"Good things come to those who wait," said a wise person. "A patient seeker will be satisfied in due time; patience is a virtue." How many times have you heard these proverbial nuggets as you're standing in a queue waiting for your turn to get your new passport? Hours, for sure. Days?…
Hey presto! You’re now in Spain.
We live not too far away from Seattle, so we're pretty lucky in that sense. It's a city that makes you go "ahhh" when you get there. Hip, inclusive, bohemian and edgy all at once, it's a great way to discover this part (Pacific Northwest) of North America. And some of the…
We usually think that governments have their processes in place, finely tuned. Given that they must service millions of citizens, the activities and outcomes have to to be streamlined. The reality, of course, is that our fearless leaders are human, just like us. Things go wrong, sometimes in a big way. …
There are 195 countries in the world today, more than enough to keep you busy for the rest of your life, likely. And, when the inevitable comes and taps you on the shoulder, suggesting that maybe you should slow down on the quest to see all 195 of them, you might want to think of your Plan…
Kosovo is a place that most of us have heard of, but may know little about. We might recall that there were troubles, many based around it unilaterally declaring its independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008. And or course, situations like that (with the associated violence that inevitably occurs) can often cast…
Our affiliate friends, British Airways have re-opened flights to Mainland China again.
... and she is terminally pretty (see video below.) Well, as you'll know if you frequent our site, we travel a lot, and as part of that, we inevitably need to stay overnight somewhere. Naturally. You will also know that we love architecture, especially architecture in which we can reside. It could be…
As your mother probably said, "you are what you eat." And she probably conveyed dozens more wisdom chestnuts along those philosophical lines. That's what moms are for, and they're inevitably correct. And, being mothers, they're always looking out for you, scouring the earth for news, tips, suggestions and hidden treasures to make you…
Brace yourself: this will likely be a touchy subject for some. Right up front, we'll state that this post is about Iran. As of this writing, Iran is politically boiling and is, in many places, generally not a good place to be, especially if you're a tourist. As is what is happening…
One of our valued affiliate friends, VRBO, sent some details to a place we'd never heard of - McAllen Texas. The email featured lots of nice places to rent, so we were curious. What is McAllen Texas like? What's there for us (and you!) to see and do? So, as you…
Are you one of those types that wants to visit every country in the world? (PS - there are 195 countries in the world today.) Or, as a friend of ours is doing, trying to visit 50 countries before he turns 50. It's an admirable goal, and fun, as well. But,…
China - probably by the sheer need to do so - continues to burst forward into the future in its technological breakthroughs. As of December 2021, China's population stood at 1.413 billion.[2] According to the 2020 census, 91.11% of the population was Han Chinese, and 8.89% were minorities. China's population growth rate is only 0.03%, ranking 159th in the world.[3] China…
For those not in the know, the The Schengen Area is an area comprising 27 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. Being an element within the wider area of freedom, security and justice policy of the EU, it mostly functions as a single jurisdiction under a common visa policy for international travel purposes.…
If you're in Germany, you'll know that watersports are a major thrill to the lovely citizens of that country. And there are so many lakes, rivers and options if you're a water baby, yourself. If so, we're happy to introduce you to our new affiliate friends, Eventfloss DE. What is it? A…
Taipei is the cosmopolitan capital city of Taiwan, and a surprising mix of futuristic modernism and ancient tradition. Home to 2.6 million citizens, it’s a city that never sleeps with renowned night markets featuring arguably some of the most amazing street food in the world.
The Raohe Street Night Market in Taipei []
It’s…
The unthinkable is happening in Europe. Yes, it's true. In Spain, Barcelona will be banning smoking on all its beaches - and the rest of Spain could follow. To be sure, this is a disaster to a large swath of the European population, as smoking can often define being a European. …
Here's an unusual, but at the end of the day explainable question. Why, if they're part of the EU (European Union) the Czechs don't use the Euro? It's the official currency of 19 of the 27 member states of the European Union and and over 340 million Europeans. The rest of the EU…
By Patricia Filipovic, Senior writer So, you're going on an international vacation! You've figured out your budget and picked a place that should fall within said budget. Planned the itinerary and set a date. What else needs doing? What can you do beforehand to prepare?My travel mantra: Prepare for the unexpected. But mitigate wherever…
...especially if you're from the UK. Due to Brexit, those travelers from England, Scotland and Wales will now need to pay a fee and fill in additional paperwork starting this year in order to enter Europe legally.
Why? The rules around freedom of movement have changed following the UK's departure from the EU. Those from the…