Text & photos Copyright © Estrella Azul The 18th-century Alba Carolina Fortress (also known as Alba Iulia Fortress) has over time slowly but surely become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Romania. Arrowed signs guiding you through the fortress With a fascinating “change of the...

Text & photos Copyright © Estrella Azul THE ANASTASIE FĂTU BOTANICAL GARDEN in Iași, Romania, founded in 1856, has a rich history. And it is one of the establishing members of the Botanic Gardens of Romania Association. These are some of the reasons I wanted to visit it during a recent trip to Iași....

Text & photos © Catherine Nichols “Life is full of surprises and serendipity. Being open to unexpected turns in the road is an important part of success. If you try to plan every step, you may miss those wonderful twists and turns.” ~Condoleeza Rice On a recent trip to the UK, the tour guide...

Text & photos © Estrella Azul The Romulus Vuia Ethnographic Park, opened in 1929 as an outdoor museum, is beautiful. I recall going there on a class trip somewhere around 3rd grade. As opposed to many of my classmates, I didn’t have grandparents or other relatives living on farms in the Romanian...

Story by Milli Thornton. Photos Copyright © Milli Thornton. Part of the Lobo Trails system of the University of New Mexico, the Gold Trail is a 2-mile walking track in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In keeping with the wellness drive of UNM’s Employee Health Promotion department, Lobo Trails are meant...

Text & photos © Catherine Nichols Vacationing in San Diego, California is a dream for many people, and I know how lucky I am to be here. During my 30+ years in San Diego I’ve appreciated the climate, the endless assortment of outdoor activities, and the natural beauty that surrounds me every...

Text & photos © Estrella Azul DURING SUMMER VACATION my boyfriend and I stayed in Budapest, Hungary, for a week. While looking for cities to visit nearby we realized Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, was only a two-hour drive away. We took the M1 motorway early in the morning and, without any...