Gastronomy – Travel – Culture
Over my travels and education, I have come to find that cathedrals and churches play a great role in Europe's architectural, art, cultural, and political history. St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin is no exception to that rule. For over 800 years this church has been the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland, and today… Continue reading St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin | Discovering Ireland
Dublin Castle is located in the center of the city, and is considered one of the most important structures of Ireland's history. It dates back over 800 years when it was built in 1204 as a major defensive work, on the orders of King John of England. After a Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169,… Continue reading Dublin Castle | Discovering Ireland
Cliffe Castle located in Keighley, West Yorkshire is a fascinating place to visit; not only for their interesting exhibitions and collections, but for the Victorian Neo-Gothic home that they are housed in. The building and interiors are stunning, and have been through several transformations since it was first built. It is considered a Grade II… Continue reading Cliffe Castle Museum and Gallery | Discovering England
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II Milan is just one of those cities that stir up grandiose fantasies of chic high-end fashion, and sophisticated retail therapy. Shopping certainly is one of Milan's high points, but there is a lot more to this marvelous city. Leonardo da Vinci monument Milan is the capital of Lombardy, and for centuries… Continue reading The Marvelous City of Milan | Discovering Italy
"Nice lady, think. You need to ask yourself, why do people not come to Albania?" I was sitting in a loud outdoor cafe with a lit American Spirit cigarette in hand, while looking directly into the eyes of my server. He had just set down a silver bowl of ice cream and a glass of… Continue reading Welcome to Albania! | Traveling Solo in Tirana – A Memoir
Bastejkalns Park There is so much to love about Riga, and spending as much time as possible in this enchanting city is a must. I had visited Riga during the summertime in June, when the weather was at its best. The sun was shining, the temperature was quite warm, and everything was in bloom at… Continue reading Riga’s Bastejkalna Park & Canal Cruise | Discovering Latvia
While exploring Jordan my friends and I spent a day in the city of Madaba, which is famous for their Byzantine Mosaics. One of our friends was an art history professor, and visiting these ancient mosaics was quite stimulating for him. It was exciting for me as well, since the mosaics were right up my… Continue reading The Ancient Mosaics of Madaba | Discovering Jordan
Madrid's Architecture Creating an itinerary for Madrid was quite challenging for me, and I am a seasoned traveler with 50 countries under my jet setting seatbelt. I was in Madrid for a week, and wanted to fill it with the city's history, art, culture, and its remarkable dining. I believe that I did a 'pat… Continue reading The Magnificent City of Madrid | Discovering Spain
If I were to break it down to two things that stood out for me during my visit to the capital of North Macedonia, Skopje; the amount of prominent statues that line the streets, and the amount of friendly stray dogs, who made me part of their pack. I do like statues and I do… Continue reading Visiting Skopje | Discovering North Macedonia
The art and culture scene of Madrid is a brilliant one, and it is one of my favorites on this side of the pond. If your interests also lie in art, then you understand the appreciation one feels to take in a region's art scene through a variety of mediums. The city of Madrid is… Continue reading Madrid’s Greatest Museums | Discovering Spain
During my travels, I have always found myself exploring castles, old fortress, and palaces; I suppose it is one of my travel obsessions. I have been to so many that I lost count a few years ago, but then again I was never counting. In my own mad way, visiting former royal residences has always… Continue reading Palacio Real de Madrid – The Royal Palace of Madrid | Discovering Spain
It took me a course of numerous trips to New York City, and about eight years to visit the best museums The Big Apple has to offer. Museum Mile on 5th Avenue runs alongside Central Park in the upscale neighborhood of the Upper East End. Within twenty-two city blocks from 82nd St. to 104th St.,… Continue reading Museum Mile – Art & Culture on 5th Avenue – New York City
Joan of Arc, Monet's Rouen Cathedral series, and the city's half timbered architecture all play a small role in Rouen's allure. I found this city to be intriguing and unforgettable, although I still cannot pronounce "Rouen" correctly to this day. It is a picturesque medieval city along the River Seine in the northern region of… Continue reading The Picturesque City of ROUEN – Discovering Normandy, France
Visiting a European castle has been one my travel obsessions for awhile, and I have been to my fair share of them. I have found that there are good castles and there are great ones, and Prague Castle is one of the great ones. I enjoyed it so much that I have been twice, but… Continue reading Prague’s Castle District | Discovering the Czech Republic
The vibrant city of Cologne, which overlooks the Rhine River is layered with rich history and culture. The city is built upon a Roman village, and over the centuries has evolved into an urban sprawl with excellent architecture and art scene. With the many things that I experienced in Cologne, the city's museum scene and… Continue reading Cologne’s Best Museums | Discovering Germany
Bonn Town Hall The city of Bonn in Germany has been many things over the centuries. It was the capital city of West Germany from 1949 to 1990, it is a vibrant city along the Rhine River, and it also is a University town (University of Bonn). All are very impressive to the structure of… Continue reading Bonn and Beethoven | Discovering Germany
One of my favorite activities to do whenever I travel London is to visit the city's museum scene. London is the cultural hub of England, and is saturated with outstanding museums containing priceless masterpieces, archaeological artifacts, and global treasures. The best part of London's museum scene is that it is absolutely free. Viewing museums in… Continue reading London’s FREE Museum Scene | Discovering England
There are many German towns and cities that I have written about regarding my love affair with Germany. This country has "It", and has been my travel crush since 2015. Now Berlin, well Berlin, this city captivates me. Berlin is very different from other cities in Germany, and many of its residents have told me… Continue reading Sites to See in Beautiful BERLIN | Discovering Germany
Due to the conflict with Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, I was debating on posting this blog. The country is currently in the red zone of Travel Advisory, of do not travel. I am doing it anyways, in the hopes that Belarus soon will be once more be free to travel in. I was standing at… Continue reading Visiting Minsk – A Memoir | Discovering Belarus
Exploring the brilliant "White City" of Arequipa, had lead me to also explore a colorful little city, the Monasterio de Santa Catalina - it was a city within a city. Just a few minutes walk from the Plaza de Armas is Monasterio de Santa Catalina, and it is a fascinating place. Santa Catalina is a… Continue reading The Monasterio de Santa Catalina of Arequipa | Discovering Peru
Trixie Navarre 