Our return after decades showed us an Izmir bigger, better and more modern than everTayyip Erdogan is an observant Muslim who has tried to pry Turkey away from the aggressive secularism of Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey. In Izmir, Erdogan has not succeeding in changing anything. Oh, wait … he kinda has: it’s even more liberal than the city we arrived in back in 1999.
Lauren Simmonds: My Top 5 sandy beaches in CroatiaLeisurely strolls along the sand as the waves gently lap your toes aren’t commonplace here, but they do exist. You just need to know where to find them.
Jess Bretin in Sweden: Why Nordic countries lead the world in happinessGlobal happiness reports list Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden at the top year after year. But why is that? Long, dark winters, high cost of living, lower salaries than places like the United States and famously cold, reserved people: these don’t seem like a recipe for joy. Yet, the Nordics continue to outperform other nations in measures of life satisfaction. The explanation: a systematic emphasis on public welfare and a feeling of security and support.
Don’t miss truffle season: Celebrating this incredibly rare delicacy in Italy and FranceTruffles smell a bit like a boar’s pheromones, which is why female pigs were used to hunt them. I thought, “Go girl!” as I cautiously looked around to see if she had swine near her farmhouse.
Geneva is ‘the most boring capital in Europe’? That’s hilarious ….As soon as I moved there, I was won over its cosmopolitan and artistic appeal, sporty feel, historical interest, quietness and dynamism. Geneva really does surprises and contrasts in spades.
Beyond Lisbon: Affordable and convenient cities for a new life in PortugalAfter having lived in Lisbon for six years, I remain a forever-faithful admirer of its charm. However, I have to admit that the idea of moving elsewhere in Portugal grows more appealing with each passing year (and each new apartment search).
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