Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 361

Best drives in Italy: Costa Garganica

I discovered Costa Garganica by chance. Two years ago, I had my first taste of the beautiful drive when coming from Rome to a tiny city on the Adriatic Coast. I was hooked, although my stomach wasn’t pleased with all the curves and bends in the road. In 2013 I did another part of the coast by car.

A bit of geography

Costa Garganica stretches from Mattinata (Italy) to Hvar (exactly , Croatia) . And thank you , Google, as I didn’t know exactly where it stops. I’ve been exploring only a small portion of it, from Mattinata to Peschici via Vieste.

For the best views of the Adrian Sea and Costa Garganica, you should be driving on SP53, then move to SP54 (those lovely curves!) , then back to SP53 and then follow SP52 all the way to Peschici.

Confused much? See the map below.

Two of the most visited places on this amazing coastal drive are Vieste and Peschici. Manfredonia is also among the favorites in the region of Gargano although not technically on the coast (but do make sure to visit the castle).

A drive on Costa Garganica

Starting our drive in the wide gulf of Mattinata , we go north following the coastal line , to discover some very interesting places, each with its own cultural heritage. Make a point to stop at one of the towers on the road – close to the entrance to Vieste – to take photos of the sea and coast.

Pictured above is “Arco di San Felice” which can be seen as you are standing in front of Torre din San Felice. Coming from the water , there’s a nice angle in which you can see the Tower right inside the arch.

Your next stop should be Vieste. Its old town is a pleasure to visit. Just try to make your way here during the tourist season. It may be busy but it’s also bustling with life and you will enjoy it. From the many small stores selling every souvenir imaginable , to the pizzerias which will make your mouth water and to the incredible architecture…all will make your stop worth while. Find the Belvedere. You’ll be rewarded with incredible views of the sea.

Expect to spend anything from 2 hours to 5 hours in the area. And you should consider an overnight.

Start your next day with cappuccino and cornetto in one of the cafes. Then , you can enjoy a bit of time one Lungomare, the longest beach on the Garganic Coast.

Continue your drive to Peschici, although I can recommend another stop right when the sign to exit Vieste is placed. Chiesa San Lorenzo or the Church of San Lorenzo. Unfortunately it is never open but the views towards the city and its commercial port are just amazing. Now you can continue to Peschici.

I had the pleasure to visit Peschici in 2013. I loved the tiny cobblestone streets, dotted with souvenir shops and , of course, pizzerias. Yes, it’s a touristy town. But it is lovely.

Make sure to visit the Castle with its torture chamber. And don’t forget to go in the gardens. Now, take a look at the beach and at the sea.

Tired already? Right at the entrance to the Old Town there is a gelateria. And although I am not much of a foodie, I am certainly a big fan of some Italian staples: pizza, gelato and cornetto. And Italy does all of these great!

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Gratitude in India: A Place that Allows You to Feel Strong

Sometimes too much of stability can take your life to an edge, thats what happened to me. Five years and ten months of a fancy corporate job, brain storming sessions within those immaculate white walls and a fancy pay cheque was enough to get me there. I was restless because life was too easy, predictable and slow.

I couldnt understand the storm that raged within me and by no means i knew how i could subside the same. I knew it was time to travel, to meet new people and to have a new experience. Thank God for google I finally zeroed down on the place I would be going to. No, i wasnt hiking the moutains or river rafting or scuba diving this time. It was time to disconnect from the world and connect with my innerself.

 I haggled with my boss for a 12 days leave, hopped on to the bus for Mcleod Ganj and by 1 pm I was inside the gates of Tushita. I took a deep breath, and waited for my turn to get registered for the 10 days “Introduction to Buddhism” programme. As the registration progressed I was biting my nails and reconsidering if this was the right decision. It said “10 days of silence” “no phones, no gadgets, no cameras”. I quickly brushed aside the apprehension and before I could add more fuel to it my name was called, I submitted my mobile phone,gadgets and wallet, registered myself, was assigned to clean the open dining area as a Karma Yoga Job, hired a duvet since it was freezing cold and almost in a daze landed in Room No 19 which was allotted to me. A small room with the basic facilities; three beds and one table. So while i occupied the one near the window the others were occupied by Diana from Argentina who also happened to be my Karma Yoga partner and Gargi from Gujarat.

We introduced ourselves and went to the meditation room for our first session where we were all asked to give an introduction and a reason why we were here. The “Noble Silence” would start post dinner. The ten days would constitute of a wakeup gong at 6:00 am, meditation at 6:30, breakfast at 7:30, Introduction to buddhism till 12 noon, lunch, karma yoga job from 1 to 2 pm, 2 to 3 pm Group discussion where in we could officaially discuss the philospohies of Buddhism we had learnt in the class earlier that day, Tea break, 3:30 to 5 meditation, 5 to 6 yoga, dinner 8 to 9:30 meditation.

The serene hills on which Tushita was built instantly soothed my mind, I woke up to the birds chirping, the cold mountain wind felt refreshing and the morning meditation in a way helped me look deep inside myself, empty my emotions and pacify my soul. In between the breaks I would sit and contemplate on how life has been so far, things had come easy to me, yet my soul wasnt happy. I wrote a journal everyday and was amazed at how simple and beautiful the philosophies of Buddhism were. How loving compassion had to be accompanied by wisdom, the philosophy of karma, emptiness, death process and gratitude.

I was amazed at how much these 58 odd participants knew about Buddhism, and how each individual viewed the same philosophies in a different light. There was no communication yet at the end of those 10 days we were more connected. Had there been no rule to maintain the noble silence we would probably be judging each other and passing the same opinion to others, groups would have been formed and we would be in the same chaotic life again. People from all across the continet were here, in search for peace & happiness. Something which no money could buy!

Glen our teacher for Buddhism was amazing, the meditation guru Joanas had a soothing voice and led the everyday meditation sessions & Richard the yoga teacher who had been paralysed for 6 years had a very happy face and a really funny giggle. I couldnt have asked for better teachers, better participants and better room mates. I not only connected with myself but also with the 58 others through silence in the woods far away from the hustle bustle of Delhi. I practice meditation even today and those ten days have had a great influence in my life. It made me feel strong, hopeful and trust me my soul felt free…. something i had not felt for a very long time!

PS: The pic was taken on the last day of our ten day course which was followed by a wonderful picnic by the Gompa!

 Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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USA TODAY: Wondering where to wander for a savory feast at lunch in the San Fernando Valley?

Wondering where to wander for a savory feast at lunch in the San Fernando Valley?

By Lisa Ellen Niver (Click here to see all my USA Today articles as a Los Angeles Expert.)

Ventura Boulevard has so many delightful and tempting options.Lunch may not always be considered the most important meal of the day but you can find an adventure on the boulevard in the Valley. My family moved to Los Angeles in 1971 and we still eat at some of our original favorite locations.

I also wanted to share a few new venues that you should not miss! You will find on my list: my new discovery, Jeffrey Saad’s Modern Mexican food at La Ventura, Granville which is just about to open a boulevard location and one I have loved since I was a little girl, Mogo’s Mongolian BBQ which is a block off the boulevard but I just had to include it!

After several weeks in China, all I wanted was to eat lunch at Bamboo Cuisine or Kung Pao Bistro for my favorite American style Chinese food. Wherever you choose, I hope all your meals are satisfying!No passport needed but you may feel you have traveled around our planet after eating at all these spots! I focused this list on Sherman Oaks and Studio City, do you have some tempting favorites that I missed? Let me know, maybe they will appear on a future list

10 Kung Pao China Bistro

I love to go to Kung Pao China Bistro with a friend and split two lunch specials. Kung Pao China Bistro has tasty food and a patio that feels like a private garden even-though it is right on busy Ventura Boulevard! I highly recommend the lunch special of chicken and string beans, which is only $6.75. Actually all the lunch specials with chicken are $6.75 from 11am-3pm Monday to Saturday. For Beef dishes, $7.25 and Seafood $8.25. I really like the sautéed string beans and sometimes order the dinner portion at lunch. This restaurant is reliable, friendly and fast. They also have delivery. ((818) 788-1689)

9 Granville Cafe

Granville is great for anyone who is vegan, gluten free or has special requests. The Villagers (people who work at Granville) make each guest a top priority. The level of service is impressive. During lunch on weekdays, you order at the counter and then they give you a card so if you need something (more water, different sauce), you simply put the card in a stand and a Villager promptly comes to see how they can be of assistance. Come for lunch and find a revolution in food. Every ingredient is of the highest quality and many are either hormone free, artisanal or organic. In most cases, they pick sustainable as well as organic choices. I think at Granville they say it best, they are “upscale yet unpretentious, satisfying yet wholesome, gourmet yet generous.” This is quality gourmet food that is affordable and pronounceable. ((818) 506-7050)

8 Marmalade

Marmalade has been satisfying hungry Angelenos for nearly twenty-five years. Ready for comfort food? The Grilled Cheese on La Brea bread and Tomato Bisque are phenomenal. The salads on their menu are available full and half size. Order the full if you are sharing! Their “fresh, high quality, eclectic California inspired food” has been a hit in all nine locations. It will feel like your favorite spot from the moment you walk in. They also have specialty holiday menus and you can order the food and eat it at home! It is the first place that I have seen with a Valentine’s, Fourth of July and Halloween Menu! ((818) 905-8872)

7 Mendocino Farms

Mendocino Farms is springing up all over Los Angeles. I love their location on Ventura Boulevard next to Islands. The decor, ambiance and greeter who helps you order your sandwich masterpiece is combines for a great experience. I also like to sit at the table near the cow (statue). I think Chef Judy Han sums up the secret to their sandwiches when she says: “Use great ingredients, balance their flavors, then add a bit of whimsy.” Stop by to see why this restaurant group is rapidly expanding. My recommendation is the Chicken MBT: “Not Your Typical Basil & Tomato. shaved, roasted free range chicken breast, local Gioia fresh mozzarella, house marinated red peppers, basil pesto, tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, Scarborough Farm’s greens on ciabatta.” Yum. (818.205.9744#sthash.)

6 Take A Bao

I first found Take A Bao in Century City but recently discovered them in a stunning Studio City location. Eclectic choices fuse together tastes from several countries and can be paired with unique drinks for savory sensations. This location is Baos with a twist. They combine flavors from all over Asia in one architecturally satisfying location. I was first here for a party on the patio, bring some friends and sit outside on the patio to enjoy your food and atmosphere. Try the Thai Peanut Chicken Bao, Chinese Chicken Salad, or Crispy Panko Crusted Fish. I did not save room for dessert but I want to return for the “Bao’s More:” fudge, marshmallow & graham cracker in a chocolate bun! ((818) 691-7223)

5 Bamboo Cuisine

This family friendly restaurant is always busy because the food is so good! Bamboo’s Chinese cuisine includes “culinary creations from the major regions of China” including Mandarin and Szechuan dishes from my favorites of mushu chicken to the tasty chow fun with black bean sauce. Try the whole crispy catfish, spicy eggplant or the garlic jade chicken. My family has been eating here for decades and I highly recommend it. I love the statues, decor and fountain by the front door. There is a full bar here if you want to imbibe with your meal. Order a few dishes to share as the menu says: “We believe that variety is the keystone of a great meal.” (818-788-0202)

4 Hugo’s Restaurant

Looking for delicious omni-, carni-, vegan & vegetarian cuisine with unusual flavors? Hugo’s could be your new favorite organic flexitarian restaurant. I like the Asian Stir-Fry but am intrigued by the “create-a-plate” where you can design your own unique meal. My friend, Betsy, loves the bottomless ice tea! Do you love oolong, chai and green tea but never get enough choices? The menu at Hugo’s has 17 types of tea you can have shipped to your own home! Hugo’s offers healthy choices that do not require you to skimp on taste! Try all the locations in Studio City, WeHo, and Agoura and become a Hugonaut. ((818) 761-8985)

3 Stanley’s Restaurant

After thirty years in the Valley, Stanley’s knows what the community wants! They open everyday at 11:30am and have a hopping happy hour at the bar from 3-6pm! Personally, I love the kabobs and the Chinese Chicken Salad. The Amy’s Salad and Artichoke appetizer are family favorites. The menu has a wide variety of tasty and healthy choices. Try to save room for dessert as well, the Mud Pie has an Oreo cookie crust filled with coffee ice cream and topped with chocolate sauce and nuts! Stanley’s will pack their meals and stupendous sourdough bread to-go which is a perfect picnic for the Hollywood Bowl! (818-986-4623)

2 Mogo’s Mongolian BBQ

Mogo’s Mongolian Barbecue has been an institution in my family for decades. I love the one bowl buffet at lunch or the all-you-can-eat at dinner. Family and friends who have moved away from Los Angeles, always want one meal here on vacation! The restaurant has removed nuts and peanut oil from being cooked on the grill, so you can eat here even with a food/nut allergy. The Mogo’s team is friendly and can accommodate large groups easily. I ate at a Mongolian BBQ in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia called BD’s which was similar to Mogo’s however everywhere else in Mongolia was very different! I do recommend you plan to visit the Gobi Desert, the vast expanse of nothingness is exceptional. ((818) 783-6646)

1 La Ventura

La Ventura’s modern Mexican food was a wonderful mix of flavors and foods. Did you know that Chef Jeffrey Saad was the host of Spice Smuggler on the Food Network and United Tastes of America series on the Cooking Channel. I loved that his television goodness is now available right on Ventura Boulevard! Enjoy guacamole, chips and the la Ventura special margarita with Herradura double barrel Reposada tequila– with agave harvested by Chef Jeffrey Saad. I fully enjoyed everything and highly recommend you visit right away. I do not normally eat dessert but the homemade Salted Caramel Ice Cream and Churros with piloncillo caramel and chocolate dipping sauces cannot be refused! (818)358-3423)

About Lisa Niver

Lisa Ellen Niver arrived in Los Angeles at the age of 3 and has never stopped traveling! She is a passionate writer, social media ninja and global citizen who has traveled to over one hundred countries and six continents. She was a 2012 nominee for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching and a 2014 nominee for the Charles Bronfman Prize. Niver writes for Wharton Business Magazine, the Huffington Post, and the Jewish Journal. Find more of her adventures at We Said Go Travel and Science Isn’t Scary.

Read more about Lisa Niver here.

Connect with Lisa via: Blog | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Vine | Google+ |Pinterest | StumbleUpon

LUNCH
10. Kung Pao China Bistro
Photo courtesy of Lisa Ellen Niver







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9. Granville Cafe
Photo courtesy of Granville







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8. Marmalade
Photo courtesy of Lisa Niver







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7. Mendocino Farms
Photo courtesy of Lisa Ellen Niver







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6. Take A Bao
Photo courtesy of Take A Bao







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5. Bamboo Cuisine
Photo courtesy of Lisa Niver







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4. Hugo’s Restaurant
Photo courtesy of Hugo’s Restaurant







LUNCH
3. Stanley’s Restaurant
Photo courtesy of Lisa Niver







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2. Mogo’s Mongolian BBQ
Photo courtesy of Lisa Ellen Niver







LUNCH
1. La Ventura
Photo courtesy of Lisa Ellen Niver

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Lost On The Right Path to home in the USA

I’ve always dreamt of traveling; whether it was backpacking through Europe, driving cross-country…anything really. But the rational, responsible side of me always stood in the way. First, I had to get through college, then it was law school, next I had to get a job, then build a career, etc. As my 30’s approached, things were finally starting to come together, but the life I had been working so hard to attain was never quite right. Never enough money or enough (vacation) time to do the things I really wanted to do. So, here I found myself: 34 years old, never married, childless, less than thrilled with my career, saddled with a mortgage payment and abundant student loans and though I had so much for which to be thankful, I had never taken a moment to sit back and think about what it was that I really wanted.

I had recently read a book about obtaining the things you want out of life. The basic premise of the book was that you get out of life what you expect to get and what you believe you will get and you must plan for those things. If you expect the bad or dwell on the negative, that is what you shall get. If, however, you expect to get the things you want, and plan to receive those things that’s what you shall get. So, with that in mind, I decided to start planning my trip…cross country.

Lacking the wherewithal and experience to actually undertake such a feat, I began small. I started gathering travel books, googling cities, printing off maps, purchasing gear and most scary: contemplating the financial resources available to me. I’ve made some financial decisions that every financial advisor would, without any debate, consider crazy, financial suicide, if you will. The funny thing about money that I discovered was, that it just buys you stuff. Stuff. I don’t need stuff. And there is always going to be stuff and a way to buy stuff. I want(ed) experiences.

So without any plans for the future or a source of income and a boatload of bills, I quit my very stable job and began my jaunt across the country, intent on visiting every state. For the first 7-10 days, headed southwest from Pennsylvania, it rained daily which, in hind-sight, was a great relief from the heat. I ate and drank local cuisine, hiked and camped, met new people, reunited with old friends and distant relatives kind enough to open their homes to me. I thrived in the cool, sunny weather, the beaches, the laid back feel of the west coast. Then I fell in love while driving along streams and mountains with wildlife abound in the mid-west. I spent late summer touring the quaint, lovely little New England states with nowhere to be and all day to get there. I visited national parks, forests, deserts, cities of great historical significance, restaurants featured on TV shows, small towns, big cities. I also saw the areas of this country I was previously too fortunate to know existed. The small, poor, rickety towns where front yards were nothing more than graveyards for broken down vehicles and grocery stores lacked fresh fruits and vegetables or there were simply no grocery stores at all. I drove through the environmental ruins of northwest Texas where nothing was to be seen but a two-lane blacktop road, oil drills and other land-depleting machinery. I learned as much in the areas I dreaded as in the areas I loved.

What I discovered is that my home is where I belong. It provides me all of the things I need, most of what I want, opportunities for more and most significantly, my family and friends. I travelled to and through 40 states, in excess of 14,000 miles in 49 days, with more to come, to discover that my home really is…MY HOME.

About the Author: I am a 35 year old lawyer who has been practicing law for a decade now.  After years of making “responsible” decisions and planning for the future, while daydreaming about doing something adventurous and egoistic,  I finally decided to abandon responsibility and go make some dreams come true.  I’ve quit my job, threw some necessities in the car– including the greatest necessity of all and the love of my life, Quinn (my dog), and headed across the country.  I had/have no plan of action for when I’m forced back to reality.  No job lined up, no trust fund, nobody to lean on financially and no independent ability to survive (financially) without a job.

 Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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Gold SATW for Ken Budd

Congratulations to Ken Budd for his 2014 Gold SATW award for his article,  “Kenya: Holding Elijah.”

Ken Budd’s 2013 story on his volunteer experiences in Kenya and recent media criticism of voluntourism won gold on October 16 in the Society of American Travel Writers’ Lowell Thomas awards, which honors the best work in travel writing and media.

Gary Arndt of Everything Everywhere said the “Lowell Thomas Awards are the most prestigious awards in travel journalism and are given out annually by the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation. They are like the Pulitzer Prizes for travel journalism.”

The piece, called “Holding Elijah,” appeared on the travel site WeSaidGoTravel.com and won in the “Special Purpose Travel” category. It tells of Ken’s work at the Calvary Zion children’s home and examines the pros and cons of volunteering abroad.

The judges wrote: “In this finely written piece about a piece about a volunteer vacation at an African orphanage, the author tells the poignant story of one child while outlining in a personal way the controversy surrounding volunteer tourism. This entry raises important questions for all of us who would consider making such a trip.”

The 2014 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition drew 1,177 entries. Earlier this year, an essay by Ken on his work in China won gold from the North American Travel Journalists Association. Ken’s memoir The Voluntourist won silver in the book category in the 2012 NATJA awards and the 2013 Nautilus Book Awards. All of Ken’s earnings from the book go back to the places and organizations where he volunteered.

You can follow Ken Budd on Facebook and Twitter: @VoluntouristKen.

Enjoy more of Ken’s photos from Kenya: Click here. Buy his fantastic book, The Voluntourist.

 

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No place like home in New Zealand

Surfing the sparkling waters off the far North Coast of Australia, or getting lost amongst the colourful wares of vendor boats floating on the murky waters of the Mekong in Thailand.

Perhaps it is the glorious smells of the spring time air and the march flowing Orchids of Godavari in Nepal that makes you feel like a hero as you set off to conquer the Himalayas.

Whatever it is, we all have that one “special” place, the place that makes us feel like we are safe, the place that inspires us to do better, the place that arouses our senses and forces us to take that one step further, and enables us to achieve what we once thought impossible, empowering us, turning us into heroes, some of us like to get lost in the wilderness for days, and some of us prefer the hotel life, whatever it is we all have a wanderlust, a need to investigate, we all have that little curious kid inside us, somewhere, hiding……

I am a nomad, I am Callum this is me, searching forever exploring, I have been to many places, too many to mention, and all I want to do is go home.

Dorothy from Kansas said it all to well, “there is no place like home”.

So with I swiftly clicked my Scarpa boots together and transported myself to the one place that I could truly feel like it all means something. Home, Queenstown, New Zealand,

the crisp cold air on my face, picturesque snow capped mountains, and the crystal clear lakes, the wineries of Central Otago, everything is here, I can unwind and relax by the Arrowtown river, and when I feel adventurous I can hike to the top of Coronet peak and throw myself off a cliff side, paragliding into the rolling hills.

Hiking the summit on a beautiful spring day I realised I had been homesick, and as I looked over my house down below, it dawned on me, I was looking for a “better” life and I had missed my own backyard, so many people travel, they leave home, they want to find some thing better, but have never explored there own home, more than half of Australians have never witnessed the beautiful sunset at Uluru, nor have many  Americans been to the grand canyon, yet the same Australians and Americans  have been to the beaches of Thailand, or the snow fields of Japan.

My own place, a place that I can call home, my safe place, I am a hero at home, I am inspired at home, as I look out my window, I am inspired, Inspired enough to write this, my first ever travel article, my first ever piece of writing, I have many more places to visit, and countless years of travel ahead of me but for now Otago will be my muse.

We will never be to old to travel, nor will we ever be old to find adventure, but as everyday passes, every step gets harder.

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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Join in the Adventure Travel Reality Show In Cancun

 

Adventure Travel Reality Show In Cancun

Dallas, TX – Tiger Travel, LLC is hosting an exclusive launch party and filming of its new adventure travel reality television show in Cancun, Mexico.

The exclusive event will take place at the all inclusive Grand Oasis Resort from November 2 through November 6, 2014. Be a part of the filming as we go behind the scenes filming exotic excursions:  Xcaret, Congo Bongo, Exotic Car Ride Experiences, Cancun and others.  The cost of this trip is $349.00 per person and must be booked through Tiger Club Travel.

Book NOW to experience this great travel and media adventure.

Exclusive event
Limited number of rooms left at $349…. Book Today!
5 nights of ALL INCLUSIVE fun …for this incredible price.
This trip will provide memories and experiences that will last a lifetime.

 

Join the cast and party at the all inclusive Grand Oasis Resort in Cancun, Mexico

Grand Oasis Cancun is a 3.5-Star beachfront all-inclusive resort and spa with an on-site 9-hole golf course that is perfect for the entire family! Conveniently located only 25 minutes from the Airport and 20 minutes from downtown Cancun. Grand Oasis Cancun is Cancun`s ONLY Ultimate All-Inclusive Entertainment Resort.

Tiger Club invites you to journey with us as we make memories around the world.

Tiger Club Travel is a company that takes a unique and current approach to creating the ultimate travel experience to the world’s most exciting destinations. We provide an array of different services in the luxury and adventure lifestyle field and our growing team consists of video production specialists, professional travel photographers and travel bloggers located throughout the world.

More About Tiger Travel, LLC

Tiger Travel, LLC is an adventure club travel company whose mission is to provide great travel values that deliver incredible fun filled memories and experiences. We at Tiger Club have a passion for travel and want to share our passion with you. Just one person can make a difference in the world. Just one trip can make a difference in a person. We at Tiger Club want to make a difference in your world.

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The Early Hours in the USA

I couldn’t sleep. Jetlag was my new best friend and no matter how many sheep I managed to count, he wouldn’t let me go. So I indulged him. I asked him what he wanted to do and he told me he wanted to see the city. He wanted to see Washington D.C. at three in the morning on a cold April day. I told him he was crazy. He asked if I had a better idea. I got up and put on my boots.

It’s surreal walking around D.C. when the streets are empty. It’s got that romantic feel to it because of those warm, orange lights that make the early hours less frightening than they’re supposed to be. At this hour, the pedestrian signs seem obsolete and I cross the streets at my own pleasure. I take a few minutes to gain my bearings but when I do, I find myself walking towards the towering figure of the Washington Monument over the horizon. It takes me a while to get there but once I’m standing right before it – this tall, white obelisk with a blinking red light perched on top of it – I know for a fact that it was worth the effort of getting there.

Now I’m restless and inspired. I want to see more. I look around me and spy what looks like the Lincoln Memorial. I make my way towards it and am greeted by the World War II Memorial. It’s such a pleasant surprise to stumble upon this historical place that I take my time to admire it. When I am satisfied, I make my way to meet Abraham Lincoln sitting on his marble throne.

Lincoln is bigger than I expected and the grandeur of my current whereabouts is reinforced by the fact that I’m the only one there. It’s like I had an audience with the Pope or a private tour of the Louvre that for once I truly felt like the stars had aligned in my favor.

As I head down the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, I see the path from where I came. It’s the path home but I am not yet ready to head back and so I take another path in search of adventure. The path I take seems barren at first. I come across nothing that would catch my eye. Just when I was wondering whether I made the right decision, I see what seems like a body of water and immediately head towards it. It is the Tidal Basin and as I stand by its banks, I take in the beauty of the many Cherry Blossoms blooming with the first light of dawn. I sit on one of the benches and contently watch the day as it begins.

Across the Tidal Basin, I spy the Jefferson Memorial. Without any hesitation, I am up from the bench and making my way towards it. It’s a long walk but given all the walking I’ve done, it no longer seems that far to me. When I enter Jefferson Memorial, I see him standing in the middle, an imposing but welcoming figure. I stare up at him and then read the inscriptions on the wall, savoring each sentence like a bar of the finest Swiss chocolate.

When I get back to my hotel, the sun is up and the day is in full swing. The city is no longer mine and the roads are filled with regular traffic. I crash on my bed and my jetlag asks me how I feel. I tell him that after seeing D.C. in the early hours of the morning, I feel like I’ve just won a million dollars, and no matter what happens later on, no one could ever take that away from me.

 

About the Author: David Rosario loves to write and wants to travel more. He spends most of his time walking around Metro Manila looking for good places to eat.

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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Best Urban Exploring Spots in Europe

While most people might picture a thrilling vacation as one that takes place in the middle of an untamed jungle or on the side of a treacherous mountain slope, true adventurers have no problem finding undiscovered excitement in the heart of a city. Urban exploration is the adventurous traveler’s best kept secret. All over the world, explorers are flying into popular cities to trek through urban ruins and abandoned buildings.

Europe is known largely for its clean and well-oiled cities, but Europe’s cities’ extensive history contributes to the veritable plethora of urban exploration around the continent. Here are the best European cities to wander around if you’re looking for some healthy adventure on your vacation.

Berlin

Founded in the 12th century, making it almost a thousand years old, Berlin was originally the capital of a small country named Prussia, which grew rapidly into the German Empire. Staggering through two world wars and countless other skirmishes, Berlin now stands as a model European city — though it does have some ragged edges. There are remnants everywhere of the World War II bombings that nearly destroyed the city, and portions of the Berlin Wall still stand for observation. Additionally, adventurers can walk around the 1936 Olympic Village, built to demonstrate Aryan supremacy, or Spreepark Planterwald, an abandoned amusement park just outside the city containing broken rides and a stock-still Ferris wheel.

Berlin’s urban exploration gem is probably Beelitz-Heilstätten Hospital, which treated none other than Hitler himself before WWII broke out. The sanitarium also treated both German and Russian military, and later served as the stalking grounds for a notorious German serial killer.

Paris

Depending on how you measure it, Paris is even older than Berlin, with evidence of Mesolithic settlements dating back 10,000 years. However, the city as we know and love it didn’t truly develop until the Middle Ages. Still, it has seen its fair share of history, making Paris the perfect place to peel back the shiny veneer and explore a city’s dark underbelly.

There are more than a handful of castles and chateaus that were damaged by the German invasion of France during WWII and later abandoned. However, not to be missed are the Paris catacombs. In the 18th century, during one of the several plagues, researchers traced the origin of the disease to a Paris cemetery. Though the cause of the disease was not yet fully understood, workers relocated every dead body in the cemetery to an old, unused quarry beneath the city.

Eventually, every cemetery in Paris was emptied out, and now more than six million skeletons line the walls of the vast subterranean tunnels. If you’re an urban exploring novice, you might want to start with Paris; the Paris Catacombs are open to the public, so you won’t have to risk breaking any trespassing laws.

Rome

If the Paris Catacombs sound like your style, you might check on flights from Paris to Rome, because the Catacombs of Rome are even more legendary. You might have an inkling of how old the city of Rome is, but your estimates would probably fall short. More than two and a half millennia old, Rome holds more secrets than you could explore in a lifetime. Roman ruins lurk just out of sight but well within reach for the industrious urban explorer.

The Catacombs of Rome span hundreds of miles beneath the city, containing corpses that date as far back as the first century. According to rumor, the Roman Catacombs hide the truth behind the mystery of the Holy Grail — some say the Grail rests in the tunnels beneath the Basilica of St. Lawrence. The rest of the tombs are filled with wealthy, important people of the past, as well as various popes and saints whose resting places are heavily guarded by the Vatican.

Brussels

Unlike the other cities on this list, you might not know much about Brussels, Belgium. While it has been around just as long as other northern European metropolises like Paris and Berlin, Brussels is known primarily for its chocolate and its sprouts — not necessarily its tourism.

However, because of its placement between Germany and France, Brussels developed some exciting ruins after WWII to add to its menagerie of locations for urban exploration. There’s the Fort de la Chartreuse — an unused military fort built in 1800, used by Germany in both world wars and abandoned by Americans after the Germans’ defeat.

However, in keeping with the creepy catacomb theme, Brussels has a crypt you won’t soon forget. Housing more than 100 years of dead bodies, the abandoned crypt feels more eerie than the underground catacombs of the other cities due to the light let in by the streaky skylights. Visitors can feel the chill in the air and see icicles forming from the ceiling, and the dead flowers littered near empty vaults adds to the feeling of eerie abandonment.

Urban exploration can be dangerous, so be sure to exercise caution while you’re wandering around foreign cities’ less-maintained areas. Try to follow the city or property’s posted laws on trespassing — no adventure is worth breaking the law. If you stay safe, you’ll be sure to have a thrilling vacation in Europe’s gritty underside.

About the Author: Gina Bordello is a freelance writer and travel agent who enjoys exotic food and being outdoors. She loves to search for online travels deals and plans to travel for years to come.

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UK: Can we rewind and freeze?

UK:  Can we rewind and freeze?

Have you ever had a moment when you thought to yourself: this is absolutely perfect? 

Well I have and for me that moment happened on June 1, 2014 as the sun started to set on the beach at the Seven Sisters Cliffs.

Flat 29 headed to the Seven Sisters yesterday one last time as a group before we all either head home or start to travel again. Once again it was a beautiful, sunny, warm day. We picnicked and explored (I tried to pet a sheep…. I failed). We hung off the edges of the cliff because we like to live a dangerously. The whole point of the trip this time was to make a bonfire and make s’mores for the Aussie and the German in the group who had never had them before. Once we had enough of hanging over the edge we climbed down to the beach to start collecting wood for our fire. We collected our materials and explored the beach further as we waited for the sun to begin to set. As we explored we all began to break off into little groups and I eventually ended up on my own walking among the rocks. I found a pretty large rock and decided to climb to the top so that I could sit and enjoy the view for a moment while I was alone. Although being alone always allows my mind to wander and as it wandered this time I began to realize how quickly my departure from Brighton is approaching (it’s Saturday by the way) and this is not where I wanted my mind to wander. And yet my mind took the first few steps down that path of sad realization and the tears began to flow. I had just had an amazing day with the friends that I have spent the last five months with and I couldn’t have asked for a better day. I cried for a few minutes then thinking I would be okay I made my way back to where we were setting up camp. (Spoiler alert: more tears are to come)

We made our little fire pit and fashioned seats out of wood and rocks from the beach. It was a bit rough going at first because we could not get the fire to catch for the life of us. But thanks to yours truly we got the fire blazing! And thanks to our fire master Gena the fire kept going for the rest of our time on the beach. And thanks to Yasmine and Gena’s friends fresh off the plane from American we broke out the marshmallows, graham crackers, and Hershey’s chocolate for the oh so tasty s’mores. Both Nathan (the Aussie) and Jule (the German) loved the s’mores, as did the rest of us!!

It was after the s’more eating that everything went a bit over the edge (see what I did there…over the edge…. because of the cliffs haha) emotionally speaking. We were all sitting around enjoying the fire listening to music when that feeling hit me. That feeling where in that one moment everything feels perfect, like the world could freeze right here in this moment and that would be quite alright. And that’s when it happened. I began to cry. I cried because the moment really was perfect: all of us together sharing our different cultures and enjoying the scenery and the company. I cried because these people that I only met in January have become more than just flat mates and more than just friends. We became our own little family. I cried because these have literally been the best five months of my life. I cried because I leave Brighton on Saturday. And I leave behind these people that have become part of my everyday life and some of them I don’t know when I will see them again.

People are malleable. More malleable than we realized, more than I realized until the other day. I came to Brighton as one version of myself and I am leaving a better version of myself and I owe that to the people that I spent this day with. I think it’s hard to realize how much we are shaped and formed by those we interact with on a daily basis especially when we are young. But I have noticed a change in myself over these last months and it’s a change that I like (and my mom likes so we know it’s good stuff ). I feel that I owe so much to the people that have made my experience in Brighton the best experience I could have ever asked for.

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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