A trip to the Mediterranean island of Malta is sure to include many of the must-see attractions. There are stunning paintings by Caravaggio in St John’s Co-Cathedral, the fantastic view of the harbor in Valletta from the Upper Barrakka Gardens, and the medieval walled city of Mdina. While these attractions are more than enough to keep visitors occupied for several days, there are also some off the beaten path attractions that are worth a visit for travelers who want to scratch beneath the surface. Here are three of my favorite ways to get to know Malta beyond its most famous sites: Visit Local Wineries Travelers might not be aware that Malta has a developing reputation for its wines. Remember, Malta is located very close to Sicily, an island that has a great reputation for wines. This close proximity alone reveals […]
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Understand the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey
For many travelers to Turkey, sampling the Turkish cuisine rates at the top of the to-experience list. After all the basic sightseeing is finished, and visitors move to some of the cultural experiences that the country has to offer, watching the whirling dervishes usually ranks high on the list. Often erroneously considered a folk dance troupe or some sort of trance inducing dance, the dervishes are more aligned with religion and philosophy than with entertainment. The ritual dancing is based on the teaching of the Persian philosopher and poet Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi who, along with his son, founded the Sufi Order. Sufis are part of the Sunni sect of Islam, and Mevlana Rumi’s teachings emphasized tolerance and patience, not revolutionaries, and their belief is that unification with God will occur through the constant movement of the universe. Okay, we […]
Read MoreThe Vatican Celebrates the Beatification of Pope John Paul II
May 1, 2011 celebrates the beatification of Pope John Paul II, the ceremony by which he will becomes a Saint. The Holy Mass for the Beatification of the Servant of God John Paul II will be held in Saint Peter’s Square at 10 a.m., with Pope Benedict XVI officiating. The casket has already been exhumed and is now lying before Saint Peter’s tomb. It will be moved to the main alter during the ceremony, and following will be reinterred in the Chapel of St. Sebastian. While only a select delegation will be allowed inside for the ceremony, hundreds of thousand of visitors of all religious backgrounds will gather in Saint Peter’s Square to watch and listen as Pope John Paul II becomes a saint. As is typical for many events, large television will show the events inside to the outside […]
Read MoreUNESCO Sites in Prague
Visiting UNESCO sites is a popular travel activity, and I always look up what sites might be in any area that I’m traveling to. Whether it’s an appreciation for history, a love of natural beauty, or both, there’s a UNESCO site sure to appeal to most travelers. While making summer travel plans, the city of Prague (capital of the Czech Republic) figured prominently on the list for awhile. So, of course, I went to check out the UNESCO sites in the country to learn which ones might be practical while visiting the city. There are 12 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list that are in the Czech Republic, and only one is in Prague. But when you consider that that one is the entire center of Prague, consisting of the Old Town, New Town, and Lesser Town, that’s a […]
Read MoreMajorca: One Island, Hundreds of Beaches
There’s a reason European beach lovers have made the island of Majorca (also spelled Mallorca) a popular holiday destination – it’s because every where you turn there’s a beach calling out to you to relax and enjoy. Even the fondest sun lovers must come off the beach sometime, and Majorca holidays offer plenty of shopping, restaurants, bars and nightlife to go along with your sun. So how about those beaches?! Any listing of beaches is sure to stir up an argument as one person’s favorite is not included and another’s most dreaded beach is. So consider this a sampler of some beaches that may be worth a try, selecting one that best meets your geographic location and beach style. Busy Beaches If you’re looking to mix and mingle with lots of people, turning your time at the beach into one […]
Read MorePlaning Summer Travel to Italy
Today is travel planning day! Summer travel looms, and for the first time in many summers we have no plans firmed up. Air fare has been outrageously expensive, and although I have been tracking it since last fall, there has been no meaningful movement on it up and down. I expected fares to be high for peak summer travel, but these price points are shocking even me! But we can’t put it off any longer, and so today is travel planning for our Portugal and Italy holidays. First up, buying airline tickets. They’re nearly as much as a mortgage payment, but it’s time to bite the bullet and lock things in. They’re not going to get any cheaper. Our first stop on our summer travels is Lisbon, Portugal. We’ll be there for a week, for a week. We’ll be looking […]
Read MorePlan a Stopover in Krakow, Poland
Adventurous travelers are continually seeking out different and unusual destinations, but for many people who feel that they still haven’t seen some of the major sights of the world, there’s a sense that those destinations need to wait. In fact, you can easily add on a stop in central or eastern Europe while en route to that traditional stop in western Europe. Not sure how to make it work? Look for airlines and itineraries that allow you a stop over – that is, instead of making a close connection to your final destination, allow you to spend a few days seeing someplace that wasn’t exactly in your plans. For example, one of the connections for my trip to Europe this summer routed me through Krakow, Poland. After noting the reasonable price, my next focus was checking the map to make […]
Read MoreVisiting Portugal: Lisbon, Sintra and the Algarve
In just a few more months, I’ll be packing myself up and heading to Europe for what has become an annual sojourn. The airfare prices are making me choke, so to offset that expense, the group looked for affordable options once on the continent. This year, in addition to Italy, we’ll spending a week or so in Portugal. Why Portugal? The economy is a little soft, meaning there are some good values on the ground, the temperature on the coast should range pleasantly in the high 70’s-low 80’s, and it’s also a place no one in our group has visited. So – we’ll be off to Portugal! With over a week in country, we’ve selected three basic areas for our explorations: Lisbon – The capital city, with the most economical airport for us to fly into, will be our first […]
Read MoreRoyal Beasts Return to Tower Of London
The Royal Wedding isn’t the only royal excitement in London the spring, although it probably overshadows most. But there’s another magical story that comes to life this spring, and that’s the story of the Royal Menagerie at the Tower of London. The Royal Menagerie was first established at the Tower of London in the early 1200s, making it one of the country’s oldest zoo. “Royal Beasts” offers visitors a chance to see these former residents through a display of modern sculpture, along with interactive and sensory displays. The displays will be housed in the north wall walk (recently restored) as well as the Brick Tower, opening for the first time. The Tower offers audio guides in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean and Chinese (Mandarin), providing English School in London students an opportunity to enjoy a […]
Read MoreSun & Sand on Mallorca
A popular Spanish holiday island in the the Mediterranean, Mallorca has a bit of a split personality. On one side are the secluded beach, challenging cycling trails, spectacular natural beauty for hiking and enjoying, challenging deep water rock climbing, and an environment that creates a haven for a variety of seabirds. On the other side, Mallorca appeals to the hip and trendy, with luxury resorts, marinas full of yachts and luxury sailing craft, top notch restaurants, and plenty of rocking nightlife and bars. So how does a visitor take advantage of the warm weather in Mallorca, and reconcile these two versions of the island into a wonderful vacation? There’s plenty to do on Mallorca, whether you’re young, hip, and ready to party, or are just looking for a relaxing beach getaway. Here’s some ideas on how to make Mallorca the […]
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