Headline
The Curious Holiday Calendar of the U.K.
The U.K. has an interesting and unusual calendar system for their holidays each year. Instead of being known as public holidays or vacation days, they are bank holidays. This comes from their creation in the late 19th century, when they were the official days that banks would be completely closed for business. Aside from Sundays, these holidays are the only official times where banks and government offices are shut down. Today there are 8 public holidays in England, Wales and Scotland, although Northern Ireland has 2 more, coming in at 10 for the year. In 1871, when the idea of bank holidays was first initiated in the UK, there were only 4 official days off. These were Easter Monday, Whit Monday, the first Monday in August and the day after Christmas, … Read entire article »
Featured
Exploring Atlantis and the Myth of Lost Cities
One of the world’s enduring mysteries is the fate of Atlantis and other so-called lost cities. Historians continue to debate if Atlantis and other ancient lost cities existed at all and where … Read more »
My Desert Island Discs
What’s a desert island disc you ask? Simple. It’s a compact disc, or album for the more mature crowd, that you would want with you if you were stranded on a deserted … Read more »
The Most Remote Islands on the Planet
While air travel and modern technology have led to the settling of most habitable places on Earth, there are still several islands in the world that are located far off the beaten … Read more »
Popular
Dromomania, the Psychology of Travel
Dromomania is the intense need or urge to constantly travel and experience new people and places. A person who is truly struck by dromomania is unable to stop this intense craving for … Read more »
The Most Remote Islands on the Planet
While air travel and modern technology have led to the settling of most habitable places on Earth, there are still several islands in the world that are located far off the beaten … Read more »
Madchester: Revisiting Manchester’s Party Past
The city of Manchester is one of the largest in England, and is located in the Northwest of the nation. It is recognized today for it’s cultural scene, love of sports, two … Read more »
Latest
Exploring Atlantis and the Myth of Lost Cities
One of the world’s enduring mysteries is the fate of Atlantis and other so-called lost cities. Historians continue to debate if Atlantis and other ancient lost cities existed at all and where evidence of these cities can be found in modern times. Exploring places where these ancient cities may have once stood makes for an excellent travel adventure that can turn any person into a certified globetrotter. Atlantis was first mentioned by Plato in his writings around 355 B.C. Plato described Atlantis as a city on a beautiful island located west of the “Pillars of Hercules” (the modern Strait of Gibraltar). It was thought to house an advanced civilization that existed thousands of years before Plato’s … Read entire article »
Globetrotting: What to do Before You Leave
When it comes to planning a round the world adventure, you might realize there is quite a lot to organize even before you set off. From booking accommodations, creating itineraries, getting vaccinations and dealing with visas, here are some of the most important things to do before you leave on international travel: Book Accommodations: The idea of flying into a new city and going wherever you want is often a goal of young travelers and true explorers. However, the idea is much nicer than the reality, which might include bad weather or no available rooms. Whenever possible, book your hotels, camping sites or hostel stays in advance so you have somewhere to sleep confirmed. Spend your … Read entire article »
My Desert Island Discs
What’s a desert island disc you ask? Simple. It’s a compact disc, or album for the more mature crowd, that you would want with you if you were stranded on a deserted island. It’s essential music to get you through a life of eating coconuts and scanning the horizon for passing ships. As much as I would love to have an extensive music library on my uncharted atoll, I’m going to limit myself to five titles. So here, in no particular order, are my five desert island discs. baba O\’Riley The Who: “Who’s Next” One of the watershed rock albums, it helped define a generation. The opening track, “Baba O’Riley,” could be the greatest three-chord rock anthem ever put … Read entire article »
Top 10 Must-See Sights in London
While any list of the top ten must-see sights is certain to vary from traveler to traveler, most lists include attractions that have stood the test of time. Here are some classic London sights and a few recent favorites, too. All are sure delight visitors to London. 1. Museums. According to the British newspaper, The Guardian, museums like the renowned British Museum and the contemporary Tate Modern museum are visited by more people each year than any other type of attraction. 2. Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s Globe is a unique attraction dedicated to the exploration of Shakespeare’s work. The Globe Theatre features productions of the Bard’s plays. The National Theatre also features Shakespearean plays as part of their repertoire. 3. … Read entire article »
Surviving U.S. Immigration: What Not To Do
Whether you are passing U.S. Immigration checkpoints in a busy airport as you prepare for your vacation, or if you are dealing with a more serious interview while relocating to America, it can be a challenging and frustrating process. While it is necessary for the United State Government to have regulations and guidelines for visitors and potential residents, it can be overwhelming if you are entering the country for the first time. Here are some tips on what not to do when dealing with U.S. Immigration: Lie: This might seem obvious, but whether on a form or a verbal interview you should tell the truth at all times. You will have a much easier time of … Read entire article »
Top 10 books about travel
Traveling might be the most exciting thing to do, but reading about traveling is often a close second. Whether you are looking for a book to occupy your time during a plane ride or car journey, or just to inspire you to pick your next vacation destinations, these 10 books are top picks for travel reading: 1. On the Road: This book by Jack Kerouac tops most lists of travel books. It is a first hand account of the author’s travels through America after World War II, and it inspired a generation to take to the open road. 2. As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning: The novel by Laurie Lee follows the story of a young … Read entire article »
The Most Remote Islands on the Planet
While air travel and modern technology have led to the settling of most habitable places on Earth, there are still several islands in the world that are located far off the beaten track. Islands exist that have only 50 residents, and others are so remote that visitors must make lengthy journeys to reach them. The following are several of the most remote islands on the planet: Pitcairn Island Pitcairn Island is a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean. Its closest neighbor is Tahiti, which is 200 miles away. Only 50 people live on the island year round, and most earn their living through farming or fishing. The island has no airstrip, and the only avenue through which … Read entire article »
Top 5 Travel Cameras
Being able to capture pictures of the places you have visited will create lasting memories. The best cameras for travel are easy to carry. They are able to produce quality pictures from different angles without additional equipment and have a long battery life. Included below are a list of the top five cameras that have all of these qualities. Sony Cyber-shot Digital Camera HX9V If you are looking for a light-weight camera that produces beautiful photographs then the Sony Cyber-shot camera is just what you need. This 16.2 megapixel camera is easy to use and it features full HD capabilities for videos that you shoot. It has a host of Sony’s Cyber-shot technologies that include: Face Detection, … Read entire article »
Traveling via Psychogeography
Have you ever wandered rather aimlessly through your city? If you haven’t, you might want to give it a try. Psychogeography is a term describing how humans interact with cities, and how cities shape each individual human. It’s both psychology and geography, and how these two sciences mix with each other in the consciousness of a human being. Psychogeography is essentially indefinable, although that doesn’t mean there aren’t definitions. Here’s the original from Guy Debord: “”the study of the precise laws and specific effects of the geographical environment, consciously organized or not, on the emotions and behavior of individuals.” A French theorist and writer, Debord conceptualized human’s interactions with cityscapes in 1955, and people have been … Read entire article »