Tag: travel

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Sagrada Familia

The Basilica Sagrada Familia (Holy Family Basilica) in Barcelona is the most over-the-top cathedral in the world. And it’s still under construction!

Designed mostly by the inimitable Antoni Gaudí, it is Seussian on the exterior and equally fascinating inside. The way Gaudí plays with light with the stained-glass windows boggles the senses with its natural exuberance. Don’t miss it if you travel to Barcelona! And make sure you go to the Passion Tower. (Stay through the video to the end, and you’ll enjoy a concert in the bell tower.)

We also discovered a couple of hidden museums in the bowels of the basilica, and even a bust of the architect, Gaudí.

The guided tour with the tower included cost about 40 euros each, which included an English-language audio tour and a trip up one of the towers. There are cheaper options available, and we did leave the tour and just use the audio guide, which was more our style. We spent at least three hours there.

TIP: Reserve your tickets well in advance of your trip, because the Basilica is very popular and sells out. And it’s best to buy them directly from the cathedral’s website, because other distributors jack up the prices.

INFO

Basilica de la Sagrada Familia
Map

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Madrid’s Astounding Royal Palace (Palacio Real)

No trip to Madrid is complete without a visit to the Palacio Real, or Royal Palace, a stunning structure that has more than 3,000 rooms, most of them embellished with gold. Bob’s camera is unusually tilted during this video, so try not to get dizzy!

Entrance tickets cost 12 euros for Lisa, half price for Bob as a senior. (There are some advantages!)

It’s hard to describe the beauty. You’ll have to watch to see!

Info

Madrid Tourism
Palacio Real
Map

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Riding Lisbon’s Famous Tram 28

No trip to Lisbon is complete without a ride on iconic Tram 28, an old-fashioned tram that takes you through the city’s most famous neighborhoods in a vehicle so narrow it almost brushes the historic buildings.

The classic yellow trams retain original 1930s features like brass dials and polished wood interiors. It squeezes in and out of unimaginably narrow alleys.

It’s a great introduction to the city, and a unique experience no one should miss!

Info
Map

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Hamlet in Prague

We went to a fascinating art exhibition called “To Be or Not To Be” the Clam-Gallas Palace in Prague’s Old Town. The first is called Hamlet, and the bust is a study of the contrast and struggle between life and death. The last image in this series has the names of the artists.

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A Mexican Mega-Resort Experience, Part 3: Even More Vidanta

Want to feel like you’re rich and famous? Come with us on Part 3 of our tour of a Mexican mega-resort, the luxurious Vidanta Nayarit on the west coast of Mexico.

We’ll tour more of enormous Vidanta, including La Cantina, Gong, and other restaurants; the Grand Bliss; the Mayan Palace; walking on the boardwalk pathways that connect the resort; the Plaza marketplace that carries everything you need (groceries, bakery, froyo, flip flops, sunglasses), and everything you don’t ( gourmet chocolate, jewelry); the Sanctuario entertainment hub; and many other parts of this breathtaking resort.

Want to see what you missed? Part 1 took us from arrival at Puerto Vallarta Airport, through transit to the resort, and the check-in experience. 

In Part 2, we took an early morning tour of Vidanta’s Grand Mayan Hotel and beyond, including breakfast, restaurants, beach, pools, fitness center, a lazy river, and the sky dream gondola. Soak up the lifestyle of the rich and famous! 

Thanks for joining us on this three-part tour of this Mexican mega-resort!

INFO

Vidanta Resort
Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta

Map

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A Mexican Mega-Resort Experience, Part 2: More Vidanta

When we bought a fractional ownership at Vidanta Resort in Mexico, we had no idea the world of luxury we would soon encounter. We’re a middle-class family, not accustomed to the perks of the super-rich that we find at Vidanta. If you’re like us, you’ll enjoy taking me take a three-part tour of this Mexican mega-resort, and spend a few minutes feeling like one of the rich and famous.

In this Part 2 of our Mexican Mega-Resort Experience series on the Messy Suitcase travel channel, we’ll take an early morning tour of Vidanta’s Grand Mayan Hotel and beyond, including breakfast, restaurants, beach, pools, fitness center, a lazy river, and the sky dream gondola. Soak up the lifestyle of the rich and famous!

Part 1 took us from arrival at Puerto Vallarta Airport, through transit to the resort, and the check-in experience. 

Part 3 – coming soon! – will feature a tour of more of the enormous Vidanta, including La Cantina, Gong, and other restaurants; the Grand Bliss; the Mayan Palace; walking on the boardwalk pathways that connect the resort; the Plaza marketplace that carries everything you need (groceries, bakery, froyo, flip flops, sunglasses), and everything you don’t ( gourmet chocolate, jewelry); the Sanctuario entertainment hub; and many other parts of this breathtaking resort.

INFO

Vidanta Resort
Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta

Map 

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A Mexican Mega-Resort Experience, Part 1: Arrival at Vidanta

When we bought a fractional ownership at Vidanta Resort, we had no idea about the world of luxury we would soon find ourselves wrapped in. Two ordinary, middle-class people who allowed ourselves to get sucked into the timeshare game, we are not accustomed to valets transporting our luggage to our room, or giant soaking bathtubs in our bathrooms, or massive fitness centers, or luxury spas, incredible swimming pools, a lazy river outside the door, or countless other perks of the super-rich that we find at Vidanta.

Come take a three-part tour of a Mexican mega-resort, and spend a few minutes feeling like one of the rich and famous.

Part 1 takes us from arrival at Puerto Vallarta Airport, through transit to the resort, and the check-in experience.

Part 2 takes us on an early morning tour of the Grand Mayan and beyond, including breakfast, restaurants, beach, pools, fitness center, a lazy river, and the sky dream gondola

Part 3 takes us on a tour of more parts of enormous Vidanta, including La Cantina, Gong, and other restaurants: the Grand Bliss, the Mayan Palace, walking on the pathways, the Plaza marketplace that carries everything you need (groceries, bakery, froyo, flip flops, sunglasses),and everything you don’t ( gourmet chocolate, jewelry), the Sanctuario entertainment hub, and many other parts of the resort.

Watch for Parts 2 and 3, coming soon. Enjoy!

Info

Vidanta Resort
Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta

Map

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Ponce Art Museum: After the Earthquake

Many have told us about the outstanding quality of the Ponce Art Museum (Museo de Arte), but two large earthquakes in January 2020 changed all that, when the main building was badly damaged and closed. They finally reopened a section of the museum this year, and we decided to check it out!

After the earthquakes, the Museum displayed items at its gallery in San Juan, and took to the streets with workshops to shelters and schools. When COVID hit, it expanded its digital platform. Now it’s gradually opening again while raising funds to repair the earthquake damage.

The museum still has very limited offerings, though we really enjoyed what we saw. It costs just $6 to get in, half price for seniors. Free guided tours are conducted at 10 AM (Spanish) and 1 PM (English).

Photos

(Note: Ponce is pronounced POHN-say.)

INFO

Museum website
Santurce Gallery
Status of reconstruction

MAP

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Messy Suitcase New Intro

We are so proud of this awesome new intro for Messy Suitcase videos that we simply HAVE to share it! It’s a collaboration between Hamburg, Germany-based musician/composer Patrick Hamm and Champlain College Filmmaking student Gavin Greenawalt.

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