August 5, 2013

Hitchhiking: Where Is It Legal And Would You Do It?

by Lindsay Shapka in Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Tips

We've all seen them (or been them).

The scruffy looking traveller, overstuffed pack on their back, a bandana either on their head or around their neck, thumb out, and holding a sign to try and entice you to pull over and give them a ride.

You can't deny that hitchhiking is an incredibly affordable, unique and adventurous way to travel. You meet some VERY interesting people, and end up in places that you have never even dreamed of heading before.

But you also can't deny that this form of travel comes with some pretty high risks.

I have only hitchhiked once (and I don't know that it even really counts as hitchhiking), in a small town just outside of Paris. My friend and I had just gotten off the train and were trying to get to her cousin's house, where we were going to crash for the night, and we approached a young looking couple loading things into their car for directions. Taking pity on the two of us (we were pretty scruffy looking at that point), they offered to take us to our destination. So, we jumped into the back of their large, windowless unmarked van (in retrospect, maybe not the smartest vehicle to catch a ride in) and hoped that they were actually taking us to our destination.

Luckily we trusted the right people and got there safely, but, after watching one too many crime shows where the hitchhiker turns out to be an axe murderer — or the person who picks up the hitchhiker keeps them captive in their basement for ten years — I was more than a little nervous!

I have recently been following the progress of fellow travel blogger, the Expert Vagabond, who has been hitchhiking across the United States, documenting his travels (and all the creative signs that he used to snag a ride).

Where I live, picking up hitchhikers is illegal, and watching his progress has got me wondering where it is actually legal to embark on this form of travel.

“RABIES FREE (Since June)”

— a sign held by the Expert Vegabond while hitchhiking in the USA

After a bit of quick research, I have discovered that in MOST of the world (other than North America) hitchhiking from the side of the road is not only legal, it's encouraged! Some countries (like the Netherlands) even have designated areas at the side of the road for hitchhikers to wait at.

Being female, I would still be wary to jump into a car with a stranger unless I had a travel buddy with me, and the same goes for picking someone up.

What do you think? Would you hitchhike? Would you pick up a hitchhiker?

Reads For The Road: Crossing The Heart of Africa by Julian Smith

by Lindsay Shapka in Book List, Travel, Travel Adventures, Destinations

In 1898, British explorer Ewart Grogan was in love. The problem? He was in love with an aristocrat's daughter who didn't think that he was good enough for her. Before he could marry, Grogan had to prove his worth, and so set out on an epic quest to be the very first (English) man to cross the length of Africa from Cape Town to Cairo.

No, this is not the scene from a movie, or from an epic romance novel. This is a real life (rarely told) story that author Julian Smith discovered by chance, and that inspired him to embark on his own adventure — in Grogan's footsteps. Nearly a century after the original adventurer set out to conquer Africa, Smith found himself madly in love, yet terrified by the prospect of marriage (aren't we all).

“Traveling can be the ultimate alone time, which is probably why I ended up doing it for a living. Away from home and surrounded by strangers, you can be anyone or no one, anonymous or camouflaged.”

— Julian Smith from Crossing The Heart of Africa

Deciding drastic measures were needed in order for him to face his marriage fears, he decided to trace the 4,500-mile journey that Grogan took. A strange choice right before a wedding, but one that he committed to regardless.

In the spellbinding Crossing The Heart of Africa, Smith weaves the most fascinating elements of Grogan's original adventure into his own honest, introspective journey through one of the toughest continents in the world. It is a FANTASTIC read.

Travel Tales: Riding A Roller Coaster Up The Great Wall Of China

by Lindsay Shapka in Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Tips

I had spent my first full day in Beijing walking all over the city. I went from my hostel to Mao's Mausoleum, through Tiananmen Square, and into the Forbidden Palace complex that seemed to stretch for miles. Then I hopped in a cab and headed to the Temple of Heaven complex and a hutong before sitting down for a delicious dinner of Peking Duck — it was a BIG day.

So, despite my aversion to organized tours — they usually involve getting taken to a souvenir shop or wasting time at a sub-par restaurant — the next day I welcomed the chance to sit on a tour bus for a few hours as it wound its way through the suburbs of Beijing towards one of the most famous walls in the world — The Great Wall of China.

“It is often said that the Great Wall can be seen from the moon with the naked eye, but in 2003, China’s first astronaut Yang Liwei failed to spot the famous barrier from space”

Building started on this must-see sight (considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of The World) over 2000 years ago when China was unified under one Emperor.

Separate walls that had been constructed by individual kingdoms were linked together to create the wall as it exists today. Hundreds of thousands of workers (most were prisoners of the Emperor) used earth and stone to form the original wall — legend has it that the bones of some of these workers, who were worked like slaves, were also one of the building materials.

Though the wall never was the impenetrable wall of defense that it was meant to be, it acted like an elevated highway through incredibly mountainous terrain, and a way of sending signals over a vast territory very quickly.

The majority of the wall has now badly disintegrated, but thanks to the tourist industry, it is continually being restored.

My tour took me to the most popular part of the wall 70 km north of Beijing called, Badaling. I realized that I really was on a "tour" when my bus pulled up to a bus filled parking lot and our guide ushered us into a dark building.

Once my eyes adjusted to the light, I noticed a few benches and what looked like a roller coaster... A ROLLER COASTER?!

I blinked again just to make sure, but yup — apparently my tour ticket involved a roller coaster ride up the side of the mountain to the top of the wall. Tourism at its best. Only in China do ancient ruins and roller coasters go hand in hand.

The part of the wall just outside the roller coaster drop-off was packed with people, but because I was there in April, and during the week, it was pretty quiet once I passed through a few of the watchtowers. Some sections were even completely deserted, making for some amazing photo opportunities.

If you are planning on visiting the wall yourself, try to avoid May-August.

The pollution in China is pretty awful, and when smog mixes with the heat you can barely see a few feet in front of you and the view is badly compromised.

If you must go during the hot season, I recommend visiting the wall first thing in the morning to try and see as much as you can before the smog descends.

Travel Tips: Don't Book Ahead! You Might Miss The Experience Of A Lifetime

by Lindsay Shapka in Travel, Destinations, Travel Adventures, Travel Tips

My friends and I had spent five action-packed days in Rome and we had just arrived back at our hostel ready to pack up to head to Venice the next day. We hadn't pre-booked anything, but we knew that we were ready for a change of scenery.

We paused at the front desk on our way in, to let them know that we would be leaving in the morning (but really to flirt with the guy working the front counter) and noticed a poster on the wall behind the desk with "FREE CONCERT" printed on it in big, bold, black letters.

Curious, we asked for details, but other than being nice to look at, cute-front-desk-guy was kind of useless. He couldn't tell us why the concert was happening, when it started, or how long it would be. All he knew was that it was at the Circus Maximus (an outdoor, ancient Roman chariot racing stadium located near the ancient Roman forum) and that there would be A LOT of famous musicians and movie stars present.

Deciding that one more day in Rome wouldn't hurt, we decided to stick around to check out the concert.

We woke up early the next morning, and headed to the venue around ten, figuring the concert would probably start in the early afternoon.

It was May, a beautiful humid day, and the 20 minute walk took us through the historic city centre, and past the always stunning Colosseum.

When we arrived, the massive green space was completely deserted except for a stage at one end and a few tech guys wandering around. Apparently we were REALLY early.

Here's the thing about being REALLY early to a free, outdoor concert though... you end up at the very front, at the very centre of the stage.

**As close as you could get to the stage without being press or a producer**

Oh, and it turned out that half the city knew what time the concert started, cause after we held our spots at the front of the stage for a few hours, hundreds of thousands of people joined us!

The crowd that gathered behind us — it turned out that more than 10,000 people were there.

It turned out that the concert was called We Are The Future, and was a fundraiser for children who lived in high-risk areas around the world. It was raising money to provide schools, safe places to live, water and access to healthcare.

How did I find this out standing in this massive crowd trapped at the front of the stage?

Quincy Jones told me.

Did I mention that it was a concert put on by him?!

Oh, and those famous people that we were promised would appear?

Take a look:

**The one and only Andrea Bocelli is still, to this day, one of the most amazing live performers I have ever heard**

**Naomi Campbell strutted onto the stage**

I pretty much hyperventilated when Angelina Jolie walked out on stage... I could have touched her! (But I didn't because that would be creepy)

For thirteen hours (yes, I was exhausted, starving and in pain by the end of the concert, but it was SO worth it), we watched and performances by Carlos Santana, STOMP, Alicia Keys and more!

It was an amazing experience that I will NEVER forget, but one that I would not have taken advantage of if we had pre-booked a hotel or train to Venice ahead of time.

So, the moral of this VERY long story is this:
Book what you need to in order to feel comfortable in your travels, but leave yourself room for spontaneity — you never know when a free concert full of superstars will come your way!

Travel Tales: Surviving The Songkran Water Festival in Thailand

by Lindsay Shapka in Destinations, Travel, Travel Adventures

I stepped gingerly out of the cab, swinging my heavy pack onto my back, trying to get my bearings amongst the chaos of the Thai New Year celebrations.

The driver had dropped me only about four blocks away from my hotel — it was as close as he could get — but there were so many people on the street celebrating Songkran that I was feeling a bit turned around.

It isn't just water that will get ya... Thai's rub a chalk-like substance on your cheeks as an added blessing. Want to join in? You can buy a bowl of it for around 10 Baht (approx. 35 cents)!

Already sweating in the 40+ mid-day Thailand sun (not that it mattered, I was about to be soaking wet) I set off down a side street lined with food carts, and stalls selling small waterproof bags and water guns... and water...

While looking up at the flags strung across the street above me, I felt a cold stream of water run down my neck, then another hit me straight in the belly button, and yet another smack dab in the middle of my forehead... It had begun...

What's a bigger target than a foreigner at a country's largest festival that involves throwing water at each other?

A foreigner with a ackpack on her back. (Luckily I had planned ahead and packed ALL of my stuff in plastic bags... one point for me!)

***Everything in my bags was packed away in plastic — I had a feeling I would be a target... I was correct...***

I was right in the middle of a country-wide water fight that ushers in the traditional Thai New Year (April 13, 14 and 15). It is traditionally a time of renewal, cleansing AND wandering the streets with buckets of water to soak people with.

The country's most famous festival did not start out as a full-on no-holds-barred water fight. Not too long ago it was celebrated with quiet temple visits, 'new year's resolutions' and house cleaning. The temple's primary Buddha was ceremoniously bathed by monks and followers splashing water on it, water was splashed on the hands of elders, and was playfully splashed (not thrown) at friends as a way to with them luck.

Oh, how things have changed...

(As an added bonus, the festival falls on the HOTTEST time of the year in Thailand and the cold, cleansing water is actually a welcome escape from the heat.)

***Decorations strung up at the Wat Pho temple in Bangkok, Thailand***

***Pieces of gold leaf are placed on stone Buddhas at Wat Pho in Bangkok, Thailand***

During Songkran it is next to impossible to step into the streets of Bangkok and stay dry (especially if you are staying in the Th Khao San area, which I was). The streets were not only full of people (mostly Thais) throwing water, but also with live music, DJs, and an indescribable atmosphere.

It was an incredible experience, but after being soaking wet for 2 days straight I was ready to dry off!

Luck is said to be measured by how doused you are — it is safe to say that I am the luckiest girl in the world (even a monk threw water at me at the temple!).

***Luck is measured by how soaked you are — I'm feeling like this is going to be a great year!***

Reads For The Road: "Walking The Amazon" by Ed Stafford

by Lindsay Shapka in Book List, Travel Adventures, Travel

After retiring from the British army as a captain in 2002, Ed Stafford started running worldwide adventure expeditions. It was during one of these expeditions that Ed met Luke, and during one drunken night, they agreed on a plan to be the first (documented) people on earth to WALK from one end of the Amazon river to the other — ocean to ocean.

“It would have been fairly excusable to blame the bravado on alcohol but, as we scratched our stubble and our balls waiting for the shower, we were both even more animated about the idea than we had been the previous evening.”

— Chapter One, Conception to Birth, Walking The Amazon

This would mean crossing the Andes Mountains, trekking through the dangerous drug trafficking zones in Colombia, trying to appease suspicious indigenous-people living deep in the jungle (including those that were convinced he was going to steal their faces), and dealing with ALL of the challenges that come with living in a jungle — weather, bugs, injuries, bugs, and did I mention BUGS.

In Walking The Amazon — 860 Days. One Step At A Time, Stafford gives an incredibly honest account (fears, doubts, frustrations...) of his grueling 4,000-plus-mile journey (check out his Expedition Diary here).

If you are looking to be inspired by a real-life adventure, this is definitely the book for you!

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March 3, 2013

8 Things You Must See and Do in Florence

by Lindsay Shapka in Travel, Destinations, Travel Adventures, Travel Tips

Winding cobblestone streets lined with tall, stone buildings filled with shops, cafes and restaurants. Churches covered in the art works of Italian masters. Fashion trends that won't make it to North America for years. Museums overflowing with paintings, sculpture and sketches. Walking in the footsteps of Michelangelo, Leonardo, Donatello and Raphael (no, not the Ninja Turtles)... what isn't there to see and do in the glorious city of Florence!

Here is your guide to the top spots to see and the best things to do when visiting Florence!

The Duomo (front facade recently cleaned)

1. The Duomo

Though you may have spotted the terracotta coloured tiles of Brunelleschi's massive dome long before you come upon the cathedral, the first time that you turn the corner and find yourself in front of the pink and green marble facade, you are sure to have the wind knocked out of you.

The church is gigantic, towering above all the buildings surrounding it, and breathtakingly beautiful.

The best time to visit is in the off-season, when the interior is open to all, nothing is closed off to tourists and the echoing halls are quiet, deserted, and lit by flickering candlelight.

2. The Baptistery and The Gates of Paradise

Across from the Duomo sits the octagonal shaped baptistery that was built on the site of an ancient Roman temple as early as the 5th century. Dante was among the celebrated figures that have been baptized in this marble structure that is famous for its gilded bronze doors, the most famous being Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise (pictured below) — 10 intricate panels depicting stories from the old testament. The one's hanging are replicas but you can check out the originals at the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.

The Gates of Paradise (Porta del Paradiso)      Lorenzo Ghiberti

3. Piazza della Signoria

This expansive piazza is the political hub of the city and is surrounded by some beautiful historic buildings including the Palazzo Vecchio which is the seat of the Florentine government and full of murals by iconic artists.

The Piazza also contains a sculpture gallery (a great spot to people watch from on a warm evening) and an exact replica of the famous David by Michelangelo.

4. Galleries

The Uffizi Gallery, built in the 16th century by the artist and art historian Vasari, is the home of the private art collection of the Medici family — essentially the 'royal family' of Florence at the height of the Renaissance and passionate art patrons. Works by masters like Michelangelo, Leonardo, Donatello, and Raphael can be found here as well as stunning paintings by Botticelli (my personal favourites).

Another 'can't-miss' is the Galleria dell’Accademia, which is the home of the original David and Michelangelo's unfinished Slaves that give a unique insight into the artist's process.

5. Ponte Vecchio

The only bridge that survived the Nazi explosives in 1944 (pictured above), this unique 14th century structure is the home of the city's most beautiful jewellery shops.

Unless you are travelling with a pocketful for cash, don't expect to do more then window shop on this pricy strip, but something as unique as a bridge covered in houses is definitely worth the visit.

6. Piazzale Michelangelo

It's a bit of a trek, but the views from this plaza (pictures below), across the river from the centre of the city, are worth every drip of sweat.

On a clear day, you can see straight to the green Tuscan hills beyond the city.

7. Cafes, Restaurants, and Wine

There are some fantastic cafes, their tables spilling out into the street, between the Duomo and the Piazza della Signoria, as well as some great spots for gelato.

Florence is incredibly close to the Chianti region which means some delicious wine, readily available at extremely low prices, and there are no rules about drinking in the streets so grab a bottle from a local grocery store and head to the Piazzale Michelangelo to enjoy a sunset after a long day of sightseeing!

8. Shop, shop, and shop some more

Florence contains everything from department stores to street markets and everything in between.

Most boutiques, jewellery shops and designer stores are located between the cathedral and the Arno river, while the best spot to find leather, souvenirs, hand-bound books, clothing, and jewellery at low prices is at the Piazza del Mercato Centrale (an open-air market located near the train station).