Today, Nice is essential France. There is a bakery on every block, a wine bar next door, and crepe stands abound. There is art, there is culture. There is no doubt that this is truly France. But in fact, Nice is a relative newcomer to France, its inclusion in the country only permanently coming in…
This was a day that wasn’t supposed to happen. Today, I was meant to take the train from my base in Genoa to the town of Santa Margharita Ligure, a coastal city best known as the place one catches the bus to the luxury mecca of Portofino. I was going to remain in Santa Margharita…
Editor’s note: like Sam, I preferred the east bank of Prague to the west, but found value on both sides. Make sure to click here to visit Sam’s article on the eastern part of the city, and when you fall in love with his writing, click here to visit his index page. As a travel…
Editor’s note: while I haven’t done a cruise on the Rhine, regular readers of The Royal Tour will probably remember time I spent in the region, based in Bonn. You can visit my guide to the amazing city here, and see my favorite castle experience here. Jackie, however, puts the whole length of the river…
A day spent at a castle is almost by definition a good day. There is just something magical, something mystical, about a castle. Fortress, manor home, commercial center, power projector… castles were the ultimate symbol of medieval might, and remain a source of intrigue today. This one is no exception. Most visitors to Edinburgh make…
If you could sum up what the Scottish Highlands means in a single day, this might just be it. Craggy peaks, pristine waters. Blue skies, dark rain clouds. Castles and villages, shaggy cows and friendly people. Winding, meandering roads all seeming to lead somewhere beautiful and magical. I set out from Inverness, at 50,000 the…
An early morning on the shore of Loch Ness feels magical. I am standing near the ruins of Urquhart Castle, overlooking a shallow bay in the lake that gives way to a deep trench. It is misty, the perfect weather for the most famous denizen of the deep to feel safe coming to the surface.…
It stands as the most visible and dominant portion of the city’s skyline, and has for roughly 1,000 years. Top tourist attraction, most recognizable landmark, and the first thing visitors notice when arriving, Edinburgh Castle looks magical. It sits at the top of the Royal Mile, a mix of pedestrian zone and not that contains…
“He who holds Stirling holds Scotland.” Attributed to Robert the Bruce, although without any direct evidence he actually said it, this quotation fairly accurately sums up the importance of this place. Repeatedly fought over and conquered, Stirling has been at the center of Scottish intrigue and independence for centuries. And as it sits less than…
In a country full of beautiful places, this might be at the top of the list. It is early afternoon at Osaka Castle Park, one alternating between somewhat sunny and totally overcast, humid with rain expected in the evening. The park is green, the cherry blossoms are out in full force, and the castle dominates…