Scotland has some of the most beautiful, unspoiled national parks in Europe. Guest blogger Connor Gillivan describes two of them: the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond & the Trossachs.
For the first time in the 40 years of European Capitals of Culture, two bordering cities are sharing the designation. Gorizia, Italy, and Nova Gorica, Slovenia have been on opposite sides of the same international border since Nova Gorica rose from the ashes of World War II. Today they claim to be borderless and civic cooperation led to their dual honor for 2025. I attended their opening ceremony earlier this month and this is my report.
Occasionally Marina and I spend a night in a hotel in our city of Rome just to remind ourselves why more than 10 million tourists visit every year. Last week we took a room in historic Borgo Pio, a slivert of a neighborhood near the Vatican. We went Feb. 13 to avoid the price gouging the next night on Valentine’s Day. The weather was rainy, perfect to scare away tourists and present Borgo Pio in its rawest form.
Szentendre is an artist’s colony just north of Budapest and has been a major tourist destination for centuries. In the summer, it is such a tourist trap you hear more German than Hungarian. But we went on the last day of January and had practically the whole village to ourselves. Visiting a tourist trap with no tourists truly is a fulfilling experience.
Bali is the most popular island in Indonesia for travelers. If you want to see how the other half lives, guest blogger Patrick Farrell lists all the luxurious ways you can make your visit a once-in-a-lifetime experience. From hotels to helicopter rides, this guide will get you in the right circles.
In my four visits to Hungary, I’ve always been startled by how white it is. I never see anyone of color. In light of prime minister Viktor Orban’s outlandish statements about immigration and his even more outrageous laws, I sought some answers during our visit last week. It’s not as racist as I thought but Orban is clinging to his immigration stance as he falls in the polls.
Frantic friends and readers have asked me this month how to move to Italy — but also ask what is life like under Giorgia Meloni. The prime minister, whose Brothers of Italy party has neo fascist roots, has been pretty benign. Nothing she has done has repulsed me or affected me. However, I remain cautious as her cozy relationship with Donald Trump and Elon Musk makes me and others in Italy nervous.
The Jubilee has come to Rome for a 13-month stay, meaning about 35 million pilgrims will pour in to walk through one of the four Holy Doors that were opened for the first time in 25 years. Marina and I went through the one in St. Paul Outside the Walls. I didn’t think it was a big deal, but I’m not Catholic. Marina is. It was a big deal to her and it has been for the world’s Catholics since 1500. Myself? I just loved the church’s beauty.
Since retiring to Rome in 2014, I average about 60 days of travel a year. I should top that in 2025. My travel bucket list has a trip either booked or tentatively scheduled nearly every month. They range from Wales this winter to Thailand next November with WAY off-the-beaten-path spots such as Turkmenistan and Syria in between. Take a look at my plan. Hope it inspires you to set sail.
Every year around Jan. 11, the anniversary of my arrival in Rome in 2014, I write all the reasons I love living here. After 11 years, it’s still not a problem finding new reasons. This year I found a whole new list, ranging from the draw Rome’s 930 churches has on me to chocolate-covered frappe served every Easter. Hope this list brings back fond memories or your trip to Rome or inspires you to make some memories of your own.
Undergoing chemo is devastating but it doesn’t mean you must be homebound. Guest blogger Mahasweta Bose lists numerous tips that allow chemo patients to travel comfortably and without worry.
I was born, raised and educated in Eugene, Ore., and been an Oregon Ducks fan since 1963. Now they are ranked No. 1 entering the College Football Playoffs and I am stuck 10,000 kilometers away, cheering alone. That’s OK. Considering my star-crossed history with college football’s late blooming power, I won’t mind watching on my laptop until 4 in the morning. I write what it’s like to be an Oregon Ducks fan in Rome.
