444 articles tagged with cultural travel
Standing at the precipice of Colca Canyon, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon yet somehow less frequented by international travelers, I felt that familiar tingle of discovery that first drew me to anthropology. The vertiginous drop before me wasn't...
The first time I wandered Oakland's streets at dawn, the city revealed itself to me like a book whose pages were painted instead of printed. Having explored urban landscapes from Toronto to Bangkok, I've developed an eye for cities that...
Konnichiwa, adventure seekers! While my climbing chalk is usually dusted across cliffs in Kyoto or Barcelona, I recently found myself in Pennsylvania's capital city with a weekend to spare and not much cash to burn. What I discovered was *gaman*...
When I tell folks I'm heading to East Africa for a beach holiday, they typically assume Kenya or Tanzania. But mention Djibouti, and I'm met with that familiar head-tilt of confusion—like when I try explaining the infield fly rule to...
The cobblestone streets of Ouro Preto twist beneath my feet like the pages of an unfinished novel, each turn revealing another chapter of Brazil's gold rush history. At 61, I've hiked trails across five continents, but there's something uniquely compelling...
The 150-kilometer stretch between Bangalore and Mysore isn't just a highway—it's a cultural time machine where centuries of South Indian heritage unfold with each passing mile. Ten years after my transformative journey through Kerala, I found myself drawn back to...
There's something magical about Cordoba in autumn when the scorching summer heat retreats and the ancient stones of the Mezquita seem to exhale with relief. As a nurse who's learned to diagnose the perfect travel destinations (much like spotting symptoms...
When my risk management conference in Toronto wrapped up early last summer, I made an impromptu decision that would lead to one of my most rewarding solo adventures yet: a week in Montreal. As someone who typically plans trips with...
Standing amidst the boulder-strewn landscape of Hampi, gazing at 14th-century ruins while local vendors set up their morning wares, I couldn't help but see the parallels between this ancient trading hub and our modern marketplaces. One month and thousands of...
Standing atop the lush Margalla Hills as dawn breaks over Islamabad, I'm struck by how this meticulously planned capital defies the chaotic urban stereotype often associated with South Asian cities. The geometric grid below, interspersed with abundant green spaces and...
There's something about the way sunlight dances across centuries-old limestone in Maastricht that reminds me of how light plays through a perfect glass of aged Riesling—both revealing layers of history with each shifting shadow. After paragliding over the nearby Belgian...
The moment my seaplane descended toward Luganville, I knew this wasn't going to be another predictable tropical getaway. The second-largest city in Vanuatu revealed itself as a curious juxtaposition: a sleepy South Pacific town with an unexpectedly profound historical footprint....
Standing in the bustling Crawford Market in Mumbai last winter, watching artisans delicately arrange their handcrafted ceramics alongside modern conveniences, I was struck by India's magnificent contradictions. The same sensation washed over me months earlier while navigating Delhi's labyrinthine streets...
The moment you step onto the rainbow-hued streets of Oranjestad, Aruba's capital reveals itself as a fascinating cultural tapestry—where Dutch colonial influence meets Caribbean flair in an explosion of color. During my recent weekend escape from Philadelphia's courtroom pressures, I...
There's something undeniably magical about stepping into Verona for the first time. Perhaps it's the way the golden Italian sunlight bathes the terracotta rooftops, or how the Adige River curves gracefully through the ancient city center. As someone who's spent...
