Tag: Travel
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Colorful Cologne
Rick and I finished our trip to the Czech Republic and Germany with three nights in Cologne. The train journey from Berlin takes less than five hours and offers stunning views of the countryside along the way. We choose the CityClass Hotel am Dom due to its proximity to the train station, the Rhine River,…
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Easter in Berlin
Europe has an amazing rail system with direct routes, high-speed trains, several seating classes, and various food options. Our train from Prague to Berlin (EC 174) is operated by the Czech Rail System and has a restaurant carriage, Wi-Fi, and charging sockets. During the four and a half hour trip from Prague to Berlin, we…
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Picturesque Prague (Part One)
Since Rick and I both have Czech and Bohemian roots, visiting Prague was a high priority on our “wish list” of places to see. Located on the Vltava river, it is the largest city and capital of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague is home to about 1.3 million people and receives between 6 and…
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Bustling Bordeaux
Rick and I finished 2023 with a trip to Bordeaux shortly before Christmas. As we already had tickets to see the amazing Beatles Tribute band The Analogues, we decided to stay a few extra days to visit the Christmas Market at Allées de Tourny. Our small but very well-appointed apartment was located on a pedestrian…
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Paris is for Foodies!
You can’t go very far in Paris without running across a place to dine and that’s a very good thing. But choosing the perfect spot can be a challenge, especially when faced with so many choices. My best advice is to use your ears. If most patrons are speaking French, that’s a great sign as…
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When in Paris, Be in Paris
I have recently been asked by several friends and family for ideas on where to stay and what to do in Paris. Having visited numerous times, Rick and I are very familiar with this amazing city and many of its neighborhoods, museums, attractions, and parks. Paris has twenty neighborhoods (called arrondissements) each with its own…
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Beautiful Bussaco
What comes to mind when you envision the country of Portugal? Sandy beaches, palm trees, and crystal blue waters? Rolling hills covered in grapevines? Large cities and small villages? Yes, it has all those things and so much more. Similar in size to the US state of Indiana, Portugal is a wonder of varied climates,…
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The Teno Mountains of Tenerife
What do Pirates, Mummies, Scotland, Shakespeare, and Clash of the Titans have in common? Continue reading to find out! When we told our friends that were we going to Tenerife, they gave us numerous suggestions for places to see and things to do. Mount Teide, the cliffs of Los Gigantes, Masca village, and the…
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Never Been to Spain
I have a confession to make. Despite having lived in Portugal for three and a half years, we’ve never visited our neighboring country of Spain. It wasn’t for lack of trying, however. We had plans to visit Barcelona in 2020 but the pandemic closed borders, so we had to cancel our trip. Now that travel…
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Park of Monserrate
As a lover of gardens, I’ve been to many in both the United States and Europe. At the top of my list of favorites are Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens in California and Cawdor Castle Gardens in Scotland. Since visiting last May, the Park of Monserrate Palace now tops my list. It is stunning in both…
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A Tale of Two Palaces (Part Two)
The Palace of Monserrate has a long history of famous occupants and guests. In 1790, wealthy diamond merchant Gerard de Visme built the first Neo-Gothic palace on the ruins of the old chapel of Our Lady of Monserrate. In the mid-1790’s, British novelist and art collector William Beckford became the new tenant. During his stay…
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A Tale of Two Palaces (Part One)
With its proximity to Lisbon, favorable climate, and lush natural beauty it’s no wonder why Sintra attracted both royals and the rich as THE spot to build their palaces. It is also one of the most romantic spots in Portugal, where kings and queens have fallen in love and where writers such as Lord Byron…
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Paris in Black and White
I recently re-watched a wonderful and moving film, The Walk, directed by Robert Zemeckis. Set in the early 1970’s, it tells the story of French wire-walker Philippe Petit who, on August 7th 1974, spent 45 minutes suspended on a wire between the World Trade Center towers. The film is both exciting and beautiful, especially the…
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Along Lisbon’s Waterfront
Another of my favorite places in Lisbon is along the waterfront in the northeastern part of the city. Since we had only stayed near Rossio Square on prior visits, this newer part of the city was both a surprise and a contrast to the Lisbon we thought we knew. On our first visit here, we…