It’s incredible how even seeing other people travelling the world and getting a glimpse of what was once “normal” is a great comfort. So I wanted to share with you all some of my favourite TV shows which will quench your thirst for the world outside your bedroom! This is part of my series on virtual travel which will hopefully help your wanderlust during this global pandemic.

Long Way Around, Up & Down

Way back in 2004, I watched pretty much everything that came out on Sky TV in the UK. And one of those shows was Ewan McGregor‘s ‘Long Way Around.‘ The TV series followed film star Ewan McGregor and his best friend Charley Boorman as they rode motorcycles around the world, the “long way around.” They meet amazing people along the journey, see incredible vistas, and even come up with creative ways to solve literal bumps in the road.

I fell in love with this series immediately. I had a teenage crush on Ewan McGregor, but the beauty of the places they went kept me around and has me re-watching the series pretty much once a year. Even though the series wasn’t filmed is super high def, the high-quality friendship between Ewan and his friend Charley makes up for it and presents a series that is far more charming than the slickness of say ‘Planet Earth’.

In 2007 they filmed a follow-up series called the “Long Way Down,” where they took their motorcycles across the continent of Africa. And just in time for lockdowns in 2020, they released their third series called the “Long Way Up.” Luckily they had filmed this in 2019 before any covid restrictions were put in place. This series follows them as they ride ELECTRIC motorcycles up the continent of Central and South America. This new series is filmed in high-def and is the crisp version of the show we all had been waiting for! This would be my #1 recommendation for TV shows to binge right now! I haven’t seen this show on any other list, so trust me, it’s the hidden gem you are looking for!

Where to Watch?

You can watch all three seasons on Amazon Prime or on Apple TV

An Idiot Abroad

During these turbulent times, laughter is one of the best ways to relax. And no one makes me laugh more than Karl Pilkington. I got obsessed with Karl when he popped up as the producer for Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant‘s XFM radio show way back in 2002! When the crew decided to get back together to produce this TV show I was over the moon. An Idiot Abroad follows Karl Pilkington as he travels around the world. But unlike other travel shows, Karl isn’t someone who likes to travel and would rather stay inside his British bubble.

Throughout the series, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant (the producers) throw all sorts of curveballs his way and puts him in some amusing situations. His overall dislike of travel and things we typically fawn over is a hilariously refreshing point of view. While the show might revolve around someone who has no interest in seeing the wonders of the world, for those of us who love to travel, it is still a beautiful thing to watch and gives a different perspective on travelling.

Where to Watch?

You can watch An Idiot Abroad on Amazon Prime, Sky TV, and many of the episodes are available on Youtube.

Rick Steves’ Europe

My travel guru has always been Rick Steves. When I was 14, I went on my first international trip, and I had his guide book with me like my bible. His voice guided me throughout the city. I will always thank him for such a gentle and easy instruction to travelling. Rick Steves’ Europe is a series that Rick began producing for PBS in 2000. Since then, they have made over 129 episodes.! Each episode focuses on a different city in Europe and features Rick’s charming narration leading you through the best things to see and do while in town. Although the show is meant more as a travel planning guide, during lockdown it is a great way to travel to these cities from the couch!

Where to Watch?

Most of the episodes are now available on Rick Steves’ Youtube Channel.

Departures

I think that ‘Departures‘ was indeed the inspiration for the flood of Youtube travel vloggers, which exploded in the last five years. The show was initially produced for Canadian television. It was created by the three team members featured on the show, Scott Wilson, Justin Lukach and Andre Dupuis. The three friends filmed the entire show themselves, often turning the camera on “selfie-mode” since they didn’t have a camera crew. This was perhaps the spark that ignited the flame for many youtube travel vloggers to come!

The trio had seen many other travel TV shows over the years and thought they didn’t reflect their youthful experiences. They felt most travel shows were “kind of dry.” Thinking that bureaucratic pre-production and a sizeable crew was perhaps the impediment to depicting the spontaneous and exciting kind of adventures they had, they set out to create Departures. And the show indeed is a “departure” from the typical travel tv show.

Where to Watch?

You can watch Departures on Amazon prime TV or catch some of their episode highlights on youtube.

Dark Tourist 

Dark Tourist is one of those shows I love since I would never experience anything like this! I would never be brave enough to go anywhere or do anything like what this man does in the series. The show follows journalist David Farrier as he explores the scariest, most dangerous, tragic and weirdest places around the world. He is truly fearless and has that straight man comedic timing that brings some lightness and laughter to sometimes dreadful circumstances.

Where to Watch?

Dark Tourist is available to watch on Netflix.

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

I genuinely think that Anthony Bourdain‘s Parts Unknown is the #1 reason we saw such a surge in people getting more and more inspired to go to countries that aren’t just the typical honeymoon destinations. He showed the audience that you can have a culinary experience to rival Michelin star restaurants in Paris in places all over the world! The show premiered in 2013, starring acclaimed chef and personality Anthony Bourdain. Over the next five years, they filmed over 100 episodes visiting places like; Mexico City, Borneo, Beirut and Iran. While the show’s primary focus is on food, their travels through the countries and cities they visit are unique and powerful to watch.

Where to Watch?

All 12 seasons are available to watch on Amazon Prime, you can rent official episodes on Youtube, but many episodes are available for free on Youtube if you search for them.

Tales of Light

Tales of Light feels more like a dream than anything else. It’s tough to believe that the videos you’re watching are of the world you live in! The Australian docu-series follows professional photographers and filmmakers. They each travel worldwide, telling unique and personal stories about the meaningful people and places they visited. It’s very similar to the series ‘Planet Earth‘ in the way in which it is filmed. It’s one of those shows where you don’t need to feel bad about not being able to travel as most of these places are out of your reach anyway (unless you’re a deep-sea diver or can climb to the top of a volcano!) But while you might not be able to top that mountain yourself, you can still enjoy the views on your tv screen.

Where to Watch?

Tales of Light is available to watch on Netflix.

Salt Acid Fat Heat

Salt Fat Acid Heat was a show I fell in love with this past winter. The show is an American cooking documentary featuring the great Samin Nosrat. Many of my favourite travel cooking shows feature men as their host, and it was so refreshing to finally have one starring a woman! Samin Nosrat wrote a book of the same name, which they translate into this heartwarming show. While the book is also a fantastic read, the show makes you drool over the stunning colours and textures which are the four ingredients in the title! The show’s four episodes focus on Nosrat’s elemental ethos for successful cooking which is: salt, fat, acid, and heat. In each episode, Nosrat travels to different locations around the world, which are famous for that particular element. In the country of origin, she learns all about the history, cultural impact and, of course, cusine which that element is responsible for. And at the end of the series, she’ll have you ready to cook like a pro too! Perfect to practice during lockdown!

Where to Watch?

Salt Acid Fat Heat is watchable on Netflix.

Travels with my Father

Travels with My Father is another slapstick adventure featuring comedian Jack Whitehall and his truly hilarious father, Michael Whitehall. While Jack might be the self-proclaimed “comedian”, it’s Michael who almost always steals the show with his dry humour. The first seasons features the pair travelling to South East Asia. Jack felt he never got to experience a “gap year” when he was a young man and is recreating the experience with his dad. While filmed like a documentary, I have a feeling a lot of the funny situations are a bit staged. Still, nevertheless, the duo is ceaselessly amusing to watch and is another beautiful example of a travel show with a different angle to it. Travel shows don’t always have to show off manicured museums and picturesque panoramas. Sometimes travel is more about the person you are with and the ways in which you interact when put into these new and exciting situations.

Where to Watch?

Travels with my Father is available to watch on Netflix.

I hope these TV shows help with the yearning to get out there and explore! Not only are these shows a great way to get outside your house (virtually at least), but they can also inspire some ideas for future trip planning. We will be back out there one day! Until then, enjoy these charming, binge-able Travel TV shows!

Happy Virtual-Travels, Adventurers

The post The 9 Best Wanderlust TV Shows to Watch During Lockdown first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

While some people find this to be a bit like a living museum, that’s exactly what I liked. I always try to imagine what these ancient cities would have felt like in their day but here in Dresden you actually get a taste of what that might have been like – but with wifi. The city is both bursting with gorgeous architecture but also has its fair share of cute cafes, bars and restaurants ideal for instagrammers. Here are some of my favourite locations that photo savvy travellers must visit on their next trip to Dresden! There is a google map at the bottom of this post you can use to find each and every location mentioned on the list.

Table Of Contents

1. Old Masters Gallery
2. Coselpalais
3. Brühl’s Terrace
4. Münzgasse 
5. Zwinger
6. The Royal Palace
7. Procession of Princes
8. Royal Stables
9. Neumarkt
10. Pfunds Molkieri
11. Neustadt Street Art
12. Kunsthof Passage
13. Cinema Thalia
14. Yenidze
15. Stammhaus

Old Masters Gallery

The Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (or Old Masters Gallery) is honestly the best art gallery I ever had the pleasure of visiting. It doesn’t feel too big nor too small. It’s like a grand old home that someone has decorated with exquisite pieces of arts — a stellar collection that’s lovingly curated. While it may seem much smaller than the Louvre or the Prado, there are over 700 paintings on display, all ranging from the 15th to 18th century. Treasures from major Italian Renaissance artists, Dutch and Flemish masters and other works by German, French and Spanish painters combine to form this hidden gem in Dresden. Standing amongst these iconic images feels like standing inside a great storybook and makes for such an incredible photo.

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Coselpalais

Food and architecture fans will find common ground here at the Coselpalais. The old palace has been reconstructed in late Baroque style and now serves as a charming little cafe and restaurant in the old town. The original building was built in 1550 and looks like a buttercream yellow castle out of Beauty and the Beast. Grab a latte, and a fanciful teacake served on the iconic Meissen porcelain and enjoy the views all around you on the patio under the blue skies. If you’re looking to try a traditional German dessert, order up to the apple cake with streusel!

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Brühl’s Terrace

Brühl’s Terrace is known as the Balcony of Europe. It is an enormous platform that stretches along the shores of the Elbe River. Here you’ll see both tourists and locals alike, strolling down the promenade enjoying the fantastic views. The terrace was once built as a fort to protect the city from invaders, but in the 19th century, it was transformed into this lovely pedestrian walkway. Along this riverside path, you’ll see framed the iconic skyline of the city and gorgeous flowerbeds colouring the grey concrete. During the holidays this is a great place to come for pop-up markets, especially exciting during Christmas time!

Münzgasse 

Münzgasse is a street just across from the Elbe River which feels almost too curated to be real. The two blocks of apartments flanking the road frame the stunning Frauenkirche perfectly. Walking down the street feels like stepping into a painting. On either side of the pedestrian street are various touristy restaurants which are not worth your money but do provide the the backdrop for this stunning scene.

Zwinger

The Zwinger is to this day one of the most incredible baroque buildings in Germany. It was built for Augustus II the Strong, who had been inspired by King Louis XIV. He had returned from a visit to his new court of Versaille and was eager to create a similar elaborate palace for himself. But this was would be located in his hometown of Dresden.

The Zwinger was built in the late baroque style called ‘Rococo’. The Rococo style embraced curves and elaborate ornaments but amped-up the drama. Rococo added a sense of play to the designs. Rococo designers felt that architecture should have a sense of motion, and they used dramatic curves, which made the viewer feel as though the building was alive. The Rococo style loved to emphasize piety. Plants and vines are featured prominently, carved into so many parts of the Zwinger. Construction began in 1710 and it took over 18 years to be completed. Anywhere you look here there are gorgeous shots to be found. Since the Zwinger is so large it’s easy to find more private spaces, ideal for framing that perfect shot.

The Royal Palace

The Royal Palace is one of the oldest buildings in Dresden, originally built around 1200. Additional wings were constructed over the years, creating an almost patchwork quilt of architecture styles from Renaissance to Baroque and Romanesque. These days, the royal family no longer resides inside. Instead, the building contains a museum complex where you can explore the treasury, the armory and even see collections of prints and drawings as well as old photographs of Dresden before the bombing. The exterior of the Palace is where the real visual treat lies. It’s fascinating to see this Palace so integrated with the rest of the city, instead of walled off like so many other royal residences around Europe.

Procession of Princes

Along Schloßstraße, you’ll find one of the greatest remnants of old Dresden, the Procession of Princes. This 101-meter long porcelain portrait depicts the entire history of Dresden through the men who built, controlled, governed and sparked new thoughts and ideas within it. It features Dukes, Electors, Kings and other leading figures from the arts and sciences. This is the world’s largest porcelain artwork. The mural was first installed in 1871 and took more than five years to complete. Shockingly enough this mural withstood the great Dresden bombing of WWII. It suffered minimal damage and was a beacon of hope to the people of Dresden after the war. Today its still one of the most striking images you can find in the city.

Royal Stables

Just down from the Procession of Princes is the Stallhof und Langer Gang or Royal Stables. These stables were used as the location for horse tournaments since the 15th century. Some of the most exciting jousting activities took place here and where the who’s who of Germany elite came to be entertained. Today, the stalls are the site of the Dresden Christmas Market. If you’re lucky enough to be visiting during the holiday season, you’ll be rewarded with one of the most magical sights in the world. There really is nothing like a Christmas market in Europe when the snow is falling and catches the twinkling fairy lights as it touches the ground. But throughout the rest of the year the architectural curves and the effect of the light in the arcade is out of this world!

Neumarkt

The Neumarkt is the cultural centre of the Dresden’s historic district. The original Neumarkt was designed in the German Baroque style. Baroque designers loved pastel colours, not just on their frescos; but everywhere they could put them. Today it feels like walking through a miniature buttercream village. Standing in the center of the square is the iconic Frauenkirche, which was completely destroyed during a bombing run in WWII. But after the bombs had fell, hundreds of volunteer collected the burn rumble from the original church and stored it away, waiting for the day it would be rebuilt. And it was, and used many piece of that original structure which so many people help preserve for future generations.

Pfunds Molkieri

Pfunds Molkieri, covered floor to ceiling in the most incredible tiles and Meissen porcelain, is the oldest dairy shop in East Germany. Built in 1879 this shop was the first place where German’s could buy high-quality, concentrated milk. Although the dairy was mostly destroyed in WWII, the family made sure to rebuild in the exact same fashion as the original. Now, visitors can come to see and taste the extraordinary place which is Pfunds Molkieri. Guests can try different kinds of milk from farms across Germany as well as cheese, wines and more!

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Neustadt Street Art

While most of the historical parts of Dresden were destroyed in WWII, the “new” town built across the river was spared from the destruction as it proved no real military threat to the attackers. This meant that despite being called “new town” the structures here are actually older than the reconstructions found in the “old town”. Neustadt or “new town” remains a bohemian stronghold in Dresden and even today is where you can find some of the coolest shops, bars and exciting nightlife. But if those things aren’t for you, just wandering the streets is a feast for the eyes. Neustadt has become a popular neighbourhood for local street artists who bring otherwise boring walls to life with colours, textures and even sculptural details. You can find some of the most lively street art found anywhere in Dresden right here.

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Kunsthof Passage

Inside the walls of Neustadt, you’ll find the famous Kunsthof Passage. These dreamlike courtyards come from the visionary mind of various Dresden artists who turned these empty spaces into an art experiment. There are four different themed courtyards to visit; Elements, Animals, Light, and Metamorphoses. Each one features strange and intriguing details which draw in your eye and ask your to question what you’re looking at. In the Courtyard of the Elements, you’ll find a piece inspired by the Rube Goldberg Machine which turns rainfall in a symphonic orchestra! Even without rain it’s a gorgeous work of art to admire.

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Cinema Thalia

Inside the inner walls of the Neustadt, you’ll find one of the oldest cinemas still standing in Germany. Built in 1889, Cinema Thalia once used to host people from all over Dresden, and at one time the cinema would extend into what is now the beer garden to hold over 700 people! After being destroyed in 1945, it lay dormant, untouched by the modern era until it was plucked from obscurity in 2004 and returned to live as a hipster mecca. The large theatre was transformed into a cafe and cinema where, and until 2008, people were still allowed to smoke, hence the name on the front “Cinema. Coffee and Cigarettes”. Today it’s still a gorgeous icon east German, retro design.

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Yenidze

To experience one of the most unique beer gardens in the city and catch a stunning view across Dresden, head over to Yenidze. From afar you might think that this building is an Ottoman mosque, but originally it was actually a tobacco factory. Built in 1907 by Hugo Zietz, the Yenidze tobacco company, was designed in “oriental” style to recall the “exotic origins of tobacco”. The chimney used to process smoke from the factory was incorporated into the architecture as a fake minaret. Today, the building is used as an office but the top floor is home to an incredible restaurant with rooftop views across the city and over to the mountains in the distance.

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Stammhaus

The most iconic picture from Germany must be of a beer hall, and the Stammhaus in the centre of Dresden is one of the best! This brewery dates all the way back to 1858! Inside the new three-story restaurant, beer gardens and bar are antiques collected by the brewing family from over the years. The food is as traditional as you can get and it all washes down deliciously with a glass of Feldschlößchen Pilsner or Zwickelbier. Sitting in the restaurant, you feel like you’re dining inside a piece of Dresden’s history! My favourite visual of the restaurant is the giant copper brewing lid which serves as a roof atop the bar!

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Dresden is such a wonderful place to explore and get away from the crowds which you’ll find in more popular cities across Germany like Berlin and Munich. It’s still that untapped gem which only those in the know are want to find. If you’re interested in explore more of Dresden, check out my guided walking tour which will take your across old town to discover the history and people who helped created this amazing city. Let me know if you’ve visited Dresden before and what your favourite photo spot was on your last trip to Florence of the North.

Happy Travels Adventurers!

The post The Most Instagrammable Places in Dresden, Germany first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

When I turned 30, it was a like a switch got flicked. Things took me longer; I was more tired and suddenly didn’t feel like I could do everything. Other travellers who went through a similar change were super helpful in setting new goals and changing my expectations. So I wanted to document this for myself here so others can learn from me and my experiences with travel as I got older.

Accommodations get an upgrade

Travelling in my 20s meant searching for the cheapest hotel or hostel. Often these would be in not-so-good locations, far out from the centre of town. And while I still managed to find some great deals and pretty decent hotels, for the most part, they weren’t always the stuff of dreams. In Australia, I will never forget walking into our hostel and seeing a dead mouse in the centre of the room and knowing we had no choice but to stay there. So we cleaned up the mouse ourselves and just tried to pretend that it never happened.

In my 30s, especially now that I travel almost always with my partner, our hotel choices are much more appealing. There are no dead animals on the floor, and most of the time, these accommodations are in prime locations in the city, close to the action without being overbearingly touristy. Airbnb has also changed the game in terms of places to stay.

Bn’Bs over Bunkbeds

Now I can find quirkily themed apartments for rent that feels more like staying in a secret playhouse than they do a sterile hotel. In my 30s, I’ve travelled enough to know the truth from the BS and how to read a listing or review of a hotel for those key signals that this isn’t a great place to stay. Proof positive of this was on my last trip to Mexico City. We had initially booked a fantastic hotel for a GREAT price in a popular neighbourhood.

But the more and more I read about the area of town and dug deeper into the reviews, the more I realized that despite it being such an awesome price and having 5-star reviews, it was located in a super touristy and busy area that completely shut down at night. We opted to cancel that reservation (thank you, free cancellations on Expedia!) and rebooked a different hotel in a smaller bohemian neighbourhood which felt safe, quaint and picturesque. I’m glad I went with my gut as I recalled when I had stayed in a similar area, and it just wasn’t for me. For others, this might be the perfect place for you, but for me, I knew it wouldn’t be a good fit.

You take your time

In my 20s, my friend and I would book a two-week vacation in Europe to see 4-5 different cities. We would be up at dawn to get to the next town in time to still fit in some sightseeing before everything closed. Then onto the next location. We carefully planned what we ABSOLUTELY had to see and made sure to make that a priority, but there wasn’t much time left to explore and meander. We would have loved to spend more time in each city, but our budget didn’t allow it back then. It seemed like a waste of an expensive international flight not to try and see as many cities as we could while on this new continent.

These days, although my time for leisure travel has been reduced, I choose to spend my week’s vacation in one place instead of rushing from country to country. I list a few AREAS to explore instead of a list of singular sights. This means I can spend an entire day just in one spot, discovering things I never found online, and therein I get to share that with all of you, readers!

I have NOTHING against jam-packed travel itineraries since they allowed me to discover which countries I liked most and didn’t like when I was younger, but now that I’m older, I merely prefer this kind of slow-travelling.ein I get to share that with all of you readers! I have NOTHING against jam-packed travel itinerary since it indeed allowed me to discover which countries I liked most and didn’t like when I was younger, but now that I’m older I merely prefer this kind of slow-travelling.

Visiting those costly cities isn’t out of the questions

When travelling in your 20s, you’ll often research “the cheapest cities in Europe to visit.” These traditional, less expensive cities mean you can have a fantastic time but still pinch those pennies. As you age, cities like New York, Paris and Singapore suddenly become viable options. It wasn’t until I turned 30 that I could FINALLY afford to travel to Japan; it was a life-changing trip! Cities with a cheaper cost of living are often well-suited to being younger. Places like Thailand, Mexico and Greece all feel more adventurous and perfect for younger travellers. While the more expensive destinations usually have a more refined and mature atmosphere, making them a comfortable place to go as you age.

Free time is harder to come by

I had this idea when I was young that when I grew up, I could afford all these amazing trips where I’d travel for months on end! But the problem with ageing is that your responsibilities at work and in your personal life seem to get in the way of just up and leaving to travel the world. Work barely enabled me to take two weeks off for my honeymoon, and when I got back, I felt the full force of being away. The idea of a “sabbatical” isn’t the norm anymore as more and more people aren’t staying with companies for years.

In your 20s, you have the time to take off for a few months between school semesters as long as you’ve worked your butt off during the school year making money. Or better yet, you might have the chance to do a year abroad and see more of the world that way. But when you get into your 30s, you have a career, not just a job. There is no longer a “summer break” unless you’re lucky enough to be a teacher. Those few weeks of vacation you get (if you get any paid leave at all!) are very precious, and you really learn to appreciate every second of your travels. It’s perhaps for this reason that you’ll find yourself spending more money to stay in a more central area hotel, lessening the amount of commuting you’ll have to do.

You have more confidence

I have learned A LOT about travelling since my first trip overseas. My dad was going there on business and traded in a first-class ticket for two economies and took me with him. What I didn’t know what that when we got there, he would be busy the entire time (although I probably should have assumed this), and I would be all on my own. I clutched the notes and directions he made for me like they were my lifeline and ended up making many mistakes but falling in love with the experience of travelling. Nothing prepares you for the pitfalls of severe jet lag like living through it. No dry runs or hypothetical conversations can give you insight into what to do when you lose your passport.

I remember not trusting my gut and being roped into a scam or tourist trap. Or I knew it was a trap and was too shy to speak up. Although I always feel like I’m learning, I’m definitely braver and more confident as a traveller than when I was 20. I speak up when I feel like something is wrong, or I know well enough not even to venture into something which feels too good to be true. I’ll call a waiter on his added “tourist taxes” or go out of my way to get a uber instead of a sketchy taxi that is bound to rip me off.

Travelling Alone

The other thing which I feel more confident about is travelling alone. Sometimes you and your partner or friends just can’t get your schedules to match up. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still head out on an adventure by yourself. Dining alone doesn’t have to be scary; it can be an opportunity to meet new people. You get to do exactly what YOU want to without any compromises. Being alone when travelling is a chance for you to reconnect with yourself in ways you don’t have the opportunity to do otherwise.

You know who your real friends are

I have travelled with many different groups of friends and partners throughout my life. And nothing tests a relationship like travelling. Travel is truly incredible, but it also involves lots of stress, compromise, exhaustion, problem-solving and more which can weigh on those relationships. When you’re in your 20s, I feel like you’re more optimistic. You feel like you go on those trips with the best intentions and optimism. New friendships feel fresh and exciting and travelling with new friends can be the best idea.

You think you don’t have a history, so you don’t have the chance of negativity from the past influencing the trip. But it also means you don’t know their personality, travel style, or financial constraints. I travelled all over the world with one good friend, who I’m still proud to call my best friend today. We never fought, always understood each other’s likes and dislikes and also learned that sometimes that means having a day apart instead of dragging the other to do things they don’t want to.

Other travel companions fell by the wayside, either due to us drifting apart or often just because we didn’t get along as travellers. In my 30s, quality time with my partner or friends is some of the best advantages of travelling together. When you get older, you have less and less time to spend with your friends, and this intimate occasion is a great way to reconnect.

You appreciate travelling with your family

Speaking of time to reconnect, let’s talk about family. When you’re in your 20s, there is nothing worse than being forced into a family trip. Maybe you’re itching to be independent and feel like this is holding you back. Perhaps you just want to have a romantic trip with your new partner, or maybe you want to let loose and party! For me, it was probably the independence that I appreciated most about travelling without my family. I felt so grown up and independent when I turned 2, even though, looking back, I totally wasn’t.

I still lived with my family in my 20s, and being away from them felt like freedom. Now, in my 30s, this couldn’t be further from the truth. I adore spending so much time with my parents and siblings, even my in-laws. As an adult (or as close to one as I can get), I get to spend time with them on a different level. Travelling helps you learn about people you might not otherwise discover.

I had such a great time travelling with my aunt, whom I’d otherwise not see outside of the holidays. Seeing her in this environment was so cool, and I feel like I got to know her more as a person rather than just a family member. The older you get, the less and less time you realize you have left with your parents, and I know I want to try and make those moments count for me.

You eat incredibly well

I’ve always been a pretty savvy traveller and found local cuisine at low prices, so I’ve never found myself eating at McDonald’s for three days straight just to save money. There are always little pubs, cafes and restaurants which serve amazing meals for low prices if you know where to look. But there is no way that when I was 20, I’d have been able to afford to eat at the various Michelin Star restaurants I’ve been so lucky to have been able to dine at now that I’m in my 30s. I’ve eaten some of my most exquisite, transcendent meals in my 30s. But even outside those “one-in-a-lifetime meals,” eating in your 30s means you might not have to be as rigorously diligent about checking menu prices.

Chances are your budget might not be so rigid, and you can generally find places to suit your tastes and budget anywhere you are. I don’t want to make this sound like I’m super rich and can eat expensive meals daily; that’s far from the truth. I’m one of the biggest cheapskates when it comes to eating out, and I still gasp at cocktails which cost $25. But in my 30s, I’ve learned to appreciate fine dining a little bit more and can afford to indulge in that from time to time.

You have a better idea of what kind of travel you like

In my 20s, I wanted to travel to all the most famous travel cities without ever thinking about if they were somewhere I’d enjoy or not. I wanted to tick those “top 10 destinations” off my bucket list (at least the ones I could afford).

And while I think I learned a lot about places I didn’t like as much as I did, I would if I could go back and change a few plans. I think I would have thought more about what I wanted and less about where people told me I NEEDED to visit. Bohemian artsy cities drew my gaze instead of glass metropolises. I also noticed that some European cities felt very similar, and I now go out of my way to visit places markedly different than other cities.

In your 30s, you are more steadfast in your likes and dislikes, and this greatly impacts where you want to travel. Everyone was so surprised when I visited Mexico City last year, but honestly, it was one of the best trips of my life. There is nowhere as bright and colourful as Mexico City, and despite everyone’s scare tactics about Mexico, we felt perfectly safe everywhere we went.

Time to relax is more important than seeing it all

When you’re 20, there aren’t too many enormous, unavoidable stresses or time vacuums in your life. School and relationships might have their ups and downs, but nothing compared to careers or, even more than that, kids. Vacations, especially those without kids, become your only opportunity to relax and unwind with your partner or perhaps with your friends. Those precious vacation days mean more than just a chance to travel somewhere new; it means a moment to catch your breath.

You might find that you can’t and don’t even want to go-go-go; you want to take things slow, to enjoy a coffee in peace and quiet for once. Maybe the kind of travelling you do changes. I’ve never been one for all-inclusive resorts, but I found myself considering one for the first time in 33 years just to get away somewhere warm where I didn’t even need to think about my schedule every day. While I still opted not to do this, I, for the first time, really did understand why people are drawn to those types of vacations.

You realize you can’t keep up with your younger self

When I took my first trip at 30, I went about it much like I always did. I got up at the crack of dawn and went as hard as possible to fit as much into my day before night. Very quickly into that first day, I realized that wouldn’t work for me anymore. For the first time in my life, I let someone convince me to take it easy, to go back to the hotel for a nap before heading out again in the evening.

And let me tell you, that nap felt impossibly amazing. I woke up feeling refreshed, not worried about the things I didn’t see or missed out on, but with a renewed sense of adventure for the rest of the evening. I definitely wear out more easily these days. That means not ticking off all the boxes on the bucket list. But feeling healthy and happy is more important than seeing it all. As you grow, you realize that it’s not about how many things you see but how you see them. How you let even those few memories and sights itch themselves into your heart and your mind.

Technology has changed

I remember when I was in my 20s, the first thing we’d do when we’d arrive in a new city was hit up the tourist information for a town map. We carried these paper maps with us everywhere we went, and by the end of the trip, they were half disintegrated from being overly used. Now and again, we’d print off a few Mapquest directions to and from different pre-planned destinations. If we got lost, there was nothing to do other than ask for direction or backtrack as best we could.

Nowadays, most big cities have free wifi all over the place, roaming is getting cheaper and cheaper on most phone plans, and there are even portable wifi devices where you can bring the internet with you. There is almost no chance of getting lost or needing to read a map. This saves a lot of time and confusion, but it’s also a little sad. I feel like staring into my phone to get the perfect route to my destination is a bit disconnected. I always challenge myself to use those old paper maps from time to time and still ask locals for directions when I get lost instead of immediately reaching for my phone.

Sleep isn’t optional

When I was young, I loved saving money by travelling when I should be sleeping. This meant overnight trains, buses and flights. I loved planning around these overnight journeys since it felt like winning free money I’d otherwise have had to spend on a hostel or hotel. I didn’t care how tired or uncomfortable I was. I’d chug down a few cups of coffee and be able to ride out the rest of the day with no problem. These days, I’m lucky even to get eight hours and not feel the sting of exhaustion by mid-afternoon. I still miss the money-saving opportunities of the overnight trains, but I don’t miss the fatigue.

While I might miss certain aspects of being young, I love getting older. I feel more connected to myself and, therefore, to my travels. I feel like I travel better, deeper and more comfortable physically and emotionally. What shifts did you see in your travels as you got older? If you’re still in your 20s, what other questions do you have for this ol’ “senior” about travel in your 30s? Let me know in the comments!

Happy travels, Adventurers!

The post 13 Ways Travelling the World in your 30s is Different than in your 20s first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Table Of Contents

1. History of Dresden Frauenkirche
   • WWII
   • Frauenkirche Restoration
2. Current Frauenkirche
3. The Golden Cross
4. Baroque Interior
   • Protestant Liturgy
   • Organ
   • Stone Bell
5. Walking up the Dome
6. View over Dresden

History of Dresden Frauenkirche

The original building that once stood here was a traditional Roman Catholic Cathedral. It was during the Reformation that this new Baroque Lutheran design came to replace the old Catholic Church. The new model was considered one of the best examples of Protestant architecture, and it holds up one of the largest domes in all of Europe atop its octagonal base. For decades, the dome and its golden cross were the crowning glories of the Dresden skyline.

WWII

During WWII, the Church was heavily bombed. On February 13th, 1945, the American and British forces dropped thousands of bombs on Dresden. The Church has withstood bombings and attacks, but never to this extent. The Church stood its ground for two days of constant bombing runs. People had come to the Church to seek refuge, and for those two days, the eight massive sandstone pillars protected these people and no doubt saved their lives. But even the strongest must fall. And after 650,000 bombs, the heat generated inside and outside the Church caused the pillars inside to explode. Some claim that they glowed bright red and shattered into a million pieces.

Frauenkirche Restoration

After the war, people who loved their Church took the pieces of shattered and blackened sandstones and piled them together. They collected these pieces hoping the former heart of the city would be rebuilt one day. But they had to wait over 45 years, through communism, until their Church would return to the people. The communists were not interested in spending money to reconstruct the Church, but dedicated art historians, priests and even the congregation began salvaging and categorizing the stones. These stones became a memorial to those lost at war, and in 1982 it was the place where people would meet to protest the East German regime. Finally, after reunification, the reconstruction of the Church would begin.

In 1989, a 14-member group of enthusiasts headed by Ludwig Güttler, a noted Dresden musician, formed a Citizens’ Initiative to raise money for the restoration. Architecture, art historians and engineers sorted the thousands of stones, identifying and labelling each for reuse in the new structure. An American, Günter Blobel, had fond memories of the Church when he was a boy as he had originally been born in Germany before moving to America. In 1994 he won the Nobel prize and donated his $1 million prizes to the Dresden Church of our Lady resolution. In the end, rebuilding the Church cost €180 million dollars, most of which was raised by private citizens. Outside the front doors of the Church lies an original piece of the dome, blackened from the explosion, as a memorial to the original Church and those who died trying to protect it.

Current Frauenkirche

To this day, you can stand outside the Church and see the original piece of stone that has been used in the Church’s restoration. These stones are covered with a darker patina due to the fire and weathering, but in a few more hundred years, the rest of these new sandstones will also become weathered and blend into the original stones. It was a sight to see as it is, making out the immensity of stones salvaged by everyday citizens.

The Golden Cross

The most moving piece of restoration is the new golden tower cross. The cross was funded by “the British people and the House of Windsor” and was made by a British blacksmith whose father was one of the bomber pilots responsible for the Church’s destruction. It shows how two countries, once at war, can unite to help repair the scars of war and create something beautiful.

Baroque Interior

The original Baroque Church was built between 1726 and 1743 by Dresden’s city architect, George Bähr. The Church is bright and covered from head to toe in pastel colours. When restoring the Church, artists used paintings and photographs of the original colouring to restore it to its former brilliance. Some people might not believe these colours could have been utilized in the 17th century, but the Baroque architecture was obsessed with pastel colours. Bähr especially loved green and gold and accented the Church with these trimmings. The windows are made of clear glass, and although this might look like an oversight or work in progress from the restoration, it is actually on purpose. The architect wanted the pure sunlight to filter through the windows, unheeded by stained glass, to illuminate the inside of the Church further.

Protestant Liturgy

Bähr incorporated the new Protestant liturgy by placing the altar, pulpit, and baptismal font up front for all to see. He made the front middle section of the Church the real stunner and left the rest of the Church to only compliment this glowing altarpiece and organ. One important aspect of Baroque architecture was the element of illusion. As such, a church that couldn’t afford hundreds of slabs of marble created its own by painting marbling patterns along all the sandstone columns which hold up the immense dome. The Baroque painters and architects are masters of light and shade, and using this can create illusions that make the building seem longer, wider and even more detailed.

Organ

In 1736, famed organ maker Gottfried Silbermann built this incredible three storeys manual organ for the Church. On the day it was inaugurated into the Church, Johann Sebastian Bach performed a recital to an audience of hundreds. One can only imagine the music he would have produced from this grandiose machine.

Below the organ, you can see, well, how can you miss, the large altar. This altar depicts Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. You can see the olive trees behind him and him praying to the angel coming down from heaven, accented in gold. By some miracle, this piece partly survived the bombing and the fire that destroyed the Church. Some of the figurines had pieces broken off but were more easily restored, leaving us a real original piece of the Church today.

Stone Bell

Other than the altarpiece, the most important part of this building is the 96-metre-tall dome. The name of the dome is “die Steinerne Glocke” or “Stone Bell.” At the time, it was a real feat of engineering and required 12,000 tonnes of sandstone to support.

The frescos painted around the dome are scenes of the four evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and allegories of the Christian virtues of belief, love, hope and mercy. These baroque frescos are painted with lighter hands; they were meant to reflect not only the lives of the evangelists but the lives of the ordinary people. The scenes are set on earth and seem more related to people. You can see many of the details on the wall frescos and the dome by ceiling up to the top of the dome. This requires an entry fee but is perhaps one of the city’s best views and the Church itself.

Walking up the Dome

The winding and spiralling staircase lead you to a tiny trapdoor which you climb through to suddenly come through to a viewing platform with a stunning view of the city.

View over Dresden

From here, you have a 360° view across the Elbe and Dresden. We were up there on a clear day and could see past the city and surrounding countryside. You can see the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts and Brühl’s Terrace. Around the corner, you can see the central historic district. You can see the pointed spire of the Dresden Castle, the green onion down of the Roman Catholic Church, the Orange roofs of the Dresden State Art Collections, and the Glass roof of the Dresden Green Vault.

You can see the newly restored square and all the little dots of people below. During the restoration and after the war, this square was where they stored all the thousands of pieces of rubble; now that the construction is done, the square has opened back up to the public – and they have been greatly enjoying having it back. As well as their stunning Church, which anchors the centre of the city.

The post The Best Guide to Discovering the Beauty and History of Dresden’s Iconic Frauenkirche first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.