Irish history is fascinating, mystical, and at times tragic. I suppose you could say this about any country with deep historical roots, but there’s something about Ireland that renders its past particularly epic and mythological. We’ve learned all about more modern Irish history during our time in Dublin – the 1916 Easter riots and Irish […]
Gems of North Dublin: Glasnevin, the Botanic Gardens, and the Gravedigger’s Pub
Dublin is a fairly large and spread-out city, so it’s hard to explore the whole of it even over the course of a month. On top of that, the downtown area is packed with places to eat, drink, and visit, so you’ll find your schedule full daily just trying to get a grip on the […]
Some of the Many Ways to Enjoy a Guinness in Dublin
When I was 13, my mom and I traveled to Ireland along with my best friend and her mother. One of the first things my mom did after we found a suitable pub was to order a pint of Guinness. She’d been talking about it for weeks. Ever since her first sip, I’ve always associated […]
An Afternoon at the Teeling Whiskey Distillery
I am not a whiskey connoisseur. But I do enjoy a good Old Fashioned, and I have fond memories of sipping Jameson after hours when I worked at a bar in college. Since we are in Ireland, and Irish whiskey is definitely a thing, Joe and I have decided to sample some of the local […]
Rome Retrospective (Part 2): Eating and Drinking Our Way Through the City
After writing this second Rome synopsis post, I realized just how much we saw and did (and ate)! We tried our best to scout out as many neighborhoods and treasures as possible, and we certainly discovered some little gems along the way. I’ve included an asterisk (*) next to my absolute favorite establishments in case […]
Rome Retrospective (Part 1): Our Favorite Things to Do and See
There’s an abundance of monuments, museums, gardens, and adorable neighborhoods to visit in Rome. It’s pretty overwhelming, actually, even if you have over a month in the city. So you have to pick and choose. We saw the most famous sites, but also traveled off the beaten path every now and then. Here are my […]
How to do Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Square – and See the Pope the Next Day
One of the main reasons Joe and I booked Rome for December was to attend Christmas Eve mass at St. Peter’s Square. Joe was raised Catholic, and although he no longer practices, we knew it would still be a special experience. But when I started researching how to go about it, there wasn’t a lot […]
Enjoying Low Season on the Bay of Naples
The most popular times to visit Italy are summer and early fall. The weather is lovely, all the restaurants and sites are open, and the fresh produce is at its prime. You can hop from beach to ancient city to airy terrace all in a day’s work. But we’re discovering the benefits – and, indeed, […]
A Nearly Perfect Saturday in Rome
When you think about a perfect day, what comes to mind? Perhaps it involves a road trip or a visit to a local museum. Maybe you like to hop from restaurant to pub and back again. And I bet some of you would prefer to stay in your pjs, curl up on your couch, and […]
Rediscovering the Eternal City One Day at a Time
I love Rome. I always have, and always will. The history, the archaeology, the food, the culture…it’s all right there, at your fingertips, whenever you want it. Joe discovered this, and reveled in it, right away. It warmed the little cockles of my heart. So we’ve been (re)exploring this vibrant place together. It’s an ongoing process, […]
Ah, Florence! Land of Tiny Wine Bars and Gigantic Churches
I have visited Italy several times, but I’ve never been north of Rome. Many of the country’s most famous cities and sights lie north of the capital. So Joe and I planned a long Thanksgiving weekend trip that started in the beautiful metropolis of Florence. While there, we visited many churches, drank lots of wine, […]
How to Enjoy 48 Jam-Packed Hours in Venice
Sometimes I wish this whole year was one big vacation. We would be able to see and experience everything we wanted, and could spend days or weeks in particularly fascinating places. Alas, we’re not on perpetual holiday. But when we do get a few days off, we try to pack in as much fun and […]
Sofia Retrospective: Some Favorites and Some Funny Things
Our time in Sofia flew by, as I expected it would. After all, we were only there for 16 days. For “normal” travelers, that might seem like an eternity – but for us, it was just enough time to explore a bit of the city and discover a number of strange and funny features that […]
Sofia, Bulgaria: City of Many Churches
Neither Joe nor I knew quite what to expect when we got to Bulgaria. We’d done some research on Sofia, our home for about two weeks, but much of the country, its language, culture, and sights remained unfamiliar to us. We quickly learned that Sofia still resembles a Soviet bloc city, that about 1/3 – […]
Berlin Retrospective: 550 Square Miles and Too Much to See
Berlin is a truly huge city. And I’m not really talking about population – although 3.47 million is nothing to scoff at. I’m talking about its actual size. It covers 550 square miles. To put that in perspective, realize that all of New York City – all five boroughs, with a population well over 8 […]
A Magical and Surprising Night at ernst Berlin
Sometimes you need to indulge in a special meal. Let your senses run free and dive into some imaginative chef’s whimsical world. Joe and I have made it a point to discover at least one spectacular dining experience per country. Something a bit (or a lot) over the top but completely worth it. And we […]
An Enriching and Worthwhile Walking Tour of Berlin
A friend from Austin recommended that we take one of Berlin’s many walking tours. Generally, Joe and I enjoy exploring on our own – and do so frequently. But since his parents were going to be in town, we thought we’d take advantage of a little guided wandering. It was one of the best decisions […]
A Beautiful, Art-filled Day in East Berlin
When you live in a city, it’s easy to get stuck in your neighborhood. Especially if it’s a really lively, interesting, great neighborhood like ours here in Berlin. Mitte is full of adorable, cozy restaurants, inviting bars, tempting boutique shops, and intriguing courtyards. Why would we ever leave? Because Berlin is full of other such […]
What to Eat, Drink, and Do in Magical Prague
Our weekend getaway to Prague was certainly a whirlwind of activity and adventure. If you didn’t read about the sometimes hilarious, sometimes painful trials and tribulations we endured, check out that story here. But now for the good stuff, the highlights, the other bits that helped make this a weekend we’ll not soon forget.
A Comedy of Errors: 72 Hours of Adventure in Prague
Sometimes trips don’t go as planned. Trains get canceled and delayed, weather fails to cooperate, and accidents necessitate surprise trips to the emergency room. Despite these extra little adventures, you can still enjoy a fun-filled, action-packed escape just about anywhere. Last weekend, we tested this theory on our getaway to Prague.
