Dublin Through the Ages

Today, Dublin, Ireland is a thriving, vibrant, metropolitan European capital with a population of about 1.2 million, almost 25% of the country. Yet walking around the city, history is all over. While many come here seeking its spectacular pubs or its music, the history of Dublin is an exciting one, one visible all across the…

Los Angeles’ Hsi Lai Buddhist Temple

From inside the complex, it’s hard to remember that I’m less than a half hour from downtown Los Angeles. The Ming Dynasty style pagodas and shrines of the Hsi Lai Temple gleam in the sun. The gardens, ornate and calming, stand in contrast to the literally dozens of statues lining almost every passageway. Brown clothed…

Los Angeles History in Highland Park

There is never a bad day to visit an outdoor architectural history museum. Even on a slightly cool and overcast June day in Los Angeles, the buildings of Heritage Square Museum shine. The exteriors are beautifully restored and/or preserved, and while the interiors vary from fully furnished and restored to states of semi-ruin, the history…

Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires

Another beautiful day in Buenos Aires, and another neighborhood to explore. More than most cities, Buenos Aires is a collection of unique neighborhoods, each with a completely different look and feel. Puerto Madero stands out for its ultra-modern appeal, new glass skyscrapers towering over the city’s old center. But there is more here to discover.…

Recoleta, Buenos Aires

Some days, it’s nice to just wander, to have a basic plan of some things to see in a given neighborhood, and to see where the roads and paths between them take me. Today is one of those days, as I meander slowly from north to south in Buenos Aires’ Recoleta neighborhood. It is a…

San Telmo, Buenos Aires

It’s a Sunday morning, so naturally I am on my way to Buenos Aires’ San Telmo neighborhood. I am joined by thousands of others, tourists and locals alike. San Telmo is a beautiful neighborhood on any day, but on Sundays, the area comes to life via the famous Féria de San Telmo, or San Telmo…

A Visit to Charleston, SC

Editor’s Note: I had a single day in Charleston before I started The Royal Tour, a day that was so rainy and foggy that I couldn’t even see the water from a waterfront walkway. Even soaking wet and cold, Charleston was beautiful, and this longer look into this historic city from Sam Spector is making…