From the Pyrenees to the jagged coastal coves of Costa Brava, Spain's Catalonia stirs inspiration and saccharine summer dreams.
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was hard to say when summer arrived in the Alt Empordà, the upper part of Catalonia, tucked away in the northeast corner of Spain. The fresh-milled scent of olives that clung...
Florence is the place to feast on the world's finest art. In so many ways, it's also the perfect place to apply for a US tourist visa.
How do you keep a still gaze on Michelangelo’s David? Well, I did not. Forget about his biblical nature. David is butt-naked!
A quick...
The effervescent city of Marseille possesses a unique charm and character. The best way to appreciate France's second-largest city is to sample its soup.
Bouillabaisse . For first timers, getting the correct pronunciation is hard. Spelling it is even harder. For first timers, it’s easier to have a bowl of...
While the temptation of regenerative treatments flow abundantly in the Austrian Alps, visitors look the other way and seek out a new kind of healing.
At age 68, with a voluminous coif in a shade reminiscent of a melting snow, Ike Ikrath is overflowing with energy. So much so that...
Malaysia’s storied capital is teeming with contrast - from its jarring mix of ethnicities, cultures as well as beliefs all adding to its irresistible charm and intrigue.
The early morning call from the muezzin at the nearby Masjid Negara, Malaysia’s national mosque in downtown Kuala Lumpur reverberated in the silence...
In Koh Samui, a simple retreat becomes an endearing masterclass in fortitude and grit.
The sight of a solid, 20-inch bluish-green body adorned with protruding red spots greeted us. In perfect stillness, I saw him glued to the wall like an exquisite adornment. His physical demeanor told me to stay...
Picture the South of France without the beach, boatload of tourists, and the bling. You get Uzès - a hidden and meticulously preserved town known for its Renaissance architecture and Roman flair.
Winter is like my neighbor’s receding hairline. Inconspicuous. Its decline is subtle and gradual. While seasons regenerate, renewed...
There are many ways to discover Italy's powerhouse. In Milan, you take a spade and dig; the odds of uncovering ancient relics are high. You could also take a good pair of shoes, and the odds of discovering the city are as good as the way you strut.
"I would...
Sights, sounds, the self and a schloss -l'Invitation au voyage in the snowy Bavarian Alps.
There are elephants in the room. I am of course referring to the ubiquitous and recurring elephant patterns of my bed’s headboard, as well as on the couvre-lit, the couch and cushions in the room...
The "Golden Centuries of Discoveries” ended a long time ago in history books, but in Lisbon, the resurging energy is finding a comeback.
Travelers have been talking in reverent tones about a number of encouraging sights they noticed in Lisbon. It seemed it was all people could talk about lately....


















