Europe

October 19, 2021

Black Forest: Hiking, sauna, Jacuzzi, eat, rinse, repeat

The Black Forest was apparently the inspiration for Grimm’s Fairy Tales although there’s no concrete evidence it’s true. What is true is the aptly named forest is a wonderland of outdoor natural fun from an endless maze of hiking trails to spas throughout the region. We spent four days bouncing from hiking trails to the Jacuzzi to an exquisite dining table.

October 12, 2021

If you want to move to Italy, here’s how

So many people liked last week’s blog about how Italy stacked up against other retirement destinations, I decided to re-post a blog I wrote almost exactly a year ago about how to move to Italy. They’re valuable tips that you should cut and paste. I’m in Germany on assignment this week and you can thank me later.

September 28, 2021

Asturian cuisine: Spanish comfort food hits sweet spot with beans and sausage but cider hits a sour note

When you think of Spanish cuisine, you think of tapas. It’s the fun, social way to eat., Go tapas bar hopping and fill up on little plates of local delicacies. In the Northern Spain region of Asturias, nothing is small. Asturian cuisine is hearty, big and flavorful. Sausage. Beans. Soups. Seafood. We spent four days gorging on Spain’s most underrated cuisine. But you can have its sidra.

September 13, 2021

Italian vs. U.S. healthcare: My healthy heart is with Italy but some here see problems hidden under the cheap costs

Italian vs. U.S. healthcare. I love the Italian healthcare system. Here’s why: I had my annual full-body check up Wednesday. They gave me a battery of tests and consultations. It cost all of 450 euros. In the U.S. it would be five times that. However, an American doctor and Italian doctor here both punched holes in the Italian healthcare.

September 7, 2021

Mamma mia! Skopelos is the ideal Greek wedding

The 2008 film “Mamma Mia!” made Skopelos famous and made a tiny church atop a 300-foot cliff one of the world’s ideal places to get married. Now couples from all over come to this little Greek island for their ceremony. They say it’s more romantic than you can imagine and less hassle than you’ll believe.

August 31, 2021

Skopelos: Greece’s emerald isle more than “Mamma Mia!”

Skopelos became famous in 2008 when Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan sang and danced their way across the island in “Mamma Mia!” But the scenes you see in the movie are just a snippet of the real beauty of this island of 5,000 people. Great beaches. Deep forests. Excellent food. It’s our new favorite Greek island.

August 25, 2021

Rome’s Gladiator School: My two months swinging a sword and learning truth was bloodier than fiction

In Rome’s Gladiator School, I learned to fight three men at once with a 7-pound sword — and how to lay dead without pulling my tunic over my underwear. My two months in La Scuola dei Gladiatori was a rollicking ride of humility combined with insight into one of the bloodiest period’s in man’s history.

August 16, 2021

Colosseum Underground: The scariest place on Earth during the Roman Empire

After a two-year renovation project, the Colosseum Undergound reopened in June. I was able to go into the bowels of the stadium last week.

August 10, 2021

Tortoreto: Thumbs up to Abruzzo’s gem on the Adriatic

Tortoreto is a little-known corner of the little-know region of Abruzzo where tourists are sparse but culture rich. Tortoreto stretches from the beaches of the Adriatic to hill towns staring out at the Gran Sasso mountain range. It’s hard to reach but worth every step.

August 3, 2021

Forum of Augustus: Rome’s light show illuminates city’s ancient beauty

Every day when I walk through Rome, I remind myself that I’m living in the most beautiful city in the world. But the other night I saw how even more beautiful this city once was. More than 2,000 years ago, Rome was a city of towering marble temples, expansive forums, countless statues, beautiful cobblestone streets […]

July 27, 2021

Covid vaccinations soon required to do anything in Italy

Starting Aug. 6, you’re going to need proof of vaccination to do pretty much anything inside Italy. Good. Cases in Italy are climbing and so is Delta. The only thing preventing the end of this nightmare is vaccinations.

July 20, 2021

Bulgaria’s overgrown Sunny Beach still has a side of paradise

Sunny Beach is Bulgaria’s No. 1 tourist destination and has been battered for over tourism. It has gone from 322 accommodations to 640 in seven years. Tales of drunken debauchery and drugs give it an image similar to Cancun and Ibiza. But I found a corner of the five-mile beach that was peaceful and beautiful and perfect. The Royal Palace Helena Sands was the ideal place for pampering after 16 months never leaving Italy.

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