Antarctica trip report
I visited Antarctica in December 2022 after several years of research and planning. The appeal lies in its unique geography, natural features and political status, as well as the historical context of its discovery and exploration. I had read many accounts of the first explorers to visit these lands and I was hooked. Also, after […]
Communist history points of interest in Romania
When visiting Romania you can tour a number of unique and interesting sites related to the country’s Communist past. Dictator Nicolae Ceausescu led one of the most repressive Communist regimes in Eastern Europe, which makes these sites all the more interesting. The People’s House Description: The greatest achievement of Ceausescu’s megalomania, the “People’s House” […]
Visiting space centers and watching rocket launches around the world
If you’re interested in space exploration then you can take your passion one step further and visit a number of cool space facilities around the world. I’ve listed below the sites I visited, together with some links and practical info for each one. Baikonur Cosmodrome Operated by: Roscosmos/Russian aerospace forces Location: Baikonur, Kazakhstan Description: one of the […]
List of interesting places, sights and things to do around the world
I’ve compiled a list of interesting places, sights and activities that I found around the world. Check it out below. Architecture and monuments: Tashkent Tower * Franz Kafka Head, Zizkov TV Tower and Petrin Tower (Prague) * City of Arts and Sciences (Valencia) * Lanterna di Genova * Dubai Frame * Petronas Twin Towers (Kuala Lumpur) * […]
SciFi-like experience – visiting the Baikonur Cosmodrome (tour report)
I did a tour of the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and got to see a ton of cool stuff: the rollout of the Soyuz TMA-09M rocket and its actual launch; the astronaut press conference and pre-flight report; the Energia-Buran launch complex and the N1 transport vehicles; Gagarin’s memorial house; cool museums; the International Space School; […]
Guide to Europe’s Microstates
I’ve always been fascinated with the microstates of Europe: Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City, Malta, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and Andorra, all of them tiny independent countries that somehow managed to survive the wave of unifications which swept over Europe in past centuries. While the historical perspective itself is intriguing, there’s much more to discover in each […]
Guide to Seeing the Northern Lights
The northern lights – one of the prettiest and most intriguing natural phenomena on this planet Earth. On a good night the night sky comes alive with moving green lights of varying shapes and intensities, complemented by shades of dark red and purple at times; it’s surreal, mesmerizing and feels like you’re on another planet. […]