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

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

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

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

Munich, established in 1158, serves as the capital of Bavaria, one of Germany's 16 states. Throughout its history, Munich has been a significant center for culture, politics, and economics. The city boasts numerous historic buildings, although many were destroyed by Allied bombings during WWII and have since been reconstructed, similar to other cities we've visited on our tour. We like to begin our visits to each city with a half-day tour. Once again, we chose ToursByLocals.

Our guide Gabi took us around for us to see firsthand the sites favored by Hitler for his parades and speeches. Hitler had a particular fondness for Nuremberg, where he constructed or planned several grand structures. Our first stop was the Hall of Honors, initially built to commemorate WWI soldiers, but repurposed by Hitler as a stage for his large gatherings. Despite its name, it is not an actual hall but an outdoor pavilion bordered by posts that once held flames for the d

Spending two days in Nuremberg was just the right amount of time to explore the city and grasp its history, which dates back to the Middle Ages and gained further significance as the location of the Nuremberg Trials. We stayed at The Grand Hotel/Meridien, part of the Marriott group, which is ideal for those who collect points. The hotel, originally built in 1894, has been updated and maintains a classic style. It is situated directly across from the train station on the new

We took a half-day trip from Berlin to Potsdam, where Frederick II built his summer palace, Sans Souci. The town is small and elegant, with many buildings restored to their historical appearance, much to the dismay of our guide Robert, who thought it gave the town a Disney-like feel. However, as Scott pointed out, without these restorations, we might not have visited what would otherwise be an unremarkable city. After seeing numerous Baroque and Rococo structures throughout E

Today, we spent 7 hours exploring Berlin with our guide Aaron, originally from Great Britain, who moved here after meeting his wife, calling himself a "love refugee." Aaron, educated as an archaeologist, has a clear passion for history. Strolling through Berlin with him was enjoyable, as he was a rather cheeky fellow, always entertaining and a walking encyclopedia on everything Berlin, both past and present. We began at the iconic Brandenburg Gate and concluded our day at the

We embarked on a Bauhaus and Architecture tour led by a woman named Nina, whom we hired through Context Tours. For this trip, we booked all our Berlin tours with Context and used ToursByLocals for the other cities. A notable difference is that with Context, we met our guides at the starting point of the tour, whereas with ToursByLocals, they picked us up at the hotel before proceeding. Both organizations provide knowledgeable and informative guides. Nina is a sculptor origin