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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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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
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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Tirana, Albania Photo Gallery
These are photos from our September 2023 trip to the cities of Tirana and Durres in Albania. To see the images in a slideshow with captions, press any image. You can read about out stay in Tirana and our short side trip to Durres in “Wind and Whim’s Monthly Update: September 2023.”
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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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Skopje, North Macedonia Photo Gallery
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. To see a slideshow of the images…
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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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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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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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Walking The Dales Way: 81 Miles of Beauty and Charm
Do you love a challenge? Steve and I do, so when we first learned about the Dales Way, we were excited. It seemed like the perfect adventure for us. We planned our walk for June 2020, but the pandemic put our trip on hold for two years. In July 2022, Steve and I finally got to walk the Dales Way.…
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What You Need to Know When Visiting Budapest, Hungary
Are you thinking of visiting Budapest? Go for it. This Hungarian city in Central Europe is chock full of beauty and history. Steve and I arrived in Budapest in March 2020 for a four-week stay. Because of the pandemic, we ended up staying for more than two years. During this time, we have explored every corner of the city and…
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The Best Things To Do in Szeged, Hungary
Steve and I took a five-night trip to Szeged, Hungary, in March. One of the reasons was to visit the thermal baths at Sunshine Aquapolis Szeged, which are connected to the Hunguest Hotel Forrás. We also wanted to see the Art Nouveau buildings that grace the city after it was rebuilt following a devastating flood in 1879. Read on to learn…
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Unique Architectural Ornaments in Budapest
If you are lucky enough to visit Budapest, you will be treated to many architectural delights. And if you look at the buildings closely, you can discover unexpected and unique architectural ornaments. Steve and I spent the two years of the pandemic in Budapest, so I have had a lot of time to explore the city. In this post, I…
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Budapest’s Marvelous Margaret Island
When Steve and I arrived in Budapest, our driver suggested we visit Margaret Island. The way she described it did not make us want to head right over there. This view was reinforced the first time Steve and I visited the island. We had been walking for close to an hour when we reached the southern entrance of the island.…
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The Pros and Cons of Skiing in Bansko, Bulgaria
Are you planning a ski vacation this winter? Are you trying to get the most for your money? If so, you may be considering the Bulgarian ski resort of Bansko. Steve and I chose Bansko for our January 2020 ski trip because of the low cost of accommodations and skiing and the fact that we wouldn’t need a car. In…
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Eger and Egerszalók: A Great Hungarian Getaway
If you are looking for a fun getaway in Hungary, consider Eger. It is the largest town in the Eger wine region and only 84 miles (135 km) from Budapest. It can easily be reached by car or train. A visit to Eger will reward you with beautiful views, Baroque architecture, and a valley dedicated to wine. You can also visit…
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Aquaworld Budapest: Tons of Fun in Hungary
Are you visiting Budapest? If so, you are probably aware of the thermal baths the city is famous for, but for something a little different, give Aquaworld Budapest a try. At Aquaworld, you can relax and be pampered in the spa, soak in warm thermal pools, or be a kid at the indoor water parks. Steve and I were enduring…
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Budapest’s Quirky and Colorful Lehel Market
Budapest is full of incredible things to see and do. One that makes every list of things to do in the city is the Great Market Hall (Vasarcsarnok), also called the Central Market Hall. It is worth a trip to view the majestic building with its Zsolnay tile roof. However, for something different, I suggest you visit the Lehel Market…
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10 Must-See Holocaust Memorials in Budapest
If you find the history of the Holocaust as poignant and powerful as I do, you may wish to visit some of the Holocaust memorials in Budapest. This post highlights ten sites in Budapest that keep the memory of that terrible time alive and honor those who lost their lives as well as those who risked their lives to save the…
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20 Quick and Cool Things to See and Do in Budapest
If a trip to Budapest is in your future, lucky you! It is a vibrant and beautiful city with so much to see and do. If you aren’t planning a visit, maybe seeing all that the city has to offer will push it to the top of your bucket list. Steve and I arrived in Budapest in March of 2020.…
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The Funky Side of Budapest
One of the things I enjoy when exploring a city is discovering unique and colorful street art. The more eccentric, the better. Quite frankly, I think Budapest is lacking in street art (at least in the form of murals), but it makes up for it with a multitude of quirky novelties. Street art Even though street art is lacking in…
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Beware the E-Scooters
There are many ways to get around in Budapest. In addition to an extensive metro system, there are taxis, buses, trams, trains, and bicycles. There is even a chairlift to get to the top of Janos Hill. But for Steve and me, the most enjoyable way to get around the city is by electric scooter. At least it was until…
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Sintra, Portugal – Stunning and Sublime
One of the best things about traveling full-time is discovering awesome new places. Sintra, Portugal, was such a place. This enchanting town, less than one hour from Lisbon, is brimming with historic palaces and castles. Steve and I spent seven weeks in Portugal visiting six cities in the fall of 2018. Our tour of the country included stops in Porto,…
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The Beauty of Budapest in 50 Photos
In January 2020, Steve broke his pelvis while skiing in Bulgaria. What was meant to be a three-week winter-wonderland ski trip turned into twelve weeks of pain and disappointment. By the time he was healed enough to travel, COVID-19 was becoming a serious concern throughout the world. Instead of returning to the U.S., we decided to go to the place…
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Therme Bucuresti: The Most Beautiful and Relaxing Place in Bucharest
Are you thinking of visiting Bucharest? Great! You’ll love it. Along with seeing the Palace of Parliament, Herăstrău Lake and Park, and the Cărturești Carusel bookstore, there is one other place that should be on your list: Therme Bucuresti. This is a place where you can feel like a carefree kid one minute and a pampered adult the next. We…
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Paris’s Musée d’Orsay
Ah, Paris! The City of Lights! What should you do while visiting this fabled city? Climb the Eiffel Tower, peruse great art at the Louvre, stroll along the Seine? Absolutely. But in addition to the above, there is one more place you shouldn’t miss, the Musée d’Orsay. What is The Musée d’Orsay? The Musée d’Orsay was voted the best museum…
