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Francis Bacon on Travel: Wisdom of the Ancients

Some of you may be familiar with Francis Bacon, while others may not have heard of this name before. Therefore, let me first introduce you to Francis Bacon, also, the father of empiricism.

“Knowledge is power.” – Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon was an English philosopher and statesman. He argued science could be achieved by the use of a skeptical and methodical approach whereby scientists aim to avoid misleading themselves.

His works are credited with developing the scientific method and remained influential through the scientific revolution.

Statue of Francis Bacon in the Library of Congress, Washington DC

Below is Bacon’s essay on travel, published in his book called the Wisdom of the Ancients (1609). There is a lot to chew on here. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Francis Bacon on Travel

Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of the experience. He that travelleth into a country before he hath some entrance into the language, goeth to school, and not to travel.

Young men travel under some tutor or grave servant, I allow well, so that he be such a one that hath the language, and hath been in the country before; whereby he may be able to tell them what things are worthy to be seen in the country where they go, what acquaintances they are to seek, what exercises or discipline the place yieldeth; for else young men shall go hooded, and look abroad little.

Have Travel Diaries

Have a camera and travel diary

It is a strange thing that, in sea voyages, where there is nothing to be seen but sky and sea, men should make diaries; but in overland travel, wherein so much is to be observed, for the most part they omit it as if the chance were fitter to be registered than observation.

Let diaries, therefore, be brought in use. The things to be seen and observed are, the courts of princes, especially when they give audience to ambassadors; the courts of justice, while they sit and hear causes; and so of consistories ecclesiastic; the churches and monasteries, with the monuments which are therein extant; the walls and fortifications of cities and towns.

And so the havens and harbors, antiquities and ruins, libraries, colleges, disputations, and lectures, where any are; shipping and navies; houses and gardens of state and pleasure, near great cities; armories, arsenals, magazines, exchanges, burses, warehouses, exercises of horsemanship, fencing, training of soldiers, and the like; comedies, such whereunto the better sort of persons do resort; treasuries of jewels and robes; cabinets and rarities; and, to conclude, whatsoever is memorable in the places where they go, after all which the tutors or servants ought to make diligent inquiry.

As for triumphs, masks, feasts, weddings, funerals, capital executions, and such shows, men need not to be put in mind of them; yet they are not to be neglected.

Learn the Language

If you will have a young man to put his travel into a little room, and in the short time to gather much, this you must do: first, as was said, he must have some entrance into the language before he goeth.

Soak the Culture

Then he must have such a servant, or tutor, who knows the country. Likewise, as I have said before, let him also carry some cards, maps, and books, describing the country where he is traveling to which will serve as a good key to his inquiry.

Also, let him keep a diary; let him not stay long in one city or town, more or less, as the place deserves, but not long; nay, when he stays in one city or town.

Let him change his lodging from one end and part of the town to another, which is a great adamant of acquaintance.

Let him sequester himself from the company of his countrymen, and diet in such places where there is good company of the nation where he travels.

Let him, upon his removes from one place to another, procure recommendation to some person of quality residing in the place whither he removeth, that he may use his favor in those things he desireth to see or know: thus he may abridge his travel with much profit.

On Travel Acquaintance

As for the acquaintance which is to be sought in travel, that which is most of all profitable, is acquaintance with the secretaries and employed men of ambassadors, for so in traveling in one country he shall suck the experience of many; let him also see and visit eminent persons in all kinds which are of great name abroad, that he may be able to tell how the life agreeth with the fame.

For quarrels, they are with care and discretion to be avoided; they are commonly for mistresses, healths, place, and words; and let a man beware how he keepeth company with choleric and quarrelsome persons, for they will engage him into their own quarrels.

On Returning Back

When a traveler returneth home, let him not leave the countries where he hath traveled altogether behind him but maintain a correspondence by letters with those of his acquaintance which are of most worth.

Kids having fun in Thailand

On Humility

And let his travel appear rather in his discourse than in his apparel or gesture, and in his discourse let him be rather advised in his answers than forward to tell stories.

And let it appear that he doth not change his country manners for those of foreign parts, but only prick in some flowers of that he hath learned abroad into the customs of his own country.

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6 Must Visit Quirky Museums in London

Quirky museums are present all around the World. From displaying profane things to perfect artifacts, museums give us immense knowledge.

If you bored of knowing about the age-old history of the British empire? Then London has some quirky museums that are worth a visit. You might think these museums strange, but they are impressive.

So go offbeat, away from crowded parts of London, and discover something – that’s fun!

Geffrye Museum

Walk down 136 Kingsland Road and be surprised. Geffrye Museum is set apart from the traditional museums, because of its ideas. What is the purpose of a museum? Geffrye Museum serves that need. It takes you back in time. But not through decayed artifacts and coins.

There are eleven different rooms. Each room displays how a room used to be in a particular era. You can walk in from the Victorian period to the medieval and back to modern in no time! Talk about time travel.

Museum of Brands, Packaging & Advertising

Want to have a look at a KitKat dating back to 1930? Or would you like to have a swig at the oldest coca-cola bottle? We are just kidding. Apparently, you can’t. But you can have a glance at it in the Museum of Brands, Packaging, and Advertising.

Items from the Victorian age have been displayed. You will be taken through the time tunnel. You will have a look at the product lines of companies from the 1800s to the present age.

The Magic Circle Museum

Magicians from around the world visit this quirky museum. It is like a Mecca to them. The Magic Circle has a library, museum, headquarters. Entry is only available to members. But you can view the museum which is on the lower floor. Magic Circle has established 111 years ago.

But in 1998 the museum was opened, which hosts a variety of posters, ephemera, and artifacts related to magic. A look across the tokens of magicians from the past is a treat to watch.

Freud Museum

Photo by Rup11 CC BY SA 3.0

The father of Psychology – Sigmund Freud was a genius. He studied psychoanalysis and wrote the first ever book in that genre –The Interpretation of Dreams. If you want to have a peek into the mind of the father of psychology, what better way than to see his home?

Freud Museum has been untouched, the family heirlooms and Freud’s belongings still sit at the exact place. It would be fun to see where Freud sat and meditated- yeah, his couch.

Hunterian Museum

Every fancy and classy is displayed in traditional museums. The crown of kings, swords used to slay enemies, the boot of the great. But did you ever think of a museum which would preserve and display a tooth?

Of course, the tooth is not a regular human tooth, but the teeth of an extinct giant sloth. That is when we decided to include it in our quirky museums.

The giant at Hunterian Museum / Photo by StoneColdCrazy CCBYSA 3.0

Hunterian Museum in Holburn takes you on a tour through the pathological and anatomical history of mankind. A massive skeleton is also on the show (but it is not of a beast). Don’t let your imagination run with you. It belongs to an Irish giant who was 7ft 7in tall.

Natural History Museum

Natural History Museum /CC0

Everyone wants to visit the Natural History Museum and for good reasons. It is worth visiting and hence this is an honorary mention.

The Natural History Museum in London is a natural history museum that exhibits a vast range of specimens from various segments of natural history.

Science Museum / Photo by Christine Matthews CCBYSA 2.0

As a bonus, once you get here, note that it is one of three major museums on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, the others being the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

If time allows you should definitely check out the Science Museum (especially if you are traveling with kids).

Best Indoor Attractions In London When You Don’t Want to Go Outside

Typical British weather means that it is going to rain at some point during your visit to London. If you haven’t brought an umbrella, you severely under packed.

However, the rain won’t dampen your spirits because there is still so much to do and get the most out of your trip.

Best Indoor Attractions In London

Get settled in, store your luggage in London and get ready to enjoy yourselves. Below are some of the best thing to do in London when you can’t be outside or don’t feel like exploring the outdoors.

1. London Dungeon

Delve into the ancient capital’s most horrible history at the London Dungeon. Experience live actors, thrilling rides, and exciting special effects. Step back into the darkest of times… given you are brave enough to face 90 minutes of London’s dark past?

Photo by C. G. P. Grey CC BY 3.0

Vengeance: the UK’s first 5D laser ride has been unleashed at the London Dungeon. A Victorian séance has gone wrong… As you spin around in the darkness, can you duck, dive, dodge and shoot your way out?

A high speed, high adrenaline ride, this is the ultimate ghost hunt with you at the heart of the action.

2. Warner Bros. Studio Tour

If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter film franchise, this is going to be at the top of your list. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London provides an amazing new opportunity to explore the sets of the books and films you fell in love with.

Photo: The Art of Travel Partners

This unique walking tour takes you behind-the-scenes and showcases a huge array of beautiful sets, costumes, and props.

It also reveals some closely guarded secrets, including facts about the special effects and animations that made these films so hugely popular all over the world.

Explore the Great Hall, marvel at Dumbledore’s office and see how all the wonderful creatures were brought to life.

3. Covered markets

London markets have enjoyed a rich and vibrant history through the ages. From feeding the first settlers in the area to becoming major centers of commerce as London grew; to their present role as not only shopping hubs but tourist attractions in their own right.

Photo: The Art of Travel Partners

Greenwich Market is a fine example of a Victorian covered market, and Leadenhall Market or Coventry Garden Market also have similar traditional structures.

Borough Market isn’t a bad place to get caught in the rain either, especially if you’re hungry.

4. Royal Opera House Backstage Tour

See London’s iconic concert hall as never before in a behind-the-scenes tour. Get up close and personal with its nooks and crannies, discover the building’s colorful history and gain a special insight into its current performances.

You may even get the chance to see The Royal Ballet in class or some of the slick backstage technology in action. All with nary a drop of rain in sight.

Photo: The Art of Travel Partners

The Royal Opera House is a Grade I-listed building, and with its beautiful modern additions, it is a striking Covent Garden landmark.

Photo: The Art of Travel Partners

Book in advance for a behind-the-scenes tour, or just drop in for a visit: the foyer spaces (refurbished in 2018), café, restaurant, and bar are open to the public every day from 10 am.

5. National History Museum

If you have never been, now id the best time. Diving through the heart of Hintze Hall, a gigantic blue whale skeleton leads a cast of natural world stars, telling the dramatic story of evolution, diversity in the world today and our urgent role in the planet’s future.

Photo: The Art of Travel Partners

This real, 25.2-meter female whale skeleton is surrounded by hundreds of new specimens across three floors, including ten other star specimens in the ground floor wonder bays.

The Museum offers a wide-ranging programme of temporary exhibitions and events all year round which inspires a love of the natural world and educates on the power of nature.

6. London Aquarium

This one is for you animal lovers. If you have little ones, they will bask in the glory of creatures and colors they have never seen before. Take a stroll under the sea as you pass through our amazing glass tunnel. Shoals of glittering fish flutter along beside you whilst enormous Green Sea turtles glide slowly over your head.

You’ll continue your journey of discovery as you explore the mysterious creatures that inhabit the world’s coastlines, species ranging from the depths of the Pacific Ocean to the breadth of the Atlantic.

7. Royal Observatory

Stand on the world-famous Meridian Line with one foot in the west and one foot in the east. Discover the past, present and future wonders of astronomy at the centre of time.

With your complimentary audio guide, learn about the discoveries of great scientists and inventors based at or associated with the Royal Observatory. Explore how great scientists first mapped the seas and the stars in Charles II’s magnificent Christopher Wren-designed Octagon Room – dating from 1675.

Marvel at the Great Equatorial Telescope, the UK’s largest historic telescope which gave astronomers new views of the universe over 100 years ago.

8. Art galleries

There are many in London and most of them are free. If you’re right in the centre but you get caught in a downpour in Trafalgar Square, then the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery and Somerset House are all within a couple of minutes’ walk of each other.

These are obviously the most well-known but there are plenty of other options such as The Estorick Collection of Modern Italian, famous for its futuristic painting styles and Dulwich Picture Gallery, specialising in the greats such as Canaletto, Rembrandt and Gainsborough. However, they also have temporary exhibitions featuring new and emerging artists.

9. Choccywoccydoodah

The final thing to do on this list is a bit of a treat. You HAVE to come here and indulge into the gorgeous hot chocolate they have to offer.

Photo: The Art of Travel Partners

Its version of the cocoa classic comes with whipped cream, large pink marshmallows, a dusting of cocoa and a magic wand of curled chocolate. You can also choose from 70-percent-cocoa-butter dark, 38 percent milk or 29 percent white chocolate.

Top 7 Countries You Must Travel If You Love Music

Visiting different countries around the globe and experiencing a rich culture, history, and music is always exciting. Music tells a lot about a culture. Exploring a place along with music is one of the best experiences in the world.

We have created a list of top 7 countries that you must visit if you are a music fan and love traveling.

Read Next: 5 Epic Art Festivals Around the Globe

Best Destinations For Music Lovers

Music is my life!

England

London Bridge, England

England is a country with an extraordinary music scene. The most famous music cities in England are Liverpool and London. Liverpool was home to the Beatles band. It is also often called the “pop capital of the world”.

Every year thousands of Beatles fans visit Liverpool during the international Beatles week. London also hosts some great music festivals, and it also has a lot of events for classical music fans.

United States

Coachella

In the United States, the music market is three times larger than any other country. And it is home to six of the ten highest-grossing music venues. Think about that for a moment.

Some of the cities that you must visit during your trip to America are:

 

The USA has something for everyone’s music tastes. It has music festivals like Coachella, Lollapalooza, Ultra, SXSW, and pitchfork music festival.

It also has events like the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. So, the USA is the place to visit for the best live corporate event band.

Lollapalooza

Germany

Germany is famous for its electronic music scene. Germany is host to some of the best music festivals.

Lollapalooza Berlin, MELT, Hurricane, Splash, Highfields, and MS Dockville are some of the most famous music festivals that you must attend if you are visiting Germany for your music vacation.

Cuba

Cuba has a very rich and interesting music culture and its city Havana is a place that should be on every music lovers bucket list. The Havana International Jazz festival is an event that every jazz fan has to experience.

Jazz festival

Brazil

Image credit – Rio Music Carnival

Among all their talents one thing that the Brazilians also know a thing or two about partying. The country has a beautiful culture and landscape and even more beautiful people. Rio is one of the must-visit cities if you are in Brazil.

Carnival, Rio, Brazil

Brazil hosts loads of music festivals every year some of which are TribalTech, Ultra Brazil, DGTL Sao Paulo, and of course the Rio Music Carnival.

Netherlands

DJ Armin Van Burren mesmerizing the crowd

The Dutch people are the leaders of electronic dance music. Many amazing and talented DJs including Tiesto and Armin Van Burren call the Netherlands their home. The capital of Netherlands, Amsterdam is a place that every music lover must visit.

The city is the best during the Amsterdam dance event in mid-October. The Amsterdam music festival is also held during this event where many DJs from all over the world perform. 

So, anyone who is a fan of electronic music should add visiting Netherlands and Amsterdam to their bucket list.

Belgium

Tomorrowland is one of the most famous electronic dance music festival held in Boom, Belgium. Starting in 2005, it has since become one of the world’s largest and most notable music festivals and now stretches over 2 weekends. It’s so popular that tickets usually sell out in minutes after opening.

Tomorrowland Electronic Music Festival

About the Author

Kristal Bean is a Southern California-based writer and sometimes wedding planner. In her free time, she homeschools, works out and loves to listen to live music. Check her blog Green Light Booking.

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5 Best Gardens in the World

Gardens are places where you can relax or take a leisurely stroll. Everywhere around the world gardens have been created by humans. Our need for peace drives us into the arms of nature.

For some, it is a place of meditation, for others, it is about beauty. In this blog tour, we are going to take you to six spectacular gardens from around the world.

VILLA d’ESTE

Located in Tivoli, the villa is a symbol of Italian Renaissance. During the 18th century, the monastery was renovated to an elegant villa. It is listed in UNESCO’s artistic sites in Italy.

Every garden has lush greenery centered by a fountain. That is a picture that pops into our minds when we think of a garden.

Villa d’Este lives up to our imagination. It has a moss-covered fountains. They are created in the shape of the wolf suckling Romulus (Rometta fountain). You will also find Fontana de Bicchierone.

This fountain is made in the shape of a shell. Water splashing out of creatively sculptured fountains is beautiful. Everything in Villa d’Este is designed to sprinkle you with water.

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW

Villa had a signature feature-the fountains. In the same way, Royal Botanic Gardens in England has a defining feature-greenhouses.

It is not only a natural place but also a historic place. It houses the world’s largest Victorian greenhouse (Temperate House).

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew by Francesco Bandarin CC BY-SA 3.0-igo

Botanic gardens are located just 16 kilometers from London. Baobabs tree are a rare species. But the Palm greenhouse is designed to grow the trees in ten different climatic temperatures.

If you want to see the beauty of vanilla orchids and other plants, visit the garden. It will enhance your botanical knowledge too.

CHATEAU de VERSAILLES

Chateau de Versailles in France is a classical garden in every aspect. It was designed by Andre Le Notre. Located near the palace of Louis XIV.

The King had ordered to create the garden to enhance the magnificence of his chateau. It covers a massive area of 250 acres. You can sneak a spot here to relax.

Image Credit

The park is littered with quiet corners with exquisite statues. You can click a pic of colorful flowerbeds along the path. An artificial canal was created in the garden.

The Sun King used to take gondola rides here. The scene composing the gorgeous palace and the green landscape is stunning. You will be transported back to the seventeenth century.

GARDEN OF VILLA EPHRUSSI De ROTHSCHILD

It is a modern version of classical gardens. Located in St. Jean Cap Ferrat in France, it was built in the twentieth century. 

A Baroness decided to build the Villa surrounded by different types of gardens. She added a feminine touch to it by giving it a pink color. The Gardens have seven different themes.

Each garden heroes a specific theme. A provincial garden is present which is decorated with lavender and olive trees. The main attraction is the French garden. It has a pond covered with lily.

A temple of love is built in the garden. The idea was inspired by Trianon in Versailles. Fountains are surrounding it, which gives it a splendid appeal. This is a myriad of gardens. You can discover the Florentine, Spanish, and lapidary gardens also.

POWERSCOURT GARDENS

A garden representing the gentle beauty of Ireland. There is not much effort put to make it look extravagant. The Wicklow mountains looming in the background do the job. It is located in Enniskerry.

It occupies an area of 19 hectares. It might be smaller as compared to other gardens on the list but equals them in beauty.

Enniskerry – Powerscourt Estate by Frabjousone CC BY-SA 4.0

The gardens are walled, which gives them a mysterious touch. You will feel like you are trapped in heaven. The soft pavilions are like walking on velvet. Feel the coolness of the waterfall surrounding you.

You can even walk up to luxurious terraces and view the garden. The Powerscourt is an enchanting place to lose yourself.

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