One of the most dramatic views of Paris is that from butte Montmartre at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, better known as Sacre Coeur. Montmartre is a bit quieter and less crowded than other areas of the city, particularly on a weekday. Don’t mistake the more relaxed atmosphere with a lack of energy—Montmartre has …
Isola Madre is the largest of the three Borromeo Islands found in Lake Maggiore, an Italian lake that’s part in Italy and part in Switzerland. There are a few buildings on the island, most notably a 16th century palace, but it is probably best known for it extensive gardens. The gardens are famous for the …
A trip to Paris, particularly for first-time visitors, must include a trip to the Louvre. Yes, the Louvre is enormous, and even if you put in a full day you won’t be able to see everything, but it is The Louvre. Each step you take brings you past yet another spectacular masterpiece, and you will …
The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, museums, culture, gardens, and art. . . and the list goes on. They are, after all, the usual suspects on any visitors list to Paris. And rightly so. In fact, putting Paris and sewers together would seem to be a bit of an oxymoron. But stick with me. …
Alcohol and holidays make perfect partners so why not base a whole trip around the lovely stuff? Wine connoisseurs are quick to praise the wine that comes out of the South of France, and with the scenery and weather that is often lacking in the more northerly part of the country, it is the perfect …
The French Riviera. I don’t need to tell you that it’s one of the most magical places around. Couple that with any combo of Jazz, good food and wine, and some art thrown in and you’re bound to do just about anything to get there, right? After all, you will be following a long line …
Exploring a city on a bike is a great way to cover some serious ground. Not all cities are very bike friendly, but one European city where you can safely pedal around is Dublin. Known for being a small, manageable city on foot, you can cover even more ground on two wheels. Besides quickly getting …
When it was disclosed that Prince William and Kate were off enjoying their honeymoon at a private villa on an island in the Indian Ocean, island vacations became an overnight sensation. Being curious, I too began investigating, searching for island destinations that might be worthy of a royal couple. Like Christopher Columbus before me, I …
The Coliseum was built between 72-80 AD and was the center of the Rome. The building had four floors, three tiers of arches, an attic, and a cellar area where the lions and other fierce beasts were housed. On top of the attic was a shade that could be pulled over the arena for protection …
It’s a spring and summer of music in Belgium, with events and festivals spanning a variety of musical genres. Belgium is easily accessible from many other European countries, so a musical getaway is affordable and enjoyable. Take a look at what’s on the calendar: Botanique Nights Festival – Brussels, May 13-22, 2011. The Botanique is …