2 . Who says you have to stay indoors when the temperatures drop? Here are favourite places to explore this winter.

Athens, Greece

In Athens, every November temperatures stay around the mid-20s, so have a trip to the Parthenon and Acropolis. A full afternoon is also necessary for exploring the Museum of Cycladic Art and its exhibitions — recently it has hosted Picasso’s.

In the streets of the Pysrri district is a hidden hole in the wall, from which one can go down to the basement restaurant, Diporto.

Huaraz, Peru

To some, Peru gives people images of students in printed shorts on a tour of Machu Picchu. There’s obviously so much more to do in the UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) site. Any hike through the surrounding Huascaran National Park will make you feel like you’ve stepped into The Lord of the Rings.

April and November are considered “shoulder season”, which means fewer clear days but you can enjoy the trails (路线) with fewer people.

Edinburgh, UK

Yes, it’s probably going to be freezing cold. Hot coffee steam up in a pleasing, romantic fashion in cafes. People can take a few minutes’ walk from the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

For simple Scottish dishes there’s neighbourhood inn, the Little Chartroom. And the Sheep Heid Inn has been long enough to have served Mary, Queen of Scots. In the eight bedrooms at the 18th century Rock House, each is a mixture of ancient details and current fashion.

Valletta, Malta

Flights from the UK to Malta’s capital are only around £30, making it one of the best destinations for a November trip. This tiny city has a temperature of 17 or so and has changed itself into a year-round city break with artistic cafes, hotels and newly opened galleries — Muza opened last year and houses the former National Gallery collection.

5 . Are you thinking about traveling alone? You must have a million questions: Where should you go? Will there be someone to talk to?     1     And is it all right to travel alone?

In fact, traveling alone is not as scary (吓人的) as it seems. Here are some good tips.

Choose a place where you feel comfortable and safe

Truth be told, traveling alone for the first time is more about the experience than the destination.     2     It could be somewhere close to home or somewhere you’ve already been with friends.

Make a plan

Always make a plan. That way you’ll avoid worrying too much over where you’re staying, what to see and how you’re getting from A to B.

Book hotels ahead of time

    3     Besides, when you book your hotel, ask if they will send a driver to pick you up.

Talk to people

If you’re going to a touristy place like Thailand, there are lots of other people who are traveling alone.     4     They might also ask you to join them for dinner or a beer. That happens a lot.

Let someone know where you are

Your family and friends love you and probably worry about you every day, so text them and let them know what you are up to throughout your trip.     5     And in case something does happen, they’ll know where you are.

I’m Richard,     1     exchange student from the UK. During the October holiday, my parents and I went to Xi’an     2     (see) the Terrocotta Army. The story of the Terrocotta Army is     3     (extreme) unbelievable. It’s     4     (amaze) that there are more than 8,000 statues, and no one     5     modern times knew about them until the 1970s.We also visited the Shaanxi History Museum, which     6     (know) as a “Chinese Treasure House.” Of course, the Xi’an City Wall and a few other famous sights also left us a deep     7     (impress).Though tired, we enjoyed     8     (us) during the trip. The trip is so wonderful     9     we’re looking forward to     10     (explore) other big cities in China.

7 . When you’re sitting in class or behind your desk waiting for the clock to strike a time when you can go home, it is natural that your mind should wander (走神) a bit. It is common for your mind to wander to a vacation and even travel around the world. What if there is a way that you can travel around the world without having to pay any money?

A person that managed to make it around the world without spending much was Shantanu Starick. How did he trade off his service? Starick realized that as a photographer he had a service that people would usually be willing to pay money for, but he would instead offer his photography service to anyone who could provide him with food, shelter (住处) and transportation. Starick has been traveling for a surprising 30 months and has visited countries ranging from the United States to Ecuador.

In English-speaking countries, trading off services and communicating aren’t difficult for Starick. However, in farther areas where there isn’t an English- speaking person in sight it can be quite difficult. More than anything, the locals appreciate (欣赏) the effort behind trying to speak their language, even if you don’t exactly sound like a native speaker.

You can do it too!

Honestly, with a bit of confidence, drive and a skill you can trade, you’ll be able to do exactly the same as Starick.

Start thinking about what you can do to get around the world without paying money. With our social networks and the connectivity our world has, you can easily connect with and market yourself to people across the world without any effort.