Sponsored PostBeach and Culture Travel Destinations The Best Travel Destinations for Beach and Culture Lovers If you travel in a group or with your loved one, you often have to make compromises. One might like an active adventure trip to the mountains, while the other wants to relax on the beach or go visit historic sites and museums. And most of us want to spend a few days relaxing on a ... Read Full Article
The Achilleion in Corfu, Greece
An Inspiring Day at The Achilleion in Corfu, Greece I’m standing in a beautiful courtyard overlooking a panoramic view of flowering gardens, a green forested hillside and far below, the sparkling blue Ionian Sea. Surrounding me stand the Muses: all nine of them. I’m next Erato, the Muse of poetry. Beside her, Terpsichore holds her harp, and Melpomene smiles silently. This is the magnificent ... Read Full Article
Memories of Communist-era Prague
Prague is undeniably a magical city, a beautiful tourist paradise rich in history. But a visitor who was a student there 45 years ago reveals a different city hidden in plain sight, one with a drab, painful, and very recent past. Travelers just need to know where to look. Prague in 1969 My friend Mike spent five months - from January to May of 1969 - studying in Prague and Brno with Portland’s ... Read Full Article
A Brief History of Spain
Before embarking on a trip to Spain, learning a bit about its history can make your trip more meaningful. The Iberian Peninsula was first inhabited around 800,000 BC and proved to be a much-desired piece of real estate through the centuries, as evidenced by the large number of foreign invaders that chart Spain's history.First came the Phoenicians, then the Greeks, and then the ... Read Full Article
Exploring Naxos’ Venetian History
One fascinating era of Greek history is the Medieval period during the occupation by the Venetians. One of the Venetian strong-holds in Greece was on the Cycladic island of Naxos. The Venetian Duchy of the Aegean ruled here from 1204-1537. At that time the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas were beset by pirates who invaded the coastal towns and islands. The Venetian navy was powerful and came to the ... Read Full Article
Beaucaire, France: Village of Artisans, History and Bullfighting
Located in the Gard region in the south of France, Beaucaire is set in the center of a triangle comprised of Avignon, Nimes and Arles. It is distinguished by a medieval castle, winding cobblestone streets and the Rhone-Sete canal that runs right through the center of town. In fact, it might just be the perfect base from which to explore the wonders of the South of France.When we ... Read Full Article
Hungary Tourist Information
Hungarians have contributed some of the world's best musicians, world class cuisine and a glorious medieval legacy. Budapest is a cosmopolitan city of old lanes and flashy people and has a lot to offer to everyone. The surrounding countryside is dotted with castles, fortresses, monasteries and beautiful villages and towns that hark back to the days when Hungary was a great empire. The Danube River ... Read Full Article
History Up Close in Bodrum, Turkey
With a shriek I hung on to my brand-new camera first and the railing next, much to the amusement of my friends who had seen my choice of priorities! It’s very unusual for the Aegean Sea to be rough in summer, but on that very day she decided to show us how capricious she can be and how a particular wave could catch me unaware.Somehow the dramatic weather conditions were befitting, ... Read Full Article
Germany: Where History Comes to Life
Germany, the land of Gemaechlichkeit and lederhosen invites you to share in its beauty and heritage. Since east and west Germany united, it has become one of the most economically successful countries in Europe.Germany has several major cities; in each you will experience not only different architectural styles and art treasures but also a very distinctive lifestyle. Local traditions and ... Read Full Article