From Vienna to Rome Via Zagreb

Author: Joseph

  • Norway, Northern Lights

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    My sister Abby took most of these photos. Just when we thought we were going to miss the aurora borealis completely we had several nights of magnificent sightings.

  • Sicily, 2019

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    There was expected disorder at the Catania airport as we searched for our rental car, but after directions from five or six people, we claimed the car and set off for Ragusa, a delightful city perched atop a steep hill. Ragusa, Modica and Noto were among beautiful cities we explored on Sicily’s western coast. Noto,…

  • Malta

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    It was good to be back in Malta. My first trip was in the early 1990s, when I was on my way to Tunisia. Much has changed, as the island is more prosperous and certainly far busier. My hotel had two exposures (each with a balcony) looking over the Grand Harbour, site of the 1565…

  • England, Ely

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    Ely is a charming, small cathedral town atop its hill in the midst of largely now-drained fens. I had expected a hill more like Mont St Michel, but was pleased to find a knoll instead, especially as the train station was at the foot of the hill. The present cathedral is the third on the…

  • Ronda and the White Cities, 2017

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    To the east of Cadiz and Jerez are several small hilltowns, known as white cities for their whitewashed buildings. The best known city in the area is Ronda, which is also a center of bull fighting. Ronda must have one of the most extraordinary settings in all of Spain, high a top a plateau. On…

  • Granada, 2017

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    Granada is best known for the Alhambra and Generalife, Moorish palaces and gardens from the 14th century. The two palaces, together with Charles V’s palace are atop a steep hill with the snow-capped Sierra Nevada in the background. Granada also houses royal tombs, including those of the Catholic monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, and Mad Queen…

  • Sevilla, 2017

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    Seville was my introduction to Andalusia, and a wonderful introduction it was. The Alcazar and cathedral were fabulous. I was enchanted with mosaics and decorations in the Alcazar, plus the beautiful gardens, which were a lovely retreat in the heat of the day. we also visited the Bull ring, the Plaza de Espana, site of…

  • Avila, 2017

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    Avila was an excursion I took on my own to visit the home of St Teresa. Her house is attached to a church — or rather, the church attached to the house. Avila is also famous for its walls which completely encircle the city. The interior of the cathedral is sandstone giving the building a…

  • Bruges, 2017

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    What an amazing small city! I took the train to Belgium at the end of the family trip and spent several days in this small city. The city is a trove of art (van Eyck), chocolate, moules frites, medieval buildings and the beautiful bell tower in the center of the city — I kept 5hinking…

  • The Hague, 2017

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    My sister Tricia, her husband and I visited The Hague during the family trip to Amsterdam. We wandered around the historical center, visited the Mauritshuis, which has an exceptional collection of Dutch paintings including Vermeer and beautiful still lives from the golden age of Dutch painting. We were particularly lucky to visit during the brief…