Ines and Mel's Travelling Corner

5 Things ‘Sherlock’ Taught Me About Travel

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Sherlock Holmes was such a beloved character even during Arthur Conan Doyle’s life that when the author - sick and tired of his creation - tried to kill him off, the public outcry was of so epic a magnitude that Conan Doyle had no other choice but to bring the detective back from the dead. It is, therefore, not surprising, that over half a century after Arthur Conan Doyle’s death, his works and their adaptations continue to enjoy such popularity. There are many things one can learn from watching BBC’s Sherlock (not the least of which that Moffat likes to torture his audience - as if we didn’t know), but here is what Sherlock taught me about travel.

Get Help From Of The Baker Street Irregulars - When planning your holidays, it’s not usually hard to come across a lot of information. Gone are the days when you actually had to buy a guide if you wanted to learn more about a destination; now you can simply go online and learn everything you ever wanted to know about Portugal and more in the time it takes you to read a Wikipedia entry. But the types of information have also changed. Don’t just look for tourism sites and travel agencies. Look for forums, blog posts, twitter feeds. Factual information is great, but it can’t hold a candle to tips from real people.

Use Pants To Visit The Queen (Unless Your Last Name Is Holmes) - What is considered proper attire varies a lot from country to country, and depends not only on the country itself, but also on the sort of place you’re visiting. For instance, it’s common sense that you probably shouldn’t wear the same to a church that you wear to the beach, but there are occasions when it isn’t always clear that you should dress a certain way. Learn about what is considered respectful locally and abide by that.

He May Look Like Molly’s Harmless Boyfriend But He’s Actually A Criminal Master Mind - Meeting new people is all part of the fun of travelling. Despite that, you should be cautious and exercise good sense. If you’re visiting a place with someone you have just met, make sure you stick to places with lots of people around. Also, don’t give them more information about yourself than is reasonable for a short-time acquaintance (your e-mail is fine; your home address and social security number are probably a bit too much).

Cuffs Get In The Way Of Running - More than the perfect moment for a bit of fangirling, the occasion when Sherlock and John have to run away cuffed to each other is actually a pretty good metaphor for what it sometimes feels to travel with someone else (or is it just me?). When travelling with someone, it’s important to account for different tastes, opinions and ideas of what constitutes an ideal holiday. Rather than each trying to tug the rope their own way, learn to compromise. Discover what things both find enjoyable and make allowances for the other person’s opinions and interests when making shared plans. Don’t be afraid to schedule some alone time for yourself as well. Just because you’re travelling together, it doesn’t mean you have to be in each other’s company 24/7.

How Could Mycroft Run The Country Without His Smartphone - Sometimes it feels like technology is running our lives, and in a way it really is. But in many ways, technology does make life far more convenient. When you travel, a smartphone is like a small laptop that fits in your pocket and where you can carry a whole world of information. It allows you to show off your holidays on Facebook, update your Twitter feed or even browse Tumblr while waiting for the bus. Instead of making physical copies of your documents, simply scan them at home and email them to yourself, so they’re always available to you should you need them. Many smartphones even have GPS, so you never need fear getting lost.

From China With Love: Tea Culture Around The World

The Portuguese gave many things to Europe. They invented new ships, ways to read the stars, how to reach India by sea, and there’s even the sneaky suspicion that they knew Brazil was there before Columbus discovered America. But perhaps the greatest legacy from the Portuguese Discoveries is tea. The Chinese had been drinking tea for centuries, but it was quite unknown in Europe when the Portuguese began importing it in the 16th century. In just five centuries tea became the second most consumed beverage in the world - if you’re wondering, the first one is water. The way tea is consumed, however, is not universal, and each culture has their own little twist on this ancient beverage. 

China - Tea is part of everyday life in China, and besides being consumed socially, it is also used both by traditional medicine and Chinese cuisine. If someone has guests, tea is served to them as a sign of hospitality. Pouring tea to someone is seen as a sign of respect, so traditionally tea is poured to one’s parents, elders, and hierarchical superiors in general. In traditional Chinese weddings, the bride and groom kneel in front of their parents and serve tea to them, as a way of thanking them for bringing them up. 

Japan - Much like China, Japan also has a long history of drinking tea. Japanese tea ceremony is incredibly complex and ritualized, and is seen as akin to an art form. Hosts also offer tea to their guests as a sign of hospitality (whether they’re guests in private homes or visitors coming for meetings at a company). Vending machines in Japan also sell both cold and hot tea. 

UK - Britain is the second largest per capita consumer of tea in the world. The habit of drinking tea socially in England was introduced by Catherine of Braganza, the Portuguese consort of Charles II (though tea was known in England before that), and its popularity spread during the 19th century, when Britain controlled much of the production of tea worldwide. If you pick up a cheap car hire in the south of England and drive all the way to the north of Scotland, you’ll be hard pressed to find a household where tea isn’t consumed, often several times a day. The most consumed tea in Britain is black tea, which is often served with milk.

Portugal - Even though Portugal was the first European country to import and produce tea, as well as being responsible for its introduction in Britain, tea consumption isn’t nearly as popular in Portugal as it is in other European countries (namely in the UK). Tea is more popular in winter, and is the beverage of choice when one as a cold. Tea can also be offered to guests as an alternative to coffee, but generally speaking coffee is a far more popular beverage in Portugal than tea (partly owing to the country’s relationship with Brazil). 

Myanmar - In Myanmar tea is not only a drink, but also a type of food (called lahpet). Tea shops in the country are a place where people come together to meet with friends, exchange news, or read the paper. In restaurants, as soon as a client sits down, they are offered a glass of green tea. To this day, tea houses in Myanmar remain far more popular than pubs and clubs.

Most Curious Hotels In The World

Hotels provide a convenient type of accommodation for travellers, but sometimes they can also be an attraction themselves. Around the world, architects have striven to create unique and original hotels which inspire their guests. Here are some of the most interesting hotels in the world.

Hotel de Glace, Canada - Located in Quebec, this unusual hotel only exists four months out of the year, and it is completely made out of ice. Despite its icy exterior, the hotel is one of the best tourist hotspots in the area. Even if you don’t plan on staying in the hotel per se, the hotel is open to the public and you can take a tour of the building.

Hotel Kakslauttanen, Finland - This charming igloo village is the perfect place to enjoy the lovely scenery of Lapland from the comfort of your own bed. The glass igloos allow you to see the surrounding landscape as well as the stunning northern lights. What could be more relaxing than falling asleep listening to the muffled sounds of the snow while admiring one of nature’s most amazing shows. 

Kolarbyn Eco-lodge, Sweden - If what you’re looking for is to get in touch with Mother Nature, then the Kolarbyn Eco-lodge would suit you just fine. This hotel is considered one of the most primitive in Sweden and it will grant you the chance to escape modern life for a few days, and to “live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life”.

Madonna Inn, USA - A car hire Miami can take you to some of the most luxurious hotels in America, but if you’re looking for something a bit more outlandish, why not trade the East Coast for the West one and head to the Madonna Inn, one of America’s most unique hotels. The hotel’s over the top decoration and lavish style make it a hallmark among hotels in the area. It provides thematic rooms, aiming to cater to different tastes and different types of people. Some of the rooms include the Safari Room, the Bridal Falls, the Caveman Room, and the Daisy Mae.

Gamirasu Cave Hotel, Turkey - Originally a Monastery, this astonishing hotel carved in the rock provides a truly unique experience for visitors. The hotel seamlessly blends the comforts of modern life  with the traditional setting, providing its lodgers with a great atmosphere for the duration of their stay.

5 Things the Avengers Taught Me About Travel

When someone decided they should take Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain America, Black Widow and Hawkeye and put them together in the same movie, everyone knew the result would be nothing short of amazing. Sure, there were some nay-sayers (aren’t there always), but even they knew deep down that something epic was in the works. And then they go and give all this amazing heroes to Joss Whedon. There are no words in the English language to describe the level of awesomeness of that. I could go on fangirling for the next two pages, but that would be both long-winded and self-indulgent. As it is, and keeping on topic, here are 5 things the Avengers taught me about travel (proving that I don’t find anything too far-fetched ever).

Black Widow: I’m in the middle of an interrogation, and this moron is giving me everything.

Natasha Romanoff is the single most interesting character in the movie. She doesn’t have super-strength, or cool gadgets, but she’s still one kick-ass superhero. She takes all the preconceptions people have about her and uses them against them. When you travel, you might also come across people who look innocent and harmless, but turn out to be anything but. Travelling is partly about meeting new people and making new friends, but you should also exercise caution and keep in mind that there’s more to all of us than meets the eye.

Iron Man: I have too much swag for this place!

The single most important thing when you’re travelling is to keep an open mind. The world is a big place and you’re bound to come across locations and cultures quite unlike your own. Just because something is different, it doesn’t make it worse. Embrace new cultures, understand their differences, and come home a richer individual for it. 

Captain America: Have you got a suit?

Hawkeye: Yeah.

Captain America: Then suit up.

On the subject of different cultures, different countries also have different dress codes. This is a more sensitive subject in some countries than others, but you should always be aware that what is considered polite and what is considered proper attire varies wildly across culture. Even in a given country, dress codes may vary depending on the occasion and the places you’re visiting (such as churches, temples, etc.)

Black Widow: This is just like Budapest, huh?

Hawkeye: You and I remember Budapest very differently.

Living through a trip and looking back at it are sometimes completely different experiences. Memory is a funny thing, and human beings tend to have a particularly selective one. Documenting your journey is a great way to share it with the people back home and to remember it afterwards with (some degree of) accuracy. Take photos, blog, tweet, Facebook if you have too. Don’t spend your whole trip hooked to your smartphone, but spend a few minutes every evening to share something. 

Tony Stark: Yeah, takes us a while to get any traction I’ll give you that one. But let’s do a head count here. Your brother, the demigod. A super soldier, living legend who kinda lives up to the legend. A man with breathtaking anger management issues. A couple of master assassins.

Travelling alone can be great fun, there’s no denying it. Some people do prefer it, and if it’s your thing, more power to you. However, I find that some things are better shared. Travelling in a group can be a great experience, and lots of fun. Go skydiving, climb a mountain together, hire a car and tour Europe. Because everyone bring something different to the table, it’s often a more rewarding experience than otherwise. Travelling together is also a great bonding experience (maybe not as much as saving New York from an alien invasion, but close enough). 

5 Things George R. Martin Taught Me About Travel

All literature is didactic. Even if it happens to include dragons. Wilde might have remarked that “All art is quite useless”, but I beg to differ. I think that we find ourselves reflected in the books we read, and there’s always something we can take away from it and apply to our own lives. So here is what I learned about travel after reading A Song of Ice and Fire.

Winter is coming - Sounds ominous, doesn’t it? The motto of House Stark is always a good reminder that when travelling, it’s important to make sure we pack for the appropriate weather conditions (of courser, we could be industrious and pack for ALL weather conditions, but I fear that might put you over the luggage limit). To save space and to give you some flexibility, pack light clothing that you can wear in layers. That way you can adjust according to the situation.

Leave the dragon eggs at home - Sure, those dragons may yet win Daenerys her kingdom back, but unless your last name is Stormborn and you’re on a quest to reclaim the lost throne of your family, it’s always best to leave valuables at home. And sure, sometimes you can’t avoid bringing SOME objects of value, such as a camera (how else can you show off your holidays on Facebook), your smartphone (how else can you update Twitter) or your laptop (because of reasons). Just remember to keep them somewhere safe when not in use. If you travel with a car hire, make sure you don’t leave anything valuable inside the car where it can be seen. If absolutely necessary to leave such objects in the car, lock them in the glove compartment or in the trunk.

It may be called Needle, but it’s anything but - Many people aren’t quite clear on what objects they can or cannot carry on an airplane. There are obvious things you can’t take on an airplane, but there are many other objects that you can carry on your hold baggage but not on your hand baggage, and some objects that depend on the airline policies. Before you pack, make sure to check with your airline what the restrictions are, so you don’t have any surprises.

Never mess with Queen Cersei - When travelling, we often come into contact with different cultures, different laws, and different ways to see the world. Learn as much as you can about the country you’re travelling to. Learn about their culture, but also about ways in which their laws differ from your own country. Some things that may seem quite harmless in one country may land you in jail in another one.

Avoid tall towers (also called the “respect gravity” principle) - Travelling is all about putting yourself out there and removing yourself from your comfort zone. However, that doesn’t mean you should throw caution to the wind. There’s nothing wrong with taking calculated risks, but you should also take all necessary and reasonable precautions to ensure your safety and that of your property.

5 Things Tolkien Taught Me About Travel

Tolkien is, in many ways, the father of modern Fantasy. His Lord of the Rings set the tone for fantasy for generations to come (and provided us with the unmissable chance to see Orlando Bloom with pointy ears). At its core, the Lord of the Rings is a travel story. It may be a travel story in a fantasy world, but still there’s much we can learn from it and transpose to real life. Here are some things Tolkien taught me about travel. 

Stock up on the Lembas - Repeat after me: snacks are my friends. Visiting new places is exciting, but also time and energy consuming. Be prepared. If you eat several times during the day, you’re more likely to keep your energy up. Keeping your sugar levels up will also keep you in a good mood, so you can enjoy your journey to the most. Even if all you do is take a day trip on a car hire in the UK, you wanna be prepared with a few cereal bars, or sandwiches, in case you get peckish during the day.  

One does not simply walk into Mordor - The bigger the cultural gap between your own culture and the place you’re travelling to, the more you should prepare in advance. Read about the habits of the place you’re travelling to, google items related to it, find out what is considered polite behaviour and what is considered rude. Learn if there are certain ways you should dress. The more you know, the smoother your journey will be and the more you’ll be able to enjoy yourself.

My precious - When travelling, it’s probably best to leave valuables at home. Even so, there are things you must necessarily take with you, such as your documents and money which would be a real pain to lose. Better than making physical copies, scan all your documents and email them to yourself and to a close relative (such as your mum). In case you lose the originals, you’ll always have a copy in a safe, easy to access place. Carrying a pouch with money close to your body is also a good idea, as well as leaving any extra money on the hotel safe.

In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie - Can you imagine if Frodo had never reached Mount Doom not because he was stopped by his enemies but simply because he couldn’t find it? The ring would never have been destroyed and chaos would have ensued! Plan your itinerary beforehand. Maps are a great way to have a quick reference guide, but nowadays you can also request GPS if you hire a car. Some smartphones also have GPS capabilities, so there’s really very little excuses to get lost. 

Unusual Tourism: The World’s Most Famous Cemeteries

Different people look for different things when they travel. Some people enjoy natural beauty, others find beauty in man-made monuments. Some people travel for the culture and some people enjoy discovering the strange and the bizarre. Burial places have a long history of sooner or later turning into tourist attractions (just look at the pyramids). Here are some of the world’s most famous cemeteries.

Highgate Cemetery, London - Highgate is one of the most famous cemeteries in London, not only because of the people buried there but also for being a nature reserve. Walking in Highgate is much like walking in a garden, with Gothic tombs, trees and vegetation lining the pathways. There are several animals on the grounds, mostly birds, squirrels and small foxes. Some of the most famous people buried here include Karl Marx, Douglas Adams and George Elliot. 

Green-Wood Cemetery, New York - Located in Brooklyn, Green-Wood Cemetery has been a tourist attraction since the late 19th century, as well as being the most fashionable place to be buried in New York City. Much like Highgate, Green-Wood resembles a garden, filled with ponds, trees and vegetations. The cemetery offers organized tours, as well as special events throughout the year, namely on Halloween. 

Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris - If you’re driving a car hire to Paris, don’t just visit the Eiffel Tower, take some time to stop by Père Lachaise as well. This is one of the most visited cemeteries in the world, and is the final home of many famous people, including Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, Honoré de Balzac, Sarah Bernhardt and Marcel Proust. There is also a monument to Abelard and Heloise where tourists leave love letters, which is said to grant luck in love.

Westminster Abbey, London - Westminster Abbey is one of the most famous churches in London, and throughout the centuries it has been the setting for Coronations, Royal Weddings, and also burials. Many English Monarchs and their consorts are buried in the Abbey (for instance Elizabeth I and Charles II), but it also became customary to bury in Westminster people who had greatly contributed to the country. Some of the non-royals buried at Westminster include writers (Dickens, Johnson, Shakespeare, Tennyson and many others are buried in the so called Poet’s Corner), scientists (such as Darwin and Newton), politicians (such as William Pitt and William Pitt the Younger) and many others.

Key West Cemetery, Florida - Some people may prefer the elaborate and often ancient-looking monuments of European cemeteries, but there’s beauty also to be found in New World cemeteries. Key West is known for the originality of many of its tombs. “I Told You I Was Sick” and “Devoted Fan of Julio Iglesias” are two of the most famous and often quoted. Visitors to Key West Cemetery can also see the monument to the sailors who died aboard the U.S.S. Maine in the late 19th century.

5 Things How I Met Your Mother Taught Me About Travel

Kids, back in 2000 your Aunt Robin and I decided to make a little road trip. We hopped on a car hire in the US and we hit the road without looking back (and without letting your Uncle Barney know…). Travelling can be a great way to open your horizons and it brough me on step closer to finally meeting your mother. But it’s also important to prepare properly for any trip. Here are some invaluable tips I learned during my days in New York.

Red boots, make sure you can pull them off - Sometimes during your trips, you’ll come across many different cultures, and in some of them people will dress differently than we do. And it will just be too tempting to dress up in the same way (in a respectful manner) and take loads of pictures to show back home. And you may even be tempted to post them online. But remember, the Internet never forgets. And mockery rights never expire.

Suit down - When it comes to packing, people like to be prepared and to take something for every possible situation, be it a hiking trip up the slope of a mountain or a formal dinner in the White House. However, it’s important to realise that the odds you’ll end up being invited to the White House due to a convoluted scheme involving a blonde woman and a parakeet are slim to none, so pack realistically. Light clothing that you can dress in layers for different temperatures and that doesn’t wrinkle too much is always a good option.

Find yourself a wing man - Travelling alone can be great fun and many people actually prefer it. However, personally I must say I find travelling with someone else a much more enriching experience that can make you both closer and give you a new perspective on the place you’re travelling too. That person may be a significant other, your mum/dad, a friend, or even your favourite bartender. Just be sure to have fun.

Legen-wait-for-it-dary - Travelling shouldn’t only be about seeing new places, but should also be a way to get new perspectives on the world. More than a touris, make sure you’re a traveller. Don’t just collect photographcs, collect experiences as well. 

Slapsgiving - Sometimes on the course of your travels, you’ll come across radically different ways to live. Values, etiquette, social sensibilities, none of them are universal and all of them change (sometimes only slightly, sometimes drastically) across different cultures. Make sure to educate yourself about the places you are travelling to, in order not to give offense where none was meant.

5 Ships That Made the World a Bigger Place

Nowadays, the whole world is only a short journey away. Pick up a car hire in one corner of Europe and you can easily see most of the continent in a very short period of time. Hop on a plane in London and you can be in Australia the next day. Travel has become easy and inexpensive, but there was a time when travelling was quite different, and the world a bigger and more mysterious place. Here are 5 ships that gave the world a bigger world.

Santa María - The Santa Maria was one of three ships that sailed under Columbus to America. Columbus was actually supposed to be heading to India, on the belief that if the world was round, if he kept going west he’d eventually reach Asia. He was right about the shape of the world, but failed to realise there was a whole other continent in between (oops!). That’s why he called Native Americans Indians.

São Cristovão - In the 15th century, the Portuguese grew tired of paying premium prices for their loved spices and tea (don’t mess with Portuguese cooking!) so they decided they simply must find a better way to import Indian goods, even if it meant risking reaching the end of the world and simply falling off into the abyss or being devoured by sea monsters. Cause, tea! So King John II sent Bartolomeu Dias (who apparently he didn’t fear losing to sea monsters) to find a way to travel to India by sea. He had to go all the way around the African coast, cross the Cape of Storms (hint: not named so after warm beach weather) and make sure there was no abyss in sight. Dear Old Bart made the trip and came back, and in what we can only assume was an attempt to spite John (DISCLAIMER: That was probably not why), he renamed the fearsome cape Cape of Good Hope.

São Gabriel - Safe in the assurance there were no sea monsters of any kind (not even a little Kraken for variety) awaiting him just around the southern tip of Africa, Vasco da Gama decided to build on Bartolomeu Dias’s success and make the trip all the way to India (where the yummy tea awaited). Four ships left Lisbon, and three returned. São Gabriel was Vasco da Gama’s ship. The Lusiads, a Portuguese epic, relates the story of his voyage. In that version of the tale, on the ships’ return to Portugal, the Gods sent the ships to a Love Island, where the sailors could, erm, rest from the trip. The reality is likely to have been less colourful.

Victoria - The good part about travelling in the 16th century was that if only you could manage to get on the good side of a King or Queen, you got to travel with all expenses paid. I suppose that still applies today, but it was far more common then. Ferdinand Magellan was one such. He somehow convinced Charles V that the best way to get spices without annoying the Portuguese was to go west instead of east, when trying to reach India from Europe. Magellan’s fleet successfully completed the first circumnavigation of the globe (a fancy way of saying they travelled all around the world). Trinidad was Magellan’s flagship, but much like Ferdinand managed to get himself killed along the way, Trinidad also was lost in the journey. Victoria was the ship that managed to bring home the gold (read: spices).

Duyfken - With all this travelling east and west, it’s easy to forget there was much to discover south as well. The Little Dove was a small Dutch ship that accidentally came across Australia. This marked the beginning of the end for the Age of Discoveries, as Australia was the last inhabited continent to be discovered by Europeans. The Kraken wept.

(Source: blog.auto-europe.co.uk)

Streets With Unusual Names

Naming things is not only a byproduct of the fact human beings possess the most advanced vocal system in the planet. It’s also a really handy way to make sure we don’t get lost. When you’re driving a car hire in France, you want to know it’s France. It wouldn’t be very practical to refer to it as that “large country in the middle of Europe, surrounded by other countries of large and small dimensions, with a northern and a soutehern shore, where they have fine cheeses and nice champagne”. First because it would take twice as long to say anything, second because who would ever remember it?

Geographical names are essential to the way we live, and they have a long and proud history. For the most part, anyway. Here are some street names that make you wonder if that proud and long history took a holiday. 

Ruelle du Ha-Ha - The funniest street in France. Why is it funny, do you ask?… Well… Because of reasons…

No Name Street - After naming No Name in Colorado, Bill moved to Sandwich, Kent, and being so proficient in the naming of things, went on to name this poor street No Name Street.

Hell for Certain - Being more unassuming than Michigan, Kentucky doesn’t have a whole city named Hell, they’re content with only a road. But they’re quite sure it’s the real thing. 

Lonesome Road - Where 1 remains the loneliest number you will ever know. Everywhere else, 1 has discovered the wonders of social media.

This Ain’t It Road - The road where everyone is always lost. As they very well should be, because this road sure ain’t it.

(Source: blog.auto-europe.co.uk)