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Showing posts with label dream travel destination. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dream travel destination. Show all posts

Friday, May 10, 2024

Travel and Vacation: Explore the City Rome: Where to Go and What to See (Guest Post)

The Eternal City Rome is home to more than 3 million people and rises from the Lazio region of west central Italy. Cradled between the Apennines and the Tyrrhenian Sea.


According to legend, Rome was founded by twin brothers, Romulus and Remus, 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. And it was here, on Palatine Hill, that the foundations of the city were laid. A city that would soon become the Capital of the World.

Even today, the atmosphere of Roman times could be felt throughout the city.




Colosseum in Rome: symbol of ancient Rome

Surviving earthquakes and centuries of stone thieves, the magnificent Colosseum remains the most enduring symbol of Ancient Rome. The impressive structure is still in very good condition, you just need a little imagination to frame images of gladiators in battle. Over four centuries, tens of thousands of gladiators, slaves, and Christians died in a blaze of glory.

The Colosseum at night is pleasing to the eye, during the summer it is now possible to see the Colosseum at night on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Make sure to buy your Colosseum tickets in advance during the planning stage of your Rome vacation, otherwise you’ll have to queue for a long time.


Roman Forum

Beneath the birthplace of Rome is the Roman Forum - the Roman Forum filled with temples, monuments and markets.The Forum was the center of public life in Ancient Rome and the most famous meeting place in the world, and was the heart of the city. . When the Roman Empire fell in the fifth century, the forum was reduced to a meadow of cows; a mere orchard. But, the eight columns of the Temple of Saturn and the Arch of Septimius refused to crumble.

In the 17th century, young European travelers came to Rome in search of the roots of Western civilization. This hunger for the antiquities of Rome led to their preservation. And yet, travelers come from all over the world. The Roman Forum is very close to the Colosseum in Rome.


The Pantheon: the place to worship

On the nearby Arch of Constantine, an inscription bears the words, inspired by the divine. The Pantheon, one of the oldest Roman buildings, was a place to worship all the gods, from Juno, the god of fertility, to Mars, the god of war.

Pass under the central oculus of the dome and stand in the same divine light that has bathed emperors, gladiators, merchants, and travelers for nearly two millennia.


Toss the coin in the Trevi Fountain

Located in the center of the city hidden in the labyrinth of Small Street is the Trevi Fountain. No Roman holiday is complete without making a wish at the Trevi Fountain. Toss a coin in Trevi and one day you’ll be back in Rome (it can be another relaxing city break in Rome). Flip two coins and you will fall in love with a Roman. After flipping coins, you can relax on the steps with a scoop of ice cream, the city’s famous ice cream.


World’s largest church St. Peter’s Basilica

Rome may no longer be the capital of the world, but it has long been the center of Christianity. Today, modern pilgrims continue to cross the river, guided by the angel of the bridge as they make their way to one of the great squares of the world.


Piazza Saint Pietro, Saint Peter’s Square.

And here is the largest church in the world, St. Peter’s Basilica. Filled with masterpieces by Bernini, Giotto, Raphael, Saint Peter’s crowning glory is its dome, designed by the brightest star of the Renaissance, Michelangelo.

From the dome you can see the holy square where two colonnades extend like open arms to welcome the faithful who gather by the thousands to receive the blessings of the Pope. This Vatican City is the seat of the Catholic Church and the home of the Pope.


Piazza Navona is one of the great squares of Europe

Once a stadium, today Piazza Navona is one of the great squares in Europe. The crowds and thunderous carts have long faded replaced by a trio of fountains, baroque architecture, artists, and the aroma of Rome’s best coffee.


Traditional Roman cuisine near the Tiber river

As the sun sets over Rome, head to the island sanctuary of Isola Tiberina. Let the rushing water of the River Tiber soothe your senses and indulge in authentic Roman cuisine that has been perfected by generations of Italian grandmothers and great-grandmothers. This is just a highlight. Really tasting all of Rome’s treasures can take a lifetime. But Rome only needs a moment for you to fall in love with it, so be prepared.


Shopping in Rome

During your relaxing vacation in Rome, if you are planning or have already planned to do some shopping, you will find designer stores with all the famous brands such as Zara, Gucci, Prada, etc.



Original Source (annelouis24.tumblr.com)





Friday, June 2, 2023

My Dream Travel Bucket List Includes 4 African Countries

Starting in 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous travel bans or restrictions have been implemented by various countries. Both the airlines and the cruise lines have taken heavy hits financially and are taking desperate measures in the hopes that they will recover. Still! That doesn’t stop many people from dreaming and making up travel bucket lists of places they’d like to see. 

Casablanca
Image credit:  Amazon.com

In the USA, in March 2020, the pandemic was announced. If you do a generic online search of the phrase “travel bucket list”, you will find people still publishing their lists. In fact, I’ve seen some lists that specifically indicate that these are “Post-COVID” travel wishes. Why not? If there had been an Internet during the Black Plague of the 1300s that affected Europe, you would probably have found bucket lists. An article published by Scientific American stated that Europeans survived the Black Death and those survivors lived even longer. Don’t you imagine that those survivors probably wanted to see another part of the world after that experience?

Most of us want to be optimistic about this modern-day plague and believe that one day, hopefully soon, the world will once again be our “oyster”; even if we are already senior citizens. I have always admired people who were 70+ years of age and still traveling the world. They planned out the places they would visit during retirement and they’re loving it!

So below is a quick list of 4 countries in Africa that are on my bucket list. How did I decide on these locations? I have either met someone from that country, online or in person. I figure if the rest of the citizens are as nice as they are, that’s a place I’d like to see. I might have become fascinated after watching a movie that was filmed on location in that country. It could be that I found a YouTube music video and loved the music or I watched a cooking show that showcased the cuisine from that country and my mouth started watering. It’s one of those reasons.

  1. Botswana

  2. Cameroon

  3. Ethiopia

  4. Morocco

Image credit:  Amazon.com

Botswana: Met a blogger who writes about all the various tourist destinations in this country (yourbotswana.com). The blog post I liked the most was the “photo safari”. People don’t go on safari to shoot the animals. They go to shoot photographs. Also, there is a movie about this country which stars two of my favorite actors: David Oyelowo, and Rosamund Pike. It’s a true love story between an African prince and a British citizen, and in addition to learning about how these two managed to have a successful marriage, against all odds, the film teaches the viewer a lot about the history of Botswana.


Botswana | History - Geography | Britannica

Botswana Tourism Organisation | Official Site of Botswana

15 reasons to visit Botswana – YourBotswana


Cameroon: Met a stranger at a gas station in America. He was very nice, had a delightful accent when he spoke, and I could tell by his clothing that probably wasn’t from ’round here. He needed some assistance at the gas pump and I helped him out. We had a short conversation and I asked him where he was from. He said he was visiting from Cameroon. He filled up his car and I told him that I hoped his stay in America would be pleasant. Off he went. But I couldn’t help but wonder if the folks from Cameroon were as nice as he was. Years later I was watching a musical TV show and the host had invited a guest to sing with him and also play the guitar. The music was amazing. The guest entertainer was from Cameroon and his name is Richard Bona. If you have not heard him perform, you are missing an amazing talent!


Cameroon | Culture, History, & People | Britannica

Cameroon Travel Advisory – travel.gov


Ethiopia: The most outstanding fact about this African country’s history is the fact that they were never colonized by the Europeans. Another fascinating fact is the “Jewish connection”. Some people say that Solomon, the famous Jewish king has a relationship with Sheba, one of the queens of Ethiopia. From that relationship, a child was born. When the queen returned to her own country, it is believed that she was a convert to the Jewish religion and that she raised her son in the Jewish faith. That story is not in the Jewish scriptures, i.e. Old Testament. But nobody has come up with a different explanation for how there came to be practicing Jews in Ethiopia. Today, there are thousands of Ethiopian Jews who willingly relocated to Israel to live. My curiosity is piqued. Last but not least there is a TV cooking show called “No Passport Required”. The host Marcus Samuelsson is from Ethiopia and for one of his shows, he spotlighted the people from Ethiopia who had made their way to America and were living in Washington, D.C., but still maintained their heritage and traditions; particularly, through their food (4).


Ethiopia | History, Capital, Map, Population, & Facts | Britannica

Ethiopia Travel Advisory - travel.gov


Morocco: Casablanca is a city in Morocco. Tell me who would not want to visit Morocco after watching Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in the movie Casablanca? In case you have not watched this 1942 Hollywood movie, it is a movie based on true events. The movie won the best movie award and the director won the best director award at the Oscars.


Morocco | History, Map, Flag, Capital, & Facts | Britannica

Moroccan National Tourist Office: Travel to Morocco - Official


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So that’s it!

Of course, this bucket list is based on the assumption that there is peace in the land, no political and social upheavals going on, no major natural disasters have occurred or are predicted to occur, crime is not rampant, it's not dangerous to go there in terms of one's health, and … there is Internet access!

Do you agree with my travel bucket list of African countries?

If not. which African countries would you recommend?

♦ ♦ ♦

Source Credit: Content first published at ArticleWritingJobs.com. It has been revised, updated, and republished at Read.Cash.

Saturday, May 21, 2022

Historical Places : Sea of Galilee

Almost everybody has heard of the Sea of Galilee; especially Christians. It would be no surprise if most people who profess to be believers in Jesus Christ have this place on their list of dream travel destinations.  Some of the apostles were fishermen by occupation and they made their living by fishing in the Sea of Galilee. 

But would you believe it? In 2010, fishing was banned in the Sea of Galilee. The Israeli government stated that chronic over-fishing had severely depleted stocks. The ban was to be in effect for 2 years. 

In 2013, they dumped several thousand fish into the lake. The type of fish were tilapia and silver carp which were expected to increase the lake’s biodiversity and clear its waters of toxins. In 2020 it was reported that the lake (sea) had dried up because of a drought; and then it swelled up because the drought was followed by wet winters. Per a report dated April 15, 2022, Israel was going to give the Sea of Galilee an “extreme makeover” by filling the lake with excess output from desalination plants.

Image credit: Fishing in the Sea of Galilee | Israel Inside Out 

It's a technicality but the Sea of Galilee is not really a sea. It's a lake; a freshwater lake. Israel's largest freshwater lake to be precise.  It is also known by the following alternate names:

• Lake Tiberias
• Sea of Tiberias
• Lake of Gennesaret
• Lake Kinneret
• The Kinneret

FUN FACT: In ancient times. there were three (3) types of fish mainly caught by fishermen: sardines; barbels; and musht or tilapia (the 'Galilean tilapia' is known today as “St. Peter’s Fish”).

It's 2022. Fishing is being allowed in the Sea of Galilee. The original St. Peter’s fish in the Sea of Galilee cannot be found anymore. However, there are 18 species of fish indigenous in the Sea, which includes tilapia, sardine, and catfish.







Saturday, June 26, 2021

Why You Should Pick Florida and the Bahamas for Vacation

Planning a vacation? Need suggestions? How about South Florida and The Bahamas? They both have beautiful beaches. Isn't that enticement enough?

I was born and raised in Miami, Florida. My husband and father are both from The Bahamas, a country right next door to Florida. For those who are planning a vacation, I usually tell them to go to South Florida. Specifically, they should go to Miami, Florida and The Florida Keys. Then I advise them: “While you're there since you're close, you might as well go over to The Bahamas.” It's a half-hour plane ride. Some people fly over and come back in the same day. Others take a 1-day cruise. I don't recommend it. Hey! It's a vacation! Why rush? Of course, if you don't want to leave the country you could stay in Florida, drive up to Orlando, and visit Disney World. How fun is that?



Here are some interesting and fun facts about Florida and The Bahamas. When you travel, it's good to know a little bit of history or trivia about the places you will visit. Somehow you appreciate the visit a lot more. At least I think so.

About The Bahamas

Christopher Columbus was an “accidental Bahamian tourist”. He wasn't really looking for these islands. “Long Island is where Columbus anchored the Santa Maria when he discovered the island in 1492.” (Quote Source)After the American War of Independence, thousands of pro-British loyalists and enslaved Africans moved to the Bahamas and set up a plantation economy.”

This fact makes me laugh and makes me cry. First of all, if you are “enslaved” you don't really have much of a choice about where you're “moved”. That's the part that makes me cry. On the other hand, the part that makes me laugh is … if I am being an eternal optimist no matter what my circumstances, to end up in a country as beautiful as The Bahamas, slave or not, I'd have to say “Well alright!” Sunshine! Pink sand. Turquoise blue waters. Excellent diving and fishing! Hey! It's not like I was moved to Siberia! Besides. A few decades after that move, slavery was abolished. A couple of centuries later, The Bahamas became an independent nation just like America.

About South Florida

Miami is a hot spot. There's nothing I could say that a bazillion people have not already said except that I loved growing up in that city. My memories are blessings.

Some have likened the Florida Keys to an “American Bahamas”. I disagree but totally understand why the comparison was made. The Florida Keys and The Bahamas are very much alike. Jerry Wilkinson published a very informative article titled “History Of The Bahamas” where he explains the similarities. Both places were inhabited by indigenous Indians and after the American Revolution, some English loyalists moved to the Keys and settled there.

So what do you think about these vacation suggestions?

Are South Florida and The Bahamas on your bucket list of "Places to Visit"?



Original Source

Friday, April 2, 2021

Travel and Vacation: Indochina

I randomly picked the word “Indochina” and the statistic popped up which reported “470 tweets”. I’m not sure what the time frame is for that number of tweets(per minute, per hour ..??). But that was a surprising number because I watch world news reports on a regular basis and rarely hear a mention about Indochina.

By the way, if you ever need to get a quick snapshot of a particular country, just check the CIA World Factbook. It’s available to the general public and it’s an amazing resource.


Indochina is not a country. It is a peninsula in SE Asia comprised of a group of countries. So you won’t find “Indochina” in the listing of countries covered in the Factbook. But you will find some information about Indochina if you check material published by the CIA. It’s there if you want to read it but uumm… it’s complicated.

Would you believe the first tweet I saw for “Indochina” was about a toy soldier? That area is kind of a hotspot for military activity. But it also has a few romantic hotspots.


Source:  Virily.com
































Friday, July 10, 2020

Considering the Sweet Island Life? Think Bahamas!

Have you ever considered living in The Bahamas?

Did you know that you don’t have to expatriate or give up your citizenship to own property in The Bahamas and live there?

The government of this lovely country welcomes foreigners and opens the doors to allow them to invest in real estate and make their home there. You don’t have to wait until you are in your golden years to do this, although many people do.    The nation is no longer considered a British colony but rather a member of the British Commonwealth.


July 10, 1973, is the effective date that Bahamian leaders officially and peacefully negotiated their independence.
 Happy Independence Day!



Know much about the Commonwealth? Neither do I, but per factophile.com, 49 independent nations are represented. Some of the members still recognize Elizabeth, the Queen of England; while others do not. Nevertheless, it is a “free association”. I’m not a student of politics or history or government, but I’m thinking that this “commonwealth group” – perhaps there was probably a similar concept behind the post-Soviet states; only the Ukrainians aren’t really feelin’ it right now!

Getting back on point, we are discussing how to become neighbors with the local islanders and Warren Moon. Mr. Moon is an American, was a football player, NFL, also played for the Canadians, etc. He owns property in Rum Cay, one of the islands. Bahamians are wonderful people! I married one of them. We currently live in America, but he still has relatives back home, so that makes a great excuse to have to travel if we must or whenever we can afford to go there.

To educate folks about the typical Bahamian lifestyle, the country’s Ministry of Tourism developed a program they call People-to-People . If you want to know more you can eMail them: peopletopeople@bahamas.com.

But the main thing you need to know is that there two specific laws which govern foreign real estate investors: The International Persons Landholding Act and The Bahamas Vacation Plan and Timesharing Act; and that all RE transactions must be handled by a lawyer.

So!! Thinking about it?

Content first published at Virily.com.


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Thursday, July 2, 2020

Travel and Vacation: Have You Ever Visited the Island of Patmos?

When someone mentions the “island of Patmos”, my first thoughts are of Saint John the Apostle. He was exiled to that island and that’s where he wrote the biblical book of Revelation. 

I never associated anything else with that island until I discovered Katerina Tsigarida.  She is a contemporary architect who restores ancient homes on that island. She has made it a personal mission to preserve traditional Patmian culture and lifestyle. Ms. Tsigarida lives in Thessaloniki, but she and her family regularly spend their summers on the island. If you can’t relocate to live there, Patmos certainly sounds like a wonderful place to vacation. It is said that the volcanic cave where St. John lived and where he wrote the prophetical book still exists. That’s enticement enough for me to want to go there. But I would be interested in also seeing some of the ancient homes this architect has restored.  Wouldn’t you?






Fascinating Fact: 
Did you know that in Patmos there is a custom of passing down homeownership through the female line?  (Source)








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