Category: Destinations

Chasing Art, History & Chocolate in Santa Fe – Things to Do & Travel Guide

Santa Fe’s been on my bucket list for a long time. With old adobe structures, a prevalent Native heritage, and a thriving art scene, it drew me in as a different place to explore within my own homeland. I finally got to go for a few days and discover what this cute town has to offer!

A Brief History of Santa Fe

Santa Fe’s history goes way back 1,000 years, to when many Indian pueblos lived in the area. From my understanding, there were roughly nine pueblos living in this area that shared the Tewa language, which is a branch … Continue reading

Looking at Rethymno, a Charming Town in Crete

When I visited Crete, seeing towns like Chania and Rethymno were high on my bucket list since I’d heard great things about them. Chania was cute but I didn’t think it was as charming as Rethymno. Here’s my rundown on this seaside city and why I fell for it.

A Brief History of Rethymno

What is now Rethymno was probably inhabited by the Minoans and the Romans in ancient times, but its more popular history started in the 16th century when the Venetians used the port here and built a fort to protect the city. Much of the architecture standing … Continue reading

The Ancient City of Athens: the Acropolis & Beyond

So many people told us that you only need a day in Athens, it’s not a great city, all there is to do is the Acropolis. This is so not true. If you’re short on time then yes, maybe spending a day at the Acropolis is enough. But Athens is a lovely city with a lot to do and see. You can fill a few days with things to do, easily.

I also felt that Athens was a nice city. Not particularly charming, and certainly not as photogenic as the Greek islands, but a very proper city.

Without further adieu, … Continue reading

Visiting Knossos, an Archaeological Splendor in Crete

If you’ve studied archaeology then you’ve probably heard of Knossos in Crete, one of the world’s ancient splendors. I was eager to see this place for myself and thought it was a fantastic experience.

What was Knossos?

The Minoan culture lived on Crete thousands of years ago, and Knossos – being their largest city – was probably their capital or central power. What remains today is the Knossos Palace, which was a working palace with many functions and inhabitants.

Since Crete is centrally located between Europe, Asia and Africa, Knossos was definitely a huge trade city, which can be seen … Continue reading

Visiting Akrotiri, Santorini’s Ancient “Atlantis”

I’ve wanted to visit Akrotiri since I first learned of it in college. Much like Pompeii, this city thrived thousands of years ago before it was covered by a volcanic eruption. Though the volcano destroyed the city, it also preserved it so we could get a more intimate look at it all these years later. Visiting was an absolute highlight of my trip and I cannot recommend it enough for history lovers.

What was Akrotiri? A Short History

Akrotiri’s one of Greece’s biggest archaeological finds, but not much is known about it – not even its name. The language, called … Continue reading

11 Fun Things to Do in Santorini

There are so many fun things to do in Santorini that people miss out on. Actually, when we first planned our Greece trip, we were going on a cruise that stopped only for 2 hours – just enough to see Oia’s “famous sunset.” What a crime! That trip was cancelled so when we rebooked, we opted to spend several days on the volcano island and get to see what it really had to offer.

Visit Akrotiri & Prehistoric Museum of Thera

Akrotiri is absolutely one of the best things to do in Santorini. Particularly for history buffs, you can see … Continue reading

Exploring Amersfoort, a Charming City in the Netherlands

When I went to the Netherlands, Amersfoort caught my eye as a charming town. I was looking for more places that were a bit smaller – but not too small – and still retained historic charm, so the city’s old town attracted me. Amersfoort isn’t on a typical itinerary of the Netherlands but seeing that many places looked a lot more modern, I decided to give it a go. It was actually one of my favourite parts of my trip!

A Short History of Amersfoort

The town of Amersfoort started as an area for overseeing farmland, but blossomed into a … Continue reading

Visiting Pienza, a Cute Tuscan Town – Things to Do & Travel Guide

I went on a day tour of Tuscan towns and Pienza was on the itinerary. I didn’t know much about it before arriving, but it’s a small Renaissance town with beautiful views of the Tuscan countryside – the Val d’Orcia. We had about 2 hours there and I absolutely loved it. Even though the town is tiny, I would recommend a stay of longer than 2 hours.

The History of Pienza

Pienza’s original name was Corsignano and was established in the early medieval era. But Pienza’s history changed drastically when a man named Enea Silvio Piccolomini – popularly known as … Continue reading

A Quick Trip to Antwerp, a Beautiful Belgian City: Things to Do & Travel Guide

I’d been wanting to visit Antwerp for years and got the chance when I visited the Netherlands. Timing gave me only one day to enjoy this beautiful city, which I quickly learned would not nearly be enough to explore everything it had to offer. So in this post I’ll cover the things I did do (all of which are amazing) and the things I didn’t quite get to – with lots of reasons to visit in between.

A History of Antwerp

Antwerp’s history goes all the way back to the Franks, but its Golden Age came in the 16th century … Continue reading

A Former Local’s Travel Guide to Paris, France (Things to do & more)

I was lucky enough to study abroad in Paris, the city of love and light. Over several months, I got to explore the city and acquainted myself with it on a more intimate basis. I got to visit every section, visit a lot of museums, and eventually this place dug a hole in my heart. I’ve returned quite a few times since my term there. So I’d like to share with you my recommendations for Paris, from the obvious to the more obscure.

The Essential Sights of Paris

Of course you can’t go to Paris and miss out on the … Continue reading