Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 306
July 5, 2015
Canada: My Story- Why I Do What I Do
Canada: My Story- Why I do what I do….
I was born in New Westminster, while growing up I was faced with situations that have made me who I am today. School was a challenge, I did not start learning to read until I was in grade 3. I can remember asking my teacher for help, she said to talk to the librarian, he said “that isn’t my job go to your teacher”, I didn’t ask anyone else. Later we moved and I can remember on my first day at the new school I was introduced to my new classmates at playtime, I asked a girl if I could play with her and she said “no”, I didn’t want to ask anyone else.
I grew up with an alcoholic, whom I rarely saw, barely connected with and did not have a relationship with. It got to the point where my parents weren’t doing well financially and at one point we had to move in with my aunt and cousins. I had to share a room with one of my cousins who lived with her dad and only came to visit every month or so, when she did I got kicked out of the room. It didn’t feel like home. The drinking didn’t stop until a traumatic accident. Our truck was driven off an embankment and my family member ended up in the hospital with a broken neck, stuck in a bed with a halo on. When I saw this for the first time, I could do nothing more than burst into tears.
Rejection and disappointing others kept coming up throughout my life, from friends and family to coaches and complete strangers. As a child and through growing up, I do not remember getting much praise for doing my best. The negative or what I could have done better was the focus, rarely what I had done well. It got to the point where it was hard to convince myself that I was doing anything “right”. Failure and mistakes were so programmed within me as a bad thing that I completely feared them. I was going through life doing what would please others.
I had to grow up quicker than most and with that I got engaged at the young age of 19. This too was portrayed as a disappointment as “I was too young, my life would be over and say good-bye to my career”. We were planning on starting a family right away and I became pregnant shortly after our wedding. We were so excited but the reaction I got was, “I wish you had of waited and got your career done”. I had a miscarriage, which was devastating. My four pregnancies to follow were similar reactions, “it was too close to the last”, “I thought you were done” or “I guess I’m happy for you”. An extremely exciting time was made into such a disappointment or that I did something wrong.
During my forth pregnancy I had a realization. I was miserable, depressed, my marriage was failing and I became desperate to fine “me”. I didn’t get it. I had a well paying job clearing over $110,000/year, I had benefits, a pension plan, getting the praise I always wanted and a family with three amazing children and a forth on the way, I was lost. I started seeing a counsellor and quickly realized I was on the wrong path mentally and spiritually. Once I dug deep within myself, I found happiness in just the thought of going back to what I love doing as a Natural Health Practitioner.
Every challenge is an opportunity to learn, grow, and better myself. I have been able to overcome many hurdles just by changing my mindset and by becoming self-aware and self-observant.
It is my absolute passion to assist others. I love seeing my clients overcome their challenges and it warms my heart to assist them along the way. It is a rewarding and incredible feeling to see their shift(s) to allow them to move forward in their lives. A quote I often share is; “The only person in control of my happiness and success is me.”
These life events have made me who I am and why I am so passionate about assisting others. This is why I am a Natural Health Practitioner, ‘reconnecting YOU to an extraordinary life’.
My Vision Statement:
“For all to think of themselves as no less than extraordinary!”
Author’s Bio
Tracy Munson is a practicing Natural Health Practitioner in British Columbia, Canada. A member of The Natural Health Practitioners of Canada, Kamloops Chamber of Commerce, BNI, and Kamloops Women in Business. An aspiring author, entrepreneur and mother of four, Tracy enjoys continuously self-connecting and assisting others to an extraordinary life.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Independence Travel Writing competition and tell your story.
The post Canada: My Story- Why I Do What I Do appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
The Goodland: A Kimpton Oasis in Santa Barbara
The Goodland is a Kimpton Oasis in Santa Barbara! The cool chic karma vibes of this Kimpton property in Goleta permeated my stay. I loved hearing the birds chirping and enjoyed being walking distance from local shops.
The GoodBar has inside and outside spaces as well as a pool table and speciality drinks that complement the record playing vibes and fitness classes with a DJ. The lobby really invites you to lounge and stay awhile. The bicycles have a sign that says: “Take me I’m yours!”
I loved that my closet was stocked with a yoga mat, an umbrella and a robe. The bathroom held my favorite soaps from C&O Bigelow in NYC.
Plan to stay multiple nights here to take advantage of all this property has to offer: from the relaxing pool, to the welcoming fire pits and of course the incredible food at the Outpost by Chef Derek. It is so good–I had to make it a separate video.
VIDEO: My stay at the Goodland Kimpton Santa Barbara, April 2015
See my other videos about Visit Santa Barbara and dinner at the Outpost.
What does a record concierge do?
The Goodland has gone one step beyond putting Crosley record players in each guest room. Lea Sindija is the hotel’s on-site Record Concierge and has spent months curating a collection of vinyls for hotel guests to play during their stay (or purchase).
Lea scours local record stores for albums that play to the property’s luxury yet laid back, SoCal surfer-chic vibe, including classics like Ray Charles, Joplin and Hendrix and more modern favorites like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Green Day, along with quintessential SoCal surf and skate culture tunes from No Doubt and Sublime, with some Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Black Sabbath thrown in – something for everyone.”
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Apr 16, 2015 at 9:49am PDT
@Kimpton they say, “Inspired travel begins at Kimpton” and “#Kimpton makes life better on the road.” You might just want to stay in #SantaBarbara forever with your record player in your room, drinks at Goodbar and the amazing food creations by @chef_derek83 @outpostsb. A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Apr 16, 2015 at 9:55am PDT
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July 4, 2015
Changing Face in Turkey
Back in 2000 when I first lived in Istanbul, most of my foreign female friends were blonde. Whenever we met for coffee they would regale me with stories of being followed by strange men and touched intimately and inappropriately on the shoulder or the backside. Perhaps I was more prejudiced than I realised or simply naive, but at the time I felt they were exaggerating. Some of them went on about it so often I wondered if they secretly liked the attention, as by their accounts it was so much more than they received back home.
Two years later, after a confusing day when it seemed like the whole male population was winking at me as I ploughed through the crowded alleyways of Eminönü and Tahtakale in search of smuggled tobacco, I had to rethink my assumptions. It was late December and I was well rugged up in a long black coat with my hair back in a neat pony tail that showed off the black beret I’ve worn every winter since I was sixteen. The tobacco men were situated in a tiny, almost hidden laneway I called Porn Alley. It was where smuggled tobacco was sold alongside pornography, perfumes, condoms, vitamins and elaborately displayed packets of Viagra. Few if any women frequented the area but I was with my husband so I wasn’t worried the men would do anything more than just look.
However I was really puzzled, so I told my Turkish friends what had happened. I learned that in those days, young Russian women were turning up in Istanbul with a single suitcase full of items to sell. With the money they made they planned to return home with the same suitcase, full of money and Turkish goods to re-sell. Sadly many were unsuccessful and had to turn to other methods to survive. My friends told me told me these women, known locally as ‘Natashas’, would mingle with the crowds trying to catch men’s eyes. If a ‘Natasha’ winked at a man it meant she was ready to do business. Wearing a beret somehow signalled to the passing men that I was one such woman, despite my marked Anglo Saxon appearance.
Even without the beret I am marked as a foreigner. For me it’s normal to go out on my own but Turks travel in pairs or groups unless it absolutely can’t be helped. Being on one’s own is a marker of foreignness that makes you rethink your ideas on a lot of things. Such as what constitutes a ‘short skirt’ in Turkey? When I lived in Kayseri I stopped wearing knee length skirts altogether because there they were considered practically indecent. Back home it’s not uncommon for girls to wear skirts so short they’re little more than belts designed to display as much as is possible and then some. And again, after years of living in Turkey and being told how ‘brave’ I was to go out with wet hair I no longer do so because I’ve learned everyone will think I’ve just had sex. I no longer so readily make eye contact and am selective in whom I ask for help.
Change comes so gradually that you often don’t realise how much you don’t let yourself do as a woman in order to have a hassle free life. At a lunch with a foreigner newly resident in Istanbul, it came to me how much I now take for granted that I would not so easily accept in my own country.
The fact is whatever you do to change, sometimes it doesn’t matter. You will always be a yabancı woman, a foreigner, and therefore the object of unwanted attention from certain types of men. And believe me, age, theirs or yours, is no protection. This came home to me when I was at my local hospital waiting to have a tomography. I was in the emergency section and in a lot of pain from mysterious stomach cramps. No one was at the desk of the department and all I did was politely ask the only other patient there if he knew when the receptionist would come back. Five minutes later he was telling me my beautiful blue eyes reminded him of the waves in the sea. After he had his test done he waited for me to exit the hospital. When I spotted him loitering in the carpark I wheeled around and went in search of the toilets. I decided if he as still hanging about when I came back out I’d find a security guard and say the man was a sapık, a pervert. When I was a teenager my mother told me the toilets were the one place a man wouldn’t follow me, and luckily this proved to be true, even in Turkey.
About the Author: Lisa Morrow is a sociologist, English teacher and writer. After many years travelling back and forth from Australia to Turkey, she decided to make Istanbul her home five years ago. She now writes stories about Istanbul so that others can better understand this place she loves.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Independence Travel Writing competition and tell your story.
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Visit Santa Barbara with Lisa from We Said Go Travel
I loved my visit to Santa Barbara. I highly recommend eating at Kyle’s Kitchen. The burgers were great and walking distance from my hotel, The Goodland in Goleta which is part of the Kimpton Family.
Wondering what to do or where to wander?
Have a picnic at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse in the sunken garden. It is a beautiful location and they even have movies here.
Along historic State Street, visit the Granada theater and see an Opera.
At the Painted Cabernet you can take a two hour art class with wine. An artist will lead you step by step to a fantastic painting of your own.
From State Street, enjoy views of the mountains and then take a short drive to walk on the beach.
Go to Stearn’s Wharf and explore Jellyfish and friends at Santa Barbara Sea Center
and my favorite–take a surrey ride. Rent one from Wheel Fun and follow their map on your bicycle build for two.
Do you prefer to take your picnic in a rose garden? Visit the Old Mission Santa Barbara.
See my other videos about The Goodland Hotel and Dinner at the Outpost!
Video: Visit Santa Barbara with Lisa from We Said Go Travel
#ILoveKylesKitchen Helping the #SantaBarbara autism society
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Apr 14, 2015 at 12:15pm PDT
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Apr 14, 2015 at 12:24pm PDT
Santa Barbara county courthouse is beautiful and they show movies outdoor in the summer.
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Apr 14, 2015 at 2:49pm PDT
Star Princess at Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara. Just missed Amy by one week!
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Apr 14, 2015 at 3:55pm PDT
Ready for “wheel fun” on a surrey ride by Sterns Wharf #SantaBarbara
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Apr 14, 2015 at 6:09pm PDT
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July 3, 2015
Finding Community Abroad in Japan
The rental car cruises at a safe speed down a long and winding road as I sit squished in the backseat, sandwiched a nearly ten-year-old boy next to a car seat carrying my sleeping toddler. In the front, Elvis is blaring his heart out through the CD player, and we are making good time to the fox sanctuary in Shiroishi, a small town in southern Miyagi, Japan. As we push up a hill into denser forest, something occurs to me, and the smile beaming across my face cannot be stifled. We finally did it.
For most of my life, I’ve been noticing these communities of happy families. These parent-friends and child-friends always meet regularly for play-dates and positive social encounters. They all have lots in common— same school, same church, same hobbies, same interests.
And they were never us.
My family was different, and with my mother too busy for church or PTA involvement, the chance for those parent-friend relationships to develop just never happened. The assumption I made and held onto was that we just didn’t fit in. As the weird kid at school, I would of course come from an equally weird family. That social environment I so idolized would never be open to me, for that was just not how my family interacted with the world.
Twenty years later and 6,000 miles away, I would find out how wrong I had been. Here, I am surrounded by a fresh and fantastic supply of wonderful friends— a social environment made richer by the weirdness my peers in Texas avoided and by the fantastic differences between us all as well as the similarities. Most of the friends I have made are from the same continent if not the same country as I am, but we all have different backgrounds and stories. I have learned more about what it is to be American, and Texan, in my time abroad than I ever could have back home.
As the devious, funny, and wicked-smart kid next to me shows no reservations toward playing puppet games with my freshly awoken daughter next to him, I have confirmation that I’ve made it. In front of my sits his mom, one of the best friends I have made in my life, another girl from Texas with a family labeled “other” who didn’t let the small-minded kids destroy what made her special. Both of us have Japanese last names to match the men we fell in love with years ago— more than a decade in her case and a little less in mine.
Motherhood without community support is terribly challenging, and I don’t know how I could have managed the last year without the constant assurance, assistance and support of my friend, a mom-in-the-know.
I had thought as a child that community was like a puzzle, where all those happy families were pieces from the same box with a picture of blue skies and white clouds while my family, if fit perfectly together, made chiaroscuro patches of shadow too dark and bright beyond comprehension, held tight together by sheer will alone.
It turns out community is more like a quilt, with different textures, colors, patterns, shapes, and thicknesses coming together for the mutual benefit of creating something beautiful and warm.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Independence Travel Writing competition and tell your story.
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French Polynesia: Cruising Year Round on Windstar Cruises
Moorea, French Polynesia Photo by Lisa NiverReady to be pampered on a five star yacht in Tahiti? You can sail year round with Windstar Cruises in French Polynesia.
CEO Hans Birkholz is a fellow University of Pennsylvania grad from the Wharton School and was telling me about their six yachts that are all less than 300 passengers. A very different experience than my days when I worked onboard at Princess Cruises. When sailing with Windstar Cruises it is all about you, the crew will learn your name and your preferences and you will enjoy an authentic destination in private yacht style.
I am ready to experience magical moments, private events, and the open bridge. Who wants to go with me? Air Tahiti Nui will make sure your vacation begins the moment you board their flight. Pick a seven or eleven day sailing –or better yet enter the contest to win a 5 cabin prize!
Flying in French Polynesia. Photo by Lisa NiverPersonally, I would love to return to Bora Bora Lagoon and hike the mountains in Moorea. French Polynesia is so stunning. The shark diving in Bora Bora was memorable and I cannot wait to go back.
Windstar Cruises has special events in all their locations from a night in Cafe de Paris in Monte Carlo, to dining in the library at Ephesus or a swim lesson by Mark Spitz. See more by small ship and dream of Tahiti.
The Take 10 Tahiti Sweepstakes :
Starting on June 17 through July 19, Windstar is offering the chance to win a Tahitian cruise for one winner and nine close friends. Enter online and receive a referral link to share with friends. The more friends who use that link to enter, the more entries you receive. The winner of the sweepstakes will be revealed on July 31.
I loved the dancing by Nonosina Polynesia at EP & LP restaurant on the rooftop. Enjoy the video!
VIDEO: Travel to Tahiti with Windstar Cruises
Ready to return to #Tahiti @windstarcruises love the ukulele music! #windstarcruises
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Jun 11, 2015 at 2:17pm PDT
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Jun 11, 2015 at 5:54pm PDT
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July 2, 2015
Los Angeles @Cadillac #RoadToTable at Redbird
Thank you to Cadillac, Saveur Magazine and Redbird in Los Angeles for a wonderful meal, a chance to drive a Cadillac and my social media award.
#RoadToTable is a multi-city event where “Cadillac is partnering with Saveur magazine to present the “Road to Table” program, which will combine culinary excellence with a unique opportunity to test drive the next-generation 2015 Cadillac Escalade SUV and the all-new 2014 Cadillac CTS.”
Kiera drove us from the Majestic Downtown, which is gorgeous and holds the SpiderMan 2 vault, to the new restaurant Redbird. We enjoyed appetizers and then ate family style while learning more from Chef Neal Fraser about the history of the building and the creation of the restaurant. Adam Sachs, editor-in-chief of Saveur Magazine, was a wonderful moderator and dinner table mate.
VIDEO: Los Angeles: Cadillac #RoadToTable June 11 2015
Ready for @Cadillac #RoadtoTable #losangeles
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Jun 10, 2015 at 8:53pm PDT
#RoadtoTable @cadillac event @redbirdla @kierareilly drove us here in a #cadillac ATS A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Jun 10, 2015 at 9:05pm PDT
Enjoying @redbirdla @cadillac #roadtotable with Adam Sachs @saveurmag magazine and Chef Neal Fraser.
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Jun 10, 2015 at 9:49pm PDT
Incredible journey of food @redbirdla @cadillac #roadtotable @saveurmag chocolate caramel bar with pecan pralines, bruleed bananas A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Jun 10, 2015 at 10:44pm PDT
Ready to buy @cadillac #roadtotable breaking the bank at The Majestic
A photo posted by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Jun 10, 2015 at 11:46pm PDT
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The Broke Backpacker & The Truth Behind Voluntourism
Desperate to explore the world but unsure how to do it without breaking the bank? Veteran backpacker, Will Hatton from The Broke Backpacker, has been travelling the world for seven years now on a budget of just $100 a week. Today, he tells us his top tips for exploring the world and having epic budget adventures…
The Truth Behind Voluntourism
Pack your back, hit the road and save the world! It’s a wonderful concept, but just how easy is to make a difference whilst travelling?
I personally have extremely mixed feelings about people volunteering abroad for a week here or there then filling their Facebook page with pictures of them and beaming crowds of children… it just doesn’t seem, well, ethical.
Do these individuals have any child-care experience? Are they really able to make a difference to a child’s life in just one week or do they risk forming a connection with an at-risk individual and then leaving?
I’m pretty good with kids but I have no real qualifications so I make a point of never volunteering with children. I prefer to stick with what I’m good– namely, swinging a pick-axe and coordinating a team on a build project.
These days though, it seems even the simple pleasures of using a pick-axe in the hope of helping a local community are at threat – I’ve been hearing more and more stories of unethical volunteering companies charging vast sums of money from their venturers and then providing them with very little support on the ground; often the projects themselves are not sourced ahead of time and volunteers end up building toilet blocks which will never be used or painting class-rooms in a poor rural area which cannot afford to hire a teacher.
Volunteering abroad is, in fact, a mine-field. If you want to do it properly, it’s really important that you find a reputable volunteering organisation and think carefully about where your skills would be best applied.
I can truthfully say that volunteering has changed my life, although you might be surprised how.
Some backpackers, perhaps due to a lack of education or simple naivety, volunteer because they want to have that ‘life changing experience’ sold to them from a glossy magazine. Others volunteer to get a new profile picture for Facebook and to justify their rhetoric on ‘giving back’. I’m under no illusions, I’ve been travelling for seven years and have volunteered for around 8 months of that time; is this enough? Probably not. It’s what I feel comfortable with though and frankly I would rather volunteer as and when I like then feel obligated to help save the world; I think this is where a lot of people go wrong, they are so desperate to help out that they charge in all guns blazing without doing any research and often end up going with an organisation which is simply out to make money. I have volunteered with some great organisations, some terrible ones and some unbelievably informal ones – I really do enjoy just rocking up somewhere new and seeing if there’s anything I can get involved in.
Adventure is very liberatingA simple Google search for ‘voluntarism’ will bring up articles about its drawbacks rather than its benefits. The recent Nepal earthquake is a tragedy and I was planning on heading straight out there until I did some research. Organisations on the ground categorically requested that, unless you have specific skills which can be used with the relief effort, you are only going to get in the way – in short, they had plenty of blokes with pickaxes already. You should only volunteer when you bring real value to a project.
That’s not to say you need a skill or trade to bring value to a project; you don’t. It is pretty easy to find an appropriate role for yourself where you can help with a project and learn new skills at the same time. You just need to be realistic – a recent disaster zone is not a good theatre for unskilled or newbie volunteers.
Unfortunately, when it comes to volunteering, selflessness often marches hand in hand with selfishness. Well-meaning volunteers are taken advantage of. Recently, it has come to light that the huge demand by volunteers to work with orphans in Cambodia has actually created a ‘market for orphans’. Children are used. Parents will rent out their children to shady orphanages, which often aren’t actually even orphanages.
Unfortunately, it’s not just Cambodia with dodgy volunteering organisations. I had a somewhat shady volunteering experience in India, where the Indian volunteer manager was constantly hitting on the female volunteers. I never saw him do a shred of work; he was the laziest man I have ever met in my life.
In spite of my ranting above, don’t be turned off by volunteering. Volunteering can change the world, it can change you and it change the people you come into contact with. At the end of the day, you help not only others but also you are doing yourself a massive favour. You will learn something. You will call up first-hand awareness of the reality that some of our neighbors face daily. You just need to know your place and to be sure that you partner with a reputable organisation.
Volunteering on a goat-farm in the Holy Land..When it comes to volunteering; you can help in many ways, both big and small. For starters, you may be better off helping out somewhere close to your home. Getting involved with local outreach programs can be a better and more sustainable option. If you are thinking about volunteering outside of your comfort zone, I suggest you do your homework. If you really want to make a difference, consider learning some new skills; go on a carpentry course or sign up for a TEFL qualification; you will be able to offer a lot more to your host community.
The key to successful volunteering is being well-informed and being prepared. If you really find yourself wanting to help out with a situation like the recent earthquake in Nepal, perhaps consider doing what I did – accept that, right now, you cannot help on the ground and, instead, organise a fundraising evening with all the money raised being donated to an organisation helping out on the ground; I highly recommend supporting the Disaster Emergency Committee.
When it comes to picking a good organisation to volunteer with – it’s all about doing your homework. Does it operate for profit? Is it registered? Is it transparent?
There are some good companies out there with ethical practices, you just need to look.
Do not become just one more camera-happy ‘Gap Yah’ student – stop and think – you can make a huge difference to the world, you can be a positive influence; all you need to do is be sure that you are putting your energy and time into the right place in a sustainable manner. Avoid voluntourism.
Take as much learning as you can from a volunteering experience but not at the expense of the communities you are supposed to help. If you put an emphasis more on volunteering than tourism, you will be on the right path.
So, what are you waiting for, make a commitment and get yourself on the road to making a difference in a sustainable way.
About Will Hatton: Writer and photographer. Adventurer and vagabond. Master of the handstand pushup. Conqueror of mountains, survivor of deserts and crusader for cheap escapades. Will is an avid hitch-hiker, couch-surfer and bargain-seeker. He is a devout follower of the High Temple of Backpackistan and the proud inventor of the man-hug. Will blogs over at The Broke Backpacker about his adventures around the world, you can follow him on Facebook and on Twitter or, if your really friendly, hunt him down on the road for a cheeky pint.
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July 1, 2015
Classical Greece Circuit: Athens – Epidaurus – Mycenae – Meteora – Delphi – Athens
Have you guys read about the Olympian Gods? I am well aware of the fact that absolutely all problems came from the fact that Zeus couldn’t keep his pants on…but that’s not why I started the article with that question. Reading about the Olympian Gods made me fall in love with Greece. And secretly wished I had some super powers from time to time.
Greece is one of those countries where you cannot shake a stick without finding so many things to do and places to visit that you don’t know how to actually add them all to a trip. Before you scratch your head and complain that if you book a tour you’d be stuck with the schedule – I completely agree and that’s why I avoid guided tours like plague – look up the option to rent a car . Because the circuit I’m going to talk about is long and amazing. And requires flexibility, thus a car.
Let us start in Athens, the capital of Greece, a city which has fascinated me even before my low cost flight landed on the airport. To visit the most important sights – The Acropolis, The Roman Agora and The Greek Agora – it’s enough to allow a day or two here. Yours truly has managed to spend 4 hours in the Acropolis and although I’ve stayed 5 days in Athens I haven’t been able to visit some of the sites.
Leave Athens and head for the Theatre of Epidaurus. It is located about two hours’ drive from the capital and it is one of the best preserved ancient theatres in Europe. The original amphitheater was constructed in the 4th century BC and later , the Romans, decided to add some rows to it. Nowadays, it is home to the Epidaurus Festival, taking place each year in late spring. Aside from visiting the archaeological site there’s also an interesting museum to check out.
On the same day, make your way to Mycenae, about an hour drive from Epidavros (the village where the theatre is located). Home to Agamemnon and Clytemnestra and once a powerful fortress, the site is best known for the mythology linked to it. The Iliad tells the story of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra and how their love started a war.
Prepare to spend some time here. The city is located on a hill and you can still visit the Acropolis and some remains of the ancient walls. The Lion Gate and the royal tombs are the highlights for the tourists.
Just like in Athens, you can spend quite a lot of time here, especially if you like to check out every corner and take a lot of photos. Just make sure to wear very comfortable shoes -a good advice for absolutely ANY city or historical site you visit in Greece.
You could look up accommodation in Corinth, and while you are here you can check out the ancient city and the remains of the temples.
The next day, start driving to Meteora. Expect to drive for at least 4 ½ hours but, by now you probably figured out that estimates aren’t exactly the most accurate when it comes to Greek traffic.
Kalampaka is the best place to get accommodation in. Meteora is just a stone’s throw away from here and you have a lot of choices when it comes to finding places to eat, as well.
The monasteries can easily be visited during a day. Not all of them are open all the time and some require a modest entry fee (1 or 2 euros). Pay attention to the dressing code! You should never enter an Orthodox monastery wearing a tank top or shorts.
On the way back to Athens, pay a visit to the Oracle of Delphi (about 3 ½ hours’ drive from Meteora). Once the “bellybutton” of the Ancient World, Delhi’s main attracting is the Sanctuary of Apollo. But the remains of the ancient city also comprise the theatre, the stadium, the gymnasium and the Stoa of the Athenians.
Getting back to the capital should take about two hours from here.
While the circuit can be easily done in three days, I strongly recommend to allow more time ,especially if you love ancient history and adore Greece. As a general rule, bring very good walking shoes, always carry a water bottle – and don’t forget to refill it – and try to avoid staying in the sun during those blazing summer days.
Photo Credits:
phonakins via Compfight cc
Reham Alhelsi via Compfight cc
johncatral via Compfight cc
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June 30, 2015
Summer Freedom: Los Angeles and Writing Contest
June 2015 News from Lisa & We Said Go Travel:
I highlighted my two USA Today articles about Ireland with my latest video from Dublin. I wrote about The Bachelorette falling in love at the Guinness Storehouse.
I met Scott Kirby the President of American Airlines and did a selfie video with him at LAX.
I have been enjoying events in Los Angeles and New York. I was recently at the JW Marriott in Palm Desert and have ten videos nearly ready to share with you!
Videos from Santa Barbara are LIVE: Exploring Santa Barbara, My Stay at the Goodland a Kimpton hotel and Dinner at the Outpost.
Camping with the Cows 2015 was fantastic! I made a video and Sage wrote an article about our time on a dairy farm near Fresno. We won a social media award and the cows gave us free raw organic milk.
Looking for a treat for yourself in Los Angeles: Try out The Remedy Spa at Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel. I can highly recommend a massage by Steve Oskard. I have been back many times already!
Thank you to everyone who has joined me out and about–Wendy and I drank Veuve Clicquot and sent postcards from Santa Monica because you’ve got #Clicquotmail!
Brene Brown’s book: Daring Greatly takes its title from a quote by Theodore Roosevelt:
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.
Independence Writing Contest
Share what makes your feel fantastic and free in Summer! Enter the Independence Travel Writing Contest. Click here to learn more and enter this 8th writing contest.
Winners from the Inspiration Contest will be announced in July. Thank you to everyone who has participated in all my contests!
YouTube Channel:
Thank you for watching my WSGT YouTube channel which is now over 337,000+ views! Enjoy movies from Los Angeles, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Palau, Guam, Hawaii, India as well as Bali and Lombok Indonesia, Southern Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), and Nepal. To find all 352 Videos: click here for the WSGT YouTube Channel. I am over 1000 followers on Pinterest, and up to 700+ subscribers on YouTube!
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