I don’t know about you, but I am a sucker for knight lore! One of my favorite (and most well known) groups of knights were the Knights Templar, and not just because they got a major shout out in National Treasure. When thinking of the Knights Templar, your mind probably goes straight to the Crusades and hoarding treasure. What you probably don’t know, though, is that the Knights Templar was…
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Pamplona’s City Walls: Remnants of the Middle Ages
When you think of Pamplona, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the famous Running of the Bulls (San Fermin) that takes place each July. You probably don’t know, though, that this city has one of the most sprawling and well preserved medieval fortress complexes in all of Europe! Pamplona’s City Walls stretch 5km around the Casco Viejo (Old Town) and offer breathtaking views of the newer parts…
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Muiderslot Castle: A Half-Day Trip from Amsterdam
Spending a week of my summer in the Netherlands was one of my greater decisions. The weather was great, it wasn’t too crowded, and we were able to visit tons of cute places around the country! One such place was Muiderslot, a medieval castle dating to 1280 AD. Muiderslot stands in Muiden at the mouth of the Vecht River, only about 15km from Amsterdam! It’s the perfect way to spend…
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An Afternoon at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill
I remember the first time I visited Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. I was probably 10 or 11 years old and my grandmother and mom took my sister and me on our way to visit family in Danville. There were farm animals, really cool old houses, and lots of incredible music. I had always looked back on that trip fondly. Fast forward a little over a decade and my grandmother…
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View from the Top: Nafplio’s Palamidi Fortress
The Palamidi Fortress has one of the most beautiful views in all of Greece, so why do so few people know about this historic wonder? I was fortunate enough to visit the fortress while studying abroad in Greece; I still consider the hike to the top (and the charming city of Nafplio) to be one of the greatest experiences of my life! Nafplio is scattered with Turkish and Venetian influences…
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Ancient Olympia: The Birthplace of the Olympic Games
About once every two years, viewers around the world tune in to watch the Olympics. These games are rooted in a 3000 year old tradition that started in Greece’s “Valley of Gods”. Olympia was one of the major sites in Greece that helped shape the nations identity due to the Olympic Games. While the modern games are much different from the original ones, the spirit of athletes competing for honor…
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Akrotiri: Remnants from a Volcanic Eruption
Santorini is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It’s curious, then, that so few people know of the archaeological gem sitting at the north end of this gorgeous island. Akrotiri is a Bronze Age settlement that was basically decimated in 1627 BC when Thera, the volcano it sits on, erupted and the people fled. Thankfully, the eruption caused excellent preservation of the site, which visitors can…
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The Sagrada Familia: An Icon 137 Years in the Making
The Sagrada Familia is one of the most recognized structures in Spain, and it hasn’t even been finished yet. Seriously! They laid the first stone in 1882 and there’s still about 7 years of construction left. Antoni Gaudà designed a ton of gorgeous, groundbreaking buildings, but the Sagrada Familia is something extra special. History Antoni Gaudà is one of the most famous architects ever, and a lot of his works…
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Merry and Bright at My Old Kentucky Home
If you’ve been following the blog lately, you know how much I love the holiday season! I’ve been visiting as many holiday-themed places around Kentucky as possible over the past few weeks. That list, of course, wouldn’t be complete without a visit to My Old Kentucky Home. History The mansion at My Old Kentucky Home State Park was originally named Federal Hill. The mansion was renamed “My Old Kentucky Home”…
