Travel
Old time splendor at Oslo’s Grand Hotel
Oslo’s Grande Dame of a hotel, the Grand Hotel, was built in Norway’s capital in 1874 – back when Oslo went by the name Kristiania. It is located centrally, on the main shopping street of Karl Johans gate, between the Norwegian Parliament and the Royal Palace. I love old hotels like this, full of charm…
Read MoreNikolaiviertel in Berlin
I had a nice little wander in this picturesque neighborhood when I was in Berlin. I suppose liking this vibe of this historic neighborhood is a bit akin to claiming one of the most stunning castles you’ve seen is the one in Orlando, Florida. For alas, Berlin’s Nikolaiviertel is a bit Disneyesque… This small area…
Read MoreRevisiting my old neighborhood of Navigli, in Milan
It’s always fun to go back and visit old haunts – and a recent trip to Milan was no exception. I did my Master’s degree at Bocconi University, in Milan, Italy. That was a long, long time ago and I – oddly – hadn’t been back in years. On this first visit back, I chose…
Read MoreMy summer holiday in books
Maybe it’s something about being smack dab in December, with some of the most depressing and shortest days of the year, but I find myself often thinking back to summer holidays. As I already wrote in a post, sometimes my reading experience conflates the books I read on holidays. Even when those novels aren’t that…
Read MoreIt’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas … in Milan
Was great to be back in the Lombard capital of Milan, a city where I used to live, after a (gulp!) almost two decade hiatus. No idea why it took me so long to return to a city I enjoyed so much, but it was fun to be back for a short weekend, and to…
Read MoreExploring Valletta, Malta in the lead up to its Notte bianca
Back in October, I was on the Mediterranean island of Malta for work. I was staying outside of the capital city of Valletta, Malta, and I was eager to get back to that city I hadn’t visited in some years. The only time I had free were the hours before my return flight to Rome…
Read MoreReason #5386 to love Rome: Elena’s Mausoleum at Villa de Sanctis
If it’s an early Sunday morning in November, I’m bound to be scouring the outskirts of Rome searching for some park I’ve never heard about before so my youngest son can participate in a cross-country race. This has been our habit over the last six years, and I must say I have discovered an amazing…
Read MoreOld world elegance in Biarritz, France
This past summer, a holiday in France’s Pays Basque saw us for the first time in elegant, seaside Biarritz. I’ve always been curious to visit this well-heeled watering hole. I have a soft spot for 19th century Grandes Dames, and Biarritz certainly fits the bill. Tucked away in the southwestern corner of France, along the…
Read MoreCrunching through the leaves on my mountain bike in Abruzzo
I’ve written about it before, but it’s always a pleasure for me when I can make a weekend escape out to the mountains in Abruzzo. With my busy work schedule and my kids’ insane sports programs, this luxury is becoming rarer and rarer. With my older son off at a tennis tournament in Germany, my…
Read MoreTurin’s salon: Piazza San Carlo
Piazza San Carlo is the iconic square in Turin’s historical center. Its nickname to locals is the ‘salotto di Torino’ – Turin’s ‘salon’ or ‘living room’: the natural gathering place for locals and visitors alike. On a recent Saturday in Turin, it was here I had an appointment to meet with a friend of mine…
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