National Geographic Traveler August/September 2019

traveling to listen

Music is sound organized into a harmonious composition. It’s the art of the muses, the rhythm of poetry, the scale of inspiration. In classical Greece, music was embodied by the muse Euterpe, the “giver of delight.” In ancient times, music was the beat of a drum and the tone of a flute; before that it was the staccato of raindrops, the rush of a river, the song of a bird. Sound is all around us, and yet it can become so layered and discordant that we stop listening. For travelers, the sense of sound is one of our best tools for discovering the world in all its dimensions. This issue is about exploring with ears first—it’s about listening to destinations as much as looking at them. We visit musical places…

nat geo highlights

GLOBE-TROT WITH GORDON RAMSAY For National Geographic’s new TV series Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, the famed chef embarks on adventures in six destinations around the world to find culinary inspiration in local flavors. See page 38 for his travel tips, and catch the premiere July 21. “QUEENS OF EGYPT” Nefertiti, Hatshepsut, and other fierce females star in this multisensory exhibition at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C., through September 2. Go to natgeo.org/dc. EXPLORATION HAPPENS BECAUSE OF YOU When you read, watch, shop, or travel with us, you help advance the work of our scientists, explorers, and educators around the world. To learn more, visit natgeo.com/info. ATLAS OF THE WORLD Study the planet and get travel insight from the 11th edition of this classic reference book that reflects the state of the world today with authoritative maps,…

land of a thousand rhythms

Welcome to Colombia where cowboys sing to their cattle, the jungles of the Pacific echo with the sweet sounds of the marimba and dancefloors shake to the beat of cumbia, reggaeton and champeta. Colombia’s musical diversity is so great that is has been called “the country of a thousand rhythms” —1,025, divided between more than 150 different musical genres, to be exact. Just as the country’s world-leading biodiversity is a product of its five exotic regions —the Caribbean, Pacific, Andes, Amazon and Eastern Plains— its musical diversity also stems from a complex geographical blend of cultures and traditions. Cumbia music, for example, mixes both African and Indigenous instruments and musical traditions to form a genre that is uniquely Colombian. From the wild heart of the Amazon rainforest to the windswept deserts of the Caribbean…

six essential colombian musical experiences

1. Dance Salsa in Cali No musical tour of Colombia is complete without a visit to the salsa capital of the world, whether you choose to get hands-on and take classes at a local dance school or shake your stuff in one of the city’s hundreds of salsa clubs. 2. “Rumba” in Bogota The capital city of Colombia, Bogota is a melting pot of cultures and musical genres: a perfect starting point when exploring the country’s diverse music. From massive electronic clubs to bars showcasing the best live music from all of Colombia’s regions, a weekend in Bogota is a hip-shaking good time. 3. Sing to Cows in Los Llanos Ride horseback across the vast Eastern Plains with llanero cowboys while they sing a capella to the cattle. This traditional practice has been named an…

in the loop

Perched on a hill of old mining slag, the sculptural steel walkway “Tiger & Turtle—Magic Mountain” (pictured) gives a new perspective on the city of Duisburg, Germany. In nearby Bottrop, there’s no ignoring the “Tetraeder,” a 200-foot-tall, walkable steel pyramid rising out of a mine dump. Both cities lie in the Ruhr region of western Germany, whose coal and steel operations fueled the nation’s industrial success between the 1930s and ’80s. Today, coal mining has screeched to a halt, but the region is spinning fresh stories around its legacy by repurposing sites into cultural attractions. Another to visit? Essen’s Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex, now a hub for art, concerts, and sports.…

credit cards

You might be surprised to learn that one of the most helpful travel tools is something you already use every day—the credit card tucked into your wallet. You can earn more points from a single credit card sign-up bonus than from years of flying and staying in hotels. Rewards cards also provide benefits such as free checked bags and room upgrades. With cards ranging from basic to premium, there are options for every type of traveler. Here are some tips on picking the right one for your needs. The average credit card holder has at least two rewards cards. By some estimates, trillions of unused miles languish in travelers’ frequentflier accounts. 20 MILLION MILES Tom Stuker, the world’s most frequent flier, has hit the 20 million–mile mark with United Airlines. 15 PERCENT According to a recent…