Croatia - 1991-1995Croatia declared independence on the same day as Slovenia (25 June 1991). But while Slovenia’s withdrawal from the Yugoslav Federation was comparatively bloodless, Croatia’s was not to be. The sizeable ethnic Serb minority in Croatia openly rejected the authority of the newly proclaimed Croatian state citing the right to remain within Yugoslavia. With the help of the JNA…
“You may have the world if I may have Italy”— GIUSEPPE VERDI (1813-1901) - ITALIAN OPERA COMPOSER“The name of Italy has magic in its very syllables.”— MARY SHELLEY (1797-1851) - ENGLISH NOVELIST“Italy offers one the most priceless of one’s possessions - One’s own soul”— BARBARA GRIZZUTI HARRISON (1934-2002) - AMERICAN JOURNALIST AND MEMOIRIST Tuscany trip was originally planned for April…
Rich HistoryChristopher Columbus is credited with "discovering" the Virgin Islands in 1493, but, in fact, they had already been inhabited for 3,000 years. It is believed that the original settlers were the nomadic Ciboney Indians, who migrated from the mainland of South America and lived off the islands' fish and vegetation. Distinct Owners of the IslandsHolland, France, England, Spain, Denmark and…
Cartagena was founded on June 1, 1533 by Spaniard Pedro de Heredia. He and the other members of his founding party named their newly founded city Cartagena de Poniente (meaning Cartagena in the West). There is some debate about why they chose that name. Some historians from the colonial period claimed that much of Heredia’s crew was from the city…
The city of Medellín as we know it today has undergone many changes since it was founded in 1616, by Spanish Conquistador Francisco de Herrera Campuzano. The city’s initial name was “San Lorenzo de Aburrá”, and was located in what is currently the Poblado comuna. In 1675 the name was changed to “Villa de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de…
Founded in 1608 by the French explorer Samuel de Champlain, Québec City is unlike any other city in North America with its dramatic cliff-top location overlooking the St. Lawrence River, its fortification walls, narrow winding streets and wealth of historic buildings spanning four centuries. Besieged five times in its history, Québec City was finally conquered by the British in 1759.…
Ireland, also known as the Emerald Isle, is a picturesque island. Renowned for its lush green landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture, appreciation for music, both old and new.The Irish people are known for their friendliness and love of craic (good times), making it a welcoming and memorable destination for travelers from around the world. We arrive into Dublin airport,…
The city if filled with cobble stone roads, and lots of bright flowers everywhere. People seemed very content, and just seem to enjoy being there. Lots of American Retirees who discovered this little gem years before and decided to retire in SMA. Flying into BJX Airport, we arranged for a private transfer, Vincente and his friend, we head out for…
Per Local histories.org "Dublin was founded by the Vikings. They founded a new town on the south bank of the Liffey in 841. It was called Dubh Linn, which means black pool. The new town of Dublin was fortified with a ditch and an earth rampart with a wooden palisade on top."Per wiki "The City of Dublin can trace its origin back more…
The Isle of Man is unique in many ways. Situated in the heart of the Irish Sea between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, it is home to the oldest continuously running parliament in the world, established by the Vikings more than 1,000 years ago. Island mottoThe Three Legs of Mann motto has been associated with the symbol since about 1300 A.D.…
Per Britannica "Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, lying in the northeastern quadrant of the island of Ireland, on the western continental periphery often characterized as Atlantic Europe. Northern Ireland is sometimes referred to as Ulster, although it includes only six of the nine counties which made up that historic Irish province.In proximity to Scotland and to sea channels leading to England and Wales,…
Per wiki “Founded by Gauls in the 1st century BC, the ancient town on the site of Saint-Malo was known as the Roman Reginca or Aletum. By the late 4th century AD, the Saint-Servan district was the site of a major Saxon Shore promontory fort that protected the Rance estuary from seaborne raiders from beyond the frontiers.The walled city had…
Per ot-montsaintmichel.com "The granite rock of Mont Saint-Michel was originally calledMont Tombe. In the year 708, the Archangel Michael appears in dreams toSaint-Aubert, bishop of Avranches, and asks him to build a sanctuary in hisname. In 966, a community of Benedictines settle and build the firstchurch. At the same time, a village begins to develop to welcome the firstpilgrims; the…
Per Google “Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands, between England and France. A self-governing dependency of the United Kingdom, with a mix of British and French cultures, it’s known for its beaches, cliff side walking trails, inland valleys and historic castles. The Jersey War Tunnels complex, in a former hospital excavated by slave labor, documents the island’s 5-year German occupation…
Per ticket office“The History Of The PalaceThe Palace of Versailles is one of the most extraordinary achievements of 17th century European architecture. Initially constructed as a hunting lodge for King Louis XIII, the royal family's love for the estate saw the movement of the royal court from Paris to Versailles in 1682 by King Louis XIV, Louis XIII’s son. The…
Londinium was established as a civilian town by the Romans about four years after the invasion of AD 43. London, like Rome, was founded on the point of the river where it was narrow enough to bridge and the strategic location of the city provided easy access to much of Europe. May 2, 2022Richmond, London We took the Overground train to…
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” -----Nelson Mandela DurbanModern coastal city…Our Airbnb, I mean our friends’ apartment was just stunning. Getting…
Per wiki "Humans reoccupied Britain after the last Ice Age. The area now known as Cornwall was first inhabited in the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods. It continued to be occupied by Neolithic and then by Bronze-Age people.According to John T. Koch and others, Cornwall in the Late Bronze Age formed part of a maritime trading-networked culture which researchers have dubbed…
Per Britannica.com “Uniquely among Italy's chief cities, Venice came into being after the fall of the Roman Empire in the West. The Lombard hordes, whose incursions into northern Italy began in ad 568, drove great numbers of mainlanders onto the islands of the lagoon, previously the homes of itinerant fishermen and salt workers.” Previous Next Venice Venice Venice just gorgeous…no words…
Per Britannica.com “Uniquely among Italy's chief cities, Venice came into being after the fall of the Roman Empire in the West. The Lombard hordes, whose incursions into northern Italy began in ad 568, drove great numbers of mainlanders onto the islands of the lagoon, previously the homes of itinerant fishermen and salt workers.”Per Venetoinside.com “Prosecco wine has origins that date back…
Per Britannica "Inverness was the capital of the Picts under King Brude, who was visited and converted by St. Columba about 565. By the 12th century Inverness had become a burgh nestling under the castle attributed to King Malcolm III (Malcolm Canmore), which remained a royal residence and fortress for centuries. " Previous Next Out first full day in Inverness, afternoon walking History…
Switzerland, officially called the Swiss Confederation. It's one of the world's wealthiest countries, and has been well-known for centuries for its neutrality. Previous Next Rhine FallsMy favorite part of Switzerland. I’m glad we didn’t have atour guide as this is a cool spot to go at your own pace. Great little hikefilled with lake views, mountain views, and stunning water fall…
Munich is known for its annual Oktoberfest celebration and its beer gardens.If you are coming from Berlin, take the train from Berlin to Munich, beautiful countryside views! Well worth the 5 hour trip! Previous Next Such a historic, cultural city. Very surreal and creepy knowing this is the birthplace of Nazi Germany. Our British tour guide showed us all the spots…
Berlin, Germany’s capital, dates to the 13th century. Reminders of the city's turbulent 20th-century history include its Holocaust memorial and the Berlin Wall's graffitied remains. Divided during the Cold War, its 18th-century Brandenburg Gate has become a symbol of reunification. Previous Next 4 hour walking tour (Click link for details on tour) with Walid... a brit and originally from Bangladesh! He…
The City of Brussels is the largest municipality and historical centre of the Brussels-Capital Region, as well as the capital of Belgium. It is also the administrative centre of the European Union, and is thus often dubbed, along with the region, the EU's capital city.The cityscape swings from majestic to quirky to rundown and back again. Art deco facades face…
The Port of Antwerp is one of the biggest in the world, ranking second in Europe and within the top 20 globally. The city is also known for its diamond industry and trade. In 2020, the Globalization and World Cities Research Network rated Antwerp as a Gamma + (third level/top tier) Global City. The city first experienced an economic boom in the…
In the 13th century, Bruges was the leading trade centre of northwestern Europe. Merchants from all over Europe settled in the city and the world's first ever stock exchange ('Beurs' in Dutch) was founded in Bruges. Previous Next Walking tour (click on link for details) with Stephanie from Tom's River New Jersey (go figure), she moved to Burges 4 years…
Ghent, BelgiumThe city originally started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Leie and in the Late Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of northern Europe, with some 50,000 people in 1300. Previous Next We arrive into Ghent via train! We notice that everyone bikes! We see the bike parking lot by…
Rugby is a market town in eastern Warwickshire, England, close to the River Avon. In 2020 its population was estimated at 77,286, making it the second-largest town in Warwickshire. It is the main settlement within the larger Borough of Rugby which has a population of 108,935 Rugby - the SportRugby is said to have originated at Rugby School in Warwickshire, England,…
John Paul George and Ringo.... the most famous group of all time!!! Day trip to Liverpool with Kit!!!! Great time. Small issue with the tour guide not showing up, but we sorted it out just fineFun Fact"According to AllMusic, Jimmy Scott was a Nigerian congo player who worked with both Stevie Wonder and the Rolling Stones at the height of their…