Discovering Meiji Jingu: A Sacred Oasis in Tokyo
In the heart of Tokyo lies Meiji Jingu, a tranquil testament to Japan’s traditional customs and culture Peaceful escape in the city lies with Meji Jingu Shinto Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. It is visited by millions of people every year who come in search of tranquility, meditation and an insight into […]
Sensō-ji: Tokyo’s Iconic Temple and Cultural Heart
Sensō-ji is Tokyo’s most visited temple and one of the city’s must-sees for any visitor, nestled in the lively Asakusa neighborhood. A symbol of the Japanese capital, this Buddhist temple was founded in 645 AD as a place for people to stow away replica of Buddha bones. A Historical Overview Senso-ji’s Beginnings Sensō-ji has legendary […]
The Grand Palace: A Jewel of Bangkok’s Heritage
The Grand Palace: A Jewel of Bangkok’s Heritage The Grand Palace is at the heart of Bangkok in Thailand and it is one of the most beautiful famous landmarks open to a world entirely Thai. The palace, built in 1782 by King Rama I, is still the official residence of the Thai monarch more than […]
This is the day.
Again, I know where we are, but travel blogs don’t. We just walked from Valbona to Theth via Valbona pass. The note next to the official signage reads, “This is D-Day.” We leave the hotel before 8am and leave our luggage without expecting to see them again in Thete (well, let’s hope to see them […]
Bukhara, Uzbekistan (The Caravan Stop)
23 September (in Samarkand) My last few nights were not as peaceful as I had hoped. A family from Kyrgyzstan took over the hostel for the weekend. The hostel is fully occupied. The round, plump, wrinkle-free gentleman is here for the wedding of one of the gentleman’s daughters. They returned home very late, very drunk […]
JOUR 1 VICTORIA FALLS ZIMBABWE
Hello everyone By the time we arrived at Lyon Saint Exupéry Airport we had already had a serious taste of Africa, be it North or Black.!!!!!! I go to the security check, with my cap, which I kept because of the rain. In front of me, 5 Muslim women, wearing turbans up to their eyes, […]
The Golden Circle
How would you describe our adventure in Iceland? As we picked up our rental car and left downtown Reykjavík, we quickly realized we were in an unusual place. We saw a wave of smoke rising from the ground! We spent the first three days of our trip taking in the amazing landscapes and places of […]
Castiglione of Garfagnana
We are not the only family in Italy at the moment, and the planning process is always focused on discovery during our travels. The official sources were Castiglione di Garfagnana and, more importantly, B&B II Casale Delle Pianacce. So we met up with Robin and Ken at La Spezia and the next morning we caught […]
Last day of walking in Romania.
Sighisoara, one of the oldest cities we visited. The fort and its surroundings are centuries old (I won’t say much here), but they look like it too. The towers embedded in the old walls seem intimidating, fortified and remarkably strong considering the age of their construction. Like many towns near here, the Saxon/Germanic influence is […]
Heading to Morro de São Paulo.
My plans have changed a few times in the last few weeks. Since the family I was originally supposed to stay with for a month would only let me stay my first 5 nights in Salvador, I looked at a few options. One was a Portuguese school and the other Morro de São Paulo was […]