You could show them to your friends and family again, but apparently that is boring (note to self: why aren’t people more interested in my personal travels??) and results in a lonely life.

So instead, spice up the photos with some cool effects then share them around – you’ll get a much better response and have some fun in the meantime. One of my favourite effects is to make a photo look as though it was taken of a toy instead of the real thing. The effect is created by shrinking the depth of field so the photo looks as if it was taken with a macro (closeup) lens. It also helps to increase the colour saturation to make things look like plastic and more toy like.

Geeking out with your travel photos

When this effect was first introduced a year or two ago, it was very time consuming and required Photoshop expertise to get a good result. Fortunately for us, some smart folks made a website that does all the hard work! Better yet, it’s free at Tiltshiftmaker.com. Load your photo by either entering a link to an online photo or uploading an image directly.

Once the image is loaded, you can move the focus point around (as well as shrink or enlarge it). There are lots more settings, but I’ve found the defaults to be fine for generating very cool toy-like photos. Here are some examples I made:

San Francisco Balcony... and the toy version

This is a rooftop terrace I could see from my hotel balcony in Japan Town, San Francisco. When I took the photo I was fascinated by the details, but the end result was a bit busy and not too interesting. After adding the fake model effects, you can see it’s much more fun and I’ve had a couple people argue with me that it HAD to be a toy model! I had to show them the original photos to convince them otherwise.

MOMA, or plaything?

This photo of MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) in NYC was also a bit of a letdown in its original form but after manipulation it became a scene from an architect’s model. I love the way even the people look like toys from a model railroad setup.

Grand Central Toy Station

The last example is New York’s Grand Central Station. The original was the same as a million other photos taken by tourists like me, but with some tilt and shift action it becomes a miniature world of commuters, racing to the next HO-scale train.

Tips on making playthings of your photos

Not all photos are good candidates for fake model effects. I found photos taken from above, so it feels like the viewer is a giant looking down at a scale model work the best. It’s also important that any people in the photos appear to be fairly small so they are not too easily recognised as the real thing.

Lastly it helps if the photo does not include a massively complex background (like a city or something) as it makes the scene a bit unbelievable (who’d build a 50 block model city?). Remember we’re trying to trick the viewer’s brain into perceiving the photo is of a model.

Give it a go – it’s lots of fun and very easy to do. Your friends and family will actually enjoy revisiting your travel photos and it will help fill the time until you can experience the real thing again yourself!

-Jeff Lewis

As I forced my relaxed muscles to work, cold air hit skin: this traditional Maori Hangi dinner better be worth it.

A ride back into Maori history

Half an hour later, rugged up and feeling like I was still steaming gently, I stood outside my hotel waiting for the tour bus. In my befuddled state, this was a confusing moment: there were tour buses and tourists everywhere. How would I know which one was mine? But I knew: not one of the slick silver modern buses, no, mine was the gaudily painted, older style functional bus. The adventure had begun.

Being greeted at the Maori Hangi, Rotorua

The cheerful tour guide welcomed us on board, and the doors clanked shut. We made a couple of stops at other hotels, went around the block, and pulled into the tourist office almost next door to my hotel – there was half an hour of my life I’d never get back! But soon we had everyone on board and headed out of Rotorua on our way to the Maori village, 15 kilometres south.

The bus was completely full and the tour guide immediately set the tone of the evening: involvement! There would be no passengers on this ride. He explained a little about Maori history and culture, declared our bus a traditional canoe and encouraged us all to grab hold of an imaginary paddle and row. As the energy fired up, the windows steamed up and we became completely enclosed in our fantasy ride back into history.

Paddling a canoe-bus into the magnificent darkness

We were headed for a traditional marae, a Maori village, and the aim of the tour was threefold: the learn, to eat and to enjoy. Our guide told us we were journeying back into the 1800s, to a traditional feast to farewell the chief’s son.

Firstly, we had to elect a chief of our tribe. He would be the one who would go through the ritual of welcome when we reached the village, make a gift to the village chief on our behalf, and hopefully show that we came in peace not war.

Naturally, the first high-spirited young guy on the bus to make a joke was elected. We cheered then sat back to gaze out into the dark; I have to admit at this point I was still not sure whether I really wanted to be in a canoe-bus heading into the cold dark night or back in the thermal pools lakeside.

Pulling up at the Tamaki Maori Village, we piled out of the bus into the darkness. We were only about 20 minute’s drive from Rotorua but this was deeply dark countryside. In fact, forest. It was spooky and magnificent at once.

How wrong we were

Our guide once again impressed on our ‘Chief’ the seriousness of the Powhiri (welcome ceremony) he was about to take part in. We were instructed not to laugh, move or talk but we could take photographs. At the point I think we were all still a little removed from the whole thing, filled with expectations of a cheesy tourist song and dance and well-rehearsed routine.

How wrong we were.

Yes, it was well rehearsed – by generations. And yes, it was put together for tourists – but with a deep underlying wish and need to communicate a culture the Maori are determined to keep alive.

A traditional 'haka' greeting at the Maori Hangi in Rotorua

We entered the village forecourt (for want of a better term) and waited. A blood-curdling scream rang out from the forest. Then the warriors came. In traditional dress, doing the traditional welcome ritual of dance, weapon challenges, war cries, and the famous Haka. The villagers tested the resolve of our chief to not offend and offer gifts. He passed their test, their chief and ours pressed noses together in a traditional greeting, and we were invited into the village. But I heard him confess to his friends that he’d been terrified. And if you’ve ever seen a Maori Haka, imagine having that aimed at you, mere feet away – a very effective way of frightening your enemies. I don’t think our Chief will forget this night in a hurry.

The chief, doing an excellent job

Walking along a floodlit path in the dark forest, we came upon the village itself and were invited to wander among the whare (houses), watch arts and crafts at work, listen to presentations about tradition and culture, and ask any questions. There were probably about a dozen huts, each showcasing a different thing: warrior training, weaving, wood carving, tattooing. As a way of teaching people about culture, it was a great set-up.

I particularly enjoyed watching the warriors intensively training then swinging around to find the corpulent chief lying in his hut snacking. He good-naturedly pointed out that his role was to be Chief, to be smart and charismatic, and not do anything physically taxing. Clearly he was doing an excellent job.

After half an hour or so, we were invited to head further into the forest to the wharenui (meeting house). Inside the long wooden house decorated with ornate traditional carvings around the door, we settled onto benches and waited.

About a dozen or more Maori in traditional costume performed a variety of songs, dances and poi twirling. Poi are balls on long strings that you swing in rhythm and dance – it’s not easy and these women (because it is traditionally a woman’s skill) were skilled. Another distinctive moves of Maori dance is a trembling hand movement, which I learnt symbolises the life force in everything.

One of the things becoming really obvious to me was the good-humour of everyone performing. They seemed really proud of their culture, very relaxed and friendly, and ready to laugh. My New Zealand friends assure me that Maori gatherings nearly always erupt into parties and singing and this one was heading that way.

The Hangi feast begins

Next we were taken to the dining hall for the traditional hangi feast. Hangi is a method of cooking food in the ground. We were shown how a huge pit is dug and then the food layered, the pit sealed and the whole thing left for hours. There is a particular order for layering the food and a special way of ensuring the pit is sealed properly, otherwise the whole thing will spoil.

Clearly, these guys are experts at hangi. The food was delicious. It’s a meaty feast, and I’m a vegetarian and a worried one having seen a pit for cooking all the food together. But the layering kept the vegetables separate and our hosts had also made allowances for the dietarily-challenged among us.

I am still not convinced that the pavlova and sticky date pudding were totally traditional Maori food – although New Zealand keeps trying to claim the pavlova as a national dish in a fierce ownership battle with Australia – but they were really delicious.

Inevitably as dinner drew to a close, singing erupted again and all the staff joined in. Our chief was presented with a thank you gift and then it was time to leave the forest – by now really quite cold – and get back onto our bus.

Too much, the magic bus

The ride into town was no less festive than the ride out with the bus driver encouraging everyone to sing their national songs. I have to say the Irish were impressive, the Americans enthusiastic and the Australians confused chaotic. (I confess to being an Australian and to having stared out into the dark night and not sung… perhaps I was thinking about how to prove pavlova in Australian.)

We reached Rotorua well fed, amused, and must better educated about Maori culture and tradition. My trip to the Tamaki Maori village was definitely worth it. Even the sceptical New Zealander friend I took along for the ride was impressed.

And there was still time for another session in the Polynesian spa pools under the stars. Bonus.

-Philippa Burne

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s New Zealand tours & things to do in New Zealand, from Rotorua tours to the Hangi Maori feast. You can also browse Hangi Maori photos.

When I first arrived I wandered gingerly into the fort and found myself in a sand-covered courtyard. The place had the distinct vibe of a training ground. In one corner little sacks tied to ropes were hanging from a wooden pole. I couldn’t imagine what their use was but thought – ah, gladiator training equipment!

Laurence prepares for battle!

At that moment a man dressed like a senator wandered past me hurriedly, he greeted two ladies dressed in the evening dresses of ancient Rome, helping each other adjust their earrings. Not long after another character appeared - this time in full Centurion battle dress, chain mail included. I had arrived early and wondered what was taking place – it was full of Italians immaculately dressed in the various ranks of the ancient citizens of Rome.

They looked so ‘at home’ in their ancient dress that it became clear that this was more than just a fancy-dress party.

Sledge hammers in the name of mercy

Ancient Roman evening dress

A lady looking a bit rougher than the rest (with frightening black paint over her face - it turned out to she was a barbarian) came up to me. I explained I was early for my training and she apologised, explaining that it was a little chaotic that day as a whole group of them were preparing to attend some kind of political demonstration. She said there would be a small delay and offered to take me on a tour of the little museum at the back of the training ground.

What followed was a lively explanation of life and war as a Centurion, as half the museum is dedicated to life as a Roman soldier. Then we moved onto life as a gladiator. She explained that there were two levels of gladiator – the professionals and the slaves.

The fundamental difference between the two? As a professional you stopped after the first “blood wound”; as a slave you were destined to fight to the death, slave against slave.

Apparently dying takes some time. So once one of the slaves was bloodied and struggling, a special executioner was called to dispatch the defeated. He had a creepy leather hat and would crack the losers head open with a large sledge hammer (in the name of mercy, of course). There is a full-size model of the executioner and his hammer in the museum.

The gladiators assemble

Soon more trainee gladiators arrived, an American family and two retired ex-US Navy men, with their wives and friends as spectators. Each of us are handed a beautifully pressed red tunic and told to change. Our trainer is Alex, dressed in period costume including some great Roman sandals. From the beginning we are drilled with cool military precision. The first exercises involve warming up both physically and mentally to get our concentration up.

Soon enough we are onto the hanging sand bags. Alex gets them all swinging haphazardly and we have to try our best to run through them without getting hit, then we leap over a small log at the end. It’s more fun than it sounds. The smallest of our group – a little boy - tries to run through them in one go, but it ends in disaster as he tangles himself up in the ropes (don’t worry, he survives). If forward wasn’t hard enough then we have to dodge the swinging pendulums in reverse. This is the last exercise in the warm up.

Gladiators, to combat!

Gladiator gear, ready for the students

True combat training begins. We are issued with little wooden paddles roughly the same size and shape as real Roman swords. We are split into two sides – one side attacks and the other defends.

Thankfully it is not a free for all. With military-like discipline Alex, in his Roman sandals, drills us in four attack moves and four defensive moves. Under the hot Roman sun we repeat them sequentially over and over again. It’s fun – you start to feel like a genuine warrior as the sequence of attack and defence maneuvers becomes more complicated.

Each of thus then mounts a frenzied attack on large a wooden pole with a specific sequence of attack moves – it’s hilarious as peoples coordination fails them. The scene is more like something out of a Woody Allen movie than Russell Crowe in Gladiators.

Next up - real swords!?!?

Thoroughly drilled in the ways of the wooden sword, we are then issued with the real thing! Heavy steel swords and shields are handed out, plus a whole amazing collection of replica Gladiator helmets.

It’s time to concentrate and hope your sparring partner has a caring side (these swords can do real damage!). With the helmets on it’s hot and you can hardly see a thing – the spectacle of the other trainees with their helmets on is slightly surreal. We don’t look like tourists anymore, but strange ancient warriors with sneakers on.

Soon we are at it again – clunking our heavy steel swords against each other and banging our shields in a completely new move. It’s hot work but hugely enjoyable and you start to get an idea of what ancient combat must have been like. Alex then brings out la rete (the net) and a trident, and pits one of us against two attackers. I manage to completely cover the little-boy gladiator with the net and fend off the other attacker with my trident. Success!

We are now gladiators

We end with a highly competitive sword fight with foam swords. A little low on sheer aggression, I don’t fare so well but it’s fun nonetheless. As the winner is cheered we are provided with juices and water to hydrate. We all rest except for father and son who continue a frenzied private combat. Finally Alex the trainer hands us out our certificates declaring in Latin that we are now citizens of Rome and we all shake hands and pat each others backs.

Gladiators, ready for battle!

The training is roughly two hours. In full summer it must get pretty hot, especially once the helmets are on, but there are plenty of breaks with refreshments provided. It’s very hands-on and physical and not for those unable to take a bit of discipline (all in the interest of safety and historic accuracy).

I had a great time. The whole experience was fun and very competently put together. If you go in late summer I would recommend you bring some mosquito cream especially if you are wandering around the little museum or sitting in the audience seats.

-Laurence Belgrave

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Rome tours & things to do in Rome, including the Roman Gladiator School. You can also read more reviews of the Roman Gladiator School and see more photos of the Roman Gladiator School over on the Viator website.

15 tips for staying sane, and having a blast, with kids

And of course I remember hundreds of long trips by car, plane, and train growing up with my family. I’ve managed to learn a few things along the way:

#1. Slow… down…

Young children operate on a time scale of their own. They like to explore, to linger, to tinker. Holidays are an excellent time to slow down your own pace—which, let’s face it, is probably a little dysfunctional anyway.

Even fast-moving older tweens and teens might want to take their time at certain stops. Give them some room to, say, flatiron their hair in a rest stop that happens to contain an electrical outlet, or pore over the Wii aisle when you stop to buy batteries. Instead of waiting in the car or standing there, tapping your foot, stretch out, walk around, and people-watch. Write in your journal, even if you’ve never kept a journal before. Slowing down is a gift to yourself, too.

#2. Make mixed itineraries

Approaching the decrepit age of 40, I realize that my travel style has changed over the years. A typical itinerary used to look something like this: “Ferry to Le Havre. Bring student pass; see where the trains go. Remember Rough Guide. Return in 2-3 weeks?” Or perhaps, “Dave coming to Dublin—hitchhike to County Donegal? Yeats?”

My haggard, middle-aged self gets a kick out of making itineraries and doing research, partly for my own amusement, and partly because even a loose itinerary can be fun and safe for family travel. I’m not sure I’d want a 7-year-old to sleep on the living room floor of a dodgy hostel-owner in Paris, like I did in my 20s. For specifics and destination suggestions, check out “Kids: Mixing Itineraries.”

#3. Plan ahead

Mom, the Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts were right after all: “Be Prepared” is a fabulous motto for travel in general. With kids, it’s even more essential. They sniff out stress like dogs sniffing out fire hydrants. If you forgot Band-Aids or underwear, it’ll affect them along with annoying you.

Especially if you’re new to traveling with younger humans, make a list of everything you want to bring. Check off each item as you pack it. Show the child how you’re planning, or let them help (”Barry the stuffed-talking banana should be on the list!” “OK! Let’s write that down.”). It’s harder to go minimal when packing for kids; it can be done, though, if you plan ahead and make it clear to everyone that you’re not bringing the entire house with you.

Here’s one I learned from my own parents, the hard way: Don’t freak out at the last minute while packing the car or rushing through the airport. Your child will absorb the idea that going on trips means last-minute craziness and people snapping at each other. Take… your… time. Plan ahead. Breathe.

#4. Be flexible

Say your little one notices billboards for Dinosaur Adventure along the road and really, really wants to go. Listen to her request. “If you’re good and don’t whine or complain for the rest of the day, we’ll go to Dinosaur Adventure,” might be an apt reply. You’re giving her a choice in the matter. You may have to weather a meltdown if she doesn’t follow the rules; you can get through it, limits and rules intact.

In general, allow kids to make at least one decision every day. When they say, “I want to see the giraffes!” or “Can we climb that tree?” or “Let’s go to Burgerville!”, go with it sometimes. Or offer them the choice: “We can have a campfire and marshmallows, if we get to the campground early enough, or we can stop at Burgerville right now.” Let them put on their own CD or playlist on the car stereo for a while, however much Rihanna might irritate you.

#5. Be in the moment

This classic piece of Buddhist and New Age advice happens to work. It goes hand-in-hand with slowing down, giving your child choices, and actually listening to her. It’s hard to do this fully in everyday life, which is part of why people take off on romantic getaways. Remind yourself why you’re on this trip: to be with your family or otherwise spend time with a special child. Turn off your cell phone. Be here now.

#6. Get into nature

Even if you’re an uncomfortable newbie at camping or hiking, bone up on how to do it, and give it a shot. You may want to start with group trips or guided tours into splendid nature parks. Kids, even video game addicts, have an innate ability to connect with sensory experience; joining them on that experience may open your own wonderment and sense of vision.

In everyday life, many of us don’t touch or smell anything non-manmade, except perhaps food. What does a handful of dirt and leaves smell like? What does the bark of a tree feel like? Go camping and find out. Learn from how your kid interacts with nature. If they’re shy or frightened, take the lead and be an example. Note: it’s OK to be ignorant. Little David doesn’t need to think you’re a professional botanist. If he asks the name of a flower and you don’t know it? Try “Huh, I don’t know,” as an answer.

#7. Use familiar home routines

Does Anya usually get a bedtime story? Does Ruby eat toast every morning? Bring some comforting everyday routines on the road with you, since so much of what you’re all experiencing is new and different. If you’re not the child’s parent or guardian, try to spend some time babysitting or visiting the family overnight to prepare yourself.

#8. Make expectations clear

Before you head out, establish guidelines with all your travel partners. Will stepdad want some time alone, wandering the city? Will mom want to go fishing by herself? Will any adults be not-present, to take work calls or bring their laptop to a café? Does David have to bring his homework? Try not to disappoint your children or yourselves.

If extended family or visiting friends join in your travels, mom and her girlfriend might sneak off for a day trip of short overnight hotel stay nearby—even just a nice dinner out while grandma hangs with the kids. Talk or email about this with the friends you’re staying with in Sydney, or the grandma who’s joining you in Rome, long before you head out the door.

#9. Develop traditions

These will probably evolve organically, but travel traditions can be pointed out to kids. Some examples: Normally, you can’t drink soda pop—except on an airplane. In everyday life, lights out at 9:00, but you can stay up reading with a flashlight while we’re camping. Normally, no fast food—but we’ll stop at Subway on our way to the train station.

#10. Document differently

Sometimes we’re so determined to document every adorable instant of our vacations and every kid’s cutely cavorting caper that we forget to actually experience those moments. Ask any media theorist or art critic: viewing life through a lens distances us from the living moment. So leave the cameras at the hotel for one day. Enjoy your time to the fullest; if you find yourself thinking, “Ohhh, I wish we had a camera,” keep the thought to yourself. Capture part of the trip (or the hike, or the Experience Music Project visit) on video, but not all of it. Kids are already accustomed to photographing and digitizing everything. Their lives are like one long performance. Let your vacation be a surprising break from endless, constant documentation. Be selective about when to bust out with the camera.

#11. Give a travel allowance

Even younger children who don’t normally get an allowance can benefit from a travel allowance. Start with a small daily allowance for postcards, gift shop goodies, vending machine gumballs, and any other amusing, useless stuff your kid is likely to clamor for on the trip. Older kids should get a larger sum to dole out over the course of a week.

This not only reduces the amount of time you’ll spend debating the merits of a Space Needle alarm clock or a Maui T-shirt, but teaches kids about the value of money, the necessity of prioritizing one purchase over another, and maybe even how to save money over periods of time. (Note: this method will cease to be educational if you loan money against future birthday gifts, or if the kids spend their dough immediately and you give into their whining for more knickknacks.)

#12. Play musical chairs

Do you always sit in the front seat, child in back, your partner driving? Mix it up a little. Squish in the back seat with your kids for an hour; have your partner do the same while you drive. Trade seats on the plane or train. Especially if you’re traveling solo with the child, plan time for extra stops during long car trips; have milkshakes and play a round of Uno at a diner, or play tag on a rest-stop lawn.

#13. Take care of yourself

You need a vacation, too. You need to sleep. You need to eat well. You may need to chill out and stare at a wall. Do these things. Arrange in advance for your partner or other adult travelers to help you do this. If it’s just you and the kids, plan in advance for at least one activity that the kids will do without you: horseback riding classes, a ski class, or a trustworthy day care at the hotel. As we know from Chevy Chase movies and “Little Miss Sunshine,” shoving a family into a small space 24 hours a day isn’t always entertaining or even tolerable.

#14. Work in individual quality time

QT with each parent or adult, separately from the others, makes for special memories. Take a look at any imbalances in parenting, if you are a parent: who spends the most time with Zoe? Who’s usually stuck in the role of disciplinarian? Use this opportunity to break up the routine.

Consider establishing some of this at the beginning of the trip. “So, David, you’re going to spend some time with your dad while I get some alone time,” lets him know what to expect. Whether you’re taking your nephew on an overnight hike or your stepson on a two-week family vacation, be especially sensitive around step-parenting, divorce, and blended families.

Even completely separate trips can be magical. I’ll never forget the week my dad and I spent rafting the Rogue River, just the two of us. Deepening family ties doesn’t mean you have to travel ensemble 100% of the time.

#15. Foster an adventurous spirit

Tired? Timid? Try to stretch your imagination—without making too much of a fuss over it. Your kids will learn by watching you eat strange foods, work with unforeseen circumstances, or stop the car for an unplanned hike to a waterfall.

Find one thing that no one in your family has done before, and do it. Nearly everything is new to kids; shouldn’t we get on their level and learn something, too? Hopefully your ideas will come from your kids’ latest obsession or impulse (”Hey! Can we build a Snow Mummy?”). Or you could:

• Flyfish or deep-sea fish with a guide
• Ride on the Zipper at a roadside carnival
• Fry an egg on the hood of your car in the desert
• Take a short factory tour of some weird local business (just follow the billboards)
• Forage for wild mushrooms with a class or guide
• Ski, snowboard, surf, skate, snowshoe, wind surf
• Pet the goats at a creamery and sample the chèvre
• Find a new swimming hole with a rope swing
• Make mud angels, instead of snow angels
• Take tombstone rubbings in a pioneer cemetery
• Go rafting, inner tubing, sledding, horseback riding

-Tiffany Lee Brown

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s things to do with kids, from New York City to Orlando to Los Angeles to San Franciso to London to Paris… and dozens of destinations in between.

Fortunately, we’re in Edinburgh. Now this is a city which has (it seems) more than its fair share of rogues and gruesome tales. So Simon and I take a deep breath and head up to the Royal Mile for the start of the Ghost Hunter tour (“A 5-Star Scare Factor”).

Edinburgh Castle At Night - Spooky!

The Royal Mile: Queensberry Rules

The Royal Mile is the heart of the Old Town, stretching from the Castle to Holyrood Park. Today it is home to the Law Courts, to shops and restaurants and (during August) to Festival venues. But back in 1707, it was the scene of the terrible tale of our first ghost.

The Royal Mile

On May 1st 1707, the Act of Union was signed, uniting the Parliaments of England and Scotland. In Scotland, the driving force behind the Act was James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry. Fêted in London, Queensberry was much less popular in Edinburgh.

But Queensberry had greater worries than unpopularity. Queensberry House, his mansion opposite Holyrood Park, held a dark secret. His heir, the young Marquess, was widely rumoured to be insane. He lived at Queensberry House under lock and key.

Legend has it that on the day that the Act was signed, the Marquess broke free from his rooms. He escaped into the kitchens and killed a young lad who worked there. Some Scottish critics described this act as “judgement on the Duke for his odious share in the Union”. The young boy’s ghost haunted Queensberry House and the buildings that replaced it.

What, even up to the 21st Century? Well, if any ghost haunts the site today, it may well be Queensberry himself turning in his grave. 300 years after the Union, in a neat twist of fate, the site is now occupied by the Scottish Parliament.

Wynding Down

Edinburgh Old Town isn’t just grand houses, royalty and aristocracy. Middle and working-class families lived here too, in the lanes and alleys (wynds) that lead off the Royal Mile. By the 18th Century, this was one of Europe’s most densely populated areas. The back streets were so narrow that the only way to build was up – as much as 14 storeys. People lived in very close quarters, and more than a few ghost stories emerged from these back streets.

Edinburgh Old Town

We are taken to Borthwick Close (because neighbouring Bell’s Wynd is “too haunted”). We hear a story of middle-class folk: a pair of lovers murdered in their bed by a jealous husband. The house was haunted by a pair of burning red eyes, but it was a decade before a curious neighbour discovered the bodies.

Borthwick Close is now restored and the buildings are clean and tidy. But the close is steep and narrow. In a space this small, there can still be few secrets. Even on a summer’s night, with sounds of street performers coming from the Royal Mile, the wynds are dark, damp and not a little spooky.

What Lies Beneath

We carry on down the cobbled streets towards the South Bridge, passing the über-hip Missoni Hotel on the way. The guide bravely leads us down a dark flight of steps into the Edinburgh Vaults. This is a cold, damp network of rooms, 4 storeys below ground level.

Once inside the vaults, there is no noise apart from the sound of our group and no light apart from that afforded by flickering candles. I’m a stalwart realist and even I think that this place is creepy!

Edinburgh Castle

The Vaults have an odd history. Dug out in the late 18th Century to support the new shopping centres on the South Bridge, they provided storage and workshops for the businesses above. But they flooded regularly and were abandoned by their legitimate occupants. It wasn’t long before they were occupied by a new set of people: the homeless, the destitute and the downright illegal. For nearly 100 years, the Vaults were a byword for horror. By the end of the 19th Century, they were sealed up and not rediscovered until the 1980s.

It isn’t too hard to imagine ghosts in these vaults. Our lady guide tells us tales of a few benign spirits: a young boy who appears to latch onto blonde women, a crouching figure by the entrance to one of the rooms.

The less benign ghouls are here too: the Hellfire Club, who used the Vaults as a location for gambling, drinking and other nefarious activities. Then there’s Mr Boots who follows groups around and has told many visitors to “GET OUT!”.

Oddly, for such a dark venue, photography is encouraged. As she explains:

“Unexpected things sometimes turn up in photographs”.

Tonight, I’m relieved to say that we have no appearances. Or so I think. When we leave the Vaults at the end of the tour, Simon turns to me and says:

“I’m sure I felt somebody blowing on the back of my neck when we were down there”.

Yikes.

Princes Street Gardens: Good and Evil

The next morning, we take a stroll through the neatly trimmed lawns and well-kept flower beds of the Princes Street Gardens. Princes Street is on one side, with shops and road works (soon to be a tram network, but don’t ask an Edinburgh resident about THAT unless you’ve got a spare hour). On the other side, cliffs rise straight up to the castle and the Old Town.

Firth of Forth and Fife

So are the gardens all that they seem? Well, not quite. They used to be home to the Nor’ Loch, a “filthy and offensive bog” which was a repository for rubbish, detritus and much, much worse.

17th Century Europe had something of a witch obsession. Witches were hunted down, tried and then burned at the stake. Edinburgh took its part in this witch hunt: potential candidates were subjected to trial by ducking in the Nor’ Loch and, if they floated, were found guilty and sentenced to death. If they drowned, they were found not guilty (but, obviously, were also dead).

A century passed, and the Nor’ Loch was drained as the area was converted to gardens. Hundreds of human bones were found –those poor unfortunate non-witches. By the 19th Century, Robert Louis Stephenson described the gardens as “full of girls and idle men, steeping themselves in sunshine”.

We stroll idly through the gardens ourselves, enjoying the sunshine. Then we walk up to St Andrew Square to the twin temples of the Royal Bank of Scotland (finance) and Harvey Nichols (retail). We carry on down towards Queen Street, admiring the views up to the Firth of Forth and the Kingdom of Fife. Now we’re walking amongst the neat Georgian terraces of Edinburgh New Town. Nothing untoward could possibly happen behind these tall front doors.

Could it?

-Louise Heal

Planning a trip to Edinburgh? Browse Viator’s Edinburgh Tours, Sightseeing & Things to do, from walking & biking tours to Loch Ness and Stirling Castle day trips from Edinburgh and more, or enjoy multi-day trips to the Scottish Highlands and Isle of Skye to further discover the beautiful countryside. Want more scary tours? Check our Edinburgh Dungeon and our Murder and Mystery Walking Tour of Edinburgh for further thrills. If you are a Dan Brown’s fan, our Da Vinci Code and Scottish Borders tour is for you!

Let’s just say I have new respect for the Beatles’ skills since they could score a double or triple fab every time, and we are still trying to get a couple per song consistently. Still my brother’s rock band guitar gently weeps.

A Fab Four of Viator Travelers on Abbey Road

Try to see it my way

But I digress. My burgeoning obsession got me thinking about why I like the Beatles so much and one reason, I think, is that they were great ambassadors of travel. Try to see it my way, only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong.

One reason people travel is that they find it renewing, even inspiring. Think about the White Album, many argue the greatest Beatles album, largely composed while the Beatles took their famous spiritual journey to India, and possibly kicking off a whole travel trend of hippie kids journeying to India to find themselves. You don’t need me to show the way, love.

Or let’s go back even further, we can work it out. Remember when they hopped the pond to the USA? The Beatlemania screaming girl glamor of them stepping off the plane to greet a whole new nation of fans. And then the famous touring years - Tokyo, Shea Stadium in New York, Australia. I’d also be remiss not to point out the movies from around this period, Help! is a mishmash of sequences shot all over England, Salzburg / the Austrian Alps and the Bahamas.

Come together, right now

Beatles Story Museum

Let’s get back to where they once belonged. Who’d heard of, or cared about Liverpool before the Beatles? They’re synonymous with the city. As long as people love the Beatles, people will visit the Cavern Club, Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields, and gawk at George’s house. Seriously, Viator sells an awful lot of the Beatles and Liverpool Day Trip from London. Or the curious case of Abbey Road. Without the Beatles why would anyone take a special trip to the Abbey Road crosswalk?

Still not with me? Come together right now. There’s evidence of the Beatles’ lovely travel (sometimes as allegory) songs: I”ll Follow the Sun, Magical Mystery Tour, Back in the U.S.S.R, Day Tripper, Ticket to Ride, Ballad of John and Yoko and Yellow Submarine to name a few of my favorites.

All these places have their moments, with lovers and friends I still can recall. Some are dead and some are living, in my life I’ve loved them all.

-Kelly G

PS: Feeling like you got to get the Fab Four into your life? Check out all the Beatles tours on Viator. I don’t know why you say goodbye, I say hello.

And what had me baffled even more, why did anyone build such a thing?

In search of answers to these pressing questions (admittedly also in need of a good steam and swim in the sauna / pool next door), I set out into the wilds of the Belgian capital to experience this European voyage in miniature for myself.

Europe big and small. Note the human for scale!

Europe is a wee little thing

There is something intriguing about the attempt to capture the highlights of an entire continent (plus extras - hello UK! hello Scandinavia!) in model form. And the park itself takes up far less space than you might imagine. The exhibits are dwarfed by the world’s largest molecule, the glistening silver atom that dominates the skyline, looming over the fence from next door. It’s a remnant of the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair, sometimes called Belgium’s answer to the Eiffel Tower; you can ascend the Atomium for a panoramic view over Brussels in full-scale (ticket available as an extra with the entrance to Mini-Europe).

The band Contact rocks mini Europe

Every country in the European Union has its own model setting in this strangely intriguing folly. Being an Australian; I am often astounded by the sense of distances in Europe, where a city two hours away can be perceived as a long journey (back home we routinely spend 12 hours on the road to get around the countryside).

Greetings from the space station, wish you were here

There was also something that tickled me about being able to visit all the great European sights in one day – and it appears that many people shared my enthusiasm. The main occupation of visitors to the park is taking snapshots of themselves in front of the monuments: the mini-Eiffel tower; the mini-Big Ben, a North Sea oil rig, the Sacre-Coeur, Brussels’ Grand Place, various picturesque town squares, Mount Vesuvius, even the Ariane space station!

Take a photo in front of the Eiffel Tower

The information about each country also contains a recording of their national anthem; which is activated by pressing a giant blue button. My favourite thing was setting off as many of the national anthems as I could get to play together. I found one particular corner of the park where I could hear a surround-sound medley from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Latvia all playing at once!! Beautiful, joyous diversion for a sound artist who happened to stray into this strange terrain!

I was also impressed by the detail and humour displayed in the exhibits - tiny little people sunbathing on the decks of the boats in Copenhagen; the village square bustling with a market place; a rock band set up in the corner of the Grand Place for a concert. The mini bull ring was complete with blood-thirsty audience and tiny toreadors, while the relaxed cafe lifestyle is well-represented in Vilnius’ model setting.

The only thing missing was a taste of the food from each country – I think the restaurant section of generic Belgian fast-food could happily be replaced with a stand from every one of the countries represented; offering an authentic flavour from their gourmet dishes.

Ceci n’est pas European culture

The park brochure, which contains useful information and anecdotes about each of the countries and the specific models (at a scale of 1:25), opens with a quote from Robert Schuman, President of the European Movement (1955-1961): “This concept, Europe, will make the common foundation of our civilisation clear to all of us and create little by little a link similar to the one with which the nations were forged in the past. ”

The idea of a ‘European Culture’ is one that has particular resonance at this moment; with lively debate on the transnational and transcultural practices between the countries in an expanded European Union taking place in various forums.

Ship life, detail

Yet while the spirit of the endeavour is one of celebration of the diverse cultures in the countries comprising the European Union, the overall feeling I had in the park was something of a nostalgic melancholy. It reminded me of visiting somewhere that you had been as a child, and being saddened at how much smaller everything seemed than your memories of the place.

It felt to me that condensing all these vibrant and exciting locations into a bite-sized afternoon stroll only highlighted my desire to visit the real thing, and experience the full richness of life in all of these places.

Europe in miniature, a case of curiosities

If you’re so inclined you can pick up the photo of yourself with the giant orange EU ambassador/mascot, taken on the way in; or collect souvenirs from all the exhibits.

A perfect bullring, in miniature

I made the most of the photo opportunities; taking snaps of visitors in front of the models. The tiny train line is fascinating, weaving through the city scapes. And the airport is also a wonderful diversion, the planes trundling solemnly along their pre-defined routes, one poised for flight yet never leaving the ground. The oil rig and harbour provide another element, with an ocean liner also ready to leave for the next cruise, tooting the horn and circling endlessly around the small body of water. These icons of transportation certainly offer the inspiration to take a real trip on the next train, plane or boat you can find!

Next door is the Oceania swimming centre, which you can have included as an extra option in the ticket – here the kids can splash about in the wave pool, there is a pirate ship and restaurant, some outdoor pools and the mecca for which I was heading – the sauna.

Brussels' Grand Place

It’s been too long since I got good and steamy in Finland, so this was a much-needed indulgence. Alternating between the dry wood sauna and the steam room, dipping into the freezing cold plunge pool, and finally lounging for a few hours on the reclining chair, I whiled away the afternoon looking out at the garden.

-Jodi Rose

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Brussels tours & things to do in Belgium, from Ghent and Bruges day trips to the Mini Europe Theme Park.

Since the completion of the national ring road in 1974 Icelanders have collectively set out to explore every inhabitable corner of their dramatic country. The 1,339km (832 mile) spin around Route 1 really is the ultimate road trip. With active volcanoes, accessible glaciers, river deltas, black beaches, imposing mountains and lava plains all within easy reach, it seemed the perfect way to show a friend visiting us for a few days some of Iceland’s natural wonders.

Southern Iceland in a Day

We only had a couple of days and so decided to keep it simple. Traveling east out of Reykjavik, the plan was to trace a path along the southern coast towards the vast hunk of ice that is Vatnajökull. Given the choices on offer we thought it best to pick our stop-off points and overnight accommodation as we went along. After all, we had an esky full of food, a car packed with begged and borrowed camping equipment and the open road ahead of us. What could possibly go wrong?

Some of you might remember my blog about a road trip to Aldrei fór ég Suður, a music festival located in Isafjörður, an impossibly remote north western fishing village. The moral learned after that hairy excursion was be prepared for the worst, expect anything, especially from the weather, and never assume that there will be gas, food, or lodging when and where you need it most. Because there usually isn’t.

As much as Route 1 has opened up Iceland up to be explored, it is still little more than a country road connecting a series of sparsely populated villages. It’s cowboy country out here and nothing should be taken for granted. But, buoyed by the morning sun and excited to get going, all these hard-learning lessons deserted us in our hour of departure.

Southern Iceland: East of Reykjavik

Leaving Reykjavik we passed a smattering of N1 petrol stations and suburban malls, then sprawling lava fields and jagged outcrops emitting gentle shots of volcanic steam. Hveragerði, (the Greenhouse Village) is a pretty town boasting gardens year-round due to the heated ground, and a nice place to stop for lunch. But a mere 50km out of town, we pressed on. Much like the Sigur Rós soundtrack playing on the stereo, the weather was moody. Beaming with sunshine one minute, sulking through blackened clouds the next, and then flashing us with rainbows, it was a reminder of the capriciousness of the Icelandic conditions. But we were too busy enjoying the scenery to heed the subtle warning.

Warming hut & charming farmhouses

A little further along, we pulled over at a little stone and turf shelter shed at Sauðhúsvöller to enjoy a picnic lunch. Given the sheer winds, we considered taking our victuals in the little elfin structure, which was build to protect both school children and milk pails from inclement weather while they waited to be picked up. But it was a little squeezy for three adults and so we picnicked in the car instead.

Just as we were pulling back out onto the road, fate intervened in the form of a phone call from a couple of our friends who were at the tail end of a two-week camping holiday with their one-year old. Both natives, they were as experienced and as well-versed on Icelandic travel as you could find. I’m not sure what made them call us at that precise moment but I’d like to imagine it was some kind of Spidey Sense divining our unpreparedness. They reported that from where we were currently, all the way east to Höfn, every guesthouse was booked up. The weather was deteriorating and unless we were prepared to set up camp in a downpour, we should backtrack without delay.

Not what we wanted to hear. To retreat meant no Vatnajökull, no boat trip on the glacial lake, and no sense of accomplishment that we could traverse southern Iceland in a day. Besides, at that stage the rainbows still far outnumbered the clouds. Surely our friends, with the inherent prudence of new parenthood, were merely being over-cautious? We were three Aussies on the loose in a 4WD. We could hack a few rain showers and no doubt exercise our antipodean charm to secure appropriate lodgings in time. Thanking our friends for their advice and promising to wave hello to them as they passed, we pushed onwards.

Southern Iceland: Farmhouses, Icelandic Horses & Sheer Cliffs

Cocooned by the warmth of the car, the highway stretched before us, hugging coastlines and skirting mountains, disarmingly straight for spells before twisting at the last moment to reveal various stunning features in the landscape. Such as the Mýrdalsjökull glacier casually creeping down from between the rocky mountain ridges of Katla, an active volcano long overdue for an eruption. It was almost laughingly offhand.

“Oh hi. I’m a glacier. Hanging out by the highway. With my mate the volcano. No big deal.”

And the rainbows continued to frame and embellish the whole thing like a tiara of a small town beauty queen. It was all so unassuming and yet gorgeously ostentatious at the same time. Spiky rock silhouettes. Blue skies determinedly pushing past the black clouds. Solitary farmhouses contented in their loneliness and undaunted by the sheer cliff backdrops. Icelandic horses tossing their flaxen manes just as the wind tossed the tawny grasses at their feet. I couldn’t help but wonder who had switched southern Iceland for a Disney movie set when we weren’t looking.

Iceland Ice & Fire: Mýrdalsjökull Glacier & Katla Volcano

Then the pouting clouds, threatening tears for so many hours, finally opened the floodgates. As if making up for their earlier restraint, they invited the wind to the party. Together the duo was a sudden and unexpected force to be reckoned with on the unsheltered stretch of road we were on. When Vík came into view, we welcomed the opportunity for a pitstop.

Vík, Iceland’s southernmost village, is well known for it’s arresting black beach, decorated by carved columns of black basalt – the myth says they are former trolls who were caught outside at dawn. It’s also a great place to stop for woollen products or to sup on an exceptional bowl of Kjötsúpa (lamb soup) at the roadhouse. We did both of these things and then, valiantly, recklessly, continued eastward.

Contacting our friends again, we arranged a confab in Kirkjubærklaustur, a village of 120 permanent inhabitants and many hundreds more tourists who use it as a base from which to explore the sights of the Skaftárhreppur district. Refuelling on hot dogs and even hotter tea, our friends gave us the lowdown: deciding the weather was too wild for camping with a baby, they had secured a nearby cabin, the last available in the region. Concerned for us, they had made a tentative booking for us at the accommodation in Hella, some 150km back in the direction from which we’d just come. Our only choices were to turn back now or press on and risk camping in the wild weather.

Southern Iceland: Glacial Lake & Icebergs

Having heard all about the glacial lake Jökulsarlón which was another 120km down Route 1 and the main purpose of our trip, we were loathe to miss it because of a bit of rain. The largest glacial lake in Iceland it was created by the run-off from Breiðamerkurjökull and the Jökulsá river which until 1948 flowed under the glacier directly out to sea. Today the lake sits neatly between the glacier and the sea mouth, a thin isthmus keeping it in like a pasted on smile. It’s an icy punchbowl filled with floating hunks of ice and bobbing seals venturing in from the North Atlantic. Scenes from countless movies had been filmed there, including Die Another Day and View To A Kill and we’d been told that you could take a boat ride amongst the icebergs. We figured we owed it to ourselves and all six Bonds to get there. Onward ho!

Iceland largest glacial lake - lake Jökulsarlón

Racing against the clock we arrived just in time for the last boat ride of the day. The rain, chilled icy cold by the driving wind, was really coming down now. Assuming waterproofs would be provided, we jumped aboard and paid our fare. Alas, our assumptions were founded on nought but the blind optimism we’d packed in the back alongside other people’s tents. We got utterly soaked. But it’s not every day you go boating in a glacial lake so we shut up and put up and enjoyed the ride.

The seals usually seen kicking back on icebergs were today out in the bay romancing each other for the summer breeding season. The icebergs themselves were scenery enough though, prettily tinted blue thanks to the overcast weather. The boat ride was annotated by an informative local guide who managed to do his entire twenty-minute presentation clutching a chunk of glacial ice the size of a football without feeling the cold. They breed them tough out here.

Southern Iceland: A True Camping Experience

Numbed from the stunning experience as much as the weather, we got back in the car and retreated to Kirkjubærklaustur. Given that we were all now soaked to the skin, and sans change of dry clothes, the prospect of camping was less than thrilling. Needless to say, we were regretting our earlier arrogance. Waving our friends goodbye as they headed for the warmth of their cabin, we crawled sheepishly through the town in our 4WD looking for room at the inn.

People were sympathetic, but unable to help. And so we headed for the local campground, our only alternative to sleeping in the car. One very soggy hour later we had erected our two tents. We braced ourselves for a wild old night, comforted only by the fact that Icelandic campgrounds are as well appointed as many hotels, with hot showers, drying rooms and internet connection all part of the measly 2000ISK fee. While my two companions found sleeping in the howling weather difficult, it lulled me straight to sleep. I awoke at 9am to find my other half proferring a steaming cup of truckstop tea through the zipper door. A hot shower and a muesli bar later, we hit the road.

The skies were all rained out and it was nothing but rainbows from Kirkjubærklaustur to Seljavellalaug, my favourite hidden hot pool (see blog on Getting Soaked in Iceland) where we stopped for a reviving dip. Pressing on to Hvolsvöllur, we stopped at Eldstó Café for another warming Kjötsúpa then happily headed for home. Stumbling through the door by dinner time we had just enough energy left for a bite to eat and an early night. I confess at this point that some of our earlier smugness had returned.

Who says you can’t traverse a country in a day with little more than an esky full of snacks and a tank full of petrol.

-Maggie Rays

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Iceland tours and things to do in Iceland, including Day trips & Excursions from Reykjavik, as well as Blue Lagoon tours and hot springs trips to Reykjavik Geysirs.

Elephants at Bioparco, Rome

Perhaps you’ve heard that Rome isn’t the most hospitable place for children and families, but don’t be fooled! Families with children of all ages will find no shortage of interesting family-friendly activities around nearly every corner in Rome.

The trick to having a successful family vacation in Rome and keeping your sanity along the way is all in the pre-planning. If your children are old enough, get them involved by sharing ideas for places to visit and setting up a rough itinerary for your visit before you go.

If your children are younger, think about the various ‘equipment’ you’ll need to make for a comfortable stay, whether that means a portable crib, an umbrella stroller, or special layering clothes to adapt to the hot and humid summer temperatures or rainy winters. Keep in mind that Rome means a lot of walking, so plan your itinerary accordingly with various stops along the way, and don’t forget comfortable shoes for the whole family.

Of course, you won’t want to miss some of the ‘biggies’ like the Colosseum and the Pantheon, but the following suggestions are a few crowd-pleasing favorites for children of various ages that you may not have heard about before. Categorized by age groups, you may find you can even mix and match some activities regardless of age, depending on your children’s interests, maturity and energy level.

Rome for young children (ages 3-7)

At the top of the list of things for kids to do in Rome is Explora, the Rome Children’s Museum (Via Flaminia 82). As the name indicates, this is a hands-on exploratory experience for kids, and is divided into four sections - Me, Society, Environment, and Communication - to help them discover their world. Kids can stage a mock TV broadcast or wander around a transparent, environmentally-friendly house, and the typical ‘do not touch’ signs are nowhere to be found.

The Colosseum in Rome

Villa Borghese is a definite must, with something for everyone. Visit the Cinema dei Piccoli, (Viale della Pineta 15) classified in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s smallest cinema. Take a peek at the San Carlino Puppet Theater on Viale dei Bambini (Children’s Way) on the Pincio Hill. There’s a trenino or ‘little train’ that chugs around the park and takes off from Viale Goethe.

Also part of Villa Borghese and a fun stop for families is the Rome Zoo, called the Bioparco, with lots of special areas and exhibits just for children throughout the park.

For the cat lovers in your family, the famous Largo Argentina Cat Shelter is well worth a visit. Here, you’ll find friendly volunteers who run this no-kill shelter for abandoned cats on donations alone, in the marvelous setting of the Largo Argentina ruins. Tell your children the story of how Julius Caesar was assassinated here, and take them downstairs to visit the cat shop and see some of the shelter’s residents. Volunteers give English-language guided tours for free.

Rome with older kids (ages 8-12)

A trip back in time might be just the ticket for this age group, and the Time Elevator (Via dei SS. Apostoli 20) provides exactly this: a sort of interactive movie attraction with special effects that make it seem more like a ride, taking you back through 3,000 years of Roman history.

If you have time for an out-of-town excursion, the Monster Park at Bomarzo is about an hour’s drive north of Rome and is always a favorite with kids. This Renaissance garden has larger-than-life stone sculptures of various animals and ‘monsters’ that your children can climb on and, in the case of the leaning house, in!

No visit to Rome would be complete without two ‘traditions’ that you can teach your children about: the Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth) and the Trevi Fountain. Watch the film Roman Holiday before you leave for your trip, then re-enact the scene at the Mouth of Truth, having each of your children put their hand in the ‘mouth,’ which is most likely an ancient Roman drain cover. If they still have their hands after this experiment, you can be sure they’re telling you the truth - or can you? Then take them over to the Trevi Fountain to throw in some coins, ensuring your return to Rome someday.

Rome with teenagers (ages 13-18)

Ferris wheel at LunEUR

A perennial favorite with Roman teenagers is LunEUR (Via delle Tre Fontane). This is Rome’s only amusement park (known in Italian as a ‘luna park’) and is one of the largest and oldest in Italy. Built in 1953 as part of an agricultural show, it took on its current form in 1962 and now houses over 130 attractions on more than 750,000 square feet.

What teenager doesn’t love shopping? Stroll Rome’s own ‘Rodeo Drive’, Via dei Condotti, then climb the Spanish Steps where Roman teenagers often hang out, mixing with the endless crowds of tourists. For shopping on a more realistic budget, steer your teenagers towards Via del Corso.

For teenagers who aren’t easily scared, venture down into the bone crypt and catacombs at the Santa Maria della Concezione Church (Via Veneto 27). Not for the faint of heart, this church has a permanent basement exhibit of bone sculptures made from - you guessed it - bones. Thousands of them, in fact, collected between 1528 and 1870 from nearly 4,000 Cappuchin friars who were buried here. Creepy enough to surprise even the most ‘know-it-all’ teenagers.

Family dining in Rome

Most places in Rome are fine for families, but a few places are worth a special mention. Taverna de’ Mercanti (Piazza de’ Mercanti) is probably the most authentic place to dine in old Rome. Housed in what was probably a stable from the 1400s, you pass through the medieval square and torch-lit entrance to climb a dark staircase that leads to a spacious, wood-filled, bustling dining room filled with old-fashioned atmosphere. Children of all ages can find something on the menu, from pizza to pasta and meat dishes, with a poster-sized paper menu you can take home.

Della Palma gelateria

Being a kid and eating ice cream go hand in hand, but only the lucky ones get to experience Roman gelato. Take them to Della Palma, just past the Pantheon at Via della Maddalena 20/23, where you’ll find 125 different flavors in the winter and 135 in the summer. Even your pickiest eater will find something to love.

Kid-sized shopping in Rome

Can’t go home without a stop at the toy store? Don’t miss Città del Sole (Via della Scrofa 65), an Italian chain that features a range of educational toys disguised as just plain fun.

You’ll probably see lots of people carrying shopping bags with a wooden Pinocchio on them—that’s because they’ve discovered Bartolucci (Via dei Pastini 98). Crammed full of hand-crafted pine wood toys and clocks with pendulums swinging every which way, the pure sensory overload of this shop makes it hard to keep your wallet in check—you’ll probably end up walking out with a bag of goodies just like everyone else.

Soccer fans in the family? Indulge their adoration of ‘La Roma’ at the AS Roma Store in Piazza Colonna. For fans of local rival team Lazio, the official team shop, Original Fans, is near the Termini train station on Via Farini 34.

-Shelley Ruelle

So get your family packed and ready… Italy is waiting! For more ideas see Viator’s complete list of things to do in Rome, tours in Venice, what to do in Florence, and tours & attractions in Italy. If you need a place to stay, check out Rome Hotels on Planetware.com.

Cruising through a tunnel on the Paris canal tour

Exploring the canals of Paris (yes Paris has canals)

I joined the canal boat at La Villette, the enormous science park and centre at the end of the Canal St Martin. (This is also worth a visit, especially for travellers with children, who will be enthralled by the fantastic exhibits at the science museum, with a huge park and playground outside.) Taking the tour in this direction means you can spend the morning exploring and then head back into the centre of the city; while starting in the morning at Musee d’Orsay will give you the afternoon at la Villette.

We drifted happily along the relics of a post-industrial waterway, chimney stacks rising from the factories along the shore; under the marvellous black smoky iron railway bridge; and then to one of my favourite tiny bridges in Paris, which rises up above the canal to let the boats fit underneath.

Culture via canal

The multi-coloured lights of the Holiday Inn are next door, and the endless summer party along the canal takes place every warm night; you can find friends here dancing til dawn to the beat of their bongo drums. The basin de la Villette widens out to the rotunda at the end – another nice cafe there – and the dramatic contrasts in the life of this vibrant city are highlighted by the homeless people living in cardboard leaning up against the stone walls across the water.

Two of the major cinemas are located on either side of the canal here, and if you buy the tickets from one you can take a free boat across to the other – a short trip worth the price of admission. Mainstream new release movies are shown in their original version. Here you can also find out about which metro stations changed from originally German names – did you know there used to be a Paris metro stop called ‘Berlin’? You may also hear about the crazy city taxes and the effect this had on the citizens, which also explains why inside Paris is so much more expensive than outside Paris.

Snapping pics along the Paris canal tour

The locks of Canal St Martin

This brings us to the first lock; a small but pretty one with the water flowing over the wooden gate and trees stretching above you, arched with a small delicate iron footbridge. The lock is in two parts; the second part brings you under the railway bridge; where people line up along the stone wall to watch the boat slowly lower as the water level drops beneath it. The first small tunnel is a surprise; but wait until you get to the end of the canal where the tunnel stretches for 2 kilometres!

This part of the canal has a spooky history; you will hear about the ‘lock of the dead’, and find out why the macabre butchers of the past may have served up more than animal meat to customers.

The long tunnel under the Bastille

Next you pass Point Ephemere, one of the most popular bar and performance venues along the canal, next door to the fire station where we timed our trip perfectly to watch an emergency rescue practice drill being performed (with a dramatic escape on the fire ladder!).

Boboo Paris from the water

The prettiest part of the canal is to follow; it’s the centre of bobo (bourgeois bohemian) Paris, resplendent with brightly coloured gift and clothes shops and overflowing bars. The tiny Bar Jemmapes is still my favourite - although a French friend loves the Hotel du Nord , which provides one of the cultural anecdotes for the tour guide. The movie of the same name is reason for the most famous movie quote in all of French cinema; apparently equivalent to Casablanca’s “Play it again, Sam”. I won’t spoil it, though. You will have to take the tour to discover the French equivalent

Drifting merrily along through the numerous locks, you can sit back and relax; enjoy watching the people along the sides of the water as they play in the parks or drink in the bars. Finally; you will discover why the canal was buried; and the ever-present social unrest of earlier political times… maybe still relevant in these turbulent days. And if you’re lucky; the ghostly clarinet may sound in the canal tunnel while you pass through, illuminated by eerie green light from the vents into the park above.

Meeting with the Seine

Gargoyles on the Pont Neuf

Passing beneath the Place de la Bastille, the canal boat floats out onto the Seine River, where the open water is a welcome change after the dark confined tunnel. Here you pass the many architectural wonders of the city, from the Cite and the Cathedral Notre-Dame on to my favourite bridge, the Pont Neuf (home of the lovers in the famous film, which is stunning to see from underneath).

The nearby Pont des Arts is always packed with tourists and sightseers who stop to enjoy a picnic on the bridge, and provides an easy passage between the Left Bank and the pyramid and treasures of the Louvre. (Remember, as with most of the major museums there is free entrance the first Sunday of every month.)

The tour ends – if you take the afternoon boat in this direction – at the Musée d’Orsay, where you will probably have time to catch the highlights of the exhibition before strolling down one of the pretty side streets of the Left Bank to find yourself something for dinner.

I like exploring the area between Rue de Seine and rue Dauphine, there are so many hidden gastronmic delights tucked away on these narrow streets, especially wander along rue de Buci, and Rue Mazarine, for the seafood restaurant with beautiful mosaics, and a beguilingly authentic-looking French bistro tucked in amongst the plethora of options along the main drag. Go out into the side streets and see what tastes you can discover!

-Jodi Rose

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Paris tours & things to do in Paris, from cruises along the Seine river to the Paris St Martin canal tour Jodi writes about above.