Italy, like the rest of Europe, is a patchwork of languages, and Sardinia is a good example. Sardinians grow up speaking Italian just like their countrymen on the mainland. But before Mediterranean’s second largest island became part of Italy in 1861
by Travelling Erik There really is something special about Denmark, the Danes, and their capital city, notable for its mix of traditional and modern architecture, cutting-edge design, fashion and a special joy of life, (sometimes channeled through c
You haven’t truly eaten cake until you’ve taken in some of the beautiful Hungarian capital’s more than 200 bakeries, or café-cum-bakeries. Patisserie in Budapest is sheer perfection and a stop in at least one of its famous bakeries is a must during
People go to Majorca in the summer in search of beautiful beaches and great weather, but if you are also looking for fiestas and local culture, summer is the perfect time to visit as there are all kinds of fiestas and events taking place on this bea
Living in Zurich, for ages I'd heard about the legendary Bernese – my partner had told me that a study had shown that they, among all Swiss, walk the slowest (how this study was conducted I cannot imagine). I had also personally met quite a few speci
This month's observance of the 70th anniversary of D-Day focused the world's attention again on the beaches of Normandy. Today those beaches are blessedly peaceful, and just one of the many attractions that bring visitors to this scenic, historic cor
One of Europe's most singular countries, Malta is a Mediterranean archipelago south of Sicily, with a fabled history stretching back into the Neolithic; a language that’s an Italianized dialect of Arabic written in the Latin alphabet (though now Engl
Way east in the constellation of Greek islands - in fact, off the coast of Turkey, this small isle, just 25 by 5 miles in size, was in classical antiquity both a resort and a seat of learning which gave the world figures like Hippocrates. In the 21st
Oy vey, olé! Everyone knows that most Jews in Spain were given the royal boot back in 1492, the same year Chris Columbus sailed the Ocean Blue, right? Well, yes and no. Some managed to hang on, and the story of how they did so in secret constitutes a
Some ten miles (16 km) up in the hills above Cannes, the small town of Grasse accounts for 2/3 of France’s production of perfume essence and food flavorings, and those hills are alive with the flowers, in particular jasmine and roses, which form the
If you've never visited the Greek island of Crete, you’re in for a lot of surprises. Travelers are so often astounded by the scenery, the diversity, and utter uniqueness of this Island. However surprising the geography may be however, the simplicity
Millions of tourists flock to Florence (Firenze) every year, but only a handful get to take what may well be the best walking tour in the city. Actually, few tourists even know about the existence of the Percorso del Principe (Passageway of the Prin
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Fairest among women, Venice, once powerful and rich. You are still impressive, Lady Venice, but only from a distance. The years pass rapidly, your skin withers, becomes more parched and thin, and finally drops off in lumps of plaster. Meanwhile, just
Skiing on the cheap has always been a serious challenge. When we start booking your holiday and calculate the prices for accommodation, flights, equipment and lift passes, you may well start to wonder whether all this is seriously worthwhile. However
Finding yourself in a Mediterranean village just 10 kilometers from Budapest is one of the surprises the Danube offers up to travelers. The small town of Szentendre (Saint Andrew) is the gateway to the Danube Bend, a curve of Hungary’s most majes
When I was 20, Jimmy Carter was President and I summered in Greece, sleeping on the beaches, drinking Retsina wine, gobbling Moussaka. Retsina has been around for 2000 years, evolving from the practice of sealing wine casks with pine resin. It is,
The capital of the island of Crete during the Neolithic era was Phaestos. But the small settlement of Gortyn grew and grew, until it eventually became a city that eclipsed Phaestos. During the Roman era, in the first century, it became capital of C
Too many islands ofGreece suffer from the effects of ‘kalimari and chips’ mass tourism. But, sometimes, you only need to take a short trip in a ferry or a kaiki to enter a different world altogether. The 29-square-mile isle of Leros is a good example
It’s that time of year again, as the stars head for alignment this Sunday at the Dolby Theatrein Los Angeles for the 86th Academy Awards. Spain has been represented in recent years by quite a few luminaries, including directors Pedro Almodóvar, Nés
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Spain has several superb ski resorts with outstanding slopes, excellent facilities and most importantly of all, really great snow. Here we’ll be taking you on a mini-tour of some of the best ski resorts in Spain – and there are quite a few to choose
