small trips around a big world
The Provence painted by Van Gogh and Cézanne is a dazzling palette of richly colored scenes. More than a century later, nothing has changed. A region famous for its pastis and pétanque, rolling fields of purple lavender, storybook hilltop villages, and picturesque markets, Provence offers so many enchanting landscapes and experiences that it would take a lifetime to uncover them all. We had a week. On... Continue Reading →
To me, there is nothing more exciting than being in a new place, surrounded by a state of complete unknown. On the edge of a frontier tempting exploration. Like listening to a Bo Diddley song: you're legs just have to move. To my dad, there is nothing more overwhelming; yet, almost the day I moved to Europe he... Continue Reading →
Rick Steves missed this one on his best of Europe list. The tiny Pyrenean-style stone village of Torla, Spain has quickly become one of my favorite places in the world. Torla is tucked away from civilization in a glacial valley in the Spanish province of Aragón and was quite appropriately chosen as one of Europe's 10 Coziest Mountain Villages, managing to retain its... Continue Reading →
Summoned by the allure of the culinary experience of a lifetime, Mugaritz, named one of the world's 17 restaurants worth planning a trip around by Travel and Leisure, coaxed me back to San Sebastian's enchanting beaches and tapas-laden streets for the second time in a year. We had tried to make a reservation at Mugaritz last September, but despite booking 5 months in advance there were no tables available. As... Continue Reading →
This was destined to be an epic journey. One of my dearest friends and travel companions for the past 19 years, Katie, was coming to visit and we had planned a train trip across the country. From Geneva we would stop in the dazzling and fabled towns of Montreux, Gruyere, Lucerne, and Appenzell before arriving at our ultimate destination: Berggasthaus Aescher, the current... Continue Reading →
I don't remember how old I was when I first saw the pictures of rainbow-colored stripes stretching endlessly into the distance but since that moment, Tulip Time in the Netherlands has been on my bucket list. And this year, I decided to see if I could check it off. We had to plan far in advance to find... Continue Reading →
This region is legendary amongst mountaineers: for many years the Matterhorn was considered "unclimbable", during which time Zermatt was just a humble farming community. Then, in the 1830's to 50's, intense competition developed to conquer the Matterhorn and the first ascent was finally made by English climber Edward Whymper, but four of his climbing partners died along the way.... Continue Reading →
Touted as "the slowest express train in the world", the 7 hour trip on the Glacier Express (GEX) still flies by, keeping the majority of its passengers in rapt attention as the mesmerizing landscapes drift past the window. According to Rick Steves, this is the most scenic train ride in all of Europe, and it doesn't take long to agree with... Continue Reading →
Palm trees and Swiss Alps should not co-exist. This combination is something that should defy the realms of nature...but yet, there it was in dazzling green, blue and white splendor. Travel and Leisure lists the Chemin Fleuri as one of the world's most scenic walks, and it only takes one glance to understand why. Glorious scenery, top-quality jazz and... Continue Reading →
Regensburg's character is strongly defined by its 11th to 13th century architecture. Lying quietly along the banks of the Danube River, the Old Town of Regensburg survived the Second World War in exceptionally good shape and is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This beautiful town serves as a supreme example of a central-European medieval trading centre,... Continue Reading →