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How To Get Your Mail While Travelling Overseas

17/4/2024

 

Whether you're travelling for a few weeks or a few years, you might need to get your mail while travelling overseas. Here are all the options you need to know about. 
​
My trip to Calgary was part of a press trip.  This post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase, we may get a small commission.

Vanessa standing in a small post office in Zimbabwe while wearing a grey shirt and black pantsPicture
How to get your mail overseas: Vanessa lines up at a post office Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Everyone loves to travel to get away from it all – only to discover that one of the best things about travelling is sharing it with your friends and loved ones back home. Thankfully, between email, social media, apps, and virtual programs, it’s easy to constantly check in and say hello. But occasionally, getting an actual letter from home would be nice. Or, occasionally, it might be a necessity. Legal and financial documents don’t stop coming, no matter where you are. If you’re contemplating a long-term trip or even shifting to live as a digital nomad, here’s how to get your mail while travelling overseas.

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How To Get Tickets for “Last Supper” in Milan

25/10/2023

 

Want tickets for "Last Supper" in Milan? I don't blame you! Here's how to see Da Vinci's masterpiece no matter when you're travelling.

​This post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase, we may get a small commission.

Tickets for Last Supper in Milan: Image of the artwork Picture
Trust me, you're gonna want to get tickets for Last Supper in Milan. Photos do not do this masterpiece justice. Photo from Wikipedia under Creative Commons licensing.
If you’ve ever battled through the crowds at Paris’ Louvre, you’ve no doubt felt a mix of irritation and disappointment when you finally came face to face with the gallery’s proverbial crown jewel, Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. The most famous portrait in the world is smaller than you might expect and the crowds are annoying and aggressive. Maybe “Mona” is mysteriously smiling but countless visitors leave with a frown! As such, you might be wondering if it’s worth researching how to get tickets for Last Supper in Milan. I’m here to say that the answer is a resounding YES!

Visitors who make the pilgrimage to Milan to see The Last Supper, Da Vinci’s masterpiece thankfully have the exact opposite experience that those in the Louvre. Guaranteed viewing times with a maximum of 30 guests keep things organised, calm, and quiet. You enjoy an uninterrupted, unhurried 15 minutes with the artwork in a selfie-free environment. The experience is peaceful, even serene. 

There’s just one small catch. You have to get tickets. 

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How To See The World, One Optometrist At A Time.

31/7/2023

 

Some people explore via food tours or shoe shopping. It seems my destiny is to discover the world one optometrist at a time. 

Note that some links in this post may be affiliate links, which means we are paid a small commission should you make a purchase.

Vanessa takes a selfie in an apartment with sloped walls while wearing a purple shirt.
Crisis averted! Inside my tiny Parisian apartment, eye glasses intact!
What do Paris (France), Portland (Maine), and Yarmouth (Nova Scotia) have in common? Not much, to be honest. But I’ve come to see them through a new lens – if you’ll pardon the pun – thanks to local optometrists.
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Some people see the world through – here’s that pun again – a specific lens. They explore destinations via a particular filter or set of experiences, discovering cities via food tours or shoe stores. I hadn’t thought that approach applied to me until I realized I was getting to know the globe via eye health facilities, one city at a time.

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How To See Baines' Baobabs In Botswana

16/3/2023

 

These famous trees in Northern Botswana were first captured by painter Thomas Baines. Here's how you can see them for yourself. 

This post contains affiliate links, which means we may get paid a small commission if you make a purchase. ​

Ryan and Vanessa pose for a selfie with Baobabs in the background surrounded by arid soil.
Grabbing the obligatory selfie in front of Baines' Baobabs in Botswana.
Twenty some years ago, National Geographic devoted a cover story to the topic of Africa and, in doing so, they did something unusual. They declined to use a cover image, rationalizing that there was no one symbol or picture that could encompass the continent. 

If they had asked me, I would have made my case for the baobab tree. True, they don’t grow everywhere in Africa but they are an icon of the continent. Residents love them for their fruit, shade, and fibres, as do animals. Visitors adore these funny looking plants that have the appearance of being stuck in the ground upside down. They’re huge, imposing, aloof and yet there’s something about the baobab that’s decidedly homey. Perhaps this is why the Baines' Baobabs in Botswana are so popular.

The Baine’s Baobabs are named for British artist Thomas Baines. Baines wasn’t just a painter. He was also an explorer and an active participant on many of the earliest European expeditions to Africa. As such, he both contributed to and memorialized early colonialism. His work fed a mania for “exotic” images of the continent and his painting of seven baobabs in northern Botswana certainly fit the bill. They’re a little weird, a little other-wordly, and utterly captivating. 

Located in northern Botswana in Nxai Pan National Park, the group of trees that Baines immortalized are estimated to be over 1,500 years old. Also know as "The Sleeping Sisters" (as one tree is growing sideways) they’re considered to be some of the tallest in the area, hitting about 20 feet in height. Thanks to Baines’ legacy and the trees' own magnificence, they’re a popular tourist attraction and Ryan and I were able to see them for ourselves during our camping safari. Here’s how you can do the same.

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Our Favourite Things To Do In Livingstone, Zambia

6/3/2023

 

Our favourite things to do in Livingstone include hanging with the rhinos, eating Indian food, going to museums, and relaxing by the river.

This post contains affiliate links, which means we may get paid a small commission if you make a purchase. 

An adult and baby white rhino sniff the ground.
One of our all time favourite things to do in Livingstone, Zambia, was visiting the rhinos in the wild during a guided walking safari.
You've probably heard a lot about Victoria Falls, one of world's most majestic wonders. But have you heard about its next door neighbour, the small city of Livingston, Zambia?

Livingstone is often treated a bit like a base for exploring other destinations and, to be honest, we were a bit guilty of that ourselves at first. We stayed in Livingstone for about a week as we organized trips in Zimbabwe and Botswana. Thankfully, along the way we clued in to the fact that this is much more than a town that takes care of all the traveling essentials, from groceries to pharmacy, banks to stamps. There is a long list of Livingstone activities to enjoy during your visit and exploring the city was a highlight of our time in Africa. Here's what should be on your radar during your visit.

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Fun, Funky, Frugal: The Best Things To Do In Zürich West

19/9/2022

 

The best things to do in Zürich West: All the fun, funky, and frugal things to do in Zürich's trendiest neighbourhood.

This post contains affiliate ads and links, which means we may get paid a small commission if you make a purchase. Note that my time in Zurich was in conjunction with a press trip.

Things to do in Zurich: A blue and green badminton hall at dusk
Checking out this awesome Badminton hall is one of the coolest things to do in Zurich.
The Yonex Badminton Halle in Zürich West is home to cheap beer, fierce gameplay, and a FABULOUS Dolly Parton cardboard cutout mascot. In many ways, it’s a most unusual site to stumble across in the heart of Europe’s financial capital. But it’s also emblematic of Zürich West’s remarkable transformation from what was once primarily an industrial site to the fun, funky neighbourhood it is today. I’ve had the chance to explore the neighbourhood with a private guide who lives there and I can attest to what an amazing travel destination it is. 

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Planning The Perfect Day Trip to Rottnest Island

31/5/2021

 

Everything you need to plan a day trip to Rottnest Island, Australia. I can't wait to tell you about swimming, ferries, quokkas, and more. It's time to start planning your Rottnest day trip!

​​​​This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission.

Day trip to Rottnest Island: Brown quokka stands on their hind legs and leans towards the camera.Picture
Every day trip to Rottnest Island is filled with these furry friends.
If I told you to fly half way around the world to explore a place whose name translates to "Rats' Nest", you might think twice about my intentions. However, Western Australia's Rottnest Island may just be the most begilling destination you never knew you needed to visit - and you'd be glad to have taken my advice.

A Rottnest Island day trip itinerary usually starts with a ferry ride from the city of Perth, involves lots of amazing (and I am talking AMAZING) animals, offers ample history and culture, and ends with plenty of happy memories as you make your back to the mainland. 

We had the chance to enjoy a day trip to Rottnest Island as part of our 2018 round-the-world trip that included a week in Perth. However, even if you had but a couple of days in Western Australia, a visit to this small island should be a top priority. To help you get started, we're happy to share our research about how to get there, what you should do when you arrive, where you can eat, and our personal tips about making the most of your time. 

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Milan In One Day: Our Food and Art Filled Luscious Layover

18/12/2019

 

Legendary art, freshly baked pizza pockets, luscious gelato, and... Starbucks? How to experience Milan in one day when you're on a layover.

​Plus: The Milan airport hotel we loved!

​Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission.

Milan in one day: A panoramic shop of Milan's Duomo and adjacent squarePicture
If you have one day in Milan, this isn't a bad way to start.
On my first visit to Milan, I changed trains and spent my last precious lira (yep, it was a long time ago) on a soggy train station sandwich that was decidedly not good. I was unimpressed - and hungry.

One my second visit to Milan, I once again changed trains and spent way too many Euros on Burger King. Yes, BURGER KING. My least favourite fast food - and the last thing you want to eat in Italy.

But on my third visit to Milan, oh let me tell you about the third visit. It was filled with gelato so luscious it was downright profane. And dough. Soft, fluffy dough, fresh from the oven, with the cheese and tomato sauce so hot they were bubbling together in a happy stew. Then there was art, the kind of art that puts all the other art to shame. And - of course! - there was coffee. 

After two false starts, I finally had my day in Milan. I arrived via an overnight flight from New York and I left the same day, on an overnight flight to Addis Ababa. It was all part of our epic round-the-world trip that required us to cash in all our frequent flyer points and embrace a world of short but sassy layovers. Though my time was short, I was ready to do Milan in one day - or, at the very least, do my version of it in one day. 

​Here's where we ate, what we did, and even where we stayed in Milan, plus practical advice on getting from Malpensa airport to Milan's central station. 

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What Can You Do in Victoria Falls: 15 Cozy Microadventures

23/10/2019

 

Eating, touring, exploring, and ... going to the Post Office? Here's what you can do in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

This post contains affiliate links, which means we may get paid a small commission if you make a purchase. 

What can you do in Victoria Falls? Hang out with this jaunty warthog, for starters! Picture
What can you do in Victoria Falls? Hang out with this jaunty warthog, for starters!
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, is one of the world's great adventure travel destinations. Vic Falls arguably offers the most scenic and heart pounding zip-lining, bungee jumping, aerial adventures, and white water rafting in the world. For some travelers, this all takes place against a backdrop of incredible luxury - gorgeous, plush resorts, genteel and swanky cocktail bars overlooking the gorge, and elegant restaurants whose service recalls a bygone era of glamour and refinement. 

I, however, experienced none of this in Victoria Falls.

I was far too terrified to take part in anything remotely adventurous and far too frugal to indulge in any luxury offerings. The truth is that Victoria Falls activities are a bit tricky for value-minded travelers like myself who are eager for cozy microadventures. There is a fair bit on offer for transcontinental backpackers eager for cheap hostels, beers, and thrills. There's also plenty for indulgent spenders to drop their money on. But when it comes to the modest-spending scaredy-cat (that would be yours truly....) figuring out what you can do in Victoria Falls can be a challenge. These 15 activities are a good place to start. The list includes both things I did personally as well as some that I haven't yet experienced but seem to fit the bill. 

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