll find the city a fantastic culinary value, where some of the best meals you’ll ever have average about $16 a day. Hotels aren’t much worse, where sharing a room with your friend or SO will run about $45 a night, and drinks are only a couple bucks if you stick to local wine and pisco drinks.

The historic churches like the Cathedral of Lima and the Church of San Francisco are free to visit, and the nightly changing of the guard at the Palacio del Gobierno is free as well. The zoo is about $3 to tour, and while the Museo del Arte de Lima charges 30 cents on Sunday, its regular admission is only about $9.

7. Marrakech, Morocco

Average daily cost: $57.67

Photo: Balate Dorin/Shutterstock

Marrakech is the odd destination where the things people come to see most are, for the most part, free. So wandering the medina and taking in the mosques, minarets, and souks that make it famous won’t cost you anything. And even if you do decide to buy a souvenir, there’s always room to haggle.

Food is cheap here too, as grabbing a kebab from any of the smoky stalls in the old city is a less-than-three-dollar proposition, and tagines and lamb roasts in larger restaurants are typically under $10. Alcohol isn’t flowing here, necessarily, but going out should run about $20 a night, plus your dry cleaning when you come home saturated in cigarette smoke. That aside, your home base is pretty cheap too, with rooms here averaging $39 per person.

6. Bangkok, Thailand

Average daily cost: $56.88

Photo: Luciano Mortula – LGM/Shutterstock

One night in Bangkok might make a hard man humble, bit it still won’t demolish your travel budget with hotels averaging about $41 per night. And dropping baht in the colorful bars of the Patpong district can be done for under $15 if you know where to go. If The Hangover 2 got you thinking Bangkok is probably best experienced during the day, you’ll find a wealth of free museums like the Bangkokian Museum, the Royal Elephant Museum, the Silpa Bhirasri Memorial and Museum for modern art, and the Corrections Museum situated in a former prison. The temples and shrines are free to step inside or photograph, and a day of food should only cost around $17.

5. Beijing, China

Average daily cost: $52.64

Photo: HelloRF Zcool/Shutterstock

You don’t get to be a global economic powerhouse in less than half a century by overcharging people, or at least that would seem to be the case judging by the prices in the Chinese capital. Lodging averages a stunning $29 a night, and an entire day of food should only cost about $12. If you’re into adventurous eating, head to Wangfujing Snack Street where the boiled tripe is exquisite and only a couple dollars. Tiananmen Square is free to visit, as is the National Museum on its border, full of ancient Chinese art, weapons, and bronze work. Strolling through the narrow hutongs is free, as is taking in the public art in the 798 district. Or you can tour the crumbling relics of the 2008 Olympics after an afternoon in the Olympic Park around the Bird’s Nest.

4. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Average daily cost: $50.80

Photo: Lifestyle Travel Portrait/Shutterstock

Though Kuala Lumpur has quickly climbed the ranks of world financial centers, the city has still kept its prices low. Think of it like Singapore on a budget, with a heavy dose of grit, where an average night in a hotel runs $32, and a day’s worth of food from the fragrant street stalls is only about $11. You can learn the culture here pretty cheaply, as well, with free admission to both the National Art Gallery and Petronas Gallery in the City Center, the latter offering free art classes. Delving into nature is also affordable, as the of the best urban forest reserves in the world at the KL Forest Eco Park is completely free, as are the limestone Batu Caves about 10 minutes outside the city.

3. Istanbul, Turkey

Average daily cost: $44.74

Photo: Seqoya/Shutterstock

Istanbul stands as one of the most culturally rich cities in the world, a joining of East and West where visitors spend the morning haggling with vendors at the 600-year-old Grand Bazaar, then stroll past old Ottoman houses and duck ponds in Yildiz Park in the afternoon. Hotels cost only $22 a night, and you can fill yourself with sweet simit and fresh balik ekmek sandwiches for less than $6 a day. All that money saved on food and lodging can be spent on an economical splurge at one of the city’s famous Turkish baths, which cost about $15 to enter and $23 for massages. And if you want to tour a museum, both the Museum of Contemporary Art and Jewish Museum of Turkey are free.

2. Cairo, Egypt

Average daily cost: $36.82

Photo: Orhan Cam/Shutterstock

The biggest attraction in Cairo is far and away the Giza Pyramids, and if that’s on your itinerary, it’ll about double your daily cost. If that’s still too much, you can easily take a bus to the pyramids for less than a dollar and appreciate them from the outside. But if you do opt to drop $40 on a tour, it won’t feel quite as painful when you’re only spending $18 on a hotel and $9 on a full dinner. The city itself has some fascinating neighborhoods like Coptic Cairo, an old Christian enclave where the winding streets are filled with frescoes and mosaics. Or Fatimid Cairo where you’ll learn about Cairo’s Islamic history. Indoor art is also easily accessible here with numerous free or almost-free galleries across the city, like Al-Mashrabeya, Safar Khan, Art Lounge, and the Gypsum Gallery.

1. Delhi, India

Average daily cost: $35.56

Photo: Kriangkrai Thitimakorn/Shutterstock

The lowest-cost city in the survey, Delhi has hotel rooms for only about $20 a night, and a drink is just over $2. The city is also full of free activities to keep you entertained, from free movie screenings at the India Habitat Centre and other locations to free admission at the Vadehra art Gallery. Delhi can skew crowded at times, but escaping it is also easy with refuge at the tranquil Lodhi Gardens and Garden of Five Senses, costing almost nothing. Delhi dining is also incredibly cheap — and delicious — with an average meal running just under $9.

*Hotel price is per person based on double occupancy


More like this: 5 popular European cities where your dollar will go the furthest

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What is Dragon Boarding

Each year for the past three years, elite teams and amateur groups of four have gathered at an international destination to compete in the Dragon World Championship Race. While the name conjures something straight out of a Harry Potter movie, or perhaps a clever way to lure avid players of Magic: The Gathering outside for a while, the championship is, in reality, the coolest new way to bring water-sports enthusiasts together to take part in a cool — and increasingly competitive — new sport. It’s called Dragon boarding, and at just a few years old, it’s among the fastest rising water sports, building upon the global popularity of SUP, or stand-up paddle boarding.

In 2019, for its third year putting on this unique event, Red Paddle Company took the starting line to Annecy in the French Alps. Racers from across the globe descended on Lake Annecy to test their skills against teams looking to become the Dragon World Champions. While the championship is the pinnacle of the sport’s “elite,” Dragon boarding is just as enjoyable for a lazy day on the river with friends and even children. I headed to Lake Annecy in June of 2019 to test the waters, and what I found wasn’t just a world-caliber race but a welcoming community actively working towards the growth of the sport.

If you’re looking for a creative new way to bring people together outside, Dragon boarding might be just the thing. Here’s the lowdown on this rising water-based activity.

What is a Dragon board?

Photo: Red Paddle Co

In addition to making an array of inflatable boards for enthusiasts and competitors alike, Red Paddle Company wanted to create something unique that they could create an event around. And with that, the Dragon board was born. Picture a traditional stand-up paddleboard. Add length and girth, resulting in increased stability, and what you have is the perfect way to get your family on the water together — finally.

At 22 feet long (and a sleek 34 inches wide), the board holds four participants who, when paddling in unison, can propel the board forward with precision and efficiency. As with any team sport, it requires teamwork and communication. And while the person on the rear of the board can monitor the movement of everyone forward, the remainder of the team can only see the number of people in front, depending on their position on the SUP. The person in the front is blind to the actions of those behind them.

A 22-foot-long board might sound like a beast to haul around from location to location, but these boards are actually built for travel. They are inflatable and, when deflated, fit inside a bag that can be thrown into the trunk of your car to be re-inflated when arriving at your next destination.

Testing the waters — and crossing the finish line

Photo: Red Paddle Co

Three categories exist for this world championship event: all-male, all-female, and co-ed. Last year, competitors flocked to Austria, and in its inaugural event, the race took racers and spectators to Barbados in the Caribbean.

While paddling experience might prove advantageous to those seeking a spot on the podium, it isn’t a prerequisite for enjoying this event. I have spent a large amount of time on SUPs over the last decade, but that wouldn’t be the case for all members of our co-ed team that opted to meet and paddle for the first time together just a day before the race stages began. Two of our four members were well-versed in SUP paddling with one member of our illustrious team even competing in whitewater river races on SUPs. The other two had limited experience, but that wasn’t a deterrent. We hit the water together less than 24 hours before the race kicked off. With a little coaching and practice, we seemed to have the hang of team racing.

The race wasn’t just a mad sprint from point A to B. It involved multiple teams lining up and taking off from a dead start only to approach the first true test: a floating buoy. Teams were required to make a turn around this buoy. After that turn, there were multiple other buoys that involved turns (some close to 180-degree turns) and then sprinting straight ahead only to have to slow and turn for the next buoy. The two-day event saw multiple racecourse changes (buoys moved) to keep teams from mastering a particular course.

At the end of the weekend, our team assembled from around the United States and England didn’t make the podium, and didn’t experience the victory lap, but we had a blast, and we paddled away with a ninth-place ranking in the co-ed division.

Why the event — and the sport — is great for families

Photo: Jordan Curet

Whether you opt to participate, go to watch other competitors, or just like the idea of having a SUP that the entire family can enjoy, the Dragon board has a diverse quiver of uses. There’s something special about toeing the line (imaginary) on the water with participants from around the world who come not only to compete but also to immerse themselves in a community of like-minded individuals. The brand has an array of boards available for the weekend to take out on the water. In addition to being a competitive race, it’s also a large demo event for trying boards to ascertain which board (or boards) might be best for your family.

Brand experts are also available to answer questions and size up participants so that they can get dialed in for paddle length and appropriate board style and size. There are three positions for paddlers: sitting, kneeling, or standing. Even if you fall, the worst that can happen will be that you get wet. The sport is a great way to explore the waterways, a great workout, and unlike kayaking, you can move around on the board when you need a new position.

Trying a Dragon board closer to home

Photo: Red Paddle Co

If you can’t make it to the world championship event to test your skills against others, don’t worry. Boards are great for families who are near a body of water and want to have a fun day. The board will easily hold four adults. With that said, you can build your own paddling arrangement. Grab some friends and hit the water or take the family out for an experience that you won’t likely forget. And when the day is over, deflate the board, pack it away, and start planning your next adventure. While multi-person paddle board rentals are increasingly common in river shops and outdoor outfitters like REI, the full-size 22-foot Dragon board isn’t as widely available. But a multi-person board, typically ranging in length from 14 to 17 feet, can still hold two to four people.

Availability looks to grow, though, as the sport gains attention. SUPing is a great sport for all ages and athletic abilities, and being able to add friends and family to the mix looks to do nothing but broaden its reach in the outdoor community. Whether you are young or old, slimming away from the shore or floating dock on a stand-up paddle board will not disappoint.

And when you have spent a little time on your board and are feeling confident, head over to the Dragon World Championships page and sign up your team for the 2020 competition. The destination hasn’t been announced yet, but as the sport’s popularity rises, you can bet it will be as epic as the event itself.

The post This new, multi-person SUP race is the perfect way to get your crew on the water appeared first on Matador Network.