xml encoding=”UTF-8″–> There was a quiet stillness unlike anything I had experienced before. I knew that Maakalla Island of Western Finland was remote, but the eeriness I felt upon stepping off the boat gave me a bit of a shiver. It was mid-August and so the weather was picture-perfect for today, as soon, no one …
Culture
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–> Deep in the caverns of a palatial kitchen, we sang and laughed, as we tasted the flavorful homemade food, high in the hills of Mercatello sul Metauro, Italy. I heard the sounds of many languages, laughter, and songs, as I popped fava beans the size of sausages into my mouth, after salting them …
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–>Luxury Tuscany, Italy: A Journey for the Soul Montestigliano is a place for the soul, a place of rest, a place of comfort. It is not just a trip you take, but a journey that takes you. A journey to see how others live, how life functions, not in your own country; but in …
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–>The Palio – Tensions in the crowd grow wild as one by one the horses appear with their barebacked jockeys on the track and take to the line. The church has already blessed these horses and their riders prior to their arrival. It is the peak of the social calendar, a horserace that completes 3 laps …
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–>I am a city girl, even though I grew up in a small town, I have been living the city life now longer and officially have adapted to large city living; although I do appreciate the beauty and simple life of the country. So imagine my surprise on a recent trip to Ireland when …
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–>The German dance floor of Clarchens Ballhaus has seen it all, from the tango in 1913 to the Cuban Rumba (banned by the Nazis) to the Macarena and, more recently, was actually used as a set for a Quentin Tarantino film! But in all honestly, it was one of the best experiences I ever …
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–> I was zipping along on my electric bike in the countryside of Catalonia Spain between Peratallada and Pals. I was way ahead of the rest of the group. The wind was breezing thru my hair, putting little wisps of strands of hair on my face. I felt like a kid again! Pump, pump, …
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–> Cistern Istanbul Cistern Istanbul is an extraordinary subterranean structure, built by Justinian in 532 AD. It is the largest surviving Byzantine cistern in İstanbul City. Apparently, there are several cisterns in Istanbul. It is now one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. It is especially popular during the summer when its cavernous …
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–>Edvard Munch is Norway’s most beloved artist. He is most famous for four versions of a composition created as both painting and pastel called The Scream (Norwegian: Skrik). He created these pieces of art between 1893 and 1910 on cardboard. Each piece features a hairless figure with an antagonizing expression standing on a bridge beneath a blazing …
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–> Honestly, I hate to admit it, but I didn’t even know what a Bedouin was before I went to Jordan. I guess I have spent entirely too much time in a USA high school/college to even vaguely understand that these people still existed before now. Not only do they exist, but they also …
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–>Tour of La Boqueria Barcelona: Sweet and Salty The tour I took in Barcelona was called: Farm to Fork, La Boqueria Barcelona, and Beyond. It began at the intersection of Carrer de la Boqueria and La Rambla, which was founded in the 12th century, making it one of Europe’s oldest markets. La Boqueria Barcelona …
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–>If you have never heard of Antoni Gaudi, you will know who he is when you visit Barcelona, Spain. Antoni Gaudi is Barcelona’s inspiration, Barcelona’s identity, and their love. He was a modernistic dreamer and architect of Catalan descent. Born in 1852 and having only died in 1926, after being struck by a train. …