Switzerland is One Part Fairy Tale, One Part Inspiration for Artists

The Rhine River, originating in the Swiss Alps, flows through Germany and the Netherlands, emptying into the North Sea. Along the way, you’ll find Rhine Falls. Located on the boarder of Schaffhausen and Zürich, it is the largest waterfall in all of Europe. In the photo below you can see two separate falls, divided by a rock…

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Every City Should Have a Riverwalk

In the early to mid 1900s, a series of fatal floods convinced the people of San Antonio that something had to be done to protect the city from the raging river waters. Funded by Works Progress Administration, the agency established by Franklin Roosevelt to boost the economy and carry out public works, dams and gates were…

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Lausanne, Switzerland

As I mentioned in the previous post, Eamon and I flew early morning from Paris to Geneva, then immediately took a train to Lausanne, spent a few hours wandering around there, hopped back on the train to Geneva, walked around there for a few hours, and then boarded a late flight back to Paris that…

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Sometimes You End Up In A Medieval City On Accident

On the drive back from Brugge to Brussels, we randomly stopped in Ghent. This charming city is the 2nd largest city in the country. Much of the Medieval architecture still stands, a testament to its golden age. If we had planned better, I would have allotted more time there, but I was happy to wander…

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Warning: Beware of Shoe Thieves in Brussels

Europe during the holiday season is indeed magical (as you may have seen in my previous post). In that department, Brussels did not disappoint. However, my backpack was stolen there, with about 3 grand worth of photography equipment and a brand new pair of Nikes inside. For just a moment, let’s put that aside to…

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Brugge is the Winter Wonder Land You’ve Never Heard of

Okay. So maybe you have heard of Brugge, but I never had before planning the Christmas vacation of my dreams. It truly is one of the most magical places I’ve ever laid eyes on. Of course, I happened upon Brugge as giant floppy snowflakes fell from the skies, so I may be extraordinarily partial. It’s…

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No Other City is Quite Like This One

In all the world, 38 cities are named Paris, but we can agree that none can come close to Paris, France. What cities with this name have you been to? I’ve only passed through Paris Texas, where they have their own version of The Eiffel Tower, donning a cowboy hat. Is it just me or…

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Get Your Creep On In The Tunnels Beneath Paris

More than 6 million human remains line the tunnel walls of the Catacombs of Paris, spanning 200 miles. This spooky place was created to utilize the city’s ancient stone mines (which were occasionally collapsing due to poor construction) and address the pressing issue of overflowing cemeteries. At first, the catacombs were unorganized, but with the…

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81 Stories Over Paris

The Eiffel Tower is the most visited monument on earth. It was built for The World’s Fair in 1889, with the intention of being demolished in 1909. However, this famous structure was saved because the French Navy repurposed it into a giant radio antenna.  At 1,063 ft high, The Eiffel Tower held the title of World’s…

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The Mona Lisa Really Isn’t All That Great

Here I am, right out front of the museum that served as a royal palace for more than 2 centuries. Every monarch who called it home expanded the grounds more and more. Eventually, Louis XIV moved his court to Versailles, and the Louvre was never the main royal residence again. It’s transformation to art museum…

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