Greece is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque countries in Europe. This beautiful country is surrounded by turquoise-colored seas, deep blue and crisp white houses, rich landmarks, and some awesome museums. Similar to the Italian culture, Greeks love to show off their cooking and baking skills. Just like in the homes of millions of Americans, one of the Greek ways to show affection to the
For centuries people have contemplated the meaning of dreams, now called Dream Science. In the 19th century, Sigmund Freud put together some theories of dreaming. Freud’s theory centered around repressed longing - the idea that dreaming allows us to sort through unresolved and repressed wishes. Early civilizations thought of dreams as a medium between our earthly world and that of the Gods. In fact, the
One of the best-kept secrets in Venice used to be the island of Burano, maybe it is not so secret anymore. But it is definitely worth a visit, even if you just have 2 days in Venice it’s well worth visiting this colorful island! This island is best known for its rainbow-painted houses. Don't worry, once you get there, there is plenty to do
The beautiful countries of Georgia and Armenia are nestled in between the continents of Europe and Asia. And lying on the banks of the Kura River is Georgia's capital city of Tbilisi. This cobblestoned "Old Town" area reflects its complicated history as Georgia has been ruled under different global powers throughout its history. This is because of its location and proximity to the lucrative Silk
Santorini is just one of the Cyclades Islands in Greece that literally has everything I want in an island – hidden and blue-domed churches, stunning sunsets, volcanoes rising out of the Aegean Sea, cave houses you can stay in, and whitewashed stone buildings that dot the landscape. Know that your Santorini holidays will be one you'll remember for a very long time, as I still
Start reading to learn about traditional German foods and an accumulated list of what to eat in Germany while you are there! As you know, Germany is nestled between the Alps, lakes, and the seas, as well as among other countries in central and western Europe. Germany is the land of poets like the famous Grimm brothers near the Black Forest and master thinkers like
If you ask me how I like to travel, I would say “solo.” As a photographer, I find it’s easier to wander alone and take my time to get exactly the right shot that I want. So on my third visit exploring Venice, I found a few of the best things to do in Venice, Italy. I was totally prepared to take in a day
Spring is a lovely reminder of how beautiful change can be. The cold winter weather is finally stripped away and people can finally feel like life's alive in everything. Spring is a great time to take a vacation to Europe and visit wonderful places. There are plenty of festivals to go to and blooming flowers to see that you shouldn't miss out on a European
Catapulting yourself to new places for a vacation is a great way to start the New Year. Winter seems to be slowly creeping away and going on a spring vacation to underrated places is just what you need. Forget about the same old boring places like Cancun, Hawaii, or Florida for a spring vacation. Instead, take yourself on a new adventure to places like Ruidoso,
Germany is the seventh-largest country in Europe and has a population of 81 million people. It shares borders with 9 European countries and has 16 states, each with their own constitution! Who knew it was that large? I certainly didn’t when I had a chance to visit Germany on my historic Germany tour. But I can say that I learned a lot about Germany on
From its world-class art museums to its floating flower markets, the city of Amsterdam is reinventing itself from its hedonistic side to now focusing on its rich artistic heritage. Culturally, it’s one of Europe’s most diverse and eclectic destinations. With its fascinating history that spans seven centuries, today it is a charming mix of shopping, museums, coffee houses, restaurants, and flower markets. I put together
No visit to Germany is complete unless you get a chance to visit a few of its famous German Landmarks. Germany has such an abundance of age-old landmarks thanks to its rich history dating back more than two millenniums. I have created a list of must-see palaces, cathedrals, castles, ruins, medieval towns, walls, forests, bridges, and even a Christmas markets to visit. Being filled with a
I believe everyone deserves a vacation. Most people think that a vacation should be in a tropical paradise where sometimes your skin seems to melt due to the extreme heat (maybe I exaggerated just a little, but you know what I mean!). Skip the tropical beaches in the Summer and go on a great vacation in the Spring to a warm place instead! I have
How Cool is Oslo? It is Arctic Cool! It is totally cool! And it doesn’t matter what time of year you visit, it just has that flair about it that not all European capital cities do. Sure it is cooler in the winter, but the summer is grand as well! I love Oslo and here are a few reasons why: First of all, it is
From Berlin to Frankfurt, I made my way through Germany via train, planes, and automobiles! Why? So that I could get a chance to visit the gorgeous historical cities of Potsdam, Erfurt, Wurzburg, and Heidelberg and learn their historical significance, as well as experience their culture and food. I have traveled throughout Germany many times but had never made my way through this historic route
Things to do in Ireland A Journey Through The Countryside Let me take you on a journey through the greenest place on earth! I swear I have never seen such greenery! Ireland conjures up thoughts of the four-leaf clover, leprechauns and Irish dancers, but for me, GREEN was the biggest visual thing that I noticed. I live in the desert, so you can understand how
You can almost hear those sleigh bells ringing in your ears as the Christmas season approaches your world. The sound of Santa Claus' “HO, HO, HO” can be heard on the radio, television, in social media, and even as you you shop on the city streets. So let me tell you, there is no better time to visit a European Christmas Market than like the
Above photo by: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en People from around the world visit Germany for its historical significance, delicious food, and, of course, in late November and all of December for its Christmas Markets. The famous tradition of hosting Christmas Markets originated in Germany during the 14th century, so this country is inundated with wonderful Christmas Markets. I would say that almost every major city in Germany has
Did you know you could charter the Adriatic Breeze, a luxury yacht that cruises the Croatian Islands? Where you will enjoy a luxurious cruise around Croatia’s Dalmatian coastline and experience the Adriatic Coast as you’ve never seen it before! You can even pick the Croatian itinerary that you want. This was my third visit to Croatia, and honestly, I had never seen Croatia as I
Isn’t it marvelous how food and drinks bring people together? How the locals want to share the way their grandparents taught them how to cook, how a certain style of cooking is popular in an area of the world, or even how a certain type of beverage is particularly well connected to the land and its people? How having the proper soil that produces that
With a history that spans centuries, Rome is a city that takes a lifetime to discover. No matter how many times I go to Rome, I always find something new. It seems to contain an infinite number of secrets and sights to behold. While many are well-known and are on the top of most travelers’ bucket lists, this capital city has its share of secret places
On my last night in Dubrovnik, I wanted to do something extraordinary for dinner to top off the fantastic vacation I was having with my husband in Croatia. He and I vacation together regularly, but honestly, this was the best trip we have taken together in a very long time. Authentic Culinary Experiences I remembered reading a National Geographic article about a family that cooks
By Cacinda Maloney Berlin Graffiti I have a hard time with the city of Berlin and have expressed my views quite frequently, but that does not mean that I do not want to go back, in fact, I do. After looking over some photographs of Berlin Wall graffiti, I thought I would share a photo collage of this complex city. Just like people can be
As a travel writer, I have been on many European River Cruises. Honestly, I think river cruises are a great way to see Europe, as well as other countries. I absolutely love the fact that I only have to unpack once! But I think I want more than the average traveler out of my “floating hotel”. And you know what? Avalon Waterways gave me exactly
We loved Croatia! Let me say that again! We LOVED Croatia and I would go back in a heartbeat! No wonder it is the hottest destination for Europeans and Americans alike these days! After visiting Dubrovnik and Mostar, Bosnia, we made our way down to the stunning city of Split by rental car. Split lies in the central and southern part of Croatia and is
Here is WHY You Should Visit Portofino! Portofino, Italy is a small fishing village along the Italian Riviera known for its good looks and visitors: the Hollywood crowd and beyond! But you don't have to be a celebrity or wealthy to visit this gorgeous seaside town in Northern Italy. For me, it is the perfect town. The half-moon shaped harbor, with its pastel houses lining
Can you imagine the influence that a river has on the people living along its path? As I left a classical concert in the Parliament Building in Vienna, I was humming to myself The Blue Danube Waltz by Johann Strauss. It is so crazy to think of the influences that a river can have on those living around it! And the famous river he wrote
Have you ever heard of the small Balkan country known as Bosnia & Herzegovina? I hadn't really either, as it wasn't even really on my bucket list! But while visiting Croatia, my husband and I decided to take a day trip from Dubrovnik to Mostar. And we were certainly glad we did. Mostar is considered the cultural and economic capital of Bosnia & Herzegovina. Oh,
Traveling to the most beautiful places in the world is a luxury that I believe most of my readers can afford. You may have seen places like Budapest and Vienna on television and thought, “How will I ever be able to visit these gorgeous cities?” But to be honest, once you are able to book a plane ticket, the rest of your trip can be
I recently visited Budapest, Hungary with Avalon Waterways to check out their new “Active and Discovery” excursion tours that are offered on their European River cruises. Since I have been on my share of European river cruises along the Rhine, Main, and the Danube, I was excited to try out their new style of excursions. One of my choices for a "Discovery" excursion was called
Positano, Italy is a gorgeous slice of Heaven, ok, I mean "beach town" in Italy along the Amalfi Coast. It is famous for its colorful buildings, excellent restaurants, and perfect location for honeymooners, and really anyone who wants to enjoy the Italian sun! With its winding roads that lead down to the sea, there are plenty of cafes, shops, and boutique hotels to stay at.
Have you ever wanted to take a Christmas Cruise? I just returned from a Viking Christmas and Danube River Cruise. It was delightful! Here are my thoughts: Visions of sugar plums danced in my head the first time I even heard the words "Christmas Market Cruise". I didn’t even know they existed until one day reading a travel blog and I came across an article
Strasbourg, France The wind was whirling around as I stepped off the bus, cold air striking my cheeks causing me to take a deep breath. I buttoned up my jacket around my neck and tucked in my scarf. Even though it was freezing cold, it was a day I had looked forward to my whole adult life, as I had always dreamed
The least amount of judging we can do, the better off we are. - Michael J. Fox Athens - Don't Judge I'll admit it, falling in love with Athens took a bit of time. But I did it none-the-less. That's how it is sometimes when you want to love something so much. I had my apprehensions going into Athens, after all the things you hear
I stepped onto the shores of the Normandy Beaches where I couldn't stop thinking about how World War II had finally ended in 1945. The end would have never happened if it was not for the bravery of the Allied Forces who landed on the beaches of Normandy in June of 1944, Codename Operation Overload. American, British, and Canadian soldiers, who sacrificed their lives for
