How to Spend One Day in Bergamo, Italy

How to Spend One Day in Bergamo, Italy

Imagine a raised plateau, like one of the mesas of the American southwest or Uluru (formerly Ayer’s Rock) in central Australia. Usually you’ll encounter a formation like this out in nature. But in northern Italy’s town of Bergamo, there is a large plateau with a UNESCO World Heritage old town perched at the top, surrounded by modern Bergamo, Italy. It is this division that makes Bergamo unique, split into the historical, raised Città Alta with its meandering pedestrian cobblestone walkways…

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How to Spend One Day in Nassau, Bahamas

How to Spend One Day in Nassau, Bahamas

The town of Nassau, Bahamas is probably best known for its famous hotels and luxury offerings in proximity to the cruise port. Like anywhere though, there is the veneer on display in immediate proximity of tourists, and the parts of the city locals typically frequent. I love to stroll around a new place and just get a feel for the area, the architecture, and do some people watching to see how locals interact. In Nassau it was striking how much…

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Top 10 Things to See & Do at the Dubai Mall (that aren’t shopping!)

Top 10 Things to See & Do at the Dubai Mall (that aren’t shopping!)

Shopping isn’t exactly my thing, despite my years living in Milan, so you may be wondering exactly how I ended up at the Dubai Mall as my first stop in the UAE. Arriving from Oman, after a week-long (and very hospitable time) on a road trip with my sister, she was in charge of picking our first destinations. We had already lined up a trip for the next day, so it would be our time to explore Dubai together before…

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Cefalù: Perfect Day Trip from Palermo, Sicily

Cefalù: Perfect Day Trip from Palermo, Sicily

Palermo, Sicily makes for a great weekend trip, and there are also great spots around the city that you can easily fit into your trip (like Cefalù) especially if you make your visit a long weekend. I’m so glad that my friend Isabel and I planned for an extra day, which let us enjoy one of my favorite formats for 3-day weekend trips – a city day on each end with the middle day to spend outdoors or doing something…

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How to Spend One Day in Mainz, Germany

How to Spend One Day in Mainz, Germany

Tons of people each year end up with a layover in Frankfurt, and many opt to stay the night, but most probably make it to this gem – the city of Mainz, which is on the Frankfurt metro system. I didn’t even know Mainz existed, except perhaps an obscure reference in my high school history class a long time ago. But when I saw pictures of a fellow expat friend (thanks, Lisa!) taking a trip there to see the Chagall…

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Top 9 Things to do in the Le Marche region of Italy

Top 9 Things to do in the Le Marche region of Italy

East of Tuscany on the Adriatic coast is one of Italy’s lesser-known regions, Le Marche, where you can avoid the tourist hordes and enjoy some pretty incredible Italian experiences and cuisine. I’ve visited many times, for relaxing long weekends and outdoor adventure, for wine tasting and relaxing on the beach, for hiking and exploring walled cities. The region of Le Marche is probably a destination where you’ll want to rent a car (and you can check out my Best Tips…

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Foodie Bucket List: How to Eat Like a Local in Belize

Foodie Bucket List: How to Eat Like a Local in Belize

Belize is a bit of a melting pot, with its food representing many different influences, all delicious. The varied cuisine in Belize is no surprise, given that it is located at a crossroads between Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. There are also Mayan influences dating back thousands of years, seen in the many Belizean dishes based around corn tortillas and beans. Before visiting, I spent a bit of time researching and compiling a list of local dishes that are…

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The Day Trip from Rome I Can’t Recommend Enough: Orvieto

The Day Trip from Rome I Can’t Recommend Enough: Orvieto

Italy is blessed with many picturesque hilltop towns, and I’ve been to many, but Orvieto is one of the best for its sweeping views of the surrounding valley and incredible history and beauty of the attractions in town. It’s an easy day trip from Rome by train, which is how I visited. Even gazing up at the walled town from the bottom of the funicular when you arrive, Orvieto is distinctive and breathtaking, and doesn’t disappoint when you ascend to…

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How to Eat Like a Local: Best Cicchetti in Venice, Italy

How to Eat Like a Local: Best Cicchetti in Venice, Italy

What is typical, local Venice food? This was one of the initial questions I researched before my first trip to the city. I often seek out regional specialties when I travel, as another dimension of getting a feel for a destination. Plus, the local fare is usually best close to the source. I had some preconceived notions about Venetian food – like seafood, of course – but the surprising part of my research when looking for what to eat in…

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Where to Eat in Stavanger, Norway: Surprise Foodie Destination

Where to Eat in Stavanger, Norway: Surprise Foodie Destination

I can’t stop talking about where to eat in Stavanger, Norway. How did a city I had never heard of before become the surprise foodie destination of my last two-week European trip? By far, it was the city that excited me the most for its food and drink offerings. And as I ate and drank my way through, Stavanger, it delivered. It’s a pretty simple story, really. Stavanger was a small town through the 1960s when the oil boom hit,…

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