What I did: Hiked to Beaches- My favorite part of Plakias was the beaches. There are many different beautiful, sandy beaches to visit in Southern Crete. Relaxed and swam at the beaches- With the large number of great beaches in Southern Crete, there are many nice places to swim or just relax on the sand. Also, because many of them are not too convenient to get to, they are not nearly as crowded as some other beaches around the world. Spent a day in Chania- Chania is an old Venetian style town located on the northwestern coast of Crete. The architecture is very interesting and there are some good restaurants in town. Got my feet eaten by fish- Although not necessarily unique to Crete, there was a shop that offered "fish pedicures." Since I had never done anything like that before, I thought it would be interesting to try it out. When I stuck my feet into the water, small fish began to eat all around my feet. When I put my socks on the following day, they slid smoothly over my fresh feet. Where I ate: Kri Kri- Kri Kri is a nice restaurant with an amazing waterfront view. Grocery stores- There are a few supermarkets located in the Plakias. I would pick up a few things there and eat on my way to or at the beach I was hiking to that day. I also would bring some things back to eat and drink at the hostel. Where I stayed: Youth Hostel Plakias- There are only a few hostels located on the island of Crete, and Youth Hostel Plakias is one of them. It is one of the best hostels I have ever stayed at. It is located in an olive grove and equipped with hammocks for relaxing and reading a book. There was a nice mix of people there where I was there, which made for a good environment and some great conversation. How I got around: Getting to Plakias can take some effort. The two main seaports and two airports are located in Chania (Northwestern Crete) and Heraklion (Northeastern Crete). After arriving in one of these cities, I took a bus to Rethymno, then another bus to Plakias. While in Plakias I walked to most places, but would occasionally take a public bus to a beach. My Favorite Thing:
The beaches in and around Plakias were awesome. I also loved the laid back vibe in the area. My Least Favorite Thing: Plakias can be a little tough to get to. After arriving on the island of Crete, you have to take another four hours of busses to reach Plakias. However, once I got there I definitely thought the trouble of getting there was worth it, and due to the challenge of getting there it was not too crowded. For next time: Next time I would like to spend more time at the beaches, and hike to some new ones. I would also like to try more of the waterfront restaurants.
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What I did: Sports clinics- I traveled with a group that put on sports clinics for children that played soccer and baseball. Explored Santiago- I was able to see a good amount of the city of Santiago. It feels like being in a time machine because, due to the political situation, there have been very few cars imported and relatively little construction in recent years. Visited the Faro del Morro- The Faro del Morro is a historic lighthouse located on the southern coast of Cuba. It was originally built in 1842, then quickly rebuilt after it was destroyed by bombers in 1898. It uses a unique mirror system to project light, and it provides amazing views of the coastline from the top of the lighthouse. Visited the Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca- The Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca is an old fort located next to the Faro del Morro. It is over three hundred years old and was originally designed by the Italian engineer Giovanni Battista Antonelli to defend against pirates. Visited the Estadio Guillermón Moncada- The Estadio Guillermón Moncada is the Cuban professional league baseball stadium that houses the Santiago de Cuba Avispas baseball team. Baseball is the number one sport on the island of Cuba. While I was not able to see a game, I was able to see the stadium. Where I ate and where I stayed: I both ate and stayed with friends in Cuba. I got to eat some traditional Cuba food. However, because cows are so scarce on the island now, Cuban dishes such as Ropa Vieja and Picadillo that are common in the United States are rarely found in Cuba. How I got around: Although I did use some taxis, I traveled around with friends most of my time in Santiago. Due to the embargo, Cubans have to be very creative with their resources. For the majority of the time I traveled around in a car with a 1950's Jeep body with a chevy engine and Russian transmission pieced together to make it run. My Favorite Thing:
The Cuban people I met were amazing. I really enjoyed experiencing the Cuban culture, and the weather was amazing. My Least Favorite Thing: Due to the political climate, Cuba does not have the same resources as the rest of the world. As far as I could see, while everyone had some access to housing, food and medical care, all of the citizens of Cuba lived well below the economic average of much of the developed world. For next time: While I was able to go to the coastal area by the Faro del Morro and the Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca, I was not able to visit any of Santiago's beaches. I would like to explore the beaches Santiago de Cuba has to offer.
Where I ate: Beer Bazaar- Located in the Shuk, Beer Bazaar was a great place to eat and drink. The food and drink were great and the people were very friendly. Jachnun Bar- Shakshuka is a tomato and egg middle eastern dish that is served in the pan it is cooked in. I had a great Shakshuka at Jachnun Bar, located in the Shuk. Soramelo Waffles- Normally when I visit I new restaurant, I go there because it has been recommended or rated highly. However, it was just my nose that led me to the amazing flavor at Soramelo Waffles. As I was walking around the Shuk, I could smell something amazing coming from their place. You can choose a variety of toppings or just let them pick for you. Michmoret- Located in the Shuk, Michmoret offers some great seafood. However, it can be a little pricey. Marzipan Bakery- Marzipan is a great, famous place for anyone interested in baked goods. Tala Hummus and Falafel- Located inside the Old City, Tala is a great place to have the middle eastern specialties hummus and falafel. Abu Shukri- Located in the Muslim Quarter, Abu Shukri is another great place to get hummus in Jerusalem. Where I stayed: Abraham Hostel Jerusalem- Abraham Hostel Jerusalem was one of the better hostels I have stayed in. It was very clean and the hostel breakfast was very good. It is also very conveniently located. They also hosted an open mic night that I wasn't expecting much of, but the musicians were amazing. How I got around:
After taking a shuttle van to Jerusalem, I walked throughout the city. When inside the city walking seems to be the best form of transportation, but there is public transportation available for those going outside the city. My Favorite Thing: There is an immense amount of history in Jerusalem. Also, there is a unique cultural mix in Jerusalem. It was very interesting to walk around the different quarters of the Old City, and it was very interesting to walk around Jerusalem on a Friday night or Saturday morning when the city is virtually shut down from sundown Friday to sundown on Saturday. My Least Favorite Thing: There was not much I disliked about Jerusalem. However, it would be nice (if wishful thinking) to see the political situation resolved. For Next Time: There is a restaurant called The Eucalyptus that I have heard good things about and would like to try. Also, I want to use one of the old block stencils for the next tattoo I get at Razzouk. Free walking tours are a great way to see a city.
Advantages of free walking tours: Perspective- When walking through a city, you see things you may have missed by driving or riding through the city. Context- Free walking tours provide historical context behind a city. Recommendations- Tour guides on free walking tours will typically give recommendations that are more "local" and less "touristy" than recommendations you would typically get from a hotel. Cheap- Free walking tours are technically free, but I would suggest tipping. That being said, they are still a very affordable way to see a city. Meet people- I have made many friends on free walking tours. Participants of free walking tours are typically interested in some of the recommendations provided by the tour guide while visiting the city. Many times it can be more fun to have others with you while experiencing a new city. Humor- Most tour guides will mix a good amount of humor into the experience to make it even more enjoyable. Quality- Because they are paid on tips, free walking tour guides make sure to provide a quality experience. How to find a free walking tour: Sandemans- Sandemans is a company that offers free walking tours in various (although not all) cities. Most of the cities they offer tours in are in Europe. Hostels- Many hostels will either offer a free walking tour or recommend one. Free tours by foot- Free tours by foot is another company that offers free walking tours, mostly in the United States. They also offer self guided tours on their website. Google- When all else fails, you can simply try googling "free walking tours (city)" What I Did: The Colosseum- One of 7 new wonders of world, the Colosseum was constructed in the first century AD. Built out of sand and concrete, it is the largest amphitheater in the world. The entry fee is $12, but you can skip the majority of the line by paying for a group tour. Vatican Museum- The Vatican Museum has some impressive art and historical artifacts. One of the most famous and most impressive of these is the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. St. Peter's Basilica- St. Peter's Basilica is the largest church building in the world. Artists such as Michelangelo have contributed to the building. Catholic tradition states that the apostle Peter is buried here. Free walking tour- While Sandemans does not currently offer tours in Italy, there are other options for free walking tours. Rome is unique in that much of its history is mixed in with its modern city. While many historic sites in other cities are made into museums, there is so much history in Rome that you can just stumble onto sites dating back over two thousand years. Trevi Fountain- The Trevi is one of the most famous and iconic fountains in the world. Where I ate: Cafe Faggiani and Cafe Vitti- Italian "bars" are not what many Americans think of when they hear something called a bar. They typically serve coffee drinks and pastries in the mornings (that is where the word "barista" comes from). I got a cappuccino and cornetto, the traditional Italian breakfast, at each place. Gelateria dei Gracchi- Although gelato is just the Italian word for ice cream, simply calling it ice cream does not do it justice. Gelateria dei Gracchi in the Prati district was recommended by Anthony Bourdain, and it did not disappoint. Bonci Pizzarium- Located in the Prati district behind the Vatican, Bonci Pizzarium sells "Pizza al taglio." You select the pizza type and size, then pay by weight. The pizza there was amazing. Gelateria La Romana- Located near the hostel I stayed in while in Rome, Gelateria La Romana was an excellent gelateria. When choosing a gelateria, it is a good sign when the gelato is covered as opposed to being displayed. Gelateria La Romana had some of the best gelato I have ever had. Cacio E Pepe- Cacio e pepe seems like a very simple dish. It is simply noodles with some olive oil, crushed black pepper, and some sprinkled cheese. However, when done well it can be amazing. I had it at a restaurant named after the dish, and it is one of the best meals I have ever had.
How I got around: I walked and used Rome's metro system. Walking allowed me to see much of the city that I would have missed had I used other methods of transportation. My favorite thing:
The food in Rome is absolutely amazing. The cacio e pepe I had is one of the best things I have ever eaten. Also, there is an immense amount of history and culture in Rome. My least favorite thing: A side effect of having so much history, so much amazing food, and an amazing culture is a large amount of tourists. For next time: I would like to experience more of the food in Rome, and I would love to eat more cacio e pepe. I would like to try Betto E Mary, located in the Pignetto district just outside of the city. It serves traditional Roman food that can be tough to find in the areas around the tourist sites. I would also like to explore more of Rome's history. |
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