Christmas

Excuse me for making a bold statement, but I’ve been waiting to for years: Germans love kitsch. There, I said it. They love kitsch in all forms, but they particularly love it during the winter season.

Adventskalender, Weihnachtsmarkt, and the Tannenbaum all count as important staples in the German Christmas… read full article

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Congrats to Geoff Pingree, winner of the Traveler World in Focus photo contest. The winning photo was taken at the Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain. Italy's national airline Alitalia is to sell its modern art collection including works by Giorgio De Chirico, Salavador Dali and Giacomo… read full article

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Other countries may have the rich history, magnificent manger scenes. Switzerland is no exception to that rule all year round. However, it is especially special at Christmas time. Christmas traditions are alive and well in the streets and hill tops of Switzerland.

The Chlausjagen Festival

The Chlausjagen Festival or Feast of St… read full article

Topic:  General Travel | 4 Comments

While Christmas is considered one of the grandest and longest holiday of Sweden, the Swedish holiday just simply is not quiet complete without the magically element of the Swedish holiday cuisine.

Candle lighting has always been the foundation of the Swedish holiday traditional but it is the… read full article

Topic:  Restaurants & Food | 1 Comment

Via San Gregorio Armeno -Naples' street of Nativity workshops is Naples’ cultural and historical pulse center. Via San Gregorio Armeno is so named after the baroque church and monastery on this street. In the eighth century Armenian nuns fleeing from the Byzantine Empire reached Naples with the relics of… read full article

Topic:  General Travel | 4 Comments

Happy Christmas or Feliz Navidad, as they say in Spain, is truly the happiest time of the year for one and all.

In Spain Christmas is never restricted to a day. Festivities begin with the beginning of winter with Hogureras when people jump over bonfires as a symbol… read full article

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1. Rich Bread and Butter Pudding

Rich Bread and Butter Pudding is a luxurious combination of bread and butter that melts in your mouth. The mixture of lemon or orange peel, currants and nutmeg make this Holiday dessert a crowd pleasure for every occasion. The main ingredient for Bread and… read full article

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Visiting Italy during the Christmas season can be one of the most interesting ways to get a look inside Italian culture. Especially from a North American standpoint, where the ubiquitous Christmas tree is normally replaced by the presepio (nativity scene).

I spent the Christmas holiday in Rome two years… read full article

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Scandinavia is a collective name for Norway, Sweden and Denmark - the countries located in the Scandinavian Peninsula. Some reports also include Finland and Iceland in the list.

Originally a Viking region, Scandinavia slowly converted to Christianity around 1000 AD. With Christianity came the celebration of Christmas. Christmas is the… read full article

Topic:  Top five Monday | 1 Comment

Christmas is drawing near and in case you are planning to sample mouth-watering local delicacies and spicy wine, here is a selection of this year’s best Christmas markets in Europe.

Aside from the traditional German Christmas markets or Weihnachtsmärkte, there are many other European destinations where you can spend the… read full article

Topic:  Top five Monday | 2 Comments

Vienna is renowned as the site of music, art and culture. Situated on the banks of the Danube this romantic city plays draws millions of visitors every year. Christmas is really special in Vienna.

In the winter, the city exudes excitement with opera, dance, theater, concerts and lights… read full article

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Travel Agony Aunt received the following question from a traveler planning to spend Christmas holidays in Portugal:

 

Dear Travel Agony Aunt, Please give me your thoughts regarding the weather in Lisbon and Porto over the holidays (Christmas and New Years). I like to take my family to… read full article

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