I headed past the Ducal Palace in Luxembourg City for just a couple of blocks and arrived at my destination. I was hunting for a restaurant with traditional Luxembourgish dishes, and Um Dierfgen was touted as one of the best. I easily located the beige building flying the national flag and entered the refined rustic interior, and I quickly learned that the restaurant’s excellent reputation was well-earned. Read about it >
Author Archives: stephentravels
Louisiana’s Best Buildings
When I was in Louisiana, twice, I knew I was in the deep Deep South: the jazz, the Creole culture, the Spanish moss on the live oak trees, the accents, the alligator nuggets for lunch. And, of course, the wonderful architecture that makes the Pelican State so memorable. Read about the top five buildings in Louisiana >
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A Marvelous Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Meal—in the Heart of Luxembourg
I liked the building. I liked its location. I liked what I saw through its windows. And I liked what I read on the menu outside. Although it was an unusual place for my first meal in Luxembourg City, Bazaar—with its Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors—was irresistible. Result? I definitely liked my choice. Read about it >
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Everyting Is Irie in Richmond, Mon
My first few nights and early mornings in Richmond, Virginia, were shockingly cold for early November. That put me in the mood for something warm and cozy for dinner. And I found it on a quiet corner of downtown in the form of Irie Ting Jamaican Grill. Read about it >
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Unmistakable Urban Profiles
Sometimes, in order to get the best view of a city’s skyline, you have to be outside the city. But not always—sometimes the best view comes from the top of a tall building right in the heart of it. Either way, many cities around the world boast beguiling skylines that cannot be mistaken for any other and simply cannot be missed, whether it’s the high-rise profile of Hong Kong or the low-rise beauty of Dubrovnik, Croatia. Read about the top five skylines >
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Lunch at the Lake of Love
The historic core of Bruges, Belgium, one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe, throbs with tourists throughout the day. I was still confronting packed restaurants and cafés, waffle and chocolate shops, even at the southern edges of the core. But then I spied a romantic waterside castle, with outdoor tables that didn’t seem overly populated. The umbrellas indicated food service, so I crossed a little bridge and was soon enjoying a tasty lunch at Minnewater Castle along the Lake of Love. Read about it >
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Luxembourg Luxe: Staying at the Grand Hotel Cravat
I had been to France. I had been to Germany. Now I was in Belgium, the third and final country that surrounds Luxembourg. It was now or never for this small European nation, so I tacked on an extra five days for my vacation and based myself at the four-star Grand Hotel Cravat in Luxembourg City, one of the prettiest and smallest European capitals. Read about it >
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Belgian Specialties at Balto’s
It’s a little touristy, but it’s touristy for a reason—the Grote Markt (Large Market) at the heart of Antwerp is simply gorgeous. Guild houses from the 16th and 17th centuries frame the cobblestone square, anchored by the impressive City Hall and featuring the curious Brabo’s Monument and Fountain, with the massive Cathedral of Our Lady overlooking it all from a couple of blocks away. There are plenty of restaurants here to choose from, each with outdoor seating, partially covered for inclement weather and open-air for days when you just want to linger outside. I was here for dinner, and I happily settled in at Balto’s, located in a beautifully restored historic manor house. Read about it >
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It’s All in the Curious Details
If you’ve been following my blog for a while now, and I hope that you are, you know I have a passion for architecture. I’ve written about castles, cathedrals, mansions, and so many other buildings and their fascinating stories. While I love looking at the entire structure as a whole, sometimes there’s an engaging little otiose detail that may elude me on first glance. Thank goodness for that second look, when these curiosities, thoughtful and often playful, grabbed my attention and made me appreciate the imagination of those who created them. Although some have lost their raison d’être to the mists of time, others can tell an entire history. Read about the top five architectural curiosities >
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¡Viva España!—in Belgium
Across the cobblestone street from a church completed in the 15th century and next to a Belgian chocolate shop, I headed to dinner during my second night in Brussels at the internationally recognized and lauded Hispania, an upscale Spanish restaurant with a fine pedigree, including the Michelin-star chef. There would be plenty of time for Belgian waffles, beer, chocolate, and other national specialties later on, but this night was all about Spain. Read about it >
Stephen Travels 