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by Judy Bereza, guest blogger When we stayed at the West Baden Springs Hotel in September, we immediately wondered how such a historic and acclaimed resort hotel with the title of “USA Today Best Historic Resort in America for 2015” is located in a rather remote and secluded part of Indiana....
Often you hear someone say, “There’s nothing new under the sun.” I suspect it’s true. In fact, creativity books often advise one to take several ideas and combine them in interesting ways to come up with a new approach to problem solving, challenges or innovative thinking. This thought...
I recently stayed at the Public Chicago in the ritzy Gold Coast part of Chicago, Ian Schrager’s latest foray into the hospitality industry. While I thought the 1926 landmark building was long on “cool” and short on amenities, the rebirth of the Pump Room was amazing. Ian Schrager, known for...
Lord Byron wrote to his Mother from Sintra calling it, “The village is perhaps in every respect, the most delightful in Europe.” Whether this is still true or not remains to be seen, but it is a lovely spot. The tiny town, about an hour outside of Lisbon, felt to me like Disneyland, only it...
When we checked into our boutique hotel in the old part of Lisbon about a month ago, our charming dark eyed host greeted us with, “This is your lucky day. We’re having a party tonight and you are invited.” My ears perked up. Hmmm. I love a party. The hotel, Bairro Alto Hotel, located on...
St. Patrick’s Day is coming……an Irish holiday that has become a Hallmark Moment. While annoying, I don’t care. It makes me think of all the lovely times I had in this charming country seeing the sights, hanging out in pubs and enjoying the vibrant green landscape. Since I am not able...
When I respond to friends who ask me where I went in Italy recently with “Cinque Terre,” I get a lot of blank looks. This remote area on the Italian Riviera is not well known, and for good reason. It’s really hard to get to. Located south of Portofino, the five towns (Cinque Terre...
When I can’t get to Paris but need a French fix, my destination of choice is a charming little shop on State Street of Chicago called P.O.S.H. It’s a treasure trove of French Flea Market finds, a jumble of lovingly arranged vintage and new table top and home accessories. Makes me feel like I am...
Tower Castles or Tall Houses as they are sometimes called, dot the landscape of Ireland. Left to ruin, they are an eerie reminder of clans and medieval life on the Emerald Isle. I think they are fascinating. Three or more stories tall, they have a their characteristic compact...
I had two really big surprises when we arrived at the Gregans Castle Hotel in the area known as the Burren in the western part of Ireland. The first one was that it wasn’t a castle. Actually that was a good thing. When I booked the hotel in the western part of Ireland in […]