Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer

Europe

Europe

Spy-‘r-land

Bond is back!  But not as Bond . . .  James Bond star Pierce Brosnan is in a new film.  It’s the result of Tourism Ireland teaming up with the Irish Film and Television Academy to create a series of short videos to showcase Ireland. Pierce speaks of his love for his native land, while the…

Read more

Clean routine

Via Vittorio Emanuele is the public wash known as "medieval wash" at the late-Renaissance palace Martino in Italy. In 1514 it was demolished and rebuilt on a more back from the city walls and the river that (legend has it that it was created by the tears of a mourning nymph) flowed under the open…

Read more

Meetings with the dragon

Margaretha Hönin had a bad reputation. Even though she lived in the late 16th century, we know that her neighbours, the people of Coburg in Thuringia, despised her for being a parvenu and a money-grabbing miser. Hönin was also said to be a witch who met regularly with a dragon. For her neighbours, her economic…

Read more

Asleep at the controls

Have you ever dreamt of being a pilot?  You'll need a license, first. But, if your aspirations are more down to earth, why not control your dreams rather than the controls themselves? How about Sweden's Jumbo Stay Hotel in Arlanda? A unique hotel in a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet. An exclusive experience in the world…

Read more

Tombs in your living rooms

At one time, sitting on the couch and watching television was considered a luxury:  we were so busy in our daily lives that being able to collapse on the sofa and stare at the screen . . or at the ceiling. Well, Covid-19 has flipped that scenario on its head, and most people are gagging…

Read more

Don’t pretend to be: be!

A devastating loss can shatter the façade we put up for others, exposing our deepest, rawest self. A work of art can do the same. Don’t show off! Don’t pretend to be, be!’ The piercing voice of my stern ballet teacher with the stick and the square glasses still echoes in my mind. These two…

Read more

It’s only a flesh wound

Monty Python notwithstanding, the legend of Arthur, king of the Britons remains an enduring, fascinating and unresolved story.  Dozens of films have been made, and yet, his legend is still shrouded in uncertainty. One thing about him that has more ground - literally - is where his infamous castle lair was located - generally accepted…

Read more

Bohemian, like you

I'm getting vibes.... We'd like to introduce you to West Bohemia, a region filled with charm and chances to dig deeper into Czech culture. West Bohemia – two hours west of Prague – includes three cities that are all about health and wellness: Karlovy Vary - the well-known wellness destination of free-flowing mineral springs, founded…

Read more

Chateau No

Some people have all the luck. An infamous €57million French chateau that was built illegally in the Côte d’Azur has been definitively condemned for total destruction, in what is expected to be the final stage of a 15-year-long court case. Chateau Diter was built by Montreil-born property developer Patrick Diter between the years of 2000…

Read more

Purple Noon

Our pals at OMIO sure know Europe.  Planes, trains or automobiles, they can do it. But, like the rest of us, they're stuck at home, too.  So they have - just in time - published their latest version of The Window Seat, their travelogue. Travel (or romance for that matter) might be tricky at the…

Read more

A tour for the worst

Friends will tell you that you have to go to these ‘world famous sights’. But we’re here to tell you that sometimes, your friends are wrong. Reserve your precious holiday time for the best these destinations have to offer, not the overcrowded, overpriced tourist traps. Here are some of the most overhyped sights in Europe…

Read more

Clean-us de Milo

If ever there was a need to use tender, loving care, it's when you work in place with some of the most precious and irreplaceable paintings, sculptures and artifacts.  Of course, in this case, we're talking about The Louvre in Paris.  The Musée du Louvre had a record 10.2 million visitors in 2018—an increase of…

Read more

Staycation situation

It appears, despite our best wishes, 2021 is also going to be the summer of staycations as restrictions against non-essential foreign travel continue for the foreseeable future. Naturally, the recent government crackdowns on international travel have sparked a surge in online searches. Searches on Airbnb for summer staycations more than quadrupled in comparison to the…

Read more

Ein Hausboot ist gut

Ein Hausboot ist gut = A houseboat is good As arctic temperature froze rivers and lakes in northern Germany, workers at houseboat charter companies were already gearing up for what they expect to be a busy summer season. "I think that big trips abroad and flying will still not be the dominant type of vacation…

Read more

Kids these days don’t know anything

People tend to be extremely nostalgic about the music they listened to when they were young. If you were a teenager in the 1970s, chances are you will love Queen, Stevie Wonder or ABBA. And if you were young in the 1990s, Wannabe by the Spice Girls probably still gets you on the dance floor.…

Read more

Pavlopetri

This a little-known, but fascinating place in Greece. The city of Pavlopetri (Greek: Παυλοπέτρι), underwater off the coast of southern Laconia in Peloponnese, Greece, is about 5,000 years old, making it one of the oldest submerged lost cities, as well as the oldest in the Mediterranean sea. Pavlopetri is unique in having an almost complete…

Read more

Eatin’ alive in Europe

Europe’s culinary masterpieces have enticed travelers for millennia. From traditional cultural dishes to modern gastronomical feats, a tour of these delectable destinations is a trip worth taking. Bring a healthy appetite and treat yourself to the amazing tastes, sights and smells on this extensive tour of cuisine. Follow this gastronomical highway to discover one incredible…

Read more