We have done several vineyard tours with wine tastings and, in almost every case, our visit happened shortly after the harvesting of the grapes. Just because the vines are empty, it doesn’t detract from the experience of visiting the vineyard. Most of our visits have occurred between late October and early December and even though the grapes may have been harvested, the vineyards had started to change colors for autumn. We have done our vineyard tours in California, Spain, Germany, and France, but the images are not surprisingly similar.
Vineyards in SpainChurch and Vineyard in GermanyRows of Grape Vines in FranceGrape Vines Across the Valley in CaliforniaAlthough After Harvest, We Saw a Few Grapes Next to a Winery in CaliforniaVineyards in Strasbourg, France
When visiting Dublin, Ireland, one of the things that should definitely be on your itinerary is visiting Trinity College. We would definitely recommend getting tickets to see the Book of Kells exhibition at the Old Library, which displays two of the four books at all times. A popular myth is that there is a ceremony to turn the pages of the books daily, but that doesn’t actually occur. The Book of Kells contains the Four Gospels of the New Testament and was believed to have been written around the 8th century. The book gets its name from the Abby of Kells in Kells, Ireland where the book was kept for centuries. The illustrations in the Book of Kells are considered to be the most intricate, complex, and interesting of any version of the Gospels that have ever been created.
The Long Room in the Old Library at Trinity College in Dublin, IrelandAristotle Bust
The ticket to the Book of Kells exhibit also includes access to the Long Room in the Old Library. Seeing the hundreds of historic books on the bookshelves in the library is truly amazing. At the ends of each row of bookshelves are busts of famous literary geniuses. We found the Long Room to be as interesting as the Book of Kells itself. Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to take photographs of the Book of Kells, but it is certainly worth seeing when visiting Dublin. Standing in the Long Room of the Old Library is almost overwhelming to think of how many historic books are located in a single place.
So Many Historic BooksLong Room at Trinity College
Wherever we travel, one of the things that we always try to do is go to a location that provides wonderful views from above the city. Whether climbing to the top of a bell tower, going to the observation deck of a skyscraper, or climbing to the top of a hill that overlooks the city, the views are always amazing. There is something that is truly special about looking over the historic rooftops of the city’s buildings and getting a sense for the narrow streets. Obviously we enjoy getting up close and personal with the architecture of a city, but taking it all in at once has its own reward. Do you look for locations that overlook a city when you travel?
Chennai, IndiaView from Piazzale de Michelangelo in FlorenceSan Francisco SkylineView of Athens from the AcropolisInteresting Architecture in La PazOld World Prague with Modern Prague in the DistancePanama City, PanamaHeidelberg, GermanyEmpire State Building from the top of the Rock in New York CityWinding Streets Below from the Seville CathedralQuito, EcuadorViews from the Guinigi Tower in Lucca, ItalyView of Nuremberg, GermanyArc de Triomphe in Paris from the Eiffel Tower
