Legend has it that champagne was invented by the 17th Century wine-making monk Dom Pérignon, who tasted an accidentally refermented vintage and cried out to his friends, “Come quickly, I am drinking the stars!” But while the man did exist, crediting him for inventing “bubbly” was actually an advertising ploy from the 1800s. Read the rest of this entry »
Imagining Paris without the Eiffel Tower is like London without Big Ben or San Francisco without the Golden Gate Bridge. But no sooner had the architect Gustav Eiffel beaten his 700 competitors in the design competition for the 1889 Centennial Exposition, celebrating a century since the French Revolution, than a vocal outcry began to halt construction of the edifice. Read the rest of this entry »
Windsor CastleWindsor Castle is the most historic castle in Britain and contains a priceless collection of paintings, furniture, porcelain and tapestries handed down from many generations of monarchs who lived there. The State Apartments are a highlight of a visit to the Queen’s favorite residence, the largest inhabited castle in the world.
For afternoon tea, why not nip over to the Dorchester? Winner of the 2000 Tea Council’s award for Finest Afternoon Tea, this hotel definitely keeps with tradition. Remember, the dress code is smart. Read the rest of this entry »
The Prague Jazz Boat glides along the Vltava River, affording wonderful views of Prague Castle, Charles Bridge and many other famous Prague sights. Along the way, a celebrated live band takes you through several different blends of Jazz music.
15 minutes by metroand 20 minutes by bus from central Prague, this attractive village offers an unusual parcel of adorable restaurants, shops and other charming odds and ends. But perhaps Pruhonice’s most noteworthy feature is a 250-hectare (618-acre) landscaped park lush with exotic gardens considered the best in the Czech Republic. Read the rest of this entry »
Equestrian buffs will find this Viennese institution irresistible. Founded in 1572, it’s the oldest and last riding school in the world where classic dressage is still practiced in its purest form. Come see world-famous Lipizzaner stallions go through their steps.
If the scandalous side of history interests you, visit the hunting lodge of Archduke Rudolph in Mayerling. It was there in 1889 that Rudolph, the heir to the throne, was found dead with his teenage mistress. Both, apparently, the victims of a suicide pact. Read the rest of this entry »
The Forbidden City – the largest imperial palace in the world – is situated in the center of Beijing and covers more than 178 acres of land in China. As an ancient Chinese legend goes, “the God resided in the heavens, known to all as the “Purple City.”” During the 17th Century, Chinese emperors claimed to be the sons of the God in an effort to justify their absolute power, and thus their homes would be considered a forbidden area to the common people. As a result, “Purple Forbidden City” became the official name for the emperor’s palace. Read the rest of this entry »
