Travel
Modern medieval pilgrims at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France
Sadly, I wasn’t in this picturesque, medieval French town on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, but I loved observing all those lucky fellow travelers who were. I was in postcard-perfect Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on a family holiday to France’s Pays Basque, and I couldn’t miss out on visiting this pretty town along the pilgrimage to Galicia’s…
Read MoreCommemorating WWI soldiers in Abruzzo
On my recent ski escape, I was in Ovindoli, in Italy’s Apennine mountains of the Abruzzo region. Like most little mountain towns, Ovindoli has a memorial to the soldiers who died both in WWI and WWII. For those who know the region well, most of these towns have much longer lists for the First World…
Read MoreSnow was only okay, but the skiing was fabulous. Abruzzo
Is there anything more magical than the first ski run of the season? Even after all these years, it never fails to put me in a good mood. I’m generally loathe to organize complicated travel plans for the Christmas holidays, since I hate to travel at on of the most chaotic times of the year.…
Read MoreColonial splendor in Guayaquil’s Las Peñas neighborhood, Ecuador
I always fall for colonial architecture, so when I was in Guayaquil, Ecuador this past autumn, it’s not surprising I was immediately drawn to the gorgeous Las Peñas neighborhood. Las Peñas was the first neighborhood built in Guayaquil – now Ecuador’s largest city. It was constructed 400 years ago in typical colonial Spanish style. Unfortunately,…
Read MoreLuckily no more bulls on Madrid’s Plaza Mayor
On a recent trip to Madrid, we enjoyed clear winter days – perfect walking weather to explore Spain’s capital … and explore the city by foot, we did! Our walks, of course, often led us back to Madrid’s Plaza Mayor. The pedestrianized square is stunning – even more so with a lively Christmas market set…
Read MoreTourists in glass houses. Madrid’s Palacio de cristal
On a recent trip to Spain’s capital, I visited the Palacio de cristal – the Crystal Palace. As you can see from the photos, I was lucky enough to have a clear December day with blue skies in which to visit the structure. Situated as it is in the Parque del buen retiro, it’s a…
Read MoreA splendid coastal resort fit for a (Sun) King: Saint-Jean- de-Luz
When we spent a summer holiday in the French Basque town of Guéthary, Saint-Jean-de-Luz was the nearest large market town. It also happened to be an architectural gem, situated on a beautiful bay. I’ve already written about the stunning coastal path we took to walk here, the same coastal path that led us 25 km…
Read MoreGetting into the Christmas spirit … in Madrid
We recently went on a weekend trip. My younger son asked to go “someplace Christmasy – like Vienna or Berlin”. We didn’t set out to dash those hopes, but in the end, we chose Madrid, Spain. The Spanish capital wasn’t selected for its Christmas decorations, but we were pleasantly surprised that it was well decked…
Read MoreEgyptian splendor … in Madrid
I’ve been a few times to Madrid, but when I was back for a visit last weekend, I was surprised to learn that Spain’s capital boasts an impressive Ancient Egyptian monument. This can be found at the Parque de la montaña, close to the Royal Palace. It is called the Temple of Debod and it…
Read MoreZipping around the aqueducts at Rome’s Parco degli Acquedotti
If it’s an early Sunday morning in the fall, there’s a good chance I’m out shivering in some Godforsaken park around Rome for one of my son’s cross-country races. Luckily, however, I do live in Rome, and some of those parks I discover on those early morning jaunts are truly spectacular. This season’s races opened…
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