Wibke Carter 
Of all the big cities I’ve lived in so far (including both New York and London), Auckland is my favorite – hands down. Where else can you go sailing after work, stroll a beach less than an hour’s drive away (think Karekare Beach of The Piano fame) and bask in … Read more
Tradition. Innovation. Excellence. – Since 1931, thousands of students have followed these principles at Le Cordon Bleu in London, one of the top culinary arts, wine, and management schools in the world. Located on Bloomsbury Square, the stately entrance radiates grandeur and energy, and students dressed in white aprons with … Read more
A Le Cordon Bleu Cooking Class Experience First, a small confession: I’m not great in the kitchen. I can make a mean apple pie (provided I use a ready-made crust), and my husband calls me the “Soup Queen” (really, I just toss things in a pot and add chicken stock), but … Read more
If you’re traveling to New Zealand’s South Island, chances are you’ll be passing through Christchurch, its biggest town. Well-known for its English heritage and beautiful gardens, the city of around 350,000 locals was a favorite tourist destination until February 22, 2011, at 12.51 pm local time when a 6.3 magnitude … Read more
“Why would you want to go there? There’s nothing to see!” This was the usual reaction after I announced my plans to travel to Hannover in northern Germany. Truth be told, it wasn’t on my bucket list of must-see cities either, but a good friend kept inviting me and I … Read more
There is no such thing as Italian food. The country is made up of twenty regions with distinct characteristics. Every town, every village makes the same dish in vastly different ways, just like they speak different dialects and wear different traditional costumes. Tuscany is arguably most famous for Chianti and … Read more
Nordeney, Germany, proudly called “The Queen of the North Sea” by the Germans is not known to foreigners who do not venture off the beaten track in Germany.