Modena Food Tour: An Italian Culinary Mecca

Last updated on February 7th, 2024 at 12:10 amThe Emilia-Romagna region is often considered the foodie capital of Italy. It’s home to authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, balsamic vinegar, excellent charcuterie and truffles. It’s also the birthplace of bolognese sauce and mortadella (bologna in the United States). So I decided to take a Modena food tour to…

Alex with wall to wall parmesan cheese wheels

Great Things to do in Florence, Italy

Last updated on December 15th, 2022 at 07:32 pm By Alex Kallimanis: Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance. Magnificent examples of Italian Gothic architecture were erected with the financial assistance of powerful Florentine families like the Medici’s. When you visit Florence today you can see why artists like Michelangelo were inspired by the city….

Close up of Michelangelo's David

20 Great Destinations in the South of France

Last updated on February 9th, 2024 at 04:25 pmFrance is the world’s most visited country, drawing over 90 million travelers in 2018. Great beach destinations and UNESCO World Heritage Sites are abundant in the south of France. Stunning natural landscapes also include dramatic gorges, lavender fields and rolling vineyards. We asked a select group of…

South of France

Crete: Tips for Greece’s Largest Island

Crete is the largest and most southern island in Greece. It’s home to ancient civilizations that predate Athenians, picturesque scenery and one of Greece’s best culinary scenes. As we have family in Heraklion, we’ve visited them multiple times over the last few years, giving us a chance to explore this beautiful island, with great local guidance. Crete highlights include Chania, Palace of Knosos, Rethymnon, Samaria Gorge (longest in Europe) and Elafonisi, a unique pink beach. Here are tips for visiting Crete!

Tips for Visiting Istanbul on a Stopover

Last updated on December 4th, 2020 at 09:45 pmBy Alex Kallimanis: Still referred to as Constantinople in Greece, Istanbul is a bustling city packed with layers of history. We recently visited Istanbul on our return from Tanzania. It was part of a celebratory trip and for scheduling reasons, we flew from Kilimanjaro Airport to Istanbul on…