“Are you ready to get into your time machine?” Those words spoken some years ago by a Budapest tour guide still resonate with me today. I was taking a private tour that juxtaposed the Communist years in Hungary with the present day and it was really interesting. The city was … Read more
Soaring above the landscape, a ride in a hot air balloon reveals a perspective of the ground below unlike any other. Perhaps that’s why this romantic mode of transportation enchants adventurers everywhere. It all started with a sheep, a duck and a rooster—the first passengers in a hot air balloon … Read more
As America’s Independence Day celebrations enter the home stretch, France’s Bastille Day festivities await. July 14th, 2019 marks 230 years since the Storming of the Bastille — a turning point in the French Revolution. Today, more than ever, there will be hundreds of events held in NYC to honor France’s … Read more
Known as Music City, Nashville is where the world of music meets southern comfort. This is a land where the tunes are country along with jazz, blues, and rock and where the food can be grits and gravy as well as a grilled lobster. Though it’s home to such high-profile … Read more
Have you ever thought about a summer trip to northern Michigan? Perhaps the ‘Pure Michigan’ commercials made you curious? Being an East Coaster, I was intrigued by the idea of a Midwest version of Cape Cod. Michigan has hundreds of miles of lakeshore all with nearly perfect summer temperatures. I … Read more
Calling all fashionistas, hipsters and arbiters of cool. Tokyo finally has a boutique hotel to call its own and it’s located in the fashion district of Shibuya, minutes by foot from Omotosando, one of the best shopping streets here and home to luxury brands Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton. The … Read more
From the outside Sonnyboy looks like your typical Lower East Side hole in the wall hot spot where you’d expect packs of trendy diners conversing at a fever pitch However, beyond the front door it’s mysteriously calming, and at once chic and stylish. You don’t feel intimidated like you do … Read more
Egypt should be on everyone’s bucket list. It was, after all, a tourist destination for the ancient Greeks and Romans who visited this wondrous land to marvel at the Pyramids and the Colossi of Thebes. Along the Nile are more must-see, astonishing sights. For an enjoyable and relaxing way to … Read more
“We want to be the best hotel restaurant in the world. That’s what we’re pushing for.” Uttering that statement as he welcomes us into HA Restaurant, Chef Carlos Gaytan sets a very high bar. He then spends the next 3 hours exceeding all expectations. After all, this isn’t your typical … Read more
With its iconic crimson bridge, sweeping vistas from every hill and rich cultural experiences—it’s easy to see why so many have left their hearts in San Francisco. The city by the bay is also just an hour away from California’s wine country making it an ideal place to call home … Read more
Think about going to St. Petersburg in the summer for White Nights—a season that boasts up to 21 hours of daylight. Petrograd St. Petersburg was so named by Tsar Peter the Great, after his patron saint, who is traditionally pictured holding the keys to heaven. I wanted to get there … Read more
“Without music, life would be a mistake.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche Located in the heart of Budapest on the Pest side of the Danube River, every detail of the Aria Hotel is rooted in music. It’s evident the moment you walk in the door. True, Dorothy was told that following the … Read more
