This article will probably be a bit off topic but I felt a need to write it after a visit in one of the world's most infamous sites. Auschwitz Concentration Camp in southern Poland has recently become one of the most visited tourist attraction in the Krakow region. However, in my opinion, it should never be perceived as one. The site of incomparable genocide that was committed by the Nazis during the second world war should be seen only if you fully understand what really happened there and what consequences it entailed for those involved in those horrific events.
Merv, Turkmenistan - A Forgotten City On The Silk Road
Merv is one of those examples that clearly demonstrate how high we (humans) think about our civilization and how little we actually mean. Once, the most advanced region on Earth, the part of ancient Persia, dotted with bustling cities along the famous, historical Silk Road. Now - the few remains of strongholds as well as defensive walls that used to be the witnesses of enormous power stand silently stripped of their grandeur in the middle of nowhere and the only citizens that settle in the destroyed fortresses are some little desert rodents and herds of camels nibbling wilted shrubs
Atlas Mountains - Morocco Is Not Only About The Desert
Green hills, olive and orange groves, Mediterranean atmosphere, fresh air, mountainous peaks covered with snow for half a year, cozy villages among enormous, red-rock formations - it's not the way Morocco is portrayed in the media. First thing that comes to mind about this exciting destination is endless dunes of Sahara, Bedouin houses and even entire villages made from mud. I had a similar image of Morocco before the trip to this North African country. Once again I got a proof on how traveling can change the stereotypes and the way you think about the world. One of the reasons why I love it so much!
Rivers And Waterfalls of Chapada Diamantina National Park, Brazil
Chapada Diamantina National Park is perfect for those who love wild, untouched nature and off the beaten path places with virtually no tourists. Besides the world's class wonders such as spectacular caves with clear blue waters where you can swim as well as table mountains covered with cactuses and succulents, Chapada Diamantina offers in no way less impressive rivers and waterfalls. During our 3-day stay in this beautiful National Park, we had a chance to explore quite a lot, however, there's so much more to see and in this post you'll see only a fraction of what you can expect. Nevertheless, those 3 days were more than enough to fall in love with Chapada Diamantina!
Riga, Latvia - A Surprising Hidden Gem
Riga, the capital of Latvia is one of those European cities that are hardly ever visited by ordinary tourists traveling across the old continent. There's very little information about it and it almost never appears in the media. To be honest, we hadn't planned visiting Riga either. The reason why we went there at all was because we had a stopover in Latvia on the way to the unknown and absolutely amazing Kazakhstan (read posts Kazakhstan here). Our visit in Riga was completely spontaneous - we didn't have any plan regarding what to see and where to go but the Latvian capital turned out to be a surprising hidden gem - large enough to offer many attractions as well as the beautiful old town and small enough to walk around in only one day!
Five Reasons Why FlightHub Says You Need To Visit Iceland
I can still remember my introduction to Iceland. I was watching The Mighty Ducks, a hockey movie about a bunch of American kids coming together and forming an unstoppable bond that propelled them to the top. In a scene, Coach Bombay is chatting with an Icelandic coach who informs him that Iceland is green, and Greenland is icy. As a child that seemed silly. Today I’m stoked to be planning a trip to a country that is obviously not an icy floating rock.To get started, I needed to research. I spoke with FlightHub, an online travel agency. I asked that FlightHub review some of the top sites to see while in Norway. With their list I have put together something of an itinerary for myself.
FlightHub’s Top Five Reasons Why You Need To Visit Norway
While destinations on the mainland of Europe always and forever will be popular, I’ve always had a fascination with Scandinavia. Between Denmark, Sweden, and Norway I always thought there was an alternative Europe out there with a rich history, beautiful scenery, and less of a touristy vibe. I asked FlightHub, an online travel agency, about what I could do if I chose to visit Norway. FlightHub review is the best places to see and experience around the world. After consulting with them I wanted to share my top five most interesting places in Norway to visit.
Sólheimajokull Glacier Hike, South Coast Tour, Iceland
Iceland - the beautiful island on the periphery of Europe which offers many attractions for those seeking adventure and a different type of spending their vacation rather than beaches, famous places and tropical areas. The empty, volcanic scenery full of spectacular waterfalls will make you feel as if you were on another planet. Apart from taking a stroll on black beaches with basalt columns, immersing yourself in hot, blue milky waters of Blue Lagoon and admiring the magnificent phenomenon - the northern lights, the glacier hike is another unforgettable thing that you just must add to your bucket list!
Athens, Greece - Part 2 - New Athens - Is There Anything Else To See Besides The Acropolis?
The Greek capital - Athens - is known as the center of the ancient world. The temples attract millions of tourists every year. Although the importance of Acropolis cannot be denied, one can feel a little disappointed while looking at the few remaining monuments - there are other, off the beaten path ancient sites which are way better preserved. Go back to the first part of the article about Athens to learn about our impressions of the Acropolis - expectations versus reality.
But is it only Acropolis that is worth visiting in Athens? I've heard many saying that besides this ancient hill, there's nothing to see. Not all modern parts of Athens may be too appealing to the eye - they remind more of Middle Eastern cities (like Amman - have a look here) with houses crammed tightly between the surrounding hills. To be honest, for me, it wasn't one of the best European capitals, but it's still nice to visit and once you explore it a bit deeper, you'll find some exciting places beyond the famous Acropolis. It's possible to visit all the places described here in one day on foot.
Visiting The City of Almaty - The Gateway to the Most Beautiful National Parks in Kazakhstan
Almaty - Kazakhstan's largest city and the former capital. At first, it looks completely ordinary and uninteresting, and if it weren't for the world's class natural wonders surrounding it (I'll describe them all in detail soon), probably no one would be willing to come here. But if you take a second, closer look, you'll notice the uniqueness, vibrancy and diversity. Having said that, it seems that no foreign travelers (especially from the western countries) ever make it to Almaty or other Central Asian places anyway. We didn't meet any westerners there. This is, of course, not because of the lack of attractions in the region - I suppose the mainstream media are at fault here - by always depicting the post-Soviet states as backward, grey, boring and gloomy.