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Two Days in Munich: The Capital of Bavaria
Munich is a large city with a small-town feel. Boasting compact walkable streets and easy access to nature, it is at once modest in its aesthetics and outsized in its historical and cultural influence. A land of lederhosen, dirndls, and flowing steins of beer, it lies at the heart of German culture and tradition. Until 1871, Munich was the capital of an independent Bavaria. The city’s imperial palaces and Neoclassical buildings act as a reminder of Munich’s historical and cultural relevance. Meanwhile, just down the road in the suburb of…
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The Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland
According to legend, the hexagonal columns along Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast were built by Irish giant, Fionn mac Cumhaill. As the story goes, Fionn created a causeway across the North Channel in order to challenge Scottish giant, Benandonner, to battle. Yet, Fionn soon realized that he had underestimated his enemy. In an ingenious plot twist, he conned his Scottish foe by disguising himself as a baby. The plan worked flawlessly. Upon crossing the causeway to Northern Ireland and seeing the large baby, the Scottish giant panicked. If the child is…
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A Donegal Road Trip along the Wild Atlantic Way
County Donegal is Ireland’s wild child. Home to some of the country’s most sublime scenery, the northwest corner of the country boasts gold-sand beaches, towering cliffs and rugged hillsides. Shrouded in mist and battered by the elements, its evocative landscapes are like the backdrop of a fantasy novel. The Donegal road trip along the Wild Atlantic Way wraps around the topsy-turvy coastline of this Gaelic-speaking region. From abandoned castles, to quaint seaside villages, to majestic mist-covered landscapes, the winding coastal route showcases many of the top things to do in…
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A Perfect Toledo Day Trip from Madrid
Toledo is one of Spain’s most magnificent and storied cities. Positioned on a hill overlooking the Tagus River, the attraction-packed gem is a popular day trip from Madrid and a highlight of travel to Central Spain. Much of Toledo’s beauty lies in its pretty church-speckled streets, its decorated synagogue walls and its tucked-away mosques. With its monument-laden core, Toledo is a testament to the harmony which once existed between the world’s three monotheistic faiths. As a result, mosques, cathedrals and synagogues cram into the city’s dense and compact core. Walking…
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Visiting the Montserrat Monastery in Spain
Montserrat Mountain lies at the heart of Catalan identity. Sculpted over millennia by wind and frost, the mountain is instantly recognizable. Its knobs and rock formations protrude skyward, like gnarled fingers that extend from weathered hands. Amidst its jumble of rocky turrets and spires, Montserrat conceals some of Spain’s most revered icons, paintings, and scenic vistas. MONTSERRAT IN SPAIN: AN OVERVIEW Montserrat lies 50km northeast of Barcelona and 150km south of Andorra, in the Spanish breakaway region of Catalonia. Its name, ‘serrated mountain’ in Catalan, describes the rock spires…
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Day Trip to France and Andorra from Barcelona
Renowned for its plethora of banks and high end shopping malls, the minuscule nation of Andorra seems an unlikely destination for lovers of nature and the outdoors. The country is a tax haven and a duty-free shopping mecca. In summer months, it lures hoards of day trippers from France and Spain with its favorable prices and luxurious escapes. But beyond its bustling capital, Andorra la Vella, the country’s idyllic landscapes reveal an astounding wealth of natural splendor. Situated at the heart of the Pyrenees Mountains and sandwiched between Spain and…
