Blog
Strasbourg, FRANCE
Strasbourg, France was the first stop on our 2011 Holiday Market tour. We chose Strasbourg as our initial location primarily for convenience – and cost! We were able to purchase one-way flights on easyjet from our starting point in Copenhagen to Strasbourg for less than 20€ each. Even when combined with a train ticket to Stuttgart, the travel costs were still far less expensive than flying into Munich or Stuttgart. We had never been to Strasbourg, knew nothing about... continue reading
Belgrade, SERBIA
Belgrade was a city we often wanted to visit. We had friends and co-workers from Serbia and they spoke often and wistfully about their country. Belgrade is a city with a very tumultuous history and is also one of the oldest cities in Europe – with historical references of more than 7,000 years. In recent times, during the 1999 NATO bombing of Belgrade many targets in the city center were hit. During almost three months of bombing, only a... continue reading
Monte Carlo, MONACO
Monte Carlo has a well-deserved reputation of glitz and glamour. Only 3 kilometers long, Monte Carlo sits on a large rock named Mont Des Mules overlooking the sea. You travel back and forth into France and you hardly realize you’re moving between two countries. Yet there is a special uniqueness to Monte Carlo. This is a city that just projects “style.” Enjoy this photo-logue of our most recent journey to Monaco. Our first stop was lunch on our... continue reading
Bratislava, SLOVAKIA
We had never been to Slovakia and the opportunity to see a new country, and be within one hour of Vienna by train, was enticing… so we booked flights on Wizz Air to Bratislava. Wizz Air is a Hungarian owned airline that flies out of Rome (FCO). We wandered the city, ate at many Slovak restaurants, and just relaxed. On one of our days, we walked to the train station and caught the local train to Vienna, a trip... continue reading
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, GERMANY
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a mountain resort town in Bavaria in southern Germany, on the border with Austria. Garmisch and Partenkirchen were actually separate towns for many centuries, and still maintain quite separate identities. Garmisch has a slightly more modern feeling, while Partenkirchen has fresco-filled, cobblestoned streets. I’ve been to Garmisch-Partenkirchen a few times – The drive into Garmisch-Partenkirchen is one of the most beautiful in southern Germany. I took these photos as we drove into and around the region. On... continue reading
Copenhagen, DENMARK
It’s Pumpkin TimeHalloween is just around the corner. After five plus years living overseas we are still adapting to holidays celebrated more predominately in the USA… like Halloween. Halloween is celebrated – in a very limited manner – in many countries in Europe. Living in Italy – next door to the Vatican Museums – we were well aware that the Vatican (frequently) published their perspective on this holiday… Yet the pumpkin is often used in Europe not as... continue reading
Villa D’Este, ITALY
One of the most beautiful villas in Italy is certainly Villa D’Este. The Italian garden of Villa D’Este is included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. There are more than 500 fountains, incredible statuary and beautiful flowers. The gardens were first created by Cardinal Ippolito II D’Este in the 1500′s after the disappointment of his failed bid for the papacy. His vision was to bring back the grandeur of Rome, Fontainebleau, and nearby Villa Adriana. Tivoli, Villa D’Este and... continue reading
Keukenhof Gardens, THE NETHERLANDS
One of the best drives you can make from Amsterdam is to the Keukenhof Gardens, also known as the Garden of Europe! It IS the world’s largest flower garden. When you go to Keukenhof you’ll see flowers – thousands and thousands and thousands of flowers. Each year, in October, there is a “planting weekend” where the annual “first bulb” is planted. After that weekend, the park closes until March as more than 7 million tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and other... continue reading
What Do You Really Need to Bring…
There are so many “lists” of what to bring an extended vacation to a foreign country. If you brought everything that everyone recommends you’d need a few additional suitcases! Everyone has different needs and desires… There are multiple articles on the internet with suggestions … and even books if you need more help (see below!). On the other hand, I strongly suggest take ONLY what you’ll NEED. Europe, Asia, South America, and most of the world have grocery stores,...continue reading
Acqualina Resort and Spa, FLORIDA
Last week I spent some time at Virtuoso Week, the annual conference in Las Vegas. There I met Ann Palmer, the Regional Director of Sales for the Acqualina Resort and Spa on the Beach. In our brief discussion she spoke of this beautiful Resort. It sounded like a wonderful destination for our next family vacation – sun, sand, a spa… Just what our family needs. I wish I could remember all the “insider info” Ann told me… but for... continue reading
