| Mar 20, 2012 |
| First Day of Spring! |
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| Can you smell it in the air where you live? The ground thawing, the buds tightly curled, waiting to unfurl, the tentative green of early spring? |
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I can't. At about 1000ft above sea level, Burnaby Mountain woke up this morning to another day of frosty pavements and snow-covered roofs. Spring usually has sprung by this point in March, but it seems Mother Nature is keeping us waiting just a bit longer this year.
Down at sea level in Vancouver, it's still chilly, but the signs of spring are more evident: crocuses and snowdrops dot grass verges with their Easter egg colours of purple, yellow and white. The first cherry blossoms are about to shower the downtown core with their annual light pink confetti. Joggers are dodging the raindrops as they run around Stanley Park, training for April's Vancouver Sun Run.
With the start of spring, tourism begins to awaken in the Northern Hemisphere. It never hibernates of course; Europe still draws visitors in the cold months, as do the ski slopes of North America. But those travelers who spend winter searching for the sun down south are now turning their attention to the sidewalk cafes of Paris, National Parks of Western Canada, and cruises through the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas.
What destinations are on your radar this spring and summer? We'd love to hear about them! Share your travel plans with us on our Facebook Page! |
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| Mar 16, 2012 |
| Wheelchair-Friendly Tours in Glasgow, Scotland |
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| ToursByLocals recognises that many people with reduced mobility remain keen travelers. For this reason, we ask all of our guides to clearly label whether their individual tours are wheelchair-accessible or not. Reduced mobility should not be a barrier to seeing the world, and today we’d like to recognize one of our guides who has gone the extra mile to accommodate wheelchair users in her tours. |
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Angela is a Glaswegian (a native of Glasgow, Scotland) and has an appreciation for art, history, music, horticulture and garden design that she loves to share with visitors, along with her sense of humour. Having children herself, she understands the needs of parents or grandparents traveling with little ones.
Angela offers an additional service to clients with mobility issues at no extra cost to her standard tours. She will thoroughly research every aspect of the city in relation to personal concerns, such as wheelchair –friendly transport, difficulty with stairs, proximity to accessible toilets, and restaurants that easily accommodate wheelchair-users. As Angela points out: “Having good information about accessibility at your holiday destination is crucial for wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility.Give me your wish list and I will do the research, so whatever your interests, you can just arrive and look forward to your day.”
Although old European cities like Glasgow have some ancient parts that will never be overly easy to access for those with reduced mobility, there are a great many parts of the city that are, and Angela will make sure travelers see the best of them on her unique wheelchair-friendly Glasgow tour.
Thanks Angela, for making it easier for every traveler to your city to appreciate its old and new world charms. |
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| Mar 12, 2012 |
| Five Must-Sees in Fabulous Florence! |
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| The jewel of Renaissance Italy. A city of timeless beauty. A financial powerhouse and artistic treasure trove. Once even (briefly) the nation’s capital. Full of family legacies and modern imaginings, Florence is a city to savour. If you’re lucky enough to be planning a trip here, pour yourself a glass of Chianti and read on! Our guide Valentina joins us today to share her five favourite things to see and do in her hometown. |
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Uffizi Gallery
Piazzale degli Uffizi
Here you’ll find one of the most important painting collections in the world, gathered in a chronological order, which allows one to understand the evolution of Italian painting from Giotto through Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Titian, Raphael and many more. However, it is easy to walk through this gallery and miss the message, the meaning and history behind the key pieces. What is the best way to organize your visit? With an expert by your side explaining what you're seeing and providing you with tools to understand the context of the artwork.
Accademia Gallery
Via Ricasoli, 66
An absolute must see in Florence. David, sculpted from 1501 to 1504, is a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture and one of Michelangelo's greatest works of sculpture. Also, stop by the unfinished Michelangelo’s sculptures in the corridor leading up to David. They give insight about how an artist takes a huge block of marble and turns it into a masterpiece. (Suggestion, pre-book your tickets with your tour guide to avoid line-ups).
Piazzale Michelangelo
Come here for a breathtaking view over the lovely roofs of Florence. The Piazza overlooks all of Florence and is the best place to come for a view of the city. It’s easy to reach Piazzale Michelangelo: walk up the stairs or pathway or get up there via Bus no 13. Get ready for a view that you will never forget!
Gelateria dei Neri
Via dei Neri, 22
This is my favourite ice cream place in Florence! I love their “ricotta and fig” flavor. Neri has 3 display cases with upwards of 45 gelato flavors to choose from. All smooth and creamy and the flavors really pop in your mouth. Price-wise Neri is one of the most reasonably priced gelaterias in Florence, and the quality is phenomenal...give them a try when you’re in town.
Mercato Nuovo/ The Straw Market
Piazza del Mercato Nuovo
See living history at this16th Century market in Florence. Also known as “Mercato del porcellino” (Little pig’s market) due to the wild boar fountain located by the market. Many tourists come to rub the pig’s nose and throw a coin in the fountain. It is believed that doing so ensures a return trip to Florence. In the market, vendors are selling belts, scarves, leather goods and souvenirs. The market is open year-round, with limited hours during the winter. Stop by Roberto’s restaurant “Grotta Guelfa” just behind the market and enjoy Florence’s traditional meal of “Pappardelle al cinghiale” (wild boar) with a glass of red Chianti wine!
Thanks to Valentina for these great suggestions on how to spend time in beautiful Florence, Italy. If any travelers are headed to Florence in 2012, consider getting in touch with Valentina to gain insight into this city’s astonishing history of art – or maybe just to get directions to the best gelato in town. |
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| Mar 9, 2012 |
| Saint Petersburg: Where it all began |
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| Back when ToursByLocals first started in November 2008, the company had guides in only two countries: Canada and Russia. Compare that to now, with over 1100 excellent guides in 109 countries, and you'll see how far we've come in our mission to connect travelers with local guides anywhere in the world. |
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But today's blog post isn't about where we're going - it's about where we started, which is Saint Petersburg, Russia. Why here? The simple answer is that Paul and Dave, the company founders, took a trip to Saint Petersburg not long after the idea for ToursByLocals was hatched. While the trip's aim was primarily pleasure, Paul and Dave made a point of meeting several local guides to get a sense of their thoughts regarding the ToursByLocals business model. The response from the guides was extremely positive, and ToursByLocals was officially born with the enthusiastic Saunt Petersburg guides leading the charge.
Three and a half years later, our guides in Saint Petersburg are still a strong presence in our worldwide network. We have 15 of them listed, many of whom have been with us since early 2009. As they will tell you, it's a delight being a guide in a city that leaves visitors grasping for enough superlatives to describe its beauty.
Having a good guide in Saint Petersburg really is a must. Practically speaking, Saint Petersburg's attractions are spread over a vast area; the grand palaces, like Peterhof and Yusupov, are located outside of the city, some close to an hour away, and having a knowledgeable driver-guide means you'll get to see more of what you came to see, without getting lost!
Culturally, Saint Petersburg knows no bounds: its art, architecture and theatre performances are the city's true treasures, and having an expert along with you is like having the key to the treasure chest. For example, Irina, a ToursByLocals guide since March 2009, has a Master's in Fine Arts and is currently working on her PhD dissertation on the history of St. Petersburg architecture. Imagine touring the stately Hermitage with your own private guide explaining the many significances of one of the largest art collections in the world.
Recently a ToursByLocals traveler sent us a couple photos (see above) from his trip to St. Petersburg. While there, his group of four took tours with guides Irina and Alexander to see such sublime places as Yusupoff Palace and the summer home of Catherine the Great. Along with the photos, they left 5-star reviews for their obliging and extremely knowledgeable guides. |
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