Caribbean getaway: spending a long week-end in Santa Marta & the Tayrona National Park

travel, architecture, Colombia, South America, hiking, nature, National Parks, Tayrona National Park

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As it is currently pouring over Bogota, I thought now was as good a time as any to tell you what I was up to last week-end, which was extra long for me as Colombia also celebrates Columbus Day as Dia de la Raza y la Hispanidad, literally Race and Hispanicity Day. Controversies surrounding genocidal maniac Christopher Columbus aside, with that Monday off, and since I don’t have class on Tuesdays and my first class is at 5 P.M. on Wednesdays, I jetted off to the area of Santa Marta, in the North of Colombia.

Why Santa Marta? Well, because I already had arranged for accommodation up there since before I even left Europe. How? Because I stayed with a Couchsurfing member who I had already interacted with a few times on the website’s forums, and who had extended me an invitation up north whenever I would get…

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Seville Cathedral in Spain

architecture, cathedral, cityscape, Europe, explore, gothic, photography, seville, Spain, travel, wanderlust

Living The Q Life Travel Adventures

When visiting Seville in Spain, the Catredal de Santa Maria de la Sede, better known as the Seville Cathedral, will certainly be one of the top locations on your itinerary. It is certainly a beautiful, gothic cathedral and is one of the largest churches in the world. Just walking around and through the church is certainly worth spending an hour or two at the cathedral, but going to the top of the Giralda, or bell tower, should absolutely be part of your visit. The views of the city of Seville from the cathedral’s bell tower are absolutely stunning.

IMGP3775 Impressive Size of the Cathedral

View of the Guadalquivir River

Organ Pipes

IMGP3778 Over Looking the Alcázar Palace

IMGP3780 The Giraldi or Bell Tower

As you approach the cathedral, you will likely be approached by gypsy women offering you bundles of herbs or flowers. If you accept them, you will immediately be expected to…

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Voltaire in Strasbourg

In May, 1753, Voltaire arrived in Strasbourg after a row with Frederick II, the King of Prussia, whom he had spent the previous three years in his service. In a letter to his niece, Madame Denis, Voltaire exclaimed, “Je suis retirer” (I can now rest). Voltaire had a great affection for this enchanting city in the Alsace region of eastern France which dates back to the Moyen Age.

Voltaire loved Strasbourg and spent a year here reflecting, rejuvenating and reveling in the culture and beauty that Strasbourg can bring. During this time, he wrote Madame Denis, over one hundred letters detailing his life.

FRANCE, REVISITED: Strasbourg and Voltaire