In Lisbon's Feira da Ladra, Thieves are not Welcome: Located in Campo de Santa Clara, not far from the Alfama district, Lisbon's Feira da Ladra (Thieves Market) has been in existence since the 13th century. People gather at this open-air market to buy and sell items in the shade of centuries-old buildings. Photographs from the end of the 19th century reveal a flea market that looks much like it does today. No doubt items sold then would be considered antiques today, but the air of lively … [Read more...]
Maison Carrée – Nîmes' Magnificent Roman Temple
February 10, 2010 by
Maison Carrée is neither Square nor a House: Right in the center of Nîmes is a magnificent little Roman temple, believed to be one of the most famous and best-preserved temples of the Roman world. Its name Maison Carrée suggests a Square House, but this building is neither square nor a house. Maison Carrée is a beautifully proportioned Roman temple which was erected in 5 AD in honour of Caïus Caesar and Lucius Caesar, grandson and adopted son of Emperor Augustus. In the old French … [Read more...]
Bergen Fish Market
December 28, 2009 by
A Seafood Lover's Delight: Situated on Bergen's harbour front is the famous Bergen Fish Market, one of the highly visited tourist attractions in Bergen. This place is a seafood lover's delight and when the market is in full operation there is an abundance of market stalls selling all kinds of seafood that Norway is famous for. The Bergen Fish Market is a popular place for visitors and locals to buy snacks to have on the harbour front and whether you're after oysters, lobsters, crabs, … [Read more...]
Portugal’s Age of Discovery
December 4, 2009 by
An Amazing Period of Conquests and Discoveries: In front of the Monument to the Discoveries is another of Lisbon's sightseeing attractions, a huge mariner's compass, cut into the stone pavement. The compass was a gift from South Africa in 1960 and the central map shows the routes of Portugal's maritime expeditions and discoveries in the 15th and 16th centuries. Walk around the map and you'll see images of mermaids, galleons and indication of which direction the trade winds were … [Read more...]
Monument to the Overseas Combatants – Lisbon
December 4, 2009 by
A Striking Monument on the Lisbon Waterfront: One of the more recent additions of significant monuments to Lisbon's waterfront is the Monument to the Overseas Combatants. This eye-catching Lisbon attraction commemorates all the people involved in the wars that Portugal was involved with overseas. The architect's concept of having a simple design is so that people can focus what the monument represents rather than its details. A more elaborate sculptural or architectural form may … [Read more...]
Livadia (White) Palace, Yalta Conference, Yalta
November 18, 2009 by
Livadia Palace - Site of the 1945 Yalta Conference: Anyone interested in WWII history will have heard of the 1945 Yalta (or Crimean) Conference. It was here at the Livadia Palace that the Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin met to negotiate how post-war Europe was to be carved up. Livadia is a palace that's filled with history. The huge, stunning White Hall on the ground floor is where the Big Three and their delegation met to agree that the USSR would have the biggest influence over … [Read more...]
Monastery of the Caves (Lavra)
November 16, 2009 by
Kievo-Pecherska Lavra - a World Heritage Site: The word Lavra is used to describe high-ranking monasteries for monks of the Eastern Orthodox Church and Kyiv's World Heritage Lavra is the city's most extensive and amazing sightseeing attraction. Locally called Kievo-Pechersk Lavra, the name of the monastery is also translated as Kiev Cave Monastery, Kiev Caves Monastery or the Kiev Monastery of the Caves. The word Pechera means cave. The Lavra or Monastery of the Caves was founded by its … [Read more...]
Kiev Airport Transfer – Dopobachennya Kiev!
November 14, 2009 by
Dnieper River Cruise - Kiev, Ukraine DAY 12 Kiev. (Sun.) After breakfast, disembark and transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B) We have to vacate our rooms by 09:00 a.m. so that they can clean the river boat for the next cruise, however you are able to wait in the Panorama Bar. A light lunch is also available for those who are not transferring to the airport first thing in the morning. Kiev Airport Transfer If you've pre-booked your airport transfer with Viking, they'll … [Read more...]
Kiev, "Mother of Cities"
November 14, 2009 by
Dnieper River Cruise - Kiev, Ukraine DAY 11 Kiev. (Sat.) Dock Location. Your ship is scheduled to dock at Pochtova Square 3, River Passenger Terminal.Included Kiev Tour. Arrive mid-morning and disembark for a tour of the 1,500-year-old Ukrainian capital, picturesquely situated on the Dnieper River. Called the “Mother of Cities,” Kiev is one of the oldest cities in all of Europe. From the 9th century onwards, it was the centre of trade on the Dnieper River route from Scandinavia to the … [Read more...]
Chimneys of the Algarve
October 24, 2009 by
Algarve Chimneys - Sightseeing Attractions: Throughout the Algarve you'll notice that the walls of houses are mostly whitewashed. As we know, the Algarve has very long, hot summers and the whitewash deflects the hot sun from the buildings. Why So Many Chimneys? Why then you may ask do these same houses have so many chimneys, especially when the winters here are quite mild as well. Some of the houses seem to have four or five chimneys. It seems that whilst a house may have many chimneys, … [Read more...]