Sep 30th, 2011 at 1:00PM: Every year, thousands of English speakers visit Madrid on holiday or to teach English. Most never explore the many hikes near Madrid, and that's a shame. The Sierra de Guadarrama offers some challenging and varied routes, and the lowland areas of the Comunidad de Madrid offer pleasant rambles. One of the best spots is La Pedriza, which can be a tough slog and easy to get lost in.
One of the ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
map posts
Hikes near Madrid: a new guidebook shows you the way (in English!)
Sep 30th, 2011 at 1:00PM: Every year, thousands of English speakers visit Madrid on holiday or to teach English. Most never explore the many hikes near Madrid, and that's a shame. The Sierra de Guadarrama offers some challenging and varied routes, and the lowland areas of the Comunidad de Madrid offer pleasant rambles. One of the best spots is La Pedriza, which can be a tough slog and easy to get lost in.
One of the ...My kid is more up-to-date on geography than Google Maps
Sep 23rd, 2011 at 5:00PM: "Where's South Sudan?" my five-year-old asked me.
Being my kid, he's big into maps. He has a map of Africa with all the flags on it hanging above his bed. Using it, he's been able to trace dad's adventures in Ethiopia and Somaliland. It's been marked up a bit since I got it for him more than a year ago. I had to draw the boundary of the unrecognized state of Somaliland on it, and we had to add ...VIDEO: 50 state stereotypes in 2 minutes
May 30th, 2011 at 2:00PM:
Enjoy poking fun at other American states? You might enjoy this video posted by our friends at Huffington Post Comedy covering all 50 state stereotypes in 2 minutes and change. From Alabama "
Our state bird is the NASCAR" to Wyoming "
We don't have any gay cowboys, alright? Okay, maybe a few gay cowboys...", no state is left unparodied (read the video transcript here). Lest you think video ...
Gallery: More travel sketches from BBC's Tim Baynes
May 18th, 2011 at 3:00PM:
We wrote yesterday about Tim Baynes' delightful travel sketches from around the world on BBC and liked them so much we came back for more. You can (and should!) get lost for hours looking at his drawings on Flickr with fun anecdotes and scribbles bringing depth and humor to his slice-of-life artwork.
Check out some of our favorites in the gallery below, from a look inside the BBC Starbucks to ...Gallipoli battlefield being mapped by GPS
Apr 24th, 2011 at 10:00AM:
Archaeologists in Turkey are making a detailed survey of the famous World War One battle of Gallipoli. Using period military maps and GPS technology, they're mapping the old trenches and redoubts used by both sides.
Gallipoli was the scene of fierce fighting starting in 1915. A peninsula with highlands dominating the Dardanelles strait linking the Black and the Aegean seas, it guarded the ...US map of stereotypes
Apr 11th, 2011 at 9:15AM:
We here at Gadling love maps and infographics, so we're enjoying this tongue-in-cheek US map of stereotypes, ranging from "rainy hipsters" in the Northwest, to "old peeps" down in Florida by blogger and artist Haley Nahman. We're a bit puzzled over some of the stereotypes such as the "fashion bloggers" in the Carolinas, but can't argue with the "mountains and meadows and maybe some animals" in ...A travel guide to the 2011 Oscar movies
Feb 2nd, 2011 at 4:00PM: The 83rd annual Academy Awards are coming up in a few weeks and the Oscars race is on. This year's nominations contained few surprises, with many nods for Brit period piece The King's Speech, Facebook biopic The Social Network, and headtrip Inception. While 2010's ultimate travel blockbuster Eat, Pray, Love failed to made the cut, there's still plenty to inspire wanderlust among the Best Picture ...Why your state sucks: the depressing but true map of America
Jan 27th, 2011 at 9:00AM:
The folks over at Pleated Jeans have come up with a funny yet painful new map of America. It doesn't show our cities or rivers or mountains, it shows our flaws. As you can see, each state is singled out for what they're worst at. Maps reveal a lot about the territory they cover, and this one shows more than some people may want to see.
I've lived in three different states and I have to say ...Ordnance Survey maps: sometimes government CAN do a great job
Dec 22nd, 2010 at 3:30PM: The BBC recently interviewed a cartographer for the Ordnance Survey. This government department is in charge of mapping the United Kingdom, except for Northern Ireland, which has its own agency.
If you like maps or plan to hike in the UK, the Ordnance Survey maps are simply amazing. They've been measuring and drawing this green and pleasant land since the eighteenth century and produce the best ...The world according to Facebook
Dec 14th, 2010 at 3:30PM:
Our lonely planet continues to become less and less lonely. Thanks to the advent of social networking sites like Facebook, users can connect far-flung parts of the world at the tap of a keyboard. This fascinating map (click to enlarge) created by Facebook intern Paul Butler charts the interactions between Facebook users from around the globe, and it shows the unbelievable extent to which ...Mystery hitchhiker becomes poster child for National Library of Wales
Oct 6th, 2010 at 9:30AM: Have you seen this man?
This is Islwyn Roberts, who was photographed in 1958 by Welsh newspaper Y Cymro as he set off to hitchhike around the world. It was a different world back then--flying was only for the rich, and many countries were sealed off behind the Iron Curtain. Mr. Roberts would have seen traditions and cultures that have all but died out today.
It must have been an amazing ...Hiking the East Highland Way--the practicalities
Aug 30th, 2010 at 9:30AM:
Hiking a brand-new trail has both advantages and challenges. The main plus to hiking the East Highland Way was that I had the trail all to myself. I never did meet that mysterious German who was a day ahead of me, and I met nobody else doing the trail. Hotel owners along the route do report a steady trickle of hikers, and that trickle will only increase. In the short term, however, you will get ...The East Highland Way day four: Pictish forts and empty wilderness
Aug 25th, 2010 at 9:30AM:
Views like this reassure me that I'm doing the right thing with my life.
It's day four of my trek along the East Highland Way in Scotland, and the terrain is getting increasingly rugged. My trip today will take me through the most remote part of my walk. But before I go, I have an archaeological wonder to see first.
I head to a hill overlooking the village of Laggan to visit Dun-Da-Lamh, a ...Map and highlighter are essential - Packing tip
Aug 10th, 2010 at 11:37PM: Wherever, however, you go traveling, there are two easy essentials you must pack:
The first is a map of the destination(s) you will be visiting. It's easy to feel disoriented on solo trips -- or even a guided tour!
The second essential item is a highlighter. A map that you can mark with a highlighter allows you to see exactly where in the world you are. Just mark the major cities or towns ...Making multiple stops? Get a map of the airport - Airplane tip
Aug 7th, 2010 at 5:57PM: When your airline trip involves multiple stops, a little research before you leave will reduce frustration during the time you switch from one plane to the next.
Visit the website of the airport you will be changing planes at and print out a map of the terminal. When faced with a short time to get from one concourse to the next you will find a map to be very helpful.
In addition to your ...5 reasons to be a tourist
Aug 3rd, 2010 at 12:30PM:
After three months living in Istanbul, I've gained a stable of a few dozen Turkish words to string into awkward sentences; learned some local intel on what soccer teams to root for, where to get the best mantı, and the best Turkish insults (maganda is the local equivalent of guido); and have come to avoid Sultanahmet with the same disdain I used to reserve for Times Square when I lived in New ...Two routes, one trip - Road trip tip
Jun 20th, 2010 at 5:28PM: Before embarking on a road trip, map out two different routes -- a slower, scenic route and a shorter, faster (less scenic) route.
In case you need to reach your destination sooner than planned, you'll have your faster route. However, try to take the more intriguing scenic route. Grab a camera, hop out, and snap some shots of the beautiful scenery you pass by. Discover the hottest eateries on ...Use a pocket-sized notebook for maps & notes - International travel tip
Mar 23rd, 2010 at 2:30PM: Don't want to look like a lost tourist, consulting a giant map in a public place?
Before you leave home, buy a small pocket- or purse-sized notebook. Copy maps of each destination (break a city into smaller areas) and reduce them down to notebook size; glue them into your notebook, folding out if needed. Highlight important places, like your hotel, and include directions to/from airports or ...Laminate maps and printed directions - Road trip tip
Mar 8th, 2010 at 11:14AM: Passengers eat, drink, and frequently move in and out of the car during a road trip. A paper map or set of printed directions easily gets shoved into a seat during a stop, or worse yet, ruined if food or drink is spilled on it. Upon arrival, directions and maps are even more likely to get misplaced or damaged. To keep maps and directions safe during the trip, laminate them.
For around $30, a ...Ask for a map of the ship - Cruise tip
Feb 24th, 2010 at 11:49AM: Most cruise ships have several floors with long hallways, multiple restaurants and rooms that look alike from the outside. Multiple levels and a variety of things to do means there's more to remember, including where your room is located. Ask for a map and mark the room's location as well as other areas you will be frequenting, such as the dining hall.
Make sure that everyone in your party has ...
