The foundation of the city is attributed to Marius Caius, around 102 BC, but the first document mentioning a place called “Ayga Mortas” (dead waters) dates from the 10th century AD. We made a stop here on our way from Carcassonne to Gordes. Louis IX of France (Saint Louis) rebuilt the port in the 13th […]
Category Archives: Europe Tours
Carcassonne and the Kingdom of Aragon
Carcassonne, a medieval fortress town is one of the most popular stops in the former Kingdom of Aragon, which lasted from 1035 to 1707. We’ve spent two nights in a lovely hotel just outside the gates of imposing Carcassonne. Saturday was forecast to rain all day. What to do on a rainy day? Rub shoulders […]
Tours anywhere, anyway, anytime
That’s what makes European Focus Private Tours so unique, and so special in the world. We custom design tours for singles, couples or groups of friends for locations all over Europe.
Lunch on the way from Barcelona to Carcassonne
With help from a suggestion from a new friend who owns a B&B near Leon, we stopped in the delightful seaside town of Begur, Spain today where we found lunch at the wonderful hotel and restaurant “Galena,” located on the edge of the village but with a wonderful view of the rolling landscape to the […]
Barcelona’s Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia (Catalan: Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia, Spanish: Catedral de la Santa Cruz y Santa Eulalia), also known as Barcelona Cathedral, is the Gothic cathedral and seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona, Spain. The cathedral was constructed throughout the 13th to 15th centuries, with […]
Columbus in Barcelona
Not only is there a huge statue of Christopher Columbus near the harborfront in Barcelona, but there is a small square near the former royal apartments that also has a connection with the famed explored and so-called discoverer of America. From the top of the huge bronze statue of Columbus, built in 1887-88 in time […]
How Not to travel in Europe
Our current guests make no apologies for being fans of popular author and television personality Rick Steves. Rick has made a career out of showing tourists “Europe through the Back Door.” Unfortunately, this usually means crappy hotels, tiny rooms, awful restaurants, indifferent service and all-around a waste of money and the total ruination of once […]