Tag: art
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The Ancient Amman Citadel | Discovering Jordan
In the center of downtown Amman, Jordan is a remarkable archaeological site, the Citadel, which is considered to be among the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. It was constructed on the L-shaped hill, which is one of the seven hills that made up Amman originally. This ancient site dates back thousands of years, and contains historical…
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Cardiff Bay in Wales | Discovering Great Britain
Spending a relaxing day walking through Cardiff Bay was a fun introduction to Wales in Great Britain. We had initially come into Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, to visit the now defunct Dr. Who Experience, which was incredibly entertaining. Besides Dr. Who, we found the bay to be a pleasant way to spend an…
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St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin | Discovering Ireland
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…
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Dublin Castle | 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,…
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Cliffe Castle Museum and Gallery | Discovering England
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…
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The Marvelous City of Milan | Discovering Italy
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. Milan is the capital of Lombardy, and for centuries it has been a center of wealth, art,…
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Welcome to Albania! | Traveling Solo in Tirana – A Memoir
“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…
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Riga’s Bastejkalna Park & Canal Cruise | Discovering Latvia
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 Bastejkalns Park.…
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The Ancient Mosaics of Madaba | Discovering Jordan
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…
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The Magnificent City of Madrid | Discovering Spain
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 on the…
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Visiting Skopje | Discovering North Macedonia
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…
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Madrid’s Greatest Museums | Discovering Spain
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…
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The Picturesque City of ROUEN – Discovering Normandy, France
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…
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Cologne’s Best Museums | Discovering Germany
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…
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Bonn and Beethoven | Discovering Germany
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 this city, but…
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London’s FREE Museum Scene | Discovering England
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…
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Sites to See in Beautiful BERLIN | Discovering Germany
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…