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Category: Sights to See

Can I Drive? How to Rent a Car in Europe

Is the question a little daunting? Understandably yes. Of course you can drive a car in Europe but whether or not you should, based on your travel plans, is another question. More on that in a minute. First, having the freedom to go where you want, when you want is an attractive option for the solo female traveler. Let’s assume you want to explore this option. What’s the process? Is …

The Portuguese Riviera: What to See in a Day

Leave Lisbon and drive or take the train (for about 5 euros round trip ) along the coast to Cascais, considered by every guidebook of merit to be one of Portugal’s most chic resorts. “Known for its three stunning bays and boasts delicious upscale restaurants, luxurious hotels, and non-pareil beaches. But it is the tranquil atmosphere of luxury and ease, along with its stunning seaside esplanade that makes it one of …

Wok Your World with a Cooking Class!

Cooking classes are a top tier option for the solo, female senior traveler. I heartily recommend this as an easy (lots of online options) safe (read the reviews) entertaining and eye-opening way to explore the cuisine of a new country. Food preparation offers a unique and yummy peek into a national culture I took my first class on a trip to Southeast Asia, stopping in a small village for the …

Flamenco: A Passionate Collision of Art and Music

It’s not about the castanets. Before my trip to Seville, I misunderstood the art form of Flamenco. I had visions of elaborately ruffled women clicking those little plastic gizmos in a face off with brooding matador-types in mock Andalusian ecstasy. It’s not. Flamenco is an art like nothing I’ve ever experienced. It’s raucous, joyous, passionate and great entertainment. Fun fact: castanets were not part of the original flamenco dance but …

Dublin: Five Things Not to Miss

Ireland in the off-season is magical. Brisk, windy, often wet but still green and lively. Dublin is a great walking city and you can use the River Liffey as a handy navigation tool. Here are five places not to miss! Temple Bar Established in 1840, Temple Bar is one of the most famous pubs in Dublin but also because it offers over 450 different kinds of rare whiskies (Ireland’s largest collection). Easy …

Visit Petra: Magnificent Site of the Last Crusade

Located in the southwestern corner of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Petra was a thriving trading center and the capital of the Nabataen Empire between 400 BC and AD 106. My first question? Who the heck were the Nabataens? Brilliant, savvy, artisanal nomadic Arabs who performed engineering feats of singular merit. Some scholars feel that the ancient Nabataean gods may have become: Al-Qaum, the male god of the night (moon), Dushara, …