Leaving the historic charm of our stay near Avignon behind, we journeyed into a different part of Provence, shifting closer toward the sun-drenched coast of the Côte d’Azur. Our destination for the next three nights was the breathtaking Chateau de Berne Hotel , a 5-star Relais & Châteaux eco-resort. The estate is an architectural marvel that perfectly reflects the authentic Provençal … Continue reading Provence, Cote D’Azur →

We kicked off our tour of Provence in an unconventional way, bypassing the typical lavender hills for the wild, sun-drenched landscapes of the Camargue. This vast wetland biosphere reserve in the RhôneRiver delta feels like another world, defined by sprawling salt marshes and reeds. We took a boat trip deep into the marshes to get up close to the region's … Continue reading Provence Part One →

After flying out of Fiumicino airport in Rome, we touched down in Toulouse and made the scenic drive north to our home for the next six nights: the breathtaking Château de Mercuès. Perched majestically on a rocky hilltop overlooking the ribboning Lot River and acres of lush vineyards, this 13th-century castle is the absolute epitome … Continue reading Lot Valley, Dordogne Valley, and Beziers →

Leaving the dramatic, jagged peaks of Ortisei behind, the long journey south to the Tuscan coast began with an unexpected twist. A minor emergency required a quick one-hour pitstop in Bolzano to get a cracked phone screen repaired. It turned out to be a delightful pause, offering just enough time to breathe in the vibrant … Continue reading Porto Ercole →

Driving north from Verona to the Dolomites feels like passing through a living painting, shifting seamlessly from sun-drenched vineyards to jagged, dramatic peaks. It is the ultimate Italian road trip. Leaving the historic streets of Verona, we immediately entered the Valpolicella wine region, where rolling hills are draped in endless vineyards and cypress-lined roads. As we … Continue reading Dolomites →

Our Italian adventure began with a direct flight from Stockholm to Bergamo, followed by a scenic drive to the hills above Gargnano, where checking into the five-star Lefay Resort and Spa Lago di Garda for a four-night stay immediately set a luxurious tone for the trip. This hotel is a destination in itself. It is … Continue reading Lake Garda and Verona →

We just kicked off the longest trip I have ever taken—a massive, seven-week adventure that required months of intense planning. Because we will see and do so much, I will break this epic journey into a series of blog posts. Welcome to part one, Scandinavia. Copenhagen After a long flight with a stopover in Madrid, … Continue reading Scandinavia →

It is the shortest blog I have ever written. Originally, I had not even planned to write, but something really impressed me, so I decided to share. We were invited to a birthday party in NYC. We took a train from Philadelphia. While on the train, I was looking for things to do in NYC … Continue reading 36 hours in New York City →

The grandson of our friends is on the PGA Tour (Professional Golf Association). The major golf tournament featuring world-class players was going to be held this weekend at the Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, just outside Philadelphia. This was the reason of our trip to Philadelphia. As soon as we arrived early Wednesday night, … Continue reading Philadelphia getaway →

After being active in London for several days, we took a short flight to Stuttgart, rented a car, and drove for 1 hour to Baden-Baden. We checked into the Aqua Aurelia Hotel for 4 nights. We selected this hotel because it is directly connected to Caracalla Therme. The Caracalla Spa (Caracalla Therme) is a welcoming, … Continue reading Baden Baden →

We arrived in London in the afternoon and settled into the contemporary hotel Middle Eight in the Covent Garden neighborhood for three nights. The hotel lacked any English charm, but the rooms were much bigger than usual in central London. The location was excellent and that was very important to us. It was not our … Continue reading London →

After a long break (3 months), we are on the road again. Even though we told ourselves it was time to stop skiing, we decided to keep going. Since none of our friends ski anymore, we planned to go just the two of us. Then we got a call from our daughter Danielle, suggesting that … Continue reading Skiing in Megeve with a touch of Paris →

We arrived in Turin late afternoon and checked into the central Palazzo Bellezia for three nights. We strolled around the town, and our first encounter was with a pro-Palestinian demonstration. We got upset, and it spoiled our first impression of the city. We went directly to the restaurant for dinner. Stefano Fanti Al Ristorante Il … Continue reading Turin and Langhe →

We arrived at our final destination, Tropea, late afternoon, and checked into Villa Paola, a small luxury complex renovated from an old convent, for five nights. The structure dates to 1543. Legend says St.Francis of Paola asked Tropea's noble families to build a convent and church for his friars in this magical place on his … Continue reading Calabria, Part 2 →

I’m was not aware of anyone who has visited Calabria, so all my knowledge about it came from the internet. After a short flight from Milan, we arrived in Reggio Calabria, the regional capital. As we drove from the airport, the surrounding area appeared quite dilapidated, causing us a bit of apprehension. I was aware … Continue reading Calabria, Part 1 →