Tourists make the perfect mark for a scam artist. We are disoriented, don't know the language, are wide eyed, and are distracted by the new world that we have found ourselves in.
I have been approached by people all over the world who, while they seem kind, are actually out to relieve me of my wallet or other valuables.
Read Moreby Lindsay Shapka in Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Tips, art
Whether you are a super fan of art and history, or just want to say you've seen the Mona Lisa, a visit to the Louvre is a must-do if you are in Paris. This fortress turned palace turned gallery is now a massive, sprawling, and overwhelming collection of some of the most important pieces of human history.
Read Moreby Lindsay Shapka in Travel, Adventure
These are quotes from travellers, authors, writers, thinkers, explorers and more, whose words have inspired me to remember the reason I love to travel — it pulls me out of my head, my day-to-day life, and inspires me to explore new spaces and places.
Read Moreby Lindsay Shapka in Travel, Travel Tips
There are a lot of posts out there about how to survive a long flight and things that you should do, but these are the most important things NOT TO DO in order to enjoy (and not annoy fellow passengers) on your next plane trip.
Read Moreby Lindsay Shapka in Adventure, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Tips
I'll be the first to admit that traveling alone for the first time can be scary (in fact, I wrote a blog about it). What happens if you get lost? What if you look like a fool? What if you can't communicate with anyone? Will people think you're a loser if you eat alone? And what do you do if you get lonely?
Read MoreLocated on the east coast of Sicily, Mount Etna is one of the most active volcanos in the world (!), and is two times the size of the infamous Mount Vesuvius (the volcano near Pompeii).
Deciding to risk it for the sake of adventure, my friends and I left the safety of our hotel room in Catania early one morning and, after a sleepy bus ride, found ourselves at the base of this iconic force-of-nature.
Read Moreby Lindsay Shapka in Travel, Travel Tips
I often get asked if solo hiking is safe or if I am ever scared while I am hiking alone. My response is usually the same as when people ask me that question related to solo travel — I have never felt unsafe, but I have felt uncomfortable, and that is not a bad thing.
I usually follow this up by reminding them that I also never approach a solo hike unprepared. I know exactly what I need to do to keep myself safe and comfortable, so I can focus on the sound of the wind in the trees and not on an imaginary threat.
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