Helen Page

Art Hotel Spaander – A Hotel With A Passion For Art

October 9, 2014 By Helen Page

WE STOPPED FOR APPLE PIE AND DISCOVERED AN ART GALLERY AT THE HOTEL SPAANDER: On our visit to Volendam, the first thing we did was to stop at the Art Hotel Spaander for apple pie and coffee. We had just had breakfast in Amsterdam not too long ago and we certainly didn't need more food at this … [Read more...]

A Touch of Luxury at the Hotel Okura Amsterdam

October 8, 2014 By Helen Page

HOTEL REVIEW - OUR 3-DAY STAY AT THE HOTEL OKURA AMSTERDAM WAS MOST ENJOYABLE: Hotel Okura Amsterdam is a 300-room luxury hotel in the trendy De Pijp district, south of the city centre. This modern five-star hotel is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, a luxury hotel consortium. We … [Read more...]

Delicious Beer Tasting at Strahov Monastic Brewery

October 6, 2014 By Helen Page

AT THE STRAHOV MONASTIC BREWERY YOU CAN ENJOY FRESHLY BREWED CZECH BEER: Just around the back of the Hotel Savoy where we stayed, and only a few minutes walk from Prague Castle, is the old Strahov Monastery, founded by King Vladislav II in 1142. Within the grounds of the Monastery is the … [Read more...]

Mardasson Memorial – A Tribute to Their American Liberators

September 26, 2014 By Helen Page

MARDASSON MEMORIAL REMEMBERS THE AMERICAN SACRIFICE IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE: North-east of the town of Bastogne is the Mardasson Memorial, a star-shaped monument commemorating the American soldiers who died or were injured in the Siege of Bastogne during the Second World War. Built as a … [Read more...]

Halles Saint-Géry – A Covered Market Hall

September 22, 2014 By Helen Page

HALLES SAINT-GERY WAS A COVERED MARKET BUILT AROUND A PYRAMID: In Place Saint-Gery, west of the Brussels Stock Exchange, is the Halles Saint-Gery, a covered market hall that was built in the 19th century. Halles Saint-Gery no longer functions as a covered market, but the building and the site … [Read more...]

Rue des Bouchers – A Brussels Food Street

September 21, 2014 By Helen Page

YOU WON'T GO HUNGRY IN RUE DES BOUCHERS - A STREET JAM-PACKED WITH RESTAURANTS: Crossing the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert complex, where the Galerie de la Reine and Galerie du Roi meet is Rue des Bouchers (Beenhouwersstraat in Dutch), a medieval street in the historic heart of Brussels. Rue … [Read more...]

Visit Au Bon Vieux Temps for the Good Old Days

September 20, 2014 By Helen Page

TUCKED AWAY IN AN ALLEYWAY, AU BON VIEUX TEMPS IS TRULY A HIDDEN TREASURE: There's no shortage of drinking places in Brussels, but if you want something with genuine old world charm, Au Bon Vieux Temps is one such pub that brings back memories of the Good Old Days. Hidden away in the Impasse … [Read more...]

Scuola del Cuoio – A Hidden Treasure in Florence

September 13, 2014 By Helen Page

THE FLORENCE LEATHER SCHOOL HAS UNIQUE PIECES OF ARTISAN LEATHER GOODS: Florence overflows with leather shops and showrooms that first time visitors to the City of David would find irresistible. Peruzzi, near the Piazza Santa Croce, is where most group visitors get taken to, but if you want to … [Read more...]

Dinant – A Picturesque Town on the River Meuse

September 3, 2014 By Helen Page

DINANT IS AS DIVINE AS WHAT THE CELTS THOUGHT WHEN THEY CALLED THE SITE DIVO-NANTO: Dinant is a small town in the French-speaking Wallonian province of Namur. This picturesque town along the River Meuse has long been recognized for its idyllic setting. Since the Celts first occupied the site, … [Read more...]

See Magnificent Views of Bruges from its Belfry

August 30, 2014 By Helen Page

ON TOP OF ITS SPECTACULAR VIEWS, THE BELFRY OF BRUGES HOLDS SOME MEDIEVAL TREASURES: The Belfry of Bruges or Belfort is not the tallest building in Bruges but it is certainly one of its most dominant and important landmarks. The Belfort towers over the Grote Markt (Bruges' market square) and … [Read more...]