Sintra in Portugal became one of the first places to exemplify a new architectural style during the period of Romanticism in the 18th and 19th centuries. Sintra became a canvas where the wealthy and artistically-minded built whimsical buildings in bright colors and embellishments that previously only existed in fairy tales. This mix of decorative art, … Continue reading Pena Palace, Sintra Dec 2019
Happy 2020 everyone! The first post of the year will be on one of my favorite places in Portugal 😃 Not far from Sintra Village on the Portuguese Riviera is the 19th century Quinta de Regaleira which its owner Antonio Augusto Carvalho Monteiro transformed into a unique palace with symbols of Masonry, the Knights Templar, … Continue reading Quinta de Regaleira Dec 2019
Bright and early today, I head out to Sintra on the Portuguese Riviera about half an hour west of Lisbon. Sintra is the epitome of Romanticist architecture and I think it really belongs in a fairy tale. I’m not surprised it was once the summer retreat for the Kings and Queens of Portugal. It is … Continue reading National Palace of Sintra Dec 2019
To the west of central Lisbon is Belem, home to the rich seafaring Portuguese heritage. This is where the great voyageurs of the 15th century departed for their journeys to India, Africa, and South America and returned with all kinds of treasures. There are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites here: Torre de Belém (Belém Tower) … Continue reading Belem, Lisbon Dec 2019
It must have been a good 20 years since I was last in Lisbon. To be honest, I didn’t think much of it back then and vaguely remembered the main sightseeing spots. Apparently after years of being overlooked, it has, in recent years, become a very popular destination in Europe. It seems that everyone I … Continue reading Lisbon Dec 2019
Burana Tower is one of the best known archaeological sites in Kyrgyzstan, near the town of Tokmok, about 1.5 hours drive east of Bishkek. Burana Tower is a 24-meter high brick minaret standing alone in the fields with the backdrop of the beautiful Tian Shan Mountains. It was originally 45 meters high but the upper … Continue reading Burana Tower & Ala-Archa Oct 2019
After my horrible experience at the Dushanbe airport in Tajikistan, I am glad to finally arrive in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan which is the final Stan left to visit on my journey through Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan is also my 100th country visited! Yay! 🥳 Can’t believe I have visited more than half of the … Continue reading Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Oct 2019
