24 Hours in Vienna

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I am back in Vienna for 24 hours before I catch my flight back home. I had nothing specific planned for this stop over and decided to just play it by ear. I came upon the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek or the Austrian National Library. It’s State Hall is one of the most beautiful library halls in the world and is the biggest Baroque library in Europe.  There were a couple more of restaurants that I was not able to visit when I was in Vienna a couple of months ago that I wanted to try. First stop for a late breakfast…

Doviđenja, Montenegro

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“Thank you, Montenegro“ Montenegro did not disappoint. It had a very scenic coastline studded with charming villages. More importantly, I was able to get my much needed R&R. The food on the coast of Montenegro is similar to Dalmatian cuisine – lots of grilled seafood, garlic, olive oil and Italian-style dishes. The restaurants below are notable not only for their food – but most also provided great scenery to go with your meals. My first hotel stay was in the town of Perast at the Iberostar Heritage Grand Perast. Originally built in the 18th century as the largest palace in…

Perast

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The peaceful village of Perast is located in one of the most beautiful bays in the Adriatic that dates back from the Venetian period (1420 – 1797). Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979, Perast looks like a chunk of Venice — with its outstanding Venetian architecture — that floated down the Adriatic and anchored itself onto the Bay of Kotor. Opposite Perast, across the water, rise the much-photographed twin islets of Our Lady of the Rocks and St. George, each capped by a church. It is said that the island of Our Lady of the Rocks is…

Montenegro

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Since I had such an impressionable experience on my trip to Dubrovnik in the spring, it was an easy decision to head back to the Adriatic. Montenegro, or the “Black Mountain” is part of the Balkans and adjacent to Croatia. I keep hearing about this tiny and young (having declared its independence in 2006) country as having its moment — although I did not feel that the place had been as spoilt (as yet). Montenegro‘s coastline crams in some of Europe’s most spectacular seaside scenery. With just a population of 600,000 people, Montenegro has a meandering coastline that leads to…

Vielen Dank, Wien

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“Thank you very much, Vienna“ It was a short visit, but sweet, as they say, to what many refer to as “The City of Dreams” (because it was home to the world’s first psycho-analyst Sigmund Freud). There is no shortage of excellent eateries and coffee houses in Vienna. Cafe Museum is a traditional Viennese cafe that opened in 1899 and designed by the famous Adolf Loos. It is also here that the famous Thonet chairs can be found. Erich was named the best restaurant in Vienna by Time Out Magazine. Located in a subterranean bar-restaurant, they serve breakfast, lunch and…

The Belvedere

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The Belvedere was built by Prince Eugene of Savoy upon his arrival at the Habsburg court from Paris at the age of nineteen as a summer home. It consists of two palatial buildings, the Unteres Belvedere (Lower Belvedere) built in 1714 to 1716 and Oberes Belvedere (Upper Belvedere) built between 1721 and 1723. During the reign of Maria Theresa, the Upper Belvedere was used for the first time as a picture gallery to feature works from the imperial collection. Masterpieces by Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele can be found in the Gallery.

Vienna

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Fifteen years have past since I last visited the majestic city of Vienna. There are plenty of reasons to fall for this Imperial city – as it charms from the first time and simply intensifies each time I come back. Consistently ranked as offering one of the highest quality of life in the world, Vienna entices with magnificent architecture, museums, fabulous eateries — all in a very walkable environment. Museums Quartier is Vienna’s art complex that is home to several renowned museums, including Leopold Museum (with its numerous works by Schiele and Klimt, momok, Az W Architekturzentrum Wien (Architecture museum),…

Cheerio

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Or goodbye, as they say. Another whirlwind of a break, in London this time, for a long weekend. Back to the trusty Michelin Guide for restaurants to try out. A Michelin Bib Gourmand rated casual spot is Polpetto, serving Italian fare. A neighbourhood restaurant serving British dishes is Hereford Road. Located in a converted butcher’s shop, this restaurant serves first rate tasty dishes. I would have not gone for Taiwanese food while in London, but obtaining a Bib Gourmand rating made me want to try out Bao. And I am glad I did! A friend who lives in London recommended…

Hvala Vam

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“Thank you” in Croatian. Goodbye to the magnificent city of Dubrovnik, proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage site. Lunch at LAJK Restaurant was very pleasant serving good family style local food. Not to mention the nice view of a church down the street. Located right at the foot of the Jesuit stairs is Konoba Kolosseum, serving both local and international food. The first Michelin Plate restaurant I tried was Restoran Dubrovnik. Located on a rooftop with a very polished service, the dishes were delightful. They serve both tasting and ala carte menus. The best meal I had was at another Michelin…