To celebrate International Chocolate Day [quite possibly the best international day of all time 😉 ] , I thought it would be fitting to put together a guide for the ultimate chocolate lover’s city — Brussels. [easy-image-collage id=6416] History of Belgian Chocolate From Godiva to Neuhaus and truffles to praline, Belgium is world-renowned for its…
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…
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…
“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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
The Valentino Foundation presents Verdi’s La Traviata at Teatro dell’Opera di Roma through June 30. It was a work night, and our busy season too, but I have the best co-workers who had a too tempting to resist extra ticket. This latest production of a classic opera is getting a lot of buzz for the fashion powerhouse’s…
The picturesque Island of Capri has long been a destination sought out by emperors, jet setters, and day trippers alike. Although there are a couple of other islands in the Bay of Naples, Capri consistently attracts the majority of visitors from Naples and the Amalfi Coast. During a long weekend in Naples, we included…