I just returned from my first visit to Portugal and the trip was so amazing that I know it’ll take me many posts to properly share what the experience was like. Before I start sharing those stories though, I want to first publish some of my favorite photos from the start of my trip in Lisbon. Prior to joining my Viking river cruise along the Douro, I arrived a little early to explore even more of Lisbon. Graced with some incredible weather, I very quickly fell in love with this quirky capital city and I hope these photos do this remarkable city the justice it deserves. The post Lisbon Photo…

I like Barcelona and have found myself there a few times over the last year or so, each time exploring different parts of the city. One thing has become clear though from these trips, the city has a preoccupation with famed architect Antoni Gaudi. Granted, that preoccupation is well warranted. One of the most revolutionary architects the world has ever seen, his work is peppered throughout the Catalonian city from mega-sights like La Sagrada Familia to smaller, more intimate apartment buildings. But it is an obsession, and as a tourist – especially if you’re there for the first time – it can all be a bit much. With that in…

I like Barcelona and have found myself there a few times over the last year or so, each time exploring different parts of the city. One thing has become clear though from these trips, the city has a preoccupation with famed architect Antoni Gaudi. Granted, that preoccupation is well warranted. One of the most revolutionary architects the world has ever seen, his work is peppered throughout the Catalonian city from mega-sights like La Sagrada Familia to smaller, more intimate apartment buildings. But it is an obsession, and as a tourist – especially if you’re there for the first time – it can all be a bit much. With that in…

I like Spain. I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Spain and Madrid was the first city in the country I visited. And yet, reading through my archives, I have almost nothing on the blog about Spain’s capital and I started to wonder why. I have Barcelona and even the Costa Brava well represented, almost in excruciating detail from the gorgeous countryside to the delicious food. Then, the more I thought about it the more I realized the reason why poor Madrid has been no neglected here. It’s just not that interesting. Sure, it’s pleasant to be in and I love wandering its streets and eating some churros. But…

I like Spain. I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Spain and Madrid was the first city in the country I visited. And yet, reading through my archives, I have almost nothing on the blog about Spain’s capital and I started to wonder why. I have Barcelona and even the Costa Brava well represented, almost in excruciating detail from the gorgeous countryside to the delicious food. Then, the more I thought about it the more I realized the reason why poor Madrid has been no neglected here. It’s just not that interesting. Sure, it’s pleasant to be in and I love wandering its streets and eating some churros. But…

If you spend any amount of time reading digital travel articles you will soon stumble over the phrase “going local.” It simply stresses the importance of going off of the tourist trail from time to time and trying to understand what really makes a city ebb and flow. It’s great advice and every traveler would be well served to incorporate it into their trips. However, it ignores the fact that when any of us, no matter how well traveled, visits a new city we want to see the sights for which it is so well known. In London this means the Houses of Parliament, in Paris the Eiffel Tower and…

If you spend any amount of time reading digital travel articles you will soon stumble over the phrase “going local.” It simply stresses the importance of going off of the tourist trail from time to time and trying to understand what really makes a city ebb and flow. It’s great advice and every traveler would be well served to incorporate it into their trips. However, it ignores the fact that when any of us, no matter how well traveled, visits a new city we want to see the sights for which it is so well known. In London this means the Houses of Parliament, in Paris the Eiffel Tower and…

For the last six years or so I’ve made it a travel tradition to spend some time in Europe in December, to enjoy the holiday festivities. It’s evolved over the years and while I have revisited some places, in general I like to travel to new cities and regions I haven’t seen during Advent. Even my favorite European cities transform during the season, they drop the mantle of tourism and embrace the holiday for themselves and not for visitors. It’s a wonderful time of year to visit for a number of reasons and it has become my favorite trip of the year. In 2017 though I did something a little…

For the last six years or so I’ve made it a travel tradition to spend some time in Europe in December, to enjoy the holiday festivities. It’s evolved over the years and while I have revisited some places, in general I like to travel to new cities and regions I haven’t seen during Advent. Even my favorite European cities transform during the season, they drop the mantle of tourism and embrace the holiday for themselves and not for visitors. It’s a wonderful time of year to visit for a number of reasons and it has become my favorite trip of the year. In 2017 though I did something a little…

For the last six years or so I’ve made it a travel tradition to spend some time in Europe in December, to enjoy the holiday festivities. It’s evolved over the years and while I have revisited some places, in general I like to travel to new cities and regions I haven’t seen during Advent. Even my favorite European cities transform during the season, they drop the mantle of tourism and embrace the holiday for themselves and not for visitors. It’s a wonderful time of year to visit for a number of reasons and it has become my favorite trip of the year. In 2017 though I did something a little…