Our City Travels – One City Break at A Time

Learning About Language and Culture through Travel

By Marie on February 3, 2019

Learning about language, culture, and people has always fascinated me. I can’t remember how many times I’ve gone on and on about travelling to experience these 3. If I had the funds and opportunity to pursue it, then I’d probably drop off everything and fly to my dream destinations. I would simply love to immerse myself in their cultures and learn their languages. Then maybe I could fulfill my other fancy which is to be a good interpreter or translator. I’d probably pass for a German-English and Spanish-English translator but it’ll also be lovely to add Russian and French translation to my language abilities.

Those who are still young and single have opportunities like scholarship grants to international school. They can also apply for language learning experiences offered by governments of some countries. I suggest grab this chance to have an educational holiday experience and gain a new language.

Yes, one can learn from language schools. It is also easy to learn online for free through websites like Duolingo and Coursera. But, if you want to get your own instructor, try a reputable online language service website like Language Trainers. For some, it is best to practice by visiting the country where the language is spoken. But, we have different ways and capabilities to learn, thus, staying abroad can or can’t make you fluent.

Here are, in my opinion, some of the best places that offer great cultural experiences. These places also offer interesting languages that one would want learn.

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Travel Quotes

Travel Makes One Modest

By Marie Gizelle on December 24, 2018

Gustave Flaubert once said, “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” Those words aren’t hard to understand. Modesty, itself, means being unassuming. It means accepting your limitations, being unpretentious, and humbly acknowledging the limit of your abilities.

Why does modesty relate to travel?

Think about it. When you travel, you become exposed to different cultures and literally see just how vast the world is. If you simply confine yourself to the four corners of your home, you close your mind off to the idea, albeit unconsciously, of just how big the world is out there. However, once you step out of your home and travel around the world, you acknowledge that there is, after all, a bigger world beyond what you’re accustomed to.

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Travel Quotes

The World is a Book, Let’s Read

By Marie Gizelle on November 22, 2018

(^Venice: Libreria Acqua Alta)

There’s a popular quote that goes, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” Those words couldn’t be any truer especially for people who love to travel. Travelling exposes you to so many wonderful things about the place we call home – earth. Even not-so-wonderful experiences during trips can be considered lessons learned along the way.

Learning Outside Books

Indeed, just as the books we read open our eyes to new things learned and add to an ever-expanding knowledge repository, travelling expands the box you’ve built around yourself. It can change your views of the world, the people in it, and life in general. On the contrary, if you’re afraid to step out of your comfort zone and travel, it’s as if you’re stuck on the cover page of a book. Like being satisfied to just look at the pretty picture in front of you and not bothering to read the content.

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Accommodations | Vacation Home

A Vacation Home Is the Smart Momma’s Choice

By Marie Gizelle on October 10, 2018

With children spending most of their waking hours in school, there’s not enough opportunity for a family to bond and have fun. The only time they get to enjoy each other’s company is when the kids are home for their summer vacation. This is one reason why many families really plan well and hard to mark a few weeks (even months) off on their calendars. They reserve these dates for a grand family vacation.

Long work hours, homework, and various activities usually prevent a family from enjoying fun activities, or even dinner, together. That’s why it’s very important for a family to schedule a vacation. That’s the only time they can spend uninterrupted time together. The vacation could be for three days or three weeks; the length of time doesn’t really matter. What matters is that they were able to spend quality time together.

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London | United Kingdom

A Day Well-Spent in Iconic London

By Marie on October 8, 2018

London is an iconic city that continuously draws in travellers from all over the world. But, if for some reasons you find yourself with only a day to spend in this wondrous city (for example a really long layover), make the most of out it and plan your itinerary strategically.

Keep in mind that there’s more to London than just the Buckingham Place and the Westminster Abbey, though they are undoubtedly two of the most impressive landmarks you should see! So here’s how you can make the most of your day and sample some of the best alternatives to touristy spots of this remarkable city (at best 12 hours straight) and some free must-sees.

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Cruises

Five North American River Cruises You Need to Try

By Marie Gizelle on August 15, 2018

Cruising is a choice of vacation that many people opt to, while some people are wary of. It can seem daunting if one thinks of being out in the ocean for days at a time; even if the ports of call are enticing. One solution for people who do not like the idea of having their vacation out in the vast ocean on a cruise liner is to take a smaller river cruise instead. This could be the perfect cruise trip for the family, sightseeing along some of the most famous waterways in North America. Try one of these five North American River Cruises.

Guide to Camping in the Great Smoky Mountains

By Marie Gizelle on June 22, 2018

Guest post by: Joy Blanca

It doesn’t matter whether you are a luxury camper or you like to rough it; there is no disputing that camping is great fun. The fact that it brings you closer to nature and can make you feel like part of your surroundings is simply a bonus!

Of course, you need to decide what kind of camper you are before you can head into the Smoky Mountains. It is also important to consider who you are camping with. Families will particularly enjoy the Maggie Valley attractions which border these mountains.

The Many Things to Love in New Zealand

By Marie Gizelle on March 6, 2018

Located in the southern hemisphere and arguably one of the most beautiful countries in the world, New Zealand is a mecca for travellers who want to experience life pretty much on the edge. It’s where nature and modern life exists pretty much in uniform, and where today meets tomorrow.

New Zealand has one of the most biodiverse range of flora and fauna in the world, largely because it was isolated (in a good way) for much of its existence, even from nearby Australia. As such, a lot of the plants and animals in New Zealand are found nowhere else in the world. An example of this is the Kiwi, the national animal of New Zealand. Almost every sporting team, and even people from the islands, are named after this unique flightless bird.

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Cruises | Winter Travel

Winter Get-Away Cruise Destinations

By Marie on January 20, 2018

(^Board games while on board a cruise ship.)

Vacations, road trips, and cruise holidays are popular during the summer season. Most people are used to the idea that summers are the best time to spend a holiday. But those who have experienced the cold and wet winter weather in the UK may want to re-consider their holiday schedules. Instead of cruising during the summer why not explore exciting destinations during the winter season. This way you can escape the dull winter weather and exchange it with warm and sunny ones. Here are some nice spots where one can cruise around and get away from the bleak winter weather.

When it comes to beach island holidays the Caribbean is often among the top of the tourists’ list. These islands are perfect for cruises because of the cultural diversity among the different islands. One can simply visit one island after another and enjoy a unique island experience in each of them. However, there are also things that are common in all of the Caribbean Islands and those are the beautiful and clear waters, sandy beaches and lots of sunshine.

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Dad's Travels | Vancouver

Downtown Delight: 8 Must-See in Downtown Vancouver

By Harold K on January 3, 2018

One of the places we visited in Canada that became an instant favourite was the Butchart Gardens, it is located near Victoria on Vancouver Island. It is so picturesque that you can not get enough of taking photos of each floral display and each landscaped area (see above photo). Being a large island and always listed as one of the cities with the best quality of life in the world, Vancouver has a lot to offer for locals and tourists alike. If you find yourself in downtown Vancouver for a few days you will quickly discover that there is no shortage of things to see and do in the area.

Here are some of the top attractions and places that you should consider visiting in downtown Vancouver.

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Travel Tips

Vacation Destinations for my Girly Gang

By Marie on October 28, 2017

A vacation in any destination is always more fun when it is spent with great company. This is one of the reasons why girly holidays are some of the best vacations that women enjoy. You can expect full attendance among female buddies whenever such excursions are scheduled. The only difficult stage in planning for these holidays is in choosing the destination. Here are some good options I picked for girly getaways that will give the whole gang a good time.

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Travel Tips

Don’t Let Language Barrier Stop You from Enjoying Your Trip

By Marie on September 24, 2017

(^Statue of Kalman in Budapest – English and German description provided on tab)

Read in German

Travelling to another country is something that is probably ever-present in people’s bucket lists. After all, there is nothing more surreal than exploring a place that’s foreign to you and immersing yourself in its culture and traditions. Everything does seem dreamlike, that is, until language barrier decides to step in and spoil the fun.

Language Barrier, a problem?

Of course, this wouldn’t be a problem for you if you come from an interracial family and are well versed with a language other than English or your mother tongue. Nevertheless, not all of us are as fortunate. At the same time, not everyone was able to learn some Spanish, a spattering of French, and some other foreign language back in high school. So will you allow this problem to stop you from enjoying your trip? Certainly not! What should you do, then?

Whether your trip is for business or pleasure, it pays to learn the language spoken at the place where you’re going, and you can learn languages without cramming. You don’t have to be an expert linguist; learning just a couple of important words would be enough. You would be surprised how much better your traveling experience would be if you know how to speak even just a few words from the local language. It can actually enhance your experience in ways you never deemed possible.