What makes a city of over four million residents seem like a small town? Personal attention and excellent customer service in the shops and restaurants are two of the reasons. Houston can sometimes feel like small town suburbia verses mega metropolis especially if you’re spending much of your time in … Read more
J’adore shopping in Paris. The selections can make one drool and the salespeople make you feel so feminine and sexy with their suggestions, “Oh, this would look great on you, but this over here … très chic, irresistible!” My usual response? “I’ll take two!” But the hustle bustle of shopping … Read more
Seemingly out of nowhere, once again the holiday season is back. How does it always manage to sneak up on us? The many stresses from the seasonal trips that travelers will be taking go beyond airfares and schedules. As any girl will tell you, the head splitting chaos of it … Read more
“The Norwegians sure take their sun seriously, don’t they?” said Pop after he saw that we were fellow Americans touring Norway. We’d just zoomed past a few townspeople sunbathing in their backyards and a guy mowing his lawn shirtless. It was a hot, sunny day in Alesund, a popular fjord … Read more
On my first day in Paris, I saw him from the top of the red, double-decker sightseeing bus. Although our encounter was brief, he flirted like charming French men do. I smiled shyly – flattered–but went on about my day. His memory stuck with me, and over the next few … Read more
I’M IN SAN FRANCISCO! Beautiful views, unique neighborhoods, amazing people, and great spirit; every nook and cranny of this city has its own personality. After all it is San Francisco’s eccentric and downright strange diversity that defines its culture; mixing together trendy urban professionals, hippy chic fashionistas, hipster grit mixologists, … Read more
Marseille? Who would want to visit this city? Crime, drugs, violence, the Mafia – the city’s reputation has been shrouded by for years. The 1970’s movie, The French Connection, focusing on the city’s thriving drug trade, didn’t help. But, much of the drug trade has moved on to Eastern Europe. … Read more
Today, the intersection of the Bowery and Broome Street in Manhattan is perfectly pleasant – busy sidewalks line the streets where stylish pedestrians head to one or more of the many bustling boutiques or restaurants nearby. It’s become a coveted location for real estate agents thanks to its walking … Read more
The most beautiful art in Paris isn’t only hanging on the walls of the Musée d’Orsay or in the Louvre. It’s also found behind glass at the shops of some of the world’s most famous fashion and jewelry designers. Paris is legendary for its window displays and leading brands like … Read more
I’m addicted to my iPhone 5, aren’t you? Even though I’m a PC fanboy, I can’t get enough of Apple’s little wonder phone, which is scratch resistant and tough enough to withstand several drops from arm’s length. However, I still feel a paternal pang whenever it’s close to potential damage … Read more
There were only so many parades, bloco parties, caipiriñhas and sunburns I could take during Rio de Janiero’s famous “Carnaval”. After all, temperatures hover well over 90 degrees daily during Rio’s summer and “hot” doesn’t even begin to describe it. So, I turned my back on the beach and turned … Read more
We don’t know about you but here in New York City the cold weather has us dreaming about spring break and summer vacations. Let’s face it; we should all get outa’ town and head straight for Key West or catch a flight to some dreamy warm destination. How about Trinidad … Read more
These days the most fashionable address in Prague is the aptly-named Pařížská or Paris Street. Located in Old Town near the Jewish Quarter, Paris Street is home to the top designer shops in the world. Long gone are the days of communism. The city’s shopping scene now goes beyond Czech … Read more
If you’re thinking about spending some time in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, anytime soon, beyond attending one of the numerous festivals offered to visitors year-round in Canada’s “Festival City”, you won’t have any difficulty planning the libations for a little spontaneous party in your hotel room. Why? The province’s … Read more
Everyone will admit that no matter how large the living space, a little more storage is a premium that’s sometimes tough to come by. From my own perspective, I own four suitcases (1 large, 2 medium and 1 small) as well as five or six smaller personal bags (don’t get … Read more