The Ten Most Beautiful Places in Portugal : Day Trips, Sightseeing, Things To Do, Top Attractions, Tours & Activities The walled town of Obidos. Image courtesy of hottholler on Flickr. Around 16 million holidaymakers each year can’t be wrong as they pour into Portugal from all over Europe; whether they are cruise passengers, avid sightseers here to check out the palaces and cathedrals, golfers or sun-worshippers both heading to the tawdry delights of the Algarve. And there are so many beautiful towns and regions it’s hard to pick ten most beautiful places in Portugal – here are my personal favorites. Fishing off the rock pools at Porto Moniz. Enchanting Lisbon You have to visit Lisbon. Despite the hills, Lisbon is easily small enough to navigate on foot, with plenty of museums and galleries to stop off in and just as many pastry shops and pavement cafés to relax in. The Douro Valley is one of Portugal’s best wine-growing regions. Lisbon wears its long history with pride and its best-loved monument is the ornate Belém Tower, which was built in 1519 and was once a military prison. Braga by night. Óbidos
27 Breathtaking places to visit in your lifetime... Zhangye Danxia landform in Gansu, China The rainbow formation is the result of red sandstone and mineral deposits being laid down for over 24 million years. The swing at the “End of the World” in Baños, Ecuador At the edge of Ecuador sits a rickety tree house (casa del árbol) overlooking an active volcano in the near distance. With it comes a swing with no harnesses, inviting only the bravest of risk-takers to experience a killer view. The Great Blue Hole in Belize The Great Blue Hole is a submarine sinkhole off the coast of Belize. Tulip fields in the Netherlands Many people often mistake Keukenhof, also known as the Garden of Europe, as the designated space of the tulip fields. The Hang Son Doong cave in Quang Binh Province, Vietnam Son Doong is the world’s largest cave, created 2–5 million years ago. Hitachi Seaside Park in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, Japan The park is in full bloom during spring and tourists often visit to see 4.5 million “baby blue-eyes” flowers blossom. Source: Buzzfeed
10 Historical Places Everyone Should See | The Equinest There are many places on the planet where we have the opportunity to walk into the past & learn about our ancestors. History and mystery are all around us, from the sentient Moai of Easter Island to the spiritual ruins of Maccu Piccu to the city of Petra, carved into the hills. What better way to enjoy these special places than through the lenses of talented photographers. I’m a firm believer in seeing the history of the human race through what they’ve left behind. Many of these places defy our logic and prove that perhaps ancient people were more advanced than we thought. Stonehenge – Wiltshire County, England Petra – Jordan Luxor – Egypt Angkor Wat – Cambodia Parthenon – Greece Easter Island or Rapa Nui – Chile Teotihuacan – Mexico Machu Picchu – Peru Taj Mahal – India Pompeii – Italy So Much History Which one is first on your list?
Amazing Festivals Around The World That You Should See Before You Die Tweet Once a year some of the countries around the world hold magical and outrageous festivals. Some like the Brazilian carnival and Spanish bull chase are famous world wide while others few people know about. So if you fancy living it up then check out our list of 20 of the most amazing festivals from around the world that we recommend you should see before you die. 1. Much like Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Carnevale in Venice, Canaval is a nonstop party, just with special addition of Brazilian flair. [SEE ALSO - 35 Clearest Waters In The World To Swim In Before You Die] 2. Though there are many smaller offshoots of Oktoberfest around the world, Munich’s original fair is the biggest beer festival in the world. 3. The Harbin festival is the largest snow and ice festival in the world, and it features carvings towering over 20 feet in height and full-size buildings made from gigantic blocks of ice. 4. 5. 6. Carnevale, or “Carnival,” has been a Venice tradition since the 13th century. 7. 8.
10 Best Places to Live for Escaping World Conflict Travel Article at Expatify Where would you be the safest if World War 3 broke out tomorrow? Perhaps it’s a grim subject, but safety and distance from world conflict can be a motivating factor in your choice to expatriate. At the very least, conflict around the world can weigh heavy on the soul, and it’s nice to know there are some places still left in the world where you might be left in peace. 10. Switzerland’s long history of neutrality and its tucked away location among the valleys of the Alps still make it a safe bet, even despite having a high number of bordering nations. 9. Costa Rica has a stable democracy, a disbanded military and a national policy of neutrality. 8. There are regions of Papua New Guinea that are still being discovered for the first time. 7. Canada is the second largest nation in the world, yet it only shares a land border with one other country– the U.S.A.– and it is a peaceful border. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Comments
9 Ridiculously Creepy Medical Museums Open to the Public The gruesome appeal of medical museums is twofold. While dissected cadavers, preserved parasites, and diseased organs fulfill the sick fascination for human oddity in all of us, the fact that it is a “museum” makes visiting them a commendable act of self-education. A real win-win! This dichotomy between repulsion and fascination for the human body is nothing new. The first “medical museums” were actually personal collections of medical oddities, and they’ve been incredibly popular since Renaissance Europe when aristocrats would create their own and charge for viewing. Whether they were called Cabinets of Wonder, Kunstkammer, or Wunderkammer, these collections fulfilled both private curiosities and played an important role in assisting medical professionals– they play a similar role in modern culture. Medical museums are unquestionably not for the squeamish, but there are a surprising number of them out there. 1. Image: Curious Expeditions/Flickr Solution? 2. 3. Image: C. Image: C. 4. 5.
10 Most Incredible Private Islands On Earth Imagine escaping the urban jungle to a laid back tropical heaven of sun, sand and adventure. If you could go globe-hopping to get away from it all, and ifmoney was no object, wouldn’t you want to go to a private island? Private islands are some of the world’s most beautiful places for kicking back or playing in warm tropical water. Some of these islands are luxurious tropical resorts, while others are more ruggedly stunning natural places that nevertheless resemble paradise. Private islands can be visited for vacation, rented, or even bought. Here are 10 of the most incredible private islands on Earth. <a href=" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article',' Ad Network</a> 10. Photo: Rex M Photography The pristine Palawan province of the Philippines includes the El Nido Resorts and the private Entalula Island. 9. Photo: Private Islands Inc. Motukawaiti, New Zealand, is in the stunning Cavalli Islands group.
Afflicted: 11 Abandoned American Hospitals and Asylums “Open” for Exploration With some of the most disturbing and tragic histories of any buildings in the US, asylums and hospitals are way beyond creepy . Many of them were built in the late 1800s, when “mental illnesses” (such as masturbation, menopause, and teenage rebellion) were considered dangerous enough to lock someone in an asylum. A pain-inflicting misunderstanding of mental illness combined with a chronic mistreatment of its sufferers meant that many people were never released and spent the remainder of their lives in these horrible institutions. In addition to asylums, many sanatoriums were constructed around this time to care for the poor and very sick. Utilizing radical treatments that were incredibly painful yet ineffective, early hospitals often created more suffering than good for the inflicted. To make matters worse, infectious outbreaks forced patients to be quarantined from the rest of society, further isolating them. If you decide the risk is worth the reward, we didn’t send ya. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Twenty destinations for 2014: in pictures From the wild frontiers of Papua New Guinea, to unspoilt Italian islands, our experts suggest where to go this year. Read Charles Starmer-Smith's introduction to how the destinations were chosen here. Cities Glasgow, Scotland Glasgow, always a city that knows how to party, is preparing to welcome athletes from all over the world for a monumental knees-up over the 11 days of the Commonwealth Games from July 23. Read the full article here Picture: AP 10 of the best budget hotels in New York Posted on: September 21st in Cool Hotels, Travel by Graham Padmore. Like this Post? The Big Apple may be one of the ultimate city break destinations – shopping, art, sightseeing and so much more. It’s also (like most major capital cities) unfortunately notoriously expensive. So for those wanting to maximise their spending money, you will have to seek out some good NYC budget hotels. A good tip is to book as far in advance as possible, this way you’ll get the best price. The Gershwin This Manhattan midtown hotel is just a block away from 5th Avenue and close to both Madison Square Garden and the Empire State Building. Prices from $32 a night.Check prices and availability for The Gershwin Hotel The Jane Once home to salty sailors and Titanic survivors, The Jane is a living work of art. Prices from $90 per night.Check prices and availability for The Jane The Pod Prices from $89 per night.Check prices and availability for The Pod Broadway Hotel and Hostel Holiday Inn Long Island Sohotel Condor Hotel
Why travelling solo can be one of the best things you'll ever do You can make friends when travelling. Picture: Tatyana Leonov Source: NewsComAu TRAVELLING alone is in. It's so cool everybody's going to start doing it soon. I mean who needs a partner or friends when it's so fun to be on your own? The reality is ... that's probably not true. What women really think about travelling with men There's a trend towards women travelling alone, and in response to this trend hotels, resorts, tour companies and even flight carriers are creating and updating products to appeal to the new market. The truth about travelling alone as a woman If you're new to it, I'll tell you a secret - it's not half as scary as it looks. 1) Talk to the locals It's easy. Making friends with a local kanak woman in New Caledonia. 2) Embrace eating alone The first time you dine alone can be daunting, especially when you walk in and the waiter asks how many people are going to be dining ... and you smile (ever so confidently, of course) as you mumble one. Simply because it's fun. Paris.
A Day In Madrid For Less Than €25 Being smack-dab in the middle of the country, and also surrounded by plenty other popular destinations, Madrid sometimes gets lost in the shadows of Spain itineraries. Barcelona, Valencia and Sevilla all take slices out of what would be a blissful few days in the city. It’s sad really, because if you do Madrid right, you’d have a fabulous time. Madrid windows Nonetheless, even if you only have 24 hours here, and a tight budget, there are many ways in which you can make the most of it. Find a buddy for the day in which you can split a few costs with and set off around the land of tapas and siestas. Known for their ¨crispy-on-the outside-doughy-on-the-inside¨ fried churros and thick rich chocolate, Sin Gines is one of Madrid’s most famous restaurants. Churros con chocolate Cost: €3.8 total, €1.9 each. From San Gines walk to Puerta del Sol, the modern center of Madrid since the 17th century. After a caffeine fix, head to Plaza Mayor, the main plaza from the Habsburg period in the 1600′s.
Our 2013 Country Run-Down | Where We've Been in 2013 It’s nearing the end of the year and like most people, Andrew and I have been reflecting on what we’ve achieved in 2013 and looking forward to what 2014 holds. This year was very special for us because we finally got out on the road and started travelling full-time; since leaving the UK in March we’ve had the most incredible, extreme ten months of our lives – it’s been tougher yet more rewarding than we ever imagined it would be. Here’s a look back at the places we’ve visited in 2013 and what we loved about them. New Zealand Where we went: Auckland, Paihia, Keri Keri, Tairua, Raglan, Rotorua, Taupo, Tongariro, Wellington, Golden Bay, Franz Joseph, Fox Glacier, Queenstown, Christchurch. Length of stay: one month. What we loved: pretty much everything but particularly the spectacular scenery, the laid-back atmosphere and cleanliness. Fave places: Golden bay, Queenstown, Taupo and Raglan. Top travel experiences: Skydiving, hiking the Tongariro crossing, the Rock Boat Overnight Cruise. Australia
The Year in Pictures: A Month by Month Photo Journey of 2013 South Africa Safari 2013 started off with a bang as we visited South Africa. We had been once before when we cycled the continent from Cairo to Cape Town, but this time we really had the chance to explore in depth. Sunset in South Africa This magnificent sunset was taken in the wilderness area of the Garden Route in South Africa from the seaside view of the aptly named “Views Hotel” Read more about South Africa at See 12 Awesome Things to do in South Africa Marrakech at night February was the start of our tour traveling for 5 weeks with HouseTrip. For more visuals of Marrakech check out, The Beauty of Marrakech Through the Lens See our video on the HouseTrip Blog, Marrakech Traditions and Etiquette Berlin Grafitti Our next stop took us to Berlin. You can read about Berlin’s street art at our article on the Expedia Viewfinder Blog and make sure to check out our second HouseTrip Video Berlin’s Cool Hosts with the Most! The Blue Mosque in Istanbul Read: Where Old Meets New in Istanbul Ittaliq.