A sightseer’s guide to the history of Ortigia, Sicily
The history of Ortigia, Sicily is long and varied. Read here what to see on this little islet, the oldest part of Siracusa.
Southern Europe
Visiting Krka National Park in Croatia: Travel tips
Krka National Park in Croatia has some of the prettiest waterfalls and lovely hikes. Read lots of tips here!
Things to do in Figueres: A one-day itinerary
In this complete one-day itinerary, you can read about all the things to do in Figueres, Spain: not just the Dali Theater-Museum!
Have you heard of the Saronic Gulf island of Agistri?
The island of Agistri in the Saronic Gulf is near Aegina, but its quieter and greener. Read all about it here, with lots of tips for visitors.
Review of Audley Travel: Luxury bespoke travels
Considering booking Audley Travel to arrange your itinerary? Read this review of my experience with Audley on a tailor-made trip in Greece.
Euphoria Retreat Wellness Resort destination spa review
Considering a stay at Euphoria Retreat wellness resort in Mystras, Greece? Read this detailed review before you decide!
How to escape the crowds in Dubrovnik, Croatia
No matter how beautiful Dubrovnik is, the crowds can really ruin it for you. Here are some ways to escape the crowds in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Beginner’s guide to the top historic sites in Rome
Historic sites in Rome that any first-time visitor should see: from the ancient Romans to the Baroque and Renaissance.
Mardi Gras around the world – and Mardi Gras food!
Mardi Gras around the world has morphed into a range of different pre-Lenten celebrations. Read here about how different countries celebrate!
Tips for Hiking to San Giovanni Fortress in Kotor, Montenegro
The climb up to San Giovanni Fortress a.k.a. Kotor Fortress is hard, but definitely worth it for the magnificent views!
Albania travel tips: Things I wish I’d known before visiting Albania
Don’t go to Albania unprepared, like I did! Read these Albania travel tips, covering everything I wish I’d known before visiting Albania.
Úbeda and Baeza: An overlooked UNESCO site in Andalucia, Spain
Úbeda and Baeza: two charming towns, one UNESCO site, highlighting some stellar Renaissance architecture mixed with other influences.
Cameo Island, Zakynthos
Cameo Island, Zakynthos, Greece: a beautiful rocky island with crystal-clear water, perfect for snorkeling and seeing the native turtles.
20 interesting facts about the Acropolis in Athens, Greece
A gem of classical Greek architecture, the Acropolis is an absolute must-visit! Read these facts about the Acropolis in Athens before you go!
Celestyal Greek islands cruise review
A review of a Celestyal Crystal cruise in the Greek islands: lots of info about the whole experience, plus advice to help you decide whether it’s for you!
Dalí Theatre-Museum: A glimpse into Dalí’s mind
To look at a Salvador Dalí painting is to wonder about the mind that painted it. A visit to the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres, Spain, gives visitors a chance to look into that mind. That doesn’t mean, though, that you will understand Dalí’s thinking any more than you did going in. I certainly didn’t. It’s called a…
Ostia Antica: The Perfect Day Trip from Rome
Just 30 kilometers away from Rome is Ostia Antica, one of the most well-preserved ancient cities in Italy and a perfect day trip from Rome. NOTE: This article is a guest post by Alexandrina Nickolova. Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I will receive a…
Trip of a Lifetime: Bloggers Pick their Must-See Destinations
For this collaborative post, I asked fellow travel bloggers about their idea of a trip of a lifetime: If a person who’s never traveled far from home asked you to name the one place they should visit on their one-and-only trip ever, what would you say? I got so many different answers! I’ll start with the…
The City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia (with teenagers)
I caught my first glimpse of Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences last year as we drove by on our way to see the old center of the city. It was astonishing: massive, futuristic architecture contrasted sharply with everything we had seen so far. Note: Updated in April 2023. Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links…
Baix Empordà villages: a photo essay
Baix Empordà, part of the province of Girona in Catalonia, is one of those hidden gems, to use the cliché, that no one seems to know about. Many tourists visit Girona, and many of them venture out to the Dali Theatre-Museum in Figueres. Most, though, don’t stay long enough to explore the lovely stone villages…
One Day in Girona (with teenagers)
We only had one day to spend in Girona. That, and the fact that we had three grumpy teens with us, meant that we had to choose what we saw very carefully.
8 Things to Do While Waiting in Line for the Dalí Museum, Figueres
As I mentioned in my post about the Dalí Theatre-Museum, we were stupid enough not to book tickets ahead of time, forcing us to wait in line in the center of Figueres, Spain. It was the middle of the day in August and, believe me, it was hot in Figueres. We waited about 45 minutes to get to…
Modernism in Alcoi, Spain
It was a hot Sunday morning in August when I walked from the deserted Plaça d’Espanya into the visitor’s information office in downtown Alcoi, Spain. The lone woman at the counter seemed thrilled to have someone to talk to. All I wanted was a map, but she insisted on telling me, in detail, about everything…
Reconsidering Benidorm
Benidorm is one of those places everyone has an opinion about, and it usually isn’t good. When I asked my husband what he thought of the place, he described it as “an overgrown beach town with high buildings right up to the beach.” It was full, he said, with “loud Dutch and fat, pale, English…
Arolithos “Traditional Cretan Village”
I’ve never seen a hotel quite like Arolithos Traditional Cretan Village before. I only stayed there because I took the gamble that Hotwire offers, and I thought that I’d lost the gamble. I’m still not sure one way or the other. Disclosure: If you click and book a room using a link in this article,…
Rethymnon in half a day
The town of Rethymnon on the north coast of Crete is a popular destination for visitors who want to venture away from their all-inclusive resorts for a bit of local color. The narrow streets of its old center wind between rows of narrow houses with balconies, often overflowing with flowers. Shops sell everything from made-in-China…
Arkadi Monastery and its Tragedy
Just a week or so after visiting the Ter Apel cloister, a place of peace and contemplation, I arrived at The Holy Monastery of Arkadi in Crete, a similarly contemplative religious place. Arkadi is Eastern Orthodox, while Ter Apel was Catholic and then Protestant, yet it looked to me as if the monks in both places…
Knossos and the Minoan Mystery
On my recent trip to Crete to lead a workshop, I was able to visit just a couple of sites, one of which was Knossos, a UNESCO World Heritage tentative list site (along with the four other Minoan palace ruins in Crete). I was looking forward to seeing these ruins of an ancient civilization, the…
Medieval Churches in the Val d’Aran, Spain
There’s something special about the medieval churches in the Val d’Aran, Spain. All are quite small, stone-built in Romanesque style, and date from the 11th to the 15th century. Disclosure: I went to the Val d’Aran as part of a discounted package provided by Pyrenees Experience. I’ve already written about what to do in the Val…
Val d’Aran: Skiing in Spain!
Skiing in Spain? Yes! It’s possible in the Pyrenees in the Val d’Aran. Read here about the ski resort and other things to do there!
Italian Days Food Tour: A review
Our tour guide from Italian Days Food and Wine Tours was far too cheerful for such an early start. We had been picked up at seven in the morning—before sunrise in mid-January—and denied even a cup of coffee before leaving. Our hotel’s breakfast only started at seven, so we had run downstairs and grabbed a…
Hotel El Ciervo: a bit over-the-top … but in a good way!
I wasn’t even going to write a review of our hotel, the Hotel El Ciervo, here in Vielha, Spain. It was just a place to stay while we explored the Val d’Aran in the Pyrennees and its ski resort, Baqueira Beret. Or rather, while I explored and my husband and son skied. I’m not being sponsored…