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A Must See – St. John’s, Newfoundland

Newfoundland is an island of vast unpopulated wilderness, washed-out beauty, and austere. Yet in St John, its largest city and capital, you will find many homes colored like a tropical fruit, as well as a dim urban buzz and a bustling street life. For all that, the oldest city in North America does not simply contrast the region it dominates. St John’s exudes lust for life, stoicism, and wry wit, and to this end incorporates some of the best values of Newfoundland. It’s a place that some friends of mine who run a garbage bin rental company love to frequent for these exact reasons. Here are the top attractions in St John’s, Canada.

Signal Hill Historic Site
For the glorious view alone, the most famous landmark in the city is worth visiting, although there is much more to see. The Cabot Tower is a castle atop the hill, and was built to honor Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and the arrival of John Cabot in 1497. Soldiers dress as the nineteenth-century Royal Newfoundland Company in midsummer to fire cannons and perform a ‘tattoo’. The visitor center features interactive displays on the history of the site.

The Rooms
Only few museums offer visitors the opportunity to pursue ancient weaponry, hear avant-garde sculptures, and see a giant squid under one roof. But The Rooms offer all these and more, it is the all-in-one historical archives, art gallery, and museum of the province. The building itself is a massive glass-and-stone complex with impressive views over the city. The museum also has an excellent restaurant and an on-site café.

Quidi Vidi
Away from town, over Signal Hill is the picturesque Quidi Vidi village. Check out the lakeside regatta museum and the 18th-century battery, but make Quidi Vidi Brewery your first stop, which whips up the most popular microbrews in Newfoundland. Located on the small wharf in an old fish-processing plant, it is a pretty place to quench your thirst. Nearby is one of North America’s oldest cottages, the Mallard Cottage. This restaurant serves comfort food of Newfoundland.

CA Pippy Park
The 13 sq.km feature-filled CA Pippy Park coats the northwestern edge of downtown. Recreational facilities in this park include a campground, a golf course, playgrounds, picnic areas, and walking trails. Memorial University, the only university in the province is here too. The botanical garden of the university is at Oxen Pond, at the western edge of the park. A nature reserve and cultivated areas fill the botanical landscape. These and the Long Pond marsh of the park give visitors a nice introduction to the animals, habitats, and flora of Newfoundland.

Canary Islands Travel Guide

The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago and consists of 7 main islands. They are formed by volcanic eruptions and the hot desert winds shape them. Millions of years ago, seismic lifted these islands out of the ocean to form landscapes of unimaginable beauty. The Canary Islands are so spectacular that for centuries many beloved they formed the peaks of the Atlantis. Today, these islands are a magnet for adventurers from every corner of the world.

Fuerteventura Island

With 150 beaches, 160 miles of coastline, and a climate that always feel like spring, the island of Fuerteventura is a great place to start your exploration. Head to Corralejo which was once a fishing village but now one of the largest resort towns in the island. Corralejo Dunes National Park is just a short walk away. It features dunes that seem to stretch forever. The Sotavento de Jandia Beach is on the southern end and is famous for its golden sands and turquoise waters.

These islands are well known for their hospitality, so enjoy a seafood specialty at one of the local restaurants or relax on a sun lounge. Picturesque villages and beautiful beaches are just some offers this land of wonders offer.

Climb the Mirador Morro Velosa to admire the island’s panoramic views. Gran Canaria is a short ferry ride west of this island. It is a place of ever changing vistas and climates. There are also other landscapes that have for centuries been inspiring visitors. Take a trip to Pilancones Natural Park. The cool ravines and spectacular plateaus in this area are about 12 million years old. You can also visit Agaete town where volcanic cliffs plunge into the Atlantic Ocean. Take a trip to Roque Nuble and its surrounding valleys, once described as a “petrified storm” by a visiting Spanish philosopher.

Regardless of where you go on this island, Greta beaches are always close by. Hit the surf at Celeta de Arriba or soak up the sun at Amadores Beach but note that clothing is optional at some beaches. Since the Age of Discovery, Gran Canaria’s capital city, Los Palmas de Gran Canaria has been a cultural melting point. Visit the Cathedral of Santa Ana or stroll the boulevard at Las Canters Beach.

Tenerife

Tenerife is the busiest and largest of the Canary Islands, receiving up to 5 million visitors every year. Tenerife’s beaches come in different shades from the black sands of Jason Beach to the golden sands of Los Cristianos and Las Americas Beach. Head to the Siam Water Park for a different kind of water adventures. Relax in the lush environment or hit the water slides of this enormous Thai-themed Park.

You can also make a splash at Loro Parque which attracted over 40 million visitors since it was opened in 1972. Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the island’s capital, and it is home to the Auditorio de Tenerife Adan Martin. At Icod de los Vinos, experience the archipelago’s mythic past. Watch the sunset over El Teide at Teide National Park which is the highest mountain in Spain.

Lanzarote

Lanzarote is often called the island of 100 volcanoes and it is

The Canary’s easternmost Island. Tour the Timanfaya National Park to be humbled by the destructive power of Mother Nature. In the 1700s, this region suffered different devastating eruptions and has remained relatively unchanged since then. The El Diablo stands guard at this park’s entryway. It is an image designed by César Manrique, Lanzarote’s most famous son. Manrique’s vision was to integrate the natural elements, local traditions, and art. So you will see his influence almost everywhere you go on this island.

Just like the other Canary Islands, Lanzarote is blessed with many beaches. Relax under the sun at Papagayo Beach or stroll to Playa Blanca at the island’s south. Cool off at the Punta Mujeres or rent a snorkeling gear to discover the underwater wonders of the island. Puerto del Carmen is Lanzarote’s busiest town and is the perfect place to enjoy the incredible sunsets of the Canary Islands.

No matter the island you choose to go, you will realize this is a place where history and Mother Nature collide.

Cambodia Travel Guide

Laid back atmosphere, cuisine, and architecture make this beach town a lovely place to discover. Today, the famous crab market is the most fascinating thing about Kep. Cambodia has one of the greatest attractions in the world with the famous Angkor temples and Siem Reap that were built here between the ninth and fifteenth centuries.

Covering about 4,000 sq km, the Angkor Archeological Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to scores of gateways, bridges, canals, and temples. Angkor Wat is the most famous temple here. It was built in the early twelfth century and it receives millions of visitors yearly. It is truly an incredible site and the best time to see it is at dawn before the crowds arrive. Other temples in this park include Ta Prohm temple and Bayon Temple. With so much to see, you may need up to two days here.

In the past, people thought it was only the temples in Siem Reap Cambodia have to offer but things are changing now. There are many wonderful pre-Angkorian and Angkorian temples to see such as at Banteay Chhmar, Preah Vihear, and Sambor Prei Kuk.

If you want to get off the beaten track on a private adventure, you can head to Phnom Kulem, also known as the Sacred Mountains. You can visit the local village, waterfalls or trek through the jungle to find fascinating and remote temples deep in the jungle. You can stay in an amazing camp here and have a night of glamping amongst nature.

Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia. This city is an interesting place that deserves exploring for a day or two. It sits at the confluence of the Mekong Rivers and Tonle Sap and is packed with great bars and restaurants. Wat Phnom is another great place you should visit while you are here. It is the first Pagoda in the city. The town’s busy market and the old French market and the old French Quarter are other interesting places too. Raffles Hotel is the most famous hotel here and a great place to stay.

To the south of Phnom Penh is Kep. Kep was known as Kep-Sur-Met under French rule and it is the most prestigious beach town in Cambodia. It was established in 1908 and was once a thriving resort for the colonial masters. The

For more adventure and trekking activities, head to the Cardamon Mountains. Almost three decades after Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot tore this country apart, Cambodia is gradually emerging as one of the most exciting travel destinations in Southeast Asia.

Cairo, Egypt Travel Guide

Cairo is the largest metropolis on the African continent with a population of 16 million. The Egyptians refer to their capital city as the “Mother of the world” (Um Al Dunya). Cairo is a city of choreographed chaos and hypnotizing charm. Founded 1,000 years ago, it’s the political, economic, and cultural heart of Egypt. Straddling the banks of the River Nile in the far north of the country, the city wears its history on its sleeve.

There are lots to see and do here, from the Babylon Fortress and roman tower ruins built in 100 AD to the resplendent mosques and mausoleums like the Al-Azhar mosque built at the pinnacle of the Islamic empire.

Pyramids of Giza

On the southwestern edge of the city are the pyramids of Giza the oldest structures of all, dating back to the days of the Pharaohs. Guarded by the Sphinx and hordes of camel drivers, the pyramids tower over Cairo’s urban sprawl and the desert beyond.

Egypt Museum

The Egypt Museum at Tahrir Square houses the world’s greatest collection of Egyptian antiquities. It is a great place to experience the legendary treasures of ancient history. In 1857, the French antiquity scientist Auguste Mariette founded what still remains to this day the world’s greatest and most important collection of ancient Egyptian art. This impressive museum contains more than a hundred and twenty thousand different objects from approximately 4,500 years of Egyptian history.

Because the belief in life after death played a highly important role in the religion of the ancient Egyptians, the tombs of the dead Pharaohs were adorned with beautiful objects. The fast wealth of ancient Egypt’s royal families and dynasties is clearly visible in the magnificent and abundant use of gold. The museum contains work from all the great cultural epochs of Egypt from the Three Kingdoms to Ptolemaic Roman times.

Al-Azhar Park

Unlike much of the rest of Cairo Al-Azhar Park combines inspired architecture and thoughtful urban planning. The park opened in 2005 and is a gift to the city from the Aga Khan. Its fountains and water channels reference classical Islamic gardens and are a great place to cool off on a summer day.

Khan El-Khalili

The city’s commercial instinct reigns supreme in the souks where bargaining is part of everyday life. Jaded travelers often dismiss Khan El-Khalili is a tourist trap but Islamic Cairo’s great Bazaar is still a fine place to haggle for souvenirs and semi-precious stones.

El Fishawy Coffee House

Stop by El Fishawy coffee house to smoke a shisha, the bubbling water pipe that is as essential to life in Egypt as the Nile itself. Established in 1773, the coffeehouse is one of the oldest and most celebrated in the city.

Brasilia, Brazil Travel Guide

In the heart of Brazil is the country’s capital, an example of futuristic urban planning. Brasilia has its city center shaped like a bird in flight as it is designed to be viewed from above. With its cutting-edge architecture, Brasilia is an example of innovative designs and new beginnings. It was built from the ground up as Brazil’s new capital and it is this nation’s pathway to the future. It took president Kubitschek only five years to transform this central plateau into an urban utopia. This achievement made him the country’s hero.

With its symmetrical layout, its abstract shapes, and its curving lines, Brasilia is a giant work of installation art. This city is shaped around the Praca dos Tres Poderes wide open space. Admire the facade of the seat of government, the Planalto Palace. It is a perfect example of Modernism that was designed by Oscar Niemeyer. He was a prolific Brazilian architect who dreamt up many of this new city’s elegant buildings. Many of his designs seem to balance delicately on the earth surface as he loved free-flowing structures. This resulted in exciting and functional buildings.

From the city’s layout to the official building’s architecture, you will find harmony in every of the city’s element. The avenues of the Monumental Axis run parallel but this space is filled with many contrasting shapes such as an abstract painting on a black canvas. Niemeyer’s creations energy comes right through the Itamaraty Palace, flows past the National Museum, and pours out of the Ministry of Justice.

If you squint your eyes, you will see as this energy spiral upwards in the halls of the National Theater. It also ignites the pride in the Pantheon of the Fatherland and Freedom. You will see how the TV Tower creates a perfect counterpoint for the bowl and the twin towers of the National Congress. And the shape of the Metropolitan Cathedral stands in stark contrast to the National Museum. It is easy to see why Niemeyer received many architecture awards for his heavenly designs.

This bustling city has a population of about 2.8 million people and it is smart to make your way around by rental car or taxi. Dom Bosco sanctuary is a great place to escape the crowds. Bosco was an Italian saint who predicted this area would play a critical part in this country’s “New World”. Oscar Niemeyer dedicated much of his life to designing imaginative works that now occupies Brasilia’s vast exhibition space. A visit to this city is like paying homage to his legacies.