While I was surprised by how much Tehran exceeded my expectations, I had no preconceptions about Kerman, in fact I had to look it up on a map when I saw my itinerary. I hate to admit such ignorance, especially about a city/region that deserves more attention that it gets. Kerman was settled in the third century, became well known for its cashmere and rugs, and … Continue reading Captivated by Kerman | Iran
The visual arts in Tehran range from exquisitely preserved masterpieces of the early Islamic era to enormous freshly painted murals on the sides of buildings and everything in between. I could have spent days immersed in the masterpieces at The National Museum of the Islamic Era, which just reopened in August 2015 after a nine-year hiatus. A beautiful and serene museum, its collection includes ceramics, stucco work, calligraphy, and illustrated manuscripts. Photos don’t begin … Continue reading Tehran | Art and Culture
Foodie Friday and the wonderful bread of Iran. Continue reading Foodie Friday | Iran
My misconceptions about Tehran became abundantly clear from the moment I arrived. Given the paucity of non-political coverage in the western press — only recently are destination travel articles beginning to appear — most of my expectations were based on friends’ recollections from their time pre-revolution, books which were perhaps dated as well, and the rare current movie such as A Separation and Taxi ( … Continue reading Tehran | First Impressions
Smiles are a universal language that help break down barriers in so many places. However, in advance of my recent trip to Iran, I decided to add a little Farsi to my repertoire. It was one of the best decisions I made. While Iranians are among the friendliest people I have encountered in my travels, they lit up when I tried to communicate in their … Continue reading Iran |A Little Farsi Goes a Long Way
Italy’s high speed trains make almost anywhere an easy trip from Rome. While it is certainly possible to spend endless amounts of time in Rome, getting away for a day has numerous advantages. Just over an hour away, Naples is an excellent choice for ancient history buffs, pizza lovers and those who love all things Christmas. We arrived in Naples and it was a short … Continue reading When in Rome | Go to Naples
Gelato may be my single favorite food. That is a strong statement, but I am okay with that. Some people spend their time in Rome visiting ancient ruins and churches, as do I. I just have other priorities, as well. I did indulge in artichokes alla giudecca, spaghetti alla carbonara and porcini just about every way possible. As you might imagine, not a bad meal … Continue reading Foodie Friday | When in Rome Eat Gelato
Staying in one city for a week affords the opportunity to see places that are off the beaten path. A highlight of this Roman holiday was a visit to the Palazzo Colonna, open Saturdays only from 9:00 – 14:00 pm (last entry at 13h15). The Colonna family started construction on their palace in the 14th century and has resided here ever since. Oddone Colonna aka Pope Martin V appointed the Palace as the … Continue reading When in Rome | Spend Saturday like a Noble
Bad News first: Rome is in the midst of major renovations with scaffolding and temporary enclosures covering the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum and numerous other monuments. Good news: much of the work is complete. Trevi Fountain reopened last week after 17 months of work and has never looked better (although the massive crowds make it hard to see). Work on the Spanish Steps is expected to be complete … Continue reading When in Rome |
Simits, Gözleme, Lahmecun and Borek; Döner and Köfte and Imam Bayildi; Baklava, Salep and sweet Künefe, these are a few of my favorite things! Here are a few recommendations for a great day or two of eating in Istanbul. There is nothing like starting the day with a traditional Turkish breakfast which you can find at almost any hotel. Fun fact: breakfast in Turkish is … Continue reading Foodie Friday | Istanbul
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