Information Blog Regarding Travel & Destinations

If you’re planning to visit Namibia, most probably your vacation will begin and end in the capital of Windhoek which is the home of Hosea Kutako International Airport. For most of the tourists, Windhoek is just a point of entry or the place where you are going to meet up with your tour guide or pick up your rental car. However, it’s worth planning an extra night or two in Windhoek, Namibia. It’s the home to some great sights in its own right.
Here are three of the top things to do in Windhoek; from historical attractions to unique natural areas. 

1. Namibia Craft Center:
It is located near the center of town in the Old Breweries Complex. The Namibia Craft Center must be your one-stop shop for great souvenirs. The prices are kind of higher than they would be at a roadside stall. However, it’s not really a great place to practice your haggling skills. The covered market is safe and clean though. There are about 40 independent shops that provide about 4,000 jobs for artists and artisans living in the country’s most remote places.

2. Katutura Township:
It is located to the north of Windhoek city center. Katutura township’s name means “the place where people do not want to live” in native Herero. The district’s history is not a very happy one. In the late 1950s, black people living in the suburb, which is now known as Hochland Park, were relocated to Katutura under apartheid law forcibly. Here, they were forced to pay high rent for the worst homes ever and to walk long distances to inner-city jobs. About 60% of Windhoek’s population lives in Katutura nowadays.

3. Independence Memorial Museum:
You will be able to learn about the end of apartheid at the Independence Memorial Museum. There is an impressive range of paintings, artifacts, and informative displays telling the story of resistance to the colonial regime and the struggle for racial freedom.
There are two great statues in front of the museum; the first President of Namibia, Sam Nujoma and the Genocide Memorial representing the atrocities carried out against native Namibians by German troops at the beginning of the last century.
The museum entry is for free and it is open seven days a week. Also, visit the next-door National Museum of Namibia that includes great displays about Namibia’s San rock paintings. You can know more about things to do in Cologne Germany here.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the state of South Dakota is a tributary to four presidents of the United States who hold special significance in the American history. The memorial comprises of giant 60 feet granite faces carved into the mountain. The work on the construction of the memorial started in the year 1927 while it was opened in 1941. Hundreds of workers and engineers worked here for 14 years using dynamite to carve the mountain. It is also one of the few massive projects of its kind where no loss of human life occurred. Today, the Mount Rushmore memorial is a major tourist attraction in the world with millions of people visiting this place annually. We were in the United States for the last few months traveling through various states, national parks, monuments, and sky rise building. We had covered most of the prominent states of the country and now we were planning to start our journey to small states. We were in the southern region so we decided to visit the State of South Dakota. When we came to the city of Keystone, we had the opportunity to visit the Mount Rushmore National Memorial since it is only 3 miles from the city.

Visiting the Mount Rushmore Memorial

The memorial is opened all days of the week and since it is at a driving distance from Keystone, we booked a hotel in the city and drove to the memorial in the morning. It is a majestic structure with the faces of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Thomas Jefferson carved in a sophisticated manner. The memorial faces the sun and the bright faces are visible from quite a distance. The fauna of this place is also refreshing as there are numerous species of birds and animals. Opposite to the Mount Rushmore is the black hills, which are a delight to look at. We spent a few hours here exploring the design and sculpture of the memorial before going inside to visit the Sculptor’s studio and the museum.

Sculptor’s Studio and Lincoln Borglum Museum

This is an amazing place where we got the opportunity to learn a lot about the history of this place. In the Sculptor’s Studio, there is the original design of the faces carved by Gutzon Borglum. This design is small but the perfection of these statues is greater than the large-sized carvings. We also visited the Lincoln Borglum Museum where the whole history of this memorial is captured and displayed in pictures. This tour proved to be an
educational experience for us and we spent a few hours before traveling back to the city.

Cologne Germany is often overshadowed by Berlin and Munich, but the 2,000-year-old city on the banks of the Rhine River has its devotees for a reason: Think High Gothic architecture, 12 Romanesque churches, annual literary festivals, and the Museum Ludwig, one of the most important collections of modern art in Europe.

Hilltop Québec City is a town for all seasons. Its 17th-century, castles-and-cathedrals charm only enhanced by snow (and where else can you say that in Canada?!). Explore UNESCO World Heritage–listed Old Québec, brush up on your military history at the citadelatop Cap Diamant, and head to the Quartier Petit-Champlain for pedestrian-only streets and artisan boutiques. Reserve a room at the historic Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Then dine in the hotel at the property’s 1608 Wine and Cheese Bar, which specializes in Quebec cheeses.

Our friends at Always Preferred Restoration share their travel experiences to Quebec City. Check out their janitorial services here: https://www.wedefineclean.net/janitorial-services.html

Here are their top suggested places you should visit there.

1. Old Port Farmer’s Market:

This is open all year but best enjoyed during the warmer months. Expect to find a nice selection of ice wines, local beers, ice cider and cheese, fruits and veggies.

2. National Park:

There are fewer more significant places in Canada than the Plains of Abraham,also called National Battlefield Park. On this land, which belonged to farmer Abraham Martin, the French and British Army fought for the control of Canada in September 1759. The commanders of the two rival armies both perished. They are commemorated on a shared monument but at the end of the day, the British took the day and the French colony.

The battle lasted just 40 minutes but changed the fate of the country. The fortifications and the Martello towers still visible today recall the military heritage of the Plains. Today, this huge urban park is mostly used for outdoor activities and festivals. The Musée duQuébec, set on its grounds, has one of the most impressive art collections in Canada.

3. The Montmorency Falls:

These are a mere ten-minute drive from Quebec City. The falls are taller than those of Niagara but not as wide. The Plains of Abraham, which are walking distance from Old Quebec, are ideal year-round. For summer lounging or winter sports like cross-country ski and snowshoeing.

4. Neighborhood to Explore:

Saint-Roch is a hip and fun neighborhood where students, young professionals,and creatives alike chat over a glass of wine or a locally brewed beer during 5à 7, the French-Canadian version of happy hour;

Bookstores, theaters,boutiques, and excellent restaurants and cafes, including le Clocher Penché andla Buvette Le Voisin, all line Saint-Joseph Street. By foot, you can also venture to neighboring Limoilou. There, Third Avenue is the place to go out at night.

5. Old Quebec:

You’ll be hard-pressed to believe you are in North America as you wander the charming cobble-stoned streets lined with cafes, patisseries and artisan shops. Here the streets are safe to wander at all hours and everything is within walking distance. Rue du Petit Champlain boasts a lengthy block of specialty shops. They are brimming with one-of-a-kind things you don’t need but must have. Like scarves,woodwork, pottery, artwork, clothes and more.

We popped into several shops where the artisans were on site, hand-painting silk scarves or woodworking. One invited us into the studio to meet the other artists. Pride of place is palpable here—in a very winning way—it makes you want to be a Quebecer yourself.

See our other travel destination articles: New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, and eating in foreign countries

Sandwiched between two harbours and sitting atop a volcanic field, Auckland is best seen from different angles: on the water as you ferry to Waiheke Island for wine tastings, or from atop One Tree Hill Domain or Maungakiekie, where an obelisk at its summit honours the Maori.
Here are the best places you should visit in Auckland, New Zealand. Read more…

Johannesburg, the “city of gold,” is the greatest financial and industrial metropolis of South Africa. It was built on a rich history of gold mining. The city is one of the most rapidly evolving cities in the whole world from an edgy safari stopover to a vibrant hub for arts and culture.
With its funky restaurants, cafes, and art studios, it is considered among the city’s top tourist attractions in the whole Africa.
Here are the top 3 tourist attractions in Johannesburg, South Africa. Read more…

Matera is one of the most unique and amazing tourist destinations in Italy. The city is famous for its great Sassi and landscapes.
It is a heart-breaking town. If you are planning to visit Italy, You should include it in your trip. Here is our list of the top 7 things to do and see in this fascinating town.

1. The Sassi:

The Sassi is one of the most amazing things you will see in the city while strolling through the fabulous downtown. It means stones. Because of this unique and traditional architecture, the city has been included on UNESCO’s heritage list.
There are many panoramic viewpoints so get a camera because you are going to take a lot of pictures.

2. Ancient History of the Town:

The City is one of the oldest inhabited places in the whole world. Its history extends to the Palaeolithic era. People have lived in this town despite the fact that Life in Matera was not always easy.

People who lived in the ancient Sassi were considered shameful because they were a symbol of poverty. Today, Sassi is one of most beautiful architectural structures in the world and because of these people and their uniqueness, the city was chosen as the European Capital City of Culture for 2018.

3. The Rupestrian Churches:

Matera and Murgia Materana have more than 100 churches hosting outstanding decorations and works of art. You will see Greek-Orthodox churches are built near Roman-Latin temples. Visit as many churches as you can and you will notice how unique each church is.

4. Casa Grotta of Vico Solitario:

Casa Grotta is one of the oldest houses of the city. In the 18th century, people lived in caves. A large family of humans and several kinds of animals including pigs, chickens and mules used to live together in Casa Grotta.

5. Palombaro Lungo:

Palombaro Lungo is one of the greatest features in Matera Italy. The town has many underground water cisterns; Palombaro Lungo is the largest one. It was built in 1864 and now visitors can see it easily. You must visit this amazing place during your trip.

6. Matera’s Cathedral:

The town cathedral is located on the top of the Civitas hill. This beautiful church was built in the 13^th century and it is a great place to visit.
It is a majestic place and it offers a fantastic view of the Sasso Barisano which is one of the most beautiful places of the city.

7. MUSMA (Museum of Contemporary Sculptures of Matera):

The Museum of Contemporary Sculptures of Matera Italy is the greatest museum in the city and it is located in the heart of the city.

Traveling Tips

How to be careful with drinking eating in foreign countries

Touring to a foreign country is great, however, there are some things that you should be sure about. One of these things is what you are eating in a foreign country. There is food that might give you food poisoning, and there is food that is delicious and that you should try. These are some of the information about the food in a foreign country that you should know about.

Dining at a restaurant that is full of people

If you want to make sure that you are going to eat at a restaurant that won’t make you sick, then you should look for the restaurants that are full of people. Especially, locals. This will make sure that you are dining at a popular restaurant and not at a place where you might get sick.

Eating in a restaurant where there aren’t many people in, even during lunch or dinner time, is a sign that there is something wrong in the restaurant. Avoid it at all costs.

Know exactly what you are ordering

Most countries are serving “normal” food that you can order anywhere in the world. However, there are some countries that are serving strange food. These foods should be avoided if you have a sensitive stomach. This is why you should make sure that you know exactly what you are ordering.

This might mean that you should walk around in the restaurant and see the type of food that they are serving to other customers.

Do research about the food in the country before you are visiting them

This is the best thing that you can do. Research the food in the country before you are visiting the country. You can even write down some of their dishes in their native language. And, what you are actually going to get.

This will make sure that you know you are eating food that will be safe and that your stomach will handle.

Dining at your hotel is always best

If you are worried about the food in a foreign country, then there is one thing that you can do. You can eat at your hotel where you are staying. It might cost a little bit more than eating in cheaper restaurants, but you will know for sure what you are eating is safe. Ensuring that you understand what you are ordering.

Eating in a foreign country can be scary. Especially, if you know that they are eating strange food. However, with this guide, you will know for sure that you are eating food that is safe and that will be delicious. And, that you will not be forced to eat strange food that you aren’t familiar with.