Unsilent Night for Christmas in Luxembourg
When my sister moved to Luxembourg — the smallest country in Europe after its six microstates — it took my parents and me coming to visit her for Christmas to inspire her to turn on her oven. That was six months after she moved into her apartment. This simple joy turned into a narrowly averted disaster.
Christmas Markets of Yore in Ye Olde World
Imagine sipping Glühwein (hot mulled wine) under the stars, upstaged by millions of Christmas lights in every direction. There are also endless stalls in sight selling hot foods on a stick, twisted, spiced and/or roasted as well as holiday trinkets you don’t need but buy anyway … Pop! Dream over. It’s 2020, the year without a Christmas market.
Sleeping in Super Cool Ice Hotel in Arctic Sweden
The Arctic encompasses the northern tips of several countries, including Sweden. Known as Lapland or Sámpi there, it is home to original Ice Hotel where ice sculptors compete annually to design the best room to sleep.
A Tale of Two Sisters in Norway
When my typically non-outdoorsy sister asked me to go to Norway, I thought “You’re asking me to go to hiking, biking and kayaking in Norway? No way!” And of course, I immediately said yes … It was “A Tale of Two Sisters” (as opposed to cities) in the “the season of light” as Charles Dickens would say.
Walking in the Footsteps of Athenian Democracy
Following on the heels of the U.S. presidential election, ironically, I was in the birthplace of democracy: Athens, Greece. As I stared as the magnificent Acropolis while ballots were being counted in America, I prayed that Athenian democracy would prevail there. As it turns out, a modern Pericles “trumped” Julius Caesar.
Motley (Grand) Cru of Bordeaux
The famed wine region of Bordeaux, France is full of gastronomic delights and even unexpected surprises … think of a private, behind-the-scenes tour of a Grand Cru estate, including a barrel tasting and blending lesson!
A Love Letter to Brussels: Quirky, Cultured City Be Mine
You had me at “bonjour, enchanté” when we first met years ago. I fell for your charming personality, international flair and striking appearance. Often overshadowed by your bigger siblings Paris and London, you have so much to offer yet remain an underexplored gem. That’s because you’re modest and understated, only capturing the hearts of those who take the time to know you.
The Fat Duck: Levitating to Childhood Dreams
Once upon a time, there was an old English pub gone three-star Michelin restaurant in a quaint village outside of London. Famed chef Heston Blumenthal fed us stories from his childhood memories and dreams that constituted the best meal of my life.
Exploring Ancient Greece with the God of Wine
In August 2020, a friend and I braved traveling during COVID-19 to escape the red zone of Brussels in Greece for 10 days. Our private tour of the Saronic Islands and Peloponnese (southern peninsula) began with a guide named Dionysis. With the Greek god of wine, how could we go wrong?
For Better or for Worse at a Wedding in Italy
Everyone’s heard of a groom with cold feet … but a priest? When my sister decided to get married in Italy, we knew there would be some challenges but not a forced exodus of the entire congregation.
