Siena Tuscany, Italy

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We stayed at the Castelo Monastero, in Tuscany about 20 minutes drive from Siena where we enjoyed walking around taking in the sites such as the Duomo of Siena, Il Campo, and the Palazzo Pubblico and enjoying an incredible bistecca and seasonal truffle dishes at Osteria La Taverna di San Giuseppe. The highlight however was the beautiful picturesque Tuscan countryside as you can see from the photos below.

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Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor-Wat-sunrise

Angkor Wat was first a Hindu, then subsequently a Buddhist, temple complex in Cambodia and the largest religious monument in the world. The temple was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum.

Breaking from the Shaiva tradition of previous kings, Angkor Wat was instead dedicated to Vishnu. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious center since its foundation. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture.

The modern name, Angkor Wat, means “Temple City” or “City of Temples” in Khmer; Angkor, meaning “city” or “capital city”, and Wat is the Khmer word for “temple grounds”.

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angkorwat-grounds

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