Travel and Leisure

History, Patience, and Understanding: An American Travel Story of Growth

For three years, my wife and I have lived abroad in Portugal. This time of temporary immigration has led to meeting people of many different cultures and has provided delightful experiences. Recently, I had another learning encounter that teaches all of us a beautiful lesson. I went into a ca Read More

A Brief History of the Palace of Versailles

Situated about 10 miles southwest of Paris France is an epic and historic production known as the Palace of Versailles. On a land that was once the home of a dreary marsh and ramshackle old farm buildings, Versailles has risen to become one of Paris' main attractions and one of the gran Read More

Nazaré: The Silver Coast's Popular Seaside Destination

The waves are dotted with surfers trying their luck here. Azure skies meet turquoise water, water that dips low before stretching up, taller than skyscrapers: the tallest waves in the world. It’s a surfer’s dream. From the soft sands of the shoreline, onlookers watch the spectacle with b Read More

Portugal’s Beauty in Ruins: A Revelation in Photography

Is it possible to find beauty in ruins? Can one see artistic glimmers within a place that is in a state of decay and neglect? The answer undoubtedly is yes, and Portugal is a testament to that answer. When I first moved to Portugal, almost two years ago, I was fascinated by what I saw as Read More

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Facts, Travel, and Points of Interest

Malaysia is a country located in southeast Asia directly south of Thailand and with islands bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam. Comprised of 878 islands, over 500 of which are unnamed, It is a beautiful and tropical country known for having a significant infl Read More

The Portuguese Early Gothic Style of the Alcobaça Monastery

In the heart of the Oeste Subregion in Alcobaça lies a medieval monastery that embodies everything beautiful about the Portuguese early gothic style, the Mosteiro de Alcobaça. Admiring this grand structure from the outside, ancient stories of love and tragedy are visible in the origina Read More