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...
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Vichyssoise Recipe
One of the tastier traditional French soups is the Vichyssoise. It is a thick and creamy puréed potato and leek soup in chicken stock, mixed with heavy cream or other thick dairy product (sour cream or even drained yogurt). It can be delicious either cold – the...
National Building Museum Opens Building Stories Exhibition
On Sunday, January 21, 2024, the National Building Museum in Washington, DC opened its new exhibition called Building Stories. It will be on display for ten years and is an immersive exploration of the world of architecture, engineering, construction, and design found...
Travel News – January 20, 2024
Romania and Bulgaria are joining the Schengen Area at the end of March 2024. This means we can travel between these and other Schengen countries without passport checks. The Maldives are experiencing an increase in tourism, so if you’re looking for a...
Eating in Madrid like Hemingway: Cervecería Alemana
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...
Anto Korean Steakhouse, New York City
On a cold Sunday evening, we drove into Manhattan to try Anto, a new upscale Korean steakhouse that has opened on East 58th street in the space where “Felidia,” Lydia Bastianich’s temple of Northern Italian gastronomy, used to be. Anto is the U.S. venture of Korean...
Croatia Too Crowded? Try the Stunning Bay of Kotor, Montenegro
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...
Travel News – January 11, 2024
Is it too much to ask for our airplane doors to stay ON while in flight? I assume you heard about the Alaska Airlines accident in which a Boeing Model 737-9 MAX aircraft lost a passenger door. The Federal Aviation Administration in the U.S. is now investigating, and...
Madrid’s Café de Oriente – Sumptuous Eating in a Belle Époque Environment
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,...
A Viking Rhône River Cruise
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...
Travel News – January 4, 2024
Check out the latest travel news from around the world: Venice, Italy is set to limit tour groups to 25 people as of June 1st. That's about half the number of passengers on an average tour bus. The city will also ban loudspeakers. China Tourism - According to the...
Indulging in the Culinary Delight of Caviar
There’s a unique joy in sharing culinary delights, especially when it involves baguette slices adorned with authentic caviar, complemented by a glass of effervescent wine — be it Champagne, Prosecco, or Cava — while surrounded by friends and loved ones. This holiday...
A Paradise Beyond Imagination: Exploring the Galapagos Islands on a Luxury Motorized Yacht
Ever since my early school days and fascination with the groundbreaking scientific discoveries of Charles Darwin, I've always harbored a strong desire to embark upon travel to the Galapagos Islands, located six hundred miles off the coast of Ecuador. These remote...
Sugar Factory Restaurant: Times Square, New York City
The popular Las Vegas eatery, the Sugar Factory, opened on Manhattan’s corner of 8th Ave. and 44th Street. It is considered an American brasserie with a large confectionary component. It’s a large, 2-floor restaurant with a bar and tables on the ground floor and the...
The Luminous Light of Arles, France
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...
Illa Experience Hotel in Quito Named Best Luxury Hotel in South America
I was excited to learn that the Illa Experience Hotel in Quito, Ecuador won a 2023 Gold Travvy Award for Best Luxury Hotel in South America. In December 2017, I was the very first guest at this wonderful 5-star hotel opened by Latin Trails in the historic part of...
Rubin Museum of Art
The Rubin Museum of Art has a new exhibition entitled “Death Is Not the End.” This exhibition, assembled from the Rubin’s own collection, along with contributions from individual collectors and private institutions, is an examination of humanity’s burning...
The Wine and Chocolate of… Indiana? You Bet!
Indiana might not cross your mind first when you think of wine or fine chocolate, but the state is making a mark in both arenas. Country Heritage Winery & Vineyard in LaOtto, Indiana has developed a partnership with DeBrand Fine Chocolates based in Fort Wayne, and...
2 CDC Apps Help You Stay Healthy While Traveling Internationally
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have mobile apps that can help you stay safe when traveling, especially when in developing countries. TravWell is a fully customizable to do and packing list, along with emergency service phone...