— A starting point for the major attractions in Porto, the Praça da Liberdade (Liberty Square) used to be the political and cultural center of Porto in the 18th century. Its construction began in 1718 and was known back then … Read More

— Leaving Venice early in the morning was the culmination of an incredible trip in Italy a few years ago. Contrary to the busy daytime traffic in the canals and tourists everywhere, the scene we had before us was serene … Read More

— What you actually see in the photo here is two churches. The Carmo Church was built in the 18th century in the rococo and late Baroque styles, and it depicts the Brown Scapular imposition on Mount Carmel in an impressive azulejo (Portuguese … Read More

— Florence is a magical place. Walking around its streets is a live history lesson. Within blocks from each other, a visitor can see the Duomo, the Uffizi Gallery, the Palazzo Vecchio, the Piazza della Signoria, the Palazzo Pitti, the … Read More

— The Mosteiro de São Vicente de Fora (Monastery of St. Vincent Outside the Walls) is one of the most important historical buildings in Lisbon.  When we visited it, our primary intent was to see the Bragança pantheon where the  last … Read More

— Three years ago today, we were visiting the beautiful Peruvian city of Arequipa, known as the White City because several of its buildings are made with sillar, a white volcanic stone very common in the area. Located at an … Read More

— Back in 2004, we did our first cruise to Alaska. After flying into Vancouver, we boarded Holland America’s Statendam for an unforgettable voyage via the Inside Passage. The excitement of going to Alaska and taking a train all the … Read More

— Those who know me well are aware of my relation with seafood. So, if you’re asking why a photo of a sardine store interested me, the answer is very simple: it was like magic, like walking into a candy … Read More

— A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Portugal‘s Seven Wonders, the Pena Palace is majestic in its location and striking inside and outside. On our recent trip to Portugal, the palace was high on our list of must-see … Read More

— Paraphrasing Davy Crockett, I wasn’t born in Texas but I got here as quickly as I could. I guess that applies to me. As long as I have lived in Texas (longer than in my home country!), Texas has … Read More