Travel, life, loves and laughs.
In the early 15th century, as the Ottoman threat loomed over Europe, alliances were forged not just through war, but through chivalric brotherhoods. On 12 December 1408, King Sigismund of Luxembourg founded one of the most fascinating of these orders, the Order of the Dragon.… Read the rest
Perched on the banks of the Danube, Golubac Fortress commands the river with an imposing presence that has shaped history. Its geostrategic position made it one of the most important military border fortifications, pivotal during the wars of the 14th, 15th and early 16th centuries.… Read the rest
On the banks of the mighty Danube, Golubac Fortress stands like something out of a fantasy novel. It has rugged towers, thick stone walls and the kind of dramatic cliffside views that make you stop mid-step. On my recent journey to Serbia, this medieval gem quickly became a highlight.… Read the rest
Hidden on the gentle slopes above the Danube River, just a short drive from Novi Sad, lies Sremski Karlovci. The town is like a perfectly aged wine, rich with history, faith and old-world charm. It’s one of those rare destinations that seem untouched by time, where cobbled streets still echo with the voices of scholars and priests and where every corner smells faintly of grapes ripening in the sun.… Read the rest
Plovdiv is charming from the get go and given the range of things to see here, it is no wonder it was Europe’s Capital of Culture 2019. On our list of ‘must see’ items are 5 things that no trip to Plovdiv is complete without.… Read the rest
As we arrive at Etar Ethnographic Outdoor Museum, it seems like just a few old huts along a small, albeit picturesque stream. However, as we enter this busy little slice of history, it’s clear that it is much more than it seems.… Read the rest
Nothing has really prepared me for the enormity of what I am to witness first hand at the site of the ancient city of Baalbek – the historical and cultural significance is overwhelming. In some ways larger and more interesting than either the Roman Forum or the Parthenon, Baalbek exists in Western Lebanon in the Beqaa Valley, nestled between the Mount Lebanon Ranges to the west and Syrian Coastal Mountain Range (Bargylus) to the east.… Read the rest
On the other side of the Kadisha Valley to the St. Simon Monastery where we have just come from visiting the tiny hermit’s cave, is the Gibran Museum in Bsharri.
Once a monastery, the building was bought by Gibran’s benefactor after the Lebanese – American writer, poet and artist, expressed his wishes to be buried in Lebanon.… Read the rest
I wake before the alarm, shivering, barely remembering that I am awake to visit Al Jazirat Al Hamra – The Red Fort. The blankets have been kicked off in the night and the air conditioning is too cold.… Read the rest
By far the best way to see a city is to walk it. Particularly the compact old towns of Europe. Not everyone has the ability, stamina or perhaps enthusiasm for this endeavor, walking from dawn till dusk (and often into the night as well).… Read the rest