It’s not this time of year without Christmas markets
Nobody does Christmas markets like the Europeans. The Germans, in particular, have it down to an art form. Which is why, four years ago, when I was a carefree student … Continue reading
Afloat in Porto
It is Christmas Eve and a lovely winter’s day. My travel companions and I are in Porto – one of my classmates’ family has generously invited us to spend Christmas … Continue reading
Fresh blooms in Cinque Terre
It was spring in Cinque Terre, and the weather was atrocious. The sky was grey, with not a hint of a gap in the thick clouds. The little seaside villages … Continue reading
Pompeii and Vesuvius
On a day trip to Pompeii from Rome, I stumbled across this spigot. In comparison to the rest of the treasures that this buried city has to offer, the spigot … Continue reading
Inside Angelina, Paris
Angelina in Paris is every hot chocolate-lover’s dream destination. Its Hot Chocolate L’Africain is recognised as one of the best in Paris, so when I walked past one day and … Continue reading
An unusual POV: Strawberries in Voru, Estonia
On a visit to my college room mate’s home town in Voru, Estonia, I am fascinated by the enormous kitchen garden in front of her grandaunt’s house. There are neat … Continue reading
Sunset in Saint Malo, France
We arrive at the city walls just in time to catch the sunset, and what a breath-taking one it is. We are in Brittany, drawn by Saint-Malo’s famous neighbour, Mont-Saint-Michel. But … Continue reading
Focus or you’ll miss it
Give it a casual glance, and you’ll miss it. But if you focus and concentrate, you’ll see the outline of the fish, cleverly camouflaged against the pebbly bottom. I’m in … Continue reading
Market Day at Sarlat-la-Caneda, France
I love street markets. I’m drawn in by the sheer variety of stuff available for sale; from costume jewelry to beautifully handcrafted wooden bowls to plastic table cloths and boho-chic … Continue reading
One shot, two ways: Cassis, France
Journey so far Route: Fontainebleau > Pamplona > Gavarnie > Avignon > Arles > Aix-en-Provence Number of kilometers: 2,000 Highlight of the trip: Accidentally running with the bulls Biggest disappointment: … Continue reading
Foreshadow: Visiting chateaux in the Loire Valley
In retrospect, I should have listened to the old man. Jean-Michel, an old family friend, laughed when I told him why I’d picked a business school in a tiny French … Continue reading
Hotel Restaurant du Lion d’Or in Rocamadour: A masterpiece of French regional cooking
It is dusk when we arrive in Rocamadour, a beautiful, ancient French village that clings tenaciously to the edge of a sheer, rocky cliff. We spend some time wandering through … Continue reading
Penne 4 Your Thoughts 