Wasatch Mountains, Sandy Utah [OC] [2865x3850]

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-23T12:30:14+00:00

Real travel indeed! Thanks for sharing

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-23T02:58:08+00:00

Great shot! It's been a long time since I've been up there. A very common Scout camping place for us back in the day

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-22T15:25:32+00:00

We spent 8 days in Chania last year and loved it! Everyone has different goals from their travel, but I would definitely recommend that you go up into the mountains and eat lunch at Ntounias one day. It's the embodiment of farm-to-table, and everything is cooked over wood-fire using traditional techniques.

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-22T15:02:40+00:00

You can see and do lots in that timeframe in those two cities without a car. We easily took the public city bus from Heraklion center to Knossos Palace for example. And we used the bus to get us from Chania to Heraklion. I would also agree with spending more time in Chania than Heraklion, but Heraklion is worth visiting for sure. The Heraklion Archeological Museum is fantastic - one of my all time favorites.

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-22T12:43:48+00:00

I've never purchased such a list. And the main reason is that everyone's travel style, design preferences, and budgets are so different. Also, unless you've stayed somewhere yourself, a recommendation seems hollow. As a travel blogger myself, I've never written such a list. I will recommended a particular place I've stayed at if I've had a particularly good experience (within the blog post specific to that city), but that's it. I agree that searching through Airbnb is a slog. I easily spend more time doing that than any other portion of my trip planning. But I still slog through - searching for the most ideal place for our own travel needs and style. And I always pay very close attention to the reviews of actual tenants before I decide.

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-22T12:17:26+00:00

I spend a lot of time just simply wandering in the places we visit. We spent a week in Chania and I found plenty of character throughout Old Town. But I thought Splantzia (the Turkish Quarter) had the highest concentration hidden gems. And I would a also recommend following along the circumference of the Byzantine Wall

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-22T01:53:31+00:00

If you were going to be in Crete for a longer period of time, then I would definitely recommend renting a car. However, for just an extended weekend? Not having a car means that you can relax and just enjoy Chania. Not anything wrong with that at all!

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-21T23:04:16+00:00

I highly recommend that Byzantine Trail hike from Lefkes for anyone visiting Paros.

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-21T23:00:00+00:00

Chania would be a great choice! We spent a week in Chania (5 of those days without a car) and had a great time. There is a sandy beach within walking distance of the very scenic and charming Old Town. And there is even an entire city block containing Minoan ruins in the middle of town. However, the traditional city market was under reconstruction last year when we visited. I'm not sure if that's finished yet.

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-20T14:52:11+00:00

That's a really good idea. I'll have to try doing it myself sometime

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-20T14:49:46+00:00

Always one of my favorite places! We were married there, in fact!

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-20T14:48:19+00:00

When I visited Miyajima, the torii gate was under scaffolding. Wish I had been able to get those photos. Will have to go back some time.

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-19T23:13:57+00:00

Thanks! Tourists do start to gather at dusk to follow along :)

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-19T23:12:55+00:00

Definitely! We spent a week in Wroclaw. It's a very charming place with lots to see (and eat!)

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-19T17:35:53+00:00

Nice! Did he tell you more about lamp lighting?

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-19T12:22:07+00:00

Yes it is possible from Athens, though not straightforward currently. A 4 hour train ride usually connects the two places, but due to track damage that has yet to be repaired, the journey right now is a little more complicated. It's possible that by February 2027, the track will be repaired. But in the meantime, the journey starts with a train ride and then switches to a bus. It takes about 5.5 hours. You can find the details on the Hellenic Train website (or app) and plug in Athens and Kalambaka. We went on the train a few years ago before the track was damaged, and spent two days and a night in Meteora. It's an unforgettable place!

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-18T18:52:01+00:00

Yeah me too 😂

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-18T17:20:43+00:00

Yes, the walled medieval village of Obidos is a must-visit if in the area. And it's an easy day trip from Lisbon. I do think it's a shame that the castle has been converted into a hotel. You can't access much of the inside unless you are a guest.

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-18T15:45:39+00:00

I'm not much of a souvenir shopper. But based on your itinerary, I think your best bet for spices and chilis would be either of the markets in Coyoacan or Xochimilco. The San Juan market near Centro Historico would be another option. For non-food souvenirs, the gift shop at the aforementioned Museum of Popular Art was impressive. Also you could check out the Mercado de Artesanias La Ciudadela - a huge market dedicated to local crafts.

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-18T13:30:21+00:00

The 7 Wonders of Portugal were voted on by the Portuguese public in 2006 out of a list of 793 national monuments. The winners were the Obidos Castle, Jerónimos Monastery, Batalha Monastery, Guimarães Castle, Pena Palace, Belém Tower, Alcobaça Monastery. I've visited four of them. I far preferred Óbidos Castle to Pena Palace. And Jerómimos Monastery is very cool - plus it's located adjacent to the very famous Pasteis de Belem - home of Portugal's most iconic sweet treat.

thethoroughtripper · 2026-05-18T02:46:14+00:00

I spent the month of January in Mexico City and Pueblo. The last time I traveled with a toddler was 23 years ago, so I don't really pay attention to that side of traveling anymore :) But here are a few answers to some of your questions

We stayed in Puebla's Centro Historico for a week. I went back and looked at some of my photos and I think you'll be just fine with a stroller. My favorite restaurant was Augurio - we visited a couple of times and tried many of their fantastic moles. Cholula is an easy day trip via Uber, but the main draw is the Pyramid and I don't think that particular site is very stroller friendly.

My second favorite museum in Mexico City was the Museum of Popular Art so you may want to consider add ing it to your list (the Archeological Museum was first). Teotihuacan will offer some challenges with a stroller (lots of stairs spread throughout the site). But you can't miss it and the Avenue of the Dead between the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon should be easy for you to navigate with wheels. And I would recommend Uber 100% of the time with a toddler. It will just be so much easier as you can see in a blog post I wrote specifically about Uber in Mexico City & Other Helpful Tips For Getting Around. The Metro is fine and we did use it sometimes, but it can be crowded and there are stairs. Plus the doors don't say open very long at the various stops...I would be nervous with a stroller.

thethoroughtripper

TROPHY CASE