Looking for a great mountain lodge to book for you next ski vacation? Something that affords stunning views with limited crowds and great access to the backcountry? Then look no further than this list created by Eric Kendall for The Guardian. The list is broken down into ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Italy
20 Great Mountain Huts
Looking for a great mountain lodge to book for you next ski vacation? Something that affords stunning views with limited crowds and great access to the backcountry? Then look no further than this list created by Eric Kendall for The Guardian. The list is broken down into ...Travelers' Choice Awards 2009: The best of the best
Trip Advisor has just released its Travelers' Choice Awards. The several pages missive provides a hefty selection of the best hotels in various categories. This is the opposite end of the spectrum of the worst hotels. It's not uncommon that the best can be had for less money ...Expect to wait, but not in Japan or Korea
The worst airport delays in the world, of course, are those that affect you. If I'm stranded at LaGuardia's Marine Air terminal for a short hop to Boston, I really don't care what's going on over at JFK, O'Hare or anywhere else. However, some airports are more likely to ...Photo of the Day (1.17.09)
It really is no wonder why we say, "We'll cross that bridge when we get/come to it." For me, crossing a bridge symbolizes a journey from one state of mind to another. Wherever it is you travel in the world, bridges are some of the most beautiful sights. Take the London ...Top Destinations for Independent Travelers in 2009
BootsnAll, a great online resource for independent travelers, has put together their list of top 10 destinations for 2009. The locations on the list are lauded for the options they offer the experienced traveler who is looking to explore on his or her own. Last year's list ...Europe struggles to stub out smoking
All across Europe, increasingly health-conscious governments have been banning smoking in public places like hospitals, train stations, bars and restaurants. Austria, one of the few remaining countries in Western Europe to not yet institute a ban, will be tightening their ...Travel Read: 100 Places Every Woman Should Go
I never knew there could be a book so thoughtful and inspiring for women as this one. Stephanie Elizondo Griest's second travel book, which lists far more than just 100 Places Every Woman Should Go, is truly an encyclopedia for women travelers. It's the kind of book that ...Fruitcake: Where does it come from?
While those chestnuts roast on your open fire, it might be time to open Grandma's fruitcake that you forgot to eat last year. Maybe it's on your closet shelf, just waiting to be devoured. You don't have to worry about it going bad, either. It's probably even tastier now that ...Herculaneum on display in Italy
I can still picture the Time Life book photograph of a child turned into stone from the eruption of Vesuvius. It was one of those elementary school images that captured my attention and hasn't let go.
Okay, I think it was a Time Life book and I think the photo was a child, ...Venice is totally flooded. How about a cheap hotel and some boots?
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You kind of expect a visit to Venice will include some water. This uniquely Italian city, first settled by the Romans along a chain of islands on the Adriatic Sea, has always been inextricably tied to its watery origins. The city rose to prominence due to its wealthy ...Vatican Splendor in St. Paul: Artifacts and art on display
One can't argue the influence that Vatican City has had in the world. You might argue, but you'd lose. I've been there twice and its opulence, abundance of art, pomp and mystery has stayed with me. There is a certain awe one can feel when walking across the plaza and into ...Photo of the Day (11.22.08)
I think this photo of Manarola, one of the five cillages of Cinque Terre, taken by stellarviewer, is very striking because of the dark clouds in the sky. What's even more interesting is that the photo was composed using five different images, which may be why we get such an ...When a nation becomes a commodity: The Country Brand Index 2008
We live in an era of global brands. McDonald's, Starbucks, H&M, Coca Cola, Australia... Wait, what??? You read correctly, Australia recently won the top spot of the 2008 Country Brand Index. Nation branding, as it's officially referred to, is the theory and practice of ...Ever thought about swimming in the Venice canals?
Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern: Sicily. Yep, the food is bizarre
Andrew Zimmern seemed positively giddy in last Tuesday's episode of Bizarre Foods as he ate his way around Sicily's bonanza of animal innards eats. First stop was Palermo, the capital where butcher shops display all sorts of animal parts, just like they've done for ...When in Rome...Keep an Eye on Your Purse
If someone mentions Rome, a lot of things come to mind. You might think of museums, fountains, narrow streets, the pope, the history....the petty thieves. A recent post by Elizabeth Rosenthal on IHT's Globespotters blog relates how Rome, while a great city and popular ...Buy a Sicilian villa... for only 1 euro!
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Vacation homes abroad don't scream cheap, so when I saw that the mayor of the hilltop town Salemi in Sicily was selling old stone villas for a mere euro (that's about $1.42 at today's exchange rate) I knew there had to be a catch. There is. The picturesque villas were ...Alitalia may start canceling flights -- can't afford fuel
Alitalia has been going through a bit of a rough patch of late. Even before the fuel crisis this past summer, Italy's national airline was already struggling with poor service, unhappy unions and terrible management. Now, with costs going through the roof the airline is in ...Leonardo da Vinci's drawings make a U.S. stop for the first time ever
There's an art exhibit opening at the Birmingham Museum of Art in Alabama on September 28th that is a reminder that art museums other than the big name ones in the big name cities like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Louvre in Paris or The Uffizi in ...Insults against religion in Italy can get you jail time: Just ask Italian comedienne
I just heard about the Italian comedienne who is facing jail time in Italy for insulting the pope. In Italy, there are laws against insulting religion. If you tell a joke that is against the pope, it can land you in hot water.
According to the story, Italian comedienne, ...
