After years of working as a social worker and psychology instructor, Suzanne Maggio walked El Camino de Santiago in Spain traveling solo. She was 60 when she did it and is a big advocate for solo travel. There is never a right time to take a big adventure. She is now 65 and has taken three long solo walking trips. One was the third leg of the Via Francigena in … [Read more...]
Madrid, Spain, and Side Trips You Don’t Want to Miss
Gorgeous and majestic Madrid, Spain, is a city of palatial splendor, ornate monuments, historical landmarks, art, and elegance. It is the capital and cultural hub of the country and a doorway into its illustrious past. Find a local guide in Madrid, here. While we were there, we took side trips to the old city of Toledo, the Valley of the Fallen, and El Escorial. See … [Read more...]
Soak in the Romance of Seville, Spain
You can't go to Spain without visiting the seductive city of Seville, known as the "Pearl of Andalusia." The opera Carmen, by George Bizet, takes place there, and tours are available to visit some of the opera locations, such as the old cigarette factory. Find a local guide in Seville, here. For other photo galleries from our trip to Spain, click on the links … [Read more...]
Granada, Spain, and the Magnificent Alhambra
One of our stops on a 3-week vacation in Spain was to the mystical city of Granada. It's the home of the Alhambra palace and fortress, which Moorish poets have described as "a pearl set in Emeralds." It began as a small fortress in 889 AD and was converted into a palace for the Moorish emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar of the Emirate of Granada in the mid-13th century. Its intricate … [Read more...]
How You Can Inspire Your Kid’s Love of Travel
I will never regret being able to give my kids the experience of visiting a foreign country because it opened up a whole new world for them and gave them a love of travel that they still have to this day. We took a trip to Spain when my kids were 16 and 18, but it wouldn't have happened if life hadn't taken the turn that it did. My husband passed away in 2001. At the time, … [Read more...]