Our Carpe Diem

Seize the day! Make mistakes, get messy!

Category: Travel

Discovering the world one step at a time. Travel stories, pictures, and travel hacking. Be a globetrotter on a budget!

Life is short and the world is big. We share our love of travel by taking beautiful pictures and recommending the top things to do at destinations all over the world.

We traveled to the Connecticut capitol and found fun facts
Connecticut Capitol

One of our quests entails visiting every single capitol building in the USA. Working slowly, we have done 9 out of 50 so far. Read all about it on our Visit all Capitols page.

Travel to Europe

Since Karen was born in the Netherlands, and one of our daughters lived in the UK for a few years, we tend to travel to Europe fairly frequently. Here are some of our tips and tricks for Europe travel:

  • Is the Goldfinch Painting Real? Where Is It Now?

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    Where can you find the Goldinch painting that inspired the Donna Tartt book?

    Written by

    Karen Lanzetta
    Where is The Goldfinch painting now? After you read The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. Naturally so you wonder what happened to the painting? Where do you go and admire it? Did you ever see the painting? Does it look like a goldfinch or more like a different bird? Read and find out where you can go to see The Goldfinch by ​Fabritius (and The Girl with The Pearl Earring by Vermeer) #OurCarpeDiem #art #TheGoldfinch #booklover #museums

  • All You Need to Know: St Peter’s Basilica in Oudenbosch

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    Did you know that there are TWO copies of the St Peter’s Basilica in a tiny town in the Netherlands? How did Oudenbosch end up with such a foreign and imposing architectural feat in Calvinistic Holland? What does the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran have to do with it all? Which architect designed the Oudenbosch…

    Written by

    Karen Lanzetta
    Did you know that there are TWO copies of the St Peter's Basilica in a tiny town in the Netherlands? How did Oudenbosch end up with such a foreign and imposing architectural feat in Calvinistic Holland? What does the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran have to do with it all? Which architect designed the Oudenbosch Basiliek? Are there other copies of the St Peters and if so, where are they? #OurCarpeDiem #architecture #StPeters #OffTheBeatenPathTravel #TheNetherlands #RomanCatholicChurches

  • Discover the Best Off The Beaten Path Destinations in Zeeland

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    Looking for somewhere to go that’s off the beaten path? Check out our list of the best off the beaten path destinations in Zeeland! Follow us for more!

    Written by

    Karen Lanzetta
    Looking for somewhere to go that's off the beaten path in Zeeland, Netherlands? Check out our list of the best hidden gems in this scenic Southern province. Don’t miss out on valuable #TravelTips and ollow us for more! #OurCarpeDiem #Travelguide

  • Michelin Bib Gourmand: Affordable Restaurants in Paris

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    When you travel to Paris, you would love to eat at a Michelin restaurant, but we all know that they are very expensive. This article will introduce you to Bib Gourmand restaurants in Paris, a way to get an affordable haute cuisine meal for a good price. Find out what this bib gourmand means and…

    Written by

    Karen Lanzetta
    When you travel to Paris, you would love to eat at a Michelin restaurant, but we all know that they are very expensive. This article will introduce you to Bib Gourmand restaurants in Paris, a way to get an affordable haute cuisine meal for a good price. Find out what this bib gourmand means and where to find these upscale restaurants. Make your choice from the best restaurants in Paris! #travel #france #paris #OurCarpeDiem #savemoney #budget #traveltips

  • Don’t Miss Out on a Free Visit to l’Orangerie

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    How to get into l’Orangerie (and other Paris museums) for free. Yes, you finally made it to Paris, but you have to do things on a budget. You would love to see some art, but you also want to save money. Find out how to get into l’Orangerie and other Paris museums for free. L’Orangerie…

    Written by

    Karen Lanzetta
    How to visit Musee de l'Orangerie (and other Paris museums) for free. Imagine, you finally made it to Paris, but you have a budget. You want to see art, but you also want to save money. Top tips to get into l'Orangerie and other Paris museums for free. Must-see in Paris! Monet ‘s water lilies. Paris travel tips. You too can see Monet for free! #OurCarpeDiem #freebies #travel #paris #monet #art #traveltips #france #savemoney #Orangerie

  • Top Crocodile Predators? Don’t Miss Out on the Best!

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    I bet you believe that crocodiles are top of the food chain. Let me surprise you with the top predator of crocodiles! Join us on Jose’s Crocodile River Tour on the Tarcoles River in Costa Rica.

    Written by

    Karen Lanzetta
    What eats crocodiles? I bet you believe that crocodiles are top of the food chain. Let me surprise you with the top predator of crocodiles! Join us on Jose's Crocodile River Tour on the Tarcoles River in Costa Rica. Bird watching, puddling butterflies, iguanas, lizards and of course crocodiles. Many interesting crocodile facts, and a crocodile being caught and eaten by a predator! Find out what animal. #OurCarpeDiem #crocodiles #travel #CostaRica #birding #boattour #TarcolesRiver

  • The Best Street Food in Puntarenas: a Churchill!

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    Cruise stop in Puntarenas in Costa Rica? You have to try a Churchill, a famous street food. What is it and where can you get it? What other things to do in Costa Rica? Day trip ideas. Where is Puntarenas? What goes into a Churchill?

    Written by

    Karen Lanzetta
    What is the best street food in Costa Rica? You have to try a Churchill, a copo / snow cone named after the prime minister. What is it and where can you get it? What other things to do in Costa Rica? Day trip ideas. Where is Puntarenas? What goes into a Churchill? #TravelDestinations #StreetFood #OurCarpeDiem #cruising #Puntarenas

  • Best Birding in Costa Rica: Hungry Heron on the Hunt!

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    Meet the birds of Costa Rica and learn where to find them. The zany zanate and the marvelous Mrs Motmot. Did you know that some birds eat crocodiles? What about these prehistoric looking birds? Do frigate birds STEAL their food instead of doing their own hunting? Have you ever seen a gull on top of…

    Written by

    Karen Lanzetta
    Meet the birds of Costa Rica and learn where to find them. The zany zanate and the marvelous Mrs Motmot. Did you know that some birds eat crocodiles? What about these prehistoric looking birds? Do frigate birds STEAL their food instead of doing their own hunting? Have you ever seen a gull on top of a pelican’s head? #OurCarpeDiem #birding #CostaRica #TarcolesRiver #Puntarenas

  • Dive In Now! Enjoy Snorkeling and Dolphins in Oahu

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    Discover the deep blue underworld of Oahu, snorkeling and watching dolphins. Visit age-old coral reefs all from the comforts of the Ocean Joy. Be amazed by spinner #dolphins. Explore the rich variety of colorful fish life. Hold a starfish in your hands! Find out about #snorkeling at Electric Beach.

    Written by

    Karen Lanzetta
    Discover the deep blue underworld of Oahu, snorkeling and watching dolphins. Visit age-old coral reefs all from the comforts of the Ocean Joy. Be amazed by spinner #dolphins. Explore the rich variety of colorful fish life. Hold a starfish in your hands! Find out about #snorkeling at Electric Beach on #Oahu. #OurCarpeDiem #NatureCruise #Hawaii #BestThingsToDo

  • Catch Fire and Get Lost on the Manoa Falls Trail

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    The Manoa Falls hike in Ohau is an awesome hike to feel like you are in Jurassic Park and to experience the tropical rain forest. Lots of bird watching too! Even if you don’t make it to the top.

    Written by

    Karen Lanzetta
    Manoa Falls is a great hike on Oahu. You might recognise parts of it, since some of the movies “Jurassic Park” and “Catching Fire” were filmed right here in the jungle. The hike was a tad more intense than I could manage with my multiple sclerosis, but there were other things to check out. Get lost with us! #OurCarpeDiem #travel #oahu #Hawaii #hiking #MultipleSclerosis #traveltips #spoonies