Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Britain's Heritage Cities are ready for visitors]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/11/britains-heritage-cities-are-ready-for-visitors/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/11/britains-heritage-cities-are-ready-for-visitors/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/11/britains-heritage-cities-are-ready-for-visitors/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Britain's Heritage Cities are ready for visitors

Thanks to the London Olympics, which will open on July 27, and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, 2012 is expected to be a boom year for tourism in Great Britain. In the hopes of capitalizing on this trend, six historic cities have teamed up to get noticed by travelers intent on venturing beyond the English capital.

Bath, Carlisle, Chester, Oxford, Stratford-Upon-Avon, and York, Britain's so-called Heritage Cities, are trying to lure tourists with eight itineraries that explore their shared history. The Literary, Visual and Performing Arts tour, for example, takes in Oxford, Bath, and Stratford with stops at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the Bodleian Library, the model for Hogwarts Library in the 'Harry Potter' series. Meanwhile, travelers interested in England's North Country may want to follow the Great Castles, Stately Homes, and Gardens tour, which visits three countries (England, Wales, and Scotland) and three Heritage Cities (Carlisle, Chester, and York), and includes stops at a 12th century castle, the homes of Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth, and sections of Hadrian's Wall.

Beyond exploring these cities in a package tour, Britain's Heritage Cities website offers a glimpse of the top 10 attractions in each town. Did you know that York is considered the most haunted city in Europe? Or, that the city of Chester still carries on the medieval tradition of town criers? The most oh-so-British traditions and folklore live on in these Heritage Cities, so it may be worth checking them out while the past is still present.

Gallery: Britain's Heritage Cities

Roman Baths in BathCitadel in CarlisleOriginal Medieval Defensive Walls of ChesterOxford: Churches and CathedralsShakespeare's Birthplace in Stratford-Upon-Avon

Britain's Heritage Cities are ready for visitors originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bathBritish Heritage CitiesBritishHeritageCitiesCarlislechesterEnglandgreat britainGreatBritainHeritage CitiesHeritageCitiesLondonLondon OlympicsLondonOlympicsoxfordScotlandStratfordStratford-upon-AvonWalesyorkSat, 11 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mistra: a medieval ghost town in southern Greece]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/10/mistra-a-medieval-ghost-town-in-southern-greece/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/10/mistra-a-medieval-ghost-town-in-southern-greece/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/10/mistra-a-medieval-ghost-town-in-southern-greece/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Mistra, GreeceOn a steep hill overlooking the Vale of Sparta in southwestern Greece stands the last capital of the Roman Empire.

In 395 AD, beset by enemies, the empire split into western and eastern halves. The Western Roman Empire was soon overwhelmed. The east flourished. Its capital was at Constantinople, modern Istanbul. Known as the Byzantine Empire, it developed a distinctive style of art and architecture and protected the Greek Orthodox Church of its citizens.

Byzantium declined as civilizations always do, and suffered a serious blow during the Fourth Crusade in 1204. The Crusaders, who had originally set off to retake Jerusalem from the Muslims, decided to capture Constantinople instead. With its capital gone, Byzantium shattered into three small states. Byzantine art and the Greek Orthodox Church survived.

The Crusaders built an imposing castle on the summit of a hill overlooking the Vale of Sparta, one of a number of fortresses to protect their new domains. That didn't work. The Byzantine emperor Michael VIII Palaeologos recaptured Constantinople and steadily pushed the Crusaders out of the lands they had conquered. The castle at Mistra was handed over to the Byzantines in 1262 and a fortified city gradually began to take shape around it. Mistra became the regional capital of the Morea, as the Peloponnese was then called.

The Palaeologian dynasty was the last to rule the Roman Empire. It was a time of political and economic decline, with the Turks pushing in from the east, the Venetians dominating trade, and numerous other enemies nibbling away at the borders. Morea was one of the last wealthy regions of Byzantium and despite the empire's troubles witnessed a renaissance in art, learning, and culture.

Mistra is only seven kilometers outside of Sparta. It's an easy walk but I was anxious to start my visit and so I took a taxi and decided I'd walk back through the olive groves. After a week of cloudy, cold weather, the sky had cleared and the air was cool and pleasant. The winding road up the hill is dominated by the massive town wall. Passing through the gate, I found myself walking along steep, narrow lanes between the remnants of homes, palaces, and churches. Several of these Orthodox houses of worship are still open.

These churches are deceptive. On the outside they are prettily made with patterned brick and a series of small domes and half domes around a large central dome. It's inside that they show their true splendor. Frescoes cover the walls, domes, and pillars. Every available space is decorated with Biblical scenes and images of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints, all painted in a rich but somber style.
Mistra, Greece

Gallery: Mistra

Mistra from the distance with the Teygetus mountains behindThe city wallLooking up the hill toward the castle

Continue reading Mistra: a medieval ghost town in southern Greece

Mistra: a medieval ghost town in southern Greece originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>architectureartart historyArtHistoryByzantineByzantine artByzantineArtByzantineEmpireByzantiumcastlecastlesChristianitychurch frescoesChurchFrescoesConstantinoplecrusadecrusadersdespotate of the MoreaDespotateOfTheMoreafall of ConstantinopleFallOfConstantinoplefourth crusadeFourthCrusadefrescofrescoesghost townghost townsGhostTownGhostTownsGreeceGreece tourismGreece travelGreeceTourismGreeceTravelGreekGreek orthodox ChurchGreekOrthodoxChurchhistory of religonHistoryOfReligoniconiconsmedievalmedieval architecturemedieval churchmedieval churchesmedieval religionMedievalArchitectureMedievalChurchMedievalChurchesMedievalReligionmiddle agesMiddleAgesMistraMistrasMoreaMystraMystrasPalaeologoipastinperilPeloponnesereligionreligonSpartaVale of SpartaValeOfSpartaFri, 10 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hiking across Mordor in Tongariro National Park]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/10/hiking-across-mordor-in-tongariro-national-park/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/10/hiking-across-mordor-in-tongariro-national-park/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/10/hiking-across-mordor-in-tongariro-national-park/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,



There aren't many places where you feel the urge to wear your wedding ring around your neck and begin dodging fictional forces of evil.

New Zealand's Tongariro National Park, however, is exactly one of those places.

As anyone who has been to a movie theater in the last ten years probably knows, New Zealand was the setting for the epically popular Lord of the Rings trilogy which introduced us to the adventures of Middle Earth.

Arguably one of the best known movie series of an entire generation, the movie saga has simultaneously done wonders for the New Zealand tourism economy by displaying the country's enchanting and other worldly scenery to a global audience of millions. While Middle Earth tourism has sculpted out its own niche for diehard fans (my 2012 New Zealand road atlas, for example, points out where each scene was filmed), as a casual viewer there are only a few place names I actually recognize.

One of these, of course, is Mt. Doom, and as I set out from the campervan into the volcanic cinder of the Tongariro Crossing-one of New Zealand's most heavily trafficked walks-I found myself standing directly beneath it.

So what exactly is Mt. Doom?

Well, to begin, its real name is Mt. Ngauruhoe, it is 7,516 ft. high, and from the best I could tell there aren't any quivering, flaming black eyes located anywhere near it. While Mt. Ngauruhoe doubled as Mt. Doom, the surrounding bits of Tongariro National Park provided the scenery for Mordor, the fiery and terrifying volcanic wasteland that serves as the home of evil.

As it happens, Tongariro is actually pretty cold, even during the summer months. Lacing up my hiking boots at 6am with about 100 other trekkers, the morning dew had frozen and blanketed the campervan beneath a thin layer of frost.

"Weird", I thought. "There's not supposed to be snow in Mordor."

Continue reading Hiking across Mordor in Tongariro National Park

Hiking across Mordor in Tongariro National Park originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Best hikes in New ZealandBestHikesInNewZealandChateau TongariroChateauTongariroFreedomtoroamHike the Tongariro CrossingHikeTheTongariroCrossingNew Zealand Lord of the Rings TourismNew Zealand travelNewZealandLordOfTheRingsTourismNewZealandTravelTongariro Nationaal ParkTongariroNationaalParkwhere is MordorWhereIsMordorFri, 10 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vagabond Tales: Swimming with elephants in Thailand]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/09/vagabond-tales-swimming-with-elephants-in-thailand/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/09/vagabond-tales-swimming-with-elephants-in-thailand/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/09/vagabond-tales-swimming-with-elephants-in-thailand/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Anyone who has visited Thailand will recognize the word Chang.

The national beer of Thailand, the over sized green bottles are found everywhere from the markets of Chiang Mai to the bars of Bangkok's Khao San Road. In the Thai language, however, Chang does not mean beer. It means elephant. Hence the ornately drawn white elephant placed prominently on the bottle.

Another Thai word you may be familiar with is the word koh (also spelled ko). Ask anyone who just returned from Thailand about their trip, and they'll rattle the word off as if they're trying to remove a hairball.

"Oh the trip was great. We visited Koh Pha Ngan, Koh Lanta, Koh Mak, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Samui" etc.

Koh, as it turns out, is not the Thai word for hairball, but rather, it is the Thai word for island.
Put the two together, Koh and Chang, and what you are left with is Elephant Island, a nod to the fact that when viewed from the sea, the island appears to have the same profile as an elephant lying down. Therefore, it should come as little surprise that the lush and mountainous island of Koh Chang is one of Thailand's premier locations for riding elephants.

Though there are many places around the world where you can rest on top of a moving pachyderm, what's unique about Koh Chang is that it's the first place I've seen where you don't just get to ride on top of an elephant, but you go swimming with it as well.

Wait. Swimming with an elephant? This sounds dangerous. They're the largest living land mammal on planet Earth, and you want to go jump into a watering hole with them?

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: Swimming with elephants in Thailand

Vagabond Tales: Swimming with elephants in Thailand originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelbest island in ThailandBestIslandInThailandbudget-travelelephantsKoh ChangKoh Chang elephantsKohChangKohChangElephantsride elephants ThailandRideElephantsThailandswim with elephantsswim+with+elephants+thailandswimming with elephantsSwimmingWithElephantsSwimWithElephantsswimwithelephantsthailandthailandThailand travelThailandTravelvagabondtalesThu, 09 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Disneyland 1957]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/video-disneyland-1957/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/video-disneyland-1957/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/video-disneyland-1957/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



This footage of Disneyland 1957 was previously unreleased until recently. The film was cleaned up, edited, and paired with music, but all of the images are original. In 1957, the Disneyland park in Anaheim, California wasn't even yet two years old. The park opened in July of 1955. The best part about this footage is that it is actually good! The editing and overall cleanup job helps, of course, but the original filmmaker did a respectable job at capturing various aspects of the park and the young Disneyland experience.

Continue reading Video: Disneyland 1957

Video: Disneyland 1957 originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AnaheimAnaheim CaliforniaAnaheimCaliforniaDisneyDisney LandDisneylandDisneyland 1957Disneyland1957old footageold videoOldFootageOldVideoWed, 08 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[10 things to do in every city you visit]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/10-things-to-do-in-every-city-you-visit/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/10-things-to-do-in-every-city-you-visit/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/10-things-to-do-in-every-city-you-visit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

While every city has its own unique landmarks, culture, and sights to see, there are certain general things you can do in any city you visit to make your experience more memorable. To enhance your next trip, take this checklist with you and try to do each of these things in every city you visit.

food Sample the local cuisine

One way to really get to know a culture is through the food. It's seriously incredible how much cuisine can differentiate from culture to culture, and how much the way food is prepared and eaten, as well as what the food is, can tell you about a community. When visiting Ghana, Africa, I was amazed at how most of the staple foods seemed to come from root vegetables and were eaten without swallowing and without using utensils. While I wouldn't say fu-fu and banku are my favorite foods, I definitely am glad I tried them and got to see the intense preparation that went into making these dishes. Even if you travel to a western country or a place that isn't too different from your own, try a local favorite or something that the area is known for (it will almost definitely taste better than what you're used to anyway). If you're in Maine make sure to have a lobster. Visiting Naples, Italy? Eat a slice of pizza from its birthplace. Traveling to Australia? Vegemite, Tim Tams, and barbequed meats are definite musts.

Continue reading 10 things to do in every city you visit

10 things to do in every city you visit originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure travelAdventureTravelartbudget travelBudgetTravelcultural immersionCulturalImmersiondrinkfoodmarketsmuseumsWed, 08 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sparta: Greece's ancient warrior city]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/sparta-greeces-ancient-warrior-city/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/sparta-greeces-ancient-warrior-city/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/08/sparta-greeces-ancient-warrior-city/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

SpartaAfter having seen Athens and Corinth, I couldn't resist visiting one of the other great city-states of ancient Greece: Sparta.

Sparta needs no introduction. It's a star player on the History and Discovery channels and that schlocky pseudo-historical film 300. While I wanted to see the ancient ruins where brave warriors once strode, my main reason for going was to explore nearby Mistra, a Byzantine ghost town with a castle that rivals Acrocorinth. I'll get to that in my next post.

Sparta is a three-and-a-half hour bus ride from Athens. The route passes along the Aegean shore, through the Isthmus of Corinth, and into the Peloponnese, the peninsula that makes up southwestern Greece. Passing Corinth, the road ascends into rough hills that were being buffeted by a snowstorm.

Luckily the roads were in good condition and I made it on time. The clouds were breaking over the Vale of Sparta although it remained bitterly cold. My first stop was at the Fifth Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities to learn more about how the economic crisis was affecting archaeologists' ability to explore and preserve Greece's past. The Ephorates are divided by region, in this case Lakonia, roughly the central and southern Peloponnese, and also by period. There's a Fifth Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities too.

Archaeologists Lygeri Nikolakaki and Ageliki Mexia greeted me in their cramped office overflowing with books, reports, and maps. They spread out several maps in front of me to demonstrate just how rich their area was in medieval remains. Castles, churches, monasteries, and medieval towns dotted the landscape. This area was called the Morea in late Byzantine times and was one of the few centers of wealth, art, and learning during the waning days of the empire in the 14th and 15th centuries.

One region caught my eye--the Mani peninsula. The Ephorate has recorded some 2,000 Byzantine and post-Byzantine monuments on the peninsula, and the map showed hiking trails crisscrossing the area. The Maniots were always semi-independent, fierce fighters and pirates who never fully submitted to the Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, or Byzantines. Their culture remains distinct even today. As I was researching this trip I was already planning another one.

Gallery: Sparta

Map of the PeloponneseRuins and olive treesStairway to nowhereRecent excavationsThe theater and modern Sparta


Don't miss the rest of my series: Our Past in Peril, Greek tourism faces the economic crisis.

Coming up next: Mistra: a Byzantine ghost town in Greece!

Continue reading Sparta: Greece's ancient warrior city

Sparta: Greece's ancient warrior city originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ancient Greeceancient historyancient SpartaAncientGreeceAncientHistoryAncientSpartaarchaeologistarchaeologistsarchaeologyArchaeologyNewsarcheologyArcheologyNewsByzantineByzantine EmpireByzantineEmpireByzantiumcastlecastleseconomyGreeceGreece tourismGreece travelGreeceTourismGreeceTravelgreek debt crisisGreekDebtCrisishistorymedievalmedieval greeceMedievalGreecemiddle agesMiddleAgesmodern SpartaModernSpartaMoreamuseummuseum newsMuseumNewsmuseumspastinperilPeloponneseSpartaWed, 08 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Athens War Museum]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/06/the-athens-war-museum/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/06/the-athens-war-museum/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/06/the-athens-war-museum/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Athens War Museum
This is a Heckler & Koch MP5 9mm submachine gun with gold plated parts. It was given by the Defense Minister of Kuwait to former Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, probably as a thank you for his nation's help in liberating Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm. It's one of a case of Papandreou's personal weapons on display at the Athens War Museum.

Greece has a long and proud military history stretching all the way back to when hoplites met Persian invaders and chariots were the latest thing in military technology. This museum starts right at the beginning and goes up to the modern day. While the section on Classical Greece is large and well detailed, I'd seen this sort of thing in other museums. The other periods of history were much more interesting to me.

One hall is devoted to the armies of the Byzantine Empire. Unfortunately all the weapons here are reproductions, but there are some detailed dioramas of fortresses and troop formations that show just how advanced the Byzantines were. They even had "Greek Fire", an early form of napalm that played havoc with the sailing ships of the time.

The largest amount of space is devoted to Greece's two wars of liberation-first against the Ottoman Empire starting in 1821 and again against Nazi Germany during World War Two. This is when the Greeks really showed their fighting spirit-outnumbered, outgunned, and under occupation, they nevertheless fought against the superpowers of their day and eventually won.

Gallery: War Museum, Athens

How it all began. . .A reconstruction of a medieval flamethrower used to squirt Greek FireGreek fire shown in a 12th century manuscriptA more modern flamethrower from WWIIA passel of polearms

Continue reading The Athens War Museum

The Athens War Museum originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AthensAthens museumsAthens tourismAthens travelAthens war museumAthensMuseumsAthensTourismAthensTravelAthensWarMuseumByzantineByzantine EmpireByzantineEmpireByzantiumGreeceGreece tourismGreece travelGreeceTourismGreeceTravelGreek historyGreek military historyGreekHistoryGreekMilitaryHistoryhistorymedievalmedieval warfareMedievalWarfaremiddle agesMiddleAgesmilitary historyMilitaryHistorymuseummuseumspastinperilWaorld WarWaorld War IIWaorldWarWaorldWarIiwarwar museumwar museumsWarMuseumWarMuseumsWorld War 2World War IIWorldWar2WorldWarIiWW2WWIIMon, 06 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Adventure travel with a purpose in Israel's Negev Desert]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/04/adventure-travel-with-a-purpose-in-israels-negev-desert/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/04/adventure-travel-with-a-purpose-in-israels-negev-desert/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/04/adventure-travel-with-a-purpose-in-israels-negev-desert/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A view from the Negev DesertTravel can be such an incredible, life altering, experience, both for us, and the people that we interact with on our journeys. But seldom is that more clearly defined than in the case of an upcoming special trip from an organization called Bustan, which works closely with indigenous Bedouin tribes of the Negev Desert, a rocky, arid region located in southern Israel.

Starting in March, Bustan is launching a five-month long project in the Negev that will be a unique and intensive mix of education, cultural immersion, and desert adventure. Over the course of the time spent there, those joining the expedition will get the opportunity to live with the Bedouin people, while learning about their way of life and picking up practical skills on how to live simply and sustainably with the desert. They'll also gain extensive knowledge of the history of the Middle East, while also sharpening their Arabic language skills and discovering the unique landscapes of the Negev Desert.

But this journey also has a larger purpose as well. Participants will be living in the village of Qasar A Sir, which remains without many basic amenities that most of us take for granted, such as running water, electricity, or a sewer system. While there, travelers will be a part of Bustan's permaculture and sustainability program, which will help to create a more permanent community for the Bedouin people. They'll learn eco-building techniques, help create water harvesting systems, basic waste management facilities, organic gardens, and more permanent structures, all under the supervision of a team of educators who specialize in desert culture.

The cost for joining the trip has still not been posted on the Bustan website, but you'll find a lot more information about this opportunity by clicking here. This is one of those unique opportunities where you know before you go that you'll be a part of something that can truly impact the lives of those living in the place you visit.

[Photo courtesy Free Israel Photos via WikiMedia]

Adventure travel with a purpose in Israel's Negev Desert originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelbedouinnegev desertNegevDesertSat, 04 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Trek the Colombian Andes in El Cocuy National Park with Mountain Madness]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/trek-the-colombian-andes-in-el-cocuy-national-park-with-mountain/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/trek-the-colombian-andes-in-el-cocuy-national-park-with-mountain/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/trek-the-colombian-andes-in-el-cocuy-national-park-with-mountain/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

colombia adventure travelAcclaimed Seattle-based adventure travel company and guide service Mountain Madness debuts its newest trip on February 4th: an excursion to Colombia's El Cocuy National Park. Although Colombia is often characterized as being mostly tropical jungle or coastline, the Andean Cordillera Oriental crosses a significant portion of the country. The El Cocuy trip will allow trekkers to explore glaciers, alpine lakes, and remote colonial villages.

Mountain Madness owner and president Mark Gunlogson has years of experience as a mountaineering guide all over the world, and the company is renowned for its reputable and distinctive trekking trips and alpine climbing schools, particularly in South America and the Himalayas. For this inaugural El Cocuy adventure, Gunglogson will lead five other trekkers and climbers as they "explore this area's potential for adventure travel. The team hopes to dispel the myth of danger with travel in Colombia and open up a new, cutting-edge trip."

Activities will include mountaineering, trekking, rock climbing, and cultural exchange, a Mountain Madness hallmark. Check out the company's blog for dispatches from El Cocuy. Buena suerte, team!

Video: How to self-arrest with an ice ax

How to Self Arrest with an Ice Axe

Trek the Colombian Andes in El Cocuy National Park with Mountain Madness originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Acropolis, Athens, Greece
Visiting Greece and not visiting the Acropolis is unthinkable. Set atop a high rock overlooking Athens, the temples here were built primarily to honor the city's patron goddess Athena in all her attributes. The buildings here are some of the best examples of Greek architecture and have had a profound effect on the architecture of all the Western world. While I have a preference for medieval sites like Acrocorinth, and I've visited the Acropolis before, I couldn't help but go back.

The last time I was there was 1994, and a lot has changed. There has been a great deal of restoration and the world-class Acropolis Museum has opened up.

Here's one attraction that the Greek government needs to preserve as it passes through its worst economic crisis since World War Two. People still flock here and it's a major reason why Greece is an important tourist destination. Tourism accounts for 18 percent of the Greek GDP and tourist numbers went up last year. Several sources told me there were two reasons for this: budget-conscious Europeans are traveling closer to home and people are staying away from North African favorites like Tunisia and Egypt.

Even though sites like the Acropolis generate billions of euros a year in revenue, the Ministry of Culture survives on just 0.7 percent of the national budget, and that budget is shrinking faster than the supply of Greek olives I brought back from this trip. In the past year the ministry has seen its budget slashed by almost a third, with warnings of more cuts to come. Museums are already feeling the pinch and now ministers, archaeologists, and site directors are scrambling to find ways to maintain their their heritage. There are even plans to lease the Acropolis for film backdrops and photo shoots to help raise funds.

Gallery: The Acropolis and Acropolis Museum

The Propylaia, the entrance to the AcropolisThe first view of the Parthenon as you enter the AcropolisThe Sanctuary of Athena NikeThe ErechtheionCaryatid columns in the Erechtheion

Continue reading The Acropolis: Greece's most famous monument weathers the crisis

The Acropolis: Greece's most famous monument weathers the crisis originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AcropolisAcropolis museumAcropolisMuseumarchaeologyarcheologyarchitectureAthensAthens tourismAthens travelAthensTourismAthensTravelclassicclassicalclassical archaeologyClassicalArchaeologyclassicseconomiceconomic crisiseconomic recoveryEconomicCrisisEconomicRecoveryeconomyGreeceGreece tourismGreece travelGreeceTourismGreeceTravelGreek architectureGreek debtgreek debt crisisGreek economic crisisGreek economyGreekArchitectureGreekDebtGreekDebtCrisisGreekEconomicCrisisGreekEconomymuseumsparthenonpastinperilrecessionrestorationThe AcropolisTheAcropolisUNESCOUnescoWorldHeritageSiteUnescoWorldHeritageSitesworld heritage siteworld heritage sitesWorldHeritageSiteWorldHeritageSitesFri, 03 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Stand up paddling with stingrays in New Zealand's Murderer's Bay]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/stand-up-paddling-with-stingrays-in-new-zealands-murderers-bay/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/stand-up-paddling-with-stingrays-in-new-zealands-murderers-bay/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/03/stand-up-paddling-with-stingrays-in-new-zealands-murderers-bay/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Though Captain James Cook was the first European to set foot on the islands of New Zealand in 1769, he was not the first European to "discover it". That honor would belong to Dutch explorer Abel Tasman who sailed past the country while navigating the Southern Ocean for the Dutch east India Company in 1642.

Blown off course by a strong easterly wind, Abel Tasman first sighted the northwest reaches of the South Island of New Zealand and thought he may have stumbled upon the bottom part of Argentina. Confused but intrigued, Tasman decided to make the most of the discovery and arranged an expedition party to be sent ashore to gather fresh water.

Unfortunately, the expedition was met by a band of native Maori people curious of the tall ships which had suddenly appeared off their coast, and after a hostile skirmish which historians have attributed to multiple cultural misunderstandings, Tasman sailed from the area with four fewer men than he had arrived with. As a result of the incident, Tasman saw it fitting to label the area as "Murderer's Bay".

360 years later, I ruminated on this violent turn of events while stand-up paddling above a gray stingray languishing in the tidal shallows of Murderer's Bay.

On a brilliantly sunny and calm morning in which it was possible to stare straight through the turquoise waters, I found myself paddling in nearly the exact same spot where Tasman's men had met their fate so many centuries ago. No longer referred to as Murderer's Bay, with the discovery of gold in the region in the 1850's it was prosperously renamed Golden Bay, and the name has stuck ever since.

Located in the sunniest region of New Zealand, Golden Bay is still somewhat of a secret when compared to neighboring Abel Tasman National Park. Although the Tata Islands--rocks that sit just offshore of Golden Bay and are covered in fur seals--are technically still part of Abel Tasman National Park, Golden Bay offers the same South Pacific setting as it's crowded counterpart, yet for some reason there is hardly anybody here.

Except, of course, for me and the stingrays.

Gallery: Welcome to Golden Bay, New Zealand

Kayking the empty beaches of Golden Bay; All photos by Heather EllisonWIndsurfers with a plan for all tidesA colony of black oystercatchers relaxes on the sandspitStandup paddling the empty spits of Golden Bay

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Stand up paddling with stingrays in New Zealand's Murderer's Bay originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abel+tasmanabeltasmanbest of New ZealandBestOfNewZealandcampervan+nzcampervannzFarewell Spit toursFarewellSpitToursfreedomtoroamGolden BayGoldenBayNew Zealand campervan travelNew Zealand travelnew+zealand+mapNewZealandCampervanTravelnewzealandmapNewZealandTravelPaddle Abel Tasman National ParkPaddleAbelTasmanNationalParkstand up paddle Golden BayStandUpPaddleGoldenBaystingraySurf Wharariki BeachSurfWhararikiBeachTata IslandsTataIslandstravel New Zealand south islandTravelNewZealandSouthIslandundiscovered New ZealandUndiscoveredNewZealandWharariki BeachWhararikiBeachzealandFri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Athens day trip: Acrocorinth, one of Greece's greatest castles]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/01/athens-day-trip-acrocorinth-one-of-greeces-greatest-castles/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/01/athens-day-trip-acrocorinth-one-of-greeces-greatest-castles/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/01/athens-day-trip-acrocorinth-one-of-greeces-greatest-castles/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Acrocorinth, Greece, castle, castles
Greece is justly famous for its ancient monuments. The Acropolis, Delphi, and other Classical sites are the reason most history lovers come to this ancient land. The medieval period, however, produced many equally impressive monuments and it's a shame they're so often overlooked. Greece is filled with giant castles, remote monasteries, and lovely churches decorated with gold mosaics and richly colored paintings.

One of the largest castles in Greece is Acrocorinth, less than an hour away from Athens by train. It sits atop a rocky hill 1,800 feet high overlooking the famous city and harbor of Corinth. Its strategic location close to the Isthmus of Corinth, the narrow strip of land connecting the Peloponnese with the rest of Greece, makes it one of the most important castles in the country.

I arrived there one rainy morning to find the hill and its castle wreathed in mist. A taxi ride from the train station took me up a winding road past sheer drops. No approach to the summit is easy, and from some sides it would take a skilled mountain climber to get up. Only the western slope is relatively passable, and it's protected by triple walls.

Acrocorinth is such an obvious point for defense that there's been a castle here for more than 2,500 years. The ancient Greeks built a temple to Aphrodite at the top and built walls made of massive stones to serve as a refuge for the Corinthians against pirates and invaders.
In AD 146 the Romans destroyed Corinth and its castle and for many years they lay abandoned.

The temple was replaced by a church in the 5th or 6th century AD. By this time the Western Roman Empire had collapsed and the Eastern Roman Empire, known as Byzantium, was a powerful Christian state ruling over much of the eastern Mediterranean with its capital at Constantinople, modern Istanbul. Corinth and Acrocorinth became important again as a Byzantine regional capital.

Gallery: Acrocorinth

A view from the distanceDrawbridge and first gateFirst gateSecond gateView through second gate

Continue reading Athens day trip: Acrocorinth, one of Greece's greatest castles

Athens day trip: Acrocorinth, one of Greece's greatest castles originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AcrocorintharchitectureAthensAthens day tripAthens daytripAthensDayTripByronLeftwichByzantine artByzantineArtByzantiumcastlecastlesCorinthCrusadeCrusader castleCrusaderCastlecrusaderscrusadesFourth CrusadeFourthCrusadeGreecegreece crisisGreece tourismGreeceCrisisGreeceTourismGreek castleGreek castlesGreekCastleGreekCastlesmedievalmedieval architecturemedieval historymedieval warfareMedievalArchitectureMedievalHistoryMedievalWarfaremiddle agesMiddleAgesmilitary historyMilitaryHistoryOttomanpastinperilPelopennesesiegesiege warfaresiegesSiegeWarfarewarWed, 01 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Greek museums face the economic crisis]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/01/greek-museums-face-the-economic-crisis/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/01/greek-museums-face-the-economic-crisis/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/01/greek-museums-face-the-economic-crisis/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Greek museumsIt's not easy being the caretaker of Greece's heritage these days. Greek museums are facing budget cuts, strikes, reduced staff, even loss of visitors due to riots. The National Archaeological Museum had many rooms closed during the peak tourist season last summer due to budget cuts, and strikes are regularly closing all publicly owned museums.

Take the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens. It collects the nation's Medieval heritage, focusing especially on the glory days of Byzantium. When the Roman Empire split into western and eastern halves in 395 AD, the West fell apart within a century, but the East, known as Byzantium, survived for another thousand years. Byzantium produced a distinct and beautiful artistic style and preserved many Classical works that then became the inspiration for the Renaissance.

The museum was founded in 1914 in the palace of a French noble. For most of the twentieth century the displays didn't change much and visitors tended to pass it by for the more famous Classical sights.

"It was a place only for scholars," said Nikolas Constantios, an archaeologist and museologist who works there and showed me around the recently revamped permanent exhibition.

And what an exhibition! Some four hundred icons are on display. Richly embroidered church vestments stand next to colorfully painted manuscripts, gold coins, and day-to-day objects. It's all laid out in an open, well-lit fashion that reminded me of the new Ashmolean in Oxford. This modern style replaced the old "cases filled with stuff" museum design and helps combat museum fatigue.

This ten-year revitalization project almost came too late. The money, half of which came from the Ministry of Culture and half from the European Union, was already earmarked when the crisis hit.

Gallery: The Art of Byzantium

Greek schoolkids learn about thier heritageAn early medieval wooden Coptic cross from EgyptMytholigical imagery continued even after the switch to ChristianityByzantine footwearIcon of the Archangel Michael, painted in Constantinople in the 14th century

Continue reading Greek museums face the economic crisis

Greek museums face the economic crisis originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archaeologyarchaeoloogy newsArchaeoloogyNewsarcheologyArcheologyNewsartart newsArtNewsAthensAthens city museumAthens museumsAthens tourismAthens travelAthensCityMuseumAthensMuseumsAthensTourismAthensTravelByzantineByzantine and Christian museumByzantine artByzantineAndChristianMuseumByzantineArtByzantiumeconomic crisisEconomicCrisiseconomicseconomyGreecegreece crisisgreece debt crisisGreece tourismGreece travelGreeceCrisisGreeceDebtCrisisGreeceEconomyGreeceTourismGreeceTravelGreek museumsGreekMuseumshistorymedievalmiddle agesMiddleAgesmuseologymuseummuseum newsMuseumNewsmuseumspastinperilWed, 01 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: From steel town to scenic city]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/31/pittsburgh-pennsylvania-from-steel-town-to-scenic-city/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/31/pittsburgh-pennsylvania-from-steel-town-to-scenic-city/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/31/pittsburgh-pennsylvania-from-steel-town-to-scenic-city/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

pittsburghWhile many people still visualize Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to be an old steel city, the hilly town has certainly changed a lot in the last 30-40 years. My first impressions when arriving were that the lit up hillsides, public art, modern architecture, colorful bridges, scenic rivers, diverse restaurants and lively club scene made Pittsburgh seem a lot more eclectic and trendy than industrial. If you're visiting Pittsburgh, here is a guide to help you navigate the best the city has to offer based on your preferences.

For a mix of history and food

Visit the Strip District. The area was home to many industrial innovations (it's where Andrew Carnegie began doing business in the iron and steel industry) as well as a once booming produce industry, a legacy that can still be tasted through ethnic food shops, cafes, markets, and restaurants. Use Penn Avenue as your main focal point, and veer off as necessary. Make sure to stop in the Pennsylvania Macaroni Co. for traditional Italian groceries and natural alternatives to processed cheeses, sauces, soups, and meats, as well as Mon Aimee Chocolat for unique varieties of organic and artisanal chocolate. For those who love vino, Dreadnought Wines offers glasses and accessories as well as specialty wines and educational classes, like "Cooking with Wine" and "High Brows and Low Brows- Can You Taste the Difference?". A stop in Penzeys Spices is a delight for the nose as visitors can walk around and sniff the many herbs and seasonings out on display, as well as ask questions about the products and get free recipes. Want to educate yourself on the city's history and culture? A visit to Senator John Heinz History Center allows you to explore Pittsburgh's past and present through six floors of exhibits on local sports, companies, heroes, innovations, artifacts, and more. My favorite parts were sitting in an old-fashioned trolley and walking through a life-sized replication of a traditional early-1900's home.

For a list of businesses in the Strip District, click here. To keep up to date with events in the area, click here.

Continue reading Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: From steel town to scenic city

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: From steel town to scenic city originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artarts and cultureArtsAndCulturebest cities in the united statesBestCitiesInTheUnitedStatesethnic restaurantsEthnicRestaurantsfunky coffee shopsFunkyCoffeeShopsnightlifepennsylvaniapittsburghpittsburgh penquinspittsburgh steelersPittsburghPenquinsPittsburghSteelerssportsvegetarianTue, 31 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Paris postcard: Savoring the subversively seductive splendors of the Marais]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/31/paris-postcard-savoring-the-subversively-seductive-splendors-of/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/31/paris-postcard-savoring-the-subversively-seductive-splendors-of/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/31/paris-postcard-savoring-the-subversively-seductive-splendors-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



French star architect Jean Nouvel once gave me a ride home from his studio in Paris' edgy 11th arrondissement. I chuckled to discover that the guru of transparency, glass and steel lives around the corner from me in a 1600s building on the Rue des Francs Bourgeois, the spinal column of the Marais. Old is better?

I was amused but not surprised: after 40 years of blanket gentrification the Marais has reportedly become theplace to live for a mix of fashion designers, artists, architects, auctioneers and other professionals-plus droves of bobos, meaning bohemian bourgeois. It's so desirable that it's practically unlivable.

Luckily you don't have to move here to enjoy the Marais: wandering its patchwork of streets from the 1500s-1800s is still a magical experience.

For one thing, super-rich celebs and bobos aren't the only ones drawn here. Trawl the gay district around Rue Vieille du Temple, the Rue des Rosiers Jewish neighborhood, or the Place des Vosges-the Marais' centerpiece square-and you'll discover a global festival of hip hedonism.

What's the attraction? The Marais' storied streets spread on the Right Bank between Beaubourg (the Pompidou Center) and the Bastille, the Seine, and the dowdy Place de la République. They're home to enough boutiques, museums, art galleries, trendy restaurants and cafés stuffed into landmark townhouses to defeat even those born to shop (the French call such people "window-lickers"). This is a safari park for people-watchers, a study in how to preserve and gentrify a unique historic neighborhood.

The penurious few who wound up here before the Marais became trendy do what we can to appreciate the hallowed atmosphere without sounding like party-poopers. Truth be told each time I step out I discover something new and wonderful in my backyard. But I always find myself at least once a day in the Place des Vosges.

Continue reading Paris postcard: Savoring the subversively seductive splendors of the Marais

Paris postcard: Savoring the subversively seductive splendors of the Marais originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturedavid downieDavidDowniefrancemaraisparisTue, 31 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vagabond Tales: Is sandboarding better than snowboarding?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/31/vagabond-tales-is-sandboarding-better-than-snowboarding/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/31/vagabond-tales-is-sandboarding-better-than-snowboarding/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/31/vagabond-tales-is-sandboarding-better-than-snowboarding/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Contrary to what you may believe, the ocean in Peru is not very warm. In fact, it's not warm at all. It's freezing.

Other than desert outposts in the northern reaches of the country where it's still possible to surf in boardshorts (Mancora, Vichayito, etc.), the Humboldt current--which swings northward from Antarctica--renders the water in Peru so cold that much of the coast is a seascape of lonely gray populated by neoprene-clad surfers suffering from ice cream headaches (surf slang for intense pain in the temples felt when diving beneath a frigid wave).

For this precise reason there was little part of me which wanted to surf in Peru.

But wait, Peru has some of the best waves in the world. Chicama, Pacasmayo, Cabo Blanco? These places are legendary. What's wrong with you?

Standing on the rocky shores of Huanchaco, a beachfront suburb of the colonial city of Trujillo, the thought of removing my warm flannel and thrusting my ceviche-laden body into 51° water held remarkably little appeal. That, and the waves simply just weren't that good. Admittedly, a fair weather surfer I will be.

Having already toured the ruins of Huaca de Sol and Chan Chan, ancient cities of the Moche and Chimu people who began inhabiting this coastline around 400 AD, my wife and I were simply going to have to find adventure elsewhere.

How about sand boarding?

For years I had seen photos of warm-weather renegades riding down sand dunes from Morocco to New Zealand to here on the coast of Peru. Still, I was skeptical. It's sand. Not snow. Or water. How fun can it possibly be?

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: Is sandboarding better than snowboarding?

Vagabond Tales: Is sandboarding better than snowboarding? originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chan ChanChanChanChimu PeruChimuPeruHumboldt currentHumboldtCurrentMoche people PeruMochePeoplePeruperuPeru cold oceanPeru sandboardingPeruColdOceanPeruSandboardingsand board Perusandboard Trujillo Perusandboardingsandboarding better than snowboardingSandboardingBetterThanSnowboardingSandBoardPeruSandboardTrujilloPerusurf PeruSurfPeruvagabondtalesTue, 31 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New series: Our past in peril, Greek tourism faces the economic crisis]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/30/new-series-our-past-in-peril-greek-tourism-faces-the-economic/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/30/new-series-our-past-in-peril-greek-tourism-faces-the-economic/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/30/new-series-our-past-in-peril-greek-tourism-faces-the-economic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Greek tourism, Greek
This is a sculpture of a fallen Greek warrior from the temple of Aphaia on the Greek island of Aigina. Made in the 5th century BC, it's an important example of Early Classical Greek art. This was a time when Greek artists began imitating life with realistic poses and expressions.

We owe so much to the ancient Greeks--our ideas of art, architecture, democracy, philosophy, theater, and a lot more. When Greece was conquered by the Romans three centuries after this sculpture was made, Greek culture actually flourished, finding new outlets in the receptive and expanding Roman Empire. Horace once said: Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit (Captive Greece took captive her rude conqueror). The suffering yet proud face on this fallen warrior reflects Greek history--cycles of tragedy and triumph.

Suffering yet proud. That's the impression I get of Greece these days. An economy in shambles, general strikes, people being forced to give up their children. At the same time, an increasing number of Greeks are going back to the land and sea to revitalize the traditional cornerstones of the Greek economy. Meanwhile, Greeks from all walks of life are taking to the streets to protest cutbacks that threaten their livelihood.

The cutbacks threaten our past too. Not the Greek past, our past, because Western civilization is based to a large extent on Greek civilization. Regular general strikes against the austerity measures imposed by the IMF mean that seeing the physical remains of our heritage has become a game of chance. A minister's suggestion to lease the Acropolis and other ancient sites was treated with scorn one week, and approved the next. Three important paintings, including one by Picasso, were stolen from the Athens National Gallery because cutbacks had left only one guard on duty. And it can get far, far worse. Allowing Greece to fall would be like burning an attic full of family heirlooms and photo albums.

For the next week I'll be in Greece interviewing museum curators, archaeologists, and regular Greeks about the problems facing our collective past. How are the strikes inhibiting access to museums and sights? How much are staff cuts reducing opening hours and the nation's ability to conserve and restore our heritage? I'll also be seeing, strikes permitting, some of the nation's greatest monuments such as the Acropolis and Agora, as well as lesser-known treasures such as Mistra, briefly the capital of the Roman Empire, and the Crusader castle of Villehardouin.

Unfortunately, this sculpture will not be among them. It's now the property of the Staatliche Antikensammlungen und Glyptothek in Munich, Germany. The same country whose banks currently own the second largest share of Greek national debt after France. The statue of the fallen Greek was taken by a German baron in 1811 when Greece was under the control of a different foreign power--the Ottoman Empire.

Next in the series: Athens nightlife: desperate pensioners on the hustle!

Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

New series: Our past in peril, Greek tourism faces the economic crisis originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ancient historyAncientHistoryarchaeologyarchosAthensclassicalclassical historyClassicalHistoryClassicial civilizationClassicialCivilizationeconomic crisisEconomicCrisiseconomyGreeceGreece tourismGreece travelGreeceTourismGreeceTravelGreekGreek artGreek economic crisisGreek economyGreek historygreek tourismGreekArtGreekEconomicCrisisGreekEconomyGreekHistoryGreekTourismheritagehistorynew seriesNewSeriespastinperilseriesSpartaMon, 30 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kaikoura, New Zealand: Surfing, seals, and seafood]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/27/freedom-to-roam-the-coastal-beauty-of-kaikoura/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/27/freedom-to-roam-the-coastal-beauty-of-kaikoura/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/27/freedom-to-roam-the-coastal-beauty-of-kaikoura/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



"The chowder isn't the type you have back in the States" I am warned.

The brunette woman working the oceanfront seafood cart has detected my accent and is concerned I won't like her steaming bowl of mollusks.

"There isn't much cream, just freshly made broth mixed with massive chunks of crayfish and mussels."

Facing the kelp strewn waters of the Kaikoura Peninsula, a popular hamlet on the eastern coast of New Zealand's South Island, this is exactly what I was hoping for: Massive chunks of crayfish and mussels. After all, it's only appropriate for a place whose name literally translates to "meal of crayfish".

Regardless, eating anything else in Kaikoura would just feel wrong, because Kaikoura is not a processed, pre-packaged type of town. It's a place where the smell of sea salt wafts on the breeze and surfers recount that morning's early dawn session. Storefronts advertise seal swimming, whale watching, and guided eco-walks, while local scuba shops display the current water temperature and visibility on outdoor chalkboards adorned in smiling blue dolphins.

This, I realize, is what separates Kaikoura from all of the other adventure destinations and photo opportunities which lay scattered around the South Island of New Zealand. Kaikoura is different from the gorges of Franz Josef glacier or walks such as the Routeburn Track in that it has been a long time since I have traveled through a place that refreshingly feels so alive.

Sure, there are pubs with drink specials and tacky New Zealand souvenir stores like any other tourist haunt in the world, but in Kaikoura there seems to be an intrinsic harmony the town has with nature that gives it an energy not felt in other parts of the country.

Nowhere is this more apparent than ambling over limpet covered rocks beneath the peninsula walkway on Kean Point. Aside from the sandy strands of kelp which give the walk a malodorous yet authentic aroma, the shoreline teems with nesting red billed seagulls and dozens of southern fur seals lounging contentedly on the warm rocks.

Gallery: Kaikoura is alive

Shearwaters rest on a tidal plateau; All photos by Heather EllisonGet off my rockThe early morning beauty of the seaside KaikourasThe Kaikoura Peninsula spread out to the seaA local Kaikoura surfer enjoys an early morning line

Continue reading Kaikoura, New Zealand: Surfing, seals, and seafood

Kaikoura, New Zealand: Surfing, seals, and seafood originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Never forget: Holocaust museums and memorials around the world

Here at Gadling, our goal is to introduce readers to travel ideas that are relevant. While we strive to find the new and the cool, we realize that some journeys must occasionally lead us to confront difficult episodes in our past, whether on a personal or global scale.

Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, designated by the United Nations in 2005 to mark the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp on January 27, 1945. As we get further away from the Nazi atrocities of World War II and as we lose more Holocaust survivors to old age, a day to commemorate the Holocaust becomes ever more important.

During college, as I was considering a career as a Holocaust historian, I interned as a research assistant at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) in Washington, DC, one of the most comprehensive collections of Holocaust artifacts and documents in the entire world. My job was to transcribe video testimonies from Holocaust survivors, in particular men and women who had lived in the Jewish ghettos of Warsaw, Riga, and Vilnius. Watching those films and, indeed, encountering documents, photos, and memorabilia from the Holocaust on a daily basis brought home to me the significance of the mission of the USHMM and other Holocaust museums throughout the world.

While the best way to fully understand the magnitude of the Holocaust is to visit Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen, Dachau, Sachsenhausen, or any of the other concentration camps in Central and Eastern Europe, museums and memorials in numerous cities and countries around the world serve to educate young and old and ensure that we never forget those who perished or the ones who lived to tell their stories. Take some time to reflect on this Holocaust Remembrance Day with this gallery of some of the world's most renowned Holocaust museums and memorials.

Gallery: World Holocaust Museums and Memorials

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DCYad Vashem, JerusalemHolocaust Memorial, BerlinMuseum of Jewish HeritageAnne Frank House, Amsterdam


Photo: USHMM

Never forget: Holocaust museums and memorials around the world originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>concentration campConcentrationCampholocaustHolocaust MemorialHolocaust MuseumHolocaust Remembrance DayHolocaustMemorialHolocaustMuseumHolocaustRemembranceDayNazisworld war IIWorldWarIiFri, 27 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST