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New Zealand, Dunedin – Scottish vibes and extreme streets
At first glance, Dunedin looks like a very serious city. Gothic, austere architecture, grand cathedrals, and a railway station that looks more like a palace with luxurious chambers. But beneath that façade lies a vibrant city, pulsing with the energy of students from the University of Otago – New Zealand’s oldest university. You can see it in the city’s nooks and backstreets, where interesting street art and colourful murals are hidden behind the stately buildings. Although today Dunedin seems to be relatively calm, in the 19th century it was the richest and most populous city in the whole New Zealand. The Otago Gold Rush of the 1860s brought people from…
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New Zealand, day one: a birthday at the end of the world
I will never forget my first day in New Zealand. It was my birthday, and it was exactly how I’d imagined it – far from home, at the end of the world. Those first days are always stuck in the memory best – they set the tone for the whole trip. And knowing I had 18 days of adventure ahead only cranked up the excitement. Karekare Falls – 30 metres of watery adrenaline The first stop was Karekare Falls in the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park. A short, half-kilometre walk leads to a 30-metre waterfall surrounded by palms and lush, exotic vegetation. Mercer Bay Loop – a walk with views and…
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Banjul – the capital that barely exists
Banjul is the capital of The Gambia, though to be fair, it looks more like a sleepy provincial town than the beating heart of a country. Not only is it not the largest city in the nation, but with a population of just 40,000, it ranks eighth in terms of size. No surprise then that it’s one of the smallest capitals in the world. The city is relatively young – it was founded by the British in 1816 as a military outpost to guard the mouth of the Gambia River and enforce the ban on the slave trade. Back then it was called Bathurst, named after the colonial secretary, Lord…
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Muscat – A City from the Tales of the Arabian Nights…
Muscat, the capital of Oman, has a unique fairytale charm in my view. It looks like something straight out of the Tales of the Arabian Nights, but with a modern twist. Enchanting palaces, forts perched on rocky cliffs, lush green oases, white architecture, scenic coastlines, and spice-scented bazaars create a distinctive atmosphere of this city. I began my exploration in the eastern part of Muscat, often referred to as the Old City. It’s the most iconic area of the city, home to numerous government buildings and elegant villas. However, the highlight here is Al-Alam Palace, one of the six residences of the Sultan of Oman. Used mainly for ceremonial purposes,…
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One day in Gozo
I start my tour around Gozo at the Ta’ Ċenċ cliffs, located on the southeastern coast of the island. This is one of the must-see places in Malta. From a height of over 130 meters, you can admire an amazing panorama of the Mediterranean Sea. A little further, you can admire an equally spectacular landscape at the so-called Sunset Cliff. To get to know the island not only from the perspective of the cliffs, it is worth visiting the capital of Gozo – Victoria, also known as Rabat. Victoria boasts interesting monuments and architecture. The main tourist attraction is the Il-Kastell citadel. Walking along the defensive walls, you can admire…
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Zanzibar – 10 most beautiful beaches
After visiting the mainland of Tanzania, I decided to go to Zanzibar. My plan was in no way original, hundreds of tourists do that. Zanzibar seems to be a natural choice for rest after a safari tour or climbing Kilimanjaro. It was the end of the year, so the peak of the season, I knew what awaited me there. The thought of hundreds of tourists made me feel sick. My expectations weren’t high, I just wanted to look around the island in peace. Zanzibar surprised me positively. You probably know that feeling when you leave the hotel and suddenly all the charm is gone. Usually, places outside tourist zones don’t…
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Cyprus – the most interesting attractions on the island
I didn’t plan to travel to Cyprus last year. I did it on the spur of the moment. I saw cheap tickets for the beginning of November, when I have my birthday, and I thought to myself: why not leaving everything behind and celebrate it there? I had just 5 days to see the island so the best solution was to rent a car. It wasn’t the economical way because I didn’t have anybody to share the costs with, however, I rationalized this expense as a birthday gift. The second obvious solution to visit the whole island in such a short time was getting up at unsocial hours, this was…
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Costa Rica attractions, naturally! Part II
From my trip to Costa Rica, I will definitely remember one thing – the amazing lush vegetation of tropical rainforests. Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges is definitely a must-see. The park has 6 suspension bridges and 10 traditional bridges that allow you to see the rainforest from a completely different, higher perspective. The most spectacular view is from the longest bridge, which is almost 100 m long and over 25 m high. The way there is an attraction itself, because the bridge is not a stable structure and wobbles with each step you take. In addition, it gets quite slippery when it rains. Looking down isn’t recommended, especially for people with…
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Costa Rica attractions, naturally! Part I
I am starting my trip to Costa Rica in mid-November. I’ve planned to see paradise beaches, tropical rainforests, huge waterfalls, volcanoes and countless tropical animals and birds such as: sloths, monkeys, toucans and parrots. It sounds so exciting… Meanwhile, crossing the border with Panama in Paso Canoas, I’m thinking if it’s the right place. There is no one on the street and the wall of rain literally makes me invisible as well as everything around me. Of course, while organising this travel I took into account the possibility of heavy rainfall because of the end of the rainy season. However, I was full of hope because according to many sources…
