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...
Off the beaten track in the Veneto Region of Italy is the "something for everyone" picturesque medieval town of Treviso. This ancient walled city is replete with meandering canals, waterwheels, bridges and winding streets filled with picturesque photo ops at...
Located in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula, with coasts fronting both the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, lies the second largest autonomous region in Spain: Andalucía. It is best known for gifting to the world Flamenco, Bullfighting, and its own...
After an absence of a few years because of COVID, the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux had its yearly tasting at the converted bank hall that is now New York’s Cipriani restaurant on 42nd Street, across from the Grand Central Station. The tasting was organized by...
The term “champor-champor” is a Malay expression which loosely translates to “a bit of this and a bit of that.” The restaurant is located in South East London and I find it irresistible as it makes me feel transported to exotic locations through a cuisine that I like....
At a recent tasting that took place in Manhattan, at Il Gattopardo restaurant on 54 Street, we had a chance to taste some white and red libations from Irpinia, an Italian region near Naples that produces exceptional wines. The Irpinia name, from the language of a...
A new generation of winemakers have taken over Greek winemaking, and a good percentage of them is women. According to my thinking, women make better wines, especially when dealing with indigenous grapes, because I believe they have a more sensitive palate than men. So...
Athens, Greece, is a very desirable tourist destination with millions of travelers arriving each year, especially in the summer months. Nowadays, there are numerous luxury hotels with some old-line, iconic 5-star properties dotting the center around Syntagma Square,...
The Corinthia Hotel is a stunning 5-star property right across the street from the River Thames, Whitehall Gardens, and the West End’s Playhouse Theatre. The Victorian building, which was modeled after Parisian architecture, dates back to 1885 and began as the Hotel...