Eneko Atxa is a chef who is deeply rooted in the regional traditions of classic Basque cookery. His culinary inspiration were the dishes of his mother and grandmother, yet his current dishes reveal an inventiveness and imagination that go well beyond any constraints...
Here are some traditional Italian wine ideas and a few unconventional suggestions for a toast on the most romantic day of the year. A couple enjoys a wine toast during a romantic meal. Stock photo. ANDREOLA (VENETO) NAZZARENO POLA - ETICHETTA DEL FONDATORE – DIRUPO -...
Vienna is one of the most regal of Europe’s great cities. The mostly Baroque architecture creates high drama throughout the streets with imposing statues, green patina domes, and intricate detail work. In fact, the word “grandeur” in the dictionary should be...
Ron Bronfman is the Sommelier at Claro Restaurant in London's St. James area. Serving Mediterranean cuisine, Claro was recently added to the Michelin Guide. For December, Ron has launched a regionally focused wine selection from the Rhône Valley, designed to introduce...
In 1958, I found that my grandfather had left money in his will for my higher education at a European university. At the time, I was living in Athens, Greece with my family, finishing high school and preparing for a future life of adventure. My father insisted that I...
The Hotel Alfonso XIII is not only considered “the” place to stay in Seville, Spain, but it’s listed as a historical site for non-guest tourists as well. And there’s a good reason for this: architecturally, the building looks like a Moorish castle. Built for the...
Long ago, my wife Roxie and I made a short visit to Portugal’s Silver Coast, a spectacular stretch of beach on the Atlantic, famous for its big waves. We stayed in an old 19th century hotel turned into a guesthouse, perched on a hill overlooking the sea. In our room,...
The city of seven hills offers the most picturesque “leg day” in the world, with endless charm and equally endless inclines. Fortunately, transportation via cable car, funicular, Uber, taxi, and local-ride service Bolt make exploring each unique neighborhood anything...
Athens, Greece is one of those must-see cities that truly does make you feel as though you’ve stepped into a time capsule. Here is my photographic tribute to this city like no other. Photo by Melanie Votaw. Photo by Melanie Votaw. Photo by Melanie Votaw. Photo by...
Long had I coveted taking a river cruise, and my dream was realized when we sailed the Legendary Rhine & Moselle (Mosel) with the top ranked UNIWORLD Boutique River Cruise Collection. The 13-day itinerary was aboard the River Queen, one of...
In Bergen, standing in one of the narrow alleys of Bryggen, gazing up at some of the old Hanseatic League warehouses, I recalled that this was once the biggest cod-packing facility in all of Europe. Then, as I lowered my gaze, I could almost catch a glimpse of the...
Some exceptional wines using mostly indigenous grapes are made in the Portuguese Alentejo DOC. What is interesting is that many of the wineries retain their ancient marble cisterns, where grapes are still foot-pressed and then aged in very large concrete vats or...
William Reid was a true entrepreneur. He knew from personal experience that Madeira offered the perfect year-round destination for people requiring a warm climate for health reasons. Summer temperatures rarely rise over 27°C (87°F), and in winter, never fall below...
After an initial visit 35 years ago - when we had a great time and great food - we returned to Madeira, the island in the North Atlantic that was “discovered” in 1419 by the Portuguese navigator João Gonçalves Zarco, the one eyed. Even though João Gonçalves...
In Florence, street vendors sell boxer shorts with an image on the crotch of the genitals of Michelangelo’s famous David sculpture. In Rome, vendors sell shorts with the same image, but enhanced with additional length. For me, these images comically sum up the...
In the fall of 1967, I wanted to finish writing a novel I had been working on for several years. So I found a two-bedroom apartment to rent for a dollar a day on the Balearic Island of Menorca. Over the years, a number of things have happened to me, but I have always...
Surrounded by mountains and dotted with patina domes and regal statues, Salzburg is, without question, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. A river snakes through the center, a fortress castle watches from above, and horse-drawn carriages trot through the...
The Italian peninsula sends to the rest of the world far more than just great wines and cheeses, fast cars, sultry actresses, and temperamental tenors. It’s also the source of some of the most complex and sought-after liqueurs. If you are partial to summer spritzes,...
Switzerland is one of the most diverse countries in the world with regions that borrow their languages and culture from Italy, Germany, and France. The southwestern region of Switzerland is the French-speaking area of the country, and it offers stunning vineyards,...
Here are our favorite Groupon deals in Paris and London that will save you money while still allowing you a luxury experience! (Full disclosure: these are affiliate links.) London The Dilly, London. Photo courtesy of Groupon. The Dilly in London - $354.20: Near...
A quick jaunt to the most romantic city in the world is great at any time of year, but summer offers a special charm for visitors to Paris. A junior suite at the Hotel Edouard 7. Photo courtesy of Hotel Edouard 7. Where to Stay - Edouard 7 This gorgeous luxury hotel...
I have long been a fan of Viking River Cruises and totally enjoy the smaller ships, along with the opportunity to converse with other passengers and crew. With a focus that highlights culture, it has always been the perfect blend for me. So when I had the opportunity...
I have been around the world and visited over 132 countries and six continents, thanks in large part to my military service. Countries I visited include several times to Italy, especially Rome, Naples, and Sicily. But never once had I been to Venice. So I was elated...
The remnants of winter still commanded the high peaks of Norway's Jotunheimen National Park, as though unwilling to be dislodged from the high ground. As days slowly grew longer, the surrounding land began to stir. Jagged, snow-capped mountains stretched before my...
I was in town for a look at the city’s celebrations surrounding Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary and staying at the Gainsborough Bath Spa in England. While the hotel’s buildings would have been around when Austen wrote her groundbreaking novels, they were not a hotel...
When I recently returned to Oslo, I was greeted by the familiar cultural and historic sights, from the prominent royal palace to the modern and distinct Scandinavian architectural facades that are reflections of Nordic-inspired tradition and lifestyle....
Tokaj is the name of an ancient winegrowing region that is currently divided between Hungary and Slovakia. The current Tokaj area used to be part of the greater Tokaj-Hegyalja region within the Kingdom of Hungary but was divided between Hungary and Czechoslovakia at...
Picture gazing out over the unpolluted sparkling royal blue waters of the Adriatic Sea, breathing in salt-infused, pure, sweet air and the fragrance and beauty of dark-green pine forests silhouetted against the azure sky. All the while, 1,100 aromatic herbs and...
A quiet island? In the Thames? A 40-minute train ride from London? Near bustling Windsor Castle? Lead me to it! And Monkey Island Estate did not disappoint. With its borders of huge white hydrangeas, resident geese amidst the verdant grass, and low white buildings,...
It's a massive understatement to say that the Appenzell region of Switzerland has character. It's exactly how you hope the German part of Switzerland will be. Well-known among the Swiss as the most traditional area in the country, its inhabitants remain astoundingly...
River cruises are among the most popular forms of vacation, offering virtually every amenity available on larger cruise ships but at an affordable price. They also feature enticing, unique itineraries often unavailable with their bigger rivals. My favorite river...
Some 60 feet below us stretched the Irish Sea. Distant waves swept barely audible sounds onto the shore. Apart from the twitter of birds, we couldn't hear anything else. Quite a difference from New York City where we live! My wife, Roxie, and I were following a narrow...
Many hotels fancy themselves as “Grand” and “Royal,” but in the case of Vienna’s Hotel Imperial, the description can be taken literally. Custom-built in 1863 as Palais Württenberg, it was designed and constructed as a residence for Duke Philipp of Württemberg, who...
When my friend told me he was leaving New York City for the much smaller city of Norwich, England to take over his dad’s fish & chips shop, I couldn’t imagine why. Wouldn’t he get bored? Then, I visited him in his idyllic town with a population of just over...
Oops! The wine I just poured tilted to one side of the glass. Most odd. Then, looking around, seeing the low, heavily beamed ceiling and taking into account the age of this place – the house was built about six hundred years ago – I realized that, most likely, the...
Liverpool has plenty of Beatles memorabilia to lure you, but you might be surprised to learn that it has much more to offer the traveler – even those who aren’t fans of the Fab Four. An old city with both new and historical architecture, Liverpool is big enough to...
The Langham Hotel in London is as close to perfect as you can get. A 5-star property that could easily be given 6 stars, my experience there – from the facilities to the staff – was nothing short of exquisite. And I don’t use such words frivolously. Located on the...
My wife, Roxie, and I were heading for Ballygally, a village in county Antrim on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland. A train from Belfast had taken us to our first stop - the town of Larne, which is a major passenger and freight roll-on/roll-off ferry port....
Sicily is producing some very interesting white wines. The largest island in the Mediterranean is now one of Italy’s most exciting wine producers. The wines, especially the whites, range from sweet or savory and crisp to complex and startlingly age-worthy. The unique...
The Grand Hotel Amsterdam states a truism in its name, for this hotel is truly grand. The oldest part of the building dates to 1411, and its history includes housing a convent, a Royal lodging, the Dutch Admiralty, the City Hall of Amsterdam, and now a five-star...
Ulysses - archetypal hero of The Odyssey, Homer’s epic morality tale of folly and adventure, wisdom and foolishness, loyalty and betrayal – purportedly journeyed along the Tyrrhenian Sea off the coast of Lazio, southeast of Rome. In Homer’s day, the waters between...
The Greeks or Hellenes were never really a totally homogeneous group. Their language is considered an independent branch of the Indo-European group of languages, and the people came down in successive waves of migrating tribes from North of the Balkan Peninsula,...
North of Sicily in the Tyrrhenian Sea, a group of seven volcanic islands rise from the cobalt-blue waters. They are called Salina, Lipari, Vulcano, Alicudi, Filicudi, Panarea, Basiluzzo, and Stromboli. The group was named after Aeolus, god of the winds, by Greek...
Recipe translation by Gabriella Venezia, trevisoguide@hotmail.com On a trip to Treviso, Italy, I was introduced to the city’s proud claim to fame as the place where tiramisù was first created. In the late 1800s, the owner and head cook at a small restaurant and sweet...
Recently, I decided to visit Crete to see the ancient cities that became the cornerstone of our modern culture. They were the precursors of 21st century Western civilization. We flew from Athens to Heraklion and stayed in a lovely small hotel overlooking the harbor...
Nowadays, we hear a lot about symposia. In current usage, it has come to mean an academic or scientific gathering where distinguished speakers present their insights or findings on cultural, archaeological, economic, or scientific questions. The word’s usage in...
Naples wasn't high on my bucket list, but after my recent visit, I'm happy to report that I was captivated by her scintillating charms. I visited one enchanting sight after another and still only managed to cover a fraction of the rich history waiting to be explored...
In Greece, the land beneath your feet is steeped in very ancient history and lore. Many of our current civic, as well as theatrical traditions, come to us from the city-state of Athena, in Attica. So when you visit Greece, keep all of what you'll learn in this article...
With indelible memories of a visit several decades ago, I planned a return to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, where Irish lore and history is preserved in a lovely landscape setting. Rescued and restored by Lord and Lady Gort in the 1950s, medieval Bunratty Castle -...
There is a lot to love about Monastero Santa Rosa, the luxury hotel on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. It’s the gardens that are my favorite part of this property, however. They’re spectacular, and I don’t use that word frivolously. The gardens of Monastero Santa Rosa...
Towering jagged peaks rise like formidable granite columns, overlooking a pristine white sandy beach that seems at first to fade into low lying clouds further beyond the shoreline and the incoming receding waves. The Lofoten Islands of Norway have many transcending...
About 66 years ago, I got my first taste of European travel when my father said, “We should instill culture in the children.” At the time, I was living in Greece with my parents and younger brother, and I was still in high school. So my mother, a couple of her...
Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, is one of the largest and surely one of the most beautiful cities in all of Europe. Whether on your first trip or your fifth, the World Heritage Castle District draws you like a magnet to the Buda side of the Danube from which...
In the very heart of the Mediterranean Sea ̶ south of Sicily, north of Libya, and east of Tunisia ̶ lie the islands of Malta. They make up a small archipelago with a 7,000-year-old history and the stunning physical evidence to prove...
Viking River Cruises have some of the most appealingly seductive television ads. Often, when watching them, I wondered how accurate they were. Well, after having experienced a Viking Cruise, I can honestly attest to the fact that the ads are not...
When Europeans of the 15th century tried to imitate the beautiful Chinese porcelain imported by traders through the Silk Road, they were not very successful. Clay pottery was used in Europe since time immemorial. Therefore, the early attempts combined clay and...
“The best thing about Milan is that it is on the way to Turin,” said one Torino to me. We were driving alongside the magnificent Alps that are a backdrop to Turin. This sophisticated, bustling city lies between better-known Milan and Bologna. I like its scale. It has...
“It’s so close to London. Come visit!” insisted my great-niece. “You can get around on foot or by bike on the cobblestones.” That sounded dandy, so off we went to Cambridge, England, a college town my niece assured us was full of history and charm. She had that right!...
The success of two films - Boy on a Dolphin (1957) with Sophia Loren, Alan Ladd, and Clifton Webb, and Phaedra (1962) with Melina Mercouri and Anthony Perkins - catapulted Hydra from a sleepy, quiet Greek island with a notable 19th century naval history to the...
Lisbon, Portugal has many wonderful museums, but my two personal favorites are the National Coach Museum (Museu National dos Coches) and the Maritime Museum (Museu de Marinha). First, let's talk about the coach museum. It has an extraordinary collection of royal...
“It is a new social and cultural reality in Spain” according to the Spanish Culture Ministry. This Friday, Spain scrapped their “Annual Bullfighting Award,” prompting a backlash from national conservatives against the abolition of the centuries-old tradition that is...
One of the best known Istanbul restaurants is located in the space above the main entrance of the Egyptian (Misir) Çarşisi (Bazaar), one of Istanbul’s highly respected retail venues that specializes in spices from around the world, Black Sea caviar, and local sweets...
My friend and I were wandering around Lisbon one day and stumbled upon a beautiful Italian restaurant called La Mafia se Sienta a la Mesa. We couldn't have made a better choice for lunch. The interior of La Mafia in Lisbon. Photo by Melanie Votaw. The decor was...
At a recent major wine event in New York City promoting Barolo and Barbaresco wines and general tourism to Piedmont, Italy, I heard a rumor that one of the best and most influential Italian chefs, Davide Scabin, will be opening a new venue. His last renowned...
Sherry is one of the two spectacular fortified wines produced in the Iberian Peninsula, in the wine-growing maritime region of Jerez, mostly from white grapes. The other is Port, produced in Portugal at the country’s northwestern Atlantic seaboard, mostly from...
The town of Voss is within striking distance of Norway's most prominent fjords, the Hardangerfjord and the Sognefjord. Traveling from Bergen by train to Voss takes about an hour and takes in some distinct local scenery. I chose wintertime with fewer crowds and...
As far as this travel, food, and wine writer is concerned, Spain has surpassed most traditional European countries lauded by gastronomes for food and wine excellence. Whether your food preferences go toward classic dishes or innovative modern cuisine, Spain has many...
One of the most elegant hotels in London’s Mayfair, Claridge’s has been the favorite residence of visiting industrialists, international aristocracy, statesmen, and illustrious celebrities since 1898. Completely restored to its art deco splendor, it now features 269...
North Staffordshire is the heart of the celebrated English pottery industry. The decorative European porcelain industry started in the late 16th century when traders traveling the Silk Road brought back decorated porcelains mostly from Cathay (China) to grace the...
After flying into Manchester and spending a few days in Shrewsbury near the English/Welsh border, my driver collected me to begin my journey to the land of my father’s forebears in North Wales. My driver could speak fluent Welsh and knew the region intimately....
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, this restaurant is the world's oldest continuously operating eating establishment. Tucked into the street of the Cuchilleros, i.e. the Knifemakers, just a stone’s throw off Plaza Mayor, Sobrino de Botín (the name means...
In the heart of Madrid, a few blocks from the Atocha railway station is one of the Madrileño eating and drinking stalwarts, Cervecería Alemana. Established in 1904, it's a bar devoted to drinking beer and munching on tapas, the savory tidbits that always accompany...
There’s no denying that the once-great secret of Southern European travel is now completely out in the open. Croatia, with its tumbling waterfalls in Plitvice National Park and the fairytale islands of Hvar and Mljet, has emerged from obscurity and onto many "must...
In Madrid’s Plaza de Oriente, across the street from the Royal Palace (Palacio Real) and very near to Madrid’s Royal Theater and Opera House, is a restaurant called Café de Oriente with a long history of excellent food that respects Spain’s culinary tradition,...
On our fourth Viking Cruise - this time on the Rhône River in southern France - we encountered a meteorological phenomenon… rising water! One would have thought lots of water in a river would be a good thing - better than the lack of water that grounded river cruises...
If you are a lover of art or history, then Arles in South France is definitely a place that should be visited. We recently did, as part of our latest Viking River cruise aboard the Heimdal River Cruise, and Arles was one of the significant Southern French cities we...
To a Brit, the only thing better than fish ‘n chips is fish ‘n chips with a pint. That’s why Grosvenor F'sh Bar in Norwich, England partnered with The Birdcage across its cobblestone street in the picturesque medieval city in Norfolk. Both businesses are housed in...
To River Longship or Ocean Cruise Ship? Ah, that is the question… well it’s not a matter of life or death, but there are differences. We have recently experienced both with Viking so I have a perfect platform from which to compare. Our latest was the “Iconic...
Some hotels deserve superlatives, and Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Dresden is one of them. The original building was built by Saxon king August the Strong in the 18th century to pledge his love to his favorite mistress, so it’s quite literally an opportunity...
The Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau in the Camargue region of southern France is a bird paradise in the spring. I had always wanted to visit it, and I finally got my chance. It did not disappoint. The main draw are flocks of flamingos, but there are other large...
It’s called The Dolder Grand, and it’s an incomparable example of what made the Swiss “Grand Dame” hotels coveted by royalty and celebrities alike in the 19th and 20th centuries. Now upgraded for the 21st century, with the addition of two modern...
One of the main advantages of visiting cold Oslo, Norway, in winter (on the way to the even colder Tromso in the arctic circle) is that you get to visit the Christmas markets and see all the festive decorations. When I arrived at the Grand Hotel in Oslo, I was greeted...
Berlin is a city with a rich history, some of it truly horrific, of course, but it’s also a city of modernity, culture, and energy. It has more than 175 museums, seven symphony orchestras, and three opera houses, besides a vibrant nightlife. My personal favorite...
What if you could take a walk down Diagon Alley? Well, you can! I did, and it was a thrill. Warner Brothers Studios Studios just outside of central London opened its doors on March 31, 2012 so that fans can experience the world of Harry Potter up close and personal....
The One Aldwych Hotel in London has a unique restaurant called “Indigo.” It’s the only restaurant I’ve ever heard of, in fact, that serves an entirely gluten-free and dairy-free menu. No, it isn’t vegan. There is meat on the menu, but no gluten and no dairy...
From Glasgow we headed west, first by train to Gourock, then by ferry to Dunoon the main town on the Cowal peninsula in the Argyll region. Walking along the shore in search of the Selborne Hotel, where we would stay for the night, we sighted the Victorian pier, a...
We’re on the road again. This time I’m in Athens, our Managing Editor’s city of origin, and my Greek is limited to “kalimera” (Good Morning) which for the first few days I mistakenly pronounce “kalamari” (Squid) – hence the hotel receptionist’s confusion at calling...
Geneva is a major European cosmopolitan city and is the second largest city in Switzerland located on the shores of the eponymous lake. It is the base for some of the world's largest international organizations, such as the World Health Organization, the World Trade...
While staying at the Corinthia Hotel in London, I had a meal at The Northall Restaurant, which is helmed by Executive Chef Garry Hollihead, who has won Michelin stars at three different establishments including L’Escargot. The restaurant has...
Spain’s Catalonia has a very high concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants. However, even small, local restaurants, tascas and rural retreats create delicious food that do not need Michelin stars to be mouth-watering. Tiny, isolated on top of Triassic...
In the heart of Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district is the MGallery Galata Istanbul Hotel, a Sofitel property that can be a base for starting a special vacation in Turkey’s largest and most intriguing city. Istanbul, straddles Europe and Asia and has been home to different...
From Hindu Temple to Kosher Kitchen Twenty-first century Switzerland is an open inclusive country, welcoming to all regardless of religion, ethnicity or race. So when Sasikumar Tharmalingam, a dark skinned 14 year old young man fleeing the ravages of civil war in his...
During a recent press trip to Switzerland, we were lucky enough to spend a few days at the landmark Hôtel Bristol in Geneva, near the Mont Blanc Bridge and Rue du Rhône. A hotel location is paramount, and Hotel Bristol is perfectly positioned between the main railway...
Whether you call it Lucerne in French or Luzerne in German, it is a very old Swiss city with many of the buildings still in use dating back to the 14th or 15th century. These buildings and the iconic Kapellbrucke (Chapel Bridge), which was built in 1333 and links the...
Sangiovese wines are some of the most important and most beloved wines of Italy. Tuscany, Umbria and Campania and their many DOCs and DOCGs produce more Sangiovese wines than any other viticultural area of the world. In Tuscany, the Sangiovese grape is more ubiquitous...
The multinational Ottoman Empire that once spread from the borders of Persia to just outside Vienna and as far south as North Africa, greatly affected the Turkish cuisine culture. Turkish cuisine now offers a wide variety of choices from meze, soups, meat and...
Why is a Michelin plate hanging in Treviso’s Le Beccherie? L’Assiette Michelin, or Michelin Plate shows that the Michelin inspectors enjoyed food that was not only of good quality, it was also notable. This restaurant might have a Michelin Star on the horizon....
Our 13-day Legendary Rhine & Moselle* River Cruise with the top ranked UNIWORLD Boutique River Cruise Collection began in Amsterdam, the capital of The Netherlands, with a canal sightseeing cruise. Amsterdam is surely one of the most under-rated capitals of...
Switzerland is a small county tucked in between France to the West, Germany to the North, Italy in the South, and Austria to the East. Based on its geographical position adjacent to these other countries there are three official languages - plus English, that is...
Ouzeri is the Greek equivalent to a Spanish tapas bar that serves ouzo – a potent distillate from grape or grain-based alcohol, which is distilled with anise, fennel, and other herbs and is similar to the French Pastis, only drier – to accompany a multitude of small...