Category: Destinations

A Short Guide to Avila, Spain: Things to Do in Saint Teresa’s Hometown

When I visited Madrid, it was so hard picking which day trips to go on. As a medieval enthusiast, I easily decided on Avila. The town is known as a medieval town with pristine walls, and also the home of St. Teresa de Jesus. I ventured there to step back in time several hundred years.

Some of Avila’s History

Avila existed since before the Roman era but it’s known today for its developments during the medieval period. Though it retains a Roman city structure, the incredible Avila walls were constructed in 1090, and landmarks such as the cathedral were built … Continue reading

55 Beautiful Temples in Old Chiang Mai

The northern Thai city of Chiang Mai is one of the country’s most popular destinations, and it’s one that stole my heart. The city was founded in the 13th century as the capital of Lanna, a name you can still see all over town today, and has a lot of history to discover. Much of that history can be seen in the wats, or Buddhist temples, that are sprinkled all over – and they’re all so stunning.

Today, Chiang Mai is the name of a whole province in Thailand and the city is quite expansive. However, the old city is … Continue reading

Exploring the Diverse City of Bangkok: Things to Do & Travel Guide

If you’re headed to Thailand, Bangkok is probably a place on your list. I’d heard great things about Thailand’s capital city, and heard less enthusiastic stories about it – leaving the city as a transit destination for other parts of the country. So when I planned a few days in the city, I didn’t have any real expectations of it. Overall, I liked the city.

Bangkok is a huge, huge city. I didn’t expect to see nearly all of it but with everything centered in the “Old Town” area of the city, I feel like I barely scratched the surface … Continue reading

“Care for Elephants” at Elephant Nature Park: an Ethical Encounter in Thailand

Elephant encounters are popular in Thailand and Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai is one of the most popular, most ethical places to see elephants up close in an environment as close to natural as they can have. I opted to visit and since I wanted a closer encounter, upgraded to the “Care for Elephants” package. It was amazing, and I think of my whole time in Thailand, the best thing I got to experience.

Here’s what to expect when you go on a “Care for Elephants” excursion. If you decide to go, which I HIGHLY recommend, be sure … Continue reading

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