The East and West Village of Manhattan have been captured in books and movies and by artists and musicians. The West Village, bordering Greenwich Village, used to be a haven for eccentric artists, but these days, it’s where the trendsetters go with money to burn, seeking sophisticated surprises.  The East Village is still a mixture […]

We arrived at Triple Creek Ranch at dusk, just as the snow began to shimmer. White lights buried beneath snow-covered pine boughs glowed. Up ahead, the grand Main Lodge was a welcome sight. After my journey–a delayed flight and a rough connection, arriving at Triple Creek Ranch, I felt like a cowhand being welcomed to […]

The coastline of France’s Vendée, known as the “Côte de Lumière”, stretches some 250 km and includes 140 km of sparkling sandy beaches. South of Nantes, north of Bourdeaux, Vendée boasts every imaginable landscape: hills and dunes, forests and meadows, rivers, marshes, vineyards, and canals. And, of course, that endless expanse of pristine beaches!  From […]