On a trip to Andalusia, I had to visit Spain’s oldest city: Cadiz. I was super excited because I love old cities and this was really the old city. This beautiful seaside area has a history that spans thousands of years and is still magnificent to visit today.

The History of Cadiz

According to some sources, Cadiz is the oldest city in Europe, dating back about 3000-3500 years or so. It’s actually said to be the island of Erytheia in Greek mythology,

“Towards Spain [in the Atlantic Ocean], at about 100 paces distance, is another long island, three miles wide,

Despite being Croatia’s capital, Zagreb is often overlooked as a tourist destination. Many people visit Croatia’s beautiful coastline but don’t go inland to see what the rest of Croatia is about. I was a bit different – I was actually excited most for Zagreb because I’m a fan of medieval cities. Though Zagreb wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, it was still one of my favourite places to be in Croatia and it’s a very worthy travel destination.

Zagreb’s History

Zagreb’s history dates back to Roman times and is interesting because it was actually a few different towns that merged … Continue reading

Split is one of Croatia’s most visited cities, and there was no way I was going to miss out on Dalmatia’s largest city. I have to say it’s one of the most unique places I’ve been to and a beautiful blend of 2,000 years of history.

The History of Split

Before my arrival, I thought Split had an “old town” that dated back to Roman times. I was surprised to learn this wasn’t the case – the whole “old town” was actually the palace of Diocletian in the 3rd-4th century! A few thousand people did live within the palace walls … Continue reading

Fife is often recommended as a place to visit in Scotland, so for my second trip, I thought it much appropriate to check out what is said to be one of Scotland’s most beautiful gems. Though the peninsula is known historically for its coal and industry, the tourist perspective is its picturesque fishing villages with scattered ruins. After a visit to Stirling, we got a long evening to drive around the fantastic Kingdom of Fife.

Fife has been a part of Scotland for over a millennium. Fife had thanes, which were like earl equivalents, and obviously a strong regional … Continue reading

Barcelona is the most popular tourist destination in Spain, but for my first trip to the Iberian country, I opted to visit Seville. Photos got me excited about the wonderful art and history of Andalusia and its primary city. I have to say that I heard some negative things about Spain but they were all wrong. I had an amazing time in Seville!

The History of Seville

Like many Spanish cities, Seville started out as a Roman one – called Italica. The area has more ancient origins but a lot of Seville’s celebrated history comes from the Roman era onward. … Continue reading

I’ve been to the Scottish highlands twice. The first time was that, a first-time visit. The second time, I brought my family so they could experience once of my favourite places in the world. The highlands are so big and I have much to explore still, but this is my experience with this magical place.

One of my favourite areas is the Trossachs National Park. This is where Loch Lomond, Scotland’s largest loch by surface area, is located. The park is filled with high hills reflecting in the low lakes. It’s extremely picturesque and the nature is so … Continue reading

Malaga is one of Andalusia’s gems. A city on the sea, it’s most notably the home of artist Pablo Picasso. It’s a wonderful mix of a seaside city, a historic Spanish city, and a lively place to be. Malaga makes a fantastic destination for your trip to southern Spain.

Malaga’s History

Malaga dates back several millennia and is said to be one of the world’s oldest cities. The area had already been continuously inhabited by the Phoenicians for several hundreds of years before it fell under Greek and Roman rule. Its location at the tip of the Iberian Peninsula made … Continue reading

Ronda is a small town in Andalusia and it’s a popular spot for tourists, especially because of its super tall bridge that transcends a deep valley. I opted to go here as part of a day trip but I have to be honest; the blog posts I found made it sound like there wasn’t much to do in this small town. When I got there as part of an organised trip, we were given a good walking tour and a little over an hour to explore. That was not nearly enough time. The town actually has a large number of … Continue reading

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Alhambra in Granada is often deemed one of the must-sees of southern Spain. It’s an architectural splendor with very well preserved palaces and gardens. It’s the most visited monument in Spain and is very well deserving of the title. Even though I was excited to see this gem, it absolutely blew away my expectations in person.

Please note that this sells out months in advance so you will need to book your ticket ahead of time.

The Alhambra

Andalusia’s history revolves around its many kingdoms and the changes that occurred over time. The Nasrid … Continue reading

Wroclaw is a small city in southwest Poland, and like several Polish cities, its stunning architecture is the main draw for tourists. (Helpful tip: it’s pronounced VROTS-WOV) I too had to see this city for myself, and it was much bigger than I’d expected.

Something fun: My great-grandmother came from a small Silesian town near Wroclaw. She was a Polish Jew who married a Catholic Irishman – in the 1920s. How progressive is that?
That’s on my mother’s side. What’s funny is that earlier ancestors on my father’s side came from the same area of Silesia! Small world. I … Continue reading