Lyon is a gem of a city. Set on a hilly site, it's where the Rhône and Saône rivers meet – making it a it a natural military and commercial and an attractive location in its own right. Its long history dates back to Roman times when it was called Lugdunum and was the capital of Roman Gaul. By 1032 it was part of the Holy Roman Empire but was annexed to France in 1312. It … [Read more...] about Lyon: a culinary gem amid a violent history
Europe
Berlin, the sexy city that’s full of quirks and contrasts
Berlin never reached the heights of other imperial capitals in the age of empires. Even today it compares poorly both with other capital cities in Europe and with other German cities like Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Cologne. As a united country, Germany is young. It only became one country in 1871, after Bismarck's forces crushed Napoleon III's armies in the … [Read more...] about Berlin, the sexy city that’s full of quirks and contrasts
Brandenburg Gate – the heart of Berlin
If there is one single thing that says Berlin, it has to be the Brandenburg Gate. Opened in 1791 as a symbol of peace, the Brandenburg Gate has come to say Berlin in the same way as the Eiffel Tow- er says Paris, Big Ben says London and the Harbour Bridge says Sydney. Its 12 Doric columns in a neo-classical design echo the gateway to the Acropolis in Athens. On top is a … [Read more...] about Brandenburg Gate – the heart of Berlin
Nice and greasy
You know that the fry up is still ok when respectable national newspapers like the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail break away from endless coverage of the Royals and the fresh horrors of the political left to present features like "The Ten Best Greasy Spoons in London". They are joined by the much more populist Entertainment bible of London, Time Out, which regularly … [Read more...] about Nice and greasy
Cycling in Amsterdam: beware of the killer bikes
Amsterdam. The very name conjures up images of tulips, canals, trams, windmills, artists such as Rembrandt and Van Gogh, and yes, cyclists. The Dutch are bike mad and proud of it. Seemingly, everyone has a bike, and they are ridden by all ages, all the time, and often in a very aggressive “we own the path” manner. Amsterdam is often held up by public transport advocates … [Read more...] about Cycling in Amsterdam: beware of the killer bikes
Buy carefully on London Food Tours
Each of the London food tours I chose varied widely in price and content. Deliberately so, because I wanted a range of experiences, and because I was determined to try free stuff (although, of course, it wasn’t actually free at all). Top of the line was a twilight food and cocktail tour of Soho which I undertook on a Friday night. At £95 this was the most expensive, but it … [Read more...] about Buy carefully on London Food Tours
Continental Drift
There are few things better in life than quietly drifting down two of Europe's best-known rivers in comfortable surroundings, well fed, with plentiful supplies of wine and other drinks, rising each day to anew town and anew experience. The river cruises between Amsterdam and Budapest along the Rhine and Danube rivers are Among the most popular trips for the over 60s from New … [Read more...] about Continental Drift