We are all used to traveling by airplane, car, boat, and trains, but sometimes you find yourself having a unique way to get from one place to another. Some might require a sense of adventure and some are just for fun, others are literally the only way to get from point A to point B. Throughout time, people have found ways to improve how they travel or overcome obstacles that keep them from getting to their destination. Even in this age of technology and modern innovation, simple travel solutions can still be found, especially in remote areas. Here are a few of the unique ways that we’ve gotten around, but certainly not all of them. We aren’t sure which of these might considered the most unique because we enjoyed them all for the experience that they provided. What is the most unique way that you have travelled?
Paddling in a Small Canoe in the AmazonHow About a Horse-Drawn Sleigh or a SnowcatCable Car Ride Across the Rhine RiverWhitewater RaftingRiding Camels in the DesertRowing with Their Feet in VietnamRiding the Funicular in BudapestGetting Into Carrasco National Park in BoliviaSailing in a FalukaHorse-Drawn Carriage or a Tuk-TukTrolley Car in San FranciscoSoaring Through the JunglePirate Ship in the MarinaNot Necessarily Unique, but Bicycles Outnumber People in AmsterdamCheck Out Line of SnowmobilesCable Cars in Gibraltar
We happened to be in Acapulco over Valentines Day, so we decided to do a sunset cruise to make it a romantic evening. The cruise left from the marina, which was about fifteen minutes from our resort. The cruise takes you out through the bay and into the ocean where the views are amazing. We have taken many similar tours over the years and usually people just wander the upper deck to enjoy the scenery, however this tour had chairs lined up on the deck, so the earlier you arrive, the better your seat.
Sun Reflecting off of the ResortsSeagulls Flying with the BoatSun Setting Over the OceanStadium Seating to Watch the SunsetsColorful Sunset
The cruise had an open bar with unlimited drinks, so we enjoyed a nice, cold margarita to help offset the heat. Once the boat started moving and heading towards the ocean, there was a nice breeze that also helped to cool us off. As the ship moved its way out of the harbor, you past by the various cliffs along the bay all of which had beautiful homes and resorts perched along the clifftops. Watching the sunsets in Acapulco is extremely popular, whether from a cruise, resort, beach, or home, but there is even an area with stadium seating just for people to gather and watch the sun as it sinks below the horizon.
Seagulls Filing the SkyHomes and Resorts on Top of the CliffsSitting in the MarinaStart of the SunsetViews of the Coastline
We were joined on our cruise by not only a variety of tourists, but also a flock of seagulls flew along side of our boat as well. At times, there were so many seagulls that they pretty much blocked our views of the shoreline. The waters were very smooth during our tour and we were able to see the sun setting over the open ocean as well as behind some of the cliffs that line the bay. It was certainly a perfect way to end our first full day in Acapulco and we would highly recommend taking a sunset tour anytime that you visit the Pacific coast.
Enjoying a MargaritaPeak of the SunsetResorts Along the BayMore Buildings on the CliffsLeaving the Bay and Entering the Ocean
With all of the different canals in Amsterdam, taking a canal cruise is a great way to see the city and learn about its architecture as well as its history. We had also taken a walking tour of the city, but touring by boat was truly enjoyable. Most tours will take you by famous sites like the Anne Frank house, but you also see various other areas of the city that you might not otherwise see.
Heading into the BayNarrow CanalOne of the Many HouseboatsColorful Building with Canal ViewsHeading Down a Canal
Our tour provided headsets in order to listen to the audio presentation of the tour. We learned about why the buildings lean toward the water and have hooks suspended from the roof. Because the buildings are so narrow, furniture is hoisted from the street level up to the windows in order to get them inside and the buildings lean so that the items can be raised without hitting the walls. The buildings are narrow because they are taxed based on the width of the building, so most of them are narrow and tall.
Square Houseboat Without a MotorBikes on the Deck of a HouseboatHooks to Raise the FurnitureLeaving the Bay and Heading Towards the CanalsExpensive Homes Along the Canal
People don’t just live in the buildings along the canals, but they also live in houseboats on the canals. Most of them never move and some of them don’t even have engines. There are various styles from simple and small to large and luxurious. In a city that is made up of hundreds of canals, house boats are a great way for people to live downtown and enjoy everything that city has to offer. Needless to say, in a city where bicycles outnumber residents, it isn’t uncommon to see bicycles on the decks of the houseboats. There were even some whimsical boats and a few that were half sunken, but not repaired.
Having Fun with a Sunken BoatAnother View from Our TourMore than Just HouseboatsFascinating ArchitectureLeaning Buildings
There are many choices of canal cruise tour companies to choose from in Amsterdam and the size of the boat will determine what canals you can see and which ones you can’t. There are even small tours that offer drinks and food, which makes it more of a fun excursion rather than an actual tour. We chose a medium size tour boat for our tour, but if we ever do it again, we’d probably choose a private tour with wine and the famous Dutch cheese.
