My best friend and I were in Languedoc-Roussillon, a region of southern France that is often overlooked in favor of the far more popular Riviera. For the discerning travel belle, however, Languedoc-Roussillon is the place to be. It’s got all the sand, sea and sun of the Riviera, but with…
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3 Glamorous Places to Visit in Istanbul
On the occasion of my last visit, I concentrated on finding the most glamorous places which for once are not connected to ancient history. But history influenced they are nonetheless.
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Chocolate Shops In London & Paris
On the flight over I thought about my long and disjointed itinerary for the trip - restaurants, cafes, Stonehenge, palaces, cathedrals, shopping, museums, and (of course) chocolate shops. I decided my chocolate-related shopping goal on this trip was to find the most delicious truffles in the two European capitals we…
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Question of the Month: What Makes You a Travel Belle?
This month we asked a few of our regular writers:What Makes You a Travel Belle?
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The Street Food of Athens, Greece
... under the looming gaze of the Parthenon, lies the Monastiraki section of the city. Take a stroll through this bustling neighborhood where vendors sell fish, meat and vegetables alongside more touristy fare of T-shirts, worry beads and replicas of ancient vases, and you'll come across one of my all-time…
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Off-Season Magic in Lago di Garda, Italy
In mid-March, warming weather rouses the tiny castle town of Sirmione like a drowsy debutante. I’ve chosen to visit Sirmione of all the towns around Lago di Garda because I have, admittedly, a girlish fondness for castles. And all too fitting, my mom is with me on this trip to…
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Fried Bananas and Rickshaws: Traveling Solo to Melaka, Malaysia
Later that day, I finally decided to indulge in the quintessential Melaka experience and took my own trishaw ride. Choosing the most garish vehicle I could find, I set off on an hour’s tour of the town with a friendly guide. Stereo booming with Shaggy’s Greatest Hits, I swallowed my…
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How to Make Tamales
In California we are fortunate to have an abundance of ethnic restaurants, especially Mexican ones. When you have friends from Mexico who cook, or when their moms cook for you, it’s even better. Around Christmas, I’ve been known to hang around these friends’ houses just a bit more because I…
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Piedmont, Italy: Food Lover’s Tour of the Region
Take two ex-Italy dwellers who have a healthy curiosity about regional cuisine, who happen - no surprise - to be major Italian food lovers. Toss in a great itinerary in Italy's Piedmont region, add a very compact European car, and you have the makings for a pretty decent road trip.