Category Archives: Travel
With the (usual) media coverage on any civil unrest going on in this world, you probably heard by now about the situation in Istanbul, Turkey.
In short, protests in Istanbul broke out on May 27, 2013 when people gathered in Taksim Gezi Park to protest against the authorities wanting to turn the park into a shopping mall. Police quickly took action, and the scene escalated from there.
The situation has been going on for days, leaving more than 100 people injured.
As a result, the travelers are starting to ask whether or not they should visit Istanbul (now or later in the year).
Should you visit Istanbul?
As long as you stay away from the Taksim Square, Gezi Park, and the streets leading to them, you should be fine (Istanbul is a huge city; if you’re staying in a different part of it, chances are you won’t see any unrest at all). Needless to say, if you’ve already booked accommodations in that area, it’s best to cancel and look for a place to stay in a quieter area.
The historical city area (including Topkapi Palace) is not a problem to visit. But of course, be extra careful at all times; avoid the affected streets and rely on your instincts.
While not trying to downplay the situation (as it is a serious one), keep in mind how the media tends to sensationalize everything. It’s also smart to check out reports and social media outlets from travelers on the ground in Istanbul right now.
Karen from the UK states, “My daughter’s in Istanbul at the moment. Judging by her FB entries, she’s having a perfectly normal tourist time! Official advice seems to be to exercise common sense and steer clear of demonstrations but there is no particular problem for tourists.”
Is Istanbul the only city affected?
According to the travel warning on the US Embassy website for Turkey, protests have occurred in other cities, too, including Ankara and Izmir.
From our research, we think smart common sense indie travelers will be just fine in Istanbul and Turkey. Just like most of the 70+ million people that live there.
The official advice is NOT to cancel your plans, but to be aware of what’s going on, listen to the local news stations, and follow the local authorities’ instructions.
From personal experience
I have visited Athens, Greece, in March 2012 while there were still problems with riots in the city. Taking the very same advice as above, I made sure to avoid Syntagma Square (the area where the protesters gathered) – which wasn’t that hard because police closed the streets leading to it, anyway – and I took a longer route to get to the hotel (which was close to Monastiraki Square, about 2 km from Syntagma Square). For the remaining 4 days while I was in Athens, it was quiet in the Syntagma area.
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After 15 years of connecting with RTW travelers, we have cultivated, edited, and researched thousands of pages on the topic, add in the hundreds of RTW travel bloggers out there, all the travel planning tools, resources, and apps, and you still might find yourself on a Tuesday evening thinking “Where do I even begin?” or “How will I get this all done?” or maybe even “Could an RTW be for me?“.
To connect the dots for aspiring (and already planning RTW travelers), we are organizing a “Plan your RTW Trip in 30 Days” event. We’ve drilled down the planning to 30 short lessons, delivered to your inbox daily for 30 days. Little bite size chunks that will keep you moving, and inspired to make the choice, and change your life — whatever your “Why?” is for this trip (ie. career break, have the time of your life, experience true freedom, feel alive, see the [whatever your wonders of the world are], meet that “is this it?” feeling head-on etc).
With this in mind, I’m gonna share five reasons why it might be a good idea for your to join Plan Your RTW Trip in 30 Days:
1) You are already planning an RTW! – DUH – this is a no brainer. If you are already going, this 30 day event, may be easy for you, and tie up loose ends. Plus, you’ll get a chance to connect with other that are also in your Boots! ;)
2) You’re this close (pinching finger) to making the decision. By working on our 30 day event, this will probably make it happen to be honest. Seeing the simple steps, taking a few more action steps, and being around others will make the decision FEEL better.
3) You’ve thought about doing it, and you are willing to consider making a decision within 30 days.
4) You’re being held back by one of the following reasons:
- Not enough money
- Too big of a mortgage, student loans etc
- mentally – you just don’t have the space
- You’re sick
- your job is too damn good now
- you don’t have a job
- you’re bored with life
- It’s not the “right time”
You really need to participate in this event. Even if you end up making the decision to NOT to it, or delay – you’ll scratch that itch to see if it is something that you want to make happen.
5) It’s free!
So let’s cut the clutter. We’ll send you one email per day. You’ll learn everything you need to know/do before taking off on a round the world trip.
The fun begins Friday, February 1
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We focused on the topic of Overland Travel this week at #rtwchat! Let me know if you are enjoying these and what topics you want to see in the future. Recap of the chat after the jump.
Recap of #rtwchat on Twitter – September 19, 2012
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There comes a time while traveling, that spending a week or two here and there just doesn’t cut it anymore. You want to connect with the locals and the culture, but being so temporary doesn’t always allow for that. And then comes the idea to move to the city you’ve just fallen in love with and become an expat. Until you want to move on… or live forever in the city you love.
Becoming an expat in a new country is the best way to get to know the country from a local’s perspective. Choosing a country and city to move to is all about your own personal likes and dislikes. Maybe you’ve studied French in high school and want to sample how it feels to live in Paris for a while. Or maybe Italian has always been your love and Milan might just do the trick. Or maybe you had no plans of staying, but something about the city just felt like home. Have you ever been an expat? Where and what made you choose that city? If not, what city would you want to be an expat in?
After my latest two week trip to Southern Europe, I’m considering living in Athens for a while. I don’t speak much Greek (I probably know about 25 words) but when I traveled I didn’t have any problem using English. So I’m currently studying Greek, but worst-case scenario, it’s a relief to know people who have been living in Greece for years and still don’t speak the language.
» This week on BootsnAll: Articles you’ll read this week include: the confessions of a lifetime traveler, a piece on how to travel in Malaysia for $10 a day , an informative take on how RTW preparation can enhance your resume and an exciting piece about fuel-free adventure activities, such as paragliding, ziplining and bungee jumping.
Have you been an expat? What made you decide to stay? If not, what city would you choose for being an expat and why?
Don’t forget to add your blog posts to the main Indie Travel Challenge page – and be sure to include a picture when you do (we love pictures!).
The Indie Travel Challenge is a year-long blogging project. Every Monday, we’ll post a new prompt, question, or challenge that bloggers can respond to via text, photos, or video. Respond on your own blog, and link back to BootsnAll so we can find and highlight the best submissions.
Check out the Indie Travel Challenge landing page for all information related to the event. You can see the week’s daily prompt, follow the hashtag on Twitter, share your posts, and check out submissions from around the world.
Read more about expat life:
Photo by Visit Greece
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Visiting a country during a festival or holiday season is always a fun way to get a different look into a new culture. Visiting during a new to you holiday however, can really throw you into a new culture. From Independence days like the US’ 4th of July and France’s Bastille Day, to ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand, to Ramadan, and Chinese New Year, every region celebrates a little differently.
As a child, I used to watch the Bastille Day (July 14) military parade on TV, but as I’ve grown older, I would much rather see a live event. And after watching the changing of the guards in front of Buckingham Palace in London and a small military parade in Heros’ Square in Budapest, I am checking local holidays more often when planning a trip.
Being a part of a different culture and being one in a crowd, is a fun way to experience a country’s traditions. And then there’s the partying…
» This week on BootsnAll: Articles you’ll read this week include an article about how volunteering in Africa has changed a person, ideas where to watch the best Independence Day fireworks, information about 8 great American towns for foodies and a first timer’s guide to hot air balloon festivals in the US.
There are many reasons to travel and many moments make traveling special. Have you ever traveled to another country during a new [to you] holiday? If so, what was special about it?
Don’t forget to add your blog posts to the main Indie Travel Challenge page – and be sure to include a picture when you do (we love pictures!).
The Indie Travel Challenge is a year-long blogging project. Every Monday, we’ll post a new prompt, question, or challenge that bloggers can respond to via text, photos, or video. Respond on your own blog, and link back to BootsnAll so we can find and highlight the best submissions.
Check out the Indie Travel Challenge landing page for all information related to the event. You can see the week’s daily prompt, follow the hashtag on Twitter, share your posts, and check out submissions from around the world.
Photo by BradJacobson
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