| Jul 27, 2012 |
| London 2012: Let the Games Begin! |
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| The London 2012 Summer Olympics are about to begin! At the time of writing, the Opening Ceremony is a mere 90 minutes away. Will you be watching on TV? Even better, will you be watching in person? |
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Two and a half years ago many Vancouverites were sitting inside BC Place Stadium, waiting to witness the biggest spectacle our city would ever see. Millions upon millions of people around the world were also watching, and now that same rapt attention is focused on
London.
But, as one of our British guides recently reminded us, we mustn't forget about the rest of England in all the noise about London this summer. This tiny nation is packed with culture, rich in history and natural beauty; its compact nature makes it possible to explore its many nooks and crannies in a short amount of time, and gives travelers no excuse not to leave the capital.
So if you're one of the thousands of visitors who has descended upon the city for these Olympic Games, make sure you cast your eye beyond the city limits!
Even if you plan to stay every night in London, England's extensive British Rail system makes thousands of day trips possible from London. Head to the beautiful historic towns of Cambridge, Oxford, or Bath, and for a dose of medieval village life, pay a visit to Rye.
Our charming, knowledgeable and engaging ToursByLocals guides can tailor a custom day-trip for you that shows you the England you'd like to see, whether you're looking for pastoral scenes, cosy village pubs or perhaps making a literary pilgrimage. They're looking forward to showing you around and sharing a pint with you during your time in England. |
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| Jul 23, 2012 |
| Exercise and Travel |
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| If you’re the type of person who maintains a regular exercise routine at home, does it continue when you travel? Does whether or not you maintain the routine depend on the type of trip you’re doing, or perhaps how long you’ll be away? Are things like gym facilities in a hotel important, or can you incorporate exercise into your day in other ways? |
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I’ve become a runner this year, getting out on the roads and trails in Vancouver about 5 times a week. And now this new exercise habit has changed the way I’m looking at an upcoming trip to Europe. I’m still just as committed to wandering the streets of Paris in search of the city’s most delectable croissants, but now I’m wondering whether my days might also include a short 5K run around Père Lachaise Cemetery.
Of course, European cities are extremely walkable, and most visitors find themselves burning far more calories than they normally would by simply exploring the delights of the city by foot, bike and metro. I don’t feel I’ll get “out of shape” by taking a break from the regular exercise routine. But the idea of being one of a collection of early risers pounding the pavement seems like a great way to access the quieter aspects of daily life in the places we visit. Lining up at the Eiffel Tower, you’re surrounded by other tourists, but running around a Parisian park you're temporarily a part of the local scene.
How to pick a running route in an unfamiliar city? If you’re staying at a hotel, asking the concierge is one way to go about it. A recent trip to Columbia South Carolina saw me running alongside the Congaree River on the advice of the hotel staff. But if you enjoy planning these things ahead of time (like me), a quick internet search can yield some terrific suggestions. For example, Joggingroutes.org is a running blog maintained by a marathon runner and business traveler that offers detailed suggestions for interesting routes in all parts of the world.
If you’re concerned about your run taking away from your precious vacation time, bear in mind that it can be a part of your sightseeing! In London I plan to run along the banks of the Thames, criss-crossing bridges and seeing the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the London Eye, the Tate Modern and more in less than 45 minutes. Pick a route that runs through neighbourhoods you’re interested in seeing, parks you’ve heard about, and landmarks you’ll want to return to later.
If my Asics shoes and minimal running gear can fit in my carry-on alongside the summer dresses and souvenirs, they’re definitely making the trip with me. |
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| Jul 19, 2012 |
| Ramadan mubârak! |
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| This Friday marks the beginning of Ramadan, a sacred Islamic holiday. Wael, a local guide from Jordan, has written a short article about the holiday, and encourages people to come visit his part of the world during this special time in the Muslim calendar. |
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In Jordan and all other Islamic countries, the 20th of July marks the beginning of the Islamic Holy month of RAMADAN. The start of Ramadan always coincides with the rising of the new crescent moon. At this time all Muslim adults will stop drinking and eating for the whole day until the sun sets, which marks the time that they can again eat and drink, until sunrise. Ramadan continues for 30 days, ending with Eid ul-Fitr this year on August 18th.
The tourism businesses that are still working (which include many shops and restaurants) will continue to provide services for the local Christians and tourists, although they appreciate the respectful act of not eating or drinking in public streets or directly in front of them. As a visitor, you will like the new experience of seeing the Islamic traditions that make up Ramadan, like people enjoying feasting when their bodies are tired and thirsty, and buying special kinds of food, fruits, and juices for their family. There are many unique desserts and juices that you can buy only during Ramadan, like Khatayef, Tamer Hindi, Kharoob, Souse and a lot more. The daily sunset feasts are called iftar and can take place in lavish banquet halls or intimate family homes.
I invite you to visit Jordan in RAMADAN and experience the Muslim traditions that go along with this special holiday. |
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| Jul 18, 2012 |
| "Backyard" Canadian Travel: Discovering Alberta's Crowsnest Pass |
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| Western Canada is blessed with some of the most incredible scenery on the planet, and every summer international visitors flock to Alberta and British Columbia in search of the crystal clear lakes, snow-capped mountains and glacial valleys that scream "Canada" from the postcard stands. |
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Jasper and Banff National Parks are the recognized jewels in the Rocky Mountain crown: places where visitors can expect to see elk, bighorn sheep and black bears while hiking through colourful meadows of wildflowers or alongside tumbling rivers. The Parks' beauty and grandeur is undeniable...
...but I recently discovered a quieter, less expected place to soak in the beauty of the Rockies. Tucked away in the southwest corner of Alberta, almost touching the border of British Columbia is a striking region known as the Crowsnest Pass. It's about a 2 hour drive from Calgary, but even with the Stampede drawing record crowds this year, the tourist rumble wasn't felt in the Crowsnest.
The drive south from Calgary is classic Alberta: green and gold fields of wheat and canola roll gently towards the foothills of the Rockies, which quickly give way to the jagged peaks and slate grey slopes of the young mountain chain. Horses and cattle dot the landscape, along with all the cowboys and girls who didn't make the trip to the Stampede this year.
We stayed at a working cattle ranch called "Sierra West" about a half-hour from the heart of the Crowsnest Pass. The ranch has been in the family for several generations and the rustic log cabin we slept in was once the sleeping quarters of an early 20th century farmhand bachelor. Being in the area for a trail running race, we didn't take the owners up on their kind horse-riding offer, but saw several other guests trying their hand at being cow-pokes in the shadow of the Rockies.
The 148km race started in the small town of Blairmore and took our team of seven runners on an intimate tour of the local landscape. We got to climb up Crowsnest Mountain and wind around the Seven Sisters, run across the infamous Frank Slide (a field of boulders that buried the mining town of Frank 109 years ago) and take in stunning views of the Continental Divide. When not running, we could enjoy the charms of Blairmore, which included antique shops, an old-timey movie theatre and friendly independent coffee shops. Unlike Banff, there wasn't a fudge counter or postcard rack in sight.
If you're looking to get a taste for the Wild West, rugged mountain scenery and unspoilt little towns, consider a trip to this often over-looked part of Western Canada. You won't find many Hiltons, but ranch accommodation, cabins and B&Bs abound.
As always, happy travels! |
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