What I did:
Church of the Nativity-
The Church of the Nativity holds the location where Jesus is historically believed to have been born.  The property is currently split between various Christian denominations.  Many days there is a small or no wait, but on Christmas Eve there are massive crowds.

Christmas Parade-
​On Christmas Eve a parade went through Bethlehem.  There were various youth bands in the parade and a large crowd watching the parade.

Christmas Mass-
On Christmas Eve there is a Mass service held at the Church of the Nativity.  Although I am not Catholic, I thought it would be interesting to experience the Mass.  Tickets can be reserved for free in advance online, or can be scalped outside of the church on Christmas Eve.  For those not inside the church (like myself), the Mass is shown on a monitor outside of the church.

Banksy Art-
​Banksy is one of the most famous graffiti artists in the world.  The artist has done work throughout the world.  I personally have two reprints of some of his work, so it was interesting to see his original work in person.

Where I ate and drank:
​Shepherd's Tower Restaurant-
Shepherd's Tower Restaurant offered good food and great views.  The hilly Bethlehem terrain in the area and large windows offer picturesque views of the surrounding area.  I was with a group of friends, so we ate "family style."  They also offer hookah and a great place to relax with friends.

Afteem-
​Afteem is very close to the Church of the Nativity.  It was a great place to escape the winter chill.  I had the Salep, a middle eastern drink made orchid tubers.  It is a nice drink when the weather is cold.

Manger Square Area-
In the Manger Square area there are multiple restaurants and food stands.  They serve things like shawarma and falafel, and can be very good low price food options.

Where I stayed and how I got around:
Abraham Hostel Jerusalem-
Abraham Hostel Jerusalem is an excellent hostel in nearby Jerusalem.  They offer tours and transportation to Bethlehem and the West Bank.
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Shepherd Hotel-
​I have also stayed in the Shepherd Hotel in Bethlehem on a previous trip I went on with a group of friends.  We had many of our meals together at the hotel.  The food there was especially good for hummus aficionados, as there was hummus served at every meal we ate there.

My favorite thing:
It was an interesting experience to spend Christmas Eve in Bethlehem, but my favorite thing was the people I met and got to spend time with.

My least favorite thing:
While spending Christmas Eve in Bethlehem was overall a good experience, the Christmas Mass was slightly disappointing. The weather was cold and the service was in Latin (a language I do not speak). Also, I wasn't extremely comfortable with the fact that people were scalping tickets to enter the church for the Mass.

For next time:
If I returned to Bethlehem I would like to get out of the tourist area, and go to some more local places.

What I did:
Basilica San Nicola and St. Nicholas Monument-
The main attraction in Bari is the Basilica San Nicola. There is a memorial shrine to Saint Nick at his gravesite below the Basilica. There is a monument to St. Nicholas (aka Santa Claus) just outside the building. While my sister and I were there a wedding was taking place inside the Basilica, but we were still able to see the inside of the building and the crypt below the building.  Recently, there have been rumors that the wrong body was brought to Bari, and the actual Santa Claus was buried in Turkey.  However, many historians still believe Santa Claus is buried below the Basilica San Nicola.

Lungomare e Murat-
I walked along the Bari coastline, known as the Lungomare e Murat. It had some nice waterfront views of the Adriatic Sea, and would be a nice place to go for a run.

Citta Vecchia and Piazzas-
I also walked through the streets of the old city, or Citta Vecchia, and some of the squares, or piazzas. It was a very cool place to explore. The old architecture was very interesting and there were multiple places to grab a good bite to eat.

Where I ate:
Mastro Ciccio-
Mastro Ciccio is a very good, laid back cafe with very good food for good prices.

Bacio di Latte-
Bacio di Latte is an Italian chain of coffe shops/cafes. It was a nice place to grab a coffee and a small bite to eat, as well as recharge my batteries after taking an overnight train the night before.

Panaficio Santa Rita-
Panaficio Santa Rita had some of the best Focaccia I have ever had. Also, the prices were very good.

How I got around and where I stayed:
I arrived in the morning hours in Bari after taking a train overnight from Rome, then left later that day on a boat to Greece. Although I was just passing through, I had a day to see and eat a few things. While in Bari I walked everywhere I went.

My favorite thing:
The food I ate in Bari was very good and had good prices. Most of the top restaurants in Bari have inexpensive prices.

My least favorite thing:
While in Bari I wanted to purchase some food items and toiletries, but it took a long time to find anything resembling a grocery store. If I lived there longer I would probably be more familiar with where things are, but it was tough to find as someone just passing through.

For next time:
I only had one day in Bari, so there is a lot I didn’t get to see and do. At the top of the list for me would be visiting some of the beaches around Bari.

What I did:
​CN Tower-
The CN (Canadian National) Tower is an iconic feature of Toronto's skyline.  It previously held the title of "World's Tallest Building" for over 30 years, but has since been overtaken by towers in Dubai and China.  That being said, it is still the tallest in the Western Hemisphere, and the third tallest in the world.  It provides some cool views of the city of Toronto.

Distillery Historic District-
​The Distillery Historic District is a cool area of Toronto.  There are many interesting old buildings, and many of them house some good cafes and restaurants.

​Toronto Blue Jays Game at the Rogers Centre-
The Toronto Blue Jays are the only Canadian team currently playing Major League Baseball.  They play at the Rogers Centre (formally known as the Skydome), which features a retractable roof.  I had the opportunity to go to the game with some people from countries outside of the United States, and it was interesting to get the perspectives of someone who had never been to a baseball game before.

Canadian National Exhibition-
The Canadian National Exhibition, also know as the CNE or The Ex, is an annual event in Toronto. It takes place on an expansive 192 acre site (some of which is waterfront) known as Exhibition Place.  Although it is a yearly event, I was fortunate enough to be there while they were celebrating the 150th year of Canada.  The exhibition featured a number of different food vendors, small rides, shows, concerts, and other forms of entertainment.

Kensington Market-
​Although not necessarily a "market" in the traditional sense, Kensington Market is an area with a number of cool shops and restaurants.  It has a cool, laid back vibe, and was fortunately located right around the corner from my hostel.

Toronto Central Grosvenor St. YMCA Centre-
​The Toronto Central Grosvenor St. YMCA Centre was a great place to workout.  The facility was very nice, and the staff was very friendly.

Where I ate and drank:
The Black Hoof-
I ate one of the best meals I have ever had in my life at The Black Hoof.  The food and drinks were both amazingly high quality.  I had the bone marrow and horse carpaccio, and both were exquisite. I highly recommend checking The Black Hoof out, and I plan on going there again next time I am in Toronto.

Sneaky Dee's-
Sneaky Dee's is a good Mexican place in Toronto.  While not necessarily spectacular, it provides good food and the kitchen is open late hours.  There is also a dance club connected to the restaurant.

Amsterdam Brewhouse-
Amsterdam Brewhouse has a great waterfront location and decent food.  Unfortunately, you cannot order their full menu at the brewhouse.  However, they do also sell their brews at a small shop next door.

Pilot Coffee-
Pilot Coffee is a good, Canadian based coffee company.  They have a good nitro cold brew coffee, although sometimes it can be flat.

Wilbur Mexicana-
Wilbur Mexicana is similar to restaurants such as Chipotle and Moe's, but in my opinion it is better.  They offer good food at good prices, and offer an extensive selection of hot sauces.

Tokyo Smoke Coffee Shop-
Tokyo Smoke is a great coffee spot in Toronto.  They served an excellent nitro that was probably the best cup of coffee I have had in Toronto.  The staff there was very friendly and gave some good recommendations about the city.

Porchetta & Co.-
As you can easily guess by its name, Porchetta & Co. serves a very good porchetta sandwich.  It is worth checking out if you are visiting Toronto.

Sweet Jesus-
Sweet Jesus serves a crazy amount of toppings on their soft serve ice cream.  They also serve coffee.  While not very healthy, it is worth checking out when in Toronto.

Bahn Mi Bar-
Bahn Mi is an Asian style sandwich with hot peppers, cucumber slices, pickled carrots, and other ingredients depending on personal preferences.  It was a good sandwich for a good price.

Voodoo Child Espresso & Cocktail Bar-
By night, Voodoo Child is a nice cocktail bar with a cool, laid back vibe, and by day they are a good quality coffee bar.  The night I was there they had some good live music playing.

Balzac's Distillery District-  
Balzac's is a Canadian coffee chain with various locations in Toronto.  Their location in the Distillery District is a super cool spot to have a cup of coffee and work or relax.  They serve a nice nitro cold brew coffee in addition to their more traditional coffee options.

Cold Tea-
Cold Tea is a laid back speakeasy in the Kensington Market area of Toronto.  It is marked by a simple red light (and sometimes a line).  In addition to a seating area that is a nice place to have a conversation, they also have a small dancing area.

​The Cloak Bar-
​The Cloak Bar is a speakeasy found down a set of stairs next to the Marben restaurant.  The vibe is laid back, and the cocktails are excellent quality.

Where I stayed:
​Planet Traveler Hostel-
Planet Traveler Hostel was an excellent hostel.  The facilities weren't the best of any place I've stayed, but the environment was great.  When staying at the hostel, I felt like a family member.  There was a rooftop terrace with some nice views, and they even offered a free salsa dancing class!

How I got around:
Toronto is a walkable city, and I walked to most of the places I went.  I did take a train (the UP Express) to and from the airport.  I also used the streetcar in Toronto a couple times.
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My favorite thing:
The meal I had at the The Black Hoof is one of the best meals I have ever had.  It was absolutely delicious, and I would happily go back again.

My least favorite thing:
I was fortunate enough to be in Toronto when the weather was good, but for much of the year it is brutally cold.

For next time:
​Next time I go to Toronto I would like to visit some of the beaches and islands in the Toronto area.

Why is it important?
It is important to stay in shape while traveling. If someone is going on one trip for just a couple days it may not be big deal to worry about health, but many people go on extended trips or travel often. If these people do not take their health into account, they will suffer in a variety of ways. They will not be able to get as much enjoyment from their vacations or be as productive on their business trips.

Eat Healthy-
While it can be tempting to eat the tastiest looking things when traveling, when long term consequences are taken into account they do not usually outweigh the short term benefits. While can be okay to splurge on certain items, especially if they are local specialties, it is not a good idea to splurge on every meal for an extended period of time. Many cities feature markets with quality, fresh foods that can be eaten on site or bought to prepare later if you have access to a kitchen.

​Exercise-
Many hotels feature fitness rooms, and many fitness facilities have locations throughout the world. Also, many cities offer free workout areas. While this may only consist of some pull up bars and a few dumbbells this can be enough to get a good workout in. With proper knowledge and planning, even a small area of floor space can be enough to get a quality workout in. If you have any doubts about what exercises to do, websites like CustomizeMyWorkout.com can provide you with the knowledge and motivation you need.

Be active-
Many locations offer good opportunities to be active. Depending on the location that may include paddle boarding, surfing, hiking, cycling, or just walking long distances. Walking can be a great way to see a city, as you get a quality view of the area and see things you may have missed if driving through the city in a car. Many cities even offer free walking tours.

Stay healthy my friends!