Prague – top 10 things to do and see in the city

Are you planning to visit Prague? Here are the top 10 must-see and do things in the city.

Petrin Hill

This sprawling park covers much of the west bank of the Vltava river. Ride the funicular through the wooded hillside and if you are in good shape climb the Petrin tower and get a spectacular view of the city. Petrin Hill is home of some great attractions for kids.

Old Town Square

Wonder your way through the winding alleys of Stata messa dome until you find yourself in Old Town Square. The square is lined with cafes, street vendors, and museums and one cannot help but wonder what it was like when Kafka walked these streets. Don’t forget to try to decipher the astronomical clock, a marvel of 15th-century clock manufacturing.

National Theatre

Don’t forget to check out the beautiful piece of architecture that is the National Theatre. If upper isn’t your thing, get a hot chocolate and gaze at the beautiful building from the famous cafe Slavia across the street.

Visit the Vyšehrad Park

The Vyšehrad Park is situated on the southern cliffs of the Vltava. This park is a quiet break from the commotion and has some of Prague’s oldest structures like the Church of St. Peter and Paul, the Vyšehrad cemetery, and the 11th-century rotunda. It’s an especially nice place to soak in the setting sun over the picturesque River.

Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge is an iconic 14th-century bridge which connects Old Town and Mala Strana and was the only means of crossing the river until 1841. Statues of patron saints line this bridge. While the bridge is an absolute must-see, keep an eye on your pocketbook as pickpockets fled to the bridge because of the plethora of tourists.

Yosefa

This Jewish quarter is a must-see for anyone with an interest in World War II. The former Jewish ghetto is surrounded by the old town and comprises cramped gothic architecture and six synagogues.

Drink a Beer

The Czech Republic is famous for its inexpensive and very tasty Pilsner style beers. When you are in this city, ensure you visit a small local brewery for a unique beer drinking experience.

Walk Through Wenceslas Loft Square

This modern square is full of shops, pubs, markets, and sausage stands. Once you are done consuming, go visit the Museum of communism or the National Museum which is the large building looming over the eastern edge of the square.

Prague Castle

No trip to Prague would be complete without a visit to the castle that dominates the Western banks of the city. Climb the old winding steep streets of Malestrazza to the largest ancient castle in the world. Walk the grounds, visit the Basilica of St. George and begin to imagine what it was like to be the King of Bohemia

Before you leave, be sure to soak in the stunning view and understand why Prague is called the city of a thousand spires.

Tourist Traps or SCAMS in Rome, Italy to Avoid

Rome is gorgeous, beautiful, and breathtaking and there is so much to see and do. With any top tourist destination, there are usually people who want to take advantage of tourists. In this article, I will share with you some tips on how to avoid tourist scams.

Unauthentic Italian restaurants
These restaurants cater mostly if not exclusively to tourists. So why are they bad? Well, they will charge you outrageous fees for sub-par microwaved food. So how do you spot the knot? The first giveaway is there’s always somebody outside trying to shuffle you in. No restaurant known for their food or has good food in general will need this.

The other giveaway is if they have an English menu sitting outside of the restaurants. You will notice that most renowned restaurants have the English translations underneath them. So when there’s just an exclusive only English menu outside the restaurant it’s essentially telling you that this isn’t for the locals this is just for tourists.

The last but not least if they are minor blocks away from the huge tourist attractions. Whether it is Trevi fountain, the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum, or the Pantheon these people are paying astronomical prices for rent. So unless they are well known and well established you will compromise on something and my bet will be the quality of the food and price.

Tourist Shops
These are the vendor carts or kiosk and they are most known for being right outside of the biggest tourist destinations or locations. Don’t get these confused with the food trucks you’ll find in other countries, these will charge you astronomical prices for water and when I say this, I mean like five Euros. Another thing is that their menu and their items are all listed in English which means it’s more for tourism and not the locals.

Avoid Street Sellers
There are the people who will try to hand you things or force you to take these things. Essentially, what I’m talking about is you’ll find several variations of these people. These people will hand you bracelets or they will nicely put the bracelet on your wrist and start a very polite conversation. Once you have done this, they’ll ask you for donations for their family back home and if you don’t give them the money they become quite hostile. I would advise just not to take the bracelets if you want to avoid conflict. You should also avoid those that try to hand you flowers.

San Diego Travel Guide – Things to do in San Diego

Over 30 million tourists visit San Diego every year and most of them are heading to the famous places in this city such as Legoland, San Diego Zoo, and SeaWorld. Recently acquaintances of mine who own an Edmonton shockwave therapy clinic took a family trip to southern California and took in a lot of the sights. If you are planning a family vacation to San Diego, it is smart not to make spontaneous decisions about the attractions you would like to visit. You can save time and money if you pre-book your tickets.

The Weather
San Diego is considered being one of the US cities with the mildest climate, so you can visit this city 12 months a year. Try as much as you can to book your vacation between January and March if you plan to visit any of the popular attractions such as the San Diego Zoo or SeaWorld.

Whale Watching
San Diego is one of the best places in the United States to Whale Watch. One of the best ways to do this is to take one of the many cruises available here. Heading to the Cabrillo National Monument is another great way to spot whales in this city. You can enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of the city from here.

Beach
Some of the best beaches in California can be found in San Diego. So if you are looking for a beach holiday San Diego is the best place to go. One of my favorite beaches in San Diego is Mission Beach but you can head to Coronado Island if you want to combine a day at the beach with sightseeing to enjoy its affluence beauty.

The Liberty Station
Liberty Station is a collection of converted buildings. This used to be a military base, and it has shops, cafes, restaurants, and markets. These are one of my favorite ways to experience the local culinary scene because you don’t have to travel very far to try different things. At Liberty Public Market, you will find restaurants, cafes, and a ton of food vendors offering every kind of dish you can imagine. There is also ample seating in and around the market. It’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon.

Balboa Park
Spanning 1,200 acres, Balboa Park is probably one of the most well-known historical landmarks in San Diego. Here, you’ll find Museums, Gardens & the Zoo. If you ever visit, plan to spend a whole day here.

The Gaslamp Downtown District
The Gaslamp Quarter is a historic district in downtown San Diego where you will find a mix of shops, entertainment, and every kind of food. One place to visit here is The Doughnut bar. The Donut Bar features an inventive and locally sourced menu of doughnuts that changes daily and includes vegan options.

Malta- Exploring the South Region

A small island tucked away between Africa and Europe, Malta is a stunning country that resembles both its neighbours but still holds its own uniqueness and beauty. Many don’t know it exists, and those that do usually forget it’s there as its half the size of the Greater Toronto Area. Whether you are seeking a weekend getaway or a two week holiday there is plenty to do and see on this tiny island. There are many resorts in the northern bit of the island, but if you want to live more like a local and get the full Maltese experience, stay in the southern part where you can stay in a hotel or get an Airbnb with a rooftop patio for a reasonable price. There are ferries between Valetta, Silema and Cospicua multiple times a day and you won’t be disappointed with the views. Once a part of the English colonies, English is spoken by almost all Maltese people so no need to stress about communicating with locals.

What to do when you arrive?

Rent some scuba gear or go snorkeling in the blue waters, where you can take a boat cruise along the island while enjoying an ice cold beer. There are many companies at the port where you can book on the day and often include lunch and a transfer to and from the port.

No need to take a map, the island is only 14 kilometers wide, and 27 kilometres long, so it is hard to get lost, and when you do get lost that is when you will be most impressed. Tucked away in tiny cobblestone alleys are a number of Catholic churches, wine bars and cafes. Many only having outdoor seating overlooking a number of statues outside one of the hundreds of parishes Malta is home to.

In the evening you can head to St. Julians where the nightclubs will stay open until the small hours of the morning and the drinks are free flowing in the beachside clubs. Just remember that the ferries end before midnight so if you are out partying you will need to take a taxi home or download Uper which is used in Malta instead of Uber.

Be sure to visit Marsaxlokk Fishmarket. Only open on Sundays, this market is where all the best seafood restaurants and chefs get their supply. Afterwards, you can walk along the seafront enjoying another beautiful view and all the colourful dainty fishing boats. There are many restaurants here, serving simple but classic seafood dishes. Fresh prawns, mussels and lobster are and sold at market price. Not far from the market is Peters Pool, a suntrap just off the main road where locals and tourists alike go to cool off. You might feel like you are a bit lost getting there, but once you are through the fields and power plants the Mediterranean Sea is a treat for the eyes!

There is so much to do and see but if you really want to fall in love with this island, ditch Google Maps and speak to a local. Being such a small island, many people have travelled all over the country, and it still holds an old fashioned mentality, where word of mouth is the best marketing. You won’t be disappointed with this small but stunning country!

Low Budget Trip to Amsterdam

The densely populated capital of Netherland is Amsterdam, famous for its artistic heritage, intricate canal system and small houses of gabled exterior from the golden age of 17th century. It is one of the most beautiful cities to travel.

The best things from this heritage structured city is not cheap and will cost heavy on your pocket. If you want to explore the city for free than the following places are for the explorer who want to enjoy the beauty of the city without costing high.

1.    Openbare Biblioteek

Have you ever heard of a library which is one of the biggest libraries in the world? If no, then pay a visit to openbare biblioteek where you can avail the facilities absolutely free. From millions of books, magazines, newspapers in different languages and movies are free in this library. What else a Bookworm want?

2.    Schuttersgalerij (Civic Guards Gallery) and Amsterdam city archives

Some part of the museum is free for the visitor throughout the year. It is one of the museums where you can explore the gallery which have modern and historical things. The basement of this museum is known as Amsterdam city archives which have the memorial archives.

3.    Gardens and parks

Free access to public gardens and park is one of the perks given by the government of Amsterdam. Best refreshing way to spend time with friends or family without spending a single penny. These parks are perfectly built to facilitate the visitors with proper walk paths, small lakes and most importantly a beautiful green view.

4.    Ferry ride

If you want to enjoy your evening in fresh water and beautiful view of nature than ferries are the best option to opt for. IJ river has several ferries floating across and giving a free ride. As Amsterdam is also called as the city of water, it is worth to witness the beautiful city from water.

5.    Churches and Cathedrals

Historical and gothic architectural churches are also the center of attraction. The entry to these cathedrals is completely free of cost. You can pay a visit, worship there or attend any ceremony or the services free of cost.

6.    Begijnhof

The most famous courtyard of the city is Begijnhof. If you are a single woman then you explore this place which has sculptures and a church for free. This courtyard was a home of a religious woman from the past who took an oath of chastity.