Exploring Masada, Israel
On a family vacation to Israel, we decided to take a day trip from Jerusalem to Masada, an archeological ruin in the Judean Desert overlooking the southwest coast of the Dead Sea. The concierge at the hotel made arrangements with a local tour company and we were picked up very early the next morning. The driver had a large van and after picking up several other small groups of tourists at local hotels in Jerusalem, we set off for Masada – a roughly 60 mile trip southeast of Jerusalem on the southern coast of the Dead Sea. Read more 
A Weekend at the Alhambra in Granada, Spain
Granada, Spain is the capital of the Province of Granada and in the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain. Although Granada is only an hour from the Mediterranean Sea, the city sits at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Read more
Special Places to Stay in La Antigua, Guatemala
La Antigua, Guatemala is a colonial town about 40 kilometers (24 miles) southwest of Guatemala City in the central highlands of Guatemala (although the town is in the southern part of the country). La Antigua is simply known as “Antigua” (not to be confused with the island in the Caribbean) and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site well-known for its cobblestone streets, colonial architecture and ruins. Read more
A Day in Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of Galicia – one of 17 autonomous regions (similar to states in the US) – located in the northwest corner of Spain. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Santiago de Compostela (below in red) is most famous for being the destination of “pilgrims” that complete El Camino de Santiago which means The Way of St. James or simply The Way. In addition, the town is famous for a cathedral called “Catedral de Santiago de Compostela.” Read more
A Day in Le Mont Saint-Michel, France
Le Mont Saint-Michel or more casually known as Mont St. Michel is probably one of the most photographed sites in France (after the Eiffel Tower). I was there in 1977 and remember being taken aback by the site of the towering island in the distance, charmed by the narrow stone streets for pedestrians only, and being served a huge omelet for lunch, which is what the town is also famous far. Flash forward 34 years and not much has changed. Read more
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