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A Quick Journey Through Morocco

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If you have the luxury of spending a month or two in Morocco you'll be able to really immerse yourself in one of the most fascinating countries on the African continent. So much to see and do even a week or two is a marvelous way to experience a truly amazing country. Get Inspired and take a trip to MOROCCO: M O R O C C A N   CO U S CO U S 2 cups water, 1 cup couscous, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion, 1 shallot, chopped, 6 cloves of garlic, chopped in quarters, 1/2 cup golden raisins, 1 tablespoon butter, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 cup slivered almonds, 1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes dipped in olive oil Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan and stir in the couscous. Cook about 10 to 15 minutes until couscous absorbs all the water. Set aside. Heat the olive oil in a skillet and add the yellow onion, shallot, garlic, and then the raisins. Once gently coo...

The Delights of Morocco

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Moroccan Mint Tea is the traditional tea of Morocco that is enjoyed throughout the day. It's a symbol of family, friendship, and hospitality. The North African country of Morocco has some of the most delightful cuisine in the world. Cuisine is not the only star attraction in Morocco. Nature beckons to citizens and tourists alike who can enjoy the desert, mountains, valleys, and sea. Morocco's landscape is very unique. Bordered by the Atlantic and Mediterranean Seas, Morocco is blessed with very pleasant beaches. The Orient Desert Express train will leave you with fond memories. The 305 kilometer train journey offers panoramic views of the famous Sahara Desert. Ride a camel and experience what "real transportation" is in Morocco. So much to see and so much to do in the country of Morocco. Start with a few cups of Moroccan Mint Tea and begin your journey through the diverse country known as Morocco. M O R O C C A N   M I N T    T E A 1 tablespo...

Valentines Day in Venice (Romance in Italy)

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VALENTINES DAY in VENICE….how ROMANTIC…. The Valentines Day celebration derived from Christian & Roman traditions. In 498 AD Pope Gelasius  proclaimed February 14th to be the feast day in honor of Saint Valentine; a Roman martyr who lived in the 3rd century, ITALY is the country of romance and Venice, Italy is truly one of the most romantic cities in the world. Romance shines throughout Venice especially on Valentines Day. Hold hands with your loved one and walk the narrow cobblestone streets of Venice, than take a Venetian gondola boat on one of the canals. It never hurts to know a little bit of Italian….. hello- ciao goodbye- arrivederci please- per favore thank you- grazie I love you- ti amo V  E  N  E  Z  I  A BEST GELATO Boutique del Gelato SIGHTS: Piazza San Marco Basilica di San Marco Gallerie dell' Accademia Rialto Market San Rocco Palazzo Ducale P...

POLAND: Krakow to Gdansk

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An Eastern European country Poland has lots of culture, history, and scenery to absorb. Whether you travel its landmass from north to south, or south to north you'll be enriched with it's diversity and remarkable people. WIELICZKZA SALT MINE www.wieliczka-saltmine.com One of the few cities in Central Europe to withstand its medieval buildings during the "WAR" days, Krakow is filled with many sights to explore. There is Old Town, Wawal Castle, Wawal Cathedral and the not to be missed Wieliczka Salt Mine. Built in the 13th century the mine has been in operation for over 700 years and is a whirlwind of chapels, galleries, monuments, statues, tunnels and lakes all carved out of rock salt by the miners. There's even an underground sanatorium where people with allergic diseases are treated overnight. Not far from Krakow are the Carpathian Mountains with their majestic high peaks. The resort town of Zakapone that is popular in the winter for skiing and hikin...

Chopin & Poland

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Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quality of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.   Frederic Chopin C H O P I N'S   W O R K S:   (A MUSIC GENIUS) Ballads, Chamber Works, Etudes, Impromtus, Mazurkas, Minor Works, Nocturnes, Piano Concertos, Polonaises, Preludes, Rondos, Scherzos, Sonatas, Variations, Waltzes Zelazowa Wola, a small village located in east-central Poland is where one of the world's most famous composers and pianists was born long ago on March 1, 1810. His name? FREDERIC CHOPIN     The home that Chopin was born in is visited by many people who want to view the "dworek" a little manor house. The house is surrounded by a natural park at the banks of the Utrata River. A monument of Frederic Chopin designed by artist Josef Goslawski in 1955 was unveiled on July 13, 1969 and is adjacent to the birth house. It's astounding that for such a short life (Chopin...

A "POLAND" VACATION!

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It's 2015…a new year. It's time to start planning where to go in the world in 2015. So many places to choose from. How about POLAND? POLAND, the country that brought us Frederic Chopin, Pope John Paul II, Madame Curie, Joanna Krupa, Doda, Robert Lewandowski, and many more famous Polish people. A country that has so much amazing architecture, history, and food. Krakow, Zakopane, Warsaw, Gdansk, Lublin, Malbork, Torun, Poznan, Tatra National Park, and Bialowieza Forest are just a few of the grand places to visit when in POLAND. The city of KRAKOW is a good place to begin your tour of POLAND. One of my favorite places to stay is the comfortable "Tango House" in the heart of Old Town and "Piano Guest House" which is run by an artistic and friendly Polish family who serve one of the best breakfasts in all of KRAKOW. PIANO GUEST HOUSE pianoguesthouse.pl TANGO HOUSE BED & BREAKFAST tangohouse.pl POLISH TEA CAKES  My Polish grandmother oft...

CHRISTMAS IN BETHLEHEM

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Millions of Christians around the world make a pilgrimage to the HOLY LAND to visit BETHLEHEM. During the month of December BETHLEHEM is filled with CHRISTMAS wonder and there's no better place to celebrate midnight mass than at Church of Saint Catherine.Some sights to see in Bethlehem are The Old City, The Mosque of Omar, Rachael's Tomb, The Shepherd's Fields, and Solomon's Pools. The top attraction however is the Church of the Nativity in Manger Square. It's one of the oldest churches in the world. Adjacent to the Church of the Nativity is the Church of Saint Catherine. This is where the Grotto of the Nativity is located. The Grotto of the Nativity marks the traditional spot of the birthplace of Jesus Christ by the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Church of Saint Catherine is the site of the yearly midnight mass broadcast around the world. CHRISTMAS in BETHLEHEM in December is a very uplifting and spiritual experience. With so many accommodations to choose fro...