“Add a little sugar to the saffron,” Farzane said as she worked the combination in her mortar and pestle. “It makes it easier to grind.”Farzane, a 20-year old refugee from Afghanistan who’d come to Berlin with her family in the last year, was deep in the process of teaching us how to prepare several Afghan dishes she’d grown up cooking in her home town of Herat. … [Read more...]
Europe Travel Articles and Photos
Berlin Christmas Markets: A Beginner’s Guide
What are the best Christmas markets in Berlin? I’ve answered this query countless times on email and social media. So I offer here my handy guide and pay homage to my favorite Berlin Christmas markets. I also use this as an excuse to wish all our friends and readers a kick-off to a happy holiday season. … [Read more...]
Puglia Road Trip: 25 Experiences to Get You Started
Puglia (or Apulia), the southern Italian province referred to as “the heel of the boot” first entered my consciousness more than ten years ago when a friend from San Francisco up and moved there on the initial leg of his retirement.In an email now deep in the archives, Will wrote: “Puglia is excellent. And by the way, not too expensive, my friend [...] I have a … [Read more...]
The Attacks in Paris: A Traveler’s Perspective, Moving Forward
I attempt to process what’s happening around the world by reflecting on where I am.The morning after the attacks in Paris, I was glued to my devices, ingesting every update. At some point I needed to peel myself away from the news. So I went for a run in Tempelhof Airport Park, my usual spot in Berlin, to get some fresh air and to try and clear my head. … [Read more...]
Berlin by Bike [VIDEO]: A Review of the TomTom Bandit
![Berlin by Bike [VIDEO]: A Review of the TomTom Bandit](https://ucm-apriorillc.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/tomtom_bandit_brandenburggate-150x150.jpeg)
“You should do more video!”We know, we know. We should do more video. We should be doing more with this storytelling medium. … [Read more...]
Switzerland by Train: A Mother-Daughter Journey
This is the story of why I went to Switzerland with my mom. It’s also a handy little Switzerland-by-train itinerary with recommendations and tips along the way.“Isn't it hard to have your daughter so far away?” Angie, my mom’s friend from Basel, asked during our visit there. "Sure, but it's kind of in the family. It actually began with my grandmother. She was … [Read more...]
A Train Too Far? A Day Trip to Poland
This is a story about going to Poland for the day, and the joy of deliberately infusing adventures into our everyday lives.Two large Tyskie beers kept us company as we waited for pierogies, savory Polish dumplings, to arrive at our table at a brewery restaurant in Szczecin, a town near the Polish-German border. Only hours before, we had been having breakfast in … [Read more...]
Romantic Rhine Travel: On and Off the Beaten Path
Through sunny days and fog, famous towns and little known ‘burgs, wine cellars and village vintner festivals, this was our time on the segment of the Rhine River known as the Romantic Rhine in Germany.Half-timbered homes sit as the foot of cobbled streets. Vineyard paths wind into the hills. And foggy moments as castles disappear and re-emerge on hilltops hint at … [Read more...]
Aachen and Cologne: Instagramming a European City Break
Upon a recent visit to the German Rhineland cities of Aachen and Cologne and the surrounding area, we realized there’s a lot to experience and unpack — that is, to comprehend the full picture of what we’d seen and how astonishingly complex history can be.From Roman beginnings, to medieval ascendency to industrial superiority, Germany’s Rhineland seems to have … [Read more...]
Aachen Cathedral: Just Look Up [360-Degree Panorama]
![Aachen Cathedral: Just Look Up [360-Degree Panorama]](https://ucm-apriorillc.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Aachen_Cathedral-150x150.jpg)
Some cathedrals -- with their fanciful gargoyles, detailed carvings and elaborate flourishes -- are best admired for their exterior. For others, it's all about appreciating what's inside.What makes Aachen Cathedral so special for me, despite the beauty of its imposing Gothic exterior, are the mystical elements within. … [Read more...]