Navigating the Navigli in Milan History It may come as a surprise to learn that Venice isn’t the only large Italian city with canals. Although located inland, Milan was once a port city with canals connecting to Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, Switzerland and the Adriatic Sea. The extensive canal system, known as Navigli, expanded over …
Summer in the Dolomites “The mountains are calling and I must go.” ― John Muir John Muir’s quote captures my sentiment well, especially when it comes to summer in the Dolomites. If you haven’t experienced this unique corner of the Alps, here are five reasons to plan a summer visit. Scenery Describing the landscape in the …
Three separate historical buildings were joined via new construction to create the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel Prague, centrally located in the capital city of the Czech Republic. Architecture and Design The local architectural firm of Dům a Město united the three historic structures in varying styles – Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Classical, and Baroque – and seamlessly blended these with …
Prague Art and Architecture at the Turn of the Century Photos of beautiful buildings inspired me to learn more about Prague’s Art and Architecture during my first visit to the capital of the Czech Republic. After an eye-opening tour of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter with Context Travel, I knew who to contact. The Context Travel tour …
Why I Love the Beauty, Brain and Mood Food Menu at the Park Hyatt Zurich. While planning our summer vacation, I read about the exciting new Park Hyatt Zurich restaurant menu designed to support beauty, mood, and the brain, and I knew I had to try it. Our diet is based on fresh, local and …
Discover Incredible Food and More at Expo 2015 Milano Expo 2015 Milano with the theme Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life, is the first Universal Exposition focused on nutrition. With food as the focus and over 140 participating countries, a visit to Expo 2015 is an opportunity to eat and drink your way around the …
I sighed as I read, “Welcome to back to your home in Milano”. The handwritten welcome from the General Manager at the Four Seasons Milano reflected our sentiments exactly. It is difficult to imagine a better home away from home than the former 15th-century convent in Italy’s fashion capital. At the Four Seasons Milano, original …
I clung to the seat as the train rattled through the darkened tunnel, racks of dusty bottles flying by. Every once in a while, the train slowed. Was our driver was searching for the way through the 30km network of underground tunnels? Or pausing so we could absorb the gloomy view. Hand painted black …
Secrets of the Gothic Quarter As I walked through the crowd gathered around one of the most photographed sights in Barcelona, Spain, I wondered if they knew the true story. Although the Pont dels Sospirs or Bridge of Sighs looks like it has been around forever, it isn’t even a 100 years old. The history …
Mercer Hotel Barcelona You will find the luxurious Mercer Hotel Barcelona tucked away on a narrow lane in the historic Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, Spain. Don’t let the unassuming ancient stone exterior fool you. Once you step through the large doors into the lobby of this 28 room boutique hotel, the experience is unforgettable. Welcome …
Exploring Gràcia with Devour Barcelona “It’s 1:00 pm and time for vermouth”, announced Renée, our Devour Barcelona tour guide. At home, vermouth at 1:00 pm would be unusual, but it seemed entirely appropriate as we strolled through the Gràcia neighbourhood. Things are different here – in a good way. Life in Barcelona, Spain seems more relaxed, spontaneous and …
Barcelona – Gaudi’s Workshop “Not so long ago, a man dreamed of a city. In his dream, the dragons had scales of tiles, the houses smiles of wrought iron and the buildings waves of the sea and mountains. Barcelona was the open workshop that gave shape to the imagination of the genius: Antoni Gaudi” via Ciutat …
How to Discover the Authentic Cinque Terre I swallowed the bitter taste of disappointment as I trudged along the concrete path. I had traveled to the Cinque Terre, a region in Italy encompassing five small villages on the Ligurian Sea, to hike a famous trail. The crowds and the vendors lining the concrete path were …
Palm Springs Art Museum – A Gem in the Desert The excited chatter and arm-tugging were the first signs I had picked a winner. Museums are tricky with children and for some, a visit to the museum is as welcome as a trip to the dentist. This was not the case at the Palm Springs …
Where to Watch the Tour de France I plotted, schemed and agonized over how and where to watch the Tour de France. With options ranging from organized tours to renting a caravan and parking on the roadside, selecting the perfect experience for the family was serious business. Unable to choose between city and country, I …
