LifePart2AndBeyond.com Travel Blog
Visiting Auschwitz – What You Need To Know Beforehand
A Brief History Of Auschwitz Auschwitz II - Birkenau Auschwitz, the largest of the Nazi concentration and death camps, opened in 1940. It began as a detention centre for political prisoners. However, the base soon evolved into a network of centres where Jewish people...
Wieliczka Salt Mine Near Krakow
The Entrance To The Wieliczka Salt Mine Being so close to Krakow, the Wieliczka Salt Mine, a.k.a the Krakow Salt Mine (probably because that’s easier to say and remember), makes for a great side trip from the city. It’s one of the world’s oldest salt mines -...
Our Most Memorable Meals From Our Travels Around The World
As we aren’t able to travel at the moment due to the Covid-19 pandemic, poor Jonathan is doing all the cooking. Believe me, he wouldn’t want me to cook - even our dog who eats complete rubbish straight off the street refuses my cooking. So for now, we find ourselves...
Things To Do In Krakow In Winter
With so much to see and do in Krakow in the winter, Jonathan and I fell very quickly in love with this city. It was one of those cities that, if it had a better climate and was closer to the ocean, we would have moved there in a heartbeat. The city of Krakow offers...
BenQ e-Reading Lamp Review
When our friends at BenQ contacted us and said, ‘Hey, do you want to try one of our new BenQ e-reading desk lamps?’, the timing couldn’t have been better. We had just moved into a new apartment overlooking Malta’s Grand Harbour, and although the lounge was light and...
The Good-Enough Retirement
Jonathan Watching the Sunset in Cambodia Why seeking the perfect retirement can be an obstacle to a great retirement. Beliefs about what it takes to make a great retirement vary wildly. Ask a Millennial what their retirement goals are, and you are likely to get a...
Day Trip From Jerusalem to The Masada
Roman Ruins at The Masada With a few days to spare at the end of our house sit in East Jerusalem, we decided to venture further afield. We had heard a lot about Masada, the ancient fortress on top of a high plateau overlooking the Dead Sea and we couldn’t wait to...
Seeing Naples in a Day
One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the largest city in Southern Italy -Naples is a fascinating, chaotic place to visit, but is it possible to see Naples in a day? Yes, we covered a lot of ground in one day but we appreciated the raw...
Malta Food Tour In Valletta
Our Group On The Valletta Food Tour When our friends at Offbeat Malta Food Trails invited us on their Valletta Food Tour, we jumped at the opportunity. Jonathan and I love food tours; it’s such a great way to experience local food and also to learn a little about the...
Malta Carnival: A Bit of History and Some Fun Photos (Updated for 2024)
Malta's Carnival 2024 will take place between 9-13 February. A Stunningly Colourful Carnival Float Malta’s carnival, Il-Karnival Ta’ Malta, takes place in February in the lead-up to Lent and is one of Europe’s oldest and most celebrated festivals. Jonathan has...
How To Visit Bethlehem
We visited Bethlehem in late November for the lighting of the Christmas tree. I was hoping to sing O Little Town Of Bethlehem under the tree and feel all Christmassy. But unfortunately, the pre entertainment went on so long and the last bus left at 19:30, so...
Top Things To Do in Jerusalem
Admittedly, we were a little bit hesitant at first about visiting Jerusalem. Despite knowing there were so many fascinating things to see and do in Jerusalem, we believe that spending travel money is, in a way, like voting, and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict...
Happy Retirement Wishes and Quotes
Being retired myself, I have attended a lot of retirement functions and have often had to search for the right message to best convey happy retirement wishes. I have often been asked to say a few words, share retirement congratulations or make a speech and have found...
Temple Mount And The Western Wall of Jerusalem
Dome of the Rock Mosque No trip to Jerusalem is complete without a visit to Temple Mount and the Western Wall, two of the world’s most important religious sites. Facts About Temple Mount And The Western Wall of Jerusalem Temple Mount is located on top of one of the...
Via Dolorosa Walking Tour With Photos
What Is The Via Dolorosa? The Via Dolorosa and Souvenir Shop The Via Dolorosa meaning 'Sorrowful Way' or 'Way of Suffering,' is a processional route for Christian pilgrims in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is said to be the path that Jesus walked on the way to his...
Self-Guided Mount of Olives Walking Tour
How We Came To Visit Jerusalem and The Mount of Olives Looking Across The Kidron Valley At The Tour Buses On The Mount of Olives As it’s the epicentre for the world’s main religions, and despite neither Jonathan nor me actually being religious, we have both always...
Venice Islands in One Day
We love Venice, but lately it is suffering from too much tourism. See how we left Venice and went exploring the Venice Islands around Venice Lagoon.
What To Do In Skopje, North Macedonia
If you love your Eastern European capitals old, bohemian, kitschy and overrun with statues you can’t miss quirky Skopje, North Macedonia. See why!
Slovenian Food and Wine
We had no idea how good Slovenian food and wine was going to be and were very pleasantly surprised. We love trying out local food whenever we travel, and it was great having local guide Mateja from Mateja Travel introducing us to new dishes. There were so many...
What Does It Cost To Live In Zagreb, Croatia
Zagreb City Center Croatia is a gorgeous country and one of the best destinations to visit in Europe. Its capital city is the perfect example of Croatia’s beauty and one of the many reasons people come here. It’s particularly appealing to digital nomads who can work...
LifePart2 & Beyond
Jon & Sarah
It seemed almost inevitable that we, Jonathan and Sarah, would one day meet: two independent travellers from different corners of the globe, we shared a bond that many travellers experience, a mutual love of adventure and a belief that the planet is a better place when people leave their comfort zones and discover new lands and cultures. So, when our paths finally