My secret travel sauce (that you should use)🥫
One of my favorite resources when planning a great trip
Hey friend,
Daniel Catena here.
Before we begin, I’m grateful for you and the 46 other lovely people from 9 countries who subscribe to this newsletter!
I’m thankful for you. 😎
Aaaannd guess what?
This week’s edition normally would be for paid subscribers only, but since it’s the holiday season I wanted to make this available to everyone.
Your support means a lot! ❤️
Ok, now let’s buckle up. 😎
Last week we talked about having a clear intention for a trip. In this edition, I’ve got a secret that I want to share.
Okay, it’s not a total secret.
But it’s something I haven’t shared with people before.
It’s one of my all-time favorite resources to plan for a trip.
This trip-planning resource is pretty straightforward.
I ask myself:
What would UNESCO do?
If you’re not familiar with UNESCO, here’s a quick summary:
Established in 1945, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is an organization serving a vital purpose for our planet.
Its mission is to promote peace, security, education, and ideas across all borders.
UNESCO strives to make culture, science, information, and communication accessible to all.
For me, UNESCO often serves as a starting point for mapping out a trip.
What are World Heritage Sites?
World Heritage Sites are places that UNESCO says are important for mankind.
They offer historical, cultural, and scientific importance.
So, this means they are irreplaceable and need to be protected.
They can be natural, cultural, or a combination of both. As of 2023, there are 1109 World Heritage Sites.
And they should be visited!
This is my “secret sauce,” I like to see which World Heritage Sites are nearby whenever checking out a new place.
Not only will you have a solid base for a beautiful trip, but you’ll learn something new and become connected to the place you’re visiting.
Here’s an example:
Let’s say you want to visit Peru. Here’s a possible trip:
Fly into Lima (the capital)
The Lima Historic City Center (WHS)Take a 3-hour bus north to Caral
The Sacred City of Caral-Supe (WHS)Return to Lima, fly to Cusco
Cusco (WHS)
The Machu Picchu Sancuary (WHS)Fly back to Lima (go home)
Now, that’s not a bad trip if you ask me! 😉
Bonus: Reading about each destination on UNESCO’s website before arriving will help you appreciate it more!
⚓️ Travel Quote of the Week
“I can choose either to be a victim of the world or an adventurer in search of treasure. It’s all a question of how I view my life.”
― Paulo Coelho
🧐 Did you know?
Venezuela and its South American neighbor, Guyana, are in the midst of a territorial dispute. Venezuela is trying to claim Guyana’s Essequibo region as its own. It spans 160,000 square kilometers and is vastly rich in oil.
As both countries try to settle this border conflict that involves two-thirds of Guyana’s land, let’s take a deeper look.
Since 1841, Venezuela has claimed that this territory is legally theirs. They say that the British encroached on Venezuelan land when they mapped out the colony of British Guyana.
Eventually, this land became Guyana once it gained independence from the British and founded a nation.
Guyana feels that Venezuela’s “right” to the land is an existential threat. They don’t want to negotiate.
This modern issue has deep colonial roots. Time will tell how this problem plays out.
⛩ Culture Corner
‘Tis the season for Christmas markets around the world. Germany is the birthplace of these fun events, known to locals as Christkindlmarkts.
In Berlin, markets are called Weihnachtsmarkt.
If you find yourself in Germany at the end of November and through December, a stop (or a few) at one (or many) of these markets is essential.
Visitors regale in delicious food, fine drinks, and plenty of stands to buy gifts for loved ones.
Hot mulled wine, bock beer, roasted chestnuts, and hot sausages are all on the menu at these gatherings. There’s often live music and activities for all ages.
Kids can meet St. Nicolas and have fun on rides.
Although there are hundreds of markets throughout the country, Conde Nast Traveler has a list of 19 markets you can’t miss.
An example is Nuremberg’s market which dates back to 1530.
🏙 City Showcase
Kanchanaburi, Thailand. This riverside resort town is a total contrast to neighboring Bangkok. Located in western Thailand, it is only two hours away from the country’s capital and most bustling city.
Unlike Bangkok, which is an endless sprawl of skyscrapers and traffic, Kanchanaburi is where you can unwind in breathtaking nature.
How to get there: Rome2Rio says it’s only 1 hour and 45 minutes by car to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok. You can also take a train (2.5 hours) or a minivan (3.2 hours).
It has a sad past: This is home of the Death Railway. During World War II, the Japanese army forced thousands of local laborers and Allied prisoners of war to build the Burma Railway here.
This connected modern-day Myanmar to Thailand. Over half of the workers died in the process.
Visitors can pay respects to those who died by visiting the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery and Death Railway Museum.
Kanchanaburi isn’t all somber; it’s got plenty of adventure and beauty. The JJ Night Market Kanchanaburi has great views of the Kwai Yai River.
The Wat Tham Khao Pun is a Buddhist temple constructed inside a massive cave.
If you want to treat yourself, there are luxurious floating resorts for travelers who want to sleep with the Kwai Yai River as your backdrop.
Nearby (50 minutes by car) Erawan National Park is home to gorgeous tropical waterfalls, emerald-green pools, caves, and scenic limestone hills.
Alight my fellow Itchy Feeters, we’ve reached the end of this week’s trip. 🛬
I hope you enjoyed reading this post. Chat again soon!
Sincerely,
Daniel
P.S. Thanks for supporting Itchy Feet! Take care.