Burlington Arcade beadles

7 rather odd hidden sights in London

London is a fascinating city filled with history. From its official naming in the Roman era to its bustling streets today, the city has always been important to England.. We've already written about free things to do in London, and are now…
slicing pizza in Old Forge, Pa
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Review of Old Forge pizza: Is it the pizza capital of the world?

When we think of places for the best pizza in the world our thoughts normally drift to New York or Italy. But the town of Old Forge, Pennsylvania claims that it is the “Pizza Capital of the World.” Those are pretty big words for such a small…
Little Rocky statue at DMZ in North Korea

Run DMZ: Visiting the DMZ on the North Korean side

Update June, 2017: Since our visit to North Korea in 2011, the recent death of American tourist Otto Warmbier, who was detained while visiting the country, is a tragic situation that is inexcusable. Accordingly, despite our feelings that tourism…

A rare bit of ancient history in North Korea

Update June, 2017: Since our visit to North Korea in 2011, the recent death of American tourist Otto Warmbier, who was detained while visiting the country, is a tragic situation that is inexcusable. Accordingly, despite our feelings that…
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Staying at the Pineda Aparthotel in Bibione, Italy

The Venetian resort town of Bibione is a beautiful destination for a beach getaway. The gold sand beach hugs the crystal clear waters of the upper Adriatic Sea, providing a lush backdrop for a sun and surf vacation. The beach has been awarded…
Lake Bled Slovenia

Visiting Slovenia: A Fairy Tale Come to Life

We arrived by train after dark, but it was our first time visiting Slovenia so despite the late hour we were eager to begin exploring the capital of Ljubljana. Under the luminescent glow of a harvest moon it was only a five minute stroll to…
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Is California City a ghost town?

As we've been driving around the country seeking ghost towns we came across one that was unusual; the California City ghost town has a population of over 14,000 people so why would it be considered a ghost town? A bit of background first.…
Standing on a corner Park Winslow Arizona

Standing on a Corner Park in Winslow Arizona

The death of Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey got us thinking about one of the group's signature songs Take it Easy, which that was written by Frey along with Jackson Browne. Frey sang the lead vocals, one of which put a dusty old town along Route…
Transfagarasan Highway
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A twisted drive on the Transfagarasan Highway

Brakes? Check. Map? Check. No fear? Check.  We were about to drive on the  Transfăgărășan Highway, made legendary by the BBC program Top Gear as one of the world’s great road trips. The winding, twisting road carries intrepid drivers…
Athenaeum Bucharest Romania
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A surprising week in Bucharest

We recently enjoyed a week in Bucharest, a city that pleasantly surprised us. While the Romanian capital is not among the first cities people think of when visiting Europe, we found it quite charming and extremely affordable. Initially we looked…
American Sign Museum in Cincinnati

Visiting the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati

Classic American road trips are chock full of dusty forgotten towns with vintage neon signs advertising motels and roadside diners, still trying to lure passing motorists. Many of those signs are disappearing; victims of age, weather and neglect.…

Betsy Ross and the First American Flag: Did She or Didn’t She?

Here's an excerpt from Philadelphia Liberty Trail, our historical travel guide: According to folklore, early in the summer of 1776 George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross went to the Arch Street upholstery shop of a young widow named…
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The California town at earthquake Ground Zero

The San Andreas Fault at Parkfield California The town of Parkfield, California sits astride the San Andreas Fault and proudly bills itself as "The Earthquake Capital of the World." On the water tower outside the Parkfield Cafe they even declare…
TheROOM Prague is a live-action escape game for all ages

Escaping Prague: Playing “TheRoom Prague”

I love games and puzzles of all kinds. So when we had the opportunity to play a live-action escape game during a recent visit Prague we jumped at the chance. Could we find our way out of TheRoom? The premise of TheRoom Prague is simple: you…
Carousel Bookstore Bucharest

Guide to non smoking restaurants in Bucharest

(Note: As of March 16, 2016 a new law went into effect in Romania banning smoking in public places. We visited the country later in the year and found almost 100% compliance with the ban. Dining (indoors) in Romania is now a smokefree experience.) We…

Bravo! Visiting the Luciano Pavarotti home in Italy

I must confess that I am not an opera fan but I found visiting the Luciano Pavarotti Home in Italy to be fascinating; sort of like Graceland for opera buffs. Recently opened to the public, the museum is set in a bucolic setting on a one-lane…

Communist Statues at Memento Park in Budapest

From the end of World War II through 1989, when freedom spread throughout the Iron Curtain countries, the people of Hungary were under the thumb of a communist dictatorship. One way for the totalitarian regime to keep control was through propaganda…
Nguyen Hue Flower Street-Year of the Dragon
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The Tet Flower Festival in Ho Chi Minh City

Tet, the Lunar New Year in Vietnam, is the most important holiday of the year. For me it is also the prettiest. There are displays of blossoms throughout the city, along with fireworks displays on New Year's Eve. In Ho Chi Minh City the crowning…