Regular readers of this blog will know that I love a good castle. This fact traces to my childhood, when my favorite movie was Disney’s Robin Hood. I delighted in watching the cartoon animals sing and frolic around ye olde countryside and dreamed of being Maid Marion in a castle of my own. (Dramatic scenes were often […]
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36 Hours in Hobart, Tasmania
My introduction to Tasmania was altogether too brief. Due to a scheduling snafu and delayed flight, I had just 36 hours in Hobart, the capital of Australia’s southern island state. But, as ever, I was determined to make the most of my visit. While I didn’t climb to the top of Mount Wellington or go […]
10 Fun Things To Do in Sydney, Australia
Sydney is a city best enjoyed outdoors. It has cliff walks with epic views, ferry rides past famous landmarks, and beaches close enough to downtown that locals can catch a few waves before and after work. Then there’s the food. In between adventures, you can treat yourself to the freshest seafood and messiest cakes. (I’m […]
Why You Need to Visit Lisbon in Winter
Winter sun in Europe can be as elusive as a unicorn. Even destinations you might expect to stay warm, like the Amalfi Coast and Istanbul, can be blanketed in fog or even snow. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I traveled to Lisbon in December, but I needn’t have worried. Thanks to the city’s […]
40 Photos That Will Make You Want to Visit Istanbul in Winter
When I first learned that Turkish Airlines offered direct flights between Riga and Istanbul, I started dreaming about a sunny winter getaway. The average temperature for Istanbul in January is 45F/7C, which might not seem super warm, but is an improvement over Riga’s 30F/-1C and near-constant snow cover. Istanbul is also 1,800 kilometers south of Riga, resulting […]
Tips for Visiting a Traditional Latvian Sauna
Nē, nē, nē, duša ir pirmais! These were the instructions given by a Latvian grandmother in her birthday suit after I entered the bath complex and reached for the steam room door. Never mind that I was already clean. The Latvian sauna ritual always begins with a shower. Perhaps amused by my halting Latvian and my […]
Cesis, Latvia: A Must See Fairytale Town
“This is the land of Narnia,” said the Faun, “where we are now; all that lies between the lamppost and the great castle of Cair Paravel on the eastern sea.” My favorite book growing up was The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. The story is about four precocious British children who […]