The charming little village of Grindelwald offers a close-up view of life in the Alps. We were invited on a tour to visit a dairy farm to experience how cheese was made. I am a city gal and have never visited a farm before. Most everyone has seen pictures of the dairy farms in the United States, but this was very different. Grindelwald Mountain Cheese is prepared the traditional way, a ritual as the farmers …
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If you’ve ever used a Kodak Retina folding camera or a Rolleiflex twin-reflex, you’ve been obsessed with photography for a long time.
Retinas were to Eastman Kodak what Cadillac was to General Motors. For 55 years, from 1934 to 1969, these German-made 35mm folding bellows cameras were at the top of the camera food chain. They had f2.8 or f3.5 50mm lenses—just like many cameras made today—and were the ultimate choice for vacationers seeking a …
Initially constructed in 1145 and later reconstructed over a span of 26 years following a fire in 1194, Chartres Cathedral stands as a pinnacle of French Gothic artistry. Situated in the Centre-Val-de-Loire region, Notre-Dame de Chartres Cathedral represents one of the most genuine and comprehensive specimens of early 13th-century religious architecture.
Chartres Cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres, is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the world. …
Basilica di San Lorenzo in Florence, Italy has long been known as the official church of the powerful Medici family. A discovery in 1975, however, shed new light on the church’s history and its connection to one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance, Michelangelo Buonarroti. A small, unassuming room tucked away in the basilica, is now thought to have been Michelangelo’s secret hideaway during his tumultuous relationship with the Medici family.
A team of …
Approximately 180 miles east of Puerto Rico lies the island of Saint Martin. This small, 50-square-mile island is divided between two nations: the French Republic in the north and the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the south. The French part, known as the Collectivity of Saint Martin, is an overseas collectivity of France, while the Dutch part, Sint Maarten, is one of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The division of …
Chiricahua National Monument spans over 12,000 acres and is home to a vast array of towering rock spires, precariously balanced boulders, and intricate hoodoos. Located approximately 120 miles southeast of Tucson, Arizona, near the town of Willcox, the monument sits at the intersection of the Chiricahua Mountains, Sulphur Springs Valley, and the expansive Sonoran Desert.
The unique geological formations that define the landscape are the result of a violent volcanic eruption that occurred around 27 …
There isn’t a single wisp of smoke curling out of the top of Mount Vesuvius as we walk up its stony brown slopes.
A few birds are twittering in the bushes, but we leave we them behind as the path rises above fertile ground. It’s silent, except for the scrunch of feet on clinker. It’s too quiet, too calm. Are we about to get taken out in an unexpected rumble of smoke, ash, flames and …
Situated in southwestern Iceland, just 49 km northeast of the capital Reykjavík, Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park is a place of immense historical, cultural, and geological significance. The park covers 24,000 hectares, with 9,270 hectares constituting a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The powerful geological forces that have shaped this remote site are still at work today.
Central to Þingvellir’s historical importance is its role as the original site of the Alþing (Althing), Iceland’s parliament, which was …
A long international flight can often feel like a jail term if you’re not properly prepared. Packing your small carry-on with lots of entertaining and relaxing gear can be a life-saver. Airlines no longer provide the amenities that travelers have come to expect over the years unless you are seated in premium class, so pamper yourself with the things that you most enjoy. Limit your carry-on bag to only those items you need for the …
Ireland has managed to keep intact a wealth of prehistoric Neolithic structures providing invaluable insights into early human history. These ancient constructions, megalithic tombs, stone circles, and early settlements, offer insight into the beliefs, social organization, and technological capabilities of the ancients. By studying the architecture, layouts, and artifacts found within these ruins, archaeologists and anthropologists have pieced together narratives about the transition from nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyles to settled agricultural communities. The sheer scale and …
Do research. Plan trip. Get on plane, train, or in an automobile. Spend hours, sometimes days, in transit. Get to XYZ amazing destination and immediately begin thinking about how to have the best Instagram posts, take the most amazing photos and use all the amenities at your hotel.
Unfortunately, the stress of getting to a destination, along with the pressure to make the most of it and document every moment, can cause a traveler to …
In the heart of Ethiopia’s mountainous region of Amhara stand eleven Coptic Christian churches carved out of solid rock 800 years ago. This UNESCO World Heritage site attracts pilgrims and visitors from around the world, eager to witness this amazing architectural achievement built by the ancient Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Lalibela is located 370 miles north of Addis Ababa in the Amhara Region, at an altitude of 8,200 feet.
The history of Lalibela dates back to …
You cannot move ten feet in this country without bumping up against some striking reminder of a long and productive past. Wherever you turn you are confronted with wondrous and interesting things – 20,000 scheduled ancient monuments, 600,000 recorded archaeological sites, 140,000 miles of public footpaths, 280,000 miles of hedgerows, 100,000 war memorials, 6,000 listed bridges, 15 National Parks, 86 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, over 4,000 sites of Special Scientific Interest, 20,000 ancient parish …
I recently returned from a trip to Anchorage, and while I was there, I was struck by the local concern for the well-being of the indigenous community and local economies. I have seen those same concerns expressed to an even greater degree by native Hawaiian travel advocates. At a time when our planet and its cultures are as accessible as they are vulnerable, the importance of traveling responsibly has to be taken seriously.
“Responsible travel” …