When The Weather Is Nice...

After months of dull grays and rainy days, the sun has finally reappeared in Boston! Traveling doesn't always have to mean going somewhere far away, so what better way to revive my blog than to simply step outside my door and explore the city? Below are some pictures from my trip to the Waterfront.

All taken by yours truly!

A Dream Becomes Reality

Photo taken by Becca Mclouth

A couple posts back, I mentioned the relatively new sports activity known as Zorbing. I've dreamed of Zorb ever since I saw it featured on the now-defunct Travel Channel series 5 Takes. After four years of hoping, my wish was finally granted this past weekend! At the Amesbury Sports Park in Amesbury, MA, I rolled down the hilly course in a giant plastic ball for an experience that was as indescribable as it was AWESOME. The "OGO" at Amesbury Sports Park is one of only two locations in the entire United States (the other is located in Nashville, TN), so I'm thrilled that I was lucky enough to access it. Although Zorbing has yet to spread to the American population, I highly recommend it for those who want an exhilarating ride and the bragging rights that follow!

That's me!! Photo taken by Luci Pike

I Can See My House From Here!

Photo taken by yours truly!

I'll admit it: when it comes to travel, I'm an elitest. No, I don't expect 4-star hotels, exquisite cuisine, or everyone to speak English in the foreign country I'm visiting. I do, however, scoff at the glorified reality that is the "tourist attraction." One mention of the term, and I immediately picture myself squished between people with visors and fanny packs, waiting in a five hour line to hand over piles of money just so I can glimpse the world's largest beer can. Although sights like the Great Wall and Machu Picchu are admittedly breathtaking, they only represent one aspect of cultures that are immensely complex. Are they important? Yes. But where's the travel? When you're visiting a place that most of the world could recognize and hundreds of thousands of people have seen before, where's the excitement?

I have held similar sentiments ever since I realized my inner passion for seeing the world (circa 2000). So of course it makes little sense how on a recent trip to New York City, my friends and I wound up at the Empire State Building. It gets worse. I was the one who suggested we go. Yes, at 11:00 at night, we found ourselves still awake in the City that Never Sleeps, wondering what to do. Suddenly, a vision struck me that was too strong to block out. And as much as I resist becoming a "tourist," I am a sucker for a great view--especially one at nighttime. You know New York too well for this, the Travel Girl part of me whispered. Real New Yorkers don't go to the Empire State Building. But myself didn't listen to me, and before I knew it, there I was at 11:30 pm striding into that famous hallway.

As we walked to get our tickets, part of me was groaning at the prospect of standing in line for hours on end so late at night. To my surprise, however, there were no such lines to be found. We breezed through the ticket booths, practically galloped down the hallway past the maze of velvet ropes, and sauntered right up to the elevators. There were no more than twenty other people, and in less than five minutes, we arrived at the 86th floor.

I will be the first to admit, the view was more than incredible (and well worth my $18). It was as if someone had shifted the night sky and placed it below us, thousands of lights stretching out across the distance. The dark had made all seem quiet, and everyone spoke in whispers and huddled close to fight the nighttime chill. As I marveled at my surroundings, it suddenly made sense. Although we were all aware that millions of people had stood in our places before, on that night, it felt as though we were sharing something secret only to us. Was I suddenly alert to all the mysteries of New York City? No. Not even close. But looking out over the expanse of the city, I felt as though I had glimpsed its essence.

Plenty of people travel to a place, snap some photos to show their friends, and return home without ever appreciating what they have actually seen. I now realize that my aversion to the notion of tourist attractions arose from this fact alone. I didn't want to seem ignorant. But this just isn't true of most travelers. There's a reason why people walk the Great Wall, why they climb the steps of Machu Picchu, why these destinations are even famous in the first place. They're magical. They speak to the history of a place and its people, aging signs of the power of human accomplishment, inspiration, and influence. Nothing but experience will allow you to understand a culture, but for those who appreciate them, tourist attractions can offer a sneak-peak. I didn't see the magic before. Now I do. To Americans, the Empire State Building may not seem as wondrous as the Parthenon. But it's New York's Parthenon, and I can proudly say I've been to the top.

Read All About It

Courtesy of  Revista Tema Livre  (please visit here for dozens more amazing photos!)

A quiet visit to the library is just the same in Brazil as it is in your hometown--if your public library looks like a medieval castle, that is.   The Real Gabinete Portugues De Leitura (The Portuguese Royal Cabinet of Reading) in Rio De Janiero houses 350,000 volumes by Portugeuse authors, which makes it the second largest collection in the world.   Although members of the Royal Office are the only ones allowed to take out books on loan, visitors can view the many works with the help of a research assistant.  Can't read Portuguese?  You can still marvel at the stunning architecture and prized artwork decorating the library's interior.  So grab an old book, pull out a wooden bench, and breathe in the sweet smell of literature.

The inside of the library!  Courtesy of the Real Gabinete website

Let's Roll!

Courtesy of Wikipedia

A prized aspect of traveling is the thrill of taking in your surroundings in a foreign location.  So, why not take in as much as you can?  At a speed around 30 mph.  Rolling downhill.  Secured inside a ten-foot plastic sphere.   Sound like a scene out of a science fiction novel?  Think again. The recreational sport of Zorbing officially originated in New Zealand in 1994 and has since rolled its way into 14 other countries around the world (including the U.S.).   The typical Zorbing experience occurs on special tracks made out of metal or designed around natural hills.  The rider is seated in a smaller plastic sphere within the larger plastic sphere and then simply pushed down the track.   Most Zorb locations offer the option of Zorbing dry for a complete 360-degree, tummy-turning experience, or Zorbing with water for a more stable but wickedly wet descent downwards.  Okay, so you really won't get to appreciate the scenery of your trip as you're spiraling right along.  But you will be in for a fun-filled experience that physics-lovers and friends alike will certainly envy!  

Find out where it all began.

Plus, how does Zorbing really work?

Watch Zorbers in action!

Goin' On Down

Courtesy of sacredsites.com

When one thinks of where to go next on vacation, Ethiopia is not usually the destination that springs to mind.   Yet, despite its lack of tourist appeal, Ethiopia (located here) is one of the world's oldest countries.   With an inception dating back to 1000 BC, the African country's vast history means it is rife with sacred sites, most of which are ancient churches carved from solid rockface.   Ethiopia's most famous church is the Church of St. George (above), located in the town of Lalibela in the northern part of the country.   Carved in the thirteenth century, the Church of St. George is hewn from a single rock and shaped in the form of a cross.   To this day, it is not known exactly how early Ethiopians constructed the complex.  Ethiopian legend says King Lalibela was poisoned and visited by St. George, who promised to save the king if he built the country's most magnificent churches.  Looks like King Lalibela made good on his promise...

Intrigued by Ethiopia's sacred past?  Learn more about the country!  And more! Here's a little more!