Dream Destinations – Rome

Chris Boothman
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15
Dream Destinations – Rome

After including a little Italian flavor to our Dream Destinations series with our feature on Pompeii, I think I have well and truly been given the bug to explore other locations throughout this beautiful country. Our next feature is the gorgeous capital city of Rome.

When you are thinking about European history, architectural genius and relaxing atmospheres many of you that have visited Rome will likely put this at the top of the list to meet each of these categories. Rome can undoubtedly be overwhelming to a first time visitor simply because there is just so much to do there and if you have any sort of time constraints, the most difficult task is establishing what to see and when to schedule it.

To provide a little assistance on the key attractions and landmarks in Rome, here are our top spots in the City of the Seven Hills.

Colosseum

Image courtesy of Bjarki Sigursveinsson (Self-photographed) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Bjarki Sigursveinsson (Self-photographed) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The Roman Colosseum is probably the most famous landmark still standing from the Roman Empire. Constructed in AD 80, this impressive structure housed many gladiator fights and its unsurprising that this has been used so frequently in movie recreations of the Roman games. The Colosseum is located in the heart of piazza del Colosseo in the center of Rome. 

Standing proudly above surrounding Roman streets, the Colosseum dominates the area that it resides. It is symbolic of the Roman empire in terms of its size purely representing the power of the Empire in addition to the architectural flamboyance that prevailed even thousands of years ago. Tours of the Colosseum today are available and I am sure that most first-time visitors to Rome will have this near the top of their bucket list.

Trevi Fountain

Image courtesy of Karelj (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Karelj (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Coined as the most famous fountain in the world, the Trevi Fountain is an extraordinary piece of Roman mastery. The largest Baroque fountain in the world, the Trevi Fountain is over 85 feet tall and shoots almost 3 million cubic feet of water every day!

Everything in the design of the Trevi Fountain is uniquely related to a story of Roman ancestry and of course for every visitor that throws a coin into this fountain, they are left with a guarantee that they will return to the beautiful city of Rome.

But do you know that there is a correct technique in throwing the coin into the fountain? Legend has it that you must throw a coin with your right hand over your left shoulder with your back to the fountain. Of course, a lot of money is thrown into the fountain but you will be pleased to know that all of the proceeds from this go to charity!

Roman Forum

Roman Forum
Image courtesy of Stefan Bauer, http://www.ferras.at (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
Continuing the theme of Roman architecture simply because a visit to Rome for the first-time would not be the same without experiencing all of these great historic landmarks, the Roman Forum is another great example of brilliant infrastructure still standing from the Roman era. This plaza was the hub of the Roman Empire where everything relating to day to day business took place.

Just standing today in this location allows you to think about what daily life must have been like thousands of years ago and comparing to where we are today. It’s awesome how the architecture can still remain in place even after so many years and this is a credit to the design and brilliance of those that dedicated their time to constructing these masterpieces.

Stadio Olimpico

Image courtesy of Gaúcho (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Gaúcho (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Of course whenever I visit a new city, I am interested in seeing all of the historical buildings and attractions but at the same time I would love to see some of the more modern infrastructure, in particular those related to the sports teams/events in the area. Rome plays host to Lazio and AS Roma in the footballing world and both of these teams play their home matches at the impressive Stadio Olimpico stadium.

I think it would be really cool to do both a stadium tour here but also to watch one of these teams play a Serie A encounter ideally against each other but against any team would be a great experience.

St. Peter’s Basilica

Image courtesy of Giacomo della Porta [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Giacomo della Porta [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
After taking a break from the history and seeing the beautiful Stadio Olimpico football stadium, let’s get back to what Rome is really about and discovering some more genius design with St. Peter’s Basilica. It is a Renaissance designed church and still remains as one of the largest throughout the world.

***This post is part of the 2014 A to Z Blogging Challenge (#DreamDestinations #AtoZChallenge)***

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Dream Destinations – Quebec City

Chris Boothman
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24
Dream Destinations – Quebec City

If you have been fortunate enough to visit Canada, you will know that there are a myriad of gorgeous locations throughout this country. In 2013 we visited Toronto and Niagara Falls for the first time which was an amazing experience so moving forward we are excited about exploring more of what Canada has to offer.

Next up on our agenda of Dream Destinations features Quebec City where we are currently planning on visiting in May 2014 over the Memorial Day weekend. Road tripping through the New England states into Canada and up to Quebec City is our tentative plan but with so many awesome attractions there, we would be crazy not to at least try and follow through with this.

Here are some of the top attractions and things to see in Quebec City that we are particularly excited about visiting.

Montmorency Falls

Image courtesy of Marc Bélanger [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Marc Bélanger [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Of course Canada will always be famous for having part of Niagara Falls but don’t think there are not other spectacular waterfalls throughout this beautiful country. Quebec City plays host to Montmorency Falls which is a large waterfall a few miles outside of the old city center.

These falls are about 275 feet tall and there are ample observation towers, bridges and other exhilarating viewpoints along the way allowing for visitors to capture some amazing photographs of treasured memories.

Le Château Frontenac

Image courtesy of Hurteau, Paul ; Parent, Claude [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Hurteau, Paul ; Parent, Claude [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
It’s rare that a hotel will feature on top attractions in a Dream Destination but the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is one of the finest hotels in Canada and likely throughout North America. With such grandeur filling both the exterior and interior, it is no surprise that this landmark was designated as a National Historic site of Canada in 1980.

With breathtaking views of old Quebec City available from this hotel, it is certainly a sought after accommodation for the rich. Just as an additional note, my research suggests that Le Château Frontenac is actually pretty reasonably priced for this type of hotel so this will certainly be on our radar whenever we head to Quebec City in May 2014.

Old Quebec

Image courtesy of Guilhermeduartegarcia (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Guilhermeduartegarcia (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Old Quebec is a historic part of Quebec City and is unsurprisingly categorized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Two of the main attractions in this historic neighborhood are the Citadel and Fortifications of Quebec which provide a unique military history of this city.

Much of the French influence can be seen in this part of the city also, with much of the architecture following the French design in particular with the cathedrals, museums and fine dining options.

The Battlefields Park

Image courtesy of Skarg at en.wikipedia [CC-BY-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], from Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Skarg at en.wikipedia [CC-BY-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], from Wikimedia Commons
Every city around the world seems to have a relaxation spot. Take Central Park in New York City and Hyde Park in London for example, well Quebec City is no different and their unique hub is The Battlefields Park. However, there is so much more to this park in terms of overall history and background in comparison to the two aforementioned examples.

This was the site of many ferocious battles between the French and British in the late 18th Century but nowadays is common ground for locals and tourists alike to take a few moments away from the city life and grab some lunch or just wind down after a long day.

Quartier du Petit Champlain

Image courtesy of Jeangagnon (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Jeangagnon (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
If you want a spot in Quebec City that reminds you of a stereotypical French village by the coast, check out the Quartier du Petit Champlain which offers a plethora of local shops, museums and local cuisine. Many of the locally owned shops sell home-made crafts or local food which is a great way to grab a cherished memory from your trip to Quebec City.

***This post is part of the 2014 A to Z Blogging Challenge (#DreamDestinations #AtoZChallenge)***

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Dream Destinations – Pompeii

Chris Boothman
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13
Dream Destinations – Pompeii

It’s time to take a slightly different approach with our next Dream Destination as we want to head to mainland Europe and visit the historic city of Pompeii. I am sure many folks reading this will be more familiar with Pompeii because of the recent release of the movie that highlights the historic and tragic eruption of Mount Vesuvius that saw Pompeii literally flattened and buried under a mass of ash and debris.

But to add a little extra twist to this, what exactly do you know about this cultural hub in Italy and the attractions that lead thousands of visitors to exploring this beautiful location?

Here are some of the key landmarks worth exploring if you are fortunate enough to travel to Pompeii.

Mount Vesuvius

Image courtesy of Dommaria (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Dommaria (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Let’s start with the most obvious of them all – Mount Vesuvius. Located in the Gulf of Naples, Vesuvius stands as the only active volcano in mainland Europe and is most infamous for the eruption in AD 79. A tour of Vesuvius is available and I am sure this is a really cool experience even if this is more of a hiking trail to the Vesuvius Crater. If you are fortunate enough to take this tour during good weather, you will be left astonished by the amazing views of the crater but all too frequently the views are marred by the weather conditions, leaving visitors with an eerie memory of what occurred thousands of years ago.

Amphitheatre of Pompeii

Image courtesy of Mosborne01 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Mosborne01 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
The oldest surviving Roman amphitheatre is located in the heart of Pompeii and is simply known as the Ampitheatre of Pompeii. Whenever you see such a historic landmark as this beautiful ampitheatre you are left gazing down at a plethora of history. Just think about standing there and overlooking this magnificent piece of architecture, closing your eyes and pondering those Roman soldiers fighting for their lives during the heat of battle. 

Unlike other Roman amphitheatres constructed around this time period (believed to have been constructed in BC 80), the one in Pompeii does not have an underground section. Does this have any real significance? Well, you could maybe consider that the Romans felt ‘safer’ in Pompeii therefore didn’t need to have such underground tunnels and sections available to have a secure location but maybe there was just something more simple behind this approach – we can all use our imagination here!

Temple of Apollo

Image courtesy of Lord Pheasant at en.wikipedia [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Lord Pheasant at en.wikipedia [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons
One of the oldest landmarks still remaining in Pompeii is the Temple of Apollo which is definitely a piece of architecture worth exploring. Of course when visiting Pompeii it is difficult to choose exactly which of the historic landmarks you want to visit and everyone will have very different reasons for exploring each one.

The House of the Faun

Image courtesy of Dave & Margie Hill / Kleerup from Centennial, CO, USA (House of the Faun Uploaded by Marcus Cyron) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of Dave & Margie Hill / Kleerup from Centennial, CO, USA (House of the Faun Uploaded by Marcus Cyron) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Historically one of the most lucrative private residences in Pompeii, the House of the Faun is commonly referred to as this because of the dancing statue stood outside the front of this residence. It was one of the largest and most richly decorated houses during the Roman period and is undoubtedly a true representation of the aristocratic life in not only Pompeii but of ancient Rome.

Thousands of visitors flock here to not only see the remains of the house but of the beautifully designed mosaics that are still present on the floors to this day in certain spots along with others that have been transferred to the National Museum in nearby Naples.

Pompeii Sanctuary

Image courtesy of By Velvet (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Image courtesy of By Velvet (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The Pompeii Sanctuary was constructed towards the latter end of the 19th Century and was funded by donations from millions of patriotic believers from around the world. Modernization and expansion has taken place since this original design but even with this on certain days of the year this iconic basilica still cannot hold the large numbers that flock here.

Also referred to as specifically the Sanctuary of the Madonna of the Rosary, this landmark is a must-see because it covers over 2000 years of history that can be seen in the exhibition area of the sanctuary.

***This post is part of the 2014 A to Z Blogging Challenge (#DreamDestinations #AtoZChallenge)***

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Interview – Brian and Noelle (Wandering On)

Chris Boothman
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1
Interview – Brian and Noelle (Wandering On)

We have been very fortunate throughout our interview series to get to know a bunch of great folks from all corners of the globe. Today’s featured couple are no different and we are delighted to welcome Brian and Noelle of from Wandering On.  Please feel free to comment, ask questions and connect with Brian and Noelle using their various social media fronts listed below.

We would like to give a special THANK YOU to our wandering couple for taking time to interview with us!

Brian and Noelle at Kala Pattar (5,555m) with Everest in the background, Nepal.

Intro: We are Brian and Noelle, an Irish couple, Brian from Cork and Noelle from Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Our travel blog is WanderingOn.com where we share our travel tips, photos, videos and stories from the road.

Website: WanderingOn.com

Social Media: 

What is your favorite aspect of traveling and if you are a travel blogger, why did you decide to create your website? 

Our favourite thing about travel is the freedom and all the new things you get to experience; new people, new places, new cultures, new languages, new food and so on. We love change and variety in our life and that’s one of the reasons why travel is so appealing to us.

We started our blog originally as a way for family and friends to keep up to date with where we were and what we were doing. It also served as a personal record of our journey, something nice to look back at when we’re old and grey!

How many continents have you visited? 

Four

How many countries have you visited? 

21-30

What is your favorite destination in the world and why? 

That’s a really tough question. We’ve been to a lot of amazing places and each has been amazing for it’s own individual reasons. India would probably take the prize for that one if we had to choose. Mostly for it’s diversity but also for its random mad moments. There are not too many places in the world where you can be walking through a crowded street dodging people, vehichles and cows and an elephant will just nonchalantly go strolling by.

Brian and Noelle on camel safari in the Thar Desert near the India Pakistan Border, India.

We were waiting for a bus in Hyderabad and a guy on a camel went strolling by. Pure and utter random madness but we loved it! Of course the food is just another string to India’s bow, just the street food alone is incredible and usually much better than what you get in any restaurant. Ya, India is a cool country.

If money/time was no object and you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you travel to and why? 

This question is a killer! The honest truth is we want to go everywhere and that is our plan. We know it can kind sound of cliched to say it but we really do want to visit as many countries in the world as we can and we’re trying to make that dream a reality.

If time/money was no object we would probably choose an expensive place rather than a cheaper option. After a lot of thought, we think it would be Bhutan. We would both absolutely love to go there but the fact that you have to spend a minimum of $250 per day puts it way outside our price range. Quick, next question before we change our minds!

Which of the following gadgets do you take on your travels? 

Laptop, Phone and Camera

What is your preferred method of transport? 

Whatever will get us to where we’re going really. If travelling by land we would prefer train over bus but we have taken 17hour buses before without any problems. If we are travelling long distance then plane. If we were seeing a city then by foot or bicycle. Travelling by car/van yourself is a great way to explore a country too. It really depends on the situation. 🙂

Complete the following, “Everywhere I go, I visit….” 

Everywhere we go, we visit a restaurant. We definitely enjoy our food and love to try the local food wherever we are.

Here is your chance to sell yourself and your website! Tell us some more information about yourself, what your travel philosophies & future plans are and anything else that people may find interesting to read about… 

Our website WanderingOn.com is about all things travel. We share travel tips, photos, videos, interviews with other travellers and of course our own travel experiences.

Our travel philosophy is to travel slowly and take our time in a place. We enjoy soaking up the atmosphere of places we visit rather than flying through on a quick tour. This gives us more time to learn about a country, it’s people and it’s culture and that’s really important to us.

Brian and Noelle with Buddhist monks from Myanamar outside the Temple of the Tooth in Kady, Sri Lanka

Right now, we are living in South Korea teaching English for the next five months and then we’re hitting the road again! We’re really excited about packing our bags again. Our (very loose) plan for now is to go to Tokyo and Mt. Fuji in Japan then Taiwan and onto South East Asia. We want to spend about a month in Cambodia and Laos, a few weeks around Northern Vietnam and then maybe another month in Myanmar. After that, we don’t really know what’s going to happen but that’s all part of the adventure and we can’t wait to see what how it pans out.

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