Scenic Norway

Scenic Norway

Getting from Point A to Point B on a road trip through Norway may end up taking much more time than you expected. Why? Because you’ll want to pull the car over so many times to take pictures and gawk at the spectacular natural beauty lurking around every bend and … Read more

A Weekend in Berlin

There’s never enough time in Berlin to see and do everything but I thought I’d give it my best shot recently on a whirlwind weekend in the German capital. A friend told me about an interesting neighborhood that she likened to the “SoHo of Berlin” called the Hackesche Hofe in … Read more

Florence, Italy

  On my last visit to Florence, I made sure to see all of the city’s most famous attractions, from Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia Gallery, the Uffizi with its gallery upon gallery of Renaissance treasures from the masters like Botticelli and Titian, along with the city’s most famous landmark, … Read more

Copenhagen, Denmark

  Copenhagen is very much having its moment. Its culinary scene, led by Chef Rene Redzepi of top-ranked Noma restaurant, is world-renowned, and its design scene is always at the forefront of setting trends. But there’s plenty more going on in the Danish capital to entice visitors, especially in up-and-coming … Read more

Touring Cognac, France

Just as Champagne only comes from France’s Champagne region, Cognac only comes from Cognac, an area in the country’s scenic southwest corner. And one of the main producers of this famed French brandy is Hennessy, in operation since 1765. Not knowing much about Cognac and always being intrigued by vineyards … Read more

Wales, United Kingdom

U.K’s Little Secret Photos © Crown copyright (2010) Visit Wales Being of Irish descent with family both in Ireland and England, I’ve been to those countries on many occasions, each time seduced by the beauty of areas like Connemara or the Cotswolds.  Over the years, I’ve also visited Scotland and … Read more

County Galway, Ireland

Galway and the Aran Islands Several years ago I had one of the best vacations of my life when I traveled around the West of Ireland, particularly in counties Galway and Mayo, taking in its dramatic scenery and catching up with family—my father was born in Mayo and I still … Read more