Category: Europe

 

I never tire of visiting the many countries that make up Europe.  I share all my stories, photos and travel experiences from my many travels to this continent.

My Memories of the Eiffel Tower – Is the Eiffel Tower Worth Visiting?

Is the Eiffel Tower worth visiting? After visiting this famous icon numerous times over the past 20+ years, I would definitely still say yes!

For about 4000 years or so, the tallest man made structure was the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, with an original height of 481 feet. A few European cathedrals eventually topped out a bit higher than the pyramid, but they also didn’t reach heights much above 500 feet. Even the Washington Monument built in 1884 was only 555 feet high and only held the tallest structure title for 5 years.

Then, in 1889, Gustave Eiffel built his tower as the entrance for the Paris World’s Fair, and in one fell swoop, almost doubled the height of the tallest building in the world with his tower topping out at 986 feet. The Eiffel Tower has since become one of the most recognizable buildings in the world and the defining icon for the City of Lights. For me, the Eiffel Tower is also  entwined with many memorable visits to Paris over the past 20+ years. Continue reading “My Memories of the Eiffel Tower – Is the Eiffel Tower Worth Visiting?”

Famous Churches in Paris – Gothic at its Best

The French invented Gothic architecture and Paris is one of the easiest places to experience it. Within a twenty minute walk of the Cathedral of Notre Dame are a number of other historic and famous churches in Paris that should also not be missed.

There are many beautiful and famous churches in Paris, France, but the grand dame Gothic Paris church is without a doubt the Cathedral of Notre Dame. And while visitors flock to see it, within a twenty minute walk are a number of  other lovely historic churches that also should not be missed. Read on to discover some of the other churches of Paris at their Gothic best. Continue reading “Famous Churches in Paris – Gothic at its Best”

How I Spent a Wonderful 3 Days in Thessaloniki, Greece

3 days in Thessaloniki was a good amount of time to discover the historic and cultural sights in Greece’s second largest city. Read all about my Thessaloniki itinerary to help you plan a visit to this inspiring destination.

Three days in Thessaloniki was all the time I had to discover all the diverse offerings in Greece’s second largest city. I would have liked more time, but that was what my schedule allowed, so I made the most of my time in this cosmopolitan metropolis and managed to see all the highlights.

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My Halkidiki Road Trip Itinerary Lets You Discover This Wonderful Greek Jewel

Use this Greece Halkidiki road trip itinerary to help you discover the best things to see in the Sithonia, Kassandra and Mt. Athos peninsulas.

I was excited to experience the other side of Greece, the Greece beyond Athens and the Cycladic islands in the Aegean.

After a lovely Greek Island cruise followed by a few days in Athens, I was ready to explore Greece off the beaten path. I had read that Halkidiki had its share of Greek historic sights as well as an unlimited variety of beautiful beaches – my perfect combination for an ideal getaway.

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My Perfect Two Day Halkidiki Resort Experience in Greece

My stay at the Blue Bay Hotel was the luxury Halkidiki resort experience I was looking for to relax and rejuvenate during my extended Greece road trip.

When I travel, I have the tendency to just go, go, go because I want to experience as much as I can each day. But I can only do that non stop for about two weeks and then I need a few days vacation from my vacation to recharge my batteries.

Midway through my monthlong trip in Greece this past summer, I had two very pleasant days at the Blue Bay Hotel on the Kassandra peninsula in the Halkidiki region of northern Greece.

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Beyond the Ruins at the Archeological Site of Philippi, Greece

The UNESCO listed Archeological site of Philippi preserves and exhibits the remains of three diverse periods of Greek history that span 1600 years – Hellenistic, Roman and Christian.

All parents hope that their children will be more successful than they are. But in Philip II of Macedonia’s case, his achievements are always overshadowed by one of Europe’s most notable historical figures, Alexander the Great. During my visit to Greece, it seemed that every discussion about the Macedonian king always started with ” Philip, the father of Alexander the Great, …..”

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Discovering the Best Beaches in Sithonia, Greece, With a Grain of History on the Side

Finding the best beaches in Sithonia, Halkidiki in Greece was a challenge since there were so many to choose from. But they all had one thing in common: warm sand and crystal clear waters. And the region also had a lot of historic sights to explore.

With 100 unique beaches, you could spend three months on the Sithonia peninsula in Greece and enjoy a different beach each day. I had only a short time to discover its many sandy pleasures and I made the most of it as I explored the best beaches in Sithonia.

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PhotoPOSTcard: I Am Dreaming of a White Sand Beach

It is usually Greece’s islands that are associated with sunny beaches. But in the north, the peninsula of Halkidiki is also known for its many choices of beautiful white sand beaches. There are so many to choose from that you could spend many months exploring a different beach each day. What I really liked is that so many of the beaches had beach bars where you could rent a lounge chair for the day for a few euros, and food and drink options were on hand as well.  Now that is a relaxing beach vacation indeed.

Thanks for visiting.

Rose

How to Visit Mt. Athos, Greece – Even If You Are Female

A visit to Mt. Athos on a tour boat gave me a small glimpse into this unique Greek UNESCO World Heritage site which is only open to male visitors.

2022 NATJA awardThis story was recognized by the North American Travel Journalists Association with a Silver award in the Historical Travel category in the 2022 annual media travel awards competition .

Mt. Athos is one of Greece’s most unique UNESCO World Heritage sites, and for a country that has thousands of years of historic places on display, that is saying a lot.

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“Greek Key” Quilt Pattern – Original Quilt Pattern Download Available on Etsy

This Greek key quilt pattern is an easy and beginning quilter friendly design inspired my trip to the Greek islands. The PDF pattern is available on my Quiltripping Etsy shop.

Quilt Inspirations – For my recent trip to Greece, I chose a simple, classic Greek key design to make this easy, modern-looking quilt in shades of white and Aegean blue.

Continue reading ““Greek Key” Quilt Pattern – Original Quilt Pattern Download Available on Etsy”