The dramatic sunrise on the volcanic island of Madeira is one of those memories that will stay with me forever. After waiting for what seems forever, the quiet is suddenly interrupted by birds chirping, accompanied by a dramatic color change in the sky from black to orange against a calm … Read more
Every year from March 1-19, Valencia goes boom! The streets of Spain’s third-largest city erupt with fireworks, cultural celebrations and artistry honored on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. What is the Las Fallas Festival? For starters, it’s the biggest party of the year, attracting more visitors to Valencia than any … Read more
Between the European capitals of Madrid and Lisbon lies a region of rolling hills with Medieval castles that have found new lives as “Game of Thrones” locations, villages that are honoring Spain’s Jewish history and 2,000-year-old Roman architectural marvels that are still thriving today. The Extremadura region of Spain is … Read more
When it comes to dreamy vacations, it’s hard to compete with sailing on a chartered yacht. And the Croatian coastline offers a course that’s ripe for discovery. Home to more than 1,000 islands, islets and reefs strewn like sparkling jewels off its coast, Croatia provides an Adriatic paradise for adventures … Read more
With deep narrow fjords flanked by majestic mountains displaying ribbons of cascading waterfalls—there’s no question Norway’s landscapes are spectacular. Beyond the landscapes, though, Norway’s cities offer a blend of culture, luxury and culinary excellence. Trondheim, Norway’s third largest city, exemplifies this. The cultural center of the Trøndelag region, this picturesque … Read more
I’m in the northernmost reaches of Italy, my sights transfixed upon the Dolomite mountains, which are part of the southern Alps. The sun is beginning to sink behind dramatic peaks, and it’s then that I witness the special phenomenon I was told about—enrosadira, or “turning pink” in Ladin, the ancient … Read more
I meander along the streets of Verona, Italy’s fourth most-visited city, in search of Juliet’s house. My GPS leads me down quiet streets (clearly not the location I’m looking for), and the famed balcony where a forlorn young teenaged girl welcomed her Romeo. I’m amused that the GPS takes me … Read more
Amsterdam, that lovely well-preserved city of dreams with its quaint canal houses, artistic legacy and liberal social policies, has hardly been considered a food destination over the years. But along the way, something happened, and the city has come alive with exciting food destinations focused on natural wine. Some look … Read more
Remember the original movie Halloween? Debuting back in 1978, knife-wielding Michael Myers clothed in gray coveralls, creepy mask in place stalked unsuspecting victims while uber-creepy music played in the background. After viewing the skin-crawling flick at the theater I insisted to my now ex-husband that we spend the night at … Read more
About eight miles midway between the Swiss cities of Interlaken and Thun, small Merligen hugs the northern shore of Lake Thun. Snuggled between alpine mountains on both sides of the lake, it enjoys a balmy Mediterranean climate for much of the year. You can even find palms trees in town. … Read more
Arriving in Krakow on a hot and muggy national holiday, I noticed on a map that the UNESCO World Heritage designated “Old Town” was encircled by a park. What was my first thought? Tour the city on a bike, of course. I watched gleeful residents and their kids zooming along … Read more
Straddling the border of Germany in the historic region of Alsace, Strasbourg has long been exposed to foreign influences. Formerly ruled by the Germans from 1871 until the end of World War I, it was again occupied by them during World War II from 1940 to 1944. Now it’s home … Read more
Situated on the Oslo Fjord, Norway’s largest city provides an interesting juxtaposition of past and present. Nowhere is this more evident than in its architecture. Standing guard over the city beside the harbor, the Akershus Fortress and castle date back to medieval times. Meanwhile, in the Bjørvika neighborhood of central … Read more
The serious looking Maître d′ is skilfully balancing my plate through the restaurant at Château Sainte Sabine and it appears as if he’s about to place a diamond in front of me, a real treasure. I swallow and hesitate for a split-second over my choice of entrée, then dig into … Read more
The municipality of Gruyères comprises four villages with a population of a mere 2,200. One of these is Gruyères which sits on top of a hill. Picturesque and traffic-free, it begs you to stroll its cobblestone main street and discover unusual treasures. Gruyère Cheese This region is the birthplace of … Read more