xml encoding=”UTF-8″–>Hands down, the most spectacular event I’ve ever witnessed has to be the Carnival of Venice. I didn’t rent a costume or pay to attend any of the masquerade balls, but I had the time of my life wandering this historical city and being utterly bedazzled by the continual parade of costumed people there …
Europe
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–> 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 …
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–> Arriving in Vaasa, Finland, I was ready for an adventure and Finland does not disappoint. Vaasa is the gateway to the western side of the country. This is where the narrowest part of the Gulf of Bothnia is connected to Finland by their longest bridge, the Replot, in the Baltic Sea. Finland’s Kvarken …
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–>An interesting perspective on bucket lists is that if you don’t write your goals, ideas, and dreams down, they never seem to get accomplished. I have always heard to write them down very specifically so that you can accomplish them. When it comes to travel, I will quote American Airlines, who opens up their …
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–>I fell in love with Genova, Italia the minute I stepped off the plane that landed on the tarmac. Located in the Liguria region, it is tightly squeezed in between Monaco and Tuscany and is the thinnest and the smallest of all the regions of Italy. It may not be the most popular area …
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–> Santorini is just one of the many Cyclades Islands in Greece that literally has everything I want on an island. Hidden and blue-domed churches, stunning sunsets, abundant antiquities, beautiful beaches, volcanoes rising out of the Aegean Sea, cave houses, and whitewashed stone buildings that dot the landscape. Add in all the fresh food …
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–>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 …
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–>Is there anything kids love more than playing with toys? Most, if not all, kids enjoy playing with a range of different toys. So leave it to me to introduce you to some of the best toy museums in the world. With toys such as Legos, dolls, Barbie and Ken, Micky Mouse, Lion King, …
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–> La Bottega del Legno: The Wood Shop in Forli, Italy The Violin The year was 1943 and it was blistering cold. The conditions were unbearable and he struggled with making it yet another day. Days ran into more days at the concentration camp. But there was one thing that Giuseppe Lombardi loved and …
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–>This post won the award by Italy Magazine as the best blog post on an art and culture blog for 2014! Rumbling down the road, past the emerald green pastures, dirt, and signs in Italian, I knew I was up for this adventure. The roads became tinier and tinier as we headed toward Carpegna …
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–>The anticipation was thick in the air when we arrived mid-morning for our very first peek deep into Germany’s Black Forest where Carnival comes alive! Not the Carnival you may be thinking of with drunkenness and bead-throwing like in New Orleans, but a traditional type that has been going for centuries in the forests …
xml encoding=”UTF-8″–>Stavanger Norway is a city that is close to the mountains along the southwestern coast of Norway in the Rogaland fylke. Stavanger is a place where it is easy to go hiking and to explore its famous fjords of Norway – which are long, narrow inlets with steep sides created by glaciers. In this …