Shopping Tips The Colonnade, Bloor Street West Store Hours Most shops are open 10am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday (often later on Thursday). Department stores and shops in malls and commercial districts may keep longer hours, from 10am to 9pm, Monday to Saturday, and from noon to 5pm on Sunday. Widely observed retail holidays are … Read more
Moderately Priced Hotels Note: Unless otherwise stated, all hotels accept credit cards, and have en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning The Latham Hotel Best known locally as the home of the top-rated Citronelle restaurant, this is a fine hotel in an excellent Georgetown location. Distinctive two-story carriage suites provide a gracious home base. The poolside patio … Read more
An Evening Shop and Bar Crawl Start this evening walk around 5pm when the shops reopen after the siesta. Take the metro to Chueca, emerging on Plaza de Chueca, heart of Madrid’s gay quarter. Look out for Taberna del Angel Sierra , a traditional tiled bar with zinc counter and painted ceiling. From here take … Read more
Historic Hotels Note: Unless otherwise stated, all hotels accept credit cards, and have en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning Willard Inter-Continental This is certainly among the most historic of hotels. Epochal events, including the birth of the League of Nations, were discussed here by principal figures. Royalty from all over the world have been guests. 1401 … Read more
Two of Madrid’s most lively barrios lie just off the Gran Vía. Chueca was originally home to the city’s blacksmiths and tile makers. Run down for many years, it has enjoyed a renaissance after being adopted by Madrid’s gay community – the area puts on its glad rags every summer for the Gay Pride celebrations. … Read more
A Morning Parkland Stroll The parkland on the other side of the Circus Maximus from the Palatine Hill conceals exquisite early churches and other gems. Start on the south side of the Circus Maximus, now a sunken patch of dust and weeds, but once a majestic racecourse until the popes plundered its stones to build … Read more
In Kunshan, Yangcheng Lake, we went to the hotel that is built and owned by government in the large lake area. State hotel always has best location. We came there nearly in the end of the hairy crab season, a specialty in the lake, which is appreciated highly that no boats except for primitive boats … Read more
This area has always been a contrasting mix of the highest and the lowest, from the most extravagant luxury to the toughest work-a-day world. In ancient times, the emperor’s lavish palaces were built on the Palatine, but they weren’t far from the docks, where roustabouts heaved the tons of goods that were imported to the … Read more
From flowed energy of modern Shanghai to the pleasingattraction of ancient Suzhou, China is a timeless journey. Damn it! I mean the dam or rather the levee along the Huangpu is the place for tourists to visit in Shanghai. Fortunately for me, I was in Bund when they came at sunrise, enjoyed the hospitality of the imposing Lady. Cathay … Read more
I arrive back in Munich in the early evening and it’s still snowing, although to a lesser degree. The next step is to navigate my way through the commuters and onto the local train to my hotel. Once there, I meet Claudia Mitchell from the Bayern tourism office and we head out for something to … Read more
Sunlight glistened on the crisp, white snow and fluffy clouds raced across the blue sky. What a superb final day for my three-day cross-country skiing trip, I thought, as I looked out of the hotel window that morning. But Mother Nature had other plans. As we – myself and two Italian women – set off … Read more
A couple of hours later and I’m pulling into Klais, which is right down near the Germany/Austria border having travelled through some increasingly mountainous terrain along the way. The snow has also increased considerably too and by now it has covered everything with a generous layer of the white stuff. Amazingly, everything continues to function … Read more
Stylish Stays W Chicago Lakeshore A Zen water wall and “Leave me alone”, rather than “Do not disturb” signs are indications of the W’s hipper take on the hotel experience. The modern guest rooms have lovely views, as does the rooftop lounge, Whiskey Sky. 644 N. Lake Shore Dr 312943 9200 www.whotels.com Wheeler Mansion An … Read more
Later that day, I travel onwards via train to the small town of Inzell, which is another pleasant surprise, located as it is roughly mid-way between Munich and Salzburg. I arrive there after switching to the bus after a twenty minutes or so transfer from Traunstein, where I left the train. It’s snowing heavily when … Read more
Luxury Hotels Unless otherwise stated, all hotels accept credit cards, have private bathrooms, air con, non-smoking rooms, and rooms with DA Ritz-Carlton The Ritz has it all – superior service, an award-winning dining room, spa, and state-of-the-art-business facilities. Impressive views complement the classic furnishings and fine art in its spacious guest rooms, but it’s the … Read more
Whether it’s exotic adventures, spiritual nourishment or stunning scenery and wildlife, the Indian subcontinent has an experience to thrill everyone. India is on the boil. There is no other country that offers the diversity, the complexity, the weirdness and human drama as India. Not least among its virtues is the balm of spirituality, not always … Read more
Exploring Rome’s Early Churches Morning Start with San Clemente , with its fascinating layers. At the lowest level use a torch (flashlight) to appreciate the beautiful fresco of the head of a bearded man. Walk one block over to the Via dei Santi Quattro Coronati to glimpse the produce market; turn left and walk up … Read more
A Day Around the Invalides Quarter Morning Begin the day with an early morning visit to the Musée Rodin . A magnificent collection of Rodin’s works are displayed both indoors and outside in the attractive garden. There are also excellent temporary exhibitions. Stop for a coffee at the garden café with its leafy terrace. Move … Read more
A Day Around Chelsea Morning Wind your way through Chelsea, starting with the megastores now occupying former “Fashion Row,” on 6th Avenue Shopping between 18th and 23rd streets. Walk west on 16th Street to 9th Avenue and Chelsea Market, a one-time Nabisco factory where the first Oreo cookies were made, now a block-long line of … Read more
In ancient times the largest of Rome’s seven hills was almost entirely residential, consisting mostly of upper-class villas. The western slope of the quarter, just behind the Imperial Fora was considered rather unhealthy as it was densely populated – the massive wall at the back of the Fora was intended to keep the squalid slum … Read more