There is no doubt about it. The Acropolis is Athens’ top sight. But it is not the only way to experience ancient Athens, and seeing only the Acropolis and expecting to emerge with an understanding of Athens at its height is doing a disservice to just how incredible this city was. The Acropolis is amazing,…
Few places on the planet are more iconic. Even at 9am, an August day in Athens is hot, and especially so here, on top of the Acropolis, the platform-topped rocky crag that has been the centerpiece of this city for three millennia or more. There is little shade, and though a breeze helps, the sun…
This was a trip of incredible surprises. Sure, I expected my four day weekend in Malta to be awesome, filled with fun history from the capital of Valletta. (Click here to read more about Valletta and the history of Malta.) But the rest? I wasn’t exactly skeptical - after all, every place has amazing aspects…
Editor’s note: it has been a lot of years now since I visited Madrid in the early days of The Royal Tour. (Click here to read my guide from back then.) I loved it, and my visit to Toledo while there. Funny enough, I tried to also see El Escorial, but did a poor job…
Gazing across Marsamxett Harbor at the skyline of Valletta is a surreal experience. The capital of the tiny island nation of Malta is itself minute, almost pocket sized, with a population of around 6,000. (However, the Valletta area contains the majority of the country’s residents, at about 400,000, and it feels like a single entity.)…
Scotland is awesome, and anyone who visits will probably love their time. But, as with anywhere, there are some things that first-time explorers might want to know, things that might help you to plan a better trip, to be more comfortable while there, or just to manage expectations properly. Here are a few of those…
I knew I’d like Edinburgh. But I didn’t realize just how much I’d love the city. It is historic, beautiful, full of exciting things to see and wonderful people to meet. Scotland’s capital really has a ton going for it, for a short trip or a long stay. I spent a month solid in Edinburgh,…
A day spent at a castle is almost by definition a good day. There is just something magical, something mystical, about a castle. Fortress, manor home, commercial center, power projector… castles were the ultimate symbol of medieval might, and remain a source of intrigue today. This one is no exception. Most visitors to Edinburgh make…
One of the best parts of travel is the food. With basically no exceptions, every place in the world has good food. While some cuisines are more or less to my particular palate, eating what the locals eat, what places do well, will typically be a terrific experience. Yes, even in Scotland. Scottish food has…
Before coming to Scotland, I’d never heard of Dundee. It is Scotland’s fourth largest city (after Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen), a UNESCO City of Design, and boasts a couple of sights that are truly worthy of planning a day around. And yet for me, and I’m guessing for most Americans, the mention of Dundee would…