The history of Champagne, or the sparkling wine, that can only come from the Champagne region of France, is vast. Legends and facts filled with intrigue, invention by mistake, kings and queens, and regional and national rivalries, dazzle and tantalize, much like a crystal flute of the end result itself.
I could say that I came to Cologne to see the Cathedral, the most popular sight in the city. I could say I came to see the Medieval Old Town or the remains from the city’s Roman Empire era. I’d be lying. No, I came for chocolate, the chocolate museum.…
When visiting the Carmel/Big Sur area on California's northern coast, the Hyatt Carmel Highlands, the historic 1917 Craftsman style inn, is a picture perfect place to add to anyone's list of romantic destinations.
Vienna, Austria, has always been amongst my favorite capitals especially because it is very close to Hungary, and easy for me to get there. But I had never visited this wonderful city during Advent. Finally last Saturday I did. The weather was cold and snowy, but this did not dissuade…
I was glued to the passenger window as we drove along the rugged coastline, past villages of white-washed buildings and red-tiled roofs, close to towering hills dotted with scrub brush and stately cypress. We took a cheery red and white ferry across the bay, admiring the vacation homes tucked along…
Remember when you were little, and that Christmas catalog or the toy store’s Christmas ad came out (you know the one, with more than 20 pages of TOYS)? Did you circle everything you wanted and dog-eared your favorite pages for Santa, like I did? Imagine doing that now, in person.…
Last week you were introduced to a few of Europe's most shady Christmas characters. This week to prove that societal inflicted anxiety that accompanies many Christmas traditions does not stop with the efforts of a few ugly paternal types whose existence plays bad cop to Santa Claus's good, we bring…
The capital city Ljubljana sits centrally in the former Yugoslav republic of Slovenia. Bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north and Hungary to the east, this stunning country is often bypassed by travelers heading south to the largest country on its border, Croatia, on the way to…
We found a portly elderly couple, the man strong and silent, his wild-haired wife bossing him around and ordering him to take us to the island. We probably paid too much – about $25 for a one hour ride – but they were so cute and hilarious we couldn't say…