The obvious associations when thinking of Miami are beaches, music, nightlife and South Beach’s Art Deco district. In recent years, however, there has been a surge in cultural life and Miami has become an art destination. Built by acclaimed architects Herzog & Meuron, the PAMM’s building and interior décor are captivating in themselves, with its hanging gardens and terraces with sweeping views of Biscayne Bay.… Read more »
Archives: Great spots
Brickell has become the hot spot in town and, if you are staying in Miami Beach, we highly recommend you leave it for a day, cross over the bridge and head towards downtown. Brickell is as classy as it is cool, with a lot to offer: strolls around Brickell Key, shopping at the recently inaugurated Brickell City Center and your pick of fantastic restaurants and… Read more »
Casa Casuarina was the mansion owned by Gianni Versace, and, sadly, where his tragic murder took place. Watch the series an “American Crime Story”, season “The Assassination of Gianni Versace”, and enjoy the Casa’s great scenes. Inspired by the Alcazar de Colón, home to the family of Christopher Columbus in Santo Domingo, it has now become a very luxurious, highly extravagant and opulent hotel. We… Read more »
In a not so distant past this pedestrian street used to hold some of Lisbon’s brothels and cabarets. A renewal project transformed the street into one of the hottest nightlife spots in the city. It will likely be packed on weekends and it is still lively even on days early in the week, so take your pick! The name comes from the actual color of… Read more »
Sintra is one of the most beloved places by Lisboetas, this charming historic village is 30 kilometers away from Lisbon’s city center. There are many ways to get there but we highly recommend a car, so you can make your itinerary flexible with free stops and planned tours. Sintra´s most renowned attraction is the colorful Pena Place, set amidst a park and lushly planted gardens,… Read more »
Évora is only 80 minutes away from Lisbon and a delightful UNESCO World Heritage site. This enchanting town, with cobblestone streets, quaint squares with fountains and cathedrals, churches, monasteries and chapels, is located in the Alentejo region. One of the most interesting churches in Portugal, the São Francisco church, is found here. Its eccentric annex, the Chapel of Bones, was built by a Franciscan Monk… Read more »
Miami is renowned for its abundance of excellent shopping options. There are many shopping malls to pick from and we suggest the Bal Harbour Shops in the neighborhood of the same name, or the Village of Merrick Park in Coral Gables, pleasant options in which to spend your money and some relaxing time. Both have open-air sections, which makes shopping a lot more agreeable, as… Read more »
A very interesting museum in the charming Belém region that some visitors unfortunately overlook, yet we find particularly interesting. It is one of the finest collections of antique, noble and aristocratic coaches in the world from the 16th to 19th centuries. The collection used to be at the Royal Horse Riding arena, but it has now moved to a very modern ample concrete white building… Read more »
There are many beaches around Lisbon, and summers are hot, so you might want to enjoy a relaxing day in the sun, if weather allows. The beaches we suggest are within thirty minutes from Lisbon, and will provide a convenient respite in between days walking around town and visiting the sights. Carcavelos is closest to Lisbon and very popular, so we recommend you skip it,… Read more »
The inhabitants of Lisbon love their historic neighborhoods and speak of them with such pride, one can get the sense that each area is distinct from the other. To experience a traditional old town, head to Alfama, an old village where you can wander around narrow streets under the shade of the majestic St George castle uphill. We stopped at Beco do Azinhal and had… Read more »
One of the most iconic things about Barcelona is its outstanding, groundbreaking architecture and breathtaking buildings scattered around the city. Surely magnificent, the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell should be on your list, but don’t miss other amazing projects by Gaudi like Casa Milà (or La Pedrera), Casa Batllò or Casa Vicens, the first house designed by Gaudi that will open to the public soon.… Read more »
Known endearingly to locals as “Born”, this neighborhood is not new but newly hip. The “place to be” in Barcelona, this trendy region is right by the good old Gothic Quarter and just across from hectic Via Laietana. Wander around the pretty Triumph Arch and Parc de la Ciutadella, and then head to the neighbourhood’s narrow streets and spend some time on Carrer de La… Read more »
If you are looking for some time under the sun, skip the popular urban beach of Barceloneta, it can get really crowded on hot days. Try to skip Costa Brava as well, it is further away (officially from Blanes to the French border) but at the peak of summer can get equally packed with lines of cars and hordes of tourists. Go the Barcelonan way… Read more »
What could be better than developing (or mastering) new skills whilst exploring a city? Whether taking photos is your hobby, for social media sharing or you simply want to take nice pictures to register a memorable experience in town, photography tours can be a fun and unique way to get acquainted with Barcelona. We found the Barcelona Photography Tour to be a perfect experience. There… Read more »
Even though the Flamenco actually comes from Southern Spain (Andalucia is well known for it), one feels like experiencing it when visiting the country. It is difficult to find authentic places in which to listen to and watch elegant and passionate Flamenco dancing without falling into a tourist trap. Los Juanele, in Eixample, is probably the closest you can get to a typical taverna full… Read more »
Would it be possible to go to Barcelona and not watch the mythical soccer team play? For sports enthusiasts this is a must, but even if you are not a soccer fan, a visit to legendary Camp Nou stadium is a good way to experience a bit of the sport and team that is said to have five hundred million fans worldwide. The stadium holds… Read more »
The Sainte-Chapelle is an enchanting gothic style chapel, and it is rather bemusing that travelers, and occasionally locals, do not know about it. Located in the île de la Cité, the oldest part of town, and only a few blocks away from famous Notre-Dame cathedral, the Sainte Chapelle has some of the most impressive stained glass windows we have seen in Europe. The upper chapel is… Read more »
Gourmands beware: the following will get your cravings going! You will probably pass by the Tour Eiffel in your next visit to Paris, and if that is the case just continue your stroll… from the Tour Eiffel, walk along the open spaces of Champ de Mars (security permitting), stop at pâtisserie Lenôtre at École Militaire for a delicious pain-au-chocolat, or any other mouthwatering traditional French… Read more »
The Louvre and D’Orsay museums are in most travelers’ lists and we certainly recommend visiting these traditional and incredible museums. But why not consider other interesting options of less visited cultural venues? Palais de Tokyo is intriguing as a place that refers to itself as an anti-museu: in this very exciting contemporary art venue, exhibitions aim at fostering debate over what art is all about.… Read more »
A must in the City of Light, this tour is particularly special since you will see most of the beloved Paris attractions lit up and it seems the city has a different atmosphere. Most of the tours start in Marais, pass by the Place des Voges stunning square, then by the Louvre Museum, cross the river Seine and some of its bridges, the Eiffel Tower,… Read more »
