World Travel and Tourist Destinations

How were the Incans able to create such magnificent architecture upon a mountain top, with stones so perfectly placed that they still remain today in nearly the same condition as when the city was complete? And whatever happened to the Incas who once lived in the now vacant city of Machu Picchu? The world is yet to produce credible answers to these questions. One of the best ways to get a feel for just how difficult it must have been to make and impossible it is to explain the disappearance is to take a hiking tour up this ancient Incan mountain.

This is a rough trip through jungles and into elevations with less oxygen, so hikers beware before planning a trip. You will need to make sure to be checked out by a physician prior to attempting this vacation. All guides must be registered with the government before the trip begins, so you are sure to have someone knowledgeable of the trek.

The hike will begin at one of the modern day towns. With a guide to help you find your way, and porters to help you carry the load, you are well prepared to head out with the group. You will encounter many of the native animals, such as chinchillas, Andean Condors, and for those who are lucky, the shy, nearly extinct spectacled bear (don’t worry, they are herbivores). After four grueling days of hiking up the mountain, you will experience the marvel of this city made before Europeans even knew about the Americas. Its masonry is absolutely amazing, with stones perfectly lined up in a way that we today have only recently begun to achieve. You will be allowed to wonder the paths of this city abandoned by its people. Wild llama and other animals still inhabit the top of Machu Picchu. Take some time to relax before heading back by train.

Most vacations are end up being a sorry end to any diet, but there is one way to see Europe without having to worry about gaining a pound. As one of the most bike friendly places in the world, Europe offers many fantastic tours that can take you through a country, or even through several for those who are real bicycle enthusiasts. Europe may be one of the smallest continents, but it has more diversity of culture and architecture than almost anywhere else in the world.

Tours can take visitors through almost every country in Europe. For people are not native to Europe, the best way to go is on a guided tour. The guide can give you all the information you need to know about the routes to go and the best times to get moving (or provide the motivation if you tend to be a late sleeper). They can also give you information and history on the different places along the way. Guided tours also include lodgings and food, meaning you won’t have to find a place to eat or sleep at the end of a long day. For the native European or experienced European traveler, there are plenty of self tours.

Tours can be planned according to the tourist’s interests. If it is castles and architecture that spark your interest, there are tours that will make sure to take you past some of the continents best. Bikers wishing to have more of a natural route, there are plans that will provide tourists with routes over mountains and some of the most famous forests in Europe. If it is a challenge you want, or if the regular biking is enough of a challenge, guides will lead groups according to difficulty and biking experience. There are even tours that cater to a particular weather and climate.

The word Australia conjures up so many images of exotic animals, outback adventures, and outlandish experiences, but in the cities, Austria rivals any other city for sophistication and urban excitement. From the famous Sydney Opera House to an exuberant nightlife, Sydney has what you expect from a city, with an Australian twist.

Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens, which is open year round and are free to the public. Lying within this amazing garden is the ruins of the Garden Palace, built just for exhibitions. Although the original was mostly destroyed in the early 1880s, the Government House was built near the location and serves as an extraordinary reminder of the former glory of the Garden Palace. For the true architect lover, the city is rife with stylish and unusually buildings and structures. This includes the Harbor Bridge. Perhaps the most intrigue aspect of the bridge is the Bridge Climb, and yes, it is exactly what it sounds like. Take a breath-taking (and perhaps terrifying) view of the city from the peak of the bridge. The total time to complete the climb is three hours, and don’t take any of your personal belongs because you will have to leave them behind before you start.

The Australian Aquarium is unrivalled in types of sea life presented, and as would be expected a good number of the animals that can be viewed are indigenous. Likewise, the Australia Zoo is a must for all families. It is a show that is presented as only the Australians can imagine. For those who cannot get enough wildlife, roughly an hour out of the city’s center is the Featherdale Wildlife Park. The park is home to native animals only and is probably the best way to experience Australian wildlife if you do not want to leave the comforts of the city.

Most people think of Alaska as the coldest, most barren part of the United States; this reputation is entirely inaccurate. The best way to see just how wrong this impression is, consider taking a vacation on an Alaskan cruise. Several cruise liners offer exceptional service as passengers marvel at the wonders of the Pacific Ocean and experience life in the cities and towns up the Alaskan coast. It is not your typical cruise vacation. After the first day, you will feel a much more natural, less tamed sense of freedom.

Alaskan cruises guarantee experiences you will not have on a stereo-typical cruise. While most cruises take tourists to tropical locations that are over-crowded and often uncomfortably warm, a cruise up the Alaskan coast provides a unique experience. If you want to explore the cities and town during the port visits, you will witness the bustling existence of America’s coldest state, with less of a touristy feel. Only a trip to Alaska can offer visitors the chance to hike along a glacier or take a helicopter ride to get some amazing pictures. If you are a fan of Call of the Wild, you can take the opportunity to see this world first hand on one of the dog sled excursions. During most of the tourist season you can see whale, sea lions, seals, and other wildlife enjoying the colder Pacific waters.

Of course, it is not the type of trip where you will be packing bikinis and shorts. It is recommended that passengers bring warmer clothes and coats, even in the summer, because of the cooler ocean breezes and higher latitudinal location. This means you will not be compelled to go on a crash diet before your vacation begins. Many cruise liners do have pools, so if you really want a bit of the bathing suit experience it is still an option.

Watching Pirates of the Caribbean will make anyone marvel at the sheer beauty of that area. With its sparkling blue water and remote appearance, it is easy to decide to escape to the Caribbean for vacation. Generally cruises are determined by the location where you want to travel: the Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, or Southern Caribbean. Each section of this gorgeous spans of water and islands has its own charms and cities to recommend it.

A cruise around the Eastern Caribbean is probably a good first time trip if you are not at all familiar with this part of the world. A cruise will take you ports like Barbados, Key West, St. Croix, and St. Kitts. Some of the places where you will stop are larger towns and cities where you explore different markets and shop for souveniers. Others ports are smaller and provide more of an escape from the crowd.

The Western Caribbean ports are more along the lines of what people imagine when they think of the Caribbean. From the Bahams and Grand Cayman, to Jamaica, the ports of call are the ones you would expect. Widely known for the outstanding beaches and numerous off boat activities, these ports of call will keep you exploring for the entirety of the port call.

The Southern Caribbean has more exotic, remote locations. With normal stops in Antigua, Aruba, Quadeloupe, and St. Luca, this trip will be unlike the other two. When you depart the ship, you will have more of a chance to escape from the crowds and experience more of a native Caribbean feel.

Some activities are universal, regardless of where you go. No trip to the Caribbean would be complete without a snorkeling excursion. You can play on vast stretches of phenomenal beaches and enjoy the beauty immortalized in so many movies and songs.

Largely gone are the days where people will pack up an elephant gun and attempt to bring home animal trophies from the largely untamed African wilds. Instead safari travelers can become closer to nature and gain a new respect for the gentle giants roam the continent, as well as many of the other unique, indigenous animals. Landlocked tours are no longer the only way to safari either. Several Southern Africa safaris focus on the ocean and beach life exclusive to this magnificent area.

Something you don’t encounter, or even think about, often is the chance to feed wildlife from a car, most of the time you aren’t even allowed to feed animals anywhere you go outside your home. Africa has an amazing Wildlife Park that gives tourists the opportunity to feed animals like elk and bison from their cars. Naturally, you must drive safely, but it is a great way to start to warm up to some less familiar animals. Don’t expect to see any of the fiercer African animals roaming so freely; the best way to check out the more typically imagined African animals is to schedule a safari out on the Savannah. From a more comfortably safe distance, you can watch the world’s largest cats in action, or inaction if you choose the wrong part of the day.

Between the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, South Africa is teeming with aquatic wildlife. After checking out some of the most successful hunters on land, watch some of the world’s best predators of the ocean. You can even plan to take a swim with some of the less fierce sharks. For the sports enthusiast there are different kayaking safaris that take tourists around some of the more remote islands. These trips include other water activities, like snorkeling and fishing.

From its rich history to the modern creations that keep this city very much alive, London is one of the most fascinating and accommodating cities to visit. One of the first places to start is with a trip on the breath taking London Eye. In the time it takes to make one revolution, any tourist will have seen during this phenomenal view of much of London a number of landmarks and buildings to spark interest. Overlooking the Thames River, the London Eye is a large Ferris wheel with glass capsules to allow the riders to have an optimal view of London.

With thousands of years of history, there are few places in London that are not inundated with the feel and atmosphere of the thousands of years this marvelous city has existed. From the broken portion of a Roman wall to the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, London has enough tours and buildings to keep any history buff happy or inform those who are curious to learn more about this ancient city. There are even darker tours for more adult audiences, like the Jack the Ripper Tour. There are also places that are old but kept up to modern standards, like Buckingham Palace, and the famous changing of the guards.

But London is does not rely on its wealth of history and accomplishments. The city is lively and energetic with many modern marvels. With many internet cafes and an efficient tube system, London provides many conveniences to the tourist. This unique city has shops and stores to keep shoppers happily occupied, both during rainy times when you can shop inside and during sunny periods at the outdoor markets. Camden Market is one such place that can provide hours of delightful perusal of a wide array of items. It is also a prime stop for concert stops, so it would be wise to check future concerts and plays when planning a trip to this noble city.

The timeless South of France has the mysterious capability of bringing back memories that have long since been lost. A trip to Saint Paul de Vence in Provence brought me back to my childhood, even if just for an afternoon.

25 degrees in March. How things have changed in just two years. Two years ago, I was trudging through feet of snowdrifts in Massachusetts on my way to yet another day of high school math. Today, I’m in the south of France. Today, I’m in Saint Paul de Vence.

I don’t miss typical March weather. I’m hypnotized by quintessential Mediterranean bright yellows and blues, winding stone streets, small-town church steeples. There is something so very French about this town; I can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe it’s the laundry lines hanging from the windows, or the way that even in the South where the people tend towards paresseux without becoming completely lazy (although a sieste is an important part of every day), you can’t ignore the French pride, by now I know it well, in everything that people do and say.

Shop owners and artisans watch as you examine their wares, certain that there are no flaws and almost daring you to find one, and I remember, once more, why I fell in love with this country almost ten years ago.

And yet, although Paris may have been my first love, there is something about the South that encourages dreaming. I’m not quite sure what it is, but in small towns like Saint Paul de Vence, up in the mountains where one can find refuge from all the people, time becomes less regimented. Memories and reality float amongst each other without any concern for the rules that apply to the concrete and the abstract. As I climb the street that winds up through the town, I pass a store that is under renovation: it may feel like summer here but it’s not tourist season yet.

I smell fresh paint and am propelled back in time. I’m six, seven, eight, nine years old; the age doesn’t matter because the memory repeats itself. Moving again and again, new apartments over and over until I can walk down the Manhattan streets and point out the numbered awnings, like a game. Moving was the game to my parents. That new paint, that new apartment smell has always felt more like home to me than any actual place. I breathe it in and keep walking, hanging in limbo somewhere between now and then, the past and the present.

I admire the pissaladière, the Niçois pizza shiny with olive oil and sweet caramelized onions in the glass windows in front of the stores, but I don’t buy any: lunch of crawfish with aioli and whole sea bass, scales and tails flayed expertly in front of me at the Colombe d’Or are still only a vague memory. The Colombe d’Or never disappoints.

I walk further up the road that winds to the top, to the spectacular view. I look out over the cliff, and as far as I can see, everything is green. A patchwork of all of the greens possible. Even the giant Crayola boxes wouldn’t have enough colors, I think to myself, still caught up in the past, a time before that magical tenth birthday when you finally reach double digits.

I turn to walk back down the winding path and stop by a small church. It is the church of Saint Anthony, a saint I claimed as my own when I was very small and who would follow me long after as I, disorganized as ever, would do my father proud and invoke the patron Saint of the lost to help me find my flash drive. I push open the doors into the small church, just a few pews, a modest altar and a few candles with a donation box. I listen as my coins clink to the bottom and cross myself to pray, as I was taught.

Saint Anthony, Saint Anthony, please look around. Something is lost, and cannot be found. How ironic, I think to myself as I recite the childish prayer. Nothing was lost here, but I did, for an afternoon, find a small piece of my childhood, memories so few and far between in the hustle and bustle of daily life. Here it was, all this time, hiding in the south of France.

Authored By Emily Monaco, USA