Anything but Italian On the surface, Venetians fit the Italian profile. They speak the language, eat pasta, dress impeccably and love opera. And yet, they are different. They are less religious, have built no walls around their old city, have sacrificed cars for gondolas, and generally look outward rather than … Read more
Much More than the Alhambra Situated on the rugged foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Granada has long been famed as the site of the Alhambra, the glorious 14th-century palace built under Moorish rule. But in recent years, ambitious efforts by the Andalusian Legacy Foundation to revive Granada’s rich Hispanic-Moorish past … Read more
Dutch Treat With a slogan of “I Amsterdam,” the Netherlands’ most popular city is for me, for you, for everyone. Whether you have an appetite for architecture, an addiction to art, or a craving for quirkiness, the canals, museums and sights of Amsterdam will satisfy your proclivity for any … Read more
How many articles have been written about Paris? Hundreds of course, thousands probably, hundreds of thousands most likely… it’s the City of Light, a city of laughter, a city of love and romance. But for many people, it’s also a city of enlightenment. The home of the Lost Generation, many … Read more
An Island Fairytale. It’s sunset. You’re drinking a glass of wine on the rooftop of a 17th century mansion. While music plays in the background the spectrum of colors before you takes your breath away. Below, you hear the children playing beneath the green leaves of the park. Above you … Read more
Taking A Meeting with Hera and Zeus Climbing Mount Olympus I didn’t climb Mount Olympus just because it’s there. I mean, with that attitude, why not swim across the Atlantic? My motive was utterly practical. I had some important questions and Mount Olympus has the gods. If this resonates with … Read more
Nature Boy Everyone knows the Squire is crazy for an adventure but I wasn’t sure what to expect when we decided to trek to the mystical island of Samothrace, close to Turkey in the north Aegean, after the season had ended. My love of all things natural struck a chord … Read more
[wide][/wide] If Athens is Greece’s yin, then Thessaloniki is its yang. Often overshadowed by the beauty and popularity of the capital, Thessaloniki, the second city, is smaller than its big sister but its laid back vibe is a blank canvas for the equal parts of history and culture that make … Read more
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
The days when celebs celebrated their nuptials in Mexico are long gone and every Tom, Dick and Madonna is looking for an untouched, completely private locale to get away from it all with their newlywed partner in crime. It’s no surprise then that Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon chose to … Read more
Where in the world can you go to see a breeches-clad Johnny Depp smothered in guy-liner and sporting gold teeth? Well, anywhere there’s a movie theatre, really, given that People magazine’s former Sexiest Man Alive is currently starring in the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean installment, On Stranger Tides. But … Read more
Temple of Chic, Imaret Hotel Have you ever wondered what it would be like to step back in time and live like a Greek in an ancient place? Kavala is the place to do exactly that (and more). Northern Greece’s second largest city is just a few hours by car … Read more
La Mamounia Every hotel that undergoes a substantial remodeling or restoration has a vision of the end result and when it will reopen for business. But let’s just get one thing straight right here – how many of them take three years to complete and are worth the wait? La … Read more
As one of Miami’s most cherished landmarks, The Raleigh Hotel encompasses fashion, elegance and glamour. The oceanfront hotel was built and designed in 1940 by famed architect Laurence Murray Dixon, one of the most prolific and acclaimed architects of South Beach’s historic Art Deco District. One of the most famous … Read more
The W Hollywood Hollywood always loves a return. That is why everyone in Los Angeles is excited about the opening there of new restaurants, stores and hotels that are revitalizing the neighborhood and bringing it back to life. Hollywood Boulevard between La Brea and Vine, once the heart of tinseltown, … Read more