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The Thinking Traveller

The Thinking Traveller

Making friends when you travel, according to solo travellers

Along with taking in the beautiful sights, tasting the local cuisine and immersing yourself in the culture, meeting new people is one of the most exciting and enriching parts of travel. But for some, making friends as an adult can be an awkward, uncomfortable and, quite frankly, scary undertaking.   This article gives you usable tips…

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Nordic Too

Scandinavia  or, more broadly, the Nordic countries, is a European region north of the Baltic Sea. At almost 1.2 million square kilometres (463,000 square miles) it is the largest region in Europe, but home to only around 24 million people, accounting for a mere 4% of the population. Scandinavia consists of Denmark, Sweden and Norway.…

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In Pakistan, it’s always been “waste not, want not.”

The Memon predisposition towards frugality is iconic within Pakistan, but they celebrate their stereotyping as an achievement; a tribute to their enduring prosperity and resilience. The concentration ­and preservation of wealth, as the last vestiges of power and dominion that the displaced Memons clung to, has been integral to their quest for identity. And while…

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France

France, officially the French Republic (French: République française), is a country with which almost every traveller has a relationship. Many dream of its joie de vivre shown by the countless restaurants, picturesque villages and world-famous gastronomy. Some come to follow the trail of France's great philosophers, writers and artists, or to immerse in the beautiful…

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You can have your cup and eat it, too

Do you ever wonder why, with our human capabilities, we can't sometimes solve the apparently overwhelming problems of waste management,  recyclables,litter and the future of our planet?  Some organizations and individuals are taking this quite seriously though, and this article describes an airline that actually serves cups that are edible. It makes sense and hats…

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European rail sends its best, with love, to you

Inspired by its sister index, the European Consumer Airport Index, we looked at Europe’s 50 largest railway stations and ranked them in terms of passengers experience, ranked according to a mix of factors ranging from how crowded platforms are and accessibility to the number of destinations and cleanliness.

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Modern luxury hotels built in abandoned churches

Secular meets sacred. Writer Keith Flanagan Recently, abandoned churches have had an unlikely saviour: the hotelier. Sure, it may not seem like a match made in heaven—sacred spaces serve a higher purpose, while hotels are hedonistic by design—but the typical church architecture of an open layout, vaulted ceilings, and walls of stained glass offers a distinct…

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Ireland. 200,000+ books. What’s not to like?

The Trinity College Library houses some of the world’s most precious manuscripts and artifacts dating back to 800 A.D. This colossal hall is a book lover’s paradise. Known as the Long Room, this magnificent chamber was built between 1712 and 1732 nearly 65 meters (213 feet) in length and home to over 200,000 rare books. Why so…

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The longest walkable distance on Earth

Just in case you have seen and done everything in the world, perhaps here is something that you might want to try. Maybe you might wish to use it for a charity event. If, perchance, you do, let us know how it goes.   Joseph Pisenti of RealLifeLore (previously) offers a “brief overview” of the longest pedestrian distance…

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Bolivia

Bolivia is a beautiful, geographically diverse, multiethnic, and democratic country in the heart of South America. It is surrounded by Brazil to the northeast, Peru to the northwest, Chile to the southwest, Argentina and Paraguay to the south. It shares with Peru control of Lake Titicaca (Lago Titicaca), the world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805m).…

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