A Bit Of History – Page 20 – The Intentional Travelers

The Danube River’s Iron Gates

Sailing Through The Iron Gates Going up the Danube River from the Black Sea the river passes through some of its most remarkable scenery. The Iron Gates of the Danube River refers to narrow gorges with high granite walls that divide Romania and Serbia. The term “Iron Gate” was first coined by The Times ofContinue reading “The Danube River’s Iron Gates”

Avignon, France

Avignon, a city with a remarkable history. Very few people, outside of Southern France or the historians at the Vatican know much about the French Papacy. You see the Papacy hasn’t always been in Rome but actually resided in Avignon for a time. The Avignon Papacy lasted from 1309 to 1376 during which seven successiveContinue reading “Avignon, France”

Melk Abby, Austria

Perhaps the grandest monastery in Austria, or central Europe is the magnificent Melk Abbey. The head Abbot, Berthold Dietmayr and the architects Jakob Prandtauer and Joseph Munggenast created this masterpiece from 1701 to 1736 upon the foundations of a much older medieval monastery. The centerpiece of the Abby is the library, with the main hallContinue reading “Melk Abby, Austria”

Budapest And The 1956 Holiday

A Time When Hungary Remembers The Revolt From 2018 – but even more relevant today. It’s October 23rd and we are in Budapest sitting in a restaurant*. A young couple come in and sit at the table next to us. The young lady is in her twenties, attractive and is speaking Hungarian to the waitressContinue reading “Budapest And The 1956 Holiday”

Port Of Call Costa Maya

Costa Maya, Mexico • The Making Of A Cruise Port The cruise industry, over the past three or four decades, has changed the world. Growing exponentially from a handful of ships to literally hundreds and thousands and along with that growth has come an ever expanding demand for ports of call. Large seaports, capable ofContinue reading “Port Of Call Costa Maya”

Love Locks A Pledge Of Love

Is It A Statement of Love or Vandalism? A SHORT STORY We weren’t aware of love locks before about a decade ago but recently as we travel we often come across collections of padlocks attached to bridges, fences and other public structures. It wasn’t difficult to figure out what was going on by all theContinue reading “Love Locks A Pledge Of Love”