Belfast and Northern Ireland

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Belfast and Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is beautiful.  I am a northerner and convinced that the further north you go, the prettier the world becomes.  I had initially visited Belfast, Northern Ireland over a decade ago.  At the time, there was still political strife and the air in Belfast was thick with tension.  Fast forward 16 years, Belfast is renewed.  People were out an about, walking the streets, shopping, mingling, exchanging welcoming glances.  It is beautiful.  My heart is glad for this city.

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Knossos Palace on the Isle of Crete in Greece

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Knossos Palace on the Isle of Crete in Greece

We flew into Heraklion on Crete, rented a car and drove a relatively short distance to the preserved historical site of Knossos.  Sections are roped off for its protection, but you can still get an up-close look at the ancient ruins.  Some of the ruins have been restored to give onlookers a vibrant notion of what Knossos looked like at its peak. 

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Delicious Food in Krakow, Poland

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Delicious Food in Krakow, Poland

Krakow, I found, is amazingly rich in the history, architecture and culture I crave. Main Market Square on a Saturday night is alive with activity and food to tempt, even on a full stomach.  Unparalleled street food, less tourists and more people from the countryside, are what you will find on a Saturday night in the Main Market Square.

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Iceland, Geothermal System and Hellisheidarvirkjun Power Plant Tour

/ Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Station/

I toured Hellisheidarvirkjun (Hellisheidi for short) Geothermal Power Station on Hengill Volcano in south Iceland, about 20 minutes southeast of Reykjavik.   The tour was an engineer's nirvana.  The plant uses the hot water from directly out of the ground to generate electricity.  The excess hot water is then circulated throughout the countryside. 

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Iceland, Inside Volcano Thrihnukagigur

/ Inside the Volcano/
Iceland, Inside Volcano Thrihnukagigur

You can actually go inside volcano Thrihnukagigur in Iceland.  People are lowered into a volcano by a window washers’ scaffold and allowed to explore the colorful, tear-drop-shaped volcanic chamber.  A unique travel experience.

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