The last decade of the 19th century and the first of the 20th saw a spate of big cities - mostly in Europe and the USA - launch a new era of urban transit by opening underground rail systems. And we as travellers can be extremely grateful, as the
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This small, isolated wonderland in the north Atlantic might seem intimidating to a first-time traveller. But this checklist will help you take Iceland with both hands (careful, it might be slippery!) and embrace its whimsical culture, to ensure tha
The gemlike Church of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is known to Petersburgers as the Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood - or even just the Church on the Blood - as it marks the spot where Czer Alexander II was fatally wounded in an assass
Going to the pub is one of the pleasures of a visit to the English seaside, and at this time of year the pub comes into its own. Whether you have been for a bracing walk along the seafront with a fierce souwesterly hurling seaspray across your path,
In 1919, in the immediate wake of the devastation wrought by World War I, an architect named Walter Gropius, one of the pioneering maestros of modern architecture, founded an art school that combined fine arts with crafts and eventually architecture
The longest day of the year is today upon us again, and summer-solstice festivals and celebrations break out in numerous countries across the globe. Perhaps no observance has a cooler backdrop and context, however, than the one in Europe's most leg
Today on the feast day of St. James it's worth noting that the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James), the famed mediaeval pilgrimage route from Paris down to Galicia's capital Santiago de Compostela, is famous for not just its spirituality but its
My journey to the land of the Midnight Sun and the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis began with a flight to Bodo,Norway, where I boarded the MS Trollfjord with Hurtigruten. Bodo is the administrative capital of Nordland at 67°17’N (the Arctic Circl
Located at the very top of the United Kingdom, Scotland is home to some truly remarkable treasures. Whether you want to explore the picturesque capital city of Edinburgh, or you’d prefer to get outdoors and discover more of the Scottish Highlands’ l
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Relatively small and sparsely populated (400 square kilometers/150 square miles, pop. around 20,000) the Llyn Peninsula of northwest Wales is bucolic, a center of Welsh language and traditional identity, and also one of this country's most sought-a
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Europe - and the world - tempt with many amazing travel destinations, but Croatia in some ways is in a class by itself. Known for its stunning coastline, mouthwatering cuisine, and intriguing culture, Croatia should be one of the countries for your
Especially for travelers to Europe on a budget, there's no better place to hang out than the capital of Portugal, considered one of the continent's most affordable countries. But even apart from that, it's a romantic city with amazing history, cultu
More than 100 million years ago, the area now occupied by the North Antrim coast was covered by a warm sea. Over countless millennia, the shells and bones of dead sea creatures piled up on the ocean floor to form sediments that slowly hardened into
The lovely island of Sardinia - part of Italy. Right? Well, yes, of course. But in Europe, nothing is ever quite that simple. Sardinians certainly grow up speaking Italian just like their countrymen on the mainland. But before Mediterranean’s seco
Read more…Love chocolate-box cottages, centuries-old architecture, and a peaceful setting away from the hustle and buzz of the big city (just over an hour's drive northeast of London)? Seeing it today, you'd never guess that the sweet little market town of Cog
Spain, a Western European country rich in Mediterranean flavors and Arab influence, is actually a few countries packed into one. With its location in the southern end of Europe and just a hop away from North Africa, Spain serves as Europe’s link to
Iceland’s capital sees plenty of visitors wanting to see the country’s distinctive natural beauty, coming from all corners of the world come to see its geothermal landscape showcasing magnificent landscape shaped by the roaring volcano that is still
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If you’re heading to Spain’s famous Costa del Sol, you’re likely to visit Málaga, its capital. This city has a rich history in which you’ll want to immerse yourself. Art enthusiasts will be pleased to know that this was the birthplace of Pablo Picas
As the cradle of Christianity, the Old Continent’s history with Easter is millennia old. And though recently it has evolved from a merely religious observance to an secular cultural (even pop cultural) phenomenon, the mix of elaborate religious pa
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The year 1819 was part of a turbulent time in Spanish history.. Just five years earlier, the country had thrown off its occupation by the empire of Napoleon Bonaparte but the Bourbon Dynasty's restored King Ferdinand VII had caused outrage by abro
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