I am not a fan of drinking coffee from modern machines. My morning’s best friend is a “Bialetti”. After exhausting ourselves cleaning the apartment, I took a long nap right after. When I woke up, I could only think that a fresh cup of coffee was the only fuel able to lift my lazy spirit.
To understand the history and culture of Germany and fall in love with an itinerary made of landscapes, culinary flavors and unforgettable artistic expressions, start at Leipzig. No other city represents Germany as well as this one, which is currently the fastest growing and most prosperous in the country.
I have always been questioned about my obsessive love for the Netherlands, and I still find myself searching for the most different explanations for something that seems particularly obvious to me, but for many - if not most – believe that I'm just being eccentric.
I believe many of those who will read this article, just like me, have never had Jordan on their traveling bucket list. There are those who recognize it as the country of the archaeological city of Petra; others talk about Jordan because of the Dead Sea. And those thinking of visiting the East are most likely to go to Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Morocco. But few go to Jordan.
Besides being a rather eye-catching building, The Duke's Diwan is Amman's most ancient building and is open for visitation. It is in the heart of the city center and opposite a good, famous restaurant called Hashem. Its history goes back to 1924, the year of its construction, where the first Post Office of the city once functioned.
The visit to Amman is complete when you get to know the Roman Theater. So much so that some tour guides start the city tour at this place, considered an architectural relic created more than 2,000 years ago during the Roman domination, when Amman was chosen capital of the Roman Empire and was still called Philadelphia.
The cool Neve Tzedek was the first Jewish quarter built outside the port of Yaffo. It was a neighborhood inhabited since its inception by artists, writers and intellectuals. Built with houses and small buildings, preserving the Art Nouveau and Bauhaus architecture. Over the years, it has become highly valued.
I will hardly insist on anyone visiting a museum. But when in Rotterdam, if I must suggest some of the most must-see places in one’s life is the Boijmans Van Beunigen. Its qualitites are countless. It has, altogether, works of art made by Rembrandt, Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Magritte, Salvador Dalí and so on.
The first time I went to Artis was wintertime. Dry leaves, empty, rainy, a bit sad, and the restaurant was closed. But the flamingos lining around a lake warmed my soul and it was exactly what I needed on that cold Sunday afternoon. Flamingos: I never thought I was going to find these animals so gracious in person.