Among My Souvenirs

Alain Ducasse Is Now Serving Versailles – plus Where Else You Should Be Eating This Year Interviewed by Kimberley Lovato Behind the gilded gates of the Château de Versailles, Alain Ducasse recently opened the first full-service restaurant inside the French royal palace. With a name that’s Latin for “mouth” and similar to the French word for “gold,” Ore serves lunch with a sparkle of history and approachable sophistication. In the evening, the space becomes Ducasse at the Château de Versailles, a private event venue for 2 to 124 guests. HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH CHÂTEAU DE VERSAILLES? It’s part of the larger project that began in 1997 to better accommodate visitors through the newly renovated Pavillon Dufour, where the restaurant is located, and the Pavillon Gabriel. The château managers wanted a restaurant, so I created one with two faces: Ore, a contemporary French café open during the day, and Ducasse at the Château de Versailles, for elegant private dinners. At Ore, you ca...

Italy, among the world’s top destinations, reigned atop three categories: favorite global, honeymoon and family destination Where are upscale travelers in the know heading for their getaways? The Virtuoso Luxe Report has the inside scoop on the world’s top destinations for the year ahead. Published each year, the report surveys Virtuoso’s expert travel advisors around the globe on the hottest trends they see for the year to come. Read on to discover where everyone from families to adventure-seekers to honeymooners are off to in the coming year.

Carrick-a-Rede, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. A famous rope bridge is a popular tourist attraction, as it is found in the striking surroundings. The swinging bridge spans from the mainland to Carrickarede – a small volcanic island. The overall shoreline is indeed dramatic and provides some unforgettable sites. One would think this is an entertaining spot for the visitors. However these kind of rope bridges have a very long tradition. The salmon fishermen started building these at least 350 years ago. The current bridge is made of a wire rope and no longer used by fishermen. So make sure to pay a visit when in the area! Why to go there? Beautiful views to the shoreline open from Carrickarede island. And of course the experience of walking this bridge is really entertaining. Popular sites like Bushmills, Ballycastle and Giant’s Causeway are also not far away. When to go there? All year round. Also remember that there is a £5.60 fee. How to get there? Get there by car or b...

Sylvenstein Dam, Upper Bavaria, Germany. The man-made lake embedded in the alpine landscape is one of the most exciting sites in the Isar valley. Situated at an altitude of 750 meters in the Karwendel Alps, the lake is fed by the Isar river. Water reservoir is surrounded with hiking trails, that are loved by visitors. Sylvenstein Bridge is a picturesque feature, providing visitors a scenic ride. Tourists come here to admire the views, hike, climb or bathe in the lake. A popular cycle track Bavaria Tyrolensis on the southern bank links Bavaria and Tyrol Alps. The destination is also loved by photographers, who are fascinated by this idyllic place. Why to go there? Various activities, picturesque sites and route. When to go there? Anytime: the place offers all year round activities and great sites. How to get there? Best way to get there is by car. Use the German Alpine, Mittenwald Germany or Wallgau roads. Lead photo by Gavin Hellier Photo by Gavin Hellier Photo by HL_Photog...

“It's like stepping back in time.” How often have you heard this phrase? Probably plenty.  But how often has is actually been true? Well, in the rural villages of Romania, this phrase rings incredibly true — when you visit, you really DO feel like you've done a time warp and been transported back at least a handful of decades, if not more. During my time in Romania, I had the pleasure of experiencing it all — cities, tourist hot spots, and, yes, even tiny villages. Having gotten a taste of the contrast between city and country life here, I think I'm better able to appreciate the way life moves a bit slower in rural Romania. I'll be writing much more about traveling through post-communist Romania in the future, but for now I want to share some of my favorite village scenes with you. Because, in Romania, I really think it's the villages that will steal your heart and your imagination. The view from my guesthouse room in Vadu Izei. Romania is full of small vi...

I woke up, bleary-eyed, scrambling around trying to reach for the screeching alarm. Through my half-closed eyes I saw the room was pitch-black. The sun hadn't even risen yet. My body protested as I slowly clambered out of bed, tripping over my packed suitcase on my way out. 4.30am. Why did I choose such an early flight? I was kicking myself now, desperate for a couple more hours in bed. As I get up and brush my teeth, it all starts to sink in. I'm going on holiday with my friends . This holiday almost didn't happen - for me, anyway. We all booked it months ago, finally deciding to go on a girls holiday. There's 7 of us so it's very difficult to co-ordinate holidays between us. Sadly, not all of us had been able to make it but 6 being able to attend was still good. That was until I got a phone call 2 weeks ago. My grandad had unfortunately passed away a couple of weeks before. I'd sat holding his warm, frail hand as he gently slipped away. I knew t...

Sognefjord, Norway. Being the largest fjord in the country and the third longest in the world, it stretches for 250 km (127 mi) into the inland until reaches a small village of Skjolden. At one point the impressive fjord reaches depth of 1,308 m (4,291 ft) below the sea. Many villages are located on the fjord’s branches, therefore a comfortable tourism is ensured. The visitors can explore dramatic scenery by boating or hiking. Lead photo author Arno Kohlem  Photo by Unknown Photo by Unknown Photo by Unknown Photo by Unknown Photo by Unknown Photo by Unknown Photo by Unknown At the end of Sognefjord three magnificent stave churches are located: Kaupanger, Urnes and Borgund. They are the most famous medieval churches in Norway. Photo by Unknown [symple_googlemap title=”Sognefjord” location=”Sognefjord” zoom=”10″ height=250]  

Words & Photography by Sivan Askayo Portugal’s comfortable Mediterranean climate and its warm, loving citizens have made the country one of Europe’s most popular destinations. I visited Lisbon for the first time in 2012, before the city was as popular as it is today, and I fell in love with its old-fashioned flair. I’ve since returned many times, and, whenever I’m there, I’m happily surprised to see the city’s growth and new waves of creativity. I feel like I’ve witnessed Lisbon welcome tourism and grow more alive and sophisticated over the years. When Virtuoso Life asked me to go to Lisbon and photograph the trendy Príncipe Real neighborhood last year for a City Guide, I couldn’t say no. There’s nothing like returning to a familiar place for the 20th-or-so time and feeling like you never left. A new generation of venues had popped up since the last time I visited, upgrading the city’s nightlife and dining scenes. More chef-oriented restaurants had opened, more design-forward b...