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Leaving Your Mark on the World

Leaving Your Mark on the World

When traveling we tend to think that if haven’t left our mark somewhere it’s as if we had never been there. The famous “I was here” or “Tom and Jenny were here.” This is not something new, far from it in fact. For centuries names have been recorded in sites as old as the temples of Abu Simbel in Egypt . And now those eager to stand the test of time have left marks all over the world in the form of locks or messages left on walls, engraved in in trees or benches, or painted in public restrooms. We have selected three places where you can leave your mark, and each is more curious and meaningful than the next. “The gum wall” of Seattle ( USA ) This strange attraction is visited by hundreds of thousands of people who wish to leave their mark in the form of chewing gum. In fact, the wall is no longer visible. It all started because people got bored while queuing for the theater in 1990, so it became fashionable to stick small coins there with a little gum. After those coins disappeared, the chewing gum remained over the years. And now it has become a tourist attraction in the U.S. You’ll see all sorts of colors and flavors, and even imaginative figures made of gum. It goes without saying that this curious experiment has become one of the most disgusting places in existence, a breeding ground for germs. You´ll find it in Market Place Park, Post Alley. Foto: Mark Fischer The Milvian Bridge or the “Bridge of Locks” in Rome (Italy )...
Ranking of the Safest Cities to Lose Your Wallet

Ranking of the Safest Cities to Lose Your Wallet

Reader´s Digest recently conducted a thought-provoking experiment. They “misplaced” something in 12 different cities of the world to then see who would be the most honest. I’ll let you in on some of the results. In first place is Helsinki (Finland), followed by Mumbai (India) and Budapest (Hungary). Madrid is down the list at number 9. Tapestry of Dharavi – Mumbai via ToGa Wanderings Losing your wallet Who hasn’t left their wallet somewhere, forgotten it in a bar, in a taxi, on a bus, on the bench or in a restaurant? We usually think that it will never reappear, but sometimes the wallet found by someone who decides to return it and takes it to the police station. What would you do? Would you return it? It’s easy enough to talk about doing good deeds, but much harder to actually do them. For this study, a total of 12 wallets were deposited in each of the 19 selected cities. Inside was an ID, a family picture, a phone number (which was important to the study), several lottery tickets, 50 euros and several credit cards. And the results were… In Helsinki (Finland) 11 of 12 were returned, in Mumbai (India) 9 of 12, in Budapest (Hungary) and New York (USA) 8 of 12 were retrieved, in Amsterdam 7 of 12, in Berlin (Germany) and Ljubljana (Slovenia) 6 of 12, in London (United Kingdom) and Warsaw (Poland) 5 of 12, in Bucharest (Romania), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Zurich (Switzerland) only 4 of 12, in Prague (Czech Republic ) 3 of 12, in Madrid (Spain ) 2 of 12 and Lisbon (Portugal...
3 Reasons to Rent an Apartment Instead of Reserving a Hotel Room

3 Reasons to Rent an Apartment Instead of Reserving a Hotel Room

So you´ve purchased flights for your next holiday and now you need to find accommodations. You have two options: rent apartments or find a hotel. There are reasons why one might choose one or the other, but we are going to explain why renting an apartment is better than staying in a hotel. The reasons are manifold but we are going to give you the three best reasons to choose an apartment. When you finish reading, you´ll wonder why you had so much doubt in the first place. PL. SGR FAMILIA Apartment 1. Language Depending on where you go, you have no choice but to use the local language. The staff of the hotel might understand and speak broken bits and pieces in your language, but in many cases the language barrier can be a significant hurdle. What if there are problems with a reservation or you encounter leaks or the room is not serviced… An accommodation away from home is supposed to be a place to relax. That´s why renting an apartment is ideal, since you’ll love the place you’re staying and the only interaction you will have is to receive the keys. After that, there is no language problem, no barrier to overcome or anything like that. Just peace and quiet, like in your own home. 2. Local advice There’s no better way to get to know a new place than through the experience of someone who lives there. You’ll have your guide book, of course, but there’s nothing like a first-hand recommendation. When you pick up the keys to your apartment, you can ask that person...
Where do I get the best beer in Europe?

Where do I get the best beer in Europe?

Competition for producing the best beer in Europe is very close. The Belgians claim that theirs is unique and internationally recognized, the Irish boast of having the world´s best stout (Guinness, of course) and the Czechs brag of tradition and claim of not having a close competition. The truth is that the best way to find out is by tasting the beer on site. Get ready for a beer tour around Europe. Belgian Beer won’t disappoint you It is very impressive to see all the different types of Belgian beers showcased in many pubs in Brussels. They come in all flavors, aromas and flavors: For example, Hoegaarden Witbier made of wheat is very light, with a touch of citrus and easy to differentiate from the others because its foam is very white; be careful not to exceed its consumption since it got has 4.9 degrees of alcohol. Another famous Belgian is Stella Artois, which actually taste like Spanish beers and has 5.2 degrees of alcohol. Chouffe beer is more turbid and fruity but its taste can be deceiving because it has 8 degrees of alcohol. And finally I would like to highlight the delicious flavor of Tremends Delirium, which is a blonde sweet and sour, manufactured using 3 different types of yeast. It has 9 degrees of alcohol. However, you’ll have to drink it responsibly; otherwise you’ll get drunk in no time. via Smabs Sputzer Drinking beer in Dublin The quintessential Irish beer is, without doubt, Guinness. And one of the places where there is a real drinking culture is Temple Bar Street: The Mecca of those who consider...
Barcelona from A to Z: Part I

Barcelona from A to Z: Part I

Arc de Triomf: This arch was built in the nineteenth century as an entrance to Barcelona’s Ciutadella Park, which once housed the World Expo. Today it is an emblem of Barcelona. Bicing: It is impossible to be out around town and not see people traveling about on these red rental bicycles. Columbus: At the foot of the Ramblas you’ll find this statue commemorating America’s discoverer, who points out to sea. There’s also a gazebo, which is the first thing you’ll see in the city if you’re arriving by water. Diagonal: The largest avenue of Barcelona. The Diagonal lives up to its name, crossing the city diagonally until it ends at the sea. Estrella: Without a doubt, this is the city’s most popular beer and you can order it just about anywhere. This Catalan beer is perfect for an afternoon spent soaking up the sun watching the world go by. Futbol Club Barcelona: This club is the most important ambassador of the city and maybe even the best football club in the world. One can even go to Camp Nou and enjoy watching these world-class stars of the sport. Camp Nou via JoJan   Gaudí: This modernist architect is one of the main reasons why people visit Barcelona. His modernist buildings are truly unique, and works by Gaudí  such as the Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera, Park Güell or Casa Batlló, Gaudi changed the face of the city and turned it into a work of art. Hospital de Sant Pau: This wonderful modernist building is surely the most beautiful hospital in the world. Designed by the architect Domènech i Montaner, its domes,...