New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Louisiana was claimed by LaSalle in 1689 for French King Louis XIV and Queen Anna (hence, Louisianna). In 1718, Bienville established New Orleans and a year later, the first slave…
Rome, Italy
Rome is a unique city that seamlessly blends the old with the new. It has no clear town center and no business district. Instead, it’s a collection of urban neighborhoods.…
Vatican City
The Vatican City is the smallest independent country with 500 residents. It has its own flag and a Swiss guard to protect the Pope. The Swiss Guard is made up…
Sofia, Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a country with a 1300+ years history. During the 7th century, the crown prince Asparouh led part of the Bulgars, who had settled in the area known as…
Christmas Markets in Austria
This winter, I went on a mission: visit all of the Christmas markets in Vienna. Results? Not only did I visit (and document) my visit to all of the Viennese…
Habsburg Family Tree
When I came to Vienna, everyone started talking to me about Maria-somethings and Franz-somethings and Alberts and Albrechts. I could not keep them straight for the life of me. As…
Haus der Musik, Vienna, Austria
Before being the Haus der Musik, the building was actually used for several different reasons, including an imperial foundry, a pawn shop and auction house and Archduke Charles' palace from…
Hallstatt, Austria
Hallstatt is a cute little village in northwestern Austria. Alpine houses climb the salt mountain of this UNESCO World Heritage site. A word of advice though, do not go on…
Sisi Museum and Imperial Apartments
It was by a strange twist in fate that Elizabeth of Bavaria ended up marrying Franz Joseph. Elizabeth was accompanying her mother and eldest sister Helene ("Néné") to what was…
Albertina, Vienna, Austria
Beyond the museum's impressive graphic art collection, the Albertina truly guides its guest through the ages of art. The permanent collection guides the viewer from Monet to Picasso. Until January…