Castles, Cathars and Crusades

The Occitanie region in the south-west of France is filled with the remains of a turbulent history, cultural heritage and proud traditions. Troubadours sang about the Holy Grail in the medieval fortress of Carcassonne, heretics were burnt on the stake by the hundreds and politically, it was ruled in turn by Visigoths, Franks, Merovingians, Moors,…

Bohemian Bars of Barcelona

That Barcelona offers world-class cuisine, is not a secret. That this trendy and vibrant city has an abundance of cool bars to choose from, comes as no surprise either. But while you’re in a city that boasts so much astonishing Art Nouveau architecture – or Modernisme, as it’s called in this Catalan region – why not…

Cointreau [kwan-troh]

Wuhhu, it’s Friday and maybe you’re heading out for a dinner or drinks with some friends.

In that case, chances are, that you’ll meet a Frenchman in a bar. He’ll tell you to be “Cointreauversial”, that he goes well with others but is intense enough company in himself. He will dare you to put him on ice and when you put him to your lips, he tastes like oranges.

His name is Cointreau.

Mont Saint-Michel

Monastic buildings towering on a rock in a sea in Normandy. Medieval houses clinging to the side, as if not to crash into the waters below, that can come rushing in with the galloping tide. For centuries a stronghold, then a prison and now one of the greatest tourist attractions in France: Mont Saint-Michel.

Maastricht – where old and new unites

Maastricht is one of those classic towns that never go out of fashion. It has enough history and old architecture to be beautiful, yet enough trendiness and new architecture to be interesting. It has European and international institutions that gives it its cosmopolitan flair and a university and different academies, filled with young students, that spice…

Happy St. Paddy’s Day!

On St. Patrick’s day – March 17 – Irish people everywhere in the world meet and party with beer and music. This often takes place in Irish pubs, which are to be found in every corner of the world. In many places there will be parades, where the participants are dressed in green and orange – the national colours of Ireland. But who…

On the Camino

There is a saying, that the Camino to Santiago begins at your doorstep. That was certainly true in medieval times, when pilgrims travelled from all over Europe on foot to Santiago de Compostela and back. For us, it began in Pamplona. We got up early in the morning and drove westwards from Pamplona – while…