Romance, Romance…..Of Course Italy

One of the most romantic cities in the world, it just oozes romance. This is a place of fine food, where people honor and love eating. Where eating is an art, not just something to do. It is a city of history and character with natural beauty. Art and more art, a place where you can’t see it all in a one week vacation, and then just can’t wait to go back to experience it all over again. It is one of those places that people return again and again, just to get that feeling of Italy all over again.

Italy is a marvelous honeymoon destination; so romantic, just to say the name it brings up visions of romance. Whether you stay in a large city, go into the villages, walk the narrow streets, go to Rome, or visit the Alps; all of Italy leads to wine, food and camaraderie with the locals and/or other visitors, the general atmosphere is of visiting and getting to know one another and to just enjoy life, no hurry, no bustling around; slow and savor life.

Fifty percent of Italy is mountainous, so the farmers have been very creative in creating land that can be farmed. They have taken cliffs and terraced them into farmland; it is original, breathtaking and beautiful.

Many visit Italy for the religious sites and many abound in all of Italy, to visit them all on a one week vacation would be a tremendous stretch, so I am sure this is why people return time after time so they can eventually visit them all. Don’t forget the water canals and taking a ride in a gondola with a singing maestro to enchant you on cool summer night. Can it get any better than this.

Contact your Personal Travel Website and start planning your trip to Italy right now, and find out how to put that romance into your life.

Great Daytrips From Ibiza – Spain – Part 1

Most visitors to Ibiza will find themselves shuttling between Ibiza Town, which is five miles from the airport, and San Antonio, about double the distance away on the opposite, western coast. These two main towns are where almost all of Ibiza’s restaurants, bars and clubs are located, along with other attractions. Like many things on the island, taxis are exceedingly expensive so it pays to hire a car if you plan to be moving about a lot.

A vehicle provides the best opportunity to visit other less-travelled areas of this beautiful island, beyond the nightclubs and the late-night bars. Areas like Sant Joan de Labritjain in the north remain largely untouched by tourism development despite being extremely popular when the island first opened up in the 1960s.

The beaches here sport crystal clear waters but are not subjected to the same crowds that plague the likes of San Antonio during the height of summer, when much of London and the rest of England transports itself to this popular Balearic island. The elevation here is also higher than in many other parts of Ibiza so there are great views out across the Mediterranean.

For a look at the exclusive side of life on Ibiza head to the southern region of Santa Eulària del Riu. This is where many of the large private villas can be found in towns like San Carlos and Port des Torrent, and the beaches here are among some of the best on the entire island. While this is an area of riches, it is also home to a number of popular markets specialising in counter-culture in the likes of Las Dalias and Punta Arabi.

For the best scenery on the island, take a drive to the southern region at Sant Josep de sa Talaia. The area, about six miles by road from San Antonio and close to 10 miles from Ibiza Town, features the island’s highest mountain at nearly 500 meters above sea level. On a clear day, it is possible to see most of the island from here. This area also features the longest stretch of coastline of any of the regions of Ibiza and many areas are protected.

Outdoor activities on offer here include horseback-riding, hiking, cycling and much more besides. The area is home to a cave which tunnels 25 meters into Cova Santa and there are also some historic Punic-Roman ruins in two towns just a short drive away which date back more than 2,000 years.

On the eastern side of the island, Santa Eularía des Río is a town with numerous attractions and makes for an easy daytrip from Ibiza Town. Puig D’Missa is the historical highlight here, a 15th century fort that sits on top of a hill overlooking the town and bay below with its attractive little marina. This is also where you’ll find the fascinating Living Museum which takes a look back at life on this simple little Spanish island before super clubs like Pacha and Space attracted the masses every summer. The town is home to a burgeoning fiesta scene, the best taking place during Easter when the town explodes in a sea of colour and all-night partying without the ubiquitous dance music.

For some, coming to Ibiza without dedicating 100 per cent of a holiday to the night clubbing scene is sacrilege, but those that want a bit of variety and a chance to realise they’ve arrived in a different and very beautiful part of the world will want to explore the island by car.

Making the effort to do so is well worth it and will no doubt make a night at a club that little bit more special when you finally make it back to San Antonio after a day away from the crowds.

Restaurant profiles: Rosemarys Restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada

It wasn’t long ago that discussions about dining in Las Vegas began and ended with the buffet table. A seismic shift has since occurred in the Silver State’s food culture, but public opinion still insists that the go-to locale for fine dining is one of the slick spots on the Strip curated by celebrity chefs and populated by a Hollywood clientele.

Rosemary’s Restaurant, however, pre-dates that transformation and defies the conventional wisdom. Located far from the Strip along Sahara Avenue, it stretches credulity to suggest that an out-of-towner would stumble upon Rosemary’s. Unless, of course, they knew exactly where to look, perhaps following the growing litany of acclaim for its boundary-pushing cuisine.

Restoring that oft-abused term “fusion” to its initial potency, Rosemary’s synthesizes a diverse range of influences along every step. It is uncommonly difficult to pin down its culinary sensibility into an easy abstraction; Franco-Belgian bistro fare mingles coolly with a colorful New Orleans touch, while Midwestern American heartiness is complemented by delicate European market flourishes. Creativity carries the day, and the only keystone to expect is the unexpected intersection of flavors devised by chefs Wendy and Michael Jordan.

Freshly harvested artisan ingredients are used to embolden imaginative dishes: Maytag blue cheese and Port Wine Syrup enhance an arugula salad, while a Creole meuniere sauce highlights the sumptuous texture of Texas Striped Bass. Every dish is lovingly paired with a selection from their globe-spanning wine and craft beer list. A dessert list including goat cheese cheesecake drizzled with Scotch caramel sauce showcases a consummate culinary spark.

An afternoon or evening at Rosemary’s Restaurant is an immersive experience; the atmosphere, while relaxed with a casually elegant dress code, suggests a charming countryside European bistro with the warmest service imaginable. While thoroughly neighborhood-y, it nonetheless feels special enough for a romantic date spot or group meeting site. The ever-changing gallery of paintings by local artists adds to the creative aesthetic.

Though reservations for Rosemary’s are suggested, walk-ins can sometimes be accommodated. Dinner is served daily from 5:30 to close, with lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner prices when ordering a la carte range from $35 to $70, with lunches starting in the $20s; a three course prix-fixe menu is available daily.

Singapore Nightlife Spots You Must Visit

Singapore has really lit up of late and the nights in the city and entertainment areas have never been quiet. There is never a dull moment with beautifully dressed people, disco lights, exotic drinks and even more wonderful events that have kept Singaporeans and visitors busy all the way till six in the morning. Night life in Singapore has transformed since the portrait of stars transposed into its map and now its a bright shining sun – one that only reveals itself at night.

Singapore has also opened its doors to more and more foreigners and the overall tastes of the clubber has been refined of late. No more is it a question of just a bar, some music and some lights, but clubbing is now about a brand, an experience, something different and some of these bars and clubs have really stood out. Places like Clarke Quay is really one huge example of the efforts of the nightlife industry sculpting a name for itself with a landmark to dazzle crowds. Places like IndoChine, with its mystical and alluring theme sit proudly as one of the places that promises an experience like no other. If you are looking for shows to inspire your entertainment, then look out for clubs like Belini Grand or Azzuca, where acts from Europe and Spain will make you want to move with sultry and exciting dances and singing that will amaze you.

Still in Clarke Quay, there are places that can boast a concert experience with some of the best local and international acts from the region and the world doing a whole medley of genres, covers and even some originals. Pump Room, a microbrewery that also has one of the best bands in Singapore, Jive Talking, is one such place. Arena, Gotham Penthouse and Le Noir are also just some examples of the nightlife spots you can visit for a concerto experience.

If your palette is yearning for the latest and most creative cocktails in a swanky environment with plush sounds and even plusher seats then cocktail bars and clubs like the Loof, Alley Bar, Geek Terminal and even Harry’s Bar will definitely impress with their wide selection of cocktails that will have been inspired with anything from cakes, desserts to even movie themes. Microbreweries are also a feature in Singapore with places like Brewerks, Archipelago, Pump Room just some of the names in the vat of ever expanding breweries in Singapore, serving up a foam filled, original and creative concoction in a pint glass.

Dont forget St James Powerhouse, a massive triplex and more – a giant PowerStation converted into a massive club that houses over six different clubs – each with their own theme, music and atmosphere. There is no limit to what you can do at night, when the sun goes down the horizon doesn’t turn dark – it is lit up with hundreds of potential places to get your groove on, sip on a tiramisu martini or just sit back, relax and enjoy a performance like no other.

Touring the Burgundy wine region in France

BURGUNDY IS THE NEW GREY

For our holiday last October we turned to Burgundy, leaving from Scotland’s grey capital. It was so grey, it was dreich. Even the Forth bridges were barely visible as our captain carefully navigated his way out of Rosyth in a London pea-souper.

Anyone who can successfully navigate with Michelin maps is pretty smart, so Pat deserves a medal for her efforts. Michelin maps are to Ordnance Survey what Japanese is to Cockney and our best efforts got us to Cambrai, well north of our ultimate destination, for the first night. The grim, grey North Sea weather came with us into northern France, but this wasn’t a holiday about lying in the sun. The agenda had more to do with le shopping for booty, les fine dining experiences, un surprise connection in Chablis and plusiers d’architectural and engineering pilgrimages. It all got done, right down to the last not lying in the sun’. We were going back to Burgundy and this time not just passing through, but using it as a base. There was a looseness to the pre-holiday planning, in as much as we adopted the principle: let’s wing it (which is reasonably safe in October). Notwithstanding this, we did pre-book a nice hotel mid way between Dijon and Chablis, a sensible idea – to have at least one fixed point in an itinerary.

The Hotel de la Poste is steeped in history and is located in the centre of Avallon. Kennedy, Eisenhower and Napoleon all slept under that roof. Bryan Ferry probably too. There was lots of bowing and nodding at breakfast, as all the other guests were Japanese. We know, from having had a hotel ourselves, that they take eating very seriously and it was no surprise to find that all the boiled eggs had disappeared early. One man is still there, going back for more, eating for his country. Saturday was market day and we took full advantage by securing industrial quantities of ail rose de Lautrec before heading out for a drive in the Parc rgional du Morvan. A long way to come, from Morvern to Morvan, and something of a disappointment too, because for instance: when a sign says Auberge du Lac, 1 km’, you expect to come across an auberge, by a lake, in about 1 km. No auberge, no lake, just lots of brown signs la Gulliver’s World or Shakespeare Country and lots of trees. Also a bird and fish reserve centred on a small pond, but with no birds (except a fleeting glimpse of a jay) and no fish as far as I could see. We climbed a small hill to a tor called Roche des Fes and had a picnic

Travel destinations: Rome, Italy – Part 4

Rome is a magical place that is hard to descibe in words, much better to just have the experience. I, however will try. When I was there, I had the opportunity to spend a glorious 5 days. I talked to a girl from South Carolina on the way back who hated Rome. I asked “WHY?”. I later found out that she was only there for a day and a half. Definatley not enough time to enjoy that magnificent ancient city. This southern girl thought that the city closed down at 6 p.m. Not the case at all! Resteraunts open up at 7 p.m. for their dinner patrons, and stay open most of the night. Italians are passionate about their dining experiences, and Roma being a tourist town found amazing ways to profit from that. Heads up- Don’t be surprised when the complimentary bread costs you, also the linen charge and cutlery charge for the tables, and even making eye contact with the accordian player is going to cost you 5 euros. As an American this all sounds perposterous, but its a living to them. Its worth it all.

Must sees of Rome are all the obvious ones. The Collosium, the Pantheon, The Vatican (teh basilica and sistinth chapel are two of the most beautiful things I have ever seen). My advice is to get a map of the city with the landmarks clearly stated…because there are a ton! The national monument, the ruins, the Museum etc. Don’t let this all overwhelm you, though. There is much more to this city than all of that. Every night at the spanish steps you can find a 120 young twenty somethings shelling out 20euros for a free t-shirt and free beer at the nightly pub crawl. The Bio-Parko (ZOO) is great because no one thinks to go there, so you can be a tourist while taking a break from the other tourists. If you are into film, there is usually a great film festival going on. Outside of the Pantheon you can find actors dressed in period garb handing out directions to that evenings perfomance of the opera. three blocks from the spanish steps is an excellent (yet pricey) shopping district. No worries if you are worried about losing your americaness..there are Mcdonalds EVERYWHERE! “Roadway to America” it proclaims on all the signs. It makes me a little sad,actually. i say don’t waste your time, the burgers are gross and you have to pay extra for ketchup.

With that said, Rome has a bit of something for everyone and every price range. Tight budget? I recommend the Hotel Ottoviano. A hostel located right next to the Vatican and in the heart of it all. The metro has a stop right in that neighborhood. More frivalous? There are a ton of four and five star hotels located right by the central station. My advice is to keep an open mind, plan on spending a bit more than you expect, and know that you cannot do it all in a day and a half!

Thessaloniki- Some European Flavor in your Vacation!

WHERE

Thessaloniki is located on the northern part of the Greek mainland, in the gulf of Thermaikos which is a major port in imports and exports. The city was set up in 316 BC and is the capital of Macedonia and the second big city in Greece after Athens.

WHY GO

European culture combined with a variety of other cultures from the north and east, international events such as trade exhibitions and art displays , local festivals all year round, business and fun –extensive nightlife-all these blended together in the unique picturesque setting of Thermaikos gulf in the deep blue of the Aegean and the extensive historic places of interest in and out of the city.

WHEN TO GO

The best seasons to visit are spring, when it is sunny and warm and you can explore the area around the city as well, summer , when you can swim at magic sandy beaches within easy reach of the city, and fall, when international exhibitions take place. In winter months it is cold –sometimes below zero- but it is sunny most of the time.

GETTING THERE AND AROUND

By air

There are direct flights from the UK and other European countries and regular connections from the USA and eastern and northern countries as well.

Departures guide at: http://users.otenet.gr/~cpnchris/skgd.html

Airport info at: http://users.otenet.gr/-cpnchris/skg.html

Olympic airways at www.olympic-airways.gr/passengers_info/oapaxaptskguk.htm

By train

There is a train connection from Europe and the East on a regular basis.

Getting Around

Local buses run on a daily basis schedule to and from all suburbs and resorts, towns and cities. The bus service is a good one and the easiest way to move around the city.

See info at: www.ktel.org/fokis/en/thessaloniki.htm

Train services are for distant locations only, not for urban use.

However, the metro runs in the city connecting busy to remote areas.

Visit: www.metrolpa.net/eu/the/thessal/htm

Taxis are easy to find , and if you need a taxi at a certain time you can call the station and reserve it. They are punctual and trustworthy. Call at White Tower station, tel: 0310 214900. See also http://users.forthnet.gr/the/dsilvestriadis/thessaloniki

However, if you want to see everything , you should walk. It’s not difficult to follow a route a day and explore the inner part of the city on foot.

Cycling is not recommended in the down town area as there is a lot of traffic. Rent-a-car agencies are easy to find at the airport and bus and railway stations, and it is a good idea to self-drive around the city and the suburbs.

See www.kosmos-carrental.com/thessaloniki/html

BEST MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

The visitor shouldn’t miss to see the round White Tower, a remnant of the ancient walls of the city dated back to 1866, which is now the characteristic symbol of the city. There are more towers around the city but they are all square shaped apart from two of them.

The Triumphal Arc of Galerius is in the middle of the city, an imposing monument dating back to the third century.

Ayios Dimitrios church, down town, attracts a lot of people, both tourists and locals. It was built in the 5th century and has great architectural value. Worth visiting the catacombs dug under the church which were the hiding place of the first Christians at that time.

St Sophia church, is also a building you shouldn’t miss.

There is a number of museums all over the city such as the Rotonda ,which is a church for St George, and the Museum of Salonica.

Visit www.greekembassy.org/culture/northgreece/thessaloniki.html

BEST UNUSUAL ATTRACTIONS

The Technology park, visit the site at: www.techpark.gr

The Technology Museum, see site at www.tmth.edu.gr/en

The International Trade Exhibition, a big international event, was set up in 1926 and has been running annually in September since then offering a great range of goods and services. It attracts a great number of people every year both business and fun lovers. See www.helexpo.gr

Also the World Trade center , visit site at http://iserve.wtca.org/wtc/thessaloniki_contacts.html

Mt Athos, within easy reach of the city , is a monastery for monks located on the Halkidiki peninsula . It is a well known for the famous ancient items that are displayed there, and it constitutes a small independed community on its own run by monks. They offer free lodgings and meals to all visitors . Female visitors are not allowed in. Prince Charles of UK has visited Athos many times, as well as other famous people.

See http://poseidon.csd.auth.gr/athos

www.medialab.ntua.gr/athos.html

www.bates.edu/-rallison/friends

www.culture.gr/2/21/218/e21800.html

Halkidiki peninsula beaches are sandy , extensive and ideal for summer vacations. The perfect place for camping lovers.

www.huntsidway.com/travel.html

BEST ACTIVITY AND TOUR

• A tour in the city to see the sights. Visit www.greekhotel.com/mainland/thessaloniki/home.htm

www.greekembassy.org/culture/northgreece/thessaloniki.html

For luxury tours-hotels,

www.luxury.gr/thessaloniki-hotels.html

• For sport lovers, Toumba stadium is renowned for the local team of PAOK . There are two more local teams, ARIS and IRAKLIS. For more activities, see

www.medcollection.com/region.asp?lc=53

BEST ALTERNATIVE

• Mt Athos www.it.uom.gr/project/chalkidiki/visit_Athos.htm

• The Aristotle University which is popular for Medicine, Literature, Law, Theology and other studies.

• The University of Macedonia which is the best for Ecomonics and Social studies,as well as for Computer programming.

www.uom.gr

• The concert Hall http://virtuals.compulink.gr/ommth

BEST LOCAL HAUNT

Kalamaria area , on the east of the city is the best place to enjoy seafood by the sea. Michaniona , one hour by bus from the city center , offers fresh fish by the sea as well traditional dishes restaurants along the bay.

BEST LODGINGS

Park hotel, in the center of the city , within easy reach of all the sights.

Contact: Tel 0310 52412

City, downtown area.

Tel: 0310 269421

Elektra, a higher class hotel in the city.

Tel: 0310 232221

Hyatt, a big hotel.

Website: www.thessaloniki.hyatt.com

See other hotels at: www.greecetravelonline.com/accommodation/hotelbyarea.asp?combArea=Thessaloniki

BEST EATS

Looking for fresh fish? Don’t miss the fish tavernas at Kalamaria, a popular suburb by the sea.

Down town there is a big number of restaurants offering all kinds of tasty dishes, from grilled meat to fish and sea food. Bakeries and pastry shops offer a wide range of traditional cakes that can be found only in Salonica, as well as homemade fruit jams.

Try To Horio (the village ) at tel: 0310 327080, and Ta kalivia, at Tel: 0310 845310, for a wide range of dishes, traditional and European ones.

So , what’s the best speciality to try?

A kind of pie called ‘trigona’ (triangles). It’s got a filo wrapping outside and rich creme inside. They are sweet and tasty and are kept in the fridge.

‘Touloumba’ is another sweet dessert . It’s a kind of pastry roll with no filling inside but dipped in heavy syrup. It’s like ‘Baklavas’ in taste, which is a typical Greek sweet in syrup.

Chocolate speaking the ‘anomala’ bits are delicious. They are small unshaped choco bites made of plain dark chocolate and have a filling of whole almonds.

The best meat dishes are Giros and Souvlaki pittas, and the appetizing Greek salad topped with feta cheese.

Take aways are very popular with the students and the locals. Freshly made dishes delivered to your place –hotels included!

You can call To Fournaki tis Giagias at tel: 0310 311 999 for grilled meat and traditional cuisine . Take away too.

Trocadero is a well known creperie. Tel: 0310 942001, and Pizza Hut is international at tel: 0310 049222.

BEST ENTERTAINMENT

The International Trade Exhibition is the most popular event in Thessaloniki. It attracts visitors from all over the world and has been running annually in September since 1926. Many art festivals take place at that time and it is difficult to find accommodation if you have not booked it a month or so in advance.

For more info visit website at: www.helexpo.gr

BEST SHOPPING

There is an extensive variety of shops downtown offering whatever one may think, from clothes and leather goods to trade products and machinery. See the link below for a guide to shopping in the city.: http://users.forthnet.gr/the/dsilvestriadis/thessaloniki

HEALTH AND SAFETY

There is no need to take any special precautions apart from the regular ones when you travel abroad. A Health Insurance will help if you need Private –Hospital medical care, but there are a lot of public hospitals that can help in emergencies.

During the summer months you should take care of the tap water. It is safer to buy bottled mineral water and avoid the sun at noon. A sun block cream and dark sunglasses is a must for everyboby staying in Greece.

MONEY AND COMMUNICATIONS

There is no problem with currency exchange as there are many banks around the city , at the airport and at the stations as well. Most shops accept credit cards and travelers’checks and most hotels change cash for you at low rates.

International phone calls are easy to make as there are phone booths in the streets and e-mails are easy to send as you can find Internet cafes all around the city. The post office service is reliable but there are many private couriers around the city that offer immediate delivery service locally or worldwide.

www.tnn.gr net news

www.wunderground.com/global/stations/16622.html

Weather report

BEST RESOURCES

WWW.THESSALONIKI.GR

History at http://philippos.mpa.gr/gr/recovered/thessaliniki/try(5)/eng

Hotels +apartments at www.greecead.com/gadhome/thessaloniki

American Consulate at http://virtuals.compulink.gr/us-consulate

I Love Touring Italy – the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento

If you are planning a European tour, you should consider the Amalfi Coast and the city of Sorrento in the Gulf of Salerno. These tourist attractions so popular with the jet setters and many others are part of the Campania region of southwestern Italy on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Tis area is by no means undiscovered. Don’t miss our other articles on Campania destinations in this series describing Campania’s capital city Naples, the historic ruins east of Naples, the area west of Naples, and finally the Isle of Capri.

We’ll start at the coastal city of Salerno and go west along the shore to Salerno, Amalfi, then Ravello which is just north, and continue along the coast to Positano and finally to Sorrento across the Bay of Naples from Naples.

Salerno, population approximately 150 thousand, was settled well before Roman times. Its Schola Medica Salernitana (Salerno Medical School) is said to be the oldest university in Europe. By the Eleventh Century it was considered the center of medical knowledge in Western Europe but by the Thirteenth Century it was on its way down. Napoleon’s brother-in-law Joachim Murat closed the school. The University of Salerno went public in 1968. It includes a School of Medicine and Surgery. The city was invaded by the Allies during World War II and briefly hosted an Italian government that declared war on Germany.

The Duomo (Cathedral) was built in the late Eleventh Century and restored on several occasions. Don’t miss its bell tower, pulpits, and carved marble sarcophagi. In fact, be sure to see the entire edifice with its Byzantine and Arab influences. The Cathedral Museum includes silver statues and historic medical school documents. Other Salerno churches include St. Benedict, originally part of a Seventh to Ninth Century Monastery destroyed by the Saracens and the Baroque St. George Church.

If you like palaces visit the Seventeenth Century Palazzo D’Avossa (D’Avossa Palace), the recently restored Genovese Palace, the Giannattasio Palace, and the Copeta Palace built on the site of an ancient cemetery. What about castles? The Castello di Arechi (Arechi Castle) commanding the city is built on previous Roman-Byzantine construction and is now used for congresses and exhibitions. The Eleventh Century Terracena Castle was virtually destroyed by an earthquake early in the Thirteenth Century and very little remains.

Amalfi, population about fifty thousand, was once a major trading center with schools of mathematics and law. The Amalfi maritime code was widely used in the Mediterranean area for centuries. It is said that an Amalfi native first brought the mariner’s compass to Europe.

The Duomo or Cattedrale di Sant’Andrea (Cathedral of Saint Andrea), considered the most stunning cathedral in southern Italy, was initially constructed during the Ninth Century and has been rebuilt and expanded since then. Be sure to see the beautiful Chiostro del Paradiso (Paradise Cloister) the burial ground for local big shots. The chapels date from the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries and are bedecked with magnificent frescoes. Stop by the Basilica Museum to view many other historic treasures. The Cripta di Sant’Andrea (Crypt of St. Andrew), built in the Thirteenth Century, contains many the relics of St. Andrew, St. Peter’s younger brother.

A few miles northeast of Amalfi lies the village of Ravello, population about twenty-five hundred. Ravello is home to a major annual Italian music festival honoring a famous visitor, the German Opera composer Richard Wagner, hosted in the Villa Rufolo, described next.

The heavily Arab influenced Villa Rufolo boasts a 90 foot (30 meter) watch tower and gardens, a favorite of German opera composer Richard Wagner. This villa was mentioned by the famous Italian author, Giovanni Boccaccio, in The Decameron.

The nearby Villa Cimbrone looks old but was actually built in 1905. It is now an upscale hotel. Whether or not you stay in the hotel you really should stroll through the rose gardens and see the Belvedere dell’Infinita (Belvedere of Infinity) overlooking the Gulf of Salerno.

Positano, population under four thousand, has gone from a major port in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries to a sleepy fishing village about fifty or sixty years ago to the Amalfi Coast’s number one tourist attraction. Beautiful Positano was featured in the films Only You (1994) and Under the Tuscan Sun (2003) even though it is definitely not in Tuscany.

Joachim Murat resided in Palazzo Murat during part of his reign as King of Naples and Sicily. As you can well imagine, the Palazzo was hardly a little country getaway from that hectic, hectic office. The gardens are beautiful and the Palazzo is right near the beach. You too can stay there; it’s now a hotel. The Thirteenth Century Romanesque Chiesa Santa Maria Assunta (Church of Saint Mary of Assunta) is most famous for its Byzantine wood painting of Madonna with Child known as the Black Virgin. According to legend this painting was stolen by Saracen pirates who fled right into a violent storm. A voice cried out “Posa, posa” (set it down, set it down). They did and fled into the calm. The painting was retrieved and that’s how the city got its name.

Before you leave Positano visit its main beach, the Spaggia Grande, and stroll on its walkway, Via Positanesi d’America, named for the thousands of locals who immigrated to the United States, especially to New York City, to seek a better life. I’ll let you decide where it is better to live today – Positano or New York City. As you stroll along you’ll see many sights including the Torre Trasita, a historic defense tower transformed into a residence.

Sorrento, population about sixteen thousand, is located about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of Naples, across the Bay of Naples. It has been a resort town for perhaps two thousand years. Its notable visitors included the British authors Lord Byron and Keats, the German author Goethe, the Russian author Maxim Gorky, and the Italian opera singers Enrico Caruso and Luciano Pavarotti.

Sorrento has excellent museums. The Museo Correale di Terranova proudly displays its collection of Sixteenth, Seventeen, and Eighteenth Century paintings, furniture, and decorative objects. Its grounds are beautiful as is the view. The Museo Bottege della Tarsialignea (Inlaid Woodwork Museum) is devoted to the tradition of inlaid woodwork so active in the Sorrento region. It includes a lovely collection of these pieces surrounded by appropriately selected paintings, prints, and photographs. Il Museo Mineralogico Campano (Mineralogical Museum) is relatively new. Its international collection includes minerals from Mount Vesuvius and Mount Somma. There is also a dinosaur collection including baby dinosaurs and dinosaur eggs as well as a display of Permian reptiles that predate the dinosaurs by almost countless millions of years.

There’s lots more to see in Sorrento including its historic city center with what remains of the protective walls of the Middle Ages, the Fourteen Century Il Chiostro di San Francesco (Saint Francis Cloister) with its neighboring monastery that predates it by perhaps seven hundred years, and the Eleventh Century Basilica of Saint Antonio dedicated to Sorrento’s patron saint. Here you can see his crypt and two whalebones. According to legend they belonged to a whale that swallowed a child who was rescued by Saint Antonio in his most famous miracle.

What about food? As mentioned in the other articles in this series, there is a lot to eat in Campania. Lemons are a local specialty, especially when the rinds are made into a sweet liqueur known as limoncello. Anchovies are another local specialty. I do not recommend them together.

Let’s suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with Spaghetti alle Vongole (Spaghetti with Clam Sauce). Then try Spigola (Sea Bass). For dessert indulge yourself with Crostata all’Arancio (Orange Tart). Be sure to increase your dining pleasure by including local wines with your meal.

We conclude with a quick look at Campania wine. Campania ranks 9th among the 20 Italian regions for both acreage devoted to wine grapes and for total annual wine production. The region produces about 64% red and and close to 36% white wine, as there is little ros?Campania produces 17 DOC wines. DOC is short for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine. The G in DOCG stands for Garantita, but there is in fact no guarantee that such wines are truly superior. Only 2.8% of Campania wine carries the DOC or DOCG designation. There are three DOCG wines: the red Taurasi, the white Greco di Tufo, and the white Fiano di Avellino. I have tasted the Fiano and found it to be top of the line.

There are two DOC wines produced in this area: Costa d’Amalfi and Penisola Sorrentina. Both are made in a variety of styles with a variety of local grapes. Try them. But you can surely buy better Campania wine.

Having An Appetite For France

If you’re thinking of moving to France then you must be at least half keen on food and drink. It helps though if you can literally stomach anything.

Let’s start with an aperitif. Well you may end with that too, since if you are invited to a French house in the evening, this is likely to be all you will get. My first experience was an invitation to our elderly neighbour’s house shortly after we moved in. Monsieur M replaced the mountain of junk mail, straw and chicken eggs on his old wooden table with hastily wiped tiny glasses, even tinier cups and saucers and a huge dish of enormous white sugar lumps. Then the ritual began. A quick look through the shuttered window to check that that the coast was clear, a conspiratorial wink, and the opening and pouring of a crystal clear liquid from an old soda bottle. This was our first encounter with home brewed eau de vie. To accompany this traditional aperitif we were served thick black coffee in the tiny cups. “Pas du sucre” I say as I brush aside the sugar dish. Our host is undeterred; it is not an option. The sweet black liquid is foul but the eau de vie is worse. I glance across the table to my husband. It’s difficult to tell whether he’s savouring every mouthful or just can’t bring himself to swallow it. I guess that it’s unlikely he will be able to come to my rescue. Denied the option of sliding my glass over to him to drink, I look around the room for another escape. The light is dim since the shutters are still half closed. I notice that our genial host wears thick glasses and wonder how bad his eyesight really is. He reaches for the bottle, he sees that his glass is empty. As he pours the innocent looking liquid slowly into his glass I seize the opportunity to empty the remainder of my drink onto the sad looking potted geranium which is on the window sill beside me. I manage, with slight of hand, to return my empty glass, as if from my lips, just as he recaps the bottle. However, he now sees that my glass is empty and quickly refills it. This comedy continues for about an hour, becoming more farcical as my husband passes his own glass to me to dispose of the contents too.

As we leave Monsieur M fast asleep with his head on the table I notice that the geranium has perked up.

Our next invitation is quite different. Our new neighbours are from Paris; spending the summer in their country home in the village.

Aperitifs are served at 7pm. Would we like pink or white champagne? Have we ever tasted foie gras? Here is a plateful. Do we like caviar? Yes, the salty little black things on that toast. “No, I haven’t tasted either before” – (and look forward to never tasting them again). Thankfully, on this occasion, my husband, with a more sophisticated palate than my own, joins our Parisian friends to finish the goose liver and fish eggs whilst I happily eat my way through the other delicious canapés, nuts and cherry tomatoes. At about 10 pm it’s time for dinner and we leave our hosts to prepare their meal while we return to our house, full of food and fizz, and go straight to bed!

Now we have learned that the French way is to invite friends just for aperitifs. We are surprised then when the local farmer, having recently married, invites us to dinner. By this time I have mysteriously developed (honestly), an allergy to some seafood, namely oysters and mussels. The young wife is pleased to hear this; she doesn’t want to poison me so will prepare something different “Frogs legs?” “ No”. That’s a pity because I’ve had them before; they taste like chicken. What then? Voila, she appears at the table with a dish piled high with snails. The farmer shows us how to eat them, his face lights up with pleasure as he picks out and chews the contents of the shell. Even smothered in garlic, butter and parsley I can’t generate any enthusiasm at all. Worse still, I know that my face is contorting with pain as I attempt to slide the rubbery creature down my gullet without having to chew it. I see that my husband is suffering too. No potted geranium in sight this time.

I don’t remember praying but maybe I did. Our young host suddenly leapt up from the table to answer a furious knocking at the door. “Les vaches – libre” was all we could hear as he ran out onto the road, followed by a flustered wife shouting to us, in schoolgirl English, that they were sorry but the cows have escaped and they would have to go and catch them.

When they return we are sitting smugly behind plates of empty shells. The snails are safely secreted in our pockets. The young wife is overjoyed. It is the first time she’s prepared snails and is so glad we’ve enjoyed them. What luck that she’s made so many. She returns from the kitchen with another great plateful.

I must remember to add snails to the list of things I’m allergic to.

When we return their hospitality and invite the young couple to join us for dinner, I struggle to decide what to cook for them. It’s impossible to think of a truly traditional English dish so I choose a popular dish, my favourite, instead. The evening goes well, with our limited French, their limited English and a lot of wine. Another bottle of wine is called for. This necessitates a visit to the cave (wine cellar) under the kitchen floor and as I hold up the heavy wooden hatch my husband searches below for some good claret. Several minutes later we return to the dining room. I am amazed to see the youngsters mopping up curry sauce with the last of the bread. “C’était délicieux ” says the wife.

There’s more curry in the pot. I hesitate before offering it, wondering if their pockets are already full of chicken tikka masala!

Copyright 2005 B A Boyle. May be freely reproduced “as-is” for private and commercial use.

Hotel reviews: Hotel Plainbrucke, Salzburg, Austria – Part 1

This Hotel is situated in the Itzling West area of Plainbrucke which is a small district of Salzburg. We landed at the Airport and from there we decided to take a taxi trip to the hotel which took us approx 10 -15 mins I guess.

This cost us 15 euros which isn’t too bad, but later on we found out the bus journey would have been free!

Upon arrival, we went to the reception and received a warm welcome from the member of staff behind the desk. We were actually an hour early for check in and we explained this to the woman but this wasn’t a problem to them and we were told that we could go straight to our room as it was ready for us which I was really please about as we had to get up at 3am for out flight to Austria so I was more than tired at this point so it was nice to get in the room and freshen up.

The lady escorted us to our room which was on the first floor, and in the second building of the hotel (more about that later!). I would like to point out that we had to carry the cases to the room ourselves as there wasn’t a porter available but maybe there would have been if we asked.

On first impressions, the room was clean, tidy, smelt nice and seemed very homely. As we walked into the room, straight ahead of us was the bathroom which consisted of a walk in shower, basin and a toilet as standard. Above the basin, there was a large mirror and a shelf. There was a heated towel rail behind the door which came in very handy. On the towel rail were two bath towels and adjacent to the sink were two hand towels.

Just inside the door was a large coat hook with 6 coat hooks attached which was obviously very useful with the amount of coats we packed.

The bedroom itself was spacious and consisted of a 4 poster bed (which my girlfriend had specifically ordered), a wardrobe big enough to fit both our clothes in comfortably and a chest drawer on top of which was a TV. The TV only had one channel that was in English though, which was CNN. In front of the window were a table and two chairs. Beside the bed, on either side was a bedside cabinet with a lamp on each. Unfortunately there wasn’t an electric kettle so we were not able to make ourselves a nice brew when we arrived in the room, so I would recommend people to take a travel kettle if you like your tea and coffee.

The bed was two separate mattresses within a king-sized four poster but the tiny gap between the mattresses didn’t really cause any problems although I do think it would have been better if

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