Have you ever been on a trip where you planned nothing, excepted not much and got a really good surprise? Well, this is what happened to me in Budapest. I booked this weekend as a excuse for a reunion with my best friend, and we picked almost randomly a destination where we had never been before. Continue reading
My passion for London never ceases to grow, and I cannot believe that after so many visits, I had never taken the time to explore the mews. But luckily, on this beautiful autumn day, my steps took me to the iconic Kynance Mews in South Kensington. I believe this is the beginning of a long love story with the mews…
Fountains and Piazza Piazza Navona, Piazza del Panteon, Campo dei Fiori… they are the heart of historical Rome and their beauty is astonishing. Even if the mythical Fontana di Trevi is currently undergoing restoration work, do not miss to observe the details of the many fountains you will encounter. Renaissance sculptors seemed to have a vivid imagination when it comes to angry animals! Continue reading
For my latest stay in New York I decided to take a break from Times Square and move to Lower Manhattan. Looking for a cute boutique hotel, I chose the Marlton Hotel and was not disappointed ! Continue reading
I went to Playa del Carmen on a business trip. Yes those things happen in real life, like the medical conferences in Mauritius. Since I had never been to Mexico before, I decided to arrive a few days earlier to explore the area. I wasn’t sure what to expect since resort cities are not my typical destination choice. However, I dreamed to discover the archeological treasures of Yucatan.
Choosing my hotel in San Francisco took me quite some time. First the rates are generally very high due to the city’s booming economy which attracts a lot of visitors in addition to the usual tourists. I was also a bit unsure about which to location to pick : Union Square, Fisherman’s Wharf, Haight Ashbury ?
My final choice was the Chancellor Hotel on Union Square, and it turned out to be a very good one.
To read Part 1 of my day in Haight-Ashbury : Exploring San Francisco Part 1
I walked back on Haight Street but this time turned right on Divisadero St. The road is clibing there, but after a while you will reach the Castro which is the historical gay disctrict of San Francisco. While there, do not miss the beautiful Castro Theater.
A weekend is clearly not enough time to discover San Francisco, but it was all I could get before starting the business part of my trip. So I tried to make the best of my limited time to explore the different neighborhoods. I could have taken a “hop on hop off bus” but it is not really my cup of tea. So instead I decided to walk, walk, walk ! San Francisco being one of the best US cities to explore on foot, even if its hilly geography can make it quickly tiring.
In 2006 I crossed one item off my bucket list : taking part to Rio’s Carnaval. Not just watching it, but actually be a part of the Parade in a samba school. Most people don’t know this is possible, but you can do it easily without spending months in rehearsals. So here is my Carnaval FAQ !
Finding the right accommodation in Rome is not always an easy task. There are a lot of independent hotels of unequal quality and also a vast of choice of private apartments. This time I planned my trip at the very last minute, but I had a good surprise with the Palazzo Olivia. My number one criteria was the location, because I love walking around Rome. Here it was absolutely perfect, being at only a few minutes from the beautiful Piazza Navona. And for a reasonable price during the high season, I got a one bedroom apartment of 30 m² ! I think I was upgraded because I booked an Junior Apartment for 2, but the one I stayed in was for 3 people (it had an additional sofa bed). There are also some hotel rooms, and some family apartments that can host up to 5 guests.
The Consulting Traveller 