Most Recent Articles on European Travel...

09/08/03 - The Trench of Death - Diksmuide Belgium
Visit this evocative memorial to the horrors and heroism of WWI in Western Belgium.

08/27/03 - Peñafiel Spain and the Ribera del Duero Wine Region
Penafiel has some of the best wine, food, and the narrowest castle right in the heart of Spain.

08/14/03 - Europe's Romanesque Churches and Sexual Symbols
Ever look closely at those Romanesque Churches the guidebooks send you to? You might be surprised! Includes a guide to the fascinating village of Ujue, Spain.

07/29/03 - Bresse France and the Search for the World's Best Chicken
What to do and Eat around Bresse, France.

07/21/03 - Eating in Spain - Spanish Food and Restaurants
Here's what you can expect when eating in Spain. What you can't expect is vegetables, but we have some work-arounds.

07/14/03 - Eating Well at a Port Works
Dinner at the Restaurante Barao Fladgate at the Taylor Port works in Porto, Porgugal. Review.

07/07/03 - Cranes, Storks and Gaudi, Too.
The secret Department of Tourist Distractions in Barcelona is uncovered in this special report--ever wanted to know who puts all those cranes in all your summer tourist pictures?

06/30/03 - Tips for Driving in France
What you need to know when you get in your car.

06/27/03 - Brugge and Ghent, Belgium Sketches
Things you can see and do in two fascinating and different cities in Belgium.

06/16/03 - The Tour de France is 100 this year
Yes, 2003 is the hundredth anniversary of the Tour de France this July. You can visit the historic race easily; we have details and tips for photographing the Tour de France.

06/11/03 - Pinocchio Remembered in Collodi and Vernante, Italy
Visit Collodi, the Tuscan Village with the Pinocchio park and the home of the author's mother, and a bit of undiscovered Italy, Vernante, where two villagers have taken to reproducing master illustrator Attilio Mussino's Pinocchio illustrations as murals found on houses all over town. Find an authentic Irish pub here as well.

06/03/03 - Travel Photography 101 - Take Better Travel Pictures
Travel photography isn't rocket science. Here are some simple hints to give your travel photos some zing.

05/28/03 - The Little Red Train - Switzerland's Scenic Train Lines
Switzerland certainly has its share of scenery, and perhaps the best way to see it while avoiding carsickness is the Little Red One, a train made for tourists and locals who want to get out into the Alpine countryside.

05/25/03 - Guido Veloce: Ode to Peasant Food - Haggis and a Wee Dram
Sure, you can make a meal out of baby vegetables and delicate flavors, but what really turns Guido on is historically important food that explodes on your palate. That's peasant food and it's mighty tasty.

05/21/03 - Boring Tuscany - Beefsteak, Rolling Hills and Clods of Clay
Ok, it's not boring but it's not spectacular. I make a case that the Tuscan landscape is "suggestive" and maybe even erotic, then take you on a short tour of some of Tuscany's highlights and hidden corners: the Chianti hills and the "Michelangelo of Meat," the clay hills of the Crete Senese, and the coastal Meremma, where you'll see cowboys in fedoras herding cattle.

05/19/03 - Baden-Baden Germany Travel Planner
Surely you knew that this town in Germany has been known for its healing waters since Roman times, but did you know that a spa visit is quite affordable? Besides, all around you is Black Forest and wine country. Can't beat that!

05/14/03 - Pumukkale Turkey and Hieropolis Travel Planner
For thousands of years visitors have extolled the healing powers of Pamukkale's calcium-rich hot springs, which created a unique, snow-white landscape of terraced pools and petrified waterfalls as the spring water cascaded down a hillside. This western Turkey attraction, along with a visit to the Roman version of the town, Heiropolis, makes a fine trip.

05/7/03 - The Grand Tour of Europe Revisited
The Grand Tour used to take years. In today's faster world it has to be shorter. I'll tell you how you can get a good travel experience out of a European tour lasting but two or three weeks.

04/30/03 - Rome - Travel in the Wild, Old, Eternal City
I didn't always like Rome. It grew on me. And now it's one of my favorite places in the world.

04/29/03 - Guido Veloce: The Worst Train Trip I Ever Took
Guido reminisces. It's not pretty.

04/23/03 - On the Condom Trail: Condoms, Cathedrals, Castles and Caves
You might think of condoms as a recent invention. Well, think again. We'll take you to historic places you can visit: the haunted castle where the world's oldest condoms were excavated, a paleolithic cave featuring drawings of purported condom use, and a town in Germany which sells tourists condoms with wrappers featuring a picture of its 700 year old cathederal.

04/22/03 - Guido Veloce: Airline Security - How Much Can You Take?
Guido takes on the current state of airline security in light of the results of the Stupid Security Competition.

04/16/03 - Extraordinary Ordinary Europeans
When you travel around a lot, you meet some pretty special people. Here are pictures and stories of my favorite European characters.

04/08/03 - Ferrara Italy - A Renaissance Gem
It's close enough to some pretty fine cities like Venice, Bologna, and Revenna to consider it a day trip, but it's got some pretty good attractions that ought to make it worthwhile.

04/01/03 - Guido Veloce: Shopping in Europe - Open Air Markets
You can get a bargain if you shop for your lunch at one of Europe's open air markets. Guido will tell you how, and give you some words to use when you order.

03/27/03 - Travel Safety Update for Western Europe
Afraid of going to Europe this year? Readers clue us in on what's going on and what level of friendliness they've found in Europe so far this year. Plus there are links to traveler safety information from the U.S. Department of State.

03/25/03 - Porto, Portugal Travel Planner
One of the most interesting (and inexpensive) towns in Portugal is Porto, and we clue you in on the best attractions, where to sample some Port wine, and give you accommodation recommendations.

03/25/03 - Guido Veloce: Shopping in Europe - Buying Cheap Wine
Did you know that you could just drive up and pump your own wine in Europe? Guido tells you what to look for.

03/15/03 - Verona Italy Travel Guide
Besides Juliet's famous balcony, Verona Italy has a lot going for it. We list many of the top attractions have a virtual tour of the city through photographs.

03/14/03 - European War Memorials, Holocaust sites, and Battlefields you can Visit
Here are some easily visited sites in Western Europe that remind us of the horrors of war and the origins of dictatorial powers.

03/12/03 - European Travel Safety - Tips for a Safe Trip to Europe
Is Europe safe? Well, it's likely to be as safe as you're prepared to make it--and we have tips to minimize the hazards and scams that tourists might run into as they travel in Europe.

03/12/03 - Safety and Debate in Times of War
Guido takes on the issue of whether or not Europe is safe for tourism as America Girds for war in the Middle East. Europe is not Texas, Guido argues, and Europeans are likely to think differently than Americans when it comes to such things as war. Talk to them--they'll probably want to talk to you.

03/02/03 - Volunteering in Europe Guide
Want to do more on your European vacation than stare at objects in a museum case? Why not dig up ancient artifacts, rebuild damaged marine habitat, or teach English? After you look over the list of projects, read this guide to make sure you get a match between you temperament and the volunteer project you choose.

03/05/03 - Guido Veloce - European Place Names
Is Wales England? Guido digs into the meanings behind European place names after a reader asks him to educate travelers on the differences between the United Kingdom and England. Not content just to admonish his readers, Guido goes on to explain the problems with having the word "United" in your nationality.

02/26/03 - Paris Interactive Map and Travel Guide
Confused about the layout of Paris? Here's a map showing the "arrondissements" that spiral around the Seine with tourism notes on each. And if you're thinking of going there--we have all you need to know about travel to the City of Light.

02/25/03 - Guido Veloce - Charming and Cheap European Hotels
Guido talks about the difference in hotels and hotel services between the US and Europe. If you're looking out for funky charm, here's what you might find--from floor numbering to bathroom oddities, from gigantic keys to different ways to write common numbers.

02/18/03 - Guido Veloce - Pork Butts and Clams
Guido talks about odd food combinations, sticking his literary fork in a variety of things, including Francis Ford Copola's pasta bowl, then veers off on a discourse over the Italian sport of butt-pinching.

02/17/03 - Venice - The Historic Naval Museum
A cheap day out in Venice, where you'll see the very foundation of Venetian power as well as the transportation systems that have evolved to make travel around Venice easier.

02/17/03 - Hotel Reina Victoria - Madrid Hotel Review
A guest review of this interesting hotel in the heart of Madrid with pictures of Madrid and flamenco dancers.

02/17/03 - Hostellerie de Crillon le Brave - Provence France Hotel Review
Luxury digs in the heart of Provence.

02/12/03 - Belgium - Europe's Best Kept Travel Secret?
Here's a place that's compact enough that travel between interesting cities is kept short and sweet. And there's the world's best beer and chocolate. What could be more romantic?

02/05/03 - Guido Veloce Explains Europe to You
This week Guido takes on salad dressings, why you won't get meat on your peperoni pizza, and why you might not get coffee in your morning "latte."

02/04/03 - Tarascon, the French Pyrenees, and the paths to Prehistory.
Looking for an off-the-beaten-path destination in France? Head off to the pyrenees and see a spectacular prehistoric painted cave, a prehistoric park and museum, watch the tour de France (or bike parts of the route yourself) or kayak down the Ariege river. We'll tell you about the fabulous cuisine and why it's good for you, and give you a couple inexpensive places to stay as well.

01/28/03 - Hiking Trails in Europe
From the Epath network of long-distance trails that criss-cross Europe to pilgrimages and urban walks, here is a survey of what's available on the web for European hikers, trekkers, ramblers and walkers.

01/21/03 - The Abruzzo - Beauty and Nature in Italy's Backcountry
Tired of big crowds consisting of mostly American tourists? Just head east out of Rome to come to Italy's rustic heart, and in just a few hours you'll be in one of Italy's best kept secrets - The Abruzzo. Featured: The Roman settlement of Albo Fucens, scenic drives, the parks, and the rustic cuisine of the Abruzzo.

01/14/03 - Romantic Europe - Solitude and Luxury in Sexy Places
Sexy hideaways, romantic restaurants, solitude without loneliness--travel Europe with an eye toward the good life. Rent a houseboat named for the godess of love, eat at a restaurant that only serves two.

01/07/03 - Exploring the Wine Regions of France
Here's what you need to know about touring France's wine regions, including a map of the regions, tips on wine tasting and tours, and a more detailed lood at one of France's premier wine producing areas: Burgundy.

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Archive of Travel Articles written in 2002, still kept as current as reasonably possible.