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Porto, Portugal – Just What the Doctor Ordered

It had been a long day. The bus had dropped us off in a part of town we weren’t expecting to be in, the “Free Internet” wifi network I needed for directions actually cost 2.50 Euro an hour, and our bags were starting to seem heavier and heavier each day. We’d been moving around a lot, and in need of some relaxation and a slower pace. That’s exactly what we got in Portugal, the second chapter and second country of

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A Town of Pilgrims – Santiago de Compostela – UNESCO #11

Santiago de Compostela has long been a destination for Christian pilgrims from across Europe, and the world. Considered one of the holiest cities of the Christian faith, Santiago was constructed around the tomb of St. James the Greater in the beginning of the 9th century. The city was destroyed during the struggles between Islam and Christianity at the end of the 10th century, but was quickly rebuilt over the course of the proceeding century. Danielle and I arrived late in

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San Sebastian Panoramic – The Most Beautiful City in Spain?

From one beautiful city to the next, we traveled from Barcelona to the northern city of San Sebastian, or Donostia, as it is known in the native Basque Country language of Euskara. This has probably been our favorite city of our entire trip so far. Maybe second favorite behind Barcelona. There are a hundred different amazing things about this city, but looking back at this panoramic shot it is easy to say that this view, and the beauty of this

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Top Ten Tuesdays – Things to Do in Krakow

This week’s “Top Ten Tuesdays” post is by Leon Levy, and provides ten things to do in the city of Krakow. Krakow is the capital of Poland, the home to numerous festivals all year round, it is deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it is near the location of Auschwitz, a symbol of one of Europe’s darkest times. Here are ten things to do during your visit to Krakow. Wawel Hill The 11th Century Royal Castle and grandiose Wawel

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More Photos of Mind-Blowing Architecture – UNESCO #9

This will be my third post from my four nights in Barcelona last week, so it is fairly obvious that the city made quite an impression on me. From the San Joan festival to the Antonio Gaudi architecture, to the architecture of a slightly less famous man, Lluis Domenech i Montaner, who I’ll be focusing on in this post. Hospital de Sant Pau lies just five blocks away from the Sagrada Familia catherdral I posted about a few posts ago.

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Sant Joan – Barcelona’s Biggest Party of the Year

(During this post I mention that I didn’t bring a camera along with me. At the bottom of the post I’ll link to some more information on the celebration, as well as a few other sites that have photos of the parties.) The first week and a half of this trip has been a whirlwind. This is easily the least amount of planning I’ve ever done for a trip, and although we’ve shown up in a few cities and had

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Top Ten Tuesdays – Things to Do in Kenya

This week’s “Top Ten Tuesdays” post gives us ten things to do while visiting the country of Kenya. As Africa’s tourism industry continues to grow, countries like Kenya are given a chance to shine and show off their natural beauty and unspoiled wonder. Here are ten things to do in Kenya, enjoy! Sambaru A national treasure – this national reserve and home to the Sambaru tribe hosts some of the rarest African animals, including the Grevy zebra, the reticulated giraffe

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Works of Antoni Gaudi – UNESCO World Heritage Site #8

If you are fortunate to have visited Barcelona, then it is almost certain that you have been witness to some of the most famous architecture in Spain, the works of Antoni Gaudi. Gaudi was known for his mind-numbing uniqueness that went many steps beyond the imagination of architects of his day. The city of Barcelona was fortunate enough to be the playground of Gaudi, and throughout the city and the surrounding areas lie seven structures designed, at least in part,

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Photos from Toledo – UNESCO World Heritage Site #7

After a night out in Madrid, we awoke just 4 1/2 hours later to set off on our day trip to the city of Toledo. Toledo is a historic city that developed under the influence of multiple cultures and religions, turning it into one of the most unique cities I’ve ever seen. I’m not the only person to recognize its significance, as it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the seventh of such sites, that I’ve visited since

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Breaking Laws and Taking Naps

Danielle (my girlfriend) and I, arrived in Madrid this past Saturday at around one in the afternoon local time. It was our first time to Madrid, our first time to Spain, and my first time ever setting foot in Europe! After an overnight flight on a discount airline with fellow passengers competing for the “who can talk the loudest at 3am” award, we arrived exhausted, but very excited for the 3 ½ months ahead of us. Our time in Spain

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