On any journey to the Iberian peninsula, it is easy to focus all of one's time, budget, and attention to the more popular and glamorous cities of Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon. However one cannot truly appreciate the richness of Spanish culture, without experiencing the city of Cordoba. One of the most important cities back in the Middle Ages, yet overlooked today, Cordoba has been inhabited for thousands of years; with its earliest inhabitants thought to be the Neanderthal humans whose fossils can be found all over this area of Spain. * Later on becoming a Roman settlement, whose people left their mark by constructing this fascinating and sturdy bridge that still stands to this day running across the Guadalquivir River! 

In a country of over 100 castles, one stands-out to be Japan's largest, most visited, and most revered: Himeji. Located an hour away by train from Osaka, Himeji Castle is the finest example of the prototypical Japanese castle architecture. * So iconic that the Castle has actually been featured in period movies, television series, and games like Civilization Revolution and Shogun Total War.

The wonderful thing about Seville is that the city is compact and highly pedestrianized; with all its tourist attractions within walking distance of each other. Located in the area heralded as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, next to the imposing Cathedral of Seville and impressive General Archives of the Indies, stands the Royal Alcazar of Sevilla. * Also known as the Royal Castle of the Christian Kings.

Along with the futuristic megacity of Tokyo and the foodie heaven of Osaka, no trip to Japan would be complete without visiting its cultural capital, Kyoto. Home to the Japanese imperial court for over a thousand years, Kyoto is full of palaces, temples, shrines, and gardens; which thanks to not being targeted by Allied bombing during World War II, has been preserved in all its authenticity. This is Part 1 of our Kyoto Series: Palaces. Kyoto Imperial Palace * From 794 AD to 1869, Japan was ruled by its Emperor from his Imperial Palace in Kyoto.

While the general public is very much aware of Moscow, as the capital of the Russian Federation and the former Soviet Union, and of St. Petersburg, the most European and Imperial of all Russian cities, few know the history, vastness, and grandeur of the early Russian people. Russia in all its greatness started as a small city in the patch of land directly between Moscow and St. Petersburg; the city known as Novgorod. * It was my great pleasure and honor to be able to visit and explore the Cradle of Russian Civilization.

Aside form being home to imperial monuments and maritime wonders, Lisbon is also the entry point to several charming towns and sights. And like the rest of Western Europe, roads are organized and well-maintained, transportation is easy to find, and the spirit of adventure is high. * Cabo da Roca, apart from being one of the most dramatic looking coastlines I have ever seen, is more famously known as the westernmost point of Europe.

Denmark, like many of the former great European powers, is a monarchy.  And as such, Denmark's main (and largest) island, Zealand, is dotted with gorgeous Royal Castles. * Such as the incredible, Frederiksborg Castle, the largest Renaissance castle in all of Scandinavia.

Apart from being the home to the Kings of Bohemia , several Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire , and Presidents of Czechoslovakia , Prague Castle also has the distinction of being the largest ancient castle in the world. * Nothing screams WELCOME than two giant sculptures of legendary characters beating their foes to a bloody pulp.

The high point of a traveler's journey along the Romantic Road is seeing the majestic castles of King Ludwig II : the Linderhof and Neuschwanstein .  No wonder a lot of our beloved childhood fairy tales come from this part of the world as there is an ample supply of folklore, scenery, and structures to encourage these! Unfortunately, no photos are allowed inside any of the castles, credit is given to images not taken personally. Photo Taken from Google Images   * The Linderhof Palace ! While we were expecting a palace of such beauty..

The Romantic Road is a 350 km highway crossing numerous Bavarian cities and towns highlighting the quintessential Germanic cultural experience. Lined with castles, walls, dense forests, rolling hills, and charming villages straight out of a Brothers Grimm fairytale , the Road is one of Germany's most popular tourist attractions. * A shot of the Walls of Harburg , one of the largest and best preserved castles in Germania .

Following our morning in the Underground Salt Cathedral of Wieliczka , we decided to go the other direction in the afternoon by going uphill to learn more about the Kings and Queens of the Polish people. Wawel Hill , situated on the banks of the fabled Vistula River , is a castle complex built in the 8th Century serving as the political center of the Polish people for over a millennium. The complex includes the Royal Castle and Wawel Cathedral , which contains the mausoleum of the Polish Monarchs. * The astounding view of the Wawel Cathedral grounds! The castle complex has often been described by observers as one of the most fascinating of all European castles .

One of the reasons why I wanted to explore Central and Eastern Europe was to increase my knowledge of European History, particularly with the time period of the Dark Ages. This is the period when various kingdoms, duchies, and principalities popped up, in, and around the continent; all interconnected by power plays, fixed marriages and politics. Before this trip, I had zero knowledge about the Polish Kings and Queens and I was very astonished to learn about how interwoven this line was with the monarchies of Russia (Novgorod), Austria, Prussia and Sweden. * Definitely, the most lively and colorful area in Warsaw is its Castle Square . A popular meeting place for tourists and locals, the area is full of restaurants, cafes, public performers and souvenir stands. It is also very safe especially when compared to squares in other cities (Rome, Paris, Barcelona etc). Since Warsaw was totally destroyed by the Nazis, the Poles actually recreated everything you see here by using old

While  Buckingham Palace  is designated as the  Monarch's official residence , the current Queen,  Elizabeth II , usually  spends her weekends in Windsor Castle . Built by  William the Conqueror   (the same guy who built the Tower of London)  in  1080 , the Castle is the  longest-occupied palace in all of Europe   whose purpose was to guard the Western approach to London with its strategically important location along the River Thames. * To get to Windsor, one has to take a  30-minute train  ride to the  county of Berkshire  via the  London Paddington Station . Thanks to the  London Pass , we didn't have to worry about any lines or payment! Paddington is also the line servicing the cities of  Bristol, Cardiff, Swansea, Oxford and Worcester , thus making this a very busy place for travelers. 

Of all the sights in London, only one place can claim to be as  historically significant as it is significantly haunted . Built in  1078  by the Norman King,  William the Conqueror , the  Tower of London  has served as a  royal palace, armory, treasury, zoo  and most famously, a  prison  where some of the most famous characters in English history have been imprisoned, tortured and executed. Today, the fortress is one of London's most famous tourists spots, as it also  houses the Crown Jewels  of the UK. * After getting of the  Tower Hill Tube Station , expect to take a 15 minute pleasant stroll towards the main entrance of the Tower.

As an added bonus to what was already an awesome trip, we were able to visit an honest-to-goodness  Scottish castle ! Built in  1546 ,  Ballindalloch , known affectionately as the  Pearl of the North , is one of the more beautiful and romantic-looking castles in Scotland. Having been continuously occupied by the  Macpherson-Grant family  since its inception, the estate and its grounds are now open to the public as a museum, distillery, public garden, golf course, dog walking park and ranch serving its own renowned Angus beef. * Driving by  Lord of the Rings-esque   landscapes  on the way to the castle. I'm pretty sure that there are orcs / barbarians / vikings hiding in that forest.

Being the fan of fairy tales and Disney movies that she is, my cousin, Rachel , decided to get married in an actual medieval castle. And since she is one of my closest female cousins (both in friendship and in age), I was stoked to be there! Originally built in the 13th Century and located a few miles from Florence in the Fiesole Hill , the Castello di Vincigliata has been a family stronghold, a glass production center and a prisoner-of-war camp during World War II before finally settling down to it’s most fitting role, a wedding venue . But it’s not just some medieval castle, it’s a  haunted  medieval castle!

JERUSALEM. "How can you be in hell, when you’re in my heart."   - Balian of Ibelin Picture of the outer wall of the old city of Jerusalem, taken during my  solo pilgrim walk  from the hotel last night (sorry Mom & Mon).  Blog entry to follow.