Travel
Enjoy traditional Bulgarian food at the Pod Lipite restaurant in Sofia
We loved this traditional country tavern, just on the edge of the Borisova Gradina Park, while we were visiting Bulgaria’s capital. Pod Lipite, which means ‘under the linden trees’ opened as a pub in the 1920s. The cozy, casual environment, with its wood and stone interiors and long tables, is a great place to enjoy…
Read MoreHoping to spot John Wayne at Monument Valley
You really can’t blame me. John Wayne, the actor best known for his westerns may have died in 1979, but anyone who visits this impressive landscape that served as the natural set design for his films can’t help but wonder if they’ll catch a glimpse of him thundering by on his horse past these these…
Read MoreReason #5366 to love Rome: Track and field stars at the Golden Gala
Every year in June, Rome hosts the Golden Gala at its Olympic Stadium. Rome held the track and field events from the 1960 summer Olympics here, and it is also here that Roma and Lazio, Rome’s two football (a.k.a. soccer) teams play their matches. But for one night each June since 1980, the stadium is…
Read MoreExploring Napoleon’s Empire: Elba – Part 2
Last week I wrote a post about what to see and do on the interesting Tuscan island of Elba, including a visit to the home of the island’s short-lived Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. This week I’ll continue with some places of interest to help you plan your Elba trip. Capolivieri: This Tuscan hill town has pretty views to…
Read MoreExploring Napoleon’s Empire: Elba
As a history buff, Elba has always been the place I associated with Napoleon’s short exile, but I’d never visited Italy’s third largest island until I received a wedding invitation. The weather was touch and go on this Tuscan island during our visit earlier this month. It was definitely too cold and windy to enjoy…
Read MoreA beach fit for an Emperor: Sperlonga
Looking for a Mediterranean summer resort with history? How about 2000 years of history? Ancient Roman Emperor Tiberius, who reigned from 14-37 AD, used to enjoy spending summers in this beautiful seaside retreat on the Tyrrhenian Sea and, millennia later, modern-day Romans still escape the city’s sweltering summers by relaxing on the beach of beautiful…
Read MoreBest places to experience Vienna’s café culture
Vienna is one of my favorite cities. I spent a happy year living here far too many years ago, and I’ve returned countless times as a tourist. To truly enjoy the city, a visitor shouldn’t rush, but should instead slow down and enjoy age-old Viennese traditions. Few of these traditions are as enjoyable as taking…
Read MoreFairy tale spires and lake views in Lausanne, Switzerland
On a recent trip to Geneva, I had a few hours free on a Sunday afternoon, so I hopped on one of the frequent trains (love, love, love efficient Swiss public transport) to nearby Lausanne. Lausanne is about fifty-three kilometers north-east of Geneva, along the banks of Lake Geneva. During the summer months, there are…
Read MoreBe an explorer at Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
The Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado was a great find on a family trip we took out west. I already blogged about it in this post. We (foolishly) thought to make a quick stop here while driving from Telluride, Colorado to Bryce Canyon, Utah but we wound up spending several hours and would have liked to…
Read MoreReason #5365 to love Rome: The Ludus Magnus – gladiator training grounds
When you are next visiting Rome’s Colosseum, be sure to take the time to cross the street and peer into the area known as the Ludus Magnus. Two thousand years ago, this was the largest and most prestigious of Rome’s gladiatorial training schools. The Ludus Magnus was built during the reign of Emperor Domitian (81-96…
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