Lou’s Travel Insights
If all else fails jump in your car and explore locally.
No car? Hop on a bus, a bike, or a train - even a rickshaw!
THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DISCOVER!!
ASIA
Cambodia - Ancient Angkor Wat is worth the trek.
China, The Great Wall - A gondola has been installed, but walking up gives a better sense of The Wall's massiveness.
India - Unquestionably, the most interesting country in the world. The Taj Mahal is truly spell-binding.
Mongolia - Sleep in a Yurt.
Thailand, Bangkok - Sex shows are bizarre, however fascinating, 'cause they are so bizarre.
Turkey, Istanbul - Get a Turkish bath, I’m not kidding - it’s sublime!
Vietnam - The Cu Chi tunnels, outside of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), will explain why the Vietnamese won the war just against the U.S.A.
AFRICA
Egypt, Sahara Desserts - Forget the camels, ride a horse!
Morocco, Marrakech - Buy hashish, if you have the balls.
South Africa, Cape Town, Table Mountain - Walk up & cable car down or cable car up & walk down.
Tanzania - Go on a Wild Game Safari - It is the best!!! Get your guide to stop at a Maasai village.
Zanzibar, Tanzania - Do a spice tour, buy lots of small bottles of liquid vanilla, nowhere cheaper.
EUROPE
Austria, Vienna - Study the works by Gustav Klimt up close, while drinking Viennese coffee.
England, London - Line up for the Churchill War Rooms. Note: The National Art Gallery of London is always free.
England, Royal Ascot - Bring lots of cash to bet on the horses. By champagne when you win.
France, Paris Art Museums - Go to as many as you can, then head to the countryside as soon as you can.
Greece, Greek Islands - Do Crete.
Iceland, Icelandic Spas - Nothing beats a mud scrub at The Blue Lagoon. Nothing!
Ireland - Eat oysters in Galway.
Italy, Tour Major Art Galleries - Time your journey to attend the Biennale in Venice. Visit the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican before you die.
Netherlands, Amsterdam - Anne Frank Museum, bring tissues. Then you must go to see ‘The Nightwatch’ painting by Rembrandt van Rijn.
Northern European Cruises - Always pick a cruise with a stopover in St. Petersburg, Russia. You must visit the Hermitage Museum, the long line ups are unavoidable.
Northern France, Beaumont Hamel & Lochnagar Crater (WW1 Memorials) - Arrange to lay a wreath at a memorial ceremony.
Russia, Moscow, Red Square - Pre-purchase online tickets to the Kremlin Armoury, long line ups in the hot sun otherwise.
Scotland, Highlands - Smell the heather in the fields.
Spain, Caminos of Northern Spain - Trek the 100 kilometres to certify as a pilgrim. Attend the Pilgrim Mass when you finish. Hug the Statue of St. James.
Wales, Snowden National Park - Climb Mount Snowden, in the summer.
OCEANIA
Australia, Ayers Rock (Uluru) - Two hikes: 1) around 2) to the top.
Australia, Dive the Great Barrier Reef - Bring Gravol, very, very rough hour on a boat to get there.
Australia, Sydney - Get an organized tour (on demand) of the Opera House.
New Zealand - Walk, bike or drive the South Island on your own speed.
New Zealand - Witness the Haka, the ancient Maori war dance, at a large sporting event.
CANADA
Alberta, Rocky Mountains - Don’t forget to include hiking in Kananaskis.
British Columbia, Canada - Sail the west coast of Vancouver Island. Stop in to see where they filmed the TV show, The Beachcombers.
Labrador of Newfoundland & Labrador - Spend two nights in Battle Harbour.
Manitoba, Churchill - Plan to photograph Polar Bears. Hire tour operators to photograph the bears at eye level.
Newfoundland & Labrador, St. John’s - Arrange an appointment to see the Statue of the Veiled Virgin, cared for by the Presentation Sisters, next door to the St. John the Baptist Basilica church.
North West Territories - Fish Great Bear Lake for the biggest trout in the world.
Nova Scotia, Chester, South Shore - Sail or kayak. Eat local fish chowder.
Ontario, Ottawa - Skate the Rideau Canal. Time it to see the ice sculptures.
Ontario, Toronto - Visit the best museum for Canadian Art in Canada, the McMichael.
Quebec - Eat everything maple syrup.
Western Newfoundland, Gros Morne Mountain - Best hike, swim in ponds on the downhill leg. (7 hour hike)
USA
Alaska, Anchorage - Great place for single women, lots of lonely men.
Arizona, Grand Canyon - Bring three times as much water as you think you should.
California, Los Angeles - Shop on Rodeo Drive. Believe it or not, you can find deals.
Florida-The Salvador Dali Art Museum in St. Petersburg will enlighten you to ‘Surrealism’.
Montana - Go on Cattle Drive, my fav! (Movie: City Slickers) Make sure you get the best horse. (If you are not a rider, often there are wagons)
New York City - Walk the Manhattan Bridge Sunday mornings, then check out the emotional new monument nearby at Ground Zero. Both free.
Pasadena, CA, Rose Parade - Buy tickets for viewing on the ‘camera side’, 70% more roses.
Tennessee, Memphis, Graceland - Do not talk yourself out of the price of admission, however much it escalates.
Texas - Drive the ‘Tear Drop Loop’ from Dallas, down to San Antonio, Houston and up thru Austin, Texas - Eat Mexican food and go to the Johnson Space Center.
MEXICO, CARIBBEAN, CENTRAL
Costa Rica - The best place in the world to get over arachnophobia.
Cuba - The most "uncommunist" communist country on the planet. Watch for scams anywhere.
Haiti - Do humanitarian work.
Jamaica - Snorkel lots.
Mexico, Acapulco - Watch for the cliff divers. Then make your way to a place called Puerto Escondido. Then take your shoes off.
Mexico - Find one of the 300 'cenotes' where you can swim or dive.
SOUTH AMERICA
Argentina, Buenos Aires - Study tango, if not, go to every tango show you can find; night after night after night.
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro - You can pay to dance the Samba during the Carnival Parade, which is the greatest parade in the world, however, not good if you are claustrophobic in tight crowds.
Chile - Greatest value for wine and wine tours.
Ecuador, Galapagos Islands - Pick medium priced tour operators, they are the best investment.
Peru, Machu Picchu - Stay in Aguas Calientes the night before, witness the lost city very early in the morning. If you are hiking the Inca Trail, that will take care of itself.
GENERAL
Around the World - Always include Mongolia whenever possible on any trip.
Attend live theatre on Broadway in New York or in the West end of London - Even bad shows are generally good, most shows are brilliant.
Live music concerts are strongly advised - Las Vegas allows you to witness the world’s most popular performers, on demand.
FIFA World Cup Soccer Events - Go even if you have to scalp tickets.
Travel Advice for the
Solo Woman Traveller
For single women who travel, Linda has two cardinal rules:
Never go anywhere with someone who approaches you first. Why? They have had an opportunity to plan, you have not been privy to that planning.
If you are making plans with someone you do not know well, the person or people with whom you are making these plans - must be completely open and forth right with you. Any ambiguity like “just wait and you’ll see,” or “I will be back in a minute” is not for this solo traveller.
Lou’s Life Travel in a Nutshell
1. Learn the word for ‘Thank You’ in the language where you travel. Nothing gets you privilege quicker than “thanks” in a native tongue.
2. Get a basic, easy convertible number for the exchange rate to convert quickly - it’s not important to be exact. For instance, currently 10 Euros is trading to 15.10 Canadian Dollars. Therefore, items generally cost you one and a half times as much. This is important if you want to bargain or relax while you’re shopping. Calculating to the penny will drive you mad. The vacation is not worth the stress of converting a couple of dollars either way.
3. Walk and explore at times without an itinerary. Everyone discovers the highlights, it is the path less travelled that nets you the greatest rewards.