Our last Danube river cruise only offered a tantalizing glimpse of Durnstein in the Wachau Valley of Austria. It was just long enough for Blonde's wallet to get a catch of thwarted longing in its throat. But on this cruise the wallet's dreams were fulfilled (and the wallet was emptied). Durnstein appears to have received its first mention in recorded history in 1112 when … [Read more...]
Aria Hotel Budapest – Striking all the right notes!
When we heard that the Library Hotel Collection had just opened a new property, the Aria Hotel in Budapest, we were sisters on a mission! We were going to Budapest anyway in advance of a river cruise the timing was perfect. Budapest does not have a shortage of hotels. However, in the past we found they ranged from very expensive large chains ( posh, but predictable) to often … [Read more...]
5 Reasons to travel to Greece
We can always come up with long lists of reasons to travel to Greece but it’s especially easy right now. We’ve seen a lot of Greece and want to see even more – Santorini in September maybe? These are the top 5 reasons we love Greece so much. (The first is true now but not always.): #1 Travel in Greece is affordable If your home currency is the euro then you are … [Read more...]
Szentendre, Hungary
Why visit Szentendre? If you’re going to Budapest try to find the time to take a half-day trip to Szentendre. And do it using Viator, even though we stupidly didn’t! We use Viator all over the world and should have for this trip but instead we used a local provider our hotel recommended. We do not recommend them and, to make matters worse, we don’t even remember their name, … [Read more...]
Prague – Castle Hill, Lesser Town and mistakes
Sometimes the weather is cloudy and sometimes our memories are; unfortunately, both were in Prague. When we travel Brunette takes detailed, copious notes. Except when she doesn’t. For our couple days in Prague last October she jotted down only that we humiliated ourselves. We were 24 hours and 45 minutes late for a dinner reservation we made months earlier. We … [Read more...]
What is “luxury” travel to you?
Luxury travel: Necessity or root of all evil? We know people and travel companies who say they are all about luxury travel. Others practically have steam-clouds of indignation coming out of their ears at the mention of luxury. Is luxury high thread-count sheets? A butler with a silver tray (and an imperious attitude)? A personal sommelier? Someone who unpacks for you, … [Read more...]
Oh, Say Can You See?
If you can see you probably appreciate your sight and perhaps even take it for granted. And, if you can see, and you go to Budapest, you should visit The Invisible Exhibition. What is this woman talking about?! Well, when Blonde and Brunette visit a place we try to check out something we assume is not being covered by other bloggers. (That's partly why we end up in so many … [Read more...]
Plenty to do in Pelion!
Why Pelion? Did we go to the Pelion region of Greece because of its beautiful scenery from beaches to mountains? Because it's an important region in Greek mythology? To sample its exquisite pound-packing-on regional cuisine? No, we went because it's the only place that invited us! Blonde and Brunette have gone to an international conference for travel bloggers for the … [Read more...]
Regensburg isn’t regular
Well then, what makes Regensburg irregular? (Not in that way!) It's one of Germany's best-preserved medieval cities, the old city center is a UNESCO World Heritage city of "Outstanding Universal Value" and Regensburg was once the home of retired Pope Benedict XVI. And, for something that might actually be of interest to our readers, it's home to Germany's oldest restaurant, … [Read more...]
Dear Abbey (the one in Melk, not the advice columnist)
Perhaps you've heard of Melk Abbey so if someone says "Melk" your brain probably tosses in the word "Abbey" Kind of like hearing "Marco" and immediately thinking "Polo". Blonde's brain also reacted only in terms of "Melk Abbey" with no clue of the history behind it or of the town below it. On a Viking River Romantic Danube cruise we stopped to see the Abbey. Blonde had been … [Read more...]