If you’ve ever wondered how we can see the world with just a handful of vacation days, we’ll let you in our secret. 2014 was a big year for us and here is how we did it. 2015 promises to be an even more exciting year!
On the north slope of the Carpathian Mountains, a unique architectural and artistic tradition was born: ornate wooden churches. The Slovakia Wooden Churches date from a period when most Christian churches were being built from stone, these buildings are truly unique and reflect a mix of theological and architectural traditions.
The Paris of the East. That’s what they call Budapest, Hungary. We’ve had many friends visit and all have raved about this city. At times, this city has an identity crisis. Budapest’s rich architectural and cultural traditions stand in stark contrast to the bleak austerity under communism. We found ourselves overwhelmed by the sights and tastes along the Danube. We love visiting Budapest!
“Auschwitz.” That single word is loaded with such evocative images and horrific associations that it’s hard to not arrive with a mental picture of the place. The events collectively called the Holocaust were not an evil committed on any one group. The Holocaust was an evil committed on all of humanity. The Auschwitz concentration camp tour wasn’t what we were expecting and it surprised us.
In the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and nestled among the wineries of the Monticello Wine Trail, the Tuscan-inspired Villa Crawford has evolved over the last 100 years into the majestic Keswick Hall at Monticello – one of America’s grand country resorts. Keswick Hall is a reminder of grand Southern living, debutante balls and the ladies who lunch.
Throughout much of Central Slovakia, the mountainous geology yields a significant amount of geothermal activity and a robust spa culture has developed around these hot springs. We visited the Kupele Sklene Teplice spa on a breezy fall day for a relaxation.
Northwest Indiana has joined the ranks of regions capitalizing on craft beer mania. This compact area has nearly 20 microbreweries and more established craft breweries, all producing a broad range of fine stouts and ales. Spending a weekend visiting the Northwest Indiana breweries on the South Shore Brewery Trail is a popular weekend activity.
Budapest was the beginning of the end for communism in Eastern Europe. When I was 13 years old, I watched communism fall apart on live TV. The Hammer and Sickle Tour puts the events into historical context.
What do you fear? Recently, we’ve had several people ask us if we’re afraid to travel. It seems like travel fears are everywhere these days. But it made us ask the question, “What are we afraid of?”
While the town of Banská Štiavnica is a remarkable specimen of medieval small-town life in central Slovakia, it is unlikely the town would be much more than a few small huts if it weren’t for its unique geology. Banska Stiavnica sits atop The Theresa Vein – one of the world’s most lucrative silver deposits in the Middle Ages. The mines are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the significant technical developments that took place here over the last 350 years.