Vergina

Vergina, the site of the burials of Macedonian kings, is an hour’s drive north of Thessaloniki. Here you can stroll around unusual mound-shaped tombs (“tumuli”) dating from the 11th-8th centuries B.C. and through a substantial 4th century B.C palace with royal banquet halls, one with a beautiful mosaic floor. However, it is underground where the true marvel awaits.

Constructed in 1993, the Royal Tombs Museum is entered through an unassuming doorway built into one of the mounds.  Inside are the exposed interiors of three of the circa 300 B.C. tombs: enclosed and protected in glass, you get an up-close look of the tomb excavations, including their stunning wall paintings. Much of the “bling” – the gold, glass, ivory, marble and wood artifacts from the tombs – is also on display. Of particular note is the tomb of Philip II, Alexander the Great’s father: the Doric temple facade with a marble door, topped with an Ionic frieze, includes a painting of a hunting scene with figures of Philip and Alexander and is one of the only known surviving examples of ancient Greek painting of this kind.

Meteora

Drive two and one-half hours southwest of Thessaloniki to find Meteora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that abounds with fantastic peaks created by nature’s erosion of the surrounding rock. The spires appear inaccessible and it is difficult to imagine the resolve of the religious hermits who first climbed up to settle in the caves and fissures. In the 9th century, monks topped the towers with monasteries. Some of the monasteries have been turned into museums; all are worth the climb up steps to visit, but being reasonably fit will make the trek that much more enjoyable.

Even if you are not up to the climb, the view is still remarkable: from first light through to the evening hours, the sun washes the gray rocks with a paint box of colors; at night the towers are spectacularly illuminated by spotlights. Meteora is also treasured by Greeks as the inhabitants helped in keeping alive Greek Orthodox religious traditions and Hellenic culture during the Middle Ages and the Turk occupation of Greece from 1453 to 1829.

Gytheon

Gytheon is a three hour drive southwest of Athens. This small port town spreads down the side of Mount Koumaros to the sea, and is a great base for day trips in the southern Peloponnese part of the country. It has not yet been discovered by the tour companies, and you will feel like you are in “real” Greece as you wander along the port and through the small streets lined with neo-classical buildings with flower-laden balconies. The beauty of the surrounding area made it a perfect setting for the movie “The Tempest.”

Restaurants and cafes abound – take a break after sightseeing and enjoy typically Greek grilled octopus alongside a glass of “ouzo” at an outside taverna.  On the south side of the town is the small, pine covered island of Kranai with its Ethnological Museum, housed in an Ottoman tower, and 25 meter high lighthouse. On the other side of the town you will find an ancient theater from the 1st Century.

Diros Caves

After a 1 ½ hour scenic drive northwest from Gytheon, you will reach the underground waterways of the Diros Caves, which are among the most stunning natural attractions in Greece. Archeological finds include plenty of mammal fossils, including one of the largest discoveries of hippopotamus bones in Europe. Paleolithic and Neolithic artifacts (on display in the adjacent museum) have been found here as well, indicating that the caves were one of the earliest inhabited places in Greece.

The caves are estimated to be about 14 kilometers long, but only about 1,500 meters can be seen on a guided visit. The 30 minute tour is by boat and starts at the edge of an underground lake, where you will don a hard-hat and life preserver.  The guide uses poles to maneuver the boat through the caverns and tunnels, which are eerily lit and decked out with breathtaking stalactites and stalagmites. Warning for the seriously claustrophobic: some sections are just wide enough to allow the boat passage, and in some stretches you have to duck your head. The air is about seventy degrees year-round, so a sweater or light jacket is recommended for those who get cold easily.

Mystras

 Forty kilometers north of Gytheon lay the ruins of the city of Mystras, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overlooking the city of Sparta, Mystras began as a fortress built in 1249, and was expanded by the Venetian and Turk occupiers. The ruins are spread over the side of tree-dotted Mt. Taygetos and consist of a Citadel near the peak and fortified Upper, Middle and Lower Towns cascading further down the mountain.

The site was abandoned in 1832, but is now occupied by a convent of nuns who care for the antiquities. As you walk along its paths, you will wonder at the palaces, walls and gates as well as well-maintained frescos inside the many churches such as Agios Demitrios, where you will also find the Archaeological Museum of Mystras and its Byzantine and Ecclesiastical exhibits.

Epidaurus

Epidaurus is one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in all of Greece.  The drive is about 2 hours (125 kilometers) southwest from Athens. Here, at the temple of Asclepius, Greeks paid tribute to their God of medicine and healing and asked for remedies for various illnesses. However, the main attraction is the breathtaking 3rd century, 14,000 seat limestone amphitheater.

Even through Roman occupation, Epidaurus retained its circular “orchestra”, and is close to acoustically perfect: from the top seats you may be able to hear someone whispering on the stage down below. In July and August the amphitheater returns to its prior grandeur when the Epidaurus Festival presents ancient Greek classics – including the tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides – in Modern Greek.

 Stavros

If you are partial to rocky hills, scented with wild herbs and decorated with geraniums, sandwiched between volcanic coastlines and olive groves and vineyards heavy with fruit, you will want to visit Stavros. Located about 30 minutes north of the city of Chania on the northwest side of Crete’s Akrotiri Peninsula, there are a few small and well-manicured “apart-hotels”, but Stavros has yet to be overrun by tourists.

Visit many serene inlet beaches with clear-as-glass turquoise waters where you can rent two lounge chairs and umbrella for about 5 Euro per day – a relative bargain for Europe. This is also the perfect area for long and easy road runs (or walks), where you will see an abundance of bougainvillea, as well as oleander, palm and orange trees. Drop by Christiana’s tavern on Stavros Beach for some fresh grilled fish, Cretan cheese pies and a glass of retsina; owner/chef Maria may let you have your picture taken with the Oscar™ for cinematography won by “Zorba the Greek,” which was filmed here.  Many of the locals were extras in the movie, and Walter Lassally, who won the treasured gold statue, has a home nearby.

Gorge of Aradena

If you have even a bit of experience with nature walks, and little or no vertigo, hiking the Gorge of Aradena is an ideal alternative to the better-known Samaria Gorge and its almost 2,000 daily visitors. Begin your hike at the small beach of Marmara, which is an hour’s walk along the coast from the town of Loutro (about 80 kilometers  – 1 ¾ hours – south of Chania on the island of Crete) and then head uphill – it is easier to walk up than down – towards the southern slopes of the White Mountains.

The main section of the trail is just less than 3 hours long, and includes a cliff-side passage which can be traversed via a 10 meter high metal ladder; if you do suffer a fear of heights, take the alternative path with its handrail. Towards the end of the trek, cross the 138-meter high Aradena Bridge for a stunning view of the gorge below.

Kameiros

After a 30 kilometer drive west from the city of Rhodes, on the island of Rhodes, including the final stretch up a switchback road on a tranquil, pine-filled mountain, you will arrive at the ancient Minoan ruins at Kameiros. Inhabited since 2000 B.C., Kameiros joined Lindos and Ialyssos in the 5th century B.C. to form the grand city-state of Rhodes. Kameiros, also known as the “Greek Pompeii,” was flattened by an earthquake in 226 B.C. and was ultimately abandoned in 142 A.D. after being destroyed by another. However, the town’s foundations were well-preserved under the debris from the second quake, protecting it from looters.

There are well-preserved temples, bath houses, stone staircases, store rooms, and private dwellings with great views of the Aegean Sea. You will also see the cistern that supplied approximately 400 residents with fresh water, and a highly developed drainage system. Unlike many archaeological sites in Greece, there is a reasonable amount of descriptive signage; as an added plus there are not any attempts at reconstruction.

Greece is hot and dry in the high season (July and August), so plan your outdoor sightseeing– with water bottle, hat and sun block – for first thing in the morning; leave your afternoons for relaxing or swimming.  In mountainous areas, such as Meteora and the Aradena Gorge, keep a sharp eye out for falling rocks, especially if it has recently rained or if there are goats or sheep above you. Lodging can be less expensive other times of the year, but call ahead if you plan to visit off-season as many places are closed at that time.

By Maureen Kennedy

With So many cheap flights,cheap hotels,& Airline tickets available for International Travel deals,from Budget to Luxury. Booking Vacation packages online, is EASY.

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The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

    *  Great Pyramid of Giza
    *  Hanging Gardens of Babylon
    *  Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
    *  Statue of Zeus at Olympia
    *  Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
    *  Colossus of Rhodes
    *  Pharos of Alexandria

The Seven Wonders of the Medieval Mind

    * Stonehenge
    * The Colosseum
    * Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa
    * The Great Wall of China
    * Porcelain Tower of Nanjing
    * The Hagia Sophia
    * The Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Seven Natural Wonders of the World

    * Mount Everest
    * The Great Barrier Reef
    * The Grand Canyon
    * Victoria Falls
    *  Harbor of Rio de Janeiro
    * Paricutin Volcano
    * The Northern Lights

The Seven Underwater Wonders of the World

    * Palau
    * The Belize Barrier Reef
    * The Galapagos Islands
    * The Northern Red Sea
    * Lake Baikal
    * The Great Barrier Reef
    * The Deep Sea Vents

The Seven Wonders of the Modern World

    * The Empire State Building
    * The Itaip Dam
    * The CN Tower
    * The Panama Canal
    * The Channel Tunnel
    * The North Sea Protection Works
    * The Golden Gate Bridge

The Seven Forgotten Natural Wonders of the World

    * Angel Falls
    * The Bay of Fundy
    * Igua Falls
    * Krakatoa Island
    * Mount Fuji
    * Mount Kilimanjaro
    * Niagara Falls

The Seven Forgotten Modern Wonders of the World

    * The Clock Tower (Big Ben)
    * Eiffel Tower
    * The Gateway Arch
    * The Aswan High Dam
    * Hoover Dam
    * Mount Rushmore National Memorial
    * The Petronas Towers

The Seven Forgotten Wonders of the Medeival Mind

    * Abu Simbel Temple
    * Angkor Wat
    * Taj Mahal
    * Mont Saint-Michel
    * The Moai Statues
    * The Parthenon
    * The Shwedagon Pagoda

The Forgotten Wonders

    * The Aztec Temple
    * The Banaue Rice Terraces
    * The Borobudur Temple
    * The Inca City
    * The Statue of Liberty
    * The Mayan Temples
    * The Temple of the Inscriptions
    * Throne Hall of Persepolis
    * Petra
    * The Suez Canal
    * The Sydney Opera House
    * The Red Fort in India

With So many cheap flights,cheap hotels,& Airline tickets available for International Travel deals,from Budget to Luxury. Booking Vacation packages online, is EASY.

Travelers Tips / Earn Money Traveling / Friend Finder / FREE Brochures

The earliest recorded mention of Dubai is in 1095, and the earliest settlement known as Dubai town dates from 1799. 

Dubai was formally established in the early 19th century by the Al Abu Falasa clan of Bani Yas, and it remained under clan control when the United Kingdom assumed the protection of Dubai in 1892. Its geographical location made it an important trading hub and by the beginning of the 20th century, it was an important port. In 1966, the year oil was discovered, Dubai and the emirate of Qatar set up a new monetary unit to replace the Gulf Rupee. The oil economy lead to a massive influx of foreign workers, quickly expanding the city by 300% and bringing in international oil interests. The modern emirate of Dubai was created after the UK left the area in 1971. At this time Dubai, together with Abu Dhabi and four other emirates, formed the United Arab Emirates. The following year Ras al Khaimah joined the federation while Qatar and Bahrain chose to remain independent nations. 

In 1973, the monetary union with Qatar was dissolved and the UAE Dirham introduced throughout the UAE. A free trade zone was built around the Jebel Ali port in 1979, allowing foreign companies unrestricted import of labour and export capital. The Gulf War  of 1990 had a negative financial effect on the city, as depositors withdrew their money and traders withdrew their trade, but subsequently the city recovered in a changing political climate and thrived. 

Today, Dubai has emerged as a global city and a business hub. Although Dubai’s economy was built on the oil industry, currently the emirate’s main revenues are from tourism, real estate, and financial services. Dubai has recently attracted world attention through many innovative large construction projects and sports events. This increased attention has highlighted labor rights and human rights issues concerning its largely South Asian workforce. Dubai’s property market experienced a major deterioration in 2008 and 2009 as a result of the worldwide economic downturn following the Financial crisis of 2007–2010.

With So many cheap flights,cheap hotels,& Airline tickets available for International Travel deals,from Budget to Luxury. Booking Vacation packages online, is EASY.

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Traveling is about keeping it real with your surroundings, yet  it’s easy to get lost in the lure of nerdy  gadgetry these days (check out  “5 Gadgets That May Ruin Your Backpacking Experience”). Things like GPS systems can keep you from getting down and dirty with locals (just ask for directions, stupid!). However, for those of you who are physically unable to unplug, here are the 10 Most Useful Travel Gadgets of 2010.

My friends often ask me for support in travel preparation when they plan to go to Italy. In fact, I think it’s a great idea- go to a country prepared to experience it at the fullest! I enjoy learning about the little idiosyncrasies that make a visit to a new country so interesting, the small traditions, the interesting customs… so, I thought I’d give you a cheat-sheet for Italy.

 If you’d like a personalized crash-course on Italian culture before your trip, please contact me at vanessa at Italyinsf dot com. I would be happy to schedule a time to help you out with your trip organization as well as give you some useful tips about culture and traditions!

Part 1: GENERAL ADVICE AND TRAVEL TIPS

1. Don’t go off the beaten path before visiting the “holy trinity”: Rome, Florence and Venice. These cities are truly remarkable and you don’t want to miss them.
2. Nevertheless, make time to spend a few days outside the major cities. Real Italy is in the small towns!
3. Tuscany is wonderful. There are hundreds of small wonderful medieval villages and plenty to see. However, Italy is a lot more than Tuscany. From the hills of Langhe to the trulli of Puglia, going through the culinary haven of Romagna, you will find fewer tourists and a wonderful land to discover!
4. Tipping is not required. Service staff gets paid as high as entry level engineers do. In particular, tipping people you personally know is considered offensive. In general, the attitude toward tipping is that you can’t buy a person off, so be mindful if you decide to tip.
5. Pick pocketing is an issue in larger metropolitan areas like Rome and Venice, but it’s not any worse than New York City, London or Paris.
6. Newspaper are bought daily at the edicola (newspaper stand), and delivery of newspapers is rare. Edicole are very common and open everyday, and as much part of the typical Italian morning routine as stopping to the bar to order an espresso.
7. Watch the street billboards for advertisement of “Feste” or “Sagre”, street fairs usually dedicated to one food. If one is close by your location at the time you’re there, don’t miss it- they’re wonderful events gathering people from the various towns and serving thematic foods!
8. Dates are shown as day-month-year, always.
9. Times are indicated in 24-hr format.
10. And yes, we’re metric!
11. You push to enter a place, and pull to get out. Exactly the opposite as in America!
12. Airport and rail stations have public restrooms, often with attendants who expect to be tipped. If someone is guarding the door of the restroom, you’re expected to leave a few coins.
13. Restrooms in all bars and cafes are for customers only. Order an espresso and only afterward head to the toilet!
14. In public restrooms, toilet paper is a rarity. Italian women always keep a travel pack of Kleenex in their purses for this reason.
15. You can’t walk in a church with a tank top or with shorts on. You need to be properly dressed to visit most holy places.
16. Credit cards are not widely accepted. You can’t pay anything that is less than 10 Euros with a credit card, and even then you’re going to be frowned upon. Always bring cash with you!
17. Public phones are now officially extinct. You will need to carry a cell phone for anything you need, from calling the hotel to reserve a restaurant. If you’re going for a brief stay, use your US cell phone and get a calling card. If you’re planning a longer trip, look into getting a SIM card and use it with your (unlocked) US phone- most cell phone calling contracts in Italy are prepaid services, so no need to lock in a plan!
18. When using an Italian cell phone, all incoming calls are free.

Part 2: SHOPPING AND STORES

1. When walking into a store, especially clothing or shoes, in most cases you will have a shop assistant with you at all times. Sometimes you won’t be allowed to even touch the things unless you’re trying them on! The assistant will find your size and do all the work.
2. If you enter a store to just to take a look, make sure your intentions are known to the person inside the shop. Ask if you can just look around without being hassled by a shop assistant trying to make a sale!
3. The rudeness and bitchiness of Italian shop assistants, or commesse, is legendary, especially if you’re not a size 0. They apparently consider a size 4 “overweight”. Don’t take it personally.
4. On the upside, though, shop assistants are not paid on commission. Feel free to abuse them- they probably deserve it anyway!!
5. Store exchanges don’t exist. If you buy something and decide later you don’t want it anymore, you’re stuck with it. Choose carefully!
6. Clearance sales in regular shops Italy are not very good- usually a 10%, 20% at the very most.
7. Shops close for lunch between 12:30pm and 3 or 4pm. Everything shuts down by 7:30pm.
8. Ask your local hotel for outlets stores. Outlet stores will have items priced at a more discounted rate.
9. Buy shoes in Italy. Even with the dreadful Euro/Dollar exchange, leather shoes will last you for years and they’re really good for your feet!
10. In larger cities and metropolitan areas stores are open on Saturday but closed on Sunday, and another half day of the week. In touristic resorts stores are open Sunday but closed one other day of the week.
11. Banks are only open in the morning and for one hour in the afternoon. You need to bank in the morning!
12. National Holidays:
    • January 1st, New Year’s Day
    • January 6th, Epiphany
    • Easter Sunday
    • Easter Monday
    • April 25th, Anniversary of Italy’s liberation
    • May 1st, Labor Day
    • June 2nd, Anniversary of the institution of the Republic
    • August 15th (Ferragosto), Assumption
    • November 1st, All Saints
    • December 8th, Annunciazione
    • December 25th, Christmas
    • December 26th, St Stefano.

    In addition, each town will honor its patron with an additional day off.

13. You have to wear plastic gloves to pick up food in the produce section of the grocery store or old ladies will yell at you.
14. You bag your own groceries and pay for the bag.

Part 3: FOOD AND DRINKS

1. 99% of Italian hotels include breakfast in the room price.
2. As a consequence of #33 above, Italians remain the main audience at bars for breakfast. Don’t miss the chance to get out of your hotel by 9am on a workday and order a cappuccino al banco (at the counter) with a cornetto, preferably with custard, and eat it standing with all the rest of the crowd.
3. Cappuccino is not forbidden in the afternoon, it’s just frowned upon following a meal. Some places will actually refuse to serve it to you. Don’t get upset, just embrace the culture…
4. In order to be able to get the said cappuccino, in many places you first have to pay for it so you can show the scontrino (proof of payment) to the bartender.
5. Italians don’t put ice in their drinks. If you must, ask for it, but realize they’ll look at you as if you were a Martian. When (if?) they bring you ice, they will send to the table a small saucer with 5 ice cubes for the entire table.
6. You can’t order food “to go”, unless you are in a pizza place or in a rosticceria. If you try to walk in a restaurant and order a meal to go, people will look at you as if you were crazy!
7. When eating at a buffet or family style, it is more than acceptable to help yourself as many times as you want, and never okay to overfill your plate.
8. Aperitivo is a wonderful tradition you should not miss out on. Bars that offer an aperitivo buffet will charge you for the drink, but not for the food, which will range from simple chips and pretzels to sophisticated warm appetizers and parmigianocubes sprinkled with balsamic vinegar. Buffet is all you can eat (but don’t forget the rules above!). Find a bar that serves an aperitivo buffet and head there between 6pm and
9. 8:30pm, and you can skip dinner if you want!
10.  
11.  

There are no dipping sauces in Italy, so Italians are not really familiar with double dipping rules.

1. When starting a meal, bread will be brought to the table but neither olive oil nor butter is served. A bread dish is never on the table, so bread rests on the tablecloth.
2. Speaking of bread, never ever leave it upside down on the table. It’s considered bad luck and unrespectful toward the owner of the table.
3. Never, ever pour wine (or water) backhanded. It’s considered an offense to the person you’re serving.
4. No doggie bags in Italy. Taking home the leftovers is not an option, and leaving food on the plate is frowned upon.
5. Salad is considered a side dish, not a starter. No meal in Italy ever starts with a salad.
6. If you’re invited to a wedding, be prepared to eat. Imagine a minimum of 15 courses and sitting at the table for 5 to 6 hours.
7. Tap water is never served, and despite the fact that it’s now as safe as in the US, people keep on drinking bottled water and restaurants only serve bottled water.
8. When water is not safe at fountains, it will say so. Otherwise, take advantage of the only free water in the country!
9. Coffee is not a “to go” item. You enjoy it at the bar, and no paper cup is provided!
10. Cheese is never eaten with fish.
11. Salad dressing is oil and vinegar and that’s it. There aren’t different types of dressings.
12. There are over 100 different types of pasta, and each region has its own. Make an effort to try as many as possible!
13. Bread and pasta are never eaten together in the North, but they are sometimes in the South.
14. Restaurant customs are a bit different than in the US. Since servers are salaried and don’t rely on tips to make a living, they don’t care about turnover- it is customary in Italy to stay seated at a restaurant table for the whole evening, and dinner would usually take longer than in the US.
15. If you don’t ask for the check, you’re not going to get it. Italians consider a check put on the table before you’re done with your meal, or without you asking, like an invitation to leave. It is considered a no-no in restaurants, so you must ask for your check if you’d like to pay!
16. When ordering food at a restaurant, substitutions or changes are usually not accepted.
17. Alfredo sauce is not Italian. Don’t ask for it!
18. Frappuccino doesn’t exist, either. However, all other coffee drinks whose name Starbucks has stolen usually mean something different than what you think you’re ordering.
19. Hot chocolate is a different experience altogether- it’s denser, more like a pudding, and it’s usually ordered in the afternoon, as a merenda item.
20. Appropriate use of grated Parmigiano cheese is limited to pasta- and pasta with either vegetable or meat sauce, not fish! There is no grated parmesan cheese on salad or pizza. Occasionally, slivers of parmigiano will be served over bresaola or carpaccio- but never grated cheese!
21. Nothing but pork is considered appropriate meat for your pizza. No chicken, not beef- only pork in various formats (prosciutto, salame, salsiccia, etc.).
22. Chicken is not to be eaten with pasta. That’s it. There isn’t a single pasta sauce in Italian cuisine where chicken can be an ingredient.
23. Dinner is past 8pm, not at 5pm. If you’re hungry at 5pm, go to a pasticceria and get a hot chocolate and some pastries. If you’re hungry at 7pm go to a bar and order an aperitivo. Don’t show up for dinner before 8pm (and that’s still kind of early!).
24. Don’t miss the chance to try pizza in a pizzeria, but be aware that pizza is a dinner food. The very few pizzeria open at lunch usually cater to tourists only (and the pizza is probably not likely to be great!).
25. Speaking of pizza, it is considered inappropriate (and many places will just say it’s not possible!) to ask for a split topping: half a pizza one way and half a pizza a different way is just not a concept Italian pizzaioli are able to grasp.

Part 4: CULTURE

1. Most Italians under 40 speak some English, but many will be embarrassed to talk.
2. Sunday is a holy day- and not for church, but for soccer! When the games are on, you will see plenty of people walking down the streets with their family with a radio glued to their ear. Sometimes as you walk down a busy street on a Sunday afternoon you will hear a mix of cheers and mumblings- that’s the sign for one of the teams scoring!
3. Oh, and it’s not soccer- it’s football (or calcio).
4. Girl watching is a national past time, second only to soccer. Don’t be alarmed when men stare at you. Men look at women as art historians look at the Sistine chapel ceiling.
5. Third after soccer and women come Formula One and the Ferrari team. Don’t even attempt to speak ill of Scuderia Ferrari in public. You might be verbally assaulted.
6. Italian television spends one day showing soccer and 6 days talking about it. Other programming includes plenty of half-naked dancing girls and inappropriate nudity commercials- and sometimes Formula 1 races, per priority list set above.
7. Azzurro, light blue, is the color of every national athlete’s jersey. When you hear talking about Azzurri people usually refers to the national team soccer players, although it’s used in general terms for all national athletes.
8. You shower at night in Italy, and you change to dress-up clothes before going out for the evening, whether you’re going to a restaurant or to a bar. Day wear is not considered appropriate for night time.
9. In Italy it is not socially acceptable to be drunk. People boast about their alcohol resistance and no one would ever admit to be drunk.
10. Business formal is the norm for all office and sales jobs. Wearing a tie is considered appropriate wear for pretty much any workplace.
11. Italian men dress very nicely. Leather shoes and slacks are a lot more common than shorts and flip flops.
12. You can see a lot of speedos on Italian beaches, and nobody finds it hilarious.
13. Topless sunbathing is quite common in the northern beaches, and more frowned upon in the South.
14. While in the US temperature in public places is determined by the one who feels hot (and hence she is the one who lowers the temperature in the space), in Italy the one who’s cold is always right and her requests will determine a room’s temperature.
15. Never, ever give chrysanthemums as a flower gift to anyone. They are considered the flowers of the dead, and only brought to cemeteries.
16. When entering someone’s house, it is customary to ask for permission on the doorstep, even if you’ve been invited already. You say “Permesso” upon entering a house.
17. Lines (at the post office, at the bank, at the bar, at the bakery) are never really lines. They are a declaration of intent that you need to assert if you want to be helped. Make sure you demand your right in line if you don’t want to be “overtaken”!
18. Purple being the color of lent, it is considered a color that brings bad luck. Avoid the darker purple hues for evenings at the theatre, and it’s definitely a forbidden color at weddings!

Part 5: DRIVING AND MOVING AROUND

1. Driving in Italy is not terrible. Keep your right, be careful, but many Italians are terrified to drive in California, so you should be just fine!
2. However, don’t even think to drive in Naples. Road rules are different from what you’re used to, and despite being incomprehensible to most, they keep the city going. You’d be the wrench thrown in the perfectly oiled wheel!
3. You don’t flag cabs in Italy- usually, you walk to one of the taxi stands where they wait in line- usually located close to main attractions.
4. If you call a cab, you are often charged for the time it takes for it to come and get you.
5. Making a “pit stop” alongside the road to relieve oneself (Pulling over to the side of the road and peeing) is accepted. It’s disgusting and terrible, but you’ll see plenty of men doing it.
6. Never drive on the left lane of the autostrada unless you are passing a car.
7. Leave your left blinker on while you are in the left lane. Turn left blinker off when you return to the slow lane.
8. Make sure you respect the speed limits. Contrary to general assumptions, and especially in recent years, police has gotten very strict about speeding. They won’t stop you- just send a picture of you to the car owner. If you’re renting, you are liable to pay the hefty ticket ($200+).
9. If someone flashes their brights behind you, it’s because they want you to move to the right lane so that they may pass.
10. Before boarding a train you need to validate your ticket. You will have to validate your ticket directly on buses instead. Make sure you allow plenty of padding on your transfers, as Italian train times are, once again, more a declaration of intent than a set rule…
11. Scooters, bicycles and motorcycles share the road with cars, and they will zip by on your left and right in a one-lane road!
12. It’s hard to pay for gas with a credit card, especially after operating hours other than on the autostrada.
13. No right turn on red!
14. Don’t try to find a cup holder in your car. If it’s more than 5 years old, there won’t be one!
15. Eating in the car is unheard of. Italians would never do such a coveted and social thing like eating in the most unsocial place of all, the car.
16. However, that doesn’t mean Italians don’t like their cars!! Actually, cars are coveted sign of social status. As a consequence, garbage that you produce in the car gets taken out immediately. You will see people throwing things directly outside the window. As long as the car is clean, who cares about littering?

This little guide to Italian culture has had so much success I have thought of a few other items to add to this list. If you have more, keep them coming by emailing me at vanessa at italyinsf dot com!

1. The perfect drink for a pizza is beer, or soda. Almost no Italian drink wine with their pizza, when they do they consider it an overindulgent pleasure and usually it will be a sparkling wine, like Prosecco.
2. Pesto does not belong on pizza, on sandwiches, as a side to a caprese salad- pesto only belongs on pasta al pesto.
3. Martini is a vermouth, not a drink. If you ask for a Martini, you will be served white vermouth, usually on the rocks, with a twist of lemon in it- a delicious aperitivo if you ask me! To order a “North America”-style Martini, ask for a Martini Cocktail!

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Everyone has one opinion or another about nudity in public places.

There are nudist beaches, there are nudist saunas, and there are life-drawing classes, where models pose naked.

My own opinion about public nudity was rather controversial until recently. I come from a family where modesty was a virtue, and was shocked when I moved to the Netherlands and found an open approach to public nudity. (I once saw a naked man in Amsterdam, riding his bike to work).

I felt outraged and insulted.

“Never, never in my life will I be naked in public,” I told myself. However, since then, some things have changed.

I became a nudist. My current boyfriend happens to be a nudist and on our first holiday he introduced me to the joy of being naked on the beach.

And I rather liked it.

Being naked on the beach gives you the feeling of being free and in union with nature. And it is rather natural, considering that humans only started to wear clothes 72,000 years ago.  For more than half of our existence we have been nudists.

However, being natural with nature is not that easy nowadays. It is still a controversial issue. Some regard public nudity as exhibitionism. Others say that nudity sets a bad example for the children. In most states of the US, for a woman to be topless can result in a fine.

Woman are paradoxically bombarded by glossy magazines with pictures which depict thin, beautiful and mostly naked women. Even if you would like to be a nudist, you might avoid going to a nudist beach for the reason that your body doesn’t correspond to the beauty standard.

But curiously enough, what I noticed at the nudist beaches is that people there in all shapes and forms, and rarely do they resemble Kate Moss. It can be indeed a liberating experience, especially if you have some confidence issues.

I started my nudist experience when I considered myself slightly overweight, and it helped me to realize that human body is beautiful as it is. And I certainly recommend everyone try it at least once.

Here are some tips, which could come quite handy if you are ready to try it yourself.

Photo courtesy the author

Tip #1 – Lather Up

Don’t forget to put sun cream on those parts of your body about which you might otherwise forget. It’s really not pleasant to get sun burn on some vital parts of your body!

Tip #2 – Watch the bend

Don’t bend over when adjusting your towel or picking something up from the sand (unless you’re Brad Pitt, of course).

Tip #3 – Eyes to yourself

Don’t stare at other naked people!

Tip #4 – Incognito

In case you do want to stare, two best ways to do it is: (a) wearing sunglasses, (b) pretending to read a book (but then, don’t forget to turn the pages!)

Tip #5 – Ditch the camera

Be respectful to other people when you take our your camera to make some pictures of the beach. It really does make all naked people suddenly very nervous.

Tip #6 – Cold water syndrome

If you are a man, be aware that even if you are lucky to possess a giant male organ, it will shrink to tiny proportions when you emerge from the sea. Don’t feel bad about it…

Tip #7 – To shave or not to shave?

This is a difficult question, since enjoying a nudist beach is all about being very natural. However, think twice, as it’s nice to be well groomed.

Tip #8 – Avoid philosophy

Try to avoid deep philosophical conversations with you naked neighbours. It does sound (and look) rather weird, when a naked person talks about Foucault.

Tip #9 – Keep your suit handy

Take your swimming suit with you just in case. For instance, when all other nudists decide to leave the beach and you are the only naked person remaining.

Tip #10 – Top of the morning

What to do in case of erection? Quickly lie face down on the sand, but don’t forget to fill in the imprint when you stand up!

Hopefully, these tips will help you enjoy your next nudist beach with wild abandon, setting your body and your mind free.

Do you have any tips for nudist beaches or settings? Share your tips/stories in the comments!

About the Author

Ekaterina Petrovna

Ekaterina was born in Moscow, but has lived in four different countries. Her name, pronounced as N-E-T-C-H-I-T-A-I-L-O-V-A literally means ‘unreadable’ in Russian. Quite a pity since her biggest passion in life is writing. That apart from her family, speaking and learning different beautiful languages, listening to nice music, having fun and enjoying occasional naps and dancing. Or, and in between, when she does find time, she works on her PhD thesis in sociology

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There are many reasons we keep ourselves from heading out into the world.

About the Author

Ian MacKenzie is the founder and editor of Brave New Traveler. He is currently editing the One Week Job documentary. Aside from writing, he spends his time exploring the fundamental nature of existence and wishing he did more backpacking.

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If you’ve seen The Beach, then you’ll know what limestone cliffs, turquoise waters and pristine white sand can do for romance. While the beach itself here has become something of a tourist trap since the film, it is still the ideal backdrop for some Summer loving.

 2. COLOMBIER BEACH, ST. BARTH’S

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why Colombier Beach is a sexy beach; accessible only by boat or a 25-minute hike along rocky terrain, the cove is all about blue skies, shimmering green water and flamingo-hued sand. While private yachts moor up at the cove’s entrance, you’ll be left largely to your own devices. We recommend bringing a picnic and cracking open a bottle of bubbly.

 3. PINK BEACH, ANTIGUA, CARIBBEAN

While movies such as Into The Blue and After The Sunset will have you thinking that Paradise Island in the Bahamas is the best place to get romantic on the sand, it’s not (unless you’re an exhibitionist, of course). Antigua’s Pink Beach offers a little privacy away from the madding crowds. Stretching eight miles and bordered by crystal-clear waters on one side and a handful of beautiful boutique hotels on the other, this is one picture-postcard sandbar. What’s more, the beach is only ever used by a few of the nearby hotels‘ guests.

 4. WILDCAT BEACH, CALIFORNIA, USA

Secluded Wildcat Beach is located a full 30 minutes from San Francisco and requires a five-minute walk, but it’s worth it. What’s more, you can build a bonfire (with the necessary license, of course) and admire huge tide-fall cascades down from the cliffs and onto the sand behind you.

5. MAJAHUITAS COVE, MEXICO

Accessible only by boat, swaying palms, pristine white sand and turquoise waters await you at Majahuitas Cove. Named after a yellow hibiscus-like flower, it’s brimming with enough plant and wildlife to create a stunning natural backdrop. Day-trippers tread the sands during the day, but we recommend checking in to the eight-room hotel beside the beach.

6. MONDELLO BEACH, PALMERO, ITALY

Lovers of seafood, tree-lined boulevards and luxury hotel resorts will love what Mondello Beach has to offer; in fact, lovers will love it full-stop. Classy Mondello Beach has all the makings of a passionate Italian love story with sun-drenched sand and the fresh waters of the Mediterranean, and is super clean.

 7. STORE BEACH, SYDNEY

While it may seem impossible within the locale of a big, bustling city, Store Beach is actually pretty isolated. Hidden by a rock formation, it can only be reached by boat. And because it’s part of Sydney Harbour National Park, it’s kept spotless too.

 8. SUNSET BEACH, OAHU, HAWAII

It doesn’t get much sexier than Hawaii‘s beaches, what with grass-skirt-wearing ladies and muscled surfer boys. However, few venture farther than Waikiki, which is where the crowds sip cocktails and get up to little else. Slip away to the North Shore’s Sunset Beach, where you’re certain to find a secluded spot.

 9. WHITE BAY BEACH, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

Stretching eight miles long and half-a-mile wide, there’s not much else to do on this gorgeous, picture-postcard island other than make out. It is a U-shaped piece of paradise.

 10. POLES BAY, KEA, GREECE

Forget about Greece‘s more popular islands and head out to the island of Kea, a beautiful beach just a ferry ride away from Athens. Because it is not included on the main ferry routes and only a select few know about it, you’ll practically have the place to yourselves. Once there, make your way to Poles Bay – a three-hour walk – and indulge in the twin sand beaches, rocky landscape and ancient ruins. Unspoiled, isolated and evocative; what more could you want ?

 
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Counting the Gulf tourism losses

The Gulf Coast stands to lose 400,000 travel-industry jobs because of oil-spill impacts, and it’s up to BP to pay to save them, says the U.S. Travel Association.

In a 10-point “Roadmap to Recovery,” the association called for BP to finance a $500 million marketing campaign to attract visitors to the region.

The association also released an economic analysis of the oil spill’s impact in late July. Based on the aftermath of 25 recent natural and man-made disasters, forecasting firm Oxford Economics projected that it will take the Gulf Coast three years and $22.7 billion to recover.

Hawaii hotel shows Amelia Earhart photos

Amelia Earhart is back at The Royal Hawaiian hotel in Waikiki. The historic hotel is hosting an exhibition of rarely seen photographs taken of the pioneering aviator when she visited Hawaii and stayed at the “Pink Palace of the Pacific” during the 1930s.

The black-and-white images show Earhart relaxing in a swimsuit and leaning against a palm tree while she gazes at the ocean. A few show her observing legendary surfer and Hawaii icon Duke Kahanamoku carve a pineapple for her.

Hotel officials say everyone — not just guests at the five-star hotel — are welcome to enjoy the exhibit. The 65 photos will be displayed through the end of the year.

Upscale hotels on the rebound

The hotel industry in the United States appears to be rebounding this summer, mainly because of strengthening business travel. So far the biggest beneficiary is New York, though other cities on the East Coast are starting to report gains. And the upscale, full-service hotels that have long been favored by business travelers have benefited more from the upturn in demand than the midlevel brands, industry analysts say.

With hotel occupancies rising, room rates have started stabilizing, according to Smith Travel Research. The rates remain substantially below their peak, reached in September 2008. And occupancy rates, in general, are also far below their peak: The average is now 55.8 percent, down from a high of 63.1 percent in November 2007.

Still, in New York now and probably in other cities in the fall, travelers will no longer be able to count on getting cheap rates at preferred hotels at the last minute and will have to book further in advance to stay where they want.

Heathrow Express, the express train service between London‘s Heathrow Airport and the city’s Paddington station, is offering a 50 percent discount for groups of two or more buying round-trip tickets. Normal round-trip rate is $49 per adult and $24 per child. The offer is valid for express-class tickets only, and all members of the group must travel together. The first half of the trip must take place by Sept. 5. www.heathrowexpress.com/summer.

University launches geotourism degree

Missouri State University has developed a geotourism degree that it believes is a first-of-its-kind program in the world. The Springfield school got help from the National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations in designing the bachelor’s degree program. Geotourism emphasizes the principle that tourist destinations should remain unspoiled for future generations.