A Fresh Perspective on Travel Every Day
It seems odd that Brisbane, Australia’s third-largest city and Queensland’s capital, could be described as ‘undiscovered’. However, as the 2.2 million residents attest, this is precisely the case. Sydney has the beaches, the iconic architecture, and celebrity chefs; Melbourne has the coffee, the culture, and big-ticket sports events – but Brisbane? Who knows anything much about Brisbane?
At first glance, Bucharest may be hard to define. The enormous Palace of Parliament gets the most attention as the second-largest administrative building in the world, but it’s far from what constitutes the everyday local life. Dig a little deeper in Bucharest’s walkable neighborhoods, with their period architecture and pockets of hidden glory, and you’ll find an eclectic mix of old and new, numerous arts initiatives, and an ever-growing foodie scene.
Turn back the sundials to the days of Plato and Sappho, a time of flourishing sexual freedoms in Greece. While a long history of Christian law may have tempered this paradise, it’s re-emerging in some of the country’s most desirable locations.
Feasting on local seasonal produce – of extraordinary quality – has beenalla modain Piedmont (Piemonte) since time immemorial. From Alba’s insanely desirable white truffles, snuffed out of the earth by dogs, to noble red wines crafted by multiple generations of Langhe winemakers, this Alps-fringed region in northwest Italy cooks up the ultimate trip for epicureans. With a staple larder bursting with hedonist delicacies, this is the moment to loosen your belt and dig in.
Nowhere in Germany can you find sweeter mustard or plumper dumplings than in Bavaria. The food identity of this southern state is strong and deeply rooted in tradition. There are even rules regarding when to eat sausages that rival those of how to enjoy coffee in Italy. However, visitors to the Bavarian capital of Munich will be pleasantly surprised to encounter a growing wave of burrito joints, burger shacks, and trendy coffee shops that are revitalizing the city’s food scene. Read on to find the latest hot spots to drop into after you’ve enjoyed a fewmasskrüge…
A host of outdoor adventures await travelers visiting Santa Marta. Set right on the Caribbean Sea at the foot of the mighty Sierra Nevada, Colombia’s oldest Spanish city is a short jaunt from picturesque beaches, wetlands, verdant jungles, hiking, and surfing.
Manila’s fast pace and heavy traffic can try anybody’s patience; however, there are ways to escape the madness. Whether you prefer sea-based or land-based activities, cultural diversions or adrenaline-pumping adventures, you have plenty to choose from if you’re looking to get out of town for a day. Here are five spots that will make the chaos of the capital seem like a distant memory.
Many travellers imagine that visiting Dubai as a woman is much more difficult, complicated, and stressful than it actually is. Dubai ranks high on the list of the world’s safest cities, despite its location in a region that often makes headlines for being in seemingly eternal conflict. More importantly, the city’s reputation as a glitzy destination, combined with its Islamic-rooted governance, means that understanding what is and isn’t allowed can sometimes be confusing.
Louisiana grew out of a unique, muddy substrate of North American cultural soil. This state is rich in history, with roots in the African diaspora, Acadian French exiles, Irish immigrants, and the Creole society of New Orleans. Louisiana has long cherished that the essentials of life revolve around good food, good drink, and good tunes. This philosophy underlines the state’s vibrant atmosphere, making it a destination brimming with great live music.
It’s the sort of morning that carries the threat of biblical rain, the Atlantic fog rolling in so fast it could be described as witchcraft. It arrives in a thick swirl to the north of Bonne Bay around Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse, causing it to disappear within the murk. For Mother Nature’s next trick, the sea mist swallows the towns of Rocky Harbour and Woody Point to the south, before changing course to let the sun break through with an almighty, absorbing glow.
Some travellers prefer to avoid thinking about the previous occupants of their hotel rooms; however, a new crop of Israeli and Palestinian boutique hotels has begun repurposing historic buildings such as hospitals, villas, and even prisons into luxury suites and spas. These hotels cater to visitors who deliberately choose lodgings with a rich historical background.
Above the myriad international brands and neon lights that line Hong Kong’s crowded streets, a handful of cosy independent shops run by passionate local entrepreneurs await. Lurking on upper floors of the city’s high-rise buildings and separated from glossy stores by a few flights of stairs, these stores mainly offer unique artisan goods, ensuring that Hong Kong still has space for a slower lifestyle and curated aesthetics.
One of China’s most significant tourist cities, Hangzhou, located in the eastern province of Zhejiang, is famous for its stunning natural beauty and iconic Chinese scenery.
On Mexico’s tiny island of Holbox—where spotty wi-fi and sporadic siestas are part of the charm—unplugging is as easy as arriving. Living up to its name, meaning ‘black hole’ in Mayan, Holbox (pronouncedole-bosh) feels like a portal to one of Mexico’s last unspoiled tropical islands.
The word of the prophet Muhammad is believed to have arrived on present-day Russian territory early in the 8th century AD. Seven of Russia’s 22 republics have Muslim majorities and – although official census figures are lacking – according to Sheikh Rawil Gaynetdin, Russia’s Grand Mufti, the country is home to around 25 million Muslims.
On 8 November 2018, Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar officiated at the consecration of Kaliningrad’s nearly completed synagogue. Sporting a giant dome and twin turrets, this building is an almost exact replica of the cathedral-like 1896 original which stood here until it was destroyed 80 years ago.
One of the best things about the weekend is going out for brunch, and Toronto is a brunch lover’s dream. From soft, fluffy hotcakes oozing with maple syrup to eggs Benedict cooked to perfection, there’s a dish and a place for every set of taste buds. Explore some of the top brunch spots in Toronto below.
Guadeloupe – it’s part-French, part-Creole, happily rustic and refreshingly authentic.
London has plenty in the way of must-see sights and instantly recognizable landmarks, however, hidden down the side streets and tucked away in urban backwaters is a scattered collection of equally fascinating, lesser-known highlights. Delve beyond the London of the postcards and discover an excitingly unfamiliar side to this great city.
In our fast-moving world, the most enriching moments often come when you’re just standing still. For example, when peering at a painting or admiring an artifact. The emirate of Sharjah fields the densest collection of museums and galleries (22 and counting) within the UAE. UNESCO noticed and named it the Cultural Capital of the Arab World in 1998. The title of Capital of Islamic Culture followed in 2014.
