We had a 5 hour drive from Riga to Tallinn. We only made one stop, right after we crossed the border, in Parnu. This is on the Gulf of Lavonia and we visited the beach. We went downtown. We started at a memorial to the constitution, and the Red Tower, then visited the beautiful little main street, Ruutli. We had an hour for lunch. I visited the Orthodox Church of Saint Catherine’s before returning to the van. I picked up…
We arrived in Riga early afternoon. We took a short walking tour after checking into the very nice Konventa Seta Hotel. This was my favorite hotel of the trip. Good sized and very comfortable room, great shower, and a refrigerator! We had free time for lunch and I joined several of the ladies at Lido for a buffet lunch. They had lots of options but like most buffets, very average food. We went to the Town Hall Square, a huge…
I booked a week long Baltic Capital Cities with Explore. I flew into Vilnius the day before the tour was to start because all the flights from Faro arrived very late in the evening. I arrived Friday around midnight. I booked an extra night at Amberton Cathedral Square Hotel Vilnius. It was a good location and had good breakfast but only okay rooms. We were right across from the cathedral where the bells rang every half hour so my earplugs…
Norway! It’s been on my must-see list for quite a while. But, it’s a long list and I do keep adding to it. Despite not being a “cruise person”, I knew the best way, really, the only way, to see all the coast of Norway was a cruise. Hurtigruten gets mentioned frequently but after checking their prices, and especially the single supplement, I decided to look for other cruises. I found several comparisons of cruise lines and checked the prices…
I used ExploreWorldWide for another guided tour, Classical Sicily. I flew via Rome into the Catania airport. I arrived late and missed my transfer so had a very expensive taxi ride to Syracusa. I spent a very short night at the lovely Grand Hotel Villa Politi. Sunday I met my tour guide, Augusto, and the others on the tour. Recommendations: Neapolis Archeological Park, Syracusa Catacomba di San Giovanni, Syracusa Temple of Apollo, Ortigia Villa Romana del Casale, Piazza Armerina Erice…
After leaving beautiful Leon, I headed back to Portugal. I stopped for 2 nights in Braga. I stayed in the very comfortable LP Heritage Apartments, on Largo do Praca. Braga, known as Bracara Augusta under the Romans, was founded in 16 BC. It is the oldest city in Portugal. Recommendations: Garden of Santa Barbara Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sameiro Bom Jesus do Monte Praca de Republica Igreja de Santa Cruz Museum of Archaeology Dom Diogo de Sousa Terrmas Romanas…
I stayed in FC Infantas de Leon. I really liked this hotel. It even had easy and free parking on the street. Refrigerator in the room is always a plus. They had a cafe attached plus offered a breakfast buffet. The hotel was just a short walk outside the city walls, close to the large gate Muralla Bajoimperial de León, the 1st c walls. Recommendations: Leon Cathedral Diocesan Cathedral Museum of Leon Plaza de Regla Palacio Episcopal Palacio de Los…
I stayed in another Ibis, the Ibis Budget Bilbao. I had booked Hotel Bilbi. Despite paying in advance, about a week or so prior to leaving I got a WhatsApp from them to “verify” my CC. I tried their link. Tried on my phone, iPad, and computer. I tried with 2 different CCs. They all failed. They said if I couldn’t/wouldn’t verify they would have to cancel. I told them of my problems, got no help whatsoever, so cancelled and…
I left San Sebastián-Donostia early morning to drive to the National Museum & Research Center of Altamira. I read about these caves in my 1000 Places to See Before You Die. The museum is to the west of Bilboa and I was originally thinking I would see it on my way to Leon. Unfortunately, the museum is closed on Mondays when I would be leaving Bilboa. I decided to see it Saturday morning. It was a lot of extra driving,…
I stayed at Atotxa Rooms, close to the bus station where they offered discount parking. It was just off the historic Puente de Maria Kristina for easy access to Old Town. I stayed 3 nights here because of the long drive from Andorra and arrived around dinner time. They had a shared refrigerator and coffee/tea station outside the rooms that I appreciated. Recommendations Old Town Plaza de la Constitution Iglesia de San Vicente Cathedral Buen Pastor de San Sebastián Basilica…