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Read all posts by Casey in one place, organized by date. Go back in time and see how Casey started on the cheap route, it's probably funny to see the progression!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
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Casa de las Conchas and Bell Tower
The Casa de las Conchas should be on your list of things to check out in Salamanca, Spain. The Old City of Salamanca is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and while the Shell Wall isn’t specifically, it’s centrally located and definitely worth a brief stop for at least a picture.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
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A family plays soccer on Playa Langosta
Playa Langosta is a strip of beaches and rocky coast just south of the resort town of Tamarindo in Costa Rica. The shore is lined with resorts and bed and breakfasts, but most are removed enough from the beach, behind dense foliage, that the beach retains an unmolested feel. Playa Langosta can get pretty crowded during the peak season, so arriving just before that, early December, will give you perfect weather and a little less crowded experience.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
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An American tourist receives a straight razor shave.
There is no better place to test how deep the political tensions run between the US and Cuba than sitting in a barber chair in Cuba with your neck under a straight razor. Luckily, the universal right to get a shave and a haircut trumps political tension and I was able to get a shave with minimal blood loss in Trinidad, Cuba.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
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Tower C, the Fire Diety Tower, is just a small mound compared to Tower A
Renting scooters is a thrilling way to explore Mui Ne and Phan Thiet, and stopping at the Cham Temple and Prince's Castle on Banai Hill is the perfect stop to break up the scooting and stretch your legs hiking up to the ruins. Atop the hill you get great views of the coastline and a massive cemetery dotted with colorful grave markers. If you are looking to buy souvenirs, there is pottery, woodcarvings and silk textiles that are hand loomed on site. There is a nominal entrance fee, and if you forgot your water or want some ice cream there is a small outdoor shop near the Towers.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
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Two Guys getting ready to enter the warm waters of the lagoon.
Magpupungko is a place I am tempted to not write about because I want to keep it all for myself. The Philippines are amazing in general, but the Magpupunkgko Lagoon was amazing and deserted. It gave the satisfying affect of discovery and solitude being the only group at such a cool place. The water in the lagoon is very warm, a more buoyant person than myself could comfortably sleep in it. The lagoon itself is a giant tide pool carved out of the coral, and if you swim to the edge, you can look out over fields of coral to breaking waves,creating a natural infinity pool effect.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
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The Ministry of Defense destroyed by NATO air strikes in Belgrade, Serbia
In 1999 NATO intervened in an escalating civil war, the Kosovo War, between ethnic Albanians and Serbs on the behalf of the outgunned Albanians. The intervention was controversial for many reasons. The initial fighting did not involve NATO nations. It coincidentally took media attention away from the Monica Lewinsky Scandal, and among numerous other controversies, three missiles were fired at and destroyed the Chinese embassy, supposedly surgically accurate missiles. For nearly 4 months NATO launched Tomahawk cruise missiles and flew over 38,000 combat missions targeting military installations, power plants, media broadcasting stations and the Ministry of Defense, pictured above.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
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The Heritage Card is an unlimited one year pass to OPW sites
Want to see Kilkenny Castle but admission costs cutting into your budget? €7 admission to Muckross House making you think twice? Not sure if Dún Aonghasa is worth it (it is)? You don't have to skip anything, nor feel guilty for leaving bad tours early, with the OPW Heritage Card. This card is amazing. If you plan on visiting 3 OPW sites in Ireland, you have to buy this card. It nearly pays for itself visiting two sites, and definitely will if you visit three. The price is €21 for an adult, and only €8 for a student, and what budget traveler doesn't have a student id? You have unlimited access to OPW sites for one year.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
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One of the best looking beaches on Inishmore. Still a little too cold in mid-summer to swim
Like to be active and explore ruins? See prehistoric forts, 300ft cliffs, a castle, ancient cemeteries and beaches all within a 2 mile radius? Inishmore in the Aran Islands, just off the coast of the University city, Galway, is inch for inch one of the most historically saturated sites in Ireland, and while it may also be saturated with tourists, if you choose to explore the island on bike, you will get a glimpse of the solitude of Inishmore.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
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Blarney Castle, Ireland, the real life Tir Asleen
If you want to feel like Madmartigan entering Tir Asleen for the first time, minus the disappointment, then Blarney Castle, in Blarney, Ireland is the place for you. This isn't a pristine, restored castle, or a château pretending to be a castle, this is the real deal. This castle has fortified stone walls, lookout towers, creepy caves and most important of all, a magical relic, the Blarney Stone.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
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A view of St. Canice’s Cathedral and the Round Tower in Kilkenny, Ireland
St. Canice’s Cathedral and the 9th century Round Tower are near the center of town in Kilkenny, Ireland. While not justifying more than an few hour visit, unless you plan to attend mass, the Gothic Cathedral and Round Tower are very impressive and create an atmosphere of antiquity. There is no charge to look around the property; a cemetery that feels more like a park. I am sure stopping by the area at night would give you an entirely different feeling.