world reviewer
Mary Kate Alfieri
Member statistics
- Member since
- 4th December 2008
Hi! I'm Mary Kate and I lived in London from September through December 2008. I'm back stateside now finishing up my degree in Journalism and English at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. I really like to travel, write, eat chocolate and play with animals! Some of the places I've been are to Dublin & Galway Ireland, Bordeaux & Paris France, Stockholm Sweden, Seville & Barcelona Spain, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Boston, New York, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Orlando & Clearwater, Florida.
I also am an avid Red Sox fan and hope to travel to all 30 major league stadiums in the next couple of years.
=)
Mary Kate Alfieri's activity
- 24 Aug 2009
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Dubai Mall in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The Dubai Mall is the world's biggest mall – boasting a whopping 1,200 shops from around 600 different retailers. How much stuff do you need? 'Cause if there's something you want and you can't find it here you're in serious trouble. It wasn't ju…"
- 29 Jul 2009
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Sognefjord in Vestlandet, Norway
As the world's second longest fjord, Sognefjord runs picturesque for 200 km inland into the heart of Norway. It has several smaller fjord arms that wind their way below steep cliffs and snowcapped mountains to end up in small, local villages. …"
- 21 Jul 2009
Mary Kate Alfieri commented on Château de Beynac in South West, France
As one of the best known and best preserved castles in the region, the Beynac Castle looks stunning as it sits on the peak of a limestone cliff, dominating the town of Beynac-et-Cazenac and the north bank of the Dordogne River. The castle was built in th…"
- 06 Mar 2009
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Paphos Town in Cyprus
Paphos dates back to the 4th century B.C, and was the capital of Cyprus during the Hellenistic and Roman times. It is also the legendary birthplace of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. Remains in the archaeological sites are of villas, palaces, theatres, mosa…"
- 08 Dec 2008
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Ex Berlin Wall in Berlin, Germany
The wall that once separated East and West Germany in a fit of civil unrest came down in 1989. For years after that, the ecstatic residents and curious visitors of Berlin chipped away their very own piece of the wall as a way to remember the 28 years th…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Jameson Distillery in Dublin, Ireland
At the Jameson Distillery, you can take a guided tour through the factory and find out how Ireland's favorite whiskey is made. The tour starts with a movie and the guide gives you lots of opportunities to volunteer so if you're a big fan of whiskey, you…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Dublin Castle in Dublin, Ireland
Dublin Castle no longer houses royalty - it hasn't for centuries, today it's the site for presidential inaugurations and modern Ireland's government houses. It has served many purposes over the years and been a part of many historical events- people hav…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Gaol at Kilmainham in Dublin, Ireland
"A guided tour through this former prison gives you a real life history lesson through Ireland's past and about the notorious names that once occupied the cells during the Irish Revolution. The jail was in use from the 1780s to the 1920s and is now one o…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Guinness Factory in Dublin, Ireland
For someone who doesn't love heavy beers like Guinness, I was a little weary of going to the Guinness Factory. It actually turned out to be really great - you definitely don't have to love beer to enjoy this. Your entrance fee pays for a self-guided to…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Ca D'Oro in Venice, Italy
As you're traveling down the Grand Canal in Venice via gondola, perhaps you will notice a shinning building known as Ca D'Oro. It is almost impossible to miss with all the gilt and polychrome decorations which adorn the “gold house.” Built between 1428…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Murano Collection in Venice, Italy
Glass blowing isn't something that just anybody can do, so that makes the pieces in the Murano Collection extra special. These extraordinary pieces are done in rich colors like smoke, olive Amethyst and chestnut, or can be made to suit your specific col…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Marché aux Puces in Paris, France
With upwards of 3,000 stalls, Marché aux Puces is both Paris's busiest and most popular flea market. Like most European markets, you can find almost anything in the world- you just have to be prepared to look for it and stay patient. Most vendors wil…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Galleries Lafayette in Paris, France
You're probably wondering why, if you're vacationing on a budget, you'd ever want to go to Galeries Lafayette, a giant department store filled with so much merchandise that even Bill Gates could go broke. Well the bad news is yes, you might be tempted t…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Le Musee du Parfum in Paris, France
Fun, free, and open every day of the week! When you enter the Le Musee de Parfum, you walk up a gorgeous, winding staircase and you're greeted by endless display cases of perfume that trace back through the 5,000 years of perfume history. This is a coll…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Red Bull Hangar-7 in Siegen, Germany
Here's something you can do when your plane gets delayed at the Salzburg Airport- go visit Red Bull Hangar 7. Essentially this attraction, which is a rather popular thing for tourists to see, is a massive glass dome that houses Dietrich Mateschitz, own…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Moser Glass Factory in Prague, Czech Republic
Glass making has been a Czech tradition for hundreds of years, so while in Prague why not take a short trip outside the city to experience this complex process for yourself at the Moser Glass Factory. Moser is known across the world as the “King of Glas…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Kampa Museum in Prague, Czech Republic
The Kampa Museum is a collection that was founded pretty much entirely by Meda and Jan Miladek. Meda Miladek acquired unique works during her travels through Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, and Yugoslavia in the 1960s. With so many pieces of art in h…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Czech Republic
This little museum has a huge collection - it first opened in 1885 and has since been collecting objects from both the national and international scene as well as crafts from time periods long ago right up until today. The artifacts are displayed in i…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Vysehrad in Prague, Czech Republic
If you're looking to get out of the hustle and bustle of Prague's city center, Vysehrad can be your escape. Once a historical castle, little remains of the structure today but that is not to say it's not worth a visit to this picturesque place. There a…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Museum Sachsenhausen in Berlin, Germany
This concentration camp memorial isn't located in Berlin, it's slightly out of the city but is very accessible if you have a rail pass. Sachsenhausen, was known as one of the most notorious death camps of the Nazi Empire and it's enough to make you forg…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Decorative Arts Museum in Dublin, Ireland
Weapons and ceramics and silver, oh my! These are just a few of the things you will find on exhibit in the Decorative Arts Museum. Several unique and rare pieces are on display here like the Fonthill Vase, a Chinese porcelain vase from about 1300 AD wor…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed National Museum of Natural History in Dublin, Ireland
Enter the National Museum of Natural History to explore one of the world's finest collections of flora, fauna and geological artifacts . The museum has two million species here (half of which are fascinating little insects) displayed in gorgeous Victori…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland
Churches are usually thought of as historical and St. Patrick's Cathedral is no exception- worship has taken place here for over 800 years! With a majestic presence over the area surrounding it and as the national church for Ireland, over 300,000 people …"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Wiener Prater in Vienna, Austria
I think that sometimes when people are visiting a city they often spend all of their time focused on seeing all the historic buildings and attractions that they forget about the green spaces that were there before any structures were. Prater is one of t…"
- 04 Dec 2008
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Times Square in New York, United States
Although the song by the Plain White T's claims that Times Square can't shine as bright as his lover Deliyah, if you've ever been to this area of New York City at night (or even during the day) you'd have a hell of a reason to differ. It is at one of th…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Prague National Gallery in Prague, Czech Republic
(Národní galerie v Praze) Since its opening in 1796, the main objective of the Prague National Gallery has always been to represent Czech's history through art and to elevate the nation's spirit through works of art. The collections are housed in seve…"
- 01 Dec 2008
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Stockmanns in Helsinki, Finland
An enormous retail store, with a presence in Helsinki equal to that of Harrods in London, you can buy everything here from a new pair of underwear to a new car. It is the oldest and biggest department store in Finland and is comprised of seven floors th…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Trashy Diva in New Orleans, United States
The word “trashy” in the title may mislead you into thinking that you are about to enter a shabby lingerie or rave clothing store. However, there is actually nothing trashy about this place. It is filled with rather beautiful dresses inspired by styles …"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Anne Frank House & Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands
As you stroll down the narrow streets of this charming city, admist the many canals and colorful, unmistakable canalhouses, its easy to think you may have just walked down the same street twice. However, as you turn onto Prinsengracht, your eyes will be …"
- 21 Nov 2008
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed The Grand Museum (Giza) in Cairo, Egypt
When you have 7000 years worth of stories to tell, there better be a darn good place to tell it with lots of people who want to hear. Essentially, that is what Egypt's Grand Museum is like. It displays the history and images of all the crucial parts of…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Elephantine Island in Aswan, Egypt
An island in the middle of the River Nile, Elephantine is filled with ancient relics and ruins from its storied past. At one time, Elephantine was a very busy trading spot for ivory, which could be how the island got its name. Today, you can still com…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Luxor, Egypt
While in Egypt, everyone wants to see tombs, temples and Cleopatra. The temple of Queen Hatshepsut is one of those characteristic sites that would fit right in on a program on the Discovery Channel. The temple commemorates the queen's achievements as r…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Khan-el-Khalili Market in Cairo, Egypt
For unusual and bizarre gifts,you just may want to try your luck at the famous El Khalili Market. Briming with souvenirs and handmade crafts, the shops are set up on a labyrinth of streets, which gives visitors an idea of how medieval markets once felt. …"
- 18 Nov 2008
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Puymartin Castle in Midi-Pyrenees, France
The Puymartin Castle was built in the 13th century and has a storied history. Its ownership has changed several times in its 800 year existence, beginning with the English in 1357. During the 19th century, the Marquis de Carbonnier de Marzac restored t…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Chateau Castelnaud in South West, France
This one-time fortress holds a significant presence as it stands high over the Dordogne Valley, offering stunning views of the châteaux of Beynac and Marqueyssac and the medieval village of La Roque-Gageac. It is now entirely dedicated to displaying the…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed National Museum of Prehistory at Les Eyzies de Tayac in Paris, France
A great place for lovers of archeology - the National Museum of Prehistory is filled with all sorts of bones, carvings and engravings. It features one of the most important stone and bone collections in France, as well as the premier collection of paleo…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Marqueyssac Gardens in Auvergne, France
The Marqueyssac Gardens were restored in 1997 and have since become the most visited gardens in Périgord. Here, under the influence of blue skies and fresh air, you'll be able to relax- whether by yourself or with good company, while walking along the …"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Dachstein Glacier in Vienna, Austria
Called by some the most impressive glacier in the world, the Dachstein Glacier in Austria is certainly breathtaking. It has become one of Austria's biggest tourist attractions, drawing thousands of visitors, mountaineers, and nature-lovers each year fro…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Cumberland Island in Providence, United States
Cumberland Island is one of Georgia's most beautiful water locations. It is the largest and southernmost barrier island and showcases pristine maritime forests, undeveloped beaches and large marshes. For a relaxing nature adventure, you can spend hours…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Cayman Islands Jazz Festival in Cayman Islands
Started in 2004, the Cayman Islands Jazz Festival is one of the newest Caribbean Festivals but has been highly successful. This concert series typically happens in the end of November at Westin Casuarina Grand Cayman Resort & Spa, gathering jazz artists…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Jalali Fort and Mirani Fort in Muscat, Oman
Fewer attractions offer more insight into Oman's rich heritage and culture than the twin forts- Jalali and Mirani Fort. Their location alone is grand, as they sits atop a rocky cliff, giving panoramic views of the harbor and the old city. The forts ar…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat, Oman
A relatively new mosque, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque was constructed in 1993 at the request of Sultan Qaboos who thought that his country deserved a grand mosque. (It was then creatively named, eh?) The sanctuary was built out of 300,000 tonnes of In…"
Mary Kate Alfieri reviewed Budapest Bubble in Budapest, Hungary
Location, location, location! – if you're looking for location, the Budapest Bubble is definitely worth looking into. It's easily accessible from the airport and the bus & train stations, as well as just a little walk to the closest bus and tram stops. …"
