Via dei Condotti The chicest shops are here, where all the biggest names in haute couture have staked out their turf: Gucci, Bulgari, Prada, Hermès, Ferragamo, Armani, Trussardi, Valentino and more. It’s a foregone conclusion that this street offers no bargains, but the staff will make you feel like visiting royalty . Via dei Condotti … Read more
What strikes many visitors to downtown Seattle is how easy it is to see the sights, since key attractions lie within walking distance of one another. Bookended by Belltown to the north and Pioneer Square to the south, downtown can be seen on foot or by city bus at no cost – since all of … Read more
Wondering where to holiday at home this summer? Head to the south- west, says Emily Mathieson, and rent one of these 10 houses for a classic British beach break in style. Marver House, Mawgan Porth Marver House luxury 6 bedroom holiday house in Cornwall Two years ago, Marver House was in a dilapidated state. Half … Read more
RomaEuropa Festival A fast-growing performing arts festival with a pronounced emphasis on the provocative, held every autumn in various superlative venues, including the French Academy, Palazzo Farnese and the Spanish Academy. All kinds of music, dance and theatre, including several international artists. end-Sep–early-Dec Testaccio Village This well-run multi-event happens all summer long in a purpose-built … Read more
For Catalan speakers, the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya (93 306 57 00) is a fine showcase for Catalan drama. Barcelona’s many versió original (original version) cinemas provide plenty of options for non-Catalan-speaking film aficionados. Gran Teatre del Liceu Phoenix-like, the Liceu has risen from the ashes of two devastating fires since its inauguration in 1847. … Read more
Stunning structures Qurum Beach The Muscat Opera House demands attention with its beauty. The palm trees swaying around and the hills enhance its charm. This attractive white complex witnesses many concerts and ballet shows and is one of the favourite tourist hang-outs. A little further is the Qurum Beach with a large stretch of sand … Read more
Places to Eat and Drink Tasty Congee and Noodle Wantun Shop For many this is the best place to go for beef fried noodles and piping-hot congee (rice porridge). The dim sum are also highly rated. G/F, 21 King Kwong St, Happy Valley 2838 3922 Petrus Contemporary French cuisine is served in an exquisite room … Read more
The English-language website www.spain.info has a section dedicated to Spanish festivals. Tickets for Festival del Grec & Festival Internacional de Jazz are available from the Caixa de Catalunya ticket line 902 10 12 12. Festes de la Mercè Barcelona’s main festival is a riotous week-long celebration in honour of La Mercè . The night sky … Read more
Muscat is a delightfully beautiful city endowed with many natural and man-made wonders Muscat is the starting point of any tour in Oman. It is a city of hills, forts, sands and beaches. Unlike in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the skyline here is not cluttered with skyscrapers competing with each other to touch the sky, … Read more
A Day for Exploring Morning Start off with a brisk stroll through Hong Kong Park, a green haven surrounded on all sides by thrusting towers of glass and concrete. Chances are you’ll see several caparisoned couples awaiting their turn to be married at the Cotton Tree Drive Registry Office. Take time for a look through … Read more
Love There is a lot to love about Ethiopia but do not expect it to be love at first sight. It is not a country for the faint-hearted, although I’d most certainly be able to escape to the fabulous Kuriftu Resort & Spa for a week or so. (I still pine for my room’s balcony … Read more
The east of the island was the first to take up the population pressures of the nascent colonial capital of Victoria, and until the late 1970s had a low rent reputation. Some of that survives in the haggard pole-dancing clubs and tattoo parlours of Wan Chai, the quarter where Richard Mason wrote The World Of … Read more
Pray Religion is part and parcel of daily life here. To really feel part of it, you need to get up early. In Bahir Dar I was up and out by 5am, in time to hear the call to prayer from the mosque and to see the Orthodox Christians appear, wrapped in white muslin, in … Read more
Places to Eat Senzone Acclaimed chef Francisco Morales and his wife, Ruth Controneo, a sommelier, run this wonderful restaurant. Expect inventive, seasonal cuisine. Hotel Hospes, Plaza de la Independencia 3 91 432 2911 Paridis Thyssen This Catalan-Mediterranean restaurant above the Thyssen Museum offers great views from its outdoor summer terrace. Paseo del Prado 8 91 … Read more
Elizabeth Gilbert could have saved herself a lot of Travelling if she’s gone to Ethiopia. In fact, it is a country with its own calendar (it’s 2004 there) and clock, which means she could have added time travel to her list of Experiences Eat At Kuriftu resort & Spa at Debre Zeit The biggest eye-opener … Read more
Belltown Shops Baby & Co. The place for European styled slacks, skirts, dresses, and accessories for women. Look for designs by Martha Francis Garbed, Lilt in Paris, Comme des Garcons, and Marithe and Francois Girbaud. 1936 1st Ave Paperhaus Shop for contemporary presentation supplies and storage materials from award- winning manufacturers such as NAVA, Prat, … Read more
Beacon Hill by Day Morning Take the “T” to the Charles St/Massachusetts General Hospital stop and exit onto Charles Street. Enjoy a light breakfast at Panificio Bakery (144 Charles St) where the scones and muffins are other-worldly. Then continue along Charles Street and turn right onto Beacon Street for a glimpse of the Bull and … Read more
Vivanta By Taj – Bekal, Kerala Life is tough at this new, 71- room spa resort in undiscovered north Kerala. Should I order a Mojito or a Mai- Tai cocktail? Take a spa treatment go for a walk on the beach, or a have a gentle kayak on the serene backwaters? Set on 30 acres … Read more
Belltown Places to Eat Mistral Known for its formal atmosphere and haute cuisine, the Mistral has prix-fixe tasting menus featuring delicacies such as asparagus and English pea fricassee, or artisanal seared foie gras. 113 Blanchard St 206 770 7799 Cyclops Local customers return for their classic hummus plate, and both Interview and Details magazines have … Read more
With its elegant 200 year-old row houses, quaint grocers, pricey antique shops, and hidden gardens, Beacon Hill screams “old money” like no other area in Boston. That some of the city’s most exorbitant apartment rentals can still be found here suggests it will remain an enclave of exclusivity for years to come. Yet throughout the … Read more