Top 20 Fun Christmas Facts Around the World

via venere.com

Holiday Traveling in Europe [infographic]

So Brits like to holiday in Europe more often than in Texas.

That’s okay with me, the most sought after destination for the British, Spain, is quite the location. The majority of people I know who’ve studied abroad went to Spain and I’ve heard it is a wonderful place.

Although, the mix of balconies, sangria and an inexcusable butchery of the Spanish language tends to lead to the ER for some chaps. Spain takes cake with nearly double of the amount of hospitalizations for UK tourists than any other country in Europe.

The only reason I can think is that they party too hard. France has almost 10 million visits a year from the United Kingdom, but only 217 medical emergencies come out of them. Come on France, Step up! Why would I want to go on a vacation where I’m promised safety, security and a scar-free visit? I wouldn’t. Spain sounds much more exciting and I believe that’s why the British tend to vacation there. 

via dailyinfographic.com

 

The Numbers Behind the Travel Industry: Pigs, Planes & Urine (infographic)

This infographic was commissioned by travelmatch.

Infographic: The Social Travel Revolution

Social media can shape the way that we make our decisions on a day-to-day basis and this is seen very much in the travel industry. This great infographic from Swedish social travel startup Tripl demonstrates how interactions through social media are effecting this industry.

A few key points of interest for me are:

• 72% of all social network users access their social network sites daily while they are travelling
• 200 million passengers will board GOGO-WIFI flights this year
• 69% of all travel companies saw traffic growth from Facebook
• 46% of all travel companies saw traffic growth from Twitter
• The top 5 airlines have 2,566,000 fans on Facebook
• 50 million trip reviews have been created for TripAdvisor

This infographic gathers data from major players in the social media field, as well as large travel and data sites like Quantcast.com and TripAdvisor.com. 

Christiania Copenhagen, Denmark

christiania, glass house, february 2009, originally uploaded by seier+seier.

Christiania, also known as Freetown Christiania (Danish: Fristaden Christiania) is a self-proclaimed autonomous neighbourhood of about 850 residents, covering 34 hectares (85 acres) in the borough of Christianshavn in the Danish capital Copenhagen. Civic authorities in Copenhagen regard Christiania as a large commune, but the area has a unique status in that it is regulated by a special law, the Christiania Law of 1989 which transfers parts of the supervision of the area from the municipality of Copenhagen to the state.
Christiania has been a source of controversy since its creation in a squatted military area in 1971. Its cannabis trade was tolerated by authorities until 2004. Since then, measures for normalising the legal status of the community have led to conflicts, and negotiations are ongoing.

Lisbon’s Culinary Golden Age?

via nytimes.com

park Guell ...Barcelona Spain

BCN-Gaudí-Park Güell from mylapse on Vimeo.

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler

NEPAL

Nepal from lennart holterman on Vimeo.

i shot this with a sony cdr hc 96 in nepal around the Gokyo lakes. It's all handheld, so unfortunely it is not all 100% steady.

Iran it's beautiful

Travel Inside Iran from Flo14wer on Vimeo.

For me Iran is a beautiful, magical country, a monument for the grandor of human civilization. Iran is a place where dazzling architecture is set amid desolate expanses of desert or steppe; where snow-capped mountains plunge dramatically to a seacoast of steamy lushness; where nomads guide their flocks to seasonal pasturelands; where tombs, temples, castles, and mosques bespeak the richness of the Persian past. High and dry for the most part, the land is sectioned by great mountain ranges, dotted with venerable villages of mud and stone as well as modern cities, and has a cultural fabric woven of many different threads, Persian,Turkish, Kurdish, Baluchi, ...

South Cornwall: the perfect break UK

A trip to the Roseland Peninsula in many ways represents a journey back to what Cornwall was like before camper van-toting surfers, inebriated teenagers and DFL (Down From London) families invaded the county. From bustling St Mawes to sleepy Portloe, this corner of south Cornwall is characterised by castle ruins, lush gardens, fishing villages, thatched cottages, coastal walks and wild beaches, and favoured by one of the mildest climates in Britain.

more via telegraph.co.uk

 

Canada's Maritime Provinces and Coastal Maine

During the autumn months, the sylvan hills and bucolic towns of Canada’s Maritime Provinces and coastal Maine are ablaze with orange, crimson, and yellow. Join us as the weather cools and the summer crowds fade for a cruising adventure to the historic communities of Eastern Canada and Maine. Stop at long-settled communities of the Maritimes, villages that still bear witness to the empires that shaped Canada, like historic Louisbourg, Nova Scotia and the old seaport of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Then cruise Maine's scenic coast to the the picturesque town of Bar Harbour for an unforgetable excusion to Acadia National Park. Spend your final day in Portland, exploring the cities lively arts district before heading to Gloucester, Massachusetts

via smithsonianjourneys.org

Quebec, French and English and uniquely itself, Canada

Quebec really is its own unique culture, neither French nor Anglo Canadian, and certainly not American. No place I visited in the city so perfectly encapsulated the melange of cultures as the Cochon Dingue in the Lower Town portion of Old Quebec. Inside the atmospheric cafe (the name translates as "Crazy Pig") you could almost think you're in Paris. Coffee: strong and aromatic. Croissants: properly light and flaky. Newspaper-reading patrons: appropriate air of studied nonchalance. But one bite of the delicious, buttery toasted pain aux canneberges (cranberry bread), and you know you're not anywhere near the Eiffel Tower. Cranberries just aren't a French thing; they're a North American crop.

more via...  washingtonpost.com

 

Tours of a Lifetime

We’re traveling again. Tour operators are reporting big spikes in inquiries and bookings. But an uncertain economy, ongoing wars, and the fragile health of the planet have, perhaps permanently, reordered priorities. Travelers now seek more perspective, meaning, and challenge. They want to see the unvarnished reality of a place, not just the fantasy. Outfitters have responded by dialing down the luxury and refocusing on core offerings. Their itineraries are more innovative and experiential—aimed at developing lasting connections between people. Here are 50 of the world's best guided tours for 2010, as chosen by the editors of National Geographic Traveler magazine.

via travel.nationalgeographic.com

 

See the Northern Lights - Aurora Borealis

Northern Lights

The sight of the lights shimmering and dancing across the night sky will be etched in the memory of all those who are lucky enough to witness it.
The phenomenon of the Northern Lights has fascinated the Sámi people for centuries and there are more than 20 folk tales that attempt to explain their existence. In many parts of Lapland the Northern lights are known as the Firefox. Legend has it that the tail of a running fox brushing against the powder snow causes the sparks in the sky. It is also said that the Arctic Sea contains so many fish that the sun's light is reflected off their scales and creates the patterns in the sky.
Today's science means that we now know that the Aurora Borealis displays we see are caused by electrically charged particles in space hitting the earth's atmosphere. When they collide with oxygen and nitrogen particles they emit excess energy as light.
Although the Aurora Borealis can be seen from northerly parts of the United Kingdom the occurrences are rare and the intensity of the displays tend to be low. The further north you travel the better your chances of viewing the lights so all the destinations in this brochure provide great opportunities to see the Northern lights.
The optimum time to see the Northern lights is between 9pm and 1am in the morning. Be careful not to go to bed too soon or you may miss out. The intensity of the displays can vary and may start with a small stationary glow or arch in the night sky before building into a spectacular show.
The Aurora Borealis is a purely natural phenomenon and therefore cannot be guaranteed whichever destination you choose. However, the further north you travel and the further away from man-made light you are, the better your chance to see the Northern lights. Many of our destinations offer night time and overnight safaris that will give you the perfect opportunity to see the Aurora Borealis as we take you deep into the darkness (and our guides know all the best view points!).
Lying on a reindeer skin in deep snow, watching the sky shimmer and drinking hot berry juice is an excellent way to spend part of your holiday! Whatever you believe about the Aurora Borealis there is no more spectacular experience on Earth than sitting in a winter wonderland watching the lights dancing across the sky. It is truly magical! Choose from our Lapland trips below and see the Northern lights with Activities Abroad.

via activitiesabroad.com

dedicated to my friend @Vlavo