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800 IS THE NEW 20
This is a fun exercise! If you’re an avid traveler, or even if you’re not but you’ve dreamed of traveling to far-flung destinations, how many of these ancient cities have you been to or heard of? Let’s just say I’ve got many more to go and I’m looking forward to every single one. Curious thought for the next two minutes: how many people just like us in those ancient cities asked their friends the same thing – what places would those be? From CNN: “Ancient sites that have survived centuries, or even millennia, haven’t fared so well in the 21st century. The destruction at Palmyra in Syria, the Buddhas at Bamiyan in Afghanistan and Nimrud’s ruins outside Mosul in Iraq show how precarious the future can be. Here are 23 best ancient cities you can visit — destinations that offer glimpses into humanity’s past and the ingenuity that people brought to creating wonders without computers or heavy machinery. Some are recognizable. Others are easily accessible but lesser known. All make for intriguing travel.”
If ancient cities are not your thing, perhaps ancient footpaths are? You never know. We don’t judge. Anyhow, check out these 10 of the most scenic ancient footpaths if they are your thing.
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48 IS THE NEW 2
Actually, 48 hours is two days – it’s not really new, so gotcha. What is new is Firenze or Florence as we call it – that’s not new either. Nothing new here. How about beautiful? There. Seriously though, Florence is one of the most beautiful towns in the world. I’ve never heard anyone say anything negative about it other than they wished they spent more time there. Now, if you still are only able to spend two days in Florence, TripSavvy put together a really nice and worthy Firenze itinerary: “If you’re planning to visit Florence, Italy, and you’ve only got a few days to spend there, you may find yourself overwhelmed with how to see the city’s major sights, find the time to eat and drink the best of its culinary offerings, and still save yourself some precious downtime to soak in the character of this quintessentially Renaissance Italian city. To help you make the most of your vacation time, we’ve compiled an itinerary for what to see when, where to eat, and where to relax and have an unforgettable 48 hours in Florence.” Make every minute count.
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6 IS THE NEW – OH WHO AM I KIDDING. HERE’S A SNIPPET ON PEI
Can you guess which destination I’m talking up here: “See the places that inspired the beloved literary classic, Anne of Green Gables. Taste world-famous Malpeque oysters harvested fresh from the bay. Go sea kayaking for water-level views of [destination name]’s stunning red cliffs. Visit Lennox Island First Nation to experience a 10,000-year-old culture. Hike and bike coastal trails in [destination name] National Park.” If you guessed it was in Canada, great job! If you guessed it’s Prince Edward Island, you got 100%. If you don’t know what the heck I’m talking about, check the old Google. Prince Edward Island or PEI has been popping up more and more often in my travel conversations. A visit in the near future?
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STRESS-LESS
We’ve all been there, and we’ll continue to go there. We booked a flight, it’s in economy (why do they always make you walk through business class first?) and it’s cramped. It’s tight. It’s stressful. There are now a bunch of products hitting the market that are aiming to make that economy class trip less stressful. From Skift: “As the wellness trend flourishes— after all, it’s now a $4.2 trillion industry — it’s influencing the travel sector more and more. Still, it’s obvious that there’s a lot of room for improvement, both at airports and in-flight. With the bar so low, airlines and airports have plenty of ways to expand their wellness offerings, and many companies are doing just that. American Airlines, for one, partnered with Calm, a meditation app that helps users manage stress and anxiety — and even nod off (with its popular Sleep Stories). The partnership started in 2018, the same year that the CDC announced that meditation is the fastest growing wellness activity.” Would love to know any ideas you may have that help. Have your people talk to my people and we’ll start a little business, who knows.
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AIRPORTS OF TOMORROW
Everyone agrees, the thought of traveling is fun, but the hassle of getting to the airport, checking in, security lines, layovers is not. Or is it? I tell you, I now sometimes look forward to some layovers like in Doha and Singapore, and Newark (just kidding on the last one). Airports are becoming a travel experience in and of themselves – like something you don’t want to miss. TTGAsia gives their perspective: “A new model for airports has emerged. Some of the world’s most cutting-edge aviation gateways are rethinking the customer experience by transforming their spaces into attractions in their own right and incorporating digital solutions that extend passenger engagement beyond the confines of arrival and departure halls.”
Thanks,
Joe Naaman
Managing Editor, Waywinds
Keep Exploring!