small trips around a big world
Despite Lyon's reputation as a food and wine mecca, it can be easily overlooked as just a stop on the way from Geneva or Paris to southern France. After watching it pass by the window numerous times, we chose a weekend and began planning a trip to explore Lyon's world-famous sites and cuisine. Lyon's... Continue Reading →
If you're looking for great food, fine wine, and a world-class farmer's market in a laid-back setting, don't overlook Geneva's lesser known French neighbor, Ferney Voltaire. Downtown Ferney VoltaireImage credit: Daniel Gillet The New York Times has featured Geneva twice in its 36 hours articles (2007 and 2016), but Geneva's next door neighbor, Ferney Voltaire,... Continue Reading →
Just days after a rare snowstorm held us hostage in Rome, the same snowstorm shut down Geneva. Determined to meet my brother Nate in Florence for the weekend, I hiked an hour through the snow to the airport, anxiously passing by the crowd of passengers sipping free hot chocolate in the waiting area - an... Continue Reading →
Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world, a charming mix of Paris and San Francisco—at a fraction of the price. The Portuguese capital has everything a traveler could want: great local cuisine, fabulous art, robust history, sensational wine, and a bustling contemporary culture. Seven exalted hillsides overlooking the Rio Tejo cradle Lisbon's... Continue Reading →
As I crossed the bustling square, I heard my name and looked up to see two smiling faces framed in the wooden shutters adorning an old stone building, now an airbnb apartment. My father and brother leaned over the iron rail, waving with one hand, a glass of wine in the other in an official... Continue Reading →
Just hours after leaving the office we found ourselves in the dimly lit L'Arcangelo, enjoying Rome's most beloved Gnocchi alla Matriciana, of pillowy fame in Bon Appétit contributor Katie Parla's best pasta dishes in Rome. After the meal we walked through the narrow streets to our hotel, opening a small door cut into the middle of a huge wooden door... Continue Reading →
The food-focused 2015 World Expo has catapulted Milan into the spotlight. But Milan takes a while to uncover, its hidden charm slowly revealed on long rambles throughout the city, surprising curious visitors with spectacular interior courtyards and delicious restaurants, tucked away behind giant closed doors. Like most travelers who pass through Milan merely to kick off or wrap up an extended Italy trip, we were... Continue Reading →
We flew into Athens and stepped in line to board the SeaJets ferry for the three-hour journey from Piraeus Port to Milos, just a few stops short of Santorini. After a year of deliberating and planning, we were finally on our way to meet our old friends Theodoris, YuFang, Lucas, Sarah, and Allison's brother Nate for a week-long reunion in Theodoris's... Continue Reading →
Any wine lover should immediately head to the north shores of Lake Geneva where one of Europe's best-kept secrets lies waiting: the timeless Lavaux Vineyards. Just an hour from Geneva by train, Lavaux is the largest contiguous vineyard region in Switzerland, covering 800 hectares between Lausanne and Vevey, and has been protected as a UNESCO... Continue Reading →