British and American passport holders may be concerned to hear that the value of their passports has slipped down the global rankings, with both citizenships sliding a number of places in the 2019 Nomad Passport Index. According to the annual research carried out by the leading offshore consulting firm Nomad Capitalist, Luxembourg citizens have the best passport in the world for the second year running. Its citizens are able to travel to 186 … [Read more...]
How to Tell if House Sitting is Right for You
In the past six months, I lived in a land-locked nation where Mercedes and BMWs rank in the top five most popular cars, enjoyed endless sunny days on golden sandy beaches along the sparkling Atlantic Ocean, and for a week called a tiny New York apartment home. Digital nomads, retirees with free time, and travelers hoping to live like a local have embraced the house sitting lifestyle. Despite this trend, it remains a generally untapped … [Read more...]
Trier – Rome of the North
“Ante Romam Treveris stetit annis mille trecentis” (Trier stood 1300 years before Rome) – legend of Trier’s founding. Trier is the UNESCO World Heritage city you’ve never heard of. While you were busy swooning over Berlin’s modern architecture or Munich’s copious beer gardens, you’ve missed Germany’s most remarkable city, quietly minding its own business along the banks of the Mosel river, the way it always has for two and a half … [Read more...]
Saarland, Germany’s best kept secret
My fondest memories as a kid growing up in Germany typically involved hiking in green forests, visiting medieval cities, exploring roman ruins, cycling along river banks, driving through vineyards dotting the many low rolling hills, or taking daytrips to the French side of the border to gawk at life on the other side. This is Saarland, Germany’s hidden gem. If you’ve followed any of my other articles, you’ll know by now that what I enjoy most is … [Read more...]
7 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Spent 3 Weeks in Europe
My husband and I took the European trip of our dreams last fall, starting with a week in Paris, one of my favorite spots, and making our way to Munich, Luxembourg, Amsterdam and Stockholm. We packed only one backpack each and set out excited, nervous and most-of-all, ready for whatever unexpected adventures would inevitably come up. Between our afternoon espressos and evening liters of wine, I learned many lessons that I’ll take with me for … [Read more...]
Bohemian Rhapsody
John M. Edwards takes the waters in the Czech Republic’s so-called West Bohemian Spa Triangle in order to spy out the local talent and bathe in the buff. . . . “Give me a place to stand on, and I will have the earth.” --Archimedes In the “West Bohemian Spa Triangle,” consisting of the old spa towns Carlsbad, Marienbad, and Franzenbad, now all hiding behind Czech names, I thought to myself that it doesn’t get any better than this! In … [Read more...]
Please Pass the Pommes Frites: My Dinner with Martin Amis’s Son
Ex-expat John M. Edwards is invited as a “standby” to a sumptuous Parisian dinner party near Passy, where perforce playing the devil’s advocate comes with no pricetag at all. . . . “Hello John, how would you like to come to a dinner party tonight,” queried fair friend and picnic partner Julie, a fellow Servas member. A world peace organization affiliated with the United Nations, “Servas,” we joked with devil-may-care abandon, should … [Read more...]
The Most Romantic Destinations in Paris
Paris, France has long been considered the mecca for romantic destinations across the world. It's clear this starry-eyed reputation is well deserved from the moment you step into the city. From the charming cobbled stone streets to the beautiful and exceptional cafés, there's a lot to love in this most vibrant part of beautiful France. Although your average romantic is certainly capable of finding plenty of amorous destinations from simply … [Read more...]
Waltzing through the Kaffehaus Kultura Vienna
“The [Café] Central is a place for people who have to kill time, so as not to be killed by it. . . .” --Alfred Polgar “I AM SIGMUND SPIELBERG!!!” The obviously unemployable flaneur with umlaut eyes landed at my marble-topped table without a proper invite, brusquely pushing aside a Thonet wooden chair. Brandishing a copy of Der Spiegel on a wooden rolling pin in his left hand, and reeking from an unfortunate cologne resembling turning … [Read more...]
Finding the roots of our heritage
I have been fortunate to track down some of my father's heritage - from Luxembourg to Los Angeles. Now it was turn for my mother's side of the family. They come from a very beautiful part of Italy - in the hills along the Italian Riviera. We visited the small town of Casarza Ligure; the "Gallo" name is everywhere which is my mother's maiden name. The homesite of my great Grandfather, Guiseppe Gallo is situated high on a hill above Casarza and … [Read more...]