Champagne Region in France - The Tastiest UNESCO Site in the World The Champagne region in France is arguably one of the best-tasting UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe. In July, I was invited by European Waterways on board the Panache, a barge cruise on the Marne river and canal, right through the heart of the Champagne in France. You can read more about my first barge cruise in France ... Read Full Article
Barge Cruises in France – The Perfect Luxury Vacation
Luxury Barge Cruises in France Have you been thinking about exploring Europe by ship and are you looking for a luxurious experience that you will never forget? Then I have something for you: How about barge cruises in France? I was recently invited by European Waterways to join them on a barge cruise in the Champagne region in France, and it was my favorite cruise experience so far. We were ... Read Full Article
Rochefort France – A Maritime Town With a Lot of History and Charm
Rochefort France – More Than a Picture-Perfect Town It never fails to surprise me, that an apparently sleepy, provincial town like Rochefort France with only approx. 26.000 inhabitants can harbor such a great variety of history, monuments, art and even eccentricity. From the surrender of Napoleon in 1815 to launching ships and being the hometown of Pierre Loti, one of France’s most famous and ... Read Full Article
Secret Destinations in France
Secret Destinations in France With the summer fast approaching, our thoughts are turning to the warm weather and where to go on holiday. This thought brings with it an enormous range of options, abroad or not, from which to choose from. Wherever you are in the world, however, there is a good chance that Europe is one of the options. There are many great places to visit in Europe, like Spain, ... Read Full Article
Sailboat Charter vs. Mediterranean Cruise: Which one is right for you?
Sailboat Charter vs. Mediterranean Cruise: Which one is right for you? Are you thinking about exploring Europe on a Mediterranean cruise? Cruising is a great way to get a taste of Europe, but if you want a more intimate trip, a Sailboat charter might be a better option for you. I recently went on a Sailboat charter trip from Sardinia to Corsica with Intersailclub and it was a wonderful ... Read Full Article
Be Enchanted by Germany’s Harz Mountains
Be enchanted by Germany’s Harz Mountains What first springs to mind when thinking about Germany’s fairytale landscapes of the Brothers Grimm may be the Black Forest. Think again and cast your eyes further North, to one of Germany’s undervalued but extremely fascinating regions: the Harz mountains. In fact, many of the stories collected by the Brothers Grimm originate from the Harz Region. ... Read Full Article
Villefranche-sur-Mer: Combat Naval Fleuri
Villefranche-sur-Mer and its famous Combat Naval Fleuri (Naval Battle of the Flowers) “Bad start, good finish.” This little piece of wisdom eluded me when my husband and I arrived in Nice on March 3, 2014. All I could think of was that we’d just spent the better part of a day flying from wintry, rainy Portland, Oregon to enjoy the fabled, perfect-year-round weather of the French Riviera - only ... Read Full Article
Shopping in Berlin – A Local’s Guide
Shopping in Berlin: A Local’s Guide Style-wise, Berliners pride themselves on their idiosyncratic sense of liberality and urban cool. Fluid, individual and no-nonsense, a common Berlin ‘uniform’ is notorious for its embrace of anything black, shapeless and street-chic. However, you’d be foolish to think the city’s shopping options end there. Broad-minded and tolerant, there is a seemingly endless ... Read Full Article
1 Week Itinerary Germany – From Frankfurt to Munich
1 Week Itinerary Germany Germany. Land of castles, Schnitzel, beer, the Black Forest, and oompah bands. For this article, we will focus on a 1 week itinerary Germany, including historic Heidelberg and parts of Bavaria from Baden Baden to magnificent Munich. For this Germany itinerary, we will be arriving in Frankfurt and flying home from Munich. For each city on our trip, we will feature a ... Read Full Article
Oradour-sur-Glane, France: The Martyrs’ Village
Oradour-sur-Glane, France: The Martyrs' Village As you enter the French village of Oradour-sur-Glane, the sign says, simply, "Souviens-toi." Remember. I assure you that you will not forget your visit to this remarkable town. Located about 15 miles west of Limoges, in the central west of France, Oradour-sur-Glane has been forever immortalized for one fateful day in its history: June 10, ... Read Full Article