In the popular Baixa neighborhood of Lisbon, Portugal, menus come in up to 12 languages and staff try to lure you into the touristy restaurants as you walk by. Fortunately, Taberna 132 wasn’t as aggressive, and the outdoor seating was inviting. It also just happened to be on the ground floor of my accommodations, Behotelisboa, and after a full day of exploring this exhaustingly hilly city, the thought of just retiring upstairs for the night after dinner made it even more appealing. Read about it >
Monthly Archives: May 2023
One Columbus Day
Columbus’ earliest structures are the burial mounds of the indigenous peoples. Things have certainly changed since they occupied this area smack in the middle of Ohio from 1000 B.C. to 1700. Since 1812, the population of the state capital has grown every decade, unlike other large Ohio cities like Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Toledo. With a population of over 900,000, it’s the largest city in Ohio. That means it needs a lot of buildings to conduct its business and house its citizens, and I had the opportunity to check out many of them during my one day here. Read about the top five buildings in Columbus, Ohio >
Share my story:
Gazebo Gazing
They come in many shapes, sizes, materials, and colors, but gazebos share lots of commonalities, all of which appeal to me. They offer shelter from rain or sizzling sunshine. They’re a pleasant place to rest. They often take advantage of dreamy or dramatic views. They can double as bandstands during outdoor parties and celebrations. And, well, they’re just plain pretty to look at. Read about the top five gazebos >
Share my story:
Amazing Architecture Among the Alps
Famed for the splendor of its over-the-top baroque and rococo churches and palaces, Austria has an embarrassment of riches of these spectacular buildings, constructed over decades and decades, until the 20th century came along and architects began rejecting the high ornamentation of these styles. But I wasn’t visiting this central European country to see boring boxy buildings; I went to see gorgeous valleys and mountain ranges, tranquil lakes, and, in the cities, the grandeur of the long-lost art of beautiful, meaningful architecture. Read about the top five buildings in Austria >
Stephen Travels 