#1 Bathe in a waterfall

Enjoy a free shower from Mother Nature while exploring unforgettable natural attractions.

Where: Havasu and Mooney Falls (Grand Canyon, USA). Twin Falls and The Seven Sacred Pools (Mawi, Hawaii). McWay Falls (Big Sur, California). Or just visit the nearest waterfall to you.

McWay Falls, California

>>> Read: 5 American waterfalls to bathe in this summer.

#2 Go white water rafting

Let the rapids boost your adrenaline as your inflatable boat bounces up and down along the river. Swimming is not a necessary skill – as long as you’re not afraid of water. 

Where: Along the Colorado River.

#3 Cross ‘via ferrata’

In Italian ‘via ferrata’ means “iron road”. If you are afraid of heights, you will need nerves of iron (pun intended) to cross this rocky route, although it’s completely safe and you will be secured the whole time. The system of ladders, metal ropes, suspension bridges and railings make the rock formation accessible to everyone, not just professional climbers. After this ‘appetizer’, you may want to try out actual rock climbing.

Where: Telluride (in San Juan Mountains, Colorado).

#4 Hug a very special tree

…and get fresh energy from nature.

Where: It won’t be so easy to hug the largest living tree on the planet – the giant sequoia General Sherman (which soars to 275 ft [84 m]) – because its circumference at ground-level is 102 ft (31 m) The tree is located in Sequoia National Park, California.

One more idea: In many cultures, trees are a symbol of family and kinship. Get the whole family together and plant a tree in a place where you all love going to. Then you’ll have a reason to go there even more often.

General Sherman Sequoia tree | Jim Bahn/Wikipedia

#5 Get close to an animal in its natural habitat

Our lives are so dominated by concrete and steel that an encounter with an animal in the wild is a rare and exciting experience. This challenge will push you to discover the natural habitats of your favorite animals and find a way to arrange a meeting with them.

Where: Take a whale-watching boat trip from Boston Harbor to catch a glimpse of a humpback whale or dolphins. Or just visit the nearest national park.

#6 Run a (crazy) marathon

There are marathons you run simply to prove that you can do it. Start with them. Then you can try your hand at a crazy marathon.

Where: Santa Speedo Run, in Boston or Atlanta. To run the annual Santa Speedo Runs across the USA you need a Speedo bathing suit (holiday colors are preferred). You will also need some Christmas flair (Santa hat, beard, Christmas socks, etc.). A warning: December weather in Boston is far from the ideal temperature for bathing suits. So runners are allowed (recommended even) to have a drink or two before the run.

Atlanta Speedo Run | TimotyJ/Wikipedia

#7 Drink whiskey straight from the source

Whiskey is a religion with its cults and rituals. If you also pray to this particular god, visit a distillery.

Where: Jack Daniel’s. Lynchburg, Tennessee is a legendary place to take a good walk while listening to stories about Jack and where, without any judgement whatsoever, you could share your very own personal encounters with him. If you don’t drink whiskey, you can join a ‘dry tour’ and delve into the distillery’s history fully sober.

#8 Ice skate at some of the world’s most beautiful ice rinks

Strap on your skates and show us a double axel (or triple fall on the ice – it depends on your skill level) at some of the most impressive ice rinks this planet has to offer.

Where: One of the world’s most famous ice rinks can be found just in front of the Rockefeller Center in New York.

#9 Discover a beach in the middle of the city

Life is better in flip-flops, they say. If the first thing that comes to your mind when someone mentions the beach is a solitary bungalow on a remote island, we challenge you to find some of the best city beaches in the world.

Where: Venice Beach, Los Angeles, is perfect not only for sunbathing but also for renting roller skates or a bike and going down a seven-mile bike alley to Will Rogers State Beach.

>>> Read 5 beaches in the middle of busy cities

#10 Sweat in a valley of geysers

There are slightly more than 1,000 geysers on Earth, many of which form boiling valleys. As it seems, the influence of hot water over the human mind hasn’t been well studied yet, because people tend to think of weird stuff to do when they see a geyser. Like boiling eggs (there are hundreds of videos of that; check them out if you plan to conduct a experiment).

Where: Yellowstone National Park houses thousands of hot springs, mud pots and at least 300 geysers – one-third of the planet’s total.

Yellowstone National Park | Ashley Knedler/Unsplash

Fun fact… Geysers exist on other planets. If you’re planning a trip to outer space, you can stop by Saturn’s moon Enceladus for a water vapor eruption or go to Neptune’s moon Triton for nitrogen eruptions.

#11 See the Northern Lights

Unsurprisingly, catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights is a dream experience for millions of travelers around the world. If the aurora is also on your list, here’s how you can see it:

When can you see the Northern Lights? Unfortunately, you’re at nature’s mercy. The Northern Lights like to play hide and seek, so you’d better stick around the observation area for at least a week, at best – two weeks at worst. Your best chance is from late August until late November and in February and March. However, the truth is, no one can guarantee when the lights will appear.

Where: The best places in the world to observe the Northern Lights are Alaska, Norway, Canada, Greenland, Lapland, Iceland, and Sweden.

#12 Drive along picturesque winding roads

Some of the most picturesque roads in the world are, unfortunately, some of the most unbearable for your inner ear. But, oh, they’re worth it!

Where: Big Sur, California, or Interstate 1, is one of the best-known roads in the States. You’ll see why when it leads you to the breathtaking viewpoint over the Pacific Ocean. The Interstate spans 90 mi (145 km) from San Simeon to Carmel and offers wild nature and steep rocks, overlooking the waves crashing against the shore.

Drive on! | adrian/Unsplash

#13 Have a drink at an ice bar

Put on your snow boots and fluffy headphones and order a drink at a bar where you won’t need any extra ice…

Where: Some of the world’s best ice bars are in the USA – like Bar Minus 5 (New York) and Aurora Ice Bar (Alaska).

#14 You want a raise? Take a holiday!

It’s proven that employees who use more of their vacation days achieve better results at work and have a higher chance of being promoted. Many people don’t use all of their vacation days as they fear that their long absence might show their bosses that the work can be managed without them. However, statistics in the USA and Canada reveal that for every 10 days off from work, employees’ results improve by an average of 8%.

How to do it (if your boss won’t give you a holiday): Show this article to your boss (or an employee who urgently needs to take a break)…

#15 Spend 45 minutes in a soundproof room

Imagine a room that isolates 99.9% of sound. Imagine you’re in that room, alone. You can hear your heartbeat and, after a few minutes in the room, even your lungs! In the soundproof room you become the sound. According to Guinness World Records this is the quietest place on Earth.

Where: This is a really serious challenge. Such rooms can be found in the USA, and more and more are opening in different places around the world. Usually, they announce several visiting days throughout the year, as the main purpose of these rooms is to test technological products. Google “anechoic chamber” + the country or town closest to you.

Could you spend 45 minutes in a soundproof room? | Malte Wingen/Unsplash

#16 Join some of the craziest festivals in the world

If you feel like doing something really crazy, there are hundreds of festivals around the world created just for people like you.

Where: Burning Man – this festival is a must for every free spirit. It’s hard to put the experience into words; you have to be there to understand it. For two weeks every year, tens of thousands of people gather in the desert near the city of Reno, to create a temporary metropolis dedicated to exchanging knowledge, skills, creativity and art. Nothing is sold; there are only acts of gift giving. The culmination of the event is the symbolic ritual burning of a large wooden effigy – “the Man”, which lends its name to the festival.

Source: the book 203 Travel Challenges. Travel the World. Explore Your Inner Self. 

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Beaujolais Nouveau and the third Thursday of November have been intertwined for years. This tradition was originally only observed in France, but recently many other cities around the world organize events in honor of the young wine’s arrival.

What is Beaujolais Nouveau?

This is a type of red wine produced from the Gamay grape variety grown in the Beaujolais region of France. It’s notable for being released after a short fermentation of just a few weeks. As you can imagine, the young Beaujolais doesn’t arrive unannounced, but rather arrives as a noble figure – greeted by parties and impatient enthusiasts.

The origins of the tradition

The tradition of celebrating the new harvest was established by wine producers from the French town of Beaujeu in the beginning of the 19th century. Since 1985, the celebrations have taken place on the third Thursday of November every year, regardless of when the wine was harvested. On the stroke of midnight it is announced: “Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!” (The new Beaujolais has arrived!”), and tastings of the young wine officially commence – in bars, cafes, restaurants…

Fun facts

You must taste the Beaujolais while it’s still young – between November and March. Because of the accelerated fermentation, its taste is unique every year. By law, all grapes must be harvested by hand.

The post Beaujolais Nouveau Day: how to welcome the young wine like the French do appeared first on 203Challenges.

And if you happen to meet a local friend after dinner or the owner of the restaurant really liked you, you will receive a small shot glass of ‘mirto’ on your table. Usually, mirto is sipped after dinner, as a digestif (digestive aid), in small glasses, well cooled.

What is mirto?

Mirto is a popular liqueur on the island of Sardinia and its neighbor Corsica. It is produced from the berries and the leaves of the myrtle plant, which grows freely on the island. The plant is left to soak in pure alcohol for 2-6 weeks.

There are two types of mirto. Mirto rosso (red mirto, produced from the myrtle berries) and mirto bianco (white mirto, produced from the leaves). They taste quite different so it’s better to try them both and decide which one you like more. Actually, the best thing is to taste homemade mirto, produced by a Sardinian. The easiest way is to stay in an agriturismo and ask the owners.

Sunset at Castelsardo, Sardinia. © Maria Angelova/203challenges.com

When to have a glass of mirto?

Usually mirto is sipped after dinner, as a digestif (digestive aid), in small glasses, well cooled. Preferably while watching the sunset and talking about la bella vita. At least this is the locals advice. And who are you to go against the wisdom of the locals? We suspect that the real digestive aid comes from the sweet time spent with friends, not really from the drink itself.

If you discover and fall in love with mirto on Sardinia, don’t forget to take a bottle home, as it is hard to find abroad, even on the Italian mainland.

Since ancient times the myrtle plant has been well known for its medicinal properties so don’t hesitate to take some mirto as a preventive healthcare.

And if you are seriously in love with mirto, visit its festival – held every year in mid-August in the small town of Telti near Olbia.

The post What to drink in Sardinia: Mirto to cellebrate life appeared first on 203Challenges.

Brauerei Fässla works both as a brewery and a hotel. So if you fancy spending a few nights in a building where the bed is just a short stagger from the bar, this is the place to be. They offer a pilsener, two types of wheat beer, a lager and an extra-strong beer called ‘Bambergator’. You know you want to drink this one, if only because of its name!

Fassla Brewery in Bamberg.

Schlenkerla is probably the most visited Bamberg brewery, famous for its smoked beer prepared by drying the malt on an open fire. It features three types of smoked beer, each stronger than the last. Their strongest beer is so heavy and filling that you won’t need chips as a side dish. The brewery also makes a schnapps (liquor) using the same smoking process. If you’re a fan of Jägermeister, you’ll like Schlenkerla’s homemade equivalent.

Schelnerkla brewery in Bamberg.

The Kaiserdom brewery is the biggest in Bamberg, offering a range of beers that are special in their own way. Step into this charming old building and a selection of pilseners, dark, unfiltered and wheat beers await you. You might want to come for the special Winterbock beer, which is served in special festive cans and is available between October and March.

Klosterbräu brewery has been on the map since 1533. Their specialties include two strong beers of up to 7% alcohol: the Bockbier Hell and Maibock Hell. Both of these are seasonal beers – the Bockbier Hell is available from the middle of October and the Maibock Hell between February and April. 

Klosterbrau brewery in Bamberg.

Mahrs brewery is top of the class when it comes to the breweries in Bamberg. The beers crafted here have been awarded with several medals in a range of competitions. Among the winners are their light beer, pale ale and wheat/white bock, which comes in at a heavyweight 7.2% alc. The latter has been described by its makers as an ‘elixir’, with a dark brown color and a reddish tint. As a special touch, the brewery creates personalized bottles for special occasions. so you can see your own name on a bottle. 

Mahrs Brewery in Bamberg.

Anyone interested in visiting the city in August will witness the Sandkerwa, a five-day long kirmess (fair) which is celebrated by… drinking beer, of course! So pack your bags and set sail for a city where the beer flows and time stops.

This map shows the locations of the breweries mentioned above:

[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1phngX3gya2mJnRzxRMTSBOqqKkc&w=640&h=480]

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Rumor has it that Colombia’s cuisine is not impressive at all. It is said to be bland, dull and lacking taste compared to other South American countries. What’s more, it’s mostly deep-fried and unhealthy. All these bad reviews did not put me off and I set out to prove them wrong. I was happy to find there is a strong vegetarian wave spreading around the country. In addition, the variety of world cuisines and restaurants you can choose from is huge.

The so-called unhealthy Colombian food turned out to be high in nutrients like protein and good fats. Accompanied by fresh fruit and juices this makes up the perfect diet. Read on:

Drink Coffee

A cup of local coffee

Colombia is the place to be this or next year for many reasons. And coffee is only one of them! The country produces some of the world’s highest quality coffee, and is one of the few countries worldwide that grows only the preferred sort of Arabica. Unfortunately, all the premium coffee beans are sold to export companies. The good news is that coffee tourism is becoming more and more popular throughout the whole country. The focus now is on developing a signature coffee culture. Specialty coffee shops are opening up everywhere and you can easily enjoy the taste of a good cup of local coffee.

Load on protein or go vegetarian

Typical Colombian food is high in protein and good fats – seafood, beans, lean meat, eggs, and avocado. Lunch turns into a filling, gut-busting challenge. Colombians take pride in everything. That’s why they use only premium local produce to prepare their traditional dishes – high-quality meat, fresh eggs and seafood from the Pacific or the Caribbean. You can even find vegetarian protein. Eating healthily and going vegetarian is the new trend spreading across the country. There are lots of vegetarian restaurants emerging and when it comes to produce, farmers are going organic.

Give tradition a shot

To fully experience a foreign country, you should try at least one local specialty. Tamal is a simple dish enjoyed all across Colombia. It comes wrapped in a banana leaf and the filling inside could vary between chicken, pork belly, ribs, boiled eggs, carrots, potatoes, rice and more. Mondongo is one of the hearty soups that will keep you warm on a cold day in the Andean zone. It is a signature dish of Colombia, containing pork, tripe and chorizo. The secret ingredients are cilantro and lime juice.

Indulge in all the street food

Colombia is all about the street food – from fresh fruit and juice stands to deep-fried snacks! The most famous are probably the sweet little donuts – boñuelos and the stuffed empanadas. Empanadas and arepas are sold at every corner. Stuffed with chicken, beef or mixed meat, cheese, and avocado – the choice is yours. If you are looking for something exotic, but less filling, go for patacones (deep-fried plantains). They’re known as Colombia’s to-go snack.

Eat fruit

Colombia offers diversity at its finest especially when it comes to fruit. There are loads of exotic fruit and you should eat all of them! On a hot Caribbean day make sure to fuel in on fresh fruit and freshly squeezed juices. Lime, orange, mandarin juice – they are everywhere. My personal favorite is guanabana. Mango and bananas are the most common when it comes to fruit. For an authentic taste, try pitaya, lulo, granadilla, mamoncillo or guanabana. You will not find them anywhere else.

Savor ajiaco soup in Bogota

You can basically find ajiaco anywhere in the country, but it’s typical for the region of Bogota (as bandeja paisa is typical for Antioquia). This hearty soup consists of chicken, three varieties of potatoes and corn. It’s usually served along with cream, capers, avocado and plantain. Simple and delicious – a great way to warm up on a rainy day in the capital!

Try Aguardiente

Aguardiente is a strong alcoholic beverage found throughout Latin America and Spain. The name comes from Latin and it means fiery (ardiente) and water (agua). Just like brandy, aguardiente started out as a distilled spirit made of whatever ingredients were available locally. Colombia’s aguardiente has a strong anise flavor. The brand we tried is the country’s best Aguardiente Antioqueño.

Seafood on the Caribbean

The costeños (people from the coast) have it all figured out – freshly caught fish and fresh coconut! Sounds like the ultimate beach meal, so why not combine them and make onе of Colombia’s best dishes? Alongside the coast you can find a diversity of fish (red snapper, corvina, mojarra, tilapia) usually accompanied by a side of coconut rice. If you prefer seafood, then don’t miss out on Cazuela de Marisco. Shrimp, clam and swordfish cooked in coconut milk make up the perfect combination for this creamy stew. All you need is some fresh veggies and a glass of white wine on the side.

Find a local craft beer

Caribbean cocktails and aguardiente are Colombia’s clichés. If you want to keep up with the latest trends, you should definitely look out for local craft beers and breweries popping up in every major town. I’ll name just a few brands that won’t disappoint – BBC (Bogota Beer Company), 3 Cordilleras and Nevada Brewery. The last one has even brought out a limited edition brew infused with coca leaves.

Drink coca tea

No, that won’t get you in trouble. Drinking coca tea is legal in Colombia as well as Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador and Chile. It is used as a medicine throughout the Andes and it is highly recommended for travellers there as it prevents altitude sickness. It is offered widely in the cafes and restaurants in the capital, so you can give it a try. Coca flour, coca energy bars, coca-infused beer or rum, the leaf is slowly turning into Colombia’s new superfood.

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Here are some of the major attractions in Brussels to choose from while making your personal first time visitor’s guidebook. (Аll names in Brussels are in French and Flemish)

Grand Place (La Grand Place/De Grote Markt)

This is the biggest square in the city. Here you will find the Town Hall, built in Gothic style back in 1448. Its tower is 96 m high. There is also the statue of Everard t’Serclaes. The legend has it that rubbing his elbow brings good luck. In the past, the houses were not numbered but rather given names connected to the statues on their facades. That is why every single house around the square has its own name and is a representation of certain craftsmen’s guild. Every two years, in August, a huge flower carpet is arranged at the square.

Atomium

This is a huge metal construction in the form of an iron atom, built for Expo 58, which has turned into a symbol of the city. It is 102 m high. Five out of its nine interconnected spheres shelter scientific exhibitions. You can reach them either by elevator or stairs and up there enjoy the incredible view to the city. More information about entrance fees and working hours is available here.

Atomium in Brussels | Dennis Jarvis

Little Man Pee/Manneken Pis

This is a popular small statue, a symbol of Brussels, which depicts a little boy peeing in a fountain beneath it. You will notice that the boy is dressed in different costumes, which are regularly changed two or three times a week. Nowadays the statue is a replica of the original, which was stolen in 1817. When in Brussels, you must take a photo in front of this statue (located close to the Grand Place, at the crossing of Rue de l Etuve and Rue du Chene). The city also has a statue of a peeing girl (Jeanneken Pis) and a peeing dog (Chien Pis).

Mini-Europe

Take a tour around the entire Europe in just a few hours. Think it s impossible? Not a whit, you can do it at the Mini-Europe Park. It shelters some of the most emblematic landmarks of each EU member state. Here you can see the windmills of Don Quixote, Mount Vesuvius, Big Ben.

Royal Palace of Brussels (Palais Royal)

The original royal palace was destroyed by a fire in 1731. Over the centuries it was reconstructed and renewed. Nowadays, it houses the offices of the King and Queen of Belgium and hosts summit meetings. The palace is open for visitors for a restricted period of time during the summer. The Throne Room, built during the time of Leopold II, with its 11 chandeliers and gold-plated ceilings, is the most impressive room in the building.

The Royal Palace in Brussels | Willtron

Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris (Basilique de Koekelberg/ Basilique du Sacré-Coeur)

This is the fifth-biggest basilica in the world. It is 89 m high and 167 m wide, built in Art Deco style. You may reach the top of the building using an elevator or climbing up the numerous stairs. The top of the basilica offers an incredible view to the entire city and its vicinity.

Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (Musée Royal des Beaux-Arts)

The exhibitions at the halls are dedicated to different centuries each. Here you can see works by Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Rubens, Juan de Flandes, Bruegel (father and son), and many other artists of different periods.

Museum of the City of Brussels

The museum is found inside the The King s Household (La Maison du Roi) at Grand Place. The building was restored in Neo-Gothic style. The museum features paintings, mural gobelins and other exhibits connected with the history of Brussels. It also stores the different costumes of the Manneken Pis.

European Parliament

This is the place where the MEPs hold sittings. You can examine it both from the inside and the outside. You will see the plenary hall, learn about the decisions that affect Europe’s history, and even meet some of the people making these important decisions.

Palace of Justice (Palais de Justice)

This impressive building raises high in the heart of the city. It used to be the biggest in the world back in 1883 when it was finalised, even bigger than the St. Peter s Basilica in Rome. Its dome can be seen from any part of the city. It shelters the Law Courts of Brussels until nowadays.

Brussels Park (Parc de Bruxelles)

Here you may sit peacefully with a book in your hand under the shadow of the giant trees and amidst the fresh aroma of the flowers or go jogging under the sun. There are many statues scattered in the park, which is situated between the building of the European Parliament and the Royal Palace. There is a summer open-air stage, first built in 1840, which is reconstructed and now used for live concerts and performances.

Park in Brussels | Frank Vassen

Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula (Cathédrale St Michel St Gudule)

It is located in the central part of the city. The cathedral was built in Gothic style in the XII century. Some of its parts are even older, dating back to the XI century. You will notice the beautiful stained glasses and the huge organ. St. Gudula is the patron saint of the city of Brussels and her relics are sheltered in the cathedral.

Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History (Musée Royal de l Armée et d Histoire Militaire)

Tanks, military helicopters, jets, assault rifles, cold steel weapons, models of military ships, and many other military artefacts. The museum presents the military history of Belgium since the Middle Ages until nowadays. The terrace of the café inside the museum, on the other hand, offers a view to the aviation collection.

Royal Museum for Central Africa (Koninklijk Museum Voor Midden-Afrika)

Here you can see traditional African vessels, masks, musical instruments, minerals, photos and documents, all representing the African culture. The museum also shelters different stuffed animals, which are characteristic for Africa.

Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate (Musée du cacao et du chocolat)

Here you will get acquainted with the history and production process of Belgium s chocolate in detail. You can’taste your favorite cocoa delicacy and see how the chocolates are made. Tempting, isn’t it? The museum is situated at a cross-street of Grand Place.

Comic Strip Center

Here you can learn everything about the comic books – starting from the very first sketches, the realisation of the idea and then the publishing and distribution. Belgium has given the world several of the most popular comic books – The Smurfs, Tintin, Lucky Luke. Here you can see both black and white and colourful comic books and pictures, as well as many temporary exhibitions. There is also a reading room where you ca examine comic books in different languages. What is more, here in Brussels you can see comic characters graffiti on buildings façade throughout the entire city. Learn more about the life of the comic characters in Brussels.

Brussels museum of the Gueuze Beer (Musée Bruxellois de la Gueuze)

In fact, this is a functioning brewery, producing the Gueuze Beer. You will be guided through the brewery and learn more about the beer production, while in the end you will be treated with a glass of the drink. Information about entrance fees and tours is available here.

Church of Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon (Eglise Notre Dame du Sablon)

The church is built in Gothic style in the beginning of the XV century. You will be impressed by the detailed statues and the beautiful 14 m stained glasses, 7 of which illustrating the life of Virgin Mary. The statue of the saint, on the other hand, is said to have a healing effect and make the prayers and wishes come true.

Botanical Garden (Jardin Botanique)

You will see a big glass palace of the XIX century here. In the past it used to shelter the garden itself, while nowadays it is used to stage concerts and organise exhibitions. Take a walk along the floral alleys, all the greenery and the fountains, or just sit on some of the benches circled by the huge skyscrapers of the city.

Victor Horta Museum

If you are fond of the unique and bizarre architecture, this is definitely the place to visit. Victor Horta is the father of Art Nouveau architecture. Nowadays his home and studio have been turned into a museum. Everything here is designed by him in unbelievable forms and colours.

Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubert (Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert)

This is not a place for painting exhibitions, it is a place for shopping. It is supposed that these are the oldest galleries in Europe, built in 1846, as well as the longest – 213 m. They are divided into three covered markets (bedestens). Here you may give yourself up to indoor shopping. There are fashion boutiques, glass and porcelain shops, expensive furniture and decorations, stores selling tea, chocolate and candies, toys, and there are also many cafes and restaurants.

Japanese Tower

A piece of Asia in Brussels! There are different temporary exhibitions dedicated to Japan sheltered in the high red tower, while in the beautiful garden around the building you may see many typical Japanese plants. The Chinese Pavion is here, too, offering a rich collection of Chinese porcelain and traditional pieces of art.

Try Brussels mussels and fries

Belgians claim that this is their national dish and when in Brussels you should taste it at least once. The mussels are boiled in white wine and butter, while there are fast food restaurants offering fries with different sauces everywhere in the city. These places are called frietkot in Flemish and friture in French. Bon appétit!

Chocolate seafood

Calm down, it is not about shrimps or mussels dipped in chocolate. These are the typical Belgian chocolates (pralines), often made of white and dark chocolate, in the form of different sea creatures and shells.

Fruit beer

It is called kriek and has many different varieties. It can be made of cherries, blueberries, peaches, raspberries, and whatever fruit you may think of. It tastes sweetish and does not have the typical bitterness of the traditional beer. Of course, there are tens of other different types of Belgian beer that deserve your special attention, too. You will need at least a week to try all of them.

South Market (Le marché du Midi)

This is the biggest market in Europe. It is set every Sunday morning, located close to the Gare de Bruxelles-Midi railway station where its name comes from. The market offers fresh fruits and vegetables from direct producers, as well as original food products from different regions. The market is also specialized in offering the authentic Mediterranean and South African food, spices, cheese, meat, tea, and honey. It is rich in colors, voices, delicious and highly varied products and goods.

Nightlife in Brussels

House, Latino, retro, jazz… Brussels will meet everyone s music taste. The central part of the city – Grand Place and the nearby streets, offers both traditional establishments where you may have a meal or drink a beer, and modern discotheques and bars, while the Ilot Sacre quarter is known for its great variety of gourmet restaurants and music clubs. More luxurious entertainment and catering establishments are found in Sablons quarter.

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#1 Marvel at The Floating Forest

Located near Olympic Park, a short train ride from Sydney CBD, are some old shipwrecks – one of them with a difference. Definitely something to check out on your 482 visa. Over the years, the trees and bushes from the nearby mangrove swamps have taken root in the hull of the SS Ayrfield creating a mini-floating forest. While the tree ships look amazing all day, the absolute best time to visit them is sunset or sunrise when the golden light reflects them back beautifully in the water. Put SS Ayrfield in Google Maps to see where to go.

#2 Visit an Adult Fairground

Children might be allowed in Archie Brother’s Cirque Electriq until 8 pm, but after that, its big kids only as you drink hard-shakes topped with Tim Tams (a famous Australian biscuit), ride dodgems to your heart’s content and try and win enough tickets on the games of skill (or chance) as humanly possible. See more here.

#3 Spot the Sydney Seal

The Sydney Seal | Stilgherrian/Flickr

He’s totally wild so there’s no guarantee he’ll be there, but a New Zealand fur seal can be found lounging about on a set of steps just behind the Opera House. He’s so famous he’s even been in a Simpson’s cartoon. Look for the signs that say ‘Don’t Feed the Seal’ and you’re in the right place.

#4 Visit the Underwood Ark

Look down one of the side roads as you walk down Sydney’s busy George Street and you might do a double take. Way above your head, poking out the side of a building are some tree roots… wander down the road and you’ll realise it’s actually an entire tree suspended horizontally along an empty alleyway! Called the Underwood Ark it’s supposed to symbolise the old boat-building history of the area. Not sure if it does but it’s a good talking point. Find it at the junction of Dalley and Underwood Streets.

#5 Climb the Harbour Bridge Pylon

Sydeny Harbour Bridge | Jorge Láscar/Flickr

Everyone has heard about climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but fewer people know that you can get equally amazing views for a tiny percentage of the price if you climb the Pylon Lookout of the bridge instead. This costs just $15 yet still gives you an incredible 360-degree view of the harbour.

#6 Visit Wendy’s Secret Garden

Wendy’s Secret Garden | Teresa Parker/Flickr

When Wendy Whiteley’s husband died she threw herself into restoring the patch of land under their home – it’s now a quiet, peaceful garden with tiny fairies, old sinks and little silver owls among the hidden treasures scattered around for you to find in your own personal scavenger hunt. It’s a few minute’s walk away from North Sydney station or the Luna Park funfair which also offers the odd quirky thing to do – summer time sees them offering dining on their Ferris Wheel.

#7 Drink in a Viking Themed Bar

Where else, well in the Southern Hemisphere at least, are you going to get the chance to drink a beer from an old hunting horn or quaff cocktails containing bone broth, seawater or mead and honey? Mjolner is a super hip underground bar snuck behind a secret door between Sydney’s Redfern and Surry Hills. Should you also wish to feed your inner Viking, you can choose meat and cheese plates at the bar or go the whole hog (almost literally) with their carvery menu in the restaurant.

#8 Try a Silent Disco In The Street

Disco D Tours offer a one hour chance to dance your way around the historic Rocks area of Sydney, or more touristy Darling Harbour, grooving to sounds only you (and everyone else on your dance tour) can hear. Yes, at first it feels strange but you’ll quickly get over that and have the time of your life. From $35 a person.

#9 Hunt ghosts

Sometimes it seems that everywhere in Sydney has their own ghost but possibly the eeriest place you can visit to spot them is Q Station. This area, near Manly, is the old quarantine station where migrants suspected of possibly carrying disease were held before being allowed to enter Sydney itself. Obviously, a lot of those who came here never made that journey to Sydney and the site is said to be haunted by those left behind. You can tailor your ghost tour to your fear factor starting with just a few scary stories working up to full-on paranormal investigation. The truly brave can even sleep overnight in the old hospital on the grounds. Now, that is unusual.

Here’s a map of the spots mentioned above:

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Journalist Helen Foster runs Destination>Differentville – a travel blog aiming to find the quirky things to eat, see or do in a place.

See also: An essential guide to exploring Australia’s Beautiful North West

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Recent studies suggest that this phenomenon is not a myth. Here’s how it works.

The experiment:

The experiment involved 50 Germans speaking in Dutch (a language they had recently started studying) with native Dutch speakers. Some of them had washed down a little alcohol, while the control group had had no alcohol in their system. Then the Dutch were asked to rate the language skills of the Germans (without knowing who had consumed alcohol) only to reveal that the booze consumers did much better, especially when it came to pronunciation.

Interestingly, the drunk participants didn’t rate their own speaking as better.

Although the study can’t prove what causes this, its authors presume the secret might be the anxiety-reducing effect of alcohol.

How much alcohol helps?

The experiment found that only a small amount of alcohol is beneficial for your language skills – a pint of beer for a grown-up man (0.5 l/17 oz).

“Higher levels of alcohol consumption might not have beneficial effects on the pronunciation of a foreign language,” comments Dr Fritz Renner, one of the study’s authors. We’ve seen enough drunk people unable to pronounce their own names to believe this speculation.

In conclusion,

a beer or two might help you untie your tongue, but you still have to indulge in some study to get your language skills going. If you want to learn foreign languages for free (who wouldn’t study Japanese for free?), here’s a list of helpful free language websites to give you a flying start without breaking the bank.

Pin this invaluable information for later:

… or share it with your drunk-speaking friends.

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If, while you’re drinking your ice-cold 25-degree (minus 4 Celsius!) beer, a cheeky coati animal attacks and takes away your pao de queijo, it’s ok to discuss the matter with the complete stranger next to you.

These and others strange and funny life lessons you will discover during your trip in Brazil.

1. The way to call the waiter in a bar is by whistling, uttering other strange and loud sounds or just shouting “Hey, amigo!” at the top of your voice. Silently waving your hand or muttering “Excuse me, sir, may I…” is a typical tourist behavior which will lead to nothing more than you remaining hungry and thirsty.

2. The beer serving temperature is 25 degrees Farenheit (minus 4 Celsius) and you get your bottle in a bucket full of ice. All fridges in the bars have giant displays showing minus 4 Celsius. In order to make sure that your teeth will be freezing with every single sip till the end, some of the beer brands offer you a special cooler for the bottle.

3. There’s no need to ask for the next beer. Because it arrives alone, so to say. When you take the empty bottle out of the cooler, this is a silent sign for the waiter to bring you another one. Plus, you rarely get the chance to pour the beer in the glass yourself – Brazilian waiters are used to doing it without you even noticing.

4. It is impossible to die of starvation, thirst or lack of shoelaces in Brazil.

In the bus, on the subway, on the beach, directly on the pavement – there’s always someone selling something. Among the goods on display are:

– intimidating middle-aged men with machetes, who will decapitate a coconut to put a straw in it and sell it to you on a hot day (for about $ 0.5-1).

– suntanned lads in the must-visit Rio de Janeiro who sell flipflops, most likely stolen minutes ago from the neighboring beach.

– sweating ladies, who walk around the beach with a mini barbecue to grill in front of your eyes at the beach a chunk of cheese with spices…

Once I was sunbathing (with a bathing suit) on Copacabana Beach, when a bathing suit vendor came over me and absolutely seriously asked me if I had a bathing suit.

5. Your food might be stolen by a coati

Sitting on a table with a “Don’t feed the coati” sign, it waits for its portion. Ok, it’s not a ubiquitous threat around Brazil but if you visit the Iguazu Falls, be prepared for the small tropical pest of the raccoon family. Here coatis (or sometimes called nasua) organize smart attacks to relieve the tourists of their burden of unnecessary food. One coati pulls your arm to distract your attention, while another one sneaks the sandwich away from your bag.

6. Everybody talks to you without knowing you. Brazilians are very easy-going and have no problems to start talking to every man or woman on the street, on any topic. If they see a foreigner who doesn’t speak Portuguese… well it won’t stop them.

7. Of all your personal belongings at the beach you should mostly take care of your… flipflops.

Your money and phone are in danger too. But if you leave your flipflops unattended for a minute, here is what happens: someone will pass by casually, he will put them on and go away with them. Then they will be sold at the nearby beach. This happens mainly at the popular touristy beaches though.

8. The most popular pastry snack in fact… is not exactly pastry.

At least it is not made of white flour – instead the main ingredient is tapioca – the powdery extract of cassava shrub. The snack itself is called pao de queijo – small pastry balls with the local cheese. You can buy it everywhere and it’s gluten free. Very tasty!

9. The way to say OK is by energetically raising your thumb up. Brazilians don’t just say OK. They say OK and throw their thumbs in the air, sometimes of the two hands simultaneously. After a week in Brazil you will no longer be able to keep your hands down either. However, do have in mind that usually the Brazilian “OK” doesn’t mean “Ok, we have an appointment”. It means “OK, I ll think about it but don’t expect me to inform you about my final decision”.

10. You can pay by credit or debit card everywhere. Even if you buy a cup of freshly squeezed guava juice by a street vendor or a hat at the beach.

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On International Beer Day, it is officially legal to cool yourself down with a beer early in the morning. Yes, it is a working day but holidays should be strictly observed, too. You can drink beer after work on any other day, and beer before/during work – only today, on the first Friday of August every year.

This is the day when thousands of beer gardens, bars, pubs, brewers and consumers from all the important UN member states celebrate with a “Cheers!” the existence of our favorite drink.

When: First Friday of August

Where: All over the world

As the tradition goes, here is what you need for a proper celebration of the important date:

1. Gather together enough of your friends to have a drink.
2. Say “cheers” to the health to all the men and women who work night and day to brew your beer.
3. Erase all state borders and all differences between nationalities by drinking beer from all over the world in the company of people from all over the world.

In order to provide you a language assistance for the implementation of the above mentioned action plan, we have prepared a short list of how to say “Cheers” in a couple of world languages:

Afrikaans (South Africa) – Gesondheid
Albanian – Gëzuar
Armenian – Genatzt
Burmese – Aung myin par say
Danish – Skål
Dutch – Proost
Finnish – Kippis
French – Santé
German – Prost/Zum vohl
Greek – Γεια μας
Hawaiian – Å kålè ma luna
Hungarian – Egészségedre
Icelandic – Skál
Italian– Salute/Cin cin
Japanese – Kanpai
Norwegian – Skål
Polish– Na zdrowie
Portugese – Saúde
Romanian – Noroc
Russian – Наздоровье
Serbian – Živeli
Spanish – Salud
Thai – Chok dee
Turkish – Şerefe
Ukrainian – Будьмо
Vietnamese- Dô/Vô

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