I believe Moscow and mystery are two words that have been synonymous for years. But thankfully, I have been able to visit and experience the history within this city. Time spent in this unique part of the world had me exploring fascinating architecture, watching incredible performances, and experiencing nightlife like I never have before.

Attractions and Landmarks

There are plenty of attractions and landmarks to see in Moscow. I had a difficult time determining where to begin my journey. However, if you want to truly experience the authentic Moscow and see the most popular attraction first, you should begin within Red Square. From this location, I was able to venture over to the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and Lenin’s Mausoleum.

Out of those three attractions, you will want to make sure you plan to spend the most time at the Kremlin. This massive fortress has twenty towers, five squares to wander around, and you can’t forget to stop at the cannon and bell.

As I truly wanted to learn as much about the history of Moscow as possible, I took the time to visit the State Historical Museum. This museum was founded back in 1872 and it was once the Principal Medicine Store in the city. Now it holds an incredible collection of items from prehistoric times all the way to the current day. The artwork is quite impressive, but so are the 6^th century manuscripts and the coin collection.

Every holiday requires shopping adventures and when I was in Moscow, those adventures took place in GUM. This is the major department store in the city and the building it is in was constructed between the years of 1890 and 1893. There are more than two hundred boutiques on the inside of GUM, and you will find everything from affordable clothing items to those things that cost more than your house back home.

Must try: St.Basil’s Cathedral and Red Square Tour or Luxury River Cruise

Entertainment and Cuisine

There are many ways to stay entertained during your time in Moscow. My favourite was attending a ballet performance. I saw one at the Bolshoi Theatre, while classical music fills the halls at the Moscow Conservatory. Other concerts with more recent pop and rock music can be seen at the State Kremlin Palace or Crocus City Hall.

As I was exploring this amazing city, I found myself intrigued by all the aromas coming out of the local restaurants. The smells had me craving everything, but I had to choose where you start my culinary adventures.

I tried pelmeni. Those are dumplings that are often stuffed with onions, minced meat, and herbs. Blini is a type of crepe that can be served for breakfast or at any other time of the day. I found out that most blini is served sweet. But I also tried some savoury options.

I also tasted other food items while I was in Moscow include ponchiki, kasha, pirozhki, and pastila. I never ate too much and I was guaranteed to have a few new favourite foods when I returned home.

My time in Moscow was amazing, as I made sure to see everything on my list. This was difficult, but not impossible. I took the time to plan my days and nights carefully and enjoyed every moment I had.

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Some of the architecture in Barcelona has been around for more then two thousand years. But make sure you take the time to appreciate everything else this spectacular city has to offer. As you wander along the streets, your attention will be captured by the laughter of the locals, the views over the water past the sandy beaches, and the culture that can be found within the numerous museums.

Attractions and Landmarks

One of the first things you should take the time to see while visiting Barcelona is the Sagrada Familia. This iconic attraction was created by Antoni Gaudí and the construction began back in 1882. While this building isn’t completed yet, you will still love every moment you are inside. Other Gaudí sites you might be interested in during your visit include Casa Batlló, Park Güell, and the Gaudí House Museum.

Museums are plentiful in Barcelona, but one of the most popular ones is the Picasso Museum. There is an extensive collection of Picasso’s works inside this museum. You will want to plan a few hours for this museum, because it is within five different stone mansions. In addition to seeing the artwork, you can wander through the courtyards and see the intricate details on each of the staircases.

You cannot spend time in Barcelona and not go to the beach! Barceloneta Beach is one of the best in Europe. You will always find crowds of people there. When you are not out in the water swimming, kitesurfing, or windsurfing, you can relax on the sand and watch the locals.

Other attractions and landmarks you will want to see in Barcelona include the Palau de la Música Catalana, Parc de la Ciutadella, Mirador de Colom, and the Barcelona Chocolate Museum. If shopping while travelling is your thing, then make sure you stop at La Rambla. This is mostly a pedestrian street that is filled with shops, restaurants, and the popular La Boqueria food market.

Must try: Park Güell Admission Ticket or 25+ Museums card

Entertainment and Food

Your days are going to be full of sightseeing in Barcelona, but that doesn’t mean you must do the same thing once the sun sets. After taking the Montjuïc Cable Car to see that magnificent sunset, you can hit up one of the nightclubs or a local theatre like the Palacio del Flamenco. After all, watching a flamenco performance is a must while in this part of the world!

As you are exploring Barcelona, you will want to skip everything listed above. So you can simply eat all the cuisine available in the city! Don’t be surprised if your food orders include platefuls of Spanish omelets, bocadillos, chorizo, croquettas, blistered peppers, and bombas. I recommend ordering sangria to wash it all down for the most authentic Barcelona experience. However, you can order wine or beer if you wish.

Your time in Barcelona is going to fly right on by since there is so much to do and see. I recommend taking your time seeing what you can and leaving a few attractions and landmarks for a future visit.

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The streets of Paris are full of romance and beauty, but there is so much more within this extraordinary destination. The culture, the history, the food, the wine, and even the shopping appears to be so much better in the elegant city of Paris.

Attractions and Landmarks

When you arrive in Paris, you will instantly see the Eiffel Tower. This attraction is so tall that it can’t be missed. You can decide on your own if you want to simply appreciate this wonder from the ground or if a trip to the top is on your must-do in Paris list.

Once you have checked off the Eiffel Tower, you can venture over to the Louvre to see the massive collection of artwork. The Mona Lisa is at the top of everyone’s list, so be prepared to capture a quick glance before being ushered past this magnificent piece. It is best to prepare your visit to this museum in advance, because it can take days to see it all. Therefore, choosing which exhibits you want to see the most can help you walk out the doors a little sooner.

A little relaxing, as well as enjoying a quick lunch, is possible within the Jardin du Luxembourg. Although, the same is possible over at Tuileries Garden by the Louvre.

The Notre Dame is not as glorious as it once was, thanks to the recent fire. However, you can still enjoy parts of this cathedral. Plus, it won’t be long until the Notre Dame is a gorgeous as it once was, both inside and out.

Other must-see attractions within Paris include the Place de la Concorde, the Paris Opera House, Musee d’Orsay, and the Arc de Triomphe. If you have the time, you can also do a day trip to the Palace of Versailles.

Must try: Eiffel Tower Stair Climb or River Seine Cruise

Entertainment and Food

Incredible nights in Paris begin with romantic dinners and long strolls under the moonlight. However, you can also see an opera performance at the Opera House or catch a performance over at the Theatre du Chatelet. Moulin Rouge is another popular nighttime hotspot where you can combine dinner with a couple hours of fun watching the dancers up on the stage.

Many of the nightclubs and bars offer live music too, so you can dance until you can’t dance any more.

While you may have a difficult time determining what to see first and what to do in this city, you will never have a hard time determining when you should eat. The reason for this is the answer is all day, and all night, long!

There are so many food options available in Paris and you are going to want to try it all, while sipping on some of the best wine in the entire world. Mornings should always begin with a fresh baguette, as well as a croissant or two. There are many delicious French cheeses to go with both these items, so you should pick some of those up as well.

Duck confit makes an excellent main meal, but so do steak frites. Dessert will bring many options, but the most popular are the macaroons. If you do not want those, you can choose eclairs or some tasty chocolate.

Paris is a city that you will fall in love with instantly and you are never going to want to leave. When that happens, I recommend simply starting to book your next visit, long before it is time to board your plane back home.

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