ostia antica: an easy day trip near rome, italy by guest blogger wanderingyogi

Explore Ostia Antica's
well-preserved buildings.

Ahh, Rome.  The Eternal City.  No one disputes that Rome is a glorious place to visit but if you want a mini-break from the relentless hordes of tourists and hustle and bustle of city life, why not take a short day trip outside the city for a bit of a breather?  Imagine the Roman Forum and Palatino without the crowds, and you have Ostia Antica, an amazingly well-preserved and sprawling ruin that is a short 45 minute train ride outside of Rome.  

What is Ostia Antica?  

The open air theatre is still used
today for theatrical productions.

It is an ancient port city that was founded in 4th century BC at the mouth (or ostium) of the Tiber River.  With a population of around 50,000 people, it served as a naval base of Rome, and later as a commercial harbor.  Ostia and a nearby artificial harbor named Portus served as the main harbors for Rome, approximately 25 kilometers away up the Tiber River.  Grains, salt, slaves and other goods were all received or exported from Ostia.  A compliment of storehouses, shipping offices, and workshops arose to support the needs of the port.  Apartments, domus (houses of the upper class), public baths and communal latrines, hotels, bars, shops, bakeries, temples and shrines, and a necropolis (burial grounds) were built to support the needs of the people.  In the 5th century AD, barbarian invasions and a malaria outbreak led to the abandonment of the city.  It was slowly buried by river silt which allowed for the amazing degree of preservation of the buildings.   

meditation and light yoga stretches for a long plane ride by guest blogger wanderingyogi

14 hours on a plane is enough to make
anyone's hair stand on end.

Flying coach is miserable. Your eyeballs are desiccated raisons in your skull, and your brain pounds with the incessant thrum of the plane's engines.  Strapped into a seat with no room to spare, staring at the too-bright screen thrust into your face, and waging a silent war with your neighbor over the armrest, you wonder what evil you did in a past life that warranted this level of hell.  Although it feels as if you've been stuck in this torture tube for a lifetime, when you check, it's only been three hours into the nine hour flight.  So, you have a choice.  Resignedly press the screen and select another mindless movie to watch, or do some relaxation exercises and give yourself a break.  Too embarrassed?  Don't be, the captain has dimmed the cabin lights, so no one is watching.  Besides, everyone is too lost in their own misery to be paying attention to you. 

So, let's begin, shall we? 

insider's rio by guest blogger caipi

Hundreds of thousands of tourists are expected to descend upon Brazil in June and July for the highly-anticipated World Cup.  As many of the tourists will have a home base in Rio de Janeiro, or at least pass through to watch a game or two, we thought it would be a good idea to offer some tips and tricks.

Christo Redentor

Although Brazil is in South America, your high school Spanish is not going to cut it here.  Brazilians speak Portuguese, and although it may look like Spanish, most Brazilians do not speak Spanish or English, especially in the service industry.  Even if you can find an English menu at a restaurant, chances are the server will not understand you when you order a "beer" or a "chicken sandwich."  Brazilians are very appreciative when people try to speak their language, so learning a few key phrases before you go can pay off in spades.

Rio is far from the safest city in the world.  As in any big city, you should be smart and exercise caution, especially at night.  Tourists in Copacabana, the neighborhood where many of the tourist hotels are located, as well as the fan fest, are targets for pick pockets and muggings.  It is always a good idea to carry only the cash you need for the day on you, leave the passport, Rolex and engagement ring at home or in the hotel safe.  If you do get into trouble, look for the tourist police.  Also, it is always a good idea to sign up for the STEP program via the State Department (link: https://step.state.gov/step/) and you will be notified of any security warnings put out by the Embassy.