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 MoreI have never been one to visit the dead.
It has nothing to do with religion or anything, I have just always felt that my memories of a lost loved one are stronger than anything that I could find standing in front of a grave.
Despite this, on a recent trip, I found myself drawn to a small cemetery in Paris where the French poet, art critic, and essayist Charles Baudelaire was buried. I had studied, quoted and written about him throughout my university career and even after, could feel the influence of his words in how I observed certain aspects of the world.
Like we make pilgrimages to famous museums to see the great works of art that the likes of Michelangelo, Monet, and Andy Warhol have left behind, I felt a need to make a pilgrimage to Baudelaire’s grave.
Just outside the walls of the cemetery I purchased a single, long stem red rose from a lady with a flower cart. I felt a little silly as I walked through the arched entrance in the cemetery wall and onto a deserted cobblestone street. I had never visited a grave before, especially not one marking someone I hadn’t even known.
“I found myself drawn to a small cemetery in Paris where the French poet, art critic, and essayist Charles Baudelaire was buried”
It took me about 20 minutes to find the tomb in the confusing maze of headstones. It was the only one, out of all that surrounded it, covered in flowers. I didn’t feel so silly once I realized that I was not the only recent visitor.
Setting my single rose next to a bouquet of lilies and running my fingers over his name, I turned and walked back to the wall and out into the noise of Parisian traffic.
Taking a stroll through a cemetery might sound morbid, but in Europe, 19th century cemeteries are big attractions. Yes, there are ‘quirkier’ visitors that are there to hold vigil for hours in front of the graves of famous figures (Jim Morrison’s grave in Paris attracts some interesting people), but the majority of visitors are your plain old average tourist.
Surrounded by thick stone walls that create a peaceful sanctuary, these cemeteries are laid out like cities with street names and green spaces.
The opulent mausoleums are a study in architecture of the different time periods they were built in, and elaborate grave markers, representing the life of the deceased, turn these burial places into verdant sculpture gardens. In the light of day, these places are like beautiful, outdoor museums.
Death is the ultimate neutralizer, and in these beautiful spaces, you can find dictators buried next to revolutionaries, musicians next to business men and the rich next to the poor.
If you are going to be in Europe this summer, I suggest dropping by the Kerepesi Cemetery in Budapest or Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise in Paris. They are massive, full of beautiful sculpture and — if it is something that interests you — a bunch of famous historical figures.
What you eat when you travel can often make or break your trip. If you make a wrong food choice, you risk missing out on the authentic version of a cultural delicacy, spending too much money, or (worst of all) becoming deathly ill.
What's the best way to experience all the culinary delights that a culture has to offer?
Eat like a local!
Some of the most mouth-watering flavours that I’ve tasted have come from food purchased from street vendors.
They key is to pick the right vendor.
Pay attention to where locals seem to be lining up, and I will guarantee that the food will be safe and fresh. Steer clear of the stalls that don’t seem to get much traffic, the food there may have been sitting out for too long.
Eating this way is also cheap and fast, which means it won’t cut into your touring time or your budget.
If you are in a country where English is not the first language, a translated menu usually means that you are about to encounter inflated prices and generic food. Stay away.
Load a bag full of local delicacies, for a fraction of the price you would pay in a restaurant, and then find a park to people watch in while you eat!
Ask the people that work at your hostel or hotel where they like to eat. Instead of giving you tourist friendly options, they will usually direct you somewhere more authentic.
by Lindsay Shapka in Travel Tips, Travel, Destinations, Adventure
There's nothing worse than going out of your way to visit some must-see-hyped-up-attraction that turns out to be a total disappointment. It's a waste of time, money, and daylight — even more frustrating if you are traveling for a short period or with a small budget.
Well, I can promise you that these five attractions are well worth the lines you may have to stand in or the distances you may have to travel to get to them. They definitely live up to the hype, and are not to be missed!
This, the actual house where Anne hid from the Nazi’s in World War II, receives nearly a million visitors each year.
The focus of the museum is the rear house where the Franks lived before they were betrayed and sent to their deaths. The space is dark, airless and shockingly real.
Visitors leaving the space pass through a light filled stairwell with words from Anne’s dairy etched into the walls:
"April 9, 1944
I'll make my voice heard. I'll go out into the world and work for all mankind!"
—Anne Frank
It is one of the most moving exhibitions I have ever visited.
No matter how many photos you see, or how many movies you watch with the temples as a backdrop, nothing will prepare you for actually standing in front of them.
The Angkor complex is huge and each temple has completely unique characteristics — some are getting torn apart (yet held together) by the jungle while others are home to mischievous monkeys. Each corner you turn will make you feel more like Indiana Jones as you stumble upon smoking incense left by unseen hands, or find yourself alone in a maze of moss covered mysterious history.
Also called "Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe", instead of being a simple statue or plaque, this outdoor holocaust memorial in Berlin contains a grid of 2711 square columns set at different heights on uneven ground. It can be entered from any side and presents different, disorienting, unsettling perspectives as you move through it. It is unlike any memorial I have ever seen and definitely leaves a lasting impression.
Seoraksan (or "Snowy Crag Mountains" in English) is a region of rugged high peaks, granite cliffs, lush forests, huge waterfalls, and ancient temples in northern South Korea, and is a major draw for tourists and locals alike.
There are hiking trails that will satisfy even the most expert of mountaineers, but there are easy trails for the day-trippers as well. No matter what level you choose, you will have breathtaking and untouched views, a rare treat in such a highly populated urban country.
Often overlooked, this museum sits in the shadow of the Louvre and the Musee D’Orsay, but is well worth the visit. Though it contains important Impressionist works by artists like Cezanne, Picasso, and Renoir, the real draw of this site is two huge, light filled oval rooms that contain an eight-panel series of Monet’s Water Lilies. Built in 1927 to the artist’s specifications, the paintings are breathtaking and visitors to the museum could easily spend hours taking in the work (I know I did!).
