Is there anything kids love more than playing with toys? Most, if not all, kids enjoy playing with a range of different toys. So leave it to me to introduce you to some of the best toy museums in the world. With toys such as Legos, dolls, Barbie and Ke…
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An Italian Violin Maker: By Hand in Forli Italy
Luigi Lombardi’s Garden to his Violin Shop in Forli, Italy La Bottega del Legno: The Wood Shop in Forli, Italy La Bottega del Legno – Luigi Lombardi’s Violin Shop in Dovadola, Italy The Violin The year was 1943 and it was blistering cold. The condi…
Read MoreThe Lost Art of Print Blocking in Carpegna, Italy: Regenerated
This post won the award by Italy Magazine as the best blog post on an art and culture blog for 2014! Carpegna, Italy Rumbling down the road, past the emerald green pastures, dirt, and signs in Italian, I knew I was up for this adventure. The roads b…
Read MoreGuide to Celebrating Carnival in Schramberg, Germany
The anticipation was thick in the air when we arrived mid-morning for our very first peek deep into Germany’s Black Forest where Carnival comes alive! Not the Carnival you may be thinking of with drunkenness and bead-throwing like in New Orleans, but a…
Read MoreCuckoo Clock Sound: From the Black Forest, Germany
A visit to the Black Forest in Germany may bring you sounds you may remember from your childhood: “Cuckoo, Cuckoo, Cuckoo!” that Cuckoo Clock Sound. Remember from an episode of the Carol Burnett show or even “In the Pink of the Night” by the Pink Panth…
Read More8 Day Trips from San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico was named the “best city in the world” by the world-famous Condé Nast Travellers Magazine (2020) and Travel + Leisure (2017). This Mexican city sits in the eastern part of Guanajuato and is a part of the Bajio region. This…
Read MoreThe Top 15 Holidays in Thailand
Right at the center of the Indochinese Peninsula is the beautiful country of Thailand. Did you know that in the Thai language, the word “Thailand” means “Land of the Free”? This mirrors Thailand’s freedom from all European nations. This is unlike some …
Read MoreMineral de Pozos in Old Mexico!
Founded in the 16th century, the small magical town of Mineral de Pozos, Guanajuato is unique and charming. It is the perfect place to visit when on vacation near San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. This interesting town of Mineral de Pozos, or just Pozos…
Read MoreThings To Buy At A Grocery Store in Vietnam!
My introduction to Vietnamese grocery markets was not a journey of taste. Instead, the store that was closest to one of my holiday apartments was a local Vietnam Circle K market, sort of like a 7-11 in the United States. Being new to the community, whe…
Read MoreIs Laos Open for Travel?
Is Laos open to visitors and how has the coronavirus pandemic affected travel? Discover the entry restrictions for Laos and whether the borders are open. Is Laos Open for Travel? Brimming with old-world charm, Laos is the perfect destination for travel…
Read MoreInside the Old Tea House
Daily Photo – Inside the Old Tea House While in Chengdu, China, we visited this really old tea house. I thought it was pretty incredible watching these guys make tea in the old way like they have for thousands of years. These places are become and rarer… the only people inside that seemed to be […]
Read MoreWhat are the 7 Reasons why I moved to New Zealand?
Before I get into the panoply of reasons, I can first tell you this is one of my favorite new photos I took a few weeks ago on a road trip through the North Island. Just looking at this photo, I remember the calmness and serenity in the natural Fibonacci rolling of the hills. It’s […]
Read MoreItaly Revealed: Camogli
Italy Revealed Camogli: Travel +Leisure Feature I was surprised to see Travel + Leisure with my beloved Camogli, Italy photo featured directly on the front cover. Camogli is like a slice of the Riviera from decades ago before the designer stores came t…
Read MoreWhy I fell in Love with San Miguel de Allende
There is this little town in the central highlands of Mexico that isn’t easy to get to, but once you find your way here, you may never want to leave. That is what happened to me 10 years ago, and today I long to go back to a simpler time and place. Fou…
Read MoreSan Miguel de Allende, Mexico – The Ultimate Guide
In the sleepy hills of Mexico lies one of the most gorgeous towns I have ever seen, San Miguel de Allende. This picturesque town is sure to give you all the “wow moments” of a big city, but with the pleasure of a small-town atmosphere. Don’t expect to …
Read MoreTravel to the Middle of the World – Quito
Have you ever heard the words “Mitad del Mundo” or “middle of the world”? I hadn’t either until I had a chance to visit the “Mitad del Mundo” right outside of Quito, Ecuador. I had no idea there was an exact location where you could stand at the earth’…
Read MoreNew Orleans: Jazz, Weddings, and Funerals
New Orleans Jazz Jazz…that sound that put New Orleans on the map. That subgenre of the blues that developed in and around the city of New Orleans with its distinctive sound. Not really a big band swing sound, but more a heavy piano and saxophone sou…
Read MoreDiapontia Islands: A Hidden Paradise on Earth
I am almost certain you have heard of Santorini and Mykonos – those famous Greek isles that everyone loves. I’ve written about both of them quite extensively and absolutely love these charming Greek islands. But these islands can sometimes feel like “a…
Read MoreListening to Silence Jordan by Night
Desert Night Camps – Feynan Ecolodge The Feynan Ecolodge is not just another place to stay while in Jordan. It is actually an experience. Somehow placed in the middle of nowhere in Jordan, the Feynan Ecolodge offers you a stay you won’t forget. Here is…
Read MoreOnly the BEST Japanese Snacks in the World!
Due to the quirkiness and unusual flavors of Japanese snacks, it is no wonder they have become a global phenomenon. The Japanese have been able to incorporate simple yet flavorful ingredients to create scrumptious snacks such as strawberry pocky, ice c…
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