Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is a modern metropolis that on the surface really likes to flex its hi-tech muscles. Although the city can seem futuristic to some, it actually boasts a rich history dating back to the turn of the 15th century. If you’re looking to experience an … Read more
It’s safe to say that great cities have great architecture … Sydney’s Opera House, Paris’ Eiffel Tower, Spain’s Bilbao Museum. These few brilliant examples have certainly put these cities on the map. But beyond that, great buildings have a personality of their own and don’t just meld into a place … Read more
I’m in Norway, a place that in summer is part of the “land of the midnight sun.” But I’m visiting in the dead of winter, embarking on an 11 day cruise headed toward the Arctic Circle. Is my timing off? Not at all. I’m on a hunt — a hunt … Read more
Norwegian super-artist Edvard Munch will be getting some scream, er, screen time sometime this fall when director Dheeraj Akolkar’s new film titled “Let the Scream Be Heard” makes its premiere. This year, which marks Munch’s 150th anniversary, has Norway abuzz and celebrating with events and exhibits of the famed artist’s … Read more
Cruising through Norway’s narrowest fjord, navigating more than a dozen dizzying switchbacks on a drive down one of the country’s steepest roads, hurtling through innumerable tunnels on Northern Europe’s highest railway and speeding past gushing waterfalls and icy tongued glaciers. Sounds like an advertisement for an adventure expedition, right? Actually, … Read more
In case you haven’t heard it before, art isn’t easy (thank you, Stephen Sondheim); all the meticulous work of getting everything right, only for a moment of appreciation or in the case of Norway’s Edvard Munch, criticism. True art is timeless and exists to not only provoke thought but to … Read more
It’s been over 150 years since the King of Norway entered a proclamation declaring, “From 1854 onward a yearly market shall be held in Røros, commencing the second to last Tuesday in the month of February, and lasting until the following Friday. When the King speaks, Norwegians listen. In February … Read more
Norway’s capital is chock full of unique sights and attractions waiting to be discovered and its tourist friendliness is a big plus. The city is not only a manageable size but many of the monuments and museums are within walking distance of each other. Even so, take it from us, … Read more
In the early 14th century about the time Christianity was introduced in Norway, a number of monks around the country were mastering the art of distillation. I have no idea why monks were making spirits but their efforts produced one that would ultimately become one of Norway’s finest cultural treasures. … Read more
Snug by Oslo’s downtown harbor, it was once the city’s most disreputable corner. In the 18th century, Tjuvholmen—meaning Thief Island—was a shadowy haunt of rascals and reprobates. The quarter’s only redeeming feature was its site: several small islands jutting into the broad blue Oslofjord. But, for smugglers, that splendid waterway … Read more
Norway is a cultural goldmine this year and is now in full swing celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of its treasured son, artist Edvard Munch. The country aims to commemorate the occasion by not only highlighting Munch as the revolutionary artist of Norway but also by promoting enthusiasm … Read more
Colorful wooden buildings dot the wharf area of Bergen, scrunched up one against the other like brightly colored Monopoly pieces. Some of the gabled buildings are slightly tilted, but it only adds to the charm of this UNESCO World Heritage city. Centuries ago, this wharf area, called Bryggen – meaning … Read more
Chicago is a great city to visit both for work and for pleasure, with an array of things to see and do – the renowned Art Institute of Chicago, Lake Shore Drive, the Loop, Millennium Park with the centerpiece band shell designed by Frank Gehry and of course, shopping on … Read more
If you’re like me, you might think that all the “To Do Before You Die” lists and books are foolish. Unless, of course, the list or book in question involves a particular passion or in my case a certifiable weakness – barbecue. Barbecue is one of America’s greatest gastronomic obsessions. … Read more
Summer’s around the corner and for New Yorkers that means hordes of camera laden tourists. Manhattan’s streets will soon be flooded with out-of-towners struggling with maps and directions as they find their way in the Big Apple. The New York subway can either be your friend or your enemy. Here … Read more