Experience Lausanne like a Local I’m still nursing a few blisters, but that’s before I learned how to explore Lausanne like a local. What I didn’t consider was that Lausanne is built on three rather steep hills, connected by bridges, narrow streets, vertigo inducing staircases and, if you are lucky enough to find them, the odd elevator. But Lausanne locals, as I learned from my guide, know short ... Read Full Article
Easter in Spain: Tips for Tourists
Make the most of Easter in Spain Tips for Easter in Spain Easter, or Semana Santa in Spanish, is the most important religious holiday of the country. More important than Christmas and it also lasts a lot longer. Although the word ‘semana’ (week) indicates a week, the entire festivities cover more like two weeks, during which time most of public life grinds to a halt. Everybody is gearing up to ... Read Full Article
Barcelona like a Local
Experience Barcelona like a local I have the good fortune to have a friend, born and bred in Barcelona, who kindly took me by the hand, sometimes literally, to let me experience Barcelona like a local. Of course, there are many places every visitor to Barcelona just has to see, like the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi buildings, the Liceo and Palacio de la Musica or the Montjuic mountain and park. But, ... Read Full Article
Get Ready for Fasnacht in Basel, Switzerland
This year I made my way to Fasnacht in Basel, Switzerland. I am on a mission. Over the next years, I want to visit and participate in as many carnivals all over the world as I possibly can. Last year I went to Venice, Italy. What better way of getting a real insight into local culture, in fact into the essence of other peoples’ idiosyncrasies than watching them when they let their hair ... Read Full Article
Canal of Corinth, Agamemnon’s Tomb and Epidaurus
I hadn't expected to visit the Canal of Corinth, Agamemnon’s tomb and Epidaurus on this trip, but Athens was a nightmare. I had arrived in the middle of violent demonstrations against the government’s austerity measures. Roads were closed off which made getting from A to B extremely difficult, even on foot, unless you wanted to risk life and limb. The Acropolis was shrouded in scaffolding and ... Read Full Article
Bulgaria’s Sunny Beach: a Study in Contrasts
Just a few miles from Nesebar lies Bulgaria’s most popular and much advertised seaside resort: Sunny Beach. A summer destination much favored by locals, Russians and many other Europeans who come in search of sand, sunshine and anything else usually associated with Spain’s Costa del Sol but at much more affordable prices.After thoroughly enjoying Nesebar, I hopped in my little rental car ... Read Full Article
Nesebar: Bulgaria’s Gem on the Black Sea
Just what was it that brought me to Nesebar, Bulgaria? Well, for one, I love the Black Sea. I caught my first glimpse of the Black Sea when visiting Turkey. A trip to the towns of Amasya and Samsun revealed a surprisingly beautiful landscape, with dense, green forests, pastures, poppy fields, and apple orchards strung along the shore line of a sea which was anything but black. Where, I ... Read Full Article
Venice in Winter: Intrigue and Mystery
Winter is a fine season to visit Venice. Finally, I get to mingle with actual Venetians, to rub shoulders with them on numerous vaporetto rides along the canals and to the islands and to haggle amongst Venetians over delicious fruit and vegetables at the markets at the foot of the Rialto bridge.I am warmly welcomed in mom and pop shops, deep in the alleyways, when I enter and ... Read Full Article
Three Extraordinary Istanbul Museums
I came by three extraordinary Istanbul museums because I was suffering from a case of culture overdose! For four days, I had ‘done’ all the obligatory Istanbul sights: I admired the tiles in the Blue Mosque, visited the soaring columns of the underground cistern, jostled with the crowds in the Grand Bazaar and the spice market, and I duly stood in line to visit the treasures of Topkapi ... Read Full Article
The Sparkling Residenz in Munich
Why did I visit the Residenz in Munich? It's a long story...I can’t help it - I love baubles, I love gems, I love all things shinny and bright. Not that I can afford to buy a gem of a substantial size, but I do love to peer into the deep green of a huge emerald and revel in the reflections of light, while I imagine the exotic country it came from, and what the person finding itmust have ... Read Full Article