The Purple Passport

Seasoned advice for British Travellers

The Americas

5 Must-See Attractions on a Visit to Berkeley, California

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(Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

With a population of just over 121,000 people, Berkeley, California is large enough to have plenty to offer residents and visitors alike and small enough not to feel overwhelming. The city also has a rich history that makes it an interesting place to visit.

As the home of the 1960’s counter-culture and “free speech” movements, the thought of Berkeley often conjures up thoughts of tie-dye shirts and protests. But there is so much to the community. Find some great examples below.

Berkeley Museum and Historic Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way

As an extension of the University of California at Berkeley, the Berkeley Museum and Historic Film Archive presents 450 film programs, 20 art exhibits, and dozens of lectures, performances, symposiums, and tours every year. Some current examples of the art exhibits include:

  • Art Wall: Karabo Poppy Moletsane
  • Breaking ICE
  • Buddhist Realms
  • Theresa Hak Kyung Cha: Avant Dictee
  • Veronica De Jesus/MATRIX 268
  • Way Bay

Current films include:

  • Bergman 100: A Tribute to Liv Ullmann
  • Documentary Voices 2018
  • Ida Luino: Hard, Fast, and Beautiful,
  • In Focus: Einstein and His Contemporaries
  • Reverse Angle: Cinema Looks at Itself
  • Sergei Einstein: Films That Shook the World

The museum is closed Monday and Tuesday, open from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday to Wednesday.

Golden Gate Fields, 1100 Eastshore Highway

Horseracing fans won’t want to miss the opportunity to visit Golden Gate Fields while in Berkeley. Located right along the San Francisco Bay, the racetrack hosts events several times per week during every month of the year. El Camino Real Derby Day, San Francisco Mile Day, and the Kentucky Derby Party are just three of the upcoming events in early 2018.

Telegraph Avenue

Not a place but a street, Telegraph Avenue is the epicenter of student life in Berkeley. It’s crowded with everything from buskers, panhandlers, and vendors to people trying to squeeze their way through to do some shopping. Some of the merchandise that a visitor to Telegraph Avenue might pick up include self-published tracts, bumper stickers, crystals, and unique clothing. The good news for travelers is that the restaurants on this street cater to a budget-conscious student population.

UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley, 200 Centennial Drive

This 34-acre botanical garden contains more than 13,000 species of plants, which gardeners have organized into the region of the world where they originated. The UC Botanical Garden also has dozens of plant species native to California, a Chinese medicinal herb garden, and a conservatory full of tropical plants. The botanical garden is open every day except for major holidays and the first Tuesday of each month.

University of California at Berkeley, Koret Visitor Center, 2227 Piedmont Avenue

Berkeley is the home of University of California at Berkeley, the nation’s top-rated public university. As Fast Haul, a Berkeley junk hauling company, points out, over 38,000 of Berkeley’s residents are college students.

Political issues often come to a head among in Berkeley thanks to the passionate people and college students of the community. Those planning a trip to Berkeley can even include a trip to the scenic and historic campus on their list. The college offers free public walking tours every day starting at 10 a.m.

The above represent just five of the dozens of attractions available to people traveling to Berkeley, California. The locals are sure to offer suggestions for several more must-see places to visit.

5 Awesome Things to Do on Your Next Trip to Colorado

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People from Colorado often joke that it has become the place both Californians and Texans go in their search for wild, untamed wilderness. And there’s a germ of truth there because Colorado is covered in protected wilderness areas along with world-class cities. Here are five awesome things to do on your next trip to Colorado.

Pikes Peak

A great thing to do on your next trip to Colorado is to go up to the top of Pikes Peak. It is the highest peak in the continental United States. This mountain is home to the longest cog railway in the world. You can ride up to the top and then enjoy the rest stop complete with a gift shop on the top. Or take the railway up halfway and hike down the mountain on one of its various trails. If that railroad is too steep for you, visit the coal-fired steam engine that runs between Durango and Silverton instead.

Manitou Cliff Dwellings/Mesa Verde

If you’ve heard about the Anasazi that lived in cliff dwellings in the American Southwest, you’ve probably seen pictures of the Manitou Cliff Dwellings and Mesa Verde. You can ride the tour buses past a number of cliff dwellings in Manitou Springs and the big ones in Mesa Verde National Park. And you can join tours to see the kivas and ruins up close. Don’t forget to visit the museums nearby to learn about this history of the tribe.

Hunting

Colorado is a hunter’s paradise. You can hunt bighorn sheep, moose, and mountain goats in the high country. Turkey and waterfowl hunting is possible if you’re there during the right season. You may even get a permit to hunt bears and mountain lions. You’ll want to take a high-quality scope like those found at ar15scopecenter.com no matter what animal you want to hunt.

Horseback Riding

Whether you want to go riding at a ranch on the Front Range or mountain trails deep in the Rockies, horseback riding is a popular activity across Colorado. Horseback riding is allowed on many but not all of the 23 million square miles of national parks and reserves across the state. Or you can go horseback riding along one of the many horseback riding trails and admire the spectacular scenery from a unique vantage point.

Fishing

Colorado has a wealth of fishing opportunities. There are both warm and cold-water fish found here. You can go fishing in state reservoirs; there are more than 1300 reservoirs and lakes that are stocked. Fishing for fish like rainbow trout is possible in many of the mountain streams. There are more than six thousand miles of streams in Colorado. Note that you need a fishing license that’s good for the entire year, though children under 16 fish for free.

White Water Rafting

White water rafting is a summer activity that has taken the western states, and some of the eastern, by storm. The peak season is after the snow melts in the mountains because most rivers are fed by snow melt. More water in the rivers turns a typical lazy river into potentially class 3 and above rapids that you can raft down. Colorado Springs rafting is one of the many spots people go to enter the mighty rapids.

Conclusion

All these areas have something special to offer, so next time you come to Colorado, make sure that you expand your horizon and see everything the state has to offer.

Best Things Adults can do When They Get Bored

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Why do we get bored? This is something that has puzzled scientists for a long time – why do we get bored? There’s no reason for this to happen, since there are so many things we can do in our modern lives. And yet it still happens, more and more regularly.

Different people have different responses to it, of course. Some people actively find things to do, although this is not always advisable; other people place the burden of their entertainment on another person, to avoid the fact that they can’t amuse themselves in the same way that others can. Read on for some ways to fill your time when you get bored.

First of all, you need to realise that you are bored. This might seem counterproductive, but realising that you are bored is what gives you the power to change things for the better, and get rid of your boredom. Realise that you are bored, and you will also realise that you are responsible for changing that fact, and that the capability of doing so is literally at your fingertips.

Using your imagination is a good way to alleviate boredom, no matter how it is used. If you need to have a purpose for everything you do, write a story – you can do this anyway, and then afterwards decide if you want to do anything with it.

Carry pen and paper everywhere. You don’t need to write down everything, but occasionally noting ideas and events down can stimulate your curiosity and intrigue, which can lead to less boredom, as you spend time thinking about what you are writing. This can also work with a sketch pad.

Curiosity is a human trait, but some people are more curious than others. Even if you aren’t naturally as curious as other people, try and look into something that interests you as a cure for being bored. You never know what you might find out, and as a bonus, you will pass the time more quickly.

Act spontaneously. This also comes up as one of the tips for adults who date, as spontaneity can be a good trait for some people. Spontaneity can lead you out of your normal routine (which might be what is causing your boredom), and give you something new and interesting with which to interest yourself.

Begin writing. This is a step up from simply using your imagination, as coming up with a story is the stated goal from the start. Your writing project can be anything you want it to be; fiction, non-fiction, long or short.  Everything is up to you.

You could also volunteer with an organisation of your choice. This has multiple advantages to it – not only do you get something which occupies your time and as well as your mind, therefore curbing boredom on multiple fronts, the organisation you are helping (and the people it serves) will benefit from your work. Choose a programme which needs help, but which also interests you.

The best things to see and do in South America

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South America is an exceptionally large continent which has an incredible amount to explore and discover. I was lucky enough to spend just under a year traveling through almost every South American country, and even then there was still more which I could have done.

As with every continent on the planet, there are some landmarks, attractions and sights, which you simply must set your eyes on and experience. If you are planning a South america trip and want to take in the best spots, here are my top things to see and do in this vast continent.

Machu Picchu

This ancient citadel on the top of a mountain in the south of Peru is one of the World’s Seven Wonders and it is the iconic photo which you will see when looking for exciting things to do in South America. Machu Picchu is around 4 hours from the city of Cusco in a town called Aguas Calientes. The best bet is to stay in the town the night before, and then get up early to hit the mountain. You can walk up the mountain in around 2 hours, or take the bus up which lasts about 30 minutes.

Christ the Redeemer

Rio itself is one of my most beloved cities in South America and the jewel in its crown is Christ the Redeemer, the huge statue of Christ which sits atop Corcovado mountain. In order to get the top of the mountain, you will take a cable car for around 15 minutes. The size of the statue is incredible and from the top of Corcovado, you will get some of the best views of Rio in the whole city.

Iguazu Falls

Iguazu Falls is a huge J-shaped falls which borders Argentina, Brazil. Whilst this may not get the accolades of the likes of Niagara or Victoria Falls, it is worth noting that Iguazu is actually the largest waterfall system in the world, such is its size and the amount of water which crashes down each and every second. As to where you can see the falls best, my advice would be to try and see them on both the Brazil and the Argentina sides, for two very different experiences.

Ski and Sunbathe

Such is the location of Santiago, Chile, you can actually ski on the Andes Mountains in the morning, providing you get up early of course, and then spend your afternoon on the beach. I don’t know of many other countries in the world where you can do this and I would definitely put it at the top of your list for things to do whilst in Chile.

Amazon

A huge percentage of South America is made up by the Amazon rainforest which has the huge and expansive River Amazon cutting through its heart. To truly experience South America, an Amazon tour is most defiantly recommended. The river travels from Brazil across to Peru an the choice is yours in terms of where you take the cruise from, and where you go to.

Which sounds the most attractive to you?