Valencia, a popular vacation destination on Spain’s Mediterranean coast. We asked some locals for their travel tips. What are Valencia’s must-sees? Here are five highlights! Would you like to visit Spain one day?
Timeline: 00:00 Intro 00:20 City of Arts and Sciences 00:52 Jardín del Turia 01T:49 Central Market 02:32 Valencia Cathedral 03:23 Eating Paella at Bar Cremaet
Who knows a city best? The locals. We picked up some tips for a visit to Bilbao from its residents. The Guggenheim Museum, Mount Artxanda and pintxos, the Basque answer to tapas, are high on the list.
Bilbao, an industrial port city in northern Spain, is surrounded by green mountains. It’s the de facto capital of Basque Country, with a skyscraper-filled downtown. It’s famed for the Frank Gehry–designed Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, which sparked revitalization when it opened in 1997. The museum houses prominent modern and contemporary works, but it’s the curvy, titanium-clad building that receives the most attention.
Puentedey in northern Spain was named the most beautiful village in Spain in 2022. One reason is its 15-meter-high natural stone arch, carved by the Nela River and nicknamed God’s Bridge.
Puentedey stands out, a place in Burgos that, as its name indicates, is defined by a structure that was considered divine for a long time. It is a rock arch that the river Nela has been carving for millions of years on which a town has been built.
Cyril Maillot is a mail carrier in Réunion – in the most literal sense. On the tropical island in the Indian Ocean, some villages can’t be reached by road. So Maillot hikes to remote areas with a backpack full of mail. He travels by foot to places not accessible by car, deep into the mountainous region of Mafate.
A hike of several days over narrow paths and steep ascents – and in all kinds of weather. When it rains, the streams sometimes swell into a raging river. But Cyril Maillot loves his job. It’s his personal yoga: “You switch off completely and leave city life behind.” And for many of the local people in the mountains, the weekly visit by Cyril the mail carrier is their only regular contact with the outside world. A report by Lisa Louis.
Réunion Island, a French department in the Indian Ocean, is known for its volcanic, rainforested interior, coral reefs and beaches. Its most iconic landmark is Piton de la Fournaise, a climbable active volcano standing 2,632m (8,635 ft.). Piton des Neiges, a massive extinct volcano, and Réunion’s 3 calderas (natural amphitheaters formed by collapsed volcanoes), are also climbing destinations.
Hannah Hummel checks in on our behalf for the Glacier Express: The journey starts in the winter sports resort of St. Moritz, a vacation destination for the jet set. The eight-hour journey will take her to Zermatt on the Matterhorn – one of the Swiss Alps’ highest peaks.
Along the way, the train traverses a pass some 2,000 meters up, crossed almost 300 bridges and trundles through 91 tunnels. Travelers can marvel at panoramas of spectacular mountain scenery through the train’s extra-large windows. On the journey, enjoy the exclusive on-board service including a three-course meal of Swiss cuisine. Tickets in Excellence Class cost 650 euros, giving you a seven-course meal with wine pairing, champagne, and even a concierge.
Have you ever heard of Karelia? This remote region lies in the far north of Europe, on Russia’s border with Finland, and is a travel destination for those in the know. Karelia has centuries old traditions and stunning natural landscapes with vast lakes. We visit Lake Onega, Europe’s second largest lake, taste kalitki, a regional dish, go to the Banya, a traditional “black sauna”, and much more.
The Republic of Karelia is a region in northwest Russia, bordering Finland. Beside Lake Onega, capital city Petrozavodsk is home to cultural artifacts at the National Museum. On an island northeast, Kizhi Museum is an open-air complex of traditional wood buildings. Northwest, Kivach Nature Reserve has pine woods and a waterfall. West of Petrozavodsk, blue-domed Valaam Monastery is on an island in massive Lake Ladoga.
Follow Dhruv Rathee’s adventures in Turkey! Dhruv and his wife Juli visit the vibrant city of Istanbul. They take a stroll along the İstiklal Street, visit the Hagia Sophia and the Galata Tower. They also take a cruise on the Bosphorus to see Istanbul’s famous sites from the water and they try Turkish coffee.
Destination Culture: Discover Germany’s oldest castle! Hannah Hummel travels back in time in Albrechtsburg Castle. The site in Meissen used to house Europe’s first porcelain producer. Porcelain designers show Hannah how the material is being further developed today. She also visits the picturesque old town and learns the interesting story behind the Meissner Fummel – a unique pastry, where fragility plays an essential role.
Video timeline: 00:00 Intro 00:54 Albrechtsburg castle in Meissen 05:08 Meissen’s old town 09:31 Exhibition, production and design atelier of Meissen porcelain 17:46 An Australian in Meissen 21:44 Photographer Eric Franke 24:52 Frauenkirche (Church of our Lady) in Meissen
Destination Culture: In this episode, Hannah Hummel’s road trip through Saxony takes her to Glashütte. Germans are known for being punctual, and Glashütte is known for watchmaking. Hannah also visits the Ore Mountains and heads underground. In Freiberg, she meets a student from Sri Lanka who has made the silver-mining town her temporary home.
Video timeline: 00:00 Intro 00:46 The city of Glashütte 01:08 German Watch Museum 04:14 NOMOS, largest manufacturer of mechancial watches in Germany 08:00 Schwarzwassertal or Black Water Valley in the Ore Mountains 11:14 The city of Altenberg 12:02 Altenberg Sinkhole 13:13 Visitor Mine Zinnwald 15:54 Mining Museum Altenberg 17:29 Arno-Lippmann-Schacht 18:01 The ‘Silver City’ Freiberg 18:29 Cathedral of St Mary 21:58 Student Jamana Amiruddeen from Sri Lanka 24:48 Bergmusikkorps Saxonia Freiberg
In the fourth instalment of our series, US travelers Allison and Eric Bieller will be feasting their way through Cinque Terre, on the Italian Riviera. The 12-kilometer stretch of coastline in the Liguria region, along with its picturesque villages, is a UNESCO- World Heritage site. Eric and Allison check out all five of the villages – Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore, and sample delicious Italian specialities. Buon appetito!
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