On our first morning in Italy, waking up to those colorful buildings teetering cliffside literally took our breath away. Cinque Terre definitely lives up to its postcard-worthy image. Vernazza, our home base, is one of five…
Europe
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Welcome to Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. That’s immediately what came to mind as our train approached Monte Carlo. We could practically hear Robin Leach describing the enormous yachts in the Port Hercule. Only a…
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The French Riveria was calling. And so we traded in the gray clouds of Provence for the sunny skies of the Côte d’Azur. Heading two hours east by bus, we made our way from Aix-en-Provence to…
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Known as the City of a Thousand Fountains, Aix is a smaller, more manageable version of Paris. We were excited to explore this lively cosmopolitan city in the heart of Provence. But after visiting a few…
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Surprisingly, the humble town of Avignon once served as the powerful center of Christianity. Situated along the Rhône River, Avignon is an hour north of Arles, another popular stop in Provence. The town’s important religious history…
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As the “soul of Provence,” Arles offers a rich artistic, culinary and historic experience. In the late 1800s, Vincent Van Gogh lived here, creating some of his greatest masterpieces. It’s easy to see how the artist…
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The French equivalent of Rome, Nîmes is home to impressive ancient sites rivaling those in neighboring Italy. On our quick afternoon stop-over en route to Nice, we did a whirlwind tour of Nîmes. We were surprised…
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Just 90 minutes away by bus, Toledo is a fascinating day trip from Madrid. It’s hard to think of Toledo without thinking of the famous exclamation, Holy Toledo! The most plausible story of its origin dates…
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Madrid, the capital and largest city of Spain, dazzles with its royal history, grand opulence and non-stop activity. Everything in Madrid seems larger than life. The extravagant Royal Palace with more rooms than any other European…
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Granada, the capital of Moorish Andalusia, is breathtaking from every vantage point. From The Alhambra in particular, Granada feels entirely different from the rest of Spain. Exotic, romantic and wild. The town’s main site is a…