Blog Archives

The Wonder of Lisbon’s Pastéis de Belém

  Anyone who has taken advantage of the tempting, cheap deals for Lisbon hotels and headed off for a getaway to the Portuguese capital, will know that Pastéis de Belém are something of an institution, and a gastronomic experience that is not to be missed. Also known as pastel de nata, these egg tart pastries were born in Lisbon but have been exported to all territories which have a Portuguese influence. They are called pastéis de Belém because it is believed that they were created by Catholic nuns at the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (the Hieronymites Monastery) in the Belém district of Lisbon. Being located next to a sugar cane factory obviously aided the nuns but the liberalization movement of the 1820s saw the monasteries close down. By 1834, the laborers and clergy were expelled. In desperate need of work, some […]

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5 Less Visited European Destinations That are Worth the Trip

Today I have a guest post that going to push us onto a different path, the less traveled one, as we visit another side of Europe. —- Many of us, who have traveled Europe extensively, know the continent’s greatest and most popular resorts and have grown tired of the tourist traps and overcrowded summer seasons.  With so many well established resorts available, it’s easy to overlook some of Europe’s most charming destinations that are just a bit off the beaten path.  These are destinations that can offer the same level of services, better views and a guarantee that you will still have the best holiday ever, with a wide range of prices to suit every budget.  All the great stuff, but without the melting pot of tourism. So open your hearts and minds and dare to explore Europe all over […]

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Top 10 Things To Do In London For A Wheelchair User

Today I have a guest post on a topic I know very little about – accessible travel.  I take for granted getting up and down stairs, walking down narrow cobblestone streets, and making plans with very little thought.  While not every traveler is as carefree with planning their vacation, accessibility is no longer the barrier to travel that it once was. Here’s what you can expect from accessible London —- Many of the tourist attractions in London are wheelchair friendly, although some are unfortunately entirely inaccessible.  Here is a list of what I feel are the top ten wheelchair friendly things to do in London, but if you have something else in mind that does not appear on this list, just call ahead to check accessibility or to organize special assistance.  Calling ahead is particularly important if you are travelling […]

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The Louvre: A Love Affair With Art

The Louvre is one of the most famous museums in the world, and most trips to Paris (at least first trips) include a visit to this famous spot located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement (map). The building, originally a palace, is now home to some of the world’s most famous works of art, including the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, and Aphrodite/Venus de Milo.  The museum opened to the public in 1793, and since then the collections have grown to their current number of over 380,000.  It’s not the largest art collection in the world, but most art historians agree that it is the finest. The main buildings of the Louvre look rather fortress-like with iron gates around it.  The real treasure lie within the gates, much like it must have been when it was […]

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An Italian Retrospective

It’s with mixed feelings that I’m back in Seattle after three and a half weeks in Italy.  It’s always good to come back home, of course, but there is a part of me that was left behind, waiting patiently until I come back to claim it. The pace was both busy and leisurely, with a day or two of activity followed by a day or two of rest. Leisure days were spent by the pool, taking naps, drinking wine, eating pasta and lots of gelato.  Activity days were full of exploring, sightseeing, discovering new things, and lots and lots of walking to counteract all that pasta, gelato, and wine.  It was the perfect combination of Adventure Holidays and Walking holidays, with plenty of rest to get ready for it all. Here are some of the highlights of the trip: Climbing […]

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Climbing Mt. Etna: MJ vs. the Volcano

One of the things that I was excited to do in Sicily was climbing Mt. Etna.  At approximately 10,922 feet high, this largest active volcano in Europe was visible from the back deck of our villa.  Every morning I’d take a look at how beautiful it was, it’s very top visible in the earlier morning hours, and then watch as the clouds circled about it come mid-morning. The presence of Mt. Etna, along with its history – both true and legend, dominates the island of Sicily,  Make no mistake about it, this is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.  This decade alone has seen two major eruptions, in 2001 and 2002, both of which caused damage to both the mountain and surrounding areas. The three of us were all interested in climbing Mt. Etna, and our choice […]

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Bottoms Up: Grappa in Italy

Everywhere you turn in Italy you’ll find grappa, a clear alcoholic beverage sure to knock your socks off. Grappa is made from the grape residue left over from the crush of grapes during the winemaking process, and includes the grape skins, stems, seeds, and everything else.  Like many food items in Italy, the beverage originally began as a way of reducing waste and using everything up. Today, however, grappa stands on its own.  Like wine, the flavor of grappa will depend on the type of grapes, growing conditions, and terroir.  But grappa isn’t wine.  It;s a clear liquide, with an alcohol content ranging from 35-60%, and is thick in taste and feel like Brandy.  In fact, you’ll often hear it referred to as Italian Brandy.  Production is a strictly regulated process, and for a liquor to be called grappa it […]

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It’s Sicily!

It took the better part of 24 hours, but I’m finally settled into my villa in Sicily. The day started with a 3:30 am car service pick up, which started the day’s travel with a flight to Chicago, then connecting to an overnight flight to Rome.  The group met up at the Rome airport, thankfully everyone’s flight was pretty close to being on time, and we caught a quick commuter flight to the island of Sicily. The villa has exceeded expectations.  It’s a beautiful 4-bedroom place, surrounded by lemon trees.  There’s also two dining areas, two living room areas, a kitchen with a pizza oven, and a huge wrap around deck/patio.  I’ve included a few photos, but these first 24-hours are pretty much for settling in and relaxing.  We’ve gone to the supermarket, set in some provisions, and the rest […]

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Historical London: Visit 4 UNESCO Sites

Thinking about a vacation in historical [amazon_textlink asin=’1631215612′ text=’London’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’travelingwithmj-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ffde2fe5-6a62-11e7-9b32-d3dbf8308ba0′] can evoke a frenzy of thoughts about this major continental city that is the UK’s financial center, seat of politics, and hub for fashion, entertainment, and the arts. But don’t forget that London is an old city, steeped in culture and tradition.  In a city of hundreds (if not thousands) of wonderful historical sites, four have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites.  They’re worth a look-see! Tower of London:  Located on the north bank of the Thames in central London, the Tower is actually a compound of multiple buildings – and a moat.  It’s currently the oldest British governmental building but has an impressive history as a fortress, palace, prison, and place of execution and torture.  Must see sites there today include the Crown Jewels, the […]

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10 Reasons to Visit Edinburgh for Your Next Vacation

Edinburgh, the capital city of [amazon_textlink asin=’1612389783′ text=’Scotland’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’travelingwithmj-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ca65b8ba-6a63-11e7-8485-e971cc4915d6′], is the second largest city in the country, making it a popular vacation spot for travelers from the U.K. and around the world.  In fact, it’s the second most visited city in the UK for international travelers (no surprise that [amazon_textlink asin=’1631215612′ text=’London’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’travelingwithmj-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’d9adec6b-6a63-11e7-8762-ad95567d7f04′] is first), and there are lots of reasons to visit Edinburgh. From the United States, you can reach Edinburgh direct from Newark (Continental) and Atlanta (Delta), along with many airlines that make connections.  Another option is flying into Glasgow International Airport, about an hour away. Here 10 reasons to visit Edinburg for your next vacation. It’s a picturesque city.  Located along the Firth of Forth (love that name!), Edinburgh sports a rugged coastline mixed with interesting architecture.  There are plenty of […]

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