Category: Travel Tips

Homes tinted in colors from an artist’s palette compete with one another on long, uneven hills. Narrow streets bend every which way into curves that head right and left. An absolute void of green areas exists to rest your weary bones. Surely, architects who design residential areas in large cities rarely rely on Porto for inspiration, which perhaps is why you should seriously consider going there.

I’m addressing the subject of Porto because I recently spent some time there. It seemed like such a city in decay that I was reminded of Havana: tons of abandoned houses, unfinished construction sites, a reign of disorder in its streets … This state of decay rather than being a defect is a testament to the importance of what was, a metropolitan jewel in the crown of a great empire.  The passage of time evokes the charm of a city which ambition built. It’s like one of those wines that get better every year. I, for one, am attracted to the irresistible beauty of disorder.

No doubt, Porto is worth checking out. Take 3 or 4 days to do so.

A few experiences that I enjoyed and which you may as well:

• Sample a francesinha.
• Drink something at Café Piolho.

Places to sleep:

• Spot Hostel.
• Poets Hostel.

“The trip of a lifetime” is a dream that many of us share but few of us dare to undertake. What’s the reason? Many times it’s not possible to do – in the best of circumstances – during the month we have off from work. Why? Well, if it were, most of us would have done it already.

When we speak of the trip of our dreams, we imagine surroundings and a routine very different from that which we live daily. It is an exercise which requires, above all, time.

In western society, we believe the biggest obstacle to taking “the trip of our dreams” is “breaking” with our daily lives – work, social relations, etc. Let’s not kid ourselves. Most of us would kill to break with our existing lives. Ten hours of a low-paying job, a 2-hour traffic jam, a  sandwich-on-the-run just to return to a 1.000-euro, heat-less studio where we’ll just gripe to our flat mate that things are going “same-ol’-same-ol’”.

In my opinion, the greatest hindrance to leaving is the fear of coming back. We’re overwhelmed with the scary idea that our “re-insertion in society or at our first job interview we’ll find ourselves facing the following query:

-”I don’t see what you’ve been doing for the last year (or two or three) anywhere on your c.v, could you explain that?”

Unfortunately, many companies won’t find any of the following replies valid:

-”I was exploring an infinity of unexplored corners of the world”; “I was breaking stereotypes”; “I was checking out realities diametrically opposed to mine”; “I was learning to reason things without defining them by the dictates of any one society”. (I’ think that’s important).

Painful as it may seem, this is reality. To come to terms with it, let me propose a solution: try to make your trip be significantly co-related with your profession. Naturally, this will only be possible if your profession is also your favorite pastime. If it isn’t, don’t go and mess up your trip.

Following are some examples to help inspire you:

Iosu López: Journalist by profession, this 29-year-old quit his job to embark on a trip that would take him from Alaska to Ushuaia. His premise was to travel only by land to complete his Panamerican journey and to record the many adventures of his trip on his blog. Upon his return, with all the material collected during his 11-month odyssey, he produced a documentary that caught the attention of Fnac. Today, he is a special envoy for the biggest Spanish media agency in New Delhi.

Kepa Acero: Surfer. He travelled around the world living by the slogan: 5 waves, 5 continents. For five months he spanned the globe searching for the perfect wave on each continent, an adventure which he shared with readers of his blog. When he got back, the Basque Television Network ETB dedicated a program to his trip. He has also published an article in the well-known magazine, Surfer Rule.

Lara Dunston and Terence Carter have been travelling since the late eighties. Together they have visited over 60 countries. It’s an adventure which has allowed them, among other things, to work for Lonely Planet. Their last project, Grantourismo, is a trip around the world which during 12 months will take them to 24 countries. The cool thing about this project is that it came about thanks to collaboration with Home Away Holiday-Rentals, which offered them lodging at the apartments the chain has around the world. In exchange, the couple writes about their travel experiences in their blog,and mentions the apartments they stay at.

As you can see, Internet can be a great ally for making that dream trip of yours not only a memorable travelling experience but one valuable for your professional career as well.

Experiences

During the last few days, I’ve come across picturesque places such as the Chiloé islands, thanks to tips like the one I received from a female traveller in Ushuaia. These islands and their rocky coasts form an unforgettable palate with the sea-blue and verdant fields that surround them. Here, you can savor a wide assortment of fish and shellfish, though Curanto, a traditional dish consisting of shellfish, meat, potatoes and vegetables, deserves special mention. As does the hospitality shown by local folk.

Advice

When you embark on a long trip like the one I’m in the middle of, it’s necessary to know how to cope with local weather conditions. Having updated weather info can make your excursion fly instead of flop especially when rain or clouds are in the forecast. If you get hit with a bad day, perhaps its better to take the day off, something a long-term trip will allow you to do. Try getting a weather update from the nearest toruist office, the hostel you’re staying at or check a few websites belonging to people whose livelihood depends on being in the know about the weather like farmers and forest rangers. If you’re in or around Patagonia, check out http://www.windguru.cz/es/

The Learning Curve

During my trip I’ve gone from rucksack-packing problems which included taking forever to do so to learning how to pack quickly and even having room left over to include a few extras. An economist would dub this evolution: the natural fruits of an experiential learning curve; )

But, more importantly, is learning how to the adventurous ropes of co-existence. During my university days, I had the opportunity to share a flat and make new friends. On this trip, I’m living together with lots of people, but in a different way: I spend 2-3 days on the average with each person. Many come and go leaving behind nothing, others offer good times and a useful tip or two, others you learn quite a bit from, while still others you look forward to meeting up with again, picking up where you left off and preserving a relationship that would be a shame to lose. Which is why I’d like to thank right here and now all those people who it has been my pleasure to know during this trip.

Xabier Albeniz

There’s a question that I’ve been kicking around awhile and I’m sure at one time or another so have you: is it possible to look sexy when you’re on the road? Obviously I’m not talking about a weekend escape to London where you take along a suitcase and a half per person; no, I’m referring to those weeks or even months-long trips to destinations unknown.

I’d like to offer some tips and gladly welcome any and all ideas you might have regarding same:

- Pack your rucksack intelligently. Don’t include delicate wear that will end up more wrinkled than a used Kleenex. Keep in mind that you’re going to be doing and undoing your rucksack umpteen times. So don’t fancy having the time to take things to the cleaners or related whimsies. It ain’t gonna happen. Try to bring along clothes that combine easily … that great red tee of yours may go well with your black hoodie but one day you may have to put it on with your green windbreaker and you’ll look like, well, crap.

- Stay away from bathing suits like the plague. A bathing suit, as its name indicates, is for “bathing” at a beach, a swimming pool, etc. The rest of the time it totally lacks all sex appeal whatsoever. Plus, it’s not even comfortable to wear. At least, mine isn’t.

- Mix it up with those accessories. Take along a few things (a snazzy watch, a smart belt …) which tells others that even though you’re not wearing your Sunday best during your travels, you know what looking sexy means in normal everyday routine. Besides, some accessories like a stylish hat, worn well, gives you an air of distinction and character while communicating that you are a breed apart.

- Travel wherever its summer. Nothing complements your wardrobe better than a good tan. Everyone looks better when their skin takes on darker tones, so hit the streets and catch some appearance-flattering rays, always remembering, of course, to do so with an ounce or prudence and protection.

Lastly, as we all know: real sex appeal — like beauty – is only skin deep, so if you think this post was silly and superficial maybe you’re right and you should delete it at all haste ; )

I’m going to propose something … Imagine your next trip takes you to Colombia and you have an opportunity to stay at the least touristic part on the Caribbean coast in cozy huts run by local families. These groups of families are composed of Tayrona and Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta natives, who formerly earned a living growing cocaine illegally and, who now thanks to a government initiative, dedicate themselves to ecotoruism and the cultivation of organic products.

During your visit you will not only be able to live firsthand the culture and the social reality of Indian families and communities, but you will also get to live unique experiences such as a clandestine visit to a genuine coke factory. Yeah, you read right. Of course, you’ll also be able to partake in more conventional activities like trekking or kayaking, always in the company of local folk, for whom tourism represents a source of positive impact from an economic, environmental and social perspective.

So, what do you think? If you’re turning green with envy, I’m going to suggest a site to visit: VÍVELO. VÍVELO is a web site which promotes initiatives like the foregoing. They call these types of experiences “Positive Impact Travel” and their social objectives are twofold. On the one hand, they contribute positively to the economy, ecosystem and preservation of local communities in developing countries (fair play becomes fair tourism here). On the other hand, they make it easier for Europeans to travel responsibly and minimize the negative impact which tourism can generate on the planet and its inhabitants (making the experience a genuine one).

In Maeklong, 70 kilometers southeast of Bangkok, you can find one of the most dangerous bazaars you’ll ever come across anywhere in the world. No, not because there is a reign of delinquency; it’s just that vendors and railway tracks manage to coexist harmoniously in a rather reduced space here.

Though it may seem inconceivable, dozens of vendors set up stalls daily to sell their fish, rice and vegetables on the very same tracks which serve as a railway for trains passing through eight times a day. Undeniable adrenalin rushes for first-time visitors to the area, but a ho-hum exercise for people who have learned to stay alive by dismantling stands at lightning-speed for more than thirty years. In all this time, curiously enough there have only been two fatalities.

From what I understand, in order to reach The Death Market you have to take a couple of trains and a boat which cost a mere pittance: the three tickets cost a total of 25 bat (just over half a euro). Not bad for a 3-hour trip that’ll take you across rice paddies, along a river, and past several villages. A truly unforgettable experience, I’m sure.

When you ask someone what they would do if they won the lottery and they say: party or go on a shopping spree, I kind of feel pity for them. Travelling is the ideal combination of having fun and learning. A form of learning that is both good for your personal as well as your professional life.

No one will argue that travelling helps you grow as an individual. When we visit foreign countries we get to know new cultures, new customs, but we also become aware of how much we have in common with them. Travelling always helps to eliminate stereotypes and foments tolerance. Ignorance and a lack of knowledge, in turn, are the ideal ingredients for a broth of fanaticism.

Travelling also offers multiple advantages for our professional lives. It enables us to develop different takes on things, from products not available in our countries to new advertising approaches. When we travel we become genuine trend hunters. In addition, we get to practice and improve our oral expression in other languages, make new contacts, break routines…

Which is why I think it’s super-cool that in some countries, especially those of Anglo-Saxon ilk, young people are encouraged to take a year off before beginning their university studies or right after completing them. It’s an investment guaranteed to pay off handsome dividends. People don’t think twice about spending 10.000 euros on a car, but they do hesitate to spend money on a trip that can change their lives for the better.

Though I’ve always fancied myself a champion of improvisation and doing things on the fly when travelling, as a Basque there are five things I recommend you AVOID doing round these here parts next time you visit (some of these I consider vital). These are personal opinions, offered as mere advice, and not universal truths:

Limit yourself to seeing only Bilbao and San Sebastian. Basque geography is as beautiful as it is small, so rent a car, hop on public transportation if you wish, and take in lovely Getaria, Hondarribia or Lekeitio. It’s just a short ride away. Besides, big cities tend to be more standardized than small villages. In a smaller setting, you’re more likely to appreciate the true differences between villages and cultures.

Dine or have a drink in some chain or franchise outlet. No, no, and no! In the Basque Country, there are hundreds of charming bars and restaurants. Do you really want to pass these up and go to the kind of place you could find anywhere? Maybe not.

Go dining before 9pm. Most restaurants open before and they have no problem feeding you, but honestly: Who wants to eat alone in a restaurant? Personally, I hate it. Besides, if you elect to dine early, you won’t be able to apply rule number 1 for choosing a new place: enter only to those places that appear crowded.

Pay admission to a discotheque. There are tons of places to hit where you don’t have to fork over 15-20 euros. In San Sebastian, try Le Bukowski or Be Bop.

And for those of you really into sampling the local nightlife … don’t drink patxaran like it’s cold beer. Patxaran is a liqueur found in the Basque Country, which goes down like a shot when cold, tastes great, but willl leave you on all fours and with a nasty hangover the following day. This last advisory is based on my witnessing what happens to friends who’ve come to visit me on my home turf.

Today I’d like to talk about “pintxos”, one of the stellar attractions for visitors to the Basque Country, especially those visiting San Sebastián. For those of you who are novices, a “pintxo” is composed of a small slice of bread with a food delicacy piled on top. The variety of toppings is infinite, ranging from a basic potato omelette to a more elaborate cream of spider crab to red peppers. For first-timers, the sight of a bar counter covered with these miniature epicurean creations is truly mind-boggling.

As a local, I have to admit that I don’t usually go out bar-hopping on pintxo crawls. In fact, I only do so when I receive a friend who is not from San Sebastián and who specifically requests it. Thus, I must confess that when I have a visit, I indulge and do those “typical” things one only does when one has a visit. How’s that for a paradox? The main reason I don’t go on pintxo crawls is that bars charge you an arm and a leg, and the quality is not always commensurate with what you pay. I also think it’s a bit of a paradox that something so “typical” can be so overpriced (let’s define “typical” as something that locals enjoy on a regular basis).

So for me, at least, pintxos are not that typical, even if they can provide with you memorable moments if you go to the right place. A few great places for eating pintxos and their specialties: Alustiza (order the “Gavilla”); Zeruko (try the “Hoguera”); Goiz Argi (sample the “Brocheta de gambas”, a skewered prawn delight). Can you think of any special places that you’d like others to know about or would like to share through trourist?

Heaven knows why, but as I showered this morning I began wondering about the five things one should do in any new city. Following is my handful of ideas, though I’m sure you can come up with many more.

Taste a new dish. Even though we often eat more with our sense of sight than our sense of taste, sampling the local gastronomy is a great way to bond with the culture of the place we’re visiting. Besides, it can be a source of inspiration and creativity and way of astounding others when you return home.

Knock back a few pints at the local pub. You know the kind: small, divey, off the beaten path, where beer still can be found for under 1,5€, the sort of place locals hit after a long working day. These are the types of haunts where you’re likely to meet that bizarre someone who’ll offer you conversation that is priceless.

Take the metro-subway-underground (take your pick, assuming they have one). Each time you make one of these subterranean voyages it’s like an intensive course in sociology. Personally, I love observing the variety of people that make up a city, checking out their assorted fashions and unpredictable behavior …

Get lost. Yeah, no kidding. Some of life’s best experiences come from discovering small niches we happen on by chance, be it the result of taking the wrong road or catching a bus in the opposite direction. As they say: many times the right way to go is the wrong way.

Catch a sunrise. That special instant when the city is waking up while you still haven’t gone to sleep. It’s as though the universe were frozen for a few seconds, only to go into triple overdrive seconds later. It’s a can’t-miss moment, particularly if the company and setting is right.