Travel Cruncher

Let’s journey through Canada’s most cosmopolitan city and at the same time a place teeming with architectural histories and culture – Montreal. Montreal is also considered as Canada’s second largest and third oldest city. The city is a well mix of architecture, economy, and technology without the high expense of eliminating history. Of course, Montreal is a European-speaking place and is very dynamic knowing for its practice of festivities. Year-round, this cosmopolitan city celebrates feasts with lots and lots of food, music, film, and culture. It’s a big city with a big crowd with big celebrations year-round which basically is a big reason enough to go there.

Montreal never misses sightings most especially the famed Biosphere Museum. It is dedicated to earth, environment, and water. Also, enjoy the great experience in Mount Royal Park where you can do anything there from walking to skiing to eating and sight-seeing. Do visit Griffintown and find out the antiques in store for you there. When touring a new place, who would miss going to the museum, right? Take a look at Pointe-à-Callière Museum and discover Montreal from top to bottom. And take a ride on the glass-elevator of The Olympic Stadium. Of course, one of the most visited attraction in the city – Basilique Notre Dame. The church has the 11-ton Jean-Baptiste bell and a 100-year-old organ with nearly 7,000 pipes. There is a fee to enter the church as a visitor, but if you attend a service, relish the opportunity to see the ornate wood carvings, statues, vaulted ceilings, and stained-glass windows free of charge.

Surely, Montreal is Canada’s New York City with all its skyscrapers and a fast-paced life and that cosmopolitan effect; from art to film to music to history to food to entertainment, this city has it. And of course, never forget your French skills.

img src

Tags: basilique notre dame, canada, city, cosmopolitan city, montreal, mount royal park, new york city

Ever experienced feeling really small and tiny like that of an ant? Have you ever been surrounded by gigantic people or the like? For sure, when you are in the middle of the Redwood National Park you would feel really microscopic (of course, I exaggerated). But, being surrounded with dozens of 300-foot colossal towers of Redwood trees aka Sequoia. These towers are found in California’s National Park – Redwood National Park. This national park runs a vast of 53,000 hectares filled with Redwood trees. You’re in for a loooong walk with loooong trees around. This is one place to check out.

Redwood National Park is also home to different species one of which nestles its home in the trees, the marbled murrelet – a small seabird. There are also other sights to see depending on the season you visit this magnificent place. During spring or fall, birds usually dominate the place. Also in spring sprouts the Rhododendrons which adds color and accent on the redwoods place and then, deciduous trees add color on the season of fall. While, it is not advised to go there on winter due to rainfall that may spoil your hiking spree.

Speaking of hiking, it is best to see the whole place by feet. If you are in for some long walks, be sure to check out this park most especially, the Lady Bird Johnson Grove and Big Tree. There is a coastal trail for you to track on so you can experience the Pacific prospect of the park. If you plan to use SUVs during the trip, be sure to check on open trails to ensure passage.

img src

Tags: California, hiking, national park, redwood, redwood national park, sequoia, tall trees, tallest trees, tour, trees

Why not travel in a massive country with a lot of adventure offerings and travel sightings with low prices? The answer: Argentina. It is known to be the sixth largest country in the whole world so traveling there would entail a longer amount of time and a lot of adrenaline rush. Serious travelers wish to visit Argentina because of its sights and shopping. The climate is not necessarily too hot all throughout the year and some parts also has winter season. One can go there on their summer season from January to February to enjoy its beaches and wearing tank tops. Or on the country’s winter season to enjoy skiing top hill and spare your selves from humidity.

More or less, Argentina’s attractions comprises of Buenos Aires (the capital city), National Parks, Beaches, and other sightings. Buenos Aires is a lovely quaint town with bistros and cafes and grand architecture. The famous National Parks are the Glaciers National Park, Patagonia and Iguazu National Park. For its beaches, Argentina boasts of Mar del Plata. Other famous sightings are San Carlos de Bariloche, San Juan and La Rioja, Jujuy, and a whole lot more. And while in Argentina, experience to be a part of their culture by doing or learning the Tango. This is a very famous dance in Argentina. Another activity that can be done in the place is seeking wildlife, hiking, biking, rock climbing, skiing, fishing, and shopping. Shopping in the country is popular especially your in for some leather finds such as bags, shoes, etc. Also, the food in Argentina is good. Their cuisine is mostly meat especially cow’s meat. Food and money is never a problem once traveling in Argentina since they have actually reasonable prices.

Fly off to Argentina and do the tango, baby!

img src

Tags: argentina, beach, buenos aires, Europe, mar del plata, national park, patagonia, tango, tank tops

Of beautiful lineages and breathtaking sights, Barcelona, Spain surely stands out as one of the most livable city in the world. Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain next to the biggest city – Madrid. It is also one of the most populous city of the country making it in the line of megacities like Paris, London, and Milan. Barcelona is really huge in its stature which is why it is also its metropolitan area is regarded as one of the biggest in the European Union. Given Barcelona’s size and population, its economical growth and stability is also high branding Barcelona as one of the most livable cities in the world. And in that light, the city is deemed to be one of the most visited sites in Spain. Of course, one cannot miss the beautiful people, good food, and wonderful sightings that this dynamic city has to offer.

Sights to visit and see in Barcelona

1.       Barri Gotic – this is the very heart of old Barcelona; in this area is where medieval buildings and architecture are situated. A good number of them are considered as World Heritage Sites. An important one is the work-in-progress church called La Sagrada Familia. It is aimed to be finished by the year 2026.

2.       The National Museum of Art of Catalonia – this museum contains the largest collection in Barcelona with its beautiful Romanesque arts.

3.       Montjuic – a national park and the biggest in Barcelona

4.       Park Guell – a well-known park designed by Antoni Gaudi

5.       Beaches – according to National Geographic, this city has the best beaches in the world

Hop on that plane now and take yourself to a one-of-a-kind experience in Barcelona, Spain! Adios!

img src

Tags: barcelona, barri gotic, beach, churches, cities, Europe, metropolitan city, montjuic, national parks, parc guell, parks, spain

Are you an adrenaline junkie? Do you often crave to feel the rush of not-so-at- ease-things-to-do? Do you have what it takes to travel all the way to New Zealand just to have a taste of your own medicine? Yes, of course! New Zealand’s Taupo Bungy Jumping is the answer. New Zealand has always been known to have ultimate extreme adventures and one of these is the Taupo Bungy. This famous world attraction has long been operating since the year 1991. Since then, they have already catered to more than 240,000 successful jumps up-to-date. Now, that is reliable enough to try this exhilarating experience. Taupo Bungy is located in Waikato River Valley. It is located on top of the Huka Falls and on its jumping platform lies a scenic view of the serene blue color of the river and the landscape. Surely, you’d feel like Pocahontas about to jump below the waters while above it all.

Taupo Bungy offers different packages such as the Solo Bungy, the Tandem Jump, and the Taupo Cliff Hanger. The solo jump, obviously, is a good for one jump while the tandem allows you to jump off with another person; may it be your mom, dad, sibling, or you lover. The Cliff hanger is another adventure wherein you will be falling and swinging in mid-air head or feet first or simply just in sitting position. Another added service to their adventure is the water touch. For jumpers who want more fun, you can actually advise your jump master that you want to touch the water. With their premium-quality technology, they can actually adjust the jump if you wish to touch the water with your hands only or even your head on it. Bungy jumping is surely a fun and extreme sport awaiting to give you the best adrenaline rush ever! Plus, the beautiful scene beyond and below.

img src

Tags: bungy, bungy jumping, extreme adventure, huka falls, New Zealand, taupo, waikato river

Like what most people wishes to experience is to be in two places at one time, Istanbul is the best place for you to set foot on. Istanbul is city which spans to two continents namely Europe and Asia. Hence, this city bridges two different cultures of oriental and occidental histories. Istanbul is formerly known as Constantinople and is the largest city in Turkey. It has a total population of 12.8 million people. Istanbul is also one of the largest metropolitan city of Europe. The hybrid of the culture and tradition of Istanbul comprises of the different churches it has such Orthodox Church to Jewish. They also have other mixed traditions from haute couture to sports like soccer. Truly, Istanbul reserves the right to be the true melting pot of two different traditions and culture.

There are many things one can do in Turkey such as sight-seeing the different palaces, mosques, churches, museums, and complex. These places preserve one of the oldest heritages of Istanbul thus, providing a very good feel of the history behind new Istanbul. These places ought to remind travelers and locals of the old Constantinople. Some of the places to go are Topkapi Sarayi, Rustem Pasa Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Turkish and Islamic Art Museum, Archaeological Museum Complex, Suleymaniye Mosque, and many more.

Other hot place to go in Istanbul is the Spice Bazaar known for its market of goods and spices. Another one is, the Grand Bazaar which serves as a labyrinth of more than 3,000 shops. It sells from food to jewelry to things, what-have-you. Just do remember some tips when visiting Istanbul. Be sure to dress properly when planning to visit mosques since they are conservative. Also, the host always pays the meal or if you really insist, you pay for everyone else; sharing is not their thing.

img src

Tags: Asia, church, constantinople, Europe, istanbul, metropolitan, metropolitan city, mosques, turkey

Are you in for an extreme adventure or a very ala-nature trip? Zermatt is the perfect place to be in. Zermatt is located in Switzerland. It is a municipality with a population of about 5,800 people. This place is famous for its mountaineering and ski activities. The place is best known as one of the most beautiful mountain areas of the world. Zermatt, obviously is characterized by huge mountains with exhilarating peaks and contours making it a very nice sight to see. Zermatt is all beauty and fun all-year-round. When one speaks of this small village, it is often associated with mountains most especially to mountain of Matterhorn. Matterhorn is an ultimate Swiss icon simply because of its beauty and fun. Visitors and tourists all over the world go to this place and try to hike in the mountains or even ski. There are also attempts of reaching the summit of Matterhorn. This place has been discovered and visited since the 1860s making it as one of the popular mountain destinations of Switzerland or even the world.

Once in Zermatt, one can go hiking around the area and also ski. The place has no car transportation, by the way. There are only horse-driven transportation and small electric vehicles. For the lodging, that is not a problem in Switzerland since they are known to have excellent hotel service. Their hotels are usually run by the owners them giving superb efficiency and service. Whole year-round, the place is great to stay whether sunny summer or chilly winter. You’ll never run out of things to look forward in Zermatt no matter what time of the year.

img src

Tags: beauty, Europe, hiking, Matterhorn, mountains, mountaneering, skiing, summer, switzerland, winter, zermatt