Click on the picture to go to the story!

One of the best road trips I`ve ever taken was a few years back in Romania. Such a beautiful country, and it has some amazing UNESCO sites. The 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐲𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚 is a collection of seven churches that had fortifications built around them in the Middle Ages. The one pictured is Viscri, which was, I think, my favorite of the bunch.

Why were they fortified? Because the Hugarian king sent Saxons to settle on the Hungarian border to defend the kingdom from the Ottomans and Tatars. So they built not just walls but often also living and storage spaces so they could withdraw to the fortifications if need be.

We visited all 7, and you can 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐛𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐨!

https://rachelsruminations.com/fortified-churches-transylvania/

#VisitRomania #FortifiedChurches #UnescoWorldHeritageSites #UnescoSite #WorldHeritage #Viscri #RoadTrip #HistoricalTravel #HistoryLover #TravelLover
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What I particularly like about historical palaces and temples in South Korea is the decorative paintwork they have: so bright and pretty! Pictured is a detail from Haedong Yonggungsa Temple in Busan.

𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲!

Photo by @ticket4twoplease - as is the article about the temple:⠀https://rachelsruminations.com/how-to-visit-haedong-yonggungsa-temple-busan/

#SouthKorea #KoreanArchitecture #TraditionalDesign #HaedongYonggungsa #KoreanArt #VisitBusan #VisitKorea
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New guest post by @ticket4twoplease about Haedong Yonggungsa Temple in Busan, which may be the most beautiful temple in South Korea. It`s unusual because it is right on the coast instead of on a mountain.

#VisitSouthKorea #Busan #travellover #travel
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Rachel`s Ruminations` monthly newsletter: February 2023🌼 ...

Escalier (Stairway) Mermet is part of a 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑒: one of the secret passageways that lace the older sections of Lyon, France. Read all about them in "The secret traboules of Lyon: A complete guide."

Photo courtesy of @dabblinginjetlag

https://rachelsruminations.com/traboules-of-lyon-a-complete-guide/

#visitLyon #LyonFrance #traboules #secretpassages #stairways #travelcrazy #travelbug #instatravel #stairwaysofinstagram
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New York City doesn`t have to be a pricey place to be! Read: 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭: 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨!

Thoroughly updated and expanded.

Bookmark the article for the next time you head to New York!

Pictured: the Staten Island Ferry against a bit of the NYC skyline, taken from Governors Island

https://rachelsruminations.com/new-york-city-on-a-budget/

#StatenIslandFerry #NewYorkCity #NYC #budgettravel #travelcheaply #traveltips #traveladvice
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I just finished thoroughly updating and adding to this article:

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭: 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨!

NYC is an expensive place, and hotels are pricey, but you can do all sorts of things in the city that don`t cost many or are quite cheap. Even the expensive admission charges for many museums and other sights can be avoided on certain days and times.

Bookmark the article for the next time you head to New York!

Pictured: the Empire State Building - had to tip the camera to fit it all in!

https://rachelsruminations.com/new-york-city-on-a-budget/

#EmpireStateBuilding #EmpireState #NewYorkCity #NYC #budgettravel #travelcheaply #traveltips #traveladvice
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Rachel`s Ruminations` monthly newsletter: January greetings 👋 ...

Rachel`s Ruminations` monthly newsletter: Happy New Year!😀 ...

A safety tip about hotel peepholes. Is this something you do?

I`ll try to post these tips reels more often in future.

#traveltips #safetytips #femaletravel #hotelroom #TravelBlogger #travelgram #instatravel #travelsafe #travelsafely
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14 Christmas markets in 3.5 days: not bad! Hamburg has so many of them, each different in one way or another. Some are just little neighborhood ones, but some are big and crowded, especially the one on the Rathausmarkt in the city center and the St Pauli market, which is adult themed and quite racy!

I`ll be writing a complete listing in plenty of time for you to plan your visit to Hamburg next Christmas!

Have you ever been to a German Christmas market?

Subscribe to Rachel`s Ruminations (link in bio!) to get notified of new posts.

And please click like or comment!

Thanks to @come_to_hamburg for helping me arrange this trip and to @mercurehotels for sponsoring my hotel nights!

#cometohamburg #VisitHamburg #VisitGermany @hamburgahoi #ChristmasMarkets #travelgram #instatravel #MostWonderfulTimeOfTheYear #TravelBlogger #ChristmasFood #gluwein #ChristmasShopping
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6 markets down, 9 more to see here in Hamburg, Germany! Have you ever been to a German Christmas market?

Probably about half the stalls sell food or drink, while the other half sell crafts, and it all gets crazy busy by late afternoon when it`s already dark out and the drink stalls are surrounded by crowds of drinkers.

#christmasmarkets #hamburg #visithamburg @come_to_hamburg #vistgermany #mostwonderfultimeoftheyear
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Do you think I can visit all 15 in 3.5 days? I`ll certainly try! Thanks to Mercure Hotel Hamburg City @mercurehotels for hosting me and to @come_to_hamburg for the Hamburg card for local transport!

#cometohamburg #visithamburg @hamburgahoi #Hamburg #christmasmarkets #visitgermany
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Just published a comprehensive list of all the best Buddhist temples to see in Bangkok, Thailand! With lots of info and tips to help you choose which to see!

Here`s the URL: https://rachelsruminations.com/13-best-temples-in-bangkok-thailand/

Enjoy your trip!

#bangkok #Thailand #amazingthailand #buddhism #buddha #buddhisttemple #traveltips2022 #thailandtravel #visitbangkok #visitthailand #travelblogger #rachelsruminations
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Rachel`s Ruminations` monthly newsletter: My 73rd country!😊 ...

First of many travel tips. In this case, what NOT to do! (And what I did just yesterday.)

Have you ever done something like this when you were traveling? Hurt yourself because you just weren`t paying attention to where you were going? Add a comment!

#bangkok
#amazingthailand
filmed at @holidayinnexpressbkksathorn
#traveltips2022
#traveltips
#safetytips
#CapCut
#felldown
@tourismthailand
#rachelsruminations
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Sukhothai is a UNESCO site and the former capital of Thailand. I arranged and paid for my visit myself but @tourismthailand Sukhothai office provided me with a guide for two days so this was partially #sponsored.

The guide @molave019 is an archeologist and teacher and a total history geek just like me! Definitely reach out to him if you need a guide at Sukhothai or Ayyuthaya or really anywhere in Thailand!

#thailand #thailand_ig #amazingthailand #sukhothai #unescoworldheritage #worldheritage #religiousart #religiousarchitecture #thailandtravel
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#sponsored Maya restaurant @mayathailand is at the very top of the Holiday Inn Bangkok Sukhumvit @holidayinnbangkoksukhumvit. It has set sampling menus as well as a la carte and the chef clearly takes great pride in mixing Indian, Thai and other influences in his creations. A great meal to celebrate a special occasion!

#holidayinn #Bangkok #amazingthailand #thailand_ig #thailandtravel #foodietravel #indianfood #bloggerlife
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