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How to Find the Best Halong Bay Cruise for You
If you’re planning a trip to North Vietnam, chances are Halong Bay is high on your list. And for good reason. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Vietnam’s most breathtaking destinations. The bay is home to 1,600 islands and islets, each rising dramatically from the emerald waters. Many hide caves waiting to be explored, adding to the bay’s…
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Love Kitsch? You’ll Love Ba Na Hills SunWorld
If an attraction is kooky, offbeat, or kitschy, Steve and I are all in—so it’s no surprise we fell in love with Ba Na Hills SunWorld in Da Nang, Vietnam. Ba Na Hills, as it’s commonly called, is a theme park with a heavy French flair. It’s also home to the iconic Golden Bridge, the one that looks like two…
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Is Ba Na Hills SunWorld Right for You?
Ba Na Hills SunWorld is a mountaintop amusement park in Vietnam, famous for its breathtaking Golden Bridge held by giant stone hands. With a mix of French-inspired architecture, lush gardens, and thrilling attractions, it offers a unique blend of culture and adventure. Visitors can ride the world’s longest non-stop cable car, explore a fairytale-like village, and enjoy panoramic views of…
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8 Reasons Siem Reap is Better Than Chiang Mai
Are you torn between visiting Chiang Mai or Siem Reap? These two cities have many similarities, but a few differences that made one stand out for me. Steve and I visited Chiang Mai, Thailand, in the fall of 2024, and Siem Reap, Cambodia, in the winter of 2024–2025. We spent four weeks in Chiang Mai and three weeks in Siem…
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What You Need to Know About Elephant Sanctuaries in Thailand
If you’re traveling to Thailand, visiting an elephant sanctuary may be on your to-do list. Spending time with these majestic creatures can be an unforgettable experience. As a thoughtful and responsible traveler, you’ll want to choose a sanctuary that aligns with your values. But what exactly does that involve? What should you look for in an elephant sanctuary? In the…
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The Best, Worst, and Weirdest Things About Hanoi
During the fall of 2024, Steve and I spent four weeks in Hanoi. Vietnam is the first communist country we have visited and only one of five communist countries in the world (the other four being China, Cuba, Laos, and North Korea). It was our second country in S.E. Asia, and besides the wildly chaotic traffic, we weren’t sure what…
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Colorful Kuala Lumpur Street Art 2024
There is no shortage of delightful things to see in Kuala Lumpur. One of my favorites is street art. KL has plenty of it. My favorites are below. The art is divided into three sections. The first is murals and a sculpture. Two areas where you can see a lot of street art are on Jalan Rembia and the surrounding…
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Should You Visit Kuala Lumpur? An Honest Review
Hi there, and happy fall. Perhaps you are enjoying cooler weather and looking forward to the beauty of autumn leaves. Steve and I are not. In August, we left the wonderful weather of the Canary Islands for our first visit to Southeast Asia. It is hot and humid, as we knew it would be. Even so, we were excited to…
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Street Art in the Canary Islands 2024
Do you love street art? Me too. When Steve and I headed to the Canary Islands in May 2024, street art was the furthest thing from my mind. Even so, I was delighted to find it in countless places during our twelve weeks there. Here are some of my favorites from the three islands we visited: Tenerife, La Palma, and…
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The Fascinating and Sordid History of Crossbones Graveyard
Regular readers of our blog know that Steve and I like to explore cemeteries. While in London in the spring of 2024, we toured the well-known Highgate Cemetery. However, the lesser-known Crossbones Graveyard and Garden of Remembrance was more compelling and memorable. In this post, you will learn about the history of Crossbones and perhaps be inspired to visit it,…
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Your Ultimate Guide to The O2
Are you planning on visiting London? You’ll love it. London is chock full of amazing things to see and do, but if you’re looking for something different, look no further than The O2 Entertainment District. A Little Background Steve and I spent two months in London in the spring of 2024. We spent part of this time pet sitting, which…
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Everything You Need to Know About Hot Air Ballooning in Cappadocia
I’m sure you’ve seen photos of hot air balloons flying over the otherworldly landscape of Cappadocia. Maybe you are hoping to do this, perhaps you’re a bit afraid, or you might wonder if it’s worth the cost. Wind and Whim to the rescue. Here is everything you need to know about hot air ballooning in Cappadocia. A Little Background When…
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Sinaia, Romania: A Great Addition to Your Bucharest Trip
If you’re fortunate enough to visit Bucharest, Romania, you will have much to explore and enjoy. Among the many things to see in Bucharest, you can tour the Palace of Parliament, one of the largest buildings in the world, peruse the stunningly beautiful Carturesti Carusel bookstore, and get pampered at Therme Bucuresti, an over-the-top relaxation center. After you’ve seen what…
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Kotor, Montenegro Photo Gallery 2023
Here are our favorite photos from our November 2023 trip to Kotor, Montenegro. There are also two photos from the nearby town of Tivat. Most of the photos were taken in Kotor’s Old Town, my favorite old town to date. As you can see, there were few people as it was off-season, and the weather was often bad during our…
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What You Need to Know When Visiting Tirana, Albania
What’s it like to visit Tirana, the capital of Albania? Except for the lack of street addresses and lackadaisical bus schedules, it was similar to visiting any other city. Before traveling to Tirana, I knew nothing about the city or the country. In September 2023, Steve and I stayed there for four weeks. You can read about that in “Wind…
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A Venetian Surprise in Shkoder, Albania
One of the many things I love when traveling is discovering something incongruous, like when Steve and I ran across the wonderful Beatles Museum in the Hungarian city of Eger. You can read about that in our post about Eger and Egerszalok. In early October 2023, we discovered another unexpected gem while visiting the Albanian city of Shkoder. It was…
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What Is Skopje Really Like? An Honest Review
If you asked 1,000 people which European city they would most like to visit, I’d be surprised if even one would put Skopje, North Macedonia, at the top of their list. It’s not because Skopje isn’t worth visiting, but it is not well known and can’t compare to the draw of many European cities. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t…
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Tirana, Albania Photo Gallery 2023
These are photos from our September 2023 trip to the cities of Tirana and Durres in Albania. You can read about out stay in Tirana and our short side trip to Durres in “Wind and Whim’s Monthly Update: September 2023.” To see the images in a slideshow with captions, press any image. Happy traveling,Linda Before You Go
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Skopje, North Macedonia Photo Gallery 2023
Steve and I spent most of August 2023 in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia. This city is unlike any we have visited. It’s quirky, it’s over-the-top, it’s never boring. We enjoyed seeing hundreds of statues and loved the museums. I hope you enjoy a look at some of the highlights of Skopje. You can read more about Skopje in…
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What You Need to Know When Visiting Skopje, North Macedonia
If you’re looking for somewhere unique and inexpensive to visit in Europe, consider Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia. This Balkan city is uncrowded and easy to get around. Its city center is a sight to see, with larger-than-life monuments, random statues, ornate bridges, and elegant buildings, thanks to the Skopje 2014 project (more on that below). Steve and I…
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Why You’ll Fall in Love with Opatija, Croatia
If you love captivating natural beauty, amazing architecture, and gorgeous gardens, check out Opatija, Croatia. Steve and I visited Opatija at the end of May, before the height of the tourist season. It was busy enough to be interesting without being crowded. The weather was warm and mostly sunny. This seaside town of less than 12,000 residents on the Adriatic…
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What You Need to Know About Drinking in Morocco
Are you thinking of visiting Morocco and wondering if you will have to forego a refreshing beer or relaxing glass of wine? You might be surprised to learn that alcohol is available in Morocco, although not as readily as in non-Muslim countries. Steve and I spent two and a half months in Morocco in the winter of 2022-2023. During that…
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Marrakesh: Colorful, Crowded, and Just a Little Crazy
When Steve and I were planning our three-month Morocco trip, we decided against a long stay in Marrakesh. Much of what we read spoke of how overwhelming it can be. But we didn’t want to miss it, so we decided to spend four nights in this legendary city. The articles we read were right; Marrakesh is intense. Here are our…
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Tangier, Morocco Photo Gallery 2022-2023
Here are our favorite photos from our trip to Tangier from December 2022 to January 2023. Tangier was our introduction to Morocco and Africa, and we loved it. Our favorite parts were the stretch of beach along the Straight of Gibraltar, the beautiful architecture, the view from our apartment, and the prevalence of cats. Check out our other Morocco posts: “Marrakesh:…
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Visiting Istanbul: The Good, The Bad, and The Startling
As the first step in writing this post, I thumbed through my photos of Istanbul. Steve and I sure saw a lot of beautiful things there. Despite that, it is our least favorite city. So what made us dislike Istanbul so much? It all comes down to the extremes; beautiful neighborhoods surrounded by ghettos, decent public transportation but hard-to-find information,…
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12 of the Most Interesting Things to Do in Prague
Are you planning on visiting Prague, the city of 100 spires? If so, this post is for you. Even if you are not planning to visit this beautiful Czech city, it may inspire you to add it to your bucket list. There are two things every visitor to Prague does. One is to brave the crowds on the Charles Bridge…
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Turkey is for Cat Lovers – With 25 Charming Cat Photos
For three months in the summer and fall of 2022, Steve and I visited eight cities in Turkey. To my delight, each town was full of cats roaming the streets. These are not bedraggled strays. These cats are well-fed and look healthy. They are cared for and loved by the residents because, as we discovered, Turkey is for cat lovers.…
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Istanbul, Turkey Photo Gallery 2022
Steve and I spent a whirlwind four weeks in Istanbul in the fall of 2022, dividing our time between the European and Asian sides. This allowed us to experience the city in two different ways. We enjoyed the incredible museums, were overwhelmed by the crowds, and had a fire in our apartment building. We also enjoyed sharing the city with…
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18 Things to Know Before Visiting Cappadocia
Thanks to Instagram, we all know about the enchanting Cappadocian landscape and the epic balloon rides. Like many places that are presented as ideal, there is more to the area than you see on the Internet. To help you plan your trip to this magical region, here are 18 things to know before visiting Cappadocia. All costs are in U.S.…
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6 Cities, 6 Vibes on the Turkish Riviera
When you think of visiting Turkey, you probably think of Istanbul or Cappadocia. But did you know that there are many seaside cities and towns that also make for great trips? Steve and I spent six weeks in the summer of 2022 in six cities, one on the Aegean coast and five on the Mediterranean coast. We loved a few,…
