Traveling taught me that, in order to understand a country’s culture, I need to do more than visiting its capital, seeing its main touristic attractions, and exploring its museums. Learning about its past, getting in touch with locals, engaging in their favorite activities, and indulging in their food are some of the things that can take me closer to the spirit of a place. But different places should be explored in different manners. And I came to the conclusion that tasting my way around Lisbon is the proper way to get an infallible grasp on the city and its inhabitants. If I had one word to describe Lisbon from…
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History and Wine with a View: Welcome to Lisbon!
There are historical cities, modern cities, and there are places like Lisbon, where the past, the present and the future blend perfectly into a city that just takes your breath away. My love affair with Lisbon began with an overwhelming desire of moving to this piece of heaven and… it wasn’t only the Portuguese wine speaking. I don’t live in Lisbon. Not yet. However, whenever I have the chance, I return to my Portuguese love and let its powerful history, charming people, mouthwatering food, interesting street art and, of course, incredible wine touch my heart again. Neither I or my “partner in crime” are wine experts. However, we are…
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Canary Island of Tenerife: An Epic Outdoor Adventure on the Island of Eternal Spring
When asked about what they want to do when they grow up, children usually see themselves as doctors, firemen, lawyers, nurses or presidents. I used to say I want to live on my own island. Though I carried this thought my whole life, when I began traveling I focused mostly on wandering around the streets of the European cities, losing myself inside their museums and art galleries, and getting in touch with their bustling culture. Until two years ago, when I decided to move to Tenerife, a charming Spanish island located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, closer to Africa than to Spain. Warm Breeze, Salty Air and…
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Climbing the Nigardsbreen Glacier in Northern Norway
As part of the “Chasing the Vikings” series, I will be leaving Oslo to head north into what could be called “Chasing the Glaciers”. Although it is not hard to spot the many glaciers in Norway, there are well over a thousand of them and “chasing them” is hardly the right term since they move at a glacial pace (see what I did there!). However, these glaciers are melting away at an alarming rate. So, chase you must if you want to see them. The glacier that I will be on a mission to climb is called the Nigardsbreen. This glacier, which is an arm of the much larger Jostedalsbreen Glacier, will be…
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Exploring the Norwegian Coast in Northern Norway
NP explorers will be headed to the northwestern coast of Norway including Trømso, a town over 200 miles north of the Article Circle which has been inhabited since the end of the Ice Age. Archaeological artifacts that have been found here are over 10,000 years old!
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Capturing Medieval History: My Five Day Romanian Adventure
The premier reason for my Romanian travel was to trace the 15th century medieval history of the Wallachia, Transylvania, and Banat regions of Romania. This would especially include the legend of Count Dracula and the history of Vlad Tepes III as I would set out to separate historical facts from fiction to seek information on the man, the myth and the legend of Dracula, bwahahaha! With that said, however, there is so much more to Romania than just Dracula. I may have made Vlad the main theme of my travel here, but a visit to Romania transcends you to another place in time. There are many towns to explore with…
