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Showing posts from December, 2012

Lodging in the Garden of Eden, Mahé, Seychelles

10 Travel Highlights from 2012

Photo Thursday: Lake Wabana in Winter

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Memorable Travel Moments: Christmas in Minneapolis, Minnesota 1970

Over Thanksgiving 1970, my mother took me and my brothers (three kids all under the age of 10) to the Twin Cities on a Christmas outing. With increasingly serious talk about the end of passenger rail service to our small town, my mother had decided we should ride on a train before they disappeared forever; Christmas was simply a reason to make that trip. You are being transferred to the updated version of this post at ExplorationVacation.net

Memorable Travel Moments: The Sun Appears at Machu Picchu (2005)

We arrived at Machu Picchu under cloudy skies threatening rain and our tour proceeds through fog and intermittent showers. It is evocative and, perhaps, a good introduction to the site, as it restricts our view to digestible portions. You are being transferred to the updated version of this post at ExplorationVacation.net

The Dream List: Morocco

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Photo Thursday: My First Visit to Mount Stewart Gardens, Northern Ireland

In 2004 I visited Ireland for the first time, spending my time in the northern half of the country. Less familiar to most travelers than the south, northern Ireland (both the Republic and Northern Ireland itself) is a beautiful, wild land. But it also has manicured areas tucked into its wild corners. One of the most beautiful of those manicured areas is Mount Stewart Garden, a gorgeous estate just outside Belfast. You are being transferred to the updated version of this post at ExplorationVacation.net

Memorable Travel Moments: Touring the North of Ireland (2004)

As a birthday present to ourselves, my college roommate and I traveled around the northern half of Ireland in the early spring, spending our time in Northern Ireland (Ulster) and the counties of Dublin, Louth, Meath, Cavan, and Donegal in the Republic. We started out with a general itinerary, but almost no hotel reservations, allowing us a lot of freedom. It was a wonderful trip, filled with great memories. Here is a taste. You are being transferred to the updated version of this post at ExplorationVacation.net

Ireland

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Travel Dream List: Cartagena, Colombia

In my mind, Cartagena has always epitomized Caribbean tropical glamor and adventure – a city that harkens back to the Miami or Havana of the 1950s. While Cartagena escaped the violence of Colombia’s drug culture, it has long been avoided by Americans due to the danger in the rest of the country. With Colombia becoming increasingly safe, it’s time to start planning a visit! You are being transferred to the updated version of this post at https://explorationvacation.net/

Photo Thursday: Dubrovnik Memories

Dubrovnik, the Pearl of the Adriatic, is a gorgeous walled city. The walls are wide and well maintained, providing a wonderful walkway for looking into the city and out to the ocean beyond. Within those walls, I remember glistening white "streets" (cars are not allowed within the the walled city) and warm white walls, narrow alleys -- You are being transferred to the updated version of this post at https://explorationvacation.net/

Memorable Moments: Walking the City Wall in Kotor, Montenegro, 2004

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The Travel Dream List: Zanzibar

Zanzibar. The very name conjures images of warm seas, exotic cultures, and fragrant spices. Although I’m not sure I really knew where it was actually located for many years, I’ve always known that Zanzibar was a place I wanted to visit. You are being transferred to the updated version of this post at https://explorationvacation.net/

Looking Ahead: Dream Trips