Day trips from Florence, Italy can take you to the best places in Italy within a few hours. Just hop on a train and in no time you can be riding in a gondola through Venice or sipping wine in Chianti or eating your way through Bologna or taking hilarious selfies with the Leaning Tower […]
Best Day Trips from Florence, Italy Read More »
How do you define an old town? For purposes of this post, I define an old town as a separate, distinct part of a modern city that is historical, beautiful, protected from further development, and often holding UNESCO World Heritage designation. London and Paris don’t have old towns, for instance, while Venice and Valletta are
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One question I get asked on a daily basis is, “So, what’s your favorite place?” I’m not a fan of having to answer that question constantly, but I understand why people ask me, so I have a quick go-to response: “My favorite countries are Croatia, Italy, South Africa, Thailand, and Japan.” But that list is
Finland in the Summer: Quirky, Isolated, and Pretty Read More »
When I began planning my trip to Ukraine, I knew I wanted to find a way to visit Chernobyl, home of the nuclear disaster site of 1986. Chernobyl? You can go there? Yes, you can. Tours have operated for years now. But is it safe? Yes, this tour is. Today, more than 30 years after
What’s It Like to Tour Chernobyl Today? Read More »
Last year, I spent a week hopping around Germany’s Bavaria region in December, exploring several different Christmas markets. What a great trip! I knew I’d have fun, but I was genuinely surprised at what a relaxing and delightful week it was. How could you not enjoy a week of holiday spirit, mulled wine, and delicious food? At
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Visiting Russia usually requires going through a grueling visa process — but did you know you can visit visa-free if you go by ferry? You can visit Russia free as long as you arrive in St. Petersburg by ferry and stay for less than 72 hours. I’ve wanted to visit Russia for a long time,
Visiting Russia Without a Visa on the St. Peter Line Ferry Read More »
Several years ago, I was in Paris and perusing the books at Shakespeare and Company. As I lost myself in the colorful aisles, I came across a modest paperback: Moonlight in Odessa by Janet Skeslian Charles. I was intrigued by this city I knew so little about, and after reading the back of the book,
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There are a number of countries where it’s recommended to arrive in the capital city and then get out as soon as possible. The Philippines? Yeah, I’d get on board with that. I find Manila vile, but the rest of the country is lovely. Nicaragua? Agreed. Managua has nothing to offer — you’re best off skipping
Bucharest is Fabulous and Fun Read More »
Imagine that you have a week in Europe to spare. Where would you go? There are ten European countries you have yet to visit: Belarus, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, and Ukraine. And your time is bookended by commitments in Cardiff, Wales, and Leipzig, Germany. Turns out that flying out of Cardiff is largely impractical,
Scenes from Košice, Slovakia Read More »
Paris is a city that I return to again and again. The city feels like home to me — and for that reason, my more recent visits are less about sightseeing and more about chilling out. For me, what I enjoy most is the feeling of being in Paris. You can’t get that anywhere else.
The Art of the Chilled Out Trip to Paris Read More »