Gourmantic recently celebrated its second anniversary, and with nearly 400 articles under its belt, it’s time for a little navel-gazing. The purpose is not to ascertain how much weight has been gained from delectable food and drink experiences but to review the progress and reminisce about good times in travel writing. My 7 Links is [...]

A bouquet of ceramic lemons hangs on a wall in the Kasbah of the Sicilian town of Mazara del Vallo. Curious, I turn the corner and spot a woman in a white coat standing in front of a shop. In the distance, I mistake her for a chef or a cook on a short break [...]

The first glimpse of Villa del Balbianello from the ferry as it glides across Lake Como is a stunning sight set to capture the imagination. The eighteenth century villa stands majestically at the tip of the town of Lenno, surrounded by manicured trees and gardens. View from the lake Built in 1787 for the Cardinal [...]

Cluny – La Sorbonne may be one of those métro stations in Paris you whiz past on your way to or from Gare d’Austerlitz or if you’re taking the scenic route to avoid changing at Chatelet. But it is also a station worthy of a closer look. General Information Located in the Quartier Latin, Cluny [...]

A surreal element suddenly washes over me. We are seated in a crimson velvet banquette named after Joséphine de Beauharnais. The one beside us belongs to Napoleon Bonaparte. This is where they used to meet and exchange tactics. We clink our glasses of Taitinger Reserve Champagne, twice, once for our wedding anniversary, the other for [...]

If you’re travelling to Paris and you’re a devoted fan of the movie Amélie, you can’t go past visiting the métro station Abbesses. It is your gateway to exploring Montmartre on foot and ambling along unfamiliar cobblestone paths that lead you into discoveries. Entrance to Metro station Abbesses General Information Abbesses station is on Line [...]

Next time you’re strolling along the streets of Paris, keep your eyes peeled for a face sticking out from behind the walls. Quite often, you’ll see the visage painted in various colours, wearing a smile or with a tongue sticking out. Gregos – near Place Dalida It’s not the statue of Le Passe-Muraille, the man [...]