Southeastern Sicily is famous for its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Baroque architecture, food and chocolate. And it’s also famous for a certain Inspector Montalbano — as I was about to find out on my Sicilian adventure.
Europe
Where will your dreams take you?
Berlin Tempelhof: Experience history at Berlin Airlift hub
When the then-Soviet Union in 1948 choked off West Berlin from any supplies, the Allies started the massive Berlin Airlift supply operation to Tempelhof. You can visit Tempelhof’s history.
Modica chocolate festival in Sicily: Indulge in all things chocolate
Sicily may be renown for baroque architecture, beaches, and the Mount Etna volcano, but if you venture there in December you’ll discover it is famous for chocolate too. Chocomodica, a chocolate festival for chocolate lovers. Plus, get a bonus recipe here.
Gioietta Ospitalita in Modica, Sicily promises comfort, views and rest
Gioietta B&B is a delightful bed and breakfast escape located right in the heart of historic Modica in Sicily.
Learn to sail with Nautilus Sailing: A sailing adventure in Croatia
Learn to captain your own catamaran during a week-long liveaboard sailing course in Croatia with Nautilus Sailing. Get a captain’s certification, too. Come along on our adventure.
Stollen 1930: gin tasting inside a 600-year-old Austrian cave
Stollen 1930 in Kufstein, Austria, boasts one of the largest collections of gins in the world, deep inside an historic cave carved into the rocks beneath the fortress walls. It’s a remarkable place to visit, even for those who don’t love or even like gin.
Time travel through German history in the Deutschlandmuseum Berlin
The Deutschlandmuseum Berlin is like no other museum we have ever experienced. You get 2000 years of German history presented interactively and educationally as 12 epochs. You leave feeling as if you’ve truly lived the history.
Dresden Christmas market guide: historic Striezelmarkt plus seven more
Dresden Germany prides itself on its Christmas markets, holiday cheer, bright lights, and festive spirit. And well it should as the Striezelmarkt is thought to be the oldest Christmas market in the world. These are eight of what we think are the best Dresden Christmas markets to help you plan your European Christmas market visits.
20 top things to do in Dresden: a weekend travel guide
There are so many things to do in Dresden, a weekend is hardly enough. Food, wine, river views, art galleries, WWII history, and architecture, Dresden should be a must-visit for anyone traveling to Germany.
Grindelwald First Mountain Inn: A Swiss mountaintop chalet with Eiger views
Staying at Grindelwald First Mountain Inn in Switzerland feels a bit like staying in your own private chalet, one with spectacular views of the Eiger.
Visit Basel: a dream travel destination for modern architecture fans
Whoever thought an oft-overlooked city like Basel Switzerland could be jammed with so much jaw-dropping modern architecture? Angles, curves, crazy lines, modernist, and art nouveau, the styles are all-encompassing and will not leave architecture fans visiting Basel wanting.
Kyiv in Photos – Remembering a Ukraine before the war
Little did I know that a last-minute trip to Kyiv and Ukraine in early 2020 would be followed by a pandemic and then a horrific war, effectively closing the borders of the country I hoped to return to. View photos of this beautiful Ukrainian city – Kyiv before the war.
Alpine vistas and adventure at Jungfrau Top of Europe in Switzerland
A day at Jungfraujoch and the Top of Europe is an unrivaled adventure. Take in sweeping Alpine vistas after traveling there on the new, super fast Eiger Express gondola and the old, quaint 110-year-old cogwheel train.
Hotel Au Violon Basel: historic old town Basel hotel with a French twist
Historic Hotel Au Violon in Basel offers a French twist on a centrally located bed and breakfast. Once a monastery, then a prison, this superb old town Basel hotel invites you stay in a remodeled former cell.
Basel by bike: A perfect one-day e-bike tour of Basel Switzerland
Basel is a very bike-friendly city. We took an e-bike tour through forests, along rivers, on city roads and bike paths, and in and out of three countries. Plan your own Basel bike tour in Switzerland’s three-country triangle.
The 8 best Christmas Markets in Germany you must visit
Christmas markets in Germany offer warmth and good cheer during the holiday season. Dreaming of visiting some of the best Christmas markets in Germany on a winter holiday? Here are a few of the top ones to add to your travel list.
The ultimate guide to finding the best Berlin views
Germany’s capital city of Berlin is not lacking in high places for great views of the Berlin skyline. 17 places top our ultimate list of scenic Berlin views for you to enjoy.
The ultimate guide to the 12 best Christmas markets in Berlin
When it comes to Christmas in Berlin, there are dozens of Christmas markets – so many that it can be difficult to choose the best Christmas markets in Berlin. Here are our top picks to experience among the best Berlin Christmas markets.
Adventure in Eiger’s shadow: Eiger Express to Jungfraujoch and the Eiger Trail
The Eiger is an iconic mountain to climbers, artists, writers, musicians, and hikers. The Eiger Express, Jungfraujoch, and the Eiger Trail each provide travelers a unique way to experience the Eiger from many sides without having to be an alpinist.
Historic Hotel Rochat in Basel Switzerland caters to the modern traveler
Built in 1899, Hotel Rochat in Basel manages to maintain its historic charm while catering to the needs of a modern traveler with air conditioning and supremely comfortable rooms all walkable to so many Basel sights.
The best Jungfrau Switzerland hotel: Hotel Belvedere Grindelwald
Tucked into the glorious Jungfrau mountains, the fourth-generation family-run Hotel Belvedere Grindelwald rises from the center of town to offer the best views in Grindelwald, Switzerland. Casual luxury and refined cuisine are tended by a superbly trained staff and meticulous hands-on owners.
“Top of Adventure” fun and views at Grindelwald-First in Jungfrau Switzerland
Grindelwald-First, above the town of Grindelwald in the Swiss Alps Jungfrau region, offers a taste of adventure for everyone — you don’t have to be a climber or paraglider to enjoy it all.
Best Berlin museums highlighted during Long Night of Museums Berlin
Imagine staying up all night going in and out of any number of Berlin museums. When the annual Long Night of Museums in Berlin rolled around, we joined in the fun — wandering through museums until 2 a.m. It is a great way to explore some of the best Berlin museums.
Potsdam Palace Night with artists, food, fun in Park Sanssouci
Potsdam Palace Night lets you stay out late with your friends in Park Sanssouci enjoying artists, illuminations, food, and drink – sans curfew – just fun in the dark at a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Iconic Berlin TV Tower promises best views in Berlin
The Berlin TV Tower’s distinctive needle and giant sphere is visible throughout Berlin, and it is still the tallest building in Germany. From the panoramic floor or restaurant inside the sphere high above Berlin, visitors enjoy some of the best views in Berlin.
Gulliver in Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg, the world’s largest model railway
Travel around the world in under a day at Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg – the world’s largest model railway. Stride like Gulliver through an ever-expanding miniature world that includes Europe, the United States, and soon South America.
Danube cycle path – biking the Danube from Regensburg to Vienna
The Danube cycle path from Regensburg, Germany to Vienna, Austria, is a very popular and classic cycling route for a reason – mostly flat bike paths beside a very scenic section of the Danube River.
Cozy Henri Hotel Hamburg: best boutique hotel in Hamburg
Nestling into the Henri Hotel in Hamburg, Germany, just feels warm and cozy. The Henri Hotel is truly one of the best boutique hotels in Hamburg – casual luxury with a touch of attitude and humor.
Berlin gasometer: best sunrise to sunset views of Berlin
Travel with us on a Berlin gasometer tour to experience what could arguably be one of the best views of Berlin, sunrise to sunset. View a photo gallery and video of our gasometer tour to get a look at an adventure of a lifetime. The 360-degree views of Berlin from the top of the gasometer were stunning, night or day.
Put St Nikolai Kirche memorial in Hamburg on your list
The St Nikolai Kirche has been a part of the Hamburg skyline since the 12th century. In ruins since World War II, just its spire remains standing. The spire and restored crypt below serve as a haunting and moving memorial to the horror of war’s devastation.
Christmas Garden Berlin at the Botanical Garden: 2021 photo tour
The beloved Christmas Garden Berlin, closed due to the pandemic in 2020, returned in 2021, for its magical, illuminated journey through the Botanical Garden Berlin. Enjoy a photo and video tour of the 2021 trail of lights and music.
What Chernobyl looks like: Explore its abandoned nuclear devastation
What does apocalypse look like? In 1986, a nuclear explosion in today’s Ukraine spewed 400 times more radiation into the atmosphere than Hiroshima, devastating the lives of so many. This is what Chernobyl looked like when I visited and spent four days in the abandoned nuclear zone in 2020.
Bucket list travel: Visit Kyiv and the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
Traveling to tour the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is on a lot of travel bucket lists these days. That’s where the nuclear plant exploded in 1986. I had the chance to visit Kyiv and the Chernobyl area in Ukraine on a winter photography trip.
Nazi Mauthausen concentration camp was notorious
The Mauthausen Memorial in Austria offers a sobering look at Nazi terror during World War II. The former Mauthausen concentration camp, located not far from the Danube River, was one of the Nazis most notorious camps. It is estimated that of the 190,000 prisoners held at Mauthausen during the seven years the camp operated, at least 90,000 died.
Delicious Ukrainian-style ginger tea recipe with lemon, mint and cloves
Whether served hot in the winter or cold in summer, this Ukrainian-style ginger tea recipe with lemon, mint and cloves is sure to make you smile. Subscriber Club members can download the ginger tea recipe for free.
Seelow Heights museum memorializes Battle of Berlin horrors
In the last days of World War II, the Battle of the Seelow Heights to the east of Berlin was a bloody massacre. The small Seelow Heights museum and memorial features exhibits, artifacts, and graves documenting the Battle of Berlin and the tens of thousands of lives lost in just three days.
Discover the secret Ostannya Barykada restaurant in Kyiv
Ostannya Barykada restaurant, also known as the Last Barricade restaurant, is a hidden secret worth discovering in Kyiv. It is not just a restaurant with historic décor and astounding, creative, all-Ukrainian food and drink. Think of Ostannya Barykada as a gastronomic space in a museum that gives a huge bear hug to the essence of Ukraine.
Best Berlin Photos – Our favorite Berlin Instagram photos
Berlin is endlessly fascinating and remains one of our favorite cities in the world to photograph and explore. We’ve included a few of our top Berlin photos in this Best Berlin Photos – Our favorite Berlin Instagram photos post. Scroll through to discover what to see on your Berlin visit.
Conquering the Streif ski run by hiking the Streif in Kitzbuhel Austria
Skiing in the famed Hahnenkamm downhill ski race on the Streif in Kitzbuhel, Austria is considered a lifetime accomplishment for professional skiers. Hiking the Streif is something anyone can do in the late spring, summer and early fall. We explain the ski race while showing you how to go about hiking the Streif yourself.
Visiting the Reichstag Dome – Amazing Berlin views and history
If you are planning a trip to Berlin, then visiting the Reichstag dome is an absolute must, not only for the Berlin views, but for the amazing history. The Reichstag dome and the Reichstag building along with the celebrated TV tower have become iconic symbols of Germany’s capital, Berlin.
The real Kitzbuhel Austria: Visit Kitzbuhel through the eyes of locals
When you visit Kitzbuhel, look beyond the glitz and tourists with furs and diamonds, and you’ll discover the Kitzbuhel locals love so much. The real Kitzbuhel has gorgeous, soaring peaks, great trails, and everything picturesque, quaint and historic like the best Alpine villages you dream about.
Christmas at the Tierpark in Berlin – a shining Christmas wonderland
While we can’t promise falling snow, Christmas at the Tierpark in Berlin (also known as Christmas at the Zoo and Weihnachten im Tierpark) comes as close as you can get to a perfectly illuminated Christmas wonderland.
Understanding German Christmas market drinks – a short guide
German Christmas market drinks, options and choices. Having a Gluhwein at a German Christmas market seems an easy choice: hot mulled red wine in mug. But do you want a shot with that? Or a different flavor? German Christmas market drinks have become big business. So many choices. We’ll help you decide and know how to ask for what you want.
Christmas Garden Berlin – Christmas lights and mulled wine
There is something very magical about Christmas lights at the Christmas Garden Berlin. Add in equal parts of Christmas music and servings of hot glühwein (German spiced mulled wine), and you have the recipe for an enchanting evening at the Berlin Botanic Garten.
Fall of the Berlin Wall 30th anniversary celebration
Berlin commemorated the fall of the Berlin Wall with a 30th anniversary celebration in 2019. We have complete Berlin Wall links and information for your next visit to Berlin.
What to do in Bergen: The ultimate Bergen city guide
Our What to do in Bergen city guide will help you make the most of your upcoming visit. It is so very easy to fall in love with Bergen. Visit Bryggen a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Theta Museum, the Bergen Maritime Museum, Bergenhus Festning, and ride the Fløibanen funicular for starters.
Hiking and relaxing in Theth Albania
Albania, more known for beaches than mountains, is a top destination for outdoor enthusiasts. We loved our hiking vacation in the mountains of Theth Albania. With Albania poised to join the European Union a hiking in Albania holiday should be on your list now.
Things to do in Oslo: a pocket Oslo city guide
Our Oslo city guide will help you make the most of your visit. Central Oslo is compact, cozy, walkable and enjoyable, especially with our Ultimate City Guide to Oslo. You’ll see Norway’s Resistance Museum, Akershus Fortress, The Viking Ship Museum, the Royal Palace, Vigeland Park and so much more.
Berlin October days filled with a festival of lights
The Festival of Lights in Berlin and Berlin Leuchtet (Berlin Illuminated) provide a delightful bright diversion for anyone visiting Berlin in October. The two light festivals illuminate hundreds of Berlin buildings, parks, monuments and facades with dancing lights, often moving to music.
Kitzbuhel in the rain – Best rainy day options for travelers
You can’t choose your weather when you travel to Kitzbuhel or other mountain towns, but you can make the best of things by knowing rainy day options. Here are our tips for touring Kitzbuhel in the rain.
The Q! Resort in Kitzbuhel, Austria hotel review
There are numerous fantastic hotel options in Kitzbuhel, Austria. However, if you are arriving by train, or looking for a hotel that will also provide amazing food for breakfast and dinner, consider booking your stay at the Q! Resort in Kitzbuhel.
Enchanting Botanical Nights at the Berlin Botanical Gardens
Botanical Nights in the Botanical Garden Berlin make visiting a botanical garden something full of mystery, magic, intrigue, musicians, lightshows and fun. Plants, trees, greenhouses and ponds come alive during Berlin’s Botanical Nights. The cover photo for this story was awarded a Gold Medal by the North American Travel Journalists Association for travel photography.
What to do in Regensburg: The ultimate Regensburg city guide
Regensburg is Germany’s “best-preserved” with plenty do do and see. Things to do in Regensburg include wandering along medieval streets in Old Town (Altstadt), walk across the Steinerne Brücke (Stone Bridge) spanning the Danube, and see Roman walls, tour churches, towers and even a torture chamber.
What to do in Munich: The ultimate Munich city guide
Munich is more than Oktoberfest, and we’ll tell you what the city offers: Englischer Garten, Marienplatz city square, museums, architectural gems, amazing food, and even surfing. Our ultimate Munich city guide will inspire you.
Things to do in Hamburg: The ultimate Hamburg city guide
Looking for things to do in Hamburg? Hamburg is one of the must-see destinations in Europe. Our Hamburg city guide highlights nightlife, the Elbphilharmonie, restaurants, and historic sites.
What to do in Budapest: The ultimate Budapest city guide
Wondering what to do in Budapest? Our Budapest City Guide will help you visit the Jewish Quarter, City Park and Heroes’ Square plus Castle Hill, Hospital in the Rock, Cave Church, an array of museums, and glorious buildings that crown the Budapest hillside.
Things to do in Berlin: The best travel guide to Berlin sights
Wondering what to do in Berlin? Berlin is cosmopolitan, worldly, quirky, exotic, bohemian, evolving, vibrant, alive. Watch a sunset from the TV Tower, visit the Reichstag, the Berliner Dom, Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall Memorial, the East Side Gallery, or simply walk along the Spree.
Great carnival parades in Europe: Think small (Updated February 2019)
Known in the United States as Mardi Gras (actually French for “Fat Tuesday), the traditions of excessive celebrations and outrageous carnival parades prior to the pre-Easter fasting during Lent date back many centuries in Europe. But you don’t have to head to the crowd-filled streets of big towns like Germany’s Cologne or Dusseldorf, France’s Nice, or Switzerland’s Basel to experience some great carnival parades in Europe. And you don’t even have to indulge in excess!
Stasi sights in Berlin not to miss
No visit to Berlin should be without a closer look at history – specifically the horrific history of East Germany’s former secret police, the Stasi. These Stasi sights in Berlin should find a place on your to-do list.
Berlin open-air exhibit traces fall of the Berlin wall
As a part of the developing “Campus for Democracy” at the former headquarters of East Germany’s state security or Stasi in Berlin, an open-air exhibit details the fall of the Berlin Wall and the peaceful revolution Berlin that helped bring about German unity.
Stasi archives Berlin – Stash of secret police records now open
For more than three decades, the dreaded state police (Stasi) in East Germany kept reams of secret files on its citizens. As of 2018, the Stasi archives Berlin are open for public tours.
Stasi Museum Leipzig – Inside the Stasi reign of terror
The Stasi Museum Leipzig in “Runde Ecke,” or “round corner,” is where the Stasi had its headquarters in one of former East Germany’s important industrial cities. It is one of a number of Stasi museums and sights that are scattered across former East Germany.
Urban Nation Berlin street art museum reopens with new exhibits
After being open just a year, the Urban Nation Berlin street art museum re-opened with a reinvention that truly speaks to its roots. A new street art exhibit, redesigned interior with an authentic street feel, and a number of street artists residences make this museum in Berlin a must to visit for art lovers of all kinds.
Hohenschönhausen Memorial – Reliving the Stasi prison Berlin horrors
Many hundreds died in the Hohenschönhausen Stasi memorial prison in Berlin during its operation, with several hundred thousand spending time there as prisoners over its 40+ years. You can only visit Hohenschönhausen with a guide, many of whom were former prisoners.
Stasi Museum Berlin brings alive Stasi terror
The Stasi Museum Berlin brings alive the terror lived by GDR’s residents for 41 years before the Berlin Wall fell. Inside the Stasi museum walls a visitor is reminded why the Stasi secret police force of former East Germany was one of the most feared agencies in Europe.
Teufelsberg Berlin: Abandoned spy post a Berlin street art gallery
Teufelsberg Berlin is at once bizarre, haunting, edgy, eerie, beautiful, inspiring, and unnerving. Which makes the ruins of the former National Security Agency listening post a perfect haven for street and urban artists.
Urban Nation museum showcases street art in Berlin
Urban Nation museum showcases street art in Berlin is like no other, uniting not only the nation but also the world as it turns the German capital into a giant international open-air street art gallery. Urban Nation is just the beginning of your tour for great street art in Berlin.
Prenzlauer Berg Wasserturm: history, wine, and Berlin’s underground
The Prenzlauer Berg Wasserturm, an eye-catching round tower in the middle of Berlin, is for most simply a city park with a couple of nice-looking structures. If your timing is good, travelers can time-travel with area experts to the cisterns underground, plus learn more about Berlin’s water supply history.
Munich Peace Church a treasure built of garbage
The East-West Peace Church is hidden in a grove of trees in Munich’s busy Olympic Park. Most visitors will walk right past the little forest, but you should in fact make a beeline for the historic homestead.
Munich NS Documentation Center teaches terror of Nazi reign
Not all museums are pretty, happy places. The NS Documentation Center in Munich takes a hard, sometimes painful, often horrifying look at the rise of Hitler’s National Socialist party (NS), the Nazi terror, and indeed how this relates to today’s world events.
White Rose Museum a haunting memorial to anti-Nazi movement
Next time you are in Munich, be sure to plan a visit to the White Rose museum. Given the Nazi terror and influence in Munich during World War II, it is not surprising that the White Rose resistance group and the likes of Sophie Scholl came from the university in Munich.
Hamburg Elbphilharmonie a city icon on the Elbe River
At a promontory on the Elbe River in Hamburg the glistening Elbphilharmonie concert hall is a distinct landmark in HafenCity since its opening in January 2017, becoming a Hamburg city icon in the process.
Know what it’s like to go bike touring in Europe
While no bike tour company is exactly alike — and no two tours will likely ever be identical, there is common ground when bike touring in Europe. Follow along with us as we give you an idea through photographs and quick tips what a day in the life bike touring in Europe is like.
A Croatian lady and her figs
The fruit grown in Croatia and the farmlands reminded me of my childhood. When I happened across this woman dressed in traditional garb sitting quietly at the side of the road beside her tray of drying figs, I had to stop.
A traveler’s guide to European coffee culture
We have experienced coffee culture around Europe. And we’ve sampled the many various ways of serving the caffinated elixer, from nearly syrupy dark tablespoons of caffeine in doll-sized cups to huge bowls of espresso and frothy milk. It’s what you do as a traveler – enjoy a cup of local coffee as the locals enjoy it.
Entranced by light on a Hurtigruten stop in Honningsvag Norway
I was entranced by the light. Honningsvag is of course beautiful in a simple way, but mid-day in November in northern Norway the sun is already pretending to set. This time of year there is only twilight for a few hours mid-day. The light sparkles off the windows of the homes and paints the hills with a red glow.
Louvre Museum: Historic meets modern in Paris
Depending on who’s talking, the Louvre Museum in Paris is the second-most-visited site in the French city. And the world’s most-visited museum, with nearly 10 million people touring the grand halls in 2016 (although that number slides up and down a bit from different sources). This, for example, is where the Mona Lisa resides.
5 great Berlin street food markets
As the burgeoning and bustling capital of Germany, Berlin offers an addicting restaurant scene with any international or trendy cuisine you may desire. But in keeping with its gritty, artistic ways, Berlin has a superior street food market scene. We show you 5 great Berlin street food markets you won’t want to miss.
Thai Park Berlin a feast for eyes and tummies
Germany’s capital of Berlin offers every international food imaginable, in restaurants, street markets or, in the case of the most authentic Thai food in the city, spread across a park. Thai Wiese (Thai Park) comes alive every weekend with arguably the best Thai food in Berlin.
Vintage photo of St. Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow 1984
When our student group passed through Moscow in 1984, St. Basil’s Cathedral was a spectacular sight, yes indeed. But brightly Disneyland-esque and just as polished as a Mouseketeer would have it? Hardly.
Swiss Carnival parade a clean version just for kids
Carneval (a.k.a. Fasching, Mardi Gras, etc) is a time for debauchery in many locales where it is grandly celebrated. But in some small towns there are several days of parades, including ones just for kids – like this Swiss carnival parade I photographed.
Kirkenes Travel Tips: An Arctic frontier at road’s end
Kirkenes is quite literally an Arctic frontier at road’s end, located as far northeast as possible in Norway, close to the Varangerfjord. It is both the endpoint for the northbound Hurtigruten ferry and the northern terminus of the E6, the main road that runs north-south between Kirkenes and Oslo.
Photographing red flowers on barren trees in Kirkenes
On a few hour break from our Hurtigruten ship, the Midnatsol before it would depart the dock to head back south along the Norwegian coast toward Oslo, we took a little walk through Kirkenes. We came across red blossoms on a tree, beautiful in the snow. Learn how Therese took the photo and how the beauty of Kirkenes inspired her.
Kirkenes – Arctic light becomes artist’s delight
Kirkenes is located in the farthest (and iciest and darkest) reaches of northeastern Norway, a stone’s throw from the Russian border. It is approximately 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle off the Barents Sea. The small town serves as the northernmost port for the Hurtigruten coastal ferry and the northern terminus of the E6, the main road that runs north-south between Kirkenes and Oslo.
Q110 Bank of the Future in Berlin by Deutsche Bank is now Quartier Zukunft
Open since 2016, this remarkable Deutsche Bank branch in Berlin has been called “Q110 Bank” or “Bank of the Future.” Now just known as Quartier Zukunft, we remain enthralled by the unique banking space with a cafe, greenhouse, meeting spaces and, of course, banking.
A door in Roros: A travel photographer’s paradise
A photographer finds endless charm in Roros, Norway and, in the winter, plenty of dark days and snow! Roros is a historic mining town and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This door caught her eye.
Two European luxury hotels that stand out + three more
Here are two amazing European luxury hotels that stand out above the rest among all the hotels where our expert travel team stayed in 2016 — plus three more. Hotels include Killiehuntly Farmhouse, Cotton House Hotel, Kinloch Lodge, The Pig, and Aman.
Picturesque Mousehole Harbor a favorite of artists
Mousehole has retained much of its charm with narrow streets, art galleries, quaint shops and half-timber cottages. The harbor wall and two breakwaters are there to shield the Mousehole village from winter gales and pounding waves as well as to create a peaceful shelter for visitors to sit and stroll.
Colorful Buildings Along Trondheim’s Nidelva River
Trondheim is a colorful city, and while it is the third largest city in Norway, it feels much more intimate than its size might imply. The Nidelva river runs through the city, beside the Nidaros Cathedral and past an historical area called Bakklandet situated on its banks north of the Old Town Bridge.
Wagging Bambi tails at Jardin des Plantes in Paris
Paris is a city that is filled with parks – more than 400 — from postage stamp size ones on street corners to sprawling green spaces, like the Jardin des Plantes with its 28 hectares (69 acres) that were first planted in 1626. The most beautiful thing about this plant-filled wonderland for visitors? It’s free.
Haunting history on Berlin Underground tours
Underground city tours always seemed to be a tourist come-on to me, but then I discovered Berlin Underground tours. Not a for-profit business, not a tour that drops you off in a gift shop, not a tour that starts in a bar and highlights raucous partying, this is the real deal in Berlin’s Underground.
Quick Prenzlauer Berg travel guide to a Berlin hotspot
One of our favorite areas in Berlin is the artsy cool Prenzlauer Berg. Our Prenzlauer Berg travel guide will point you to the top things to do in this Berlin hot spot. Kollwitzplatz and Kastanienallee are particularly beautiful Prenzlauer Berg streets. Farmers markets, street festivals and more are regular occurrences.
Artist’s Diary – A colorful market near Cafe Anna Blume
As we sat at dinner at Café Anne Blume sipping wine on the patio on a warm summer evening, I became entranced by the colors of a small market across the street. I just had to “paint and draw” the scene using my iPad for this watercolor view from Café Anna Blume.
Artist’s war memorial at Berlin Bethlehemkirchplatz
The memorial on the Berlin Bethlehemkirchplatz (Bethlehem Church Square) is actually the work of Spanish artist Juan Garaizabel to commemorate the Bohemian Bethlehem Church. This small church was built for Bohemian evangelical refugees in about 1735 and was a center of the community. It was destroyed by bombing in 1943.
Busy bee in Hamburg’s Planten un Blomen garden
A visit to the Planten un Blomen Garden on your Hamburg tour is a must, whether you are a flower and garden lover, adore open spaces, enjoy dancing water fountains, or just want a nice place for a stroll or picnic. Now, not many non-Germans head there – obvious in the fact that the official Hamburg tourism website doesn’t have the garden’s page translated into English!
Food and drink on Hurtigruten cruises in Norway
You’ve booked your dream Hurtigruten cruise up the coast of Norway. Time to get ready for the onboard experience. Of course, a key part of this experience is food and drink on the Hurtigruten cruises in Norway. We learned by doing, and we hope you can also learn about Hurtigruten food choices and Hurtigruten drink options from our personal experiences.
Hurtigruten Video Tour – Planning your next Hurtigruten cruise
The Hurtigruten video tour. Take a room tour of the Hurtigruten MS Midnatsol; Go on a facilities tour of the Midnatsol; and walk through the kitchen and dining room of the Hurtigruten Midnatsol. Plan your Hurtigruten cruise better.
Eight reasons to visit Trondheim
How many reasons do you need to visit Trondheim, Norway? Trondheim is one of Norway’s oldest cities and also boasts a vibrant cultural life. Despite its size, its historic city center still feels intimate. Visit Bakklandet, Old Town Bridge, Nidaros Cathedral and walk the Nidelva River.
Beautiful Alesund inspires artists and photographers
Alesund is indeed a beautiful Norwegian city. Known for perhaps the greatest concentration of Art Nouveau style buildings in all of Europe, Alesund is nestled into the classically rocky fjords of Norway with the Sunnmore Mountains serving as a spectacular backdrop.
Small historic Munich chapel worth a side trip
Bigger is not always better. Sometime small, like a historic Munich chapel, can be a travel must-see. The Marienklause Chapel in Munich is worth a close look.
Berlin Bank of the Future by Deutsche Bank
A concierge? A gift and trinket store? A bar and coffeehouse? Waiters and fine décor? This is a bank? Yes, this is Germany’s “Deutsche Bank” — the so-called “Bank of the Future” in central Berlin, the company’s one-and-only concept bank where it tests ideas for the world.
Visit Roros, Norway: UNESCO World Heritage town
Roros is somewhat off-the-beaten-path of many tourists visiting Norway. Roros, a former mining town, earned a UNESCO World Heritage site designation for its rare collection of timber homes and buildings. Check out Tynset Church, Slegghaugan, and Smelthytta museum.
Tiny German town answers letters to Santa for over 50 years
It takes dedication to answer children’s letters to Santa Claus, whether he’s known as St. Nick, Father Christmas or Kris Kringle. But a few namesake towns around the world do just that – letters by the many thousands every year, year after year. There is one special town that answers letters to Santa Claus: Nikolausdorf (Nicholas village) in Lower Saxony in Northern Germany. With a population that barely brushes 1,000, it has its work cut out for it to answer nearly 8,000 letters each year.
Dog sledding in Norway: Mush your own husky team
When in Norway, go dog sledding! But forget all of those ride-along experiences if you want a little adventure with your dog sledding in Norway. You really can mush your own team of huskies as you dog sled through a snow-covered Norwegian forest.
Choosing Hurtigruten cabins: differences, details
Prepping and planning for your Hurtigruten voyage can be a challenge, especially when it comes to picking the best cabin class for you among the many Hurtigruten cabins since there are 14-plus different types and shapes, although not all are available on all ships. Still, weighing out your ROI (Return on Investment!) is key. Do not just pick the cheapest Hurtigruten cabin OR the most expensive OR leave it to the Hurtigruten staff to necessarily steer you straight.
Kellerwald Forchheim beer gardens: a Franconian forest secret
“Off to the cellar” is what you’ll hear from Forchheim locals when they disappear into the forest on trails (“auf die Keller”). What that means in local slang is that they are headed to a beehive of popular beer gardens — the Kellerwald Forchheim beer gardens — nestled deep in the Upper Bavarian forest dubbed Franconian Switzerland.
Berlin Turkish Market: flavors, food, deals in oriental bazaar setting
I visited the Berlin Turkish Market for the first time when you bumped into the graffiti-covered Berlin Wall after walking its length, and the Kreuzberg area of town was one of the few where Turkish guest workers were allowed to live.
Touring Loire Valley by bike peaceful and fun
If there is “slow food,” then consider trying out “slow touring.” Touring Loire Valley by bike allows you to stop, ponder, photograph and enjoy while not missing a bit. Forget whizzing past to get to the next castle or winery. You’ll still get there. It’ll just be a bit slower and a whole lot more fun.
Discover Berlin walking tour: shortlist of top sites
Berlin is one of our favorite cities in the world. And we want to lead you on a walking tour of its top sites. Follow along as we send you on a self-guided walk of some of the top sights in Berlin.
Loire Valley wine tasting experience is memorable
Covering several hundred square miles with hundreds of wineries, Loire Valley wine tasting opportunities are numerous. This French region may be one of the world’s most well-known wine-producing areas – but HOLY COW how do you get to experience it all on a short visit? The wine trail (“La route des vignobles”) is nearly 500 miles! The Loire Valley tourist and wine experts have figured that out for you, so take a breath and get ready to take a sip (or two, or three…).
Loire Valley music & concerts + free food
Tours, France, in the heart of the Loire Valley may be well known for its castles but don’t forget the music, the wine and, of course, the food.
Englischer Garten in Munich: a magical urban escape
The Englischer Garten in Munich, Germany, is one of the largest city parks in the world. It provides for a magical escape from Munich’s busy urban streets.
Sophie Scholl Memorial: tribute to White Rose student resistance
The Sophie Scholl memorial in Munich looks like loose pieces of paper scattered on the ground in front of the University of Munich building. In actuality, the Sophie Scholl papers are attached permanently to the ground in front of the main entrance on the “Geschwister Scholl Platz.” A fitting tribute to the White Rose Movement.
Discover hidden Cornwall: Mevagissey and Pentewan full of charm
Travel with us by photograph as we guide you to a few of our favorite Cornwall destinations including Mevagissey, Penzance, Mousehole, and Pentewan (including the Lost Gardens of Heligan).
Postcard Zurich: City air smells like chocolate!
We all know Switzerland is known for its chocolate … amazing, rich, yummy, decadent chocolate. In this “Postcard Zurich” the female half of HI Travel Tales remembers when she got off the train in a small suburb of Zurich and, as she walked to her hotel, she thought to herself, “This place smells like chocolate.”
7 Largest Christmas Markets in Europe – are they the best?
Christmas can be magical. And nowhere is that magic more easily felt than at some of the best and largest Christmas markets in Europe.
Theta Museum in Bergen: tiny room with a huge story
It was a secret room then and, for many, it remains a secret museum and hidden room today. It is the itty-bitty Theta Museum, a minute 170-square-foot (16 square meters) low-ceiling room hidden away on an upper floor of the Bryggen wharf area in Bergen. The museum was the headquarters of the Theta Group, an important part of the Norwegian Resistance during WWII. Fascinating in its story, the room was reconstructed exactly how it looked when it operated with a few young men and one woman from 1940-1942 as their secret headquarters.
Hurtigruten Cruises: Travel booking tips
Enjoying a Hurtigruten cruise along the coast of Norway is a incredible. But knowing a few travel tips in advance helps make going on any one of the Hurtigruten cruises an amazing experience.
Aurora borealis: hunting the northern lights around the world
Hunting the northern lights is, for many, a lifetime dream – viewing a night sky ablaze in phosphorescent green light that seems to move and swirl like luminescent smoke. The northern lights are a natural phenomenon that through the centuries has inspired legend, mystery, fear and awe.
Norway in a Nutshell DIY and save money
Plan a Norway in a Nutshell DIY tour easily – and save hundreds of kroner. We’ll give you the traveling tips you need to experience the Flåm Railway and the Norwegian fjord landscape via a Norway in a Nutshell tour, but on a budget.
Postcard Paris: Jardin du Luxembourg escape
Paris is a marvelous, invigorating city with many corners to explore but sometimes you have to make like a Parisian and go to the park to escape it all. The Jardin du Luxembourg in the 6th arrondissement near the Sorbonne and only about a mile from St. Michel and the Seine River is just right for that.
Berlin Wall 25th anniversary commemorates fall and freedom
It’s been 25 years since the Berlin Wall came tumbling down … suddenly, surprisingly, peacefully. Memories of the wall’s horrors seem like yesterday to those of us old enough to remember it and to have personally seen the wall and its “death zone.” The Berlin Wall 25th Anniversary remembrance reminds us to never forget.
Harz Mountains Brockenbahn railway – an awesome narrow gauge train
No visit to the Harz Mountains in Germany should be considered complete without riding on the historic and thoroughly magical “Brockenbahn” railway. The Brocken narrow gauge Harz Mountain train is powered by steam engines and winds its way to the peak of the Brocken, the highest point in the Harz.
Passing time in Paris at Le Comptoir du Pantheon
A view from Le Comptoir du Pantheon. Sitting in front of the Pantheon in Paris on a hot summer day, nothing tastes better than a cool glass of light Rose wine while watching the world drift along.
Bregenz Austria: Two views of the same world
Two views of Bregenz Austria — one an iPad watercolor, and the other a photograph. See how the views differ, yet are the same.
Lost Gardens of Heligan a real find in Cornwall
The Lost Gardens of Heligan is mysterious and magical. The Cornwall estate disappeared beneath thorns before the outbreak of WW1 but was rediscovered in 1990 to become Europe’s largest garden restoration project. The 200 acre paradise attracts wildlife, garden lovers, and anyone who just loves a good mystery.
Walking the Berlin Wall by following the bricks
The Berlin Wall fell in 1989 but walking the Berlin Wall is a reminder of an era that remains frightening and unbelievable. Walking the Berlin Wall is a way to see Berlin history.
Hike to the Quedlinburg Old Watch Tower in the Harz Mountains
The Quedlinburg Old Watch Tower (“Altenburgwarte”) is located approximately 0.5 miles from the southwest edge of Quedlinburg in the Harz mountains. Nearby there are wonderful views over Quedlinburg and the surrounding area.
Visit a Packaging Museum in quaint Heidelberg?
Folks usually end up in Heidelberg, Germany, in awe of the medieval castle looming over the city, but we’re writing about a Packaging Museum? Yep, its worth a visit!
Hurtigruten cruise excursions – Insider tips and advice
Once you get your Hurtigruten cruise along the coast of Norway booked, it’s time to start thinking about what Hurtigruten cruise excursions you may want to add on – or if you can do some on your own. Like a regular cruise line, the Hurtigruten cruise ferries do have shore and city excursions that cover everything from city walking tours and bus trips to museums to a dinner at a Viking museum or dog sledding.
Quedlinburg: An ubercute village in Germany’s Harz mountains
Even many Germans haven’t heard of Quedlinburg in the Harz Mountains when we first visited in 2013. Yet we found Quedlinburg to be beyond-cute, chock full of history, surrounded by beautiful landscapes, and wonderful for wandering or simply hanging out over cafe and cheesecake.
Mevagissey’s St. Peter’s Church offers a quiet escape
Mevagissey is a picturesque, unique 14th Century fishing village located on the South Cornwall Coast. St Peter’s church, dating to the 10th century, offers quiet respite from the often busy harbor and is located on the northern edge of the town.
Cornwall: View from garden lawn of St Michael’s Mount
It is easy to lose yourself for a few days when visiting Penzance and surrounding areas along the eastern coastline of Cornwall, England. A few of our favorite places to visit in Cornwall include Mevagissey and Pentewan (including the Lost Gardens of Heligan), down to Penzance, St Michaels Mount (where the above image was quickly painted into my journal), and Mousehole.
Picturesque Cornwall: Penzance wins for location and charm
Penzance, located in picturesque Cornwall, is in Mounts Bay, in the far south of England. It is a village full of artists, history, seaside charm.
A must-visit: France’s Villandry castle gardens
The Loire Valley, about an hour south of Paris, is known for its wines – mostly a softer, lighter rosé or white but also some vibrant reds – as well as for its castles. You could spend weeks visiting all the wineries and castles – or longer. But be sure to stop in to see the Villandry castle gardens.
Dine, Wine, Dawdle and Doze when visiting Berlin
When visiting Berlin, live like a local … with an apartment in the trendy “Mitte” area on the edge of the rather cool, somewhat gritty, but fascinating “Prenzlauer Berg” area (former East).
Ultimate Dolomites Adventure – Via Ferrata Tridentina
I stood at the bottom of the cliffs, staring up at my first Dolomites via ferrata, or “road with irons,” — the Via Ferrata Tridentina. It was to be, I hoped, an ultimate Dolomites adventure.
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