Tag: tours
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Dublin’s Kilmainham Gaol | Discovering Ireland
When I toured Kilmainham Gaol, walked its gloomy corridors, and peered into the grim cells through its peep holes, I could feel its sadness within its walls. Although this former Dublin prison is now empty, one could only imagine the anguish it once held; all the men, women, and children (as young as seven) that…
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Duomo di Milano – Milan Cathedral | Discovering Italy
The Duomo of Milan was a labor of love and faith, since it had taken over six centuries to construct. This stunning Gothic style and Renaissance cathedral broke ground in 1386, and was finally completed last century in 1965. The Duomo di Milano is a work of art in its construction, architecture, engineering, and down…
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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 City of Tours – Loire Valley | Discovering France
Tours is one of the largest cities in the central Loire Valley region of France, and was an extraordinary place to explore. Walking through Place Plumereau, the historical center, with its medieval layout of narrow cobblestone streets and half-timbered buildings was like stepping into a time capsule. It was beyond charming, especially when a horse…
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Cathedrals and Churches of Venice | Discovering Italy
Italy has deep roots within the Roman Catholic religion, about 1,500 years deep. It is no wonder that this country is not short of its share of churches and cathedrals, which includes Venice. Throughout this city’s 118 little Islands, the centuries old churches were mostly constructed during Venice’s period of profound wealth. The city’s religious…
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Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria | The Storybook town of Germany
Strolling the cobblestone streets of old Rothenburg ob der Tauber was like diving into the pages of the storybooks that I used to read as a child, or to my daughter when she was a little girl. I had read about the town and saw photos prior to my visit, but seeing it first hand…
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St. Mary’s Basilica – A UNESCO World Heritage Site | Krakow, Poland
Looking at the red brick façade of St. Mary’s Basilica, one would not expect the magnificent interior of this 13th century cathedral. When I had entered St. Mary’s, I was overwhelmed with its ornately painted murals of cornflower blue, burgundy, and gold. My eyes scanned the details from the rich wood pews, gold carved alters,…
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Historic Heidelberg – A UNESCO Creative City | Discovering Germany
The city of Heidelberg was a fascinating place to visit while I was traveling for a month throughout Germany. It is one of the country’s most educated cities, with centuries of history and habitation, as well as being an atmospheric town along the River Neckar. Heidelberg is full of culture, and was designated a “City…
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The City of Avalon – Catalina Island | Discovering California
As born and raised Southern Californians, we locals always knew about Catalina Island. Even throughout elementary school in the city of Glendale, we all looked forward to the 6th grade when we would spend a weekend at Catalina’s Camp Fox. This little island, which is just 22 miles from mainland Los Angeles, has been a…
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Warwick Castle | Discovering England
Warwick Castle was one of many great castles that I have been to throughout Britain. The many centuries of long history, enduring architecture, and the classic interior was both fascinating and astounding. Warwick Castle was founded by William the Conqueror in 1068, has ties to Henry VIII, and has seen nearly 1000 years of British…
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Kylemore Abbey in Connemara | Discovering Ireland
A trip to Connemara, Ireland is not complete with out a visit to the Kylemore Abbey. When I had visited the abbey, it was a wonderful addition to exploring one of Ireland’s loveliest natural landscapes. Kylemore Abbey was originaly built as “Kylemore Castle”, a private home in 1868 for an affluent doctor’s family from London,…
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Orkney Islands – A UNESCO World Heritage Site | Exploring Scotland
Visiting the Orkney Islands was quite the journey for me during my third trip to Scotland. These remote islands are an archipelago at the tip of northeastern Scotland, and quite a ways from Edinburgh or Inverness. I believe that if you really wanted to visit this location, you would really have to want it. I…
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Skara Brae – A UNESCO World Heritage Site | Exploring Scotland
Visiting Skara Brae was quite the journey for me on my third visit to Scotland. This Neolithic Settlement is located on the Bay of Skaill, on the largest island of Orkney, which is an archipelago of Scotland. Orkeny is at the tip of northeastern Scotland, and quite a ways from Edinburgh or Inverness. I felt…
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Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in Miami | Discovering Florida
As a person who always had a fascination with art, design, antiques and landscape architecture, I was excited to visit the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. I have traveled to Europe many times over, studying and admiring the craftmanship of centuries of architectural styles, and walking through lush extravagant gardens. I was looking forward to see…
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“The Rock” Alcatraz Island – San Francisco | Exploring, California
Alcatraz Island, AKA “The Rock”, has been many things over the past couple of centuries- from a Native American territory to a tourist destination. This small island located in the bay of San Francisco was initially developed with a lighthouse, which is considered the oldest lighthouse on the west coast. It was also a military fortification,…
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St. Catherine’s Monastery at Mount Sinai | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
South Sinai, Egypt– St. Catherine’s Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai in Egypt felt very far away from everything, and everywhere when I had traveled there in late 2019. I was already in Sharm el-Sheikh along the Red Sea when I took a day trip to this ancient monastery, which is also a UNESCO…
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Karnak Temple Complex in Luxor, Egypt | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Que Roger Moore as Bond…James Bond. Karnak is Luxor’s most famous ancient site due to its popularity in modern day pop culture, and films such as ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’, ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’, and several PC games. The complex of Karnak is an incredibly constructed compound with a look of decaying ancient…
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Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt | A UNESCO World Heritage Site
Exploring the Valley of the Kings along Luxor’s West Bank should be another piece added to your travels into Egypt. The temples and the pyramids of ancient Egypt always steal the show when visiting this country due to its popularity, and the ‘WOW’ factor they bring. For those who are feeling a little Indiana Jones…
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The Temple of Horus | EDFU, EGYPT
The ancient city of Edfu, which sits along the West Bank of the Nile River is home to the grand and astounding Temple of Horus. It was constructed between 237 and 57 BC, during the Ptolemaic Kingdom and is one of the best preserved Egyptian shrines. The reliefs and inscriptions are from the Hellenistic period…
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What I ate in CAIRO and GIZA, EGYPT | A Food Journal
When I was first planning our trip to Egypt, I had researched traditional Egyptian food, and was looking forward to trying many of their dishes. As soon as I got into Cairo, the majority of the food that I ate was International Cuisine, especially in the hotels that we were staying at. I was not…
Trixie Navarre 