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CHECKING IN WITH CHUCK
MILAN HIGHLIGHT: DA VINCI'S LAST SUPPER
We understood that visiting Milan meant we had to see da Vinci's Last Supper. Securing tickets for this requires some timing and patience. Tickets are released approximately 4 weeks before your intended visit date. They can be purchased directly from the Cenacolo Vinciano museum, but getting in the queue is essential. Tickets are released at noon in Italy, which is 3AM in California where we live, so I had to wake up in the middle of the night to make the purchase. You can bu
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LUXOR DAY TRIP: DENDERA
The Temple of Dendera is undeniably one of the most beautiful and remarkably well-preserved temples in Egypt, standing as a testament to the architectural and artistic achievements of ancient Egyptian civilization. Located in the small town of Dendera, the temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathor, who is revered as the goddess of love, beauty, music, and motherhood. The Dendera temple is very close to Luxor, which is often considered the heart of ancient Egypt due to its pro
LUXOR: THE TEMPLES OF KARNAK AND LUXOR
Visiting the great pyramids and the Sphinx of Giza easily met my expectations, but I was surprised it was Luxor that left me speechless. We boarded an early morning flight from Cairo to Luxor, eager to explore the treasures that awaited us in this historic city. The differences between the two destinations were striking from the beginning: where Cairo was loud and distractingly busy with its constant honking horns, piles of garbage and air pollution, Luxor welcomed us with e
CAIRO: THE GREAT PYRAMID AND SPHINX
Box checked, we visited the pyramid and sphinx, which were literally just around the corner from our accommodation at The Minna House in Giza. Giza is about 30-45 minutes south of down town Cairo. Having grown up watching Raiders of the Lost Ark, we had an idea of the pyramids' grandeur. However, while they were indeed very large, they didn't seem as impressive as expected, especially since we're accustomed to massive skyscrapers. Some of us even ventured inside the Great P
CAIRO: COPTIC SECTION
We strolled around to visit the Coptic section of Cairo, a vibrant area rich in history and culture that reflects the deep roots of Christianity in Egypt. As we wandered through the narrow, winding streets, we were immediately captivated by the unique architecture that characterized this part of the city. And unfortunately, we were also surrounded by piles of trash and a city that is more slum than oasis. The buildings, many of which date back to the early centuries of Christ
CAIRO: OLD EGYPTIAN MUSEUM
We visited Egypt with a group of 16 friends to celebrate a milestone birthday. Our itinerary first started in Cairo and Giza, we then flew down to Luxor, took a boat down the Nile and ended in Aswan. It was an epic adventure. On our first full day in Cairo, we visited the Old Egyptian Museum , a historical landmark that has captivated visitors for generations. Although the Old Egyptian Museum is in the process of being replaced by the Grand Egyptian Museum, which promises to
BUDAPEST FOOD SCENE
Food in Budapest was excellent, and we got in our share of chicken paprikash, dumplings, and amazing pastries. We also visited their large Food Marketplace, which is a building and not just an open market with every paprika you can imagine as well as everything else you might need to keep your pantry well stocked.
BUDAPEST ART SCENE
We went to the Museum of Fine Arts to view their old masters and enjoy a beautiful Capra photography exhibit. I think we were spoiled by the extensive collections in Munich and Vienna, but this was still an enjoyable museum to visit. And let's not forget the old masters.
BUDAPEST: ARCHITECTURE
We had a delightful guide named Gretta from Context Tours who introduced us to some of her favorite buildings, which included a range from classical to Art Nouveau, Bauhaus, brutalist, and uniquely beautiful structures that didn't adhere to a single style. The brutalist were most intriguing to us as we do not seem their work much here in the states. The city expanded in concentric circles, similar to Vienna, so it lacks a clear grid layout. Most buildings are no taller than 6
BUDAPEST: HISTORY
Arriving into Budapest on the Danube was very lovely as you get an immediate preview of the castle, churches, parliament and several of its bridges. Here again, much of it has been rebuilt since the war, but it still has an old feel to it. We are not in San Diego. Budapest consists of two cities that united in late 1873. Pest lies on one side of the Danube, and Obuda on the other, merging to form Budapest. Buda houses the palace, as well as the offices of the prime minister a
BUDAPEST: HUNGARIAN JEWS & WWII
As a member of the Axis, Hungary became increasingly hostile towards its Jewish citizens. Before the war, Budapest was a welcoming city for Jews, similar to the situation of German Jews, and they were deeply integrated into society, living among non-Jewish citizens rather than in ghettos. Many Hungarian Jews served and died in WWI and were honored for their sacrifices. We visited the Doheny Synagogue, considered the second largest synagogue in the world after one in New Yor
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