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An Eye for Design
2007-04-28 08:05:00
The Quentin Design Hotel Berlin is a modern, well-designed hotel that does not skimp on aesthetic or comfort. Shoppers can delight in the Quentin Design Hotel Berlin?s proximity to the Kurfurstendamm shopping district and the massive KaDeWe department store (Europe?s largest). Socialites can enjoy the nightlife of Shoneberg in the Fuggerstrabe area. This is Berlin?s ?gay district? that extends an equally welcoming arm to straight couples.  Despite the Quentin Design Hotel Berlin?s location to these busy parts of a busy city, the hotel itself sits on a quiet residential side street making for short walks back for a peaceful night?s sleep. There are also several U-Bahn stations in the area to whisk you away to all the must-see destinations in Berlin. On the inside, the Quentin Design Hotel Berlin manages to pack in little tasteful details everywhere you look. Well-chosen photography hangs in the lobby and in the rooms and small statues and sculptures sit alongside dry flower displays...
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Almost Like Living in Berlin
2007-04-28 08:00:00
Berlin is a city I would want to live in. While the sightseeing is great and the food is eclectic, it is the intangible energy of Berlin that captivates me. Since I can?t move to Berlin anytime soon, I settle quite happily for a stay at the Schoenhouse Apartments whenever I am in Berlin, instead. What?s more, the hotel is only 3 years old so it feels like a moving into a brand new Berlin apartment whenever I stay. The deluxe apartment at the Schoenhouse is a spacious place with a nice, cozy bedroom (and comfy bed), a clean bathroom (shower only), and a nice seating area. The seating area has a good TV and DVD player (DVDs available for free from the front desk) to watch after a long day out in the city. The kitchen is equipped with the most important appliances: microwave, oven and dishwasher. With a supermarket nearby (the front desk gives excellent directions) we were always able to stay well-stocked and equally well-fed. The Schoenhouse Apartments are quite close to the shops and...
More About: Living , Germany , Berlin , Most , Like

My Own Seville Apartment
2007-04-28 07:53:00
I am always on the lookout for a places to stay in Italy and Spain that allow me access to a kitchen. The Apartamentos Murillo in the charming Santa Cruz neighborhood of Seville is one place that I try to spend a few days when traveling on the Iberian Peninsula. Seville is a wonderful city with its gardens, cathedral and, of course, the stunning Alcazar. Seville, and the Santa Cruz neighborhood in particular, is the kind of place in Spain where you can expect tiny streets and great tapas and it won?t disappoint. The one room apartment that I always get at the Apartamentos Murillo is a great place to base myself when exploring Seville and collecting fresh ingredients to use in my own kitchen. The apartments, one room with a sitting area and well-equipped kitchen, are a home away from home. Moving from the kitchen to the large, comfortable sofa in the lounge area while cooking a dinner, windows open to the evening air, stirs a chord in me. Of course, there is always occasion to let so...
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Hotel Las Casas de la Juderia
2007-04-27 04:35:00
Other than its premiere location in the Santa Cruz neighborhood of Seville, the aspect that I love most about the Hotel Las Casa s de la Jude ria is its funkiness. This is far from your typical bland hotel with sterile public areas and cookie cutter rooms. The Hotel Las Casas de la Juderia has rooms that feel more like you magically stumbled into your own Seville apartment rather than booked into a hotel. Our room was airy yet cozy, with comfortable beds (which we easily pushed together), a marble-tiled bathroom, and, to top it all off, big French doors opening onto a lovely balcony that overlooked the Hotel Las Casas de la Juderia wonderful patio area. The patio is a fantastic place to sit in the evening and enjoy a pre-dinner drink while listening to the music coming from the piano bar. Another nice little touch was the hotel?s free wireless internet service extending out into the patio area, great for checking morning email while enjoying the Hotel Las Casas de la Juderia?s include...
More About: Spain

Vincci La Rabida
2007-04-27 04:31:00
The Vincci La Rabida is a wonderfully central hotel in the heart of old town Seville located in an 18th century palace. The Vincci La Rabida is in the enchanting El Arenal part of Seville so a tasty meal or funky shop is never far away. El Arenal is also a good place to try the regional Seville tapas. The Vincci La Rabida is very near the Seville Cathedral as well as the famous bull-fighting ring, the Maestranza. As such, the Vincci La Rabida has gained a reputation as a popular hangout for anyone connected to the bullfighting world. We went to see a bullfight and used the Vincci La Rabida as a meeting point for pre-fight drinks with some friends staying at another hotel. We took our drink in the rooftop bar, which offers up excellent views. The hotel entrance and the adjoining airy atrium are really quite lovely and do a great job of introducing the space to guests. The staff is extremely polite and their English was good across the board. The rooms are well laid out and the cool t...
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5-Star Hotel on the Seafront
2007-04-27 04:27:00
The Las Arenas Balneario Resort is the only 5-star seafront hotel in Valencia. Even with a lack of competition, the Las Arenas Balneario Resort strives to make sure their guests get their 5-stars worth. The rooms are clean, well stocked (nice TV, comfy king-sized bed, slippers, bathrobes, quality linens, a minibar that gets topped off twice daily, a CD player, turndown service with chocolates, and a daily weather report delivered to your room), and ours opened onto a lovely balcony with an ocean view. The Las Arenas Balneario Resort is right on the beach and has a fantastic pool area with comfortable lounge chairs for reclining, sunning and reading. We took our lunch here as well during our ?beach day.? There is a decent selection of seaside restaurants and bars near the hotel for a nearby meal and the tram (just across the road from the hotel) gets you into central Valencia is a matter of minutes. We took the tram in every morning and usually came back in time for sunset, so the t...
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A Room You Want to Be In
2007-04-27 04:23:00
Once you stay in the Hotel Eurostars Gran Valencia, you?ll understand why the hotel is a popular choice for tourists and businesspeople alike. The hotel is a little over a year old so you can enjoy up-to-the-date hotel amenities without having to pay for upgrades and extras. The rooms are truly a wonderful place to relax and regroup after a meeting or a day of sightseeing. There are a variety of little touches that make the rooms of the Hotel Eurostars Gran Valencia so lovely: an internal door that closed off the room door from the outside hall and virtually eliminated all external noise, extremely comfortable beds, a pleasant seating area with chairs and a coffee table, a separate toilet and bathing area, a Jacuzzi bath, and simple, crisp modern décor (our room was accented in pleasing blue tones). There is also a good bar in the restaurant (with piano music nightly) for a relaxing drink as well as a sauna and rooftop pool perfect for soaking tired feet while indulging in an expa...
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Modern Valencia
2007-04-27 04:17:00
The Barceló Vale ncia Hotel is a super-modern hotel conveniently connected to the sights and restaurants of Valencia. The hotel is right next to the Palace of Arts and Science and it is well worth visiting the museum, planetarium and aquarium while staying at the Barceló Valencia Hotel. The Turia Urban Park is also very close by for an urban picnic experience or a nice morning stroll. Inside, the Barceló Valencia Hotel is all about modern design. The rooms are ultra-clean and well-equipped with comfortable beds, nice big TVs and a shower that is really something else. Our shower consisted of multiple shower heads in what amounted to a big, glass box. If you can, get a room on the side of the hotel facing the Calatrava Museums for some fantastic window views. Opening the curtains each morning to such a lovely view was a great way to start of the day. After the view and an invigorating shower, the hotel?s exceptional breakfast really capped off a great morning? every morning. The area ...
More About: Spain , Modern

The Hotel Preciados
2007-04-27 03:55:00
Housed in a building dating back to 1881 with amenities and technological touches from a recent renovation, the Hotel Preciados is a deserving 4-star hotel that offers comfort and excellent location to guest. The land on which the Hotel Preciados sits was originally owned by the el Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales (literally, The Monastery of Barefoot Nobles?a place for noblewomen to come, with their dowries, and follow a monastic life?which was Europe?s wealthiest convent in the 17th century) and was a former residence of the Count of Romanones so there is still plenty of palpable history mixed in with the modern touches. The Hotel Preciados has exceptionally clean rooms with lovely bathroom featuring a separate stand-up shower and airjet bathtub. The rooms are full of contemporary additions like a complimentary minibar, convenient control panels in the headboard over the bed, and free wireless internet throughout the hotel. The rooms are quiet and the staff is attentive. The Hot...
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Silken Puerta America Madrid
2007-04-27 03:52:00
The Hotel Puerta America , is an architectural dreamscape. Born from the idea of letting 18 top-quality designers and architects each play with a portion of the space, the Hotel Silk en Puerta is a celebration of architecture and design. It is located along the Avenida de America just 10 kilometers from the airport. The area around the Hotel Puerta America is quiet and residential but is located on a metro line so the city center is a short ride away. I first stayed here when I had a day and a half in Mardrid and have stayed here exclusively three times since. There really is no other place, let alone hotel, like this on Earth. Madrid is a city to stay out very late in and the Hotel Puerta America is the perfect place to spend the morning lounging in. The first room I stayed in was an Arata Isozaki room, which I chose because of my connections to Japan from living there. The room was an amazing blend of clean-edged traditional Japan with all the curved lines of Neo-Tokyo. When I saw t...
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A Soak in Madrid
2007-04-27 03:47:00
The Hotel Spa Senator España lives up to its name by being both an excellent hotel and one of the premiere spas in Madrid . The Hotel Spa Senator España is located on Gran Via a short distance from the major sites and about 30 yards from the metro. It is a perfect place to base yourself for a Madrid holiday. Inside, the hotel rooms seem to fall into two categories: slightly smaller rooms with the only window in the room leading into a hallway or perfectly sized rooms with balconies that open up onto Gran Via. While the rooms with a hallway window are perfectly adequate in size and amenities, do yourself a favor and try to request a room with a balcony; the rooms are well-insulated so nighttime noises are minimal and the balcony views of Madrid from the upper floors are great. All of the rooms are all clean with large comfortable beds, a minibar that is restocked daily, and the bathrooms are well appointed. The spa portion of the hotel is really something to write home about. There ar...
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Roman Palazzo Rome
2007-04-27 03:42:00
The Hotel Antico Pala zzo Rospigliosi (formerly known as Hotel Cappellette di San Luigi) in Rome is located in a 500-year-old Italian palazzo steeped in history. The palazzo was the home of Cardinal Giulio Rospigliosi who, in 1667, became Pope Clement IX. The Hotel Antico Palazzo Rospigliosi still contains a 19th century church within its walls that the staff will gladly show you. How Italian! The Hotel Antico Palazzo Rospigliosi opened in December 2005 and seamlessly manages to be both an ancient palazzo and a full-function modern hotel. The centuries old reading room and library, the breakfast room, and the lobby all feel like classic Italy infused with touches of modern comfort. We especially enjoyed the marble-floored library on the second floor and often lounged here before going out or after coming back from a day of sightseeing. The rooms were comfortable with new beds and modern bathrooms. The hotel breakfast is fantastic. There are plenty of hot and cold breakfast choices an...
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Eternal City Albergo Ottocento
2007-04-27 03:35:00
We?ve been to Rome three times since the Alber go Ottocento opened in the summer of 2002 and we?ve stayed there each time. The Albergo Ottocento?s location?between Via Veneto and Via Sistina, near the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain and Palazzo Barberini?is unparalleled as a base of operations in the eternal city. Two of our three stays in Rome were blessed with picturesque weather so we were able to venture quite far on foot. We easily walked to the Vatican, the Pantheon and the Colosseum. The décor in the Albergo Ottocento utilizes elegant furnishing and decorations to highlight your hotel experience. The staff is faultlessly kind and always willing to help with suggestions, directions, or any needs that you have. Our rooms have always been excellent with the bathrooms being truly wonderful. The Jacuzzi bathtub is a real treat for tired legs. Breakfast at the Albergo Ottocento is a standard assortment of fresh breads, pastries, fruits, beverages, and hot or cold cereal. We always...
More About: Italy , City , Eternal , Berg

Royal Country Living
2007-04-13 06:03:00
Conveniently located in between Oxford and Stratford, Blenheim Palace  makes for a wonderful daytrip or stopover in the English countryside. This 18th century palace is hailed as one of the most regal of English estates. The manor on which Blenheim Palace sits was a gift from Queen Anne to the 1st Duke of Marlborough and today is the actual functioning home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough. Don?t worry though, guests are still welcome. A visit to Blenheim Palace is as much about enjoying the wonderful Baroque architecture of the building as strolling through the estate?s massive gardens and parks. The palace is entered from the east and includes a James Thornbill mural on the ceiling of the majestic Great Hall, a Saloon used only on Christmas Day and a 55 meter (183-ft) ?Long Library? toward the rear decorated with an Isaac Mansfield stucco ceiling. The massive gardens and parks (2,000 acres in all) flanking the west side of the palace were designed by Lancelot ?Capability? Brown in ...
More About: Living , Country , Royal , Count , Ving

Awash with History
2007-04-13 05:57:00
Ever since Roman times, the city of Bath has drawn vacationers looking for a beautiful relaxation destination. Starting in the 18th century, the heart of Bath was transformed by two men?John Woods senior and then junior?in a spa and shopping paradise that is today easily reachable in a few hours by car or bus from central London. The heart of Bath remains car-free and offers visitors a chance to indulge in some wonderful shopping and sightseeing. If you head north from the train station along Union Street, the first destination of note is, appropriately, the ancient remains of the 1st century Roman baths. The adjacent pump rooms, which served as teas houses, were a hive of social activity during the spa heydays of the 18th century. Right next to the baths is the Bath Abbey, in front of which street entertainers captivate crowds in the Abbey Church Yard. Also make sure to check out the lovely stonework façade which features, among other designs, angels ascending Jacob?s Ladder. Head...
More About: History , Story , With , Stor , Wash

Bohemian Paris
2007-04-13 05:51:00
Just outside of Paris city limits, the steep Montmartre hill rises out of the northern part of the Right Bank, drawing artists and visitors since the end of the 19th Century. Still an active epicenter for artists, artistic culture and a bohemian life-style, the area has retained its deliciously sordid atmosphere and revelry. Many of the great artists of our past, including Dalí, Monet and Picasso, used Montmartre at one point or another for a working and living retreat from the confines of other more rigid societies of the time. In the late 1800?s, Montmartre became a popular drinking area, thanks in part to the local nuns who made wine and in part a lack of Paris city taxes in the Montmartre. The neighborhood never shook this attitude and feel, confirmed over the years by the steady presence of artists in both studios and on the streets. Exhibitions at the Musee de Montmartre usually feature works of artists associated with the area and the Espace Montmartre Salvador Dalí displays...
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Scotland's Crown
2007-04-13 05:38:00
In Scotland , a lush land of breathtaking scenery, Edinburgh (eh-den-burrow) city is the culturally-rich heart of this beautiful, small country. Divided into the Old Town and New Town (built to ease overcrowding of the Old Town in the late 1700s), central Edinburgh is wonderfully compact city that is best navigated by foot or bike. The comprehensive bus service and numerous black taxis are a great second option, but in this small and congested city, don?t bother with the rental car at all. In the city, the highlight of your walking endeavors will surely be the Royal Mile, four ancient streets that formed the main thoroughfare of medieval Edinburgh. A walk starting from the Edinburgh castle takes you past many of the city?s oldest buildings and some of the city?s best museums, ending at Holyrood Palace; it is a truly stunning tour of old Scottish history, architecture and culture. The castle is also worth spending time in. Perched on the core of an extinct volcano in the Princes Stre...
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Yoga-ready Hotels Italy
2007-04-13 05:31:00
From Rome or Naples, take a mind- and body-altering week at Il Portico Retreat Center, near the small town of Ostuni (trains run to the village from both cities). Nestled in a valley about 20 minutes from the Adriatic Sea coast, Il Portico Retreat Center is a relaxing venue set amongst olive trees. Every spring and autumn, instructor Maria Alfaro holds a week-long yoga retreat here. With a beautiful countryside location and stunning retreat center from the 16th Century, Yoga dventure  gives visitors an intensive (two classes of two hours each, per day) week-long yoga practice in a stunning, pristine setting. Maria is a superb yoga instructor (trained in the US and in India), trained in Iyengar and Ashtanga styles, who is appropriately fluent in Italian and English. She is not only an astute guide for a relaxing and profound yoga experience, but also a witty and knowledgeable local guide. While at Il Portico, you will delight in the amazing organic, gourmet vegetarian meals (breakfa...
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Hotel de Filosoof
2007-04-13 05:25:00
One of the highlights of our visit to Amsterdam was the quirky and unique hotel we stayed in, the Hotel de Filo soof (Philosophy Hotel). This 3-star hotel has about 40 rooms that are each decorated in differing philosophical and cultural themes. We stayed in the ground-floor, spacious ?Virginia Woolf? room that faced the lovely back garden. Even though it was winter, the garden was lovely and the room was warm and cozy; we sat in the chairs at the table in our room?s sitting area and enjoyed morning tea while watching the city wake up, before we headed down for the great breakfast. Located at Anna van den Vondelstraat 6, the Hotel de Filosoof is in a beautiful and quiet neighborhood, just a few blocks away from the lush Vondelpark. The hotel is also walking distance from the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museum. Plus, a tram line is just three blocks away. We also had a fantastic evening at the beautiful hotel bar, chatting with the friendly bartender and sipping drinks. I stay in a l...

Elysees Opera Hotel
2007-04-13 05:21:00
If you are looking for an excellent, conveniently located budget hotel in the Montmartre neighborhood of Paris close to easy walks down the Camps Elysees and the Eiffel Tower, the Elysees Opera Hotel is the best one I?ve found in the center of Paris. As with the typical Parisian (and European) hotel rooms, these are on the small side, but are entirely practical, comfortable and very clean. As well, the rooms have all been renovated for modern comforts. The atmosphere at the hotel is warm, in both temperature and friendliness of the staff. I found the staff to be very helpful and kind, which is such a wonderful aspect of a hotel. To top off the comfortable stay, we thoroughly enjoyed the delicious buffet breakfast (served in the breakfast room) and had a fantastic time chatting over cocktails at the hotel bar one evening before heading out for a walk and dinner. Another plus for the Elysees Opera Hotel, as I already mentioned, is the location. In addition to the proximity of some o...
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Florentine Hotel Bernini Palace
2007-04-13 05:16:00
The Hotel Bernini Pala ce   (a part of the Baglioni Hotels family) is such a stunning and extravagant building that we sometimes found it hard to motivate ourselves to leave?even though we were in Florence, the Renaissance capital of the world. The Hotel Bernini is located in a 15th century building that is permeated with history. The décor is opulent to say the least: antique clocks, gold leaf, paintings and murals in the halls and rooms, plus a healthy dose of decorated columns and marble. All of the Florentine grandeur is accentuated with a hint of Moroccan/North African flair. While the excess of antiques and fine art can make you feel like you are in a museum and should therefore be careful of what you touch, the Hotel Bernini is a truly wonderful place to wander and take in. The rooms in the Hotel Bernini are as luxurious as the public areas of the hotel, also featuring antique clocks and beautiful period pieces. The breakfast room is an opulent location from which to start your...
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Comfort Art Hotel Siru
2007-04-13 05:10:00
You can tell as you approach the Comfort Art Hotel Siru that you are in for an unusual hotel experience. The art deco neon exterior boldly announces that the Comfort Art Hotel Siru is as much a piece of art as a functional place to stay during your visit to Brussels. You see, back in the early 1990s, 130 painters, comic artists and sculptors were given free creative reign to transform every room and hallway in the Comfort Art Hotel Siru into art. The result is a captivating display of sights that will insure you are not the only guest wandering the halls in order to take in as much of the creativity as possible. The floors of the hotel are themed based on travel: travel dreams, travel memories and so on. Personally, I?m a fan of the ?Dreams? floor. If the hotel is not too booked up and the front desk not too busy, the staff is very willing to give you a tour of some of the empty rooms. The top floor of the Comfort Art Hotel Siru offers nice views of surrounding central Brussels incl...
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Amsterdam Hotel Info
2007-04-13 05:03:00
Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities in Europe, let alone the world, and I have definitely stayed in a wide range of accommodations during my visits. After trying several types of accommodations in many parts of the city, I have settled on the Hotel Vondel for its location, cleanliness and character. The Hotel Vondel is very near the Vondelpark which not only means the Van Gogh and Rijksmuseum are a short walk away, it also means that a green urban escape is close at hand. Plus, I can easily walk into the heart of Amsterdam for food and culture. But the selling point for me really is the wonderful interior of the hotel I started only staying at the Hotel Vondel two years ago mainly because I like the look and feel of the place. The hotel is located along Vondelstraat, a lovely street lined with similar-looking brick townhouses. Inside, however, the Hotel Vondel transforms into a hip, chic boutique hotel. The lobby, restaurant and rooms are all done in a stylish black and white the...
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Zorba the Greek Drink
2007-03-29 06:06:00
I like to frame my travel destinations in Europe around food and drink. Culinary travel, wine tasting and brewery tours are the heart of my trips with historic sights and museums forming the side trips. I usually seek out a manufacturer of local specialties, even if I am pretty sure I will not enjoy what I am eating or drinking. Ouzo, Greece?s anise-flavored alcohol, is a drink that I sought out in Athens before deciding if I wanted to go to an anise brewery. After trying ouzo, I decided that a special trip ?to the source? was not necessary. Ouzo is Greece?s national drink and should be made with 100% of its ingredients coming from its home country. Ouzo starts out as crushed grapes, local herbs and berries before getting a healthy addition of spices (star anise lending the strongest flavor with licorice, mint, cloves and many other herbs thrown in for complexity) and heat. After boiling in a copper still, ouzo rests for many months and is then diluted to around 40% alcohol (80 proo...
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Famous Bullfighting
2007-03-29 06:03:00
Nestled together on the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal and Spain may share this arm of West Europe, but they are vastly different countries and cultures. While on the surface Portuguese and Spanish culture and language appear similar, close examination reveals the subtle and important differences. One example is bullfighting, a controversial and well-entrenched part of both cultures. Most people outside of these countries are more familiar with the Spanish-style of bullfighting, with the brave and mighty matador using his capa (red cape) and angling to slay the toro bravo (fighting bull) with a sword at the end of the toreo. In contrast, the cavaleiro (horseman) is the star of Portuguese bullfighting, opening the show with a spectacular display of dexterity and skill on horseback as he angles to simultaneously place four banderillas (which resemble short spears) in the bull?s neck and dodge the aggravated bull. The Portuguese bandarilheiros, like the Spanish matadors, maneuver their sk...
More About: Fight , Famous , Fighting , Bull , Bullfighting

Chocolate Paradise Belgium
2007-03-29 05:55:00
Chances are you knew that Belgium is famous for fantastic chocolate and that you?ve heard of (and even eaten) Godiva (http://www.godiva.com/welcome.aspx) chocolate. But you might, like me, be surprised to learn that Godiva is a Belgium chocolatier. The Godiva chocolate manufacturer was established in 1926 in Brussels, Belgium and was brought to the US by the Campbell Soup Company in 1966. While the majority of Godiva chocolates produced in the US use the same recipes, ingredients and processing methods as in the Brussels plant, Belgium is still a chocolate lover?s or chocolate aficionado?s dream. For a country roughly the size of the US state of Maryland, Belgium has thousands of chocolate shops throughout the country and produces almost 200,000 tons of chocolate per year (according to a Belgium tourist office). While in Brussels, you won?t miss any of the half a dozen Godiva shops or any of the hundreds of other chocolatiers. If this does not satisfy your darkest dreams, take a sp...
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Ireland?s Kilkenny
2007-03-28 04:08:00
No doubt if you have traveled to or plan to travel to Ireland , you have either marked or been told to mark the Guinness Brewery in Dublin as one of the top destinations for your trip. But I?ve always wondered, ?What if you don?t like Guinness?? I know, it seems wrong to admit it, but it?s true: I just don?t like the heavy Guinness stout. I want to like it, I should like it, but I just don?t. Imagine my utter joy, then, when I discovered Kilkenny beer, the non-stout nitrogenated beer. Kilkenny beer comes from its namesake city, located about 90 miles south-west of Dublin, and is an Irish cream ale brewed by Diageo. Diageo?s Kilkenny brewery is in St. Francis Abbey, Ireland?s oldest operating brewery situated on the site of a Franciscan Abbey founded in 1231. The St. Francis Abbey brewery produces hundreds of kegs of Cashels cider, Smithwick?s and Kilkenny ales every hour, as well as producing Budweiser beer for the Irish market. For me, Kilkenny ale is a superb and stunning beer and...
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Defining Pizza
2007-03-28 04:00:00
As the world becomes ?smaller? and internationalization runs its course, national and regional cuisines are spreading throughout the world. However, with this diversity comes controversy over replication and dilution of tradition and ?authenticity.? Pizza is a prime example; it is now a fully international cuisine, whether Italians like it or not. Italian purists likely wince at the mayonnaise and corn that the Japanese put on their pizza, just as Japanese purists cringe at the thought of cream cheese and avocado in a sushi roll. Ironically enough, now Japan is considering similar ?regulations? for sushi that Italy has set for their ?original? pizza, Pizza Napoletana. Italians say that the pizza was created over 300 years ago in Naples and the Pizza Napoletana is Italy?s basic pie, an almost-14 inch round topped with tomatoes, basil, cheese, and oil. Even after the "guaranteed traditional specialty" regulations specified extra virgin olive oil, Mount Vesuvius region tomat...

A Macabre London Walk
2007-03-28 03:55:00
There are plenty of ?London Walk s? that feature historic buildings and locations or picturesque scenery but there is only one serial killer walk worth taking in Britain?s capital. The east London neighborhood of Whitechapel will forever live in infamy as the killing grounds of the elusive Jack the Ripper. During the autumn of 1888, Jack the Ripper exposed the out-of-sight-out-of-mind seedy brothel underbelly of Victorian London through a series of ghastly murders. Speculation and disagreement continue to swirl today around exactly who this monster was and exactly how many he killed but, one thing is for sure, today you can walk along the route of the most famous murders in the Jack the Ripper saga. The Victorian version of Whitechapel surely looked quite a bit different than the modern multicultural borough that exists today. The era of industrial fog and gaslights may be gone but the locations of the murders are still easy to find, with or without a guide. If you do decide to foll...
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Warsaw?s Royal Route
2007-03-28 03:43:00
The stretch of central War s aw that runs from the Old Town Market Square and the adjacent Castle Square all the way south to the outlying Wilanow Park and Royal Palace has since the Middle Ages been a grand thoroughfare through an equally grand city. Know as the ?Royal Route ? (Trakt Krolewski), this stretch of Warsaw allows visitors to enjoy many of the key sights that Poland?s capital has to offer. The best area of a concentration of sights is along Krakowskie Przedmienscie and Nowy Swiat. The Royal Route officially starts at the Castle Square (Plac Zamkowsky) but the nearby St. John?s Cathedral, Old Town Market Square and Royal Castle can be included in a Royal Route excursion. Heading south along Krakowskie Przedmienscie, the first sight you see is St. Anna?s Church. Further along, the regal past of the Royal Route becomes evident. In the Middle Ages, aristocrats settled along this route close to the Vistula River in a then rural part of Warsaw. The beautiful former summer residen...