Hiking Monte Cucco: I Am Not Athletic Enough

January 31, 2016August 5, 2019 / morganonthemap / Leave a comment

Before we get started I want you to take a look at this picture. It’s me, on the day I (tried to) hike up Monte Cucco.

You may notice, that this is NOT a picture of a highly athletic person.

This trip to Italy found me fresh out of a two year desk job, programming e-learning software. Not a physically demanding job, not one where I found myself working on my leg muscles or doing much hiking. I was acutely aware that I was not in the best shape of my life. So when I was asked to take a hiking day trip I had some clear concerns. Let me start at the beginning of the story.

I was staying in a lovely Italian farmhouse outside of the town of Chiusi in Siena, Italy. I set up this stay through workaway.info, a site that matches travellers willing to work with host families all over the world. When I arrived I met the other three young people who were staying there and learned that my dreams of picking olives had been dashed by a bought of freezing rain. So, our newly formed group of four ended up sanding shutters, for days. Finally our first day off came around and as you can imagine we were all excited to get out and explore Italy! Two went in one direction and the third, Martin, asked me if I wanted to go hiking with him. This brings us back to where we started: I am not athletic. Nervous about the hike I asked a ton of questions. Most notably I asked the same questions over and over again: Is this hike ok for beginners? Will I survive? I am not athletic, are you absolutely SURE that this is an easy hike? Martin is a nice guy, I truly believe that he meant me no harm when he repeatedly answered yes to all of these questions. So off we set for Monte Cucco.

We began our adventure in an absolutely beautiful little grouping of houses, so small I don’t know if you could call it a town. There were a couple of chickens running around, and one person, who we saw for just a few moments before he went into a building.

Such a beautiful view from such a tiny little town.

We found the beginning of the trail in the back of one of the small buildings and set off. In the beginning I was hopeful. Everything was beautiful and the trail wasn’t very difficult.

This is where the trail began, you can see it heading into the trees at the bottom of the photo. Look at it all calm and winding into that nice flatish looking valley.

We spent an hour and a half on this nice trail. At times I was uncomfortable when the trail would narrow to less than a foot wide right beside a steep drop into a stream way below; eventually I learned this was because we were actually hiking on a bike trail – who knew? Regardless I was getting a bit tired, but I was enjoying myself for the most part. Then we came around a corner and my life basically ended. This is what I saw:

You see that little white strip three quarters of the way up the mountain? That’s a building. It’s hard to see, I know, that’s because it is very far away, and very high up…

This was the moment that I realized that so far we had only actually been on the trail that my new friend Martin considered to be one used to get to the actual beginning of the hike. This was actually my first view of Monte Cucco, the mountain we had come to hike. I hadn’t even set foot on the mountain yet. As I came to the realization that I was just now seeing Monte Cucco, I was also hit with another horrible revelation: not only were we heading up the mountain to that building, a monastery that we couldn’t even go inside of, but we were supposed to then go all the way to to top of the mountain. Remember today’s motto: I am not athletic. To make things more interesting, the road to the monastery was an actual road. Yes, we could have driven this far. However, we couldn’t have driven all the way to the monastery as there was a small gate blocking the road before it began to steepen. Imagine how this made me feel, I could still have had energy!

I mean, looking downhill, I can’t imagine why they would gate off a road that was so steep and so clearly well maintained…

I soldiered on. Martin blazed ahead. For the majority of the next couple of hours of my absolutely struggling up this mountain he was nowhere in sight. I could have had a heart attack and died – he wouldn’t have noticed for at least twenty minutes. That’s about how often he yelled down the mountain to check on me. At this point I was about ready to curse Martin to endless suffering. Again, Martin was a very nice guy, he was just way more athletic than me, and I was angry and in pain. Eventually he stopped at a small waterfall and I caught up. This is around the time that I learned that Martin was an avid hiker. He hadn’t lied to me, this trail was one he considered to be super easy. He really thought I could do it because he had no concept of what it was like to be out of shape and stuck on the side of a mountain. You see, Martin was such an avid hiker that he had once completed a thirty-six hour long, non-stop hiking RACE. Yes, that’s a real thing people do. I didn’t even know those types of races existed. I was finding this out at a highly inopportune time. After this brief chat Matrin went back to mountain climbing and I went back to dragging my butt up the side of a heart attack waiting to happen. By this point I had even found a stick, and was painfully using it in an effort to get my arms to help drag my feet up the road. Then, finally, after what seemed like eons and was literally hours and hours, I rounded a bend in the road and a gate came into view.

For me, this moment was like seeing a giant glass of ice water after being stuck in a desert for a year and a half.

You remember that building perched on the side of the mountain that you saw a couple pictures ago? This is it, we had made it! I was so relieved it wasn’t even funny. This is Eremo di San Girolamo, a monastery and home to the solitary religious man who takes care of it. We saw him briefly, from a distance, but he kept to himself and didn’t seem to mind us taking photos of each other on his door step. Visitors aren’t permitted inside so that was the best we could do. One thing is for sure, the views he has are absolutely spectacular.

Standing there at the monastery, looking out over the mountains was revitalizing. I don’t look or feel nearly as close to having a heart attack at this point, as I did a half hour prior.

After spending a few minutes at the monastery, soaking in the views, resting and having a snack, it was time to move on. Martin was determined to make it to the top. I decided to try to carry on. He lead me to where the trail continued and it was once again like I was standing at the beginning of the actual hiking portion of the day. My feelings of nearing death and exhaustion came rushing back. This new trail left the road and went straight up the forest on the side of Monte Cucco. I pressed on for about 10 minutes. This was horribly slow going, I had to find places for my feet between all the rocks and roots, and I had to then haul myself up another step on leg muscles that were completely shot by this point. I am a strong person, and I never give up. I hate giving up. Here, on this mountain, I gave up. I realized a couple of things:

I didn’t care if I got to the top, I enjoyed the views from the monastery.
I couldn’t make it to the top, my body was simply not athletic enough.
If I tried to keep going much longer I wouldn’t make it back down the mountain, and I wanted nothing more than to make it back down the mountain.
If I stayed at the monastery for a while I could sit on the little stone retaining wall and rest.
I COULD REST!

I hollered up the mountain to Martin and told him I was done. He didn’t want to stop, so we came to an agreement. He had half an hour to reach the top and come back again (which would have taken me at least two more hours, had I been able to keep going) and I would sit at the monastery and wait for him. After he left I ate an apple and discovered the best thing yet: I had cell service. So I sent a text to my mom from the side of a mountain and took a selfie – I am a millennial after all.

It’s not the best selfie, but I was a bit out of it at the time so work with me here.

In the end, I look back on my day of not making it to the top of Monte Cucco as a success. I hadn’t ever thought that I would have made it as far as I did. I am so glad that I pushed myself and got to stand at Eremo di San Girolamo and look out over the incredible Italian countryside. As we finally made our way back to Martin’s car, I stopped and truly appreciated where I was and what I had managed to accomplish. While on that day I wasn’t athletic enough, perhaps someday I will be able to go back and make that final climb to the top.

I took this final look back and knew that I had made memories that I would never forget… Even if some of them are of creative and extravagant ways that I could curse poor Martin.

Do Not Be Alarmed! Venice Floods!

January 28, 2016 / morganonthemap / Leave a comment

As I was sitting on the train heading to Venice I was researching what I might do when I arrived. This is how I stumbled upon a news article that literally left me in a panic. I’m not kidding, I even had to call my mom. What was in this news article that had me all worked up? It was all about how, at the very specific time of year that I was currently heading to Venice (November), Venice was typically in a state of flooding. It talked about roads filled with water, tourists not being able to get around or see anything and people being stuck in their hotels.

I. Was. In. Crisis.

What was I going to do? Could I even get to my hotel? Would I be able to see anything that Venice was famous for???? Now that I’ve been, experienced, seen and know the answers, I am here to tell you not to worry. Everything was fine. In fact, I recommend going in the Fall when the flooding is happening. It’s quite an interesting experience.

Venice, as you likely know, is a city famous for its water. Water is to Venice as roads are to basically everywhere else. What you may never have thought to consider is what body of water all this wet is coming from. Venice is situated on the Adriatic Sea, which, as seas tend to, just so happens to have tides. In the wintertime, when the tides are different than the summer and the winds are blowing from the south you get exceptionally high tides. The Venetians call this acqua alta (high water.) Do not let it scare you away from visiting Venice in the Fall and Winter months. I repeat Do. Not. It can be quite beautiful, and serene, and by midday when the tide goes down it’s all a moot point anyway. Plus, it really only effects the lowest areas of Venice, most notably, St. Mark’s Square.

I get it, it looks scary. I promise it really isn’t. It’s like a freak lake suddenly appears in the middle of town, then goes away again… ok, I admit that makes it sound worse. It’s isn’t!

With all this water (that is only there for a couple of hours a day) how ever will I get around? I hear you asking this, I think, through the power of digital screen thought transfer or something. Well luckily for you you actually have a few options. Neither of which did I get a great picture of, but we’re going to make a solid effort here so bear with me.

Option one: Raised footpaths. There are people who work for the city of Venice (I assume) who, during acqua alta, quickly build raised footpaths alone the most needed walkways and across the deepest water. The people of Venice are used to this happening. They know where the water comes in, where it will be the deepest and where people will need to walk for deliveries, shopping and touristy things during the high tide. They use that knowledge to put up paths to help keep your poor, unfortunate, rubber bootless feet dry.

Here you can see two lovely people walking along one such raised footpath. Yes this is one of the best pictures I had, yes I regret not getting a better one.

Maybe you’ll like this picture better? Here you can see the raised walkway along the bottom of the image. Though you may notice there’s no water, there had been just an hour or so earlier.

Option two: If you are more adventurous or don’t like being confined to specific walkways then you can pay about 12-20 euros (depending on the guy you buy them from) and get yourself a fantastic pair of the most fashionable fake rubber boots you’ll every see. These will allow you to cover your shoes with brightly coloured fake shoes and go skipping through the mini lakes of sea water.

I mean just check out those colours! These people went for blue and orange, but there are many colours to choose from. Are they not just DIVINE? Who can go wrong with plastic booties that clearly don’t clash with anything anyone would ever wear!

Option three: This one might be hard for some people to swallow. It takes courage and guts and nerves of steel and… who am I kidding it’s not that bad. Just wear whatever shoes you have and get wet. They are just shoes and it is just water. Go out and enjoy your trip. However, if you have a full day of walking in mind, I do recommend changing into that spare set of shoes I know you couldn’t resist bringing with you “just in case” after the roads dry up. This is it, this is your just in case, congratulations you and your spare shoes have been vindicated.

Water is what makes Venice so beautiful and so famous. Water is natural and beautiful and amazing. Go to Venice, don’t be afraid of the flooding or acqua alta. It doesn’t last and you’ll get to enjoy Venice at a fantastic time of year, surrounded by what I expect to be fewer tourists than normal because it’s a little less warm and a little more wet. Don’t be afraid like they were, and don’t miss out on this wonderful and unique city.

After all, a little water never hurt anyone. It sure didn’t ruin my trip!

Sometimes you just gotta eat!

I get that different countries and cultures do things different ways… but I got an awful lot of strange looks and comments when I tried to order a starter and a main course in Carcassonne, France for lunch. Oh well, I was starving, what can I say? I hadn’t been able to find a source of food in almost 24 hours! Turned out there weren’t any stores of any kind near by my hostel. Hunger wins out over embarrassment any day.

How to do Lunch Wrong in Carcassonne!

December 11, 2015August 5, 2019 / morganonthemap / Leave a comment

Wait, what? Gladiators existed way earlier in history than cellphones. So how could the two possibly interact? Check out my very first Morgan On The Map video on YouTube to find out!

Gladiators use Cellphones??

October 16, 2015 / morganonthemap / Leave a comment

Walking Under the Sea at Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto!

August 11, 2015 / morganonthemap / Leave a comment

Jellyfish have got to be my new favourite thing. They are so cute and small, or big and alien looking! After a trip through Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto, Canada, you’ll probably love jellyfish too. Jellyfish, and sharks, and eels, and clown fish, and turtles, and rays and, and, and… this place is massive! There are so many different types of sea creatures living within this aquarium that I couldn’t possibly ever figure out what they all are called let alone name them! If you’re heading to Toronto any time soon, or ever really, then this is a place you have to go. Have to. I think it’s my new favourite place.

Here’s what the door looks like, so you know where to go, you know, when you go. (Go, now!)

Ok, so once you are through the door, head to the payment counter and get the painful part of any attraction over with. This baby is situated right beside the CN Tower, so it’s not going to be the cheapest part of your day. Wait now! Before you close the article at that and run for the hills, let me say this, considering the awesome packed into this building, it’s not an outrageous price. As of writing this article, the prices are $29.98 for an adult or kid over 14, $19.98 for those between 6 and 13 years old, $9.98 if you happen to be between the ages of 3 and 5, and finally $19.98 if you are 65 or older and, and this is key, are willing to admit it! If you are the type of person who has a schedule and can stick to it, rather unlike me, then you can even save $3 (that’s THREE WHOLE DOLLARS) off your ticket by buying a time specific ticket in advance. Which adds up if you are bringing your hoard of children with you. Which you should, they will love this place!

After you rip off that bandage and pay, you get to explore! Wander through the halls filled with tank after tank of amazing sea creatures. It wouldn’t be fitting if they didn’t start you off checking out the creatures found in Canada’s very own waters. That’s right, that means it’s time for a gigantic blue lobster!

What? You thought I was kidding? I wasn’t kidding! Look at this thing!! Not going to lie though, I did use some photo editing here… to tone down the blue. Yes, that’s right, to make it less ridiculously blue looking. So you could actually look at it without thinking that the Blue Man Group has taken to doing under water shows.

Moving right along past Mr. Blue, there are many more things to see. Granted, picture taking can be a little tough. Thanks to the extra thick glass designed to keep all that water where it is supposed to be, all the finger and face prints on said glass, the wonderfully reflective properties of, once again, the glass which kindly allows all the emergency exit signs to be clearly visible in your photos and finally the fact that those darned fish just won’t STAY STILL… it’s not the best picture taking adventure. However, even with all that, pictures are still worth taking. Just many times they don’t turn out well for use on say… a blog?

Here’s one of my favourites, in all its unedited glory! You can still see how pretty it is there right? It may not do much for you, but it brings back the memories for me.

Seriously though, one of the best parts of the whole thing is the tunnel. You can choose to walk through it while paying attention to things like where you are walking (don’t) or stand on the little moving side walk and stare with mouth gaping open at the beauty all around you without having to think of trivial things like which foot to move next (do that instead.)

I can see you over there, other tunnel people! Ok, not really, but I can see the tunnel.

The giant glass tunnel is basically a giant u-turn. You start on one side of the massive aquarium, go through to the far side and back around to a different spot on the first side again. This brings me to an important point. While you travel through the whole place in a very linear, point A to point B fashion, you can cheat the system a bit here and go back. After you exit the tunnel you can slide back through a small hallway and enter the tunnel at the beginning again. We weren’t the only people doing this, so I’m pretty sure it’s totally allowed. Either way the ride through the aquarium underwater is worth a revisit.

You’ll want to go through at least twice to have as much shark time as you’ll suddenly feel you need to have!

As much as I loved going through that tunnel. It wasn’t my absolute favourite moment. For me, that came later, as I wandered through the jellyfish exhibits. I spent an awful lot of time watching and trying to take pictures of the little jellyfish. They were just so adorable.

If they weren’t highly delicate sea creatures that can’t survive outside of water I’d have wanted to just snuggle one.

As amazing as the little ones were, the cherry on top, the crème de la crème, the icing on the cake, was when I turned a corner and found myself facing a giant wall of larger jellyfish. Standing in the darkness, surrounded by mirrors and looking into a tank of jellyfish moving up and down with the current was mesmerizing. They had it set up with lights, shining from within the tank that made the jellyfish themselves appear to be constantly changing colour. I quite literally could have stood there gaping all day. In fact I would have, had my family not come looking for me wondering what was taking me so darned long to get to the next exhibit.

Had it not been for the people walking around me also trying to see the jellyfish, I would have sat right down on the floor to forever watch these creatures move around and change colours.

If you are in Toronto, regardless of whether you are travelling with kids or not, get your butt to the Ripley’s Aquarium. See the deep sea creatures you otherwise never likely would see, and stand mesmerized in my jellyfish heaven so that you too can experience the feelings being so surrounded by such a strange beauty can invoke.

Afterwards, be a good little tourist and exit through the gift shop! Buy your kid, or yourself, a stuffed fish or get the typical souvenir spoon or shot glass (that last one should probably not be for your kid…) I hope you have fun at the Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto! I sure believe that you will!

Visiting the Toronto Zoo

July 2, 2015 / morganonthemap / Leave a comment

My family and I recently took a trip to Toronto, which was great since we haven’t taken a family trip in ages! Or it was great, until we had to spend 14 hours together in a small pick-up truck to drive home… then things got a bit dicey. But that’s not the point of this post! The point of this post is to tell you about one of the biggest attractions in Toronto, the Toronto Zoo!

When I was a kid there used to be a TV show on all the time that was just about the Toronto Zoo. It showcased the zoo keepers and let you get to know the animals they handled. By the time I first went to the zoo I knew the names of half the animals in the place. Probably could have told you the family tree of all the apes too. However, my first trip to the Toronto Zoo as a child was a bit disappointing. It was enjoyable, but nothing like the show made it out to be. This time, returning as an adult I had high hopes. I wanted to see some animals that you just don’t find in your back yard every day.

My intentions were good, but the weather was bad. It poured buckets down on us. It rained like you wouldn’t believe! That didn’t stop us though. We hung out under cover or in the indoor exhibits during the worst rain, and during the breaks in the down poor we got to head outside to see the larger animals.

The indoor exhibits were nothing to scoff at! They were like indoor rainforests, with animals in their habitats and birds flying free.

Each building had it’s own charms and themes, but my favourites were the ones that were like stepping into a tropical forest. The reptile house was especially interesting as all those scaly things were firmly placed behind glass where I could look at them without having to actually touch them! I’m not actually that bad with snakes, and lizards certainly don’t bother me. I’m sure that somewhere in that zoo there is a building dedicated to bugs and spiders though, I’m just glad I didn’t accidentally stumble upon that one. That would have been it for me.

I really liked these guys! Green is one of my favourite colors, and they were such a nice shade!

As nice as the smaller creatures were, I wanted to see some of the bigger animals. The ones that are in all the children’s cartoons, and all the stories from my child hood and… let’s be honest here I just really wanted to see Simba… I mean a lion.

This big guy was relaxing after a big lunch. We just missed his feeding but we caught him before he laid down for his nap!

The lions were a personal favourite for me. Seeing them this close and knowing the power they have is something else. While we somehow managed to tour the zoo about a half hour behind the zoo keepers doing their feeding schedule, we still got to see most of the animals just before they nodded off for a post meal nap.

The Rhinos at the zoo were dozing off too! No one wanted to show off for us, but we were glad to see them just the same!

There were some pretty cute animals to see as well, they weren’t all of the tough or scaly variety. I mean come on, red freaking panda. It’s not even a good photo angle and it’s still adorable!

Look at this little guy! He’s so cute I could just cuddle him! (If he wasn’t a wild animal, be careful kids, don’t try this at home.)

Overall my family and I had a great day at the zoo. Rain or no rain. It still didn’t live up to my childhood visions of grandeur, but as far as zoo’s go, it’s worth a visit. Part of our problem was visiting just before high season, so a lot of the shops and food stalls weren’t open yet. That and the rain. I’d recommend going on a beautiful sunny day, just before animal feeding time. That way all the animals will be out and about, you’ll get to hear from the zoo keepers as they do their feeding’s, and the animals won’t all be napping!

…I mean really, even the frogs were asleep.

A Celebration of Stinky Breath at Bern’s Onion Festival

March 10, 2015 / morganonthemap / Leave a comment

Want to know why I’m covered in confetti and standing in a market? Read on!

The Onion Festival (Zibelemärit) that is held once a year in Bern, Switzerland isn’t all about stinky breath, though from the wares on sale at this festival celebrating the onion you could easily make the mistake of thinking that it was! The festival is also known as the Onion Market, and is one of the strangest and most unexpected things I encountered during my recent trip through Europe.

This popular festival happens only once a year, on the fourth Monday in November, and it draws quite a crowd. Me being well, me, I clearly didn’t even know it existed until the night before I was going to leave Bern. I was really lucky that my train didn’t leave too early in the morning so I wouldn’t end up missing the festivities. Wait… did I mention yet that this thing starts at 5 am? Yes, this giant event starts long before dawn and everyone still comes out to party!

The sun is just coming up but the party started ages ago!

Farmers, who obviously grow onions, bring their wares into the capital and set up their stalls long before I ever think of being awake. They often sell their onions and garlic (as I said, super stinky but tasty foods) in decorative forms. They make braids, wreaths, horseshoes and even hearts out of woven onion and garlic. I’m not sure if you’re supposed to take them apart and cook with them or hang them in your living room, but they are definitely cool!

Don’t you just want to chop them up and make a stir fry? Or give them as a gift? …or hang them in your house? I don’t know, I’m confused.

They even make little dolls out of onions! Wait, these are actually kinda creepy. Are these for kids?

Malt wine is another big part of this early morning festival. I mean, why not get plastered while talking about onions at 5 am? But the wine isn’t alone on the ingestible treats side of the market. There’s gingerbread and candy for the kids, soups, pretzels and cheeses for those who want something hearty, and something that I’m referring to as “some sort of deep-fried apple in a doughnut thingy covered in sugar and cinnamon” because I can’t pronounce Apfelchüechli. Whatever it was it was amazing.

I was drawn to these things like a moth to a flame. A flame that was deep-fried and covered in awesome.

I could have eaten these all day. I would have been horribly and violently ill later when I was on the train, but I would have been happy!

But that’s not even all there was at this early morning market. You have to have a motivation to get the kids out of bed that early, you know, if the motivation of having Apfelchüechli ever wears off (how could it.) So they also sell giant baggies of confetti, which the kids run around chucking at each other and strangers and the ground and basically everywhere. It turns the whole of the old town of Bern into a giant colourful confetti party, and I love it.

Here I am, taking a fist full of confetti straight to the face! Kids! (It was awesome)

I don’t know who has the job of cleaning up after this festival, but I pity them and the nightmares they must have about confetti.

The onion celebrations also take on a bit of a resemblance to Mardi Gras in my mind with the beaded necklaces they make and sell and wear throughout the morning. However, these beaded necklaces are actually made out of candy, that resembles onions all tied together. Because how could they not?

Because who doesn’t want to run around wearing brightly coloured onion themed necklaces all day?

If you had never heard of the Bern Onion Festival before reading this article, then you’re welcome. Now that I’ve been, I recommend that you get your onion loving buns over to Bern next November to experience it for yourself! Just remember, it’s early in the morning and you don’t want to miss it!

Top 6 Things To Do In Paris

November 1, 2014 / morganonthemap / Leave a comment

There’s so much to see and do in Paris that it can be hard for a traveler to know where to start. You have to decide what types of things interest you, how far you want to travel within the city, and how much time you want to spend indoors or outdoors. So, if you aren’t quite sure what you should do on an upcoming trip to Paris, then I think you’ve come to the right place. Before my trip to Paris I wasn’t sure what I should do there either. I read a whole bunch of articles just like this one before I managed to decide which sites and attractions were ones that I felt I couldn’t miss seeing. Now that I’ve been and gone, I’m ready to share with you my top choices of things to do in Paris. These are the things that I ended up doing and really enjoyed!

6. Picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower (At Night)

There’s nothing quite as spectacular as approaching the Eiffel Tower when it’s all lit up at night!

The Eiffel Tower is potentially the most iconic thing in Paris. Everyone knows it and can recognize it at a glance. However, before arriving in Paris I didn’t realize what a spectacle it can be at night. If the weather is right in the evening for a picnic, I recommend you do some shopping before making your way to the tower. Buy yourself a baguette from a local bakery, some cheese, sliced meat and perhaps a bottle of wine. Keep in mind that the closer to the main attractions, like the Eiffel Tower, you get then the more expensive the food will be.

Once you’ve got your picnic food ready, head towards the tower. The large park located in front of the Eiffel Tower is called the Champs de Mars. From here you can get some of the best views of the tower the city has to offer. Find a nice grassy spot with a clear view and set yourself up with your picnic. Keep in mind that there are some people who walk around this area at night trying to sell things to tourists. They sell trinkets, wine, cigarettes and who knows what else. With these guys wandering around I recommend that your nice grassy spot be more out in the open, but they seemed fairly harmless to me. If you tell them no as they pass by, then they will simply walk on to the next tourist and try and sell them something instead.

Don’t let these would be merchants detract from your view! The tower is a site to see all lit up at night! Beyond the nice, regular, nighttime lights, it also sets itself off with a spectacular light show for 5 minutes every hour on the hour after dark. This is what you’re really here to see. So settle in with your food and drink and enjoy the view and the show!

5. Give Yourself a Walking Tour

Take the subway over to the Moulin Rouge. Check out the windmill from outside or head inside and see the show!

There’s nothing wrong with taking an organized walking tour, and if you only have a short time in Paris then that might be what I’d recommend. However, if you don’t want to see all the things on the organized tours, or want to go at your own pace, then simply walking around the city on your own can be very rewarding. The metro is pretty easy to understand if you look at the maps posted in all of the stations, so use this to your advantage if the sites you want to see are further apart then your feet can handle. Walking above ground, on the other hand, can lead to stumbling upon interesting sites that you hadn’t ever even heard about. Pick your travel method with this in mind, and remember that public transportation is never far away if you get tired.

Locks on the bridges along the River Seine, declaring messages from the lovers who have left them there.

For my personalized walking tour I started off near the Louvre and spend some time exploring the area surrounding the River Seine. There are many little stalls and shops along the river, people selling their wares out of constructed green boxes. This is a great place to buy some books, artwork or some older trinkets. I remember seeing some old, used post cards, and some old metal signs and antique children’s toys. While walking along the river I made sure to check out the Pont des Arts and other bridges which have been covered by locks left by loving couples over the years.

The Arc de Triomphe is a site to behold as you approach it from the Champs-Élysées. Head into the underground walkway to get to the bottom and explore this monument up-close.

I walked along the river all the way to the Notre Dame, then back up the other side to the Louvre. After having my fill of the sight of the glass pyramid that now famously sits in the courtyard of the Louvre, I proceeded to walk through the gardens in front of the famous gallery towards the Champs-Élysées. I window shopped as I trekked all the way up the Champs-Élysées towards the Arc de Triomphe, then took the free underground passage to the bottom of the Arc. I then only had one more sight to see, so I took the metro from the Arc de Triomphe all the way to the Moulin Rouge.

4. Spend a Day at Notre Dame

Take a stroll around the Notre Dame and enjoy the sites, but don’t miss out on going inside. It’s worth the price of admission, which is nothing because it’s free!

The Notre Dame was so spectacular to me that I spent a full day out exploring it and the area around it. This can be a good time to walk along the Seine and see the bridges and stalls as well. There are also plenty of restaurants across the small bridge to the right of the Notre Dame, and some interesting side streets to explore so don’t waste your money buying a sandwich from a shop right beside the Notre Dame – explore a bit and find better food.

Don’t just look at the front of the Notre Dame! Walk all the way around it and see how stunning the grounds are.

After you’ve had your fill of food, head inside. The line to enter the Notre Dame can seem daunting, but it’s just because the door is narrow. It’s free to enter, and people just take some time getting through the door. The line moves quite quickly so don’t pass up on the opportunity to see inside this magnificent cathedral.

Walking through the magnificent Notre Dame is something not to be missed, make sure you look up to see all the amazing details!

Once inside you also have the option to pay to enter the treasury. For me this wasn’t worth the price I paid to get in. There are a few huge and glittery pieces of work covered in jewels. The value of these items must be immense, and I’m sure some people would love to see so many gemstones and diamonds all in one place. However, for me, it wasn’t worth it. I’d rather spend more time exploring the main part of the Cathedral.

If you’re interested in making the climb to the top of the Notre Dame you have to next exit the cathedral and make your way around to the left side (if you are facing it.) Here you will discover another line. This one moves much slower but some say it is well worth it to see the views of Paris from the top. I can’t say for myself, as I chose not to pay to go up, preferring instead to explore the area at ground level.

3. Have an Art Appreciation Day (or two) in the Louvre

The pyramid might look welcoming, but skip the line by entering through the underground mall!

The Louvre is immense, and it’s impossible to see and appreciate every piece within its walls in just one day. So if you only plan to spend one day inside like I did, then I recommend you plan out which pieces are important for you to see before you go.

Firstly, don’t enter by the glass pyramid. This is the main, and most well known entrance. Thanks to that, there is usually a long line. I waited in this line myself for over half an hour. Once inside the pyramid I discovered that there is actually a sort of mall underground, and in that mall there is another entrance with absolutely no line. To find this entrance, stand facing the Louvre just under the Roman arch. To your right, beside the arch there is a staircase heading downwards. It’s a bit hard to see if you aren’t looking for it. This leads into the mall and from here you can find the smaller inverted glass pyramid, then enter the secure Louvre area.

In the mall, under the inverted pyramid, you’ll find a much faster way to get into the Louvre, usually with no line at all!

Perhaps the most famous painting within the walls of the Louvre is the Mona Lisa. It’s worth seeing for sure, but beware the crowd. Due to its fame, the area around the Mona Lisa is crowded. Even so you can still get a good picture of the painting, and if you’re patient, even of yourself with the painting. The highlights of the Louvre for me were the ancient Egyptian exhibits and the Greek and Roman sculptures, especially the Venus de Milo.

If you visit in the warmer months I recommend you consider wearing light cloths and shorts. I was there in September and it was very warm in the museum, I would have been too hot had I been wearing pants.

2. Take a Day Trip to the Palace of Versailles

Don’t let the crowds outside Versailles make you turn and run! If you plan your day right you can be relatively crowd free!

Exploring Versailles is something that you’ll want the whole day to do. This isn’t just about seeing the famous palace, but also the gardens and Marie-Antoinette’s estate. The best days to visit are on the weekends from April to October. They only turn the fountains in the gardens on for a few hours on Saturdays and Sundays, so you won’t want to miss the show. They also turn the fountains on on some Tuesdays and some special holidays, so check the schedule online if you aren’t able to make your way there on the weekend.

Waiting until the weekend to head to Versailles is beyond worth it! That’s when you can see the fountains as they were meant to be seen – turned on!

Once there you’ll want to head towards the left side of the courtyard to buy your tickets. I recommend buying the passport ticket which at the time of writing this costs 25 Euros. This ticket will get you into the main palace, the gardens for the fountain show and Marie-Antoinette’s estate. Once you have your ticket head to the right side of the courtyard, around the massive line of people waiting to get into the main palace and head into the gardens.

The gardens outside of Marie-Antoinette’s Estate are where you should head first after you buy your ticket at Versailles!

By starting in the gardens you skip the biggest lines. Head straight through the garden towards Marie-Antoinette’s estate and explore that first. The fountains aren’t turned on until later in the afternoon and you’ll want to wait to explore the gardens until then. Once you’ve had your fill of Marie-Antoinette’s estate you’ll want to head for the gardens, and perhaps have some lunch. Then decide for yourself when you want to make your way indoors to see the main palace. The best room in the palace in my opinion is the hall of mirrors. Leave yourself plenty of time to gawk at the splendor in that room.

Standing in this lavish hallway it’s easy to begin to imagine how it must have looked when King Louis XIV and his procession walked past the glittering mirrors.

1. Go to the Top of the Eiffel Tower at Sunset

Regardless of whether you’re only in Paris for a day or are staying for weeks the Eiffel Tower is a must see. Approach in the daylight and head up before the sun starts to set to get the best range of views!

Going to the top of the Eiffel Tower is something that shouldn’t be missed. It’s a very touristy thing to do, and the lines can be long, but it’s well worth it. Try and head up in the early evening, so that you have enough time to wait in the lines to get in the various elevators before the sun goes down. You’ll want to be at the top before sunset so that you can take some daylight pictures and then watch the sun set over the Paris horizon. You may also want to buy a glass of champagne at the top as you enjoy the view.

Paris stretches out below you as you stand at the top of the Eiffel Tower, watching the sun sink past the horizon.

The Many Waterfalls of Iceland

September 27, 2014 / morganonthemap / Leave a comment

It would be almost impossible to visit Iceland and not notice that the country is a prime waterfall viewing location. You can’t drive more then a few minutes at a time on any the highways outside of the city without seeing another waterfall tucked into the surrounding mountains. Some are larger then others, but each has its own beauty.

I couldn’t afford to rent a car myself while I was in Iceland, mostly because I didn’t learn how to drive a standard (thanks dad.) Without a rental car my only means of getting around the country to see all the sights I wanted to see was to take the official coach tours offered by the many tourism companies in Iceland. While this wasn’t how I had originally planned on seeing the sights, the stories and information on the waterfalls and sights given by the guides was well worth the money.

Because I was on organized tours though, I mostly only got to stop to take pictures of the big, famous waterfalls, but that doesn’t mean this post lacks amazement! Keep reading and see the amazing and most famous waterfalls of Iceland! These are certainly not to be missed!

First up is Skógafoss! This is a giant and tall waterfall found not too too far outside of Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik. This huge masterpiece of nature was first discovered by the vikings when they settled in Iceland. At the time of its discovery, it was surrounded by a forest. That fact explains is how it got its name, which translates to Waterfall in the Woods, as there are certainly no trees nearby now.

Skógafoss: The Waterfall in the Woods. Note: The woods are long gone, but they were there when the vikings found it, I swear.

Next up is Seljalandsfoss. Sadly our tour visited this waterfall after dark, so it was hard to capture it’s splendor. This waterfall is best known for the path that leads behind it. Apparently walking behind the falls is a fantastic experience, and I recommend you try it if you go. However, as I went when it was dark and raining heavily I decided that my chances of death or serious injury were a little too high for me to risk going behind the falls on my visit.

Seljalandsfoss: Sadly waterfalls and night time don’t work well together for photography, especially where talent is lacking.

Here’s a better picture! It should be noted that I did not take this picture.

Next up is… well I don’t actually know what this one’s called. It can be found fairly close to the geothermal area where you can find the geysers, including Geysir, the first geyser. Can I say geyser anymore? Anyway, this waterfall is a sight to see. Over to the left you can also see that it has a man made portion. This is a salmon ladder, created so that the spawning salmon can climb the waterfall and spread out through more of the river. This gives more ground area for fisherman, and thus the owners of the river are able to make more money off fishing licences.

I wish I remembered what it was called, or if we were even told what it was called. My notes just call it “the one with the fish ladder” Helpful, I know.

Finally, and I believe I saved the best for last, Gullfoss: the Golden Waterfall. This waterfall is absolutely fantastic, and it’s easy to see why it is one of the most popular in Iceland. It falls in two stages, the first drop being 11 meters and the second 21 meters, into a huge crevasse. It reminded me a lot of Niagara Falls in Canada. While it’s not as big, it’s as spectacular to me. To get the best views you should walk along the side of the crevasse, looking down into the falls, until you get to a platform out by the top portion of the falls. The rocks here are wet and slippery, but it’s worth navigating to see the waterfall so up close. Here you can get so close that the waterfall basically surrounds you, and the spray and mist flows through the air nonstop. Wear waterproof clothing for sure!

Gullfoss: The Golden Waterfall. See those little dots on the rock on the left? People. You can get THAT close.

There are many more waterfalls to find around the countryside. These are just the three highlights from my trip. You could make an adventure out of just trying to find all the named waterfalls in Iceland, let alone the smaller ones. It’s a waterfall paradise, and well worth the trip.

Exploring Iceland: The Blue Lagoon

September 26, 2014 / morganonthemap / Leave a comment

When you think of Iceland, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?

Ice right? I figure it’s probably ice. I mean it’s even in the name.

ICEland, ice, it only makes sense.

Think harder though, what’s the first attraction that comes to your mind? I bet it’s the Blue Lagoon. It was the only thing I knew about Iceland before I decided to visit, and I knew it would be high on my to do list. So the first chance I got, off I went to soak in the turquoise waters at the Blue lagoon.

And soak I did!

Iceland is famous for its hot springs. They are a geothermic hot spot after all, and the hot water literally streams and gushes from the ground. Of all their hot springs, the Blue Lagoon is the most internationally well known. However, turns out it isn’t a natural hot spring at all!

The water that fills the lagoon is actually waste water (perfectly clean waste water) that is brought up from deep underground by a geothermal power plant nearby. Once the plant takes much of the heat out of the water to create electricity, it pumps the water out into the lagoon.

You can’t really see it, but I swear there’s a geothermal plant under all that steam… somewhere.

This means that the water in the lagoon is a great temperature. It has some pockets of cooler water and some pockets of “oh god this water is too hot, I have to get back to the cooler water, stat!” water. But overall it’s a very pleasantly warm temperature.

There’s also, apparently, some really beneficial aspects to this water. The water comes from so far underground that it has special properties. They claim that it’s really good for your skin. There are even buckets of the mud that’s in the water around the lagoon so that you can give yourself an impromptu face mask! Best part is that the mud is free!

Plus it’s super duper attractive! Right? …right?

It costs 35 Euros for the basic package to get it, and that’s really all you need! Don’t pay the extra for the special mud mask when you can get the more authentic one for free after you get into the pool.

The easiest way to get there is to take one of the shuttles that goes back and forth from Reykjavik quite a few times everyday. You can catch them at the bus terminal downtown. Or you can rent a car and make your way there yourself. Once you get to the parking lot you just need to walk down the path in the general direction of the steam rising from the ground and the door will eventually come into view!

Here’s what the door looks like, so you know where to go.

So get yourself to Iceland and visit the Blue Lagoon! Get your mud mask on, soak in the warm water, and hang out at the swim up bar. They even have in lagoon massages for an extra fee, but the waterfall gives a great massage too, and it’s free.

This one’s not to be missed when out exploring Iceland!

You’ve gotta experience it for yourself!