Nestled on the left bank of the Seine, in the heart of Paris, the Musée d'Orsay is more than just a museum, it’s a journey through time, art, and architectural wonder. Housed in a former Beaux-Arts railway station once known as the Gare d'Orsay, this building is a masterpiece in itself, seamlessly blending history with creativity. We… Continue reading The Musée d’Orsay in Paris
Pompeii Ruins Pompeii is a a city buried by devastation. Its public squares, temples, baths, private villas, and shops are worth visiting. Exploring the entire site of these vast ruins would take one about 3 full days. Most people don’t have this time. So, a half day or a full day tour is often the… Continue reading Pompeii
Another recent visit to Paris gave us time to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral reconstructed after the devastating fire in April 2019. The beautiful cathedral recently reopened to the public. You can request a reservation to visit here: https://www.notredamedeparis.fr/en/visit/reservation/ We tried to do so, but end up just walking up and waiting in line, which… Continue reading Notre Dame 2019 and Now
Discover the Magic of Europe's Best Christmas Markets Christmas markets are a beloved tradition in Europe, dating back to the Middle Ages. These festive events offer a unique opportunity to experience the holiday season in a truly magical way. From charming stalls selling handcrafted goods to delicious treats and warm drinks, there is something for… Continue reading Europe’s Christmas Markets
At 23, my first trip to Paris with a colleague exposed me to travel's highs and lows. Tips to avoid mishaps: be cautious traveling with colleagues, ensure adequate layover time, explore beyond major cities, eat away from tourist hotspots, and always get travel insurance. Learn from my mistakes and embrace your adventures!
What Are you Looking At? It’s Too Hot to Move! The Land Iguana found in the Galápagos Land Iguana Islands tend to be numerous and you will come across them on the trail just taking up space and bathing in the sun to warm up. Explore Animalia for more details about these rather large creatures.
China is now open for tourism. This is great news! For many visitors, a visa is required and must be obtain prior to leaving your country. We are heading to China this November and used Chinese Visa Express LLC out of Raleigh NC as our representative at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China… Continue reading Getting A Tourist Visa For China
http://100countrytrek.com/2024/06/25/hong-kong-star-ferry-3/ 100CountryTrek offers some excellent history and current photos of their trip to Hong Kong. This one is on my travel list for this coming November. Thank you 100CountryTrek for sharing. Hong Kong – Star Ferry June 25, 2024 100 Country Trek Today we ride the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbor from Hong Kong to Kowloon. This… Continue reading Another Great Post By 100CountryTrek
D-Day Remembered June 6, 1944 marked the invasion of Allied troops to Normandy and this year marks the 80th year of what is still the largest air, land, and sea invasion in history against the Hitler's forces. History will be lost without remembering the past. A drive through this region of France offers the opportunity… Continue reading Normandy France – A Brief Look Back
Our final stop on this river cruise journey was Antwerp, Belgium. It’s located the Flanders region of Belgium. Antwerp is one of the world's major seaports and the international center of the diamond industry. We were more interested in the history of the city. A Restaurant-Outdoor Seating Cute Artwork
Another day exploring historical towns and cities starts with Maastricht. This city of The Netherlands sits along the Meuse River. This city has a wealth of heritage sites and buildings. Dominican Church The Dutch seem to know how to reuse empty buildings. A perfect example is the Dominican Church, which is now a bookshop. Entrance… Continue reading Exploring Maastricht
We had a brief stop in the small town of Cuijk. Located in The Netherlands, this town is part of the Liberation Route. The Liberation Route Europe is an international remembrance trail connecting important milestones of modern European history. Liberation Route Europe links the main regions along the advance of the Western Allied Forces during WWII. … Continue reading A Stop In Cuijk
Our next shore excursion while on the Viking SKADI was a visit to Archäologischer Park in Xanten Germany. This is the site of a Roman town. It’s one of the most frequently visited parks in Germany. A short 20 minute drive got us here. The park sits just outside the historical town of Xanten. We… Continue reading Xanten Germany
Kinderdijk and its windmills are UNESCO world heritage site. We had visited this beautiful place back in 2017. It was part of today’s included tour on the Viking SKADI. Not much has changed since the last we visited. Cat & Cradle As you make the walk to the heritage site, you will see this unusual… Continue reading Kinderdijk
We visited the city of Harrlem in the Netherlands. It was a rainy, chilly, and windy day. If the name sounds familiar, this city has a sister city in Harlem, NY Interesting Tilting a bit The Flying Dutchman Crazy saying!
Rotterdam is another old city with it originally being settled back in 900 AD. Unfortunately, most of the city was destroyed by bombing during WWII. It is still worth a visit as I learned during a same day stop along with Dordrecht.
Another walking tour was offered to explore the historical city of Dordrecht. We were sure what to expect during this brief stop while on the Viking SKADI. Dordrecht has picturesque alleyways and a lovely historical city center. According to our guide, there’s more than 1000 monuments. So, I was only able to capture a small… Continue reading Historical Dordrecht
We enjoyed our day trip to the famous Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse Netherlands. Here are some photos of our day. The Windmill
Würzburg Residence is a magnificent Baroque palace in Würzburg Germany. It is definitely worth a visit. You can explore Viator to book this tour and others. The Mirror Room Courtyard Entrance
During our most recent Viking River journey, we visited the Prague Castle complex where the Lobkowicz palace is located. Built in the mid-16th century, the Lobkowicz Palace is one of the most significant cultural sites in the Czech Republic and the only privately owned palace in the Prague Castle complex, which is a UNESCO World… Continue reading Lobkowicz Palace
During our most recent river cruise, we explore the Bavarian city of Bamberg Germany, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The medieval layout of the city with its three settlement areas is still well preserved.
We explored Rothenburg, which is one of the best preserved medieval cities in Germany. The city is encircled by many-towered walls. It was chilly day ending with a bit of snow making for festive feelings of the season. Here are some photos of our day in Rothenburg. We enjoyed lunch at Glocke Weingut & Hotel,… Continue reading Rothenburg Germany
Another visit to Paris had us staying in the 8th Arrondisement with exploring the city, mostly by foot. Below are some of our photos during this visit to one of our favorite cities. The Ever Beautiful Eiffel Tower A Quiet Street in the 5th Arrondisement A Look Down the Seine Paris-La-Notre-Dame- 2023 Paris-La-Notre-Dame- 2018 During… Continue reading Paris In The Fall
Our visit to London this time, led to a stay near the London Tower Bridge at the Residence Inn - London Tower Bridge located at 190 Bermondsey St. I mention this as another Residence Inn is just around the corner, which we originally confused the two hotels. London Tower Bridge The London Eye Elizabeth Tower… Continue reading London
During our drive out to the Cape Peninsula in South Africa, we stopped at the small seaside village of St. James Beach. The village is located between the rocky shore and a steep mountain. On the beach, you can see the colorful Victorian-style bathing boxes, enjoy a tidal pool swim, or just relax on the… Continue reading St. James Beach – South Africa
Earlier this year, we started our holiday to beautiful South Africa in Cape Town. We stayed in the Green Point area at Cape Diem Lodge. We truly enjoyed our 5-nights stay here. The manager Bianca and owner Daniel were friendly, readily available, accommodating. The Cape Diem Lodge is well appointed with several restaurants just around… Continue reading Cape Diem Lodge – Cape Town
Isabella island is one of the youngest islands in the Galapagos. It is large island in which residents live the small town of Puerto Villamil. We cruised around the Galapagos Islands on the YACHT ANGELITO a small yacht own by a family for decades. The yacht has 8 rooms with basic amenities with a wonderful guide/owner… Continue reading Isabella Island
During our most recent trip, we decide to fly into Guayaquil instead of Quito. We spent 2 days exploring the city before taking a flight to Galapagos Islands. Several people told us there isn't much to see in Guayaquil. While it's not as popular as Quito, there is some hidden treasures to see including Iguana… Continue reading Guayaquil Ecuador
Our next exploration is the Chobe River, which borders Namibia and Botswana. We booked a houseboat for our stay here on the Chobe Princess I . The passport and papers check is a slightly disorganized process. So, plan for a little extra time. The Houseboat was relaxing and a definite highlight of our time on… Continue reading Cruising Along The Chobe
We took a private tours of the gorgeous Victoria Falls using Viator. Our guide Locks was excellent as well as our driver Yandi. You will get wet! So, dress accordingly. There are a total of 16 viewing points. The cost of visiting the National Park is $30USD. You can use a credit card without difficulty,… Continue reading Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
A colony of 1000 breeding pairs of African penguins nests on the beaches and in the gardens of Simon's Town. This is definitely a must see for anyone visiting Cape Town.
Kirstenbosch is an exceptional botanical garden nestled at the eastern foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town. The garden is one of 10 National Botanical Gardens covering five of South Africa's six different biomes and administered by the South African National Biodiversity Table Mountain in Cape Town. This gorgeous garden is worth a visit or picnic… Continue reading Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
We explore the colorful houses of Bo-Kaap in Cape Town. Ba-Kaap was known as the Malay Quarter. It is a former racially segregated area.
Château Margaux is a wine estate located on the Left Bank of Bordeaux. The estate is one of the five first-growth estates in France's prized Medoc region. We had the pleasure of exploring the estate during a stop. Unfortunately, tastings are only offered for professionals and by appointment only. Still, it was worth a walk… Continue reading Château Margaux
Christmas Markets in Paris Christmas markets began in Germany and spread across Europe, these markets are open from Mid-November through early January in Paris. You can find them at several locations throughout Paris including Les Halles, Notre-Dame to Les Tuileries, as well as the impressive Christmas Village at La Défense. Don't forget to visit the Jardin… Continue reading Christmas Markets
After visiting beautiful Paris at least 9 times, we have never taken one of the Seine River Cruise. So, we decided to do so as a last minute activity. Found this one hour river cruise on Viator. The activity is worth your time. Here are some of the photos from the river cruise. Enjoy! Gorgeous… Continue reading Paris in November
The Medina Dating back to the 11th Century, the Medina is the oldest part of Marrakech. The Medina is a UNESCO World heritage site. Exploring the Medina is not for the faint of heart. Your senses come alive walking through the maze that is the Median. Simple, but spectacular baked-mud walls surround it. The famous… Continue reading Exploring The Medina of Marrakech
A twelve-acre oasis awaits you in Marrakech, the Majorelle Garden is botanical and artist's landscape garden in Marrakech, Morocco. It was designed by the expatriate French artist Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s and 1930s, during the colonial period when Morocco was a protectorate of France. We visited this during our first day in this lively city.… Continue reading The Jardin Majorelle
A recent extended weekend gave us time to explore a part of North Carolina we miss. The OuterBanks of NC offers a variety of things to do such as exploring the coastline, eating delicious seafood, fishing, and learning about the history of this beautiful coast of NC. We were wanting to finally see the Spanish… Continue reading Spanish Mustangs of Corolla
Noto is an interesting town with its share of beautiful palazzos, excellent restaurants, gorgeous cathedrals, and municipal buildings. The city appeared rather quiet during our time visiting. According to our tour guide, the city is a contrast between wealth and poor. Tourist revenue is major for the city and it's definitely hurting with this pandemic.… Continue reading Exploring Noto Sicily
During a recent to Sicily, our tour guide took a slight detour from our journey to the baroque style city of Noto. It was to see the tiny and ancient fishing village of Marzamemi. It was definitely worth it if just for the beautiful views and photo opportunities. The village is small and easily walkable.… Continue reading Marzamemi Sicily
On a whim, we decided to take the short 45 minute or so drive to Southport, NC. We had lunch at Fishy Fishy Cafe and grabbed the 3:00 pm water tour leaving next to the restaurant. The 50 minute water tour offered by Southport Water Tours is definitely worth your time and the cost of… Continue reading Southport Water Tours
Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage, the Villa Romana del Casale is worth the short trip from the town of Piazza Armerina, Sicily (~ 3km). This ancient Roman villa or palace is known for its 40 beautiful mosaic floors. One could spend hours here exploring these decorative mosaics. This open-air museum differently should be part… Continue reading A Roman Villa in Sicily
Garden of Caltagirone -Ceramic Image Sitting on the east slopes of Mount Etna, you will find Caltagirone, a picturesque city that is known for his ceramics. Located about 68 kilometers (about 42 miles) from Catania, Caltagirone is about 600 meters (~1900 feet) about sea level. Santa Maria del Monte Stair The Santa Maria del Monte… Continue reading Caltagirone, Sicily
We are planning our next visit to Africa. This would be our 4th time. Great pictures here. Thanks for sharing. Checking out the Big 5 Five by 100 Country Trek.
In Africa, the Big Five game animals are, Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhinoceros and Cape Buffalo. We saw many of these in countries where we have travelled including, Zambia,Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa.
Some excellent photos, great ideas, and hints from a fellow blogger. Check them out!
Here are my entries for Patti’s of the Lens-Artists Photo A Week Challenge.
SHADOW Tunnel in Cartagena, Colombia.
She is happy holding with a tray of Fruit and loves being in the SHADOWS!
She is so happy enjoying her lunch with sun is so BRIGHT !
The Taj Mahal is so BRIGHT with ivory-white marble in the Indian city of Agra.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com One could argue that Sicily is the main wine region of Italy. The island leads Tuscany and Piemonte in wine manufacturing and avoids stereotypes about southern wine. This microcosm of Italy is real. The weather of Sicilian combined with its regional differences from sea level to the elevations seen with… Continue reading A Winery In Marsala, Sicily
Entrance to the Town of Marsala As the fifth largest town in Sicily, Marsala is often attributed to its wonderful wines. Few realize that the town of Marsala is worthy of a visit. The gleaming marble covered streets of this charming town along with its stately baroque style buildings makes a friendly passeggiati (evening stroll)… Continue reading Marsala Sicily
During our time in Palermo, we decided to take a day trip to the Salt Pans in the Stagnone Reserve and the Mozia Island. We booked this tour via Viator. Our guide Michael was both a great driver and an informal guide. Salt Pans in the Stagnone Reserve Salt Pans of Stagnone Lagoon The Salt… Continue reading Salt Pans of Stagnone Reserve and Mozia Island
We are back again at visiting Europe. This time it is Sicily beginning in Palermo where we stayed in the city centre. Our first tour was of the famous opera house. We booked via GetYourGuide and then, added the backstage tour that includes going up to the rooftop. I highly recommend doing this additional tour… Continue reading A Visit to Palermo, Sicily
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