This bizarre castle, built on the side of a mountain in the middle of nowhere by a strange man-child caught up in medieval fantasies, always delights travelers fortunate enough to get out to this corner of the Alps. And I’ve taken hundreds of them, if not thousands (I stopped counting a long time ago) here. […]
One of the best things about hiking in Europe’s Alps is the amazing network of alpine huts (“refuge” in French, “rifugio” in Italian, “hütte” in German). Hikers can set out on most any trail and somewhere along the way there will be a hut where they can rest, get a meal or a cup of […]
Alpine cuisine is very cheese-centric, and with good reason. It seems in some parts of the Alps there are more happy cows than people wandering around the meadows enjoying the beautiful vistas. I always rave about the milk, cream, and butter in the Alps – there’s obviously a connection between the free range dairy cows […]
One of the true delights of a trip to Venice is the cuisine… unless you have no idea what to look for and end up at one of the plethora of terrible tourist traps serving up uninspired portions of bland food no self-respecting Venetian would eat. An excellent choice that will satiate your hunger and […]
The Augustiner Keller has been around since the early 19th century in one form or another. Despite being built next to the old execution grounds for the city of Munich, it’s always been party central. I like to think that maybe the condemned got to stop by for a maß and a pretzel before the […]
The only real “Parmesan” cheese is made in the region of Parma in Italy. It’s a protected local agricultural product and all elements of its production must meet the strict standards of the Consorzio Del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano. They are actually currently fighting Kraft in court over the use of the word Parmesan to describe […]
The Very Best of the Alps One of the most gorgeous hikes in the world – take the lift to La Flégère from Chamonix and hike to Lac Blanc in the French Alps. Beautiful views of Mont Blanc and the entire range, and a fine alpine hut to rest your legs and enjoy a beverage […]
The Very Best of Southern England Malmesbury Abbey is a little off the tourist path – there’s no big coach park and hardly anyone else visiting here. It’s one of England’s ancient Christian sites, founded by a proselytizing Irish monk in the 7th century. Thought to be the first capital of a united England, it […]
1. Vánoční Rybí Polévka (Czech Christmas Fish Soup) – Czech Republic Harking back to a simpler time when meat was a luxury to most Europeans, the tradition of eating carp (a freshwater fish) for a treat at Christmas has remained strong in the Czech republic. None of the fish was wasted – most recipes for […]
The famous Christmas carol, penned in 1865 by English writer William Chatterton Dix on his “death bed” (he later recovered), asks the question “What child is this, who laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?” and answers “This is Christ, the King”. Interspersed in his thoughtful lyrics, set to the tune of the medieval […]