A new addition at Hotel Costa Verde

People seem to have an innate fascination with conceptualizing wacky hotels, as well as paying hard-earned money to sleep in them.

Last year, Trips introduced you to Igloos, Castles, Sewage Pipes, and Survival Pods: The World’s 10 Weirdest Hotels. But there’s so much more material out there we felt it was time for a sequel.

Flipping the mattress on transport

Check out some of these vehicles-turned-swank-crash-pads, as profiled by divine caroline:

Photo courtesy of The Grand Daddy

* Cape Town, South Africa’s Grand Daddy hotel brings something new to the penthouse crowd. They’ve reclaimed and creatively redecorated seven Airstream travel trailers and dropped them on the hotel roof.

* In Christchurch, New Zealand, Wagon Stays offers all the perks of a studio apartment (kitchen, bathroom, bed, plus TV and Internet) in the confines of a mock-up, settler-era covered wagon.

The site is far out enough to give you “rural” views but still close to restaurants and stores. It’s marketed as “eco friendly.”

* As Tom Gates recently inquired over at Matador Nights, Pimp My Jet?

Yes, the Hotel Costa Verde, located just outside Costa Rica’s Manuel Antonio National Park, has created a two-bedroom suite out of a salvaged Boeing 727.

* Sticking to the airborne theme is Winivan, a complex of luxury cottages in Connecticut. One of their properties includes a refurbished Coast Guard helicopter, complete with kitchen, sofa, and swiveling pilot’s chair.

* Lots of trains have sleeper cars, but not like this. The Controversy B&B in Hoogwoud, Holland, has a bed made out of an old rowboat and a Jacuzzi in the shape of “a Mexican sombrero.” Check out their promo video:

Sleep with the fishes

Now over to Woman’s Day and a list of accommodations below the waves:

* Jules’ Undersea Lodge, off the coast of Key Largo, Florida, claims to be “the first and only underwater hotel” (the others in this list have yet to open). It’s also the site of ongoing marine research projects.

This place is for real — to enter, guests scuba down 21 feet to the “moon pool” entrance. Quarters are tight, with two small bedrooms and a common room available. Groups of up to six people can be accommodated.

Jules’ Undersea Lodge / Photo: Mi-Wu

* If you want under-ocean views and luxury, you’ve gotta wait till next year, when two pretty spectacular-looking properties are set to open (or so go the rumors).

The first is Fiji’s Poseidon Undersea Resort. The facility will be a mile long, decked out with a restaurant and suites all featuring windows on the water and the abundant marine life outside.

You’ll only scuba here if you choose to — access is via a more “civilized” 40-foot elevator. Guests can also tool around in a mini-sub.

* I’m not sure I could think of a less obvious location for an underwater resort than Istanbul, which is also supposedly building a submerged hotel. The seven-story structure will have plenty of windows from which to admire the average ten feet of visibility in the Bosphorus Strait.

Community Connection

How about a hostel in a jet? Check out the World’s Most Unique Lodging: A Look Inside the Jumbo Hostel.

If you enjoyed the video in this post, head over to browse the best travel video on the web at MatadorTV.

Photo: Chris Van den Broeck

Many people only know South Korea for what it’s not. What little awareness there is usually only extends to Seoul, the country’s high-tech capital.

A shame, because this little peninsula has some gorgeous sights if you know where to look — especially once you travel beyond the mega-tropolis that covers the northwest. For example…

Busan

After months of living in what can feel like a mono-cultural Seoul, one of my happiest moments was on a weekend trip to Busan. I strolled through a carved Chinese gate to a former U.S. military hangout known as “Texas Town” for some authentic Russian pierogies.

Melting pot, I’d missed you so.

Photo: Ianz

Busan may be big, but it’s tough to feel stifled in “the San Francisco of South Korea.” Its plum location on the Sea of Japan makes Busan a trade hub, where small foreign companies set up shop.

Over the years, foreign communities have planted their own districts within the city, giving it a friendly, welcoming feel.

But what really makes Busan is its easy juxtaposition of the urban and the natural. Swanky highrise blocks give way to cool, hikeable mountains.

The coast is lined with beaches, from quiet Songdo to see-and-be-seen Haeundae. The latter throws rock festivals and sandcastle exhibitions all summer long, and recently hit Guinness record fame for the most parasols set up on a single beach.

You can hit Busan’s galleries and shops at ten o’clock, take a mountain hike at noon, and come down well before sunset for a dip in the sea or some live music.

Damyang

Sitting between two mountains in southwestern Korea, the small town of Damyang has 25 dense hectares of green bamboo forests.

Photo: Tennessee Wanderer

While Korean cities tend to get smoggy and humid in the summertime, this natural reserve is said to stay five degrees cooler than the rest of the town. This makes Damyang a refreshing summer trip; one that Koreans will happily make from the far reaches of the country.

Families come for picnics, couples carve their initials into bamboo stalks, and souvenir vendors will try their darndest to send you home with a set of bamboo wind chimes, placemats, toy swords, or panpipes.

Hungry? Local restaurant menus are inclined to feature bamboo in each and every dish, Iron Chef style. Expect to see bamboo soup, stew, noodles, pastries.

When waiters tell you it’s “very healthy” and “good for stamina” (wink wink), don’t assume that’s code for “yeah, it’s vile, just eat it.” Bamboo’s mild flavor takes to pretty much any dish.

Jeju

The island of Jeju-do is the #1 Korean honeymoon spot, a little bit Hawaii and a little bit South Padre.

It’s also got the mountain of Halla-San, South Korea’s highest peak. Hiking trails are graded and can take you to pretty lookouts, or all the way to the top.

Photo: giladr

Equestrianism is another big thing here, and there are a dozen horseback riding facilities, most of which will nonchalantly throw in cowboy costumes when you take a ride.

A laid-back holiday option is to rent a motorbike and tour Jeju-do’s pretty beaches. In the summer, the water is clear and cool. In the winter, the island attracts “penguin clubs” who take icy dips in the sea.

In the city of Jeju, hotels range from basic to honeymoon-cheesy, with heart-shaped beds, tubs, light fixtures, and rugs.

On that note, one of Jeju’s most popular after-dark activities is Jeju Loveland. It’s Korea’s only sex theme park, founded by a group of (who else?) university art students.

Here, you can stroll among larger-than-life sculptures of midcoitus couples, soloists, and huge, huge sex organs.

Gyeongju

Korea’s answer to Pleasantville is a breath of fresh, smog-free air. No skyscrapers, no 6-lane roads…heck, I don’t recall seeing any escalators.

Photo: yeowatzup

In the former capital of the Silla Dynasty, no one’s in a hurry. This is good news for visitors, since the town has some monumental historic sights. Take your time exploring them.

The nearby temple complex of Seokguram Grotto is one of South Korea’s proudest historic structures. The Buddhist park feel like an open-air museum of Eastern art.

Gilded Buddhas, stone pagodas, and the beautiful Bulguksa temple all hold National Treasure status as relics of the former dynasty (and all-around gorgeous artifacts).

A little less serene, Gyeongju’s also home to Han-Ho, an internationally rated high-speed go-karting track.

Those traveling in April can see the town get messy in its weekend-long rice cake and soju festival. The former is a sweet, addictive dessert; the latter, Korea’s most popular (and potent) alcohol. Festival vendors hand out generous samples of both.

Boseong

Picture yourself as the star of the most persuasive green tea commercial ever made. Rolling hills? Dewy tea leaves? Technicolor shades of green? Yep, that’s Boseong.

Photo: leojmelsrub

Its green tea fields have such pastoral beauty that cinematographers often use the location for movies and melodramas (and yes, a high-budget commercial or two). Korean daytrippers love it too, and will hike the fields with enormous, cumbersome cameras, trying to capture it all.

In addition to lovely views, this region of the South Jeolla province is said to grow the most delicious green tea in South Korea. The plantation of Daehandawon is the oldest and largest in the area, set in a cool cedar forest.

From the tea plantation, a 15-minute bus or cab will take you to the tiny coastal village of Hwa-dong. It’s worth a visit for a post-hike trip to the jinjaeban: a Korean public spa. The one in Hwa-dong offers a range of hot green tea baths.

Community Connection

If this post inspires you to plan a trip, make sure to study the 10 Korean Customs To Know Before You Visit Korea.

Many, many Matadorians have spent time in South Korea, including Trips editor Hal Amen. You can hit him up with your questions by visiting his Matador profile.

Photo: loop_oh

Their list of “World’s Best Affordable Hotels” takes on five continents (though heavily weighted towards the U.S.) and nightly rates from $40 to $150.

I’m not familiar with Budget Travel, but I know if I clicked over expecting to get the scoop on cheap hotels, $150 price tags would be pretty disappointing — no matter how many Mongolian yurt spas or swimming pool waterfalls were promised me.

Short of a press trip, I can’t envision ever staying at Hotel Contempo in Managua, Nicaragua, for $130/night. Budget Travel recommends it for its teak furniture and a staff who can arrange day trips to an eco-reserve. My guess is you could get the same at a $10/bed hostel.

Only a handful of the 31 picks are even under $100, and half of these are in Southeast Asia.

Ranting aside…

A couple entries stood out (in a good way):

Poolside at The Pearl / Photo: Catchpenny

* El Cortez Cabana Suites, Las Vegas: A renovated motel, close to the Strip, with rooms from $42.

* Camping de Bordeaux Lac, France: One-bedroom lakeside cottages from $50. Sounds sweet.

* The Pearl Hotel, San Diego: Classic films screened weekly by the pool, rooms from $79.

Also, fans of the boutique hostel might want to check out Oops!, located near Paris’s Latin Quarter.

Community Connection

What’s the upper limit of your “affordable”? Have any favorite places that fit the bill? Let us know in the comments.

Photo: emutree

Getting on the water has always been a “must” for visitors to Venice, whether springing for a romantic gondola tour or simply hopping on a vaporetto waterbus. The canals define the city, and experiencing them from water level can be a lot of fun.

The company Venice Kayak has recently taken that idea in a new direction, offering guided kayak tours through the maze of waterways that comprise the floating city.

In a piece for The Guardian titled Kayaking in Venice: who needs a gondola?, Teresa Machan shares her story of paddling the Grand Canal, getting cut off by gondolas, and disembarking for gelato breaks.

Photo: ezioman

As Machan relates, the tours also take you out of the boat traffic and into the surrounding marshes of Laguna Veneta that otherwise can be difficult to explore as a tourist.

On the lagoon’s little islands are abandoned monasteries, insane asylums, military facilities, and other forgotten and slightly spooky sites to explore.

Venice Kayak’s accommodation options include camping near its headquarters on the sandbar of Lido de Venezia, a half hour paddle from the city.

Kayaking and camping…not typically what you think of for a Venice vacation.

Community Connection

While in Venice, save some euros with the tips from Sightseeing in Venice for (Almost) Free.

Photo: chadmagiera

For years, Iceland was considered one of the most expensive countries for travelers.

More recently, it became a high-profile casualty of the world’s financial woes, famously declaring bankruptcy just over a year ago.

Now look at it. It’s been named by Lonely Planet as the #1 economic tourist destination of 2010. Says LP,

Have you always wanted to discover this magical, mysterious country? To explore ice caps and volcanoes, and wallow in hot springs? Been put off because of the prohibitive prices? Well, 2010 is your year.

Get the full story from AFP here.

Another out-of-placer on the list is London, which — as Trips reported previously — is no longer burning through your travel dollar.

Presumably we’re working on a relative scale here (I mean, Iceland has a ways to go before hitting the bargain basement of Thailand, #2). In other words, these destinations are steals compared to what they cost just a few years ago.

So it’ll still take some careful planning to tour Iceland’s fire and ice and throw down on the Reykjavik Rúntur without blowing your budget for the flight home.

Community Connection

Will Lonely Planet’s “bargain” list influence your travel decisions? Let us know in the comments below.

Photo: mattwi1s0n

There are believers, there are skeptics, and there are those who just need a little more proof. If you fall into the third category, why wait for someone else to convince you that ghosts really do exist?

Ghostbusting isn’t just for Bill Murray and Dan Akroyd. This is a real profession which many investigators take very seriously. One of them is Loyd Auerbach, parapsychologist and Director of the Office of Paranormal Investigations.

Loyd took some time to chat with Matador’s Juli Huang to dispel some common misconceptions about ghost hunting, so before you go off on your own, make sure you read her piece Ghostbusting 101: 6 Myths Debunked by Loyd Auerbach and also Loyd’s website Mindreader.com.

To help you in your quest to seek the truth, I’ve gathered up five haunted locations in the U.S. that you can visit.

So, turn the lights off, light a few candles, and read on.

Haunting #1: Moss Beach Distillery

Location: San Mateo County, California

Photo: schommsen

Legend: Over 70 years ago, a young woman met and fell in love with a pianist who played at the bar which is now the Moss Beach Distillery.

Although she was married with a young child, she made regular visits to the restaurant to be with her lover. It is said she was killed by her enraged husband when he found out about the affair.

She has been dubbed “The Blue Lady” because of her attire and now roams around in a torn and bloody blue dress, although recent sightings have her in clean black cocktail dresses. According to Loyd Auerbach, she has revealed her real name as Elizabeth Claire Donovan, but prefers to be called Cayte (and specifically spelled this way).

Besides showing herself, physical events such as swinging lamps, moving glassware, anomalous magnetic fields, and fluctuating temperatures have been observed during investigations. Employees also bear witness to strange events such as books flying off of shelves by themselves and the feeling of a presence.

Haunting #2: Banta Inn

Location: Banta (Tracy), California

Legend: The Banta Inn has a storied history. Originally built as a saloon and inn by reputed outlaw Frank Gallegos, it later served as a bordello. The building was destroyed in 1937 by fire, but was rebuilt using some of the original timber.

According to reports, two people died in the fire, and they may play a part in the mysterious goings-on in the Inn today, like objects flying around and the appearance of shadow people.

The most persistant ghost, though, is that of Tony Gurkan. Tony was the husband of Jenny, Frank Gallegos’s youngest daugther, and the couple owned the bar in the 60s. In 1968, Tony suffered a heart attack behind the bar and died instantly. It was a known habit of Tony to leave the cash drawer open with neatly stacked coins.

After his death, sometimes when a bartender blindly tossed coins into the drawer and slammed it shut, he would look again to see the drawer open with the coins stacked neatly.

Sightings of Tony playing poker by himself in the corner — a habit he had when he was alive — have also been reported by staff and patrons. One thing that Loyd Auerbach witnessed himself — and which shows Tony must have a sense of humour — was the jukebox playing “Spirits in the Material World” by The Police.

The Myrtles Plantation / Photo: Corey Ann

Thing is, when Loyd had a closer look at the jukebox, he saw that it wasn’t plugged in.You can read more about Tony’s antics at the Banta Inn here.

Haunting #3: Myrtles Plantation

Location: St. Francisville, Louisiana

Legend: The Myrtles Plantation has long been considered one of America’s most haunted places. Built in 1794, legend has it that at least 10 murders occurred there. More recent investigation has found proof that only one actually did — William Winter in 1871.

However, this is not to say that the property has not seen its fair share of death. Many of the past residents died of various causes, including Ruffin Grey Stirling — who was responsible for doubling the size of the original house — from “consumption.”

Although many of the legends that have made the property famous were ultimately found to be untrue, there is a consensus that the Myrtles Plantation is indeed haunted by restless spirits.

In 1987, a ghost of an elderly lady in a green turban was seen (and later photographed), children have been seen playing in the hallways and rooms, and a young girl was witnessed floating in front of the games room window, cupping her hands to her eyes to peer inside.

For a detailed history of the property and its hauntings, read this article at prairieghosts.com.

Haunting #4: Original Springs Hotel

Location: Okawville, Illinois

Legend: Like any good haunting, the Original Springs Hotel — built around mineral hot springs which have been used to cure all sorts of maladies — has been rocked by a history of death. Suicides, accidents, and illnesses have all claimed lives and it’s thought that these spirits still wander the property.

There have been reports of hearing strange whisperings, cold spots in bed, footsteps in the hallways, and presences felt to be watching. Most staff fear the second floor of the older wing after nightfall, at times hearing rumblings from locked, unused guestrooms.

Perhaps the strangest of all is the “woman in white” who has been seen wandering about and walking through closed doors.

Haunting #5: The Queen Mary

Location: Long Beach, California

Legend: The Queen Mary — ironically nicknamed “The Grey Ghost” during its service at sea — is perma-docked these days as a hotel and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Photo: jarvisphoto6

But between 1937 and 1967 it served as a transport ship during the war and also as a luxury liner. During its service, the ship witnessed 49 deaths on board (to various reasons).

Additionally, in 1942 the Queen Mary rammed into one of its escorts as it attempted to outmaneuver enemy ships. It left over 300 people in its wake to be eaten by sharks or die drowning, as it was under orders not to stop.

This ship is no stranger to death, and it is certainly no stranger to ghosts. Some of the apparitions said to haunt the ship are:

* John Henry, who was crushed to death trying to flee a fire. Today, knocks and bright lights have been seen near engine room 13 where he died.

* A little girl who broke her neck when the ship was rocked by a big wave while she was horsing around. She can be seen around the pool looking for her mommy or doll.

* The drowned victims from the crash. Sometimes strange pounding noises can be heard which are said to be them desperate to get on board.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Have you ever seen an apparition? Do you even believe in ghosts?

Tell us your stories below!

Photo: ricardo.martin

According to the Hotel Rosengarten website, this all-nude hotel in the Black Forest has postponed their opening indefinitely due to lack of investors. And though I haven’t been able to ascertain if the trial for nude flights booked with OssiUrlaub.de was successful or not, I can’t find anywhere to book a seat on one of their planes.

Despite the uncertainty of these two naked ventures, there is one thing for both Germans and naturists to look forward to: the opening next May of an 11-mile hiking trail through the Harz Mountains in northern Germany, catering to those who like to stomp around in the buff.

The nude hiking route will start in the village of Dankerode — at the campsite of Heinz Ludwig, the man responsible for organizing the route — and end at the Wippertal dam. Traditional clothed hikers are welcome on the trail, but there will be clear signage of what they may bump into.

Fair warning.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Gun shy? Read 10 Traveler’s Tips For Rocking a Nudist Beach.

Photo: pasotraspaso

Mumbai, India

When you add up the equation “cycling” + “urban tourism,” you often assume “= Europe.” After all, the continent is home to many of the world’s most bike friendly cities.

Photo: zedvox

Places like Mumbai are looking to change the equation.

As reported in this New York Times travel blog post, a company called Odati Adventures has put together a “Mumbai City Cycle Ride.”

The focus is on commonly overlooked attractions — fitting, for as any avid cyclist knows, two-wheeled travel opens up all kinds of experiences that get passed over by the car-bound.

Leisure cycling in Mumbai still can’t be considered safe, which is why the tours run early on Sunday mornings, when traffic is most manageable.

But who knows — a successful cycle tour program could rewrite the city’s relationship with the bike.

Blackpool, England

With London set to unveil a monumental Paris-esque bike-hire scheme next summer, you’d expect it to be U.K. bicycle tourism’s front-page news.

Not if Blackpool has anything to say about it.

Also inspired by Paris’s groundbreaking Vélib’ program, this seaside resort town of 140,000 is launching an on-street bicycle rental system that will count 500 bikes by next spring.

Tourists are the primary target of the initiative and will be able to rent for a daily fee of £8.

However, it’s hoped Blackpool residents — who apparently suffer from extremely low rates of adult exercise — will take advantage as well. Swipe cards will be made available to commuters, providing a free half hour’s ride and charging £1/hour after that.

Photo: mrhayata

Tokyo, Japan

The urban mass of greater Tokyo is tied together by one of the city’s busiest subway routes, the circular Yamanote line.

More than 3.5 million passengers use the line each day, and to complete a journey around the loop takes a little over an hour.

What does this have to do with bicycles?

The New York Times recently featured a story by Harris Salat on a wonderfully novel concept: tracing the path of the Yamanote on two wheels.

Salat rented his ride through Cool Bike and made a three-day tour out of the 21-mile route, stopping frequently to experience the teahouses, gardens, tofu shops, sumo parades, riverside paths — in short, the classic Tokyo juxtaposition of tradition and modernity — he passed along the way.

While not an organized cycle tourism “development,” per se, his account makes for a good read, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it inspired copycat tours.

Hey, I’m game.

Community Connection

Matador loves bikes. You could spend a whole day digging through our bicycle-related content. Here’s a start:

10 Long-Distance Bicycle Routes in the U.S.

6 Reasons to Go By Bike

And They Stoned Me: The Joy Of Cycling Ethiopia

How To Be Good (Better) Drivers and Cyclists

8 Quirky Bike Rides across the U.S.

Bicycling the Pacific Coast and into the Great Beyond

Everyone loves lakes. / Photo: magical-world

Lakes have a lot to offer: You get all the benefits of a refreshing body of water without having to worry about tides, currents, rapids, great whites, or that scummy coating of salt.

That must have been what the folks at the Brilliant Tips blog were thinking, anyway, when they published a snapshot of 10 Unique and Fascinating Lakes Around the World.

And Trips agrees. It’s time to bigup the world’s lakes, and here are some picks from the Brilliant Tips piece to get us started:

Photo: gramz

Volcanic views

Two from the list fall into this category.

First we have Guatemala’s Lago de Atitlán, with a trio of volcanoes flanking its southern shore. A series of Mayan villages also ring the water.

And then there’s Taal Lake, on the Philippine’s main island of Luzon. An active volcano rises up from an island in the middle of the lake, and within the volcano’s crater is yet another lake, which Wikipedia describes as “the world’s largest lake on an island in a lake on an island.”
Ya follow?

Most flamingos

Tourists aren’t the only ones who can appreciate lakes. There may be as many as one million flamingos in Kenya’s Lake Nakuru at any given time, attracted by the water’s abundant algae.

Photo: caffeinated Kit

The otherworldly

Spotted Lake, in Klikuk, British Columbia, gets its double-take texture from the soup of minerals found in its water and the peculiarities of local evaporation processes.

It’s visible from a pull-off on Highway 3, just a 10-minute drive north of the Washington border — truly an alien landscape.

World’s deepest

That would be Baikal, reaching depths of 1,642 meters (5,400 feet). It’s also the world’s oldest.

The crescent blade of a lake is located in southeastern Russia and is a good choice for breaking up your Trans-Siberian rail journey.

Most floaty

The Dead Sea, on the borders of Jordan, Israel, and the West Bank, is actually a giant salt lake. It also marks the point of lowest elevation on Earth’s surface (422 meters/1,385 feet below sea level).

And people like to float in it.

Photo: auntjojo

Others?

Lake Titicaca would be an obvious addition to the list.

It’s giant, super high (one of the highest navigable in the world), and home to a collection of artificial islands made from reeds that people live on.

Oregon’s Crater Lake is another standout, with its great depth and remarkably clear waters.

Any more? What’s the most memorable lake you’ve visited, and what makes it unique? Let us know in the comments.

Photo: papalars

America’s one big place, and while the following destinations aren’t necessarily carbon copies of the big-name international draws, approached with the right attitude these one-of-a-kind sights might just tide you over till your bank account starts cooperating.

Cliff Palace: Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

You’ve imagined yourself riding up to Petra with your Indiana Jones hat on. Don’t lie.

Photo: ..lauren..

There’s something truly majestic about structures carved into rock; fortunately for Americans the Southwest is an archaeological playground, and a cheap one at that.

You’ll need a park ranger escort when visiting this particular site, which stays open just long enough to let you glimpse the dusk light creeping into the kivas. You might also catch a black bear, coyote, or mountain lion on the hiking trails.

It’s even rumored Spielberg intended to film here but met with objection from local tribes — so have at it, Indy.

That British Feeling: Philadelphia City Hall, Pennsylvania

There’s something about the Palace of Westminster that makes you want to eat a scone and conquer the world.

Photo: SnapsterMax

Funny thing is, the city halls of many ‘Thirteen Colonies’-era locales tend to possess a similar architecture — Philly’s is by no means an exception.

It even has a clock tower reminiscent of Big Ben, and if you get bell withdrawal you can pay a visit to America’s most famous, resting nearby: the cracked Liberty Bell.

Still missing an Abbey? Head across the street to the impressive Grand Lodge Temple, the center of the city’s Freemasonry.

Pyramids: Moundville Archaeological Park, Alabama

Given the heaps of theories regarding the placement of the Pyramids of Giza, it’s not surprising historians and archaeologists are also fascinated by these dozens of flat mounds scattered in geometric patters — remnants of the mysterious Mississippian culture of almost a thousand years ago.

The nearby museum is currently being renovated, but if you enjoy the whole mound thing then do yourself a favor and check out the UNESCO site of Cahokia in Illinois, which has similar features and is over ten times as big.

Photo: SF Brit

Gothic Cathedral: San Francisco, California

You can check off both French and Italian artistry with a visit to the Gothic Revival Grace Cathedral and its two replicas: the Gates of Paradise that face the Duomo in Florence and the labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral.

You might even feel the hunch creep up your back at the sight of the towering stained glass — especially the intricate Twenty-Third Psalm window.

The all-male choir gives fantastic performances in December, and San Francisco native Ansel Adams’ take on the cathedral’s angles can sometimes be caught in real-life display inside.

Ancient City: Old Oraibi, Arizona

What’s better than the abandoned cityscapes of Angkor Wat or Machu Picchu? How about one that’s still in use — just a few hours east of the Grand Canyon is one of the oldest continually occupied settlements in the U.S.

Even more incentive to make it here: the Hopi residents may not allow photos of the site, but they’re incredibly warm to visitors.

Stone Sculptures: Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota

These carvings may not be as old as those at Abu Simbel, but they sure are higher up.

The four political giants make for an inspiring visit, and the best part is you don’t have to worry about that temperamental police escort through the windy desert. The light hits Teddy, Tommy, Georgie, and Abe quite well at almost any time of day.

Additionally, you can get your Cold War history fix at a genuine Minutemen Missile facility less than two hours south — they even have a “Self-Guided Cell Phone Tour” for all you DIY-ers.

Photo: Hot Rod Homepage

Gladiatorial Venue: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, California

Brawls between adrenaline-charged super-huge men? A roaring crowd chanting for unnecessary violence?

Please your inner gladiator and attend a football game here between USC and UCLA.

The stadium’s hosted the Superbowl, the World Series, and the Summer Olympics twice. Oh, and it can seat just under 100,000 people — twice as many as Rome’s Colosseum.

Maximus would have made one hell of a tight end.

Futuristic Pinnacle: Seattle Space Needle, Washington

No photo of Shanghai is complete without the Oriental Pearl Tower across from the Bund, and the same could be said of this Seattle icon. Both have revolving restaurants and killer views. Besides, the 45 million visitors since its opening can’t be wrong.

Trekkies and Browncoats might also get a kick out of the science fiction museum right there at the Seattle Center.

Volcanic Anomaly: Crater Lake, Oregon

Photo: glennwilliamspdx

There are no whitewashed towns clinging to its cliffs, but if a volcanic caldera like Santorini is what you’re after, try this crazy puddle.

With no sources in or out, the water is some of the purest and clearest in the world.

In the wintertime, the snow around the rim glistens. You can warm yourself up in the Rim Village Cafe — and you won’t find a better view.

Community Connection

If the travel bug is still biting after you check out these American alternatives, you might be interested in reading about Why You Should Travel During The Global Recession and How To Travel The World For Free (Seriously).

Photo: vintage_queen

For hours we passed the billboards: “The Thing? The mystery of the desert” and “The Thing? What is it?” and finally, when my friend Leigh and I arrived at the exit in the middle of Arizona off Interstate 10, curiosity had gotten the better of us. We sheepishly handed over the $1 entry fee and began a strange and entertaining walk through my first roadside attraction.

If you have the time and a sense of humor, here are 10 bemusing, tacky roadside attractions, all easily accessible from interstates, to check out on your next American road trip.

The Thing?, Dragoon, AZ

Some 250 signs for 200 miles along I-10 through the empty Texas desert invite you to visit “The Thing?” 40 miles outside of Tucson.

Jolly Green Giant / Photo: greefus gone

The $1 admission buys you access to a bizarre collection of exhibits leading up to “The Thing” itself, including a Rolls-Royce that supposedly belonged to Hitler and a very homemade display of wood carvings depicting “ancient methods of torture.”

The identity of “The Thing?” Sorry, you’ll have to find out for yourself.

Wall Drug Store, Wall, SD

This historic tourist attraction breaks up the drive across South Dakota on I-90. Like “The Thing?,” it also entices would-be visitors with billboards beginning hundreds of miles away.

Wall Drug’s mall employs nearly one-third of the town and is famous for its huge jackalope, mechanical people, and 80-foot dinosaur next to the interstate.

Blue Whale, Catoosa, OK

The 80-foot cement whale is a bizarre anniversary gift that can be seen from former Route 66 next to its pond. It’s easily accessible from I-44 outside of Tulsa.

Visitors can actually walk into the mouth of the giant sculpture.

Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, TX

Photo: fPat

Created in 1974 by members of the art group Ant Farm, this installation involves 10 spray-painted Cadillacs emerging from the ground tail-end up.

It’s visible from I-40 but if you plan to stop, bring a can of spray paint; Ant Farm encourages visitors to add to the artwork.

Jolly Green Giant, Blue Earth, MN

This 55-foot statue welcomes visitors to Blue Earth at the midpoint of I-90 in Minnesota.

The Giant commemorates the town’s link to the Green Giant Company — once located there and formerly called the Blue Earth Canning Company.

Calico Ghost Town, Yermo, CA

Outside of Barstow on I-15, this former silver mining town is now a tourist attraction.

There are several options for entertainment, including mine tours, gunfight shows, and gold panning. Only five original buildings exist today; the rest are re-creations.

The Douglas Jackalope, Douglas, WY

Curiously, there’s more than one roadside attraction involving a jackalope. Douglas has one because a resident of the small town dreamed up the imaginary creature in the 1930s.

You can access the town and its statue off of I-25.

Photo: loyaldefender2004

Museum of Natural and Other Curiosities, Hartford, CT

In downtown Hartford, this museum houses a strange collection of taxidermic items, including exotic birds, an eight-foot alligator, a two-headed pig, and a two-headed calf.

The House of Mystery and the Oregon Vortex, Gold Hill, OR

Off of I-5 in Oregon, this attraction claims to be a “whirlpool of force” where strange things happen.

The vortex apparently defies the laws of physics: balls roll uphill, and people appear shorter as they approach you or taller as they walk away.

The Enchanted Highway, ND

Turn off I-94 at Gladstone, North Dakota, for 32 miles of weird, oversized art installations including a tin family, the world’s largest grasshopper, and a flock of pheasants with a 40-foot-tall, 70-foot-long rooster.

And More…

To find other curious roadside attractions on your next road trip, visit the website of Roadside America.

Community Connection

Most of the above attractions qualify as cheap entertainment. To learn how to save on other aspects of your trip, make sure to read 8 Ways to Save Money on a U.S. Cross-Country Road Trip.

Photo: Marcel Masferrer Pascual

For two days (this year October 3-4), Taybeh is host to Palestine’s Oktoberfest — a celebration of Palestinian music, culture, and…well, beer. Taybeh is a Christian village in the West Bank, 35 kms north of Jerusalem and home to the now international Taybeh Brewery.

Wha…who…how?

The Taybeh Brewery was founded in 1994 by Nadim Khoury, who first began brewing his own suds in the late ’70s while studying at Boston’s Hellenic College. Besides the region’s Jewish-Arab conflict, Mr. Khoury also had to contend with the fact that 95% of his potential customers were Muslim, a faith that prohibits alcohol consumption.

Obviously, the quality speaks for itself. Today, Taybeh beer is brewed under license in Germany (it conforms to the purity law 1516) for the European market. In Japan, the brew has a loyal following and you can even find it in Jerusalem on tap at some bars.

Fifth edition

This year’s Okotoberfest is the fifth annual event and one that brings together Israelis and Palestinians as well as international tourists. Tens of thousands partake in the festival, where you can eat local foods and buy products like olive oil, honey, and cakes as well as crafts made by local artisans.

If you’re in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv at the time, you can organize a tour to Taybeh for both days of the festival. Complimentary tours of the brewery are also given. Call ahead if you’re in a large group (02-289-8868).

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

For some reading on this conflicted region, check out Waging Peace: Israeli Mother and Palestinian Soldier Unite and Bullets and Backpackers: Political Tourism Hits the West Bank.

If you’re more keen on the traditional Oktoberfest in Munich, make sure you read A First Timer’s Guide to Oktoberfest.

Photo above: Vladimír Tóth, Feature photo: gluemoon

Unexpected Effects

As it turns out, there are times when armed conflict benefits the environment. Just look at Korea’s DMZ, where wildlife thrives in the 4km-wide strip of no man’s land that divides the peninsula.

Something similar occurred along the infamous Iron Curtain, the heavily fortified border that cut for thousands of kilometers through Central Europe, demarcating East and West. 1,400 of those kilometers were in Germany.

While armed guards held vigil, nature flourished. In 1989 the border came down, but the ecosystem that had grown up around it remained. It’s now home to 600 of the region’s threatened animal and plant species, from rare mosses to endangered birds and wild cats.

Redefining the Past

The grünes band — or green belt — as of yet isn’t monitored by a single entity. Rather, it’s being managed by groups in charge of the natural preservation of the different regions it passes through.

Photo: Shyald

Guided and solo trekking options are now attracting visitors. Of course, a nice dose of history is mixed in, with sections of fence, watchtowers, and even old East Germany barracks (now converted into tourist accommodations) still standing.

But just as the Iron Curtain extended far beyond the borders of Germany, so too does the vision of the project.

The organization European Green Belt hopes to turn the entire former border route — from the north of Finland to Greece — into one giant nature preserve.

Cyclists are also on the case, working section by section to create the 4,225-mile Iron Curtain Trail. Some segments are already open, as reported recently in The New York Times.

Preservation won’t be easy. Landowners and developers are understandably eager to take advantage of the empty land.

But great potential exists to transform the significance of the Iron Curtain from oppression and conflict to rejuvenation and new beginnings.

Community Connection

Have you been to the Iron Curtain green belt? If so, we’d love to hear about it in the comments.

For other great routes to explore, check out these Trips titles:

Photo Essay: The Epic Beauty of the West Coast Trail

How To Trek The Inca Trail

A-OK Again on the Kokoda Trail

Great Routes Through the Maya Trail

Umayyad mosque in Damascus / Photo: loufi

Vancouver, British Columbia: first settled by Europeans in 1862. This was my history growing up. I got married in a “historic heritage” home that dates back to the late 19th century.

When I started traveling around Europe I began to get more of a sense of the history of civilization: the ancient Roman aqueducts, cathedrals, and coliseums. Traveling in China showed me the rich history of the past millenniums through the different dynasties’ temples, fortifications, and buildings.

The farther back we go, the more abstract and difficult it is to comprehend life and civilization. But modern humans have been around for 200,000 years. And some cities that date back as far as 12,000 years ago are still inhabited today.

Plovdiv / Photo: Klearchos Kapoutsis

WebUrbanist.com recently published an article titled Senior City-zens which features the 10 oldest cities on the planet that are still alive and kickin’.

The list includes:

1. Damascus, Syria (12,000 years)
2. Jericho, West Bank (11,000)
3. Susa, Iran (10,000)
4. Plovdiv, Bulgaria (9000)
5. Jerusalem, [Israel] (5000)
6. Tyre, Lebanon (6000)
7. Athens, Greece (3400)
8. Lisbon, Portugal (3200)
9. Varanasi, India (3000)
10. Cholula, Mexico (2200)

But even these are in dispute as many commenters have noted other still-inhabited ancient cities. The cave dwellings of Matera are suspected to be some of the first human settlements in Italy, and Fodor’s says:

Matera is the only place in the world where people can boast to be still living in the same houses of their ancestors of 9,000 years ago.

A lack of East Asian cities and the omission of Byblos, Lebanon also raised some readers’ hackles. Some passionate Spaniards point out that Cadiz is in fact the most ancient city in Western Europe (and not Lisbon) — a claim that Wikipedia backs.

Whatever the case, it’s a fascinating list and worthy of much thought for the times these cities have seen over the years.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Unfortunate incidents can empty a place in a heartbeat or over the span of decades. These abandoned cities weren’t able to hold on to their residents like those listed above.

Old cities like these, when mixed with modern life, can offer some very interesting experiences. If you’ve had some yourself, join the discussion over at What Is Your Most Surreal Travel Experience?

Photo: diametrik

Walking the concrete canyons of Manhattan, it’s easy to forget you’re on an island. And with multi-lane highways encircling the borough, it can be a challenge to enjoy the scenery and history of New York Harbor — unless you take to the water.

The iconic orange Staten Island Ferry isn’t the only way. Here are seven more.

Photo: bettyx1138

1. Governors Island

This patch of green is just a seven minute ferry ride from the southernmost tip of Manhattan and has been a native American fishing ground, U.S. Coast Guard base, site of a meeting between Reagan and Gorbachev and, now, a public park and National Monument administered by the National Park Service.

In addition to military history and blissful quiet — only a handful of vehicles are allowed on Governors Island — you’ll also find special events throughout the season, which this year runs until October 11. The best part about the island? The ferry and admission are free!

2. Statue of Liberty

On July 4, the famed statue’s crown was re-opened to tourists, having been closed since the September 11 attacks. While getting tickets for the 146-step climb is a necessity, it also requires some advance planning, as demand since the opening has been high.

A check on July 15 didn’t turn up space until mid-October. Admission: $12.

3. Water Taxi Beach

New York’s original fake beach is across the East River from Manhattan and, like so many things in Queens, is all about food and drink. Viewing the sunset over the New York skyline is much better with a burger in one hand and a beer in the other.

Water Taxi Beach / Photo: robotpolisher

On Fridays in July and August, you can even score a special BBQ chicken spread. Bring friends. Depending on when you go, ferries to Water Taxi Beach are $4.50, $20 (for a full-day ferry pass) or free.

4. Riverside Park

While most of Manhattan is ringed by highways, urban planner Frederick Law Olmsted designed this section of the Upper West Side to work with the water. Riverside Park stretches from 72nd to 158th Street, drawing bikers, joggers and, boat buffs.

The 79th Street Boat Basin is home to skippers smart enough to avoid NYC rents by living aboard.

5. City Island

Far from the hustle of New York but still part of the city, this New England-y enclave is the last thing you’d think of as metropolitan. But it’s worth the long haul to gorge on seafood while watching yachts cruise by. Take the no. 6 train and then the Bx29 bus to get there.

Photo: calamity_sal

Johnny’s Reef Restaurant at the south of the island has an old-school vibe that makes for great photos…and piles of seafood, of course. Visiting is free, but the fried clams will cost you.

6. Free Kayaking

Sporty locals have been passing around a secret for years: The New York City Downtown Boathouse will loan you a kayak and let you paddle around the Hudson for free. More serious boaters might score a spot on a three-hour tour, but since you can’t sign up ahead of time, availability depends on how many others show up.

7. Sailing school

If the above six seem too easy for you, the Manhattan Sailing School offers ASA basic keelboat certification over three days out of the North Cove in Battery Park City.

You’ll spend the first evening learning what makes sailboats go and the next two days trimming jibs and taking the helm of a J/24 with three other students and an instructor. Reservations are essential. $690.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

For some inspiration for number 7 above, have a read of Jessica Watson, 16, Youngest Person to Sail Around the World Solo.

Need a mini-break from the Big Apple? Here are the 5 Best Hudson River Valley Day Trips.

If you like the water, Matador’s got a slew of great info in these articles: Boating Big Sky: Montana’s Classic River Trips and Take Me to the River: 8 Simple Steps for Getting into Whitewater Paddling.

Photo: dsearls

For those who seek out special places only the locals know about, geocaching is the perfect activity. If you’re not familiar with this modern-day treasure hunt, check out the official website, or let Matador take you to school with Geocaching 101.

People who hide the caches almost always live in the area, and they tend to choose spots that are special to them and will offer something memorable to the geocacher: a hidden viewpoint, a quiet meadow, an overlooked urban nook.

If you’re traveling around Portugal, you can browse a database of caches using the geocaching site. Or, to make your life a bit easier, follow this list of the top 6 caches in the country.

1. The End of the World [Sagres] – GC12CRJ

Photo: Selma90

To find this cache, you’ll have to make your way to Cabo de São Vicente, in Sagres, the southwestern-most point in Europe.

Its attraction as “the end of the world” means there are a lot of “muggles” around at all times. Retrieving the cache from its secret location won’t be an easy task.

I suggest arriving at sunset to enjoy the ocean view.

2. Last Home of Gertrude [Mafra] – GC54DD

I lived about 50 km from here for 23 years and was still stunned by the discovery of the abandoned village of Broas while searching for this cache.

The village, sitting on top of a hill in the outskirts of Lisbon, has been empty for over three decades. To get to it, you’ll need to do a bit of uphill walking, but the reward is worth it. You can stroll the village streets and even poke around the old houses.

You won’t find Broas marked on a map (not even a military one), and if you ask most people in Lisbon they likely won’t know it exists.

3. The Treasure Island [Abrantes] – GC9F38

Photo: Rui Ornelas

Almourol is a little island 50+ km north of Lisbon in the middle of the Tagus River, barely big enough for the castle that was built on it back in the 12th century.

What better setting for a treasure hunt?

The boat ride from Vila Nova da Barquinha will run you a euro or two, but entrance to the castle is free of charge.

4. The Jewell of Sapphire – GCED4F

If you thought the Last Home of Gertrude was cool, you’re gonna love the Jewell of Sapphire. The search for this geocache will lead you to an abandoned village called Safira, in the Alentejo.

After signing the cache logbook, take your time to marvel at the house ruins, the old cemetery, and the Church of Our Lady of Sapphire, built in the 15th century. The church was badly damaged by the great earthquake of 1755, restored in 1874 and again in 1903.

5. O Naufrágio do San Pedro de Alcantara [Peniche] – GCX69C

Back in the 18th century, a Spanish warship named San Pedro de Alcantara, overloaded with silver, copper, and gold, hit the rocks of Peniche. It sank immediately.

Not a lot of people know this historical tidbit, and the sight sees next to no visitors. Perhaps that’s what makes it so special and earns it a spot on this list.

6. Linhas de Torres – Forte da Aguieira [V. F. Xira] – GCMK7A

Photo: Caveman 92223

Not too far west of the capital you’ll find Forte da Aguieira, the remains of a fortification charged with protecting Lisbon during the third French invasion in the 19th century.

A visit at sunset is rewarded with a commanding view of the Tagus River and the city of Lisbon in the distance. You can almost see French soldiers marching over the horizon.

There’s a whole series of caches related to this long fortified structure — don’t stop with this one!

Community Connection

If you’re just getting into geocaching and don’t yet have a GPS receiver, check out our review of 5 Handheld GPS Receivers.

Destinations

Community Connection to Portugal

Or, better yet, connect with these Matador community members, each of whom is fired up on geocaching:

Darren Alff
imagejin
GeoMan3

You’ll also find some great resources on Portugal here at Matador. Make sure not to miss Beyond Lisbon and Algarve: Exploring the Lesser Known Portugal and Eat, Pray, Love in Portugal.

Surfers will want to check out Ericeira: Portugal’s Surf Mecca and Surfers’ Guide to the Algarve Coast, Portugal.

Photo: André Brugiroux

Somewhere between 189 and 217 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen (depending on your source of information), and some 130 off the coast of Somalia, like a tiny, glittering tongue-stud in the gaping maw of the Gulf of Aden, lies the legendary island of Socotra (Suquṭra), ancient source of ambergris, dragon’s blood, frankincense, and myrrh.

Now an International Biosphere Reserve, it’s been called a Wonder Land, the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, and one of The Most Alien Landscapes on Earth.

“It is one of those unique places in the world,” says Spanish toptrotter Jorge Sanchez, founder of the well-respected Travelers Exploits Club.

And it has a long and distinguished history of being very hard to get to.

By Sea

With two annual monsoons (southwest from June-October and northeast from April-May), no natural harbor, not much anchorage to speak of, and a flourishing offshore piracy business, arrival by sea has always been problematic.

Photo: NASA

Thomas the Apostle is said to have been shipwrecked here sometime in the first century A.D., on his way to or from India. They say he built a church from the wreckage.

Marco Polo managed a safe landing, apparently, but noted the abundance of corsairs selling booty to the locals. For the generally uncooperative weather he squarely blamed the latter: a naked people he described as “the most skilful enchanters in the world.” He continues,

[I]f a ship is proceeding full sail with a favourable wind, they raise a contrary one, and oblige it to return. They can make it blow from any quarter they please, and cause either a dead calm or a violent tempest.

According to The Arabian Nights, Sinbad the Sailor made a brief call here on his fifth voyage, only to have his ship destroyed not by Socotran witchcraft but by a pair of huge, angry, possibly not entirely mythical birds-of-prey dropping boulders on it.

Birds of such description no longer factor among the 211 species on the Socotra Bird Checklist. And the last Socotran witchcraft trials are said to have been held in the 1970s. But the corsairs, as always well-equipped with the latest in contemporary weaponry and chutzpah, are still very much in business.

According to Alan Lucas’ classic Red Sea and Indian Ocean Cruising Guide, “vessels have been grappled and towed into shore for looting.” Yachtsmen are advised to give the archipelago as wide a berth as possible.

Several local fishermen have been murdered in the last seven months, or have had their boats or engines taken out from under them at gunpoint. A freighter bound for Socotra with 2,000 tons of diesel fuel was taken by Somali pirates and held for ransom between January and April of this year, causing a shortage of electricity on the island.

The silver lining, for diving enthusiasts, is an unparalleled underwater landscape of sunken vessels waiting to be explored.

By Air

Bill Altaffer, of Expedition Photo Travel in San Diego, was among the first tourists to Socotra after a new airstrip was built in 1999. It almost didn’t happen for him.

“We got on a plane in Sana’a,” he recalls.

It was a crummy plane, a Yemen Air piece of shit, and as we’re about to lift off there’s this big bang and flames shoot out of the engine.

Photo: Sotti

Altaffer’s been to every country in the world, plus 300 island groups, disputed areas, territories, and colonies. He’s been to both poles. He’s surfed off every continent and skied on six. The dude was the first American to surf the legendary Queenscliff bombora off Manly Beach in Sydney (in 1962).

He wasn’t about to let a little equipment failure get in the way of his pioneering visit to what he describes as “an island full of blond people who are descendants of Alexander the Great.”

If it had come to it, he’d have gone through Aden, where weeks earlier the USS Cole had docked to a warm welcome of Al Qaeda-brand C-4 explosives. As it turned out, Yemenia found another plane in somewhat better condition.

“The easiest way from the U.S. is through Dubai on Emirates,” says Charles Veley, of San Francisco, who by his own count is The World’s Most Traveled Man.

If you don’t want to stop in Dubai, you should continue on to Sana’a on Emirates. Transiting to Yemenia (last time I did it) involves a terminal change and isn’t fun.

At age 44, Veley has been to 710 “countries, territories, autonomous regions, enclaves, geographically separated island groups, and major states and provinces.” When he gets to 762 he figures he’ll have been “everywhere” — that is, unless the number goes up before he gets there.

Charles Veley on Socotra

He hit Socotra early on December 31, 2004, back when there was only one flight a week, “so the choice was whether to turn around the same day or stay 7 days.”

Veley stayed for a couple of hours, found the landscape “remarkable and otherworldly,” and the people “super-friendly — much friendlier than on the mainland,” then got back on the plane in time to make a giant New Year’s Eve party and Sean Paul concert at the Sheraton in Addis Ababa.

When he goes back to Socotra, he says, he’ll spend 3-5 days and treat it “like a camping trip, because the hotels are basic and in the only town [Hadibo], and the scenery is far out of town.”

Until recently, Yemenia (Yemen National Airways) was the only airline with semi-regular service to Socotra (SCT). For a while it was almost daily, out of both Sana’a and Aden, through Riyan (RIY) at Al Mukalla.

Then, what with one of its dozen or so planes dropping into the ocean, and all attendant and ongoing international scrutiny of maintenance habits and such, Yemenia seems to have cancelled some of its domestic schedule.

Photo: Sotti

For now anyway, local upstart Felix Airways has stepped into the void, with its four Canadian Bombardier CRJ700s (and four more on order) and five scheduled round-trip flights weekly between Riyan and Socotra (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday).

Connect to Riyan via Sana’a (SAH) or Aden (ADE). Online booking is “coming soon.”

In the meantime, try contacting their office at the Sana’a airport on 967-1-565656, or by email at callcenter@felixairways.com.

And let us know how it goes!

Rules, Regs & Red Flags

For the latest travel advisories, piracy and terrorism updates, and general visa information, check the U.S. State Department’s oft-updated Yemen Page.

Get your visa beforehand in Washington, says Veley: “Supposedly they are available on arrival, but they’re not very forthcoming at the window in the Sana’a airport.”

General Notes/Tips from Jorge Sanchez

You can hitch hike from the airport to Hadibo: the first car will give you a ride. In Hadibo there are several hotels, you can bargain for the price. The first one is where all tourists meet, Germans, Italians, and the rest. They organize trips, excursions, rent Land Rovers, etc. I went further downtown and found a nice hotel, cheap, with shower. But several nights I slept à la belle etoile, on the beach. People brought us mattresses to sleep on the sand.

Photo: Boris Khvostichenko

Fish is good and cheap, as well as goats.

Transport is easy: just stop any pick-up and negotiate a price for the highlights of the island, especially the dragon’s blood trees and the oasis in the middle of the island, it’s all very cheap.

Learn some Arabic, it’s very useful in negotiating prices.

The only inconvenience is that beers are forbidden, and all alcohol, so it’s water or Coca Cola. Still, you will not regret visiting Socotra!

Community Connection

Have you been to Socotra? We would LOVE to hear from you. Share your experiences in the comments!

For more otherworldly scenes, be sure to check out Photo Essay: The Most Alien Landscapes on Earth.

Get the Bond experience at these destinations without having to give up your identity:

1. Location: British SIS Headquarters, Vauxhall, London
Better known as: MI6 Headquarters

Photo: Jim Bowen

The real-life headquarters of the British Secret Service has been Bond’s headquarters many times over, making appearances in Goldeneye, The World is Not Enough, and Die Another Day.

The £135,000,000 building is in Vauxhall, England, and much of its design specifications remain classified due to the security measures in place to protect it. You can’t blame them: it was badly damaged in September of 2000 after being struck by a rocket attack.

Judging from their history of innovations, like Bond’s mechanical alligator in Octopussy, they’re always on top of their security game.

2. Location: Piz Gloria, Schilthorn, Switzerland
Better known as: Ernst Blofeld’s headquarters

Photo: Paul Stephenson

From England, we’ll take the world’s longest aerial cable-car system to the summit at Schlithorn in the Swiss Alps, where the iconic villain Ernst Blofeld and his creepy cat made their hideout  in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Blofeld has since fled the area, but today you’ll find one of the world’s first and tallest revolving restaurants, Piz Gloria, at 2,970m (9,744ft).

At the summit, the sight of more than 200 mountain peaks and glaciers is your revolving backdrop as you sip your shaken martini from the Bond Bar that pays homage to its Hollywood doppelganger. In winter the Schilthorn hosts the start of the world’s longest downhill ski race, the Inferno, that spans 16 kilometers and attracts more than 1,800 competitors.

3. Location: Jökulsárlón, Iceland
Better known as: Site of Bond’s icy car chase in Die Another Day, among other appearances

Photo: Ollografik

The movie’s title may not have been referring to the otherworldly ice lagoons in Jökulsárlón, but this destination featured in the opening scene of A View to Kill certainly feels like a site for Armageddon. The stillness of the river and its icy lillypads invokes the spirit of the spot’s former glacial giants that have since melted, leaving traces of their majesty in the jagged, black-and-white ice formations.

Despite its remote locale, Bond has visited Jökulsárlón a number of times, most famously in Die Another Day (feat. above) where a car chase across the ice lagoon in an Aston Martin brought him to the Ice Palace.

4. Location: Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami Beach, FL
Better known as: Setting for “man talk” in Goldfinger

Photo: Lumiere

The Fountainebleau is what James Bond would be if he died and was reincarnated as a ridiculously ballin’ beach resort. Stylish yet dignified. Modern yet timeless. Glamorous yet mysterious. These paradoxes of the Bond persona are the essence of the Fontainebleau: the snobbiest French-named hotel in America with more celebrities, style, and reputation than any other.

Staying at the Fontainebleau is a trip in itself. Facing the Atlantic, the 1504-room resort just added two new towers, 11 restaurants and lounges, a 40,000-square-foot spa, and its signature free-form pool that’s about as big as a football field. Why would Bond stay anywhere else?

5. Location: Ko Tapu, Phang Nga Bay, Thailand
Better known as: Scaramanga’s secret island; James Bond Island

Photo: Rene Ehrhardt

Ever since The Man With the Golden Gun premiered, the sixty-foot monolith of Ko Tapu, or James Bond Island, has been one of the main tourist draws of Ao Phang Nga National Park. Day tours run from Phuket.

There isn’t much to do around James Bond Island. You could start a secret hideaway in case you ever become a villainous assassin, but it’s already been done. You’re better off touring the other attractions this otherworldly bay has to offer.

6. Location: Pão de Açúcar, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Better known as: Backdrop for Bond’s cable-car fight with Jaws

Photo: Alicia Nijdam

Typically, you’re supposed to ride inside the cable car on the way up to Sugarloaf, but if you’re going for the full Bond experience you can’t expect to get around like a normal person. Then again, if you’re really going to travel like Bond you’ve got to bring along a galpal with the last name “Goodhead.” Classy, James.

If watching Moonraker turned you off of the cable car, Rio’s 1,300ft Sugarloaf offers plenty of great climbing, as do the surrounding mountains of Morro da Babilônia and Morro da Urca. Together, they form one of the largest urban climbing areas in the world, with more than 270 routes.

7. Location: Holy Trinity Monastery, Meteora, Greece
Better known as: Kristatos’s hideout in For Your Eyes Only

Photo: Mike G. K.

Sometime around 1000 A.D., a bunch of hermits in Thessaly, Greece decided they wanted out of their caves, and set out to build a new home for their life of prayer and meditation.  The best idea they could come up with was building twenty or so massive monasteries on top of extremely tall and narrow pillars.  While not in the most convenient location, the Eastern Orthodox monasteries of Meteora are some of the most impressive combinations of man-made and natural architecture.

To get there, you can take a bus from Ioannina, Trikala, Thessaloniki, or Athens — or you can go Bond style and just use your bare hands.  However, be sure to clean up before checking out the monasteries, because they’ll kick you out if you’re wearing shorts or sleeveless shirts.  Besides, if you’re rolling with Bond, you roll in style.

8. Location: Rock of Gibraltar, Southern Spain
Better known as: Site of Bond’s descent in The Living Daylights

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

At the top of the famous Rock of Gibraltar off the coast of Spain, the British (who own the island) built an RAF airbase that the producers of The Living Daylights wanted to use for the film.  The problem was, it didn’t “look military enough,” so fake barbed wire, security signs, and other defense accouterments were added to convince the audience that James Bond only messes around in top-level security clearance areas.

For centuries, the Rock has been an impenetrable stronghold during wartime, and has never even been close to being captured, allowing for the historical simile, “strong as the Rock of Gibraltar.” Today, you can visit as a tourist and take in the local flora and fauna, the historical landmarks (like the first Neanderthal skull), or make like a real Bond and just head to the casino.

9. Location: Lake Palace, Udaipur, India
Better known as: Bond’s hotel in Octopussy

Photo: View From the Saddle

As we all know, when Bond travels, he only stays at the best.  And by the best, I mean a 350-year-old palace-turned-hotel on a tiny slab of granite floating in the middle of a lake.  In Udaipur’s Lake Pichola, the Lake Palace sits at a distance from the rest of the city, and its pristine white walls seem to glow amidst the rest of the sandblasted landscape.

Community Connection

Movie buffs won’t want to miss these other Matador titles:

The 20 Most Memorable Travel Films (That Aren’t Really About Travel)

Ten Great Film Festivals And One Stinkarooni

The Red Pill: 10 Films Guaranteed To Blow Your Mind

25 Movies That Literally Moved Us (According To Budget Travel)

Also, make sure to check out Matador contributing editor Eva Holland’s blog Not Coming to a Theater Near You.

Great American Beer Festival, Denver / Photo: deege@fermentarium.com

Brewery Tours

A brewery tour will show you the care and craft that goes into beer production, and most breweries offer them for free.

Photo: Bernt Rostad

Try the short but informative free tour at Great Divide, often given by one of the brewers themselves.

Afterwards, enjoy free samples of award-winning beers like Saint Bridget’s Porter and Hercules Double IPA in the small tasting room. If your visit coincides with happy hour (4-7pm, Monday-Friday), you’ll also get discounts on pints, which normally cost $4-$5 each.

The smaller city of Boulder sits in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, 35 miles north of Denver, and a tour of father-and-son-run Avery Brewing is worth the short drive. Make sure to toss back an India Pale Ale or Out of Bounds Stout once your tour’s over.

If you need a snack to go with your beer, try a gyro from the Pearl Street Gyro Cart, which sets up shop in the Tap Room. A pint’s just two bucks with any gyro.

The largest of Colorado’s breweries, Coors, is found between Denver and Boulder. For Fat Tire fans, New Belgium Brewing Company lies farther up the road in Fort Collins.

Brew Pubs

With nearly 70 rotating beers on tap and many more in bottles, Denver’s Falling Rock Tap House is the place to sample to your heart’s content.

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of taps lining the wall, but the friendly bartenders are happy to make recommendations and offer a taste to help you decide. The diverse menu is categorized by style and includes ales, ambers, lagers, IPAs, stouts, porters, and cask-conditioned beers from both local brewers and producers around the world.

If the 16-ounce curls sap your strength, Falling Rock has you covered with a bar menu featuring standard pub fare like wings and burgers.

Photo: mmckeay

Just off Pearl Street in Boulder is Mountain Sun Pub, offering more pub grub and the perfect beer sampler — six 6-ounces tastes of their award-winning brews for under $10.

For a few more options, head to Walnut Brewery, Boulder’s first brewpub. Indulge in anything from giant soft pretzels and thin-crust pizzas to fajitas and baby-back ribs along with a rotating selection of brewed-onsite beers like Devil’s Thumb Stout and Big Horn Bitter.

After dinner, walk a few blocks down to the Boulder Drafthouse, which hosts a variety of live music every night.

More Good Eats in Denver

Most of Denver’s bars and restaurants offer great happy hour deals on weekday nights and during certain weekend hours.

Photo: ChazWags

One of the best places for cheap happy hour eats is Dazzle, with nightly jazz performances. The $5 food menu includes items like fried calamari and creamy mac-and-cheese, and pulled-pork or salmon sliders are under two bucks each.

If the previous night’s exploits have left you a little rough around the edges, take a drive to Govnr’s Park for some hair of the dog. On Saturdays, brunch is buy one, get one free and mimosas are bottomless from 10am-2pm.

Or, if you’re up early and raring to go, hightail it to Snooze, Denver’s best brunch spot, to beat the crowd. Soak up any leftover alcohol in your system with corned beef hash, steak and eggs benedict, or pineapple upside-down pancakes.

Frothy Festivals

True beer fanatics should plan their Denver visit around the Great American Beer Festival, held every September. Tickets cost around $50 and are good for four hours of sampling some of the 1,800 beers on tap from around the world.

The newer, less-crowded All Colorado Beer Festival goes down in Colorado Springs each November and serves up beers from over 70 Colorado breweries.

Alcohol-Free Exploits

Everyone needs a break from the bottle at some point (c’mon, admit it!). When it’s time for yours, give some of these more “wholesome” activities a go:

Photo: Herkie

* Art perusing at the Denver Art Museum
* Paradisaical bliss at the Denver Botanic Gardens
* Beer calorie management on a hike in Red Rocks Park (located halfway between Denver and Boulder)
* Rock climbing near Boulder at Eldorado Canyon
* More outdoors in Chautauqua Park, at the base of the Flatirons

Practicalities

To explore outside of downtown Denver you’ll need a car (but don’t even think about drinking and driving), so pick one up at the airport.

In town, budget travelers can check into the Melbourne International Hostel for as little as $16 a dorm bed ($39 for a private double). Or, score yourself an eco-friendly suite at the Queen Anne Bed and Breakfast for around $135 a night.

In Boulder, private doubles at the Boulder International Youth Hostel start at $50.

The Bradley Boulder Inn, located right off Pearl Street in downtown Boulder, gets a little swankier, with posh rooms for $200 and up. However, these include a wine and cheese hour, wireless internet, access to a fitness center, and a hearty breakfast. Plus, if you hit every watering hole in this article, you won’t even remember swiping your card at checkout.

Community Connection

Other beer-based content to be had on Matador includes Beer Quest 2008: The Search for America’s Best Microbrew, 20 Best Beer Towns in America, and The Top 20 Microbrews in America.

Also, make sure to check out Katie’s 10 Spots in Chicago for BYOB Dining and How to Drink on the Reykjavik Rúntur.

Photo above: Jen SFO-BCN, Feature photo: Perrimoon

Eats: La Cova Fumada

This nook is easy to miss. But don’t let the cigarette smoke and cooking fat fumes that waft from behind its backstreet brown doors intimidate you. La Cova Fumada is the best seafood tapas bar in Barcelona, where local dock workers and fishermen come to grab a quick snack and hurl good-natured insults at one another.

At lunchtime, the harassed waiter turns a deaf ear to any drink orders that don’t involve red wine and the female kitchen staff (who look as if they’ve been wrestling in olive oil) wipe sweat from their brows with the tea towels.

Photo: loremipsum

From their tiny workspace, they turn out plate after plate of crispy grilled sardines, succulent octopus, bacalao in tomato sauce, and the house specialty of patatas bombas — fried potato balls smothered in a fiery garlic and chili sauce.

There are no frills, no menus, no reservations, no credit cards, and no English-speaking staff. Consequently, prices are about half those charged on La Rambla.

Address: C/ Baluard 56 (no sign)
Tel: +34 932 214 061
Hours: Monday to Friday 9am-3:30pm, Thursday and Friday 6pm-8.30pm, Saturday 9am-1.30pm. Closed Sundays and throughout August.

Green space: Parc de Guinardó

Guess what — Gaudí’s Parc Güell isn’t the finest green space in the city. Okay, so it’s easy on the eye and studded with delightful architectural eccentricities, but unless you’re the first to sprint through the gates at 10am, all your photos will be full of strangers’ elbows.

Instead, take the number 28 bus from Plaza Catalunya and stay on until the last stop — even if helpful pensioners frantically try to shoo you off at Parc Güell. From the bus stop, follow the road to the end and you’ll be in Parc de Guinardó, a sprawling municipal space that hardly anyone uses.

Ascend woodland paths to the top of the hill for a panoramic view of the city all to yourself.

Arriving: Bus 28 stops near the highest part of the park on Carrer de la Gran Vista – Plaça de la Mitja Lluna. The main entrance is at Carrer de Garriga i Roca 62
Tel: +34 934 500 749

Exercise: Montjuïc Municipal Olympic Swimming Pool

Swimming pools don’t get better than this.

Photo: liako

Built to showcase the city during the diving events of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and used by Kylie in her video for “Slow,” you can enjoy a prefect view of the city while doing your laps.

The pool may not have much in the way of amenities, but with a setting this good, it’s hard to care.

Address: Av Miramar 31
Tel: +34 934 430 046
Arriving: Take the Metro to Parallel, then hop on the funicular. At the top, the pool is across the road next to the restaurant El Xalet.
Hours: Open daily between July and mid-September, 11am-6.30pm

Sweets: Caelum

Tucked away in the Barri Gòtic, Caelum is the place to go for a sugar fix when you’re weary of walking. They sell products made by nuns and monks from around the country and the two-floor teashop has a superb collection of cakes.

For any marzipan lovers wondering what heaven looks like, this is it.

Address: C/ de la Palla 8
Tel: +34 933 026 993

Beaches: Get out of town

Only tourists go to the beach in Barcelona.

Sant Pol de Mar / Photo: Antoni

If you spot a Catalan, it’s most likely they just haven’t made it home to bed yet.

Those in the know head farther up the coast. If you’re on a budget, a simple city metro ticket will take you to Montgat, a wide, sandy beach with safe swimming.

Farther north, Sant Pol de Mar is a lovely Catalan fishing village with clear blue water and a shingle beach that’s just an hour’s train ride from the city.

Websites: www.montgat.net, www.santpol.org

Architecture: Casa Calvet

Photo: ale3andro

Want to check out the interior of a Gaudí building but avoid the queues for tours of La Pedrera? Why not grab dinner in one instead?

Restaurant Casa Calvet opened its doors in 1994, having converted the offices and boardrooms of a building Gaudí designed for a local textile manufacturer into semi-private dining rooms. It isn’t cheap, but then it’s not every day you get to dine inside a work of art.

Main courses can be a bit hit and miss, but the mango tart with pepper ice-cream and yogurt sauce is a sure thing.

Address: Calle Casp 48
Tel: +34 934 124 012
Website: www.casacalvet.es
Kitchen hours: Monday to Saturday 1pm-3:30pm and 8:30pm-11pm. Closed Sundays.

Culture: Palau de la Música

There’s no denying that this world-famous concert hall and bastion of Modernist architecture is a tourist attraction, and deservedly so. To separate yourself from the hordes and see it in all its glory, attend a concert. The building is even more gorgeous inside than out.

Address: C/ de Sant Francesc de Paula 2, Urquinaona
Tel: +34 902 442 882
Website: www.palaumusica.org

Nightlife: Razzmatazz

Photo: itz.

You need stamina for clubbing in this town. If you want to party like a local, take a disco nap in the evening, begin a leisurely dinner around 10pm, and don’t even think about going to a club before 2:00 in the morning.

When you do, head for Razzmatazz.

Housed in an old factory, ‘the Razz’ is massive. Its five different dance floors play everything from indie and rock to electronica and pop.

There are frequent live music offerings as well.

Address: C/Almogàvers 122 – C/Pamplona 88
Tel: +34 933 208 200
Arriving: Take the Metro to Bogatell or Marina.
Website: www.salarazzmatazz.com

Community Connection

For more smart travel tips on the Catalan capital, be sure to check out Matador’s Green Guide to Barcelona and the Top 5 Ferias in Spain.

Destinations

Community Connection to Spain

The Matador community blogs are filled with travelers’ takes on Barcelona. Sample different perspectives with:

Tracing Gaudí around Barcelona

The Washing Machine: Barcelona, Spain

The best place for lunch in Barcelona: Outdoor Markets

LAUGHS AT THE LONDON BAR – Barcelona

La Champagneria: The craziest bar in Barcelona

Photo: accent on eclectic

If you’re interested in traveling to the Middle East but aren’t sure where to begin, be like the Pope: kick-start your trip through the holy land in Jordan. With its welcoming people, small size and manageable number of sacred sites, Jordan is the place to go biblical.

Mt. Nebo

Start at piney Mt. Nebo, where Moses first beheld the Promised Land of the Canaanites. In the valley below, Jerusalem’s golden dome (the Temple of the Rock) and the salty white shores of the Dead Sea glisten in the sun like the North Star did for the Three Magi.

Photo: upyernoz

If you listen carefully, you can almost hear the babbling brooks of milk and honey, the tumbling of the walls in neighboring Jericho, and the history echoing through the quilted valley below (Deuteronomy 32:49-50).

Bethany beyond the Jordan

Down by the banks of the muddy Jordan River lies Bethany beyond the Jordan. Amidst the wispy tamarisk, willow, and poplars trees, Jesus was baptized here in this once mighty river by his closest friend and companion, John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13). If you R.S.V.P. and B.Y.O. Priest you can be baptized here too.

John the Baptist loses his head

Photo: laura padgett

Heading south, you’ll soon be rewarded with breathtaking views of the crystalline waters from the lowest point on earth: the Dead Sea. From its sodium-encrusted shoreline, the windswept hills undulate towards the heavens.

Between heaven and hell, at the sleepy shepherd’s village of Mukawir, Herod the Great’s castle ruins perch precariously atop a 700m hillock.

This is where Herod Antipas, Herod the Great’s successor, had the head of John the Baptist served up on a silver platter at the request of the legendary seductress Salome, his niece and step-daughter (Matthew 14:9-12).

Sodom & Gomorrah

The further south you go, the more scandalous the stories become. Towards the Nabataean ruins of Petra, not far from the village of Safi, you’ll find Lot’s Cave. Lot and his two daughters took refuge here from the fire and brimstone that destroyed the original sin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

While no remains of Lot or his daughters were ever found, not far from the cave stands a pillar of salt that many believe to be what’s left of Lot’s wife. By disobeying the warnings of the angels to not look back at the razing of her beloved twin cities she was sodium-ized for all eternity (Genesis 19:30).

Photo: shioshvili

The cooler, older brother of Moses

Within hiking distance from Petra, amidst the iron-stained sandstone of Wadi Musa (the well of Moses) is Jebel Haroun. On top of this mount — revered by Muslims and Christians alike — is the tomb of Aaron, Moses’ cooler, older brother.

Pay homage here to the man described in the book of Exodus, and later popularized in church camp songs, as the one who dared to say “Pharaoh, pharaoh, hey-ho, let my people go…”

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

For even more advice on where to head if you find yourself in the region, make sure you read 6 Under-the-Radar Destinations in the Middle East.

If you’d like a peek at a Matador member’s experiences traveling in the area, Middle East Travel: By the Numbers should put a smile on your face.

Photo: irene.

Even if you’re not in France on July 14, you can still celebrate the French national holiday with other Francophiles at one of many events around the world.

London

Across the Channel in London, Bastille Day will be commemorated at events throughout the city. On July 12, Battersea Park will host the Bastille Day Garden Party, one of the biggest celebrations outside France.

In addition to a picnic, the party includes a pétanque tournament, a French market, an open-air cinema, and a chance to win prizes such as cooking classes at the Alain Ducasse school in Paris.

New York

Each year, the Alliance Française puts on a large celebration on 60th Street between Fifth and Lexington Avenues. It goes down July 12 this year, with market stalls, music, dance, and food. Among the prizes being raffled off are trips to Paris and French language lessons at the Alliance Française.

The Committee of French Speaking Societies also holds its annual Bastille Day Ball on July 13, with this year’s theme being Les Années Folles, or the Roaring Twenties.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia goes all out with a 4-day celebration at the Eastern State Penitentiary beginning July 9.

The throwing of the Tastykake / Photo: thatpicturetaker

On July 11, revelers are invited to take part in a storming of the Bastille, with Marie Antoinette escorted by armed troops as she shouts “let them eat Tastykake,” throwing the locally-produced pastries from the prison tower.

She’s then presented to the audience, who decide her fate as she stands next to an executioner and real guillotine. French Revolutionaries, played by members of the Old Fort Mifflin Historical Society, also make appearances.

Milwaukee

For the past 28 years, Milwaukee has put its predominantly German heritage aside for 4 days in mid-July by staging the Bastille Days festival at Cathedral Square Park downtown, complete with a 43-foot replica of the Eiffel Tower, street performers, minstrels, and music.

The festival begins with a Storming of the Bastille on the first night. Visitors can also participate in free French lessons, observe a traditional French Mass, and have their caricatures drawn. Genealogists are on hand to trace the roots of anyone with French heritage.

Seattle

On July 11, Seattle’s celebration begins with a Bal des Pompiers, or Firemen’s Ball, which traditionally takes place in every French town and city the night of July 13 or 14. This year, the event features a Moroccan menu, recognizing the popularity of the cuisine in France.

On July 12, a day of free events is held at the Seattle Center with food, live music, painting workshops, theater, and cooking demonstrations.

Franschhoek, South Africa

Photo: Julien Carnot

Meaning “French Corner,” this town in the Western Cape province was originally settled by French Huguenot refugees in the 17th century. Each year, Franschhoek enthusiastically celebrates the French national holiday with a weekend festival.

A masked ball begins the festivities on July 10. This year’s event features a food and wine marquee, film festival, game of pétanque, and a chefs and waiters race.

Budapest

The French Institute in Budapest and French Trade Office throw their Bastille Day celebration on the Buda side of the Danube on July 11, with food, wine from the regions of Aquitaine, Bordeaux, and Champagne-Ardennes, and music from French and Hungarian bands.

Fireworks cap off the festivities, just as they do in France.

*Feature photo: Cyril Plapied

Community Connection

If you’re lucky enough to be in France this time of year, check out these Matador titles for travel advice and anecdotes:

How to Enjoy Paris for Free

Top 10 Free Things to Do in Paris

Beyond Paris: 5 Other Places to Experience La Belle France

Losing My Travel Virginity: Homeless in Paris

How to Move to Paris with No Money

Photo: aaronbflickr

Most visitors to northern Chile make a beeline to the small inland town of San Pedro de Atacama and never look back. Yet, the best combination of the region’s two most rewarding natural resources — the desert and the coast — is found a few hundred miles to the southwest.

Natural diversity: from desert, to beaches, to penguins

Pan de Azucar National Park occupies over 43,000 hectares, straddling the border of Chile’s Regions II and III. There’s a thin strip of coastal paradise, flanked by miles and miles of desert stretching away from the shore.

Photo: ^riza^

Beach camping is what’s on tap. Wake up to an ocean sunrise, join the seagulls and sandpipers for a quick dip in the sea, and then relax on the sand.

Once you’ve had your fill of beach soccer, surfing, and sunbathing, take a hike to the top of the Mirador for an excellent view of the stark Atacama landscape. Ask the park rangers for more information on the Mirador walk, along with other hiking opportunities.

And don’t forget the penguins! Boats depart from Caleta for tours around Isla Pan de Azucar. There you’ll see sealions laze and bark and Humboldt penguins chatter amongst themselves on the shore.

How to get there

The park lies 800 km north of Santiago and just 30 km from Chañaral. Renting a car, which can be done in Antofagasta or Copiapó, is the most convenient way to reach Pan de Azucar. Hitchhiking is also possible, helped by the fact that Chile is probably South America’s safest country.

A third option is to take a bus to Chañaral, conveniently located on the Pan-American Highway, and then hop a minibus or collectivo to the park.

Where to stay

The four campgrounds (Caleta Pan de Azucar, Piqueros, Soldado, and Piqueros Norte) sit on long strips of white-sand beach, ten minutes from the park entrance.

Photo: ~chicchun~

Soldado and Piqueros Norte are group areas — Soldado mainly sees families, while Piqueros Norte is where young singles flock.

These two campgrounds are the best; the sites are located farther apart from each other for more privacy, and they offer the best views of the ocean. They come with a canopy, campfire ring, and table and chairs. Nearby are bathrooms and cold-water showers, plus sinks for washing dishes.

Also available are a few “fully equipped” beach cabanas, each sleeping six.

Caleta and Piqueros are less expensive but sites are cramped — your view may very well consist of the back of another tent.

Sign up for a campsite at the administration station, which is open from 8:30-12:30am and 2-6pm.

Costs

Photo: law_keven

Beach cabanas: $20,000-$40,000 CLP per night, depending on the season
Campsite at Piqueros Norte or Soldado: $3500 CLP per person, per night
Campsite at Caleta or Piqueros: $2000 CLP per person, per night
Park entrance fee: $3500 CLP per person ($1500 CLP for children)
Boatride to Isla Pan de Azucar: $5000 CLP per person

Special tip: The budget-conscious can try talking to the rangers about a “servicio.” Depending on their mood, you might be able to convince them to let you pick up litter on the beach or empty the garbage bins in the bathrooms in exchange for a night’s stay.

Additional tips

* Though Caleta has a small store, its prices are exorbitant and its selection meager. Buy food and supplies before arriving. There are also vendors who come through in the afternoon with empanadas and sweets, but you shouldn’t rely on them either.

* Pack a flashlight, matches, a knife, plastic bags for trash, sunblock, and sunglasses. These are must-haves for camping in Pan de Azucar.

* A visit in spring (October, November, and December) will give you a look at the blossoming of exotic desert plants and families of guanacos (related to llamas).

* Despite the ocean’s tempering influence, this is still the desert — it gets cold at night, so bring a good jacket and a hat to stay warm.

*If you love the night sky, you’ll love Pan de Azucar. Pack your star map for some serious star gazing.

Community Connection

Matador is the place to read up on Chile! Relevant titles include:

Destinations

Community Connection to Chile

Chile’s Best Coast Towns (which, incidentally, happens to feature Pan de Azucar)

8 Natural Wonders of Chile

10 Reasons to Base Your Study Abroad Experience in Chile

7 Reasons to Learn Spanish in Chile

What People Are Listening to in Chile

Trekking Torres Del Paines, Patagonia, Chile

Photo: versageek

The brief northern summer is when these islands, shuttered up tight three seasons of the year, open their doors, set out the lawn furniture, and throw a rope to the ferries bringing in visitors by the hundreds.

Here are six New England island locales you’ll want to hop a ferry and see, whether you’re day tripping or settling in for a longer stay.

Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

Not far off the southern coast of Cape Cod, the Vineyard is 100 square miles of intriguing towns, forested countryside, and postcard beaches.

Photo: jlrotner

From bustling Oak Bluffs to upscale Edgartown, from the crashing waves of the Atlantic at Katama Beach to the lapping waters on the shores of the tiny fishing village Menemsha, you’ll find each of the island’s six towns has a different personality, and every beach a different atmosphere.

A campground and a hostel stand in the woods in the middle of the island, if you don’t feel like staying at one of the many B&Bs or inns. Bike and moped rentals, as well as the extensive shuttle bus system, make exploration of the island super convenient.

Don’t forget to take the two-minute ferry trip to the Vineyard’s neighboring island of Chappaquiddick. This quiet, purely residential speck of land is perfect for a day’s bike ride.

Nantucket, Massachusetts

With exclusive galleries, upscale shops, and fine dining, Nantucket is an island with a standing invitation to the wealthy. It keeps its accommodations pricey…but the beaches are free! A shuttle bus system will chauffeur you around if you don’t want to ride a bike.

Photo: Paul Keleher

In between beach basking and checking out the towns of Nantucket and ‘Sconset (short for Siasconset), you’ll find in addition to high-end attractions there are plenty of casual restaurants and shops to patronize.

Block Island, Rhode Island

They often party even during daylight hours on Block Island. Walk off the ferry and you’ll be in the middle of the action, as the majority of the clubs, restaurants, and shops are found nearby.

Although it’s loaded with B&Bs, inns, and hotels, you don’t have to stay the night to get a good feel for this 10-square-mile island. Biking or moped-ing around will let you see all the sights and soak up the atmosphere on a day trip.

Cuttyhunk, Massachusetts

Cuttyhunk is one of only two of the private Elizabeth Islands — owned by the Forbes family — that’s open to the public.

Home to about 50 year-round residents, its population “swells” to 400 in the summertime. Small, peaceful, and isolated, this is a place to escape to if you’re craving solitude.

There’s a B&B, inn, and, for those traveling in a group, cottage and house rentals.

Fishers Island, New York

Utilized during the Spanish American War to protect New York City, Fishers Island has a year-round population today that’s not much different than it was back in 1898: 300.

Photo: -= Bruce Berrien =-

This is one nearly deserted island, with long country roads, the occasional public beach, and a just few places to eat.

The Pequot Inn, the only accommodation on the island, is a big part of summer life, throwing parties that stretch into the morning hours.

Explore during the day and you’ll find this island has one of the friendliest attitudes of any on the East Coast, with locals waving out their car windows to you as they drive by.

Visitors are welcome to ferry their cars ashore from Connecticut, or you can rent a bicycle once you arrive.

Thimble Islands, Connecticut

This archipelago in the Long Island Sound just off the shore of Connecticut consists of 100 to 365 tiny islands — depending on the tide and on how big a rock has to be before you can call it an island.

Photo: author

Many are so tiny they hold just one home, and on one there’s nothing more than a gazebo. The most populated, Money Island, hosts 32 houses.

These dots of land are private, which means you can only go ashore if you know a local. However, there’s nothing stopping you from enjoying the islands on a kayak or boat tour.

Once back in the adjacent mainland town of Stony Creek, hang out for a while on the beach, walk around the relaxed residential streets, grab a bite to eat, and you’ve got yourself a unique day trip.

Community Connection

Sabina also happens to be Matador’s destination expert for Martha’s Vineyard — she’s the one to turn to if you have any questions at all on this iconic New England island. To get in touch, click over to her Matador profile, where she goes by the name Travellohr.

Have a favorite New England island that didn’t make the list? Sound off in the comments!

Photo: jezarnold

Here at Matador, we love the weird, wacky, and surreal. So naturally we took note when the Dir Journal Info Blog published a list of Abandoned Places in the World.

The reasons and urgency that lead a group of people to just up and leave a place are varied: obsolete technology, depleted resources, natural or man-made disasters. But whatever the case, there will always be people who are drawn to destinations like these.

I’ll admit, I enjoy dipping into a cemetery to walk amongst the buried, reading the epitaphs, marveling at the intricate artwork and over-the-top mausoleums while reflecting on life.

Maybe the attraction of visiting an abandoned city is a similar feeling — the emptiness and loneliness, wondering where these people (or their offspring) might be now.

Oradour-sur-Glane / Photo: Verity Cridland

Dir Journal Info Blog’s article lists 15 places around the world from where humans have walked away, leaving the remnants of a once active area.

It includes Pripyat, Ukraine, which was abandoned within two days in 1986 because of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster; Centralia in Pennsylvania, cleared out over 20+ years due to an underground coal-mine fire that’s been burning since 1962, which has made it too hazardous to live there; and Oradour-sur-Glane, France, a town that lost 600 lives and was subsequently destroyed by the German SS in 1944.

Others are Kolmaneskuppe, Namibia, a former diamond mining town whose population steadily declined after WWI, when diamond prices crashed, and Balestrino, Italy, whose inhabitants were moved in 1953 after several earthquakes brought them to the conclusion that the area was geologically unstable.

For more information and some interesting photos, make sure you check out the Abandoned Places in the World article.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Are you interested in visiting places that have been abandoned? Or is it too creepy? Have you been to any that you can add to the list? Please share below!

Photo: {meagen}

Photography Lovers

Michigan Central / Photo: country_boy_shane

Dotted with the ruins of abandoned buildings and dilapidated houses covered in colorful graffiti, the landscape of Detroit looks good in the viewscreen.

The city’s gritty feel and faded beauty translates well to film, whether you choose to evoke nostalgia with shots of empty iconic buildings, or to document the slow decay of an industrial city in a post-industrial age with images of factories long forgotten.

Michigan Central Station is one of the city’s most recognizable monuments. It’s illegal, though not unusual, for photographers to slip inside to capture the crumbling opulence of its interior. If you want to join them, hurry. There’s talk of demolition.

Art Lovers

Art in Detroit is everywhere.

In fact, spurred by ridiculously low home prices (the city average was $11,533 in April), artists may actually be the only people moving to Detroit right now.

Both the Detroit Artists Market and the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, housed in a converted graffiti-covered warehouse, host internationally acclaimed exhibitions of visual, performing, and multimedia arts.

Detroit Institute of Art / Photo: dana.ocker

The world-class Detroit Institute of Arts has one of the largest collections in the world, with works from Monet, Degas, van Gogh, Matisse, and Picasso, and a series of murals (depicting Detroit factory workers) by Diego Rivera.

Wander an open-air art installation at the Heidelberg Project, a street of abandoned houses covered in polka dots, stuffed animals, and scrap metal that resembles a twisted Wonderland, or just take in a showing at restaurants like Cass Café and The Majestic.

Music Lovers

From Motown greats like Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross (whose careers are among those commemorated at the Hitsville USA Motown Museum) to rock darlings the White Stripes, Detroit has a long tradition of fostering musical talent.

See the next Detroit Cobras or Dirtbombs — before they hit it big — at intimate clubs like the Old Miami, the Magic Stick, the Lager House, and Cadieux Café. The Detroit Electronic Music Fest, held every Memorial Day weekend, features some of the best DJs and electronic music producers in the world.

To indulge more classical tastes, check out a performance at the opera or symphony.

Booze Lovers

Detroit’s a drinking town, and no matter what you fancy you’ll find it here.

Photo: No Trams To Lime Street

Drink with the city’s elite at the bar at the stately Whitney mansion, or rub elbows with war veterans in the casual backyard of the Old Miami.

Sip cocktails and dance in your club couture at Deluxe, or rock out to the jukebox at the dark, divey Bronx Bar.

Or just relax with a microbrew at one of the city’s three breweries, such as Motor City, home of the Ghettoblaster Ale.

Food Lovers

An influx of immigrants from around the world means Detroit is the place to come for some of the most authentic Polish, Mexican, Greek, and Middle Eastern food this side of the Atlantic. Head to Mexican Village, Polish Village, or Greektown for their respective cuisines, or take a short drive to Dearborn for Middle Eastern.

If you’re in the mood for something a little more local, check out Union Street for American comfort food with a twist or head to newcomer Slows, which churns out Detroit’s best barbecue and a killer bourbon lemonade (just come prepared for a long wait).

And of course, no visit would be complete without tasting the ubiquitous Detroit Coney dog.

Bargain Lovers

Economic woes for residents equal rock-bottom prices for visitors. Detroit has always been cheap, but deteriorating financial conditions mean even more discounts and deals.

Dollar drafts and 2-for-1 drinks at happy hour? Check. A filling and delicious meal for under $10? Check. Free museums, no-cover live music clubs, and ample free parking? Check, check, and check.

It’s easy to live large in Detroit on a small budget, and thanks to discount bus company Megabus, low rates on Amtrak, and cheap fares into Northwest’s hub, it doesn’t cost a lot to get here either.

Underdog Lovers

As the butt of countless jokes, it’s easy to kick Detroit while it’s down.

Eastern Market / Photo: ellievanhoutte

But if you’re a sucker for a lost cause, you may just be charmed by the city’s unwavering community pride in the face of such depression.

The people of Detroit understand their city has problems, but many are choosing to rally their neighbors and fight for change rather than sit idly by and watch the city decay further.

Detroit’s refusal to let go of the past is immediately evident, but when you look a little deeper you also see a small — but growing — ray of hope for the future.

Community Connection

For more of Katie’s perspective on her hometown, check out her Matador community blog post My Motor City.

Matador member Pap of Glencoe is another Motown native. Visit her Matador profile to connect.

Beach at the Green Turtle Lodge / Photo above and feature photo: Stig Nygaard

1. Zebrabar

Location: near Saint-Louis, Senegal

At this upscale campground, human-size monkeys cross the beach and a resident zebra playfully steals guests’ belongings.

Photo: author

With a river that’s safe for swimming and a deserted ocean beach, Zebrabar accommodates the solo backpacker as well as families with young children, making it a fabulous place to meet travelers from all over the globe.

During the high tourist season around New Year, birders flock to the campgrounds to explore National Park Langue de Barbarie.

But from June to September, just a handful of guests are around to relax in the resort’s hammocks, paddle kayaks across the river, and gather for three-course dinners at the water’s edge.

Website: http://www.zebrabar.net
Cost: $13/night for a single bungalow with shared bath, $19/night for a double
Currency: West African CFA franc
Language: French. Swiss owners also speak English and German.
Getting there: Taxi from Saint-Louis (30 minutes)
Tip: If you’re not a bird watcher, go in the off season (June to September) to have things all to yourself.

2. Green Turtle Lodge

Location: near Cape Coast, Ghana

Backpackers and volunteers in Ghana talk about Green Turtle as though it were the very definition of paradise, which it might well be compared to some of the country’s other accommodations.

Solar-powered bungalow / Photo: Stig Nygaard

This is a true getaway from the hustle of Ghana’s cities, and since it revolves around environment- and community-oriented tourism, there’s no need to feel guilty for lounging here for days on end.

Visit nearby fishing villages, canoe through mangroves, and stroll the beach looking for the sea turtles that nest here between October and March.

The highlight of the day? When the cook posts the menu. From coconut fish curry to jam on homemade bread, the food is cheap — a few dollars for a meal — and tasty.

Website: http://www.greenturtlelodge.com
Cost: $4 for a tent, $5 for a dorm bed, $20 for a double chalet with shared bath
Currency: Cedi
Language: English
Getting there: Bush taxi from Cape Coast (several hours)
Tip: If it’s raining, pass on the tent and spring for a bed instead. Book one from within Ghana by text message, since cell service is spotty at the resort.

3. Kribi

Location: southwest Cameroon

Relaxing in Kribi / Photo: gizzle

This isn’t one resort; it’s an entire beach town overflowing with hotels for you to choose from. Some are pricey for the backpacker’s budget, but once you get a taste of the spectacular coastline and succulent seafood, you’ll see that Kribi is worth splurging for a few days.

The town is also home to one of the world’s few freshwater falls that feeds directly into the ocean.

Nightlife here is hoppin’! Bars and clubs are crowded until late, and street vendors hawk grilled fish and brochettes — meat on skewers — to accompany the ubiquitous 22-ounce beers.

Cost: Budget hotels at $20/room, others starting at $35/room
Currency: Central African CFA franc
Language: French
Getting there: Bush taxi from Douala (several hours)
Tip: Prices are negotiable in the off season, particularly if you’re willing to forgo air conditioning.

Community Connection

After splurging in Kribi, why not keep heading south to check out Trips’ 5 Reasons to Go to Angola in 2009 (And Beyond) with your own eyes?

Or hang out longer in Cameroon to investigate Volunteer Opportunities in Africa.

And for those who think beaches are a bit dull, may we suggest coming Face to Face with South Africa’s Great Whites?

Photo: aka*kirara

Cotswolds, England

Nobody embraces tea more seriously than the English. Famous world over for its stone-built villages, historical towns, and rolling green hills, there’s no better place to experience tea time than the English Cotswolds.

Sip Earl Grey amongst drooping willows and lazy streams at the birthplace of William Shakespeare, in Stratford-upon-Avon, and you may be inspired to write a few sonnets of your own.

Photo: Author

Chengdu, China

Chinese green tea is as famous in the East as Earl Grey is in the West. For the best in Chinese teahouse culture, head to Chengdu.

Traditionally venues for conversation, light eating, and ear cleaning (a service performed by professionals with mini-lances and swabs, followed by an energizing shoulder massage), Chengdu teahouses have evolved into both trendy hotspots for dating and nightlife as well as sanctuaries of quiet relaxation.

At the south bridge of Dujiang Weir, enjoy a relaxing afternoon outside with a bottomless pot of your choice for around 20 yuan ($3).

And yes, you can still have your ears professionally lanced.

Ganzi, Tibetan Plateau

After passing over 13,000ft mountain passes to the Tibetan Plateau, Chinese green gives way to its western cousin, butter tea. A mainstay of the local diet, generous portions of (often rancid) butter and salt give Tibetan tea a uniquely unpleasant flavor that is undoubtedly an acquired taste.

Tibetans take advantage of the butter’s oils to protect their lips from the high-altitude sun. Consequently, the higher you go, the more butter in your tea.

Photo: Author

Although situated in West Sichuan and not the Tibetan Autonomous Region, the town of Ganzi is culturally more Tibetan than most of Tibet.

Wander the old town, overlooked by a hilltop monastery (home to over 500 Buddhist monks), and you’ll find yourself lost among faded prayer flags and elderly patrons slowly spinning prayer wheels.

Since the 2008 Tibetan uprisings, in which Ganzi was an epicenter of violent protest, West Sichuan has been out of bounds to most foreigners. If you make it to this remote mountain town and duck into one of the many local guesthouses for tea, you’ll likely be the only Westerner they’ll see for weeks.

Photo: Author

Marrakech, Morocco

Sipping hot mint tea in the souks of Marrakech, Morocco, entails more than you might expect.

You sit among boiling cauldrons of lamb heads, watching as your tea is poured from large steaming copper kettles at arm’s length into tiny palm-sized glasses.

The addictive sweet mint tea is served throughout the day. Alcohol is regarded as taboo in traditional circles in this Muslim nation, so mint tea acts as the social beverage of choice.

At the local food stalls in the Djemaa el Fna, in the heart of the old city, grab a cup with the locals in the evenings for around $0.10 a glass.

Cuzco, Peru

The coca leaf, notorious for its roll as the principal ingredient in cocaine, has been used for centuries in Andean tea.

Photo: sdpuckett

Among the Inca-descended Quechua in particular, the ancient brew is still consumed to alleviate the effects of life at altitude.

Try the tea in the mountain city of Cuzco, where tourist accommodations offer a complementary cup on arrival.

At nearly 11,000 ft above sea level, your body will thank you for downing a draught of the coca concoction, especially if you’ve just gotten in from Lima and the coast.

Nashville, USA

Served on ice with a squeeze of lemon on a hot Tennessee afternoon…it’s not hard to understand why American Southerners love their sweet tea. What better place than the home of country music to experience it for yourself?

Located 30 minutes from downtown Nashville along a narrow country road sits Barbara’s Home Cookin’, a local “meat an’ three” joint. One sip of Barbara’s homemade sweet tea, accompanied by a lunch of her fried chicken and fresh pie, and you’ll be humming “Rocky Top Tennessee” for a week.

Community Connection

Tea fans might also enjoy reading about 11 Herbs That Ease Common Travel Ailments. Also, make sure to check out Hidden Hope: A Visit to a Sri Lankan Tea Estate.

Photo above: tylerdurden1, Feature photo: Carrie Musgrave | Livebabylive.com

Practicalities

South Korea’s size makes road tripping an attractive option. Vehicles can easily be rented at Incheon International Airport and through many hotels in Seoul.

Tip: Try to reserve an LNG-ready car. The cost of this alternative fuel is about a quarter that of gasoline.

The following standout spots fall in a clockwise route, beginning in the capital.

Seoul

Best to wait on the car rental for a few days while you make use of the subway to sample Seoul’s best.

Culture: Gyeongbokgung Palace
Start at one of the grandest palaces in the country, dating from 1395. In addition to the impressive Throne Hall and a pavilion virtually floating in a pond, the National Folk Museum is also on the grounds.

The photogenic changing of the guard takes place at 10:00, 13:00, 14:00, and 16:00 daily outside the main gate. Admission: $3 USD.

Photo: yeowatzup

Shopping: Insadong
A short walk from Gyeongbokgung is Insadong, the best traditional market in town. Grab lunch at one of the many old-school restaurants before strolling through the art galleries and craft shops. Afternoons often see folk music and traditional dancing exhibitions.

People watching: Myeongdong
Next, an introduction to Seoul chic. Myeongdong is the place to go to find trendy name-brand stores and hip clientele. Try to hit the narrow alleys when they truly come to life — after work — when Seoulites stroll past designer boutiques while munching gourmet street food.

Views: N Seoul Tower
You’ve most likely caught a glimpse of the N Seoul Tower, standing tall on Namsan Mountain. A cable car ($6 USD round trip) will shuttle you up the mountain to the base of the needle, from where you can ascend to the tower’s observatory level ($3 USD) for city panoramas. The tower also houses a rotating restaurant.

Nightlife: Hongdae
Underground DJs thumping into the wee hours, chill acoustic or rock sounds spilling from cramped bars, and luxury noraebangs (karaoke rooms) — this is Hongdae, the city’s #1 choice for watching the sun come up. Get there via the subway’s green line.

History: DMZ tour
The most popular tour in Korea ($40 to $80 USD) will take you to one of the most mysterious and heavily guarded strips of land on the planet. Everything from half- to two-day tours are available.

Shuffle down infiltration tunnels (dug by the North), browse the DMZ museum, gaze out over the zone and portions of North Korea from the Dora Observatory, and take a moment to read the heartbreaking notes tacked on the Freedom Bridge (used to exchange POWs after the Korean War).

All told, it’ll leave you with a lot to consider on your 90-minute bus ride back to Seoul.

Stop 1: Northeast Coast

Okay, it’s now time to hop behind the wheel and hit the road.

Photo: Ryuugakusei

Seoraksan National Park
Seoraksan has it all: hiking, wildlife, and history.

The park is at its best in autumn, when the colors of its foliage rival those of New England.

Take the cable car ($5 USD) up to Gwongeumseong Fortress to gaze over the spectacular peaks and rock cliffs of this park. Or, if the line’s too long, put your boots to work.

Sokcho
This charming port town on the East Sea is the perfect base camp for a park visit. Browse the seaside fish markets for dinner, then knock back some of that famous Korean alcohol, soju, while listening to the waves crash on the rocky coast — the perfect post-hike chillout.

Stop 2: Gyeongju

Photo: Photocapy

This ancient capital town provides endless opportunities to delve further into the peninsula’s history.

The Silla tombs, twenty massive burial mounds standing almost 50 feet tall, rise out of central Tumuli Park.

Kite fliers and picnickers relax in the shadow of Korea’s oldest structure, an astronomical observatory built in 627.

Gyeongju National Museum, loaded with artifacts found in nearby Anapji Pond, is a worthwhile stop on your way to Bulguksa Temple in the mountains above town. From here, you can walk even higher to the Seokguram Grotto and its well-visited Buddha statue that looks out over the East Sea.

Stop 3: Busan

Haeundae Beach
It’s time to kick back on the southern coast, Busan style. Get up early to snag a spot on Korea’s most popular beach, Haeundae. In the peak season (i.e., any nice weekend and all of August), umbrellas saturate the 2 km of sand.

If the crowds are too much for you, check out one of the other five beaches Busan is famous for.

Photo: yeowatzup

Heosimcheong Spa
Reportedly the largest hot springs in Asia, Heosimcheong ($5 USD) lies 10 km north of central Busan in the district of Dongnae. Remember to shower before slipping into the nearly 55-degree Celsius (130 Fahrenheit) pools.

Different aromatherapy and herbal tubs are available for soaking, while masseuse and scrubbing services are provided for a fee.

Jagalchi Fish Market
Right on the waterfront in the heart of central Busan is this busy market. Wander the pungent stalls, make a purchase, then take your pick to one of the nearby seafood restaurants and they’ll prepare it for you — most likely raw, sashimi style.

When you’ve finished dinner, head to Texas Street, opposite the Busan train station, to take in the nightlife of Korea’s second largest city.

Stop 4: Gwangju

Gwanju played a key role in the development of the modern Korean state in the 20th century.

In 1929, local students took part in one of the fiercest anti-Japanese uprisings of the entire 35-year occupation. 1980 saw hundreds of civilians killed at the hands of the army during a protest against the military government, an event known today as the Gwangju Democratization Movement.

Residents are rightly proud of their recent history, and a defiant student art culture persists.

The Gwanju National Museum gives you a chance to learn about the region’s more distant past. Follow that up with a visit to the surreally shaped rock cliffs of nearby Mt. Mudeung.

Photo: Wm Jas

Stop 5: Gunsan Islands

If you have time, park the car in the west coast port town of Gunsan and hop a ferry to Seonyudo Island for a day or longer.

The pace is island-slow (except during holidays), and the seafood is some of the country’s best. The white-sand beaches may convince you to stay longer than you’d planned.

Seonyudo is connected by bridges to a couple smaller islands, and renting a bicycle or 4-wheeler for some solo exploration is also rewarding.

Stop 6: Suwon and Yongin

Korean Folk Village
In Suwon, step into history at the Korean Folk Village ($10 USD). It features over 200 authentically reproduced and renovated structures from all corners of the country and traditional performances like tightrope walking, aerial acrobatics, music, dancing, and horsemanship.

Photo: Nagyman

Everland
Ranked as the 10th best park in the world by the Themed Entertainment Association, Everland (day passes from $26 USD) will help you unleash your inner child.

The park is divided into four themed sections, as well as a newly renovated water park, Caribbean Bay. Try to get to the park on a weekday, when lines are more tolerable.

There’s an excellent range of rides, climaxing with a white-knuckle scream-fest aboard the world’s largest inclined wooden coaster, T-Express.

From here, it’s a quick shot up the highway and back into Seoul.

Community Connection

Destinations

Community Connection to South Korea

Jon Wick is also the author of Chaos, Culture and Kim Chi: A Korean Cafeteria.

Before you even set foot on the peninsula, check out these 10 Korean Customs To Know Before You Visit Korea.

And, if your quick visit should turn into a longer stay, best read up on How To Get A Job Teaching English In Korea, as the country is one of the Top 10 Places for Teaching English Abroad.

To connect with other Matador members based in Korea, click on the box to the left.

Edmund from King Lear / Photo: Anthony Topper, Feature photo: Randy OHC

1. Shakespeare by the Sea
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

[Editor's Note: This festival recommendation comes to us from blogger Kimberly Walsh.]

Set within Halifax’s historic Point Pleasant Park, Shakespeare by the Sea offers a unique extension to the cultural scene in the city. Now in its sixteenth season, the troupe has been performing the bard’s tales among historic military buildings. All the shows take place at the Cambridge Battery, the ruins of which make for a fine backdrop for the productions.

Although located in the downtown core, Point Pleasant is the largest forested park on the peninsula and offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy the 15-minute walk through the forest before settling down for the show. Later in the season, performances finish after sunset, so come prepared with a light sweater and a flashlight.

The 2009 season features “Love’s Labours Lost” (opens July 5), starring Amos Crawley, Caitlin Stewart, and the award-winning local actor Jeremy Webb, as well as “Macbeth” (opens August 15), with David Flemming and Genevieve Steele.

2. Shakespeare in the Park
New York City, New York, United States

New York City’s Shakespeare in the Park has been a summer tradition for more than 50 years.

Photo: chadmiller

City dwellers and visitors alike brave hours-long lines for their chance to pick up free tickets, but even if they’re not among the lucky folks who will get to see A-list stars interpreting the bard underneath the stars, the camaraderie of the wait has become an event in its own right (bring a lawn chair and a picnic or a phone number for pizza delivery).

This year’s festival features Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” with Raul Esparza and Anne Hathaway among the cast’s big names (June 10-July 12), and Euripides’ “The Bacchae,” starring Andre De Shields and original music composed by Philip Glass (August 11-30).

Both plays are staged in the Delacorte Theatre, a semicircular outdoor venue that’s so insulated from the city noise that you’ll forget where you are.

3. Colorado Shakespeare Festival
Boulder, Colorado, United States

TIME Magazine ranks the Colorado Shakespeare Festival as one of the best in the U.S. Performed by a professional troupe based out of the University of Colorado at Boulder, the university’s outdoor theater could hardly be a more inspiring setting for the series of plays offered each summer.

Photo: turtlemom4bacon

Like New York’s Shakespeare in the Park, the CSF has a tradition of putting on plays for over 50 years. Yet it may be even more fun than the NYC festival; check out all these pre-play activities, including picnics and backstage tours.

This year’s festival starts on June 15 and runs through mid-August. Featured plays include “Hamlet,” “Much Ado About Nothing,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and “The Two Gentleman of Verona.”

4. Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Ashland, Oregon, United States

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is one of the oldest Shakespeare festivals in the United States.

Beyond its exceptional reputation — drawing accomplished Shakespearean actors who view performing in this series as a feather in their cap — a visit to the 2009 Shakespeare Festival can kick off a longer trip: Ashland is the gateway to Oregon’s Rogue Valley, home to Crater Lake National Park.

For a full list of this year’s plays, click here.

5. Bard on the Beach
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Bard+beach+BBQ. Sounds like a winning combination to us. Add fireworks and a mountainous backdrop on top of all that, and we’re sold on Vancouver’s Bard on the Beach.

It may not have the longevity of some of these other festivals, but it sure sounds like fun. Plus, we love the nonprofit theater company’s mission: to make all of Shakespeare’s plays, performed in non-traditional stagings, affordable and accessible to a diverse audience.

Community Connection

Matador’s giving away two tickets to another fantastic Shakespeare festival!

The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, held in New York’s Hudson River Valley, will be providing two tickets (AND a picnic dinner!) to see “Pericles,” “Much Ado About Nothing,” or “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare {Abridged}” to one Matador reader.

If you’d like to win the tickets, leave a comment below telling us the best place you’ve ever seen a Shakespeare play OR the place where you’d most like to see a Shakespeare play (and which play, and why!).

Submit your response by midnight EST on June 20. A winner will be selected at random by the Matador staff. Good luck!

Photo above: tanvach / Feature photo: René Ehrhardt

Tired of endless hassling from tour companies in northern Thailand’s overtouristed regions like Chiang Mai, the ones promising unique trekking experiences that are anything but? Leave them behind and check out the small province of Nan instead.

Base of Operations: Nan Town

The provincial capital of the same name is a small hub of urbanization tucked into a corner of Thailand’s northwestern bulge. Its main feature is that it doesn’t feature much of anything, just friendly people, straightforward service, and beautiful countryside at its doorstep.

Destinations

Community Connection to Thailand

Nan’s population of 24,000 sees just enough travelers to maintain a few well-run guesthouses and a solid travel agency. There are no guided tours here, no overpriced Western food, no feeling of walking on paths well worn.

One of Nan’s biggest pluses is its accommodations.

The Amazing Guesthouse, situated down a back alley a few blocks from the bus station, is a tiny, quaint place, but its management will embrace you as family.

The wooden floors and walls in the rooms give it a warm and inviting feel while the rates encourage a long stay.

Two older Thai women do all the cooking, cleaning, and advice-giving. Your new-found Thai grandmothers will hook you up with a bike (motored or otherwise), fix a mean omelet for breakfast, and always ask you how your day went.

Now that you’re settled in nice and cozy, take the map they provided and plan your day trips into unexplored territory.

Provincial Exploration

With a motorbike as your trusty steed, there are no limits to what you can see and do in Nan Province.

Photo: apes_abroad

Journey along any of the roads radiating out of town and civilization quickly falls away. The region features the rough and rugged terrain northern Thailand is known for, but it also has flat agrarian stretches ideal for sunset cruising.

Several national parks are within a few hours’ drive of town and offer great venues for exploration. Directly north of Nan lies Tham Pha Tup Forest Park, filled with trails that scramble over and around the lush, rocky landscape.

On a sunny day, the area is a dazzling array of vivid greens and grays. Numerous caves dot the park, giving cool relief after a strenuous climb.

Waterfalls are also scattered throughout the region. The Sila Phet Waterfall, near the northern village of Pua, may not rival Niagara in terms of scale, but it makes up for it with charm.

The stream that feeds the waterfall follows a rocky route, where it often collects in small, clear pools. These watering holes are a favorite for local families, who flock to the area on warm afternoons for picnics and swimming.

Northern Thai Village Life

In between swaths of mountainous terrain, the land runs flat and level, flush with rice fields and villages caught halfway between modernization and tradition.

The houses in these tiny townships are constructed from both wood or bamboo and more modern materials. They line the roads that pass through them, alongside broad-leafed palm trees.

Photo: Hanumann

Relaxing adults populate the open storefronts and porches while packs of children walk along the road’s shoulders and teenagers on motorbikes of their own speed by you.

Just watch for the lazy dogs soaking up the sun on the pavement.

Any of the numerous villages you’ll cruise through are perfect for a stop at a local market. Find familiar items like ice cream and fried chicken along with strange vegetables and ripe, smelly fish spread out on long tables.

Those few words of Thai you may have learned are a good way to earn warm smiles from the various merchants.

South of Nan, the road twists and turns up a mountain pass for a ride that alternates between exhilarating and terrifying. On the other side, it smoothes out and coasts until hitting the fishing village of Pak Nai.

Here, you can try out local flavors or take in the surrounding green mountains on a leisurely raft ride.

Such day trips can be planned and executed for the cost of a few liters of gas — no expensive tour necessary. Ride slow or fast; walk through markets or hike up hills; buy handcrafted souvenirs or eat local specialties. Nan offers travelers the freedom to truly get lost and explore.

Community Connection

If you like what you’ve read here, you may want to continue with our Backpacker’s Secret Guides to Muang Ngoi Neua, Laos; Cabo Polonio, Uruguay; the islands of Trang, Thailand; and Champasak, Laos.

You also might enjoy our tips for How to Get off the Tourist Trail in Southeast Asia.

Photo: Lola Akinmade

Let’s face it: Peru hasn’t done much to make Machu Picchu a budget travel destination.

You’ll drop at least a few hundred on a trek along the Inca Trail. Longer routes can run up to four digits a person, if you book with an agency that actually pays their guides and porters well and cares something for the environment.

Or you have the train. For a seat in the lowest class (Backpacker), British-owned PeruRail charges $50 for the three-hour one-way journey from Poroy (Cuzco). If this is sold out—as it often is in the high season—you’ll need to upgrade to Vistadome class for $70.

And that’s just the transportation. Once you get to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town), you’ll be faced with inflated hostel rates and food prices. And finally, the unavoidable 124 soles (~$40) for entry to the site itself.

Photo: foxtwo

All told, you’re looking at around $200/person as a minimum.

Fortunately, within the last couple years a new option has popped up, one that hasn’t yet made it into most guidebooks: Machu Picchu by car.

By avoiding the overpriced train, this route cuts transportation costs by two thirds.

All-inclusive tours are actually a pretty good deal, while diehard budget travelers can go independently to save even more.

The Tour

This relatively new tour is offered by most agencies clustered around the Plaza de Armas and other tourist areas in Cuzco. Just look for the telltale sign: “Machu Picchu by car.” One online agent even seems to specialize in it.

A good pricing rule to remember: the farther from the plaza you wander, the cheaper the prices you’ll find.

I got mine from an agent on Cuesta San Blas (just below the boutique hotel Casa San Blas) for $115.

All-inclusive is the standard:

* hotel pick-up
* bus or van transport to the hydroelectric station outside Santa Teresa
* tickets for the 45-minute train ride from there to Aguas Calientes
* a night’s accommodation in town
* two full meals plus snacks
* entrance to Machu Picchu
* a two-hour guided tour of the site

Lunch on the last day isn’t provided. Neither are tickets for the shuttle bus from Aguas Calientes to the ruins ($7 one way; many people walk).

Even better, for an additional $10 per person you can add an extra night to the tour. This is highly recommended. The standard 2-day/1-night schedule only allows you five hours at the ruins (6am–11am). Stay another night and you’ll get the entire day at the site.

Not only does this give you the opportunity to spend more time climbing Wayna Picchu, visiting the Inca Bridge, and exploring other remote corners of the ruins, but it also enables you to outlast the thick fog that sometimes blows up in the morning.

Destinations

Community Connection to Peru

Tour rates higher than those listed above indicate one of two things:
1. You’ll be staying in more luxurious accommodations in Aguas Calientes and your guide will likely speak more intelligible English, or
2. You’re getting ripped off.

Remember, it pays to haggle and shop around.

One final note: as with most budget travel, you’re sacrificing comfort for cost. The bus ride takes 6 hours, the last 2–3 on dirt roads with some rough spots and a couple cliffside sections that’ll make you regret nabbing the window seat.

If prone to motion sickness, pick up a few Gravol tablets at any pharmacy before heading out.

Go Independent

“More savings!” you say.

Most agencies will happily book you the van ride only, for around 85 soles (~$30) round trip, leaving you to figure out the rest on your own.

If you go this route, here’s how to make sure you stick to the savings:

* Don’t take the $8 train from the hydroelectric station to Aguas Calientes. You can easily walk the tracks in an hour and a half (many people do this).

* If possible, bring all your own food. There are no cheap “local haunts” in Aguas Calientes, and most restaurants will tack a “local tax” ranging anywhere from 10 to 20+ percent onto your bill.

* Camp! Instead of blowing $20 or more on a forgettable hostel bed, pitch a tent ($5 per tent, per night) at the little riverside campground just south of the Puente Ruinas bridges. It’s a 15-minute walk from town, but there’s a little store with necessities on-site.

Plus, you have a great view of Machu Picchu up the mountain (no one back in town does), and you’re in a better position to begin the hour-long climb up the Inca stairs in the early morning to snag a front spot in the entrance line.

The polished Manuel Chávez Ballón Site Museum is also nearby (though unfortunately they’ve started charging admission; 21 soles/11 for students).

Remember that you’ll need to buy your entrance ticket to Machu Picchu at the INC office in Aguas Calientes, as they’re not sold at the site itself.

Follow these tips and you could be looking at a grand total of $80 for your Machu Picchu experience.

Community Connection

Some people are against visiting Machu Picchu, no matter how cheap they can do it. Read why in 9 Places to Experience Now Before They Literally Vanish.

The latest edition of Lonely Planet: Peru was published too long ago to have info on the Machu Picchu by car tour. On that note, check out Trips’ 9 Ways to Outdo the Guidebooks in Peru.

Plenty of Matador community blogs cover Machu Picchu, Cuzco, and the surrounding region. Find out what local Peruvian farmers think of PeruRail’s train service in Struck by Strike in Peru. Matador member jgbrandt shares A Short Video on Lima, Cuzco, and the Sacred Valley, and you can also read 5 Things You Should Know about the Typical Sacred Valley Tour out of Cuzco.

Photo: clspeace

The Montana that most folks seek is all about wilderness, western mythology, and epic trout fishing. Even with the arrival of high-end eateries and increasingly expensive accommodations in iconic western American towns like Whitefish and Hamilton, you can still come away after a week or two in Montana with solitary experiences and money left in your billfold. Here’s how.

Photo: .Bala

Transportation

The best way to see Montana is by car.

Yes, there’s Amtrak and airports, but in the planes, trains, and automobiles trifecta, bet on the latter. Gas is a bit cheaper this year and as a rule Montana boasts some of the lowest petrol prices in the US.

The flexibility of your own ride allows for either intense investigation of one portion of the state, or a decent linear sample of Montana’s high mountains and vast prairies.

Lodging

For lodging, I subscribe to a “2/3 camping + 1/3 motel room” formula on a summer road trip, ideal in a place with plentiful outdoor sleeping options.

Besides Glacier National Park, there are nine national forests and several state parks to explore.

One unique lodging alternative involves rental of a historic fire lookout, ranger residence, or bunkhouse. Over 90 are available in the national forests. Cost is around $30.00 per night for four people, with varying levels of modern conveniences and accessibility.

They make excellent base camps for hiking, fishing, berry picking, or simply lying amongst the wildflowers in a nearby meadow (as a botany nerd, that’s where you’ll find me).

Montana is covered with campgrounds: private, public, developed, undeveloped. The latter works well if you are self contained and have no need for running water or flush toilets. They’re also best in terms of budgeting: free of charge.

Fancier campsites will cost no more than $15.00 per night. You can reserve ahead of time, good advice when approaching summer tourist hot spots. I tend to take my chances and have no qualms following an obscure Forest Service road a few miles to some unknown place. The further off the beaten path, the less competition for camping space and more opportunity for Montana-style peace and quiet.

Travelers needing a proper mattress, lights, and hot water, will find them in every town offering the typical low/moderate/high range of lodging options. I go low end to kick the dirt off, catch an installment of SportsCenter and regroup. A complimentary breakfast is always a plus.

Summer is high season and hotels/motels close to Glacier and Yellowstone will be spendy and without vacancies. This is when wandering far afield may prove scenically and financially beneficial.

Photo: Eric_Ulmer

In 2008, a friend and I stayed in an obscure fly-to resort for small plane enthusiasts when all the Highway 93 hotels were booked in Hamilton due to a June pow wow.

For $37.50 each we shared a cabin with a gorgeous view of the Bitterroots, the only guests of the chatty Cessna pilot/innkeeper and his wife.

Come day break, we found out we were just up canyon from Triple Creek Ranch, a five-star spot for the Travel and Leisure set starting at $325.00 a night per person. I don’t know what that extra $225.00 would have gotten us exactly, but I don’t think our dogs would have been welcome.

Food

In keeping with a camping/DIY strategy, preparing meals most of the time goes easier on the food budget. There’s not a town in Montana right now without a Saturday farmer’s market. The absence of a sales tax is another money saver. Montana offers morels in the spring, huckleberries in the summer, and trout all year long. You can acquire other foodstuffs on your own or purchase them along the way.

Dine out sparingly, saving up for something spectacular for supper one night and brunch come Sunday. For comprehensive, statewide dining recommendations, check out Munching Montana: A Road Trip Guide to Montana’s Most Unique Local Food.

Getting Priorities Straight

My cash goes to adventures:

Photo: bugeaters

A whitewater plunge in kayak or raft, a knowledgeable fishing guide, or a night’s stay at a hot springs resort with therapeutic waters pumped into my private claw-foot tub. I keep the day-to-day simple, inexpensive, sweet tasting, and scenic.

Not being much of a shopper, my souvenir and gift purchases center on things I can eat, read, or listen to. I’m certain the dozen-plus Matador Montana experts concur and can expand on these suggestions.

These general hints and an Internet click over to Travel Montana should have you cruising the fun and frugal road to my favorite geographical neighbor. See you in the huckleberry patch in a few weeks!

Community Connection

If exploring Big Sky Country sounds good to you, make sure to read up on Bike Touring Montana: Classic Big Sky Rides and 9 Montana Backpacking Trips That Will Blow Your Mind.

Photo: bionicteaching

1. Iceland Phallological Museum

Or, the Penis Museum. I know this is serious, but seriously, how can you absorb stats like this without a little giggle: 272 specimens with 55 belonging to 16 different whale species, one from a rogue polar bear (aren’t they all rogue?), and dozens from seals, walruses, and all sorts of land mammals.

The Iceland Phallological Museum proudly claims to hold in their possession “legally certified gift-tokens for four specimens belonging to Homo Sapiens” (that’s us, guys). I’m not 100% clear what this means exactly, but it sure sounds interesting. Also on display are “…other practical utensils related to the museum’s chosen theme.”

2. Museum of Bad Art

Direct from the wesbsite: “the world’s only museum dedicated to the collection, preservation, exhibition and celebration of bad art in all its forms.” Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?

The Museum of Bad Art started in the basement of a private home in Boston. Spurred on by increasing demand, MOBA found the site for its first permanent gallery in Dedham Community Theatre’s basement (just outside the men’s loo).

Their second gallery? Naturally, another basement, this one in the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square. Many more works of bad art can be found in their online collection, and if you can’t make it there in person, order up their book, The Museum of Bad Art: Masterworks.

3. Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum

Photo: dlisbona

Ramen (Japanese noodles) began in Japan’s port cities and quickly spread throughout the country. Nowadays, each region has its own take on the dish. Save yourself some travel and taste each one in the Raumen Museum.

You can choose from traditional to “new generation” noodle soups, and even visit the Nissin Cup Noodle factory where you can design the packaging, choose your ramen flavour, and pick up to four ingredients.

4. The Kunstkamera (Peter the Great’s Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography)

The Kunstkamera, established by Peter the Great in St. Petersburg, was the first museum in Russia. Its purpose was to “collect and examine natural and human curiosities and rarities.” Indeed. I had the pleasure of visiting in 2007 and I can tell you firsthand about the curiosities and rarities.

Peter’s mission was to debunk myths about monsters and to educate the superstitious citizens, and so collected a series of malformed, still-born fetuses. These are on display in jars among with other “curiosities.”

Eat well in advance of your visit, that’s all I’m sayin’.

5. Cockroach Hall of Fame Museum

Photo: The Pest Shop

The Pest Shop in Plano, Texas is not just pest control. Nope. It’s also a museum that displays these dead crawlies dressed up in costumes.

There’s Liberoachi (a flamboyantly dressed roach seated in front of a piano), Ross Peroach, and Liberty Roach who, instead of a torch, has her hand up a roach’s…well, you get the picture.

Check out their YouTube video. Even though I’m sure you’re willing to fork over some dough to see this, admission is free.

6. Sulabh International Museum of Toilets

“The toilet is a part of the history of human hygiene which is a critical chapter in the growth of civilisation.” – Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak

Now that’s a man who takes his toilets seriously. If you’ve ever caught yourself wondering anything toilet-related, this may just be the place for you. The Sulabh International Museum of Toilets in New Delhi aims to educate on such toilet-based topics as sanitation history, its future, and the design, materials, and technology of the porcelain gods.

7. Museum of Witchcraft

Photo: cubwolf (Dave Smith)

I’d better be careful including this museum here; the last thing I want is to be turned into a newt. Located in Boscastle, Cornwall, the Museum of Witchcraft is home to the world’s largest collection of witchcraft-related artifacts and regalia.

One item on display is a doll with a dagger jabbed in its stomach, and real pubic hair sewn between its legs. It was apparently used to resolve an unwanted pregnancy. I have a bit of an unwanted spare tire — wonder if it would help with that?

8. Mustard Museum

This is what happens when sports fans go wrong. After the Red Sox lost the World Series to the Mets in 1986, founder Barry Levenson found himself in the condiments aisle of a local supermarket, stocking up on mustard (he heard the voices “if you collect us, they will come”).

Photo: sam.jackson

Over 20 years later, he’s amassed more than 4400 mustards and all sorts of paraphernalia. He’s got a gallery, a giftshop, and even Mustard Piece Theatre. You can find the Mustard Museum in downtown Mount Horeb, Wisconsin.

9. Songkran Niyomsane Forensic Medicine Museum

This Thai museum’s prize posession is famed 50s cannibal, Si Quey, who has been embalmed in paraffin wax. A visible scar on his head shows where his brain was removed for study to determine if the mind of a cannibal is different than that of a normal person’s. The verdict? Nope.

Many more gruesome exhibits are on display at the Forensic Medicine Museum in Bangkok.

10. The Million Dollar Museum

If you’re on your way to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, you may as well stop by. With a roadside sign stating “German scientists ask — is 12-inch body a real alien? The answer is inside.” how could you not dip in? The Million Dollar Museum in White’s City is an eclectic collection of, well, anything and everything.

A two-headed turtle, broken typewriters, a little bathtub claimed to have been used by Napoleon, “Tom Ketchum’s Amputated Arm,” and…the Alien Baby.

This was originally titled “one of a race of midget Indians,” but when it was pointed out by a German TV crew — there to report on the 50th anniversary of the Roswell Incident — that it might be an extraterrestrial, the description was changed after the remarks created a media sensation.

Fascinated? I am.

Honorable mentions

Toilet Seat Art Museum

Museum of Questionable Medical Devices

Farm Implement Wrench Museum

Museum of Menstruation & Women’s Health

Vent Haven Ventriloquist Museum

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

If you like your things a little unusual (and we know you do), check out Matador’s list of the World’s 10 Weirdest Hotels.

Have you visited any unusual museums or tourist attractions? Please share below!

Photo above: Seamus Murray, Feature photo: Author

You have to stay close to home this summer. For East Coasters, that often translates to vacation destinations like the Vineyard, Cape, or Hamptons.

Or, you could let I-95 carry you a little farther north for an exploration of Maine’s Mount Desert Island, home of Acadia National Park. Here’s what awaits:

1. World-class scenery

Acadia has preserved two-thirds of Mount Desert Island, regularly ranked among the ten most beautiful islands in the world because of its rocky coastline, glacial lakes, boreal forests, and the only fjord on America’s Atlantic coast.

Add in lighthouses and fishing villages, and you’ll understand its unique appeal to travelers who love both the mountains and the sea.

Photo: Author

2. Maine’s adventure triathlon

Hiking, biking, and kayaking are the trio of Acadia sports that take advantage of the park’s 130 miles of trails and 57 miles of car-free carriage roads.

Rock climbing sites are first-class, including the 110-foot Otter Cliff, where you rappel down over the crashing Atlantic surf and then climb back up.

3. Budget campgrounds

The national park service offers two campgrounds for $10-$20/night. Or, for those not into roughing it, there are other options ranging from 50s-style motels in Bar Harbor to romantic B&Bs all over the island.

If your stay is a week or longer, try negotiating rates on a rental. (Even before the meltdown, an oversupply yielded some flexibility from owners.)

4. Car-free transport

L.L. Bean offers a free, ecofriendly bus service around the island that’ll save you money and make you feel even better for foregoing that cross-hemisphere plane trip this summer. Additionally, an Acadia website lists several options for getting to Bar Harbor without a car.

Photo: Author

5. Tasty microbreweries

Awarding-winning American microbrews are born on this island at Bar Harbor Brewing and Atlantic Brewery. You can skip the tour and just join the generous tastings to do your part to “save the ales.”

6. Maine lobster

The island abounds in lobster pounds featuring mussels, steamers, New England clam chowder, and lobster pulled straight from Maine’s icy waters, which makes it the sweetest, most delicious catch anywhere.

7. Your sister-in-law lies

Nothing’s free. She’ll guilt you into picking up the tab at one of the Vineyard’s $40-entrée restaurants that make you feel just like you’d stayed home anyway.

Community Connection:

For more Maine fun, read about Katahdin: Maine’s Mountain, The Best Hiking Trail in Maine, and Trips’ Green Guide to (the Other) Portland.

Matador members advenjunkie, Laisee, AbbyB, and aya all either hail from Maine or are currently in-state. Get your networking on!

Above photo and feature photo: Eric Lafforgue

North Korea

Photo: Eric Lafforgue

Score an elusive North Korean visa to experience the essence of totalitarianism: intolerance of goals that do not directly benefit the state, complete regulation of every aspect of public and private life, and a cult of personality in the diminutive form of a supreme leader — in this case, Kim Jong-il.

Combine these unsettling elements and the billboards of North Korea’s pompadoured father figure with the absence of stray animals, green grass, and tree bark and you get a society in which you’ll be grateful that you’re not an insider, just a traveler.

Myanmar

Call it Burma or Myanmar, its political system remains locked up in the grip of the State Peace & Development Council, an Orwellian term for the military junta headed by the Supreme Chairman, Senior General Than Shwe. From forced labor and union busting to human trafficking and child workers, the Chairman has many diverse interests.

By banning Google, Hotmail, and Yahoo they’ve even downsized the Internet and done away with the independent judiciary system all together. As a result, the Nobel Prize winning activist Aung San Suu Kyi hasn’t been allowed to leave her Burmese home since 1988. Pop in for tea with her, and you’re likely to hear a story you won’t soon forget.

Turkmenistan

Venture to this former Soviet Republic before the late dictator Niyazov’s most bizarre reforms are repealed. In his capital city of Ashgabat, you’ll marvel at the ego required to erect a rotating gold-plated statue of himself that ensures the sun always shines on his face.

Score a translation of the Niya Ruhnama, his national epic written to be the basis of the nation’s arts and literature (and required reading before taking the morality test necessary to get a driver’s license), before plunging into the Karakum Desert to pay homage to the monolithic edifice of him and his mother, Gurbansoltanedzhe (the official Turkmen word for both his mother, bread, and the month of April).

Photo: author

Turkmenistan or Absurdistan? Go decide for yourself.

Saudi Arabia

Be tempted by the petrol dollars to be had and you might linger just long enough in this society — so strictly segregated by sex — that you’ll start to wonder what the mannequins look like under their clothes.

If you slither out of the hands of the Matawa (the Saudi secret police) for catching you with someone of the opposite sex at a weekly beheading in Riyadh’s Chop-Chop Square, the relationship between how oppressive a country is and how many terrorist organizations it produces may become painfully obvious. What will remain obscure is why Saudi Arabia has not made the U.S. State Department’s own Outpost of Tyranny list.

Libya

Sojourn on the shores of Tripoli to experience the larger-than-life cult of personality of the Brother Leader and Guide of the Revolution, General Omar Gaddafi. Since coming to power in 1969 Gaddafi has taken total control of the media, outlawed trade unions, engaged in arbitrary arrests, and made it legally impossible for any other party to come to power through the Prohibition of Party Politics Act.

With no parties nor public transportation, thumbing it through the desert is obligatory to get to the only gatherings officially sanctioned by the state: weddings and funerals.

Belarus

Experience Cold War chills at the crossroads of east and west under the iron rule of Lukashenko in seldom frequented Belarus. Investigate the disappearances of prominent opposition leaders and independent journalists and you may just end up disappearing yourself.

Photo: author

Listed as the only European holdout on the U.S. State Department’s infamous Axis of Evil list, Belarus keeps the death penalty alive in Europe and has regular election irregularities that make the American presidential election of 2000 look like it was on the up and up. But don’t take my word for it, go check it out for yourself.

Iran

To judge life under the wing of what Washington calls the avatar of Islamo-fascism, visit before the Coalition of the Willing does. Black-enshrouded women scuttling past giant murals of gun shaped American flags and jackbooted gangs of truncheon-wielding morality police are the images they’d like to sear into our Western consciousness.

Before Iran becomes the third installment of what could be the Gulf War Trilogy, visit for yourself. Or, at the very least, watch my video:

Why should we travel to totalitarian states?

Why should we go through the hassle and worry of walking that lonely mile? By getting the news out there, through forums like this, that these kinds of states still exist, we can begin to differentiate truth from propaganda. And look forward to the day when totalitarianism travel will be a distant memory, not a present-day reality.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

Audrey Scott also strongly believes you need to see it to believe it, offering 5 Compelling Reasons to Visit Banned Countries.

If the above video didn’t convince you to add Iran to your travel wish list, perhaps these 7 Reasons to Travel to Iran NOW will. Also, make sure to give the Matador community blog post An American in Iran a read.

All photos: jamesdale10

A few days ago, NPR reported on one of the world’s newest tourist attractions…in one of the world’s most unlikely places.

That’s right — one of Saddam Hussein’s many palaces, this one located near the site of ancient Babylon and the modern city of Hilla, is now open to the public.

A quick tour goes for around a buck, while a night in one of the complex’s swanky guesthouses will run you $180.

Reactions

Iraqis have so far exhibited mixed reactions to their country’s newest tourist draw.

For some, setting foot in the palace, which still features murals depicting the ex-dictator, conjures up too many bad memories.

Others, though, relish the symbolism: Saddam is gone, and his once-exclusive realm is now open to ordinary Iraqis.

It’s unclear how many international visitors will be lured by the opening of the palace. Apart from the poorly preserved ruins of Babylon, the region doesn’t offer much in the way of tourist infrastructure.

Oh yeah, and there’s still a war going on.

Yet, some folks are set on making the journey to Iraq to see the situation for themselves. If you’re one of them, make sure to check out today’s companion piece, “How To Travel To Iraq Without Getting Killed.”

Community Connection:

I’d love to hear what any Iraqis think of this development. Would you visit Saddam’s Babylon palace?

What about the rest of you? Is this a legitimate attraction, or does it strike you as just a little bit…off?

Photos: author

Park up, pour a glass of wine, and enjoy one of nature’s best shows.

Hossegor, France

Hossegor lies at the end of the Côte d’Argent, the longest uninterrupted stretch of sand in Europe — it seems to go on forever in both directions.

The beaches teem with young French and foreign surfers in the summer, capitalizing on the town’s waves and nightlife. The Gulf Stream ensures an unnaturally temperate sea, and thus climate — suited to both beach lazing and wine making — that make Hossegor an unbeatable spot to pull up and watch the sun go down.

Playa America, West Spain

The beach of Playa America sits just north of the border with Portugal. It’s the centrepiece of an authentic Spanish resort, peppered with tapas bars and seafood that makes it from crab-pot to plate within hours. The relaxed feel of the town stretches to the beach, where the long summer days mean extended sun basking.

As the Spanish don’t change their clocks for summertime — and you’re about as west as you get in Europe — afternoon slips into evening and the sun hangs on till eleven in June.

As it finally fades over the horizon, the sky takes on a rose-tinted glow.

Peniche, Portugal

The diverse selection of beaches around the old fishing town of Peniche makes it a perfect destination on any “North-South” European surf trip. Quite often, a “quick stop” becomes a longer stay.

The prime van spot overlooks the reef-break of Lagide; there’s usually a mini-village of 20 to 30 parked vans. You may have to wait an hour for someone to leave so you can snatch a prime front-row seat and watch surfers ride the left-hander.

The car park also has a cold-water shower — a genuine van-life treat — and a 300-degree perspective for sunset viewing as another day fades away.

Conil, South Spain

Almost squeezed through the Strait of Gibraltar by the unremitting Atlantic, Conil desperately hangs on and offers a final sanctuary before the package-holiday-hell that is the Spanish Mediterranean.

Less exposed than its western counterpart, the south coast of the Atlantic is a visually and physically mellower affair.

The historic fishing town of Conil is now a staple for Spanish tourists, and joining the masses for their late-afternoon promenade is an affirming communal experience. The scope of its beach is almost Saharan and the walk to the sea is a long but pleasant one.

The Med does offer Conil something: the sea is much warmer than farther west — you can surf here in boardshorts for much of the year — and on a clear evening you can make out the shores of Tangier and the Atlas Mountains far to the south.

The town itself stretches up behind you in a patchwork of whitewashed houses, providing an excellent screen on which to project the pinks and purples of Europe’s southernmost sunset.

Rioja, Spain

Although not technically on the Atlantic, Rioja is an essential addition given wine’s important role in promoting a full sensory sunset experience.

Rioja is one of Europe’s most celebrated wine regions and, as with its fizzier northern cousin Champagne, provides a promise of some of the best vino around.

Vines drape over the region’s hills and late afternoon provides a deep and vibrant tableau — the sunlight plays on the hills, the wine stimulates your taste buds…and the sunsets: a full-stop falling off the page at the end of another chapter.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

Matador also has info on how to camperize your ride, as well as converting it to run for free on vegetable oil. For more interesting discussion on customizing your van, check out this community forum post.

Photo: mfajardo

1. Kettlehouse Brewing Company, Missoula, Montana

Known lovingly as the “K-hole” by Missoulians, this tiny brewery features an even smaller taproom where you’ll find locals of all stripes downing Cold Smoke Scotch Ale.

They don’t serve food, but the intensely hoppy Double Haul will usher in the perfect ending to a day of fly fishing the Clark Fork (a mere 200 feet from the front door) or exploring Glacier National Park.

2. Barrio Brewing, Tucson, Arizona

If you’re visiting Tucson to cure Seasonal Affective Disorder, consider this brewery for your therapy. Barrio is hard to find, but the beer and the beautiful view of the surrounding mountains makes it worth the effort.

Their porter is a GABF award winner and even in the heat of summer should not be passed over for the lighter beers in their lineup. Don’t be alarmed when the patrons shout that a train is coming. Beers go on special when the railroad gates come down over the road outside.

3. Full Sail Brewing Company, Hood River, Oregon

This tiny town in the Columbia River Gorge is the gateway to Mt. Hood and home to some of the world’s best windsurfing and kayaking. The drive through the gorge to get there is worth the trip itself, but the beers take it to the next level. Enjoy a cask-conditioned Imperial Stout while looking out over Hood River and the Columbia Valley.

4. Second Street Brewery, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Break away from the tourist strip and head to Second Street for late afternoon sun and fresh beer out on the patio. You can hear live music, mingle with locals, and drink a great Scotch Ale.

5. Clipper City Brewing Company, Baltimore, Maryland

Every year, scores of tall ships sail into Baltimore’s historic ship-building Inner Harbor as mobile museums. After exploring some of the ships that altered the course of human exploration and transportation, grab a Loose Cannon IPA. Clipper City is known as much for their whimsical beer labels as for their small-production winter reserve ale.

6. Free State Brewing Company, Lawrence, Kansas

Kansas may be considered fly-over country, but as you look over the wheat fields, you’ll realize all those craft beers you’ve enjoyed your whole life were born right here. What better way to get in touch with the beer’s grainy lifeblood than a stop into Free State? Lemongrass Wheat is the perfect thirst-quencher for a summer afternoon on the prairie.

7. Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que Smokehouse & Brewery, Austin, Texas

While you’re in Austin checking out the music scene, get back to what Texas is really about by visiting Uncle Billy’s. Don’t expect to find a dark beer on tap, but the Back 40 Blonde is surprisingly hoppy. Also available are brews by the newly opened 512 Brewing.

When in Texas do as the Texans do and slather their signature habanero hot sauce on your food.

8. Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn, New York

Photo: Techincolocalvary

Brooklyn Brewery’s central location in the city makes it an easy stop-over between sites and events. Notable brews are The Pennant Ale ‘55 and the Post Road Pumpkin, one of the best flavored ales around.

9. Sleeping Giant Brewery/Lewis and Clark Brewing Company, Helena, Montana

This small city is central to all locations in the Big Sky State but is best known for its deep roots in the boom-and-bust world of precious metals. Stop into Lewis and Clark (still known as Sleeping Giant to the locals) for a burger and a Tumbleweed IPA, one of the best IPAs in the country.

10. Deschutes Brewery & Public House, Bend, Oregon

Bend has become synonymous with rec-head culture. At Deschutes you’ll find friends recounting the day’s rides along McKenzie River Trail or how the world looked from atop one of the Three Sisters.

While the Deschutes brewery has a nice taproom, its Public House offers special brews — like cask-conditioned ales — that the brewery doesn’t.

11. Ale Asylum, Madison, Wisconsin

You expect something different from this funky Midwest college town and the Ale Asylum delivers. The cleverly named brews run the emotional gamut from Ambergeddon to Happy Ending, fitting perfectly with the underground culture of the city that gave us The Onion.

The brewers bring their eclectic tastes to the taproom. The Hopalicious APA, as the name suggests, tastes like it’s brewed on the other side of the Rockies.

12. Boundary Bay Brewery, Bellingham, Washington

Ideal parking at the Boundary Bay Brewery, Bellingham, WA. Photo: Evil Erin

A trip to the San Juans won’t be complete without a stop at Boundary Bay. Like most taphouses worth visiting, it’s often packed with locals. The IPA has the hoppiness associated with the Pacific Northwest, and the Amber is well balanced and smooth.

13. Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company, Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville Pizza does various takes on the traditional pie, and their Shiva IPA and Houdini ESP are both exceptional brews.

14. Moab Brewery, Moab, Utah

Moab is home to Canyonlands and Arches National Parks and is unique in the world for its mountain biking scene. When visiting the Moab Brewery, check out the Dead Horse (named after the famous Canyonlands vista point) and Deraillieur Ales.

15. AleSmith Brewing Company, San Diego, California

AleSmith shows you what craft brewing is all about. Both the brewmasters and their beers have won awards. They have a huge selection (by brewery standards) on tap, so expect to spend a full weekday afternoon sampling. Note: the taproom isn’t open weekends.

Happy folks beering up at the The Long Trail Inn, Vermont. Photo: broken_images

16. Long Trail Brewing Company, Bridgewater Corners, Vermont

The Green Mountains of Vermont are home to the Long Trail, the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the U.S. It crosses the state’s highest peaks from the Massachusetts state line 270 miles north to the Canadian border. It’s also the namesake of Long Trail Brewing, one of New England’s premier micros.

Stop into their active brewery and see the action from a balcony above the floor on a self-guided tour, or just enjoy one of their signature ales on a balmy day in their riverside “beer garden.”

17. Twisp River Pub, Twisp, Washington

Northwest sport climbers and mountaineers alike will run across the small town of Twisp at some time in their lives, if only passing through to get to the exposed granite of the northern Cascades. The Twisp River Pub is excellent; Methow Brewing is a true microbrewery, keeping batches to 100 gallons or less for the highest quality. They also pull some beers by hand using a traditional beer engine.

18. Novare Res Bier Cafe, Portland, Maine

Old Port’s Novare Res has the best beer selection anywhere in New England. Whether you grab a seat inside at one of the wood-paneled bars or outdoors on the expansive patio, anything from Maine’s local Allagash Brewing is a good pick for a pint.

19. Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Expect something different from Dogfish Head beers — like the Raison d’Extra, a brown ale brewed with raisins. If you’re going to sample more than a couple, bring money for a cab. These beers not only have plenty of alcohol, but they seem to have been magically brewed to hit harder than most. Dogfish also handcrafts gin, vodka, and rum. Plan to sleep in.

20. New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, Colorado

New Belgium was one of the founders of the microbrew movement and has since grown to the point that it blurs the line between micro and macro. Their top-notch beers have a wide fan base, but they also put on a deep roster of community events focused on sustainability.

Don’t miss the summer Bike-In Cinema nights (think drive-in, but with bikes and beer). There’s nothing more pleasurable than lying back on the grass under glittering stars, sipping a Fat Tire Amber and enjoying a flick with 300 like-minded souls.

Community Connection:

Traveling this Spring? Check out our roundup of 10 of the World’s Best Beer Festivals in May.

This isn’t the first Trips article to profile standout towns. Make sure to check out Gateway to Pristine America: 12 Towns on the Edge of Spectacular Wilderness as well as our picks for the Top 15 Adventure Towns Worldwide.

All photos: Carl Montgomery

Near-continuous violence since the Soviets invaded in 1979 has been effective at erasing Afghanistan from most tourists’ maps.

But it seems the government is hoping for a change with the creation last week of the country’s first national park. In addition to attracting visitors, the park should provide vital protection to a region where it’s been lacking in the past.

Band-e-Amir National Park is located in central Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush Mountains and includes five high-altitude lakes. Nearby Bamyan Valley made headlines in 2001 when its massive, 1,500-year-old Buddha statues where dynamited by the Taliban.

The park’s establishment could also tip the scales in the region’s favor regarding its pending candidacy for UNESCO World Heritage status.

Visitors will still have difficulties to contend with — ongoing military actions being the first that comes to mind, as well as a local fishing method utilizing hand grenades. But the park also offers much in the way of pristine nature, according to BBC reporter Alan Johnston:

“In the stillness of the high, thin air, the blue and turquoise waters are often like glass, perfectly reflecting the slopes around them.”

For more on this fresh travel destination, check out the BBC’s take here.

Community Connection:

Alan Johnston isn’t the only one reporting from the ground in Afghanistan. Matador members YoLeven and moshdeh are currently in-country, and they’ve posted a couple killer blogs about their experiences.

Other ideas on travel to protected natural areas, including some as unexpected as this one, can be found in 13 of the World’s Richest National Parks.

Photo above: NeilsPhotography, Feature photo: juanete

Psychedelic desert: the Southwest Circuit

You’re in the middle of Bolivian nowhere.

In front of you is a shallow bowled depression, its center carpeted in a bright green lake filled with flamingos. Over your shoulder rise twin volcanic peaks, capped with ice. Just beyond the next ridge stretches a snow-white salt flat, rippling with heat from the midday sun…

Few travelers to Bolivia miss the “Southwest Circuit.” The Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat, is its star attraction. Standing in the center of its 4,000-square-mile expanse, horizons vanish, leaving nothing but blinding white below and rich, unblemished blue above.

Those lucky enough to visit during the wet summer, when the entire plain is covered in an inches-thick pool of water that reflects the cloudy sky, can convince themselves their Land Cruiser has taken flight.

But the salar fills only one day of the circuit tour. The rest are spent tearing through some of the most inhospitable desert terrain on the planet.

Brilliantly colored chemical lakes, peak after peak of snowy volcanoes, and Andean wildlife (llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, flamingos, and ostrich, for starters) all compete with the salar for your camera’s memory card megabytes.

Photo: zaturno

I doubt anyone regrets the trip—that said, all tours are not created equal.

The salar and deserts of Los Lípez see more visitors every year. Caravans of jeeps depart daily from the town of Uyuni, the traditional starting point. After four days stuck in the middle of the globular tourist amoeba, many are left asking, “Is there a better way to do this?”

The answer is yes.

Turn the tables: start in Tupiza

Your best option for escaping the crowds is to traverse the circuit in reverse. Make the town of Tupiza your point of origin, with a tour that loops through the sights and ends in Uyuni.

Photo: zaturno

In addition to having the Lípez to yourself, you’ll be saving the best for last. Why knock out the salar on the first day, as the typical Uyuni tours do? They also require a long, backtracking drive on the last day.

By ditching the masses, you’ll avoid the sketchier agencies operating out of Uyuni. Companies there pop up and disappear again without notice, making it close to impossible to get reliable recommendations.

For the most part, Tupiza-based agencies are more established. They have a smaller customer base, and therefore more to prove.

Regardless of who you go with, your tour from Tupiza will look something like this:

Day 1

Bust out of town around 9am and drive till sunset through canyon-cut, cactus-covered terrain. Though lacking “big-name” sights, the day exposes you to the desolation of Los Lípez and gives you a glimpse of what life is like for the few communities living here. Other jeeps = scarce to nonexistent.

Day 2

The mountainous, llama-filled desert continues, transforming mile by mile into the surreal vistas that make it onto the postcards. Once you enter Eduardo Avaroa National Wildlife Refuge, it’s on: colored lakes, hot springs, flamingo flocks, geysers, crazy rock formations, and painted volcanoes.

At some point, you’ll hit Laguna Verde and Volcán Licancabur in the country’s southwest corner. From here, you can tack on an extra day and climb the 19,400 ft (5900 m) Licancabur or other peaks. It’s also possible to hop over the border, connecting to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.

Photo: wili_hybrid

Day 3

After two days of solitude, the Land Cruisers start to multiply around the eerily red Laguna Colorada. Pulling up at the sculpted rocks that surround Árbol de Piedra, only to find them covered with sunburned, North-Faced climbers, comes as quite a shock.

More lakes await, and the end of the day will bring you to the edge of the salar itself.

Day 4

Photo: hillsieboy

This is really a long half day. Wake before dawn to catch the sunrise on the salt.

A visit to the cactus-infested Isla del Pescado is followed by a group photo shoot in the middle of the salar, where the lack of distance perspective makes all kinds of crazy camera illusions possible.

After checking out a hotel made entirely of salt and a stop at a tourist market, you should pull into Uyuni around 1pm.

Practicalities

Tupiza is roughly 11 hours by train from Oruro, and a handful more from La Paz. Hop the train if you can; the buses running the route are old and drafty. Breakdowns are common.

Solo travelers and couples should schedule at least one extra day in Tupiza — longer in the low season — to find a group to hook up with. Standard tours won’t leave with fewer than four passengers; five or six means less legroom but bigger savings.

Photo: Naturaleza

Killing time in town isn’t difficult. This is Butch and Sundance country (the outlaws were gunned down in a village less than an hour away), with scenery rivaling the best of the American West.

Horseback riding, canyon hiking, and rock climbing will keep you occupied till your tour leaves.

Operators running out of Tupiza are scarce compared to the hordes of Uyuni-based agencies. Tupiza Tours is one of the originals and has managed to maintain a solid reputation through the years. Yet even with them, it’s essential to double check the contract—triple check if your group is doing anything other than the standard 4-day tour.

Other options include Valle Hermoso and El Grano de Oro Tours.

One last note: it gets cold in the desert. Damn cold. Accommodations are basic and unheated. Bring a sleeping bag or rent one from your company — even in the summer. During the winter, if you’re lucky your guide will give you a hot water bottle each night to stuff into the bottom of your bag. Yeah…daaaamn cold.

Photo: jaytkendall

Community Connection:

Check out today’s companion post, “Summiting Mount Doom in Bolivia,” for further details on climbing Volcán Licancabur.

For more on Bolivia’s spectacular sights, read about photographer Ron Dubin’s assignment in the country in “Big Bolivian Sunsets.”

If you’re looking to mix a little philanthropy with your visit to the country, Matador member org Sustainable Bolivia offers a range of rewarding volunteer opportunities.

Photo: James Laurence Stewart / Feature photo: helena.40proof

I’ve made two lengthy European road trips in a campervan and one thing is clear: there’s no better way to travel. It’s your hostel and transportation all rolled up in one, and it gives you the freedom to go where you want, whenever you want.

In fact, my wife and I will tour Australia for at least six months in a campervan. In Europe we had Ford Transits which we bought already camperized.

Here, in Oz, we’ve purchased a ‘94 Mitsubishi Delica — a rugged 4×4 van that has drawn comparisons to the A-Team’s ride. We’re gonna need a bad-ass vehicle where we’re headed.

There’s nothing like getting your hands dirty, so we’re custom camperizing it ourselves. You’re welcome to follow along at I am S.A.M. the Van.

While researching ideas — for slick James Bond-ish gadgets that pop out at you from where you least expect it — I stumbled upon some sweet set-ups and inspiring stories at the Self Build Motor Caravanning Club.

I’ve done the digging. All you have to do is scroll down the page and feast your eyes on some of the coolest campers you never knew existed.

Japanese Two-Story Van

This is the sickest camper I’ve ever seen. It’s no wonder the Japanese are world leaders in auto engineering. Over two years, three highschool mates built a freakin’ two-story house on a truck, complete with shoji (Japanese traditional screen) and tatami mat.

The best part is, none of them are carpenters or engineers, giving the rest of us some hope.

Between 2000 and 2002, they traveled over 25,500 kms around Japan in the “house-mobile”. You gotta see it to believe it.

The UK Unimog

Stephen Stewart’s travel beginnings go back to an 18-month stint in the late ’60s as a mission hospital mechanic in South Africa. For his return trip home to the UK, he did what any normal person would have done: he got his hands on a Land Rover, drove north to Kenya, shipped the vehicle to India and cut a trail through the central mountains in Afghanistan.

In 2000, Stephen bought his 1980 Unimog U1300L and spent about a year camperizing it. He then proceeded to take it to China and Tibet, northern Europe and Iceland, Siberia and Mongolia, and Central and South America.

He has since upgraded to a 2005 MAN Bimobil EX480, which he took to Scotland and Iceland last year. The ol’ Unimog is having a siesta down in Spain. His website has loads of information and is well worth a peruse.

Stephen’s also written a guide for those with a desire to follow in his footsteps. If you want to tackle a project like this, check out this site.

London Double Decker

Project: To convert an ex-London Transport double-decker bus into a motorhome for 2 families and a disabled child with complex medical needs.

This ambitious project started with the purchase of a 1985 MCW metrobus. You don’t just walk down to the local car dealership and pick one of these babies up. After much Google-ing, one was located in southern England. Steve flew to Stansted airport to pick it up and drove it nine hours home.

The camper construction includes an upper deck bathroom, four bunks, a fully equipped kitchen, computer workstation, and inverters and generators for all the electrical needs.

The most important bit was the special needs area, which contained a special bed, shelf for medical equipment, and an oxygen machine. Scott’s neurological condition left him unable to walk, talk or consciously coordinate movements. He was tube-fed and relied on an oxygen supply for periods of time.

Sadly, Scott passed away November 30, 2007. In early 2008, the family made a big tour of Scotland in his memory.

It all starts with a vision

Do these customized campers rev your engine? There’s no reason why you can’t customize your own ride for a big road trip.

If you’d like to know more about taking your wheels to places like China, Mongolia, and South America, check out The Silk Route Motor Caravan Network.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

If you do decide to hit the open road, don’t forget the music. Cedric Pieterse has some good reasons why you shouldn’t.

Feature photo: mrmanc, Photo above: Sister72

Auckland, New Zealand

Be among the first in the world to ring in the day of St. Patrick while attending Auckland’s 15th annual celebration. With nearly a quarter of city residents professing Irish heritage, they’ve proclaimed themselves the “Ireland of the South Pacific.”

The parade may have been marched this past Saturday, but the Celtic spirit lasts through the 17th, with live music, food, fortune tellers, and maybe even a hurling match or two. Visit the official website for the complete schedule.

Nagoya, Japan

Photo: tata aka T

Although Japan’s biggest St. Paddy’s Day bash was held in Tokyo over the weekend, the Pacific coast city of Nagoya will serve up its Gaelic goodness March 21st.

The parade, following a loop that begins and ends in front of the Osu Kannon Buddhist temple, promises to be a blast…especially if the pure-bred Irish Setters are flown in as promised.

Montreal, Canada

That’s right, Quebec’s largest metropolis isn’t all Molson and poutine. In fact, the Irish feast day has been celebrated here for 250 years.

Montreal’s parade, which begins at noon on the 22nd and loops through downtown, features a massive replica of Patrick himself…just in case all the green didn’t clue you in to what day it was. There’s even an awards banquet held the following weekend for parade participants.

Photo: Zanastardust

Montserrat

With a population of Irish and African heritage, the British territory of Montserrat is the only place other than Ireland that gives March 17th national holiday status.

An entire week’s worth of festivities are held on the “Emerald Isle of the Caribbean,” including a kite festival, concerts, dances, and traditional games. And yes, the Guinness will be flowing.

Need more ideas? Did you know this holiday has its own website? Check it out here for the full scoop on parades, parties, and events taking place all over the world.

Community Connection

If you know of other St. Paddy’s shindigs going off in bizarre locales, or if you attend one of those mentioned above, let us know in the comments!

For the more serious side of Irish current events, read Eva Holland’s recent Pulse post, “Protests for Peace in Northern Ireland.”

Photo: babukadja

MUSEUMS

International Slavery Museum, Liverpool, UK

This powerful museum grew out of the Merseyside Maritime Museum’s Transatlantic Slavery Gallery, and launched as a separate institution in August 2007 — the 200th anniversary of the British empire’s abolition of the trade.

Port city Liverpool was a vital hub in the imperial slave trade, and today the museum stands within sight of the docks where slaving ships came and went.

The original gallery focused almost exclusively on slave trade itself, but the expanded museum goes beyond the infamous Middle Passage and includes galleries devoted to the West African communities from which the slaves were taken, as well as the ongoing legacy of slavery for the global African diaspora.

Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Photo: Kim2137

The Stax Museum stands on the site where Stax Records made musical history in the 1960s and early 1970s. It tells the story not only of Stax, but of the other small Southern soul labels that operated in a segregated Memphis.

Memphis was always a geographic center in the fight for civil rights, as has been reflected in its music. Tthe Staple Singers are probably the best example of Stax’s potent activist-musicians.

But Stax’s importance also stems from its remarkable legacy of cooperation — interracial Stax groups like Booker T and MG’s, playing together at the height of segregation, faced challenges that most American musicians today can’t imagine, and kept right on making their music anyway.

Robben Island, Cape Town, South Africa

Best known for being home to Nelson Mandela during much of his incarceration, Robben Island today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A museum is dedicated to the island’s grim history. It was used as a prison for more than three centuries before the Apartheid era — past “guests” included Xhosa chiefs during the British colonial era, lepers, and the mentally ill.

Photo: g-hat

Still, there’s no denying that most people associate the prison with its most famous occupants, the anti-apartheid activists and political prisoners who spent the better part of the last half-century on the island. Former inmates conduct tours of the facility, making it a true living history lesson.

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Kansas City, Missouri, USA

From the late 19th century to the 1950s–almost 70 years–various amateur and professional baseball leagues operated alongside (and excluded from) Major League baseball. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum tells their story, with the emphasis not only on their exclusion but also on the accomplishments of the players, coaches and owners involved.

The Negro Leagues remain among the most successful African American-owned and operated businesses in US history, and their success often contributed to invaluable economic and professional development in the communities they served.

DESTINATIONS

Though many people don’t realize, 10 times more Africans were brought to Central America and South America than to the United States during the practice of slavery. Once slavery was abolished, freed Afro-Latinos began establishing independent communities, often settling in isolated geographical locations.

Today, more than 120-187 years after abolition in the Americas, many of these communities remain largely intact. In many cases, Afro-Latin communities also remain relatively isolated, which makes them ideal places to learn more about the African diaspora in the Americas.

Preserving their unique musical, artistic, religious, culinary, and even linguistic traditions, these communities offer lots of rewards for the intellectually curious traveler willing to endure challenging journeys.

Loiza, Puerto Rico

Located on the northeastern coast of Puerto Rico, just a few miles beyond San Juan’s international airport, Loiza is the easiest of our favorite destinations to reach, but this wasn’t always the case.

As recently as the 1970s, residents and visitors of Loiza had to cross a river on a makeshift lancha (a ferry made of a sturdy sheet of aluminum), prior to the construction of a bridge that permitted vehicular traffic from San Juan to cross over the Rio Grande into Loiza.

Though public bus service now brings passengers from the capital into Loiza, Loicenos have managed to hang onto all of the traditions that make it one of the most interesting communities in the Americas. Bomba and plena can be traced back to this town, as can the vejigante masks made of coconut husks, used during Carnaval parades each February.

Be sure to try coconut and seafood inspired dishes in Loiza, distinct from other cooking on the island.

Bluefields, Nicaragua

Though it’s Nicaragua’s principal Caribbean port, you’ll need a boat or a plane to make it to Bluefields, as there’s no overland route. You’ll notice lots of different cultural influences in Bluefields, but African remains the dominant identity.

In recent years, a black consciousness movement has gotten underway, with Afro-Nicaraguans asserting their identity and demanding representation and rights from the national government.

Photo: chellesview

Sample “rondon,” a culinary concoction made of turtle meat or wild boar, onion, yuca, plantain, and spices, or visit in the late spring for the city’s May Pole celebration, highlighting Bluefields’ fusion of cultural traditions. The May Pole celebration features singing and dancing contests.

Costa Chica, Mexico

Photo: YeahjaleaH

“Huh; I didn’t know we had black people in Mexico,” an acquaintance in Mexico City once told me after he asked about my current writing project. It’s not an uncommon reaction among Mexicans… and even among Afro-Mexicans themselves.

Costa Chica is a 200 mile stretch of coast along western Mexico, and though it lacks the tourist attractions of the more northerly resort town of Acapulco, the region is likely to be of considerable interest to travelers with an interest in Afro-Latin history and culture.

Costa Chica is credited with originating the Mexican musical genre known as the “chilena.” When played locally, chilena is accompanied by stomping dancers waving handkerchiefs.

If these towns piqued your interest, you may also want to consider Esmeraldas, Ecuador; Palenque, Colombia; and the Chincha Province of Peru.

Eva Holland and Julie Schwietert Collazo contributed to this article.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

Interested in learning more about the African diaspora? Let Craig Martin’s DIY Study Abroad Guide help you figure out how to plan your travels.

The country produces more varieties than there are days in a year, and many come with personalized glasses in which only that type may be served.

But beer isn’t all the country has to offer. On your next trip to Brussels, Belgium’s capital, sober up with some of these other activities.

1. Ascend the Atomium.

Built in 1958 when Brussels hosted the World’s Fair, the Atomium is a cross between sculpture and architecture.

It’s modeled after a crystallized molecule of iron magnified 150 thousand million times.

Escalators take visitors to expositions in the various spheres, and the upper sphere houses a restaurant, Chez Adrienne.

2. Experience Mini Europe.

At the foot of the Atomium is Mini Europe, the only place where touring the continent takes just a few hours. Roughly 80 cities and 350 buildings are represented.

Marvel at impressive reproductions of Europe’s most attractive monuments, watch Mount Vesuvius erupt, and see a Finnish girl dive into icy waters.

3. Discover Old Town.

The crown jewel of Brussels’ Old Town is the Grand Place, built as a merchants’ market in the 13th century. Tour the striking Gothic town hall or people watch from a café. Then, wander the surrounding cobblestone streets.

Stroll through the Galeries St. Hubert, a glass roofed arcade lined with cafes, theaters, and luxury shops. Also be sure to see the Manneken Pis, the famous bronze sculpture of a boy peeing in a fountain.

4. Sample world-famous chocolate.

Learn about Belgian chocolate at the Chocolate Museum, then visit some of the Brussels’ most celebrated chocolate shops.

Wittamer, in the heart of the city, is a family-owned chocolatier that’s been in business since 1910. It’s the official chocolate supplier to the Belgian Court.

Pierre Marcolini, whose flagship store is located near the Grand Place, is a newer but welcome addition to the Belgian chocolate scene.

Marcolini opened his first store in 1995, the same year he was named the World Champion of Pastry.

5. Revisit the comic strips of your youth.

Did you know that Tintin was created by a Belgian artist? You would if you visited Brussels’ Comic Strip Museum. See original pages of comic artwork, sketches and memorabilia.

Learn how the Smurfs, also of Belgian origin, got their start. (Hint: They’re a spin-off!)

6. Savor moules frites.

When Bruxellois devour this unofficial national dish, they eat the first mussel with their fingers and then scoop up the rest using the empty shell as a utensil.

And what about the fries? They dip those in mayonnaise.

Moules frites can be found at most restaurants, but if you’re near the Grand Place, try the mid-range and delicious L’Estaminet du Kelderke.

7. See a puppet performance.

Nestled at the end of a cobblestone alley in Old Town is Café Toone, whose cozy building dates from 1696.

Enjoy a drink with locals downstairs, then head up to the attic for a show like no other: marionettes perform Shakespeare and other classics.

8. Take a tour.

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Hop-on, hop-off bus tours, offered by Brussels City Tours, give a good overview of the city’s most famous sights. Catch the bus outside Central Station.

For do-it-yourselfers, take a walking tour of Brussels’ most upscale designers, explore the city’s antique and flea markets, or experience its beautiful green spaces.

9. Visit the EU.

As the European capital, Brussels is home to the European Union headquarters. Take an audio-guided tour of the European Parliament, the elected body of the EU.

During sessions, you can even attend a parliamentary sitting. Check for session dates here.

10. Okay, a little bit of beer…

Near the South train station, which connects Brussels to other cities in Europe, is one of the last traditional breweries, Cantillon.

Almost nothing has changed since the brewery opened in 1900.

See the open vats where their signature Lambic beer is cooled, and the oak wood barrels where it’s aged for up to three years.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

If Brussels is but one stop on your trip around Europe and you’re on a budget, check out Matador’s list of Top 10 Free Things to Do in Europe.

All photos by author.

Hotel de Glace, Quebec, Canada. Feature photo by lande2006. Above photo by duplamox.

Ice Hotel

Built every winter only to melt in the spring, Icehotel in Sweden is constructed entirely from ice and snow; that includes the walls, fixtures, and furniture.

Luxury suite for two. Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden. Photo by bjaglin.

Try falling asleep in this church. Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden. Photo by bjaglin.

No ice hotel would be complete without an ice garage. Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden. Photo by Köttbullekvist.

Cave Hotel

The Cappadocia region of Turkey draws in hordes of amazed tourists with its whimsical landscape, filled with fairy chimneys into which the buildings, including hotels, are carved.

A Dr. Seuss wonderland. Göreme, Cappadocia, Turkey, Photo by Curious Expeditions.

Göreme, Cappadocia, Turkey. Photo by Adam Franco

High class cave dwelling. Urgup, Cappadocia, Turkey. Photo by Jason Devitt

Forest Hut Hotel

For a nominal fee, travelers in Kolarbyn, Sweden can be left to fend for themselves while roughing it in a rustic forest hut. Food drops are optional.

Photo by Tom Williams.

The kitchen. Photo by Li-Lian Williams.

Survival Pod Hotel

These bright orange mod pods anchored in The Hague were part of an art project before being capitalized on as adventurous getaway. Packages range from basic survival with a sleeping bag and food rations to something a bit more James Bond-esque.

Photo by Roel.

Capsule Hotel

In special discount hotels in Japan, guests stow their luggage in lockers, then buy automated tickets to little cubicles that leave enough room for bedding and television monitor.

Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Massa.

Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Andrés Monroy-Hernández.

Sewage Pipe Hotel

Austria’s answer to the capsule hotel, Das Park Hotel has the same premise of buying a ticket from an automated machine, but, supposedly, guests pay whatever amount they want. Fair, considering it’s a concrete sewage pipe.

Das Park Hotel, Ottensheim, Austria. Photo by Foam.

Floating and Underwater Hotel

The Utter Inn floats one kilometer on Lake Malaren as a solitary island and beneath the surface lies a bedroom with a panoramic underwater view.

In dry dock. Lake Malaren, Vasteras, Sweden. Photo by Jonas Wallinder.

Prison Hotel

Nine centuries old and originally the historic residence of Empress Matilda, the Oxford Castle has also been a prison. Now, it’s a hotel and shopping complex.

Photo by Miladus Edenensis.

Photo by Jim Fruchterman.

Yurt Hotel

Yurts hold a special symbolism in Central Asian culture, adorning the Kazakhstan coat of arms and the Kyrgyzstan flag.

Nayrn, Kyrgyzstan. Photo by Rob.

Naryn, Kyrgyzstan. Photo by Rob.

Portugal’s Algarve coast is sometimes mentioned in the same sentence as Cancun or Benidorm in Spain – synonymous with the package tourist and concrete resort hotel.

But the Algarve has two things going for it that Cancun and Benidorm don’t. One, most of the ugly resorts and their clientele in the Algarve are confined to enclaves out of sight and out of mind. Two, it has some serious surf.

Whether gentle white water rollers, hollow beach breaks, or thumping reef breaks are your thing, the Algarve offers it all.

Where to stay

The Algarve region stretches across the south of Portugal. With both south and west facing coastline, it’s perfectly angled to pick up Atlantic swells from almost any direction. It also means that to escape an unfavourable wind on one coast, it’s just a short drive around the southwestern tip to beaches facing the other way.

Lagos is a good compromise between enjoying Algarve culture and being close to the surf. The consistent beaches of the west coast are a 30 minute drive away.

If you can look past the English language menus and throbbing backpacker bars (and visit outside of August), this historical port town offers a laid back existence among the narrow cobblestone streets and whitewashed terraces. Dorm beds at any of the several hostels (Lagos Youth Hostel is among the newest and best) start at around €10. Rooms in guesthouses start at €30 per night.

Sagres is another option, located near the south west tip of Portugal and home to a variety of beach breaks in medium to big southerly swells. Unlike Lagos, Sagres has retained its fishing port roots and apart from a few surfer bars on the one main road, it remains a quiet town outside of peak season. Rooms in guesthouses start at €20 per night.

The west coast is dotted with a variety of pleasant beachside towns: Carrapateira, Arrifana, and Monte Clerigo are all excellent surfing options. Arrifana’s brand new youth hostel, Pousadas Jueventude offers beds from €10 per night.

Bring your own board, or rent?

Surf schools are a great option for people who are backpacking through Portugal and are keen to get into surfing for a couple of days to a week.

The schools provide wetsuits, soft foam mini-Malibu surfboards, and coaching. In some cases, schools also provide accommodation, like the long-established Surf Experience in Lagos.

Surf schools also have the added benefit of surf instructors’ local knowledge: many spots in Algarve are hidden at the end of rough dirt tracks or beneath steep cliffs.

Experienced surfers should consider bringing two boards. If the rocks at a spot like Arrifana Reef don’t get your board, the shallow beachbreaks just might.

Tides

The Algarve beaches experience a huge a tidal range, so knowing when to go is almost as important as where. A beach break at dead low tide could be one long close out and six hours later be miraculously transformed into a series of beautiful peaks.

As a a very rough guide, the southern Portuguese beaches tend to be best an hour or two either side of high tide. It’s for this reason that you’ll arrive at midday and find no one around until, like clockwork, surfers start arriving en masse for the high tide session before disappearing just as quickly again.

Learn the language

Some guidebooks encourage learning a few simple phrases of the local language to endear the traveler to the local population. In Portugal, this is more of a necessity than simply a nicety as English is not widely spoken outside of the main tourist and surfer haunts.

A basic grasp of Portuguese might help you find that hidden surf spot or order lunch successfully.

Post surf refuel

For a filling snack, try a bifana, a bread roll filled with garlic roast pork, which is sold at most cafes for a couple of euros. The Algarve also has some of the best, freshest and cheapest seafood in Europe.

Budget on €8-10 for a main course dinner of whole grilled fish with salad and vegetables. The Portuguese wash it down with madronha, a local moonshine served in a small brandy balloon that goes well with a strong espresso.

Localism is alive and well.

It’s worth mentioning that while the majority of Portuguese are friendly, some are less than stoked about having their waves regularly invaded by touring surfers. Sagres seems to be the worst area of the Algarve for localism, with reports of drop ins, intimidation and occasional damage to cars.

Problems often stem from European surfers traveling in large groups and hassling for waves. By traveling alone or with a friend and showing respect, you should have no problems.

Four great waves

Arrifana Reef is perhaps one of the best rights in the country. This point break needs a big swell before the wave breaks wide enough to clear the rocks sticking out of the water halfway down the line. Entry and exit is relatively straightforward through the fishing harbour, but watch out for the currents.

Just next door is Canal, which offers both an intense right hander under the shadow of a cliff and a more mellow right further south breaking over sand-covered boulders.

Zavial is one of the best spots on the south coast when there is a huge swell running. It can also be one of the most crowded. Zavial is a right hand point break that in northerly winds peels cleanly for a couple hundred metres.

Another protected spot in big swells is Beliche in Sagres, a beach break that can throw out perfect left and rights depending on the sand banks.

Run, and you’ll have Machu Picchu all to yourself.

Opt out of the convoy of buses that meander up the winding road every day from Aguas Calientes. Walk the Inca Trail instead.

It can still be crowded, but offers you the chance to be the first to visit Machu Picchu that day. On the last morning, trekkers line up at a gate to get their passports stamped.

The gate opens at 5.30 AM. Line up no later than 5 AM to be first in the queue. As soon as the gates open, start jogging – the last stretch of trail takes about an hour and a half to walk, or about 40 minutes to jog.

Instead of stopping at the sun gate to see the sun rise (on a cloudy day you won’t see anything), keep ahead of your trail mates and quickly but carefully make your way down the last stretch.

Photo by Marie Cleland

Try the coolest experience on Lake Titicaca.

At an altitude of 3,810 m (12,500 ft), Peru’s highest navigable lake is also very cold, with an average summer temperature of just 14 degrees celsius.

If you’re motoring out to visit an indigenous community on the islands of Amantani, Taquile or Uros, get the boat’s skipper to drop anchor en route where the water is deep and jump straight off the boat.

It’s refreshing, to say the least, but the cold is fleeting compared to the thrill of swimming at high altitude.

Test your stamina at altitude.

If you want to fully appreciate Peru’s diverse terrain, take a drive up through the Cordillera Blanca mountain range.

A good starting point is Huaraz. From there you can get a guide to take you as high as the altitude of Everest Base Camp (over 5,500 m) to the edge of a glacier, where you can ascend with an ax and crampons.

Photo by Marie Cleland

Surf.

Peru has some of he best and longest lefts in the world. Mancora and Chicama is one of the best known waves, but get crowded. Other less well-known spots might be even better.

Your best bet is always to ask local surfers where to go. One tip: Puerto Inca, pitch camp next to Inca ruins that few tourists even know exist.

This is a photo caption with a link

Get up close to a national treasure.

Lamas and alpacas may have more economic value to Peruvians, but it’s a smaller creature they hold dear to their hearts. While many cats and dogs in poverty stricken areas are left to wander the streets, a little black dog that could have a starring role in the next Gremlins movie is more likely to be found on the couch in a woolly jumper.

The Peruvian hairless dog has been revered for its supposed healing properties since long before the Incas and is said to have a higher body temperature than other dogs (it’s even been offered to the White House as an allergy-free First Pooch).

Point your camera in people’s faces without intruding.

Not all locals relish the attention of tourists’ lenses. However, if you’re fascinated by foreign cultures it can be hard to resist capturing the intriguing faces and exotic clothes of the people you see along the way.

Time your visit then, for a cultural festival. Dancers dressed in all their finery are expecting to capture people’s interest, so you won’t need to be covert in your snapping, and you might even encourage some shameless posing.

See ancient artifacts before they all wind up in museums.

Peru is to modern-day archaeology what Egypt was to archaeology in the 1920s when the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb drew international attention.

The world is only now cottoning on to just how much material wealth exists in Peru – key sites from past cultures such as the Moche, Chavin, and Nazca can often be explored away from the tourist crowds.

Chauchilla cemetery near the famous Nazca Lines is an extraordinary expanse of human remains, with some intact burials and scores of bones and scraps of clothing lying scattered on the dry rocky terrain for 2km.

Chavin de Huantar’s impressive stone buildings, used for ceremonial and residential purposes, are still standing, but the modern town sees so little traffic that pigs, donkeys, cows and dogs still wander the streets.

Photo by Marie Cleland

Visit the other Galapagos.

Check the marine life at the Ballestas Islands off Paracas. These rocky strips of beach are heaving with the sea lions and the rusting hulks of old mining machinery are now overrun by colourful Incan terns.

With Humboldt penguins bobbing in the water and the curious outline of the Candelabrum engraved on a huge scale in a hillside – this area, the “poor man’s Galapagos” is far away from the crowds.

Night-hike in the Amazon.

However you get there–through local guides or a tour company–complement any day trekking you might do with a night expedition.

Within only a few hundred metres of an established jungle camp, you’ll come face-to-face with creatures you would otherwise miss during daylight hours: tarantulas, snakes, frogs, even marsupials if you’re lucky.

Community Connection: Planning a Peruvian trip? Check out Matador’s Inca Trail hiking guide. And if you’re planning to hang around longer, a number of Matador organizations offer volunteer opportunities in Peru, including Inka Magik, The Ayni Project, and Carisma Peru.

Feature photo by Train Chartering, Private Hire Trains & Rail Cars
. Photo above by motxilos!

Glacier Express

Taking almost eight hours to complete its journey, the Glacier Express has a reputation for being the slowest ‘express’ in the world – but it’s also one of the most beautiful. Linking the two mountain resorts of St. Moritz and Zermatt in the Swiss Alps, the journey covers 291 bridges and 91 tunnels.

At its highest point, the Glacier Express reaches 2,033 meters (6,670 feet) in altitude at the Oberalp Pass as it travel through some of the most stunning mountain scenery Europe has to offer: alpine meadows, mountain streams, snow peaked mountains and glacial valleys.

Harzer Schmalspurbahnen

Situated in the Harz mountains of central Germany, this route connects the main cities of Wernigerode, Nordhausen and Quedlinburg, as well as several smaller towns in the region. It passes over 140 km (87 miles) of steep track, through stunning forest and mountain scenery.

Renowned for being the longest narrow gauge track in Germany and featuring only steam locomotives, the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen is a unique way to discover this relatively unexplored area of Germany.

Photo by lazytom.

Eurostar

What better way to reach the continent for a weekend break, or the start of longer travels? With the completion of the high-speed rail link and the opening of a new station at St. Pancras, only 2:15 hours separate central Paris and central London.

Eurostar now operates from three English terminals–London, Ashford, and Ebbsfleet–and offers direct services to northern France, Central Paris, Disneyland Paris, Brussels, and ‘Snow Train’ routes to southern France, all at a top speed of 300 KmH (186 mph).

The Orient Express

Few names conjure up images of luxury and indulgence like the Orient Express.

The setting of mystery novels, dozens of films, and witness to countless romantic encounters, the original (and some would argue the best) ‘Great Rail Journey’ offers luxury from a bygone era while visiting some of the continent’s best cities: London, Venice, Rome, Budapest and Prague.

Photo by Zed.Cat

The West Highland Railway

The West Highland Line, running from Glasgow to Fort William and Mallaig, is one of Britain’s top rail journeys, taking passengers back to a time when steam was the way to travel. It passes through the wild Rannoch Moor, and through hills and bogs within view of Ben Nevis – Scotland’s highest peak.

One of the highlights of the journey is passing over the Glenfinnan Viaduct- one of the largest concrete engineering feats of the late 19th century (and more popularly known for appearing in the Harry Potter films).

The Trans Siberian Railway

The Trans Siberian Railway is the ultimate rail journey, the longest in the world (and possibly the coldest if you go at the wrong time of year), a journey of almost mythical proportions that spans two continents while staying in a single country.

There are three routes that travelers can take to explore the Siberian expanse: The Moscow-to-Vladivostok route at over 9,000 km (6,000 miles), and two routes from Moscow to Beijing: one through Mongolia, taking six days and almost 8000km (5000 miles), or one which takes almost a week to complete and travels via Manchuria.

Without leaving your seat, you pass through the end of Europe and cross almost the width of Asia, clattering your way across nearly a third of the globe.

Photo by Che89.

Jungfraubahn

At only 9km (5.5 miles), great railway journeys don’t get much shorter than the Jungfraubahn. Running from Kleine Scheidegg to the highest railway station in Europe at Jungfraujoch, this Swiss cog railway runs almost entirely though a tunnel built into the infamous Eiger.

Two stations in the middle of the tunnel allow passengers to disembark and look out over stunning mountain views. However, though it’s a short trip, this classic route does not come cheap.

The Flam Railway

The Flam Railway runs 20km (12 miles) between Myrdal, at 865 meters (2838 feet) above sea level, down to the fjords of Flam. This is an incredible feat of engineering, one of the steepest non-cog railways in the world and Norway’s most spectacular tourist attraction.

Boasting views over part of the world’s longest fjord – Sognefjord – as well as deep river valleys and airy peaks, the train seemingly clings to the side of the mountains in an unforgettable journey.

Photo by Ant and Carrie’s Photos.

The Danube Express

Explore the very best of Eastern Europe with luxury train travel on the ‘Hotel on Wheels’. From the mythical Transylvania and the fairy tale cities of Budapest and Prague to Sofia and Krakow, the Danube Express offers six classic journeys across the former Soviet states, combining rich history and beautiful cities with stunning scenery.

For those with a longing for the classic days of rail travel, there is even the option to combine voyages into an epic Central and Eastern Europe exploration.

The Stendhal

Board in Paris in the evening and wake up in Venice the following morning. Saying goodbye to the City of Lights, the journey takes in picturesque French villages and the hills of southern France before taking the Simplon Tunnel under the Alps.

With a range of sleepers available- from six and four berth couchettes to one to three berth sleepers, the Stendhal doesn’t have the luxury or reputation of many other trains sharing the same track, but with tickets starting from around $60 one way, it is a timeless (and cheap) way to visit one of the greatest cities in Italy.

Community Connection:

Not headed to Europe any time soon? In North America, try 21 Trains that are Cheaper than Flying.

From the Atacama Desert of northern Chile–some parts of which have not received rain in 200 or more years– to the massive glaciers of the south, where visitors are likely to experience weather that takes them through four seasons in a single day, Chile delivers on its promise.

Here are 8 natural wonders that should move Chile to the top of your trip list:

Photos: Julie Schwietert (Matador Travel)

1. The sand dunes of the Atacama Desert.

Photo: clearlycool (Flickr creative commons)

2. The massive glaciers of Tierra del Fuego.

Photo: angela7dreams (Flickr creative commons)

3. The 6000 ft. tall granite walls of Torres del Paine.

Photo: winkyintheuk (Flickr creative commons)

4. The penguins of Punta de Arenas.

Photo: Steve Deger (Flickr creative commons)

5. The active Volcán Villarica, just outside of Pucón.

Photo: philliecasablanca (Flickr creative commons)

6. The surreal world of the Atacama Desert.

Photo: magical-world (Flickr creative commons)

7. The pristine beaches of Easter Island.

Photo: magical-world (Flickr creative commons)

8. The quiet bays of Chiloe.

Photo: velazsolano (Flickr creative commons)

Photo: SFmatador (Flickr creative commons)

Community Connection: Have you been to Chile? Thinking about going? Share your favorite natural wonders or questions about Chile below. Read Matador member VickiElizabeth’s blog, “10 Things I Have Learned in Chile.” Check out Matador organization Patagonia Volunteer, which offers numerous opportunities for travelers to volunteer in the Southern Cone.

If you are traveling in the Andes, Rockies, Alps, Himalayas, or another great range, the summits of these impressive peaks may seem like impossible objectives.

But in fact, the summits of even some of the highest mountains in the world are accessible to mere mortals: those with good fitness but limited technical experience. Of course, no trip into the mountains is without danger and those considering a trip up any mountain should be well versed in the hazards of changeable mountain weather and the difficulties of route finding.

More importantly, those considering a journey up a high mountain should be willing to take the time required to properly acclimatize. Failing to do so means failure, injury, and possibly death.

Keeping these caveats in mind, here are eight massive mountains that mortals can summit:

1. Mount Fuji

At 12,388 feet, Mount Fuji is not nearly the tallest mountain in the world. However, this imposing volcanic peak is the tallest mountain in Japan and seems to tower over the surrounding landscape.

The climb is aided by a network of well-stocked huts along the common trails that offer food and accommodation to weary hikers. Ascents of Fuji can easily be arranged independently, but it could be cheaper to join one of the many organized tours which typically include all food, lodging, and transport. Most people time their climb so they are on the summit at sunrise.

2. Mount Whitney

When approached from the east, Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the continental United States, looks like an impossible objective. However, the typical hiking trail, though long, is not unattainable.

The major challenges for those wishing to reach the 14,505 foot summit are the altitude, which requires adequate time for acclimatization, and obtaining a permit from the U.S. Forest Service.

Photo by Darcy McCarty

3. Mount Temple

Mount Temple, 11,624 feet, dominates the landscape around Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Canada. Situated in the middle of the Canadian Rockies, this is no easy feat.

Still, the summit is accessible by most fit hikers willing to work their way up the trail, which is a bit of a scramble at times. The best part of this trail, however, is that it provides all of the adventure of climbing a massive mountain, without requiring any advanced technical knowledge. Keep in mind, however, that route finding can be a particular challenge on this mountain.

4. Mount Kilimanjaro

At 19,308 feet, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa. It is also a largely non-technical trekking objective. Dealing with the altitude is certainly the main challenge when ascending Kilimanjaro.

Fortunately, the popular Marangu, or “Coca-Cola” route, has several huts for climbers to sleep in while they adjust to the altitude. Other routes offer smaller crowds and the opportunity for camping.

Photo by TroyMason

5. Pokalde Peak

Pokalde Peak, also known as Dolma Ri, is a 19,048 foot trekking peak in the Khumbu region of Nepal. Climbing this massive mountain in the Himalaya requires adequate acclimatization, a good degree of physical fitness, and some exposed scrambling.

From the summit, trekkers enjoy views of Makalu, Ama Dablam, and Pumori. Climbing the peak does require trekking permits, which will total $350 to $400 USD. Also, a guide, easy to arrange in Kathmandu, can be helpful for acquiring permits and route finding.

If you want to venture into the Himalaya but don’t have summit fever, check out The 5 Best Treks In Nepal, Trekking the Annapurna Sanctuary in Nepal, and Trekking the Mt. Kangchenjunga Circuit In Nepal.

6. Pico de Orizaba

18,490 foot Pico de Orizaba, in Mexico, is the third highest peak in North America and an excellent objective for mountaineers of any ability.

Unlike previous peaks in this list, Orizaba does require the use of crampons, an ice axe, and possibly roped travel. Knowing how to self-arrest with an ice axe and basic knowledge of glacier travel are necessary, but not impossible to learn under the supervision of an experienced guide.

For more information, check out the excellent Mexico’s Volcanoes: A Climbing Guide.

7. Mount Elbrus

Mount Elbrus, 18,510 feet, is the highest mountain in Europe. Located in southeastern Russia, the summit is snow covered but accessible via cable car. The normal route is also fortified with a string of huts, making it easy to plan

accommodation and allow time for acclimatization. Several permits are required for climbers attempting Elbrus, so be sure to begin planning well in advance of your arrival in Russia.

8. Ojos del Salado

Ojos del Salado is the second highest mountain in South America and, at 22,608 feet, the highest on this list. Truly a massive mountain, Ojos del Salado would certainly require crampons, ice axes, and extensive glacier travel experience, if it weren’t located on the edge of the Atacama desert.

As it is, the peak is mostly dry and rocky from base to summit, making it an accessible, albeit challenging, objective for novice mountaineers or experienced hikers. The entire climb is typically described as a hike because though it is long and at a very high elevation, it is almost completely non-technical, except for an exposed scramble below the summit.

This final scramble, along with the extreme height of the mountain, means that hiring a guide is advisable for inexperienced hikers.

If you love hiking and want to try climbing some of the highest mountains in the world, any of these eight massive peaks would be a great place to start.

Photo by Darcy McCarty

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Plan on hiking the snowy, icy backcountry? Check out Hal Amen’s “How to Survive an Avalanche” and David DeFranza’s “11 Most Dangerous Mountains in the World for Climbers.”

GOODS: Get your climbing and hiking gear here! Crampons, Hiking Poles , and The Backpacker’s Field Manual, Revised and Updated: A Comprehensive Guide to Mastering Backcountry Skills are some of the items we recommend!

Photo by Phil Whitehouse

Free Chocolate in Brussels

Dark chocolate rules in Brussels, with palaces at Godiva, Galler and Leonidas, to name a few. Many shops will offer a free taste and cafes often serve a piece of chocolate with your coffee.

Photo by kaitlyn means.

For those who prefer milk chocolate, the Cailler Nestle factory in Broc, Switzerland offers free tours and samples. Incidentally, Broc flanks Gruyeres, the cheese-making town.

Free Alcohol

Belgium produces over 600 beers, including Haacht’s new fruit beer. Haacht offers a free one-hour guided tour of their sprawling facility and a taste of one low and one high-fermentation beer.

Many members of the Vignerons Independants d’Aquitaine offer free cellar visits and wine tastings, some of them in Saint Emilion, a world heritage site in Bordeaux.

Cognac also flows freely in France. Visit Le Cognac for information about free tours and tastings.

Free Cheese

Feeling the need for some food groups other than sugar and alcohol? Roquefort Papillon, is where the famous blue cheese matures in the rock crevices of Mont Combalou.

Tours of the caves are free and include a nibble at the end.

Photo by Coralie Ferreira

Henri Willig’s cheese farms in the Netherlands offers free tours and tastings of Gouda cheese.

Free Museums

Entry to permanent collections at British museums was made free in 2001. Take advantage by visiting the mummies at the British Museum, the Botticellis at The National Gallery and the dinosaurs at The Natural History Museum.

Instead of waiting in line at the Louvre, try the Musee du Petit Palais. The name is misleading since the museum houses 1300 pieces spanning many centuries. Several of the masters, including Monet and Cezanne, are represented here.

Paris is synonymous with fashion, and the Musee Galliera’s permanent collection features trends from the 17th to the 21th century.

Free Concerts

Vienna’s elegant architecture is an appropriate setting for waltzes and balls. The cheapest seats, however, are in front of the Rathaus (city hall), which broadcasts free films of famous concerts during the summer months.

Salzburg, setting for The Sound of Music, offers similar shows on a giant screen at the Salzburg Residenz Square.

Photo by Luz A. Villa.

Although Mozart was born in Salzburg, he often stayed in Prague, the fairy-tale city of a hundred spires. The Villa Bertramka now houses a Mozart museum and concert hall.

Tickets are not cheap, but there’s nothing stopping you from sitting in the surrounding gardens. I once sat outside on an autumn day drinking my coffee and listening to the live music floating out of the concert hall.

Photo by Gideon.

Free Transportation

Europe’s canal lined streets can be seen for free, by bike.

Barcelona (Bicing), Lyon (Vélo’v), London(OYBike), Call a Bike (Berlin, Frankfurt), Copenhagen/Helsinki (CIOS), Seville (Sevici) are among the cities that have hopped on board an almost-free program that allows tourists to pick up and drop off bikes at designated locations.

Fees are minimal, and the first half-hour of use is often free. The new Velib bikes in Paris, for example, cost only 1 Euro per hour.

Photo by Christopher Walker

Free Churches

Europe’s churches are rich repositories of history, and entrance is usually free.

Westminster Abbey in London is the final resting place for generations of British monarchs, and its Poet’s Corner commemorates famous British writers.

The view alone at hilltop Vyšehrad is worth paying for. The Cathedral of Saint Paul and Peter, as well as the Vyšehrad cemetery, contains the remains of many famous people from Czech history.

The Vatican Museum, home of the Sistine Chapel, is free on the last Sunday of each month. Entrance to Saint Peter’s Basilica is free, providing visitors with access to several famous art works as well as the Popes’ tombs.

Tourists can take sanctuary at Notre Dame de Paris, the Gothic masterpiece of stone lacework made famous by Victor Hugo. Free organ recitals are held on Sundays at 4:30 p.m.

Photo by Sven Lindner

Free Gardens

Europe’s public gardens are more than rows of trees and flowers. They can be outdoor community centers and art exhibitions.

Hungary’s Margaret Island is a green oasis in the Danube, between Buda and Pest. A joggers’ track around the outside of the park encircles themed gardens, soccer fields, swimming pools, and a petting zoo.

Bloemenmarkt, in Amsterdam, is the only floating flower market in the world. The flower stalls, awash with exotic colors and varieties, are perched on houseboats.

The Glasgow Botanic Gardens is internationally renowned for its glass houses and exotic collection of tree ferns from Australia as well as plants from several continents.

There are events scheduled throughout the year, including art exhibitions, plant sales and guided tours.

Photo by Antonio Zugaldia

Free Festivals

The largest free open air festival takes place in July, in Ghent, Belgium. The event features pop music, folk, rock ‘n’ roll, hiphop, jazz, and R’n'B on all the city squares. Visitors can also enjoy theatre, comedy, exhibitions and boat trips on the river Lys.

The Copenhagen Jazz Festival is held over ten days in July. Performances take place on the streets as well as in cafes, city parks, and event centers.

Free Tours

Although the activity is not actually free, visitors pay whatever they think is appropriate for guided walking tours that last about three hours. The tours were recently introduced in Prague and Berlin .

Do you know some free activities in Europe? Please share by leaving a comment below!

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Photo above by judepics. Photo above by Emma and Michael’s Excellent Adventures.

Imagine doing yoga in the great outdoors, surrounded by some of Spain’s tallest mountains. Imagine clean, pine-scented Alpine air mingling with a sultry sea salt breeze infused with orange blossom each time you inhale.

This heady mix exists in Órgiva, 52 kilometers south of Granada, 29 kilometers north of the Mediterranean coast, and set deep in the Alpujarras mountains of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in southern Spain.

Photo by judepics.

Órgiva is a mountain town that, like its Alpine-Mediterranean air, mixes traditional Andalusian and New Age international cultures. The blend is like green tea and mint, olives and sherry, churros and chocolate.

Best of all, Órgiva is home to one of the most earthy and beautifully offered yoga retreats I’ve encountered in my travels, Yoga Under the Sky.

In the heart of such a diverse, New Age, and organic farming scene and town, Yoga Under the Sky is in the perfect setting to offer organized or tailor-made retreat options for one person, couples, or groups.

Set near the Chico River that flows through town, Yoga Under the Sky offers many modalities of yoga styles and a terrific roster of talented, compassionate, and certified yoga teachers and massage therapists.

You can contact Yoga Under the Sky to arrange for an organized retreat (such retreats are on their website) or to create a retreat of your own that will address your and your partner’s particular needs. The staff also suggest great lodging and dining options.

Essentially, Órgiva is the retreat setting and within it are several rural and village houses for week-long stays as well as several all organic, local produce, and regional wine-serving eateries. The town has a vibrant energy and there is a lot happening any day of the week throughout the year.

Photo by diluvi.

Lodging

My favorite place to stay is Casa Rural Jazmin. Though “casa rural” means “rural house,” it is a lovely old stone farmhouse in town that is surrounded by a garden filled with fruit-bearing trees, such as pomegranate and lemon, and a refreshing swimming pool.

Casa Jazmin has four rooms, each with a private bath. The two proprietors are warm and welcoming and every morning they get up early to create a unique, healthy, and homemade breakfast that is often served in the garden.

Rooms for two people, including that breakfast for two, are between 48-70 euros. Given that you are in the heart of town and everything is central, in spite of the wonderful rural feel of the place, you don’t need your own wheels to get here or to stay here.

It’s an easy downhill saunter to yoga sessions, to the bus stop for buses to Granada, Malaga, Motril, or to other Alpujarran destinations, and shops and markets are all within a few hundred yards away in the town center.

Photo by Joi

Organic Dining Out in Órgiva

For such a small town, Órgiva has terrific dining out options that won’t kill your budget. Here you’ll find places where organic, Slow Food, and Buy Local, Buy Fresh drive the standard meal.

Three favorites are Café Libertad, El Limonero, and Café-Tetería Baraka. The latter is a fun hangout run by local Sufis that offers diverse vegetarian cuisine, a variety of tea, as well as other non-alcoholic beverages, including natural fruit juices and smoothies.

Organic Food Markets in Órgiva

Everyday is market day if you go to the central covered market near the Plaza de la Alpujarra in the heart of town. Therein you’ll find the organic farmers, wine makers, bakers, and cheesemakers.

But the highlight is the weekly open-air market on Thursday mornings, on the long, narrow plaza on the northern end of town (the uphill end, near Casa Jazmin).

It’s a riotous and colorful gathering of farmers, clothes-sellers, and craftspeople. Dogs, guitars, and long-haired and short-haired folks alike mingle and embrace their hybrid traditional and alternative ways of living and eating.

Photo by judepics.

Getting There

Getting to Órgiva is easy.

It is 52 kilometers south of Granada. By car, take the A-44/E-902 south of Granada and after 34 kilometers exit east for Lanjarón. Follow signs to Órgiva. Or, just get on a bus in Granada destined for Órgiva, costing fewer than 5 euros one way.

Alternately, Yoga Under the Sky can arrange for a taxi to pick you up at Granada’s airport and deliver you to Órgiva for 50 euros. While this might sound like a lot, it’s a bargain for a private driver and no car rental. Still, the bus is pretty easy.

Adventures Beyond Yoga

Hiking Options:

Take the local bus from Órgiva to Pampaneira, a twenty-minute ride, and hike from the mountain village of Pampaneira to Bubión and on to Capileira. You can either hike back to Pampaneira for the bus, or take the bus from Capileira to Órgiva. In all places, you will find ample cafes for a tapa and refreshment. Beer or chilled fino sherry are favorites. Drink lots of water, too.

Tibetan Retreat:

Consider a silent meditation retreat at the O Sel Ling Tibetan Buddhist retreat, between Órgiva and Pampaneira. If you go as a couple, you will need to do this stint in separate huts and in silence.

Visit Granada:

Photo by pasotraspaso.

Granada is an easy 45-minute bus ride away from Órgiva, so you can make a fun day-trip to the city and soak up the magical Alhambra fortress-palace complex and hit the streets in the old neighborhood of the Albaicin.

Albaicin is filled with vegetarian and organic restaurants, especially along Calle Nueva Calderería, the center of Granada’s alternative, progressive, New Age, Bohemian scene. A day trip can be a boon if you are traveling during the peak summer season, when finding lodging in Granada can be stressful.

Relax, secure a week or two at the Casa Jazmin in Órgiva, do some yoga, eat locally, and unpack just once in your peaceful mountain retreat.

Community Connection!

The author of this article, Beebe, was recently featured in 50 Inspirational Travelers. If you liked Beebe’s guide to Orgiva Yoga, please be sure to read her surf guide to Asturias, a lovely rural section of the Spanish coast.

Matador members believe they can change the world, and they’re out there doing it every day.

Sure, we publish the same sorts of articles you find in print publications, but these articles are just window-dressing. The editor in me cringes, but it’s true.

But no matter what we write, the most important part of Matador is the community. Whenever I need a little stoke, I browse Matador member profiles. I’m always awed by the sheer human optimism in this remarkable community.

Thank you so much for inspiring us.

Here are 10 incredible members of the Matador community. To meet the other 40 featured travelers, please follow the links at the bottom of this page.

Flavia

Follow your dreams, transform your life… Perform your miracles. Cure. Make prophecies. Listen to your guardian angel. Transform yourself. Be a warrior, and be happy as you wage the good fight. Take risks.

Flavia’s full profile

Grady

My ideal place to watch the sunrise would be the South Pole, where it takes a month to rise so I won’t miss it when I sleep in.

Grady’s full profile

Cataroo318

As a young, working expat, I’m constantly exploring with open eyes and ears. I use my journalism degree as an excuse to carry my camera around like a tourist. I want to do it all, document it all and pull it all into a book.

Matador can provide me a great forum to share Andalucia and help me put all of my ideas and experiences to print.

Cataroo318’s full profile

NZ Josh

6th generation kiwi, born and bred. I live for every hour not spent at work. My kind of fun is hurling yourself down pure juice oceanic waves, and into the abyss generally, laughing when IT hits the fan and bloody stoked when it doesn’t!

NZ Josh’s full profile

Sublime

I stand somewhere between the Beats, Warhol’s Factory, and the streets. I was born in the South, spent my formative years as the daughter of a military man in the California desert, and was finally brought up as a Midwest girl- living in Suburbia on the fringes of a post-industrial, lost city.

My life has great meaning- I just haven’t quite figured it out yet. Il me semble que suis toujours heureux ou je ne suis pas- still, though, I can’t complain.

Sublime’s full profile

Malkatajanka117

Now I’m in Sofia, Bulgaria, one of my homelands. Things have changed from the hot,carefree, party vibe that was taking over my last two weeks here. The weather is cold, its the first day of school for all the young people and the city streets are crawling with bubbling chaos.

Only for me, its not the first day of school just yet – I’m getting ready to do a year abroad in Madrid , Spain in a week.

Malkatajanka117’s full profile

KTMay

I am a biomedical engineer who has chosen the nomadic life over wasting away in a cubicle crunching numbers. I now lead cycling tours for a living. I will never stop travelling but would love to have a place of my own to come back to someday.

I love to paint when I have a place to spread out. Running is my release. I speak French, Spanish, and am learning Italian…ah, romance languages. Oh, and I make a mean chocolate chip cookie!

KTMay’s full profile

Beebe

I want to make a difference by being active in my community in cleaning up our oceans and environment, educating people toward making smarter consumer and lifestyle choices, like recycling, driving less and walking and cycling more, eating better foods, using reusable bags and baskets for shopping, being kind to each other and to other life on earth, recognizing that plants and other animals have as legitimate a reason for being here as we do, helping people to see the remarkable beauty of the earth and of human diversity and to appreciate their culture and others’ cultures more…

Beebe’s full profile

Jenn Miller

I want to make a difference by raising my kids to be world citizens, encouraging other families to shut off the box, get out of the box and live their lives instead of watching them go by.

Jenn Miller’s full profile

Vapintar

I want to make a difference by going to the places that scare me both literally and figuratively, learning to to embrace the uncertainty of life and to never stop questioning.

Vapintar’s full profile

To meet more Matador members, please follow the links below:

Travelers 11 – 20 at BraveNewTraveler.com
Travelers 21 – 30 at TheTravelersNotebook.com
Travelers 31 – 40 at MatadorStudy.com
Travelers 41 – 50 at Matador.org

Community Connection

These are only 50 out of thousands of travelers in our community. Who else should get a mention? Big them up in the comments, and if you haven’t yet, link up with us.

Whether it’s a little-known local game or a major international tournament, attending a spectator sporting event in a foreign country can be a great alternative to the usual tourist fare.

Here are 8 can’t-miss events, in 8 can’t-miss locations scattered across the globe.

Photo by BringBackBuck.

OFC Nations Cup (Oceania, Fall 2008)

Always wanted to island-hop in the South Pacific? Need a good excuse to finally book that plane ticket?

A handful of Pacific island nations are still in the qualification hunt for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa. The remaining matches will take place in New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji and Vanuatu, through September and October 2008.

New Zealand is heavily favored, but New Caledonia is still in the fray. The winner will advance to play the 5th place Asian team for a coveted World Cup berth.

Grand Sumo Tournament (Fukuoka, Japan, November 2008)

Photo by Stevro.

There are just six professional Grand Sumo tournaments each year in Japan – and the last one for 2008 takes place in November, in Fukuoka.

While sumo’s popularity is spreading worldwide – particularly in Eastern Europe – and the amateur association is even making a bid for inclusion in the Olympics, the sport will forever be associated with its native land. What better way to soak up some Japanese culture than to attend a real, professional tournament?

Best of all, the Fukuoka tournament will get you out of Tokyo – something too few tourists to the country manage to do.

The Grand Tournament runs from November 9 to 23, 2008.

NHL Winter Classic (Chicago, USA, January 2009)

Photo by Scott Ableman.

The NHL’s first foray into “winter classic” hockey took place a few years back. The concept – outdoor games played by long-time rivals – took off, and the third installment comes up on New Year’s Day at Wrigley Field.

So if you want to see hockey as it was meant to be played, get down to the Windy City. This time around, the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings will take on the Chicago Blackhawks and their up-and-coming young superstars, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.

Six Nations Cup (Europe, Winter 2009)

Photo by BobtheCorkDwarf.

Every year, the national rugby teams of England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, and France compete for the Six Nations Cup.

The result is the best rugby tournament the Northern Hemisphere has to offer.

Tempers and regional rivalries flare. The British locations generally guarantee a good mud bath.

And the only sure thing is that Italy never wins.

The 2009 edition takes place over five weekends in February and March.

Matches are played in each of the participating countries, so pick your favorite spot!

UCI BMX World Championships (Adelaide, AU, July 2009)

If you were watching the Beijing Olympics closely this summer, you may have noticed a new and unexpected sport on the roster.

Yup, following in the path blazed by the snowboarders a couple years back, BMX has completed the transition from X-game to officially sanctioned Olympic sport.

Photo by Phillip McMaster.

BMXers still have their own adrenaline-fueled tournaments, too, though. The next World Championships take place July 18-26, 2009, in Adelaide, Australia.

The Ashes (England and Wales, Summer 2009)

Photo by ~Prescott.

Dating to 1882, the Ashes is perhaps the most storied competition in the history of cricket. Every two years, arch-rivals England and Australia face off for five days of bowling and batting, wickets and runs.

The 2009 series takes place in several locations around England in July and August 2009, with the opening day held in Cardiff, Wales.

Glory, national bragging rights, and a crystal replica of a funeral urn go to the winners.

Red Bull Big Wave Africa (Cape Town, SA, Summer 2009)

Photo by localsurfer.

Held each year at “Dungeons ” in Cape Town’s Hout Bay, the Big Wave competition sees competitors tackling real monsters: in this tournament, it’s not just the judges who can take you out of the game.

This year, hometown boy Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker took the prize. Next summer’s Red Bull Big Wave Africa runs from late July through August.

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup (Dubai, UAE, Summer 2009)

Photo by mSkeet.

If you’re an admirer of soccer’s skill and creativity, but bored by long goal-less droughts and dull defensive matches (c’mon, I can’t be the only one?), then this is the tournament for you.

Beach soccer’s smaller, sand-covered playing field demands dynamism, agility, and improvisational ball-handling, and results in fast-shooting, high-scoring games. Brazil has, unsurprisingly, dominated the tournament over the years.

The next Beach Soccer World Cup will be touching down in Dubai next summer. The UAE knows a thing or two about fun in the sun – so don’t miss it.

Community Connection!

Check out “6 Strategies to Connect with Locals Through Sports” for some fun tips on how to get the most out of your trip to an international sporting event.

Homepage photo and photo above by ckindel. Thompson Pass, Valdez, Alaska.

North America has a predictable stash of snowfields every summer season.

You’ve probably passed right by them on road trips this month, wondering what it would be like bust out a pair of skis or snowboard and schlep your way up–and then down–that mountain.

Don’t just imagine, get out there and ride!

The following is a sampling of some of the best North American places you can either still make turns right now or plan on them for next summer.

Thompson Pass, Valdez, AK

Alaskan natives define Chugach as “The mountains of the people.”

Now home to the World Extreme Skiing Championships, the Chugach have become a mecca for extreme skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts.

With winters receiving an average 1,000 inches of snow, and marine conditions off the Port of Valdez that cause that snow to grip to the steep 40-50 degree terrain, you’ll be blessed with conditions like nowhere else on earth.

It’s also a safe bet that after the official “ski season” ends, the Eastern Chugach will be primed well into summer. Off Thompson Pass, some 20 miles outside of Valdez, skiers can choose from day long ski tours, cat skiing or big mountain heli-skiing.

With single runs ranging from 3,000-5,000 vertical feet, it’s possible to bag six runs and 20,000 vertical feet in one day. My advice? Make the most out of this experience by booking a room at Thompson Pass Mountain Chalet B&B, conveniently situated at the base of the pass, and hire a professional guide.

Check out some of these sources for more information on:

Snow Dome, Mt. Hood, OR

Photo by jikido

High above Mt. Hood’s superpipes and lap parks and summertime snowboard camps, you can enjoy the terrain above Timberline Lodge sans summer crowds by skiing/boarding Hood’s Snow Dome.

Most of the skiable routes off the summit are steep and exposed, however Snow Dome is more mellow, a Mt. Hood summer ski tour favorite. And with an average 500-600 inches of winter snowfall, good conditions last well into summer.

Keep in mind, Hood’s exposure as the highest peak in Oregon makes it prone to big storms. In June 2008, three climbers got caught in a late season snowstorm and never made it off the mountain.

Minimize your risk by checking local weather forecasts and wearing a satellite beacon while climbing.

Rock Creek Headwall, Beartooth Pass, MT

If you’re following the masses to Yellowstone this summer, take a detour out of the park’s northeast entrance on Highway 212.

Between Cooke City and Red Lodge, you’ll find yourself winding up the gnarly switchbacks of Beartooth Pass Road to a lofty 11,947′ elevation.

Rock Creek Headwall will beckon you to get out of the car, grab your board and boot pack your way across the plateau at the top of the pass to Rock Creek. With access to high elevation snowfields and numerous snow covered chutes, Beartooth offers steep and challenging terrain right off the top of the pass.

Get in a quick summer shred sesh or maybe a few; stick out your thumb and shuttle back and forth for several runs in one day. Here’s one cowboy who has Beartooth dialed. Check his site out for detailed info about the pass and surrounding areas.

Muir Snowfield, Mt. Rainier, WA

Photo by kaj097

On a clear day in Seattle, or from any elevated point in the state of Washington, Mt. Rainier’s 14,411′ snowy cone glistens in the distance.

Located in the Central Cascades of Mt. Rainier National Park, Mt. Rainier is the highest point in the state and is a popular training ground for mountaineers getting ready to trek the Himalayas.

For those wanting an introduction to ski mountaineering, the Muir Snowfield is a classic trip, skiable year-round between 7,000 and 10,000 feet.

Check here for photos and a story of a summertime descent of the Muir snowfield.

Dead Dog Couloir, Torrey’s Peak, CO

Any top dawg’s legs are as good as dead after tackling Dead Dog Couloir on Torrey’s Peak this summer. At 14,267′, Torrey’s is the only peak of its gargantuan size on the Continental Divide. Its sheer height alone makes it a magnet for mountaineers, climbers and expert skiers who scream down the 45 degree pitch of Dead Dog Couloir.

Locating the line is the easy part. It’s right in the middle of Torrey’s Peak and splits it in half. Getting up and back down is another situation altogether. Ice axe, crampons and a helmet are a must.

And the narrow rock choke up top, with runneled-out moguls, lots of rocks (plus lots of people looking to bag a 14er), make this a difficult route to maneuver. But if you’re up for hiking 1,500 vertical feet and combining that with no-fall zone turns, this will be the perfect mental and physical challenge.

As always, do your research before you go and learn from the dudes who have done it before you.

North Couloir, North Peak, CA

Ditch the hordes of Yosemite day hikers and head up the 12,242′ Eastern Sierra peak, known as North Peak. North Peak is located in Yosemite’s neighboring Inyo National Forest and has a number of gullies with excellent ski descents.

North Couloir, in particular, is highly desirable come summer. With approximately 2,000 feet of skiable vert at a challenging 45-50 degrees, any backcountry skiers or boarders will get what they’re looking for.

To access North Peak, go to Saddlebag Lake off of Highway 120 on the Tioga Pass and take the water taxi service to get across (or hike the 3.5 mile approach around the lake).

For detailed instructions, visit www.summitpost.org. Keep in mind that in late summer or fall, the snow hardens into ice and becomes more appropriate for ice climbing.

Even though North Peak is easily hiked in one day, making it a somewhat popular backcountry route, the 360 degree view of the parks below will more than compensate for the people you pass on the way up.

Chockstone Couloir, The Grand Mogul, ID

Redfish Lake, once known for its red-scaled sockeye salmon that used to spawn in its waters, is now a popular fishing and boating retreat where people come to enjoy its serene mountain atmosphere.

From the patio of Redfish Lake Lodge, which was built in 1929, tourists marvel at the spectacular peak at the northwest end of the lake, the Grand Mogul.

At 9,733′, Grand Mogul is one of the Sawtooth’s most prominent peaks and is home to the Chockstone Couloir, a moderate snow climb that’s skiable well into summer.

From the lake, Chockstone is the obvious couloir that splits the Mogul in half. A 15-20 minute shuttle boat across the lake is the best way to approach. But like North Peak, the 40-50 degree pitch and 1,000 vertical feet of skiable summertime terrain makes this a technical run.

Check out this powdermag.com first hand account of skiing the ‘Tooths in July for more info.

Balu Pass, Connaught Drainage, Rogers Pass, BC

Driving up the Trans-Canada Highway between Golden and Revelstoke is like venturing into the French Alps; jagged peaks and massive snowfields characterize the high alpine corridor of Rogers Pass.

But while most folks will patiently wait for winter’s snowfall, sticking to Kicking Horse or newly opened Revelstoke Mountain Resort, backcountry enthusiasts can veer off the beaten path at Rogers Pass Interpretive Centre and pick their way amongst wildflowers to the snowy Selkirk Mountains of Glacier National Park.

Following a trail head located directly behind the Best Western, there’s a gradual climb from the valley bottom, past large slide paths, to a broad col on Balu Glacier. Head straight up the incline and find 32-37 degrees of effortless sloping snowfields to take you back down to the bottom.

Plan for at least four hours up and check with locals at Revelstoke Alpine Equipment for current conditions.

Tuckerman’s Ravine, Mt. Washington, NH (until mid-summer)

Unless you’re from there, the East Coast is one of the last places you might think of for planning a spectacular backcountry adventure, especially in the summer.

But for those who are willing to hike, the Head Wall of Tuckerman’s Ravine in New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest has been a hot spot for over 60 years.

Thanks to last winter’s hearty snowfall, the glaciated Tuckerman’s was blessed with ample snow coverage well into summer. The hike into the base of the Ravine takes over two hours. Avalanche danger is at a minimum in early June, and snow is stable, but the terrain is still steep with 50 degree chutes.

In addition to the Head Wall, Hillman’s Highway, Right Gully and Left Gully are some other options that will keep your thighs burning. There’s even moderate terrain lower down for the less adventurous and plenty of hootin’ and hollerin’ from Lunch Rocks, where hikers gather to cheer their fellow shredders down from the top.

For detailed directions to get there visit here.

West Hourglass Couloir, Nez Perce, WY

It’s hard to resist that photo op under the antler archway in Jackson Hole. But considering three million other people visit Grand Teton National Park every year, save the urge for later and head straight into the park and over to Lupine Meadows trailhead.

You might find a full parking lot here too, since Lupine Meadows provides access to all major peaks in the Central Tetons, but if you hike your way out of the masses, about three hours up a dirt trail to the base of Nez Perce’s many couloirs, your camera will be thanking you.

One boot pack up West Hourglass Couloir and you’ll be situated at 11,901 feet with a panoramic view of the Grand and Middle Teton.

Skiing down may not be easy at 40 degrees but the surrounding rock walls sure are beautiful. While conditions hold nicely into the afternoon – the couloir doesn’t see much sun until later in the day – this slope is an active avalanche path. Make sure you have proper knowledge of conditions beforehand.

Checke here for details on getting to the trailhead.

Note on Safety

Please use this guide responsibly. As with any activity, your best bet is to venture out with local experts, and please help preserve the fragile ecosystems above treeline by minimizing your impact, always.

Keep in mind that while summertime is less prone to avalanche danger, rock fall is just as abundant. Prior snow safety instruction and extensive experience in the backcountry are a must.

Check with local guides, keep your guidebooks handy, and refer to a local avalanche forecaster before hitting any alpine slope.

Rescue beacon, crampons, harness, rope, ice axe, and medical supplies are some of the essentials you’ll need during your ascent/descent, and early morning (before sunrise) departures should be a no brainer. Double check trailhead fees in local wilderness areas and find out if you need a permit.

Like the idea of hitting one of these places but have no idea where to begin? Check out out our First Timer’s Guide to Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding.

Electro-rock duo Vive la Fête play a free show at La Flèche d’Or. Photo courtesy of Benoît.

1. Couscous at Le Grenier

The couscous is complimentary for drinking patrons. Enjoy it all while listening to jazz or manouche in this lovable dive bar. Its location in the lively Oberkampf neighborhood makes it a good starting point for checking out the local scene.

152 rue Oberkampf, 11e. Tel. +33 [0]1 48 05 13 52

Photo courtesy of Alessandra Kim.

2. Student concerts at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris

One of the most prestigious music conservatories in Europe, its students stage free concerts throughout the year.

209 avenue Jean-Jaurès, 19e. Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 46 47

3. Organ concert at the Saint-Eustache Church

Housing one of the largest organs in the world, Saint-Eustache is where Mozart held the funeral for his mother. Free concerts every Sunday at 5:30 pm.

2, rue du Jour, 1e.

Photo courtesy of Weingarten.

4. Musée Carnavalet

Housed in two mansions in the trendy Marais district, this gorgeous museum chronicles the history of Paris from its founding to modern day. Admission to the permanent collection is always free.

23, rue de Sévigné, 3e. Tel: +33 (0)1 44 59 58 58

5. Rock and Electro Concerts at La Flèche d’Or

This bar/restaurant/club is in an old train station with windows overlooking the defunct tracks. One of the first venues to open in the Ménilmontant neighborhood, it still may be the coolest. Free admission from 8:00pm to 2:00am.

102 bis, rue de Bagnolet, 20e. Tel: +33 (0)1 44 64 01 02

6. Place des Vosges

The oldest square in Paris, you can lounge on the grass, listen to the street musicians, browse the art galleries and even visit the home of Victor Hugo where he wrote many of his works, including Les Misérables. Admission is always free.

6, place des Vosges, 4e. Tel. +33 (0)1 42 72 10 16

Photo courtesy of Felipe Bachomo.

7. Le Showcase

A hot new nightspot with live jazz and rock is in the unexpected location under the stunning Alexandre III bridge. President Sarkozy has reportedly already had a few parties there. Admission is free before midnight.

Pont Alexandre III, Port des Champs Élysées, 82. Tel: +33 (0)1 45 61 25 43

8. Fashion shows at Galleries Lafayette

To many, Paris is synonymous with fashion and the quintessential Paris departmen store, Galleries Lafayette has a free fashion show every Friday at 3:00pm on the 7th floor.

Reservations are a must: email welcome@galerieslafayette.com or call +33 (0)1 42 82 36 40. 40, boulevard Haussmann, 9e.

Photo courtesy of Claude.

9. Père-Lachaise Cemetery

Wander around the grounds of the most famous cemetery in the world and pay your respects to Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, Chopin, Colette, Molière, Modigliani, Georges Seurat, Sarah Bernhardt, Gertrude Stein, Jim Morrison and many, many more.

16 rue du Repos, 20e. Tel: +33 (0)1 55 25 82 10

10. Radio France Concerts

Radio France presents free classical concerts on Sunday afternoons at the Petit Palais auditorium. Tickets are distributed 30 minutes before concerts.

116 av. du Président Wilson, 16e. Tel: +33 [0]1 56 40 15 16

community connection

For more on France, including travelers, local experts, organizations and volunteer opportunities, blogs, articles, and more, check out the France Page at Matador.

Feature photo by shoothead. Photo above by GeneC55.

Maine’s biggest city may not have made it onto any official “green tourism” maps just yet. But for those seeking to leave no trace, Portland has plenty to offer. From the metropolitan air of Congress Street, to the clean-cut red brick of downtown and the Old Port’s quaint cobblestone…it can all be yours, o green traveler!

Practicalities

For most, a trip to Portland translates to hours on a turnpike clogged with New Englanders headed to “Vacationland” for the weekend. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Consider the Amtrak Downeaster, connecting Boston to Portland’s Transportation Center. Hail from elsewhere? Why not put together a longer train trip? Check out this page for all the Amtrak travel tips you’ll need.

The CAT pulls into the Portland International Ferry Terminal direct from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. It has a regular summertime schedule and is a great option if you’re coming from the Maritimes.

And, of course, Portland’s tiny International Jetport is always a last resort.

Hit the Streets!

Once you’ve arrived, the immediate area of interest is compact enough that you won’t need a car for any of it. Put your legs to work and rent a bike at Cycle Mania. Although bicycle lanes are sparse, you shouldn’t have any trouble with the city’s light traffic.

Portland’s METRO bus system can also get you where you need to go. A pass good for 10 rides goes for $11. All buses are equipped with front racks that hold up to two bicycles.

But on a breezy summer’s day, nothing beats your feet for a tour of the town.

The Green (and Blue) Outdoors

As temperatures rise, Portland residents flock outdoors to burn off all the calories accumulated during hibernation. Why not join them?

In the middle of town, tall trees, grassy knolls, sports facilities, and an attractive pond comprise Deering Oaks Park, the perfect place to while away an afternoon. For more of a workout, tackle the trails in the Fore River Sanctuary to the northwest. Though surrounded by sprawl, it’s possible to get lost from the sights and sounds of the modern world here.

Photo above by brentdanley.

A comprehensive listing of Greater Portland’s parks and paths can be found at the website of Portland Trails. If the online maps are too difficult to read, it’s only $4.95 to purchase the real thing.

Of course, the city’s coastal location is the main attraction for summertime visitors, and there are many ways to enjoy the ocean. Yes, swimming is one of them, despite the fact that average water temperatures top out at 62º. Heck, people even surf!

Whether you choose to enter the water or not, sand is essential. Willard Beach in South Portland is the closest, though you’ll probably want to journey a bit farther south to Crescent Beach State Park. Conditions here are nice, but expect crowds, especially on weekends.

Another way to take to the waves is by sea kayak. Headquartered on Peaks Island in Casco Bay, the Maine Island Sea Kayak Company offers tours to destinations near and far, as well as courses from beginner to advanced. H2Outfitters and Maine Kayak run trips starting farther up the coast, so you’ll need a car to get there.

The ferries of Casco Bay Lines make Peaks Island easily accessible from the Old Port. In addition to kayaking, the island has a great perimeter bicycle route, a couple beaches, a handful of restaurants, and a laidback atmosphere.

Arts & Culture

With nearly 400 years of history behind them, Portland’s historic districts deserve a look. Guided walking tours are your perfect low-impact choice and can be arranged at the Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Portland Museum of Art, and the Portland Observatory. Check here for self-guided itineraries.

For something a little more interactive, sign onto a sailing tour. With Maine Sailing Adventures, you’ll learn about local maritime history and witness the beauty of Casco Bay aboard an engineless, 19th-century windjammer replica. Lucky Catch Cruises, though not exactly green, gives you the chance to experience the life of a lobster fisherman.

But there’s more to Portland culture than the salty sea. Its aforementioned art museum is surprisingly chic for a city of its size, and admission is free on Friday evenings from 5 to 9. See the Portland Arts District webpage for a complete listing of museums and galleries. Each month during the First Friday Art Walk, downtown blossoms with exhibits to suit all tastes.

And don’t forget to partake of the obligatory Old Port shopping spree. When you tire of Maine knickknacks and bohemian curios, stop by Fiachre, a bright gardening shop on Fore Street, or Sea Bags, where recycled sails are crafted into attractive handbags. You’ll find this store/workshop on Custom House Wharf, off Commercial Street.

Eat (and Drink) Green

Portland’s surprisingly diverse population is reflected in its eateries. Vietnamese, Dominican, Polish, and Eritrean are among the more unusual offerings.

The aptly named Green Elephant serves up an array of wonderful Asian-inspired entrees, many of them vegan. Pepperclub is another good choice for diners seeking creative vegetarian fare.

Photo above by lumierefl.

If local produce turns you on, make sure to hit up a farmers’ market. There’s one on Wednesdays from 7 AM -2 PM in Monument Square, while Deering Oaks Park hosts another on Saturday mornings. Both run from May through October.

Like most New England cities, Portland has its share of hometown breweries, so drinking local isn’t a problem. A rarer find, though, is Maine Distilleries, which turns Maine potatoes into the award-winning Cold River Vodka. Seek out this non-traditional attraction 15 miles to the north on Route 1.

Stay

Your greenest accommodation option lies south of Portland proper—Cape Elizabeth’s luxurious Inn by the Sea. Maine’s first carbon-neutral resort uses biofuels to heat its buildings and solar to warm its pool.

For a better location (and a lower price tag), check out B&B-style outfits such as the West End Inn and the Wild Iris Inn; the latter appears to be planning some green initiatives.

If you stay long enough to cycle through your suitcase, take your dirties to the good folks at Washboard Eco-Laundry. This environmentally conscious laundromat features energy-efficient machines, solar-heated water, and Earth-friendly services like wet cleaning. Keep clean while you go green!

Feature photo by thomas-sommeregger Photo above by pete_the_painter

1. Learn to sail a Yacht in Greece.

Improve your motor skills and hand eye coordination (all part of the overall smarts package) and learn to sail a yacht around Greece. Perhaps, just to get into the theme, pack Homer’s Odyssey or read up on Greek’s wonderful history.

What else are you going to do on the deck of a moored yacht, in the middle of the Mediterranean? For some ideas, check here.

2. Sit in Freud’s waiting room and peruse his books.

The museum itself is rather unsure of the best way of directing you around, but all you need to do to feel intellectual, is take a seat in the waiting room that launched an entire school of psychology. Select a book, sit back, and soak it up.

3.Take a turn about the Athenian Agora.

Once upon a time Athenians strolled through the Agora, did some shopping at the markets and caught up on each other’s news. Fast forward two thousand years later and you can do the same, minus the markets and minus the Ancient Greek.

If there is anywhere one should stroll around, pontificating, it is beneath the Acropolis and amongst world famous ancient ruins, upon which walked some of the greatest thinkers to ever live. You’ll be philosophizing before you know it.

4.Learn to cook in Sicily.

Photo by Ozchin

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean basin, is famous for its citrus fruit, desserts and for being strategically placed in the trade routes throughout history.

Its cuisine is a fantastic fusion of cultural influences, from the various foreign populations that have surrounded and, at times, dominated it.

Spanish, Arab, Greek, even North African (in the far western corner) cultures have all had their part in the development of Sicilian cuisine, so why not learn how to eat like a King in a region of Italy that certainly knows how?

5. Stroll the hallowed grounds of Oxford, dipping into the Bodleian Library.

Photo by davemorris

It’s the oldest university in the English speaking world and has produced no less than 25 British Prime Ministers, 12 saints, a handful of actors and far too many writers to count (although, we could try … Lewis Carrol, C.S. Lewis, Oscar Wilde, John Donne, J.R.R. Tolkein …)

The grounds of Oxford buzz with braininess, so take a stroll and get smart by osmosis. If you’ve got time, pop into the Bodleian Library, the uni’s main research library and the second oldest in Europe. Tip: for those wanting to blend in, students call it The Bodley or just, The Bod.

6. Take a Creative Writing Course in Sardinia.

What better place to get inspired than the beautiful Sardinia. With scenery that will dissolve even the most stubborn writers block and Italian food galore to feed your inner creative genius, a creative writing course in Sardinia might just propel you to literary greatness.

7. Bow to the Humble Walking Tour in Berlin.

Photo by chrisdavis

When it comes to cities with starring roles in Modern history, Berlin is the Oscar Winner.

Swallow your pride and book into a walking tour. They’re free, comprehensive and incredibly informative.

The guides are passionate and multilingual and you will be moved to tears on the steps of the Old National Gallery during the final speech.

8. Perfect Your Palette with a Wine Tasting Tour in France.

Photo by max-all

Everyone wants to be the person people look to when ordering the wine for dinner, especially if you earned your (red, white and blue) stripes in France.

Book yourself into a Wine Tasting Tour in the land of Bordeux and Burgandy and improve your mind and your palette.

9. Brew your Signature Scent in Cologne.

Take a fragrant chemistry lesson and walk away with your own personal signature scent. Learn the art behind the making of perfume, the different families, and how to distinguish an eau de cologne from an eau de toilette.

10. Take The Pub Crawl of Intellectuals in Dublin.

Photo by Nicola-T.

What if you could walk away from a pub crawl with your brain cell count not only intact, but potentially multiplied? Is that even possible, I hear you ask? Some of the best writers to have ever lived would argue, absolutely, so why not give it a go?

Follow the trail of literary luminaries and drink in their favourite watering holes as actors perform scenes from their most famous works.

So there you have it. Learn to sail, cook and write, whilst sampling the finest wines and walking in the footsteps of humanity’s finest thinkers, from Socrates to Oscar Wilde. Learn by osmosis or get your hands dirty, either way, you’ll be the person at dinner parties that everyone wants to talk to.

Community Connection

Looking to connect with other travelers or local experts in Europe? Check out the destination Europe page at Matador, where you’ll find links to hundreds of travelers, as well as blogs, volunteer organizations and opportunities, feature articles, and more.

Feature photo by dbking Photo above by Luo Shaoyang

When people dream of a trip to China, they imagine dramatic, mist cloaked peaks, the solitary and serpentine Great Wall, and small, alley neighborhoods functioning as they have for centuries.

Unfortunately, these things are becoming increasingly difficult to find as China continues to industrialize at an ever more dizzying rate. The pace and pollution of modern China often leaves travelers feeling frustrated and confused.

Still, there are many places that are, and likely will always remain, the very embodiment of a traveler’s fantasy. Following are eight of the very best:

Putuoshan

The small island of Putuoshan is a few hours by ferry from the mainland city of Ningbo, and only an overnight boat ride from Shanghai. Still, after coming from China’s congested coast, Putuoshan seems like another world.

The island is covered by temples, pagodas, and narrow, cobblestoned, streets. It is populated by monks, monkeys, and a few fisherman and ringed by their boats and the best beaches in northern China.

Putuoshan is an excellent and extremely accessible place to escape the hustle of the coast, and would make a perfect weekend getaway from Shanghai.

If you want more information on traveling to Putuoshan, a good place to start is this online guide.

Pingyao, Photo by spyderball

Pingyao

Located in central China, the small town of Pingyao makes an excellent stopover for travelers on their way to Xi’an.

Surrounded by a completely intact city wall dating to the Ming Dynasty, Pingyao allows the traveler to experience authentic imperial era architecture that has remained untouched by vigorous restorations and largely unspoiled by encroaching industry.

Certainly not unknown to tourists and travelers, Pingyao was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Even though it can, at times, be crowded, Pingyao is an excellent place to get a taste of life in ancient China.

Xiahe

Located in northwestern China’s Gansu province, Xiahe is home to the Labrang Monastery, one of the most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the world.

Often billed as a more accessible alternative to Tibet, Xiahe is, in fact, an excellent place to experience Tibetan culture in an intimate way.

The town is nestled in a mountain valley and though there has been some newer, Chinese-style, construction, the architecture is very much in a traditional Tibetan style.

Xiahe is very popular with foreign backpackers, but if the sound of familiar languages is getting you down there are numerous opportunities to escape.

Xiahe is a great jumping off point for further adventures, whether you are looking for an afternoon’s trek up a nearby mountain, or a multi-day overland journey through some of the most infrequently touristed terrain in China.

More basic information can be found at the Travel Guide China and, to get excited about visiting, check out this collection of photos.

Kanas Lake, Photo by Clemson

Kanas Lake

If you are looking to get as far away from the city, tourists, or people in general, as possible, than a trip to Kanas Lake is the answer.

Situated in the northern part of Xinjiang province, the lake lies close to the Russian border, amidst a landscape more characteristic of Siberia than the deserts of Xinjiang.

Getting to the lake is not easy. Without a prearranged tour, travelers must rely on one of the infrequent and irregular buses or a costly taxi.

Still, the trip to the lake itself, on a road that starts in the desert and climbs to grasslands and then into the mountains, is worth the effort.

Once there, visitors stay in one of several log cabins and can enjoy hiking, relaxing, and generally enjoying the natural scenery.

If you are lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the fabled “Kanas Lake Monster.”

Changbai Shan and Baihe

Changbai Shan is China’s largest nature reserve and offers near limitless opportunities for hiking and exploration. Located in the northeastern province, Jilin, Changbai Shan is an overnight train away from Beijing.

The closest town, which serves as a good entry point or base for day trips, is Baihe.

While not the most beautiful town in China, Baihe is small and relaxing, characterized more by its famous Meiren Song pine trees than its buildings and architecture.

If Baihe is not your style, or if you plan to spend several days in Changbai Shan, staying in one of the park’s guest houses may be the best option.

Though a little expensive by Chinese standards, these guest houses save a morning and evening bus trip, and allow you to explore less frequented areas of the park.

Lijiang, Photo by livepine

Lijiang and Tiger Leaping Gorge

You will not be able to spend much time in China before you hear the praises of Lijiang. Located in the southwestern province of Yunnan, the old town of Lijiang has been popular with backpackers for decades.

Lijiang is often used as a starting point for excursions to the villages of the many minority cultures populating the area.

In addition to this, the famous Tiger Leaping Gorge, which provides a scenic, three day, trek, is located just outside Lijiang. The trail winds through the gorge, one of the world’s deepest, offering some breathtaking and dizzying views, and passes by numerous lodges that provide food and accommodation.

The Tiger Leaping Gorge has been repeatedly threatened by hydroelectric development on the upper Yangtze River.

However, as of publication, all plans for development that would flood the gorge have been canceled. Still, it is well worth looking into before you plan a trip.

For a more detailed description of the trek, this personal account sums it up well.

Xishuangbana Region

Travelers coming from southeast Asia will feel right at home in Xishuangbana. Located in the deep south of Yunan province, the region is bordered by Laos and Myanmar. It is famous for its minority cultures, stilt houses, jungle treks, and lazy river cruises.

The central town is the uninspiring Jinghong, which serves as a base for journeys to the more picturesque villages surrounding it.

There are several buses that travel from Jinghong to the major outlying villages, but to find more secluded spots travelers take boats, rent bicycles, or even walk.

For more information about travel in Xishuangbana, visit this account of a bicycle trip through the region.

Tiger Leaping Gorge, Photo by livepine

Wenchang and Dongjiao Yelin

China is not often praised for its beaches. Much of the coastline of the mainland is, unfortunately, densely developed or features bleak views of industrial infrastructure.

However, finding a place for quality beach time in China is not impossible, and Dongjiao Yelin, a coconut plantation off Hainan Island, is the place to do it.

Dongjiao Yelin has slowly been attracting some resort development. Fortunately, most places have maintained a pleasant, relaxing, “thatched hut” style that has not tarnished the beautiful white sand beaches and clear blue waters.

The nearby town of Wenchang is the transportation link to the coconut plantation and beaches. Though it has a few of the “gray boxes” that characterize much of modern Chinese architecture, Wenchang is, for the most part, a small, quiet, town.

The best, most up to date, information on Dongjiao Yelin for budget-minded travelers can be found at the Haikou Banana Hostel.

Modern China is constantly growing and changing. Largely, this means it is about hustle and bustle.

If your travels in China are, or you fear they may become, more hectic and frustrating than enjoyable, give one of these destinations a try.

After a few days, you will forget all about the congestion and pollution, and rediscover what makes travel in China truly amazing: great food, ancient culture, and an incredibly open, friendly people.

Community Connection!

Some of Matador’s best writers and most inspiring people are currently in China. They include phishtopher, an anthropologist currently researching Tibetan narratives in western China and India, and sascha, a writer and shiftless hobo who survived the massive Chinese earthquake.

Thinking of studying in China? Check out the guide to study abroad in China over at the MatadorStudy blog.

For more reading on China, check out this collection of stories about China and Tibet.

Have you been to China? Did you discover any cool places? Share your travel tales by leaving a comment below!

Siwa, Egypt, Photo by Benjamin Orbach

The great pyramids of Giza, the pink facades of Petra, the blue minarets of Istanbul, and the storybook walled cities of Jerusalem and Damascus are some of the highlights that lure travelers to the Middle East.

If you make it to these postcard spots, you won’t go home disappointed.

But there is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Jerusalem called Rahmo, where they serve the best kubbe soup this side of an Iraqi or Kurdish grandmother’s kitchen.

And deep in the Western Desert, between the oasis of Siwa and Egypt’s border with Libya, there is a place where the stars shine brightly and rocket across the sky.

Whether you are traveling in pursuit of history, good food, nightlife, nature, spirituality, or the journey itself, here are six suggestions for lesser known stops across the Middle East that will make your trip truly one-of-a-kind.

Ancient Ruins

In Cairo, Egyptians boast of 7000 years of history. In Jerusalem, Israelis celebrated 3000 years of Jewish history. In Syria, both Damascus and Aleppo claim to be the oldest city inhabited on earth.

With great history come great ruins – the pyramids of Giza, the temples of Luxor and Karnak, the oval forum at Jerash, and Palmyra, Syria’s “bride of the desert.”

All of these ruins are fantastic, but to get off the tourist trail in your pursuit of history and magnificent ruins, visit St. Siman’s Basilica in northern Syria.

Dating from the 5th century, St. Siman’s is not as old as some of the region’s more notable sites, but its triple arched basilica is fantastic, a natural beauty actually – it hasn’t been restored.

St. Siman was a shepherd turned ultra pious priest. For 37 years, he stood atop a pillar and preached to the visiting faithful, who had heard of his righteousness from near and far and came in search of guidance and miracles.

While all that remains of the once 15 meter-tall pillar is a stone nub centered in the courtyard between the ruins of the four basilicas, the place is worth a visit.

The columns of St. Siman’s triple arched façade are crowned with elephant ear stone leaves that seem to blow in the wind.

The lack of tourists, the desert breeze, and the landscape views combine to make St. Siman’s serene. The site is an easy half-day trip from Aleppo, 60km away.

St. Simian carving detail, Photo by Benjamin Orbach

Savory Food

The home of slowly roasted meat on a spit, cauldrons of freshly fried falafel, and bowls of humus and sweet olive oil, the Middle East is a foodie’s paradise.

Add to the mix mansaf, a communal lamb dish that you roll in your hand with rice and eat standing in a circle or maqlubeh, an upside down Palestinian rice dish with chicken, cauliflower, almonds, and spices, and you find yourself making Solomon-like decisions about what to have for dinner.

A lesser known contender to these delicacies is kubbe soup.

In the great tradition of savory ethnic dumplings that you’ve come to know and love (wontons, ravioli, and kreplach to name a few), kubbe are Iraqi-Kurdish pastries filled with shredded meat and spices, served in a choice of three different kinds of broth: tart vegetable, sweet tomato, and beet

They probably have great kubbe soup in Iraq, but I don’t think it is worth the trip.

Instead, go to one of Rahmo’s two locations in Jerusalem.

Rahmo serves Jerusalem’s best kubbe soup and is an institution almost as old as Israel itself. The original Rahmo is around the corner from the Iraqi market in Mahane Yehuda, Jerusalem’s bustling open-air market in the center of town.

The restaurant is cafeteria style and its clientele are working class; the restaurant cut its teeth feeding workers their meal for the day. While it may be of the people, Rahmo’s food is fit for a king.

Ignore the smell of the kerosene burners and enjoy the kubbe soup, a full meal that borders on a holy experience. The new Rahmo is near Zion Square, on Yoel Solomon street, in the center of the city.

Istanbul, Golden Horn, Photo by Benjamin Orbach

Nightlife

Conventional wisdom across the Middle East dictates that if you are looking for a party, you should go to Beirut or Dubai. Both are home to beautiful people who spend lots of money in clubs that will make your ears bleed until well past dawn.

On the other hand, I’m not sure anyone has ever gone to Amman to party. While Jordan sets the region’s standard for hospitality, the country is generally known for its quiet on the nightlife front. Some, who love the country less than I, have even called Jordan “boring.”

Make no mistake, if you are traveling to the Middle East for nightlife, Amman should not be your first choice. Still, if you’ve come to Jordan for Petra and Jerash, and you find yourself in Amman on a Thursday night, Nih is where you want to be.

Nih is where Amman’s wealthy Jordanian and Palestinian yuppies come to party. Behind a gigantic wooden door and down a flight of steps, there is a secret loungy world where beautiful people dance on tables and eat and drink to their hearts’ content.

Located around the corner from the Howard Johnson’s in Shmesani, be sure to arrive early (before 10) or you probably won’t get in. Prices for food and drink are reasonable, certainly better than what you would pay in Dubai.

St. Simian ruins, Syria, Photo by Benjamin Orbach

Nature

Bedouin plodding through the desert under the hot mid-day sun, they lead their pack-heavy camels by a leather strap. No other image is more associated with the Middle East, than that of the desert. And nothing irritates the people of the region more than the preconception that everyone here rides a camel.

Surrounding the region’s deserts, there are crowded cities and small villages built on top of the remnants of great civilizations. And there are green spots and nature reserves, too, especially in the countries of the Levant – Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and even Jordan.

For nature lovers who prefer green to brown, and who are looking to get off the beaten path, head to the Golan Heights.

Prior to the 1967 war, the Golan was part of Syria; today, it is part of Israel. It takes less than five minutes in the Golan Heights to recognize the land’s beauty and value. The mountains are green, full of water, and overlook Israel’s largest water supply, the Sea of Galilee.

The strategic plateau is as close as 40KM away from Syria’s capital, Damascus. Though disputed land, the Golan is entirely safe and home to some wonderful hikes, the best is the very green upper trail of Nahal Yehudia, a national Israeli park.

Lined with waterfalls and swimming holes, there is a place where you are forced to jump (or descend a ladder bolted into a giant boulder if you are so inclined) into the cool water below. Visit in the spring and catch the yellow, red, pink, and black wild flowers.

View of Istanbul from Yoros Castle, Photo by Benjamin Orbach

Spirituality

Choosing a spiritual place off of the tourist trail in a part of the world full of God is tough. The history of the Islamic Empire resonates throughout the region in mosques that are in many cases each country’s finest work of art.

Within a few hundred feet in Jerusalem, you will find the remains of the Jewish Temples, the site of Christ’s resurrection, and the place where Mohammad ascended to heaven in his dream.

Yet for many travelers, the most ornate or historic place of worship does not necessarily equate to a spiritual experience.

In my Middle Eastern meanderings, I’ve always found the desert to be a spiritual place. It is a place that produces dreams, hope, and feelings of supreme humility in the face of overwhelming nature. No desert is prettier than the pink and red Wadi Ram of Jordan.

Trekking off the beaten path though, a lesser known, and more traditionally colored spot can be found in the western reaches of Egypt, in the desert surrounding the Oasis of Siwa.

At Siwa there is a great sand sea—with crests 20 to 30 meters tall—that blows across the desert plains. Cruising up and down its waves in a four wheeled drive vehicle is fun.

Drinking tea at sunset is picturesque. But the real attraction is after hours, in the darkness of night, when the stars shine, suspend time, and inspire belief in a higher power, whether that be God, science, or both.

Siwa is two buses and 11 or 12 hours from Cairo, depending upon how many times the bus overheats along the way.

The Journey

While some travel for the destination, others hit the road for the journey itself. Tiziano Terzani wrote a wistful, make you want to grab your backpack and go book called A Fortune Teller Told Me: Earthbound Travels in the Far East, that is really about appreciating the full process of traveling.

Terzani eschews flights and instead travels by train and by ship, making sure not to miss anything about the way there. But there are no India-like train trips in the Middle East.

And with neighborly relations between many of the region’s countries complicated at best, it isn’t easy to find a desert caravan styled journey that allows you to appreciate the path along the way.

Still, in the spirit of traveling to a place and knowing how you got there in every sense, there is a wonderful day trip along the Golden Horn in Istanbul.

The Golden Horn, in the heart of Istanbul, is where the Bosphorus meets the Sea of Marmara. Along the Old City’s docks, facing a minaret-studded landscape of Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Suleymaniye Mosque, vendors hawk knickknacks and snacks and commuters stream on to ferries that will take them home.

Hop a ferry to Anadolu Kavagi and sit on the deck. For an hour and a half, the ferry makes stops between Europe and Asia. The landscape changes between former crusader forts to shattered docks to the homes of the clearly well-off. Along the way, it is all Istanbul.

At the end of the line, hike to top of the hill and the site of the old Yoros Castle. There are stunning views of Istanbul to the west and the Black Sea to the east. Before returning to the Golden Horn, make sure to stop at one of the fresh fish restaurants along the wharf.

Community Connection!

Matador is representing in the Middle East.

Emily Hansen, is currentlyteaching English in Istanbul – “It’s my New York, but better,” she writes.

Matador member DWB is the guy to talk to about Syria, writing:

Forget everything you’ve ever read in the news about Syria. While Syria’s international standing goes up and down (more down than up recently), the people to meet and places to see here never cease to amaze and impress me.

Then there’s Jason Rezaian, who wrote one of the most popular articles published at Matador Trips:

7 Reasons to travel to Iran Now

Photo by Patrick Lucas. Luang Nam Tha Valley.

First, either fly or take the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, the heart of Northern Thailand.

Chiang Mai is the first stop on a well-trodden tourist trail that runs to Luang Prabang, south to Vientiane, and back to Bangkok. Thousands of travelers funnel through this route each year with hardly a glimpse out the window of their air-conditioned buses.

You are not just another backpacker. You are looking to experience something different, something that will push you beyond your comfort zone and provide a glimpse of the ‘other Lao’, a strange, exotic, and immeasurably beautiful part of the world that exists a mere hundred meters from the path so many travel.

Houay Xai

We must first head north, away from Chiang Mai to Houay Xai, a small town situated on the Lao side of the Mekong River across from Chiang Khong, Thailand. Houay Xai is just a small port town, a jumping off point for people looking for boats down river to Luang Prabang.

You see the river boats crammed with locals and tourists that will chug downriver at a painfully slow pace, and you turn away. You look to the mountains and hills to the north of the town and can feel something pulling you inland, inexplicable and unrelenting.

The Gibbon Experience

In Houay Xai you will find the offices for the Gibbon Experience, quite possibly the most unique and exhilarating wildlife experience in Southeast Asia.

Located in the Bokeo Nature preserve, a 123,000 ha area of protected forest in one of the most remote corners of Laos, this project is fully operated by the local Lammet and Hmong communities giving visitors the opportunity to understand their dynamic relationship with the forests.

Mobility is granted through the thick forest via 11 zip lines spread out across three ridges with tree houses in the canopy as accommodations. The project is quickly becoming one of the more popular in the country, so making reservations a few weeks in advance is recommended.

Bookings can be made through the Gibbon Experience website.

Water Falls near Ban Tanongpo. Patrick Lucas

Luang Nam Tha

A hard day of riding the bus through the forests of the Nam Ha Biodiversity Area on narrow dirt roads brings you to the small north western town of Luang Nam Tha.

Located in a broad valley on the Nam Tha River, and surrounded by tranquil rice fields and hills, Luang Nam Tha is one of the more scenic locations in northern Lao.

As a recipient of large amounts of funding from the United Nations Development program, Luang Nam Tha has developed into a major center for eco-tourism and is a significant destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

To many, however, the projects have begun to develop a somewhat “formulated” feel – superficial outings that focus on parading ethnic groups about in traditional garb while hawking cheap trinkets are quickly becoming the norm; experiences that provide little opportunity to gain any insights into the people’s lives.

Also, rapidly expanding rubber plantations are eroding the natural areas that once made the area so attractive. A quick browse among the tourist shops along the mainstreet, all sporting advertisements for identical sounding “tribal hill treks” says it all and you find yourself headed out of town on the first bus down the highway to Oudomxay Province.

Oudomxay

Arriving in Oudomxay town can be a bit of a shock. A cursory glance will give the strong impression that this is not a tourist destination. Oudomxay is little more than a highway truck stop with a single strip of old buildings on either side of the highway covered in dust from recent construction and situated in a deforested valley.

Over the last few years, with assistance from a number of international non-governmental organizations, tourism opportunities have been slowly developing in Oudomxay.

Though lacking in the glamor and glitz of more established projects in Luang Nam Tha or Luang Phabang provinces, the tourism opportunities in Oudomxay are new enough to ensure a unique and genuine experience for intrepid travelers.

The most interesting option is an overnight hike to Khmu villages in the highlands of the La District. These commu