Blogs

One of my very most prized travel souvenirs is a vintage kilim, about 75 years old, which I bought more than a decade ago in the otherworldly medina of Fez, Morocco – with its black-and-yellow zigzag motif, it evokes exoticism and the quintessence of travel whenever I look at it. I’m instantly transported back into that world of mint tea and mysterious narrow byways, the tannery where I watched young boys dying leather for shoes and Ottomans, the rooftop restaurant where I first tried tagines 

A NEW YORK LANDMARK CHURCH REOPENS

By Denise Mattia

If you were in New York in the 80’s you’re likely to remember the Limelight nightclub, on Sixth Avenue and 20th Street. The 19th century Gothic Revival church formerly the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion, had undergone several metamorphoses, and now has become the chic Limelight Marketplace, New York’s Festival of Shops.

 Built in 1846, the small yet radical church was one of the first in New York to have weekly communion services. In 1852

by David Paul Appell

For too many folks, Caribbean shopping in the 21st century seems to be all about duty-free malls, Rolex and Seiko shops, cheesy T-shirts, and made-in-China trinkets. Good thing there are still plenty of distinctive options where local flair and products can still be found —if you know how to smoke ‘em out. Following up on last week's Part 1, here’s my hand-picked round-up of seven more islands’ worth of goodies,from vanilla rum in St. Barts to conch pearls in Turks and Caico

Imagine my surprise, not long ago, to discover I wanted to write a glowing article for my travel series “Best of London” about a department store!  (Just when did I fall and hit my head, anyways)?  But no, there were no mishaps involved.  If anything, our discovery was what I would term a “happy accident” as we wandered down Piccadilly Street, the atmosphere vibrant on this uncommonly sunny London day.  We paused to focus on the historic grandness all around us – and what should our eyes alight

When one thinks of downtown Los Angeles, the first thought to come to mind probably isn't one of America's oldest and diverse food markets, Grand Central Market. Besides offering some of the freshest produce, meats, fresh fish and more in Los Angeles, the market is a sumptuous walk through "tasty treat heaven."  Living part of the year near downtown L.A., I'll take a bike ride to sample the various food  eateries throughout the small market. Many people may not know that Los Angeles is one of th

I have to admit, I’m not real big on bling – aka precious metals and stones. I recognize their beauty and value, but it’s just not me.  For my taste, I prefer materials such as, say, turquoise, jade, and amber, which share a singular earthy beauty no matter how they’re cut.

Amber, in particular, is a fascinating substance. The ancient Greeks called it elektron (this word wasn’t applied to electricity till the late 19th century), and this fossilized tree sap has been used for adornment for at l

Everyone who travels around this coconut runs into hawkers. They try to sell you everything from bongs to plastic models of the Taj Mahal. Many just will not leave a person alone. They follow you down the street putting tubes of tiger balm or fake Rolex watches in your hand. They all know two words in English "good price". Some know how to say "me poor, need money for family." 99% of the time they are selling some POS I have no desire to own. I try to say "no" nicely. The second  time I say it a

Shopping in Costa Rica has improved dramatically over the past ten years as gigantic malls, mini-malls, superstores and sophisticated boutiques have entered the marketplace.

You can find everything from designer clothing to latest-fashion shoes and accessories, everyday clothing and footwear to anything you could possibly need for your home. There are construction and “fix-up-your-home” superstores, stores for custom-made furniture of wood, iron, rattan, cloth, leather and even concrete. Supermar

On a mild December night, I took my husband for a surprise visit to an independent bookstore in Brooklyn to give him his Christmas present: not just a hard-cover version of the recently released Queen of America by Luis Alberto Urrea, a book we'd been anticipating as the sequel to our favorite, The Hummingbird's Daughter, but a signed copy and a chance to meet the author.

Jon was delighted when he r

One of the most amazing shopping experiences in Asia is a visit to a wet market. A wet market is basically a fresh food market make “wet’ by the liberal use of water to keep the poultry, meat and vegetables looking clean and fresh plus keep the fish and shellfish alive.

Traditionally they are open-air markets often on the bank of a waterway so the fish and shellfish making it convenient for fishermen. The traditional rationale for a wet market in hot climates where there was little refrigeration

Any trip to Maine has to include spotting a moose.  Wild Moose, of course, but how about a 1700-pound chocolate moose?

When in Maine be sure to stop in Scarborough, near Portland, Maine, where there is a very special moose. At Len Libby Handmade Candies meet the world’s sweetest moose, Lenny, made from 1700 pounds of chocolate.  Lenny was sculpted on site in four weeks and unveiled in 1997.  He proudly stands in a “pool” of tinted white chocolate complete with lily pads and frogs.  All chocolate

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is upon us!

A blaze of festive lights and Yuletide decorations will soon adorn homes and buildings across the globe.

There are only a few weeks left until the squares of all the major cities are filled with market stalls, Christmas trees and hot wine salesmen. For fans of both Christmas and traveling, we’ve rolled up a list of the best Christmas markets in Europe.

Being one of the most celebrated holidays around the world, Christmas magically transforms the city squares into an extravaganza of light and aroma.  Some cities have not just one or two markets, but dozens. We have therefore selected great cities tha

The Golden Rules on how to avoid getting completely ripped off and buying more rugs than you can poke a stick at when in an Arab souq (market)…

OK, so have found yourself in a fabulous Arab bazaar in some hot, sandy and exotic country. It is a maze of twisting alleyways crammed with people and intriguing shoplets selling bright and alluring handicrafts: colourfully decorated carpets, lamps, clothes, leather and metalware. Trapped in shopping heaven, you almost pass out with excitement. Sweet, mu

Azulejos de Azeitao are making several workshops with tourists who travels to Setúbal Region. 

It is usual find german, french, japanese, americans and even canadians working in tiles and drawing their own drawings. During 3 hours, tourists have the opportunity to improve the knowledge of the handmade process and painting their own tile.

Azulejos de Azeitão besides the amazing workshops that they made at their studio, made an amazing job in California recently.