Within the grounds of Prague Castle, there are many opportunities to explore magnificent architecture and stunning buildings. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Prague Castle is the largest “coherent castle complex” in the world, and holds the exquisite St. Vitus Cathedral within its grounds of almost 70,000 m². After a decent walk up a steep hill, the Castle grounds unfold before you, and on a sunny winter’s day you can enjoy loads of Gothic architecture, the changing of the guards, and the gemstone in the Castle’s crown: St. Vitus Cathedral. Saint Vitus is a Roman Catholic cathedral, also known by its full name of St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert Cathedral. The present-day Gothic cathedral was founded in 1344, and has undergone many ...
The lush mountains of Laos are home to the Hmong people, who migrated from China during the eighteenth century due to political unrest. The Hmong people live simply off the land, preserving their ancient culture and way of life. A trek from Luang Prabang into the surrounding mountains allows a glimpse into the lives of the Hmong villagers, who are kind enough to share their way of life with visitors. Setting out bright and early from Luang Prabang, we drove into the hills, towards Ban Long Lao, home of Lao’s villagers. The early morning air was dewy and fresh, with a hint of smoke from fires burning in nearby villages. Upon reaching the base of the mountain, vehicles were abandoned and the hiking began. Trekking ...
Canterbury was once a pilgrimage stop on the way from London to Rome. When Thomas Becket was murdered at Canterbury Cathedral in AD 1170 by knights of King Henry II, Canterbury became a pilgrimage site in its own right. With Canterbury just a quick train ride from London, you can be transported back in time, in little more than an hour, to a town with a slower pace, more space, and a higher proportion of old buildings. The Cathedral is located within the old city walls. Narrow, winding pedestrian streets lead to Canterbury Cathedral, with lots of great cafes and shops along the way. A bronze sculpture of Christ in the Archway leading to the gardens makes for a stunning first impression. Wandering through Canterbury ...
The Black Forest region is situated in the south of Germany, bordering Switzerland. From the moment you arrive, the sense of peace and seclusion is astounding. Surrounded by mountains and lush greenery, Black Forest feels miles from civilization. Houses and people are few and far between, and under the warm German summer sun, the lazy drone of insects is broken only by the occasional clanking of cowbells in the distance. Don't be fooled though—there is plenty to explore, from the deep forests, caves and waterfalls, to ancient German castle ruins and the nearby cities of Baden-Baden, Freiburg, and Staufen. Motocross is quite popular among the younger males in the Black Forest hills, and you'll often find them tearing through the forest paths on heavy-duty dirt ...
To skate the Rideau Canal is to conquer the fierce February winds, and then succumb to the inevitable muscle aches that sear your legs in the days that follow. Stretching out at just less then 16 km round-trip (the size of more than 100 hockey rinks laid end-to-end), Ottawa's Rideau Canal is the world's largest skating rink. Starting at the base of the copper-peaked Parliament buildings and Chateau Laurier hotel, it then winds through downtown Ottawa, weaving under bridges, alongside parks, and past neighbourhoods of heritage homes, before finally ending at the historic Hartwell Locks. At the Locks, a sign proudly proclaims that skaters have achieved 7.8 km; now they just have to skate all the way back. Originally built in 1832 as a supply ...
Japan can be freezing cold during the winter, especially since the older generations believed that braving the climate without insulation or central heating was a matter of cultural pride. Or, perhaps it was just an excuse to visit the local bathhouse (sento) or hot spring (onsen); either way, a soak at one of Japan's onsen is a great way to dip into a warm cultural tradition. Due to their ubiquity and relatively low cost, Japan's onsen are easily accessible to most travellers. Any prudish sensibilities must be left behind, and although Japan has become famous for its modesty in the last hundred years, it was traditionally much more comfortable with nudity than Western nations. This can still be seen in Japanese onsen culture in the ...
Need a little magic in your life? Marie Laveau, the infamous voodoo priestess of New Orleans, is happy to help. The toast of the town during the 1800s, Marie Laveau was honored as a powerful voodoo practitioner who could bring love and luck to those who paid her price. She shocked the genteel with her lavish performances, and it was rumored that she could appear in multiple places at the same time. Even death had a hard time taming Marie, and when her passing was announced in the New Orleans newspaper, people still reported seeing her, or her ghost, passing through the streets of the French Quarter. Some say her voodoo powers continue to this day. As you enter St. Louis Cemetery #1, where Marie ...
The American Museum of Natural History is a must on any visit to New York City. Its great halls receive approximately four million visitors a year; and it’s easy to see why once you set foot inside the Museum and take a look around one of its forty-six permanent exhibition halls. With all the various exhibits to explore, it’s quite easy to spend a full day there and not be bored for a single minute. One of the best experiences here is to follow Ben Stiller’s lead from the Night at the Museum movie, and spend a nocturnal adventure “sleepover” night at the Museum enjoying tours, an IMAX show, and even a flashlight fossil hunt. On the sleepovers, or any other visit to the American ...
The oohs and ahs rise up from the crowd like clockwork. Turquoise water gurgles and forms a bubble over the hole, growing and growing, until, with a pop and a whoosh, it gushes skyward, shooting up to an impressive 30m high. Cue the oohs and ahs. With a schedule of erupting every five minutes or so, Strokkur may not be the world's most impressive geyser, but it's certainly the most reliable. The title of Iceland's most impressive used to belong to Geysir (pronounced gay-zeer) - a formidable geyser that shot 80m into the air, and provided the namesake for all other geysers around the world. Sadly for Geysir, rumour has it that one day a group of tourists threw rocks into it, trying to set ...
The cries of the elephant seals reached our ears as we walked along the boardwalk towards Piedras Blancas Beach along the Central Coast of California. Strange popping sounds heralded the huge males as they threatened each other for beach territory, while the females wailed as they nursed their young. The vast expanse of beach was completely covered by a mass of milling, blubbery bodies, reminiscent of overstuffed sausages, yet surprisingly agile. A huge male, his large snout hanging like an elephant's trunk (from whence the elephant seals get their name), rose onto his front flippers and chased another male down the beach, his multiple-ton body moving with astonishing rapidity. December through March is breeding season for the elephant seals at Piedras Blancas beach, and visitors ...
