A trip to the Mediterranean island of Malta is sure to include many of the must-see attractions. There are stunning paintings by Caravaggio in St John’s Co-Cathedral, the fantastic view of the harbor in Valletta from the Upper Barrakka Gardens, and the medieval walled city of Mdina. While these attractions are more than enough to keep visitors occupied for several days, there are also some off the beaten path attractions that are worth a visit for travelers who want to scratch beneath the surface. Here are three of my favorite ways to get to know Malta beyond its most famous sites: Visit Local Wineries Travelers might not be aware that Malta has a developing reputation for its wines. Remember, Malta is located very close to Sicily, an island that has a great reputation for wines. This close proximity alone reveals […]
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Understand the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey
For many travelers to Turkey, sampling the Turkish cuisine rates at the top of the to-experience list. After all the basic sightseeing is finished, and visitors move to some of the cultural experiences that the country has to offer, watching the whirling dervishes usually ranks high on the list. Often erroneously considered a folk dance troupe or some sort of trance inducing dance, the dervishes are more aligned with religion and philosophy than with entertainment. The ritual dancing is based on the teaching of the Persian philosopher and poet Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi who, along with his son, founded the Sufi Order. Sufis are part of the Sunni sect of Islam, and Mevlana Rumi’s teachings emphasized tolerance and patience, not revolutionaries, and their belief is that unification with God will occur through the constant movement of the universe. Okay, we […]
Read MoreShould You Travel to Mexico?
Current events can lead us into thinking that the world is not a safe place to travel, and whenever that happens, it makes me very sad. For some time now, travel to Mexico has been on the wane. For awhile it was fear of the swine flu, then fear of rampant drug activity, and now fear of the potential for violence. If you think about all of that superficially, instead of burrowing a little deeper into the information, you may be tempted to stay home. And that would be a big mistake. Let’s look a little deeper into the issue of visiting Mexico: There are problems EVERYWHERE in the world. Of course you’re going to hear about crime in Mexico. You’re also going to hear about it in Manhattan, Los Angeles, Washington DC – some of the most frequently visited cities in the […]
Read MoreFamily Fun at the Royal Ontario Museum
Museum lovers who visit Toronto will want to get their history and culture fix at the Royal Ontario Museum with its engaging galleries of art, archaeology, and natural science from around the world. With over 40 galleries spread out over four floors, the museums is just one more reasons that a visit to Ontario will be both educational, culturally enriching, and fun. The Royal Ontario Museum is a great destination for families, with lots of kid friendly exhibits. Some exhibits that kids might enjoy include: The current exhibit, Water! The Exhibition, has been a big hit with 17 interactive hands-on activities. Where there’s water there’s usually fun, and this exhibit uses real water along with immersive displays, natural artifacts, videos and animals to explain why water is important to Canada and the world. ROM Live! has been a big […]
Read MoreDubai Delights Shoppers
One of the seven emirates of the UAE, Dubai is probably better known for its shopping than for its many cultural sights and activities. What is it about this spot in the desert that has earned it the reputation as the “shopping capital of the Middle East” attracting shoppers from around the world? Dubai has over 70 shopping malls, including the huge Dubai Mall, offering everything from jewelry to electronics to upscale fashion. Most of the shops and boutiques in the mall operate on a a fixed-price basis, so if it’s some friendly haggling you’re looking for, head to one of the souks. The souk districts are located on both sides of the Dubai Creek and are traditional Arabic markets (in photo above). Although perhaps not as over-the-top as those found in Marrakesh or Istanbul, it’s still a shopping experience […]
Read MoreArtfully Displayed at New York’s Museum of Modern Art
In a city filled with wonderful museums, New York’s MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) stands out as a real gem – and my personal favorite. From an initial gift of eight prints and one drawing, the collection has grown to include over 150,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, architectural models and drawings, and design objects, along with over 22,000 films and over four million still photos, making it one of the most influential museums of modern art in the world. The exhibitions maintain a nice balance of subject, style, mediums, and time periods. It’s the kind of place you can spend a few hours or the entire day, depending on what your schedule will allow. It’s a great place to spend a cold wintry day, warming up with the art as well as a stop off in the cafe. With […]
Read MoreCelebrate Crop Over on Barbados
It might seem like just a summer long party, but the Barbados Crop Over summer festival has serious roots dating back to the 1700’s. The festival was originally a celebration of the end of the sugar cane harvest — at a time when Barbados was the world’s largest producer of sugar. Gradually, as the sugar production declined on the island so, too, did the Crop Over festival, but was then revived in the 1970’s as a summer long festival. Visitors from around the world head off to Bridgeport for a Barbados holiday to celebrate and enjoy the second largest party in the Caribbean. The main festivities occur in July, but are bookended by other activities, making it a festive island to be on all summer long. Here are a few activities that may tempt you: Ceremonial Delivery of the Last […]
Read MoreMoscow Appeals
The world she is a changing, and I’m not talking about politics and culture and current events. I’m talking about the countries themselves – and there are a whole lot of countries around today that weren’t around some years back. I was a Soviet Studies major in college, a seemingly worthless major today, and it’s been work breaking the habit of saying Soviet Union for the now correct Russia or Ukraine. Thank goodness it’s easy to remember that Moscow is still the capital city, formerly of the Soviet Union and now of Russia. I had at one time hoped to travel to Russia, and even had a visa, but it just didn’t work out. I still have it tucked away somewhere as a keepsake. Today, with so many things to experience, far beyond the leak and dreary cold war era, […]
Read MoreBeach Shopping at Ron Jon Surf Shop
Shopping is one of the top activities for travelers. That’s right, surveys show that millions of travelers want to spend a little time shopping on their holidays. Whether it’s a major shopping expedition, or just picking up a few souvenirs, I’m not certain, but there’s no doubt that a lot of money is spent shopping while enjoying a little holiday time. Being stuck inside shopping while traveling to a beautiful destination seems a real shame to me, but if the Orlando area is in your plans, I can recommend stopping off at one of my favorite spots, Ron Jon Surf Shop. Although there are several Ron Jon locations, my favorite is the one at Cocoa Beach, a short drive to the east of Orlando. This store is huge! It has over 52,000 square feet of shopping and displays, and a […]
Read MoreThe Vatican Celebrates the Beatification of Pope John Paul II
May 1, 2011 celebrates the beatification of Pope John Paul II, the ceremony by which he will becomes a Saint. The Holy Mass for the Beatification of the Servant of God John Paul II will be held in Saint Peter’s Square at 10 a.m., with Pope Benedict XVI officiating. The casket has already been exhumed and is now lying before Saint Peter’s tomb. It will be moved to the main alter during the ceremony, and following will be reinterred in the Chapel of St. Sebastian. While only a select delegation will be allowed inside for the ceremony, hundreds of thousand of visitors of all religious backgrounds will gather in Saint Peter’s Square to watch and listen as Pope John Paul II becomes a saint. As is typical for many events, large television will show the events inside to the outside […]
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