In the days of Columbus, Polo, Cook, and Livingston, travel was what we would consider an epic journey or voyage today. Itineraries lasted for months, or years, and there always seemed to be a focus. Not that there isn’t a focus today, of course, but this focus has changed from an external one to an internal one.

Pilgrimages vs Personal Journeys

Image Source: Pilgrimage

At one point, travelers hit the road on pilgrimages and in search of holy sites that would provide enlightenment or that would validate them within their chosen religion. Characters from The Odyssey ventured on journeys of ‘mythic significance’, hoping to discover something that would benefit their community or something that would change the world. In other words, their aim was not to travel for themselves but to travel for the greater good. This did not stop the inevitable inner growth or internal journey that comes from stepping outside of the comfort zone, but this was secondary to the nature of the journey and was by no means the most important aspect.

Switch to travel today and it is a whole different story. In the western world, very few people travel for religion or the greater good. Instead, we travel for personal enrichment and for ourselves. Yes, some people may travel with the aim of volunteering in less-developed communities but, still, they choose to do this – it is not a necessary part of life or religion.

Epic Adventure vs Everyday Entertainment

Image Source

In many ways, travel today is an ordinary, routine and, in some cases, mundane task. It is no longer viewed as an epic adventure or a dangerous voyage (except maybe by the traveler’s mum); in fact, we have managed to strip travel of its initial grandeur and turned it into an expensive form of entertainment. A far cry, I believe, from premodern traveler’s initial motivations.

Today, trips are becoming shorter and shorter; you can spend a week in India, a weekend Egypt, and you can even hop over to Paris for the day from England. Of course, this owes much to the development of transportation, but it has still changed the face of travel irrevocably. Essentially, the world is getting smaller and our knowledge of it is expanding (or so we think).

This, in part, is due to the heavy influence of the (beloved) media. Its far reaching, grabby hands has made everywhere seem more accessible; made everywhere seem less far away. Perhaps because of this, we feel like we know more about the world around us. It might not be true, but it certainly provides some sort of illusion. Maybe – and I’m just putting the feelers out here – this is why we can spend shorter amounts of time in places; because we already think we know so much about them that it feels like we have already been.

Quick vs Quality

Image Source: Everything is speeding up

But then we have to look at how quick everything has become. It’s almost as if someone has pressed the fast-forward button on the world and we expect everything to happen with the click of a finger otherwise, dammit, it’s not good enough.

We have technology to thank for this. Everything is accessible with the touch of a finger; we basically have the whole world in our hands. It’s so easy to book a flight now, to book a hotel, to book a tour. In the past, itineraries would take months and months to plan. If the inn was full, travelers couldn’t just head online and book another room. In this way, travel has become easier. Much, much easier, which means anyone can do it if they have the means.

Perhaps this has made it a less unique experience. Of course, every trip will be special to the person who did it, but it’s not such big deal to Bill who lives around the corner. He’s not going to care that you drank too much at the full moon party in Thailand, or that you finally saw the Colosseum in Rome after years of waiting. In the past, whole communities had a vested interest if someone was going on a journey – it might have meant food for them, or information about the world that they couldn’t gather for themselves. It’s not like that now; travel these days is a very independent process.

Challenge vs Comfort

Image Source

Additionally, in the past, adventurers would have expected to face some kind of challenge; probably a dangerous one, but at best an inconvenient one. Flip to today, and we expect everything to run smoothly (or semi-smoothly). Travel these days offers the opportunity to abandon your routine for a short while and experience something new, but still offers the comfort of slotting right back into it on your return; nothing shaken up, nothing stirred, nothing too challenging.

There are some ways in which travel has stayed the same though; experiencing new cultures and learning more about the world around us is a huge driving force behind booking those flights. And, if you think about it, we do still make pilgrimages, even if they’re much shorter and not religion-related; we visit monuments, sites of interest, and attractions.

The rise of technology and the impressive development of the transport industry have made travel a whole lot easier than it used to be and have made it more accessible to people who it was not available to in the past. But the most notable change, perhaps, is the reason why we travel. It seems that where there was once a great deal of external encouragement from communities and sometimes whole countries, there is now a greater sense of internal encouragement. We travel for ourselves rather than for anyone else, which makes travel a very powerful tool.

What do you think? Why do you travel – for internal or external reasons? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

It was in the Wellcome Collection’s gift shop that I found a whole stand of quirky, illustrated maps documenting the ‘usual and unusual’ aspects of the places they depicted. I wanted them all – even from the cities that I haven’t been to in case I happen to go to them one day and have the opportunity to whip it out on every street corner. Not like that.

Also, my phone is rubbish. Yes, it might be one of these ‘smartphone’ contraptions, but mine is definitely not smart. It’s useless for navigational purposes, which only serves to boost paper maps higher up on their pedestal in my mind. I like to look at the whole picture, too, which is difficult on a tiny phone screen. So, to justify my hatred of digital maps (and mainly my phone), I’ve compiled a little list of reasons why paper maps are better than Google. Yay!

1. This pretty but completely useless map of the arondissements in Paris

Image from famillesummerbelle.com

2. This map that mainly focuses on Raki

Image from Lonely Planet

3. This map of Lithuania that is dominated by a dark-glasses-wearing Double Bass player

Image from 1.bp.blogspot.com

4. This map of Italy that is really just a map of food

Image from BuzzFeed

5. This garish map of Cape Town complete with smiley shark

Image from designworklife.com

6. This 3D map of New York that gives me motion sickness

Image from berglondon.com

7. This map of Brighton that I love because I live there

Image by Linzie Hunter

8. This map of London that is semi-useful, but mainly just pretty

Image from All Posters

9. This map of North Europe that features lots of stereotypes

Image from pikkuvarpunen.blogspot.co.uk

10. This map of Jaffa that also gives you ideas for things to do

Image from Cargo Collective

11. This map full of Mexican flair

Image from Behance

12. This map with a really cool panda on

Image from Behance

13. This map of London that’s really intricate

Image from lostateminor.com

14. This map of Costa Rica complete with sloth and shifty looking frog

Image from Create Laboratory

14. This sleek map that mirrors Copenhagen’s design industry

Image from The Makerie Studio

15. This slightly creepy map of Venice that doesn’t really make sense

Image from popupvenice.com

16. And finally.. This strange map of the Antarctic

Image from Dry as Toast

Of course, these maps are completely useless. I am aware that maps have one MAJOR function, which the above designs all completely go against. But wouldn’t you rather get lost with one of these than easily find your destination with a digital map service? No? Just me then…

European and Asian Languages Traced Back to Single Mothertongue – The Guardian

This is a fascinating article about a study that documents an ancient tongue that existed during the last ice age and has influenced many languages across Europe and Asia. The best part? The languages that have evolved from this have been grouped together in a ‘superfamily’. Cute.

New Photographs From Inside North Korea – Visual News

Image by Tomas Van Houtryve

It’s not often you get to see photos from the most controlled and reclusive country in the world. But, thanks to the Sony International photography competition, a number of photographers were allowed inside North Korea to bring outsiders a peek into the every day lives of its citizens.

Tamani: A Day in Ouagadougou – Africa is a Country

This hour long documentary may be in French, but it still offers viewers an insight into life in Burkina Faso’s capital, chopping here and there to different characters carrying out their daily tasks.

Community Projects in The Gambia – The Travel Hack

Image by Monica Stott @ The Travel Hack

In this informative post, Monica questions the role of community and charity projects after an interesting encounter in India, before going on to highlight some important ones taking place in The Gambia. It shows that even the smallest of projects can make the biggest difference to communities.

Hungry Planet: What The World Eats in a Week – Visual News (again)

This eye-opening post highlights the work of Peter Menzel and his wife, Faith D’Aluisio, who travelled around the world taking pictures of families and their weekly food consumption. The types and quantity of food vary greatly and tell a lot about a particular place or culture, but it should be noted that those documented are only a tiny slice of the population. Nonetheless, it’s an interesting read!

Naval Barracks in Copenhagen

Where I’ve been on the internet recently

If you can’t get enough of me on this blog (which, let’s be honest, is true for each and every one of you), you can find me elsewhere on the interweb thingy sometimes, too! Yay! Recently, I’ve been providing tips on how to spend a cheap weekend in Copenhagen over at the Generator Hostels blog, and am also helping you to learn a language through food on the Everyday Language Learner. Yum.

Want more cultural reading?

• Cultural Reading: Books, Photographs, and Hoaxes

Brazil is one of the most wonderful places to live in the world.

I’ve been living here for the past nine months, in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais—a city of about 3 million that few foreigners have heard of. It’s a big city in a “mountainous state.” Being from Colorado, I can hardly consider these mountains, but they’re some of the biggest ones you’ll see in Brazil.

Unfortunately, I am leaving this amazing country soon. So I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on and share some things I love about Brazil. I’d like to discuss some unique characteristics of the country, and some strange and hilarious aspects of Brazilian life and culture.

Any criticisms I make here are not at all meant to be negative against Brazil, just the reflections of a gringo living in a different, amazing culture.

Many of the things I am going to discuss are aspects that originally annoyed me, but now that I have adapted to living here, they are just a normal part of my life and are nothing more than amusing. Many Brazilians have an interesting view of their own country. They often comment that it’s dangerous, the government is corrupt, things are inefficient, and there is poor infrastructure. They wonder why someone would leave the United States or Europe to come here (especially to Belo Horizonte, which isn’t a famous city). I’ve even had people tell me that I’m crazy to come here because Europe and the US are so much better…

But on the other hand, Brazilians absolutely love their country and make comments about how it’s one of the best places in the world. They even have a word, saudades, which means “a longing for something,” which they usually use to refer to things that they miss at home (i.e. Brazil).

So, as you’ll see, Brazil is not as developed as a place like the United States, but it’s got plenty that makes up for that, which makes it such a special place to live. And this starts with the people.

So without further ado, let me present you with my list.

1. Brazilians –without a doubt, the best part about living in this country is that the people are some of the best in the world, and in general I’ve found them extremely friendly and welcoming to foreigners.

2. Tons of fruits that you can’t find anywhere else – one of the most amazing things here is that I never cease to see or hear about fruits that I didn’t know existed. Brazil has the largest variety of fruits of any country in the world, and if you visit here, you’re going to experience a bunch of new flavors. Some of my favorites are cashew fruit, acerola, pinha (also known as sugar-apples in English, even though they don’t look or taste anything like an apple), and carambola.

Image from tuli on Flickr

3. Lunch is always beans and rice plus something else – when I first arrived in Brazil, everyone was surprised that I’d had feijão e arroz (beans and rice) before coming here. It’s not so common in other parts of South America. But in Brazil, it’s a staple, and you haven’t had a real meal if it didn’t include rice and beans. I’ve quickly grown to love, and need, rice and beans every day.

4. Hospitality – Brazilians are by far some of the most hospitable people in the world. They will often go out of their way to help you. And anytime someone has food or a drink, they’ll ask you if you want some. This has made me feel extremely welcome here.

5. Warmth – In Brazil, a friend of a friend is your friend. People here are remarkably kind right from the moment you meet them.

6. “Winter” – for me, winter involves a large coat and boots. In Brazil, most people have never seen snow. But they still complain about the cold if it’s less than 50 degrees—wait what am I talking about? I do too. Not looking forward to another Colorado winter.

7. Cachaça (it’s a lot cheaper than wine!) – this is a special alcohol beverage from Brazil that’s made from sugar cane. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find a good bottle in the U.S. Looks like I’m bringing some back with me!

8. Caipirinhas – lime juice, chachaça, and sugar—perfect on a hot day, when out drinking, or any other time. They’re also made with strawberries, passion fruit, pineapple, grapes, etc. instead of lime, or vodka instead of cachaça (caipiroska).

9. Beer drinking – In Brazil, they serve beer differently than anywhere else I’ve been, and this is basically a reflection of Brazilian culture. When you go out with friends and order beer, you get one large bottle for the table and a bunch of small glasses. When you toast, you chink the glasses together, and then chink the bottle in the center. And if your glass gets low and you want to refill it, you always refill everyone else’s glasses first. Did I say how warm Brazilians are?

10. Cold beer – Brazilian beer is the coldest in the world.

11. Sem balanças – in Brazil self-service buffets are everywhere. At some you pay by the kilo, but at others you pay a set price for as much as you can fit on your plate (sem balança). You can get a filling, delicious, and nutritious meal at one of these for $4-5.

12. Start literally translating from Portuguese – This happens anytime you live abroad, but it’s kind of funny when you hear yourself say, “Can you pass me a file.”

13. Greetings – some of the greetings in Portuguese would sound quite funny if translated, which led to some confusion when I first arrived here. Some examples are: “beauty” (beleza), “all jewel” (tudo joia), and, “and there?” (e aí?). What’s there? “Falou” (it spoke/we have spoken) is also a common way to say goodbye.

14. Lack of outlets – A room usually only has one or two outlets, which are often filled with splitters or power strips. I actually got so used to this that when I went home for Christmas, and at my friend’s house I was looking for an outlet to plug my computer in. I saw one across the room under a table, so I went to plug my computer in and then my friend asked me what I was doing and pointed out that there was an outlet right next to me.

15. Food is either very sweet or very salty – There is a surprising amount of junk food here, but pastel’s are delicious (fried dough filled different things).

16. Palmito – palm’s hearts. Slightly bitter. Delicious in anything, especially pastel.

17. Paçoca – a candy made from peanuts and sugar. I’m addicted to these; I can’t stop eating them until they’re gone.

18. Caldo de cana – Sugar cane juice. Great after working out!

19. Açai (A.K.A. God’s gift to Brazil). – This stuff is just the best. I’ve been quoted saying that I’d become bulimic just so I can eat more açai once I’m full. Yes, it’s that good.

20. Cigarro de Palha – I don’t smoke often, but these things are amazing. Basically just pure tobacco wrapped in cornhusk, held together with a small rubber band. They smell great, too – I find myself following people too close on the street if they are smoking a palha.

21. Got milk? – Condensed milk is in everything, and dehydrated milk is a normal dessert topping. – I used to see these in the store in the U.S but I never knew what people use them for.

22. Samba – it’s a beautiful complex dance and music. But there are tons of unique music and dance that go along with Brazilian culture and joy so well. Check them out.

Image from OiMax on Flickr

23. Parties – Brazilians love their parties, and not just at Carnaval. If anyone invites you to a churrasco or a birthday party, go. There’s tons of delicious food, caiparinhas, dancing, and laughing. Brazilians know how to have a good time.

24. Butecos – Lots and lots of butecos (and Belo Horizonte is the capital of this). These are like bars that are open onto the street and have outdoor tables. It’s a great place to enjoy a beer or cachaça with friends and check out what’s going on in the town.

25. Plastic napkins – I’ve never seen these anywhere else, but in Brazil they’re everywhere. They don’t help you clean anything, they just keep the grease off of your hands.

26. Plastic cups (even for hot drinks) – If you get a coffee you’ll probably still burn your hands. Not to mention the chemicals.

27. Things are broken or out of service – This is pretty normal here, it’s Brazil. I’m used to it now, and when I see other gringos complain about it I just find it funny.

28. Drink Alcohol Anywhere – in Brazil there is no law about drinking on the street, which is awesome because you can take a beer to go when you go out. But what’s stranger is that you can also take alcohol with you in a car or the bus, as long as you’re not driving. I was shocked the first time I saw it, but it is convenient if you need to take a taxi.

29. The grocery store – At the store there are five cash registers, and only one cashier. At the fruit store, there are 5 employees and one cash register. I don’t understand how hiring works here, but it’s typical. Long lines are also common.

30. Brazilian showers – Water heaters are extremely rare here, so people use electric showerheads. With these you either get high pressure and cold water or low pressure and hot water. Electricity and running water: a winning combination.

31. 5 probably means 6 – people here are famous for not being punctual, but it of course depends on the person. Also, when someone tells you “I’m on my way,” it probably means they just got out of the shower. Cultural differences…

32. People always ask you which state you’re from, even though they only know Florida, New York, California, and maybe Texas.

33. People then ask which city you’re from, even though they only know Miami, Orlando, New York, Boston, and Los Angeles.

34. People think the Grand Canyon is in Colorado – not saying that the average American has any better knowledge of Brazilian geography.

35. Waterfalls – Brazil has thousands of waterfalls, which make for great swimming on a hot day. But unfortunately you need a car to get to them.

36. Nature, hiking – again, this is awesome, but you need a car.

37. Parks – there are a lot of nice parks in Brazilian cities. People like to go use the workout equipment there and show off their muscles.

38. Beaches – Brazil is famous for its beautiful beaches, but come with money, because travel is expensive here.

39. Toucans… and other wild life – I mention toucans because they’re my favorite. But it’s been cool coming to this side of the world because so much of the flora and fauna is completely different than anywhere else I’ve been.

40. Riding a bus is sometimes more thrilling than a roller coaster – Bus drivers here are seriously crazy. When I first came here, I was a little scared every time I had to take the bus, but now I’m used to it. Don’t expect to be able to read the whole time though.

41. People offer to hold your stuff – if you’re standing on the bus, people always offer to hold your bag. At first I was worried that someone was trying to rob my stuff, but it’s just common courtesy here.

42. People love to talk – when I first got here I didn’t speak Portuguese very well. If I was waiting for the bus or something else, people would often sit down next to me and start talking, I’d say, “Sorry, I don’t understand,” and they’d say “Oh,” and then keep talking as if you understood. Did I say people here are friendly?

43. Soccer/Football – Going to watch a soccer game in a bar here is unlike any other sports experience I’ve had. The whole city comes alive. You don’t need to actually watch the game because every time our team scores a goal, you can hear the whole city cheer. And it’s also common for people to drive around holding down the car horn, screaming for their team.

44. “Vamos combinar algo” – this literally means, “we’re going to combine something,” or let’s plan to do something. People always want to plan to do things with you, but actually getting them to do it will take some proactivity on your behalf.

45. BH é um ovo – people say the city where I live is an egg, which means that this city of three million is “small” because you see people you know everywhere. After just a couple months of living here I would already randomly run into people I knew almost every day. I can’t imagine living here you’re whole life… I don’t know how you’d get anywhere!

46. PDA – Public displays of affection are culturally acceptable here whether in a park or in a restaurant. It’s just something else you have to get used to (or take advantage of).

47. “I’m a vegetarian,” “So you eat chicken?” – I’ve been a vegetarian for a large part of my life, but when I first arrived here I ate meat to try the local cuisine. Later I went vegetarian again (and now vegan), which is extremely uncommon here, so people here don’t understand it.

48. Change – Anytime you pay for anything without exact change, they ask if you can pay with something smaller. It seems that stores never have a full cashier.

49. More change – Anytime you get change, it’s with the smallest coins possible, so your wallet is as heavy as possible.

50. Money – The coins are a mix of different generations of coins. So it can be hard to know if this coin is 50 cents, 25 cents, or 10 cents.

Despite some of the funny, strange aspects that can be annoying, Brazil is a wonderful country to visit and live. The benefits far outweigh the miniscule negatives. And people here will make you feel welcome and at home.

Any country you visit or live in will have differences to what you’re used to at home. But it’s still important to get out of your bubble, experience other places and cultures, and to get a global perspective. The more you travel, the more you’ll find that people are much more similar than different. Every culture has a bunch of small differences, but the BIG similarity is that we are all human.

When it comes down to it, we all have the same wants and needs. We all enjoy spending time with friends and having fun. So if you’re open minded, you can feel at home anywhere. And when you get out and experience the world, you’ll be making the best memories of your life, and learning more than you would ever expect.

I’ve only lived in one part of this immense country, and I haven’t traveled as much as I would like to. So if you come live in Brazil you may have a profoundly different experience than mine. But I think you’ll find that this list is a good representation of some of the biggest differences that a gringo might perceive.

A large part of my idea to write this article came from Olivier Teboul, a French guy living and working in Belo Horizonte. If you understand Portuguese, his article is hilarious, so check it out.

Images by the author unless otherwise stated.

Have you been to Brazil? Do you have anything you can add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!

At one point in time, travel was the antidote to technology; a time to get a way from it all and sail the seven seas (or something along those lines). Now, they go hand in hand.

From start to finish it seems that social media plays a vital role in the travelling process. People use it for advice, to book accommodation, to find out “top tips” and then, of course, it is used to brag during and afterwards, complete with shiny (photoshopped) photos and fake smiles.

So – god forbid – what did travellers do before the good old internet was there to help them out? I guess for the most part they winged it when planning, choosing to take advice from close friends and family and the local experienced travel agent rather than a sea of unknowns all over the world.

However, a certain kind of social media of the snail mail variety was an important part of travelling for many people; whether it was to inform family and friends that you arrived safely or, just like today, to exert bragging rights.

The postcard. This 3D version of social media (you know, the kind you can actually touch and hold) was perhaps the first glimpse we had of what was to come with the likes of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Foursquare. Today, it is pretty much extinct; most people still send them to their Great Aunt Maud for the novelty value but will still be using online social media channels to carry out the majority of research, promotion, and bragging.

So, let’s take a look at some vintage postcards and their similarities to social media today. Yay!

Reads: “We are having a lovely time in the sea we paddle every day and build lovely castles in the sand.”

The author of this postcard would likely have been an Instagram fiend if they travelled today. Their feed would be full of arty shots of sandcastles, each one captured from a slightly different angle and edited with a crazy range of filters. There would probably be a few photos of feet in water, too.

Reads: “Hope you are having a happy time?”

The author of this would be one of those types who is scared of logging into Facebook incase it is barren and notification-less. So, to ensure this never happens, they write inane comments on random posts and ‘like’ every status update on their feed. They may well hope that Miss L is having a great time, but it is more likely that they are nosy, in which case Facebook would have been right up their street.

Reads: “Brace up and be gay ‘it’ isn’t likely to enjoy merry company.”

You might be thinking “what the-”, which is exactly what you should be thinking. The author of this would be a present-day cryptic status writer, hoping to elicit responses from far and wide, as well as few hundred ‘likes’ for the deepness and philosophical nature of the posts.

Reads: “I suppose you folks think we have forgotten all about you by this time. Guess we will go back to Michigan before next fall it is too cold and wet here for Miss Kullman and the baby. It cost to (sic) much for doctor bills.”

Ah, here they are; the social media user who thinks the world and his wife are interested in everything they do. Don’t want to worry anyone now, right? Today, the author of this postcard would most probably have been a serial checker-inner on Foursquare so that EVERYONE knows where they are at all times.

Reads: “We are having a fine time so far. We are going to Brighton today (Monday) but I hope we are not going to have a thunderstorm like last year.”

Here we have the social media moaner. They will use their Facebook and Twitter feeds to vocalise all the bad luck they have had during the day. You are unlikely to see a positive post from this person; if you do, it will no doubt be very shortly followed by a whiny update.

And then there’s this one…

Yep, I’ll leave you with that…

Do you use social media for planning a trip? How about during a trip? Let me know in the comments!

And then we forget about what attracted us in the first place. Like many other things in life, we take for granted what we are used to.

What Brighton is famous for

Last weekend, the Traverse travel blogging conference was held in Brighton. I had the pleasure of helping organise the event which ran extremely smoothly, but I also had the pleasure of exploring my hometown with fresh eyes.

I have lived there my whole life, with the exception of a year or so, and am still amazed by how much I don’t know about it. For me, it is the perfect city; the perfect blend of all the things you want in life! Doing a photo walk on the Sunday morning of the conference got me thinking about what makes a city and what attracts people to live in certain places.

The West Pier in Brighton

The Attractions

Every city has sights that attract visitors. Some have more than others. Take London, for example, that has guidebook pages full of things to do and things to see.

But, if you choose to live somewhere, the chances are you’re not going to be visiting these sights on a regular basis. So you need something else.

In the summer, I have a love-hate relationship with Brighton. It’s packed with tourists crowding the beach and it’s impossible to get anywhere quickly in the centre of town. However, there are so many things outside of the city that I love doing at this time of year; hanging out in the park with my friends, checking out local bars and cafes situated on the outskirts of the city, and exploring National Trust properties in the countryside.

Brighton is the perfect mix of busy and quiet if you know where to go. Sometimes it’s nice to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of city life, but sometimes I want nothing more than to get away from it, and Brighton is so well connected to nature hotspots throughout Sussex that it’s easy to escape for a day or two. For me, there has to be a balance between party and peaceful.

The countryside surrounding Brighton

The Location

Like I said before, some people choose to move somewhere because it’s closer to work, or closer to loved ones. There are many different reasons why people choose to live somewhere, but the location is a huge deciding factor.

Take Brighton, for example; it’s a seaside location but is also only fifty minutes away from lively London where there is a whole host of other things to see and do, not to mention the transport connections to the rest of the UK. London is close enough to easily enjoy, but far enough away that it allows Brighton to keep it’s relaxed atmosphere.

I lived in Canterbury for a year which was well connected to the rest of Kent, but not so much the rest of the country. It took two hours to get to London which marks the changing point for elsewhere in the UK.

Colourful shops in Brighton Lanes

The Quirks

Everywhere has it’s own quirks which you don’t really begin to discover until you’ve lived for a while in a place. These quirks are different for everyone; some people, say, may love the live street music throughout Brighton, whilst others may enjoy the abundance of independent coffee shops. It’s the little things that make a place feel like home, and there has to be something that makes you go “Jeeeeeez, I love [insert city name]” whenever you experience it.

Street performer in Brighton

The People

A place would be an empty, soulless shell without people and, deep down, they really are what makes a place so appealing. This is why so many choose to live close to family and friends.

But it’s not just people you know who make a place great, it’s the general population. Brighton is renowned for it’s friendly and accepting nature and is home to a whole range of interesting and quirky residents which is definitely one of the reasons it has such a vibrant atmosphere.

On Sunday during the photo walk, we stumbled across a street performer singing some jazz classics in a square in Brighton lanes. At first, he had no audience, but once our group had started dancing and joining in, a big old crowd formed who sung along, swayed their hips, took photos, and bought CDs. This was one of the best afternoons I’ve had in a long time; just sitting in the sunshine, people watching, and listening to some great music – all of which was made possible because of the people and, of course, the atmosphere that Brighton nurtures.

What makes a city great for you? What do you love about where you live? Could you live anywhere else? Leave a comment below, I would love to hear your opinion! 

So I’ll just write a brief little summary to entice you to read it (not that you need enticing – these are quality posts from around the interweb, hand-picked by yours truly).

If you have any great posts to share or that you think I would like to read please let me know! Sharing is caring, plus trawling the interweb is not conducive to anything when there’s so many pictures of dogs doing human things out there (i.e. I’d rather be handed interesting posts on a plate than go out looking for them myself).

Sit back, relax and enjoy some quality articles

Here goes.

Top Ten Most Influential Travel Books – The Smithsonian

At one point in time, there were only a handful of travellers who got the chance to see the world. Luckily for us, they documented their adventures so that we can read about them. Thanks to the written word, books are one of the first ways we learn about the world and inspire us to get out there ourselves. Gung-ho. This detailed list comprises well-known classics as well as some that are collecting dust in second-hand libraries, but they are all a great starting point for your summer reading escapades.

Traditional Tribes of Omo Valley, South Ethiopia – A Niche World

Omo Valley by Anisha (A Niche World)

Anisha goes to some brilliant places that go pretty much undocumented in the travel blogging world. I love following along with her posts about less-visited destinations which are insightful and full of inspiring photos. This one in particular gives a fascinating look into the lives of people in Omo Valley through a stunning collection of portraits.

The Weirdest Part of Travel – Lateral Movements

This post really resonated with me as it happens All. The. Time. You know how it is – the eternal senior moment you have when you return from a trip which means you can’t remember a single damn thing about it. Why does that happen? I can just about remember where I went (and this isn’t always easy as place names aren’t my forte. At all), but the minor details seem to up and leave as soon as I board the plane home.

6 Things to do in Every City You Visit – Tripify

Image: Pelagophil / Flickr

I like this list. And I don’t usually like lists. But I like this one. There are the usual suspects on there, like try the local food and immerse yourself in the landscape, but there are other great tips, too, like meet a local celebrity and do something not in your guidebook. Is that a challenge? Challenge accepted.

Cheating Their Way to Fame: The Top 9 Adventure Travel Hoaxes – The Smithsonian (again)

Yeah, yeah, I like the Smithsonian’s blog. It makes me feel cultural and intellectual. Plus, they have articles like this which makes you believe you can do anything you want in the realms of travel. As long as you lie about it. Trust me, you’ll be a travel celebrity in NO TIME if take a leaf out of these sneaky adventurers’ books..

So, that’s that done. You can expect another one soon (unless for some reason you would be really against that. In which case, tell me, and I will never ever do one of these again and we can pretend this never ever happened).

Yep, I am finally going to Romania next month after fantasizing about it for so long but, again, I need your help (like before I went to Copenhagen)!

Brasov Square

Romania is not one of those places you see all over the internet; it’s quiet and modest and, well, fairly unknown against it’s popular European counterparts.

Which is one of the reasons I’m so excited about going.

That, and the castles. And – can someone tell me if this is true – the fact that in some places the main form of transport is still horse and cart.

What I imagine Romania to be like

- Like a fairy-tale. I’m talking castles, cute villages, and maybe princesses and knights. Maybe.

- Like stepping back in time. I’ve been having a look at some of the accommodation there and A LOT of places are heavy on the deep-set dark-wood furniture and crazy carpet patterns. Cute, but definitely not modern. Yet another thing I’m excited about.

- Beautiful. Yes, I’ve seen the pictures and can I just say, wowzawahoo. I am a massive sucker for rolling hills and little rustic towns and villages and it looks like Romania has these in abundance.

Pele Castle

- Quiet. This is probably a long-shot, but when I’m hunting vampires I want the ambiance to be perfect and that means no other people. Seriously, how can I pretend to be Buffy when there’s people in my personal space?

Please, please tell me if I’m completely off the mark with my predictions or if there is anything else I should add to my list of expectations (high and low). Or maybe ignorance is bliss.

Where I’ll be going

Streets of Brasov

So, I’m going for six days but the trip really starts before I’ve left England because I’M GOING TO STAY IN AN AIRPORT HOTEL FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER (ever) and I’m very excited about this if you couldn’t tell. Yes, Luton, I will pretend you are Lisbon for the night.

I’m sure it won’t be that exciting when I have to get up a disgusting o’clock to check in, though.

I digress.

After getting up a disgusting o’clock, I then fly to Bucharest where I will do a spot of exploring (mainly eating) and sleeping before hopping on the train to Brasov the next morning.

Then I will spend three days frolicking around castles donning a necklace of garlic (I thought it was onions but apparently that’s wrong) and visiting smaller towns.

This is where I need your help if you’ve been to Romania before! I want to go for a day trip to another town that’s semi-near Brasov – I’m talking Sighisoara, Sinaia, that kind of thing. Where would you recommend? I am incapable of making a decision. 

Palinca Factory

After three days visiting castles around Brasov and [insert small town/village here], we head back to Bucharest where we will do some more exploring (mainly eating) and sleeping for a day and then catch a flight home the next day.

This is where I need your help AGAIN, lovely people! I don’t know much about Bucharest, only that a couple of days is an ample amount of time to see it. So, what would you recommend I do there? I’m thinking cheap, cultural, and pretty! If you have any ideas or suggestions I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU because, again, I am incapable.

Whilst there I hope to get lots of photos for you, pick up some tips on transport and prices, and show you how to do a short getaway in Romania! (I might throw in some videos as well if I’m feeling extra fabulous).

So, lovely people, please help a brother out! If you’ve been to Romania, what was the highlight for you? Anything that I definitely shouldn’t miss? If you haven’t been to Romania, where would you go if you had the chance? 

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” John Muir– Our National Parks , 1901, page 56.

View of the Yosemite Valley in California

Every summer we dig into our garage and we pull out the tent, the sleeping bags, the camp stove and a milk crate filled camping essentials. Travel is expensive, and this is one holiday we can do that doesn’t cost much. Camping is pretty much an essential part of the American experience.

We plan our menu, keeping it simple, pack up our things and remove ourselves from regular life for a respite in nature. We spend hours together without a television and without conversation with our friends. As technology advances and our kids grow older, we find this harder and harder to do. Texting, cell phone signals, even free wifi signals at campgrounds can keep people continuously connected. But the pleasure of camping is that very disconnected feeling, the peace you find in a quiet walk through the trees or the overwhelming sounds of the surf drowning out so much else. Like John Muir says in the quote above, go camping and find nature’s peace and good tidings. If you haven’t been, here are some tips and essentials.

Don’t put shoes on a firepit that might melt!

Make a first aid kit

Or buy one. Either way, you’re bound to end up with a kid with splinters, scrapes or a headache. We have never had to use the ace wraps in our kit but we have used our fair share of band aids and Neosporin. The Red Cross sells kits but so do most drug stores.

Plan a menu that is realistic

We make meals that are simple and require minimal cleaning and prep. We don’t have a fancy camp kitchen so our sink is usually the shared camp ground sink or a bucket with dish soap. Our meals include hot dogs, chili, baked potatoes, and instant oatmeal for breakfast. We keep fixings for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches around for the kids, and no camping trip is complete without S’mores. This recipe is said to have originated in the early 20th century with the girl scouts of America and has been eaten around camp fires ever since.

Keep menus realistic and easy

Bring a tarp larger than your tent…

…and lay the tent on top of it. It will minimize the rocks you inevitably find under your tent, but more importantly, when positioned with the excess tarp in front of your tent, it creates a front door for shoes. We have a no shoes in the tent rule to keep it clean. We also have recently purchased an air mattress. I guess my back is not a fan of sleeping on the ground, even if I am.

Tent with a tarp door step for shoes

Know the Location

Research the area you are camping in. What’s the weather like during the day? At night? Windy evenings in the desert make starting a fire difficult. I also still remember the time we camped near Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge with its fertile volcanic soil that seemed to stay permanently on EVERYTHING. Not at all like the dirt you’ll find near the beaches of the California Coast. We won’t forget our hike to the breath taking Multnomah Falls. We still had fun but my sister’s toddlers were never clean.

Also you should know what hazards are unique to that area, like bears in Yosemite. Know if there are ticks in the area and how to identify and remove them. Know if there is potable water, toilets and showers. Research if pets are allowed, leashed or unleashed. Most campground websites provide that information.

Make reservations in advance

The internet has made all of our lives easier by giving the ability to reserve campsites with a few clicks, but the same goes for everyone else. State and National Park campgrounds are popular in the summer and reservations start about 6 months early. Hop on their websites and reserve as soon as you can because popular sites, like Yosemite and the beaches, fill up quick. Private campgrounds may be easier but cost a little more.

Lake Cachuma, CA

Local residents of Piedras Blancas rookery, home to 17000 animals including these elephant seals, north of San Simeon, California

Do you have any more tips to add? Where’s your favourite place to camp? Share your experiences in the comments!

I’ve mentioned before how much I loved the arty district of Montmartre in Paris with its combination of unique local artists, traditional restaurants and cafes, and the spectacular views over the city, so I thought I’d dazzle you all with some photos of my favourite place in Paris!

At the top of the hill sits the Sacre Coeur, an impossibly fantastic piece of architecture that looks out across the city below, which it is connected to by means of a small, very very steep park (pretty but prepare to get panty).

Being such an arty area, it was no wonder that the houses, restaurants, and shops were painted in bright colours. I love this pink and green one – these colours really shouldn’t go together but, as usual, Paris pulls it off.

The view. Oh, the view. Paris is a very attractive city from above. I enjoyed pointing out my favourite buildings from halfway up the Eiffel Tower, and I enjoyed doing it here, too. The only bad thing? You had to wrestle old folk and young kids out of the way to get an uniterrupted view.

Transport

The transport was GREAT in Montmartre. The (brilliantly named) Montmartrain sped, in the loosest sense of the term, past those suckers who had decided to walk. Get your regal waving hand ready as you prepare to travel in style (in the loosest sense of the term). You can catch the Montmartrain from the lower Pigalle region – by the Moulin Rouge – and it deposits you right in Montmartre square where the artists come out to play.

There was also this. I didn’t take a tuk tuk but, if you miss the Montmartrain, you can hop on one of these which will return you to the bottom of the hill (and normality).

There was this, too. I had never seen a funicular railway before, so this was a very very exciting moment for me (not really). For those of you who would rather not put one foot in front of the other (down a really steep hill), this vertical tram will take you to the opposite side of the hill to Pigalle – i.e. where the Montmartrain does not dare to venture.

Street Performers

Where the tourists go, so followers the street performers and – er – crazy flower-covered parasols. This cheered me right up, though. So much effort must have gone into making it and it paid off, everyone was having a browse and a listen.

These guys had just finished for the evening and were casually making their way round to Montmartre. Second from right guy is even planning on taking some photos.

It was Friday evening at sunset when I took this photo of crowds sitting on the steps leading down from the Sacre Coeur and singing along with a musician playing Jazon Mraz’s “I’m Yours”. And what a sight it was; the atmosphere was really jovial with passersby joining in as and when they pleased. I could have stayed all night. But I didn’t.

Sunset is probably the best time to visit Montmartre, the Sacre Coeur, and the surrounding area, just as the artists are winding down for the day and visitors starte taking their seats in the restaurants. Not to mention the sunset is amazing against the backdrop of Paris!

Have you been to Montmartre? Did you love it as much as me? Let me know in the comments, I would love to hear from you!