Archives for May 2020

Munich, One of My Favorite Places on Earth

May 7, 2020 by Joel Thornton

Some places have a magical draw on our souls. Munich is one such place. Whenever I find myself in Germany, or central Europe for that matter, I am always tempted to hop a train, or drive down the autobahn to Munich. Known as München to the locals, this city has the heart of a village, but the energy of a large metropolitan area. It is filled with life and passion.

The best way to get to Munich is by train. The central train station or Hauptbahnhof is located just off the center of town. The stroll from the train station to the highlights of the city is casual and easy to find, even on your own. It is a great way to begin to enjoy Munich.

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Ancient Corinth, Critical To The Church In Europe

May 7, 2020 by Joel Thornton

One of the most famous ancient cities of Greece is Corinth. We have all heard the 13^th Chapter of Corinthians read at a wedding, the love chapter. We might or might not know that it is from a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the Church at Corinth, a church Paul had established on his missionary journeys. We know that Paul spent several years in Corinth. We know that he had troubles here, much like he had troubles most everywhere he went.

Thinking about Paul is easy while you are in Ancient Corinth. This incredible archeological dig is so well preserved that you can literally walk on the streets where the Apostle walked almost two thousand years ago. What an incredible feeling, knowing that your feet on the very stones that the Apostle Paul walked on.

From the streets of Ancient Corinth you can look out over the ocean which sits about a mile down the hill from the ancient city. Modern Corinth now sits right on the water, just below you. While you are here there are three sites to explore.

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A Day In Athens, Everything You Expect And More

May 6, 2020 by Joel Thornton

Athens, Greece is a beautiful city! It is filled with history and yet, in the midst of all that antiquity, thousands of people are living their everyday lives. The city seems to spread out forever with its white buildings piled almost on top of each other. A view from the Acropolis shows a 360° view of buildings virtually as far as the eye can see. This is a city filled with things to see, but you need a plan if you are going to get in as much as possible.

If you have a few days in Athens I would recommend that you get a seat on the double decker red tour bus. One ticket gives you access to most of the sites in Athens. You can hop on and hop off of the bus at any and every stop. There are buses constantly running, so you do not have to worry about getting stuck at a site.

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Keeping Safe While Traveling Abroad

May 3, 2020 by Joel Thornton

Safety should always be a consideration whether you are traveling or staying at home. This modern world is filled with danger everywhere. The question is how do we stay safe while enjoying traveling abroad?

Use common sense;
Be alert;
Check in with locals;
Some simple points to look for in your surroundings.

There are things you can do to make sure you keep yourself and your family safe when you travel abroad.

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Safety, Always a Concern, Never an Issue

May 3, 2020 by Joel Thornton

Many people never travel abroad because of the fear of the unknown. I do not let that happen. I believe that, if we do our homework and take some easy precautions, we can avoid troubles while abroad and still enjoy traveling.

My family and I were living in Strasbourg, France on September 11, 2001. We sat in our apartment and watched the World Trade Center Towers come tumbling down. I knew that this one event would change how we travel for years to come if not forever. Tensions rose in Europe, as did anti-Semitism.

Not long after, we began to see refugees streaming into Europe unchecked, mostly from the most troubled areas of the Middle East. This changed the dynamic of Europe fairly drastically. And yet the world still spins on its axis.

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