Hale Koa is Hawaiian for “House of the Warrior.” And the Hale Koa Hotel is precisely that:  a place for our nation’s warriors and their families to escape the rigors of military life.  

Every hotel should have a pool and water park! The Hale Koa has recently completed a water wonderland that is the highlight of the resort. Inside the pool area are water features for the families to play in and explore. The gush of water from the top of the main pool’s pirate ship mast sends children scurrying with delight. The new raised infinity pool overlooks the rest of the water park and affords swimmers an unrestricted view of the ocean. Waikiki Beach is just a stone’s throw away from here. Tanned lifeguards sit on their shiny chairs under umbrellas and keep a watchful eye on all of the guests. Next to the pool is the Barefoot Bar, Hale Koa’s place to wet your whistle. Parents lounge in the shade, enjoy cold drinks and watch their children joyously splash in the water. The pressures of everyday life seem to fade away.

USAF MSgt. (Retired) Nick W. and wife USAF TSgt. Brittainy W. – “Our experience at the pool was wonderful. The new layout was great for kids of all abilities and adults as well. The splash pad is a great place for small kids to stay cool, and the kiddie pool is close enough that parents can keep an eye on kids in both places from the provided tables. My wife raved about the lounge chairs in the pool as adults can relax while their kids swim feet away in the main pool.”

While the swimming pools are a popular new addition to the Hotel, the Hale Koa Luau is an honored tradition. The luau is held on the Hotel’s grounds and provides a show tailored to the military audience. There are cultural dances, fire dancers, an excellent selection of food, and a tribute to all of the U.S. Armed Forces branches. The luau is fun for all ages, where you can get up and learn to do a Hawaiian or Polynesian dance with the rest of the guests. You won’t find a more respectful, military-oriented show on display anywhere in Honolulu. Designed to honor our U.S. Armed Forces and their families, they get the job done!

Sheri and Bob Pankow, daughter and son-in-law of CWO3 S. Ward, USCG (Retired) – “One of the favorite parts of our stay at the Hale Koa was the luau. We have been to a couple of different luaus, and I can truly say that the Hale Koa is now my favorite. The food and beverages were thoroughly satisfying (especially my husband), while the show perfectly combined the island’s history and high-level entertainment, including fire dancers! The tribute to our country’s military was awesome. Coming from a proud military family, it truly warmed my heart. Great tribute. We highly recommend the experience to people of all ages.”

If you make your way over to Facebook, you can join the Hale Koa Tips & Tricks group for the latest news and advice on everything about staying at the Hale Koa Hotel. You will find helpful hints, a group willing to answer questions, transportation tips, and many others who Pay-It-Forward (PIF) with food, bottled water, fans, beach chairs, pool gear, coffee makers, and even adult beverages for the grownups. Whatever can’t go home in a suitcase can be left for the next family to enjoy. Post it in the Hale Koa Facebook group, and somebody will have use for it.

Mike Wallace and his son USN First Class Petty Officer stationed in Honolulu – “On our last day, we still had three bodyboards (had already given some stuff away) that we held onto in case the kids wanted to do it one more time. I was going down to the lobby to look for someone to give them to. I hopped on the elevator, and people were already on and struck up a conversation. I asked a young lady how long they had been here, and she said they got here last night. I asked if she had any kids, and she said she did. I said, well, now you’ve got boogie boards for them. She was a little shocked, but the smile on her face was huge. Her happiness was also my happiness. What a feeling!”

Built exclusively for the use of U.S. Armed Forces personnel and their families, the Hale Koa Hotel has served all branches of our military since 1975. The Army built the first hotel tower and later added a second tower in 1995. The Hotel has 818 well-appointed rooms. Active duty, retired military, and others can enjoy the Hale Koa Hotel located on the beach in Honolulu, Hawaii.

ICC Neil W. Shaw USN Retired, wife Wilma – “The Hale Koa is special because we spent every January there since 2000. In January of 2019, we celebrated 50 years married there with family. We love our friends we meet over there every year. Unfortunately, my husband passed away in August of 2019. I am returning in January 2022. The tradition continues.”

The Hale Koa Hotel operates on Fort DeRussy Military Installation, a 20-minute ride from the Honolulu International Airport. With three restaurants, two pools, and a Luau, the Hale Koa provides a first-class, affordable respite for our military and their families.

USAF retired SMS T and wife, Judy from California – “We’ve been blessed with the ability to vacation at the Hale Koa more than twenty-five times. We’ve sponsored our adult children and their children, as well as our siblings and friends. Every one of us agrees that we love the Hale Koa as much as we do because the Hotel and its staff make us feel welcome. We’ve always been welcomed back…as if we’re part of the family. The aloha spirit and the feeling of ohana (family) lives and thrives at the Hale Koa Hotel.”

Whether you are looking to visit Hawaii or are a snowbird looking for warmer weather, the Hale Koa Hotel provides everything you need to have a fantastic vacation on Oahu without breaking the bank.

The revenue generated by the Hotel funds the Hotel. No taxpayer dollars are used to operate and maintain the property. The Hotel is for Active duty, retirees, Purple Heart recipients, Disabled Veterans, and others. See the Hale Koa website for a complete eligibility list and to book your next great vacation!

There are currently four Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC) resorts, all self-sufficient. Besides the Hale Koa Hotel, you can stay at Shades of Green on Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch, Germany, or Dragon Hill Resort in Seoul, South Korea. All unique places to provide rest, relaxation, and family time for our military men and women worldwide.

Hale Koa Hotel
2055 Kalia Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
96815

Reservations:

1-800-367-6027 or 808-955-0555

HaleKoa.com

Steven Ward founded 10 Minute Travel in 2006. He wanted to create a website that would focus on interesting sights and attractions locally and in the rest of the world. Understanding more about other people in other lands is key to being a more global citizen.

Steve is a retired Coast Guard Officer who has worked in the IT field after leaving the service. He has been all over Alaska on ships, sailed through the Panama Canal, stopped in Jamaica and Aruba, and gone on a handful of trips to Europe and Asia. Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand were some of the more recent trips overseas. If there is a vaccine for the travel bug, he will refuse it.  🙂

The Vasari Corridor of Florence: An Architecturally-Gifted Historic Passageway

The Vasari Corridor of Florence, Italy is an overhead or enclosed passageway having a length of about a kilometer. It has been named after Giorgio Vasari, who constructed it within a fascinatingly short period of 5 months, in the year 1564. The passageway serves as a link between the Palazzo Pitti and Palazzo Vecchio, crossing Uffizi Gallery and Lungarno dei Archibusieri on its way.

In the photo above, the Vasari Corridor comes out of the Uffizi Gallery on the right side, goes over to the Ponte Vecchio Bridge, and crosses over the Arno River on top of the bridge to arrive at the Piti Palace on the left side of the river.

Why was it built?

The structure was built to respect the order of Cosimo I de’ Medici, the Grand Duke of the region at that time. The Duke wanted it built because the marriage of his son Francesco and Johanna of Austria was nearing. The passageway was primarily erected because the grand Duke felt quite insecure to move in public like most other monarchs of that period. The passageway was supposed to let him move freely between the palace and the residence. It is noteworthy that the design elements are inspired by the ideas of Vasari.

What does it presently offer for tourists?

The corridor opened to the public only in the year 1973, after being restored. However, an appointment is required in order to visit the interiors. The entrance between room 34 and room 25 can be viewed with permission. The passageway, in total, contains at least 1000 different paintings, all painted between the 17th and 18th centuries. Many famous self-portraits painted between the 16th and 20th centuries can also be witnessed. Among other notable paintings, self-portraits by Beccafumi, Andrea del Sarto, Bernini, Annibale Carracci, Salvator Rosa, and Rubens can be seen. Also, the round windows are loved for offering an excellent view of the city.

Moving the meat markets off the bridge

When the passageway was built, the Ponte Vecchio meat market was moved from the region, because the bad smell reached the passageway. The meat market was replaced by goldsmith shops, and some of those shops can be still found. 

The windows near the middle region of the Ponte Vecchio were replaced in the year 1939 by large panoramic windows to let Adolf Hitler see the beautiful panoramic view of the Arno river. Hitler visited Florence for official purposes.

During the war in later years, Hitler heavily bombed all of the bridges across the Arno River, except one. The order was given to disable the Ponte Vecchio bridge, but not to destroy it. Both ends were closed off to keep the soldiers from getting across.

Another view out the window while above the Ponte Vecchio Bridge.

The photo above is the private balcony of the church. The Medici family was able to attend services without having to go into the church. The balcony is directly off the corridor and allowed the family to slip in and out as they needed to.

The Vasari Corridor is impressive for its paintings

The structure is one of the most unique structures that were ever built during any historical time. The beautiful design aspects impress the visitors easily, and the majestic size of the passageway, both in terms of length and height, is very impressive. The presence of the Arno River just beside it makes the scenic beauty even more appealing.

Inside, there are so many paintings that it is difficult to view them all. Walking along the corridor as a group and listening to the tour guide, you get the feeling that you are back in time.

I managed to get a few pictures inside the corridor. The tour guide was adamant about not taking photos inside the corridor. But we were allowed to take pictures out of the windows. I suspect that this was a security measure for the paintings and sculptures all along the corridor walls. I carried my camera strap around my neck, and just occasionally pushed the shutter button without lifting it to my eye. I just hoped they wouldn’t catch me doing it!

Here are a few of the better images I captured.

Another photo taken using my stealth technique!

Our guide would stop occasionally to explain what we were seeing. There were so many paintings that they started to blur together!

On the Ponte Vecchio Bridge, there are gold shops set up for the tourists. The large windows on the corridor above the bridge were installed so Adolf Hitler could see the river views when he toured the Vasari Corridor with Mussolini before WWII.

The Vasari Corridor tour ended at this point (see photo below). We took stairs down to ground level and went to have a look inside the grotto.

The Grotto was commissioned by Grand Duke Francesco I de’ Medici. You must go inside the Boboli Gardens to see it. It is a unique work of art.

The artificial grotto was designed by Bernardo Buontalenti. It was built over a 10 year period, from 1583 to 1593. The work was commissioned by Grand Duke Francesco I de’ Medici. At this point in the tour, you are on the other side of the Arno River in the Boboli Gardens. The grotto is decorated with mother-of-pearl, shells, stalactites, and stones that frame the beautiful frescoes. The sculptures seem to be trying to come out of the walls. In the past, there was a water feature.

The Vasari Corridor is a recommended tour for anyone wanting to learn more about how the Medici family lived and worked in Florence. The tour we took started with a guided tour in the Uffizi Gallery. Inside the Gallery, there is a stairway leading to doors that take you into the Corridor. The walk across the Vasari Corridor is full of interesting sights and sounds.

The mafia bombed the Vasari Corridor

In the year 1993, a car bomb was placed by the Italian mafia next to Torre dei Pulci. The car, full of explosives, badly damaged the part of the passageway near the Uffizi entrance. Many houses and paintings were heavily damaged due to the attack. Most of the paintings were put together nicely after the destruction took place, and placed at their original spots in order to remind people of the unfortunate event. You are able to see the spot where the bombing occurred and to see damaged paintings on display. It’s quite chilling to learn of this attack on the corridor.

The Vasari Corridor is a recommended tour for anyone wanting to learn more about how the Medici family lived and worked in Florence. The tour we took started with a guided tour in the Uffizi Gallery. Inside the Gallery, there is a stairway leading to doors that take you into the Corridor. The walk across the Vasari Corridor is full of interesting sights and sounds.

Steven Ward founded 10 Minute Travel in 2006. He wanted to create a website that would focus on interesting sights and attractions. The website has seen several changes over the years. Steve is a retired Coast Guard Officer who has worked in the IT field after leaving the service. He has been all over Alaska on ships, sailed through the Panama Canal, stopped in Jamaica and Aruba, and gone on a handful of trips to Europe and Asia. Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand were some of the more recent trips overseas. If there is a vaccine for the travel flu bug, he will refuse it.  🙂

Highlights of Hampton Court Palace

One of the finest Tudor palaces in England, Hampton Court is one of the best ways of spending a day in London. It was originally occupied as a manor by the Knights Hospitalier in the mid-thirteenth century. Royalty began using the area from 1400 and Henry VII was one of many kings who stayed here. Cardinal Wolsey developed Hampton Court further in the early 1500s as a Bishop’s Palace. Henry VIII stayed on several occasions in the royal suites but when he wanted to divorce Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn, Cardinal Wolseley fell from favor, dying in 1530. The palace became the home of Henry VIII and his descendants from 1528 and is full of history. Here are just a few of the highlights to see and do at Hampton Court that will bring history to life.

Imagine Cooking for 600 People – Every Day

The Tudor kitchens were the largest in England during that time and could feed 600 people in a day. This was at the center of palace life and had a master of chefs as well as a number of sergeants and yeomen. Even today the kitchens are used to prepare Tudor meals. At their height, 600,000 gallons of beer were consumed a year, and over 1,870 pigs and 2,330 deer were roasted annually.

Relax in the Privy Garden

The beautiful privy Garden was designed for William III and was literally private. Today it is open to the public and the twelve panels on the Tijou Screen have emblems signifying various parts of the United Kingdom. William III died before the garden was finished and many workers were never paid by Queen Anne. In 1649 Charles I lived in the rooms overlooking the privy Gardens and when pursued by Cromwell’s army he made his escape through this garden and out along the river. He did not last long though and was caught and executed in Whitehall.

Get Lost in the Maze

The gardens at Hampton Court Palace are wonderful to explore but one of the highlights has to be the Maze. It was designed in 1700 by Henry Wise and George London and is the oldest surviving maze in the UK. The maze is planted with yew and is fun to spend an afternoon wandering around, literally getting lost.

The well-manicured lawn and trees are a delight. The garden is very large, but walking along the pathways is relaxing and a lot of fun.

Enjoy the Great Vine

A 240-year-old vine is another highlight at Hampton Court Palace. This is a Black Homburg variety and Queen Victoria used to have the grapes brought to her residence on the Isle of Wight. Even today the vine is tended and produces fruit. Take a few minutes and walk through the room where the wine barrels are stored.

Views Of The Expansive Grounds

Some interesting photos of various courtyards and fountains. The palace is so large that it seems to go on forever. You get a feeling of Royal’s presence while moving around the grounds.

The Inner Rooms Of The Palace

Inside the palace, there are so many rooms to explore. My favorite was the room below that had swords and rifles all arranged into precise patterns. Look closely and you can make them out.

Another amazing large room that could be used for banquets or meetings. The tapestries on the walls are magnificent!

The bed-chamber of Henry VIII. We were told that this bed is actually used as an entryway to another room where the King slept. The large bed as shown here allowed the King to be awakened and dressed so that he was ready to face the day once coming out of the curtained bed. 

The grand staircase was truly amazing. With a beautiful mural on the wall and ceiling, it is an inspiring sight!

See Where Shakespeare Performed

The Great Hall is one of the finest medieval halls in existence and was where Henry VIII hosted banquets and other festivities. It is also where William Shakespeare performed for royalty. The tapestries here date from Henry VIII’s reign and depict the Story of Abraham. With its hammer-beam roof, this is one of the most impressive places to spend time at Hampton Court.

 Introducing Our Guide

We had originally signed up for a tour of London. One of the scheduled stops was to be a visit to Windsor Castle. However, Windsor Castle was closed that day for some unknown reason. Our tour company instead took us to Hampton Court Palace. We were a little disappointed when we heard the news. We had been looking forward to a guided tour of the Queen’s home. I had visions of a disappointing substitute tour of a small run-down palace. How wrong we were. The visit to Hampton Court Palace was interesting and exciting. I enjoyed my time there more than the day spent at the Palace of Versailles. It was the highlight of our tour in London! I highly recommend it!

Our tour guide was a very nice chap. He dressed as an English gentleman in a bowler hat and carried an umbrella. He even smoked a pipe and spoke with a formal British accent. It was great fun to be led by a man who really enjoyed leading the tour.

Steven Ward founded 10 Minute Travel in 2006. He wanted to create a website that would focus on interesting sights and attractions. The website has seen several changes over the years. Steve is a retired Coast Guard Officer who has worked in the IT field after leaving the service. He has been all over Alaska on ships, sailed through the Panama Canal, stopped in Jamaica and Aruba, and gone on a handful of trips to Europe and Asia. Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand were some of the more recent trips overseas. If there is a vaccine for the travel bug, he will refuse it.  🙂

The Corinth Canal has a very long and interesting history, going all the way back to the time of Roman Emperor Nero. Emperor Nero actually began digging in the very spot where the canal is today. There is even a memorial to the Roman workers who tried to establish a canal across the Isthmus of Corinth.

The canal is about 70 feet wide at sea level. It gets wider at the top due to the angled sides. The sides are 300 feet high all across the length of the canal. Even so, only ships that are less than 60 feet wide are able to transit the canal. That leaves out many larger ships and cruise ships.

The canal cuts off the Peloponnese peninsula from the Greek mainland, making it into an island. To get across, there are train, car, and highway bridges.

A satellite map reveals the location and length of the Corinth Canal.

The canal didn’t really have much of a chance to be built until more modern machinery could be employed. Still, many men were employed to do construction work, along with barges, cranes, and earth moving equipment. Construction began in earnest in 1881, and was completed and opened for traffic in 1893.

Looking west towards the Gulf of Corinth.

 Being only 70 feet wide, the canal will accommodate only smaller ships. Even so, the canal handles over 10,000 ships a year. Most of them are small cruise ships and some tourist ships that can transit the canal effectively.

Looking east to the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea.

The canal is small compared to other canals that are more modern. As ships get ever larger, fewer vessels are able to take advantage of this strategic short cut. 

The ships that do navigate the canal face strong winds and currents that make the transit a bit hazardous. Plus there is the problem of rocks falling and possible landslides. Stabilizing the walls of the canal has been necessary several times.

During World War II, the Germans used explosives to cause damage to the canal and put it out of commission. The canal was strategically important, As the Germans retreated from Greece, they damaged the canal and made it impassable.

Later, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cleared the canal in 1948 for use again.

A quick stop to look at the Corinth Canal is a brief respite from the drive to the Peloponnese. A chance to see a real piece of history, and to have a meal before pressing on. There is much to see in the Peloponnese. 

Steven Ward founded 10 Minute Travel in 2006. He wanted to create a website that would focus on interesting sights and attractions. The website has seen several changes over the years. Steve is a retired Coast Guard Officer who has worked in the IT field after leaving the service. He has been all over Alaska on ships, sailed through the Panama Canal, stopped in Jamaica and Aruba, and gone on a handful of trips to Europe and Asia. Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand were some of the more recent trips overseas. If there is a vaccine for the travel bug, he will refuse it.  🙂

On a trip to Italy a few years ago, my wife and I took a side trip to Interlaken, Switzerland. We had been there before but weren’t able to visit the Jungfraujoch. We had heard a lot about the train ride up into the rocky peaks and wanted to experience a trip to the top. It was a long way out of our way, but Switzerland is worth the time and expense. We set out to take the train to Interlaken and have another look around.

The train track that goes all the way up to the Jungfrau was blasted out of the solid rock of the Eiger and the Monch (Ogre and Monk) mountain peaks. Construction of the tunnel started in 1896 and was completed in 1912. A dozen years later, the “house above the clouds opened.”

We started at the train station at Kleine Scheidegg. The station sits right at the base of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau. The first stop will be the Eigergletscher rail station, which is just before the tunnel that enters into the side of the Eiger. After leaving the Eigergletscher station, it’s a short distance to the tunnel opening. For nearly six miles, the train lumbers through the darkness until it arrives at the Jungfrau railway station at 11,332 feet elevation. At that point, there is an observation area, another building with a restaurant, and a gift shop to sell souvenirs. 

The Wengernalpbahn railway runs from Lauterbrunnen to Grindelwald, via Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg. Once you arrive in Kleine Scheidegg, you will transfer to the Jungfraujoch railway. 

A view at the train station of the rest of Kleine Scheidegg. In the background is the famous Eiger, Clint Eastwood filmed a movie here called the Eiger Sanction, with George Kennedy.

After leaving the station at Kleine Scheidegg, the ground is mostly free of snow (we visited in June).

The Eigergletscher rail station. The train stops here for a few minutes. The railway also uses this stop as a workshop for train maintenance. My wife’s reflection in the window.

Our first look out the window of the restaurant. The food was quite good. We were very pleased that the restaurant was of high quality. Since there are no other choices, they could have served mediocre food, and we wouldn’t have any alternative.

The altitude is over 11,000 feet here.

The view out the windows in the restaurant was spectacular, However, the window reflections didn’t allow for the quality photographs that I wanted. Better to go outside!

From the observation area above the buildings, you have a very good view of the whole area (We were told by our waiter that Jungfraujoch means “Young Woman Area.” 

The railway station is inside the mountain, just under the lower building. An amazing feat of engineering.

My wife posing with the Swiss flag. It was very cold and she went inside soon after. I took a few more photos and headed for the warmth of the nearest building.

Tourists brave the very cold and windy weather to get a better look at the mountains below.

There is an ice cave to explore, with ice sculptures and strange passageways. The ice caves were a great addition to the experience.

We ended our visit to Jungfraujoch, tired and cold, but glad we went. The trip to the top is not cheap. We had a Rail Pass discount and even then it was about $325.00 for the two of us.  

All-in-all, it was a great day. I would recommend the ride up to anyone who likes to see once-in-a-lifetime sights. Be sure to take a LOT of photographs. I didn’t get nearly enough. Maybe I need to visit again? You bet.

Steven Ward founded 10 Minute Travel in 2006. He wanted to create a website that would focus on interesting sights and attractions. The website has seen several changes over the years. Steve is a retired Coast Guard Officer who has worked in the IT field after leaving the service. He has been all over Alaska on ships, sailed through the Panama Canal, stopped in Jamaica and Aruba, and gone on a handful of trips to Europe and Asia. Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand were some of the more recent trips overseas. If there is a vaccine for the travel bug, he will refuse it.  🙂

One thing that becomes instantly apparent in Bangkok, Thailand is the presence of food shops, stalls, restaurants, night markets, and food courts. They’re everywhere! When arriving in Thailand, the airport is so large that I was anxious to get out of it and head to the hotel. On the way to the hotel, we passed so many places to eat. I started to wonder how the food was going to taste and if it would be as cheap to dine out as I had heard it would be.

I thought I would post some photos of what I saw and experienced as my wife and I moved around the Bangkok area.

Dragon Fruit and Durian for sale in a stall on the sidewalk in Bangkok. I read that durian is not allowed to be brought into office buildings because of the very strong smell it has. I’ve smelled the fruit and it really smells bad. But the fruit inside is loved by many. I’m told that it tastes like custard. I tried it once and didn’t much care for the taste. I’m sure it is a matter of getting used to it.

On the other hand, the red dragon fruit is really good. I can eat that all day. The inside is white with black seeds, The seeds crunch when you eat them. When you get a good dragon fruit, you’ll be hooked!

When stopping at a rest stop on the highway between cities, there are many food stalls open to serve you. We took a look at a group of stores and restaurants and dined on some fresh Pad Thai and bottled drinks. The service is fast and the food is very inexpensive. Having a chance to stop and walk around made the drive to Pattaya fun and interesting. 

Scorpions, grubs, and other interesting things.

Plenty of food all around!

And more food! Looks like chicken. Crazy how much food gets consumed on the streets and in the night markets.

At night, people flock to the night markets to eat and drink. It’s really hot outside, even at 9 pm. We walked up and down the aisles at this night market and I was sweating profusely. But when we got to this booth, the heat from the grilled fish was unbearable! It must have been 110 degrees at least! I don’t know how they stand it.

One of the many aisles in the market. Nicely decorated, but still really hot and humid. We were there in March and it was already tough to go outside.

Our hotel had a really nice breakfast buffet. I enjoyed the fresh fruit and the cooked eggs each morning. We feel like a good breakfast that is enjoyable is the only way to start the day!

Durian smells so bad, but locals claim it tastes very good. I would have to try it a few more times before making up my mind. But it is important to try all of the strange and wonderful foods in Thailand!

And more stalls. There is an unlimited number of food vendors. It’s just phenomenal!

Whenever possible, we went to indoor food courts (air-conditioned) to escape the stifling heat. Plus, they have an incredible number of food choices. I came across an Indian food stall and ordered Chicken Tikka Masala. It was really good. I just enjoyed the rice and the flavor of the food so much. 

We were amazed at how much we spent on dinner for two. My wife bought a food card (they don’t take cash at the booths. You have to buy a card and add money to it to pay for your food choices). We bought about $10.00 on the card. After walking around and eating and drinking our fill, we returned to the cashier and got a refund of the money still left on the card. We were shocked to get back about $3.00. Our dinner had cost us less than $7.00 including the drinks. So cheap and best of all, so good!

After walking all over the night market, we hiked to the top floor of a parking garage near the night market. I wanted to get some pictures of the night market layout and to see what it looked like and how big it was. An amazing market that has anything you can think of and anything you might want to eat. Next time I will go in December to avoid the intense heat!

Steven Ward founded 10 Minute Travel in 2006. He wanted to create a website that would focus on interesting sights and attractions. The website has seen several changes over the years. Steve is a retired Coast Guard Officer who has worked in the IT field after leaving the service. He has been all over Alaska on ships, sailed through the Panama Canal, stopped in Jamaica and Aruba, and gone on a handful of trips to Europe and Asia. Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand were some of the more recent trips overseas. If there is a vaccine for the travel bug, he will refuse it.  🙂

A visit to Ostia Antica is well worth a day trip. You can expect a lot of walking, but the sights are spectacular and there is so much to experience. If you take the Metro and the train to get there, you will also be rewarded with a chance to see a real pyramid. Take a few minutes and walk over to it on your way back to Rome.

Steven Ward founded 10 Minute Travel in 2006. He wanted to create a website that would focus on interesting sights and attractions. The website has seen several changes over the years. Steve is a retired Coast Guard Officer who has worked in the IT field after leaving the service. He has been all over Alaska on ships, sailed through the Panama Canal, stopped in Jamaica and Aruba, and gone on a handful of trips to Europe and Asia. Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand were some of the more recent trips overseas. If there is a vaccine for the travel bug, he will refuse it.  🙂