How to Spend 2 Days in Petra- My Petra Itinerary
No destination in Jordan is more iconic than Petra, the ancient capital of the Nabataean Empire and one of the world’s most remarkable archaeological sites. Famous for its elaborate rock-cut…
Visiting DOMunder- An Underground Archaeological Experience in Utrecht
Visitors to Utrecht’s Domplein, the cathedral square, may be unaware that as they admire the historic Dom Church and soaring Dom Tower they are walking above 2,000 years of buried…
Ancient Sites in Ireland- Intriguing Ruins in Ireland to Visit
One of the most intriguing things about Ireland is its long history and vast collection of archaeological sites. From megalithic monuments and prehistoric fortresses, to Neolithic tombs and early monastic…
Visiting Bru na Boinne- Newgrange and Knowth Passage Tombs
Near a bend in the River Boyne, in Ireland’s Ancient East, is a complex of mysterious monuments older than the Egyptian pyramids. Known collectively as Brú na Bóinne, these three…
The Atmospheric Ruins of Hore Abbey- Cashel, Ireland
Standing alone in a field, overshadowed by the popular Rock of Cashel, are the ruins of Hore Abbey. The remains of this 13th century monastery are delightfully gloomy, its stone…
The Rock of Cashel- One of Ireland’s Most Magnificent Ancient Sites
I included a lot of ancient sites in my two week Ireland itinerary, but one that made a lasting impression was the Rock of Cashel. Prominently perched atop a green,…
Visiting Cahergall and Leacanabuaile- Irish Stone Ringforts
Ireland is full of intriguing ancient sites from timeworn cemeteries to aged castles, but one of the more unique historic attractions I came across during my two weeks in Ireland…
Best Ancient Sites in Greece- 6 Archaeological Sites Worth Visiting
While many tourists flock to Greece for its picturesque islands and beautiful beaches, what inspired me to visit was the country’s influential history and archaeological remains. As the cradle of…
Glendalough Monastic Site- Visiting One of Ireland’s Premier Monastic Settlements
Tucked into a forested valley in the Wicklow mountains are the remains of Glendalough, one of Ireland’s most important monastic settlements. It’s an evocative site- ancient stone buildings surrounded by…
Ruins Near Cusco- 7 Archaeological Sites Worth Visiting
Cusco is the point of arrival for people wanting to visit Machu Picchu, the most famous Inca ruin in Peru, but there are many fantastic, lesser known ruins near Cusco…
Visiting Sacsayhuaman- An Inca Fortress in Cusco, Peru
The uphill walk from central Cusco to Sacsayhuaman was slow going, since our bodies hadn’t adjusted to the high altitude yet, but the excitement of seeing our first Inca ruin…
Photo of the Week: Poulnabrone Dolmen, Ireland
One of the highlights of visiting the Burren region of Ireland is seeing Poulnabrone dolmen, an outstanding Neolithic tomb and National Monument of Ireland. Over 5000 years old, this portal…
The Pisac Ruins- Gateway to the Sacred Valley of the Incas
As we wandered through the colourful markets of Pisac, all I could think about was visiting the Pisac ruins. “No more shopping,” I urged Mike, “let’s get to the ruins!”…
Tiwanaku, Bolivia- Visiting the Ruins of an Andean Civilization
One of the joys of travelling is learning about different cultures, especially ancient ones that no longer exist. I knew nothing of Tiwanaku culture, or the city that was the…
Nazca Lines Flight- Flying Over Peru’s Mysterious Geoglyphs
“Coming up on the right, whale,” one of the pilots announces over the speaker as we approach the first geoglyph on our Nazca Lines flight. Palms sweating with excitement, I…
Hiking the Inca Trail- What to Expect on the 4 Day Trek to Machu Picchu
Of all the things we did and places we saw during our 3 weeks in South America, hiking the Inca Trail in Peru is our favourite memory. It even climbed…
Visiting Machu Picchu- Peru’s Hilltop Inca Citadel
Machu Picchu- just hearing the name conjures up classic images of this hilltop Inca city, high in a tropical forest of the Peruvian Andes. These ruins, once concealed by the…
Orongo- Ceremonial Village of the Birdman Cult
Set between the sprawling crater of Rano Kau and the plunging cliffs of Easter Island’s southwest coast, is the small ceremonial village of Orongo. Orongo is a much different site…
Rano Raraku- Carving Site of Easter Island’s Moai
Scattered across the slope of a volcano are hundreds of stone heads, their serious facial expressions gazing out over Easter Island’s barren landscape. These are moai- idolized by the original…
4 Days in Easter Island- Itinerary for a Self-Guided Tour of Rapa Nui
“We’re most looking forward to spending 4 days in Easter Island,” I’d say when friends asked about our upcoming trip to South America. “What’s Easter Island?” some would ask, a…