Evora, Portugal – 8,000 years of History

On another day trip from Lisbon, we went a little farther to the lovely town of Evora, Portugal. This 5,000-year-old university town preserves remnants of many of its previous occupants including a Roman temple, aqueducts, medieval city walls, and more. … Continued

Fujian Tulou

Southern China was once plagued by roving bands of bandits causing the locals to build near-impenetrable homes known as the Fujian Tulou. These large rammed earth structures were essentially villages, some with around 1,000 people living in them. These UNESCO … Continued

Cappadocia – Goreme Open-air Museum

From Pamukkale, we took an overnight coach to the desert region of Cappadocia, with remnants of culture dating back to the Hittite period. The coach ride was probably my worst experience in Turkey. It was uncomfortable, extremely warm, and confusing. … Continued

Ephesus and the Apostle Paul

Ephesus Theater One of the key features of Ephesus is the “largest theater in antiquity” with capacity of 25,000 souls. Used for dramas and performances when first built and expanded to gladiatorial exhibitions in the Roman times, the Ephesus theater … Continued

Ephesus Archaeological Site

Ephesus is magnificent! This ancient city was one of the most important cities in the ancient world, and one of its largest. Ephesus was a major sea port and home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It … Continued

Pergamum

The ancient city of Pergamum, or Pergamon, in Turkey is an impressive archaeological site with hyperbolic details. The city was an extremely wealthy and powerful Grecian kingdom and one of the seven churches about which John wrote. Perched high above … Continued

City of Troy – More than a Wooden Horse

When most people think of the ancient city of Troy from the legends of Odysseus and Achilles, they think of a big wooden horse and ancient Greece. However, most people don’t know where Troy really was, and they don’t know … Continued

Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks

We took a slightly longer route from Dallas to Phoenix, so we could stop at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Being the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, I really wanted to visit at least one national park during my … Continued

My Midnight in Paris – Eiffel Tower

Paris, the City of Lights, is a common bucket list destination, mine included. So, when choosing which really long flight option from Beijing to Dallas I should take, I chose the route that stopped in Paris for fourteen hours after … Continued

NANTA, Jongmyo Shrine, and the Seoul LDS Temple

NANTA She said, “Go see NANTA if you can get tickets.” Based on the advice of my friend, I looked up this strange acronym and found it to be a comedy performance. We got tickets not knowing what to really … Continued

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