Movenpick Pool- Dead Sea- www.afriendafar.com #deadsea #jordan

A Day at the Dead Sea

November 19, 2015January 16, 201611 Comments

I had one free day in Jordan on a work trip to see a bit of the country. Though Amman has lots to explore and Petra looks amazing to visit, I decided to spend a relaxing day at the Dead Sea. It proved to be the perfect way to combat jet lag and was the perfect day trip from Amman. Plus, the Dead Sea is consistently on lists of places in the world that are disappearing, and I wanted to see and experience it before that happens!

When I left Amman, it was 15 degrees Celsius. On the taxi ride to the Movenpick Resort, I watched the thermometer steadily rise as we coasted down the road. By the time I arrived at the Dead Sea, the temperature was 25 degrees Celsius! The weather was just warm enough to want to change into my swimsuit and walk down to the beach.

My first stop was floating in the Dead Sea, of course! Even though I knew the high salt concentration causes you to float, it was still amazing to get in the sea and stay buoyed without any effort. It was surreal to lay back, relax and just float and also entertaining to bob about by trying to submerge yourself.

While floating, I noticed fellow bathers covering their bodies with mud from the sea stored in a clay pot.

Once the salty sea started burning my skin, I moved on to the mud part of my wellness treatment. Because the mud is from the sea, it has a ton of minerals in it and is so good for your skin; plus, it’s said to have healing properties!

I just had to take a photo with the sign. Evidence of being at the lowest point on earth!

Once I was done with my sea salt and mud treatments, I lounged by the infinity pool overlooking the sea. A poolside bar served drinks (including fresh, delicious mango juice) and food. I loved looking out at the glassy sea and taking in the view of Israel from across the sea.

Next I moved onto another pool that was heated. Swimming in November is a treat so I stayed in until I was all shriveled. Once the sun started setting, I enjoyed watching the sky change will all the colors. I also made friends with an orange kitty.

The colors just kept getting better and better as the sun continued setting. The reflection on the water was stunning!

This was my final view of the Dead Sea- what a perfect way to end the day!

Check out these fabulous posts from fellow travel bloggers: Top Reasons to travel New Zealand by Campervan, The Best Places to View the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Top 4 Ski Destinations in the USA, Segovia: Aqueduct, Cathedral and Alcazar, & Fort Lauderdale Kayaking Tour

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

Ballooning over Albuquerque with World Balloon

November 3, 2015January 17, 201612 Comments

Ballooning over Albuquerque- www.afriendafar.com #ballooning #albuquerque

My husband and I opted not to take a hot air balloon ride during the Balloon Fiesta but saved it for our actual anniversary a couple of days later! I did research on various ballooning companies based in Albuquerque and settled on World Balloon because of their excellent TripAdvisor reviews. Also, I found a $10 off coupon in the Visitors & Convention Bureau brochure I got when we picked up our rental car. We waited until the day before to book our flight since we were being indecisive, but thankfully they had spots available for us.

In October World Balloon only offers sunrise flights (they start sunset flights in November), so we got up while it was still dark to go to the launch site. My husband got to help with the setup of the balloon while I took a bunch of photos of the process. Once the balloon was inflated, we all hopped into the basket to take off. I must admit I was a bit nervous beforehand, but as soon as we were off the ground I was just so enthralled by the whole experience that I felt just fine. The ride is so smooth that you forget you’re airborne.

I enjoyed looking out and seeing the city of Albuquerque below from above. My favorite part of the ride was floating over the cottonwood forest, the largest in North America, and the Rio Grande River where our basket skimmed the water! It was so peaceful and relaxing floating over the river and seeing other balloons in the distance. Our guide Murray and the two other ground crew members were fantastic and told us interesting stories about his years as a balloon pilot. As we went over downtown, we were able to pick out our hotel, Hotel Parc Central.

During our landing, we saw a road runner running out of the way! After the flight, my husband said it was “the highlight of the year.” Mind you, we went to Greece this year! It was an amazing experience and I highly recommend it! We enjoyed going as part of a group since we met interesting fellow balloonists from a variety of places.

After our ride back to the launching site from the landing site, a champagne celebration with muffins and other breakfast foods was waiting for us. While we feasted on the treats Murray regaled us with the history of ballooning and why champagne is served. The Montgolfiere brothers of France were the first to have successful manned flights. Legend has it that when they first started flying and landing in fields peasants mistook the balloon for a fire-breathing dragon, since the balloons were filled with smoke in addition to hot air, and would attack them with stones and pitchforks. Early balloonists brought champagne with them to appease the peasants and so a tradition was born. Today champagne is served during the first flight ceremony and the balloonists prayer might also be featured. It goes like this “The winds have welcomed you with softness. The sun has blessed you with his warm hands. You have flown so high and so well that God has joined us together in laughter and set us gently back into the loving arms of Mother Earth.”

Share you hot air balloon stories or dreams with us in the comments below! We love hearing from you!

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

A Quick Guide to National Historical Parks

October 27, 2015January 17, 201624 Comments

One of my favorite places to visit in the US is anywhere in the National Park System! There are 58 National Parks, 10 Seashores, 4 Parkways, 78 Monuments, 78 Historic Sites, 25 Battlefields, and 49 Historical Parks. In case you’re curious like I was, a national historical park differs from the rest because it is an area of historic and natural features with more than a single property or building. I’ve been to two such parks and highly recommend both of them!

Chaco Culture

After attending the amazing Balloon Fiesta, we took a day trip out to Chaco Culture National Historical Park. It’s about a 3 hour drive from Albuquerque and is quite remote. Once you turn off the main highway, there is a 13 mile stretch of unpaved road that you drive on before arriving at the entrance to the park. We first learned about Chaco Culture from a family member who visited during a business trip to New Mexico, and we were amazed by his pictures. While researching more about the history of Chaco Culture, I kept finding it on lists of important ruins with the likes of Tikal, Petra, Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat, and more! Done! We’re going there!

A Quick Guide to National Historic Parks- Chaco Culture- www.afriendafar.com #newmexico #chacocultture

About the history…Chaco Canyon was home to Pueblo people from 850 to 1250 and was the center of Chacoan culture in the San Juan Basin. They constructed great stone houses using masonry with hundreds of rooms. It is an amazing site to see because of its architecture, planned construction, and community organization. It is thought that the canyon held a relatively small permanent population with most of its infrastructure in existence for people who came for special events (ceremonial, commerce, trading). Today many Southwest Native American people consider Chaco to be a sacred place.

During the drive to the site, we passed cattle grazing, old windmills, and abandoned structures. In certain times of the year there can be flooding, so it’s important to check weather conditions. We stopped by the Visitor’s Center to pay our entrance fee and get a park map. The nine-mile Canyon Loop drive takes you by the six major sites. The first one we stopped at was the unexcavated Hungo Pavi, followed by Pueblo Bonito, and last, Casa Rinconada. Each stop has self-guided trail brochures which contain a ton of great information so you understand the history of the sites. Some of the common architectural features include the circular kivas which were rooms used for religious ceremonies. Pueblo Bonito is absolutely not to be missed because it was the center of the complex, the largest great house, has been excavated, and is the most researched. The masonry of the site is so impressive! The Great Kiva at Casa Rinconada is much larger and deeper than the regular kivas and is pretty amazing to see.

The park is one of only 4 sites in the NPS with the Dark Sky distinction and I would love to go back to camp and stargaze!

Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau

If you’re planning a trip to the Big Island, on the way to or from Kona and Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, consider a stop at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park. Another name for this historical park is City of Refuge because until 1819 defeated warriors during war times or Hawaiians who broke a taboo could flee death by coming to this place of refuge. Once inside the great walls of the refuge, no harm would come their way, and a priest would absolve the person in a purification ceremony. It was also the royal grounds of the chief of Kona. The complex contains archeological sites including temples and well preserved carved wooden images. The main site of Hale o Keawe, contains the bones of the chiefs that help make the site sacred and is surrounded by the largest concentration of wooden carvings in the site. You can also play a traditional game that’s like checkers/chess and watch various cultural demonstrations! One of the many reasons I love Hawaii is for its history and culture which come alive while visiting sites like this one. The area is also known for excellent diving and snorkeling if you’re looking for places to enjoy those activities. Fun fact: this site makes up the background in the Where in the World is Carmen San Diego game when in Hawaii.

Have you been to any national historical parks? Tell us about it in the comments below! Let us know about any other parks you’ve been to as well.

We’ve linked up with Weekend Wanderlust,
The Weekly Postcard, and Weekend Travel Inspiration!

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

The World’s Largest Balloon Festival: Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

October 20, 2015January 17, 2016Leave a comment

Ever since I saw them float over my childhood home, I’ve loved hot air balloons. There is something about them that brings out childlike wonder in me. When I realized that the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, the world’s largest balloon festival and “the world’s most photographed event,” coincided with the weekend just before my second wedding anniversary, I started planning a long weekend trip to New Mexico. My husband had never been to New Mexico, and though my family technically drove across the state in 1996, we were on our way home by this point in our road trip so we didn’t do much stopping. I was excited to see what this Southwestern state had to offer and to be in town for one of its biggest events!

The Night Glow

Our first foray into the Balloon Fiesta was for a Saturday evening session which features an Evening Glow event. Before the balloons arrived, we walked around the grounds a while and we’re struck by how similar the energy was to a state fair in the South. But as soon as the trucks started arriving with balloons, we were off to the field to watch the fascinating inflation process. I’d never been that close to a hot air balloon being setup and was intrigued with how they rolled out the balloon on the ground, set out the basket, and then used fans to blow cold air to inflate the balloon. There was much cheering to be had when the first balloon we watched being inflated finally stood up straight with the basket on the ground! Next, the burner was used to keep the air in the balloon hot! It was so exciting to see the flames blasting and be so close to the action! More and more balloons were setup, and it’s quite the feast for the eyes. Everywhere you turn on the field there’s something to see! It’s overwhelming in the best sense of the word.

The sun started to dip below the horizon to treat us with a natural show for sunset and that’s when the glow began! Once dusk arrived, the balloons were lit up at varying intervals. It’s such a beautiful sight that it’s hard to describe, but my photos help do it justice. Oh man, is this a perfect event for all of you photographers (amateur or professional) out there! Once darkness arrived, the glow was much more intense, and it was really quite magical. After the glow was over, there was a laser show and fireworks.

The Mass Ascension

The next morning I rolled out of bed, threw on some clothes, and drove over to the Balloon Park once again. I couldn’t wait to see the farewell mass ascension, where hundreds of balloons take flight, at sunrise. Again, I had an easy experience with parking and buying my ticket, and I arrived at the field just as the dawn patrol of 6 or so balloons were taking off to test the wind conditions. After two balloons hoisted American flags while ascending for the national anthem, more and more balloons went up, up and away! As beautiful as the night glow was the evening before, the ascension was even more spectacular to me because hot air balloons are meant to be in flight!

It’s also fun to see different types and shapes of balloons including a Spiderman pig, Wells Fargo stagecoach, Smokey the Bear, penguins, and a whale. One of my favorites was a map themed balloon which I feel should be our A Friend Afar balloon! As I exited the park, I found one of those signs that points to different places in the world.

If you’re wondering about ticket prices and other logistics, it’s super affordable at $8 a person per session. We opted to use the $10 event parking and, despite hearing traffic horror stories, found it relatively painless to do so. It probably helped that we arrived early-ish and didn’t wait until the last minute. Another option is to use an Uber, taxi or the event shuttle system for $12 per person in advance or $20 per person upon arrival. Also note that the car rental and hotel reservations get quite booked up as this is the tourist event of the year in Albuquerque!

Are you thinking about visiting Albuquerque for the 2016 or 2017 Balloon Fiesta? Tell us in the comments below!

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

5 Reasons to Stay in Hana on Maui

October 13, 2015January 28, 20162 Comments

When planning our honeymoon in Hawai’i a couple of years ago, I had such a hard time deciding which islands to visit even though we were able to spend two weeks there. We decided on three islands total to give a good amount of time on each island; O’ahu was a given since we were flying in and out of Honolulu from the mainland. I had a hard time choosing between the Big Island and Kaua’i but ultimately decided on the Big Island because of my desire to visit Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. I also decided I’d save Kaua’i for a future trip. Since it was my first time visiting, Maui also quickly made the list because it’s my husband’s favorite island (side note: Hawai’i is his favorite place in the world- he’s been five times)! But in all the times he visited he’d never been to Hana, so we planned to stay the last couple of nights of our trip on the Eastern part of the island. Here are five reasons to stay in Hana on Maui based on the fabulous experience with our Hawaiian stay:

Hana is most well known because of the Road to Hana, which twists and turns alongside the Cliffside road. Depending on the time of year you’re visiting, the road can get crowded so staying overnight in Hana allows you more time for stops along the way without feeling rushed and limited by needing to turn around and head back.

2. Hana has some pretty colorful beaches to visit. Waianapanapa State Park has a black sand beach and freshwater caves to explore. Kaihalulu Beach takes a little more effort to find – a bit of a walk and climbing on rocks- but you’re rewarded with a gorgeous and unique red sand beach. If you want a more traditional beach that’s good for bodyboarding, Hamoa Beach shouldn’t be missed!

3. I loved the authenticity of the small town of Hana. We enjoyed exploring the lushness of the countryside. I also liked strolling around Hana, especially the grounds of Travaasa hotel and its gallery shop. We found a Thai restaurant that I still remember being delicious but sadly discovered on TripAdvisor that it has since closed.

4. A short drive south of Hana town you’ll find part of Haleakala National Park, with parking and swimming at Ohe’o Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools). There’s also hiking including the Waimoku Falls trail. We loved this hike with its gorge, bamboo forest & eventual waterfall destination. The lushness of the surrounding environment is so refreshing!

5. The final & perhaps best reason to stay in Hana is just to relax. The pace of life feels slower than when staying at a resort on the island. We rented a house for the nights we stayed, and my husband was absolutely thrilled with our porch. It was so peaceful to lay out there and look out to see the green of the forest and blue of the ocean and sky. I tend to be a frenetic traveler who wants to see and do everything but sometimes its nice and necessary to rest and spend quality time with your fellow traveler(s).

If you’ve been to Hana, add your reasons why to visit in the comments below! If you haven’t, tell us if you now want to go!

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

Bangkok Boutique Hotel Review: Phranakorn Nornlen

October 6, 2015January 9, 20161 Comment

While planning our trip to Thailand in January, I was excited to stay in a hotel in Bangkok. As Meagan has mentioned before, we met as roommates in Thailand and lived about an hour north of Bangkok. Because of that fact, I’d never stayed in Bangkok overnight. After getting a few ideas from guidebooks, I also looked on TripAdvisor to see what was ranked highly. I was pleasantly surprised to see a charming, small hotel near the top. I immediately looked into it and then booked it. It’s called Phranakorn Nornlen, and it’s one of the most adorable places I’ve ever stayed! Read ahead for my Bangkok Hotel Review:

Phranakorn Nornlen is located in the heart of Old Bangkok and is truly an oasis in the middle of a hectic city. Their motto is about embracing “slow life,” and it’s certainly easy to do when you’re in the compound. The building itself is a beautiful, old teak mansion, and there’s plenty of space for lounging on pillows in the open air first floor. The surrounding area is not touristy so you get a taste of authenticity in how people live in communities in Bangkok. But it is within walking distance to the Thewet Pier river shuttle stop where you can take a leisurely boat ride to get to the Grand Palace and the Reclining Buddha. It’s also just a taxi or scary tuktuk ride away from the BTS Skytrain.

The hotel has a rooftop restaurant that serves basic Thai dishes, including pineapple fried rice. We ate there upon arrival because we’d been traveling that day and were famished. Breakfast is included in the room rate and is quite the spread. There’s also a tea service during the day if you’re in your room and want afternoon tea. What more do you need in life?

The décor of the hotel matches the antique building it’s housed in. There are cute, vintage displays everywhere you turn. Plus, there’s amazing art from a local artist painted on the walls. The style of the rooms are consistent with the rest of the hotel. The bedding uses batik cloth that you can find in the market and… If you like the style of the décor, they have a shop on the first floor where you can buy similar goods.

If you’re not already sold on booking the Phranakorn Nornlen while in Bangkok, we found the extra services the hotel made available extremely thoughtful and useful. For example, we had a late flight out so were able to store our luggage in the baggage deposit for free while exploring Chatuchak Weekend Market for last minute shopping. Additionally, showers on the first floor were available for use to freshen up before heading to the airport even though we’d checked out in the morning. There’s also a service to help with transportation needs, such as calling us a taxi to airport. The staff also went above and beyond. Our final memory of leaving Phranakorn Nornlen is that four staff members were leaving at the same time so they helped us with our luggage and saw us off in our taxi.

Hope you’ll consider staying in this lovely guesthouse if you’re traveling to Bangkok soon! What’s one of your favorite accommodations ever and why?

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

Lacock Abbey- www.afriendafar.com #england #lacockabbey #harrypotter

Film Inspired Travel in England

September 29, 2015January 17, 20163 Comments

Inspiration for travel can come in so many different shapes and forms. Hearing stories from fellow travelers, photos of beautiful places, learning the history of faraway places, and looking through magazines. One way I’m inspired is by books I’ve read and TV series and movies I’ve watched. Visiting England and specifically the countryside had been on my list for a while- in large part because of my love of Jane Austen books and films. When planning the trip, my sister and I mapped out our must see houses and sights to visit. Here are a few to keep in mind if you’re visiting Europe soon and are interested in film inspired travel in England:

Jane Austen Sights

The first Jane Austen sight we visited was the Jane Austen House Museum in Chawton. It’s open every day from 10:30am to 4:30pm and is the only house Jane lived in that is open to the public. It’s where she spent the last 8 years of her life – during the time period when Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Emma were published. In nearby Winchester, visit the beautiful Gothic cathedral founded in 1079 to see where she is buried.

Bath is a fantastic city to visit if you’re a Jane Austen fan since the author lived there, and two of her novels, Northanger Abbey (my favorite) and Persuasion, were set in this historic city. Go on a self-guided walking tour of the city to see the streets and buildings Jane writes about and be sure not to miss the Bath Abbey, the Roman Baths, the Circus (pictured here), and the Assembly Rooms. We actually skipped the Jane Austen Centre except for poking around the gift shop since we’d already visited the House Museum and wanted more time for our walk.

Great Houses of Pride & Prejudice

Next we started our tour of the great houses of England, including the Chatsworth House, used in film adaptations of Pride and Prejudice. The Chatsworth House is located in Derbyshire in the Peak District and was used as Pemberley in the 2005 movie. It is thought that Jane Austen based her idea of Pemberley on the Chatsworth House while writing the novel. Interestingly enough, the house is mentioned by name in the book as one of the estates Elizabeth Bennet visits before arriving at Pemberley.

Next we went to Haddon Hall in Peak District National Park. It was used in the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice as the Inn at Lambton, in the 2011 version of Jane Eyre and Prince Humperdinck’s castle in The Princess Bride. The outside of the medieval manor house is stunning, but it was also fun to stroll through the interior and the gorgeous Elizabethan gardens set next to a picturesque river.

Our final Jane Austen film site was Lyme Park in the Peak District. It was used in the 1995 BBC film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and has amazing grounds to wander around. There’s a beautiful rose garden, and you can see the reflecting lake where Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy met Elizabeth Bennett. If you’re super fans like we are, you can also go for walk in the field to see the pond Darcy emerged from. When we were there it happened to be the 200th anniversary of the book’s publication, therefore to celebrate there was a giant Darcy in the lake!

Downton Abbey

We visited England at the height of the Downton Abbey series craze, so of course we had to make a stop at Highclere Castle. We arrived too late to tour the inside of the house, but walking around the grounds and gardens admiring the house was perfect. It was also lovely that we went to the little shop to buy a cup of tea to sip while admiring the beauty of the house! [Photo: Laura Brown]

Harry Potter

No visit to England would be complete without seeing a couple of Harry Potter filming sites. King’s Cross Station in London is an easy place to pop over to while you’re out and about in the city for a nice photo op at Platform 9 and 3/4.

En route to Bath, you can also make a nice stop at the picturesque village of Castle Combe to visit National Trust property Lacock Abbey, used as a filming site in the first two and sixth Harry Potter films as Hogwarts. The Abbey’s side rooms and cloisters were used as classrooms and halls of the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was also used as filming sites for movies and TV shows including the 1995 BBC Pride & Prejudice, Cranford, and Downtown Abbey.

Do you have any other sites to add in England or elsewhere? How have books, movies and TV shows inspired your travel? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

Meet Our Friend Afar: Ja

September 22, 2015January 18, 20161 Comment

Last month at A Friend Afar, we introduced you to inspiring fellow traveler Krista. This month we’d like you to meet Ja. We became fast friends with Ja when we were exchange students in Thailand, and since then she’s lived in Australia and now calls Southern California home. We hosted her on a visit to Atlanta once and can’t wait until we get to hang out with her again!

Tell us about yourself.
My name is Ja! I’m 35 years old, from Thailand, and a stay at home mom who lives in Los Angeles. I love photography and traveling! There’s a big difference from traveling when I was single to now being married and having a 9 month old baby, but I am still loving it. It’s my life, my journey. If I stop traveling, I’d die. Seriously!

Where did you travel for your first trip abroad. Was it for work, school, or vacation.
My first trip was in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I went with Meagan, Stephanie, and a bunch of other friends. We had so much fun! I still remember it vividly even though it was almost 10 years ago. It was adventurous, nothing fancy, but we had great time and now I have a memory with friends. My highlight was when we went to Angkor Wat for the day! What an amazing place!

Do you pack light or check a bag?
Of course, I packed light every trip until I had a baby. Now I have to check bag with all the stuff for the baby!

San Diego- www.afriendafar #sandiego #socal #california

Is there a place that you keep going back to? and why?

San Diego! It is absolutely one of the best cities to live in. San Diego also has some of the best weather in the country. The views are gorgeous, and most importantly, it is where I was proposed to and got married!

What places are at the top of your travel list right now?

Paris, Edinburgh, Venice, Vienna, Prague, Monaco! Seriously, anywhere in Europe! I also would love to go back to Melbourne, Australia, but it’s more practical for me right now to do trips in U.S. Yosemite National Park, all over California (so much to see!), Alaska, Colorado Springs, Grand Canyon, Florida, Boston, Texas, and New York are all U.S. destinations on my list.

Do you collect a specific type of souvenir?

Postcards! I send them to friends and to myself.

What is your dream vacation?

Cancun and the Caribbean on a cruise!

Melbourne- www.afriendafar.com #melbourne #australia

If you could recommend one place for us to visit, where MUST we go?

Melbourne, Australia. My favorite! It’s a multicultural city with scenic views, so many galleries and museums, and great coffee! It’s super easy to get around the city using the tram network. It has beautiful weather that’s perfect, really – not too hot, not too cold. Some people say they have 4 seasons in a day. I found it’s true and loved it! You should definitely visit Melbourne!

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

Best Gifts for Travelers

September 15, 2015January 18, 2016Leave a comment

We’ve recently received some fabulous gifts that are so perfect for travelers that we couldn’t wait to share with you! We also scoured Pinterest for some unique ideas. Put these on your birthday, holiday, anniversary, or ‘I got a promotion’ wishlist, or consider these ideas when buying for your favorite traveler friend!

Globetrotter Classic Hotel Key Tag: Travel-themed vintage-style hotel keychains are an adorable addition to your keys. We have ones that say “Not all who wander are lost” and “eat well travel often.” What great reminders!

Rifle Paper Co. Cities Coaster Set: We are in love with all things Rifle Paper Co., including their planners, prints, and calendars, but their Cities Coasters are a fun addition to your house regardless of your décor style. Meagan keeps some at her desk at work for a cheerful, global workspace.

Secret Paris Coloring Book: A travel coloring book of Paris scenes? Yes, please! What a wonderful way to unwind and “color your way to calm!”

Leather World Map Passport Case: Passport cases are functional and a fun way to express your personality. Etsy always has amazing finds and we absolutely adore these leather world map cases. Here’s a Top 10 list with more ideas!

Urban Gridded Earrings/Necklace – Rome: You can’t go wrong with jewelry as a gift. The city pendant necklaces and earrings from Aminimal Studio are a unique addition to your collection and fun conversation piece. Pick your favorite city to show some love!

Standard Baggu: Reusable shopping bags from are the best for everyday life and shopping while you travel! In addition to the standard Baggu, the backpack is a super cute carry on and travel bag.

AFAR Magazine Subscription: AFAR is one of our favorite travel mags, and a subscription is a gift that gives all year long! We also love National Geographic Traveler.

Cartography Wash Bag: You can never have too many bags for keeping organized while packing and traveling! Isn’t this canvas and leather On the Road bag lovely?

Which gift would you most like to receive or give? Share other gifts ideas in the comments below!

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

Amazing Ancient Sites in Greece

September 8, 2015January 18, 20162 Comments

We’re heading back to Greece on the blog today after a long break! Once we visited the beautiful Greek Isles of Santorini & Hydra, we returned to Athens ready to see some of the amazing Greece. Our first stop was the Acropolis, of course! It worked out well for us to go later in the day, and even though there were still plenty of fellow travelers around, it can get much worse since it’s the main site folks cruising try to hit on their day trip from the port. While we’re on practicalities, definitely wear good walking shoes with traction so you don’t slip on the stone paths in Athens. Also, be prepared to climb up to the Acropolis; it’s named “high city” for a reason!

I’d highly recommend either investing in a tour guide or downloading an audio tour (thanks, Rick Steves) ahead of time so you learn about the history of the birthplace of Western civilization. A few of my favorite stops in the Acropolis were the amphitheater, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Parthenon, the giant Greek flag at the overlook with great views of the city below, and the Erechteion. I am always in awe to be able to see places like the Parthenon in person and marvel at what a feat of engineering it is. I’m also amazed it’s survived until now since it “has been rocked by earthquakes, set on fire, shattered by exploding gunpowder, looted for its stunning sculptures, and defaced by misguided preservation efforts” (read more in this fascinating Smithsonian article). Because of pollution & the effects of acid rain today, the Parthenon is pretty much in a continuous state of restoration.

Perhaps because of all the scaffolding at the Parthenon, I really loved the Erechteion, especially the Porch of the Caryatids. The six majestic statues are replicas of the originals, five of which you can see at the stunning Acropolis Museum. The sixth one is in the British Museum in London since it was taken by the British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire Lord Elgin and is yet to returned. I loved that after visiting the Acropolis you can see it pretty much everywhere else in the city, high on the hill. If you’re out at night, it’s quite a stunner!

Your 12 euro Acropolis ticket also includes admission to the Ancient Agora, where you can see the market place and center of government where daily life was lived out in ancient Greece. There’s a lot to explore here including the rebuilt Stoa of Attalos which houses the Agora Museum, the lovely little Church of the Holy Apostles, many a ruin, and the well preserved Temple of Hephaistos. The temple was very impressive to me, especially the beautiful friezes depicting various scenes from Greek mythology.

On our final day in Greece, we enjoyed a leisurely morning in Athens before setting off for Delphi where pilgrims would travel to visit the oracle of Apollo. I’d researched various one day tours to take but in the end we decided to do it ourselves as a day trip. So we rented a little Fiat and drove the few hours to Delphi. The drive was gorgeous since it was spring, and yellow wildflowers were in bloom along the roadside! By the time we had a late lunch in the cute little town and got out to the site, we virtually had the place to ourselves, which I love!

A few highlights of the Delphi’s Sanctuary of Apollo were walking the Sacred Way, seeing the omphalos (navel) which ancients believed was the center of the world, the beautiful Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo which would’ve housed the oracle, the theater, and the stadium where the Pythian Games were held. The view above the theater with Mt. Parnassos in the background was spectacular. We also stopped by the Sanctuary of Athena, whose circular tholos with three standing Doric columns was one of the famous Delphi photos I’d seen before visiting. Pilgrims who traveled to Delphi also worshiped Athena in addition to Apollo. I’d highly recommend finding time to visit Delphi if you can fit it into your Greek itinerary!

If you’ve been to Greece, do you have any to add to this list? Which one do you most want to visit?

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

http://www.AFriendAfar.com

A Friend Afar

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Author: Stephanie at A Friend Afar

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