May-2022
The Alhambra, a 14th-Century Palace and fortress in the hills of Granada, is a must-see during any visit to the Andalusia region in Southern Spain. The name Alhambra, signifying in Arabic “the red,” is probably derived from the reddish color of the tapia (rammed earth) of which the outer walls were built. The Alhambra is […]
Sorry for those who don’t love history but here is another history post about one of my obsessions — The Knights Templar. Likely originating as a Moorish castle built to protect the coast and situated between two hilltops, it was taken over by Don Paio Peres Correia in 1242. After the Christian reconquest, the castle […]
Located in the heart of Andalusia (between Seville and Granada), the The Antequera Dolmens is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The complex contains three megalithic monuments: the Menga and Viera dolmens and the Tholos of the Romeral. The Viera Dolmen is a corridor tomb consisting of a long passage divided into two sections, at the […]
From the historic center of Sintra, you can access the Moorish Castle and also the Pena National Palace through signposted trails. The trails take hikers through the forest, the small watercourses and some gardens and old villages. Built by the Moors, The Castle of the Moors (Castelo dos Mouros) was built sometime between the 8th […]
While much of the southern coastline of the Algarve has been built up, a sleepy fishing village named Salema has largely escaped the ravages of tourism. On the western end of Salema Beach you’ll find a big, flat rock with footprints from a dinosaur! This yellow limestone rock is home to a herbivorous biped, also […]
Nov-2018
Scandinavia experiences harsh and cold winters—roughly 6 hours of daylight in December! However, shoulder-seasons offer incredible deals on airfare/hotels, fewer crowds and we wouldn’t have to deal with our cranky kids complaining over the sweltering heat. Always looking for a bargain, we jumped on the opportunity to explore Stockholm during spring break and fearlessly braved […]
Oct-2018
Each year we like to take our kids to visit a new part of the world to introduce them to a new culture and different way of living. We try our best to immerse ourselves into the local community, shopping at the corner store, dining at neighborhood cafes, overall trying not to feel like a […]
Sep-2018
It’s been 20 years since “The Troubles” officially ended in Belfast but the divide between The Republicans (Catholics) and Loyalists (Protestants) is still quite prevalent. The walls were erected in 1969 as a temporary measure to keep the groups apart, but still remain due to their effectiveness. Needless to say, it’s a somber reality that […]
Sep-2018
Connemara National Park is one of those offbeat locations that undoubtedly strengthens a love for Ireland. The park is situated in the west of Ireland in County Galway (roughly and hour drive) and comprised of majestic mountains, expanses of prehistoric bogs, misty lakes, delightful valleys, grasslands and spectacular beaches. One could easily spend their entire […]
Sep-2018
Rock of Cashel is quite a spectacular archaeological site and the limestone ruins lay perched up in contrast above the green Tipperary countryside. The Rock was once the seat of the Kings of Munster. It was visited by St, Patrick in 450 and Brian Boru was crowned King of Ireland here in the 10th century. […]
Aug-2018
Cliffs of Moher are undoubtedly one of Ireland’s biggest attractions and truly a sight to see. While Condé Nast Traveller Magazine has ranked these stunning views as the best cliff-view on the planet, it’s really Ireland’s fickle weather that dictates how you experience the cliffs. We tried not to let the moody weather dampen our […]
Aug-2018
Whether you’re yearning to fulfill a fairytale fantasy or you’re just a huge history buff, you may have dreamt about spending the night in a real Irish castle. After nearly three weeks exploring Ireland, we wanted our last night in the Emerald Isle to be a memorable one. So we dusted off our royal robes […]