Admittedly, I sometimes like visiting countries for the sake of it, and I opted to take a day trip down to Montenegro (Kotor and Perast) when I was in Dubrovnik. It was beyond my expectations and so worth a trip. Kotor actually ended up being one of the highlights of my vacation and both places are on my list of favorite towns in Europe!

So without further adieu, here’s a wrap-up of Perast and Kotor in Montenegro.

Perast, Montenegro

A little bit of history: Perast’s most notable history is a lot more recent than some surrounding areas. It became … Continue reading

I have to be honest: Madrid was not at the top of my bucket list. Even though the museums were a huge draw to the city, I felt I wouldn’t like it as Madrid’s a lot “newer” than other cities. But in the wake of the pandemic, I found a cheap flight and decided to take the trip. Now Madrid’s actually one of my favourite cities!

A Brief History of Madrid

Madrid started as an Islamic city in the 9th century, though it of course fell under Christian rule. It remained a relatively sleepy town until 1561, when King Philip … Continue reading

Ljubljana is one of Europe’s smallest capitals but a gem of a fairytale city. During my trip to Croatia, I was eager to see more and decided on a day trip to Slovenia. I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed my time, but I have a different take on the city: it deserves more than a day. A lot of people say it’s so small, you can see it in a day, there’s not a lot to do there, etc. A day is “enough” but I wish I’d stayed longer. Read on to learn why.

Ljubljana’s History

Ljubljana dates … Continue reading

Even though it’s on Croatia’s coast, the city of Zadar is sometimes overlooked for other cities like Split and Dubrovnik. However it was actually one of my favourite places on the Adriatic Sea. This city is so filled with relics of its centuries-old past and lively present.

The History of Zadar

Zadar is said to be the oldest settlement in Croatia, dating back to the 9th century BCE. It turned from a Roman establishment to a medieval Croatian town and was actually sold to the Venetian Empire in 1409. Since the Venetians came in and redid a lot of the … Continue reading

Dubrovnik is Croatia’s most visited city, largely because of its filming locations for Game of Thrones. But beyond that, the city is absolutely beautiful and a unique, well-preserved part of Dalmatia’s history. I absolutely had to visit this gem and see Croatia’s hottest destination for myself, and it was amazing.

(Note that I’m not a Game of Thrones fan so I didn’t do anything from that fandom.)

The History of Dubrovnik

What makes Dubrovnik so special in its history is that it was actually its own Republic for hundreds of years. Only relatively recently did it become a part … Continue reading

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