London Calling
When planning a European trip, a stop in London England is a must. I visited London England as a part of a larger European trip, but still ended up spending a fun-filled week in the city. With so much to see and do in the city, it can be difficult to fit it all in. During my week stay, I tried my best to see as much as possible, making it to all the important sites and attractions, as well as going on a few guided tours.
If you are planning a trip to London on a fairly strict time schedule, I would highly recommend signing up for a tour or two. Tours are a great way to make the most of your time by allowing you to see multiple sites at once while also giving you added background information from your tour guides. During my stay, I took a full-day guided tour that covered all the classic attractions of London. It showcased the city’s historic castles, museums, art galleries, and diverse communities. The tour my friends and I chose was great because it was a private tour where our guide drove us around from site to site and guided us through each attraction. We received authorized tours inside the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Westminster Abbey, the place of Royal marriages, burials, and Coronations. We also went to the British Museum which featured the Elgin marbles, the mummies of ancient Egypt, the Rosetta stone, the world of the Assyrians, and treasures from the dark ages.
A trip to Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guards was also high on my list of things to do. We also purchased tickets to tour the palace’s more than 600 rooms, as well as the Queen’s Gallery and the Royal Mews. Next we went back over to the south end of the Westminster Bridge at the South Bank of the River Thames to see the London Eye at Millennium Pier. It is one of London’s newest tourist attractions which was designed to celebrate the year 2000. We climbed onboard the glass-encased capsules of the Ferris wheel for a leisurely, circular orbit, high above the Thames. The ride allowed for spectacular views across London and beyond. It is definitely not a fairground ride though, as each rotation around the wheel takes approximately a half hour to complete. This provided us with plenty of time to take in the great views and snap some great pictures.
The next day we took a tour of Apsley House, the London residence of the Duke of Wellington which sits opposite to the entrance of Hyde Park. The house is commonly known as No. 1 London, and contains memorabilia associated with Wellington including paintings, silver, and porcelain collections. From here we strolled through Hyde Park, walking by Serpentine Lake and Rotten Row which is a famous horse-riding area. From Hyde Park we entered Kensington Gardens which contains beautiful and formal gardens, as well as statue of JM Barrie, the author of Peter Pan.
Our final day in London consisted of some well-needed shopping and a trip to Covent Garden Market. Even though we got to see many of the main attractions and sites, I’m already looking forward to planning a future trip to see all that I missed the first time around.
Take Better Photos with Your Digital Camera
Photography is an art. And as such, you are allowed to take some creative licenses with your photos. That being said, there are certain techniques that are important to learn, and it is always important to know how to take a basic picture of human subjects for your family photo albums.
The number one way to take better photos is to practice, practice, practice! The best way to learn how to use your camera and discover great techniques is to experiment. Through curiosity is how we learn best, so use your curiosity to your advantage. The only way to learn is to push every button, try every menu item and every combination of things to find out what happens. Watch your LCD and pay attention. Your camera comes with all kinds of great functions that are designed to help you create better pictures. So use them. Adults seem to not want to play around with their cameras but it’s the best way to learn. For instance, your camera is equipped to provide the perfect exposure, balance, and contrast in your pictures, yet most people waste hours manipulating photos on their computers trying to fix what would have looked better if it was set properly when you actually took the picture.
So now that you know that it’s encouraged to play around with your camera, here are some composition techniques to keep in mind. These techniques will help you to create more visually appealing pictures. While practicing and experimenting, also experiment with natural light, angles, and active space. Learning photographic composition techniques has never been easier than it is now with digital cameras.
Active space is important no matter what type of picture you are taking. Whether you are taking action shots or portraits, the rule of thumb is to give your subject or point of interest enough space and room to move within the frame. If your subject is moving, for instance, leave active space in front of them so that you can follow them with your eyes when looking at the photo. Not having enough space in your photo can make your subject seem overwhelming within the frame. So try to zoom out a bit and give your subject some surroundings to peak interest.
Taking pictures from different angles can also alter a photograph’s perspective considerably. This technique may require you to look at things differently, and also have you crawling around into weird positions in order to capture the angle you desire. However much work it may require, it will be well worth it when you see how fantastic your photos look.
An opposite technique to active space is to fill your frame. This is one of the most effective and simple photographic composition techniques. With this technique, you basically eliminate all background noise by filling the frame with only your point of interest. This can create a great effect while also eliminating unwanted background clutter.
Now with these few techniques in mind and an adventurous spirit to play around with your camera’s features, you will be set to discover your inner photography genius.
How to Save Money While Traveling
Yes, it is possible to save money when you travel. In fact, it is possible to save money on virtually every activity and necessity to do with your travel plans. It all comes down to proper planning and a little time and effort. The time and effort are well worth the literal payout though. These days we are all looking for ways to save, so why not travel smart.
Airline auction sites and discount airline sites are great ways to score cheap flights. The more in advance you plan, the better deals you will find. Most of these sites will search through all the different airlines to find the best deals for you. Another way to save money on flights is to use connecting flights. Even though connecting flights are a drag, they will save you a ton of cash.
If possible, try to avoid traveling during peak season. This will help you save on airfare, hotels, and admission to some attractions and sites. Another plus of traveling during the off season is the smaller crowds of tourists, as well as more comfortable temperatures to travel in. If you have to travel during the peak season, consider getting bumped off your flight. Flights are often overbooked during this time and volunteers that give up their seats often receive an airline credit or free airfare. So, unless you are in a big hurry, it is worth the inconvenience.
Once you reach your destination, choose modest accommodations. Since the focal point of your trip is probably not the hotel, there is no reason to spend big money on it. For younger travelers, youth hostels are a great option to save tons of money on lodging. You will probably need to bunk up with other travelers, but this serves as a great way to meet fellow travelers. Since you will probably only ever be in your hotel room to sleep, the extras that fancy hotels have won’t be necessary so why spend all that money.
When it comes to eating, if breakfast is offered at your hotel eat it. There is no reason to go out and eat if you’ve already paid for it at your hotel. Try to limit your restaurant visits to one per day. Making that meal lunch will also save you money as dinner is definitely the most expensive meal. For your other meals, try local grocery stores or markets, fast food, or street vendors.
For sightseeing and shopping, research and preparation ahead of time can save you a great deal of money on these activities as well. Instead of buying maps, visit the local tourism office to get them for free. Look into sightseeing passes and tours before you even leave on your trip. The internet is full of deals and savings on these types of packages. A sightseeing pass will give you admission to multiple attractions and sites for one flat fee, and tours can be an economical way to see multiple sites and attractions as well. Also, there are always lots of interesting activities to do in a city that are free. Many museums, parks, beaches, and historical sites are free to view. Admission might cost for some sites, but they’re free to view from the outside.
You can still have a great trip while trying to save money. Remember that it is all about doing your research beforehand and planning ahead, to ensure that you know where you can save the most money.
