The National Archaeological Museum in Athens is the country’s largest archeological museum with a massive collection of Greek artifacts, ranging from the Prehistoric Neolithic era to the late Roman period. The museum also has an overwhelming collection of more than 2,500 Greek vases.
The cradle of Western civilization, Athens is both ancient and modern. Homeland to gods, goddesses and some of history’s greatest philosophers and athletes, Athens boast glorious ancient temples. It is my first time in Greece and this bustling city is a mix of history and edginess. Even in the face of current financial issues, this city is open-air museum and at the same time, conspicuously cosmopolitan. The magnificent Acropolis rises above the sprawling metropolis – merging past and present.
Needless to say, I always look forward to the good food in New York. I half-jokingly said “How do I gain weight? Let me count the ways.” I went back to a few familiar favourite places and tried out some new ones as well. So let’s start the (calorie) counting… Just opened a few weeks ago is the Nordic-accented Great Northern Food Hall in the majestic Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal. Opened by Claus Meyer, a partner in Noma, the food hall offers pastries, smorrebord open rye sandwiches, salads, smoothies, and more. As I mentioned previously, it seems inevitable…
It’s probably been more than twelve years since I last visited The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Regarded as one of the world’s largest and finest art museums with more than two million works of art, somehow I keep procrastinating a re-visit. I made it back last week and was glad to see again their wonderful collection. On the other hand, my last visit to the Museum of Modern Art was last year. I always enjoy dropping by when I am in town.
“City so nice, they named in twice” goes the saying. I was back in New York for a four day long weekend. There was some trepidation, as I remember during my school days here that the city gets extremely hot and humid this time of the month – worsen by the concrete jungle. Alas, it was bearable this time around.
Eating is an extremely important social activity in Spain. Barcelona is known for both its traditional and inventive cuisine — with lunch “rush hour” at 2:00 pm and a chic dining hour at 10 pm. El Fornet is good spot for desayuno (breakfast) as it serves fresh baked goods and bocadillos. There are a number of El Fornet‘s in the city. Known for its traditional Catalan cuisine is Freixa Tradicio located in the Gracia district. Awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand, this restaurant has established itself as one of the city’s culinary institutions. When I lived in Barcelona years ago, my…
Catalan Modernisme was part of the general trend that emerged in Europe at the turn of the 20th century. It is the equivalent of other art movements in Europe in the names of Art Nouveau, Sezession, Arts and Crafts or Gothic Revival. The Modernisme movement was centered in Barcelona and was practiced by Antoni Gaudi and Lluis Domenech i Montaner, among others. The former Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau was built between 1902 and 1930 is a masterpiece in Catalan Modernisme by Domenech i Montaner. It was a fully functioning hospital until 2009 and converted into a cultural site and research centre in 2014 after four…
Founded by the Romans, Girona is an important historical site in Spain. Located 97 kms northeast of Barcelona, it is an easy 35 minute high speed train ride to this city. It became a Moorish stronghold for two centuries and reputedly withstood three invasions by Napoleon’s troops. Today, its historic centre is a packed labyrinth of medieval buildings and monuments on narrow cobblestone streets with connecting stairways. For GoT (Game of Thrones) devotees – this is the location for King’s Landing and Braavos. It is also the locale for one of the most memorable scenes in the series wherein the Faith Militant…
Ten years ago, I lived in Barcelona for a month. It was a most enjoyable experience pretending to be a local, speaking my faulty Spanish where people prefer to converse in Catalan. Fast forward to May 2016 – and I have taken the chance to come back and spend an extended long weekend in this city. Barcelona is unlike any other Spanish city. It is dynamic, cosmopolitan and creative. A gothic and modernist wonder on the Mediterranean sea. Once crowned as the “coolest rendezvous” in this continent – the Catalan capital has some of the most inventive restaurants, bars, shops and hotels – making it one of the most…
British slang for My Goodness! It goes without saying that London is one of the culinary capitals of the world and I enjoyed my meals tremendously (well, most of them). For a wonderful breakfast/brunch, I would highly recommend Paul Rhodes Bakery. With three Michelin stars under his belt, Paul Rhodes founded a bakery in 2003. One of these shops is located in Notting Hill. Serving all day food is Caravan King’s Cross, located by Granary Square in King’s Cross. Set in a historical industrial building, they serve what they call “well traveled food”. Caravan is a busy…
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