My nine-day journey throughout Slovakia begins in its capital. Bratislava is quite beautiful, especially the old squares and their landmarks. Once the Hungarian coronation city on the Danube, with its castles and palaces and summer resorts of Austrian nobility, the city retains its charms, even it never was grand. Continue reading
Established in the spring of 2008, The Fuller Center for Housing Armenia, is an NGO that supports community development in the Republic of Armenia by assisting in building and renovating simple, decent, and affordable homes as well as advocating the right to a decent shelter as a matter of conscience and action. Continue reading
The Republic of Georgia has been enjoying its time in the travel media limelight. It seems every travel blog I read waxed poetic about the tiny country with a familiar name. Perhaps because of its generous digital nomad visa, allowing expats to stay a full year, or because of the great food and the easy-on-your-wallet prices, travelers are flocking to the country firmly anchored by the Caucasus Mountains, straddling the intersection of Europe and Asia. Continue reading
Arriving in Tblilisi from the north of Georgia, with two of our friends departing that evening, we made the most of the time we had left together and walked along charming cobblestone streets toward the Kura River, toward the Bridge of Peace. A bow-shaped pedestrian bridge made of steel and glass that links the Old City to Rike Park, it’s an easy landmark to spot… Continue reading
[This post is part of a 10-day driving itinerary for Sofia, Melnik, Plovdiv, and Veliko Taranovo.] Days 1-3 | Sofia Days 4-5 | Melnik Days 6-7 | Plovdiv DAY 8 | THRACIAN TOMB & SHIPKA PASS TO VELIKO TARNOVO More Bulgarian history lessons today along mountainous roads, traveling northeast to Kazanlak, the center of the … Continue reading
[This post is part of a 10-day driving itinerary for Sofia, Melnik, Plovdiv, and Veliko Taranovo.] Days 1-3 | Sofia Days 4-5 | Melnik DAY 6 | THE NARROW GAUGE TRAIN TO PLOVDIV En route to Plovdiv, you’ll have the chance to see the beauty of the southwestern mountainous region of Bulgaria, traveling at first … Continue reading
[This post is part of a 10-day driving itinerary for Sofia, Melnik, Plovdiv, and Veliko Taranovo.] DAYS 1-3 | SOFIA DAY 4 | RILA MONASTERY TO MELNIK A must-see on the way to Melnik is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria, founded in the early 10th century, by St. Ivan. Rila … Continue reading
[This post is part one of a 10-day driving itinerary that includes Sofia, Melnik, Plovdiv, and Veliko Taranovo, which each have their own post.] I’d never visited Bulgaria, which is usually reason enough for me to go somewhere. Before meeting my Global Builders Team in Cluj, Romania in mid-April, I decided to give myself ten … Continue reading
Unquestionably one of the greatest experiences of my life. Definitely the greatest physical challenge of my life. I regret nothing but I would not do it again! Hiking the Inca Trail is not for everyone and I don’t know why I chose to see Machu Picchu this way. There are easier ways. Perhaps after being … Continue reading
After finishing another successful volunteer house build with The Fuller Center for Housing, I was fortunate to extend my stay in Peru. If you plan to visit Machu Picchu while in Peru, most likely your jumping off point will be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Western Hemisphere and the former capital … Continue reading
Global Staci 