Tom L
What it's like to fly during COVID-19 pandemic ...

Unfortunately, the year 2020 has been the worst of all for all those who loved or had to travel. Many airlines went bankrupt as well as other travel companies. It was the first year when we didn’t travel at all until now. Recently, some flights have resumed and some restrictions eased. However, we can never be sure if that doesn’t change in the near future. In this post I will describe what it’s like to fly during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. I also want to add that the flight I took was not for leisure or vacation.

What it's like to fly during COVID-19 pandemic restrictions
Tom L
How to Visit National Parks in the US if You ...

Ever wanted to visit the magnificent National Parks of the western USA? That might be complicated if you can't drive or don't have too much time. However, there is one solution - we have visited 8 of the most important National Parks in 9 days - yes it was rushed and exhausting, but the experience was unreal. Here's how we did it with all the pros and cons.

It was always my dream to see the Grand Canyon and the other exceptionally magnificent National Parks and canyons in Utah and Arizona, such as: Bryce, Antelope Canyon, Arches and Monument Valley. Finally, having had visited nearly 70 countries, I planned a trip to the USA. We didn’t have too much time - only 9 days and we couldn’t drive. So, the only option was, as a last resort, an organized tour. Something we always try to avoid. How did it go? How much did it cost? Was it efficient? What were the downsides and upsides of such a journey?

How to Visit National Parks in the US if You Don't Drive and Don't Have Too Much Time
Tom L
Best Hike in Slovenian Alps - Triglav Lakes ...

Slovenia is mostly known for the amazing lake Bled. Few actually know what this tiny country hides one of the most spectacular Alpine valleys - the Triglav Lakes valley. The purest rivers and mountainous lakes surrounded by silver rocky peaks and karst formations can be found here. Don’t miss this incredible hiking trail - stay a few days more in Slovenia and enjoy the best of what nature has to offer. Contrary to similar places of this sort in neighboring countries (Italy, Austria, Croatia), you won’t find crowds here - therefore the whole area seems even more enjoyable. In this post I’ll describe the trail and how we got here from lake Bled and continued onwards to the Soca River valley.

Best Hike in Slovenian Alps - Triglav Lakes Valley (part 1)
Tom L
What You Must Know Before Traveling to Egypt in ...

Are you wondering if it's safe to travel to Egypt? Besides the amazing ancient monuments and great fun, these are the not so great things you must be aware of before traveling to Egypt. It's better to be prepared rather than disappointed.

I traveled to nearly 70 countries before Egypt, therefore I’d had some expectations and thought I had prepared myself mentally before visiting the lands of pharaoh. Nevertheless, many things still managed to surprise me in Egypt. The following part is based on my subjective experiences and may differ from what others experienced. However, I would like to share what it was like to follow the trail of ancient Egyptians - from Cairo down to the Sudanese border. I haven’t been to the resorts, so I can’t comment on that.

What You Must Know Before Traveling to Egypt in 2020
Tom L
How to get to Uvac River Canyon, Serbia (if you ...

A couple of years back, we visited the Serbian capital - Belgrade. And to be honest, it wasn't my favorite city in the Balkans - you can read my post here. This year, we decided to go back and rediscover Serbia again. Not only did we give Balgrade another chance but also wanted to see some other places in this little Balkan country. One of them was the beautiful Uvac River Canyon - a place that can be tricky to get to and is virtually unknown among tourists outside of Serbia. In this article I'll focus mainly on how to reach the Uvac River Canyon by public transport (if you cannot drive). I will also show the exact points of the maps where to start the hike if you have your own car and where the best viewpoints are.

How to get to Uvac River Canyon, Serbia (if you don't drive)

Zakopane - What To See in Poland's Winter Capital

Zakopane - What To See in Poland's Winter Capital

Zakopane, also called Poland's winter capital due to the abundance of ski resorts in the region is becoming a popular tourist destination among foreign visitors to the country. It's probably because it's so close to the most famous attraction in Poland - the medieval city of Krakow. Contrary to Zakopane's nickname - "winter capital", although it's perfect for ski lovers, the area is also worth visiting during all other seasons - when the snow melts, you can enjoy hiking spectacular mountainous trails dotted with beautiful, crystal clear postglacial lakes. In this post, however, I will focus on the town itself and highlight what to see around - there are plenty of articles online about Zakopane, basically describing Tatra National park, but few about the actual town.

Furnas, Azores, Portugal - The Village, The Crater Lake and The Hot Springs

Furnas, Azores, Portugal - The Village, The Crater Lake and The Hot Springs

The village of Furnas, as well as the nearby volcanic complex of geothermal springs, is situated beside the easternmost of the three spectacular caldera lakes on the island of Sao Miguel - Lagoa das Furnas. Apart from other places in Azores, Furnas, as one of the main tourist attractions on Sao Miguel, is extremely extraordinary yet still very authentic and, comparing to mainland Portugal, visited by few. Probably due to the deficit of beaches and guaranteed sunny weather. But it has so much more to offer! It is idyllic, easily accessible and sometimes confusing, but in a very positive way: when you leave one of the cozy towns, you begin to doubt you are in Portugal and start to think you've been teleported to Iceland, Ireland and New Zealand, all blended into one.

Zlatni Rat on Brac Island - Is It Croatia's Most Beautiful Beach?

Zlatni Rat on Brac Island - Is It Croatia's Most Beautiful Beach?

Croatia has changed beyond recognition within the last 10 years. Its Mediterranean coast, old medieval towns made of stone, beautiful beaches and superb food attract more and more visitors to this once neglected and forgotten land. In fairness, the tourist attractions in Croatia (as well as in the whole Balkan region) are not in any way less interesting than those famous spots in Italy or France. Besides the hyper popular Dubrovnik (which was featured in great productions, such as The Game of Thrones), the northern  portion of Croatian coast has also a lot to offer - the beautiful Roman city of Split (read my article about it here) and dozens of spectacular little islands. When you're in Split, one of them is particularly worth seeing - I'm talking here about Brac island which boasts reputedly the most beautiful beach in Croatia (I even spotted signs saying that in the world! For me this is the most beautiful beach in the world.) But is it really true?

Annapurna Range Loop Trek To Poon Hill, Nepal - Day 2 - Trek From Ulleri To Ghorepani And Poon Hill

Annapurna Range Loop Trek To Poon Hill, Nepal - Day 2 - Trek From Ulleri To Ghorepani And Poon Hill

On the second day of the extraordinarily beautiful trek to Poon Hill, we left the cozy village of Ulleri at sunrise and headed uphill towards another village - Ghorepani. Ghorepani is located at the elevation of 2750 meters and it differs from other towns with the distinctive blue roofs and houses. It is also a gateway to the most important point of the trek - Poon Hill (around 3200 meters above sea level) which offers a spectacular, 360 degree view of the Annapurna range in the Himalayas. Especially stunning in March/April when all the wild rhododendrons blossom and cover the mountainous valleys in bright red colors.

Old Bagan, Myanmar - Best Ways To Get Around And Is It Really Worth A Visit?

Old Bagan, Myanmar - Best Ways To Get Around And Is It Really Worth A Visit?

Old Bagan is one of the most famous archaeological sites in South East Asia. Often compared to the Angkor Wat Complex in Cambodia, Bagan was open to the tourists relatively recently. Although Myanmar is still regarded by some as an off the beaten path destination (for example, there are not that many foreign visitors in Mandalay or at the Golden Rock Pagoda), the magnificent temples of Bagan attract hundreds of travelers every day. Nevertheless, just like Angkor Wat, the pagodas in Bagan are spread around such an enormous area that you'll still feel the uniqueness and remoteness of this extraordinary site.

Half a Day In Brussels - What Can You See During An 8-hour Stopover In The Belgian Capital

Half a Day In Brussels - What Can You See During An 8-hour Stopover In The Belgian Capital

Usually, I choose to visit more exotic, unknown or off the beaten path destinations. Although there are some towns in Belgium I am planning to visit, Brussels was somehow never on my list. However, while returning from the trip to the amazing Greek Islands, the stopover between the flights in Brussels was around 8 hours. Was there a point to stay that long at the airport? We decided to take a risk and catch a bus to the city - at least to kill time, even if, seemingly, there was no possibility to get around and see everything in such a short time. As it turned out, we managed to visit almost all attractions within the historical center as well the famous Atomium Monument.

Adventure in The Amazon, Brazil - Part 4 - One Day Around Manaus

Adventure in The Amazon, Brazil - Part 4 - One Day Around Manaus

The 4th, last part of the series of articles about The Amazon will be dedicated to all those who visit the city of Manaus and don't have too much time to spend in the jungle itself (or prefer an easier way to explore the area). And even those who have experienced the amazing adventure in the rain forest will be surprised how many things you can see around Manaus during just a one day trip. We were! You'll have a chance to see a native, local tribe, houses on water, beautiful lake covered with water lilies with plenty of wild birds and curious little monkeys. But the best highlight of the trip is swimming with pink dolphins!

10 Beautiful Beaches And Coastal Towns You've Never Heard About

10 Beautiful Beaches And Coastal Towns You've Never Heard About

French Riviera, Copacabana, Miami Beach... We all know them and most of us dream to spend our vacation there. I'm not much of a beach person - but not because I don't like beaches, I do - what I dislike is lying at the swimming pools for entire two weeks in plastic resorts that basically seem to be copies of one another everywhere you go. I prefer to explore, discover some new, seemingly unattractive destinations. What can be better than a secluded, unspoiled beach surrounded by white rocks without hundreds of tightly squeezed sunbeds and drunken crowds - where you can feel as if it was your own? Or a cozy coastal town no one knows of - where you can enjoy authentic cuisine and original architecture? In this list I'd like to present beautiful, interesting and exciting beaches and towns that never or hardly ever make it to the western mainstream media.

Visiting Gullfoss Waterfall, Iceland - One Of The Main Attractions Of The Golden Circle Tour

Visiting Gullfoss Waterfall, Iceland - One Of The Main Attractions Of The Golden Circle Tour

Iceland is extremely famous for its outlandish scenery, dark, barren volcanic landscapes, hot springs and beautiful waterfalls. Gullfoss Waterfall, although it wasn't our favorite among the other falls that we'd had a chance to see during our stay in Iceland, it's still pretty spectacular and one of the biggest on the island. Visiting it in early spring was a great choice as the volume of water was high and moving fiercely down the rocky cascades while various "ice sculptures" created by mother nature were still attached to the sides.

Athens, Greece - Part 1 - Ancient Acropolis - Expectations vs Reality

Athens, Greece - Part 1 - Ancient Acropolis - Expectations vs Reality

The myths and history of Ancient Greece are probably the most widespread of all throughout the western mainstream media. The very center of Athens  - Ancient Acropolis was the cradle of our civilization. Having had watched the films and documentaries about the glorious warriors, Greek scholars, mythical Gods and magnificent temples, it was always my dream to see this magical site in real life. I was warned, however by some people that visiting Athens is a rather disappointing experience and it's better to head straight to the famous Greek beaches on idyllic islands rather than walk around the few piles of ruins that remain today. What is the Acropolis like in reality then? Is it the way you might imagine it in your mind - splendid and impressive - or is it another overrated, overpriced and disappointing tourist attraction?