Melinda Caliendo

If you’re like most Americans, you’ll probably spend at least some of your time this weekend watching sports on TV. Which means you’ll also spend a lot of your time watching commercials, branded halftime shows, or answering trivia questions sponsored by a certain insurance company.

Yes, the major professional sports leagues, and the major college sports teams, aren’t just about the love of the game. They’re also big business. Very big business.

The National Football League, for instance, had $12 billion in revenues during the 2014-2015 season, according to 

. English’s top soccer league, the Premier League inked a $7.8 billion deal last year for three years of television broadcast rights in the United Kingdom. The league will get another $1 billion from NBC, which has bought the rights to broadcast the six years’ worth of EPL games in the United States.

Indeed, many leagues are now finding large fan bases on the other side of the ocean. The NFL has been holding select regular season games in London in recent years. Meanwhile, European soccer games can be found on US TV dials almost every day of the week.

All of that has helped to build the name recognition and brand values of some of the major sport leagues’ premier teams. 

 recently went in-depth to find out which 50 sports teams have the most valuable brands. As you might expect, the US has a number of entrants on the list.

 10 most valuable sport team brands, along with the team’s league, championship history, and average annual player salary. For European soccer leagues, we used the team’s total number of UEFA Champions League titles, rather than the number of titles for their domestic sports leagues, since many of the following teams are dominant in their home leagues. The average player salary information comes from Sporting Intelligence’s Global Sports Salaries Survey 2015. All figures are in US dollars.

League: National Basketball Association (USA)

Average Annual Player Salary: $5.9 million

Average Annual Player Salary: $8.0 million

Average Annual Player Salary: $7.7 million

Average Annual Player Salary: $8.1 million

Average Annual Player Salary: $8.6 million

Average Annual Player Salary: $2.1 million

Average Annual Player Salary: $1.8 million

Average Annual Player Salary: $4.8 million

Average Annual Player Salary: $7.3 million

Articles

The ads that take over your TV and computer screens when you watch sports are there for a reason -- sports is big business. These 10 franchises rake in the most revenue.

The 10 Most Valuable Sports Franchises in the World

The joys of international travel can sometimes be hampered by the bureaucracy of passports, visas, customs, and vaccination requirements. Not to mention being corralled into long lines with people you just spent eight or nine hours on a plane with, only to find your first “friendly” face in your new destination is a passport-control officer with a chip on their shoulder.

Being properly prepared for border control is a process as simple as flashing a passport or as difficult as waiting six months for a visa, depending on where your passport was issued. So who has it easiest to breeze around the world, and who has to jump through the most government hoops? 

 together a list of the most powerful and least powerful passports issued. The main driver of whether or not a passport is powerful or not is how many countries its holder can enter without a visa or with a visa-upon-arrival. The power ranking is based upon an average of 5 different groups’ power rankings released in the past year or so.

Along with our power ranking (which is based on a variety of data), we’ve included the 

Henley & Partners’ number of visa-free countries

 and territories that are accessible.  Henley & Partners’ has a thorough explanation of how its numbers were calculated. To see if you need a visa for your next adventure, you can use 

this tool provided by the International Air Transport Association

this page created by the U.S. Department of State.

Continue reading for the 10 most powerful passports:

10. Belgium and Spain (Tie) — 172 countries

These 2 countries have a long history together, as the country we now know as Belgium formerly was ruled by the Spanish monarchy. Being Western European countries, Spain and Belgium have the benefit of being full European Union members as well as 

, meaning travel between other Euro states is nearly limitless.

Canada’s passport can get you just about anywhere, and the stereotype of politeness will usually get you positive reactions abroad. Perhaps that’s why so many 

7. Netherlands and France (Tie) — 172 countries

Belgium’s neighbors also rank highly on the list. Perhaps it is the passports, or perhaps it is the self-assuredness, but both the Dutch and the French seem to get through passport control rather quickly … if you 

Danes have nearly as much freedom to move as any other country in the world, as do the people living in the Danish territories of Greenland and the Faroes Islands. Because Denmark is part of the EU, Danes traveling in non-EU countries where there is no Danish embassy can seek help at any other EU embassy they can get to.

The second Nordic country to grace the list, Finnish passports are extremely valuable. And not just because the pages of their passport are a 

. Finns have visa-free access to Vietnam, as well as a 

Most people wouldn’t consider that passports have a resale value, but Swedish passports are among the 

most popular and expensive on the black market

. There are no limits on renewals, making it very popular. Sweden is among the 5 countries with the most visa-free travel available, with access to 174 countries. According to 

Over the past decade, the number of countries Germans can travel to without a visa or with a visa-on-arrival has increased by 5 new countries: Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, and India. A German passport is also handy for making friends while traveling; last year, fellow Europeans voted that they’d most 

While Americans can go to just as many places as Brits or Germans, it 

 for them than their European counterparts. Because tourist entry visas to the US keep increasing in price, many countries increase their entry fees for Americans. Before Chile was included in the US visa waiver program, they charged Americans a “reciprocity” fee equal to the US entry visa. Currently, citizens from all but 41 nations are required to have a visa to enter the US, and 

even those nations are required to get an e-visa

Your name doesn’t have to be Kate, William, or George to appreciate the value of a UK passport. The Brits have access to the most nations without a visa, along with the US, Germany, Sweden, and Finland. According to GoEuro.co.uk, when people were asked where they would prefer their second passport were issued, 

. Many of those folks will be very disappointed; the British government 

issued fewer new passports to naturalized citizens

 in the past year than it has since 2002.

Being properly prepared for border control is a process as simple as flashing a passport or as difficult as waiting six months for a visa, depending on where your passport was issued. So who has it easiest to breeze around the world, and who has to jump through the most government hoops?

The 10 Most Powerful Passports

Whether a casual fan of visiting museums or a collector yourself, there are pieces of art that are recognizable around the world. Irises, The Scream, Water Lillies, the list goes on. But are they among the 

Valuation of art can fluctuate, as different styles and names come in and out of style. Also, as the 

technology of inspecting the authenticity

 of these works improves, some ‘Unknown’ paintings are attributed to the masters … and some “master works” are identified as very, very well done copies. Sometimes, the value of the painting has more to do with 

Intrigued yet? Check out the 11 most expensive paintings sold, as of September 2014, then go to your neighborhood art fair and try to find the next Van Gogh before their work hits these stratospheric prices. All prices are adjusted for inflation and the currency exchange at the time of the purchase.

The newest painting on the list, the 1954 work of Johns—his most famous—is now on display at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. The oil paint and collage on fabric, mounted on plywood, 

 giving it a very specific look at a time and place in history.

One of 4 versions of the work done by Munch, the pastel-on-board bested the Picasso sale 

 One of the most recognizable images in the world, 3 of the 4 “Scream”s are in galleries across Norway, with only this one in private collection. While not the version that was 

 or 2004, this Expressionist masterpiece is known—and desired—worldwide.

From Picasso’s “Rose Period,” this portrait of a young boy smoking a pipe was sold to an anonymous buyer, again breaking earlier sales records. 

, the sales price of the painting was “nearly double” the price of previous Picasso paintings, partly because the sellers were the Whitney family estate. The $104.1 million price in 2004 was the first time that a painting had 

The large version of this famous painting hangs 

, but in 1990 a Japanese businessman won the auction for Renoir’s smaller version. Ryoei Saito purchased the painting through Sotheby’s New York for $78.1 million 25 years ago which, when adjusted for inflation, makes it the 8

 most expensive painting ever sold. 1800’s Parisian society would be all a flutter over this transaction.

The sale of this triptych caused a stir in 2013 with a 

 bidding over the phone. Purchased by Elaine Wynn, a noted art enthusiast, the 3 paintings make up 1 of 2 existing full-length triptychs of artist Lucian Freud. The auction house expected this series to be sold for roughly $85 million, and 5 different bidders vied for the Irish painter’s works.

Two days before Ryoei Saito purchased Renoir’s “Bal du Moulin de la Galette,” he purchased the Van Gogh portrait. It was painted in the 

, and is considered one of the most desirable paintings in private ownership. In fact, Saito reportedly sold the painting back to the auction house he bought it from for one-fifth of the previous price. The painting was last on display in 1990, and its 

whereabouts since leaving Saito’s collection

” this Klimt masterpiece was confiscated by the Nazis during World War II, and was only transferred back into private ownership from national Austrian galleries in 2006. That year, cosmetics heir Ronald Lauder 

purchased the portrait from the niece of the woman portrayed

 in the painting for the Neue Galerie in New York City, a small gallery featuring German and Austrian art.

The most recent blockbuster sale, casino magnate Steve Wynn sold the painting for which he 

 at his eponymous hotel. Another portrait of 

, Marie-Therese Walter, the painting was 

purchased by hedge fund billionaire Steven Cohen

. The 2 collectors had agreed to a sale years earlier, but Wynn famously put his elbow through the canvas in 2006, and the deal was postponed until the painting could be repaired.

Another Cohen acquisition, this painting was 

 as part of a large-scale reduction of his art collection in 2006. The painting had hung in a gallery in Tehran, Iran for several years, but was unable to be displayed under rules of the government after the revolution in 1979, and was acquired by Geffen in 1994. 

De Kooning painted 6 different “Women”

 canvases during 1951-1953, with “Woman III” being the last held in private hands.

Shortly after Geffen sold the de Kooning masterpiece, he 

 for an even larger sum. Through private sale, Mexican investor 

David Martinez added to his growing collection

. The painting is thought to be one of Pollock’s first using his famous drip technique, and is part of a series done in 1948 that pushed him further into the consciousness of the art world.

The Qatari Royal Family is making news as one of the big new players in the art world, and they made the biggest splash in 2011 with a 

$250 million purchase of Paul Cezanne’s “The Card Players.”

 Reports of the sale were not made public until 2012, and because the sale was private, the actual price paid is still being debated by some (with some projecting the price at upwards of $300 million). One of 5 in a series, the other versions are displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Musée d’Orsay, and 2 other prestigious galleries. The record-setting painting is expected to be a corner piece of 

 when renovations are completed, now expected for 2016.

Whether a casual fan of visiting museums or a collector yourself, there are pieces of art that are recognizable around the world. Irises, The Scream, Water Lillies, the list goes on. But are they among the most expensive paintings to be sold?

The 11 Most Expensive Paintings in the World

It’s been a very long time since the Euro and the US Dollar were this close in value, making now an ideal time price-wise to explore Europe. But after checking out flight prices just to get over “the pond,” it may seem like the 

Not so! After nearly three years of living in Belgium, we’ve discovered some great economical ways to enjoy Europe without breaking the bank. Here are some of our favorite inexpensive discoveries that have kept us — and our guests—entertained and well fed.

In Bucharest, Romania, my husband and I were quizzed by a skeptical local, “Why did you choose to come to Romania for your vacation?” Our instant response was, “Because Ryanair flies here.” The low-cost airline is definitely not for everyone, but once you know the rules and what you’re getting into, 

. If you don’t need to check a bag, can print your boarding passes out at home, don’t expect a beverage for free, and don’t mind a cattle call for boarding, Ryanair flights are quick and cheap. We’ve purchased roundtrip flights for two people for less than 150 euros. Other low-cost airlines like Wizz and EasyJet similarly forgo luxury (ok, sometimes basic comforts) to offer cheap flights to a host of destinations. The one other caveat is often the flights land in secondary airports, further away from city centers than major airports.

When Americans think of hard ciders, there are plenty of American, English, and Scottish brands that come to mind, but they can get expensive. The tastiest cider we have ever had costs around 1.50 euros in the grocery store, and 3 euros at a bar, for a half liter. 

Kiss Cider is brewed by Estonian beer maker Saku

 (another delicious, low-cost beverage option), and comes in several flavors, including original pear, blueberry-raspberry, and pomegranate-lime. This refreshing beverage is so good, I have already started to look for an importer for when we move back to the US.

In many major European cities, and even some lesser cities, bicycle sharing is the way to get around town. 

 system is run by the city, and costs less than 40 euros for a year-long subscription. While day and week passes are not as economical (a day pass is 3.80 euros and a week pass is 9 euros), they still beat paying for multiple rounds of public transportation or a taxi, which can get very pricey very fast.

As a Wisconsinite, cheese is in my blood (and sometimes on my head, but that is another story). The discovery 

 in my local grocery store was like the heavens opening up and the dairy gods smiling down on me. I paid in the $6 to $7 range in the US for a much smaller slice of the wheel, and this grocery-store label option tastes just as good. Pro-tip: On a baguette, slice up some brie, add sliced apples and honey, and you have a phenomenal, filling sandwich for less than 5 euros.

Museums are fabulous for learning about the history and culture of a new country … but so are city festivals, and generally, they have no entrance fees. Major cities around Europe 

 dedicated to celebrating the people and the culture of their cities — there are free concerts, open markets, tours offered free or just for that week, local food vendors, folk dance demonstrations, etc. In Riga, Latvia, we saw the Latvian National Ballet perform for less than 20 euros, watched a 24-hour basketball tournament with teams from all around the hoops-mad city, and toured a former KGB office building that had not been open to the public since the Soviets left Riga in 1993. Planning a visit around a city festival means lots of opportunities to experience what the locals enjoy and what their history means to them.

“Eat, Drink, and Be Merry,” could be the unofficial motto for the European Union (well, at least those first two parts). Beer festivals are a fantastic way to enjoy an afternoon or evening; you can meet people, try new things, and, 

. Often you’ll find live music, local food vendors, or even cooking demonstrations at these festivals. Most operate similarly, where you put a “deposit” down on a commemorative glass, usually 2 or 3 euros, then take your glass to the different vendors and buy tastes of beer at a generally discounted price. At the end of the event, if you don’t want to keep your commemorative glass, you turn the vessel in and get part of your deposit back. We tend to try to keep our glasses, as useful souvenirs are my favorite souvenirs.

When you’re not interested in sharing a room with strangers at a hostel, but not quite ready to budget for the Park Plaza Hotel, the 

 is an economical middle option. Similarly to Ryanair, the bare-bones approach is taken for these hotel rooms, but if you know what to expect, it’s everything you’ll need. The hotel chain also offers options near airports as well as in city centers. Sometimes while out adventuring in the world, it’s nice to know exactly what to expect when you arrive at the hotel; leave the surprises for other parts of the journey.

Spain, France, and Italy are known around the world for their wines, but some of the most delicious, economical wines we have found have been in countries like 

. Slovenian wine is produced just enough to meet the demands of the local people, so very little of it is exported. Romanian wines range from deep, smooth Merlots to a Champagne-like sparkling white. 

 might be a bit higher than local prices, but the quality still goes above and beyond the cost.

 that have spread throughout Europe into a favorite pastime every December. Like city festivals and beer festivals, Christmas Markets usually do not require an entrance fee, and offer local foods, drinks, and handcrafts. Also, like the beer festivals, you give a “deposit” for your glühwein mug (and you will want to drink the glühwein), which doubles as a souvenir if you don’t mind losing your deposit. In December, major city centers are turned into medieval markets with straw-thatch roof booths, folk dancing, blacksmiths making unique trinkets, and pigs roasting on open spits. It’s very hard not to be in the Christmas spirit when the whole town has turned out to walk in the cold, under the twinkling lights.

One of the things we’ve experienced over and over again is that delicious food does not have to empty your wallet. Seafood can get pricey in restaurants, but in Zeeland, the southwest province of Holland, you’ll 

 at their freshest — and cheapest. In towns like Yerseke, a walk along the shore looks over oyster farms, with crates upon crates of the delicious shellfish. Some of the fishmongers have restaurants, where you can get a selection of enormous oysters from 3 euros and up. You’ll feel like a Rockefeller, without the top hats and the monocles.

As our time living in Europe draws to a close, one of our most common conversations is “Where should we go back to?” We won’t have as many vacation days, be on the same time zone, or be able to get to Europe for a short weekend, so where would we really like to invest a good chunk of our travel time? The answer has consistently been the Baltic States; 

 As of the beginning of this year, all three nations are on the Euro currency, which is much easier to travel in between. The people of the Baltics are warm, friendly, speak excellent English, and are happy to welcome you to their countries. The food is excellent, the hotels are comfortable, and the history is visible everywhere. With lots of natural beauty in addition to vibrant cities, these three countries offer something for everyone, generally at a price everyone can agree on.

Photos by Melinda and Peter Caliendo, except the Ryanair photo, which is courtesy of the airline.

It's been a very long time since the Euro and the US Dollar were this close in value, making now an ideal time price-wise to explore Europe.

11 Budget-Friendly European Discoveries

Physical activity reduces stress, helps maintain a healthy body weight, improves cognitive ability, and does a number of other incredibly important things for the human body. But not everyone is excited about starting an exercise program. So how can you get inspired to move more?

 interviewed their top trainers and experts on things they wish they knew before they became fitness gurus. They came up with a list of 11 tips for beginners to put fitness into perspective and to help motivate sedentary people to change their habits. Here we take a quick look at their advice.

It sounds like a simple question, but having someone ask themselves “Why do I want to exercise?” can be a powerful tool. 

Connecting exercise to a person’s purpose

 in life makes it easier to integrate into routines. Looking good is great for building confidence, but exercise can also help people stay active longer into their retirement, help increase energy to keep up with kids, and even enhance focus big projects. Finding a true purpose for exercise can keep you motivated long past swimsuit season.

 says, not doing yoga because you’re not flexible enough is “like saying ‘Oh, I can’t eat dinner now because I’m too hungry.’” Whether you want to improve your flexibility, learn how to use kettlebells, or increase your endurance, start by focusing on what you can do and what you want to be able to do. By finding a hurdle you’d like to get past, you’ll increase success and confidence!

Before beginning an exercise plan, it’s good to look at what hurdles have kept someone from being physically active. By identifying the ‘whys’ of avoiding exercise, these roadblocks can be channeled into 2 categories: excuses and true challenges. Real challenges, such as injuries, will have work-arounds. Excuses also have real-world solutions. By listing obstacles and solutions, adherence to a new healthy routine has a greater success.

By scheduling rest days as you would exercise days there’s less likelihood of falling out of routine. Bodies need to recuperate and recharge after exercise, and you can work with your physician to determine the right amount of rest their bodies need to help meet their goals. Also, physicians can give you guidance on signs their bodies need an extra day off or an “easy” day of workout. Instead of guessing and opting out, you will have fewer excuses to get their recommended physical activity.

Ah, accountability. The tool everyone knows they need but hates to use. Accountability is the pushup of routine; simple but effective. Tell someone about starting a workout routine, and by taking that big first step it increases the probability of following through. From Greatist, 

 said, “The first step is putting it out there — being bold and believing you can do it. 

” Write it down, share it, and work toward it.

Saying you need to exercise to “get healthy” is not specific or measurable enough to inspire people to get moving. 

 (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound) system to set goals geared for getting healthier. Small positive changes add up into big results. Create goals like “I will go to water aerobics twice a week” or “I will work up to cycling 25 minutes straight by next month” will not only help you get going, but will help you set yourself up for success long-term.

Starting to exercise seriously means confronting what your body can and cannot do. For many people, when the initial enthusiasm wears out, this is the major roadblock to continuing to work towards those goals. 

 will prevent you from getting overwhelmed with all of the things you can’t do quite yet. Even simple things like taking a half hour for yourself or meeting new people at the gym will help encourage routine.

The treadmill is not for everyone. If you automatically associate exercise with the dread of crunchy-granola, chakra-cleansing yoga,or the mind-numbing tedium of being on an elliptical for 30 minutes, it’s time to consider something else. There are so many ways to get the recommended exercise in, from dancing the blues away to joining a kickball league to finding 

. Not getting discouraged after trying a few different activities may be tough, but it’s worth it to find exercise that makes you feel good physically and mentally.

 said trainer Rob Sulaver to Greatist. Particularly in the beginning, just do 

 With all of the “15 best ways to …” and “Top 8 things you’re not doing right” lists out there, it can be a jungle of information on how to exercise. But really, the right way to exercise is to just exercise. 

 for when there is resistance, and just get out there and move. Only once you figure out what works, what you enjoy, and what your goals are should you put the extra effort into research.

Behavioral economists call it “temptation bundling,”

 but in the real world we call it bribery. Or incentivizing. Or whatever else you want to call rewarding yourself for completing a task, like working out. Setting up a reward for reaching goals will increase the likelihood of continuing with an exercise program. There are also plenty of apps out there, 

, that will not only reward you for fitness adherence, but also provide an online community for accountability and support. Not a bad deal.

Again, there is a lot of information out there to get lost in about fitness, diet, health … and trying to know it all before starting a regimen will derail you before you even get to the track. Sometimes we 

 to avoid doing them. By avoiding the trap of overthinking, beginning to exercise will be easier. Get out there and walk or run or skip or box or dance… as a famous shoe marketing campaign once said, just do it. 

11 Strategies to Turn Your Exercise Goals into Realities

Melinda Caliendo is an American freelance journalist who recently returned to the US after living for more two years in Antwerp, Belgium. She has covered a wide range of topics in her career, including healthcare, higher education, sports and travel. All photos were taken by Peter and Melinda Caliendo.

I sat on the terrace, trying to memorize every tree branch, every mountain peak, every window on the castle. King Carol I of Romania knew what he was doing when he built his summer home here.

My husband, Peter, and I were visiting Peles Castle — and Romania – on a lark. Cheap airfare and a cheap hotel were all the motivation we needed to take a few days off for an adventure. We could have gone to Transylvania, to see “Dracula’s Castle”, or we could have gone to the Black Sea. Instead, we chose to take a day trip from Bucharest to Sinaia, a ski resort town tucked in the Carpathian Mountains. No expectations, no real plans.

 there are exactly 11 attractions listed for the town. It’s not the home of a famous literary antihero, it doesn’t have the cachet of the Swiss Alps. But the nickname “Carpathian Pearl” absolutely fits the town.

The day started with a little bit of what we refer to as “expert level” travel skills. With a little bit of Google help, we took the Bucharest Metro to the city’s train station, bought train tickets, grabbed coffee and croissants, and boarded the train to Sinaia with about 5 minutes remaining before the conductors closed the doors. Smooth and confident, as if we had been in Bucharest our whole lives.

We sat with a mother and her two small children for the hour-and-a-half ride. They had a game pad that played nursery songs, and every time a new song came on, they danced with delight. Until, that is, we heard a familiar tune and I started to sing “London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady.” The little girl looked at me as if I had 3 heads, and refused to sit next to me the rest of the trip.

Our first adventure when we got off the train was to take the cable cars to the top of mountain the city is built upon. You can either take a small gondola, that fits about 4 people and looks relatively new, or you can take the 

, a subway-car looking box from the 1970’s. We chose to jump in with the skiers and snowboarders in the telecabine, and ride it all the way up to Cota 2000, the highest point.

It was nearly 65 degrees that day, but at the top, the temperature was close to freezing and the snow was deep and thick.

We traipsed around the peak, dodging those more suitably outfitted for the ski slopes, and took photos of the beautiful Carpathian Mountain range. They sky was clear, minus a bit of haze in the valley below, and you could see white caps pointing upwards for miles and miles.  It was such a surprise to me to be taking in such a vista in Romania.

I am not a winter sports person at all, but hearing little kids giggle going down snow mounds on sleds and the bright sun on the clean snow suddenly inspired an intense, sudden desire to learn how to ski. Or to at least make a snow angel. A few weeks ago, we had been in Interlaken, Switzerland during the peak ski season — the crowds and the stress and the expense of it all made me believe that skiing, snowboarding, and snow in general were just to be avoided. On Cota, though, snow was fun again.

In addition to the skiers, sledders, and photographers, Cota was also the hangout for the wild mountain dogs. They, too, took advantage of the sun and picked out some prime sunbathing spots amongst the humans, and didn’t seem to mind being photographed very much.

The lodge at the top of the mountain was packed, but we caught 2 window seats when another couple got up. Our view looked over the valley town of Sinaia, past a river and on to the next mountain. The whole cabin was built out of wood, with exposed beams and hanging sheep skins as décor. Romantic without being tacky, traditional without being cliché. I put my head on my husband’s shoulder, amazed at how fortunate we were to be there in that moment.

We ordered hot wine and the house soup, which was packed with vegetables, beans, and pork belly. When the bill arrived, we were completely shocked at the 35 Lei price — at the current exchange rate, that equaled about $9 USD. We would have paid that for the mulled wine and views alone.

Bellies full and toes warmed, we descended in the telecabine, first to Cota 1400, then back down to the town. On the way down, we saw Peles Castle at the edge of town — our next destination.

We asked a hotel concierge to confirm we were walking in the correct direction, and he gave us a great shortcut, up a hill and around the monastery that the town is named after. We followed his directions — stopping to admire the gold-leafed mosaics on the monastery buildings – and found ourselves on a tree-covered pedestrian path leading right up to the castle.

Peles Castle doesn’t have a moat, and isn’t the type of stronghold fortress that is often synonymous with the word castle. But it does not lack in regality or impressiveness. We wound our way past wooden booths, selling Romanian handcrafts, up to the terrace of the castle.

From every direction, the view from Peles Castle is of deep forests and mountains. Despite all of the development around the town since the late-1800s, the reason for the royals’ attraction to this quiet mountain spot was still quite clear.

We bought our tickets and slipped protective booties on our shoes as the guide took us through the first floor of the castle. One of the first buildings in Europe with electric lighting and central heating, the modern amenities did not interrupt the grandeur of the palace.

The central room had a Tiffany’s-style stained glass ceiling about 50 feet up, which the guide informed us was retractable when the weather was nice. Along the dark wood-paneled walls are statues, busts, and suits of armor. We wound up stairs and around columns, into aptly-named rooms such as the Moorish Reception room and the Turkish Smoking room. There were paintings by Rubens, Van Dyke, and Klimt — everything you’d expect to see in a French palace, but maybe not in the woods of Romania. Every parlor, library, and hall were exquisitely furnished from floor to ceiling.

While the Romanian royal family ruled for less than 100 years, the castle is a long-lasting reminder of what Carol I and Elizabeth were able to accomplish. After the tour, Peter and I stopped at what looked to be an out building renovated to a tourist center for a cappuccino and a crème-filled pastry. We sat outside on the terrace, admiring the location of the castle and how wonderfully different it was from any other castle we have seen.

It was from this spot that I tried to memorize the purple woods, the red bushes, the blue sky and the cream turrets. The sun was starting to dip, adding a rosy glow to the clock on the tower. How had we not known about this place before? Why hadn’t Romania been a priority destination for us, instead of a whim? In that wonderful moment, I felt so grateful for the opportunity to explore places like Sinaia and a desire to capture that day in permanence. Unexpected, exhilarating, romantic, beautiful Sinaia. I can’t wait to go back. 

When you look up Sinaia, Romania, on Trip Advisor, there are exactly 11 attractions listed for the town. It's not the home of a famous literary antihero, it doesn't have the cachet of the Swiss Alps. But the nickname "Carpathian Pearl" absolutely fits the town.

Sinaia: Romania's Hidden Treasure

Melinda is an American freelance journalist currently living in Antwerp, Belgium. She has covered a wide range of topics in her career, including health care, higher education, sports and travel. All photos were taken by Peter and Melinda Caliendo.

My husband and I traveled to Bern, Switzerland for a Europa League soccer match earlier this year. The match was between Everton, from the English Premiere League, and BSC Young Boys, the local home club. Both the game and the city itself were exciting and fun. Here’s a look at the capital of Switzerland through the 5 senses.

	The awesome Alps, never out of sight from the city.

	A lovely sunset over Stade Suisse, just before kickoff.

	Basement bars up and down the main streets of the old city.

Songs and chants from the Everton fans that took over the main square.

Bells chiming from church towers around the city.

Perfect German, Italian, French, and English being spoken by the locals.

Cheese at every meal, made in the hills outside the city.

Swiss spirits, made in various fashions, available in 20 or 40 milliliters.

Bratwurst and kebabs from vendors outside the stadium.

Spilled beer and cigar smoke at the Everton rally.

Warm sunshine cutting through crisp winter temperatures.

Comfort and relaxation in a mountain bed and breakfast.

Nausea from GPS direction in the form of abstract art. 

Switzerland's capital, Bern, offers visitors captivating landscapes along with the vibrant night life and historic architecture of a major European city. Here's a look at Bern through the 5 senses.

Switzerland for the 5 Senses

There’s a particular thrill sharing your favorite artist with thousands of other people, all singing along to the hits. Of course, in order to get to your seats (or mosh pit, we don’t judge), you have to buy a ticket. Concert tours make big money, particularly for the biggest names in the business.

Whether stadiums or theaters, a well-selling concert tour can go on for several years. And with ticket prices in the hundreds of dollars, it’s easy to see why popular shows make mega bucks.

Here’s a list of the top 10 grossing concert tours of all time, 

. Did you see any of these shows in person? Let us know in the comments, and rock on!

Special Mention: Cirque du Soleil, “Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour” (2011-2014)

While not technically a concert tour, the Canadian performance troupe did outsell several major artists with its tribute to the Gloved One. The first of 2 tribute shows created in honor of Michael Jackson, Cirque traveled around the world for three years and is the most financially-successful show for the company. The second show, “Michael Jackson: One” has been in residence at a Las Vegas casino since 2013.

9. Rolling Stones, “Voodoo Lounge Tour” (1994-1995)

The Stones know how to tour, and have for a long time. The Voodoo Lounge Tour is the only concert series from the 1990s in the top 10 grossing tours. These concerts coincided with a new album released under the same name, and eventually a tour DVD. 

 today read as a time capsule from those years: Spin Doctors, Counting Crows, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lenny Kravitz, etc.

8. Bruce Springsteen, “Wrecking Ball World Tour”

The first tour after the passing of saxophonist Clarence Clemons, the Wrecking Ball tour included some memorable moments for Springsteen et al. After a thunderstorm delayed a concert in his home state of New Jersey for a few hours, he played well into the night before his family members came on stage to 

There's a particular thrill sharing your favorite artist with thousands of other people, all singing along to the hits. Concert tours make big money. Here's a look at history's biggest money-making tours.