Previously published on Matador Network Travelstoke. The Colosseum, the Vatican Museums, the Trevi Fountain. We know them and love them, but unfortunately so does everyone else. If you want to skip the throngs of tour groups and sight-seers, make haste to one of these under-appreciated but equally-illuminating cultural sites in the Eternal City. 1. Galleria Doria Pamphilj The Galleria Doria Pamphilij…
Previously published on Matador Network Travelstoke. Las Vegas is one of the most under-rated foodie destinations in the country with options for all palates and budgets. To find the real culinary gems, get off the Las Vegas Strip and sample these amazing (and affordable) local eateries off the beaten tourist path. 1. The Kitchen at Atomic “Those Potatoes.” Two words…
So, you’re going to London. Chances are you’re looking to accomplish at least one Harry Potter-themed adventure while you’re there, so why not go for the main attraction that is the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter. As the site of the majority of the filming for the film franchise, the studio has a certain magic…
My top three literary bucket list items are ✅✅✅: the Keats House in Hampstead, Keats’ grave at the Non-Catholic Cemetery in Rome, and the Keats-Shelly House in Rome. Did you pick up on a pattern? John Keats captivated my imagination in high school: I even carried a pocket version of his selected poems in my back pocket my entire senior year.…
The Sistine Chapel is the single greatest artistic, cultural, and spiritual accomplishment of the Western world. Faced with the perils of the Vatican Museums — long lines, thick crowds, labyrinthine passageways — spending quality alone time with Michelangelo’s frescoes can be the the greatest accomplishment of your trip to the Vatican. Without further ado, here is a semi fool-proof method…
Mercato Testaccio may be the worst-kept secret in Rome’s culinary scene, but who cares? I’m not worried about highlighting the most exclusive or unknown eateries of the world. A well-made sandwich is always welcome on my itinerary, and it should be for you as well. For the Rome newbie, Mercato Testaccio is a modern food market across the Tiber in…
“Arrête! C’ est ici l’empire de la mort.” “Stop! Here is the Empire of Death.” Thus reads the warning at the entrance to the Catacombs of Paris. Much has been written about this beloved boneyard — 200 miles of subterranean mine-shafts converted into every goth’s favorite ossuary. I’ll spare you the history lesson this time and get straight to the…
Spending a significant amount of time in a city like Rome can be daunting. The energy and rhythms of the caput mundi can invigorate a traveler’s soul while simultaneously wearing it down like 2,000 year old travertine. Rome’s quiet escapes, enchanted with light and history, make the jittery bus rides and lengthy queues worthwhile. One special place, chief among Rome’s…
The unpredictability of Spring makes itself known once again. The well-trod cobblestones of Trastevere, home yesterday to locals and tourists alike savoring a sunny stroll, are now united under a sheet of dark rainfall. Save for the gentle pitter-patter of droplets on nearby awnings, Rome is as quiet as a holiday. Everyone, it seems, knows the routine. Stay inside, get…
For many people (including moi), Instagram provides an excellent window into the world beyond our home towns. Following travel-minded accounts and formulating travel plans go hand-in-hand in today’s social media landscape. What better way to plan an itinerary than to catch a glimpse at your destination from a local’s perspective? What better way to find out where to visit (and…
Joshua Chévere Cohen is the founder and namesake of Josh Travels Sometimes. A writer with degrees in both English Literature and History, amateur fencer, and feline aficionado, Cohen brings a poetic, darkly humorous, and helplessly Europhile perspective to the world of travel writing.