Experienced Travellers Inevitably Go Minimalist
It’s a truism that the more seasoned we are as travellers, the less we carry. And we start to get pretty adamant about it, to the point of proselytizing. We can and do pass this message on until we’re blue in the face, to anyone who will listen. On this site, I’m constantly reminding readers: …
Go to Brazil Just for the Dancing — How, What, & Where: Complete Planning Tips
I’ve been going to Brazil frequently for more than a decade. When people ask why I keep going back, I invariably give my very top reason (of the many possible): to go dancing. There are calculated to be upwards of 300 styles of Brazilian music and they are just fantastic—not surprising since Portuguese is the …
Cheap Eurostar Alternatives: Low Cost Tricks for London-Paris & More
When it works, Eurostar can be lovely experience, but of late it’s been awful. With the French train strikes earlier this year and the heat wave shutting down trains this summer, even the Eurostar itself has advised against using their own service at several points. Here then is a quick guide to the alternatives for …
All About How Wi-Fi Works on Renfe AVE Trains
A laptop connected to the Wi-FI on an AVE train Yes there is Wi-Fi on most of the Spanish high-speed trains known as AVE. For now, these are the only trains in Spain’s Renfe train network to have Wi-Fi internet. The Wi-Fi is free on these trains; it is included in the ticket price for …
The Experience Onboard Renfe AVE Trains
Spain’s national operator Renfe offers high-speed trains named AVE on routes between a number of major cities. They offer an excellent, comfortable, low-carbon alternative to flying. For example, the Barcelona-Madrid trip on AVE is just 2.5 hours, which makes it faster than flying when you figure in the time for getting to the airport and …
Luggage Restrictions On Trains in France — What to Know Before You Go
If you’re used to travelling by plane and thus conditioned to worry about the size, weight, and contents of your baggage, you’re in for a treat. Luggage restrictions for French trains are generally much more relaxed. The main rule is to not be taking so much that you can’t carry and stow it on your …
Love = Murder? Balkan Romance (and Serbian Grammar!) as Understood in the Song “Ubiću Te”
If you love someone should you kill her? Probably yes, according to one Serbian-language song. Magnifico’s tune “Ubiću Te” is a frenetic ride into romance, and translates as: “I Will Kill You.” On this blog I’ve long suggested that you should all pour yourself a rakija, eat some cupi, and learn some Serbian. But taking …
Rolling Backpacks: What’s the Lightest and Most Comfortable for One-Bag Travel?
Heading to catch a train in Paris with an older-model Osprey wheeled backpack that we’ve used for years, and still shows no real signs of wear It rolls! But it’s a backpackers’ pack! And it’s also small enough to be a carry-on! This, for my minimalist travel, is the sweet spot. I’ve traveled constantly with …
The Best Universal Power Plug Adapter for Travel with Fast-Charging USB-C
In our years of travel we’ve tried out loads of too-flimsy or too-bulky power adapters, and have always been hungry to find the one plug that could do it all without weighing us down. It’s the key travel gadget that makes all other travel gadgets possible. Sure, you can stop at any electronics store or …
The Most Annoying & Useless Shit Brazilians Say
I just got back from my sixth extended stay in my beloved Brazil, and this time I kept careful notes on the most annoying phrases one hears in this lush, goofy land of samba rock, beaches, and murder. Does listing such uniquely Brazilian language misuse serve any purpose? Probably not, other than to help me …