427 articles tagged with cultural travel
The first time I visited Taroko Gorge, I did what every tourist does – snapped photos at the main lookouts, walked the popular trails, and called it a day. But after five visits to Taiwan (and counting), I've developed relationships...
The morning light filters through the jacaranda trees as I sip my cortado at a corner café in Güemes, watching Córdoba awaken. This isn't the Córdoba most tourists see—the one of grand colonial churches and historic universities. This is the...
After three decades poring over environmental law briefs, I've found that nothing clears the legal cobwebs quite like immersing myself in a vibrant foreign city. Lima—Peru's sprawling coastal capital—might not top most solo travelers' bucket lists, but after spending a...
The Mediterranean breeze carries whispers of ancient stories as I stand on Alexandria's Corniche, watching fishermen cast their nets against a backdrop of modern high-rises and colonial architecture. This city, founded by Alexander the Great over two millennia ago, exists...
As I stand at the edge of Lake Erie, watching the sunset paint the sky in vivid oranges and purples behind Lorain's lighthouse, I'm reminded that the most profound travel experiences often happen closest to home. This small Ohio city...
There's something mesmerizingly rhythmic about America's heartland that reminds me of geothermal patterns—predictable yet uniquely beautiful in each iteration. After years of documenting erupting geysers across continents, I found myself drawn to a different kind of natural pattern: the agricultural...
There's something deeply spiritual about exploring a city on foot, letting its rhythm guide you through streets both ancient and modern. Cardiff, Wales' vibrant capital, pulses with this unique energy—a harmonious blend of historical grandeur and contemporary cool that doesn't...
The first time I laid eyes on Ouro Preto's undulating landscape of terracotta roofs and gleaming church spires, I felt like I'd stumbled onto a movie set for a historical drama. This UNESCO World Heritage site, nestled in the mountains...
As I stepped off the train at Dongdaegu Station, the crisp spring air carried the scent of cherry blossoms and street food—an intoxicating welcome to South Korea's fourth-largest city. While Seoul and Busan often steal the spotlight, Daegu offers an...
The concept of 'beach retreats' in a landlocked city like Gweru, Zimbabwe might seem paradoxical at first glance. Yet, as I've discovered through years of anthropological fieldwork across seemingly unlikely destinations, human ingenuity transforms landscapes to fulfill our universal longing...
The moment my feet touched Djiboutian soil, I knew I'd stumbled upon something extraordinary. Far from the well-worn tourist paths of East Africa, Djibouti City rises from the desert like a mirage—a fascinating blend of African, Arabic, and French influences...
The first time I visited Telč, I made the classic mistake so many travelers do – I spent all my time in the picture-perfect UNESCO-listed main square, snapping photos of the candy-colored Renaissance facades, then departed thinking I'd 'seen' the...
There's something magical about discovering a city's heartbeat beyond the tourist trails. When my college roommate invited me to her hometown of Mobile last spring, I expected a quick weekend of catching up. Instead, I found myself falling head over...
Ah, the Mediterranean – where history whispers through ancient stones and the sea breeze carries the scent of olive groves and citrus. After competing in a gaming tournament in Madrid last spring, I couldn't resist extending my European adventure with...
When most travelers think of Suriname, Paramaribo typically steals the spotlight. But just 20 minutes south of the capital lies Lelydorp, the country's second-largest urban area and a cultural melting pot that deserves your attention. I stumbled upon this gem...