Week of October 16th Fast Five!

 

1.    The Cliffs of Girao in Madeira, Portugal.  This is a great little side trip while visiting the outrageous landscape of Madeira.  You can take a tour or a drive to the cliffs and that's not all.  These cliffs are the highest in Portugal, and some of the highest in Europe.  580 meters above ground and water with one of the most amazing views you'll ever see.  What else do you find here?  A glass walkway jutting out from the cliffs that will give you an otherworldly experience.  It's not for the feint of heart or for someone who already suffers from particular kinds of vertigo.  Most of the time the walkway is free.  Sometimes they charge .50 Euro in the summer.

https://myportugalholiday.com/madeira-en/Cabo-Girao-Cliffs-Skywalk-madeira.html

https://redwhiteadventures.com/cabo-girao-skywalk-madeira/

https://www.cabogirao.com/madeira-skywalk.php

https://www.getyourguide.com/cabo-girao-skywalk-portugal-l169724/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cabo-girao-skywalk

2.   Natural Pools in Madeira, Portugal.  Madeira is an island built by volcanoes and as a perk for these events, there are some natural swimming pools around the island.  Porto Moniz Natural Pools in two locations, Seixal Natural Pools, and Pocas do Gomes / Doca do Cavacas are four such places.  Some of the locations have been enhanced to make them more comfortable for the visitor, and some of them have caves, and some of them are completely natural.  It's a surreal experience and they are right on the ocean shore.

https://www.zigzagonearth.com/madeira-natural-pools-volcanic/

https://visitmadeira.com/en/what-to-do/sea-lovers/natural-pools/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g644297-d1928951-Reviews-Porto_Moniz_Natural_Swimming_Pools-Porto_Moniz_Madeira_Madeira_Islands.html

https://www.wander-lust.nl/best-natural-pools-on-madeira/

https://www.visitacity.com/en/madeira/activities/all-activities?activitiesCategoryId=125027&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhL6pBhDjARIsAGx8D580EVyxpyyuAYmw89Fjdg3dmeLHJPU5fFuwgbqu4bn6N83iXjVVzjwaAhsEEALw_wcB

3.  Did you always want to see France, but didn't have the time to wander such a large and beautiful country?  Well, France has taken the pressure off and put all the best stuff from around the country in one spot.  It is in France; in Elancourt.  It's called France Miniature and it's a theme park.  It has 24 attractions and even some rides to go along with all of France's most amazing landmarks in miniature.  for 20 and 26 Euros children and adults respectively you can hang out all day if you like.  Only in France!

https://www.franceminiature.fr/fr

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1940436-d245003-Reviews-France_Miniature-Elancourt_Yvelines_Ile_de_France.html

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/france-miniature-park

https://www.trip.com/travel-guide/attraction/elancourt/france-miniature-13509173/

https://snippetsofparis.com/france-miniature/

4.    The Augusto Arruda Pineapple Plantation in Ponta Delgado, Azores, Portugal.  This is the only place in the world where pineapples are grown in hot houses.  While the Azores is a beautiful archipelago, they aren't tropical.  They're temperate, they don't tend to freeze, but it does get chilly.  The plantation grants tours to visitors and educates them on how they grow pineapples.  It's a sweet side trip and wonderful for a rainy day in the Azores, which happens quite often.

https://www.ananasesarruda.com/en/

https://toursofazores.com/2017/09/05/the-sweet-secret-to-pineapples-in-the-azores/

https://world-toexplore.com/a-visit-to-arruda-pineapple-plantation-%F0%9F%8D%8D/

https://azoresgetaways.com/en-us/travel-guide-sao-miguel?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=azg-travel-guide-us-sao-miguel&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhL6pBhDjARIsAGx8D58bHUdaPPKBxQ-ASpbmvZSE1IS0qTbTKqByYcFfimEQ19TF-HiJbPsaAjWMEALw_wcB

https://www.getyourguide.com/-l1664/?cmp=ga&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=15511337747&cq_con=131793214958&cq_term=things%20to%20do%20in%20ponta%20delgada%20azores&cq_med=&cq_plac=&cq_net=g&cq_pos=&cq_plt=gp&campaign_id=15511337747&adgroup_id=131793214958&target_id=aud-1393039795340:kwd-339246786412&loc_physical_ms=9003419&match_type=b&ad_id=569262797032&keyword=things%20to%20do%20in%20ponta%20delgada%20azores&ad_position=&feed_item_id=&placement=&device=c&partner_id=CD951&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhL6pBhDjARIsAGx8D59yN_HOeMqzLDo08Qke68uQlVc3AfMq1cjTm0axETUrZBglRMJLjhcaArhMEALw_wcB

5.    Fort Wetherhill State Park, Jamestown, Rhode Island.  This is one of the more unique places I've visited in Rhode Island.  The fort sits atop a 100 foot cliff overlooking Naragansett Bay.  It sits across the water from Fort Adams in Newport and has been located here in some form since the Revolutionary War.  Newport and area was one of the few locations along the coast which includes Long Island Sound to engage in battle and the forts were key.  Today, the entire place has fallen into some ruin, but the place is really interesting to explore and a great addition to any trip to Newport.

https://riparks.ri.gov/History-HistoryFortWetherill

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/fort-wetherill

https://www.nps.gov/places/fort-wetherill.htm

https://www.visitrhodeisland.com/listing/fort-wetherill-state-park/8348/

https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/rhode-island/fort-wetherill-state-park

So, there you have it.  From Europe, across the pond and back to the East Coast.  Just a few great little things to add to an even greater vacation.  A lot of the items that I run across are found on YouTube and in Atlas Obscura.  They are two of my favorite sources for off the beaten path travel ideas.  So, check it out and enjoy!

News From the Place Where You Find a Fast 5!

 

1.   The New Palace, Old Palace, King's Palace, National Palace or The Istana Negara.  No matter how you put it, it's the royal residence for Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the current ruling royalty of Malaysia.  The Palace is in Kuala Lumpur.  Good to note on this one that it is included in a lot of tours you can take, and is one of the more dramatic sights in the city.  The thing to remember about this site is that you can't enter the palace.  There is; however, a royal museum on the grounds that you can visit for the equivalent of around $2.

https://www.viator.com/Kuala-Lumpur-attractions/Royal-Kings-Palace-Istana-Negara/d335-a12977

https://www.istananegara.gov.my/#

http://abckualalumpur.com/info_guide/kl_istananegara.html

https://www.malaysia-traveller.com/national-palace.html

https://visitkualalumpur.com/what-to-do/attractions/kings-palace-istana-negara/

2.     It's called Grab!  If you happen to be in most parts of Asia; Grab is your Uber or Lyft.  They also cover most things that Grub Hub or Door Dash do as well.  As a matter of fact, you can ship things through them too.  It's not a place to visit, but if you're out and about and you need anything done for you and you didn't rent a car; Grab is the app you need to get and they'll do just about anything for you.  Available on most phones that operate in Asian countries.

https://www.grab.com/sg/

https://www.grab.com/ph/transport/

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.grabtaxi.passenger&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1

https://www.yelp.com/biz/grab-taxi-makati

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/grab-taxi-ride-food-delivery/id647268330

3.   Cafe del Mar, Cartagena, Columbia.  I know, you hear all kinds of crazy stuff about Columbia, and this was the city that Joan Wilder was trying to get to in "Romancing the Stone."   However, Cartagena is a very popular tourist location these days, and there's a lot to see.  But while you're there, don't miss the chance to see a sunset from Cafe del Mar.  It's a rooftop venue with an amazing view over the ocean of the sunset in the evenings.  It comes with great food and drink.  It's a must include for you vacation.

https://cartagenacolombiarentals.com/2018/10/sunsets-cafe-del-mar/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g297476-d1222318-Reviews-Cafe_Del_Mar_Cartagena-Cartagena_Cartagena_District_Bolivar_Department.html

https://www.cafedelmarcartagena.com.co/

https://www.therooftopguide.com/rooftop-bars-in-cartagena/cafe-del-mar.html

https://colombia.travel/en/cartagena-de-indias

4.    Go kayaking in St. Lucia.   I did this last winter, and it was a great time.  Marigot Bay is one of the most beautiful spots on the island, and they are all about water.  There are no roads around the bay, only to and from.  For $20 you can paddle right out into the Caribbean if you like, or you can take a more quiet tour as I did around the enormous scenic bay.  If you like a real adventure, for around $100 you can take a tour that goes out into the sea and up one of the rivers nearby.  Total adventure or quiet voyage; it's up to you.  You can also follow it up with some great food and drink from Doolittle's Restaurant right next to the beach where you rent the kayaks.

https://www.marigotbeachclub.com/kayaking-tours/

https://marigotbayyachthaven.com/

https://wanderlusters.com/marigot-bay-offers-adventurous-travellers-more/

https://www.hyattinclusivecollection.com/en/resorts-hotels/zoetry/st-lucia/marigot-bay-st-lucia/

https://www.expedia.com/Marigot-Bay-Marigot-Bay.d6067595.Vacation-Attraction

5.    The Klementium and the National Library of the Czech Republic.  I can tell you that Prague is one of the most amazing cities in the world to visit.  There's no end to the ancient beauty all around you.  You'll visit the castle, the Charles Street Bridge, the astronomical clock and old town, St. Wenceslas Square, and on and on.  The Klementium is one of the more overlooked complexes in the city with a number of beautiful buildings, including the National Library.  It's one of the most beautiful libraries in Europe, known for it's Baroque style.  It's also one of the largest and you can visit it while in town for less than a buck.

https://www.praguego.com/attractions/clementinum/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g274707-d2358452-Reviews-Klementinum-Prague_Bohemia.html

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/czech-republic/prague/stare-mesto/attractions/klementinum/a/poi-sig/401315/1323269

https://www.en.nkp.cz/

https://www.prague.eu/en

So, there you have it.  I finally got around to posting this fast 5.  I hope to be more consistent in the future with these, but in the mean time; I hope this has provided you with some great ideas for inclusion into your next great trip.  I covered a lot of different areas and different continents, so have fun and enjoy!