Author Profile: Marcella Van Alphen

Join us to reveal the off the beaten path highlights of Stockholm, the best places to dine and to sip a wine for...   view more

When preparing a trip to Stockholm, it is said that visiting the Vasa museum (Vasamuseet) is a must do. I was intrigued by the story of that ship that is one of the worst built ever, but attracts more than a million visitors per...   view more

Walking the Passeig de Gràcia, the Casa Batlló cannot be missed and its unique joyful façade resembles the impressionist waterlilies by Claude...   view more

The Sant Pau Art nouveau site is off the very beaten path of the modernist landmarks of Barcelona. A stone’s throw away from La Sagrada Familia, it is an impressive hospital that was built in the early 20th century and one of the most beautiful examples of modernist...   view more

We have just arrived in front of Palau Güell, Gaudí’s first major assignment for his most loyal patron, the rich industrialist Eusebi Güell. The palace looks stark with its light greyish square...   view more

La Pedrera is an innovative & iconic building in the heart of Barcelona designed by Gaudí. Some say its rooftop may have inspired George Lucas as he was writing Star...   view more

Slightly more than a century ago, the pride of Catalonia already echoed loud and clear, carried by the Catalan Modernist architectural movement and the Renaixença cultural movement. The Palau de la Música in the gothic Barcelona is the communion of these...   view more

It is in front of the Prins and Prins Diamond store and museum that we meet the passionate Ursula, our South African guide who grew up in the Mother City and who knows all of its secrets and...   view more

Today, the area once known as District Six lies among the posh Capetonian suburbs of Walmer Estate, Zonnebloem, and Lower Vrede. A large part of District Six is still an empty land even though some new houses have been built to which a total of 139 families have...   view more

Located on the Victoria and Alfred waterfront with Table Mountain in the background, the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz Mocaa) is the largest of the...   view more

Walking the streets of Cape Town, one cannot miss the impressive colonial architecture of the Prins & Prins diamond store. Whether you are shopping for stones, interested in how they are dug up and cut, or curious about the early days of Cape Town, this is a door you want to...   view more

Beyond attracting thousands of people daily to observe the marine life of the cold Atlantic Ocean and the colourful species of the warm Indian Ocean, the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town hosts a rehabilitation centre dedicated to endangered sea...   view more

Norway is a rather small country per number of inhabitants, and some of them have led some of the craziest explorations admired from all over the world! They are celebrated in Oslo in some excellent museums where original artefacts that crossed oceans or reached the poles are...   view more

The almost thousand-year old capital of Norway has known an incredible expansion for the past dozens of years making it one of the most expensive cities of the world and is really worth a visit. Follow us throughout Oslo discovering its various...   view more

In 2012, Edvard Munch’s 1895 pastel, “The Scream” sold for a record price of just under $120 million at Sotheby’s auction house in New York City. This was then the most expensive piece of art ever sold at an auction, sealing Munch’s reputation as one of the most influential...   view more

Madrid is a paradise for art lovers! Here is a quick guide of our Top 5 museums of Madrid in order to avoid being museumed-out while admiring some of the finest art the Spanish capital has to...   view more

Madrid may look a bit severe far from the charming medieval streets and eccentric Gaudi buildings of the capital of Catalonia. Follow us and walk Madrid with a local to find the real soul of Madrid, behind its wide avenues and majestic...   view more

While Henry Clay Frick and John Pierpont Morgan were amassing their art collections, a different story was taking place in the low income areas of New York City, like the Lower East Side where newcomers to the USA flocked by hundreds and also shaped the...   view more

The Morgan library is not on every tourist trail in New York City, and is a masterpiece housing a tremendous collection mostly from the Middle-Ages and Renaissance gathered by Pierpont Morgan, a man who shaped the...   view more

Old and rusty train tracks half-hidden by blooming flowers on which butterflies and bees feed, joggers drinking from refrigerated fountains, passers-by photographing modern art, tourists enjoying their coffees seated on design...   view more

193 colourful flags are aligned in front of an isolated 166-metre high glass-covered skyscraper on 1st Avenue, Manhattan. We are about to enter each one of these countries which flag is waving in front of the building of the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York...   view more

The colourful roof of Panama’s Biomuseo designed by the world-famous architect Frank Gehry rises above the horizon of the Amador...   view more

Imagine one dome covering all continents, all countries, and all civilisations, shining its light on all of them equally. A stroll underneath the ever-changing calligraphic shades of the dome, crossing oceans from one theme to another leads the visitor to all corners of the...   view more

I wander around the massive white building topped off by its high and slender minarets from where the muezzin calls for prayer. The aesthetically shaped dome looks imposing. This is under this dome that the main prayer hall is...   view more

Understand the Emirati culture while in Dubai, and also learn how to decrypt a mosque, with which hand to eat to not appear dirty and uneducated, what the 5 pillars of Islam are, the Emirati dress...   view more

Vientiane is the capital, largest city, and economic centre of Laos. Even though it was made capital in 1563 to protect the people from a potential Burmese invasion, today, there is not much left of ancient buildings and artefacts as it got looted and burnt to the ground in 1827 by the...   view more

Carcassonne is a marvel of the Middle-Ages: an entire city completely fortified with its narrow cobblestoned medieval streets, its imposing castle, and gothic...   view more

Fresh basil, peaches, melons, figs, nectarines, tomatoes, lavender, thyme, olives… All these scents enter my nose as we walk through the colourful and authentic market of Cour Lafayette in the city centre of...   view more

I am standing on the hornet’s nest, the Bidouane Tower that 323 years ago was filled with gunpowder making it a target for the English and Dutch...   view more

The mist is hiding the goal of our pilgrimage, one of Christianity’s most important pilgrimage sites of my time, the marvel dedicated to the archangel Michael, the leader of the army of God against the forces of the...   view more

The capital of Oman is located in a natural harbour ideally suited for the safe mooring of vessels that has made the Sultanate a nation of seafarers. Today, Muscat is a vibrant city open on the world that is worth spending a few days...   view more

If you feel adventurous and are an experienced 2-wheel driver in cities, rent a scooter to go around. It is a great alternative to the omnipresent “tuk-tuk, tuk-tuk, tuk-tuk!” and will give you a lot of flexibility. Careful: traffic is...   view more

If Friday is the busiest day because of the goat market and auction, a centennial old tradition in Nizwa, it is also when tour guides followed by their flocks of tourists outnumber...   view more

When Oman converted to Islam peacefully and by faith in the 8th century, the idea to create a true Muslim state was paramount, and prior to today’s sultanate, the Imamate was ruling the...   view more

This guide to San Francisco proposes both excellent indoor and fun and original outdoor activities to take in the best of the city while being able to adapt to its fast-changing...   view more

Initiated in the 1930’s as one of the first contemporary art museums, it is in the 1990’s that the Italian architect Mario Barro turned a dump downtown into the basis of today’s...   view more

With its jaw dropping geographical location between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, you will need at least three days to explore its ins and outs and soak up its vibes. Spread the activities based on the weather as the ocean can be rough and Table Mountain is often covered in...   view more

Cape Town has been appointed world’s most biodiverse city, and its outstanding Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens are the perfect place to discover its ecosystems. This is probably what makes them one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the...   view more

One of the oldest cities on Earth and the birthplace of western civilization, Athens could easily rely on its glorious past and multi millennium-old ruins and fall into...   view more

The V&A Waterfront is the most visited attraction of Africa in 2017. The most successful development project of the whole continent is also the oldest working harbour of the Southern Hemisphere. Take a walk between trendy shops, restaurants, dry docks and step back into...   view more

Oslo has developed an important cultural scene with museums celebrating Norwegian bravest explorers, world famous artists, and simple citizens. Know what to expect and prepare your trip to the Norwegian...   view more

Visiting the Vasa museum (Vasamuseet) is a must do in Stockholm. It is intriguing that the worst ship ever built ever attracts more than a million visitors per...   view more

Ghent, strategically located at the confluence of the Lys and Scheldt Rivers was a powerful trading city during the medieval times, boomed during the industrial revolution starting in the 18th century, and today is Belgium’s largest student...   view more

Ghent is the perfect city to explore the wide range of yummy foods and innovative drinks! On top of this, its vibrant student life makes Ghent’s nightlife lively and a forerunner for vegetarian and even vegan fares in...   view more

Bruges is far more than a cute, instagrammable and romantic city to spend a day in. During the Middle Ages, Bruges was a booming, vibrant and extremely rich trading...   view more

Genoa is an authentic city that fascinates by its many layers and contrasts and that is definitely worth spending time discovering. From the palaces, narrow and dark medieval streets, called caruggi, lead to the Ligurian Sea, composing the largest medieval historical centre in Europe after...   view more

Lucca is this kind of city. The more time you spend here, the longer you want to stay. Yes, the picturesque walled Tuscan city at the foot of the Apennine Mountains and along the Serchio River is...   view more

The Lucca-born Giacomo Puccini was a well-travelled man way ahead of his time whose legacy still resonates today all over the world and even more so in the Tuscan city of...   view more

New York City is very photogenic! Here are a few of our favorite photography spots. Enjoy! Running in New York City is a fantastic way to explore its different...   view more

What better way to discover Antwerp than to follow in the footsteps of its greatest master, Pieter Paul Rubens (1577-1640)! Admire his artwork, visit his house, meet his friends and discover the places he frequented during the Golden Age of the harbour city on the Scheldt...   view more

The harbour of Antwerp is larger than Antwerp itself. Historically, it allowed the city to become one of the most prominent in the world during its Golden Age in the 15th and 16th...   view more

Once past the cruise tourists who tend to stick to the UNESCO World Heritage Bryggen and to the funicular that takes them up Fløyen, Bergen is a charming city with many hidden gems waiting to be...   view more

If Gutenberg invented printing in 1450, it is Christophe Plantin (1520-1589) who set up the first industrial printing facility in 1555: the Officina Plantiniana in...   view more

Most visitors check Delft out on a Keukenhof day trip, spending only a few hours in the city. Shame! Lovely Delft has a lot to offer beyond its Market Square, Vermeer Centrum and must-visit Royal Delft earthenware...   view more

It looks so easy. It is just a small circle in a corner. But at that moment when my brush reaches a sort of inflexion point and its hairs suddenly switch side, it all goes wrong and I break the regular...   view more

The third city of Norway, and the first significant one in the North, Trondheim remains rather small and easy to discover over a couple of...   view more

Walk in the footsteps of the founder of Norway and let Saint Olaf, the Viking chief who Christianized and united Norway into one kingdom, be your guide in Trondheim and its beautiful surrounding region of...   view more

Off-the-beaten path, the authentic and historical Leuven is vibrant, young and international, characteristics not often found in such compact towns: all the more reasons to spend a weekend in Leuven between discovering its brewing culture in one of its 240 pubs, exploring its interactive museums, and venturing by bike to some of its picturesque...   view more

The picturesque capital of Estonia, Tallinn, is the ideal location for an interesting and relaxing city trip. Off the beaten path, discover it through our 12 fun and interesting facts and let them be an inspiration for your next...   view more

Discovered by the Portuguese in 1511 and occupied by the Dutch in 1641, it is the British who eventually got the upper hand and took over part of today’s Malaysia in 1824, back then referred to as Malaya. Or at least, this is focusing on the colonial claims. Centuries before, Arabs, Indians, and Chinese had been trading with the indigenous locals. While Indian Muslim merchants had introduced Islam during the 13th century, Chinese immigrants flocked in to exploit the raw materials the locals...   view more

Sailing for the British East India Company (EIC), Captain Francis Light landed on the mostly uninhabited Penang Island in 1786, then a hideaway for pirates. At that time, in the Strait of Malacca, only Malacca was occupied by Europeans (the Portuguese since 1511, displaced by the Dutch in 1641). In exchange for protection from the Siamese and Burmese, the owner of the island of Penang, the Sultan of Kedah, gave it to Francis Light for the...   view more

With still mainly organic ingredients cultivated by small scale farmers from the low Amazon basin to the high Andes, the wide variety of microclimates offers Bolivian chefs the perfect opportunity to present their unique flavors to the world. Whether prepared innovatively or traditionally, all are crafted with the utmost pride and reflect the different cultural heritages of the country in the following top 5 restaurants that you must try in La...   view more

Sometimes referred to as the Venice of the East, Bangkok is shaped by the Chao Praya River that is connected by a large network of canals. On most of them, water buses shaped as very long long-tail boats run constantly. Used mostly by locals, they are a fun and efficient way of getting...   view more

Santa Cruz de la Sierra is the ideal prelude to any trip to Bolivia with its rather low altitude, tropical savanna climate, and plenty of history, culture, and nature to explore within easy reach of Bolivia’s fastest growing city. Another upside: this secret gem is off the tourist...   view more

Gin, a spirit with a rich history dating back to the Middle-Ages, has experienced a remarkable rebirth in recent years, captivating palates with its diverse flavours and botanical blends. Let us delve into its intriguing past, explore some notable distilleries, craft our own and savour its nuances through expert tastings to learn more about this versatile drink. Join us on a journey through the world of gin in Cape Town, South Africa – world’s second largest gin...   view more

At 8,661 feet (2,640 meters) above sea level, Bogotá is the world’s third-highest capital. Framed by the dramatic peaks of the Eastern Andes, the city sits at the crossroads of indigenous heritage, colonial history, and a vibrant urban culture. While many travelers skip Bogotá in favor of touristic Cartagena and its Caribbean beaches, Colombia’s capital is well worth a stop. Here are ten fascinating facts that capture the spirit of...   view more

Tourists used to flock to Malaga chasing the sun and Mediterranean Sea along the Costa del Sol, to the point that this mass tourism led to an overbuilt coastline. But the sun-drenched city—actually the 9th city in the world with the most hours of sunshine a day—managed to reinvent itself, highlighting its history, culture, and gastronomy. Today, beyond the relaxing beachfront where sardines are grilled in chiringuitos restaurants, the shaded narrow alleys of Malaga twist around old walls...   view more

For most visitors, Granada begins and ends with the Alhambra, where carved stones speak in calligraphic verses, and the water displays of the peaceful fountains reply—a quiet dialogue under the orange blossoms of its Garden of Eden. But step beyond its adorned walls, enchanting gardens, and refreshing fountains, and you will find a city still whispering secrets. Here, water flows silently under your feet, you can bathe like the Nasrid nobility once did, and let each tapa tell its own story of...   view more

With its Roman roots, Visigoths times, Arab golden age, and Christian reconquest, Cordoba is a city that fascinates and that is too often overshadowed by Seville or Granada. Allow yourself a few days to explore this jewel and to soak up its...   view more

While many visitors spend only a few hours in Ronda, take your time to soak up the atmosphere of this charming Andalusian town perched high above a plunging gorge, one of the most dramatic of Spain, and to explore its surroundings horseback riding between olive groves and vineyards, staying at a lovely boutique countryside hotel overlooking the hills of the Spanish Tuscany, and exploring surrounding white washed...   view more

Spend an evening in Seville to the rhythm of flamenco and clinking glasses, and discover that its culture is not something you visit—it is something you taste, hear, and feel deep in your...   view more