Travel and Leisure

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

Foz do Arelho: The Quiet Wonder of the Silver Coast

With a hypnotic and calm “lagoa” (lagoon) beach, contrasting the seaside tumult and rocky cliffs, Foz do Arelho is the quiet wonder of the Silver coast. Positioned directly west of the friendly city of Caldas da Rainha, Foz, as it is known by the local expats, offers everything one can d Read More

Moscow Points of Interest and the Beginning of My Story

Where do the stories of one’s life usually begin? From one’s native town or the place where you were born? For some people, those are the same places, while for others they are two different places, two completely diverse stories. While I am originally Armenian and spent most of my li Read More

Agra Fort and Tales of Mughal Empire

The name Agra is mainly famous for the iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site, Taj Mahal. However, the city is more than just the Taj Mahal; it holds the history of a significant part of the Mughal Empire. The famous Agra Fort had been the home of Mughal Emperors for many generations.  Read More

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park is one of Japan's national treasures. It is divided into four general areas that include Mt. Fuji area, Hakone area, Izu Peninsula, and Izu Islands. Instead of being in one place, the park's points of interest are dispersed throughout the region. In these areas Read More

A Brief History of Schönbrunn Palace (House of Habsburgs)

Located in Vienna, Austria, Schönbrunn Palace has a history that dates to the Middle Ages. However, it was not until 1569 that the estate came into the possession of the House of Habsburg (Haus Österreich) through Maximilian II. Prior to that, there were many documented owne Read More