A symbol of power not only in our country, but in every corner of the world, Washington DC is a capital city that calls for attention. DC is a city that fosters a culture that is socially, intelectualy, and politically charged. It is home of the White House and the Smithsonian. It has some of the hottest gourmet restaurants and clubs on the east coast. Washington DC is truly a capital of diversity. I have a great appreciation for this city, because its greatness is presented through a simple platform.

I think it’s important for everyone to visit Washington DC to see the community in which the greatest decisions of our time our made. The capital building itself is a beautiful piece of architecture. It features an astounding rotunda that is used for many ceremonial events. It is also home to the statuary hall, which holds statues of important people from all 50 states.  To be able to stand in the capitol building is an experience as touristy as you could expect, but is something everyone should take out the time to do.

Another great site to see is the Smithsonian group of museums. The Smithsonian allows anyone to become an explorer and a learner for the amount of time they spend in the museums. Each museum has very easy to access exhibits and visitor friendly layouts. The most popular museum is most likely the National Museum of Natural History Museum. This museum has exhibits on dinosaurs, diamonds, mammals, and human origins. Another very interesting museum to see is Air and Space Museum.  The air and space museum displays aircrafts from throughout history. It is a great place to learn about the advances we have experience in air space throughout the years. These are only two out of the many museums available to see.

The United States Botanic Garden is another great site to see. The gardens are absolutely beautiful. It’s an unusual site for tourists to see, but I recommend you stop by. The best time to see the gardens is in Christmas. The gardens are decorated with monuments  from around DC. There is also a special season’s greetings exhibit they put up every year. It is a gorgeous display of plants and flowers crafted for a fairy world.

If your looking for another spot that isn’t as highlighted in the tourist scene I would recommend the Library of Congress. The library consists of three buildings, the most spectacular of the three buildings is the Thomas Jefferson Building. The building’s Great Hall is absolutely breath taking. The Library of Congress is the oldest cultural institution. It contains an extensive collection of artifacts, books, and various collections.

While in Washington DC don’t forget to check out the memorials and pay tribute to all the lives that were taken in order to preserve our freedoms. Some of these memorials include the FDR memorial, Korean War Memorial, and Vietnam War Memorial. Each memorial is created in a different style. The Vietnam War Memorial is a very simplistic war memorial designed by Maya Lin. The Korean War memorial is a memorial composed of statues of soldiers. The FDR memorial is composed of statutes, scenes from the time period, and water falls.

Washington DC has many wonderful sites to explore, this is just a small sampling of what you can see!

Most of us know about Venice, Italy. It’s that gorgeous city in Italy comprised of canals and bridges. However, what many people don’t know is Venice is actually composed of 118 islands. Venice is the capital of the Veneto Region, which is the entire 118 islands that are known as Venice. One of those islands is Burano. It is in the Northern Venetian Lagoon. Being 11 km away from Venice, it’s connected to Venice by the Canale Bisatto-Canale Carbonera-Scomenzera San Giacomo’s trail. It takes about 45 minutes to get from Venice to Burano.

Burano is known as one of the ten of the most colorful cities in the world. The streets are lined are with brightly, neon colored houses. The houses are all square shaped. The houses in Burano are rowhouses, and every house is a different color. The effect is amazing! The houses themselves are two or three stories. The bottom floor is usually composed of a kitchen, a breakfast area, and a powder room. The rest of the floors are just bedrooms. The different colors of the houses were originally painted to mark the boundary of the properties. The ancient legend in Burano is that the fisherman wanted the houses painted so they could see them from far away when they went fishing. These houses are the core of the city of Burano, and are what they are truly proud of.

Another aspect of Burano’s fame is their handmade lace. The legend that accompanies the history of Burano lace traces back to fisherman(again!). The legend goes like this, there was an ancient betrothed fisherman who was out fishing farther away from the lagoon, in the east sea. At this point he cam upon a siren who tried to woo him by her canto. However, the fisherman refused her advances. The siren’s queen was so impressed by the fisherman’s faithfulness she offered him a gift. She thumped the side of his boat with her tail. This created a foam from which a wedding veil was developed. When it came time for the fisherman’s marriage, he gave his fiancee, the wedding veil he received from the siren. Everyone in the town admired and envied her for the beautiful wedding lace. Therefore, they started to imitate the veil with needle and thread. Each trying to create an even thinner and more beautiful lace for their own wedding dresses.

As you may have noticed fisherman are a big part of Burano’s history and culture. Since Burano is an island which is mainly a marshland, fishing was always the only way to make money and soon became the main activity. Fisherman would use their catches as currency. They would trade their fish for wood, wheat, wine, therefore making it the main source of income. Fishing is still very popular, but the amount of fisherman has greatly decreased over the years. Now there are about 450 fisherman and they are all in a cooperative. If you are looking for something to eat in Burano, definitely go for the local fish at one of the restaurants.

Upstate New York, remains a secret to many people in the east coast. In fact, I doubt our family would have discovered it had it not been for a project my dad had in Albany. Just a message, Albany is not the most interesting state capital in America. However, it is surrounded by some of the prettiest areas. Hudson, New York is perhaps the most lovely city. There is a reason there was a school of art named after the place. The best time to visit Hudson is in the fall. The leaves are a hundred shades of orange, yellow, and red.

On top of a mountain with a view of the Hudson River, is the great estate of Olana. Olana belonged to Frederic Church. Church was a very well known american painter who was the lead painter at Hudson River School. The Hudson River School was a school for painters, but became more of a group of painters. Any painting that came out of the school was considered very valuable. It is easy to see where Church got his inspiration. With 18 acres of land looking over the Hudson River, and hundreds of trees surrounding the house, Church chose a great location to document the beauty of Hudson. I highly recommend taking a trip up to Olana. It has the most amazing views to offer. The picture above of the Hudson River was taken at Olana. Not only is the outside magnificent, but so is the inside. Church was an artist and his artistic personality can be seen throughout the house. The interior has a middle eastern/egyptian flair to it. Church brought textiles from china and india as well to adorn the interior. It’s a beautiful site and completely worth the trip.

The streets of downtown Hudson are filled with little boutiques and churches. Some of the shops you’ll find include a bookstore where an old firehouse was, various antique sellers, and a swedish cosmetic shop. A quiet downtown, mostly filled with locals, and very few tourists wandering around, Hudson is a great place to slow down. One of my favorite places is The Spotty Dog (firehouse bookstore). They have great nooks to read a book, live music and a bar. If you’re looking for a place filled with people and things to do, Hudson may not be the place for you. It is actually a very small place mostly known for its abundance of firehouses and the river.

My favorite place to eat in Hudson is Baba Louie’s. Baba Louie’s is the most original pizza shop you will try. They make their pizza on sourdough bread and use all fresh produce. They have been using the same starter for their bread since the shop opened. They have the most fantastic creations. The particular favorite of our family in called Cole’s Creation, which is a pizza with arugula, balsamic vinegar, mozzarella, feta, red onions, tomatoes, and a little bit of garlic. That’s just one of the gourmet pizzas they have. A must have for anyone who goes to Hudson, I guarantee you will become a Baba Louie lover once you try their pizza.

The main chunk of our time in Canada was spent on the Cabot Trail. The Cabot Trail is a drive that goes through the island of Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. The loop is a total of about 300 km. It’s not a very well known trail since it hasn’t become completely taken over by tourism. This made the trail a very different experience from previous trips we’ve made on other road trips. The only places to stay were mainly bed and breakfasts, cabins, and a resort or two hidden away. My mom had booked cabins along the trail for the three days we were on the trail. There are also not many restaurants on some parts of the trail. The one night we had two options a pizza place 20 km away or a italian restaurant 15 km away. That gives you an idea of how untouched the island is. Although, it may seem crazy to drive out in the middle of nowhere with nothing but cabins and pizza shops, it was an incredibly relaxing journey. The entirety of the Cabot Trail has the most amazing views and the natural beauty. Here are a few pictures of our time.

After the Cabot Trail, we went on a whale watching cruise where we saw pilot whales. Pilot whales are about 15 feet long and are mostly black with a rounded head. It was probably one of the best parts of the trips because riding by the whales felt exhilarating. Pilot Whales stay in groups when they travel, so we would see three or four of them at one time. It was incredible how close we were able to get to them. They were only 10-15 feet away from our boat. The ride itself was very choppy, but the experience was so extraordinary it didn’t matter. This was our last stop in Canada. For the rest of the trip we drove back to Maine, and stayed in the town of South Harbor, which is very close to the Acadia National Park. Acadia National Park has gorgeous beaches and is also home to Cadillac Mountain. The mountain is the highest point on the North Atlantic Seaboard and is also the first place to see sunshine for part of the year. As you can imagine being on top of such a point, well you feel like you’re on top of the world! In Bass Harbor there is also the Unites State Coast Guard Bass Harbor Head Light Station. This is another beautiful lighthouse right on the edge of the water. Then there is Bar Harbor, which is the main tourist and shopping area. If you’re looking for a good place to eat or to buy an interesting souvenir, Bar Harbor is the perfect place to go. After spending an amazing week and a half traveling around national parks, we ventured back home. It was definitely one of the best road trips we have taken!

P.S. The picture I have on my blog as my background was taken at sunrise on the Cabot Trail!

This past summer, my family took on quite the trip. We drove up to Cape Breton in Canada. It’s about a fourteen hour drive. However, we had a few pit stops along the way. Our first stop was in Kennebunk Port, Maine.  Kennebunk is a small coastal town that actually is the home of President George W Bush summer house. We were only there for a few hours, but it was absolutely beautiful. They have this incredibly old church by the sea.                  

When you’re there you feel like you’re in the some british novel, a stone church, the sea bashing against the shore, and and endless view of rolling mountains. Kennebunk Port is a great place to take a quick stop, but it is very touristy. That basically means it can get pretty crowded, so it may not be the best place to wind down. Our next pit stop, Portland, Maine was slightly different. Portland is a city that is one big mashup of historical significance, natural beauty, and artistic expression. One of the best parts of Portland is the many lighthouses they have. Each lighthouse has a unique quality, my favorite was the one on Cape Elizabeth. Cape Elizabeth is actually the United States Coastal Guard Portland Head Light. That means the Coast Guard manages part of the light house. Cape Elizabeth is amazing because is has amazing views of the coast. It also has a remarkable trail you can hike on. The trail leads you away from the lighthouse to get an incredible look of the entire area. We visited about 5 lighthouses while we were Portland. Like I said before they were all very different.

That night we took an overnight ferry to Yarmouth, Canada. We were able to take our car on the boat, which was something I have never experienced. The cruise had little cabins for all the passengers. The ship also had two dining areas, a snack place, a casino, a massage and spa area, an of course a kid’s area. I was surprised at the amount of amenities they had for an overnight cruise. They all had a unique option for travelers that didn’t want a cabin. They had a floor that had seats like those in airplanes, which could recline. If you were traveling by yourself, this would probably be a better option and also a cheaper option. They also had showers on the floor, so it wasn’t just a floor of seats.

Once we got to Yarmouth the next morning, we drove through customs and drove to Lunenberg. Lunenberg has this very famous row of colored houses that is marked as a UNESCO World Heritage site. After lunch, we headed to Peggy’s Cove, which is by far the most breathtaking lighthouse site I have ever seen. The lighthouse is on a broad landscape of milky white rocks, it feels like you can see the end of the world from the top of those rocks. It’s at some point you forget about material beauty and see the world’s true beauty. To finish off an amazing day we went to Nova Scotia’s capital, Halifax. I will catch you up on the rest of the trip next week!

Since it’s starting to get cooler outside, I decided to select a location in a more tropical climate. Samoa is a group of islands located off the country of Australia. Out of the ten islands, the island of Upolu is the main hub for the country of Samoa. The capital Apia and the international airport are both located there. Apia has become a very upbeat place to visit in the island area. The capital has a lot to offer. Locals usually head over to the Maketi Fou which is the local farmer’s market. Here you can find colorful fruits and vegetables. All of which are completely fresh and as organic as it gets. If you’re looking to get something unique head over to the flea market. The flea market holds many local crafts like kava bowls, samoan sarongs, baskets, jewelry, and music. Upolu is mainly known for its beaches, waterfalls, and most importantly blowholes. One of the most astounding blowholes is the To Sua Ocean Trench located in the village Lotofaga. 

To Sua is translated to “big hole” in the native language, and has been converted into a large swimming area. The water is about 30 meter deep and there is a ladder than allows swimmers to walk into the water. The site is surrounded by an amazing variety of flora and fauna. There is a small fee to enter the ocean trench area, but for an experience of a lifetime it is an insignificant cost. There is even a small beach nearby and a garden to picnic in for families. Once you land in the water you can even swim under the cave as shown in the picture below. An astounding location that is surrounded by natural beaches and gorgeous nature, To Sua is a great place to unwind!

Another site that must be seen is Togitogiga Waterfalls. A scene taken out of a magical fairytale, you will feel as if you have entered a new realm. The waterfall leads into a still pool of water, and is surrounded by lush green forest. It may take you a moment to believe it’s all real. The waterfall is located in the village of Saleilua, near the Le Pupu Pue National Park. There is a recreational area near by to play volleyball and other sports. According to locals the best time to visit is between November and April. In my opinion, a perfect time to go, considering the chilling temperatures here in Pennsylvania during that time. The waterfall is also completely free, so you are free to go and enjoy a good time. A perfect getaway when things get crazy!

Food is only third to god and family to samoans, and therefore is a huge part of their culture. Popular dishes consist of roasted chicken, homemade vegetable soups, smoky BBQ, and fresh fish salad. A major meal in Samoan culture is sunday lunch also called to’ona’i. Every sunday, locals wake up early to prepare a huge meal in time for lunch. It ends up being the only meal eaten that day with a sunday siesta following the meal.

citation:http: //www.samoagovt.ws/

http://www.samoa.travel/sightseeing/a13/Upolu—Your-Gateway

 My family loves road trips, so I’m always looking for new, interesting trips. I recently found some, however they are a bit far away. It turns out Norway is a country full of scenic roads, and are known for their unique road trips. The most fantastic road in Norway is the Atlantic Road. It is a 8 km road the bridges the gap between the two cities of Kristiansund and Molde. It was named “Norway’s Construction of the Century” and is now a national tourist route. The Atlantic Road crosses low bridges and protrudes over the sea. When the seas are calm you are able to see whales and seals. The entire trip takes about thirty minutes to complete, but I can guarantee you will spend more time because you will want to stop to see the many breathtaking views along the way. Worried about stopping traffic, don’t be! There are four rest areas which allow you to relax and take in the beauty around you. Other sites along the way include the Kvernes Stave Church, a church from 1300 AD, The Bremsnes Caves, and the Kvernes Rural Museum. Fishing and diving are two of the most popular recreational activities to do by the Atlantic Road. The Atlantic Road is a magnificent site, crossing over islands and connecting seven bridges!

Another amazing drive is the Geiranger-Trollstigen Route, which includes the UNESO protected Geirangerfjord and the Trollsteign Mountain road. This drive is much longer encompassing 106 km of road. The route has been a great attraction ever since it opened in 1936. This route is known for its crazy hairpin turns and dizzying mountainsides. There are six rest areas along this path, allowing for much needed breaks! You may need to pull into one of those rest areas if you decide to drive through the Eagle Road stretch, which includes 11 hairpin bends. One of the most popular rest stops is Flydalsjuvet, since it overlooks Geirangerfjord. There is also the Juvet Landscape Hotel, which is an amazing piece of architecture that highlights the beautiful nature that surround it. Gudbransjuvet is a system of whirlpools leading up to an impressive gorge, a popular attraction for drivers along the route. One final must see site is the Romsdalen Valley, Europe’s tallest vertical overhanging rock face. There are parts of the trip that require the ferry, so it’s not just the road. A beautiful drive through a preserved nature sanctuary, your time in Norway will be unforgettable!

If you’re a fan of sea food you will love Norwegian cuisine. Norwegian salmon and arctic cod are very popular and are known to have a very delicate flavor. Ribbe is a common christmas dish favored by all natives. Ribbe is roasted pork ribs, and pinnekjott is salted, dried or smoked lamb ribs. Both of these are norwegian delicacies. If you are looking more for a sweet endeavor, you should try Multekrem, cloudberries with whipped cream, or Riskrem, rice porridge with whipped cream and red berry sauce. Norwegian food will take you on a sampling of Scandinavian culture.

Works Cited: http://www.visitnorway.com/en/where-to-go/fjord-norway/the-geirangerfjord/what-to-do-in-the-geirangerfjord-area-and-trollstigen/geiranger—trollstigen-national-tourist-route/

http://www.visitnorway.com/en/where-to-go/fjord-norway/kristiansund-nordmore/what-to-do-in-kristiansund-and-nordmore/tour-suggestions-in-kristiansund-and-nordmore/the-atlantic-road/

This week I found out where Yerevan was! Yerevan is in the country of Armenia. Yerevan was a city under the rule of the Soviet Union. It is now the capital of Armenia.  A city full of history and culture Yerevan is an exciting, unexpected spot for adventure. The top rated site is The Monastery of Geghard, a UNESCO world heritage site located in the city. Built in 1215, the chapel is surrounded by cliffs and carved out partially by adjacent mountains. It was founded in the 4th century, but was destroyed in the 9th century by Arabs. By the 13th century the monastery was back in business. The monastery became a pilgrimage because the Apostle Thaddeus brought the spear which had wounded christ on the cross to the monastery. The monastery has beautiful hand carvings decorating its walls on the inside. The location of the monastery is also incredible. It looks like a castle right out of one of the Lord of the Rings movies.

A must see, the monastery is a site that may give you a new perspective on life!

Another interesting site is the Matenadaran – The Museum of Ancient Manuscripts. The museum hold the world’s largest illuminated manuscript collection in the world. This is an attraction that allows visitors a view into Armenian language and provides another path to explore the culture of Armenia. It has over 17,000 manuscripts and 30,000 other documents in several different languages. The museum contains gospels from the 10th and 11th centuries and a 15th century 632 page calf skin calendar. The museum is definitely a place to explore. 

Nestled in the mountains of Yerevan is Khor Virap. Khor Virap is built on the location where the first catholic church in Armenia was built. After several reconstructions of the building Khor Virap was finally established in 1662. The monastery is located in front of Mount Ararat. The mountain is the national symbol of Armenia. The monastery is also in view of the Turkish border and therefore has a few military outlook posts surrounding it. A beautiful location, with an amazing story, this site is not one to be missed!

Food is an essential part of Armenia’s culture, and they have been continuing their tasteful traditions through the years. Many people would not expect Armenian food to have links to middle eastern food, but they are surprisingly similar. Khorovats (barbequed meat) and byorek (dough stuffed with meat) are two very popular dishes. Many of Armenia’s other dishes have a variety of spices and herbs added for flavor. The meat is usually served with a special bread called Lavash, which is a very thin bread prepared in a clay oven. Armenia also has a dish called Dolma, which may ring a bell since the greeks also have Dolmas. Made with mince meat and vegetable and wrapped in vine leaves, the armenian dolma is very similar to the dolmas of the greeks.

A city filled with exciting and interesting sites and delicious food, Yerevan is a new place to explore if you’re not scared to try something new!

Citation: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g293932-Yerevan-Vacations.html

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/960/

http://www.anothertravelguide.com/eng/asia/armenia/yerevan/destinations/culture/matendaran_institute_of_ancient_manuscripts/

http://www.atb.am/en/armenia/sights/christ/khorvirap/

The first blog I am planning about writing is a blog about traveling. I want to highlight locations that are not the normal vacation destinations. I have traveled to many places myself. The one thing I have noticed is often the places that aren’t written about in every other guide book, are the places that are the most amazing. This could be the backstreets of Paris and London, where no one but locals wander to. It could also be a hidden natural gem that has not yet been discovered by HGTV House Hunters International. My goal is to show you that there are so many places out there that are worth your time. I will provide readers with a variety of locations. Some of these places may be a short drive, others might requires a lengthy flight. However, I can guarantee these sites will warrant your attention. I will include what is worth doing, exploring, and even eating at points. I plan on including a few trips I have personally made to unusual places in my time traveling. I hope this will be a fresh view from travel blogs you’ve seen before.

The second blog idea I have is one about food. I will discuss food that is significant to different cultures. I want to provide you with a story about the food I’m sharing. There is so much we can learn about a culture from its food. It describes centuries of agriculture in the region and may explain why the people from that region look a certain way. The tastes of every culture are vastly different. They can explain why people act a certain way. They provide us insight to their everyday habits. Food is the center of conversation for a family after a long day’s work. Food is a way for old friends to meet again. Food allows us to travel without ever leaving out kitchen. Food is the one connector between all humans. A necessity, but also an art, food is the universal communicator.