Bloom

The John Lennon Wall

In all of our travels, we never felt more like we were on the Amazing Race than when we looked for the John Lennon Wall in Prague. We had our guide book opened, with its disproportioned map, sending our heads spinning around in Kampa Island. And just like an over the top team on the Amazing Race, we broke down and had our silly little spat before finally finding our destination. Tip: Take the stairs down on Charles Bridge to reach Kampa Island. We quickly realized we didn’t have a pen or marker to write our peaceful messages to the world, so we delved into reading ...

Samantha Brown Travels The Jersey Shore

[caption id="attachment_2217" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Photographer: Italo2712"][/caption] Premiering tonight at 10:30 E/P on the Travel Channel is Samantha Brown’s Great Weekends where Samantha explores the Jersey Shore! The Jersey Shore is where this Guy and Girl grew up, so we were thrilled to learn an episode was premiering on the Travel Channel that didn't involve Seaside or Jersey Drama. (Yeah, we got attitude!) Samantha Brown’s episode concentrates on the Jersey Shore's beaches and music scene, which dates back to the generation when our parents and grandparents learned the twist and the mashed potato! Samantha Brown and the Travel Channel really showed off the Jersey Shore's Rock and Roll culture, where even our dogs can join in the ...

Three Barcelona Freebies

Let’s face it – traveling isn’t cheap. Even with today’s fortunate travel steals, travel comes with a price. Between airfare, accommodations, and your budgeted daily allowance for food, transportation, attractions, souvenirs, etc. – travel has its expenses. Luckily for travelers, Barcelona is home to a few freebies, all of which create lifelong memories, cushion your daily travel allowance, and sneak in a little exercise. Views and a Show. Whether art enthusiasts or not, visitors can appreciate the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Here, extraordinary views of Barcelona await you. Located in Palau National in the Montjuic section of Barcelona, visitors can relax on the ...

Bed Bugs: The Exterminator’s Guide for Travelers

The curtain sways with the cool night air, the glow of the street below lingering just for a second. The room is silent except for the deep rhythmic breathing of the couple that lies there. Asleep they are unaware of the vile creature that lurks in the darken corners, waiting for a taste of their warm blood. It may not be a story about vampires, but Bed Bugs are a real concern to many, especially those that travel. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a luxury hotel or in a hostel, if you’re abroad or in the states. What really matters ...

The Painting That Made Me Weep

[caption id="attachment_2184" align="alignleft" width="221" caption="Annibale Carracci - Pietà with Saint Francis and Saint Mary Magdalene"][/caption] I was 25 on vacation in romantic Paris with my husband, Joey of 5 years. We were at the Louvre and had just finished admiring the Mona Lisa. We wanted to explore more, so we headed back into the Grande Galerie, which is this massively long hallway filled with paintings from ceiling to floor. While exploring the gallery, my eyes locked with a painting by Annibale Carracci entitled Pietà with Saint Francis and Saint Mary Magdalene. It portrays Mary holding Christ’s body as Saint Francis and Saint Mary ...