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…
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…
Plenty of good food options in Portugal, particularly for fish and shellfish. Menus in top restaurants are on par with other major European cities, where one will encounter Portuguese cooking mixed with continental classics. Moreover, prices are quite reasonable compared to other major cities. In Porto, the first restaurant I tried, which was simply delicious, was Terreiro. Excellent seafood and friendly service. Also in Porto, the charming Belle Epoque Majestic Cafe is considered the oldest cafe in the city (circa 1921). Lots of tourists come to take photos of the place. I would not recommend dining here though, as…
Manueline architectural style combines Moorish, Renaissance and Gothic elements. The style developed during the reign of Manuel I of Portugal. This coincided with the Age of Discovery and the peak of Portuguese maritime power. The Moisteiro dos Jerónimos and the Torre de Belém in Lisbon, and the Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra are three exceptional examples of this style. The Manueline style was considered the most authentic Portuguese architectural style.
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.
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.
Danish for “Eat and Sleep“. Copenhagen has a food scene that is among the world’s most distinct and innovative. And true to its reputation – the city has several Michelin-starred restaurants and be forewarned, even those that are considered “good value” gets a little expensive. Many of Copenhagen’s restaurants go for an organic menu. One that I tried out is BOB – Biomio Organic Bistro. Situated in Vesterbro (Meatpacking District), the food is delicious. For dinner, I tried out one of the 10 restaurants in the city that were awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand for 2017. Marv &…
“Bye Bye” to good looking Copenhagen – linked to the famed Danish design, the cobbled bicycle-friendly streets, the sherbet-hued town houses, cappuccino and organic juice stands, baby carriages, and where pedestrians set the pace, and not vehicular traffic. It was a brief stay – both relaxing and satisfying.
It was March 2008 when I last visited Copenhagen. It was a city I felt very comfortable and relaxed in. Now that I am in much need of a brief escape to “chill” (it is considered the coolest kid in the Nordic block after all!) and at the same time, where the heat is not as oppressive this time of the year — I find myself back in this Danish capital. Consistently rated as one of the happiest countries in the world, it also comes with a price — Copenhagen is ranked as one of the most expensive cities in Europe….
Let’s eat! Here are some food places I tried (and the hotels I stayed at) that were good and worth a visit (except maybe for one)! Arriving in Granada after a trans-Atlantic and a connecting flight, I was famished. Queried the hotel concierge for a restaurant and I was directed towards Pinot Noir. With the name alone, I should have known that this will not be a traditional Spanish restaurant that I would have preferred. Serving pastas and pseudo Japanese fusion food. After being dropped off from touring the Alhambra, I came across Casa Colon, which served really wonderful tapas….
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