Photo by Joss Woodhead via Unsplash ()
Being at home doesn’t mean you can’t travel. Though currently you can’t hop on a plane or take a bus ride to a new place, there are still thousands of ways for you to experience the world. With the power of imagination and a couple of resources within our reach, you can achieve that sense of discovery and feel the excitement brought on by travel. So until you can hit the road and be on the move again, let’s settle into a good movie, discover landmarks virtually, curl up with a book and tuck into a homemade dish! Here are some ways to create that feeling and fuel your wanderlust.
Photo by Mollie Sivaram via Unsplash.
Movies: Entire worlds at your fingertips.
"Outlander," Ronald D. Moore (2014): Claire, a war nurse in the late 1940s accidentally travels back in time, through some stones in the Scottish Highlands, to the eighteenth century. Romance, war, history is set against the atmospheric backdrop of Scotland.
"Midnight in Paris," Woody Allen (2011): While on a trip in Paris with his fiancée’s family, a nostalgic screenwriter finds himself mysteriously going back to the 1920s every day at midnight.
"Ferdinand," Carlos Saldanha (2017): Ferdinand, a bull with a big heart, gets mistaken for a dangerous beast. He is torn from his family in Southern Spain. His determination leads him to assemble a misfit team to get them all home.
"Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," Ken Kwapis (2005): Four best girlfriends want to stay connected after high school. They decide to pass around a pair of secondhand jeans that fits each of their bodies perfectly. The jeans will travel from Mexico all across to Greece.
Photo by Wen Chen via Unsplash.
Virtual tours: Experience impressive landmarks and museums
Take a walk in and around the Colosseum. This monument that used to host legendary gladiator fights and echo with the sound of metal on metal has follow silent to the cries of battle. You now get to explore it from the comfort of your home.
Literally scroll through history with this interactive experience at the British Museum. As you navigate the platform, you’ll be able to click on century-old objects from across all five continents. Our advice? Switch to full-screen for a truly immersive experience.
If you have always wanted to admire the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower, you can do just that. Take a stroll around to get a 360° degree view over Paris. You might prefer to have your feet on the ground to look up to the Iron Lady, this live stream allows you to see her in real time. Our tip would be to wait for a clear night to watch her light up on the hour.
Van Gogh is considered as a genius artist by many. With the Van Gogh museum virtually opening its doors to you, you now also have the chance to judge his paintings for yourself. From the “The Starry Night” to the “Almond Blossoms”, you will have all the time in the world to browse through his creations.
Photo by Ed Robertson via Unsplash.
Books: Let your imagination run wild.
"Circe" (Madeline Miller) is born in the house of Helios where she struggles to find her place. After her banishment, she discovers that she does possess power – the power of witchcraft. Travel back to ancient Greece as you become Circe’s silent companion.
"All the Light We Cannot See" (Anthony Doerr) takes place in occupied France during World War II. It follows the story of a blind French girl, Marie-Laure, and a German boy, Werner, whose paths collide as both try to survive the devastation of war and remain hopeful.
In the aftermath of World War II, Juliet is looking for the subject of her next book. Her search will her to the island of Guernsey, and the origins of "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" (Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows).
After a rocky divorce, Elizabeth decides to get rid of her belongings, quit her job, and undertake a yearlong journey around the world, which takes her to modern day Italy. There she discovers the dolce vita and starts to reconnect with who she really is. "Eat, Pray, Love" (Elizabeth Gilbert) is her memoir of self-discovery.
Photo by Syd Wachs via Unsplash.
Recipes: Stimulate your senses with homemade dishes.
Originally, Cornish pasties were created as portable lunches for tin miners, fishermen and farmers so they could be easily carried to work. Their initials were carved on one end of the pasty. Check out this recipe to make your very own Sweet And Savory Vegetarian Cornish Pasties.
Pesto is a sauce that originated in Genoa in the Liguria region of northern Italy. It is thought to go back as far as the Roman age. Centuries later, it is still made by crushing garlic, salt, cheese, herbs, olive oil and vinegar together. Why not try it at home with this simple Rosemary Arugula Pesto recipe?
Irish Cream is a relatively recent invention with its origins in Baileys headquarters in Dublin, back in 1973. The cream liqueur is based on Irish whiskey, cream and other flavorings. Spice up those cold winter evenings with this Homemade Irish Cream recipe.
A few months back, we organized a virtual cooking class with Italian chef Francesco. Participants got to learn how to make Risotto and Tiramisu. If you want the exclusive recipe, just email us at info@explore-europe.de and start cooking!
Let’s make our time at home as cozy as possible!
For more travel ideas, be sure to follow https://www.explore-europe.de/.
