Author: Rashid Farook
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Umbrail Pass – Highest Road in Switzerland
Umbrail Pass is a high mountain pass on the Swiss-Italian border connecting Santa Maria in Val Müstair with Bormio in the Adda valley. On the Italian side, it connects to the Stelvio Pass, Italy’s highest and Europe’s second highest mountain pass. At an elevation of elevation 2,501 m or 8,205 ft, it is currently the highest paved road in Switzerland. Watch the dashcam video below to enjoy a scenic drive on the…
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Vatican City, Rome – A Walking Tour
During our Mediterranean cruise post-pandemic, Rashid and I had the opportunity to explore Rome, and a highlight was our walking tour of the Vatican City. This visit was unique as it was right after the world started opening up again. The streets and tourist spots, usually bustling with people, were unusually quiet, adding a special…
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San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay is a natural harbor and deepwater port located in San Diego County, California near the U.S.–Mexico border. The 12 mile long bay is the third largest of the natural bays on the California coast. San Diego harbor is home to a naval museum as well as an active port, tourist cruise and…
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Hallstatt, Austria – Funicular and Sky view
Hallstatt is a lakeside village near Salzburg, Austria famous for its salt mines and scenic view. Hallstatt is accessible via a scenic mountain road from major highways connecting nearby cities like Salzburg and Graz. The village lies between the southwestern shore of Hallstätter See and the steep slopes of the Dachstein massif. It is connected…
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Bernina Pass, Switzerland – First Look
The Bernina Pass (el. 2,328 m or 7,638 ft.) is a high mountain pass in the Bernina Range of the Alps, in the canton of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland. It connects the famous resort town of St. Moritz in the Engadin valley with the Italian-speaking Val Poschiavo, which ends in the Italian town of Tirano…
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Night Train – Amsterdam to Munich
The Night Train service from Amsterdam, The Netherlands To Munich, Germany is an overnight train service across western Europe leaving Amsterdam Central station in the evening and reaching Munich by early morning. Reservations can be made via the OBB website. Another good resource is “The man in seat 61” train travel website. See the pictures…
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Reschensee and Church of Curon Venosta
Lake Reschen is an artificial lake in the northwest corner of South Tyrol, Italy, approximately 2 km (1 mi) south of the Reschen Pass, which forms the border with Austria, and 3 km (2 mi) east of the mountain ridge forming the border with Switzerland. Lake Reschen is also called Lago di Resia (Italian) and Reschensee (German/Deutsch). It is the largest lake above 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in the Alps.…
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Historic lighthouse and Harbor – Lindau, Germany
Lindau is a town and island on the eastern side of Lake Constance (Bodensee in German) in Bavaria, Germany. It is near the borders of the Austrian state of Vorarlberg, and the Swiss cantons of St. Gallen and Thurgau. Lindau is a popular tourist attraction in southern Germany. The gardens of Lindau are best in spring or summer blossom, and summer is the peak tourist period. Lindau is famous for its…
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A Walking Tour of Murano
Murano is a series of islands linked by bridges in the Venetian Lagoon, northeastern Italy. It lies about 1.5 km (1 mi) north of Venice and measures about 1.5 km (1 mi) across. It is famous for its glass making factories, a Venetian craft known around the world since late thirteenth century. Murano is mostly accessed via water bus services like Alilaguna or private boats. It…
All Around The World 