We arrived by train on a beautiful autumn afternoon, chugging into Monterosso al Mare, the first of the five villages, and with a population of about 1,000, the largest. Dragging our suitcases down the narrow street the two blocks to the lovely Hotel Palme we were reminded once again that when traveling in Europe you really have to pack lighter!
“We’re a generalist festival,” Caron says, “with three main pillars: sacred music (because we play mainly in churches), symphonic music (because we have the largest auditorium in France’s Massif Central), and piano music (because the festival was founded by the great pianist Georges Cziffra in 1966).”
Waking up slowly with the sunrise on the deck of a small gulet anchored in a quiet, ancient bay of the Aegean Sea. “Günaydın,” says a smiling sun-scorched sailor as he hands me a glass of Turkish tea. Its precisely brewed golden-auburn hue shimmers in the early morning light. A few others begin to stir as someone at the stern jumps into the clear turquoise waters. A seagull squawks overhead, gliding into the sun, which has just peeked its glow over the tops of indigenous olive trees rooted along the Lycian shores. Time for a morning swim myself.
Pinkies up and here we go. The stage is set for one memorable afternoon upon entering the refined, classical European lobby of The Westgate Hotel, located near the heart of San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter.
Welcome to Anchorage, Alaska, the largest city in the Last Frontier! Anchorage is tucked between the Chugiak Mountains and the Cook Inlet, creating a unique mix of city and wilderness all in one location. You can be wandering the exhibits of the Anchorage Museum in the morning, hiking in the mountains in the afternoon, and dining at a five-star restaurant that evening. Moose and eagles are a common sight in the city and sightings of Mt. McKinley (a.k.a. Denali) are not unheard of. Whether you are starting or ending your trip here, or just passing through, Anchorage needs a day or two of exploring. Here are five must do’s when visiting Anchorage.
