Travel for Life

Video 1.  Lisbon (Rick Steve' Europe) Figure 1.   Bacalhau  (i.e., codfish)  In this article, we will discuss why local guide Christina from Video 1 claims that: Bacalhau  is Portugal's national dish.  There are many different ways to cook  bacalhau , such as  Bolinhos de Bacalhau  (featured in Video 1) and  Bacalhau à Lagareiro  (featured in Video 2). Port wine  is Portugal's national drink. 3 Days in Lisbon: Unveiling the City's Charm and History   (Click here for an interactive Takayama map on Google MyMaps) What Is Bacalhau à Lagareiro? Bacalhau , or codfish, became a food staple for Portuguese sailors and explorers not only due to its nutritional value but also because it could be eaten during their long journeys across the Atlantic Ocean. When dried, salted, and cured,  bacalhau (see Fig. 1) can last for over a year without refrigeration. Bacalhau  can be cooked in many different ways, and one o...

Figure 1.   4 Metro lines (Blue line / Yellow line / Green line / Red line) Attraction Points  From Figure 1. you can find out that: The majority of Lisbon's attraction points are located in  Baixa District , Almafa District  and  Belém District . Belém District  is where MAAT  is located (bottom left corner) and not covered by the Metro system. Figure 2.  Official Metro Map ( link ) Metro System Under normal operating conditions, the Metro opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 1:00 a.m. every day, including weekends and public holidays. [1] During this time period, it is possible to travel to any station in the same line, provided you board the train until 1:00 am. Figure 3.   Metro Blue Line There are four main metro lines (see Fig. 2): Blue line To reach Baixa-Chiado from Aeroporto , you can take Red Line and then transfer to Blue line at São Sebastião  (see Fig. 3). Yellow line Green line  Red line Figure 4.  Metro Sul do T...

Figure 1.  6 Metro Lines (Blue, Red, Green, Purple, Orange, and Yellow) Porto's Metro has 6 lines and 81 stations, but if you're planning to use it as a means of transport, take into account that it doesn't make it to most of the tourist attractions in the city. [1] Figure 2. Journey Planner on  Metro do Porto (Airport to Trindade ) Metro Lines Line A (Blue): Estádio do Dragão - Senhor de Matosinhos. Line B (Red): Estádio do Dragão - Póvoa de Varzim. Line C (Green): Estádio do Dragão - ISMAI. Line E (Purple): Estádio do Dragão – Airport . Line F (Orange): Fânzeres - Senhora da Hora. Out of all the stops, the most important is Trinidade . It is where all the lines meet, including the yellow line. How to Access Porto from Airport (OPO) The best way to get from Porto Airport (OPO) to Porto without a car is to use metro system which takes 27 min and costs €2 (see Figure 2; downloaded on 11/27/2022). Figure 3.  Left: Metro signs / Right: Validation machine How to Travel by ...

Founded in 1753, the  British Mus eum  ⭐⭐was the first national public museum in the world, and today it is Britain’s most visited with more than 7 million people arriving per year.  Figure 1.  Exhibitions and Events of British Museum British Museum Entry has always been free  and includes access to the institution’s  most important and sought-after acquisitions , such as the  Rosetta Stone , Parthenon sculptures and Ancient Egyptian structures . The museum is an architectural gem itself, with the newly refurbished  Queen Elizabeth II Great Court  a highlight. See the open hours below: Every day, except Fridays, the Main entrance closes at 16.00 as the Museum closes at 17.00. On Fridays, due to the late opening of exhibitions, the Main entrance closes at 19.30 as the Museum closes at 20.30.   However, the museums and public galleries stay open  with only Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day closures . Please ...

Source: [3] Source: [4]   East End East End —Heavily populated with immigrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa, this London neighborhood contains the areas of  Whitechapel  and  Spitalfields —lies mainly in the Inner London borough of Tower Hamlets : Whitechapel is a vibrant, multicultural district in the East End, with many traditional pubs and curry houses, and the lively Whitechapel Market, a focal point for Asian food, discount fashion, and homewares. Spitalfields   is a lively East End area, home to artists, creatives, and a large Bangladeshi community. Brick Lane is lined with curry houses but the area is also known for street art, quirky shops, and trendy bars.   Crime Watch As  Chris  said in the below video: When I look at places like Italy or Paris, I know everybody's trying to rob me. But you know what, in London everybody's trying to rob you here too. Video 1.   10 Worst Tourist Scams in London ( YouTube ) Video 2. ...

Attention: Click  here   to view a mobile-friendly version. Video 1.  Spain Travel―Visiting Valencia on 12/23/2019 (YouTube  link ) Figure 1.  Valencia Orientation Map Valencia ⭐⭐is a charming old city and the third Spanish city in terms of importance and population in Spain. It is on the Mediterranean Sea approximately 4 hours to the south of Barcelona and 3 hours to the east of Madrid . Valencia is famous for the City of Arts and Sciences , the Valencia Cathedral , the Old Town , the Central Market , and being the birthplace of paella . Valencia is also popular for its peculiar museums, quirky festivals, beautiful sunny weather, and fantastic sandy beaches.   Figure 2.  City of Arts and Sciences (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias) Top 10 Attractions Be amazed by these 10 top attractions in Valencia: [1] City of Arts and Sciences (see Figure 2) Valencia's Central Market (Mercado Central) La Lonja de la Seda L'Oceanografic Aquarium Valenc...

Vast  Pécs Cathedral  towers over  Széchenyi Sqaure  (Hungarian: Széchenyi tér ) Pécs  ⭐⭐is the fifth largest city of Hungary.  It is an ancient city in southern Hungary, close to the Croatian border.  Pécs was historically a multi-ethnic city where many cultures intermingled, creating a melting pot of different values , the rich result of 2000 years of history. [1] It features  the oldest university  in the country, and is one of the major cultural centers. Pécs also has a rich heritage from the age of a 150-year-long Ottoman occupation .    Photo Galleries Founded by the Romans,  Pécs  is known for its architectural landmarks such as the Early Christian Mausoleum, which features frescoed tombs. Vast  Pécs Cathedral  towers over central  Széchenyi Sqaure . The below photos were taken on 05/04/2022一a sunny day (76H 51L). Holy Trinity Statue (Széchenyi Sqaure) Széchenyi Sqaure  with  Mosque of...

Card skimming theft can affect anyone who uses their credit or debit cards at ATMs, gas stations, restaurants or retail stores.  A skimmer is a device installed on card readers that collects card numbers.  Skimmers can usually be spotted by doing quick visual or physical inspections before swiping or inserting a card. Security tape (or sticker) How to protect yourself You can spot a skimmer by watching out for anything that looks like it doesn’t belong on the ATM or card reader. For example,  odd or mismatched colors ,  loose parts , or partially covered pieces could be an indication that a skimming device is present. Be on the lookout for suspicious devices attached to a card reader and avoid suspicious ATMs: Hidden camera Sometimes a tiny camera is planted to record cardholders entering a PIN number into an ATM One of the simplest things you can do is cover your keystrokes when entering your PIN, which will prevent any hidden cameras from spying on your PIN e...

Video 1.  How to Use Public Transport in London Like a Local (YouTube link ) Terminology In Video 1, the below terms were mentioned: Oyster card Pay as you go fares Tube, DLR (Docklands Light Railway), London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail services  wholly within the London Fare Zones area , and PAYG (special fares applied) can also be used on: Southeastern’s HS1 service between St Pancras International and Stratford International Gatwick Express and Southern services between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport Heathrow Express  (train) between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport Journeys to Potters Bar and Radlett Elizabeth line (Tube) services between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Airport Values Pay as you go fares are cheaper than buying a paper single ticket or Day Travelcard. Your Visitor Oyster card offers daily capping. This means you can travel as much as you like in a single day and the amount you pay for your travel is limited (or ...