cities

Photo: Lisbon

November 17, 2011 By Jillian

Of all the cities that we think of in the Mediterranean, Lisbon is the one we should probably cross off that list, because its not on the Meditrranean. Sitting just north of the Mediterranean, Lisbon looks out across the Atlantic towards the Americas. The seat of Portuguese exploration, explorers like Vasco de Gama left its shores in search of riches and treasures. What did he find? Well India, which arguably is a treasure itself, but that’s for another post! The Belem Tower is considered a monument to the Age of Discovery.

More recently, Lisbon has been a place of unity among EU members. In 2009, the European Union signed the Treaty of Lisbon. Like many European cities, Lisbon is made up of various barrios, each with their unique character and charm.

To see more of our favorite photos from around the world check out our travel photo page. Let us know your favorites and we’ll include them in our photo of the day series.

IF YOU GO: With the austerity measures in place, Portugal and Lisbon need tourist income now more than before. Don’t be afraid to check out the barrios, there are plenty of trendy shops and restaurants near apartments in Lisbon which are worth checking out. From ancient art to arguably Europe’s greatest collection of modern art, there are plenty of museums and activities to keep you busy.

Photo Credit: Flickr user pedrosimoes7 under a creative commons license.

A Trip to Greece Today

November 13, 2011 By Jillian

Trips to Greece offer a balanced mix of sea, nature and visits to places where the most famous and fascinating parts of Western civilization originated.

Travels in Greece are a constant discovery and can be easily discovered from any travel news. The best way to enjoy Greece is given by a careful balance between a cultural visit to an archaeological site or a museum of art and history and a pleasant seaside interval or a stop in a typical drinking ouzo, while the ancient gods, from ‘high Olympus, look at you smiling. Destination for many trips, Greece certainly has a wide range of attractions to offer. The beauty of this country is very well known, which is why the place flourishes with tourists all year round, but especially during summer. As of late, though, there has been quite an uproar on the streets of the main cities. Due to the country’s enormous debt, the government has been trying to apply some new regulations in order to clear said debt. However these regulations take a great toll on the lives of the civilians, who feel they are being robbed blind. Therefore there has been a lot of turmoil in the streets due to strikes organised by syndicates and other political parties.

One of the main problems travelers might face when visiting Greece at this time is regular strikes of the public means of transportation. In other words they will have a hard time getting around, and that applies to even those who rent cars for their stay. Steering clear of the main city streets would be a good idea since more often than we like to admit demonstrators block the streets as a form of complaint towards the government. As you can guess this always leads to unpleasant traffic jams. In fact you can avoid the whole upset by visiting an island, where people will be less tense and it will be easier for you to experience greek culture in a more relaxed environment. A must-see when traveling in Greece, not only for those who want to appreciate the natural beauty of the country but also deepen their knowledge of Greek mythology and history is certainly the island of Crete. Here, between the sun and golden beaches, you can start to discover the ancient Minoan civilization, visiting the Palace and the Labyrinth of King Minos at Knossos, or, in Matala, you can enter the fascinating caves dating back to Neolithic times.

If however after all that you still insist on staying in Athens and are keen on experiencing current history deciding events, then staying at a hotel near the center of the capital, Syntagma is the place to be. The civilians are very frustrated over the state of crisis the country is in right now and may even open up to strangers. You may even get to feel their struggle if you choose to join them during one of their strikes.

In general terms it would be wise to think ahead if you’re planning a trip to Greece at this time.

Author: Elsi Hasanaj lives in Greece and writes for Trip and Travel Blog. Elsi loves the sea and looks for trips on the open water. He’s been to Mexico, Norway and Scotland. You can find Trip and Travel Blog on Twitter or Facebook.

Mexico City, Cuidad de Mexico, D.F.

November 4, 2011 By Jillian

Mexico City is a place with many names and many personalities.

Polluted. Sprawling. Enormous.

Those were pretty much the first words that came to my mind when I thought about Mexico City and yet, we despite not a single positive word that came to mind, were drawn to visit. Having skipped Mexico City the first time through Mexico in 2009, we were determined to cross it off the list. It feels like we’ve had a taste of everywhere else in Mexico, so we might as well take a stab at the heart of darkness, literally.

And so back in the travel saddle, we found ourselves passing a few days in Mexico City before a wedding.

On our first day in town we went to probably one of the most impressive anthropology museums in the world. The Museo Nacional de Antropología covers all of the famous pre-Columbian peoples in Mexico from the famous Aztecs to the lesser known Toltecs. It was a bit like traveling through Mexico again, each room we visited was another stop through memory lane. Food stalls hawked chili covered peanuts and fried grasshoppers.

On our second day we spent the morning exploring explore Tiotihuacan and the in the afternoon Templo Mayor. I stood in the middle of Aztec ruins, looking at the stone altar where they performed human sacrifice. The city and traffic buzzed around us and the bell tower of the second largest cathedral in the new world shaded us from above.

On our third day I sat in the Zocalo, drinking an ice cold beer, watching the numerous vendors hawk their wares, sat in on a children’s theater performance for dia de los meurtos and watched a man cut himself with glass for money on the metro.

How on earth can I add all of this up into one cohesive tale? It’s like being a part of the Palo Volador, multiple personalities spinning through the air.

My story of Mexico City is much the same of the city it’s self. Layers upon layers of interesting history, hidden gems and stories worth exploring. We crossed the city on the metro, zipping underneath fancy neighborhoods, rundown areas of town, old churches, new sky scrappers and high-rises. The city once paved in gold according to Cortez now sits uncomfortably crowded in the middle of a drained lake, a population pushing resources to the brink. And yet parts of it remains charming. The city parks are alive with young lovers, families and friends enjoying the freedom of sunshine. The base of the angel statue is dotted with teenagers and adolescents hanging about and wherever you go you are greeted by a genuine smile and a firm handshake.

It is a city of discrepancies, a city of multiple personalities not easily summarized in one story.

Photo:Piazza del Popolo

October 18, 2011 By Danny

The phrase Piazza del Popolo means the people’s square. Over the centuries it has served as the gateway for the road north, the site of public executions and even the pathway for an aqueduct. The present architecture was designed in 1811 and today it’s a pedestrian only throughway in a city that often feels oppressively crowded.

Rome’s piazzi are probably the best places to sit back and people watch. See and be seen so to speak, even better if you can enjoy a glass of wine or a small plate of snacks while doing so. The Piazzi typically have a central fountain (often part of the old aqueduct system), works of art in their own right. Piazza del Popolo’s fountain is a terminal of the aqueduct system. Often terminal fountains have a show, called mostra where water may flow from an animal’s mouth or mythological deity’s hand in such a beautiful way that it’s a monument to the architecture.

To see more of our favorite photos from around the world check out our travel photo page. Let us know your favorites and we’ll include them in our photo of the day series.

IF YOU GO: Going to Rome requires a certain acceptance that the best part of Rome is not in a museum or archeological ruin- it’s in the piazzas. Schedule time if you can do it no other way, to sit at a piazza café and watch the people go by. Even better if you can find one of the many apartments in Rome and do the same from your own balcony. La dulce fara niente as the Italians say, the sweetness of doing nothing.

Photo Credit: Flickr user Ed Yourdon via a creative commons license

Photo: Gaudi’s Barcelona

October 4, 2011 By Danny

Barcelona: A city renowned for so many things from food and drinks to architecture and art. We arrived under the cover of darkness and only stayed for a matter of hours. Walking around downtown it was quickly visible how much there was to the city and how I wished we’d had more time to stay in town.

The city itself was founded by the Romans but ultimately became a bit more Spanish when it joined the Kingdom of Aragon. Growing up I only knew it as that place in Spain where the Olympics were. Now I’m old enough to recognize the architecture and art courtesy of such Antonio Gaudí and Salvador Dalí. Although this photo likely doesn’t have much to do with either of those famous souls it is typical of much of the city, balconies are not only everywhere, but are pieces of artwork in and of themselves.

To see more of our favorite photos from around the world check out our travel photo page. Let us know your favorites and we’ll include them in our photo of the day series.

IF YOU GO: The city itself is served by a very large international airport which serves as a hub for low cost carrier Vueling. Don’t bother with Girona, instead fly straight into Barcelona and stay for a week in one of the many Barcelona Apartments available for rent. This is great city to just walk through and one that is easily enjoyed on foot and at a relaxed pace.

Photo Credit: #1 courtesy of flickr user quinet via creative commons licensing. Other photos property of IShouldLogOff.

Photo: Lisbon

A Trip to Greece Today

Mexico City, Cuidad de Mexico, D.F.

Photo:Piazza del Popolo

Photo: Gaudi’s Barcelona

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