Posts Tagged ‘Europe’
Lake views, grand hotels, and jazz in Montreux, Switzerland
I’ve already written about how I was able to explore around Lake Geneva this past summer while dropping off and picking up my son from camp in beautiful Leysin, Switzerland . One of the places I visited with my son was beautiful, lakeside Montreux. Montreux is wonderfully picturesque, with its stately grand hotels and idyllic…
Read MoreReason #5376 to love Rome: Volpetti delicatessen
If you’re visiting Rome and doing it right, there is no reason you should be feeling hungry between meals. Nevertheless, to be fully versed in Rome’s food culture, no visit to the Eternal City is complete without a stop at Volpetti, on Via Marmorata in the Testaccio neighborhood. Be sure to stop in and have…
Read MoreThree A-list towns in Provence: Avignon, Arles, and Aix
Provence’s interior has so many lovely hill towns, and stunning nature, that visitors are forgiven for not wanting to jeopardize a tranquil holiday with the hustle and bustle of larger towns. Yet the following three towns make the A-list of any planned visit to Provence – there’s simply no excuse not to visit Avignon, Arles, and…
Read MoreMountain bliss in Leysin, Switzerland
I clearly have Switzerland on my mind this summer. That’s because I’ve been up bringing my older son to French camp and picking him up, and I’ve had time to explore the pretty region around Lake Geneva. And this is the idyllic mountaintop community where he’s been spending his time – Leysin. In the winter,…
Read MoreLooking for a Rome day trip? Medieval Sermoneta
This wonderfully preserved medieval town, south of Rome in the region of Lazio, is an enjoyable daytrip from Italy’s capital. Tiny Sermoneta is truly a pleasure to visit, and feels light years away from the chaos of Rome. Wander the winding, cobblestone streets and enjoy the panoramic views over the valley. On clear days, you…
Read MoreSpectacular views over Geneva from the cathedral belltower
As I’ve written in earlier posts about Geneva, this Swiss city has an enviable position along the beautiful Lake Geneva. If you catch a clear, sunny day (not always a given in Geneva), head to the St Pierre Cathedral and climb up the bell tower’s narrow steps for gorgeous views over the city, the mountains beyond,…
Read MoreWander the medieval streets of Vico del Gargano, Italy
I’ve already posted on a fabulous holiday to the Gargano peninsula in southern Italy – in the region of Puglia. We stayed in picturesque Vieste, took a boat trip to the stunning Tremiti Islands, and explored all the beautiful swimming coves on the peninsula. While there, we also visited some of the other pretty towns…
Read MoreMedieval lakeside charm in Nyon, Switzerland
This summer, on a trip to Geneva, Switzerland with my family (see my earlier post about things to do in Geneva), the disastrous weather forecasts were (luckily!) proven wrong, the sun broke out from the grey clouds, and we decided to hop on a Lake Geneva boat to visit the medieval, lakeside town of Nyon.…
Read MoreTruth or (ancient) fiction?
I recently went with my family to visit the fabulous Alma-Tadema exhibition in Rome at the Chiostro del Bramante. Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema was a Dutch artist who moved to England and became part of the late nineteenth century Pre-Raphaelite movement. Although not as well known as Dante Gabriel Rossetti or Edward Burnes-Jones, Alma-Tadema’s artwork was…
Read MoreA bird’s eye view over Hamburg from St Michaelis
St. Michaelis, whose tower is perhaps the most famous landmark of Hamburg, Germany, is actually the newest of Hamburg’s main churches. The church, with its entrance marked by St. Michael slaying a writhing devil at his feet, has an unlucky history. The first church, built in 1649, was destroyed my lightening in 1750. The 18th…
Read More