Gutsy Gladiators and Spanish Bulls or the History of Cartagena
Just off the Mediterranean coast, in the Region of Murcia, is the Spanish city of Cartagena. In addition to its natural seaport, the ancient city of Cartagena was strategically important to both Carthage and Rome due its close proximity to rich silver mines during that period of time. From Carthaginians, to Romans, to Moors, the Mediterranean city of Cartagena has a very long and colorful history. Visitors entering the city today will find remnants of that glorious past in the form of murals, mosaics, and Roman ruins. Perhaps the most fascinating of all is the Roman theatre of Cartagena which was only uncovered in recent years.
The Roman Theatre of Cartagena
The Roman Theatre of Cartagena was built between 5 and 1 B.C., at the times of Gaius and Lucius, the grandsons of Caesar Augustus. In the 3rd century A.D., a market was built over the theatre and then a cathedral in the 12th century. It wasn’t until the 1990s that excavations were begun to restore the site to its former glory. (more…)
Posted in Adventurous Places, Europe, Historical Journeys and tagged Cartagena, Spain by Big John with no comments yet.
Into Innsbruck’s Old Town
Neatly tucked away inside the North Chain of the Karwendal Alps lies the city of Innsbruck, Austria. The city is well-known for its winter sports and there is even an Olympic ski jump on the south side of town. Because Olympic ski jumps are highly frowned upon when one is pregnant, Rebecca and I decided to skip this particular attraction and head straight into Innsbruck’s Old Town.
Inside the Old Town of Innsbruck
To step into the Old Town of Innsbruck is to step back in time some 800 years ago. Inside the heart of Tyrol, this Austrian city is a place of both sophistication and old-world charm. Rebecca and I had an amazing time admiring its Gothic and Baroque architecture, set against the backdrop the majestic Alps. (more…)
Posted in Europe, Adventurous Places and tagged Austria, Innsbruck by Big John with no comments yet.
The Alps by Automobile
In January of 2019, Rebecca and I decided to embark on the ultimate road trip and explore the Alps by automobile. We began our crazy adventure in northern Italy, but before it was all over we had traveled through the snowy passes of Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Austria. This post serves as a photographic diary of our scenic journey along the way.
We entrusted this little French 5-speeder, a Citroën, to carry us safely through the Alps. (more…)
Posted in Europe, Adventurous Places and tagged Alps, Austria, Italy, Switzerland by Big John with no comments yet.
Big John Storms the Castle of Montebello
Lying east of the Ticino River at the foot of the Alps is the Swiss village of Bellinzona. There are many things that make this city a fantastic place to visit. There’s its abundance of orchards and vineyards, its thick forested hills, and sprawling green alpine pastures. There’s Bellinzona’s fascinating Roman history, as well as its undeniable Italian influence and its proud Swiss heritage. Yet, out of all the things that make Bellinzona a must-see place, there is still something else that really makes this place stand out on a map. The thing that makes Bellinzona such a fascinating place is it has, not one, but three magnificent castles all within the boundaries of its city! The Castelgrande, the Montebello, and the Sasso Corbaro have been a part of the UNESCO world heritage sites since 2000.
The Swiss city of Bellinzona shares much of that old world charm with its Italian neighbor. (more…)
Posted in Adventurous Places, Europe and tagged castle, Montebello, Switzerland by Big John with no comments yet.
The Lake Como Region of Italy
As Rebecca and I drove across the Swiss border into the Lake Como region of Italy, the clouds darkened and it began to rain. Lake Como, in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, is a posh resort area known for its splendid scenery, set against the backdrop of the Alps. Lake Como has been a popular retreat for the extremely wealthy since Roman times. The actor, George Clooney, fell so in love with the area that he purchased a multi-million dollar mansion in the lakeside community of Laglio. Unfortunately for us, we encountered a dreary, wet and windy afternoon when we entered into Lake Como and our visit there was a very brief one. Along with scattered showers, the heavy clouds brought in a dense fog that limited our visibility and made any picture-taking a real challenge.
A fleeting glimpse of Lake Como from the highway. (more…)
Posted in Adventurous Places, Europe and tagged Italy, Lake Como by Big John with no comments yet.