Waegook Tom

A Blog About A Globetrotting English Teacher

Europe

Top UK Destinations You Can’t Miss This Summer

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The UK is filled with many gems in terms of places to go and things to do. However, if you’re not open to going out and exploring, you wouldn’t know that these many places exist. Whether you’re looking for adventure, peace, and quiet, breathtaking picturesque views, or high-end luxury, you’re likely to find it somewhere. Seeing as summer is around once again, this is the perfect opportunity to experience some of the mentioned. If you’re looking to do something out of the box this year, then keep reading as this article will look at a few top UK destinations you shouldn’t miss this summer.

Chester

For all of the animal lovers, if you haven’t yet been to Chester Zoo, in Chester, you’re definitely missing out. It boasts of being one of the best places to visit in the UK as a result of its beautiful views and vast wildlife. Chester zoo has over 21,000 endangered and exotic animals. It is easily the most visited zoo in the UK and has breathtaking views which are perfect for pictures. Aside from visiting the zoo, there are other things to do in Chester which consist of visiting the Chester cathedral, sailing on the River Dee, and going to the open-air theatre. It is great if you want to find yourself lost in nature and would like to capture unforgettable views.

Cleethorpes Beach

If your idea of a perfect destination is sand and seas, then you should find yourself at Cleethorpes Beach this summer. This dreamy beach is likely one that you haven’t heard of, but that doesn’t take away from its magic. This British seaside resort has a lot to offer in terms of beautiful sunsets, clean waters, and attractive views. Some things you could experience at Cleethorpes beach include the Promenade and Pier Gardens, the Fiddler Pub for love music and the Burlington Hotel if you need somewhere to lodge. In case you’re eager to visit another beach, you should put ‘Nearest beach to me’ in your search engine and see if there are any ones nearby that you can visit.

Edinburgh

In case you want to experience culture and heritage, Edinburgh is a great UK destination to consider. As the capital city of Scotland, there is a lot to explore in terms of both old and new towns. You can experience museums and galleries, food made from fresh produce, the famous summer festivals of culture and winter festivals of music, light, and Ceilidhs if you decide to go during that period. Other things to do in Edinburgh include exploring the Queen’s Scottish home, taking a whiskey masterclass, going ghost hunting, and cycling around the city.

Sometimes you look far and wide for unforgettable destinations, but many of them are in places that you wouldn’t expect. In light of this, you should try exploring the places around you as you never know what you might find. Hopefully, after reading through these suggestions, you’re more excited about seeing all the UK has to offer this summer.

3 Must See Historic WWII Sites in Europe

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If you are planning a vacation to Europe this summer, why not plan your itinerary so that you can see some of the most popular historic WWII sites. Whether you are a history buff, a history student, or simply wanting a closer look at what you’ve learned about in World History class over the years, there is something extremely humbling about visiting sites where famous battles were waged and won, led by great generals from both sides.

You can learn more about these generals on 10Awesome.com, and then plan to visit some of the sites of those famous battles. Perhaps you’d like to tour the cities most devastated by war or pray for the souls lost in concentration camps. There is nothing like mixing a bit of history with sightseeing trips as you work your way across the continent.

1. A Look at Life in Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp (Berlin, Germany)

Located just outside the city of Berlin, there is an amazingly detailed museum, which is only three km from the first ever work camp set up by the Nazis. Although the Oranienburg concentration camp has long been destroyed, you can still learn much of the history of these camps in the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. Not only will you see exhibits that document the lives of the prisoners, but there are exhibits which show you what life was like for the soldiers who were ordered to man the camps. If anyone doubts just how horrible these camps truly were, this is worth a visit to get an accurate depiction of the hell in which these prisoners were kept.

2. D-Day Landing Beaches (Normandy, France)

When reading about those famous generals mentioned above, one that will surely strike an interest is British General Bernard Montgomery who served in the British Army for half a century, from 1908 to 1958. Known as the intelligence, the planner behind the D-Day Normandy invasion, Monty (as he was lovingly referred to) defeated Germany’s Rommel, another great general of WWII here, as well as in Africa. However, there are a great number of war sites, including the D-Day landing beaches and museums in Normandy that will keep you busy for days touring and learning about real history from a first-hand view.

3. Enamel Factory of Oskar Schindler (Krakow, Poland)

Few people haven’t seen Spielberg’s award-winning movie, Schindler’s List which was largely based on Oskar Schindler, a member of the Nazi Party in Krakow, Poland who literally saved the lives of hundreds of Jews seeking to avoid capture by the Gestapo. While the enamel and munitions factory still stands today and is home to the Krakow Museum of Modern Art, you can tour the museum and learn why history has come to regard this Nazi as a wartime hero. It is documented that through political bribery and putting Jews to work in his factory, he was able to save them from the camps.

Those of us in the United States have a limited understanding of the devastation that was widespread throughout much of Europe during WWII. We know about Pearl Harbor, the one place struck by the war in North America, but most of us can’t imagine what Europe endured through those tragic years. When planning to travel through Europe, take the time to see at least these three historic sites, memories of the war that saw the greatest loss of lives of any war in history.

Luxury Travel and Challenging Tours in Scandinavia

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So you are looking to take a trip to Scandinavia but you don’t want just any old vacation. You want to be challenged. You want to feel luxurious as you relax away from life’s stresses. No matter what you want to do in Scandinavia, we have you covered. Now, let’s dive right into some of the luxuries and challenges of this amazing part of our world.

Iceland Walking Tour

Go round trip from Reykjavik on this 2-week tour with highlights including glaciers, camping in the Godaland Forest, climbing Kristinartindar Valley and checking out the Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon.

At the Vatnajokull National Park, you will find Kristinartindar Valley and Mountain, as well as waterfalls, black sands, glaciers and amazing hiking trails. You will also travel through Hvannadashnjukur, which is Iceland’s highest peak that is nearly 7,000 feet tall.

The beauty and scenery here is astonishing and you will want to stop at the souvenir shop for postcards before you head to Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon. You can take a boat tour of the lagoon and see the huge icebergs and even taste the thousand-year-old ice. Stop and explore the Vatnajokull Glacier, the largest glacier in Europe where you can get inside of a natural ice cave.

Snowshoe Trekking in Finland

Bring along your best women’s parka because you will snowshoe for 8 days through the beauty that Finland has to offer. You will start and end in Hossa, Finland and visit Seipiniemi Peninsula while you’re out.

You will enjoy the climate here and hike, as well as go ice fishing. You can go out on the water with a boat, kayak or canoe and bicycle the paths near here. You will go through deep snow, making this a thrilling and challenging tour to go on.

From fish smoking to wood-fired saunas, you can enjoy being lakeside in the forest and truly relax at night. Be aware of the Northern Lights at certain times!

Best of Stockholm, Sweden

If you are looking for luxury, you have found it here on this 5-day tour. You will get a cultural tour of Stockholm as well as visit royal castles and the eat some of the best Swedish food. You will have your own guide and visit the seaside here and visit the medieval streets of Gamla Stan. The Royal Palace is located here, as well as Novel Museum and other points of interest.

You can go shopping at some of the nearby boutiques for some great designs for you or your home as well as visit Vasamuseet, a 17th-century ship that is huge and well taken care of. Visit Skansen which is a museum that is open, so it has historic buildings here.

You can also take a cruise around the harbor and see Djurgarden Canal as well as other notable places like Haga Park, ABBA The Museum or Rosendal’s Garden. For one day of the tour, you will see Artipelag, which is an area where you will see lots of art, old buildings and eat delicious foods and walk the nearby trails by the sea.

On another leg of the trip, you will arrive at Drottningholm Palace, where the Swedish Royal family lives and see the inside of it. It has an amazing decor inside and includes a theater, plus it is listed as a World Heritage Site.

Gripsholm Castle is one other stop near the end of the tour that is a royal castle from the Renaissance that sits on the lake and has classic Swedish decor and is located in the town of Mariefred.

Highlights of Scandinavia Tour

On this 11 days private tour of luxury, you will visit Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm and Bergen & the Fjords, seeing the best that Scandinavia has to offer.

First, you and your party will start in Copenhagen, which is the capital of Denmark and you will visit the historic center and visit Nyhavn Harbor, the Opera House, the Old Stock Exchange and Radhuspladsen Square. You will also take a short cruise through the canals and harbor of Copenhagen, enjoying the scenery and architecture.

Eat pastries and smorrebrod at Torvehallerne Market and then head to some museums like the Danish Jewish Museum or the National Museum of Denmark, as well as places like Rosenborg Castle, Church of Our Saviour and Tivoli Gardens.

After you have visited the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art and seen its beautiful setting on the coast then you will continue on to Frederiksborg Castle, one of the most popular in Denmark. You can also take this time to visit Roskilde where the Viking Ship Museum is located. Here, you can learn all about the Viking history, culture and even sail on a wooden boat!

Next, we are heading to Stockholm to have an adventure on the seaside. You will first walk the medieval streets of Gamla Stan and see the Royal Palace, Nobel Museum and eat some of the most amazing food. Then, it is time to visit City Hall, where the interior is a spectacle to see and where the Novel Prize dinner is held.

From there, you can go to Vasamuseet to visit a 17th-century ship and learn about Swedish life at Skansen, an open-air museum. While here, you can trek nearby to visit Haga Park, the National Museum or Hallwyl Museum. Then, it is on to Artipelag, for art, food and trails by the sea!

On to Oslo, where you will learn about Vikings, visit the sculptures at Vigeland Park and take in amazing views. You will visit the Novel Peace Center, Norwegian Folk Museum and the Oscarshall before visiting the Holocaust Museum and heading to Bergen.

In Bergen, you will see the Bryggen wharf and visit the fish market and learn about medieval times at the Hanseatic Museum. From there you will head to the Fjords where you can ride the Flamsbana train and cruise around Sognefjord, which offers breathtaking views before wrapping up your trip!

Author Bio:

Rebecca lives in USA, but loves hiking all over the world. Her favorite is Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal. It usually takes 16 days, but she likes to slow down, enjoy mountains, company of other adventurers and take more pictures, so it took her 28 days last time. Another of her passion is the ocean, so all short and long hikes along the ocean shore bring a lot of joy. She also writes for HikingMastery.com.

Top 5 Places in Europe to see this Fall

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Fall is a magnificent season, filled with a plethora of vibrant colors that make an inspiring contrast with the clear blue sky, while the strong, clean air fills your nostrils and heart with a strong wanderlust. So where can you go to make the most out of this beautiful season? To help you decide easier, take a look at our top 5 suggestions below.

1. Perthshire, Scotland

Located in Scotland, you can certainly get a delightful experience in this legend-filled territory. Locals talk about it as the Big Trees Country, and that’s because it really has some big trees. And you can imagine how heart-throbbingly beautiful they appear in the fall, with each of their leaves having a different hue.

But the multi-colored leaves aren’t the only reason to visit Perthshire. Imagine the foggy lochs you’ll get the chance to see, listening to all the thrilling stories that surround them. However, you will need a first aid kit nearby if the weather is too foggy and you accidentally trip.

The rivers are whirling near the forests, but they’re so clear you can actually see the trees reflected in the bright waters. You can definitely take the chance and lay down on the ground to enjoy all this, or you can immortalize your trip with some nature photographs.

There are also a few hikes you can try on the hills nearby, like the Pass of Killiecrankie. Although the hills don’t have really difficult climbs, the sceneries are amazing thanks to the woodlands. You’ll also have some pretty interesting viewpoints along the way that will make you want to never leave this magical place.

2. Bavaria, Germany

If you’re looking for jaw-dropping views, then Bavaria has some heathery, Alpine vistas you will never forget. The Alpine forests have vibrant colors that will make your heart skip a beat once you see the perfect contrast these make with the snowy peaks.

The fact is that Bavaria is a pretty wide region so you’ll see different landscapes here, at various altitudes, which means there’s a difference in weather too. For instance, if you’re planning to enjoy milder temperatures and very rich colors, you should stick to the lower altitudes. That’s because Queen Winter has already taken reign up in the mountains.

The Vermont of Europe, Bavaria is a forested region filled with deciduous trees and shrubs that offer great autumn foliage views. And they frame the other sights really well, like the romantic Neuschwanstein Castle with its legendary aura. Or you can enjoy the Oktoberfest, the weather is perfect for that with little to no rains during this time of year.

3. Civita Di Bagnoregio, Italy

If you want to go down on the map to the southern regions of Europe that enjoy a more delicate, warm climate thanks to the Mediterranean climate, Italy is our country of choice. There are plenty of different views you can enjoy here, with ancient or medieval cities, relaxed beaches, and bucolic rural views.

Most of these breathtaking vistas can be seen in one place. The town of Civita Di Bagnoregio is definitely stunning, resting majestically on the top of a hilled crest positioned right above a huge canyon. The beauty of this lies in the difficulty of reaching it.

There’s only a footbridge you can use, and the way in will definitely impress you since it’s entirely made of stone. Besides, it’s a perfect combination between Antiquity and the Middle Ages seeing as it was made 500 years BC, but its decorations date back to the 1300s.

The beauty of visiting this town in the fall is literally like a trip to Medieval Italy, with quaint shops and friendly folk, along with incredible architectural gems.

4. Reynisfjara, Vik, Iceland

Back to a colder northern point, you can’t miss Iceland’s greatest views. With a decidedly colder weather that will put shivers down your spine, the Vik village has amazing sand beaches that require attentive exploration.

Covered with a black sand that’s surprisingly neat and fresh, the place offers very distinct views to your run-of-the-mill tropical islands or Mediterranean beaches. The reason is that the beaches here are formed after the eruption of a volcano. Once the boiling-hot lava ended up in the cold Atlantic waters, the combination between these two temperatures is what produces the tiny specks of black dust.

But that’s not all there is to it. The landforms created by the volcanic activity in the area are impressive as well. Just think of the Trolls of the Vik, pillars that are said to be formed by trolls dragging their ships. The whole area is simply fascinating in the fall, with a stark contrast to the warm colors of the leaves in more temperate climates.

5. Meteora, Greece

Speaking of the autumn foliage in warmer weather, there are few places on this Earth that can offer views as impressive as those you see in Meteora. The Eastern Orthodox monasteries located on the pinnacle of these abrupts cliffs are really an inspiration to everyone, repleting with deep spirituality.

And this sense of magic and wonder accentuates the beauty of the diverse colors, allowing you to think of higher powers at work in this world. But their history is equally inspiring, seeing as the medieval monks who found shelter here were actually running away from religious persecution.

The giant rocks of Meteora look incredibly serene pasted on the clear blue skies, with their feet covered in deciduous trees and shrubs that are now vibrantly colored. These rock columns appear as huge pillars made from sandstone, and their orange hue is what creates this perfect contrast with the blue sky.

Where will you go?

With such magnificent options at your fingertips, we’re curious where you’ll book a flight to. Would you rather enjoy bucolic villages and milder weather, or would you prefer a sharper, crisper autumn air with gothic sceneries? And once you come back from your trip, tell us all about the wonderful views that inspired you there.

Author Bio:

Rebecca lives in USA, but loves hiking all over the world. Her favorite is Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal. It usually takes 16 days, but she likes to slow down, enjoy mountains, company of other adventurers and take more pictures, so it took her 28 days last time. Another of her passion is the ocean, so all short and long hikes along the ocean shore bring a lot of joy. She also writes for HikingMastery.com.

Cities you probably haven’t heard of but should travel to right now

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Tired of all the same “top travel destinations” you see online? Perhaps you’ve visited all the conventional ones or would like to go somewhere few people have been. Well, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll go outside the box for vacation destinations.

Here are some lesser-known cities that some people are yet to discover. Check them out and see why you should visit them real soon.

Dubrovnik, Croatia. Fancy Game of Thrones? This Croatian city portrays King’s Landing, so brace yourself for a trip to the very land where one of the best television shows are shot. Known to travellers as “The Pearl of the Adriatic”, this city is filled with stunning Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque churches, palaces, monasteries, and fountains.

Visit Mount Srđ for a nice hike that offers a marvellous view of the town, upon of which sits a stronghold containing a small yet enthralling history museum. And don’t forget to try some Pag Cheese!

Cancun, Caribbean. This relatively unknown city lies on the shore of the Caribbean, with pristine beaches and lapping waves. It is however well-known to North Americans for its exciting nightlife and splendid resorts. Here you’ll find traditional and quaint downtowns that offer a good contrast to the all-inclusive nightclub districts and high-rise hotels, so you can always find and afford what you like.

Its superb beaches and flawless climate offer spots for families seeking some solitude, plus it’s a gateway to the ruins of Tulum and Chichen Itza. Visit the MUSA (Museo Subacuatico de Arte), an underwater museum of art. And don’t forget to sip Margaritas while in Cancun!

Almaty, Kazakhstan. Boasts as the cultural and commercial centre of central Asia, Almaty is also the former capital of and largest city in Kazakhstan. It is framed by majestic snow-capped mountains and gridded with easily navigable streets. Awesome for winter vacations, and also serves as a great jump-off point for eco-adventures in the steppes. If you prefer a city life, Almaty offers nightlife, good food, and a metro system that makes navigating the city easy and fun.

Here you’ll find cafes, a small zoo, an amusement park, souvenir shops as well as beaches to enjoy panoramic views. Medeu, which is the highest Olympic-sized ice stadium is also found here.

Basel, Switzerland. Known as one of Europe’s most unrecognized tourist destinations. Basel is Switzerland’s third largest city and sits on the Swiss border where it meets both France and Germany. It is beside the stunning Rhine river and also known for its amazing winter carnivals and the yearly Art Basel festival, which is a celebration of some of the best international modern arts. Walk up cobbled streets, check out Marketplatz for produce, try the street food, and bask in the sun on the banks of Rhine!

Havana, Cuba. Cuba’s biggest city is still littered with Spanish colonial architecture of the 16th century. It’s colourful alleys and narrow streets still retain a strong sense of history and the local culture. You can still see ancient American cars, music and laughter emanating from every blog. Indeed, it’s a town of life and vigour.

Bask in the beauty of the UNESCO Heritage Site La Habana Vieja, which boasts gorgeously restored building humming with life as the citizens of Havana strolls around. Don’t forget to learn some Spanish before you go and try the street side churros too!

End Note

There you have it! Some of the world’s most gorgeous cities that are yet to be filled with hordes of tourists. As most of these locations will be relatively new to you experience wise, don’t forget to secure an overseas travel insurance to ensure that any travel issues you may experience pre-flight and during your stay is covered so you can focus on the fun and not on worrying.

What are you waiting for? Invite your friends and/or family and plan ahead.