Blog

  • Spilimbergo: Italy’s Enchanting “City of Mosaics”

    Spilimbergo: Italy’s Enchanting “City of Mosaics”

    Spilimbergo, a charming medieval town nestled in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Italy, offers a lovely blend of art, history, and natural beauty. With its well-preserved historic center, world-famous mosaic school, and picturesque surroundings, Spilimbergo makes for a delightful day trip when you’re visiting Venice or the Friuli Venezia Guilia region. What are the

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  • Photo du Jour: Cat on a Cool Slate Roof in Amboise, France

    Photo du Jour: Cat on a Cool Slate Roof in Amboise, France

    A ginger and white-colored cat peeks out the window of a top-floor apartment in the Loire Valley town of Amboise. In the background, the spire of the Saint Hubert Chapel (Chapelle-Saint-Hubert) punctures the sky. The chapel is located on the grounds of the Château Royal d’Amboise. It’s believed that Leonardo da Vinci’s remains are buried

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  • Spring Blooms & Strudel: A Day Trip to Innsbruck, Austria

    Spring Blooms & Strudel: A Day Trip to Innsbruck, Austria

    The mountains were snow-capped, yet flowers were emerging when Shawn and I made an early-spring day trip to Innsbruck, Austria. Shawn and I had been cooped up for much of the winter, so once we got to Innsbruck, we opted to stay outside as much as possible to soak up the sunshine. We strolled Innsbruck’s

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  • Castle Strolls & Hot-Air Balloon Flyovers in Saumur, France

    Castle Strolls & Hot-Air Balloon Flyovers in Saumur, France

    Earlier this autumn, a trio of hot-air balloons escorted us home. It was the golden hour, and Shawn and I’d first spotted the balloons drifting over France’s Loire River, near the city of Saumur. A few moments later, the balloons (they’re known as “Montgolfières” in French) crossed the so-called “wild” Loire River. Then, they flew

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  • France’s Breathtaking Pont du Gard

    France’s Breathtaking Pont du Gard

    The autumn sun illuminated the rocky landscape as two kayakers plied the waters of the Gardon River in Southern France. Crimson and yellow trees danced on the gentle breeze, alongside a tree bearing one over-ripe pomegranate. The pair of kayakers continued their journey down the calm river and eventually glided underneath an arch of France’s

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