Got Some Trivia For This Week's Fast Five! Did You Know...

 

1.  Did you know that approximately 3,000 euros a day of coins are tossed into Trevi Fountain in Rome?

How can that be and why?

Well, this fountain is an icon in Rome.  It was built in the 1700's and is still gorgeous today.  It's marble, it's 86 feet high and it's just perfect for Rome where everything is over the top and beautiful.  Designed and built by Salvi and Pannini, it is one of the places that you see often in pictures and one of the things that just says Rome.

Why are there so many coins adding up to so much money in that fountain?  Legend says that if you toss a coin over your left shoulder, you'll get another trip to Rome in the future.  That would make a lot of people toss a coin over their shoulder.  However, if you toss two coins over your left shoulder, reportedly you'll find love and romance.  Another good incentive.  It continues.  If you toss three coins over your left shoulder you'll get married.  That all leads to a lot of coins in the fountain.

Between 10 and 12 million people visit the fountain every year.  Roughly 1,200 per hour.  That's a lot of people looking for love and luck and a whole lot of coins.

Where does all that money go?  It goes to Caritas Rome; a charity that helps people with food and shelter in the city.

https://www.turismoroma.it/it/luoghi/fontana-di-trevi

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187791-d190131-Reviews-Trevi_Fountain-Rome_Lazio.html

https://www.rome.net/trevi-fountain

https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/landmarks-monuments/trevi-fountain-unique-facts-history

https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/rome

2.    How big is the country of Monaco?  It's tiny; we all know that.  They don't even have an airport and you can walk across the country in a short amount of time.

Actual size?  2 square kilometers.  That's it.

Monaco is one of the smallest countries in the world, but not the smallest.  That's Vatican City.  Monaco comes in second and is one of the richest and most expensive countries in the world which is why people want to live there.  They are known as a tax haven and a place where there are no taxes levied.  They have great social programs for health and education; retirement and such.  

It blows the mind that this tiny country; once part of France is what's called a principality and is governed by an actual Prince of Monaco.  Albert II is the current Prince.  I actually saw a video where people walked up the mountain, across this tiny country by using elevators and escalators to get through the dense settlement.

Monaco fascinates me.  Home of a world famous Grand Prix and the Monte Carlo Casino; there's a remarkable amount of things to see and do in a country so incredibly small.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/monaco

https://www.monaco-tribune.com/en/about-monaco/

https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2025/monaco

https://www.visitmonaco.com/en

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhLYlBGSAHI

3.    How many Emirates are in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)?

A lot of us don't even understand this place.  We've all heard of parts of it.  Abu Dhabi and Dubai.  Why are they united?  Why are they not separate countries?  Why is it that they laid claim to being the safe way to travel to the Middle East for many years?  It's a mysterious part of the world to us westerners.

There are seven Emirates in the UAE.  Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah.  Each is a city state which combined and united makes up the third largest economy in the entire Middle East.

The UAE is friendly with the United States, just in case you were wondering; partnering in many industries.  Abu Dhabi is the richest of the city states because if its oil reserves.  The Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, is in Dubai.

https://u.ae/en#/

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14703998

https://www.emirates.com/us/english/discover-dubai/uae-sightseeing/

https://www.emirates.com/english/destinations/flights-to-united-arab-emirates/

https://visitabudhabi.ae/en/plan-your-trip/essential-info?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22233762713&gbraid=0AAAAADl2Ym1TKd3nu-yXu7QFYNhovqy6s&gclid=CjwKCAjwi4PHBhA-EiwAnjTHuSCt8YpnuhFNCJkq0qa7qvmQ-sFIepEmPR0ub4S61ReuDvTs6uE9VhoC50wQAvD_BwE

4.    Where does cheesecake come from?

You might be surprised to find out that the origins of cheesecake run deep and go back to ancient Greece.  That's right; Greece.  Crete is cited as the source of one of my favorite desserts.  It's not the kind of cheesecake that we're used to with Philadelphia Cream Cheese and all, but it is the origin of the dish.

Greeks still make cheesecake all over today.  It's normally made with yogurt and mild cheese and cream and all sorts of goodness.  Honey and grains are a large part of the flavoring as well.  I've had a Greek cheesecake before and I must tell you that the fruits used were completely different, the other elements were largely different and it wasn't nearly as sweet as the ones here in the states; but I promise you it's cheesecake and it's delicious.

https://www.cheesetique.com/news-item/a-brief-history-of-cheesecake-from-ancient-greece-to-modern-confection/

https://www.cheesecake.com/History-Of-Cheesecake.asp

https://chefhdelgado.com/post/the-original-cheesecake

https://www.visitgreece.gr/islands/crete/

https://www.discovergreece.com/crete

5.   Did you know that swimming with pigs is actually a tourist activity in this country?

On Big Major Cay in the Bahamas this is a tourist activity.  Go figure.  Growing up in the Midwest; I would imagine that there are several places in the world where you can swim with pigs.  I just didn't realize anyone wanted to.  But here it is.

Big Major Cay is only accessible by boat, so you'll have to figure that out.  There are charters and water taxis.  I'd probably sign up for a tour somewhere.  The little group of islands in the Bahamas is known as the Exumas.  This is where you'll find Pig Beach on Big Major Cay.  You can swim with the pigs and they'll appear to enjoy your company.  Be polite to the pigs and they'll be polite to you.  Golden rule people.  Also you can feed them.  They are pigs.

So, if you ever wanted to try something different than swimming with sharks or rays or manatees; this could be for you.  I promise you, this is a place on Earth where it's touristy to swim with pigs.

https://www.bahamas.com/experiences/official-home-swimming-pigs

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147432-d5489633-Reviews-Pig_Beach-Staniel_Cay_Out_Islands_Bahamas.html

https://www.fodors.com/world/caribbean/bahamas/experiences/news/should-you-swim-with-the-pigs-in-the-bahamas

https://swimming-pigs-adventure.com/

https://www.islandroutes.com/visit-swimming-pigs-bahamas

Don't forget; if you want to see more than what I discover you can do around the world, watch what I am doing on my YouTube channel, Adventures for Anyone with Terri Dixon.

https://www.youtube.com/@ninakindred9466

No memberships or buy me a coffee.  Always just free videos with good information about travel!

And there you have it.  What makes a country?  How much can one fountain make?  Pigs?  That's all for this week's fast five on Adventures for Anyone!  Enjoy!

Some Good Advice and Truly Unusual Things on This Week's Fast Five!

 

Here we go!!!

1.    Persepolis, Iran.  This is one of those Persian places that we never hear about, because it's in Iran.  Being an American, I'd never really thought about it, or the importance of this site.  Now, I'm not saying you should run right out and go to Iran, particularly if you're an American, but this is an interesting site.

Built in 518 BC as a symbol of unity, this city was largely built on a man made pad.  That's right; cement of some kind.  A couple of centuries later, Alexander the Great came along and burned it to the ground.  What remains is some of the best preserved Persian ruins around.  It went by the wayside and wasn't discovered again until the 20th century.  Now, it's an archaeological site that is open to the public, whether there are a lot of the public to visit or not.

If you were to visit Iran, this still wouldn't be the easiest place to visit.  You'd have to take a tour with a guide.  It's  nowhere near the cities we've heard of like Tehran.  If you really love a good adventure though; this is unmatched.

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/114/

https://aspirantum.com/blog/all-about-persepolis-iran

https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/ancient-city-travel-guide-persepolis-500-bc

https://isac.uchicago.edu/collections/photographic-archives/persepolis/persepolis-terrace-architecture-reliefs-and-finds

https://www.persepolistrip.com/

2.    Ways to visit the Maldives.  Most of us have always heard about those magnificent over water bungalow resorts on private islands in the Maldives.  They have so many perks and privileges that there's no way to list them all.  You pay exorbitant prices to be pampered and feel like kings and queens.  It sounds great, but what if you want to visit say every country in the world and you don't want to spend all that money?

Just a reminder; the Maldives is also a country.  They have cities and public islands and public places.  You can even take public transportation if you like.  You can cook for yourself if you want to.  There are almost 400,000 people living in the smallest country in Asia.  There are 1,200 islands and the capital is Male.

They have politics, a medical system and everything else a country is expected to have.  They just live in the Indian Ocean in absolute paradise.  So, don't think you have to go to a resort to visit this tiny country.  If you look; you'll find plenty of other options.

https://visitmaldives.com/en 

https://www.alexinwanderland.com/48-hours-in-male-maldives/

https://www.livemoretravelmore.com/male-island-maldives-capital/

https://www.budgetmaldives.com/maldives/maldives-capital/

https://www.expedia.com/Male.dx2343

3.    Izmailovo Kremlin, Moscow, Russia.  Once again, you may not be planning to visit Russia anytime soon.  I'm not.  But this place is interesting.  Let me start by saying there are not two Kremlins in Moscow.

Back in the late 1990's the Russians decided to build themselves an entertainment spot, and they decided that it should look like grand old Russia.  There's a lot to do inside this kremlin, but it's in no way a fortification.

There are activities, food, and shopping.  There's a lot to look at.  It's easy to get to by bus or metro.  And, in the Russian winter, it's nice to have somewhere to go and something to do.  It is a one of a kind constructions with more traditional Russian designs than you can shake a stick at.  Once again, you probably aren't thinking about visiting right now, but it looks as though Moscow's other Kremlin is there for the foreseeable future.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/izmailovo-kremlin

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298484-d4569243-Reviews-Kremlin_in_Izmailovo-Moscow_Central_Russia.html

https://russiaeguide.com/izmailovsky-kremlin

https://www.izmailovo.ru/en/entertainment/attractions/kreml-v-izmaylovo/

https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/destination/russian-federation/moskva/izmailovo-kremlin

4.    What do you need to know about using public transportation?  This is a question I'm asked all the time.  I love public transport; I use it all the time.  I've all but given up driving when I travel.  What do you need to know?

First, put away your google maps.  Follow the signs.  A good sense of direction will be of no use to you on a subway.  Second, always look for updates.  Things change.  Routes change and stations are remodeled.  Rates change.  Cleaning crews come out at night.  There's a lot going on all the time whether it's buses, trains, or subways.

Here's something that I always tell people in the city.  Don't forget to enjoy your travels.  There's artwork in the subways.  There's fantastic views from platforms.  There are magnificent train stations.  Take time to enjoy your trip; no matter how you travel.

Long list short; pay attention to what's right in front of you and take time to enjoy the trip.  That's the best answer I have to how do I ride public transportation.

https://www.mta.info/

https://usahello.org/life-in-usa/daily-life/public-transportation/

https://www.cttransit.com/how-ride

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/using-public-transport

https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/travel/planning/using-public-transportation-while-traveling.htm

5.    Bansko, Bulgaria.  I said it.  Some town in Bulgaria you've probably never heard of.  Well, it's what I do.  Bansko is a playground in Bulgaria.  They ski in the winter and play on those mountain slopes in the summer.

South of Sophia, the capital, lies this sleepy little Alpine town that loves to have a good time.  They love tourists no matter what time of year.  Bulgaria is a largely overlooked tourist destination.  But if you take the time to check into it, you'll find out that it's budget friendly, has a lot to do, and great food.  Did I mention how beautiful it is?  You might just feel like you're in Switzerland.

This is that not quite discovered yet spot where you can have a great time at a great price and meet some fabulous people.  

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g318870-Bansko_Blagoevgrad_Province-Vacations.html

https://www.banskoski.com/en

https://luckybansko.com/bansko/

https://www.banskonomadfest.com/

https://www.jackandjilltravel.com/things-to-do-in-bansko-summer/

There you have it.  Undiscovered, odd, out of bounds, and just plain good advice.  A little bit of everything this week for the travel curious.

If you'd like to see what I'm up to in my spare time here in the Northeastern US; check out my YouTube Channel, also Adventures for Anyone with Terri Dixon

https://www.youtube.com/@ninakindred9466

Like and Subscribe there and help me become a digital nomad to go more of the places that I write about!

Enjoy!