Sometimes, spontaneous decisions lead to the best experiences, as I found out when I decided to visit Salzburg on a whim last summer. After a cold night’s rain, a brilliant summer day was dawning over Munich’s rooftops. The leaves were polished and shining and when I looked out the window everything seemed to whisper to me: come out, this is the ideal day for a trip. On the spur of the moment, I ... Read Full Article
Carnevale di Venezia: The Carnival of Venice
Since returning from Venice, Italy a few days ago, I have been pondering why my experience of spending four days at The Venice Carnival left such a deep and persistent impression - more than any other trip I have taken to numerous outstanding places throughout the world. I have come to the conclusion that Venice Carnival gets under your skin because for some 10 days the city and her people go back ... Read Full Article
King Ludwig’s Herrenchiemsee Castle in Bavaria
On a picture-book, sunny Sunday in early September, I was on my way to visit Ludwig II’s castle, Herreninsel, located on an island in Lake Chiemsee in the south of Bavaria, Germany. To get there, I boarded the Ludwig Fessler, the only paddleboat which runs as a ferry from Prien to the Herreninsel. The Ludwig Fessler is the flagship of the ferry company and does not run very often. It is mostly the ... Read Full Article
The Decadent Charm of Essaouira, Morocco
“Essa…what?” my travel companion, Mary, asked. “Where do you want to go?” Essaouira “Essa—ouuu…rja,” I repeated, savoring every sound. I admit, I had secretly practiced. Everybody can say 'Casablanca’ or ‘Marrakesh’, but to get your tongue around the name of this particular pearl in the necklace of Moroccan beauties needs some doing. Never mind, once you tell your hotel receptionist in ... Read Full Article
Pottery and Schnaps on Fraueninsel Island, Germany
You never know what treasures you might find when you travel off the beaten path in Bavaria. I was strolling around the quaint folklore museum in Prien am Chiemsee when I came upon a particularly beautiful and elaborate stove covered with tiles. As I was the only visitor at the time, the curator was happy to walk around with me. “This,” she said, “is a masterpiece from a pottery on the ... Read Full Article
Sirince: a Surprising Find in the Turkish Mountains
It’s very hot in July on the Turkish coast of the Aegean sea, so when my friend suggested a trip to Sinince, a ‘lovely mountain village’ as he put it, I was all for it, if only to get a bit of the sea cooled air. He wouldn’t say what else there was to see and do in Sirince; only that I should wear good walking shoes. I was quite happy to just go along and let myself be surprised. We drove to ... Read Full Article
On the Food Trail in Crete: Women’s Food Cooperatives
I have two confessions to make: a) I have a sweet tooth, and b) I skipped Knossos in favour of indulging my sweet tooth passion in Krousonas. I guess sometimes you just have to get your priorities right. My time on the Greek island of Crete was limited and I reasoned that Knossos has been around for a long, long time and is bound to keep standing, whereas I couldn’t pass up the invitation of my ... Read Full Article
Off the Tourist Trail: Euromos and Lake Bafa,Turkey
Can you believe this: the 6th best preserved temple and historical complex in the whole of Asia remains unvisited by many travelers to Turkey’s Aegean coast? Tourists just whiz past Euromos and Lake Bafa on their way to more famous sites like Ephesus or Miletos. So, let’s remedy their oversight by exploring the Zeus Temple of Euromos and Lake Bafa. Located at approx. 10km north of Milas ... Read Full Article
Amazing Amasya in the Turkish Black Sea Region
I could have flown from Bodrum, near the place on the Turkish Aegean coast where I live part of the year, to the Black Sea coastal city of Samsun in the province of Amasya. But, for some reason the air ticket would have cost a fortune, whereas the coach (bus) cost all of 35 GBP (2.36 TRY - Turkey Lira). Honestly, I was stiff as a plank, which was hardly surprising considering that I had just ... Read Full Article
The Apollo Temple and Oracle in Didim, Turkey
I can’t get enough of the experience of driving along, rounding a bend and suddenly being greeted by the sight of soaring columns, scattered, carved marble blocks and ancient statues. These artifacts, albeit damaged, are witnesses to a glorious past and have survived thousands of years while seeming to mock the signs of modern times at their feet. That’s exactly what happens if you visit one of ... Read Full Article