Valetta

Europe’s first planned city built in the 17th century, Valetta is UNESCO World Heritage listed because of it high concentration of historic monuments. Valetta is Malta‘s capital built by the Knights of St. John on a peninsula that stretches only 1 km by 600 m. Decreed by its founder that it should be “a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen”, Valetta retains its 16th century elegance and is designated as European Capital of Culture for 2018 (and that is one of the reasons I am here). St. John’s Co-Cathedral is one of the most magnificent baroque and ornate churches in the…

Blue Grotto

July 1, 2018May 13, 2023 Categories: Europe · Malta · TravelTags: Blue Grotto · Malta1 Comment

Malta gets more than 300 sunny days a year and is surrounded by clear blue waters. So a day trip to the Blue Grotto is warranted. Located on the southern coast, the bright cobalt colour of the water is a wonder to see.

Malta

June 30, 2018May 13, 2023 Categories: Architecture · Europe · Malta · TravelTags: Malta · Mdina · Travel1 Comment

Malta is an archipelago in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and North Africa. With its 7,000 year history, Malta has a greater density of historic sights than any other country. It boasts of unique prehistoric temples, Roman catacombs, medieval towns and extraordinary architectural legacy of the Knights of St. John (the Knights of Malta). Mdina is a fortified city that used to be the capital of Malta throughout the Middle Ages, until the arrival of the Order of St. John in 1530. (And for GoT fans, the city was the location shoot for King’s Landing).

Dormir et Manger

March 4, 2018March 4, 2018 Categories: Accommodations · Architecture · Europe · Food · France · Loire Valley · ParisTags: Food · Hotel · Paris · Pastry · Travel

I saw Fontevraud L’Hotel featured in an architectural design magazine a couple of years ago and I placed a sticky note on it as a reminder that I should visit it one day. Fast forward and here I am at Fontevraud L’Hotel which forms part of the Fontevraud Abbaye Royale – and it definitely did not disappoint. The setting is idyllic and in a sense, spiritual. Service was warm, the rooms were simple and modern, and it is the common areas and the grounds that make it extra special. I usually stay in the 6th…

Paris en Hiver

March 2, 2018March 2, 2018 Categories: Art · Europe · France · Paris · TravelTags: France · Paris

Third year in a row I have been coming to Paris in the winter, and it was a cold one this year – with some snow. Musée Jacquemart-André is set in a 19th century mansion – relatively reasonable in size but offers a lot with its magnificent art and decorative objects. The impressive collection include pieces from Tiepolo, Bellini, Botticelli, David, to Rembrandt and Frans Hals. Musée Rodin is one of my favourites in Paris – I call it my “happy place”! I would be well content to be…

Loire Valley

February 28, 2018June 1, 2019 Categories: Europe · France · Loire Valley · TravelTags: Candes-Saint-Martin · D'Usse · Featured · France · Loire Valley · Travel · Villandry

Studed with fairytale châteaux and storybook villages, Loire Valley is known as the “Garden of France” and needless to say, its various vineyards. The area has become a showplace of the pleasure castles that take on different architectural styles. The Chateau of Villandry is the last of the great châteaux of the Loire built during the Renaissance of the Loire Valley. The elegance of its architecture combined with its expansive gardens make this one of the jewels of the world heritage. Chateau D’Usse is known as the inspiration for Charles Perrault for his tale of Sleeping Beauty. This…

Fontevraud Royal Abbey

February 28, 2018February 28, 2018 Categories: Europe · France · Loire Valley · TravelTags: Fontevraud · France · Loire Valley · Travel

The main reason for my trip to France this year : to visit the Royal Abbey of Our Lady of Fontevraud in the Loire Valley. Formerly a monastery in the village of Fontevraud-l’Abbaye, near Chinon, it was founded in 1101 and became the center of a monastic Order. It is one of the largest surviving monastic cities from the Middle Ages, until 1792 when the last abbess was evicted following the French Revolution. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the complex of monastic buildings was transformed into a high security prison by order of Napoleon Bonaparte housing up to 2,000 prisioners…

Lisbon

October 5, 2017October 5, 2017 Categories: Europe · Lisbon · Portugal · TravelTags: Lisbon · Portugal · Travel

One of Europe’s most visually striking capitals, Lisbon‘s appeal is more than the friendliness of the locals and her laid back pace. In its golden age, Lisbon was one of the greatest maritime centres in history – with hoards of treasures from around the world. Today, continental Europe’s westernmost capital is a cosmopolitan city that continues to grow and evolve.

Sintra

October 4, 2017June 1, 2019 Categories: Europe · Portugal · Sintra · TravelTags: Featured · Portugal · Sintra · Travel

Sintra was famously referred to as a “glorious Eden” by Lord Byron. One of the oldest hillside town in Portugal, Sintra is a forty-five minute train ride and 29 kilometres northwest from Lisbon. With its mountains, forests, exotic gardens and palaces, Sintra is like a fairy tale land. Sintra-Vila, with its pastel-hued manors in hills that roll to the Atlantic, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Porto

October 2, 2017 Categories: Europe · Porto · Portugal · TravelTags: Porto · Portugal · Travel

My first time to this side of the Iberian Peninsula – and first stop is Portugal’s second city, Porto. Porto is an energetic city that has managed to keep its timeless charm, with its steep hills and cobbled streets. The city has taken off as a centre of the arts, fashion and nightlife — after all, Port wine is named after this city. And the locals are known across the country as “tripeiros”, or “tripe eaters”, a nickname from the city’s signature dish tripas à moda do Porto.

where's gary

Category: Europe