100 Days in Europe Days 68-79: Italy, UK, Ireland, Croatia

by Dawnielle Jacobson | Aug 11, 2016 | Blog, Destinations

Day 68

Alpe di Siusi

The Alpe di Siusi is the largest alpine meadow in Europe. Located in the Dolomite Mountains, it is also known by the German name, Seiser Alm. This beautiful alpine meadow is in use year-round for biking, hiking and skiing. Click the picture to watch the video.

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Day 69

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is Scotland’s capital city and always bustles with entertainment. Walk the Royal Mile, visit the Castle, lounge in Princes Street Gardens or stroll like a noble in the Georgian-era new town; there is something here for everyone. Pubs and eateries serve up traditional food with a eclectic flare. Have a “wee dram” and enjoy the city. Click the picture to watch the video.

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Day 70

Edinburgh

Harry Potter was written here as was Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. Poets and bards made this their home. It boasts an old medieval town tumbling down from the castle and a “new” 18th-century Georgian town. There is a lot to see and experience in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Click the picture to watch the video.

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Day 71

Conwy Castle

Conwy Castle stands majestically guarding the mouth of the River Conwy at the Irish Sea. It has been here since 1284 looking pretty much as it does today. The English, under King Edward I, built this castle to protect themselves from their newly acquired subjects… The Welsh! Click the picture to watch the video.

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Day 72

Caernarfon Castle

In the 13th century, the Welsh were fighting bitter battles with the English who were invading their lands. Finally, in 1283, Edward I of England defeated the Welsh and claimed the land as his own. During the next few years Edward built great defensive castles to ward off the Welsh attacks and to protect his armies from the savage Welsh warriors. Caernarfon is one of those castles. Click the picture to watch the video.

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Day 73

South Docklands

The South Docklands was once a thriving port with wharfs and warehouses lining the River Liffey. The 19th and 20th centuries saw a massive economic decline in this area of town. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of local pride coupled with economic development in the area. I ran across this “take pride in our community” parade while strolling down the Liffey. Click the picture to watch the video.

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Day 74

Dublin Docklands

Dublin’s Docklands district has gone through many changes over the last 100 years. In the boom days of the Celtic Tiger economy (1990’s and early 2000’s) this area was filled with construction cranes and lots of development. Unfortunately, the economic recession of 2008-2016 caused all the development to lay dormant. Now in mid-2016, things are picking up, construction is booming again and the Docklands are loaded with start-up and well-founded tech businesses. Click the picture to watch.

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Day 75

Viking Splash Tour

The Viking Splash Tour is a fun (and informative) way to sightsee in Dublin. The WWII-era vehicles actually do “splash” into the Grand Canal Square for a cruise on the water. I had loads of fun! Click the picture to watch.

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Day 76

Grand Canal Docks

Dublin’s Grand Canal Docks were opened in 1796 and soon became the world’s largest docks. By the 1960’s this place was completely derelict and almost forgotten as a piece of Dublin’s landscape. The 2000’s saw massive clean-up projects and an influx of young tech start-ups such as Google, Facebook, AirB&B, and TripAdvisor. As a result, this area has been nicknamed The “Silicon Docks.” Click the picture to watch.

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Day 77

Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are Ireland’s second largest tourist attraction and rightly so! Plunging over 700 feet into the Atlantic Ocean, these cliffs occupy a five-mile stretch of land in West Clare. Over 1 million people visit here each year, some for only an hour and others spending several hours hiking the trails along the cliffs. Click the picture to watch.

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Day 78

Zagreb

Zagreb is the capital city of Croatia. In this episode we will take a short look around the so called “Green Horseshoe.” It is a pleasant walking transition from the ugly post WWII-era’s high rise neighborhoods to the elegant 19th-century old town. Click the picture to watch.

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Day 79

Zagreb’s Outdoor Market

Each morning, local farmers, vendors and craftsmen set up a table under the colorful red umbrellas in Zagreb’s Dolac outdoor market. The market bustles with activity from 6:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every day except Sunday. This is one of the best outdoor markets I’ve visited in Europe and certainly a place to embrace the culture and feel the pulse of everyday life. Click the picture to watch.

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Your Adventure Starts Here!

100 Days in Europe Days 61-67: Italy

by Dawnielle Jacobson | Jul 19, 2016 | Blog, Destinations

Day 61

Volterra

Volterra is my favorite Tuscan hill-town. Its cute, cobbled streets, medieval ambiance, old town hall, good food and great wine, will tug at your heart and make you want to stay for an extra day…or week! Click the picture to watch the video.

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Day 62

La Vena di Vino

La Vena di Vino is a “one-of-a-kind” bar. Owners Bruno and Lucio serve fine Italian wine, great antipasti cold cuts and plenty of ambiance. I am lucky to count them as my friends. Francesco, another friend and local wine expert, meets all my groups for an informative wine tasting. Invariably, we are all self-proclaimed experts after the lesson. Salute! Click the picture to watch the video.

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Day 63

San Lorenzo Market

The San Lorenzo Market in Florence has been bustling for decades. Each day, vendors roll out their carts loaded with leather, clothing, pottery and jewelry. This outdoor market is a great place to browse and buy. Be sure to visit all the carts before making your purchase… and yes, it is ok to haggle over the price a little. Click the picture to watch the video.

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Day 64

Venice off the Beaten Path

Venice has been entertaining tourist for several centuries and they all flock to the same squares, bridges and shops. Venturing just 100 yards away from the busy tourist sights will put you in the heart of Venice’s neighborhoods where real families work, drink, play and eat. Click the picture to watch the video.

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Day 65

The Venetian Arsenal

The Venetians had a mighty naval presence during their heyday. Situated at the crossroads between Europe and the East, there was a lot of maritime trade passing through. The Venetian Arsenale was built in 1104 and was the largest industrial complex in the world for centuries. Click the picture to watch the video.

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Day 66

St. Elena

The St. Elena neighborhood is on the quiet side of Venice. Off the beaten tourist path, it offers a peek into a well-loved community in the Castello part of Venice. Located only about a half-mile from Piazza San Marco… but oh, so very different! Click the picture to watch the video.

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Day 67

Bolzano

Bolzano is located in the Alto Adige region of Italy and is actually more German than Italian. Cool weather, soaring mountains and Austro-Hungarian decor. This is the perfect stop to make a cultural transition between Italy and Austria. Bolzano is also home to Ötzi the “Iceman”, a well-preserved mummy dating from 3300 B.C. You’ll see him near the end of this video. Click the picture to watch.

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Your Adventure Starts Here!

100 Days in Europe Days 56-60: The Cinque Terre

by Dawnielle Jacobson | Jul 12, 2016 | Blog, Destinations

Day 56

The Capuchin Monastery

The Cinque Terre is a popular tourist destination in Italy. If you like the beach, seaside, mountains and hiking, then this is an ideal place to visit. The villages are very crowded, especially in the summer tourist season. Often the major hiking trails can be backed up in a “people jam”! However, each village offers an opportunity to get off the beaten path and away from the crowds. One such place is in Monterosso al Mare on the “zii di frati”, the path up to the Capuchin Monastery and cemetery. Click the picture to watch the video.

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Day 57

Treasure Hunting in the Cinque Terre

The Cinque Terre is a great place for outdoor activities. There are beaches, swimming, hiking and boating to name a few. Lately, I’ve enjoyed treasure hunting… you know, trying to find stuff other people have left behind. There is an activity called Geocaching that I’ve been dabbling with lately. Let’s go find a treasure in the Cinque Terre. Click the picture to watch the video.

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Day 58

Vernazza Vacation

Vernazza is perhaps the most well-known of the five Cinque Terre villages. It has everything… beaches, bars, restaurants, cafes, markets and more. It is hard not to sit back, relax and slow down. Click the picture to watch the video.

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Day 59

Manarola

Manarola may well be my favorite village in the Cinque Terre. One can get away from the tourist crowds (yes, even the cruise boat hoards) by walking to the top of the village and following the path into the vineyards. It offers fantastic panoramas of the pastel-painted town, the sea and the mountains. To begin this adventure, simply walk uphill (beginning at the tunnel into town from the train station) until you reach the church. Facing the church follow the little path behind the buildings on your left. Buon viaggio! Click the picture to watch the video.

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Day 60

Ristorante Del Duca

Ristorante Del Duca is my all-time favorite restaurant anywhere! Chefs Ivanna, Genuino and their team produce fantastic menus using only the best local ingredients. Eating here is always a gourmet dinning adventure. Click the picture to watch the video.

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Your Adventure Starts Here!