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Paris (part 1), France

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 April 2023 With so much to do in the 4 days we spent in Paris, I've decided to separate it in 4 different areas: Montmartre , Paris (part 1), Paris (part 2) and Versailles. Tour Eiffel A trip to Paris is incomplete without a visit to the iconic Eiffel Tower. We've decided not to queue to climb it, but we definitely made the best of it by exploring the area from all different angles of the tower.    Located in Champs de Mars, this 330 meters high tower was built by Gustave Eiffel as the centrepiece of the 1899 World's Fair, to celebrate 100th anniversary of French Revolution.   Champs de Mars  Originally where Parisisans grew their vegetables and fruits, Champs de Mars witnessed the 1791 massacre as well as important events such as the World Fairs. The park is a great spot to go for a stroll or just relaxed with the Eiffel Tower on the background. Before our trip I read somewhere that it's a perfect place to have a picnic and advising to get the food from Rue Cler,

Montmartre, Paris

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 April 2023 With so much to do in the 4 days we spent in Paris, I've decided to separate it in 4 different areas: Montmartre, Paris (part 1) , Paris (part 2) and Versailles. MONTMARTRE Located on a hill on the 18 th arrondissement, Montmartre boasts the most romantic view of the city from the iconic Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Artists have historically been attracted to Montmartre since Renoir and Toulose-Lautrec and it’s still a vibrant and bohemian village, dotted with cobblestones streets, cafés, artist studios and cabarets. Sacré-Coeur Basilique With an enormous dome which is visible from various parts of Paris, Le Sacré-Coeur is situated on the top of Montmartre, a 130 meters hill, with a panoramic breathtaking view of Paris. In the surrounding areas of the Basilique are known as the painter’s neighbourhood, a very unique atmosphere with lots of restaurants, shops, cafés and small streets. Just around the corner from Sacré-Coeur is Place du Tertre, one of the most famous sq

San Francisco, USA

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 A day in San Francisco - 23/05/2006 With only one day to spend in San Francisco, I and a couple of friends, tried to see as much as we could. It was enough to fall in love with this beautiful city, and it still places number one in my heart when it comes to places in the United States. FISHERMAN'S WHARF One of the must-visit spots in San Francisco, Fisherman's Wharf is a waterfront marketplace, with a bustling atmosphere, packed with family-friendly entertainment, lots of restaurants (famous for fresh seafood, especially crabs) and souvenir shops. A nd of course, you can't miss Pier 39, where a community of sea lions has taken residence. It all started shortly after the earthquake of 1989 with a few Californian sea lions hauling out on Pier 39. By the begining of 1990, they started arriving in droves and completely took over the K-Dock of Pier 39. After a lot of debate and research, the experts from the Marine Mammal Center recommended that the sea lions stay in their

Hubbard Glacier, Alaska

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Summers of 2005 and 2006 - Memories from when I worked on a cruise ship A spa with stunning views takes it to another level, and this was the view from my treatment room once a week for 2 summers. A very unique experience to witness the power and beauty of nature. Hubbard Glacier is a very popular tourist destination, with many cruise ships visiting during the summer months. In fact, you can only reach Hubbard Glacier by boat. Or you can take a scenic flight tour and admire the glacier from the sky. From its source on Mount Logan in the Yukon territory, Hubbard Glacier stretches 76 miles to the sea at Yakutat and Disenchantment Bays. It is the longest tidewater glacier in Alaska, with an open calving face over six miles wide. Calving is the process of ice breaking off from the face of the glacier as a natural part of its life cycle. Something I witnessed multiple times, a unique spectacle with the formation of new icebergs as large as buildings and the sound of thunders. Small i

Riga, Latvia

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Visiting Riga in January was a unique and memorable experience. From beautiful blue skies and sparkling sunshine at -16ºC to a city covered in a picture-perfect blanket of white snow, Riga was magical! With snow dusted rooftops, red-tiled turrets and pointy-spired churches, cobblestone narrow streets and amazing architecture, Riga embraces modernity while preserving its rich heritage!