Kon Tiki Museum, Oslo Norway – December 2013

December 1, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

The Kon Tiki Museum in Oslo Norway is a tribute and summary of International explorer Thor Heyderhahl’s life. Thor and his crews sailed the world in primitive vessels to prove that during ancient times people could have crossed the oceans and settled “new” lands. The original vessels that Thor sailed are on display in the museum including the famous Kon-Tiki balsa raft that Thor built from natural resources in Peru. He and his crew sailed from Callao (Lima) to the South Pacific, crash landing through the breakers on the Tuomoto Islands in 1947. This journey was celebrated by Thor in a book he wrote (translated in over 70 languages) and a film he directed which won an Oscar award in 1951 for best documentary. The name of the raft spawned Tiki Bars and Tiki resorts world wide.

The museum celebrates his life and his accomplishments. Exhibits cover each of his major expeditions, show artifacts and explore his theories about human migration. Thor was not only a sailor but an archeologist and adventurer – with archeological expeditions in Easter Island, Peru and the Maldives.

The museum is located about 15-20 minutes from the city center in an area of the city called Bygdoy – you can get here by either bus or boat. Allow at least an hour here. For more information visit: www.kon-tiki.no

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Wieliczka Salt Mine – November 2013

November 1, 2013 by · 1 Comment

Wieliczka Salt Mine is located nearly 90 minutes from central Krakow in Poland. Take bus number 304 across from the main Krakow Galleria Shopping Center. This mine was the world’s longest continuously operated mine – open from about the year 1300 to 1996 when it became no longer economically viable to keep the mine open commercially. Today 3 hour tours are conducted through less than 1% of the total area of the mine (in a variety of languages). The mine was one of the first 12 UNESCO sites.

You will descend about 60 levels via a wooden staircase and by the end of the tour you will have walked nearly 3km to depths of 135 meters – the mine actually goes deeper than 300 meters in places. All chandeliers and statues along the tour are carved from natural salt rock and one of the true highlights is the huge chapel. There are a number of hand carved statues here as well as cool carvings in the salt rock of the walls including of the “last supper”. A visit by famed astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus to the mine was documented about 500 years ago and there is a statue on the tour in tribute to him. Looking to check email at 135 meters under the ground – its possible in one room of the cave with what is probably one of the world’s deepest wifi hotspots!

For more information about the mine and visiting go to: www.kopalnia.pl

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Culebra Island, Puerto Rico – October 2013

October 1, 2013 by · 1 Comment

Culebra Island is 18 miles off shore from mainland Puerto Rico and only 12 miles from St. Thomas and the US Virgin Islands. Flamenco Beach has been voted one of the top beaches in the Caribbean by several publications. Usually its pure white sand beaches are relatively isolated but this time in the middle of Semana Santa its sand was covered with hip young college students partying. Its about an hour catamaran ride here from Marina Puerto Del Rey. Snorkeling is decent with a number of reefs in the area but the true highlight is the beach and the crystal clear waters!

Culebra Island only has about 2000 permanent residents – you can rent a car here. Camping is very popular as there are a number of campsites right next to the beach. A small bay with brackish water has a number of sea turtles. Vieques Island is not far from here and one of the highlights there is the bio-luminescent bay at night.

There are several transportation options – try East Wind Adventures – food and all the rum punch and pina coladas are included in the trip to and from the island! www.eastwindcats.com

Culebra Island - Puerto Rico

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Belgrade Serbia -September 2013

September 1, 2013 by · 2 Comments

Belgrade is certainly worth visiting for a number of reasons. It can be a party town for some with its floating night clubs and other late night hangouts and for others its about the history. The city holds the world’s largest Orthodox Church. Two other must see highlights include the very popular Knez Mihailova Street (lots of shops and very crowded in the summer) and the Kalemegdan Park and Belgrade Fort which offers a look back into Belgrade’s history as well as an overlook onto contemporary Belgrade.

Another highlight is the Nikola Tesla Museum. It is a small museum which really comes to life during one of the guided tours. A number of the models and exhibits “work” and are activated during the tour. A Tesla coil is one of the highlights and when activated throws an exciting purplish electric spark. Tesla is one of the world’s great scientific minds – the man is an under-appreciated genius whose inventions and ideas have profoundly changed the lives of millions of people. The world’s first remote controlled device is on display – a boat that was first shown to the public in New York’s Central Park. The remote control box is nearly as large as the giant boat it powers! For more information visit: www.tesla-museum.or

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Great Pyramids of Egypt – August 2013

August 1, 2013 by · 2 Comments

The great pyramids of Egypt are located on the outskirts of Cairo in the area of Giza. Cairo has Africa’s only metro; while it doesn’t run all the way to the pyramids you can take it to the Giza stop and then catch a bus to near the main entrance. Some great monuments may disappoint when you see them in person – absolutely not the great pyramids. They tower above everything; from the top of the Cairo Tower in Cairo (20+ miles away) they loom above all the smog and haze that Cairo is known for and look like small mountains. For nearly 4000 years they were the tallest man made structures in the world. The amount of man power to create and move all the giant blocks of rock is mind boggling. The pyramids are the last of the 7 great wonders of the ancient world and are by far the oldest of these 7 wonders.

Consider attending the light show at night. This lasts about 45 minutes and involves stories and sound that light up the pyramids and the Sphinx. We highly recommend paying a little more for the VIP tickets which gives you access to the front row seats (especially if you are taking photos).

Most tourists visit the pyramids with tour groups. In relation there are very few independent travelers. Once here be careful of not giving your camera to any of the locals to take your picture – be very wary of *anything* the locals tell you as in our experience they will lie or tell you anything to try and get your money (these are the people that hang around the pyramids trying to cheat tourists). For more information visit: www.gizapyramids.org

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Brac Island, Croatia – July 2013

July 1, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

Brac (pronounced ‘brach’) Croatia is an easily accessible island (about 50 minute ferry ride from the city of Split on the mainland). A visit here is well worth a day trip…at minimum. For the adventurous, renting motorbikes is a must. The island has some beautiful beaches as well as more intimate private bays. Picturesque villages dot the shoreline around the island and small cut off roads often lead down to these villages or connect them below the higher main road. In the summer, swimming, eating and drinking as you slowly make your way around the island are true highlights. The island is Mediterranean to the core – vineyards, olive trees, figs and lavender are liberally planted. The small town of Pucisca is a gem; the town is built from marble quarried nearby. In fact Brac produced the marble that was used to build the white limestone columns at the White House in Washington DC.

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