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Toward the end of the 6th century CE, a small group of Irish monks led by Saint Kevin, who had previously lived there as a hermit, founded the Christian monastery at Glendalough, in what is now County Wicklow. The settlement grew and thrived, despite Viking raids, for the next six centuries, becoming eventually absorbed into the Dublin diocese. Apart from St Kevin, the most influential Abbot of Glendalough was St Lorcan (Laurence) O’ Toole (1118 - 1180), who became Archbishop of Dublin.

Monastic

The ancient temple and trading town whose settlement dates back to 300 BCE, Madurai (current pop. 1.6 million) is the cultural capital of one of India's southernmost states, Tamil Nadu. This eclectic settlement attracted rulers, travelers, and traders, not only within India but also from around the world. From the Romans and Greeks in 302 BC to the Arabs and Sufi saints in 900 AD, followed by the Ceylonese merchants and the local Chettiar hings, the city of Madurai had myriad influences over t

Fabian Plock

by Cristóbal Ramírez


Senegal is one of West Africa's most popular countries for holidaymakers for good reason. There's its culturally and historically vibrant capital Dakar; its lovely Atlantic Ocean beaches; and truly amazing options for lovers of nature and adventure. A few months ago this blog laid out some particularly fetching eco-excursions out of Dakar, and if that sort of thing floats your boat, you'll want to set aside another chunk of time to experience a swath of the co

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For visitors bringing their pets on holiday with them, it can be difficult to plan the journey. From finding the best pet-friendly places to stay to making sure you don’t have to leave your pup at home while you enjoy yourself. And a number of destinations especially in Europe and the United States have made efforts to make pet-toting visitors welcome. A good example is the British county of Hampshire, on the English Channel roughly halfway along Britain's south coast. With its cities

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Also marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the USA's most visited, covering 816 square miles (2,114 sq. kilometers) of the Blue Ridge Mountains (part of the Appalachians) straddling eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. With four visitors' centers/ranger stations - including one near the entrance close to Gatlinburg, Tennessee and the other near Cherokee, North Carolina, both with exhibits, shops, and facilities - the park is a wond

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The tiny Arab country of Lebanon (not even three-quarters the size of the U.S. state of Connecticut) on the Mediterranean bordering Jordan, Syria, and Israel, has been in the news this week thanks to universal street protests - peaceful and held in a festive atmosphere - aimed at getting its corrupt ruling politicians to step down. Additionally, the little many Westerners have known about this country is outdated, from when it was convulsed from 1975 to 1990 by a brutal civil war

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Costa Rica is famous among other things for for its Caribbean and especially Pacific beaches. And the place that started the beach-tourism boom back in the 1980s - because it was closest to capital San José, about an hour and a half drive away on the central Pacific coast  - is still one of the most popular. A town of around 10,000, bustling Jacó is centred around a 2½-mile volcanic-black-sand beach popular with bathers and surfers alike, and as the country's most dev

Science continues to prove that being in nature has benefits for our mental health, this evidence boosting the popularity of holidays where we are able to reconnect with the world around us. To ensure you stay positive this year, riding holiday specialist Ranch Rider has created a top ten list of horseback escapes where you can maximise the feel-good potential of a week in the saddle - their selection based on location, available activities and the “nature factor” (experience and location were r

VascoPlanet Photography



Cho La is an outstanding Himalayan pass, 5,420 metres (17,782 ft) above sea level, and the classic Cho La Pass trek (105 kilometers and 20 days round trip) connecting Everest Base Camp and the Gokyo Valley through Khumbu Everest National Park offers truly mesmerizing panoramic views, as well as the marvelous experience of traditional villages with their Sherpa culture and handicrafts.

NepalIndependentGuide.com

The trek starts with a flight from capital Kathmandu t

There seems to be a waterfall around every corner in Iceland, but on our recent cruise port call we saw only a few of them. Even then, it could be argued that we didn’t see the best of them, but we probably saw the best known. Even as we sailed into Seydisfjordur, we were flanked on both sides by the steep banks of the fjord - and down those banks cascaded waterfalls. We were particularly struck by one, which divided into a twin fall, leaving a sort of island perched on the hillside.

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India has been a land of rich history and heritage Some of the prominent religion of the world grew here. Powerful dynasties and clans rules India time to time and left their mark on the heart of the country. Right from Mughals to Rajputs, and British to French, Portuguese, and Dutch, India has witness a wide panorama of history that has left its mark on the country's architecture, and bequeathed it some truly stunning landmarks. Here are what I consider the top half dozen:

Taj Mahal - Agra, Utt

If you're thinking of visiting Australia for a family vacation - congrats, great choice! Australia boasts many attractions and experiences - from rainforests and stunning beaches to theme parks and fun cities - that the entire family can enjoy, allowing family members to bond and to relax together

Every family has different interests, of course. Some families may want to see the Outback, while others prefer to stick to the coasts So here are three different areas to choose from. (And by the way,

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If you’re a major foodie, wherever you are in the world you’re undoubtedly looking for the best restaurants to enjoy traditional cuisine. What with such a varied and diverse selection of places to visit in the world, it can be hard whittling your shortlist down to one – particularly if you’ve got food in the equation. If you love immersing yourself in the local lifestyle of the areas you visit, food is a huge part of it! So, calling all foodies, here are 5 places you simply have to v

Who doesn't like a lighthouse? Artistic sentinels of the past and present that conjure up thoughts of tumultuous seas and shipwrecks along craggy coasts. For some, a lighthouse may bring visions of a peaceful life with the siren call of gulls and foghorns. Adventure to some, serenity to others. Who lived such a life and how did they live it? There's a great way to find out, if only for a day or two.

Stay at a Historic Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast

There are not many American lighthouses with gues

Egypt is one of the most distinctive countries of the African continent as well as the Middle East, with an impressive civilization stretching back more than 5,000 years. From its pyramids and palaces to its art, artifacts to its bustling cities, desert expanses, and beautiful beaches, it's a place that dazzles the senses and seizes the imagination. An excursion to Egypt will be the trip of a lifetime - and likely still leave much to explore on a second and even third visit. But for first-ti

The Duomo Is the World's Fifth Largest Christian Church

The city's main icon is outdone by only St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil, Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York, and the cathedral of Seville, it covers 109,641 square feet and an entire city block. Its size is even more impressive considering it’s the oldest church on that list.

And It Has the Most Statues

They say there are more statues on this Gothic cathedral than any other building

by José Juan Adamuz



Argentina's capital is one of those cities where cafe-going is something of an art. Ordering a coffee, tea, wine, or beer - or without a pastry or snack - and settling in amid homely, old-timey surroundings with a good book or for a chat with friends is a favourite pastime of Porteños. Which means café culture has a longstanding pedigree, and if you want to see how many locals truly live, consider stopping by one or more of these classics for a spell:

Gran Café Tortoni

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Depending on the size of your group and their requirements, you must select what suits your needs best. With the drastic rise in the number of travel bloggers, travel equipment has also changed. Camping gear are now coming with modifications to take your camping to another level. For those not familiar, we've published a list of camping tents to understand and choose from. All these tents have their own perks and disadvantages. Read on find out what suits you best:

Ridge Tents

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“What is the best city in the world to visit right now?” This is the question Travel + Leisure asked its readers every year. The criteria to rate include sights and landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping and overall value. This year, for the first time Hoi An was pronounced by readers of Travel+Leisure as the world’s best city in 2019, with an overall score of 90.39 out of 100 - a jump from number 8 on the list last year.

Spelled Hội An in Vietnamese, this is an ancient city loca