Posts Tagged ‘Europe’
From the ramparts of Les Baux de Provence, France
Provence is most certainly one of my (many) favorite corners of Europe. If you are visiting the region, you should try to set aside some time to visit the suggestive ruins of Les Baux de Provence. A visit to this site makes it clear why this was selected as a defensive position – visitors have…
Read MoreBrainstorming at the spa 2013
I’m typing this with my tears in my eyes because I’d been hoping to go myself, but March is shaping up to be more hectic than I thought and I won’t be able to get away this year. But for you lucky writers in Europe – or those of you who just need a thinly…
Read MoreSuffering from snow withdrawal
I’m just back from a fantastic week of sun, snow, and ski slopes and I find myself extremely slow to get back into the rhythms of city life and the difficult rite of catching up with dreaded e-mails and deadlines. I was out in the Italian region of Abruzzo, in a little town called Ovindoli.…
Read MoreEat Wienerschnitzl at Vienna’s Figlmüller
Vienna has to be one of Europe’s best walking cities – and thank goodness for that, since it allows visitors to work up an appetite before sampling the city’s mouth-watering specialties. For me, no visit to Vienna is complete without eating Wienerschnitzl – breaded veal cutlet- at Figlmüller. Figlmüller has been serving up Wienerschnitzl in…
Read MoreReason #5363 to love Rome: Santa Prassede church
There are so many beautiful churches in Rome, that first-time visitors are often left exhausted and overwhelmed by all they have seen. Still, once you’ve seen the most famous, it’s worth the effort to visit some of the spectacular but less-frequented churches around the Eternal City. One exceptional church tucked away on a side street,…
Read MoreThe ruins of Stari Bar, Montenegro
If you arrive by ferry to Montenegro, you’ll most likely be arriving in the port city of Bar. Although Bar itself is not worthy of exploration, the old town – Stari Bar – is just 5 kilometers from the port and it is a wonderful place to visit. The picturesque ruins are located on a…
Read MoreRiga’s stunning art nouveau architecture
While planning a trip to Latvia’s capital, I was very surprised to read that the historic center of Latvia boasts the largest collection of art nouveau buildings in Europe. I have lived in both Prague and Vienna and both cities impress visitors with their stunning art nouveau architecture. The work of Czech artist Alphonse Mucha…
Read MoreSearching for King Arthur: Art, nature and legends in Brittany’s interior
France’s coasts in Brittany are – justifiably – extremely popular with tourists. Yet Brittany also boasts an interesting interior, replete with beautiful churches and castles, charming towns and landscapes and locations from Arthurian legend; nevertheless, most tourists never make it here. On a two-week trip to Brittany, we chose to base ourselves in Brittany’s interior…
Read MoreReason #5362 to love Rome: Piazza Navona’s Christmas Market
Felice Anno Nuovo! A very Happy New Year! Rome’s Piazza Navona has to be one of the most beautiful squares in the world. Each December, continuing on to January 6th, Piazza Navona plays host to a Christmas market. Although it can’t compete with the elegant Christmas markets of Vienna and Nürnberg, the piazza itself offers…
Read MoreReason #5361 to love Rome: Nativity scenes
Buon Natale! Merry Christmas! Those of you visiting the Eternal City during the Christmas season will be certain to notice the Christmas trees that now grace the city. Christmas trees are a relatively recent import – a northern European tradition. To get a real flavor of Italian Christmas traditions, visitors in should visit the many Roman churches…
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