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Italy’s ‘Manhattan of the Middle Ages’
San Gimignano is best known on the tourist circuit for its medieval tower houses. As a result, the town is sometimes called the “Manhattan of the Middle Ages.” However, in, say, the 13th century, the town wouldn’t have been so exceptional — the wealthy, or
Abu Dhabi: The Louvre on the water
Last fall, I went to the Louvre and, with some luck, will be back again this spring. But I wasn’t in Paris, and I won’t be anytime soon. This Louvre, which opened in late 2017, is in Abu Dhabi, one of the seven emirates on
Italy: Siena’s eye poppers
UNESCO says that Siena’s historic center “is the embodiment of a medieval city. … The whole city of Siena was devised as a work of art that blends into the surrounding landscape.” I couldn’t have explained it better myself, the reason I found Siena
Italy: Of escalators and elevators
In my 2018 holiday letter to friends, I described my funniest travel experience for the year as follows: <<I visited Assisi in Italy and its Basilica of St. Francis. A sign at the basilica entry said, “no photos,” so tourists were sneaking shots like crazy.
Washington state: Finding ‘America’s Provence’
It was dumb luck that, this year, my sister and I alighted in Washington state right at peak season for the lavender crop. Lavender? When we started planning our trip, we had no idea lavender was a “thing” in Washington state. But it is, specifically
Germany: A bird’s-eye view
Hamburg boasts an exotic new concert facility, opened in early 2017. It is a huge modern glass structure that sits atop a former warehouse. It is popularly known as the “wave” because its roofline is indeed wavy. And this wave-sitting-on-a-warehouse is perched right at water’s
England: Seeing America (and a queen) in London
The following is a blog I wrote for another site in 2012. Except for the sighting of the queen, which I could not have planned, everything in the narrative below remains valid for a visitor today. # # # I went to London to visit
Sicily: Taking the wheel
Two friends and I, during a driving trip to Sicily, visited Taormina on the island’s northeastern coast. The severely perched Taormina is approached via roads (good roads, BTW) that swirl and sweep in daring arcs as one climbs into town. Dramatic view from the
Sicily: The mosaics of Monreale
One of the top tourist attractions in Palermo, Sicily, isn’t in town. It is the suburban UNESCO-protected Monreale Cathedral, a medieval structure boasting interior walls literally encrusted with mosaics and a lot of gold. I had to see it. On arrival in Palermo, my hotel’s
