Italia Nord, Italia Sud, and the Trains that Unite Them

Italy is a strange and wonderful country. It is at once hopelessly inefficient, exasperating, and unfathomable. Its regions are fiercely independent and culturally alien to...

3 Delicacies to Try at La Boqueria Food Market in Barcelona

I love visiting food markets and spice markets. I have done my fair share of travelling, have wandered through the souks in Morocco, and am...

In Brazil, Don’t Always Trust Your Guidebook

weather is hot in Rio de Janeiro and you have already been to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain to see the the Christ statue, the...

Natal, Brazil: A Little Beach With A Lot of Heart

II have been to Brazil three times. The first time we went to Salvador, the old capital, 32 years ago. The second time we went...

What It’s Like to Spend New Year’s in Rio de Janeiro

There is something pretty amazing about being somewhere else on New Year’s Eve. Last year, it was Bangkok. On a balmy evening, I was on...

The Challenge in Navigating Museums Like The Louvre

We struggle to come up with smart ways to navigate museums, especially if we are without a guide. The Louvre Museum, one of the largest...

Le Havre: A City Centre Unlike Any Other Town in France

Last month I spent a couple of weeks touring Normandy, a region in northwest France synonymous with the D-Day landings and the liberation of Europe...

Amsterdam’s Top Museum Reopens After 10 Years

The good news is that it’s finally open. The Rijksmuseum had been closed for 10 years and just recently opened in April. What a job...

The #1 Way to Get Around Amsterdam

Train travel is so good in Europe. I needed to be in Amsterdam around 1 o’clock from Paris. The Thalys train leaves from the Gare...

Poppies & Planes: Remembrance Day in London

Just recently back from London to witness the marvel of a city under poppies! The city was a great swath of red poppies. There were...