Fatima & Batalha

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Fátima is a central Portuguese town that’s home to the Sanctuary of Fátima, a Catholic pilgrimage site. The Capelinha das Aparições marks the spot where the Virgin Mary appeared in 1917. Other sacred sites include the Basílica de Nossa Senhora do Rosário, with its golden angels, and the modern church of Igreja da Santíssima Trindade.  The Monastery of Batalha is a Dominican convent erected in commemoration of the 1385 Battle of Aljubarrota and would serve as the burial church of the 15th-century Aviz dynasty of Portuguese royalty. It is one of the best and original examples of Late Gothic architecture in Portugal, intermingled…

Food & Stays

Categories: Accommodations · Basel · Food · France · Paris · Switzerland · ZurichTags: · ·

As I say Danke and Merci to Zurich and Paris, here are the food and stays during this trip: La Bottega Di Mario is a wonderful ristorante and salumeria in Zürich, earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction. Catching up with Swiss friends, I was taken to Zeughauskeller, for traditional Swiss fare (warning servings are huge!) Another Bib Gourmand brasserie that is good is AuGust. A gem of a restaurant is Bauernschanke, tucked in an alleyway in the old town. Totally deserving of their Bib Gormand. A modern Japanese izakaya is Gaijin – another casual place with a Bib Gourmand distinction….

City of Lights

Categories: Architecture · Art · Europe · France · ParisTags: ·

Seven years later, I made it back to Paris. First stop is my favourite Jardin du Luxembourg. The second item on my to do list is to visit The Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection. The building, formerly the commodity exchange, has been wonderfully restored and transformed by architect Tadao Ando and opened in 2021 exhibiting modern art.

Basel

Categories: Art · Basel · SwitzerlandTags: · ·

Basel is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine and the third most populous city after Zurich and Geneva. Basel is commonly considered to be the cultural capital of Switzerland and the city is famous for its many museums, including the Kunstmuseum, which is the first collection of art accessible to the public in the world (1661) and the largest museum in the country.

Zürich

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Zürich is one of those cities that tourists tend to skip right through. Since it’s a transportation hub, people fly in or change trains here, but don’t give stopping a serious thought. Zürich is rewarding and worth getting to know.  Fraumünster Marc Chagall designed five large stained glass windows

Bedankt

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”Thank you” in Dutch – for another pleasant stay! New restaurants tried, with one a repeat as it was an old favourite – Buffet van Odette. Jansz, located at the Pulitzer Amsterdam, serves well crafted dishes inspired by modern-Dutch cuisine. The best meal I had during this visit was at Rijks, a culinary adventure of Dutch cuisine – worthy of its Michelin Star. No visit to Amsterdam is complete without Indonesian Rijsttafel. Max Restaurant delivered well for me. Final dinner was at Gitane, a Michelin Bib Gourmand casual neighbourhood restaurant, serving Mediterranean dishes. A real lovely stay at the Pulitzer…

Utrecht

Categories: Art · Netherlands · UtrechtTags: · · ·

Netherlands’ under-the-radar fourth city has quietly built a reputation as the relaxed alternative to Amsterdam. The medieval centre is the heart of this compact city renowned for modern architecture, abstract art and furniture design – thanks to its close association with the “De Stijl” art movement. Centraal Museum, the oldest in the country, is eclectic- mixing golden age paintings with contemporary art.