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Friday, March 21, 2025

Let's Check out Some Amazing Things in Europe in This Week's Fast Five!

I love Europe and I love castles and forts and cathedrals and anything to do with mountains.  That being said; join me for some amazing places in Europe that you shouldn't miss!

























 






1.    Not only visit the Palermo Cathedral, but climb to the top of it!  Palermo, Sicily, Italy.


I love a good cathedral and Palermo has it all and then some.  It's an operational church, so you can go inside and look around the nave for free.  If you'd like to see crypts, royal tombs, the treasury and make your climb up the over 100 steps from the secret passage behind the chapel; it will cost you 7 Euros.


This cathedral is the replacement for one that was burned down.  It was rebuilt in the 1100's and is as historic as so many things in Italy are.  If you happen to be in Sicily, however, this place is gorgeous and has an amazing view from the walkway on the roof.  It's not every day you get to walk along the peak of a cathedral roof in Italy, so if you're in the area; don't miss it!


https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187890-d246489-r396359092-Cattedrale_di_Palermo-Palermo_Province_of_Palermo_Sicily.html




https://www.excursionssicily.com/palermo-cathedral-all-you-need-to-know/




https://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/sicily/palermo/attractions/cattedrale-di-palermo/a/poi-sig/1269796/360009




https://www.italia.it/en/sicily/palermo/cattedrale-di-palermo




https://wearepalermo.com/palermo-tourist-information/



























2.    Salina Turda, Turda, Romania.   What to do with an old salt mine?  Turn it into an amusement park.  What?  The Turda Salt Mine is one of the most amazing underground places you'll ever visit.  I've visited Wieliczka in Krakow, Poland, and I can tell you that these old salt mines are incredible.


In Turda, they decided to utilize the fabulous underground feature to entertain.  They have boats, playgrounds, bowling, billiards, food and drink, and rides.  That's right, there's a ferris wheel amongst other things down there.  It's spectacular, with costs running from around $16 up depending on what you wish to do.  They also have a spa, swimming pool and so much more down there.


If you find yourself in the wonderful country of Romania, and you're near, Turda in the north of the country; you need to check this out.  The city is full of accommodations so you can plan a really good time and do something truly unique.



https://www.salinaturda.eu/en/locatie/salina-amusement-park/ 



https://whereandwander.com/bucket-list-salina-turda-and-the-worlds-most-surreal-amusement-park/



https://www.worldrecordacademy.org/2024/10/worlds-largest-underground-theme-park-salina-turda-theme-park-in-romania-sets-world-record-424434



https://www.getyourguide.com/turda-l144428/



https://www.expedia.com/Turda.dx6125978





























3.    The Castles of Bellinzona, Ticino, Switzerland.   Off to southern Switzerland we go.  I love Switzerland!  I love castles!  Just north of Italy in the Ticino region are three castle fortresses known as the Bellinzona Castles.


They are known as Castelgrande, Montebello, and Sasso Corbaro.  The train stops in this area where the three castles are well preserved to this day.  It's set up for tourists, so there are accommodations and food.  There's even McDonald's if you like.  The castles can easily be visited in one day and they are a wonder and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


The castles were built in Roman times so they are old, and I can't express that enough.  Southern Switzerland has some amazing things to see and if you're in the area and love history and castles; you shouldn't miss it.













































These next two really do go together.



4.    The Gornergrat Railway and Gornergrat, Valais, Switzerland.   This area is gorgeous!  This is that Matterhorn area in southern Switzerland that I will never get enough of.  The train runs not far from Zermatt up to the ridge and has amazing views and a great station at the top.  


Prices for the train from Zermatt to the top start at $108 or so.  Prices vary depending on what you wish to do and where you're catching the train.  I love these high trains in Switzerland.  They are a delight and the views are like nothing else on Earth.  This are around Zermatt lead to what is called the other top of Europe.  The first being Jungfrau on the other side reached from the Lauterbrunnen Valley.


Alpine trains are a wonder, so if in Zermatt or the area; check it out if just for the amazing views of the Matterhorn.













































5.    The Matterhorn Glacier Palace, Klein Matterhorn, Switzerland.   Once again, I love Switzerland.  When I was in Lauterbrunnen, I discovered that up on Jungfrau there were tunnels carved into the inside of the glacier.  It was amazing to walk through and see all the displays and just to walk inside of a glacier.


Well, on the other side, at Klein Matterhorn, you can also walk through tunnels in the glacier.  Who knew there would be two of these on planet Earth?  It's a great place to visit and the displays are great too.  There's also an observation station on top of the mountain with stunning views.  


Unlike Jungfrau and its cog railway, this one is a series of gondola rides to get to the top.  Fabulous!  I love gondolas too!  Tickets to get up there will start at $105 or so, but it's worth it!  You can also ski and tube at the top.


This is the highest mountain station in Europe.  It's surrounded by 38 peaks that are 4,000 meters or more high and 14 glaciers.  It's a fabulous experience and you get to walk inside of one of the glaciers too.   Once again, if in the Zermatt area; don't miss this.



















There you have it.  Some amazing things to see and do in Europe that will enhance any trip.  I'm Swiss at heart and once you get me talking about Switzerland; you get nothing else.  So, my apologies if I got carried away with Switzerland, but it's a truly unbelievable country to visit.  I've been three times and would go again.  There's so much to see and do.  I love salt mine visits as well.  They are unforgettable.  Always remember; you're there for the experience.  You are looking for that something that you will remember for the rest of your life.  Enjoy the view, enjoy the experience, enjoy the creativity, enjoy nature, and simply enjoy!
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Monday, March 17, 2025

Who's Up For Some Hockey!


 



Welcome hockey fans!  I decided to share with you some fun that I've had over the last few weeks.  I've been taking my husband to a couple of hockey games!



I don't know if anyone follows history in hockey or drama in Connecticut where we live, but we certainly have our share of iced history and current fun.  Years ago, 1972 to be exact, the Hartford Whalers were created.  They played in the World Hockey Association until 1979 when they became part of the NHL.  They weren't a particularly successful hockey team, but Connecticut was their home for quite some time.  



Years later, in 1997, the team abandoned Connecticut for Raleigh, North Carolina to become the Hurricanes.   This left Connecticut without an NHL team.  The Hurricanes have won one Stanley Cup, so I guess that was worth the move?  Who knows?



Also in the history of hockey in CT were the Danbury Trashers who were part of the United Hockey League.  Their owner, James Galante was arrested after the second season for several charges including racketeering, so away they went.  Currently, there's a Federal Prospects Hockey League team called the Danbury Hat Tricks in that city, but we're not covering Danbury today.
















Today, I'm discussing my visits to watch the Bridgeport Islanders and the Hartford Wolf Pack.  I found them both to be a lot of fun, but there were some differences and some odd likenesses that I'd like to talk about.





First, these are very local for us in New England.  Bridgeport is affiliated with the Islanders, obviously; it's right in the name.  The Hartford Wolf Pack is affiliated with the New York Rangers.  They each play a wide range of teams from all over the eastern part of the country and Canada.





But, that's only one similarity.   
















The Islanders have a mascot by the name of Storm.  He's supposed to be a blue tiger and he's a lot of fun.  Storm takes a lot of photos with the fans, greets everyone he possibly can before the game, and makes his way through the stands during the game.  He even helps with entertainment on the ice and helps shoot t-shirts out of a cannon.





The Wolf Pack has Sonar the wolf who does many of the same things as Storm does for the Islanders.  Greets as many fans as possible, takes lots of pictures, makes his way through the crowd, and helps with entertainment both on and off the ice.  The one distinguishable difference I found was that the Wolf Pack doesn't seem to have t-shirt cannons.  Bummer.  But, Sonar does have an amazing arm and can throw t-shirts almost as far as a cannon can shoot them.



















Both teams have busy schedules with lots of opportunities for fans come and watch.  They're hockey, not football, so they play any night of the week and during the afternoons at times on weekends.  They all have theme days and recognition days.  They both schedule local talent to perform at the games.  It's a lot of fun and each team spotlights their city with entertainment.





The Islanders play in the fairly new Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport along the shore and the Wolf Pack plays at the well known XL Center in downtown Hartford.  At Bridgeport you will likely park in an open lot that does have great security during events.  In Hartford you'll park in the garage across the street which has a walkway connecting it directly to the arena.  Both are great venues.





The XL Center does have one thing that the Total Mortgage Arena doesn't.  They have the famous Ted's Burgers.  Ted's is originally from Meriden, CT.  That's where the flagship store is.  They are the original steamed cheeseburgers and they are fabulous.  That's one thing I love about the XL Center.




























The bottom line is that this level of hockey is almost never sold out.  We got our Islanders tickets at the box office right before the game.  The Wolf Pack tickets I did order in advance but didn't have to.  There were tickets available.




This doesn't mean that the games aren't popular.  These venues are huge.  They can house thousands of people.  Both games that I attended had great crowds and everyone had a really good time.  Tickets for these games aren't expensive and make for a great time.  Hartford tickets start at just $13 and Bridgeport tickets start at $14.  These events can cost less than seeing a movie.




Would I go and see these teams play again?  I'm planning on it.  Both games provided good, exciting games.  They both had good seats available.  They both had good concessions, parking, and accessibility.  They both had great entertainment and music in the downtime.  The crowds in both venues were fun.  I can't imagine a better way to get out a bit in the dead of winter in New England.










Don't let winter get you down, and if you like hockey, don't let it get you down if you don't have an NHL team playing close by.  Lower level hockey is a lot of fun to watch.  The games are fun, and the venues are fun.  They have something for everyone so get out a bit and enjoy!




















































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Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Once in a While, You Need That Special Splurge for a Special Trip! This Week's Fast Five of Unique Luxury Hotels!

 I am budget travel girl, but the fact of the matter is; once in a while you have a special occasion and need something that's one of a kind and that pampers you in some way.  Here's some great options for that time that's a honeymoon, or special anniversary where you want to have something unforgettable.



























1.    Tivoli Carvoeiro Algarve Resort, Carvoeiro, Portugal.  I love Portugal, so this one is amazing to me.  Set upon a cliff in the middle of the Algarve Region of southern Portugal is where you'll find this amazing luxury resort hotel.  It has luxury rooms of all kinds, indoor and outdoor pools, spa, fitness center, several bars and restaurants, periodic events and on and on.  


This place; however, has something amazing.  Almost anywhere you go, you have a view off of a cliff in the Algarve of Portugal with the Atlantic Ocean as your backdrop with breathtaking sunsets.  You can even book a picnic on a cliff at this place.


There are trails to walk along the cliffs.  There are beaches below to hang out at.  There are boat tours you can take all up and down the coast of this area.  This is the sunniest, warmest, and most popular fun in the sun spot in the entire country.  Here's the best part; for a luxury resort hotel, it doesn't even cost that much with rooms starting at 148 Euros per night.























































2.    The Muraka Hotel, Mandhoo, Rangali Island, Maldives.    This is a place that has so many levels of luxury, it's hard to describe.  And I mean that both figuratively and literally.  The Muraka is the home of underwater luxury.


You can get an above water room for under $1,000 a night.  That's a fact.  You don't need to pay the exorbitant price of the underwater bedroom, but if you want for your honeymoon; I say go for it.  Even if you don't sleep underwater, you can dine underwater at the Ithaa Restaurant.


This is a private resort, far away from any bustling anything.  You can get a private butler, all kinds of services.  You can have glass portals in your floor where you can watch the sea life go by.  There are all kinds of activities to do and excursions to take.  You can snorkel, scuba dive, go to an island for the day that you have all to yourself.  The possibilities are endless.  And the view is something you can only see a few places in the world.  If you want to try something underwater; this could be for you.























































3.    Palacia de Sal, Colchani, Bolivia.  Have you ever heard of the Uyuni salt Flats?  Guess where this hotel is?  Right in the middle of the almost 8,000 mile salt flats.  This is one of those destinations that sits on a bucket list.  It's one of the most surreal places in the whole world.  The best part?  The hotel is made of salt.  The whole place.



Over 12,000 feet above sea level in the salt flats of the Andes sits this amazing luxury hotel resort with rooms starting at the mid $200 per night.  They have luxury rooms, luxury spa, great gastronomy.  It's one of the most amazing things in the world.


You can relax and take it all in.  Most of this will be done as part of a tour of the salt flats.  It's typically part of a trip booked with a professional tour company, but don't let that change your view.  This is a rare find.  It has a spa where most of the treatments are based in salt therapy.  And, when you go to sleep at night, you're looking at salt blocks for your ceiling.  Will the rain melt it?  Nah; it's one of the driest climates on the entire planet.  So, if you've ever wondered what you'd do in Bolivia?  Here's an idea worth looking into.























































4.    Mashpi Lodge, Mashpi, Ecuador.  Once in a while, I love to commune with nature.  Mashpi Lodge is located in the middle of a cloud forest in Ecuador.  It doesn't get much more natural than that.  You'll have some of the dreamiest views anywhere.


What can you expect at this place?   You can expect to pay at least $1,000 per night.  Just being fair, but it's in the middle of a cloud forest and it's environmentally friendly and it's cool.  Nature is always just outside the door or window.


There's a spa with massages, outdoor jacuzzies, treatments and serenity.  There are some truly cool activities like the Sky Bike, which is just that.  It's like a zipline of sorts but you pedal yourself through the canopy.  It's a great and original place.  You can go up the viewing tower for a look and see some views that you may have only seen on TV.  The quiet, the amazing food, the spa, the activities.  It's one of a kind and it's in the middle of a cloud forest in the middle of nowhere in Ecuador.  Pretty special.
























































5.    Argos in Cappadocia, Uchisar, Turkey.    Where else can you stay in a luxury hotel in a cave?  I don't know; probably somewhere, but this is awesome!


This is mystical.  Cappadocia is one of the most historic regions in the world.  Filled with hoodoos or fairy chimneys, it looks unreal.  Argos is built in an old monastery from ancient times and has all the luxury you can imagine.  Rooms actually start at just over $800  a night and you get so much. 


There's a spa, world class restaurants, excursions out into the area, including that morning hot air balloon ride that Cappadocia is so famous for.  You have indoor pool, outdoor pool, private jacuzzies in some accommodations.  The view will knock you over and the rest is frosting.  The town is ancient, dating back to the Hittites and the culture is as authentic as it gets.






















There you have it.  I don't talk about luxury often, but once in a while you have a special occasion that needs something over the top.  I love the pure idea of these hotels.  I'd love to go to any of the places, but I've never looked at the luxury possibilities of the areas.  These hotels will help you enjoy your honeymoon, 50th anniversary, retirement or whatever huge occasion deserves something truly unique and unforgettable.  If you have just such an occasion, book a unique and amazing hotel, pack your bags (and don't forget something kinda fancy for those gastronomy nights out) and enjoy!


Please follow for more ideas for unique and normally budget travel on this weekly blog!
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