The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is famous for investment banking and its high concentration of castles, but did you know that it also has a burgeoning fashion scene that is attracting young designers from around Europe? On November 26, the second edition of Fashion Days – Luxembourg Grand Duchy set the stage for 17 designers to present…
Akbar’s Court Indian Dance Show
Valentina Manduchi of Apsara Dance hosted prominent Kathak dancer Anurekha Gosh at the Centro Incontrando for her first performance in Rome on November 19. The multicultural audience was transported back in time for an evening of dance and poetry dedicated to Moghul Emperor Akbar the Great. The Akbar’s Court Indian dance show featured a Sufi poetry reading, films…
Brussels Flower Carpet
The Brussels Flower Carpet has been on my bucket list since I studied abroad in Europe in 1998. I missed it by a couple of weeks back then. The wait was definitely worth it to view the 20th Anniversary edition in person. It was the perfect girls trip to Brussels with friends who enjoy chocolate and…
Rhythm of India Festival in Rome
Indian culture meets Roman history at the Embassy of India’s Rhythm of India Festival in Italy. World renowned Kathak Maestro Shovana Narayan and her troupe performed under the stars at the historic Basilica San Pietro in Vicolo on August 6. The basilica – home to Michelangelo’s masterpiece the statue of Moses – served as a…
Sintra: Monserrate Palace and Park
“Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost.” – Erol Ozan Over the years my travel choices have evolved a lot. I now prefer to plan only a few activities when visiting a new place – to go slowly and leave time for unexpected discoveries – which was the case with the Monserrate Palace…
Beaches of Algarve Portugal
After spending a festival-filled weekend in Lisbon, we decided to hit the road with stops in Sintra, Cascais, and the Algarve. It was my first trip to Portugal and I was excited to see as much as possible. Friends recommended renting a car and my cousin was game to drive, so it worked out perfectly.…
Weekend in Lisbon
Portugal has been on my bucket list forever and who wouldn’t appreciate a weekend getaway to Lisbon, but conflicts always came up any time I tried planning a trip. In June, I finally had the opportunity to re-book the ticket I bought last year before it expired. To avoid disappointment in case the trip had…
Castel Sant Angelo at Night
My first year in Rome has gone by too quickly. At this point I don’t think I will get to the last few unpacked boxes in my apartment before its time to move again. I arrived in the middle of the summer heat wave last year and one of the few things I did in my first…
Pisa Luminara Festival
I have been a bit of a slacker lately, especially since June was filled with the things I love and generally associate with summertime. Reunions, travel, beach time, seafood, sunsets, fireworks, and festivals. [easy-image-collage id=1617] One of my favorite couples were married in a lovely three-day destination wedding in Tuscany, which provided a much-needed…
Villa d’Este Day Trip
Villa d’Este (Semi) Day Trip to Tivoli The weekend after returning from Naples and the Amalfi Coast, I made ambitious (in hindsight) plans to join some friends on a day trip from Rome. They were planning a full day in Tivoli to visit Villa d’Este and Villa Adriana (ruins of Emperor Hadrian’s Villa) – both UNESCO World…