The Storied Mansions of the French Riviera
| | |

The Storied Mansions of the French Riviera

The French Riviera has been copied and imitated a lot over the years. Nowadays, nearly every coastal country in the world appears to have a “Riviera” of its own – including Albania, for crying out loud. But there is one ingredient in the recipe for the French Riviera’s lasting appeal which is particularly difficult to…

In Search of Modernist Architecture in Paris
| | |

In Search of Modernist Architecture in Paris

Paris, as we have documented many times, has practically everything that makes a city worthwhile visiting: great art, great food, great history, even – believe it or not – great one-day hikes. More than enough of the latter, in fact, to fill nearly a whole website. Considering all that, it feels almost rude to voice…

Our Blue Danube Intermezzo with More Lies About Vienna
|

Our Blue Danube Intermezzo with More Lies About Vienna

The whole of Vienna is built on a foundation of lies: The Danube does not really flow through the city (and is neither beautiful or even blue) ; Vienna’s Imperial splendour belies the reality of being the capital of a small-ish country in Eastern Central Europe; a good portion of her much famed architecture is…

Tempelhof Airport – Berlin: One of a Kind
| |

Tempelhof Airport – Berlin: One of a Kind

Berlin’s Tempelhof airport has been turned into a paradise for cyclists, windsurfers, wild birds, crazy golfers, baseball fans – and walkers Hiking, in a certain way, is like listening to popular music – because, let’s face it, most hikes do not really offer anything strikingly original like something you have never seen before, but rather…