Founded in 408 BC, Rhodes is the oldest inhabited medieval city in Europe, Walled fortifications surrounded the old town.   Narrow streets are hundreds of years old. Note the arch. Rhodes suffers from earthquakes and the arches help support the walls. Here is the Palace of the Grand Master […]

Malta is an independent country in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. It has few natural resources, but its location makes it particularly strategic. It has been populated for 7,000 years with wars and fighting for 5,000 of those years. Malta has been independent since 1964, and is an EU […]

Cadiz is the oldest western European city still standing. The age of the city combined with its vibrance and setting adds to its collective beauty. We took a delightful private walking tour (10,000 steps). The Town hall met us as we disembarked. Interesting old, narrow streets are all over the […]

We have visited Lisbon three times now. Each time was different yet fabulous sightseeing. (2014 Lisbon Portugal blog and 2011 Jewish Lisbon blog) What a spectacular, pretty and vibrant city. Last night we connected with daughter Jessica, who flew in to join us on the cruise for two weeks. We […]

What a great day! Here in Tangier we are at the exact dividing line between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The Caves of Hercules was a fun stop. The sea opening is known as The Map of Africa because it is the shape of Africa when looked at […]

Tenerife is the largest and most populated island in the Canary Islands. Incidentally the Canary Island name come from the Latin island of the dog. Notwithstanding that they are off the west coast of Africa, The Canaries have been part of Spain since the 1400s and look, feel and act […]

Recife was captured by the Dutch 1631 and became one of the most important strongholds of the Dutch in Brazil. Many Jews came to Brazil to escape the inquisition over 400 years ago. The liberal policy of the Dutch induced many Jews to move here from other parts of Brazil […]

From 1549 to 1763 Salvador de Bahia was the first capital of Brazil. Starting in 1558, it was the very first port of entry to the Americas for West African slaves (at the preserved yellow building) to work on the sugar plantations. Approximately 80% of Salvador’s residents today can trace […]

Carnival stems from Catholic festival celebrations of Portuguese colonialists and the music and dancing of African slaves. In Rio De Janeiro, it has morphed into a week-long festival. 90,000 people gather to watch at the city’s Sambadrome stadium, wearing colorful costumes, and constantly dancing to Samba music. 500,000 foreign visitors […]