Many of the development locations are currently off the usual tourist trail. So, if you’d like a little different view of London, before the rest of the world catches on, then try a walking tour of the Olympic sites and get a glimpse of history in the making.

Special walking tours have been created to show people around the key sites and access special development viewing areas. The tours are led by Blue Badge Guides; they are available in multiple languages, and they offer a great way of witnessing the transformation of under-developed real estate into an exciting London Olympic Park.

The walking tours are proving to be quite popular, especially of the main Olympic Park area in East London. There are now tours every Saturday and Sunday, starting at 11am from the Bromley-by-Bow underground station (on the District, Hammersmith and City lines).

Historic London
This tour route takes you along the Lower Lea River Valley, on a tow path and past the old locks. In addition to the Olympic 2012 sites, you also get a glimpse of some of London’s Victorian and Georgian industrial heritage, which offers quite a contrast between old and new. For example, the walk takes you past Three Mills Island, on the River Lea, which is the site of former working mills and is one of London’s oldest industrial areas.

Three Mills Island is London’s oldest surviving industrial centre and is home to a grade I listed House Mill. The mills ceased operating in 1941due to heavy bombing in the area and are believed to be some of the largest and most powerful tidal mills in the world. The mills date back to the 11th century and were mentioned in the Domesday Book.

The House Mill is owned and operated by a charitable trust, the River Lea Tidal Mill Trust, and is open on Sunday afternoons - from April to October - for guided tours. If you want to find out more about the history of the building, then it’s suggested that you return to the building upon completing the 2012 site tour.

The island is also the home to 3 Mills Studios (made up of Bow Studios, 3 Mills Island Studio, and Edwin Shirley Productions), the largest working film studio in inner London, where many TV shows, films and music videos are made.

New London and the Olympic Park
In contrast to the historical and industrial areas of Three Mills Island, as the walk wends on, you reach the modern development that will eventually become the Olympic Park.

The development is on a vast scale – 500 acres – and it’s hard to imagine just how big it is until you see it for yourself. Workers on the site, for example, don’t walk from location to location, they’re driven around in buses, as the area under development is so large. And this reclaimed, regenerated land will soon become the largest urban park developed in Europe in over 150 years.

A special visitor centre and viewing platform has been created to ensure that you can safely see what’s going on, as each construction site is not open to members of the public. In fact, at this stage, it is pretty much just a giant construction site, so you’ll need to exercise your imagination to envisage what it will be like on opening day. And it is, of course, very interesting to watch the ever changing structures move toward their final shapes, all the while modifying the London landscape.

The tour encompasses a number of venues, to include: the main 80,000 seat Olympic Stadium where much of the of the action will take place, and where dreams will be made and hopes lost; as well as the Aquatic Centre, the massive International Broadcast Centre, the Olympic Village and the Velodrome.

The walking tour lasts about two hours and numbers are restricted to 20 to 25 people for each tour. You do have to book your place in advance, but you pay in cash on the day of your tour.

Northern Bucharest offers pleasant walks along stately avenues where you can see pre-war mansions, well-tended parks, and interesting monuments and museums. Providing a reprieve from the towering apartment blocks typical of the Romanian capital, it is the city’s wealthiest area, home to several embassies, upmarket hotels and business facilities.

You start getting a taste of a different world as you advance north from Piata Romana – a square in the downtown – and go up Bulevardul Lascar Catargiu. This street, whose statue of the wolf suckling Romulus and Remus is a reminder of Romania’s Latin heritage, is lined with the type of houses that would have been lived in by local gentry in the 18th and 19th centuries. Many are in a style that has come to be known as the national architecture, called Brancovenesc: a chunky, somewhat Mediterranean look with turrety roofs, spiralling columns, terraces and colonnades.

Lascar Catargiu leads you to the massive asymmetrical space of Piata Victoriei, an intersection with a parking lot at its center, from which major roads thunder off in different directions. The vast, police-guarded concrete slab on the eastern side is Palatul Victoriei, the government headquarters, erected in 1937. On the northern side of the square is the Museum of the Romanian Peasant, which holds a very good collection of traditional furniture, clothes and icons.

From here on, we are interested in the two dead-straight, tree-lined avenues that go north from Piata Victoriei: Soseaua Kiseleff to the left, Bulevardul Aviatorilor to the right. Between them near the bottom is a pretty green area, Parcul Kiseleff, but that is nothing compared to the huge parks that snake their way across the north of the city, to which both these roads will ultimately lead you.

If you take Kiseleff, a road named after the commander of Russian occupation troops who created it in 1832, you will soon find one of Bucharest’s nicest places to eat and drink. Casa Doina, on the right side of the road, offers calm, shady terraces clustering around an antique mansion. Founded in 1892, it was renovated to its current splendor in just the last few years and is located on the corner of Strada Ion Mincu, a slightly quieter street that is worth a quick diversion for its nice villas. A little further up Kiseleff, on the left, is one of the road’s most beautiful mansions, recognizable by the flags of the Dutch bank, ING, for which it is now the local base.

Moving along, about a mile up Kiseleff’s length, is a circular intersection dominated by the Arch of Triumph (Arcul de Triumf). Modeled after the famous Paris landmark, it commemorates Romania’s achievement of sovereignty in 1878. While an arch has stood here since that year, the current one, 88 feet tall, dates from 1935. Its adornments include relief portraits of Ferdinand and Maria, Romania’s king and queen from 1914 to 1927. Further up the road on the left is the World Trade Center, a business area that includes an exhibition plaza, an upmarket shopping complex, and the distinctive flat square of the Sofitel hotel.

The final arresting sight on Kiseleff is what is now called Casa Presei Libere (house of the free press), the headquarters of several media outlets. Many still call it by its original name of Casa Scanteii, after the communist newspaper (“The Spark”) that was edited from here. Built in 1956 in the same wedding-cake format as some state buildings in Moscow, it is Bucharest’s one example of Soviet-style architecture, as opposed to home-grown communist architecture. Measured to the top of its central tower, it is 340 feet high.

By now we have reached the huge expanse of Herastrau Park, a green zone that borders a large system of lakes. Locals come here on weekends and holidays to cycle or roller-skate, splash around in a hired rowboat, or just gaze at the flowers while enjoying refreshments sold from the stalls. At the point where Kiseleff joins the park, don’t miss one of Bucharest’s best tourist attractions, the beautiful Village Museum (Muzeul Satului). This large, open-air museum contains reconstructed cottages from different parts of rural Romania, many with original walls and doors.

The other broad road leading to the parks from Piata Victoriei, Bulevardul Aviatorilor, features a 1935 monument commemorating Romanian aviators. Later, at the point where Kiseleff meets the arch, Aviatorilor has another site bearing witness to Romania’s love affair with France; a big, round intersection named Piata Charles de Gaulle. A statue of de Gaulle, the French leader during World War II and after, stands here. The middle contains a circular sculpture (dating from the 1990s) with a cross-shaped pattern of holes, known as Crucea Mileniului (Millennium Cross).

One other road, while less grand than the two boulevards, also provides an interesting northward route from central Bucharest to the parks area. This is Calea Dorobantilor, a pleasant, lively street of homes and offices, including many old villas. It buzzes with restaurants near its southern end, while further north, the road contains the Socialist-era Romanian television building, a not unattractive specimen fronted by well-tended gardens full of glittering, abstract sculptures. The building still houses the state television company.

Ok, so I’ve come around to accepting that there are other things to do in Naples than eat pizza. It was tough though, and took something as tremendous as Naples Underground, or Napoli Sotterranea, to prove it to me. It’s as creepy as any underworld tale, but there’s a friendly guide to take you through the twisting, winding passages below the streets of Naples.

There are a number of tours, each beginning in different parts of the city, with each tour revealing different sections of Naples Underground. The tour my girlfriend and I took featured the underground remains of a Greek-Roman theater. It began in the vincinity of the Duomo di Napoli (directions are offered here). The small gift shop at the ticket office has a window in the floor that offers a glimpse in to the world below. English language tours leave throughout the day, and when we arrived without reservations, we only had to wait 15 minutes for the next tour. The tour cost is 9 euro per person. While the price had kept me away during previous visits to Naples, I can now attest that the experience is well worth it.

We followed our guide down a deep, long stairway until reaching a series of large rooms with towering ceilings. Our guide explained the ancient method of constructing homes in the area over 2400 years ago, which created the underground city that we were now walking through. The inhabitants dug large holes to excavate stone that they then used to construct houses. The large holes were subsequently used as wells. After enough people had populated the area, there were so many wells that they were connected to create massive underground aqueducts. At one point, the aqueduct was so large that it connected Naples to Rome, a distance of nearly 140 miles.

The aqueducts were eventually closed down when cholera swept through Europe and they were never again used to provide drinking water. During WWII, some of the people in Naples decided to use the underground city as a bomb shelter; creepy toys and graffiti from that time period can still be seen. A few of the rooms are still used today, some for biology experiments, and some to serve as a venue for art shows. There were also rooms with water in them, making for a stunning visual experience.

My favorite part of the tour was the candle-lit trip through some very narrow passages. This part of the tour, however, may not appeal to people of large bearing or those with claustrophobia. Everyone in the group is given a candle and taken on a short journey through thin passages and into a room that features some pretty incredible sights. I’m going to leave those sights a secret, however. I can’t give it all away! The tour guides are very good at creating fun surprises and I wouldn’t want to ruin the anticipation and excitement for readers who will one day take the tour.

Though the underground city has been mapped for over fifty years, the endeavor still struggles to raise enough money to unearth more of its incredible remains. When our guide showed me a map that depicted the size of the underground city, I was amazed to find that it stretched well beyond the current borders of Naples. Our tour, we were told, includes less than 1% of the giant, Naples Underground.

Fleas are responsible for the charm that draws admiring visitors to Siena. That’s because the damage they caused back in 1348 left the city crippled, unable to change, and stuck in the Middle Ages. The dreaded Black Death, brought by flea-carrying rats, struck Europe’s crowded cities and decimated entire populations. Half the people of Siena died. Unlike Florence and Milan, the city never recovered its former glory. What that means for tourists today is a city that looks as it did centuries ago, with medieval architecture and magnificent art. And, now it’s combined with Italian gusto and a Sienese flavor all its own.

The heart of Siena is the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, where everyone comes to drink espresso and eat gelato at sidewalk cafes while watching the world go by. Twice in the summer, crowds gather to watch the Palio, the exciting, historic horse races sponsored by the various contrada, or neighborhoods. On one side of the Campo is the City Hall and Tower. There’s an interesting museum here and, if you climb the 300 steps to the top of the tower, fantastic views of the Tuscan landscape. From the Campo, narrow streets, alleyways and steep steps wind past quaint buildings and landmarks.

One of Siena’s major attractions is the Duomo, a Baroque cathedral that is amazing. Striped marble, inlaid mosaics, gilt carvings, frescoes, statues – they’re all here, and not to be missed. You can rent an audioguide, useful for understanding some of the array before you. Across from the cathedral is Santa Maria della Scala, a museum that was once a hospital. The frescoes show what health care was like in the 15th century (better than you might think).

There are numerous other churches and museums, and a theater where you can watch a brief film on the history of the Palio. It gives the flavor of the wild drama and ritual around the traditional horse races. This university town also offers numerous concerts and cultural events. When you want to tour the Tuscan countryside, try something different: the Nature Train. The old-fashioned train travels through some of Italy’s most beautiful land, the hills of Tuscany. Rides are available on Sundays, May through October.

One of Siena’s most pleasant hotels is the pricey Palazzo Ravizza, which I love for its garden. It has hand-painted tiles and local marble in the bathrooms, traditional furnishings, and sketches of travelers from past eras. The formal garden, overlooking the Tuscan olive trees and vineyards, is a wonderful place to relax after a day of sightseeing.
Villa Elda, less expensive, is a 10-minute walk from Piazza del Campo. It has 11 rooms and an Art Nouveau atmosphere and is another fine lodging choice. There’s a rooftop terrace as well as a garden.
For some good Sienese restaurant ideas, take a look at Recommendations for Tuscany Restaurants.

“You either love it or you hate it,” said a friend of mine. It was the first thing I ever heard about the Italian city of Naples, and the phrase’s authenticity remains intact after all these years. Naples is unlike any other city in Italy: It is busy, loud, and dirty on one hand (many people say it feels like stepping into a Middle-Eastern bazaar) and creative, friendly, and picturesque on the other. It is definitely not a quiet, romantic Italian town like Siena or Verona. Threats of pickpockets and a pervasive garbage problem keep many travelers from even visiting the city, while a one-of-a-kind culinary scene, inexpensive shopping, and a vibrant waterfront make it a must-see for others. If you haven’t guessed already, I fall in the latter group.

The first time I visited Naples, I was immediately taken aback by its sheer bustle. I still attest to seeing a family of six—with a pet—whiz past me on a moped. The streets are small and the traffic is frantic. And the large outdoor market in front of the central train station is overwhelming and seemingly chaotic. However, once I became accustomed to the energy of Naples, I discovered the unique qualities that fueled it.

The people in Naples are friendly and welcoming, and always willing to help. For example, the clerk at the hotel where I usually stay is always giving guests tips on the best things to see and do. He also warns of pickpockets and provides extensive advice on how to carry money and cameras. In the stores and restaurants, people are quick to ask you where you are from and to welcome you to their city.

The main tourist destinations in Naples are its two castles, the Naples National Archaeological Museum—considered the most important archeological museum in Italy—, tours of its underground city Sotterranea, and a waterfront full of beautiful sailboats and traditional fishing boats. The bay of Naples, on which the city sits, provides a clear view of the ancient Vesuvius volcano that buried the nearby city of Pompeii in 79AD. The Castle dell’Ovo is located on a tiny island that is joined to Naples by a short bridge, and is free to visit. Castle Nuovo, which costs 5 euro to enter, is the more striking castle, with ancient stonework and dramatic towers.

From a culinary perspective, Naples offers traditional Italian foods that cannot be found anywhere else—not even in other Italian cities. Neapolitan pizza is, of course, at the forefront. The street food, which is sold from open storefronts around every corner, is some of the best in Italy. Fried panini stuffed with meats and cheeses, arancini (deep-fried risotto balls stuffed with mozzarella), calzones, and an assortment of fried vegetables and potatoes (sold for 30 cents a piece), should not be missed. Further, the pastries in Naples are incredible. Sfogliatelle is a horn-shaped pastry that looks like it is made with circles of layered flakey crusts. Traditional biscotti are also served, though bear no resemblance to the dried, crunchy biscotti found in the United States. And espresso in Naples is definitively some of the best in Italy.

The markets in Naples are a great place to find clothes, shoes, purses, sunglasses, hats, and so on. However, they are known for pickpockets, so keep your money hidden or spread out between different pockets. If you try on shoes, the venders will provide you a seat. And, bartering is a way of life in the markets, so never pay the listed price.

Finally, the architecture of Naples won’t be  forgotten, as huge churches, cathedrals, and other strutures of Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods are found throughout the city. My favorite spots are the Piazza Dante, which boasts a great statue of Dante, and the Piazza del Plebiscito (especially at night). With Naples, I’ve found that looking beyond the crumbling apartment buildings provides an exciting glimpse into a city that is truly unlike any other on earth.