europe
Whether embarking on a Eurotrip or a weekend jaunt to a foreign city, European travel requires some smart planning; you may know all the must-see landmarks, but we provide the hidden gems.
Venice
Venice is without a doubt one of the most famous and visited cities in the entire world. It is romantic, charming, unique, and a bit daunting. Visiting Venice is definitely a “bucket list” destination to any serious traveler. Our first visit to Venice was over 20 years ago, and looking back on that adventure, it was a disappointment. Our subsequent visits, though, were all remarkably memorable. MUCH has been written about Venice, and I doubt that I can add anything new, but I’d like to make some observations on: (1) Our first visit, (2) St. Mark’s Square, (2) The Doge's Palace (3) the canals and bridges—specifically the Rialto and Academia Bridges, (4) The gondolas of Venice, and (5) Murano and Burano.
By Kathy Slamp6 years ago in Wander
Spain's Ibiza - A Destination with So Much Fun!
Spain has recently surpassed the record number of visitors with more than 82.6 million international arrivals by 2018. This represents an increase of .9 percent compared to 2017. Tourism in Spain is well established as a major sector of the economy, and recent data shows a booming industry: tourism accounts for 16 percent of Spain's GDP. In 2016, more than 75 million tourists visited the country.
By Osei Agyemang6 years ago in Wander
Sojourn From Budapest to Vienna
Budapest was such a visual city, we wished we had more time just to walk through and look. The winding cobbled streets, yellow bricks from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, neo-gothic cathedrals, labyrinths, giant indoor markets. A small and sophisticated city with good food and vibrant nightlife. My friend and traveling companion was really only wanting for a lesbian bar (Note, as of August 2019, there are no femme-oriented gay bars in Budapest, though there are a few for men).
By Virginia Rand7 years ago in Wander
Montenegro - By Kathy Slamp
One of the biggest surprises in visiting the countries near the Adriatic Sea is “discovering” Montenegro! Whether you arrive by land or sea, you will be filled with awe and wonder at the spectacular beauty of this little known country. A seasoned traveler might even compare some of the sites to Alaska’s fjords, yet there are major differences. The mountains around this beautiful little city look black; thus, the early sailors named it Montenegro or the "black mountain."
By Kathy Slamp7 years ago in Wander
First Night in Formia
It was our first night in Formia, the Italian coastal town that became our first home in Europe. After another in a long line of sleepless nights and eye-stingingly early mornings, A’s afternoon nap went into overtime. The cat slept too, curled up in the crook of A’s knees, shielding her eyes with her asymmetrical feet.
By Ryan Frawley7 years ago in Wander
Bordeaux, France
In the attempt to have a more “off the beaten track” experience, I went to Bordeaux instead of Paris for a year during college. While there, we came to call the place “bored-o” for the lack of things to do and see, once we had exploited all we could of the area. The positive side of the experience was that we left as often as possible to see other parts of Europe, which we may not have done had we had Paris at our fingertips. Bordeaux was small, areas of it were extremely run down, and though I loved the African and Spanish influence in the food, dress, and neighborhoods, there were also places I was uncomfortable going.
By Jody Holman7 years ago in Wander
It's the World's Smallest Country but Has a Lot to Offer in Terms of Tourism!
Even though the Vatican city is the smallest country in the world, it is a collection of cult art and architecture. This interesting city is located in southern Europe of Italy. With a little more than 1,000 inhabitants, the population lives comfortably, but what's interesting is that no one was born here. Vatican citizenship is not based on birth, but it's only given to people who live in the Vatican for their work or services. More than 450 have Vatican citizenship, including 135 guards, with 5% of the population being women. Cardinals who live in the Vatican or in the Holy Place are considered seats of the Roman Catholic Church in Italy. The Vatican is an independent country.
By Osei Agyemang7 years ago in Wander
A Week in Amsterdam
We arrived to Amsterdam on July 23, 2019 to spend a week before our 12 night Royal Caribbean Baltic cruise and had no idea it would be as hot as it was. (104 degrees!) Neither my husband, nor I, have ever been to the city so we wanted to take some time to really enjoy it and take in as much as we could. We have come to learn that once we get off a cruise we are ready to head home and have no desire to explore. Anyone else feel that way too?
By Tarah Prater-Burkhart7 years ago in Wander
Never Home. Top Story - August 2019.
Blame it on Brexit. I never thought the vote would go the way it did, and that the country I was born in would decide to tear itself away from the rest of Europe. I thought I’d always be an EU citizen, with the right to live and work anywhere I chose in twenty-eight different countries. And because I always had the right, I never used it. It was only the thought I might lose a life I had always dreamed of, but never pursued, that made us take the leap we did.
By Ryan Frawley7 years ago in Wander
