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Paris where the summer solstice is a night of music
I went to Paris, thinking I’d visit museums and historic sites. Jazz in St. German des Pres. Instead I happened upon the summer solstice on June 21st, the “Fete de la Musique” – one of the best free, street-music festivals in Europe. The mood was electric and I got a taste of authentic Paris culture…
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Trendy, chic and cheap in Paris
Don’t be put off by the name or the location, Mama Shelter, nestled into the 20th arrondissement, is one of the trendiest hotels I’ve discovered in terms of quality and price (89 Euro). The lobby, rooms, lively bar and bistro are tres chic with a guests to match. On my last trip to Paris I…
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Trendy, chic and cheap in Paris
Don’t be put off by the name or the location, Mama Shelter, nestled into the 20th arrondissement, is one of the trendiest hotels I’ve discovered in terms of quality and price (89 Euro). The lobby, rooms, lively bar and bistro are tres chic with a guests to match. On my last trip to Paris I…
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Cliff jumping in a blizzard in interlaken, Switzerland
My first impression of Switzerland was the clean, invigorating Alpine air and incredible mountain scenery. But I was looking for high-adrenoline adventure. After our 8-hour bus ride from Florence with lots of other students, we checked into a spotless student hostel and bundled up for snow fun. The modern network of cog railways and cable…
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Rome. where the pope has achieved both celestial and celebrity status
Rome and the Vatican I have to say that religious traditions in any country are a fascinating portrait of the local culture and a jumble of natives and tourists all scrambling towards the same goal. Italy, of course, is no different. After we visited the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel last Sunday, we joined…
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Rome. where the pope has achieved both celestial and celebrity status
Rome and the Vatican I have to say that religious traditions in any country are a fascinating portrait of the local culture and a jumble of natives and tourists all scrambling towards the same goal. Italy, of course, is no different. After we visited the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel last Sunday, we joined…
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Florence’s sweet spots and italian men
The hardest part about your first few days in a foreign country is trying to balance your need for rest after a long week with your need to absorb anything and everything all at once. It’s kind of like trying to soak up the culture through osmosis while running erratically from one spot to the…
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Machu picchu’s siren call- to stand at the top of the world
It was a feeling that I yearned for. To stand on top of a mountain in the cool silence of dawn. Cliché? Perhaps. But nevertheless, I was certain that there were few moments in life more satisfying than that stillness. And at last, after years of fantasizing, there I sat in an unassuming patch of…
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Lessons learned from the costa concordia and titanic tragedy?
Public’s memory is short and enthusiasm for cruising is high but there are some cruise survival tactics we can take away from this tragedy. See insurance Q&A below. Don’t panic. Have a plan. Make your own decisions. In an emergency pack your passport, and other IDs, credit cards, all your cash and warm clothes. Listen…
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First hour, first day in europe at the frankfurt airport
The two weeks before my departure were a whirlwind of activity and emotions: stress, excitement, anxiety, parties, sad goodbyes, painful packing and uncomfortable unpacking. Great. I can order a beer at age 20 here. My jet lag remedy. I’ve heard some people drink a cold beer in a hot shower to minimize the agonizing…
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First hour, first day in europe at the frankfurt airport
The two weeks before my departure were a whirlwind of activity and emotions: stress, excitement, anxiety, parties, sad goodbyes, painful packing and uncomfortable unpacking. Great. I can order a beer at age 20 here. My jet lag remedy. I’ve heard some people drink a cold beer in a hot shower to minimize the agonizing…
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Ten ways to protect your eyes when traveling
Some of us have to learn the hard way. After my two-year-around the world trip I discovered I had damaged my eyes by not wearing proper eye protection. My perfect 20/20 eyesight was compromised due to over- exposure to harmful UV rays. How do you protect your eyes from dry airports, hotels, and the elements?…