The best way to explore an off-beat destination

In Bruges We arrived tired again so did not see much of the town before heading to the hostel. Here are a couple pics of a very beautiful city on a brisk day. Tomorrow we are up early (for once) for the Flanders fields tour.  In Flanders Fields

Actually, despite the title, in this post I am going to tell you how I’ve spent an afternoon in Toronto, in a stopover on my way to Cuba. The total time of the stopover was 20 hours, but that also included the night. The easiest way to fly to Cuba, from Europe, is via Toronto/Montreal or via Madrid. I chose the first option because the price was much cheaper and because I was happy to know that this flight will give me 20 hours to spend in Toronto. I’ve booked a hotel for the night, bought the Lonely Planet, sorted my visa and happily waited for the departure date. Due to the fact that my luggage was lost, it took me less than 15 minutes since I got off the plane until I cleared immigration and found myself in the arrivals hall from Pearson International Airport. The hotel shuttle showed up in half an hour and by 1PM I was in my room, at the Star Express Inn, in Mississauga. I’ve staid in many, many hotels and hostels during my trips around the world but none was dirtier than this o

When gifting a plane ticket isn’t an option, don’t automatically resort to a picture frame stamped with the Big Ben or any other overplayed idea. Here is a list of fifteen gifts that globetrotter in your life will love you for! This is the first part of a two-part series… 1. Mexico: The Cookbook by Margarita Carrillo Arronte This hefty tome brings the flavors of Mexico straight to your table with vibrant graphics and painstakingly drafted recipes. Buy the hardcover for $29.97. 2. Urban Decay Naked on the Run Urban Decay’s best-selling makeup is now travel-sized! Featuring gorgeous nude tones that translate easily from day to night, along with a full-sized mascara, eyeliner, and lipgloss that will make doing makeup on the road a breeze! $54 at UrbanDecay. 3. Turkish Towel The pastel color schemes reaffirm soft and lightweight linen and every purchase supports Turkey’s crafting culture. Comes in 21 colors starting at $34.00 each. 4. There’s a Map for that Necklace in Gold It’s

Lately, I've been noticing a sense of restlessness that's been creeping its way into my thoughts at inopportune times — like when I'm at work. It's been difficult for me to put my finger on its source, but I think I've finally come up with reasons why I'm so restless. But just explaining why I'm restless won't get me anywhere; it will only make me sound whiny. So, after identifying the sources, I've also come up with ways to combat them. So why am I so restless? I’m in limbo. I’m going to be turning 24 in less than three months. I’m in that stage of my life where I’ve outgrown my college years and mentality, and moved on into what some would call “the real world.” And yet I don’t really feel like an adult yet. There’s still so much that I want to do before I settle down. Which is why… I have a job, not a career. I landed a job last fall as a copy editor at a small Ohio newspaper. It’s a great job, and I’m thankful that I was able to find somethi

The most Irish city in America is up for grabs. It could be Boston, Massachusetts. Image: Don’t Wake Me, I Plan On Sleeping In It could be Chicago, Illinois. Image: celikins Or it could be Mobile, Alabama. (Yes, this video is older than YouTube.  And it’s my required viewing every St. Paddy’s Day!)

Are you planning to visit the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Delhi? Read more about the cathedral and the history of the Sacred Heart Cathedral Delhi. Connaught Place is the heart of Delhi built during the British reign in the 19th century. It is also the starting point of central Delhi which also have some places to see just near the outer circle. One of them is the Sacred Heart Cathedral Delhi. The Cathedral is not only one of the oldest churches but also the largest in Delhi.  Exploring the Sacred Heart Cathedral Delhi Sacred Heart Cathedral Delhi – History Construction of the Sacred Heart Cathedral Delhi started in 1930. Father Luke initiated the Church and laid the foundation stone for the church. Designed by a British architect named Henry Medd, the Cathedral in Delhi flaunts the influence of Italian architecture. One of the biggest ceremonies on Easter and Christmas are hosted by the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Delhi. It is one of the most beautifully decorated churches in Delhi

Zanzibar. Sounds exotic, huh? It’s because it totally is. The name describes the Tanzanian archipelago off the East coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. Only about 15-30 miles off the coast, it is easily accessible from the capital of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam via a short flight or ferry ride. What You Need to Know About Zanzibar There are two main islands and many small islands. Unguja, usually just referred to as Zanzibar, is the main island with the World Heritage Site and historic centre of Stone Town in Zanzibar City. Pemba is the other main island. Zanzibar, often referred to as the spice islands because of its international spice industry (which has declined significantly for many reasons) now depends on tourism to play a major role in the islands’ economy.      A majorly simplified glimpse of history: Like so many other islands strategically located for trade, protection, and exploration, Zanzibar has historical influences from many different cultures. Persians, Arab

Girls compete with each other, women empower one another. Nothing brings up your confidence like a bunch of unique stories of women using their talent and personality to make a real difference to the world. In the light of the upcoming Women’s Day, I´ve created for you a list of Women Power Movies guaranteed to inspire you!

Swiss zoo causes controversy after serving own animals at restaurant A zoo in Switzerland has come under fire from animal welfare supporters after it was revealed that they have been serving captive animals at their own restaurant. The Langen Wildlife Park near Zurich, has been killing and cooking a ‘surplus’ of captive deer and boar which were born and raised in the park. Spokesperson Martin Kilchenmann, who confirmed the rumours of the zoo eatery, stated that the reason behind the seemingly unorthodox cuisine is due to the lack of space and large number of piglets and calves being born at the zoo. The zoo has defended their decision to serve up boar burgers and bambi buffets by claiming that this approach teaches visitors about the ‘natural cycle’. Serving meat on a plate with a side salad may not precisely be how the food chain works in the wild, but the basic predator and prey example is there. Despite their justification though, Ruth Widmer, president of the local animal prote

So you’ve got a trip planned for two weeks in Australia. Now what? Well the good news is you have arrived at the right place. Having grown up in Australia and spending a lot of my life exploring my home country, I’ve got an endless list of suggestions to make your trip a memorable one. While two weeks isn’t long enough to see it all, it is certainly a good amount of time to see the highlights. In this post you will find everything you need to know to plan your visit to Australia. This is a highlights tour of the country and will show you how much you can fit in with just two weeks. If you have more time to spend in Australia, consider some of these great destinations as extensions to your trip. Two Weeks in Australia While you could easily spend two months exploring all Australia has to offer, this trip is designed as a highlights itinerary to see the country for the first time. Days 1-4 in Australia Sydney (Day trip to the Blue Mountains) Days 4-

Planning your adventure can be just as exciting as going – researching what to see and do, counting the days until you go, packing your bags 2/3/4 times to check you are within the weight limit – but what about your money? Have you thought about this – do you take cash, travellers cheques or do you plan to take your debit or credit card? Have you thought about a prepaid travel money card? There are pros and cons for all. Travelling with cash or travellers cheques means you know your money will be accepted, but it can seem daunting. What if it gets lost or stolen? How do you hide the cash you’re not taking to the beach, and how do you plan to keep a track of your spending? Let’s be honest, you won’t keep your receipts and calculate your daily spending! Debit and credit cards have the security, but when your next statement arrives and you see all the fees you’ve been charged, it may make you wish you had left it at home! These days it really does pay to be savvy with your money. Ther

LRNCE Studio Marrakech I love a good expat success story and LRNCE is no exception. Belgian artist Laurence Leenaert moved to Marrakech to start her fashion and textiles company back in 2013. She now operates out of the LRNCE Studio in the suburbs of Marrakech. I stopped by the studio to see the collection in real life, meet Laurence and of course make a few purchases to take home! Marrakech has changed a lot in recent years and there is definitely a driving force of young artisans making that change happen. Laurence is herself a Belgian from the city of Ghent in Flanders . Despite her European roots, Laurence has made a name for herself in Marrakech. Today LRNCE has amassed a fanbase on Instagram and been featured in countless design magazines like Elle, Vogue and Architectural Digest. But for the artist herself, quality continues to trump quantity. Despite the rise in demand, Laurence paints every piece herself to this day. In