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Celebrate Travel, Culture, Connection

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Renate Strub

Renate Strub

International travel writer and photographer. Fluent in English, Spanish and German, Renate Strub has lived in six different countries. She loves to explore the world, and learn about new cultures, food, wine, traditions. Some of her articles have appeared in Travel Squire, Renaissance Magazine, Destinations Magazine. See more of Renate's writing at RenateStrubWorld.com.

Art & Culture Europe International International Destinations
5 Virtual Tours to Fairy Tale European Christmas Markets

by Renate Strub December 7, 2020

by Renate Strub December 7, 2020

Want to feel like a kid again? Get in the Holiday spirit in these trying times when you are isolated and secluded at home? A virtual visit to these European…

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Taking a cortado break at Gatto Postres y Cafe en

Taking a cortado break at Gatto Postres y Cafe en el Centro, Oaxaca. Perfect right after a wonderful Spanish class!
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#parqueillano #illanopark #oaxacamexico #oaxacatravel #coffeebreak☕️ #cafebreak #mexicancoffee

Another day of walk-walk-walking in #oaxaca !! Chu

Another day of walk-walk-walking in #oaxaca !! Churches, art galleries, trendy clothing shops, souvenir shops, a rug store, and the Museu Textil de Oaxaca. Fabulous restaurant in a courtyard garden similar to my Oaxaca home. (I had grilled pulpo in a mild chipotle sauce. More tacos, of course. And a mezcal. There were park walks and art shows. Families, yes, in the parks and in the squares on a sunny Sunday. I love Oaxaca.
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#visitoaxaca #textiles @museo_textil @vive_oaxaca #templodesantodomingo #oaxacacentro #oaxacamexico #domingoenelparque #sundayinthepark #oaxacatravel

I’m in Oaxaca, Mexico and staying at the lovely

I’m in Oaxaca, Mexico and staying at the lovely and wonderfully located Hotel Las Mariposas. I’ve got a cute and spacious little apartment and everyone who works here is very helpful and kind. The hotel is women-owned. They put a lot of emphasis on being green/saving energy. Off to a great start!
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I think you’ll agree, the winding little courtyard gardens are pretty special.
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#oaxacamexico #oaxacatravel #oaxacacity #mexicomagico #lasmariposas @hotellasmariposas @oaxtravel #solotravels #womantraveler #mágico #mexicantravel

The Peter Iredale shipwreck at Oregon’s Fort Ste

The Peter Iredale shipwreck at Oregon’s Fort Stevens State Park is always great fun to visit. The ship ran ashore in 1906 on its way to the Columbia River.
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The ship had 4 masts, and it’s steel skeleton kind of comes and go with the tides and sand movement. It’s one of those places I love to take #outoftowners to see!
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#fortstevens #fortstevensstatepark #washingtonstateparks #visitoregon #oregoncoast #oregonparks #oregonbeaches #oregonhistory #ushistory #shipwrecks #peteriredale #peteriredaleshipwreck

Oregon’s Fort Stevens State Park is a fascinatin

Oregon’s Fort Stevens State Park is a fascinating places to visit. It’s history goes back to the Civil War—yes, in Oregon State! Most notably though is it’s history during WWII; it was attacked by the Japanese in 1942.
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#fortstevens #fortstevensstatepark #washingtonstateparks #visitoregon #oregoncoast #oregonparks #oregonbeaches #oregonhistory #ushistory

A wellness retreat in Long Beach Peninsula with @i

A wellness retreat in Long Beach Peninsula with @inspiredmindmatters and a stay at @chautauqualodge -- both onsite, so a little walk over to my classes! You can see the full article on @confettitravel ; the article is on our main page right now.
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@inspiredmindmatters #wellness #longbeachwa #wellnessstudios #yogastudios #longbeach #longbeachpeninsula #soundbaths #aerialyoga #yogatime🙏 #visitlongbeachwa #visitlongbeach @visitlongbeachwa #soundtherapyhealing #yogaretreats #wellnessretreat #atthebeach #washingtonbeaches @visitlongbeachwa #soundbathmeditation #wellnessweekend @visitlongbeachwa #washingtoncoast @chautauqualodge

Thanks Visit Long Beach Washington and Fill it Fo

Thanks Visit Long Beach Washington and Fill it Forward! Lovin’ my handy-dandy new water bottle from @fillitforward ! I’m barely without my water bottle. But using this little vessel prompts Fill It Forward to make a donation to some fabulous global causes. Every time I fill it up, I scan the @longbeachwa QR CODE on the bottle and Fill It Forward donates to one of 360+ (at the current count) projects. They donate to clean water infrastructure, food programs, reforestation projects, and more. They make the donations from product sales and corporate partnerships. I’ll take it!
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#fillitforward #longbeachwa #donate #cleanwater #cleanwaterforall #foodbanks #plantatree #charitywork #charitychallenge #ecofriendly #ecoliving #ecotips #pacificcountywa

Finally paid a visit to @thomasdambo sculpture, O

Finally paid a visit to @thomasdambo sculpture, Ole Bolle. Ole Bolle is made of recycled wood palled and our local reclaimed old growth Douglas fir wood. He’s 19 feet tall. There are a series of these now in the Northwest. He can be seen, free of charge on the grounds of @nordicnorthwest in SW Portland.
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This friendly troll was created with the help of many volunteers and he’s fun and expressive! Dambo creates a story for each of his friendly trollls. Wonderfully #creative !
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#trolls #thomasdambo #thomasdambotrolls #nordicnorthwest #woodsculpture #portlandart #portlandia #brodersud #nordicart #olebolle

Took a little visit to the sand dunes at Manzanita

Took a little visit to the sand dunes at Manzanita. Walked south along the beach and then in. Walking sand dunes hills makes you feel like such a kid! September at Oregon beaches is the best!
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#beachwalks #sanddunes #sanddune #manzanita #manzanitaoregon #oregoncoast #oregonbeaches #walkwalk

Our Oregon coast weather has been Dry! Sunny! Warm

Our Oregon coast weather has been Dry! Sunny! Warm (enough!) But it was all misty and foggy yesterday. And truly, it was just great; it felt like home.
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#sundayfunday #astoria #astoriaoregon #astoriameglerbridge #oregon #oregoncoast #oregoncoastlife #oregonlife #mistymorning #pacificnorthwest #cloudyday #cloudysky #bridgesofinstagram #bridges #columbia #columbiariver #oregonbridges

Lunch at Astoria’s Bridgewater Bistro with the f

Lunch at Astoria’s Bridgewater Bistro with the fam! Food and drink here is always wonderful. I really should have got some shots of the interior because this place is GORGEOUS! Sweeping high ceilings and floor to ceiling windows, beautiful wood beans and trims. Service is spot on too. So hey, we were just enjoying ourselves.
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#sundayfunday #bridgewater #bridgewaterbistro #astoria #astoriaoregon #astoriameglerbridge #oregon #oregoncoast #oregoncoastlife #oregonlife #musselsandfries #fishandchips @bridgewater_bistro

Throwback Thursday joy! I had a day on my own in A

Throwback Thursday joy! I had a day on my own in Anchorage before meeting up with my friend Carol.
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I spend my a good part of the day at the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the Anchorage Museum. I can’t imagine a better introduction to Alaskan history and culture. Most of the rest of the trip was spent hiking, kayaking, and immersing ourselves in the natural beauty of our 50th state. But that first day and these two centers really set the tone for me.
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#alaska #alaskaadventure #anchoragealaska #alaskanativeheritagecenter #anchoragemuseum #alaskanativeart #visitalaska @anchoragemuseum @akheritagecenter #throwbackthursday #travelthursday

Take a look on ConfettiTravelcafe.com for a new ar

Take a look on ConfettiTravelcafe.com for a new article on the benefits of getting lost while you travel. Happy too to recommend @karengershowitz 's new book, Wanderlust: Extraordinary People, Quirky Places, and Curious Cuisine. Karen's a great writer and storyteller.

#worldtravelers #wanderlust #womantraveler #solotraveller #travelmemoirs #memoirs #travelbooks #travelstoriesworld #karengershowitz

The #harvest is going strong. Yay to summer tomato

The #harvest is going strong. Yay to summer tomatoes from my daughter and SIL’s garden!
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#tomatoes #veggies #vegetablesgarden #veggiegardening #redtomatoes #familygardening

On my beach walk this evening, I took one of the t

On my beach walk this evening, I took one of the trails to head back inland. I aimed toward a public walkway between two houses that back to the Cove neighborhood. And here, a painted rock garden seems to be growing full throttle. I have no idea who started it or how long it’s been growing. But I had fun exploring it!

Oh yes … and then there was this sunset. Each and every one is different.
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#sunsetcaptures #rockpaintings #rockpainting #rockpaintingisfun #onthebeach #seasideoregon #seasideliving #oregoncoast #oregoncoastlife

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge on Washington's L

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge on Washington's Long Beach Peninsula offers some memorial outdoor experiences. Take a stroll along the board walk Art Walk, along marshes. There's great birding and other animals to see. Hike and you'll see some old growth trees in the forest. Like this beauty.

#takeahike #treebathing #naturepark #longbeachwashington #washingtonparks #longbeachpeninsula @visitlongbeachwa #oldgrowth #oldgrowthforest

The Depot Restaurant is a long-time favorite to Lo

The Depot Restaurant is a long-time favorite to Long Beach Peninsula residents and visitors alike. This casual, fine dining spot is certainly on my don’t-miss list.
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The building goes back 130 years, as the Clamshell Railroad Train Station. Chef Jamie Gisby took over in the kitchen after years as sous chef, keeping many favs and displaying his own spin as well. The wine list has always been superb, but they’re serving cocktails now too. The staff are all wonderful. Pro tip: save room for dessert!
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My meal? A Spanish style tomato gazpacho. Blackened tuna tacos. And the house special that night; pan-seared lingcod with porcini mushroom cream sauce, rice pilaf and seasonal veggies.
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Burger Nights were always popular at the restaurant and now you can get them anytime at the Depot Gourmet Burger food cart in the SandbarFood Court.
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@thedepotseaview #depotrestaurantandbar #depotrestaurant #longbeachpeninsula #longbeachwa #finediningfood @visitlongbeachwa #atthebeach

A little wellness getaway in Long Beach Peninsula

A little wellness getaway in Long Beach Peninsula turned out to be pretty transcendent. Jenelle’s vinyasa flow yoga and sound bath offerings and Michelle’s yin yoga and meditation, breath work and aerial yoga classes were wonderful. Michelle Svendsen’s Inspired Mind Matters wellness studio was everything I could have hoped for in a little me-time!
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🧘‍♀️
The studio also offers cold plunge therapy, personal coaching, Mini & Me Mindful Movement classes, and yes, more.
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Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula is one of my favorite places, and I return again and again.
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@inspiredmindmatters #wellness #yogastudios #longbeachwa #wellnessstudios #yogastudios #longbeach #longbeachpeninsula #soundtherapy #aerialyoga yoga @visitlongbeachwa #soundbathmeditation #wellnessweekend

Most of the time, taking care of myself is found i

Most of the time, taking care of myself is found in the everyday. So when I do take some “official” wellness time, it has to incorporate fun. And I SO had fun trying out AERIAL YOGA with Michelle at her wellness studio, Inspired Mind Matters in Long Beach, Washington.
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Stretching, bending, joint relief, freeing, and so much flipping FUN!!
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@inspiredmindmatters #wellness #longbeachwa #wellnessstudios #yogastudios #longbeach #longbeachpeninsula #soundbaths #aerialyoga #yogatime #visitlongbeachwa #visitlongbeach @visitlongbeachwa #inspiredmindmatters

Returned the pups to their rightful parents. Appar

Returned the pups to their rightful parents. Apparently we partied hard.
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#granddogs #grandpups #shibastagram #shiba #shibalovers #shibainuofinstagram #walkwalk #dogwalks #atthebeach

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Nancy Zaffaro loves to travel and explore, write and take photos. At home and away, she enjoys hearing people’s stories and feels at home just about anywhere. Learn more about Nancy and the rest of CTC's contributors.

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